Additional Details

Minutes of Board of Education Meeting

Albuquerque Public Schools

A Board of Education meeting of Albuquerque Public Schools was held Wednesday, June 4, 2014, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the John Milne Community Board Room, Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex, 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE.

I.       Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.

A.      Color Guard Presentation by Rio Grande High School Marine JROTC Under the Instruction of Sergeant Major Fiaseu

I.          Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence

B.      Roll Call

Present: Dr. Analee Maestas, Lorenzo Garcia, Steven Michael Quezada, Dr. Don Duran and Dr. David Peercy

Absent: Kathy Korte and Martin Esquivel

C.      Adoption of the June 4, 2014, Board of Education Meeting Agenda and Approval of the May 21, 2014, Board of Education Meeting Minutes (Discussion/Action)

Mr. Quezada motioned to adopt the agenda and approve the minutes. Mr. Garcia seconded the motion. Board members Garcia, Quezada, Duran, Peercy and Maestas voted to adopt the June 4, 2014, Board of Education meeting agenda and approve the May 21, 2014, Board of Education meeting minutes.

II.      Recognition of Students, Staff and Community

A.      Celebrating Staff Success

I.          Coach Jim Johns, Eldorado High School, was recognized for winning his 500th career game

III.     Public Forum

The participant of public forum expressed support for the pillars of Character Counts for adults and students of the APS community.

IV.     Matters of Information

1. Superintendent's Report

Superintendent Brooks reported on the following:

• Gratitude for APS volunteers, who donated 97,916 hours at 70 APS schools during the 2013-2014 school year valued at $1,925,029
• Gratitude for donations from the community to the Clothing Bank, where  Sonya Martens and the clothing bank team served 3,601 students during this school year with 2,800 students receiving coats during November and December and close to 12,000 students receiving school supplies
• Congratulations to twelve APS National Merit Scholarship recipients this year: Ashley Anthony, Maria Kelly, Christy Lee and Ryan Pedersen from La Cueva, Roderick Cochran from Del Norte, Anastasia Niver from Eldorado, and Nathaniel Wilson from Cibola

V.      Special Issues

A.      Consideration for Approval to Adopt the Intent Necessity Resolution, which Describes the Need to Acquire Technology Equipment in the Amount of $15,000,000 using a Lease Purchase Arrangement and Note (Discussion/Action)

Art Melendres, legal counsel, requested that board members adopt the intent necessity resolution, to acquire technology equipment in the amount of $15,000,000 with a lease purchase arrangement and note.  The resolution explains terms and conditions, which include the amounts needed to pay annual rent payments and interest on the amount borrowed to facilitate timely payment of principal and interest on the notes.  Details of the anticipated mill levies in the years 2015-2019 to secure ad valorum property tax proceeds to pay the rent payments and the principal and interest on the notes are included in the resolution. Public notice must be given regarding the APS Board of Education taking final action to award the lease purchase arrangement and note to the selected underwriters in a negotiated sale on June 27, 2014, at the Special Board of Education meeting.

Board members inquired about the differences and benefits of a negotiated sale compared to a public sale.  A request was submitted to review the listing of technology that will be purchased with the educational technology notes. Board members were informed that the listing would be made available for the June 27, 2014, at the Special Board of Education meeting.

Dr. Peercy motioned for approval of resolution. Dr. Duran seconded the motion.  Board members Garcia, Quezada, Duran, Peercy and Maestas voted to adopt the intent necessity resolution, which describes the need to acquire technology equipment in the amount of $15,000,000 using a lease purchase arrangement and note. Board members Korte and Esquivel were not present at this meeting to vote on this agenda item.

1. I. Notice is hereby given that the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education, City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, will hold a Special Board of Education Meeting on Friday, June 27, 2014, at 7:30 AM, at the DeLayo Martin Community Room, Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex, 6400 Uptown NE for Consideration for Approval of Educational Technology Lease Purchase Arrangement-Notes in the amount of $15,000,000, including Public Forum

1. B. Consideration for Approval of Resolution Authorizing Sale of Current and Future Bonds - $75,000,000 General Obligation School Building Bonds, Series 2014A and $94,615,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2014B (Discussion/Action)

Art Melendres, legal counsel, requested that board members adopt the delegation resolution that delegates the board president and superintendent the authority to issue a notice of sale of the Series 2014A General Obligation School Building Bonds in the anticipated amount of $75,000,000, and the Series 2014B General Obligation Refunding Bonds in the anticipated amount of $102,000,000.  The proceeds from the sale of the Series 2014A bonds will be used for construction of school projects, and the proceeds from the sale of Series 2014B bonds will be used to redeem the district’s outstanding Series 2007 and 2008B General Obligation School Building Bonds.  Notice of sale will be publicized that the APS Board of Education will award the Series 2014A and Series 2014B bonds to the selected underwriters in a negotiated sale on June 27, 2014 at the Special Board of Education meeting.

Board members were assured that the plan is to obtain the most competitive interest rates because APS has an excellent credit rating and the process will include the ability to cancel negotiations if the rates and terms are not acceptable.

Mr. Quezada motioned for approval of resolution. Dr. Peercy seconded the motion.  Board members Garcia, Quezada, Duran, Peercy and Maestas voted to approve the resolution authorizing sale of current and future bonds - $75,000,000 General Obligation School Building Bonds, Series 2014A and $94,615,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2014B.  Board members Korte and Esquivel were not present at this meeting to vote on this agenda item.

C.      Introduction of Albuquerque Public Schools' New Associate Superintendent for Secondary Education and New Chief of Police (Discussion)

Superintendent Brooks introduced Todd Resch as the new associate superintendent for high schools and Steve Gallegos as the chief of police for Albuquerque Public Schools.  Ongoing interviews for open principal positions will occur over the next few weeks.

VI.     Board Member Comments

Board members commented on their concern about the low voter turnout for the primary election and support for Council of the Great City Schools cultural proficiency program.

VII.    President's Report

President Maestas reported on the following issues:

• Gratitude for opportunity to determine baseline at the cultural proficiency meeting and looking forward to the next and future steps in the process
• Request for information and review of the procedural directive regarding the costs and restrictions of using the stadium by community athletic groups
• Support for the Unidos Project council meeting with collaborative efforts to implement strategies to encourage greater academic growth

VIII.   Announcement of Upcoming Board Meetings

President Maestas announced that the next Special Board of Education meeting will be held on Friday, June 13, 2014, at 7:45 a.m., or immediately following the Audit Committee meeting in the DeLayo Martin Community Room and the next Board of Education meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at 5:00 p.m., in the John Milne Community Board Room of the Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex, 6400 Uptown Blvd NE.

IX.     Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.