Regular Board Meeting Minutes - September 10, 2003

Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting No. 3 - September 10, 2003
MINUTES

Trustees Present:	Jeffrey Freiberg, Len Gensburg, Monib Khademi, Paula Reynolds, Brian Swartz
Administrative Staff Present:	Barbara B. Young, Superintendent Kerri M. Mills, Ed. D., Associate Superintendent - Special Education Stephany La Londe, Old Mill Principal Gail van Adelsberg, Tamalpais Valley 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 5:00 PM on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 at the District Administrative Office, 411 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA. President Khademi called the meeting to order at 5:01 PM.
2. CLOSED SESSION	As there was no public comment, the meeting was recessed to Closed Session for the Board to conference with labor negotiator regarding negotiations with Mill Valley Teachers Association, pursuant to Gov. Code §54957.6; and to consider student matters, confidential information, pursuant to Ed. Code §35146.
3. RECESS	The Closed Session was recessed at 6:30 PM in order for the board to have dinner.
4. RECONVENE/ REPORT	Mr. Khademi reconvened the meeting to Public Session at 7:00 PM and announced that no action had been taken in Closed Session.
5. AGENDA	M/S/C Freiberg/Reynolds (5-0) to approve the agenda, with Business & Fiscal items, 7.A. and 7.B to follow this agenda item, as Mr. Khademi will be leaving the meeting at 7:15 PM.
7. BUSINESS/FISCAL	Mr. Khademi announced that the Board was prepared to ratify an agreement with the Mill Valley Teachers Association (MVTA) at this meeting, but that it was not ratified by MVTA membership. Mr. Khademi reviewed the major elements of the proposed agreement, including increased instructional time at Middle School, a salary increase, addition to all salary steps at or above 13 years of service, a cap for health benefits, and changes in cash-in-lieu payment. He said that, at a time when many other districts have laid off staff, and in some cases have absorbed budget cuts, our District's negotiating team felt this tentative agreement was acceptable, even though some of the Board's major interests were unmet. One of those goals is that Middle School instructional minutes should equal the top quartile of comparative Marin County middle schools. Mr. Khademi said that efforts will be renewed with MVTA to address the major concerns of our community and teachers. Legal counsel has advised that because the tentative agreement was an integrated package, the negotiating parties are not obligated to any part of that package when renewing negotiations. During this period the District will maintain last year's salary schedule and benefits structure. Mr. Khademi stressed the importance of addressing certain significant issues in the District before going to the community for a renewal of our parcel tax, which currently is about $3.5 million of our $18.6 million budget. This revenue is the equivalent of 45-50 teachers in the District.
	Negotiations with MVTA will resume soon. The Board expressed appreciation to MVTA leadership and to the negotiating team for the collaborative effort to date. All parties are committed to continue this collaboration.
Khademi absent	Mr. Khademi turned the meeting over to Vice-President Reynolds at 7:12 PM.
6.COMMUNICATIONS 6. A. Public Comment: PLANS	Dan Dugan, secretary for People for Legal and Nonsectarian Schools (PLANS), made a brief presentation to the Board regarding his organization, which is opposed to Waldorf schools being publicly funded. PLANS has reviewed the Mill Valley Charter School's charter application and presented the Board with its findings and comments. Mr. Dugan said that PLANS is willing to be of assistance to the Board, and that it has a longer presentation if the Board is interested to explain why this type of charter is not appropriate for public funding. Ms. Reynolds thanked Mr. Dugan and said that the Board will be considering the charter application at its November 12th meeting.
- Marsh Proposal	Dede Sabbag, Middle School science teacher, former parent, and leader of the marsh restoration, requested that the Board consider a proposal to rename the marsh on Middle School property after Elizabeth Terwilliger, long-time Mill Valley resident and environmentalist. Ms. Sabbag said that the current name is "Mill Valley Teaching Marsh" and that it would be a fitting gesture to rename the marsh in honor of "Mrs. T", who has taught generations of students and parents about the environment. Although the Board cannot officially act on this until its October 8 meeting, members of the Board spoke favorably about the proposal.
- Agenda revision; Board reports	Mr. Freiberg spoke in favor of restoring the "reports" categories to the Board's agenda. Board and audience discussion followed regarding the organization of the meeting agenda, with ideas generated that will be considered when setting future agendas. The Board intent is to be more productive and efficient at meetings, and to acknowledge reduced staff. When the Board needs to take action or next steps need to be determined about an item, the topic will be placed on an agenda. Mr. Freiberg reported on a meeting regarding the Cypress Hollow. When more information is available, the Board will put it on a meeting agenda. Mr. Freiberg also reported on a recent Partnership Project meeting.
6.B. Enrollment	Ms. Young presented an enrollment update, saying that the projected enrollment was 2245 and is now at 2230 in the District. Some grades are especially impacted. Ms. Young also reviewed projections for the next few years.
