California Continuation Education Association

Council of District Representatives Minutes

Meeting Location:  Sacramento

Meeting Date: April 22, 2005

Approval Date:Approved

CCEA CDR –  April 22, 2005 – Sacramento, CA

Call to Order - 8:23 a.m.

 Seating  of Representatives - Introduction of Guests

 Minutes of Previous Meetings

• Minutes are in front of everyone, are on web site & have been e-mailed to all
• Give corrections/additions to Doug Paulson
• Minor changes to minutes regarding attendance are made.
• Motion to approve passes

 President’s Report

·        This has been a challenging year for continuation education all around

·        The educational climate is not very positive throughout the country.  Comparisons are being made with other countries that leave out many key aspects to American education.  We need to argue that the United States, and particularly California, do things in education that few other countries attempt, specifically in making sure that every student receives a quality education.

·        We need to continue to argue that educators in general, and continuation schools in particular, are doing a commendable job in making sure that every students is given a chance at an education, no matter what their background.

·        The executive board has been busy this year.  Carlye Olsen, Jim Caswell and Janet Knoeppel attended a Superintendent’s Forum, sponsored by the CDE.  A lot of high powered speakers came in and made excellent presentations.  A common thread was that many of their proposals were practices that are already established in alternative education programs.  Significantly, CCEA was the only Educational Options program represented at the Forum.

·        Janet got to six districts this year, including 2, 7, 9, 10, 11, & 12.  Janet wanted to get to more, but was unable to.

·        This years conference presented many challenges, especially related to the resignation of the chairperson.  This position was very ably filled by several fantastic individuals working together from all over the State. (a cheer for Tom Campbell & Mark Telles ensued) There have been over 400 registrations, and this conference looks like it will be one of the best ever.

·        The executive board participated in a lobbying trip to Sacramento and shared our concerns re: AB 825.  This led to our concerns being heard and implemented by CDE.

·        A Peer Review Committee for ASAM will review schools that have been designated as less than commendable.  1 representative from each ASAM professional organization will be selected.

·        A lobbying trip to Washington D.C. is being planned for a better time.  We will be working to organize it in the upcoming future.

·        Regarding NCLB, the NEA is suing the USDOE regarding unfunded mandates.  3 states are pulling out of NCLB.  There is a workshop at this conference regarding PI/AYP.

·        Model Schools: Applications were down for the Model Continuation High School program this year.  That may have been because of other concerns.  There were only 15 applications, but these represented a fantastic array of programs.  We also did an essay competition for students at the newly accredited Model Continuation High Schools.

·        Educational Options Coordinating Committee: The EOCC has not been doing a lot, because there is not much we can do at this point.  When the May revise comes out, we will become active again as the situation dictates.  Dennis Fisher pointed out that the EOCC was vital in implementing AB 825.

Vice-President’s Report

The Model Continuation High School program ran smoothly this year.  There were 15 applications and 13 site visits.  Quality Indicators were condensed from 60 to 47.  All of the same information is in the application.  There is just less repetition.  This year model school applicants were responsible for reimbursement for visitations this year. The cost was a set fee of $300.  We kept the visitation fee the same for everyone. Interestingly, at the MCHS award ceremony, State Superintendent Jack O’Connell admitted that he had been a continuation high school teacher.

There are also 5 new Exemplary Programs certified.  4 of these will be presenting at the conference.

Treasurer’s Report

The CDR reimbursement form is in front of everyone.  Please give the form to Fuchsia today to get reimbursed today.  Membership – we have 430 professional members & 800 total members.  That is a real source of excitement.

To get a reimbursement today, you must be a professional member (paid). Everyone on CDR must be professional.  Throw away any old membership forms with the $35 price on them.  Tell people: Don’t Send Cash!  Make sure that when you use credit card on application, include the 3-digit ID number from back of card.

The account balance report is in front of you all.    Discussion of budget:  (Fuchsia) Projected membership and income will go up from the numbers we have thus far.  Motion to approve passed

Secretary’s Report

Newsletters have gone out on a regular basis.  We are still experimenting with an electronic newsletter, but there have been many technical difficulties.  We will continue to work on these, but the response from the first e-newsletter was overwhelmingly positive.  We will continue to publish hard copy newsletters as required by the constitution.  Doug Paulson made note of the many hours of labor involved in publishing and mailing the newsletters.

