Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting No. 21 - June 4, 2001
MINUTES
| Members Present: | Jeffrey Freiberg, Len Gensburg, Monib Khademi, Paula Reynolds, 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 7:00 PM on Monday, June 4, 2001 at Mill Valley School District Administrative Office, 411 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA. President Gensburg called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM and announced that the meeting, originally scheduled to be at Middle School, was being held in the District Office due to other activities at the school. |
| AGENDA | M/S/C Freiberg/Reynolds (5-0) to approve the agenda. |
| SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS Sup't Awards: Gensburg/ Prey/Martin/Rosbrow |
Superintendent Young honored Mill Valley 5th & 6th grade students who were recognized for their academic achievement in The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Talent Search: Sam Gensburg and Elisabeth Prey, Mill Valley Middle School; Christopher Martin, French American International School; and Ben Rosbrow, Marin Primary/Middle School. Sam was one of three students in the country scoring highest in the quantitative portion of the test. |
| 8th grade speeches | Speeches for graduation were presented by 8th grade students Mackenzie Chapman, Dylan Saunders and Sandra Allen. |
| PTA recognition/thanks | Ms. Young acknowledged the 2000-01 PTA leaders for their dedication to students, staff and district this year. |
| COMMUNICATIONS- Superintendent Report | Ms. Young announced that a state grant was awarded the Safe Routes to School program; that the elementary foreign language parent group will meet again in June; that Ohloff House will be working with Middle School on a variety of projects related to our drug, alcohol & tobacco program, with funding from the Site Council and PTSA; that a new Middle School principal will be announced before June 15; and that she is working with the City for a solution regarding the crossing guard at E. Blithedale/Lomita intersection. |
| Staff Report: Gabbard | Middle School principal Kit Gabbard reported that feedback continues to be gathered regarding a possible later start time at the school for 2001-02, with call outs being made and information in school newsletters. It was stated that changing the starting time is an administrative decision. |
| Board Report: Reynolds | Ms. Reynolds reported that Edna Maguire parent Rebecca Henn arranged a Toys R Us donation of 48 child booster seats to the school; that she had attended a Tam Valley PTA party; and acknowledged the recent death of Ms. Young's best friend. |
| MINUTES - 5/21/01 regular | M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (5-0) to approve minutes of regular meeting of May 21, 2001, with the following changes: p. 1, Business & Fiscal: Budget to read "Ms. Harden...with approximately $239,000 in revenue limits funds next year."; p. 2, Buildings & Sites: Modernization review: Delete 4th sentence; remainder to read "It was determined that the Facilities Committee is advisory. Mr. Khademi expressed the need for the Committee to provide additional communication with the Board." |
| BUSINESS &
FISCAL Budget discussion |
Discussion of the budget included Board's concern to have more than the required 3% reserve each year, with the reserve as presented less than 3% in the third year. Three major areas for possible changes are classroom aides, K-5 PE program and the Mill Valley Middle School (MVMS) schedule. The consensus of all groups polled by Stakeholders was to not cut aides. A cut in K-5 PE would leave elementary teachers without any prep time, which the Board considers an equity issue. The Stakeholders Group felt that the MVMS schedule was an area to explore. Cuts in amount of $118,500 have already been made based on findings of Stakeholders Group. Regarding issue of differential sub pay for MVMS teachers discussed at a previous meeting, it was clarified with counsel that it had not been a negotiated item, but was in a memorandum affecting part-time teachers. There is concern that the budget includes no salary increases, and that while "fast track" negotiations may be possible on certain items to be considered for district savings, some items concern all groups of employees. Because the Board must approve a final budget at the June 18 meeting, some cuts may be made now with revisions made later as negotiations proceed. Regarding any MVMS changes, Ms. Young stated that working conditions are negotiable, while the schedule, in and of itself, is not negotiable. She recommended that a representative committee be formed and a timeline established to explore the schedule. Other areas of discussion included Kiddo's role in the District, the overall District Office staff compared to similar districts, a district energy audit, and changes in administrative assistance at Edna Maguire and Tam Valley schools. After Board discussion about size of reserve for next three years, the following action was taken. |
| Budget reductions | M/S/C Freiberg/Khademi (5-0) to direct Superintendent and Chief Business Official to find $250,000 for the budget for 2003-04 through reductions in FTE or program reductions. |
| Tennessee Woods agreement | M/S/C Freiberg/Khademi (5-0) to approve agreement with Michael Massoletti/Tennessee Woods regarding in-lieu developer fees and parcel taxes for the Tennessee Woods subdivision. |
| CURRICULUM/POLICY Board meeting schedule |
The Board discussed a possible change in meeting day for future board meetings, with trustees voicing preferences for day to meet. In order to gather more information, the Board will consider at its June 18 meeting. |
| - Table action | M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (5-0) to table action on Board meeting schedule until June 18. |
| PERSONNEL Leave/retirement: Collins |
M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (5-0) to approve leave request for Calvin Collins, classified, from May 18, 2001-June 28, 2001; and approval of retirement, under PERS Two Years of Additional Credit, effective June 28, 2001. |
| 2001-02 BTSA providers | M/S/C Freiberg/Khademi (5-0) to approve Beginning Teacher Support & Assessment (BTSA) support providers for 2001-02: R. Alderson, L. Caruso, A. Faulkner, K. Kirley, T. Piscitelli, K. Roen, S. Ross, J. Schulman, K. Searles, C. Southworth, J. Thomas & L. Watenpaugh. |
| BUILDINGS & SITES Modernization update |
Ms. Young apologized for not having update at this time, as the management budget is still being coordinated with funds already encumbered. She said that at least $800,000 has been set aside for improvements at Middle School, and that once summer projects are completed at sites, should any funds become available, the district can look at additional needs at sites. Ms. Young also said that there will be no renovation changes at the District Office this summer because the proposed work came in over bid and site needs took precedence. Work stations will be improved for legal compliance issues, a proper reception area will be created, and a dishwasher installed due to sanitary concerns and the number of meetings held. |
| Board consensus: MS funds | There was Board consensus to set aside $800,000 for Middle School related projects, with formal action at June 18 meeting. |
| Denial of bid - DO work | M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (5-0) to deny bid for reconfiguration of District Office, and to approve purchase of work stations, relocation of reception area and purchase of dishwasher. |
| CONSENT AGENDA Warrants |
M/S/C Khademi/Freiberg (5-0) to
approve Consent Agenda as follows: - Warrants #0252-2763/2796, dated 05/30/01, for $159,542.97. |
| Payroll | -Payroll certification: April 2001 - Special Mid-Month, dated 05/15/01, for $2,485.00. |
| Personnel: resign - Cho; temp hire: Lemberg/Roberts | - For 2001-02: Resignation of recent temporary certificate hire E. Cho; temporary certificated employment of Stephanie Lemberg & Jane Roberts. |
| Res. #16-00/01: Parcel tax for 2001-02 | - Direct County of Marin to Impose Parcel Tax for 2001-02. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mr. Gensburg announced that the next regular Board meeting will be at 7:00 PM on Monday, June 18, 2001, at Mill Valley School District Administrative Office and adjourned the meeting at 10:00 PM. |
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Respectfully submitted, |