The Presiding Officer will call the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. before the Board Recesses to Closed Session.  The Regular Meeting will convene by 7:00 p.m. 

Persons wishing to address the Board should fill out a green speaker card.  Cards turned in by 5:15 p.m. will be given priority. Speakers will be randomly selected based on topic and position, with BUSD students generally given priority. Public Testimony is limited to 15 minutes with a 3-minute limit per speaker per topic although the time allotted per speaker may be reduced to 2 minutes at the discretion of the President. 

The Board may recess into Closed Session before or after the public meeting under the authority of the Brown Act (including but not limited to Government Code section 54954.5, 54956.8, 54956.9, 54957, 54957.6, as well as Education Code section 35146).  Under Government Code section 54954.3, members of the public may address the board on an item on the Closed Session agenda, before Closed Session.

1.  Call to Order
The Presiding Officer will call the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. The Regular Meeting will convene by 7:00p.m. 
2.  Closed Session Public Testimony
Persons wishing to address the Board on a matter related to an item on the closed session agenda should fill out a green speaker card. Cards 
turned in by 5:15 p.m. will be given priority. Public Testimony is limited to 15 minutes with a 3-minute limit per speaker per topic, although the time allotted per speaker may be reduced to 2 minutes at the discretion of the President. 

3.  Closed Session
The Board may recess into Closed Session before or after the public meeting under the authority of the Brown Act (including but not limited to Government Code sections 54954.5, 54956.8, 54956.9, 54957, 54957.6, as well as 35146) Under Government Code section 54954.3, members of the public may address the board on an item on the Closed Session agenda. 

3.1 Consideration of Student Expulsion (Ed. Code Section 48919(c))
3.1.1 1617-07-040203 
3.1.2 1617-15-101804
3.1.3 1617-08-101803
3.1.4 1617-05-042800
3.1.5 1617-09-121302
3.1.6 1617-10-121302
3.2 Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release (Government Code Section 54957) 
3.3 Public Employee Appointment (Government Code Section 54957)
3.3.1 Certificated Site Administrator
3.3.2 Compliance Officer Title IX Coordinator

4. Call to Order - 7:00PM

5. Approve Regular Meeting Agenda of February 8, 2017

6. Report on Closed Session

7. Open Session Public Testimony (1st Opportunity)
Persons wishing to address the Board should fill out a green speaker card. Cards turned in by 7:15 p.m. will be given priority.  Public Testimony is strictly limited to 30 minutes with a 3-minute limit per speaker per topic, although the time allotted per speaker may be reduced to 2 minutes at the discretion of the President. 
8.  Union Comments
Representatives from each union are given the opportunity to address the Board on any issue for five minutes per union.

Unions
Berkeley Federation of Teachers (BFT)
Berkeley Council of Classified Employees (BCCE)
Union of Berkeley Administrators (UBA)
Local 21

9.  Committee Comments
Representatives from District committees that include members of the public are given the opportunity to address the Board for five minutes, so long as the representative speaking has specifically delegated by the committee to speak on behalf of the committee. 

10.  Board Member and Superintendent Comments
       Board members and the Superintendent are given the opportunity to address  
       any issue.

11.  Consent Calendar
11.1 Approval of Human Resources Reports
11.2 Approval of Overnight and Out-of-State Field Trip Requests
11.3 Approval of Out-of-State Travel Requests
11.4 Approval of Partnership with DESMOS for the Development of Digital Mathematics Activities
11.5 Approval of New Textbook Adoption for BHS Photography
11.6 Approval of Contracts/Purchase Orders for Services Contracts 
11.7 Acceptance of Gifts/Donations 
11.8 Skills USA STEM Academy: National Society of Black Engineers and Hispanic Engineering Chapters Program City of Berkeley FY2018-FY2019 Application
11.9 Resolution No. 17-053 Proclaiming February 2017 as African American History Month
11.10 Approval of Board of Education Meeting Minutes for January 25, 2017

12. Action Items
12.1 Public Hearing (8:00 p.m.), Approval of Developer Fees Justification Study and Approval of Resolution 17-043 for the Adoption of School Facilities Fees

13. Discussion Items
13.1 Response to Intervention (RTI) Update

14. Information Items
14.1 Board Bylaw 9322: Agenda/Meeting Materials—First Reading
14.2 Independent Audit Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2016

15. Open Session Public Testimony (2nd Opportunity)
Persons wishing to address the Board should fill out a green speaker card. Cards turned in for the earlier open session public testimony will be given priority.  Speakers will be randomly selected based on topic and position, with BUSD students generally given priority.  Public Testimony is limited to 15 minutes with a 3-minute limit per speaker per topic although the time allotted per speaker may be reduced to 2 minutes at the discretion of the President.

