Regular Board Meeting
Natomas USD
January 20, 2021 5:00PM
EDUCATION CENTER - BOARD ROOM
1901 Arena Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95834
Closed Session: 5:00 p.m. Open Session: 7:00 p.m.
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| In response to the Governor's Executive Order N-25-20 and Resolution 20-07 Delegating Authority to Take Necessary Action to Protect Students and Staff from the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), adopted by the Natomas Unified School District (NUSD) on March 16, 2020, the NUSD Board Meetings are closed to the public to follow state guidelines on social distancing until further notice.
NUSD Board Meetings are live-streamed and recorded, and available for viewing at https://natomasunified.org/board-of-trustees/videos/.
Members of the public are encouraged to submit public comments via eComment January 20, 2021 for assistance. |
| President Heredia called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. |
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Jag Bains, Micah Grant, Ericka Harden, Susan Heredia and Lisa Kaplan were present.
Chris Evans, Superintendent, stated the open session meeting of the Board of Trustees is being livestreamed at the direction of the Board. He added that the livestream is available on the district's website, and the recordings will be available for viewing the day after the Board Meeting.
He noted that NUSD Board Meetings are closed to the public to follow state guidelines on social distancing until further notice. He explained this action was taken In response to Governor's Executive Order N-25-20 and Resolution 20-07 Delegating Authority to Take Necessary Action to Protect Students and Staff from the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), adopted by the Natomas Unified School District (NUSD) on March 16, 2020. |
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| President Heredia announced that the Board would be going in to Closed Session to discuss: public employee discipline/dismissal/release; conference with legal counsel regarding potential litigation one case; and discuss the Superintendent's Mid-Year self-evaluation. |
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| PROCEDURE: The Board of Trustees welcomes the public's participation at Board Meetings and has devoted time in the meeting for that purpose. Since the NUSD Board Meetings are closed to the public to follow state guidelines on social distancing until further notice, the Board requests that you submit public comments via eComment through email at publiccomment@natomasunified.org. If you are unable to email a public comment, please call Constituent and Customer Services prior to 12 p.m. on January 20, 2021 for assistance. |
President Heredia asked if we had received any public comments regarding the closed session items tonight?
Christina Huth, Executive Director, stated that we did not receive any public comments regarding tonight's closed session items.
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PROCEDURE: There are a number of exceptions to the requirement that the public business is done in public. The Legislature has articulated these exceptions because of public necessity for confidentiality or because an open disclosure would violate the privacy rights of an employee or a pupil.
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| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
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| Chris Evans, Superintendent |
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| President Heredia reconvened Open Session at 7:43 p.m. |
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| Jag Bains, Estefania Garcia, Micah Grant, Ericka Harden, Susan Heredia and Lisa Kaplan were present. |
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| President Heredia announced that no action was taken in closed session. |
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Passed with a motion by Micah Grant and a second by Lisa Kaplan. |
Yes Jag Bains.
Yes Estefania Garcia.
Yes Micah Grant.
Yes Ericka Harden.
Yes Dr. Susan Heredia.
Yes Lisa Kaplan.
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President Heredia asked if we received any comments from either of our associations.
Christina Huth, Executive Director, stated our association presidents for CSEA and NTA were encouraged to submit their communications via email prior to the Board meeting. We received communications from both associations these communications have been forwarded to the entire Board of Trustees and appropriate staff. The specifics of these communications will be recorded in the official Board meeting minutes.
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| Rosa Rijo, CSEA President |
| Rosa Rijo, CSEA President |
| Rosa Rijo, CSEA President, stated it is with great pleasure to take this opportunity to introduce the newly elected CSEA Natomas Chapter 745 Executive Board. We are looking forward in continuing our collaboration with District Leadership on behalf of our members. She thanked them for their time. Information was attached with information on CSEA’s elected officers. |
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| Brenda Borge, President |
| Brenda Borge, President |
| Brenda Borge, NTA President, stated happy new year and happy new administration nationally as well here locally. She added happy Inauguration Day to all! She shared that NTA wants to acknowledge that our teachers, counselors, psychologists, speech teachers, and nurses have gone above and beyond working at maximum capacity to support the learning in DL. She explained that transforming the delivery system and interactions for students has been a major workload for teachers and an extreme learning curve for students. She stated there is a misconception that it is all learning loss, however our students are gaining lots of skills that are innovative and different than usual. She added these tech skills are influenced by so many home factors that it is difficult to analyze and access. She noted that students have had to become more flexible, knowledgeable and communicative- these are all important lifelong skills! She explained they will certainly be better prepared for the future worlds of college and career. She stated we must simply state that back right after 1st quarter grades indicating a problem for a lot of students on progress reports is when any issues should have and could have been addressed. She added that is what our teachers have been urging admin to use our PLC time designed for that very purpose. She repeated that PLCs are designed for the purpose of identifying and intervening. She explained those efforts continue to be blocked, for which we still urge the need to change and correct our system. She clarified the MOU agreement to create additional support for students as a bridge back to 1st semester is not a response to a deficiency of teacher efforts. Borge stated the teachers have been continuously reaching out to students and families however engagement and communication has been one of the largest issues. She noted that a gap remains where our teachers are not fully informed of what our admin (or support staff such as TOSAs, social workers or paraprofessionals) has been doing to support these students over this time period. She stated that NTA wants our ideas for progress to be heard and implemented. She added they need to be partners. She explained they need an active voice to make real, constructive and positive change. She stated the new educational delivery system is overwhelming to some families. She added the pandemic impacts on families have uncovered many of the conditions that students are surrounded by at home. She noted that nevertheless, teachers are providing the much needed instruction under which most of our students are thriving. She explained they are committed to keeping the families of our community safe. She stated that statistically the CDC has shared all the data indicating the vulnerability of communities of color to Covid-19, especially in death rates. She added this is a hardship on everyone but the facts show death rates, infection rates and ICU hospital vacancy all as realities we are helping to reduce with virtual learning. They thanked the teachers for their commitment and also to the board for courageously protecting the community. She thanked Trustees and stated good evening. |
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| Estefania Garcia, Student Board member, stated good evening Superintendent Evans, President Kaplan, Board Members, and guests. She welcomed everyone back and stated that she hoped everyone's new year is going well. She stated that these past two weeks students have been adjusting back into the zoom routine as they just got off of break. She shared that Discovery High students are working hard to complete their first half of the year and are on track to graduate. She stated that Inderkum High Seniors have been excited about college acceptances as they roll in and have been playing active roles in their community, of course "from a distance". She explained that Leroy Greene Academy students are also finishing strong as 51 out of 81 of their seniors have already received pre-acceptance letters to at least one state college. She added that they are also happy to report that 29 of their seniors are receiving Cal-Grants. Garcia stated that Natomas High is starting up their Spring semester 2021 with textbook distribution and SOARing Drive-Through Event, including the 9th Grade Class of 2024 Committing to Graduate College and Career Ready. She added that the Nighthawks will be celebrating the A in SOAR which is Achievement to honor our top hawks honor roll students for their fall semester achievements. She stated that Natomas Middle staff are happy to reconnect with students after these two weeks off and are engaged in developing their 18-Month Recovery Plan. She noted as part of their plan they will be holding a meeting for 6th grade parents/students on January 20th at 6:30PM. She shared that then they will follow up with 8th grade transition to high school meetings with parents/students on January 27th. She stated that students are looking forward to starting off their 2nd semester strong and staying on track to succeed and graduate college ready! She thanked and gave recognition to our NUSD students and students of all over the world in fact for getting through this 1st semester as they have pushed through with perseverance and resilience. |
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Trustee Bains had no report.
Trustee Grant had no report.
Trustee Harden thanked the staff, teachers and schools that celebrated and participated in Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.