Past President’s Report

• Conference:  There have been over 400 paid registrations, and about 50 people are signing up now.
• There have been many legislative successes based on CCEA’s participation in the legislative process.
• The Year End Report continues to be a priority.  We only received 110 school reports, which is about 1/5 of the continuation schools.

• Of those reporting, about 65% of those who reported are WASC accredited

·        Discussion of difference between WASC accreditation & CSU entrance acceptance

·        Discussion of value of the State report for schools & how to get all schools to reports

 Webmaster’s Report

• This is the 8 year anniversary of the CCEA website
• Currently it has 111 megabytes of data, and is actually located on 5 websites
• There are 3,600 files, 1700 pictures, and 13,600 hyperlinks
• There are constantly positive comments from people across the state
  • Dennis Fisher: “I refer at least one person per day to this site.”
  • Fuchsia: “I used the web site to help convince my superintendent to maintain our continuation school
  • Kathy Abney:  “I used the website for my research.”
• Please send items for the website several times because spam filters take things out.
• Send items to Gerry in PDF or other electronic format

Tri-District Representative Reports

Marion St. Amant – District VII has new officers and is in transition.  District II is in great hands.  District VI needs a list of where to find out where members are.

Dan Plough – In District X, I visited the Board meeting.  This is a very positive group.  District IX sponsored a principal’s meeting at Valley High School, with over 30 principals in attendance.  Also visited 2 model school applicants

Georgeanne Fulstone-Pucillo – District I’s mini-conference was a big success.  Everyone has been consumed with putting on the conference.  They have really done a great job on this conference.

Bill Chapman – Absent.

Carol Robb - Liaison from CTA –

• Carol is a member of the CTA Alternative Education Task Force
• CTA has been very supportive of us in the past
• CTA Board has 3 continuation school people

Janet noted that many districts are trying to negotiate continuation high school class sizes at same size as rest of district.

Old Business

Mileage Reimbursement Increase

George-Ann Pucillo-Fulstone moves, Robert Simmons seconds to approve mileage increase to $.375 per mile.  Motion passes.

Sponsors

• Dan has spoken with Taylor Publishing.  We continue to try to develop corporate sponsorships for CCEA.

Executive Director

• Time constraints have not allowed Janet to investigate this fully.  We will continue to work on it and have a full report at the October CDR.
• 501(c)(3) status will not cost as much as expected. It should only be $500-600.  We will continue working on this.

Report on 2005 State Conference

• T-Shirts are on sale and very nice
• The essay contest is a new addition to this conference
• Please make sure to bring baskets for the raffle
• Our keynote speaker and student entertainment should be a hit
• The conference has come together very well
• Tom Campbell has done the lion’s share of the organizing and labo
   

Break for Committees

Committee Reports:

A. Standing Committees

            1. Constitution & By-Laws (Bob Meier, Gerry Catanzarite)

• Reviewed Constitution, Charter, By-Laws
• Terms of office are not more than two years.  President and secretary may be extended for 1 year with a ¾ vote.

• Nominations process was discussed
• A written, secret ballot is done if there is more than one nominee

2. Legislative (Doug Paulson, Cathy Dahl-Kunkel)

·        Discussion of the lack of communications with Birdsall & Associates

·        Communications and services appear to have diminished since Theresa Inslee left

·        “What are we actually getting out of this contract?”

·        Many items of interest are coming through the legislature that will affect us, and we must have our concerns addressed.

·        Birdsall & Associates did work hard for us on AB825

·        Communication must improve or the lobbyist contract will be reevaluated

·        Child care only receives partial ADA for less than 6 hours per day

o       Children under 5 must attend 5 hours per day

o       Parents must only attend 3 hours

3. Advisory/Liaison (Kathey Abney, Dennis Fisher, Carol Robb)

·        Lobby School Board Association to provide local school boards with information about Educational Options

·        CCEA should recognize exemplary school district’s school board

·        Open a dialogue with CTA to help in the recognition of exemplary programs.

