ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE
School District Redistricting Commission
Minutes of the Meeting
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
2:00 p.m., House Hearing Room 5
Members Present:
|
Martin Shultz, Chairman |
Jay Kaprosy |
|
Susan Bitter Smith |
Rita Leyva |
|
Jay Blanchard |
Dave Naugle |
|
Dr. Sandra Dowling |
Thomas Schoaf |
|
Doris Goodale |
Kent Scribner |
|
Art Harding |
Joseph Thomas |
Members Absent:
|
Vicki Anderson |
|
Chairman Shultz called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m. and the attendance was noted.
REVIEW OF THE REVISED SDRC FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Mr. Shultz stated the Commission is in the process of obtaining and refining additional questions for the School District Redistricting Commission’s (SDRC) frequently asked questions index and will postpone the finalization of the questions until a later date.
FINAL DETERMINATION OF UNIFICATION PLANS
The Commission members discussed and voted on the SDRC unification plans.
Maricopa County West Valley Plan
Mr. Schoaf further explained the SDRC Maricopa County West Valley plans and due to the possible results of unification recommended neither plan. Mr. Schoaf also answered questions posed by the Committee members.
Ken Behringer, General Counsel of Legislative Council, answered questions regarding the structure of the ballot language if a plan was approved that did not include Union Elementary School District.
Mr. Harding moved the Maricopa County West Valley Plan 2 proposed redistricting plan be recommended and included in the final report that is to be submitted to the Governor. The motion was seconded by Mr. Naugle.
Richard Hopkins, Member, Buckeye Elementary School District Governing Board, testified in opposition to the SDRC unification plan and answered questions posed by the Committee members.
Kelli Watson, President, Littleton Elementary School District Governing Board, testified in opposition to the SDRC unification plan and answered questions posed by the Committee members.
Kimberly Owens, Member, Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board, testified in opposition to the SDRC unification plan and answered questions posed by the Committee members.
Beverly Hurley, Superintendent, Buckeye Union High School District, testified in opposition to the SDRC unification plan.
Ms. Bitter Smith moved to table the motion until the next meeting. The motion was seconded by Dr. Dowling.
The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 10-1-2 (Attachment 1).
Navajo County Plan
Mr. Shultz stated there were no proposed changes to the Navajo County Plan.
Pima County Plan
Mr. Naugle moved the Pima County Plan 1 proposed redistricting plan, excluding San Fernando Elementary District, be recommended and included in the final report that is to be submitted to the Governor. The motion was seconded by Mr. Harding.
Ken Behringer, General Counsel of Legislative Council, answered questions regarding the structure of the language on the ballot and the Commission’s charge.
The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 11-0-2 (Attachment 1).
Pinal County Plan
Mr. Naugle moved the Pinal County Plan 1 proposed redistricting plan, excluding the J.O. Combs Elementary School District, be recommended and included in the final report that is to be submitted to the Governor.
Mr. Naugle further explained the Pinal County Plan 1 and answered questions posed by the Committee members.
Dr. Dowling moved to table the motion until the next meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Thomas.
The motion CARRIED by voice vote.
Santa Cruz County Plan
Mr. Naugle moved the Santa Cruz County Plan 2 proposed redistricting plan, excluding Santa Cruz Elementary School District, be recommended and included in the final report that is to be submitted to the Governor. The motion was seconded by Mr. Harding.
Mr. Naugle further explained the Santa Cruz County Plan 2 and answered questions posed by the Committee members.
Ken Behringer, General Counsel of Legislative Council, answered questions regarding the language on the ballot.
The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 8-4-1 (Attachment 1).
In explanation of his vote, Mr. Kaprosy stated “This district seems really forced to me. It seems like many of the districts are sandwiched between the unified districts. I think in this situation this is too forced and we should send a friendly letter encouraging them to get together with their unified districts. I just struggle with the benefits here as I try to weigh it out for what is in the best interest of students and curriculum alignment. In unifying here, I am not sure that we are going to see any benefits because those students are going elsewhere when they go to the high school district, so I vote ‘No’.”
Yavapai County Plan
Ms. Leyva further explained the SDRC Yavapai County plans and due to the possible results of unification recommended neither plan. Ms. Leyva also answered questions posed by the Committee members.
Mr. Harding moved the Yavapai County Plan 1 proposed redistricting plan be recommended and included in the final report that is to be submitted to the Governor. The motion was seconded by Mr. Kaprosy.
Mr. Schoaf moved to amend the motion and remove the Clarkdale-Jerome School District from the Yavapai County Plan 1. The motion was seconded by Mr. Thomas.
The motion CARRIED by hand vote.
Mr. Schoaf moved to amend the amended motion to vote on District A and District B separately. The motion was seconded by Mr. Thomas.
The motion CARRIED by hand vote.
Mr. Shultz moved, without objection, the vote on Yavapai County Plan 1, District A, as amended.
The motion CARRIED by hand vote.
Mr. Shultz moved, without objection, the vote on Yavapai County Plan 1, District B.
The motion CARRIED by hand vote.
Yuma County Plan
Mr. Blanchard moved the Yuma County Plan 2 proposed redistricting plan, excluding Hyder Elementary School District from District A, be recommended and included in the final report that is to be submitted to the Governor. The motion was seconded by Mr. Harding.
Luis Heredia, President, Somerton Elementary School Board, testified in opposition to the SDRC plan, referring to a resolution from the City of Somerton in opposition to the SDRC plan (Attachment A). Mr. Heredia also answered questions posed by the Committee members.
Toni Badone, Superintendent, Yuma High School District, testified in opposition to the SDRC unification plan and answered questions posed by the Committee members.
Dr. Raymond Aguilera, Superintendent, Gadsden Elementary School District 32, testified in support of the SDRC unification plan, referring to a packet of letters in support of the SDRC unification plan (Attachment B). Dr. Aguilera also answered questions posed by the Committee members.
The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 7-5-1 (Attachment 1).
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:24 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Ritz
Committee Secretary
(Audio recordings and attachments on file in the Secretary of Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115).
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School District Redistricting Commission
November 20, 2007
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