Ellen's Calendared Events from 2003 and 2004

These are Ellen's Calendared Events from 2003 and 2004.
Later events are found at What have you done for us lately?

NOVEMBER 2004 CALENDARED EVENTS

Mon. Nov. 1st:
- Went to the Santa Clara County Registrrarr of Voters, as a rep. of the League of Women Voters, to observe counting of absentee ballots. Ellen witnessed the continuing stream of people into that office to drop off absentee ballots and to vote.
- Attended CAT, and welcomed CAT’ss nnew principal rep., Graham Middle School principal, Judy Crates. CAT also did calendaring for the year, changing its meeting dates to generally the 1st TUESDAY of the month (from the 1st Monday).
- Attended SCTF, where members heard thee ppresentation by the realtor the district uses. After an extensive, detailed presentation, including descriptions of visiting each school site within the last few weeks, members were assured that any school in MVWSD could be rented for $400,000/year.

Tuesday, Nov. 2nd:
- Ellen voted at 7 AM at Graham Middle SSchhool.
- Went back to the Santa Clara County Reegistrar of Voters at 8:30 PM, and observed the strict security measures that were in force for delivery of ballots to this location, and learned that she was too early to observe tabulating returns from the e-machines, as most precincts had not delivered their returns to the county office yet.

Wed. Nov. 3rd:
- Attended the Preschool for All presenttation at the MVWSD office.

TH Nov. 4th:
- Attended the 2nd of 3 all-day ELL semiinars on using data to improve ELL instruction.
- Attended the MVWSD board meeting. At tthiis meeting Trustee Fisher gave a presentation on a superintendent selection process utilizing the same process that was used 3 years ago. This process involves inviting professional search firms to make bid presentations to the board for their hiring, having the professional search firm do the search process (which includes receiving input from the community), and having the professional search firm make recommendations to the board regarding the top superintendent candidates. The board would then vote on what it considered to be the best candidate. The board has budgeted $35,000 for potential use of a professional search firm for this purpose. Trustee Wheeler made a long argument for not spending $35,000 to hire a professional search firm, saying she was confident that the board could obtain extensive community input and make a selection of superintendent on its own. Additionally, Trustee Wheeler said that she was reluctant to use a state-wide search for a superintendent, as she was concerned that MVWSD would continue to get superintendents who were not committed to staying in this job for multiple years. Instead, Trustee Wheeler recommended asking interested internal and local candidates to apply for this position before the district went out to state-wide candidates. After much discussion and public comment on this issue (including input from both of the incoming trustees) a vote was called for soliciting proposals from state-wide superintendent search firms. This vote passed 4 –1, with Trustee Wheeler being the 1.

Sun. Nov. 7th:
- Attended subgroup session for LWV presentation of Education Forum on Nov. 14th from 3 – 6 PM at Shoup Park in Los Altos.

Mon. Nov. 8th:
- Attended special board meeting, which is a continuation of “Benchmarking.”

Tues. Nov. 9th:
- Attended the injunction hearing for Kaatz v. MVWSD. It went quickly. The judge decisively ruled in our favor, saying he would not freeze the parcel tax funds. He also told Mr. Katz that simply because he ruled for him in the demurrer hearing that did not mean that he thought Mr. Katz would win in the trial. (The demurrer hearing was about whether the plaintiff, Mr. Katz, actually stated a possible cause of action.) To see the new website with parcel tax lawsuit information that was created by community member Vicki Hobel Schultz go to:
www.hobel.org/parceltax
- Attended BTF.

Wed. Nov. 10th:
- Attended the dress rehearsal for the LLWV forum on education, which will be held Nov. 14th from 3 – 6 PM at Shoup Park in Los Altos.

Sat. Nov. 11th:
- Met with newly re-elected trustee Glorria Higgins for coffee.

Sunday Nov. 14th:
- Met newly elected trustee Rosemary Roqquero for breakfast.
- Attended and presented at the LWV Educcation Forum from 3 – 6 PM at Shoup Park in Los Altos. Ellen also stayed and participated in the consensus portion of the meeting, where local League members discussed and agreed upon education issues for their report which will be submitted to the State League of Women Voters.

Monday, Nov. 15th:
- Attended the 1st Fiscal Oversight Adviisoory Committee meeting of this school year. This committee is nearly done overseeing the spending of the district’s bond monies, so will meet again as needed and not on a regular or monthly basis.

Tuesday, Nov. 16th:
- Met with newly elected trustee Fiona WWallter for coffee.
- Attended the 1st of 2 Community Forumss on School Closure, held at Crittenden Middle School.

Wed. Nov. 17th:
- Attended Theuerkauf’s PTA potlucck dinner (bringing cookies to share).

TH Nov. 18th:
- Attended Challenge Team.
- Attended the school board meeting, whiichh was significant for its ceremony and reception for outgoing long-time trustees Rose Filicetti and Carol Fisher.

Fri. Nov. 19th:
- Attended the Principal Coffee at Huff.. - Attended the 2nd of 2 Community Forumss on School Closure, held at Graham Middle School.

Mon. Nov. 22:
- Ellen attended her own son’s parrent-teacher conference, noting how interesting it was to review the report card simply from a parent’s perspective.

(Thanksgiving holidays)

Tues. Nov. 30th:
- Attended School Closure Task Force.
OCTOBER 2004 CALENDARED EVENTS

Sat. October 2nd:
- Attended a special showing of “IIroon-jawed Angels,” the HBO movie about the struggle to get the amendment passed which gave women the right to vote, which was jointly sponsored by the local League of Women Voters and “Girls for Change,” a group of politically active high school young women from Los Altos High School. This event was held at Los Altos High School. Ellen and her husband brought their 9-year-old son, Nathan, to this movie, in order to help teach him about how hard fought and hard won this struggle for the right to vote was. Nathan was very impressed by this movie, asking many, many questions about it afterwards, with most of the questions centered around the unfairness of the treatment of these activist women for what we see now as a basic right.

Mon. Oct. 4th:
- Attended the press conference convenedd by Assemblyman Joe Simitian and Steve Poizner to advertise their proposal to change the voting majority required to pass parcel taxes from 2/3 voters to 55% voters. (Bonds require 55% voters to pass.) Later on that week the “San Jose Mercury News” printed an editorial endorsing this proposal.
- Worked at the Scholastic Book Fair at Criittenden Middle School.
- Attended CAT meeting, in preparation fforr CAT report presentation to the Board this TH.

Tues. Oct. 5th:
- Attended the 1st day of an all-day semminnar on how to imporve instruction for English Language Learners through better use of data and tracking. (Days 2 and 3 will be in Nov. and Dec.) Many administrators, principals, and trustees attended this seminar as well.

TH Oct. 7th:
- Attended the State Bar Convention in MMonterey TH 10/7 – Sat. 10/9.
- Attended the MVWSD Board meeting, inclluding early closed on the Katz case, driving back from Monterey to do it (and driving back to Monterey the next morning).

Sun. Oct. 10th:
- Attended the EPGY informational event at the private home of local parent Vicki Schultz which was advertised in many of MVWSD school newsletters that week.

Mon. Oct. 11th:
- Took part in the “field trip𔄭 to the “Big Dig” at Graham Middle School, where trustees,   some administrators, and Graham’s SSC chair and PTA president got an update on the underground water storage project there, including actually walking down to the bottom of the dig and seeing the support systems utilized by the engineers there.

Tues. Oct. 12th:
- Attended the joint Budget Task Force/SSchool Closure Task Force, where members of both groups, + community member attendees Juan Aranda and Mike Kelly, heard presentations on the financial and enrollment reasons for still needing to close a MVWSD school next year, and saw a presentation by 2 members from the City of Mountain View staff on “The State of the City.” This was to get a better and deeper understanding of what the City has done and expects to have happen over the next few years, including anticipated housing and business development.

Wed. Oct. 13th:
- Attended a meeting of a subgroup of thhe League of Women Voters on putting together a presentation on the state of education in the local area and statewide, in anticipation of the entire League membership voting on what issues it sees as important, and then sending its conclusions to the State membership. This presentation will be held Sunday, November 14th, 3 – 6 PM, in the Garden House at Shoup Park. Ellen will be one of the co-presenters of one of 5 topics. Topics will be: Finance; Governance; Accountability; Equity; and Role of parents and community. (Ellen’s topic will be “Governance.”)

TH Oct. 14th:
- Attended the Challenge Team breakfast meeting.
- Attended the League of Women Voters Caanddidate Forum at City Hall in Mountain View, observing the entire presentation segment by the 5 people running for MVWSD school board, and observing the opening statements of the 2 people running for the Santa Clara County Board of Education seat for this area.

Fri. Oct. 15th:
- Attended the assembly at Bubb Elementaary School on their Student Council elections.
- Spent the afternoon getting book orderrs ready for her son’s 4th grade class. (Ellen is the “Book Order Lady” for that class.)
- Attended a party of teachers from Theuuerkauf, due to the kind invitation of Kathy Hook.

Sat. Oct. 16th:
- Attended the “Education Update&##8221; meeting of State Senate candidate Joe Simitian in Palo Alto.

Sun. Oct. 17th:
- Ellen and husband spent most of the daay compiling and formatting a recipe booklet that is to be presented to all Bubb School teachers, staff, and principal at the 4th grade-sponsored “Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheon” to be held TH 10/21.

Mon. Oct. 18th:
- Attended the historic 1st EVER Theuerkkauuf PTA meeting! Ellen appreciated the opportunity provided there to sign up as a Charter Member of that brand-new PTA, and was extremely impressed by the work and enthusiasm of the Theuerkauf parents and staff for this brand-new PTA. Much thanks is due to PTA Council co-chair Martha Young (formerly a PTA president herself at Huff School) for helping Theuerkauf get their PTA started. Lastly, it is Ellen’s belief that it was through the dedicated Theuerkauf community outreach of Holly Leonard and other past PTO officers and parents that created impetus for even more outreach through a PTA.

Wed. Oct. 20th:
- Attended another of the League of Womeen planning sessions for the “Education 101” program on 11/14. (See 11/13 for more description of this event.)

