School board hears site development updates and new district program initiatives

The Maricopa Unified School District’s governing board recently received updates on various school sites. Board members also heard from Superintendent Dr. John Flores regarding new initiatives for the district and from Maricopa High School Principal Burnie Hibbard on the school’s 301 plan.

Development Coordinator Paul Kasparian reported that the Senita school site agreement is still in the hands of the district’s attorney. In regard to the Eagle Shadow sites, Kasparian explained that the Facilities Team is working on a donation; however, the developer still needs to meet with that team.

The retention basin (1.35 acres) has been an issue with the Glennwilde school site. When the agreement was reached in 2004, it was for an outright donation of $25,000 and $150 per rooftop; no drainage plan was in place then. According to Tom Cheney, representing Glennwilde, the retention basin, on the corner of Adams Way and Porter Road, can be reconfigured to meet the district’s needs for the site.

“We think it is a workable situation,” explained Kasparian, referencing his conversations with the city’s Public Works Director Bob Jackson and City Engineer Karen Wonders. “The new Facilities Team under Dr. Flores is looking at sites differently. We study the developer’s proposal and then bring it to the board. We don’t just accept sites now,” added Kasparian.

The governing board selected the architectural firm of Gilleland and Brubaker for the Villages school site. Core Construction was selected as the CM at Risk for the Villages, pending a satisfactory and timely inspection of their work on the new middle school. Construction on the Villages site will hopefully begin in February. D.L. Withers is the contractor for the Tortosa elementary school.

District programs
Superintendent Flores announced some new programs for the district. Parent University will begin in January to help parents meet and understand the needs of their students. An elementary Academic League competition for fourth and fifth graders will begin, hopefully, by spring. A Dollars for Scholars Chapter will solicit support and partnerships with universities as well as the city, business and industry to provide internships and research opportunities.

The elemetary school Academic League will foster competition between classes and among schools for fourth and fifth graders.

School improvement plan presentations were completed last month, and an updated Crises Intervention Program, focusing on the grieving process, was accomplished in August.

Maricopa High School’s 301 Plan
The 301 Plan for Maricopa High School involves Pay for Performance. According to Hibbard, “It is very similar to last year, but we have tried to update it. The end result last year is the base line this year.” He added, “It is challenging, but that is where you want to be.”

All teachers must score at least 11 of 14 points on Professional Standards, including teacher evaluations, professional dress, enforcement of school policies, parent contacts and meeting deadlines for required documents. Student improvement on the AIMS tests, graduation rate, student average daily attendance of 94 percent and both student and parent satisfaction with the school, measured through surveys, are all components of the school’s success indicators, accounting for 80 percent of the teachers’ performance pay.

The other 20 percent, the “above and beyond” category, involves, for example, sponsoring clubs or classes, coaching, committee work, providing in-service training to other teachers and continued professional development.