Regular Meeting

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Meeting Resources

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Introduction

  • May 4, 2023 Regular Board Meeting focused on leadership transitions, fiscal decisions, and end-of-year updates. Key themes included:
    • Approval of Dr. Penny DeLeon as new superintendent.
    • Budget allocations for facilities projects (HVAC, parking lot, water stations).
    • Policy updates and staff/teacher recognitions.
    • Community concerns about transparency, safety, and fiscal accountability.

Agenda Items

Superintendent Appointment

  • Description:
    • Unanimous approval of Dr. Penny DeLeon as superintendent, effective May 15, 2023.
    • Recruitment process involved 21 stakeholder focus groups, 470 survey responses, and interviews with 14 candidates.
    • Dr. DeLeon’s background: 29-year career in CA education, fiscal management (e.g., eliminating $11M deficit in Oxnard), and equity initiatives.
  • Decisions made:
    • Contract terms: $270,000 base salary, $10k relocation reimbursement, and ACSA/ACLSA membership coverage.

Policy Updates

  • Description:
    • Board Policy 5126/AR 5126 (Awards of Achievement) updated to align with state standards for academic, civic, and biliteracy awards.
  • Decisions made:
    • Policy approved unanimously; biliteracy awards to debut at 2023 graduations.

Facilities Projects

  • HVAC Upgrades:
    • Description: Phase 2 HVAC replacements at Birch Grove Primary, Coyote Hills, and Kennedy Elementary.
    • Decisions made: $175,080 contract awarded to Rodan Builders.
  • Parking Lot & Water Stations:
    • Description: Birch Grove Primary parking lot ($704k) and district-wide water bottle stations ($77k).
    • Decisions made: Contracts approved for GradTech and Smelly Mel’s Plumbing.

Public Comments

  • Key themes:
    • Transparency: Concerns about vetting process for superintendent and lack of communication after a student safety incident at Birch Grove Primary.
    • Fiscal Accountability: Criticism of proposed 16% pay raises for administrators amid audit findings (e.g., $1M ADA reporting error).
    • Website Accuracy: Outdated staff listings and vendor access issues flagged.
    • Staff Retention: Requests to promote internal candidates and address vacation payout disputes for classified staff.

Follow-Up and Commitments

  • Study Session: Board to review project management practices for facilities upgrades.
  • Surplus Property Discussion: Special meeting scheduled for May 18 to explore asset management strategies.
  • Superintendent Transition: Dr. DeLeon to begin May 15; interim Superintendent Milliken to assist through June.

Conclusion

  • Next Steps:
    • May 18 meeting includes surplus property study session and final approvals for 2023-24 initiatives.
    • Continued focus on academic achievement, equity, and community engagement under new leadership.
  • Recognitions:
    • Certificated/Classified Employees of the Year: Stephanie Schubert (Birch Grove) and Darnay Lang (Birch Grove).
    • Resolutions passed for Teacher Appreciation Week (May 8–12) and Classified School Employees Week (May 21–27).

Target Audience Notes:

  • Parents/Students: Graduation/promotion events, safety protocols, and academic awards highlighted.
  • Staff: Salary increases, professional development, and recognitions emphasized.
  • Community: Fiscal transparency and facilities improvements addressed as priorities.