In response to the Governor's Executive Order N-15-21 (as of 9/20/21)(original Executive Order N-25-20) and Resolution 19/20-17 Delegating Authority to Take Necessary Action to Protect Students and Staff from the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), adopted by the Modesto City Schools (MCS) Board of Education on March 18, 2020. The MCS Board Meetings have been adjusted to follow health and safety precautions. MCS Board Meetings are live-streamed and recorded, and available for viewing at: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6RHJCeKy8rDxRHyRUPVJIw/      

New Process for Making Public Comments (as of 8/7/21) We value your comments and have created several options to ensure your voice is heard:

In-Person (effective 8/7/21): 
Members of the public can make their comment in-person at the Boardroom located at 425 Locust Street.  Public seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the boardroom. The Period for Public Presentation is limited to 30 minutes. Time will be allotted equally to individuals based on the number of request cards submitted.  The maximum for any one speaker is three minutes.

IMPORTANT: As students are present at the Board meetings, all individuals attending the Board meeting must wear an approved face covering while indoors (pursuant to CDPH guidance as of 6/24/21).  If you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 we ask that you please stay home and consult your health professional as to not expose others to the virus and instead submit your comment via email or voicemail per the instructions below. The Board assumes no liability for any health risks to members of the public who attend the Board meeting in-person.

By Email at publiccomment@mcs4kids.com or by voicemail at 574-1525 prior to Noon (12:00 p.m.) on the day of the Board meeting.  (Please keep your comment to 250 words – commentswill not be read aloud at the Board meeting, but will be transcribed, printed and provided to each Board memberprior to the start of the Board meeting.  Copies will also be made available to the public at the Board meeting and added to the minutes and approved at a subsequent Board meeting.)

 Please provide the following:
1. Name
2. Affiliation (if any)
3. Phone number (in case we need further clarification)
4. Address (optional)
5. Topic or Item on the agenda you wish to address

Note: Public Comments received in Spanish will be translated. 

Board meeting will be translated in Spanish: Please dial 1+(805)324-7680 (toll free)
Conference ID: 420 081 154#

Public comment regarding closed session items will be received before the Board goes into closed session.

Layla Bond, 6th Grade, Fremont Elementary School
Simone Rosemire, 6th Grade, Fremont Elementary School

Information concerning the consent items listed below has been forwarded to each Board member prior to this meeting for study and is on file at the Modesto-Stanislaus Library Reference Room, 1500 I Street; Modesto City Schools Superintendent’s Office and Receptionist’s Desk, 426 Locust Street, Modesto.

The complete agenda is available at www.mcs4kids.com as well as at the Board meeting, 425 Locust Street. Unless some member of the audience or Board member has a question concerning an item and asks that it be withdrawn from the consent list, the items are approved at one time by the Board.  The action taken by the Board in approving consent items is set forth in the explanation of the individual items.

Board Bylaw 9322 (b):

Members of the public may address the Board of Education on matters not on the agenda.

Complaints against specific District employees should be resolved through the District’s Personnel Complaint Procedure. The right to address the Board does not exempt the speaker from any potential liability for defamation. The proceedings of the Board are recorded and are a part of the public record.

The Period for Public Presentation is limited to 30 minutes. Time will be allotted equally to individuals based on the number of request cards submitted. The maximum for any one speaker is three minutes.

The law limits the response of Board members and prohibits the Board from taking any formal action.

In response to the Governor's Executive Order N-15-21 (as of 9/20/21)(original Executive Order N-25-20) and Resolution 19/20-17 Delegating Authority to Take Necessary Action to Protect Students and Staff from the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), adopted by the Modesto City Schools (MCS) Board of Education on March 18, 2020. The MCS Board Meetings have been adjusted to follow health and safety precautions. MCS Board Meetings are live-streamed and recorded, and available for viewing at: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6RHJCeKy8rDxRHyRUPVJIw/      

New Process for Making Public Comments (as of 8/7/21) We value your comments and have created several options to ensure your voice is heard:

In-Person (effective 8/7/21): 
Members of the public can make their comment in-person at the Boardroom located at 425 Locust Street.  Public seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the boardroom. The Period for Public Presentation is limited to 30 minutes. Time will be allotted equally to individuals based on the number of request cards submitted.  The maximum for any one speaker is three minutes.

