August 28, 2024
REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Redwood City, California
APPROVED MINUTES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
August 28, 2024
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
1. Call to Order
President Lawson called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
1.1 Roll Call
Present at the Regular Board meeting: President Janet Lawson, Vice President Mike Wells; Trustees Alisa MacAvoy, David Weekly, and Cecilia Márquez; and Superintendent Baker
Others present during the Regular Board meeting: CBO Rick Edson, Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly, Eliana Garcia, Carla Malattia, and many others.
2. Welcome
President Lawson welcomed those present.
3. Changes to the Agenda
None.
4. Approval of the Agenda
The School Board approved the agenda as submitted (Weekly, MacAvoy; 5-0).
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Trustee Weekly (Ayes)
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Vice-President Wells (Ayes)
President Lawson (Ayes)
5. Oral Communication
Jeffrey Schabowski was called to speak but was not present, despite submitting a speaker's card.
6. Bond Program Action Items
6.1 Recommendation re: Approval of Program Management Services Amendment #4 with Cumming Group (Formerly RGMK)
Trustee Weekly requested confirmation on whether the item was solely to recognize the corporation’s name change. CBO Edson affirmed this and added that the term of the agreement had been extended, but the rate would remain the same.
The School Board approved the Program Management Services Amendment #4 with Cumming Group (Formerly RGMK) (Wells, Weekly; 5-0).
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Trustee Weekly (Ayes)
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Vice-President Wells (Ayes)
President Lawson (Ayes)
7. Bond Program Discussion Item(s)
7.1 Update on the Progress of the Facilities Master Plan and Next Steps
Aaron Jobson, President of Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA), and Eric Van Pelt of VPCS, updated the School Board on the progress of the Facilities Master Plan, outlined the next steps, and provided an overview of some quick-start projects.
The Board of Trustees thanked Jobson and Van Pelt for the presentation.
Trustee MacAvoy acknowledged receiving emails and calls regarding classroom cooling concerns. Emphasized the urgency of the district's response, stating that the quicker the district can move, the better. Moreover, MacAvoy inquired about the estimated $50-60 million cost for HVAC installation at school sites.
Van Pelt clarified that the $50-60 million is a rough estimate of the full project cost.
Trustee MacAvoy stated her assumption that the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) would consider tandem solar installations to offset the additional energy usage, ensuring utility bills do not significantly increase. MacAvoy emphasized cooling the classrooms is a top priority to ensure a comfortable teaching and learning environment for teachers and students.
Trustee Weekly inquired about the number of classrooms currently lacking AC that would need installation. Van Pelt responded that he did not have that information with him at the meeting, but would follow up.
CBO Edson provided a rough estimate stating about 25% of classrooms in the entire district had AC.
Trustee MacAvoy suggested prioritizing the sun-facing classrooms.
Vice President Wells noted that some of the sites have already had major upgrades and inquired whether those sites would need additional structural upgrades for the additional power, and Van Pelt responded.
Vice President Wells agreed with Trustee MacAvoy, noting that classrooms should be prioritized in tiers.
Trustee MacAvoy asked what four sites require the PGE upgrades, and Van Pelt stated he would follow up with an answer.
Trustee Márquez inquired whether the other sites had been assessed and if they were included in the initial estimate, or if their assessment would incur additional costs, and Van Pelt stated that the cost for the full project would be brought forward at a future board meeting.
Stephanie Vance, a teacher at Redwood City School District (RCSD), voiced her concerns regarding heat-related illnesses due to being in hot classrooms. She proposed different solutions and urged the Board to consider implementing a swift interim solution for classrooms exposed to direct sunlight.
President Lawson thanked Ms. Vance for speaking to the board and offering possible solutions.
Trustee MacAvoy expressed support for quick short-term solutions to cool down classrooms.
Kirsten McMullen, a parent at RCSD, expressed her support for short-term solutions for the hottest classrooms in the district. She noted how disruptive it is when teachers or students are out due to heat-related illnesses.
President Lawson asked Van Pelt to include information regarding the heat-rejection window films for the next presentation.
Mercedes Kwiatkowski, a parent at RCSD, and her son addressed the School Board to share their experience being in Ms. Vance’s class. Kwiatkowski’s son recounted how difficult it was to concentrate while taking a test due to the heat and the sound of the fans running. Ms. Kwiatkowski expressed support for quick interim solutions to the issue.
