Retirements and a Whole Lotta Business

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The Monday, June 6, 2022, LASD Board meeting will start its open session at 7:00pm and live public comments may only be made in person in the LASD Board Room. If you plan to participate in person, wearing a mask is strongly recommended in accordance with SCCPHD and CDPH guidelines. We will continue to use the Zoom webinar platform for community members to follow our meetings at home, but public comment will not be allowed on it. 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] by 5pm on Saturday, 6/4/22.  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.

Before we start normal business, the Board will be recognizing employee retirements including those of Jeff Baier and Randy Kenyon.  We are so thankful for the tireless service of our retiring teachers, staff and administrators.  Quite simply, we would not be the incredible district we are without their hard work.  We wish them the best in their new adventures.  

First up on the agenda, Sandra McGonagle will give the Board an update on School Violence Prevention in LASD. This is a discussion item and Sandra's presentation can be found under agenda item H.1 using the link provided above.  There are a couple of ways in which LASD will be and are prepared for violence or the prevention of violence on our campuses.  First of all, we try to prevent violence by ensuring our schools are emotionally safe, socially inclusive, and intellectually engaging.  This not only includes social/emotional curriculum and practices, but also engaging academic curriculum and anti-bias initiatives.  When this baseline is not enough, each campus has school based psychologists and CHAC counselors to work things out with parents and students. Last, but not least, each school is prepared and continues to hone such preparations for violence when it arises.  In the Fall, look out for a Community-Wide Town Hall to hear more about LASD's and our local community's violence preparedness.  

Next, Jeff Baier will present the Employee Agreements for the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Business Services and the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Curriculum and Instruction.  This is an action item and their contracts can be found under agenda item H.2 and H.3.  As you have seen in school wide communications, LASD has decided to hire Erik Walukiewicz as our new Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Business Services (CBO) to replace Randy Kenyon and Dr. Carrie Bosco as our new Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Curriculum and Instruction to replace Sandra McGonagle as she takes on the role of Superintendent.  The Board is asked to approve these contracts.  If approved, all three, including Sandra, start their new roles on July 1, 2022.  

Then, Sandra McGonagle will hold a Public Hearing for TK-5 Science Curriculum Adoption.  This is an action item and Sandra's presentation and related instructional launch videos can be found under agenda H.4. Beginning in March 2021, the Curriculum Council (that is comprised of 4 parents, 5 teachers, and 3 administrators) reviewed several different curricula and chose two to pilot.  From October 2021 through January 2022, select teachers piloted Inspire from McGraw Hill, and from March 2022 to May 2022 piloted Twig Science. In both pilots, a whole science instructional unit was taught to the participating class. In mid-May the Curriculum Council reviewed teacher input from the pilots and made a recommendation for adoption.  The Board is asked to approve, based on the Curriculum Council's recommendation, Twig Science for LASD's Science Curriculum for grades TK-5.  Based on the pilots, Curriculum Council has also decided to postpone adoption of a new curriculum for grades 6-8 because there were flaws in both curricula for those grade levels.  

Randy Kenyon will next present the Transfer of Development Rights Purchase and Sale Agreement with Rockwood. This is an action item and the agreement and other supporting documentation can be found under agenda item H.6.  LASD was able to finance the purchase of the 10th site in Mountain View with Measure N and the sale of development rights that came with the property as approved by the City of Mountain View.  This contract is with Rockwood and is for 125,000 square feet of development rights for $16,250,000 ($130/square foot).  The Board is asked to approve the agreement.  

The Citizens Advisory Committee for Finance (CACF) will then present its Annual Report.  This is a discussion item and their presentation can be found under agenda item H.7.  CACF is tasked with ensuring LASD spends its parcel tax according to the letter of the law.  That being said, CACF does a lot more, including looking out for the general financial health of the district and factors that effect such.  They have found that for the time being our financial health is great, but that we must be ready for a deep recession and/or prolonged inflation.  

Next, Randy will present the Budget Review Committee (BRC) Recommendations.  This is a discussion item and the recommendations can be found under H.8.  The BRC is recommending a workload budget with a few exceptions.  A workload budget is "one in which there are no new programs or initiatives expected for the budget year and only modest growth in expenses based on inflation factors."   The exceptions are expenditures for state mandated Universal Meals for All, TK, Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, mental health support for students and staff, and competitive teacher salaries to ensure teacher retention.  

Then, Sandra will hold public hearings for the 2022-23 Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Budget Overview for Parents and 2022-23 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).  These are discussion items and her presentations and supporting documentation can be found under agenda item H.9 and H.10.  The Budget Overview for Parents is a pro forma document that Sandra must input our data on the monies we receive and how we spend them in educating LASD students with a specific call out on how much we spend on our most underserved youth. The LCAP includes LASD's measurable goals for 2022-2023.  Those goals include: (1) ensuring all students have access to equitable conditions for learning, (2) All LASD students experiencing high quality instruction that results in equitable outcomes and expected yearly growth, (3) providing tiered supports and systems that promote and sustain strong academic growth and positive social/emotional development for all students, and (4) ensuring a safe, healthy, and respectful school environment to maintain engagement, involvement, and satisfaction of students, staff, and parents. 

Randy will next hold a public hearing on the 2022-23 District Budget.  This is a discussion item and his presentation and the budget can be found under agenda item H.11.  The budget relies on the following key assumptions:  (1) property tax growth of at least 5% next year and the out years, (2) a $1,000,000 increase in property tax transfers to BCS because of the cost of living increases in the state budget, and (3) relatively steady staffing as compared to this prior year. 

Jeff will then present Resolution for an Order of Election Specifications of the Election Order and Consolidation Request.  This is an action item and the resolution can be found under agenda item H.12.  This is a resolution the Board needs to pass every 2 years (each election cycle) to place the expiring seats on the ballot.  For the November 2022 election there will be 3 seats up for election (Bryan Johnson's, Vladimir Ivanovic's, and Vaishali Sirkay's).  

Please note, this is just the highlights of what is on the agenda for the 6/6/22 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.