District budget review committee says ‘money is there’

Maricopa Unified School District’s Wednesday governing board meeting focused on construction at the high school and the final report of the board’s budget committee.

Ad hoc board budget committee chairman Marty McDonald outlined the three, non-binding motions the committee made at its final June 2 meeting, for a total savings to the district of $312,500.

“We were tasked with making $67,000 in cuts,” said McDonald. “We far exceeded what our task was.”

The committee recommended (16 yes, 1 no, 2 abstained) that the district contract out custodial services or restructure operations, using the model of companies offering those services to provide “a more astute business perspective with operations.” The savings to the district would be about $200,000.

“We don’t have an exact number on sourcing out,” said Superintendent Jeff Kleck. “If they (companies who provide custodial outsourcing) can cut costs in half and make money, certainly we should be able to do the same.”

Aron Rausch, director of business services, advised the district would have to go out for bid for custodial outsourcing, and that cleaning standards change. “The friendly custodian who did all things asked is gone; now you have cleaners and nothing more.”

Board president Geoff Goddard expressed his concerns about unemploying Maricopans by outsourcing jobs. “The district needs to do everything it can to keep people employed locally,” he said, adding that contracts could possibly be negotiated to make it easier to hire custodial staff displaced by outsourcing.

Additionally, the budget committee unanimously recommended restructuring the K-5 attendance clerk positions and (18 yes, 1 no, 1 abstained) not “backfilling” one library aide, the Maricopa Wells Middle School security position and the high school receptionist position.  Although volunteers are available for the high school office, Goddard said, “I think we should make that a priority to have someone there.”

Due to funding constraints, MPD may have only one school resource officer next year, probably at the high school, which could possibly necessitate a security position at Maricopa Wells.

Two other money-saving options discussed by the budget committee included ads on district buses, which could generate $20,000 to $30,000 annually, and the savings from the new bus routing software of approximately $150,000.

“The money is there,” McDonald said. “We are thankful for the opportunity to help; it was very informative.”

Kleck stated that he tentatively plans to begin Nov. 22 reviewing the 2011-2012 budget with a committee predominantly composed of community members, utilizing site councils for recommendations from each school. “It’s a good route to streamline and promote the concept of site-based management.”

On July 13 the district’s leadership retreat will focus on data and goals until noon on July 14 when staff will discuss evaluation tools.

Board members approved the extra duty stipend schedule, a retirement grandfather clause for long-time district employees and the personnel schedule, including naming Santa Rosa Principal Rick Abel as the new principal of Maricopa Wells Middle School.

Don Brubaker of Gilleland-Brubaker Architects outlined plans to begin adding high school parking spaces, 70 adjacent to the performing arts building site on Honeycutt Road and an additional 50 near the football field. When the $9 million performing arts building is completed with bond monies, another 90 parking spaces will be included.

Board member Carrie Vargas expressed her concerns about not going over budget on the performing arts project. “We have construction contingencies built in for safeguards,” said Brubaker, who indicated the next meetings will focus on sound and theatrical lighting. “I can’t guarantee, but I feel very comfortable that we’re on the right road,” he said.

“This is a great opportunity to move forward and to add to the community,” Kleck said.

According to Rausch, the next construction projects will include phase II of the maintenance building, district-wide energy controls and additional enhancements to Maricopa Wells Middle School to help change the culture there.

The next governing board meeting will be June 23 when the 2010-2011 budget will come to the board for review with adoption, including a public hearing, by July 14.

Photo by Joyce Hollis