TH Oct. 21st:
- Baked pumpkin muffins as her contributtion to Bubbs “Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheon,” and delivered them to Bubb School, along with the box of recipe booklets to be given as gifts that day. (See 10/17 for more details.) Ellen also served as part of the clean-up crew after this wonderful event.

- Attended the board meeting which had several important items on the agenda, and one important item that was added at 10:45 PM, before closing the agenda:
[a] Trustees heard presentations of 2004-’05 goals by all the PTAs in MVWSD (including a 1st-ever presentation by Theuerkauf! [see 10/18]), beginning at 6 PM;
[b] Trustees heard part I of a report on the Master Plan for English Learners;
[c] Trustees heard a report of the STAR testing and last year’s results by district and by school;
[d] Trustees had further discussion about the concept of “small schools” as it relates to school closure (and potential later school re-opening). Trustees agreed on some parameters (400-500 students per school), but also agreed to wait on a more structured definition until after the SCTF work is done, and a new board is in place. Additionally, Trustee Higgins asked the board to allow parents a chance to brainstorm on other possibilities for saving the district $400,000 and continue spending the $350,000 from the parcel tax funds, rather  than closing a school next year. It was agreed that parents should be allowed to take a “fleshed-out idea” to the next Budget Task Force meeting (date TBA, but possibly Tues. 11/9));
[e] Trustees heard a report on the rationale for hiring a firm to do an organizational audit of the current job structure of MVWSD,  and having that firm make recommendations to the board on maximal organization per efficiency and cost-savings. This item was approved 4-0;
[f] At 10:45 PM, at the end of the meeting under the section of the agenda where board members suggest items for future agendas, Trustee Fisher said she wanted to have an item put on the next agenda (11/4), as the 1st item under “Action Items,” a discussion and vote on hiring a search firm for a superintendent search. Ellen stated that she thought such an item was premature, in that a new board would have been elected by then, and that we should allow that new board to make the decision about how to proceed on superintendent selection. Trustees Higgins and Filecetti agreed with Trustee Fisher that waiting the few weeks for the new board to get seated was not necessary, so this agenda request was allowed. (Trustee Kruss was on a long-planned and noticed vacation to Hawaii.) Note: According to the Brown Act, more than 2 board members and board candidates may not discuss future agenda items together. Ellen will not be discussing this item with anyone.

Fri. Oct. 22nd:
- Attended a day-long “school law annual update” meeting in San Francisco hosted by Miller Brown and Dannis, the law firm used by MVWSD. This meeting was also attended by Supt. Yick and CFO Wright. Ellen, Eleanor, and Rebecca took this opportunity to distribute more than 200 copies of Supt. Yick’s “An Open Letter to Parents and the Community – Mountain View-Whisman School District fights lawsuit that would overturn parcel tax for student programs” to other school district representatives at that meeting, for their information and potential assistence. (This letter was also sent home with student newsletters this week.)

Sun. Oct. 24th:
- Met with subgroup for planning presenttation for LWV Education Forum on Sun. 11/14 from 3 – 6 PM at Shoup Park in Los Altos.

Mon. Oct. 25th:
- Attended the MVWSD Candidates Forum att Huff School.

Tues. Oct. 26th:
- Helped present CAT survey results withh tthe other members of CAT to the Administrative Team (school principals), for a discussion about best ways to use the surveys in future years.
- Attended SCTF meeting.

Wed. Oct. 27th:
- Met with LWV planning group for the Edducation Forum on Sun. 11/14 on Sun. 11/4 from 3 – 6 PM at Shoup Park in Los Altos.
- Attended the fall Santa Clara County SSchool Boards Association dinner.

TH Oct. 28th:
- Attended the special AM board meeting on “Setting Benchmarks.”

Fri. Oct. 29th:
- Attended Bubb’s Halloween paradee, dressed in costume.
- Attended Bubb’s Halloween Costumme Dance Party, dressed in costume, and worked at the bake sale table.

SEPTEMBER 2004 CALENDARED EVENTS

Wed. Sept. 1st:
- Attended the 1st PTA Council meeting oof this school year.
- Attended a Kiwanis Club lunch, as one of several area persons interested in getting Kiwanis to help create more local preschools.

Tues. Sept. 7th:
- Attended Bubb’s 1st of 2 Back too School nights.

Wed. Sept. 8th:
- Attended Bubb’s 2nd of 2 Back too SSchool nights.

TH Sept. 9th:
- Attended the 1st Challenge Team meetinng of this school year.
- Attended Crittenden’s Back to Scchoool Night.
- Attended a candlight vigil commemoratiingg the 1,000th slain American service person in the Iraq War.

Fri. Sept. 10th:
- Attended her 2nd to the last Masters oof Governance program (on Human Resources) in Sacramento.

Sat. Sept. 11th:
- Attended her LAST Masters of Governancce program, in Sacramento, and GRADUATED!!!

Sun. Sept. 12th:
- Took a “family field trip”; to Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento, with husband and 4th grade son. (This is an optional suggested field trip for the 4th grade standards.)

Tues. Sept. 14th:
- Attended Huff’s AM PTA meeting.<
- Attended 1st Budget Task Force meetingg oof this school year, as a community member.

Wed. Sept. 15th:
- Met with Supt. Yick to go over the 20004 CAT Survey results in preparation for 1st CAT meeting of the year.

TH Sept. 16th:
- Attended regular Board meeting.

Mon. Sept. 20th:
- Attended 1st CAT meeting of this schoool year.
- Attended Crittenden’s 1st SSC meeeting of this school year.
- Attended the “Teacher of the Yeaar&” ceremony at the San Jose Repertory Theatre celebrating one honoree from each school district in Santa Clara County. MVWSD’s honoree was Jodi Maccini of Slater School. Ellen knows Jodi from Bubb School, and can attest to Jodi’s outstanding teaching and commitment to children.

Tues. Sept. 21st:
- Attended a special Board meeting, wherre MVWSD board members, Supt. Yick, and CFO Wright met with the 2 attorneys who are arguing MVWSD’s case in the parcel tax lawsuit, Katz v. MVWSD.
- Attended Castro’s 1st SSC meetinng of this school year.

Wed. Sept. 22nd:
- Attended Bubb’s (2nd) SSC meetinng of this school year.
- Attended Monta Loma’s Back to Scchoool Night.
- Attended a Santa Clara County School BBoaard Association meeting, particularly to hear their speaker presentation on “School Closure.”

TH Sept. 23rd:
- Attended part of Theuerkauf’s Baack to School Night.

Fri. Sept. 24th:
- Attended Huff’s Principal’;s Coffee and saw Craig Goldman’s excellent presentation on last year’s communications surveys, comparing CAT, Huff, and Huff’s SSC survey results.

Sun. Sept. 26th:
- Dinner with outgoing Supt. Negri and tthe Board and spouses. (This was a social event, not a meeting, so all were careful not deliberate on upcoming agenda items.)

Mon. Sept. 27th:
- Met with Craig Goldman, principal of HHuff.

Tues. Sept. 28th:
- Attended a special Study Session of thhe Board on 2 topics: [a] The role of the Board in the school closure process; [b] The role of the Board in the supt. selection process.

Wed. Sept. 29th:
- Attended a reception at AOL (co-hostedd by Synopsis) honoring outgoing Supt. Jim Negri and current Supt. Eleanor Yick.
- Attended a meeting of Mountain View Ciiviic Forum to hear presentations by the 5 MVWSD school board candidates.



AUGUST 2004 CALENDARED EVENTS

End of July/beginning of August: Attended many days, on a drop-in basis, of MVWSD’s 9-day math workshop. It was interesting to see what the teachers were learning, watch them do it, and get to know more of MVWSD’s teachers better.

Tues. August 3rd:
- Attended a morning of expulsion hearinngss. (These had been postponed from June, and concerned student behavior from the end of the 2004 school year.)

Wed. August 11:
- Attended, via teleconferencing in Austtinn, TX, a Special Board Meeting where the trustees discussed what to do about Supt. Negri’s application for a position with another school district.

Mon. August 16th:
- Attended the first 1 ½ hours off MVWSD’s New Teacher Training.
- Attended another Special Board Meetingg where the trustees discussed what to do about Supt. Negri’s application for a position in another school district.
- Attended the lunch for MVWSD new teachhers at Rengsdorff House.

Tues. August 17th:
- Attended MVWSD’s new teacher 𕢜Classroom Management” seminar.
- Attended another Special Board Meetingg where the trustees discussed what to do about Supt. Negri’s application for a position in another school district.

TH August 19:
- Attended the 1st MVWSD board meeting oof the 2004 – 2005 school year! The trustees also held another closed session meeting, this time to accept the resignation of supt. Jim Negri, and to discuss what to do about filling his position.

Fri. August 20:
- Attended MVWSD’s teacher/staff &“kick-off” for the 2004 –2005 school year. This is always a very inspirational event.
- Went to Bubb’s much-anticipated class lists posting to find out what teacher and class her son would have this year. It was very nice to see so many old friends and new Bubb families there. 

Mon. August 23rd:
- Attended a very special Special Board Meeeting where the trustees discussed and voted on who would lead MVWSD this year. What follows is the news release the board prepared:
On August 19, 2004, the Board of Trustees of the Mountain View-Whisman School District accepted the resignation of Superintendent Jim Negri, effective September 30, 2004.

Speaking for the Board, President Rose Filicetti said, “We thank Jim for his tremendous outreach to the community and the successful passage of the parcel tax. We wish him the best of luck in his new position as the Superintendent of Acalanes High School District in Orinda.

“Over the past weeks, we have met to discuss how to continue management of the district’s important work for the next school year that begins tomorrow, August 24. We are pleased to announce that this evening, with the strong support from the administrative team and by unanimous vote, the Board has offered a contract to current Associate Superintendent Eleanor Yick to be Superintendent through June 30, 2005. Mrs. Yick said she was honored by the appointment, well aware of the challenges and opportunities, including potential closing of a school.”

The Board will meet throughout the coming school year to go through the longer, more inclusive process to hire a superintendent for subsequent year. There will be numerous opportunities for community input in this process.

