Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting No. 15 - May 8, 2002
MINUTES
| Members Present: | Len Gensburg, Monib Khademi, Paula Reynolds, Brian Swartz |
| Member Absent: | Jeffrey Freiberg |
| Administrative Staff: | Barbara B. Young, Superintendent Laurie Harden, Chief Business Official Kerri M. Mills, Ed.D., Associate Superintendent Leslie Thornton, Director of Curriculum & Instruction Jim Derich, Strawberry Point School Principal Whitney Hoyt, Mill Valley Middle School Principal |
| 1. 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 Wednesday, May 8, 2002 at Edna Maguire School, 80 Lomita Drive, Mill Valley, CA. Vice-President Khademi called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM, announced that Mr. Freiberg was out of town and thanked the Edna Maguire School and its PTA for hosting the meeting. Mr. Khademi also recognized teachers as this is Day of the Teacher. |
| 2. AGENDA | M/S/C Gensburg/Swartz (4-0) to approve the agenda, with Item 3 (Special Recognitions) deleted; and tabling Item 5.B (Library & IMC update) to May 15 meeting. |
| 3. SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS | This item deleted, as Rocketry students will make presentation to the Middle School. |
| 4. COMMUNICATIONS A. Public Comment |
Parent/employee/Kiddo board member Javier Alarcon commented that having a dollar value attached to the resolution regarding layoffs would be helpful to the public. Edna Maguire Site Council member Sheila Milosky was concerned about the process the District used in leasing rooms at the site for a preschool. Mr. Khademi said that Ms. Young and Ms. Reynolds had apologized for the District not fully communicating about this, that communications will improve and that the Executive Directors of Marin Day Schools, along with Ms. Young, will hold a meeting on May 16 at Edna Maguire regarding the preschool. |
| B. Staff/Supt. Reports Superintendent report - MS donation - Golden Bell; MS Art show - MVTA ratification - Derich: Redwoods |
Superintendent Young announced that Middle School students raised $1800 to donate to a New York City school affected by the events of September 11; that the visual arts and music programs, supported by Kiddo, will be honored at the Golden Bell Recognition dinner later this month; encouraged all to visit the Middle School art exhibit; and announced a celebration event for retiring principal Jim Derich on May 30. Ms. Young also announced that the Mill Valley Teachers Association has ratified a two year agreement with the District, which includes a 4% salary increase retroactive to December 1, 2001 and a 2% increase effective July 1, 2002. She said that all areas have been affected by the fiscal constraints including: classified, certificated and administrative personnel reductions; and a change in Middle School schedule which will be formalized and information sent to the community. Ms. Young announced that Leslie Thornton will move to Strawberry Point School as Principal and will continue part-time as Director of Curriculum, with some of her current duties to be shared by other administrators. Details of agreement have been available to the public since May 5, with formal approval at the May 15th board meeting. Mr. Derich: reported on The Redwoods recognition program for teachers and students. |
| Board Reports - acknowledgements - Kiddo supported programs |
Mr. Khademi: acknowledged Ms. Thornton for her work; and those who participated in negotiations and commented on Kiddo supported Middle School play. Mr. Gensburg: attended recent Strawberry Point meeting concerning changes for next year. Mr. Swartz: attended recent Kiddo supported music program at Old Mill. Ms. Reynolds: attended Kiddo supported Middle Scholl Shakespeare Festival. |
| 5. CURRICULUM & POLICY A. CAC Update |
Ms. Thornton reported on the final Curriculum Advisory Council (CAC) meeting for this year. |
| B. Library/IMC postponed | Update on Library and Instructional Media Center services tabled. |
| C. Fund Raising Priorities - Sup't Advisory Update |
Mr. Khademi and Ms. Young made comments regarding the problems school districts face due to uncertainties with State funding. A long-range planning process is underway, which may include an additional parcel tax. |
| - Process & Priorities | Ms. Reynolds explained the process for the evening, which includes recording ideas and comments regarding reinstatement of programs recently cut should sufficient funds be raised to do so. Deborah Miller, Kiddo Endowment Chair, shared the vision of raising $1.2 million by June 30 this year, with $100,000 already committed. Following public comments from Kiddo and parents, the discussion included consideration of specifics for the fund raising to be conducted by Kiddo. At the request of Kiddo, the board unanimously agreed to allocate a portion of the money raised, above the $707,000 commitment needed for visual arts and music programs, toward restoration of Kiddo programs in dance, drama and poetry prior to restoring other cut programs. |
| 6. BUSINESS & FISCAL A. Partnership Project |
Mr. Swartz reviewed the work of the Partnership Project to date, saying it was created to address the District's commitment to attract and maintain a high quality staff. As one area of concern has been the shortage of affordable housing, a preliminary feasibility study was conducted to determine if any of our sites might be appropriate for such use. Alto School was determined to be the only possible site. Mr. Swartz and Ms. Young have met with school leaders and current Alto renters, and will meet with Alto neighbors this week to discuss a possible project. It would be similar to the complex recently developed in Santa Clara, with extremely high quality units. Other public workers in Mill Valley would also be involved, as the District is working together with the City of Mill Valley. The next steps are to look at the financial and planning processes, and to continue with outreach to the community. |
| 7. BUILDING & SITES A. MS Site update |
Ms. Young gave an update on the Middle School Site Improvement Project - Phase 1, saying that bid packets are now going out. |
| 8. PERSONNEL A. Res. #9-01/02: Prelim. Resolution-Classified layoff |
Ms. Young reported, that with budget reductions, the District by law needs to identify programs that will be reduced or eliminated for 2002-03. This resolution identifies classified programs and services which will be reduced or eliminated and will necessitate the layoff of classified employees for lack of work and lack of funds. |
| - Motion: Res. #9-01/02 | By roll call vote, M/S/C Gensburg/Swartz (4-0) to adopt Resolution #9-01/02: Preliminary Resolution for Classified Layoff. |
| 9. CONSENT AGENDA Warrants |
M/S/C Reynolds/Swartz
(4-0) to
approve Consent Agenda, with Minutes of April 24, 2002 tabled for
revisions until May 15 meeting, as follows: - Warrants #0256-1174/1197, dated 04/19/02, for $8,475.23; -1571/1604, dated 04/24/02, for $58,638.43; -2108/2141, dated 04/26/02, for $33,147.49; - 2613/2639 dated 05/01/02, for $52,651.93. |
| Payroll certifications | - Payroll Certifications: March 2002: Mid-Month, dated 04/18/2002, for $1,482.37; April 2002: End of Month, dated 04/22/02, for $1,045,892.20. |
| Personnel Action #0102-6 | - Approval of Personnel Action Form #0102-6. |
| Minutes: Regular - 4/24/02 | - Minutes: Regular meeting April 24, 2002 tabled to 5/15/02 meeting. |
| Admin. Serv. Prog. - SFSU | - Participation in San Francisco State University's Administrative Services Internship Program. |
| 10. ADJOURNMENT | Mr. Khademi announced that the next regular Board meeting will be at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, May 15, 2002, at Tamalpais Valley School and adjourned the meeting at 9:56 PM. |
|
Respectfully submitted, |