MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE GOVERNING BOARD
School District No. 40 of Maricopa County, Arizona
District Office Board Room
October 7, 2010
PRESENT:
Mr. Martin Samaniego, Board President
Ms. Sara Smith, Board Clerk
Ms. Rosemary Arthur, Member
Ms. Mary Ann Wilson, Member
ABSENT:
Mr. Steve Johnston, Member
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Samaniego at 5:24 p.m.
quorum of the Board, with the absence of Mr. Johnston.
Mr. Samaniego noted the presence of a
OPENING EXERCISES
Ms. Smith called for a moment of silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Samaniego called for a motion to adopt the meeting’s agenda. Ms. Smith moved to approve the agenda
as presented and Ms. Arthur seconded the motion. Upon call to a vote, the motion carried.
VISITOR QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS
Ms. Norma Alvarez addressed the Governing Board as a community member, grandparent, and taxpayer to
express concerns about perceptions in the community about the District’s financial practices, specifically in
relation to allegations and investigations of the Valley Schools Trust that the District is a part of. She urged the
Board to seriously consider withdrawing from the Trust to avoid being linked to the negative publicity.
CONSENT AGENDA
Ms. Smith requested to have item 4.B. Classified Personnel Report pulled for separate consideration. Ms.
Smith moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented with the exception of item 4.B. and Ms. Arthur
seconded the motion. Upon call to a vote, the motion carried and the following items were approved:
Certified Personnel:
The following Certified Personnel items were approved:
Barrera, Alma
Bess, Renae
Bowman, Kristie
Kizer, Kellie
Employment - New
Behavior Interventionist
Special Education
Teacher, Spec Ed
Desert Garden
Teacher, Kindergarten
Landmark
Teacher, K/1st grade
Burton
$31,065.00
$34,962.00
$31,046.00
$28,385.00
09/27/2010
09/07/2010
09/07/2010
09/13/2010
Beunza, Elena
Boyer, Fred
Chapman, Amber
Cross, Lisa
Jess, Stephanie
Lee, Susie
Lewis, Laura
Lindebak, Gary
Lindebak, Sydney
Paczosa, James
Rudisill, Kathy
Substitutes
Substitute
Various
Substitute
Various
Substitute
Various
Substitute
Various
Substitute
Various
Substitute
Various
Substitute
Various
Administrative Substitute
Various
Administrative Substitute
Various
Administrative Substitute
Various
Administrative Substitute
Various
$90-100.00
$90-100.00
$90-100.00
$90-100.00
$90-100.00
$90-100.00
$90-100.00
$295-324.67
$295-324.67
$295-324.67
$295-324.67
09/28/2010
09/01/2010
09/13/2010
08/10/2010
10/04/2010
08/20/2010
08/17/2010
08/12/2010
08/09/2010
09/20/2010
09/02/2010
Minutes of the Special Meeting of the
Governing Board
Bruns, Melissa
Hagen, Brent
Driver, Paula
Travel:
Teacher, 4th grade
Teacher, Spec Ed
Teacher, Spec Ed
Page 2
Resignations
Coyote Ridge
Burton
Discovery
October 7, 2010
(moving)
12/17/2010
09/14/2010
10/19/2010
The Board approved employee out-of-county travel requests for Lori Shough, Ed Sloat,
Joe Quintana, and Candace Diehl.
The following item was pulled for separate discussion and action.
Classified Personnel: Ms. Smith asked for clarification on the employee listed under Change in Contract on
page two of the Classified Personnel Report. Mr. Quintana responded that it would not
be appropriate to discuss specific information at this time, but essentially the status of
the employee’s contract was brought back to the Board with the recommendation to
change from at-will to term contract. Ms. Smith asked what the reason was for changing
this after a few months instead of keeping it how it is and making the change when
contracts are offered for next school year. Dr. Smith explained the Board had approved
the change from exempt/continuing to at-will on the April agenda, and the employee’s
performance has indicated he is ready to be given the contract he is due and has had
over the last several years. Ms. Wilson asked if there was a change in salary, which Dr.
Smith confirmed there was not.
Ms. Arthur moved to approve the Classified Personnel Report as presented and Ms.
