School Reopening, Mental Health, and Budget

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Monday, March 8, 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 is a continued discussion of School Reopening.  This is a discussion item and Jeff Baier's presentation can be found under agenda H.1 using the link provided above.  Because of Santa Clara County's push forward into the Red Tier, we are able to physically open our Junior Highs!  On March 8th, our 7th graders will physically go back in hybrid and on March 15th, our 8th graders will go back.  I am thrilled all of our student that want to go back in person will now have that opportunity! Furthermore, Santa Clara County finally opened up vaccinations to educators and we expect all of our staff to be vaccinated fully by Spring Break.  LASD continues to pool test the 6th graders weekly with no positive case yet.  The pool testing will be expanded to 7th and 8th graders volunteers when the come back to campus.  Case rates for LASD in person students remain low with roughly one positive case per week (and no spread).   Things are looking better all around for LASD and Santa Clara County as case rates go down and vaccinations go up. I look forward to a day in our near future that our students are back 5 days a week, COVID is no longer is a topic of discussion and we are simply discussing curriculum and budgets.  

Next, the Executive Director of Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC), Marsha Deslauriers, will provide a Mental Health Update that will include the services they provide the District students and staff in COVID and non-COVID times.  This is a discussion item and there is no presentation attached to the agenda as of yet.  I look forward to her presentation and to learn about the tele (mental)  health services CHAC has been providing our students and staff in these crazy times.  CHAC is a priceless resource and has helped us in seemingly good times and now in these unprecedented COVID times.  

Then, Sandra McGonagle will present a proposed update to LASD's Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).  This is a discussion item and Sandra's presentation and supporting documents can be found under agenda H.3.  Sandra's presentation is sun lighting a more simplified set of goals in line with goals already shared with the Board in January 2020 (pre-COVID).  The draft LCAP 2020-23 Goals are:

1. Ensure all students have access to equitable conditions for learning
2. All LASD students will experience high quality core instruction that results in equitable outcomes and expected yearly growth
3. Provide tiered supports and systems that promote and sustain strong academic growth and positive social/emotional development for all students
4. Ensure a safe, healthy, and respectful school environment to maintain engagement, involvement, and satisfaction of students, state, and parents.  

Sandra will next present about the District's pursuit of instituting a Junior High School Pursuit of Biliteracy Award.  This is an action item and Sandra's presentation and the resolution for the program can be found under agenda item H.4.  The Board is asked to approve a resolution creating this award for students that enroll in a 2 year world language course in LASD (Spanish, French, or Mandarin) and receive 3 and 4s in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening and Culture in those courses over the two years they take them.    

Then, Randy will present the 2nd Interim Financial Report.  This is an action item and Randy's presentation and the report can be found under agenda item H.5.  The report gives us our actual financial position as of January 31, 2021 and certifies that we can meet our financial obligations this year and for two future years.  The report gives us an update on our revenues (down a total of $247,000) and expenses (up a total of $600,000).  Furthermore it gives us expected new funding from state and federal sources for COVID related expenses.  The Board is asked to approve the report and also provide direction to the Budget Review Committee on what to evaluate for the 21/22 Budget.  

Next, Randy will Disclose the Proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement with CSEA.  This is an action item and the agreement can be found under agenda H.6.  This is the collective bargaining agreement with LASD non certificated staff (not teachers).  This agreement gives them the same salary increase (2%) we agreed to for the teachers a couple of weeks ago and extends the definition of family illness to include COVID related purposes.  The Board is asked to approve the agreement.  

Randy will then present the Salary Agreement for Non-represented Employees.  This is an action item and the non-represented employees' salary schedules can be found under agenda item H.7.  The non-represented employees include our assistant superintendents, directors, coordinators, supervisors, principals, among other miscellaneous employees.  The agreement incorporates the 2% salary increase the teachers received.  The Board is asked to approve the agreement/salary schedules.  

Merlone Geier's Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Purchase and Sale Agreement is next up for approval.  This is an action item and the deal terms and actual agreement can be found under agenda item H.8.  This is the second TDR Agreement brought before the Board for approval.  In this agreement, LASD agrees to sell a certain amount of development rights to Merlone Geier in exchange for over $18 million dollars.   The sale of TDRs, along with the City of Mountain View's financial support, are what made the purchase of 10th site a reality.  

Then, Jeff will present the 2021-22 Board Meeting Calendar.  This is an action item and the meeting calendar can be found under agenda item H.9.  This is the schedule for regular Board meetings for the 21-22 school year.  Meetings of the Board are generally held every 2nd and 4th Monday of the school year unless it is a school break. 

Just when we thought Randy was out, we will pull him back in to present his request for LASD to join the School Project for Utility Rate Reduction (SPURR) -- Joint Powers Authority Membership.  This is an action item and the resolution the Board is asked to approve can be found under agenda H.10.  Joining this partnership will allow LASD to take advantage of some discounts on technology infrastructure equipment.  The District can choose to participate in any or all of whatever programs or opportunities the partnership has  and there are no membership fees.  

Please note, these are just the highlights of what to expect at our 3/8/2021 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.