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September 11, 2019

SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Redwood City, California

APPROVED MINUTES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING

September 11, 2019

  1. Call to Order

President McBride called the closed session meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. at the District Office, Redwood City School District (“RCSD”), 750 Bradford Street, Redwood City.

Present at the meeting: President McBride, Vice-President Janet Lawson, Alisa MacAvoy, María Díaz-Slocum, Cecilia I. Márquez and Superintendent Baker.

  1. Oral Communication on Closed Session Items Only

None.

  1. Closed Session 6:00-7:00pm

3.1 Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation – Significant Exposure to Litigation: One Case

  1. Reconvene to Regular Session at Approximately 7:00pm

4.1 Roll Call

4.2 Report Out on Closed Session from 9.11.19

President McBride commented that the School Board received an update on potential litigation and no action was taken.

  1. Welcome

5.1 Welcome

5.2 Pledge of Allegiance

President McBride welcomed those present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Others Present: Linda Montes, Wendy Kelly, Antonio Pérez, Leslie Stafford, Shana Hackworth, Carol Anne Bauman, Erin Kekos, Lauren Reiser, and many others that did not sign in.

  1. Changes to the Agenda

President McBride requested that Consent Item 13.7 be moved to Action.

  1. Approval of Agenda

The board approved the agenda as amended, (Lawson, MacAvoy; 5-0).

  1. Oral Communication

None.

  1. School/Community Reports

9.1 Presentation of Beginning Teacher Support & Assessment Program (BTSA)/Induction

Erin Kekos, Director of Induction, provided the School Board and Superintendent Baker with a Power Point presentation about the support provided to new teachers for clearing their credential and in developing, assessing and reflecting on their professional growth goals. The BTSA program supports the candidates as they move through their school year; develops habits of mind expected in the teaching profession; meets the learning needs of students; and helps with teacher retention.

  1. Bond Program Consent Items (Action Required)

There were no Bond Program Consent Items.

  1. Bond Program Action Items (Action Required)

There were no Bond Program Action Items.

  1. Discussion Items

12.1 Discussion on Grade Configuration

Superintendent Baker expressed that during the Planning for our Future process last fall, several sub-committees from the Superintendent’s Council suggested ideas that would eliminate the K-8 schools and create only K-5 schools and middle schools dedicated specifically to 6-8 grades.

Superintendent Baker commented that the reason for eliminating K-8 schools and moving to a K-5/6-8 structure throughout the district was to increase efficiency, potentially provide a more rigorous 6-8 curriculum and more electives for middle school students and increase economies of scale by making it possible to maximize student-teacher ratios, thereby saving money. Furthermore, Superintendent Baker added that many parents testified and submitted comments during community meetings, supporting and opposing the idea of changing the middle school structure.

Furthermore, Superintendent Baker commented that he is now removing the idea to changing the current middle school grade configurations from consideration.

Superintendent Baker stated that the reason for making the recommendation is due to:

  • Our Chief Business Official has determined that moving to a K-5/6-8 structure throughout the district would NOT result in discernable financial savings at this time.
  • Although consolidating all middle school students onto fewer campuses that are specifically dedicated to serving 6-8 students may streamline operations and make staffing easier in the long run, our staff does not have the capacity to adequately study or implement this right now given the magnitude of other changes occurring during this time of transition.
  • Beyond financial considerations, some have advocated for this change because they believe it will benefit students academically and socially. When we have studied this issue in the past, most recently in 2012, research was inconclusive on whether K-8 or K-5/6-8 is more beneficial to students. If we want to consider this change for instructional and social-emotional benefits, it warrants a serious and in-depth analysis, which we do not have the capacity to conduct right now. 
  • Families who reside in the boundary of a K-8 neighborhood school and prefer to send their child to a dedicated 6-8 middle school currently have the option of applying to attend Kennedy Middle School or McKinley Institute of Technology through our Schools of Choice program, and students are generally able to get a spot at one of these two schools if they apply.
  • Over the past few months, many parents and community members have expressed their strong desire to provide resolution on whether there will be changes to our middle school structure. The perception that the district may make changes to our middle school offerings is contributing further uncertainty during a time of significant change, and I believe it would be in the best interest of our community to provide resolution.

The Board agreed with the Superintendent that now is not the time to make any other big changes to the school offerings given that our community, parents, students and staff are just getting adjusted to the new offerings of schools and school choices in our school district as a result of the Planning for our Future effort last year. Parents, students and staff are asking for stability for the next few years. Given there are no projected cost savings, no definitive academic reasons to change, and families and students can already chose either a K-5, K-8 or middle school for their child, the Board agreed that it did not make sense to continue to survey parents on the idea or to move forward with the idea at this time. The Board agreed with the Superintendent to not address it at this time.

  1. Consent Items (Action Required)

Note: Per President McBride’s request, Consent Item 13.7 was moved to Action.

