Back to School and More!

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The Monday, August 16, 2021, LASD Board meeting will start its open session at 7:00pm and public participation will happen using the Zoom webinar platform. The LASD Board will be meeting physically in person together following COVID safe protocols. To register in advance for the meeting, click here.  The entire agenda and supporting documentation for this week's meeting can be found here.

First up, Jeff Baier will present on 2021-22 School Preparations.  This is a discussion item and the presentation can be found under agenda item H.1 using the link provided above.  Our schools, TK-8, are ready to open fully on August 18th.  Protocols are in place for a COVID safe reopening including required mask wearing indoors, ventilation, hand hygiene and classroom disinfection, and symptom tracking, among many other things.  COVID safe protocols have become second nature to the administration, teachers, staff and students across the district.  LASD has a proven track record of being open without COVID spread during "corona times."  For those that require it, an Independent Study "may be offered to students whose health would be put at risk by in person instruction as determined by a parent or guardian."  LASD is contracting out to Stride Learning Solutions for those requiring an Independent Study.  An Independent Study will be nothing like LASD's virtual school or remote instruction. Enrollment information for an Independent Study can be found here.

Next, Jeff will present Board Policy for Independent Study.  This is an action item and the board policy can be found under agenda item H.2 and H.3. This board policy reflects the CA changes to the Independent Study requirements as outlined in AB 130, including who can seek one and certain supervision and teaching requirement for such.  The Board is asked to approve this board policy.  

Then, Randy Kenyon will present an Overview of the 2021-22 State Budget.  This is a discussion item and his presentation can be found under agenda H.4.  The short of it is that the state budget calls for several programs that we will need to phase in over the next couple of years and determine how we will fund them.  The state included a plan for Universal TK (all 4 year olds no matter when they were born) to be phased in, but with only funds allocated for planning for community funded districts like our own.  The state also called for "Free Lunch for All" for the next school year (22-23).  It is unlikely our district will get funds for this mandate and if we do, it will not be enough to cover the type of food our parents would like their students to receive.  Needless to say, LASD has a lot of planning on both fronts to ensure we have the budget to cover these state mandates. 

Jeff will next present a Mentor Tutor Connection Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  This is an action item and the MOU can be found under agenda item H.5.  LASD has been working with Mentor Tutor Connection (MTC) for several years and this just formalizes the relationship with them.  MTC has trained volunteers how to tutor our most struggling students and have vetted them to ensure they have been fingerprinted, completed TB
tests, received training, and attended a one-hour youth protection training session.  The Board is asked to approve this MOU. 

Amendments to Employee Agreements with the Superintendent (Jeff), Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction (Sandra) and the Assistant Superintendent for Business Services (Randy) will then be presented by Jeff. This is an action item and the agreements can be found under agenda item H.6. These agreements give all three individuals a stipend in recognition of the hard work they put in for the 20/21 school year.  The Board is asked approve these agreements. 

Last, but definitely not least, Jeff will present Board Policy Updates and Board Policy Deletions for the Board's review.  This is a discussion item and all the board policy updates and deletions can be found under agenda items H.7 and H.8.  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.  Happy reading!

Please note, this is just the highlights of what is on the agenda for the 8/16/21 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.