Manila, Utah

November 14, 2007

 

            The regular meeting of the Daggett Board of Education was held in Room 6 of the district office building on November 14, 2007. President Asbill called meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.  Also attending were members Barber, Olsen and Pallesen; Superintendent Northcott; Business Administrator Robinson; Principal Taylor; Vice-Principal Schell; and Dot Coombs.  Member Steen was absent.

 

Mr. Olsen moved to postpone the executive session to the end of the meeting, seconded by Mrs. Pallesen, motion carried

 

Mr. Olsen moved to strike New Business Item #4 – CUSAP Ratification from the agenda, seconded by Mrs. Barber, motion carried.

 

Mr. Olsen moved to approve the Consent Calendar with changes made to the minutes, seconded by Mrs. Pallesen, motion carried.  The Consent Calendar included minutes of October 10, 2007 Board Meeting; Warrant List and Financial Statement; ratification of contract for Vickie Briggs as a bus driver.

 

Mrs. Pallesen moved to approve Policy #5640 – Student Rights and Responsibilities: Bullying; Policy #3425 – Legal Defense of Employees; and Policy #3430 – Insurance Policy on the 3rd Reading with a modification to #5640 seconded by Mrs. Barber, motion carried.

           

Last month there was discussion concerning Home School Requests.  Superintendent Northcott has since spoken with Davis School District regarding the type of home school where the district provides the curriculum and monitoring and also retains the WPU.  The district would then create a virtual type school for this sort of setting and other schools in the district would not be held accountable for AYP, etc. Following a lengthy discussion Mr. Olsen moved to try the K-12 curriculum on an experimental basis, seconded by Mrs. Barber, motion carried.

             

            Steve Johnstun presented the audit report for the 2006-07 school year.  He stated that the findings from last year regarding parts of the budget being overspent have been rectified.  This year they noted that purchase orders are not being used on all purchases and quotes are not being properly documented.  They also noted that funds are not being deposited within three business days after being receipted.  Last year they also noted that the treasurerÕs bond needed to be increased, which has been done.

            As allowed by law, the District has established an undistributed reserve of $90,272 of general fund budgeted revenues within the general fund which is set aside for contingencies or possible reductions in state funding and not to be used in negotiation or settlement of contract salaries.

            The district has a post employment healthcare benefit obligation in the amount of $85,782 at June 30, 2007.  The obligation at June 30, 2006 was $22,488.

            Liability for compensated absences – employees are allowed to accrue ten days of sick leave each year to a maximum accrual of 150 days.  Employees who qualify will be paid 15% of their accrued sick leave for days accrued prior to July 1, 2004 at their salary rate in effect at retirement.  The accrued liability for the District at June 30, 2007 is $100,748.  Sick leave accrued after June 30, 2004 will be paid 100% of their accrued sick leave.

            At June 30, 2007, the unreserved and undesignated fund balance in the general fund was $233,334 while the total fund balance was $539,970.  The unreserved and undesignated fund balance decreased by $66,460.  Annual expenditures in the general fund were $36,173 less than the final budgeted amounts.  At June 30, 2006, the unreserved and undesignated fund balance was $299,794 while the total fund balance was $549,840.  The unreserved and undesignated fund balance had decreased by $12,217. 

            The capital projects fund has a total fund balance of $219,294 at June 30, 2007, all of which is restricted for acquisition of capital assets and related expenditures.  The fund balance increased by $31,802 during the fiscal year.  At June 30, 2006 the capital projects fund balance was $187,492.  The fund balance had increased by $80,144 during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.

            The debt service fund has a total fund balance of $48,897 as of June 30, 2007, all of which is reserved for the payment of debt service on general obligation bonds.  The fund balance decreased by $23,649 during the fiscal year.  At June 30, 2006 the debt service fund balance was $72,546.  The fund balance increased by $8,264 during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.

            The non K-12 programs special revenue fund has a total fund balance of $44,002 at June 30, 2007.  This balance is within the total allowed by state guidelines and is restricted to non-kindergarten through twelfth grade programs.  At June 30, 2006 the K-12 programs special revenue fund was $23,704.

            The school lunch special revenue fund has a total fund balance of $10,845 at June 30, 2007.  This balance is within the total allowed by state guidelines and is restricted to food service programs.  At June 30, 2006 the school lunch special revenue fund was $4,824.

            The general obligation bonded debt of the District is limited by state law to 4% of the fair market value of the total taxable property in the District.  The legal debt limit at June 30, 2007 was $7,714,332 while the general obligation debt at the date was $505,000 resulting in a legal debt margin of $7,209,332.  The legal debt limit at June 30, 2006 was $7,392,355 while the general obligation debt at that date was $670,000, resulting in a legal debt margin of $6,722,355.

            Mrs. Pallesen moved to accept the audit report, seconded by Mr. Olsen, motion carried.