IMPORTANT: As students are present at the Board meetings, all individuals attending the Board meeting must wear an approved face covering while indoors (pursuant to CDPH guidance as of 6/24/21).  If you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 we ask that you please stay home and consult your health professional as to not expose others to the virus and instead submit your comment via email or voicemail per the instructions below. The Board assumes no liability for any health risks to members of the public who attend the Board meeting in-person.

By Email at publiccomment@mcs4kids.com or by voicemail at 574-1525 prior to Noon (12:00 p.m.) on the day of the Board meeting.  (Please keep your comment to 250 words – comments will not be read aloud at the Board meeting, but will be transcribed, printed and provided to each Board member prior to the start of the Board meeting.  Copies will also be made available to the public at the Board meeting and added to the minutes and approved at a subsequent Board meeting.)

 Please provide the following:
1. Name
2. Affiliation (if any)
3. Phone number (in case we need further clarification)
4. Address (optional)
5. Topic or Item on the agenda you wish to address

Note: Public Comments received in Spanish will be translated.

Education Code section 5019.5 requires that school districts with district-based elections review and, if necessary, update trustee areas every ten (10) years following the release of updated census information. Education Code section 5019.5 requires districts to complete this process by March 1, 2022. The Board will receive a presentation from a professional demographer. The Board will be asked to provide direction following the presentation.

Goal Three: Provide a safe, welcoming, and respectful learning environment for every member of the school community while ensuring effective district-wide communication for students, staff, families, and community partners.

The Board will be presented with a report on the Trustee Areas Based on the 2020 Census as Required by Education Code Section 5019.5.

It is recommended that the following temporary revisions be made to the Modesto City Schools Information Handbook & Conduct Code and that the changes be effective through the semester 1 grading period of the 2022-23 school year.  The rationale for these changes is to expand opportunities for 7-12 students to engage in extracurricular and cocurricular school activities with the support and supervision of District advisors, coaches, and support staff to further the educational and social development of students and enhance students feelings of connectedness with schools.  The recommended revisions of the cocurricular and extracurricular eligibility policy will be brought back to the Board to be re-assessed prior to the conclusion of the 2022-23 semester 1 grading period.

Goal 1: Increase academic achievement and ensure equitable access to enable all students to attain college and career readiness.
Goal 1.5: Ensure students have access to enrichment activities at all school sites.

Notes:
Yellow highlight represents a strike-out
Green highlight represents recommended additional changes

Extracurricular activities include activities that are not associated with a class and activities in which students do not receive a grade.

Cocurricular activities are related to a class in which the student earns an academic grade.

Extra-curricular activities are limited to:
1. After school recreation (7-8)
2. Student Clubs (9-12)
3. Special field trips not a part of regular classroom work (7-12)*
4. School dances (7-8)
5. School assemblies (7-8)
6. Extra-curricular public performances of music, dance, drama, and speech (the loss of these privileges shall not apply to class activities to publicize and/or promote school activities and feeder schools which are conducted during the school day) (7-12)

* The principal/designee may make exceptions regarding academic and attendance ineligibility only, for special field trips not a part of regular classroom work (7-12). However, such field trips must be directly related to the educational program.

In the 2021-2022 school year, Modesto City Schools is celebrating its 150^th Anniversary. This presentation by the Communications Department will provide an overview of the upcoming activities to commemorate the occasion over the course of the school year.

MCS Goal Three: Provide a safe, welcoming, and respectful learning environment for every member of the school community while ensuring effective district-wide communication for students, staff, families, and community partners.

The District has been collecting school facilities developer fees under various authorities since 1986. There are two separate developer fee funds held by the District, one for the Elementary District and one for the High School District. The Board has received regular reports on the collection and expenditure of these funds.

4.3 – Invest in school facilities and infrastructure for safe and clean facilities.

Government Code Section 66006(b), effective January 1, 1990 and amended January 1, 1997, requires any public agency collecting development fees to report annually on the status of these funds.

