Background

The Board has authorized the construction of the improvements to the cafeteria (Bid No. LCF 18/19-07), and improvements to the band room & parking lot drainage (Bid No. LCF 18/19-08) at La Canada High School.  These projects are planned for construction to start as soon as the current school semester ends.  Plans and Specifications for both projects have been developed and are in the review approval process with the Division of State Architect. Staff anticipates approval by DSA on about May 16, 2019.  The projects have been advertised for bidding whereas bids are due to the District on May 16, 2016.  The work under these projects must be completed while school is not in session.  The timeframe during the summer when school is not in session is short and some of the construction materials and have long lead time, staff recommends that the projects be awarded as early as possible no later than May 20, 2019.  A Board meeting is not currently scheduled to occur until June 11, 2019. Staff recommends that contracts be awarded well before that date to allow time for ordering construction materials.   

Financial Implications

Both projects are being funded with Measure LCF funding.  The construction budget for the cafeteria improvement is $1.5M, and $1M for the band room & parking lot drainage improvement.

It is recommended that the Governing Board adopt Resolution No. 14-18-19 Delegating Authority for Accepting Bids and Awarding Contracts for Bid No. LCF 18/19-07, and Bid No. LCF 18/19-08.

The Governing Board is requested to adopt Resolution No. 14-18-19 Delegating Authority for Accepting Bids and Awarding Contracts for Bid No. LCF 18/19-07, and Bid No. LCF 18/19-08.

BACKGROUND 

The LCHS French language teachers have been evaluating textbooks during the past two years and have selected Bien dit! published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018.  

CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS 

LCHS  French language teachers have reviewed several textbooks and decided upon: 

Bien dit! published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018.  

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

The Governing Board is requested to approve the adoption of  Bien dit! published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018.

BACKGROUND 

The LCHS German language teacher has been evaluating textbooks during the past two years and has selected Mosaik by Jose Blanco, published by Vista Higher Learning, 2018. 

CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS 

LCHS  German language teacher reviewed several textbooks and decided upon: 

Mosaik by Jose Blanco, © 2018, published by Vista Higher Learning.  

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

The cost of this adoption is not to exceed $35,000. 

It is recommended that the Governing Board approve the adoption of Mosaik by Jose Blanco, © 2018, published by Vista Higher Learning.

The Governing Board is requested to approve the adoption of Mosaik by Jose Blanco, © 2018, published by Vista Higher Learning.

BACKGROUND 

Staff members create new courses in consultation with their department chairperson.  The administration reviews all proposed new courses and is making a recommendation to add this course to our offerings.   

CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS 

A new course, Medical Biology, will be added to the elective offerings at LCHS 7/8 during the 2019-20 school year. Medical Biology is a semester long course that will provide students with a thorough understanding of the terminology of body systems and their interrelationships.  Students will engage in labs and have the opportunity to hear presentations from health care field experts.  

Please see attached course description for Medical Biology.              

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 

It is recommended that the Governing Board approve the attached course description.

The Governing Board is requested to approve the attached course description.

BACKGROUND 

Staff members create new courses in consultation with their department chairperson.  The administration reviews all proposed new courses and is making a recommendation to add this course to our offerings. 

 CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS 

A new course, Robotics, will be added to the Science Department offerings during the 2019-20 school year. Robotics is a laboratory science course which will provide students the opportunity to work in engineering teams to design, build, and test increasingly complex robots.  Students will solve challenges using physical robots and computer simulations and participate in local and regional competitions.    

Please see attached course description for Robotics. 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 

The financial impact will be in instructional material acquisition.  Staffing will come from the overall staffing allotment.   

It is recommended that the Governing Board approve the attached course description.

The Governing Board is requested to approve the attached course description.

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 5125.1       Students: Release of Directory Information

    BP 5022          Students: Student and Family Privacy Rights

    BP 5111.1       Students:  District Residency

    BP 6145.3       Students:  Nondiscrimination/Harassment

    BP 5125          Students:  Student Records

    BP 5145.13     Students: Response to Immigration Enforcement

    BP 5111          Students:  Registration/Enrollment of Students

    BP 5145.6       Students:  Parental Notification

    BP 5131.2       Students:  Bullying

    BP 1312.3       Community Relations: Uniform Complaint Procedures                   

Financial Implications 

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

It is recommended that the Governing Board adopt the recommended Board Policy revisions.

The Governing Board is requested to adopt the recommended Board Policy revisions.

Background

The Science Department has proposed to teach a new course, Oceanography, during the 2019-20 school year. The department members have been reviewing a variety of instructional materials and communicating their findings to site and district administration. Upon review and consideration, they recommend Marine Science: Marine Biology and Oceanography, 3rd Edition, by AMSCO Publishing, 2017.  

Current Considerations

The high school Science department members have reviewed a variety of textbooks and have decided upon: 

Marine Science: Marine Biology and Oceanography, 3^rd Edition, by AMSCO Publishing, 2017.  

