Members of the public may address the Board on items listed on the closed session agenda. Speakers are limited to three minutes each (Board Bylaw 9323(5)).

The Board will consider approval of the minutes from the September 13, 2017, Regular Board Meeting.

As part of the transition to a by-trustee area election system by the Santa Rosa City Schools ("District"), the District’s Governing Board will hold a public hearing to receive community comments and public testimony concerning the composition of potential trustee voting areas.  This public hearing is being held to allow public input in advance of the preparation and presentation of draft trustee voting area plans.  

This is an opportunity for members of the public to speak to the board on non-agenda items.  Comments on items that are on the agenda will take place during the discussion on that agenda item.  Members of the public may address the Board on matters within the subject matter of its jurisdiction. Please submit a Speaker Card to the Board Secretary prior to the meeting being called to order. Upon recognition by the Board President, please approach the podium. The Board shall take no action or discussion on any item not appearing on the posted agenda, except as authorized by law (BB 9323(2)). Speakers are limited to 3 minutes each (BB 9323(5)). Should a member of the public have comments that pertain to a complaint against an employee of the District, the Board advises that the matter should first be pursued using the appropriate district complaint procedure (BB 9323(6)).

All consent items are enacted by the Board in one motion, unless a Board member requests that an item be removed and discussed separately.  

The Board will consider approval of absent Board Member(s), if necessary, due to illness, jury duty, or a hardship deemed acceptable by the Board in accordance with Education Code Section 35120.

The Board will consider approval of the personnel transactions submitted. 

Staff is presenting Personnel Transaction items for Board approval.

The Board will consider approval of the vendor warrants submitted.  The attached warrant register lists all vendors for the period 9/1/17 through 9/14/17 for a total of $3,165,896.52. 

Staff is presenting the Warrant Register List for Board Approval.

Financially significant vendor warrants that highlight the largest check or invoice paid to a particular vendor:

(Current) Warrants - September 1, 2017 through September 14, 2017 = $3,165,896.52.
(Total 16/17 Fiscal Year) Warrants - July 1, 2017 through September 14, 2017 = $21,621,212.66.

The Board will consider approval of the donations and gifts submitted.

Parents, students, community members, and businesses make donations and give gifts to the schools on a regular basis. Donations come in the form of money, goods, or services. These donations are appreciated and welcomed by the schools and departments.

Donations received since September 13, 2017 = $19,569.08.
District-wide donations year to date = $43,247.99.

 The Board will consider approval of the contracts submitted.

Staff is submitting requests from various schools and departments to hire individual contracts or consulting firms to provide specified services.  For fiscal and learning impacts, see the attached summary sheet.

Total value of contracts = $233,666.50

American Fidelity administers the Section 125 Flexible Benefit Plan on behalf of Santa Rosa City Schools for CSEA employees. Plan 502 remains in effect for CSEA employees and is brought forward for annual approval with updates to the District contributions and offered plans.

 The plan year for CVT plans begins October 1^st.

The fiscal impact of participating in the IRC 125 Plan is relative to employees only. There is no cost to SRCS although the District could be subject to taxes and penalties without an approved Plan Document.

The Board will consider approval of the proposed 2017-2018 instructional agreement between the Santa Rosa City Schools and Sonoma County Office of Education's Career Technical Education (SCOE CTE).

The Board will consider renewal of the Section 132(f) Tax Free Transportation Program (Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program) to our current benefit offerings.  The Commuter Benefits Program will be administered by the Arrow Benefits Group.  California Senate Bill 1339 requires the addition of the Commuter Benefits Program by Bay Area employees who have more than 50 full-time employees.  All areas of Sonoma County south of Windsor are mandated to add this program.  The program was added in September 2014.

This is an agreement between the Arrow Benefits Group and Santa Rosa City Schools to continue the State mandated Commuter Benefits Program.  The Commuter Benefits  Program enables eligible employees to set aside tax free dollars for the following:

Transit Passes and/or Vanpool (combined):  $277 per month

The Board will consider approval of a Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE) Variable Term Waiver Request with the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for Denise Elia-Yen.

This SDAIE Variable Term Waiver will allow the district to fill a CTE Drama teaching position at Maria Carrillo High School for the 2017-2018 school year with hiring Denise Elia-Yen, who is currently enrolled in a CTE credential program.

The Board will consider approval of a Provisional Internship Permit (PIP) application to the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for Micah Noelle Contreras.

