Regular Meeting

Introduction

• Regular Board Meeting held on September 17, 2024, in the NUSD boardroom and via YouTube/Zoom.
• Key themes included budget adjustments, curriculum updates, school safety, student achievements, and community partnerships.

Agenda Items

Budget & Agenda Approval

• Description:
  • Agenda amended to remove a personnel item (Job Abandonment by Certificated Employee ID 3298).
  • Contract amendment for SEWA (13.4) to correct approval date notation.
• Decisions made or actions taken:
  • Agenda approved unanimously with amendments.

Student & Staff Reports

• Description:
  • Student Report: Highlighted Homecoming Week events, athletic achievements (e.g., water polo, cross-country), and upcoming milestones (e.g., turf field groundbreaking).
  • NTA (Newark Teachers Association): Recognized staff efforts in curriculum distribution, PBIS gold status for Schilling/Coyote Hills, and concerns about incomplete Benchmark curriculum for 4 elementary teachers.
  • NEWMA (Newark Management Association): Celebrated partnerships (e.g., free eye exams), PBIS recognition, and professional development initiatives.
• Decisions made or actions taken:
  • No formal action taken.

Attendance & Enrollment Update

• Description:
  • Enrollment: 4,659 students (down from projected 4,740).
  • Attendance improved by 1.2% in 2023–24, generating ~$600K additional ADA funding.
  • Chronic absenteeism remains high (51.7% missed >9 days), with Pacific Islander students disproportionately affected.
• Strategies for 2024–25:
  • Home visits, mentorship programs, and partnerships with Alameda County Office of Education.
• Decisions made or actions taken:
  • No formal action taken.

Instructional Materials Sufficiency

• Description:
  • Annual Williams Act compliance confirmed for all sites.
  • Complaint resolved: Birch Grove Primary provided digital access pending delayed hard copies.
• Decisions made or actions taken:
  • Public hearing closed; resolution to be voted on next meeting.

Policy Updates

• Description:
  • Board Policy 7214 (General Obligation Bonds) approved with enhanced oversight language.
  • Administrative Regulation 7214 tabled for revisions (e.g., clarifying committee roles, Brown Act compliance).
• Decisions made or actions taken:
  • Policy approved; AR to return for third reading.

Public Comments

• Key themes:
  • Constitution Day: Community member emphasized federal mandate for Constitution education and its philosophical significance.
  • Softball Field Access: Concerns about NGSL’s displacement from decommissioned Snow Elementary fields.

Follow-Up and Commitments

• Band Director Hiring: Two candidates interviewed; update expected next meeting.
• Bond Oversight: Citizen’s Oversight Committee (CBOC) and Bond Advisory Committee to ensure transparency.
• Policy Review: 165 outdated policies/regulations prioritized for updates.
• Softball Field Resolution: Joint district/city meeting scheduled for September 24 to identify alternatives.

Conclusion

• Outcomes:
  • Attendance improvements celebrated; targeted interventions planned for high-need groups.
  • Bond oversight policies advanced to rebuild community trust.
• Next Steps:
  • October agenda to include band director hiring update, AR 7214 revisions, and construction groundbreaking (September 20).
  • Continued focus on safety trainings, PBIS expansion, and equity initiatives.

[142] Aiden Hill: Calling the meeting to order at 6.02 PM. So first order of business, 1.1 meeting practices and information. Members of the public may observe the meeting via the NUSD YouTube channel or in person at the NUSD boardroom. Spanish translation will be available via Zoom. And Ms. Lemus, are there any public comments on closed session items?

[172] Toya Lemus: There is no public comment on closed session items.

[175] Aiden Hill: Great.

[176] Aiden Hill: So moving on to 1.3, recess to closed session. So in closed session, we're going to be covering item 2.1, conference with legal counsel, anticipated litigation, significant exposure to litigation pursuant to government code 54956.9, subdivision D2, seven cases. And with that, we are recessing to closed session.

[4578] Aiden Hill: at 7.15 p.m. and there are no actions that we need to report out of that closed session. So if we can go move on to item 4.1, Pledge of Allegiance. So if everybody could stand please. Repeat after me. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. OK. So moving on to meeting practices.

[4641] Aiden Hill: And just as a reminder to everybody, we like to start our session by basically repeating the commitments that we as a board have made over the summer in our own board training. And so I'm going to read those quickly. So our board meeting guidelines, the conduct that we're trying to hold ourselves accountable to, is number one, we will keep our focus on the best interest of our students. Number two, we will work towards that future, learning from the past. Number three, we will stay focused on our goals and avoid getting sidetracked. Number four, we will build upon the ideas of others and look for common ground. We will paraphrase for understanding. Number five, when we have a difference of opinion, we will debate the facts of the situation and avoid personal criticism. We will address processes, not persons. And then finally, we will respect differences. We will never dismiss or devalue others. OK, so moving on to 5.1, approval of the agenda. And my understanding is that we need to amend an item. OK, and the item that we're amending is the personnel action. OK, and can you just remind me the? Hold on a second. OK. So hold on, let me just find it here. One moment, everybody. It's on the personnel report, right? Yes. OK. And that's, where is that? Oh, right there. OK. So there's a category on the PAL called Job Abandonment by Certificated Employees, Employee ID 3298. We are removing that from the PAL. But other than that, the agenda stands as is. Can I get a survey?

[4765] Tracey Vackar: We'd also like to amend the SEWA contract, which is 13.4. There will be an amendment to one of the pages that actually has a notation that says it was approved by the NUSD school board on July 15, 2024. I'd like to thank the keen eagle-eyes that got that. To my knowledge, that was not true. It was an action for this evening.

[4788] Aiden Hill: OK. So do we need to pull that in order to amend it?

[4793] Tracey Vackar: I think I can just amend the actual contract because I'm the one who signs it.

[4797] Aiden Hill: Great. OK. So with those two changes, can I get a motion to approve the agenda?

[4803] Kat Jones: I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. I'll second.

[4807] Aiden Hill: So Vice President Jones moves. Member Plancarte seconds. And can we do this through Board Doc's miscellaneous? Yes. OK. Or do you need to manually adjust that? Those changes, I don't know if you need to do that or not.

[4823] Aiden Hill: OK, that's fine.

[4824] Toya Lemus: OK, great. Online voting is open.

[4832] Joy Lee: Could you ask me for my vote?

[4835] Toya Lemus: Yes.

[4837] Joy Lee: Yes.

[4846] Toya Lemus: Student board member Lee. Yes, thank you. You're welcome. Board member Thomas, yay. President Hill, yay. Member Nguyen, yay. President Jones, yay. And board member Plancarte, yay.

[4866] Aiden Hill: OK, unanimous. So moving on to student report. So student member. Yes, OK.

[4879] Joy Lee: Good evening, board, executive cabinet, and community. There have been so many amazing things happening since we last met at Newark Memorial High School. So to recap, last week was our spirit week, where each day, our different classes had dress-up themes. The whole week would soon lead up to our skit assembly, where each class would perform a skit that the class officers created. This year, the freshmen did the Cars theme, sophomores performed a Teen Beach skit, juniors did Moana, and seniors did Phineas and Ferb. Shout out to our assembly head this year, Harnor, who logistically organized our assembly. A couple of things were particularly special for this year's skit. First of all, our skit performers were able to invite their families to come and watch them perform. And secondly, this year, our school was able to hand out Cougar Pride shirts, which worked surprisingly well, as on Cougar Pride Day and the football game, many shirts Many students were able to show up to our school with these shirts on. It was great to see the blue and yellow worn by our Cougars that was not as seen before. And it's a competition, so the class that won was seniors won first place, then sophomores, then juniors, then freshmen. Later that night, our football team played against Eureka. where we had a loss of 17-14, seven to 14, sorry. But the score didn't matter because during halftime, it was time to announce our homecoming court. Congratulations to Juliana Barbosa, Oliver Chen, Marwa Chopin, Darius Coker, Alexander Garcia, Noah Honohono, Leila Largusa, Michael Tellez, Darian Wolf, Gerardo Ramos, Rangel, who was voted by our school, and special congratulations to seniors Marwa Chopin and Leila Largusa, who were voted queens by our 2025 senior class. Then on Saturday night, Newark Memorial High School had our homecoming dance. Thanks to Anna Mikaela Marzon, who is head of the dance committee, because her and alongside her dance committee in ASB planned our whole entire homecoming. We had a DJ, a chocolate fountain, photo booths, and a taco truck, making this evening a fun time. Moving on to our athletics department, our boys water polo team, for our boys water polo team in their season, they're currently at 10 wins and two losses. And at our MVAL center meet number one, hosted by our high school, the freshman and sophomore boys placed fourth. Our varsity girls placed first, our varsity boys placed first, our JV girls placed first, and our JV boys placed first. So we all placed really good. Yay! And Kenji Kawabata was nominated for Mercury News Athlete of the Week after leading our Cougars to victory at the meet. So now I'll be announcing some upcoming events if you would like to write it down now is the time. Our Newark Days is, oh, this is not an upcoming event, but this is just to let you know that Newark Days is coming up starting this Thursday to Sunday. Our Newark Memorial High School students will be volunteering in the parade as well as the fair. Cougar, Our Cougars will be breaking ground for our construction for our new turf field on September 20th at 7 p.m. If you would like to come, all are invited. And we are hosting a Cougar camp this year on September 27th from 8 to 12 a.m. at Newark Memorial High School. It will be $10 per child and this is a time where kindergarten to fifth graders are able to come and play like sports and do like activities. And food fair will be on September 27th during lunchtime. And lastly, our water polo, girls volleyball, girls tennis, girls golf, football games are all currently have started playing. So go, please support them. You will probably be able to find information on the school website. That is everything. Thank you for listening. Have a great evening.

[5155] Aiden Hill: Thank you, student member. Any questions from the board? Member Nguyen?

[5158] Phuong Nguyen: I just want to highlight Joy and Patil won their doubles match today. And we didn't win as a team, but we are better this year. And I'm just super proud of Joy's leadership on the team. And I just wanted to highlight that. So good job, Joy.

[5179] Joy Lee: Thank you.

[5180] Aiden Hill: Other questions? I have a question. So on your skit performance, do you guys video record that?

[5192] Joy Lee: I know some students video record it, but I don't think we do as a school. Yeah, unfortunately.

[5198] Aiden Hill: You should recommend for future years.

[5201] Joy Lee: Yeah, I will recommend that to our ACP class. And then post it on YouTube. Yeah, oh, yes. OK, I will write that down and recommend it to them. We used to do a video yearbook.

[5210] Phuong Nguyen: I don't know if you guys do that.

[5211] Joy Lee: Oh, really? OK, let me write that down. But check with MCA. They might be doing something.

[5219] Joy Lee: But this year, all the skits were really good. They were so well planned. If you guys went and watched, how was it? I saw you there.

[5228] Phuong Nguyen: It was amazing. I think for parents who haven't been able to participate, the overwhelming feeling when the juniors started was, for the parents being there, it was definitely overwhelming, even for me. been able to and been privileged enough to witness several of them. It was just a different feeling this year. And I think for a lot of our students coming back this year, whether maybe I want to say we're out of the woods from the effects of COVID or, but definitely the Cougar pride. I just, I felt it really strongly. And so, so were the parents who were there that were in attendance. And I just also wanted to thank SSC for and Mr. Murphy at the high school for providing those t-shirts for all the students at the high school. It was wonderful to see them wearing them at the rally for Spirit Week and they wore it at the football game and then throughout this week. And I think there's definitely, if anything, it's definitely something that we should support, getting t-shirts for all of the school sites. And budgeting for that. I think it just it brings and lifts another element brings another element to school pride in the district. And would you say joy.

[5317] Joy Lee: No 100% because all my other years since I come came back from Kobe it all my other years. Whenever we had Cougar Pride Day, no one would dress up. That day was especially when our numbers were low, but this year it was incredibly high. So it was great to see that change.

[5335] Phuong Nguyen: And there was huge participation from all of the students and all of the classes this year. And it was quite a production in such a short amount of time because we've moved up all the dates because of the field being you know, the groundbreaking of the field. But normally, I think it's in October, correct? So the kids, they worked extremely hard. And I'm just super proud of you all. Good job.

[5366] Tracey Vackar: Enjoy each class has a different color, correct? They had like a different way of recognizing the freshmen, sophomore.

[5373] Phuong Nguyen: Well, not in the pride shirt. Everybody, it was all uniform. Oh, they were all, OK. Everybody got the same shirt, which I think is brilliant because. I think that's better. Yeah, I think there's no division there. But in prior years, yes, the seniors had different colors, and juniors had different colors, and sophomore and freshman. But I think going with the whole theme of being united is definitely something that is bringing the kids together. And then I also think last year's challenge day is also a nexus in helping bring students and bring awareness to just saying, hey, you know, We're all struggling, and we recognize you. And with that continuance this year for our freshman class, I think it's going to continue to be better. And then with the SRO, too. So I think all of these factors make a huge difference and positive impact at the high school. And I believe it will, too, at the junior high. So thanks, Joy, for the update.

[5437] Aiden Hill: OK, moving on to employee organizations. So NTA, Ms. Vila.

[5443] Cheri Villa: Good evening, board president and school board members and executive cabinet. My name is Cheri Vila, and I'm president of our Newark Teachers Association. To start off, I'm going to somewhat piggyback on student board member Lee's presentation. I don't know if any of you caught the last city council meeting where they announced the grand marshals for the Newark-based parade. It's going to be our boys' soccer team and our coaches, who are NTA members. So I might be a little bit partial to the head coach there. You know, good guy, my brother. But no, it'll be exciting to see them leading the parade. And it's a big thing for our city. So congratulations to them. And again, I can't wait to see my brother up there leading them all. Very excited about that. But so yeah, those are our two NTA members. OK, so starting off, got a positive, a big positive. I'm happy to share. with everybody that this past weekend, we had the CTA Region 1 Conference in San Jose. Juleus Chapman, he's not only our NTA vice president, but he's also a member of the CTA Region 1 Organizing Committee. So he's in charge over there, getting things going. So very proud of Julius for being active and taking on a role within CTA. I was able to meet our new David Hernandez. David was supposed to retire in January, That came a little bit earlier. So our new executive director of CTA, her name is Chaz Garcia. Very, very nice person, and I'm excited to start working with her. But moving forward, OK, at the Region 1, let's see. OK, for the past few years, the norm would be for it to be just Julius and myself at these conferences. But I'm happy to share that this past weekend, we have NTA members wanting to go to our conferences as well. Let's see, we had our NTA members attending sessions on writing grievances, advanced grievances and arbitration, healthcare and benefits, the power of consent and disrupting misogyny in curriculum and also in policies, more specifically like dress codes. And capping the day with a big information session on breaking the cycle of dysfunction in our special ed departments. Which leads me to the next what I wanted to talk about. You know, the past couple of weeks, we've had some things coming up in our special ed department. Systems are being put in place. I'd like to thank Angela Walker, our director of special education, for putting systems in place. And, you know, they're not good conversations to have, but again, with the relationship building and partnership, looking forward to continuing those talks. and getting things on track for ultimately for our students, our specialized students. Next topic in regards to later on on the agenda where we're talking about the public hearing for textbook sufficiency, the resolution coming up. First and foremost, I'd like to recognize Danielle Johnson and John Martinez in our IMC department. The volume of materials that they have been putting out since before school started is just tremendous. I mean, I walked in there myself It's literally mountains of boxes. So our NTA members want to give a special thank you to Danielle Johnson and John Martinez for getting curriculum out to us. Now in regards to the public hearing for textbook sufficiency and the resolution that will be coming, I would like to point out we are getting close to our NTA members having curriculum. We're getting very close to what they need. But I would like to point out we still have four elementary teachers that do not have benchmark curriculum. looking forward to continuing those conversations and getting our people their curriculum that they need. So again, thank you, Han and Karen Allard, for your work in getting us the new curriculum, the adopted curriculum. And again, we're looking forward to having it all in the professional development to come with it. OK, and then finally, The relationship building, I know that's a focus that we're talking about this year. It's definitely shifting in a positive direction. I'll point out every time what's going on at the junior high. Principal Vince over there, I call him Principal Vince, at their last PTA meeting, they had 65 people, roughly 65 people at their PTA meeting, which is phenomenal. When my oldest was there, we were running on eight people at PTA meetings. And now they're over 60. And I don't, unfortunately, I'm sorry to say I don't know much about what's going on at the high school, at the PTA meetings. I do plan on being more informed eventually with what's going on there. But as far as the effects of having, shifting things and keeping a focus on relationships, just go take a look at it yourself. But other than that, thank you.

