ARIZONA FALL 2014
SCHOOL
BOARDS
ASSOCIATION VOL. 44, NO. 3
Personalized Professional Learning Services A New Policy Experience on Demand
Investing in Your Success
ASBA’s 2015 Political Agenda Connecting Leaders with Leaders Using Executive Search Services
PLUS... ASBA Unzips the Greatest Summer/Fall Events of 2014
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ARIZONA
SCHOOL
BOARDS
ASSOCIATION
Fall 2014
Vol. 44, No. 3
l DEPARTMENTS 3
President’s Message Every Vote Counts: Our Duty as Board Members
By J. Elaine Hall, ASBA President
5 Viewpoints 65 and Still Going Strong - ASBA Continues to Build a Stronger Foundation for the Future By Dr. Timothy Ogle, ASBA Executive Director 7
ASBA News
By Heidi Vega, ASBA Director of Communications
13
ASBA Calendar of Events
18 Profile in Leadership Barry Sharp and Robert Ethridge 22
Leadership Matters ASBA’s Search Services Go BIG
By Karen Loftus, ASBA Director
l FEATURES 16 ASBA Unzips The Greatest Summer/Fall Events of 2014 20 Think Different Multi-district special ed program meeting student needs, saving districts money By Don Harris
23 Personalized Professional Learning Services By Don Harris 30
Do you have cyber liability coverage?
35
ASBA Affiliate Members
of Leadership Development
26
Capitol View ASBA Sets Its 2015 Political Agenda and We Need You to Help Advocate!
By Janice Palmer, ASBA Director of Governmental Relations & Public Affairs
32 Education and the Law Stump the Lawyer - Back by Popular Demand By Chris Thomas, ASBA General Counsel and Director of Legal and Policy Services
Santa Cruz Valley USD hosted one of ASBA's County Meetings in October, and featured an impressive performance by the Rio Rico High School Jazz Band.
ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 1
ARIZONA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION l Officers President J. Elaine Hall President Elect Jesus Rubalcava Treasurer Kathy Knecht Secretary Julie Bacon Immediate Past President Randy Schiller
l County Directors, Caucus Leadership and NSBA Representatives Apache Arnold Goodluck Cochise Jeffery Crandall Coconino Jerry Williams Gila Barbara Underwood Graham James Bryce Greenlee Luis Montoya La Paz Barbara “Harlow” Harper Maricopa Bill Adams Maricopa Bonnie Sneed Mohave Tom Duranceau Navajo Linda Yazzie Pima Jim Love Pima Sara Mae Williams Pinal Torri Anderson Santa Cruz Maria Neuman Yavapai Ken Dobson Yuma Marvin Marlatt Hispanic/Native American Indian Caucus Eva Carillo Dong Black Caucus Maxine Hill
l Staff Executive Director Dr. Timothy Ogle Associate Executive Director Tracey Benson Director of Administrative Services Ellen White Director of Communications Heidi Vega Director of Governmental Relations/Public Affairs Janice Palmer Director of Leadership Development Karen Loftus Director of Legal and Policy Services/ General Counsel Chris Thomas Assistant Director of Policy Services Dr. Terry L. Rowles Executive Search and Senior Policy Consultant Steve Highlen Policy Consultant David DeCabooter Technology and Information Specialist Michael Barcia Governmental Relations Analyst Geoff Esposito Education Reporter Lisa Irish Policy Technician Renae Watson Member Services Coordinator Shirley Simpson Secretary to the Executive Director Kristi Johnson Administrative Secretary Jolene Hale Administrative Secretary Sara Nilsson Administrative Secretary Elizabeth Sanchez Publication Policy: Articles printed herein may be divergent in point of view and controversial in nature. The materials published in each issue represent the ideas or beliefs of those who write them, and not necessarily the views or policies of the Arizona School Boards Association. © 2013 by the Arizona School Boards Association. Address all correspondence to: ASBA Journal Editor 2100 N. Central Ave., Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phone: 602-254-1100; 1-800-238-4701 editor@azsba.org; Website: www.azsba.org Annual subscription rate $24 Production and Design by S&L Printing & Mailing, Inc. 1428 W. San Pedro • Gilbert, AZ 85233 • 480-497-8081
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ARIZONA SCHOOL B O A R D S A S S O C I AT I O N Quality leadership and advocacy for children in public schools
OUR MISSION Promoting elected local governance of public education and continuous improvement of student success by providing leadership and assistance to public school governing boards.
OUR GOALS Provide model training and leadership emphasizing best practices in public school governance. Represent and advocate for the diverse interests of public school governing boards. Advocate the core beliefs and political agenda as adopted by the membership.
OUR CORE BELIEFS ASBA believes… The basic life needs of children must be met for them to succeed. Meeting the unique educational needs of all students must be the foundation of our school systems. The governance of public schools must lie with locally elected and accountable school district governing boards. The accountability for student success is a shared responsibility of the students, parents, governing board, district staff and the community. Public education funding must be broad-based, stable and at a level that assures all students receive an education that enables them to be successful. State and federal mandates must be funded. Knowledgeable and professionally trained governing board members are fundamental for ensuring student success.
Learn more at www.azsba.org
l PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE By J. Elaine Hall, ASBA President
Every Vote Counts: Our Duty as Board Members
E
lection 2014 – this may well be one of the most important elections in several decades, especially as it relates to education. On that note, in the recent primary election only 23 percent of registered voters in the state of Arizona exercised their right (nay, their obligation) to vote. In my opinion, that is a sad commentary. Voting has never been easier than it is today with mail-in voting. I have read with interest the opinions of those who decry the fact that people no longer have to get into their cars and drive (or walk if it is close enough) to the polls on election day to physically cast their ballot. My perspective is different. With mail-in ballots, we are able to sit in the comfort of our homes and read all the initiatives and referendums – conduct research if necessary - and cast our ballot according to our wishes. Arizona is one of the few states that allows its citizens to place items on the ballot for consideration for all registered voters, thus by-passing the Legislature if they are not addressing the issues Arizona's citizens feel they should be addressing. We who are elected school board members should especially appreciate the importance of voting. We are charged with setting policy and advocating that our teachers and administrators have the necessary tools to provide the highest quality education to our public school students. Therefore, it is imperative that we exercise our obligation to educate ourselves on the issues and the candidates and vote – in every election. It is not acceptable to excuse ourselves by saying, "I'm only one person, my vote doesn't count that much.” I have seen overrides fail for the lack of one (that's right, I said one) vote. For those who are not aware of this fact, if a bond issue or override results in a tie vote, it is considered defeated. I have seen runoff elections because the candidates are tied – one vote would have made a difference there as well. The traditional public schools in Arizona – those schools and students whom we were elected to represent – are in dire straits currently, as more and more money is being siphoned off to charter schools and private schools, which are not held accountable to the same standards as traditional public schools. The way we vote can help turn that tide.
I am issuing a challenge to each and every school board member to take up the charge in this critical election year, and vote according to your conscience. Don't just stop with your own vote. Talk to your families and friends. Talk to your co-workers and neighbors. Encourage anyone and everyone to honor their obligation to the future of our state and our country by doing the research and asking questions of the candidates. Go to the candidates’ websites, research the initiatives on the ballot (I know that book is “ginormous,” but it must be done). Go to any debates which may be scheduled in your area – and if you haven’t yet watched the gubernatorial debate on education co-sponsored by ASBA, I encourage you to do so! Do whatever it takes to become educated concerning the issues and what each candidate stands for and is willing to do. Then and only then can you make an informed decision and cast your vote. Your one vote just may make an enormous difference.
We who are elected school board members should especially appreciate the importance of voting. We are charged with setting policy and advocating that our teachers and administrators have the necessary tools to provide the highest quality education to our public school students.
ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 3
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l VIEWPOINTS By Dr. Timothy Ogle, ASBA Executive Director
65 and Still Going Strong: ASBA Continues to Build a Stronger Foundation for the Future
O
n March 12, 1949, the very first meeting of the Arizona School Boards Association occurred. With significant work and dedicated leadership from some courageous individuals, we embarked upon the ASBA journey that continues some 65 years later. We truly can say at ASBA, we are proud of the past and excited about the future! With the challenges we face as today as school leaders politically, financially and socially, there has been little time to celebrate some exciting developments in our association, which continue to place us in a unique position of leadership in our state. ASBA continues to excel in building an improved and superior organization. In the last few months, we set attendance records at both our Summer Leadership Institute and our Law Conference. We have created a dynamic original news source – AZEdNews (the Arizona Education News Service) – which has experienced exploding popularity and reach. Our member participation in the development of our political agenda is at an all-time high, and our advocacy initiative is reaching audiences we have never been able to reach before. ASBA’s board training services are supporting more member boards than ever in our history, and our staff, team of trainers and consultants are consulting with member districts virtually every day of the week. The ASBA policy team is in the final phase of a two-year project to develop and implement ASBA PolicyBridge, an innovative delivery system that represents a significant upgrade in our service to ASBA Policy Services clients. ASBA continues to excel in building an improved and superior organization.
You, as a loyal member, have much to be proud of and we appreciate your role as an ambassador for ASBA. In addition, this last spring the ASBA Board of Directors embarked upon a bold new initiative to enhance the role of our association in promoting equity of opportunity for all of Arizona’s children. We anticipate this initiative becoming an integral portion of our work in the years ahead. While we have been hard at work with these exciting program developments, we have balanced our budget, grown our programs, and have never raised member dues. You, as a loyal member, have much to be proud of and we appreciate your role as an ambassador for ASBA. Together, we have so much to celebrate. Twenty-five years ago – in 1989 – ASBA published a book that captured its history over the first 40 years. It’s been 25 years since that publication and we have had many other milestones, challenges and accomplishments, in addition to those recent ones I have mentioned here. In early 2015, we will deliver a second historical book for the association. The book will capture the quarter-century from 1990-2014 and we look forward to its publication, documenting the successes and challenges experienced in the last part of the 20th century and the first part of the 21st. Thank you for your continued support of ASBA. Our association is a wonderful network of passionate and driven people doing the most important work.
ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 5
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NEWS New officers, bylaw changes up for vote at ASBA Annual Business Meeting Each ASBA member board may send one representative to vote on its behalf at the annual ASBA Business Meeting, to be held Dec. 11 from 8 – 9:15 a.m. The meeting will be held in Phoenix at the Biltmore Conference Center in conjunction with the ASBA•ASA 57th Annual Conference. Board members not serving as delegates may attend the meeting as well. Delegates will vote on two bylaw changes, the details of which will be sent to members in November, and select three ASBA officers for 2015. The officers will serve for a single-year term on the ASBA Board of Directors. The ASBA nominating committee, chaired by ASBA Immediate Past President Randy Schiller, will meet in November to put forth recommendations for individuals that have been nominated to serve as ASBA officers for 2015. Nominations are being accepted through Nov. 3. Members of the nominating committee were appointed by ASBA President Elaine Hall in keeping with ASBA bylaws. All member boards that intend to have a delegate present to vote on these items at the business meeting should complete the online delegate form no later than Dec. 1 if the board’s delegate will be someone other than the delegate who represented the board at the ASBA Delegate Assembly in September. The form is available at www.azsba.org/delegate-form.
ASBA completes annual Arizona road trip, election of county directors This fall, ASBA leadership hosted 14 County Meetings throughout the state. These meetings provided an opportunity for ASBA and its elected County Directors to share issues and solutions to local challenges with members of other boards in their areas. This year, ASBA also provided a complimentary early bird session on the A,B,C’s of Board Service. This session addressed common questions and expectations candidates need to be aware of if elected or appointed to their governing board. Elections for ASBA County Directors were also held. County Directors serve two-year terms on the ASBA Board of Directors. This year elections were held for eight County Director positions. The board is responsible for oversight of the association, including financial management, and meets at least four times a year. Counties with elections were Santa Cruz, Pima, Gila, Coconino, Mohave, La Paz, Maricopa and Yavapai. New County Directors will be officially introduced at the ASBA-ASA Annual Conference in December. Thank you to all school districts throughout Arizona that hosted a County Meeting this year.
ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 7
PolicyBridge: A new policy service experience Over the past several months, members of the ASBA Policy Services staff have traveled throughout the state conducting regional PolicyBridge training with groups of staff from many school districts. Participation at these training sessions has provided attendees the opportunity to not only hear how the program works, but also receive a hands-on experience using training tools to become familiar with the program and full potential it provides. PolicyBridge is a program that will strengthen the policy service experience by offering district staff an opportunity to directly work on policy documents and concurrently bridge communication avenues between local governing boards, district staff and ASBA Policy Service staff. ASBA looks forward to providing board members and district staff with additional information regarding “The advantage of the PolicyBridge program is faster access to the policies PolicyBridge this fall.
And the ASBA school law award goes to….. Denise Bainton Attorney Denise Bainton was presented with the John R. McDonald Award from ASBA at the 38th Annual ASBA Law Conference on Sept. 4. Bainton of the DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy Law Office, located in Tucson, was honored with the John R. McDonald award for outstanding contributions to Arizona public education. This award was developed to honor prominent Tucson Attorney John R. McDonald who passed away in 2012. McDonald was once president of the Arizona School Boards Association and left a legacy of dedication to improving education. Those honored with this award have ref lected the spirit of John R. McDonald.
and a friendly user interface.” Kaylene Bain, superintendent secretary, Sanders Unified School District
Who is Heidi Vega? Meet ASBA’s New Director of Communications Name and Title:
Heidi Vega, Director of Communications Birthplace: Glendale, Ariz. Role at ASBA: As the director of communications, I lead all communication efforts that help support ASBA’s vision, mission and strategic goals. Efforts include communications planning, content strategy and development, marketing, media relations and member services group trainings on communication tactics. Professional Experience: I was the director of the communications and community engagement department in the Deer Valley Unified School District for the last three years, serving as a member of the superintendent's executive cabinet team. I managed the district’s internal and external communications,
8 ASBA Journal I Fall 2014
marketing, business partner relations, special events, elections, crisis communications and parent/community involvement programs. I previously served as the communications specialist for four years. I recently was recognized as the Southwest Region 2014-15 National School Public Relations Association(NASPRA)Front-Runner, received the first annual NSPRA “35 Under 35” award recognition in 2013-14 for leaders under the age of 35 and was nominated for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 2013 Woman of the Year Award.
Education: I graduated from Apollo High School in Glendale. After graduation, I enlisted in the United States Air Force and several years after, I graduated from the University of Phoenix with a bachelor’s in business and marketing. Favorite Books: Deal with It by Paula White and Contagious – Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger
Favorite Quotes: “She believed she could, so she did.” - R.S. Grey Little Known Fact About Me: I am obsessed with Uno, the card game. Why I Think Public Education is Important: Growing up in a low income area did not provide me with opportunities that I now can provide for my child. We never had new books or computers in classrooms, but we did have teachers that cared and inspired students like myself to want more in life and pursue my dreams.
ASBA hosts annual Board Appreciation Night The Arizona School Boards Association, in partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks, once again hosted School Board Appreciation Night at Chase Field on Sept. 13. Recipients of ASBA’s 2013 Arizona All School Boards Award and Lou Ella Kleinz Award of Excellence were honored on the field before the game.
From left, ASBA Executive Director Dr. Tim Ogle, ASBA Secretary Julie Bacon (Paradise Valley USD), Mari Alvarado (Alhambra ESD), Sylvia Hendricks, (Baboquivari USD), ASBA President-Elect Jesus Rubalcava (Gila Bend USD), Ella Mae Greasewood (Baboquivari USD), Sara Mae Williams (Baboquivari USD) and Barry Sharp (Ash Fork Joint USD).
Arizona board members honored with ASBA Cactus Pin for taking service to the next level Fifteen Arizona school board members received recognition for service to ASBA and the National School Boards Association, and their participation in activities and events beyond their regular board service that promote the vision and mission of ASBA and the local governing board. Receiving Gold Cactus Pins Awards were Steven Chapman (Tolleson UHSD), Dr. Jeffery Crandall (Tombstone USD), Patricia Foy (Seligman USD), Maxine Hill (Agua Fria UHSD), Richard Hopkins (Buckeye ESD), Lillian Hritz (Tombstone USD), Ann Ordway (Deer Valley USD), Jesus Rubalcava (Gila Bend USD), Elizabeth Sanchez (Alhambra ESD) Traci Sawyer-Sinkbeil (Dysart USD) and Evelyn Shapiro (Isaac ESD). Silver Cactus Pin Awards were awarded to Anne Greenberg (Paradise Valley USD), Maxine Hill (Agua Fria UHSD) and Kathy Knecht (Peoria USD). Winners were recognized at the ASBA Summer Leadership Institute in July. Pin awards ref lect activities between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014. Learn more about the Cactus Pin Award at www.azsba.org/about-asba/ member-awards.
Present at ASBA’s Summer Leadership Institute to accept her Cactus Pin Award was Traci Sawyer-Sinkbeil (Dysart USD) pictured with ASBA President Elaine Hall.
ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 9
ASBA•ASA 57th Annual Conference and New Board Member Orientation
Dec. 10-12, 2014 Conference Agenda Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 8:00 a.m.
ispanic-Native American Indian H Caucus Golf Tournament
8:30 – 4:00 p.m. P RE-CONFERENCE: New Board Member Orientation
3:30 p.m.
ispanic-Native American Indian H Caucus meeting
4:30 – 7:30 p.m. A nnual Conference Kick-Off Reception & Exhibitor Preview Show Featuring new Learning Lab Sessions
Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 Breakfast & Exhibit Viewing Featuring new Learning Lab Sessions ASBA Annual Business Meeting Election of officers, voting on bylaw changes and association updates. 9:00 a.m. Entertainment in the General Session Hall 9:30 a.m. First General Session: Opening Ceremonies including presentation of student awards and scholarships Keynote Speaker: Diane Ravitch Prolific writer, renowned researcher and one of the nation’s leading public education advocates 7:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 12, 2014 7:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m.
10:00 – 10:50 a.m. 11:00 – 11:50 a.m.
Breakfast & Exhibit Viewing Second General Session: State of the Association Address An update from ASBA Executive Director Dr. Tim Ogle Keynote Speaker: Vince Yanez Leader of education, scholarship and public policy initiatives for the Arizona Community Foundation Breakout Sessions (choose from nine) Breakout Sessions (choose from nine)
11:45 a.m. Golden Bell Luncheon 1:30 – 2:20 p.m. Breakout Sessions (choose from nine) 2:30 – 3:20 p.m. Breakout Sessions (choose from nine) 3:30 – 4:20 p.m. Breakout Sessions (choose from nine) 4:20 p.m. Refreshments & Networking in the Exhibit Hall 4:30 p.m. Black Caucus meeting 6:00 p.m. Reception 6:30 p.m. ASBA Annual Awards Banquet
Keynote Speaker Diane Ravitch Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools Thursday, Dec. 11, 10:00 a.m. A prolific writer, renowned researcher and one of the nation’s leading public education advocates, Ravitch is the author of “Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools,” a New York Times best-seller. Prepare for a passionate discussion of better education for all and Ravitch’s message that every parent, teacher and community member needs to support public schools, or else our society will fail its children. Ms. Ravitch’s book will be available for purchase and signing at the conference. The book signing will take place on Thursday, Dec. 11 from 1-2 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall. Co-sponsored by ASU Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and The Friends of ASBA.
