Stevenson School Principal Rafael Ortiz was fully reinstated to all duties after more than two months assigned to his home during a special meeting on Monday, May 11.

After three separate executive sessions and an hour of private discussion in those sessions, the Douglas Unified School District Governing Board voted by a margin of 3-2 to reinstate Ortiz. Voting against bringing Ortiz back to the school were board members Susan Kramer and Mario Ramos.

In voting “no” Kramer said, “I do not feel it is in the best of the students (to bring Ortiz back). Although he is very charismatic and well-liked, I don’t feel his actions have shown the best interest of Stevenson students, especially those affected by the ELD program.”

Board Member Ed Rivera said, “It is important to follow what the parents want. It is what the parents deserve.”

Kramer followed by saying that state and federal government set forth requirements for the students at the school and the ELD program specifics had to be followed.

School Superintendent Earl Pettit said he could not comment on the situation per legal advise.

Following the meeting, the Stevenson parents in attendance had an impromptu rally for Ortiz, singing, “He is a jolly good fellow.”

In February, Ortiz was administratively reassigned to his home after the audit from the Office of Language Acquisition Service revealed that the school is not adhering to ELL standards for student education.

The investigation centered on the withdrawal of more than 100 students from Stevenson’s ELL programs that had previously been identified as English Language Learners.

The audit was sparked because of the withdrawal of so many students from the program when there had not been any withdrawals from the school’s program the previous two years.

According to a summary report from Leann Gilbreath from the Department of Education, the audit discovered many issues concerning the withdrawal of students from the Stevenson program.

• Most of the withdrawal forms had the same handwriting on the form, as if specific school personnel had written names of the students on the form and then had parents sign them.

• Most of the forms were completed on July 23 and August 14, 2008.

•  Withdrawal forms were completed on students that had already tested out as “proficient” and would no longer be in the ELL program. Withdrawal forms would not have been necessary.

Possible sale of 15th Street School

The board also agreed to support a formal request from Chiricahua Community Health Centers to acquire 15th Street School, which has been vacant since the summer of 1996.

Chiricahua is petitioning to acquire the facility for use as a Pediatric Care Center.

To begin the process, the board approved allowing the district to begin an abatement study and appraisal of the building and property.

The school, which was built in 1905, has required extensive renovations throughout its more than 90-year history. In 1996, the district had outgrown the building. In 1996, the estimated cost of renovation was between $1.1 and $1.3 million.

Pettit said that while the building has little if any value, the land it sets on is estimated at about $100,000.

Teachers get extra  funds

The board also approved distribution of 50 percent of Instructional Improvement Fund monies to certified staff for teacher compensation. They have done this in the past.

Teachers received $390 last year, but due to rollover, that would increase to $1,106 next school year. Pettit said it would offset some of the loss teacher’s may experience due to a reduction in state Proposition 301 funds.

The rest of the fund, approximately $300,000 will be used for class size reduction.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a request submitted by Chris Brown for renewal of his leave of absence by a 4-1 vote. The lone dissenting vote came from Susan Kramer.

• Hired a registered nurse, Frank Lara, salary of $29,835 for next school year; Educational Technology Coordinator, Judy Riddle, $40,318, for 2009-10 year; Elementary teachers, Sara Blades and Ashley Hanley, $28,800; Culinary Arts teacher, Margaret Schmidt, $30,000; and Summer school administrator, Mitch Lindemann, $4,800.

Approved an addendum in the amount of $300 for Carol Lindren for extra duties/responsibilities as MAS teacher/coordinator for 2009-10 year.

• Approved contract renewals for school nurses Yolanda Caruso, Gloria Reyes and Anne Brasher.

• Approved job description revisions for math coach, school improvement specialist, ELL instructional support, educational technology coordinator and reading coach.

• Hired Rosa Sanchez as an instructional aide for the summer at an hourly rate of $15.

Accepted the resignation of special ed instruction aide Patricia Valdez.

• Approved a budget revision for 2008-09 District Annual Budget Expenditure after discovering software glitch.