Background

It is important to continually review and update the district’s board policies in order to stay on top of changing state requirements and/or district needs.

Current Considerations

As part of this continual review, the district has the following policy revision for the Board’s consideration:    

         BP 51113     Absences and Excuses

         BP 5113.1    Chronic Absence and Truancy    

These policy revisions reflect current law and educational best practices and have been developed in consultation with Student Support Services, Inc.  

Financial Implications

Background

At the January 7, 2014 Meeting of the Governing Board, the Board passed a revised resolution in support of the Territory Transfer of the Subject Area from Glendale Unified School District’s jurisdiction in order to bring about greater unity within the community. The revised resolution intentionally defined the Governing Board’s focus regarding the merits and significance of the Territory Transfer.  Specifically, a Territory Transfer would produce the following three research-based results: 1) support community cohesiveness, strengthening social capital and producing positive results for student achievement; 2) strengthen ties between families and within a community, which also promotes increased student achievement; and 3) improve school safety by unifying LCUSD, City and local law enforcement, emergency and operational planning. 

Current Considerations

Since the Governing Board’s adoption of the revised resolution, the terms of two members of the Board have expired and one new Governing Board member has joined the Board.  The Board gave direction to prepare an agenda item so that the new Board could readopt the resolution.  The current resolution has been amended to acknowledge that the Board’s support of the transfer is contingent upon the Territory, the City of La Canada Flintridge and the LCUSD mutually agreeing upon mitigations to relieve the immediate impact of an approved transfer with regard to housing, facilities and personnel. 

Financial Implications

There are no immediate financial implications tied to the readoption of the revised resolution supporting the Territory Transfer.

Background

With the rapid change in student data moving from being controlled at the District level strictly for operational and organizational purposes to widely adopted instructional purposes that involve outside vendors and cloud storage, data privacy is a rising concern. It is important to define what student data is and examine the variety of uses currently in practice within the district. Also, several new laws have recently gone in to effect and it is important to review those laws and examine compliance.

Current Considerations

Jamie Lewsadder, the Director of Technology, will present to the Governing Board on the laws concerning student data privacy, how this data is currently used within LCUSD, the changing roles and responsibilities for all involved parties, and the current policy gaps.

Financial Implications

The financial implications can vary based on the outcomes from the Governing Board recommendations. Subscribing to software that can help monitor student data ranges from $7,000-$10,000 annually and is calculated by total number of students. Other outcomes could consist of staff and consultant time associated with Board direction.

Background

Pursuant to Education Code (EC) 32280 every school in California is required to develop a comprehensive School Safety Plan to address safety concerns identified through a systematic planning process.  A School Site Council or safety planning committee shall review and update the plan.  Each school shall report on the status of its plan I the annual School Accountability Report Card.

Current Considerations

The plans explain how each site has addressed the required key components.  All plans were approved by the School Site Councils to which community members, representatives from LCTA, CSEA, PTA, and student government were invited. We continue to follow the requirements as set forth in the categorical requirements, however, the categorical funding no longer exists under the new Local Control Funding Formula.  Components of the plans (as per Ed Code 32282) include the following:

1. Assessment of the current status of the school or school-related crimes
2. Child Abuse reporting procedures
3. Disaster procedure, routing and emergency
4. Policies related to suspension, expulsion, or mandatory expulsion and other school designated serious acts which would lead to suspension or expulsion
5. Procedures regarding teacher notification of dangerous students pursuant to EC 49079
6. Sexual harassment policy pursuant to EC 212.5
7. Provisions of any school wide dress code established pursuant to EC 35183
8. Procedures for safe ingress and egress to and from school
9. A safe and orderly environment conducive to learning
10. Rules and procedures pursuant to Chapter 1.2 of Title 15 of the Penal Code
11. Hate crime reporting procedures pursuant to Chapter 1.2 of Title 115 of the Penal Code

The plans will be in effect for the 2015-2016 school year.

Financial Implications

There is  no financial impact to approving the School Safety Plans.

Background

At the January 12, 2016 meeting of the LCUSD Governing Board, the Board gave staff direction to prepare a discussion item to explore needs, opportunities and next steps related to developing an updated facilities master plan as well as options associated with a future General Obligation Bond measure.

Current Considerations

Staff has done preliminary research with both TBWB consultant Charles Heath and various architectural firm representatives related to this discussion item and will provide those data points to the Governing Board for their review, consideration, discussion and subsequent direction at the opening of this discussion item.

Financial Implications

There are long range financial implications associated with developing an updated facilities master plan as well as planning for a General Obligation Bond Measure, but there are no immediate financial impacts related to the Governing Board’s initial discussion.

Background

In March of 2015 the Governing Board adopted a resolution requesting that the review period of the SR-710 Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Study (EIS) be extended beyond the 90 day period to provide for thoughtful and thorough responses. Given the importance of the issue to the LCUSD Community, the Governing Board’s resolution requested that a minimum 180 day comment period on the report be established.

Current Considerations

The LCUSD Governing Board continues to have numerous concerns related to the SR-710 North Freeway Tunnel Alternative and its potential impacts within the city specifically near LCUSD school sites and especially related to the on-going health and safety of its students, staff and families.  Additionally, the Governing Board desires to formally support the comments contained in the “5-Cities Alliance” comment letter to the 2016 Draft Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) and Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR).

Financial Implication

Currently, there are no immediate impacts associated with the Governing Board’s passage of the attached resolution.

To assure a thorough and smooth replacement of the turf field and track at La Cañada High School, it is important to develop clear, detailed plans and avoid as many change orders during the project. Specific bid documents with expectations for repair work, preparation, and materials specifications are important to get genuine proposals that minimize unforeseen costs and clearly establish timelines and workflow. Research of materials and needs related to upkeep and maintenance of the turf and track, design of the area, construction documents, and monitoring of the job will make up the services provided by the architect. The contract is for services in the amount of $30,151.00.

CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS

In order to assure efficient and thorough work on the high school track and field project it is necessary to have detailed bid documents with clear expectations and specifications.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

The contract will be for $30,151from Fund 40.0.

It is recommended that the Governing Board approve entering into a contract with A4E Architects.

The Governing Board is requested to approve entering into a contract with A4E Architects.

Background

It is necessary for the Governing Board to authorized district employees to sign for contracts, reports, leases, data processing, etc.

The Governing Board also designates agents to approve projects included in the Consolidated application (SDE100) and grants from the Federal Office of Education, Health, and Welfare and the California Department of Education.

Current Considerations

Due to change in Personnel, revisions to the Authorized Signatures is required.  Attached please find Signature Authorization Resolution 10-15-16 and Certificate of Signatures to be in effect February 10, 2016 to December 31, 2016.

Financial Impact

None.