16. Extended Board Member and Superintendent Comments
Board members and the Superintendent are given the opportunity to address any issue.

17. Adjournment

Persons wishing to address the Board should fill out a green speaker card.  Cards turned in by 6:45 p.m. will be given priority.        

Speakers will be randomly selected based on topic and position, with BUSD students generally given priority.  Public Testimony is limited to 30 minutes with a 3-minute limit per speaker per topic although the time allotted per speaker may be reduced to 2 minutes at the discretion of the President. 

Board members and the Superintendent are given the opportunity to address any issue.  

BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 

TO:    Donald Evans, Ed.D., Superintendent
FROM:    Evelyn Tamondong-Bradley, Assistant Superintendent, HR
DATE:      February 8, 2017
SUBJECT: Approval of Human Resources Reports

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On a regular basis, staff presents Human Resources Reports listing employment actions for the Board to approve officially. Please refer to attached reports for details.

     BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

TO:             Donald Evans, Ed.D., Superintendent
FROM:        Pasquale Scuderi, Assistant Superintendent, Ed. Services
DATE:         February 8, 2017
SUBJECT:   Overnight and Out-of-State Field Trip Requests

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The following overnight and out-of-state field trips are being requested:

Mingus Jazz Festival, New York, NY, February 17-20, 2017
Approve participation of five students in combo A, one teacher, and four adults from Berkeley High School’s Combo A class, on a four-day, three-night field trip to the Mingus Jazz Festival at the Manhattan School of Music. Students, staff and parents will depart San Francisco International Airport at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17th for a direct flight to Newark, NJ.  Students, staff and parents will return to San Francisco International Airport on Monday, February 20, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. Combo classes play music composed and arranged by students. Students will stay in supervised, gender specific rooms at Hotel Aloft Harlem in New York. The total cost of the trip is $10,000.00 and is being paid with BHS Jazz Association funds and the parents. No student will be denied access based on inability to pay. Requested by: Erin Schweng, BHS Interim-Principal

Camp Arroyo (YMCA), Livermore, CA, March 13-15, 2017
Approve participation of 54 fourth-grade students, two teachers, and six adults from Jefferson Elementary School, on a three-day, two-night field trip to Camp Arroyo in Livermore, CA. The group will depart from Jefferson on Wednesday, March 13^th at 10:00 a.m. and return Friday, March 15th, at 2:00 p.m. Through a series of hands-on activities, students will increase their understanding of and respect for ecology and the environment. Activities will support the Life and Physical Science curriculum. Students will sleep in gender specific cabins. BUSD will provide transportation.  The total cost of $8,000.00 is being paid by fundraising, grants, PTA and parent donations. No student will be denied access based on inability to pay. Requested: Mary Cazden, Jefferson Principal.

Sierra Outdoor School, Sonora, CA, May 11-12, 2017
Approve participation of 44 third and fourth grade students, three teachers, and eight adults from LeConte Elementary School on a two-day, one-night field trip to the Sierra Outdoor School in Sonora, CA.  The group will depart LeConte at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 11th, and return on Friday, May 12th at 4:30 p.m. BUSD will provide transportation. Students will learn about the historic significance of the gold rush and its effect upon the environment.  Students will be housed in gender specific dorms.  The cost of $175 per student is being paid by the LeConte PTA funds and parent donations. No student will be denied access based on inability to pay. Requested by: Veronica Valerio, LeConte Principal.

POLICY/CODE:
Education Code 35330
Board Policy 6153

FISCAL IMPACT:
As indicated above.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the out of state travel and overnight field trips consistent with the District Policies and instructional programs.

     BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

TO:             Donald Evans, Ed.D., Superintendent
FROM:        Pasquale Scuderi, Assistant Superintendent, Ed. Services
DATE:         February 8, 2017
SUBJECT:   Approval of Out-of-State Travel Requests

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The following out of state travel requests are being made:

International Baccalaureate Workshop, Charleston, SC, Feb. 17-20, 2017
Approval for Berkeley International High School’s request for I.B. teacher Tosca Necoechea to travel to Charleston, SC to receive IB training in Language B Spanish, Category 2 Training Certification. The four-day, three-night conference training is necessary to provide a comprehensive and complete program for students in the BIHS program. The training will be held at the Embassy Suites Convention Center in North Charleston, SC. Not all subjects are offered in California, and this necessitates out of state travel for the professional training. Registration, transportation, lodging and meals for this training will be paid with BHS site funds. Erin Schweng, Interim BHS Principal.