Trustee Kaplan stated that she has been volunteering at Joey's food locker and what many may not see is that a lot of our own staff is volunteering on their own time. She thanked the community members and the staff who put together the time for the holiday toy drive. She also thanked the community for coming together and raising $30,000. She noted that it was a big ask and the community stepped up in helping the homeless families in NUSD. She shared that yearly she funds a chromebook scholarship. She explained that the application is coming out and that she always looks forward to reading the applications for our students who are the most at risk. She thanked the parents who submitted the public comments she shared that Trustees do see them and read them. She added that she wants our schools to reopen as soon as possible as the law allows us to. She explained that the eyes of our future and our students are on us. Kaplan stated that she knows that NUSD will continue to be a leader which our students deserve. She explained that words were spoken so eloquently today by a young poet laureate who has the mastery of words. She noted that it bears repeating that she reads a part of it today for our record because she is the future and our students are looking at us and what she said. She noted that part of the poem that she read is titled "The Hill We Climb." The excerpt she was read was: "We've seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it. Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith we trust. For while we have eyes on the future, history has eyes on us." Kaplan stated that as we are dealing with this pandemic, our parents and our students have their eyes on us. She opined that NUSD will continue to be the light and progressively lead to put our students first.
President Heredia stated happy new year to everyone and welcome back. She added this is going to be an amazing year. She explained it will be a year where she expects that NUSD will once again do great things for kids and put themselves on the map. She opined that she looks forward to serving in the role as Board President this year and working with her fellow Trustees and staff as they move forward to addressing the needs of our students in this district. |
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| Superintendent Evans stated he agreed with Trustee Kaplan’s comments and reiterated that staff and the Board read the public comments and he has looked at them. He shared that there is a survey that went out today and while the district tried to back off surveys for a while the district needs the engagement from families to better understand their perspective. He asked families to please complete the survey which will help the district figure out their 18 month plan. He opined it is already very interesting in seeing what the district can do and build for our kids. He stated that the district is not legally allowed to open our schools right now because of the current environment in Sacramento County. He added that even though we are in this form of quasi purple where people are no longer being asked to stay home that our schools cannot legally open. He explained that he has been asked to testify with a variety of groups at one of the Senate committees on the planned proposal to open schools. He stated that he will share all the excellent work that NUSD has done to get the district from March 2020 to here as well as what needs to be done to get our schools opened as fast as possible. He shared that not only is he the Superintendent of 16,000 students but he is also the dad of a Senior, who has absolutely missed out on a variety of activities. He opined that he has a worrying concern for him as well as the other 16,000 students in our district. Evans explained that staff is working very hard with the exception of things that are out of their control. He stated that we could open very quickly because of good planning by the staff. He shared that NUSD has the protective equipment, they have changed the air filtration to the HEPA filter which is in every classroom and in work spaces. He added that NUSD has taken the actions necessary and now there is new guidance called the "Consolidated Guidance." He shared that it only takes districts K-6 and does not include grades 7-12. He explained that staff is doing all that they can to get the district back safely back to school. He stated that they are even going as far as lobbying and speaking at the Capitol to share what they would like to see in terms of being allowed to return to school safely as quickly as possible. He opined that he wanted the public to know that and if they have not read the district's email or the communication that was sent out yesterday to please take the time. He noted that it explains in greater detail what we are doing and where we are. He asked that every parent read it and if they have questions to email Constituent and Customer Services. He reiterated that right now the district cannot open their schools. |
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| PROCEDURE: The Board of Trustees welcomes the public's participation at Board Meetings and has devoted time in the meeting for that purpose. Since the NUSD Board Meetings are closed to the public to follow state guidelines on social distancing until further notice, the Board requests that you submit public comments via eComment through email at publiccomment@natomasunified.org. If you are unable to email a public comment, please call Constituent and Customer Services prior to 12 p.m. on January 20, 2021 for assistance. |
**PLEASE NOTE** There is explicit language in one of the following public comments.
President Heredia asked if we had received any public comments regarding items not on the agenda?
Christina Huth, Executive Director, stated they received public comments from: Natomas Black Parents United, Don & Patti Slupski, King Phoenix, Cynthia Hextell, Beka Clement, Kim and Joe Palomo, Anna Cramsey, Greg Fisher, Elizabeth Cacal, Leanna Ketelsen, Sara Earl, and Rachel Davis. The communications have been forwarded to the entire Board of Trustees and appropriate staff. The specifics of these public comments will be recorded in the official Board meeting minutes.
Natomas Black Parents United submitted the following public comment:
We are parents and community members who love our students and want the best possible education for them. "Our mission is to raise awareness about culturally sensitive issues relating to the education of Black students and to engage stakeholders to transform the system to ensure a high quality education for every student." COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted the Black community, and the Distance Learning Model is not the best fit for far too many students. Prior to COVID-19, Black students were not reaching their potential. Black parents also have no choice but to address the racism called out by recent civil unrest and urge stakeholders to transform our education system. We have spent the last 6 months discussing ways to improve our student's education. Here are ideas from our group for change at NUSD. Together, we can make a difference. Natomas Black Parents United. A flyer was submitted with the public comment which stated the Vision, Goals, Observations and proposed solutions for Natomas Black Parents United.
Don and Patti Slupski submitted the following public comment:
Happy New Year to all. Please consider the entirety of this email as content intended for public review by the NUSD Board of Trustees for their January board meeting. In a nutshell, we're basically just tired of waiting and having to continually take time to deal with unanswered communication efforts again, so thank you for respectfully understanding the level of forthright efforts we need to make to move forward at this point in trying to work with our MIA principal, but to no avail. We're reaching out to share that we're not satisfied with the continued lack of response from Scott Fitzgerald and will once again ask for someone from the district to try to intervene to attain some degree of conflict resolution. We literally just had to do this prior to Christmas break, so let this email continue to show that we simply ask for more timely answers and reasonable change to be honest, as opposed to continually trying to communicate with someone that has no interest in fulfilling their assigned duties in their role. Making promises and offering services and then never following through is not conduct becoming of a qualified principal according to his job description, so please accept this correspondence as the initiation of a complaint to document and seek change. It seems these shortcomings have continually been established fro several years, while we consistently need the intervention of the district to resolve things that fall under his duties, which is really unfortunate and a waste of good time. Please also consider this correspondence as a complaint against Andrew Jones as well, with issues described below, and email details and dates that can be shared, as needed, amidst the follow up efforts. As recent background in this particular case we wish we had no involvement in, while his running away from resolving issues is nothing new, we have had issues since late October. On October 23rd, in a virtual meeting with three other colleagues as witnesses, Scott Fitzgerald committed to providing our daughter with her Q2 PE curriculum, because he apparently didn't want it "hanging over his head." Funny. He was offered a fair extension to provide it by Thanksgiving break, but he immediately declined and promised she would have it soon. She did not. A few days prior to Thanksgiving, we still did not have it, despite his commitment, so we continued to try to access it for nearly another month, going back and forth with MUCH PATIENCE, until we were finally forced to ask CCS to step in to compel the curriculum, which was instead finally provided by Mr. Rodriguez, the day before Christmas break, nearly TWO months later, since CCS compelled this action. Why? Please make a note that this negligent delay and no effort to fairly accommodate a student's academic needs to access the deserving curriculum for almost two months, has now affected her momentum and plans, which will affect her 3rd quarter. This is the repeated low standard experience extended as another example of the poor service that Scott regularly provides as "principal" of LGA, which should be an evident and undeniable embarrassment to the district, but we sadly recognize that nobody apparently cares. Furthermore, we have yet another delay, after repeatedly asking for an answer about the english curriculum via email, yet again, getting nothing from him. Maybe CCS can compel a response with this now too? In an email we received, along with another corroborating email from the teacher, Jones, as well, we were promised that students would have access to both sides of the defund vs. defend the police argument to "craft" a proper essay, which is why we opted to remain in that class, despite our disagreement with this controversial content being instructed by an inexperienced teacher with no expertise in this area whatsoever. We had multiple written and verbal conversations with the teacher and Scott and they both agreed the time would come to cover the other side. As of this point, the opposing position for "defend the police" was not covered as promised via email, yet we have asked about the status multiple times with no response, of course. Is there a reason why the job description of principal shares that it is a principal's duties to resolve conflicts with parents, yet here we are with yet another conflict that Scott runs away from after hiding out and not fulfilling his duties to solve problems and properly communicate with all parents, and not just the ones he chooses to? Why is this allowed? I'm pretty sure Angela is familiar with the efforts she personally made to address these same exact issues with Scott with poor communication skills and follow up for promises made, yet this strikes again, so she seemingly had zero affect, I guess. As a THIRD delay, once again, he has also run away from a meeting now wherein we accepted his offer at CCS's request to speak with him on a Tuesday afternoon, yet we have returned to school, a whole week has now passed, and he has not responded AT ALL to set this up. Is this typical and acceptable behavior of a NUSD principal, or is he just uniquely excused? Maybe they're all like this, hence the disregard. Any chance CCS can also compel a meeting AND an answer to the curriculum inquiry we've extended multiple times about the defend the police topic? I honestly don't even know what to say at this point. It's always so simple, yet he makes things so complicated and turns easily resolved things into weeks on end of running away and having no answers. Related to the teacher himself, Mr. Jones, we'd like to extend a complaint to NUSD through the CCS office for multiple concerns. Jones was asked to email our daughter to provide the specific corrections he claimed related to her short story, yet, like Scott, there was no response at all, until our daughter had to email again this week. The literal lack of competency and communication related to the defend the police topic, as well, has led us to a point that we have nothing left to do but continually reach out with no results, so we'll AGAIN ask that CCS resolve these failures on their end, along with having additional concerns as well. In the meantime, instead of this "defend the police" content we were told would be addressed after Thanksgiving break, our daughter was instead asked to read this profane and uncivil content shown below in her Pre- AP English course, which we extend to the NUSD Board of Trustees January MEETING as a complaint against this incompetent and disturbing teacher, as a peek into this class experience with added offense to the integrity and advanced level of the College Board's high standards in content at this Pre- AP level:
"She squeezed my hand a little tighter. And I though, 'Karen, you slutty bitch, this is exactly what you deserve. You deserve a hateful husband who will treat you like shit for the rest of your life."
