Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting No. 7 - January 21, 2003
MINUTES
| Trustees Present: | Jeffrey Freiberg, Monib Khademi, Laura Murphy, Paula Reynolds, Brian Swartz |
| Administrative Staff Present: | Barbara B. Young, Superintendent Laurie Harden, Assistant Superintendent - Business Services Kerri M. Mills, Ed. D., Assistant Superintendent - Special Education Brian Moran, Director of Maintenance & Operations Whitney Hoyt, Middle School Principal Kathleen Huntington, Middle School Assistant Principal |
| A. 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 6:45 PM on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 at the District Administrative Office, 411 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA. President Khademi called the meeting to order at 6:46 PM and announced that Ms. Reynolds would be a few minutes late. |
| B. AGENDA | M/S/C Freiberg/Swartz (4-0) to approve the agenda, with Item F.4 corrected to read "Community Financial Advisory Commission", with Mr. Khademi and Ms. Reynolds to discuss. |
| C. STUDENT MATTER; IDT appeal; Munshi | Superintendent Young reviewed the Interdistrict Transfer Request for A. Munshi from Novato USD to Mill Valley SD. In accordance with policy, the request was denied by the Superintendent and the family is now appealing to the Board to reverse the denial. The following action was taken. |
| - Motion; uphold denial | M/S/C Freiberg/Swartz (4-0) to uphold the denial of Interdistrict Transfer for A. Munshi (6th) from Novato USD to Mill Valley School District for 2003-04. |
| D. COMMUNICATIONS | There were no public communications to the Board. |
| D.1. Staff Reports | Superintendent Young reported on: State staff development day activities; Strategic Plan ready to be publicized; PTA Council; Edna Maguire landscaping; and The Lantern Project (international service project). |
| D.2. CSBA Delegate Assembly | M/S/C Freiberg/Murphy (4-0) to endorse the nomination of Cindi Clinton (Novato USD) for the California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly for Marin Subregion 3-D. |
| E. STRATEGIC PLAN - E.1. Finance: Parcel Tax | Ms. Young reviewed the work undertaken since the unsuccessful parcel tax measure last spring. She introduced Alex Evans and Jennifer Yee from Evans/McDonough Company (EMC), an opinion research firm, and Mark Mosher, Mill Valley parent and campaign manager. Following a presentation by Mr. Evans and Mr. Mosher, the Board discussed using EMC to conduct a survey regarding the parcel tax renewal, including timing and steps to be taken. The Board directed Ms. Young to enter into a contract with EMC to conduct a poll, with Ms. Murphy and Mr. Swartz to work with Ms. Young on framing the issues for the survey. |
| - Motion; EMC contract | M/S/C Freiberg/Murphy (5-0) to authorize the Superintendent to enter into contract with Evans/McDonough Company for conducting a poll for $16,000, and to proceed with framing the issues regarding renewal of the parcel tax. |
| - E.2. Middle School: Update | Principal Hoyt, along with Assistant-Principal Huntington, reported on the Middle School. Each of the implementation steps from the Strategic Plan were discussed, followed by a review of other needs for the school. |
| F. BUSINESS/FISCAL F.1. 02/03 Audit |
Virginia Porter of Goodell, Porter & Fredericks, CPA, reviewed the 2002-03 District Audit Report. The Board thanked the firm for its services for the past few years. It is required that school districts change auditors periodically, so the 2003-04 audit will be conducted by a new firm. Ms. Porter responded to inquiry regarding foundation audit process. |
| - Motion: Audit Report | M/S/C Reynolds/Murphy (5-0) to accept the 2002-03 Audit Report from Goodell, Porter & Fredericks, CPA. |
| F.2. 04/05 State Budget; JLAC | Assistant Superintendent Harden reviewed the Governor's proposed state budget, saying that there should be little impact on Mill Valley as we are now a basic aid district. She added that the Governor's budget hinges on passage of March ballot measures. Mr. Khademi, Ms. Reynolds and Ms. Young reported on their trip to Sacramento last week with the Marin Joint Legislative Advisory Committee. Nearly 60 Marin superintendents and trustees met with key legislators, lobbyists and State officials over a two day period regarding Marin education issues. |
| F.3. District Budget Reserve | Ms. Harden reported on the level of budget reserve that she and Ms. Young recommend now that the District has moved from revenue limit to basic aid funding. The Board gave Ms. Harden and Ms. Young direction for recommended language in developing a policy regarding an increased budget reserve, which will be acted upon at the February board meeting. |
| F.4. Community Financial Advisory Commission | Mr. Khademi reviewed the process for developing a policy for a Community Financial Advisory Commission, which is part of the Strategic Plan's community outreach. Mr. Khademi and Ms. Reynolds have drafted language for the policy. Ms. Reynolds reviewed the purpose and organization of the commission, which would be an advisory, not decision-making, group. The following action was taken after Board and audience discussion. |
