NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

March 18, 2014

At the regular meeting of the Oak Park USD Board of Education held on March 18th, the Board heard reports from members, student member (via email), the superintendent, school site councils, and heard:

• School safety update by Dr. Knight, Superintendent, about the Sheriff’s Department training exercise held at Oak Park High School on March 17.    

The Board took action and/or approved the following:

• Notice of Completion for the modernization of Building 200 at Brookside Elementary School.
• Overnight trip for Oak Park High School Dance Team.
• Authorization of emergency water main repairs at Medea Creek Middle School.
• Establishment of an Associated Student Body at Oak Park Independent School. 
• Tabled the Lease-Lease Back Agreement with Balfour Beatty Construction for the classroom replacement project at Oak Park High School.  Note that a special Board meeting is being scheduled for Tuesday, March 25 to address this issue.
• Rejected bids for the modernization project of Building 100 at Brookside Elementary School as they came in higher than projections.  The scope of the project will be reviewed and modified and the bidding process will be restarted. 
• Award of bid for roof repairs on relocatable classrooms at multiple sites.
• Award of bid for roof repairs on multiple buildings at Red Oak Elementary School.
• Amended the Measure R Master Plan for repairs of a backstop and replacement of bleachers at Oak Park High School. 
• Award of Request for Proposals for managed VOIP telephone service.
• Agreement for consultant services for district-wide security camera system.
• Purchase of mobile computer devices and technology equipment from C6 bond fund.  This includes 620 Apple iPads at a cost of $540,000.
• Purchase of maintenance equipment authorized in Measure C6 Technology and Equipment Plan.  This includes a pallet jack, dump trailer, chipper (that will assist with composting green waste), trencher, and a touch computer for the child nutrition program.  Total is $23,060.
• Plan to implement K-3 Class Size Reduction that will set a target of 24:1 in those classrooms throughout the District through a phase-in process.  DK and K classes beginning in the fall of 2014 will be targeted at 24:1 and that cohort of students will move through grade 3 at that class size target. 
• The Common Core State Standards General Spending Plan for fiscal years 2013-14 and 20-14-15 was approved.
• Second Interim Financial Report and Budget Revisions was approved. A positive certification is projected.  
• A resolution was approved for participation in the California School Boards Association School Cash Reserve Program.
• Agreements for new Term Life and Long Term Disability Insurance Plans that replace previously offered plans for employees were approved.  These provide cost savings and improved benefits. 
• A process for the selection of a new District motto was developed.  The phrase, Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders will be reconsidered after input is sought from staff, students, and parents.  The Board will discuss this next at their summer retreat after receiving the input and suggestions.  The hope is that the new motto will more accurately reflect the District Moral Imperatives. 
• The 2014-15 state education budget is expected to include additional revenues due to the improving state economy and tax revenues generated from the taxes imposed through Proposition 30.  The Oak Park USD will receive a significantly lower per pupil funding increase than the average school district due to the new Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), where school districts that serve larger numbers of disadvantaged students and those learning English receive greater funding.  Still, the District is expected to receive an estimated increase of approximately $2.5 million over the current year.  The Board will develop a spending plan in conjunction with the adoption of the 2014-15 budget in June, once a firm number is established by the state.  The Board began a discussion of how those funds will eventually be allocated. 
• A contract for non-public agency behavioral consultant services for a student with special needs was approved.
• The formation and configuration of the Local Control Accountability Plan Committee was approved. 
• An increase in hours for three preschool teachers was approved based on increased enrollment.

A policy related to promotion, acceleration, and retention was discussed and will be brought back for approval in April.  Policies related to staff development, visual and performing arts education, and reading/language arts education were all approved.