Financial Implications

We anticipate $4,000 for the purchase of textbooks.  

This is a First Read.  This item will come back to the Governing Board at the next regularly scheduled Governing Board meeting for adoption

This is a First Read.  This item will come back to the Governing Board at the next regularly scheduled Governing Board meeting for adoption.

BACKGROUND 

At the April 16^th Governing Board meeting, a high school student and a middle school science teacher addressed the Governing Board with a request to offer a zero period class to support students participating in different science competitions.  The Governing Board directed the staff to place this item on the agenda at a future meeting to allow for discussion.  

CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS 

In order to adequately respond to this request, it is critical to consider both the constraints and the opportunities it would provide to our students.  

• It will cost between $17,000-$20,000 to offer this as a course during zero period.

• Through our Challenge Success initiative, we have implemented the Late Start at LCHS which allows secondary level students to get more sleep to be at their best.  Adding more zero period offerings goes against this belief.   

• Allowing one group to start a zero period class, sets a precedent for many other groups to request the same.

• More groups requesting zero period places a significant demand on resources. LCUSD does not have the capacity in terms of FTE and budget to accommodate all requests.

• Staff uses the late start time to meet with colleagues or students who need extra help for their academic courses. 

• Personnel interested in supporting this request has been offered hourly compensation to support our students with this work.            

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 

The financial impact will be in paying a teacher an extra 0.2 FTE, which costs $17,000-$20, 000.

Background

Over the past 14 months, the Governing Board Taskforce on Wellness, Safety, and Security conducted meetings, research, and site visits that led to an initial actions and priorities list. The subcommittees explored the topics of wellness, outreach, and communication; traffic and parking; campus safety; closed campus at lunch for LCHS; and training. Each of these subcommittees determined their solution sets and that in turn was voted on by the entire committee to establish an initial priority ranking. A matrix was created that showed the solution, subcommittee connection, and the overall taskforce ranking. The cost estimates were also included in this matrix as a tool to help the Governing Board establish the priority list being mindful of both needs and costs that are one time, reccurring, and/or an item that will need replacement over time. Items included  staffing, capital improvements, software, policies, and training.  

Current Considerations

There are many items from the solution matrix that are already in process. The remaining solutions presented on the matrix need to have a final priority assigned by the Governing Board. The priorities can also have an implementation roadmap to help distribute both the cost and to reassess needs. For example, the Closed Campus at LCHS action item has certain dependencies such as capital improvements, but minor policies changes could happen in year one. Another example could be with the training plans. Large scale training may be set for year one and year two inlcudes new employees and follow-up trainings.  

Once priorities are set, staff will formulate LCUSD Wellness and Safety the action plan that will connect with our LCAP goals and site safety plans.  It is our goal to create a comprehensive and dynamic plan that can respond to current and future needs.  

Financial Implications

This varies between each item. Some costs include one-time costs such as installing perimeter fences, yet maintenance costs will need to be factored in. Other costs could be ongoing such as staffing. The attached matrix includes the breakdown off all potential costs.

It is recommended that the Governing Board view the presentation on LCUSD’s Wellness, Safety, and Security Priorities and engage in subsequent discussion, providing any direction as identified.

The Governing Board is requested to view the presentation on LCUSD’s Wellness, Safety, and Security Priorities and engage in subsequent discussion, providing any direction as identified.

Background 

At its meetings on 12/16/2013, 10/28/2014, 11/18/2014, 9/26/2017, and 10/30/2018 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 District has engaged environmental consultants to review the Project and to provide expert guidance on potential remediation and monitoring measures.  Additionally, the District is working with legal counsel to evaluate the possibility of filing an amicus brief in the existing challenge to the Devil’s Gate Project which is currently pending.  Since November 2018, the Governing Board has requested a standing discussion agenda item for the foreseeable future to provide an opportunity to update stakeholders regarding progress related to both courses of action. 

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 concerns regarding student, staff, and community health, safety, and traffic impacts remain.  Current expert and legal fees are estimated at $75,000.

It is recommended that the Governing Board discuss the topic of the Devil’s Gate Reservoir Restoration (Sediment Removal and Maintenance) Project, review staff’s update regarding progress related to work with the environmental consultants and with regards to a potential legal challenge, and provide on-going direction to staff for future actions and for community outreach plans over the next several months.

The Governing Board is requested to discuss the topic of the Devil’s Gate Reservoir Restoration (Sediment Removal and Maintenance) Project, review staff’s update regarding progress related to work with the environmental consultants and with regards to a potential legal challenge, and provide on-going direction to staff for future actions and for community outreach plans over the next several months.