The Boomerang Project, Stevenson, WA, March 8-12, 2017
Approve participation of John Villavicencio, BHS Student Activities Coordinator, to attend the Link Crew Basic Training-Advanced Course through the Boomerang Project in Stevenson, WA. Link Crew is a high school transition program that welcomes freshmen and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their high school experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, Boomerang Project’s proven high school transition program trains mentors from your junior and senior classes to be Link Crew Leaders. As positive role models, Link Crew Leaders are mentors and student leaders who guide the freshmen to discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to high school and help facilitate freshman success. Requested by: Erin Schweng, Interim BHS Principal.

International Baccalaureate Workshop, New York, NY, March 28-30, 2017
Approval for Berkeley International High School I.B. administrator Shannon Fierro to travel to New York, NY to receive specific IB Administration training.  The three-day, two-night conference training is necessary to provide a comprehensive and complete program for students in the BIHS program.  Not all subjects are offered in California, which necessitated out of state travel for the professional training. Registration, transportation, lodging and meals for this training were paid with BHS Site Funds. Requested by: Erin Schweng, Interim BHS Principal.

POLICY/CODE:
Education Code 35330
Board Policy 6153

FISCAL IMPACT:
As indicated above.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the out of state travel and overnight field trips consistent with the District Policies and instructional programs.

BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 

TO:             Donald Evans, Ed.D., Superintendent
FROM:        Pasquale Scuderi, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services
DATE:         February 8, 2017
SUBJECT:   Partnership with DESMOS for the Development of Digital Mathematics Activities

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The following curriculum integration and software pilot is requested.  See attached document for more information.

Developing and piloting curriculum which integrates Desmos software with 8^th grade Engage NY
Desmos will work collaboratively with Allison Krasnow  and Ryan Keeley 6-8^th grade math coach to develop a tool to enable Berkeley’s 8^th grade math teachers to use digital mathematics activities that are aligned with their current curriculum.   In Spring 2017, Desmos will develop the curriculum.  In Summer 2017, Desmos will pay for 4 8^th grade math teachers to attend a summer PD workshop.  Desmos will allow up to 60 BUSD math teachers to attend the PD, at the district’s expense.  The PD will be held concurrently with the Instructional Technology Department’s Annual 3-day Institute on August 16-18, so funds are already allocated to pay teachers’ stipends to attend.  In Fall 2017-Spring 2018, a minimum of 4 8^th grade math teachers will pilot the software once a week with support and coaching from the Desmos math coaches.  Requested by Allison Krasnow, Instructional Technology Coordinator

POLICY/CODE:
Education Code
Board Policy

FISCAL IMPACT:
As indicated above.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the software pilot consistent with the District Policies and instructional programs. 

BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

TO:              Dr. Donald Evans, Superintendent
FROM:          Pasquale Scuderi, Assistant Superintendent Educational Services
DATE:           February 8, 2017
SUBJECT:     Approval of New Textbook Adoption for BHS Photography 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The following photography textbook was presented to the Board on January 25, 2017 for consideration and is now being recommended for adoption: The Digital Photography Complete Course, published by Dorling Kindersley.

Description: The Digital Photography Complete Course, published by Dorling Kindersley,  is the latest version of the renowned textbook used by many school districts and universities to teach photography. The sturdy hard-cover edition should last for many years as a classroom set of 35 copies. Crammed with helpful color illustrations, this book is an excellent resource for the teacher who has large classes with students at different levels. "Challenged" readers will become engaged by this textbook’s great visuals and color images as they to understand the complexities of digital photography. 

Digital Photography Complete Course will help students build their photography skills step-by-step, with an independent photography course that guides students through every aspect of digital photography.  Digital Photography Complete Course uses a combination of tutorials, step-by-step demonstrations, practical assignments, and Q&As to help you understand and use your camera to the max. With the aid of helpful text and innovative graphics in Digital Photography Complete Course, students can explore a wide range of genres: Find out how to create landscapes, still-lifes, portraits, and action shots as you discover the full range of their camera and learn how to take professional-looking pictures.

Additional Details:

• ISBN #: 9781465436078
• Dorling Kindersley New Accounts Phone # 866-761-6685
• Format: Hard-cover
• Textbook Link: https://www.dk.com/us/9781465436078-digital-photography-complete-course/

POLICY/CODE:
Board Policy 6161.1
Ed Code 60400

FISCAL IMPACT:
$35/ times 35 copies = $1225.00 (less anticipated educational sales 25% discount) = $918.75

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the new textbooks for BHS.

BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

TO:             Donald Evans, Ed. D., Superintendent
FROM:        Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent
DATE:        February 8, 2017
SUBJECT:  Approval of Contracts/Purchase Orders for Services Contracts

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The District contracts with consultants or independent contractors who can provide valuable and necessary specialized services not normally required on a continuing basis. The following contract services are requested. Expenditures are within budget.

1. Bay Area Community Resources, to provide staffing to manage the Willard Greening Project at Willard Middle School for the period from 9/6/16-6/16/17. The cost will not exceed $28,000. To be paid from BSEP School Discretionary Fund. Requested by Natasha Beery.
2. Pacheco Brothers Gardening, Inc., to provide infield maintenance of district baseball fields for the 2016-17 SY. The cost will not exceed $15,925. To be paid from Measure H.  Requested by Steve Collins.
3. Increase in contract, PO 171545, to Hazardous Management Services, Inc. to provide hazardous materials testing and monitoring for Malcolm X Building Exterior Rehabilitation Project.  The Board approved $25,000 on 10/22/14 and an increase of $20,000 on 10/5/16.  The additional contract amount will increase the cost by $20,000 for a total amount of $65,000.  To be paid from Measure I.  Requested by Timothy White.
4. Increase in contract, PO 170122, to Comcast, Inc, to provide Wide Area Net services and data transport of internet traffic to the Alameda County Office of Education. The Board approved $56,800 on 6/29/16. The additional amount will increase the cost by $12,764 for a total amount of $69,564. To be paid from General Fund. Requested by Jay Nitschke.
5. Regents of the University of California, to provide after school tutoring to Elementary School Sites for the period from 1/31/17-6/16/17. The cost will not exceed $25,000. To be paid from After School Program Fund. Requested by Aaron Jorgensen.
6. DMMSI,  to provide STEM course & Work-Based Internship at Berkeley Technical Academy for the period from 2/9/17-6/17/17. The cost will not exceed $32,028. To be paid from ACOE CPT2 Grant Funds. Requested by Ardarius McDonald.
   
   

POLICY/CODE:
Public Contract Code: 20111
Board Policy 3310 

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the contracts with Consultants or Independent Contractors as submitted.

BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 

TO:                 Donald Evans, Ed.D., Superintendent
FROM:           Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent
DATE:            February 8, 2017
SUBJECT:     Acceptance of Gifts/Donations

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Board may accept and utilize on behalf of the District gifts of money or property for a purpose deemed to be suited by the Board. The following donations have been presented to the District:

1. Parents donated a combined total of $11,417.00 for the 5^th Grade field trip. Cherie L. Green donated $740, Esther M. Park , Jason Anderson & Kathleen Mortier , Ana V. Bellomo & Joshua S. Bloom, Chris Minnich & Marca Clark, and Caroline Johnston & Adrian Martin  donated $500 each;  Shari M. Huhndorf donated $470; Hung Q. Ngo & Camly N. Bui, Barry Cowan, Tiffany J. Wheat and  Gabrielle Winer & Terri A. Fashing donated $400 each; Ignacio Rey-Stolle Prado & Maria Carmen Martinez Gutierrez, Suzanne Alberga & Jeremy Alberga, Oyrun Eskiyenenturk & Bilge Ozaydin, Bruce Nordman & Teresa M. Provenzano, Ziru Li & Yan N. Li , Sarah R. Jackson & Eric Silverberg, Isabella Polenghi-Gross & Edward S. Gross,  Megan Micco, Jennifer Sakr & Tamer Sakr, Lois Stanberry Jones donated $370 each; Michael Silver,Sharla J. Sullivan & Nathan P. Hood Ginee Seo, Edward J. Schocker & Tomoko Schocker , Rita Gaber & Matthew Gaber, David Mulvey donated $185 each; Paris J Warr donated $175;Diane Bell Thomas joanne Marie Taylor & David Maxwell Taylor, Dona Russell and Anonymous donated $93 each; Cherie Hill donated $50; and Christine M Harkin donated $200 to finance the 5^th grade outdoor field trip for Berkeley Arts Magnet Elementary School.
2. Parents donated a combined total of $3,358.00 to support 5^th graders outdoor education trip for Berkeley Arts Magnet School.
3. Berkeley Public Schools Fund donated $1,164.75 for the purchase of Chromebook for Linda Roach’s TK/K students.
4. Willard PTA donated $2,059.97 for Josh Chisrch Athletic Director.
5. Berkeley Public School Fund donated $3,200.00 to pay professional music coaches for Berkeley High School.
6. Berkeley Public School Fund donated $2,000.00 for the Assistive Technology Grant for pilot assistive technology at 3 middle schools. (Special Education)
7. Strawberry Creek meeting of the Religious Society of Friends donated $1,500.00 to Berkeley Technical Academy (BTA).
8. AT&T/Your Cause donated $40.00 to the principal’s discretionary fund for Thousand Oaks.
9. Shauna Sadowski donated $5,000.00 to the PTA for contracts/MOUs’ for Thousand Oaks.
10. Dorian Photography donated $363.72 to the principal’s discretionary fund for Oxford.
11. PGE donated $300.00 for school supplies for Cragmont.
12. Malcom X PTA donated $3,000.00 to office depot PO# 170248 (instructional materials).
13. Lowe’s donated $2,305 for food, materials for Cragmont.
14. Berkeley public school fund donated $1,080 for 2^nd Jr. Drumming Teacher for Cragmont.
15. PTA donated $720.00 for 2^nd grade drumming teacher for Cragmont.
16. Your Cause, LLC Trustee for Pacific Gas and Electric donated $700.00 to the principals discretionary fund for Malcolm X.
17. Adobe donated $126.00 to the principal’s discretionary fund for Malcolm X.
18. Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign donated $750.00 to the principal’s discretionary fund for Malcolm X.
19. Dorian donated $8.30 to principal’s discretionary fund for Malcolm X.
20. Gardner H. Fair and Naomi A. Fair donated $50.00 to Rosa Parks
21. DoTopia/Wells Fargo matching gifts donated $969.25 and $830.78 to Rosa Parks.
22. Kaiser/ Genentech, Benevity Community Impact Fund donated $1,480.00 to Rosa Parks.
23. Target Field Trips Grants Program Ricio Guzman scholarship donated $700.00 to LeConte.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Accept  the donations to the District and request staff to extend letters of appreciation. 

POLICY/CODE:
BP 3290

FISCAL IMPACT: 
The District received a total of $43,122.77 in donations.

BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 

TO: Donald Evans, Ed.D., Superintendent
FROM: Pasquale Scuderi, Assistant Superintendent Wyn Skeels, CTE Program Supervisor
DATE: February 8, 2017
SUBJECT: Grant Application: City of Berkeley Support Skills USA STEM Academy: National Society of   Black Engineers and Hispanic Engineering Chapters Program City of Berkeley FY2018 – FY2019 Application

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
BUSD's Career and Technical Education Program is seeking grant funding from the City of Berkeley to support our work on the Skills USA STEM Academy, a developing partnership with the National Society of Black Engineers and the Hispanic Engineering Chapter. This partnership will seek to engage Berkeley High School students in active leadership training to stimulate interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (STEM).

“[NSBE’s] programs provide activities to help students discover first hand how engineering and technology relate to the world around them and discover the excitement of academic excellence, leadership, technical development and teamwork.”

The Berkeley High School NSBE Jr. and Hispanic Engineering Chapters created through this partnership will encourage, develop, and support student’s awareness and learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These chapters will introduce students to the vast array of fields of study through hands on projects and field trips. Additionally, each student member is exposed to professionals, organizations, colleges, and peers focused in and on STEM careers and education. These chapters also foster mentorship opportunities and parent involvement to further a whole child approach to STEM education.

Consistent with the 2020 Vision Initiative for Berkeley’s Children and Youth, this program would join a list of programs that include the BHS Bridge Program, RISE, Cooking and Gardening, and others, as another student-centered partnership between BUSD and the City of Berkeley.

The CTE program has applied for a grant for SY 2017 -2018 in the amount of $120,000 which will support partial FTE, stipends, study trips, professional learning, and materials.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Allow staff to proceed with the grant application.

FISCAL IMPACT:
Receive $120,000 in City of Berkeley Funding

BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

TO:        Board of Education
FROM:           Donald Evans, Ed. D., Superintendent
DATE:          February 8, 2017
SUBJECT:     Resolution No. 17-053 Proclaiming February 2017 as African American History Month

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: 
The Berkeley Unified School District has a tradition of commemorating Black History Month in February of each year. African Americans have a history of outstanding accomplishments in every field of human endeavor from literature and art to science, industry, education, diplomacy, athletics and jurisprudence. It is important that our students learn of the people and events that enrich African American history.

POLICY/CODE:
None

FISCAL IMPACT:
None

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution No. 17-053 Proclaiming February 2017 as African American History Month.

BERKELEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

President Alper called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. He reported that the Board convened to closed session at 6:00 pm. 

Roll Call
Board of Education:
Ty Alper, President – Present,
Josh Daniels, Vice President – Present
Beatriz Leyva-Cutler, Director/Clerk – Present
Karen Hemphill, Director – Present
Judy Appel, Director -- Present
Petra Silvey, Student Director, BHS – Present
Alaunte Keys, Student Director, BTA – Absent

Administration:
Donald E. Evans, Ed. D, Superintendent
Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent
Pasquale Scuderi, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services
Evelyn Tamondong-Bradley, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources
Lyz Chairez, Recorder

REPORT CLOSED SESSION
President Alper reported out on closed session:

Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release (Government Code Section 54957)
The Board discussed this matter and gave direction to staff; no action was taken. 

OPEN SESSION

APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING AGENDA

At the request of President Alper, consent items 11.7 and 11.3 were pulled for action and 12.3 will precede discussion items. 

Motion to approve agenda as amended:
Leyva-Cutler/Silvey and unanimously approved 6-0.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY
A total of two people addressed the Board:

Two people commented on the leadership at BHS.

COMMITTEE COMMENTS

The PTA Council thanked President Alper and commented on BHS leadership. 

BOARD MEMBER AND SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS 

Director Leyva-Cutler announced that she will be participating on a panel to discuss teacher shortage.

Director Hemphill will hold office hours this Saturday at Café Leila at 10:30am. She congratulated the students who were recognized at the Annual MLK Breakfast. She reported that a 2x2 committee meeting took place on January 19 and they addressed parking for our teachers.

Director Appel thanked Director Hemphill for her help in organizing the MLK breakfast. She added that at the 2x2 meeting they also discussed a collaboration with the city on a resolution for a sanctuary city. The Mayor will be forming a taskforce to begin the work. She will hold office hours with Director Hemphill.

Vice President Daniels will announce his office hours in February.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Motion to approve the Consent Calendar:
Daniels/Appel and unanimously approved 6-0.

DISCUSSION ITEMS 

Governor’s January Budget Update
Allotted time: 20 min
Actual time: 26 min 

Deputy Superintendent Cleveland presented the Governor’s January budget update and its impact on K-12 education. She reported that State revenues are lower than expected and will be reflected in our LCFF funding and overall multi-year projections. Questions and discussion followed.

Berkeley High School Redesign
Allotted time: 25 min
Actual time: 39 min 

Assistant Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi explained that this is an opportunity for the redesign team to solicit additional information the Board may need ahead of time before the special meeting on Feb 15. Board members took turns asking their questions, which represented the information they needed to know in order to be able to state their level of support for the redesign plan at the Feb. 15 meeting. The redesign team will respond to the questions by Feb. 8 and will make the responses available to the public at the same time they are made available to the Board. 

Middle School English Language Arts Curriculum Adoption Update
Allotted time: 20 min
Actual time: 26 min

Director of K-8 Schools Maggie Riddle and Professional Development Coordinator Michelle Sinclair introduced the process by which the District was considering middle school English Language Arts curricula. The goal is to have the piloting teachers share their experience with and analysis of the curriculum before submitting a final recommendation to the Board. Questions and discussion followed.

ACTION ITEMS

Notice of Violation REALM Charter School
Allotted time: 15 min
Actual time: 10 min

Deputy Superintendent Cleveland reported that REALM has not met the conditions set by the School Board. REALM has requested for an opportunity to provide a plan for remedy by June. If the remedy fails to meet BUSDs satisfaction, the Board will have to hold a public hearing with the intent to revoke the charter. The Deputy Superintendent will be meeting with REALM next week. Questions and discussion followed.  

Motion to approve the issuance of Notice of Violation to REALM Charter School:
Daniels/Appel and approved unanimously 5-0 

2017 Nomination to the California School Boards Delegate Assembly

Motion to approve the nomination of Director Beatriz Leyva-Cutler as a delegate to the California School Boards Delegate Assembly:

Alper/Hemphill and unanimously approved 5-0.

Approval to Change Student Information Systems from Powerschool to Illuminate

Daniels explained that there are some expectations to invest in educating families on new system. He asked the Superintendent if he had a recommendation to direct one time funds to support outreach and training for families.

The Superintendent responded that the amount would not exceed $3,000.

Motion to approve transition from Powerschool to Illuminate with direction that staff include in 2017-18 Budget Priorities a request of the funds necessary to educate families:
Alper/Daniels and unanimously approved 5-0. 

