BOARD MEETING
Santa Rosa City Schools
August 23, 2023
4:30 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. Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release
B.3. Conference With Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation (Number of potential cases: 2)
C. RECONVENE TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION (6:00 p.m.)
C.7. Special Presentation and “Thank You” to Community Partner Organizations
C.8. Public Comment on Non Agenda ItemsSRTA 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.
MAP TESTING
Some secondary teachers have been told they are ‘expected’ to give MAP testing three times this year.
SRCS Statement on the Purpose of MAP:SRCS has not had common shared assessments across the secondary 7-12 levels in English and math over the past few years, leading to a lack of broadly shared informative data across the district. Shared assessment information will allow our district to be more data informed and enables:
- Teachers to understand where students are and adjust instruction to better help students meet learning outcomes. Overwhelmingly, teachers have not found the information from MAP testing useful for adjusting their teaching.
- Site administrators to set site goals and areas of focus. Teachers have not seen evidence of this happening.
- District administrators to evaluate quality of programs and to build summative understandings of student learning trends. Teachers have not seen evidence of this happening.
MAP should be assessed against these metrics, and the results shared with stakeholders before continuing with these assessments. Stated metrics should receive a positive evaluation before contracts are renewed.
There was a meeting with teachers interested in creating a more helpful district-wide assessment to meet these objectives, including discussion about using interim assessment questions from CAASPP. There has been no follow up to this.
These assessments take significant class time three times a year, losing valuable time for connecting with and helping students succeed. Teachers don’t just find these tests unhelpful, they find them harmful to students. If we care about student mental health, the decision to force students to take this test should be reconsidered.
SCHOOL RESCUE FUNDS
Can an update on these funds be provided with the unaudited actuals?
A recent review by the Associated Press of comprehensive data covering 7,000 districts nation wide found the following allocation of funds:Academic Intervention/Learning Loss 30.6%Staffing and Retention 22.5%Facilities and Operations 22.4%Mental and Physical Health 7.4%Technology 9.1%Miscellaneous Financials and Other 8.0%
How does SRCS spending of those funds compare? What is the intention for the $8.5 million that expires in September of 2024?SRCS Covid Funds.pdf
E. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
E.1. (Action) Approval of Resolution for September Suicide Prevention Month
SummarySuicide is a leading cause of death among young people, and we can all contribute to reducing its likelihood. Suicide prevention month raises awareness of suicide as a problem and reminds us that it is more important than ever that we are there for each other and that there are steps we can take to prevent suicide.
NAMI of Sonoma County is a partner in suicide prevention.
If In Crisis – NAMI Sonoma County988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineDial or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org
ResolutionSRTA recognizes the importance of preventing suicide. Staff undergo a mandatory training in suicide prevention. E.2. (Action) Approval of Resolution to Recognize September Attendance Awareness MonthSummaryAttendance matters for success in school and life, and absences can easily result in a loss of very important teaching and learning time. Attendance and truancy interventions will continue under the leadership of the Wellness and Engagement department with two positions dedicated to these efforts. Site-based interventions, such as Student Attendance Review Team meetings, will continue under site administrative leadership. Along with the above, procedures for addressing absenteeism with students enrolled in Independent Study will be implemented.
Resolution
We know alot about the importance of attendance. Our district’s state funding is tied to ADA or average daily attendance. Even more important than that, student success is tied to attendance.
By ninth grade, attendance was shown to be a key indicator significantly correlated with high school graduation.
Allensworth, E., and Easton, J.Q. (2005). The On-Track Indicator as a Predictor of High School Graduation. Chicago: Consortium on Chicago School Research.
High school dropouts have been shown to have high levels of absenteeism.
Hickman, G.P., Bartholomew, M., and Mathwig, J. (2007). The Differential Development Trajectories of Rural High School Dropouts and Graduates: Executive Summary. Phoenix, AZ: The College of Teacher Education and Leadership at the Arizona State University at the West Campus.
Kindergarten absenteeism leads to greater absences in subsequent years and lower achievement in reading, math and general knowledge.
Romero, M., and Lee, Y. (2007). A National Portrait of Chronic Absenteeism in the Early Grades. New York, NY: The National Center for Children in Poverty.
Attendance rates are something SRTA members have continuously raised concerns about. Our students deserve a robust response to absenteeism early in the year that helps address whatever it is that is keeping students away from school. What is currently being done is not enough.
The California Dashboard tracks chronic absenteeism for K-8th grade. Missing 10% or more of the school year counts as chronic. SRCS has “very high” student chronic absenteeism at 39.8%. This is across all student groups.
