North Valley Military Institute - Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, January 28, 2016 4:00 p.m. in Room 54
12105 Allegheny Street, Sun Valley, California 91352
AGENDA
NOTE: Reasonable Accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. Please contact the
Superintendent, Dr. Mark Ryan at 323-217-4481 or via email at mryan@novamil.org at least 24 hours in
advance of the meeting to request accommodations.
I.
Call to Order
II.
Adoption of the Agenda
III.
Public Comment – Members of the public who wish to make comments on non-agenda items are
welcome to do so at this time. Speaker cards are available at the end of this agenda. Each speaker
is limited to three (3) minutes
IV.
ACTION – Approval of the December, 2015 minutes (see attached)
V.
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION – The board will receive reports from various school staff on their
various areas of responsibility:
a. Academics, including PRESENTATION OF BENCHMARK #1 DATA - Laura Stribling, CW2 Trish
Doering, Captain Jeff Feinberg
b. Leadership – Captain Amanda Mendoza
c. Citizenship – WO1 Gina Wilson
d. Athletics – Lawrence Sarenana
e. Campus Safety – Julio Herrera
f. Operations – Kellie Jackson
g. Administrative Systems – Diane French
h. Special Education – Karla Uribe
i. Enrollment – MAJ John Wells
j. Superintendent – Dr. Mark Ryan
VI.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION – The board will discuss and take action on the proposed board
membership of Colonel Leslie Beavers, a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.
VII.
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION – The Director of Operations and Superintendent will brief the
board on the Year-To-Date actual expenses through 30 Nov 15 compared to budgeted amounts.
VIII.
INFORMATION – The Board will receive training on The Brown Act.
IX.
DISCUSSION – The board will hear about the annual requirement to submit Form 700 forms to
LAUSD.
X.
ADJOURNMENT
Page 2 of 11
North Valley Military Institute - Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, December 17, 2015 4:00 p.m. in Room 54
12105 Allegheny Street, Sun Valley, California 91352
MINUTES
NOTE: Reasonable Accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. Please contact the
Superintendent, Dr. Mark Ryan at 323-217-4481 or via email at mryan@novamil.org at least 24 hours in
advance of the meeting to request accommodations.
I.
Call to Order - at 4:03 by Chairman Lanny West. Members present Lanny West, Kay Deitch, John
Pruitt, Steven Escobar, Emory Josephs. Absent: Kevin Baxter. Staff present: Dr. Mark Ryan, Diane
French, Kellie Jackson, Laura Stribling, John Wells, Amanda Mendoza, Johnny Padilla, Gina Wilson
II.
Adoption of the Agenda - adopted as presented
III.
Public Comment – Members of the public who wish to make comments on non-agenda items are
welcome to do so at this time. Speaker cards are available at the end of this agenda. Each speaker
is limited to three (3) minutes - there were no public speakers
IV.
ACTION – Approval of the November, 2015 minutes (see attached) – minutes approved as
presented with a modification to the address listed to 12105 Allegheny (a misspelling).
V.
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION – The board will receive reports from various school staff on their
various areas of responsibility:
a. Academics, including PRESENTATION OF BENCHMARK #1 DATA - Laura Stribling presented data
from the first quarter benchmarks. She explained that some of the data from the first
benchmark is missing because we did not have a working scanner and there were data
communication problems between our scanner and the Online Assessment Reporting System
(OARS). Laura presented concerns about the reliability of the tests, specifically a possible
disconnect between what is being assessed and what is being taught. Laura presented data
from each of the available data points:
i. English 12 average 65
ii. English 11 average 32
iii. English 10 average 60
iv. English 9 average 49
v. The numbers of 11th graders scoring well on the test is abysmal and particularly
concerning given that they will be a major part of the CAASPP scores for the school.
vi. English 6 average 40
vii. English 7 average 42
viii. English 8 average 50
ix. Scores in MS English are traditionally lower, so this is actually somewhat positive, but
still much lower than we would like.
