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WawonaNews.com - December 2016

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​YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL
Board of Directors Meeting


Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Wawona Elementary School
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, California
AGENDA   
  1. CALL TO ORDER
  2. ROLL CALL
MONTHLY ITEMS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS
  1. CONSENT AGENDA
NOTE: The Board will be asked to approve all of the following items by a single vote, unless any member of the Board or of the public asks that an item be removed from the consent agenda and considered and discussed separately.
  1. Approval of agenda
  2. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting, November 8, 2016
  1. Financial reports
    1. Monthly approval of warrants  (Action needed)
    2. Financial Report
    3. Payroll Report
  2. HEARING OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
The public may address the Board on any matter pertaining to the school that is not on the agenda.    There will be no Board discussion and no action will be taken unless listed on a subsequent agenda. 
ACTION ITEMS
  1. Approve 2015-16 ADA Correction Reports- P2 2015-16 and Annual 2015-16.
  2. Approve 1st Interim Budget Report for 2016-17.
  3. Approve 2016-17 ADA P1 Report.
INFORMATION ITEMS 
  1. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
    1. Golf Tournament Financials
  2. STAFF REPORTS
10.1.L CAP Update-
  1. Student safety training
  2. Several inquiries regarding enrollment for the 2017-18 school year
  3. 2017-18 transportation, calendar, minutes
  1. NEXT MEETING DATE
  2. CLOSED SESSION   Personnel/Negotiations/Litigation
NOTE:  The Board will consider and may act upon any of the following items in closed session.  Any action taken will be reported publicly at the end of the closed session as required by law.
12.1.Employee Negotiations (Gov. Code 54957.6)
12.2.Personnel (Gov. Code 54957)
  1. Renegotiation of staff contracts.
 
  1. RECOVENE IN OPEN SESSION:  ANNOUNCE CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
  2. ADJOURNMENT

                        Winter Driving in Yosemite

​CHAIN CONTROL:
 
All vehicles MUST CARRY CHAINS or other approved traction devices in the mountains during winter conditions.  The speed limit in chain control zones (after the chain control checkpoint) is 25 MPH until you leave the controlled zone. 
 
Yosemite National Park imposes and posts the following restrictions depending on conditions -
 
R-1: Chains are required on all vehicles except passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks under 6,000 pounds gross weight and equipped with snow tires on at least two drive wheels. Chains must be carried by vehicles using snow tires. All vehicles towing trailers must have chains on one drive axle. Trailers with brakes must have chains on at least one axle.
R-2: Chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles under 6,500 pounds gross weight and equipped with snow tires on all four wheels. Chains for one set of drive wheels must be carried by four wheel-drive vehicles using snow tires.    4x4's over 6500 lbs MUST 'chain up' - (examples depending on equipment - H1 Hummers, Expeditions, some one ton dually pickups, etc.)
R-3: Chains are required on all vehicles without exception. (There is no such thing as "an exempt vehicle").
 
SOME HANDY INFO:
 
  • What are the dates for the chain law?   California does not have any specific dates when vehicles are required to carry chains. When the road is posted with a sign requiring chains, all heavy-duty vehicles (over 6,500 pounds gross weight) must be equipped with chains mounted on the tires in order to proceed. Depending on the severity of road conditions, some vehicles (passenger cars, 4-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires) may not be required to install chains at that point. The exceptions will be posted on the sign.
 
  • Are “all-weather” or “all-terrain” tires the same as “snow” tires?   They may be. Snow tires have the designation “Mud & Snow” or an abbreviation such as “M-S,” “M+S,” or “M/S” marked on the tire sidewall. Tires without this designation are not considered snow tires. Snow tires must also have at least 6/32-inch (3/16”) of tread depth (about 1/2 of the original tread depth).
 
  • If I have 4-wheel-drive, do I need to carry chains?   Yes. Even though weather conditions may not warrant the use of chains on 4-wheel-drive vehicles at a particular time, to enter a chain control area, you must have a set of chains (for one drive axle) for your vehicle in your possession. If conditions worsen or you have trouble controlling your vehicle, you must stop and install the chains.
  • If I have snow tires, do I need to carry chains?   Yes. Even though weather conditions may not warrant the use of chains on passenger vehicles equipped with snow tires at a particular time, to enter a chain control area, you must have a set of chains (one pair) for your vehicle in your possession. If conditions worsen or you have trouble controlling your vehicle, you must stop and install the chains.
 
  • If I have studded snow tires, do I need to carry chains?  Yes. Studded snow tires are not considered tire traction devices and may not be used in lieu of chains.
  • Is “all-wheel drive” the same as 4-wheel drive?   Yes. Even though all-wheel drive systems may differ mechanically from conventional 4- wheel drive systems, for the purposes of chain control, all-wheel drive is considered the same as 4-wheel drive.
 
  • Do I have to put on chains when I am towing a trailer?  Yes, always.
  • Even if I have 4-wheel drive?  Yes.
  • Do I have to put chains on the trailer?   You must have at least one axle chained if the trailer is equipped with brakes.
 
QUESTIONS REGARDING CHAIN CONTROL OR ROAD CONDITIONS IN THE PARK? 
Call the recorded line at:  (209) 372-0200 or the Traffic Management Office at:  (209) 372-0600
 
CHECKLIST BEFORE HEADING OUT ONTO THE ROAD:
 
Brakes in good working order?
Tires have good tread depth?
Tire pressure correct?
Windshield wipers working correctly?
Antifreeze levels, heaters, defrosters working per factory specs?
 
