Board Approved Supplementary Retirement Plan  

As reported in the October 11, 2019 Board President Update,  as part of the District's efforts to address the structural deficit, the Board approved the adoption of a Supplementary Retirement Plan (SRP), which is a voluntary early retirement incentive program for  those  eligible employees.  There was substantial interest in the SRP, with 17 certificated and 10 classified employees requesting to participate.  With  the District's fiscal and operational objectives being met, the Board voted unanimously to move forward with the SRP during Closed Session.

Student Exit Data 

Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jason Kurtenbach made a presentation to the Board regarding the number of students who have left the SMUSD over the past five school years and some of the reasons for their departure, such as moving out of state or the country, leaving for a public school within California or leaving to attend a private school somewhere in California.  As can be seen in the various slides, the total number of recorded exits varied by less than 10 percent from 2014-2018, but the District saw a noticeable increase in students departing the SMUSD after the last school year.  

Mr. Kurtenbach also reported on data compiled through a survey of parents who requested a transcript for the purpose of applying to another school during the 2018-19 school year.  Of the 80 families who voluntarily completed the survey, 24 students remained enrolled in the District and 56 students transferred out of the District.  When providing reasons for requesting a transcript to apply to another school, parents listed numerous different reasons besides moving out of the area, including class size concerns, challenging curriculum (either too difficult or not difficult enough), family tradition of attending private schools, and wanting a better environment.

Facilities Planning 2020

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson, with the assistance of consultant Jim Leahy, provided information to the Board about facilities planning for the upcoming calendar year 2020.  The presentation touched upon the subjects of deferred maintenance, community engagement and communication, planning-design-construction management, student/school security and technology security support, community oversight and reporting, and a Facilities Master Plan.  A timeline of planning and implementation throughout the year, assuming that the facilities bond passed in March 2020, included a list of initial priorities for projects.  A timeline of planning and implementation, assuming that the facilities bond does not pass in March 2020, was also discussed.

Volunteer Work Project Approved

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Linda de la Torre, provided the Board with information about the volunteer facility project request process, including a discussion of current Board policies, applicable laws and regulations, and new procedures and forms in place to ensure that the desires of the volunteers and the needs of the District are all considered.  

The Board was presented with an application by San Marino High School senior Taylor Suetsugu to create a San Marino High School Titans Hope and Peace Garden on District property near the corner of Huntington Drive and Gainsborough Drive.  Mr. Suetsugu and friends would like to create an outdoor place of wellness and retreat as part of the SMHS Wellness Program.  After a review of the presentation and supporting documentation, the Board approved Taylor Suetsugu's project and thanked him in advance for his volunteer efforts.

Unmodified Opinion of Audited Financial Statements Approved

The Board was presented with the results of the independent audit of the District's financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019.  The accounting firm of CliftonLarsenAllen issued an unmodified opinion, the best opinion it can render, determining that the financial statements were materially correct and presented in accordance with accounting standards.  There were no findings regarding the financial statements and federal compliance opinion.  There was an unmodified opinion on the state compliance records with a finding regarding unduplicated counts for LCFF.  The Board approved the audited financial statements and congratulated District staff.

Dual Enrollment MOU with Pasadena Area Community College District Approved

As discussed in the December 13, 2019 Board President Update, t he District and the Pasadena Area Community College District (PACCD) have been working on a dual enrollment partnership. At the second reading, the Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding that, once approved by the PCC Board of Trustees, will allow the District to begin discussions with PACCD to provide courses on the San Marino High School campus.  

The Board invites the community to attend its next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. in the District Board room, 1665 West Drive, San Marino.