The meeting tonight got off to a late start. The board didn't show up to the open session until ten or fifteen minutes after six. Attendance was much better than normal. Items on the closed session agenda included Negotiation and Related Matters and Personnel.
1. Public Comments (there were lots):
a. Lana McCullar - Expressed concerns regarding non-reelection of a teacher. She stated that over 400 signatures were gathered in support of this individual. Requested a response from the board regarding this issue.
b. Sari (Sprouse) Flieshauer - Reported on summer sports camp. Also stated that she was planning to do research to see if it is possible to obtain a grant to replace the gymnasium floor.
c. Jayana Ledbetter - Expressed disappointment regarding a recent article that appeared in the Ridgecrest Daily Independent.
d. Sandra Sprouse - Disappointed in lack of professionalism by two board members. She stated that one board member publicly discussed criteria for selection of the new superintendent at a party he attended. Sprouse stated that the criteria for the selection of the superintendent were supposed to be kept private. She also stated that this board member worked for the water company. As for the second school board member, she said that he harassed two students, arguing with at least one of them regarding the non-reelection of a teacher issue. Sprouse also stated that she plans on running as a candidate for the school board in the November elections.
e. Sarah Ford - Stated that she recently graduated from THS and that she considers Sari Flieshauer to be an excellent teacher. She also expressed disappointment regarding a letter to the editor that recently appeared in the Ridgecrest Daily Independent. She then directly criticized Gary Hess who she said compared allegations made against Flieshauer to the recent controversial situation which occurred at Penn State. Ford explained that not only was Flieshauer accused of cussing and harassing students in the classroom, but there was also an accusation that she had been dating a high school student. She stated that the improper dating allegation was the result of a joke by a male student and that the San Bernardino Sheriff had investigated the matter and cleared Flieshauer of any wrong doing.
f. Brian Hotz - Claimed that Gary Hess had questioned and harassed him regarding the Sprouse situation while he was on duty as lifeguard at the school pool.
2. Superintendent's Report: David Olney listed a bunch of maintenance and repair projects taking place within the district. He talked some about damage from the recent storm, including roof damage and the uprooting of a mesquite tree (diameter at trunk of four and a half feet). He also talked at some length regarding the Common Core State Standards. He explained the implications of this shift in curriculum for the school and outlined how the school will implement these changes.
3. Assistant Football Coach - Olney stated that most schools with 8-man football do not employ an assistant football coach, but volunteers are allowed to participate in this capacity and that volunteer coaches will be allowed to ride with the team on the bus.
4. Child Development Program (Preschool) - The preschool program will be extended by a half hour so that its hours match those of kindergarten. This will cost the district $2200 for the school year.
Next Regular Meeting: September 13, 2012, 6:00 p.m.