FLORENCE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT #1

April11, 2012 BOARD REPORT

DANA HAWMAN, DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION & PUBLIC RELATIONS

CONSTRUCTION

Poston Butte

  • The District has submitted a Proof of Claim or Interest against Durrant’s bankruptcy through DeConcini, McDonald, Yetwin & Lacy inthe amount we believe it will take to correct design errors
  • Durrant’s insurance adjusters have stated that they will accept a claim for design deficiencies, and DeConcini attorneys are working to obtain a copy of Durrant’s third party engineering reports as the next step toward filing that claim
  • Sundt and FUSD proceeded with the formal two-year warranty walkthrough on March 19 (2 years and 8 months), without representation by the architect; the walkthrough was attended by Jeff Esgar, Vice President of Operations for Sundt, who directed the project manager to be sure that Sundt makes good on warranty claims despite the extension triggered by design disputes

Capital Plan

The School Facilities Board returned their recommendation for new construction:

  • Conceptual approval of a new high school was pushed one year to FY 2016-17
  • Conceptual approval of a new K-8 was pushed to FY 2018-19

SFB staff comments state, “The housing market has been absorbing vacant housing units rapidly especially in the Northwest corner of the district (San Tan Valley). The district has a very promising outlook in long-term growth. SFB staff projects that the district will continue growing and the rate will return to upper single-digit levels in the latter half of the analysis timeframe.”

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Press Releases

San Tan Valley now has another news source: the Gateway Reporter. Gateway evolved from BestofSanTanValley.com and is currently online news only. It will be moving to hard copy with distribution by mail at the end of May.

Press releases issued or facilitated and information requests expedited in the last month include:

  • Nicole Steele Named AzTEA Tech Director of the Year
  • Energy Star Leaders-Top Performer Awards Go to Florence USD
  • Florence USD March Board Meeting
  • Florence USD Districtwide Math Bee Winners Announced
  • Florence USD Sweeps Pinal County Scholastic Essay Contest
  • Information Request re: Superintendent Goals
  • Florence High School Announces National Honor Society Candidates
  • Information Request re: Pennies for Powe

Marketing

  • Postcards for the Kindergarten Registration Campaign were mailed out the last week of March
  • Camp Invention graphic placed on all district and school website home pages
  • Facebook followers now number 904, reaching FUSD families, friends and employees, both current and graduated, local and even international!

Special Projects

  • Created video for Election Advisory Committee presentation
  • Coordinated “Presidential Summit” meeting at the request of PTO/PTA/PTSO/Booster Club presidents; parent group officers met to brainstorm ideas and best practices
  • Elected to serve on Project Bridge Board of Directors
  • Project Bridge brochure finalized; Rhonda Rae graphics donated printing costs for 200 brochures
  • Secured $1000 grant through Avnet for Project Bridge
  • Submitted United Way grant request for Project Bridge with Tonya Thompson and Mary Duarte (Against Abuse)