SRCS Board Meeting Agenda Analysis – 8/9/2023 – Santa Rosa Teachers Association

BOARD MEETING

Santa Rosa City Schools

August 9, 2023

4:00 p.m. – Closed Session

6:00 p.m. – Open Session

Hybrid: Zoom/Santa Rosa City Hall Council Chambers (100 Santa Rosa Ave.)Director Flores will be remote from Washington DC

*** streamed ***A live link will be posted on the SRCS website (link).https://bit.ly/SRCSvideoboardmeetings

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 Melanie Martin at mmartinsrcs.k12.ca.us.
B.1. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Title of employee being reviewed: Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Principals, Vice Principals, Assistant Principals, Directors, Coordinators)

B.2. Conference With Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (Case name: OAH: 2023-051074, OAH: 2023-060006) The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) has a division for Special Education.SRCS has three cases on the current schedule. 70379 Pre-Hearing Conference 8/14, Hearing 8/22-24 70721 Pre-Hearing Conference 8/25 Hearing 9/6-7 51074 Pre-Hearing Conference 8/28, Hearing 9/6-7Case 60006 had mediation, pre-hearing conference and hearings scheduled for July, but they were all canceled.

B.3. Conference With Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation (Number of potential cases: 2)
B.4. Student Expulsions (Case No: 22/23-45)
C. RECONVENE TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION (6:00 p.m.)
C.7. Special Guest Presentation by Student Marimba Performers
C.8. Public Comment on Non Agenda Items

SRTA members are invited to complete ‘blue cards’ in person or raise their hands and provide voice only comments if attending online. Please put SRTA at the start of your online name. Please be prepared to observe the recent practice of a two minute limit. Only items not on the agenda are addressed at this time, so safety items would be addressed here.
Comments are requested at the board meeting to bring a member’s perspective and share real experiences of the impact of district policies and practices. There is an invitation for comments on specific items during each item, so they need to be held until then.
Please commit to watching or attending 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.

SRTA has the right to bargain the impact of changes to our working conditions. It is not okay to keep adding items to our job, without removing other tasks. When additional training requirements began, SRTA and SRCS resolved to provide paid time to complete these five trainings for Child Abuse Reporting, Bloodborne Pathogens, Suicide Prevention (every 2 years), Pest Management and Sexual Harassment (every 2 years) which took about four hours, according to a prior SRCS communication.

With the constant turnover in administration, this has become an annual item of contention. SRCS has moved to a third platform for these trainings. Each platform shift has created chaos in clarifying which trainings are actually required for each staff member because some trainings are only required every two years. A recent email to staff states:
This online training system allows you to complete training at your own pace at a convenient time. We recommend that you wait until after your start date to begin your training. The Child Abuse Identification and Reporting training MUST by completed by the end of the day on August 14, 2023. All other assigned trainings should be completed no later than Saturday, September 30, 2023 or as soon as possible after that date.

It appears that members are expected to complete the other trainings on their own time. SRTA is advising members to utilize provided time to complete as many trainings as possible. Members are asked to NOT work for free beyond this time. Prior resolutions included time during PD days, additional individual timecarded time, and across the board additional paid hours. SRTA has been notified that site administrators have been directed to provide at least 1 hour on Aug. 14 for the Child Abuse training and to provide additional time for trainings, but that is not included in the communication to staff.

The LCAP delineated several new positions from the SART recommendations:

1.22 Increased FTE for Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) Intervention Counselors to include .50 FTE at each middle school (+$174,000 to $448,000)
2.3 Increased FTE for Family Engagement Facilitators to staff each school (+$140,000 to $1,364,000)
2.7 Increased FTE for school based therapists to staff each secondary school (+$60,000 to $1,000,000 from COVID funds)
2.14 Increased FTE for Restorative Response Specialists to 1.0 FTE at each school, and an additional 1.0 FTE for comprehensive high schools (+$600,000 to $2,112,000)
2.19 Increased FTE by two additional Campus Supervisors on each high school, one new campus supervisor position at each middle school, and one additional campus supervisor at Ridgway (+$840,856 – new)

Some of these positions were posted on EdJoin between 7/31 and 8/7, but not all. SRTA members are concerned that actions to improve safety at our sites will not be in place when school opens next week.

E. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS

E.1. (Action) Approval of 2023-24 45 Day Budget Update

SummaryLocal Control Funding Formula (LCFF): 8.22% cost-of-living adjustment – largest COLA in the history of LCFF is maintained.Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant The final reduction was ~6%. The final allocation is ~94.4% of the original allocation. (~49% of the original allocation was budgeted for)Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant received a reduction /delay with the 2023-24 Budget Act. This grant is reduced by ~15% in 2022-23, which is thereby delayed to 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28 fiscal years. The final allocation is ~85.6% of the original allocation. (~68% of the original allocation was budgeted for)Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Entitlement is unchanged:Base Grant per ADA (with 8.22% COLA)

TK-3 = $9,919 (+$8/+$753)*
4-6 = $10,068 (+$8/+$765)
7-8 = $10,368 (+$8/+$787)
9-12 = $12,014 (+$10/+$913)

Grade Span Adjustments:

10.4% = $1,032 (+$1/+$78) per K-3 ADA
2.6% = $312 (same/+$24) per 9-12 ADA

Supplemental Grant = 20% of Adjusted Base GrantConcentration Grant = 65% of Adjusted Base GrantTK add-on for staff = $3,044 per TK ADA
An LCAP midyear update must be presented on or before February 28 at a regularly scheduled governing board meeting.
Presentation

There is no indication of how these additional funds will be spent. SRTA expects progress in the LCAP process, specifically that the midyear update due by February 28 will demonstrate collaborative evaluative work done that could serve as groundwork for creating next year’s LCAP. At last SRCS report, there were no plans for utilizing $8.8 million in Covid Funds which expire in September of 2024 (next month). There is no mention of these funds in this presentation.

E.2. (Discussion) Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Program HighlightsSummaryVisual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Framework, with the subsequent goal of crafting a Strategic Arts Plan with measurable goals and outcomes aligned with our Framework. In addition, we have begun planning for the receipt of Proposition 28 Arts and Music in Schools (AMS) funding while learning about guidelines for usage.
All non-charter elementary students have one hour of Music a week. Nearly 40% of middle school students and 51% of high school students participate in VAPA courses. (Specifics by site are missing on the presentation. ) There are proposals to address ALD through VAPA courses.
Presentation

SRTA members await an opportunity to review and provide input to a draft of the Strategic Arts Plan. The district has delayed planning for Prop. 28 funds until details are worked out at the state level. VAPA teachers would like to be part of the process to establish the vision of how these funds can be used to best impact our students. Systemically, can we commit to using these funds to provide Elementary teachers, who currently have only two hours of weekly prep, more time to prepare the plethora of courses they teach?

E.3.(Action) Approval of California School Employees Association, Chapter 75 22-23 #10 MOU Regarding Recruitment and Retention Signing BonusSummaryA signing bonus MOU for newly hired classified employees through June 30, 2024 of $500 will be paid after the new employee’s initial start date on the next available supplemental pay date, and $500 will be paid at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Pending ratification of the CSEA 75 membership.
MOU

SRTA supports efforts to attract and retain our vital classified staff. This bonus was not very helpful last year in increasing hires. The postings on EdJoin and all other advertising efforts should make this offer obvious at first glance to attract more applicants. EdJoin postings could have this added to the Salary Info!

E.4.(Action) Approval of CSEA Chapter 75 Tentative Agreement regarding Salary Schedule Increase and Schematic List of ClassificationsSummaryThe salary and medical contribution will both rise by 8%. The old Chapter 367 (Maintenance, warehouse, locksmith, grounds and custodians) salary ranges are being replaced with Chapter 75 ranges.There are no other items for negotiating this year.The fiscal impact is $3,258,730 for all funds in 2023-24.
TA 23-24 #1 Redline Schematic Classification List Redline Salary Schedule Public Disclosure

SRTA appreciates that this agreement was reached prior to the expiration of the former agreement. Our students deserve fully staffed schools. Our classified staff deserve this 8% and more! Positions that start at $17.46 will likely remain unfilled. $17.46 is $0.01 over the city minimum wage beginning January 1, 2024. Many prominent retail and food service companies including Target and In-N-Out have a starting wage for entry level positions that is anywhere from $1.00-3.00 more than this already.It is expected that after this passes the classified administrative positions will be approved for a matching raise at the next meeting.

E.5?. (Action) Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified EducatorsSummarySRCS can not fill many positions with highly qualified teachers. This declaration allows vacancies to be filled with Limited Term Assignments, Emergency Permits, Intern Permits and Emergency CLAD permits.
High School Need 10 CLAD, 10 Bilingual, 10 Resource Specialists, 50 Single Subject (Ag 1, Art 2, English 4, Math 8, Science 10, CTE 4, PE 1, Social Science 7 and WOLA 1.) Expecting 25 interns from NCSOE, SSU, SFSU, Dominican U, UMass Global and National U. Elementary Need 10 CLAD, 10 Bilingual, 10 Resource Specialists (5 Music and 5 PE) and 5 TK, 20 multiple subject, 10 single subject and 15 SpEd. Expecting 20 interns from NCSOE, SSU, SFSU and Dominican U.

