FOUNTAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT WRAP-UP

No Vote

WHAT HAPPENED:

Catherine Follett, the district’s assistant superintendent of

instruction, presented a proposal to the school board to raise the

passing score on final assessments taken by at-risk students on summer

school remediation classes. The passing score would change from 40% to

60%.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Students in the district did extremely well last summer, and the staff

considers the passing score of 40% to be too low. They want to raise the

passing score for this school year.

Vote: 5-0

WHAT HAPPENED:

The board agreed to replace the district’s Early Entry Kindergarten

program with an early start summer program for the youngest kindergarten

students.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The proposed program would apply to each elementary school and would

run for two weeks before the first day of school. Classes would be small

and would last about two hours. Emphasis will be placed on socialization

skills, as well as letter, number and color recognition.

Eligible students would be those whose fifth birthdays fall between

Sept. 1 and Dec. 1. Staff would screen eligible children in June.

Students who have not learned necessary skills would be invited to

participate in the early start program.

The new program will serve more students, and give young students

support rather than have them enter at an older age, officials said.

Vote: 5-0

IN FAVOR

WHAT HAPPENED:

The board approved a resolution to express support for Proposition 39,

which seeks to reduce the local school bond vote requirement from a

two-thirds majority to 55%.

WHAT IT MEANS:

California will need to build an additional 20,000 classrooms and 44

new schools to accommodate expected enrollment growth in the coming

years, officials said. Lowering the majority threshold would give school

districts a better chance of passing school bond measures.

Vote: 5-0

IN FAVOR

WHAT HAPPENED:

The board approved agreements with the certificated and classified

employee associations that will result in an overall compensation

increase of 10%, including benefits.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Managers, psychologists and clerical employees will receive the pay

bump retroactive to July 1, plus an increase on the benefits cap.

NEXT MEETING

The Fountain Valley School District Board of Trustees will meet again

at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 in the district board room, 17210 Oak St., Fountain

Valley.