Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting No. 6 - November 20, 2002
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 Laurie Harden, Chief Business Official Leslie Thornton, Director of Curriculum/Instruction; Strawberry Pt. Principal Ruthanne Bexton, Park 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 7:00 PM on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 at the Mill Valley School District Administrative Office, 411 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA. President Freiberg called the meeting to order at 7:08 PM. He announced that the Board met in a Special Closed Session prior to this meeting regarding Superintendent Evaluation, with no action taken. |
| 2. AGENDA | M/S/C Khademi/Gensburg (5-0) to approve the agenda. |
| 3. COMMUNICATIONS A. Public Comment B. Staff - Superintendent |
There was no public comment. Ms. Young reported on the recent parent education event and the Middle School talent show; announced a student event in celebration of Middle School site improvement; recognized the Technology Team for providing computers to students who need one, using hardware and parts of unused computers; and announced that District counsel Bill Kay will be available in early December to meet with the Board and other interested parties. |
| Board Reports - Khademi; Gensburg; Reynolds |
Mr. Khademi reported on the election of representatives to the Marin County Committee on School District Organization at the Marin County School Boards Association meeting; the Joint Legislative Action Committee (JLAC) meeting today, where the State budget was discussed and this year's priorities for JLAC (funding, flexibility for high performing districts & special education). He said that there may be mid-year State budget cuts that could affect school districts. Mr. Gensburg reported on a recent Mathletes competition where Middle School students performed very well, and he encouraged more 6th graders to get involved. Ms. Reynolds reported that approximately 300 parents attended the Middle School parent education event. |
| 4. BUSINESS/FISCAL A. Strategic Plan draft |
Ms. Reynolds presented the draft Strategic Plan for the District, the culmination of many meetings over several months by the Plan Task Force and the adjunct Financial group to Task Force. The Board discussed the Plan and gave feedback for Task Force review in preparing the final document, which is to be approved at the December 4th meeting. Audience comments were also solicited. Once approved, an action plan for each implementation step of the Strategic Plan will be prepared by fall 2003. |
| Financial Advisory Report | Michael Fuchs presented the Preliminary Findings of Superintendent's Financial Advisory, outlining the funding needed to support the Strategic Plan over the next few years. Various scenarios for additional funding were discussed, including Kiddo's support. |
| B. Opinion Survey | Anne Jeffrey, from Solem & Associates, reported on the recently conducted a community opinion poll. The survey involved 400 random calls to determine community perceptions and attitudes about financial support for the District, including a supplemental parcel tax. The results of the poll were discussed by the Board and audience. |
| C. Parcel Tax Resolution | Language for a possible supplemental parcel tax measure in March 2003 was reviewed. The purpose, types, duration, and amount of a tax were discussed. Communication with, and education of, the community was also discussed. A decision about a March 2003 measure will be decided by the Board at its December 4th meeting. |
| 5. CURRICULUM & POLICY
- A. Textbook adoption model |
Ms. Thornton presented the adoption cycle for textbooks, as determined by the State. AB 1781 outlines the new block grant funding model for textbook purchases. The District will have to provide new standards-aligned textbooks within 24 months of adoption by the State Board of Education. Ms. Thornton recommends the adoption of Houghton Mifflin for K-5 Language Arts. |
| B. Lang. Arts adoption | M/S/C Gensburg/Swartz (5-0) to approve adoption of Houghton Mifflin Language Arts K-5 textbooks. |
| C. Policy Manual: Series 4000;2nd rdg. | M/S/C Gensburg/Khademi (5-0), to approve second reading of Policy Manual Revision, Series 4000 - Personnel, as revised. |
| 6. BUILDING & SITES | Due to lateness of the hour, the Building & Sites items will be carried over to a later meeting. |
| 7. PERSONNEL A. Nat'l Cert. for Teachers |
Ms. Young reported on the National Board Certificate available to teachers. This program requires intensive professional development and final assessment before certification is granted. Three teachers are seeking certification at this time: Mary Dale, Sook Morimoto and Erin Thompson. In the interest of retaining the highest qualified staff, the Superintendent recommends financially supporting teachers who apply for and attain certification. The following action was taken. |
| - Motion: Nat'l cert. for teachers | M/S/C Khademi/Gensburg (5-0) to approve contribution of up to $2000 per candidate for National Certification for Teachers, 1/2 at time of application and 1/2 upon receipt of certification, with cap of four teachers per year; and with request of Mill Valley Teachers Association to also contribute financial support for candidates |
| B. Res. #8-02/03: Cert. Assignment | M/S/C Khademi/Reynolds (5-0) to approve Resolution #8-02/03: Certificated Assignment Authorization. |
| 8. MINUTES - Regular 11/6/02; Special 10/30/02; 11/13/02 | M/S/C Gensburg/Khademi (5-0) to approve minutes of regular meeting of November 6, 2002; and special meetings of October 30, 2002 and November 13, 2002. |
| 9. CONSENT AGENDA A. Warrants |
M/S/C Gensburg/Khademi (5-0) to
approve Consent Agenda, as follows: - Warrants #0258-5069/5101, dated 11/06/02, for $103,073.07; -5496/5534, dated 11/08/02, for $89,662.11; -5958/5986, dated 11/13/02, for $21,389.63. |
| B. Payroll certif. | - Payroll Certification: October 2002 - Mid Month, dated 11/07/02, for $41,729.49. |
| C. Personnel: Action #6-0203 | - Personnel Action Form #6-0203. |
| D. Gifts to MVSD: OM PTA; TV PTA | Acceptance with gratitude: for benefit of OM, $4277.09 additional funding for classroom materials, from OM PTA; for benefit of TV, $7,000, for Solar Savers & Color Laser Printer, from TV PTA. |
| 10. ADJOURNMENT | Mr. Freiberg announced that the next regular Board meeting will be at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, December 4, 2002, at the District Administrative Office, wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving holiday and adjourned the meeting at 10:30 PM. |
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Respectfully submitted, |