[5760] Aiden Hill: Do we have a representative from CSEA? Okay. Do we have a representative from NEWMA? Welcome, Ms. Palomino.

[5773] Kristi Palomino: Good evening. Good evening, President Hill, Board of Trustees, and Executive Cabinet members. My name is Christy Palomino, NEWMA President. In the first 40 days of school, NEWMA has been very busy. We have been working hard to improve the experiences students have at school every day. Some of our members have attended professional learning opportunities including social emotional wellness for students and for staff. We have helped lead and facilitate professional learning of teachers and support staff here in the district as well. Teachers are continuing to receive their curriculum thanks to Danielle and John. Campuses are back open to parents, volunteers and visitors taking the important next step in returning all of our schools to a place of community hubs. In fact, at two of our elementary schools, Coyote Hills and Schilling, we partnered with Bella Eye Care Optometry in Newark, along with VSP, providing free eye exams for students who return their packets. And then those students who needed glasses were able to choose frames right then and there, and they will receive their glasses within eight weeks. The glasses will remain at school until the end of the year when the students will take those glasses home. And we look forward to continuing our partnership with Bella Eye Care and partnering with other community resources, providing resources for our students and families. We wanna highlight the work of our supervisors and having meaningful goal setting and evaluation processes for every NEWMA member annually. This allows us to reflect on our current status and push to develop further. It is through the alignment of personal goals, professional development opportunities, and guided reflection and coaching that we will continue to bring our best to serve this community. We remain as an association dedicated to every student every single day. And NEWMA wants to acknowledge the dedicated work of teachers and staff supporting all students with fidelity with implementation of our PBIS expectations of Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible at both Coyote Hills and Schilling. Both Coyote Hills and Schilling earned gold status in 2024 and will be honored during our PBIS conference in Sacramento. Thank you. Thank you so much.

[5927] Tracey Vackar: Actually, Kristy, if you could just stay for just a second, because I know I was going to make a comment, too, during my superintendent's comment about the PBIS. So thank you for sharing that work. We're really super excited, very proud for both Schilling and Coyote Hills to make gold for PBIS. We do have our awards here. We're going to bring you back so we can celebrate with you right here in the boardroom.

[5948] Kristi Palomino: Fantastic. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you.

[5959] Aiden Hill: So, moving on to 8.1, public comment on non-agenda items. So, we don't, I don't have any, okay, we don't have any additional speaker cards. Okay, great. So, we don't have any speakers for non-agenda items, so we will move to 8.2. And we have Mr. Cary Knoop, why don't you come on up.

[5989] Cary Knoop: Hi, this is referring to the Constitution Day, Happy Constitution Day. I assume that every student in NUSD got some Constitution lessons today at the school. It's actually federally mandated. On Constitution Day, you have to spend some time on teaching the kids about the Constitution. And if you ask me, I think that is actually very necessary. Because a lot of people, I think, and I'm not claiming to know anything more than anybody else, but I think a lot of people have no idea what the Constitution stands for. And it starts with our children. Why do we have a Constitution? It's so amazing that the United States is a very new country compared to the old, European countries where most of the early immigrants came from. And when the Constitution was formed, it was based on new philosophical ideas. And the old country, if you will, the old countries never got up to par with that. So we are very strong when it comes to things like freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, of religion, or freedom not to have religion. And it's so important to teach our children about that. Because again, freedom is very important. And I'm an immigrant. I was born in the Netherlands. And I'm not saying that the Netherlands is unfree. But again, the European countries are behind when it comes to the US. So we have something special here. And then also we need to look at countries where the word freedom is nowhere to be found, you know? Some communist countries where everything is organized, controlled by the government. And so we need to cherish these freedoms that we have. And again, it starts with education to make sure that children understand not only the amendments and things like that, but the spirit of the Constitution, what it stands for. Thanks.

[6136] Aiden Hill: Thank you, Mr. Knoop. OK, do we have any additional public comments, Ms. Lemus? OK, great. OK, so moving on to 9.1, superintendent report. Superintendent?

[6154] Tracey Vackar: So thank you very much for the opportunity to be able to share a few things with you. We already heard about PBIS, which is exciting for both Schilling and for Coyote Hills. We will bring back when we have their awards to be able to actually present here at the boardroom. be able to help really celebrate with them. It is really amazing that they have accomplished this again. And we'll be able to celebrate that with their families and their students. Many of you may have seen the emblems that are actually outside their schools that have been placed up there. So we could add another year, which is really exciting. A little bit more, we also have a Bond FAQ that has been presented. I'm not going to read the thing in its entirety. It will be placed at our website on Friday. We will be going live with the FAQ list. And so we'll have a special section on the district piece. We can talk about the facts. And that's the thing I want to remind everybody. We also can't campaign. And we can't tell people what to do. But we can give them the important facts so that they can make a really informed decision. And that's really what the FAQ is all about. And so I kind of wanted to share that with everyone. I'll be reviewing that also with our principals so they can share with their leadership teams as well. And again, no campaigning on campus. We can ask people to vote one way or the other for it. But we most certainly can provide them with really factual information. And a lot of time was put into looking at the bond information that we put out and considerations that went forward to being able to deal with actually considered a bond extension. So it's a tax extension. It's a little bit different than your traditional bonds. But again, it has information that they need to understand and have information on. So excited about having it there. And then there will also be an informational booth that will be at Newark Days as well on Sunday. So we look forward to engaging with our communities in ways that we can, but there's a lot of things that we can't do. So we just want to make sure that we clearly define what that is. Also, I wanted to share, many of you have heard about our softball league and that there's been some concerns about them not being on snow. We do have an official statement that kind of talks about some of the work that we've been doing with this, with the league and with the community. And so I'd like to share with you what that actual statement was. There was a press newscast that was done on this on Friday evening. And I really appreciate, I think, the press's view to be able to reach out and just ask both parties what was going on with it. Because it is upsetting. And I know it's concerning. And I know it's concerning to the league. So we understand the concerns that have been raised. The district and our school board remain solution-driven, and district staff are committed to working with Newark Girls Softball League. When we last spoke with our insurance company in the spring, we were told that we can no longer provide public access to a decommissioned snow site, including the deteriorated fields. We were told there was significant liability associated with the continued use of a decommissioned site, and if we were to continue this practice, they could discontinue our insurance coverage. thus exposing the district to even greater liability. We greatly respect this longstanding youth organization, and we are in the process of contacting our insurance company to see if there are any other options available to the district and to NGSL to continue the use of the snow site. But at this point, we are concerned. The district is working with our city staff to identify alternative field spaces in the community that can be used, and the city is hosting a joint meeting on September 24th in the evening, which will include NGSL and our district staff to discuss how we can all work together. The district has identified alternative shared land spaces at another school site. However, neither the district nor the league has the funds that it would take to actually build those sites. We remain committed to finding a solution and working with our families and the community. So that really is, we are very concerned. have been for some time. Any time I think that it has disruptions, no different than when we had to move our students into the other school sites and think about ways that we had to find ways to help support them so that they could be successful in transition. We still need to consider that also for our community folks as well. So I did want to share that with you. Additionally, we've got our groundbreaking that will be happening for the track and field this coming Friday at 7 PM. And there are plans underway. And I really want to thank the site staff for the planning of this. And also I want to thank our new assistant superintendent, Jose Quintana, who's been working on this behind the scenes and working with the school to really make a really nice event to make this special. And of course, we really can't wait to have the grand opening. That will be the best part. And that will be happening in spring. So of course, you all are invited. It's at 7 PM over at the field. And then the football game will start at 7, 30 PM.

[6454] Aiden Hill: Great. Thank you, Superintendent. Questions from the board?

[6459] Tracey Vackar: I'm not done. I got more.

[6461] Aiden Hill: The floor is yours.

[6464] Tracey Vackar: Thank you very much. Actually, I'm going to send this next piece back over to Assistant Superintendent Chris Williams to talk a little bit about our band update.

[6473] Christopher Williams: Yes. So the good news is we have two qualified applicants that were submitted for the band. One from NYU out of Newark University, which is a prestigious band and instrumental school, as well as an individual that was part of the Cal Berkeley marching band. He will be interviewing this week. I'm not going to disclose any names yet, but a very highly qualified candidate that we were able to recruit over last week to get them on board. So hopefully I'll have good news on having a full-time band director at the next board meeting. I appreciate Mike for his leadership at the high school, working through this, and really trying to find someone. We've heard the message. Band is just as important as any other program we have. has a tremendous impact on student learning and connections and connectivity with our school and community. And we're looking forward to some championships for our band as well once we get the right person in there. So I'll continue to provide more updates and appreciate you guys expressing your concern at the last board meeting. And we'd like to move forward on good notes and positive outcomes. Thank you. Board member Nguyen.

[6539] Phuong Nguyen: Since we're on the topic of talking about band, I just really wanted to say thank you to Ms. Ortiz and Mr. Pomal for assisting in their mentorship and leadership to our band students. I was able to visit them after tennis practice last week. And I was so impressed with the leadership of our students. Their peers were conducting and leading their peers. their younger students, their underclassmen. And I just wanted to say that, I mean, talking about it right now, I'm getting emotional because it was just amazing to see the determination and the drive and the dedication those band students have in wanting the band program to continue so badly. And I was super impressed with, Layla Lurgusa, who was up there conducting and leading her bandmates. She's so deserving of the homecoming queen nomination and position on the court. And I'm so proud of her and the rest of her classmates who are upperclassmen, Darius Coker, he was there, and Patrick Somriento. And then I also wanted to mention appreciate Ryan Waters, who conducted the Star Spangled Banner at the game. They're just amazing kids. And I was privileged to have a conversation with Patrick Sarmiento. And he said, and it kind of resonates with me, sometimes our band students, our visual arts, or any of our art students, they may feel, and our drama kids, they may feel not part or included in the everyday activities of high school life and feel like they're a little bit outcasted or not popular, right, to that extent. And I just wanted to say that our students at the high school are amazing. What they're able to see beyond their peers and also be really inclusive towards each other and really lifting each other up in times when, you know, when they have to help themselves in order to succeed and without enough resources. I just wanted to say that it was super impressive. I walked away feeling more inspired by just their dedication and drive and really wanting to continue this work. But at the same time, I think that there definitely needs to be positive messaging throughout the district. Our students are so worth it. everything that we try to instill in them. And again, and it's also with dedication from our staff who's, you know, asked to go above and beyond, and they're willing to take on that extra step to help ensure that our students succeed in whatever it is that they want to achieve. And so I also want to thank Ms. Newt, too, because she's taking on the choir. The choir sang at the rally during Spirit Week also. So all these kids and everybody that's involved right now, we need to do right by them and make sure that we get people in positions where we have amazing programs and they need to thrive. So I just want to say thank you for making that effort too.

[6773] Tracey Vackar: Good to hear. Thank you for sharing that information. I think probably many people here in this audience and probably up here on the dais have probably been involved with band or a performing arts activity in their past. And just like athletics, I mean, it's just another way that really connects the students to being able to grow and be able to demonstrate their leadership and to be able to express themselves in so many different ways. And I will just say, I know I'm very committed to it as a band kid. Loved it played a lot of different instruments, and it was a really big part of my life I know in high school, and so I know how important says so really excited about some of the extensive Resources that we've gone to to be able to really try to secure a great person Yes, and once again while we're on the topic of ban for those who want to put a face like to the name Darius and Leila our homecoming court people they were the ones who spoke up last meeting about the band so

[6830] Joy Lee: Those students were the ones who, like, they actually came to our board meeting and did a public comment. And they were both on our homecoming court. So it was, yes. So well-deserved. Great. I love them.

[6847] Aiden Hill: So Ms. Vackar, do you yield the floor?

[6850] Tracey Vackar: I do. Although, I'm just, your haircut's so cute.

[6854] Aiden Hill: Oh.

[6857] Aiden Hill: So questions from the board regarding superintendent report? Yeah, and again, also just echoing what was said, I mean, I think that band is super important. And it's something that really, I think, electrifies a school and creates school spirit. And so definitely, we want to be supportive of that. We had heard the details from the last meeting. So I also actually reached out to some of the teachers at my school, because we have a really good band program, and just to say, do you guys know any people? So if your contacts don't come through, I'll try to see if there's other people, because it's all about the network. OK, great. OK. So moving on to US Constitution Day, September 17, 2024. Superintendent.

[6920] Tracey Vackar: Thank you. I want to take this important moment, and I want to just thank one of our community members who got up and spoke earlier, Mr. Knoop. Oh, you're back. Mr. Knoop reached out to me and talked about the importance of US Constitution Day, and I couldn't agree more with him. This is a really important day in our history of the Constitution. And for many of you, I mean, it's really stood the test of time. I mean, I think our forefathers were really brilliant in how they really came together and they thought about so many things that have been done with it. It was originally formed in 1787, and the founders signed this as being the most influential document in American history, the US Constitution. We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, established justice, ensured domestic tranquility, and provide the common defense to promote the general welfare and to secure the blessings of liberty in ourselves in order to, I'm having a hard time reading this, ordain and establish the Constitution for the United States of America. The document itself, and I agree, it's something that we are required to provide instruction on, to be able to sit there and talk about the importance of the US Constitution at all grade levels, and to have activities planned. There are a plethora of activities that are available as resources to our teachers, and to our students, and to our families, to really kind of engage into some of the great stuff that happens with the US Constitution. So I have found a little quiz. And I thought we would have a little fun and maybe just seeing what everybody's knowledge is on the US Constitution. So I'll start off a little bit easy. Name a US president that signed the US Constitution. Who'd you say? George Washington. There is another.