x. The board asked a number of targeted questions about the testing and both Dr. Ryan
and Ms. Stribling answered questions and engaged with all board members in a robust
Page 3 of 11
discussion of the logistics of testing and how NVMI can best prepare students for
success on these benchmarks and on the eventual CAASPP assessments.
xi. Algebra average 22
xii. Geometry average 18
xiii. Algebra 2 average 30
xiv. Obviously these scores are particularly abysmal.
xv. Math 6 average 26
xvi. Math 7 average 24
xvii. Math 8 average 10
xviii. These scores are likewise abysmal.
xix. LOC 6 average 72
xx. LOC 7 average 45
xxi. LOC 8 average 38
xxii. LOC 9 average 54
xxiii. Drill and Ceremonies average 60
xxiv. PE average 75
xxv. History 6 average 36
xxvi. History 7 average 41
xxvii. History 8 average 41
xxviii. The board and administration discussed extensively the issue of motivation and what
the school is doing to attempt to address motivation. A number of related issues were
also discussed, including the various forms of academic support and intervention being
provided for students, and the need to better realign curriculum maps to the
assessments.
xxix. The board also discussed extensively the concern raised by many staff that we are
obviously serving a very needy population, and that may at times seem at odds with
the college preparatory nature of the school. Board members reiterated that all
students deserve the chance for a quality education and that our task remains to
figure out how to help ALL students who choose an NVMI education to achieve college
going and college success.
b. Leadership – Captain Amanda Mendoza reported that the Leaders of Character program has
16 cadets promoted to cadet, 5 to CFC, 2 to CPL, 1 to SGT, 5 to SSG, 2 to SFC and 1 to MSG and
1 to 2LT ni the last month. We also had three parades which were highly successful. We had a
color guard event no December 10 in support of the VA and a leadership school at the Bell
Armed Forces Reserve Center (with a high pass rate). One of the NVMI students placed first
overall at that event. Next month we have another orienteering event, 16 Jan we have a 5K
run, and a drill academy later in January. CPT Mendoza discussed the issue of motivation with
cadet promotions. Great progress has been made in this area but more is needed. Middle
school students are particularly motivated to earn promotions. The board asked about
whether they could attend events like the 5K run and CPT Mendoza noted that board
members are always welcome. The board also discussed the positive notion that the current
6th graders who are highly motivated will eventually become (hopefully) highly motivated high
school students who will enhance the overall culture of the school.
Page 4 of 11
c. Citizenship – WO1 Gina Wilson reported that we have held discipline board hearings for
students with excessive demerits, decided which students should participate in the
Opportunity Program for the third quarter, who will participate in the boot camp program, and
who will participate in Refocus Camp. She pointed out that this year we had 10 fewer students
in hearings than last year, even though we have 150 more students overall. She said the
various discipline processes are going well. She also reported that most of the OP students are
returning to the regular education program, and some are being added to OP based upon
current number of demerits. She also reported that overall the OP students’ grades went up
from first to second quarter, and those students have more self-awareness about their need to
control impulses and cooperate with teachers and peers. Ms. Wilson also discussed the LAUSD
concerns about NVMI suspension rates and explained that we are working on a variety of
alternatives to suspension, many of which have already dramatically reduced suspension rates.
Board members articulated that they want to be sure students who bring, consume, or sell
drug or alcohol on campus or bring weapons on campus are dealt with severely. The board
feels strongly that there need to be severe consequences for students who do these things
because it denigrates the culture of school to have students doing these things but not getting
serious consequences. A good discussion ensued about appropriate alternatives to suspension
and expulsion for students who are first or second time offenders with drugs or alcohol.
d. Athletics – Lawrence Sarenana was not present, but Dr. Ryan reported the win-loss record of
boys and girls HS soccer and boys and girls HS basketball. He reported that we are waiting to
see who will be eligible after the grades that come out tomorrow, and will likely have to make
adjustments based on eligibility. The middle school sports league we were attempting to start
has not materialized so we are participating in the FIYA league for now.
e. Campus Safety – Julio Herrera had no report.
