Posts made in July, 2015

Board Meeting, July 28, 2015 at 7:00 pm

Posted by on Jul 28, 2015 in Board Meetings

Mountain View Academy

45 S. Moss ◊ Lowell, Oregon 97452 ◊ (541)735-1709

Board of Director’s Meeting

July 28, 2015

Professional Development Center

6:15 pm – Executive Session

7:00 pm – Public Session

 

The Mountain View Academy School Board encourages public input.  Persons wishing to address the Board on school related issues, are invited to do so, either when the item is presented on the agenda, or under the “Public Comments” section.  In the interest of time and order, presentations from the public are limited to three (3) minutes per person, and the total time for individual agenda items shall not exceed (20) minutes.  An individual speaker’s allotted time may not be increased by a donation of time from members of the public in attendance.  If you wish to speak under Public Comments, please complete a Public Comment Form and turn it in to Beth Sprague.  The Board requests complaints or charges against an employee be held in Executive Session.  Individuals who require disability-related accommodations or modifications to participate in the Board meeting should contact the Administrator in writing prior to the meeting.

AGENDA

1.0 OPENING BUSINESS – Professional Development Center

1.1 Call to Order

1.2 Public Comment on Executive Session topics

 

2.0 EXECUTIVE SESSION – Lowell’s Superintendent’s Office Conference Room

2.1 Pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(i)

To review and evaluate the employment-related performance of the chief executive officer of any public body, a public officer, employee or staff member who does not request an open hearing

2.2 Pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(f)

To consider records exempt by law from public inspection.

2.3 Return to Public Session

 

3.0 OPENING OF PUBLIC SESSION – Professional Development Center

3.1 Public Session Call to Order – 7:12 pm

 

3.2 Attendance: Board Chair Jake Plahn, Vice Chair Julie Valencia, Beau Garner, Jessica Justman, Erica Richardson, and Administrator Laurie Cardwell.

3.2.1 Guests:

3.3 Approval of Agenda: Beau Garner added Open House to the agenda.  It was approved by unanimous consent.

3.4 Approval of Minutes:

Minutes from last board meeting were approved by unanimous consent

3.5 Schedule Next Meeting:

Next Meeting scheduled for August 24th (Monday) at 7:00 pm

3.6 June Budget:

Comments

Beau: Professional development budget was not all used.  We should encourage teachers to use this

Beau: Where are the meals for board meeting being accounted for?

Beau: Salaries for June were higher.  This is because Kelly and Laurie were paid for the entire summer in one lump sum.

Beau: Page 5 of budget where it talks about the activity fee.

Beau: Discrepancy on activity fee estimates for the year.

Beau: We spent within $400 of what we thought we were going to for this past year which is pretty amazing given all of the variables we dealt with.

 

 

4.0 PUBLIC COMMENT

**Opportunity for Citizens to address items not on the Agenda.  Persons wishing to address the Board on any school related issue not listed elsewhere on the agenda are invited to do so now.  Board Members are limited, but not required, to give a brief response to public statement or questions regarding non-agenda items.

 

 

5.0 ACTION DISCUSSION

5.1 Approve direction for PERS opt-out

Laurie will continue research on options and keep the board posted.

5.2 Approve Technology Requests ( 2 projectors & Doc cameras, pull down screens):

Jill is going to move into the modular at the beginning of the year and wants a doc cam.  Laurie would like to leave Jill’s current doc cam in her old room and requested another one for the modular.

Rob is also requesting a doc cam for his classroom.

Laurie is asking for two doc cams and two projectors and a screen, which would cost roughly $1100.

Erica made a motion to approve $1100 for the purchase of two doc cams, two projectors and a screen.  Jessica seconded the motion.  It passed with unanimous consent.

5.3 Approve Technology filter at a cost of $2,000:

Currently there is a need for a filter in a school environment to make sure kids stay on safe websites.  There is not a way to combine with Lowell to meet this need.  Jake stated that the device costs $2000 and would meet our needs.

Jake moved that we approve the technology filter for $2000.  Erica seconded the motion.  It passed with unanimous consent.

5.4 Approve hiring of new teacher (6th):

5.5 Approve hiring additional ½ time aide:

It was discussed that we might have the need for more supervision next year, especially during recess.  We looked at the approved budget for next year and need further clarification on the amount of money we budgeted for next year.

5.6 Approve purchase of Kinder chairs @ $35-$40 each ( 10 total):

We need to purchase chairs for the kindergarten classroom.  The total amount of the purchase would be $375.

Jessica made a motion to approve the purchase of the chairs for the classroom in the amount of $375.  Julie seconded the motion.  It was approved by unanimous consent.

5.7 Approve hiring of Teresa Kephart for custodial position

5.8 Approve purchase of white board for modular @ $200:

We need a whiteboard for the modular because it will come without one. Laurie found one for $200.

Jake made a motion to approve $400 for two whiteboards.  Erica seconded the motion.  It passed with unanimous consent.

5.9 Approve wording for Charter Contract regarding PERS:

Jessica motioned to approve the change in the Charter Contract language with the noted change.  Jake seconded the motion.  It passed with unanimous consent.

5.10 Approve after school snack for students whose parents designate approval.

 

Laurie is suggesting that we have several kids that could use a snack after school.  Jake commented that he feels that many of our current families left Lowell because it seemed as if there was more emphasis on providing food for kids as compared to educating them.  Also, he stated that in terms of simplicity, this adds complexity to our objective of educating kids.

Beau made a motion to pass the after school snack program as outlined by Lowell.  The motion was seconded by Jessica.  The motion failed by a vote of 2-3.

5.11 Back to School Orientation (BSO):

Beau asked if we can use the extra money from the activity fees from last year to put toward the Back to School Orientation.  We don’t think we can use the money for that.

We are looking at having the BSO on September 2nd.

 

 

6.0 INFORMATION AND STUDY

6.1 Administrator’s Report:

The Modular is scheduled to be delivered sometime between August 7th and 15th.

Limited office hours in July

Laurie met with Walt for Administrator Review.  It went well.

July 14th the staff met for curriculum day.  They focused on math facts and talked about the Character Education program.  They also talked about a new spelling program.  They are working as a group to read a book about traits of teachers.

Laurie has been working with an insurance agent and plans will be offered to the teachers at an in service day.

She has been working on the PERS opt out, but it may not be

There is a waiting list for 1st (3) and 4th (1), Kinder, 3rd and 5th are full, 2nd is down 1.

We have desks donated for 6th and also several teacher desks.

Open enrollment August 3rd through 6th is the next window to enroll.

Library

We don’t have a check-out system currently.  There is an app that you can use an IPad mini to check the books out.

Jake moved that we approve the purchase for the library for $310 for an IPad Mini and an app to help track the books.  Julie seconded the motion.  It passed with unanimous consent.

 

7.0 ADJOURNMENT: 9:00 pm

Any documents that are public records and are provided attachments to public session items on this agenda are accessible to the public on the school’s website, with the exception of documents provided at the time of the meeting.  Documents that are public records, and are provided at the time of the meeting to a majority of the Board regarding a public session item, will be made available for public inspection upon request to the Administrator’s Assistant.

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