SLV School District Perspectives |
|
|
School Board Meeting Synopsis March 2, 2005 Link To SLVUSD Web site Agendas and Minutes Page (Note: These are PDF files - read this if you have trouble opening them). Minutes are posted after they are approved, usually at the next regular meeting. Note from Laura About These Synopses (Basically, I report on what I think will be most interesting to community residents. Consult the minutes for a more complete listing of what happened in the meeting.) Presentation There was a great presentation from Ms. Soule's 3rd grade class from BCE. There is a hard-of-hearing student in their class who has a sign-language interpreter from Easter Seals. The whole class is learning sign language, and demonstrated the alphabet, numbers, and a poem about winter in sign language. Community Input There was no general community input at this meeting. Superintendent's Report The reconfiguration committee has met three times, and will be going on site visits to schools with various configurations. They are reviewing the research on different school configurations, and talking to people with experience of the different models. Ms. Haff participated in a meeting with the state and county superintendents to share concerns. Ms. Haff's State of the District presentation should be online within two weeks on the SLVUSD Web Site. Reports SLE Construction The SLE renovation is in the planning stage. Goals are to retain playground space, not have to bring in more portables, and replace the back portables with 8 classrooms - current thought is with a two-story building. This would require work on the hill between the Jr. High and SLE to improve drainage. The current plan is for rooms 20 and 21 to be replaced by August (although someone referred to this as a "lofty goal", then to remove at least two more portables. Various options are being considered for construction. Pre-approved designs are being strongly considered, as this would save time and money - they would not have to go through the State Architect's approval process. For some of the models, the company also oversees the contruction, for others, the District would hire a local company. Examples of designs under consideration are at Saramark, and ATI Architects and Engineers. There was a discussion as to whether some money should be taken from the Quail Hollow "fund" for additional construction at SLE, since the situation has changed since the bond was approved. $3 million was designated for Quail Hollow, and $1.8 million could be designated to other construction projects. It was pointed out that if $1 million was used for SLE, the Quail Hollow "fund" could be reimbursed with state matching funds. Also under consideration, taking $75,000 from Quail for the septic at Redwood. It was pointed out that more building at SLE lessens the chances of reopening one of the closed schools, and committs us to a larger school "forever". SLV High School WASC Report and Program Highlights High school principal Valerie Pitts gave a sort of a "State of the High School" report. Action Items Approve Recommendations to Revise Graduation Requirements Discussion of increasing the number of credits required to graduate. This will be voted on at the next meeting. Closed Session Listed on the agenda as follows: Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release (Government Code 54957) Confidential Student Issues (Ed. Code 35146) |