Manhattan Beach Education Foundation
Board Minutes – June 10, 2003

Meeting Place: Mira Costa High School, Room 115

Attendees:

Directors (14/25): Geoff Bremer, Webster Burns, Wendy Carson, Randy Dotemoto, Ruth Graf Urasaki, Chuck Kaminski, Carolyn Leserman, Anne McLaughlin, LeRoy Nelson, Pat Parker, Julian Ryder, Freddi Segal Gidan, Jeff Thaler, Richard Wennekamp

MBUSD Representatives: Dr. Sheralyn Smith

MBEF Staff: Sherry Kramer, Susan Patterson

Guests: Petra Comley, MaryLe Emmett, Traci Granberg, Matt Harris, LeeAnn Helsing, Liz Herbert, Kristi Knobloch, Bill Mason, Chris McRae, Sara Peters, Joanne Schepis, Theresa Tower

Handouts: Agenda, Minutes, Financial Report, Election Nominations.

Call to Order: 7:35 PM by President Carolyn Leserman.

1. Recognition: Sherry Kramer introduced Bill Mason of Honeywell, who presented a check for $5,000 to MaryLe Emmett, Vice Principal of MCHS. Honeywell has been a good neighbor of Manhattan Beach for 82 years. Honeywell shut down its plant north of Rosecrans in January, 2003.
   
   Carolyn introduced the ten National Board Certified Teachers, who received their award checks. The three new teachers were: Matt Harris (Pacific), Theresa Tower (Pennekamp), and Traci Granberg (Meadows). The seven continuing teachers were: Chris McRae (Robinson), LeeAnn Helsing (Pacific), Liz Holbert (Robinson), Sara Peters (Meadows), Kristi Knobloch (Meadows), and Joanne Shepis (Pennekamp).
    
2. President’s Notes: Carolyn introduced the remaining guest, Petra Comley. Carolyn proposed scheduling the next meeting on July 8. Susan Patterson will check on the availability of a room at MCHS. Carolyn proposed a summer party in addition to the next meeting. Pat Parker offered to have the party at her home again this year. Carolyn proposed that we invite some key members of the Coalition to the party. Spouses will be welcome. Proposed date for the party: July 17.
   
   Carolyn met with the two HBEF Co-Presidents and the person who manages their web site. They were very happy to meet with us and expressed interest in working with MBEF on a fundraiser for Mira Costa. Carolyn will form a committee to work with HBEF at a future MBEF meeting. Geoff Bremer suggested that we invite the HBEF President to attend our meetings. Carolyn also had two meetings with the PTA presidents and membership chairs to discuss future funding. They are working on plans to educate parents about the District’s funding needs.
   
   MBEF needs to recruit new board members to replace several who are leaving. Carolyn circulated volunteer list for the Wine Auction and thank you notes from Liz Herbert and Jennifer Wheeler for their classroom participation awards and from the GRAD Booster Club for our support of the Backlot Ball. Our office in the new district office (Education Center) will have everything that we requested.
    
3. Minutes: LeRoy Nelson mentioned that Randy Dotemoto requested a correction to the name of the Golf Tournament sponsor in the calendar section. A motion to approve the minutes as corrected was made by Webster Burns, seconded by Freddi Segal-Gidan, and approved by voice vote.
    
4. Financial Report: Geoff Bremer presented the financial reports through the end of May. Donations to the Vital Programs fund totaled $1,647,721.
    
5. Administrative Director’s Report: Susan Patterson reported that Wine Auction tickets are sold out.
    
6. Business Education Partnership Report: Sherry Kramer reported that we will receive a $5,000 check from LA Food Show. Our ads are running in the Beach Reporter. Kurt Rambis, Lakers Assistant Coach, wants to set up a Saturday basketball clinic to benefit MBEF. First Coastal Bank plans to give us $10,000 after they identify a remaining need. Carolyn thanked Sherry for her great work raising funds from corporate sponsors. Upcoming events:

   6/14	MBEF "Beverage" Auction
   7/24-26	Grand opening of 23rd Street Jewelers
   8/18	MBEF Golf Tournament - Executive Sponsor Mercedes-Benz of South Bay
   10/11	MBEF Oktoberfest

7. Assistant Superintendent’s Report: Dr. Sheralyn Smith is pleased with what we have accomplished this year and appreciative of the support of MBEF and the Coalition. Carolyn thanked Sheralyn for her help during the last year.
    
