September 1, 2021
REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Redwood City, California
APPROVED MINUTES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
September 1, 2021
REGULAR BOARD MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE
1. Call to Order
President MacAvoy called the Closed Session meeting to order at 6:00 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: Wendy Kelly, Deputy Superintendent.
2. Oral Communication on Closed Session Items Only
None.
3. Closed Session – 6:00pm
3.1 Update on CSEA Negotiations 4. Reconvene to Regular Session at Approximately 7:00pm
4.1 Roll Call 4.2 President MacAvoy reported that the School Board received an update on CSEA negotiations and the School Board gave Administration direction.
5. Welcome
5.1 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, Jorge Quintana, Antonio Pérez, Kyle Brumbaugh, Itzel Ramírez, Gonzálo Cordova, Catherine Stuart, Andrea Garen, Michelle Griffith, Eliana García and 45 other attendees.
6. Changes to the Agenda
President MacAvoy requested to move Action Item 13.4 to Consent.
7. Approval of Agenda
The board approved the agenda as amended, (Wells, Díaz-Slocum; 5-0).
8. Oral Communication
None.
9. Bond Program Consent Items (Action Required)
None. 10. Bond Program Action Items (Action Required) None. 11. Discussion Items
11.1 Discussion on the 2021-22 School Year
Superintendent Baker, Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly, and Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe, provided the School Board with an overview of the enrollment numbers for the 2021-22 school year and an update on the Covid-19 safety protocols district-wide.
Superintendent Baker reviewed the enrollment numbers for the 2020-21 school year. Superintendent Baker reported that in 2020-21, the total number of students enrolled in the Redwood City School District were 6,764. In 2021-22, there were a total of 6,353 students enrolled, there being a decline of 411 students.
Deputy Superintendent Kelly reported on the upcoming Covid-19 testing for students and staff offered at Kennedy Middle School and Hoover Community School on Mondays and Thursdays. Deputy Superintendent Kelly added that there are other San Mateo County mid-Peninsula testing opportunities at North Fair Oaks, two Redwood City locations, East Palo Alto, and Menlo Park.
Deputy Superintendent Kelly further explained that a soft mandate is in place since August 11, 2021, per the California Department of Public Health Order. Currently, employees are either vaccinated or if unvaccinated, they test once a week and the School District continues to provide PPE per CalOSHA.
All School Board said to be in favor of the soft mandate.
The School Board thanked administration for their presentations and all of their work on the safety protocols at the School District.
11.2 First Reading and Discussion of Board Policy 1313 – Civility
11.3 First Reading and Discussion of Board Policy 5145.9 – Hate Motivated Behavior
11.4 First Reading and Discussion of Board Policy 5141.4 – Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting
Wendy Kelly, Deputy Superintendent, commented that the Policy Committee met to discuss Board Policy 1313 – Civility, Board Policy 5145.9 – Hate Motivated Behavior, and Board Policy 5141.4 – Child Abuse Prevention. Deputy Superintendent Kelly mentioned that the Policy Committee made minor edits to the policies. Deputy Superintendent Kelly added that the board policies would be presented at the September 22nd board meeting for final approval.
12. Consent Items
The board approved the Consent Items (Díaz-Slocum/Lawson; 5-0), taking the following action:
12.1 Recommendation re: Approval of Consent Items
12.2 Recommendation re: Approval of August 11th Board Minutes
12.3 Recommendation re: Approval of Agreement between Adrian Amandi and Redwood City School District for Visual Impairment and Assistive Technology Services
13.4 Recommendation re: Approval of Local Interagency Agreement(s) to Provide Education and Training to Credential Candidates
President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 13. Action Items (Action Required) 13.1 Recommendation re: Approval of Agreement between Star Vista and Redwood City School District for Fiscal Year 2021-22 Trustee Márquez addressed the School Board and Andrea Garen, Director of Health and Wellness by requesting clarification from Ms. Garen pertaining to the hours that the school counselor is available per day to offer support services to students, as stated in the agreement for services. Trustee Márquez expressed that the current board memo states that 10-15 students are in counseling for 6-8 hours for 1-2 days per week, instead of stating that the counselor is available for 6-8 hours, on an as needed basis. Furthermore, Trustee Márquez stated that in the paragraph for Children’s Place it mentions that 10-15 students per school are supported through the program for 6-8 hours each day for 1-2 days per week at Clifford, Garfield and Hoover. In response to Trustee Márquez’s comment, Ms. Garen stated that in the Primary Intervention Program for students impacted by drug and alcohol abuse by their families, Children’s Place provides six 50-55-minute group counseling sessions for up to 10 students per week at Clifford, Garfield, Hoover, and Henry Ford. President MacAvoy asked for further clarification and asked if there was an inconsistency with the agreement? In response to President MacAvoy’s question, Superintendent Baker mentioned that the board memo was inconsistent with the agreement. Furthermore, Eliana García, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent added that the agreement was correct; however, the board memo did not match what the agreement stated. Trustee Lawson asked if postponing the voting on the agreement until the September 22nd board meeting would delay services? In response to Trustee Lawson’s question, Ms. Garen replied that the regular year services have not started, as this particular service was waiting for the School Board’s approval; however, the summer school services started. The School Board agreed to approve the agreement for services between Star Vista and Redwood City School District to avoid postponement of when services were scheduled to start. The Star Vista counselor