SRCS Special Board Meeting Agenda Analysis - 2/17/2021

BOARD MEETING
Santa Rosa City Schools
February 17, 2021 6:00PM 
5:00 p.m. - Closed Session 
5:30 p.m. - Open Session

​*** streamed ***
A live link will be posted on the SRCS website (link).
https://bit.ly/SRCSvideoboardmeetings

Please take time to review the following abbreviated version of the agenda.  Click here to see the entire agenda. It has live links on many items with more information.  If you want to comment to the board about any upcoming items, email  agendacomments@srcs.k12.ca.us. Please CC wearesrta@gmail.com on your comments.

Closed Session Items: 
A.1. Public Comment On Closed Session Agenda Items. To comment, email Adina Flores at ayflores@srcs.k12.ca.us.

B.1. Conference With Labor Negotiator (CSEA and SRTA)


C. RECONVENE TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION (5:30 p.m.)

C.3. Public Comment on Agenda Items
SRTA members are invited to raise their hand and provide voice only comments during the meeting. Please observe the standard three minute time limit (and be prepared for a last minute change to a two minute limit). Only items on the agenda are addressed at this time. 

Comments are requested at the board meeting to bring a members perspective to the messages contained in this analysis, and share real experiences of the impact of district policies and practices.  Please commit to watching at least one board meeting this year, and speaking to an agenda item that impacts you or your students. Speakers are most impactful when they are well spoken, composed and reasonable.

D. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
E.1. (Action) Bid Approval, Lewis Education Center Pre-SchoolSummary
This an action item to approve the bid for the proposed construction at Lewis Educational Center as part of the expanded Early Childhood Development Program. $1.8 million dollars will renovate 4 classrooms and create a playground. Head Start currently has one classroom for 8 students. This project will grow Head Start at this location to 4 classrooms allowing service to 53 infants/preschoolers. These four rooms are dedicated to Head Start for 15 years. The project is funded with grant monies, Head Start funds, and $400,000 from district developer fee funds. 
$157,000 in ongoing annual expenses for this program include a 50% Principal, 100% secretary and an additional 50% custodian. 
This item write up then provides details on the various uses of the Lewis Campus: CCS medical and clinical therapy, Wellness Center, Conference Center, Pasitos, Avance and CNS food distribution site. 
 
Is this item to approve a bid for construction, an update on the use of the Lewis Campus, or to approve the three additional positions? 
 
Is it customary for the district to provide a Principal and office staff services to Head Start?  If the Head Start Program is just housed at SRCS and does not generate funding, why are we responsible for administrative/classified costs? 
 
The addition of three positions also raises concerns as the Budget Advisory Committee is being asked to advise the reduction of 12 positions within the district for next year. Would we actually eliminate 15 positions to make room for these three new positions?

E.2. Approval of Board Member School Site Liaison Assignments for 2021
Summary
In 1998, the Board established school-site liaison assignments so that all the Districts' schools would be visited on a regular basis by at least one board member.  This program has been on hiatus since January 2018.


Board Member School-Site Liaison Assignments

SRTA applauds the return of the liaison assignments. Members are encouraged to reach out to the board member for their site. 

E.3. and E.4. (Discussion/Action) Review of Board Procedures and Communication Norms. 
Summary
The board typically reviews these documents for updates and to simultaneously initiate new members to the board.
Guide to Board Meeting Discussion
Board Communication Norms

SRTA appreciates the codifying of board procedures and norms. The efforts of this board to work on efficiency while also having honest discourse are to be applauded. 

E.5. (Discussion/Action) Vision, Mission, and Priorities Review
Summary
The Board will review the vision, mission and priorities for 2021. 
Strategic Plan (English)
Strategic Plan (Spanish)

This MVP (Mission, Vision, and Priorities) has provided a general direction for the district. When this project was undertaken, there was an understanding that during the initiation phase the goal was to set a direction. 

Teachers learn to start with the end in mind, and backwards plan. Now that we have matured into the MVP, can we take the next step and prioritize? Setting of specific expectations could more transparently be used to guide budget and program choices. Metrics could be utilized to measure progress against a timetable.     

E.6. (Discussion/Action) Superintendent Search Firm Interviews
Summary
The Board will receive fifteen minute presentations given by four selected search firms who submitted proposals for recruiting the district's new superintendent beginning in the  2021-22 school year. They will then have fifteen minutes for questions with each firm.
Three of the offers are approximately $26,000 while one is for $23,000. After hearing the presentations, the board may make a decision.
6:30  pm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) Group
7:00  pm Cosca Group
7:30  pm Leadership Associates
8:00  pm McPherson & Jacobson LLC

Supt Search RFP
Statewide Superintendent Salary Chart (7 Salaries are listed, ranging from $276,000 to $494,000. They are different from the comps provided when a salary increase was discussed.)

SRTA appreciates the speed at which the board is considering this item.

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