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 June 16, 2005
The Board of Education of the Pacific Grove Unified School District held a meeting on June 16, 2005 at Pacific Grove High School.
I. OPENED BUSINESS
A. Called to Order 6:00 p.m.
B. Roll Call Members Present: Richard Schramm
Mark Cameron
Mike Niccum
Jessie Bray
Beth Shammas
Administration Present: Patrick Perry
Robin Blakley (arrived 7:15 p.m.)
Student Representative Absent: Creston Whiting-Casey
C. Adoption of Agenda
Perry reported that due to unanticipated circumstances, an item be added to the Consent Agenda:
Out of State or Overnight Activities for CADA Leadership Camp.
MOTION (Shammas/Cameron) to accept added item for the Consent section of the agenda
Public comment: none
Motion CARRIED 5-0 to accept agenda item
MOTION (Shammas/Bray) to adopt agenda as amended
Public comment: None
Motion CARRIED 5-0 to adopt amended agenda
D. Identified Closed Session Topics
a. Superintendent Evaluation
b. Meeting with Chief Negotiator Patrick Perry regarding PGTA and CSEA negotiations
c. Adult School compensation
E. Public comment on Closed Session items - None
F. Adjourned to Closed Session 6:05 p.m.
II. CLOSED SESSION
III. RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION 7:36 p.m.
A. Reported action taken in Closed Session
a. Superintendent Evaluation
Schramm announced that the Board took action to certify a positive annual evaluation for the Superintendent.
MOTION (Cameron/Shammas) certify evaluation
Motion carried 5-0
b. Schramm requested that due to an unanticipated circumstance, the Board add an item to the Consent agenda. He requested that a contract with TPO Human Resources be initiated and allocate up to $5,000 to conduct a personnel review.
MOTION (Bray/Niccum) to add this unanticipated item to the Consent Agenda
Motion CARRIED 5-0
c. Meeting with Chief Negotiator Patrick Perry regarding PGTA and CSEA negotiations
No action taken
d. Adult School Compensation
No action taken
B. Pledge of Allegiance pledge recited
IV. COMMUNICATIONS
A. Written Communication
Cameron acknowledged receiving an email from Sydney Dacuyan, Middle School teacher.
Schramm acknowledged receiving an email from Nan Lemmon, High School teacher
B. Board Member Comments
Shammas cited two articles from The Californian newspaper. The first article profiled students in the Salinas High School’s Mission Trails ROP Program who had won gold medals for their woodworking skills. The second article, by sportswriter George Watkins, gave Pacific Grove an “A” in sports, describing the high school as “a public school operating with private school efficiency.”
C. Superintendent Report
Perry commented that the close of school went well and he’s looking forward to next year. He sent a letter to all staff thanking everyone for their accomplishments in the 2004/05 school year. .
V. INDIVIDUALS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
Monique Barr expressed her concern over the low proficiency scores in Algebra I at the Middle School and having the 8th grade algebra students using the same algebra textbook as they will in 9th grade algebra.
VI. PRESENTATION
Honoring District Retirees
Shammas, on behalf of the Board, presented Gary Stotz with a plaque to honor his retirement from the School District and acknowledged the extraordinary success of the music program Stotz established at the Middle School.
VII CONSENT AGENDA
Bray asked that items N. through T. be pulled for discussion.
A. Minutes of May 6, 2005 Board of Education Regular Meeting
B. Donations
C. Certificated Assignment Order #15
D. Classified Assignment Order #15
E. Reclassification Request, 2005/06
F. Award of Consultant Contract (Abatement oversight)High School Flooring Project
G. Approval of High School Window Replacement Project Bid Award
H. Acceptance of Quarterly Treasury Reports
I. Approval of Contract with Visiting Nurse Association for Vision and Scoliosis Screening
J. Technology Coordinator Hourly Pay Rate Increase
K. Approval of 2005/06 MCOE Instructional Resources and Technology Services Contract
L. 2005/06 Consolidated Application for Funding Categorical Programs (Part I)
M. English Language Acquisition Program Application for Funding, Fiscal 2005/06
(added) Out of State Overnight Activities for CADA Leadership Camp
(added) TPO Human Resources Contract for Services and allocation of $5,000 for personnel review.
MOTION (Niccum/Cameron) to approve Consent Agenda items A through M. and two unanticipated items as presented
Public comment: none
Motion CARRIED 5 – 0
N. Approval of Contract for Services from Balance4Kids to Provide Inclusion Aides
O. Approval of Contract for Speech and Language Services for Summer School from Amy Walter, June 2005
P. Approval of Contract for Speech and Language Services for Summer School from Amy Walter, July/Aug 2005
Q. Approval of Contract for Speech and Language Services for 2005-06 School Year from Amy Walter
R. Approval of Contract for Services from the Easter Seals Society
S. Approval of Contract for Services from Tucci Learning Solutions
T. Approval of Contract for Services from Advance Kids
Bray was concerned with the amount of money requested for items N. through T. She noted that these items totaled $410,177 for Special Education services.
Perry stated that the services provided are highly specialized and there are limited alternatives for securing the needed services from less expensive sources.
Shammas acknowledged that it is the School District’s legal responsibility to provide the services.
MOTION (Bray/Cameron) to approve Consent Agenda items N. through T.
Public comment: none
Motion CARRIED 5 – 0
VIII. PUBLIC HEARING
Adoption of 2005/06 Budget
Public comment: none
IX. INFORMATION/DISCUSSION
A. Sub Committee Reports
Community Human Services – Perry is attending a CHS retreat on June 17th at which time a strategic plan will be developed.
