AMPHITHEATER
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Tucson,
Arizona
MINUTES OF
REGULAR/ORGANIZATIONAL PUBLIC MEETING
OF THE
GOVERNING BOARD
Place, Date and Time
of Meeting
Wetmore Center, 701 West Wetmore Road, January 8, 2002, 6:00
p.m.
Board Members Present
Dr. Kenneth Smith,
President
Nancy Young Wright, Vice President/Clerk
Dr. Kent Barrabee, Member
Mike Prout, Member
Mary Schuh, Member
Central
Administrators Present
Dr. Vicki M.
Balentine, Superintendent
Dr. Richard Hooley,
Associate Superintendent
Todd A. Jaeger, J.D.,
Associate to Superintendent and General Counsel
Constance Cigliana,
Director of Finance
Call to Order
and Signing of Visitors Register
Dr. Kenneth Smith called the meeting to order.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion
to Recess Open Meeting and Hold an Executive Session
Dr. Smith announced that the Board would recess open meeting and hold an executive session for discussion or consideration of employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, demotion, dismissal, salaries, disciplining or resignation of a public officer, appointee or employee of any public body, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431(A)(1), for the purpose of discussing the Governing Board’s evaluation of the Superintendent.
A motion was made by Ms. Young Wright, seconded by Mrs. Schuh and passed unanimously, that the Board recess into executive session. The time was 6:01 p.m.
OPEN SESSION
Reconvening of Meeting and Signing of
Visitors Register
Following the executive session, Dr. Smith reconvened the meeting at 7:06 p.m. and asked members of the audience to sign the visitors register. Procedures for addressing the Board were described.
There were no public comments.
1. Election of Officers of the Governing Board
Mr. Prout
moved the nomination of Dr. Kenneth Smith as President of the Governing
Board. Ms. Young Wright moved the
nomination of Mary Schuh as President of the Board. Dr. Smith was elected Governing Board President.
Dr. Smith
moved the nomination of Mary Schuh as Vice President/Clerk of the Governing
Board. Mrs. Schuh was elected Vice
President/Clerk.
2.
Announcement of Date and Place of Next Regular Governing Board Meeting
Dr. Smith announced the next regular meeting of the
Governing Board: January 22, 2002, 7:00
p.m., at Wetmore Center, 701 West Wetmore.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Ms. Young Wright to approve the
consent agenda with the exception of item G.
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Schuh and passed unanimously. Appointment of personnel is effective,
provided all district, state and federal requirements are met. (See below for discussion and vote on item
G, Review and Approval of the State of Arizona School Facilities Board 2002
Capital Plan.)
A. Approval of Minutes
Minutes
of the December 11, 2001, Governing Board meeting were approved.
B. Appointment of Personnel
Certified
and classified personnel were appointed, as listed in Exhibit 1.
C. Personnel Changes
Certified
and classified personnel changes were approved, as listed in Exhibit 2.
D. Leave(s) of Absence
Leave of absence requests were approved for certified and classified personnel, as listed in Exhibit 3.
E. Separation(s) and Termination(s)
Certified
and classified personnel separations were approved, as listed in Exhibit 4.
F. Approval of Vouchers
The following vouchers were
approved as presented and payment authorized:
Vo.
170 $ 87,484.47
Vo.
171 131,564.29
Vo.
172 99,813.97
Vo.
173 8,445.11
Vo.
174 100,704.56
Vo.
175 150,244.22
Vo.
176 195,849.15
Vo.
177 357,653.58
Vo.
180 408,269.31
G.
Review and Approval of the State of Arizona School Facilities Board 2002
Capital Plan
Board
book information: The School Facilities
Board (SFB) requires districts to submit an annual Land Request (interim
process) to prepare for future land purchase and construction costs. The District may need a new middle school in
the northwest. The Land Request
requires enrollment projections for the next eight years. The District’s submission is based on
District enrollment projections and assistance from the Oro Valley Planning
Department. It was the recommendation
of the administration that the Governing Board approve the 2002 Capital Plan.
Dr. Balentine reported that each year the District is required to submit a capital plan to the SFB, indicating needs and projects that are being pursued in terms of District facilities. The District was requesting the purchase of land for a new middle-school site that will likely be needed in the year 2007. She noted that this attendance projection would not meet the SFB requirements for a new school at the middle-school level. However, there had been extensive discussion over the last few years that this square-footage allocation at the middle-school level is not high enough for students of that age.
The administration was asking for Board approval for submission of the 2002 Capital Plan, which included this middle-school-site request. Dr. Balentine acknowledged Dr. Harold Doran, Principal of Harelson Elementary School, for his help in developing reliable projections. Dr. Doran responded to questions from the Board. It was noted that Chuck Huckleberry, Pima County Administrator, had offered to meet with the District to provide assistance with county projections. Mr. Huckleberry would be contacted.