This Provisional Internship Permit (PIP) will allow the district to fill a 1.0 FTE Education Specialist RSP teaching position at the Elsie Allen High School for the 2017-2018 school year.  PIPs are not renewable and are issued on a one time basis per applicant in any credential subject area. Ms. Contreras is currently enrolled in a credentialed program.  This teaching position has been posted on EdJoin, Facebook and job fairs since March 11, 2017.

The Board will consider approval of a Provisional Internship Permit (PIP) application to the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for Adela L. Castelain.

This Provisional Internship Permit (PIP) will allow the district to fill a 1.0 FTE Transitional Kindergarten teaching position at the Santa Rosa French American Charter School for the 2017-2018 school year.  PIPs are not renewable and are issued on a one time basis per applicant in any credential subject area. Ms. Castelain is currently enrolled in a credentialed program.  This teaching position has been posted on EdJoin, Facebook and job fairs since March 11, 2017.

The Board will consider approving this field trip for Santa Rosa High School's Future Farmers of America (FFA), Agriculture Department, to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana / Louisville, Kentucky, for the annual National FFA Convention. 

The Board is being asked to approve the Field Trip Request Form for Santa Rosa High School's Future Farmers of America (FFA), Agriculture Department to participate in the National FFA Convention, October 22, 2017 - October 28, 2017.  There will be 10 students attending, as well as 3 teacher chaperones.  Per BP 6153.1, School Sponsored Extended Field Trips, the student to adult ratio is 9:1.

This convention pulls “FFA members from all corners of the nation converging in one place to celebrate their accomplishments and find inspiration for their next. Motivational keynote speakers, energetic concerts, fulfilling workshops and a sweeping Expo floor bustling with agriculture education and industry opportunities…”.  Teachers and students have attended this conference in years past, and they come back energized, educated and empowered.  This is usually one of the highlights of their high school careers.  

The modes of transportation for this trip include car and plane.  Attached is the Out-of-State Field Trip or Excursion Waiver of Claims form and Section III Liability from RESIG.

The cost is $1,400 per student (this includes all meals, transportation, housing, and activities).  Substitute costs will be paid through Ag Incentive/Ag Match.  All student cost will be funded through proceeds raised through fundraisers, Boosters, and Ag Budget.

The Board will consider approval of Resolution No. 2017-18/014 recognizing September as Attendance Awareness Month.

Celebrated for the first time in September 2013, Attendance Awareness Month is a nationwide recognition of the connection between school attendance and academic achievement. The goal is to mobilize schools and communities to promote the value of good attendance and to take concrete steps toward reducing chronic absence.These existing attendance programs in attendance of the District has a number of existing programs that emphasize the importance of attendance:

• Newsletter and video promotion of the importance of attendance
• The new Project Sail grant
• The Elevate Academy
• Truancy Intervention Prevention Committee 

Last school year Santa Rosa City Schools improved ADA by .5%. 

More information and resources can be found at http://awareness.attendanceworks.org/

The Board will consider approval of Resolution 2017/18-011, recognizing October 2017 as Filipino American History Month in Santa Rosa City Schools.

The Filipino American history month began in 1992, done in recognition of the contribution, culture and heritage that Filipino Americans brought to the United States from the Philippines when they arrived in October of 1587.  California is home to over half of the Filipino population in the USA and the location of historic Filipino communities such as in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Stockton, Vallejo, Delano, San Diego and Salinas among others.

The Board will consider approval of Resolution No. 2017-18/012 recognizing October 9-13, 2017 as Week of the School Administrator.

CaliforniaEducation Code Section 44015.1 states: "In observance of the importance of educational leadership at the school, school district, and county levels, the second full week in the month of October of each year shall be designated as “Week of the School Administrator.” Schools, school districts, and county superintendents of schools are encouraged to observe the week with public recognition of the contribution that school administrators make to successful pupil achievement."

Administrators work hard to deliver a quality education to students and keep their Boards of Education informed and able to make good policy decisions.  The Board annually is asked to approve a resolution recognizing these contributions.

We would like to recognize the following individuals:

Principals:
Jeanine Wilson, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
Aida Diaz, Albert Biella Elementary School
Guadalupe Perez-Cook, Brook Hill Elementary School
Alisa Haley, Helen Lehman Elementary School
Jacqui Parker, Hidden Valley/HV Satellite Elementary School
Michelle Smith, James Monroe Elementary School
Julian Szot, Luther Burbank Elementary School
Kathleen Olmsted, Proctor Terrace Elementary School
Dan Noble, Steele Lane Elementary School
Rebekah Rocha, Cesar Chavez Language Academy
Ed Navarro, Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter/Rincon Valley Middle School
Kristen Vogel, Santa Rosa Arts Charter
Rich Johnstone, Santa Rosa French-American Charter
Laura Hendrickson, Hilliard Comstock Middle School
Matt Pollack, Lawrence Cook Middle School
Tom Fierro, Santa Rosa Middle School
Shellie Cunningham, Herbert Slater Middle School
Gabe Albavera, Ridgway High School
Mary Gail Stablein, Elsie Allen High School
Brad Coscarelli, Santa Rosa High School
Randy Burbank, Montgomery High School
Vicki Zands, Maria Carrillo High School
Tim Zalunardo, Piner High School