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Online Registration Now Open! REGISTER ONLINE Online registration for the ASBA-ASA Annual Conference and New Board Member Orientation are now open at www.azsba.org/events/annualconference-2014. Should you require assistance with the registration process, please call the ASBA office at 602.254.1100 ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEE Registration is $315/person. The fee includes all meals as noted on the agenda and free conference room wi-fi. NEW BOARD MEMBER REGISTRATION FEE Registration is $155/person. The fee includes a full-day overview of the basics of board service for newly elected school board members plus four essential publications. REGISTRATION DEADLINE Registration and payment must be received no later than Wednesday, Dec. 3. An additional $150 charge will be added to registrations received after that date. CANCELLATION POLICY The deadline for conference cancellations is Wednesday, Dec. 3. Cancellations must be in writing and faxed to 602.254.1177 by that date. “No shows” will not be refunded. Those registered are entitled to send substitutes in their place. MEALS FOR GUESTS Registered attendees are welcome to bring guests to meal functions, however, guest meal tickets must be purchased online by Wednesday, Dec. 3. Due to advance guarantees required by the hotel, we cannot guarantee the availability of additional meal tickets at the conference. To purchase additional meal tickets, click on the link at www.azsba.org/events/annualconference-2014.
Keynote Speaker Vince Yanez The Income Gap: Education and Income Inequality Friday, Dec. 12, 8:45 a.m. Vince Yanez served as executive director for the Arizona State Board of Education from 2005 to 2013 and now leads education, scholarship and public policy initiatives for issues impacting K-12 public education as executive director of the Arizona Community Foundation’s Arizona Venture Fund for Quality Education. Yanez will tackle the achievement gap through the lens of family income and share powerful data and insights about the widening gaps in economic and social resources between rich and poor in Arizona, the impact on student opportunity and achievement, and promising practices and policies that could help students overcome their disadvantages.
Hotel Information HOTEL RESERVATIONS To reserve a room at the conference rate of $159/night (single/double), please call the Arizona Biltmore at 800.950.0086. Be sure to mention you are with the Arizona School Boards Association. Hotel reservation deadline is Monday, Nov. 17, 2014. DEPOSIT A deposit equal to one night’s stay is required to hold each individual’s reservation. Deposits are fully refundable if a room is cancelled seven days prior to the arrival date. CANCELLATION POLICY We expect our room block to sell out. To be fair to all concerned, we request that our members only reserve those hotel rooms that will indeed be used. We appreciate your cooperation. This will provide as many attendees as possible a chance to enjoy the convenience of staying at the conference hotel.
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ASBA Calendar of Events November 2014
January 2015
11 14 27-28
1 9-11 19 22 23 30
Veterans’ Day ASBA Office Closed ASBA/AASBO/ASA Legislative Workshop Phoenix Thanksgiving ASBA Office Closed
December 2014
10 New Board Member Orientation Phoenix 11-12 ASBA Annual Conference Phoenix 25-26 Christmas ASBA Office Closed
New Year’s Day ASBA office closed ASBA Board Retreat Phoenix MLK Day ASBA Office Closed ASBA BOLTS Workshop Tucson ASBA BOLTS Workshop Phoenix ASBA BOLTS Workshop Flagstaff
February 2015 1-3 NSBA Advocacy Institute Washington, D.C. 16 Presidents’ Day ASBA Office Closed
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Board members recognized for commitment to governance and leadership training
A
wards are based on the hours of training received, and were presented at the ASBA County Meetings. This recognition is part of ASBA’s Academy of Board Development program, which is designed to equip board members with the knowledge and techniques necessary to develop policies and practices to support the organization’s instructional leadership role. This training program is based on attendance at workshops, conferences and other training opportunities. Its objectives are to recognize board members for personal efforts toward improvement; to be an incentive for voluntary board member training; and to promote the idea of better boardsmanship. Participants in the Academy of Board Development program receive a certificate, plaque or pin upon completion of each level within the program. Awards are determined annually based upon credits earned prior to July 1 each year. Learn more about the core curriculum, earning continuing education units, and recognition for training at www.azsba.org/learning-center/ academy-of-board-development/ Certificate of Orientation Minnie John, Red Mesa USD Daisy Slim, Sanders USD Michael Myers, Bowie USD Gary Clement, Willcox USD Cheryl Rife, Chevelon Butte ESD Adrien Snell, Page USD Devin Wala, Payson USD Cecilia Jernigan, Duncan USD Joe Moreno, Duncan USD Gina Ragsdale, Buckeye ESD Blossom Tande Quihuis, Dysart USD Teresa Quihuis-Gerardo, Isaac ESD Valarie Serrano, Nadaburg USD Catherine Henley, Hackberry ESD Michelle Zephier, Peach Springs USD Rhonda Francisco, N.A.V.I.T. Greg Berger, Rising Schools Inc Tricia Juan, Ira H Hayes HS Ann Marie Knorr, Maricopa USD Alan Neal, Sonoita ESD Certificate of Boardsmanship Lucy Ayze, Chinle USD Patricia Staffnik, Concho ESD Minnie John, Red Mesa USD Daisy Slim, Sanders USD Kathy Hoogerwerf, Vernon ESD Deanna Hunt, Vernon ESD Marty Bowman, Window Rock USD Anita Choate, Benson USD Barbara Wills, Tombstone USD Deynice Bondurant, Chevelon Butte ESD Rebecca Johnson, Chevelon Butte ESD Dolores Biggerstaff, Flagstaff USD Judi Beckerleg, Grand Canyon USD Robert Candelaria, Page USD Anna Harmon-James, Globe USD Judy Moorhead, Globe USD Shirley Dye, Payson USD Cohn McEuen, Fort Thomas USD Myron Moses, Fort Thomas USD Rose Rope, Fort Thomas USD Shirley Turner Chaplin, Safford USD
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Kelly Baker, Morenci USD Gail Knight, Balsz ESD Derrence White, Balsz ESD Jane Hunt, Buckeye ESD Annette Sexton Ruiz, Creighton ESD Don Debusk, Glendale UHSD Julie Davis, Joseph City USD Eldon Larsen, Joseph City USD Fern Benally, Kayenta USD Marion Todecheene, Kayenta USD Michael Bahe, Pinon USD Virgil Denny, Pinon USD Ella Mae Greasewood, Baboquivari USD Janeane Candelaria, Florence USD Jeffrey McClure, Oracle ESD Linda Thomas, Oracle ESD Betty Fish, Toltec ESD Virginia Lopez, Toltec ESD Jerri Rose, Toltec ESD Maria Neuman, Santa Cruz Valley USD Scott Hicks, Prescott USD Tina Seeley, Prescott USD Associate of Boardsmanship Lucy Ayze, Chinle USD Teresa Selles-Gorman, Ganado USD Minnie John, Red Mesa USD Kathy Hoogerwerf, Vernon ESD Deanna Hunt, Vernon ESD Marty Bowman, Window Rock USD Marilyn Cox, Fredonia-Moccasin USD Judy Moorhead, Globe USD Mccoy Hawkins, Fort Thomas USD Myron Moses, Fort Thomas USD Kimberly Lunt, Duncan USD Richard Hopkins, Buckeye ESD Melanie Anderelli, Fountain Hills USD Don DeBusk, Glendale UHSD Nancy Iannone, Lake Havasu USD Fern Benally, Kayenta USD Marion Todecheene, Kayenta USD Chris Isabel, Altar Valley ESD Susan Zibrat, Amphitheater USD Gary Kemp, J O Combs USD
Linda Thomas, Oracle ESD Ken Dobson, Seligman USD Master of Boardsmanship Lucy Ayze, Chinle USD Teresa Selles-Gorman, Ganado USD Leona Smith, Mcnary ESD Edward Gomez, Douglas USD Anna Harmon-James, Globe USD Rory Huff, Payson USD Beth Hinton, Fort Thomas USD Barbara Harper, Bicentennial UHSD Joy Young, Salome ESD C.T. Wright, Fountain Hills USD Ignacio Fernandez, Fowler ESD Julie Bacon, Paradise Valley USD Martin Quezada, Pendergast ESD Randy Schiller, Phoenix UHSD Bessie Allen, Pinon USD Roberta Hadnot, Winslow USD Patti Coutre, Maricopa USD Laurie Lozano, Clarkdale-Jerome ESD Ken Dobson, Seligman USD Steve Dockray, Vacte First Cluster Paul Guy, Jr., Chinle USD Wanda Begay, Ganado USD Paula James, Red Mesa USD Martha Natonabah, Page USD Dalene Griffin, Thatcher USD Amelia Flores, Parker USD Monica Timberlake, Quartzsite ESD Maxine Hill, Agua Fria UHSD Mari Alvarado, Alhambra ESD Ann Elizabeth Ordway, Deer Valley USD Sara Smith, Glendale ESD Beth Brizel, Kyrene ESD Sue Corbin, Osborn ESD Clorinda Graziano, Washington ESD Lita Dixon, Kayenta USD Sharon Niehaus, Continental ESD Maureen Erickson, Prescott USD Joe Melchionne, Yuma ESD
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ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 15
ASBA Unzips the Greatest Summer/Fall Events of 2014
Summer Leadership Institute – July 2014
16 ASBA Journal I Fall 2014
Law Conference – Sept. 2014
Delegate Assembly – Sept. 2014
ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 17
l PROFILE IN LEADERSHIP ASBA is pleased to feature recipients of the All-Arizona School Board Award in the Profile in Leadership column, which appears in every issue of the ASBA Journal.