[7043] Aiden Hill: Jefferson.

[7044] Tracey Vackar: It was not Jefferson.

[7046] Aiden Hill: Oh, interesting.

[7051] Tracey Vackar: Nope.

[7052] Aiden Hill: Madison.

[7053] Tracey Vackar: Oh, Madison. Oh, it was Madison. Yep. And then, you know, what are the branches of government that are founded underneath the US Constitution?

[7065] Joy Lee: The executive, the legislative, and the judicial branch.

[7072] Tracey Vackar: Excellent. Thanks for leading the way there. Are you really glad I didn't look your way? I mean, Joy and I have eye contact right here. I just lost my contact. I've been knowing it, but I had a lesson on it today.

[7088] Nancy Thomas: Oh, and that's federally mandated.

[7091] Kat Jones: Absolutely. Witness that it happened. Yeah, and it's third grade curriculum.

[7095] Tracey Vackar: So I'm going to give some of you a little extra clue in this next one.

[7099] Phuong Nguyen: Thank you, Mr. Tyson.

[7102] Tracey Vackar: So a little extra clue in this next one. I'm actually going to give you four possible answers. What is the minimum age of the presidential candidate? Is it there is no minimum age, 25 years of age, 30 years, or 35 years of age? The answer is 35 years of age. And so who was the first president to sign the actual Constitution? You named two presidents, but who's the first person that signed it? Hamilton. Nope. No, I didn't say it was a president. But who was the first person that signed it? It was not Adams. OK, I'll give you a little clue. It could be Franklin, Washington, Madison, or Jefferson. Madison. It's not Madison.

[7161] Jefferson. Jefferson. No, it was Washington.

[7162] Tracey Vackar: I'll put you out of your misery. It was Washington. The obvious answer is Washington. Yeah, they gave the president the OK to go ahead and sign it first.

[7170] I guess that makes sense.

[7176] Tracey Vackar: You know, I thought it was an easy one until you all went through the process. And I thought, OK. That's all right. We've got this.

[7184] Tracey Vackar: So where did the Constitutional Convention meet in 1787?

[7189] Aiden Hill: Philadelphia.

[7190] Tracey Vackar: Philadelphia.

[7191] Aiden Hill: Miracle in Philadelphia.

[7192] Tracey Vackar: That's correct. And who wrote the original Bill of Rights that was introduced and also introduced to Congress? And I'll help you out with this. Was it Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, James Madison, or Thomas Jefferson? It was neither Jefferson. It was Madison. Madison's pretty popular. And I've got one more for you. Which of the following doesn't have an official role in changing or amending the Constitution? Is it the House of Representatives, the President, the states, or the US Senate? That's a hard one. I'll repeat the question. Which of the following doesn't have an official role in changing or amending the Constitution? The House of Representatives, the President, the states, or the US Senate? The President. Yep.

[7252] Tracey Vackar: Anyways, that concludes the little quiz. You guys did great.

[7257] Tracey Vackar: Thank you, Mr. Knoop, for letting us have a little fun up here.

[7260] Tracey Vackar: I think sometimes we forget to have fun up here on the board day. It's some of the hard work that we have to do. So it's nice to be able to celebrate the US Constitution, think about the importance of today. Well, congratulations. You did really well, Joy.

[7276] Aiden Hill: Questions or comments on this particular item? So I do have a comment, just to sort of build on what Mr. Newp had mentioned earlier. So we really do have something special in the United States. So there aren't really many countries in the world that are founded on an idea. But our country is founded on ideas. And I didn't fully appreciate that when I was younger, but I do now. And one thing that I just want to hold up, because I knew that there was going to be a quiz. And so I came prepared. And so I have what's called the Citizen's Rulebook. And I don't know if people have seen this before. But I used to see it all the time when I was a kid, because my grandpa had millions of them. And he was retired. And he would go, and he would hand them out to everybody that he met. And he was very active in local politics. And initially, I used to just kind of laugh a little bit and just think, oh, how many? I mean, I had a million of them that he gave me. But now I carry one of these always with me. And I think it really is important for us to really recognize the brilliance and the wisdom that's embedded in this and how fortunate we are to actually live in the system that we're in. If you don't have one of these, come see me. I still have a bunch. I'll be happy to share. OK. So moving on to item 10.1, attendance update awareness.

[7377] Tracey Vackar: We have a staff report here this evening. And I'm going to turn it over to Chris Williams to introduce the topic.

[7384] Christopher Williams: Well, thank you, Anna. Are you ready to go? And it's going to be providing some information tonight about our goals and strategies for this year with attendance and suspension, as well as some information with our inter and inter-district transfers. And I'm looking forward to your presentation, and we're here to cheer you on.

[7400] Ana Scoville: Thank you. Good evening. school board, executive cabinet, and Newark community. My name's Ana Scoville. I'm the coordinator for pupil services. Thank you for joining us today. I'm pleased to present an update on our current enrollment and attendance figures. The presentation will provide valuable insight into the trends, challenges, and opportunities we are facing in these critical areas. With that, let's dive into the data and begin our review. Thank you, yes. So I'm gonna start by talking about our enrollment update by school. So as we know, a lot of our district, our neighboring districts are declining enrollment. I do wanna take a moment to make sure that you know, these enrollment numbers are as of September 5th. So we do have, we have enrollment number, current enrollment numbers. So our projections for 24-25 school year Our projection was 4,740 students and at this time we have 4,659 students as of today. Again, our enrollment numbers are fluid because there's days when we're registering students and there's days when we're dropping students because we find out they're moving. So I do want to make sure that we take that into consideration. Thank you. So let's take a closer look at our transfer requests. I do want to make sure that we understand intradistrict transfers are elementary transfer requests. Our intradistrict transfers last year were 83 requests, and we approved 17. This year, we had 106 requests, and we were able to approve 54. Top reasons for the transfers were Suspensions of the DLI program. Siblings were attending a certain school, so they wanted their other child to attend the same school. And school placement. So those were our top reasons why people wanted to transfer to another elementary school site. For inter-district transfers, these are our students that leave our district and attend a different school district. And those numbers are consistent with last year, as you can see. They were consistent. And also top reasons for leaving our school district, parent employment, continuing enrollment, specialized program, and the suspension of our DLI program. And incoming, you know, also top reasons for incoming, continuing enrollment, parent employment, and siblings who are attending our district. Next, please. So attendance. One of our superintendent's district goals is to improve attendance and decrease suspensions. How are we going to improve attendance? By fostering relationships, and this was stated earlier. We all play a role in improving attendance. Parents and guardians are often the first line of support for students by prioritizing education and modeling good habits, like punctuality, regular attendance, and set a positive example for our students. Communication between parents and schools is essential. Any changes can also help address issues that might affect attendance. So it's really important that our parents and our schools communicate, but it's really important for us to establish those relationships with our families, especially our parents. In terms of teachers, Teachers create engaging and supportive classroom environments that make students want to come to school. By fostering, again, relationships and being attentive to students' needs, teachers can help address any barriers to attendance. And school administrators play a key role in establishing policies and creating a school culture that values attendance. They also provide support services for students who face challenges that impact their ability to attend regularly. So relationships, relationships, relationships. We all touch a kid when they walk into the office. Our attendance, I'm sorry, our office staff, they all play a role in our students' attendance by welcoming them. So everybody is essential in a kid's life from the moment they walk into our school sites. So summary. Overall summary of our attendance data, we improved. I'm very happy to say that we improved attendance last year by 1.2%. 1% is equal to $600,651. That's 1%. That's a lot of money. So we improved. And we got to celebrate our small winnings.

[7738] Ana Scoville: Thank you. So 48.3% of our students fall in the excellent and satisfactory group in terms of our attendance for last year. 51.7% of our students miss more than nine school days. That's a lot of instructional minutes. And that's a lot of ADA. An equity view of attendance. We have a total of 86 students who identify as Pacific Islanders. And almost 50% of those students are chronic or severely absent. So we need to do some work there. We've got some work to do there. The summary of 2023-24 interventions we provided. We worked with Alameda County Office of Education to improve attendance. We identified 10 students at each site. And we provided weekly interventions to those students the last 12 weeks of school. We conducted 67 home visits. Schools conducted 858 conferences regarding attendance at their school site. We conducted 23 school attendance review boards here at the district level. We sent 8,252 letters to families regarding attendance. We did send a letter to each student who was chronically absent last year with a total number of absences. So parents know how many days their student missed the whole year. Summary goal for this school year and strategies. So we want to improve. 3% improvement for our identified student subgroups. How are we going to do this? We're going to remove barriers by connecting students to resources such as those provided by our community agencies. increase awareness about how attendance impacts students, and increase site team access to timely attendance data. Summary of more strategies that we'll be using. So in August, we started monitoring our students that we served last year, early identification of students, began training administrators. September, it is National Attendance Awareness Month. We provided site data, we did site data review, continued training at administrators. The letters for attendance started going out in September. We started to conduct, start conferences at the school sites. We started to schedule or start hearings at the district level. We're in the process of hiring our school community liaison. We did conduct a few home visits so far. December to October, we're going to continue to monitor attendance, continue to do home visits, cost referrals, SART conferences, holiday and attendance letters, continue site data reviews, recognize students who have improved their attendance, and refer to positive attendance care team through ACOE, which is new this year. In summary, A collaborative effort among all adults involved can significantly impact student attendance, leading to better educational outcomes and overall student well-being. Thank you.

[7960] Aiden Hill: Questions from the board? So, Ms. Scoville, thank you for the great presentation. If my fellow board members don't have questions, Excuse me, I have a couple. So we have declining enrollment. Declining enrollment is happening all over the state in every district. But when we had FCMAC here before, they talked about how certainly we want to try to do our best to see if we can reverse this trend. And I think we're trying. But it looks like we have a goal here. And I'm not sure if we had this goal. I'm not sure if we had the ADA goal last year. But I think it's a great one where, number one, we're seeing improvement. So we've seen a 1% increase in an attendance rate. And that's actually how we get money. That's how we're compensated. And that's one of the things that Mr. Mike Fine had told us is focus on the things that you have control over. You don't have as much control over enrollment, but you do over attendance. And so it looks like we've done some things there. So I think it's great. I'd be curious if you have some feelings about what were the root causes of that, that increase. And then also, we've set a goal of 96% for, is that the next year?

[8052] Aiden Hill: OK, for this year.

[8054] Aiden Hill: And so what are your thoughts about the keys that are going to make that happen? What do we think caused last year, and what do we think are going to be the keys for this year?

[8069] Ana Scoville: I think last, well, and I can't speak for the years previous because I was on maternity leave, but last year we did a lot of monitoring of students and providing data to principals. And we did a lot of data driving, data diving with principals.

[8086] Aiden Hill: And just out of curiosity, So I know at my school, so as a teacher, literally, the front office is on me every day to make sure that I'm properly cataloging attendance. And usually, if there's an issue where somebody is not showing up, the parents are immediately notified. Do we have that process in all of the schools right now?

[8110] Ana Scoville: Yes, we do.

[8111] Aiden Hill: OK.

[8113] Ana Scoville: So parents do get a phone call. And in addition to that, there is a text that goes or a dialer, depending what the parents preferred. If they prefer the phone call, they'll get the phone call or they'll get a text message. And the good thing, too, is that parents can now respond via text also, and our attendance personnel get the text message. So that's also an excuse. Like if the student is out sick, the parent can text and the school gets the text, and then they excuse the absence that way.

[8144] Christopher Williams: So a couple of other things, too. I know Karen and the ed service team, we really focused on our staff development this year about the relationship piece. When you have caring adults in kids' lives and you have programs that help support their direction, whether it's band, music, athletics, whatever it might be, it's going to increase the opportunity for kids to show up, especially when they know somebody is here that cares about them. Secondly is diving extremely deep. Secondly was our suspension rate to decrease this year. So our elementaries have a nice process in place that they're working with principals on a daily and weekly basis. Karen and Han are on the sites, same thing with middle schools and high schools. So we can ensure that suspensions are aligned to education code and the appropriate timelines of kids being sent out. Rather than making everything a five day suspension or three day, but basically your suspensions aligned to what your discipline matter was or is under a 48 900. which is the Ed Code that allows school districts to provide suspensions. But one of the big pieces too is the intervention factor that we have to do a much better job on this year. As we've talked a little about, about home visits, getting into the homes, connecting with our parents, and then providing our resources within the community, as well as the district, where when we have the chronic absenteeism, how do we focus on those 10, 12, 15, 18, 25 kids, families, and what are we doing to provide support with them? So one of the things we haven't rolled out yet, but we talked about a mentorship program, like Project 360. Pretty simple, right? Or Project 720. High school kids, we have 720 days to impact their life. 180 days per year. So what are we doing above and beyond providing a curriculum and instruction and athletic program, a band, to really focus on these? And that's what we're going to call out for all of us, to see how many are really committed to being mentors and working alongside of our kids, where we actually can have communication to really get these kids connected with where our vision and mission is and what the goal that Tracy, as well as our board, has set forth with us. Because reality is, we've got to be here to impact kids and their lives. And again, when you have a organized area, for example, if you look at the middle school, and Cheri, I appreciate you focusing on this. You look at the suspension rate last year at the middle school, the first seven weeks compared to where we are now, tremendous difference, right? So you have a, not that we didn't have strong leadership, but we have a strong focus team providing support necessary for not only the kids, but the teachers will be the first ones to also need to have that support, and being firm, fair, and consistent, and supporting our families and teachers 100% of the time. That's going to look different for every child, but it's time to get the big global picture out of the way and start focusing and centering our energy on those that need it the most, right? The things that we can't, I always say this and I apologize, but the things we can't impact that are huge, tremendous factors, parents' education and parents' income. But we can impact relationship. We can impact direct instruction in a classroom. We can impact how many caring adults we put in. And 100% we can provide programs that are highly successful to meet the needs of kids. And then also the interventions and counseling and the liaisons on going to the homes to provide services. Because if kids are usually having trouble not getting to school, having a counselor at the school is not going to have the impact. Getting to their house, providing resources, working with the county, working with our city, working with our district on providing services and repeat that until we can start changing behavior and getting these kids to understand the importance of it as well.

[8352] Aiden Hill: And I think that in the presentation that it's page seven where we talk about the breakdown of attendance by ethnicity. Now, so again, we don't know necessarily whether ethnicity is the root cause, but it could be one of the causes. And so maybe we start there. And so we certainly see that There are certain there's certain groups of Pacific Islander Hispanic black where there's a where there's a higher percentage And so going in and like you say let's not do a boil the ocean like look at everything Let's look at the issue or the area where there's an where there's an issue and it could be socioeconomic as well And then let's focus in on that.