Tues. August 24th:
- 1st day of school!!!!!!!!!!!!

TH August 26th:
- Attended the City of Mountain View𔄩s “State of the City” program, with presentations by Mayor Matt Pear and City Manager Kevin Duggan.

Fri. August 27th:
- Met with school board candidate Rosemaary Roquero. This was the last of Ellen’s informal candidate introduction/information meetings, having previously met with all of the new school board candidates individually earlier in the summer.

JUNE 2004 CALENDARED EVENTS

Tues. June 1st:
- Attended closes session supt. evaluatiion meeting.
- Attended part of the Human Growth and Development subgroup meeting. (The subgroup is made up of 3 of our district expert science teachers and nurse.)
- Attended SSC at Huff School
- Attended graduation ceremony for AVID students at Graham Middle School.

Wed. June 2nd:
- Attended CAC; hear the presentation onn the Human Growth and Development work.

TH June 3rd:
- (Planned to attend Principal’s CCoffee at Monta Loma, but this event was cancelled by Monta Loma.)

Fri. June 4th:
- Attended ceremony at Monta Loma celebrrating their students reading more that 1 million words this year, and saw Principal Linda Haines “going higher than last year” by going up in the sky in a cherry picker-type truck, to the awe of all Monta Loma students who witnessed the feat.

Saturday, June 5th:
- Presented, along with Trustee Fisher aand Supt. Negri, an informational meeting for potential school board candidates at the District Office.

Monday, June 7th:
- Attended the groundbreaking ceremony aat Graham Middle School for the water tank and sports field work.

 Tues. June 8th:
- Attended Bubb PTA Volunteer Recognitioon event.
- Attended Budget Task Force.
 
Wed. June 9th:
- Helped set up for Bubb’s 3rd graadee graduation party.

TH June 10th:
- Attended the graduation ceremonies at Graham and Crittenden Middle Schools, and hand out diplomas at one of those schools.

Fri. June 11th:  LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

July – VACATION!

MAY, 2004 CALENDARED EVENTS

Monday, May 3rd:
- Participated in an all-day “fielld trip” with Assistant Superintendent and other members our new Human Growth and Development Task Force to the Alameda County Office of Education to examine their curriculum materials in their special health section. It is the intent of this task force to examine and prepare curriculum for this subject for MVWSD.

Tuesday, May 4th:
- Attended the special Budget Task Forcee community meeting where Supt. Negri made a presentation on the budget and how to best use our Measure J funds.

Wed. May 5th:
- Attended a monthly MVEF meeting to gett a better sense of their intentions regarding fundraising for MVWSD.

Fri. May 7th:
- Attended part of the Cinco de Mayo cellebration at Graham Middle School.

Monday, May 10th:
- Attended the last part of the elementaary school GATE conference at Graham Middle School, getting there in time to hear the excellent goal-setting presentation by Jim Wiltens.

Tuesday, May 11th:
- Attended Budget Task Force.

Wednesday, May 12th:
- Attended FOAC.

TH May 13th:
- Attended the annual Champions for Youtth Challenge Team breakfast.
- Participated in an all-day Human Growtth and Development working meeting with other task force members, examine the materials we collected at the Alameda Co. Office of Ed. and start determining what the instruction materials and curriculum should be for our school district.
-    Attended the board SStudy Session on the budget and how best to use our Measure J funds. The Board gave Supt. Negri direction about our priorities regarding competing budget programs.

Fri. May 14th:
- Helped set up the graduation party forr this year’s Leadership Mountain View class, attended the ceremony, and attended the festive party.

Wednesday, May 19th:
- Attended the closed session board meetting on supt. evaluation.
- Attended Bubb’s Open House, inclluding its art show by students and its Science Fair by 5th grade students and 3rd/4th grade GATE students.


TH May 20th:
- Attended the highly useful May Revise workshop presented by School Services. This workshop gave area trustees and administrators up-to-date information about what the governor of California’s budget proposals are.
- Attended the Board meeting.

Fri. May 21st:
- Attended the “all boards” meeting presentation by Carl Guardino where he explained the county-wide parcel tax proposal he and others have been working on and hope to have on the ballot this November. Each of our 3 local school boards (MVWSD, Los Altos Elementary, and the high school) had representatives at this meeting to hear this proposal.
- Attended the Bubb School “Old-Tiime Country Fair,” and helped at the money table at dinnertime.

Sat. May 22nd:
- Attended the annual League of Women Vooters meeting and luncheon.

Mon. May 24th:
- (The monthly CAT meeting was cancelledd because Supt. Negri was needed to do up-to-the-minute responses to the threat of a shooting at Theuerkauf School that afternoon. Gratefully, no one was harmed, and the public safety responses by MVWSD, MVPD, and our parent community were careful and appropriate.)

Tues. May 25th:
- Attended PTP/SSC meeting at Theuerkauff, and its Public Safety Committee work. The parents and staff their made valuable and useful comments regarding school safety responses in light of the incident the day before. Ellen also made an announcement, per board request to reach out to all SSCs, that MVWSD will be holding an information session on running for one of the 3 open seats on our school board in November. That info. session will be on the 1st Saturday in June (June 5th) from 1 – 3 PM at the District Office Board room. Ellen and Carol Fisher will be presenting material at that session. (MVWSD will be sending out notice about this information session soon.)

Wed. May 26th:
- Attended the opening segment of the miiddle school GATE conference at Crittenden Middle School.
- Attended the annual PTA Council luncheeon.
- Attended Bubb’s SSC meeting, makking the same announcement about MVWSD’s school board candidate info. session as she did at Theuerkauf on 5/25.
- Attended Landels’ Open House.
TH May 27th:
- Attended the Classified Employees Recoognition social at the District Office.
- Attended board meeting, hearing schooll presentations on their single site plans which individual SSCs have been working on for many months.

Fri. May 28th:
- Pitched in at Crittenden Middle Schooll to input data.
APRIL, 2004 CALENDARED EVENTS

Fri. April 2nd – Sat. April 3rd:
- Attended 2 "Masters of Governance" claasses in Sacramento, and went on a tour of the State Capitol Building.

Monday, April 5th:
- Helped correct the district’s MAARS math tests, doing 4th grade with some district teachers and the Noyce Foundation math mentors.
- Attended Bubb’s CSBA concert of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grader singers.

Tuesday, April 6th:
- Attended “Williamsbubb” att Bubb School, where the school’s 5th graders spend the day recreating colonial American life (similar to Landelsburg).
- Was filmed for a KMVT “Speak Outt” segment, choosing to “speak out to happily praise the work of the School Closure Task Force, not to bury a school.” This 3-minute segment explained the extensive work of the SCTF which resulted in selection of 3 main criteria recommendations to Supt. Negri – (1) Academic Achievement; (2) Racial/ethnic/language/socioeconomic status balance; and (3) Evenly balanced attendance and proximity. Supt. recommended to the Board that MVWSD not close a school next year, but asked the Board to consider school closure in future budget calculations.

Wed. April 7th:
- Attended Council PTA meeting at Egan SSchool, hearing a report by Margaret Abe-Koga, Trustee for Santa Clara County Board of Education, on what that board does, and how it’s different from local school board work. Attendees also heard monthly updates from the 3 local school superintendents and trustees about what has been going on in their districts, as well as PTA officer reports.
- Attended “Landelsburg” at Landels School, where the school’s 5th graders spend the day recreating colonial American life (similar to Williamsbubb).
- Attended the Business Mixer organized by the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Alza Corp. where business owners were invited to ask questions of office holders and staff from the City of Mountain View and the school districts.

TH, April 9th:
- Attended special Board meeting on 3 toopics: (a) Katz v. MVWSD update; (b) Timeline for supt. evaluation; and (c) Board goal setting.

Upcoming calendared events:

Tues., April 13th:
- Attend GMS Principal’s Coffee wiith speakers on “Internet Awareness.”
- Possibly, attend Budget Task Force.
Wed., April 14th:
- Attended Slater’s AM PTA meetingg.
- Attended Fiscal Oversight Advisory Commmittee at Slater.
- Attended Open House at Slater.

TH April 15th:
    -      Attended “International Day” feast at Bubb, help serve, and contribute Welsh Cookies.

- Attended School Board meeting

Spring Break – Monday, April 19th – Friday, April 23rd

Monday, April 26th:
- Attended monthly CAT meeting (discussiion topic was school newsletters).
- Attended the graduation party planningg committee meeting for this year’s Leadership Mountain View class.

Tuesday, April 27th:
- Attended Bubb’s PTA meeting, parrticularly to hear Supt. Negri’s comments to the   Bubb community about its new principal process and to hear suggestions made to him by Bubb parents about what they want in a school leader.

Wed., April 28th:
- Attended “Media Day,” an eevent sponsored by the Rotary Club, which had panelists from local newspaper giving advice about how to get your story in the newspaper.
- Attended Fiscal Oversight Advisory Commmittee (and was able to immediately share useful information from that media training)

TH April 29th:
- Attended the closed session Board meetting on supt. evaluation.

Fri. April 30th:
- Attended the end of fascinating last cclass of David Franklin’s Bridge Building class for Bubb GATE students where there was a “weigh-off” testing of which of 6 team-built bridges made of linguini could hold the most weight. Most bridges could amazingly hold about 15 pounds of weights, and the winning bridge held 17 pounds. This was the culmination of 10 hours of afterschool class work by 24 kids, led by Bubb’s 2nd grade teacher, David Franklin. A good time was had by all after the “weigh-off” at one of Mr. Franklin’s famous potlucks.


MARCH, 2004 CALENDARED EVENTS

March 1st:
- Happy St. David’s Day in Wales! Ellen made Welsh cookies for her son’s class at Bubb.
- Attended SCTF meeting.

Tues. March 2nd:
- Election Day – Measure J, Props.. 55-59, local measures, presidential primary.

Wed. March 3rd:
- Attended annual PTA Founders Day meetiing, at Covington Elementary School in Los Altos School District.
- Was a volunteer leader for 2 classes ffor Ability Awareness Week at Bubb.

