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 December 9, 2004
The Board of Education of the Pacific Grove Unified School District held a meeting on November 18, 2004, at the Pacific Grove High School.
I. OPENING BUSINESS
A. Call to Order 6:30 p.m.
B. Roll Call Members Present: Beth Shammas
Richard Schramm
Mark Cameron
Mike Niccum
Jessie Bray
Student Representative Present:
Creston Whiting-Casey (arrived 7:00 p.m.)
C. Pledge of Allegiance
D. Adoption of Agenda: After adding Sub-Committee Reports to Information/Discussion
MOTION (Bray/Cameron) to adopt amended agenda. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
E. Identified Closed Session Topics
a. Negotiations - Conference with Labor Negotiators Patrick Perry and Robin Blakley regarding CSEA contract.
b. The Board of Education will discuss possible modifications to the Superintendent’s contract.
c. Conference with labor negotiator Patrick Perry regarding: Unrepresented employee: Assistant Superintendent Business Services.
F. Public comment on Closed Session items No public comment
G. Adjourn to Closed Session 6:34 p.m.
II. RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION 7:00 p.m.
Report action taken in closed session
a. Negotiations - Conference with Labor Negotiators Patrick Perry and Robin Blakley regarding CSEA contract. No action taken.
b. The Board of Education will discuss possible modifications to the Superintendent’s contract. No action taken
c. Conference with labor negotiator Patrick Perry regarding: Unrepresented employee: Assistant Superintendent Business Services. No action taken
III. ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
A. Election of President to Serve for One-Year Period
Beth Shammas nominated Richard Schramm who accepted the nomination, no other nominations, no public comment, all in favor, Schramm elected President; presided over rest of the meeting.
B. Election of Vice-President/Clerk to Serve for One-Year Period
Mike Niccum nominated Mark Cameron who accepted the nomination; no other nominations, no public comment, all in favor; Cameron elected Vice-President/Clerk.
C. Determination of Dates, Time and Location of Regular Meetings
Perry asked the Board to accept recommended Proposed Calendar for balance of 2004-05 School Year; noted that calendar is consistent with by-laws. Action was requested later in the agenda.
D. Approval of Resolution No. 750 Designating Authorized Agent to Sign School Orders
MOTION (Shammas/Cameron) to approve item as presented. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
E. Designation of Committee Representatives:
1. Community Human Services: Shammas/Schramm
2. City/District: Niccum/Bray
3. Negotiations: Bray/Shammas
4. ROP: Cameron/Schramm
5. Library: Cameron/Bray
6. Food Service Subcommittee: (Deferred to January Agenda as Discussion item.)
IV. COMMUNICATIONS
A. Written Communication - No comments
B. Board Member Comments
Whiting-Casey reported on recent death of student; did not know her personally, met with her MCOE teacher regarding an announcement to the Student Body, confident he said the right thing; student body is doing well.
Cameron found CSBA Conference to be very educational; asked if it would be possible to set up a brainstorming session to share information.
Shammas also enjoyed CSBA Conference; asked it there would be evaluations to complete and submit; pleased to see how one thousand school districts could come together and share information; congratulated Schramm on election to Board President.
Bray equally impressed at the CSBA Conference; many areas of interests; stayed for Golden Bell awards; acknowledged new high school basketball coach; commented on recent article in The Herald, giving School District positive press.
Schramm said having District receive the Golden Bell Award a high point of CSBA Conference for him; at sessions he attended, learned more about collective bargaining and legal procedures in expulsions and suspensions.
C. Superintendent Report
Perry thanked Board for attending the CSBA Conference; a rich opportunity to gain a broad cross section of knowledge; schedule of Winter Programs included in the upcoming Friday Updates.
V. INDIVIDUALS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
Parent of first grader at Robert Down wanted to applaud the Pacific Grove Unified School District for “looking outside the box” with the Essential Programs Committee Report; support the program and wants to see it thrive.
VI. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes of November 18, 2004 Board of Education Meeting
B. Warrant Schedule No. 437
C. Revolving Cash Report No. 4
D. Cash Receipts Report No. 4
E. Out of State or Overnight Activities
F. Acceptance of Donations
G. Resolution 749 – Revision of MCSIG – JPA
H. Acceptance of Quarterly Treasury Reports
I. Approval of Contract with Challenge Day Consultants
MOTION (Cameron/Niccum) to approve. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0.
VII. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Community Human Resources – Perry reported that the primary focus at this time is finding a property to house a program shut down due to economic infeasibility; other programs running well, clients appreciative of services.
B. City/District – nothing to report.
C. Negotiations – Bray attended CSEA meeting December 6th, moving forward on schedule; pre-retirement conference Saturday, January 22, 2005, 8:30 am – 1:00 pm for Classified, Confidential and Management employees.
D. ROP – nothing to report.
E. Library – Bray announced card catalogues of all four school sites will be online in January with worldwide access through “Pinpoint” for students and local residents, including age appropriate websites; Library Improvement Plan underway at each site, follow-up meeting scheduled in January; library staff will be requesting a review of staffing, particularly at the Middle School.
Public Comment: No public comment.
