Curriculum, COVID and Solar

Community members in line at the Almond Vaccine Clinic

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Long time, no see! I hope you had a relaxing break and have come through it without Omicron. The Monday, January 10, 2022, LASD Board meeting will start its open session at 7:00pm and public participation will continue to happen using the Zoom webinar platform. The LASD Board will be meeting physically together following COVID safe protocols in the LASD Board Room. To register in advance for the meeting, click here.  The entire agenda and supporting documentation for this week's meeting can be found here.

As usual, in the time of COVID, we start the meeting with Jeff Baier giving an Assembly Bill 361 Update. This is an action item and there is no presentation attached under agenda H.1. As mentioned in a couple of prior updates, in March 2020, the Governor declared a state of emergency and executed an Executive Order allowing for suspension of certain Brown Act requirements, thus allowing for remote meetings.  AB 361 suspends and supplants that Executive Order.  AB 361 allows for remote meetings and same suspensions of the Brown Act that the Executive Order allowed WHEN (1) a state of emergency has been declared AND (2) one of the following has happened:  (A) state or local officials recommend social distancing measures, or (B) local agency (LASD BOARD) determines meeting in person would present "imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees."  On September 21, 2021, Santa Clara County Public Health Department recommended (and still recommends) that public bodies continue to meet remotely and the State of California is still in a state of emergency.  AB 361 requires that any given governing body make specified findings regarding (1) and (2) above and to make those findings every 30 days thereafter, in order to continue to meet under abbreviated teleconferencing procedures.  Jeff asks that we make the "specified findings" in this meeting to ensure we comply for our next meeting. 

Next, Sandra McGonagle will give a Curriculum and Instruction Projects Update.  This is a discussion item and her presentation can be found under agenda item H.2 using the link provided above.  The presentation gives progress updates on LASD curriculum initiatives in development and where we are in instituting them. Looks like, even in the face of COVID, the Curriculum and Instruction Department is making great progress toward their goals.  You can read more about them in Sandra's presentation. 

Then, Jeff will give a COVID-19 and Vaccine Clinics in LASD Update.  This is a discussion item and there is no presentation as of yet under agenda item H.3 (but will be added with the most up to date information on 1/10/22).  There were two vaccine clinics this week within LASD.  One was at Santa Rita and the other was at Almond.  There will be two more vaccine clinics open to all those who are eligible for the vaccine (everyone 5 and up) or booster (everyone 12 and up) on January 13th and February 3rd from 3-7pm at Blach Intermediate School.  

Randy Kenyon and representatives from Terra Verde will next give the Annual Solar Project Performance Report.  This is a discussion item and the report and presentation can be found under agenda item H.4.  The report highlights how the solar panels at each one of our schools are working and the cost savings.  

Jeff will then present the 2022 Board Committees and Appointments list.  This is an action item and the list can be found under agenda item H.5.  The Board already previewed the list at its last meeting in December and is asked to approve the list and appointments. 

Next, Jeff will ask for agenda items to discuss at the City of Los Altos/LASD Schools Subcommittee Meeting.  This subcommittee meets periodically to discuss items of mutual interest to both LASD and the City of Los Altos. 

Last, but not least, we have one Board Policy Update to preview (on Transitional Kindergarten).  It can be found under agenda item H.7. As stated in prior updates, 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 Federal and California state law and regulations.  

Please note, this is just the highlights of what is on the agenda for the 1/10/22 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.