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January 8, 2025

REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Redwood City, California

APPROVED MINUTES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

January 8, 2025

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

1.    Call to Order

President Wells called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 

1.1    Roll Call

Present at the Regular Board meeting: President Mike Wells, Vice President David Weekly; Trustees Cecilia Márquez and David Li; and Superintendent Baker

Others present during the Regular Board meeting: CBO Rick Edson, Assistant Superintendent Anna Herrera, Deputy Superintendent Wendy Kelly, Will Robertson, Gonzalo Cordova, Principal David Camarena, Principal Warren Sedar, Assistant Principal Patricia Alcocer, Jose Luna, and many others.

Absent during the Regular Board meeting: Trustee Jennifer Ng Kwing King

2.    Welcome

President Wells welcomed those present. 

3.    Changes to the Agenda

Superintendent Baker requested to pull the discussion item 9.1, First Reading and Discussion of Board Policy and Regulation 6020 - Parent Involvement.

4.      Approval of the Agenda

The School Board approved the agenda as amended (Márquez, Li; 4-0).

Trustee Li (Ayes)
Trustee King (Absent)
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Vice President Weekly (Ayes)
President Wells (Ayes)

5.    Oral Communication

A group of prospective Mandarin Immersion (MI) parents addressed the school board to advocate for expanding enrollment in the MI Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program due to its growing popularity. Many parents face extensive waitlists.
The speakers included Meng Zhou, Michelle Stroebe, Kimberly Abbi, Weije, Christina Lee, Saoirse Rafferty, Chris Lao, Xingxing Liu, and James Herbold. Max Zeiberg and Meghan O'Reilly-Green submitted public comment cards but ceded their time to Meng Zhou.

Catherine Stuart, an NSA parent, expressed support for the previous comments regarding the MI program but also advocated for North Star Academy (NSA).

6.    Bond Program Consent Items

The School Board approved the Bond Program Consent Items (Márquez, Li; 4-0), taking the following action:

6.1    Recommendation re: Approval of Bond Program Consent Items
6.2    Recommendation re: Approval of Program Management Services Amendment #5 with Cumming Group (Formerly RGMK)

Trustee Li (Ayes)
Trustee King (Absent)
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Vice President Weekly (Ayes)
President Wells (Ayes)

7.    Bond Program Action Items

None.

8.    School/Community Reports

8.1    Taft and Adelante Selby School Reports for the 2024-2025 School Year

David Camarena, Principal of Taft School, and Warren Sedar and Patricia Alcocer, Principal and Assistant Principal of Adelante Selby School, presented their schools’ data. They highlighted the alignment of site-level performance with the goals outlined in the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). The presentation covered successes, challenges, and site-specific actions aimed at supporting district and site priorities in areas such as attendance and suspension rates, support for English learners, and academic performance in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

The School Board and Superintendent Baker expressed their gratitude to Principals Camarena and Sedar for their presentation and praised their efforts in implementing strategies to address site priorities. Board members also had the opportunity to provide feedback and ask clarifying questions about the school data presented.

No action was taken.

9.    Discussion Items

9.1    First Reading and Discussion of Board Policy and Regulation 6020 - Parent Involvement

Agenda Item 9.1, First Reading and Discussion of Board Policy and Regulation 6020 - Parent Involvement, was pulled from the agenda and will be brought back for discussion at a future meeting.

10.    Consent Items

The School Board approved the Consent Items (Weekly, Li; 4-0), taking the following action: 

10.1    Recommendation re:  Approval of Consent Items
10.2    Recommendation re:  Approval of School Assignments and Committee 
Assignments for Board Members for the 2024-2025 School Year
10.3    Recommendation re:  Approval of Addendum to the 2024-25 Measure U 
Application for Clifford School
10.4    Recommendation re:  Approval of Amended and Restated Lease between 
Wagner Schoolhouse LLC and Redwood City School District
10.5    Recommendation re:  Approval of the Agreement between the Redwood City 
School District and Air Education Inc. for the 2024-2025 School Year
10.6    Recommendation re:  Acceptance of Donations
10.7    Recommendation re:  Ratification of Warrant Registers, December 1, 2024 – 
December 31, 2024

Trustee Li (Ayes)
Trustee King (Absent)
Trustee Márquez (Ayes)
Vice President Weekly (Ayes)
President Wells (Ayes)

11.    Action Items

None.

12.    Board and Superintendent Reports

12.1    Report from Board Members and Superintendent

Trustees Mike Wells, David Weekly, Cecilia Márquez, David Li; and Superintendent Baker had nothing to report.

13.     Information

13.1    Information on San Mateo County Investment Fund - November 2024

No questions or comments.

14.    Correspondence

The Board Trustees received letters and emails regarding the Mandarin Immersion program.

Vice President Weekly reported receiving a complaint regarding the 2025-2026 school year calendar.

Trustee Márquez reported receiving an email regarding the summer program. 

15.    Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda

Vice President Weekly requested adding an agenda item regarding the Mandarin Immersion program.

16.    Board Meetings Calendar

16.1    Changes to the Board Meetings Calendar

None.

17.    Adjournment

The School Board adjourned the meeting at 9:42 p.m. (Weekly, Li; 4-0).