MT. DIABLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

 

BOARD MEETING – September 12, 2006

 

ATTENDANCE:              Board: Linda Mayo, Gary Eberhart (at 6:15 p.m.), Dick Allen, Paul Strange, April Treece

Administrative Staff: Superintendent Gary McHenry; Associate Superintendent Alan Young; assistant superintendents Roger Bylund, Mildred Browne, Gail Isserman, and Dick Nicoll; Chief Financial Officer Gloria Gamblin; General Counsel Greg Rolen

 

1.             CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by President Mayo at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Dent Center.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  None

 

CLOSED SESSION:  The Board adjourned to Closed Session at 6:01 p.m. in Room 6 of the Dent Center. Topics discussed included a retention appeal; 9 requests for readmission and one expulsion case; conference with real property negotiator (Alves Ranch property; Pleasant Hill flood detention basin); and negotiations.

 

Readmissions
Treece moved, Strange seconded, and the Board voted 4-0-0 (Eberhart not yet present) to approve staff’s recommendation to readmit four students and deny readmission to five students who did not meet conditions for readmission.

 

Conference with Real Property Negotiator: Pleasant Hill Flood Detention Basin
Treece moved, Eberhart seconded, and the Board voted 5-0-0 to remove District property as an option for a flood control basin in Pleasant Hill and to retain title to two acres of land on the former Oak Park Elementary School site.

 

Retention Appeal

The Board held a hearing on the request of Student #213281 to appeal her retention in 8th grade. Following the hearing, the Board voted 5-0-0 to uphold the student’s retention.

 

2.             RECONVENE OPEN SESSION:  The Board returned to Open Session at 7:30 p.m.  Mayo led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and reported the action taken in Closed Session.

 

Moment of Silence
At President Mayo’s request, a Moment of Silence was observed in remembrance of September 11, 2001 and in memory of College Park High teacher Kevin Kraus, speech therapist Madeleine Sturiale, and former MDUSD superintendent Don Russell, who worked for the District for 22 years, heading it from 1980 to 1984.

 

Expulsion
Student 1-07: Strange moved, Allen seconded, and the Board voted 5-0-0 that Student 10-07 be expelled from all schools and programs of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and that Student 10-06 may apply for readmission after June 16, 2006.  It is required that Student 10-06 participate in individual counseling, community service, the COPS program, and show evidence of a successful school experience, prior to applying for readmission.

 

Report of Closed Session
Mayo reported the action taken and items discussed in Closed Session. She then announced the seven individuals besides herself who are candidates in the November 7 election for the three open seats on the Board of Education: Dick Allen, Rusty Bordelon, Tina Gregory, Ruth Rodriguez, Patrick Sennello, Paul Strange, and Randy Tolerton. 

 

3.             CONSENT AGENDA

Eberhart moved, Allen seconded, and the Board voted 5-0-0 to adopt the Consent Agenda, thereby approving the following:

3.1          Minutes of the meeting of August 8, 2006.

 

3.2          Certificated Personnel

3.2.1 Leaves of Absence, Resignations, Retirements, Employment

 

3.2.2 Approval of Provisional Internship Permit (PIP) Request(s)

Adopted Resolution #06/07-18, authorizing Thomas Duffy and Miranda Broder to apply for a Provisional Internship Permit (PIP) in order to complete their assignment for the 2006-07 school year.

 

3.2.3 Resolution #06/07-21 Education Code 44258.2 – Board Authorization

Adopted Resolution #06/07-21, authorizing Karen Borowski, who holds a single subject or secondary credential and has 12 lower division units or 6 upper division units in a subject, to teach that subject in a middle school for the current school year.

 

3.2.4 Resolution #06/07-20 Variable Term Waiver Requests

Adopted Resolution #06/07-20, authorizing Thomas Duffy and James Riley to apply for a Variable Term Waiver, giving them additional time to complete certain requirements for the credential that authorizes their service. The waiver request is made when there is not a properly credentialed person available for the position.