Smith seconded the motion. Upon call to a vote, the motion carried and the following
Classified Personnel items were approved:
Acosta, Ana
Acosta, Francisco
Armstrong, Aprili
Barbosa, Juan
Berry, Karen
Brown, Loretta
Canez, Briana
Carlos, Leticia
Cirilo, Anita
Clark, Tiffany
Figueroa, Daisy
Herrera, Maria
Howard, Katherine
James, Bryon
Kitchen, Paul
Martinez, Jessica
Martinez, Karen
Martinez, Lydia
Morales, Meredid
Robertson, Serena
Siordia, Joel
Valdes, Cecilia
Vejar, Sonja
Employment – New
Cleaner
Coyote Ridge
Cleaner
Discovery
Sub Lunch/Bus Monitor Transportation
Sub Cleaner
Maintenance
Sub FS Worker
Food Service
Lunch/Bus Monitor
Mensendick
FS Cashier
Food Service
Sub ED Activity Leader Extended Day
Sub Lunch/Bus Monitor Transportation
Ed Assist Sp Ed SC
Coyote Ridge
Sub Lunch/Bus Monitor Transportation
Sub FS Worker
Food Services
Crossing Guard
Jack
WH Delivery Driver
Food Service
Ed Assist Sp Ed SC
GSA-Annex
Cleaner
Challenger
Ed Assist Sp Ed
Sine
Crossing Guard
Imes
School Secretary
Smith
Crossing Guard
Sunset Vista
Journey Painter
Maintenance
Ed Assist Sp Ed
Bici South
Family Svcs Advocate
Imes
$8.44
$8.44
$8.65
$8.44
$8.44
$8.65
$9.09
$8.44
$8.65
$12.41
$8.65
$8.44
$8.44
$13.43
$11.58
$8.44
$9.55
$8.44
$10.80
$8.44
$18.44
$10.44
$9.09
09/22/10
09/22/10
09/20/10
09/20/10
08/31/10
09/13/10
09/08/10
09/16/10
09/16/10
09/30/10
09/22/10
09/20/10
09/24/10
09/27/10
09/29/10
09/14/10
09/09/10
09/21/10
09/07/10
09/20/10
09/13/10
09/16/10
10/04/10
Minutes of the Special Meeting of the
Governing Board
Page 3
October 7, 2010
Barlass, Christy
Rios, Alejandra
Silva, Joseph
Trailor, Nellie
Weston, Lisa
Williams, Lucas
Resignations
Ed Assist Sp Ed
Jack
Ed Assist Sp Ed
American
Ed Assist Sp Ed
Challenger
Budget Technician
Grants
Wellness Program Spec Human Resources
Ed Assist Sp Ed SC
Landmark
Alas, Edda
Canez, Luis
Curry, Ozie III
Gonzalez, Ramona
Herrera, Rosa
Johnson, Joseph
Kramperth, Jennifer
Lindemuth, Megan
Lopez, Rosemarie
Lychwick, Moira
Ford, Nicole
Palomo, Rudy
Perez, Aleida
Panerio, Heather
Position Changes
FS Specialist
Desert Spirit
FS Specialist
Mensendick
Sec- Maintenance
Maintenance
FS Worker
Jack
Ed Assist Sp Ed SC
Landmark
FS Worker
Imes
EA-Assist Std
Sunset Vista
FS Specialist
Food Service
FS Cashier
Coyote Ridge
Ed Assist Sp Ed SC
Coyote Ridge
FS Cashier
Burton
Ed Assist Sp Ed
Desert Spirit
Ext Day Activity Leader Bici South
School Secretary
Mensendick
$10.43
$10.03
$12.40
$8.44
$11.81
$8.00
$9.93
$10.03
$10.62
$11.81
$9.09
$9.93
$8.44
$11.82
09/27/10
09/27/10
09/08/10
10/01/10
09/27/10
09/22/10
09/27/10
09/27/10
09/27/10
09/20/10
09/22/10
09/27/10
09/07/10
09/27/10
Bender, Alicia
Cervantez, Aleida
DeAnda, Gabriela
Dent, Claudia
Weaver, Debra
Zatarain, Agueda
Changes in Hours
Ext Day Activity Leader Sine
Ext Day Activity Leader Coyote Ridge
FS Worker
Challenger
FS Cashier
Challenger
FS Worker
Challenger
FS Worker
Discovery
$8.44
$8.44
$9.04
$9.94
$8.44
$8.44
09/07/10
09/07/10
09/27/10
09/20/10
09/15/10
09/20/10
Lopez, Catalina
Pay Changes
Lang Acq Data Specialist-Language Acquisition-$11.82
2nd Positions
Challenger
Bici North
09/24/10
09/07/10
09/03/10
10/01/10
09/10/10
08/31/10
$8.44
$13.49
07/01/10
Martinez, Jessica
Cole, Barbara J
Crossing Guard
Sub Classified
09/20/10
09/20/10
Newman, Regina
Peterson, Pat
Leaves of Absence
Ed Assist Sp Ed SC
Coyote Ridge
School Secretary
Burton
Werhanowicz, Robert
Contract Renewal: Transition from At-Will to Contract
Director
Technology Services
09/30/10
Garner, Contina
FS Worker
End Temporary Assignment
Bici South
08/28/10
09/24/10 – 08/30/11
10/01/10 – 06/30/11
Minutes of the Special Meeting of the
Governing Board
Page 4
October 7, 2010
ACTION ITEMS
Annual Financial
Report:
Mr. Kevin Hegarty presented the Governing Board with information from the Annual
Financial Report (AFR) for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. He noted that the report shows the
District’s spending was down in Maintenance and Operations Funds, utilities, Soft Capital,
and transportation. The employee benefits trust had an extra $3 million in expenditures last
year, which was due to the prepayment made to the trust for 2010-2011 employee benefits
from the 2009-2010 budget. Classroom Site Funds had a negative balance by $1.3 million
due to revenues falling short of budget capacity (the per pupil allocation decreased from
$244 to $120). He noted that another negative budget situation can be expected for 301
monies in 2011-2012. There were balances from 2009-2010 that were carried forward into
