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November 17, 2021

REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Redwood City, California

APPROVED MINUTES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

November 17, 2021

REGULAR BOARD MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE

1.         Call to Order  

 

President MacAvoy called the regular board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom Teleconference Meeting. 

 

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

 

2.         Welcome

 

2.1     Welcome

 

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, Don Dias, Will Robertson, Jorge Quintana, Antonio Pérez, Kyle Brumbaugh, Itzel Ramírez, Gonzálo Cordova, and many more attendees. 

 

3.         Changes to the Agenda

 

Will Robertson, Bond Program Manager, requested to move Bond Program Action Items 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 to Bond Program Consent Items.

 

President MacAvoy requested to continue the discussion to the Study Session on the Child Nutrition Services Department.

 

President MacAvoy requested to move Action Item 10.1 to Consent. 

 

4.         Approval of Agenda

 

The board approved the agenda as amended, (Díaz-Slocum/Wells; 5-0).

 

5.         Oral Communication

 

None.

 

6.         Bond Program Consent Items (Action Required)

 

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

 

6.1  Recommendation re:  Approval of Consent Items

6.2  Recommendation re:  Approval of New Buildings, Modernization and Sitework Project Change Order #3 for Garfield Community School with Rodan Builders

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

7.1  Recommendation re:  Approval of New Buildings, Modernization and Sitework Project Change Order #8 for Garfield Community School with Atlas/Pellizzari Electric

7.2  Recommendation re:  Approval of Project Inspector Agreement Amendment #10 for Orion Alternative (Formerly John Gill) and Taft Schools with Inspectacon

7.3  Recommendation re: Approval of Asphalt Pathway Proposal for Garfield Community School with Bay Area Asphalt

 

President Lawson (Ayes)
Vice-President MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Trustee McBride (Ayes)
 
7.         Bond Program Action Items (Action Required)
 
7.4  Recommendation re:  Adoption of Resolution 16, Approval of New Buildings, Modernization and Sitework Change Order #3 for Garfield Community School with MK Pipelines
 
The School Board adopted Resolution 16, approval of new buildings, modernization and sitework change order #3 for Garfield Community School with MK Pipelines (Wells/Márquez; 5-0).
 
President MacAvoy (Ayes)
Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Trustee Lawson (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
 
8.         Discussion Items

 

8.1     Discussion of Reconvening North Star Forward Committee

 

Superintendent Baker addressed the School Board by stating that in early 2020, he formally recommended the formation of the North Star Forward Committee to study the impact of North Star Academy on other schools in the Redwood City School District and the community at large.  On January 15, 2020, the School Board approved to form the committee in order to address questions that were raised during the Planning for Our Future process of fall of 2018. 

 

The purpose of the North Star Forward Committee is to minimize the sense of division between NSA and other schools in the district by addressing and recommending solutions for specific areas where NSA is having an impact on other schools’ enrollment, academic performance and school culture, and building understanding for the mission and purpose of the school.  The committee came together in February 2020, after an application process that begun after the School Board’s approval. 

 

The committee included parents who have students only attending K-5 or K-8 schools other than North Star Academy, parents who have students only at North Star Academy, parents who have student at more than 1 school, including North Star Academy, North Star Academy alumni, teachers, and principals.  Currently, two parents with children at Clifford/Roy Cloud and Kennedy/NSA, have decided not to come back to the committee in 2022.  A third parent whose children attended Roosevelt left RCSD.  Due to Covid, the committee’s work came to a hold in March of 2020.  In March of 2021, the Redwood City School Board adopted a new equity and inclusiveness focused mission, vision, and values. 

 

Superintendent Baker recommended a number of short term actions for the 2022 admission cycle to ensure that 2nd grade students enrolled in RCSD are aware of North Star and have the opportunity to apply if interested.