Barry Sharp ASH FORK JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
What governing board do you serve on? Ash Fork Joint Unified School District #31, located in the northwest corner of Coconino County and the northeast corner of Yavapai County. What is your hometown? I was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and at a very young age moved to Phoenix. I did my early years at Longview Public and received my eighth-grade diploma from Osborn Public. I spent two years at West Phoenix High School, and left for the United States Marine Corp in 1957 through 1966. I returned in 1966 and went to work for Amtrak in Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and for 12 years I worked in Flagstaff. I retired from Flagstaff in 2000, and have called Ash Fork my home ever since. How long have you been a board member? I was first elected in 2000, and will be retiring this December 31, 2014. I will have served a total of 12 years as a board member. I resigned in 2004, and was re-elected in a recall election in 2006. What books do you have at your bedside? I do not have a book. I believe that when it is time for me to go to bed, I have done a good days work and am ready to get a good rest. What/who inspires you? All the superintendents that said I should do it their way, no questions asked. Thanks to them I went to trainings and found out what my responsibilities were to the administration, teachers, staff members, and most of all the students. I found out which ones had their own agenda, and which ones always put the children on the agenda first. Believe me, superintendents like Dr. Fleming, Elaine Hall, Eva Dong, Chris Thomas, Dr. Chuck Essigs, Mike Hughes, Jesus Rubalcava, David Evans, and, last but most powerful to me, Barbara Robey (bless her) always put children first. That is what a school board member should be thinking of. What is your motto as a board member? Be accountable for your actions, and don’t put others down. 18 ASBA Journal I Fall 2014
What is your pie-in-the-sky vision for education? That someday all legislators will wake up and realize that all children want, and should be given, is the tools they need to succeed, without having to beg for them. What is your advice to new board members? Jump into your meetings. You are only one vote, but you represent your constituents. They count on how you use that vote, so know your agenda items well. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as a board member? In my last two years I was able to work with a group of board members who wanted the same things as me. Mainly our goal was to do everything in our power to turn our failing school into the number one school in the state. This year we succeeded! What is your primary pet peeve as a board member? That board members come to a meeting that night and pick up their packet. They have no idea as to what the issues of the night are, and we lose much valuable time. What is the reason you like being an ASBA member? That ASBA is trying to teach all members from a very diverse group of people, from large districts to small, that we all need to work as one for the betterment of our education system. For all of Arizona’s children, to get us out of the bottom. What would you like your epitaph to say? He always tried to do what was right.
l PROFILE IN LEADERSHIP ASBA is pleased to feature recipients of the All-Arizona School Board Award in the Profile in Leadership column, which appears in every issue of the ASBA Journal.
Robert Ethridge A LTA R VA L L E Y E L E M E N TA R Y S C H O O L D I S T R I C T
What governing board do you serve on? Altar Valley School District #51, located 20 miles west of Tucson in the Pima County. What is your hometown? I was born and raised in Tucson.
What is your primary pet peeve as a board member? My greatest pet peeve as a board member is to see another board member with personal agendas and ones that don't have the best interest of children.
How long have you been a board member? I have been on the Altar Valley School Governing Board for 10 years.
What is the reason you like being an ASBA member? ASBA has helped me grow by providing me with the knowledge and information needed to do the best job I possibly can.
What books do you have at your bedside? I am currently reading the Eragon series written by Christopher Paolini.
What would you like your epitaph to say? Never forget our children. They deserve the best we can offer.
What/who inspires you? My main motivation is to give back to the community that gave to me through education. What is your motto as a board member? Make sure every child gets noticed, recognized and receives all the advantages of others. What is your pie-in-the-sky vision for education? Pie in the sky version for education is one day our Legislature will understand how much our kids rely on them, then help them financially. What is your advice to new board members? Advice to board members is to listen, and listen well, use all the resources that ASBA has because there's a wealth of knowledge there and always keep children first. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as a board member? My greatest accomplishment in the 10 years is staying fiscally sound and keeping every dollar possible in the classroom.
ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 19
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Multi-district special ed program meeting student needs, saving districts money By: Don Harris
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ive school districts in Maricopa County’s West Valley area are finding that a five-year-old collaborative special education program for students with emotional disabilities is paying off in two key ways. More students are getting the specialized services they need and the districts are saving more than $1 million annually. In addition, more students – three out of four - are being reintegrated back into their home schools, a primary goal of the program. Special education services are being provided by The Menta Group, an Illinois-based nonprofit that holds firmly to the belief that every child has a right to be in school. What makes the West Valley consortium unusual is that it is, in effect, a public/private partnership. A once-vacant Union Elementary School District building now houses Menta’s Southwest Academy, eliminating the need to rent space in a private facility. Having Menta classes close to home districts makes it convenient for students who only spend part of a day there and reduces transportation costs. Dr. Beth Conran, Menta’s chief academic officer, explains: “With a ‘no refusal, no suspension, no expulsion’ policy, students are provided the services they need, when they need them, regardless of their behavior. The goal is to ensure that each of our students become college-ready, career-ready and citizenship-ready.”
“We emphasize personalization, preparation for life and support for success,” Conran says.
Menta’s educational model is linked to Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards, thus providing educators with valuable information about curricular strengths and weaknesses to support continued improvement and ease reintegration. The West Valley consortium, formed with the approval 20 ASBA Journal I Fall 2014
of individual governing boards and superintendents, consists of Pendergast Elementary School District, Tolleson Union High School District, Union Elementary School District, Fowler Elementary School District and Littleton Elementary School District. Brian Mee, assistant superintendent of business services at Pendergast, came up with the idea for a consortium in order to save money through the economy of scale. An RFP was prepared and Menta won the bid. Classes for students with emotional disabilities are held at Menta’s Southwest Academy in Tolleson. At Tolleson Union High School District, Wendy Barrie, director of special services, says the goal was to create a more seamless experience in K-12 for students in need of special services at a level beyond what their home school campuses could provide. The curriculum at Southwest Academy is identical to that offered at Tolleson, which avoids what could be a difficult transition when students are reintegrated into their home school. “So, when they come back to me they have access to the same curriculum,” Barrie says. “We’re very pleased with the results.” Barrie says the percentage of her students who reintegrate to Tolleson is exceptional. Menta provides support staff to assist with a smooth and successful transition. “Their employee comes in and communicates and collaborates with my teachers,” Barrie says. “They are on our campus to make sure the students get the support they need.” But not all students sent to Southwest Academy return to Tolleson. Some of the more-troubled students pose a safety risk and graduate from Southwest. Conran says some students are extremely violent. “Some don’t have the capacity to stop themselves,” she says “It’s neurological. An individual without an emotional disability responds as we would expect.” Conran emphasizes that school districts want to bring their students back to their home community as soon as possible. “It’s really important,” she says. “The district is the best place for the children.” But often kids remain in their home district when they
should be receiving special attention because no one realizes that what may present as a behavioral problem is actually an emotional disability. “It’s an unseen disability,” Conran says Tolleson has approximately 1,100 special education students, but only 40 are in the Menta program. “It’s a very small percentage,” Barrie says. “Depending on their disability, they are the students who need a smaller educational setting and a smaller student-teacher ratio. Southwest provides behavioral counseling, management and clinical support. A lot of them need a quiet environment. They can’t function in classes with 36-to-38 students in them. Classes there have 12 or fewer students.” The length of time a student remains at Southwest varies, depending on the student’s needs. “Some could be shortterm, some for a semester or maybe 18 months,” Barrie says. “Maybe, if their anxieties are so significant, they might finish their high school career there. Southwest has a solid plan. They hook students up with adult services and some are placed in job-training programs. They’re not just sitting at home. There is a transition plan in place. It’s all very individualized for the student. And that’s the critical thing with special ed. It’s got to be individualized.” Indeed, some students only attend classes at Southwest for part of each day. Dr. Melissa McCusker, director of special education at Pendergast, says the program has improved academically over the past two years. What’s more, the rate of students who return to Southwest is very low. Proof that the program is working is indicated by the fewer number of Pendergast students attending classes at Southwest. In the 2011-12 school year, Pendergast had 29 students in the program. That number dropped to 18 in 2012-13, and to 11 in 2013-14. Pendergast currently has one student at Southwest Academy.
therapy. “The costs were astronomical,” Conran says. Under the consortium arrangement with Menta, that cost has been reduced substantially. Tolleson saved more than $500,000 in six months. In addition to helping students get through an emotional crisis, Menta staff members work with teachers in the home district for the reintegration process. “We provide support for teachers, telling them here’s what we did and suggest that they try it,” Conran says. Approximately 75 percent to 80 percent of students placed in the Menta program return to their home schools each year. Some are playing on a football team instead of being in an alternative program somewhere else in the Valley, Conran says. Because the curriculum at home schools is identical to Menta classes, reintegration is much easier. “Our reintegration staff goes back to the students’ schools and walks with them from class to class,” Conran says. “We make sure they can take care of their locker. Imagine the embarrassment of a junior high school student who doesn’t know how to use his locker combination. We help them get acclimated to the environment they’re returning to. It also has drawn parents into walking their children from class to class and through the process of reintegration.” Menta also provides training for school bus drivers, enabling them to set up a behavior system to better cope with disruptive students. “I’ve been working with students for 33 years, and I have not seen successes like we have here,” Conran says. Don Harris is a Phoenix-based freelance writer and editor. He covers state education, school finance, legislative and policy issues for the ASBA Journal and other statewide publications.
“The program is very communicative with the school district and provides monthly updates,” McCusker says.
“The benefit is that it is geared for students to return to their home school district/campus when they are ready.” McCusker gives Menta high marks. “The program is working well for the students. It is wonderful to see our students benefit from individualized instruction and then return to our district.” Conran says the financial saving stems from districts in the consortium being able to send special education students to a nearby school. In the past, they were being transported to special facilities as far away as Tempe and Chandler. “It was very expensive,” Conran says. It was costing districts $50,000 to $70,000 per special education student, including related services, counseling and
A once-vacant Union Elementary School District building now houses Menta's Southwest Academy.
ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 21
l LEADERSHIP MATTERS Karen Loftus, ASBA Director of Leadership Development
ASBA’s Search Services Go BIG
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ver the last year, ASBA team members have been working behind the scenes to roll out another BIG improvement, this time in the online submittal process for our retained executive search services. We've found that some governing boards and districts, when faced with a new position to fill, or a replacement hire, aren’t sure where to begin or simply don’t have the bandwidth to fill the position themselves. ASBA can become an extension of your hiring team by facilitating, through your direction, any portion of the process – from start to finish. Whether it’s a superintendent or other administrative opening, we at ASBA know that every search is unique to the district, staff, community and stakeholders. While hiring the best candidate is the end-goal, one aspect that remains critical in any search is receiving a variety of qualified applicants. Aspects of a Retained Superintendent Search • Determine district’s Unique selling proposition and their desires for the replacement position. • Create job posting requirements and perferred attributes. • Create marketing collateral and publicize the opening. • Receive applications. • Review candidates. • Conduct interviews. • Decide between finalists. • Enter into negotiations. • Conduct background checks.
What’s new (and BIG) in this regard is ASBA’s new Applicant Tracking System (ATS). We’ve made it easier for the applicant to view openings and then apply to them online, based on the profile they created in our system. Over the years, applicants told us they wanted a more streamlined process, where typing and re-typing information wasn’t necessary. Hiring managers told us it would be great to have cleaner, more user friendly applications to review. And staff, well, we wanted a system to intuitively move the job candidates through a search, while definitely moving away from home-grown spreadsheets.
22 ASBA Journal I Fall 2014
If your district has a need for an interim superintendent, we are currently soliciting for people interested in those opportunities, too. These individuals are sometimes very different than those interested in full-time, permanent openings, so we can reach out to those people if you have that need.
To create your own executive search profile, individuals must register using a personal (versus district) email address by going to: http://login.azsba.org/register. Once a profile is created, the next step is to apply to any opening ASBA is retained to handle.
ASBA is proud to be leading the association and our members through this next generation of online efficiency and support.
Arizona School Boards Association
Personalized Professional Learning Services By Don Harris
S
chool officials are finding that, thanks to a program offered by the Arizona School Boards Association, open communication away from a regular board meeting is helping them to do a better job of taking care of their No. 1 priority – the children. Sessions under the ASBA Governance Team Training program run anywhere from a couple of hours to an allday retreat. The need for governing board training takes on increased importance as many new members will be elected in the Nov. 4 election along with the possibility of staff changes. Topics include Team Transition; Roles and Responsibilities; Strategic Planning; Board Self-Evaluation; Board Retreat; Superintendent Authority and Board Authority; Open Meeting Law; and Advocacy Training. Karen Loftus, ASBA director of leadership development, says customized team trainings give governing board members the opportunity to discuss their roles and responsibilities and review district policies. “We expect our teachers and educators to participate in professional development to get better as educators and teachers,” Loftus says. “We should expect the same thing from our governing boards. This program is important because it gives governing board members the opportunity to get better as an individual governing board member and as a governing board leadership team.” During the past two years, school districts from throughout the state have taken advantage of the Governance Team Training program, which is offered as a fee-forservice and priced-based on the training provided. Their reactions have been solidly positive. They say the session help districts improve operations and communications at the board and administrative levels.
At Balsz Elementary School District, all governing board members and senior leadership team members were involved in some customized training or professional development through ASBA. Superintendent Jeff Smith says the session helped the board understand their roles and responsibilities relative to their position and helped them work together as a team. “The result is to have a collaborative and cooperative and productive team effort among our administration and board,” Dr. Smith says. “We had one on strategic planning. It was like a retreat atmosphere where board members could ask questions and have an open dialogue with each other. It was so productive. We want to do it every year.” Smith notes that board members don’t generally have that type of interaction. “Often, the only opportunity that board members talk to each other is when they’re in a board meeting. That’s a very limited conversation. It’s very public and very specific to a particular issue. This kind of environment allowed a more wide-ranging discussion that enabled people to develop relationships with each other and understand where people are coming from relative to different topics and issues.” Smith says Balsz benefitted from the ASBA’s support by enabling leadership to “articulate our values, our mission and our vision for the district.” Then, through stakeholders’ groups, the district put together a ref lection of “what we’re doing and where we’re going,” Smith says, adding, “It has gone very well and has been very helpful.” Because the training is provided by ASBA, facilitators such as Loftus understand schools and Arizona politics, rules and regulations. Districts are able to develop an ongoing relationship with a person of that caliber rather than bringing in someone from the business community who might not be familiar with school issues, Smith says. ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 23
Page Unified School District Governing Board chose a session on the superintendent evaluation process. Assistant Superintendent Kelly Glass explains: “The governing board believed that additional guidance and training on how to provide the superintendent’s evaluation in a fair, positive manner was desired.” In addition, Loftus provided excellent guidance on the use and strengthening of the Governing Board’s existing norms and protocols for operations. “The training provided us with a verification of the process and provided guidance on how to participate in the process of the superintendent’s evaluation in a professional and helpful manner,” Glass says. “In the past, the evaluation of the superintendent has been a cumbersome process with more negativity than needed along with the concern that the process wasn’t followed properly.” As a result, Page USD has a renewed sense of positive purpose for the superintendent’s evaluation. “We believe that incorporating the norms and protocols along with the learning of the evaluation processes will result in a positive, fair and professionally delivered evaluation,” Glass says.
As part of the centennial celebration, each board member agreed to participate in a service project that consisted of volunteering 100 hours of personally helping students. “It was great,” says Lee. “We put a centennial logo on everything. We created a web page to highlight board meetings and member activities. We’re investigating live streaming of board meetings.” The session was led by Julia Smock, an ASBA trainer and a former Peoria School Board member who served as ASBA president in 1996. One of the first sessions she held after joining ASBA's training team was at Quartzsite Elementary School District. “It’s a small district and there were concerns of fractionalized communities within the district,” Smock says. “We were able to come up with ideas to help the communities come together.”
"The question was: ‘Why are you here?’ You’re here for the kids –that’s basically the deal."
Goal setting was the ASBA facilitated topic at Paradise Valley Unified School District, which was celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2013. Dr. James Lee, PVUSD superintendent, recalls how it went: “We talked about how board members can evaluate their performance themselves as a team and as an individual, and how to assess their performance and my evaluation. We spent a good amount of time on the board’s goals – things they should be thinking about. It was a good opportunity for the board to ref lect on what they believe their role is.”
Lee mentions an acronym – SWOT – which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats that a board faces. “We discussed goals for the governing board, things they should be thinking about and we developed a plan to achieve those goals, Lee says. The goals include restructuring the board agenda to incorporate fine arts performances; scheduling an opportunity to meet prospective employees and administrators before they meet to make a recommendation; having more opportunities to showcase high-performing schools and employees; using technology to increase 24 ASBA Journal I Fall 2014
visibility and making sure there were ample activities marking the district’s 100th anniversary.
Shying away from the outsidethe-box cliché, Smock says the training program is working well. “It gets board members to think outside the lines of normally dealing with budgets, and think more about acting as a team, seeing the importance of working as a team from understanding the dynamics of interpersonal communications. The goal is to get them to understand that while I might view one way and you view it differently, we’re all on the same page – just coming from different directions.” Smock says a colleague refers to governing boards as an arranged marriage. “You get what you get in an election,” she says. “You may not know each other or you may not like each other from the beginning, but you can figure out ways to get along. The ASBA Team training really helps. It can be as specific or as general as a board wants. Sometimes it’s a refresher for a board member. When I was a Peoria board member, any kind of training was helpful to help me kind of refocus. “The question was: ‘Why are you here?’ You’re here for the kids – that’s basically the deal. You have to look at the big picture, but understand that some people are good at minutia, and we need them as much as people who are good at long-range planning.”
Meet ASBA’s Governance & Leadership Training Team Karen Loftus, ASBA Director of Leadership Development
Mrs. Loftus serves as the director of leadership development. In her role she facilitates board development by creating and providing developmental opportunities for board members. She also oversees the retained search process for superintendent and other administrative job openings here in Arizona.
Nic Clement, Ed.D., ASBA Consultant
Dr. Clement recently retired after serving nine years as the superintendent of Flowing Wells Unif ied School District in Tucson. He has presented and been published nationally in the areas of brain-based leadership, after-school programs, marketing, customer service and quality teaching. In his 37 year career, Dr. Clement has also served as a special education teacher, high school assistant principal, junior high principal, high school principal and assistant superintendent. His new book, “Legendary Teaching Stories…How to Catch a Swamp Frog,” encourages us all to contact that legendary teacher in our life and let them know the difference they made.
Julia Smock, ASBA Consultant
Julia Smock retired in 2010 after serving 30 years as an Arizona Assistant Attorney General. She served on the Attorney General's Open Meeting Law Enforcement Team from 1983 - 2010. She received the Attorney General's Career Service Award in 2010. Ms. Smock served on the Peoria Unif ied School District Governing Board from 1989 - 2000. During that time, she served in various off ices of ASBA, including president in 1996. She was named to the All-Arizona School Board in 1995, and the PUSD board was awarded the Lou Ella Kleinz Award of Excellence in 1997.
Doug Watson, Ed.D., ASBA Consultant
Dr. Watson has had 33 successful years in education in the small rural and culturally diverse school setting of Winslow Unif ied School District in Arizona. His experiences as a teacher and administrator have given him a broad expertise in education with the emphasis on doing what is best for children. His six years as high school principal and f ive years as district superintendent have ref ined his leadership and team building skills. He is familiar and successful at leading a governing board through the challenges of managing a school district responsive to local needs while complying with state and federal education mandates.
ASBA Governance Team Training ASBA provides individualized training and professional development opportunities throughout the year that enhance the work of Arizona governing boards and encourage continued learning and improvement. Trainings are offered when and where you need them.
Take a look at just a few of the choices available: Team Transitions Today’s leadership style and system may not always work with tomorrow’s leadership team. Job requirements, job descriptions, expectations and communication processes may change - sometimes unexpectedly - depending on the individual personalities on the team. To ensure a successful transition, ASBA offers a “Leadership Team Transition Workshop.” Help the new team discuss how they will work together, improve communications and work for continuous improvement of the district and the team.
