HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 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 of the Williams Unified School District No. 2 Governing Board was held at 5:30 p.m. on the above date at the office of the Williams High School Culinary Arts room. Board members present: Mr. Nenne, Mr. Barnes and Mr. Stilwell. Mrs. Cothren and Mr. Parenteau were absent. Also present: Mr. Bridges, Mr. Hudgens, Mrs. Hughes, Ms. Gebler, Mrs. Gillespie, Mrs. Daniels, Mrs. Schulte, seven guests and Russ Walton from Williams News.
SPECIAL MEETING
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
I. OPENING ITEMS
Ø Mr. Nenne called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ø Mr. Nenne welcomed and introduced the special guests:
§ From Ash Fork School District:
- Mr. Gary Spiker, Superintendent
- Mr. Joshua Cain, Governing Board member
- Ms. Evelina Carmona, Governing Board secretary
§ From Seligman School District:
- Mr. Todd Kissick, Superintendent
- Mr. Lee Vaughn, Governing Board President
- Mrs. Maxine Howington, Governing Board member
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to adopt the agenda, second by Mr. Barnes. Motion approved 3-0.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Reading First Grant, presentation by Cindy Daniels
Ø Cindy Daniels, district consultant, presented information on the Reading First Grant (RF) that she plans to submit by Monday, February 27, 2006. Listed below are highlights from her presentation:
1. The first step to improving student progress in reading is about changing beliefs about who can achieve and
then changing practices to reflect those beliefs.
2. Reading First is an NCLB funded Federal Program whose goal is to have every child an on-level reader by the
end of third grade.
3. RF grants are highly competitive; therefore forming a Consortium with Ash Fork and Seligman (I-40
Reading First Consortium) greatly improves chances of receiving a grant by:
- giving a competitive edge in the application process
- providing for sharing of required staff, i.e. Program Coordinator, reading
coaches, Assessment Coordinator and Professional Development
providers
- providing better opportunity for self-monitoring
4. If funded, the I-40 Consortium must meet several requirements:
- Adopt a Core Reading Program approved by ADE
- Implement the Core with complete fidelity
- Monitor progress frequently with DIBELS
- Participate in all required ADE sponsored professional development
- Implement protected blocks of time for instruction/intervention
- Participate in ADE and NCLB monitoring and report annual testing/assessment results
- Have a clear commitment to the requirements of the grant from all staff involved
5. In closing, Ms. Daniels stated that it is riskier to stay where you are than to make substantive change.
Ø Mr. Nenne called for a short recess at 6:10 p.m. to allow the guests, visiting from other districts, to depart.
Ø Mr. Nenne reconvened the meeting at 6:18 p.m.
B. Purchase option for land in Valle, AZ.
Ø Mr. Nenne explained that approximately ten years ago the Governing Board, seated at the time, participated in a land exchange in Valle, Arizona. Valle is a growing community located north of town within the Williams School district boundaries. At the time of the exchange, an option was offered for purchase of an additional three acres adjacent to district property. Although the time limit on the option has passed, the owner of the property has offered the property to the district once again. Because current board member Parenteau, who was also on the board at the time of the exchange, is absent, Mr. Nenne deferred the discussion to a future meeting.
III. ACTION ITEMS
A. Consideration to approve submission of the Reading First Grant.
Ø Motion by Mr. Barnes to approve and fully support the formation of the I-40 Reading First Consortium and its efforts to
acquire Reading First funding through submission of the Reading First Grant application, second by Mr. Stilwell. Motion
approved 3-0.
B. Consideration to approve action to move forward on the land issue in Valle.
Ø No action at this time. Dr. McCraley is asked to obtain additional pertinent information about this issue and present same to board at the March 8, 2006 regular meeting.
C. Consideration to approve extended teaching assignment for Anna Torrez to facilitate Upward Bound Nights through 21st Century Grant.
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to approve assignment for Ms. Torrez, second by Mr. Barnes. Motion approved 3-0.
D. Discussion and consideration to approve second reading of Policy IKF – Graduation Requirements
Ø Motion by Mr. Barnes to approve second reading and adopt Policy IKF, second by Mr. Stilwell. Motion approved 3-0.
E. Discussion and consideration to approve second reading of Policy GCCA – Professional/Support Staff Leave (Leave Buyback
portion)
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to approve second reading and adopt Policy GCCA, second by Mr. Barnes. Motion approved 3-0.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ø The WHS Winter Sports Banquet and Awards Night potluck will be on Thursday, February 23, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. in the WHS Culinary Arts classroom.
Ø Prior to the regular March 8, 2006 meeting, board members may visit the Williams Elementary Middle School at 5:00 p.m. to view the 21st Century Grant Programs and the school boundary lines.
Ø Mr. Stilwell expressed appreciation to Mr. Bridges, Mr. Johnson and staff for the orderly evacuation of WEMS due to a natural gas leak on property near the school grounds.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Ø Motion by Mr. Barnes to adjourn the meeting, second by Mr. Stilwell. Motion approved 3-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.