TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2007
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 Williams High School Culinary Arts Classroom. Board members present: Mr. Nenne, Mr. Parenteau, and Mrs. Nelson. Mrs. Cothren and Mr. Stilwell were absent. Also present: Dr. McCraley, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Hudgens, Mrs. Gillespie, Ms. Gebler, Mrs. Schulte and six additional staff members.
SPECIAL MEETING
I. OPENING ITEMS
Ø Mr. Nenne called the meeting to order at 5:33 pm and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to adopt the agenda, second by Mrs. Nelson. Motion approved 3-0.
II. BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
A. School Resource Officer McCarty will present a recap of the March 2, 2007 Critical Incident Drill at Williams High
School
Ø Officer McCarty began his presentation by reviewing information surrounding the critical incident at Columbine High School. He noted that after this occurrence, most law enforcement agencies in the country have developed a plan to deal with this type of incident.
Ø He stated that, with the cooperation of all local law enforcement agencies, emergency services providers, the City of Williams and the Williams School District, a plan was developed. On March 2, a Critical Incident drill was held at Williams High School to test the plan. He presented a video of some of the drill.
Ø Officer McCarty told the Board that although the drill was very successful, certain parts of the Plan would need to be refined. He would like to work with the school administration to iron out some problems encountered in school facilities. He also noted that he would like to conduct a drill at the elementary middle school toward the end of April.
Ø Mr. Nenne asked Officer McCarty to present a list to Dr. McCraley of issues that need to be addressed.
B. Ms. Sandy Roe and Ms. Beth Britton will present information developed by the Health and Wellness Committee
Ø The first meeting of the District Health Index Advisory Committee was held on March 3, 2006. Eight sub-committees were established to review the eight modules of the health index.
Ø Ms. Roe presented information gathered from the Arizona Department of Health Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In 2003, birth rates for local youth were almost twice as high as county or national rates, with the highest percentage in the 15-19 age group. (Williams 79.2% as compared with Coconino County 41.6% and National 41.7%)
Ø Ms. Roe noted that Arizona Youth Partnership, a non-profit group since 1990-funded by grants, is interested in including Williams School District in their Abstinence Only program. The advantage of partnering with AYP is that they will provide, at no cost to the district, the curriculum and staff to implement the program. This program has proven to be effective in many other public schools in Arizona.
Ø Ms. Roe asked the Board if they would be willing to sign a letter of commitment to the program so that our district can be included in the grant application that the Partnership is going to submit in April.
Ø Mr. Nenne stated that he did not feel that the Board could sign a letter a commitment, but would be willing to send a letter of support.
Ø Beth Britton continued the presentation with information about the effects of bullying. Bullying leads to fear and an unsafe school environment as well. Bullying tends to escalate at middle and high school levels. Some of the current student issues at the elementary middle school are alcohol abuse, fighting, spreading of gossip, sexual harassment, intimidation and threatening via the internet. Five of these issues are forms of bullying.
Ø Ms. Britton indicated that currently five committees are working on multiple strategies at multiple levels of intervention. Besides our own school staff members, representatives from the Coconino County Health Department and the Arizona National Guard are working on these issues.
Ø Ms. Britton recommends that the District commit to a comprehensive, systematic approach to teaching life skills to K-12 students, work to include families in the model and convince the community/school to work towards “zero tolerance’ and asset building.
C. Ms. Kate Wamble will report on her recent training at Power School University held in New Orleans, LA
Ø Kate Wamble recently attended a Power School Advanced Learning Summit. She expressed her appreciation to the Board and Administration for allowing her to attend for the second year in a row. She noted her excitement over the quality of the training she received and indicated that she has already used that knowledge to implement some new features for staff use.
Ø Kate demonstrated a couple of the features that were developed in response to staff requests. She intends to continues implementing new features as much as time allows.
Ø She explained that she not only learned a lot, but also made contact with many extremely talented Power School Administrators that are available to answers questions or assist her in any way they can. She, in turn, will assist others in her contact group as needed.
