Approve Final Settlement Agreement and General Release

The total Settlement, if approved, will be $73,916 which includes attorney’s fees and will come from special education funds.

Any citizen may address the Board on items of interest to the public that are within the jurisdiction of the Board.  No action will be taken on any item not appearing on the agenda.  Please introduce yourself when calling into the meeting.

To provide Amanda Montemayor support in her first year as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources of the Newhall School District, the Governing Board agrees to provide support and mentoring from an experienced coach. 

Superintendent Pelzel and the Governing Board have agreed to select Donna C. Patrick as her coach for the 2020-2021 school year.  Donna served an Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and brings a wealth of knowledge to this role.

Approve contract with Donna C. Patrick, to provide advisement services for the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources throughout the 2020-2021 school year.

The contract is not to exceed $9,800 and will be funded out of the general fund.

The amended rent reduction letter for Camp Sunshine, Inc. reflects a correction in the total rental amount for the locations at Valencia Valley and Pico Canyon Elementary Schools, of $3,381.11 per month.  Tenant was billed and paid this amount starting in June, 2020.  

Student Support Services is in need of renewing the Master Contract with the HELP Group for the 2020-2021 school year for a NSD student placed at this NPS. The contract needs to be ratified due to Extended School Year services being provided to the NSD student. Contract negotiations were not finalized until after the 6/23/20, Governing Board meeting.

The Board is asked to approve multiple contracts for various routine purchases of goods and services via individual contracts and invoices.  The beginning and end dates for these contracts and invoices vary throughout the year and require the department to track their respective expiration terms.

Due to COVID-19 and the requirements for social distancing and preventive measures that school districts must take to reopen schools, the Newhall School District will recommend two Instructional Programs for students in the fall of 2020. 

The Newhall School District's School Start Task Force has been meeting since May 14th to review all possible models.  Stakeholder input has been gathered via multiple surveys throughout the entire process along with multiple Zoom meetings.  At the June 23rd, Governing Board meeting, the Governing Board gave direction for the District Administration to gather final interest on two models:

• AM/PM Blended Learning Model: Students are in class 2.5 hours 4 days a week and engaged in online/digital learning Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday. Half of the class attends school in the AM and the other half attends in the PM session. Wednesday will be a day for students to engage in independent online/digital learning, and time for teacher collaboration and planning. 

• Digital Learning Academy Model:  This enhanced digital learning plan will meet all requirements in Senate Bill 98. This 100% on-line learning plan will align to NSD best practices and provide students with access to all District programs and resources. This program is a good fit for any family who chooses to continue their child's instruction at home and can be an active partner with their child's teacher to deliver at home curriculum and support. 

Current enrollment numbers show 1350 students enrolled in the Digital Learning Academy model for the start of the 2020-2021 school year and 4512 in the Blended Learning Model.

Each of these models follow the requirements for schools in California as outlined in AB 77 and meets the guidelines from school reopening documents: Stronger Together, CA Department of Education (June 2020), A Planning Framework for the 2020-21 School Year, Los Angeles County Office of Education (May 27, 2020), A Collection of Guidance for Schools and Districts, CASBO Risk Management (May 20, 2020), COVID-19 Industry Guidance, CA Dept. of Public Health (June 5, 2020), Novel Coronavirus-Guidance for Cloth Face Coverings, County of Los Angeles Public Health (May 4, 2020), Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings, CA Dept. of Public Health, (June 18, 2020), CDC Activities and initiatives Supporting the COVID-19 Response and the President's Plan for Opening America Up Again, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (May 2020). 

The Governing Board will consider these two options for formal adoption and approve a plan for how to launch the 2020-2021 school year based on current guidance from the State and County Public Health Orders. 

Visual Arts will be taught digitally during the 2020-21 school year . After reviewing possible options to support this, John Fossa and Kim Ferguson, Visual Arts Instructors recommended the use of Davis Art Curriculum. There are online lessons for the teachers and student accounts which will allow ongoing access to art lessons and experiences. 

After a review by 6th grade teachers, the recommendation was to use Carnegie math during the 2020-21 school year. 

Theatre Manager Tom Lund has been developing a web-series interview show titled "Talking Backstage" where he interviews adults who grew up in the Santa Clarita Valley, attended local schools, and now work in the arts/entertainment industry. The series would explore what arts education was like for each professional, the impact it had on them, and what their career entails. William Davies, working under the Mark II Entertainment umbrella, is a professional producer and editor. Mr. Davies holds a BFA degree in audio engineering, as well as film and television production. Bringing experience working for Warner Brothers, Disney, CBS, and Discovery Mr. Davies has been assisting Mr. Lund in developing the web-series from a production element: setting up camera and audio equipment, creating custom graphics and logos, and editing interviews including color correction and audio enhancement. 

Proposition 30 and subsequently Proposition 55, requires that the District's Governing Board determine the use of the Education Protection Account (EPA) funds in an open session of a public meeting. This meeting should precede the recording of EPA expenditures and must be held annually. 

For the 2020-2021 year, NSD's estimate amount of EPA funds to be received is $7,287,929 and represents approximately 14.6% of the District Local Control Funding Formula funds from the state.  The EPA funds typically are allocated in four quarterly payments, made at the end of each quarter in September, December, March and June.  The funds cannot be used for administrative costs.  Staff recommends that all funds be designated as used for instruction.

The funding for EPA is recognized in Resource 1400, rather than Resource 0000 for Unrestricted General Fund per Proposition 30 and subsequently Proposition 55 regulations.

Staff proposes that the Governing Board take the following actions related to the emergency conditions related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

1. Authorize the Superintendent and/or his designee to take any and all actions necessary to ensure the
continuation of public education, and the health and safety of the students and staff at the District Sites,
including, but not limited to: the relocation of students and staff, provision of daily student transportation,
provision of alternative educational program options, directing staff to serve as disaster service workers pursuant to Government Code 3100, and/or make alterations, repairs or improvements to school property.

2. Adopt a Resolution declaring emergency conditions exist throughout the District
schools and offices as a result of the ongoing threat of COVID-19 virus.

3. Authorize, by unanimous vote, under the provisions of section 20113 of the California Public Contract
Code, the Superintendent and/or her designee(s) to enter into any and all contracts
necessary, without advertising or inviting bids, and for any dollar amount necessary to respond to the
emergency conditions at the District Sites, including, but not limited to: the relocation of students and
staff; continued instruction of students; maintenance of food supplies, instructional materials,
operational support supplies, equipment in support of virtual learning, daily student transportation; and
provision of additional personnel such as nurses.

Public hearing opened at ______ by ______.

Pubic hearing closed at ______ by ______.

School districts are required to obtain annual Governing Board approval for fund cash transfers.  These transfers are between the General Fund and: 

Child Development Fund (12.0) 
Deferred Maintenance Fund (14.0) 
Special Reserve for Retiree Benefits Fund (20.0) 
Capital Facilities Fund (25.0) 
Special Reserve for Capital Outlay Fund (40.0) 

These transfers are primarily done for temporary borrowing between funds for cash flow purposes.  Funds that are transferred are transferred back to the original fund when State and/or Federal funds are deposited into the General Fund.  This is a common practice for school districts.

This resolution is an update per the State Budget Act, which increased the transfer percentage from 75 to 85 percent and requires a public hearing.