AMPHITHEATER
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Tucson,
Arizona
MINUTES OF
SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING OF GOVERNING BOARD
Place, Date and Time
of Meeting
701 West Wetmore Road, May 14, 2001, 5:38 p.m.
Board Members Present
Nancy Young Wright, Vice President/Clerk – Presiding
Dr. Kent Barrabee, Member
Mary Schuh, Member – Acting Clerk
Board Members Absent
Dr. Kenneth Smith,
President
Mike Prout, 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
OPENING OF MEETING
Call to Order
and Signing of Visitors Register
Ms. Young Wright called the meeting to order and asked
members of the audience to sign the visitors register.
1. Motion to Recess Open Meeting and Hold an
Executive Session
Ms. Young Wright announced that the Board would recess open
meeting and hold an executive session for:
A. Discussion and Consultation with Representatives of the Governing Board Regarding Negotiations with Employee Organizations Regarding Salaries, Salary Schedules, or Other Compensation, Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(5) Regarding Administrative, Classified, and Other Professional Non-Teaching Employee Negotiations for 2001-2002 Contract Year.
A motion was made by Dr. Barrabee, seconded by Mrs. Schuh and passed unanimously, 3-0, that the Board recess into executive session. The time was 5:40 p.m.
OPEN SESSION
Reconvening of Meeting and Signing of
Visitors Register
Following the executive session, Ms. Young Wright reconvened
the meeting at 6:57 p.m.
Dr. Balentine led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Alan Maness spoke regarding representation of classified employees by Amphi Education Association.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Mrs. Schuh, seconded by Dr. Barrabee
and passed unanimously, 3-0, to approve consent agenda items A, B and C.
A.
Leave(s)
of Absence
Administrative and classified personnel were granted
leaves of absence, as listed in Exhibit 1.
B.
Approval
of Out-of-State Travel
Out-of-state travel was approved (source of funding indicated): Marc Sabb, Canyon del Oro High School, to attend Astronomy Workshop – Curriculum Development at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania in May (Title II funds to cover transportation and car rental; Mr. Sabb, additional expenses).
C.
Call
for Bids: District Carpet Cleaning at
Various Locations
Each year district-wide carpet cleaning is scheduled during the summer when schools are not in session. Some schools elect to have this work outsourced. Approximate square-footage to be cleaned initially is 357,000 square feet, with the District reserving the right to add or reduce areas to be cleaned as necessary. The Board approved the call for bids for district carpet cleaning at various locations.
2. Approval of Contracts for 2001-2002 for
Certificated Employee Group, Including Career Ladder, Part-Time and Short-Term
Personnel
Board book information: On May 8, 2001, the Governing Board approved the salary and fringe benefits package for the Certificated Employee Group. Forms of contract to be issued to Certificated Group employees for the 2001-2002 fiscal year were presented. The administration recommended approval and issuance of the appropriate contracts to renewing members of the Certificated Employee Group.
Dr. Balentine stated that as Proposition 301 was approved by the voters, all school districts and attorneys for school districts throughout the state have been communicating with one another regarding the need to address language in the contracts that delineates how things would be handled in the direst of circum-stances. She stated that even though such language is contained in District contracts, she wanted the Board to be aware that if we were in a situation where Proposition 301 funding was under-received, she would recommend the Board look to budget cuts and solutions before such an outcome would be elected.
Joann Benoit, Karyn Vick, John Lewandowski, Andy Morales and Rhonda Ball addressed the Board regarding 301 contract language. Dr. Balentine clarified that the contract language is not a negotiated item; the agreement is negotiated. The Superintendent will provide information to the Board regarding Career Ladder teachers, their placement on the salary schedule, and how they could be impacted by Proposition 301. Mr. Jaeger confirmed that the contract language does recognize that 301 funds are accorded to teachers, and provides that if the funds do not come to fruition, the Board may need to make reductions accordingly.