·        There are many awards that could be given by CCEA.  We need to find a way to recognize exemplary district offices, superintendents, and school boards.

4. State Conference: (Tom Campbell, Vic Whitaker)

• The Sacramento conference is well organized and proceeding nicely.  There are a lot of very good workshops planned.  The Saturday night program is going to be exceptional.

B.  Ad Hoc Committees

            1. Awards (Dan Plough)

• Nominations for State Teacher of the Year, Classified, Administrative and Support Employees of the Year were very low this year. The awards committee will do a better job of communicating the awards to the District’s next year.
• Please help getting nominations in with plenty of lead time this year
• If the number of nominations does not improve next year after we do a better job of advertising, then we will reevaluate how it is done.
• ** Pamela Blake moves, Karlene Dockery seconds:Increase essay contest winner’s prize by $100. Motion passes.
• ** John Lupini moves, Georgeanne seconds: Increase Model Continuation High School fee to $325 from $300.  Motion passes.

            2. Membership (Marion St. Amant)

• Discussed how to get more membership in the organization
  • Give members something tangible when they join
  • Put out flyers to all personnel, not just principals
  • Get families involved

           3. Nominations and Elections (Fuchsia Ward)

• President: Dan Plough, Vic Whitaker
• Vice-President: Marion St. Amant, Doug Paulson
• Secretary: Georgeanne Fulstone-Pucillo
• Treasurer: Barbara Kenney, Angela DeaMude

 After lunch a secret ballot was taken, which provided the following results:

·        President: Dan Plough

·        Vice-President: Doug Paulson

·        Secretary: Georgeanne Fulstone-Pucillo

·        Treasurer: Angela DeaMude

California Department of Education Report – Dennis Fisher

• Discussed refinements and improvements to the Model Continuation High School Program
  • Amended MCHS application regarding WASC accreditation status
  • Reduced quality indicators on application from 60 down to 47
  • Next year MCHS applications will go out by June 1
• Went over developments with regards to accountability measures

Lobbyist Report – Peter Birdsall

Several things to pass out. Members should end up with four items:

• Right now things are very quiet in Sacramento.  Attention has now shifted to CDE for implementation of bills that have passed.  The main current focus of attention is on presidential election.
• AB 825 consolidates categorical programs into block grants
  • Signed by governor
  • Effective in 2005/06
    • This year, everyone got growth and 2.41 COLA
  • Continuation High School Revenue Add-on
    • Generated by continuation ADA - no requirement that it is spent on continuation education
    • Recommended putting it in the Pupil Retention Block Grant
• AB1012 Interrogation of students without parents        
  • Vetoed by Governor due to concern of it interfering with regular and needed communication between law enforcement officers and students

• Williams Settlement
  • Provides for State assistance to ensure that all students receive equal access to an appropriate, free education
• Governor vetoed a measure to include Career-Technical Education information in the School Accountability Report Card (SARC)
  • However, his language makes it clear that he supports C-T programs
  • His administration will be proposing to improve & increase the number of C-T courses

Audit Committee Report – Barry Lietz

·        Satisfied that all records are correct and well kept

·        ** Karlene Dockery moves, Georgeanne seconds: Have local districts try to recuperate money from bounced checks.  Withhold the amount of bounced checks from the local district’s funds. Motion passes.

New Business

Future Conference Dates and Locations – Vic Whitaker

• 2006 – Los Angeles
• 2007 – Sacramento
• 2008 – Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

CTA Liaison

Carol explained the CTA resolution on educational options.  Motion to support CTA resolution.  Unanimous consent.

District Reports

• All Districts turned in reports for information to the organization

Fiscal Reports – IRS Report

• Bank Balance as of last CDR Meeting – April, 2004
• Income Total since last CDR Meeting – April, 2004
• Expenditure since last CDR Meeting – April, 2004
• Current Bank Balance – Most recent statement

Comments/Announcements

• Physical Education is a four year requirement unless you have a state waiver.
• PE has 8 strands (sports is not one of them)
• Cannot be fulfilled by band, ROTC or other class
• PE teachers must be credentialed in P.E.

Adjournment – 2:42 p.m.