Roles And Responsibilities Effective teams rely on understanding the role of each team member. This workshop helps the team focus on the different roles that the superintendent and the board must play to ensure a well-run district.
Strategic Planning Facilitation Allow the superintendent and the board president to participate in the planning process fully by having an ASBA facilitator coordinate your strategic planning meeting with the board. From helping develop vision, mission and belief statements to writing the high-level goals that the board will track.
Board Self-Evaluation Facilitation Allow ASBA to help the board through an open meeting and positive process that celebrates the progress the board is making as a team while developing focused goals and action plans to keep the board team improving and supporting the goals of the district.
Board Retreat Facilitation Your team develops the agenda and ASBA helps you execute a productive board retreat, allowing the board president and superintendent to participate as a member of the team. ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 25
l CAPITOL VIEW By Janice Palmer, Director of Governmental Relations & Public Affairs and Geoff Esposito, Governmental Relations Analyst
ASBA Sets Its 2015 Political Agenda and We Need You to Help Advocate!
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his fall, we’ve seen the successful completion of the Delegate Assembly, with over 100 governing boards represented, voting to adopt the final 2015 Political Agenda to guide our advocacy efforts as seen on the adjacent page. Anne Greenberg, chair of the Legislative Committee and member of the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board, led over 30 diverse board members from across the state in a day-long meeting to recommend long-term, short-term and session-specific recommendations to the full membership. Now it's time to begin the work of implementing your direction. Your Governmental Relations Team is ready for that challenge; however, we cannot do it alone. Your local, on-the-ground experience and relationships are key to assisting our lobbying efforts. We already know that our 2015 legislative advocacy efforts will focus on two key areas: Offense – Ensuring the inf lationary lawsuit is funded and our children do not go another year without the proper funding voters approved. Defense – Opposing any effort to further expand vouchers.
However, we also see over 200 bills that affect public education and it’s critical that your voice is heard on those items as well. To facilitate this, we have a number of advocacy opportunities for you to be a part of that is being led by Geoff Esposito, ASBA governmental relations analyst.
Get Involved! We don’t need to tell you all how important elections are, but when the ballots are counted and the dust settles, people want to know how to best inf luence our state officials on key public education legislation and hold them accountable. At ASBA, we’ve been hard at work to simplify access and understanding of advocacy. Here, you’ll find easy ways to contact legislators and make your voice heard in the process. 26 ASBA Journal I Fall 2014
Janice Palmer
1. The first step is to go online and explore our “Take Action” page at www.azsba.org/Take-Action. You can also find it by selecting “Take Action” from the Advocacy drop Geoff Esposito down menu on our homepage. a. Here you can sign up for our email updates, which includes the daily in-session updates as well as regulatory hearing summaries and more. b. You can also find convenient tools to contact legislators, draft emails on key political agenda items and links to their voting records. 2. Next, make sure to sign up for the “Request to Speak” system so you can make your voice heard on critical bills. This system enters your support or opposition to a bill on the official record, and legislators rely on it to inform how they’ll vote. a. You can sign up by sending an e-mail to gesposito@azsba.org or by filling out the form available on our Take Action webpage by clicking on the Advocacy tab. You can also print out copies of the form to sign up anyone you know who cares about our schools. 3. Lastly, you can check out some of our previous trainings on the legislative process and the tools listed above by going to http://prezi.com/user/geoffespo/. These simple steps will go a long way towards the goal of getting our political priorities enacted. Together, we can make sure education is the top priority at the legislature!
If you’d like us to host an advocacy training in your area, please send an e-mail to gesposito@azsba.org or give us a call at 602-254-1100.
2015 Session-Specific
Short Term
Long Term
2015 PoliticalAgenda These overarching issues must be addressed for public schools to excel and provide an opportunity for every child to succeed. Providing high quality public education is the best investment to grow Arizona’s economy. The items below reflect those key issues on which we will concentrate over the next 5-10 years. 1. Structurally change the school finance formula to equitably and adequately fund public schools to: a. Assure a more stable and reliable source. b. Maximize local school district flexibility in managing these funds. 5-10 c. Require the same accountability measures of all schools and individuals that receive public funds. years d. Repeal any program that gives public monies to private schools. 2. Uphold preservation of local control to reinforce the connection between the community and its elected governing board members. 3. Meet the unique educational needs of every student so that every student has the opportunity to reach his/her full potential.
Building toward our long-term areas of success, the following items represent critical needs to put us on that path, and will engage our energies over the next 3-5 years. 1. Fund voluntary, full-day kindergarten and include kindergarten students in the override calculation. 2. Reinstate and fund capital funding formulas to comply with at least state school building 3-5 minimum standards. years 3. Provide greater equity in funding and access for special education students within the public school system. 4. Allow public school tax credits to be used as determined by local districts. 5. Establish appropriate financial and academic accountability for Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. 6. Maximize trust land income for teachers’ salaries and student classroom opportunities.
Building toward our long-term areas of success, the following items reflect issues that will not only move us forward, but we believe can be accomplished next year given the legislative atmosphere and current public trends. 1. Advocate to lessen unfunded mandates and administrative burdens. 2. Restore Building Renewal funding to ensure school facilities are adequately maintained. 3. Change “override/budget increase” language to “locally controlled funding” to better reflect what voters are being asked to support. 4. Allow school districts greater flexibility in the divestiture of property to address population and course needs. 2015 5. Allow districts the option to operate individual schools for 200-day school years and increase accompanying funding to 8% from 5% to improve student achievement. 6. Restore 9th grade funding for CTE/JTEDs, and fully fund JTEDs at 100%, so that students have the opportunity to be exposed to and pursue career fields and/or certification completion. 7. Reinstate the ability of districts to charter schools for innovation. 8. Fund the implementation costs of Arizona’s new standards, assessments, and technology and provide for adequate assessment transition time. 9. Lead efforts to align Arizona’s accountability system with the criteria desired for student, school, and district success. 10. Fund inflation fully in the manner prescribed by statute mandated by Arizona voters. 11. Establish appropriate financial and academic accountability for Arizona Online Instruction programs.
ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 27
Meet Our Experienced
Education Law Team Lynne Adams Practice focuses on education law, Arizona’s Open Meeting and Public Records Laws, and complex commercial litigation
(602) 640-9348 ladams@omlaw.com
Mary O’Grady Former Solicitor General for State of Arizona, practice focuses on legal issues involving public entities, including campaign finance, election law, and redistricting
(602) 640-9352 mogrady@omlaw.com
Christina Rubalcava Practice focuses on education law, civil litigation, procurement, and other public entity matters
(602) 640-9347 crubalcava@omlaw.com
• Election Law
• Open Meetings Law
• Campaign Finance
• Public Records
• Redistricting
• Government Ethics
• Significant Legal/ Public Policy Issues
• Education Law
ASBA looks forward to providing board members and district staff with additional information regarding PolicyBridge this fall.
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28 ASBA Journal I Fall 2014
National Connection Districts Receive a
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on NSBA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Registrations!
National Connection A bridge for school boards across Arizona to national trends and perspectives in K-12 education, provided in partnership by ASBA and NSBA.
Learn more at
www.nsba.org/getconnected ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 29
Do you have cyber liability coverage? This article is sponsored by The Trust.
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yber crimes are making headlines in the national and local news with increasing frequency, and major retailers such as Home Depot and Target have recently become victims. In response to this threat, the Arizona School Risk Retention Trust, Inc. (The Trust) began providing cyber liability coverage in 2013. The coverage provides school districts with financial protection for expenses and damages related to a data breach or other cyber liability event. In the event of a covered claim, these expenses could include notification costs, credit monitoring costs, and damages that the district is legally obligated to pay. It also pays for attorney’s fees, legal costs and other expenses resulting from the investigation, adjustment, defense, and appeal of a cyber claim, or circumstances that might lead to a cyber claim. A cyber liability event refers to theft, loss, or unauthorized disclosure of non-public personally identifiable information (PII) that is held by the district. Examples of cyber liability events include theft or loss of computer equipment or storage devices that contain PII; malicious breach, by unauthorized users, of IT networks containing PII; alteration, corruption, destruction or deletion of or damage to software or electronic data by unauthorized users; failure to prevent transmission of malicious code from district computer systems to third-party computer systems; and participation by district computer systems in a denial of service attack directed against a thirdparty computer system. There is no cost to Trust members for the coverage. Preventing the penetration and exfiltration of data should be a priority of districts given the number of potential threats in cyberspace. Dealing with a breach takes a toll on the human capital of a school district and generates unwelcome publicity. Districts should understand which critical assets
and systems at each site need to be protected and identify the potential risks those assets may be confronted with. Once identified, districts should fine tune the security solutions in place to protect those critical assets, making the district better able to detect threats, respond in real time to prevent further compromise, and produce resiliency that works to protect the district’s interest. If a Trust district suspects a data breach, the Trust provides guidance with every step of the investigation, notification and resolution. After the district contacts the breach hotline, the Trust’s claims counsel and designated cyber data breach incident professional will open a claim file and assist the district throughout the claim adjudication process. The Trust’s claims counsel will contact a cyber risk assessment company to determine if additional expert assistance and resources are necessary. Depending on the assessment, contracted data security professionals may be hired to collect and document relevant details about the incident, investigate initial reported facts to confirm and clarify the extent of risk, and generate an immediate findings report. In some cases, a “breach coach” becomes involved. This will ensure that appropriate legal resources are retained when required, and will help avoid unnecessary legal fees when an outside attorney is not needed. As an attorney who specializes in privacy law, the breach coach will evaluate the incident to determine if an IT forensics investigation is needed, and whether the incident has triggered any legal requirements to notify potential victims that their personal information may have been disclosed. A web portal created by the cyber risk assessment company is available to Trust members. It contains information to assist organizations prevent data breaches, network attacks, and other cyber events, and respond quickly and effectively should such an incident occur. As part of the web portal, the cyber risk assessment company has screened multiple vendors that provide four essential post-breach response services, and has negotiated preferred pricing with them. The four services, which are available to Trust districts, include legal counsel with experience in data breach and privacy issues, forensic computer consulting, public notification when third parties’ personal information is breached, and credit report monitoring of affected third parties. The web portal contains three main informational sections: breach response, news and blogs, and tools and calculators. The breach response portion of the site offers
30 ASBA Journal I Fall 2014
resources and self-assessment questionnaires designed to help districts evaluate its readiness to prevent a data breach and respond if there is an occurrence. The news and blogs section features news and blog posts related to cyber security issues. And lastly, the tools and calculators section of the site features eight separate categories of resources, such as: Assessment: There are two scorecard-type tools available here, a quick assessment and an expanded selfassessment. These two tools (one shorter, one longer) are designed to help risk managers understand a variety of areas within the organization that can affect cyber risk (e.g., policies and procedures, data retention practices, physical security, etc.). What-if modeling: Two calculators are available here: one to help estimate the financial cost of a data breach incident, the other to help estimate the cost of notification of parties affected by a data breach. Vendor due diligence and management: There are two documents available in this section. The first provides recommended language for business associate agreements (for use in, say, a school district contract with an information technology security consultant). The second is a 13-page vendor security due diligence checklist, designed to help districts gain an understanding of outside vendors’ security/ privacy practices.
