Background 

The LCUSD Governing Board has made student and staff wellness and safety a local priority as established in the Local Control Accountability Plan as well as the goals of the District’s Superintendent, Cabinet and Leadership Team. 

Current Considerations 

LCUSD and the YMCA of the Foothills share a strong community partnership.  As agencies both are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of those who live and work within the communities they serve.  As organizations, both are committed to supporting our educators and administrators towards increasing their quality of life and longevity.  For the past two years, the YMCA of the Foothills has provided free individual memberships for all full-time certificated and classified employees of the district.  The attached Memorandum of Understanding memorializes this generous offer and extends it by including a variety of small group training classes and wellbeing activities on school campuses provided by the YMCA of the Foothills to LCUSD staff who are members. 

Financial Implication 

There are no financial impacts to LCUSD associated with the offer of free individual memberships to full-time LCUSD employees and the offer of on-site small group training classes and well-being activities to LCUSD staff who are YMCA of the Foothills members.  LCUSD recognizes the generosity of the YMCA of the Foothills in its extending these membership and services offers and greatly values their partnership as agencies committed to the health and wellbeing of LCUSD educators.

It is recommended that the Governing Board review the Memorandum of Understanding and give direction to the Superintendent to sign on behalf of the La Canada Unified School District.

It is recommended that the Governing Board review the Memorandum of Understanding and give direction to the Superintendent to sign on behalf of the La Canada Unified School District.

Background 

At its meetings on 12/16/2013, 10/28/2014, 11/18/2014 and 9/26/2017, the LCUSD Governing Board discussed in open sessions its concerns regarding the Devil’s Gate Reservoir Restoration (Sediment Removal and Maintenance) Project, passing two resolutions which identified its concerns for student, staff, and community health as well as engaging in discussions regarding health, safety, and traffic impacts. 

Current Considerations 

The project is moving forward.  On October 17, 2018, representatives from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works met with local area educational leaders to outline the terms of the construction project as well as the project schedule, phases 1 – 3.  This presentation is intended to inform the public regarding the construction and project schedules and to provide the Governing Board the opportunity to reiterate its concerns with the project as well as to provide direction to staff prior to the start of the project in April 2019.

Financial Implications 

Currently, any financial implications to the District in relation to the the Devil’s Gate Reservoir Restoration (Sediment Removal and Maintenance) Project are unknown, however significant concerns regarding student, staff, and community health, safety, and traffic impacts remain.

Background

Currently all 7/8 students are assigned to a Physical Education (P.E.) class to comply with Education Code Section 51222. However, each year the administration receives requests to exempt/excuse from Physical Education classes students who are engaged in competitive sports because of substantial drain on their energy and/or fears of injuries due to overexposure to physical activity. Administration would like to support these students, but there is no alternative to P.E. and the Education Code does not permit exemption from P.E. based upon participation in non-District sponsored athletics. 

Another issue which the administration faces involves students who get injured and provide a doctor’s note in order to be excused temporarily from physical activity. These students do not participate in P.E., and as a result, often end up spending P.E. period in the counselors’ offices or working on assignments in the IRC under a teacher’s supervision.  Education Code mandates that schools provide physical education even when students are unable to perform physical activity.  For this reason, administration would like to offer an Independent Study P.E. course where students will receive credit for physical education while excused from physical activity.

Current Considerations

LCHS 7/8 administration would like to offer a 6th period Independent Study Physical Education course to support competitive athletes and students who are temporarily excused from physical activity due to injuries or other health related reasons. 

Financial Implications

There will be costs associated with allocating a  .2 FTE to a Physical Education teacher who will support the students through monitoring and assessing their progress.  The total cost should not exceed $20,000 annually. If it is decided to add this course to the 7/8  master schedule, it will be put in effect in the 2019-20 school year. Administration may decide to use an online Physical Education course which may have a yearly set up fee as well as per student license fee. 

It is recommended that the Governing Board review the presentation,engage in subsequent discussion related to it, and take action to approve the plan for implementation in the 2019-20 school year.

The Governing Board is requested to review the presentation, engage in subsequent discussion related to it, and take action to approve the plan for implementation in the 2019-20 school year.

Background 

The construction projects done with bond dollars will require insurance coverage. Contractors typically include these costs for liability, workers’ compensation, property damage and other coverages in the total cost of the project when they submit a bid. Another option is the Owner Controlled Insurance Program. In this model the insurance is purchased by the District as the owner of the property.  

Current Considerations 

Risk management is a material consideration as the District does work at its sites. Coverage against losses related to crime, weather, injury, accidents and other causes are needed to assure a project is completed, and the District is compensated for losses. The objective of this presentation and discussion is to address the District needs for risk management and review the options for covering those risks. 

