March 12, 2013 - Board of Trustees - Ceres Unified School District

Minutes – Board of Trustees UNAPPROVED MINUTES Meeting – March 12, 2013The Board of Trustees greeted and congratulated the new employees.b. Recognition of Administrators of the YearDr. Wickham introduced and congratulated Supervisor of Projects Jan Wood and Ceres HighSchool Principal Linda Stubbs who were nominees for CUSD Administrator of the Year.Dr. Siegel introduced and congratulated La Rosa Elementary School Principal Lori Mariani asthe District’s Administrator of the Year. Mrs. Mariani was also selected by the Association ofCalifornia School Administrators as the Region VII Elementary Principal of the Year.The Trustees greeted and congratulated the administrators and President Welsh presented themwith plaques in recognition of their accomplishments.c. Carroll Fowler Elementary School Presentation - Student Leadership ProgramPrincipal Bruce Clifton addressed the Board to introduce the Carroll Fowler Student LeadershipProgram. Fifth-grade teacher Debbie Jackson reported that the program incorporates principlesof the book, The Leader in Me, by Stephen Covey. Ms. Jackson noted that the benefits ofempowering students with leadership skills for the future include decreased discipline issues andincreased attendance. Students who participate in the leadership program give up their lunchesand recesses to serve in such areas as flag leaders, equipment leaders, custodial leaders, areamonitors, lunch-time assistant leaders and traffic monitors.Members of the Fowler PTC team reported on activities and benefits of the program. Studentsreported on the seven habits of effective leaders, and what they gain from the program.At this time, President Welsh offered the opportunity for those in attendance for the commendations toexit the meeting.5. APPROVAL OF AGENDAa. Opportunity for the Board and Administration to Adjust the Published AgendaPresident Welsh offered the opportunity to make adjustments to the published Agenda. Dr.Siegel requested that Information & Study Item 10. d., Career Pathways Presentation, bemoved forward on the Agenda to follow the Consent Section, in consideration of studentsand staff present to report. The Agenda was so adjusted. For the purpose of the meetingminutes, the item appears in its agendized order.6. HEARING SECTIONa. Opportunity for Citizens to Address Items Not on the AgendaTrustee Davis read aloud the guidelines relevant to public presentations to the Board andopened the Public Hearing for those wishing to address an item not on the Agenda. With noone wishing to address the Board, the Public Hearing was closed.7. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSIONTrustee Davis reported that no action was taken during Closed Session.8. CONSENT AGENDAa. Minutes of the Regular Governing Board Meeting of February 19, 2013b. Ratification of Warrantsc. Ratification of Employmentd. Disposal of District Propertye. Claim for Damagesf. U.S. Bancorp Copier Lease Approvals2

Minutes – Board of Trustees UNAPPROVED MINUTES Meeting – March 12, 2013g. Ceres Unified School District Communications Plan 2013Trustee Perez moved and Trustee Wigt seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda items a-g.Ayes: Alexis Boardrow, Jesse Magana, Jim Kinard, Faye Lane, Teresa Guerrero, LourdesPerez, Valli Wigt, Betty Davis and Mike Welsh. Motion carried.9. ACTION SECTIONa. Consideration of Student ExpulsionsTrustee Davis moved and Trustee Lane seconded, to approve the Administrative Panel’srecommendation regarding Student Expulsion Case Number EX040-12/13. Ayes: JimKinard, Faye Lane, Teresa Guerrero, Lourdes Perez, Valli Wigt, Betty Davis and MikeWelsh. Motion carried.b. Single Plan for Student Achievement (Annual Revision) Cesar Chavez Junior HighSchoolDeputy Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Mary Jones reported that EducationCode 64001 requires schools utilizing Consolidated Application (categorical) funds tomaintain a Single Plan for Student Achievement, with goals based on analyzing verifiablestudent performance data from the state. These plans are to be reviewed and revised, asneeded, each year by the school’s site council, and any material changes approved by theBoard.Dr. Jones presented for review and action by the Board of Trustees the Revised Single Planfor Student Achievement for Chavez Junior High School.Trustee Wigt moved and Trustee Perez seconded, to approve the Revised Single Plan forStudent Achievement as presented. Ayes: Alexis Boardrow, Jesse Magana, Jim Kinard,Faye Lane, Teresa Guerrero, Lourdes Perez, Valli Wigt, Betty Davis and Mike Welsh.Motion carried.c. Application of Title I School-Wide Program for Cesar Chavez Junior High SchoolDr. Jones reported that schools become eligible for school-wide application of Title I fundswhen a minimum of 40 percent of the students in the school, or residing in the attendancearea served by the school, qualify for the National School Lunch Program. Chavez JuniorHigh School has met this minimum qualification. Schools seeking approval must have 10components within the Title I School-Wide Plan for student achievement. The schoolimprovement plan has been reviewed and revised as necessary to meet the requirements, andthe application for the School-Wide Program has been approved by the School Site Council.Dr. Jones presented for review and action by the Board of Trustees the application for theSchool-Wide Title I Program for Chavez Junior High School.Trustee Davis moved and Trustee Guerrero seconded, to approve the application aspresented. Ayes: Alexis Boardrow, Jesse Magana, Jim Kinard, Faye Lane, Teresa Guerrero,Lourdes Perez, Valli Wigt, Betty Davis and Mike Welsh. Motion carried.d. Employment AgreementDr. Siegel introduced Cynthia Heaton, who has been selected to replace Director ofCurriculum & Instruction Debi Bukko when Mrs. Bukko becomes the AssistantSuperintendent of Educational Services upon the retirement of Dr. Mary Jones at the end ofthe school year.Dr. Siegel presented for review and action by the Board of Trustees the employmentagreement for the Director of Curriculum & Instruction, effective July 1, 2013.3

