December 7, 2022
REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Redwood City, California
APPROVED MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
December 7, 2022
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
1. Call to Order
President Díaz-Slocum called the Closed Session to order at 6:00 p.m.
1.1 Roll Call
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.
2. Oral Communication on Closed Session Items Only
None.
3. Closed Session – 6:00 p.m. (Not Open to the Public)
The School Board went into Closed Session at 6:00 p.m.
3.1 Public Employee Performance Evaluation, Title: Superintendent (§ 54957)
4. Reconvene to Regular Session at Approximately 7:00 p.m.
4.1 Roll Call
Others present during the Regular Board meeting: Wendy Kelly, Liz Wolfe, Rick Edson, Will Robertson, and others.
4.2 Report out on Closed Session from December 7, 2022
President Díaz-Slocum reported that the School Board met with Superintendent Baker and gave him his evaluation for the 21-22 school year.
5. Welcome
5.1 Welcome
President Díaz-Slocum welcomed those present.
6. Changes to the Agenda
Trustee Wells requested to move Action Items 13.6-13.10 to Consent. Additionally, he requested to move Action Items 13.4-13.5 to Consent.
7. Approval of Agenda
The School Board approved the agenda as amended, (Wells, MacAvoy; 5-0).
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
Trustee Lawson (Ayes)
Vice-President Márquez (Ayes)
President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)
8. Oral Communication
None.
9. School/Community Reports
9.1 Citizens' Measure U Oversight Committee Year Five Report for 2021-2022
CBO Rick Edson informed the School Board that he was expecting one or two committee members, but they were not present at the board meeting. Therefore, he is pulling the item from the agenda and will bring it back to the School Board at the December 14th Board meeting.
10. Bond Program Consent Items
The School Board approved the Bond Program Consent Items (Lawson, MacAvoy; 5-0) taking the following action:
10.1 Recommendation re: Approval of Bond Program Consent Items
10.2 Recommendation re: Approval of Measure T Bond Program Tracking List of Items Under $20k
10.3 Recommendation re: Approval of Proposal for Wrought Iron Fence and Gates with Dryco for Hoover Community School
10.4 Recommendation re: Approval of Proposal for Manual Roller Shades with Creative Window Interiors, Inc., for Roosevelt School
10.5 Recommendation re: Approval of New Buildings, Modernization and Sitework, Bid Package G, Change Order #12 with Rodan Builders for Garfield Community School
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
Trustee Lawson (Ayes)
Vice-President Márquez (Ayes)
President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)
11. Bond Program Action Items (Action Required)
11.1 Recommendation re: Adoption of Futility Resolution 19, Approval of New Classroom Building, Modernization, and Sitework Landscaping Project, Bid Package F, Change Order #6 with Scapes, Inc., at Garfield Community School
The School Board adopted Futility Resolution 19, Approval of New Classroom Building, Modernization, and Sitework Landscaping Project, Bid Package F, Change Order #6 with Scapes, Inc., at Garfield Community School (Wells, MacAvoy; 5-0).
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
Trustee Lawson (Ayes)
Vice-President Márquez (Ayes)
President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)
12. Consent Items
The School Board approved the Consent Items (Lawson, MacAvoy; 5-0), taking the following action:
12.1 Recommendation re: Approval of Consent Items
12.2 Recommendation re: Approval of November 9th Board Minutes
12.3 Recommendation re: Approval of November 16th Board Minutes
12.4 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between Redwood City
School District and The City of Redwood City for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023
12.5 Recommendation re: Approval of Non-Public School (NPS)/Non-Public Agency
(NPA) Master Contracts
12.6 Recommendation re: Ratification of Warrant Registers, November 1, 2022 –
November 30, 2022
13.4 Recommendation re: Approval of Addendum to 2022-23 Measure U Application
for Roosevelt School
13.5 Recommendation re: Approval of Addendum to 2022-23 Measure U Application for McKinley Institute of Technology
13.6 Recommendation re: Second Reading and Approval of Board Policy 4118 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action - Certificated Employees
13.7 Recommendation re: Second Reading and Approval of Board Policy 4218 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action - Classified Employees
13.8 Recommendation re: Second Reading and Approval of Board Policy 4119.1, 4219.1, 4319.1 - Civil and Legal Rights
13.9 Recommendation re: Second Reading and Approval of Board Policy 4216 - Probationary/Permanent Status - Classified Personnel
13.10 Recommendation re: Second Reading and Approval of Board Policy 4030 - Nondiscrimination in Employment
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
Trustee Lawson (Ayes)
Vice-President Márquez (Ayes)
President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)
13. Action Items
13.1 Approval of Personnel Increase
Superintendent Baker informed the School Board that the increase is not for the entire school year. He explained that Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe is retiring at the end of the school year. He recommends that the position in question does some overlapping work with Liz Wolfe while she is still at the district. The amount in the Agenda Board Memo is the entire amount, but the actual amount to be paid is about half of that amount, because the person would start halfway through the school year. When Liz Wolfe retires, the new person will take on the duties of the Assistant Superintendent for Ed. Services. The position in question will be closed at the end of the 22-23 school year.
