SCHOOL DISTRICT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION

Minutes of Meeting

Thursday, February 15, 2007

House Hearing Room 3 -- 2:00 p.m.

Chairman Shultz called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and attendance was noted by the secretary.

Members Present

Vicki Anderson	Art Harding	Joseph Thomas
Dr. Jay Blanchard	Jay Kaprosy	George Martinez, Vice-Chairman
Dr. Sandra Dowling	David Naugle	Martin Shultz, Chairman
Doris Goodale	Thomas Schoaf

Members Absent

Rita Leyva

Kent Scribner

WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS AND REMARKS:

Chairman Shultz said if the Commission is able to accomplish all the items on the agenda, it could use the next month to prepare transmittal materials, and the superintendents and school boards could have the Commissions’ recommendations by April 3, 2007. He said the Commission might need to meet again in March.

Chairman Shultz said that Michael Hunter is now Chief Policy Advisor to the President of the Senate and will be unable to serve on the Commission. He introduced Jay Kaprosy as a new member of the Commission.

Dr. Blanchard said he attended a meeting of the La Paz school districts (Attachment 1).

Rita Leyva, who was unable to attend the meeting, sent an e-mail to the Commission regarding Recommendations for Yavapai County redistricting (Attachment 2).

Mr. Thomas said he spoke with a large group of teachers and school employees and there is tremendous anxiety regarding the redistricting of school districts.

Ms. Goodale reported the Colorado River Union High School District wrote a letter to the Commission (Attachment 3).

Chairman Shultz distributed a fact sheet (Attachment 4) and the strike everything amendment on SB1164 (Attachment 5).

Chairman Shultz said without objection, he would suggest to Senator Gray to add a floor amendment to SB 1164 to change the statutory date for receiving comments from affected school districts from July 30, 2007 to September 1, 2007, to give the school districts more time to consider the Commission’s recommendations. The Commission would have less time to prepare final recommendations for the Governor and the ballot. There was no objection by Commission members.

Presentation on SDRC Legislative Provisions on School Service Agencies by:

Sandra Junck Carpenter, Arizona School Risk Retention Trust, (Attachment 1).

Chairman Shultz said the objective for the Commission is to take direct and official comments to help the Commission finalize recommendations.

Wilma Basnett, Ph.D., Superintendent, Osborn School District, presented Response to Redistricting Commission Recommendation (Attachment 6). She answered questions posed by Commission members as follows:

The Osborn School District has about 400 eighth-grade students going to high school per year.
Dr. Basnett said she does not believe the Osborn School District has enough students to make a high school feasible.

Amber Wakeman, Government Relations Director, City of Tempe, read a letter to Mr. Shultz from Hugh Hallman, Mayor, City of Tempe (Attachment 7).

Julie Larson, Superintendent, Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District #6, read a statement to the Commission and said if unification does occur, the Clarkdale-Jerome School District should be included (Attachment 8).

Chairman Shultz said that because Rita Leyva was not present, he would include the proposed Verde Valley Unified School District recommendation on the Commission’s next agenda for a final recommendation.

Ms. Larson responded to questions posed by Commission members as follows:

If teacher salaries were equalized many programs and teachers would be eliminated.

Sharyl Allen, Superintendent, Mingus Union High School District, said the basic premises related to the reasons for unification seem to have been put to the side when looking at the most recent recommendation for the Verde Valley area of Yavapai County. She said she does not believe the taxpayers would approve a more than $1 million per year increase for teacher and support personnel salaries.

Mr. Shultz said he has expressed his frustration with the school finance formula wherein a high school district receives a specific factor, which creates a pattern of discriminating against elementary teacher salaries. He said it would be a motivating factor if elementary teachers were compensated consistent with high school teachers in Arizona.

Ms. Allen responded there are specific state statutes for school districts, and the element that some salaries will be cut to increase other salaries is not included. At the request of Chairman Shultz, Ms. Allen said she would provide specific numbers as to the costs to taxpayers for the increases, and the budgets of the three school districts (Cottonwood-Oak Creek, Mingus Union High School and Clarkdale-Jerome School Districts).

Kelli Watson, representing self, said she is a member of the Littleton Elementary School District Board, and she is not speaking on behalf of the Board. Ms. Watson said she supports unification, particularly Plan Two.

Dr. Beverly J. Hurley, Superintendent, Buckeye Union High School District, spoke in opposition to unification Plans One and Two, and suggested Plan Three as outlined in the Buckeye Valley Educational Alliance Position Paper & District Data presentation (Attachment 9). She said now is not the time to redistrict an area which looks very different today than it will in 5, 10, or 15 years. Dr. Hurley responded to questions posed by Commission members as follows:

Dr. Hurley said the Arlington Elementary School District currently does not receive state equalization funds, and is funded by local taxpayers. She said the Arlington tax rate is only one piece of five school districts.

Dr. Cathy Stafford, Superintendent, Avondale Elementary School District, spoke in support of the Plan #3 proposal for unification of the Districts of Agua Fria Union, Avondale Elementary and Litchfield Elementary (Attachments 10). Dr. Stafford also referred to a letter from the three school districts which was sent to the Commission on December 22, 2006 (Attachment 11).

David Schauer, Superintendent, Kyrene School District, spoke in opposition to unification, and answered questions posed by Commission members as follows:

He said the three-into-two plan would make the most sense. The three-into-one plan would be more difficult.

Chairman Shultz distributed several e-mails from various persons regarding redistricting (Attachment 12).

Rae Waters, Board Member, Kyrene School District, spoke in opposition to unification, and answered questions posed by Commission members as follows:

Elementary teachers are paid less than high school teachers because the elementary class size is smaller.
Title I funds would be shifted because Tempe Elementary has higher number of free and reduced lunch for students.
An estimate of the combined school district is approximately 48,000 students.

Ms. Waters distributed a letter to the Commission from Slade Mead, former Kyrene School Board Member and State Senator (Attachment 13).

Chairman Shultz distributed a pamphlet of maps and plans for redistricting, The School District Redistricting Commission, State of Arizona, February 15, 2007 (Attachment 14). The Commissioners reported on their assigned counties as outlined in Attachment 14. The Commission discussed the various plans, and whether the Commission should allow a Plan 3, or other options.

Chairman Shultz said the statutory responsibility of the Commission is to submit plans unifying K-12. He said the Commission should proceed to develop unification plans.

Ms. Goodale said she would prefer to give a report on Mohave County at the next meeting.

Chairman Shultz said he would notify the Commissioners by e-mail of the time and date of the next meeting.

Without objection, the meeting adjourned at 5:08 p.m.

________________________________

Yvette O’Connor, Committee Secretary

February 15, 2007

(Original minutes, attachments and audio are on file in the Office of the Chief Clerk.)

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COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT

February 15, 2007

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