ONBOARD SUPPLIES FOR WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS:
 
Chains, Cables or Spiders !!! (depending on your vehicle type)
Windshield de-icer
Ice scraper
Blanket(s)
Flashlight (batteries fresh?)
Bottled water
Non perishable food (i.e.: energy bars)
Broom or snow brush
Small shovel
Towel or burlap sack for traction if needed
Cell phone?  (Keep cell phone with you when exiting the car to install chains)
Extra key in packet or hidden on car? (Lock outs occur frequently while installing chains)

 

​             Roundabout Construction at South Entrance

Beginning the second week of November, Federal Highways will place K rails along the roadside and blocking the current exit lane going out.  The temporary exit lane will be driving to the old three way intersection.  The diversion is so Federal Highways can begin working on the new large traffic circle that will control the intersection of Hwy. 41 and the Mariposa Grove Road.  This construction and traffic diversion will continue throughout the winter and early spring until the traffic circle is completed.  This roundabout project also includes resurfacing Hwy. 41 from the Park boundary to just North of the South Entrance where the Hwy. 41 resurfacing project started in 2010. ​

                    New Listing: ​7989 Koon Hollar

            7989 Koon Hollar, 1 bed, 1 bath, 850 sqft, $450,000.  Click here for more information.


​        The Effects of the Drought and the Bark Beetle

 
​                Big Trees Lodge Thanksgiving Menu

YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL
Board of Directors Meeting


Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Wawona Elementary School
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, California
AGENDA   
  1. CALL TO ORDER
  2. ROLL CALL
MONTHLY ITEMS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS
  1. CONSENT AGENDA
NOTE: The Board will be asked to approve all of the following items by a single vote, unless any member of the Board or of the public asks that an item be removed from the consent agenda and considered and discussed separately.
  1. Approval of agenda
  2. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting, September 13, 2016
  1. Financial reports
    1. Monthly approval of warrants  (Action needed)
    2. Financial Report
    3. Payroll Report (signatures required)
      1. Back Payroll report from July 2016
      2. Back Payroll report from August 2016
      3. Back Payroll report from September 2016
      4.  Current Payroll report from October 2016
  2. HEARING OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
The public may address the Board on any matter pertaining to the school that is not on the agenda.    There will be no Board discussion and no action will be taken unless listed on a subsequent agenda. 
ACTION ITEMS
  1. Epi Pen protocol policy adoption- Health and Insurance requirement
  2. TB requirements for new students- Are we going to require or wave this test? New students vs. current students-grandfathered in?
  3. Car seats- need to purchase boosters for students requiring safety seats.
  4. 2016-2017 Enrollment Cap- as per our discussion last meeting- we are capping enrollment this school year to 21 students UNLESS a student moves into Wawona???? Discussion and vote needed at this meeting.
  5. Technology budget- need to set an amount without relying on Aramark funds-Esmé’s iPad donation and associated expenses to support technology
  6. Independent Contracts-what is the difference between IC vs. employee
11.1.Loretta Lyster- Art
11.2.Scott McGhee- Middle School Math Tutor
11.3.Annie Starkey- Spanish Teacher, Classroom Aide
  1. Buildings and Grounds Position- discuss job contract and hire for position
  2. Transportation for next year- Need to create a transportation committee to research BUS vs. purchasing van we already have- extra costs for vehicle, funding, maintenance, and driver POSITION
  3. Teacher Effectiveness Plan- present and discuss- adopt following meeting
  4. R.E.A.P. Grant money- received $20K of restricted Federal funds- need to discuss how to spend this money and vote on priorities- Possibly to apply towards salaries.  Staff has some recommendations from the auditors.
  5. Budget Report update for 2016-17
INFORMATION ITEMS 
  1. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
17.1.Golf Tournament Financials
  1. STAFF REPORTS
18.1.L CAP Update- New parent survey sent out via Survey Monkey
18.2.YoSTEMite Day- Wednesday, September 28, 2016
18.3.San Diego Fieldtrip- October 3- 7, 2016
18.4.Audit Report Update from October 24-25, 2016
  1. NEXT MEETING DATE
  2. CLOSED SESSION   Personnel/Negotiations/Litigation
NOTE:  The Board will consider and may act upon any of the following items in closed session.  Any action taken will be reported publicly at the end of the closed session as required by law.
20.1.Employee Negotiations (Gov. Code 54957.6)
20.2.Personnel (Gov. Code 54957)
  1. RECOVENE IN OPEN SESSION:  ANNOUNCE CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
  2. ADJOURNMENT

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​One-Way Traffic Control Continues On Highway 41
150-day $5-million dollar tree removal project


Crews started the project in October on the north end of SR-41 in Mariposa County, at the higher elevations, and will head south as the weather pushes them and the project progresses.
The tree removal project is expected to continue into February, 2017, and Caltrans will provide regular updates as the project continues. In the meantime, travelers are asked to pay attention to Caltrans flags on the road and slow for the cone zone.
Picture
Crews have almost completed the tagging of dead trees in Wawona.

​All un-tagged dead trees on private property are the responsibility of the property owner.

A message from YNP forester Brian Mattos:
PG&E / Utility Tree plans to mobilize multiple crews/cranes in Wawona the end of October/early November for tagged dead tree removal.

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Picture
Dbl XC and diameter measurement are PG&E markings
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