School OK’s budget; State cuts $1.1 million

Despite cuts of more than $1.1 million from the state, thus far, the Douglas Unified District Governing Board was able to pass a budget that met the needs of the district without significant impact on staffing.

During the July 13 meeting, Superintendent Earl Pettit explained that the district lost about $700,000 in soft capital money and some funding it receives for the number of students that attends. The district receives funding for each student.

The total cuts from the state amounted to $1.1 million, while the district cut $1.5 million earlier this year. 

But the cuts may not be over. The district will not find out final funding numbers until October,.

During the meeting, Pettit also provided information on student attendance and zones.

Even though the district increased the maximum number of students allowed in each classroom earlier this summer, the actual average number of students per classroom should be  lower.

Ray Borane and Huber middle schools , as well as Stevenson and Joe Carlson elementary schools will have average classroom sizes slightly higher than 26 students. Sarah Marley Elementary School is at 24, while Faras and Clawson are below 22 students per classroom.

During the meeting the board also reviewed Professional Staff Employee pay for last year.

During 2008-09 district teachers made an average annual salary of $45,025 ($34,272 to $84,014); $70,882  ($67,734 to $79,725) for directors, $71,003 for the Business Manager; $112,000 for superintendent; $74,671 for School Psychologist; $60,371 ($50,118 to $73,894) for assistant principals; $61,116 ($56,585 to $68,145) for principals, $53,131 for OT Assistants; $37,387 for nurses and $50,364 ($46,450 to $57,308) for Counselors.

The only areas that exceeded an average daily salary of more than $300 was School Psychologist ($582.92) and Superintendent ($429.19)

In other action, the board:

• Conducted three executive sessions relating to student discipline.

• Approved second reading of revisions to policy “Student Fees, Fines  and Charges.”

• Approved the hiring of first grade teacher, Ellen Schaefer, base salary of $29,200; Special Ed teacher, Irina Nilca, and Sarah McNabb. $29,200; Special Ed teacher, Marc Martinez, $28,400; kindergarten teacher, Ashley Jenkins, $28,400;  Middle School teacher, Jenna Fine, $28,800; PE Teacher, William Mahler, $30,000; Chemistry teacher, Melissa Nanez, $28,800; and Math teacher, Stephen Wasche, $28,800.

• Also, Science teacher, Jennifer Owen, $29,600; First grade  teacher, Linda Dolbec, $30,400; Fifth grade teacher, Ray Shelton, $39,500; and Math teacher, John Manjarres, $39,500.

• Approved hiring substitute teachers at $100 per day  Herlinda Villegas, Gregoria Barco, Relsa Obregon, Bernardo Acedo, Palmer McDonald, Melissa Seelhorst, Jesus Saspe, William Kimble, Virgina Morris, Jonathan Jones, Burke Richardson, Sonia Wilkinson, Raul Torrez, C laudio Barrera  and Michelle Kimble.

• Approved paying Sandy Uterhardt a total of $10,000 in addition to her base salary for her Early Learning Center management  and supervisory role.  There was a concern about her role at the ELC when a great deal of her time might be spent at the high school. The additional funding, it was explained, included her handling billing and deposits for the ELC. The approval was  made by a vote of 4-1.

• Approved after school tutoring for highly qualified middle school teachers at a rate of $25 daily.

• Approved Arizona State University student teachers for fall 2009: Alvina Hughes, Gricelda Hernandez, Amanda McFarland, Naideny Urquijo, Luz Badgero, Sasha Taylor, Hannah Hurtado, Leyla Secheslingloff, David Hurtado, Daniel Noriega, Tricia Valdez, Maira Gonzalez, Priscilla Cordova and Melanie Molina.

• Approved parent volunteer Jesus Armenta and Edith Rodriguez and volunteer coaches Mary Morris, Martin Valenzuela, Alfonso Acosta, Tony Vasquez, Tony Rodriguez, Michael Ramirez, Mario Hernandez, Diego Guerrero, Victoria Houlihan, Jennifer Nalley, Marco Romero, Carlos Duarte, Max Tapia, Eric Valenzuela.

• Approved hiring of parent liaison Elisa Altamirano, at $8.87 per hour; cafeteria workers Luz Arvizu and Jasmin Montano, at $7.25 per hour; community outreach coordinator, Eric Meechan, $38,500 annually; and adm inistration assistant, Maria T. Dillman, $9.90 per hour.

• Revised salary placement of Administrative Assistant category and  Business & Finance Assistant.

• Revised job descriptions for existing positions  of alternative to suspension monitor, counselor behavior specialist, COTA, campus security officer, business & finance assistant, instructional aide, Sped instructional aide, student store instructional aide, library instructional aide, high school bookstore manager, night security, parent liaison, school-to-work liaison.Hired certified nursing assistant, Maria Pedroza, at $10.25 per hour.

• Revised salary placement for Maintenance Coordinator, Guadalupe Acosta, to $49,000 annually.

• Approved sole source providers for National Network of Digital Schools, Winsor Management-Infinite Vision, Kronos, NSC Pearson, Inc., National College Board, Cochise County Solid Waste Management-Douglas, The Grow network/McGraw Hill, IGNITE for schools, Auto Desk Design Academy, Southwest Gas Corporation, City of Douglas Water Company, and Arizona  Public Service.

• Approved Strategic Long Range Plan for 2009-2010.

•  Approved revision to “Line and Staff Relations” policy.

• Approved hearing officers for the 2009-10 school year: Earl Pettit, Mary Good and Leanne Marston.

Just The Facts

Earlier this summer, the Douglas Unified School District passed a series of budget cuts and changes that would save the district $1.5 million.

Among those cuts 

The district approved a 15 point plan which will either create new revenue or save the district $1.5 million.

The part of the plan receiving the most attention is converting the middle schools to self-contained facilities

Moving to the self-contained model provides $630,000 in savings for the district .

Currently, the district has 1,000 sixth through eighth grade students . Studies indicate that these schools work because “elementary settings benefit students from low social backgrounds as does having instruction provided by a limited number of teachers.”

A self-contained school means that instead of having the student s go from class to class, all middle school students will stay in the same class with the same teacher all day, similar to elementary school.

The plan also keeps Ray Borane Middle School open.

The plan also calls for charging $12 a day for ELC students and charging for extracurricular activities including sports. No family would be charged more than $250 during any school year and that money could be used as a tax credit.