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October 21, 2020

OCTOBER 21, 2020

REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Redwood City, California

APPROVED MINUTES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

October 21, 2020

REGULAR BOARD MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE

  1. Call to Order

President Lawson called the regular board meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. via Zoom Teleconference Meeting. 

Present at the Regular Board Meeting: President Janet Lawson, Vice-President Alisa MacAvoy; Trustees Cecilia I. Márquez, and Dennis McBride, and Superintendent Baker.

Trustee Díaz-Slocum joined the board meeting at 7:20pm. 

  1. Welcome

2.1 Welcome

2.2 Pledge of Allegiance

President Lawson welcomed those present. The School Board dispensed with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Others Present During the Regular Board Meeting: Wendy Kelly, Linda Montes, Priscilla Aquino-Dichoso, Don Dias, Will Robertson, Jorge Quintana, Antonio Pérez, Kyle Brumbaugh, Antonio Pérez, Patricia Ortiz, Patricia Pelino, Martin Cervantes, Itzel Ramírez, Gonzálo Cordova, and many others.

  1. Changes to the Agenda

Trustee McBride recused himself from voting on Consent Item 9.10 due to serving on the Boys and Girls Club Board. 

President Lawson requested to pull Consent Item 9.11. Action Items 10.3 through 10.6 were moved to Consent. 

  1. Approval of Agenda

The board approved the agenda as amended, (MacAvoy, McBride; 4-0).

  1. Oral Communication

None. 

  1. Bond Program Consent Items (Action Required)

The board approved the Bond Program Consent Items (MacAvoy/McBride; 4-0), taking the following action:

6.1 Recommendation re: Approval of Roosevelt Elementary School Modernization Project with CalState Construction – Change Order #2

6.2 Recommendation re: Approval of Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion School Storm Drain & Bio-Retention Project with Silicon Valley Paving – Change Order #1

6.3 Recommendation re: Approval of Taft Community School New Buildings, Modernization and Sitework Project Bid Package D with Atlas/Pellizzari Electric – Change Order #2

6.4 Recommendation re: Approval of Encroachment Permit Fee Proposal for Orion Alternative School (Formerly John Gill School) with the City of Redwood City

6.5 Recommendation re: Approval of New Administration Building Furniture Proposal for Adelante Selby School with RDI

6.6 Recommendation re: Approval of Play Structure Construction Agreements for Garfield School and Orion Alternative School (Formerly John Gill School) with Park Planet

6.7 Recommendation re: Approval of California Environmental Air Quality (CEQA) Construction Oversight Change Order #2 Proposal for Orion Alternative School (Formerly John Gill School) with SCS Engineers

6.8 Recommendation re: Approval of Measure T Bond Program $20K and Under Items Tracking List

6.9 Recommendation re: Approval of Kinder Play Structure Construction Agreement for Hoover School with Park Planet

6.10 Recommendation re: Approval of Security Camera and Intrusion Turnkey System Installation for Adelante Selby School with Siemens

6.11 Recommendation re: Approval of Touchless Plumbing Fixture Replacement Construction Agreement for Kennedy Middle School with Milestone Contractors

6.12 Recommendation re: Approval of Touchless Plumbing Fixture Replacement Construction Agreement for McKinley Institute of Technology and North Star Academy with Ciari Plumbing

President Lawson (Ayes)

Vice-President MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Díaz-Slocum (Absent)

Trustee Márquez (Ayes)

Trustee McBride (Ayes)

7. Bond Program Action Items (Action Required) None.

8. Discussion Items

  • Discussion on Covid-19

Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly provided the School Board and Superintendent Baker with a Learning Hubs and Pilot Program and a Covid-19 Testing Tracking and Tracing PowerPoint presentations. 

Deputy Superintendent Kelly provided information about the learning hubs for primary grades, English Language Learners, and Special Education students, in addition to the Pilot Program, which serves small groups on site with their teacher, TK-5th grade teachers, TK-8th grade SDC teachers, RSP teachers, and Special Education contractors. Furthermore, Erin Kekos, Director of Human Resources presented to the School Board and Superintendent Baker a presentation on the process for Covid-19 testing for students and staff. 

