TULARE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES

Transcription

1 TULARE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES The Tulare County Board of Education met on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the County Education Building, Visalia, California. PRESENT Board Members ABSENT Board Members PRESENT Staff Members GUESTS CALL TO ORDER Pledge of Allegiance/ Welcome MEETING CHALLENGES 2008 CALENDAR PRESENTATION Scot Townsend, President Leonard Hansen, Vice President Celia Maldonado-Arroyo Katy Rominger Edward Peterson, D.D.S. Jim Vidak, Ex-Officio Secretary John Baker Pat Hillman Marilyn Rankin, Assistant Superintendent, Special Services Pansy Ceballos, Assistant Superintendent, Instructional Services John Caudle, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services Brenda Beattie, Parent/School Liaison Christine Chapman, Administrative Assistant Kaye Van Gilluwe, Administrator, Special Services Linda Hess, Parent Liaison Linda McKean, Administrator, Special Services Patty Blaswich, Director, Internal Business Services Renae Bendix, Parent/School Liaison René Moncada, Principal, La Sierra Military Academy Robert Herman, Public Information Officer Roger Smith, Director, Information Systems Kevin Matteson, Network Services Manager Norma Erwin, Parent Liaison Guests as listed in the guest register, and E.B. Johnstone, Kyle Weisenberger, Laura Hess, Peg Collins, Jeff Dooley, Jan Weisenberger, Ken White, Marla Borges, and Danika Curlee Board President Scot Townsend called the meeting to order and welcomed board members, staff and guests to the meeting. Celia Maldonado-Arroyo led the Pledge of Allegiance. Linda Hess, Special Services Parent Liaison, proudly presented the board with the 2008 Meeting Challenges calendar featuring life and the arts for special education students. She explained that the purpose of the calendar was to put a spotlight on instruction in visual and performing arts during the school years and beyond. The calendar also showed the implications for participation in school activities during the school years and a full life as an adult for people with disabilities. Mrs. Hess acknowledged a grant in the area of visual and performing arts from the state to strengthen the program resulting in many of the pages in the calendar showing ties 1

2 to State Content Standards for the Arts. The calendar also featured the Creative Center program which offers opportunities for adults who have developmental disabilities to express themselves in the visual and performing arts. Three students from the Creative Center, Jan Weisenberger, Laura Hess and Jeff Dooley, along with Program Director, Peg Collins, were in attendance to help distribute copies of the calendar. Ms. Collins acknowledged the support of the Tulare County Office of Education, indicating that Mr. Vidak serves as the President of the Board. In conclusion, Linda Hess announced that she would be retiring in June and introduced the new Parent Liaisons, Norma Erwin, Renae Bendix and Brenda Beattie. ADA ACCOMMODATIONS Board President Scot Townsend announced that ADA accommodations had been met. PUBLIC COMMENTS CONSENT CALENDAR PUBLIC HEARING ADOPTION OF ANNUAL SERVICE PLAN Members of the public did not address any matters of jurisdiction. It was moved by Hansen, seconded by Peterson, to approve Consent Calendar Items A-D: A. Approval of Minutes for the regular Board Meeting of December 5, 2007 and the Special Meeting of December 5, 2007, Encl. No. 1 B. Authorization of Countywide Registration of Credentials, Encl. No. 2 C. Authorization of Countywide Salary Releases, Encl. No. 3 D. Authorization of Countywide Emergency Credential Applications, Encl. No. 4 Motion unanimously carried. At 3:15, Scot Townsend opened a Public Hearing on the Annual Service Plan and Annual Budget Plan for the Tulare County/District SELPA, as presented by Marilyn Rankin. Members of the public did not address the County Board on the matter, so the public hearing was closed by Board President at 3:17 p.m. It was moved by Peterson, seconded by Maldonado-Arroyo to adopt the Annual Service Plan and Annual Budget Plan for the Tulare County/District SELPA, as required by the California Department of Education. Motion unanimously carried LOCAL ASSISTANCE ENTITLEMENTS Marilyn Rankin requested the board to approve the Local Assistance Entitlements federal grant money in the amount of $13,374,369 which will be used to provide services. It was moved by Hansen, seconded by Peterson to accept the funds. Motion unanimously carried. 2

