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June 22, 2022

REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Redwood City, California

APPROVED MINUTES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

June 22, 2022

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

1.         Call to Order

Vice-President Márquez called the Closed Session to order at 6:28 p.m.

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

Others Present: Patricia Pelino and Lisa Cho.

 

2.         Oral Communication on Closed Session Items Only

None.

 

3.         Closed Session – 6:30 p.m.

The School Board went into Closed Session at 6:28 p.m.

 

3.1       Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Gov. Code Section 54956.9: One case.

 

4.         Reconvene to Regular Session at Approximately 7:00 p.m.

 

4.1       Roll Call

4.2       Report out on Closed Session from June 22, 2022

Vice-President Márquez reported the School Board accepted legal counsel’s recommendation to move forward.

 

5.         Welcome

5.1       Welcome

Vice-President Márquez welcomed those present.

Others Present During the Regular Board meeting: Wendy Kelly, Liz Wolfe, Priscilla Aquino-Dichoso, and other attendees.

 

6.         Changes to the Agenda

No changes were made to the agenda.

 

7.         Approval of Agenda

The School Board approved the agenda as submitted, (Díaz-Slocum, Wells, 5-0)

 

8.         Oral Communication

None.

 

9.         School/Community Reports

 

9.1       Information Regarding Recent Panorama Climate Survey: Spring Administration Results and Comparison to Fall Administration Results

Liz Wolfe, Assistant Superintendent, presented to the School Board and Superintendent Baker on the 2022 Panorama Survey results collected in the Spring.

 

Trustee MacAvoy thanked Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe for the data and is happy to hear the teachers and principals will be looking at the data for their sites. Trustee MacAvoy mentioned there used to be bell curves to compare RCSD to other districts and asked if that is still available.

 

In response to Trustee MacAvoy’s question, Ms. Wolfe responded she has not seen the bell curve graph, but the results are normed on national averages.

 

Trustee MacAvoy asked for the bell curves because it would be interesting to compare to other districts to determine if other districts have also seen a dip in the various responses.

 

Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe responded that the information is available, and will share it with the board.

 

Trustee Wells thanked Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe for the data provided and highlighting the focus areas. Trustee Wells inquired if there will be an update in the Fall results? And, if this is an update that is received once or twice a year?

 

Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe responded the update was not given for the Fall results, but they are in the link provided. She plans to provide the Fall results in the Fall, after the survey is completed, rather than waiting until the Spring.

 

Trustee Wells also asked whether Panorama broke the results down by demographics for the district to look at.

 

In response to Trustee Wells’s question, Ms. Wolfe responded, yes, the report provided gives information by student group.

 

Trustee Lawson echoed Trustee MacAvoy’s thoughts regarding bell curves being very helpful and would like to have them available. Trustee Lawson asked whether the survey was given twice for the first time this year and if the survey will be done twice moving forward?

 

In response to Trustee Lawson's question, Assistant Superintendent Liz responded, yes, that is the plan to have pre and post-results for comparison.

 

President Díaz-Slocum thanked Assistant Superintendent Liz for all her work.

 

Vice-President Márquez also thanked Assistant Superintendent Liz for all her work. She also asked if parents could receive a phone call. With a phone call, the district might be able to reach more families regarding the Panorama Survey to get more responses. As for students, Vice-President Márquez asked, when do the students take the survey.

 

Assistant Superintendent Liz responded to Vice-President Márquez’s question. There is a window of time for students to take the survey during the school day. The survey can be completed in 25 to 30 minutes.

 

9.2       Information Regarding Recent iReady Diagnostic Exam Results and Comparison to Fall Results

Liz Wolfe, Assistant Superintendent, presented to the School Board and Superintendent Baker on the recent iReady Diagnostic Exam results and comparison to Fall results. Kindergarten does not take the assessment at the start of the year; therefore, no results are available for comparison.

 

Trustee Wells thanked Assistant Superintendent Liz for sharing the iReady results.

 

No questions were asked.

 

10.       Bond Program Consent Items

None.

 

11.       Bond Program Action Items

None.

 

12.       Discussion Items

 

12.1     Discussion of the Board Meeting Calendar for the 2022-23 School Year

Superintendent Baker presented the Draft Board Meeting Calendar for the 2022-23 school year for the School Board to review and discuss.

 

Trustee MacAvoy asked why a board meeting was scheduled for September 21st and not the 28th.

 

Superintendent Baker answered, Rosh Hashanah is on the 28th.

 

13.       Consent Items

The board approved the Consent Items (Lawson, Wells; 5-0), taking the following action:

13.1     Recommendation re:  Approval of Consent Items

13.2     Recommendation re:  Approval of May 25th Board Minutes

13.3     Recommendation re:  Approval of June 1st Board Minutes

13.4     Recommendation re:  Approval of June 13th Board Minutes

13.5     Recommendation re:  Approval of Agreement between Adrian Amandi and Redwood City School District for Visual Impairment Services

13.6     Recommendation re:  Approval of Agreement between Rebekah Will and Redwood City School District for Audiology Services

 

President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)

Vice-President Márquez (Ayes)

Trustee Lawson (Ayes)

Trustee Wells (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

 

14.       Public Hearing

 

14.1     Public Hearing and Discussion of the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) for 2022-23

Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe provided the School Board and Superintendent Baker with a presentation of the Public Hearing and Discussion of the LCAP. The purpose is to get any additional recommendations or comments from the public before approval. Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe shared an overview of the LCAP. There have been no changes made to the goals.

 

Trustee Wells thanked Ms. Wolfe for her work. The LCAP makes it clear what is going on in the district. He is glad to see mental health services are being expanded. Trustee Wells also shared that staffing is a common challenge across all the goals. He asked, what will be done differently in the 2022-23 school year to fill positions?

