September 27, 2023
REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Redwood City, California
APPROVED MINUTES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
September 27, 2023
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
1. Call to Order
Vice President Lawson called the Regular Session to order at 7:00 p.m.
1.1 Roll Call
Present at the Regular Board meeting: President Cecilia Márquez, Vice-President Janet Lawson; Trustees Mike Wells, Alisa McAvoy, and David Weekly; and Superintendent Baker
Others present during the Regular Board meeting: Assistant Superintendent Anna Herrera, Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly, CBO Rick Edson, Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe, Erin Kekos, Patrinia Redd, Gonzalo Cordova, Itzel Gloria, Gabby Robles, Gricelda Santamaria, Jennifer Sandoval, and many others.
2. Welcome
Vice President Lawson welcomed those present. Vice President Lawson informed the audience that President Márquez, although present via Zoom, would be abstaining from voting due to being out of town.
3. Changes to the Agenda
Trustee MacAvoy requested to move Action Items 8.2, 8.3, and 8.5 to Consent.
4. Approval of the Agenda
The School Board approved the agenda as amended (Wells, MacAvoy; 4-0).
Trustee Weekly (Ayes)
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)
President Márquez (Abstained)
5. Oral Communication
None.
6. School/Community Reports
6.1 2023-24 Health and Wellness Department Update
Patrinia Redd, Director of Health and Wellness, reported to the School Board on the 22-23 school year and discussed the Health and Wellness Department plans for the 2023-24 school year.
Trustee MacAvoy asked if the 1238 students that were screened were KN and Pre-School students. Patrinia confirmed that they were and the number also included students from the charter schools. Patrinia also shared that Sonrisas Dental Health is able to see any student at any grade level for a dental screening.
Trustee Weekly asked if the screenings also included dental sealant delivery or if it was just a passive screening. Patrinia responded it was just a passive screening.
The Trustees and Superintendent Baker thanked Patrinia for the presentation and for all the work she has been doing in providing health and wellness services to the students and staff.
6.2 Review of the Human Resources Department's Vision and Plans for 2023-2024
Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly presented to the School Board the Human Resources Department team. Wendy and Erin Kekos, Director of HR, reported to the Board of Trustees information concerning department highlights, staffing, goals, and Human Resources Department updates.
Trustee MacAvoy asked for clarification regarding the total number of employees for the 2023-24 School Year on slide 19 of the presentation, to which Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly and Erin Kekos responded.
Trustee MacAvoy asked if the district had considered offering referral incentives for hiring, to which Wendy Kelly responded that it had been done the previous year.
Vice President Lawson inquired about the process for distributing international teachers among the schools. Wendy Kelly answered by stating that the majority of the teachers were placed at MIT, Garfield, and Hoover.
The Trustees and Superintendent Baker expressed their gratitude to the HR Department for their dedicated efforts and for all of the work they do.
7. Consent Items
Chris Robell shared his opinion, regarding Agenda Item 7.4, stating that the committees are legislative bodies subject to the Brown Act and therefore should be agendized, and minutes should be recorded during their meetings.
Vice President Lawson clarified that the committees are convened by the Superintendent. No committee has a majority of the Board sitting in them; therefore, they are not subject to the Brown Act.
The School Board approved the Consent Items (Wells, MacAvoy; 4-0), taking the following action:
7.1 Recommendation re: Approval of Consent Items
7.2 Recommendation re: Approval of the September 13 Board Meeting Minutes
7.3 Recommendation re: Approval of Addendum to 2023-24 Measure U Application
for Garfield Community School
7.4 Recommendation re: Approval of School Assignments and Committee
Assignments for Board Members for the 2023-24 School Year
7.5 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between the Redwood City
School District and the Santa Clara County Office of Education
7.6 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between the Redwood City
School District and San Mateo County Counsel
7.7 Recommendation re: Approval of Amendment No. 1 between the Redwood City
School District and Maxim Healthcare Services for the 2023-24 School Year
7.8 Recommendation re: Approval of Local Interagency Agreement(s) to Provide Education and Training to Counselor Trainee Candidates
7.9 Recommendation re: Approval of Additional Personnel Needed for 2023-24
7.10 Recommendation re: Approval of Personnel Report
8.2 Recommendation re: Approval of Variable Term Waiver.
The variable term waiver was approved for Maria Jose Alarcon Amador.
8.3 Recommendation re: Approval of Provisional Internship Permit.
The School Board approved the Provisional Internship Permit for the following:
Jennifer Contreras- 6th-grade English/Social Science teacher at Hoover Elementary School.
Jocelyn Arellano- 6th grade Social Science/Science teacher at Hoover Elementary School.
Pamela Nolan- 6/8 grade RSP teacher at Kennedy Middle School.
Ana Tabares- Newcomer teacher at Roosevelt School
Ann Tung- new Music teacher at Clifford School
Ashley Ferreria- RSP teacher at Hoover Elementary School
8.5 Recommendation re: Approval of Application for Exemption from the Required Expenditures for Classroom Teachers' Salaries
Trustee Weekly (Ayes)
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)
President Márquez (Abstained)
8. Action Items
8.1 Recommendation re: Adoption of Resolution 4, Resolution to Adopt the Gann Limit
No questions or comments.
The School Board adopted Resolution 4, Resolution to adopt the Gann Limit (MacAvoy, Wells; 4-0).
Trustee Weekly (Ayes)
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)
President Márquez (Abstained)
8.4 Recommendation re: Approval of 2022-23 Unaudited Actuals Financial Statement
No questions. The Trustees thanked Rick and his department for all the work that they do.
The School Board approved the 2022-23 Unaudited Actuals Financial Statement (MacAvoy, Weekly; 4-0).
Trustee Weekly (Ayes)
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Trustee Wells (Ayes)
Vice-President Lawson (Ayes)
President Márquez (Abstained)
9. Board and Superintendent Reports
9.1 Report from Board Members and Superintendent
Trustee Wells reported attending the first SEPTAR meeting.
Trustee MacAvoy reported also attending the SEPTAR meeting. Moreover, she also attended the Henry Ford open house, a Redwood City Together welcoming event, and a Superintendent Advisory Committee meeting. Lastly, she shared that she helped the teachers who were helping get furniture for the international teachers and paraeducators.
Trustee Weekly reported having his first meeting with Hayley Dupuy, Director of Educational Services at Connect Community Charter School. At the meeting, Trustee Weekly and Hayley shared best practices.
Vice-President Lawson reported attending a Bond Committee meeting and a Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee meeting.
President Márquez reported attending the Superintendent Advisory Committee meeting. She also attended the Latino Heritage speaker’s series.
Superintendent Baker reported attending a few of the aforementioned meetings, as well as a meeting with the Redwood City Together Executive Board. He also reported having future meetings scheduled to discuss strategic planning.
10. Correspondence
None.
11. Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda
Speaker’s Card:
Chris Robell spoke to the Board, proposing a rescheduling of Board meetings to a different day of the week to avoid overlapping with other district meetings.
Vice-President Lawson commented that there are multiple meetings that happen throughout the county. She noted that RCSD Board meetings are recorded, and individuals who cannot attend the meeting can watch the meeting at a later time.
12. Board Meetings Calendar
12.1 Changes to the Board Meetings Calendar
None.
13. Adjournment
The School Board adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m. (Weekly, Wells; 4-0).