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December 14, 2022

REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Redwood City, California

APPROVED MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

December 14, 2022

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

1.         Call to Order

President Díaz-Slocum called the Regular Session to order at 6:30 p.m.

 

1.1       Roll Call

Present at the Regular Session Meeting: President María Díaz-Slocum, Vice-President Cecilia I. Márquez; Trustees Janet Lawson, Mike Wells, and Alisa MacAvoy; and Superintendent Baker. 

 

Others present during the Regular Board meeting: Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly, CBO Rick Edson, Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe, Trustee Elect David Weekly, Will Robertson, Jorge Quintana, and many others.

 

2.         Welcome

President Díaz-Slocum welcomed those present.

 

3.         Oath of Office

Oath of Office for Cecilia Márquez was done by her 3 children.

 

Oath of Office for David Weekly, newly elected Trustee, was done by his two sons.

 

5.         Reception

5.1       Recognition of María Díaz-Slocum

 

Superintendent Baker, the School Board, and a few community members recognized María Díaz-Slocum for her commitment and endless support to the Redwood City School District.

 

Superintendent Baker presented a Certificate of Congressional Recognition on behalf of Congresswoman Eshoo, a legislative proclamation on behalf of Senator Becker and Assemblymember Berman, and a Certificate of Recognition on behalf of the Redwood City School District, in honor of her years of service to the Redwood City School District and community as a whole.

 

School Board Trustees and Superintendent Baker expressed their appreciation to retiring Board President María Díaz-Slocum and wished her a happy retirement.

 

Former Board Trustee Dennis McBride, staff, members of Familias Unidas, and members of the public/RCSD parents, including: Ninfa and Secundino, Giselle Hale, Michelle Torres, Beatriz Senda, Laura Ramirez, all thanked María Díaz-Slocum for her work in making sure the student’s needs were met, and for her overall support and service to the Redwood City School District.

 

Board President María Díaz-Slocum thanked everyone for their comments. She shared memories and experiences with the Redwood City School District. She thanked the Board Trustees, RCSD staff, and community partnerships.

 

4.         Board Officer’s Rotation

 

4.1       President

4.2       Vice-President

4.3       Clerk

4.4       Secretary to the Board (Superintendent)

4.5       Representative to San Mateo County Committee on School District Organization

4.6       Liaison to California School Boards Association and the San Mateo County School Boards Association

 

The School Board reorganized as follows:

 

Board President: Cecilia Márquez

Board Vice-President: Janet Lawson

Clerk: Mike Wells

Secretary to the Board: John Baker, Superintendent

Representative to San Mateo County Committee on School District Organization: Alisa MacAvoy

Liaison to California School Boards Association and the San Mateo County School Boards Association: David Weekly

 

President Márquez thanked her family for their unconditional support. She also thanked the Board Trustees, Superintendent Baker, the cabinet, and all of the RCSD staff.

 

6.      Changes to the Agenda

Superintendent Baker requested to move agenda item 5. Reception under agenda item 3. Oath of Office, followed by agenda item 4. Board Officer’s Rotation.

 

7.         Approval of the Agenda

The School Board approved the agenda as amended, (Wells, Weekly; 5-0).

Trustee Weekly (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Wells (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

President Márquez (Ayes)

 

8.         Oral Communication

None.

 

9.         School/Community Reports

 

9.1       Citizens' Measure U Oversight Committee Year Five Report for 2021-2022

 

Janet Borgens, the current President of the Citizen’s Measure U Oversight Committee, reported out on the committee. She reported all funds are being used in a manner consistent with the ballot language. She praised the site councils for doing an amazing job of overseeing the use of the funds.

 

Vice-President Lawson thanked Ms. Borgens for her leadership role and extended her thanks to everyone on the oversight committee.

 

Trustee Wells praised Ms. Borgens for doing an amazing job at running the meeting. He thanked her for chairing the committee. Trustee Wells also thanked CBO Rick, his staff, school principals, and site councils. He also thanked Vice-Chair Don Gibson and other members of the committee. Lastly, he thanked the community for the support and trust that they have given the Redwood City School District.