TH March 4th:
- Attended Board meeting.

Sat. March 6th:
- Attended special Board session on Boarrd Goals.

Monday, March 8th:
- Attended SCTF.

Fri. March 12th and Sat. March 13th:
- Attended CSBA conference for county trrustees, supts., and PTA leaders. Ellen will prepare a written report to fellow trustees on the seminars she attended.
- Attended CHAC benefit to hear the wondderful young Jazz pianist, Taylor Eigsti at LAHS.

Monday, March 15th:
- Attended SCTF meeting.

Tues. March 16th:
- Worked at the Slater Scholastic Book FFair.

Wed. March 17th:
- Attended FOAC meeting at Cooper Schooll.

TH March 18th:
- Attended Board meeting.

Tues. March 23rd:
- Had lunch at Landels with Alicia Hendeerson as “trustee liaison.”
- Attended MVWSD’s Community Forumm at Castro  School. This was a translated event as a follow-up to Community Forums that were held earlier in the school year at other schools. As was done for those forums, Supt. will prepare written answers to questions that were asked at that forum for wider distribution of answers, and the Board will do a debriefing at a future board meeting of what happened at this forum.

TH March 25th:
- Attended special Board meeting to hearr the report of the SCTF and the recommendations from Supt. Negri from that report.

Fri. March 26th:
- Was a chaperone for her son’s 3rrd grade all-day field trip to the Exploratorium in SF.

Sat. March 27th:
- Attended the 4th of her 9 CSBA “;Masters in Governance” courses in Salinas, this one on “Student Learning and Achievement.” (Ellen has scheduled to complete this course by Sept. of this year.)

Monday, March 29th:
- Attended CAT.
- Attended Budget Task Force.

Tues. March 30th:
    - Attended a Joint Venture Silicon Valley workshop on taxes.

Wed. March 31st:
- Met Eleanor Yick to discuss presentingg a seminar on the School Closure Task Force work at the annual CSBA Conference in San Francisco in December.
- Attended FOAC meeting.
- Attended the 5th grade orientation at Graham Middle School.

FEBRUARY, 2004 CALENDARED EVENTS

Monday, February 2nd:
- Attended SCTF.

Tuesday, February 3rd:
- Attended Huff’s Kindergarten Infformation Night.

Wed. Feb. 4th:
- Attended Theuerkauf’s Kindergartten Information Night.

TH Feb. 5th:
- Attended school board meeting.

Fri. Feb. 6th:
- Attend special board meeting on teacheer contracts

Sat. Feb. 7th:
- Attended and faciliated SCTF subgroup meeting.

Sun. Feb. 8th:
- Attended, and helped with, the League of Women Voters “Meet Your Local Elected Officials.”

Monday, Feb. 9th:
- Attended SCTF meeting.

Tues. Feb. 10th:
- Met with Alicia Henderson at Landels tto continue planning for Leadership Mountain View’s Education Day case study on an education issue.
- Attended Landels’ Kindergarten IInformation Night.

Wed. Feb. 11th:
- Attended Bubb’s Kindergarten Infformation Night.

TH, Feb. 12th:
- Attended special board meeting on certtificated employee contracts.

Fri. Feb. 13th:
- Led a case study exercise on “Whhat Makes a Quality School?” for Leadership Mountain View’s Education Day, along with Alicia Henderson, principal of Landels Elementary School.

(Monday, Feb. 16 – Fri. Feb. 20 = Presidents week school vacation)

Monday, February 23rd:
- Attended CAT meeting, where members fiinalized plans for annual CAT survey to go out with 2nd trimester report cards next month.
- Attended SCTF meeting.

Wed. Feb. 25th:
- Attended MVWSD’s 1st Community FForum on School Closure at Landels School.

TH Feb. 26th:
- Attended special Board meeting on bencchmarking for ELL students.

Fri. Feb. 27th:
- Attended special Board meeting on Suptt. Evaluation
- Attended MVWSD’s other Communityy Forum on School Closure at Theuerkauf School.

Sat. Feb. 28th:
- Attended the GATE “Buildathon𕢝 at Graham Middle School.

JANUARY, 2004 CALENDARED EVENTS

TH Jan. 8th:
- Attended 1st school board meeting of 22004.

Monday, Jan. 12th:
- Met Associate Supt. Eleanor Yick for ccoffee.
- Attended School Closure Task Force meeeting.

Wednesday, Jan. 14th:
- Meet with Alicia Henderson, principal of Landels Elementary School, to finish the work on the LMV case study on education.
- Attended Slater PTA meeting.

Friday, January 16th:
- Attended school board study session whhere trustees reported on the seminars they attended at the Dec. ’03 CSBA conference. Ellen reported on 2 in particular – on Class Size Reduction (heard study report and listened to testimony by Elk Grove SD) and on GATE (heard report of Anaheim SD’s use of all-GATE classes).

Wed. Jan. 21st:
    - Attended and facilliated her SCTF subgroup meeting.

TH Jan. 22nd:
    -     Attended a workshop on “Developing Systems for EL Accountability”
- Attended school board meeting.

Fri. Jan. 23rd:
- Attended the annual breakfast of Jointt Venture Silicon Valley to hear their projections for 2004.
- Met with Supt. Negri.

Monday, January 26th:
- Attended CAT meeting.
- Attended School Closure Task Force meeeting (SCTF).

Tues. January 27th:
    - Attended the District Kindergarten Information Night, held at Landels School.

Wednesday, January 28th:
    -     Was a “Guest Reader” at Landels, reading “Yertle the Turtle.”
- Attend FOAC (Fiscal Oversight Advisoryy Committee).)
- Attended the Healthy Ventures annual lluncheon, and heard and participated in session on (1) Childhood Obesity; (2) Drug/alcohol abuse by adolescents; and (3) Teen sexual issues.
- Attended FOAC meeting at Huff, for a ttour.
- Attended and facilitated her SCTF subggroup meeting

Friday, January 30th:
- Met with former trustee, Juan Aranda, re some parent concerns that had been relayed to him.

DECEMBER, 2003 CALENDARED EVENTS

Monday, December, 1st:
- MVWSD held a Special 6 PM Board meetinng to do final discussion and hear final community input regarding parcel tax proposals for placing on the March 2004 ballot. Following that discussion and input the Board voted whether to place a parcel tax on the ballot, what structure that tax will take, and what that tax will pay for. The MVWSD voted 5 – 0 to place a parcel tax on the march 2nd, 2004, ballot.
(See Mountain View Voice Dec. 5th issue for lengthy description of the structure of this tax and what it will pay for. Also in that issue is a “Guest Opinion” by Trustee Wheeler explaining why she thinks this is a fair and simple tax, and asking Mountain View residents to vote for it.   See www.mv-voice.com)

Wednesday, Dec. 3rd:
- Attended the introductory meeting for Bubb GATE parents.

TH, Dec. 4th:
- Attended MVWISE meeting.
- Attended School Board meeting. This waas also the annual meeting for electing new board officers, selecting committee memberships, and choosing which schools to be liaison to.
The board vote for 2003-2004 officers was as follows:
President – Rose Filicetti (by a 3-2 vote, trustees Filicetti, Fisher, and Higgins for, trustees Kruss and Wheeler against)
Vice-president – Carol Fisher (by a 4-1 vote, with trustee Wheeler voting against, saying that she thought trustee Fisher did an excellent job as board president last year, but thought since trustee Kruss had expressed interest in this job she should be allowed to be an officer this year.)
Clerk – Ellen Wheeler (by 5-0 vote, for her 2nd year of service in this job).

Trustee Wheeler will continue her representation to the following committees: CAT and FOAC (Communication Action Team and Fiscal Oversight Advisory Committee).

Trustee Wheeler will be board liaison to the following schools: Bubb, Landels, and Theuerkauf, and be alternate rep. to Crittenden Middle School, with trustee Higgins. (Trustees discussed and informally agreed that they would be the board liaison to schools their children attend; thus, trustees Fisher and Filicetti will be liaisons to Graham Middle School, and trustee Higgins will be liaison to Slater [and trustee Wheeler to Bubb]). Interested persons should contact the MVWSD office (650-526-3500 or www.MVWSD.k12.ca.us) for information on who is board liaison to other district schools.

Friday, Dec. 5th:
- Attended the monthly informal lunch off Santa Clara County School Board Assn. members.

Sunday, Dec. 7th – Sunday, Dec. 14th:
- Went on a family holiday in southern CCalifornia, culminating in attendance at the annual CSBA convention TH 12/11 – Sat. 12/13 in San Diego. Other MVWSD officials in attendance were Supt. Negri and Trustees Higgins and Filicetti.
Note: MVWSD attendees to this conference will report to the other trustees and the public on the seminars they attended at this conference at a Study Session on Friday, January 23rd, 12:30 – 2 PM at the District Office.

Monday, Dec. 15th:
- Attended CAT, where members did more ffine tuning of the Communications Survey. Also discussed at this meeting was changing the distribution of this survey from the end of the 2nd trimester (March 4th), in those report cards, to early February. The reason for this change would be so each school’s SSC could utilize the information gathered in the CAT survey in their annual reports in a timely manner.

- Attended MVWISE meeting on parcel tax strategy. Following this meeting Ellen decided to withdraw from participation in this group.

Tuesday, Dec. 16th:
- Met with Alicia Henderson, principal oof Landels Elementary School, to devise this year’s case study on education for this year’s Leadership Mountain View class during their “Education Day.”
- Attended the beginning of Bubb’ss PTA meeting, attempting to gain their endorsement for MVWSD’s parcel tax (now named Measure J). Bubb PTA voted unanimously to endorse Measure J.

Wednesday, Dec. 17th:
- Attended FOAC (Fiscal Oversight Advisoory Committee).

TH Dec. 18th:
- Attended School Board meeting.

Sat. Dec, 20th, 2003  – Sunday, January 4th, 2004: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOVEMBER, 2003 CALENDARED EVENTS

Tuesday, November 4th:
- Attended a WISE meeting.
- Attended the monthly district GATE meeeting.