The School Board thanked Superintendent Baker, administrators and staff for all of their hard work in organizing a safety plan for students and staff during distance learning. 

Speaker’s Cards: 

Cameron Hoffman, RCSD parent, requested that the School District focus on equity. Mrs. Hoffman commented that the School District should be addressing socioeconomically disadvantaged students and students receiving Special Education services. Mrs. Hoffman respectfully asked that the most vulnerable students not be left at the end of the rope. 

Kristy Herrera, RCSD staff, commented that she has spent her life serving the students in her community. Ms. Herrera expressed that she is fearful of the unknown. Ms. Herrera stated that although teachers have the option of applying for unpaid leave, there are many teachers that are afraid to do so. Ms. Herrera urged for the School District to provide teachers the same amount of respect that parents are given. 

Alexander Herrera, community member, expressed that it is frustrating to see a lot of teachers stressing out more than they should be. Mr. Herrera said that the attention should be shifted to students and teachers shouldn’t have to worry about their health. Mr. Herrera asked the School Board and Superintendent Baker to have staff return to in person learning when it is safe to do so. 

Michele Smith, RCSD parent, addressed the School Board and Superintendent Baker by asking a series of questions. Ms. Smith asked if the County of San Mateo were to return to purple, would the Redwood City School District have a contingency plan? Will the Redwood City School District move forward with a waiver or will it continue with distance learning? If there is a teacher or student mismatch, will students with special needs be prioritized at their home sites, or will it be first come first served? Do you have a plan to recruit teachers if there are teachers that are unwilling to return? 

Elle Koleckar, RCSD parent, thanked the School Board and Superintendent Baker for their great leadership. Ms. Koleckar asked if there would be more information sent out to families about what the distance learning plan would look like in January? Ms. Koleckar stated that she is interested in learning if her children’s teachers will be returning for in person learning. Ms. Koleckar mentioned that her children’s teachers have been doing a wonderful job during distance learning. 

  • Discussion of Board ByLaw 9323 – Meeting Conduct
  • Discussion of Board Policy 5141.5 – Mental Health
  • Discussion of Board Policy 0415 – Equity
  • Discussion of Board Policy and Administrative Regulations 5141.22 – Infectious Diseases

Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly thanked President Lawson and Vice-President MacAvoy for serving in the Policy Committee. Deputy Superintendent Kelly stated that the Policy Committee made corrections to the policies as requested by some of the school board members. Deputy Superintendent Kelly commented that the aforementioned Board ByLaw and Board Policies would come to the School Board for approval at the next board meeting. 

  1. Consent Items

**** Per the School Board, Consent Item 9.10 was converted into a separate consent item in order to recuse Trustee McBride from voting. 

Per President Lawson, Consent Item 9.11 was pulled from the agenda.

The board approved the Consent Items (Díaz-Slocum/MacAvoy; 5-0), taking the following action:

9.1 Recommendation re: Approval of June 10th Board Minutes

9.2 Recommendation re: Approval of June 17th Board Minutes

9.3 Recommendation re: Approval of June 24th Board Minutes

9.4 Recommendation re: Approval of July 15th Board Minutes

9.5 Recommendation re: Approval of July 22nd Board Minutes

9.6 Recommendation re: Approval of July 29th Board Minutes

9.7 Recommendation re: Approval of August 12th Board Minutes

9.8 Recommendation re: Approval of August 26th Board Minutes

9.9 Recommendation re: Approval of September 9th Board Minutes

9.12 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between the Redwood City School District and the City of Redwood City (REACH) for the Fiscal Year 2020-21

9.13 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between the Redwood City School District and the City of Redwood City (César Zúñiga) for the Fiscal Year 2020-21

9.14 Recommendation re: Approval of Additional Vendors to be Included with Non-Public School (“NPS”)/Non-Public Agency (“NPA”) Master Contract

9.15 Recommendation re: Ratification of Warrant Register, September 1, 2020 – September 30, 2020

10.3 Recommendation re: Approval of Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for Health Waiting Area Cubicles and Installation with VCO

