Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting No. 6 - December 10, 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 Stephany La Londe, Old Mill Principal Peg Minicozzi, Park School Principal Leslie Thornton, Strawberry Point Principal Carly Tolson, Edna Maguire Principal Gail van Adelsberg, Tam Valley 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 7:00 PM on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 at the District Administrative Office, 411 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, CA. President Khademi called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. |
| B. OATH OF OFFICE - Laura Murphy | Marin County Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke administered the Oath of Office to incumbent trustee, Monib Khademi, and to new trustee Laura Murphy. Family members in attendance were introduced. |
| C. AGENDA | M/S/C Freiberg/Reynolds (5-0) to approve the agenda. |
| D. ORGANIZATION D.1. Election of President |
Mr. Khademi turned the meeting
over to Superintendent Young to conduct the election of Board President
for 2004. The nominations: Freiberg/Murphy to nominate Paula
Reynolds; Reynolds/Swartz to nominate Monib Khademi. Mr. Freiberg
spoke to importance of rotating the leadership on the Board. Ms.
Reynolds spoke to the quality of leadership that Mr. Khademi has
provided this year and the necessity for continuity in leadership. M/S/C Freiberg/Murphy (5-0) to close the nominations for President. |
| President: Khademi | As there were two trustees
nominated for President, a Board poll was conducted. Prior to
casting his vote, Mr. Khademi asked Ms. Reynolds regarding her
nomination for president, to which Ms. Reynolds stated that she did
not wish to be president at this time and deferred to Mr. Khademi. As a result of the polling, Mr. Khademi was elected President of the Board for 2004 (M/S/C Reynolds/Swartz: 3-2 Freiberg/Murphy nay). |
| D.2. Vice-Pres./Clerk | Mr. Khademi opened the
nominations for Vice-President/Clerk: Khademi/Swartz to nominate Paula
Reynolds; Freiberg moved/failed for lack of second to nominate Brian Swartz. M/S/C Freiberg/Swartz (5-0) to close the nominations for Vice-President/Clerk. |
| V-Pres/Clerk: Reynolds | M/S/C Khademi/Swartz (4-1; Freiberg nay) to elect Paula Reynolds as Vice-President/Clerk for 2004. |
| D.3. 03-04 Meeting schedule | The Board meeting schedule for
2003-04 was reviewed. It was noted that, should it be necessary,
the District would be represented at a Marin County School Boards
Association meeting scheduled for May 12, the same date as our meeting. M/S/C Reynolds/Swartz (5-0) to affirm the 2003-04 Board meeting schedule. |
| D.4. MCSBA rep & liaisons | Ms. Reynolds reviewed the trustee committee/liaison assignments for 2004: Budget development: Khademi/Reynolds; Community Advisory: Reynolds/Swartz; Strategic Advisory: Murphy/Reynolds; Education Task Force: Reynolds; School Liaisons: EM & OM - Swartz; MS & TV - Freiberg; PK & SP - Murphy; PTA Council: Murphy; Kiddo: Freiberg/Swartz; JLAC: Khademi; MSCBA: Freiberg; P2: Swartz; Charter School: Freiberg/Swartz; Shared Services: Reynolds. |
| - Motion | M/S/C Swartz/Freiberg (5-0) to approve committee/liaison assignments for 2004 as outlined above, including the election of Mr. Freiberg as trustee representative to the Marin County School Boards Association. |
| E. COMMUNICATIONS | A parent commented on the successful meeting at Middle School earlier in the week regarding discipline/policies/laws. |
| Superintendent &
Staff Reports Young; Hoyt; Harden |
Ms. Young: National Board Certification for teachers Erin Conklin & Mary Dale; parent and community meetings & other school events; Trisha Garlock, Patti Flynn-Boston & Leslie Wachtel, from Kiddo were recently recognized for their non-profit work by Hearts of Marin. Ms.Hoyt: reported on MS meeting on discipline, saying that about 75 parents, staff members and public safety personnel attended; presented report to Board on impact of changes in the library. Ms. Harden: awaiting a response from CSEA regarding a proposed classified position between a library clerk and a library aide. |
| F. BUSINESS/FISCAL | |
| F.1. 1st Interim Budget | Ms. Harden presented the 1st Interim Budget Report for 2003-04, saying that there were few significant changes. She reviewed the highlights, including a reduction in the basic aid funding, and said that, overall, programs should not be impacted this year. Ms. Harden reviewed the multi-year projections. Ms. Young reported that the District has joined a consortium of basic aid districts. A discussion followed regarding the level of reserve needed now that the District is a basic aid district. |
| - Motion: 1st Interim | M/S/C Freiberg/Swartz (5-0) to approve the 2003-04 1st Interim Budget Report & Provisions. |
| F.2. Facilities Funds | Ms. Harden presented an overview of the District's various facilities funds. |
| F.3. Budget Calendar | Ms. Harden reviewed the Budget Development Calendar, saying that February is an especially important time for the following year's budget development now that we are a basic aid district. |