 

3.2.5 Addition of Grant-Funded .20 Full-Time Equivalent Position (FTE) for the 2006-07 School Year

Transferred .20 FTE school psychologist position from the General Fund to the Pre-Intervention Mental Health Grant (1901). Fiscal Impact: A $21,798 decrease in the General Fund and an increase of that amount in the Pre-Intervention Mental Health Grant budget.

 

3.2.6 Certification to Evaluate Teachers

Certified identified certificated management personnel to evaluate teaching personnel, as required by Board Policy 4315.1.

 

3.3          Classified Personnel

3.3.1 Leaves of Absence, Resignations, Retirements, Employment

 

3.3.2 Eliminate a Vacant Intermediate Typist Clerk Position and Create a Secretary Position at Loma Vista Adult Education Center

Eliminated one vacant full-time, 40 hour/week, 11-month/year Intermediate Typist Clerk position and created one full-time, 40 hour/week, 12-month/year Secretary position at the Mt. Diablo Adult Education program. There is no impact to the General Fund. The $7,141 difference in cost for fiscal year 2006-07 will be funded by Adult Education (7901).

 

3.3.3 Eliminate Part-Time Delivery Service Worker Position and Create a Warehouse Attendant Truck Driver Position

Eliminated one 30-hour/week, 12-month/year Delivery Service Worker position and created one full-time, 40-hour/week, 12-month/year Warehouse Attendant Truck Driver position. Fiscal Impact: A $6,977 additional cost to the General Fund.

 

3.3.4 Eliminate one (1) vacant Senior Account Clerk Position in Fiscal Services and Create One (1) Payroll Analyst Position

Eliminated one vacant Senior Account Clerk position and created one Payroll Analyst position in Fiscal Services, as recommended by the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT). Fiscal Impact:  There is a net impact to the General Fund in the amount of $16,376.

 

3.4          Final Change Order – Bid 1409/Contract C-830

Approved Final Change Order to Bid 1409/Contract C-830 to Harry L. Murphy, Inc. in the amount of $66,453 for flooring installation at Bel Air, Valhalla, and Walnut Acres elementary schools; Diablo View, Glenbrook, Riverview, and Valley View middle schools; and Northgate and Ygnacio Valley high schools. Funding Source:  Deferred Maintenance Funds

 

3.5          Final Change Order – Bid 1411/Contract C-831

Approved Final Change Order to Bid 1411/Contract C-831 to Bell Products in the amount of $12,719 for the installation of new classroom furnaces in the 300 wing at Ygnacio Valley High School. Funding Source:  Deferred Maintenance Funds.

 

3.6          Contract Amendment #3 to Harlan Krusemark, Architect

Approved a $13,800 amendment to the contract with Harlan Krusemark, Architect, for additional architectural/engineering services for Group 5 of the Measure C construction program (Loma Vista Adult Center and Diablo View Middle School). Funding Source:  Measure C

 

3.7          Contract Amendment #7 to ATI Architects

Approved contract amendment #7 in the amount of $9,490 for ATI Architects to provide architectural/engineering services for modifications at Strandwood Elementary and for prototypical kindergarten classroom design for the Measure C construction program. Funding Source:  Measure C

 

3.8          Contract Amendment #6 to ATI Architects

Approved contract amendment #6 in the amount of $16,614 for ATI Architects to provide architectural/engineering services for prototypical classrooms for the Measure C construction program. Funding Source:  Measure C

 

3.9          Award of Contracts

3.9.1 Awarded contract not to exceed $23,148 to Consolidated Engineering Laboratories to provide comprehensive materials testing and geotechnical services in the site development of the Olympic High School/Willow Pass project. Funding Source:  Proposition 55 funds

 

3.9.2 Awarded contract not to exceed $4,186.44 to Inspection Services, Inc. for testing and inspection services for new modular restrooms at Concord High; El Dorado Middle; and Hidden Valley and Meadow Homes elementary schools. Funding Source:  Measure C—$2,046.61; Developer Fees—$6,139.83

 

3.9.3 Awrded contract not to exceed $12,205.50 to Inspection Services, Inc. for testing and inspection services for new classrooms at Clayton Valley, College Park, Concord, and Northgate high schools; and Strandwood and Ygnacio Valley elementary schools. Funding Source:  Developer Fees

 

3.10        Independent Contract for Educational Interpreters for the Deaf

Approved $100,000 contract with Interpreting and Consulting Services to provide educational interpreters for the deaf in order to meet student Individualized Education Program (IEP) requirements. Fiscal Impact:  There is no impact to the General Fund as the amount is already budgeted. Funding Source:  Related Services Supplemental Operating Budget (1218).

