The monthly meeting of the Hope School District Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on January 9, 2006, in the Hope District Board Room. All members were present except Todd Sosna. The Board adjourned to Closed Session at 6:05 p.m. The Board reconvened in a Public Session at 7:10 p.m.  The following is a brief outline of the actions and discussions addressed by the Board.  

The Meeting Reconvened at 7:10 p.m.

During closed session the Board continued the discussion on employee negotiations. No action was taken in closed session.

Correspondence:

There was no correspondence.

Public Comment:

There was no public comment

Consent Agenda:

The following routine consent items were presented to the Board for approval:

a.    Approve the Minutes of the Organizational and Regular Board Meeting of December 5, 2005.

b. Approve submitted purchase orders and warrant reports. Copies of the Commercial Warrant register sheets listing the purchase orders and warrants were provided to members of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees approved (4 ayes; 0 noes; 1 absent) the consent agenda.

Guest Speakers:

Brian Sarvis, Superintendent of the Santa Barbara School District, discussed the potential unification of the Santa Barbara elementary and high school districts.  Dr. Sarvis described the process and implications for possible unification of the elementary and high school districts as well as the opt out provisions for other feeder elementary districts.

Priscilla Diamond, secretary to the Santa Barbara Committee on School District Organization, reviewed the process for a “Thompson” unification, including the ability of and procedure for feeder districts to be excluded from the unification.  Copies of the relevant Education Code Section 35542(b) and a sample resolution were distributed. An audience member spoke in opposition to the proposed unification of the Santa Barbara school districts.

 

 

Action Items:

·    Approval of the Annual Financial Report for the Year Ending June 30, 2005.

Business Manager Julie Wood presented the Annual Financial Report for the Year Ending June 30, 2005, to the Trustees for approval.  This report includes findings and recommendations the District has addressed or will need to address.  The overall audit is in compliance with state and federal regulations. The Board of Trustees approved (4 ayes; 0 noes; 1 absent) the Annual Financial Report for the Year Ending June 30, 2005.

·    Approve Increase of Substitute Teacher Pay Rate

Superintendent Fausett requested that the Trustees consider an increase to the substitute teacher rate of pay from $90/day to $100/day. The last increase was approved in July 2002.  Due to the decreasing number of substitute teachers, it is important to remain competitive in order to be able to cover teacher absences.  A comparison sheet of substitute pay rates in the County was included for the Trustees. The Board of Trustees approved (4 ayes; 0 noes; 1 absent) the increase in substitute teacher pay rate to $100 per day and retained the long-term substitute rate at $115 per day after the 20th consecutive day retroactive to the first date of the long-term assignment.

·    Approve Revised Field Trip Notification & Permission Form and Field Trip Report Form

Superintendent Fausett presented revisions to the Field Trip notification & permission form and the Field trip report form to the Trustees for approval.  The forms were last revised in 2001. The revisions include a statement that drivers are not to transport students to any other location than the designated field trip location, and provide a place to indicate the student’s swimming ability if the field trip involves exposure to water.  The Trustees suggested that each principal include a statement in their school

newsletters  requesting  that  parents   exercise

responsible cell phone use when driving on a field trip.  The Board of Trustees approved (4 ayes; 0 noes; 1 absent) the revisions to the field trip notification  and  permission  form  and field trip

 

 

report form with the modification that the statement regarding drivers not transporting students to any location other than the designated field trip destination be made more noticeable on the form.

·    Approve Roofing Project at Hope School

Business Manager Julie Wood presented a preliminary overview of estimates for a recommended roofing system to be installed on the multi-purpose room at Hope School and for repairs to the roof of the Hope School administrative building.  At the October meeting the Board ratified a contract with Richard McKenzie AIA, Architect’s Consulting Service, to provide full architectural scope for this project. Mr. McKenzie has recommended a roofing system and the Board reviewed his preliminary re-roofing overview estimates.  The Board of Trustees approved (4 ayes; 0 noes; 1 absent) the recommended roofing system and authorized Richard McKenzie AIA, Architect’s Consulting Service, to begin the bidding process.

Discussion Item:

·    First Reading of Revised Board Policy 1240 and Administrative Regulation 1240 Volunteer Assistance

Superintendent Fausett presented revisions to Board Policy 1240 and Administrative Regulation 1240 (Volunteer Assistance) to the Trustees for a first reading and discussion.  The revised policy includes a volunteer application form.  After a discussion that included Board, staff and community members it was suggested that a committee should be formed to review the policy. Superintendent Fausett will research policies and application forms used in other districts and the revised policy will be returned to the Board for a second reading.

·    Charter School Application Update

At the December meeting, Superintendent Fausett shared a letter of intent to file for a Charter School.  She has contacted several of those who had  signed  the letter  of  intent  and

it appears that no one is currently working on a Charter school application.  Principal LaCorte reported that she had made overtures to parents who had signed the letter of intent and invited  them  to  bring  information  to the Hope

 

School Site Council but has not yet received a response.

Superintendent’s Report:

Superintendent Fausett reported that the State visit for the Categorical Program Management monitoring review will be on February 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The review visit will be at Vieja Valley and the District Office.  A reception to honor the retirement of Eustacchio Guadagnini, Supervisor of Maintenance and Operations. will be held on January 19th.  The supervisor position will be advertised and interviews will take place in February.

Board Members’ Reports:

Trustee Michael Underwood asked for an update on the required alterations to the Monte Vista Multi-Purpose Room.  The February regular board meeting will be on the 6th.  There is a special board meeting scheduled for February 27th to discuss revenue limit and basic aid funding formulas, and discuss the implementation of the Interdistrict Transfer Policy.  There will be an informal meeting at Vieja Valley on January 12th at 7:00 p.m. for parents to discuss questions about basic aid and revenue limit funding and any other issues with the Superintendent and Board members.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned to closed session at 10:07 p.m. for further discussion of negotiations and to complete the Superintendent’s annual evaluation.

The board reconvened to open session at 11:10 p.m. and reported that the Superintendent received a satisfactory evaluation for the period of January 2005 through November 2005.

The meeting adjourned at 11:15 p.m.

REGULAR BOARD MEETING:

FEBRUARY 6, 2006

6:30 P.M. CLOSED SESSION

7:00 P.M.  REGULAR SESSION

HOPE DISTRICT BOARD ROOM

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING:

FEBRUARY 27, 2006

6:30 P.M. CLOSED SESSION

7:00 P.M.  REGULAR SESSION

VIEJA VALLEY MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM