The Gilroy Unified School District Board of Education discussed a plethora of topics during two recent regular meetings held Jan. 30 and Feb. 6. Trustees tackled such topics as bargaining unit negotiations, approving up to $18,200 for a study comparing the salaries and benefits of GUSD’s management employees to that of other districts with similar demographics, and finding a way to fund the naming of a building after legendary Gilroy music director Phil Robb.
Management study approved
School board trustees approved up to $18,200 for School Services of California to compare job descriptions, existing salaries, and salary and benefit schedules of GUSD administrators with those at five to eight comparable school districts.
While board trustees approved the full $18,200 requested in the School Services of California proposal, GUSD Superintendent Debbie Flores said she hopes to scale down the report and perhaps do some of the studies internally, so the district could bargain down the price.
“I’d like to see if I can get them to scale it down a little bit,” said Flores. “I was thinking more in the $12,000 to $15,000 range.”
The board received two proposals, including one from Total School Solutions for $14,550 and one from School Services of California, but selected the second because they have worked with the group in the past and were impressed with their network in California.
“I also prefer the School Services of California, but my question is ‘what do you want to par down because it all looks pretty important to me,’” said trustee Mark Good.
The item will be on the consent agenda at the next School Board meeting March 6.
Phil Robb: save the letters
The project to put legendary choir director Phil Robb’s name on the music building at GHS was supposed to be paid for strictly with donations, but the lettering costs came in grossly above what was initially estimated with a price tag of $3,211 instead of $300.
Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Alvaro Meza suggested the Phillip Robb Committee reconvene to address the increased cost of the project. Committee Chair Tim Day said the committee was never meant to be a fundraising committee and said reconvening the committee won’t help.
The project consists of a $871 plaque, which has been fully funded by donations and lettering for the music building that said, “Phillip Robb Music Building” and was in the same style as the school’s Bob Hagen Gymnasium. The project still needed $2,846 as of Jan. 30 to pay for the lettering.
“I agree with (School Board trustee) Mr. Tovar in that this is not something we should dump,” said School Board trustee Pat Midtgaard, who suggested donors might want to sponsor individual letters of the building. “I think we could have been more prudent in the beginning about costs.”
The board chose not to dip into the district’s general fund, so parents are looking for additional donors. To contribute to the cause, write a check to the district and make a note that it’s for the Phillip Robb Music Building lettering. Donations are tax deductible.
About Phil Robb
Robb is known as the iconic choral director who retired June 14 after a 30-year career instilling the joy of singing to Gilroy high schoolers. Under Robb’s direction since 1984, the music program at Gilroy High School flourished and grew to a widely revered program among academic and musical communities throughout the state and beyond. When CHS opened up in 2008, Robb took that on, too, building the department from scratch and laying the foundations for another choral program as he darted back and forth teaching at both campuses during the week.
Bargaining unit negotiations
School board trustees approved a tentative agreement between the district and the Gilroy Federation of Teachers and Paraprofessionals bargaining unit – which includes teacher aids, district translators, and instructional assistants – for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. This does not include retroactive pay for any part of 2012 but does include an increase effective during the 2013-2014 school year. The fiscal impact of the stipend increases was $41,185, an amount that will keep unrestricted reserves above the state’s minimum 3 percent for the current and subsequent two fiscal years, according to the Public Disclosure of the Collective Bargaining Unit.
Local Control Funding Formula
Assistant Superintendents Alvaro Meza and Marilyn Ayala provided the School Board with information about the Local Control Accountability Plans, which must be developed to get state funding under the new Local Control Funding Formula.
The new state funding formula is “data driven,” meaning the demographics of the school districts will now have a role in state funding, explained Meza. The school district will get base grants for every student (as they have in the past), but the new funding formula will also provide additional grant money based on the number of low-income, English language learner or foster children in the district.
A key component of LCFF is that plans are submitted to the county instead of the state for approval. The LCAP will be due to the county in June and must include input from stakeholders such as teachers, students and parents.
Deferred maintenance
Maintenance/Operations Manager Dan McAuliffe outlined the deferred maintenance needs – including updating an intercom system, repairing or replacing security cameras at Christopher High School and replacing trucks, tractors and mowers – that should be incorporated into the LCAP for the next few fiscal years.
The deferred maintenance projects for 2013-14 year would cost $742,000 and run the gamut from repairs to the Gilroy High School stadium to updating the intercom and fire alarm system at Rod Kelley Elementary School. Funding just those projects, highlighted as “needs immediate attention,” would cost $707,000.
“I know we haven’t invested here in a few years … but I think it’s important to bring our buildings up to standard,” said School Board Vice President James Pace.
Health award given to Diane Padilla
The district offered its first Health and Wellness Award, which recognizes a person who helps GUSD students live in ways that are mentally and physically healthy.
Diane Padilla, the dropout prevention specialist at Mt. Madonna Continuation High School, took home a framed certificate that recognized the work she has done to help students address mental health issues as they work towards graduation.
“We’re very pleased to be able to recognize you with this award and it’s very deserved,” said GUSD Superintendent Debbie Flores.
Coming up
The next regular School Board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. March 6 at district offices, 7810 Arroyo Circle.