There are currently 48 certificated positions on EdJoin. Starting the year with substitute teachers is less than ideal for our students. A solid support system that does not put an undue burden on colleagues is required for the success of these candidates.

E.7.-E.11. (Action) Approval of Provisional Internship Permit Applications SummaryPIP’s are not renewable and are issued on a one-time basis per applicant in any credential subject area.
7. PIP Anna Flores currently enrolled in a multiple subject credential program, placement as an Elementary Teacher at Cesar Chavez Language Academy.8. (PIP) Kerah Hilkey currently enrolled in a multiple subject credential program, placement as an Elementary Teacher at Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter School .9. (PIP) Taylor Chandler currently enrolled in a special ed credential program, placement as an Educational Specialist (Mild/Moderate) at Maria Carrillo High School.10. PIP) Lucero Guerrero Sanchez currently enrolled in a single subject credential program, placement as a Spanish Teacher at Santa Rosa High School.11. (PIP) Juana Carlos currently enrolled in a multiple subject credential program, placement as a Elementary Teacher at Helen Lehman Elementary School.SRTA welcomes these new teachers.

F. CONSENT ITEMS

F.2. Approval of Personnel Transactions

EdJoin shows a total of 148 current postings for 241 job vacancies for SRCS. There are 48 certificated openings, and 5 certificated management openings. There are 190 current classified openings, and one classified management position.

SRTA bids farewell to these additional four resigning members taking nearly twelve years of service and experience between them: Kate Connor (SPSV), Shauna Langan (PHS), Christina Klauenburch (CCLA) and Kendall Loggins (RVMS). We wish you well with your future endeavors. To date there are 67 certificated resignations.

Congratulations to Michelle McKay (JMES) who is retiring after eighteen years of service to our students. To date there are 36 certificated retirements.

SRTA welcomes forty-one more folks aboard for next year: Jorge Mata (SPSV), Elizabeth Parady (SPSV), Courtney Crakow (SRHS), Nicole Guest (EAHS), Guadalupe Nava Franco (EAHS), Richelle Stoufer (SRHS), Aaron Teagle (SRMS), Perla Marquez-Cervantes (PHS), Mark Briceno (SLES), Benjamin Ghitterman (MHS), Kyle Klinck (SRMS), Liliana Chavez Vigil (HVES), Molly Woods (RVMS), Jake Friske (MCHS), Stacey Olson (MCHS), Alexis Solari (JMES), Ashley Lovelace (HVES), Asher Belden (ABES), Celina Luna (ABES), Jasmine Mangabay (ALES), Maritsa Ramirez (EAHS), Seana Dooley McDonald (SRHS), Christine Roeschlau (BHES), Jacquelyn Yancey (MCHS), Julian Rooney (CCLA), Friedrich Duerr (CCLA), Sara Duckart (JMES), Erin Ramos (PHS), Gretchen Skalinder (BHES), Brett Bishop (Arts), Daniel Lonkevich (PHS), Andrea Hernandez Chavez (CCLA), Kayla Sierras (JMES), Samuel Wolffe (ALES), Eric Brockway (Arts), Jami Grafe (ABES), Pablo Robles (ALES), Deborah Beecher (FACS), Mitchell Johnson (MHS), Jennifer Cadden (HSMS), and Page Willson (PHS). This brings new hires to 58.

SRTA members bid a fond farewell to Renee Jackson, Coordinator Kaesa Enemark and Director Cindy Brennan. Twenty-three years of service and accumulated wisdom leave SRCS with these departures.

Administrative moves of note include Patricia Law Safe Coordinator, Kathryn (Kate) McLaughlin SRMS Asst. Principal, Jill Finnerty RVMS Asst. Principal, Tyler Ahlborn MHS Vice Principal, Alisa Haley Exec. Director Educational Services (TK-6), Sydney Smith Director-Human Resources and John Ortiz MHS Asst. Principal.

SRTA members are concerned about the continued incredibly high turnover rates of administrative staff. Several employees have moved to SCOE. Forward progress is diminished while new folks figure out the lay of the land. Onboarding new staff members takes loads of time, absorbing energy for forward progress.

