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 pm on the above date at the Williams High School Culinary Arts room. Roll call:
Board Members: David Nenne, President Administration: Dr. Thomas McCraley, Superintendent
Janet Cothren, member Donny Bridges, WEMS Principal
Bud Parenteau, member, absent Steve Hudgens, WHS Principal
Ron Stilwell, member District Staff: Brenda Gebler, Business Manager
Becky Nelson, member Kathie Schulte, Board Secretary
Additional Staff: 3
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
I. OPENING ITEMS
Ø Mr. Nenne called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ø Motion by Mrs. Nelson to adopt the agenda, second by Mr. Stilwell. Motion approved 4-0.
II. REPORTS
A. Superintendent
1. Summary of current events
Ø Dr. McCraley indicated that the three days of training for current and new staff went well. He feels that the entire staff is upbeat and looking forward to a successful school year.
Ø He reported that the recent visit from School Facilities Board officials was very productive. He believes that something positive will come from the meeting.
B. Governing Board
1. Report on Failure is Not an Option Conference
Ø In July 2007, five representatives from WUSD attended the Failure is Not an Option Conference in South Carolina. Those attending were, Dr. McCraley, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Hudgens, Mrs. Hughes, and Board President Mr. Nenne. Each gave a short report on what they gained from this experience.
§ Dr. McCraley was reassured that his belief that everyone employed by the District is responsible for the education of each child in the system.
§ Mr. Nenne reported that he was the only Board member in attendance. He felt that much of the information presented was a reinforcement of what the Board has already learned. Team building is a major factor in having a successful school. Not only should each school work as a team, but the district as a whole should work as a team. The team effort must also include the broader community
§ Mr. Bridges noted that his experience can be summed up by the following statement. If you always do what you’ve always done….you will always get what you’ve always gotten. Change is inevitable and he will continue to reinforce the focus of his two-year plan.
§ Mr. Hudgens came away from the conference with information he learned about the Twelve Words that all high school students must know and understand in order to successfully complete the required testing. The words are: trace, analyze, infer, evaluate, formulate, describe, support, explain, summarize, compare, contrast and perfect. During the 07-08 school year and onward, all students will be learning what these words mean in relationship to the subjects they are studying.
§ Dr. McCraley reported that this year he would like to send a team from both schools to this conference. Each team would consist of the principal and four teachers.
C. Other Reports
1. Elementary/Middle School Principal’s Report
2. High School Principal’s Report
3. Special Education Director’s Report
4. Federal and State Programs Director’s Report
5. CTE Director’s Report
6. Technology Director’s Report
Ø Mrs. Gabi Uebel, Tech Director, has completed her review of the Technology Standards developed by the Government Information Technology Agency (GITA). She contacted a representative of GITA as part of her research. She found that these standards are developed more for business and commerce rather than school districts. Her recommendation to the Board is to reject all but three of the standards. Those three are P100, P130 and P252.
