TUESDAY, MAY 22, 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, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Cothren, Mr. Stilwell and Mr. Parenteau. Also present: Dr. McCraley, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Hudgens, Mrs. Gillespie, Ms. Gebler, and Mrs. Schulte.
SPECIAL MEETING
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
I. OPENING ITEMS
Ø Mr. Nenne called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm 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. *CONSENT AGENDA
Note: All or individual items may be pulled from the consent agenda and discussed individually.
Ø Motion by Mrs. Nelson to approve the Consent Agenda as presented, second by Mr. Stilwell. Motion approved 5-0.
A. *Consideration to approve personnel issues:
1. employment:
a. SOAR Summer Program staff
-Sue Davis, Site Coordinator, aide and -Robert Farrell, aide
snack program -Jessica Hupp, aide
-Dayle Browning, Asst. Site Coordinator, aide -Chesney Grantham, aide
and snack program -Judith Robillard, aide
-Elizabeth Braden, aide -Terika Brammann, aide
-Jewelie Ramos, aide -Andrea Jensen, sub aide
b. Summer School Staff
WHS
-Dan Ayub
-Jessica Heisley
-Tristan Heisley
2. resignation:
a. April Dent, Reading First Interventionist
b. Debra Hoyle, middle school resource teacher
c. Crystal Gonzalez, Reading First aide
3. extended assignments:
a. Dana Dunn, Family Reading Night
b. Larry Gutshall, revision/completion of Industrial Manufacturing curriculum
c. Angel Atencio, revision/completion of Business Management/Administrative Services curriculum
d. Jeanne Gillespie, revision/completion of Culinary Arts curriculum
4. change of status:
a. Chris Sanders, cafeteria clerk and Janice Rodriguez, cafeteria worker, will change jobs,
beginning August 2007. Ms. Sanders will work 3-4.5 hours per day as a worker and Ms.
Rodriguez will work 6 hours per day as the clerk.
b. Christine Wheeler - WEMS Secretary/Registrar, increase term of employment from 10 to 12 months.
c. Robert Farrell, Special Education Counselor – increase term of employment from part-time school year employment to full-time school year employment.
B. *Consideration to approve Contractual Agreements, submission of Grant Applications and acceptance of Grants:
1. approve MOA between WUSD and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and direct Gary Berger to act as
the district contract person when referring disabled students for adult services.
2. approve IGA with other Arizona school districts to continue the State School Finance System Challenge.
3. accept Arizona Department of Transportation Grant in the amount of $39,000 for A Safe Routes to School
Program (SRTS) (see information included with Action Item A-4)
4. approve year two of four of the ASBA Policy Services and CCIPSS Agreement, noting that multi-year
agreements are subject to renewal on a yearly basis
5. approve IGA with NACOG for meals for Headstart for 2007-08
6. approve continued association with Arizona State Procurement Office through the annual renewal of
membership, as required by Arizona State Statute
7. approve Cooperative Purchase Agreement (CPA) with Mohave Educational Services Cooperative (MESC)
III. ACTION ITEMS
A. Discussion and consideration to:
1. approve increase in District portion of employee insurance benefit from $279.00 to $420.00
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to approve increase in employee insurance benefit amount, second by Mrs. Cothren.
Ø Discussion: Dr. McCraley indicated that Ms. Gebler projected that the anticipated 2% increase in state funding for next year will allow the District to increase the insurance benefit. He also stated that the issue was discussed at a Meet and Confer Committee meeting and the members in attendance agreed to the increase. Information concerning use of new money for the benefit increase was later presented to staff. A majority of high school staff voiced agreement, but WEMS staff was a little less supportive. A major concern was that not all employees will benefit from the increase in insurance benefits; namely those who do not sign up for insurance coverage through the District. A suggestion was made that those not taking the insurance be given an amount equal to the increase. This suggestion was not approved.
Ø Mr. Parenteau noted that in years past, the emphasis was placed on increasing salaries rather than keeping employee benefits up to a sufficient level, causing many eligible employees to decline insurance coverage through the district.
Ø Dr. McCraley reported that he believes the legislature may approve additional funds for salaries, but he is just not sure what the restrictions will be on the use of the money.
Ø Mrs. Cothren suggested that the Board start dealing with insurance issues earlier next year.
Ø Motion passed 5-0.
2. approve Performance Pay for eligible certified staff
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to approve payment, second by Mrs. Nelson.
Ø Discussion: Mr. Bridges and Mr. Hudgens reported that all teaching staff participated this year.
Ø Motion approved 5-0.
Ø Mr. Nenne expressed thanks to each member of the teaching staff for completing the requirements of this portion of the 301 Plan.
3. approve Override Election on November 6, 2007
Ø Motion by Mrs. Nelson to approve an Override Election on November 6, 2007, second by Mr. Parenteau.
