HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 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 Regular Meeting of the Williams Unified School District No. 2 Governing Board was held at 6:00 p.m. on the above date at the Williams High School Culinary Arts room. Those present: Board Members: Mrs. Cothren, Mr. Nenne, Mr. Parenteau, Mr. Stilwell and Mr. Barnes. Also present: Dr. McCraley, Mr. Hudgens, Mr. Bridges, Ms. Gebler, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Schulte, five other staff members, eight guests and Russ Walton from the Williams News.
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
I. OPENING ITEMS
Ø Mr. Nenne called the meeting to order at 5:58 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to adopt the agenda, second by Mr. Stilwell. Motion approved 5-0.
II. BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
A. Student Recognition:
Ø Mr. Donny Bridges, Williams Elementary Middle School principal introduced eighth grader Samantha Scott, January Student of the Month and fourth grader Alyssa Gutierrez, February Student of the Month.
B. Staff Recognition:
Ø Mr. Nenne congratulated Mr. Denis Kirkley on his recent appointment to the Coconino Community College Board.
III. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Mr. Bob Kuhn – review of lawsuit against State of Arizona regarding school facilities
Ø Mr. Jack Johnson presented information provided by Mr. Kuhn. Mesa School District has apparently not signed on with the other school districts involved in the suit against the School Facilities Board. Mr. Kuhn has responded to all rebuttals. He asked to be included on the April 12, 2006 agenda, at which time he anticipates having additional information.
B. Mr. Jack Johnson – WEMS evacuation plan
Ø Mr. Jack Johnson, WEMS assistant principal reviewed the WUSD 2005-06 Emergency Plan. He reported on the success of the plan as it was carried out in a recent incident at WEMS. He presented four areas of concern that he feels need to be addressed:
1.) Acquire more reliable communication tools, i.e. cell phones, radios.
2.) Place non-perishable rations in classrooms.
3.) Add the natural gas utility hot-line number to the Emergency Plan list of numbers
4.) Send a letter to parents explaining the procedure they must follow if they want to pick up a student from the evacuation site
C. Mr. Donny Bridges – Kindergarten entrance requirements
Ø Mr. Bridges asked Ms. Julie Grantham, kindergarten teacher, to explain her concern about the age requirement for kindergarten students. She believes that some children, with summer birthdays, are just not ready kindergarten. Most tend to not progress at the same rate as older peers. She requested that the board change the ‘five by’ date from September 1 to May 31.
Ø Mr. Nenne explained that the board does not have the authority to change statute in this fashion. He and other board members recommended that additional testing of students be explored, followed by parent conferences to explain the results of the testing and possibly make a recommendation about delaying entrance to kindergarten. Also, consider alternative programs for these children.
D. Dr. Thomas McCraley – Valle property
Ø Dr. McCraley noted that Mr. Parenteau located that additional 15 acres the district owns in the Valle area. It is located in Grand Canyon Subdivision Unit 16. He provided pictures of both the 15 and 12 acre parcels.
Ø The district has been offered three acres adjacent to the 12 owned by the district at the junction of Hwy. 64 and 180. Fifteen acres would be preferable, if the district feels the need to construct an elementary school in the area in the future.
Ø The board directed Dr. McCraley to continue to explore the possibility of acquiring the additional three acres.
IV. REPORTS
A. Elementary/Middle School Principal’s Report
B. High School Principal’s Report
C. Special Services Director’s Report
D. CTE Director’s Report
E. Technology Director’s Report
F. Maintenance Supervisor’s Report
G. Community Learning Center Director’s Report
b. SOAR Site Coordinator’s Report
c. Family/Community Outreach Report
d. Community Prevention Coordinator’s Report
H. District Data Coordinator’s Report
I. Nurse’s Report
J. Business Manager’s Report
K. Superintendent’s Report
Ø Dr. McCraley reported that both Mr. Bridges and Mr. Hudgens are working with staff on the 06-07 budget. Because no one yet knows what the actual revenue will be, the principals are planning for 0% growth in their proposed budgets. Adjustments can be made when information is received from the state. All districts are closely following HB 2830, which if passed, will have a significant impact on funding.
V. CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Visitors are provided time to make statements to the Board. Those wishing to do so please complete a “Request to Address the Board” form and return it to the Board President. Statements should be limited to no more than 5 minutes. Please keep in mind that the Board cannot take action on comments, questions, or concerns at this time.
Ø Mr. Denis Kirkley, WHS math instructor and vice president of the Arizona Association of Teachers of Mathematics, announced that a 6th grade math challenge will be held at WHS on Saturday, April 1, 2006 beginning at 9 a.m. He invited board members to stop by and watch the competition. Student mathematicians from throughout Arizona will participate.
VI. *CONSENT AGENDA
Note: All or individual items may be pulled from the consent agenda and discussed individually.
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of D-2, second by Mr. Barnes. Motion approved 5-0.
A. *Approve Minutes:
1. February 8, 2006 regular meeting
2. February 22, 2006 special meeting
B. *District Financial Reports:
1. District Financial report
2. Tax Credit Fees report
3. Lunch report
4. WEMS Activity/Auxiliary Fund for January (reconciled)
5. WHS Activity/Auxiliary Fund for January (reconciled)
C. *Consideration to Ratify Vouchers:
Payroll #16……$175,278.84 Expense #1072……$63,136.19 Expense #1074…..$23,383.12
Payroll #17…… 181,432.22 Expense #1073.…… 62,040.59 Expense #1075….. 1,533.32
D. *Personnel issues:
1. resignation:
a. Rashelle Cupp, WEMS Planning Room Aide
2. exception: volunteers:
WHS Track - Ron Stilwell John Joy Matt Meiers
Doug McGlothlin Tristen Heisley
E. *Consideration to approve out-of-state/overnight trips:
1. Ms. Traci Bunker and Williams students to participate in Annual Health and Fitness River Trip from
Bluff to Mexican Hat, Utah March 31 through April 3, 2006.
2. WHS Class of 2006 and sponsors to Southern California May 18-21, 2006 for annual senior trip.
3. Sheldon White and students to Phoenix on April 11-13, 2006 for Skills USA Competition/State Conference.
EXECPTION
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to approve the track volunteers with request to Dr. McCraley to establish procedures for approval of sports volunteers, second by Mr. Parenteau. Motion approved 4-0 with Mr. Stilwell abstaining.
VII. ACTION ITEMS
A. Discussion and consideration to designate the Williams Police Department as sole-source provider for Student
Resource Services for 2005-06.
Ø Mr. Nenne welcomed and introduced Williams Police Chief Herman Nixon and invited him to present his viewpoint of the current School Resource Officer program.
Ø Chief Nixon indicated that he highly supports the concept of the SRO. He would like to continue the program ‘as is’ for the rest of the school year and look at making some adjustments for next year. He believes that having one specific School Resource Officer, rather than rotating among several officers, is critical to the success of the program. He stated that the officer chosen for that position for next year will have completed the SRO training prior to his assignment to the schools. He would also like to pursue placing an SRO on each campus.
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to designate Williams Police Department as sole-source provider for School Resource Services for 2005-06, second by Mr. Barnes. Motion approved 5-0.
B. Discussion and consideration to approve creation of Assistant Cafeteria Manager position in Class 4 on the
Classified Staff Salary Schedule and change status of Cokie Walker from kitchen aide to Assistant Cafeteria
Manager, effective March 9, 2006.
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to approve Assistant Manager position and change status of Cokie Walker from cafeteria aide to Assistant Manager., second by Mr. Parenteau.
Ø Mrs. Cothren asked if the increase in revenue this year is sustainable for next year. Mrs. Schulte, cafeteria manager, referred to several changes in cafeteria operations that have fueled the revenue increase. She believes that the increase will continue into next year.