 

Superintendent Baker recommended:

 

1.   Administering the CogAT Form 8 screening test to all 2nd graders enrolled at RCSD during school hours.

2.   Testing all second grade students, including those enrolled in other Schools of Choice specialized programs; however, it needs to be noted that parents of students at Adelante Selby, Mandarin Immersion, and Orion Alternative choose these programs with the understanding that they are making a long-term commitment to these programs rather than transfer their students at third grade.

3.   Provide aggregate results of the 2nd grade tests to the NSA Forward Committee to provide them with additional data. 

4.   The test will be administered in both English and Spanish.

5.   All second grade parents will be informed before the test is administered.

6.   The screening test will be administered by retired teachers.

7.   Launch a Second Committee application process. 

 

Trustee Wells, thanked Superintendent Baker and Principal Shackel for bringing this discussion back.  Trustee Wells expressed that he supports Superintendent Baker’s recommendations.  Trustee Wells opined that there should be parents of EL students in the committee.  Trustee Wells commented that he likes the concept of universal testing; however, in his opinion, he feels that more should be done.  Trustee Wells explained that testing feels more like tracking, rather than highlighting the students’ strengths.  Trustee Wells expressed that he would like for testing to be made available to more students. 

 

 

Trustee Márquez recommended that the Communications Department be detailed and elaborate in their communication to parents about the testing, this way families do not miss out on having their children tested. 

 

All board members expressed their support of the universal testing and agreed with the recommendations shared by Superintendent Baker.  

 

Speaker’s Cards:

 

Alison Oldford, parent at North Star Academy, thanked Superintendent Baker, Principal Shackel and the School Board for their support.  Ms. Oldford commented that it is up to the School District to have concrete goals for the program and urged them to have a paid professional take care of the program in the future.

 

Matthew Schwall, parent at North Star Academy, commented that he is supportive of the universal testing.  Mr. Schwall asked what was the reason why second grade students were being tested using a third-grade test?  Mr. Schwall said he was confident that Principal Shackel could develop a rubric to better test students.  

 

8.2     Presentation Regarding Potential Trustee Area Revisions

 

Josh Chism, Executive Director for Cooperative Strategies and William Tunick, attorney and Dannis Woliver Kelley provided the School Board and Superintendent Baker with a brief presentation regarding potential revisions to the trustee areas to reduce the variance in population between the areas given the 2020 Census data.

 

Mr. Chism presented Scenarios 1, 2, and 3.  After the School Board had an opportunity to review the maps, the School Board expressed that they liked Scenarios 1 and 2 and requested to add the schools to the maps. 

 

The School Board gave a few other comments regarding adjusting the Scenarios to try to keep the North Fair Oaks and the Centennial communities together and looking to maximize the minority/majority trustee areas.

 

Mr. Chism and Mr. Tunick commented that they would return to present to the School Board the updated map scenarios at the December 15th board meeting.

 

8.2A  Child Nutrition Services Update

 

Continuation of the discussion for the Study Session on Child Nutrition Services Update.

 

Trustee Wells thanked Anna Lague and Patricia Corea for a thorough presentation on the challenges of the Child Nutrition Services program.  Trustee Wells also thanked the parents for providing their comments earlier during the Study Session.  Trustee Wells expressed that there are possible areas where the Child Nutrition Services Department can offer healthier and fresh meal options.  Trustee Wells opined that the Child Nutrition Services Committee could convene and discuss what are some choices available and perhaps once these ideas have been discussed, they could return to the School Board for further discussion. 

 

Vice-President Díaz-Slocum expressed that RCSD was moving in the right direction with getting local grown vegetables and fruit and the possibility of hiring chefs; however, this came to a hold when the pandemic started.  Vice-President Díaz-Slocum thanked Anna Lague, Patricia Core and the entire staff for all of their hard work, while experiencing many challenges.

 

Superintendent Baker expressed that he could meet with Anna Lague and Patricia Corea to review and discuss the comments received during the meeting to determine what direction to take in order to improve the program.

