BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:

Bonnie Castrey
Sallie Dashiell
Matthew Harper
Susan Henry
Michael Simons

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:

None

ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL PRESENT:

Susan Roper, Superintendent
Jack Elsner Asst. Supt., Personnel/Emp Relations
Patricia Koch, Asst. Supt, Business Services
John Myers, Asst. Supt., Educational Services
Carole Thomas, Executive Assistant

ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL ABSENT:

None

PLACE AND DATE OF MEETING:

District Education Center
Tuesday, September 11, 2001

CALL TO ORDER:

The meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m. by the President, Dr. Simons.

CLOSED SESSION: (I)

There was no closed session.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: (II)

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jim Keating. Dr. Simons asked for a Moment of Silence and Reflection in memory of those who lost their lives in today’s terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

PUBLIC COMMUNICATION TO THE BOARD:  (III-A)

None.

STUDY SESSION – STUDENT DISCIPLINE/ ATTENDANCE:

(III-B)

District staff provided an update of policies and procedures regarding discipline and attendance. Dr. John Myers indicated there is a consistent approach to discipline and attendance in all of our comprehensive high schools. The district provides consistent application when dealing with discipline matters. Dr. Myers stated it is important to provide students with standards for acceptable behavior as students look for structure.

Ramon Cusi, Vice Principal, Marina High School, and John Elliott, Vice Principal, Edison High School, described the process developed to deal with SB 200 Discipline Referral which monitors guidance and discipline information on the computer. This is particularly helpful in aiding other administrators who may have our students transferred either in or outside of the district. Dr. Myers commented that 75 percent of these students attend schools other than where they live, many times they move around, so this is a way of keeping track of them and keeping them accountable.

Jim Keating, Director, Special Education, addressed the Special Education Student Discipline Matrix and described how there are many similarities with standards for discipline and attendance for both special education and regular students. Special education students follow the same process as regular students until they get into long-term suspensions.

Dr. Doris Longmead, Principal, Coast High School/Adult Education, described the Huntington Beach Union High School District expulsion process. Dr. Longmead indicated that because expulsion is the most severe form of punishment, it has more safeguards for due process. She stated that until the early 1980’s the Board of Trustees heard expulsion hearings in closed session, then it was decided to establish an expulsion panel to make recommendations to the Board.

Kathy Miller, Director, Alternative Education/Principal, Valley Vista High School, described the Huntington Beach High School District At-Risk Programs and student options in Alternative Education programs.

Dr. Myers explained student attendance options. He stated that punitive options are very limited and there is little time for this system to deal with truancy. He indicated that program options are the real way to get students in school as they make school exciting and tolerable. We must verify that our students have had an opportunity to be exposed to the appropriate standards that are required for them to graduate. Removal from class is no longer an appropriate option. We need to get a body of people district-wide to see if there is not another way to deal with it rather than taking them out of class as students should not be deprived of the opportunity to be exposed to the standards.

Board members asked questions and staff responded.

Ms Dashiell commended staff.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mr. Harper asked for an update on the sewer fee matter. Dr. Koch responded, stating that it might be appropriate to reduce the high school fee to the level of the elementary school fee.

Dr. Roper discussed the attendance of Board members at back-to-school nights. Board members calendared attendance.

Dr. Roper thanked all staff in the district for the direction they had given to young people in dealing with the events of the day. She described how she would be recommending handling extra-curricular activities over the next few days. Dr. Roper also discussed the way teachers would be handling the amount of information provided to students for the rest of the week.

Kathy Iverson, President of DEA, encouraged teachers to continue with the curriculum and try to bring back normalcy to the lives of students.

Mr. Harper commented that he was very proud that everyone was here at the Board of Trustees meeting for the practice of freedom at the local level.

Dr. Roper indicated that she was leaning toward canceling co-curricular activities on Thursday and Friday as they would not be appropriate right now.

Dr. Koch indicated that a blood drive was being organized on behalf of the district.

Dr. Koch provided a facilities update and indicated that a bi-weekly update will be provided in the future.

Dr. Simons encouraged Board members to visit sites and be visible.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION:

Kathy Iverson commented on the tracking of student test scores, in-house suspension, and pre-service days and assessment data.

ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting was adjourned at 6:52 p.m.