Teacher Housing, Outdoor Masking, and Educator Effectiveness Fund

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The Monday, November 15, 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 on the agenda, Jeff Baier will present a Remote Public Meetings Update.  This is an action item and there is no presentation attached under agenda H.1. As mentioned in a couple of prior updates, in March 2020, the Governor declared a state of emergency and executed an Executive Order allowing for suspension of certain Brown Act requirements, thus allowing for remote meetings.  AB 361 suspends and supplants that Executive Order.  AB 361 allows for remote meetings and same suspensions of the Brown Act that the Executive Order allowed WHEN (1) a state of emergency has been declared AND (2) one of the following has happened:  (A) state or local officials recommend social distancing measures, or (B) local agency (LASD BOARD) determines meeting in person would present "imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees."  On September 21, 2021, Santa Clara County Public Health Department recommended (and still recommends) that public bodies continue to meet remotely and the State of California is still in a state of emergency.  AB 361 requires that any given governing body make specified findings regarding (1) and (2) above and to make those findings every 30 days thereafter, in order to continue to meet under abbreviated teleconferencing procedures.  Because we don't meet again until 12/13/21, Jeff asks that we make the "specified findings" in this meeting to ensure we comply for our next meeting. 

Next, we will get a Teacher Housing Project Update.  This is a discussion item and the presentation can be found under agenda item H.2.  Our District's County Supervisor, Joe Simitian, among others, will be presenting.  Years ago, Supervisor Simitian proposed to the County that 231 Grant Avenue in Palo Alto (county property) be used to create affordable housing for teacher and city employees who work in the general vicinity.  Supervisor Simitian got the approval of his fellow supervisors to repurpose the land and a strong financial contribution to the project, and got the commitment of local cities and school districts to find ancillary funding to support the project.  We are now at the stage where project is fully formed and demolition and construction is expected to begin as early as Fall 2022.  The County is asking that our contribution of $600,000 be committed and received by the County by April 2022.  

Then, Jeff will give a COVID-19 Update Regarding Outdoor Masking and Vaccination.  This is a discussion item and the presentation can be found under agenda item H.3.  LASD has been doing great at administering a COVID safe environment at our schools.  The pooled testing have only had 3 positive pools so far, with no spread.  All LASD students ages 5 and up are eligible to be vaccinated now.  In our junior highs (the age group that could already be vaccinated) the vaccination rates range from 86-92%.  LASD expects a similar vaccination rate in our elementary schools.  Jeff is asking the Board for direction on whether we we would like to change our outdoor mask mandate to a strong recommendation for the elementary and junior high schools, respectively.  

Sandra McGonagle will next present a Public Hearing on the Educator Effectiveness Fund (EFF).  This is a discussion item and Sandra's presentation can be found under agenda item H.4.  The EEF is $994,360 in funds allocated by the state to LASD to be expended from 2021 to 2026 to support professional learning for administrators, teachers and classified staff.  Sandra has plans to expend the EEF on: 

1. Depth and Complexity Prompt Training and Coaching (relating to our students who need to be challenged)
2. Practical Strategies for Inclusion and Modification (relating to our special education students)
3. Early Childhood and Childhood Development Training and Coaching (relating to our TK students) 
4. Advanced Literacy Certificate Training (relating to all young and emerging readers)
5. LASD Professional Learning Hub (relating to training all teachers to support all students in their learning) 

Randy Kenyon will then present Transfer of Development Rights Purchase and Sale Agreement with MG 400 Logue, LLC. This is an action item and the agreement can be found under agenda H.5.  Randy asks that the Board approve this TDR purchase agreement that sells 42,000 square feet in development rights to MG 400 Logue, LLC for $4,680,000 ($130/sq.ft.).  The sale of TDRs by the District to developers with projects in Mountain View is one of the many ways the purchase of the 10th site was made possible.   

Next, Randy will present a Consideration of Approval of Findings and Amendment to Joint Use Agreement with Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF).  This is an action item and the agreement can be found under agenda item H.6.  The Board is asked to approve this agreement which is essentially a lease to LAEF for office space at the District Office and shared use of other spaces at the District Office.  

Then, Jeff will present a Resolution in Support of Establishing a County Health Clinic in the Northern Portion of Santa Clara County.  This is an action item and the resolution can be found under agenda H.7.  The Board is asked to  approve this resolution to support the physical health and well being of students in our District and surrounding districts.  There is currently no public hospital or clinic in this part of Santa Clara County.     

Last, but definitely not least, the Board has another round of Board Policy Updates to discuss.  The Board Policies can be found under agenda items 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 Federal and California state law and regulations and our Board is gradually going through a backlog of such updates.  This should be our last batch of updates for a while. 

Please note, this is just the highlights of what is on the agenda for the 11/15/21 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.