Vice/Assistant Principals:
Jessica Romero, AP Hidden Valley Elementary School/Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter
Trish Delzell, AP Hilliard Comstock Middle School
Hector Soto, AP Lawrence Cook Middle School
Amy Sather, AP Rincon Valley Middle School
Allegra-Anne Buschman, AP Santa Rosa Middle School
Mark Klick, AP Herbert Slater Middle School
Andy Lieberman, VP Elsie Allen High School
Casey Thornhill, AP Elsie Allen High School
Valerie Jordan, AP Elsie Allen High School
Katie Barr, VP Maria Carrillo High School
Richard Aistrope, AP Maria Carrillo High School
Albert Ettedgui, AP Maria Carrillo High School
Kimberly Clissold, VP Montgomery High School
Aaron Harkey, AP Montgomery High School
Lidia Teruel-Albert, AP Montgomery High School
Andrea Correia, VP Piner High School
Ryan Thompson, AP Piner High School
John McGurke, AP Piner High School
Allie Greene, VP Santa Rosa High School
Karolina Gage, AP Santa Rosa High School
Forrest Harper, AP Santa Rosa High School

District Office Administrators
Diann Kitamura, Superintendent
Jason Lea, Assistant Superintendent Human Resources
Andre Bell, Assistant Superintendent Business Services
Steve Mizera, Assistant Superintendent Student Services
Anna-Maria Guzman, Assistant Superintendent Curriculum & Instruction
Rick Edson, Chief Technology Officer
Joel Dontos, Executive Director
Cindy Brennan, Director Human Resources
Rand Van Dyke, Director Data & Assessment
Adrian Bica, Director Technology
Mike Braff, Director Facilities
Kelley Cook, Director Purchasing
Kelley Dillon, Director Curriculum & Instruction
Aracely Romo-Flores, Director Curriculum & Instruction
Debi Batini, Director Curriculum & Instruction
Lori Fletcher, Director Curriculum & Instruction
Chris White, Director Curriculum & Instruction
Patty Turner, Director Student and Family Engagement
Mary Ann Ayala, Director Student and Family Engagement
Kenneth Bunns, Director Child Nutrition Services
Beth Berk, Coordinator Communications
Elizabeth Evans, Coordinator Curriculum & Instruction
Kaesa Enemark, Coordinator Student and Family Engagement
Sonya Randrup, Coordinator Student Services
Sarah Cranke, Coordinator State and Federal Programs
Tracy Bailon, Project Manager/Behavior Specialist
Brian Wilk, Project Manager/Behavior Specialist
Inge Helderweirt, Project Manager/Behavior Specialist
Noelle Anderson, Program Manager
Tamarah Pallingston, Program  Manager
Janel Plack, Program  Manager
Julie Promes, Program  Manager
Jorge Wahner, Program  Manager
Cathy Wisor, Program  Manager

The Board will consider approval of Resolution No. 2017/18-013 to protect and support Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) participants.  

On September 5, 2017, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Elaine Duke, issued a memorandum rescinding DACA and devising a plan to phase the program out over the next six months. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is no longer accepting new DACA applications and, with the exception of current DACA participants whose benefits will expire by March 5, 2018, and who apply for renewal under the program by October 5, 2017, DHS has pledged to reject all renewal requests. Because DACA participants are subject to strict identification and documentation requirements, the program’s rescission leaves them especially vulnerable to deportation.  This announcement threatens the health and safety of many Sonoma County families, including our 6000 DACA recipients, 4000 of whom are K-12 students.  

On January 11, 2016, the safety and well-being of our children and families was demonstrated through the adoption of a Safe Haven Resolution to serve as a safe haven school district for students and families threatened by immigration enforcement or discrimination.  

 The Board will receive an update on our district Equity Initiative.

The Santa Rosa City Schools Equity Initiative began in the Fall of 2014. Following the successful application to participate in the Tools for Tolerance for Educators professional development workshops at the Museum of Tolerance located in the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles the district began to send teams of stakeholders to the Museum in the Spring of 2015.  That spring approximately 230 of our stakeholders from the SRCS educational community participated. Custom designed data reviews during the two days were provided by Stephanie Graham Rivas (Educational Equity Facilitator).

