News, Notes & Votes

BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

St. Helena Unified School District

November 10, 2011

ASB Officers of SHHS, RLS, and SHES Impressed Board of Trustees

1.   INTRODUCTION OF ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY OFFICERS TO THE BOARD

District Principals introduced their respective Associated Student Body Officers, who each spoke about the duties of their particular offices. 

2.   DRAMA DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD

Christina Ericson and Faith Cramer, of the Drama Department at St. Helena High School, made a presentation to the Board about the upcoming performance of “WWF,” a play that is written, directed, and performed by SHHS Drama.  Performance times are:  Thursday, November 17, 7:00 p.m.; Friday, November 18, 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 19, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, November 20, 2:00 p.m.  All performances are at the St. Helena Elementary School Auditorium.  Admission is $10.00 for General Admission, and $5.00 for Students, Seniors, and Staff.

3.   REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF BOARD POLICY 5117, INTERDISTRICT ATTENDANCE

As part of the Board’s first reading of possible changes to Board Policy 5117, Superintendent McGuire made a presentation to the Board of Trustees discussing the pros and cons of making St. Helena Unified a School District of Choice rather than a District that accepts Interdistrict Attendance.  He reviewed the process that Administration Staff used to vet the pros and cons of many options; and, at that time, it was determined that the District of Choice provides the best recommendation given the possible drawbacks.  Superintendent McGuire advised that the District Administration will hold two public forums for public comment.  The first public forum will be held on November 14, 2011, from 6:00–7:00 p.m., in the St. Helena High School Library, and the second forum will be on December 5, 2011, from 6:00–7:00 p.m., in the Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School Library.  A final recommendation, based on the Public Forums and other data gathered by the District, will be provided to the Board of Trustees at their December 8, 2011, Board Meeting.

4.   PRESCHOOL UPDATE

Superintendent McGuire made a presentation to the Board on Preschool and the advantages of children being enrolled in Preschool classes prior to attending Kindergarten.  He advised the Board that sign-up sheets will be available to parents who would be sending their children to Preschools if spaces were made available to them.  The deadline for signing up is December 6, 2011.

5.   BID FOR RLS 6^TH GRADE WING MODULAR BUILDINGS

The Board approved awarding the bid for the 6^th Grade Wing Modular Buildings at RLS Middle School to American Modular Systems, Inc.  This company produced the low bid on this project, and they are a contracting company that is already pre-qualified with St. Helena Unified School District.

6.   RLS CURRICULUM REPORT BY PRINCIPAL MARY ALLEN

RLS Principal Mary Allen presented a thorough report on the progress of Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School since her arrival as principal in 2006.  She detailed the various improvements the school has made over the past five years and provided specific information regarding each program that has been implemented in that time span.