AMPHITHEATER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Tucson, Arizona

 

MINUTES OF REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING OF THE GOVERNING BOARD

 

Place, Date and Time of Meeting    

Wetmore Center, 701 West Wetmore Road, July 6, 2004, 7:00 p.m.

 

Board Members Present

Nancy Young Wright, President

Dr. Kent Barrabee, Vice President/Clerk

Patty Clymer, Member

Jeff Grant, Member

 

Board Member Absent

Mike Prout, Member

 

Central Administrators Present           

Dr. Vicki McLeod Balentine, Superintendent

Todd A. Jaeger, J.D., Associate to Superintendent and General Counsel

Patrick Nelson, Associate Superintendent

Constance Cigliana, Chief Financial Officer

OPENING OF MEETING.

 

Call to Order and Signing of Visitors’ Register

Ms. Young Wright called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. and invited 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.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

No audience members addressed the Board.

 

INFORMATION

1.  Announcement of Date and Place of Next Regular Governing Board Meeting          

Ms. Young Wright announced the next regular meeting of the Governing Board:  August 10, 2004, 7:00 p.m., at Wetmore Center, 701 West Wetmore. 

 

CONSENT AGENDA

A motion was made by Mrs. Clymer to approve consent agenda items A - N.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Grant and passed unanimously, 4-0.  Appointment of personnel is effective, provided all district, state, and federal requirements are met.

 

A.  Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

Minutes of the Regular Governing Board meeting for June 22, 2004 and for the Special Governing Board and Executive Session meetings for May 25, 2004 and June 15, 2004 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 Totaling and Not Exceeding Approximately $870,000.00 (Final Total)

The following vouchers were approved as presented and payment authorized:

            2003-2004 Fiscal Year Encumbrances

              Vo. 634            $196,581.57

              Vo. 635            $269,636.97

  Vo. 636            $    9,655.38 

  Vo. 637            $    6,469.78

  Vo. 638           $   16,169.85

 

            2004-2005 Fiscal Year

              Vo. 700            $371,425.45

 

G.  Acceptance of Gifts        

Donations were accepted by the Governing Board, as listed in Exhibit 5.

 

H.      Receipt of Monthly Report on School Auxiliary and Club Balances

Board Book Information:  Arizona Revised Statutes §15-1121 and 15-1125 provide for the operation of Student Activity and Auxiliary Operations funds, respectively.  The Uniform System of Financial Records for Arizona School Districts (USFR) outlines procedures to be followed by school districts in the disbursements of monies from either of these funds.  One requirement for the operational compliance is to provide a report to the Governing Board summarizing the transactions for the month.

 

The Governing Board received the Monthly Report on School Auxiliary and Club Balances for month-end May 31, 2004, as submitted.

 

I.   Approval of Out of State Travel         

Out-of-state travel was approved for staff (source of funding indicated):  Alice Farley and Robin Meece from Nash Elementary School, to attend Ruby Payne’s workshop, “Framework for Understanding Poverty Training of Trainers Workshop” in Palm Spring, California, October 18-21, 2004 (grant funds); Robert Wendel from Canyon del Oro High School, to attend the College Board workshop in Chicago, Illinois, October 30-November 1, 2004 (Canyon del Oro High School).

 

J.       Approval of Textbooks for Adoption 

Board Book Information:  The textbooks listed below were placed on display on March 23, 2004 and approved by the Governing Board at the June 8, 2004 meeting.   Although the book titles that the Math Committee reviewed and recommended were a 2004 copyright date, Glencoe/McGraw Hill recently released the 2005 edition.  The committee would like permission to purchase the later copyright date. 