In the Fall of 2015 we continued the professional development experiences with the Museum of Tolerance and added a second opportunity for our staff members: Unconscious Bias training provided by the California Teachers Association Office of Civil Rights facilitator Gail Watts and was brought to our community through a collaboration between the Santa Rosa Teachers Association and the district office. 

Both of these professional development opportunities as well as the other activities related to the Equity Initiative have provided and continue to provide profound and moving experiences for the attendees. At this time approximately 600 staff and community members have attended the Museum of Tolerance while over 500 staff have attended an Unconscious Bias workshop.

In 2016-17 school year a district equity team, The Equity Steering Committee was created. Twenty-three teachers, administrators, and staff worked closely with Stephanie Graham Rivas and Kikanza Nuri Robins (Educational Equity Facilitator), to learn how to address increasing awareness of and capacity for closing the achievement gap. 

In the 2017-18 school year the Museum of Tolerance professional development, as well as the Unconscious Bias workshops, will continue. The Equity Steering Committee has begun to explore Social Justice Standards and curriculum and how the lens of equity can be employed in our continuing work to close what we previously called the achievement gap and now recognize as an opportunity gap.

Raising the achievement of all students while narrowing the gaps between the highest and lowest performing students will occur when policy and practice ensure equitable treatment and access to opportunities, support for civil rights and an equitable allocation of resources.

Previous Board Activity:
October 28, 2015

The Museum of Tolerance Tools for Tolerance professional development is provided through a grant from the Museum of Tolerance. The grant pays for airfare, hotel, meals, and entrance to the Museum.  The CTA Unconscious Bias training is free. Substitute costs are paid through The School Climate Transformation grant and Supplemental funds.

At this time we have sent approximately 600 stakeholders to the Museum of Tolerance  and plan to send 60 more this Spring 2018.

Unconscious Bias workshops have been provided for over 500 staff since Fall 2015. This school year there are 10 Unconscious Bias workshops (Levels I, II and III) scheduled with a capacity of 30 participants each. 

All other funds are supported through the LCAP.

The Board will received an update on enrollment, staffing, and course enrollment.

This is an annual update.  Tracking site enrollment and course enrollment is a continuous process.  During the first month of school, it is important to ensure student and staff needs are addressed.   As we approach the time where students will be making course requests this data shows the next steps as we starting looking ahead.  We need to continue the discussion around how we ensure master schedules are driven by student need, we are maximizing existing staff and staffing at appropriate levels. 

The Board was presented with this update on September 14, 2016, November 18, 2015, and on September 24, 2014.

Fiscal information related to staffing will be discussed as part of the first interim report.

The Board will receive a summary of attendance data from the school year 2016-2017. There will be an update on the startup of the Project SAIL attendance grant and a brief summary of the Elevate Academy results from last year.

On June 28, 2017, the Board accepted the California Learning Communities for School Success Program Grant from the California Department of Education (CDE) that supports our current system to reduce chronic absenteeism in Santa Rosa City Schools. The presentation will provide information on the initial work of the grant, 2016-17 end of the year summary data of the district's attendance work, and the impact of Elevate Academy. The Board will be approving a resolution supporting September as Attendance Awareness month.

No general education fund impact due to CDE grant of $1,076,000.

These items are presented for informational purposes only.

Santa Rosa City Schools response to the Sonoma County Grand Jury Report: Elementary Truancy; A Tale of Two Cities . 

In June of 2017, the Sonoma County Grand Jury filed its report on the topic of student truancies in Sonoma County. Santa Rosa City Schools was asked to file a response to that report. Attached is a copy of the full report and the Santa Rosa City Schools' response.

Revision to Administrative Regulation 5116.1: Open Enrollment 

This revision to the existing Administrative Regulation 5116.1  adds an additional priority (as fifth) to the priorities given to resident families who are requesting a school that is not within their attendance boundary. The new language to the A.R. will allow a priority for students at a feeder middle school to stay with their current group of students dependent on space available at the high school. 

This revision came as a result of staff and family input during the first year process of centralized Open Enrollment by the Student And Family Engagement Office. This language will not apply to feeder patterns from elementary to middle schools due to the feeder patterns from elementary to the middle are mixed and split between schools.

This revision will be in effect for the pending Open Enrollment Window which begins October 1 through November 17, 2017, for placements in the school year 2018-2019.

Previous Board Action or Review

On June 24, 2015, the Board took action to consolidate Open Enrollment and Intra-district Transfer timelines.