Regular Meeting

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Meeting Resources

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Introduction

  • Regular Board Meeting held in 2023, focusing on teacher recruitment, budget sustainability, student achievement, attendance, and policy updates.
  • Key themes included staffing shortages, equity initiatives, fiscal challenges, and community concerns about school climate.

Agenda Items

Student Spotlight: Newark Memorial High School ASB

  • Description:
    • Highlighted student-led initiatives, including a Club Rush event with 41 clubs (many philanthropic).
    • Recognized for fostering community engagement and alignment with mental health/social wellness goals.
  • Decisions/Actions:
    • No formal action taken. Recognition of student contributions.

Student Board Member Report

  • Key Points:
    • Advocacy for updated library materials at Newark Memorial High School, citing outdated collections.
    • Upcoming events: Food Fair, Tech Challenge Kickoff, athletics updates.
  • Decisions/Actions:
    • No formal action taken. Request for funding to modernize the library.

Teacher Shortages & Recruitment Strategies

  • Description:
    • District faces 16+ vacancies; long-term substitutes and TOSAs filling gaps.
    • Recruitment efforts include social media campaigns, community outreach, and exploring virtual teaching partnerships.
  • Decisions/Actions:
    • Directed staff to analyze recruitment processes and explore incentives (e.g., referral bonuses).

Budget & Financial Sustainability

  • Unaudited Actuals Report (2022–23):
    • $11.2M surplus, but structural deficits projected ($6M in 2024–25; $8M in 2025–26).
    • Reserves at 9%, above the 3% minimum.
  • Decisions/Actions:
    • Approved unaudited financials. Committed $13.6M to address future deficits.

Attendance & Enrollment

  • Key Data:
    • Chronic absenteeism rose post-pandemic (92.4% attendance rate in 2022–23 vs. 96.6% pre-COVID).
    • Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and Black students disproportionately affected.
  • Strategies:
    • Attendance Awareness Month campaigns, SART conferences, and targeted outreach.

CAASPP Performance

  • 2022–23 Results:
    • 44% met/exceeded standards in ELA (-4% from 2021–22); 35% in math (-2%).
    • Equity gaps persist for English learners and socioeconomically disadvantaged students.
  • Next Steps:
    • Focus on language development, teacher collaboration, and data-driven interventions.

Dress Code Policy Update

  • Proposed Changes:
    • Removal of gendered language, emphasis on safety/professionalism, and site-level discretion.
  • Decisions/Actions:
    • Tabled for revisions and student/staff feedback.

Public Comments

  • Key Themes:
    • Teacher Shortages: NTA urged "Plan B" to reduce strain on staff (e.g., restoring prep time).
    • Equity at Schilling School: Concerns about resource disparities and negative perceptions.
    • COVID Funds: Questions about remaining allocations and transparency.

Follow-Up and Commitments

  1. Teacher Recruitment:
    • Explore virtual teaching options (e.g., Elevate K-12) and report on progress.
    • Publish vacancy lists publicly and incentivize community referrals.
  2. Budget Task Force:
    • Address structural deficit through long-term planning (e.g., healthcare benefits, housing).
  3. Dress Code Policy:
    • Revise policy with student input and present for a second reading.
  4. Library Funding:
    • Investigate funding sources for Newark Memorial High School’s library modernization.

Conclusion

  • The meeting underscored urgent needs: resolving teacher shortages, stabilizing finances, and improving equity.
  • Next steps include advancing recruitment strategies, refining policies with community input, and prioritizing student well-being and academic outcomes.
  • Upcoming focus: Budget task force formation, mid-year budget adjustments, and stakeholder engagement on critical issues.

Audience Relevance:

  • Parents/Guardians: Impacts of staffing shortages on student support; attendance initiatives.
  • Staff: Recruitment strategies, policy updates, and professional collaboration.
  • Students: Library modernization, dress code changes, and extracurricular opportunities.
  • Community: Fiscal transparency, equity efforts, and opportunities to volunteer/advocate.