AJO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 15

Governing Board Members: Administration:
Mr. John Byrnes President Dr. Robert Dooley Superintendent
Mrs. Rose Cameron Clerk Mr. Frederick Fout Principal
Mrs. Lisa Rossi Member Ms. Patricia Spencer Director of Finance
Mr. Hollister David Member  
Mrs. Amy Runge Member  

MINUTES
REGULAR SESSION BOARD MEETING

Ajo Unified School District Board Room #23, 5:30 p.m.
May 15, 2008

  1. Call to Order at 5:30 p.m.
  2. Opening Exercises

    1. Roll Call:
      • P - John Byrnes, President
      • P - Rose Cameron, Clerk
      • P - Lisa Rossi, Member
      • P - Hollister David, Member
      • P - Amy Runge, Member
      • P - Robert Dooley, Superintendent
      • P - Frederick Fout, Principal
      • P - Patricia Spencer, Financial Director
    2. Pledge of Allegiance
    3. Statement of Welcome
    4. Appointment of Acting Clerk, if necessary
    5. Superintendent's Report
      • Update on Meet & Confer. Working condition issues are finalized. Final approval will have to wait until August or September.
      • Wednesday is 8th grade promotion at 6:00 p.m. and Thursday is High School graduation at 7:00 p.m.
      • Facts from ADE, in 2006 the average salary for a teacher in this district was $42,067. In 2007 (last year) it was 43,833, that is a 4.1% increase in just one year. Classroom spending has also increased. In 2006 the district spent $4,118 per child; in 2007 the district spent $4,349. This is a 5.6% increase.
      • Additions to the agenda, AIMS augmentation, 6H Final Budget Revision.
      • Dr. Dooley & Mrs. Spencer will be at ADE tomorrow. The Board will not get a "Weekly Board Letter." On your table are some items that would have been in the board letter.
    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.
  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. Intent to not return - Armendariz

      M. Jodi Armendariz has notified the Administration of her intent to not return to the Ajo Unified School District for the 08/09 school year.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to approve Mrs. Armendariz' letter of intent not to return. Mrs. Runge seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    2. Intent to not return - Greenwood

      Gabriela Greenwood has notified the Administration of her intent to not return to the Ajo Unified School Distinct for the 08/09 school year.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to approve Mrs. Greenwood's letter of intent not to return. Mr. Byrnes seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    3. Certified Retirement - Williams

      Luisa Williams has submitted a request to retire at the end of the 08/09 academic year. This will enable her to receive an additional $2,500 in salary for the 08/09 school year.

      Mrs. Runge made the motion to approve Mrs. Williams request to retire at the end of the 08/09 school year. Mr. Byrnes seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    4. Certified Employment - Jackson

      Diane Jackson has been interviewed and reference checks completed for the position of Reading Specialist.

      Mrs. Cameron made the motion to approve the employment of Diane Jackson as a Reading Specialist for the 08/09 school year. Mrs. Rossi seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    5. Employment of Web Design Teacher - Powell

      Tom Powell is being recommended to teach a one period class on web design for the 08/09 school year. This class will be a part of our 08/09 JTED program.

      Mrs. Runge made the motion to approve the employment of Tom Powell to teach Web Design. Mrs. Rossi seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    6. Employment of Certified Teacher - Estolano

      Interviews have been conducted and reference checks completed for Rebecca Estolano. She will be recommended for a 6th grade homeroom position.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to approve the employment of Rebecca Estolano. Mrs. Cameron seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    7. Employment of Certified Teacher - Ubarco

      Interviews have been conducted and reference checks completed for Gerlie Ubarco. If hired, she will be placed into the open 4/5 position for the 08/09 school year.

      Mrs. Runge made the motion to approve the employment of Gerlie Ubarco. Mrs. Rossi seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    8. Employment of Certified Teacher - Stanley

      Jennifer Stanley has been interviewed and reference checks completed. She will either be placed as high school English teacher or in the middle school grades, depending upon the availability of other candidates.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to approve the employment of Jennifer Stanley. Mrs. Runge seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    9. Classified Resignation - Rocha

      Ruth Rocha, an ELL Aide, submitted her resignation effective April 17, 2008.

      Mrs. Cameron made the motion to approve the resignation of Mrs. Rocha. Mrs. Rossi seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    10. Certified Summer School Employment

      The staff below is being recommended to teach summer school form June 2 to June 26, Monday through Thursday for 5 hours per day. They will teach 4 hours per day and have one hour for preparation. The pay will be $25.00 per hour for 5 hours per day for 16 days. The total pay will be $2,000 per FTE.

