Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting No. 8 - March 9, 2005
MINUTES
| Trustees Present: | Jeffrey Freiberg, Monib Khademi, Laura Murphy, Paula Reynolds, Brian Swartz |
| Administrators Present: | Barbara B. Young,
Superintendent Kerri M. Mills, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent/Special Education Chris Lincoln, IT Manager Whitney Hoyt, Mill Valley Middle School Principal Stephany La Londe, Old Mill School Principal Peg Minicozzi, Park School Principal |
| CALL TO ORDER | The Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees, acting as the Governing Board of the Mill Valley School District, met in regular session at 6:15 PM on Wednesday, March 9, 2005 at the District Administrative Office, 411 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA. President Reynolds called the meeting to order at 6:15 PM and announced that Ms. Murphy would be late to the meeting. |
| CLOSED SESSION | As there was no public comment, the meeting was recessed to Closed Session for the Board to consider certificated public employee evaluation and potential litigation. |
| RECONVENE & REPORT | Ms. Reynolds reconvened the meeting to Public Session at 7:02 PM and reported that the Board had authorized the Superintendent to conclude lease agreements for summer camps. |
| AGENDA | M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (4-0) to approve the agenda, with the following changes: Item #7 (CTAC recommendation) to follow Item #5 (Proposal for developer fee study); and to act on Huntington and Lincoln personnel items separately from the Personnel Action Form in Consent Agenda. |
| SUPT. SEARCH | Approval of the brochure for Superintendent search is postponed. Ms. Reynolds announced that over 100 people had met with Leadership Associates, who are conducting the search. |
| COMMUNICATIONS - Public Comment |
Mr. Freiberg announced the opening on the Marin County Board of Education, District 3, due to the recent death of Glen Robinson. District 3 includes Sausalito, Muir Beach and part of Mill Valley. |
| - Murphy present | Ms. Murphy arrived at 7:10 PM. |
| - Supt. Report | Superintendent Young reported that principal interviews for Edna Maguire and Old Mill Schools were being held March 9th and 10th, with appointments to be made at the April 6 board meeting. |
| STRATEGIC
PLAN Education - MS program |
With changes in the Middle School program this year, the Board had requested an update from Principal Whitney Hoyt. Ms. Hoyt's review included grade level teaming, how math classes interface with the program, the "wheel" program at 6th grade, and some of the scheduling challenges as a result of singleton classes and shared music staff with K-5 schools. Ms. Hoyt reportedl that the teaming program has been successful. Board and audience discussion and comments followed. |
| - 2005-06 calendar | Ms. Young reviewed the 2005-06 calendar with the major dates already approved, and presented recommendations for staff development days, Back to School and Open House dates. The suggested staff development dates align with Tam High's dates. Discussion followed regarding the conflict some schools have with the October date. The following action was taken. |
| - Motion; calendar | M/S/C Khademi/Swartz (5-0) to approve the Back to School, Open House and the staff development dates for the 2005-06 calendar, except for the October 24th date, which will be changed, in consultation with MVTA and PTAs, to another date in October. |
| Finance - 04-05 2nd Interim |
Laurie Harden reviewed the 2004-05 2nd Interim Report and Budget Revisions, including changes in revenues and expenditures and multiyear projections. This year's overall ending balance is expected to be 10-11%; the budget is balanced for 2005-06. Following discussion and comments, Ms. Harden was thanked for her work in the District for the last four years. Budget summaries are available on our website. |
| - Motion: 2nd Interim | M/S/C Freiberg/Murphy (5-0) to accept the 2004-05 2nd Interim Report and Budget Revisions. |
| - Developer Fee Study | Ms. Harden reported that our developer fee rate is currently $1.84 per square foot for new construction or renovations over 500 square feet within the district boundaries. The maximum allowable rate now is $2.24. Due to increasing enrollment at certain grades and that it has not been adjusted in several years, Ms. Harden recommends that a study be conducted in order to determine whether there is justification for a rate increase. The cost of a study is $5,295 and will take three months to complete. |
| - Motion: dev. fee justification study | M/S/C Khademi/Swartz (5-0) to approve a developer justification fee study be conducted at a cost of $5,295. |
| - 05-06 Budget Priorities | Ms. Young reported that the Administrative Council (AC) had reviewed its earlier budget priorities proposals to the Board, along with the Mill Valley Teachers Association's (MVTA) proposals. AC recommends that at-risk students be the focus for 2005-06: 1) keep the second K-5 counselor; 2) begin a Middle School opportunity class for engaging identified at-risk students; 3) continue Rod Septka as teacher in literacy leader for Grades 4-8; and 4) hire a K-5 certificated tech specialist. Discussion included other District needs, raises for administrators and District Office staff at same rate as negotiated for certificated and classified employees for 2005-06, full funding for the AC recommendations, funding commitment by Kiddo, the teacher laptop fund and possible establishment of a fund specifically for teacher leadership and curriculum development. The latter fund would be developed by any savings realized in various funds in the budget should all approved items be funded from the ending balance. Ms. Reynolds acknowledged Kiddo for its total contribution of $1,025,000 for 2005-06. Curt Southworth, Co-President of MVTA, thanked AC for its recommendations and expressed appreciation for the budget process this year, which involved teachers. |