 

Trustee Márquez thanked Anna Lague, Patricia Corea, Tommy Kham and the rest of the CNS program staff for all of their hard work and for making many things possible, despite of facing many challenges.  Trustee Márquez also thanked all of the parents that attended the meeting and expressed their comments. 

 

Superintendent Baker recommended that a parent representative be appointed to meet with Anna Lague, Patricia Corea, Vice-President Díaz-Slocum, and Trustee Márquez to discuss other meal options and future goals for the program. 

 

8.3  First Reading and Discussion of Board Policy 1312.3 – Uniform Complaint Procedures

8.4  First Reading and Discussion of Board Policy 4131 – Staff Development

8.5  First Reading and Discussion of Board Policy 5144.1 – Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process

8.6  First Reading and Discussion of Board Policy 6164.4 – Identification and Evaluation of Individuals for Special Education

8.7  First Reading and Discussion of Board Policy 6164.41 – Children with Disabilities Enrolled by their Parents in Private School

 

Deputy Superintendent Kelly reviewed and discussed the aforementioned policies with the School Board, as they were presented as a first reading.  Deputy Superintendent Kelly expressed that these policies would be presented for approval at the following board meeting.

 

9.         Consent Items

 

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

 

9.1  Recommendation re:  Approval of Consent Items

9.2  Recommendation re:  Approval of August 25th Board Minutes

9.3  Recommendation re:  Approval of September 22nd Board Minutes

9.4  Recommendation re:  Approval of October 6th Board Minutes

9.5  Recommendation re:  Approval of October 20th Board Minutes

9.6  Recommendation re:  Approval of October 25th Board Minutes

9.7  Recommendation re:  Approval of Additional Mental Health Therapist with Effective School Solutions at Clifford School

10.1 Recommendation re:  Approval of Response to Grand Jury Request – “Building a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Teaching Workforce: A Challenge for Our Schools”

 

President MacAvoy (Ayes)
Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Trustee Lawson (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
 
10.      Action Items (Action Required)
 
10.2  Recommendation re:  Adoption of Resolution 17, Authorizing Electronic Meetings of the Board of Trustees During a State of Emergency Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(e)
 
The School Board adopted Resolution 17, authorizing electronic meetings of the Board of Trustees during a State of Emergency pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(e)  (Díaz-Slocum/Lawson; 5-0).
 
President MacAvoy (Ayes)
Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Trustee Lawson (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
 

11.      Board and Superintendent Reports

 

12.1  Report from Board Members and Superintendent

 

Trustee Wells did not have a report.  

 

Vice-President Díaz-Slocum did not have a report.

 

Trustee Lawson reported that she and Superintendent Baker met with a couple of parents regarding concerns about their school. 

 

Trustee Márquez reported meeting with RCEF’s Executive Director, Jason Galisatus. 

 

President MacAvoy reported attending an RCEF meeting where the attendees are helping provide direction on how to handle the endowment fund. 

 

Superintendent Baker reported seeing performances from students at Adelante Selby.  Superintendent Baker also reported attending the Redwood City Together Executive meeting.  Superintendent Baker added that there will be a vaccination clinic taking place at Hoover Community School on November 18th.  Lastly, Superintendent Baker commented that he would attend a Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee meeting.    

 

12.      Information

 

None.

 

13.      Correspondence

 

President MacAvoy reported receiving emails regarding the Child Nutrition Services Department. 

 

14.      Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda

 

None.

 

15.      Board Agenda Calendar

 

15.1  Changes to the Board Agenda Schedule

 

President MacAvoy asked Superintendent Baker if the School Board rotation was taking place during the first or second meeting in December?

 

In response to President MacAvoy’s question, Superintendent Baker replied that he had not heard from County Counsel yet. 

 

16.      Adjournment (Action Required)

 

The board adjourned the meeting at 9:18p.m. (Márquez/Wells; 5-0).

 

 

 

Cecilia I. Márquez, Clerk