Within one hundred eighty days of the close of the fiscal year, districts must make available to the public information regarding the beginning balance, development fees, interest and other income, expenditures, refunds and ending balance. Districts must also identify each public improvement on which fees were expended, the amount of expenditures on each improvement, and the total percentage of the improvement that was funded with the fees. Additionally, if districts have determined that sufficient funds have been collected to complete financing on an incomplete improvement, an approximate date by which the construction of the public improvement will commence must be identified. Also, districts must provide a description of each interfund transfer or loan made from the fund, including the public improvement on which the transferred or loaned fees will be expended and the date on which the loan will be repaid. The Board must review this information at its next regular meeting but not less than fifteen days after the information is made available to the public. The reports for fiscal year 2020/21 have been available for public review since November 12, 2021. Notice was provided in the Modesto Bee on November 14, 2021 and November 21, 2021.

Government Code Section 66001(d) requires that the Board make findings once each fiscal year regarding any developer fee funds still unexpended five years after collection. If the Board cannot find that the funds are still needed for specific projects, the funds must be returned.

For fiscal year 2020/21 through September 27, 2020, the Level 1 residential developer fee was $3.79 per square foot and the commercial developer fee was $0.61 per square foot. As of September 28, 2020, the Level 1 residential developer fee was $4.08 per square foot and the commercial developer fee was $0.66 per square foot.

Elementary District

The developer fee balance as of June 30, 2021, in the Elementary School District is $722,913. The balance will be used for furniture and equipment for classrooms at Beard and Tuolumne Elementary Schools in the amount of $17,000.  A detail of all expenditures funded in 2020/21 and those to be funded in the future is provided in Exhibit A.

None of the collections of developer fees on deposit have been held for more than five years.

High School District

The ending balance in the High School District as of June 30, 2021, is $856,140. The balance will be used for debt service payments on the Gregori High School Traffic Mitigation Measure Obligation to Stanislaus County in the amount of $60,569, Lease Revenue Bonds (Qualified School Construction Bonds) for 2020/21 in the amount of $150,000 and Davis High School 900 Wing Addition in the amount of $75,734. The Gregori High School Traffic Mitigation Measure Obligation to Stanislaus County will be repaid with future commercial developer fee collections. A detail of all expenditures funded in 2020/21 and those to be funded in the future is provided in Exhibit B.

None of the collections of developer fees on deposit have been held for more than five years.

It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the annual reports on Developer Fees/Capital Facilities Account Fund and approve Resolution No. 21/22-11 Making Findings Pertaining to Developer Fees.

Modesto City Schools' ongoing effort to ensure our board policies (BP), administrative regulations (AR), and board bylaws (BB) are up to date.

Goal Three: Provide a safe, welcoming, and respectful learning environment for every member of the school community while ensuring effective district-wide communication for students, staff, families, and community partners.

It was found that the following Board Policy needed to be revised or adopted: BP 3350, Travel Expenses.

It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the second reading of proposed revision to Board Policy (BP): BP 3350, Travel Expenses.

Goal 4.3:  Invest in school facilities and infrastructure for safe and clean facilities.

Modesto City Schools has contracted with Capitol Public Finance Group (Capitol PFG) for professional services from time-to-time for developer fee studies, continuing disclosure on indebtedness, long-term financing analysis and general obligation bond studies.

The District will continue to need professional services periodically during fiscal year 2021-22.

Capitol PFG shall perform professional services for the District as requested by the Board or staff. Capitol PFG shall be compensated for the performance of its professional services based on quotes negotiated by staff.

A copy of the agreement is available for review in Business Services, Planning Department.

The professional services to be provided are not expected to exceed $50,000 for fiscal year 2021-22. Elementary and High School Capital Facilities Funds will provide the funding of these services unless another source is identified.

It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the use of Capitol Public Finance Group for professional services for fiscal year 2021-22.

Purchase orders and VISA payments are tracked each month.

Goal Four:  Ensure the District is fiscally and operationally sound.

Board Policy 3300 requires Board review of all individual purchase orders issued in excess of $1,000 and all purchase orders less than $1,000 by fund total.  All purchases are done in accordance with Board Policy, Education Code, Public Contract Code, and/or other applicable regulatory requirements.