Mr. Prout suggested changing the Land Request, Step I, Item 1 (Why is the site needed?) by checking “Other” instead of “To Meet Future Growth,” and supplying information regarding buildout, the prospect of future condemnations, with emphasis on the District’s distinct geography and erratic growth, plus the ramifications of being hemmed in by another county.
Mr. Prout moved the approval of item G with the exception of redesignating why the site is needed, selecting “Other” rather than “To Meet Future Growth,” and including supportive information as designed by staff. The motion was seconded by Ms. Young Wright and passed unanimously. Administration would consult further with Mr. Prout in preparation of this Land Request.
H. Designation of
Purchasing Manager and Purchasing Agent as Authorized Procurement Officers of
the Governing Board
Board book information: The Purchasing Agent position is one that is being reestablished by the District, after remaining vacant for several years. Reestablishment of this position will greatly enhance the ability of the Purchasing Department to provide timely and effective service to the District. It is appropriate to designate both positions, Purchasing Manager and Purchasing Agent, as authorized procurement representatives of the Governing Board. This designation would be in addition to that of the Superintendent. These positions will fulfill their procurement responsibilities in accordance with Board policy and state law.
The Board approved the recommendation of the administration to designate the positions of Purchasing Manager and Purchasing Agent as authorized procurement representatives of the Board.
I. Out-of-State Travel
Out-of-state travel was approved (source of
funding indicated): Barbara Kohl, La
Cima Middle School, to attend a mandatory Safe and Drug Free Schools meeting in
Washington, D.C., in January (all expenses paid by the Safe and Drug Free
Grant).
3.
Discussion of Negotiated Agreement with Black Horse Advisors Regarding
Voluntary School Impact Donation Pursuant to Governing Board Policy; Review of
Agreement Terms; Authorization of Superintendent to Finalize Agreement
Board book information: At the December 11, 2001 meeting of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, the Supervisors reviewed the rezoning application of owners of property located in Catalina between Wilds and Golder Ranch roads. Prior to December 11, the District objected to the rezoning, based upon the impact it would have upon enrollment at Coronado K-8 School. Specifically, the District was concerned that the increased enrollment resulting from the proposed development would result in an over-enrollment of 88 students at the elementary level and leave only 10 spaces for school capacity. The developer of the property, Black Horse Advisors, entered into discussions with the District regarding potential donations to the District to assist the District in absorbing the increased enrollment. These discussions occurred pursuant to Governing Board Policy KLJA. The result of these negotiations was the developer’s agreement to pay the District $1,200 per residence built on a platted lot in the proposed development. In consideration of this agreement to make payment to the District, the District withdrew its objection to the rezoning proposal, and the Board of Supervisors approved the request.
The form of agreement which was entered into by Black Horse
and the District on December 11, 2001, was presented. It was important to note that this form of agreement was created
in haste in order to create “last-minute” documentation of the parties’
understanding. A more detailed
agreement had been prepared and was attached for Governing Board review,
comment, and authorization for execution by the Superintendent. The
administration recommended the Governing Board authorize the Superintendent to
execute the form of agreement as presented.
Mr. Jaeger reported additional background information,
stating that the “education fee” would be paid upon the closing of escrow of
each individual home, for a total of $500,000.
He stated it was considered a very fair agreement.
Board members expressed a desire to work further with the
county to ensure more timely communication of rezonings, with the District
included in the process; and to revisit District policy. Dr. Smith commended the administration for
having accomplished this, and the developer for having made this proposal.
Ms. Young Wright moved approval of the contract. The motion was seconded by Mr. Prout and
passed unanimously.
4.
Study of Policies BED, BEDD, and BEDF Regarding Governing Board Meeting
Procedures, Bylaws, Rules of Order and Voting Method
Arizona law mandates that school district governing boards adopt rules for their own governance. The Amphitheater Governing Board had previously adopted the Arizona School Boards Association model of simplified rules of governing for its meetings. Current versions of Policies BED, BEDD and BEDF were presented for study. The administration was looking for any direction the Board might have for changing its current procedures and bylaws.
In was
confirmed that in call for the question, Robert’s Rules of Order provides
procedures whereby when a member calls
for the question and another member objects, a vote is taken on whether or not
the question is called. There was
agreement that the present procedures are working, referencing Robert’s Rules
of Order when necessary.
Mr. Prout:
Development of strategy for dealing with growth and obtaining land.
Ms. Young Wright:
Review of Call to the Audience Policy.
Dr. Smith: Review of
District Rezoning Policy.
Tom Moser addressed the Board regarding the need for more
electives in the District’s curriculum, including vocational education classes
for all students. Dr. Smith spoke of
the Joint Technological District currently being considered. Board members asked that the following also
be included in the presentation: a
listing of vocational classes currently offered at District high schools and
middle schools; information on how the middle school programs are currently
fitting into high school programs and ways to strengthen that flow; the tech
prep concept, which coordinates with and extends into the junior college;
provisions for making junior R.O.T.C. classes available.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Dr. Barrabee, seconded by Ms. Young
Wright and passed unanimously, that the meeting be adjourned. The time was 9:07 p.m.