Cloud risk management: This section contains a detailed discussion of issues related to Internet-based (or “cloud”-based) data storage. HIPAA/HITECH: This section provides a sample template, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in January 2013, which may be used when entities that deal with protected health information (PHI) enter into business associate contracts. Breach notifications: This portion of the site contains a summary, by state, of “breach laws,” including such information as the definition of “breach,” types of protected information, notification requirements, etc. Mobile apps: This section provides a sample privacy policy template for mobile device software applications. Sample policies: Two sample policies are available here: (1) social networking/ interactive website acceptable use; and (2) website privacy policy. While mitigating all possible sources for preventing every attack is an unachievable goal, it is important to have a plan in place to reduce vulnerabilities to cyber attacks and data breaches. Additionally, having staff that is trained on responding to suspected breaches is an investment that often pays dividends.
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l EDUCATION AND THE LAW By Chris Thomas, ASBA General Counsel and Director of Legal and Policy Services
Stump the Lawyer – Back by Popular Demand
T
he 38th Annual ASBA Law Conference was a tremendous success. This year, it was held Sept. 3-5 at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn in Scottsdale. Over 700 people gathered to hear four in-depth pre-conferences and over 50 legal topics, including keynote speakers David Berliner on Myths That Threaten Public Education and Linda Darling-Hammond on Educational Equity and why it is so important to our future as a state and nation. The Stump the Lawyer panel, led by moderator Ben Hufford, was once again well received. As usual, the panel did not have enough time to respond to all of the submitted questions. I will attempt to answer several of these questions as part of this edition’s Education and the Law. This column as well as the Stump the Lawyer panel are not intended to be considered as official forms of legal advice. Readers can determine whether I’ve been stumped.
is a principle in statutory interpretation -- expressio unius est exclusio alterius – that dictates that one must assume that authority that is limited was intended to be limited by the Legislature. In other words, the Legislature could have given governing boards full authority to change grades. Instead, it granted limited authority to review the decision to pass or fail. I should say this might not apply if the issue is failure to follow district grading policy by the teacher. For instance, if the district has a policy that final exams cannot count for more than 20 percent of a student’s grade and the teacher gives greater weight than that, the student’s grade could be recalculated following the policy. However, this should be done by the administration alone, without governing board action.
Q. May a governing board or administrator require a parent to meet with school officials prior to a student’s return to school following a suspension? A. I know this is a requirement of many “contracts” that happen when a student has been suspended. It probably is a great idea and, in most instances, helps define clear expectations for the student and parent. However, it is probably not legally enforceable. One key principle of school law is that you cannot punish students for the actions, or in this case, inaction of parents. So-called parental contracts, while created from the best motives, really aren’t enforceable as a matter of law. If the parents refuse, I believe the school ultimately has to let the student return without the “required” meeting having taken place.
As usual, the panel did not have enough time to respond to all of the submitted questions. I will attempt to answer several of these questions as part of this edition’s Education and the Law.
Q. With the shortage of bus drivers in Arizona, may a school district train and certify other employees (teachers and coaches) to serve in that capacity? A. Absolutely, this is not uncommon in small districts. There is no legal impediment to this as long as all of the driver’s qualifications are met, such as a commercial driver’s license. Q. Can a governing board change a student’s grade? A. No. In general, governing board authority and school district authority are defined and limited by state statute. A.R.S 15-342 gives the board the authority to review the decision of a teacher to pass or fail a student. That is limited authority that precludes changing a grade. There
Q. Can a school district file a nominating petition challenge to a school board candidate’s nominating petition when it is clear that the majority of the signatures are from out of district and the nominee’s placement on the ballot would be fraudulent? A. No. Petition challenges must come from individuals qualified to do so (usually a registered voter within a district). Moreover, persons working for a school district are prohibited from using school resources, including on-duty time to inf luence the outcome of an election. Certainly challenging the validity of nominating petitions is attempting to inf luence the outcome of an election. If a challenge is to occur, it needs to come from a community member and someone qualified to make such a challenge. Q. Can teachers and other employees display political signs that support school board candidates on their cars while parked during the day on school grounds?
A. Yes, in most instances. The Attorney General Guidelines that interpret A.R.S. 15-511 specifically allow bumper stickers that advocate for a position on an election matter on cars parked in the school during the school day. I do not believe the analysis would change for yard signs used as sunshades or windows marked with statements. This analysis might not apply, if the car were given a prominent place in the parking lot and parked there for a longer length of time. Individual expression should not be facilitated or supported by the school. Also, the question has come up as to whether a school district can affirmatively ban such messages even if the Attorney General Guidelines allow for these. My answer is no. I do not believe the district can ban these messages because the individual expressing the messages has a First Amendment right to do so.
superintendent’s role has been and remains a facilitative role as part of the governance-administrative team.
These changes were done with these principles in mind: 1. All board members should have access to the agenda and neither the board president, nor the superintendent, should serve as a “gatekeeper.” 2. The board meeting agenda should ref lect first and foremost the matters that the board wants to discuss. 3. The superintendent’s role in the agenda setting process is absolutely critical, as it is this individual that knows what business the board needs to approve in a timely way to keep the district running smoothly. Keep in mind that the law says nothing about how aboard agenda is to be set. Boards are free to adopt a policy that best works for them. BEDBA is based on what ASBA believes best practices to be, but boards Q. What did ASBA mean when it changed its model are free to make changes or adopt their own policy. Unlike other model policies ASBA promotes, this polic policy on board agenda setting? Did it really mean to put all of the authority for what goes on is not a compliance-driven policy. the agenda on the board president? A. ASBA recently changed two model policies, BEDBA Q. If a parent does not disclose required information regarding special education requirements on a (Agenda Preparation and Dissemination) and BDB (Board public school’s open enrollment form, can the Officers). The reason for the changes was to delineate school deny open enrollment immediately due to the board president’s role in the agenda setting process, lack of capacity to provide needed services? specifically, to spell out that the board president is there to represent the entire board in the consultative role in the A. Yes, I believe that they can but this issue has very little legal precedent. Districts should consult their lawyer agenda setting process. In other words, the purpose was before taking this cause of action. Specific facts may not to give greater authority to the board president, but actually less. The intent was also not to change the role lend themselves to a different conclusion. of the superintendent in the agenda setting process. The
ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 33
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ASBA Affiliate Members 1GPA Mike Chouteau 1910 W. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85009 602-327-3735 A Quality HVAC Services, LLC Bryan Cary 1300 S Litchfield Rd Goodyear, AZ 85338 623-853-1482 ABM Janitorial Services Wade Moffet 2632 W. Medtronic Way Tempe, AZ 85281 480-968-8300 Accelerated Construction Technologies Lori Bennett 22425 N 16th St. Phoenix, AZ 85024 602-272-2000 Adolfson & Peterson Construction General contractor Jaime Vidales 5002 S. Ash Ave. Tempe, AZ 85282 480-345-8700 www.a-p.com Ameresco (formerly APS Energy Services) Energy conservation, renewable solutions Sarah (Helmer) Price 60 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Ste. 1001 Tempe, AZ 85281 480-499-9200 www.ameresco.com American Fidelity Assurance Donna Sciulara 3505 E. Flamingo Rd., Ste. #6 Las Vegas, NV 89121 800-616-3576
Arizona Correctional Industries Rick Kahn 3701 W. Cambridge Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85009 602-388-7260 www.aci.az.gov Arizona Gym Floors Floyd Shelton 11058 E. Onyx Ct. Scottsdale, AZ 85259 480-361-5494 Arizona School Plans (ASBAIT) Mike Hoffman or Mark Thurston 1 East Camelback, Suite 840 Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-249-2031 www.asbait.org Arizona Technology Council Deborah Zack 2 N. Central Ave., Ste., 750 Phoenix, AZ 85004 602-422-9449 www.aztechcouncil.org AZ State Impact Aid Association Larry Wallen 9155 Skeet Drive Flagstaff, AZ 86004 480-382-6460 Assessment Technology Inc. Electronic learning assessment resources Craig Mayhew 6700 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85710 877-442-5453 www.ati-online.com Auto Safety House School bus sales and service Del Anderson 2630 W. Buckeye Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85009 602-269-9721 www.autosafetyhouse.com
The Bagnall Company Employee benefit consulting Mark W. Bagnall 1345 E. Chandler Blvd., Bldg. 1, Ste. 103 Phoenix, AZ 85048 480-893-6510 www.thebagnallcompany.com Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Dave Moen 8220 N. 23rd Ave., Building 2 Phoenix, AZ 85021 602-864-4044 www.azblue.com BoardBook Scott Ballew P.O. Box 400 Austin, TX 78767 888-587-2665 www.boardbook.org Climatec, LLC Joellen Stingley 2851 W. Kathleen Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85053 602-674-1292 www.climatec.com Core Construction Jessica Steadman 3036 E. Greenway Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85032 602-494-0800 www.coreconstruct.com Corporate/Education Consulting, Inc. David Bolger 2150 E. Highland Ave., Ste. 108 Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-957-7552 D2 Data Driven Software Education software Matt Winebright 900 Jackson St., Ste. 380 Dallas, TX 75202 972-490-4044 www.d2sc.com
Dairy Council of Arizona Patricia Johnson 510 S. 52nd St., Ste. 101 Tempe, AZ 85281 480-966-8074 www.dcaz.org DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy John C. Richardson 2525 E. Broadway, Ste. 200 Tucson, AZ 85716 520-322-5000 www.deconcinimcdonald.com DLR Group Karen Heck 6225 N. 24th St., Ste. 250 Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-381-8580 www.dlrgroup.com D.L. Withers Construction Dan Withers 3220 E. Harbour Dr. Phoenix, AZ 85034 602-438-9500 www.dlwithers.com eBOARDsolutions Web-based board governance software Mark Willis, Diane Sandifer 5120 Sugarloaf Parkway Lawrenceville, GA 30043 800-226-1856 www.eboardsolutions.com Edupoint Educational Systems Richard Lessard 1955 S.Val Vista Dr., #200 Mesa, AZ 85204 480-833-2900 www.edupoint.com EMC2 Group Architects Architects, planners Dave Gornick 1635 N. Greenfield Rd., Ste. 144 Mesa, AZ 85205 480-830-3838 www.emc2architects.com
ASBA Journal I Fall 2014 35
Arizona School Boards Association appreciates the support for public education shown by its organization affiliate members.
