School Board Preview: Contract, Grants and Recognition

The Poway Unified School District board is set to meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12 at the district office, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego.

Here's what's on the agenda (the agenda and full packet are attached to this story):

• Superintendent contract: The board will vote on extending Superintendent John Collins' contract for four years through June 30, 2015 after a performance review in which members were "very pleased" with Collins' leadership. The superintendent's current contract provides a $235,000 annual salary. However, since last school year Collins has taken a 4.3 percent salary cut alongside many district employees, bringing his pay to $224,895. Collins has been superintendent since July 2010.
• Mental health grants: The California Department of Mental Health has awarded a $483,000 grant for mental health programming at four elementary schools over three years. The schools—Creekside, Garden Road, Painted Rock, and Willow Grove—will be able to help K-3 students with mild emotional, behavioral, and learning difficulties. The board will vote on accepting the grants.
• Staff and volunteer recognition: A presentation is planned for the district's teachers of the year (Lisa Casey-O'Brien, Poway High; Jo Ann Cooper, Twin Peaks Middle; Julie Harris, Willow Grove Elementary), classified employees of the year (Trish Malimali, Adult Education; Vonnie Warrick, Monterey Ridge Elementary) and district volunteers of the year (Wendy Hummel, Poway High; Kimberly Rohr, Twin Peaks Middle; Charity Stone, Del Sur Elementary).
• Also: 2010-11 unaudited actual financial report; National School Lunch Week; RB High Central Plant Project.

A special board meeting has been scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22 to discuss education strategy for the school year.