MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE JTED

Governing Board of Education

Regular Meeting Minutes

March 23, 2011 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A regular meeting of the Mountain Institute JTED Governing Board of Education was held on March 23, 2011 at the Mountain Institute District Office, 3003 Centerpointe East Dr., Prescott, AZ and convened at 6:00 p.m. 

6:00 P.M. REGULAR SESSION

1.   CALL TO ORDER

Dr. Polvani called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  He reported Chairman Roger Harlow is in the hospital but hopes to be home tomorrow. He explained Vice Chair Tony Carroll is joining this meeting telephonically which makes it difficult for him to run the meeting.  Dr. Polvani asked for a motion to have Thomas Liuzzo serve as Acting Chair for this meeting.  Mr. Samsill moved to have Thomas Liuzzo serve as Acting Chair.  Ms. Baker seconded and the motion carried 5-0.

2.   ROLL CALL

Present were:   Board members Heidi Baker, Thomas Liuzzo, Casey Samsill and Michael Taylor.  Tony Carroll was present by telephone.  Roger Harlow was absent. A quorum was established.  Also present were:  Ray Polvani, MI JTED Superintendent; Jeramy Plumb, MI JTED Program Director; Sandy Somsen, MI JTED Career Education Coordinator; and Karen Leja, MI JTED Board Secretary.  Howard Moody was out of town.  Guests from the community were:  Tim Carter, Yavapai County School Superintendent; and Paula Rhoden, Prescott Daily Courier. 

3.  ADOPTION OF THE MARCH 23, 2011 AGENDA

Mr. Liuzzo requested Item 9A JTED Board Chair Rotation be moved after Item 5 as a convenience to Mr. Carter’s schedule.  Mr. Samsill moved to approve the March 23, 2011 agenda with the modification to place Item 9A after Item 5.  Ms. Baker seconded and the motion carried 5-0. 

4.  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

      The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Thomas Liuzzo. 

5.  GOVERNING BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 16, 2011 MINUTES APPROVAL

Mr. Taylor moved to approve the February 26, 2011 Governing Board Meeting minutes as presented.   Mr. Samsill seconded and the motion carried 5-0. 

9A.  Discussion Item:  JTED Board Chair rotation – County School Superintendent Tim Carter

      Mr. Carter reviewed the Arizona statute and procedures of the annual election and rotation of the JTED Governing Board Chair.  At the February meeting, the board elected the current chair.  The Bagdad and Chino Valley Districts had already served.  The other represented districts chose not to serve.  The Seligman       seat was open.  The rotation had been completed and all eligible districts had an opportunity at chair.  The        rotation started over and the Chino Valley representative was elected.  Mr. Carter explained in January if       the Seligman seat is filled that district would be the only district eligible for the chair position.  If the  person declined, all districts would then be in the rotation again.  If the board did not elect the Seligman candidate, there could be an issue.   Mr. Carter said one Arizona statute says the board elects the chair.  Another Arizona statute requires the rotation system and the two statutes appear to conflict.  The rotation system has no specific order of districts.  Board members discussed the potential of a future policy that  could add a specific order.  The discussion ended with questions from Board members as to the viability of seeking a legal opinion from the Yavapai County Attorney in the event that the Seligman Board member’s candidacy was not approved by the majority of the Board upon their eligibility. 

6.   SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS

      A.  Superintendent

-  House Bill 2237.  Dr. Polvani reviewed a fact sheet for House Bill 2237 on JTEDs:  ADM/Student

   count.     The purpose of the bill is to replace Average Daily Attendance (ADA) with Average Daily

   Membership (ADM) for JTEDs that conforms to state funding procedures currently in place for K-12

   students in Arizona.  Other billcomponents are:  Allows students to  attend a JTED that falls outside

   of the student’s district if their district pays tuition to a member district of a JTED; and replaces the   

    term vocational education with career and technical education.

- ASBA Beliefs/Proposal Deadline.  Dr. Polvani distributed the Arizona School Boards Association

  (ASBA) Political Agenda for 2011 and a list of the priorities the Governing Board selected in October. 