"Fuck you there's no rush. The game starts at 7:30.""Before we go any farther, Doc, why don't you explain to me what I'm doing here? See, that way, once Karen hears how full of shit you are, we can go home and I don't have to miss the opening pitch."
"The fuck you talking bout?"
"Is this all a trick? Are you a fucking shrink?"
"Tell the love you feel for her to go fuck itself."
"How they managed not to fuck up our relationship."
THIS story above, along with several other very dark and disturbing stories, highlights the choices he makes at a very trying time in our student's lives, under these restrictive and troubling circumstances, while I think it should be his job to "read the room" and choose more appropriate content. THIS story above, entitled "Entanglements," involved an extramarital affair and a pregnancy from another man, like a literal soap opera, along with the profane lack of civility, while other stories, like the most recent reading choice, involve depression and mental issues, while a man gaslights his wife and locks her up in a room and isolates her, much like the entire student body is locked down and going crazy at home. Is this appropriate? Disturbing, depressing, and intense to read at home, alone, and without friends, while ALSO locked down and perhaps depressed as well. See a connection? I join every class from this troubled teacher that has done nothing to positively uplift his class other than extend conflict and divisive topics, and I see the students and their lack of interest and involvement as they sit in silence and contribute nothing in the break out rooms or when asked. It's really disheartening to see. That said, we're not keen on adding trouble to a child's plate, nor should the teacher be, yet we find through most of his story choices, he opts for content related to darkness, like death (The Nightingale and the Rose) and love loss, more potential death, hate, and division in another (Interlopers) short story, not to mention the heavily controversial and adult level topic related to defunding the police, which is ironic, as murders skyrocket in those areas, while that should not be humorous at all. In summary, there is nothing positive or uplifting that this teacher has offered whatsoever. Even his short story and some sentences were violent and disheartening, and perhaps even inaccurate, or maybe you can decide below:
definition: hereditary....
NOTE: Hereditary is not a choice. It is something inherited, such as a disease or a physical trait that is carried down from prior generations, while a name is a choice, is it not, that is not hereditary, but just chosen to carry on. Maybe I'm mistaken?
HIS Sentence EXAMPLE: My daughter Coy will live with her hereditary name; she is named after her great-great grandmother.
Is this the correct use of that word? While a surname (last name) may be considered hereditary, a first name is certainly not when it is chosen at birth by the parents and not inherited or forced in any way without a choice, like a hereditary disease or a hereditary physical trait, like blue eyes that we cannot choose ourselves but are given through hereditary gene pools. If COY was a hereditary name, then his mother and grandmother and great great grandmother would be extended that name as well, while the parents would have no choice about the name. Thanks for clarifying.
On a final note, included below is the short story he shared with the class that evidences his poor skills in writing/editing, which is sad that our daughter had to bring it to our attention, so please recognize that he is actually tasked with teaching and assessing their writing in the form of grading their work, yet he produces this:
Short story and SIX highlighted errors:
Hole in the Wall
I collapsed onto the rumpled drop cloth covering my floor, joints splattered with spackling and back aching from bending and climbing for hours and hours. It had proved a long afternoon; in fact, much longer than I had wanted or even anticipated thinking back to the events from last weekend. While only six days ago, it seemed like a different time: my wall didn't need repairing and I was not, at the time, questioning my brother would decide to talk to me again.
"Come in, come in," I said, only finished with half my cup of coffee. It was still foggy outside, as it normally was this close to the coast. It would take an afternoon sun to spread it, exposing what had always been beneath it.
"Roger, man, thanks a lot, can I use your--"
"You know where it is," I said, familiar with the routine. Scott would show up after months of no word, disheveled, use the bathroom, come out, sit deeply into my sofa and sigh. Sure enough, after I put a new pot of coffee on, I heard it: flush, door, step, sofa, sigh.
"I got a plan, Roger."
"Do you?" he always had a plan.
"An ice cream shop."
"What do you know about ice cream?"
"It's not about the ice cream. It's about the sales. You gotta know how to talk to people. I can do that. You know me--I'm a people person. Any dummy can sell ice cream in the summer; it takes a real whiz to sell ice cream in the winter. That's what I'm going to do."
"I don't get it."
"I'm opening up an ice cream shop! Scotty's Scoop Shop. Sounds nice doesn't it?"
I turned around so he couldn't see my rolled eyes. This was only one after a long list of failed endeavors. There was the auto mechanic shop with our cousin Denise, the landscaping company with his friends from college, and then his food truck company with Raul. Raul had done okay with it and was still running it, but, with each of these attempts at making a financial living, Scott had just...stopped. The only word that truly described the abrupt discontinuation of his professional life was that one simple word.
"How's your little girl doing?" I asked, turning back to him.
He wrung his hands together again. "Fine, yeah. Happy--good! Roger, the new treatment is working wonders."
"Is she still in much pain." I already knew the answer.
"Um, no. I mean, yes. Some, some pain. It's really not that bad"
"Good, good. Starting an ice cream shop seems like a lot of work. Claire makes good money. Seems you might want to spend more time..." I trailed off, hoping he would finish my thought. He didn't. We were too used to this routine and we both knew it.
"It's not what you think." His eyes were wet.
I raised my eyebrows and folded my arms. "At least--it's not--it's not like how you think it is this time. This is going to work. You got the money," he stood up here, brave, indignant. He slammed a righteous fist in his open palm. "C'mon Roger you're sitting on a fortune here. I need a break--I need to prove myself." He paused again, realizing what he had just admitted.. "What's the big deal, anyway?" he boomed, angrier.
I thought about Dr. Lopez, my therapist. She had prepared me for this. I stayed calm. I stiffened my back. If he could simply begin businesses and fail, I could simply refuse him.
"No."
Something in him broke--I saw the shatter behind his eyes, like watching a building collapse behind a window. Roger wasn't one to feel self-pity though; instead, he felt the rumble of destruction. Twitching his eyes, Roger threw his finger at me.
"You always thought you were better than me. You've never cared about me for a moment in my life." He turned, throwing his fists above his head, shouting, "we just need a lousy--" before crashing them into my wall, breaking through the plaster, framed pictures of our childhood clattering to the floor. The glass shattered. The wall was weaker--or maybe he was stronger--than either of us thought as he fell torso-deep into the wall. Before I could get to him he had pulled himself out.
"Get out of my house," I said. It was his turn to be afraid.
