Monrovia School Link

Monrovia School Link ~ Number 161 ~ March 9, 2006

How about this! Two reports about one evening. Yesterday I filed a report about the special bond meeting Wednesday night, and now we get Maritza's report on the regular meeting held later in the evening. By the way, I hope you all saw today's (March 9) Star-News. There was a comprehensive - and I thought, accurate - report on the whole bond meeting by reporter Molly R. Okeon. Nice job, Molly.
~ brad@sacklunch.net

By Maritza Diaz

This was the first time that I had trouble finding parking at a school board meeting. It was packed. As I waited outside the board room with many high school varsity athletes, we heard a loud applause. To which someone replied, "I guess they passed the bond [measure]."

The regular board meeting wasn’t as exciting as the special meeting. In fact, this was a really short meeting. No doubt the board was wiped out from all that bond business.

CHAMPIONS ~ The best part of the board meetings is the honoring of teachers and students. This time three league champions from Monrovia High were honored. The girls varsity soccer team, the girls varsity basketball team and the boys wrestling team. Each player went up to receive a small medal for their outstanding efforts in making their team champions. Way to go Monrovia High!

EASY STUFF ~ During the board reports Ed Gililland said he was excited about seeing the energy and enthusiasm from the high school students after the board's visit to the school this past week. He also said we will see good things come from the high school and that if the bond is passed, Monrovia High will be a world-class high school.

President Clare Chesley attended the soccer championship with her daughter and had a great time. She also added that the board’s vote to put the bond issue on the ballot was the easy part and she wanted to remained everyone that the hard work is up ahead.

FINALIST ~ Congratulations Wild Rose Elementary! Superintendent Louis Taylor announced the school is a finalist for the prestigious California Distinguished School Award. Cross your fingers everyone.

PURCHASE ~ Problems with approving purchase orders has come up quite often. The issue is that not enough detailed information is able to be pulled from the current software the district uses. Chief Business Officer Linda Dempsey pulled this item from the consent agenda to offer a worksheet that clarifies some numbers. Chris Rich said that providing more information is just one of those things that need work.

STAFFING ~ What's a board meeting without projections and numbers? Last board meeting an enrollment and staffing report was presented that did not include the final number for the Monrovia High (due to change in the block schedule). The projected enrollment for October 2006 is 5,978 (a decrease of 146 students from 2005). The amount of reductions of seven staff members is included in projections for 2006-07.

CASES ~ What's going on with all the expulsion cases lately? Yet again the board voted to expel a student from Monrovia High and voted to readmit another. It's a good thing that the district is dealing with trouble students, but at the same time, one has to wonder.

VISIT ~ The board will stop by and visit Canyon Oaks on March 24, bright and early at 7:30 a.m.

Let's see if next time people will have a hard time finding parking. March 22. 7:00 p.m. Be there.

LETTER ~ I want to express my sincerest gratitude to all of you dedicated souls who voiced your support for the MHS bond.

I want to briefly explain the board's change of position. As I stated at Monday's meeting, the decision to move the library parcel tax election to next March, 2007 was instrumental in clearing the way for the MHS bond to be put on the ballot this June, 2006. I must be honest and say that after the initial failed vote, I was very disappointed with my fellow board members because I thought they let me down. Throughout the following week, I came to the realization that it was the other way around, I had let them down. I really failed to appreciate their position and the incredible mountain of information they had to absorb in such a short time. I apologized to them personally and publicly at the Monday meeting. But, I feel it is very important that I apologize again in writing and that all of you understand that their "no" votes were made for valid reasons, just as their "yes" votes last night were made for valid reasons.

All you sports fans should really thank Clarence Shaw for his idea to look at the $45 million stand alone bond in order to include the all weather track and artificial turf field, etc. I believe he was inspired by the beautiful Downey athletic facilities when he attended the CIF Girls soccer championship game. And, I think you art fans should really thank Chris Rich for his push for the arts facility and auditorium upgrades. Obviously, my passion is the science building, so if any of your kids build a space-based Hilton, I hope I'll get to go spend a night. Don't forget to say a big thank you to Bryan who has spent months working diligently on the bond itself, spending hours on the phone talking with the bond underwriters, gathering all the financing information, patiently explaining the multiple scenarios to all of us and never losing sight of the ball in terms of putting together a "passable bond". And finally, "Big M Booster" Ed Gilliland really stands for (as we all do) the whole Enchilada. Ed Gilliland's name will always be synonymous with the Wildcats.

So once again, thank you all so much for your emails, for coming to the meetings and for your unfailing commitment to our kids. But please don't sit back, relax and celebrate, at least not for too long. Believe it or not, getting the bond to the ballot was the easy part. We must now roll up our shirt sleeves and do the heavy lifting. I know we can launch a fantastic campaign that will take Brad and ALL Monrovians to the 100% full support mark.

Respectfully,
Clare Chesley, Board President

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