Borane MS nears 100th birthday

Ray Borane Middle School is nearing its 100th year of existence and the school is planning a celebration in May.

Former Associate Superintendent Judy Herbert made a brief presentation on plans for the event during the regular meeting of the Douglas Unified School District  Governing Board on Tuesday, March 2.

At different points in its history, the school has served as an elementary, middle and high school.

In 1907, Herbert said, the voters approved spending $37,500 in bonds to construct the new Douglas High School, now Ray Borane Middle School, and construction was completed in 1910.

 The celebration will take place on Friday May 7  with tours of the school, a luncheon, open house and entertainment.

During the meeting, Huber Middle School girls basketball coach Tony Rodriguez was honored with his team  and his recently shaved head. He promised his team if they won 10 games, he would let them shave his head.

Rodriguez said he later had to visit a barber, because the work done by the girls, while enjoyed, wasn’t quite even. The girls also presented Rodriguez with a signed team ball.

In other action, the board:

√ Approved fundraising activities for Haitian relief from the Douglas High School Key Club and  fundraising activities for future production costs for the Ray Borane Middle School Drama Club.

√ Approved a donation of $100 from the Finks Foundation for defraying the cost of a field trip for Faras Elementary students to Slaughter Ranch.

√ Approved the hiring of coaches Richard Ross, Middle School softball, $1,104; Tabatha Crigger, Middle School head girls track coach, $1,104; and Lizette Valenzuela, middle school assistant track coach, $883.

√ Approved an addenda for additional duties/responsibilities not to exceed $2,700 each for special education teachers for the 2009-10 school year. Those receiving the addenda include Sarah McNabb, Clint Hill, Ruth DeBoer, Janice Fritsche, Gloria Arzate, Janis Cinnamon, Janis Hoffman, Sheila Ayrom, Hilda Robles, Rodna Madrid, Sally Hamilton and Amy Dahl.

√ Approved hiring of emergency substitute teacher Andrea Villicana.

√ Approved volunteers Monica Romero, Douglas High School, volunteer for CTE; and Amanda Rojas, Sarah Marley, Cochise College cooperative education students volunteer for Spring Semester.

√ Accepted the resignations of James Riske, DHS teacher; and Natalie Witzeman, Huber instructor, effective at the end of the 2009-10 school year.

√ Hired Yolanda Acosta as a parent liaison, at $10.03 per hour. Tabled the hiring o of a Secretary III because the job had not been properly posted.

√ Accepted the resignations of Nubia Elias, instructional aide at the 21st Century program, and Elise Altamirano, parent liaison at ELC.

√ Approved the second readings of the following policies “Board Member Oath of Office,” “Board Member Insurance/Liability,” “Qualifications and Duties of the Superintendent,” “Evaluation of the Superintendent,” “Budget Hearings and Reviews/Adoption Process,” “Budget Transfers,” “Income from School Sales and Services,” “Accounting System,” “ Professional Staff Salary Schedules,” and “Professional/Support Staff Conferences/Visitations/Workshops.

Also, “Professional Staff Hiring,”  “Professional Staff Duties and Responsibilities,” "Professional Staff Reduction in Force,” “Early Graduation,” “Entrance Age Requirements,” “Student Concerns, Complaints and Grievances,” “Student Discipline,” Expulsion of Students,” “Medicines/Administering Medicines to Students.” and “Advertising in Schools.”

√ Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Arizona Governor’s Office on Economic Recovery for participation in the State’s Race To the Top Grant.

√ Approved direct service agreement with Vail Unified School District for the SAIS long reach program.

√ Approved out-of-state travel for Ken Cormier and Jana Selchow to attend the New Mexico State University  Educator Job Fair in Las Cruces.

√ Approved first readings of revisions to  the following district policies  per recommendations by the Arizona School Board Association: “Qualifications and Duties of the Superintendent,” “Evaluation of the Superintendent,” “General Personnel Polices,” “Professional Staff Compensation and Contracts,” “Professional Staff Salary Schedule,” “Professional Staff Hiring,” “Evaluation of Professional Staff Members,” and “Discipline, Suspension, and Dismissal of Professional Staff Members.”

√ Approved placing “Public Comment” section on agendas for special board meetings and possible action on first reading of revisions to the “Agenda” policy.

√ Approved rescinding action taken on January 12 to issue a  Notification of Dismissal and administrative leave with pay for instructor Mary K. Bailey and issued a Notice of Intention not to renew the teaching contract for 2010-11.

√ Approved the release of contract to instructor Jennifer Owen with $1,500 in liquidated damages.

√ Approved a release of contract to teacher Tracy Daigle but waived liquidated damages.

√ Approved out-of-state travel for Mary Good and Nick Schuerman to attend the Michigan Teacher Recruiter Career Days in April.

Spring Break will be held from March 15 to 19. The next schedule meeting of the board is April 6, 2 010.