School Board hears opening day updates and approves elementary discipline policy

Maricopa Unified School District’s governing board met Wednesday evening in regular session to hear from principals about the opening days of school this week.

Although members Delia Carlyle and Margaret Jackson were absent, the three remaining members approved the elementary discipline policy and heard the first reading of the secondary student extra-curricular eligibility policy.

Pima Butte principal Janelle Lowey, Maricopa Elementary principal Lynnette Michalski and Santa Rosa principal Rick Abel all reported successful openings with the exception of the time needed for afternoon dismissal. Getting students on their respective buses has taken less time each day. Abel stated, “We have a great bunch of kids, but we still struggle with dismissal.”

According to the principals, as of Wednesday, Pima Butte has 462 students. Maricopa Elementary has 624 students, and Santa Rosa has 505 students. An additional 48 preschool students attend Santa Rosa Elementary.

Board member Jim Chaston, concerned about all the new developments south of Maricopa, asked, “Do we have capacity?” He noted that the students in the new developments would attend Maricopa Elementary. “It’s something to be concerned about,” explained Chaston.

Superintendent Alma Farrell replied, “We have ample space available for 400-500 students.” Schools have not reached capacity yet, according to Farrell. The current total district enrollment stands at 2298 students.

Maricopa Middle School has 265 students while the high school has approximately 500, according to Principal Burnie Hibbard. The high school currently has 63 teachers with one math position yet to be filled.

Principal Stephanie Sharp of the middle school will be establishing a site based council / principal’s advisory committee. The middle school hopes to have its own Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and could use volunteers.

Crossing guards
Board member Tracy Davis asked, “How are we doing with crosswalks and crossing guards?” Board president Tim White recalled that at one time in Maricopa older students were crossing guards.

Farrell explained that staff members serve in that capacity at designated stations in the mornings and afternoons. According to Transportation Director John Sampson, crossing guards need to be at least 18 years old because of the high traffic on nearby roads. Parents can volunteer for this duty.

Volunteer program
Julie Jimenez reported that the district presently has 14 volunteers. A handbook for volunteers was formulated last year. On August 12, a specific training will be held for these individuals.

Key Club award
Farrell announced that the high school’s Key Club placed third in the state for its contribution to the Pennies for Patients service project. The local club raised $3997.14 for leukemia victims.

The club sponsor is Bernadette Russioniello, and last year was the group’s first year as a club. Kelvin Lierman’s class contributed more than any other single class in the state of Arizona.

Elementary Schools’ Discipline Policy
Abel presented the policy on behalf of all three elementary principals. He said, “This is a plan for a safe and orderly environment.” The plan has nine levels, beginning with a warning and moving to expulsion at the opposite end of the matrix.

Santa Rosa Elementary Principal Rick Abel presents the elementary schools’ discipline policy to the board.

Discipline policies will be utilized for infractions such as class disruption and insubordination, failure to complete work as assigned or to bring required materials, truancy, bullying, fighting, possession of contraband, vandalism, dress code violations, theft or extortion, tobacco or drugs, vulgar language or gang-related activities. The severity of the offense, the age of the student and the number of offenses committed by that student are all taken into consideration.

Discipline was the single area that needed real coordination among the three elementary schools. “We don’t want to send mixed messages that there are different rules for different schools,” noted White. He urged the principals to pick one of their three handbooks to be used district wide.

Principals continue to revise and update their handbooks, but they indicated that it would not be difficult to coordinate them into one text since they are very similar.

Secondary Student Extra-Curricular Eligibility
High school principal Hibbard presented a revision to the extra-curricular eligibility policy JJJ. The current secondary school policy does not have a warning period or a notice of pending ineligibility. The one-week period of eligibility is both difficult to monitor and to enforce.

The secondary administration team recommends a three to five week timeframe, utilizing mid-quarter progress reports and quarter grades as indicators of student eligibility.

Hibbard explained, “This takes a lot of pressure off the teachers instead of one week reports. We utilize progress reports as warnings and notification to parents of impending ineligibility.”

“This is for ALL students,” Hibbard added. “It must be consistent, school-wide and for all students on campus.” He went on to explain that even going on field trips or participating with band or choir, for example, would be monitored in this manner.

The board approved the first reading of this policy.

Dunn Ranch site
The previously donated Dunn Ranch 12-acre school site was restructured by the city due to roadway development. The now 10-acre site will probably not be a school site but will house a district facility of some type. This facility could be offices or transportation housing.

Renewal of agreement with Maricopa Community College District
Renewal of an agreement between the district and the Maricopa County Community College District was approved. “Maricopa Learns Through Service” is a program that places employees of the community college with agencies like the school district for personal and professional development. There is no cost to the school district itself.

The board adjourned to executive session to discuss the middle school principal and superintendent’s contracts.

The next meeting of the board will be at 6 p.m. on August 10 in Room 1 at the high school.