It wasn't about me having more money, I thought to myself, wiping the dirty sweat from my forehead. I had no idea how hard it was to fix a wall or how unskilled I was at doing it. Too much time in books. Odd thing was, Roger could have fixed it like it was nothing. I could have paid him, too. But that wasn't the point. Money wasn't the point. Knowing the silent treatment he would send me every day for weeks--months, maybe--I tried to call the hospital to chat with my niece. I knew Roger wouldn't be around for a while, and someone had to bring a smile to her face. END
Thanks for the follow up to sadly compel simple email responses and fulfilled promises as part of his duties, and to assess the decency of this teacher we question in extending such inappropriate and troubling content that certainly does not meet the civility and advanced standards of the College Board's criteria for Pre-AP Level content, not to mention the choices under the circumstances at this level which warrant concern about his agenda. Would you also mind letting me know how to contact the College Board to inquire? Unfortunately these are not issues we can just opt to drop this time and appreciate some level of concern to seek appropriate change. Don and Patti Slupski
King Phoenix submitted the following public comment: The stay at home order has been lifted since 1/12. What is the plan for returning to school. Per county guidelines, schools should reopen the day after we are out of purple for 2 weeks. This would put the return to school date as 1/27, theoretically. Is this the plan? We have not heard an update from NUSD. It is time to get them back safely. If I can go to Costco with hundreds of strangers safely, my kids can return to school safely- just like thousands of other districts are doing.
Cynthia Hextell submitted the following public comment: I have a 15 year old son who is autistic who has been out of school since March! This is unacceptable! He has regressed so much that it will take a long time for him to regain what he has lost. He needs in person services! I also have a daughter who is an English learner who needs in person school. Other districts and private schools have been open with few issues. The teachers union should not be able to control the teachers going back to this extent. Our schools need to be OPEN with in person teachers! The damage that is being done will soon be irreversible. Including kids in high school trying to go to college on sports scholarships but there are no sports and they are losing their skills! The benefits of reopening clearly out weigh the risk! -Cynthia Hextell
Beka Clement submitted the following public comment: Hello,
I would like to state that I am in favor of having our children go back to school as soon as we are permitted to do so. Unlike the time before Christmas, I would like to STRONGLY encourage that our board, teachers, administrators, and parents work together to start planning now. I have been disappointed to hear how other schools have prepared and how our district does not appear to have a clear path to returning to classrooms. Please make this a priority so that all involved parties can submit questions and feedback on the available options. I understand that there are many variables, but the variables really haven't changed all that much since March and yet we still don't seem to have a clear plan in place. Instead of waiting until given the go-ahead, let us work NOW to get a plan in place and give everyone a chance to ask and have questions answered. Thank you.
Kim and Joe Palomo submitted the following public comment: We have lived in Natomas since 2002. We have 3 kids that all go to school in the Natomas Unified School District. We have a daughter that's a sophomore at Inderkum High School, a daughter who has special needs and is in 6th grade at Heron School and a son who is in Kindergarten at Heron School. To say this past year has been a challenge is a huge understatement. We have done our best to set up workstations in separate rooms in our home to give each of our children a "classroom". These "classrooms" have been a struggle though and our kids deserve so much more. These home-made "classrooms" contribute to isolation, loneliness, and frustration, they are small and crammed, and they have brought many tears to us and our family and we ask ourselves why every day. We know for a fact now that being in school helps promote our children's' social and emotional well being. Our middle daughter's IEP Needs that we have worked so very hard for over the last 8 or 9 years are not being met. Our oldest daughter is experiencing high school in a way that it is unimaginable! It is embarrassing for her to ask questions in a large group setting on the computer for everyone to hear instead of going up to the teacher in person to talk to them. Her high school years are being spent alone at home and in her words, "it's made me become depressed and feeling lonely at times." Our son who was so excited to start kindergarten this past fall is having to look through a computer screen, feeling the same kind of isolation and frustration as his older siblings and this has been so difficult to watch as parents. Kindergarten is such as huge milestone in a child's life and his or her experiences will impact a child in a substantial way in their later years of school. Our son is just an innocent little six year old boy that wants to meet new friends, play, run outside, swing from the monkey bars, learn basic skills in a classroom environment and instead is forced to sit in a seat and work from a desk, while not being able to interact with his new classmates and his teacher that he has been looking so forward to being with. How is this keeping our kids safe? How is this promoting their education, emotional, and social well being? How is this considered the right thing to do when we are allowed to go to crowded grocery stores practicing social distancing and safety measures? So, it is OK if we are allowed to go to crowded Costco, Target, Walmart, and Home Depot stores but our kids cannot go to school? Our kids need to be in school period! Requiring parents to try and juggle work, stepping up to be teachers for our children, and also handling everyday challenges has been incredibly stressful on all families. Sadly, our kids are the ones that are suffering from it the most! If private schools are allowed to open and operate using safe measures why can't public schools do the same? We are all facing the same pandemic - there should be no difference based on private vs public schools. Our main question is this... What is the plan to open the DAY after Sacramento county comes out of the purple tier status? Does NUSD even a plan at this time? We needed a plan many months ago because when Sacramento county comes out of the purple tier status our children NEED to be in a real classroom with their classmates and their teachers. We shouldn't have to wait weeks or even months later for NUSD to figure that out. Our children have all made huge sacrifices this past year to keep adults safe. It's time that our teachers and staff step up for them and make some sacrifices!!! Sincerely, Kim & Joe Palomo (parents who have the best interests of our kids social and emotional well-being and their future)
Anna Cramey submitted the following public comment: To School Site Council, As a parent of three children in the NUSD I am very concerned on the status we are at to reopen and return to in-person learning on campus. At this point, we should 100% be ready to go back to school the DAY after we are out of purple for 2 weeks (per the county guidelines.) We have not heard that message yet from NTA or the district. Is this negotiated with the Union? As parents, being advocates of our childrens future in their educational development, we should be complelety informed, as many of us would like to make alternate plans should this not be agreed upon yet. Distance Learning was a bandaid to get us all through some difficult times. It was never meant to be a long-term solution and the effects it is taking on our children almost one full year in this district is disheartening to say the least. Epecially when you see schools in our surrounding areas back in the classroom successfully. We as parents are being put in the position of making some major changes in our children's education due to the lack of communication and action to reopen our NUSD schools as to ensure our children get the education they rightfully deserve. Regards, A parent of a 4th, 5th, & 7th Grader
Greg Fisher submitted the following public comment: My wife and I believe schools should re-open immediately. Depression and teen suicide is up dramatically since the shutdown. Covid does not spread easily through children. There's overwhelming evidence supporting this by nearly every credible medical organization. Minority kids, low income families and families with special needs childrens are impacted in much worse ways than the general public. You should be ashamed that you have not reopened schools. Why aren't our schools open? They must reopen immediately.
Elizabeth Cacal submitted the following public comment: Our schools should re-open immediately when allowable by the county. No more surveys and negotiating, you must be ready. Our schools need to be ready day 1 when allowed by county officials. No more excuses! Covid does NOT spread easily through schools and there is evidence to support this. Districts that are open as well as private schools are showing that it is safe to be open for in-person learning. Our students are suffering and disadvantaged now more than ever. Depression and suicide are rising. Please take action to move forward. You are putting our students needs last by continuing to only offer distant learning. Kids are continuing to disengage and isolate. This is incredibly sad, please choose to make a difference in our student's lives.
Leanna Ketelsen submitted the following public comment: Our children need to be back in school immediately.The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends opening schools, the CDC recommends opening schools. Youth suicide is skyrocketing and mental health issues resulting from school closures is rampid. Most other states offer in person schools where we are not even offered a hybrid option. We are seeing increased physical health issues from increased screen usage. The schools received funds from the CARES and the Governor has issued even more funds. On September 8th NUSD received another $500k from the city of Sacramento to make the necessary changes for the kids to come back to school safely. NO MORE TIME TO PREPARE NO MORE EXCUSES. Get the kids back in school now.