Trustee Wells thanked Assistant Superintendent Wolfe for staying until the end of the School Year and helping the new person get trained and prepared to take over.
Superintendent Baker stated Liz is able to come back and help in the future if she would like to.
President Díaz-Slocum thanked Superintendent Baker for having this plan in place, especially considering Liz’s position and all the forms she is responsible for filling out.
The School Board approved the Personnel Increase (Wells, MacAvoy; 5-0)
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
Trustee Lawson (Ayes)
Vice-President Márquez (Ayes)
President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)
13.2 Approval of Variable Term Waiver
Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly requested that the School Board approve the variable term waiver for one of the district’s visiting Spain teachers to allow the teacher more time to meet the requirement.
The School Board approved the Variable Term Waiver for Hector Lopez Garcia teaching at Hoover Community School (MacAvoy, Lawson; 5-0).
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
Trustee Lawson (Ayes)
Vice-President Márquez (Ayes)
President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)
13.3 Approval of First Amendment to the Agreement between Redwood City School District and National Urban Alliance (NUA)
Superintendent Baker explained to the School Board that this amendment would increase the original contract by 7K dollars which would be funded out of the Eustace Kwan Family Foundation Grant to provide additional training.
Vice-President Márquez had asked for clarification. The original contract listed Henry, and the amendment lists Adelante-Selby.
Superintendent Baker explained Adelante-Selby was added to receive training and will be paid out of the Kwan foundation grant as opposed to the contract Adelante-Selby had with NUA.
Trustee Wells thanked the Kwan Foundation for its continued and ongoing support of the Redwood City School District.
President Díaz-Slocum also thanked Superintendent Baker for keeping that relationship with the Kwan Foundation.
The School Board approved the first amendment to the agreement between Redwood City School District and National Urban Alliance (Wells, Márquez; 5-0).
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
Trustee Lawson (Ayes)
Vice-President Márquez (Ayes)
President Díaz-Slocum (Ayes)
13.11 Second Reading and Approval of Board Bylaw 9100 – Organization
Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly stated the aforementioned bylaw was previously discussed but suggested additional discussion for it.
Trustee MacAvoy commented she sits on the Policy Committee with Trustee Lawson. She is comfortable with what was presented in the Board package, but is open to any additional suggestions. It is in her opinion that the School Board is prepared to do the Board Rotation at the December 14th Board meeting with the current policy. Her suggestion is to take the attachment that is in the Board packet and bold and strikethrough any edits on that version.
President Díaz-Slocum asked Vice-President Márquez, if she had a lot of suggestions.
Vice-President Márquez listed her suggestions.
Trustee Lawson commented that not every board member is an incumbent, and suggested to word it as “each member assumes the next higher position.”
Trustee MacAvoy recommended bringing the bylaw back to the Board Policy Committee to clean it up and give everyone the opportunity to look at and review. The bylaw is confusing as it is, and does not feel it should be approved at tonight’s board meeting.
Trustee Lawson agreed with Trustee MacAvoy to not approve the bylaw because she has a question regarding the last sentence of the bylaw.