 

   TEXTBOOK:  Geometry   

Publisher: Glencoe/McGraw Hill; Author: Carter, Flores; Price: $55.98;

ISBN: 007-865-1069 (2005)

 

     Algebra I

     Publisher: Glencoe; Author: Halliday, Cuevas, et.al.; Price: $54.99

                             ISBN:  007-865-1131 (2005)

 

     Algebra II

     Publisher: Glencoe/McGraw Hill; Author:  Holliday, Marks, et.al.; Price: $57.99

     ISBN:  007-865-6095 (2005)

 

The Governing Board adopted the textbooks (shown above) to include the authorization to purchase the later copyright date (2005 edition), as requested.

                                                           

K.         Acceptance of Real Property

Board Book Information:  The District holds an easement for ingress and egress upon property adjacent to Canyon del Oro High School.  The owner of the 0.91 acres recently considered the possibility of developing the property.  Instead, the owner has offered to donate the property through the Town of Oro Valley.

 

A Quitclaim Deed and drawing indicating the physical location of this property accompanies this item. 

 

The Governing Board approved the donation of 0.91 acres of property adjacent to Canyon del Oro High School, as shown on the Quitclaim Deed and accompanying Drawing (Exhibit 6A-B) and authorized the Associate to the Superintendent to execute the deed.

 

L.   Award of Contract for Special Needs Transportation Services Based Upon Responses to Request for Bid 03-0071

Board Book information:  A notice of Request for Proposal (“RFP”) for Special Needs Transportation Services was issued on June 4, 2004 to seven local vendors providing transportation services. The due date was June 18, 2004. Four vendors submitted bids in response to this solicitation: American Pony Express, A&K Transportation Services, Safe Ride Services & Total Transit, Inc.  

The award is for the 2004/2005 fiscal year to provide Special Needs Transportation Services for physically and/or mentally handicapped students. Special Needs Transportation Services are services provided to the District by a contractor(s) providing vehicles, equipment, and qualified drivers for the transportation of regular and special education program students to and from school and between school and for other district activities.  Students with disabilities may have physical and/or mental disabilities (i.e. mental retardation, hearing impairments including deafness, speech or language impairments, visual impairments including blindness, serious emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, or other health impairments, specific learning disabilities).  Service may be extended from infants, toddlers, and preschoolers through age 21.  

 

Vendor Evaluations & Award were based on: 1)  Demonstrated Experience; 2) Vendor Evaluation;

3) Cost.

 

The Arizona School District Procurement Code, at R7-2-1045 (B) provides:

All other information [other than vendor name] contained in the proposals shall remain confidential so as to avoid disclosure of contents prejudicial to competing offertory during the process of negotiation.  Proposals and modifications shall only be shown to school district personnel having a legitimate interest in them or persons assisting the District in evaluation. 

 

The Procurement Code also provides that: 

After contract award the proposals shall be made open for public inspection, except to the extent that the withholding of information is permitted or required by law. 

R7-2-1050(E).  Accordingly, if necessary, the Board may recess the public meeting and convene an executive session to discuss or consider the confidential proposal documents, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(2).  

The Governing Board awarded a contract for special needs transportation services to Total Transit, Inc. Services based upon responses to RFP number 03-0071 and pursuant to the terms of their proposal.

 

M.   Award of Contract for Irrigation System Improvement Projects, Amphitheater High School & Coronado K-8 School Based Upon Responses to Request for Bid 03-0069

Board Book information:  Request for Bid 03-0069, Irrigation Improvement Projects was issued to eleven contractors. Three priced responses were received; M. Anderson Construction Company $326,650.00, The Groundskeeper $377,995.00 and Southwest Enviroscapes, Inc. $463,668.00. These are net bid amounts less tax.  Please see attached spreadsheet. 


Amphitheater High School – Irrigation System Upgrades: 

 

This project is being undertaken to:

·            Eliminate connections between the campus irrigation system and the potable water lines serving  the campus buildings

·            Correct deficiencies in the existing irrigation system

·            To enhance the District’s water management capabilities

·            To reduce consumptive water use on the Amphitheater High School campus

·To reduce on-going labor requirements

·To provide higher quality fields and athletic facilities for the school and other facility users, and

·            To integrate the Amphitheater High School irrigation system with a District-wide central control system.

