Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting No. 10 - January 22, 2003
MINUTES
| Members Present: | Len Gensburg, Jeffrey Freiberg, Monib Khademi, Brian Swartz |
| Member Absent: | Paula Reynolds |
| Administrative Staff Present: | Barbara B. Young, Superintendent Laurie Harden, Chief Business Official Kerri M. Mills, Ed. D., Associate Superintendent/Special Education Leslie Thornton, Director of Curriculum/Instruction; Strawberry Pt. Principal Stephany La Londe, Old Mill 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 6:00 PM on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at the Mill Valley School District Administrative Office, 411 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA. President Khademi called the meeting to order at 6:15 PM and announced that Ms. Reynolds was out of the country on business. |
| 2. CLOSED SESSION | As there was no public comment, the meeting was recessed to Closed Session at 6:15 PM. The Board met regarding Public Employee Performance Evaluation; Title: Superintendent, pursuant to Gov. Code §54957. |
| 3. RECONVENE & REPORT OUT | Mr. Khademi reconvened the meeting to Open Session at 7:00 PM and reported that the Board had met in Closed Session until 6:55 PM and that no action was taken. |
| 4. AGENDA | M/S/C Freiberg/Gensburg (4-0) to approve the agenda, moving Item 8.A, Audit Report, to precede Item 7; and deleting Item 11.C, Arts grants. |
| 5. SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS - | The meeting was moved to the Middle School multi-media room in order to recognize 106 Middle School students who received high honors, honors and recognition on the Golden State Exam in Algebra, taken last spring. |
| 6. COMMUNICATIONS B. Reports - Superintendent |
There was no public comment. Ms. Young reported on the results of an attendance survey of Marin districts that take the Wednesday before Thanksgiving as a holiday; said that she had held staff meetings regarding the state budget and Measure A purpose and participation by staff. |
| - Board: Gensburg; Khademi; Swartz | Mr. Gensburg: reported on recent Education Task Force (ETF) and Tam Area Council (TAC) meetings, saying that recent discussions included Gr. 8-9 articulation and transition issues and grant renewals for ETF. Mr. Khademi: reported that he also attended the TAC meeting. Mr. Swartz: reported on his liaison work with Old Mill and Edna Maguire Schools; and said that the Partnership Project (workforce housing) will resume its work after the March election. |
| 7. STRATEGIC PLAN A. Goal #1: Educational Program - Technology Report |
Following the introduction of the District technology team (Lauie Gelles, Roberta Kane, Henry Krager, Jeffrey Miller, Jarrel Pertschuk & Doug Schiller) Middle School teacher Gelles reported on the new tech program this year at the school, with technology being integrated into the curriculum. Begun this year in 6th grade, and with Kiddo! support, the 3-year program will culminate with a student portfolio. Tech Specialist Jeffrey Miller then reported on communications in the District, including websites, e-mail, call-out system, attendance accounting, security and protocols used. |
| B. Mission Statement | Ms. Young made recommendations for developing a Mission Statement for the District. A representative committee will be formed to draft a statement, taking into comments from the discussion. Further comments from the Board and community can be sent to the Superintendent. The committee's work will be brought to the Board for review prior to final presentation. |
| 8. BUSINESS/FISCAL A. 2001-02 Audit Report |
Virginia K. Porter, of Goodell, Porter & Fredericks, CPA presented the 2001-02 Audit Report, which included a review of financial trends and analysis, and findings and recommendations. The District's responses/remedies to the findings/recommendations were reviewed. Appreciation was expressed to the audit firm for its work for the last few years. |
| - Motion; Audit Report | M/S/C Freiberg/Gensburg (4-0) to accept the Audit Report for 2001-02. |
| B. RFP Auditing Services for 2003-04 | Ms. Harden reported that 2002-03 is the last year of a multi-year contract with our current auditing firm. A Request For Proposal will be sent out in the spring to other firms. Submittals will be reviewed and references checked prior to a recommendation being presented to the Board. |
| C. 2003-04 State Budget | Ms. Harden reviewed the Governor's proposed State budget for 2003-04, noting the uncertainty over the next few months. It is anticipated that there will be mid-year revenue limit reductions, and cuts in categorical programs. The District may be able to manage this year by going to a 3% reserve, but major reductions will be necessary to reach a balanced budget for 2003-04. |
| D. Sacramento budget meetings | This item was discussed in connection with Ms. Harden's report above. Mr. Khademi reported on the Marin Joint Legislative Action Committee's (JLAC) recent seminar in Sacramento. The group met with many legislators and others connected with education and finance. Ms. Young reported that all staff have been asked to reduce expenditures for the remainder of the year. Discussion followed regarding permanent expenditure reductions. Options for reductions for this year into next will be at the February meeting. |
| Freiberg excused | Mr. Freiberg excused himself at 9:00 PM as he was not feeling well. |
| 9. CURRIC/ POLICY A. Policy Manual |
To facilitate the timely approval of remaining sections of the policy manual, Ms. Young proposed that she and Mr. Gensburg review and edit prior to presenting larger sections to the Board for action. The Board consensus is to follow this recommendation. |
| B. Policy Rev; BP/AR 5000- 5138; 2nd rdg | M/S/C Gensburg/Swartz (3-0) to approve 2nd reading of Policy Manual, BP/AR 5000-5138 (Students), with changes and deletions noted. |
| C. BP/AR 6159: IEP | Dr. Mills requested that the Board approve BP/AR 6159: Individualized Education Program, as our policy/regulation is outdated. These are in current Education Code and Code of Federal Regulations. |
| - Motion; approval | M/S/C Gensburg/Swartz (3-0) to approve reading and adoption of Board Policy & Administrative Regulation BP/AR 6159 - Individualized Education Program. |
| 10. MINUTES - | M/S/C Gensburg/Swartz (3-0) to approve minutes: regular meeting of January 8, 2003; special meetings of January 7, 2003; January 13, 2003; and January 14, 2003. |
| 11.CONSENT AGENDA A. Warrants |
M/S/C Gensburg/Swartz (3-0) to
approve Consent Agenda, as follows: - Warrants #0259-1648/1687, dated 01/10/03, for $92,031.59; -2253/2306, dated 01/15/03, for $23,074.47. |
| B. Payroll certif. | - Payroll Certifications: December 2002 - Mid-month, dated 01/07/03, for $47,424.99. |
| C. Personnel | - Personnel Action Form #0203-9; and approval of CSEA job descriptions. |
| D. Gift to MVSD: Strauss Fdtn (Dentkos-Hearn) | - Acceptance of matching fund donation of $99.88 from Levi Strauss Foundation (J. Dentkos-Hearn), for benefit of SP School. |
| 12. ADJOURNMENT | Mr. Khademi announced that he would not be attending the next regular Board meeting, which will be at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 at Strawberry Point School and adjourned the meeting at 9:35 PM. |
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Respectfully submitted, |