District taxpayers should see little increase in their tax rate, according to a proposed budget approved by the Douglas Unified School District Governing Board on June 21.

The primary rate, which covers the cost of day-to-day operation of the district and its schools dropped from $5.2999 per $100 assessed valuation to $5.1 per $100 assessed valuation.

The secondary rate, which covers the cost of bond projects, increased from $1.2339 to $1.5660 per $100 assessed valuation. Total increase for the year is about 2 percent.

The Maintenance and Operation budget dropped by more than 2 percent to $17.8 million. The biggest part of the drop occurred in operation of the plant, which dropped 12.2 percent.

In other action, the board approved:

√ Donations of school supplies with an approximate value of $50 from Chiricahua Community Health Center; and $100 to the Douglas High School FFA program from Mr. and Mrs. Henry Beumler.

√ Approved the following hires �“ Calvin Wharton, Special Ed; Angeline Hernandez, math; Ray Shelton and Victoria Houlihan, science; Dena Guzman, Danielle Clinton, Alfred Novoa, Stephanie Tsuya and James Wahl, middle school teachers; Rosella Melgoza, reading coach; Janice Frische, Occupational Therapist; 21st Century summer program certified staff; and Virginia Mendez, DHS credit recovery summer program.

√ Approved addenda for Carol Pedroza, technology coach; Corinna Monje, ELD coach; Ruth DeBoer, Special Ed teacher-summer duties; CTE teachers; Ron Ellsworth, summer driver education instructor; 2011-12 coaching staff; 301 compensation for teachers on special assignment.

√ Approved revision to the Professional Staff Salary Schedule.

√ Approved job description for the curriculum coordinator.

√ Approved Arely Del Rio, student teacher; and Peter Estrada, classroom observations/student teaching.

√Approved classified hires Eric Cinnamon, special ed teacher assistant; Ricardo Miranda, reclassified to Maintenance Worker I; 21st Century summer program staff; and summer school security staff.

√ Accepted the resignations and retirements of Angelica Zamora, Maribel Schmidt, Sally Portugal and Efrain Brown.

√ Revised the job description for DHS attendance clerk, and Special education teacher assistant.

√ Approved increased work hours for ELL tester.

√ Approved out-of-state travel for DHS teacher Andrew McRea to attend the Project Lead the Way aerospace engineering training in San Diego.

√ Directed Arizona School Board Association Liaison Mario Ramos to push for less state cuts.

√ Approved a service agreement with smartschoolsplus, Inc for professional education services.

√ Approved second reading of policy on “Dating Abuse.”

√ Approved continued investment resolution with the Cochise County Treasurer.

√ Approved requesting $8,000 from the Cochise County Superintendent’s Office for forest fees.

√ Approved the bid for unleaded/diesel fuel to BorderMart.

√ Approved partial benefits for part-time food service. Those working more than five hours a day will receive leave days.

√ Approved to cover the increase in retirement for district employees of 1.55 percent.

√ Set board meeting for July 5 and 19.

√ Reviewed information compiled by staff concerning the naming of facilities.

√ Approved employment contract of Denise Evans, Business Manager.