MINUTES CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES EDWARD A. GREER EDUCATION CENTER, BOARD ROOM 2832 E. FLAMINGO ROAD, LAS VEGAS, NV 89121 Thursday, April 2, 2009 4:00 p.m. Roll Call: Members Present Member Absent Terri Janison, President Larry P. Mason, Member Carolyn Edwards, Vice President Sheila R. Moulton, Clerk Chris Garvey, Member Deanna L. Wright, Member Dr. Linda E. Young, Member Dr. Walt Rulffes, Superintendent of Schools ANNOUNCEMENTS Trustee Janison announced that Trustee Mason was out of town and unable to attend the meeting, and Trustee Edwards would be joining the meeting via teleconference call. INVOCATION Dr. Ann Jones, Senior Pastor, Life Christian Center, gave the invocation. FLAG SALUTE Clark High School ROTC led the Pledge of Allegiance. ADOPT AGENDA Adopt agenda, except delete Item 3.01; move Item 7.04 to follow Item 10.04 as 10.04a; and notice revised reference material for Items 5.10, 5.11, and 5.12. Motion: Wright Second: Moulton Vote: Unanimous Trustee Edwards was not present for the vote. APPROVE MINUTES Regular meeting February 26, 2009 Motion: Moulton Second: Young Vote: Unanimous Trustee Edwards was not present for the vote. Page 1 of 9
STUDENT REPORTS Joshua Brieger, student body president at Miley Achievement School, Sheila Moulton, District G trustee; Daniel Peterson, student body president at Variety School, Larry Mason, District D trustee; and Viviana Perez, student body president at Global Community High School, Larry Mason, District D trustee, gave brief overviews of present and future activities, plans, and goals for their respective schools. PRESENTATION OF AMERICA S SCHOOLS PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL ESSAY CONTEST Presentation and recognition of the winner of the America s Schools Program Environmental Essay Contest. Judy Myers, Program Manager, School-Community Partnership Program, Clark County School District; Eva White, Assistant Region Superintendent, East Region, Clark County School District; Don Baird, Director, America s Schools Program; Kayla Cothrun, Student, Foothill High School. Ms. Myers explained the provisions and process of the Environmental Essay Contest. She stated the topic of the essay was Why We Should Protect Our Environment and the Animals that Live in Our Environment. She acknowledged the finalists as follows: Ciindy Guerrero, Las Vegas High School; Megan Hermansen, Green Valley High School; Makaila Otjes, Northwest Career and Technical Academy (NWCTA); Amelia Wignall, Explore Knowledge Academy; Jared Rezendes, NWCTA; Euripides Westfall, NWCTA; Elmer Gonzalez, NWCTA; Kabir Suri, third place winner, Foothill High School; Calli Nielsen, second place winner, Foothill High School; and Cayla Cothrun, first place winner, Foothill High School. Miss Cothrun read her winning essay. RECOGNITION Trustee Janison recognized Boy Scout Troop 903 members Andrew Lee, Chet Pressler, Parker Mulick, and Trenton Mulick. RECESS: 4:38 p.m. RECONVENE: 5:20 p.m. BOARD MEMBER LEAVES Trustee Young left the Board meeting during the recess at 5:04 p.m. ENTERTAINMENT RECOGNIZED Trustee Janison acknowledged the musical presentation given during the recess by Liberty High School Theatre. Board members thanked the students; Rosalind Gibson, Principal; Sharon Chadwick, Music Specialist; and Dr. Andre Denson, Region Superintendent. TELECONFERENCE CALL CONNECTED Teleconference call with Trustee Edwards was connected at 5:21 p.m. Page 2 of 9
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON AGENDA ITEMS/RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENT Trustee Janison explained the public speaking pilot and read the public speaking guidance. She explained that public speakers, under the current pilot process, would speak during each agenda item. She noted that at the April 23, 2009, Board meeting, the Board would return to the regular public speaking process, but there would be an agenda item for discussion of the process at that time. APPROVE ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA Approval of consent agenda, taking Item 5.03 separately, as follows: Motion: Moulton Second: Garvey Public Speaking on Items 5.10 and 5.11 Dennis Conway Mr. Conway explained that a clerical error had been made by his company in submitting bid documents for the schools in items 5.10 and 5.11. He asked the Board to consider waiving the requirement and award the contract to his company. Bill Hoffman, General Counsel, Legal Department, advised that the Board was not in a position to waive the statutory requirement. Vote on Trustee Moulton s motion was unanimous. AUTHORIZE TRAFFIC SAFETY COORDINATOR AND PARAPROFESSIONAL FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS Authorization to submit and implement a federally funded Highway Safety Grant for a three-year project, to continue to develop a comprehensive community safety education collaborative, effective from October 1, 2009, to September 30, 2012, in the approximate amount of $612,479.00, to be paid from Unit 0137, Fund 0280, with a 25 percent in-kind matching funds commitment paid with community and existing resources, from Fund 0270 and Internal Order 500549, as recommended in Reference 5.01. APPROVE SEX EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENT Approval to appoint Dr. Dana Forte, D.O., medical representative, to the Sex Education Advisory Committee, effective April 6, 2009, as recommended in Reference 5.02. APPROVE STUDENT EXPULSIONS Approval of student expulsions according to NRS 392.467 (Board Policy 5114 and Regulations 5114 and 5141.1), as listed, as recommended in Reference 5.04. APPROVE STUDENT WORK EXEMPTIONS Approval of student work exemptions according to NRS 392.110 (Board Policy and Regulation 5114), as listed, as recommended in Reference 5.05. Page 3 of 9