f. Operations – Kellie Jackson reported that we are converting the current copier lease to an
updated machine better able to handle the required load AND get a smaller color copier for an
additional $63 per month. We are still looking at deciding where to put the machines for
easiest staff access. She also reported that NVMI owns six small vans for athletics and other
activity transport. We will do routine maintenance on those vans over the coming winter
break.
g. Administrative Systems, including the final draft of the WASC SELF-STUDY DOCUMENT – Diane
French shared the final version of the WASC Action Plan as developed by the staff and
Schoolsite Council. Dr. Ryan shared the five goals on the action plan, including
i. Increasing CAASPP scores
ii. Creating a data warehouse
iii. Increasing college going and graduation rates
iv. Improving the effectiveness of our intervention strategies across the academic and
socioemotional domains
v. Further developing our leadership and athletic domains
The board adopted the final action plan after a discussion about the various elements of it and
how those elements correspond to the identified areas of greatest need.
Page 5 of 11
h. Special Education – NVMI is expanding its Special Day Class offerings because there is such a
demand. We will not have special day class for students in middle school and grades 9-10 in
high school in English and math.
i. Enrollment – MAJ John Wells; we are currently at 512 students and he is working on getting
more and more students to enroll so we can meet our budgetary expectations. He is also
running the refocus camp during Winter Break. Major Wells explained that we continue
outreach to a variety of community entities.
j. Superintendent – Dr. Mark Ryan reported on the LAUSD districtwide closure this past Tuesday.
The board asked questions and Dr. Ryan answered those questions. Dr. Ryan reported on the
Notice of Concern received by LAUSD requiring a response with a plan for policies and
procedures on staffing. Dr. Ryan explained that school staff firmly believe this was a nonissue, but we did respond to LAUSD with their requested plan by yesterday’s deadline. NVMI
staff believe that the issue links back to a lack of clarity about what LAUSD expects from its
charter schools. For instance, the single biggest concern was that three NVMI teachers had no
proof of a credential from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. While NVMI had
evidence that credential applications had been submitted, LAUSD found that unacceptable,
even though LAUSD had found it acceptable each of the last 13 years. NVMI went through the
San Diego County Office of Education to get temporary county certificates for those three
teachers, which LAUSD found acceptable. There was also a concern about employees missing
from a staffing grid, but the template LAUSD sent us was improperly formatted which did not
allow the names to be properly printed. The content of both the Notice of Concern and our
response was shared with the board and the board asked several questions about the Notice
and our Response, to which Dr. Ryan and Kellie Jackson replied.
VI.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION – The board will discuss the 2015-2016 Fiscal Policies and
Procedures tabled from the November meeting. The board had an extensive discussion about the
current fiscal procedures manual. That discussion focused on several key themes:
a. The importance of ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state laws and generally
accepted accounting principles
b. The need to ensure no malfeasance by employees or others associated with school funds
c. The need to ensure all school funds are used properly and for their intended purpose
d. The need to incorporate technological trends into the document, including online spending
and all of its intricacies; and
e. The need to address the expanding complexities of our growing school and staff.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the presented 2015-2016 fiscal policies as presented by
Ms. Jackson and agreed that a team of board members would work with the Director of
Operations and Superintendent in the coming months to completely revisit those for the 20162017 school year. Members Steven Escobar and Kay Deitch will meet with Ms. Jackson and Dr.
Ryan in the coming months to revise the policy document as appropriate and present it to the full
board for approval.
Page 6 of 11
VII.
INFORMATION, DISCUSSION, AND ACTION – The Director of Finance, Director of Operations, and
Superintendent will brief the board on the Year-To-Date actual expenses through October 30, 2015
compared to budgeted amounts and will receive the “First Interim” Financial Reports submitted to
the Los Angeles Unified School District and Los Angeles County Office of Education. Ms. Jackson
presented the First Interim report and the board voted unanimously to retroactively approve the
submission of that document already submitted. The board also reviewed the year-to-date actual
expenses compared to the budgeted amounts, asked a variety of questions about those amounts,
and got those questions answered by Ms. Jackson and Dr. Ryan. The board also reviewed and
approved the check register/bank account report through November 30.