 

3.11        Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Program

Approved contract not to exceed $49,000 with the Center for Human Development to provide smoking cessation and counseling services to students. Fiscal Impact:  There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding Source:  Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) grant.

 

4.             RECOGNITIONS

McHenry acknowledged Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Gail Isserman and Director of Certificated Personnel Julie Braun Martin for their hard work and success in filling position vacancies for the 2006-07 school year.

 

5.             PUBLIC COMMENT

Sandy Walters, Concord High parent, detailed problems her son and other students had in getting their classes during the first weeks of school. She criticized the school administration about a field trip to Disneyland that band students took last year. She also has searched in vain for a complaint form, which is to be available under the Williams Settlement, to protest being asked to pay for her daughter’s literature book.

 

6.             COMMUNICATIONS

Organizations

Mike Noce, MDEA president, complained that the District Administration makes decisions without consulting MDEA. He criticized the Board for approving at its August 8 meeting a preliminary proposal regarding bonuses for teachers at Decile 1 to 3 schools without any input from MDEA. He announced that the Faculty Representative Assembly voted unanimously yesterday to oppose the proposal and to request that a joint committee be formed to come up with other alternatives, that can be bargained, for the use of the money. He criticized the Administration for talking directly to BTSA/PAR coaches, rather than to the MDEA leadership, about compensation for those who agree to coach more teachers than the contract stipulates. He said the plan later developed through discussions between MDEA and the Administration was passed by the Rep Assembly. He expressed regret that the District and MDEA no longer participate in continuous bargaining, as determined during the last contract negotiations. He predicted that later in the meeting the Board would approve two fiscal positions as recommended by the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), and said that money spent on the FCMAT recommendations is taking away from compensation for teachers. He announced that the Rep Assembly has officially endorsed candidates Dick Allen, Paul Strange, and Tina Gregory for MDUSD School Board in the November election.

 

Carol Bruno, CSEA president, announced that her unit has endorsed the three incumbents for MDUSD School Board: Dick Allen, Linda Mayo, and Paul Strange.

 

7.             REPORTS/INFORMATION -Olympic High School Special Project – Phil Arndt, Comcast Cable

Philip Arndt of Comcast Cable, said the company has chosen Olympic High as this year’s “Milestone School” for its Volunteer Day on October 7. On that day Comcast employees and their families, along with students, their families, and staff, will undertake a number of projects to beautify the school and also to complete the transformation of an old room into a music studio so students can participate in the Bay Unity Music Project (BUMP). He invited Board members and staff to join in the event.

 

Board comment   Allen noted that Arndt is past chairman of the Concord Chamber of Commerce and recalled that last year’s Comcast volunteer day was spent at Riverview Middle. It felt like “Family Day,” and greatly benefited the school. Mayo, who was at Olympic earlier in the day, said everyone is excited about the event. She thanked Comcast for the contribution being made.

 

8.                   SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

McHenry, noting that schools have been in session for nine days, reported that enrollment is below projections by 300 to 500 students. Staff are looking at reasons and have found that more students have transferred out of the district than in and that kindergarten enrollment is down by 100 students. Child Welfare and Attendance Liaisons are checking on students who have not yet arrived. Lower enrollment will affect revenues, he cautioned. Personnel staff are still looking for a few teachers, though all classes are covered, some by substitutes. Some school sites were not completely ready on opening day due to construction work, but accommodations were made. Schools received all their textbooks except for social studies, which was a new adoption and arrived on the first or second day, and foreign language. He thanked all the people who worked hard to get schools ready for the year.

District staff have visited all schools and found morale to be high, he reported. Students improved their test scores over last year, resulting in the District’s meeting 46 of 46 measures of the federal standards for Adequate Yearly Progress. He thanked teachers, support staff, and administrators for this achievement.