will be available 6-8 hours a day to offer support to students that need it, in addition to Children’s Place providing six 50-55 minute group counseling sessions for up to 10 students per week at Clifford, Garfield, Hoover, and Henry Ford. The School Board approved the agreement between Star Vista and Redwood City School District for fiscal year 2021-22 (Wells/Lawson; 5-0). President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 13.2 Recommendation re: Approval of Agreement between One Life Counseling and Redwood City School District for Fiscal Year 2021-22 Trustee Márquez requested clarification on the school-based services offered. Trustee Márquez asked if the school-based services during the regular school year were only offered at Roosevelt and Kennedy Middle School and the summer school services for Hoover Community School? Andrea Garen mentioned that one of the programs is covered by the School District budget and the other program is funded by an outside provider. Ms. Garen reiterated that Hoover, Roosevelt and Kennedy Middle School are covered by the same program. Eliana García commented that she had received the revised and updated agreement from the Business Office; however, due to the Brown Act, she did not upload it to BoardDocs so the School Board and Ms. Garen could further discuss the inconsistencies between the board memo and the agreement for services. Superintendent Baker commented that this agenda item could be placed on the September 22nd board agenda for voting, in order to upload the correct agreement to the board memo. Priscilla Aquino-Dichoso, Chief Business Official, stated that the inconsistency with this agreement was to determine which school site receives which service. CBO Aquino-Dichoso stated that the three schools were mentioned on the board memo; however, it was not specified what service is offered at each site. Ms. Garen confirmed that the submitted agreement was correct; however, the board memo was written in a way that did not fully capture the terms of the agreement. Superintendent Baker reiterated that services had commenced on July 1st and approving the agreement would allow for services to continue through the end of June 2022. Superintendent Baker stated that if there were no changes to the dollar amount of the agreement, then the School Board could proceed to approve the agreement. Trustee Wells stated that the agreement aligned with the school sites programmed to receive services; however, the agreement is not as specific as the board memo. Trustee Wells added that the financial amount is correct and contains the services offered to students during summer school. The School Board approved the agreement between One Life Counseling and Redwood City School District for fiscal year 2021-22 (Wells/Lawson; 5-0). President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 13.3 Recommendation re: Approval of Agreement between Peninsula Community Center (PCC) and Redwood City School District for Fiscal Year 2021-22 Priscilla Aquino-Dichoso, Chief Business Official and Andrea Garen confirmed that the agreement submitted to the School Board for approval was correct; however, in entering a dollar amount on the boilerplate agreement, InformedK-12 would only allow for a numeric entry. CBO Aquino-Dichoso explained that this agreement would be funded through a grant. The School Board approved the agreement between Peninsula Community Center (PCC) and Redwood City School District for fiscal year 2021-22 (Lawson/Wells; 5-0). President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 13.5 Recommendation re: Adoption of Resolutions 5 and 6, Reduction of Certain Classified Services for Fiscal Year 2021-22 The School Board adopted Resolutions 5 and 6, 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) 13.6 Recommendation re: Personnel Changes for 2021-22 The School Board approved the personnel changes for 2021-22 (Lawson/Wells; 5-0). President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes)
14. Board and Superintendent Reports
14.1 Report from Board Members and Superintendent
Trustee Wells did not have a report.
Trustee Lawson did not have a report.
Trustee Márquez did not have a report.
Vice-President did not have a report.
President MacAvoy reported that she, together with members from Sequoia Union High School District and Redwood City Together walked around the McKinley Institute of Technology and Sequoia Union High School District areas during the morning drop-off. President MacAvoy commented that traffic was extremely chaotic! President MacAvoy added that the intention of visiting the aforementioned areas in the morning was to brainstorm ways to mitigate traffic and provide a safer cross-walking for students. President MacAvoy stated that a police officer will be present during drop-off time while the City provides a crossing guard for that area.
Superintendent Baker reported attending a Redwood City Chamber meeting and commented that Sequoia Union High School District and San Carlos School District introduced their new Superintendents. Superintendent Baker thanked teachers, principals, and staff for their hard work in welcoming students on their first week of school.
15. Information
15.1 2021-22 Adopted Budget and LCAP for Connect Community Charter School and RCSD’s Fiscal Oversight Review Letter
There were no comments and/or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker.
15.2 2021-22 Adopted Budget and LCAP for KIPP Excelencia Charter School and RCSD’s Fiscal Oversight Review Letter
There were no comments and/or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker.
15.3 2021-22 Adopted Budget and LCAP for Rocketship Redwood City Prep Charter School and RCSD’s Fiscal Oversight Review Letter
There were no comments and/or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker.
16. Correspondence
Vice-President Díaz-Slocum reported receiving emails from parents.
17. Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda
None.
18. Board Agenda Calendar
18.1 Changes to the Board Agenda Schedule
Superintendent Baker reminded the School Board that there was a special board meeting scheduled for Friday morning at 9:00am.
19. Adjournment (Action Required)
The board adjourned the meeting at 8:43 p.m. (Díaz-Slocum/Wells; 5-0).
Cecilia I. Márquez, Clerk