Board of Education approval will allow the District to meet Board Policy 3300 requirements.  A copy of the report is available for review in the Purchasing Department.

Funds have been budgeted to cover all expenses for the month of March 2021.

It is recommended that the Board of Education ratify the purchase orders and VISA payments for the month of October 2021.

The Business Services Division draws warrants on a weekly basis to pay the bills of the District.  Payroll warrants are drawn on the 15^th of the month for claims, and on the last working day of the month for monthly employees.

The California Education Code section 42631 requires the Board of Education to approve all expenditures of the District.

Board of Education approval will allow the District to meet Education Code and Annual Audit requirements.

Goal Four:  Ensure the District is fiscally and operationally sound.

The expenditures are included in the District’s budget for fiscal year 2021/22.

It is recommended that the Board of Education ratify warrants drawn for the month of
October 2021.

Course outlines are developed for each junior high and high school class by a committee of representative teachers and administrators. The outlines include instructional texts and material, expectations for student learning, units of study, unit credit, grading, and other course elements. The course outlines and texts are then submitted to Assistant Principals, and the Senior Director, Educational Options, for review and recommendation.

1.1 Ensure Great Instruction First Time
1.2 Increase students being identified as “prepared” in the college/career indicators

The following course outlines, including texts, have been approved by representative teachers, the High School Assistant Principals and the Senior Director, Educational Options.

Revised Courses:
Internship in Computer Science - will be submitted for "G" in February 2022 when the submission window opens.

On July 26, 2021, the Board of Education approved services agreements with City of Modesto Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department (PRN) for the 2021-22 school year. The agreements provide for additional staff to implement educational and enrichment programs during the After School Education and Safety (ASES) program.

1.5 Ensure students have access to enrichment activities at all schools.

The Board-approved service agreements with PRN outlines the services to be provided which include the implementation of educational and enrichments programs for the ASES program and the structured lunchtime activities at specific sites. The agreement needs to be amended due to changing the sites to which PRN is providing services for the ASES program.

To support staffing, effective January 10, 2022 through June 30, 2022, PAL will provide services to the ASES programs at Hanshaw Middle School and Roosevelt Junior High and will discontinue services at Beard Elementary and Garrison Elementary.

On July 26, 2021, the Board of Education approved services agreements with Stanislaus County Police Activities League (PAL) for the 2021-22 school year. The agreements provide for additional staff to implement educational and enrichment programs during the After School Education and Safety (ASES) program.

1.5 Ensure students have access to enrichment activities at all schools.

The Board-approved service agreements with PAL outlines the services to be provided which include the implementation of educational and enrichments programs for the ASES program and the structured lunchtime activities at specific sites. The agreement needs to be amended due to changing the sites to which PAL is providing services for the ASES program.

To support staffing, effective January 10, 2022 through June 30, 2022, PAL will provide services to the ASES programs at Beard Elementary and Garrison Elementary and will discontinue services at Hanshaw Middle School and Roosevelt Junior High.

The out-of-state Beyer High School wrestling trip to Reno, Nevada was reviewed by the Associate Superintendent, Educational Services, 7-12.

The trip is scheduled for Monday, December 27 through Thursday, December 30, 2021.  Students will not miss any school days.

1.5 Ensure students have access to enrichment activities at all school sites.

Out-of-state trips must be approved by the Board of Education.

The out-of-state Beyer High School Robotics Club trip to Houston, Texas to attend the FRC 2022 World Championship was reviewed by the Senior Director(s), Educational Services.  

Students will compete in a robotics competition.  The trip is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20 through Saturday, April 23, 2022.  Students will miss 3 days of school.

1.5 Ensure students have access to enrichment activities at all school sites.

Out-of-state trips must be approved by the Board of Education.

Modesto City Schools' ongoing effort is to ensure our Board Policies (BP), Administrative Regulations (AR), and Board Bylaws (BB) are up to date.

Goal Three:  Provide a safe, welcoming, and respectful learning environment for every member of the school community while ensuring effective district-wide communication for students, staff, families, and community partners.