      K-1 Classroom Martinez & Yanez 2-4 Classroom T. Stidham
      5-8 Classroom O. Garcia Elem. Sped Classroom M. Beltran
      High School English D. Grissom High School Math M. Semilla
      Technology L. Sedillo Library A. Decinal

      Mrs. Runge made the motion to approve the above named individuals for the positions indicated. Mrs. Rossi seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    11. Classified Summer School Staff

      The staff members below have submitted letters of interest to serve as teachers' aides during the June 2008 summer school program. They will be paid their hourly rate for 4 hours per day for 16 days.

      G. Romero
      K. Murphy
      R. Alvillar
      L. Romero
      L. Davis
      B. Mojica
      A. Semilla

      Mrs. Rossi approved the above named individuals for the positions indicated. Mr. Byrnes seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    12. Approval of Certificated "Signing Bonuses"

      In an effort to recruit and sustain highly qualified candidates, the Administration is proposing to offer new teachers a $1,000 signing bonus for their first and second years in our district.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to approve the personnel practice that would provide signing bonuses for new teaching staff. Mrs. Cameron seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

  6. Business

    1. Board Delegate Selection to ASBA

      ASBA will hold its annual meeting in Tempe, AZ on June 28, 2008. The Ajo Unified School District Governing Board will consider sending a delegate.

      It was moved by Mrs. Rossi and seconded by Mr. Byrnes that the Board chooses to send Rose Cameron to the delegate assembly on the 28th of June. The motion passed 4-1.

    2. Voucher Approval - Ajo Copper News

      Approve the amount of $73.22 from expense voucher #7839 as presented.

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to approve the amount of $73.22 from Voucher #7839 payable to the Ajo Copper News. Mrs. Runge seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    3. Donation

      Freeport-McMoRan has donated $2,000 to the General Athletic Fund.

      Mrs. Cameron made the motion to accept the donation from Freeport-McMoRan. Mrs. Rossi seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    4. Out of State Travel - Rapid City, SD - Fober

      Marcia Fober has requested permission to attend the Nation Conference on Indian Education from July 8-10 in Rapid City, SD.

      Mrs. Runge made the motion that the Board approves the Rapid City out of State Travel. Mrs. Rossi seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    5. Out of State Travel - Literacy Conference - Lopez

      Leonard Lopez (5th grade) is requesting permission to attend a K-6 Literary Conference sponsored by Staff Development for Educators from July 9-12, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. (Mr. Stidham will also be attending this conference.)

      Mrs. Rossi made the motion to approve the Literacy Conference out of state travel. Mr. Byrnes seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    6. Out of State Travel - Differentiated Instruction - Lopez

      Leonard Lopez, (5th grade) is requesting permission to attend a conference on Differentiated Instruction sponsored by Staff Development for Educators from July 20-23, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. (Mr. Fout, Mr. Stidham, and Ms. Garcia will also be attending.)

      Mrs. Runge made the motion to approve the Differentiated Instruction out of state travel. Mrs. Cameron seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    7. Facilities Use Agreement - Community Food Bank

      The Community Food Bank has submitted a Facility Use Agreement to the Ajo Unified School District which will enable them to provide a free summer lunch program. Karen Galliazo of the Ajo Food Bank will be present to respond to any questions the Board may have. Karen Galliazo stated during the meeting that the Food Bank will also be serving breakfast.

      Mrs. Cameron made the motion to approve the attached the Facilities Use Agreement from the Community Food Bank. Mrs. Runge seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

    8. Review of 2007 Financial Audit

      Administration will review the financial audit for fiscal year 2007. This audit will done January 2008 by Heinfeld, Meech, & Company.

      This is for review only; there is no Board action necessary.

    9. Final Budget Revision 07/08 (Emergency Item)

      Statue states that a final budget revision may be made by May 15. The Administration will present these revisions to the Board. (This item was an Emergency Item that was added to the agenda after the 24 hour deadline.)

      Mrs. Cameron made the motion to approve the final budget revision for the 07/08 school year. Mrs. Rossi seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

  7. Curriculum
    1. High School Graduation Celebration Participation

      Occasionally AIMS results are not returned to the school by the date of high school graduation. Also, occasionally students experience health or family issues beyond their control and have incompletes in classes at the end of their Senior year. The Board is being asked to consider giving Seniors, who may pass AIMS with augmentation or who can correct incomplete grades, by the end of summers school, the opportunity to participate in the high school graduation exercises and other celebrations at the end of their Senior year. This would not apply to students who do not have enough credits to graduate.

      Mrs. Cameron made the motion to allow the two groups of Seniors to participate in graduation events. Mrs. Runge 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 6:17 p.m.

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