 

At the present time, portions of the campus irrigation system are supplied by water mains that also supply potable water to the drinking fountains, sinks, and other fixtures within campus buildings.  This condition creates the potential for contamination of the potable water lines.  The Grounds Maintenance Department is working to eliminate all connections between the irrigation and potable water supply systems at the various school campuses.  This project will serve to separate these systems at the Amphitheater High School campus.  

It is also the case that there are numerous automatic valves in the irrigation system that are not functioning properly.  These valves can be operated manually, but this requires labor that would need to be diverted from other activities.  Alternatively, the subject valves can be left in an inoperable condition, but this result in poor turf grass and unsafe field conditions.  This project will correct the existing deficiencies through the replacement of valves, control wires, controllers, and related equipment. 

There are also several fields on campus that do not receive adequate or uniform applications of irrigation water due to broken sprinkler heads and/or other equipment.  New, replacement lateral lines and sprinkler heads will be installed in these areas. 

 

When completed all portions of the campus will be served by a functioning irrigation system and all of the irrigation control valves will be controlled by new automatic controllers.  In addition to the automatic operation of the individual irrigation valves and associated sprinkler heads, the new control system will be capable of: 

·            Detecting leaks in the system and providing for an automatic shut down of the supply main(s) when leaks are detected.

·            Transmitting reports to the Grounds Maintenance Department when leaks or other similar events occur, so that personnel can be sent to the campus to make the necessary repairs.

·            Receiving data from a weather station and automatically adjusting the amount of irrigation water applied in response to real-time measurements of temperature, humidity, and natural precipitation.

·            Being seasonally re-programmed from a remote location so that it is not necessary to send a crew to the site to change the operating times for each irrigation valve.

 

Systems of this type have recently been installed at other District campuses (Cross / Harelson, Amphitheater Jr. High).  Over the past decade, similar systems have also been installed at parks, campuses, golf courses, and other large turf grass installations.  Reductions in irrigation water use of up to 30% have been recorded at some of these facilities.  

     

Coronado K-8 School – Irrigation System Upgrades: 

This project is being undertaken to:  

·Correct deficiencies in the existing irrigation system

·To enhance the District’s water management capabilities

·To reduce consumptive water use on the Coronado School campus

·To reduce on-going labor requirements

·To provide higher quality fields and athletic facilities for the school and other facility users, and

·To integrate the Coronado K-8 School irrigation system with a District-wide central control system.

 

At the present time, there are numerous automatic valves in the irrigation system that are not functioning properly.  These valves can be operated manually, but this requires labor that would need to be diverted from other activities.  Alternatively, the subject valves can be left in an inoperable condition, but this results in poor turf grass and unsafe field conditions.  This project will correct the existing deficiencies through the replacement of valves, control wires, controllers, and related equipment. 

 

When completed, all of the irrigation control valves on the campus will be operable and will be controlled by new automatic controllers.  In addition to the automatic operation of the individual irrigation valves and associated sprinkler heads, the new control system will be capable of: 

·            Detecting leaks in the system and providing for an automatic shut down of the supply main(s) when leaks are detected.

·            Transmitting reports to the Grounds Maintenance Department when leaks or other similar events occur, so that personnel can be sent to the campus to make the necessary repairs.

·            Receiving data from a weather station and automatically adjusting the amount of irrigation water applied in response to real-time measurements of temperature, humidity, and natural precipitation.

·            Being seasonally re-programmed from a remote location so that it is not necessary to send a crew to the site to change the operating times for each irrigation valve.

 

Systems of this type have recently been installed at other District campuses (Cross Middle/ Harelson Elementary schools).  Over the past decade, similar systems have been installed at parks, campuses, golf courses, and other large turf grass installations.  Reductions in irrigation water use of up to 30% have been recorded at some of these facilities.   

