Pacific Grove Unified School
District
Note: This web page is a copy of the minutes from the Board of
Education Meeting.
Minutes are NOT OFFICIAL until approved by the Board.
The official Minutes are available at the Board Office.
Address any questions to the Superintendent, Dr. Ralph Porras, or call the District Office at 831-646-6510.
PACIFIC GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Minutes of the Meeting of February 3, 2005
The Board of Education of the Pacific Grove Unified School District held a meeting on February 3, 2005 at Robert H. Down Elementary School.
I. OPENING BUSINESS
A. Call to Order 6:30 pm
B. Roll Call Members Present: Richard Schramm
Mark Cameron
Mike Niccum
Jessie Bray
Beth Shammas
Student Representative: Brian Forbes
C. Adoption of Agenda
MOTION (Bray/Niccum) to adopt agenda. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
Public Comment: None
D. Identified Closed Session Topics
Negotiations - Conference with Labor Negotiators Patrick Perry and Robin Blakley regarding CSEA and PGTA contract.
Public Comment: None
E. Adjourn to Closed Session 6:32 p.m.
II. CLOSED SESSION
III. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION 7:02 p.m.
A. Report action taken in closed session
Negotiations – Conference with Labor Negotiators Patrick Perry and Robin Blakley regarding CSEA and PGTA contract. No action taken.
B. Pledge of Allegiance
IV. COMMUNICATIONS
A. Written Communication
Shammas received letter from Gertrude Robinson of MCOE, regarding annual certification, acknowledged District found fiscally sound, caution needed to continue to monitor closely.
B. Board Member Comments
Shammas reminded about Food Services Committee first meeting Feb. 28th, sending letter to those who expressed interest, committee will have 10 members, meeting should be noticed as public meeting. Schramm commended Middle School staff, District Office and Pacific Grove Police Department on handling of gun incident; concerned that many Middle School students knew about the gun and none of them told; asked that anyone with any suggestions for improving student communication to please let the Board know.
C. Superintendent Report
Perry reiterated Board’s comments about response to the Middle School situation.
V. INDIVIDUALS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
Jackie Tafoya, Middle School Principal, this week had canines on campus to ensure students that their school is a safe place; teachers telling students to please let us know if they are aware of a dangerous situation; teachers did a good job of handling the situation; hearing from parents who want to get together to have forums with students; trying emergency drills at different times of the day, such as during lunch; looking at visiting safety groups for more information.
Jim Quinn representing Pacific Grove Rotary Club which renovated Middle School Auditorium, more work to be done, Rotary advanced some funds to complete important projects; would like to see building used for fundraiser and community outreach projects; February 24th Rotary holding free seminar about identity theft; requests Board to discuss waiver of rental fee for Rotary-sponsored events for next three years so that Rotary can recoup some of their monies used in restoration.
Linda Goulet, said gun incident needs to be talked about for awhile, no quick solution; concerned with how to deal with at risk kids, where is teacher/parent overlap, limiting class size would ensure a more intimate, trusting relationship with students that would assist in better awareness; staff appreciates how quickly they received information of the incident; PGTA expressed concern in reading in Herald that District legal counsel on front page as having ethics violations, and asks if Lozano Smith is the best office to use; survey nearly complete.
Patrick Godfrey, Science and Math teacher at Middle School, spoke to science curriculum, excited to hear about discussion regarding enhancing program, wants to remind Board have an open invitation to visit classroom at any time, he will be glad to answer any questions.
Sydney Dacuyan, Science and Math teacher at Middle School, teaches many at risk students in small classes, has developed good rapport with them which has made a difference in them, academically and emotionally.
Justus Grate, History teacher at Middle School, regarding declining enrollment issue, solution to better education to lower class size to 20 students; wants focus on positive benefits of small classrooms; Perry’s presentation on declining enrollment presented it as a negative issue.
Ellen Coulter, High School teacher, regarding 1.8 staff issue, why the alarmist feel for Middle School and High School, communications should improve, hearing information through grapevine rather than direct; per diem reimbursement a good idea, current reimbursement rates are very low; questions clause in per diem language which allows Superintendent to go over allowable spending, giving such power to one individual, everyone should be good stewards of the District’s money.
