For a Listing of Upcoming Board Meetings See Page vi of this Table of Contents Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education Meeting MINUTES March 19, 2009 A regular meeting of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education was held on Thursday, March 19, 2009, in the Santa Monica City Council Chambers: 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA. The Board of Education called the meeting to order at 4:20pm in the Board Conference Room at the District Offices: 1651 16th Street, Santa Monica, CA. At 4:21pm, the Board of Education will move to Closed Session regarding the items listed below. The public meeting will reconvene at 5:47pm in the Santa Monica City Council Chambers. I. CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call B. Pledge of Allegiance II. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION ITEMS ONLY III. CLOSED SESSION (70): • Receipt of recommendation for approval of the proposed settlement cases pursuant to GC §54956.9 (b), as cited in the Brown Act (10): DN-1024-08/09 DN-1030-08/09 DN-1031-08/09 • Conference with Superintendent regarding 2008-2009 Strategies for Negotiations with S.E.I.U. pursuant to GC §54957.6 as cited in the Brown Act. (15) • Conference with Superintendent regarding 2008-2009 Strategies for Negotiations with S.M.M.C.T.A. pursuant to GC §54957.6 as cited in the Brown Act. (15) • Closed session with legal counsel concerning anticipated litigation pursuant to GC §54956.9 as cited in the Brown Act (2 cases). (20) • Pupil hearing pursuant to EC §48918 (c) as cited in the Brown Act (agenda item No. A.36) (10) IV. BOARD OF EDUCATION – COMMENDATIONS / RECOGNITIONS (20) 5:50 pm • CHPS Sustainability Award Presented to SMMUSD (10) Ms. Maez announced that SMMUSD was being recognized for its efforts to incorporate elements of sustainability in the Measure BB projects. Jim Ogden and John Zinner from the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) presented the district and Virginia Hyatt with a plaque. Ms. Maez recognized Ms. Hyatt for her work in helping the district to meet the CHPS sustainability standards. Mr. Ogden announced that SMMUSD was being recognized for its efforts and achievements in taking the initial steps in 2007 to adopt a board resolution to make the Measure BB projects sustainable. He added that SMMUSD has taken additional steps to raise the bar of sustainability, and schools across the state and nation are now looking at SMMUSD’s resolution with very high regard. He thanked Ms. Hyatt for being a green champion at SMMUSD. Ms. Hyatt said this has been a team effort. She recognized Ying Wang from LAUSD, who has supported SMMUSD; Jim Ogden from Parsons,who reviews the CHPS points from architectural firm proposals and helped put the resolution together; John Zinner, a community member and SMMUSD parent, Board of Education Meeting MINUTES: March 19, 2009 i who wrote the CHPS standards for California; Julia Hawkinson from Parsons, who advocates for sustainability; Dave Kaplan, an SMMUSD parent and member of the Measure BB Advisory Committee and the sub-committee on sustainability; the Cities of Santa Monica and Malibu; the SAMOHI Solar Alliance; and the Measure BB Bond Committee, who made sure sustainability was in bond language. Ms. Hyatt also recognized the architects, and said that part of the criteria used in choosing the architectural firms was a dedication to sustainability. She explained that each site’s plan was well above the minimum of meeting the CHPS criteria. She thanked Mr. Mechur for starting the distict’s sustainability committee. Mr. Mechur remarked that Ms. Hyatt was the glue that has held all this together. He added that it was important to understand that sustainability is the future for our district and way of life. Mr. de la Torre thanked everyone for all their work on a lifestyle change that takes the environment into consideration. He then used the example of the SAMOHI Solar Alliance to remind the students in the audience of the impact that student input can have – they do have a voice and they can help make change. 6:02 pm • Santa Monica High School (10) Principal Dr. Pedroza thanked the board for the opportunity to report out the great things going on at SAMOHI. He said that most of the presentation would highlight individual SAMOHI stories. He introduced Michael Garceo, a senior, who said his journey to becoming a senior has been difficult. He has had to overcome obstacles in life, but has realized how important his education is. When a good friend of his, Eddie Lopez, passed away in 2006, Mr. Garceo realized that he needed to change his life and be successful. He thanked the SAMOHI administration and staff for encouraging him to make something of his life. He thanked Dr. Pedroza and Mr. Boone for helping him. Mr. Garceo said he will now be