MORENO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

MORENO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AUGUST 1, 2006
The minutes of the Special Meeting of August 1, 2006, are being submitted to the Board of Education
for approval at its Regular Board Meeting of August 15, 2006. The minutes are a complete and factual
record of action taken by the Board of Education at its Special Meeting of August 1, 2006.
THESE PROCEEDINGS ARE BEING AUDIO TAPED PURSUANT TO GOV. CODE § 54953.5
CALL TO ORDER:
The Board of Education opened the Regular Meeting at 6 p.m.
ROLL CALL: AYE - Ashe ABSENT – Coz AYE – Holguin AYE – Sayre AYE –Vackar
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
There were no public comments.
The Board of Education convened into Closed Session at 6 p.m.
Administrators Present
Rowena T. Lagrosa, Superintendent of Schools
Pat Chandler, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services
Bob Crank, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services
Dave Swift, Director, Facilities/Maintenance and Operations
Aaron Barnett, Director, Information Systems
Estuardo Santillan, Business Manager
Sharon Cirigliano, Executive Secretary, Board of Education
Visitors
Janet MacMillan Michael Fogerty Doug Borden
Public Hearing - Business Services – Discussion/Action Item 376 – Resolution No. 2006-07-10 – To
Approve the Housing Plan and Use of Pupils Grants for New Construction Funding for Various Middle
School Projects.
The District is applying to the State of California, State Allocation Board (SAB) via the Office of Public
School Construction to request new construction funding for the addition of portable classrooms at the
following schools: Badger Springs Middle School, Landmark Middle School, Mountain View Middle
School, and Palm Middle School. Administration is recommending adoption of this resolution to accept
the transfer of up to 255 K-6 pupil grants for new construction funding to the 7-8 th grade level for the 7-8
grade classrooms in these projects.
The Board President opened the Public Hearing on Discussion/Action Item 376 for public comments.
It was moved by Jacqueline L. Ashe and seconded by Tracey B. Vackar that the Public Hearing
regarding Discussion/Action Item 376 be closed, with action being taken under the Discussion/Action
portion of the agenda.
VOTE: AYE – 4 (Coz – Absent) NAY - 0 ABSTAIN - 0
S-C-8
CONSENT ITEM – 102
SUPERINTENDENT
AUGUST 15, 2006

ACTION AGENDA
It was moved by Jesus M. Holguin and seconded by Jacqueline L. Ashe to approve the Action Agenda
as presented.
VOTE: AYE – 4 (Coz – Absent) NAY - 0 ABSTAIN - 0
DISCUSSION/ACTION
BUSINESS SERVICES
375 Award of Contract for Legal Services
Bob Crank, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services, indicated that requests for proposals
were sent out to 40 law firms. The District received 10 responses. Mr. Crank reviewed
information on the firms that responded, including location, rates, references, number of
attorneys, and areas of expertise.
There was clarification on questions and areas of expertise that the District may need. After
Board discussion, Superintendent Lagrosa made the following recommendations based on the
District’s best interest:
Best Best & Kreiger – has provided good service to meet the District’s needs in the area of
Special Education.
Fagen Freidman & Fulfrost – This is a newly established firm with several of its attorneys
leaving Lozano Smith. This firm has expertise in all areas of the District’s needs, as well as
providing inservice to staff on the Brown Act and areas of Human Resources.
Miller Brown Dannis – would provide expertise in the area of charter schools and litigation
when the need arises.
Superintendent Lagrosa stated that she conducted reference checks on these law firms. The
firms she is bringing forward had extremely high recommendations. There was Board concern
that the District should have a law firm that can “be tough” when necessary and that the firms
are more local. It was suggested that Kinkle, Rodiger & Spriggs and Thompson & Colgate be
included in the recommended firms. The District has worked with these firms in the past and
have been satisfied for the most part. There was Board discussion.
It was moved by Jesus M. Holguin to approve the legal firms of Best Best & Kreiger, Fagen
Freidman & Fulfrost, Kinkle, Rodiger & Spriggs, and Miller Brown Dannis.
There was no second on this motion. Board Member Vackar asked that the motion be
amended to add the law firm of Thompson & Colgate which is located in Riverside.
It was moved by Jesus M. Holguin and seconded by Tracey B. Vackar to approve the legal firms
of Best Best & Kreiger, Fagen Freidman & Fulfrost, Kinkle, Rodiger & Spriggs, and Miller Brown
Dannis, and Thompson & Colgate as presented.
VOTE: AYE – 4 (Coz – Absent) NAY - 0 ABSTAIN - 0
376 Resolution No. 2006-07-10 – To Approve the Housing Plan and Use of Pupils Grant for New
Construction Funding for Various Middle School Projects
It was moved by Jesus M. Holguin and seconded by Jacqueline L. Ashe to approve
Discussion/Action Item 376 as presented.
CONSENT ITEM – 102
SUPERINTENDENT
AUGUST 15, 2006
S-C-9