SRTA members are appreciative of the four approved Leave of Absences.

This month’s changes to classified staff include one promotion, two new hires, and eleven resignations.There is a net loss of nine folks while advertising for an additional one hundred and ninety.

F.5. Approval of Contracts Summary

#	Provider	Cost	Description
District
2	La Sierra University	No Direct Cost	teaching/counseling interns
4	North Bay Organizing Project	No Direct Cost	Support and advocate for students by encouraging their engagement in student-led clubs and connection to the community.
6	Google (CDW Education)	$48,807	Google Workspace at $3.38 per student
7	Brightly Software Inc	$16,453	Formerly School Dude – platform for tracking maintenance requests
8	Brightly Software Inc (Single Sign On)	$811	Formerly School Dude
10	GoGuardian	$26,929	A Chromebook management solutions software, intended to try to keep students safer online and make teaching more efficient. Who has access to this? How are teachers informed of this? How can they learn how to access this?
11	Tovi C. Scruggs-Hussein	$15,000	Superintendent will receive tools, handouts, activities, and other resources for use in facilitation work.
13	King Consulting	$102,500	To assist SRCS in applying for modernization funding reimbursements from the state. They have previously identified $57 million.
15	Maxim Health Services	$850,000	to fill unfilled classified positions.
21	California School Board Association (CSBA) / Membership Dues	$21,728	CSBA has written or developed, and as necessary, updates, a reference policy manual, including sample policies, regulations, bylaws, and exhibits, based on applicable state and federal law.
22	California School Board Association (CSBA) / GAMUT Online	$16,185	CSBA Manual Maintenance Plus and GAMUT Online Membership.
24	Zoom.us	$44,150	550 Educational Licenses, 5 Webinar Licenses for 500 attendees, 1 Webinar License for 3000 Attendees.
25	San Francisco State University	$1,000	SFSU provides University Students who qualify for internships in administration. (one)
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.
5	Project Wayfinder Inc.	$14,125	“Purposeful” leadership Licenses and Toolkits for 9th graders at MCHS.
9	QuickPermit+ (Touchline Software)	$2,520	Student work permit platform.
14	Career Technical Education Foundation Sonoma County	No Direct Cost	Grant funds for Phase I ($377,383) will be utilize by EAHS for professional development, meeting materials and supplies, work-based learning activities, and to hire a full-time, site-based CTE TOSA to support work-based learning activities and expansion of business and community partners.
19	NWEA	$143,595	assessments for grades 7-12 will provide three mes a year assessment data that will allow for clear analysis of student academic performance in math and English, even though the majority of teachers do not find value in this.
Elementary
3	Mystery Science by Discovery Education	$18,135	Supplemental Science curriculum for 3500 K-5 students
12	Lawrence Hall of Science	$810	Two 50 minute sessions, on October 12, of “Phenomenal Physics” to all Advances Learner students in grades 3-6 and their families
16	CAP Sonoma / Head Start	No Direct Cost	three (3) inclusive preschool seats in the Head Start community preschool classroom at Lewis Early Learning Academy (LELA).
17	Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4Cs)	No Direct Cost	Preschool students across the District. Sites at LELA, & Lincoln
18	North Bay Children’s Center	$75,355	Special Education Preschoolers across the District, Site at Monroe and Steele Lane
20	Sonoma County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)	No Direct Cost	District Wide Referral Process for eligible children
23	National Academy of Athletics	$9,000	Biweekly National Academy of Athletics (NA of A) will offer two (2) hours of lunchtime activities to all students two (2) times a week at HLES.

Total value of contracts = $1,409,749Summary of Contracts Contracts

F.6. Approval of Resolution of District for Capacity of Interdistrict Transfers for Various Grades, Special Classrooms, and Special Programs.SummaryEach year, in advance of the opening of the window for Interdistrict permits, the office of Student and Family Engagement determines the capacities of each school site to regulate available space for students requesting to transfer into Santa Rosa City Schools.
Resolution

Students are only accepted if current students are less than 90% of capacity. Capacities are calculated based on allocated sections and enrollment. If SRCS wants to attract more students to combat declining enrollment, another strategy will need to be adopted.

