[Volcano_Vista_HS] Update from APS Board Member Kathy Korte--March 2, 2011

Hello!
 
Tonight was my first meeting as an APS District 2 representative. Thank you to those who came to the swearing-in ceremony. I am humbled and honored to be serving this community.
 
Among the highlights of tonight's meeting:
 
-- Paula Maes is the new president of the board. New board member Analee Maestas is vice president. I will serve as secretary. We make up the officers of the board.
-- Committee chairs are as follows: David Peercy, policy & instruction; David Robbins, capital outlay & technology; Marty Esquivel, finance; and Lorenzo Garcia, district & community relations. (All seven board members are members of the committees.)
-- I asked for a few things tonight in my public comments:
 
1. I would like to see the department by department breakdown of cuts. After visiting half of the 17 schools I have scheduled visits with, I still want to make sure all positions in indirect support departments are justified before we ask our schools to take any cuts. Cuts to schools are inevitable, that's a fact. APS says it has approached cuts in departments with a zero-based approach. I want to see the results of this effort in writing. I also said publicly that using a "fair" approach to making cuts, i.e. all schools get one principal, one asst. principal, 2 counselors, etc. is not equal. Some schools need more based on their student populations. Schools must have some latitude here. (Mr. Brooks said in our meeting tonight that budget liaisons are also citing these concerns and cutting counselors 12% may need to be re-evaluated.)
 
2. I asked that Mr. Brad Winter and I continue to work together to make a public meeting about the stadium come to fruition. We must listen to residents' concerns and feedback as we move forward on this project. We must keep in mind that while some residents are opposed to the stadium, there are many who also support the location. We must find a balance here.
 
3. APS asked for and received a 112-page document, called the COSO report, that outlined some inefficiences. This was not a bonified audit. But it was step taken by APS in its attempt to seek a review of operations and identify any areas that need honing. Among the issues cited: a lack of a written ethics policy that outlines consequences for unethical behavior by employees; a waste of funds resulting from lost equipment, such as cameras and laptops, in the schools; a lack of background checks after hiring; a compensation/classification system that needs some honing in an effort to retain more employees (average tenure is 10 years). These are just a few of the issues cited. And I look forward to addressing these concerns in future meetings.
 
4. APS must do a better job at relations with the community. It must be more proactive and make itself more approachable to the public it serves.
 
That's it for now! Thanks again to all of you for sending me your thoughts, for welcoming me into your school communities and for your support as we work together to make our district even better than it is!
 
Regards,
Kathy Korte

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