Sara Earl submitted the following the public comment: Hello, I am writing to express my appreciation to the board for the hard work they do on behalf of our students and teachers. I am a parent of an 11, 9 and 5 year old at Heron school. I would like to advocate for a return to the classroom as soon as we meet the new county standards for a return to school. I also want to express my concern over the proposed plan to return to school this past Fall. Students need a return to the classroom where they will benefit from being present in the classroom. Sitting on zoom for all but 30 minutes of the school day would defeat the purpose of returning to school. Not to mention that school day ended at 11:30 I believe. My daughter does distance learning until 1:50 everyday...that would be a dramatic cut in her class time. We had to pull my youngest from the school and district because distance learning did not work for him. He has anxiety and sitting on zoom would make it worse. He has been at Merryhill Attending school in person for 4 hours a day since September and it has been night and day. As far as I have been made aware of, since their return to in person schooling in June Merryhill has only had one child who got the Corona virus. We need our kids back in school. Please do not give up hope on a return to in person this year and please please please fight for a return to in person in the Fall. If distance learning is still necessary at that time...please match the in person kids with in person teachers and distance learning students with teachers who can exclusively teach distance learning. Get kids back in the classroom in an effective and emotionally supportive way. I appreciate your time and consideration. Sara Earl
Rachel Davis submitted the following public comment: NUSD Board, I write to simply ask: please open our schools. Surrounding districts and many across the nation are currently educating students in person. NUSD stalled in getting us back in school in the fall - I hope that this time around it is different. Education is essential; our excellent, hardworking teachers and staff are essential. There are MANY families looking at leaving our schools in Natomas and enrolling in private schools that are operating full-time, in-person. I personally know several who have already done so. I am concerned about access and equity for those in our community that do not have the resources to consider private schools. The IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, guarantees the right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education for all students in the United States. A big part of the strength of our Natomas community is our excellent neighborhood schools, not "needing" to look elsewhere; I hope this can remain true. Mental and emotional health are suffering. Physical health is suffering. Academics are suffering. Of course many have argued about who "needs it more", elementary, middle, or high school, or lower performing or higher performing and all in between, but that really isn't the point - they/we all need to get back to school. If some students and teachers want to remain virtual there are options for them already in place. Full time in person, 5 days a week should also be an option. I realize the state and county is controlling a lot of what can be done but surely there is power in numbers and united voices: Superintendents and School Boards and their constituents can speak up and inform those at the county and state level as to what is necessary and desired. Please hear us. Please speak up for us. Thank you, Rachel Davis parent of an 11th grader and 6th grader |
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| Heidi Lattuada, Director |
| Heidi Lattuada, Director - Constituent and Customer Services |
| The board is asked to receive information regarding CCS data from July 2020-December 2020. |
| CCS will present an update on contacts for the six month period, July 2020-December 2020. |
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Heidi Lattuada, Director presented on the Constituent and Customer Services Update. The objectives of the presentation were: present historical comparisons of CCS data; present CCS data for the first half of 2020-2021 school year (July-December); present comparison of calendar 2019 and 2020 to show COVID-19 impact on CCS; provide context for the different type of role CCS continues to play since school closure in March 2020; and celebrating a significant decrease in general complaints and highest 'same day' closure rate ever reported working with virtual offices (VO).
Superintendent Evans noted that Voice Nation was an idea that Mrs. Lattuada came up with, after she brought to his office that the calls were increasing. He added that CCS found a solution to a COVID problem. He noted that Trustees will see what has been done and that it has been effective.
Trustee Kaplan gave congratulations to the CCS team. She stated for her and her staff to feel empowered in their role is so important. She asked that she pass along the kudos and congratulations for thinking outside the box to continue to serve our community.
Trustee Harden stated she is the loving Voice Nation and Language Link. She noted that it is huge to get a live person. She thanked them for all their hard work.
Trustee Grant stated that something that did not go by unnoticed is that Ibo is included in the list of languages that the district has encountered and it had one contact. He stated kudos and that it was very cool. |
Constituent and Customer Services Update - 1.20.2021
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| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| The Board is asked to receive information on where we are as a District and the path forward. |
| This presentation will "take stock" of where we are as a District by looking at the work that has been done and the investments that have been made both over the years and as a result of the global pandemic. We will also talk about what the path forward could look like, while remembering that moving forward, with limited resources, we can do anything, but not everything. The presentation will include information from multiple departments offering a comprehensive view of the District.
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Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer, Carol Swanson, Associate Superintendent, Doug Orr, Associate Superintendent, David Rodriguez, Assistant Superintendent and Shea Borges, Assistant Superintendent presented on Taking Stock Where We Are and Where We Want To Go. The objectives of the presentation were: showing connections between the major areas of work across the district; highlighting the coordinated efforts and investments being made to support students, families, and staff, as well as potential future investments that would be required to sustain or develop further supports. The presentation highlighted key areas that define NUSD, which were: supporting student learning, social emotional supports, physical health, student/family engagement, eliminating the digital divide, feeding our students, day camps, supporting families with homelessness, supporting our south area schools, and diversity investment and support. Staff also walked Trustees through the past, present and possible future of each key area.
Student Board Member Garcia stated that it was great that staff amplified one of our core beliefs that diversity is a strength and that the district is investing in it. She asked if there are any updates on the Seal of Biliteracy?
Mrs. Herrera stated they will make sure that the information is out there. She thanked her for that feedback.
Trustee Kaplan stated great job. She added that staff has always done a good job in preparing the budget, how does this relate and what is the cost proposal? She also asked where are we with one-time funds as well as with recommendations and where are we having the greatest student impact and how it aligns with our LCAP? She stated there are certain things we need to make sure to prioritize budget wise and how does that fit in. She suggested that if things need to be on 3-year plan that she is open to that. She explained that she sees how NUSD is moving and the wellness and student resource center is something that she is very supportive of. She noted that she understands that it may take chunks and have to be done in phases. She reminded that her focus is on our most at-risk students when they look at the services they should prioritize moving forward.
Trustee Harden stated great presentation and that she looks forward to seeing what it comes to. She added that she is definitely worried about our at risk students and want to look further to the south Natomas schools.
Trustee Bains stated great presentation and noted that it was a lot of information. He shared that he agrees with his colleagues and that he would like the focus on places where we have done a lot but there still needs to be more work done.
Trustee Grant stated that he looks forward to this materializing through the budget process.
President Heredia stated the idea that we can do anything but not everything, that is difficult statement to adhere to. She added that throughout the presentation, the phrases that were repeated: resources, personnel, budget. She expressed her appreciation of where the district was 10 years ago as opposed to today and shared that she thinks people lose sight of the progress that has been made. She explained that progress was dependent on whatever funding the district got from the State. She added that not only on funding for schools but depending on the personnel. She stated that she thinks the district has come a long way and has learned to manage the budget, identify the priorities, that the district is looking at personnel in terms of strengths and making sure the appropriate staff are in position to bring that forward. She explained that one of the things about education, in some sense they are always in need, whether large or small. She shared that something that has helped her sustain her patience in education, is the fact that things need to be done in phases. She noted that when Trustees are presented those options with staff recommendations, it helps to give the public an idea that change is coming but it is change over time. Heredia stated that change over time is critical because it forces them to look at what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. She added that when wanting to bring about sustained change in a district that is what you need. She explained that in the past NUSD did default to programs and there was no real accountability or evaluation in terms of the programs that were in place. She noted that has changed due to the data that is constantly changed with Trustees and the public. She wished they could have it all because the kids deserve it all. She stated it is what it is and noted that Trustees can do that will have a lasting effect. She asked what can we sustain even when we have the least amount of resources? She stated that this was nice and expressed her appreciation of the narratives. She thanked the staff for all their hard work. |
Taking Stock- Where we are and where we want to go - 1.20.2021
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| PROCEDURE: Generally, routine items are approved by one motion without discussion. The Superintendent or Board member may request that an item be pulled from the Consent Agenda and voted on separately. In alignment with BB 9322, the item shall be removed and given individual consideration for action as a regular agenda item. |
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Passed with a motion by Lisa Kaplan and a second by Jag Bains. |
Yes Jag Bains.
Yes Estefania Garcia.
Yes Micah Grant.
Yes Ericka Harden.
Yes Dr. Susan Heredia.
Yes Lisa Kaplan.
