Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Actions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pacific Grove Unified board approves CSUMB student-teaching MOU, adopts reading screener and affirms positive second interim
Summary
The Pacific Grove Unified School District Board of Education on March 20 approved a memorandum of understanding with California State University, Monterey Bay for student teachers, adopted Amplify DIBELS 8 with mCLASS as the district reading screener, and certified a positive second interim budget projection.
The Pacific Grove Unified School District Board of Education approved three formal actions at its March 20 meeting: renewal of a student-teaching memorandum of understanding with California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB); adoption of the Amplify DIBELS 8 with mCLASS reading screener; and certification of a positive second interim budget.
Board members said the items were routine but important for classroom staffing, early literacy and fiscal planning. Trustee Shamas moved to approve the CSUMB MOU, Trustee Wax seconded; Trustee Shamas made the motion to approve the MOU and the board approved it by roll-call vote. Acting President/Clerk McNary moved to adopt the DIBELS/mCLASS screener and Trustee Wax seconded; the board voted to adopt. Board President Dr. Elliot Hazen moved to approve the second interim certification and Trustee Wax seconded; the board voted to certify a positive fiscal status for the current and two subsequent years.
Why it matters: the CSUMB MOU formalizes the district’s relationship with a local teacher-preparation program and keeps student-teacher placements in Pacific Grove. The DIBELS/mCLASS adoption fulfills a new state requirement to select a screening tool by June 30, 2025 and supports the district’s plan to screen K–5 students (the district currently screens K–5, though the new law specifically requires K–2). The second interim certification provides the board’s formal assessment of the district’s ability to meet its financial obligations through the next two fiscal years.
Votes at a glance: - Approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with California State University, Monterey Bay for student teaching. Motion: “Approve the MOU with CSUMB student teaching agreement.” Mover: Trustee Shamas. Seconder: Trustee Wax. Vote: Aye — President Dr. Elliot Hazen; Acting President/Clerk McNary; Trustee Shamas; Trustee Wax; Student Trustee — aye; Trustee Atmar — absent. Outcome: approved (4–0 recorded roll call; student trustee voted aye; one trustee absent). - Adopt Amplify DIBELS 8 with mCLASS as the district reading difficulty screener (three-year proposal, includes professional development). Motion: (adopt screener as presented). Mover: Acting President/Clerk McNary. Seconder: Trustee Wax. Vote: Aye — Hazen, McNary, Shamas, Wax; Student Trustee excused prior to final votes. Outcome: approved (4–0). - Certify second interim financial report (positive certification). Motion: Approve second interim report as presented. Mover: President Dr. Hazen. Seconder: Trustee Wax. Vote: Aye — Hazen, McNary, Shamas, Wax; Student Trustee — aye. Outcome: approved (4–0).
Other board action recorded: the board approved a consent-item walk-on permitting Pacific Grove High School’s JV softball team to travel out of county for a rescheduled game; that travel item was added into consent and approved in the roll-call consent vote. In closed session the board approved sending a letter to a complainant after review of an employee-related investigation; the board reported the action (all board members present voted yes with Trustee Otmar not present).
What the motions did not do: none of the items changed district policy on its face — the MOU renews an existing collaboration, the screener adoption selects a state‑approved instrument for universal screening, and the second interim certification is the board’s required fiscal finding under California rules. The board directed staff to continue implementation work for screening and to return with normal follow-up and budget updates when appropriate.
Committee and staff notes: district instructional staff said the mCLASS platform retains historical DIBELS data, includes parent-facing resources in English and Spanish, and supplies teacher-facing guidance for targeted small-group instruction. District business staff noted key second interim figures (see the separate budget article for detail) and emphasized the district remains a basic-aid (community-funded) district that relies principally on local property tax receipts.
For the record: the meeting opened under a teleconferencing Brown Act procedure and included the land acknowledgment and student presentations before regular business. The board will reconvene March 27 for a special governance training meeting.