APPROVE LICENSED PERSONNEL LEAVES OF ABSENCE Approval to grant leaves of absence to licensed personnel (Regulations 4351, 4352, 4355, and Articles 16-4 and 16-5 of the Negotiated Agreement between the Clark County School District and the Clark County Education Association), as recommended in Reference 5.06. RATIFY PURCHASE ORDERS Ratification of the purchase orders in the total amount of $3,308,101.08, as listed, as recommended in Reference 5.07. APPROVE PURCHASING AWARDS Approval to purchase goods or services in the estimated total amount of $567,369.30, in compliance with NRS 332, as listed, as recommended in Reference 5.08. RATIFY WARRANTS Ratification of the warrants as listed in the Bills Payable Transmittal and the Board Memorandum #18-08-09 in the total amount of $88,408,177.79, as recommended in Reference 5.09. APPROVE CONTRACT AWARD: ROOF REPLACEMENT, C. C. RONNOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Approval of an award of contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for roof replacement at C. C. Ronnow Elementary School, to be paid from the 1998 Capital Improvement Program, Fund 3080000000, Project C0000471, and for J. P. Gerner, Facilities Division, to act as the Board of School Trustees designee for all project documents, as recommended in Reference 5.10. APPROVE CONTRACT AWARD: ROOF REPLACEMENT, BERTHA RONZONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Approval of an award of contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for roof replacement at Bertha Ronzone Elementary School, to be paid from the 1998 Capital Improvement Program, Fund 3080000000, Project C0000478, and for J. P. Gerner, Facilities Division, to act as the Board of School Trustees designee for all project documents, as recommended in Reference 5.11. APPROVE CONTRACT AWARD: CHILLER CONVERSION, CHARLES SILVESTRI JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Approval of an award of contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for a chiller conversion at Charles Silvestri Junior High School, to be paid from the 1998 Capital Improvement Program, Fund 3080000000, Project C0011968, and for J. P. Gerner, Facilities Division, to act as the Board of School Trustees designee for all project documents, as recommended in Reference 5.12. Page 4 of 9
RATIFY CHANGE IN SERVICES, ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENTS Ratification of total change in services to the architectural/engineering services agreements for a net increase of $33,005.83 for Roy W. Martin Middle School Replacement (Pugsley Simpson Coulter Architects), Sunrise Mountain High School (Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects), Charlotte and Jerry Keller Elementary School (JMA Architects, Inc.), and Valley High School (Professional Design Associates, Inc.), as recommended in Reference 5.13. RATIFY CHANGE ORDERS Ratification of total change orders for a net increase of $869,399.50 plus 60 days to the construction contracts to Construct J. E. Manch Elementary School Replacement (Martin-Harris Construction) and Manufacture and Installation of Fabric Shade Structures, Unit Cost Contract at Various Sites (USA Shade & Fabric Structures, Inc.), as recommended in Reference 5.14. APPROVE APPOINTMENT OF BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEMBER Approval to appoint Deborah Earl to one of the vacant at-large positions of the Bond Oversight Committee, commencing April 2, 2009, and expiring on June 1, 2010, as recommended in Reference 5.03. Trustee Janison stated she was not in favor of Deborah Earl being reelected to the Bond Oversight Committee (BOC) because Ms. Earl had taken a job as a full-time math teacher, and there may be meeting time conflict issues because BOC meetings are held during the school day. Trustee Moulton stated she was in support of Ms. Earl serving on the BOC because she believed Ms. Earl was valuable to the BOC. She stated perhaps something could be worked out concerning the meeting times. Motion to accept. Motion: Moulton The motion failed for lack of a second. Trustee Garvey asked if this concern had been conveyed to Ms. Earl. Jeff Weiler, Chief Financial Officer, Operations Support Unit, offered that the BOC conducted a survey of what the best times, days, and locations would be to hold their meetings. He offered that the committee could be surveyed again to determine the best time for their meetings to be held. Trustee Garvey asked if the position of the chairman would be changing soon. Dave Broxterman, Administrative Manager, Facilities Division, stated in June there would be a reelection, and in this instance, the vice chairperson would have to serve as chair until that time. Page 5 of 9
APPROVE APPOINTMENT OF BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEMBER (continued) Trustee Edwards asked if there was any language in the bylaws that speaks to an employee being on the committee. Mr. Broxterman responded no. Trustee Edwards stated there is something to that effect in the AZAC bylaws. Mr. Broxterman pointed out that Joyce Haldeman is on the BOC as the Superintendent s designated representative, and there are no restrictions in the bylaws to an employee being on the committee. Trustee Wright stated she was concerned about a possible conflict of interest with Ms. Earl working on a CCSD campus. Trustee Janison clarified that her concern was that if Ms. Earl was absent from her teaching position to attend a committee meeting, there would be a substitute teacher in her class for that time. Dr. Rulffes stated this does create a dilemma because there are other committees that