Minutes - Pacifica School District

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MINUTES REGULAR BOARD MEETING May 5, 2010 Page 4 8. DISTRICT BUSINESS (a) Pacifica Education Foundation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (staff time - 5 min.) It is recommended that the Board approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the Pacifica School District and the Pacifica Education Foundation. Ms. Weideman moved and Ms. Manning-Villar seconded approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Pacifica School District and the Pacifica Education Foundation. Ms. Vickrey provided the background for bringing the MOU to the Board for approval as a first step in funding school programs Pacifica. PEF plans to fund a Technology Coach/Lead for 21 st Century Learning for a minimum two-year period) and has provided a job description for the position. Jeanne Bellinger, President, Pacifica Education Foundation, spoke of the Foundation’s efforts to raise over $250,000, and requested time at another Board meeting to give more background when the audience isn’t as stacked. Board members praised the efforts of the Pacifica Education Foundation and admiration for the success of the Foundation in remembering prior Education Foundation efforts. ROLL CALL: Ayes: Ervin, Weideman, Kaufman, Manning-Villar, O’Neill Noes: None MOTION PASSED: 5-0 (b) Budget/Negotiations Update (staff time - 5 min.) The District and LSEA have come to an agreement, but the contract has not been approved by the Boards. Ms. Vickrey provided an overview of the agreement: • District will increase class size from 20 students at K-3 to 24 • Increase in number of student contacts in grades 7-8 at IBL • Eliminates 4-8 teacher preparation period (30 minute period) • Results in combination classes at Vallemar and Cabrillo, but not at Ocean Shore • 5 Furlough Days (non-student and non-work days) • Eliminating BTSA Ms. Vickrey reiterated that this agreement only satisfies ½ the amount needed to balance the budget, requiring another $700K to meet the $1.4M cuts needed. Proposals to meet the additional needs to cut include: • Furlough days for management and classified staff (to be negotiated) • Elimination of Special Projects Director • Reduction of Coaching positions • Use of one-time funding Ms. Vickrey reviewed the impact of the budget/negotiations update on staff, specifically requiring layoff notices. Ms. Vickrey stated her appreciation of the concession of teachers in this difficult time of budget reductions, and their patience with the process as districts await the Governor’s May revision to the State budget. Ms. Carol Walls asked a question about loss of federal funding as a result of increasing class size. Ms. Vickrey
MINUTES REGULAR BOARD MEETING May 5, 2010 Page 5 responded to the State appropriations and related penalties for increasing class sizes and the savings yielded after such penalties are paid. Ms. Walls spoke against the District raising class size and expressed concern about teachers being able to handle more students, and students being able to absorb the information presented in a crowded and disruptive environment –created by the increase. Board members expressed gratitude and appreciation to the negotiating teams, especially for the sacrifices made by students, teachers and staff. The Board encouraged the public to take time to thank a teacher and encouraged legislators to write a check to schools instead of campaigns! (c) Final Layoff Notices (1) Temporary Certificated Staff It is recommended that the Board approve the final layoff notices for Temporary Certificated Staff. Ms. Weideman moved and Ms. Kaufman seconded approval of the final layoff notices for Temporary Certificated Staff. Ms. Mindel provided an overview explaining the requirement for notices by May 15 th and hoping that layoffs will be rescinded for most staff noticed. Ms. Karen Dwyer-Meadow, Co-PTO President, Cabrillo School thanked the Board and administration for their hard work in trying to make the best of bleak circumstances and reminding everyone of the main goal – to educate children! Board members expressed concern about laying off new teachers and the impact it could continue to have on them trying to pursue their careers when temporary teachers are one of the first positions to be laid off in tough financial times. ROLL CALL: Ayes: Ervin, Weideman, Kaufman, Manning-Villar, O’Neill Noes: None MOTION PASSED: 5-0 (2) Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School Counselor It is recommended that the Board approve the final layoff notice for the Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School Counselor. Ms. Weideman moved and Ms. Kaufman seconded approval of the final layoff notice for the Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School Counselor. Ms. Mindel provided background for the rationale, noting that this position has been on the budget savings list for two years. Elimination of this position would bring the District closer to the necessary budget cut of $1.4M. However, the Counselor is an essential component of a middle school program. Staff expressed concerns about eliminating it, and asked the Board to restructure the position to be shared with K-8 schools. By voting “no”, funding for the position would continue for 6 th -8 th grade students. Parents at K-8 schools have regularly asked for counseling services at their schools. While the Board could consider restructuring the position to a District position rather than a Middle School only position, staff questions whether this structure would dilute services to make the position ineffective. Community members and/or students Kalimah Salahuddin, Kristen Thompson, Kara Thompson, Eril Smith, Claire Harrison, Melissa Ambrose, Eryn Heon, Charlotte Kyle, Kara Kessler, Meghan Blackman, Rachel Merlo, Alexis Walls, and Chelise Ellis expressed concern over cutting the position at IBL and encouraged the District to continue funding the position for the students with the most need in the District whether that’s at IBL only or shared among schools. Students shared personal stories and made lifestyle changes as a result of using counseling services at IBL. Counseling teamwork is evident from the middle school system to the high school system and should be recognized as an essential piece of the education puzzle for students and is necessary to ensure success. The negative impact to students, the school community, and test scores was presented as a key reason for maintaining the counselor position, giving an analogy that the impact would cost far more in later years than is being cut this year. Safety was expressed as a serious concern if the school counselor position is cut.
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Minutes - Pacifica School District

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