Mare Island Technology Academy
Board of Directors Regular Meeting
April 10, 2012
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Mare Island Technology Academy Board of Directors was held on
Tuesday, April 10, 2012. The meeting was called to order by Board President, Bonnie Katz at
4:42 p.m.
ROLL CALL AND ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM
Members present: Jaime Guzman, Joe Jones, Bonnie Katz, Debbie Lamb, Paul Roberts, Lynne
Vaughan, and Gary Williams
Members absent: Darnesha Hopkins, Annette Hilts, and Kent Peterman
Others present: Matt Smith, Alex Insaurralde, and Brenda Franks (Recording Secretary)
2. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
The Mare Island Technology Academy Board of Directors recessed this meeting at 4:43 p.m. to
convene in Closed Session.
3. CLOSED SESSION
STUDENT DISCIPLINE
REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE
4. ADJOURN TO OPEN SESSION: Announcements from Closed Session
The Mare Island Technology Academy Board of Directors reconvened in Open Session at 5:40
p.m. The following announcements were made from closed session. The Board approved four
voluntary consents to discipline and three terminations of enrollment.
5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Matt Smith led in the Board of Directors in the Pledge of Allegiance
6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Items 11b - Technology Staffing & 11c - VCUSD Everest MOU were removed from the agenda.
On motion of Paul Roberts, seconded by Lynne Vaughan, the Board of Directors approved the
agenda as amended.
7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
On motion of Debbie Lamb, seconded by Jaime Guzman, the Board of Directors approved the
minutes of the regular board meeting on March 13, 2012, as amended. (Correction to spellings of
names of Annette Hilts and Debbie Lamb)
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Student, Karla Calderon requested help with paying for college units. She is an undocumented
student and is required to pay full tuition for her units. The Board of Directors referred the issue to
administration to be brought back to the Board of Directors next board meeting.
9. REPORTS
a. Director’s Report: Matt Smith
Mr. Insaurralde presented 2011-12 CAHSEE Census Scores vs. 2010-11
Math scores have eclipsed English scores for the first time at MIT Academy. The average Math
score last year was 371. This year the average score is 381. The average ELA score last year
was 379. The year the average score for English is 376. The pass rate for Math is 84% and 81%
for ELA. There were four students who scored a perfect 450 score in Math and one student who
scored a perfect 450 in ELA this year. The number of students who scored 383+ (Proficient) in
Math was 41 out of 92 or 45%. The number of students who scored above 383+ in ELA was 35
out of 92 or 38%.
There are currently 95 in the junior class. Of those 95 students, 67 are currently on track to
graduate – over 2/3rd. Twenty eight students will be re-classified as juniors again next year.
Color Guard has had another very successful competition year winning middle and high school
divisions at most tournaments. As a reward, the Color Guard Coach is proposing a Disneyland
field trip over Memorial Day weekend. The approval of the overnight field trip will be placed on the
agenda as an action item next month.
b. Enrollment/Attendance Report: Matt Smith
Attendance was excellent for the month of March. Sixth grade attendance rate was 96.11%.
Seventh and eighth grade attendance rate was 95.9%. High school attendance rate was 95.22%.
Year-to-date rates are as follows: 6th Grade – 97.57%, 7th & 8th Grades – 96.81%, and High
School – 96.11%.
c. Discipline Report: Matt Smith
Off campus suspension rates are pretty typical for this time of year. There were 12 at the high
school and 10 at the middle school. The high school saw 26 in house suspensions and the middle
school had 25 in house suspensions. These numbers are quite high. Almost all of the in-house
suspensions are related to the Pyramid of Interventions implementation. In House suspensions
seem to be counter-productive at this time.
d. Assistant Director’s Report: Alex Insaurralde
Mr. Insaurralde explained the Pyramid Intervention Escalation Form and some improvements to
the program. AVID tutors will be hired to help students during after school detentions to be
renamed Academic Intervention. Mr. Insaurralde and the Behavior Intervention Specialists have
been working on the three F’s issue. Many students were placed on “I Try” contracts prior to
Spring break. Sixty contracts have been returned from students with parent signatures.
