Initial enrollment student count currently higher than projected

The $30 million bond for the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District will be on the November ballot as Proposition 409 and the district announced Wednesday, Aug. 5, plans to discuss the bond with voters.

COCSD Superintendent Jessica Vocca said she’s currently organizing public events, the first of which will be during the Rotary Club of the Verde Valley on Thursday, Aug. 13, from 12:10 to 1 p.m., at Calavera restaurant at 717 S. Main St.

“We have Partners in Education, an outside group that helps with the signs and getting those up, they are working on getting those up and also palm cards,” Vocca said.

The bond will be used for capital projects, such as improvements to the bus barn, the district’s sewage and water systems, security and air conditioning. If passed, the budget will likely be revised following the first installment of the bond.

Barring whether the bond passes, the remaining portions of the budget seem “on track,” District Chief Finance Officer Tammy Janssen said during the COCSD Governing Board meeting on Aug. 5.

“Enrollment continues to be our largest factor affecting district funding,” the board agenda stated.

“We are looking at possibly being down about 19 students, but who knows what’s going to happen in the next 10 days, we projected to be down about 30 students, so we’re well under that at this point, and I will give you a better update on student enrollment in September,” Janssen said. Usually there is a drop in the first 10 days; students could be counted if they are enrolled but have moved or don’t show up. After that 10-day mark, enrollment is recounted. Revisions are allowed as early as September, but often don’t take place until December.

“The first days of school will provide our initial enrollment counts, and administration will monitor enrollment closely throughout the 100-day count period,” the agenda read. “An updated enrollment report, including current student counts and any projected fiscal impacts, will be presented to the Governing Board after the opening of school.”

Janssen said budgeted auditors will be there one day in August and again once in January.

Discipline Policy

The board also approved a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports system to work in tandem with district student discipline policies.

“When we talk about PBIS, there is a misunderstanding quite often, especially with teachers, feeling like positive behavior supports feels like we’re going to get rid of discipline and we’re going to give kids stickers and treats every time they do something good,” said Student Support Services Director Trish Alley, Ph.D. “Really it is teaching kids what they’re doing right. And what happens, especially in a developing mind is that if you’re always always telling a child what they’re doing wrong, that’s what’s always on their mind.”

She said discipline won’t go away, the district will create a point matrix to help principals decide what to do with children, whether they need to be suspended or have a similar discipline response.

Parents can expect to have conversations during Parent-Teacher Conferences about the new practice for student discipline.