| - Motion: budget | M/S/C Khademi/Swartz (5-0) to authorize expenditure from the ending balance the Administrative Council's four recommendations as presented and a 4% increase in salaries for the Administrative Council and District Office staff for 2005-06; and additionally, to establish a fund for teacher leadership and curriculum development with savings that may be realized from other funds at budget closing. |
| - Technology infrastructure | Ms. Young announced the election of officers for the Community Technology Advisory Commission (CTAC): Betsey Nelson, Chair; Page Murray, Vice-Chair; Jerry Labay, Secretary. Ms. Young presented the CTAC's proposal for technology infrastructure, the first phase of the Commission's recent report to the Board. The $160,000 expense would be borrowed from Fund 40, with replacement to the Fund with interest coming from developer fees. Mr. Khademi, Board liaison to CTAC, gave a report on its recent meeting, and his endorsement of this proposal. After the following action was taken, Ms. Young said that a resolution for specific borrowing and repayment procedure will be developed and presented to the Board. |
| - Motion: tech | M/S/C Khademi/Swartz (5-0) to approve recommendation for expenditure of $160,000 for technology infrastructure. |
| - OM Kgn facilities | Ms. Young and Evan Cross, Old Mill School parent and architect, reviewed the work of the Old Mill School Extended Day Kindergarten Facilities Improvements Advisory Committee. The challenge in implementing the extended day kindergarten at Old Mill is the lack of suitable space for a second stand-alone kindergarten classroom. The commission made the following recommendation: that a two-story modular building with four classroom spaces replace the two single modular classrooms on campus. This would provide for three classrooms and a room for programs that are housed in the auditorium. As the recommended option would take some time to implement, an interim plan would require a combination class at the school for 2005-06. This would allow the District time to continue investigation and present a specific plan for facility expansion. Two companies have been contacted; estimated cost of a two-story modular is $500,000. Board consensus is for the District to proceed with a feasibility study to determine how to address the space needs at Old Mill. |
| PERSONNEL - PERS service window |
Ms. Young reviewed the process for the District to open a window period for PERS two years of additional service credit for classified employees who retire within that period. Discussion followed regarding potential participants and whether their retirements would qualify. |
| - Motion: PERS | M/S/C Freiberg/Khademi (5-0) to authorize the opening of a PERS 2 Years of Additional Service Credit during period of April 13-August 10, 2005 only if enough employees retire so that all who wish to receive the service credit may participate. |
| - Res. #17-04/05: Classified Layoff | M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (5-0) to approve Resolution #17-04/05: Classified Layoff. |
| MINUTES; reg. 2/9/05; spec. 2/2/05; 2/16/05 | M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (5-0) to approve minutes of Regular meeting of February 9, 2005 and Special Meetings of February 2, 2005 and February 16, 2005. |
| - Huntington resign | M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (5-0) to accept, with gratitude and best wishes, the resignation of Kathleen Huntington, Middle School Assistant Principal, effective June 30, 2005. |
| - Lincoln contract | M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (5-0) to approve change in title, to Director of Technology, and contract extension to June 30, 2006 for Christopher Lincoln. |
| CONSENT AGENDA - Warrants |
M/S/C
Freiberg/Swartz (5-0) to
approve Consent Agenda: - Warrants #0267-6090/6130, dated 02/03/05, for $64,176.77; -6700/6731, dated 02/09/05, for $24,110.83; -7130/7156, dated 02/10/05, for $46,924.06; -7580/7606, dated 02/15/05, for $44,701.10; - 8027/8075, dated 02/17/05, for $42,563.54; -8375/8392, dated 02/18/05, for $95,164.81; -8641/8677, dated 02/28/05, for $160,154.90; -9193/9216, dated 03/02/05, for $49,669.42. |
| - Payroll | - Payroll certifications: December 2004: End of Month, dated 12/9/04, for $1,153,859.29; EOM Misc., dated 1/6/05, for $3,934.58; Mid-month, dated 1/7/05, for $35,657.97; January 2005: Mid Month, dated 2/4/05, for $37,498.76; Mid Misc., dated 2/15/05, for $2,561.61; February 2005: End of Month. dated 2/18/05, for $1,173,916.17; EOM Misc., dated 3/3/05, for $352.34. |
| - PAF #0405-8 | - Personnel Action Form #0405-8. |
| - Gifts: PK PTA; Young | - Gifts: for benefit of Park, $350 for poets in the classroom, from Park PTA; for tech program, HP 3829 Deskjet printer, from B. Young. |
|
ADJOURNMENT |
Ms. Reynolds announced that the next regular meeting of the Board will be on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 at 7:00 PM at the Mill Valley School District Administrative Office and adjourned the meeting at 10:45 PM. |
Respectfully submitted, |