employees serve on, and if the Board wished for Dr. Rulffes to address this issue, it would have to be extended to all other areas similar to this situation. Trustee Edwards stated as long as there is nothing in the bylaws and there is no known conflict of interest, the Board and district should support participation in community service. Trustee Moulton asked if the Oversight Panel for School Facilities (AB 353) was created by the legislature and if there was any control of the bylaws by the Board. Dr. Rulffes explained the AB 353 was created by the legislature, and it requires that participants from specific areas serve on the committee. Motion to accept. Motion: Edwards Second: Moulton Yeses 4 (Edwards, Moulton, Garvey, Wright); No 1 (Janison) The motion passed. APPROVE ADOPTION OF THE 2009-10 CALENDAR OF BOARD MEETINGS Approval of adoption of the calendar of regular meetings of the Board of School Trustees for the period of January 2009 through January 2010, as requested in Reference 6.01. Motion to accept. Motion: Edwards Second: Moulton Vote: Unanimous Page 6 of 9
APPROVE VOLUNTARY RESOLUTION AGREEMENT Approval of the Voluntary Resolution Agreement regarding the U.S. Department of Education OCR Complaint #10091030 and authorization for Dr. Walt Rulffes, Superintendent, to sign the necessary document(s), as recommended in Reference 7.01. Motion: Moulton Second: Wright Vote: Unanimous APPROVE BUDGET UPDATE Approval regarding possible updates to the budget. Mr. Weiler stated the district received estimates from the State Department of Taxation for the CCSD property taxes for next year, and there was a slight decrease from the current year. He stated guidance has gone out from the U.S. Department of Education specifically addressing state stabilization money of which approximately 81 percent would go to education. Dr. Rulffes commented that the legislators were in despair in learning that the budget deficit is much more than originally estimated, and he commented that the budget cuts would be even steeper than what had been proposed by the governor. He added that there had been a projection of no increase in the per-pupil allocation for next fall. Public Speaking on Item 7.02 Autumn Tampa Ms. Tampa provided calculations corresponding to budget cuts and the elimination of the Permanent Substitute Teacher position. Trustee Moulton inquired about when the state would be receiving the stabilization money. Mr. Weiler explained that his understanding was that within two weeks of receiving the complete application from the state, funds would be disbursed to the state. Trustee Moulton asked if the money would be used for the 2009-2010 school year. Mr. Weiler stated he understood the stabilization fund to exist to make up shortfalls at the state level for K-12 and higher education funding. Trustee Moulton stated she wanted to be sure this money would be used specifically for education. Mr. Weiler explained that approximately 81 percent of the stabilization money must go to K-12 and higher education, but there is no distinction between how much would go to K-12 and how much would go to higher education. Page 7 of 9
APPROVE LEGISLATION Approval regarding state and federal legislation which may affect education, including, but not limited to, reports of current legislative issues and events; the development of the district s legislative goals, platform, and courses of action; the establishment of the district s position on proposed legislation; and guidance to district representatives in the legislative process None. PUBLIC HEARINGS ON NONAGENDA ITEMS/RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENT Parent Concern Linda Taylor, Kenneth Evans Ms. Taylor spoke about her son s participation in the Rancho High School aviation program and the issues that followed after her son became ill and was out of school for three weeks. She asked for resolution so that her son may continue to work toward his goal of attending the Air Force Academy. Mr. Evans, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, spoke on behalf of Ms. Taylor, stating there was some interest in having Ms. Taylor s son admitted into the Air Force Academy. AGENDA PLANNING: ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS Trustee Edwards requested an agenda item to discuss CCSD s architect selection process. BOARD REPORTS Trustee Wright reported that she read with students at Kermit Booker Elementary School. She congratulated Bob Miller Middle School for winning the junior varsity quiz championship. Trustee Garvey reported that she read with students at Kermit Booker Elementary School and Johnston Middle School. She stated she attended the NWCTA Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting and spoke about a successful teleconference with her Community Education Advisory Board (CEAB) in Mesquite. She stated she would be attending the National School Boards Association (NSBA) Annual Conference in San Diego. Trustee Janison spoke about the Kermit Booker Elementary School Pre-K class she read to. She stated she attended the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and she congratulated Cimarron-Memorial High School for their success in the competition. She spoke about the Elementary Music Orff Festival. BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT COMMUNICATION None. DISCUSSION AND REQUEST FOR SPECIAL MEETINGS None. EMPLOYEE LABOR RELATIONS AND CLOSED SESSION Approval of closed session pursuant to NRS 288. Motion: Moulton Second: Edwards Vote: Unanimous Page 8 of 9
RECESS: 6:06 p.m. RECONVENE: 6:58 p.m. ADJOURN: 6:58 p.m. Motion: Moulton Second: Wright Vote: Unanimous Trustees Edwards and Young were not present for the vote. Page 9 of 9