During an April 5 meeting, school board members listened to an update from school site staff about professional development and minimum days.

Principals have been holding forums with parents to address questions and concerns with the professional development program, which is in its first year of implementation. Those forums are still under way, and principals at the school board's April 26 meeting will give a full report.

The board is being asked to approve a 2005-06 plan for professional development and minimum days at its May 10 meeting. The decision, if approved, would still have to be negotiated in terms of instructional minutes with the Saratoga Teachers' Association.

Student learning and work is at the heart of the professional development program, with the goal being to improve student achievement in writing. The minimum days give teachers collaborative time to plan their curriculum and evaluate the work of their students. Cathie Thermond, school board president, said parents are no longer questioning the need for professional development or how the time is spent. Instead, parents still have concerns about scheduling of the professional development time and minimum days, after school child care and communication about the implementation process.

In addition, school board members listened to an update from Ellen Tipton, chief business official, about the 2005-06 budget. They were updated about work conducted by the district's budget advisory committee. Tipton said they have no new firm information from the state regarding the 2005-06 budget.

Superintendent Lane Weiss said the budget advisory committee is also engaging in conversation about what could be added to the school district, even though currently the school district is still in a cutback mode. Weiss also said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger-proposed legislation, which would give the state the ability to implement mid-year budget cuts, has been cause for concern.

"It has us a bit worried," Weiss said.