Manhattan Beach Education Foundation
Board of Directors - Regular Meeting
May 4, 2004 at 7:30 p.m.
MBUSD Office, 325 S. Peck Avenue, Manhattan Beach

Present:

Directors (16/22): Geoff Bremer, Webster Burns, Wendy Carson, Brian Currey, Randy Dotemoto, Linda Figel, Jim Furlan, Craig Kline, Carolyn Leserman, Anne McLaughlin, John Oshiro, Freddi Segal-Gidan, Kim Siehl, Jeff Thaler, Ida VanderPoorte, Gary Wayland

MBUSD Trustee Representative: Amy Howorth

MBUSD Representatives: Gwen Gross, Steve McMahon

MBEF Staff: Sherry Kramer, Debbie Bowen

Guests: Diane Levitt, Rich Weiss, Pam Yarbrough

Presiding: Carolyn Leserman, President

Recording: Anne McLaughlin, Secretary

Handouts: Agenda, Minutes, Financial Report

President’s Notes:
Ms. Leserman announced that the Board had elected Mr. Brian Currey as a Board member at its closed session meeting on April 13, 2004.

She distributed a sign-up sheet for directors to volunteer to work at the Wine Auction.

Ms. Leserman stated that she had met with Dr. Gwen Gross regarding the future of choral music and efforts to reinstate the program in the 2005-2006 school year.

Ms. Leserman said that The Easy Reader had asked for a list of MBEF’s donors since 1990. She has told The Easy Reader to make this request in writing for review by MBEF’s counsel.

Minutes:
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the minutes of the meeting of April 13, 2004 were unanimously approved.

Financial Report:
Ms. Ida VanderPoorte presented financial statements and a grants report for the ten months ended April 30, 2004. She stated that 20% of year-to-date revenues had been transferred to the endowment.

Ms. VanderPoorte discussed the Board’s existing insurance coverages and a discussion ensued. The Board directed Ms. VanderPoorte to investigate coverages of other foundations.

Business Education Partnership Report:
Ms. Sherry Kramer reported on various business community promotions for the benefit of MBEF.
Ms. Kramer announced that the Super Circle reception would take place on Thursday, July 22, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the rear parking lot of the District Office. Dr. Gross will be the featured speaker.

Mr. Wayland announced that the second annual Dad’s basketball tournament would be held at MBMS on June 5. The tournament will benefit MBEF.

Superintendent’s Report:
Dr. Gross distributed the “MBUSD Staff, Student, Parent, and Community Input Card” and noted that the MBUSD Board of Trustees had begun a goal setting process. She shared the high school exit exam results for Mira Costa High School and commented on the substantial improvement in math scores.

Assistant Superintendent Steve McMahon distributed the MBUSD current year budget and the projections for the 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 school years. He said that the District is expecting a $3 million operating deficit this year and expects to operate with a balanced budget next year, due to cost-cutting and fundraising by the community. Mr. McMahon reviewed the 2004/2005 sources and uses of funds from the community and the list of unfunded priorities. He discussed construction issues and the District’s hiring of an auditor to review expense reimbursement records.

MBUSD Board of Trustees Report:
Ms. Amy Howorth announced that she would be serving as the Board of Trustees’ representative to MBEF. She reported on goal setting and long range planning by the Board of Trustees.

Vice President’s Report:
Mr. Webster Burns reviewed a proposed organization chart for the Foundation and discussed responsibilities of Directors. He asked Board members to contact him regarding committee memberships. Ms. Diane Levitt and Ms. Linda Figel volunteered to become editors of MBEF’s School Notes.

Annual Appeal:
Ms. Kim Siehl stated that the Annual Appeal had raised approximately $770,000 to date and that an additional $80,000 in matching donations was expected.

Golf Tournament:
Mr. Dotemoto reported on the tournament that will take place on Monday, August 23, at Palos Verdes Country Club.

Wine Auction:
Mr. Jeff Thaler provided an update on the Wine Auction to be held on Saturday, June 12. He also discussed MBEF’s participation in the Hometown Fair and stated the need to ensure that the Foundation could achieve a certain level of profitability there before moving forward.

Directed Donation Policy:
Mr. John Oshiro asked for final approval of the Directed Donations policies that he sent to all directors via e-mail on May 1, 2004. A discussion ensued regarding the use of the Annual Appeal donor form. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted to approve the Directed Donations policies as submitted by Mr. Oshiro, subject to the Directed Donation Committee’s final decision regarding the use of the Annual Appeal form.

Grants Committee:
Ms. Anne McLaughlin presented a schedule of the 2003-2004 MBEF grants with updated salary projections from MBUSD. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board approved the following revised grant amounts: Elementary Choral Music $103,497, Elementary Instrumental Music $72,070, Elementary Art $59,501, MBMS Counselor $51,142, MCHS Career/College Counselor $81,441, MCHS Library Media Specialist $35,853, MCHS EA $69,976, MCHS Technology Director $37,368, MCHS Computer Lab Specialist $15,755, MCHS Strings $14,736, MCHS Music Assistant $8,949.

Mr. Webb Burns proposed that MBEF approve a $500 grant for Mira Costa’s Grad Night. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board approved a 2003/2004 grant in the amount of $500 for Grad Night.

Mr. Burns discussed a proposal that MBEF had received to help fund the expansion of the Artist in Residence program. The City of Manhattan Beach would provide approximately $12,000 to $15,000, and MBEF would be asked for approximately $40,000 to $50,000. Ms. Diane Levitt, MBUSD grants writer, gave examples of how Artist in Residence has functioned in the past and provided additional details on the proposal. A board discussion took place, and issues raised included administrator and teacher support of the programs and the need to have equal participation among schools and among classes at the same grade level. The discussion was tabled pending more information from Dr. Gross.

Meeting Adjourned to Closed Session: 9:22 p.m.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 1, 2004, 7:30 p.m. at the District Office, 325 S. Peck Avenue