BOARD MEETING
Santa Rosa City Schools
November 10, 2021
5:00 p.m. – Closed Session
6:00 p.m. – Open Session
*** streamed ***
A live link will be posted on the SRCS website (link).
Please take time to review the following abbreviated version of the agenda. Click here to see the entire agenda. It has live links on many items with more information. If you want to comment to the board about any upcoming items, email agendacomments@srcs.k12.ca.us. Please CC wearesrta@gmail.com on your comments.
Closed Session Items:
A.1. Public Comment On Closed Session Agenda Items. To comment, email Adina Flores at ayflores@srcs.k12.ca.us.
B.1 Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Title of employee being reviewed: Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Principals, Vice Principals, Assistant Principals, Directors, Coordinators)
B.2 Conference With Labor Negotiator (SRTA/CSEA)
C. RECONVENE TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION (6:00 p.m.)
C.7. Public Comment on Non Agenda Items
SRTA members are invited to raise their hands and provide voice only comments during the meeting. Please observe the standard three minute time limit (and be prepared for a last minute change to a two minute limit). Only items not on the agenda are addressed at this time.
Comments are requested at the board meeting to bring a member’s perspective to the messages contained in this analysis and share real experiences of the impact of district policies and practices. Please commit to watching at least one board meeting this year, and speaking to an agenda item that impacts you or your students. Speakers are most impactful when they are well spoken, composed and reasonable.
E. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
E.1. (Action) Public Board Meetings Via Teleconference per AB 361
Summary
Summary]
The Board will consider the continuance of conducting public meetings virtually.
E.2. (Action) Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached with Santa Rosa City Schools and the California School Employees Association, Chapter 75, regarding COVID-19 Leave
Summary
This MOU provides CSEA 75 members required by current CDPH guidelines to stay home for COVID-19 illness, exposure, or quarantine purposes up to ten days of COVID-19 leave from the District. This is not to be deducted from their personal leave bank.
SRTA supports this safe and healthy measure which supports our CSEA 75 siblings. This action states the importance of upholding CDPH guidelines to protect the health of our students.
E.3. (Action) Resolution No. 2021/22-18 to Recognize Peace Poles for Schools
Summary
This resolution supports the installation of Peace Poles on every school campus, creating a tangible commitment to cultivating peace within and between all people. The expense of installation will be covered by Veterans for Peace (VFP) Chapter 71 in Sonoma County and the Santa Rosa East-West Rotary Club.
SRTA supports the peaceful goal of this resolution. Leaving the costs of ongoing upkeep to individual sites seems shortsighted, and demeans the support the resolution appears to offer for this effort. If the board truly supports this measure, they should insist that the funds/labor to support it are provided by the district.
E.4. (Discussion) Educator Effectiveness Block Grant Funds Allocation for 2021-2026
Summary
Educator Effectiveness Funds (EEF) have been allocated by the California Department of Education to support professional learning. This item is a draft of the proposed allocation of the Educator Effectiveness Block Grant Funding during the 2021-2026 school years, totaling $3,443,208. These plans should be considered flexible, and subject to change based on shifts in identified needs. A final draft to be presented to the Board of Education on December 8, 2021.
SRTA requests transparency about the process involved in this item. What methods were engaged to create this draft? Where are the specific intentions of each planned use of funds enumerated? What feedback loops will be utilized, and what methods will be used to discern what changes will be made for the final draft?
From a fiscal point of clarity, are these funds offsetting efforts that were included in the budget thereby freeing up monies for additional efforts?
E5. (Discussion) Status and Review of Information on the Naming of Lawrence Cook Middle School/Cesar Chavez Language Academy Campus
Summary
Community advisory committees were convened to follow the facilities naming process, as outlined in Administrative Regulation 7310 for Burbank and Monroe. Their recommendations did not appear to sit well with the board, and the remaining efforts for these sites were stalled. The board can ask for a new committee or consider all information presented, including the stakeholder input gathered and voted on in December 2019, and conduct a Public Hearing at a subsequent Board meeting to take action on a final name for the school.
Regulation 7310: Naming Of Facility
Policy 7310: Naming Of Facility
SRTA expects the process utilized to rename a facility to be one that fully invites stakeholders into the conversation, and honors their input. The recent history of relocating CCLA to Cook, and the merger committee structure utilized includes regret. Ideally this movement forward will be done in a unifying and healing way. The school community deserves this.
E6. (Discussion) Career Technical Education Update
Summary
This item explores the variety of CTE programs which ensure that students are meeting the workforce needs of local and regional employers, to support relevant and meaningful learning experiences for students, and to prepare students for post-secondary education and careers.
What is the vision for CTE in SRCS? What are the next steps to improve our program?
Currently 9.4% of students enrolled in CTE are from EAHS. What is the plan for making EAHS a CTE Site?
The demographic data included requires some context. How does CTE enrollment data compare with overall enrollment distributions?