7. Transportation Director’s Report
8. Maintenance Supervisor’s Report
9. Community Learning Center Director’s Report
a. SOAR Report
b. Family/Community Outreach Report
c. Strategic Prevention Report
d. Community Prevention Report
10. District Data Coordinator’s Report
11. CAVIAT
12. Nurse’s Report
13. Business Manager’s Report
III. 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 No response
IV. *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 written, second by Mrs. Cothren. Motion approved 4-0.
A. *Approve Minutes:
1. July 5, 2007, Budget Hearing
2. July 5, 2007, Regular Meeting
3. July 6, 2007, Emergency Meeting
4. July 24, 2007, Special Meeting
5. July 24, 2007, Executive Session
B. *District Financial Reports:
1. District Financial report
2. Tax Credit Fees report
3. Lunch report
4. WEMS Activity/Auxiliary Fund for June 2007 (reconciled)
5. WHS Activity/Auxiliary Fund for June 2007 (reconciled)
C. *Consideration to Ratify Vouchers:
Payroll #1......$28,122.56 FY07 Expense #7048-E…...$53,853.35 FY08 Expense #8001….$58,648.45
Payroll #2...... 55,932.00 Expense #7049-E.….. 1,475.01 Expense #8002….. 23,055.51
D. *Consideration to approve personnel issues:
1. employment:
a. Sandy Roe – work 5 hours per week during the 2007-08 school year for the SOAR Program
b. Chantelle Ottens – Special Education Paraprofessional
c. Jacqueline Haugen – substitute teacher
d. Earl Haugen – substitute teacher
e. Tamara Broderick – Special Education Paraprofessional
f. Lauren Evans – substitute teacher
g. Carol Johnson – WHS Special Education Paraprofessional (one-on-one)
h. Darlene Hardison – WEMS Special Education Paraprofessional (one-on-one)
i. Gordon Bentley – WHS Special Education Paraprofessional
2. extra-duty assignments:
a. Phillip Echeverria – WHS head football coach
b. John Hatcher – WHS assistant football coach
c. Doug McGlothlin – WHS assistant football coach
d. Deniz Chavez – WMS head football coach
e. Jamie Mace – WMS assistant football coach
f. Jeff Brownlee – WMS assistant football coach
g. Kristi Fredrickson – WHS co-head volleyball coach
h. Jennifer Carter – WHS co-head volleyball coach
3. change of status:
a. Kevin Williams from WMS Math Explorations (Title I) teacher to seventh/eighth grade math
teacher
b. Julie Grantham from Reading First Coach to First Grade Teacher
c. Mary O’Brien from First Grade to Reading First Interventionist
d. Karen Macks from WEMS Paraprofessional to Title I Math Intervention Teacher
4. volunteer:
a. Tad Wygal – WHS assistant football coach
E. *Consideration to approve submission of Grant Applications:
a. approve MIPS contract for FY 08
b. approve submission of Pre-school Grant for FY 08
c. approve submission of Early Childhood Block Grant for FY 08
V. ACTION ITEMS
A. Discussion and consideration to:
1. accept and acknowledge donations:
a. Williams High School:
- Industrial Manufacturing Program – machine tools and tooling from the estate of Mr.
Ellsworth Vieregge through his niece Ms. Debura Olme
b. Community Learning Center:
-SOAR Program – pizza and drinks from Pizza Hut donated by Mr. and Mrs. Patel for
students, staff and parents who chaperoned field trips
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to approve and acknowledge the donations, second by Mr. Stilwell. Motion approved 4-0.
2. approve recommendations from Meet and Confer Committee
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to approve recommendations from Meet and Confer, second by Mrs. Nelson.
Ø Discussion: Dr. McCraley and Ms. Gebler met with the Meet and Confer Committee and an agreement was reached as to the amount of distribution and the way it will be done. A total of $60,000 will be distributed as follows:
-$ 3,746 to cover a one-step increase for coaching staff; there will be no increase to the base
- 1,077 to cover FY08 increase to the evaluation/101 funds for certified staff
- 55,177 for distribution in Dec. and April/May for non-administrative staff salary increases (1.8689%)
$60,000
Ø Mr. Nenne noted that the 2.63% addition to the district health insurance benefit added to the 1.8689% salary distribution provides a total increase of 4.5% for FY08.
Ø Mrs. Cothren stated that she would like to have the budget reviewed to see if funding is available to provide the same salary increase for the administrators as being offered to all non-administrative staff.
Ø Mr. Nenne directed Dr. McCraley to attempt to locate funds for increase for administrators.
Ø Dr. McCraley thanked Ms. Gebler, Mrs. Wells and Ms. Fredrickson for their work on the distribution of funds.
Ø Motion approved 4-0.
3. approve purchase of 2008 Ford pick-up from Jim Babbitt Ford
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to purchase pick-up, second by Mrs. Nelson. Motion approved 4-0.
4. approve ASBA Policy Services Advisory:
a. July 2007 - PSA #289 – Environmental and Safety Program
b. July 2007 – PSA #290 – Building and Grounds Maintenance
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to approve policies, second by Mrs. Nelson.
Discussion: Board position at this time is that these policies should not be adopted due to lack of funding to implement the requirements. Mrs. Cothren noted that if any of the issues addressed in the policies were to become a problem, the District would be quick to respond.
Ø Motion failed 0-4.
5. review plan to discontinue the WUSD pre-school for the 2007-08 school year
Ø Discussion: Even though this issue has been discussed at previous meetings and no action taken, the Board
is still not comfortable formally discontinuing the pre-school program. They asked Mr. Bridges if he would be willing to continue searching for a highly qualified teacher and, if one is found, start the program up again. He agreed to this arrangement.
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to table this issue indefinitely, second by Mrs. Nelson. Motion approved 4-0.
6. discuss and review the current procedure for reimbursement to parents for transporting students to nearest
bus stop or school.
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to continue to reimburse eligible parents for transporting their children to the nearest bus stop or school, second by Mrs. Cothren.