Resolution 17-050 Reaffirming Our Commitment to the Education of All Children and Making all BUSD Campuses a Safe Zone for Students and Families Threatened by Immigration Enforcement

Alper suggested replacing the last paragraph listing the various forms of discrimination the District opposes with a reference to BUSD’s non-discrimination policy.  

Motion to adopt Resolution 17-050 as amended:
Alper/Appel and unanimously approved 5-0. 

ADJOURNMENT
President Alper adjourned open session at 9:57 p.m.

BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

TO:             Donald Evans, Ed.D., Superintendent
FROM:        Timothy White, Executive Director of Facilities
DATE:        February 8, 2017
SUBJECT: Approval of Developer Fee Justification Study and approval of Resolution #17-051 for Adoption of School Facilities Fees

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Berkeley Unified School District has a strong program to build and renovate its facilities to meet the challenges of educating our students.  Ongoing development in the city continues to impact the district’s facilities.  In order to meet these challenges, the  Board of Education approved the preparation of the development fee study to address impacts on the District’s facilities.  The study is attached and has been reviewed by staff for consideration by the Board. 

The District has not collected Developer Fees in the past.  In order to approve and impose developer fees, the Board must hold a public hearing no earlier than ten (10) days following making the fee study available to the public for review.  The public hearing was held on February 8, 2017.  The fee study justifies fees in an amount higher that the current state-approved amount of $3.48 per square foot for residential.  However, the District is limited to imposing the state-approved developer fee rate.  The fee study also justifies imposition of $0.56 per square foot for commercial/industrial space.  

At previous board meetings, Staff  have discussed and reviewed issues related to the collection of developer fees and any potential impacts to in-process development. As noted in the attached resolution, the  implementation of the fee will be in sixty (60) days after approval by the Board.  It should also be noted that the collection of fees will be at the time of submission for Building Permit (after Zoning approval), so that any project which has a complete application for Building Permit in process at the City of Berkeley will not be affected by the new fees.  Finally, staff will be working closely with City of Berkeley staff to set up simple processes for collection of developer fees.  

FISCAL IMPACT:
Potential additional funds available for facilities projects, total impact not know at this time. Fund 25, Developer Fee Fund

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve the “School Facility Fee Justification Report for Residential, Commercial and Industrial Development Project for the Berkeley Unified School District,” dated September 2016, and approve Resolution #17-051, Adoption of School Facilities Fees.

BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 

TO: Donald Evans, Ed. D., Superintendent
FROM: Pasquale Scuderi, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services
Maggie Riddle, Director of K-8 Schools
DATE:    February 8, 2017
SUBJECT:     Update on Response to Intervention (RTI) Processes in Berkeley Schools

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: 
With allocations of resources from the Berkeley School’s Excellence Program (BSEP) as well as through funds provided by the District’s Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), BUSD’s investments in Response to Intervention (RTI) processes have become central to our efforts to systematize  academic and behavioral supports and safeguards for students across our schools.

BUSD currently invests approximately $970,000 annually in RTI positions with each K-5 school receiving between .4 to .6 FTE in RTI coordination staffing, and at the district level a .6 for district-wide coordination is also funded. The District also supports a total of 2.2 FTE in RTI staffing at the middle school level. All of these allocations currently come from supplemental funds provided by the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tiered approach to the early identification and support of students with learning and behavior needs. Though there is not a singular and widely practiced “model” of the RTI process, it is generally defined as a three-tier (or three-step) model of school supports that uses research-based academic and/or behavioral interventions. Those three tiers are summarized as follows:

• Tier 1: High-Quality Classroom Instruction, Screening, and Group Interventions

• Tier 2: Targeted Interventions

• Tier 3: Intensive Interventions and Comprehensive Evaluation

Tier 1: High Quality Instruction

In Tier 1, all students receive high-quality instruction provided by qualified personnel to ensure that their difficulties are not due to inadequate instruction. Students are monitored regularly and collaboratively in this process and students not showing adequate progress are then moved to Tier 2.

Tier 2: Targeted Interventions

Students not making adequate progress in the regular classroom in Tier 1 are provided with increasingly intensive instruction matched to their needs on the basis of levels of performance and rates of progress. Intensity varies across group size, frequency and duration of intervention, and level of training of the professionals providing instruction or intervention. These services and interventions are provided in small-group settings in addition to instruction in the general curriculum. Students who continue to show too little progress at this level of intervention are then considered for more intensive interventions as part of Tier 3.

