Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting No. 15 - April 23, 2003
MINUTES
| Members Present: | Len Gensburg, Jeffrey Freiberg, Monib Khademi, Paula Reynolds, Brian Swartz |
| Administrative Staff Present: | Barbara B. Young, Superintendent 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 3:30 PM on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 at the Mill Valley School District Administrative Office, 411 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA. President Khademi called the meeting to order at 3:35 PM, and announced that Mr. Gensburg would be a few minutes late. |
| 2. AGENDA | M/S/C Freiberg/Reynolds (4-0) to approve the agenda. |
| Gensburg present | Mr. Gensburg arrived at 3:36 PM. |
| 3.COMMUNICATIONS A. Public Comment |
Eric Schenk addressed the Board regarding a recent confidential student matter. Written responses will be made to him. |
| 4. BOARD RETREAT | The Board and Superintendent met in retreat with facilitator Robert Ferrara to continue discussions regarding governing team structures. |
| 5. RECESS | The Board recessed at 5:10 PM for a short dinner recess. |
| 6. CLOSED SESSION | As there was no public comment, the meeting was recessed to Closed Session at 5:30 PM for a conference with labor negotiator Bill Kay, pursuant to Gov. Code §54957.6. |
| 7. RECONVENE | Mr. Khademi reconvened the public meeting at 7:00 PM, and announced that no action was taken in closed session. |
| 8.COMMUNICATIONS A. Public Comment |
Library Clerk Irys Spatny commented on the minutes of April 2, 2003 regarding the Board's vote for elimination of the library clerk program. Mr. Khademi explained that, while the consensus of the Board in early discussions at that meeting was 3-2 in favor of elimination, following further budget discussion the official action of the Board was a 4-1 vote in favor of elimination. Donald Spatny presented information to the Board regarding the library clerk program. |
| B. Student presentation | Prior to her Superintendent report Ms. Young introduced Strawberry Point School Teacher Catherine Graham. Student representatives from Ms. Graham's 4th grade class, David Fuchs, Katie Lee, Georgia Pelletier, Kylie Safa and Loucas Bornemann, made a presentation to the Board regarding a recent writing project. |
| Superintendent Report | Ms. Young gave an update on the lighting project at Middle School, to be funded by Illuminex through a federal grant; recognized music teacher Lori Adessa and former music director Joe Angiulo for arranging for special music programs in the schools; recognized Tam High science teacher Mary Wuerth for receiving a National Teacher Award; reported that negotiations dates have been set; that an event commemorating Middle School landscape project is set for evening of Open House; and that feedback will be gathered regarding the block schedule pilot at Middle School. |
| C. Staff & Board Reports - Gensburg; Freiberg; Reynolds; Khademi | Mr. Gensburg: reported that there are 377 survey responses to date; and that the Education Task Force will hear soon about funding from the Marin Community Foundation (MCF). Ms. Reynolds: recognized Middle School teachers Joan Deamer and Lance Lewis, and parent-choreographer Cece Bechelli, for their work with the recent school play. Mr. Freiberg reported on recent meetings attended: charter school proposed; Middle School fund raising magazine sale; and Marin Horizon lease renewal. Mr. Khademi reported on Joint Legislative Advisory Committee's meeting today, saying the group is working on a bill for high performing districts to get certain waivers; and that, due to the State's budget deficit now expected to be $40 billion, the $180 per ADA cut in revenue may grow to $200. |
| 9. BUSINESS/ FISCAL A. MVTA initial proposal |
Mill Valley Teachers Association Co-Presidents Lance Lewis and Kamara Juarez presented the unit's initial proposal for 2003-04 negotiations, which included four articles in addition to those opened by the District. |
| B. CSEA initial proposal | CSEA - Ch. 360 Co-President Helen presented the unit's initial proposal for 2003-04 negotiations, which are scheduled to begin this spring. |
| C. Cypress Hollow subdivision | Ms. Young reviewed the history of the Cypress Hollow subdivision, which was annexed from unincorporated Mill Valley into Tiburon in 1998 but is still within our school district boundaries. Some of the residents of the area have petitioned the Mill Valley and Reed School Districts to allow students to attend Reed schools. Representatives of the two districts, along with Marin County Office of Education reps, have met to discuss options. Residents of the area presented reasons for their request, which focus on community issues. Following its discussion on the impact to our budget and student enrollment, particularly at Strawberry Point, the Board consensus is to explore creative solutions that will satisfy concerns of both districts and meet the needs of parents in Cypress Hollow. Representatives of both districts will continue to meet regarding this petition, with the understanding that any options must be fiscally neutral for the District. |
| D. AC priority recommendations; Kiddo/PTA support | As follow-up to recent discussions about District funding reductions, Ms. Young reported that the Administrative Council has prioritized programs in order of reinstatement. She said that a Request For Proposal (RFP) was submitted to Kiddo at its board meeting, outlining the priority reinstatement for programs that the District is unable to fund. District PTAs have also reviewed the priority list and will likely commit to funding 10 hours of library aide time at each site. Mr. Khademi then reviewed last year's Challenge Campaign process. Kiddo Executive Director Trisha Garlock reviewed the process for Kiddo funding. She said that the consensus vote at the first reading of the District's RFP was to fund as requested: art, music, technology site support, additional RAMP support daily, and Middle School drama. Ms. Garlock also said that the Kiddo board consensus was to go back to the community and businesses to fund all remaining items on the priorities list, building on the Challenge Campaign which was a Kiddo, PTAs and District collaboration. |
| 10. STUDY SESSION - A. District Operations | Mr. Khademi began the discussion on how funding limitations will affect the functioning of District operations and how to communicate to the community about changes. Ms. Young reviewed the Administrative Council's concerns and recommended changes, including the elimination of certain district-wide committees and programs. With the elimination of the position of Director of Curriculum & Instruction, oversight and management of several programs will have to be addressed. Comments and suggestions should be directed to the Superintendent, as this discussion about operations and expectations of the District will be continued. |
| 11. Minutes: 3/28/03; 4/02/03 | M/S/C Freiberg/Gensburg (5-0) to approve minutes of Special Meeting of March 28, 2003; and Regular Meeting of April 2, 2003. |
| 12 .CONSENT AGENDA A. Warrants |
M/S/C Gensburg/Reynolds (5-0) to
approve Consent Agenda, as follows: - Warrants #0260-1132/1156, dated 03/28/03, for $36,069.88; -1594/1627, dated 04/02/03, for $27,779.98; -1964/1995, dated 04/04/03, for $131,947.92; -2422/2467, dated 04/09/03, for $61,525.43; -2848/2870, dated 04/11/03, for $8,400.25; - 3178/3203, dated 04/16/03, for $17,250.66; -3701/3728, dated 04/18/03, for $22,819.18. |
| B. Personnel #14-0203 | - Personnel Action Form #14-0203. |
| C. Tenn. Woods & Glen extension | - Extension, through June 2008, of Attendance Agreements with Sausalito Marin City SD: Tennessee Woods, Addendum #2; Tennessee Glen, Addendum #3. |
| d. Gifts: Freiberg; Levi Strauss Ftdn. (Dentkos-Hearn) | - Acceptance of gifts, with gratitude: new TV from J. Freiberg; for benefit of ST: $600 from Levi Strauss Fdtn., for volunteer hours by J. Dentkos-Hearn. |
| 13. ADJOURNMENT | Mr. Khademi announced that the next regular Board meeting will be at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, May 7, 2003 at Park School, and adjourned the meeting at 9:23 PM. |
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Respectfully submitted,
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