Trustee MacAvoy explained to Trustee Lawson that with district-wide elections, newly appointed board members would have different percentage of voters due to different areas having different numbers of voters.
After taking Trustees MacAvoy’s explanation into consideration, Deputy Superintendent Kelly asked if the wording of the last sentence would then remain the same.
Trustees MacAvoy and Trustee Lawson both agreed the wording was appropriate as written.
Deputy Superintendent Kelly commented the Board Policy Committee would meet on the week of December 12th, and the bylaw would be brought back for approval at the January 11th board meeting.
The School Board agreed to postpone the approval of the second reading and approval of Board Bylaw 9100 – Organization until the January 11th board meeting.
14. Board and Superintendent Reports
14.1 Report from Board Members and Superintendent
Trustee Lawson reported attending the RCSD logo redesign committee meeting. She also attended the Chamber Education Committee meeting where Joan Dentler discussed Senator Josh Becker’s office focus on SPED funding. The meeting also discussed a citizen led parcel tax initiative and Prop 28 funding. The Prop 28 funding can go towards LCFF and basic aid.
Superintendent Baker added for those districts that are community funded and/or basic aid, Senator Becker will see if it is possible to move forward so the district can get transitional kinder teachers as part of the funding as well.
Trustee MacAvoy stated that it was great to hear that Senator Becker will be working on that because there are a lot of basic aid districts in San Mateo and Santa Clara County.
Furthermore, Trustee Lawson commented that Senator Becker has his “There Oughta Be A Law” contest open now for anyone to share new law suggestions.
Vice-President Márquez had nothing to report.
Trustee Wells wished everyone a “happy inclusive schools” week. He reported attending the Measure U Oversight committee meeting. The report will be shared at the December 14th board meeting. He acknowledged that Janet Borgins, Chair of the Measure U Oversight committee, is a master class in running a public meeting. He was very impressed.
Trustee MacAvoy reported attending the CSBA Annual Education Conference in San Diego. At the conference she attended Board Director meetings, Delegate Assembly, and the annual conference. Additionally, she reported attending a session on cyber security. The main point of the session was “that it is not a matter of if, but when,” so it is important for the district to be fully prepared. She hopes to have a closed session regarding cyber security to make sure the district is well prepared. Trustee MacAvoy also shared Brandon P. Fleming has a book titled “Miseducated.” The message of the book is to lead with love. Trustee MacAvoy feels the messaging aligns with the NUA work. Furthermore, Trustee MacAvoy led a session on saving money while integrating climate action. Trustee MacAvoy also attended Jackie Speier’s celebration of 40 years of service. Jackie Speier is starting her own foundation that will focus on better outcomes for women and children in San Mateo County. At the event, Trustee MacAvoy spoke to Congressman Kevin Mullin and agreed to meet with him and others to speak about Federal education issues. Also, Trustee MacAvoy reported meeting with a community member regarding questions on bond measures, consolidation of school districts, and other cost saving measures. Lastly, Trustee MacAvoy reported attending the Sequoia Dream Club dinner.
President Díaz-Slocum reported attending Garfield’s new facility. She was able to see all of the new library stuff. She mentioned the librarian had boxes of books that she got from the SF library. She also walked around Hoover school to prepare for the meeting with the City of Redwood City.
Superintendent Baker reported that Assistant Superintendent Liz put together a template for the board presentations. He asked the School Board to send any suggestions to him and Liz.
15. Correspondence
President Díaz-Slocum informed receiving an email requesting extending the time to report the audit to the county. She also reported receiving correspondence regarding the shortage of substitutes for teachers and special education paraprofessionals. Lastly, she received correspondence requesting adding hours to the library staff positions at some sites.
16. Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda
Superintendent Baker informed the School Board of an offsite meeting on January 20th from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm to review the LCAP goals. At the meeting, the School Board will also discuss the planning of board meetings for the remainder of the school year, the following year, and strategic directions for the next three years. The meeting might be held at the CZI building.
17. Board Meetings Calendar
No changes.
18. Adjournment
The board adjourned the meeting at 7:41 p.m. (Lawson, MacAvoy; 5-0).