SRTA supports the reinstatement of the District CTE Advisory Committee and supports the development of active site CTE Advisory Committees.
F. CONSENT ITEMS
F.2. Approval of Personnel Transactions
EdJoin shows a total of 151 current postings for 282 job vacancies for SRCS. 31 of these are coaching positions. There are 58 certificated openings, and three certificated management openings. There are 220 current classified openings, and one classified management position.
As SRCS nears the middle of the year, the quantity of unfilled positions remains incredibly high. The current course is completely unsustainable. The day to day pressures on our system this year are unprecedented. Administrators can not be expected to do their jobs and provide substitute services. Teachers can not continually give up their prep time. SRTA is fearful of systemic collapse without immediate change. What is the plan?
Welcome to SRTA new hires: Gienna Gonnella (CCLA), Charlene Simons (MCHS) and welcome back to Christie Rose (MCHS.)
There are two classified hires, six resignations and one retirement taking 42 years of institutional knowledge with them. Thank you for your service to our students and staff.
F.5. Approval of Contracts
Summary
| # | Provider | Cost | Description |
| District Wide | |||
| 3 | Luther Burbank Center for the Arts | $1,000 | two Teaching Artists to provide two separate after-school professional development workshops Fall 2021/ Spring 2022 focused on social emotional wellness and trauma informed teaching with heavy Arts connections, experiences and activities for 80-100 teachers |
| 4 | Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP | 260-290/hr | general SRCS business, legal, educational and governance matters |
| Charter | |||
| 5 | Focus 5, Inc | $12,300 | professional development, instructional coaching, access to digital Arts integration instructional resources as well as parenteducation to enable our parents to support SRCArts students |
| Elementary | |||
| 2 | Carla Barber | $6,163 | work with teachers and students at PTES to develop and facilitate standards based curriculum incorporating the school garden |
| 6 | ATX Learning | $83,500 | Contract for a TK-K Mild/Moderate classroom teacher for SLES |
| Secondary | |||
| 1 | Healthy Roster | $2,646 | used to keep track of athletic related injuries that happen on the field, at practice, or on the sidelines. It allows Athletic Trainers to provide communication with parents |
Total value of contracts = $105,609
Of note, SRCS is paying $500 per outside presenter for afterschool PD. When our own talented teachers provide an hour of PD they are paid about $100. This continued disparity is noticed.
It is a sad day when SRCS hires an outside contractor to fill a Sped teaching position. What is the plan for moving forward as teachers are harder to attract and retain?
F6. Authorizing Certificated Teachers To Teach Outside Their Major Or Minor Fields – Teacher Consents
Summary
This annual item provides exceptions for teachers teaching outside of their credential and for teachers teaching courses for which there is no credential. With his or her consent, a full-time teacher with special skills and preparation outside of his or her credential authorization may be assigned to teach in the areas of his or her special skills, provided the assignment is approved by the District.
SRTA notes the quantity of exceptions by site:
HCMS (3), CCLA (2), HSMS (4), RVMS (4), ISP (2), SRMS (3), EAHS (4), MHS (6), PHS (7), RHS (5), SRHS (1)
“Teachers have been asked to keep in contact with their Human Resources Technician who will keep a list of units, workshops, seminars and other activities attended to support their knowledge and skills to keep course curriculum relevant.”
SRTA expects SRCS to support this extended education of our members so they can continue to serve our students. This would include paying for their time and the fees/subscriptions incurred to support their knowledge.
F7. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding Between SCOE and SRCS for AERIES Student Information System Transition Services
Summary
SCOE will provide compensation for the associated costs incurred by SRCS during the initial conversion to integrate our Human Resources system, Escape, into the SIS and the first year support and maintenance of the Aeries Student Information System. $163,310
SRTA supports this integration, and appreciates the support of SCOE.
The issues with the transition to AERIES are many, and the path to resolution is unclear. This year is difficult enough without the frustration of a SIS which is not fully functional.
F8. Approval of New Courses for the 2022-2023 School Year
Summary
Piner High School has three course proposals to strengthen their STEM focus.
SRTA supports these new courses, and applauds the efforts of our members to continue to explore new opportunities for students.
SRTA appreciates the difference between Project Make, and Construction and Design. There is the expectation that Project Make courses are not being removed from the list of approved courses.
The AP Computer Science course application specifies that it will be offered online as a seventh period allowing students of other campuses to enroll if other sites are not able to offer the course. SRTA supports this creativity to expand student choice.
F9. Approval of Revised Provisional Internship Permit Application (PIP) for Jessica Wood
Summary
The Board will consider approval of a Provisional Internship Permit application (PIP) for Jessica Wood.
SRTA notes that this is the sixth application for an exception to the requirement for fully accredited staff. While supporting this application, there is concern for the underlying causes which create the need for less than fully credentialed staff teaching our students.