 

Deputy Superintendent Kelly responded EdJoin is the principal platform used for hiring purposes. Recently, the use of social media has increased to share job postings. Another strategy to solicit people is by having job fairs.

 

President Díaz-Slocum thanked Ms. Wolfe for the information and aligning all the goals.

 

Trustee Lawson also thanked Ms. Wolfe for all her work. She also thanked Trustee Wells and Trustee MacAvoy for their participation in the LCAP.

 

Vice-President Márquez also thanked Ms. Wolfe and her team for providing the report. She asked, regarding the EL progress, if it would be possible to challenge the students to have them move up two grade levels instead of one.

 

In response to Vice-President Márquez's question, Assistant Superintendent Liz answered the expectation from the state department is to move up one level per year.

 

Vice-President Márquez also inquired if parents receive feedback on test results.

 

Assistant Superintendent Wolfe answered parents receive a letter with test scores and an explanation of the results. Parents are also very involved in the reclassification process. The DELAC shares resources with families that are helpful tools to help students prepare for the ELPAC assessments.

 

Superintendent Baker added that parents are made aware of students' progress during Parent-teacher conferences.

 

Vice-President Márquez commented that she appreciates the development of the Newcomer Program.

 

Trustee MacAvoy thanked Ms. Wolfe for the report. She also thanked those parents who participated in the LCAP.

 

14.2     Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Budget Overview for Parents

Chief Business Official Priscilla Aquino-Dichoso provided the School Board and Superintendent Baker with a presentation regarding the LCFF budget. The main objective of the LCFF is to see that the identified actions and services in the LCAP are funded. The total revenue in the proposed budget for the 22-23 School Year is $126.2 million. $86.5 million of the funds are for LCFF entitlement. $9 million of the funds are for LCFF Supplemental and Concentration Grants.

 

Trustee MacAvoy expressed concern over the $55 million expense for what is considered non-instructional. She asked if this expense includes contracts with Specialists and teachers.

 

Ms. Aquino-Dichoso responded that Special Education contracts and programs contribute significantly to the $55 million expense. She agreed to clarify that these are instructional expenses in the final copy.

 

14.3     Proposed Preliminary Budget for 2022-23 Fiscal Year

Chief Business Official Aquino-Dichoso provided the School Board and Superintendent Baker with a presentation regarding the proposed preliminary budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

 

President Díaz-Slocum did not have any questions, but she thanked Priscilla and her team for putting together the preliminary budget.

 

Trustee Wells inquired about slide 24 referencing the COVID-19-related expenses from the unrestricted general fund. He asked if the district might see an increase of $2.5 million of funds when the books close to help close the deficit.

 

Chief Business Official Aquino-Dichoso responded yes, the $2.5 million from the Unrestricted General Fund will be available to be used in other areas once the books close.

 

Superintendent Baker reported receiving information from Capital Advisors regarding Discretionary Funds. They are still arguing whether those funds can be used for employee costs or make them fully discretionary. Unsure of what will happen with those $8 million. Additionally, major education issues are still pending including deciding on the total increase to the LCFF base beyond the statutory COLA.

 

Trustee MacAvoy thanked Priscilla. She commented the report is a sobering reminder of where RCSD is at currently. There is still work that needs to be done on the structural side of things while also providing salary increases to the staff. Trustee MacAvoy suggests thinking of additional options for revenue generation. She also expressed concern over the increases in Special Ed not getting funded by the state and federal government.

 

Vice-President Márquez asked whether it was sure that the district would not be switching back to basic aid in the next three years, and if there's a possibility that it would switch back to basic aid after the three years?

 

Chief Business Official Aquino-Dichoso discussed that she predicts it will remain Basic Aid, and does not think it will go back to LCFF. 

 

14.4     2022-23 Statement of Reasons for Reserves in Excess of the Minimum State-Recommended Level

Chief Business Official Aquino-Dichoso reported the reasons for assigned and unassigned ending fund balances in excess of minimum recommended reserves.

 

No questions.

 

15.       Action Items

15.1     Recommendation re:  Adoption of Resolution 40, The Education Protection Account for Fiscal Year 2022-23

The School Board adopted Resolution 40, The Education Protection Account for Fiscal Year 2022-23 (Wells, MacAvoy; 5-0).

 

President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)

Vice-President Márquez (Ayes)

Trustee Lawson (Ayes)

Trustee Wells (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

 

16.       Board and Superintendent Reports

16.1     Report from Board Members and Superintendent

President Díaz-Slocum had nothing to report.

 

Trustee Wells had nothing to report.

 

Trustee MacAvoy reported attending the Redwood City Together Retreat. RCSD will be the lead for the next year. Superintendent Baker will be the lead of the Executive Committee. Trustee MacAvoy also attended the San Mateo County School Boards Association retreat. They are talking about bringing back the Kent Awards in person in April, rather than May. It will be a combination Kent Awards for this year and last year.

 

Trustee Lawson reported attending the Redwood City Together meeting.

 

Vice-President Márquez had nothing to report.

 

Superintendent Baker reported attending the Redwood City Together meeting.

 

17.       Information

17.1     Information on San Mateo County Investment Fund - May 2022

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

 

18.       Correspondence

Trustee MacAvoy reported receiving follow-up emails regarding North Star Academy.

 

19.       Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda

None.

 

20.       Board Agenda Calendar

 

20.1     Changes to the Board Agenda Schedule

There were no changes reported.

 

21.       Adjournment

The board adjourned the meeting at 9:32 p.m. (Díaz-Slocum, MacAvoy ; 5-0).