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

Background

To avoid any potential year-end budgetary allocation issues, the Governing Board has routinely authorized the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) to make year-end transfers as may be needed to eliminate possible shortages in one or more “objects” of expenditure.  Specifically Education Code Section 42601 provides:

“At the close of any school year a school district may, with the approval of the governing board, identify and request the county superintendent of schools to make (within each Fund) transfers between the designated fund balance or the unappropriated fund balance and any expenditure classification or classifications, or balance any expenditure classifications of the budget of the district for that school year as necessary to permit the payments of obligations of the district incurred during the school year.”

The Governing Board of the La Cañada Unified School District, in accordance with the provisions of Section 42601 of the Education Code, is requested to authorize the County Superintendent of Schools to make appropriation transfers necessary at the close of the 2018-2019 fiscal year to permit payment of obligations of the District that have been incurred during the fiscal year. 

Background

Under Article XVI, Section 6, of the California Constitution school districts are allowed to borrow from the School Pools Fund maintained by the Los Angeles County Treasurer if cash is needed to pay obligations for current operating requirements lawfully incurred in the fiscal year.

• No more than 85 percent of the anticipated revenues accruing to the district may be borrowed.

• No transfer may be made prior to the first day of the fiscal year nor after the last Monday in April of the current fiscal year.
•  
• Any borrowed money shall be repaid from revenues accruing to the district before any other obligation of the district is met from such revenue.

Current Considerations

Although in past years the District has had no need to borrow from the School Pools Fund, the Los Angeles County Office of Education recommends that Governing Boards plan for this contingency prior to the beginning of each new fiscal year.

The Governing Board is requested to approve the ability to make temporary transfers from the School Pools Fund.

Background

Under current state law (Education Code 42603) the Governing Board of a school district may direct that moneys held in any fund be temporarily transferred to another fund of the district for payment of obligations under the following restrictions:

• No more than 75 percent of the maximum of moneys held in any fund during a current fiscal year may be transferred.

• The transfer shall not be available for appropriation or be considered income to the borrowing fund.

• Borrowing shall occur only when the fund receiving the money will earn sufficient income, during the current fiscal year, to repay the amount transferred.

• Amounts transferred shall be repaid either in the same fiscal year or in the following fiscal year if the transfer takes place within the final 120 calendar days of a fiscal year.

  Current Considerations

  Although in past years the District has had no need for interfund borrowing, the Los Angeles County Office of Education recommends that Governing Boards plan for this contingency prior to the beginning of each new fiscal year.

  Financial Implications

  Currently, there are no fiscal implications associated with approval of Resolution 16-18-19.  Additionally, no interfund borrowing would take place prior to specific Governing Board authorization.

   

It is recommended that the Governing Board adopt Resolution 16-18-19 providing for the temporary borrowing of cash between various District funds should that be needed to address any short-term/temporary cash-flow needs.

The Governing Board is requested to adopt Resolution 16-18-19 providing for the temporary borrowing of cash between various District funds should that be needed to address any short-term/temporary cash-flow needs.

Background

The Facility Use Fee Schedule is reviewed on an annual basis.

Current Considerations

Beginning July 1, 2018, it is proposed that the current Facility Use fee schedule be increased by three percent (3.0%) as outlined in the attached fee schedule.

Background

In the Spring of 2015 the La Cañada Unified School District selected Chartwells as the district’s food service management company. The California Department of Education requires agreements to be renewed annually for the upcoming school year. This is our fourth renewal and the final year of the contract with Chartwells. 

Current Considerations

The contract, per state requirements, is only for one year, but it can be renewed annually for up to five years. We continue working with Chartwells to build capacity and increase participation. Prior to 2015 there were annual declines in participation across the district. That trend has been reversing. After several years of successful increases across the District, the 2018-19 school year continued to show growth with many days exceeded 900 meals sold. The contract includes the cost of food and materials along with a Chartwells employee on site. This renewal reflects no increase in the charge per meal. 

Financial Implications

The cost per meal will be $2.055. The projected cost for the service, which includes the purchase of food, is $450,000. The encroachment into other funds was again reduced in 2018-19, however the increased costs of operations will add to the challenge to make the Cafeteria Fund balanced. The goal is to continue sales growth and improve revenues to make the Cafeteria Fund self-sufficient.

It is recommended that the Governing Board approve the contract with Chartwells.

The Governing Board is requested to approve the contract with Chartwells.

Background

At the annual organizational meeting in December the Governing Board approved the Board meeting dates for 2019. A calendar conflict was discovered for the June 11, 2019 meeting.

Current Considerations

In order to resolve the calendar conflict, it is requested that the June 11, 2019 Governing Board meeting be changed to June 18, 2019.

Financial Implications

There is no additional cost to the District with this request.

It is recommended the Governing Board approve the change in Governing  Board meeting dates from June 11, 2019 to June 18, 2019. 

The Governing Board is requested to approve the change in Governing Board meeting dates from June 11, 2019 to June 18, 2019. 

The Governing Board is requested to ratify the La Canada High School Special Activity request to attend the CIF Swim and Dive Championships in Fresno CA May 9 - 11, 2019.