This board meeting was moderately well attended. It lasted a little more than an hour. The highlights are as follows:
1) Trona Teachers Association - 1) Pay issue which was quickly resolved. 2) Missed Work Due To Absence Policy - Follow up on discussion from last month regarding teacher responsibilities for dealing with assignments missed during a student absence. The district only requires that teachers are fair, but the teacher has quite a bit of discretion regarding how to handle this issue. 3) Assistant Coaching position offered for position not listed in teaching contract. It was suggested that the term "volunteer" be added to make it clear that this is not a contractually recognized position. 4) HS Math Issue - TTA president indicated willingness to work with the district to resolve this issue. 5) Math Conference - A teacher who recently attended a professional conference on the topic of teaching math shared some of what she gained from the conference. Another teacher added that she appreciated the opportunity to attend conferences and training sessions to help her improve as a teacher.
2) Superintendent Report - The superintendent expressed appreciation to two departing board members for the work they've done over the past several years. The newly elected board members were in attendance. They will be sworn in at the next regular board meeting.
3) Public Comments - Concerns expressed regarding the lack of a credentialed high school math teacher. Currently two teachers without proper credentials are teaching high school math. The district has tried to recruit math teachers, but has been unsuccessful. The board and those in attendance generally agreed that qualified math teachers should be recruited by "any means necessary" and that the current situation is "unacceptable."
4) Volunteer Assistant Coach approved. The agenda did not include the word volunteer and the board felt that the word volunteer should be officially part of the job title.
5) Retirement of Elementary Principal - Several people expressed great appreciation for the service the current elementary principal has provided to the district for the past 30-something years. There will be a retirement party in December.
6) Parent Project - Incentives to attend approved: $1000 for door prizes and $1000 for food. Funding for these incentives is justifiable since the LCAP has provisions for increasing parent involvement.
7) ASB WORKS - This is a computer software package used to keep track of ASB financial activities. Auditors suggested that the district use the program to make it easier to keep track of inventory and general financial activity as it pertains to the ASB. The program also facilitates credit card purchases and online sales.
8) CUPCCAA (sometimes referred to as CUPCAKE) - The "cupcake" agreement streamlines the bidding process for facility projects. It helps small districts by raising bid limits. It also makes it easier for small, remote districts to attract contractors to do construction and maintenance projects.
9) Math Instructor Incentive - The board approved a plan to offer year-for-year credit to help recruitment efforts. Since this is a compensation issue the teachers union will need to approve it and so some negotiation might be necessary, but the TTA president agreed to help expedite the process so the recruitment process can proceed as quickly as possible.
NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING: December 13, 2018