Board Meeting Dates

I.

Call to Order

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of December 11, 2013, January 8, 2014 and February 12, 2014 Policy and Instruction Committee Meeting (Discussion/Action)

II.

Van Buren Middle School Education Model Proposal (Discussion)
Presenter: Jacque Costales, Cardinal Rieger

III.

Update on nex+Gen Academy (Discussion)
Presenter: Eddie Soto, Associate Superintendent of Secondary Education and Mike Stanton, Principal, nex+Gen Academy

IV.

APS 2013-2014 Employee Wellness Incentive Program - Update on Aggregate Data and Next Steps for District Wellness Initiatives (Discussion)
Presenter: Andrea Trybus, Katherine Chavez

V.

Name of the Lowell Elementary School Library (Discussion/Action)
Presenter: Carrie Robin Menapace

VI.

Future Items (Discussion)

VII.

Announcement of the Next Policy Meeting - the next meeting will be held Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo Martin Community Room.

VIII.

Adjournment

I.

Call to Order:  the meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of December 11, 2013, and January 8, 2014, Policy and Instruction Committee Meeting – It was decided to change the agenda as follows:  move item V. (Lowell Elementary School Library) up on the agenda to be item II.

Dr. Duran motioned to approve the minutes and agenda as revised.  Martin Esquivel seconded the motion.  All indicated approval.

II.

Name of the Lowell Elementary School Library – Carrie Menapace gave the update on the reason for naming the library which was Mr. Aragon helped obtain capital outlay money for the completion of the library.  She also said later on in his career, Mr. Aragon spent time in prison for fraud.  Ms. Menapace then went over the policy which provides the process to change the name of a facility.  This issue had come before the board in the past. Ms. Challberg-Hale, principal of Lowell Elementary, spoke and indicated that no one had approached her about the name change, but she knew it had come up three times since she was principal at Lowell.  She said that the majority of the community still thought since Mr. Aragon was the last one to bring capital outlay funds to the school the name should remain.  Ms. Kerschen, associate superintendent for elementary schools, said that there had been discussion a few years ago about bringing it before the community for a vote.  That idea was terminated after there were conflicts at the school.  Ms. Challberg-Hale suggested that they create a tile mural where the sign with the name was currently that would reflect the name Lowell and then add Mr. Aragon’s name on a sign for the name of the library.  Mr. Esquivel said he was approached by three members of the community (not school community) about the name change.  He felt it was not in the best interest of APS to have the facility named after a convicted felon and did not mean to minimize his work.  The Hispanic Cultural Center did remove his name from the silo located there.  The work of Mr. Aragon is appreciated, but the board should take a stand that it is wrong to name a facility after a felon.  He suggested taking action to remove the name and afterwards name it after someone else. Mr. Garcia indicated he had mixed feelings since Mr. Aragon was a leader; but because of his actions Mr. Garcia would support removing the name.  Dr. Duran’s issue was in taking action but not having a policy to support the action.  He would like to revise the policy to reflect things like this.  He would support the change to include not naming anything after a living person or someone like this.  He said he would support if we backed it up with a policy.  Dr. Peercy agreed.  Ms. Menapace said there had been an update in 2012 to not name facilities after a person that was still living going forward.  Dr. Maestas also indicated she had mixed feelings as well.  She knows all that he did for the community.  Based on this, she suggested going back to the community to make a decision.  She also supported the principal’s suggestion.  Ms. Korte felt it did not send a positive message to the students.  Dr. Duran felt the community should be heard.  Mr. Esquivel respectfully disagreed.  Martin Esquivel motioned to remove the name Manny Aragon from the library based on the circumstances mentioned.  Lorenzo Garcia seconded the motion.  All were in favor with the exception of Analee Maestas who voted no and Don Duran who voted no.  Dr. Maestas felt the community needed to be involved and asked that the community be part of the process when dealing with issues like this.  Dr. Peercy asked that they let community know the reasoning behind the decision/vote.  After Ms. Kerschen asked about the plaque for the library, it was determined that it did not require board action.

III.

Van Buren Middle School Education Model Proposal -
Winston Brooks shared with board that he had invited parents/staff for their support.  Jacque Costales and Aaron Arellano,  staff representatives,  presented.  Mr. Arellano briefed all on the work that had been done and the process that was followed.  A ten member committee formed a working model.  He went over the educational model document which included the current student achievement data and baseline data considerations.  Focusing on the whole child has improved the student achievement.  They will use the AVID model.  Dr. Peercy thanked all for being there.  The board members comments were  very positive, and all of them thanked everyone for their hard work.  Discussion and questions followed in regard to the demographics of the school.   Dr. Duran asked about bus transportation back to the home school, part of the community schools concept.  Mr. Brooks said there had been a conversation with Ray Garduno who had some ideas.

IV.

Update on nex+Gen Academy – Michael Stanton, principal of nex+Gen Academy, presented an update and report.  He said the school was  part of a New Tech Network and explained how the school was fostering enduring skills.  He thanked the board for  its support.  Dr. Maestas said she thought it was an exciting model for mid and high schools.

V.

APS 2013-2014 Employee Wellness Incentive Program - Update on Aggregate Data and Next Steps for District Wellness Initiatives – Vera Dallas, director of the Insurance and Benefits Department, presented.  She said they had brought back results per the board’s request.  She went over the information. Kathy Chavez, the district’s wellness coordinator, went over the ongoing initiatives.  Questions and discussion followed.  Some of the questions asked were pertaining to insurance claims and money saved by having healthier employees.

VI.

Future Items – Dr. Duran asked for a report on the fees charged in the high schools across the district.  He said we had to be consistent as all schools seemed to be different.  Dr. Maestas asked for  the procedural directive for parental engagement and legislative participation to be put on for future items.

VII.

Announcement of the Next Policy Meeting - the next meeting will be held Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo-Martin Community Room.

VIII.

Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.