November 10, 2021
REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Redwood City, California
APPROVED MINUTES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
November 10, 2021
REGULAR BOARD MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE
1. Call to Order
President MacAvoy called the Closed Session meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. via Zoom Teleconference Meeting.
Present at the Closed Session Meeting: President Alisa MacAvoy, Vice-President María Díaz-Slocum; Trustees Cecilia I. Márquez, Janet Lawson and Mike Wells; and Superintendent Baker.
Others present at the Closed Session Meeting: Peter Ingram, Clarissa Canady, Priscilla Aquino-Dichoso, and Don Dias.
2. Oral Communication on Closed Session Items Only
None.
3. Closed Session – 6:00pm
3.1 Conference with Real Property Negotiators, Property: 750 Bradford Street, Redwood City, CA 94063 Agency Negotiator: John Baker, Superintendent; Peter Ingram, Property Consultant; and Clarissa Canady Attorney for District Negotiating Parties: The Sobrato Organization and Redwood City School District Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment of property exchange/development 4. Reconvene to Regular Session at Approximately 7:00pm
4.1 Roll Call 4.2 Report Out on Closed Session from November 10, 2021 President MacAvoy reported that the School Board received an update from counsel and gave counsel direction on the real property.
5. Welcome
5.1 Welcome by the School Board President, Alisa MacAvoy
President MacAvoy welcomed those present. The School Board dispensed with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Others Present During the Regular Board Meeting: Wendy Kelly, Liz Wolfe, Priscilla Aquino-Dichoso, Jorge Quintana, Antonio Pérez, Kyle Brumbaugh, Itzel Ramírez, Gonzálo Cordova, Catherine Stuart, Michelle Griffith, Eliana García and 60 other attendees.
6. Changes to the Agenda
Superintendent Baker requested to pull Action Item 14.6 and agendize it for the November 17th board meeting.
7. Approval of Agenda
The board approved the agenda as amended, (Lawson/Márquez; 5-0).
8. Oral Communication
None.
9. School/Community Reports
9.1 Electives Offered by PAL to Garfield, Taft and Hoover Students
Iván Reyes-Martínez, Executive Director of PAL and Enrique Calderón, Associate Director of PAL thanked the School Board and Superintendent Baker for giving them the opportunity to provide a video presentation showcasing various activities, as well as project-based learning in the PAL program.
Mr. Reyes-Martínez expressed that students engage in academic tutoring, creative arts, theatre, Afro-Latin drumming, music, digital literacy, fitness skills to improve cognitive and socio-emotional development. Mr. Reyes-Martínez further added that these activities are led by professional PAL instructors.
The School Board and Superintendent Baker thanked both Mr. Reyes-Martínez and Mr. Calderón for all the wonderful work they are doing with the Bayside community and encouraged them to branch out to other school sites within the Redwood City School District.
10. Bond Program Consent Items (Action Required)
None. 11. Bond Program Action Items (Action Required) None. 12. Discussion Items
12.1 Update on Vaccine Clinics and Covid Testing for Students and Staff
Superintendent Baker provided the School Board with a brief overview of the student and vaccination clinic happening on Thursday, November 18th and Thursday, December 9th.
Superintendent Baker expressed that the vaccination clinic will be offered at Hoover Community School from 2:00pm to 7:00pm, in addition, the clinic will offer Pfizer booster shots for staff. Superintendent Baker commented that registration opened on November 5th.
Superintendent Baker added that the Redwood City School District was given 500 vaccines; however, administration is working with the San Mateo County Office of Education and other partners to obtain additional vaccines for a second event.
12.2 Discussion on Volunteer Opportunities and Process for 2021-22
Wendy Kelly, Deputy Superintendent addressed the School Board with a presentation explaining a system process to welcome back parent volunteers. Deputy Superintendent Kelly commented that school campuses and Human Resources have already established a thorough process to ensure safety and communicate expectations to volunteers. Deputy Superintendent Kelly added that Human Resources will add the Covid-19 vaccination as a requirement to volunteer on campus.
Deputy Superintendent Kelly presented a chart that contains three different levels of volunteerism. Level 1 volunteers working under constant direct supervision of a RCSD employee. Level 2 volunteers working under the supervision of an RCSD employee, but may be unsupervised while working with students. Level 3 volunteers who will be alone working with or mentoring students. The student may be transported by the volunteer. The chart explains the Covid Vaccination status requirement for each level of volunteerism. Once a volunteer submits an application, they will be notified via email when their application has been completed and processed.
Pam Barasch, RCSD teacher, expressed that she is happy to see parent volunteers at school sites; however, Ms. Barasch emphasized that there needs to be a safety process for parent volunteers and other volunteers to return to campus. Ms. Barasch further added that she is happy to see that the Redwood City School District has started a safety process where volunteers can check-in and provide the School District with Covid-19 information.
Catherine Stewart, parent at Mandarin Immersion Program, addressed the School Board by expressing she is delighted to take the Covid-19 vaccine, the TB vaccine, and get finger printed in order to ensure a healthy environment for students. Ms. Stewart reiterated that all volunteers should go through the same level of safety processes. Ms. Stewart commented that she is overjoyed to return and have her child return to school for in-person instruction. Ms. Stewart thanked Wendy Kelly and the Human Resources Department for safeguarding the safety protocols district-wide.