[8391] Christopher Williams: So I think that that's a really good strategy I don't want to go too deep on this, but I've been looking at our student data and it's pretty current with our teacher and employee attendance last year, right? So when you start looking at targeted areas of highly effective teachers in a classroom, consistency, for example, of site-level administrators, where kids have that consistency going into it, but it's about a 2.5% difference of where our employees are versus our students. So having incentives for our teachers and our employees, and having a healthy culture and environment, and looking at how we're handling this, as I've said publicly, on disciplinary matters, not only for students, but adults as well. Admin leave is not always your answer. You know, looking at targeted behaviors to improve structures, using our employee assistant program that I just did data on this that we haven't used in the last few years. You know, we all go through challenges. We have health issues. We've battled different issues in our home. Sometimes your employer can provide the employee assistant program to give that counseling and other support. And it's free of charge based on our commitment with that partnership. And being able to reach out on that area as well, because it comes as a whole organization and a whole team on how we start impacting and looking at the culture where we're at.

[8466] Aiden Hill: Great. Vice President Jones? No, I'm basically going to say what you said, so I don't need to repeat it.

[8474] Aiden Hill: Any other comments? Number one?

[8476] Phuong Nguyen: No, thank you for that correlation, because that was one of the questions that I was going to ask. Is there a big difference between, I mean, I think it's like that at work. too, you know, if your leadership is not in every day, your staff is not going to be in. So especially with any sort of, you know, situational, specifically, if we don't have impactful teachers who are there committed every day to our students and showing up, if you lead by example and you're missing class, your students are also going to be doing that too. And then, which leads to, But it's on the warrant report. It was interesting that you brought that up. But there is an amount on there for absences. And I think that's filling for the substitute. So thank you.

[8529] Nancy Thomas: Oh, I did have one question. Could you repeat the number of students we have today? Enrollment? Yeah. Correct.

[8539] Ana Scoville: We currently have, as of today, 4,659.

[8544] Nancy Thomas: Thank you. So the 4,680 was probably a week ago or something?

[8550] Ana Scoville: Beginning of September.

[8552] Nancy Thomas: Beginning of September, OK.

[8553] Ana Scoville: Because I have to upload my reports before, like a week before, so I have to get them prepared.

[8559] Christopher Williams: So example, like we had three new kids come in today and two leave, right? So your number is going to be fluctuating by one. But every day as it goes through. And then when we get our P1 and P2, then we'll have the ADA percentages, actually. Because it's in the rear where you're actually paid for your ADA. So you'll start seeing that next year, right, for this year's behavior. So while we're at 93.4, or 93.6, and we see that our enrollment is down, and you look at the overall budget, we're about $1.6 million lower this year, because our ADA, or enrollment, was lower than where we were at. But if you continue that trend, right, from 61 million, we're at 59,600, so we're trying to increase the attendance and enrollment with ADA, of course. And that's where we got to keep improving together. And as we all know, the most important thing for people to be in jobs and organizations is not the curriculum. It's not you as board members. It's the culture and being a firm for behavior. And that is all in our control and how we treat people, how we respect people, and how we provide that support for people. And you will definitely see a trend on all research, right? Number one element is affirmation at work, is why people stay. And then you'll see attendance continue to increase when you're in a trusting culture and building a foundation for all of us to want to be here, right?

[8639] Nancy Thomas: I think it would be helpful to have monthly updates. We used to have them on enrollment and attendance, because that's 21 students we've lost in the last two weeks.

[8653] Tracey Vackar: So part of what you see was losing some of those students. And some of the students just never showed up. They never came into school. So as we were making our phone calls, and we were finding that the parents had actually moved. We just haven't received the paperwork. So some of that kind of gets washed out just a little bit.

[8667] Nancy Thomas: So that should level out.

[8669] Tracey Vackar: It should be leveling out. So we should be at about level now and really our P1, which is why P1 is located where it is for the October date. That's usually our census date that we use to move forward. So those will be important factors as we sit there and move forward in the overall cycle as we do our reporting for first and second interim to be able to capture that data. The last piece I just want to just go back and just do some clarification on. It was in no specific order as to the rationale as to why some parents chose to pull their students or ask for a transfer within our district. I know there was a question about the DLI that was mentioned as far as DLI being one of the reasons. How many students in DLI did we actually lose?

[8713] Ana Scoville: To another district?

[8714] Tracey Vackar: Yes.

[8715] Tracey Vackar: OK. And then there were how many internal? Were there transfers internally? Do you know that?

[8725] Tracey Vackar: OK. So I just want to give you kind of like how many students there really were there. And then some of them, I think, were returned to be with their siblings as well, correct?

[8732] Ana Scoville: Correct. And the 16 requests within the district, we were able to approve. All 16 were able to go back to their homeschools.

[8739] Nancy Thomas: And that's out of about 200 DLI students, or close to that?

[8745] Ana Scoville: 158, I believe it was. 158 DLI students. So 12 and 15. OK.

[8753] Nancy Thomas: Just to kind of give you a frame of reference.

[8758] Tracey Vackar: Thank you, Anna. OK. Thank you. OK. Thank you.

[8760] Aiden Hill: Thank you. OK. Moving on to public hearing sufficiency of instructional materials. So, hold on a second. So I just need to open the hearing and then close it, right? OK. So opening the public hearing on sufficiency of instructional materials. And I guess I will now close the hearing on.

[8797] Tracey Vackar: If there's any comment.

[8798] Aiden Hill: All right. Is there any comment?

[8800] Tracey Vackar: We do have a comment from staff that we just want to be able to share with you.

[8803] Karen Allard: OK. Thank you, Superintendent Bekar. I would like to share that we had annual Williams visits from the County Office of Education for BGP, Newark Middle School, and Newark Memorial High School. We received an affidavit from the county office for all sites documenting that each site had sufficient materials. On Monday, September 27th, we did receive a Williams uniform complaint for Birch Grove Primary. We have responded to this complaint in writing regarding the concerns. and have indicated our response that students have access to instructional materials. While some students are still waiting for hard copies of materials due to delay in shipments, we are in compliance with all Williams Act requirements because we can verify purchase order and shipment dates. All students and teachers have access to instructional materials via online platforms, and the Ed Services staff will continue to monitor and check in with our IMC staff and teachers to ensure that they have what they need to support student outcomes. Thank you, Ms. Allard.

[8870] Tracey Vackar: And the last piece to that is you'll actually be taking action on the actual resolution at the next board meeting.

[8877] Aiden Hill: Great. OK, so if there's no further comments, closing our public hearing on sufficiency of instructional materials. OK, and so now we're going to move on to consent agenda personnel items. Does anybody want to pull anything from the consent agenda? OK, can I get a motion to approve Item 12, Consent Agenda, Personal Items?

[8906] Carina Plancarte: I'll make a motion.

[8907] Aiden Hill: Do we have a second?

[8911] Nancy Thomas: I'll second.

[8913] Aiden Hill: So Member Blancarti moves, and Member Thomas seconds. And student member does not vote on this, right? OK.

[8927] Aiden Hill: No, for personnel items. OK, so can we do this through BoardDocs?

[8935] Toya Lemus: Yes, we can.

[8944] Joy Lee: For the students voting on the personnel items, Apparently it's not in the law. Right. But is it a district policy? No. So that means I can vote on it, right?

[8968] Tracey Vackar: Yes. I know it's been a practice of our district, so I really can't speak on what the practice was. And so I'd have to go back and probably review what's inside the board handbook. Yeah.

[8981] Aiden Hill: Well, and could we get clarification? Because I've heard this from multiple people and across multiple districts. And I'm wondering if we could go talk to CSBA. Because I would think that if anybody knows, CSBA would know.

[8996] Joy Lee: Because my vote, from my knowledge, is that it's simply a preferential vote. So I'm just giving my opinion. And I don't, unless it's in closed session, consent agenda, I could also give my opinion. Just like moving forward, also for future student board members.

[9018] Tracey Vackar: I'll be happy to get clarification on how that sounds.

[9020] Joy Lee: Yeah.

[9022] Nancy Thomas: I think the reason to have the student preferential vote first, not answering the question of whether you can vote or can't vote, is that it allows the board, before we make our vote, to listen to the student voice.

[9037] Tracey Vackar: That's the most important piece, I think, is to hear you know, commentary on the impact or effect that it might have.

[9045] Joy Lee: And I think, like, in one of our past board meetings, we had a, like, a position moving. So, like, we were terminating a high school counselor position at our district. And, like, as a student board member, like, I wouldn't, unfortunately, I couldn't be there at that meeting. But I wouldn't have agreed with that. simply because I feel at our high school site, currently we have three counselors. And if one of them is out, that's two counselors taking double the load of student caseloads. And then, yeah. So that's why. OK. Oh, actually, sorry. I wanted to add on one thing.

[9099] Aiden Hill: the high school like counselor position do we have like a plan to bring it's not agendized okay okay so but joy you can make a request at the end of the meeting sir you send the votes I mean send up can you confirm the first and second motion owner before so so it was member plan car team moved and member Thomas second

[9153] Toya Lemus: Votes are in. Member Thomas, yay. President Hill, yay. Member Nguyen, yay. Vice President Jones, yay. Member Plancarte, yay.

[9167] Aiden Hill: Great. Motion carries. So moving on to item 13, consent agenda, non-personnel items. Do we want to pull any of these items? Member Jones?

[9180] Kat Jones: I'd like to pull 13.13.

[9183] Aiden Hill: Okay, so Member Jones wants to pull 13.13. Do we want to pull any other items? Okay. Can I get a motion to approve 13.2 through 13.12? With 13.4 being amended. With 13.4 being amended.

[9195] Tracey Vackar: I'll make a motion to approve 13.2 through 13.12 with the amendment on 13.4.

[9198] Aiden Hill: I'll second. Vice President Jones moves, Member Blankard takes seconds.

[9220] Toya Lemus: Online voting is open. All votes are in. Member Thomas?

[9242] Aiden Hill: Hold on. We got to ask a student board member.

[9246] Toya Lemus: My apologies. Student board member Lee? Yes. OK. Member Thomas, yay. President Hill, yay. Member Nguyen, yay. Vice President Jones, yay. And member Plancarte, yay.

[9260] Aiden Hill: Great. OK, motion carries. OK, so member Jones, you want to pull 13.13.

[9268] Kat Jones: Yeah, I asked to pull 13.13 because it is around the Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 7214 which is on the general obligation bonds. And I just wanted to make a comment before we vote. I want to make sure that the community does understand and is aware that we have added significant language above and beyond CSBA's recommendations to both the BP and the AR, the Board Policy and the Administrative Regulation prescribing how the bond funds cannot be used and how to include additional oversight. The suggested additions were made by community members to help protect the monies raised by the bond measure O. I also want to clarify that the bond monies can only be used for construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of bond facilities, including the furnishings and equipment of school facilities. but does not authorize the acquisition of real property, nor can the monies be used on personnel. The administrative regulation not only requires a citizen's oversight committee, but we have also included a bond advisory committee of at least five members, including, but not limited to, not more than two members of the board, two members of the citizen's oversight committee, one member who is a parent slash guardian of a district student, to members of the community at large. The committee will meet monthly during the period in which the bond funds are being expended to review the district's facilities master plan, advise the board regarding project priorities, review the method of allocation of budgeted bond funds, and make recommendations to the board at regular board meetings. Simply put, the bond monies will help free up monies in the general fund that would otherwise be used to maintain or repair school facilities. And the reason that I'm bringing it up and spelling this all out is that it is really important that we make sure that the monies that are raised with this bond money or with this bond are used the way they are intended to be used and to be used with consistent and good oversight. I realize also that by having a Citizens Oversight Committee and a Bond Advisory Committee, that that may appear to be overkill. And so this is what is in the proposed wordage and language of this. If the board feels that this is too much or anyone has a comment about the fact that it does include those two committees, I wanted to bring that up also just so that we have an opportunity to have that discussion if need be. Otherwise, I am happy to vote on this, but I just wanted to make this, I wanted to say what I said. Thank you.

[9454] Aiden Hill: Member White.

[9456] Phuong Nguyen: In regards to the additional language, it says if a bond measure is approved under the 55%, so there is no bond if it's approved under 55%. Therefore, there would be no bond advisory committee. So, I think the language say is approved with the 55% threshold. So, take the under out because technically we don't have a bond if we don't pass it with 55%. So, I think the word under needs to be stricken out.

[9498] Jose Quintana: You also have, in the very beginning, lower 55%. Yeah. So are we striking out that?

[9512] Nancy Thomas: Can we approve it with that?

[9515] Phuong Nguyen: Yeah, because in the CSBA language, it has four bond measures requiring 55% majority of the vote. So we just want to make sure that the language is consistent. But other than that, I'm fine. But the two members of the board who are on the committee, I don't believe that they should be voting members. Because then you, I mean, this committee would have to be run as a Brown Act committee.

[9545] Kat Jones: Right. That's why I was saying no more than two.

[9548] Phuong Nguyen: Even, I think even if there's.

[9549] Tracey Vackar: The second they start voting.

[9551] Phuong Nguyen: Yeah, you can't vote. So I think there needs to be clarification on the two members of the board. They need to be non-voting members of the committee. That makes a lot of sense.

[9560] Tracey Vackar: They would also be making an official vote when they're up here. So some would be in violation of that.

[9567] Kat Jones: OK. So let me make sure that I write all these down so that I can help to go back and to fix the amendments.

[9578] Jose Quintana: Point of clarification. So are we saying that the CBOC will be under the Brown Act, but not this committee?

[9586] Phuong Nguyen: The CBOC, there are no board members sitting on that committee.

[9592] Jose Quintana: Right, but we still require under Brown Act to report to all of us.

[9596] Phuong Nguyen: Yeah, it's a Brown Act committee.

[9597] Jose Quintana: So the question is, with this committee, the separate committee, would that be under those guidelines as well, the Brown Act? Is this just a committee to liaison with the CBOC? trying to figure out the correlation between the two.

[9615] Nancy Thomas: You know, that's a point. I think it may, by definition, be a Brown Act committee by virtue of what it's doing.

[9625] Nancy Thomas: Right?

[9626] Phuong Nguyen: I mean, honestly, I don't really see a need, especially if we already have a Citizens Oversight Committee for the bond. But I understand that we want additional eyes on it. If that's the case, then I don't, I mean, we can, I don't know. I don't know what, I don't have a recommendation. I just, when I was reading that, those were the things that popped out at me.

[9654] Nancy Thomas: I think the, if I recall, the reason that this was recommended is just to ensure that the priorities that we set, we have input on those priorities from a group and that group is defined here as citizen oversight committee, parent guardian of the district, two members of the community at large. I really think that I heard loud and clear that the concern is that when we do set the priorities, that they are looked at and advised to the board by a committee.

[9697] Kat Jones: And I think that's what we were trying to do by including this language that had been suggested, was to make sure that that was what was happening. So I guess this is the second read. We have the choice of, do we want to approve this without the Bond Advisory Committee?

