Minutes of the Governing Board

Minutes of the Arvin Union School District Board of Trustees Regular Meeting held on May 20, 2008.

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Stoner at 6:38 p.m.		Call to Order

Members Present: Mr. Bill Stoner, President Mr. Tim Owens Mrs. Joycene Tarver, Clerk Mrs. Hilda Sumaya Mrs. Virgie Witte		Members Present

Members Absent: none		Member Absent

Staff Present: Mrs. Jerelle Kavanagh, Superintendent Mrs. Marilyn Thompson, Assistant Superintendent Ms. Melanie Meadows, Bear Mountain Vice Principal Mr. Gayle Hui, El Camino Real Vice Principal Mrs. Laurie Bowden, Sierra Vista Vice Principal Mrs. Debbie L. Hearron, District Secretary Mrs. Jacalyn Roberts, Sierra Vista Teacher, ATA President Mrs. Toni Pichardo, Sierra Vista School Secretary, CSEA President Mrs. Ofelia Ramos, MOTS Secretary Mrs. Enedina Arreguin, District Resource Clerk Ms. Carmen Downs, Bear Mountain Instructional Aide Mr. Dan Gyll, Haven Drive Teacher Mr. Rey Ramos, Haven Drive Custodian/Driver Ms. Ericka Ramos, District Instructional Aide Mr. Jose Garcia, Warehouse Clerk Mrs. Maria Pantoja, Resource Clerk Mr. David Hopkins, Bus Barn Custodian/Driver Ms. Cynthia Moran, Haven Drive Campus Supervisor Mr. Mark Nicholas, Assistant Director of MOT Mr. Ryan Culberson, Haven Drive Teacher Mrs. Amanda Torres, Haven Drive Instructional Aide Mr. Randy Hooser, Haven Drive Custodian/Driver Mrs. Lisette Macias, Haven Drive Custodian/Driver Mr. Rick Perez, El Camino Real Custodian/Driver Ms. Gloria Garcia, Sierra Vista Custodian/Driver Ms. Blanca Virvez, Sierra Vista Instructional Aide Mrs. Eva Machado, Bear Mountain Library Clerk Ms. Maria C. Rodriguez, Sierra Vista Instructional Aide Ms. Elvia Garcia, Bear Mountain Instructional Aide Ms. Maria Arredondo, Haven Drive Custodian/Driver Ms. Ofelia Salas, Bear Mountain Custodian/Driver		Staff Present


Others Present: Mr. Jeff Kirby, CSEA Representative; Y. M. Mendez; Rosemarie Slater; Susann Flower; Armundo Rubia; Anabel Rubio; Timoteo Prado; Leticia Garcia; Rosa Reynoso; Michelle Nichols; Maria Hernandez; Consuelo Escobar; Dalia Villalon; Nicolas Gonzalez; Jose Escobar; Ysabel Gonzalez; and two Arvin Police Officers.		Others

Mrs. Kavanagh asked the board to adopt the amended agenda with the following changes: Added: 8.10 Consider to approve bid award for the Sierra Vista Elementary School Partial Re-Roof Project. 6.2.1 Consider to approve Classified 2008 Summer School Staff. 6.2.2 Consider to approve Classified 2008 Summer School Cafeteria Staff. Tabled: 8.7 Consider approval of increase of the following cafeteria prices for the 2008-2009 school year. Student Paid – from $1.00 to $1.25 and Adult - from $2.75 to $3.00.		Adoption of the Agenda

On motion of Mrs. Witte, seconded by Mrs. Tarver, the board unanimously approved the minutes of the April 15, 2008 Regular Board Meeting, Special Board Meeting of April 22, 2008 and Special Board Meeting of May 13, 2008.		Minutes – Approved

