The Monday, October 2, 2023, LASD Board meeting will start its open session at 7:00pm and contemporaneous public comments may only be made in person in the LASD Board Room. We use the Zoom webinar platform for community members to follow our meetings at home. If you cannot attend in person, and have a comment that you would like the LASD Board to consider in its decision making, please email all of us at [email protected]. To register to watch the board meeting from the comfort of your home, click here. The entire agenda and supporting documentation for this week's meeting can be found here.
First up on the agenda, Greg Drummond will give a Professional Development (PD) Update. This is a discussion item and his presentation can be found under agenda item H.1. Professional development is intrinsically part of everything our teachers and staff do. In addition to professional development days in October and January, our teachers learn from each other on a daily basis, as LASD is full of life long learners who are dedicated to ensuring all our students get a top notch learning experience. Next, Erik Walukiewicz and the Citizens' Advisory Committee for Finance (CACF) will present an Update. This is a discussion item and their presentation can be found under agenda item H.2. CACF, the committee charged with overseeing how the District expends its parcel tax proceeds (and so much more), wants to reiterate to the Board the dangers in front of the District if Measure A were not to pass. LASD has consistently performed in the 1% of school districts in CA, but is second to the bottom in compensation for its teachers. 80% of our budget goes toward educating our students by way of teacher salaries, but we pay them with fewer dollars than neighboring districts have. We will not be able to stay in the top 1% if this parcel tax fails because LASD will be forced to make $3 million in cuts (to remain fiscally sound) which will result in noticeable effects in the classroom. Then, Erik will give a Facilities Master Plan Update. This is a discussion item and his presentation can be found under agenda item H.3. In May 2023 the Board had a study session to better understand the District's current facilities needs. After that meeting, the Board directed staff to begin a facilities master planning process that reflects new state mandates that affect our facilities needs in addition to all other district facility needs. In July 2023, the District issued an RFP for facilities master planning services. On October 2nd, finalists that responded to the RFP will be interviewed. That all being said, the facilities master planning process is set to start up in late Fall, once the District has selected and approved a vendor/expert to spearhead that effort. Superintendent Sandra McGonagle will next present a 2023-25 Employment Agreement with Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Business Services for the Board's approval. This is an action item and the agreement can be found under agenda item H.4. This agreement extends Erik's current contract another year through June 2025. Last, but definitely not least, Sandra has a bunch of Board Policy Updates and Deletions for the Board to review. This is a discussion item and all of the Board Policies Updates can be found under agenda items H.5 and H.6. The California School Boards Association (CSBA) frequently advises local school districts on updates and deletions to board policies, bylaws and regulations based on recent changes to California state law and regulations and our Board gradually updates our policies based on CSBA's recommendations. Please note, this is just the highlights of what is on the agenda for the 10/2/23 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.
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The Monday, September 18, 2023, LASD Board meeting will start its open session at 7:00pm and contemporaneous public comments may only be made in person in the LASD Board Room. We use the Zoom webinar platform for community members to follow our meetings at home. If you cannot attend in person, and have a comment that you would like the LASD Board to consider in its decision making, please email all of us at [email protected]. To register to watch the board meeting from the comfort of your home, click here. The entire agenda and supporting documentation for this week's meeting can be found here.
First up on the agenda, Greg Drummond of the Curriculum & Instruction Department will provide the Board with a Social and Emotional Learning Update. This is a discussion item and his presentation can be found under agenda item H.1. At LASD, not only is social and emotional learning a separate curriculum where specific lessons are taught, but it is also baked into LASD's culture of learning or Student Experience. "In LASD we connect with who each and every child really is, put them at the center of their learning experience, integrate their social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development, and develop learners as full people." LASD also makes sure our students, families and staff know about internal and external resources for wellness when it is needed. And of course, LASD will continue to improve and stay true its culture of lifelong learning. Then, Dr. Carrie Bosco will conduct a public hearing on the Sufficiency of Instructional Materials. This is an action item and the resolution Dr. Bosco asks the Board to approve can be found under agenda item H.3 using the link provided above. This is a process and resolution the Board is asked to approve every year in accordance with state law. Next, Erik will present the Santa Clara County Treasury Investment Portfolio Status. This is an action item and his memo explaining it and the county's Quarterly Investment Report can be found under agenda item H.4. The portfolio is highly regulated for risk by state law and the depositors are the County of Santa Clara, all the school districts, and most of the special purpose districts of the county. The Board is asked to accept the portfolio's status. Carrie will then present a Resolution regarding a Speech Language Pathologist. This is an action item and the resolution can be found under agenda H.5. A district can hire a Speech Language Pathologist without a credential if that person holds a valid license and meets certain Educational Code requirements as long as the board approves it through a resolution. The Board is asked to do just that. Last, but definitely not least, Sandra has a bunch of Board Policy Updates for the Board to review. This is a discussion item and all of the Board Policies Updates can be found under agenda H.6. The California School Boards Association (CSBA) frequently advises local school districts on updates and deletions to board policies, bylaws and regulations based on recent changes to California state law and regulations and our Board gradually updates our policies based on CSBA's recommendations. Please note, this is just the highlights of what is on the agenda for the 9/18/23 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. |
Jessica SpeiserThanks to your support, I joined the Los Altos School District (LASD) Board of Trustees in December 2016. I finished my tenure as Board President after serving as such from December 2018 to December 2019. I am currently Board Vice President. As usual, I will use this blog to continue updating you on upcoming Board meetings and make you aware of upcoming office hours and community events. Archives
May 2024
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