County Board of Education - Contra Costa County Office of Education

County Board of Education
February 6, 2002
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
youths and adults in the county and in the state. She then introduced Golden Gate Community
School Principal Joe Chapot, who gave an overview of his community school, which included the
number and types of students who use these programs, the sites involved, community partnerships,
improvement in student learning, and the various services provided to students. Mt. McKinley
Principal Lindy Khan then presented an overview of the programs for which she is responsible,
including accountability, improvement in student scores, community partnerships, graduation
information, technology, teaching strategies, and services provided to students. Dr. Michael Grimes,
Delta Vista High School Principal, shared information on the various programs offered at Delta Vista
High School at Byron Boys Ranch, including enrollment statistics, drug counseling, student transition
programs (e.g., job fairs, student portfolios, and transition plans), community partnerships, and senior
literacy tutors. On behalf of Cathy Basen, Program Administrator for Contra Costa Adults Schools,
Dr. Bianca Bloom gave an overview of the educational services and special programs offered at
Marsh Creek Detention Facility, Martinez Detention Facility, and West County Detention Facility.
She noted that the DEUCE curriculum, which was designed by CDC Project Manager Mary Lou
Browning and many COE teachers, is locally, nationally, and internationally recognized for its
curriculum. CDC Project Manager Mary Lou Browning then presented an overview of the statewide
CDC Project, which included historical background, services available to parolees, the programs
offered through the 51 classes located in parole offices (i.e., literacy and substance abuse), the
intensive STAR curriculum, and collaborations that have helped to reduce the return-to-custody rate
from 80% in 1990 to 55% currently. Catherine Giacalone, Youth Development Services Project
Manager, explained to the Board that her department works in communities to develop local
partnerships to find local solutions to health, social, economic, and education problems. She then
gave an overview of the programs and services offered through her department that address teen
pregnancy, foster youths, and home instruction for preschoolers based on a successful international
model. Ms. Giacalone also discussed the services offered through the local Council for Childcare
Development as well as the Professional Development Program, which is a program that is designed
to improve the quality of early childhood education. She also works with the Grant and Workforce
Development Board, which partners with local community organizations to focus on long-term
intervention and provide students with opportunities to participate in academic counseling,
preparation for post-secondary education, tutoring, internships, career exploration, and job
assessments so that they can be placed in jobs in careers in which they have shown an aptitude. In
response to a question from Mrs. Mirabella regarding any concerns that may exist, Dr. Bloom
addressed the matter of downsizing, which is reflected in lower ADA. The Board thanked staff for a
very comprehensive presentation.
BUSINESS SERVICES
Staff Report Deputy Superintendent Ellen Elster informed the Board that she would be providing the Bay Point
Municipal Advisory Committee with a sample petition for when they begin gathering signatures.
STUDENT PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES
Staff Report Ray Penning, Associate Superintendent, Student Programs and Services, reported that the tipline
went active this past week, and he informed the Board that data will be collected on the usefulness of
the tipline to determine whether or not the COE would like to continue providing it next year. He
then shared with the Board that one of the students who is eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship
based upon his scoring higher than 95% of the students in the statewide STAR Assessment is
currently a Community School student and that he is available to appear before the Board at a future
meeting to be recognized if the Board wishes to meet him and his father; President Ruley asked Mr.
Penning to invite the student to the next meeting. Mr. Gomes mentioned to Mr. Penning an article
published by the National School Boards Association he had read that concerned the responsibility of
school boards to protect students and teachers against the threat of terrorism at nearby chemical
facilities; he asked Mr. Penning if the COE has been working on this matter. Mr. Penning reported
that he has been addressing this issue and noted that, because of the number of spills and releases
from local refineries, Contra Costa
County is fortunate to have more hazardous materials experts than any of the neighboring counties.
Also, he reported that an organization (CAER) has been formed to set up an emergency notification
system and that National Weather Service radios are currently being distributed to various school
sites throughout the county for the purpose of notifying local communities of toxic releases from the
refineries. The system was successfully deployed recently when there was a refinery release at Point
Richmond.
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