E.3. (Action) Approval of Provisional Internship Permit Application (PIP) for Riley BurkeSummaryThe Preliminary Internship Permit (PIP) will allow the district to fill an SDC Teacher position at Steele Lane Elementary School (1.00 FTE) for the 2023-2024 school year.
Pip Riley Burke
F. CONSENT ITEMS
F.2. Approval of Personnel Transactions
EdJoin shows a total of 149 current postings for 240 job vacancies for SRCS. There are 43 certificated openings (five less than last month), and 5 certificated management openings (the same as last month.) There are 192 current classified openings (two more than last month), and no classified management positions (one less than last month.) There are 100 open positions listed under “Teacher Assistant / Aide / Paraprof.” with pay rates starting at $17.40 per hour. There is no mention of the sign on and longevity bonuses on the main screen people peruse on EdJoin.
SRTA bids farewell to Meryl Blomseth (JMES) who is resigning after eleven years of service to SRCS students. We wish you well with your future endeavors. To date there are a total of 68 certificated resignations from last year to this school year.
Congratulations to Jamie Poore (PHS) who is retiring after twenty-four years of service to our students. To date there are 37 certificated retirements from last year to this school year.
SRTA welcomes thirty-five more folks aboard: Heidi Alvarez (SRMS), Holly Aviles (CCLA), Taylor Barstow (ALES), Jordan Brown (RVMS), Lovinia Cager Gayowski (HLES), Juana Carlos (HLES), Tori Denna (LBES), Mathias Devaux (FACS), Ana Flores Tindall (CCLA), Irania Guerrero Diaz (MCHS), Lucero Guerrero Sanchez (SRHS), Kenneth Hamilton (SLES), Angelica Herrera (RHS), Kerah Hilkey (SRACS), Yeremia Iman (HLES), Susan LaMacchia (CCLA), Isabelle Lee (HLES), Antoine Machillot (FACS), Nada Martin (LBES), Marcos Martinez (MHS), Abigail Miller (SLES), Michael Montoya (HSMS), Nathan Murray (HVES), Justine Neybon (FACS), Christopher Nicolaou (MCHS), Katelyn Peakes (MHS), Stephanie Pellegrino (MCHS), Samuel Prohoroff (ALES), Meredith Reed (HLES), Gabriele Sanchez (CCLA), Dylan Santiago (HCMS), Brenda Smith (LBES), Stacey Smith (MHS), Beartiz Vera Mejia (CCLA), and Celia Wynn-Gould (HLES). There are also eight rehires which we warmly welcome back. Sara Legesse (MHS), John Mahlstedt (MCHS), Casey Moore (SRMS), Nora Parajon (ABES), Daniel Swedenborg (ABES), Todd Byers (MHS), Dante DePaola (PHS) and Alice Jobson (HLES). There is deep appreciation for folks coming out of retirement to help out! This brings this year’s certificated hires to 101. That is more than 11% of our workforce.
Administrative moves of note include newly hired Davy Dijoux MHS Assistant Principal, four supervisory hires, one resignation and one rehire.
SRTA members are appreciative of the additional approved Leave of Absence.
This month’s changes to classified staff include one promotion, fifteen new hires, three resignations and one retirement. They take twelve years of wisdom and service with them. There is a net gain of eleven folks while advertising for an additional one hundred ninety-two positions.
F.4. Approval of Contracts Summary
| # | Provider | Cost | Description |
| District | |||
| 5 | Bluebeam | $600 | For PDF markups, measurements, collaboration, and project management software. |
| 8 | Tovi C. Scruggs-Hussein | $15,000 | Trustee De La Torre will participate in a 10-month Emotionally Intelligent Equity & Inclusion ( EI²) Facilitator Certificate Program with Tovi C Scruggs-Hussein. |
| 9 | FinalSite | $1,600 | 4 two hour virtual instructor webmaster trainings. |
| Secondary | |||
| 2 | Acosta Latino Educational Partnership | $32,000 | Adds to their contract to provide instructional rounds for district and site administrators to support Ethnic Studies implementation. No details are provided on number of visits or number of sites. |
| 3 | 2Teach | $4,000 | One day of co-teacher training and coaching on Aug 7th. |
| 6 | Adobe | $4,956 | Provides Creative Cloud bundle of more than 20 software applications to produce visual content for 500 users on 100 devices. |
| 7 | Steve Smith | $10,200 | Continue with development and implementation of the SPARQ Observatory and SRG (SPARQ Research Group) at a 33% increase over last year ($9,000.) |
| Elementary | |||
| 1 | Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) | $45,000 | Train a cohort of 20 elementary teachers for $5,000 less than last year. |
| 4 | Luther Burbank Center of the Arts | $1,500 | Provide a total of 50 teachers PD around Art over two PD days. |
Total value of contracts = $114,856Summary of ContractsContracts
F.5 . Approval of 2023-2024 for Confidential, Supervisory and Unrepresented Employees and Working Professionals Salary SchedulesSummaryConfidential, Supervisory and Unrepresented Employees and Working Professionals Salary Schedules follow a ‘me too’ based on the classified salary schedule increase of 8% effective July 1, 2023. This item provides this 8% to these employees. The financial impact for increasing the 2023-2024 Confidential, Supervisory and Unrepresented Employees and Working Professionals Salary Schedules by 8% will be $586,088
New Working Professional Salary ScheduleNew Confidential Salary ScheduleNew Supervisory and Unrepresented Salary Schedule
There is no public disclosure attached with the details of these additional costs.