VIII. PRESENTATION
Linda Williams and Patrick Perry gave a presentation on the Essential Programs Committee Report. Perry acknowledged outstanding job of committee in responding to Board’s request, working over several months in conducting research, gathering data, compiling the results and highlighting key recommendations into a very comprehensive document. Committee members included principals, teachers, parents, and representatives from PGTA and CSEA. Ms. Williams’s interactive PowerPoint presentation highlighted committee’s goals and extraordinary efforts in achieving those goals. The following is a summary of key recommendations:
Elementary level:
Foreign language (Spanish)
Integration of hands-on, lab-supported science
Expansion of the art program
Extension of the music program
Development of writing program
Master plan for English language learners
Challenge high-achieving students
Create standard instructional time allocation for math and language arts
Middle school level
Upgrade science labs
Restore elective program
Drama
Journalism
Improve facilities
Explore various schedule options which will enable the offering of more electives
Implementing a cross-curricular writing program
Developing math support program for students one or more years behind grade level
High school level
Increase graduation requirements by 20 or 30 units
Add upper electives or requirements
Math
English
Science
Increase required years for
Math
English
Social Studies
Foreign Language
Visual Performing arts
Add vocational electives
Two sections of AVID
Develop career pathways program
RE-design ROP/Vocational education
ELD services for ELL students
Electives and core content classes remain intact regardless of enrollment
Upgrade science labs
Renovate music room
(The above is a summary. The complete report available in Superintendent’s office and online at www.pgusd.org.) There was discussion around extending the school day at the high school to accommodate UC/CSU entrance requirements and adding a career-planning module in the freshman year.
Schramm expressed a need for more technical education to prepare students for the current global community. Whatever changes occur should impact only incoming freshmen. ELD services are a challenge due to the number of students who must be placed in class due to need, not grade.
High school music teacher, David Hoffman, gave overview of current status of high school music program and what is needed to bring it to up state and national standards, including the repair or purchase of instruments, as well as an expanded program that articulates the middle and high school instrumental classes. It was noted that the evening’s presentations were for discussion purposes only, that Board will be meeting in near future to discuss key recommendations in greater detail.
Public Comment:
Parent of 6th and 8th graders feels there’s a complacency in District, that it must look at how it compares itself to other school districts; things need to change; she is going to be watching because she wants every student to have an opportunity to succeed, the school district owes them that chance.
Parent of a senior who went through all grades in PG in favor of increasing graduation credits to at least 240; endorses having electives or music as an after school period at middle and high school; important that freshmen be familiar with CSU/UC requirements to plan their high school; program suggests freshman counseling class with emphasis on early career planning; math a core course, should be offered all four years.
To the question of why an elementary science lab would cost so much, Perry replied that it entails either designing two elementary school duplicate classrooms or one science suite.
High school student spoke on behalf of Mr. Wortham’s ROP computers; computers are old and in desperate need of updating; hardware is old, software is old; appreciates how hard Mr. Wortham works to have give everyone a positive learning experience in his classes.
Whiting-Casey agreed that high school needs new technology, “to take us in the same direction as the rest of world;” happy to see Board taking steps to improve the education for the students, understands the difficulties placed upon the District by declining enrollment.
Cameron has strong feeling about graduation credits and students leaving early.
Shammas thanked presenters; key to success is balance; there are kids who are struggling with the current requirements, and becoming discouraged; does not want Board to set up a program that puts students at risk; sees nothing wrong with students leaving school early, feels that is their reward to themselves for working hard, what else would provide the same motivation.
Niccum sees no simple answer; must have a safety net, students should have options; in looking at similar schools he observed that Pacific Grove School District not doing as well, near the bottom, with the District’s resources we should be doing better.
Bray says work on the report is remarkable; has a lot of concern about expectations contained in the curriculum; what committee has presented is a good start.
Schramm expressed gratitude to everyone who worked on the Essential Programs Committee Report; views the report as quite significant; assured audience Board will begin their discussion of the findings and recommendations of the Essential Program Report and come back to them with encouraging information; urged everyone to continue to stay involved.
IX. ACTION/DISCUSSION
A. First Interim Report
MOTION: (Niccum/Cameron) to approve item as presented. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
B. Elementary School Site Clerical Aide Reclassification
MOTION: (Cameron/Niccum) to approve item as presented. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
C. Approval of Superintendent Compensation Adjustment for 2004/2005
MOTION (Bray/Shammas) to approve item as presented. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
D. Approval of Assistant Superintendent Compensation Adjustment for 2004/2005
MOTION:(Niccum/Bray) to approve item as presented. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
F. School Resource Officer Memorandum of Understanding
MOTION: (Shammas/Bray) to approve item as presented. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
G. Board Calendar/Future Meetings
MOTION (Cameron/Shammas) to approve item as presented. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0
H. Future Agenda Items
Recommendation: (Patrick Perry) The Administration recommends that the Board review each request for a future agenda item form and that direction be supplied to the Administration with regard to placement of the item on upcoming Board agendas.
X. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Independent Study Program
Credit Cards
Cell Phone Policy
Food Service Committee
XI. ADJOURNMENT 9:58 pm
Pacific Grove U.S.D.
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updated: 1/22/05
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