Board Meeting Highlights 6.9.2014 from OEA

video link from start to Action Items
Part 2
Budget presentation to end of mtg

NB: Trustees names abbreviated Tyson Krumholz TK, Sarah Butler SB, Chris Severson CS, Matt Moran MM, Julie Rossiter JR.

Employees of the month honored: Patsy McAteer, certificated staff, Joe Born, classified staff.

Golden Bell Award to retirees: Linda Kam, Allen Dickson, Angie Edwards, Karlen Harriman, Carolyn Lyon, Susan Rodriguez, Helen Walker, Gloria Yruel

During public comment, OEA President Charles Shannon spoke regarding the intense heat in the classrooms during high temperature days.

Terra Verde Renewable Energy Plan (inc. discussion of AC in classrooms)

A/C discussion about how various districts are financing it, plus discussion of energy efficiencies needed to get Prop 39E funding. Big push on air conditioning from TK and SB especially. The consultant stated it is possible to get ac installed over the summer. The Prop 39E funding is for reimbursement and would be likely if the projects are properly put out for bid and folded in with energy efficiency projects like solar.

Terra Verde contract approved: 5:0

Resolution 14-14: 3 board member vacancies will be open for election in November 2014. Approved 5:0

Resolution 14-16 in support Educate Our State: OUSD supports protecting the local schools revenue act.  CA legislature directed the county auditor to take property tax revenue allocated to schools and give to local governments to compensate for decreased vehicle licensing funds collected by the state. The state was/is supposed to compensate schools for lost property tax revenue from its General Fund, which is heavily dependent on income tax. The lack of reliable funding caused school districts to have insufficient deferred state funds.

Dr. Severson sees these resolutions as “meaningless” b/c the state legislature doesn’t listen and it will take many signatures to move forward. Approved 4: 1 CS abstention

SELPA is moving. SELPA is a consortium of 15 districts + the county office of education (Special Education Local Plan Area). The CCCOE will no longer be the administrative office for SELPA. ByronUSD will now be the administrative unit. Adopt admin. unit change; Approved 5:0

Renovation of school restrooms: $419,000.00 to renovate restrooms at all sites except SH b/c summer school is scheduled at SH. SH will be addressed in 2015.

Various restrooms at the three sites will receive new sinks, toilets, partitions, floor/wall tiles, light fixtures

WR only stall partitions.

Trustees Krumholz and Butler asked to see scope of work and work schedule.

Discussion by TK and SB about the need for more information as part of their fiduciary responsibility to the public. MM “Sarah, don’t you trust the staff?”

Discussion of how to include Sleepy Hollow restrooms: Summer school is held there (which is why they are not included) but this was the site with the most parent complaints to the Facilities Task Force. (Unclear if any action is to be taken here.)

 Charles Shannon commented that students at GL want stalls with partitions that go all the way down to prevent bullies taking pictures under the stall partitions, that the primary bathrooms are dark and students are frightened to go in there, and that soap gets on the floor and is very slippery with water spills. The ‘walk through’ by district maintenance staff and the contractor did not include any input from students and staff who use the restrooms.

Approved: Severson, Rossitor, Moran

Opposed: Butler

Abstain: Kromholz

LCAP Plan Revisions by Kathy Marshall: based on input from various groups and public

For example: include Orinda subgroups:  disabilities, African Amer, Hispanic, Asian,  Caucasian-Filipino, Latino

Parent surveys indicated that 80% of parents responded: I understand the grade level academic standards for my child.

State requires adding drop-out and expulsion rates. For Orinda this is 0.

Added plans that incorporate LCAP i.e. inclusive curriculum plan

Budget Report by Lorene Farrell: 2,456 students expected for the 2014-15 school year, 28 unduplicated students.  “For the first time in a long time our budget outlook is positive. Although under the LCFF funding plan we are still below our 2008-09 funding.”

Increase 1FTE at DR,  Glo,  SH. 

“The May Governor’s Revise showed an increase in the district contribution to CalSTRS effective July 1.  The proposal has been incorporated into the district budget however the good news is efforts are under way by several organizations to delay or modify this proposal. The increase may begin in the ‘14-15 school year.” Revenue limit increase of a little over $2 million dollars between this year and next year.

37% of the budget continues to be from the local community. Charles Shannon thanked EFO, the Parents’ Clubs and parent volunteers for their continuous support of our schools.

Discussion of a ‘Liability Fund’ brought up by Julie Rossiter. Loreen Farrell stated that unless it was set up as an irrevocable trust, that it would still appear in the budget. This is for ‘unfunded mandates’ but this needs clarifying. Unclear why the district would want to set aside more money, as we have an excess of funds of about 2 million currently.

2013-14 District Goals by Dr. Jaconette: 4 major goals

Academic achievement, fiscal, curriculum, technology. Dr. Jaconette presented a written report to the Trustees regarding accomplishments in the four areas.

Charles Shannon commented that the report highlights the contribution of teachers to the success of the district goals and the many hours applied by teachers within and outside of contract time.

2014-15 draft of  Board of Trustees Meeting Dates – Jewish and Christian holidays accounted for this time. Upcoming to approve the budget is June 23d. Then August 11^th.

Agenda Items: SB requested Site discipline be put on the agenda. (Earlier, CS stated it would be put into the ‘agenda pile’ and would not commit to when it will come up.)