---------- DOCUMENT HEADER ----------

---------- DOCUMENT HEADER ----------

ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE

Forty-seventh Legislature – Second Regular Session

SCHOOL DISTRICT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION

Minutes of Meeting

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

HHR 1 -- 2:00 p.m.

Chairman Martin Shultz called the meeting to order at 2:06 p.m. and attendance was noted by the secretary.

Members Present

Vicki Anderson                                                                                   Jay Kaprosy

Jay Blanchard                                                                                     George Martinez

Dr. Sandra Dowling                                                                            Dave Naugle

Doris Goodale                                                                                     Thomas Schoaf

Art Harding                                                                                        Kent Scribner

Rita Leyva                                                                                          Joseph Thomas

                                                                                                            Martin Shultz, Chairman

Members Absent

None

Chairman Shultz asked each of the Commission members to introduce themselves. He then reported on the progress of SB1164 (Attachment 1) sponsored by Senator Linda Gray.

Dr. Beverly Hurley, Buckeye Union High School District, presented a request allowing the existing districts to remain as common school districts through the formation of an alliance through an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) as outlined in the letter of March 23, 2007 from the Buckeye Valley Education Alliance to the Commission (Attachment 2). She said they are not opposed to the whole idea of unification but are trying to show the uniqueness of their situation with hyper growth. She answered questions as to whether or not the IGA would produce savings and uniformity in books and curricula.

Greg Patten, Parent, commented on the East Valley School District unification from a parent’s perspective (Attachment 3).

The Commission proceeded to go through the report on proposals for unification (Attachment 4) county by county approving those plans that would be sent to the particular school districts for their approval.

• Apache, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo Counties – Chairman Shultz stated no new plans were submitted by the Commission for these counties.
• Cochise County – Mr. Naugle explained and recommended the proposed plan. He stated he had received an email from someone on the Board of County Supervisors who was concerned about the financial impact the plan would have because a number of the schools there receive adjustments for being small school districts. Chairman Shultz stated that they have asked the Legislature for an adjustment on this.

• La Paz County – Mr. Blanchard explained the two possible plans to be proposed. The Commission accepted the plans by consensus for proposing Plan 1 and 2 to the county.

• Maricopa Central – Mr. Scribner explained Plans 1 and 2. His recommendation is Plan 1. The issue of Career Ladders was brought up and discussed. Plan 1 was accepted by a show of hands.

• Maricopa – East Valley -- Mr. Blanchard explained two plans. Chairman Shultz stated that there is still a debate going on in the districts regarding these plans. Mr. Harding commented his concern is that Plan 2 splits the district along economic and racial lines. The Commission approved proposing both Plan 1 and Plan 2 for approval by the school districts.

• Maricopa North Central – Mr. Martinez explained two plans and said although he favors Plan 1, in the interest of generating discussion and having more options, he recommends forwarding both plans to the school districts. The Chairman stated that by consensus they would be sending both plans to the districts.

• Maricopa County West Valley – Mr. Schoaf explained Plans 1 and 2 as proposed. By a show hands both plans were approved to be submitted to the school districts.

• Pima County – Mr. Naugle proposed sending the plan as proposed. The Commission agreed by consensus to forward the plan to the districts.

• Pinal County – Mr. Naugle explained the plans and the input he has received from the school districts. Plan 1 passed by consensus and for Plan 2 some members of the Commission stated they want further information as to population projections.

• Santa Cruz – Mr. Naugle stated Plan 1 was already submitted to the public some years ago and rejected, so he recommends moving ahead with Plan 2. The Commission passed Plan 2 with a show of hands.

• Yavapai County – Ms. Leyva said she would like to exclude Plan 2 and that Plan 1 needs to be modified to delete District C. The Commission approved Plan 1 with the modification.

• Yuma County – Mr. Blanchard explained the plans. Plans 1 and 2 which were approved by vote (Attachment 5).

• Mohave County – Mr. Blanchard explained Plans 1 and 2 and proposed submitting both plans to the school districts. He noted some corrections to be made in the plans. Mr. Blanchard recommended Plan 2 with the mentioned changes and the Commission approved it by consensus.

Copies of emails regarding the various proposals were distributed to the Commission (Attachments 5 and 6).

Chairman Shultz explained copies of draft letters to the School Districts -- both those affected and those not affected (Attachments 7 and 8).

Chairman Shultz stated that there is a meeting being set up with the Attorney General to discuss the fact that larger school districts are more economical and getting more of their money into the classroom. He said he would let the Commissioners know the actual date of the meeting which is sometime this week. Mr. Shultz said he would look into transportation for the Commission members to visit the various school districts affected by these proposals.

Senator Linda Gray addressed the Commission and thanked the members for all of their hard work with its positive results.

Chairman Shultz suggested that the Commission meet again sometime in April and plan a summer meeting.

Without objection, the meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

                                                            ___________________________________

                                                            Patricia Hudock, Committee Secretary

                                                            April 2, 2007

(Original minutes, attachments and audio on file in the Office of the Chief Clerk; video archives available at http://www.azleg.gov/)

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      SCHOOL DISTRICT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION

2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      March 27, 2007

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------