Wednesday, Nov. 5th:
- Attended the monthly PTA Council meetiing.

Thursday, Nov. 6th:
- Attended the 3 PM (- 10 PM!) Board meeeting, including the Study Session on the parcel tax.

Friday Nov. 7th:
- Attended the “School Law Update,,” in San Francisco, which is hosted annually by MVWSD’s law firm, Miller, Brown, and Dannis.
- Had a short meeting with Supt. Negri.<

Monday, Nov. 10th:
- Attended the 1st of MVWSD’s Schoool Closure Task Force (SCTF) meetings. This group of parents, teachers, and district representatives will meet one or more times a month until March. Their charge is to develop a set of criteria to be used to determine which MVWSD school should be recommended for closure, should our school budget require it. SCTF is an advisory group which will make recommendations to superintendent Jim Negri. Supt. Negri will make the final decision and bring his recommendations to the school board in late Feb. or early March.

Wednesday, November 12th:
- Attended the monthly CAC meeting as allternate Board Rep.
- Attended Theuerkauf’s PTO meetinng.

TH November 13th:
- Attended the monthly Challenge Team brreakfast.
- Attended, with her 9-year-old son, thee Science Night hosted by Castro Elementary School.

Friday, November 14th:
- Attended MVWSD expulsion hearings for most of the school day.

Sunday, November 16th:
- Happily participated in the “tammales making party” taught by Bubb and Graham parent Maria Sanchez and held at Elizabeth Schwartz’s house, along with 8 other lucky MVEF Monte Carlo Night winners of this yummy auction item.

Monday, November 17th:
- Attended the AM Board Study Session onn the parcel tax.

Tuesday, November 18th:
- Participated in the 2nd planning sessiion of the Leadership Mountain View Education Day Planning Committee.
- Attended part of the monthly Budget Taask Force meeting.

Wednesday, November 19th:
- Attended MVWSD expulsion hearings.
>
TH November 20th:
- Worked at Slater’s Scholastic Boook Fair.
- Attended MVWSD Board meeting.

Friday, November 21st:
- Attended the Business and Education Suummit hosted by Synopsys Corp.

Monday, November 24th:
- Attended WISE meeting. Note:WISE is noow “MVWISE,” which stands for “Mountain View-Whisman Initiative in Support of Education.”

OCTOBER, 2003 CALENDARED EVENTS

Wednesday, October 1st:
    - Attended a tax forum hosted by Joint Venture Silicon Valley where participants gave feedback to JVSV on its tax analysis workbook.

Friday, October 3rd:
    - Attended her 1st CSBA Masters of Governance class, in Palo Alto. This is a 2-year program consisting of 9 classes for school board trustees and superintendents. The 1st class is a foundations class.

Saturday, October 4th:
    - Attended her 2nd CSBA Masters of Governance class (on Setting Direction, in Palo Alto.

Sunday, October 5th:
    - Poured beer at the Mana’ concert at Shoreline as a volunteer for Leadership Mountain View’s fundraising effort.

Monday, October 6th:
    - Represented MVWSD School Board, along with Trustee Higgins and Supt. Negri, at the 2nd of 3 Community Meetings, held at Landels Elementary School. This meeting drew approximately 30 people, with good questions and dialogue.

Wednesday, October 8th:
    - Attended the last of the 3 Community Meetings, held at Graham Middle School. Trustees Fisher and Filicetti represented MVWSD, along with Supt. Negri. Trustee Higgins was also in attendance. Again, this meeting had good questions and good dialogue. This was perhaps the best attended of the 3 Meetings.

Thursday, October 9th:
    - Attended her 1st Challenge Team breakfast of this school year.
- Walked and talked with Carol Fisher att Shoreline Park following the meeting.

Friday, October 10th:
    - Attended the monthly Principal’s Coffee at Crittenden, hosted by Karen Robinson.
    - Helped with lunch set-up for the 2nd Leadership Mountain View class of this new year, and enjoyed meeting and talking with old and new LMVers.
    - Attended the wine reception for new and old LMVers at the end of their class.

Tuesday, October 14:
- Attended the Board Goals for the Superrintendent Study Session, 9 AM – noon.
- Attended the Budget Task Force meetingg 6:30 – 9:30 PM.

Wednesday, October 15:
- Participated with other educators fromm LMV in planning this year’s education class day.

Thursday, October 16th:
- Attended MVWSD regular Board meeting.<

Friday, October 17th:
    - Had lunch with Trustee Kruss.
    - Attended part of Slater’s Walkathon.

Saturday, October 18th:
    - Attend 3rd Masters of Governance class (on Finance), in Salinas.

Wednesday, October 22nd:
    - Participated in a panel for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund class session for parents who are learning about how to get their child prepared for college. The panel was held at Crittenden Middle School. Other participants included Karen Robinson, CMS’s principal, Megan Fowler, AVID teacher at CMS, Stephanie Totter, personnel director for MVWSD, and others.

Thursday, October 23rd:
    - Attended a luncheon for LACY (Legal Advocates for Children and Youth) award winners at the invitation of Theo Olson on behalf of Synopsys Corp.
    - Attended the family dinner night for Crittenden Middle School at Burrito Real on Rengsdorf at Middlefield.

Saturday, October 25th:
    - Attended MVEF’s Casino Night. A highlight of the evening was performing “Heat Wave” with Bubb PTA president Cynthia Greaves on the karaoke stage. Another highlight was being the winning bid on a beautiful quilt wallhanging by Trustee Gloria Higgins.

Sunday, October 26th:
    - Attended Assemblyman Joe Simitian’s community meeting on education at MVLAUHSD Board Room.

STILL TO COME IN OCTOBER:
Tuesday, October 28:
    - Attend a tea for MVWSD teachers participating in ELA mentoring.
    - Attend the 1st CAT meeting of this school year at the DO.
    - Attend FOAC at the DO.
    - Attend Bubb’s monthly PTA meeting.

Thursday, October 30th:
    - Attend the Board Study Session on crafting a new parcel tax, probably for the March 2004 ballot.

Friday, October 31st:   HALLOWEEEEEEEEEEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    - Attend the costume parade at Bubb School as a parent, dressed up as Maleficent (from Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty”).
    - Attend and help with Bubb’s 3rd grade Halloween party following the costume parade.

SEPTEMBER, 2003 CALENDARED EVENTS

Tuesday, Sept. 2nd:
    - Attended the 1st FOAC meeting of this school year.
    - Attended Bubb’s Back to School Night.

Wednesday, Sept. 3rd – Sunday, Sept. 7th:
    Ellen went to Anaheim to attend the State Bar Convention. (As an attorney, Ellen finds this a useful and educational forum for learning more about the law and legal updates.)
    Ellen regrets that she had to miss the Sept. 4th MVWSD Board meeting in order to attend this conference.

Monday, Sept. 8th:
- Ellen and son happily went to the reneewed “Scoops Nights” fundraiser for W.I.S.E., the community group working to place a new MVWSD parcel tax on a ballot (date and type of tax TBD). Thanks again to the 31 Flavors at El Camino at Miramonte for hosting these.

(Tuesday, Sept. 9th Ellen went out for her wedding anniversary dinner, so was unable to attend any of the Back to School Nights that night.)

Wednesday, Sept. 10th:
    - Attended Bubb’s SSC meeting.
    - Attended Monta Loma’s Back to School Night.

Thursday, Sept. 11th:
    - Attended Crittenden’s Back to School Night.

Tuesday, Sept. 16th:
    - Attended Theuerkauf’s Back to School Night.
    - Attended her 1st-ever Budget Task Force meeting (and previously thanked Supt. Negri and Kathi Lilga for posting those meeting dates and agendas so that she can attend as a community member).

Thursday, Sept. 18th:
    - Attended the MVWSD Board meeting. 
           This Board meeting was notable for at least 4 reasons:
 [A] Many Castro Dual Immersion parents came to make public comments to the Board during the “Community Comments” section of the agenda regarding the District decision earlier in the week to change the class enrollment structure of the Dual Immersion classes to conform to the Board goal of 50% English speakers and 50% Spanish speakers;
[B] CFO Rebecca Wright  presented her update on actual expenditures for the 2002-2003 school year;
[C] The Board voted to approve forming “a task force to study the closure of a school and the elimination of the Class Size Reduction program in order to balance the 2004-2005 budget”; and
[D] The Board made comments to the supt. regarding his request to approve up to $25,000 to conduct a demographic study in preparation for studying to close a school. Following Board comments the supt. and Board agreed to bring this matter back to the Board for further consideration at its Oct. 16th Board meeting.

    Ellen made the following public comments during this agenda item discussion about the proposal to fund a $25,000 demographic study for this purpose at this time. She read from part of an email she had sent Supt. Negri 2 days ago after talking on the phone with Supt. Negri about this issue.
   
      “Right now I'm leaning toward voting against us paying $25K for such a study. I'd vote against it for the following reasons:
[1] I don't think such a survey would be valid or valuable enough in these uncertain times, economically and socially, for predicting the future;
[2] If we close a school and don't sell the property we could  re-open it if/when the student enrollment demands it;
[3] I just can't see spending this amount of $ now in the face of our very visible cuts last year and our MVEF fundraising effort;
[4] Assuming we're going to go to the public and ask for a different parcel tax soon, I think spending this $ now would be a reason people would vote to not support our district in a parcel tax;
[5 I’m hearing from lots of community members who are opposed to us spending this money for this purpose right now. While I don’t think this should be the sole basis for my decision, I do think I should take their views into consideration; and
[6] I think we can do a reasonable study and articulate a reasonable rationale for whatever our school closing decision is without spending $25K for a professional demographic study.”

Friday, Sept. 19:
    - Attended the Bubb Walkathon and worked at the cookie selling table. (This was after spending all morning and part of the afternoon at her daughter’s wedding. Best wishes, Sarah and Joe, for wedded bliss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Tuesday, Sept. 23:
- Lunch with Trustee Higgins

Wednesday, Sept. 24:
- Lunch meeting with Supt. Negri and Toddd McComb to discuss the October 2nd presentation to the Board publicizing the 2003 CAT Communications Survey results. (Todd McComb is Monta Loma’s CAT representative and did all the formattting of the “Scantron-type” answers on the survey. Thank you, Todd!!!!)

