During its November 3 meeting, the Douglas Unified School District Governing Board pushed forward a dismiss al of  a middle school instructor and accepted the resignation of another instructor.

Following a short executive session, the board agreed unanimously to serve as the hearing officers in Middle School Teacher Lee Hayes’ appeal in his dismissal.

Termination proceedings began following a decision to dismiss Hayes at the October meeting.

In his application to the district , Hayes omitted relevant information concerning his termination from the Nogales School District in 2007.

In the Nogales dismissal, the charges included leaving a handgun and ammunition within sight in his vehicle in the school parking lot,  then lying about his actions when questioned by the district. Hayes was also charged in Nogales with lying about his previous teaching experience  on his application to the district.

In Douglas, according to the charges, Hayes misrepresented his previous teaching experience  by completely omitting his experience in Nogales.

In September of this year, Hayes informed the Douglas Unified School District Administration that he had “resigned” from the Nogales School District for “political” reasons.

In other action, the board accepted the resignation and released Stephanie Buttle from her certified contract, and she is to pay the district $1,500 in liquidated damages.

In other action, the board:

• Accepted a donation of a Brother fax machine and HP Laserjet 4100 printer with a estimated value of $250, from the USDA Veterinary Services; Eleven Dell Latitude D81- laptops, including docking stations, and two  laptops with an estimated value of $3250 from the U.S. Forest Service; $650 from the Greater Douglas Chamber of Commerce from the proceeds from the Homecoming breakfast.

• Approved the hiring  of elementary teacher, Laurayne Sullivan, at a base pay of $35,600 to be prorated.

• Approved extra compensation addendums for Emilio Gonzalez, Zero hour marching band, one-sixth of current base pay; Francesca Inzerillo, middle school assistant girls soccer coach, $883; Richard Fraijo, middle school assistant basketball coach, $883; Tony Rodriguez, middle school boys basketball assistant coach, $1104; and Maria Ruiz, student counselor for Stevenson School, $773.

• Repealed action taken last month providing instructors one-sixth  additional pay in lieu of  a flat $5,400 contract addenda. Those approved include Ron Ellsworth and Chris Metz, PE/Health; Richard Paun, Fine Arts; Jamie Tadeo, Social Studies; Andrea Arnejo and Donna Savill, Science; and Abigail Griffin, Norma Ramos and Abe Grijalva, Foreign Arts.

• Approved Title I tutors Jane Cinamon and Gloria Azate, Huber Middle School; and Laurayne Sullivan, Clawson School,  at a daily rate of $25.

• Approved 21st Century Community Learning substitute teachers Cheryl Hawkins, Kelly Showalter, Elizabeth Cuevas, Sydney Fimbres and Denise McGrew.

√ Approved Ray Borane Coach volunteer Jessica Rapes.

• Approved 2010-11 retirement of Evangelina Araiza and resignations of Sydney Fimbres and Hilda Robles.

• Approved the following support staff hires or changes - Jesus Armenta, Special Ed instructional Aide, $8.87 per hour; Faras Elementary 21st Century Community Learning Centers clerks Brittney Leon and Danielle Quinonez, $7.25 per hour; Classified staff resignations Cecilia Pickell and Erika Peralta.

• Approved first readings of the following policy changes - Board Member Qualifications; Unexpired Term Fulfillment; Notification of Board Meetings; Agenda; Quorum; School District Annual Report; Vendor/Contractor Relations; Salary Deductions; Staff Conduct; Staff Health and Safety; Professional Staff Hiring; Graduation Requirements; Freedom of Expression; Immunization of Students; Communicable/Infectious Diseases; Parental Involvement in Education; Relations with Charter Schools; and Student Teaching and Internships.

• Awarded Rosetta Stone bid for English and Spanish language software.

• Approved out-of-state travel for staff members Lourdes Mora, Maria Figueroa, Rob Doctor, Eric Meehan and 16 DHS Distributive Education students to attend the 2010 DECA New York Experience in New York City in January.

• Approved a Statement of Assurance for teacher evaluation status for 2010-11.

• Approved a Memorandum of Understanding  with the Arizona Department of Education  for the formation of a 2141 Committee for highly qualified.

• Approved an intergovernmental agreement creating the Consortium Concerning Cochise County Interactive Television  System which would allow interactive teaching over television  for classes not currently offered in Douglas.

• Approved an application for E-rate funding for 2010-11 and submission of forms.

• Reviewed Teacher pay policy and the legal and policy status concerning PTSOs.

• Reviewed a CTE report from Rob Doctor.