(Education Code 54957.6) District Negotiator: Debra M. Hendricks and Sharon Roddick
 Employee Organizations: (Sylvan Educators Association; California School Employees Association, Chapter 73; and Unrepresented)

(Education Code 54957, Education Code 44951)

Title: Administrative Assignments

(Education Code 54957) 

The Stanislaus County Office of Education offers a number of services to area school districts.  As a result, those districts have the opportunity to contract for these services annually.  For the 2018-2019 year, the Sylvan Union School District is requesting services for media streaming, mail delivery, internet services, information technology (human resources and business services programs), audiological services and teacher and administrator induction. 

Attached is the agreement with projected costs for the specified services needed in 2018-2019.  Also provided is a comparison of these costs for prior years.  Actual cost for the audiological services is determined by the number of students screened, which is available at the end of the school year. Teacher and administrator induction fees are charged in December based on the actual number of teachers enrolled in the program.

The district is no longer purchasing web filtering services.  The services are proved by an alternative vendor, Board approved at the beginning of the 2017-18 fiscal year.

All costs are as follows: 

Staff recommends the approval of the 2018-2019 Master Agreement with the Stanislaus County Office of Education for the following services; media streaming, mail delivery, internet services, information technology services (business services), audiological services, teacher, and administrator induction.

The Board of Trustees to approve the 2018-2019 Master Agreement with the Stanislaus County Office of Education for various services. 

$299,552.50

The Board of Trustees to review and approve the 2017-2018 Comprehensive School Safety Plan for all schools in the Sylvan Union School District per Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 0450.  The Safety Plans have always been presented to the Board for approval at this time annually.  With a regular Board Meeting not scheduled until April 17, 2018, the Safety Plans are being brought to the Board at this Special Board Meeting.

The Board of Trustees to review and approve the 2017-2018 Comprehensive School Safety Plans for all schools in the Sylvan Union School District per Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 0450.

Each site has submitted an updated Comprehensive School Safety Plan for the Board of Trustees to review and approve.  Regular drills are conducted at sites with revisions made from information gathered in these drills.  Staff also participates and contributes to trainings held on school safety.  

It is recommended the Board of Trustees approve the Comprehensive School Safety Plans per Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 0450.

On December 5, 2017, the Board of Trustees approved a contract with Solution Tree, Inc. for the purposes of providing classroom teachers in Grades K-3, Elementary Resource Teachers, Elementary Mild/Moderate teachers, Elementary ELD/Literacy Specialists, District Instructional Coaches, and Elementary Administrators with professional learning regarding the skills, practices, and creation of literacy-rich environments that are key to implementing effective literacy instruction.  Beginning in January 2017, Dr. Kimberly Tyson, professor, author, and Solution Tree consultant, began hosting one-day workshops for grade level bands, focusing on three (3) areas of the ELA/ELD Framework - foundational skills, language development, and meaning making.

Because Dr. Tyson’s work with our grade level teams has been foundational in providing a district-wide lens through which to view best practices in teaching reading, we would like to extend her current work with our District to include an additional four (4) days of professional learning, specifically for classroom teachers in grades 4 and 5.  Our intermediate elementary teachers will benefit from a deep understanding of the why, what, and how to implement effective literacy practices.  Furthermore, teachers in grades 4 and 5 are in their second year of implementation of the newly adopted ELA/ELD Curriculum, Benchmark Advance, and will also benefit from the opportunity to learn how to more effectively implement program components that align to a balanced literacy framework.  The unique strengths and challenges for teaching reading within the context of intermediate classrooms will be considered and addressed during the workshops.

Given our focus on ensuring reading proficiency and closing achievement gaps, professional learning in the area of reading/literacy is a priority.  Consultant fees as outlined in the Solution Tree contract will be paid for with General Fund monies that have been earmarked for professional learning, outlined in the 2017-18 budget, and approved by the Board of Trustees on April 11, 2017.

Staff recommends the Board of Trustees approve the purchase agreement with Solution Tree for onsite professional development services delivered on April 5 and 19, 2018, and May 3 and 8, 2018.

Total General Fund: $26,000