Note:

The Board will convene at 6:45 p.m., approve the Agenda and immediately go into Closed Session.

They are expected to resume Open Session at approximately 7:15 p.m.

Schools are required to update safety plans every year and to submit to school board for approval.

The school sites meet with staff and parents to review the comprehensive safety plans prior to bringing them to the board. Belle Haven Elementary, Costano School, Los Robles Ronald McNair Academy, and Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School are submitting their plans for Board approval.

Last month we presented four Bond Oversight Candidates to the board. Their candidacy was unanimously approved. We have received an additional application and are asking the board to approve this candidate. 

Pursuant to requirements of Prop 39, Measures “H” and “S” General Obligation (GO) Bonds require formation of a Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC) to review and affirm bond proceeds were expended on projects as identified in each bond measure’s ballot language and project list. The COC is required to meet no less than once per a fiscal year to conduct its activities – however in practice, it is likely that between two and three meetings will occur each fiscal year. The COC is to be comprised of up to seven members

Employees, vendors, consultants and contractors are precluded from serving on a COC. Each member serves a two year term with the option to serve up to three consecutive terms, if required.

The candidate is Heather Starnes-Logwood -- At Large Member.

The District awarded the construction contract to Lewis & Tibbitts, Inc. on April 4, 2019 for the construction of a new kinder playground including new play structures, fencing, play yard and landscaping.  The project was deemed high priority at the time and it was critical that the project move forward immediately in order to be completed by the end of summer 2019.  In May of 2019 the project was suspended when it was discovered that the Hetch Hetchy pipeways exist directly beneath the project site.  The District and consultants worked under the guidance, direction and cooperation with SFPUC in the year-long redesign of the entire project. 

Lewis & Tibbitts remobilized at the site on July 9, 2020, and in an accelerated construction effort, reached ‘Substantial Completion” just six weeks later on August 24, 2020.  Various unforeseen conditions appeared since then with issues involving landscaping and the ornamental metal gate post footings.  These last issues are reflected in the attached Change Order #4. 

This is the next part of the continuing improvements to the Costano Elementary School campus, which

one of the goals is ensuring that our students have a safe environment.  This project will achieve this

by providing the long awaited and much needed kindergarten playground area. 

It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approve Change Order #4 to the contract with Lewis

& Tibbitts, Inc. for the Costano Elementary School Kindergarten Playground Modification.

The total cost of this change order #4 is $ 12,879.11

Estimated Maximum Total:

Isabel Figueroa $108,610

Kate Mancini Sbrega $114,840

We have reached an agreement with the YMCA for the YMCA to open up three learning hubs at their East Palo Alto campus for 36 students. This contract is largely the same as the other contracts, with a few small differences:

• Because this program is not located at our sites, we will not be providing meals, custodial, or other building-related supports.
• Because the YMCA will be paying $7 per student per hour, instead of the $5.75 we are using at our sites. 

We plan on paying for these programs using our COVID funding. 

We would like to purchase the TCRWP Classroom Libraries for our K-5 classrooms.  The Classroom Libraries are curated, high-interest texts matching grade level text, a wide range of student reading levels, and genres aligned to the Common Core State Standards and the Units of Study in Reading and Writing.   

As the TCRWP team worked to develop these libraries, several key ideas guided the selection process:

• The libraries aim to introduce as many authors and titles as possible, with books selected for high interest, richness (books that can be mined again and again), and quality of writing and content.
• The libraries include some all-star classics, but also many of the newest cutting-edge titles.
• To ensure all students have access to high-quality, high-interest books, libraries for students reading significantly below benchmark are available for grades 1–8.
• A helpful Guide (K–2, 3–5) and a set of grade-specific tools help teachers organize the books and make them inviting and accessible to children.

These classroom library resources would be a valuable supplement to the base classroom library in classrooms currently, in order to replace all books that are sent home this year for use at home with Distance Learning that do not return to the classroom..  An expanded selection of titles would allow students at a wide range of reading levels to find high-interest books at their level, and read with a high volume at school and at home in order to accelerate reading progress, apply standards and skills learned in Reading and Writing Workshop lessons, and develop a love of reading. 

1. Consultant agrees to provide strategic planning, project management, implementation, analysis, engagement & communications consulting and support to advance the implementation of the district’s Strategic Plan, including but not limited to the following activities:

   1. Propose updates to the strategic plan’s initiatives and milestones given the context of COVID (based on input from stakeholders, with approval from Supt. and Board of Trustees)

   2. Coordinate / project manage implementation of the district’s strategic plan, including monitoring and reporting on progress vs. milestones and goals

   3. Facilitate and support the SY20-21 School Improvement Working Group and Steering Committee, under the direction of the Supt., including proposing agendas, preparing materials / reports for the group, co-facilitating meetings, and following up as needed afterwards

   4. Lead cross-functional or strategic initiatives to ensure effective, timely implementation (as assigned and approved by the Supt.)

   5. Conduct research, data gathering, analysis and synthesis as needed to inform decision-making

   6. Design and facilitate processes to engage stakeholders in decision-making, and communicate process and outcomes to ensure transparency and build buy-in

The District wishes to retain Consultant to support the advancement of the District's strategic plan.

Consultant’s billing rate is $150.00 (one hundred fifty dollars) per hour at 30 hours per week.

There is no fiscal impact on the District's general fund.

In recent years, city and county government systems have become at risk of ransomware attacks. Ransomware has already hit governmental IT systems in San Mateo County.

The 2019-2020 San Mateo County Grand Jury filed a report on October 7, 2020 which contains findings and recommendations pertaining to county government agencies including Ravenswood City School District. The district is to submit comments to the Honorable Danny Y. Chou. RCSD's response is due no later than January 5, 2021 and the response should indicate that it was approved by the Board of Trustees at a public meeting.

The California Department of General Services (DGS) requires a school board resolution to update the district representatives and whereas this updated information is required for upgrading school facilities. Currently, Mr. Kin Lai and Mr. Steven Eichman are listed as representatives. We would like to nominate Ms. Delma Camacho and Mr. William Eger will serve as district representatives, in addition to Superintendent Gina Sudaria.

NEW BP 6157 Distance Learning.

New policy addresses the provision of distance learning opportunities to students, whether to all students due to a school closure or to individual students or classes as an alternative instructional method for academic purposes.  Policy presents examples of the types of distance learning opportunities that may be offered, based on the California Department of Education's COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 Schools. Policy also addresses teacher training and support, availability to all students, use of district equipment, communications with students and parents/guardians, and grading criteria. Policy includes additional considerations in the event of a school closure, such as prioritization of content as well as maintenance of continuity, routine, and regular connections with students.