Karen Molinari, Healthy Cities Tutoring, expressed she is thrilled that the Redwood City School District is considering volunteers to return to school sites. Ms. Molinari commented that they have been back to many school districts across the San Mateo County; however, RCSD is the only district where they have not been able to return. Ms. Molinari reiterated that she would like for Healthy Cities Tutoring to return in November, rather than January 2022.
Kelley McCarthy, parent at Henry Ford and longtime volunteer, addressed the School Board by stating that she supports the School Board and their effort to keep everyone safe and healthy, but she expressed concern about the TB vaccine mandate for all volunteers, as this could potentially be a barrier and hinder some of the programs and reduce the number of volunteer participation.
In response to Ms. McCarthy’s comment, Deputy Superintendent Kelly commented that the TB vaccine has been a Redwood City School District requirement for students, staff, and volunteers and this has been in place, per Education Code.
The School Board unanimously agreed to have parent volunteers, contractors and partner volunteers be fully vaccinated and cleared by RCSD Human Resources before being able to volunteer at school sites. The School Board also discussed and agreed to have volunteers return to school sites by November 29th.
13. Consent Items
The board approved the Consent Items (Díaz-Slocum/Wells; 5-0), taking the following action:
13.1 Recommendation re: Approval of Consent Items
13.2 Recommendation re: Approval of Agreement between Redwood City School District and San Mateo County Office of Education for Library Services for 2021-22
13.3 Recommendation re: Approval of Non-Public School (“NPS”)/Non-Public Agency (“NPA”) Master Contracts
13.4 Recommendation re: Approval of Extension of Effective School Solutions Services at Roosevelt School and Henry Ford School
13.5 Recommendation re: Disposal of Obsolete Equipment
13.6 Recommendation re: Ratification of Warrant Register, October 1, 2021 – October 31, 2021
President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 14. Action Items (Action Required) 14.1 Recommendation re: Approval of School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSAs) The School Board approved School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSAs) (Lawson/Diaz-Slocum; 5-0). President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 14.2 Recommendation re: Approval of SWING Education Platform and Services Agreement to Provide Access to Substitute Services The School Board approved SWING Education Platform and Services agreement to provide access to substitute services (Díaz-Slocum/Wells; 5-0). President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 14.3 Recommendation re: Provisional Internship Permit The School Board approved the Provisional Internship Permit for Alma Aguilera, 5th grade teacher at North Star Academy (Wells/Díaz-Slocum; 5-0). President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 14.4 Recommendation re: Adoption of Resolution 15, Reduction of Certain Classified Services for Fiscal Year 2021-22 The School Board adopted Resolution 15, reduction of Certain Classified Services for fiscal year 2021-22 (Díaz-Slocum/Márquez; 5-0). President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 14.5 Recommendation re: Personnel Changes for 2021-22 The School Board approved the personnel changes for 2021-22 (Wells/Márquez; 5-0). President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes)
15. Board and Superintendent Reports
15.1 Report from Board Members and Superintendent
Trustee Wells reported attending a few meetings with Superintendent of Schools, Nancy Magee. Furthermore, Trustee Wells reported attending a SEPTAR meeting and commented it had been an informative session. Trustee Wells mentioned that the Bond Program meeting had been postponed.
Trustee Lawson reported attending an MTSS leadership meeting, an Education Committee meeting with the San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce, and also reported attending a Policy Committee meeting with President MacAvoy. Furthermore, Trustee Lawson attended a San Mateo County Committee on School District Organization meeting.
Trustee Márquez reported attending a San Mateo County webinar on Covid-19 and also attended a Superintendent’s Advisory Council meeting.
Vice-President Díaz-Slocum reported that she has talked to many students who are exceptionally happy to be back in school.
President MacAvoy reported attending a number of meetings with the San Mateo County School Boards Association. President MacAvoy also attended a California School Boards Association webinar on “Governance in the Time of Chaos.” Furthermore, President MacAvoy attended a number of Safe Routes to School meetings. President MacAvoy also reported attending a Boys and Girls Club virtual update meeting.
Superintendent Baker reported attending many of the same meetings as School Board members. Superintendent Baker commented that he led the Superintendent’s Advisory Council meeting earlier in the week and commented that there were some schools that were not represented by parents. Superintendent Baker stated that he would reach out to principals to have at least two parents from each site participate in the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.
16. Information
16.1 Information on San Mateo County Investment Fund – September, 2021
There were no comments and/or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker.
16.2 San Mateo County Office of Education Review of 2020-21 Unaudited Actuals for Redwood City School District and Connect, KIPP and Rocketship Charter Schools
There were no comments and/or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker.
16.3. Contract Update Information and Credit Card Summary
There were no comments and/or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker.
17. Correspondence
Vice-President Díaz-Slocum reported receiving emails from parents on several matters.
Trustee Lawson commented that she and Superintendent Baker received an email from a parent requesting a meeting. Trustee Lawson expressed that she and Superintendent Baker will be setting up a time to meet with them.
18. Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda
President MacAvoy requested that the Policy Committee and the Child Development Centers provide a report to the School Board. President MacAvoy mentioned that RCEF’s presentation had been postponed for a future board meeting in December.
19. Board Agenda Calendar
19.1 Changes to the Board Agenda Schedule
No changes were reported.
20. Adjournment (Action Required)
The board adjourned the meeting at 9:18 p.m. (Lawson/Wells; 5-0).
Cecilia I. Márquez, Clerk