applying to attend college. Larry Boone, the M House Principal, said he has been with SAMOHI for nine months now. He was first attracted to SAMOHI because of the house system, which has allowed him to enjoy coming to work every day. He asserted that the most important part of the house experience is building relationships among administrators, teachers, and students. He likes being able to support students who are doing well, as well as those who are struggling, which is usually not possible at a large school. The Instructional Planning Committee (IPC) is currently working on tackling the achievement gap at SAMOHI by looking at what works at other schools. Senior Jennifer Chu reported that she is part of A house leadership, involved in academics and athletics, has taken ten AP classes, and participates in the music program. It is because of the orchestra program that she flew in a plane for the first time and travelled to Europe last year. She was just named a Regent Scholar by UC Berkeley, an award given to the top 20% of Berkeley applicants. She also just found out that she has been accepted by UCLA. Ms. Chu attributes her success to SAMOHI’s dedicated staff and teachers. Dr. Pedroza said SAMOHI couldn’t be as great a HS as it is without its parent community. He introduced and thanked PTA President Elizabeth Stearns. Ms. Stearns reported that the mission of the PTA is not fundraising, but rather the Board of Education Meeting MINUTES: March 19, 2009 ii welfare of all its children. The focus is ensuring success for 3,000 students by providing a strong structure, administration, teaching staff, counselors, librarians; etc. Students in the audience then did the SAMOHI cheer. Mr. Mechur thanked the SAMOHI crew for coming tonight. Ms. Black added that SAMOHI is great school, and that every person on campus helped pave her way to college and succeeding in life. She thanked her fellow ASB members for coming tonight. Mr. Allen said he was proud to be a graduate of SAMOHI. He added that SAMOHI is as a public school with great education, an incredible music program, and many clubs. Mr. de la Torre said he was proud to see all students and applauded all the good work done at the school. He added that SAMOHI creates not only great students, but great leaders. V. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA 6:20 pm It was moved by Ms. Leon-Vazquez, seconded by Mr. Allen, and voted 7/0 to approve the agenda with the Update. VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A.01 Approval of Minutes................................................................................................1 February 27, 2009 March 4, 2009 VII. CONSENT CALENDAR (5) Consent agenda items are considered routine, as agreed by the President, Vice President and Superintendent, requiring no discussion, and are normally all approved at one time by the Board of Education. However, members of the Board of Education, staff, or the public may request an item be removed from the consent agenda for clarification and/or discussion. Consideration will occur during Section XI (Major Items). 6:21 pm Curriculum and Instruction A.02 Approval of Independent Contractors......................................................................2 A.03 Overnight Field Trip(s) – 2008-2009.......................................................................3 A.04 Conference and Travel Approval/Ratification..................................................... 4-5 A.05 Approval of Special Education Contracts – 2008-2009 ...................................... 6-9 Business and Fiscal A.06 Award of Purchase Orders – 2008-2009........................................................ 10-10e A.07 Acceptance of Gifts – 2008/2009 .................................................................... 11-15 A.08 Replace Member on the Financial Oversight Committee......................................16 A.09 Approval of Overcharge Recovery Group to Review Telecom and Datacom Billings ....................................................................................... 17-18 A.10 Amendment to Contract with J. Dreyfuss and Associates (DBA Dreyfuss Construction) – Bid #9.01 – Boys and Girls Club Facility – John Adams Middle School – Change Order #2, 3, and 4 .......................................19 A.11 Award of Bid #9.13 – Webster Fire Damage Reconstruction – Graph Company...............................................................................................20 Measure “BB” A.12 Contract Amendment #6 for CEQA Environmental Documents for Cabrillo ES, Grant ES, McKinley ES, Rogers ES, and Webster ES – PBS&J – Measure BB ............................................................................................... 21-22 A.13 Contract Amendment #10 for Increased Scope – Development of District Landscape and Planting Standards – WWCOT