Minutes of the Governing Board

Minutes of the Arvin Union School District Board of Trustees Regular Meeting held on October 19, 2010.

The meeting was called to order by Mrs. Rubio at 6:30 p.m.		Call to Order

Members Absent: None		Members Absent

Staff Present: Dr. Michelle McLean, Superintendent Mrs. Kathie Kouklis, Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Laurie Bowden, SV Vice Principal Mrs. Aurora Moran, BME Principal Mrs. Georgia Rhett, ECR Principal Mr. David Bowling, HD Principal Ms. Geneva K. Banks, Administrative Secretary Mr. Chris Davis, District Accountant Mrs. Ludim Llanes, District Receptionist		Staff Present
Others Present: Jennifer Johnson. Amanda Torres, Suresh Kumar, Daniel Juarez, Timoteo Prado, Dawn Louise Elison, Jose Garcia, Lissett DeLeon, Beatriz Campos.		Others
Mrs. Joycene Tarver led the Pledge of Allegiance. No changes to the agenda. On motion of Mrs. Tarver, seconded by Mr. Stoner, the board unanimously approved the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting on September 21, 2010 and the Special Board Meeting on September 28, 2010. Dr. McLean gave an overview of the Web-Based On-Line Professional Development and the Technology-Based Classroom Walkthrough process. We are providing an additional professional development resource for all staff to include on-line professional development for all teachers, administrators and classroom instructional aides in our district through a company called Teachscape. They have been in business since 1999 working with school districts across the U.S.A. They have won numerous awards including the National School Board Association Award for the way they provide the on-line professional development. Teachers may be videotaped and use the strategies to see how their own students respond. This is linked to the learning and achievement that happens. The district will focus on the English Language Learners strategies and effective instructional strategies. We want to make sure everyone who works with children are all focusing on using the same methods. We will also be using a new technology-based classroom walkthrough process. We will begin to use hand-held computers pre-loaded with walkthrough templates, which will generate reports of what the teacher and students were doing at the time of the walkthrough. Mrs. Rubio stated that this would make it easier to pinpoint the area a teacher would need help in from quarter to quarter. You would be able to see the percentage of improvement students and teachers have made. As administrators we have to have walkthroughs and as a district it’s a reporting requirement through DAIT. Mrs. Rubio asked if any other districts in Kern County are using Teachscape. Dr. McLean replied she had a chance to use it at Bakersfield City School District in which Wayside had the highest gain out of 42 schools in the district when the professional development and the walkthrough were used. Mrs. Rubio asked how the district was going to pay for this program. The site license for the walkthrough program is $640.00 per site for a total of $3200.00 for the district to have the walkthrough tool and template and it will be customized to our needs. The on-line professional development is $10,000.00 for all four sites and the district office this includes every employee. Dr. McLean provided information on the graduation rates for Arvin High School. For the last year reported 2007/2008 Arvin High School’s graduation rate was 79.70%; the district total rate was 77.40%; the county’s total rate was 73.50% and the state’s total rate was 80.20%. The following are the percentages of Arvin High’s students attending college: For the 2009/10 school year 63.40% of Arvin High’s students graduated and enrolled in a college; the Kern High School District had 50% and the state 56%. Mrs. Kouklis informed the board of a new program the district began on October 11 in first thru fifth grades at all three elementary sites called Standards Plus. This is a resource based program to reinforce and re-teach standards in the curriculum that the students might have missed during first instruction. They are based on twelve minute a day lessons; teacher directed and student practice. There’s an assessment every Friday so that the teacher can see if the student is mastering that standard or not. This will help to give us a picture for preparation of the CST. Mrs. Johnson gave a presentation on