 

Trustee MacAvoy thanked Ms. Borgens for her leadership in the committee. She also thanked the committee members as well. Trustee MacAvoy stated the importance of the committee is that it provides an independent set of eyes and provides the assurance that the district is following the law and is spending the money appropriately. She echoed Trustee Lawson’s and Trustee Wells’s sentiment that the money is being used to fund important work at the schools. Lastly, she thanked the community for voting in Measure U.

 

President Márquez echoed the previous sentiments. She thanked Ms. Borgens and the committee for their commitment to guiding the district in ensuring the money is used accordingly, as stated in the ballot language.

 

10.       Bond Program Consent Items

The School Board approved the Bond Program Consent Items (Lawson, Wells; 5-0) taking the following action:

 

10.1     Recommendation re:  Approval of Bond Program Consent Items

10.2     Recommendation re:  Approval of Measure T Bond Program Tracking List of Items Under $20k

10.3     Recommendation re:  Approval of Proposal for STEAM Tables and Podium with Campbell Keller for Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion School

10.4     Recommendation re:  Approval of Proposal for Motion Detector Guards, Protective Enclosures for Wireless Receivers, and Battery Replacement for All Wireless Motion Sensors with Siemens for All School Sites' Gymnasiums, District-Wide

10.5     Recommendation re:  Approval of Proposal for Three (3) Additional Security Cameras with Siemens for McKinley Institute of Technology

10.6     Recommendation re:  Approval of New Buildings, Modernization and Sitework, Bid Package G, Change Order #19 to the Agreement with Sausal Corporation for Orion Alternative School (Formerly John Gill School)

10.7     Recommendation re:  Approval of Program Management Services Agreement Amendment #1 with RGMK

 

Trustee Weekly (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Wells (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

President Márquez (Ayes)

 

11.       Bond Program Action Items (Action Required)

 

11.1     Recommendation re:  Adoption of Futility Resolution 20, Approval of New Classroom Building, Modernization, and Sitework, Bid Package G, Change Order #13 with Rodan Builders for Garfield Community School

 

The School Board adopted Futility Resolution 20, Approval of New Classroom Building, Modernization, and Sitework, Bid Package G, Change Order #13 with Rodan Builders for Garfield Community School (Wells, Lawson; 5-0).

 

Trustee Weekly (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Wells (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

President Márquez (Ayes)

 

12.       Discussion Items

 

12.1     Discussion of the 2022-23 School Board Committee Assignments and School Assignments

The School Board discussed the School Board Committee Assignments and School Board School Assignments for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year.

 

13.       Consent Items

The School Board approved the Consent Items (MacAvoy, Lawson; 5-0), taking the following action:

 

13.1     Recommendation re:  Approval of Consent Items

13.2     Recommendation re:  Approval of Personnel Report

13.3     Recommendation re:  Approval of the First Amendment between Maxim Healthcare Services and the Redwood City School District

 

Trustee Weekly (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Wells (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

President Márquez (Ayes)

 

14.       Action Items

 

14.1     Recommendation re:  Approval of the 2022-23 First Interim Budget Report for RCSD      

 

CBO Rick Edson provided the School Board and Superintendent Baker with the 2022-23 First Interim Budget Report for RCSD. He noted that on slide 14 of the board memo packet, there was an error with the headers.

 

Trustee MacAvoy noted that it is good that the cafeteria fund balance has gotten built up again to help provide flexibility in terms of food in the food service program.

 

Trustee MacAvoy thanked Rick for the report. She commented for the audience’s benefit that the district is currently in employee negotiations. Therefore, the budget information presented does not include salary increases for this year or out-years.

 

CBO Rick agreed with Trustee MacAvoy that anticipated settlements are not included in the budget documents.

 

Trustee MacAvoy stated that the previous sentiment is important to keep in mind when thinking about reserves or one-time monies. In order to give salary increases, the district needs to think of where the money would come from.

 

Trustee Wells also thanked CBO Rick for the information presented. He noted the one-time funds that are coming to an end and questions what impact on services that will have. He expressed concern over the expenditure line going up and the revenue line going down. He is concerned about how it will impact staff, students, services, or the community as a whole? He looks forward to future discussions related to the budget.

 

In response to Trustee Wells's concerns, Superintendent Baker commented, that in the next few months, the School Board and the Executive Cabinet will be looking at how to fund items differently as money goes away.