Ø Discussion: Dr. McCraley stated that the District is now in year two of a five year override and that he would like for the Board to approve a seven year override. In the past, only five year overrides have been presented to the voters. A seven year override will end up costing less because another election will not have to be held for five years.
Ø Dr. McCraley also informed the Board that local resident, Carol Glassburn, has expressed an interest in forming a Citizen Committee to assist the District in presenting the issue to the voters.
Ø Motion amended, with second, to approve an election for a seven year override, with the option to use a mail-in ballot. Motion approved 5-0.
4. approve implementation of the ADOT Safe Routes to School Program for the 2007-08 school year and creation
of a part-time coordinator position to oversee SRTS plan development and evaluation requirements of the
program
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to approve implementation of the SRSP and creation of a part-time coordinator position for the program, second by Mr. Parenteau. Motion approved 5-0.
5. approve increase in hourly rate from $20 to $30 for Summer School teachers.
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to approve increase in hourly rate, second by Mr. Stilwell.
Ø Discussion: Members expressed same concern voiced at May 9 meeting. Is it equitable to pay summer school staff $30 per hour when all certified staff on extended assignment during the current school year were paid at the previously approved $20 rate? At the high school, extended assignments for AIMS Intervention/Drop-out Prevention program are funded through a state grant and the hourly rate set at $30, per the grant.
Ø Ms. Gebler explained that the budget for the grant that is funding Summer School does provide for a $30 per hour wage. However, SOAR and Extended School Year Programs do not have funding available for increasing the hourly wage for their staff.
Ø Motion amended, with second, to approve increasing the hourly wage for all twelve Summer School teachers, including those in SOAR and ESY, with any additional funding needs provided by a one-time allocation from Forest Fee money.
Ø Motion approved 4-1.
6. approve increase in the per hour wage for certified teachers, for extended assignments during 2007-08 school
Year, from $20 to $30 per hour
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to approve increase in per hour wage for certified teachers for extended assignments during the 2007-08 school year, second by Mrs. Cothren.
Ø Discussion: Dr. McCraley and Ms. Gebler explained that the majority of extended assignments are paid through grants. Some of the grants are in their final year(s) and were originally written to provide an hourly wage of $20. By increasing the wage to $30 per hour, programs may have to be cut in order to fund the increase.
Ø Mr. Nenne noted that he would like to have an idea of how the FY08 budget will be affected if the District picks up the extra $10 per hour, because it can not be covered by a grant. He stressed the fact that the Board is committed to increasing the hourly wage for next year if at all possible.
Ø Ms. Gebler was asked to provide information about the number of hours paid at $20 for extended assignments during the 2006-07 school year.
Ø Mr. Parenteau withdrew his original motion and moved to table this issue until the next meeting, second by Mrs. Nelson. Motion approved 5-0.
7. approve contract with Arizona Risk Retention Trust for property and liability coverage for 2007-08
Ø Motion by Mr. Parenteau to approve contract with The Trust for 2007-08, second by Mr. Stilwell. Motion approved 5-0.
Ø Mrs. Cothren commented that Pre-Paid Legal is still part of the contract and she would like for Ms. Jean Wilcox, Deputy County Attorney and WUSD primary legal counsel, to be notified of this secondary coverage.
8. select date in June to approve the FY08 budget
Ø Ms. Gebler reported that the Board will need to approve the proposed budget in June in order to meet the publishing deadline mandated by the State of Arizona.
Ø The budget must be adopted no later than July 15.
Ø She suggested that the Board approve the proposed FY08 budget at the regular meeting scheduled for June 13, 2007.
Ø She also suggested that they reschedule the regular July meeting from July 11 to July 5, 2007. A Budget Hearing will be held prior to the regular meeting and as soon as the regular meeting in called to order, the Board will take action to adopt the budget.
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to approve the proposed FY08 budget on June 13 and reschedule the regular July meeting from July 11 to July 5, 2007, second by Mr. Parenteau. Motion approved 5-0.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. ASBA Summer Leadership Institute, July 26-28, 2007 in Flagstaff, AZ. Last date to register is July 19th. This is also
the cancellation date for refunds.
B. Eighth grade promotion 4:00 pm, May 24, 2007
C. WHS Baccalaureate at 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2007 at the Methodist Church
D. WHS Awards Ceremony, WHS gymnasium on May 25, 2007 at 8:30 am
E. WHS Graduation, Viking Stadium on May 25, 2007 at 7:00 pm
V. ADJOURNMENT
Ø Motion by Mrs. Nelson to adjourn the meeting, second by Mr. Stilwell. Motion approved 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:54 pm.
___________________________________________ ____________
David Nenne, President Date