Board Members Present
Dr. Kenneth Smith, President
Nancy Young Wright, Vice President/Clerk
Kent Barrabee, Member
Mike Prout, Member
Mary Schuh, Member

Central Administrators Present
Dr. Vicki M. Balentine, Superintendent
Dr. Katie M. Frey, Associate Superintendent
John E. Rose, Associate Superintendent

Call to Order and Signing of Visitors Register

Dr. Smith called the meeting to order and asked members of the audience to sign the visitors register. Procedures for addressing the Board were described.

Pledge of Allegiance
Dr. Vicki Balentine led the Pledge of Allegiance.

There were no public comments.

1. Study and Discussion of 2000-2001 Budget; Review and Discussion of Report from Budget Advisory Committee Concerning Recommended Options for Budget Reductions and Revenues for 2000-2001 Budget Year; Governing Board Direction to Administration Regarding Budget Reductions and Revenues for 2000-2001 Budget Year

John Rose gave an overview of the proposed 2000-01 budget. Board discussion followed.

The Board discussed recommended options for budget reductions from the Budget Advisory Committee. Dr. Balentine recommended the following items of reduction:

	Personnel recapture	$200,000
	Reduce department supplies/materials by 10%	81,227
	Reduce travel by 50%	44,000
	50% reduction in overtime at Wetmore	22,384
	Pay Facilities Coordinator from Civic Center Fund	22,498
	Reduce attorney fees	20,000
	Eliminate School Views	18,000
	Lead Clerk vs. Warehouse Manager	10,000
	Use prepaid insurance $ for election costs	30,000
	Reduce School Operations Department by 50%	103,000
	Eliminate one Records Specialist	19,323
	Eliminate the .5 Accounts Payable position	16,654

A motion was made by Mr. Prout and seconded by Mr. Barrabee to accept the superintendent's recommended list of cuts as presented.

Discussion of the recommended cuts followed. Ms. Schuh requested that field trip policies be examined. Dr. Balentine will request staff to research funding of field trips, including payment of fees by students. The issue of tax credits will be placed on a future agenda.

There was discussion of district policy providing for travel by administrators. Dr. Smith requested that Dr. Frey identify the specific policy for the Board.

The main motion was restated, with modifications to the superintendent's recommendations agreed to by the maker and seconder of the motion:

To accept the superintendent's recommended list of cuts as presented, with the following modifications:

(1) To increase the amount of savings for legal outside attorney fees from $20,000 to $40,000;

(2) To reduce travel expenditures by 75%.

The rationale for the 50% travel budget cut recommended by the Budget Advisory Committee was discussed. This was determined to be an arbitrary figure from the BAC. Mr. Prout suggested that there should be a complete moratorium on all out-of-district travel for this 2000-2001 year, resulting in a 100% reduction in this budget line. He further suggested that every dollar spent traveling out of district is a dollar not used in a district classroom. Ms. Young Wright requested clarification of her prior understanding during previous discussions between the Board and administrators that some administrators had contracts requiring out-of-district travel. Dr. Frey replied that this was not the case and that that prior interpretation was based on District policy regarding such travel rather than explicit contract requirements. Mr. Prout stated that these administrative trips should be based on need rather than treated as entitlements. He said he would like to see the board revisit the administrative travel policy in the near future. A travel budget reduction of 75% was accepted by the Board as a compromise between the travel moratorium and the 50% reduction.

The motion passed unanimously.

A recess was taken from 11:00 to 11:10 a.m.

2. Discussion of Pima County's Planned Expansion of La Cholla Boulevard and the Impact on Donaldson School; Determination of Governing Board Position
The Board reviewed a draft letter to the Pima County Board of Supervisors reflecting the Board's concerns over the planned expansion of La Cholla Boulevard and the impact on Donaldson Elementary School. Dr. Balentine informed the Board of ongoing communication with Board of Supervisor Sharon Bronson and of upcoming meetings regarding this issue. Dr. Smith noted appointments to an advisory committee to the Board of Supervisors: Connie McCullow, Amphitheater District Governing Board representative; and Dr. Katie Frey, District administration representative.

Board members expressed concerns regarding the widening of La Cholla and its impact on Donaldson Elementary, including the number of lanes, impact during construction, and increased traffic. There was discussion of an underpass or overpass in the Donaldson area, and of further consideration which needs to be given to the construction and operation of an overpass: methods of insuring high usage by children, the possibility of access control by the administration, and the amount of Donaldson land this would require for footings. Also mentioned was activation of lights by buses, such as fire trucks employ. Dr. Smith requested data regarding the use of overpasses by other districts. Ms. Young Wright requested, in light of the fact that the district does not yet have a rezoning policy, that a policy be brought to the Board for discussion and finalization.

Dr. Katie Frey noted that project notifications are going directly to the school principal, bypassing both the district office and the Transportation Department. Dr. Frey will notify the county that notices are to be sent to the Superintendent's office as well as to the school principal.

A motion was made by Ms. Schuh, seconded by Mr. Prout and passed unanimously, to approve the letter to the Board of Supervisors as revised by the Board. The letter is to be sent July 1, 2000, to arrive prior to the July 5, 2000 Board of Supervisors meeting.

3. Discussion and Adoption of 2000-01 Administrative Organization (Continue this item at next meeting.)
Dr. Smith asked that agenda item No. 3, Discussion and Adoption of 2000-01 Administration Organization, be continued until the next Board meeting. There were no objections. Dr. Smith requested that the Board be provided with a current organizational chart, which would be helpful in considering the 2000-2001 school year. Mr. Prout requested access to administrative personnel contracts -- if tailored to individuals, to receive each contract.

There were no public comments.

A motion was made by Ms. Young Wright, seconded by Ms. Schuh and passed unanimously, that the meeting be adjourned. The time was 11:47 a.m.

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