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11/30/1989I !I CITY OF GRAND TERRACE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING - NOVEMBER 30, 1989 A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace was called to order in the Council Chambers, Grand Terrace Civic Center, 22795 Barton Road, Grand Terrace, California, on November 30, 1989, at 6:00 p.m. PRESENT: Byron Matteson, Mayor Hugh J. Grant, Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Pfennighausen, Councilmember Jim Singley, Councilmember Gene Carlstrom, Councilmember Thomas J. Schwab, City Manager/Finance Director Juanita Brown, City Clerk ABSENT: Randall Anstine, Assistant City Manager David Sawyer, Community Development Director John Harper, City Attorney Joe Kicak, City Engineer The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Pro Tem Grant. Mayor Matteson convened City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. 1. Discussion of proposed Year -Round School - Resolution Mayor Matteson, stated that due to the overwhelming response in opposition to the Grand Terrace Schools going year-round, the City Council agreed to call a special meeting to hear the issues regarding year-round school. He indicated that any decision regarding year-round school rests solely with the Colton Unified School District and any action taken will be strictly advisory and will have no binding affect on the School District whatsoever. Arlie Hubbard, School Board Representative; stated that at the last meeting o the School Board two different plans were discussed, one of which includes one Grand Terrace school and the other includes four Grand Terrace schools. He indicated that overcrowding condidtions of the schools in all areas is the reason that was given. Herman Hilkey, 23196 Glendora Dr., Grand Terrace; presented a chronology of events over the past couple months leading to the December 7th School Board meeting. He felt that the School Board has been misleading and that if the schools are changed to Council Minutes - 11/30/89 Page 2 year-round the boundaries will be changed to include children from Colton. He encouraged all interested parties to attend the School Board meeting on December 7th. Mike Fasenm er, 12847 Reed Ave., Grand Terrace; listed his concerns as o ows: 1. How can any district justify implementing a program without first receiving community input? 2. Have the parents and citizens in other communities been informed? If so, by whom? 3. Will this program really offer the best service for our children? Wouldn't even the very best program fail with too little information too late? 4. Does 100% of the classrooms of Grand Terrace schools deserve the responsibility of being the guinea pig of the district for year-round schools and does our community deserve less consideration than the other communities served by the school district? 5. Where are the people in leadership to hear the concerns of the people. Cathie Swanson, 22648 Miriam Way, Grand Terrace; felt that year-round school would be traumatic for the children and would deny them of summer vacations which are an important time in their childhood. Kelly Isaic, 12114 Palm Ct., Grand Terrace; stated that she is against the year-round school program and indicated that she moved to Grand Terrace because she was happy with the schools. Barry McMasters, 12345 Willet Ave, Grand Terrace; felt that the year-round system will cause many problems. He indicated that the school grounds will not be available for use during vacations, and with a portion of the children out of school at all times there may be a need for more police protection. Debra Mueller, 22608 La Paix, Grand Terrace; had concern that there are chidren in the Grand Terrace schools who should be in other districts. She felt that the schools would not be over impacted if restrictions were enforced. Rosanna Robinson, 22122 Van Buren, Grand Terrace; felt that the year-round system would be confusing for the children. Judy Gross, 22822 Palm, Grand Terrace; stated that she does not want year-round school in Grand Terrace indicating that the schools do not meet the criteria unless students are bussed in. Council Minutes - 11/30/89 Page 3 Todd Arnold, Grand Terrace; indicated that a year-round system would make it difficult for law enforcement to deter crime committed by juveniles. Don Lenaker, 23125 Westwood, Grand Terrace; indicated that on a year-round system the schools would not run at peak efficiency. He felt that the School Board is not listening to the concerned parents in Grand Terrace. Paul Norris, 22655 Van Buren, Grand Terrace; expressed concern about the quality of education the students would receive on a year-round system. Chris Moore, 23195 Glendora Dr., Grand Terrace; stated that she is against a year-round school system and expressed concern that her children would not continue to receive a quality education. John Taylor, 22843 Vista Grande Way, Grand Terrace; commended the City Council for showing their interest by attending the Special Meeting. Janet Lenaker, 23125 Westwood St., Grand Terrace; expressed concern about the academic future of the children in a year-round system. Ron Wright, 22914 DeBerry, Grand Terrace; felt that the School Board has handled the issue secretively and expressed concern about the planning process of the program. Mayor Matteson returned discussion to Council. Mayor Pro Tem Grant, indicated that he has been approached by several citizens concerned about year-round school and although the City legally has little jurisdiction in School Board matters, it is important that the people have a chance to speak. He indicated that if the Council takes a stand in opposition then it would be an indication of how one small community feels about a very big problem. Councilmember Sin le , indicated that he can see the benefits as well as the problems with a year-round system and expressed concern about the possibility of changing the school boundaries. He indicated that the City works closely with the School District in a number of issues and we need to support the parents and let the School Board know that we don't like what their doing. He felt that the School Board is rushing the process and they should better inform the people. Councilmember Pfennighausen, indicated that she is concerned about the environment that children learn in. She felt that the School District made a mistake by not advertising over and above what is legally required. She predicted that within ten years the whole state will be on a year-round system due to an increasing population. She felt that there are some advantages to year-round Council Minutes - 11/30/89 Page 4 school and that recreation programs can accomodate children on different schedules if necessary. She felt that a traditional school system is good if it works but if year-round school is necessary it has to be all schools, not just one. She reported that the state will no longer fund building of schools unless the year-round requirements are met but the City of Grand Terrace has the option of building a school on a local bond issue. She felt that the School District should have given better information to the parents and allow them a chance to be heard. Councilmember Carlstrom, indicated that he has researched the issue and it is his understanding that if Plan A is adopted, the additional students needed to fill Terrace View will come from within the City and students will be taken from Grand Terrace Elementary. Councilmember Pfennighausen, asked if the City Council could request a complete report on the number of students being imported from other areas into each one of our schools. Mayor Matteson, expressed concern about the way the School Board as proceded with this issue about a report stating that students in a year-round system perform below the level of students in a traditional system in reading and math. He indicated that Grand Terrace has adequate schools for our students and is opposed to using our City to accomodate students from other Cities. CC-89-205 MOTION BY MAYOR MATTESON, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM GRANT, CARRIED 5-0, to adopt a resolution requesting that the Colton Unified School Board give careful consideration to the implementation of year-round schools. Arlie Hubbard, complemented Council and the people attending the meeting for speaking out. He indicated that he teaches in a year- round system in Redlands and after many months of planning the program is working well. He felt that a year-round system cannot operate without enough students and Grand Terrace would have to take students from other areas to fill the schools. Chuck Machovich, Willet St., Grand Terrace; asked Mr. Hubbard about the quality of education in a year-round system. Arlie Hubbard, felt that the system can be successful with adequate planning. Tle indicated that his students have not suffered and they have adapted well to the change. Herman Hilkey, 23196 Glendora, Grand Terrace; encouraged everyone concerned to attend the School Board meeting Thursday, December 7th. Council Minutes - 11/30/89 Page 5 ORDER OF ADJOURNMENT Mayor Matteson adjourned the City Council meeting at 8:00 p.m., until the next regular City Council/CRA meeting, which is scheduled to be held Thursday, December 14, 1989. Y CLERK of thtTity o Grand errace. &11', IF RAYf the City of Gra d Terrace.