Sylvia J. Greenwood

The Board of Education meeting included closed session items involving the appointment of key personnel, such as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, the Director of Classified Personnel, and the Director of Education Technology. The board also addressed various personal injury claims, voting to reject several of them. In public session, the Board celebrated Principal Appreciation Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, and received a presentation regarding National Board Certification and professional learning initiatives for bilingual education programs. The meeting also included public comment segments focused on district matters.

The Governance Committee discussed updates to the district policy manual, including the review of various board policies in batches. Key topics included amendments to the home and hospital instruction policy, the district technology plan, media relations regarding student privacy and photography, and charter school policies. Additionally, the committee addressed the need for aligning language regarding student activity funds and fundraising, and discussed potential changes to oversight committee structures related to parcel tax expenditures.

The board discussed the school calendars for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 academic years. Key topics included questions regarding the number of reserve days and the superintendent's explanation on contract limitations and the nature of reserve days. The board explored the possibility of making the academic calendar more inclusive by accounting for various cultural and religious holidays, while balancing instructional minutes and contract negotiations. A motion was passed directing the superintendent to develop a sample calendar that reflects diverse holidays to facilitate further discussion. The board also addressed technical updates to the calendar labeling, specifically ensuring the term 'Indigenous People's Day' is used.

The committee discussed the use of virtual versus in-person speech therapy services and debated the necessity of contracting out these services given current staffing and recruitment challenges. Members explored the potential for more robust in-house recruitment, the utilization of interns, and the possibility of shifting personnel budgets to reduce reliance on external contractors. Additionally, transportation services for students attending non-public schools were reviewed, with members expressing concerns regarding the limited alternatives available.

The committee reviewed various consulting and educational service contracts, including those with Amplify Education for literacy screening, the Bay Area Discovery Museum for professional development, and High Expectations Consulting for parent engagement planning and principal training. The discussion highlighted budget constraints, the critical need for professional development for new principals, and the effectiveness of current vendor partnerships. Concerns were raised regarding high consulting rates, particularly for meeting attendance, while recognizing the value of the services provided for supporting families and site leaders.