Thursday, Sept. 25:
- Study Session at Castro, 6 PM – nearly 1 AM, to describe the Castro Plan, which was created following the 3 Study Sessions last year and the academic audit. This meeting featured a final report of the project called “High Priority Schools Grant – Integrated School Improvement Plan 02-03,” MVWSD’s “Professional Development and District Resources to Support Castro Elementary School,” Castro’s “Single School Plan for Student Achievement,” which was developed by their School Site Council last school year, and a brief description of the time spent teaching in English and in Spanish in Castro’s Dual Immersion Program. During all these reports Board members asked multiple questions and made multiple statements. Following this part of the program the meeting was opened to “Community Comments,” which were extensive. The entire meeting was translated into Spanish one comment at a time for the Spanish speakers in attendance.
           At the end of the Board questions and comments Ellen read a prepared statement about the new superintendent-initiated changes to Castro’s Dual Immersion program. Before reading her statement Ellen had photocopies passed out to the remaining members of the audience which contained her statement. These photocopies were available in both Spanish and English.

            To read this statement in English, click here.
            To read this statement en Español, click aquí.

           (Mr. Negri had met with Castro staff and principal Monday, Sept. 15,  to discuss changes he believed were necessary in light of the academic audit and Castro’s school plan. These changes called for fewer classes in the Dual Immersion program in order to make the classroom English/Spanish-speaking student ratio more closely aligned to the Board goal of 50/50.)

Friday, Sept. 26:
    - Met with Dr. Judy Crates, principal of Graham Middle School to discuss how Castro students fare once they reach Graham Middle School. Dr. Crates showed Ellen much useful data about this subject.
    - Met with Supt. Negri. (As a Board member Ellen schedules occasional meetings with the supt.)

Monday, September 29:
     - Attended the 1st of MVWSD’s 3 Community Meetings, held at Theuerkauf Elementary School. Trustees Fisher and Kruss represented the district, along with Supt. Negri.

AUGUST, 2003 CALENDARED EVENTS

Monday, August 18th:
- Attended the all-day “New Teacheer Training” given by MVWSD for its new teachers (and stayed all day).
- Attended Bubb’s 1st SSC meeting of the year.
   
Wednesday, August 20th:
    -  Attended the introductory meeting ffor all teachers at Graham Middle School.

Thursday,  August 21:
- Attended the 1st MVWSD Board meeting oof the 2003-2004 school year.

Friday, August 22:
- Attended the kindergarten/new parent ppotluck at Bubb (bringing pizza and cookies to share).

Monday, Aug. 25: 1st Day of MVWSD 2003-2004 school year for students (and their parents!)

Thursday, August 28:
- Attended the 2nd MVWSD Board meeting oof the 2003-2004 school year.


ELLEN'S JUNE, 2003 CALENDARED EVENTS
Monday, June 2:
 Attended Slater's Round Table Pizza Night Fundraiser at Grant/ECR.

***Tuesday, June 3 (Election Day for Measure E)
 - Voted after dropping son off at school.
 - Did precinct phone calling much of the day and early evening, reminding people to vote today.
 - At 11 PM Ellen and husband went online to the website of the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters (www.sccvote.org) and got the terrible news:
  With 100% precincts reporting,
  63.1% "yes" (5,171)
  36.9% "no" (3,023)
Since this was an election that required 66.7% "yes" voters, Measure E had lost.
 Other relevant information from scc.vote:
  Total % of registered MV voters that voted today = 27.4%
  Total number of MV registered voters = 30,169
  % voters who voted at their polling place = 18.7%
  % voters who voted via absentee ballot = 8.7%

Wednesday, June 4:
 Volunteered at Slater Elementary School in the afternoon to do the 2nd half of "JA in a Day," a Junior Achievement program that teaches kids about business. Ellen and a partner worked in Eve Byer's 5th grade class teaching 2 lessons: advertising and entrepreneurship.

Thursday, June 5:
 Attended a regular Board meeting.
 - Three outstanding reports were given at this meeting that deserve special mention, partly because they represented the culmination of more than a year's worth of hard, honorable work by the committee members involved and partly because they demonstrate MVWSD's commitment to excellence for our students. These reports were: [a] The Strategic Plan report; [b] The Middle School Task Force report; and [c] The GATE Task Force report.
 It is anticipated that all 3 of these reports will soon be available on our MVWSD website for all parents and community members to read and get updates on.
 - Also announced at this meeting was the District response to the loss of Measure E. Because we did not get that funding, MVWSD is forced to proceed with its program cuts that were projected in the 2nd interim budget report: cuts or elimination to PE, art, music, CHAC counselors, 2nd VP at Graham, after-school sports and zero period music at Graham and Crittenden, and closing of school libraries due to cuts in library clerks.
 - As of this date, it is unknown whether the Board of Trustees will ask MV voters for another parcel tax, when that election would be, and in what format the tax would be.

Friday, June 6:
 Ellen and class attended their last Leadership Mountain View class, culminating in graduation ceremonies that night at MV City Hall.
 Ellen was one of three graduation speakers chosen from their class (a GREAT honor). In her speech Ellen spoke a little about the election loss on Tuesday, saying that on Tuesday she felt like wearing black to the graduation ceremony to symbolize that loss. Instead she wore a "rainbow" jacket, symbolizing hope and appreciation for all the hard work and good will that was contributed by so many parents and community members during the campaign. The theme of her speech was "Service."
 Supt. Jim Negri was the 2nd of the class speakers, speaking on "Leadership." The third class speaker was Wendy Fleet, program director of KMVT, who gave a video speech promoting Leadership Mountain View and showed the class "home movies" of their year. Following the graduation ceremonies LMV alumni hosted a reception for the new grads. What a great night.

Saturday, June 7:
 Attended the forum on Civil Liberties sponsored by the League of Women Voters  and others at Agilent Corp.

Monday, June 9:
 - Attended her son's class presentation on "How to Make Lemonade" (and helped a little).
 - Attended the last potluck of the year for her son's 2nd grade class, hosted by someone whom she would vote as "Teacher of the Year" - Mr. Franklin, her son's teacher.

Wednesday, June 11:
 - Attended the last FOAC meeting of the year, 7:30 AM - 9.
 - Happily attended preschool graduation at Slater.
 - Worked at Bubb's 2nd grade end-of-the year BBQ/party.

Thursday, June 12:
 - Attended the last Challenge Team breakfast of the school year, 7 AM - 8:30.
 - Attended the 1st Grade Garden Party at Landels Elementary School, celebrating the creation of their brand new garden.
 - Happily handed out diplomas at the graduation ceremony for 8th graders at Graham Middle School. Trustee Fisher also handed out diplomas, while the other trustees attended.
 - Happily attended the graduation ceremony for 8th graders at Crittenden Middle School with other trustees. Trustees Filicetti and Higgins handed out the diplomas.

Friday, June 13 (LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

SUMMER HAPPENINGS:
JUNE

Monday, June 16:
 Attended the Special Board Meeting (closed session), session #3 of 3 of "Supt. Evaluation."

Thursday, June 19:
 Attended regular Board meeting.

(Thursday, June 26: Ellen unfortunately missed the Special Board meeting scheduled for this day, as she was on a vacation that is reserved one year in advance with her family. Ellen volunteered to be available via speakerphone for this meeting, but was assured that this would be unnecessary by Supt. Negri because this meeting will simply be a pro forma acceptance of the budget that was presented at last week's regular Board meeting.
 By the time Ellen was ready to leave for her vacation the agenda for this meeting had opened up to be a meeting that was scheduled for 4 PM [closed session] to 10 PM.
 Supt. Negri offered Ellen the opportunity to prepare a statement to be read about agenda items for that meeting, so Ellen composed the following statement that was read aloud during the meeting:

TO: Supt. Negri:
FROM: Ellen Wheeler
   I'm sorry I cannot attend the Special Board meeting on June 26, and I appreciate your offer to allow me to make public statements about the agenda for this meeting.
   RE VI. B., Approval of Final Budget for 2003-2004, it would be with a heavy heart that I would vote to approve this budget. I'm extremely frustrated that our State legislators are presenting us with such a drastically cut budget that we are forced to make very deep cuts to the quality programs and staff that our district is used to. I appreciate the comments of community members that show they understand that our deep district cuts are a necessary response to drastic State cuts.
   RE VI. D., Approval of 2002-2003 Salary Adjustments, I would vote to approve this action. One of the biggest and most important strengths of our school district is the high quality principals and assistant principals we have in our schools. It would be penny wise and pound foolish to refuse to spend the already-budgeted $24,403 from last year's budget for their COLA raises. Especially in these tough budget times it's important to do what we can to retain these respected professionals. I believe our top teachers, top staff, top principals, and top district administrators are key to keeping MVWSD a place where parents want to send their kids.
   RE VI. E (or F.), I have been particularly following this issue since I became our Board's rep. to the Fiscal Oversight Advisory Committee in December. I believe it is proper for our Board to make the decision about whether to permanently install 4 of our District's portable classrooms at their final destination of Huff School. I would vote to approve the permanent installation of these 4 portables at Huff.
   There are 3 inter-related reasons for this, and these issues have evolved since I 1st visited this issue in December:
[1] Huff is a school that is considered so successful that many district parents want to transfer their child there. These successful reasons include parent satisfaction of principal and staff plus its top state test scores in our district. However, due to its current small size Huff cannot accept many of those transfer requests. With 4 new portables it could accommodate more of those requests;
[2] Now that we have the requirements of the national No Child Left Behind Act we know that we must accommodate transfer students from specific underperforming schools before allowing other transfers. Allowing these required transfers to Huff means that fewer district transfers will be allowed from other schools. With 4 new classrooms Huff can more easily accommodate more requests; and
[3] Due to the drastic State budget cuts and the failure of our district to pass our parcel tax in June our district is going to have to start a process in August to study and plan for closing a school in the 2004-2005 school year.
   Our Board will have to examine factors for the proper closing for a school. One of those factors could very well be the size of the school. Since Huff is currently our smallest school it would match that factor, and it would be at an automatic disadvantage in our evaluation process. This disadvantage would happen regardless of the parent satisfaction factors mentioned above.
   However, if Huff were allowed to have the 4 permanent portables it would enter the school closing evaluation process on a more equal basis with our other schools. Our Board could then study and evaluate all our schools using a process that starts out fair and ends with the most fair and appropriate result.
   For the above 3 fairly complex reasons I would vote to approve this action.

