OUSD Board Highlights

Underlined items are of special concern to teachers and parents. Please comment/check the comments for opinions.

Summary:
1. Complaint filed by a district employee will not be heard by the board.
2. Resignation speech by Kristen Nielsen, Core teacher at OIS
3. Bylaw to elect Board president by vote instead of rotating trustees through the post.

Public Comment for Closed Session video (attended by about 30 people for standing-room only)

Dr. Neil Gilbert PhD. UC Berkeley, spoke against the unprofessional behavior of Mrs. Janis Arnerich as principal at Wagner Ranch School and the perceived pattern of ignoring said behavior by Dr. Jaconette, her supervisor.

A parent also spoke in support of a teacher who has filed a complaint at WR and included the parent’s negative opinion of Mrs. Arnerich as a school leader.

Charles Shannon, OEA President encouraged the board to carefully review the above-mentioned complaint filed by the WR teacher.

Former WR parent who left WR 3 years ago and moved/transferred to another OUSD school. The parent objected to the unprofessional leadership of Mrs. Janis Arenrich and the parent’s appreciation for her new experience at Sleepy Hollow.

An additional WR parent requested the board to hear/read the above-mentioned complaint by the WR teacher. The parent noted that many parents have requested district office support via letters, phone calls and discussions and that those requests for help have been ignored.

Mrs. Cimon Starr encouraged the board to connect the Supt.’s evaluation to the leadership concerns at WR including the parents’ perceived protection of that principal by the Supt.

A student spoke to her negative experience with the principal at WR and that she had “hated” school because of the principal. The student transferred to another school where she has been happy. The student talked about how badly she feels for students who have to attend school under Mrs. Arnerich’s leadership. The student began to cry.

Closed session: Vote on whether to hear the staff member complaint and the superintendent's evaluation. 

Severson, Rossiter and Moran voted to uphold the Superintendent's findings against the WR teacher who filed a complaint. The complaint was not heard by the Superintendent and will not be heard by the board either.

Public Comment: Video of rest of the evenings' board meeting

Kristen Nielson's resignation speech: 15 year OIS Core teacher; organized and implemented the OIS award winning Green Team. Reason for leaving exhaustion: superintendent who does not put teachers 1^st, an unmanageable work load, administrators who do not seek input from teachers before making decisions. Teachers have to fight for over-assessed students and the right to have our children attend the OUSD schools. Ms Nielsen received Teacher of Month re Green Team, then later asked by the superintendent “why bother” with the green team. (The full text of this speech is here.)

Parent from Lafayette: concern about low funding for the Lamorinda schools.

Accounting parent followed the money from property taxes to Sacramento.

Request school financing on the agenda for a future discussion. Focus: equal access for education for all children

Charles Shannon: Teacher Appreciation May 14: complimented teachers and staff for their work in OUSD.

Employees of the Month: teacher = Jennifer Dodd

Maintenance = Mark Mortenson

Cooperation is a powerful tool. OUSD is very special. Kids excited about learning, wonderful teachers who make a difference. Glad to be a part of the team.

Bryan Inglesby complimented OUSD teachers and recognized that May 14, 2014 is the Ca Day of the Teacher. Trustee Butler asked if the district does anything for teachers on this day. Dr. Jaconette said that the district tells parent's clubs so they can put together some kind of teacher appreciation event.

May 19^th, Classified Employee Day

Charles Shannon thanked classified employees for their constant contributions to our school system.

Lengthy discussion about a variety of facilities improvements at WR.

Retaining wall, reroofing, hillside repair, and shade area approved.

Glorietta: hillside repair approved

Approved 2014-2015 Budget Guidelines. Trustee Severson would not allow questions from OEA President, Charles Shannon.

Board Bylaw BB9100: Refers to how the president of the board is appointed.

Background: The existing bylaw suggests that new board members be appointed vice president and then rotated into the presidency. This was ignored when Trustee Krumholtz was not appointed, in favor of Trustee Moran (who has served for much longer). The president of the board sets the agenda with the superintendent and as such, this is a powerful position.

Trustees Butler and Kromholz not in favor of changing bylaw; deters teamwork and would remove opportunity for a Trustee who has not served as an officer to be considered to serve.  The new bylaw language makes the appointing of the president a straight vote, potentially allowing one board member to serve for a long time. 

Approved by Severson, Moran and Rossitor

2014-15 Budget Assumptions

Projected OIS current: 903, projected: 882

TK-8 current = 2503 projected: 2456 (-47)

Staffing for upcoming year appears static except at Glorietta

Rossitor supported maintaining 20:1 ratio in primary grades even though state is now recommending 24:1. Trustee Krumholz concurred however concerned that state will not be funding 20:1 in OUSD at previous rate.  Previously, $1071 per student for 20 students in a class. Funding has dropped to $718 and OUSD only receives 28% of $718 = $517 per student.

Director of Technology: shared position with Moraga School District. Individual hired would be paid 40-60 by Moraga and Orinda. Lengthy discussion by Board.