VIII.
INFORMATION, DISCUSSION, AND ACTION – The Board will receive a briefing on and take action to
approve Independent Study Policies for NVMI. The board voted unanimously to approve the draft
Independent Study policies as presented by Dr. Ryan as noted below.
Though the North Valley Military Institute’s (NVMI) primary method of instructional delivery is classroombased instruction, occasionally, it becomes necessary, appropriate, or desirable for a student and his/her
parent/guardian to opt for independent study. Such circumstances may include as an accommodation for
student travel or illness, or for students who are suspended or pending an expulsion hearing. It is the intent of
this independent study policy to be in full compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and policies.
Policies:
1. The maximum length of time between an assignment being given and the due date for that assignment shall
be 14 calendar days (regardless of holidays, weekends, etc).
2. Any time a student misses more than three assignments, the Academic Dean or Superintendent will make an
evaluation of whether the student should remain in independent study.
3. The attached Master Agreement must be kept on file for each student requesting independent study.
4. Independent study is to be substantially equivalent in quality and quantity to classroom instruction and shall
not be provided as an alternative curriculum.
5. The employee pupils-to-certificated employee ratio may not exceed 25:1.
6. Independent study must use materials aligned to the California content standards.
7. The certificated teacher(s) of independent study must meet the same requirements as classroom based
teachers.
8. Students participating in independent study will have the same access to existing services and resources and
equality of rights and privileges as other students.
9. Students will have contact with teachers through email, face-to-face meetings, by phone, or online on a
sufficiently frequent basis for the teachers to provide needed instruction, adequately judge student progress,
and make appropriate modifications.
Page 7 of 11
MASTER INDEPENDENT STUDY AGREEMENT – NORTH VALLEY MILITARY INSTITUTE
Student Full Name____________________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________ Grade Level __________
Student phone(____)____________________Student email_____________________________
School of Enrollment: North Valley Military Institute
Program Placement: Independent Study
Beginning date of agreement_______________ End date of agreement___________________
Duration of agreement shall not exceed one semester.
SELECT ONE:
I. Course(s) in which the student is enrolled and number of credits to be earned:
NAME OF COURSE
NUMBER OF CREDITS
OR:
II. Shorter term agreement of credit to be granted for less than a full semester of academic credit:
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR THE COURSE(S) AND ASSIGNMENTS TO BE ATTEMPTED SHALL BE LISTED ON EACH
ASSIGNMENT.
METHODS OF STUDY AND EVALUATION (Select all that apply):
⃝ Close reading of informational text
⃝ Writing assignments
⃝ Research
⃝ Computer-based tasks
⃝ Answering questions from textbook
⃝ Worksheet(s)
⃝ Forced/fixed choice assessments
⃝ Project
⃝ Performance task
⃝ Other _______________________________
Page 8 of 11
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE STUDENT:
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
MAXIMUM LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN DATE OF THE ASSIGNMENT AND WHEN IT IS DUE: 14 calendar days
NUMBER OF MISSED ASSIGNMENTS THAT WILL LEAD TO AN EVALUATION TO DETERMINE IF INDEPENDENT
STUDY IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE STUDENT: more than three
By signing this agreement, I acknowledge that:
1. Independent study is completely VOLUNTARY.
2. Instruction may be provided for an expulsion or suspended expulsion through independent study ONLY IF
the student has the continuous choice of classroom instruction.
3. The student must meet with the independent study coordinator (NAME:____________________) at least
once a week on DAY ____________________ at TIME ____________ at LOCATION _____________ to turn in
assignments and receive any necessary support.
4. It is the responsibility of the student to maintain regular communication with the independent study
coordinator via phone at ____________________ or via email at ______________________________.
5. I have received and reviewed a copy of the NVMI Independent Study Policy as approved by the NVMI
Governing Board most recently on December 17, 2015.
