HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2006
The vision of the Williams Unified School District is to place each child in the best position
to succeed intellectually, academically, emotionally, physically, and socially.
A Special Meeting/ Work Session of the Williams Unified School District No. 2 Governing Board was held at 5:30 p.m. on the above date at the Williams High School Culinary Arts Room. Those present: Board Members: Mr. Nenne, Mr. Parenteau, Mrs. Cothren, Mr. Stilwell and Mr. Barnes. Also present: Dr. McCraley, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Hudgens, Ms. Gebler, Mrs. Schulte, three staff members and thirteen guests.
SPECIAL MEETING
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
I. OPENING ITEMS
Ø Mr. Nenne called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to adopt the agenda, second by Mrs. Cothren. Motion approved 5-0.
II. BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
A. Student presentation:
1. Williams High School Academic Decathlon students to present speeches prepared for competition.
Ø Mr. Dan Ayub, Academic Decathlon sponsor, introduced eight WHS students, who then presented speeches
prepared for an upcoming competition. Topics ranged from Global Warming to Relationship Brutality and
Cell Phone Use to Bullying. Students participating included:
1. Monica Leigh Scobee 5. Ariana Renee Tobin
2. DeAnn L. Keith 6. Whitley L. Hatcher
3. Julius Janson 7. Elizabeth S. Provence
4. Kevin M. Kirkley 8. Elizabeth F. Martin
III. ACTION ITEM
A. Consideration to reschedule the Special Meeting/Work Session from February 22, 2006 to February 15, 2006.
Ø A request was made to reschedule the February 22, 2006 meeting in order to accommodate a presentation by
Cindy Daniels regarding the Reading First Grant.
Ø Several board members were unable to rearrange their schedules in order to be present on February 15, 2006.
Ø No action taken. Meeting will be held on February 22 as originally scheduled.
B. Consideration of change of status for Christine Gregory from substitute bus driver to route driver.
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to approve change of status for Christine Gregory, second by Mr. Parenteau.
Motion approved 5-0.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to adjourn the Special Meeting, second by Mr. Parenteau. Motion approved 5-0.
Special Meeting adjourned at 6:19 p.m.
BOARD WORK SESSION
Those present: Board Members: Mr. Nenne, Mr. Parenteau, Mrs. Cothren, Mr. Stilwell and Mr. Barnes. Also present: Dr. McCraley, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Hudgens, Ms. Gebler, Mrs. Schulte, seven staff members and two guests.
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
I. OPENING ITEMS
Ø Mr. Nenne called the meeting to order at 6:19 p.m.
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to adopt the agenda, second by Mr. Parenteau. Motion approved 5-0.
II. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. ASBA Policy Advisory #264 – JL – Student Wellness
1. Beth Britton – Comprehensive Health Plan
Ø Beth Britton, Community Learning Center Director, introduced Traci Bunker, an employee of Coconino
County Health Department and Program Coordinator of the Williams Community Health Project.
Ø Mrs. Britton began by explaining that each school district in Arizona has received a mandate to adopt and
implement a Student Wellness policy that primarily addresses nutrition and physical activity. However,
because of statistics gathered through several student and parent surveys completed in the last 2-4 years, it
appears imperative that the Williams policy include other aspects of health and wellness, such as alcohol and
drug prevention, sexual responsibility, and mental health. A coordinated school health program should
include interactive components that will work toward maintaining the total well-being of the youth of the
community. Some of those components could be a healthy school environment, family/community
involvement, and health education.
Ø Ms. Britton reviewed the statistics from the surveys mentioned above.
Ø Ms. Bunker presented facts concerning obesity trends among U.S. adults from 1991, 1996, and 2004.
HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2006
Ø Both Ms. Britton and Ms. Bunker offered their assistance and encouraged the board to take a pro-active
approach in developing a comprehensive district wellness policy. They suggested that a broad-based
committee be formed to begin working on the issue.
Ø ASBA has developed a basic Student Wellness policy for Arizona schools and this policy will be presented
to the board at the February 8, 2006 meeting for a first reading.
B. Utility Easement request from the City of Williams
Ø Dr. McCraley explained that Dennis Wells, Williams City Manager presented an agreement between
WUSD, The City of Williams and Arizona Public Service requesting a Utility Easement on district owned
property.
Ø The board asked that Mr. Wells be invited to the February 8 meeting to discuss the easement issue and also
the ownership of the property in question.
Ø The Utility Easement proposal will be brought before the board on February 8 for action.
C. WES playground maintenance program
Ø Dr. McCraley presented a request from the Angel Committee asking WUSD to commit to the maintenance
of the new WES playground equipment, once it is installed, and the surrounding area.
Ø Members asked to be informed if there are any changes to the original plan that was approved by the board
last school year. Mr. Nenne asked Dr. McCraley to contact the Angel Committee to request an update on the
process for completing the elementary playground, now that the funds are available.
Ø The playground plan will be available at the February 8 meeting as a point of reference.
Ø The Playground Maintenance Plan will be brought before the board at the February 8 meeting for action.
D. 2006-07 budgeting process
Ø Dr. McCraley explained his budgeting process plan for 2006-07 school.
- he will ask the business manager to present current budget figures to supervisors in all areas
- each supervisor will be required to review the budget figures (principals will be asked to do
this with a committee from their school)
- each supervisor will prepare a proposed budget for next year
- a district budget committee will review the proposals
- a meet and confer team will review salary schedules, including the extra-duty schedule
Ø Dr. McCraley feels that school personnel know best what is needed in each of their specific areas.
E. Signing of payroll/expense vouchers
Ø Ms. Gebler explained that because of the new Visions financial system, the vouchers for payroll and
accounts payable are not printed out until the process is finished. Therefore, the vouchers will
no longer be signed in advance by two board members, with the final signature added after the voucher
is completed. Instead, the vouchers will now be signed by all board members after the voucher is done.
Ø Some concern was expressed that board members should still review the actual invoices on a regular basis.
Ø Members agree to review a printed voucher report and then look at the invoices if there is any question about
an expenditure.
F. Professional/Support Staff Leave (Leave Buyback Section)
Ø Members revisited the proposed change in the leave buyback section of district policy. Ms. Fredrickson,
WEA president, expressed concern about some wording in the proposed change. Her concern has to do with
the issue of retirement leave buyback.
Ø Discussion ensued regarding various areas of the proposed policy. Board members asked that the following
be added to the policy and the policy presented at the February 8 meeting for action.
- everyone retiring from the district be required to notify the business office one year in advance of the planned retirement.
- everyone retiring from the district be allowed a minimum of 50% of the lowest current substitute rate for each day of accumulated leave
- the payout for leave buyback does not have to be paid in the current fiscal year and a payout schedule can be established in agreement with the employee
- wording of implementation dates to be changed to phases: i.e. 2006 – Phase 1, 2007 – Phase 2,
2008 - Phase 3
- the Governing Board reserves the right to review the leave buyback program at the end of the first year to determine the financial implications to the budget and the right to move to Phase 2 or discontinue the program.
III. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. ASBA Legislative Forum in Phoenix on March 1 and 2, 2006.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
Ø Motion by Mr. Barnes to adjourn the meeting, second by Mr. Stilwell. Motion approved 5-0. Work Session
adjourned at 8:26 p.m.