Placentia-Yorba
Linda school district trustees have been busy with the following
matters:
--A
report outlining the district's clear ability to meet financial
obligations through June 2019 was approved with “a positive
certification,” even though expenses are expected to outrun income
in this and the next two fiscal years.
Budgets
will be balanced with funds from reserves, with reserve cash
remaining at five percent of expenditures, as recommended for
schools. The report also sees a decline in average daily attendance
from 24,650 this year to 24,404 in two years.
--A
three-year plan to use a $409,883 state grant to increase the number
of students who enroll at colleges and universities and complete an
undergraduate degree in four years was reviewed.
The
funds will serve 2,745 students who meet a state standard of
participation in one or more of three programs: English language
learner, foster youth or eligibility for free or reduced price meals.
Funding is about $150 per student for the three years.
Specific
plans include hiring trained tutors to support students in meeting
college and university entrance requirements and sending teams to a
summer institute to learn methods of increasing student writing
scores and the number of university-eligible students.
Chromebook
computers will be purchased to help students develop computer skills
and aid in college research and work on college and scholarship
applications and writing college essays.
--Negotiations
on a new contract between the district and the teachers union are
underway, with each party agreeing to examine wages and benefits.
Also, the district wants to look at leaves and evaluation procedures,
while the union seeks to consider professional day language.
Current
salaries range from $49,649 for a beginning teacher with a California
credential to $102,774 for a 30-year veteran with an advanced degree
and/or additional college credits.
Also
currently in place is an incentive for early notification of
resignation or retirement. Teachers who provided notice prior to Jan.
16 will receive $2,000, and teachers who give notice by March 1 will
receive $1,000.
And
employees in three positions on a substitute salary schedule –
Child Care Teacher 1, Food Service Worker and Bus Driver Trainee –
received a 50-cent per hour Jan. 1 pay hike to $10.50 to comply with
state law, costing about $10,000 for the remainder of the school
year.
--Among
several board policies undergoing revisions is one regarding the
rights of pregnant, married, parenting or lactating students, which
added two pages describing specific services related to support,
absences, reasonable accommodations and complaints.