Facility Management Group Allison Suriano 5415 E. High St., Ste 410 Phoenix, AZ 85054 623-374-2478 www.kennedyprtnrs.com Family Voice Advocate Carrollynn Henshaw PO BOX 2597 Quartzsite, AZ 85346 509-209-4687 First Financial Group of America Benefit Plan Administration, Independent Insurance and Investment Services Matt Lewis 2201 San Pedro Dr. NE, Bldg. 1, Ste. 1201 Albuquerque, NM 87110 800-365-3860 www.ffga.com First Things First Jennifer Johnson 4000 N Central Ave Phoenix AZ 85012 602.771.5006 http://www.azftf.gov Fitzform Web based school forms Louis Kolenda 4 W 4th Ave. Ste. 501 San Mateo, CA 94402 415-606-3828 www.fitzform.com Futures HealthCore Sheila Breen 136 William St. Springfield, MA 01105 602-920-4622 GCA Education Services Facilities services Norm Sendler P. O. Box 21900 Mesa, AZ 85277 480-298-5053 www.gcaservices.com/k-12
36 ASBA Journal I Fall 2014
Immedia Edu Daniel Leis 7661 E. Gray Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480-483-3399 www.immediaedu.com
National School Boards Association 1680 Duke St. Alexandria,VA 22314 619-781-8802 www.nsba.org
Grand Canyon University Brian Schwertfeger 3300 W. Camelback Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85017 602-639-7168
Konica Minolta Business Solutions, USA David Radcliffe 4415 E. Cotton Center Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85040 602-798-7225 www.hc-km.com
NTD Stichler Architecture Scott Beck 2800 N. 44th St., Ste. 500 Phoenix, AZ 85008 602-956-8844 www.ntd.com
Gust Rosenfeld Robert Haws One East Washington St., Ste. 1600 Phoenix, AZ 85004 602-257-7422
Lewis Roca Rothgerber, LLP Mary Ellen Simonson 40 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004 602-262-5317 www.lrlaw.com
The Orcutt/Winslow Partnership Paul Winslow 3003 N. Central Ave., 16th Fl. Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-257-1764 www.owp.com
H2 Group LLC Jeff Cook 17470 N. Pacesetter Way Scottsdale AZ 85255 480-743-7520
McKinstry Daniel Musgrove 7000 N. 16th St. Ste., 120 Phoenix, AZ 85020 602-466-3191 http://www.mckinstry.com
Peters, Cannata & Moody PLC Donald Peters 3030 N. 3rd Street Ste. 905 Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-248-2900
Mangum Wall Stoops & Warden Kellie Peterson P.O. Box 10 Flagstaff, AZ 86002 928-779-6951 www.flagstaffattorneys.com
Piper Jaffray & Co. William C. Davis 2525 E. Camelback Rd., Ste. 925 Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-808-5423 www.piperjaffray.com
Midstate Energy Ron Stalica 1850 E. Riverview Dr. Phoenix, AZ 85034 602-452-8700 www.midstate-energy.com
PracticeMax Inc. Medicaid billing for special education services Chuck Engelmann 9382 E. Bahia Dr., Ste. B202 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480-421-9700 www.practicemax.com
G.V. Enterprises Project managers, procurement consulting Gordon Vasfaret 9102 W. Marshall Ave. Glendale, AZ 85305 623-872-1852 www.gventerprises.com
HACI Service Scott Wright 2108 W. Shangri-La Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85029 602-944-1555 HDA Architects LLC Pete Barker 459 N. Gilbert Rd., Ste. C-200 Gilbert, AZ 85234 480-539-8800 Hufford, Horstman, Mongini, Parnell & Tucker C. Benson Hufford 120 N. Beaver St. Flagstaff, AZ 86001 928-226-0000 www.h2m2law.com Hunt & Caraway Architects Tamara Caraway 1747 E. Morten Ave,. Ste. 306 Phoenix AZ 85020 602-595-8200 www.huntcaraway.com
M.L. Riddle Painting Inc. Mike Riddle 5922 N. Black Canyon Hwy. Phoenix, AZ 85017 602-277-3461 Mohave Educational Services Co-op Deborah Sandoval 625 E. Beale St. Kingman, AZ 86401 928-753-6945 www.mesc.org
Professional Group Public Consulting, Inc. Caroline Brackley P.O. Box 30850 Mesa, AZ 85275 480-699-4458 www.pgpc.org
Pueblo Mechanical & Controls Design, build HVAC specialist Steve Barry 6771 E. Outlook Dr. Tucson, AZ 85756 520-545-1044 www.pueblo-mechanical.com RBC Capital Markets John Snider 2398 E. Camelback Rd., Ste. 700 Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-381-5361 www.rbccm.com Regional Pavement Maintenance Steve Leone 2435 S. 6th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85003 480-963-3416 www.regionalaz.com Ridenour, Hienton & Lewis PLLC Legal services Ernest Calderon 201 N. Central Ave., Ste. 3300 Phoenix, AZ 85004 602-744-5712 Rodel Charitable Foundation Jackie Norton 6720 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste. 380 Scottsdale, AZ 85253 480-367-2920 www.rodelfoundationaz.org Sehi Inc. Computers and Products Carol Taylor 1265 Puerta Del Sol San Clemente, CA 92673
Smartschoolsplus, Inc. Phased retirement services Sandee McClelland P.O. Box 11618 Tempe, AZ 85284 480-839-8747 www.smartschoolsplus.com Sodexo Solomon Sile 10255 E.Via Linda Rd., Unit 2078 Scottsdale, AZ 85258 480-313-8804 www.sodexo.com SPS + Architects Herb Schneider 8681 E.Via De Negocio Scottsdale, AZ 85258-3330 480-991-0800 Stifel Nicolaus Financial services Bryan Lundberg 2325 E. Camelback Rd., Ste. 750 Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-794-4007 www.stifel.com Summit Food Service Dave Brewer 2703 Broadbent Pkwy. NE, Ste. F Albuquerque, NM 87107 505-341-0507 www.summitfoodservice.com Sunland Asphalt Asphalt, concrete, sport courts, tracks, turf and bleachers John McCormack 775 W. Elwood St. Phoenix, AZ 85041 602-323-2800 www.sunlandasphalt.com
TCPN – The Cooperative Purchasing Network Victoria Stringham 2100 N. Central Ave. #220 Phoenix, AZ 85004 480-415-6300 www.tcpn.org Technology Coordinators Utilities and building renewal projects Ed Schaffer 2116 W. Del Campo Circle Mesa, AZ 85202 888-474-5509 www.tc-az.com The Menta Group Beth Conran 195 Poplar North Aurora, IL 60542 630-212-1927 www.thementagroup.org The Trust Jane Schemers 333 E. Osborn Rd., #300 Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-266-4911 www.the-trust.org Thunderbird Mountain Facilities Performance David Johnson 5539 W. Melinda Ln. Glendale, AZ 85308 623-825-1730
Udall Shumway PLC Denise Lowell-Britt 1138 N. Alma School Rd., #101 Mesa, AZ 85201 480-461-5333 VALIC (formerly AIG Retirement) Group retirement plans, individual financial services Michael Lager 11201 N.Tatum Blvd., Ste. 100 Phoenix, AZ 85028 602-674-2603 www.aigvalic.com Valley Schools Management Group Tom Boone 3050 W. Agua Fria Freeway #250 Phoenix AZ 85027 623-594-4370 www.vsit.org Wholesale Floors LLC Dan McShane 8855 N. Black Canyon Hwy. Phoenix, AZ 85021 602-741-4552 www.wholesalefloors.com
Traaen & Associates, LLC Human resources management, training and organizational development Teri J. Traaen, Ed.D., DPA 4831 E. Calle Tuberia Phoenix, AZ 85018 602-510-3989 www.traaenandassociates.com
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