He said this year the Board and the District Administration need to address the issue of employee compensation because “we are losing ground to other districts.” At the same time, “we have to address legal and programmatic mandates, which are hard for some to understand.” He wants to build in more collaboration time for teachers and other staff members. He is proud that in a district whose students come from wealth, from poverty, from 47 different languages and with other diverse needs, the teachers and administrators are successful in getting every child to succeed. He is determined that staff try to acquire a new Student Information System, saying the parent comment earlier in the meeting pointed out that scheduling is a nightmare in many schools, and “we need to change that.”

He reviewed the District goals:

·          Improve the achievement of all students and close the achievement gap.

·          Improve average daily attendance (ADA).

·          Insure access to all programs and services for all students.

·          Improve maintenance and facilities and the appearance of the grounds.

·          Improve organizational efficiency.

·          Address legal and programmatic mandates.

·          Implement new program initiatives, such as Career Integrated Academics, Early Childhood Education, and an updated District Technology Plan.

·          Maintain sound fiscal procedures and practices.

 

At the end of his report McHenry commented on Noce’s remarks earlier in the meeting. He said there is no intent among the District leadership to be a top-down administration, but it is the Administration’s job to lead the district in a way that best serves children. Staff brought the plan for Decile 1 to 3 schools to the Board because money from the state is available specifically for staff at those sites. The Board approved the plan with the understanding that money would be available and that it would be implemented only after negotiations with the teachers union.

 

Board announcement   Mayo acknowledged that students from a Northgate High government class are attending tonight’s meeting.

 

9.             BUSINESS

9.1          Appointment of Supervisor, Accounting

Allen moved, Treece seconded, and the Board voted 5-0-0 to appoint Judy Stevens as Supervisor, Accounting, effective September 1, 2006.

 

9.2          Resolution 06/07-14 Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 – October 15, 2006

Eberhart moved, Strange seconded, and the Board voted 5-0-0 to adopt Resolution 06/07-14, supporting the California Department of Education’s designation of September 15–October 15, 2006, as Hispanic Heritage Month and recognizing the many contributions made by the Hispanic people to the growth and development of California’s heritage.

 

9.3          Alves Ranch Purchase Agreement

Eberhart moved, Allen seconded, and the Board voted 5-0-0 to approve an agreement to purchase an 11-acre site on which to construct a K-8 school in Alves Ranch Development. Purchase price is $10,850,000. The City of Pittsburg General Plan incorporates plans for a school site in the Alves Ranch Development. Funding Source:  Measure C Funds - $5,000,000; Proposition 55 Funds - $5,850,000

 

9.4          Memorandum of Understanding between Mt. Diablo Unified School District (Olympic High School) and Bay Area Video Coalition

Strange moved, Eberhart seconded, and the Board voted 5-0-0 to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) to support a new afterschool program, the Bay Unity Music Project (BUMP), at Olympic High. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding Source:  $30,000 for program support provided by a private donor, $77,000 in equipment cost and supply costs provided by Comcast Cares Day, and $70,000 in staffing costs provided by Bay Area Video Coalition.

 

Public comment   Rinda Bartley, Olympic High principal, said BUMP is a high-interest, high-engagement program that will motivate students, giving them an opportunity to compose and create their own music. She thanked District maintenance staff and Local One, M&O, for their work in creating a space for the project. She introduced Art Heckman, who will oversee the program, and Ken Ikeda of the BAVC, who said the partnership of Olympic High, Comcast, and his organization is a unique one. It is not just about making music, but about literacy as well and is the first step on a pathway that leads to employment. Margot Tobias, director of alternative education, also expressed support and enthusiasm for the project.

 

9.5          Resolution 06/07-19 Accepting Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for the Clayton Valley High School Stadium Lighting Project

Treece moved, Allen seconded, and the Board voted 5-0-0 to adopt Resolution 06/07-19, accepting the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Clayton Valley High’s stadium lighting project, which extends nighttime sports activities on the school’s field. The District’s consultant prepared and circulated the Draft Supplemental EIR pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Public Resource Code Section 21,000 of seq.