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

13.1 Recommendation re: Approval of May 8th Board Minutes

13.2 Recommendation re: Approval of May 22nd Board Minutes

13.3 Recommendation re: Approval of School Board Committee Assignments for the 2019-20 School Year

13.4 Recommendation re: Approval of School Board School Assignments for the 2019-20 School Year

13.5 Recommendation re: Ratification of Warrant Register, August 1, 2019-August 31, 2019

13.6 Recommendation re: Approval of Agreement between the Redwood City School District and Star Vista for Mental Health Services for Fiscal Year 2019-20

13.8 Recommendation re: Approval of Agreement between the Redwood City School District and Music for Minors to Provide Music Instructors for 2019-20 School Year

13.9 Recommendation re: Approval of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the San Mateo County Office of Education and San Mateo County-Wide School Districts

13.10 Recommendation re: Approval of Non-Public School (“NPS”)/Non-Public Agency (“NPA”) Master Contracts

13.11 Recommendation re: Approval of Field Trip Request to Outdoor Education for 5th Grade Students, Henry Ford School

13.12 Recommendation re: Approval of Field Trip Request to Marine Science Institute (MSI) for 6th Grade Students, Kennedy Middle School

President McBride (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Absent)

Trustee Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)

Trustee Márquez (Ayes)

14. Action Items

13.7 Recommendation re: Approval of Agreement between the Redwood City School District and LeGarza Sports to Provide PE Instruction for Grades K-5, Roy Cloud School

President McBride noted that the original agreement stated that LeGarza Sports would receive payment on September 1st before they begin services at RCSD. CBO Aquino-Dichoso stated she had a new agreement and LeGarza would be invoiced starting in November 2019 after the Board approved the agreement.

The School Board approved the agreement between the Redwood City School District and LeGarza Sports to provide PE instruction for grades K-5 at Roy Cloud School (MacAvoy, Díaz-Slocum; 5-0).

President McBride (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)

Trustee Márquez (Ayes)

14.1 Recommendation re: Adoption of Resolution 5, Approval of Education Code Options for Teaching Assignments

The School Board adopted Resolution 5, approval of education code options for teaching assignments for Stephanie Vance (Márquez/Lawson; 5-0).

President McBride (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)

Trustee Márquez (Ayes)

14.2 Recommendation re: Adoption of Resolution 6, Resolution of Intent to Lease Surplus Property

Superintendent Baker stated that he and President McBride attended a hearing at the State Board of Education in Sacramento and had the opportunity to obtain a waiver to allow the School District to lease the surplus property only, not sell.

Superintendent Baker commented that a community member voiced his concern about the waiver the School District was seeking from the State Board of Education. Superintendent Baker explained that the community member was concerned about the School District not following the proper legal procedures to lease surplus property. Superintendent Baker further expressed that he and CBO Aquino-Dichoso followed all legal procedures. As a result of the community member’s complaint, the School District had to spend many extra hours of staff time and money on all of this. The District also participated in a several conference calls with the California Department of Education to clarify the district’s position.

Superintendent Baker expressed that he obtained legal advice from RCSD’s counsel and after attending a meeting at the State Board of Education, RCSD was granted the waiver.

The School Board adopted Resolution 6, resolution of intent to lease surplus property (Lawson/MacAvoy; 5-0). 

President McBride (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)

Trustee Márquez (Ayes)

14.3 Recommendation re: Approval of Provisional Internship Permit

The School Board approved the Provisional Internship Permit for Marite Barboza, a multiple subject teacher at Hoover School (MacAvoy/Lawson; 5-0).

President McBride (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)

Trustee Márquez (Ayes)

  1. Board and Superintendent Reports

15.1 Report from Board Members and Superintendent

Trustee Márquez did not have a report.

Trustee Díaz-Slocum did not have a report.

Trustee MacAvoy reported attending a Redwood City 2020 meeting and commented that she and attendees met David Cattivera, the new RWC2020 Interim Director.

Vice-President Lawson reported attending a Chamber Education meeting, in addition to a Bond Program meeting.

President McBride reported attending a Bond Program rating meeting, together with Superintendent Baker and Chief Business Official Aquino Dichoso. President McBride also attended the State Department of Education hearing in Sacramento regarding the waiver for surplus property.

Superintendent Baker did not have a report.

  1. Information

None.

  1. Correspondence

Trustee MacAvoy reported receiving an email from a Roosevelt School parent regarding an afterschool enrichment course for students.

  1. Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda

Trustee MacAvoy requested to agendize a recognition for the many volunteers who assisted staff during move ins to new sites and for “tubs for teachers” across the district. Volunteers included City Councilmember Janet Borgens and her group and the Peninsula Covenant Church volunteers amongst many others who helped all our teachers as they moved in this year.

  1. Board Agenda Calendar

19.1 Changes to the Board Agenda Schedule

There were no changes to the board agenda schedule.

  1. Adjournment (Action Required)

The board adjourned the meeting at 8:14 p.m. (Díaz-Slocum/Márquez; 5-0).

Alisa MacAvoy, Clerk