October 26, 2010

Regular Meeting

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Dr. Manuel Isquierdo presented his report to the Governing Board (see PowerPoint).

• Ocotillo Early Learning Center will host an open house Thursday, Oct. 28, 4-7 p.m. More than 400 infants and pre-schoolers are enrolled at Ocotillo, and Parents as Teachers serves an additional 400 children.
• Mission Manor Elementary student Genevieve Vargas is the Arizona Daily Star Student of the Week.
• Lauffer Middle School student Brandon Thims was named the national VMath Math Maniac of the Week in mid-October.
• Kino Rotary of South Tucson is donating 1,700 dictionaries to third-graders in every SUSD elementary school (except Liberty which is sponsored by Rincon Rotary) and three TUSD schools.
• Raytheon volunteers will be at Sunnyside High School Nov. 4 to tutor students who are struggling in math.
• Nearly 200 people attended the 2010 Alumni Association Hall of Fame on Oct. 16.
• Congressman Raul Grijalva was a guest speaker at the Oct. 21 Initiation and Installation Ceremony for 100 eighth-graders in the middle school Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates (JAG) program.
• The Sunnyside Foundation and Pima Federal Credit Union hosted the Funding our Future breakfast Oct. 13. The event raised more than $8,000.
• Approximately 1,200 students, families, school staff and community volunteers participated in Make A Difference Day Oct. 23. They worked on 70 projects at 22 sites. Home Depot donated $12,500 in gift cards to be used for the day’s projects.

Highlights of Consent Agenda

Gifts and donations included:

• $3,250 from the Thomas O. Price Memorial Golf Tournament/City of Tucson for the Family Resource and Wellness Center clothing bank.
• $2,500 from Raytheon to Lauffer Middle School in honor of the MathMovesU Math Hero Award to teacher Corissa McClain.
• $500 from Walmart to Desert View High School’s parent program.

The Board approved the nomination of Board President Louie Gonzales to the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) All-Arizona School Board.

The Board approved the nomination of Kimberly Craft of Arizona Public Media for the ASBA Media Award.

Highlights of General Functions agenda

Furlough days
Because of a greater-than-projected budget balance carryforward, the District is able to return three furlough days to employees of the five previously approved for 2010-11. This means that employees are only required to take two furlough days in 2010-11. Twelve-month classified employees and certified employees have already taken these two days.

For the days previously scheduled as furlough – Fridays on December 17, 2010; March 11 and May 27, 2011 –  employees can either work on these days (if these days are part of their contract) or they can take a vacation day. Personal leave is not considered vacation and may not be used. Certified and administrative staff who have already made plans for these dates have the following options in order to be compensated: they can participate in district-planned professional development which will be scheduled on a Saturday before Dec. 17, attend a professional development activity planned and approved by the site administrator, or participate in Professional Development 360 online.

Classified staff who have not already taken two furlough days and whose contracts do not include the dates of Dec. 17, March 11 and May 27 will work with their supervisors to ensure taking two furlough days this year.

Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB) proposed using Dec. 17 as a records day instead of professional development.

The Governing Board approved the return of three furlough days and designation of Dec. 17 as a records day.

New high school facilities update
SUSD has been awarded $9.9 million from the state School Facilities Board for high school construction of 59,625 square feet of space, to accommodate 477 students. The total project cost per square foot is $167.05. Architects have done a preliminary evaluation of space at Desert View, Sunnyside and STAR. A study session will be scheduled to further discuss the project in order to make decisions on where construction will take place. The initial plan for construction is to open the new space(s) in summer 2012. (See Powerpoint)

ARRA Education Jobs Fund
Chief Financial Officer Hector Encinas reported that on Aug. 10, 2010, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Education Jobs bill authorizing the distribution of $10 billion to states. The purpose of these “EdJobs” funds is to retain or recall existing personnel or hire new school-based personnel, such as teachers, principals, academic coaches, security officers, custodians, cafeteria workers and bus drivers. The funds may not be used to pay for contractors or for general administrative expenses such as school board operations, human resources or business office staff. The funds cannot be used for salary increases or for central office.

SUSD is receiving $3.2 million to pay for expenses between July 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2012. District administration will bring recommendations to the Governing Board regarding technology support positions and positions to reduce class sizes.

Chief Financial Officer Hector Encinas reported that on Aug. 10, 2010, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Education Jobs bill authorizing the distribution of $10 billion to states. The purpose of these “EdJobs” funds is to retain or recall existing personnel or hire new school-based personnel, such as teachers, principals, academic coaches, security officers, custodians, cafeteria workers and bus drivers. The funds may not be used to pay for contractors or for general administrative expenses such as school board operations, human resources or business office staff. The funds cannot be used for salary increases or for central office. SUSD is receiving $3.2 million to pay for expenses between July 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2012.

At the request of Dr. Isquierdo, the Governing Board did not take any action on this item until the Administration’s recommendations regarding the proposed expenditure of these funds are shared with IBB at their next meeting.  

1-to-1 Status Update and Technology Strategic Design
Mary Veres, assistant director of IT, Title 1 Director Dr. Ed Dawson, and IT Director Javier Baca presented a report on the district’s one-to-one computing (see PowerPoint). One-to-one computing provides a computer for each student to have access to technology anytime, anywhere. The district is formulating 24 goals in three major areas: for students, for teachers and for community/parents. The District will work with Arizona State University on developing a logic model, data collection and program evaluation in a five-year longitudinal study of Project Graduation: The Digital Advantage and one-to-one computing.  The preliminary plan will be presented to schools and to IBB before being brought back to the Governing Board. Kent School District outside Seattle, Washington is allowing SUSD to use its one-to-one initative as a model to create our plan.

Dr. Isquierdo reported to the Board that the District is not moving into the second phase of 5th-Grade One-to-One Computing until second semester to allow the district to develop clearer program goals, put an evaluation model in place, and provide more parent training before students take computers home. The District wants to take advantage of lessons learned from the implementation at the first six elementary schools in Phase 1 as well as newly acquired research into what other school districts have done to be successful in their one-to-one computing programs. The District will communicate with parents about the delay of Phase 2. (See Powerpoint)