BOE Meeting for June 12, 2007

1.) Recognition of Student Board Members

Background: The District recognized the contributions made by the three student board members:

Mina Kwan - Alameda High School
Cecilia Martinez - Encinal High School
Angel Guerra-Burdick - Island High School

Strategic Significance: Goal #12 Communication and Community Engagement

2.) Public Appointment of Coordinator, Special Education - Pre K to Grade 5

Background: During the budget reallocation process in February, the Superintendent recommended the restucturing of two Program Specialist positions into Coordinator positions. The Board approved the resturcturing. The Superintendent presented Susan Martin for the position.

The Board approved the appointment.

Fiscal Implications: $24,000 increase approved during Februry budget reallocation process

Strategic Significance: Goal #3 Staff Recruitment, Assignment and Retention

3.) Public Appointment of Coordinator, Special Education - Grades 6 to Adult

Background: During the budget reallocation process in February, the Superintendent recommended the restucturing of two Program Specialist positions into Coordinator positions. The Board approved the resturcturing. The Superintendent presented Ken Talken for the position.

The Board approved the appointment.

Fiscal Implications: $24,000 increase approved during Februry budget reallocation process

Strategic Significance: Goal #3 Staff Recruitment, Assignment and Retention

4.) Measure A Fiscal Oversight Committee Report

Background: A report from Measure A Fiscal Oversight Committee was pulled and will be presented at a later date.

Strategic Significance: Goal #1-12

5.) Measure C Citizens Bond Oversight Committee Report Update

Background: The Measure C Citizens Bond Oversight Committee was pulled and will be presented at a later date.

Independent audits were completed and no audit findings were found.

Technology has spent approximately $3,800,000 on infrastructure and computers.

Total Measure C Construction expenditures are approximately $45 million. We have also spent $11.1 million of State Modernization/Growth Funds.

Construction Update

Haight is complete. Some additional painting and landscaping will be done over the summer.

Alameda High School had six sets of classrooms completed during the year. Summer work will include Science Rooms, Computer Rooms and the Tech Arts building. Building exterior will be painted over the summer.

Miller interior first phase was completed. Island High School moved in October, 2006. Fire alarm will be completed over the summer. HVAC in the prtables will be done.

Paden, Otis, Edison, Washington and Lum work will be begin on June 18. Washington will get extensive window repair.

Historic Alameda High School design was submitted to the Department of State Architect. Pending approval, bids process is expected to start in January, 2008.

The remaining schools design work has begun. Chipman restroom upgrade and exterior painting are being done this summer.

Fiscal Implications: Bond and state funds used.

Strategic Significance: Goal #10 Safe Learning Environment

6.) Rotary Club of America - Community Grants Report

Background: The Rotary Club of Alameda awarded grants to 8 schools and the PTA council. Overall, the Rotary Club contributions via scholarships and grants exceeded $55,000.

Fiscal Implications: Approximatley $20,000 to sites.

Strategic Significance: Goal #12 Communication and Community Engagement

7.) Even Start Family Literacy Program Update

Background: Since 1999-2000 Alameda Unified School District has an run a program that supports integrated family literacy services for parents and children. This year approximately $150,000 of grant funds to support the program. A third cycle grant application is being submitted to ensure funding through 2011.

A recent audit by the California Department of Education indicated the Even Start program meet the requirements in all review areas and received commendation in five areas. A letter from Superintendent O'Connell recognized the program as a model for the rest of the state.

Fiscal Implications: Federally funded program

Staff Recommendation: Receive

Strategic Significance: Goal #7,8,9

8.) Alameda Education Foundation Annual Report

Background: The Alameda Education Foundation gave an annual udpate on fulfilling it mission:

AEF Mission

To engage Alameda's citizenry, political, and business communities to create an exemplary public school system, thus ensuring Alameda's future economic vitality and unique quality of life.

Strategic Significance: Goals #12 Communications and Community Engagement

Here is a copy of the report was presented.

At this point, Rob and Ann believed the next step is to actually determine if there is a lawyer group that can take action on behalf of the claim laid out in the paper. It is believed this process will take approximately nine months and will approximate the time that we can assess just how the Governor plans to address the adequacy studies from Stanford.

Additional Background Material

As the move to standards based accountability progresses, the courts and legislature are getting stuck in the middle between poor and wealthy school districts. So how do we level the playing field... in the courts or in the legislature? There are four competing models used for determining adequate school funding that give a wide ranges of costs for educating our children. For example, a 2005 decision, a New York court ruled the state should spend an additional $14 billion on educating New York city students. Triggering a change in school funding has been the school reform movement. This 150 page report covers education reform in 1990s and their impacts on school finances.

In 2007, "Getting Down to Facts (GDTF): A Research Project to Inform Solutions to California's Education Problems", was released after bipartisan group of leaders including the Governor Schwarzenegger, Senate Leader Perata, Assembly Leader Nunez and State Superintendent O'Connell requested a study of public edcuation funding (sometimes referred to as the adequacy studies) in California. The GDTF study had cost estimates ranging from $1.7 billion to $1.5 trillion.

If the funding model in California is to change, most likely there will be major external event that will trigger reform. You get a sense of how public education finances along with CA public education legislative history including the Serrano Decision and Prop 98 occured over the past thirty years. In 2000, the Public Policy Institute of California prepared a 200 page review of public education financing in California. In 2006, Cailfornians paid slightly more then then national average in state and local taxes.

Fiscal Implications: None

Strategic Significance: Goal #12 Communications and Community Engagement

10.) 21st Century After School Program Report

Background: The K-8 program, Alameda LEAPS (Learning Enrichment, Academics, Pride and Self-Esteem) operates at Chipman, Henry Haight and Ruby Bridges. Approximately $528,000 per year of federal funds are used by the three sites.

Encinal High School is one of 17 California high schools to receive a grant from ASSETS (After School Safety and Enrichments for Teens). The program is in year 3 of the 4 year grant cycle. The program is funded $250,000.

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Last modified: June 13, 2007

Disclaimer: This website is the sole responsibility of Mike McMahon. It does not represent any official opinions, statement of facts or positions of the Alameda Unified School District. Its sole purpose is to disseminate information to interested individuals in the Alameda community.