2010-2011: M&O had $2.2 million, Indian Gaming $940,000, Civic Center $300,000,
Indirect Costs $1.5 million, and Medicaid $700,000. The District had some one-time
expenses that lead to an increase in administrative spending: the prepayment of employee
benefits and the initial cost for implementing Smart Schools, which would show as savings
in 2010-2011; the Board’s extra expenses related to the superintendent transition including
legal fees, interim superintendent, the former superintendent’s vacation payout and
performance pay and the expenses of having the second override election in the Spring.
These one-time expenses totaling $657,000 were offset by reductions made in
administrative budgets elsewhere.
Mr. Samaniego asked for clarification of what Civic Center funds are from. Mr. Hegarty
explained these funds are revenues collected by the District for facility usage, transportation
services, and cellular towers.
Ms. Wilson inquired about how Medicaid funds can be used. Mr. Hegarty stated these funds
could be used for anything except for the activities the District billed for that generated them.
Ms. Wilson asked about the negative balances and how we were able to carry over funds
with these. Mr. Hegarty explained the negative balance is attributed to the state delaying
payments; even though the funds are not received yet, they are due to the District from the
state. The District issues short-term debt to pay expenses until the cash is received from
the state.
Ms. Wilson asked what sort of expenses the bond funds were spent on. Mr. Hegarty
reported the bond funds had been applied to facility-related expenses, such as roofing,
facility repairs/remodels, etc., and a full report would be presented to the Board at the next
meeting.
Ms. Wilson asked about the $1.1 million difference in class size reduction funds. Mr.
Hegarty stated that no funds had been used from Indian Gaming funds in 2009-2010, and
these were being used to fund teacher salaries in the current year.
Ms. Smith asked about the District’s plans for increasing energy efficiency. Mr. Hegarty
reported that the District is looking at ways to increase energy efficiency with high-efficiency
lighting and automating ‘shut down’ schedules for when facilities are not in use. He noted
that the District had not seen the full-year impact of the improvements put in place or of the
increase in utility rates to know for sure where things stood.
Mr. Samaniego asked about which utility company the District used the most, and if we were
working with them to save money in the future with things like solar panels. Mr. Hegarty
responded the District works with them the best they are able to, but often times the District
Minutes of the Special Meeting of the
Governing Board
Page 5
October 7, 2010
must pay a part of the expenses for the grant programs they offer. He stated he would
provide the Board with a report breaking down expenses between the two utility companies.
Ms. Smith moved to approve the Annual Financial Report as presented and Ms. Arthur
seconded the motion. Upon call to vote, the motion carried.
SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD COMMENTS
Mr. Quintana thanked the District’s teachers, technology staff, Achievement Advisors, Nathan Fairbanks, and
staff who contributed time and effort to ensure everything was in place with the Genesis implementation for
printing report cards.
Ms. Smith asked if the Board could be provided with a report on Genesis in a future meeting or through the
Board Memo, and also look at the Board and District’s future strategic goals.
Ms. Wilson wished everyone a happy fall break.
Ms. Arthur thanked Mr. Hegarty and his staff for preparing the report.
Mr. Samaniego expressed concerns about the allegations of improper and unethical behavior of public officials
linked with the Valley Schools Trust. He stated the District should take a very close look at its operations to
ensure we are ‘clean’ in that area. He suggested that an outside company audit the District’s financial records
to review operations and ensure no Board members are receiving compensation or gifts.
ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Smith moved to adjourn the meeting and Ms. Arthur seconded the motion. Upon call to a vote, the motion
carried and the meeting adjourned at 6:16 p.m.
Submitted by:
Elizabeth Powell, Executive Assistant
Approved By:
Sara Smith, Clerk of the Board
Date:
November 18, 2010