Mrs. Kavanagh greeted the board and gave a brief report regarding the State Cafeteria Review. The review went well with very few findings and did not warrant a revisit from the state. Mrs. Kavanagh informed the board that she, along with Chris Davis and Olivia Esquivel, attended the annual May Revise meeting held at the county office. The May Revise includes an increase in COLA, but the state will not fund that increase in the cost of doing business. Categorical cuts of over 6% remain. Financial flexibility is included in the May Revise. Now the legislature is working on the final budget, but the district budget will be adopted before that time. Mrs. Kavanagh addressed the issue of the communities concern for the need of water filters on drinking fountains at the school sites. She introduced Mr. Raymond Kincy from the Arvin Community Water District. Mr. Kincy suggested the school district not get involved with the water treatment solutions and that it should be directed to the Community Service District. Mr. Kincy also informed the audience that the water district is in the process of applying for $4.9 million dollar grant that would provide funds to re-drill wells and/or install treatment plants at each well to bring them up to required standards. This process could take between one to two years but they are hopeful the grant will be received. Mr. Stoner gave opportunity at this time to the members of the public to address the board regarding items of interest within the board’s jurisdiction. Leticia Garcia told the board that she had attended an orientation meeting regarding the water problems here in Arvin and was very concerned that changes had to be made to correct the arsenic levels in the drinking water for the children. Maria Hernandez addressed the board as a concerned parent of the Arvin Union School District. She told the board that some classrooms had bottled water and others didn’t and wanted to know why all classes didn’t have bottled water. Mrs. Kavanagh offered to tour the campuses with Mrs. Hernandez to see the classes to which she was referring. Ysabel Gonzalez identified herself as being with the Delores Huerta United Neighborhood. She was also concerned about the drinking water for the students. Timoteo Prado greeted the board and explained that he works with the Community of Arvin organizing the Neighborhood. He has attended two meetings asking that filters be installed to the drinking fountains and asked why nothing has been done. He also told the board that he had addressed this same issue to neighboring school districts and Vineland installed filters. Elvia Garcia is an employee of the district and shared that some teachers are not allowing students to bring bottled water to school. Mrs. Kavanagh said that staff had been instructed to allow students to bring bottled water to school but it should be kept in the classrooms. Mrs. Kavanagh assured Mrs. Garcia and the audience that a reminder would be sent to all staff allowing students to bring bottled water to school. Maria Pantoja, also an employee of the district, was concerned and asked how many bottles of water a student could bring to school and how it could be kept cool. Toni Pichardo, CSEA President. Mrs. Pichardo greeted the board and relayed to the board that there were serious problems occurring between the custodial staff and district management. She began by referring to the Staff Appreciation Luncheon that some of the custodial staff did not attend because they felt the night custodians were not included in the invitation. She also told of a mandatory meeting held by Mrs. Kavanagh addressing this issue Mrs. Kavanagh did not allow any response from the custodial staff. She also told staff that jobs could be contracted outside the district and they felt this was a threat. Jeff Kirby, CSEA Representative, also addressed the board regarding the problems occurring inside the custodial department. He also shared that the CSEA members felt threatened and coerced. He felt offended that the district would think the police would be needed to control the behavior of the CSEA members at this meeting. Mr. Stoner replied explaining why the police were present at the meeting. David Zamarron, District MOTS Director, greeted the board and thanked his staff for attending the meeting but he felt the board deserved to know his side of the story and offered to meet with the board at any time to do so. Jose Garcia, District Warehouse Assistant, addressed the board with his concerns regarding the Director of MOT and Administration. Eva Machado, Bear Mountain Library Clerk, greeted the board and explained that she along with many union staff members have raised their families in Arvin and feel they deserve respect and it has to start with the Administration down.		Reports and Communications Mrs. Kavanagh Mr. Raymond Kincy – Arvin Community Water District Reports from the public L. Garcia M. Hernandez Y. Gonzalez T. Prado E. Garcia M. Pantoja T. Pichardo J. Kirby D. Zamarron J. Garcia E. Machado

On motion of Mr. Owens, seconded by Mrs. Tarver, the board unanimously approved the following consent agenda items.		Consent Agenda

Purchase Order Numbers 080923 – 081036 Payments – 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 Payroll Numbers 41, 42, 43, 44 Interdistrict Attendance Requests for the 2007/2008 school year based on parent employment. (indicates renewal) Israel Guzman Jr. – Grade 2 - Arvin to Lamont Julian Guzman – Kgn – Arvin to Lamont Interdistrict Attendance Requests for the 2007/2008 school year based on child care. (indicates renewal) Jose J. Salazar – Grade 8 – Lakeside to Arvin Elias X. Salazar – Grade 3 – Lakeside to Arvin Interdistrict Attendance Requests for the 2008/2009 school year based on child care. (indicates renewal) Jennifer Tiffany Garcia – Kgn – Arvin to DiGiorgio Miguel Hurtado – Grade 6 – Arvin to DiGiorgio Lizbet Hurtado – Kgn – Arvin to DiGiorgio Brianna Miranda – Grade 2 – Arvin to Vineland Emily Miranda – Kgn – Arvin to Vineland Andrew Zamora – Kgn – Arvin to Vineland Interdistrict Attendance Requests for the 2008/2009 school year based on parent request. (indicates renewal) Brian Dacanay – Grade 8 – Arvin to DiGiorgio Sara Buffington – Grade 4 – Arvin to DiGiorgio Susannah Kidwell – Grade 3 – Arvin to DiGiorgio		Purchase Orders Bill Payments Payroll Interdistrict – 07/08 Parent Employment Interdistrict – 07/08 Child Care Interdistrict – 08/09 Child Care Interdistrict – 08/09 Parent Request

The board went into closed session at 7:43 p.m. to consider matters related to student expulsions. They reconvened at 8:35 p.m. and the following action was taken.		Closed Session