 

The award to M. Anderson Construction Company will be completed in two phases. Phase one, Amphitheater High School will be funded immediately at a cost of $244,075.00 plus bond cost and applicable tax. On availability of additional funding, the Coronado K-8 Irrigation Improvement Project will be funded at a cost of $75,575.00.  Payment & Performance Bonds of $7,000.00 and Taxes of $16,000.00 will increase the total combined cost of both projects to $342,650.00.

 

The Governing Board awarded a contract to M. Anderson Construction Company for irrigation system improvement projects at Amphitheater High & Coronado K-8 schools based upon RFP number 03-0069 and pursuant to the terms of their proposal.

 

N.         Award of Contract for Medicaid Reimbursement Services Based Upon Responses to Request for Proposal 03-0074

Board Book Information:  A Notice of Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for Medicaid Reimbursement Services was opened on June 25, 2004. The following vendors submitted a response to this proposal; Mecca-Tech, Inc., Southwest Educational Billing Services, Arizona School Health Insurance Programs, Inc., (ASHIP), and DSC Billing Services, (Pinal County School District). 

 

RFP 03-0074 was issued to obtain the services of a qualified company to provide for full administration of the District’s Medicaid in Public Schools (MIPS) program. The successful vendor shall provide a demonstrated commitment to pursue the full claims potential of all health related services as provided by District personnel. In addition the successful vendor shall provide a schedule for training, response times, and the delivery of reimbursement checks.

 

Vendor fees to be submitted as a total sum (or as a flat percentage of District receipts) for all services as described in this RFP. The fee shall include all ancillary charges as applicable.

 

Evaluation Criteria:  Evaluation criteria are listed in the relative order of importance.  The award will be made to the responsible vendor whose proposal is determined to be the most advantageous to the District based upon the following criteria:

3.1 Experience/Expertise and Reliability of Personnel (MIPS Programs).............30%

3.2  Experience/Expertise and Reliability of the Firm (MIPS Programs)  .............28%

3.3  Method of Approach – Ability to Meet District Needs.....................................27%

3.4  Cost......................................................................................................……...15%

 

The evaluators were Ellen Schartz and Judy Longenbaugh, Student Services-Special Education Department. The evaluation of each vendor’s response is attached. The Award of Contract on Governing Board approval will be for a one-year period ending June 30, 2005 with the option to renew by mutual agreement of both parties for four (4) additional one (1) year periods.

The Arizona School District Procurement Code, at R7-2-1045(B) provides:

All other information [other than vendor name] contained in the proposals shall remain confidential so as to avoid disclosure of contents prejudicial to competing offerors during the process of negotiation.  Proposals and modifications shall only be shown to school district personnel having a legitimate interest in them or persons assisting the District in evaluation.

 

The Procurement Code also provides that:

After contract award the proposals shall be made open for public inspection, except to the extent that the withholding of information is permitted or required by law.

 

R7-2-1050(E).  Accordingly, if necessary, the Board may recess the public meeting and convene an executive session to discuss or consider the confidential proposal documents, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(2).

 

Complete and original proposals for each organization listed above are available, by appointment only, for review in the office of the Purchasing Manager. 

 

The Governing Board awarded a contract to Southwest Educational Billing Services for Medicaid Reimbursement Services based upon RFP number 03-0074 and pursuant to the terms of their proposal.

 

PUBLIC HEARING

 

2.       Public Hearing on the 2004-2005 Proposed Expenditure Budget and Capital Outlay Fund Reserve Plan

Board Book Information:  At the June 22, 2004, meeting, the Governing Board proposed a budget for the 2004-2005 school year.  Prior to formal adoption of the budget, the Governing Board is required to hold a public hearing on the proposed budget.

 

The recommended budget in the Board’s material is identical in dollars to the one proposed on June 22, 2004 by the Governing Board.

 

This budget provides for the expenditures necessary for student programs and services as established and directed by the Governing Board.

