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
Minutes of the Meeting of September 2, 2004
The Board of Education of the Pacific Grove Unified School District held a meeting on September 2 at the Pacific Grove Middle School.
I. OPENING BUSINESS
A. Call to Order: 6:03 PM
B. Roll Call: Members Present: Beth Shammas
Jessie Bray
Mark Cameron
Richard Schramm
Mike Niccum
Student Representative Creston Whiting-Casey (7:00 PM)
Present:
Administrators Present: Patrick Perry, Superintendent
Robin Blakley, Assistant Superintendent
Adoption of Agenda: MOTION (Schramm/Bray) to adopt agenda with the substitution of the amended minutes from August 19, 2004. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0.
Identified Closed Session Topics:
a Negotiations - Conference with Labor Negotiators Patrick Perry and Robin Blakley
regarding PGTA contract
b. Negotiations - Conference with Labor Negotiators Patrick Perry and Robin Blakley
regarding CSEA contract
Public Comment on Closed Session Items:
No public in attendance
II. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION 6:06 PM
III. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION 7:06 PM
A. Report action taken in closed session
a Negotiations - Conference with Labor Negotiators Patrick Perry and Robin Blakley
regarding PGTA contract – no action taken
b. Negotiations - Conference with Labor Negotiators Patrick Perry and Robin Blakley
regarding CSEA contract – no action taken
B. Pledge of Allegiance. Recited
C. Tour of auditorium
IV. PRESENTATIONS
A. Linda Williams gave a presentation on the recent STAR results for the District and provided handouts with charts showing results over the last several years.
B. Maria Nunez presented the Community Education Impact Award received by Parent’s Place. This award was sponsored by the Monterey County Healthy Babies Healthy Mothers Coalition and was presented by Assemblyman Sam Farr and a representative from Senator McPherson’s Office .
V. COMMUNICATIONS
A. Written Communications:
Shammas received a letter from MCOE regarding the District’s approved 2004/05 Budget.
B. Board Member Comment:
Whiting talked to Mr. Morton about his concern with the books that were stolen last year. Last week he watched how the librarians handed out books and everything went well. He also inquired about opening an additional Boy’s restroom in the F Wing, which has really helped the students. There was a huge line to see the counselor the first week of school, but there was no problem this week.
Shammas reminded Board members and the public to fill out the police survey. She also recommended a great publication she received entitled “Kids and the Law – An A-to-Z Guide for Parents”, which is funded by the Foundation of the State Bar of California.
C. Superintendent Report:
Perry thanked the entire staff for one of the smoothest openings the District has had. We have balanced classes and have met the Board’s goal of keeping class size low in the elementary grades. He was also very pleased with the administrators, including the interim high school administrators, Brian Morton and Todd Buller, and the new Forest Grove principal, Cathie McAweeney. He reminded everyone that Back to School nights start next week.
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Matt Bell noted that the Robert Down staff wanted to publicly thank Dale Barrett and Ron Herndon for all of their hard work and positive attitude this summer.
Dianne Hobson expressed her disappointment, along with other parents and students, regarding the cancellation of the AP calculus class at the high school.
VII. CONSENT:
Donations
Certificated Assignment Order No. 2
Classified Assignment Order No. 2
Minutes of August 19, 2004 Regular Meeting
Warrant Schedule No. 434
Revolving Cash Report No. 2
Cash Receipts Report No. 2
Adoption of AP Psychology course: Pacific Grove High school
Declaration of Surplus Property for 2004 Butterfly Parade Bazaar
Approval of Resolution #743 Authorizing Execution of State Preschool Contract
Legal Services contract 2004-2005
Public Comment: None
MOTION (Bray/Cameron) to approve consent agenda including the corrected minutes of August 19, 2004. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0.
VIII. INFORMATION/DISCUSSION:
Sub Committee Reports:
Shammas: ROP Board Meeting September 10
Bray: Attended PGTA negotiations on August 31 with others scheduled for September 8 and 14. No information at this time regarding CSEA negotiations.
Public Comment: None
Positive School Climate, Board Policy #4100 – First Reading
Perry noted he is looking for guidance regarding the policy pertaining to positive school climate. Bray gave Perry some suggested edits. Schramm suggested rewriting reasonable effort portion -- what is our metric for reasonable effort?
Public Comment: Robert Kershner applauded the Board for initiating this policy. He also felt the word “safety” should be included here somewhere, i.e., a safe environment from other students, harassments, etc. It is important that teachers be dedicated to sensitizing students to diversity.
