Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting No. 20 - May 29, 2001
MINUTES
| Members Present: | Jeffrey Freiberg, Len Gensburg, Monib Khademi, Paula Reynolds |
| Member Absent: | Elizabeth Spencer |
| Administrative Staff: | Barbara B. Young, Superintendent Laurie Harden, Chief Business Official Kerri Mills, Ed.D., Director of Special Education |
| 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 6:00 PM on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 at Mill Valley School District Administrative Office, 411 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA. President Gensburg called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM. |
| PUBLIC COMMENT/CLOSED SESSION | As there was no public comment, the meeting was adjourned to Closed Session at 6:03 PM. |
| RECONVENE/REPORT OUT | Mr. Gensburg reconvened the meeting at 7:05 PM and announced that the Board had met in Closed Session regarding Public Employee Performance Evaluation: Director of Special Education; pursuant to Gov. Code §54957, and that no reportable action was taken. Mr. Gensburg also announced that Ms. Spencer was absent as she was out of town. |
| AGENDA | M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (4-0) to approve the agenda. |
| COMMUNICATIONS- Superintendent Report | Ms. Young announced that there will be a status report for bond projects at the June 4th Board meeting, and that she and Mr. Freiberg had met with Tam Valley representatives regarding project scope at the site; gave an update on Middle School principal search; announced that new Old Mill principal Stephany LaLonde will be on site June 11 & 15; and that new Tam Valley Principal Gail van Adelsberg will be on site June 7. Ms. Young also reported on the Parent Partnership (P2) committee, the group working to find ways to support teachers and other staff through loans, housing, and financial assistance, and acknowledged members of the group. Ms. Young met with each site staff to conduct a survey of staff needs. |
| Board Report: Khademi | Mr. Khademi reported on recent activities of the Joint Legislative Action Committee. |
| BUSINESS &
FISCAL Preliminary Budget |
The Preliminary Budget for 2001-02 was presented. It was reported that, in addition to incorporating the findings of the Stakeholders Group for some savings, Ms. Young and Ms. Harden went through the budget line by line to reduce expenditures. The COLA for Mill Valley is expected to be 3.85%, slightly lower than previously announced. The District receives from the State $4516 per student, while we spend about $7700 per student. The Budget Information Report was reviewed. Annually, by June 30, districts must present budgets to the County for the following three years, including at least the State-required 3% reserve each year. Our Board policy is to have a 5% reserve, which would allow the District to spend 2% in emergencies. The presented budget reflects a less than 3% reserve in the third year. Ms. Harden said that the State requires that districts allow for a 40% increase for utility costs, and that health and welfare benefits are expected to increase by at least 17%. Mr. Khademi commended Ms. Harden for her budget presentation. |
| Stakeholders Report | Ms. Young reviewed the Stakeholders Group findings, and also reviewed the many items that arose from the several meetings with various groups earlier this year. The areas of consensus agreement for savings amount to $98,500 in the first year, with the $20,000 committed to the Primary Intervention Program (PIP) in 2001-02 cut in 2002-03. Ms. Harden said that the budget has been reduced so that people and programs are the only areas to address if there are to be further reductions. While the Stakeholders charge was to find $250,000, the Board needs to find much more funding to balance the budget for the year 2003-04. Appreciation was extended to the group for the intensive work necessary in preparing its report. |
| Accept Stakeholders Report | M/S/C Freiberg/Khademi (4-0) to accept the Stakeholders Group Report. |
| Further budget discussion | Further discussion was held regarding the Stakeholders Findings and the Preliminary Budget, including the areas that are subject to negotiations with various employee groups which the Board directed the Superintendent to pursue. Clarification about substitute "differential" pay at Middle School will be obtained from legal counsel. There was Board consensus to have the Superintendent address in negotiations the 7 areas where the Stakeholders felt there could be potential savings for the District. The Board took action regarding the 11 areas of agreement for potential savings in the Stakeholders Report. |
| Approval of Stakeholders Findings | M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (4-0) to approve findings in Stakeholders Group Report "Potential Savings - Areas of Agreement" in amount of $118,500 less cost of PIP program cost of $20,000 for 2001-02 school year. |
| CURRICULUM/POLICY Middle School start time |
M/S/C Khademi/Reynolds (4-0) to table decision until June 18th meeting regarding possible later start time at Middle School, to allow for parent and student input. |
| CONSENT AGENDA Warrants |
M/S/C Freiberg/Khademi (4-0) to
approve Consent Agenda as follows: - Warrants #0252-1788/1789, dated 05/23/01, for $20,614.00; -2213/2230, dated 05/25/01, for $45,582.66. |
| Payroll | - Payroll certification: May 2001 - End of Month, dated 05/11/01, for $1,020,656.24. |
| Mandated Costs agreement | - Agreement with Mandated Costs Systems, Inc. for 2001-02 services. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mr. Gensburg announced that the next regular Board meeting will be at 7:00 PM on Monday, June 4, 2001, at Mill Valley Middle School and adjourned the meeting at 9:52 PM. |
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Respectfully submitted, |