BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:

Bonnie Castrey

Brian Garland

Susan Henry

Matthew Harper

Michael Simons

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:

None

ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL PRESENT:

Van Riley, Superintendent

Carol Osbrink, Asst. Superintendent, Educational Services

Debbie Coleman, Asst. Superintendent, Human Resources

Carole Thomas, Executive Assistant

ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL ABSENT:

None

PLACE AND DATE OF MEETING:

District Office

March 31, 2009

ANNOUNCEMENT:

At 5:30 p.m. the President, Ms Castrey, announced that the

5:30 p.m. Closed Session would take place after the public meeting which was to commence at 6 p.m. as had been noticed.

CALL TO ORDER:

The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by the Board President, Ms Castrey who recommended that public communication on specific topics take place at the time of the agenda items, in order that staff could provide their reports first.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:  (II)

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ms Castrey.

PUBLIC COMMUNICATION TO THE BOARD:  (III-A)

Linda Barrington, staff member, invited members of the Board to the HBPSA presentation at the next Leadership Meeting on Monday, April 13, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.

Donna Alexander, parent, spoke in support of the Board.

BUDGET UPDATE:

(IV-A)

Superintendent Van Riley presented a budget update describing the current budget situation and asking the Board for direction to district staff on how to proceed in the following four areas:  Adult Education Program Options; Summer School; Health Class Options, and Budget Reduction Options.  These reductions are required by actions of the governor and legislature to reduce the General Fund budget by $9 million on July 1, 2009. Two separate areas to be considered were Ongoing Reductions and Reserve/Savings. Dr. Riley provided spreadsheets defining the options.  Last year the district reduced the budget by $5.5 million but did not affect teachers or school budgets, although class size was eliminated in 9^th grade math and English.  A month ago, the state wanted $5.3 million in the middle of the year.  That money had been set aside in a declining enrollment reserve.  Now we are asked to cut another $9 million, so in a 12 month period this district has been asked to cut approximately $20 million out of its high school program.  The recommendation for the 2009-10 budget is for the Board to consider $6.5 million in reductions and use $2.5 million saved this year from the categorical ending balances, such as textbooks.  Dr. Riley hopes to focus on a $6.5 million reduction to be approved at the April or May Board meetings.

PUBLIC COMMUNICATION TO THE BOARD:

Christiane Garisek, President of CSEA Chapter 157, spoke in support of classified employees.

Patricia Unger,  Marian Oliver, and Laura de la Torre, staff members; spoke against the elimination of health clerks.  Laura Wong spoke in support of the Parent-Smart class.

ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM OPTIONS:  (IV-D)

The Superintendent presented four options for funding the Adult Education program for the next two years.  Funding levels of $2.5 million, $3 million, $3.5 million, and $4 million were discussed.  Dr. Riley indicated he was recommending approval of a minimal funding level of $3 million for the Adult Education program for the 2009-10 school year.  He stated that if the Board was interested in moving to the $3.5 million model, it would basically fund the programs Adult Education would have had after the state cuts.  Dr. Doris Longmead, Principal of the Adult School and Coast High School, is requesting funding at the $3.5 million level with increased fees.

The following people spoke concerning the Adult School programs:  Pam Daugherty, staff member; Steve Prantalos, community member; Brian Huffine, staff member; John Williams, community member; Catherine McLean, Suzanne Chen, Cassi Perruccio, and Lisa Marcinko, staff members; Dagmar Kamenar, and Sandra Draper, parents; Stella Gerk, community member; Brenda Henry, parent, and Ann Hayes, community member.

Board members asked questions and staff responded.

It was moved by Mrs. Henry, seconded by Mr. Garland, to accept the $3.5 million funding level.

                                                Motion unanimously carried.

RECESS:

A recess took place from 7:28 to 7:35 p.m.

SUMMER SCHOOL:  (IV-C)

The Superintendent presented information related to the use of supplemental hourly program funds (summer school funds) to generate a reserve for future potential state budget reductions.  Summer school funding is part of the state’s categorical flexibility program that allows districts to spend certain categorical funds on programs other than the specifically funded program.

