September 22, 2021
REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Redwood City, California
APPROVED MINUTES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
September 22, 2021
REGULAR BOARD MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE
1. Call to Order
President MacAvoy called the Closed Session meeting to order at 6:01 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 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 September 22, 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
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
Trustee Wells requested to move Action Items 14.1 through 14.3 to Consent.
President MacAvoy requested to move Action Items 14.4 to Consent. Action Item 14.7 was also moved to Consent.
7. Approval of Agenda
The board approved the agenda as amended, (Díaz-Slocum, Wells; 5-0).
8. Oral Communication
None.
9. School/Community Reports
9.1 Recognition of Staff Who Have Reached a Longevity Milestone with the School District
Every year, the School Board, Superintendent Baker and the Human Resources Department honors School District employees who have reached a longevity milestone. Employees who have worked 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and sometimes up to 40 years are recognized for their service to the Redwood City School District.
Typically, the School Board members would present employees with a certificate and a pin at the August Welcome Back site staff meeting; however, given the current pandemic, staff were recognized in a different manner. This year, staff who reached a longevity milestone were recognized in a video. Their certificate and pin were mailed to staff as administrators were unable to gather due to Covid-19.
The School Board and Superintendent Baker thanked and honored staff for their energy, commitment and impact on the lives of countless students, in addition to the legacy they left at the Redwood City School District.
9.2 Recognition of 2021-22 Induction Program Participants and Review Data from the 2020-21 Induction Program
Deputy Superintendent Kelly introduced Nichole Crawford, Director of Induction and Vice-Principal at Henry Ford.
Ms. Crawford presented to the School Board a Power Point presentation, which acknowledged the 39 teachers who participated in Year 1, Year 2, and Early Completion (ECO) in the Redwood City School District General Education Induction Program.
The 39 candidates met weekly with their mentors for guidance and support, over the course of a year, candidates completed an Individual Learning Plan including two inquiry cycles focused on an area of desired growth and equity related to the California Standards for teaching. 26 seasoned teachers, recommended by site administration served as mentors.
The School Board and Superintendent Baker thanked all the Induction Program candidates, as well as their mentors for their incredible work!
10. Bond Program Consent Items (Action Required)
The board approved the Bond Program Consent Items (Díaz-Slocum/Márquez; 5-0), taking the following action:
10.1 Recommendation re: Approval of Consent Items 10.2 Recommendation re: Approval of STEAM Furniture Proposal for Orion Alternative School (Formerly John Gill) with Campbell Keller 10.3 Recommendation re: Approval of Administration Furniture Proposal for Garfield School with RDI 10.4 Recommendation re: Approval of Soil Off Haul Proposal for Kennedy Middle School with O’Grady 10.5 Recommendation re: Approval of Fiber Investigation Proposal for All Sites with VDB 10.6 Recommendation re: Approval of Interim Housing Power Payment for Orion Alternative School (Formerly John Gill) with PG&E 10.7 Recommendation re: Approval of Security Camera and Intrusion System Rough-in Proposals for Garfield School and Orion Alternative School (Formerly John Gill) with Siemens 10.8 Recommendation re: Approval Measure T Bond Program Tracking List of Items Under $20k 10.9 Recommendation re: Approval of New Buildings, Modernization, and Sitework Project Change Order #6 for Garfield School with Atlas/Pellizzari 10.10 Recommendation re: Approval of New Buildings, Modernization and Sitework Project Change Order 11. Bond Program Action Items (Action Required) None. 12. Discussion Items
12.1 Discussion of Requiring COVID Vaccination for Employees and Eligible RCSD Students
Superintendent Baker, Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly, and Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe, provided the School Board with an overview of the student and staff Covid-19 testing schedule at each school site beginning on September 20, 2021.
Administration also provided the School Board with an update on employee vaccination and survey response data, in addition to a vaccinate mandate for employees.
Speaker’s Card:
Cameron Hoffman, RCSD parent, thanked the Redwood City School District for seeking community output. Ms. Hoffman stated that she fully supports a vaccine mandate for students, especially under an emergency request. Ms. Hoffman added that many neighboring counties are having high staff vaccination rates. Ms. Hoffman said that there are 76 staff members remaining unvaccinated at the Redwood City School District and she would like for the School Board to mandate vaccines for those employees who are unvaccinated.
The School Board thanked administration for their presentations and all of their work on the safety protocols at the School District.
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 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) in the 2021-22 Non-Public School (NPS)/Non-Public Agency (NPA) Master Contracts
13.3 Recommendation re: Ratification of Warrant Register, August 1, 2021-August 31, 2021
14.1 Recommendation re: Second Reading and Approval of Board Policy 1313 – Civility
14.2 Recommendation re: Second Reading and Approval of Board Policy 5141.4 – Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting
14.3 Recommendation re: Second Reading and Approval of Board Policy 5145.9 – Hate Motivated Behavior
14.4 Recommendation re: Approval of Agreement between the Redwood City School District and United Through Education, Inc. for Newcomer Families for the 2021-22 School Year
14.7 Recommendation re: Approval of Personnel Changes for 2021-22
President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 14. Action Items (Action Required) 14.5 Recommendation re: Approval of 2020-21 Unaudited Actuals Financial Statement The School Board approved the 2020-21 Unaudited Actuals Financial Statement (Díaz-Slocum/Lawson; 5-0). President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 14.6 Recommendation re: Adoption of Resolution 7, Resolution to Adopt the Gann Limit The School Board adopted Resolution 7, resolution to adopt the Gann Limit (Wells/Márquez; 5-0). President MacAvoy (Ayes) Vice-President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee Márquez (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes) Trustee Wells (Ayes) 14.8 Recommendation re: Approval to Increase the Preschool-8th Grade Teacher Substitute Rate The School Board approved to increase the preschool-8th grade teacher substitute rate (Lawson/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 attended the Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee meeting.
Vice-President Díaz-Slocum reported attending a Budget Committee meeting, together with Trustee Márquez.
Trustee Lawson attended the Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee and she and President MacAvoy attended a Policy Committee meeting.
Trustee Márquez attended a Budget Committee meeting and also attended a Latinx Democrat Club event, commemorating Latino Heritage Month and commented it had been a wonderful event!
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.
Superintendent Baker reported visiting Roosevelt and commented that he got to see students leaving for Outdoor Education. Superintendent Baker mentioned that 6-7th grade students had gone on the field trip.
16. Information
16.1 Hiring of Retirees Prior to the 180-day Separation Period for CalSTRS
There were no comments and/or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker.
16.2 Information on San Mateo County Investment Fund – August, 2021There were no comments and/or questions from the School Board and Superintendent Baker.
17. Correspondence
President MacAvoy reported receiving emails from parents regarding vaccinations and testing for students.
18. Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda
None.
19. Board Agenda Calendar
19.1 Changes to the Board Agenda Schedule
Superintendent Baker requested a Special Board meeting on September 27th to adopt a resolution to allow the School Board to continue conducting virtual board meetings, since the sound equipment is not fully completed in the Board Room.
President MacAvoy requested that the Redwood City Education Foundation provide the School Board with an update report.
20. Adjournment (Action Required)
The board adjourned the meeting at 9:20 p.m. (Lawson/Wells; 5-0).
Cecilia I. Márquez, Clerk