Photo by Nancy Forrest — Representatives of the Atascadero Unified School District receive a donation of 24 United States flags used in classrooms throughout the district as part of Atascadero Elks' ongoing Americanism program during a meeting of the Board of Trustees Aug. 19. Pictured from left are AUSD board member Tami Gunther, AUSD superintendent John Rogers, Atascadero Elks exalted ruler Mark Gibbs, AUSD board president Terri Switzer and Atascadero Elks Americanism committee chairman Dutch Nichols.

In preparation for the first day of school, the Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees received an overview of food service, transportation, facilities and technology operations, especially in light of expected state budget cuts, during a special afternoon meeting Aug. 19.

The school board voted 6-0 to approve an architectural agreement between the district and Ground Up Design and Construction Management, Inc., at a cost of $3,870 for the Atascadero High School quad, which includes the area between the library and Hilltop Café. Trustee George Dodge was not present at the meeting.

Stacie Glein, landscape architect from Ground Up Design, designed the master plan for the AHS quad improvements and will also provide plans and construction documents for the project area. The project will include the installation of ramps, walks and an amphitheater.

The board also voted 6-0 to approve the lease and sublease agreement between AUSD and RSH Construction, Inc., at a cost of $173,000 for the AHS quad improvements.

The school board also voted 6-0 to approve an architectural agreement for the diesel mechanics student facility project between the district and Santa Maria-based Ravatt Albrecht and Associates, Inc. at a cost of $219,807. The company also has offices in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.

“Ravatt Albrecht & Associates is the district’s architect for the Maintenance, Operations and Transportation project that is adjacent to and integrated with the diesel mechanics student facility,” said Stuart Stoddard, AUSD support services director. “They were chosen to ensure project compatibility between the facilities and ease of construction and coordination.”

Superintendent John Rogers said it was important that district families know that the district remains in the midst of a budget crisis despite the prevalence of infrastructure improvements and building projects. He reminded community members that the district’s facilities and operating funds are restricted to such expenditures and cannot be spent in other areas of education to alleviate the district’s budget woes. He said the cuts in the budget, the zero cost-of-living adjustment and the restricted budget is the reality for the foreseeable future.

During the meeting, Stoddard outlined various aspects of the district’s plans to upgrade infrastructure at various locations throughout the district, noting that 250 work orders have gone out since June 1. Some of the projects have been deferred maintenance while other projects are being postponed until next year.

Stoddard said the bids for the $3.1 million project closed Aug. 26 and, if the bids are within the allotted budget, the project will begin construction next spring. Monterey Road Elementary School is also slated to undergo a $3 million modernization project at its campus.

“The money we receive for these projects is specific for these types of projects and we receive matching funds for that area,” he said. “There are so many pieces to the funding that it sometimes becomes complicated. As Superintendent Rogers explains it, the money is in silos and the corn cannot be mixed or used for anything other than its intended use, but the school district can leverage that money to get more money to benefit education. It’s important that the school district takes advantage of the state funds when they are offered.”

Stoddard commended the efforts of the Atascadero Fine Arts Academy’s Parent Teacher Student Association for raising all of the funds to purchase and install the school’s new playground at the Olmeda Avenue campus and noted that the San Gabriel Road Elementary School playground is also nearing completion.

In addition, Louise Mayhew, AUSD assistant director of food services, outlined changes in food services in the district. She said state budget cuts have necessitated cuts in food services and have made the past few months a tough road to navigate but she noted that she is glad the department has reached its goal. The district was losing about $50,000 per year in food services operations and has reduced its annual loses by $47,000 to $3,083, she said.

Mayhew said the department has reduced its inventory and has stopped hiring substitutes for employees who are absent in order to save additional funds. The department has also reduced the number of kitchens from four to three and has designated the kitchen at San Benito Elementary School as the only site for food preparation.

Mayhew said budget cuts achieved within the food services department is the accomplishment of the whole department working together to improve its efficiency and reduce costs. State officials have commended AUSD for its quality food program, as well as its ongoing involvement in fresh produce and Farm to School programs and have told the district to keep up the good work, she said.

Mayhew also lauded her food service colleagues’ efforts in implementing a wellness program during the 2006-07 school year, as well as the upcoming state mandate to eliminate transfat from school meals.

“We want better health for our kids and that’s what we are trying to achieve,” she said.

Annie Sharp, AUSD assistant director of transportation and regulatory compliance, told the board the district will implement changes in its bus schedule, including a new rule requiring seventh through 12th-grade students to walk to school if they live within three miles of their campus.

Rogers gave a presentation on behalf of Candy Smet, AUSD technology director who was not present at the meeting. Rogers said the district spent the summer and will continue to train additional teachers in the next few months to use Aries, a new, Web-based computer program for sharing information with parents in the district.

When fully implemented, parents will be able to access classroom information at home including grades and attendance information. Rogers said the system will require about one year to be fully implemented districtwide and requested patience from parents as the district brings the new program into an increasing number of classrooms throughout the district in the coming months.

AHS principal E.J. Rossi said the district is working to ensure a smooth transition between the old system and the Aries computer program and is working to fine-tune aspects of the computer program to ensure parental access to their child’s information.

Board member Tami Gunther commended Rossi and other employees who are working hard to improve technology throughout the district.

“We’ve been waiting for years for this to happen and it’s great to have it,” she said.

The school board also accepted a donation of 24 American flags from Atascadero Elks exalted ruler Mark Gibbs and Americanism committee chairman Dutch Nichols on behalf of the philanthropic fraternal organization. The Elks provide an ongoing supply of flags to ensure every classroom, as well as the district boardroom, is equipped with a flag for display.

During the meeting, Rogers said the school district continues to maintain open communications with solar companies currently seeking approval from San Luis Obispo County to operate their businesses within the county. He said he hopes that the school district can work in collaboration and cooperation with the companies to ensure that AUSD students have greater educational, mentoring and job opportunities that enable them to learn more about energy and its potential future job prospects.

Board president Terri Switzer expressed a sense of pride at the number of AUSD students who won awards in competition at the California Mid-State Fair and commended the agriculture teachers and the students themselves for the excellent showing among award winners.