[9721] Nancy Thomas: Are we OK with that? Or we do want it in there? I think we bring it back. My recommendation is we bring it back for another reading, and maybe we meet with executive staff to determine the nature of the committee. We put in the verbiage that people have mentioned about non-voting members and things like that. So I think it takes a little more work than doing anything tonight to approve it. Sounds good.

[9748] Carina Plancarte: I would agree with that. I think it's critical that we do allow the time to really think this through and ensure that we're providing the correct wording and the correct transparency. And also we have to remember that when we sent out the survey, that most, the majority of what was provided back was the feedback was that we wanted to, that the community members will pass or will vote to pass. this if the monies are used exactly for what they're intended to, which is to repair and renovate our current structures.

[9785] Tracey Vackar: Just to be able to share, I think also the intent of having the additional committee, I think, is to kind of look at it almost like a living document, right, as to what is needed with repairs. Like, it's nice to think that you can project what you're going to need 10 years from now, but you really don't know what you're going to need. Right. Right. And so I think to be able to get additional participation in looking at what is being done, right? Because CBOC is very different. Their rules and regulations that they do and how they govern is a totally different thing. They don't so much decide on what's being done, it's just whether or not it's being done with the right funding, and whether or not it's almost the legal part of the process that gets done. So I think to differentiate with the two different things that actually do is going to be really important to be able to identify that.

[9836] Phuong Nguyen: Correct. I think that's you know this is an advisory committee this is like what we're trying to spend the money on and then the oversight is what has been completed and what was missing so I think there needs to be differentiation and but my honest thing my honest opinion is that we are we we have trouble filling the oversight committee are we gonna be able to be able to fulfill an advisory committee also And that's, you know.

[9868] Tracey Vackar: And the advisory piece can also be done just even through certain kinds of surveys to be able to get information, even if it's a subcommittee of the board. I mean, there's different ways that you can do it, right? But I think you can gather that information and you want to make sure that you have it relevant and that's staying current. So I think those are things that we can go back and discuss. And also, you know, I have to say our two CBOC members gave some really great history. of what they had seen over there, and they gathered, if you recall, from the report that they gave us, I think it was at the last board meeting, or maybe the one prior. They gave us some really great information of things that we really need to consider and think about, and I think it was something that we need to consider as we move forward. How do we continue to make sure that communication, our objectives, are clearly out there in the forefront? Because there's a lot of memory that people don't remember, like what we actually purchased things with a bond. that I think over time, they just think, oh, we did that with a bond. It's still good. Well, it was a long time ago. In some cases, it was almost 30 years ago that the funds were spent on it. And so those things have aged to a point that they're just not even just maintenance and operations. They're really significant repair costs.

[9936] Jose Quintana: And with all fairness, I did meet with the CBOC last week. And there is a common interest or excitement when a new bond's coming through. So I think it'll be easier to fill the CBOC. this time around, but having that committee as a help or an additional layer, because we do have a facility master plan that's antiquated. It's over five years old, and you can say it's recent, but our systems are definitely in dire need of modernization or upkeep. So having that committee would help as a separate layer. and identifying that this facility master plan and dissecting it and You know really addressing some of the issues now and helping this CBOC group So but I guess yeah We just need to look at the language a little closer to see if this is under a Brown Act or it's just a subcommittee that is formed and then you know With the timeline to it Another thought I have in reading.

[10001] Nancy Thomas: This is that monthly seems too often Maybe think about quarterly or a different frequency of the meetings.

[10016] Kat Jones: I don't think we need to bring the board policy back. I think we can approve that. It's the AR that we need to continue to work on. But I think we could vote on the board policy.

[10031] Carina Plancarte: And I'd also just like to add one final thing to just the importance really here what we're trying to do is rebuild that trust back in our community. And I feel that if we were to also position this to the community, you know, should this pass, that they have, you know, give people the feeling that they have some skin in the game and maybe incorporating, you know, you can be a pioneer to help rebuild back that trust because in the future, this money will again run out and if we don't do a good job of rebuilding the trust, ensuring that the funds are spent correctly, then it's really gonna be extremely tough to be able to sell another bond in the future to our community if we're not working together in the right way to ensure that trust is rebuilding that trust and it's established, is at the forefront.

[10088] Tracey Vackar: So I can't speak to everything that was actually built with the funds. But what I can speak is to the financial accountability that was done in our last bond. It was pretty stellar. I gotta tell you, when it was time to go off and refinance, they refinanced at an appropriate time and saved the taxpayers a lot of money that was able to go back into being used for our district. I mean, there's some real pluses that sometimes I think don't ever get discussed, because they're kind of like the details are like in the really fine elements that a lot of people just don't understand. But from a steering piece, as far as looking at what the last oversight was, and look at the fiscal responsibility that came out of it, it was done well. And you all should feel pretty proud of that. Now, as far as the items that were purchased, and maybe the processes for how things were purchased, that might be a piece, again, those fall under other kinds of policies that you have. But again, you want to make sure that you strengthen, that staff is accountable for, as we move forward to ensure that we're getting the best possible equipment and product for our schools and for our students that will live through time, right? And there's a lot of lessons to be able to learn there with that. I think from everything that ever gets purchased, sometimes the best value isn't always the lowest price necessarily. And so you really want to make sure that you really vet what it is that you're getting for your overall services and or equipment that you're purchasing.

[10179] Carina Plancarte: And that's in the communication pieces is you nailed it. I feel that that's what's lacking a lot of the times is that we don't communicate enough. There isn't enough communication and enough conversation around truly what is being done right and correctly. And I think that's something also to consider in the future is to really put together a communications piece and a component where we do celebrate those wins and the community is aware because we might know, as a board and as district leadership, what those wins are, but the community isn't always in the know, and that's critical too.

[10225] Aiden Hill: Thank you, Member Plancarte. So any other questions or comments? So it sounds like we want to make a motion to approve the board policy but that we're going to bring back the administrative regulation for a third reading. Did I understand that correctly?

[10243] Nancy Thomas: As far as I know, yes. I move that we approve board policy 7214.

[10249] Aiden Hill: I'll second. Member Thomas moves to approve the board policy. Member Jones seconds. And you might want to just note, Ms. Lemus, that it's just the board policy. It's not the AR.

[10263] Tracey Vackar: The AR is really how staff will respond.

[10270] Aiden Hill: OK, and OK, great.

[10290] Kat Jones: So the way that the voting, the way it's stated here, it sounds like we're approving both. Are you making a note? Yes. OK. Yes.

[10308] Tracey Vackar: Just a comment to the community that might be watching. What pops up on the screen of our board members is actually captured from the verbiage that's inside the actual item and therefore we have to make the correction through the minutes.

[10321] Aiden Hill: Right.

[10323] Aiden Hill: And then Ms. Lemus, if we want to, once you're finished, if we want to get the student members vote.

[10330] Toya Lemus: Student board member Lee, how do you vote? Yes. Member Thomas, yay. President Hill, yay. Member Nguyen, yay. Vice President Jones, yay. Member Plancarte, yay.

[10343] Aiden Hill: Great. Motion carries. And we'll bring back the AR for the next meeting.

[10350] Aiden Hill: Wonderful. OK. So moving on to item 14. So Board of Education Committee Reports, Announcements, Requests, Debrief, and Discussion. So student member.

[10363] Joy Lee: I have a request. Or a question, I was wondering if our high school will ever, I mean, not the high school, but if our school, if our schools will ever input that counselor position again, like another counselor position, because I think to my memory, we terminated it last time for financial, during our budget cuts.

[10388] Tracey Vackar: So I can't really discuss it here, but I can definitely share an update with you later. If I recall, that counselor position was inside of the SPSA plan. And the SPSA plan was changed on by the student school site council that sat there and had actions with it. And so they prioritized their funding to go towards other kinds of things that were probably surveyed for the community. There was, though, a budget cut across the board for everybody, because we were all sharing and trying to fix the budget. So I think you have to go back to where was the original funding. But I can do some more research on that and bring that back to you and share that with you. Thank you.

[10425] Joy Lee: I see. Thank you. It's not an urgent issue, but I was just curious. Yeah. And then, so last meeting we approved the computers. When the computers come in and after a while that they've been implemented, is it possible to get an update on if it's working well, like if the system is working?

[10449] Jose Quintana: Absolutely. bring up with update on the systems in place and rolling out the process of these laptops.

[10461] Joy Lee: And that is everything for now. Thank you.

[10468] Aiden Hill: OK, thank you. Member Thomas.

[10474] Nancy Thomas: First of all, I'd like to thank staff for the great job they've been doing in filling the board in on these issues that we're facing. Appreciate it. One request I have is to maybe take a look, and then I would ask for my fellow policy committee, ad hoc committee member to join me in really coming up with a plan to get caught up on our board policies and ARs. We just had 24 new board policies and ARs added. We have 165 BPs or ARs that are currently ready to be reviewed by staff and placed on future agendas. And most of them, I think, need minimum staff changes. So I would encourage staff to work on those. In the meantime, I will be updating our spreadsheet the 24 BPs and ARs that are in November. This, excuse me, this September's update. And there will be another update in December. So I'm just encouraging us to try to speed up that process of approving policies.

[10554] Tracey Vackar: Board Member Thomas, if you could assist us, I know there is a extended cabinet meeting next week. that we will be discussing. Oh, it is when all of our directors come together. It's like the perfect time for us to be able to share that document with them. And then we can actually sit there at that point and kind of divvy out the work that needs to be done.

[10571] Nancy Thomas: Yeah. Can we, can, can I do that?

[10577] Aiden Hill: I think she's inviting you.

[10578] Nancy Thomas: Are you inviting us to the meeting?

[10580] Tracey Vackar: If not inviting you, at least if I know like what the document says, we can sit there and we can work on who we are assigning it to. And I think from a cabinet standpoint, we can help you with that.

[10590] Nancy Thomas: Yeah, well, OK, we'll get them the list. And I think I'm not sure that we've assigned them to the right department.

[10597] Tracey Vackar: That's what I'm saying. Will you give us a chance to go back to make sure that they're assigned to the right department?

[10601] Nancy Thomas: Yeah.

[10602] Tracey Vackar: And then to also talk about when those will be coming forward. We can actually give a date.

[10607] Nancy Thomas: We can probably make a printout for you.

[10608] Tracey Vackar: That would be great.

[10609] Nancy Thomas: Yeah. Perfect. Thank you. Great. Number one?

[10618] Phuong Nguyen: I don't have any requests tonight. I just wanted to, again, appreciate staff for all their hard work, our teachers, our executive cabinet, our CSEA staff members, everyone involved in helping our district with the start of school. We're two months in, and there's been a lot of stuff going on. And I feel extremely proud of everything that has been happening positively. And just to see and be a part of the culture at the high school has been amazing. The student energy there. And it's time for me to end this. But I just wanted to say thank you. And on a serious note, I think it's It's been very positive and very impactful to see so many bright, smiling faces. And I know that there are still issues that we're working on. And I think that it's definitely been collaborative. And I just wanted to extend my appreciation to my fellow bond committee member, Carina Plancarte, member of Plancarte, and also a driver on the outside, member Thomas here for really pushing us to do good work on the bond and trying to pass the bond for our students and this community. And I think that has really uplifted a lot of us and have pulled us together in a positive way. So I just wanted to extend my appreciation for their hard work and everyone that's involved in that. And that's it. And lastly, I just wanted to tell all the students, you know, we have another month going on and continue to do great work. And, you know, the end of the year is just a blink of an eye away. And I hope that you guys all enjoy this process this year. I believe that we have turned the corner and all of the students have been amazingly, coming together, and it's just so wonderful to see. So thank you.

[10767] Aiden Hill: Thank you, member Nguyen. Member Plancarte?

[10773] Carina Plancarte: I don't have any updates. I did, though, to piggyback a little bit on student member Lee's comment about an update on the technology, I just wanted to also make sure that if we could get an update on how we circled back to see which have we identified which teachers were missing the laptops? I know that that was something that was brought up at the last meeting by NTA President Cheri Villa. Just if we can get an update on that, if they've been identified, those teachers, and if they have been provided with the materials that they need, specifically the technology ones. And then also, I did want to say happy Hispanic Heritage Month. to our community, our students, our families, and also thank the staff. I see the teachers every day, and I see the support staff that help really run our schools. And truly, without them, we have no schools. We have no culture here. So a huge thank you to them. And then also, I know that it's been a big, hot issue. And I know we've been told. know about using the fields at snow. It's a decommissioned site. But I was having a conversation with a community member, and I understand that we have a meeting coming up, the district, the city, and the softball league. And I just have to add that it would be great to look at all the different options of what we can do and one possible solution, while of course not understanding more of, you know, the potential problems that could stem from, you know, a legal aspect is to put some sort of a chain link fence and possibly block off the buildings and the site from and keep the public from accessing the snow facility and just keeping the softball fields open. I just have to ask that and at least if it can be a conversation and at least an idea that can be discussed. because I feel that if and when we can be good community partners, it's always a great thing when the possibility is there, just to help build that trust within the community.

[10922] Tracey Vackar: It's been pointed out to the insurance liability company.

[10925] Carina Plancarte: It has?

[10926] Tracey Vackar: Yes.

[10926] Carina Plancarte: Okay. Thank you. And that's it. Thank you so much. Number one.

[10932] Phuong Nguyen: Thank you, Member Plancarte, for bringing up National Hispanic Heritage Month. I just wanted to say that it started this week on September 15th, and it's going to be through October 15th. So thank you. Thank you.

[10947] Aiden Hill: OK, so Vice President Jones.

[10951] Kat Jones: Let's see. I had a couple of things. One was I'd really like to be able to hear what is happening with the sanctuary property and how we're progressing with that developer on that. I know that we're coming to our end of time when, if we don't have something there, we'll have to forfeit the land. So just to hear what's happening regarding that. There's two other things. The next one is meeting minutes. Where are we in getting those going?

[10992] Tracey Vackar: There's an email to two of you to ask you to help us with something that we are looking at.

[10999] Kat Jones: OK. Funny you should ask. Funny I should ask. I have a feeling that email's sitting in my inbox. You must have had out your little crystal ball. Yes, ma'am. All right. And the next one is, being the, I don't know how to say it, the one that was so dedicated to the dress code board policy and AR is, I'm interested to hear how that's going on the campuses. Is it happening? Is it not happening? How well is it being followed or enforced if it's too much? But just getting some feedback from particularly the high school and the middle school. They're the schools that are most probably affected by those changes. I know that there are times when, at least once a week, I have to say to my eight-year-old granddaughter, no, you can't wear that because I'm the queen of the dress code and I don't want anybody making a comment about what you're wearing because I was, so anyway. I try to make light of it, but I also feel like it is important to, I just want some feedback. I would like to have some feedback if that's possible. Perhaps Ms. Lee could help with, or you can, I mean, I was on the campus, I saw, you know, but, you know, is anything being done for those that don't follow? I guess that's kind of the question.