the Reading Language Arts Program. We test six areas of the Benchmark assessment: fluency, comprehension, spelling vocabulary, grammar and writing. They are standards aligned assessments. In all grade levels from second thru sixth grades we have a larger number of students scoring proficient. Last year Arvin had the highest increase in the Academic Performance Index in any elementary school district in Kern County. So far this year our students are showing not only can they meet the performance from last year but they are exceeding this. Dr. McLean stated anytime you see a 3% or more gain that is considered statistically significant. Mrs. Rubio asked if the benchmark test that is given after the six weeks is reflecting what they have learned in the six weeks or what they will learn. Mrs. Johnson replied it is a post assessment. It is based off the curriculum that was taught during the six weeks but it’s also aligned with the California Standards so it’s not testing that curriculum specifically but the standards that were taught during that curriculum. There are several changes in curriculum and instruction for 2010/2011 school year. The district has additional services available including after school programs and Saturday school classes in which we are currently serving over 1,400 students. At this time, Mrs. Rubio announced the opportunity for public comment. Dawn Ellison, 9651 Sycamore, Arvin; addressed the board regarding the proposed charter school. Ms. Ellison was encouraged by several concepts that she read in the petition as well as concepts she heard regarding the Arvin Union School District. She was encouraged by the mentoring, learning lab and on-line tutoring program. Also, all students that were struggling regardless of educational level or migrant status were encouraged and able participate in the after school tutoring program and specifically receiving one on one time when necessary. Ms. Ellison stated she was so proud of the teachers in the Arvin Union School District and would the district to grant the request for the Grimmway Academy. Suresh Kumar, 3507 Cathedral Rose Avenue, Bakersfield; addressed the board regarding the number of migrant students in the Arvin Union School District and what the trend has been for the last few years. Dr. McLean replied we would get this information to Mr. Kumar but stated the migrant population is growing and also our migrant students are some of our highest achieving students. Bethany Santos, addressed the board regarding the proposed charter school. She is concerned about the qualifications of those who will be in charge of our student’s education in the proposed Grimmway Academy Charter School. Mrs. Santos encouraged the board, before the vote is taken for the charter petition, to know who will be in charge of the children’s education. On motion of Mr. Stoner, seconded by Mrs. Tarver, the board unanimously approved the following consent agenda: Purchase Order Numbers 110219 – 110259 Bill Payments 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Payroll Numbers 13, 14, 15, 16 Ratify the following Interdistrict Attendance Requests for the 2010/2011 school year based on parent employment. (indicates renewal) Buenrostro, Luis H. Jr. – Grade 5 – Vineland to Arvin Buenrostro, Arianna R. – Grade 4 – Vineland to Arvin Ratify the following Interdistrict Attendance Requests for the 2010/2011 school year based on child care. ( indicates renewal) Hernandez, Lesly – Grade 1 – Arvin to Vineland Hernandez, Victoria – Grade 3 – Arvin to Vineland Lara, Kimberly – Grade 5 – Arvin to DiGiorgio Lara, Yasmin – Grade 4 – Arvin to DiGiorgio Deny the following Interdistrict Attendance Requests for the 2010/2011 school Year based on parent request. Garcia, Valentin – Grade 5 – Arvin to Vineland Ratify the following Intradistrict Attendance Requests for the 2010/2011 school year based on parent request. (indicates renewal) Abrego, Macie L. – Grade 2 – SV to BME Lopez, Christian A. – Grade 1 – BME to SV Pantoja, Kevin – Grade 2 – SV to BME Vega, Joey – Grade 1 – BME to ECR Ratify the following Intradistrict Attendance Requests for the 2010/2011 school year based on child care. (indicates renewal) Ortiz, Hilario – Grade 5 – BME to SV Consider approval for the fall festival donation of $100 given by Craig Garrett. On motion of Mrs. Tarver, seconded by Mr. Stoner, the board unanimously approved the following employment, resignation, retirement, leave