Manhattan Beach Education Foundation
Minutes

Board of Directors – Regular Meeting
December 13, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
MBUSD Office, 325 S. Peck Avenue, Manhattan Beach

Present:

Directors (19/28): Geoff Bremer, Webster Burns, Wendy Carson, Randy Dotemoto, Michelle Erickson, Linda McLoughlin Figel, Craig Kline, Carolyn Leserman, Diane Levitt, Anne McLaughlin, Cindy McMahon, John Oshiro, LeeAnne Richter, Ellen Rosenberg, Lan Shirazi, Jeff Thaler, Jean VanZanten, Susan Warshaw, and Pam Yarbrough.

MBUSD Rep: Steve McMahon

Board of Trustees: Amy Howorth

MBEF staff: Debra Bowen

Guests: Beth Allen, Stewart Bogen, Penny Bordokas, Tammy Choy, Claire Clurman, Marija Kosanovich, and Sunni Won.

Presiding: Webster Burns, President

Recording: Debra Bowen, Office Manager

Handouts: Agenda, Minutes, Financial Report, and Executive Director Job Description.

Welcome of Guests:
Webb Burns welcomed guests to the meeting.

Pacific PTA Donation to Annual Appeal:
LeeAnne Richter and Michelle Erickson presented a check to MBEF from Pacific Elementary School PTA in the amount of $50,000. Mr. Burns thanked the PTA for its generosity and for its unity of purpose with the Foundation.

Annual Appeal Report:
Diane Levitt reported on the progress of the annual appeal. Ms. Levitt noted that the annual appeal has received $1,427,915 to date. The total increases to $1.7 million, if outstanding pledges, corporate matches and the Pacific PTA donation are added. Ms. Levitt stated that phone calls would be made in the next 4-6 weeks to those who have traditionally given, but have not yet given this school year.

Election of New Treasurer:
Webb Burns reported that Ida VanderPoorte, upon her election to the School Board, resigned from the Foundation Board and as the Foundation’s Treasurer. Geoff Bremer accepted the nomination for Treasurer, and upon motion duly made and seconded, Mr. Bremer was voted Treasurer. Ms. VanderPoorte will continue to maintain the books under Mr. Bremer’s supervision. With Mr. Bremer’s move to the Treasurer position, Rich Weiss will now chair the Investment Committee.

Discussion of Database Management:
Anne McLaughlin stated that Ms. Wanda Kaminski had terminated her consulting contract with the School District effective January 31, 2006. Ms. McLaughlin said that Sunni Won, formerly of IBM and Microsoft, has offered to step in and train with Ms. Kaminski in January and to manage MBEF’s database through June 30, the end of MBEF’s fiscal year. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was agreed to recommend that Ms. Won be retained as a consultant to manage the database and be paid a prorate portion of the amount contracted with Ms. Kaminski.

Treasurer’s Report:
Geoff Bremer presented the written financial report. He also noted that endowment assests, liabilities and investment income have been separately stated, rather than included in the statement of the general operating income, assets and liabilities.

Ratification of Minutes:
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the minutes of the meeting of November 15, 2005 were approved as presented.

MBUSD Board of Trustees' Report:
Amy Howorth noted that three new school board members were sworn in on December 7. Ms. Howorth and Mr. Bill Eisen will be the reps to MBEF. Ms. Howorth is also on the ad hoc committee with the City Council and invited members of MBEF to attend the meetings with the city.

Ms. Howorth stated that Mira Costa High School is overstaffed by 3½ teachers and there has been a recommendation to reduce staff mid-year. Mr. Burns stated his concern that the lay-off of staff mid-year disrupts students and families and jeopardizes people’s trust in the School District and the Board of Trustees.

Superintendent’s Report:
Steve McMahon reported that MBUSD is operating within budget for the year, but with very little margin. He also stated that the new MBUSD Board Members have undergone training with the California School Board Association.

Mr. McMahon said that the proposed MBUSD calendar for the next three years was approved by a vote of the teachers. He stated that MBUSD is still in negotiations with teachers and classified personnel on other issues.

Discussion of Possible Executive Director Position:
Anne McLaughlin presented the recommendation of the Executive Board that the Foundation consider hiring a paid, full-time Executive Director. Ms. McLaughlin recommended that the position be funded from the proceeds of the Wine Auction, Golf Tournament or other MBEF fund-raising events, not from the proceeds of the Annual Appeal. Ms. McLauglin stated that the resignation of Ms. Sherry Kramer from the Business Partnerships position had been the catalyst for a discussion of the support needed to continue the Foundation’s success. At a minimum, the Foundation needed someone to perform those portions of Ms. Kramer’s job that related to the Foundation (as opposed to MBUSD). A review of her job responsibilities showed a broad range of organizational and relationship functions. Beyond these, however, as part of its strategic planning, the Foundation had identified growth of the endowment as a necessary objective and, as part of this year’s Annual Appeal, had seen the need for more consistency and a year-round focus on organizing and coordinating fundraising and stewardship efforts. Ms. McLaughlin also noted the growth of the Foundation from grants of $477,000 in fiscal year 2002 to $1.9 million in fiscal year 2005, a 400% increase. After discussion and upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board agreed to establish the position of Executive Director. After additional discussion and upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board agreed to form a committee to finalize the Executive Director’s job description and solicit and interview candidates. Ms. McLaughlin agreed to chair the committee and several directors offered to serve.

California Consortium of Education Foundations Conference Report:
Ellen Rosenberg reported on the recent conference that she attended with Linda Figel and Diane Levitt. Ms. Rosenberg highlighted three main points: 1) that MBEF is very successful in its fundraising when compared to other education foundations in California; 2) that other education foundations have executive directors and appear to have benefited from the consistency and experience of a full-time, management level individual; and 3) that stewardship of donors, i.e., keeping up communications with the donor base throughout the whole year and not just when the Annual Campaign is running, is very important.

Rescheduling of February & April Meeting Dates:
Webb Burns suggested that the February meeting date be changed due to Valentine’s Day. It was agreed to move that meeting date to February 7. Mr. Burns also suggested moving the April date because of Spring Break. That meeting date will now be April 4.

New Business/Old Business:
None.

Meeting Adjourned to Closed Session:
Approximately 8:47 p.m.

Next Meeting:
Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the District Office.

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