 

Trustee Lawson echoed Trustee MacAvoy’s comments regarding the budget numbers not including any raises for the staff. She noted it is important to give raises to the staff. She thanked CBO Rick for the presentation.

 

President Márquez communicated she is very happy to hear the district continues to be positive certification. She also expressed they will continue to monitor expenditures and revenue to continue to be positive certification. She thanked CBO Rick and the business department for their work.

 

Trustee Weekly thanked CBO Rick for meeting with him. Trustee Weekly noted that budget meetings in the coming years would require reshuffling to keep the district operating well, especially considering declining enrollment.

 

Superintendent Baker mentioned he would continue to meet weekly with CBO Rick Edson.

 

The School Board approved the 2022-23 First Interim Budget Report for RCSD (Weekly, MacAvoy; 5-0).

 

Trustee Weekly (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Wells (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

President Márquez (Ayes)

 

14.2     Recommendation re:  Approval of Personnel Changes for 2022-2023

 

Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly informed the School Board that as the Transitional Kinder (TK) program grows, there are strict regulations regarding adult-to-student ratios. The proposal is to fund a TK instructional assistant out of the LCAP funds, to manage the ratio in case of absence purposes.

 

Trustee Lawson asked if the position would be a floating position to which Wendy confirmed that it will be.

 

The School Board approved the Personnel Changes for 2022-2023 (Lawson, Wells; 5-0).

 

Trustee Weekly (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Wells (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

President Márquez (Ayes)

 

14.3     Recommendation re:  Approval of Resolution 21 for Extended Day Kindergarten

 

Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly informed the School Board that the CDE wraps TK and Kindergarten (KN) together regarding instructional minutes. The resolution extends the TK/KN day to 5 hours (300 minutes) at each site.

 

Trustee Weekly asked if there would be any financial impact to which Wendy answered that there is no financial impact at this time.

 

The School Board adopted Resolution 21 for Extended Day Kindergarten (MacAvoy, Weekly; 5-0).

 

Trustee Weekly (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Wells (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

President Márquez (Ayes)

 

15.       Board and Superintendent Reports

 

15.1     Report from Board Members and Superintendent

 

Trustee Wells reported he was going to attend the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee meeting, but it was canceled due to a lack of quorum.

 

Trustee Weekly reported he has been doing introductory meetings with the principals at the different schools. He has been touring the schools, taking notes, and sharing his notes with Superintendent Baker. Lastly, he reported meeting the Educational Services committee meeting.

 

Trustee Lawson reported she attended a Bond Team meeting with Trustee Wells. She also attended the RCTA RCSD climate meeting with Wendy. Additionally, she attended a policy meeting along with Trustee MacAvoy and Wendy Kelly, and a wellness committee meeting with Patrinia, the Director of Health and Wellness.

 

President Márquez reported attending the budget committee meeting.

 

Trustee MacAvoy reported attending a 2x2x2 meeting. At the 2x2x2 meeting, Hoover School safety, cleaning up areas around the school, and Safe Routes were all points of discussion. The district was also asked to help with different activities for a youth group at McKinley Institute of Tech.

 

Superintendent Baker reported attending the 2x2x2 meeting and the RCEF meeting. Some RCEF members are terming out, and new members are joining.

 

16.       Information

 

16.1     Information on San Mateo County Investment Fund - October, 2022

No questions or comments.

 

17.       Correspondence

Trustee MacAvoy reported receiving correspondence from former North Star Forward committee members asking for some follow-up. They request that the School Board look back at other recommendations.

 

Trustee Weekly informed the board he has had a few parents reach out about best practices for teaching literacy.

 

18.       Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda

None.

 

19.       Board Meetings Calendar

 

19.1     Changes to the Board Meetings Calendar

Superintendent Baker reminded the School Board regarding the Closed Session meeting on 12/15 at 9:30 am.

 

President Márquez welcomed newly elected Trustee David Weekly to the School Board.

 

Trustee Weekly remarked he is excited to be a part of this School Board. He noted it is a professional and functional board and is committed to maintaining the same relationship. He thanked the members of the board for welcoming him.

 

20.       Adjournment

Trustee Lawson made the motion to adjourn the meeting in honor of María Díaz-Slocum and her 21 years of service.

The board adjourned the meeting at 8:47 p.m. (Lawson, MacAvoy; 5-0).