Classified Employees Recognized by Board
All 19 of the district’s Classified Employees of the Year were recognized and honored by the Governing Board for their outstanding contributions to their schools. This year’s Classified Employees of the Year, by school they represent are: Peggy Huff, Academy of the Canyons; Tina Cermeno, Administrative Center; Jan Johnson, Arroyo Seco Junior High; Michelle Montoya, Bowman High School; Chris Liedblad, Canyon High School; Tenita Gatewood, Career Visions Center; Linda Pfaucht, Golden Oak Adult School; Amber Jimenez, Golden Valley High School; Mick Canale, Hart High School; Patty Russel, La Mesa Junior High School; Wendy Picone, Placerita Junior High School; Anita Ondra, Rancho Pico Junior High School; Edie Bertoldo, Rio Norte Junior High School; Susie Warne, Saugus High School; Tammy Norrbom, Sequoia Charter School; Kevin Kane, Sierra Vista Junior High School; Kevin Lieberman, Transition Learning Charter; Mary Schoenwandt, Valencia High School; and Fran Whitney, West Ranch High School. All of the teachers and classified employees of the year will be honored at a luncheon and their portraits placed on display in the hall of the District’s Administrative Center.
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Sheriff’s Department Program Presented
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Capt. Paul Becker presented his Department’s Juvenile Intervention Team program to the Board and community members. The program is specifically for the youth of the SCV, with the goal to keep narcotics out of schools by focusing on enforcement, education and rehabilitation. This program takes a pro-active approach through providing services and resources to students and families at school, home and in the community. This comprehensive program realigns School Resource Deputies to be included in the program and provides maximum resources to reduce the threat of drug addiction and local crimes associated with drug use. A key component of the program is an anonymous tip line, Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers can be reached by phone, 800-222-TIPS (8477); Text: Text TIPLA to 274637 or CRIMES; or online: http://lacrimestoppers.org, click on Submit a Tip.
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New Canyon Assistant Principal Appointed
Zaid Bakoo, a Saugus High School teacher since 2005, has been named as the new Assistant Principal for Canyon High School, filling the position vacated by Pete Getz, who was promoted to Principal of Sequoia Charter School, last month. Bakoo, who teaches American Government and AP Government and Politics at Saugus, holds a preliminary Tier I Administrative Services Credential from National University, a California Professional Clear Single Subject Teaching Credential, a MA in Political Science from Cal. State Univ. Northridge and a BA in Political Science from San Diego State Univ. Bakoo has distinguished himself as an educational leader, excellent communicator, advocate for students and a resource for teachers. His new appointment will be effective Oct. 20.
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Board Approves the Formation of a Foundation
Exploratory Subcommittee
The Governing Board approved Superintendent Rob Challinor’s recommendation to form an exploratory committee to determine if the Hart District should create an education foundation as a source of funding, in an effort to protect student programs in the Hart District. The five-member committee will be comprised of two board members, Paul Strickland and Joe Messina; Rob Gapper, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources and Student Services and one member from the teacher’s union, Leslie Littman, and one member from the classified employee’s union, still to be selected. The group will be tasked with determining the purpose and benefits of establishing a foundation.
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Castaic Area High School Update
Tom Cole, Chief Operations Officer, provided the Governing Board with an update on plans to build a high school on the previously selected Romero Canyon site in Castaic. Geotechnical investigations are continuing and are on track for a late October completion. An appraisal company has been successfully engaged and discussions and negotiations are continuing with the land owner on project timelines, seller obligations and improvement cost assumptions, toward finalizing a purchasing agreement. The Los Angeles County Fire Chief has conditionally approved the proposed emergency access gate on Romero Canyon and will work with the property seller to meet specific standards, obligations and designs.
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Public Hearing Held on Sufficiency of Textbooks and Materials
A public hearing was held to fulfill Education Code Section 60119 in order to receive funding for the Pupil Textbook and Instructional Materials Incentive Program and / or funding for instructional materials from any state source. Following a report by Vicki Engbrecht, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, the Governing Board directed the Superintendent to assure the State Superintendent of Public Instruction that the Hart District has complied with provisions of this code through Resolution No. 10/11-7 – Pupil Textbook and Instructional Materials Incentive Act.
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District Enrollment Update Presented
Rob Gapper, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources and Student Services, provided the Board with an enrollment report. The enrollment projection for budget is 23,176; enrollment projection for staffing is 23,099; and actuall enrollment on Sept. 24, was 22,926. Gapper is researching the reasons for the decline in enrollment.
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Hart District Enters an Agreement with Solar Power Provider
Eleven Hart District campuses are included in the plan by PsomasFMG, Inc., to have solar power installed, providing for lower energy costs and environmental benefits to the District. The Governing Board approved and authorized District personnel to enter into power purchase agreement negotiations with PsomasFMG, Inc. allowing the company to install, operate, and maintain photovoltaic systems (solar panels) on selected District sites and sell the energy produced by the systems to the District at a reduced rate. In a related action, the Board approved an agreement for legal services to be provided by Fagen, Friedman & Fulfrost LLP, for contract review of this project. PsomasFMG, Inc. agreed to incur expenses related to attorney fees.
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Measure SA and Measure V Budget Update Provided
The Board reviewed updated expenditure reports on Measure SA and Measure V, provided by Tom Cole, Chief Operations Officer. Both reports represent a status of funds available, expenses to date and future commitments.
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Architects Approved for Upcoming Projects
The Board approved architects for a number of school site projects, as follows:
Castaic Area High School, a portion of the proposal was approved:
Architect: Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke
Measure SA Phase II Modernization: Multi-purpose room, cafeteria and locker rooms – Sierra Vista Junior High, Architect: Hibser Yamauchi Architects;
Measure SA Phase II Modernization: Two-story classroom building – Sierra Vista Junior High School,
Architect: WLC Architects
Measure SA Phase II Modernization: School entrance façade – Sierra Vista Junior High School
Architect: SC Architects
Measure SA Phase II Modernization: New administration building, library, entrance, building X and campus landscaping – Hart High School
Architect: Flewelling & Moody
Measure SA Phase II Modernization: Two-story classroom building, tennis court addition, Q village removal and parking lot upgrade project – Hart High School
Architect: Carmichael Kemp
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Personnel Matters
October 6, 2010 Regular Governing Board Meeting
Classified Position Site
Brittany Benike, Instruct. Assistant I/Special Ed., Golden Valley
Wendy Downs, Instruct. Assistant II/Special Ed., TLC
Natalie Popoff, Bus Assistant, Admin Center
Sonia Raygosa, Campus Supv., Valencia
Amber Roberts, Campus Supv., Golden Valley
Nicholas Verdekel, Instruct. Assistant I/Special Ed., Rio Norte
Daniel Benson (change of status), Instruct. Assistant I/Special Ed., La Mesa
Donna Brown (change of status), Instruct. Assistant I/Special Ed., Valencia
Roberta DeShong (change of status), Health Assistant, Valencia
Lourdes Isaacson (change of status), Assistant Registrar, Canyon
Sheila Munoz-Flores (change of status), Instruct. Assistant II/Special Ed., Valencia
Erika Pulido (change of status), Bus Assistant, Admin Center
Shannon Schmidt (change of status), Campus Supv., Saugus
Caroline Waldrip (change of status), Instruct. Assistant I/Special Ed., Rio Norte