Dan Shepard, staff member, Kathy Iverson, community member, and Kimberly Gonzalez, staff member, spoke in support of the MERITS program.

Board members asked questions and staff responded.

It was moved by Ms Castrey, seconded by Mr. Harper, to cancel the 2009 regular summer school program and place $1 million of supplemental hourly program funds in a special reserve for future unanticipated state budget reductions.

                                                Motion unanimously carried.

HEALTH CLASS OPTIONS:  (IV-D)

With the closure of summer school for 2009, students will not have the option of taking the required 9^th grade health class during summer.  Dr. Riley reviewed the following proposed options to address this issue:

1.         Complete the Health requirement any time during 9^th or 10^th             grade

2.         Take Health class during 9^th (or 10^th) grade

3.         Complete the Health requirement through Adult Education             concurrent enrollment

4.         Take Health through an appropriate program outside the             district

5.         Take the Health Challenge Exam

Don Hume and Jason Kols, staff members, spoke on this issue.

Much discussion ensued between Board members.

It was moved by Ms Henry, seconded by Mr. Harper, to adopt items 1, 2 and 3 of the Health class options with the addition of “or 11^th grade” in items 1 and 2.  It was agreed to act on items 4 and 5 separately.

                                                Motion unanimously carried.

It was moved by Mr. Garland, seconded by Ms Castrey, that staff review item 4 and bring back a recommendation that meets both school and state standards in Health that students, with prior approval, could take outside the district.

                                                Motion carried 3-2.

                                                Mr. Harper and Dr. Simons voted no.

This item will be brought back for consideration at the April or May 2009 Board meeting.

It was generally felt that item No. 5, the Health Challenge Exam, should not be an option.

BUDGET REDUCTIONS TO THE UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUND:

(IV-E)

The Superintendent presented recommendations for ongoing reductions to the unrestricted general fund.  Two options for Board consideration were 1, a) Ongoing Reductions, and b) Reserve/ Savings; and 2, a) Keep reductions at $6.5 million level, b) Increase reductions and increase savings, and, c) Decrease reductions and decrease savings.  The Board was asked to consider over $7 million of potential reductions and give direction to the superintendent for $6.5 million in reductions to be brought back to the Board for approval at the April 14, 2009 Board meeting.

RECESS:

A recess took place from 9:04 to 9:17 p.m.

The following speakers addressed the budget cuts:  Cathy Lichodzirjewski, DEA Past President; Troy Visser, Vladimir Mandalyan, Art Long, Diann Pendergrass, Janice Jetton, Terry Scharfe, Steve Sogsti, staff members; Jesus Montana, Kreg Mueler, and Brian Chesmore, community members; Diana Givevara, student; Blake Beckman, former student; Steve Rhoten and Susanne DeCandido, community members; JoAnne Lee, staff member; Nina Glover, staff member; Robert Lampers, community member; Noelle Smith, student; Lydia Smith Davis, parent; Raymond Penn, staff member; and Mark Soden, staff member.

Board members discussed all the recommendations which the Superintendent and staff had made, each expressing their own concerns.  Ms Castrey summarized Board member discussion, stating that there appeared to be consensus on all items with the exception of the following six items for which the Board requested further study and options:

1)                  Health Clerks

2)                  IS/ETS positions

3)                  Library Media Specialists

4)                  Public Safety Officers

5)                  Psychologists

6)                  Release Periods/Special Funding for Magnet Programs

Dr. Riley indicated that he would look at these six items which Board members had mentioned and bring back more information and options to the Board at the April 14, 2009 Board meeting.

MOTION TO CONTINUE:

At 11 p.m. it was moved by Ms Castrey, seconded by Mr. Harper, to continue the meeting to 11:30 p.m.

NEW BUSINESS:  (IX)

None.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION TO THE BOARD:

Steve Rhoten and Jesus Montana commented on budget reductions.

ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting was adjourned by the President, Ms Castrey, at

11:08 p.m.

______________________________

                           Clerk

______________________________

                        Secretary