Sincerely, Ellen Wheeler  )

JULY, 2003

Wednesday, July 2nd:
 Ellen attended the Special Board meeting that was scheduled in her absence to establish baselines and priorities for special funding by the MVEF and Mountain View Chamber of Commerce fundraising efforts. What follows is a brief report of that meeting:
 "The MVWSD Board was asked to vote on our priorities for "extra" programs and services (i.e., ones that were cut from our 2003-2004 district budget due to the deep State cuts and the non-passage of our parcel tax) in light of MVEF's ambitious fundraising drive among local businesses and community members.
 The Board voted using a list provided to us of 9 programs and services. That list gave $ costs to each program/service and very briefly described what that $ would pay for. The list on the paper, from top to bottom, was "Library Secretary - $140,002;" "Office Support (Health/Attendance Clerks) - $86,574;" "Science Kits -$20K;" "CHAC - $44,593;"  "CSMA Music - $92,326;" "CSMA Art - $89,605;" "Custodial/Maintenance (Restore custodian service to every night vs. every other night) - $236,707;" and "4/5 PE program - $132K." (Total = $861,807)
 The MVWSD Board voted unanimously to prioritize the above list for MVEF funds in the following order:
[1] Library Secretary (3.5 hrs./day at every elementary school; 5 hrs./day middle schools)
[2] CHAC (offers psychological counseling intern services to MVWSD students)
[3] CSMA Music (Instruments grade 5; Kodaly grades 1- 3; Recorder grade 4; Music in Action     grades 3 - 5)
[4] After school sports (middle schools)
[5] CSMA Art
[6] Office Support (3 AM hrs./day at all elementary schools)
[7] 4/5 PE
[8] Custodial/Maintenance
 (Note that Synopsys has donated the $20K for the Science Kits.)
 Trustee Kruss was absent from this meeting.
 MVEF representatives told us during this meeting that they have a fundraising goal of $800,000."

Friday, July 1lth and Sat. July 12th: Ellen attended the CSBA Curriculum Conference in Monterey as MVWSD's Board representative. She wrote a 3-page review of this conference for the other trustees, Supt. Negri, and Asst. Supt. Archibeque (director of curriculum).

Thursday, July 24:
 Ellen attended a tour and luncheon at the Kruss Center for Innovation at Foothill College for selected local teachers who had just completed their "Earn While You Learn" class on how to make better use of technology in schools.

ELLEN'S MAY, 2003 CALENDARED EVENTS

Thursday, May 1st:
 - Attended regular Board meeting.

Friday, May 2nd:
 - Attended part of Graham Middle School's Cinco de Mayo celebration, enjoying Juan Aranda's leadership of dancers.

Monday, May 5:
 - Attended FOAC (Fiscal Oversight Advisory Committee) in AM.
 - Attended Slater's pizza night, then off for dessert to -
 - Attended the 2nd of 3 "Scoops for Measure E" sponsored by Baskin Robbins at Miramonte and El Camino Real.

Tuesday, May 6:
 - Worked at Slater Elementary School in AM in response to Slater's E-bulletin board request for volunteer help in their office.
 - Attended Action Team meeting re Staff Development.

Wednesday, May 7:
 Attended CAC as alternate Bd. rep.

Thursday, May 8:
 - Attended Challenge Team's annual "Champions for Youth" breakfast.
 - Worked at LAHS for the League of Women Voters' effort to register new 18-year-old voters.
 - Attended CHAC's Open House and tour.

Friday, May 9:
 Attended Leadership Mountain View all day. Theme: Arts and Entertainment. Toured Mountain View's Senior Citizens Center as her choice of community tours.

Saturday, May 10:
 Attended the League of Women Voters annual meeting and lunch as a member, hearing County Supervisor Liz Kniss speak on the relevance of county government.

Sunday, May 11:
 - Did some Mothers Day precinct walking for Measure E.

Monday, May 12:
 - Attended Board expulsion hearing in the AM.
 - Happily bought ice cream at the 3rd of 3 "Scoops for Measure E" hosted by the Baskin Robbins at ECR and Miramonte.

Tuesday, May 13:
 - Attended special Board meeting re annual Supt. evaluation.
 -  Attended special Board meeting to evaluate and approved the Administrative Law Judge's holdings on our District layoffs.

Wednesday, May 14:
 - Read "Yertle the Turtle" to Mrs. Smiley's kindergarten class at Monta Loma Elementary for their "VIP Readers Day."
 - Attended Bubb Elementary School's Open House as a Board member, and as a proud parent of a 2nd grader in Mr. Franklin's terrific class.

Thursday, May 15:
 Attended regular MVWSD Board meeting. (Note this was the 4th meeting in one week!)

Sunday, May 18:
 - Attended Assemblyman Joe Simitian's update on our State budget re education.
 - Did precinct walking for Measure E.

Monday, May 19:
 - Attended a lunchtime training session at Synopsys by Junior Achievement on leading "JA in a Day." (Ellen will lead a class of 5th graders at Slater Elementary School in the afternoon of Wed. June 6th on starting a business using Junior Achievement's prepared lesson plans.)
 - Assisted 4th grade classes in Red Cross training at Bubb Elementary school.
 - Attended MVWSD's 2nd annual Choralfest at Shoreline Amphitheatre, featuring choirs from every one of the 9 schools in MVWSD.

Tuesday, May 20:
 - Worked at Slater Elementary School again in the AM in response to their request for volunteers on their E-bulletin board.
 - Attended Bubb's General PTA meeting, hearing a Budget Task Force presentation by member Michael Schneider.

Wednesday, May 21:
 - Happily ate dinner at Country Gourmet on ECR at Rengsdorff as a fundraiser for Slater Elementary School's PACT program.

Thursday, May 22:
 Attended the Board's special Study Session (Part II of II) at Castro Elementary School, examining Castro's progress as a High Priority School. The Board also received the preliminary report of the voluntary academic audit requested by MVWSD at this meeting.

Saturday, May 24:
 Did more precinct walking for Measure E.

Tuesday, May 27:
 - Worked at Slater Elementary School in AM in response to their request for volunteers via their E-bulletin board.
 - Attended the "Dine on Duck" fundraiser for Measure E hosted by Man Bo Duck restaurant on Castro Street.

Wednesday, May 28:
 Attended annual MVLA PTA luncheon.

Thursday, May 29:
 - Attended special Board meeting in AM re supt. evaluation part II.
 - Attended special Board meeting 5 PM - 9 PM.

Sat. May 31:
 - Attended an alumni hors d'oevres party for Mountain View Parents Nursery School as part of their fundraiser.

ELLEN'S APRIL, 2003 CALENDARED EVENTS

Tuesday, April 1st (No fooling)
 - Visited Williams-Bubb at Bubb School (where the 5th grade classes recreate a colonial town, similar to Williamsburg).
  - Went to the monthly Board meeting of the local League of Women Voters to tell them about Measure E and to try to get their official support. Trustee Higgins made our presentation. The result: our local League of Women Voters gave us their endorsement!

Thursday, April 3:
 Attended the regular MVWSD School Board meeting.

Friday, April 4:
 - Attended the Edsource conference on school financing.
 - Attended my Action Team #3 meeting regarding Staff Development.

Saturday, April 5:
 - Attended Fire Safety afternoon with Leadership Mountain View.

Tuesday, April 8:
 - Attended my Action Team # 3 meeting regarding Staff Development.
 - Sat on a panel at the American Association of University Women event on "The Status of Public Schools" and gave a speech "trying to paint a word picture of what these proposed layoffs would mean to MVWSD."

Wednesday, April 9:
 - Attended the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce "Business Focus 2003" breakfast.
 - Attended CAT (Communication Action Team) where we worked further on developing the parent survey that will be distributed to all families in MVWSD.
 - Attended CAC (Curriculum Advisory Council) as alternate Board rep.

Thursday, April 10:
  - Attended the special Study Session at Castro School regarding Castro's test scores and its programs, listening to 4 hours of parent testimony plus a presentation by Carla Tarazi, Castro's principal. (This important study session will be continued on TH May 22nd at Castro School at 6 PM, with Board member questions and comments, and testimony from MVWSD.)

Friday, April 11:
 - Leadership Mountain View all day (Public Safety theme).

Sat. April 12 - Sat. April 26:
 - Ellen, husband, and 8-year-old son, went to Europe to visit family. Ellen's son had an Independent Study Contract for the week after Spring Break, so they did lots of journaling of their trip.

Monday, April 28:
 - Attended FOAC (Fiscal Oversight Advisory Council) in AM.
 - Attended the 1st segment of MVWSD's Administrative Law hearings on the teacher layoffs.
 - Ellen and son happily attended the "Scoops for Measure E" fundraiser sponsored by our local Baskin Robbins ice cream shop at Miramonte and El Camino Real.

Tuesday, April 29:
 - Ellen and family happily attended the "Pizza for Measure E" fundraiser sponsored by Bubb PTA and Amicis restaurant on Castro Street.

Wednesday, April 30:
 - Worked at Slater's Book Fair.
 - Attended Action Team meeting re Staff Development.

ELLEN'S MARCH, 2003 CALENDARED EVENTS
See especially Tuesday, 3/4, and Thursday, 3/6, for important news about MVWSD's Parcel Tax effort:

Monday, March 3, 2003:
 - Attended FOAC 7:45 AM - 9:30 AM at DO.
 - Participated in Bubb's "Read Across America Day" honoring Dr. Seuss by reading Yertle the Turtle to her son's 2nd grade class (in pajamas, along with the rest of the class).
 - Went to Slater's Round Table Pizza Night fund raiser.