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| Chris Evans, Superintendent |
| Chris Evans, Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve the December 9, 2020 and December 16, 2020 Regular Board Meeting Minutes and the December 16, 2020 Special Board Meeting Minutes. |
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| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| The Board is being asked to approve the personnel items. |
| Administrative Promotion: Andrea Mitchell, Assistant Principal, Inderkum High School, to Principal, H. Allen Hight Elementary School, Effective December 10, 2020
Administrative Resignation: Jennifer Huff, Principal, Bannon Creek Elementary School, Effective: November 30, 2020
Certificated Resignation: Emily Dudley, Teacher, Natomas Middle School, Effective: November 29, 2020
Certificated Military Leave of Absence: Levi Dieu, Teacher, H. Allen Hight Elementary School, Effective: December 14, 2020 through June 11, 2021
Classified New Hires: Tolulope Osho Teibo, Instructional Assistant II, 6.0 hours, Natomas High School, Effective: October 28, 2020; Eve Shelton, Office Specialist III, 8.0 hours, Student Services and Support Department, Effective: December 1, 2020; Alyona Sergeyeva, Instructional Assistant II, 6.0 hours, Effective: December 2, 2020; Elizabeth Garcia, Custodian, Natomas High School, 8.0 hours, Effective: December 3, 2020; Yasamin Khoshmasrab, Playground Assistant, 2.0 hours, Paso Verde School, Effective: November 30, 2020; Cassandra Hernandez, Instructional Assistant II, 6.0 Hours, Jefferson School, Effective: December 14, 2020
Classified Promotion: Veronica Lara, Food Services Assistant I, 3.5 hours, Inderkum High School to Instructional Assistant II, 6.83 hours, Natomas Middle School, Effective: November 18, 2020
Classified Retirement: Pamela Rothwell, School Secretary II, 8.0 hours, Natomas High School, Effective: December 31, 2020
Classified Resignation: Elizabeth Myers, Licensed Vocational Nurse, 6.5 hours, Student Services and Support Department, Effective: November 20, 2020 Classified Leave of Absence Approval: Tori Silva, Food Services Assistant II, 0.625 FTE, Effective: August 11, 2020 to February 8, 2021 (revised)
Classified Substitute New Hire: Lejae Thompson, Effective: December 2, 2020 |
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| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve the Payroll and Claims for November 2020. |
| This item appears regularly and shows the total payroll and warrants issued. The individual funds’ warrant registers and expenditure summaries are attached. |
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November 2020 - Fund Report
November 2020 - Warrant Register
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| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to accept donations as submitted. |
| The District strongly advocates educational partnerships. We appreciate and recognize the following individuals for being part of our team and thank them for their generosity. Mental Health & Homeless Education received a $500 donation from Deborah Johnston. American Lakes School received a $400 donation from PG&E Employee Giving program through the Blackbaud Giving Fund. |
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| Carol Swanson, Associate Superintendent |
| Carol Swanson, Associate Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to accept the nominations of the Community Advisory Committee, and appoint the nominated persons to the Community Advisory Committee as follows:
Appoint the following PARENT VOTING MEMBERS to the Community Advisory Committee to fill the two (2) vacant slots:
• Roberto Toledo (Natomas High School, 9th grade and adult)
• Jennifer Vargas (Natomas High School, 11th grade)
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| A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is required by law for every Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). The CAC acts in an advisory capacity to the governing board, as well as the District special education department, in implementing the Local Plan. The CAC also assists with parent education and support and promotes communication between stakeholders in special education. The CAC members support activities on behalf of students with special needs and work to create community awareness. |
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| Doug Orr, Associate Superintendent |
| Doug Orr, Associate Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve the First Quarterly Williams Review Report for Fiscal Year 2020-2021. |
| As a result of the Williams Settlement, Education Code section 1240 requires that county offices of education visit schools in their county that ranked in deciles 1 to 3 on the 2012 Base Academic Performance Index (API) (Williams schools). Education Code section 1240(c)(2)(G) requires the county superintendent of schools to send quarterly reports regarding the results of school site visits and reviews to the governing boards of the school districts with Williams schools. The results can then be made public at a regularly scheduled and noticed meeting of each district's governing board.
A summary of the report is below:
- SCOE did not conduct any facility inspections during the first quarter because Senate Bill 820 waived the requirement for county offices of education to conduct Williams school site visits while students are in distance learning.
- During the quarter ending September 30, 2020, SCOE conducted no SARC reviews.
- SCOE did not conduct facility reviews during the first quarter, District's will need to complete facility inspections for Williams schools before preparing the SARCs. You may use the Office of Public School Construction Facility Inspection Tool (FIT), or a locally developed instrument meeting the same legal requirements, to determine whether each school's facilities are in "good repair" and to rate each facility.
- There were no complaints filed in the District under the Uniform Complaint Procedure in the first quarter.
The full report is attached. |
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First Quarterly Williams Review Report FY 20_21
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| Doug Orr, Associate Superintendent |
| Doug Orr, Associate Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve the October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 Second Quarter Williams Act Report. |
| As a result of the Williams vs. State of California case in 2000, districts are required to report to the local county office of education: the overall condition of school facilities, the number of teacher misassignments and the availability of textbooks or instructional materials. Our district is required to submit quarterly reports to the Sacramento County Office of Education on the number of Williams Uniform Complaints with our District in the three areas listed. For the period of October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, there were no compliance issues in the following areas: - Sufficiency of textbooks
- Emergency of school facilities issues
- Vacancy or misassignments of teachers
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| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| The Board is asked to approve the 2020-21 MOU with American River College (ARC) to provide dual enrollment for an auto mechanics class at Natomas High School and English courses ENGWR 300 and English 302 at Natomas High School and Leroy Greene Academy. |
| This is an excellent opportunity for NUSD students to earn dual enrollment credit through American River College. There are no costs to NUSD except curriculum materials for our English courses (which would replace current materials). Attached please find a copy of the MOU. |
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MOU Regarding Dual Enrollment Between The Los Rios Community College District American River College and NUSD
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| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve the 2020-21 Authorized Signers for District Accounts held at Schools First Federal Credit Union. |
| Authorized signers for accounts held at Schools First FCU (formerly named Schools Financial Credit Union) are updated annually or when signature card changes are needed due to staffing changes. Two signatures are required on checks drawn on these accounts. Schools First FCU requires approved meeting minutes of Board actions before finalizing signature cards. The 2020-21 list of authorized signers for Associated Student Body (ASB) and other District accounts held at Schools First FCU is attached. |
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2020-21 Schools First FCU account signers
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| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve the 2020-21 Authorized Signers for District Accounts held at Wells Fargo Bank. |
| Signature card changes are needed due to staffing changes. Two signatures are required on checks drawn on these accounts. The Bank requires approved meeting minutes of Board actions before finalizing signature cards. The 2020-21 list of authorized signers for Associated Student Body (ASB) and other District accounts held at Wells Fargo Bank is attached. |
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2020-21 Wells Fargo Bank account signers
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| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve Resolution No. 21-01, updating the 2020-21 Certification of District Signatures list. |
| The attached resolution updates the authorized District signatures for 2020-2021 and reflects recent changes. |
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Resolution No. 21-01 2020-21 District Signatures
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| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve the amended list of 2020-21 Cooperative Purchasing Memberships and Agreements. |
The District utilizes cooperative/leveraged purchasing contracts and/or groups to secure bulk or discounted rates for purchases as outlined in Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 3300 and 3311. Approval of the attached agreement with Education Technology Joint Powers Authority (EdTech JPA) will allow the District to become a member; and EdTech JPA will be added to the District’s 2020-21 Cooperative Purchasing agency list. EdTech JPA acts as a procurement vehicle for technology goods and allows members to leverage contracts established through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. There are no member fees with the agencies listed below.