3 PART C EARLY INTERVENTION GRANT PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT GRANT LOW INCIDENCE SPECIALIZED SERVICES GRANT BIG FOOT AND OTHER STORIES Kaye vangilluwe asked the board to approve an Early Intervention Grant in the amount of $140,675. She explained that the funds are used in the infant program to service children ages 0 3 years. It was moved by Maldonado-Arroyo, seconded by Rominger to approve the grant. Motion unanimously carried. Kaye vangilluwe presented the Personnel Development for Special Education Local Plan Areas Grant in the amount of $24,332 for board approval. She explained that the funds will be used to provide professional development opportunities for county-wide instructional staff. It was moved by Rominger, seconded by Hansen to accept the grant. Motion unanimously carried. Linda McKean informed the board that a Low Incidence Specialized Services Grant was received in the amount of $14,994. This money will be used to provide services for students with low incidence disabilities. It was moved by Rominger, seconded by Peterson to accept the grant. Motion unanimously carried. Ray Chavez asked permission of the board to seek a funding grant to reprint 5,000 copies of the book entitled Big Foot and Other Stories. He explained that the Tulare County Board of Education has the copyright to the book. Mr. Chavez introduced E.B. Johnstone as the original illustrator of the book. Copies of the book will be distributed between the Child Care Program and the Tule River Tribal Council. It was moved by Peterson, seconded by Rominger to approve the funding request to reprint the book. Motion unanimously carried TCOE AND LA SIERRA HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL AUDITS John Caudle addressed the board concerning the Tulare County Office of Education and La Sierra Annual Audits. Mr. Caudle announced that it was a great audit and congratulated Patty Blaswich and staff for all the hard work year round to make sure everything is done properly. Also a big thank you and congratulations to Jan Mekeel, Lorene Valentino and René Moncada for an outstanding audit of La Sierra. Ken White, of M. Green and Company, introduced Marla Borges and Danika Curlee, in attendance to assist with presenting the audit findings. Ken White extended his thanks to Jim Vidak, John Caudle, Patty Blaswich and the staff in Information Systems for all their assistance. Mr. White explained to the board that an audit is required by the Education Code. He went on to review the audit process including the types of tests used during an audit and the different types of audit evidence. He also listed new procedures required by the State Audit Guide in 2007, auditor responsibilities and management responsibilities. 3

4 The requirements for a California charter school audit have changed dramatically with more and more oversight all the time, reported Mr. White. For the year in review of La Sierra High School, they were given the highest level of assurance, meaning that it is as good as you can do. The ADA has increased, assets have increased and total liabilities decreased, with revenues exceeding expenses. The audit for the Tulare County Office of Education showed net assets of $89,954,659, an increase of 8.3% from the prior year, and reflects an excess in revenues of $6,899,968 over expenses. Net capital assets increased by $2,109,419 and long-term debt increased by $1,359,976 primarily due to the Doe Avenue Expansion Project. Mr. White explained the Postemployment Benefits Other than Pension Benefits (OPEB) funding which the County Office began participation in the new SISC GASB 45 Trust during the fiscal year. He also commended the county office for being on the leading edge regarding this topic. The Tulare County Office of Education was also given the highest possible level of assurance for the audit report. It was moved by Peterson, seconded by Maldonado-Arroyo, to approve the Tulare County Office of Education audit. Motion unanimously carried. It was moved by Hansen, seconded by Rominger to approve the La Sierra High School audit. Motion unanimously carried. PIGGYBACK FOR RELOCATABLE BUILDING AUTHORIZATION TO EMPLOY ARCHITECT L.B. HILL ROOFING PROJECT SCICON NETWORK John Caudle requested approval to submit a piggyback application for a relocatable building on behalf of Dr. Guadalupe Solis for teacher resource materials at Doe Avenue. The building will be purchased from American Modular at a price of $55,000. It was moved by Maldonado-Arroyo, seconded by Peterson to approve the piggyback application. Motion unanimously carried. John Caudle asked the board for authorization to employ the architect firm, Mangini and Associates, for the construction of special education classrooms in Tulare, Exeter and at SCICON. Five different firms were interviewed for the project. It was moved by Peterson, seconded by Hansen to employ Mangini and Associates as the architect firm. Motion unanimously carried. John Caudle requested authorization to accept the L. B. Hill Roofing project as complete. He informed the board that the contractor had done a good job. It was moved by Maldonado-Arroyo, seconded by Rominger to accept the project as complete. Motion unanimously carried. John Caudle presented the bids on the SCICON Network Infrastructure Project 4

5 INFRASTRUCTURE SCICON E-RATE DATA EQUIPMENT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING ADJOURNMENT with AT&T DataComm submitting the lowest bid. He explained that this was an E-Rate project and the bidding process must take place prior to the application for funding. It was moved by Rominger, seconded by Peterson to accept the low bid. Motion unanimously carried. AT&T also submitted the lowest bid for the E-Rate Data Equipment for SCICON, announced John Caudle. If the application is approved, equipment will be purchased to provide a campus-wide network for internet and phone connectivity. It was moved by Rominger, seconded by Maldonado-Arroyo to accept the low bid. Motion unanimously carried. Superintendent Vidak wished everyone a Happy New Year. He told the board that he would have John Caudle and John Wilborn available at the February meeting to answer questions about the state budget. Mr. Vidak announced that the Peńa Planetarium was offering a special showing on Friday night and tickets could be arranged through Christine. He also informed the board that the Tulare County Office of Education would host an informational seminar regarding the CSUF doctoral program on January 23, The Community Based Instruction class in Dinuba was given an award by the City for their assistance on special projects, reported Superintendent Vidak. He also called attention to the beautiful display of oranges and citron in the entrance way compliments of Bella Fruta and arranged by Nani Rowland, TCOE s Nutrition Network Project Coordinator. Mr. Vidak thanked the board members and staff for all the fantastic work and proudly admitted that out of 58 counties, we have the best right here. February 13, 2008 Meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m. 5