 

Staff report   Dick Nicoll reviewed the opportunities for public review and comment on the EIR. No negative comments were received. Treece noted that members of the Clayton Valley High community have spoken in support of this project at previous meetings. Strange said “this is a beautiful project.”

 

9.6          Job Description and Creation of One Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Fiscal Analyst II Position

Eberhart moved, Strange seconded, and the Board voted 5-0-0 to approve the creation of a 1.0 FTE Fiscal Analyst II position, placed at Range 558 of the Local One, Clerical, Secretarial, Technical Unit, and funded through the Categorical budget, effective September 1, 2006. Fiscal Impact:  $71,918, increase in the Categorical Fund expenditure budget. Funding Source:  Title I, Title II, Economic Impact Aid (EIA), High Priority Schools Grant (HPSG), Block VI, Reading First Grant, and School Safety and Violence Prevention.

 

9.7          Resolution of Findings of Noncompliance Agreement Addressing the Uniform Complaint Procedures

Allen moved, Treece seconded, and the Board voted 5-0-0 to approve revisions to the District’ s Uniform Complaint Procedures as delineated in MDUSD Administrative Rule and Exhibit 1312.4. After consulting with the California Department of Education, it was discovered that certain words had been left out of the Williams Case Notice for posting in every classroom. The changes are aligned with Sate Compensatory Education (SCE) guidelines.

 

9.8          Contract Agreement with Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) and Mt. Diablo Unified School District

Allen moved, Strange seconded, and the Board voted 5-0-0 to approve a contract with the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) to provide the AB 430 Administrator Training Program. There is no impact to the General Fund. The training and practicum will be funded through AB 430 grant from the California Department of Education. Funding Source:  California Department of Education

 

9.9          Adoption of the Novel Fight Club by Chuck Palhniuk

A curriculum specialist and an English/Language Arts Site Literature Adoption Committee from Mt. Diablo High reviewed Fight Club by Chuck Palhniuk and recommended that it be added to the Extended Core Literature list. Presented for information only at this time, the item will be returned for action at a subsequent meeting.

 

9.10        Discussion and Clarification of High School Options for Students Who Live in the Pleasant Hill Elementary School Attendance Boundaries

When Pleasant Hill High School closed in 1980 a committee was formed to determine which school its students would attend. Its recommendation, approved by the Board of Education, established Roberta Avenue as the attendance boundary between College Park and Ygnacio Valley high schools and gave that year’s 11th graders at Pleasant Hill High the option of attending either Ygnacio Valley or College Park for 12th grade.

 

When Pleasant Hill Middle School opened in September 1997 the Board of Education approved boundary changes that affected students at Fair Oaks, Gregory Gardens, Pleasant Hill, and Strandwood elementary schools. As part of this decision, students at Pleasant Hill Elementary (PHE) would go to Pleasant Hill Middle and have the option of attending either Ygnacio Valley or College Park high school. This option was further reaffirmed as part of a task force recommendation presented to the Board of Education in October 1998.

 

During the 2005-06 school year some Pleasant Hill residents complained that the District’s practices regarding the option were not widely known. A citizen group, the Pleasant Hill Boundaries Action Committee, developed recommendations to clarify the issue, which the Pleasant Hill City Council approved on August 7, 2006. In response to the concern, Superintendent McHenry issued the following directives:

 

1.     Students in the PHE attendance area have the choice of attending either College Park or Ygnacio Valley high school, consistent with action that was approved by the Board of Education in 1980.

 

2.     The MDUSD Attendance Area Directory will be changed to show both College Park and Ygnacio Valley as high school options for students who live in the PHE attendance area.

 

3.     Students will still be asked to fill out an intradistrict transfer form.  As soon as the form is received, it will be forwarded to the applicable high school principal to insure that students are included on class lists for fall.

 

4.     Open Enrollment Administrative Rule 5116 and 5117 regarding intra- and interdistrict transfers will be changed to establish October 1 through January 15 as the open enrollment period.

