Workforce reductions, budget committee dissolution, facility usage fees top MUSD governing board agenda

Maricopa Unified School District’s governing board will hold its regular meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the District Office Administration Building, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

Items scheduled for the board’s study session include a report from the Arizona Department of Education regarding a corrective action plan for Maricopa Wells Middle School, a report on the use of bonds for construction purposes, a review of next school year’s MUSD elementary handbook and an end-of-the-year report on the Volunteer Program.

The governing board has also agendized two executive sessions, one for student disciplinary recommendations and the other for legal advice on board policy BDG “School Attorney.”

In addition to approving the regular personnel schedule, the governing board will be asked to approve the formats for counselor, administrator, leadership team and related service provider contracts.

District administration is recommending personnel reductions and reclassifications by position. According to agenda information, workforce reduction is required “to effectuate economies in the operation of the District and/or improve the efficient conduct and administration of the schools of the District.”

Reductions include: 23 paraprofessional positions and reduced hours (to 29.5 per week) and benefits for all remaining paraprofessionals, the standardization and reclassification of custodial assignments plus elimination of 10 custodians and two groundskeepers, elimination of three bus drivers, two aides and a shop supervisor, and the elimination of nine library aide/bookstore clerks (the ad hoc budget committee recommended only six be eliminated).

Other eliminations include middle school mentor and security positions, two truancy officers, one high school security position and the high school receptionist among others, some of which have yet to be determined.

A modified fee schedule for community use of district facilities will go to the board for final approval. A fee schedule exhibit presented at the April 14 board meeting received unanimous approval. Superintendent Jeff Kleck explained then that the first priority was to establish the four classes of facility users. “The fee schedule is what we’re using now; two or three weeks from now we’ll come back with the new fee schedule.”

Dissolution of the Ad Hoc Budget Committee is also on the board’s agenda with an advisory budget planning committee possibly replacing it.

In a Monday night email Ad Hoc Budget Committee chair Marty McDonald wrote to committee members:  “The Budget Ad Hoc Committee was authorized by the Maricopa Unified School Board to meet to discuss numerous budget issues facing the district. Attendance in our meetings has significantly shrunk from 53 attendees at the first official meeting to just 20 members tonight. Per Open Meeting Law, we must have 50% plus “1” in order to establish a quorum. Our magic number is 27 people. Tonight, we had 20 people show up by 7:15 p.m. and, therefore, canceled the meeting.”

McDonald asked that any members no longer interested submit a letter of resignation so a smaller quorum number could be established.

To view the entire governing board meeting agenda, click here.

Photo by Joyce Hollis