[11101] Phuong Nguyen: I can't, I mean, we're opening up for discussion now and we shouldn't.

[11105] Tracey Vackar: Yeah, exactly. Thank you for the comment. This is not the appropriate time to have a discussion.

[11108] Kat Jones: Right, I kind of didn't think it was, That's why I'm asking for feedback in the future.

[11117] Carina Plancarte: I forgot also to thank my fellow board member, Nguyen and member Thomas. I mean, really, everybody who's been working on the bond, it is a lot of work. And I love that we are a lot of the times sort of dancing around really, really, really quick and fast deadlines. And so I really like to just, again, appreciate that because it is a lot of work and it's a lot of effort. It's an all-hands-on-deck project, and it's really great to see all of us come together and work.

[11150] Tracey Vackar: I just want to clarify that that is done after hours and not during. Yes, absolutely after hours. I just want to make you clear about that, and it's not related to the work that's been done up here with legislative areas that our board is responsible for.

[11166] Carina Plancarte: All after hours, long hours of the night.

[11171] Tracey Vackar: Really long hours of the night.

[11175] Nancy Thomas: Volunteering, yes. No staff member was consulted during business hours.

[11183] Aiden Hill: Yeah, this morning I asked Superintendent Ficarra if she'd been drinking whiskey and smoking cigars because her voice was so hoarse. So yeah, apparently they were very long meetings and hours.

[11194] Tracey Vackar: The answer was no.

[11196] Aiden Hill: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just, I had to ask. Yes.

[11201] Tracey Vackar: Let me just clarify, I know there's obviously discussion up here, but I definitely want to put that out there and stop that rumor.

[11209] Aiden Hill: So, echoing my fellow board members, just trying to introduce a little levity. I know, but... Yes, but we don't want to get that rumor started.

[11220] Tracey Vackar: That's for sure.

[11221] Aiden Hill: Yes. Okay. So, just echoing my fellow board members that I think there's a lot to be thankful for and You know, again, I certainly hear all the work that staff is doing and the superintendent is doing. And I think that we heard people coming forward to speak. So both Cheri Vila from NTA and then also Ms. Palomino from NEWMA and from Coyote Hills. And so I think that we're hearing good information and good feedback from the board as well and what we're doing on the committee. So kind of echoing Number one, I think that we have turned a corner, and there's a lot of good positive momentum, and we just have to keep it going. And so, again, I'm very thankful for that. And then, but I do have one request, and that is, so I'm thankful that we only have one board meeting in November, but I noticed that it's on a date that's somewhat inconvenient for me. So it's on Tuesday, November 5th. And I think that a couple of us might be preoccupied with some other issues, like the election. And so that maybe we need to... Voting is almost done at that point. No, I know. No, I know. But... But there is still in-person voting. And so I would like to make a request that maybe we move the meeting to the following Tuesday.

[11318] Nancy Thomas: I don't think we need to. I've been through many, probably about five different elections and always had a board meeting on election night. And I don't know. Somehow it's nice because then you don't see the news until after the meeting. Sometimes we have a fast meeting.

[11341] Tracey Vackar: I think that's a good goal to have a fast meeting.

[11346] Nancy Thomas: But I'll go along with the board, of course.

[11350] Tracey Vackar: Any other opinions? You could offer to do an earlier meeting that evening.

[11362] Phuong Nguyen: We do have it. No, we don't. Unless you guys make league finals. Joy, today.

[11369] Tracey Vackar: Joy, it could happen.

[11371] Phuong Nguyen: Joy, today, you guys beat Logan and you didn't think that you were going to? So I think you guys have a good shot, because I'm your coach. Now, I just want to also extend this to the girls that I've been coaching on the tennis team. Today, they got a huge compliment from the Logan coach. He was sweating bullets watching the girls play the matches, because they were Pretty even. All the matches were either going into deuce games. And unfortunately, we did not come up on top after the deuce. But I just wanted to say that I'm extremely proud of all of them. And they are better than they think they are. And a lot of that is just confidence. So Joy, you got this.

[11451] Aiden Hill: So moving on to superintendent comments.

[11456] Tracey Vackar: Thank you. I just have a couple of things just as reminders to our community. Since starting school, there's been a couple of school tragedies that have happened in our nation with safety. And we want to make sure that we're being good communicators to our community, to our parents, and to parents where you will occasionally get messages from us to alert you to something that's happening on campus. We want to make sure that we provide you with updates in a timely manner and make sure that you're fully aware of what's happening. We are very much so in constant communication with our local police department on various matters, depending on what it is that we're hearing or what's been reported to make sure that things are vetted and that we are checking things out. Many times, things that come to our attention don't really materialize to anything. But we take every precaution possible to make sure that we increase the safety and the presence when things happen. So I just want to be able to put out there that us sharing a community alert or if a situation is happening is meant to be able to provide communication. We'll also provide information on when there might be another update that will be coming in certain situations. And so I just want to make sure that we get that out to everybody. You know that we really care about our children, and our schools, and our employees, and that we want everybody to be in a very safe environment. And I think we try to do as much as we possibly can. We're also working very closely with Newark Police Department on new safety trainings and updating our safety plans. And so we will be working on that. And I know they want to do some simulation activities around run, hide, fight. And so we will be talking about that as well with our students as we move forward, as the trains come out. And I truly look forward to involving our community in that process.

[11570] Joy Lee: Just wanted to comment. I'm so thankful to have our SROs on campus. Just having them on campus and seeing them on campus already makes me feel safer. in the case that something were to happen.

[11583] Tracey Vackar: We're really glad. We've actually been in very close conversation, like I said, with Newark Police Department. We're hosting meetings with them to really look at plans and how we bring those plans to our leadership and then push it out with our employees and also with our students. So thank you for that feedback. That's all I have.

[11605] Aiden Hill: All right. So can I get a motion to adjourn the meeting?

[11609] Joy Lee: I'll make a motion. I will second.

[11613] Aiden Hill: All right, wow. Karina beat out Joy. All right, so member Plancarte moves, student member Lee seconds. And we're just going to do a roll call. Are we going to do a roll call vote?

[11624] Toya Lemus: Yes, we can do a roll call.

[11626] Aiden Hill: All right, so student member.

[11627] Toya Lemus: Student member Lee. Yay. Member Thomas. Yes. Member Nguyen. Yes. Member Plancarte. Yes. Vice President Jones.

[11639] Toya Lemus: President Hill.

[11641] Aiden Hill: Yes, motion carries.

[11644] Aiden Hill: Meeting adjourned.

1. CALL TO ORDER

1.1 Meeting Practices and Information

   Type                        Information, Procedural

IN-PERSON MEETING INFORMATION:

Please see the attached meeting information in English and Spanish.

OBSERVE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING:

Members of the public may observe the meeting via the NUSD YouTube Channel, or in-person at the NUSD Boardroom. Spanish
translation will be available via Zoom.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

The public will have the opportunity to address the Board of Education regarding non-agenda matters and agenda items with a written
comment by emailing Publiccoment@newarkunified.org or submitting a speaking card with live in-person comments by submitting a
speaker-card with the Executive Assistant.

  File Attachments
  Board Meeting Protocols_ENG(1).pdf (69 KB)
  Protocolos de la Reunion de la Mesa Directiva_ESP (1).pdf (65 KB)
  Original Board Meeting Guidelines.pdf (259 KB)

1.2 Public Comment on Closed Session Items

   Type                        Procedural

PURPOSE:

The Board of Education encourages the community's participation in its deliberations and tries to make it convenient for members of the
community to express their views to the Board.

If a constituent wishes to address the Board on any agenda item:
        In-Person Comment: please submit a completed speaker card to the Board's Executive Assistant before the start of the
        meeting, or prior to the calling of the section for public comment.
        Audio-Only Virtual Comment: please fill out a virtual speaker card via email at PUBLICCOMMENT@newarkunified.org by 1:00
        PM the day of the meeting. Please label your email as " AUDIO-ONLY PUBLIC COMMENT" and include your name as it will appear
        on Zoom, your phone number, email address, and the agenda item number related to your comment.

Please see detailed instructions for public comment on the link: http://go.boarddocs.com/ca/nusd/Board.nsf/goto?
open&id=C4Q2D4019F40

  File Attachments
  Board Meeting Protocols_ENG(1).pdf (69 KB)
  Protocolos de la Reunion de la Mesa Directiva_ESP (1).pdf (65 KB)

1.3 Recess to Closed Session

   Type                        Procedural

PURPOSE:

The Board will recess to Closed Session, and reconvene to Open Session on or about 7:00 p.m.

2. CLOSED SESSION

2.1 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL � ANTICIPATED LITIGATION: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code �54956.9, subd. (d)(2): 7 cases

   Type                        Action, Discussion, Procedural

PURPOSE:

To discuss significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of �54956.9 of the California Government Code: 4 cases HR (Case #000182024,
Case #000291724, Case #000391724, Case #000491724), 3 cases Special Education (Case #000091301, Case #000091302, Case #000091303)

3. REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS

3.1 Report of Closed Session Actions

   Type                        Action, Procedural

PURPOSE:

If available, a report of the closed session will be provided by the Board President.

4. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION

4.1 Pledge of Allegiance

   Type                        Procedural

PURPOSE:

The Governance Team will recite the Pledge of Allegiance

4.2 Meeting Practices and Information

   Type                        Information, Procedural

IN-PERSON MEETING INFORMATION:

Please see the attached meeting information in English and Spanish.

OBSERVE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING:

Members of the public may observe the meeting via the NUSD YouTube Channel, live transmission on Comcast Channel 26, or in-person
at the NUSD Boardroom. Spanish translation will be available via Zoom.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

The public will have the opportunity to address the Board of Education regarding non-agenda matters and agenda items with a written
comment by emailing Publiccoment@newarkunified.org or submitting a speaking card with live in-person comments by submitting a
speaker-card with the Executive Assistant.

  File Attachments
  Board Meeting Protocols_ENG(1).pdf (69 KB)
  Protocolos de la Reunion de la Mesa Directiva_ESP (1).pdf (65 KB)
  Original Board Meeting Guidelines.pdf (259 KB)

5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

5.1 Approval of the Agenda

   Type                        Action


   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the agenda for this meeting.
   Action

PURPOSE:

Members of the Governance Team may request that the agenda be amended or approved as presented.

Motion & Voting
The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the agenda for this meeting.

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

6. STUDENT REPORT

6.1 Student Report: Student Board Member, Joy Lee

   Type

PURPOSE:

The Student Report gives the Board of Education and the public an opportunity to hear the highlights, achievements, and initiatives from
the viewpoint of the student board member.

BACKGROUND:

The information will be provided by the Student Board Member, Joy Lee.

7. EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS

7.1 Employee Organizations

   Type                        Information

PURPOSE:

At regular Board meetings, a single spokesperson of each recognized employee organization (NTA, CSEA, NEWMA) may make a brief
presentation.

BACKGROUND:

Discussion items are limited to updates, celebrations, and upcoming events.

1. NTA

2. CSEA

3. NEWMA

8. PUBLIC COMMENT

8.1 Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items

   Type                        Procedural

PURPOSE:

The Board of Education encourages the community's participation in its deliberations and has tried to make it convenient to express their
views to the Board.

BACKGROUND:

Please see the instructions on the link below for public comment information on non-agenda items and agenda items.

http://go.boarddocs.com/ca/nusd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4Q2D4019F40

  File Attachments
  Board Meeting Protocols_ENG(1).pdf (69 KB)
  Protocolos de la Reunion de la Mesa Directiva_ESP (1).pdf (65 KB)

8.2 Public Comment on Agenda Items

   Type                        Procedural

PURPOSE:

The Board of Education encourages the community's participation in its deliberations and has tried to make it convenient to express their
views to the Board.

BACKGROUND:

Please see the instructions on the link below for public comment information on non-agenda items and agenda items.

http://go.boarddocs.com/ca/nusd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4Q2D4019F40

  File Attachments
  Board Meeting Protocols_ENG(1).pdf (69 KB)
  Protocolos de la Reunion de la Mesa Directiva_ESP (1).pdf (65 KB)

9. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

9.1 Superintendent Report

   Type                        Information


PURPOSE:

The Interim Superintendent will provide the Board of Education with district information, updates, news, or anything in the jurisdiction of
the board or the superintendent.

BACKGROUND:

The presentation and information will be provided by the Interim Superintendent

9.2 U.S. Constitution Day September 17, 2024

   Type                            Information

   Goals                              MISSION: The Newark Unified School District will inspire and educate all students to
                                      achieve their full potential and be responsible, respectful, and productive citizens.

PURPOSE:

Recognize the importance and history of the Constitution. The Superintendent has prepared an activity to celebrate this day
and test your knowledge of the Constitution.

BACKGROUND:

In September 1787, the Founders signed the most influential document in American history, the U.S. Constitution.

 "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common

 defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for

 the United States of America."

 With these words, We began our great experiment with Democracy 237 years ago.         In honor of this momentous date, Constitution Day and Citizenship

 Day were established as a federal day of observance to commemorate the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787.

 In declaring the first Citizenship Day in 1952, President Truman wrote in his Proclamation 2984 "Whereas it is most fitting that every citizen of the

 United States, whether native-born or foreign-born, should on September 17 of each year give special thought and consideration to his rights and

 responsibilities under our Constitution."

 Congress would later change the designation of Citizenship Day to Constitution Day and Citizenship Day in 2004.

10. STAFF REPORT

10.1 Attendance Update/Awareness

   Type                            Information


PURPOSE:

Educational Services will update the Board on attendance data, goals, and progress monitoring tools.

BACKGROUND:

Our country, state, and county are facing an attendance crisis. Prior to the pandemic, eight million students were chronically absent
(missing 10% or more of the school year). That number has more than doubled. The adverse social, emotional and academic impact of
missing too much school is highest among students and families most affected by educational inequities. Left unaddressed, chronic
absence will dramatically increase the number of students struggling with reading, writing, and math and escalate drop out rates.
(Attendance Works)

Newark Unified School District has been identified for Differentiated Assistance, along with many other districts in Alameda County, in
large part due to continued high post-pandemic chronic absence rates. While the district continues to implement covid-19 protocols and
procedures, Ed Services seeks to implement a plan that will continue to increase positive attendance rates back to pre-pandemic levels.
This presentation provides a summary of our current attendance data and district-wide improvement initiatives.

  File Attachments
  Revised Attendance Month Staff Report BOE 09.17.24 updated.pdf (1,112 KB)

11. PUBLIC HEARINGS

11.1 Public Hearing: Sufficiency of Instructional Materials

   Type                        Procedural

   Goals                           1b. Student Achievement
                                   MISSION: The Newark Unified School District will inspire and educate all students to
                                   achieve their full potential and be responsible, respectful, and productive citizens.
                                   VISION: The Newark Unified School District, in partnership with the community, will be a
                                   model of world-class education that develops the unique abilities of every student.

PURPOSE:

For the Board of Education to provide an opportunity for the public to speak on the Sufficiency of Instructional Materials
Resolution.