It was found that the following Board Policy needed to be revised or adopted:  BP 1313, Community Relations, Civility

Modesto City Schools' ongoing effort is to ensure our Board Policies (BP), Administrative Regulations (AR), and Board Bylaws (BB) are up to date.

Goal Three:  Provide a safe, welcoming, and respectful learning environment for every member of the school community while ensuring effective district-wide communication for students, staff, families, and community partners.

It was found that the following Board Policy needed to be revised or adopted:  BP 3515.2, Disruptions

It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the second reading of the proposed draft of Board Policy (BP):  BP 3515.2, Disruptions.

 Modesto City Schools’ ongoing effort is to ensure our Board Policies (BP), Administrative Regulations (AR), and Board Bylaws (BB) are up to date.

Goal Three: Provide a safe, welcoming, and respectful learning environment for every member of the school community while ensuring effective district-wide communication for students, staff, families, and community partners.

It was found that the following Board Policy needed to be revised or adopted: BP 4119.21/4219.21/4319.21, Professional Standards/Code of Ethics.

Modesto City Schools (MCS) contracts with the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) for federal Head Start funding, providing services for 420 preschool age children. 

MCS was notified of the opportunity to carry over basic and COVID-19 Head Start funding from the 2020-21 program year. SCOE requires that the Governing Board and the Modesto City Schools Head Start Parent Policy Committee approve the carryover funding application. 

Goal One: Increase academic achievement and ensure equitable access to enable all students to attain college and career readiness. 

If awarded, this funding will be allocated to projects to improve the outdoor learning environments. The Head Start Parent Policy Committee approved the funding application for Modesto City Schools Head Start on November 4, 2021.  A copy of the application and preliminary budget is available in the Early Childhood Education Office upon request.

It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the application for federal assistance for the Head Start Program for Fiscal Year 2021-22 to carryover basic and COVID-19 Head Start funding from the 2020-21 program year.

Board Policy 4315.1, Administrative Competence in Evaluation, and Education Code 35160.5, states that it is the intent of the Modesto City Schools’ Board of Education to certify that personnel assigned to evaluate teachers must demonstrate competency in instructional methodologies and evaluation of instruction.

5.0 Recruit, hire, train, and retain high quality staff.

To comply with Board Policy 4315.1, the following Modesto City Schools’ administrator has received training in instructional methodology and evaluation of instruction:

• Linda Reece, Vice Principal, K-6

The Director I, Payroll will provide leadership and assume management responsibility for the timely and accurate payment and reporting of all payrolls, pension contributions, related fringe benefits and statutory deductions.

Goal 5.3: Expand recruiting and hiring processes to provide support, maximize retention, and increase diversity in the certificated, classified and management workforce.

Never Boring Associates has 37 years of experience helping organizations use a variety of mediums to tell their story. To commemorate Modesto City Schools’ 150th Anniversary, Never Boring Associates will create a variety of products to garner community engagement.  

Goal 3.2  Promote outstanding students, families, staff, programs, schools, and community partners.
Goal 3.3  Increase regular two-way communication with stakeholders regarding student progress and other important issues.

                                                             Previously Paid      Current Payment      Balance Due

J.L. Bray & Son, Inc.
Johansen Fitness Ctr.
Contract Price: $4,877,000                   $900,399.22            $433,777.29              $3,976,600.78
Certificate No: 3

Menghetti Construction
Lakewood Single Point Entry
Contract Price: $607,000                       $587,797                 $98,053                    $44,184
Certificate No: 5

Pacific Contractors Group
Painting Muir & Fremont
Contract Price: $275,811.34                  $209,950                 $65,861.36                  -----------
Certificate Nos: 3 & 4

Robert Boyer Construction
Hanshaw Science Lab
Contract Price: $3,862,000                     $934,135.62            $535,209.28         $2,392,655.10     Certificate No: 4

Sinclair General Engineering 
Construction, Inc.
Parking & Streetscape La Loma
Contract Price: $4,474,000                      $2,774,926.08         $719,802.15         $979,271.77
Certificate No: 5

Sinclair General Engineering 
Construction, Inc.
Tuolumne Streetscape
Contract Price: $736,000                          $196,576.78           $218,426.68           $320,996.54
Certificate No: 3