ChicoER
Approximately 125 people packed Hoyer Hall at the Clayton Community Library for a relocated Clayton Valley Charter High School board meeting March 11 after a scheduling conflict caused a change of venue.
Wasting no time in announcing further changes, board chairman Ted Meriam outlined a new format -- aiming for greater efficiency -- by placing all public comments "up front" of any board discussions on open session items. Previous practice allowed public comment and trustee discussion after each item.
Also, a new depository on the school's website will post all public documents issued by the board, once they've been delivered to the party or parties involved in a matter.
If the changes were meant to calm the school's often-rancorous meetings -- or be more efficient -- the effort failed, at least in the first attempt.
There were ongoing assertions of misconduct aimed by members of the public on both sides of the dispute about administration and governance, and extended vocal protest over board action to reduce special education services from 100 percent to 40 percent, among others.
Perhaps the most obvious indication that communication between administrators, trustees, stakeholders and the public have reached a stagnant, protracted standoff was the appearance of the Rev. Richard Mangini of St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Concord, and Dr. Shawn Robinson of Clayton Community Church.
"As leaders of the faith community," Mangini said, "we are deeply grieved and saddened by the rancor and animosity that has hurt our high school community this past year."
Casting themselves as peacemakers, Mangini and Robinson will host a Community Day of Prayer and Fasting on April 1, with prayer sessions at both churches and in the school library.
Although their effort was greeted with applause, public comments returned to accusations and dispute. The one point of agreement between people at the meeting appeared to be that neither side felt accurately portrayed by the other side, or by reports on social media or in traditional media.
During board discussion, "subject matter experts" spoke on school safety, professional development programs, audits, and complaints the school has failed to negotiate agreeable facilities use fees and violated employee practices.
Clayton Valley school counsel Paul Minney read a sharp rebuke of a Mt. Diablo School District letter sent March 5 to county schools Superintendent Karen Sakata regarding facilities fees.
He said protracted negotiation over such fees were common, and the difference in the school's assessment of the amount owed ($160,000) and the district's determination ($308,000) was substantial. He said the school's requests for a multiyear agreement to eliminate the need for difficult annual negotiations were denied by the district.
Addressing complaints about the charter school's employment practices with combative language and data, Minney said CVCHS is in the top percentage in the district for pay and benefits. An employee grievance agreement is "more protective" than most, and no complaints are currently on file, he said.
Teacher turnover at the school is less than 13 percent, compared to teacher turnover that averages 15-20 percent at charter schools, and in California charter schools, can range as high as 40 percent, according to Minney.
School psychologist Katelyn James said she could not speak to how the reduction of speech pathologist Laurie Arbour's special ed services from full time to 40 percent (a total of 12 hours of direct service per week) would affect the student body. Nor were comparisons to other, similar student bodies offered.
"It's not a reduction in services. Each student has an individualized education program and the services aren't being decreased, (these are) the services the data shows are required," James said.
Public comments earlier in the meeting had Arbour reporting that IEP and case load constituted 50 percent of her work, and that next year's student body would have a 25 percent increase in special ed students.
Executive Director Dave Linzey said services could be added if a greater need arose next year, but a March 15 deadline meant changes to contracts must be decided at the meeting. He said 12 hours had been indicated as the amount required to meet current needs.
Several trustees expressed concern about the quality of services dropping as a result of the reduction, or the possibility of using "outside, part-time services."
Summing up the difficulties of the decision, Meriam said he "bounced between qualitative and quantitative aspects," but despite a qualitative goal being "noble," he said, "(Nobility) is not a function of a fiscally responsible board."
The board, with newly elected retired teacher trustee Dana Tarantino, voted unanimously to approve re-opener negotiations with CSEA, the interim budget, the reduction of special education services, and appointed trustees to the governance and fiscal oversight committees.
