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Agenda Item No. 5(A)(l) I MINUTES SPECIAL JOINT EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL- WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING 7:00p.m. Tuesday, April3, 2012- 7:00p.m. City Council Chambers Meeting Location El Cerrito City Hall - Cit~ Council Chambers 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito Council Members Janet Abelson Rebecca Benassini Ann Cheng Greg Lyman William C. Jones, III ROLLCALL Board Members Madeline Kronenberg Antonio Medrano Elaine R. Merriweather Charles T. Ramsey Tony Thurmond Present: Councilmembers Abelson, Benassini, Cheng, Lyman and Mayor Jones. Absent: Boardmembers Kronenberg, Medrano, Merriweather, Thurmond and President Ramsey. CONVENE SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL- WEST CONTRA COST A UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING Mayor Jones convened the Special Joint City Council - West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Education meeting at 7:04p.m. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG was led by Councilmember Cheng. · 2. COMMENTS BY MAYOR JONES Mayor Jones welcomed the Board to City El Cerrito and noted that Board President Ramsey initiated the idea of convening a joint meeting as a way of sharing ideas and receiving presentations of mutual interest to the WCCUD and Board. Mayor Jones congratulated the Board and WCCUD staff on paying off the state debt. 3. COMMENTS BY WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT RAMSEY Board President Ramsey thanked everyone in attendance and stated that he is excited to be in El Cerrito and is looking forward to a robust discussion and hearing from residents. ---PAGE BREAK--- Version: 4111/2012 Page 2 of 3 4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC Lynda Frank, El Cerrito, spoke in support of the Writer Coach Connection and the positive impact it has achieved i~ the S'Chool district. Ms. Frank noted a correlation between how the school district performs, test scores and property values. Jean Womack, Richmond, spoke in support of the Writer Coach Connection program. Al Miller, El Cerrito, thanked the City Council and Board of Education for convening a joint meeting. Mr. Miller spoke in support of the School Resource Officer program. Janet Duckart, El Cerrito~ spoke in support of the WCCUSD support of adult schools and senior programs and expressed concerns about future funding and the continuance of programs for older adult programs. Robert Menzimer, Albany, described the background, Sl;lC~ess and benefits of the Writer Coach Connection program in El Cerrito and expressed concerns about continued funding and volunteerism. Todd Groves, El Cerrito, spoke in support of the Writer Coach Connection and the need for additional funding. Maureen Dixon, El Cerrito;, spoke iri support of the Writer Coach Connection, shared data and testimony regarding the program and described the benefits to students who are engaged in the program. Karen She beck, Kensington, spoke in support of the WCCUSD Measure K parcel tax. Kathie Weinstein, El Cerrito, expressed concerns about losing school resource officers and expressed her support for the senior exemption in the WCCUSD Measure K parcel tax. Ms. Weinstein also spoke in support of continuing the Writer Coach Connection and senior programs. Jewel Bleckinger, Richmond, expressed her support for continued funding of senior programs and the importance of programs in the community for citizens of all ages. Florence H. Brown, El Cerrito, expressed her support for senior programs and encouraged the School Board to maintain senior programs. 5. OVERVIEW OF WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT MEASURE K TAX PROPOSAL Presenter: Bruce Harter, Ph.D, Superintendent, West Contra Costa Unified School District. Action: Presentation heard and discussion held. 6. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST TO THE CITY OF EL CERRITO AND THE WEST CONTRA COST A UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION A. Update on WCCUSD Bond/Facilities Program Presenters: Bill Fay, Associate Superintendent for Operations and Magdy Abdalla, District Engineering Officer, West Contra Costa Unified School District. ---PAGE BREAK--- Version: 4111/2012 Page 3 of 3 Action: Presentation heard and discussion held. B. Update on Campus S~fety and School Resource Officer Program I Presenters: Sylvia Moir, Police Chief and School Resource Officers Jeff Albrandt, Clyde Chang, and Edwin Jacala. Wendell Greer, Associate Superintendent, Matt Burnham, Principal, Portola Middle School and David Luongo, Principal, El Cerrito High School President Ramsey stated that safety is a priority, explained that funding for the programs comes out of the general fund and expressed his appreciation for the work and dedication of the School Resource Officers. Action: Presentation heard and discussion held. C. Overview of After-School Programs in El Cerrito ' Presenter: Christopher Jones, Acting Recreation Director and Liz Torio, Educational Services Director, West Contra Costa Unified School District. Action: Presentation heard and discussion held. D. Comments and Questions fro~ the City Council/School Board Action: Discussion held. SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS Item No.5 Overview of West Contra Costa Unified School District Measure K Tax Proposal 1. Powerpoint presentation, "29 ,215 Reasons to Support Measure Submitted by Bruce Harter, Ph.D., WCCUSD Superintendent. Item No. 6(A) Update on WCCUSD Bond/Facilities Program 2. Powerpoint presentation, "City ofEl Cerrito Bond Program Projects"- Submitted by Bill Fay, WCCUSD. Item No. 6(B) Update on Campus Safety and School Resource Officer Program 3. Powerpoint presentation- Submitted by Sylvia Moir, Chief of Police, El Cerrito. Item No. 6(C) Overview of After-School Programs in El Cerrito 4. Powerpoint presentation, "After School Programs: WCCUSD and El Cerrito" - Submitted by Christopher Jones, Acting Recreation Director, El Cerrito. Other: 5. Writer Coach Connection in West Contra Costa County - Submitted by Robert Menzimer. 7. ADJOURNED JOINT CITY COUNCIL/WCCUSD BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING at 9:25 p.m.