May 10 Board Meeting Meeting Location: District Office Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Members present Elsie A Dee, Debbie Christiansen, Nelson Yellowman, Bill Boyle, Merri B Shumway
Others present Superintendent Douglas Wright, Business Administrator Kyle Hosler, Kit Mantz, Eva Workman, Boyd Silversmith, Rebecca Stoneman, Clayton Long
Meeting called to order at 4:24 PM
A. Approval of Agenda - 4:24 p.m.
1. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve the agenda.
Motion by Nelson Yellowman, second by Elsie A Dee. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yea: Elsie A Dee, Debbie Christiansen, Nelson Yellowman, Bill Boyle, Merri B Shumway
B. Closed Session
1. Personnel 2. Employee Negotiation 3. Real Estate, Pending Contracts
Motion to go into Closed Session to discuss Personnel and Employee Negotiations.
Motion by Bill Boyle, second by Nelson Yellowman. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yea: Elsie A Dee, Debbie Christiansen, Nelson Yellowman, Bill Boyle, Merri B Shumway
C. Board Work Session
1. Utah State Lands Resolution, Merri Shumway
Merri Shumway presented an updated draft of the Utah State Lands Resolution noting that she will be adding the comment that it will reference the Ken Ivory Bill for clarification. The 1821 resolution calls for the transfer of public lands to the State of Utah. This resolution does not involve Indian Lands or National Parks.
2. Capital Projects Update
Kyle Holser updated the board on current projects in process. The San Juan High School gymnasium renovation is underway. The Zenos L. Black building classroom usage has been reevaluated and several classes will be relocated to allow for the proper use of the ventilation systems for welding, metal shop, woods and engineering. The wrestling mats and other equipment for that sport will be moved back to its original location in the main building at San Juan High. Board Members expressed concern over the cost effectiveness of another classroom move for the Zeno L. Black Building. Superintendent Wright explained that the current move is the most cost effective and corrects some decisions made in the past to accommodate one specific program.
The Department Manager of the Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department (NNHPO), Ora Marek-Martinez, and two members of her staff walked the potential site for the Bluff Elementary School along with Debbie Christiansen, Nelson Yellowman, Kyle Hosler, and Superintendent Wright prior to the Board meeting. Superintendent updated the group on the position taken by the NNHPO at the conclusion of the site visit. The officials stressed the need to be culturally sensitive, and indicated that sensitive areas must be avoided and to the extent possible the layout for the school, playground and driving areas should avoid archeological areas. Covering sites is acceptable if done properly and that a Navajo Prayer/Blessing should be performed before work is done and following its completion. The NNHPPO Officials did question whether other sites were available, but indicated that the district could construct on the site and maintain cultural sensitivity with their recommendations on procedures and ceremonies. Superintendent Wright asked the NNHPPO Official to provide a written summary of the discussion.
Debbie Christiansen commented that the survey given to the Bluff School community revealed that 2/3 of the respondents approved with the school being built on the intendent site, with the correct cultural blessings and considerations honored, as the district has in the past. There was a handful of request for the school to be built at Mexican Water.
The board determined to hold a Community Meeting in Bluff on Tuesday, May 24th at 6:00 pm to share the above information and recommendations from the Utah Navajo Preservation group and the Navajo Nation Historical Committee.
D. Department Report - 4:30 p.m.
1. Heritage Language Resource Center, Rebecca Stoneman
Rebecca Stoneman shared some of the new publications, charts, posters and games produced in the Navajo Language. She also noted that a Long Walk Video has been produced in conjunction
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2. Bilingual Education Supervisor, Clayton Long
Clayton Long shared an overview of activities, conferences, and important events that they participated in as Indian Education Committee (IEC), Johnson O’Malley (JOM) or Heritage Language representatives. He invited all to the Standing Tall Award Banquet where they honor students for outstanding citizenship. He shared new budget information and how the funds are tracked for JOM.
Mr. Long also shared the Fall and Spring Evaluations of the Heritage Language instructors, stating that the instructors maximum score is 120 points and some of the teachers have been evaluated high or very close to the top score. He commended his instructors for their hard work in achieving such good evaluation scores.
Bill Boyle discussed a particular concern with the travel expenses to have a board member present at several JOM meetings a year and suggested that the JOM Committee consider assisting with some of that expense, in order to alleviate some of the burden on her district travel allotment.
E. Board Work Session (cont.)
1. Revised Fiscal Year 2016 and Fiscal Year 2017 Proposed Budget Presentation and Review
Kyle Hosler reviewed the revised and proposed budgets. He noted the anticipated changes in tax rates. The budget estimates are based on staying rate neutral, not revenue neutral figures, allowing the District to capture revenue from growth while not penalizing the taxpayers for any loss in valuation. Health insurance rates will increase by 6.1 % increase in insurance, and the higher cost will need to be covered by the District. The Latigo Wind Farm has not yet been valued and will be locally assessed. The Impact Aid funding is expected to pay only at 90% of LOT this year, so there will be less received from federal funding in the upcoming budget.
F. Break - 5:30 p.m.
G. Public Session-Welcome and Recognition of Guests - 6:00 p.m.
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1. Citizens' Comments
Tara Benally spoke on behalf of a group presenting a plan to build the Bluff Elementary School in Mexican Water (by mile marker 12, instead of by the chapter house), as opposed to the currently owned site in Bluff. She shared some of her background in construction, some maps and residential options and her feeling on availability of emergency response teams.
