Council Regular/Special Meeting

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT TOWN COUNCIL IN SPECIAL MEETING OF THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2017 AT 5:30 PM, MUNICIPAL CENTER, ROOM 300, 50 E CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, GILBERT, ARIZONA COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Jenn Daniels, Councilmembers Scott Anderson, Eddie Cook, Brigette Peterson, Jordan Ray and Jared Taylor COUNCIL ABSENT: Vice Mayor Victor Petersen STAFF PRESENT: Manager Patrick Banger and Clerk Lisa Maxwell CHANDLER UNIFIED President Bob Rice, Vice President Annette Auxier, Members SCHOOL DISTRICT Barb Mozdzen, and David Evans, and Superintendent Dr. Camille MEMBERS PRESENT: Casteel AGENDA ITEM CALL TO ORDER OF JOINT MEETING WITH CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Mayor Jenn Daniels called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS 1 Introductions and an overview of the purpose of the meeting. Mayor Jenn Daniels welcomed everyone in attendance and thanked them for coming. Everyone introduced themselves. 2 Presentation and discussion on Gilbert growth and development with an update on current and upcoming activity within the Town, including the areas of economic development, transportation and public safety. Town Manager Patrick Banger discussed relevant statistics for the Town of Gilbert. He looked at how Gilbert is growing and how the Town is projected to grow in the future. Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) has had participants in the SPARK App League competition in the past. Town Manager Patrick Banger showed a short video on what SPARK App League and what it has meant to teachers and students who have participated. This year the Town is partnering with the Smithsonian Institution and this year’s SPARK App League competition will be to work on an app for the Smithsonian. 1  Town Manager Patrick Banger discussed major projects and opportunities in the Town including the Lindsay Road/Route 202 Interchange, development in the four employment corridors, Epicenter at Agritopia, Heritage District developments, Gilbert Regional Park, and the Ocotillo Bridge. Councilmember Jordan Ray left the meeting. President Bob Rice asked what the projected population will be at build-out. Mayor Jenn Daniels noted this information is important for the CUSD in planning for their future needs. 3 Update from the Chandler Unified School District on District activities, including current and upcoming projects and goals for the Board. Dr. Camille Casteel said CUSD is successful because of the School Board members. She is happy to have an excellent relationship with the Board. Dr. Camille Casteel gave statistics for CUSD including enrollment of 45,552 students; covering an area of 80 square miles; 45 schools; and 5,118 staff members. Six schools are within the Gilbert town limits. The graduation rate is 92.2 percent, just behind Peoria Unified School District. President Bob Rice discussed the ten-year strategic plan, Journey 2025. The main objective is to be the best school district in the nation. The Board has twelve goals within the plan and only 30 percent of those goals are test-based. Bonuses are paid to all CUSD employees based on how the schools do in terms of meeting their goals. Mayor Jenn Daniels says the Town is very grateful for the work done by the three school districts and charter schools that serve the Town of Gilbert. 4 Discussion on how the Town can help the School District be successful including infrastructure and public safety needs. Mayor Jenn Daniels asked what the Town could do to help CUSD be successful. The Mayor formed Advancing Education in Gilbert (ADED) as a forum for community wide dialogue in regards to K-12 education in Gilbert. Vice President Annette Auxier said a group of parents expressed concern over the suicide rate in the East Valley. There were some terrific suggestions brought up at the last Board meeting. The Board believes this is an area they can work on. Councilmember Scott Anderson asked how CUSD was doing competing with charter schools. Dr. Camille Casteel said the Board is listening to parents and they have created specialty schools in the school district. One example is a 2 school created for students who are training in athletics. The students start their school day earlier and after school the students are dropped off at different gyms. This is the third year this school has been open and there are currently 300 elementary students enrolled. CUSD is working on developing a STEM partnership program with Grand Canyon University and Mesa Schools. CUSD Board challenged administrators to look for what is different with their school. What is unique about the CUSD Board is they allow schools to take a risk and to fail. People are more innovative when they can take risks. President Bob Rice noted parents want choice and CUSD offers different options. Dr. Camille Casteel said one of metrics tracked by CUSD is market share. Boardmember David Evans said there are charter schools that offer good programs but they are small and not everyone can go there. CUSD educates all students in a comprehensive way. Vice President Annette Auxier said CUSD is working to bring starting pay up to be one of the higher starting pays for teachers. They want to hire the best and keep the best. Boardmember Barb Mozdzen noted there is a teacher shortage in Arizona. Pay is low and hours are long. Teachers need to balance work with family life. The problem is teachers cannot support their families on the starting salary. Councilmember Brigette Peterson said she has never talked to anyone who worked at CUSD that had anything bad to say about CUSD. President Bob Rice said CUSD has formed strong partnerships in Chandler and they are working to do the same in Gilbert. Teachers cannot educate children if they are not in a safe environment and there is a need for police and fire to help create that safe environment. President Bob Rice continued there are some students starting kindergarten without the skills they need to be successful. CUSD is working in areas where there are pockets of students who did not attend pre-school. This helps the school and the community. Boardmember David Evans asked how many people are leaving Gilbert for work or who are working at home and not getting out into community. He asked how the Town keeps those people engaged. Town Manager Patrick Banger said the Economic Development Department is working on creating job opportunities in Gilbert. The Digital Government Department is very active in engaging residents through social media communications. They use short videos to communicate key information and to drive people to the Town’s website for more information. Digital Government responds to questions on social media within an hour. Councilmember Eddie Cook said CUSD has developed a family friendly culture and that is what Gilbert is working to do as well. He sees how inspiring CUSD team members to be innovative sets a good example for the students. The CUSD is welcoming to all people from diverse backgrounds and this is a common theme between CUSD and the Town. 3  Councilmember Jared Taylor said there is a troubling trend nationwide in regards to police relations. Gilbert has a culture of being supportive of the Police Department. He also noted that CUSD is involved in working on the big issues at the state level and they are making substantive contributions. Dr. Camille Casteel noted Town Manager Patrick Banger reached out to her immediately when he came to work in Gilbert. She was included on the Police Chief’s hiring board. As more schools are built Dr. Castell has had more interaction with Town staff. 5 Closing Remarks. Mayor Jenn Daniels said she appreciates the great dialogue and the opportunity for the Council and the School Board to connect. ADJOURN Mayor Jenn Daniels adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m. ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Jenn Daniels, Mayor Lisa Maxwell, CMC, Town Clerk CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the special meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Gilbert held on the 31st day of August, 2017. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this ____ day of ____________________. ___________________________________ Lisa Maxwell, CMC, Town Clerk 4