Votes & Actions
SOURCE: Minutes
| Motion | Result | Moved / 2nd |
|---|---|---|
| approve a modified schedule for Kaler Elementary |
Passed
5-0
|
Holman, Feller |
| approve the contract for Andy Wallace to take the role as Interim Superintendent (2 weeks in July) as discussed in Executive Session |
Passed
5-0
|
Feller, Richardson |
| approve a one-time additional contribution of $12,000 to Assistant Superintendent Jo Prince’s 403(b) plan in recognition of the valued service she has provided this year and to authorize the Board Chair to work with legal counsel and Dr. Prince to craft a written agreement |
Passed
5-0
|
DeAngelis, Feller |
Meeting Summary
- Kaler Elementary Modified Schedule: The board approved a modified end-of-year schedule for Kaler Elementary to accommodate the school's closure and move. The plan includes an early release on June 15th and a day off on June 16th, with the administration noting that over 90% of Kaler teachers supported the change.
- Childcare for Kaler Families: A significant portion of the discussion focused on providing free, district-funded childcare for Kaler families impacted by the schedule change. The administration reported on survey results and committed to working with the city's recreation program and exploring other community partners to meet the need.
- Interim Superintendent Appointment: The board appointed Andy Wallace as interim superintendent for two weeks in July to cover a gap between the outgoing and incoming superintendents. Mr. Wallace will receive four vacation days as compensation, as he declined a salary for the short-term role.
- Recognition for Assistant Superintendent: The board unanimously approved a one-time $12,000 contribution to Assistant Superintendent Jo Prince's retirement plan. Board members praised her for taking on extensive responsibilities related to the budget process and school reconfiguration during a difficult year.
- Resignation of Director of Operations and Security: The superintendent announced the resignation of Mike Nalli, Director of Operations and Security. Board members expressed regret, calling it a significant loss and praising his contributions to improving district safety and his reliability in handling urgent situations.
- Kaler Family Transition Efforts: The administration reported positive community-building efforts, with PTA leaders from all elementary schools collaborating to plan welcoming events for Kaler families. Successful open houses were also held at the receiving schools to help ease the transition.
Detailed Proceedings
Note: Transcripts are generated from video auto-captions. While highly accurate, they are non-official and do not meet State Archivist record-keeping requirements.
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Roll CallThe superintendent conducts the roll call for the board members.
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Public Comment (First)The chair opens the first public comment period. No members of the public came forward to speak.
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Kaler Elementary Modified Schedule Proposal (Jo Prince)Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jo Prince presents the proposal to modify the end-of-year schedule for Kaler Elementary. The change is needed to allow staff time to pack and move from the closing school.
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Family Survey and Childcare Plan (Jo Prince)Dr. Prince reports a 76% response rate from Kaler families on a survey about the closure. She confirms the district will provide free childcare through the recreation program for families who need it on the day off, with logistics still being finalized.
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Board Discussion on Kaler Schedule and ChildcareBoard members discuss the implications of the schedule change, focusing on ensuring adequate childcare support for affected families.
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Asks for an update on the waiver process for Kaler families. She also raises concerns about childcare availability for the half-day on June 15th and asks if more creative solutions can be found.
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Thanks the administration for arranging care but expresses sadness over the situation. She suggests exploring other community partners like the Boys & Girls Club or Riverview Martial Arts to expand childcare options.
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Echoes the need to explore all possible options for childcare on the 15th. He questions if pre-K programs or high school students could be leveraged to help fill the gap.
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Community Support for Kaler Families (Jo Prince)Dr. Prince shares positive news about PTA leaders from all five elementary schools meeting to plan inclusive events for Kaler families. She also notes the success of recent open houses at the receiving schools.
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Teacher Support for Schedule Change (Ms. Richardson)Member Richardson notes her appreciation for the SPTA survey showing over 90% of Kaler teachers support the modified schedule. She feels this data helps justify the difficult decision.
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VOTE: Kaler Elementary Modified ScheduleThe board formally votes on the modified end-of-year schedule for Kaler Elementary. The motion passes unanimously.
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Interim Superintendent Contract DiscussionThe board discusses the appointment of Andy Wallace as interim superintendent for two weeks in July to ensure leadership continuity.
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The chair announces Andy Wallace as the interim, explaining he requested no financial compensation and the board offered four vacation days instead. She clarifies the legal need for a superintendent of record during the transition.
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She adds that the central office team supports this plan and that it will be a joint effort until the new superintendent, who has personal matters to attend to, can officially start on July 15th.
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VOTE: Interim Superintendent ContractThe board votes to approve the contract for Andy Wallace as interim superintendent. The motion passes unanimously.
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Motion for Assistant Superintendent Recognition (Ms. Richardson)The chair reads and moves a motion to approve a one-time $12,000 contribution to Assistant Superintendent Jo Prince's retirement plan. The contribution is in recognition of service that far exceeded the duties of her role.
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Board Discussion on Dr. Prince's RecognitionBoard members express their strong support for recognizing Dr. Prince's extraordinary efforts during the past year.
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The chair details the additional responsibilities Dr. Prince undertook, including creating the budget council, managing staffing models for budget proposals, and hosting 14 school listening sessions.
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Expresses strong support, praising Dr. Prince's competence and willingness to handle difficult, unpopular tasks. She jokes that she would want Dr. Prince with her on a desert island to get a village up and running quickly.
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Adds his personal thanks, noting how helpful Dr. Prince was in getting him up to speed as a new board member during a difficult year.
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VOTE: Assistant Superintendent ContributionThe board votes to approve the one-time contribution to Dr. Prince's retirement plan. The motion passes unanimously.
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Report of the Superintendent (Dr. Entwistle)Superintendent Dr. Entwistle reports the resignation of Mike Nalli, the district's Director of Operations and Security, effective August 1st.
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Board Discussion on Director's ResignationBoard members react to the news of Mike Nalli's resignation, praising his work and discussing the future of the position.
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Calls the resignation a significant loss for the district and praises Mr. Nalli for his outstanding job over the past three years. She notes the position will be difficult to replace.
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Asks whether the role will be automatically filled or if its structure will be reviewed, given the district's financial situation. Dr. Entwistle confirms it is best practice to review the position and seek input from the new superintendent.
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Adds her praise, calling Mr. Nalli a reliable partner who is adept at handling urgent situations. She wishes him luck in his future endeavors.
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States that Mr. Nalli leaves a legacy of improved security across the district, citing his work on auditing secure vestibules and camera placements.
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Public Comment (Second)The chair opens the second public comment period. No members of the public came forward to speak.
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School Board CommunicationsThe chair mentions she has several communications but will hold them until the board's regular meeting on the upcoming Monday.
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AdjournmentThe meeting is adjourned at 6:25 PM.