October 13th School Board Update from OEA

Video link part 1
Video link part 2
Video link part 3 

Public Comment

Glorietta Teacher: “worst morale for years amongst teachers” – students had art 4 x per month ,  lost ½ of art, and computer teachers and librarians. District makes the choice to limit those programs. Loss of prep time (elementary). Loss of curriculum for students taught by teachers certificated in those areas. “Less regard for teachers and time for teaching is not honored.” “Demonstrate with action and fair compensation that we (teachers) are valued.” See full comments at this link.

Glorietta Teacher: teachers work hard and long hours with enthusiasm and “smiles” for the best interest of their students – teachers help each other- put in extra hours to help students be successful. Many teachers live paycheck to paycheck. 3% last year,  but first salary scale increase in 7 years. July 1^st, 2014 medical reduction from $1185 to $915 = 20% decrease.

Charles Shannon, OEA President: SF newspaper quoted re: teacher shortage – jobs are now “less enticing” and attrition is contributing.  Requests that Trustees retain and support Orinda teachers. Here's the article.

Teacher of the Month – Lori Biddle, 5^th grade teacher at Glorietta

Classified Employee of the Month – Jennifer Coon (district office)

Kathy Marshall – Resolution 1503: Sufficient Educational Materials

Comment by Charles Shannon. Teachers continue to create transitional CC materials as materials have not been provided by the district

KM: CA state freeze on adoptions until summer 2015

Resolution 1503 adopted: unanimous

KM: School Plan to “coordinate educational plan for all schools and a blueprint” for educational improvements at each site – aligned to LCAP 

- Plans presented for Glo., DR, SH and OIS

Trustee Rossitor asked about differentiation. Principal Theurer described using assessments to group students and addressed the need for time, Principal Gallegos identified using CPT. Principal Randall identified reading grouping, conferencing, on-demands, using instructional assistant for remediation

Trustee Krompholz asked about Bay-Science use. Principal Langer described trained BaySci teachers as leaders for grade levels. KM described various cohorts.

Michael Randall: science is project based

Charles Shannon: differentiated education has created more work for teachers; a lot of demand on our time; informal assesment based on daily work, homework

Trustee Butler thanked teachers who worked on Site Plans

Adopted Site Plans: unanimous

OPEB (Other Post Retirement Benefit Liability for OUSD)

Supplemental lifetime medical benefits for all certificated and classified employees when they retire

OPEB is an expense and if not pre-funded it is referrd to as a liability.  Required by CALPERS. Current district contribution is $119 per month per employees who qualify for this supplement. 1/1/15 contribution will = $122 per month per  qualifying employees. District does not use an irrevocable trust and consequently the cost increases. Earnings from a trust fund investment may reduce future employer OPEB costs. Classified employees’ costs are higher, starting at $295.00-$1185.00. per month.

Trustee Krompholz asked how this item came to be placed on the aganda as an action item when the previous decision included info-gathering.

Trustee Butler asked from where funds for an irrevocable trust would come? Lorene Farrell identified using Fund 17. Trustee Butler asked what $ compose Fund 17. LF: legal settlement $, parcel tax money, start-up $ for WR.

Acalanes UHSD has an irrevocable trust affiliated with CALPERS and Lafayette is investigating a trust.

Trustee Rossitor stated that 83% of districts do not provide lifetime supplemental benefits.

Trustee Moran expressed concern about the growth of the liability; ”unfunded liability is unacceptable,” irrevocable trust may provide flexibility needed to fund + interest from investments; concern that the CDE will continue with “boom-bust” cycle.

Trustee Butler asked for clarity about what $ resources will be used. Trustee Moran responded that the source of funds is a “separate discussion”.

Glorietta Parent cautioned Board that they do not have enough information or analysis to currently create an irrevocable trust.

Charles Shannon OEA recommended a mutual discussion about the trust and the $ resources to fund the trsut out of conern for a hidden agenda.

Trustee Severson: will direct staff: “majority of board indicates interest in setting up an irrevocable trust. Choice of which one might be the best one and a disussion about where the funds are coming from.”

Board Policy 3513.3 Tobacco free schools

Approved unanimous

Item H: computers at WR. has two mobile carts. WRPC will pay to lease from Apple to replace old equipment.

Approved: unanimous

Terra Verde Energy Report: AC at sites will be expensive b/c electrical needs to be replaced to support AC. $1million to 1.5 million per site. Recommends AC. Suggested that solar could help offset the cost of installing AC. Although cautioning prudence,  the Trustees need to move forward in about 4-6 weeks, if OUSD wants AC in place for the 2015-16 school year. Charles Shannon and Colleen Sullivan spoke to current classroom temperatures and value of AC for students based on experience in AC’d portables and data collection re” heat in non-AC classrooms during overtly warm weather.

Ed Silvas: portables – 14 leased district portables; the cost to purchase the 14 portables and bring up to the vendor’s standard is $488,917.00. Can be paid out of developer fees.

Charles  Shannon pointed out that after four years there would be no more cost to the district and asked if there are enough developer fees to finance.

Trustee Krompholz varified that Pulte and developer fees money can be used.

District Goals – Supt:

Discussion item

Charles Shannon: Process for feedback from OEA: expected a draft of goals that could be shared with all membership. Four OEA members attended a meeting and were given a draft from the first draft (after review by Coordinating Council) at the meeting. Asked to comment on goals and not given time to even read draft. A district employee took notes and then submitted incorrect information about an OEA inquiry. OEA believes that communication needs to be attached to each goal or included as a stand-along goal.

Trustee Butler supported communication attached to every goal and reminded Board that at one time communication was a district goal.

Trustee Rossitor supported improved communication in terms of stakeholders receiving information in a timely manner that warrants thoughtful analysis.

Trustee Krompholz commented on Technology section in goals; no goal about student programs especially in reference to extensive Coordinating Council comments about technology goals.

Meeting adjourned