Teacher Cort Stranberg approached the board to clarify comments he made several meetings ago where he addressed the districts financial status. He expressed concern that his comments were interpreted to imply malfeasance. He did not mean to imply this about any member of the staff or board. Once the open session was underway the Board considered several routine agenda items including affidavits regarding the snow day taken for Pioneer Elementary February 27th and the entire district the next day February 28th. This is important because the lack of attendance at district schools during those days will not count against actualized attendance, and therefore the all important ADA dollars paid to the district from the state.

   A public hearing was also held on salary increases for all district employees, including confidential staff and administrative staff which are not represented by one of the district’s four bargaining units. The Board approved the increases on a 7-0 vote. The raise gives employees 3.5 percent retroactive to last July 1st and then an additional 2 percent July 1 2007. Employees will then receive a mid year increase of 2 percent in January 2008. The percentages work out to these amounts as impacts to the bottom line of the district’s budget.

The agreement also provides for incentives to increase the district’s ADA. If the district’s attendance raises 2 percent then the employees will be rewarded with another one half percent raise. Also, David Dutra asked why the teachers, both unified school district and special education, salary schedules did not look identical. Chief Business Official Barbara Murray stated that the schedules will be matched up in July.  Health and Welfare Caps were also increased 150 dollars per year. The dates for STAR testing have been announced. The test will be administered beginning April 24th. The District is presented with quite a quandary in the fact that the STAR test booklets shipped from the manufacturer to the district have not arrived. The tests should have been here by now but because the testing does not begin until April 24th, there is plenty of time to rectify the situation. According to the district they have requested a second set of booklets be shipped as the manufacturer can not explain where the tests may have landed. The STAR testing will go on as scheduled.

Amador High School now has a temporary administrator. Jim Walshaw, who formerly served the district in an interim position at Amador, once again fills that position replacing Eli Johnson who is on loan to the state. Attendance issues were then addressed by Superintendent Carey. A public information campaign will encourage those on independent study to look at district run academies and programs rather than seeking outside educational sources. The next meeting is scheduled for Wed April25th. At that meeting the board will look at a fee schedule, along with rules and regulations, for usage of its facilities, including sports fields.