Pacific Grove Unified School District
Note: This web page is a copy of the DRAFT minutes from the Board of Education Meeting.
Minutes are NOT OFFICIAL until amended and approved by the Board at a public meeting.
Updates are made here as soon as possible--The official Minutes are available at the Board Office.
Address any questions to the Interim Superintendent, Dr. Jack Marchi, or call the District Office at 831-646-6510.

PACIFIC GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Minutes of the Meeting of February 17, 2000

The Board of Education of the Pacific Grove Unified School District held a meeting on February 17, 2000 at Pacific Grove Middle School.

A. OPENING BUSINESSS

1. Call Opening Session to Order: 6:35 pm

2. Roll Call: Members Present: Debi Page
Beth Shammas
Jessie Bray
Rod Herndon
David Campbell

Administrators Jack Marchi, Superintendent
present:

3. Identify Closed Session Topics:
a. Public Employee Employment-Classified Leave Request

4. Public Comment Period Regarding Closed Session Items: None.

B. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION: 7:00 pm

1. Pledge of Allegiance: recited

2. Adoption of Agenda: Move G.1 to follow consent items; table G.4 because of illness. MOTION (Shammas/Herndon) to adopt the agenda as amended. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0.

3. Report Action Taken in Closed Session: None.

C. COMMUNICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

1. Written Communications: Jack Marchi received responses from FG and RHD parents regarding 2nd grade; a letter for California Reading Association Annual Conference; a letter from Delaine Eastin (CDE) on API results and conflict of interest letters. Jessie Bray received a resignation letter from Ella Ray Toscano and a letter from Joan & Phil Vanderhorst regarding neighborhood schools. All Board members received a letter from Lynley Overman, and a note from Sarah Costillo that she will not be returning next year.

Superintendent Report: Pacific Grove Middle School flooded last week, Jack congratulated the staff on handling the situation. For future High School Dances the administration would like to use a breathalyzer, they have support of their School Site Council as well as the PTA, would like to develop a policy.

Board Member Comment: Bray wished good luck to the PGHS Boys' Basketball team at tonight's game and was pleased with the number of Honor Roll names in The Herald. Herndon apologized for any comments he made at the last meeting that may have been insulting. Shammas pointed out that 40 years ago, as reported in the newspaper, the district was considering Congress Ave or Forest Ave as names of an elementary school. Campbell congratulated Ken Leatham on appointment to the State High School Honor Band; Athlete of the Week for Ms. Crawford and Mr. Brischke and also Ms. Crawford on her piano playing. Mr. Campbell also pointed out the recent letter to the editor regarding grade inflation and suggested a good book to read, Jefferson's Children. Page expressed thanks to PG PRIDE for the Taste of PG; KION-TV scholar athlete Ryan Bitter.

D. INDIVIDUALS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD: Jerry Norton commented on relationship between the board's strategic plan and reconfiguration. He also presented Dr. Marchi with a calendar.

E. CONSENT AGENDA: Pull Revision of Robert H. Down SIP Plan, page 7; corrected date on page 4-B & 4-C to read February 17, 2000 and add period to end of line F.2. MOTION: (Herndon/Bray) to approve consent agenda as amended. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0.

INFORMATION ITEM G.1
Staff & Student Recognition/Forest Grove School
Tim Culbertson, Principal of Forest Grove School introduced Dylan Stelzried, a fifth grader and a student of Mr. Piotrkowski's, as the winner of the County Spelling Bee.
Tim also acknowledged Hadassah Contreras, Librarian at Forest Grove, as recipient of The Lighthouse for Literacy Award from the Monterey County Reading Association.

F. ACTION ITEMS

1. Resolution No. 638 Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note (TRANS). MOTION (Herndon/Campbell) to approve the resolution enabling our District to participate in the CSBA Cash Reserve Program for 2000/01. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0.

2. Resolution No. 639 to Reduce Classified Services. MOTION (Bray/Shammas) authorizing the reduction of Classified staffing at the David Avenue Kindergarten Center and adjacent recreation program site for the 2000-2001 school year. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0.

3. Resolution No. 640 Intention to Dismiss Certificated Employees. MOTION (Bray/Herndon) to reduce Certificated staffing at the elementary and middle school level for 2000-01 school year due to declining enrollment. Motion CARRIED 5 to 0.

G. INFORMATION/DISCUSSION

2. API's, Academic Performance Index: Barbara Novelli, Curriculum Coordinator, gave a presentation on the general results of the STAR testing. The results help us to measure academic goals and monitor progress. We also can recognize effective teaching and make plans for needed change in the curriculum. The data informs us how our schools performed compared to other schools and similar schools. The State has informed us that problems exist in the reporting of school-level participation rates in the free and reduced price lunch program. These reporting errors have significant implications for the similar schools rankings, since participation in the free and reduced price lunch program is one of the variables used to generate similar school rankings. In the interest of enhancing the accuracy of the similar school ranking, Pacific Grove Unified School District will be sending letters to all parents asking for the information needed to complete the demographic fields required, with a stamped self addressed return envelope, so we may have clean data that will update similar school rankings.

3. Grand Jury Report/Response: Jack Marchi presented a detailed 1997-98 budget showing all expenditures for the Board at that time. Jack will be sending a letter to the presiding Judge of the Coordinate Trial Court and hopes to meet with him as well.

5. Canterbury Woods/Robert H. Down Collaboration: Jack Marchi has been talking with Canterbury Woods residents about the possibility of a collaboration between them and the students of Robert H. Down School. Ideas exchanged about integrating the community, getting rid of the idea that Canterbury Woods is an "old people home", and perhaps a community service option for Middle School and High School students on the lines of clerical and computer help. Conversation will continue and will be reported back to the Board.

6. Subcommittee Reports:
Communications: Bray and Campbell had a very positive meeting with Jack Marchi on February 10. Issues discussed and will return when things are firmer. Some suggestions were a one page Board Action Communication, Update Notice in the Herald and better ways of getting information out. Future item to discuss: Public Relations.
Community of Human Services: A meeting was held today and Beth was unable to attend, she will call for an update. Beth will be meeting with the Director and asked Board Members to submit questions.
Facilities: Nothing to report.
Negotiations: Beth attended a meeting on February 10, there will be another on February 28. At this time prioritizing of issues is the main focus.
Policy Committee: Jessie recommends that this Board start reviewing policies on each agenda until we are current. If the Board could spend 30-50 minutes each meeting, with Jim Philpot's help, we could keep on track. Also take a look at the GAMUT Program.

ROP: March 15, 2000 is the next meeting in Soledad. Beth and Rod will attend.

7. Bond/Modernization Report: Interviews of the six architectural firms will be held February 23 & 24, at the District Office. Hope to have a recommendation to the Board at the March 2 Board Meeting.

H. FUTURE MEETINGS/AGENDA ITEMS: Next Board Meeting is Thursday, March 2 at the PG Middle School; March 9 & 23 will be Board Study/Work Sessions; March 16 Board Meeting at Forest Grove School.

I. ADJOURNMENT: The Board adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Submitted,

Jack Marchi, Secretary
Board of Education

020300min.html