6/20/06
SLUSD Board Meeting Notes

By Mike Katz-Lacabe

School Board Takes No Action on Facilities Bond—For Now

The San Leandro School Board began its June 20, 2006, meeting about 20 minutes late with all members of the board present. President Pauline Cutter reported that there were no actions taken during the closed session.

After approval of the agenda, Recreation and Parks Commission Member Dean Koenig reported that the Cherry Festival Committee is working towards 2007 and expects to have a better idea on the status of the Cherry Festival in September 2006. Koenig noted that the Washington Manor pool will be completed in August 2006 and offered to arrange a tour for any interested members of the Board. Lastly, Koenig observed that the City of San Leandro budget for 2006-2007 included $2,500 for San Leandro College Bound and $3,500 for San Leandro High School Musical Theater.

San Leandro High School Principal Amy Furtado presented information learned in response to the April 26, 2006, incident at the high school. She noted that a majority of those suspended as a result of the incident were in 9th grade and emphasized that more attention and support was needed for 9th grade students. This was particularly timely, given the discussion of a bond measure to fund the construction of a 9th grade academy to help relieve overcrowding at the high school.

After the incident, there were separate meetings with groups of Latino and African American parents. Principal Furtado reported that this did not set a good example for the students since it may have given the impression that the parents were divided along racial lines as well. Parents also expressed dissatisfaction with the automated notification system, which took up to three days to notify some parents about the incident at the high school.

Next year, Furtado plans to adjust the testing schedule for the students, focus on the 9th graders, conduct more outreach to parents, get more training for staff, and make better and earlier attempts at intervention. She also planned adopt the Cornell Notes program for 9th grade students as a tool for helping students succeed in high school and college.

Furtado also noted that 1,000 students at the high school were on the Honor Roll this year with a grade point average of 3.0 of higher.

During public comments, about six or seven speakers appealed to the Board to retain Mr. Craig, a bilingual teacher, in the third grade. According to the parents, who spoke passionately about the positive affect he has had on their children, Mr. Craig had been moved to the fifth grade. Board President Cutter remarked that there was going to be a meeting on Wednesday, June 21, 2006, with the parents to discuss their concerns.

Superintendent Christine Lim noted that a moratorium had been placed on intra-district transfers pending implementation of a consistent policy that Assistant Superintendent Cindy Cathey would be working on. Lim also noted that all of San Leandro's principals and some other staff attended the 5th Annual Summer Professional Development Institute: Pedagogies and Practices for Successfully Reaching African American Students held by the California Alliance of African American Educators at Stanford University June 19 and 20, 2006.

The results of the June 19, 2006, community meeting were handed out by Assistant Superintendent Leon Glaster and summarized by President Cutter. The results were based on 24 ballots from attendees of the meeting and indicated the priorities for the bond measure. The priorities from highest to lowest were overcrowding at San Leandro High School, classroom modernization, 7th/8th grade opportunity program, Burrell Field Renovations, a Jefferson multi-purpose room, and joint-use projects. The community's input for bond measure priorities is important because it is likely that the bond measure submitted to the voters will not be for enough money to fund all of the projects that are desired.

Board members Rick Richards and Linda Perry both expressed concern about what happens if the school district cannot acquire the PG&E property or the property for the 9th grade academy. Richards suggested that the School Board have a "Plan B" if that happens. He also noted that the 2005 polling done in preparation for Measure A indicated that the voters would only support a bond measure based on $30 per $100,000 of assessed value, meaning the bond measure would be for $57 to $70 million. Board member Ray Davis asserted that the poll numbers are not valid for the bond measure because the projects for the bond measure weren't part of the December 2005 poll.

President Cutter noted that she sent information to Wafaa Aborashed about the sale of Pacific High since Ms. Aborashed had asked about it at the Community Forum meeting on June 19, 2006. Cutter also asked the Board if there was consensus about obtaining information on reducing the number of Board members from seven to five and electing all the members of the Board at-large. Board members Stephen Cassidy and Louis Heystek expressed support, but the majority of the board did not.

President Cutter expressed concern about whether the bond measure would have the support of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, since it had opposed Measure A. For that reason, she said that she approached Chamber President-Elect Robert Brannan and asked what could be done to make sure that the business community was on board. Brannan suggested a meeting with Chamber CEO Heidi Finberg, CEO Past President Dan Walters, Superintendent Lim, Assistant Superintendent Glaster, and President Cutter. The Board gave its consent to this approach.

At just after 10:50 pm, the Board adjourned.