AJO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 15

MINUTES
REGULAR SESSION BOARD MEETING

Ajo Unified School District Board Room #23, 5:30 p.m.
February 14, 2008

1. Call to Order at 5:30 p.m.

2. Opening Exercises

   1. Roll Call:
      • P - John Byrnes, President
      • P - Lisa Rossi, Clerk
      • P - Rose Cameron, Member
      • P - Hollister David, Member
      • Tardy - Amy Runge, Member
      • P - Robert Dooley, Superintendent
      • P - Frederick Fout, Principal
      • A - Patricia Spencer, Financial Director
   2. Pledge of Allegiance
   3. Statement of Welcome
   4. Appointment of Acting Clerk, if necessary
   5. Superintendent's Report
      • ASBAIT – School District Health Costs is in a positive loss ratio for Medial and Dental.
      • Keep Mr. Orr in your thoughts.
      • No School Monday, President’s Day
      • Both the Girl’s and Boy’s Basketball teams made it to the playoffs this year.
      • Spring Sports have begun. Softball, Baseball, Track, & Golf
      • Title I Committee in place to look at creating a “school wide plan”. The purpose of this school wide plan is like a lesson plan on how the District will use the $25,000 that is received from Title I monies from the State. Committee members include Mr. McCasland, Ms. Boyd, Ms. Semilla, Ms. Tiell, Ms. Robertson, Mr. McGoldrick, Mr. Fout, and Dr. Dooley.
      • Completed a teachers, student, and parent survey to establish a needs assessment.
      • Thank you to Mr. Crable for the Art from the students in the Board room.
   6. Adoption of Agenda
      
      Mrs. Runge made the motion to adopt the agenda. Mrs. Rossi seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0 to adopt the agenda.
3. Visitor Comments
   
   Visitors are welcome to speak on non-agenda items. Comments are limited to 3 minutes. Please state your name and address prior to making your comments. The Board will not take any legal action on issues raised during this position of the meeting.
   • Ben Johnson, 695 Well Road, parent of a 1st grade student.

     Concerns about staff stretched to thin, and about safety concerns this presents to the students. Wants the recess split so that less students are on the playground at one time. Believes student/teacher ratio is too large. Wants disruptive students removed from the classroom. Addressed to Administration.

   • Daniel Nogales, 701 Esperanza, parent of a 6th grade student.

     Concerns about disruptive children. Agrees with Mr. Johnson that disruptive children should be removed from the classroom to better the classroom. Addressed to Administration.

   • Bridget Rendon, 341 W. 5th Street, parent of a 4th grade student.

     More support for the teachers. Addressed to Administration.

   • Mrs. Armendariz who is a staff member stated that 1st graders are hard to keep controlled. Disruptive children need more time not less.
   • Mrs. Murphy who is also a staff members stated that she does work with the 1st and Kindergarten and agrees that staff does need more help.
   • Steve Hannon, 116 N. 2nd Ave, parent

     Children tell him on a regular basis that the classroom is disruptive. Agrees that the classrooms are disruptive, however the teachers try the best they can. Mr. Hannon would like to volunteer in the classroom to help.

   • Mrs. Murphy said she would like to have a person with more authority on the playground.
   • Mrs. Rossi asked Dr. Dooley if Officer Seeley was still on campus. Dr. Dooley stated that he is on campus very rarely.
   • Dr. Dooley then took that time to make a few comments: The Administration does not want to use a Police Officer as a disciplinarian in an elementary school.
   • One person in the audience wanted to know if Officer Seeley is paid by the District.
   • Dr. Dooley stated that he is not paid by the district. As far as Dr. Dooley knows he is paid from grants from the Sherriff’s Office.
   • Another person stated that she understands Officer Seeley is only on campus to enforce the Law and not School Rules. She would also like to know who is on campus to enforce School Rules.
   • Dr. Dooley stated that every adult on campus is here to enforce school rules. Everyone from school secretaries, to maintenance personnel, to teachers’ aides should enforce school rules.
4. Consent Agenda
   1. Financial Report
   2. Voucher Approval
   3. Board Minutes
      
      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Mrs. Runge seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

5. Personnel

   1. Certified Resignation

      Jennifer Lyons has requested a leave of absence or resignation effective February 15, 2008. Her finance has been transferred to New Mexico.

      Mr. Byrnes made the motion to approve Mrs. Lyon’s resignation, only when a Highly Qualified Teacher is found to replace her. Mrs. Rossi seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

   2. Certified Resignation

      Lucie Linhova, a high school English teacher, has submitted her resignation effective May 24, 2008. She will not be returning for the 08/09 school year.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to accept Ms. Linhova resignation. Mrs. Runge seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

   3. Letter of Intent Not to Return

      Kristen Robertson, a second grade teacher, has submitted a letter stating that she will not be returning for the 08/09 school year.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to accept the letter of intent not to return for the 08/09 school year. Mrs. Cameron seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

   4. Certified Employment – Halverson

      Betty Halverson has been interviewed and reference checks completed. She is being recommended for an elementary teaching position.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to accept Mrs. Halverson’s employment for the 08/09 school year. Mrs. Cameron seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

   5. Classified Resignation – Encinas

      Sylvia Encinas has verbally resigned her position with the school cafeteria.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to accept Mrs. Encinas’ resignation. Mrs. Runge seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

   6. Extra Pay Position Resignation – Orr

      Terry Orr has submitted his resignation as assistant track coach due to health issues.

      Mrs. Runge made the motion to accept Mr. Orr’s extra pay position resignation. Mr. Byrnes seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

   7. Extra Pay Position Employment – Young

      Due to Mr. Orr’s resignation as assistant track coach, a vacancy exists for that position. Ms. Young, who has a substitute certificate and volunteered with the track team last year, has submitted a letter of interest.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to accept Mrs. Young’s employment as assistant track coach. Mrs. Runge seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

6. Curriculum
   1. Mr. Fout has been working on a 7-12 class schedule that will meet the needs of the State Board of Education’s requirement for additional math and science credits by 2012.

      This is an informational item only. No Board action is required.

7. Business

   1. Adoption of 08/09 School Calendar

      A 2008/2009 calendar has been developed by a teacher/administrative team. This calendar meets the needs for the number of instructional days per school year.

      Mrs. Runge made the motion to approve the 08/09 school calendar. Mrs. Rossi seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

   2. Permission to seek parking lot resurfacing bids

      The Administration is seeking permission to seek bids for the resurfacing of the student and faculty parking lots, the parking area along Well Road, and to create an asphalt driveway along the north side of the gym.

      Mrs. Runge made the motion to allow the Administration to seek bids for resurfacing various parking lots around campus. Mr. Byrnes seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

   3. Seeking Bids for 1985 Dodge Truck

      The District wishes to sell one 1987 Dodge truck. To do this, bids from prospective buyers will be sought.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to allow the Administration to seek bids for the sale of the 1987 Dodge truck. Mr. Byrnes seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

   4. Board Study Sessions

      It has been requested that the issue of monthly study sessions be placed on the agenda.

      Mr. Byrnes made the motion to choose to continue the monthly study sessions. Mrs. Cameron seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

   5. Senior Class

      Various Clubs, Companies, and Individuals have donated $675 to the Senior Class. The breakdown of Donators and amounts are attached.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to approve the attached donations. Mr. Byrnes seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

Noting no other business before the Board, Mr. Byrnes, President of the Board, adjourned the meeting at 6:37 p.m.

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