The actual open session this evening was very short. However, the board returned to closed session to discuss one item pertaining to coaching assignments. They remained in closed session for about one hour before returning to open session to vote on the item. The following are the highlights from my point of view:
1) Unrepresented Employee - One employee (Doris Van Horn) is not considered to be a member of the certificated or the classified staff. David Olney announced that Van Horn would receive a $400 bonus since the classified staff recently received a bonus. The certificated staff is still in contract negotiations.
2) During board member comments Gary Hess mentioned that the first day of school will be Thursday, August 16th.
3) Public Comments: The only person to speak at this time was Charles Gillespie who expressed dissatisfaction regarding the slow progress being made in negotiations between the district and the certificated staff. In particular he was critical of the paid negotiator, who he referred to as a "non-negotiator". Later in the meeting a vote was taken to approve a contract for services with the paid negotiator (Ken Caves). During the discussion it was stated that this person is paid $150/hour, but that his services would be used minimally and that contract negotiations with the certificated union will proceed with David Olney (the new superintendent) as the negotiator. However, Olney will need to consult with Caves regarding past agreements and communications during previous negotiation meetings.
4) Later in the meeting a community member addressed the board regarding a coaching assignment. She asserted that the position in question was a topic on Facebook and that the board should listen to the student athletes regarding this coaching position. This was the item which the board discussed for about an hour in closed session. When they came out the three positions which had been grouped as a single agenda item were separated into three separate items. (Usually coaching positions are voted on as a group since to do otherwise requires a lot of voting which takes a lot of time.) At any rate, it seems that the most controversial (from the point of view of student athletes and the discussion on Facebook) of the positions passed with a 5-0 vote while another position passed with only a 3-2 vote with the two female board members voting against this individual.
5) Next meeting: Thursday, August 9, 2012.