Financial Implications 

The financial implications will be a transfer of costs. The contractor will include insurance fees in the traditional insurance model. Optionally, the District will pay for insurance through the Owner Controlled Insurance Program. Savings may be achieved by the District carrying the insurance depending on the size, duration and other factors related to the project.

This is an information item. Input and direction from the Board is requested.

This is an information item. Input and direction from the Board is requested.

Background

Section 48926 of the California Education Code requires the County Superintendent of Schools, in conjunction with superintendents of the school districts within the County, to develop a plan for providing services to expelled pupils. The updated plan, last published in 2015, was adopted by the Los Angeles County Board of Education at its April 10, 2018, regular meeting, and reflects district responses to the December 14, 2017 survey that was provided to districts countywide.  

The county-wide plan enumerates existing educational alternatives, identifies gaps in educational services and plans for filling those service gaps and identifies alternative placements for pupils who fail to meet terms and conditions of their alternative placement.  

Current Considerations

LCUSD has extremely low expulsion rates, however, policies and procedures are in place to proceed with an expulsion if needed.  The Los Angeles County Plan for Expelled Pupils provides all districts within the county with necessary information regarding expulsion of pupils. Local governing boards are asked to accept and acknowledge a basic plan to address the needs of all expelled students in Los Angeles County, as required by Education Code Section 48926.   

Financial Implications

None.

BACKGROUND

On December 4, 2017, the state released the California School Dashboard, requiring annual updates that identify, among others, local performance indicators.  The Dashboard represents multiple measures to give a wider view of overall performance and progress than the previous Academic Performance Index (API) that was used in California between 1999 and 2013.

The state indicators are academic performance, graduation rates, college and career readiness, English learner progress, suspension rates and chronic absenteeism. Performance indicators are the basic conditions of learning, such as teacher qualification, instructional materials, and facilities, implementation of academic standards, school climate, parental involvement, and access to a broad course of study.

CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS

The presentation that describes LCUSD local indicator progress serves to inform the Governing Board and public of La Cañada Unified School District of the Fall 2018 performance on the California School Dashboard. The presentation will include changes in the Dashboard since last school year, the five-by-five color charts and LCUSD performance levels for each indicator based on previous year status and current change.  

Results will also be presented by subgroup. The number of subgroups for each indicator varies from one to nine. The significant subgroups in La Cañada are English learners, socioeconomically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, African American, Asian, Filipino, Hispanic, two or more races and White.

The data presented will be used to help identify annual goals for the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There is no financial impact to this discussion item.

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 1312.3    Community Relations: Uniform Complaint Procedures                        

Financial Implications 

There are no financial implications associated with the recommended Board Policy revision.

Background  

The Governing Board annually evaluates the Superintendent.  As an outcome of the Superintendent’s 2017-18 evaluation, the Governing Board’s interest is to approve an addendum to the Superintendent’s contract having it now commence November 1, 2018 and end July 31, 2022.  The Governing Board would like to apply a 2% increase to the annual salary, commensurate with the 2% negotiated increase given to all certificated staff members in the 2017-18 school year, and a one-time off-schedule bonus in the amount of $6,821.33. 

Current Considerations

The proposed Addendum would extend Ms. Sinnette’s contract so that it would expire on July 31, 2022.  The Superintendent’s current annual salary is two hundred fifty-five thousand eight hundred dollars ($255,800).  Pursuant to the proposed Addendum, the Superintendent would be entitled to a 2% salary increase, effective November 1, 2018, which would make the Superintendent’s prospective annual salary $260,916.  

Financial Implications 

It is recommended the Governing Board approve the Contract Addendum with Wendy Sinnette for the Employment of the Superintendent.

The Governing Board is requested to approve the Contract Addendum with Wendy Sinnette for the Employment of the Superintendent.

It is recommended that the Governing Board approve the Personnel Report as presented.

The Governing Board is requested to approve the PCY Special Activity request to attend Pali Mountain Institute in Running Springs, California Monday, February 25, 2019 - Friday, March 1, 2019

The Governing Board is requested to approve the PCY Special Activity request to attend Freedom Foundation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania Monday, March 18, 2019 - March 22, 2019.

The Governing Board is requested to approve the PCY Special Activity request to attend Before the Mast in Dana Point, California March 11-12, 2019; March 12-13, 2019; March 13-14, 2019 and March 14-15, 2019.

Background

The District is in need of legal counsel expertise in issues related to CEQA and interdistrict territory transfers.  Shannon L. Chaffin of Aleshire & Wyndner, LLP was highly recommended as legal counsel in such matters.

Current Considerations

The district would like to  engage in services with Shannon L. Chaffin of Aleshire & Wyndner, LLP on issues related to the Territory Transfer requiring legal services. 

Financial Implications

The rate structure for Aleshire & Wyndner, LLP is competitive with other firms the district currently uses and the cost of services with Shannon L. Chaffin is currently in the budget for 2018-19.