Highlights from the April 18, 2007 Board Meeting 

Ken Benny, Superintendent

Board of Trustees
Laura Murphy, President
Steve Sell, Vice-President/Clerk
John Duncan
Monib Khademi
Paula Reynolds

As part of our ongoing efforts to broaden our communications, we have instituted Board Highlights, an informal summary of the monthly Mill Valley School District Board Meetings. The official recorded minutes of our Board Meetings can be found at www.mvschools.org/board

Joint Meeting with the Mill Valley City Council                                                                               

The first part of the April Board meeting was spent in joint session with the Mill Valley City Council. The District and the City Council each shared news of their latest technology improvements and discussed potential future opportunities for workforce housing.

Strategic Planning  Public Input Meetings                                                                              

Superintendent Ken Benny announced the three dates of the Strategic Plan Community Input Meetings that will be held at various schools throughout the District.  He encouraged the Board to attend at least one of the public input meetings and is looking forward to a good turnout from staff, parents, and the general public.

Budget Development                                                                                                                                

The Board discussed current budget development issues as well as long range budget impact issues.  The Board was asked what budget issues they need more information and clarification on  and what they see as most critical to the District. Several issues were identified including challenging information about facilities detailed in the Facilities Needs Assessment Report, increased enrollment, which impacts staffing costs as well as facilities.  The Board agreed that there needs to be on going research for a Bond Issue to address facilities and a parcel tax to address program issues. Post employment benefits and solutions around future employment issues were discussed as well.

The Board will use the May 22 Board Study Session as a budget development meeting.  

School Site Plans Presentation                                                                                                            

  Park School , Mill Valley Middle School, and Strawberry Point School presented their Site Plans to the Board for approval.  School Site Plans are also referred to as Single Plans for Student Achievement (SPSA). Site Plans are comprised of each school’s goals and action plans for the 2007-08 school year and developed by the Principals and their School Site Councils.  School Site Councils are comprised of parents and staff chosen by their peers. Old Mill School , Tam Valley , and Edna Maguire School presented their Site Plans at the March Board Meeting.

Science and Social Studies Textbook Adoptions                                                                

  Strawberry Point Principal Leslie Thornton and Middle School Principal Matt Huxley presented Social Studies and Science instructional materials to the Board for adoption.  Principals and Teachers reviewed several options before the decision was made to purchase the following: Scott Foresman “History-Social Science California ” for social studies classes and Prentice Hall “California Science Explorer”  for 6-8 grade science classes.

Future Board Meetings

Regular meeting time – 7:00 PM, unless noted

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 – Study Session: Finance

Monday, June 11, 2007

Tuesday, June 19, 2007 – Annual Budget Adoption

 

 

 

 

Past Board Highlights 

March 13, 2007 Board Meeting Highlights 

February 13, 2007 Board Meeting Highlights

January 23, 2007 Board Meeting Highlights