Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, changes have been made to the Brown Act by the Governor (Governor’s Executive Orders N-25-20 and N-2 9-20 – Brown Act Requirements)

Public comments on agendized items can be submitted on Thursday beginning at 11:30 a.m. via the following link:

https://forms.gle/mwWNpa9yKpVeD3iL8

Background

On January 14, 2021, Governor Newsom announced his Safe Schools for All proposal.  The Safe Schools for All proposal establishes a grant program to incentivize local educational agencies (LEAs) to reopen schools for in-person instruction, inclusive of hybrid models.  The proposal requires from LEAs an approved COVID-19 Safety Plan (CSP) and a Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Program (CPP).  Both of these plans have been developed by staff over the last two weeks.  Additionally, LEAs that have already reopened are required to post their CSPs by February 1, 2021.

Current Considerations

In addition to the CSP and the CPP, the Safe Schools for All proposal requires labor agreements conforming with the CSP, the offer of in-person instruction to families TK-2 by February 16, an expansion of in-person instruction opportunities up to grade 6 by March 15, COVID-19 testing for all staff and students participating in in-person instruction according to the California Department of Public Health testing cadence, and verification that all students in distance learning have access to technology.  LCUSD will meet all of the requirements.  Pending approval of the state legislature, the Safe Schools for All Grant Program could provide LCUSD with $450 per average daily attendance (ADA).

Financial Implications

The potential financial implications of the Safe Schools for All Grant Program could be $450 per ADA.  However, significant expenditures have already been realized by the district in response to distance learning and the health and safety protocols required for reopening for in-person instruction.

Background

On November 17, 2021, LCUSD’s TK-2 students on the Hybrid Schedule returned to campus for in-person instruction.  LCUSD has successfully implemented the health and safety protocols required by the California Department of Public Health and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.  Since August 14, 2020 we have had 15 confirmed positive staff COVID-19 cases.  With contact tracing protocols we have identified that no cases were contracted on campus and there has been no on campus community spread.  Since students have returned for in-person instruction, there have been no confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in students.

Current Considerations

The next step in our phased reopening for in-person instruction is to reopen 3rd grade for in-person instruction for students on the Hybrid Schedule.  President Puglia, the Elementary Principals, and I met last week with the 3rd Grade Hybrid teachers and have been responsive to their concerns regarding reopening for in-person instruction.  Staff recommends the reopening date of February 16, 2021.  It is important to remind families that this is after the Presidents’ Day weekend, and that travel outside of the Southern California region requires a 10 day quarantine.  Also, if the recommended reopening day is directed by the Governing Board, February 8-10, will be asynchronous days for 3rd Grade Hybrid Schedule students.

Financial Implications

Background

Adopt Resolution No. 13-20-21 and authorize District administration to issue Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs) in an amount not to exceed $7,000,000 as part of the pooled issuance of Los Angeles County Schools Pooled Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes 2020-21.

For the past thirty one years, the Los Angeles County Office of Education and the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector have made funds available to school districts in Southern California through the issuance of Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs). The program utilizes the experience, expertise, reputation and resources of the Los Angeles County Office of Education, the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector and the Los Angeles County Counsel.

Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs) are short-term, tax-exempt debt instruments issued by school and community college districts to assist cash flow during a single fiscal year. Generally, funds are received in July and repaid at the end of the school year.

The rationale for the issuance of TRANs is that this year the District will not be receiving approximately 35% of its State Principal Apportionment until next fiscal year.  A portion of the State’s payments from February through May 2021 will be deferred or delayed.  All of the June State apportionment will be delayed.  The State has created a repayment schedule for these deferrals such that the June 2021 payment will be made in July, the May payment in August, the April payment in September, the May payment in October and the February payment in November.  The TRANs will mature in December following the receipt in November of that final deferred payment.  Since the TRANs will provide the monies to the District at the time of closing in February 2021 before the deferrals begin, this will help to eliminate cash flow deficiencies that are due to the State cash deferrals.

Resolution No. 13-20-21 presented as a separate document, requests the issuance of the Tax Anticipation Notes for the district by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles.

This, along with specified financial information (audit statement; adopted budget; cash flows) is all that is needed in order to participate in the pooled issuance in February, 2021.

Financial Implications

BACKGROUND

The state of California, acting on the regulations of Proposition 98, requires the governing boards of California school districts to prepare and issue an annual School Accountability Report Card (SARC) for each elementary and high school under their jurisdiction and to make them available to parents and/or guardians on a website.  After the approval of the SARCs at the January 12, 2021 board meeting, it was brought to our attention that there were some errors in the LCHS SARC.  Those errors have been corrected.

CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS

Attached is the revised School Accountability Report Card for LCHS.  The template used to prepare this document was available through the district’s annual subscription to Document Tracking.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

It is recommended that the Governing Board accept the revised School Accountability Report Card for LCHS.

The Governing Board is requested to accept the revised School Accountability Report Card for LCHS.

Background

California Dance Arts leases district property in order to offer the LCUSD community dance classes. Due to COVID-19, California Dance Arts has been severely impacted due to the limited options for operations. The resultant financial impacts brought forward the need to enter shorter agreements. This agreement is for the six months from January 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021.

Current Considerations

In an effort to work with tenants to sustain ongoing lease revenues, the lease extension provides a reduced rate for the six months, January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021. The reductions will impact revenues for the fiscal year, but less so than a vacancy would likely incur. Lease rate reductions will expire on June 30, 2021, and extensions will be reevaluated at that time.

Financial Implications

The new monthly rent will be $6,133.43.  This is a reduction of $9,200.16 of anticipated lease income over the six (6) month period.