377 State Education Budget
Mr. Crank presented information on the 2006-07 State Education Budget. The COLA this year
is 5.92 percent, which is the highest in 21 years. The increase in COLA will provide $308 per
student for all unified school districts. The remaining revenue limit deficit was eliminated and
$350 million is allocated for equalization aid.
The proposed budget will provide the following:
Arts, Music, and Physical Education Block Grant
This block grant will provide ongoing funding of $15 per student for an amount of $555,000.
Funding must supplement and not supplant existing resources. These funds are for support
of standards-aligned arts programs which may be used to hire additional staff, purchase
materials, books, supplies, equipment, and provide staff development. A one-time Art,
Music, and PE Block Grant provides approximately $82 per ADA and may be used for
purchasing art, music, and physical education equipment and supplies.
School Counselors
Ongoing funding to increase the number of counselors will be made available in grades 7-12
(approximately $80 per ADA). There are many requirements to be met in order to receive
funding – counselors must review individual student records; must meet with pupils and
parents within certain time frames to review student records, education options, coursework,
and progress as it relates to the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE); prepare a list
of coursework required to pass all parts of the CAHSEE and review with students and
parents; districts need to report data about activities supported by the counselors; and
funding must be used to expand on existing counseling support.
Instructional Materials
Funding for instructional materials grows by COLA. The instructional materials realignment
funding is $55.92 per the prior-year’s CBEDS. There is a one-time Instructional Materials,
Library, and Technology Block Grant, which will provide approximately $15 per prior-year
CBEDS. The English Learner Supplemental Materials funding, similar to the 2004-05
program structure, will provide approximately $19 per English learner based on the
Language Census. Funding can be used to purchase materials to supplement standardsaligned
materials for English learners. Local educational agencies may purchase materials
from the State Board approved list or submit information about the materials for review and
approval by the California Department of Education.
Discretionary Block Grant
This grant is the single largest source of one-time money and is divided into two pieces: 1)
School districts receive 25 percent (approximately $19 per 2006-07 CBEDS enrollment plus
ROC/P and Adult Education ADA). Sites receive 75 percent (approximately $56 per 2006-
07 CBEDS enrollment plus ROC/P and Adult Education ADA). Funding can be used by
sites and school districts for instructional materials, classroom and laboratory supplies and
materials, school and classroom library materials, educational technology, deferred
maintenance, professional development, and one-time uses designed to close the
achievement gap. In addition, school districts may also use the funds for home-to-school
transportation and outstanding one-time fiscal obligations.
S-C-10
CONSENT ITEM – 102
SUPERINTENDENT
AUGUST 15, 2006

Each site must submit a plan developed by the site or advisory counsel for how it proposes
to use the funding. A site council should be in place at any school that receives Pupil
Retention Block Grant and/or School Improvement Program funds. School site councils
must include the principal, teachers, school personnel, and parents (and students at
secondary schools). There is no minimum number of participants but there must be parity
between parents (and students) and representatives of the school administration and staff.
The school district’s governing board must approve the plan before expenditures are made.
If the governing board and site councils cannot reach agreement on how the funds will be
used by May 1, 2007, county boards of education must resolve it.
California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)
The Legislature and Governor continue to focus on providing funding for the programs to
help students pass the exam. Approximately $70 million will be provided for intervention
support for high school seniors who have not passed the exam, including students with
disabilities. This funding can be used during the regular school day, after school, or on
weekends, and is provided at $500 per student with priority for 12 th graders.
Support for Teachers
Another year of funding for Teacher and Principal Support Grants will be provided.
Approximately $50 per student will be made available for Decile 1 to 3 schools, (based on
the 2005 API), to attract and retain staff. This funding may be used for improving
educational culture and environment by improving safety and cleanliness of schools,
providing support services for students and teachers, incentives to recruit and retain
teachers for hard-to-staff schools, small group instruction, and collaboration time.
Child Care
The Governor’s budget includes $50 million for preschool. Specifics of how the program will
operate are not yet known, but the Governor has indicted this funding will provide free
preschool for all four-year olds living in low-performing school districts. It is possible that
this funding will go to school districts with Decile 1 to 3 school to establish preschool
programs for four-year olds in the attendance area of such schools.
In conclusion, the increased funding of one-time monies and ongoing grants, in addition to
an increase in the EIA funding of $1.9 million, will provide the District with a lot of funding to
work with and this additional funding was not included in the proposed budget. Staff is
recommending that the Board approve this additional funding. A committee of the District’s
stakeholders will meet to discuss how this funding will be spent and establish a plan to be
brought back to the Board for approval in the future.
There was Board discussion and clarification of several questions. It is important that the
District maintain strong fiscal responsibility, that a plan be established by involving the
stakeholders, as well as members of the School Site Councils and Booster Clubs, at all
grade levels, and that there is equitable distributions of the funds. It was also emphasized
that one-time funds should not be used for ongoing expenditures.
It was moved by Jacqueline L. Ashe and seconded by Tracey B. Vackar that the budget
modifications be approved as presented.
VOTE: AYE – 4 (Coz – Absent) NAY - 0 ABSTAIN – 0
S-C-11
CONSENT ITEM – 102
SUPERINTENDENT
AUGUST 15, 2006

The Board of Education reconvened into Closed Session at 6:45 p.m.
The Board of Education reconvened into Regular Session at 10:10 p.m.
REPORT OUT OF
CLOSED SESSION:
ADJOURNMENT:
There was no reportable action on the Closed Session agenda.
There being no further items to come before the Board of Education, the
meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
S-C-12
CONSENT ITEM – 102
SUPERINTENDENT
AUGUST 15, 2006