D. Ms. Kristi Fredrickson will present information on Interest Based Negotiations
Ø Ms. Fredrickson noted that she, Ms. Well and Ms. Chavez recently attended an Arizona Education Association (AEA) workshop dealing with teacher bargaining agreements. She was very impressed with an Arizona School Finance presentation given by Mr. Chuck Essigs. She believes it was the best information she has ever gotten from any presentation. She feels that she has always had a fairly good grasp on school finance, but this presentation finally made the truth sink in; there just aren’t any additional funds for schools to work with.
Ø Ms. Fredrickson suggested that the Williams Education Association (WEA) take a look at current procedures and then perhaps work with the Governing Board and administration to develop a bargaining agreement for district policy. She feels it would be very helpful to have this type of policy in place.
Ø Mrs. Nelson asked if Ms. Fredrickson would make a copy of the school finance presentation available to Board members and staff.
Ø Ms. Fredrickson agreed to the request.
Ø Ms. Fredrickson also reported on the recent Education Day she attended at the State Capitol. She felt that it was a very worthwhile experience. She met with two state legislators; Tom O’Halleran and Andy Tobin. Both were very gracious in taking time to speak with her.
Ø In her speech for this Education Day, Governor Napolitano ranked education as a top priority for this year.
III. ACTION ITEMS
A. Discussion and consideration to:
1. approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between WUSD and City of Williams for joint use of recreation
facilities
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to approve the IGA with the City, second by Mrs. Nelson. Motion approved 3-0.
2. approve the WHS Track Schedule for 2007
Ø Motion by Mrs. Nelson to approve the track schedule, second by Mr. Parenteau. Motion approved 3-0.
3. determine if the Board wishes to submit action proposals to ASBA for the 2008 Political Agenda
Ø Board members do not wish to submit any proposals, no action taken.
4. select delegate and alternate delegate to represent WUSD at the ASBA Delegate Assembly on June 23, 2007 in Tempe, Arizona.
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to nominate Mrs. Nelson as the delegate and Mr. Parenteau as alternate, second by Mr. Nenne. Motion approved 3-0.
5. review/revise the proposed 2007-08 District School Calendar
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to approve the 2007-08 School Calendar, Option #3, second by Mrs. Nelson.
Ø Discussion: Ms. Gebler indicated that there is an issue relating to payroll preparation the week of Thanksgiving 2007. The length of time available to prepare payroll will be shortened because of the additional day added to the break. She would like the Board to know that if there is a software or hardware glitch or any other type of delay, payroll might not get completed in time to for paychecks to be distributed to staff before school is dismissed on Tuesday, November 20, 2007.
Ø Mr. Nenne accepted her concern, but asked for and received, an acknowledgement that it is possible to get payroll completed in the shorter time frame.
Ø Motion approved 3-0.
6. approve a Contract between WUSD and Achieve 3000, INC. for on-line educational services that will be available for use by students, parents and administrators
Ø Motion by Mrs. Nelson to table this issue until further information is obtained from Mrs. Hughes, second by Mr. Parenteau. Motion approved 3-0.
7. approve non-renewal of certified staff member (name to be available prior to the meeting)
Ø Motion to approve non-renewal for Mrs. Kristine Williams, 6th grade teacher, second by Mrs. Nelson.
Ø Discussion: Mrs. Williams was hired as the third sixth grade teacher for the second semester only. Projected student count for sixth grade for next school year does not warrant three sixth grade teachers.
Ø Dr. McCraley indicated that Mrs. Williams will be in line for re-hire for the next three years.
Ø Motion approved for non-renewal 3-0.
IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION
A. The Governing Board may vote to enter into Executive Session pursuant to ARS 38-431.03 (A)(1) to discuss personnel:
1. non-renewal of certified staff member
Ø The Board did not choose to enter Executive Session.
B. Return to open session
V. MEETING SUMMARY
Ø Ms. Fredrickson to make a copy of the School Finance presentation available to Board members and staff.
Ø Mrs. Hughes to provide additional information for the Board concerning the Achieve 3000 Agreement at a future Board meeting.
Ø School Resource Officer McCarty to provide a list of facility issues that caused concern during the recent Critical Incident Drill.
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Schools closed on April 20 and 23 unless days are needed to cover snow days. Twelve month employees to work both
days.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to adjourn the meeting, second by Mrs. Nelson. Motion approved 3-0.
Ø Meeting adjourned at 7:24 pm.