F.6 . Approval of Resolution No. 2023/24-03 Requesting To Borrow Funds From The Sonoma County Treasury As Needed During The 2023-24 Fiscal YearSummaryThis is an annual item providing a low cost loan (1%) to the district in case it is needed to meet expenses until revenues arrive.
Resolution
F.7. Approval of Resolution No. 2023/24-04 to Establish Temporary Inter-fund TransfersSummaryThis is an annual item. All accounts must be positive at the end of the fiscal year. This resolution will allow SRCS to transfer funds to cover any negative cash flow needed for the fiscal year to cover costs until revenues are received.
Resolution
F.8 . Approval of Amended California Interscholastic Federation RepresentativesSummaryRepresentatives have been listed by title instead of name to allow for more flexibility.
Resolution
F.9 . Approval of Stem Teacher Residency Implementation Grant MOUSummaryResidency models for teacher preparation provide intensive support to new math and science teachers as well as the opportunity for residents to become teachers in the district in which they are a resident. Residents are limited to CCLA, HCMS, EAHS and PHS, although they can be placed at any site the following year. Costs covered from grant: Year 1: $225,00; Year 2 $225,000; Year 3 $225,00; Year 4 $225,000 for a Total not to exceed $900,000.
RevisionsGrantBudgetResidence Agreement
SRTA members are not happy that sites for resident placement are so limited.
F.10. Approval of Mandated Block Grant Applications for 2023-24 SRCS, FACS, CCLA, SRArts, and SRAC.
SummaryThis is an annual item. This provides for continued participation in the Mandated Block Grant program for the district and charter schools. This releases the district from filing individual claims. The funding rates for the 2023-24 MBG are $37.81 per ADA for Grades K-8, $72.84 per ADA for Grades 9-12, and $19.85 per ADA for Charter School Grades K-8.
ApplicationPrograms and Activities (list of all 49)
F.11. Approval of Resolution 2023/24-07 for the use of 2022/23 Education Protection Account (EPA) fundsSummaryThis is an annual item. These funds are not additional funds to the District. Proposition 30 transfers tax revenues to an EPA and requires that each local agency determine how the funds are spent and approve the spending during a public meeting. All funds will be spent on instruction.
Resolution
F.12. Approval of the Professional Services Proposal from Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) for Data Room RelocationSummaryTo approve Quattrocchi Kwok Architects’ proposal for design services to relocate the District IT equipment from the existing portable building, which will need to be demolished.Bond Funds – $40,000.00
Contract
What is the expected total cost for relocating the District Office for four years?
F.13. Approval of the Professional Services Proposal from Axia Architects for Architectural and Engineering Services for the Rincon Valley Middle School Roofing and HVACSummaryFor design services for the roofing and HVAC project at Rincon Valley Middle School. Bond Funds – $1,160,713
Contract
F.14. Designation and Confirmation of Authorized Signers for the State Allocation Board/Office of Public School ConstructionSummaryAssociate Superintendent Business Services Lisa August Cavin will replace Richard Edson as a District Representative. Superintendent Anna Trunnell remains an active signatory.
Resolution
F.15. Approval of Proposal with Trope Group to Furnish and Install Cubicles at Stony Point Rd.SummaryThe District will own the cubicle furniture and it will be moved to the future permanent location of the District Office or repurposed as appropriate. Cost: $44,702
Proposal Suite 225Proposal Suite 210
This brings the current cost for district office relocation to at least $1,764,700.
