Jennifer Jimenez

Independent Newsmedia

The Deer Valley Unified School District governing board reviewed the district’s Classroom Site Fund plan for both the current and upcoming school years during its meeting last week.

The Classroom Site Fund plan for the current year was previewed by the governing board on June 13, 2017 and was adopted June 27, 2017. Which included a total budget of $6,444,088 with a balance of $44,456. This includes 41.8 percent of the total allocation for teacher base salary, 34.7 percent for increase to teacher hiring schedule, additional teacher salary increase and additional hard-to-fill addenda. State assessment intervention is 23.1 percent and teacher development is 14.2 percent.

The CSF was approved as Proposition 301 in 2000 and was funded from six-tenths of a cent sales tax and was limited to certified teachers that require a teaching certificate for their position. Twenty percent for base salary increase, 40 percent for performance pay and 40 percent for “menu money.” This money can be used on class size reduction, teacher compensation increases, assessment intervention programs, teacher development, dropout prevention programs and teacher liability insurance premiums.

The other part of the discussion included the Classroom Site Fund plan for the 2018-19 school year. This shows 100 percent of new allocation to teachers with carry forward money to be used to fund limited district initiatives. Some of these initiatives to move to Maintenance & Operations would be staffing-related expenses of $268,200 and software costs of $625,000, for a total cost of $893,200. All other professional development previously funded from CSF will be paid from any CSF carryforward and no new CSF allocation will go to district initiatives.

The next steps for the board is to consider revisions to the Classroom Site Fund plan for 2018 and determine what changes should be included and incorporate any changes in allocation to teachers in performance payment scheduled for June 7. Looking ahead to 2019 approved allocations in revised contract amounts will be incorporated. These were decided at the May 15 governing board meeting in Phoenix.

Governing board member Kim Fisher wanted to clarify what Deputy Superintendent Jim Migliorino shared as feedback that $529,000 of the carry forward would be covering things such as P-card expenditures and summer work.

“When you use our credit card we are going to get a bill and so if we spend that money and that bill comes in then we don’t have that money to pay it,” he said. “Some are already spent, and we just don’t know about the totals yet. Extra duty days and travel for certified staff who have already completed the travel and are expecting to get reimbursed.”

President Jenny Frank asked if there was another fund other than Fund 13 to pay these bills.

“My standard line is we have a $2 million budget, and yes, we have a fund we can draw from, but we would not have a plan and we would have to forgo something to be able to afford it,” Mr. Migliorino said.

Board member Darcy Tweedy said since the point was made there is money to pay these bills out of another account other than Fund 13, then it’s no surprise since she voted against the previous allocation she wants these things to be paid out of a different account.

“And what I am really finding upsetting is our average teacher salary is $1,800 less than other similar districts, and I would say this is unacceptable and we need to pay this out of another account,” Ms. Tweedy explained.

Deer Valley teacher Kristi Cooper made one of several public comments made during the study session. Her concern was why teachers were not receiving 100 percent of the 301 monies, when others were receiving bonuses and they were having to jump through several hoops just to get a portion of what they should have been receiving all along, according to her.

Mr. Migliorino explained how the board approved a performance pay plan for all employees and certified teaching performance pay for Fund 12 and others received it as well.

“Historically this is funded by the indirect cost fund, which is one of five cash funds and includes funded performance pay for staff,” he said.

Additionally, during the special meeting, the board approved changing May 4 and May 23 to full days rather than half days to meet the number of instructional hours mandated by law.