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

Board Highlights June 23d, 2014

Video Link

Speak Up Be Safe Program (SUBS) Carol Sheenan, Director

·      Increases communication

·      Provides strategies to be safe

·      Reduces high risk behavior

·      Engages teachers

·      Reinforcement learning sessions

·      Teacher is in the classroom the entire time

SUBS DATA

·      3,500 students have been served in 2013-14 throughout Lamorinda

·      1,100 students in Orinda have participated

·      6 opted out

·      80 Teachers from 3 districts answered survey

·      85% of Orinda Teachers would recommend the SUBS program

·      266 Parents from 3 districts completed survey and support the program

SUBS Program for 2014-15

·      Continue to provide SUBS program in Lamorinda

·      Improvements – More small group discussions and games.

·      Always open to feedback

·      Improve communication between schools and parents/caregivers

·      More information will be provided to parents in 2014-15

·      Take home information will go home to parents

SUBS Discussion

·      Sara - Is there autonomy for Orinda to make decisions?

·      Kathy - Lafayette has an elementary teacher on the steering committee

·      Kathy - There’s also a Psychologist on the steering committee

·      Kathy - Another classroom teacher could participate

·      Sara – She wants a classroom teacher on the committee

·      Sara – Is there a Board member on the steering committee?

·      Sara – There have been parent concerns

·      Sara – How was this program chosen?

·      Sara – Who developed the curriculum?

·      Sara – What’s the review of the curriculum?

·      Sara – What curriculum changes will be made?

·      Sara – What is the process for modifying the curriculum?

·      Sara – I would like to see all the survey responses/comments

·      Carol – One time assemblies are not the most effective way to present this information

·      Carol – We are more than happy to modify the curriculum

·      Carol – All of the comments from the survey were provided

·      Matt – Smaller group instruction is better

·      Chris – What can we do to better prepare teachers for individual interactions?

·      Charles – There are other forms of harassment not being addressed such as harassment towards the LGBT community

Local Control Accountability Plan (Kathy Marshall)

·      Up for Board Approval

·      There have been a few changes due to County Office Feedback

·      Now you will see a clear link between the single school plan and the LCAP

·      The Coordinating Council was identified as the Parent advisory group

·      Other stakeholder groups were included

·      EL, low income, and foster youth action steps were highlighted (More clarity for sub-groups)

·      Where can our support for expenditures be found?  I Put an * and include anticipated expenditures.

·      Needs of targeted students were emphasized

·      Words were added to clarify parts

·      The county reviewed changes and ready to accept the LCAP

·      By August 15^th, the County will approve the LCAP

·      Julie – How often will we have to review the LCAP?  Kathy - Progress checks will occur annually. 

·      Julie – How often will modifications be made? 

·      Loreen – I will check and get back with you.

·      Sara – When will Site Plans be aligned with the approved LCAP? 

·      Kathy – Either in September or October

·      Kathy – Each school will present site plans that are aligned with the LCAP

2014-15 Adoption of the Budget

·      The 2014-15 budget was presented at our last Board of Trustees meeting, on June 14,

·      Board Approved Unanimously

Resolution 14-17 for Budget Transfers

·      Board Approved Unanimously

AM Woo Construction, Inc (Proposed Amendment) for S.H. Restrooms

·      An RFP was sent out to Am Woo Construction, Inc.

·      $41,600 to remodel Sleepy Hollow bathrooms

·      Work will be completed before school starts in the fall

BC Construction Contract

·      $49,900 to reconstruct a retaining wall on the Kindergarten playground at Glorietta

·      Board Approved Unanimously

Best Contracting, Inc. for OIS & Del Rey Canopy Roofs

·      Ed – Cost is $450,000

·      Sara – Need better monitoring to avoid an unsafe situation

·      Charles – With the canopy roofs being so dangerous, I would hope there would be better monitoring in the future

·      Board Approved Unanimously

Enterprise Roofing for Wagner Ranch Roofing

·      Ed - Enterprise Roofing Cost is $379,281

·      Charles – I appreciate the added energy efficiency by using a lighter color roof to help reduce the heat gain inside the buildings.

·      Board Approved Unanimously

Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule (Dr. Jaconette)

·      Sara would like to change the date of the last Board meeting

·      Joe says we need a Board meeting in early August

·      Board Approved Unanimously

Consent Item G, Page 202

·      Change in Title III Funding

·      Board Approved Unanimously

Consent Item F – Amendment to BaySci Agreement (Page 40)

·      BaySci Partnership is an elementary based program

·      8 districts participate

·      7 applied this year

·      Board Approved Unanimously

Consent Item R - Williams Uniform Complaints Quarterly Report

·      Sara - Air Conditioning needs to be an immediate priority in some locations such as our computer labs

·      Board Approved Unanimously

Discussion Item B – Parcel Tax Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee Appointment (Loreen Farrell)

·      Chris – Would we like to stagger appointments?

·      Chris – Should there be a 2-year or 4-year commitment?

·      Julie – How do we fill those vacancies?

·      Loreen – No one expressed not wanting to continue on this committee.

·      Sara – Why are there only 5 people on this committee?  I would like 7 members on this steering committee.

·      Sara - Acalanes has a higher number of people on a similar steering committee.

·      Julie – Why do we need 7 members on this committee?

·      Chris – Would a bigger number of people be an impediment for scheduling dates? 

·      Loreen – Yes.  We tried to get all 5 to attend but things happen. 

·      Matt – The committee felt a 5-member committee was enough.

·      Sara – Greater participation is healthy.

·      Sara – Were you thinking of keeping the same 5?

·      Chris – With people wanting to stay, I suggest increasing the commitment to 4 years.

·      Meeting dates:  December/January and end of June

·      Chris – What would be a good beginning term date? 

·      Loreen – March/April

·      Chris – What do you think about April 1^st?

·      Sara – I’m not clear

·      Chris – Loreen will have the committee make suggestions for length of term and staggering the terms.

Discussion Item C – Board Policy/Administrative Regulation 7214 – General Obligation Bonds

·      This policy has been updated to reflect the new law (AB182) that requires greater transparency for the use of capital appreciation bonds and other bonds that allow for compounding of interest.  It also reflects the new law (SB 581) that requires that the performance and financial audits be submitted to the citizens’ oversight committee at the same time they are submitted to the District.  It also requires the Board to respond to all findings, recommendations, and concerns within three months of receiving the audits.

·      Sara – This looks fine

Information Item

·      Board Member Expense Report

Board Reports

·      Matt – Thanked Board members for being at the OIS promotion.

·      Sara – She also thanked Board members for being at the OIS promotion

Superintendent Update

·      Joe – We’re waiting for the elevator inspection before moving into the new district office.

Future Agenda Items

·      OPEB

·      Governance Handbook

·      Facilities Priority List

·      Fall - SUBS