By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Editor
The Rim of the World Unified School district trustees unanimously approved a resolution establishing a citizens’ oversight committee for Measure E at their Feb. 20 meeting.
The committee will be made up of seven individuals appointed by the board of education:
• One member shall be a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the district.
• One member shall be a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the district and active in a parent-teacher organization, such as the PTA or a school site council.
• One member shall be active in a business organization, representing the business community located in the district,
• One member shall be active in a senior citizens organization.
• One member shall be active in a bona fide taxpayers association.
• Two members shall be from the community at large.
All members must be at least 18 years old and may not be an employee or official of the district or be a vendor, contractor or consultant of the district.
The application – available on the district website, rimsd.k12.ca.us – asks why the applicant wants to serve on the Measure E oversight committee, what special areas of expertise they have and what other committees they have served on.
The Measure E oversight committee will meet at least once a year but no more frequently than quarterly. All meetings will be open to the public.
Completed applications must be received in the office of the district’s chief business official, Jenny Haberlin, no later than 4:00 p.m. on March 7. The district office is located at 24740 San Moritz Way, Crestline.
The $71 million bond will be sold “in chunks,” Haberlin told the board over 10 to 15 years. “We need to develop a priority list of projects,” she said.
Haberlin also noted they will be issuing an RFP for an architect. And, she said, they have to look at interest rates. “We have to use 85 percent of the proceeds within three years of issuing the bond,” she said. “We can’t bank the money and earn interest. We don’t want to be unable to complete projects within the required timeline.
The Rim district is also eligible for $14 million from Proposition 2, which voters passed in November. The facility master plan, Haberlin said, was written with the language of Prop 2 in mind.
Superintendent Dr. Paul Sevillano said they have not yet received guidance on Prop 2. Haberlin added they don’t expect it for three months.
“Many school districts have not done the master plan work,” Sevillano said, “so we are ahead.”
When Trustee Dr. Bill Mellinger asked when the first project might start, Haberlin said that is “a loaded question. We’ve already started identifying needs.” She added there will be an item on next month’s agenda with more detail.
When Trustee Cindy Gardner asked about replacing carpet, Haberlin responded there are electrical needs at every school site. “We don’t want to put in carpet and then pull down a ceiling. We want to stretch our dollars.”
Student representative Ethan Smith gave a comprehensive report on the events that have taken place at each campus. Some of the highlights include:
• VOE Elementary School received another year of funding from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for Southland Sings. Five classes are writing and composing musical theater productions they will perform for the entire student body.
• Many students at LAE have been guest readers in other classrooms for Read Across America.
• Kindness Week at CHE was full of kindness challenges and activities.
• At MPH, sixth-graders dissected frogs and the school hosted its first semester awards ceremonies.
• Four students at Mountain High School have graduated. A new security gate and cameras are being installed.
• At the Rim Virtual Academy Valentine’s Friendship Mixer, students showcased their creativity with heart mural paintings.
• The girls soccer team at Rim High advanced to the semifinal CIF round. Thirteen wrestlers competed in CIF individuals and three advanced to the CIF Masters meet.
During public comment, teacher Sydney McCook addressed the issue of class size. “None of you took me up on my offer to come and teach one of these bloated classes you think are acceptable,” she said. “In the past these class sizes we have seemed to have worked but the kids are different.”
McCook told the trustees she could only imagine “how difficult it is for secondary teachers to reach some of these children in a veritable sea of 37 students. So many problems could be alleviated or solved with a smaller class size,” she said.
“Before you tell me we are an underfunded district,” McCook said, “I don’t want to hear it.” She told the trustees they found $300,000 for Chromebooks; they found a way to hire a new superintendent and pay the old one.
“When you are asked to do something that actually matters to the heart of the students. – my children – maybe you can find a way. You are smart and talented individuals. Find a way to serve those who need us most.”
McCook was followed by Amanda Markovich, the president of the Rim Teachers Association. “We have been working with a negotiating team to find a way to break the news of the outrageous proposal we received,” she told the trustees.
“Despite a 17.9-percent reserve, the bond passing, applying for a community schools grant, receiving good news from the governor, the district and the school board have decided to ignore the requests and needs of the teachers.”
Markovich added she has been looking at nearby districts where the teachers are getting raises. “If we don’t want to fall even further behind surrounding districts,” she said, “we will need an increase on the pay schedule. You are losing talented certificated people. More and more people are making the decision to drive down the hill.”
Suzanne Grow, the president of the California School Employees Association, was happy to report the substitute situation for classified employees has improved. But she expressed the frustration her members are feeling with the classification study.
“There seems to be a delay. We have been talking about people having more responsibilities on their plates – fewer people doing more work. We are trying to see your point of view but we are seeing eye to eye.
“You’re asking people to do more with less,” Grow said. “We don’t see that as a successful solution.”
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