Minutes – Board of Trustees UNAPPROVED MINUTES Meeting – March 12, 2013Trustee Perez moved and Trustee Wigt seconded, to approve the employment agreement aspresented. Ayes: Alexis Boardrow, Jesse Magana, Jim Kinard, Faye Lane, Teresa Guerrero,Lourdes Perez, Valli Wigt, Betty Davis and Mike Welsh. Motion carried.e. Recommendations for Permanent StatusDr. Wickham presented for review and action by the Board of Trustees a list of certificatedemployees recommended for permanent status, effective with the 2013-2014 school year.Each employee has received a satisfactory evaluation and has been recommended forpermanent status by his or her site administration.Trustee Kinard moved and Trustee Davis seconded, to approve as presented the list ofcertificated employees recommended for permanent status. Ayes: Alexis Boardrow, JesseMagana, Jim Kinard, Faye Lane, Teresa Guerrero, Lourdes Perez, Valli Wigt, Betty Davisand Mike Welsh. Motion carried.f. Probationary Certificated Non-reelectionDr. Wickham reported that the following employees have been recommended for nonreelectionin their current position of employment with the Ceres Unified School District forthe 2013-2014 school year: Employee 5846, Employee 6976 and Employee 6600.Trustee Guerrero moved and Trustee Perez seconded, to approve the list of employeesrecommended for non-reelection. Ayes: Alexis Boardrow, Jesse Magana, Jim Kinard, FayeLane, Teresa Guerrero, Lourdes Perez, Valli Wigt, Betty Davis and Mike Welsh. Motioncarried.g. Salary RestorationDr. Siegel reported that on July 1, 2010, the salary schedules for all District employees weredeficited by 8.5 percent. This action was taken in lieu of programmatic cuts that would havebeen necessitated by the state budget crisis. With the passage of Proposition 30 and thesubsequent release of the Governor’s budget proposal, the District’s finances are in acondition in which programmatic restorations are possible. Since the most significantprogrammatic cut was to employee salaries, staff is recommending that the District restorethe final 2.50 percent to all employee salary schedules, effective July 1, 2012. Staff havedetermined through a preliminary analysis of the Governor’s budget proposal and theDistrict’s current financial state that this restoration is sustainable. With this restoration, thecontinuing deficit to employee salaries will be zero (0) percent, and salaries will be fullyrestored.Dr. Siegel reported that at the January 29, 2013 meeting, the Board authorized staff tocommence working on this salary restoration. Government Code 3547.5 requires that theSuperintendent and Chief Business Official of a school district certify and provideprojections that show that a district is able to afford any negotiated settlement. Even thoughthis restoration is authorized under a previous settlement, staff is recommending that theBoard treat it as a new settlement for these purposes.Dr. Siegel presented for review by the Board of Trustees the required certification. TheInterim Report on this agenda contains the financial information demonstrating that theDistrict can afford the restoration. If approved, staff plans to implement the restoration, withretroactivity, on the March 29 Payroll for Classified and Confidential employees, the April30 Payroll for Certificated, Administration and Classified Managers, and the May 10 Payrollfor Cycle 2 employees.Trustee Davis moved and Trustee Lane seconded, to authorize the final 2.5 percentrestoration of employee salary schedules, effective July 1, 2012. Ayes: Alexis Boardrow,4