Ø Discussion: Dr. McCraley explained that in fact the school district can benefit from providing this reimburse to parents. These miles are considered Contract Miles. There is a provision in state school finance law that allows district to receive reimbursement and additional funding for this type of expenditure.
Ø Motion approved 4-0.
7. approve WHS and WEMS fall sports schedules for 2007-08
Ø Motion by Mrs. Cothren to approve the sports schedules for fall 2007, second by Mrs. Nelson. Motion approved 4-0.
8. approve Coconino County Attorney as primary legal counsel for 2007-08 school year
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to approve services of County Attorney as primary legal counsel for FY08, second by Mrs. Cothren. Motion approved.
Ø Board asked that the letter to the County Attorney accepting his services also commend Ms. Jean Wilcox for her services to the district during FY 07.
9. approve WHS and WMS band overnight/out of state performance schedule for 2007-08
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to approve band schedule, second by Mrs. Nelson.
Ø Discussion: Board members questioned purpose of the Disneyland trip. Is it a field trip or a reward trip?
Ø Dr. McCraley stated that the question will be answered after a meeting scheduled for August 21, 2007 with Jean Wilcox and a representative from the district audit firm of Heinfeld and Meech. Included in the meeting will be administrators, the business manager and those who handle student activity/auxiliary funds.
Ø Motion revised by Mr. Stilwell, second by Mrs. Nelson to approve the band schedule as presented with the exception of the Disneyland trip. Motion approved 4-0.
10. develop and approve pro statement for the November 2007 override election ballot
Ø Motion by Mr. Stilwell to approve pro statement, second by Mrs. Nelson.
Ø Discussion: Mr. Stilwell did not realize that the statement provided for the Board was only an example that needed to be revised to provide information concerning the current election.
Ø Members discussed the information that should be added to the statement. Mrs. Cothren will revise the statement, forward it to Dr. McCraley and he will in turn send it on to remaining Board members.
Ø Motion revised by Mr. Stilwell to table action until the August 28, 2007 meeting, second by Mrs. Nelson. Motion approved 4-0.
11. approve dates and times of future meetings:
1. regular monthly meeting at 6:00 pm on September 12, 2007
2. Governing Board retreat from 9am – 3pm on September 25, 2007
2. special meeting/work session, if needed, at 5:30 pm on September 25, 2007
Ø Motion to approve dates and times of future meeting as listed with addition of Governing Board Retreat location as Young Life Camp, south of Williams, second by Mrs. Nelson. Motion approved 4-0.
VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Discussion and review of ASBA Policy Services Advisory
1. July 2007 – PSA 291….BDF - Advisory Committees
2. July 2007 – PSA 292….JC – School Attendance Areas
3. July 2007 – PSA 293…JFBA – Tuition/Admission of Nonresident Students
Ø Members discussed these policies and will take action at the meeting on August 28, 2007.
4. Technology Standards
Ø Mrs. Uebel presented her recommendations for adoption or rejections of these standards. Action will be scheduled for the August 28, 2007 Board meeting.
VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Ø Dr. McCraley received notice from legal counsel that completion of the Board self-evaluation in executive session does not meet the statutory guidelines of an executive session. Therefore, the Board did not enter into Executive Session.
A. The Governing Board may vote to enter into Executive Session pursuant to ARS 38-431.03 (A)(1) to:
1. complete the Board yearly self-evaluation
B. Return to Open Session
VIII. MEETING SUMMARY
Ø Add the following items to August 28, 2007 meeting agenda:
· action to determine date and time of board walk through of school buildings.
· action to approve a pro statement for November 2007 election ballot
· action to adopt or reject Technology Standards
· action to adopt or reject July 2007 policies
Ø Send letter to county attorney accepting services for 2007-08 SY and commend Ms. Wilcox for her services to the district.
Ø Send thank you letter to those donating to the district .
Ø Dr. McCraley to review budget to determine if funding is available to offer the same salary increase to administrators as being offered to non-administrative staff.
Ø Dr. McCraley to work with Mr. Nenne to prepare agenda for Board Retreat on September 25, 2007.
Ø Dr. McCraley to speak with Mr. Grimes concerning the Disneyland Trip.
IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS
X. ADJOURNMENT
Ø Motion by Mrs. Nelson to adjourn the meeting, second by Mr. Stilwell. Motion approved 4-0.
Ø Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
_______________________________________ ______________
David Nenne, President Date