BACKGROUND:

To certify compliance with Education Code Section 60119 (as revised by Chapter 704, Statutes of 2006 and California Code of
Regulations (CCR), Title 5, Section 9531). In order to be eligible to receive instructional materials funds, the governing board
of each district and county office of education is required to hold an annual public hearing and adopt a resolution stating
whether each pupil in the district has sufficient textbooks or instructional materials in specified subjects that are aligned to
the academic content standards and consistent with the content and cycles of the curriculum frameworks adopted by the
state board. This is an annual process.

Under EC Section 60119, the governing board of every local educational agency that receives state instructional materials funds must
hold an annual public hearing before the end of the eighth week from the first-day pupils attend school for that year. At the public
hearing, the governing board must make a determination as to whether each pupil in each school has sufficient textbooks or
instructional materials, or both, that are aligned to the content standards and are consistent with the content and cycles of the
curriculum framework adopted by the State Board of Education in reading/language arts, mathematics, science, and history-social
science.

Governing boards that have met the requirements of Education Code Section 60119 and have also certified compliance with the
Instructional Materials Funding Realignment Program (IMFRP) requirements regarding the provision of adopted standards-aligned


instructional materials for all students (Education Code Section 60422) may spend 100% of any remaining IMFRP funds from that year's
allocation for other approved purposes.

The Board will later have the opportunity to approve Resolution 2024.25.08 will be on the October 1, 2024 Consent Agenda Non
Personnel - Sufficiency of Instructional Materials.

  File Attachments
  Sufficiency of Materials Public Hearing 24-25.docx (1).pdf (615 KB)

12. CONSENT AGENDA: PERSONNEL ITEMS

12.1 PLACEHOLDER - One Consented Vote

   Type                        Action

   Recommended                 It is recommended that the Board of Education approve, under one consented vote, the
   Action                      agenda items under Consent-Personnel, except for agenda items:

PURPOSE:

This is specifically a placeholder, and will only be used if multiple agenda items are approved under a consented vote.

BACKGROUND:

Items within the Consent Agenda are considered routine and will be approved, adopted, or ratified by a single motion and action. There
will not be a separate discussion of these items; however, any item may be pulled from the Consent Agenda upon the request of any
member of the Board and acted upon separately.

Motion & Voting

12.2 Salary Schedule of Contracted Executive Cabinet

   Type                        Action

   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the 2024-25 Contracted
   Action                      Executive Cabinet Salary Schedule.

PURPOSE:

For the Board of Education to approve the 2024-25 Contracted Executive Cabinet Salary Schedule to be consistent with the
compensation in the Executive Cabinet contracts.

BACKGROUND:

The District's Executive Cabinet includes the Interim Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services (formerly Deputy
Superintendent of Business Services/CBO), Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services and Interim Assistant Superintendent of
Human Resources. Individuals serving in these positions are offered a contract.

History: On April 16, 2024 the Board of Education approved an employment agreement with the Interim Superintendent. On
May 7, 2024, the Board of Education approved an employment agreement with the Assistant Superintendent of Educational
Services. On August 6, 2024, the Board of Education, after reinstating the job description, approved the employment
agreement for the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. On April 23, 2024 the Board of Education ratified an
employment agreement, currently not a contracted position, with the Interim Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.


  File Attachments
  Cabinet Salary Schedules 2024-25.pdf (261 KB)

Motion & Voting
The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the 2024-25 Contracted Executive Cabinet Salary Schedule.

Motion by Carina V Plancarte, second by Nancy Thomas.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

12.3 Personnel Report

   Type                        Action

   Absolute Date               Sep 17, 2024

   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board of Education ratify the personnel report as presented.
   Action

PURPOSE:

The purpose is for the Board of Education to ratify the Personnel Report as presented.

BACKGROUND:

All personnel activities including new hires, changes in status, resignation, leaves, and retirements are routinely submitted to
the Board for ratification.

  File Attachments
  HR PAL 09.17.2024.pdf (351 KB)

Motion & Voting
The recommendation is that the Board of Education ratify the personnel report as presented.

Motion by Carina V Plancarte, second by Nancy Thomas.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13. CONSENT AGENDA: NON-PERSONNEL ITEMS

13.1 PLACEHOLDER - One Consented Vote

   Type                        Action

   Recommended                 It is recommended that the Board of Education approve, under one consented vote, the
   Action                      agenda items under Consent Non-Personnel, except for agenda items:

PURPOSE:

This is specifically a placeholder, and will only be used if multiple agenda items are approved under a consented vote.

BACKGROUND:


Items within the Consent Agenda are considered routine and will be approved, adopted, or ratified by a single motion and action. There
will not be a separate discussion of these items; however, any item may be pulled from the Consent Agenda upon the request of any
member of the Board and acted upon separately.

Motion & Voting
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve, under one consented vote, the agenda items under Consent Non-
Personnel, except for agenda items:

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13.2 Approval of Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) For Birch Grove Primary and Kennedy Elementary

   Type                        Action, Discussion

   Fiscal Impact               Yes

   Budgeted                    Yes

   Budget Source               LCFF, Title 1, and LRE

   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board approve the Single Plans and budget for Student
   Action                      Achievement (SPSAs) for 2024-25 for Birch Grove Primary and Kennedy Elementary Schools
                               as presented.

   Goals                           1b. Student Achievement

PURPOSE:

Purpose:
Each year, schools prepare a Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)which includes the school goals, student achievement and school
climate data, improvement activities/strategies and budgets. Annually, site SPSAs are approved by the School Site Council at each site.

BACKGROUND:

The School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) is a plan of action to improve student academic performance by
coordinating all educational services and resources. Pursuant to California Education Code Section 64001, schools that
receive state and federal funds are required to consolidate all school plans into a SPSA. SPSA specifics are also included in
the Federal Program Monitoring process. The SPSA is used to meet planning requirements for Title I School wide Programs
(SWP), Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), and Additional Targeted
Support and Improvement (ATSI).

California Education Code (EC) Section 64001 requires that a School Site Council (SSC) develop the SPSA.

It is the goal of Newark Unified School District (NUSD) to provide equitable opportunities to each of our students and school
sites. Each site-specific SPSA and the district-wide Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a roadmap created in
partnership with all district stakeholders to achieve our vision and mission.
The SPSAs are informed by data. Each goal area includes data analysis on current measures across student subgroups and
on outcome measures to determine progress. Local and State data are used to develop each goal and research is used to
identify best practices to address student needs. Progress is evaluated through the School Site Councils (SSCs). The SSCs
meet to review SPSA goals, actions, and budgets. California Dashboard data and other local data is used to measure the
impact of actions on student achievement. The principal and staff evaluate academic progress at minimum three times a year
through an academic Professional Learning Community (PLC) model with benchmark data. Educational Partners are key in
the development of the SPSAs. California Education Code Section 64001 requires that the School Site Council (SSC) develop
the SPSA. The SSC's responsibilities include approving the plan, recommending it to the local governing board for approval,
monitoring its implementation, and evaluating the effectiveness of the plan at least annually. The SSC must seek the review,
advice, and certification of applicable advisory committees, including the English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC).


  File Attachments
  2024 SPSA Kennedy.pdf (727 KB)
  2024 SPSA_BGP.pdf (1,830 KB)

Motion & Voting
The recommendation is that the Board approve the Single Plans and budget for Student Achievement (SPSAs) for 2024-25
for Birch Grove Primary and Kennedy Elementary Schools as presented.

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13.3 BGI Julia Robinson Math Foundation (JRMF) Math Grant Award

   Type                        Action

   Fiscal Impact               No

   Recommended                 Staff recommends board approve the JRMF math grant for BGI.
   Action

PURPOSE:

Staff recommends board approve the JRMF math grant for BGI.

BACKGROUND:

Principal Robert Fang applied and wrote for a math grant to offer a fun filled math night for students and families of BGI. The
JRFM has awarded BGI with a family math night at no cost to the school or families. This is the first time the district has
received a grant and partnership opportunity from the Julia Robinson Math Foundation.

  File Attachments
  Math Festival Floor Plan.png (1,793 KB)
  JRMF Description of Services Birch Grove Intermediate 10_24_24.pdf (65 KB)
  24-25 WC, 23-24 GLAUTOPROFUMB - Newark Unified School District.pdf (45 KB)
  English Minor Release Form (Media Release Form).pdf (190 KB)
  JRMF Survey (for students) V2.pdf (792 KB)

Motion & Voting
Staff recommends board approve the JRMF math grant for BGI.

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13.4 MOU with SEWA International (USA)

   Type                        Action (Consent)

   Fiscal Impact               No

   Budgeted                    No

   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board of Education approves the MOU between SEWA and
   Action                      NUSD for the 2024-2025 school year.

PURPOSE:

The purpose is to approve the Sewa Agreement for the 2024-25 school year to supplement current expanded learning opportunities and
enrichment activities.

BACKGROUND:

Sewa International is a nonprofit service organization founded in 2003 as part of a larger movement that started in India in 1989. The
purpose of the Sewa program in NUSD is to support teaching and learning beyond the classroom, especially for those children who have
been historically or systemically underserved.

Sewa staff will collaborate with NUSD staff and designated sites to supplement instructional and enrichment services for
NUSD students during the day and/or after school. Provision of enrichment services will enhance student development in the
following areas: Homework help, critical thinking and problem solving, health and wellness, building of new skills and
interests, and cultural sensitivity and awareness. This includes, but is not limited to the following    learning opportunities:
lessons, workshops, conferences, and professional presentations in the areas of          science, technology, engineering, art, and
mathematics (STEAM), disaster preparedness, cultural        celebrations, and other college and career interests.

  File Attachments
  Sewa USA_MOU Aspire School Tutor Program_2024-25 Sept24.pdf (156 KB)

13.5 MOU Between Alameda County Office of Education and Newark Unified School District for Participation in the Clear Path for Advancement in Leadership (CPAL) Program.

   Type                        Action

   Dollar Amount               $2,500.00

   Budgeted                    Yes

   Budget Source               Ed. Effectiveness Grant

   Recommended                 It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the MOU between Alameda County
   Action                      Office of Education and Newark Unified School District for the principal of Birch Grove
                               Intermediate to participate in the Clear Path for Advancement in Leadership Program.

   Goals                           VISION: The Newark Unified School District, in partnership with the community, will be a
                                   model of world-class education that develops the unique abilities of every student.
                                   MISSION: The Newark Unified School District will inspire and educate all students to
                                   achieve their full potential and be responsible, respectful, and productive citizens.
                                   1b. Student Achievement


PURPOSE:

The purpose of the MOU between Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE) and Newark Unified School District is for
Robert Fang, principal at Birch Grove Intermediate, to earn his clear administrative services credential by participating in the
two year Clear Path for Advancement in Leadership (CPAL) program through the Alameda County Office of Education.

BACKGROUND:

ACOE offers a newly-revised two year clear administrative services credential program titled,        the Clear Path for the
Advancement in Leadership (CPAL).       This program provides school and district leaders with foundational equity leadership
development to support a long and impactful career in educational leadership. Key features include:
       Focused development on 11 Essential Equity Leadership Practices
       Premium quality monthly professional learning
       Personalized, in-person coaching every other week
       360� feedback on leadership

Upon completion of all requirements candidates earn their Clear Administrative Services Credential.         Participation in the CPAL
program aligns with the district's efforts to attract and retain high quality site administrators.

  File Attachments
  MOU ACOE CPAL.pdf (200 KB)

Motion & Voting
It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the MOU between Alameda County Office of Education and Newark
Unified School District for the principal of Birch Grove Intermediate to participate in the Clear Path for Advancement in
Leadership Program.

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13.6 Contract with Summa Academy, Non-Public School (NPS)

   Type                        Action

   Preferred Date              Sep 17, 2024

   Fiscal Impact               Yes

   Dollar Amount               $103,234.00

   Budgeted                    No

   Budget Source               Resource 6500 - Special Education

   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the contract with Summa
   Action                      Academy, Non-Public School (NPS).

PURPOSE:

For the Board of Education to approve the contract with Summa Academy for day treatment services for the 2024-25 school
year.

BACKGROUND:


NUSD student's least restrictive environment per IDEA was determined to be placed in a Non-Public School (NPS) setting due
to a significant disability, behavioral, or programmatic need that has impacted their current ability to be successful within the
general education setting.

  File Attachments
  Summa Academy Contract 2024-25.pdf (463 KB)
  Summa ISA 24-25 REDACTED.pdf (177 KB)

Motion & Voting
The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the contract with Summa Academy, Non-Public School (NPS).

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13.7 Clifford Moss Addendum 1 Correction

   Type                        Action

   Fiscal Impact               Yes

   Dollar Amount               $12,500.00

   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board of Education ratify Addendum 1 to the Clifford Moss
   Action                      agreement.

PURPOSE:

To ratify Addendum 1 to the Clifford Moss Agreement.

BACKGROUND:

On April 16, 2024 the Board approved the agreement with Clifford Moss to provide Feasibility Services, Strategic
Communications and Ballot Measure Preparation Services for a flat fee of $40,000 plus $10,000 for travel and program costs
not included in the flat fee.

On August 6, 2024 the Board approved Addendum 1 to the Clifford Moss Agreement. The amount approved was $36,000.
Addendum 1 includes additional compensation that was not identified on the August 6, 2024 agenda, and is part of the
approved Addendum 1.

 Services                                                                          Amount
 Compensation: For the period of August 9 - September 2024, a $12,000(Twelve Thousand Dollar) FLAT FEE, plus approved business expenses.$12,000
 Provider's Expenses: Provider's consultant expenses shall not exceed atotal of $500 (Five Hundred Dollars) without Client's prior written consent.$500
 Info-ONLY Program Costs: Provider recommends an Information-ONLY
 Program Budget of $36,000 (Thirty-Six Thousand Dollars). All such                             Approved
 expenditures shall be pre-approved by Client before being incurred on             $36,000     8/6/2024
 behalf of Client.

  File Attachments
  Clifford Moss_Bond Feasibility 2024_fully executed.pdf (439 KB)
  Clifford Moss_Bond Feasibility 2024_Addendum 1_fully executed.pdf (398 KB)

Motion & Voting


The recommendation is that the Board of Education ratify Addendum 1 to the Clifford Moss agreement.

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13.8 Report: Warrant Report for August 2024

   Type                        Action

   Fiscal Impact               No

   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the Warrant Report as presented.
   Action

Purpose:
The purpose of this item is to present warrants, for the total amount of $3,390,443.56 made from District funds for August
2024.

Background:
The warrant registers represent a complete listing of all payments made from District funds for a month. Because Newark
Unified School District is a fiscally dependent District, each warrant must pass through two separate audits; first by the
Districts Fiscal Services department, and second by the County Office of Education. No warrant can be paid until such time
as it is examined and approved by the County Office of Education.

  File Attachments
  Warrant Report August 2024.pdf (442 KB)

Motion & Voting
The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the Warrant Report as presented.