| F.4. Parcel Advisory Report | Ms. Young reported that representatives from Evans/McDonough, an opinion research and strategic consulting firm, originally scheduled to be at this meeting, will attend a future meeting to share expertise regarding structuring a parcel tax election. The Parcel Tax Advisory will end in February and will be integrated into the Strategic Plan as a subset advisory. Board discussion followed, including questions for the consultants regarding timing of an election and how to involve community in determining amount and use of parcel tax. Consultants will be invited to January 21 board meeting. |
| F.5. Auditor selection - Stephen Roatch | Ms. Harden reported that the Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) aided districts needing to contract with new auditing firms. In consultation with MCOE, Stephen Roatch Accountancy Corporation is recommended as the District audit firm for three-year term beginning 2004-05. |
| - Motion: Auditor | M/S/C Freiberg/Swartz (5-0) to approve the selection of Stephen Roatch Accountancy Corporation as the District audit firm for a three-year term beginning 2004-05. |
| F.6. 04-05 Calendar | Ms. Young reported on the MCOE efforts to have major holidays aligned in all districts, and reviewed a draft district calendar for 2004-05 with holidays aligned with the Tamalpais Union High School District. Board discussion followed, giving the Superintendent some direction regarding the calendar. The Administrative Council will make recommendations to the Board prior to the Superintendent entering calendar negotiations with the bargaining units. |
| G. PERSONNEL G.1. Horch retirement |
Ms. Young announced the retirement of classified employee Helen Horch and recognized her for the many contributions she has made to the District, including her advocacy for children and staff in her recent involvement with the Strategic Plan development and with classified negotiations. |
| - Motion: Horch retire | M/S/C Freiberg/Reynolds (5-0) to accept, with regret and appreciation, the retirement of classified employee Helen Horch, after 20 years of service, under Two Years of Additional Service Credit program, effective December 31, 2003. |
| G.2. Res.#7-03/04; Layoff | M/S/C Swartz/Freiberg (5-0) to adopt Resolution #7-03/04: Classified Layoff. |
| H. CURRICULUM/ POLICY | |
| H.1. Site Plans | The Board reviewed the 2003-04 Site Plans. Ms. Young thanked the Site Councils for their efforts, especially since the reports were more difficult this year due to the No Child Left Behind program. |
| - Motion: Site plans | M/S/C Reynolds/Murphy (5-0) to approve the 2003-04 Site Plans for Edna Maguire, Middle, Old Mill, Park, Strawberry Point and Tamalpais Valley Schools. |
| H.2. Policy: Donated funds | Ms. Young presented the recently developed new policy regarding funds donated to the District, saying that it was a collaborative effort of the District, Kiddo and the PTAs. The policy has been reviewed by the Administrative Council, the Kiddo Board and the PTA Council. Board and audience discussion followed. Mr. Freiberg expressed opposition to the policy, saying that the District should be funding many of those programs that are funded by Kiddo and that the major fund raising by Kiddo and PTAs may influence future parcel tax measures. |
| - Motion: Policy | M/S/C Swartz/Freiberg (4-1 Freiberg nay) to approve 1st reading of Board Policy: Expenditure of Donated Funds, with changes noted for 2nd reading. |
| H.3. 2nd readings: BP 3290; BP 5131; BP 5141.33; AR 5142; AR 5144; BP/AR 5144.1; AR 5144.2; BP 5148; AR 6153; BP/AR 6164.6; BP/AR 6174 | M/S/C Freiberg/Murphy (5-0) to approve 2nd and final readings: BP 3290 - Gifts, Grants & Bequests; BP 5131 - Conduct; BP 5141.33 - Head Lice; AR 5142 - Safety; AR 5144 - Discipline; BP/AR 5144.1 - Suspension & Expulsion/Due Process; AR 5144.2 - Suspension & Expulsion/Due Process (students with disabilities); BP 5148 - Child Care; AR 6153 - School Sponsored Trips; BP/AR 6164.6 - Identification & Education Under Section 504; BP/AR 6174 - Education for English Language Learners. |
| I. BOARD REPORTS | |
| J. MINUTES; Reg. 10/12/03; spec. 11/17/03; 11/24/03 | M/S/C Freiberg/Swartz (5-0) to approve minutes of Regular Meeting of October 12, 2003; Special Meetings of November 17, 2003 and November 24, 2003. |
| K. CONSENT AGENDA K.1. Warrants |
M/S/C Murphy/Freiberg (5-0) to
approve Consent Agenda, with deletion of Item K.4 (Authorization to Sign
on Behalf of Board), as follows: - Warrants #0262-4145/4173 dated 11/07/03, for $10,130.59; -4741/4784, dated 11/12/03, for $63,118.35; - 5105/5121, dated 11/14/03, for $6,365.04; -5374/5414, dated 11/19/03, for $22,293.15; -5719/5751, dated 11/21/03, for$98,227.14; - 6387/6421, dated 11/26/03, for $91,171.58; -6787/6829, dated 12/03/03, for $120,254.51. |
| K.2. Payroll | - Payroll certifications: October 2003 - Mid-Month, dated 11/06/03, for $43,029.47; End of Month Misc., dated 11/16/03, for $889.17; November 2003 - End of Month, dated11/18/03 for $1,080,975.29. |
| K.3. PAF #0304-6 | - Personnel Action Form #0304-6. |
| K.4. Auth. to Sign | - Item deleted. |
| K.5. Gifts; PK/TV PTA; Pigeon | - Acceptance, with gratitude: for benefit of PK Poets in Classroom, $1950, from Park PTA; for TV library, gifts totaling $5964.18, from TV PTA; for MS, microwave oven, from J. Pigeon. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mr. Khademi announced that the next regular meeting of the Board will be on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 at the Mill Valley School District Administrative Office, wished everyone a happy holiday and adjourned the meeting at 9:40 PM. |
Respectfully submitted, |