City/District – (see item E. under Information/Discussion)
Negotiations - Bray stated that PGTA met on June 13 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and on June 15 from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. She was asked by a PGTA Co-President, after reporting out, to please convey to the Board the deep concern by PGTA that although there is not a settlement in place, that PGTA’s needs would be considered in the budget process.
ROP - Perry stated that he attended the June 15 Executive Committee dinner in Salinas where it was reported that that the State budget appears to be favorable for the ROP program.
To Shammas’s question regarding the possibility of advertising for students to fill the existing classes, Blakley responded that the District is currently budgeted for the 23 sections it now has in place and that adding more sections to accommodate more students would require giving up jobs elsewhere.
Library – nothing to report
Food Services – (see item D. under Information/Discussion)
B. Revision to Substitute Teacher Compensation Rate
Blakley said the Business Office had received a request to increase the daily pay rate of substitute teachers from $95 to $115. The Human Resources Office had reviewed the situation and determined that the current rate of pay was not seeming to affect our ability to hire substitute teachers. Blakley said the item could be put on the list of requests for future consideration.
Shammas felt the item deserved discussion because the substitute teachers do not have a bargaining unit.
Schramm acknowledged there has not been a pay increase in four years, and he would like to have the item placed on the list for future financial consideration.
C. K-5 Instructional Minutes, Language Arts and Mathematics
Linda Williams informed the Board about discussions at the school sites regarding learning time for grade levels, that actual minutes are reported by the teachers and not the principals, that principals are looking for a policy to show the minimum daily instructional time each classroom would spend per curricular area. Minimum days or rotation presents a problem for teachers trying to meet their required instructional minutes on those days. There is a need to get on track between classrooms and schools. Consistent on-task learning time in the lower grades is most important for learning. Also important is including reading and writing all day long in various subjects, not just Language Arts.
Following Board discussion, Schramm said a policy regarding instructional minutes will be written.
Public comment:
Monique Barr, parent, praised the Board for their efforts in striving to provide the students of Pacific Grove with a quality education.
D. Food Services Report Update
Blakley reviewed the Business Office’s responses to the twelve items listed in the Food Services Committee Recommendations as presented in the Board item.
Following discussion, the Board directed the following:
1) form a committee to create a food service policy (Superintendent),
2) look at the feasibility of setting up the kitchen at the High School for meal preparation, to be considered when there is more financial information from the budget adjustments that will be presented in October (Assistant Superintendent),
3) to get input from the principals regarding the possibilities of improving the food service program (Assistant Superintendent),
4) to aggressively pursue other vendors, including those who provide non-packaged meals. (Assistant Superintendent) and
5) consider the possibility of using the food services of other school districts (Assistant Superintendent).
E. City/District Meeting Preparation
Bray and Niccum support the District reconnecting with the City because of the many opportunities.
Shammas wants to reintroduce the idea of a bond going out that is a benefit to the City as well as the District, to think of it as a recreational bond with mutual benefit.
The Board directed the Superintendent to initiate a meeting between Niccum, Bray, and himself.
X. ACTION/DISCUSSION
A. Human Resources Office Proposal
Perry presented the job description, pay scale, and timeline to the Board for their approval.
Bray clarified the historical background of the position and said the Board should be aware of increasing administrative staff in a declining enrollment climate.
Schramm stated that given the nature of the position the job description should include “maintains confidentiality of private and privileged information.”
MOTION (Niccum/Shammas) to approve new Classified Management position as presented.
Public comment: none
Motion CARRIED 5 – 0
MOTION (Niccum/Shammas) to delete Human Resources Coordinator position from Confidential/Classified employee group effective 12-31-05.
Public comment: none
Motion CARRIED 5 – 0
(At 10:00 p.m. MOTION [Shammas/Cameron] to extend meeting 10:30 p.m., motion CARRIED)
B. Adoption of 2005/06 Budget
Blakley highlighted the revenue and expenditures of the 2005/06 District budget. He noted that revisions will be needed after the State budget is approved, the property tax revenue projection is revised and employee contracts are settled..
MOTION (Shammas/Cameron) to adopt 2005/06 budget and approve as presented.
Public comment: none
Motion CARRIED 5 – 0
C. Grading Students with Disabilities, Policy and Regulation #5121.2, Second Reading
(Item moved to August 18 Board meeting)
D. Approval of New Board Policy and Regulation 5146 - Electronic Signaling Devices, Second Reading
Cameron said he feels the policy covers all legal concerns.
Schramm said leaving the signaling devices in back packs would be difficult to enforce. It was agreed to remove the words “back pack” from the regulation.
MOTION (Cameron/Bray) to adopt policy and issue regulation as amended.
Public Comment: none
Motion CARRIED 5 – 0
E. Board Calendar/Future Meetings
MOTION (Shammas/Bray) to add August 11 Study Session (Superintendent’s Goals, 2005/06 school year) to Board Calendar.
Public Comment: none
Motion CARRIED 5 – 0
F. Future Agenda Items
No items added to future agendas
XI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
August 18
Grading Students with Disabilities
Sept. 1
ELL Master Plan
TBA
(New) Board Policy 5127 – Graduation Ceremonies and Activities, First Reading
(New) Board Policy related to elementary instructional minutes
Board Policy 4033, Eighth Reading
Elementary grade level reconfiguration
High School Counseling Program
Employment of High School Career Center Technician
High School Graduation Requirements
Revision of Regulation #6143 – K-5 Course of Study
Update on High School WASC (ESLRs)
Wellness Policy, SB2507
XII. ADJOURNMENT 10:12 p.m.
minutes/0405/061605min.html