All-day kindergarten may be returning to Douglas Unified School district schools.

During the April 5 meeting, the board reviewed options to restore the program.

Beginning with the 2006-07 school year, the state provided funding for the program, but cut the funding last year and the district was forced to drop kindergarten classes back down to a half day.

One proposal has half of the funding ($268,400) coming from Maintenance and Operation (M&O), and the rest from Title I funding. That would create an M&O savings of $73,200.

The second option would take $145,000 from the SEI budget, if it is approved by the Legislature, and the remaining money would be split between M&O and Title I. That would create a savings of $145,7000 in M&O compared to this year.

The final proposal calls for taking half of the operation budget from Title I, $145,000 from SEI and the remaining $123,400 from M&O, a savings of $218,200.

While all three proposals would restore full-day kindergarden and save the district money, there are some concerns about the funding sources:

√ Proposal #1 is being planned for since the district is not sure about the SEI budget.

√ Changes have to be made to Title I and Title II funds in order to make this proposal happen that affect Professional Development and tutoring at this time.

√ The district is working with figures for the 2008-09 Title I budget (which is $250,000 less than what is currently allotted) but the district may get the same allocation.

√ Working to fund full-day kindergarten is critical to the success of the incoming kindergarten students.

This was simply a report, and the board took no action.

In other action , the board:

Approved a $250 donation from Freeport-McMoRan for school supplies for Clawson School; and donations from area merchants for Teacher of the Year nominee gift bags. Donations came from H&R Block, Caffenio, Border Mart, Ortega’s. WalMart, Mi Ranchito, Denny’s, Safeway, McDonalds, JC Penney, Sprint and Southern Arizona Auto.

√ Approved the spring semester fundraiser for Stevenson Elementary School, a book fair and Walk-a-thon.

√ Approved the resignations and retirements of John Mariscal, DHS Mat teacher, end of 2011-12 year; Rebecca Saspe, Joe Carlson, teacher, end of current school year; Irene Ruby V. martin, DHS science3 teacher, end of current school year; and David Bond, DHS head cross country coach, end of 2011 track season.

Classified staff resigning includes Arely Del Rio, Ray Borane Principal’s secretary, June 10, 2011; and Robert Ivy Griffin, DHS instructional aide, effective immediately.

√ Approved the second reading of revisions to the “Part-Time and Substitute Professional Staff Employment” policy.

√ Approved out-of-state travel for Angelica Chavez, School Improvement Specialist, and Bertha Verdugo, Migrant program liaison, to attend the 2011 National Migrant Education conference in New Orleans in May.

Also, approved out-of-state travel for the DHS Band to travel to Disneyland, and approved a request from DHS Band Booster Club for assistance to Tucson and back. The band will be taking a chartered bus from Tucson to California.

√ Had no proposals for the AZ School Boards Association 2012 political agenda.

Discussed a recess policy for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The question is whether to have a structured recess or not. There will be a public hearing on the matter on April 19.

√ Adopted the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school calendars.

√ Approved a reorganization of the Human Resource Office, placing Lisa Ortega as Human Resource Administrative Assistant-Classified, and Elsa Gastelum as secretary-front reception.

√ Terminated maintenance worker Miguel Pacheco .

The next meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. in the board room at the Central Administration Office on Tuesday, April 19.