SCHOOL DISTRICT WRAP-UPS

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

No Vote

WHAT HAPPENED:

Catherine Follett, assistant superintendent of instruction, and

second-grade teacher Cleone Frost presented the board a report of the

district’s spelling program and the improvement of students’ spelling

scores.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Children can read well, but not spell as well, Frost said. Reading and

writing alone doesn’t make good spelling.

Spelling has been a weak area in the district. In 1998, the board

adopted new English language arts materials that focus on systematic and

intentional instruction.

Since then, every grade in the district has shown wide improvement,

especially in the elementary grades. The district’s spelling scores have

grown five percentile ranks.

Though scores are improving, they are still not as high as reading or

language scores. However, all grades are still above the national

average, and Follett and the teachers expect the scores to continue to

climb.

Vote: 5-0IN FAVOR

WHAT HAPPENED:

The board approved a fifth amendment to the superintendent’s

employment contract with the district.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The amendment adjusts Supt. Marc Ecker’s compensation and term, ending

June 30, 2003. Ecker’s term, which began July 1, will be extended to June

30, 2004. His annual base salary prior to adjustment for longevity and

his doctorate degree is $121,387.24. The board approved an adjustment to

reflect the same 10% cost-of-living adjustment it approved for management

personnel for 2000-01, retroactive July 1.

NEXT MEETING

The Fountain Valley School District Board of Trustees will meet at

7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 in the board room at the district office, 17210 Oak

St., Fountain Valley.

OCEAN VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT

Vote: 5-0

IN FAVOR

WHAT HAPPENED:

The board approved to hire LSA Associates Inc. for

environmentalconsulting services regarding the four middle school

gymnasiums.

WHAT IT MEANS:

On Oct. 17, the board unanimously approved that the district should

proceed with a request for an environmental consulting firm to provide

environmental studies, analyses and documents necessary before

constructing gyms at the district’s four middle schools.

The consultant also will facilitate the community advisory committee

meeting at each site.

Cost for the consultants is $31,000 and will be expended from the

special reserve fund.

Vote: 5-0

IN FAVOR

WHAT HAPPENED:

The board approved the school site block grant proposals from Circle

View and Sun View elementary schools.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The state has awarded the district one-time grants of at least $10,000

to each school. The money is to be spent on safety, site improvements or

other one-time needs. Schools must have proposals approved by May or

return the funds to the state.

NEXT MEETING

The Ocean View School District Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m.

Dec. 12 in the board room at the district office, 17200 Pinehurst Lane,

Huntington Beach.