Tier 3: Intensive Interventions and Comprehensive Evaluation

At this level, students receive individualized, intensive interventions that target the students’ skill deficits. Students who do not achieve the desired level of progress in response to these targeted interventions may then be then referred for a comprehensive evaluation and considered for even more individualized supports including assessment for eligibility for special education services.

K-5 Response to Intervention

RTI positions at K-5 schools have evolved into key lead positions  on each site’s coordination of services team. These teams, which include the principal as well as a variety of instructional staff and support specialists, meet weekly to review student progress and developments for new or previously identified students. These teams subsequently either initiate new supports or ensure that previously assigned supports are being sustained or modified depending on both the level of intensity and the specific dimensions of an individual student’s need.

RTI at Middle School

Recently added positions to the middle school are developing and integrating into the middle school student support efforts. Along with additions to support staffing through LCAP in Restorative Practices counseling and substance abuse counseling from partnering agencies, these relatively new RTI resources continue to evolve and integrate into a more coordinated student support effort schoolwide under our principals.

RTI at High School

While BHS has not explicitly used the term/acronym RTI in its student support work, its global efforts over the past several years reflect the central structural understanding of the RTI process itself. Both whole school and individual learning community curriculum planning over the past several years reflect deepening efforts to ensure that Tier 1 high quality instruction is universal. Through the use of academic language frameworks and professional learning in the area of culturally responsive lesson design, administrators and teacher leadership efforts have centered on the broad premise that all curriculum in all subject areas should be accessible and engaging for all students.

In Tier 2 the student support/intervention team along with the professional learning communities within each learning community also create space to review and discuss student progress as well as to refine or initiate specific supports for individual students or small groups of students.

Current proposals for the redesign of the 9th grade program at BHS would embed an RTI process into the structure of each house with every 120 9th grade students receiving regular progress monitoring and support from a core group of 4 certificated teachers.

Overall

In summary, staff believes the wider evolution of and investment in the RTI process over the last few years has played a crucial role in the development and coordination of support teams at our schools.  While some local variances in support team models and structure are still being examined, generally, staff believes the consistent monitoring of student progress and accompanying allocations of specific academic or social/emotional supports has contributed in no small part to some of the key growth areas recently reviewed by the Superintendent at his January State of the District presentation. Those areas include:

• 7% Growth in Third Grade Reading (SBA)

• 13% Growth in English Language Proficiency

• 14% Growth in meeting UC / CSU Requirements for high school students

• Reductions in Chronic Absenteeism:

• reduced 8% overall

• reduced 17% for African American Students

• Reduction in Suspensions

• reduced from 113 to 56 at Berkeley High School

• reduction for African American students from 62 to 29

BUSD currently invests approximately $970,000 annually in RTI positions with each K-5 school receiving .4 to .6 FTE in RTI coordination staffing, and a .6 for district-wide coordination. The District also supports a total of 2.2 FTE at the middle school level. All of these allocations currently come from supplemental funds provided by the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).

BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

TO:               Donald Evans, Ed. D., Superintendent
FROM:           Javetta Cleveland, Deputy Superintendent  
DATE:           February 8, 2017     
SUBJECT:      Independent Audit Report for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2016

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The District’s annual Independent Audit for the Fiscal Year 2015-16 has been completed. The audit is now being presented to the Board for review under separate cover.  Copies are available for public review in Superintendent’s office. 

The District received an unqualified opinion on its financial statements.  An unqualified opinion from our auditor indicates that the District financial statements for year ended June 30, 2016, present fairly (are fairly stated) in all material respects, its financial position in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.  Therefore, the Auditor noted no material financial, accounting errors.  There were not audit findings for state compliance or student body funds.

POLICY/CODE:
Education Code Section 14500, 14502, and 14504 et seq

FISCAL IMPACT:
None

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Review and accept the Audit Report and Financial Statements as presented by Crowe Horwath LLP.

 BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

TO:    Board of Education 
FROM:    Policy Subcommittee
DATE:     February 8, 2017
SUBJECT:    First reading of revision to BB 9322

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On January 30, 2017, the Policy Subcommittee met and approved minor revisions to Board Bylaw 9322, which are now before the Board for first reading.

The revisions reflect current practice, and are intended to make the language of the Bylaws more clear to members of the public.

Persons wishing to address the Board should fill out a green speaker card.  Cards turned in for the earlier open session public testimony will be given priority.  Speakers will be randomly selected based on topic and position, with BUSD students generally given priority.  Public Testimony is limited to 15 minutes with a 3-minute limit per speaker per topic although the time allotted per speaker may be reduced to 2 minutes at the discretion of the President.