Susan Nine, per diem not just a matter of raising amount, finds sections of policy to be troubling –has potential for giving public officials a bad name; checks and balances have worked in the past, submitting receipts for actual expenses subject to wide range of interpretation; gives Superintendent broad authority with wide range of interpretation; saw no reference as to who makes decision for Superintendent and Board of Education; don’t fix it if it isn’t broken; PGTA wants limits, opposes no limits in spending, does not like anything in new policy.
Nancy Spade, teacher at Robert Down Elementary School, in discussion with son who is junior at High School and wants to get out of school at noon two days a week; she strongly opposes; wants a full day’s schedule at the High School.
Matt Bell, Principal at Robert Down School, read about seniors who received award at RLS, has more good new to share: construction at Robert Down is 99% complete, DMC doing a good job, nearly finished working on an 80-year old building, nice to see ADA enhancements; “Theater of All Possibilities” staging history event in auditorium, group sponsored by PTA and very popular with students; won $12,000 grant from Chapman University last year to bring poet to school; students wanted to set up fund for tsunami relief and collected $2500; canned food drive collected 4000 cans; students have good feel for supporting community; PTAs at both Forest Grove and Robert Down working together, Movie Night is popular - showed “Chicken Run,” hoping to do outdoor movie, switching locations between schools, many combined activities to reduce competition between schools.
Superintendent’s Response thanked Grate for his comments, had hoped presentation carried the positive message that at this time there would be no changes for staffing next year; assured Coulter he is scheduled to share the same information with the high school next week; regarding Policy/Regulation 4033- – hoped those concerned could stay for presentation to better understand modifications; asked that if language says “someone has unfettered access,” then that language needs to be changed.
Schramm thanked the Robert Down staff for welcoming remarks and the opportunity to meet in their Library.
VI. CONSENT
Bray asked that Item J be pulled and discussed.
A. Minutes of January 20, 2005 Board of Education Regular Meeting
B. Acceptance of Donations
C. Certificated Assignment Order No. 7
D. Classified Assignment Order No. 7
E. Warrant Schedule No. 439
F. Revolving Cash Report No. 6
G. Cash Receipts Report No. 6
H. Approval of the ROP Program Joint Powers Agreement for 2005-06
I. Resolution #752 – CSBA Cash Reserve Program
K. Approval of Revised Robert Down School Safe Schools and Violence Prevention Act Expenditure Plan
L. Approval of Contract for Services – Erin Hoffman
M. Approval of Revision I to Pacific Grove High School Plan 2004-05 and Related Budget
MOTION (Niccum/Bray) to approve above items. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0.
J. Approval of District Library Improvement Plan and Use of Funds
Discussion:
Carolyn Hawes District Librarian, distributed Library Improvement Plan to Board members; requested reinstating hours of Library Clerk to full-time; library program is suffering for lack of staffing; sees library as key to raising student test scores and improving writing through reading; current staffing requires that Librarian spend her time with technical support and not as Librarian; budgetary increase is $8,136.
Brian Morton, High School Principal supports Hawes’s proposal; her working with technology has taken a toll in helping staff and students.
Jackie Tafoya recommends library proposal; worked on it with Hawes and Morton; supports changing Clerk III to Clerk II.
Schramm wants time to study handout; is there anything in handout that would change the recommendation proposed in Item J? Response was no, just details for consideration.
Christine Raybould supported improvement plan, library is hub of academic life and interfaces with entire school.
MOTION (Bray/Cameron) to approve receipt of the plan. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
VII. PUBLIC HEARING
PGTA – Topics for 2005/06+ Negotiations
Public comments: None
Board comments: None
VIII. INFORMATION/DISCUSSION
A. Sub Committee Reports
Community Human Services – nothing to report
City/District – nothing to report
Negotiations – Bray said next PGTA meeting is February 23rd and CSEA meets on February 24th.