H. Consent Agenda
1. Minutes
2. Revenue Reports
3. Expenditure Reports
4. School Expenditure Reports
5. Board Travel Reports
6. Personnel Report(s) and Information
7. Home School Requests
8. Student Hearings
9. Approval of all Consent Agenda Items
Motion to approve the consent agenda.
Motion by Merri B Shumway, second by Elsie A Dee. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yea: Elsie A Dee, Debbie Christiansen, Nelson Yellowman, Bill Boyle, Merri B Shumway
I. Action Items
1. Utah State Lands Resolution The resolution calls for the transfer of public lands to the State of Utah, and does not involve Indian Lands or National Parks.
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Motion to pass a resolution for the Lands Act and include specific in support of Ken Ivory's bill as passed by the State Legislature.
Motion by Merri B Shumway, second by Bill Boyle. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yea: Elsie A Dee, Debbie Christiansen, Nelson Yellowman, Bill Boyle, Merri B Shumway
2. MCES School Land Trust Plan 2015-2016 Addendum
Principal Boyd Silversmith noted that due to personal medical leave for an employee, their Land Trust Plan required some alteration and accounting for a transfer of unused funds from the original goal, to a revised goal. This request addresses the change.
Motion to approve the addendum for Montezuma Creek Land Trust Plan -2015-2016 to transfer unused funds from Science, due to personnel medical leave, and redistribute to support Arts Specialist Classes (materials and consumables) and transfer funds to make some upgrades to the school library.
Motion by Elsie A Dee, second by Merri B Shumway. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yea: Elsie A Dee, Debbie Christiansen, Nelson Yellowman, Bill Boyle, Merri B Shumway
3. School Land Trust Plans 2016-2017
The majority of School Land Trust Plans for the upcoming year were reviewed, with the exception of Navajo Mountain High School and Whitehorse High School, which were not submitted at this time.
The Board requested that the Superintendent review all plans with the schools at the next Principal’s Meeting and give direction on rewriting the plans with a request to clarify goals, track improvements, and provide a more detailed approach for setting, evaluating goals reporting results.
No motion made. No Action taken at this time.
4. School Nurse Salary Change Request
Superintendent recused himself for this portion of the meeting.
Kit Mantz presented to the board some of the issues regarding recruitment and retention of school nurses and recommended some adjustments to the current pay scale as published. The board approved his recommendation to redesign the current salary structure to place the Registered School Nurses who have a Bachelor’s Degree on the Bachelor’s Range of the
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Licensed Teacher’s Salary Schedule. The placement will not allow for Lane Changes. RNs without a Bachelor’s Degree will be placed on Range 21 of the Career Classified salary schedule.
Motion to redesign Nursing Salary structure.
Motion by Bill Boyle, second by Elsie A Dee. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yea: Elsie A Dee, Debbie Christiansen, Nelson Yellowman, Bill Boyle, Merri B Shumway
5. 2016-2018 Superintendent Contract
Dr. Edward Lyman accepted a contract to serve as SJSD Superintendent. The contract, based on Utah State Law, is for a term of two 2 years, and includes all employee benefits regarding sick leave and vacation based on SJSD policy. The Board agreed to a stipend to offset moving costs.
Motion to accept the proposed 2 year contract for Dr. Edward Lyman. Starting July 1, 2016 and ending June 30, 2018.
Motion by Bill Boyle, second by Nelson Yellowman. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yea: Elsie A Dee, Debbie Christiansen, Nelson Yellowman, Bill Boyle, Merri B Shumway
J. Discussion Items
1. Board Travel Updates & Information
Kyle Hosler requested that the Board consider having Superintendent Wright accompany Kyle Hosler and Superintendent Lyman to the Fall NAFIS Conference, to be held September 25-27, 2016. Board Member Merri Shumway commented that she also plans to attend NAFIS and can assist with guiding Superintendent Lyman if needed. The group will discuss once plans are made.
2. School Improvement Plans
Schools are working on their Turnaround Process. Monday, May 17th will be a UVa Spring Training in the district for Monument Valley High School and Tsebii’nidzisgai Elementary School for their final year. In early July Whitehorse High School and Montezuma Creek Elementary School will be attending the UVA Conference in Charlottesville, VA to begin their second year.
State Improvement plans are underway. Overall, Catapult has been impressive in their work with the elementary schools, and less impressed with the other two turnaround consultants.
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3. Graduation & Retirement Dates
The Board discussed the secondary graduation events and their intentions of which they planned to attend to be certain there was a board member present at each. Superintendent Wright stated he planned to attend all the high school graduation events. Retirement events are scheduled by individual schools. A calendar as provided for both graduation and retirement events that the board should attend.
4. Next Board Meeting
Tuesday, June 21, 2016 District Office in Blanding 3:00 pm.
K. Adjournment
1. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn.
Motion by Elsie A Dee, second by Bill Boyle. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yea: Elsie A Dee, Debbie Christiansen, Nelson Yellowman, Bill Boyle, Merri B Shumway
______Board Officer Business Administrator
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