  ASBA is requesting additional submissions of agenda priorities by April 15.  Dr. Polvani asked board

  members to review the political agenda priorities and be prepared to submit any additional items for

  the next board meeting.

     B.  Governing Board Members

                - ASBA Spring Legal Conference.  Mr. Liuzzo said Roger Harlow attended the meeting and due to his  absence the report will be given at the April 6 meeting.  

7.   PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

      There was no public participation. 

8.   ACTION ITEMS:

      A.    Consent Agenda:

There were two items on the consent agenda:  Approval of Payroll Vouchers 537 totaling $9,768.78 and 538 totaling $9,768.78; and Approval of Expense Vouchers 8115 totaling $59,397.39 and 8116 totaling $11,258.95.   Ms. Baker moved to approve the consent agenda.  Mr. Taylor seconded and the motion carried 5-0. 

       B.    Discussion/Possible Action Item:  Staff planning update for 2011-12

Dr. Polvani explained the Administration has been analyzing the existing job descriptions related to current and future staffing needs.  As MI plans for ongoing curriculum development, program evaluation procedures and the creation of distance learning, the Administration realizes the current organizational structure will not allow all these activities to occur effectively.  Two additional positions are being reviewed:  a full-time, 12-month Instructional Services Director (temporary title) and a part-time Clerical Assistant.  Board members voiced some concern over the potential state budget reductions and increasing the overhead of MI.    Dr. Polvani explained MI will probably see a reduction to capital outlay of $55,000; however Sudden Growth funding is expected to be approximately one million dollars above the current budget.  Mr. Taylor asked if employees are on a contract basis and Dr. Polvani confirmed they are hired on an annual fiscal year contract.  Dr. Polvani said once research on staffing is finalized this item will be brought back to the board with financial projections for staffing and other growth areas.  Mr. Samsill asked for a flow chart to be provided that would show how the new positions would alleviate the workload of staff members in current positions. 

      C.     Discussion/Possible Action Item:  GovNET lease satellite dish

Dr. Polvani reviewed the transmittal sent to board members on the GovNET lease agreement.  The Yavapai County Educational Technology Consortium has received a grant to provide Microwave Broadband technology to all JTEDs, high schools, libraries and colleges and universities in Yavapai County.  GovNET will install dishes or towers on the sites of the entities in the grant.   We have been informed that GovNET will not install dishes/towers on leased property without a hold-harmless agreement.  It has been proposed that MI enter into a hold-harmless agreement directly with GovNET and that will be considered by them in the near future.  This item will be brought back to the board as soon as GovNET is ready to move forward.  Mr. Liuzzo asked if MI has checked with the City of Prescott on any requirements regarding satellite dishes.  Dr. Polvani will follow-up on this item.    Mr. Samsill asked the MI Administration to research the potential of MI purchasing office space versus leasing.  Dr. Polvani said the item will be placed on a future board agenda. 

9.   DISCUSSION ITEMS:

       B.    Discussion Item:  AzCIS Presentation

Ms. Somsen described the AzCIS Career Information System and showed a demonstration of its services.  She explained the Arizona State Board of Education has approved the requirement of Education and Career Action Plans (ECAP) for all Arizona students grades 9-12.  The online system allows students to enter, track and update academics, careers, postsecondary options and documentation of extra-curricular participation.  Activities focus on students getting to know themselves, researching their options, evaluation of their options, setting goals and making plans. 

       C.    Discussion Item:  Curriculum/Instruction/Program Status

• Cosmetology program survey.  Mr. Plumb explained the MI schools had administered a student survey to 9^th, 10^th and 11^th graders on their interest levels of a cosmetology program including Aesthetics and Nails.  Of the six schools surveyed, 149 students responded they were interested in cosmetology.  The primary factors are:  enrollment numbers, transportation and program costs.  Of the 149 students, 104 said they have access to transportation.  117 students said they would need financial assistance to complete the program estimated to cost between $12,000 and $16,000.  Mr. Plumb explained the ADM received per student would not cover all the costs.  A lengthy conversation continued on the potential of incorporating a “Nails only” program;  “Aesthetics only” program or full program.  Mr. Plumb gave a variety of program options and costs based on the Pima JTED Cosmetology program.  Board members showed interest but requested further research and data be brought back regardingthe reality of running the programs.  The board would like to see comparisons of running the programs with local business partners versus operating a program on our own.  Mr. Plumb pointed out that a Cosmetology program would need to have a public store.  Board members would like further data on the potential income of the public service.  Mr. Plumb said further data will be collected on program costs, potential real estate costs, equipment costs and this item brought back to the board in late April or early May.