ROP – nothing to report; Niccum asked to attend next meeting
Library – information already covered in report by staff of Library Committee
B. Report on Fund 40 – David Avenue Lease Revenues
Blakley updated Board on financial status of Fund 40 including cost of required improvements; no vote required, informational only. To Shammas’s question of whether any improvements will make property more leaseable, Blakley said no. To Cameron’s question of how much rent is being lost due to relocation of Community High School to David Avenue site, Blakley stated $1,000 per room per month.
Public comment: none
C. New Administrative Regulation 1312.4(a-e) Williams Uniform Complaint Procedures – First Reading
Blakley reported that the District will not benefit from the pool of money available as only Districts with lowest test scores qualify; only impact to this District is that a notice be displayed in each classroom informing the public they have a right to file a complaint about facilities, instructional materials and teaching assignment.
Place on Consent Agenda for next meeting.
Public comment: none
D. State Pre-School Discussion
Blakley reported that due to low enrollment at beginning of school year, program has projected $25,000 shortfall; unable to recoup loss, has been occurring every year at beginning of program although enrollment eventually reaches capacity; loss will continue to increase; Certification teacher overseeing program will require “Noticing” if Board wants to consider ending program, otherwise will need to subsidize; one possible change is shifting from Certificated employee to Classified employee.
Public Comment:
Diane Veron – Pacific Grove has only State preschool in the area; a need for program, already has seventeen 3-year olds on list for next year; state reviewer has suggested advertising enrollment earlier, even in May; their program coincides with “Zoophonics” presented in Kindergarten; students exposed to numerous concepts that prepare them for success in school.
Juliana Dacuyan – for the last three years, they have run the school with enrollment of 20-24 students in fall, takes 3-4 months to get up to full enrollment; unaware of any grants that could assist; program is free for families, one-quarter to one-third who are no English-speaking; outside problems include non-English-speaking parents and those with no transportation.
Susan Nine, PGTA, reminded Board of side letter of agreement regarding State preschool teacher status, most programs are not staffed by certificated teachers, wants to minimize layoff, does position have to remain certificated, urged Board to explore ways of keeping allocation as preschool has positive impact.
Board Response:
Bray recommended giving notice to keep Board’s options open while continuing to explore options; Adult School Preschool program can assist State preschool students, everyone supports the pre-school, giving notice now is Board action which gives them opportunity to review options; can be rescinded; enrollment should not be a teacher issue asked that Board be permitted to move the process without negative interference.
Cameron agrees with Bray, acknowledged other Board members made good points; Board needs to maintain flexibility; wants more time to reflect on issue;
Shammas a valuable program, would like to see preschools fit into K-12 PGUSD program; questioned District subsidizing families who don’t live here.
Niccum does not need anymore new facts, just time to reflect, opposed to giving notice but sees a case to go forward.
Superintendent’s Response: Perry thanked Veron for major improvements she made in program; budget is biggest issue, changing enrollment recruitment pattern may help, student population is transient; important that Board agree in concept to take risk of deficit, articulation of preschools with District kindergarten should occur, preschool helps students in K-12 system; sees many competing budget interests; if they don’t notice, then no need for any decision, stated that program is currently at capacity of 32 students and 21 are Pacific Grove residents.
Consensus was to place on February 17, 2005 Board Agenda as Action Item.
E. Review/Revision of Board Policy and Regulation 4033, First Reading
Perry stated Board had asked that this come up for discussion; current Board policy; needs to clarify as presented so policy in alignment with others.
Board members agreed that nine year old policy should have been updated sooner, District cannot expect staff to get additional training without fully reimbursing them; sees revision as allowing staff to be reimbursed for actual expenses; per diem should apply only to meals as lodging and registration are predetermined.
Blakley stated CSBA recommends current Policy, but not Regulation, that recommended revision will create difficulties within Business Office; wants equity with a clear standard, that all should receive fair treatment.
Schramm has complete trust in District staff and Administrator, suggests inserting language that would direct Administrator to apply standards fairly; rates need revisiting, look at GSA website, supports complying with law and establishing procedures for fairness.
Susan Nine does not see why accountability should be overlooked on trips, in new policy the word “limits” has been removed; who is governing Superintendent’s expenses; employee perception very poor as to how this became an issue; does not look good.