 

            Mrs. Robinson suggested that the Board give a Christmas Bonus of $300.00 for full time employees; $150.00 for part time employees; plus 1% of the individual employee base salary.  This will be a one time bonus with soft money.  Mr. Olsen moved to approve the suggested bonus, seconded by Mrs. Barber, motion carried.

 

            Mr. Olsen moved to renew a 2-year contract for Luann Robinson as the Business Administrator, seconded by Mrs. Barber, motion carried.

 

Mrs. Barber stated that there was no UBATC meeting held this month.

 

            SuperintendentÕs activity report was reviewed.

 

            Superintendent Northcott reviewed the 06-07 CRT results.  This included the detail and a summary of district level data showing a four year history.  These results are comparable with the best schools in the State.

 

            Superintendent Northcott reported on the GovernorÕs Education Summit.  He indicated Governor Huntsman reported about his visits to school districts around the state.  There were five things he said that were consistently being talked about:  critical teacher shortage; too much testing and too little information from the tests; strengthening early childhood programs; stronger alliance for public and higher education; technology and math initiative.

            The three things Gov. Huntsman said he was going to try to do regarding these issues were: increase teacher salaries another 6-7% within the next year, and by the year 2012, have starting teacher salaries at $40,000; assessment reform; k-16 alliance, under that a concept called U-Star, which is a program with greater focus on science and math.

            Superintendent Northcott reviewed the summary that was done by David Sparry who was commissioned to do a study on teacher shortages. Mr. Sparry indicated that teacher shortage is real and it is critical and will only grow.

            State Superintendent Patty Harrington took the group through an analysis of all of the testing that is currently being done and what information it provides to the different constituents.  There is a proposal to change to adaptive on-line testing. (This test, regardless of the studentÕs grade level, will adapt to the students skill level indicating the studentÕs true performance level and inform Ōnext stepĶ instruction.)

            Scott Anderson of Zions Bank gave a presentation regarding the skills he perceived are needed in the work world.  Some of the skills noted were: communication, people need to be able to listen, write and speak; interpersonal skills: group problem solving; appropriate group behavior; dealing with group stress; creativity: being able to solve problems, take risks, think creatively, the habit of curiosity, being able to work with people who think outside the box; hard work: being able to set goals, implement goals, internal motivation and integrity.

                       

Superintendent Northcott noted the following Great Things Happening.

 

1.     JHBBB is well under way: 7th graders are 3-1 and the 8th graders are 4-0.

2.     GVB advanced to crossover but unfortunately lost to Milford and was eliminated from the State Tournament.  Congratulations to Debbie Rose and all her players for the great effort displayed during the season.

3.     MHS students attended the FFA National Convention.  Kimberly Northcott was chosen as the national winner of the Turf Grass Management Proficiency Award.  Casity Muggelberg was one of four national finalists in the Outdoor Recreation Proficiency Award. Karlee Schell participated in the Job Interview Career Development Event and received a silver emblem for her efforts.  Camille Rose was one of five American FFA Degree recipients to receive the highest degree offered in the FFA at the convention.  Michael Hughes, Autumn Hullinger, Casey Robinson, and Calvin Schell were also awarded their degrees.

4.     MHS Science Fair winners were:  JH - 1st – NeKenzie Jones, 2nd – Matthew Northcott, 3rd – Jared Briggs, Chelsea Nolte and Janell Reed.  HS – 1st – Jessica Gosar, 2nd – Nathan Northcott, 3rd – Daniella Kelsch and Jared Reed.

5.     Red & White night was well attended.

6.     GBB, BBB and Cheerleaders have begun practicing.

7.     MES held a successful book fair sponsored by the PTSO.  They received over $800.00 worth of books for the school.

8.     MES was able to attend the play Beauty and the Beast at WWCC which featured Ashley Straatman.

9.     FFA heavily involved in the Water Conservation Conference.

                                                                                                                

Superintendent Northcott mentioned that in the Board packet there was a schedule of upcoming events.

 

 

 

Mrs. Barber moved that the Board go into executive session at 7:30 P.M. to discuss a personnel issue, seconded by Mrs. Pallesen.  The motion on being put to a vote was unanimously carried by the affirmative vote of all members present, the vote being as follows: Aye: Pat Asbill, Marcia Barber, James Olsen, and Rena Pallesen. Nay: None.

 

Mr. Olsen moved that the Board reconvene in regular session at 7:50 P.M., seconded by Mrs. Pallesen, all in favor.  Present at the executive session were members Asbill, Barber, Olsen and Pallesen; Superintendent Northcott; Business Administrator Robinson.

 

Mr. Olsen asked for clarification on the plan to spend the Adult Education carryover money.

 

President Asbill declared the meeting adjourned.

           

 

           

           

                     

                        President, Board of Education                                            Clerk, Board of Education