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13.9 POLICY UPDATE: Board Policy 3100 Budget (First Reading)

   Type                        Action

   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the updated Board Policy 3100
   Action                      Budget. (First Reading)

PURPOSE:

The purpose is for the Board of Education to review the recommended changes and approve the updated board policy. (First
Reading)

BACKGROUND:


This is the FIRST reading of the attached policy. The language is sanctioned by the California School Board Association.
California School Board Association notations can be seen in the documents for the benefit of the Board. These notations will
be removed from the final, Board approved policies.

The Ad Hoc Policy subcommittee and the administration have reviewed the recommended updates for accuracy and made
revisions to reflect district practice. If any revisions are recommended by the Board, the policy will be brought back for an
additional reading.

CSBA Last Update: 2019-03-01 |       NUSD Last Update: 2017-10-17

  File Attachments
  Policy 3100 - Budget_Opt 1 Recommended.pdf (165 KB)

Motion & Voting
The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the updated Board Policy 3100 Budget. (First Reading)

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13.10 POLICY UPDATE: Adopt Board Policy 5146 - Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students (First Reading)

   Type                        Action, Procedural

   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board of Education discuss and Adopt the updated Board
   Action                      Policy 5146 - Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students (First Reading)

PURPOSE:

The purpose is for the Board of Education to review the recommended changes and adopt the updated board policy. (First
Reading)

BACKGROUND:

This is the FIRST reading of the attached policy. The language is sanctioned by the California School Board Association. California School
Board Association notations can be seen in the documents for the benefit of the Board. These notations will be removed from the final,
Board approved policies.

The Ad Hoc Policy subcommittee and the administration have reviewed the recommended updates for accuracy and made revisions to
reflect district practice. If any revisions are recommended by the Board, the policy will be brought back for an additional reading.

Board Policy 5146 - Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students
CSBA 2024-07-01 -/ NUSD - Missing

Policy updated to reflect NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS (89 Fed. Reg. 33474) which (1) provide that a student's current, potential, or
past pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy or lactation, and related medical conditions and recovery, as well as a student's
current, potential, or past parental, family, or marital status are protected from discrimination pursuant to Title IX and its implementing
regulations, (2) require an employee, when a student or a person who has a legal right to act on behalf of a student informs any
employee of the student's pregnancy or related conditions, to provide that person with the Title IX Coordinator's contact information and
inform that person that the Title IX Coordinator can coordinate specific actions to prevent sex discrimination, including sex-based
harassment, and ensure the student's equal access to the district's education program or activity, (3) require the district to provide the
district's notice of nondiscrimination on the basis of sex and take specified actions once notified of a student's pregnancy or related
conditions, (4) prohibit the district from requiring a student who is pregnant or has related conditions to provide certification from a
healthcare provider or any other person verifying that the student is physically able to participate in the district's class, program, or
extracurricular activity unless the certified level of physical ability of health is (a) necessary for participation in the class, program, or
extracurricular activity, (b) the district requires such certification of all participating students, and (c) the information obtained is not
used as a basis for sex discrimination, (5) require the district to allow a student who is pregnant or who has related conditions to
voluntarily take a leave of absence to cover, at a minimum, the period of time deemed medically necessary by the student's licensed
healthcare provider, and, if the district has a leave policy that allows for a greater period of time than the medically necessary period and
the student qualifies for leave under such policy, to permit the student to take leave under that policy, (6) require the district to


reinstate a student who has returned to school after taking parental leave to the academic status and, as practicable, to the
extracurricular status that the student held when the voluntary leave began, (7) require the district to provide reasonable
accommodations for students who are pregnant or parenting, or have related conditions, as specified, (8) require the district to provide
a student who is lactating with access to a lactation space, as specified, and (9) require a district with knowledge of alleged conduct,
which occurs in a district program or activity on or after August 1, 2024, that reasonably may constitute sex discrimination under Title
IX, including sex-based harassment, to follow Title IX grievance procedures when investigating and resolving a complaint based on the
alleged conduct.

  File Attachments
  Policy 5146 - Married-Pregnant-Parenting Students.docx.pdf (146 KB)

Motion & Voting
The recommendation is that the Board of Education discuss and Adopt the updated Board Policy 5146 -
Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students (First Reading)

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13.11 POLICY UPDATE: Board Policy 6000 - Concepts And Roles (First Reading)

   Type                        Action, Procedural

   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the updated Board Policy 6000 -
   Action                      Concepts And Roles (First Reading)

   Goals                           MISSION: The Newark Unified School District will inspire and educate all students to
                                   achieve their full potential and be responsible, respectful, and productive citizens.

PURPOSE:

The purpose is for the Board of Education to review the recommended changes and approve the updated board policy. (First
Reading)

BACKGROUND:

This is the FIRST reading of the attached policy. The language is sanctioned by the California School Board Association.
California School Board Association notations can be seen in the documents for the benefit of the Board. These notations will
be removed from the final, Board approved policies.

The Ad Hoc Policy subcommittee and the administration have reviewed the recommended updates for accuracy and made
revisions to reflect district practice. If any revisions are recommended by the Board, the policy will be brought back for an
additional reading.

Board Policy 6000 - Concepts And Roles
Policy updated to align concepts with other sample policies and incorporate concepts of equity and inclusion. Additionally,
policy updated to reflect NEW GUIDANCE from the California Department of Education, including the importance of
coordination, collaboration and alignment between the school, parents/guardians and the community, and district support for
innovative programs and practices that promote student engagement, growth, understanding, achievement and career
exploration

  File Attachments
  BP 6000 Concepts and Roles.docx.pdf (79 KB)


Motion & Voting
The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the updated Board Policy 6000 - Concepts And Roles (First
Reading)

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13.12 POLICY UPDATE: Board Policy 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling Services (First Reading)

   Type                        Action, Procedural

   Recommended                 The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the updated Board Policy 6164.2
   Action                      - Guidance/Counseling Services (First Reading)

PURPOSE:

The purpose is for the Board of Education to review the recommended changes and approve the updated board policy. (First
Reading)

BACKGROUND:

This is the FIRST reading of the attached policy. The language is sanctioned by the California School Board Association.
California School Board Association notations can be seen in the documents for the benefit of the Board. These notations will
be removed from the final, Board approved policies.

The Ad Hoc Policy subcommittee and the administration have reviewed the recommended updates for accuracy and made
revisions to reflect district practice. If any revisions are recommended by the Board, the policy will be brought back for an
additional reading.

Board Policy 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling Services
Policy updated to reflect NEW LAW (AB 278, 2023) which establishes the Dream Resource Grant Program with the goal of
creating Dream Resource Centers at schools that serve students in grades 9-12, and NEW LAW (SB 223, 2023) which
provides flexibility for pupil personnel services holders to receive authorization to provide child welfare and attendance
services by either completing a Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)-approved program of supervised field
experience, or a CTC-approved program of professional preparation offered by a local educational agency. Additionally, policy
updated to clarify that (1) guidance counseling regarding school programs and career, vocational, or higher education
opportunities may not be differentiated based on any protected category specified in law or board policy, and that (2) the
district may not use testing or other materials that permit or require impermissible or unlawful differential treatment of
students, unless such different materials cover the same occupations and interest areas and the use of such materials is
essential to the elimination of bias and discrimination. In addition, policy updated to reflect NEW LAW (AB 1173, 2023) which
requires a district that serves students in any of grades 9-12 that is planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each
community college district that has overlapping jurisdiction of the date, time, and location of the fair, and provide an
opportunity for the community college district to participate. Policy also updated to reflect NEW LAW (AB 665, 2023) which
aligns a section of the Family Code with a related Health and Safety Code section which allows a minor age 12 or older to
consent to outpatient mental health counseling or treatment services without parent/guardian consent if, in the opinion of a
school psychologist or other professional person, the minor is mature enough to participate intelligently in the services,
without having to establish that the minor would present a danger of serious physical or mental harm to themself or others
without the mental counseling or treatment services or that the minor is an alleged victim of incest or child abuse; however
the child's parent/guardian is required to be involved unless the professional person determines after consulting with the
minor that it would be inappropriate. Policy also updated to delete the requirement for school counselors to assist in the
development of the comprehensive safety plan since this is not required by law, but maintained the requirement for school
counselors to assist in the development of the disaster preparedness plan, which is part of the comprehensive safety plan.

  File Attachments
  BP 6164.2 Guidance-Counseling Services.docx.pdf (161 KB)


Motion & Voting
The recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the updated Board Policy 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling
Services (First Reading)

Motion by Katherine Jones, second by Carina V Plancarte.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

13.13 Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 7214- General Obligation Bonds (Second Reading/Action)

   Type                         Action, Discussion

   Fiscal Impact                No

   Budgeted                     No

   Recommended                  Approve Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 7214 as presented (Second
   Action                       reading/Action)

   Goals                           VISION: The Newark Unified School District, in partnership with the community, will be a
                                   model of world-class education that develops the unique abilities of every student.
                                   MISSION: The Newark Unified School District will inspire and educate all students to
                                   achieve their full potential and be responsible, respectful, and productive citizens.

PURPOSE:

Approve Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 7214 as presented (Second Reading/Action)

BACKGROUND:

Board Policy 7214 - General Obligation Bonds
Policy updated     for clarity and   organization, including  that   the  Governing   Board   may   direct the Superintendent to
explore the possibility of a bond measure.

Administrative Regulation 7214 - General Obligation Bonds
Regulation updated to expand and more closely align with code language the information related to ballot materials,
including that at least 88 days prior to the election the Superintendent must deliver applicable ballot materials to the officer
conducting the election. Additionally, regulation updated to add new section "Ballot Materials" which includes (1) that the
ballot question may not exceed 75 words, (2) that the ballot materials include a brief statement of the measure setting forth
the amount of the bonds to be voted on, the maximum rate of interest, and the purposes for which the proceeds of the sale
of the bonds are to be used, (3) for bond measures that require a 55 percent majority vote, a statement that the Board will
appoint a citizens' oversight committee, (4) for projects that require state matching funds, a statement advising voters that
the project is subject to the approval of state matching funds, and (4) that arguments in support of or in opposition to a
bond measure are submitted in accordance with law, and to reflect NEW LAW (SB 798, 2023) which requires the inclusion of
the tax rate per $100,000 of assessed valuation on all property to be taxed to fund a bond measure. In addition, regulation
updated to (1) reflect that the district will provide the citizens' oversight committee with responses to any and all findings,
recommendations, and concerns addressed in the annual independent financial and performance audits within three months
of receiving the audits, and (2) to include post-issuance reporting requirements

  File Attachments
  BP 7214 General Obligation Bonds.docx.pdf (179 KB)
  AR 7214 General Obligation Bonds.pdf (80 KB)


Motion & Voting
Approve Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 7214 as presented (Second reading/Action)

Motion by Nancy Thomas, second by Katherine Jones.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Nancy Thomas, Aiden Hill, Phuong Nguyen, Katherine Jones, Carina V Plancarte

14. BOARD OF EDUCATION: COMMITTEE REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, REQUESTS, DEBRIEF AND DISCUSSION

14.1 Board of Education Committee Reports, Announcements, Requests, Debrief and Discussion

                                AND DISCUSSION

   Type                         Action, Discussion, Information

PURPOSE:

COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Trustees will provide an update, if available, on the committees of which they are members.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Trustees may acknowledge or recognize specific programs, activities, or personnel at this time.

REQUESTS: This is an opportunity for the Board of Education to suggest items for placement on future agendas and to review Board
requests.

             Approval from the majority of the Board will be required for direction to be provided to the Superintendent.

DEBRIEF AND DISCUSSION: The Trustees may debrief and discuss items.

BACKGROUND:

Each year the Board of Education members liaise with schools and committees in order to build relationships, hear from staff, students,
and families, and act as a conduit for information to and from the schools.

  Board Committees 2023-24

  Board Adopted on 12/18/2023                                              Representative              Alternate

  Mission Valley Regional Occupational Center/Program (ROC/P)           1. Nancy Thomas         1. Carina V. Plancarte
  Executive Board

  Regional Policy Board of Special Education Local Plan Area   (SELPA)  1. Katherine Jones      1. Phuong Nguyen

  Newark Teacher Induction Advisory Council (Formally EBIC)             1. Aiden Hill           1. Carina V. Plancarte

  Audit Committee                                                       1. Nancy Thomas2. Katherine Jones1. Phuong Nguyen

  Bond/Parcel Tax Committee                                             1. Phuong Nguyen2. Carina V. Plancarte1. Aiden Hill

  City of Newark � NUSD Liaison Committee                               1. Phuong Nguyen2. Aiden Hill1. Katherine Jones

The following derives directly from the Board approved "Governance Team Handbook"

Authority is Collective, Not Individual:
        The only authority to direct action rests with the Board as a whole when seated at a regular or special board meeting. Outside of
        this meeting, there is no authority.
        A majority Board vote provides direction to the Superintendent. Board members will not undermine the ability of staff to carry
        out Board direction.


Bringing New Ideas Forward
The Board will be open to having "brainstorming" discussions, or study sessions, around any idea that a Trustee may feel merits
exploratory consideration. "New Ideas" are defined as any proposal brought forward by a Trustee, at their initiative or at the request of a
constituent, which was previously discussed during a board meeting.
        Trustees will first notify the Board President and Superintendent of their interest in bringing forward a new idea at a board
        meeting.
        When initially agendized, the preliminary discussion of a new idea will not require staff research time. Initially, staff will be
        expected to respond to new ideas based on current knowledge.
        Only a majority of the Board may direct the Superintendent to conduct research regarding the exploration of a new idea. The
        Superintendent will decide on the delegation of assignments to District staff.
        The new idea may be agendized for discussion only. The Board majority will decide if the new idea should be further developed
        and studied by staff. The Board majority will decide if staff time should be invested in the "fleshing out" of new ideas.
        Individual Trustees, in the course of interactions with constituents, will be careful not to make or imply the commitment of the
        full Board to explore or proceed with implementing new ideas.

15. SUPERINTENDENT'S CONCLUDING COMMENTS, UPDATES FOR THE BOARD AND FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS

15.1 Superintendent's Concluding Comments, Updates, and Future Agenda Items

                                AGENDA REQUESTS

   Type                         Information

PURPOSE:

This is an opportunity for the Interim Superintendent to make any concluding comments, updates, agenda requests, or provide
information of future meetings.

16. ADJOURNMENT

16.1 PLACEHOLDER - Extend Meeting

   Type                         Action

   Recommended                  The recommendation is that the Board of Education extends the meeting to ____ P.M.
   Action

PURPOSE:

This is a placeholder, only to be used if the Board adds a motion and action to extend the meeting.

16.2 Adjournment

   Type                         Action

                                The recommendation is that the Board of Education adjourns this meeting.


   Recommended
   Action

PURPOSE:

No items will be considered after 10:00 p.m. unless it is determined by a majority of the Board to extend to a specific time.

This action will conclude the meeting.

Motion & Voting

No minutes available.