Amended agency list for 2020-21:
- Sourcewell (Formerly NJPA)
- California Multiple Awards Schedule (CMAS)
- U.S. Communities, Government Purchasing Alliance
- National Association fo State Procurement Officials (NASPO)
- National IPA (Formerly TCPN)
- Nor-Cal Schools Joint Powers
- Education Technology Joint Powers Authority (EdTech JPA)
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EdTech JPA Membership Agreement
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| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve a Change Order to the Agreement for DSA Inspector of Record Services for the Bannon Creek K-8 Conversion Project. |
| On March 1, 2020 the Board approved an Agreement for DSA Inspector of Record services for the Bannon Creek K-8 project in the amount of One Hundred Fifteen Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($115,500). The duration of the project has extended past the work hours allotted in the agreement. In order to continue DSA Inspection services through project completion, an additional Twelve Thousand One Hundred Dollars ($12,100) is required. The full contract amount inclusive of the Change Order is One Hundred Twenty-Seven Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($127,600). |
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Bannon Creek K8 C.O. #1
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| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve Amendment No. 7 to the Architectural Services Agreement with Lionakis for Paso Verde permanent site. |
| On June 21, 2017 an Architectural Services Agreement with Lionakis for the Paso Verde permanent site was approved in the amount of Two Million Three Hundred Five Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($2,305,300.00). Amendment No. 1, in the amount of Three Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($340,000.00), was approved on October 25, 2017, and added the design of offsite improvements to the agreement. Amendment No. 2, in the amount of Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00), added Building Commissioning to the agreement. The 2016 California Energy Code, Section 120.8 identifies building (commissions as requirement) for all new construction. Amendment No. 3 in the amount of Sixty-Four Thousand Dollars ($64,000.00), incorporated sub consultant services for reassessment of the property site for airport flight impact, mapping of easements and participation in bi-weekly development meetings. Amendment No. 4, in the amount of Seventy-Nine Thousand Dollars ($79,000.00) included revisions to the site plan as required to satisfy the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Amendment No. 5 in the amount of Thirty-Eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($38,500.00), addressed revisions to the plans required to secure easements with the neighboring property owner and off-site plan approvals by the City and County of Sacramento. Amendment No. 6 in the amount of Eleven Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($11,200.00) addressed revisions to infrastructure design (sewer, power and water) for the future 4th R portable placements.
Amendment No. 7 addresses DSA approval, code analysis, document compilation, and fire and intrusion alarm design of the 4th R portable placements. Amendment No. 7 is in the amount of Nineteen Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($19,700). The full contract amount including Amendment No. 7 is Two Million Nine Hundred Twelve Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($2,912,700.00).
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| Developer Fees |
Service Amendment 07
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| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve a Change Order to the Agreement for DSA Inspector of Record Services for the Paso Verde K-8 permanent site. |
| On January 16, 2019 the Board approved an Agreement for DSA Inspector of Record services for the Paso Verde K-8 permanent site in the amount of Two Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($240,000). The duration of the project has extended past the work hours allotted in the agreement. In order to continue DSA Inspection services through project completion, an additional Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($8,800) is required. The full contract amount inclusive of the Change Order is Two Hundred Forty-Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($248,800). |
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Paso Verde K8 C.O. #1
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| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| The Board is asked to publicly acknowledge the Speech-Language Pathology License status and approve the variable term waiver requests for one (1) Speech-Language Pathologist who possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and is enrolled in a Commission-approved SLP Services Credential program, but does not yet hold a valid Speech-Language Pathology License and credential as required by the State of California and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. |
| As is required by the State of California and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing the Board must publicly approve variable term waiver requests for Speech-Language Pathologists who possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology, Communicative Disorders, or a closely aligned field, and is enrolled in a Commission approved SLP Services Credential program or in an out-of-state ASHA-accredited graduate level SLP program, but do not yet hold a valid Speech-Language Pathology License and Credential.
Megan Dulay will be hired as a Speech-Language Pathologist for Student Services and Support.
Because Ms. Dulay has received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and is enrolled in a Commission-approved SLP Services Credential program she is eligible to receive a variable term waiver while she completes her program prior to receiving her license, because Speech-Language Pathology is categorized as a high incidence area.
Until Ms. Dulay completes her program requirements and is recommended for her SLP license and credential, the District must submit a waiver request each year to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Ms. Dulay is on track to complete her program during the 20-21 school year. |
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PROCEDURE: Formal action is required on each item which frequently includes discussion prior to the motion. Time is given for public comments.
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President Heredia asked if we received any public comments regarding any of the action items on tonight's agenda?
Christina Huth, Executive Director, stated we received public comments from Jason Everhart and Kristin Marco in regards to Action Item A and Rosalyn Bell and Scott Rafferty in regards to Action item C. The communications have been forwarded to the entire Board of Trustees and appropriate staff. The specifics of these public comments will be recorded in the official Board meeting minutes. |
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| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| Superintendent Recommends Approval
Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| The Board is asked to approve Resolution No. 21-02 regarding a temporary modification of BP 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement during these unprecedented times. |
The Board is asked to approve Resolution No. 21-02 regarding a temporary modification of BP 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement during these unprecedented times. Passed with a motion by Micah Grant and a second by Estefania Garcia. |
Yes Jag Bains.
Yes Estefania Garcia.
Yes Micah Grant.
Yes Ericka Harden.
Yes Dr. Susan Heredia.
Yes Lisa Kaplan.
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| Given the circumstances surrounding the negative impacts to student learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the interest of giving students the opportunity to engage in rigorous course learning despite the obstacles they may be facing, the Board is asked to approve Resolution No. 21-02 that will afford students additional time to either earn credit or complete work in courses where they would normally be receiving a D or an F grade during the 2020 - 2021 school year. The temporary modification of BP/AR 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement will help maintain the district’s focus on supporting students with graduation and a-g completion.
With approval of the Resolution, the District will immediately work with school sites of 9-12 grade students who receive letter grades for coursework to accomplish the following, to be utilized beginning with grade assignments for Semester 1 of the 2020-21 school year:
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Establish an equitable process for how students may receive markings of “No Credit” in courses that are significantly incomplete and will need to be recovered or “In Progress” in courses where students will be able to use extended time to complete specific learning tasks instead of a D or F.
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Establish an equitable process for how these students can recover grades/complete work to achieve at least a C in the relevant courses, which may include a plan/agreement with the family and student.
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Determine the methodology to be used in calculating students' grade point average (GPA) during this temporary modification.
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Jason Everhart submitted the following public comment: Natomas High Teacher and NUSD Parent here. I'd like to add this comment for the item: XIV.a. Approve Resolution No. 21-02 Regarding a Temporary Modification of BP 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement During These Unprecedented Times Resolution No. 21-02: Voting for this would lower our standards and lower the value of a grade earned. All of our high school students were informed how they would be graded and when the deadlines were. Speaking for myself, all of my students were given every opportunity that a student needs similar to any other school year. Voting for this would negate every high school syllabus that was signed by every high school student and parent back in August/September. We have procedures in place for students going through hardship, but this resolution would give every student with a D or a high F an extra four months without any hardship communicated. It is horribly unfair to all students who earned their grades on time last year and the year before. A YES vote on 21-02 is a vote to lower our standards. I urge all board members to vote NO on 21-02.
Kristin Marco submitted the following public comment: A YES vote on 21-02 is a vote to lower our standards. I urge all board members to vote NO on 21-02. My kids work 8-10 hours a day! This is lowering standards. Yours Sincerely, Kristin S. Marco
Superintendent Evans gave thanks to NTA for working on an MOU with the district that allows the Board to take action on this with agreement in advance. He added that to also let the Board and public know that the Chief Academic Office has communicated in house to the appropriate staff and teachers about the process that a message will also be sent out to the community. He thanked the Board for their support on this for the students. |
Resolution No 21-02 Regarding a Temporary Modification of BP/AR 5121
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| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| Angela Herrera, Chief Academic Officer |
| The Board is asked to receive a presentation regarding continuing day camps and to potentially take action to continue day camp services. |
The Board is asked to receive a presentation regarding continuing day camps and to potentially take action to continue day camp services. Passed with a motion by Lisa Kaplan and a second by Micah Grant. |
Yes Jag Bains.
Yes Estefania Garcia.
Yes Micah Grant.
Yes Ericka Harden.
Yes Dr. Susan Heredia.
Yes Lisa Kaplan.
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| At the request of the Board, during the January 20, 2021 Board Meeting, staff will present an update regarding the use of Day Camps. As a part of the update, we will address some of the questions and suggestions presented by the Trustees at our December 16 Board meeting. In addition, the Trustees will be presented with information for the option to consider extending the contract with The Center at an approximate cost of $163,200 (per month), from March 1st through June 10th and/or until schools return to transitional and/or in-person learning. |
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Shea Borges, Assistant Superintendent presented on Consider Continuing Day Camps During Distance Learning. The objectives of the presentation were: at the request of the Trustees at the December 16, 2020 Board meeting staff is providing the Board with more information as it considers potentially continuing Day Camps beyond February 26, 2021.