F10. Approval of Appointment to the Measure I and the Measure L Citizens’ Oversight Committees (COC)
Summary
The Board will consider approval of the appointment of Michael Von der Porten (Bona Fide Taxpayers’ Organization Representative: Sonoma County Taxpayers’ Association) to the Measure I and the Measure L Citizens’ Oversight Committees representing a bona fide taxpayers’ association
SRTA appreciates the commitment Michael Von der Porten has continually shown to our students, and supports his appointment to the COC.
G1. and G2. Approval of Minutes
I1. Future Board Discussion Items
SRTA Members are encouraged to prepare for the upcoming agenda items.
- Board Meetings Via Teleconference
- Board Policy Updates: SAFS
- Reorganization of the Board of Education
- 21-22 – First Interim Budget Report
- EL Program Updates
- CSBA Delegate Nomination
- West County Transportation Update
SRTA looks to the future scheduling of the following items:
- Social Emotional RTS Supports
- Opening of School Report 2021-2022 School Year
- CTE grant update for Elsie Allen High School
- Open Enrollment Policy Update
- Granting a permanent easement to City of SR at MHS
- Youth Truth Data
- MiSR Educational Foundation Update
- Lease / Leaseback Montgomery High School
- Parcel Tax Update
- Student Voice Policy
- Dress Code Policy
- BEST Plus Update
- PE update
I4. Enrollment Update
| School | 18-19 | 19-20 | 20-21 | 21-22* | 21-22 Projection | Difference from Proj. % |
| ABES | 334 | 332 | 287 | 257 | 288 | -10.8% |
| ALES | 289 | 293 | 287 | 277 | 290 | -4.5% |
| BHES | 396 | 393 | 342 | 329 | 350 | -6.0% |
| HLES | 512 | 500 | 482 | 415 | 482 | -13.9% |
| HVES | 536 | 529 | 500 | 466 | 515 | -9.5% |
| JMES | 408 | 393 | 365 | 373 | 370 | 0.8% |
| LBES | 319 | 328 | 310 | 294 | 294 | 0.0% |
| PTES | 410 | 404 | 354 | 343 | 365 | -6.0% |
| SLES | 420 | 405 | 365 | 405 | 366 | 10.7% |
| Learning House | – | – | – | 28 | – | |
| HCMS | 440 | 412 | 398 | 418 | 408 | 2.5% |
| HSMS | 766 | 721 | 677 | 701 | 689 | 1.7% |
| LCMS | 459 | 428 | 448 | – | – | |
| RVMS | 899 | 827 | 798 | 802 | 790 | 1.5% |
| SRMS | 548 | 561 | 502 | 494 | 503 | -1.8% |
| EAHS | 1042 | 1030 | 1071 | 1092 | 1035 | 5.5% |
| MCHS | 1462 | 1480 | 1495 | 1548 | 1462 | 5.9% |
| MHS | 1642 | 1656 | 1624 | 1596 | 1635 | -2.4% |
| PHS | 1388 | 1370 | 1399 | 1427 | 1400 | 1.9% |
| RHS | 284 | 286 | 285 | 253 | 268 | -5.6% |
| SRHS | 1948 | 1911 | 1872 | 1819 | 1880 | -3.2% |
| CCLA | 369 | 423 | 440 | 927 | 926 | 0.1% |
| SRACS | 128 | 128 | 128 | 128 | 128 | 0.0% |
| SRCSA | 400 | 408 | 401 | 393 | 399 | -1.5% |
| SRFACS | 465 | 476 | 430 | 398 | 431 | -7.7% |
| Total | 15864 | 15694 | 15260 | 15183 | 15274 | -0.6% |
| Total Elementary | 3624 | 3577 | 3292 | 3187 | 3320 | -4.0% |
| Total Charter | 1362 | 1435 | 1399 | 1846 | 1884 | -2.0% |
| Total Secondary | 10878 | 10682 | 10569 | 10150 | 10070 | 0.8% |
I5. SRFACS Update
Summary
There has been recent interest from current families of the Santa Rosa French-American Charter School (SRFACS) to restore the 7th and 8th grade program.
Considerations:
- History of the Charter, and reasons for the 7th and 8th grades being removed from the Charter previously.
- Current matriculation of students who remain in-district after 6th grade.
- Potential matriculation of students who will remain in-district as a result of the 7th and 8th grades being restored.
- Current lottery process.
- Fiscal resources and stability
- Master schedule and course offerings
- Staffing and credentialing requirements
- Space availability at other district sites
- Organizational management of a satellite program on another campus
- Pathway to high school program
Next steps:
- Review of survey data from current families with children in the SRFACS regarding interest in remaining with SRFACS is the 7th and 8th grade is restored.
- Meetings with SRFACS staff and families for input.
- Collaboration with CSEA and SRTA labor groups.
- Fiscal and resource projections.
- More information will be shared with the Board no later than January.
SRTA appreciates the attentiveness to parent desires and the sharing of the thinking around how to proceed. A timeline that incorporates required deadlines for implementation would be a helpful addition to the above.