Signed by Student________________________________
Date________________
Signed by Parent_________________________________
Date________________
Signed by Teacher________________________________
Date________________
Signed by Independent Study Coordinator_________________________________
Date___________
Page 9 of 11
IX.
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION – The board will receive a briefing from the Superintendent on
the status of the NVMI Proposition 39 application for the 2016-2017 school year as well as the
current status of the Prop 39 colocation agreement. Dr. Ryan reported that the 2016-2017 Prop
39 application was submitted to the district and the district agreed to our enrollment projections.
We will receive a preliminary offer from the district in the spring and the board will make a
decision at that time regarding whether to accept that preliminary offer.
X.
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION – The Superintendent will brief the board regarding the status of
NVMI’s involvement as part of the California Cadet Corps. Superintendent Ryan explained a brief
history of the California Cadet Corps, and some of the many reasons NVMI decided to join the
California Cadet Corps when it first started as an offshoot of the Oakland Military Institute.
Superintendent Ryan also shared that there were recent changes in CACC leadership, with a new
Executive Officer and several new staff. The new Executive Officer has sought out input from a
variety of stakeholders, and advocated a number of possible changes to the CACC, including
changing the cadet promotion requirements for lower ranks, changing the appointment and
promotion requirements for adult members, changing specifications for cadet uniforms and
uniform availability protocols, and generally decentralizing various policies and standards. Dr.
Ryan has articulated to the CACC his vehement opposition to these proposed changes. Obviously,
Dr. Ryan was a member of the CACC leadership team for several decades, and with any significant
change in leadership, there will be disagreements; however, Dr. Ryan and the board discussed Dr.
Ryan’s proposal that NVMI not lower any standards for cadet or adult appointment or promotion,
nor change any standards for uniforms, awards, etc. The board agreed wholeheartedly with the
proposal, and directed Dr. Ryan to proceed with the current standards, curricula, etc. Dr. Ryan
also briefed the board on rumors regarding NVMI’s separation from the CACC. Dr. Ryan noted that
though discussions have taken place with various federal military components, no decision has
been made regarding separating from the CACC, and no such decision would be made without
input from and approval from the governing board of NVMI. Dr. Ryan would very much like to see
a mutual understanding between CACC and NVMI leadership regarding the direction of the
program, and Dr. Ryan committed himself publicly to work with CACC leadership to promote
mutual understanding.
XI.
DISCUSSION – The board will discuss the procedures for evaluating the Superintendent for the
2015-2016 school year. The board discussed the evaluation protocol and decided to proceed by
evaluating the Superintendent in the Spring of 2016 using four major metrics –
a. enrollment at or above the budget target of 518 with a 95% average daily attendance
b. budget expenditures and income in line with the latest board-approved budget
c. NVMI students making the CAASPP target as noted in the WASC action plan goal #1
d. Follow through on the WASC action plan five goals
The board agreed that in the Spring, the Superintendent would present data to the board on each
of these metrics, and the board would once again hold a public forum for public input to the
Superintendent’s performance, and would then publish a written evaluation of the Superintendent
Page 10 of 11
using those metrics as the basis. The Superintendent agreed to these parameters for this
evaluation and the board voted unanimously to adopt this evaluation protocol.
XII.
POSSIBLE ACTION – The board will discuss and possibly take action on the membership of one or
more additional board members. – NO ACTION TAKEN
XIII.
ADJOURNMENT at 7:15 p.m.
Page 11 of 11
North Valley Military Institute College Preparatory Academy
Governing Board
SPEAKER CARD
Date: _____________________ Name: _____________________________
I wish to address the NVMI Governing Board on the following subject:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Agenda Item Number: ___________________________________________
Check one:
 Parent
 Student
 Teacher
 School Staff
 Community Member
I understand that I am limited to three minutes. I also understand that on items that are not on
the agenda, the Board may not take action pursuant to Board and State regulations.
Signed: __________________________________________________________
This information is a Public Record
Please state your full name and affiliation with NVMI when you begin your remarks in order that the
official minutes record your appearance before the Governing Board.