Superintendent Evans stated that on slide 10 title Budget Considerations, this is the slide that the team is putting together for Trustees. He added that if we are going to keep WIFI connected it is $150,000 per month and it is not something that is easy to turn on and off. He explained Trustees are looking at $1.8 million just for WIFI. He noted that this is the slide to keep in mind, not to change any decisions but this is why the team said we can do anything but we cannot do everything. He opined those are large dollar amounts. Evans stated that NUSD has been smart using one time money. He added that a lot of the things staff are talking about right now that Trustees want information on is very different. He opined that he does not think the Governor's budget will be close to what it is now then when it is signed in June. He explained this is one of those budget years where staff will give Trustees guidelines. He stated this slide is important to pause and take a look at. He added that NUSD is currently spending money and they may have to cut off WIFI as soon as June or July.
Trustee Kaplan stated it will all be presented at the budget. She added that she thinks Trustees need to look at it all together to understand how much money and where the budget is.
Trustee Kaplan asked if all of a sudden we get notice from the County that we qualify to open schools March 1st and the Board determines March 15th, what does that do with contracts with The Center for day camps?
Mrs. Borges stated that it is already written in to the contract that the district can conclude the contract at any point and vice versa. She noted that the district has very open communication with the day camps on where we are at and what our plans are.
Trustee Kaplan stated that she is okay moving forward with a contract through June knowing that provision is in there and knowing the district has open communication with the provider. She added that she thinks the parents need to have that sense of stability. She shared that she would look forward to hearing back from staff if we start transitioning to in person instruction, what happens to those kids that are not in school if we do an A B schedule.
Trustee Bains stated that he supported extending the contract through June.
Trustee Harden stated she was in support.
Trustee Grant stated that at an earlier slide the Superintendent asked the Board to pause and consider, Board wants. He asked if the implication is that if the Board resumes with day camps that the district could potentially lose an item on this list?
Superintendent Evans stated the district could utilize new stimulus funds or go into the reserves.
Trustee Kaplan asked for confirmation that the district has $6 million coming in?
Superintendent Evans clarified that over $3 million of that money that is coming in has already been spent by the Board. He added that a Trustee asked earlier about giving budget implications and that what he shared earlier was the implication for families and the implications for budget. He explained that doesn't mean a hard stop on internet in June because of this action, but the district will have a difficult next three months to make decisions on what the Board would like to phase in, what they would like to continue, and what they would like to do. He shared that even part of the district survey to families that evening was whether or not Natomas would be interested in a parcel tax to specifically target technology access. He noted that it is being resoundly put down as a "no." Evans stated that yes, the district is getting more stimulus money and a lot of one-time money that will be able to help. He explained that he just needs the Board to be aware so that when Deputy Superintendent Javetta Cleveland is sitting down with Trustees in March and April to show Trustees all the money that is being spent each month. He noted that the district has never spent money like this on non-Human Resource items in his time here. Evans stated while these are extraordinary times he needs to be on the record so that Trustees know if they combine $163k per month for daycamps, technology is $150k per month, which is $3.6 million and that does not include the need for more protective equipment over time. He noted that Dr. Fauci stated that masks will be likely through the end of 2021. He stated that staff has not even gotten a chance to outline that for Trustees because new guidance was just received on January 14th and three days since then have been a weekend and a holiday. He explained this is the new California where things will change right before board meetings and we cannot give Trustees the full picture because staff is still trying to process it themselves. He added that he wanted to make sure that Trustees are aware that it is $300,000-$400,000 per month on for just The Center and technology alone and then more could be added in once the district returns in person.
Trustee Grant stated he will support with the understanding that they are hoping this is not an indefinite situation. |
Board Consideration for Continued Day Camps Beyond February 26, 2021 - 1.20.2021
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| Chris Evans, Superintendent |
| Superintendent Recommends Approval
Chris Evans, Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to approve Resolution No. 21-03 to Initiate a Transition to a By-Trustee Area Election System Commencing with the 2022 Governing Board Election. |
The Board is asked to approve Resolution No. 21-03 to Initiate a Transition to a By-Trustee Area Election System Commencing with the 2022 Governing Board Election. Passed with a motion by Micah Grant and a second by Jag Bains. |
Yes Jag Bains.
Yes Estefania Garcia.
Yes Micah Grant.
Yes Ericka Harden.
Yes Dr. Susan Heredia.
Yes Lisa Kaplan.
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| At the December 16, 2020 Regular Board Meeting Trustees received a presentation from legal counsel on the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) and unanimously approved the next steps of adopting a “letter of intent”, which is actually a resolution, to begin the transition process to a by-Trustee area election system commencing with the 2022 board election.
The attached resolution meets the requirements of a Letter of Intent and represents the first step towards Natomas Unified transitioning to a by-Trustee area election system.
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Roman Muñoz, legal counsel with Lozano Smith joined the meeting.
Rosalyn Bell submitted the following public comment: I could not open the link to read the letter of intent. Will the letter of intent be mailed to every residential address in the NUSD school boundaries?
Scott Rafferty submitted the following public comment: This is intended to be a written submission for distribution to the Board (54954.1) in connection with the agenda item involving the resolution of intent to initiate the process to create trustee areas. I called yesterday to clarify the process to directly address the Board during the meeting (54954.3) and to determine whether item V.B also related to this matter.
Briefly, this letter requests that the Board enter the written agreement specified in Elections Code 10010(e), or otherwise make an enforceable commitment, to complete the process by May 2022. It may be appropriate not to start the 90-day process for another month, but uncertainty regarding the release date for 2020 population totals is not a basis for further delay. This information has little relevance to the design of trustee areas, and all other demographics are already or will soon be available. Areas can be adjusted to ensure that total population remains within constitutional limits. Delay will greatly increase the costs of demographic services, if they are available at all. The Board may be unable to sustain public engagement. Delay could even jeopardize the ability to implement in 2022. An attachment, which was a letter to Trustees, was included as part of this public comment. The letter asked the Board resolve several outstanding concerns. There were also two attachments of the Folsom-Cordova boundaries attached.
Superintendent Evans asked legal counsel if there is anything the district needs to clarify based on public comment on what we did or did not do?
Roman Muñoz, legal counsel with Lozano Smith, stated he does not believe so. He added this resolution sets forth starting the process. He shared that he will be reaching out to an individual that made public comment. |
Resolution No. 21-03 Initiate a Transition to a By-Trustee Area Election System Commencing with the 2022 Governing Board Election
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| Chris Evans, Superintendent |
| Superintendent Recommends Approval
Chris Evans, Superintendent |
| The Board is asked to discuss and approve the NUSD Governance Handbook. |
The Board is asked to discuss and approve the NUSD Governance Handbook. Passed with a motion by Micah Grant and a second by Ericka Harden. |
Yes Jag Bains.
Yes Estefania Garcia.
Yes Micah Grant.
Yes Ericka Harden.
Yes Dr. Susan Heredia.
Yes Lisa Kaplan.
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| The NUSD Governance Handbook was unanimously approved by Trustees on December 11, 2019 Regular Board Meeting. In order to support a positive working relationship among the Natomas Unified School District Board of Education, the staff, students, and the community, Trustees agreed to annually agendize the Governance Handbook each January to review governance team agreements and processes. |
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Trustee Grant stated this is something that he and former Trustee Dosick worked on last year and brought to the Board as a discussion item. He noted that they made heavy changes to it. He explained that in his review it still stands for what is needed today. He shared that it has his stamp of approval.
President Heredia stated in our handbook it notes, Board development training, she added that she would hope that this Board would consider going through the training. She explained it is always worth going through the training again and that she would like Trustees to consider the Board evaluation. She shared it was done two years ago but Trustees did not follow through on a second meeting.
Trustee Harden stated in the commitments the district has that states, "we will ensure we will have every student lead and succeed," would like to consider the Board adding "to their highest potential."
Superintendent Evans stated that is a good idea and those are things that have already been approved and adopted. He shared that he thinks the district has outgrown some things and thinks in the next calendar year they should look at them.
Trustee Harden expressed her thanks and noted that she believes the district has outgrown the vision as well. |
Updated NUSD Governance Handbook - January 2021
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| President Heredia adjourned the meeting at 9:41 p.m. |
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