Grate said Board should set a policy with clear limits, one that makes it simple to understand.
Coulter sees a lot of room for abuse in expenditures, concerned about not having accountability.
Tom Wortham, Technology teacher at High School, understood Board’s intent was to approach revising policy as good stewards; in the past has had numerous difficulties obtaining realistic reimbursements; students’ needs should come first.
Schramm wants to check on insurance relative to use of personal auto; who is responsible for loss of funds with cancellation;
Cameron - if going to use per diem, use as guide; Niccum - would it be legal if we went to per diem only because it does mean less work for Business Office, could meet the need of reasonable expenses;
Shammas hopes everyone understands Board is trying to do a good thing for everyone’s benefit.
IX. ACTION/DISCUSSION
A. New Position: Curriculum Coordinator and Job Description
Perry stated this job description looks at real duties of position, justifies it to similar positions in other districts in Monterey County. Request is indicative of scope of duties.
Public comment: None
MOTION (Bray/Cameron) to approve. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
B. Resolution #753 – Property Tax Application to Timeshare Properties
Blakley acknowledged Stewart Adams in audience, attorney representing Pine Acres Lodge and author of letter (Board packet), only relief is to adopt this resolution and reinterpret language; means loss of $52,000 per year in anticipated revenue to the District over next four years, remote possibility that owners could seek reimbursement for first year payments, alternative is that Board be taken to court and would probably lose.
Public comment: Steward Adams, attorney representing Pine Acres Lodge, asked that Board consider levying assessment on one time share, which they will divide up accordingly.
MOTION (Cameron/Bray) to approve. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
(At this time, the Board discussed extending the meeting beyond 10:00 p.m. rather than discontinue items to the next Board meeting. Vote was 4/1 in favor of continuing to end of agenda.)
C. Proposed Contract for Financial Advisory Services for 2006 General Obligation Bond Election
Blakley stated District cannot do next level of improvements, must ask for general obligation bond, June 2006 is next available date; only real response was from Dale Scott who worked through previous taxes, survey is included in fee, Scott only needs to know subject of survey; timetable is flexible, only authorizing execution of agreement; timetable will be brought back to Board for approval.
Public comment: None
MOTION (Shammas/Niccum) to approve. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
D. 2005/06 School Calendar
Blakley asked Board not to act on this since associations have not had chance to input comments; want to postpone.
Public comment: None
Board comments: Shammas said Board disagrees with winter break on Draft #6; prefers Draft #3 because of traditional Christmas break; Forbes (substitute student rep) promoted traditional time, aware that families will take time when it suits their schedule and not the District’s, October break disruptive to academic continuity; Perry concerned that staff development date also needs to be established.
E. 2005/06 Budget Revenue, Expenditure Projections and Budget Assumptions
Blakley reviewed budget items, noted increases and decreases – showed discrepancy between projections and anticipated revenue, would need to pick up $72,000 from General Fund to offset changes in Parcel Tax expenditures if all items accepted; result of all assumption is $18.5 million in revenue and $18.5 million in expenses; also reviewed funds in the reserve.
Public comment: Parent asked that classes not be combined.
Board comment: Bray reminded that Board’s intent is to reflect community, must move cautiously; Schramm noted that not all bulleted items are in assumptions, asked for identification of what is in and what is out; Forbes stated from student standpoint, having techs in counseling office at high school is good idea – more convenient for students just needing printouts, not wasting counselor’s time who need to have longer meetings on other student matters.
F. Board Calendar/Future Meetings
Perry suggested additional study session with Rubin Ingram of School Employers Association of California (SEAC) on February 26th, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm; will bring to February 17th Board meeting Joint Powers Agreement or contract for service.
Niccum wants March 24th meeting to look at Long Range Plan and budget.
Public comment: None
MOTION (Shammas/Cameron) to approve. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
G. Future Agenda Items
Lozano Smith Law Firm added
X. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ROP Review of Program and Services
Parcel Tax Allocation, 2005/06
Combination Classrooms
High School Graduation Requirements
Independent Study Program
Cell Phone Policy
XI. ADJOURNMENT
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