June 23, 2023 - Special Session

REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Redwood City, California

APPROVED MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

June 23, 2023

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

1.         Call to Order

President Márquez called the Closed Session to order at 9:09 a.m.

 

1.1           Roll Call

Present at the Closed Board meeting: President Cecilia Márquez, Vice-President Janet Lawson; Trustees Mike Wells, Alisa MacAvoy, and David Weekly; and Superintendent Baker

 

2.         Oral Communication on Closed Session Items Only

None.

 

3.         Closed Session (Closed to the Public 9:00-10:00 am)

 

3.1       Closed Session for Public Employee Contract (Superintendent)

 

4.         Reconvene to Special Session at Approximately 10:00 AM

The School Board reconvened for the Special session at 10:05 am.

 

4.1       Roll Call

Present at the Special Board meeting: President Cecilia Márquez, Vice-President Janet Lawson; Trustees Mike Wells, Alisa MacAvoy, and David Weekly; and Superintendent Baker

 

Others present during the Regular Board meeting: Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe, CBO Rick Edson, and Anna Herrera

 

5.         Welcome

President Márquez welcomed those present.

 

6.      Changes to the Agenda

None.

 

7.      Approval of the Agenda

The School Board approved the agenda as submitted (Weekly, Lawson; 5-0).

 

Trustee Weekly (Ayes)

Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)

Trustee Wells (Ayes)

Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)

President Márquez (Ayes)

 

8.         Oral Communication

Tiffany Bebb spoke to the School Board to request that an exception be made so her child could be enrolled in the Mandarin Immersion program. Due to current policy, the student would not receive priority to enroll in the Mandarin Immersion program.

 

9.         Discussion Items

 

9.1       Discussion on School Report Presentations to the School Board for the 2023-24 School Year

The School Board, along with Superintendent Baker and Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe, discussed the School Report presentations. It was an opportunity for the Board of Trustees to discuss what information they would like to have presented on the school reports for the 2023-24 school year.

 

9.2       Redwood City School District Mission, Vision, Values and Goals Discussion

The School Board and Superintendent Baker focused their discussion on the Redwood City School District Goals. Superintendent Baker requested to update goal #1 which states, “Ensure all students are reading at or above grade level by the end of second grade.” Superintendent Baker will meet with the principals to review the new wording for goal #1.   

 

9.3       Strategic Planning Discussion

The School Board and Superintendent Baker discussed the strategic direction for the Redwood City School District. Superintendent Baker informed the School Board regarding the stabilization plan of the district’s finances. Superintendent Baker and CBO Rick Edson requested input from the School Board on who they would like to see form part of the Budget Advisory Committee to look at the district’s financial conditions and discuss recommendations.

 

The School Board recessed for lunch at 12:19 pm and reconvened to the Special Session at 12:45 pm.

 

The School Board and cabinet continued to discuss and provide input regarding strategic direction. The School Board would like to further discuss what programs have proven effective, how to place experienced and highly qualified teachers at the schools that need them, and the order of agenda items for School Board meetings, among other subjects.

 

10.       Adjournment

The School Board adjourned the meeting at 2:02 p.m. (Wells, Weekly; 5-0).