Vice President Wells and Trustee MacAvoy thanked Kwiatkowski’s son for sharing his experience with the School Board.
Trustee Weekly provided a brief overview of the Facilities Master Plan, emphasizing its importance and purpose. He identified what he believed to be the district’s top five priorities, with air conditioning as a leading concern, noting that learning is hindered in hot environments. Weekly also expressed support for using solar panels and battery backup systems to reduce reliance on PG&E. He highlighted the need for improvements in TK facilities and assured that charter schools would be included in the planning.
Weekly expressed concern that cost estimates for the plan are significantly higher than expected. While he appreciated the timeline for air conditioning installation, he called for interim solutions and more effective methods to expel heat from classrooms.
Trustee MacAvoy shared her experience with the previous Facilities Master Plan, noting that air conditioning or cooling was not a significant topic of discussion ten years ago. She emphasized the need for interim solutions and agreed with Trustee Weekly's list of priorities. MacAvoy also pointed out that some classrooms are old and will need to be torn down and rebuilt. There will be specific high priority needs at each school site that will also have to be considered in the priority list. MacAvoy also mentioned the changes to our nutrition program with going self-op and the need to update our kitchen facilities.
Vice President Wells highlighted the priority of climate-ready schools in the new measure, focusing on air conditioning, heat reduction, air quality preparedness, and grid independence. He emphasized the value of the Facilities Master Plan for community input but warned that more needs may arise than the district can fund.
Trustee Márquez echoed the previous comments and emphasized the need for immediate interim solutions to cool down the classrooms.
Superintendent Baker requested the purchase of thermometers to monitor classroom temperatures. He also suggested applying window film as a test to see if it effectively reduces room temperature.
President Lawson requested that temperature data be collected from the hottest classrooms if thermometers are purchased, so the district can better understand the conditions in those rooms.
8. Discussion Items
8.1 Discussion of School Assignments and Committee Assignments for Board Members for the 2024-25 School Year
President Lawson suggested keeping the current committee assignments unchanged since they will be reviewed again in December.
Trustee Weekly requested guidance on representing his assigned schools better and Superintendent Baker and the trustees provided input.
8.2 Discussion of Process to Appoint Area III Trustee
Superintendent Baker gave the School Board a presentation outlining the process for appointing a new trustee.
Trustees Weekly and Márquez volunteered to be part of the subgroup to select the questions for the trustee appointment interviews.
Trustee Wells suggested rewording the questions to ensure applicants do not feel that being a parent in the school district is a requirement. He also requested information on the outreach process, including how many people expressed interest, and asked for an evaluation of the process's effectiveness for future reference.
Trustee MacAvoy asked if the subgroup would share the questions with the other trustees to allow them to provide input. Superintendent Baker confirmed that this would be done.
Trustee Weekly addressed the public to clarify that applicants for the position do not need a formal connection with the district, must reside in Trustee Area 3, are not required to run a campaign or raise funds, and that the interview will be conducted live during an open board meeting.
9. Public Hearing
9.1 Public Hearing of Sufficiency of Instructional Materials for the 2024-2025 School Year
President Lawson opened the Public Hearing of Sufficiency of Instructional Materials for the 2024-2025 School Year at 8:40 p.m.
No questions or comments.
President Lawson closed the public hearing at 8:40 p.m.
