10th Site, Community Engagement, and Dress Code

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The closed session for our 1/13/20 meeting (our first meeting of the new year) begins at 6:30pm. The board will reconvene for open session starting around 7pm in the LASD Board Room. The entire agenda and supporting documentation can be found here. 

Every year, representatives from each LASD school present at a board meeting. At this meeting, Gardner Bullis will present how they are building community across grade levels.  I look forward to these presentations each meeting as they rekindle my passion for our public schools each and every time.  

First up on the agenda, the Board will get an Annual Performance Report on the Solar Project.  Randy Kenyon will introduce a representative from Terra Verde (the district's energy consultants) to present how the solar panels installed at all 9 LASD campuses have performed over the last year. This is a discussion item and no action will be taken.  The presentation can be found under agenda item I.1 using the agenda link above. NEWS FLASH:  the District not only reduced its carbon footprint, but has also saved even more $$ than expected in energy costs!

Next up, Randy Kenyon will present an update about Facilities Master Planning and the 10th Site.  This is a discussion item and his thorough presentation outlining just how much the District and the Board has already done and has yet to get done in the coming year can be found under agenda item I.2.  The Board has 4 interrelated issues it needs to consider and make decisions on in the next 6 months and they include in no particular order:​

• Long term facilities for BCS
• How to use newly acquired 10th Site
• Whether to move LASD to a Middle School Model (move 6th grade to the Junior Highs)
• Update to the Facilities Master Plan based on decisions related to long term facilities for BCS, what LASD will be doing with the 10th site, and whether LASD will be moving to a middle school model.  

I know that I, as an individual board member, am up to the task and am ready to put in the time required to get to tackle these issues and make those decisions in the best interest of the entire Los Altos School District. 

Then, Sarah Stern-Benoit will present a Community Engagement Process Update.  This is a discussion item and her draft schedule for continued community engagement can be found under agenda item I.3.  As outlined above, the Board has many interrelated decisions to make by the end of the school year.  The Board will not be making those decisions in a vacuum. The Board will make those decisions in public meetings, with public input the entire time.  We look forward to your participation in the process. 

Jeff Baier will then present the 2020 Board Committees and Appointments.  This is an action item and the list of appointments can be found under agenda item I.4.  There is not much to highlight from the list as most board members are staying in their same appointments. 

Next up, Randy Kenyon will present the Actuarial Valuation of Retiree Health Benefits.  Do I still have you?  This is a discussion item and his presentation can be found under agenda item I.5.  School districts are required to disclose their liability for retiree health benefits every other year. This being the "other year,"  Randy is disclosing the present value of our liability for future benefits for retiree health benefits as
$29.1 million.  

Saving the best for last, Jeff Baier will present a Board Policy Update for Student Dress and Grooming.  This is a discussion item and the Dress Code update can be found under agenda item I.6.  This update brings the District's dress code up to date with times.  It has been updated to be a non-discriminatory (whether gender, race, religion, national origin, etc.) policy that ensures student wear clothing suitable for the school activities in which they participate. Furthermore, dress code enforcement will be the least restrictive and disruptive to the student’s school day to ensure all students are able to dress comfortably for school without fear of discipline or body shaming. 

Please note, this is just the highlights of what is on the agenda for the 1/13/2019 meeting.  You can inform yourself about the rest of the agenda at the link provided above.  As always, feel free to email me with any questions.