All about the money: school district budgets, conserves, expends

Maricopa Unified School District’s governing board meeting Wednesday was all about the money—budgeting it, conserving it and expending some of it for construction projects.

Business Director Aron Rausch presented the 2010-2011 proposed budget, a total of just over $37 million.  That figure was based on $33,950,000 in maintenance and operations (largely salaries), $1,718,000 in unrestricted capital and $1,705,000 in soft capital allocations. Rausch explained that the district’s budget limit is a little over $38.58 million. Rausch said he believes actual budget expenditures will be less than the proposed amount, but, by law, a district can only reduce, but not increase, its annual budget; thus the higher proposed amount.

Board members unanimously approved the proposed budget as a business services agenda item later in the meeting. If funding is available in this budget, some eliminated positions could be brought back and reopened; however, applicants would have to re-interview and provide a teaching segment for district review.

In response to Rausch’s proposed energy savings program, presented to the board at its June 9 meeting, Todd Becker from APS (a subsidiary of Pinnacle West) reported on a performance contracting possibility, which for a $3.2 million outlay would create $4.8 million in savings for lighting, computer and control systems upgrades.

Funding possibilities include outright funding from the district, a lease/purchase agreement or qualified school construction bonds at low interest rates.

“If we save money on utility costs, it can be put back into teachers or whatever,” said Rausch.

“I think it’s the right way to go,” said board president Geoff Goddard. “It just makes sense to cut costs and continue down this path.”

Board member Tim White expressed a concern about whether upgrades would eventually become obsolete. “Control systems don’t change that much; it’s just turning things off and on,” Becker explained. “The most progressive is lighting.” Becker added that even with lighting upgrades, original lights would still be functional.

“The idea is great, and the concept is great; we just want to take a closer look at it,” said superintendent Jeff Kleck.

Board members unanimously approved D. L. Withers as the first choice for construction manager at risk to build the new transportation and maintenance warehouse. That facility is expected to be about a $2 million project funded by both bonds and adjacent ways funds.

A second unanimous approval was given for the establishment of the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for Phase I of the new performing arts facility on the high school campus. When completed, the $9 million center will feature a 750-seat auditorium, a black box theater, dressing rooms, stagecraft areas, a multi-use classroom, an extended bus loop and additional parking. Funding will come primarily from bonds with about $400,000 from adjacent ways funds.

Phase I will add 51 parking spaces along Taft Avenue, extend the current bus loop north along the west side of the stadium bleachers and add 67 parking spaces west of the performing arts center site on Honeycutt Avenue. The GMP for Phase I will be $641,377.

Although study session reports on middle school handbooks, school improvement plans for Maricopa Wells Middle School and its feeder schools, as well as an initial report on MWMS were tabled due to time constraints, Rick Abel was officially named principal at MWMS with a two-year contract. His new assistant principal will be newcomer Kevin Ames. Abel has been principal at Santa Rosa Elementary for five years.

Former elementary assistant principal Danielle Record will take over at the Santa Rosa site. Peer coach Korrin Ledbetter will succeed Matt Montoya, who left the district, as principal at Pima Butte Elementary.

Only one K-5 school, Maricopa Elementary, will have an assistant principal, as yet unnamed, this year. Desert Wind seventh grade language arts and social studies teacher Manuel Barajas will be the new Desert Wind assistant principal this year.

Photo by Joyce Hollis