10. Consent Items
The School Board approved the Consent Items (Wells, Weekly; 5-0), taking the following action:
10.1 Recommendation re: Approval of Consent Items
10.2 Recommendation re: Approval of the August 7 Board Meeting Minutes
10.3 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between Redwood City School
District and One Life Counseling for the 2024-2025 School Year
10.4 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between the Redwood City
School District and One Life Counseling Center for the 2024-2025 School Year
10.5 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between Redwood City School
District and Dannis, Woliver & Kelley for Fiscal Years 2024-25 and 2025-26
10.6 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between the Redwood City
School District and the Santa Clara County Office of Education for the 2024-2025 School
Year
10.7 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between Redwood City School
District and the City of Redwood City Parks and Recreation (Reach) for the 2024-2025
School Year
10.8 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between Redwood City School
District and AHS Staffing LLC for a Speech Pathologist for the 2024-2025 School Year
10.9 Recommendation re: Approval of the Agreement between the Redwood City
School District and Newsela, Inc. for the 2024-2025 School Year
10.10 Recommendation re: Approval of Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee
Membership
10.11 Recommendation re: Approval of Renewal Agreement Between Redwood City
School District Instructional Materials Center and 2992 Spring Partners/Beals Martin
10.12 Recommendation re: Approval of Renewal Agreement Between Redwood City
School District Instructional Materials Center and 2992 Spring Partners/Beals Martin
10.13 Recommendation re: Approval of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between Redwood City School District and the County of San Mateo for the 2024-2025
School Year
10.14 Recommendation re: Approval of the Personnel Report
10.15 Recommendation re: Approval of Personnel Changes for the 2024-2025 School
Year
10.16 Recommendation re: Approval to Purchase a Fleet Truck for Use By the
Facilities Department
10.17 Recommendation re: Ratification of Warrant Registers, June 1, 2024 - June 30,
2024
10.18 Recommendation re: Ratification of Warrant Registers, July 1, 2024 - July 31,
2024
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Trustee Weekly (Ayes)
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Vice-President Wells (Ayes)
President Lawson (Ayes)
11. Action Items
11.1 Recommendation re: Adoption of Resolution No. 2, Sufficiency of Instructional Materials for the 2024-25 School Year
No questions or comments.
The School Board adopted Resolution No. 2, Sufficiency of Instructional Materials for the 2024-25 School Year (Wells, MacAvoy; 5-0).
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Trustee Weekly (Ayes)
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Vice-President Wells (Ayes)
President Lawson (Ayes)
11.2 Recommendation re: Adoption of Resolution No. 3, Approval of Certificated Staff Gaining Tenured Status
The Trustees congratulated all those who were newly tenured.
The School Board adopted Resolution No. 3, Approval of Certificated Staff Gaining Tenured Status (MacAvoy, Wells; 5-0).
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Trustee Weekly (Ayes)
Trustee MacAvoy (Ayes)
Vice-President Wells (Ayes)
President Lawson (Ayes)
11.3 Recommendation re: First Reading and Approval of Board Bylaw 9223 - Filling Vacancies
The School Board read and discussed Board Bylaw 9223 - Filling Vacancies.
President Lawson noted that the policy was last revised in 2009. She also pointed out that many items at the bottom of page 1 were crossed off because they had been moved to different sections.
Trustee Wells asked for clarification on the meaning of Section 12. Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly responded that she would look into it and provide a follow-up.
No action was taken.
12. Board and Superintendent Reports
12.1 Report from Board Members and Superintendent
President Lawson had nothing to report.
Trustee Wells reported attending the Welcome Back event, which was also attended by President Lawson and Trustee MacAvoy.
Trustee MacAvoy praised the Welcome Back event and mentioned that she has also been in several discussions with CSBA staff.
Trustee Weekly reported attending several informal school-related events and has been actively recruiting candidates for Trustee Area 3.
Trustee Márquez had nothing to report.
Superintendent Baker reported attending the Welcome Back event and the Principal’s Coffee at Adelante Selby. He also shared that district representatives will be presenting at the California School Boards Association Annual Education Conference.
13. Information
13.1 Information on Decision Against Parcel Tax on November Ballot
The Trustees expressed their understanding of the decision not to pursue a parcel tax.
Jessica Shade, a parent in the Redwood City School District, expressed support and understanding for the decision not to pursue a parcel tax at this time. However, she voiced concerns about funding and potential budget cuts. Ms. Shade also informed the public about the possibility of placing a parcel tax on a future ballot as a citizen-led initiative. Ms. Shade encouraged people to contact her if they are interested in joining the effort.
13.2 Information on San Mateo County Investment Fund - June 2024
No questions or comments.
13.3 Information on San Mateo County Investment Fund - July 2024
No questions or comments.
14. Correspondence
15. Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda
The Trustees reported receiving a lot of emails regarding AC.
16. Board Meetings Calendar
16.1 Changes to the Board Meetings Calendar
None.
17. Adjournment
The School Board adjourned the meeting at 8:59 p.m. (Weekly, Wells; 5-0).