School Board Meeting Recap – June 11

For those who did not attend Tuesday night's school board committee meeting and special board meeting, sadly many of those in attendance walked away feeling frustrated. The energy that accompanied the previous board meeting on May 28 was not in the auditorium. This was a situation compounded by multiple issues, some unavoidable due to it being summer. Three board members were not present: Rob Marshall, Brandon Rhone, and Tom Siedenbuehl. The attendance for the meeting was considerably less than the previous. The tough questions and conversations were short lived, and every proposal was passed. The community who did turn out and spoke felt unheard, unlike the last board meeting. 

We know that viewership for ChannelCASD’s live stream wasn't as high as the peak number for the previous meeting, but it is that live streaming that we know allows so many others to stay engaged and informed in real time.

Regardless of the outcome of this last meeting, it is critical for us to stay engaged and keep voicing opinions! We need to have another large turnout on June 25. The larger turnouts have proven to be meetings where we walk away with satisfaction that change is indeed coming!

COMMITTEE MEETING

Adjustments to the Agenda

Added:   

• “Within the 3.9 increase, we have listened and listened very carefully top concerns.  And the two biggest concerns, and I don’t think anyone will question it, are special education and discipline.  So that being said, when the appropriate time arrives, I will be recommending a motion that we approve four Elementary assistant principals, one for each of the building that doesn’t have one currently, I believe Rainbow already has one.  And five supervisors of special education positions will be appointed as well.” 

It appeared that these new positions were intended to reduce the burden on Principals who are stretched thin between their special education and discipline responsibilities. The intention is to assign special education supervisors to specific buildings and have them oversee special education needs and serve as LEAs in IEP meetings, while assistant principals can help stay on top of discipline issues. We look forward to more information about those positions but this action certainly seemed responsive to concerns that have long been shared by parents and staff alike.

All agenda items were motioned to the special meeting agenda later that night or the June 25, 2019 board meeting. Below we made comments about items that had discussion or ones we believed needed context.

Education Committee Agenda

D. A-TSI School Improvement Plans 

RECOMMENDED MOTION: That the Board of School Directors approve the A-TSI School Improvement Plans for Rainbow ES, Reeceville ES, North Brandywine MS and C.A.S.H.S., as presented. (Enclosure)

Rita Perez along with principals from most buildings presented information for this 93 page document. While this document was supposedly created with community input, we are aware only of a single one-hour meeting that was hastily organized and for which invitees were chosen less than 24-48 hours in advance. The presentation seemed disorganized. As this is a document that sets a plan for improving student achievement in schools that fell into the bottom 15% of the state for various subgroups of students, we believe that it is of extreme importance to the community. 

The end of this presentation resulted in questions for the presenters. 

Mr. Fisher asked for the middle school's retention rate. The answer was that North has four students scheduled to attend summer school with the stress of a successful completion will result in them passing. Without a successful completion, we will look at other options. It sounded as though Scott also had four, without a number known for South. 

He also asked for the graduation numbers at the high school. 

• 5 did not graduate - 3 already enrolled in summer school
• 17 at Cyberschool who are enrolling in summer school.
• 17 in outside placements with 12 graduated while 5 will continue with 13th year.

Mr. Fisher respectfully reflected that he struggles with attendance rate while the graduation rate is so high. Asked if he was missing anything.

He also noted that while he agrees with Dr. Janke that students who are suspended can't learn, when a student remains in classrooms then other students can't learn either.

Mr. Carter also questioned principals about efforts made during the year for low attendance to improve attendance. The responses for the schools were:

• North - phone call made home (we must note that an automatic call takes place for any absence),chronic absences called for an attendance improvement plan with a meeting with principal and counselor
• Scott - involves Mr. Smith, truancy enforcement officer and guidance counselor, and administrators as they entered the building, They exercised rights and sent citations and sent first notification notice. They had kids stay after school to make up work from absences.

F. Discipline Code of Conduct

RECOMMENDED MOTION: That the Board of School Directors approve the Discipline Code of Conduct, as presented. (Enclosure) 

Dr. Taschner asked for principals to present and some spoke to share they were not informed of the request to present. Therefore, this seemed very disorganized as well. As this is such a high level of concern for the community, here are the comments from the Directors.

Discussion from Board of Directors:

• Mr. Fisher: We have an issue with uniform dress code – For the most part almost half was not dressed in uniform.
• Fisher also stated that he wanted to go back and look at the code of conduct that served this district so well for so many years.  He wants more progressive discipline for the children and has concerns for what the code states now.  Too many “gray” areas.
• Assetto: Shared his concern with discipline and wants to go over it completely.  There must be consequences.  “It is our duty as a district to prepare our students for the real world and in the real world there are consequences.”
• Keech: Progress discipline has to be put in place.  He also had a concern with the 1:1 computers coming in next school year and how none of that is in the code of conduct now.  He also wanted to take a look at monitory school board hearings.
• Dr. Taschner then spoke up and said that the board would have until the end of July to work on the code of conduct and nothing would need to be voted on that until then. 

It was evident that the board wanted to make some major changes to this.  However, it was confusing that they choose to vote it forward to the full board meeting at the end of the month. 

