Rescue Union School District

Board Of Trustees Meeting Highlights - January 23, 2018 

We continue our efforts to communicate effectively and in a timely fashion with our families and staffs.  We know not every parent, teacher, or staff member can attend our Board meetings, so we will provide a brief update after each Board meeting, sharing highlights and actions taken by the Board.  As always, please let us know how to better serve and communicate with you!  We want to be partners with you in the educational journey of the children entrusted to us.

DISTRICT RECOGNITIONS:

• Two of the five students that make up the Green Valley School Leadership team provided a presentation.  The Leadership team oversees Impact, work together on school projects such as recycling and campus clean up mornings.  They plan fun days for students like crazy sock day and pajama day.  Some of the projects this year include KCRA canned food drive, Veteran’s Day Assembly, Winter Wonderland, Cards for Troops, and Pennies for Patients.  Each morning after announcements, they say the Gator Way chant as a school.  The Board joined the students reciting the Gator Way Chant!

  Principal, Michelle Winberg discussed the PBIS program (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) that Green Valley has implemented this year.  PBIS is a3 tier system:  Tier 1 – Universal Interventions for all students (works for about 80%), Tier 2-Targeted Interventions for students needing additional support (15%) and Tier 3-Individualized Interventions (5%).  The implementation timeline takes between 2 and 4 years.  The purpose of PBIS is to make schools more effective and equitable learning environments for ALL students – Predictable, Consistent, Positive, Safe and Equitable.  They have started with very clear expectations listed in a positive way, explicitly taught and reviewed throughout every area of the campus.  They review the school wide rules, tell why the rules are important, demonstrate the rules and provide opportunities to practice.

  With the wide variety of needs at Green Valley, the dedicated staff are continually refining practices, implementing new programs and scrutinizing current programs and practices.

• Difference Makers:  As the presenting school for January, Green Valley presented the Difference Maker award to Jackie Carpenter, Teacher and Student Services Secretary, Karen Alvarado.
  
  
• Rescue USD  is now “Live” on Social Media Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Be sure to check it out!  New material is being posted weekly!
  
  
• February is School Board Recognition Month:  Superintendent Olson recognized our Board for their dedication in overseeing the educational quality in our district, for  making decisions and give direction on everything from budgets to staffing to facilities and much much more. We thank you for your time, service and care!

UPDATES:

• The Board received information from Larry Garcia, Information Technology Manager, regarding our current use of Chromebooks.

  We made a sizable investment in our students and staff last year by implementing a one to one ratio of chromebooks 3^rd - 8^th grade.  Data provided included the number used, how often they are used and what they are used for.  We currently have 3403 Chrome devices.  The data noted below shows how regularly and often our students are using the chrome devices!  We appreciate our technology department and our tech TOSAS for their help and support to teachers and the classrooms.

  August 9 (First day of School) – 1076 Chromebooks used

  August 31 – 2909 Chromebooks used

  January 22 -  3118 Chomebooks used

• Phil Jones Maintenance and Operations Coordinator reported on the facility projects underway in the District that included:
  • Completion of the Facility Inspection Tool (FIT Report)
  • Completion of approximately 10 full roofs replacements
  • Installation of our wireless irrigation controllers for Pleasant Grove by our Utility Techs, a significant cost savings by completing the project in house
  • EID state mandated water testing for lead has begun at two schools.
  • Emergency evacuation plan submitted for Bass Lake Damn, once approved the inundation map will also be included in the plan
  • Completed power switch over to the new Marina Village project
  • Marina/Lake Forest Field is now open for student use
  • Lake Forest backstop is been assembled and will be ready soon
    
    Additional information provided in a pictorial slide presentation showing the retaining wall on the Sienna Ridge property and progress on the Marina Village two-story project.
    

• Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction provided information this month on the District’s results on the California School Dashboard state indicators for English Learner and Suspension Rate.

The Fall 2017 California School Dashboard results for our English learners fall within the “orange” category.  More specifically, this subgroup of 146 students achieved a status score of 72.6% (up nearly 3.5 % from the 2012-2014 data set), but declined significantly when compared to the 2013-2015 data set.  Amy Bohren has been working diligently training teachers and para-educators on concepts such as the use of academic vocabulary and accountable talk to increase language proficiency.  She expects nearly double the amount of reclassified students this year.  As a result, we are optimistic that our dashboard color will improve when reported next year.

The dashboard results for the suspension indicator are yellow.  District-wide suspension rates were in the “medium” category at 2.5%, and this status was maintained from the previous year, only rising 0.1%.  All schools with the exception of Marina Village had green or blue results for their overall populations, but certain subgroups, including students with disabilities, homeless students, African American Students, and Asian students fell into the red or orange category.  Work is underway to reduce suspensions by providing more effective alternatives, such as restorative, reflective, and instructional practices.  Trauma Informed Teaching Practices and Multi Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) are also being explored by administrators and lead teachers to address this issue.

ACTION ITEMS:

• The Board approved Board Policy Review/Revision for BP/ AR 5116.1 Intradistrict Open Enrollment and BP 7310 Naming of Facility.
• The Board approved Resolution#18-01 – Calling for Full and Fair Funding of California’s Public Schools
• The Board approved the El Dorado County School Boards Association Nomination, directing the Superintendent to solicit nominations for outstanding community members from staff.
• The Board approved Change Orders #5-9, Marina Village Two-Story Project.
• The Board accepted the minutes and 7-11 Advisory Committee’s Report and Resolution #18-02 Declaring Certain Real Property Surplus, will be considered at the February 13,2018 Board meeting.
• The Board approved Single School Plans for Green Valley, Jackson, Lake Forest, and Pleasant Grove.
• The Board approved:

• December 12, 2018 Regular Board Meeting Minutes
• January 9, 2018, Study Session Minutes
• District Expenditure Warrants and Purchase Orders
• Williams Quarterly Report
• Personnel Actions
• P-1 Attendance Report
• Individualized Service Agreement for Nonpublic School/Agency:  Guiding Hands, Inc.
• Donations

NEXT MEETING:   Regular Board Meeting, February 13, 2018 and the Study Session will be February 27, 2018.