Special Board Meeting

Quick Summary / Staff Recommendation

Prior to the Public Session, the Board will meet in Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 This is the opportunity for the public to comment prior to the Board's consideration of any closed session agenda items.

Link to this item

Quick Summary / Staff Recommendation

Members of the audience who wish to address the Board are asked to complete the yellow card available at the entrance and submit it to the Board's Administrative Assistant. Speakers who have completed the card will be called when the item is reached on the agenda or, for non-agenda items, during the Public Testimony. Cards are to be turned in before the item is reached on the agenda. Please note that the meeting is being recorded. State law prohibits the Board of Education from taking any action on or discussing items that are not on the posted agenda except to A) briefly respond to statements made or questions posed by the public in attendance; B) ask questions for clarification; C) provide a reference to a staff member or other resource for factual information in response to the inquiry; or D) ask a staff member to report back on the matter at the next meeting and/or put it on a future agenda. (Government Code 54954.2(a)).

Link to this item

Actions

Motion - Motion made by Lance James and a seconded by Ron Carey. | Vote: Yes Hermy Almonte .; Yes Carmen Sullivan .; Yes Lance James .; Yes Ron Carey .; Yes Diana Prola .; Yes Mike Katz-Lacabe .; Yes Morgan Mack-Rose .

Link to this item

Quick Summary / Staff Recommendation

These items are submitted for advance planning and to assist the Board in establishing future agenda items. The Board may, however, take action on the following:

Link to this item

Fiscal Impact

$15,000 - $25,000 funded from General Fund

To

Board of Education

Actions

Motion - Motion made by Hermy Almonte and a seconded by Lance James. | Vote: Yes Hermy Almonte .; Yes Carmen Sullivan .; Yes Lance James .; Yes Ron Carey .; Yes Diana Prola .; Yes Mike Katz-Lacabe .; Yes Morgan Mack-Rose .

Quick Summary / Staff Recommendation

Approve contracted services agreement between the San Leandro Unified School District and the Lew Edwards Group

Board Committee

Advocacy Committee meeting December 2 and December 8, 2011

Background Information

The state of California continues to be in a fiscal crisis and the schools have been profoundly impacted over the last four years due to drastic budget cuts and on-going cash deferrals to K-12 education. San Leandro Unified School District has been fiscally conservative and managed to keep the District solvent for the current year and two out years as required by the County Office of Education. The cuts to our District translate into more than $11M dollars or 15% of our entire budget. Balancing our budget has come at a drastic impact to our programs and services for students. For example, K-3 class size in the last four years has gone from 20, to 24, to 28 and next year K-3 class size is scheduled to go up to 32. Using one time funds from the federal government, the District was able to save middle school counselors for this year. Middle school counselors are scheduled to be eliminated for the 2012-2013 school year. Elementary librarians, elementary instrumental music, custodians, campus security, middle school and elementary vice principals, and clerical support for the schools are partially and/or fully scheduled to be cut for next year. We have already cut athletics and school supply money to the bone. The Board has swept School Improvement funds, Instructional Material Funds and funds from many other programs to balance our budget. The community has been exceptionally forward thinking and supportive of the schools by passing two bond measures (Measure B and Measure M). Through innovative thinking and effective fiscal management with Measure B, the District turned the $109M bond funds into $138M through our aggressive pursuit of state matching funds and other grants. Unfortunately, bond funds can only be used for capital improvements. They cannot be used for operational costs nor for programs and services for students. While the District has been exceptionally frugal with it funds, the fact remains that of the eighteen districts in the County of Alameda, San Leandro is the lowest total revenue district in the county. This means that we receive less money per pupil from the state of California than any other district in our county. This is the money that is used for programs, personnel and support services. Given the desire for more local control, many districts have a Parcel Tax to help offset the shortfall of funds from the state. Of the eighteen districts in Alameda County, nine districts currently have a parcel tax with some having more than one parcel tax. At least three other districts are considering a parcel tax for 2012. The decision to pursue a parcel tax is not a decision that is taken lightly by the San Leandro Board of Education. On December 6, 2010, the Board made the decision to conduct a community survey to identify the priorities of the community and the willingness of the community to support a potential parcel tax so that if a parcel tax is pursued, it will meet the needs of the District and the priorities of the community. A parcel tax is a complicated endeavor and requires a specific type of expertise. In order to make sure the District has the optimum expertise for the parcel tax, an interview process was conducted. Three highly qualified professional candidates were interviewed over a two-day period. As a result of that interview process, the District is seeking to contract with The Lew Edwards Group. Among their many attributes, The Lew Edwards Group is known for their knowledge and expertise, their integrity, and their collaborative approach to working with communities including: District-sponsored, nonpartisan, information updates, engaging community members and leaders for ideas and input, ability to bring community members together in support of mutual goals. The consultant will also work on the development of the community survey to ensure the questions asked identify what matters most to the District and the community. The fee for this phase of the parcel tax process is estimated to be in the range of $15,000 - $25,000 depending upon when the actual election is called by the Board. A copy of the contract will be provided at the Board meeting.

From

Cindy M. Cathey

Link to this item

Minutes

Regular Board Meeting ? January 10, 2012 Tentative Board Work Session - January 17, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? January 24, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? February 7, 2012 Tentative Board Work Session - February 14, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? March 6, 2012 Special Board Meeting ? March 13, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? March 20, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? April 3, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? April 17, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? May 1, 2012 Tentative Board Work Session - May 8, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? May 15, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? June 5, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? June 19, 2012 Special Board Meeting ? June 26, 2012

Quick Summary / Staff Recommendation

Regular Board Meeting ? January 10, 2012 Tentative Board Work Session - January 17, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? January 24, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? February 7, 2012 Tentative Board Work Session - February 14, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? March 6, 2012 Special Board Meeting ? March 13, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? March 20, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? April 3, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? April 17, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? May 1, 2012 Tentative Board Work Session - May 8, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? May 15, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? June 5, 2012 Regular Board Meeting ? June 19, 2012 Special Board Meeting ? June 26, 2012

Link to this item

Minutes

The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

Actions

Motion - Motion made by Mike Katz-Lacabe and a seconded by Diana Prola. | Vote: Yes Hermy Almonte .; Yes Carmen Sullivan .; Yes Lance James .; Yes Ron Carey .; Yes Diana Prola .; Yes Mike Katz-Lacabe .; Yes Morgan Mack-Rose .

Link to this item