Minutes – Board of Trustees UNAPPROVED MINUTES Meeting – March 12, 2013Mr. Fabela presented the project cost summary from AMS.Net for review and action by theBoard of Trustees.Trustee Davis moved and Trustee Lane seconded, to award the bid to AMS.Net. Ayes:Alexis Boardrow, Jesse Magana, Jim Kinard, Faye Lane, Teresa Guerrero, Lourdes Perez,Valli Wigt, Betty Davis and Mike Welsh. Motion carried.10. INFORMATION & STUDYa. Superintendent’s ReportDr. Siegel reported that a construction update and a study session on construction budgetswill be scheduled in the near future. He noted that he has spent considerable time walkingclassrooms this year and is reminded every day that CUSD employees make a difference forstudents. Dr. Siegel thanked the staff for their efforts. He also congratulated the District’snew employees, Administrators of the Year, and new Director of Curriculum & InstructionCynthia Heaton. Dr. Siegel noted that a focus of recent media has been issues surroundingthe California Voting Rights Act, and litigation to require a shift to local elections by trusteedistrict rather than at large. Dr. Siegel thanked the Board for being proactive in 2007-2008in their response to a first round of letters from the attorney group driving this change. As aresult, CUSD is not experiencing the stress of now hurriedly forming trustee districts toavoid a lawsuit. Dr. Siegel reported that CUSD is in an intense round of hiring toaccommodate decreasing class sizes for next year. Dr. Siegel commended Dr. Wickham andher division who are working hard to be competitive and hire the best candidates for ourstudents.b. Board ReportCentral Valley High School Student Representative Jesse Magana and Ceres High SchoolStudent Representative Alexis Boardrow reported on academics, athletics and other schoolactivities.Trustee Wigt reported that she enjoyed Dr. Seuss Night at Carroll Fowler.Trustee Perez reported that she attended a Youth for Christ event held at Ceres High Schooland was astonished by the empowerment and participation of students. Trustee Perezthanked the District and schools for seeking out programs and partnerships to benefitstudents.c. Association ReportCeres Unified Teachers Association (CUTA) President Cheryl Brewer expressed surprisethat salaries have been restored so quickly, and appreciation to the Board for their supportand direction to District leaders. Ms. Brewer noted that she appreciated the recentopportunity to serve on an interview panel for the Director of Curriculum & Instruction,which was an enjoyable process with great rigor required of the candidates. Ms. Brewercongratulated the successful candidate, Cynthia Heaton.Diana Boyarsky, President of California School Employees Association Chapter 140(CSEA), also expressed surprise and appreciation that salaries have been restored in a shortertimeframe than anticipated. Ms. Boyarsky noted that she also enjoyed serving on theinterview panel for the Director of Curriculum & Instruction, and offered her congratulationsto Ms. Heaton.d. Career Pathways PresentationAssistant Superintendent of Student Support Services Jay Simmonds introduced secondarystaff and students who presented an update on the Career Pathways at both comprehensivehigh schools. Teacher Michael Patterson of Ceres High School reported that he is excited6

Minutes – Board of Trustees UNAPPROVED MINUTES Meeting – March 12, 2013about a new Animal Science/Vet Science pathway. Mr. Patterson introduced a student whoreported on projects completed in an ROP Ag Welding class and animal projects. CHSAssociate Principal Lonnie Cornell thanked the students and staff who took time out of theirschedules to present to the Board. Mr. Cornell introduced students from the ManufacturingAcademy who reported on a partnership with nonprofit Grid Alternatives to install solarpanels on the homes of low-income families. Teacher Ken Moncrief of Central Valley HighSchool introduced Future Farmers of America chapter officers who reported on how FFAfits into the Ag Mechanics, Horticulture and Animal Science pathways. CVHS Visual Artsstudents and staff introduced a video presentation on Career Technical Education programsin visual and performing arts. Mr. Simmonds thanked students and staff for their hard work.e. Head Start Reports November-January 2013As required by the Head Start Act, Mr. Simmonds presented for review the monthly programinformation reports for the Early and Regional Head Start programs.f. Board Policy November 2012 Revisions - DraftDr. Siegel reported that, in the process of maintaining and updating our Board Policies andAdministrative Regulations to comply with current law and the California School BoardsAssociation (CSBA) recommendations, a draft copy of the November 2012 updates andproposed revisions will be made available for Board Member review at the March 12, 2013,meeting. A copy of the proposed changes has been forwarded to CSBA to prepare an editedcopy for a first reading at an upcoming meeting.11. RESEARCHFesterwald: For now, K-12 districts can wait and watch sequestration unroll, EdSource, February27, 2013Why international tests are wrong, eSchool News, March 2013, Vol. 16, No. 312. ADJOURNMENTPresident Welsh adjourned the meeting at 8:27 p.m.Respectfully Submitted,Scott Siegel, Ed.D.Secretary to the Board of Trustees7