Opening of the School Year

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The Monday, August 21, 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, Superintendent Sandra McGonagle will give an update on the Opening of the 2023/24 School Year.  This is a discussion item and her presentation can be found under agenda item H.1.  LASD students went back to school this week on Wednesday, 8/16.  Earlier in the week, teachers and staff started their week with an all staff meeting at Egan where Sandra welcomed back new and returning staff, celebrated teachers who achieved permanent status (tenure), and reviewed the LASD Student and Staff Experience.  Furthermore, PTAs and school sites hosted community building experiences such as s schedule days at the Junior Highs, and back to school picnics and playdates at the elementary schools.  

Next, Dr. Carrie Bosco and Greg Drummond will give a Professional Development Update.  This is a discussion item and their presentation can be found under agenda item H.2.  Professional Development this summer and going forward will center around the LASD Student Experience, otherwise known as the "Wheel" shown in the illustration above.  It focuses on the science of learning and centers upon each student individually.  Other professional development this summer and into the fall includes transitional kinder (TK) training, special education training, TK, K and literacy aide training, and science curriculum training for our 6-8th grade teachers for the newly adopted science curriculum.  It is important to know that professional development in LASD happens all year and every day.  While there are definitely days fully focused on professional development, there is are also coaching and mentoring and leadership team training happening all year round.  

Then, Laura Wiley will give the Board a 2023 Summer Programs Report. This is a discussion item and her presentation can be found under agenda item H.3.  LASD had 3 programs this summer, Extended School Year (ESY) for those students with an IEP, Summer Intervention for those students behind grade level in reading and/or math, and summer camp for those students who qualify for the Extended Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP) (low socioeconomic, English language learner, and foster and homeless students).  I look forward to hearing how these programs went this summer.  

Erik Walukiewicz will next present a Notice of Completion with Best Electric. This is an action item and the notice can be found under agenda item H.4.  This summer, much needed lighting maintenance/upgrades were done at Almond, Blach and Springer.  The Board is asked to approve this to certify that the project has been completed. 

Erik will then present an updated Employment Agreement for Consulting Services by Randall A. Kenyon.  This is an action item and the agreement can be found under agenda item H.5.  The Board is asked to approve this agreement to continue to engage with our former CBO to consult on matters related to the complicated 10th site project. 

Next, Erik will present a Board Policy Update regarding Design Build Contracts. This is an action item and the board policy can be found under agenda item H.6.  The Board is asked to approve this policy that outlines how the Board can award Design Build Contracts when designing and building facilities.     

Last, but not least, Sandra will present a 2023-24 Mentor-Tutor Connection (MTC) Memorandum of Understanding.  This is an action item and the memorandum of understanding can be found under agenda item H.7.  The Board is asked to approve this agreement with MTC for them to continue to supply the district with much needed, well trained volunteer tutors for our students needing extra help.  

Please note, this is just the highlights of what is on the agenda for the 8/21/23 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.