Site Council Minutes, January 7, 2008

Palo Alto High School Site Council
Monday, January 7, 2008

ITEM 1 -  CALL TO ORDER

Kenyon Scott called the meeting to order at 3:30 P.M. in the ERC.  Introductions followed. Members present were Katy Hall, Lorraine Brown, Elspeth Farmer, Ning Xu,  Carla Guerard, Kenyon Scott, David Cohen, Jaclyn Edwards, Hilary McDaniel, Mary Ellen Bena,  Scott Zhuge, Mary Dimit- PTSA, Principal Jacquie McEvoy and Coordinator Edie Miller. Not present: Malati Murthy, Abbie Havern, Olivia Diamond, and Jenna Lose. Also present was one VOICE reporter (Anna) and the following guests: Samir Tuna, Noel Sanborn, Bob French, Chuck Merritt, Kathleen Woods, Michael Najar, Rachel Kellerman, Preeva Tramil. There were also 4 representatives from 25 Churchill:  Dr. Bob Golton, Tom Hodges, Ron Smith and Pete Pain. (I apologize for spelling errors).

Chair Kenyon Scott explained that this is not a regularly scheduled meeting.  It is an informational meeting on the property improvements to be funded by the proposed 2008 bond election.  Kenyon then explained that the experts would first be asked to explain the process and the details.  Site Council members could ask questions as appropriate.  After the explanation, members of the public can make comments or ask questions. There will not be any voting on this issue.

Kenyon introduced Dr. Bob Golton and 3 others from 25 Churchill.  Bob first explained the process.  There is a 20-year master plan. To fund it will require $770 million. This will be divided into two bond issues. The first, for $350 million, is scheduled for June 2008.  It will require 55% approval to pass.  Requirements are as follows: very specific detail, no tax more than $60 per $100,000 valuation, on the ballot of a regularly scheduled election, an oversight committee and a performance and financial audit.  This 2008 bond will continue the same taxation rate ($45.80 per $100,000 valuation) as the previous bond.  Approximately half of the 2008 bond will fund health and safety issues, ADA issues, infrastructure, Athletics, technology, furniture, planned repair.  The rest will go to sites for unfinished B 4 E projects and new items.  Bob would like Paly input on the items on the Paly lists.

Principal Jacquie McEvoy then asked for clarification on the process, how the list was prioritized, why items are in first round or second round of funding, and how the public can give input.

Bob suggested the community can give input by emailing him directly (rgolton @pausd.org), contacting the 2 Board members on the Property Committee (CamilleTownsend and Barb Mitchell) and attending the Board Study session on January 22.  Note: since Jan. 7 meeting, a meeting of the Property review Committee has been scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 3; 30 pm in Building D, 25 Churchill and those with questions /ideas can also email Superintendent Kevin Skelly (Kskelly@pausd.org) Please see note at the end from Dr. Golton.

Process: Bob said the list was developed from items unfunded in the last bond issue, an evaluation of all the campuses, community meetings and demographers’ enrollment projections. There was input from community members, consultants, site personnel, and many building experts.  The cost estimates were given to the School Board in May 2007 and designed to include necessary inflation. .  Changes are designed to include an increased student enrollment.  

Project sequence and timeline; Bob was asked which projects would come first and he said that cannot be determined at this time.  Planners have to be careful how construction impacts each campus but cannot limit work to summers. 

Wording of bond measure:  Bob feels confident that Orick Harrington Bond Council will work with the district to make sure the bond statement is properly written. The design is being based on $ per square foot so plans will be flexible.   If a donor comes along later, the money can be redirected to another item on the ballot. Many questions followed.

PTSA President Preeva Tramil and Theater teacher Kathleen Woods raised the specific issue of the theater.  It was pointed out that the current theater does not meet the needs of student instruction or performance. This current bond measure includes only upgrades to the current Haymarket theater while not addressing the broader performance/auditorium needs at Paly.  The new theater is currently slated for funding on the next bond measure (at least 10 yrs out). Several site council members (parents and teachers) expressed concern about this problem.  The request was made to consider building the new theater first and use this while the Haymarket Theater is being renovated for other uses. It was pointed out that every student participates in Visual and Performing Arts because it is a graduation requirement. Jacquie pointed out that there should be priority in meeting the needs of students so perhaps the administration building plans could be delayed. Parent Noel Sanborn pointed out that Paly offers a first rate education but that the facilities- theater, soccer fields etc.- are third rate.  There was much discussion about the idea of building a new theater first.

In conclusion, Bob said this theater issue at Paly is "by far" the biggest issue he's heard from his rounds at all the schools and had noted all the concerns and would convey them to the Superintendent.  He once again encouraged people to contact the School Board members on the Property Committee and to attend the Study session on January 22. Paly’s liaison to the School Board is Melissa Baten-Caswell. 

Kenyon then thanked everyone for coming and the meeting was adjourned.

January  10, 2008 from Dr. Golton
Regarding our bond issue, we have had a lot of meetings and some more to come.  The best meeting for input would be the January 22 Board of Education Study Session, starting at 6:30PM.  The full Board of Education will be in attendance and the one item on the agenda is the Facilities Bond.  We have arranged for ads in the two Palo Alto newspapers (not a legal requirement at all, but we wanted to encourage the community-at-large to attend if they wish) and also the school newsletters. This would be a good meeting for input, or just to show support!

We do have other meetings as well.  The two member Board Property Committee will meet on January 16 at 1:00PM and the Bond will be one of the items at that meeting. The Bond Resolution will also be one of the items at the regular Board meetings on February 12 and February 26.    The PRC will meet on January 16 at 3:30.