Moraga School District Board Ponders Class Size, Teacher Appreciation and Technology

The Moraga school district’s governing board meets Tuesday at the Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School’s auditorium. The public meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tonight's agenda includes a discussion of the special education local plan area (SELPA). The SELPA provides combined services to special education students from the local region.

As room parents know, May 12 is Teacher Appreciation Day. The board will adopt this day formally, naming it the “Day of the Educator.”

The board will also vote on whether to support the state resolution (resolution 11-23) that removes the two-thirds requirement to pass a parcel tax, making the passage requirement 55 percent.

For those eager to know next year’s calendar, the board will adopt the 2011-12 student attendance calendar. Plan next year’s spring break now!

The district's technology plan will also undergo review, led by the findings of a committee formed in September 2009. The goal, according to board documents, is to “identify the new learning skills for 21st Century Learners: communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving.”

The plan requires the creation of an action committee “to identify these learning skills, and to encourage all staff to explore new technologies that could be used by students to become proficient in these new learning skills."

District officers will also move to reduce classified services due to lack of funding. However, due to lack of clarity on next year’s funding, the board documents note: “The superintendent recommends that notices to employees be withheld until either a 2010/11 state budget is adopted or April 28, 2011, whichever comes first.”

The list of potentially affected classified service staff does not include “instructional assistants, writing aides and science lab aides.” Board analysis says: “The PTAs are attempting to raise sufficient funds to support these positions in 2011/12. If funds are not raised, additional positions can be identified for reduction up to 45 days prior to effective date of the layoff.”

The approval of expenditures out of the private funding pool known as Supplemental Instruction Resource Fund (SIRF) will also be discussed Tuesday. SIRF is paid into by all Parent Teacher Associations on a per student basis. From the board analysis: “The 2011-12 SIRF expenditure plan proposes elementary sites fund K-5 teachers (1.6 FTE), science aides and school supplies, and Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School fund writing aides and school supplies. The 2010-11 SIRF expenditure plan funded the same resources. “

Enrollment projections for the district will also be discussed. The district looks to grow from 1696 students to 1746 students, good news from a funding perspective. The impact of the growth may be seen on class size reduction. From the board analysis: “The new class size reduction penalties passed as part of the 2008/09 budget act are significantly less than in past years. Accordingly, the District plans to fill all K-2 classes to 20 and then redirect students up to a maximum of 23 students per class. Third grade classes will be filled to a maximum of 25.”