DUSD Board accepts new evaluation system

The Douglas School Board of Education accepted a new evaluation system for all administrators and teachers at its Sept. 18 board meeting.

Beverly Enriquez, Curriculum and Federal Programs Director for the DUSD, presented to the board a 20 minute power point presentation.

Enriquez said as per the Arizona Department of Educations (SB 1040) and the mandates from the federal government’s Race to the Top program the DUSD is now being asked to change the evaluation system for teachers, administrators and counselors that will now include 60 percent performance and 40 percent data.

The old system had evaluations being done once per year. Now teachers will be evaluated twice per year and administrators three times per year.

Enriquez said the 2012-13 school year will be considered a pilot year for this evaluation system and further revisions as well as the data pieces, will be made in the spring of 2013 by committees comprised of teachers, counselors, principals and instructional coaches.

The final version will be brought before the governing board by the end of the 2012-13 school year for approval and will then become part of School Board Policy GCO.

In other action at the board meeting the board approved the second reading of policies I-6500 IJOA Field Trips; K1650-K1683Use of School Facilities; K-2150 KH Public Sales on School Property.

No action was taken on policy K-1250, Media Coverage and policy E-3900, EGAD Copyright was tabled until more information could be received.

At the start of the meeting the board took a moment to recognize DUSD student Julian Encinas, a fifth grade student at Joe Carlson, whose artwork will be on the cover of the AZELLA (Arizona English Language Learners Assessment) test this coming year.

Enriquez said there was a contest for students to draw a design for the cover. Leon drew a design and it was selected as the winner and will now be displayed on all the covers of the AZELLA test.

The board had had a moment of silence in memory of Richard Robles, a bus driver for the DUSD, who unexpectedly passed away earlier that morning.

The board approved the hiring of Cody Elwell and Phillip LaBombard as elementary teachers, Eleanor Proano and substitute teachers Dafne Padilla, Nancy Cruz and Pedro Teran.

The board also made some addenda changes to Angelica Chavez, Ana Maria Manjarres, Teresa Gallardo, Melissa Rodriguez, Ana Samaniego, Tony Young, Brita Groves, Virginia Mendez, Belinda Smith and Yolanda Caruso’s responsibilities.

Volunteers Jason Miller, David Melendez, Maria Sanchez, Macrina Sanchez, Lorena Greer and Katie Martin were also approved by the board.

Eddie Trevizu’s resignation as a DHS Instructional Aide was also approved.

The board graciously accepted donations from The Bagnall Company and The Mahoney Group for the Diamond Scholars program as well as donations from Target to Joe Carlson Elementary and Martin and Carolina Gomez to the DHS football team.

The next board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2 in the DUSD board room. The board meeting is starting early due to the candidates forum that will follow in the DUSD patio.