ARTS AT MONTEREY
The board approved a contract between the district and the HeArt Project, a Los Angeles-based art program for students in alternative and continuation high schools.
A limited number of students will be allowed to participate in the art program and will have to have exhibited prolonged interest in the arts through classes at the school and write an essay for admission into the program.
WHAT IT MEANS
The HeArt Project will be integrated into the school's curriculum from Sept. 1 this year to June 2010. It will cost the district $14,000 a year. Students at Monterey High School will have the chance to participate in social-action-based art projects exploring themes on racism and environmental sustainability, among others.
VOTE: 5-0
DISTRICT E-MAIL SYSTEM
The board approved the contract to update and unify the district's e-mail systems with the yearly charge of $25,000 for the use of the system.
WHAT IT MEANS
District technology services is in the process of updating and combining two e-mail systems used by the staff members, faculty and administrators. They will take the e-mail systems and transfer use to one called Novell's GroupWise.
GroupWise has worked with the district for more than 12 years.
VOTE: 5-0
TEXTBOOK ADOPTIONS
The board approved the adoption and purchase of high school economics, psychology and sociology textbooks for the next school year.
The texts have all been available for review from the public at the district offices for the past week and a half.
WHAT IT MEANS
Textbooks will be swapped out for the new books in August when students return for instruction.
The cost for the books varies from $65 to $119 each.
VOTE: 5-0
EXIT EXAM WAIVERS
The board approved a waiver for 12 special-education students with learning disabilities for the California High School Exit Exam.
WHAT IT MEANS
The 12 students given the waiver will be able to graduate from high school without passing the California High School Exit Exam.
VOTE: 5-0
CONTRACT RENEWAL
The board approved a change in its contract for services from FilmL.A. Inc., a company that helps to facilitate the process of dealing with production companies and movie studios regarding film permits.
The amendment to the contract pertained only to the district's policy on what to do with unclaimed deposit money from film production studios.
WHAT IT MEANS
The district now retains the right to keep deposit money in the event that it or its representatives from FilmL.A. cannot locate the production company to refund the deposit.
VOTE: 5-0