The decision was made to bring this policy back again at a later date.
Report to the Board on Property Tax
Blakley noted that we still don’t know what property tax revenue will be for this year, but believe that because the value of property has increased, amount will be $3B vs $2.4B last year and that there will be a 7.44% increase in tax revenue.. A 7.44% increase means we will probably be able to adjust budget by around $295,000. This will be brought back for the budget revision in October.
Public Comment: None
First Reading Board Policies and Regulations 6115 through 6162.54
Bray suggested Board members to hand in their editorial comments and see what staff can do with these. Shammas suggested we break apart and bring back a few at a time since there are so many and they are important policies that the Board needs to spend some time on. A portion of these will be brought back in October.
Public Comment: None
Report on Fund 40 – David Avenue Lease Revenues
Blakley reported that the David Avenue leases have assisted the District. At this time, approximately $870,000 of this money has been committed to various projects within the Facility Improvement Plan. He also stated that we have begun the process to decide on which rooms will be used for Community High School. This relocation and tenant displacement will result in reduced rents. Schramm questioned that status on the tenant rents. Blakley responded that we still have one tenant that is one month behind on their rent.
Public Comment: Nan Johnson asked if the replacement cost for Community High includes $500K slated for remodel. Blakley responded that we will actually save approximately $300K by moving CHS to David Ave and not remodeling the existing CHS site.
Food Service Program Report
Due to declining enrollment and an increase in personnel costs, we are no longer able to run the program in the black. In 2002/2003, the District subsidized the program by approximately $40K. In 2003/04 the subsidy was reduced to $7000 after deduction in staff were made. There is the likelihood that we will see an encroachment from the General Fund again for this year. Participation by the students has decreased primarily at the middle and high schools. Some discussion followed regarding foods offered and what students may like. A discussion also ensued regarding the possibility of the District supporting other food items, i.e., healthier choices and more items that students would like. Niccum questioned the approximate amount of this issue. Blakley responded with $70K to address both food choice and service time. The decision was made to put this in the Long Range Plan.
Public Comment: Dianne Hobson noted that she works in Food Services for Forest Grove. She was encouraged by the Board feelings regarding this. At the present time, we don’t give the students a choice
Robert Kershner felt that the open campus issue feeds into this. The students want to have more food choices.
Board of Education 2004-05 School Year Calendar
Schramm suggested we move this item to the end of the agenda since this has become a routine matter. The decision was made to discuss this item along with the Board calendar/future meetings section.
Public Comment: None
Elementary Grade Level Configuration
Perry gave a brief update on recommendations made by task group in 2003 and asked for comments. Bray feels there is a need to have all of the same grade levels together on the same site. Niccum noted that we have to have a strong educational or cost benefit to do this. Schramm suggested we look at entire District. Cameron stated we need a convincing rational that there is a benefit for the students educationally. Shammas noted that she would like to consider the pre schools in the whole picture. There may be a better argument for a primary site and an intermediate site. Perry noted that this is more than an elementary item and that the K-12 school program and organization needs to be reviewed. The decision was made to revisit this with the Long Range Plan.
Public Comment: Matt Bell noted that we need to hold a discussion now. Parents don’t want split classes.
Nan Johnson mentioned that a lot of parents are angry with combo classes this year.
Diane Hobson noted that parents get very involved at the elementary level, but don’t see the impact it makes at the high school – they don’t look at the big picture or how this affects students at middle and high school levels.
IX. ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS
Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators
Perry noted that this is something we do every year and the need is something we project. This is the permission to hire in areas where we feel we have emergency needs.
Public Comment: None
MOTION (Bray/Schramm) to adopt declaration of need for fully qualified educators . Motion CARRIED 5 to 0.
Resolution No. 745, Resolution to Teach
Saxon noted that due to smaller enrollment, our teachers need to teach more subjects.
Public Comment: None
MOTION (Cameron/Niccum) to approve Resolution No. 745. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0.
Board Calendar/Future Meetings
Everything is correct as stated
Public Comment: None
Future Agenda Items
High School Open Campus
Presentation to honor Walter Kraus, Community Human Services
Essential programs committee late October
Board Policy, Positive School Climate
Board Policies and Regulations, 6115 through 6162.54
Public Comment: None
IX. RETURN TO CLOSED SESSION: 9:51 PM
X. ADJOURNMENT: 10:30 PM
Submitted by,
Patrick Perry, Secretary Board of Education
Pacific Grove U.S.D.
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updated: 9/23/04
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