of absence, change of status, and termination of the following certificated staff for the 2010/2011 school year: Additional Assignments: Certificated Substitutes John Baker Enereida Benitez Ermelinda Chipres Heather Cox Flor Duran Janet Gamboa Carl Longacre Maria E. Lopez Patricia Martinez Benjamin Proffitt Nolan Richert Marilou Roberts Todd Rowatt Paul Stine Kaelene Swanson Jose Tamayo Sheila Vandborg Cheryl Williams SST (Student Study Team) Coordinators Kimberly Teague – SV Amber Barnard – BME Devon Witte – ECR Maggie Ortega and Miguel Rivera – HD ELL Migrant Saturday School Teachers Arceli Herrera – ECR Erin Gayer – ECR Virginia Hemingway – ECR Alfredo Lopez – HD Migrant Extended Day Teachers Magdalena Hernandez Claudia Moreno Charlene Tarver Cynthia Hufnagel John Bullard Devon Witte Veronica Cruz Rosemarie Borquez Elizabeth Alvarez Migrant Saturday School Teacher Devon Witte Aida Rivas Migrant Pre-K Teacher Javier Pacheco Athletic Department Advisor Miguel Rivera 7th/8th Grade Girls Volleyball Coach Fernando Guzman & Aurelio Reyna 7th/8th Grade Boys Basketball Coach Richard Crawford 7th/8th Grade Girls Basketball Coach Anthony Sidney 7th/8th Grade Boys Soccer Coach Jesus Acosta 7th/8th Grade Boys and Girls Football Coach Stephen Martinez After School Program Teachers Sierra Vista Elementary Noemi Leon Bear Mountain Elementary John Bullard Rosemarie Borquez Christy Vargas El Camino Real Elementary Marc Mathiasen Trisha Camps Haven Drive Middle School Bill Gilden – Math Miguel Rivera – Math Claudia Higginbotham – Language Arts Patricia Moland – Language Arts Richard Crawford – AVID Resignations: Donny Horton resigned as Pre-K Saturday School Teacher, effective October 8, 2010. On motion of Mr. Stoner, seconded by Mr. Owens, the board unanimously approved the following employment, resignation, retirement, leave of absence, change of status, and termination of the following classified staff for the 2010/2011 school year: After School Instructional Aides Sierra Vista Elementary Adriana Corrdero Bear Mountain Elementary Lizbeth Villalobos El Camino Real Elementary Larry Horton Magaly Quintino Guadalupe Gonzalez Haven Drive Middle School Eric Moland Justin Beavers Additional Assignments: Migrant Extended Day Tutor Maria Cruz Martha Gonzalez Norma Bojorquez Monica Bojorquez Maria Vargas Elsa Quirino Connie Guerra Cecilia Baltazar Guadalupe Valles Lissett DeLeon Patricia Pantoja Roxanne Hernandez Griselda Garza Migrant Pre-K Tutor (site-based) Connie Guerra Migrant Support Service Aide/Saturday School/MEES Norma Borquez Migrant Tutor/Saturday School Connie Guerra Martha Gonzalez Angie Gutierrez Maria Garcia Patricia Pantoja Esther Serrato Sirenia Pantoja Monica Bojorquez Roxanne Hernandez Maria Cruz Valerie Marmolejo Rodrigo Rios Lucy Garcia Change of Position: Preschool Instructional Aide Melissa Abrego, moved from Sierra Vista 1-hour Noon Duty Aide, effective September 23, 2010. On motion of Mr. Stoner, seconded by Mrs. Tarver, the board unanimously approved the Appointment of Tim Owens as Trustee due to lack of candidate filing. The vote taken was Yes – 3, No – 0, Abstain – 1. On motion of Mr. Owens, seconded by Mr. Stoner, the board unanimously approved the proposal with Vital Signs of Bakersfield to manufacture and install one (1) set of formed plastic letters with a round front for the District Office for the sum of $1901.25. Dr. McLean reported we had no complaints. No action necessary. Mr. Davis reviewed the GASB 45 Valuation (Actuarial) prepared by Demsey, Filliger & Associates. No action was necessary. On motion of Mr. Owens, seconded by Mrs. Tarver, the board unanimously adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Clerk Secretary		Pledge of Allegiance Adoption of the Agenda Minutes – Approved Dr. McLean/Web-Based On-Line Professional Development Dr. McLean/Arvin High School Graduation Rates Mrs. Kouklis/Standards Plus Mrs. Johnson/Reading Language Arts Program Communications from the Public Ms. Ellison Mr. Suresh Kumar Ms. Bethany Santos Purchase Orders Bill Payments Payroll Interdistrict-10/11 Parent Employment Interdistrict-10/11 Child Care Interdistrict-10/11 Parent Request Interdistrict-10/11 Parent Request Intradistrict-10-11 Child Care Donation/Craig Garrett Certificated Staff Classified Staff Appointment of Trustee Proposal with Vital Signs of Bakersfield Williams Quarterly Report GASB 45 Valuation (Actuarial) Adjournment