Reopening Progress, LATA Contract, Teacher Induction Program, and Math Curriculum

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Monday, January 11, 2021 LASD Board meeting will start its open session at 7:00pm and it will be held using the Zoom webinar platform.  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 on the agenda will be the Disclosure of a Proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement with LATA. This is a discussion item and the Disclosure paperwork can be found under agenda item H.1 using the link above.  The proposed agreement calls for a 2% raise for this school year (20/21) and the next (21/22) for our teachers.   We will be asked to approve it the next board meeting (procedure calls for us to review in one meeting and approve in the next).  I am pleased to be able to give our hard working teachers this well deserved raise. 

Next up, Jeff Baier will give a School Reopening Update.  This is a discussion item and Jeff's presentation can be found under agenda item H.2.  LASD is set with all health and safety protocols in place to physically reopen again for TK-5th grade on January 11, 2021 and for our 6-8th graders on January 21st.  LASD's principles for reopening schools are as follows:

• Health and safety of our students and staff is a top priority
• Best instructional model for students is in person
• Science guides our decisions and LASD will strictly adhere to public health experts' guidance
• Collaborate with labor groups to negotiate agreements and adhere to those agreements

LASD has been reopened since September 28, 2020 and from the beginning has strictly adhered to state, county and LASD public health guidelines.  The mitigation protocols we have put into place have been effective.  To stay reopened we will continue to follow those protocols and ensure each and every LASD community member is doing the same.  As stated in the presentation, a partnership with families is essential to this success.  Families that choose hybrid learning MUST STRICTLY FOLLOW PROTOCOLS at school and at home.      

Then, Randy Kenyon and a representative from Terra Verde will present an Annual Performance Report on Solar Project.  This is a discussion item and their presentation/documentation can be found under agenda item H.3.  The short of it is that our solar panels across the District have produced 89% of the energy we expected (or our consultant expected) and somehow Oak School's electrical usage went up by 27.5%.  I look forward to hearing more from our consultants and Randy. 

Sandra McGonagle will next present the Institutional Approval of an LASD Teacher Induction Program.  This is an action item and her presentation can be found under agenda item H.4.  The Board is being asked to approve this program.  Teacher Induction is a two year program for beginning teachers with a preliminary teaching credential.  It as a version of student teaching that will not only help LASD attract and retain up and coming teachers, but will also get them aligned to our culture and vision to hit the ground running in their teaching careers.  

Then Sandra will present the TK-5 Math Adoption Process.  This is a discussion item and her presentation can be found under agenda item H.5.  Sandra is asking for guidance as to whether the district should continue adoption of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Math Curriculum in lieu of the Envision math curriculum currently approved.  The SFUSD Math Curriculum has been developed by that district in partnership with the Silicon Valley Math Initiative, Bay Area Math Project at Lawrence Hall of Science, San Francisco State University and the Strategic Education Research Project and is in its 5th full year of implementation in that district.  LASD has been piloting it this year. 

Last, but not least, the Board will be asked to approve the 2021 Board Committees and Appointments.  This is is an action item and the changes in memberships we discussed in the Board's last meeting can be found in the documentation under agenda item H.6.      

Please note, these are just the highlights of what to expect at our 1/11/2021 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.