• Parent Night update.  Ms. Somsen reported parent nights have been well attended.  For pre-enrollment, one additional parent night is scheduled March 30 and then there will be one in July for open enrollment.

• Enrollment pre-registration update.  Ms. Somsen distributed a fact sheet of student interest cards received and registration packets received by program area.  A total of 229 interest cards had been received and 97 registration packets returned.

       D.    Discussion Item:  Transportation routes

Dr. Polvani said he and Mr. Plumb have been meeting with the Quad City Transportation Directors over the past few months to develop a plan to provide transportation to centralized or “traveling” students for the 2011-12 school year.  A chart was shown with tentative routes along with scheduled pick-up and drop-off times.  The Yavapai College Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC) would serve as the hub of routes.  Costs would primarily be borne by each district that is supplying a bus through route-mile reimbursements from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE).  Expenses not covered by route miles would be covered by MI through existing financial distributions.  Friday routes from districts that do not hold classes could receive route miles and that may help the outlying school districts.  There is an opportunity to have transportation between Seligman and Ash Fork offering students more JTED classes.  Mr. Carroll said the Bagdad School board is concerned about lengthy travel of students on winding roads. 

       E.    Discussion Item:  Finance Report

• State Budget Status.  Dr. Polvani distributed an email from Tim Carter with information on the potential State budget.  Mr. Carter had described the Governor’s proposed budget that did include some impacts to K-12 but are offset in part by borrowing.  Colleges and Universities would be hit the hardest with real cuts.    He also described the Senate proposal which has serious reductions to K-12.  In general the Senate Bill would have about $318,000,000in cuts or 7%.
• Central/Satellite Program ADM update.  Dr. Polvani reviewed the current ADM JTEDs receive.  For satellite programs, MI receives .25 ADM for each student.  For central programs when students leave their home campus to attend class at another campus or the community college, MI can receive up to .75 ADM.    ADE is suggesting if a central campus is located on a satellite-owned location or where MI does not own or operate the facility, only .25 ADM can be received.  The JTED superintendents are in discussion with attorneys, ADE and legislative representatives on this situation.  Dr. Polvani said if this ruling is upheld, there is a potential MI could only have centralized programs on the Yavapai Community College Campus or in facilities owned and operated by the JTED.  As further information is received, the Administration will keep the board apprised of developments.

      F.     Discussion Item:  Contracted Lobbyist services information. 

At the last meeting, board members requested further information on contracted lobbyist services.  Dr. Polvani reviewed the transmittal distributed.  The statewide JTED Superintendents’ organization has been employing two lobbyists well prior to the formation of the MI JTED.   The lobbyists have been instrumental in influencing policy development at ADE and in assisting in generating and passing legislation in the Arizona Legislature that affects JTEDs. The two lobbyists working with the JTEDs are:  Gretchen Jacobs, Government Affairs, Inc. and Sam Polito, Polito and Associates.  The combined fees of the two companies are divided among 12 of 13 statewide JTEDs participating.  The smaller JTEDs annually pay $9,135 and the larger JTEDs pay $17,000.  Dr. Polvani explained that largely due to lobbying efforts, JTEDs are respected by our government/political constituents and most legislators now understand and support JTED efforts. 

10. ANNOUNCEMENTS

     A.  Next scheduled board meetings:

                April 6, 2011                        6:00 p.m.             Regular Meeting              MI District Office

                April 20, 2011                     6:00 p.m.             Regular Meeting              MI District Office

                May 4, 2011                        6:00 p.m.             Regular Meeting              MI District Office 

11. ADJOURNMENT

Ms. Baker moved to adjourn the meeting.   Mr. Taylor seconded and the motion carried 5-0.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m. by Mr. Liuzzo. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Karen Leja

Board Secretary