F.16. Approval of Proposal with South Bay Communications for Brivo access control system at 110 Stony Point new temporary District Office location.SummaryThe system meets the SRCS needs at this location as it provides 6 additional doors with flexible, programmable access control to all the entry points in suite 210 via fobs and it integrates with the entire building access control system. Five doors costs the same as one extra door. Cost: $8,484
5 Door Quote1 Door Quote
This brings the current cost for district office relocation to at least $1,773,184.
F.17. Approval ofEAHS FFA member to travel to Louisville, KY, and Indianapolis, IN, for the 2023 National FFA Convention
RequestScheduleItineraryLetter of Intent
F.18. Approval of Job Description for Coordinator of Wellness and EngagementSummaryThe Coordinator, Wellness and Engagement will provide leadership for the coordination of, and be responsible for providing supportive prevention and intervention services to assist staff, students, and families in the development and implementation of comprehensive behavior support for students. The employee in this position trains, collaborates with and supports Campus Supervisors, Restorative Response Specialists, Student Engagement Activity Workers, Family Engagement Facilitators, and Student Advisors. This position replaces the former Coordinator of Student and Family Engagement position.
Job Description
This position used to require someone with an administrative credential. It will now be a classified position, only requiring a high school diploma plus some college coursework.
The position is on the Scheduled Management Salary Schedule and is equivalent to the Communication Coordinator and the Safety and Risk Management Coordinator, with a starting salary of $114,728.
A beginning teacher, with a degree and certificate starts at $69,401. A teacher in the district for twenty-five years with 85 additional units has a salary of $112,061.
F.19. Approval of Contract for Sounding Board Marketing and CommunicationsSummaryFor district communication strategy development, ongoing communication support services, and incident response communication resources and capacity building. Cost: $37,250
Contract
SRCS will benefit from a robust communication plan.
F.20. Approval of Contract with WATZA Marketing ProjectSummaryTo develop and assist with implementation of the “Minds & Hearts” campaign, which is rooted in the message, “We see you, we value you, and you belong here” specifically targeted for bilingual families. The campaign objectives are:
- Build a strong, inclusive community within SRCS, particularly focusing on bilingual families and students who may not be English speakers,
- Foster a sense of acceptance and belonging, and
- Making every member feel a vital part of the school community.
SRTA members hope SRCS is prepared to have an action plan that accompanies this communication blitz, allowing the realization of the campaign objectives. We hope that SRCS will remember that paper communications have a larger impact than digital in a significant segment of our community.
G.1. Approval of MinutesAugust 9, 2023 Minutes
I1. Future Board Discussion Items
SRTA Members are encouraged to prepare for the upcoming agenda items.
- Summer School Report 2023 (9/13)
- Latinx Heritage Month Resolution (9/13)
- Unaudited Actuals (9/13)
- Sufficiency of Textbooks or Instructional Materials (9/27)
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day Resolution (9/27)
- Week of the School Administrator Resolution (
5/10/239/27) - LGBTQIA+ History Month (9/27)
SRTA looks to the future scheduling of the following items:
- Parcel Tax
- COVID Updates (
6/14/23 8/9/23)
Students deserve to continue to have masks, hand sanitizer, and facial tissue available, as well as having serviced HEPA fans in classrooms to filter air.
- Site Safety Plans
- 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
Is there a deadline to set this program up so these funds are not forfeited?
- Open Enrollment Policy Update
- Student Voice Policy
- Dress Code Policy
- BEST Plus Update
I.4. Facilities Projects UpdateSummary
- FMP site meetings through 9/28 SRTA Members are encouraged to attend their site meetings.
- One Workplace chosen as furniture vendor. SRTA members would like to know what the plan is for replacing furniture. Folks are not comfortable with the idea of tossing all existing furniture and replacing it all with new items, and then not having any systemic way to address replacing broken furniture for the next twenty years.
- SRHS, DeSoto Hall, Brookhill, and some CCLA areas have been prepped, but HVAC unit replacement won’t occur until the spring.
- Some CCLA unit installation is complete.
- HS bathrooms are expected to be complete by the board meeting. SRTA members are disappointed that some remodels were completed on restrooms that are best situated to be reworked as gender neutral. Some new stall dividers have been installed blocking sewage drains that have required removal for drain clearing.
- Carrillo Theater lighting replacement is underway.
- MCHS sewer manhole and bathroom windows are installed.
- Solar installation is underway at ABES and HCMS. MCHS has been delayed to avoid impacting on site parking. The removal of mature trees has caused grief on campuses.
- RVMS Boiler and HVAC equipment has been ordered.
- ABES roofing materials were delayed. Work is expected to progress, with architectural metal to follow later.