HIGHLIGHTS
OF THE GOVERNING BOARD MEETING
OF THE MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 4
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2010
MESA PUBLIC SCHOOLS CURRICULUM SERVICES CENTER
BUILDING 2
549 North Stapley Drive, Mesa, AZ
STUDY SESSION
President Lane called the study session to order at 5:00 p.m.
1. Presentation on the district’s three-year professional development plan:
Mr. Rene Paschal, Director of Professional Development, gave an overview of the district’s three-year professional development plan. The professional development team aligns instruction and training with the district’s strategic plan, supports probationary teachers, and complies with mandated federal, state, and district requirements. The Professional Development Department is working to expand its Teachers New to Teaching support by providing three full years of training. The first year will focus on classroom management, the second year will focus on instruction design and planning, and the third year will focus on instruction and assessment. Mr. Paschal stated that Mesa Public Schools receives numerous calls and visits from other districts so that they can emulate what we do.
2. Presentation on MPS Purchasing and Material Management Initiatives:
Mr. Bill Munch, Director of Purchasing, presented an overview of Purchasing and MDC initiatives. He stated that the Purchasing Department’s strategy is to implement policies and procedures that expedite the purchasing and material management process for all users, while maintaining procurement integrity and compliance. He also spoke to the hard work district staff provides to ensure the district gets the best possible pricing. Mr. Munch stated that other districts look to Mesa as a leader in procurement compliance and procedures.
3. Review of Agenda Items:
The Board briefly reviewed the agenda.
4. Review of Governing Board calendar:
The Board briefly reviewed its calendar through November 2010.
5. Updates from Board Members/Superintendents:
This item was not addressed.
REGULAR MEETING
President Lane called the regular meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
1. Minutes of a study session held on September 10, 2010
On the motion of Mr. Nichols, minutes were unanimously approved as presented.
Minutes of a regular session held on September 14, 2010
On the motion of Mr. Nichols, minutes were unanimously approved as presented.
2. Certificated and classified personnel requests.
On the motion of Mr. Hughes, all personnel requests were unanimously approved as presented.
Dr. Cowan introduced Mrs. Judy Cato, the new Director of Employee Benefits, and gave a brief history of her work experience.
3. Consent Agenda.
On the motion of Mr. Peterson, all items on the consent agenda were unanimously approved as presented (see attached list).
4. Superintendent’s Report.
Dr. Cowan reported on the following:
Mesa Public Schools has 26 National Merit semifinalists representing our six high schools. The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Semifinalists qualify by scoring in the top one-half percent of Arizona seniors on the PSAT or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. These outstanding students will be recognized at the November 9, 2010 board meeting.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded Mesa Public Schools, the City of Mesa, and Mesa Community College (MCC) a $3 million grant. Over the next few years, the district, MCC, and the city will work together to double the number of young people, ages 16-26, who complete college degrees or attain job-ready certification. The Mesa Counts on College initiative focuses on the creation of a skilled workforce for Mesa.
A slide show, “Of 100 Ninth Graders,” was shown. Statistics were shared with the audience that show only eight students out of 100 will complete college. The Mesa Counts on College initiative will help to build a culture that goes beyond college-bound to college completion.
Karen Tabor, art teacher at Fremont Junior High School, was selected as the Arizona Art Educator of the year for the Middle Level by the Arizona Art Education Association.
Dr. Cowan invited the Board to join him in recognizing the following:
June Carbine, Casa De Amor, and Chuck Burger, Webster Elementary School Principal, were recognized for working together to address the needs of the school and the children in the neighborhood. Ms. Carbine and Casa De Amor collected more than $5,000 in school supplies and bought personal items for Webster children and their families. Casa de Amor also provides clothing and food for those in need, offers computer classes, and holds activities for senior adults. Ms. Carbine received a plaque in appreciation of her service.
Nancie Lindblom, Skyline High School teacher, received the Arizona 2010 “Preserve America” History Teacher of the Year Award which is sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Ms. Lindblom will receive $1,000 and a collection of classroom resources for Skyline. She will also have the opportunity to participate in a summer seminar for additional professional development.
5. Presentation of Volunteer of the Month award for September 2010:
On behalf of the Governing Board and administration, Mr. Peterson presented a Volunteer of the Month award for September 2010 to Gary Roos, volunteer at Taylor Junior High School.
6. Presentation of Take Time for People awards for September 2010:
On behalf of the Governing Board and administration, President Lane presented Take Time for People awards for September 2010 to the following:
Educators of the Month: Tiffaney Gardner, Physical Education Teacher and Assistant Girls Track Coach, Poston Junior High School; and Christy Montgomery, Third Grade Teacher, Keller Elementary School
Classified Employee of the Month: Beatrice Sanchez, Instructional Assistant, Hawthorne Elementary School; and Vicki Spetz, Principal’s Secretary, Entz Elementary School
7. Presentation on Experience Corps:
Mrs. Deanna Villanueva-Saucedo, Community Liaison, provided a short video on Experience Corps, which is now called Experience Counts. She explained that Experience Counts is a partnership between the district, Mesa Community College (MCC), and Hands on Greater Phoenix, which has been in place since 2006. This program provides training and ongoing support to retirees who volunteer at schools and in classrooms.
8. Presentation on involvement strategies for parents of special education students:
Mrs. Holly Williams, assistant superintendent of special education, introduced Mrs. Joan Kern, the liaison between parents, schools, and special education teams. Mrs. Kern gave a brief overview on parent involvement and district protocol and responsibilities. She explained the importance of collaboration between teachers, parents, school staff, and other professionals to create an educational program from which a disabled child can benefit and learn.
9. Declaration of curricular and instructional alignment to the Arizona Academic Standards:
Dr. DePrez, assistant superintendent of special education, presented background information on the Declaration of Curricular & Instructional Alignment to the Arizona Academic Standards. On the motion of President Lane, the Board unanimously adopted the Declaration.
10. Qualified evaluators for the Mesa Unified School District teacher performance evaluation system for the 2010/11 school year:
On the motion of Mr. Hughes, the Board unanimously approved the qualified evaluators list for the Mesa Unified School District teacher performance evaluation system for the 2010/11 school year.
The meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
Item No. 3 CONSENT AGENDA
a. Warrants District/special fund/auxiliary operations warrants, period of
September 11, 2010, through September 24, 2010, as follows:
09/16/10 Payroll $15,935,349.54
09/17/10 Warrants for services and materials $ 3,665,189.52
09/24/10 Warrants for services and materials $ 2,683,036.09
b. Purchases/ 1. Encumbrance of district funds for the purchase of copier
Encumbrances supplies district-wide and repair parts for the copier repair
of Funds department at Information Systems from Procopy Office
Solutions, up to an amount of $300,000.00, as per
RFP #10-01MP.
2. Encumbrance of district M&O funds for the purchase of a
cooperative youth transition program with the Arizona
Department of Economic Security Rehabilitation Services
Administration, up to an amount of $270,841.00.
c. Mileage Reim- Additions to Mileage Reimbursement List for 2010-11, as follows:
bursement Caravello, Jennie Food and Nutrition
Maldonado, Denise Elvira Food and Nutrition
Schneider, Charity Hope Food and Nutrition
d. Student Activity Revenues, expenditures, and changes in the Student Activity
Funds Report Funds Report for all schools, period of August 1, 2010, through
August 31, 2010.
e. Grant Requests 1. Request from Ishikawa Elementary School to submit a Back to
Football Friday grant proposal and, if awarded, accept funds in
the amount of $10,000.00 from the National Football League to
purchase a shade structure for the outdoor P.E. slab.
2. Request from Irving Elementary School to submit a Sun Shade
grant proposal and, if awarded, accept funds in the amount of
$8,000.00 from the American Academy of Dermatology.
3. Request from Jefferson Elementary School to submit a
Technology grant proposal and, if awarded, accept funds in the
amount of $40,295.00 from the Marley Foundation to update
technology on the campus.
4. Request from Whitman Elementary School to submit a Back to
Football Friday grant proposal and, if awarded, accept funds in
the amount of $10,000.00 from the National Football League to
replace Active and Healthy equipment and begin an after-school
sports program.
5. Request from Emerson Elementary School to submit a Back to
Football Friday grant proposal and, if awarded, accept funds in
the amount of $10,000.00 from the National Football League to
purchase a climbing wall for the school gymnasium.
f. Lease Lease agreement of land, building, and other improvements at the
Agreement Sunridge/Eagleridge campus to the Marc Center of Mesa, Inc., an
Arizona Non-Profit Corporation.