A motion was made by Dr. Barrabee to accept the recommendation for approval and issuance of contracts to renewing members of the Certified Employee Group, including Career Ladder, part-time and short-term personnel. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Schuh and passed unanimously, 3-0.
3. Confirmation of Negotiated Salary and Fringe Benefits Package for Other Professional Non-Teaching Group for 2001-2002 Fiscal Year and Approval of Contracts for 2001-2002
On May 8, 2001, the Governing Board approved the salary and fringe benefits package for the Other Professional Non-Teaching Group, which includes district psychologists, social workers, and other staff. While agreement with this group had been reached, the written-agreement language for the group had not been prepared as of the May 8 Board meeting. Accordingly, this agenda item was for the purpose of confirming the terms of the agreement with the Other Professional Non-Teaching Group. Those terms were presented, as well as the form of contract that will be issued to the group for the 2001-2002 fiscal year.
The administration recommended confirmation and approval of
the 2001-2002 Other Professional Non-Teaching Group salary and fringe benefits
compensation package tentatively approved through the meet and confer
process. In addition, the
administration recommended approval and issuance of contracts to members of the
Other Professional Non-Teaching Group.
Mrs. Schuh moved the confirmation of the negotiated salary
and fringe benefits package for the Other Professional Non-Teaching Group for
the 2001-2002 fiscal year, and approval of contracts for 2001-2002. The motion was seconded by Dr. Barrabee and
passed unanimously, 3-0.
4. Approval of Negotiated Salary and Fringe Benefits Package for Classified Group for 2001-2002 Fiscal Year
The District and Amphitheater Education Association (AEA), through the meet and confer process, had come to agreement on a salary and fringe benefits compensation package for the District’s Classified Employee Group for the 2001-2002 fiscal year. The classified employee package includes step movement for all current employees and an increase of 2% to the schedule levels. In addition, a substantial fringe benefits package is provided to eligible employees. Amphi E.A. had confirmed that this could be taken forward at this Board meeting. The administration recommended approval of the 2001-2002 Classified Employee Group salary and fringe benefits compensation package tentatively agreed to through the meet and confer process.
The following persons addressed the Board regarding
representation of classified employees/ratification of agreement: Mark Cavendish (Amphi E. A. negotiator for
classified employees), Andy Morales, John Lewandowski, Claudia Gary, Dolly Pivonka.
A motion was made by Mrs. Schuh to approve the negotiated salary and fringe benefits package for the Classified Group for the 2001-2002 fiscal year. The motion was seconded by Dr. Barrabee and passed unanimously, 3-0.
5. Approval of Negotiated Salary and Fringe Benefits Package for Classified Exempt Group for 2001-2002 Fiscal Year
The Classified Exempt Group consists of approximately fifteen classified employees who work in a confidential or supervisory capacity. They are exempt from participation in the formal negotiations group; as a result, they are unrepresented.
The District and AEA had reached a tentative settlement for the 2001-2002 fiscal year for represented classified personnel. The classified employee package includes step movement for all current employees and an increase of 2% to the schedule levels. In addition, a substantial fringe benefits package is provided to eligible employees. Discussions with the Classified Exempt Group had resulted in an agreement that they receive the same terms and conditions of the package tentatively agreed to for the represented classified employees.
The administration recommended that the Classified Exempt Employee Group receive the same terms and conditions of salary and fringe benefits for the 2001-2002 fiscal year that were approved by the Board for the represented Classified Employee Group.
Mrs. Schuh moved approval of the negotiated salaries and fringe benefits package for the Classified Exempt Group for fiscal year 2001-2002. The motion was seconded by Dr. Barrabee and passed unanimously,
3-0.
6. Approval of Negotiated Salary and Fringe Benefits Package for Administrative Employee Group for 2001-2002 Fiscal Year and Approval of Contracts for 2001-2002
The Superintendent and the Amphitheater Leadership Association had concluded the meet and confer process concerning the administrative salary and fringe benefits package for the 2001-2002 fiscal year.