10.4 Recommendation re: Approval of Personnel Changes for 2020-21 

10.5 Recommendation re: Approval of Updated RCTA Contract Language and RCTA/RCSD Tentative Agreements

10.6 Recommendation re: Approval of First Amendment to Joint Use Agreement between the Redwood City School District and Little Budz, Inc. dba Building Kidz School at Hawes Community School Site

President Lawson (Ayes)

Vice-President MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)

Trustee Márquez (Ayes)

Trustee McBride (Ayes)

9.10 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between the Redwood City School District and the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula for the Fiscal Year 2020-21

Trustee McBride recused himself from voting on the approval of this agreement due to being a member of the Boys and Girls Club board. Trustee McBride physically left the meeting for agenda item 9.10 and came back after this item was voted on.

The School Board approved the agreement between the Redwood City School District and the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula for the fiscal year 2020-21 (Díaz-Slocum/Márquez; 4-0).

President Lawson (Ayes)

Vice-President MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)

Trustee Márquez (Ayes)

Trustee McBride (Recused)

10. Action Items (Action Required)

10.1 Recommendation re: Adoption of Resolution 11, Resolution for the Amended Grant from the California Energy Commission for School Bus Replacement Program

The School Board adopted Resolution 11, Resolution for the Amended Grant from the California Energy Commission for School Bus Replacement Program (McBride/Díaz-Slocum; 5-0).

President Lawson (Ayes)

Vice-President MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)

Trustee Márquez (Ayes)

Trustee McBride (Ayes)

10.2 Recommendation re: Adoption of Resolution 12, San Mateo County Office of Education Authorized Signatures

The School Board adopted Resolution 12, San Mateo County Office of Education Authorized Signatures (Díaz-Slocum/Márquez; 5-0).

President Lawson (Ayes)

Vice-President MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)

Trustee Márquez (Ayes)

Trustee McBride (Ayes)

  1. Board and Superintendent Reports

11.1 Report from Board Members and Superintendent

Trustee McBride did not have a report.

Trustee Díaz-Slocum did not have a report.

Trustee Márquez did not have a report.

Vice-President MacAvoy reported attending a Safe Routes to School meeting. Vice-President MacAvoy also visited virtually a couple of Roosevelt classrooms. Vice-President MacAvoy also attended a workforce housing meeting and a Sequoia Hospital Community group meeting. 

President Lawson reported attending a Policy Committee meeting and attended a Chamber Education meeting. President Lawson met with Wellness Director Andrea Garen. Furthermore, President Lawson attended a RWC2020 meeting with Superintendent Baker and Vice-President MacAvoy.

Superintendent Baker commented that he participated in many of the same meetings as board members.

  1. Information
  • Information Regarding the 2020 Summer and Fall Professional Development for Staff

There were no comments or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker. 

  • Employee Covid-19 Testing with Curative, Inc.

There were no comments or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker. 

  • Redwood City School District Review of Connect Community Charter School’s Unaudited Actuals for Fiscal Year 2019-20

There were no comments or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker. 

  • Redwood City School District Review of KIPP’s Unaudited Actuals for Fiscal Year 2019-20

There were no comments or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker. 

  • Redwood City School District Review of Rocketship’s Unaudited Actuals for Fiscal Year 2019-20

There were no comments or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker. 

  • Information on San Mateo County Investment Fund – September, 2020

There were no comments or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker.

  • Quarterly Williams Report, 1st Quarter, July 2020 through September 2020 – attachment

There were no comments or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker. 

  1. Correspondence

Vice-President MacAvoy reported receiving emails from staff and parents regarding policies and the plan to reopen.

  1. Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda

School Board members requested that an enrollment update be provided at a future board meeting.

  1. Board Agenda Calendar

15.1 Changes to the Board Agenda Schedule

There were no comments or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker. 

  1. Adjournment (Action Required)

The board adjourned the meeting at 9:22 p.m. (MacAvoy/Díaz-Slocum; 5-0).

María Díaz-Slocum, Clerk