F.7. Approval of Myers-Stevens & Toohey Co., Inc. to Offer Student Accident InsuranceSummary The District makes available insurance coverage for members of an athletic team (as defined by ED 32220(c)). Student accident insurance and health insurance programs are additionally made available to other members of the student body. Contract

F.8. Approval of Proposal from Advanced IPM for Pest ServicesSummaryThis proposal shall cover monthly monitoring for all District facilities for one year including the New Ag Barn at Alba Ln. Elementary schools are about $2,300, Middle Schools are about $3,000 and High Schools are about $4,300. Cost $74,700.00
Contract

F.9. Approval of Revised 2023-2024 Certificated Psychologist, Speech & Language Pathologist and Nurse Salary ScheduleSummaryThere was an error made to the 2023-2024 Certificated Psychologist, Speech & Language Pathologist and Nurse Salary Schedule which was approved by the Board on June 14, 2023.
Step 1, Level 2 has been revised from $101,940.00 to $106,527.00 which reflects the 4.5% increase. The corrected salary schedule is attached.Revised Salary Schedule

F.10. Approval of the Proposal for Inspection Services for Solar Canopies at James Monroe and Elsie AllenCost of both contracts is $28,500.00 ContractContract

F.11. Approval of Contract of Dark Fiber for temporary District Location at 110 Stony Point, Santa Rosa 95401SummaryThe Board will consider approval of the contract for service and associated discounts to provide dark fiber services and access from Sonic to the temporary District Office location at 110 Stony Point, Santa Rosa, 95401 for a period of 4 years.

Cost $28,800Contract

F.12. Approval of Revised Maria Carrillo High School 2023/2024 Instructional MinutesSummary

The schedule is currently on the MCHS student planners and it is the same as the MOU. It revises their first passing time, after the 1st / 2nd block period, from 5 minutes to 8 minutes. This additional 3 minutes that MCHS would like to add to the first passing time would not change the total number of minutes on their block schedule and does not subtract any minutes from the overall required 64,800 instructional minutes. Prior Approved Schedule Revised Schedule

G.1. Approval of MinutesJune 28, 2023 Minutes July 19, 2023 Minutes June 26, 2023 Minutes
The board decided to not meet in July, however, they ended up needing two special meetings in July.

I1. Future Board Discussion Items
SRTA Members are encouraged to prepare for the upcoming agenda items.

Attendance Awareness Month Resolution (8/23)
Suicide Prevention Month Resolution (8/23)

SRTA looks to the future scheduling of the following items:

Parcel Tax
COVID Updates (~~6/14/23 8/9/23~~)
Recognition of Community Organization Partners (~~8/9/23~~)
Site Safety Plans
Resolution Recognizing Administrative Professionals (~~5/10/23~~)
Safety (board statement on 3/8/23 that this will be a future item)

The California Constitution states, “All students and staff of public … schools have the inalienable right to attend campuses which are safe, secure, and peaceful.” (Article 1, Section 28(f). What are the steps for intervening when a student creates a disruptive and/or unsafe situation for other students and staff?Current practices seem to protect bullies and tolerate intimidation without intervention, leaving the remaining students feeling unsafe and vulnerable. This also sends a clear message to students that this type of alarming behavior is acceptable and will not have consequences. What is the current discipline policy and process? When are police contacted? How is SRCS keeping track of contacts with the police in order to be able to address the underlying issues?What are the consequences for cutting a class? Students not experiencing any repercussions are wandering our campuses instead of attending classes. This can lead to unsafe conditions for other students as well as serious learning loss.An audit of the programs for students with special needs is called for. Have we been able to attract and retain the necessary employees to run these programs effectively? What anti-bullying efforts are we implementing?How many students are not coming to campus because they don’t feel safe? It is a hardship on teachers to provide independent study.

A-G Program Review (board request 8/10/22, and again on 6/14/23)

What does the data look like about A-G Completion since this policy was adopted? Where is data on students that are not on track to graduate? How helpful were prior IGPs in allowing students to earn diplomas? How many current students are not on track to graduate? How many of these students are meeting the state requirements for a diploma but not the extra requirements of our district? What systemic measures are in place to offer academic support K-12 to increase A-G success? What metrics are being used to evaluate these efforts?

Results of Developer Fee exploration
SRACS Accelerated Charter Material Revision Request (delayed)
Deferred Maintenance Update and Future Planning (~~7/27/22 8/24/22~~)
Review of Math grades and progress including demographic data (board request)
SCOE Unification/Redistricting Report (on option #1)
Staff Housing support program from the proceeds of Fir Ridge
Open Enrollment Policy Update
Student Voice Policy
Dress Code Policy
BEST Plus Update

I.4. Williams Settlement Quarterly ReportSummary
During the quarter of April 1 through June 30, 2023, the district did not receive any Williams Uniform Complaints.Report