Ø Mr. Nenne called for a vote. Motion approved 5-0.
C. Consideration to accept donations:
1. Rotary Club of Williams - $100.00 to the WEMS Read Across America Program.
2. Williams Needs an Angel Committee – sixteen pieces of equipment for the WES playground.
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to accept the donations and send a thank you letter to both groups, second by Mr. Barnes. Motion approved 5-0.
D. Discussion and consideration to approve a request from Dr. Jim MacAvoy to terminate his contract with the
district.
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to approve the request for contract termination, second by Mr. Barnes. Motion approved 5-0.
E. Discussion and consideration to approve ratification of trip approval for Mrs. Wells and softball team travel to
Wickenburg, Arizona on March 3-4, 2006 for a softball tournament.
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to ratify approval of trip for Mrs. Wells and softball team, second by Mr. Stilwell.
Ø Dr. McCraley explained that although this trip is listed on the softball schedule, the schedule has not been formally approved by the board. He recommended that the board approve all sports schedules at the beginning of each season, therefore eliminating the need for board approval for each out of state trip.
Ø Mr. Nenne presented the spring sports (softball, baseball, golf and track) schedules to the board.
Ø Mrs. Cothren amended her motion to include approval of the 2005-06 spring sports schedules, second for the amended motion by Mr. Stilwell. Motion approved 5-0.
F. Discussion and consideration to move forward on land issue at Valle, AZ.
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to move forward on land issue and request that Dr. McCraley obtain asking price for the parcel, second by Mr. Barnes. Motion approved 5-0.
G. Discussion and consideration to approve first reading of 2006-07 school calendar.
Ø Mr. Hudgens explained that most staff selected option 2 as their choice for the 2006-07 school calendar.
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to approve first reading, second by Mr. Parenteau. Motion approved 5-0.
Ø Additional comments on the proposed calendar will be accepted at the April 12, 2006 meeting. Final action may take place at that meeting.
H. Discussion and consideration to approve request from Steve Hudgens to allow WHS upperclassmen, who have
already passed the math portion of the AIMS test, to be excused from school on April 4, 2006. This is the date of the AIMS
math testing.
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to approve the request from Mr. Hudgens, second by Mr. Parenteau.
Ø Mr. Hudgens and Mr. Kirkley commented on the reasons for asking that some students to be allowed to miss school on April 4, 2006.
Ø Board members responded with their concerns about telling parents that students don’t have to attend school.
Ø Mr. Nenne called for a vote. Motion failed 2-3.
I. Discussion and consideration to approve an Agreement with Education Services Incorporated (ESI) for Employee
Staffing Services.
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to approve the agreement, second by Mrs. Cothren. Motion approved 5-0.
J. Discussion and consideration to approve dates and times of future meetings:
1. March 22, 2006, special meeting/work session at 5:30 p.m.
2. April 12, 2006, regular monthly meeting at 6:00 p.m.
3. April 26, 2006, special meeting/work session at 5:30 p.m.
Ø Mr. Stilwell asked if there is a possibility that the special meeting/work session meeting date be changed from Wednesday to Tuesday or Thursday. Dr. McCraley asked that this issue be placed on the April 12, 2006 agenda for action.
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to approve the April 12, 2006 regular meeting, second by Mr. Parenteau. Motion approved 5-0.
VIII. REVIEW OF ASSIGNMENTS
Ø send letter of thanks to those donating
Ø review areas of concern presented by Mr. Johnson in reference to the Emergency Plan
Ø develop procedures for approval of sports volunteers
Ø pursue details of offer of land at Valle
Ø add discussion and consideration to change the date of the second meeting of the month to the April 12, 2006 agenda.
Ø include Mr. Bob Kuhn on the April 12, 2006 agenda to report on the SFB lawsuit.
IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ø WUSD Spring Break will be March 20-24, 2006.
X. ADJOURNMENT
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to adjourn the meeting, second by Mr. Parenteau. Motion approved 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.