Board Meeting Highlights
November 19, 2019 TUHSD Board of Trustees Meeting
Board Approves Resolution 19-6 to Place a Parcel Tax Measure on the March 3, 2020 Ballot
Following a Public Hearing, Dr. Taupier reviewed actions taken by the District over the past few years, including a Fiscal Advisory Committee, $5.8 million in ongoing reductions in the budget, ten community forums for feedback, newsletters, several community mailers, and seven board meeting agenda discussions this year leading up to this agenda item. In addition, the Tam District has recently received the highest credit rating, Aaa, from Moody's, and refinanced existing bonds with $4.5 million in savings to taxpayers.
Faced with the need to attract and retain quality teachers, reestablish budget reserves back to minimal levels defined by Board Policy, and reduce the equity gap at a time of continued enrollment growth, the Board is united in support of a new parcel tax to replace Measures B & J which expire in 2022. Senior exemptions as well as disability waivers will be honored if this new measure passes. The board reviewed the Resolution 19-6 and then took a Roll Call vote, M/S/C (Loebbaka/Saavedra), 5 Ayes (Harlander, Loebbaka, Oppenheim, Roenisch, Saavedra) for unanimous approval of the Resolution.
Public Hearing on a Proposed Parcel Tax
Prior to considering the Parcel Tax Resolution, the meeting was recessed for a Public Hearing. Speakers included Barbara Owens, Bruce Bogan, and Debbie Bennett, in favor of proceeding with a Parcel Tax measure, and Pascale Sisich, James Holmes, Lisa De Gennaro, Laura Effel, Philip Rice, and Joe Rapp, opposed or concerned with a new Parcel Tax measure. Comments can be heard in entirety on the meeting video, which will be published on the District website soon.
Report on Youth Vaping Prevention
Mr. Wes Cedros, Senior Director of Student Services, gave an extensive report on vaping prevention efforts in the Tam District, including the scope of student use, the challenges for staff to prevent use on campus, the response to Grand Jury recommendations, and Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) programs in our schools. He also covered many of the intervention strategies currently in use. Mr. Jon Hirsch, TUPE Coordinator at Redwood High School, provided feedback on intervention techniques, and anecdotes from his teaching experience.
Public Comment:
Larisa Tempero, Tamalpais parent, advocated for the use of scent dogs on campus to detect vaping and illegal substances on campus. Tanya Miler, Tamalpais parent, spoke in support of a scent dog program.
Mission Statement Workshop
The Board discussed scheduling a workshop to review and revise the District's Mission Statement. A meeting to focus on this topic will be held on January 7, 2020, from 5:00-7:00 pm in Kreps Conference Room, Redwood High School.
Upcoming Board Meetings
December 10, 2019: Regular Board Meeting (First Interim Report - required before December 15)
December 17, 2019: Annual Organizational Meeting
January 7, 2020: Board Workshop to Review the District Mission Statement
January 10, 2020: Regular Board Meeting
January 28, 2020: Regular Board Meeting
2019-2020 Board Meeting Calendar
Tamalpais Union High School District
Superintendent: Tara Taupier, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources: Lars Christensen
Chief Financial Officer: Corbett Elsen
Board members: Leslie Harlander, President; Cynthia Roenisch, Clerk; Karen Loebbaka, Dan Oppenheim, and Kevin Saavedra.
Email: moleary@tamdistrict.org
Website: www.tamdistrict.org
Location: 395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA, USA
Phone: 415-945-1020