Manhattan Beach Education Foundation
Board of Directors - Regular Meeting
September 14, 2004 at 7:30 p.m.
MBUSD Office, 325 S. Peck Avenue, Manhattan Beach

Present:

Directors (20/24): Vanessa Benya, Geoff Bremer, Webster Burns, Wendy Carson, Brian Currey, Mike Dunitz, Linda Figel, Craig Kline, Carolyn Leserman, Diane Levitt, Anne McLaughlin, John Oshiro, Julian Ryder, Freddi Segal-Gidan, Kim Siehl, Jeff Thaler, Ida VanderPoorte, Gary Wayland, Rich Weiss, Pam Yarbrough.

The following individuals, who were elected directors during the meeting, were also in attendance: Edie Babbe, Michelle Erickson, Susan Warshaw, Ellen Rosenberg, Nancy Hersman, and Tati Wennekamp.

MBUSD Trustees Representative: Bill Cooper, Amy Howorth

MBUSD Representatives: Gwen Gross, Steve McMahon

Business Partnerships: Sherry Kramer

MBEF Staff: Debbie Bowen

Guests: Tami Brothers, Tammy Choy, Bill Mason, Allan Mackenzie, Matthew Peck, LeeAnne Richter, Margo Thole, Richard Lundquist

Presiding: Carolyn Leserman, President

Recording: Anne McLaughlin, Secretary

Handouts: Agenda, Minutes, Financial Report, Grants Schedule, Draft of Proposed By-Laws Changes

Wine Garden Update
Ms. Leserman introduced Mr. Matthew Peck, a member of the Wine Advisory Board. Mr. Peck and other individuals have volunteered to operate a Wine Garden at the Hometown Fair and donate the proceeds to MBEF. Mr. Peck explained the pricing structure and various plans for the operation of the Garden. Mr. Peck said that he needs volunteers to work the Garden and also is hoping to find an entity that will donate a refrigeration truck for the event.

President’s Notes:
Ms. Leserman announced that the Board had elected Ms. Vanessa Benya and Mr. Rich Weiss as Directors at its closed session meeting on July 13, 2004. She also announced the resignation of Director Julian Ryder, who no longer has children in the school district, and thanked him for his many years of service.

Ms. Leserman discussed the format for the Annual Report and stated that it would cover the fiscal years ended June 30, 2003 and June 30, 2004. A discussion ensued regarding the method of recognizing Super Circle donors.

Ms. Leserman stated that Mr. Ben Benya had agreed to provide a marketing research evaluation of MBEF on a pro bono basis. Directors are needed to help formulate a questionnaire for the project and should contact Ms. Leserman if interested.

Ms. Leserman also asked for volunteers to prepare MBEF’s School Notes.

Proposed Bylaws Changes and Discussion:
Mr. Webster Burns proposed the following changes to the By-Laws of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation: (a) Article III, Sections 2 and 3 – to establish two classes of directors, establish terms for each class, and set a maximum number of directors for each class, (b) Article III, Sections 7 and 8 – to change the meeting date, (c) Article III, Section 16 – to allow non-Board members as non–voting committee members, (d) Article IV, Section 1 – to clarify that officers other than those named in the By-Laws may be members of the Executive Board, and (e) Article IV, Sections 9 and 10 – to require monthly financial reports, to make investment allocation a joint responsibility of the Treasurer and the Investment Officer, and to eliminate the language “to maximize asset performance”. Mr. Burns distributed specific wording for these changes in a proposed draft version of the amended By-Laws. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the By-Laws were amended, in the form attached to these minutes, by a unanimous vote of those Directors in attendance, said Directors representing more than 2/3’s of the authorized members of the Board.

(Click here to view the updated and approved bylaws.) 
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Upon motion duly made and seconded, the following individuals, serving as representatives of their respective schools, were elected as Class One directors for a term of one year: Edie Babbe (Grand View), Abby Waddell (Meadows), Michelle Erickson (Pacific), Susan Warshaw (Pennekamp), Ellen Rosenberg (Robinson), Nancy Hersman (MBMS), and Tati Wennekamp (MCHS).

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

Financial Report:
Ms. Ida VanderPoorte discussed the status of the fiscal year end audit.

Ms. VanderPoorte presented financial statements for the two months ended July 31, 2004.

Mr. Geoff Bremer announced that a meeting of the Investment Committee would take place on Tuesday, September 21, 2004, at 6:30 p.m. He stated that the Committee would discuss current investments, future strategies, possible By-Laws changes, and the endowment.

Business Education Partnership Report:
Ms. Sherry Kramer reported on various business community promotions for the benefit of MBEF.

Superintendent’s Report:
Dr. Gross said that the District had begun to feel the effects of the personnel reductions made last year. She said that the District is beginning the process of setting goals and priorities for the coming years. She said that, as part of that process, the District would seek input from the community.

Dr. Gross announced that MBUSD was 5th in the State of California in API test scores.

Golf Tournament:
Mr. Dotemoto thanked Ms. Sherry Kramer for lining up sponsors for the tournament and Ms. Pam Yarbrough for organizing volunteers for the event. He announced that the opportunity drawing and the silent auction each raised approximately $7,000.

Mr. Dotemoto stated that a co-chair is needed for next year’s event.

Annual Appeal:
Ms. Linda Figel announced that the Annual Appeal had raised approximately $300,000 to date. She, Ms. Diane Levitt, and Ms. Kim Siehl thanked various individuals and recognized certain schools for their contributions. There was a suggestion to use “thermometers” to show donation participation and encourage participation from parents who had not yet contributed.

Ms. Levitt asked Board members to review the recently updated "Frequently Asked Questions” on the MBEF website and submit any suggestions for additional questions or clarification.

Grants Committee:
Ms. Anne McLaughlin presented a schedule of grants for the 2004-2005 school year.

She recommended that grant #04-206 be increased by $4840 to allow for an increase in compensation for Ms. Francis Orvis, a retired teacher who is now eligible to receive that additional amount without impacting her retirement pay. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the increase was approved.

Old Business/New Business:
Ms. Sherry Kramer introduced Mr. Richard Lundquist of Continental Development, Mr. Allan Mackenzie of Mar Ventures, Inc., and Mr. Bill Mason of Honeywell. They gave a PowerPoint presentation and discussed their proposed Plaza El Segundo retail development for the northeast corner of Rosecrans Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard in El Segundo. Mr. Lundquist stated that, upon completion of the first phase of the project, the developers would make a $1.0 million donation to MBEF to be paid over a period of 5 years.

Meeting Adjourned: 9:33 p.m.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 12, 2004, 7:30 p.m. at the District Office, 325 S. Peck Avenue