Continued effort is ongoing for about 30 more students. Parents are completely supportive once
they understand the program. Mr. Smith wanted to give Mr. Insaurralde and Deborah CooperKelly and Debora Castaneda credit for the work done on this program. The use of technology has
helped to get the system working much better. Gary Williams thanked publically those who have
worked so hard on the project. Lynne Vaughan mentioned how when attending an RtI
conference, the people at the conference were amazed at how quickly the program had begun to
show results. Mr. Insaurralde expressed appreciation to the faculty for buying into the program
and process. Feedback on the escalation form is welcome.
e. PTN: Tamara Brewer
Raffle tickets are on sale: $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00 for a chance to win an iPad.
f. MITATA: Ryan Cole
There was no report.
g. Student Representative: Darnesha Hopkins
Mr. Smith reported Darnesha is finishing her internship. He also announced Casino night which
will take place on April 21. There is a Rubio’s fundraiser on Wednesday, April 11. MIT’s Got
Talent will be held at Hogan Middle School on April 28.
10. CONSENT ITEMS:
On motion of Paul Roberts, seconded by Gary Williams, the Board of Directors approved the
following Consent Agenda items:
March 2012 Check Register
Budget to Actuals through March 2012
11. ACTION ITEMS:
a. 2012-2013 Academic Calendar - Smith
On motion of Gary Williams, seconded by Paul Roberts, the Board of Directors approved the
2012-2013 Academic Calendar as presented.
b. Technology Staffing: Jr. Network Administrator – Smith
This item was tabled until the next board meeting.
c. VCUSD Everest MOU – Smith - Tabled
This item was tabled until the next board meeting.
d. New Parent Commitment Language - Williams
On motion of Lynne Vaughan, seconded by Paul Roberts, the Board of Directors approved the
new parent commitment language with the amended language to include “hours completed each
year by the end of March.”
e. Student Release Day on 6/6/2012 – Insaurralde
There are enough instructional minutes banked in order to give a release day to students on June
6, 2012. This will give faculty an opportunity to have a time of reflection and begin planning for
next year. Faculty will look at assessments for the next year as well as discuss writing strategies,
etc. Finals will be administered on the last day of school, June 5.
On motion of Lynne Vaughan, seconded by Joe Jones, the Board of Directors approved June 6,
2012, a student release day.
f. Use of MIT Facility for Vallejo Together Forum – Smith
On motion of Paul Roberts, seconded by Lynne Vaughan, the Board of Directors approved MIT
Academy as a site for a Vallejo Together forum meeting to take place in May.
12. DISCUSSION ITEMS
There were no discussion items.
13. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Curriculum: Smith
Work is in progress on the high school course catalog. MIT Academy will be offering AP Statistics
next year. An expository writing class will be introduced at the middle school level. Psychology
will be offered next year at the high school. “F” levels are down, so there will be less math
workshops and the need for repeating classes. There will be a need for more electives.
b. Executive: Vaughan
The executive committee met. The committee will bring to the board a preliminary evaluation of
the director.
c. Facilities: Smith
Investigation has been made into what it would take to create an athletic field of some sort for MIT
use. Estimated cost is $14,640.00 to simply clear and level an existing field. It would then be
ready to stripe for an athletic field. However, there would be no turf, just dirt.
The students would really like to have a field in order to participate in PE activities. This is a topic
that always comes up in surveys. Perhaps we could use the fields around our facility. Would a
partnership with Vallejo Little League or Else Weidenmann be a possibility?
d. Fiscal: Katz
Ms. Katz reported the committee looked at the items to be brought to the board at this meeting.
e. VOORP: Williams
Mr. Smith brought out the patches that will be required on the white polo shirts next year. Patches
will be sold at the upcoming new student orientations.
Mr. Williams presented the timeline to assist parents to complete their commitment hours. The
VOORP Committee will bring back the final draft of the policy to the board for approval next
month.
14. COMMUNICATIONS:
There were no communications.
15. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
There were no announcements.
16. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
Disneyland Field Trip – Action Item
Parent Hours Timeline Policy – Action Item
The Board of Directors reconvened to closed session at 7:19 p.m.
17. ADJOURNMENT
The Mare Island Technology Academy Board of Directors reconvened in Open Session at 7:42
p.m. There were no announcements from closed session. The regular meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Franks, Recording Secretary