8. MBUSD Board of Trustee’s Report: No report.
    
9. MBEF Board Election Nominations: Richard Wennekamp presented the slate of nominations for five officers (one-year terms) and seven directors (two-year terms). Fifteen other directors have one year remaining on their terms. He mentioned the three directors besides himself who are not continuing: Lisa Paulsen, Judy Reece, and LeRoy Nelson. A motion to elect the nominated officers and directors was made by Richard, seconded by Freddi Segal-Gidan and approved by voice vote.
   
   Elected officers: President Carolyn Leserman, Vice President Webster Burns, Treasurer Ida VanderPoorte, Secretary Anne McLaughlin, and Investment Officer Geoff Bremer. Reelected directors: Geoff Bremer, Chuck Kaminski, Craig Kline, Carolyn Leserman, Anne McLaughlin, Greg Rosen, and Julian Ryder.
    
10. Fundraising Reports:
    1. Golf Tournament: Julian Ryder reported that the committee held a kick-off meeting. The web site is up and ready for sign-ups. Sherry has six sponsors.
        
    2. Membership: Richard Wennekamp thanked Ruth Graf-Urasaki and Jeanne Oshiro for putting out a beautiful issue of School Notes. Richard reported that more teachers claimed the classroom participation awards this year than in previous years. Richard would like to see the teacher participation grants broken out by school level on the Grants Status Report. Kim Siehl and Ruth Graf-Urasaki will be the co-chairs next year. Their first task will be to come up with a new name. The bylaws may need to be amended.
        
    3. Wine Auction: Jeff Thaler reported that they held a dinner at the Manhattan Country Club to honor past chairs. It raised $15,000 gross and should net a little less than $12,000. Tickets are sold out and the waiting list is full. We received record donations for the live and silent auctions. Jeff and Randy Dotemoto discussed several improvements that are planned for the handling of auction items. Check out the amazing updates John Oshiro has made to the web site.
        
    4. Oktoberfest: Pat Parker reported lining up one major sponsor, still working on other sponsors.
        
11. Grants Committee Report: Anne McLaughlin reviewed the 2003 grants approved to date. Webster Burns reported that the Grants Committee met with the Coalition to discuss MBMS programs. It was proposed that MBEF continue to fund half of instrumental music assistant and half of the vocal music accompanist at a cost of $10,000 each. A motion to approve these two grants was made by Webster and seconded by Freddi Segal Gidan. We would fund the first half of the year, and the MBMS PTA will include funding for the second half of the year in their budget for next year. The only other item being considered at MBMS is funding substitutes for English teachers to support evaluating the writing of students, which has historically been funded by the School Site Council. The motion was approved by voice vote.
    
    The Grants Committee met with Lynn McCormack regarding MCHS funding priorities. Webster proposed that MBEF fund the Library Media Specialist at $39,318, an Educational Advisor at $58,096, 40% (two periods) for the Technology Director at $34,279, 50% of the Computer Lab Assistant at $22,284, and one period of the Strings Teacher at $12,600. Total: $166,577. We would have about $13,000 left to spend on 2003 grants. A motion to approve these MCHS grants was made by Webster, seconded by Randy Dotemoto, and approved by voice vote.
    
    Anne introduced new Grants Committee member Wendy Carson. Ruth Graf-Urasaki suggested that the web site include school and/or grade levels for the Vital Programs grants. Wendy Carson reported that she asked Jerry Davis about the budget after the parcel tax failed. He said the District might need to make additional cuts to balance the budget next year. They would not cut any of the programs funded by MBEF or the Coalition.
     
12. Old Business / New Business: None.
     
13. Meeting Adjourned to Closed Session: 9:05 PM.
     
14. Next Meeting: Tuesday, July 8, 2003, 7:30 PM at location TBD.
    (NOTE: DATE CHANGE)

Respectfully submitted by LeRoy Nelson on June 12, 2003