December 21, 2009 School Board Briefing

Board Directors Shirley Phillips, Dave Sands, Melissa Bellcock, and Marti Huser were present at the beginning of the meeting. Director Brent Wilhelm arrived 51 minutes late at 5:51PM.

The minutes of the November 16, 2009 minutes were approved unanimously.

After discussion of several items, the bills (claims) were approved unanimously.

After discussion, the financial report was approved unanimously.

Elementary Principal Mike Fischer reported that “Wraparound Teams" have been formed to look at and discuss any behavior concerns that any of the team members may have regarding students. Teams, which are set up in three tiers, will meet once a month.

Mr. Fischer reported that Speed Herrig met with the fourth graders and gave a talk about how he achieved his success. This talk was part of a business course the students are participating in entitled, "Youth market Place" in which the students learn leadership skills by attempting to run a successful business.

Superintendant Barb Kruthoff Reported that Middle School Food Drive yielded 400 pounds of canned food for the food pantry and that Duckwalls will be matching that with their own 400 pound donation in January.

Ms. Kruthoff reported that Principal Olhausen, who is fighting cancer, was able to spend a day at the school between treatments, and that he further intends to spend another day at the school after Christmas vacation.

The Reorganization Committee to join Sac and WLVA Districts reported on their marketing activities and asked for the explicit endorsement of both school boards. Every Single School board directors on both the Sac and the WLVA boards said in open meeting that they are FOR Sac and WLVA School consolidation.  Sac School Board Director Huser also said that she is FOR consolidation.  In spite of repeated attempts to get a straight answer from them, Sac School Board Directors Phillips, Sands, and Bellcock would not give yes or no answers directly about being for or against consolidation, substitutingg phrases such as, "Support the efforts of the committee" or qualifying with, "Yes, but has concerns" and other circular wording.  Sac School Board Director Wilhelm was not present during the polling.

Sac School Board President Shirley Phillips improperly arranged for a private contractor to review the status of the Elementary School Roof in October. She was reminded that individual school board members do not have the authority to act on school issues without first bringing it to the school board in open meeting. Though she had this contractor examine the roof in October, she did not discuss this action at the November school board meeting.

Both the Sac and WLVA districts are applying for an accreditation waiver. State code says that in order to be accredited, every school must offer Spanish 3 and Spanish 4 with data to back up the fact that students are taking both classes. East Sac County offers and teaches Spanish 3 for high school credit and offers and teaches Spanish 4 for college credit, which does not meet accreditation standards. (In order to be accredited, the school must offer and teach Spanish 3 and 4 for high school credit only)

Because, taking Spanish 4 for college credit is so popular, Ms. Kruthoff asked that the boards direct her to apply for the waiver. Though it is unlikely that the school will be granted a waiver to continue to offer Spanish 4 as a college credit, there is a loop hole that will allow them to at least offer it for the rest of this year. Next year, Spanish 4 will be a high school credit.

The Sac School Board renewed the agreement with the Sac Community Center for $7,500 for the next six months.

Barb Kruthoff resigned her position as Superintendant effective the end of the 2009-2010 school year. The reason given was that she needs a change of pace.

The date of the next school board meeting has been set for January 11, 2010 at 6PM in Lake View.




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