Business was light during the final regular meeting prior to the Christmas break for the Douglas Unified School District Governing Board.

The meeting was less than 90 minutes despite to short executive sessions to address personnel issues.

In the only matter that garnered much attention, Sonia Barcelo of the Business Office explained the two discrepancies that were discovered after the district audit. Since then the district has prepared and approved a revised Annual Financial Report.

The two problems involved transfer of fund from one area to another instead of actually invoicing that department for use of facilities and a coding problem.

In other business:

√ Approved Clawson Elementary fundraising activity for fall semester.

√ Approved first grade teacher (Faras) hire, Joanie Duarte, at a total salary of $16,044.03 (prorated for 89 days remaining in school year);  ELL teacher (HMS) hire, Jose Delgado, at a total salary of $18,749.00 (prorated for 104 days remaining in school year); and School to Work Transitional Specialist (DHS) hire, Daisy Montano, at an hourly rate of $9.07 (Category VIII)

√ Approved adjustment in hourly rate for Food Service workers, Sandra Lucero and Catalina Decker.

√ Approved stipends in the amount of $2,040 each for Mary Morris and Sandra Vaughn for coordination of the DUSD student entrepreneurship and leadership program; $600 for Angelica Rios for extra duties/responsibilities as school technology liaison; John Cadigan - National Honor Society sponsor at DHS - $883; Rosemary Owen — National Junior Honor Society sponsor at RBMS - $552; and Lourdes Mora — Yearbook sponsor at RBMS - $552

√ Approved clarification of daily rate for substitute teacher, George Montaflo (retired); and the following substitute teacher hires: Margaret Bowles (certified) @ $70/day and William (Keoki) Skinner (certified) @ $70/day.

√ Approved Romelia Garcia (ELC, Joe Carlson, Stevenson) as a parent volunteers.

Approved termination of employment of Joey Salazar, part-time night security, due to abandonment of duties; certified staff resignation received from Lucinda SageMidgorden for the end of the 2007/2008 school year; and support staff resignation received from Grace Rivera, Food Service worker.

√ Approved request received from Joan Melendez, school nurse, for temporary part-time status until May, 2008.

√ Ratification of the previous practice approving a twenty-five cent addition to hourly wage for all employees with an AA degree. This action is necessary because the Governing Board approved a twenty-five cent increase for instructional aides only; and approval to continue the practice of granting an additional twenty-five cents to hourly wage for all employees with an AA degree.

√ Approved  E-rate funding for FY2008-2009 (Year 11) and submission of Forms 470.

√ Approved sole source procurement for Powerschool Premier (upgrade of existing student management system) to include maintenance/support agreement and implementation services.

√ Approved renewal of intergovernmental agreement with Cochise College for use of classrooms for adult ed program

√ Approved out of state travel for Gail Zamar to attend the IMEC conference in Washington, D.C. on January 8-12, 2008; and out of state travel for Minerva Kong to attend the 2nd Pennsylvania Conference and Summit on Educational Excellence for Latino Students to be held in State College, PA on December 10-11, 2007.

√ Approved first reading of revisions to Policy GCF ìProfessional Staff Hiringî; and new Policy exhibit GCF-ED ìProfessional Staff Hiring;î first reading of revisions to Policy GDF ìSupport Staff Hiringî; and new Policy exhibit GDF-EF ìSupport Staff Hiring;î revisions to Policy exhibit GCBA-EC ìExtra Duty Salary Schedule;î and revisions to Policy exhibit GDBA-EB ìSupport Staff Salary Schedulesî.

√ Approved self-evaluation for Governing Board, as required by Policy BAA ìEvaluation of School Board/Board Self-Evaluation;î and evaluation of Superintendent.

√ Approved of Notice of Intent (NOT) for Career & Technology Education program Biotechnology for 2008-2009.

Upcoming event include a special board meeting — December 5, 2007 at 5:30 PM; and Winter break is December 24, 2007 — January 4, 2008. All schools and school offices will be closed on those days. Central Administration and Central Receiving offices will be closed from December 24, 2007 — January 1, 2008.

The next regular board meeting is January 16, 2008