MUSD board to swear in new members, look at hearing officers

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The Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board may decide Wednesday whether to have a hearing officer oversee teacher termination hearings and student expulsion hearings.

The two items are up for discussion and possible action in the regular session, which begins at 6:30 p.m.

As recommended, the hearing officer for student expulsion would be chosen from a list approved by the board.

The board’s newest member Gary Miller and incumbents Patti Coutre and AnnaMarie Knorr will be sworn in immediately preceding the meeting.

The board will also elect a president and vice-president during the session.

Curriculum Director Wade Watson will give a presentation on Beyond Textbooks, which was put into place in the district last school year. Gauging its effectiveness has been difficult because of changing standards and assessments, according to Watson. He will tell the board that accurate assessment of Beyond Textbooks will rely on consistent evaluation standards.

Saddleback Elementary Principal Felicia Williams is scheduled to present her school’s math/language arts update. That will involve the school’s action plan for meeting goals of having 70 percent of grades 1-6 students improving Galileo results.

Superintendent Steve Chestnut will update the board on the budget process.

***ADVERTISEMENT***Among personnel issues seeking approval are the resignations of Maricopa Wells Middle School teacher Rosalee Gamel, Saddleback Elementary teacher Kenya Ward, lead custodian Manuela Ruiz, food services supervisor Patricia Yates, nurse Robin Rowray and ESS paraprofessionals Margarita Dominguez and Alejandra Rosales and the retirement of nurse Lynn Thomas, effective in June. 

New employees needing board approval include math teacher Andrew Cutler, ESS math teacher Krystal Hansen, high school teachers Phillip Smith, Justin Mobley and Amanda Stevens, SES teacher Paula Martin, technology specialist Carter Plante, RN substitute Liduvina Perez, library aide Misty McKenzie, substitute teacher Rebecca Holub and student workers Taylor Ireland and Destinee King. The district is also seeking to add another ESS paraprofessional position.