MUSD Governing Board addresses facility usage, Ak-Chin donation

Facilty usage and the beneficiaries of a $130,000 donation from the Ak-Chin Indian Community highlighted Maricopa Unified School District’s Governing Board meeting Wednesday, September 14.

The four board members present were president Tim White, Jim Chaston, Tracy Davis and Margaret Jackson. Delia Carlyle was absent.

Visit from the Governor
School superintendent Alma Farrell announced that Governor Janet Napolitano will be visiting Maricopa next month. Governor Napolitano will make a brief stop in Maricopa October 7 from 3:15 to 4:00 p.m. at Maricopa High School’s multi-purpose room.

“She wanted an opportunity to visit the community,” Farrell said.

Activities
Activities director Rich Ralstin gave a brief report to the board saying the attendance for games has been good, the teams are doing well, and announcing the senior and alumni night this Friday, September 16. Ralstin said the school bought a banner celebrating the 1981 state football championship which will be displayed at Friday night’s game.

Facility Usage
Anthony Smith, one of the co-founders of the Community of Hope church in Maricopa, addressed the school board, asking the board to approve their use of Pima Butte Elementary School as a place of service on Sundays. The church has held Easter services in the community the past two Easters and recently hosted a “movie at the park” event.

“We have been largely involved in our community,” Smith said. “We love our community.”

At issue is the fact that other churches have been waiting for facility usage agreements as well. Ralstin said they have been waiting for the board to approve the use of two other schools.

“We have a lot of new people in this community,” said board member Jim Chaston. “The schools are really the only facilities.”

Fellow board member Margaret Jackson expressed concern stating, “We have multiple churches needing facilities. There are a lot of things to be worked out.”

The school board made a motion to approve the use temporarily until the district’s attorney has come back with a decision. Chaston requested that the board have a study session on this issue.

Ak-Chin Donation
Finance coordinator Cindy Hostetler gave the financial report to the board on behalf of the business administration.

The Ak-Chin Indian Community recently donated $130,000 to the school district. The board discussed how to use the Ak-Chin funds as there has been no decision to date on how the money will be spent. There was speculation that the money would be spent to help renovate Maricopa Elementary School, but business manager Paul Kasparian warned that any such decision is “still in the works.”

Jackson said she “would like to have a solid plan before the money is spent so the money gets to where it’s needed.”

Miscellaneous
The board approved school-based management policy, school properties disposition, and intergovernmental agreement for Pinal ITV Consortium, and the utility usage report. They tabled the 2005-2006 governing board district goals and performance until the next school board meeting. The board also approved the personnel schedule and a travel request for students going to the Together We Can National Dialogue in Atlanta September 21-23.