Nancy Newton Recognized for
20 Years of Service as a Trustee in the
Fremont Union High School District
The Board of Trustees, Superintendent Polly Bove and staff honored Board Member Nancy Newton with a
20 BALLOON SALUTE at the Special Meeting of the Board
held July 17, 2007. Newton was appointed to the Board on
July 21, 1987 and during her 20 years of service, she has not missed a Board meeting. A reception will be held to honor
Nancy Newton at the September 4th Board Meeting when the Board will appoint a new Trustee to replace Kathryn Ho,
who resigned effective August 24, 2007.

BOARD REPORT for Board of Trustees Meetings July 17, 2007
***************************************************************
BOARD OF TRUSTEES...
   • Unanimously authorized staff to release the unredacted (no black outs) timeline from the
     Bennett & Sharpe Investigation. Last October the Law Office of Bennett & Sharpe, Inc.
     was hired by the Board “to complete a timeline starting with the beginning of the
     advertisement for the position at Monta Vista addressing confidentiality issues, the role of
     the staff and the Board, ending with August 22nd, with the goal that the Board could
     establish policy so that this kind of thing does not happen again.” This was in reference to
     why Monta Vista High School Teachers Melanie Walczak and Tim Krieger suddenly left the
     District in summer 2006. A redacted version of the timeline was released to the public on
     November 2, 2006. Some sections were blacked out due to the District being in the midst
     of litigation.
  • Agreed to hold a “Roundtable” Special Board Meeting July 23, 2007 to give an overview of
     the District and highlight Board duties and responsibilities for potential candidates applying
     to fill the vacancy on the Board due to the resignation of Kathryn Ho. District staff will make
     a presentation and current Trustees will describe their roles and responsibilities.
  • Discussed the details for “Board Candidate Interviews” to be held on July 30, 2007 at 2:30pm.
     All candidates will be in the Board room at the same time for interviews along with the Board
     of Trustees, District staff, and the public. The Board agreed to ask questions on a rotating basis
     of candidates (most equitable as each will have opportunity to answer first and last). Board
     President Barbara Nunes and Board Member Homer Tong will decide on which questions to
     ask, referring to those asked at the last appointment in 1997 and using topic ideas from fellow
     Trustees and Superintendent Bove. The Board decided to also give the candidates a scenario
     that might happen in the District and ask how they would handle it. It was announced that one
     person has already submitted an application and requested an interview by phone as he will be
     out of the country. Staff will use the speaker phone for this candidate during the interviews.
  • Twenty (20) Balloon Salute to Board Member Nancy Newton! see District Bulletin

BOARD REPORT for Board of Trustees Meetings July 23, 2007
***************************************************************
BOARD OF TRUSTEES...
Nine (9) community members attended the Information Meeting for Prospective Board Candidates. Presentation given:
  • Superintendent Polly Bove began the presentation focusing on the state of the District
     including student demographics for the last 20 years. She also summarized major focus areas
     for the 2007-08 school year such as maintaining fiscal vigilance while working to enrich
     academic opportunities for students including revisioned, outcomes-based guidance program;
     enriched course offerings; and targeted alternative course work.
  • Academic Deputy Superintendent Kate Jamentz provided an overview of the role of the local
     school board, the State of California, and the Federal Government on what is taught in schools
     and how it is taught. This included accountability standards and measures such as No Child
     Left Behind (NCLB), Academic Performance Index (API), Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP),
     Title I (low income students), Title II (teacher quality), Title III (English Learners), School
     Plans, and WASC. She also addressed to what standards students are held accountable in the
     District and outlined goals for program development districtwide.
  • Superintendent Bove reviewed school funding and the financial stability of the District
     now in the near future.
  • Board Members provided their perspective on their roles and responsibilities as a Trustee:
     work as a team; study materials and be prepared for Board meetings; be in the community,
     out in the schools, and participate in many events and dinners (lot of time away from family);
     hire and evaluate superintendent (only personnel role); serve on number of committees;
     support our Foundation; be active with state legislators/legislation and other organizations
     such as Santa Clara County School Boards Association and California School Boards
     Association. All agreed it is very, very rewarding work.

FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS
FRIDAY, July 27, 2007 — Closed Session @ 3PM; Open Session @ no earlier than 4pm
MONDAY, July 30, 2007 — Open Session @ 2:30PM, Candidate Interviews,
Public Input and Appointment of New Board Member 
TUESDAY, August 14, 2007 — Closed Session @ 5PM, Open Session @ 6PM

EDUCATING CAPABLE, CARING, CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS FOR LIFE