 

5.     This information will be communicated to parents who live in the Pleasant Hill Elementary School attendance area.

 

At this meeting McHenry asked the Board to discuss the directives and make changes as needed. He noted that earlier in the day Directive #3 was changed. Rather than an intradistrict transfer form, the District will use an “Intent to Attend” form for students to indicate their choice of either College Park or Ygnacio Valley high.

 

Board comment    Eberhart confirmed that the area being discussed will now be referred to as the “Pleasant Hill Elementary attendance area” and not by its former term, “the grey area.” Board members expressed agreement with the directives.

 

Superintendent comment   McHenry introduced Pleasant Hill parents Leanne Hamaji and Cindy Rubin, who authored proposal. They thanked District staff and Board members for their cooperation on this matter. Mayo thanked McHenry for his thorough research, which included reading years-old minutes, to report on the initial action in 1980 and subsequent Board actions regarding this issue. She also noted that the agenda packet includes all the documentation related to Board

 

10.          BOARD REPORTS

Strange announced that Pleasant Hill Cleanup Day will be held on Saturday, September 16 and commented that he has volunteered this year to work with the Freshman Class at Mt. Diablo High.

 

Allen reported that several Board members attended the opening of the West Leland Road extension in Pittsburg, which will make it easier for parents to get their children to District schools. He also attended: 1) the Adult School Woodworking Open House, which is “always an amazing event”; 2) the employee appreciation lunch at Dent Center on Friday, September 1; 3) Adult Education’s staff development day; 4) the Parent Advisory Council’s monthly meeting, at which parents were complimentary of the high school registration process; and 5) the monthly Community Advisory Committee meeting at which Connie Warner was re-elected as chair.

 

Treece reported that she attended 1) the Parent Advisory Council meeting, where there is always stimulating conversation, this time on parents’ assessment of the opening of school, which was informative and positive; 2) both the breakfast in appreciation of Central Services staff and the lunch to thank Dent Center staff on September 1; 3) the Concord Chamber of Commerce meeting at which programs in collaboration with schools were discussed. She said the Business-Education Committee will be looking at the state of MDUSD schools at its October 4 meeting. She welcomed all the students attending tonight’s meeting.

 

Eberhart reported that he’s been looking at all the work that’s gone on during the summer by District and contractor crews who tried to get everything done by the time teachers and administrators returned and appreciates all the effort all the individuals made. Addressing Noce’s comments earlier in the meeting, he said the Board is trying to find ways to improve the education of pupils at District schools that have the most need. He recalled that the Board had a lengthy discussion on August 8, when the preliminary proposal to provide incentives for recruiting and retaining teachers at schools in Deciles 1 to 3. was presented. He said Board members clearly voiced the need to negotiate with MDEA. He is hopeful that a joint committee can come up with a proposal that works, not just for teachers but for students at those sites. He agreed that “there is a real need to change the relationship that we have with teachers, and with all employees.” It needs to be done through communications and through working together to develop trust, he said.

 

Board meetings cancelled, scheduled

Mayo reported that all Board members met in Closed Session on Saturday, September 9, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to discuss the Superintendent’s evaluation. They made “such good progress” that they have cancelled the meeting on this topic scheduled for September 16 and have removed the topic from their Closed Session on September 19, when they will discuss negotiations. They will discuss the final steps of the Superintendent’s evaluation at a Closes Session on Saturday, September 30, beginning at 9 a.m.

 

Mayo then reported on contributions the Adult School Woodshop Program (Diablo Woodworkers Association) has made to Ygnacio Valley High. She said that the woodworking program moved to the high school for the summer because of Measure C construction work at Pleasant Hill Education Center, where its shop is located. The woodworkers contributed more than 1,000 hours to clean out and renovate Ygnacio Valley High’s woodshop and have volunteered to serve as mentors to the students. The group is considering undertaking a similar project and serving as mentors at another school. She announced that the Board has received another letter from a parent and student who appreciated the Summer Performing Arts Academy and that she attended the Measure C Oversight Committee meeting.

 

11.          CLOSED SESSION

Mayo adjourned the meeting at 9:03 p.m. to a 30-minute closed session to discuss negotiations.

 

12.          ADJOURNMENT

                Mayo adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m.

 

                                                               

Gary McHenry, Secretary