8. POLICY 8.A. BP/AR 3550: Food Service	Principal Gail van Adelsberg gave some background on Policy & Regulation for BP/AR 3550: Food Service/Child Nutrition Program, which is presented for 1st reading. The original state bill regarding this is now null and void, and another bill, SB677 is currently being considered, which addresses beverages only.
- Motion: BP/AR 3550	M/S/C Freiberg/Gensburg (4-0) to approve 1st reading of BP/AR 3550 - Food Service/Child Nutrition Program.
8.B. BP 6145: Extra curricular Activities	Board Policy BP 6145 - Extracurricular and Cocurricular Activities for Students in Grades 6-8 needs minor revisions to conform to practice at Middle School.
- Motion: BP 6145	M/S/C Freiberg/Gensburg (4-0) to approve revision of BP 6145 - Extracurricular and Cocurricular Activities for Students in Grades 6-8.
9. PERSONNEL; Res. #3-03/04- Final classified layoff	M/S/C Gensburg/Swartz (4-0) to adopt Resolution #3-03/04: Final Resolution for Classified Layoff.
10. STUDENT MATTERS; IDT appeals	Ms. Young reviewed the Interdistrict Transfer process, saying the District received 67 requests this year, of which 35 were non-employment related and must be renewed annually. The Administrative Council made recommendations where possible for renewal for the 2003/04 school year only, and allowed those students in 5th & 8th grades to finish their terminal grade. The Board met in closed session to consider several appeals for students who were denied transfers. The following actions were taken.
10.A. Y, M, Z Azam appeal denied	M/S/C Gensburg/Freiberg (4-0) to deny appeal of Y. Azam (1st), M. Azam (3rd), and Z. Azam (4th) for Interdistrict Transfers from Sausalito Marin City School District to the Mill Valley School District.
10.B. A. Azam appeal denied	M/S/C Gensburg/Freiberg (4-0) to deny appeal of A. Azam (4th) for an Interdistrict Transfer from Sausalito Marin City School District to the Mill Valley School District.
10.C. Gogolitsyna appeal denied	M/S/C Gensburg/Freiberg (4-0) to deny appeal of A. Gogolitsyna (6th) for an Interdistrict Transfer from Sausalito Marin City School District to the Mill Valley School District.
10.D. Gray appeal denied	M/S/C Swartz/Gensburg (4-0) to deny appeal of K. Gray (7th) for an Interdistrict Transfer from San Rafael School District to the Mill Valley School District.
10.E. Le appeal denied	M/S/C Swartz/Freiberg (4-0) to deny appeal of D. Le (7th) for an Interdistrict Transfer from Sausalito Marin City School District to the Mill Valley School District.
10.F.A. & C. Ramirez appeal denied	M/S/C Freiberg/Gensburg (4-0) to deny appeal of A. Ramirez (2nd) and C. Ramirez (7th) for Interdistrict Transfers from Sausalito Marin City School District to the Mill Valley School District.
10.G. Vaughn appeal denied	M/S/C Freiberg/Swartz (4-0) to deny appeal of T. Vaughn (7th) for an Interdistrict Transfer from Sausalito Marin City School District to the Mill Valley School District.
11. MINUTES	M/S/C Freiberg/Gensburg (4-0) to approve minutes of Regular Meeting of August 27, 2003.
12. CONSENT AGENDA 12.A. Warrants	M/S/C Gensburg/Freiberg (4-0) to approve Consent Agenda, as follows: - Warrants #0261-5959/5990, dated 08/22/03, for $69,892.01; -6242/6268, dated 08/27/03, for $24,387.50; - 6553/6567, dated 08/29/03, for $84,359.06; -6825/6848, dated 09/03/03, for $20,748.89.
12.B. Payroll	- Payroll certifications: August 2003 - End of Month, dated 08/21/03, for $207,378.97; Mid Month, dated 09/03/03, for $47,311.82.
12.C. Personnel	- Personnel Action Form #0304-3.
12.D. Personnel: OT job description	*- Job descriptions and salary schedule for Occupational Therapist.*
12.E. School/College Legal Services	*- Agreement with School and College Legal Services of California for 2003-04.*
12.F. 4th gr. field trip	*- EM 4th grade trip to Sutter's Fort Environmental Living Program at Sutter's Fort State Historic Park; Feb. 5-6, 2004.*
12.G. Gift: Jaffe	*- Acceptance, with gratitude, a Mac G3 computer, keyboard, mouse & Panasonic monitor, from T. Jaffe.*
13. ADJOURNMENT	Ms. Reynolds announced that the next regular Board meeting will be at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, October 8, 2003 at Mill Valley School District Administrative Office and adjourned the meeting at 8:07 PM.
	Respectfully submitted, Barbara B. Young, Superintendent & Secretary to Board of Trustees Date of Approval: October 8, 2003 These are unofficial minutes subject to approval by Board of Trustees at its next regularly scheduled meeting.