Tuesday, March 4:
 - Participated in her 1st meeting of Strategic Planning Action Team #3 (staff development theme).
 - Attended the Special Board Meeting on the proposed Parcel Tax. The Board listened to the phone survey report compiled by the company MVWSD hired for this purpose, asked questions, made comments, and listened to community comments and questions. The Board then unanimously voted "YES!"

     The parcel tax ("Measure E") will be voted on in a special election this June 3rd.  This tax will require a vote of 66 2/3 % of voters that day. If it passes MVWSD will gain  approximately 2.4 million dollars every year for five years for its programs. With  Governor Davis proposing to cut 1.2 million dollars from our District next year, we need  to pass this tax so our district isn't decimated with cuts. Importantly, passing this tax will  allow us to continue to retain and attract quality teachers, keep class sizes small, and  maintain essential education programs in our district.
     Some useful statistics: The average homeowner in Mountain View will pay $71  per year for this parcel tax for our school programs ($6 per month), the average apartment  renter will be charged $40 per year for this parcel tax for our school programs ($3 per  month), and the average business will pay $30 per month for this parcel tax for our  school programs. The parcel tax will be able to be deducted on income tax filings.
     When Ellen campaigned for this job she was asked how she would like to see our  District 5 years from now. The conclusion of her long answer was: "I'd like to see  MVWSD be a  'district of preference.' " This is how we would do it. WE ASK FOR  YOUR SUPPORT.
     The abbreviated text of the measure is as follows: "To maintain quality education  for students by attracting and retaining qualified and experienced teachers and staff,  keeping class sizes small, maintaining arts and music programs and continuing education  programs that enhance student achievement with no money for administrator salaries,  shall the Mountain View-Whisman School District be authorized to levy a 5 cents per  square foot annual tax on buildings and other property improvements for five years  exempting the principal residence owned by persons 65 years of age or over?"
     Please be aware that the full text of the measure states the requirement of an  independent citizens oversight committee to oversee the spending of these monies.
     An easy way to remember all this is: "Measure E stands for EXCELLENCE in  EDUCATION."
Wednesday, March 5:
 - Attended the District PTA meeting in the new multipurpose room at Landels Elementary School,
 - Attended CAC as alternate rep.

Thursday, March 6:
 - Attended the regular Board meeting where the Board listened and participated in 2 1/2 hours of community comments and discussion about the wisdom of placing the Parcel Tax on the ballot as written (above). At the end of those comments and discussion the Board decided to let the ballot measure be submitted to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters as written.

Saturday, March 8:
 - Attended MVHS's band fundraiser, "Mardi Gras" night, and feted band teacher Robin
Kramer for her 25 years of teaching band to MVHS kids. Seeing all those band kids, and hearing about 25 years of them, was a real inspiration for passing the Parcel Tax so MV kids can continue getting music training in our public schools.

Monday, March 10:
 - Attended the Parcel Tax/Measure E meeting in the evening.

Tuesday, March 11:
 - Attended her 1st CAT (Communications Action Team) meeting as Board rep., not as Bubb's parent rep. (Tammy Juarez is now Bubb's parent rep. Other school reps. = Todd McComb of Monta Loma, Tammy Juarez of Bubb; Carrie Holubar of Crittendon, rest TBA. Superintendent Jim Negri heads CAT meetings.) CAT members worked on which questions to ask for its new survey, and what format to use.
     The new survey will include many of the communications questions from the "Commication Survey" distributed to MVWSD parents at their Back to School Nights in Sept. 2001. Additionally, new questions will be asked to gain better understanding of parent satisfaction with their child's school. Most questions are similar to a Scantron-type format ("fill in the bubble"), plus an open-ended section where parents can write in their own words what they want to say about how MVWSD is doing. This new "deluxe" survey will be distributed at each school's Open House this year (April and May).

Wednesday, March 12:
 - Attended FOAC at Huff School 7:45 - 8:45 AM.
 - Met with Trustee Filicetti as Policies Review Committee to do Policies review.
 - Attended a Special Board meeting at 5 PM to discuss and vote on the teacher layoffs that we have to plan for if our Parcel Tax does not pass.

Thursday, March 13:
 - Attended Challenge Team breakfast 7 AM - 8:30, along with Board rep. Carol Fisher and Supt. Jim Negri and at least 2 dozen of ther local people working to help kids.

Friday, March 14:
 - Leadership Mountain View, all day. (Theme: "Education"!!!) We heard from a panel of local educators about the dire state of our local school financing and the wonderful kids who attend our schools who deserve the best education we can give them. We also broke up into groups where we tried to problem solve about our education money crisis and debated about whether our community should try to put a parcel tax on the June 2003 ballot. In my group 80% of us were in favor of a June 2003 parcel tax and would vote for it.

Monday, March 17:
 - Met with Trustee Fisher for lunch.

Tuesday, March 18:
 - Met with her Action Team #3 partner to work on our assignment.

Thursday, March 20:
 - Attended the training for Bubb's "Ability Awareness Week." (Ellen volunteered to lead the Ability Awareness lesson for two 2nd grade classes at Bubb next week.)
 - Attended regular MVWSD Board meeting.

Saturday, March 22:
 - Attended SCCSBA ("Santa Clara County School Board Association") annual brunch.

Sunday, March 23:
 - Attended Bubb's "Principal's Picnic" for 2nd and 3rd grade families and teachers.

Monday, March 24: ("Ability Awareness Week" at Bubb)
 - Spent all day getting training and then correcting MVWSD MARS math tests, along with others.

Tuesday, March 25:
 - Led two separate 2nd grade classes at Bubb in their Ability Awareness lesson.
 - Attended Bubb's PTA meeting and enthusiastically voted "yes" to Bubb's resolution to suppport MVWSD's Measure E.

Monday, March 31:
 - Attended the all-day Women's Conference in San Francisco.

ELLEN'S FEBRUARY, 2003 CALENDARED EVENTS:

Tuesday, February 4, 2003:
 Attended Monta Loma's Kindergarten Information night.

Wednesday, February 5:
 - Attended FOAC at District Office 7:45 AM - 9:15 AM.
 - Attended the remainder of the District PTA Council's "Founders Day" event/meeting at LAHS.

Thursday, February 6:
 - Attended Slater's Kindergarten Open House.
 - MVWSD Board Meeting 6 PM - 10 PM.

Friday, February 7:
 - Spoke to 2 AVID classes at Crittenden Middle School.
 - Attended the remainder of the monthly SCCBA lunch.

Sunday, February 9:
 Attended the League of Women Voters "Meet Your Local Elected Officials" event "wearing 2 hats": as a member of LWV social events committee and as a MVWSD Trustee.

Monday, February 10:
 Attended Bubb's Kindergarten Information Night.

Tuesday, February 11:
 Participated in a Parcel Tax Focus Group at the DO.

Wednesday, February 12:
 Attended CAC, as alt. rep.

Thursday, February 13:
 - Attended the monthly Challenge Team breakfast.
 - Met with Jim Negri at the DO.
 - MVWSD Board Meeting 5 PM - 10 PM.

Valentines Day:
 Leadership Mountain View all day, including giving her 3 minute report on how she fulfilled her 10-hour volunteer requirement for LMV. Ellen reported on her work on the Joint Venture Silicon Valley Tax Policy Group, including giving all LMV members a "hot off the press" copy of the Tax Policy Group's "Tax Policy Workbook" which was created through input from the Tax Focus Group.
 Went out for a romantic dinner with hubby!!!

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21 = Presidents Week (school holiday)
 Happy Ellen and family went for a vacation to Mauii.

ELLEN'S JANUARY, 2003 CALENDARED EVENTS:

Monday, January 27, 2003:
Participated in Bubb's Round Table Discussion about school priorities.

Tuesday, January 28:
Attended Bubb's PTA General Meeting in her role as Bubb's PTA parliamentarian.

Wednesday, January 29:
Met with Trustee Rose Filicetti to review and revise District Policies in her role as Policies Committee member.

Attended Graham Middle School's 3:15 staff meeting; conferred with Wren Clark, GMS's Literacy Coach regarding how she and Dr. Crates are guiding Strategic Schooling at GMS.

Attended the District's "Kindergarten Information Night" at Castro.

Thursday, January 30
Attended SSC meeting at Landels.

Friday, January 31
Attended (and brought dessert) Bubb's Rm. 9 monthly potluck dinner.

Went on her police ride-along with the MVPD, through Leadership Mountain View.

(Monday, January 20, was a District holiday to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr., Day; Tuesday, January 21, was a Teacher Meeting Day on Strategic Schooling, with no school for students.)

Wednesday, January 22
Attended FOAC at District Office.

Met with Asst. Supt. Modrite Archibeque re CAC.

Attended two Strategic Schooling sessions held at Theuerkauf.

Thursday, January 23
Attended a Strategic Schooling session at Bubb, + follow-up.

MVWSD Board meeting 5 PM - 10 PM.

Friday, January 24
Attended Joint Venture Silicon Valley's 2003 Index Release and Celebration breakfast.

Attended JVSV Tax Policy Group meeting.

Saturday, January 11
Attended the meeting held by Assemblyman Joe Simitian in Palo Alto for local educators, etc., on the effect of the State budget cuts on education.

Monday, January 13
Met with Asst. Supt. Modrite Archibeque re CAC.

Tuesday, January 14
Attended a CSMA-sponsored Gamelan concert at Slater; was welcomed into kindergarten teacher Sue Lampkin's class to observe and question.

Attended Bubb's PTA Board meeting.

Wednesday, January 15
Attended my 1st CAC meeting, as alternate Trustee rep.

Monday, January 6
1st day back to school after Winter Break. Took my son to Bubb and finally got some things done at home!

Tuesday, January 7
Met with Supt. Jim Negri re general reporting and questions.

Thursday, January 9
Challenge Team breakfast meeting.

MVWSD Board Meeting 6 - 10 PM.

Friday, January 10
Leadership Mountain View all day.

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