Summer Academy, School Operations and Board Meeting Protocols, Oh My!

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The Monday, September 20, 2021, 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.

First up, Laura Wiley, the Summer Academy Principal, will give us a Summer Academy Report.  This is a discussion item and her presentation can be found under agenda item H.1 using the link provided above.  The Summer Academy was LASD's new version of summer school.  It was focused on filling in the achievement gap of its participants in the areas in which they were struggling.  In total, 260 students were invited in several waves based on need, with a total of 155 students committing to attendance in the program.  I look forward to this presentation to learn more about a student's average day and hear any preliminary results we may have of the student's and teacher's efforts.  

Next, Jeff Baier will give a School Operations Update.  This is a discussion item and his presentation can be found under agenda item H.2.  Of note, the COVID pooled testing starts next week with only 65% of students committed to participating (you can still sign your student up for testing, but a quick enrollment turnaround is not guaranteed).  With pooled testing, comes "response" testing for those participants in classes/pools that test positive.  Only those those students enrolled in the pool testing can participate in the response testing.  LASD has also partnered with the MVLA High School District for LASD students to have access to PCR testing at MVHS and LAHS.  Staff is also recommending some modifications to the LASD outdoor mask mandate including allowing after school programs to institute and manage their own COVID protocols, allowing Junior High athletic leagues to determine their own sports COVID protocols, and to allow more flexibility in masking in PE classes.  The Board is asked to give direction regarding these recommendations.  

Then, Sandra McGonagle will give an Independent Study Update.  This is a discussion item and Sandra's presentation can be found under agenda H.3.  State laws, prioritizing a return to in person learning above all else, instituted new Independent Study requirements in the time of COVID only allowing such when a parent certifies that their student going to school would be a health risk.  This replaces last year's virtual school and is nothing like it.  We currently have 21 participants in the Independent Study Program that we have outsourced to Stride K12 and 12 of those students are new to LASD students.  We are generally getting good feedback from students/families participating in it, but it is not without its challenges and is definitely not as good as learning in person.  

Sandra will next present the Textbook Certification and Sufficiency of Instructional Materials.  The resolution that the Board is asked to approve can be found under agenda item H.5.  This a yearly requirement the District must complete to ensure and assure that each student in the district is provided with sufficient textbooks and instructional materials.     

Jeff Baier will then lead a discussion of Board Meeting Protocols with the Governor's Emergency Order allowing for our Zoom meetings set to expire on 10/1/21.  This is a discussion item and his presentation can be found under agenda H.6.  Staff wants direction from the Board on how we would like to proceed with in-person meetings after the expiration of the Governor's order.  To put it another way, starting on 10/1/21 LASD must meet in person and must allow physical public participation where we meet.  The question the Board must answer is whether we should have some sort of option for remote engagement and how we manage the in person participation in a COVID safe manner.  

Last, but not least, the Board has another round of Board Policy Updates and Deletions to discuss.  The Board Policies and Deletions can be found under agenda H.7 and H.8. 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 California state law and regulations and our Board is gradually going through a backlog of such updates.

Please note, this is just the highlights of what is on the agenda for the 9/20/21 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.