| - Motion; CFAC | M/S/C Swartz/Murphy (5-0) to adopt policy for establishment of the Community Financial Advisory Commission, with the following added to the Kiddo representative item: "or other qualified Board member". |
| G. BUILDINGS/SITES G.1. Maintenance & Deferred Maint. Plan |
Director of Maintenance and Operations Moran gave a status report on District maintenance operations, including staffing, department goals & objectives, custodial standards and a preventative maintenance management system. He gave a deferred maintenance update, saying that the full plan will be developed by June. The Board commended Mr. Moran for his work in his first year in the District. |
| G.2. 305 Montford Project | Marin Horizon School's Design Development Plans and Report for its project at District property at 305 Montford (former Homestead School) were recently presented to the District. Mr. Khademi reviewed the Board's role in approval of the plans prior to Marin Horizon's submission to the County for final approval. Mr. Freiberg said the Board needs to confirm that the official plans comply with what was presented to the District when the long-term lease contract was approved. Roz Hamar, Head of School, and Laura Powell, President of the Board of Trustees, were present from Marin Horizon to answer questions and address any concerns. Superintendent Young was directed by the Board to have our architect review the plans and report in the context of our agreement with Marin Horizon School. The Board will take action at the February 11 meeting. |
| H. CURRICULUM/ POLICY - H.1. BP/AR 3290.1; Donated Funds |
Ms. Young reviewed changes from the first reading of new Board Policy & Administrative Regulation 3290.1: Acceptance and Expenditure of Donated Funds. Questions and comments from some of Kiddo!'s donors, board members and staff were addressed, particularly in reference to the foundation's commitment to the arts. Trisha Garlock, Kiddo! Executive Director, and Ema Ripley, Kiddo!'s Associate Director, commented on the process. They emphasized that the foundation board agreed to the change in how Kiddo!'s funds would be spent following much discussion and some reservations, and with the wish to work collaboratively with the District. Mr. Freiberg opposed any reduction in the arts. |
| - Motion: BP/AR 3290.1 | M/S/C Swartz/Murphy (4-1 Freiberg nay) to approve Board Policy & Administrative Regulation 3290.1 as presented. |
| I. BOARD REPORTS | Mr. Khademi announced a Board/Superintendent sponsored staff event at the Community Center at 3:30 PM on Tuesday, February 10. Ms. Reynolds will be on the Board budget committee and asked that any ideas to make the budget more transparent be e-mailed to her. |
| J. MINUTES; Reg. 12/10/03; spec. 12/8/03; 12/15/03; 1/12/04 (student); 1/12/04 (retreat) | M/S/C Freiberg/Murphy (5-0) to approve minutes of Regular Meeting of December 10 2003; Special Meetings of December 8, 2003; December 15, 2003; January 12, 2004 (student matter); & January 12, 2004 (retreat). |
| K. CONSENT AGENDA K.1. Warrants |
M/S/C Freiberg/Murphy (5-0) to
approve Consent Agenda, as follows: - Warrants #0262-7191/7247, dated 12/05/03, for $66,835.96; -7641/7672, dated 12/10/03, for $34,541.17; - 8103/8126, dated 12/12/03, for $19,602.38; -8576/8614, dated 12/17/03, for $20,154.30; -9158/9190, dated 12/19/03, for$13,175.73; #0263-0212/0250, dated 01/09/04, for $104,312.64. |
| K.2. Payroll | - Payroll certifications: November 2003 - Mid-Month, dated 12/04/03, for $29,371.47; December 2003 - End of Month, dated12/11/03 for $1,084,221.14; Mid-Month, dated 01/06/04, for $64,114.55. |
| K.3. PAF #0304-7 | - Personnel Action Form #0304-7. |
| K.4. Personnel: Rescind Res.#7-03/04 | - Personnel: Rescind Resolution #7-03/04: Resolution Regarding Classified Layoffs, adopted December 10, 2003. |
| K.5. OM 5th field trip | - Old Mill School 5th grade annual field trip to Valley of the Moon, May 10-12, 2004. |
| K.6. Gifts; PK/TV PTA; Strauss Fdtn.; Apple Computers | - Acceptance, with gratitude: for benefit of PK Poets in Classroom, $650, and $2000 for Library/Birthday Book fund, from Park PTA; for TV library books, $4039.99, from TV PTA; for SP SDC, $600 in matching funds from Levi Strauss Foundation (J. Dentkos-Hearn); e-mail server software, from Juan Fernandez of Apple Computer. |
| K.7. IDT: Deny Munshi | - Deny Employment-Related Interdistrict Transfer from Novato USD to MVSD for 2003-04 for A. Munshi (6th), due to lack of space. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mr. Khademi announced that the next regular meeting of the Board will be on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 at the Mill Valley School District Administrative Office and adjourned the meeting at 11:23 PM. |
Respectfully submitted, |