Terms include movement of one step for administrators on the
administrative salary schedule, after re-adjustment of the schedule to create
even 2% steps, ensuring the placement of administrators after re-adjustment to
equal a 2% average increase. Additionally,
administrators will receive the same amount
toward fringe benefits, with the same breakdown as for certified
employees: if an employee is a partial
FTE, the coverage decreases accordingly.
The administration recommended approval of the 2001-2002
Administrative Employee Group salary and fringe benefits compensation package
tentatively approved through the meet and confer process. In addition, the administration recommended
approval and issuance of contracts to renewing members of the Administrative
Employee Group. Dr. Balentine proposed that
administrators be placed on the new salary schedule at the closest step to a 2%
raise, with a minimum of 1.5% increase.
Andy Morales addressed the Board regarding the
administrative salary schedule/contracts.
Dr. Barrabee moved to approve the negotiated salary and
fringe benefits package for the Administrative Employee Group for the 2001-2002
fiscal year, and to approve the contracts for 2001-2002. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Schuh. Ms. Young Wright stated her vote of
non-support would be because of the process followed, of her belief that more
time was needed to consider this item.
The motion passed 2-1, with Ms. Young Wright voting no.
7. Approval of Negotiated Salary and Fringe Benefits Package for Administrative Exempt Employee Group for 2001-2002 Fiscal Year and Approval of Contracts for 2001-2002
The Administrative Exempt Employee Group includes confidential and/or senior administrative staff not represented by the Amphitheater Leadership Association. The form of contract to be issued to the Administrative Exempt employees for the 2001-2002 fiscal year was presented.
The administration recommended approval of the 2001-2002
Administrative Exempt Employee Group salary and fringe
benefits compensation package. In
addition, the administration recommended approval and issuance of contracts to
renewing members of the Administrative Exempt Employee Group.
Andy Morales addressed the Board regarding the
compensation package.
Dr. Barrabee moved approval of the negotiated salary and fringe benefits package for the Administrative Exempt Group for the 2001-2002 fiscal year, and approval of contracts for 2001-2002. Ms. Young Wright stated that her nay vote would be for the reason stated for the previous agenda item. The motion passed, 2-1, with Ms. Young Wright voting no.
8. 2000-2001
Budget Revision #2 – Correction of Error
At its May 8, 2001 meeting, the Governing Board approved the second revision of the budget for the 2000-2001 school year. On May 9, 2001, it was discovered that the unrestricted capital budget limit of $794,952, rather than the available spendable unrestricted capital outlay fund of $1,194,952, had been carried forward to budget page three and the cover page. This was a clerical error and did not change the substance of the budget or its amendment. Staff had contacted the Arizona Department of Education, inquiring if there was a remedy other than resubmitting the amendment. No response had been received; therefore, per A.R.S. § 15-905E, it was necessary for the Governing Board to adopt a corrected, revised budget for the current year that incorporates the adjustments and correction into the District’s budget capacity. This revision does not change planned expenditures for District programs and services as provided in the original adopted budget approved by the Governing Board.
It was the recommendation of the administration that the Governing Board approve the second revision of the 2000-2001 budget as corrected for clerical error.
A motion was made by Mrs. Schuh to approve the second revision to the 2000-2001 budget. The motion was seconded by Dr. Barrabee and passed unanimously, 3-0.
Ms. Young Wright:
Update on Proposition 301 at a future Board meeting.
The following persons addressed the Board regarding the negotiations process and Proposition 301 funds: Claudia Gary, John Lewandowski, David Quinn, Andy Morales. Board members expressed their appreciation for all those who had participated in the negotiations process.
A motion was made by Mrs. Schuh, seconded by Dr. Barrabee and passed unanimously, 3-0, that the meeting be adjourned. The time was 8:45 p.m.