 

The Expenditure Budget includes the revenue control limit of $68,688,932, augmented by a capital outlay revenue limit of $4,223,565.  $499,000 of the capital outlay revenue limit will be used for unrestricted capital, while the balance of $3,724,565 will remain in M&O.  The M&O budget also includes $4,025,000 for Desegregation, $129,412 for Dropout Prevention, $1,043,000 in projected tuition revenue, and $952,095 for excess utilities.

 

The 2004-2005 Expenditure Budget also provides for a soft capital allocation limit of $4,984,033 and a Classroom Site Fund Budget Limit (Prop 301) of $7,875,552, $4,737,914, which is the Classroom Site Fund allocation for Fiscal year 2004-2005.

 

Ms. Young Wright requested that Dr. Balentine provide an overview for the 2004-2005 Expenditure Budget and Capital Outlay Fund Reserve Plan to be followed by a public hearing during which time citizens are provided an opportunity for comments or questions.

 

Dr. Balentine highlighted expenditure budget information that was visually projected, as follows:

      General Budget Limit Capacity …                                     $80,714,449.

      Total Aggregate School District Budget Limit …                   $98,546,374.

      Unrestricted Capital Outlay …                                  $     869,892.

      Soft Capital Allocation …                                         $  4,984,033.

      Total …                                                                            $86,069,374.

 

She added that efforts are ongoing with the State Department of Education to finalize the District’s student average daily membership (ADA) for the 2003-2004 school year.  This final number will be utilized in the formula necessary to adjust the current 2004-2005 Budget Capacity. It is expected that a budget revision will be necessary once the final number has been determined.  Dr. Balentine stated that the budget capacity described above does meet the expenses, staffing/non-staffing allocations, and departmental budgets.   

 

Additionally, Dr. Balentine said that the final tax rate information is expected to be released mid-August; it is expected that primary and secondary property tax rates will be lowered.  

 

Ms. Young Wright declared the public hearing in session at approximately 7:16 p.m. 

 

Dr. Balentine responded to Board member questions.  She stated that some English Immersion training is available and provided to District teachers.  The current budget (shown above) does incorporate these expenses.  At this time, however, the exact expectations for Mr. Horne’s (Superintendent of Public Instruction) proposed program are not known.  In some instances the reduction of federally funded program allocations are as a result of the program’s cycle and the ending of its term. Many federal programs are being combined and adapted within No Child Left Behind (NCLB); Administration is investigating related funding opportunities.  Many of these funding sources, however, are being offered to districts that are not able to meet NCLB standards.  It has not yet been ascertained how the changes in Title I funding (regarding all-day kindergarten) will impact District capacity – any returned monies will remain within early childhood programs.  

 

Dr. Balentine explained that educational spending must be within categories for which capacity/projection has been created during the budget development process.  Corrections to capacity projections require that Administration submit a budget revision requesting a change in budget capacity in that category.  In May, a budget revision was done to accommodate a change of this type within the Title III category. 

 

There were no public comments or questions.

 

STUDY/ACTION

 

3.       Adoption of the Expenditure Budget for Fiscal Year 2004-2005

Board Book Information:  The State of Arizona requires governing boards to formally approve and adopt an operating budget for the school year immediately following the hearing on the proposed budget.

 

Mr. Grant moved to approve the adoption of the expenditure budget for fiscal year 2004-2005, as presented.  The motion was seconded by Mrs. Clymer and passed unanimously, 4-0.

 

Ms. Young Wright closed the public hearing at 7:27 p.m. 

 

BOARD MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Ms. Clymer will provide an oral report on the ASBA Delegate assembly at a future meeting.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no public comments.    

 

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Mr. Grant, seconded by Mrs. Clymer and passed unanimously, that the meeting be adjourned.  The time was 7:28 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________

Respectfully submitted,

Margaret Harris

 

_________________________________                __________

Ms. Nancy Young Wright, President                   Date