Public Comment – Education committee only

• Amelia Mills- topic A-TSI
• Robin Seagreaves - topic Code of conduct

Finance Committee Agenda

B. Adopt the 2019-2020 General Fund Proposed Budget

RECOMMENDED MOTION:  That the Board of School Directors approve the General Fund Budget and Tax Resolution, as presented, in the amount of $180,688,583 for the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year with a real estate tax rate of 38.2018 Mills of the assessed valuation, $3.82018 per $100 of assessed value, (an increase of 3.9%) and a Realty Transfer Tax of 0.5%; an Earned Income Tax of. 0.5%; and a Local Service Tax of $5.00 (no change in those taxes). (Enclosure) 

There was a brief presentation by Mr. Linderman, who helped make adjustments to the budget over the period where we lacked a business administrator. The budget proposal appeared to be the same increase as presented in May, for which a net zero increase in charter school enrollment was projected. This assumption was questioned as unrealistic repeatedly following that presentation, but that feedback did not appear to be addressed. It was unclear how the new administrative positions were paid for in this budget. Mr. Linderman did acknowledge the loss of Sikorsky helicopter facility as concerning. However, recognized the board's plan to address the discipline issues (one of the major issues causing loss to charter schools.)

L. MindUP Train the Trainers Contract

RECOMMENDED MOTION: That the Board of School Directors approve the MindUP Train the Trainers Contract with the Goldie Hawn Foundation for introductory and extended training at a cost of $24,200. (Enclosure) 

Board of Directors prompted discussion and Dr. Taschner called Rita Perez to respond:

Mr. Keech questioned: How many staff members are being trained?

• Last year 400 trained in August 2018; This contract is up to 15 teachers to be "train the trainers." Certified for two years.
• The cost was $45,000 included curriculum books and chimes.

One district issue is staff turnover and new teachers not being trained in programs used in the district. Having certified trainers in our employee base makes sense. That being said, we question whether 15 is the right number of trainers given that we have only 9 school buildings, also how new teachers will get the books needed for the program if the teachers already trained are using them.

N. Scott Field Agreement

RECOMMENDED MOTION: That the Board of School Directors approve the agreement for work at Scott Field as presented. (Enclosure)

No discussion even though this was tabled at the last meeting pending information on the maintenance costs, and also with the idea that the district had a lot more pressing issues to focus on. No new discussion, no new information.

O. Scott Middle School Grade Configuration Change

RECOMMENDED MOTION: That the Board of School Directors approve the grade configuration change for Scott Middle School. Scott Middle School will serve 6th grade students. (no enclosure)

See North comments below

P. North Brandywine Middle School Configuration Change

RECOMMENDED MOTION: That the Board of School Directors approve the grade configuration changes for North Brandywine Middle School. North Brandywine will serve 7th and 8th Grade students.  (no enclosure)

We learned after the meeting that the board had done work with administration and visited the facilities to assess the conditions and space constraints. They had concerns about changing the proposal so far along in the process, and were not sure how quickly work could be done to draw new school boundary lines and assign teachers in a different way than they were assigned under this proposal. They saw a work list created to prepare NBMS for students on the fall and were assured that the work is underway and will be done in time for school to open.

We are reassured that this due diligence was done by the board, but remain baffled that none of this information was shared at the public meeting, especially given numerous public comments and emails sent about the middle school configuration.

Public Comment – Finance committee only

• Allen Mclellan thanked the board and Dr. Taschner for listening and approving the budget for the 3.9 tax increase.   He believe that it was an “acceptable compromise for these times.”   Also wanted to give a special thanks to Dr. Taschner for her dedication to the district, he appreciated her “focused leadership” that has helped restore much of the damaged that was done several years ago.  He said “We continue to need your leadership going forward”.
• Angela Brownwell shared her concern about the tax increase and her concern that over the last few years we have had several business managers.  She was assured things were getting better but said “it doesn’t seem like things are getting better.” She feels like the board isn’t explaining what they are doing to make this better. 
• Kerri Verna spoke about the transparency of Scott Field.  She also spoke to the middle school reconfigure options. 
• Tammy Vondra outlined concerns about last minute agenda for the special meeting, the taxpayers paying for up keep of Scott field improvements, the cost effectiveness and the overcrowding of the middle school configuration. Also, why the chrome books are being financed if we are receiving a grant.
• Lyryn Yacoe spoke to the seeking data to determine effectiveness of MindUp
• Robin Seagreaves voiced concern over members not there to vote and that these votes were happening tonight.
• Taxpayer spoke to Scott field concerns.
• Mary Morris spoke to concerns of discipline and grant money designation

Special Meeting

As is typical after board committee meetings, a Special Meeting of the full board was scheduled. This meeting is routine and advertised at the beginning of the year, and is typically held to approve financial reports, bills payable, and HR reports, along with any urgent items than cannot wait until the full board meeting at the end of the month.

The district had previously announced that the budget proposal would be considered at this meeting, however it was unclear what other non-routine items would be included. The agenda for the meeting was not posted until after 10:40 am on the day of the meeting, when the business office typically posts agendas the Friday before the meeting to comply with board policy 903. While it was logical for some non-routine items tabled at the May meeting to appear on the agenda for the next full meeting of the board, the late posting of the agenda and inclusion of these unadvertised items was frustrating to many in the community.

As noted above, no additional information was provided about these items at committee, and the failure to pull them from the consent agenda meant there was no discussion of them at the special board meeting either. The consent agenda passed unanimously, as it is expected to do, and every item on the agenda was passed and will be effective. 

We note that as a good governance practice, it is appropriate to pull items from the consent agenda when they have been controversial or would benefit from explanation before a vote is taken. Even if the outcome is the same, allowing the separate consideration of these items is appropriate.

After meeting follow up

Following some outreach from the community seeking an explanation for the votes, Vice President Tom Keech advised us that information would be posted about the middle school transition. This was posted on Thursday and an email was sent through school messenger with a link to the information initially only to parents whose students attended middle school during the school year that just concluded, and several hours later to parents of students K-5. Here is the document: Q and A document. Dr. Taschner has indicated this information will go out to the community more broadly in an upcoming summary of board actions she plans to send.