Documenter: Ramiro Merino

Summary

• There are multiple renovating projects in the works for various school sites in the district. 

• Director Halford provided a report on building a high-speed, state of the art I.TF data communications network to service low socioeconomic students and students in rural locations with no wireline service or unaffordable connectivity.

• The Board approved for existing roles to be moved remotely to allow for efficiency and cost in office space. The Board also approved for two new roles to support the growing needs of the students served in the district. 

• Trustee Fernandes, who serves Area 7, will turn in his resignation letter as he is no longer able to fulfill the time commitment due to his parent’s health. Board members expressed their support and sadness for his decision.

The Scene

The Madera Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 by Board President Ruben Mendoza. To comply with Governor Newsom’s Office Executive Order N-29-20, meetings will be held via Zoom, a cloud-based video communication software that allows organizations to hold virtual meetings when in-person meetings are unavailable. Executive Order N-29-20 enhanced the Brown Act suspension language from the prior Executive Order N-25-20. All seven board members were present for the meeting. There were 56 participants present via Zoom. Everyone present at the Board meeting office wore masks the duration of the meeting. 

Adoption of Agenda

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the agenda for the meeting. You can find the agenda for the Board meeting here 

Approval of Minutes

The Board unanimously voted to approve the Regular Board Meeting Minutes of March 23, 2021, which can be found here. 

Consent Agenda

The agenda states that the items listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine and are acted on by the Board of Trustees in one motion. There is no discussion of these items prior to the Board vote unless a member of the Board or staff requests specific items to be considered and discussed separately and/or removed from the Consent Agenda prior to the adoption of the Agenda. The Board voted unanimously to approve the following agenda items: 

Administrative and Support Services

• Request Approval to Award Bid No. 020121-Reroofing Project at Madera South High School and Utilize CMAS Contract #4-20-56-0006B for Material

• Request Approval to Award Bid No. 012921-Roof Coating Projects at Multiple School Sites and Utilize CMAS Contract #4-20-56-0006B for Materials

• Request Approval of Addendum No. 6 to Lease Agreement between Madera Unified School District and Jose Ramirez to lease office space for Preschool Department

• Request Approval of Addendum to Lease Agreement between Madera Unified School District and Creekside Land Company, LLC to lease space for Madera Adult School

• Request Approval to contract with SchoolWorks, Inc. to conduct required School Facility Needs Analyst (Developer Fee Study) for Level 2 residential development fees 

Fiscal Services

• Request Ratification of Commercial Warrant List

Human Services

• Request Approval of Madera Unified School District’s Staffing List

• Request Adoption of Resolution No. 33-2020/21 Classified Layoff/Reductions

• Request Approval of new Certificated position and corresponding job description for the position of Counselor on Special Assignment.

• Request Approval of new Certificated position and corresponding job description for the position of Culture & Climate Coach (K-12).

• Request Approval of Valenzuela/CAHSEE Lawsuit Settlement Quarterly Report on Williams Uniform Complaints for January 2021 through March 2021

Student and Family Support Services

• The Governing Board is requested to adopt the findings, conclusions and recommendations related to the possible expulsion or readmission of pupils as these are presented to the board in one or more of the following forms of documentation: • Report(s) of Administrative hearing Panel(s) • Expulsion Status Review Report(s) by the Superintendent’s Designee • Stipulated Expulsion Agreement(s) • Involuntary Transfer(s) The Governing Board is also requested to issue orders consistent with the above referenced findings, conclusions and recommendations related to the possible expulsion or readmission of pupils in the cases of the following students, herein identified by their district-assigned identification numbers: 12973 and 20367.

• Request approval of the Counseling Psychology Practicum Site Agreement between National University and Madera Unified School District (MUSD) beginning April 14, 2021 through June 30, 2026, to provide university students a supervised experience in a setting that lawfully and regularly provides mental health counseling to students.

It was reported that two employees would be retiring after 31 and 36 years of service. They were thanked for their work and service for Madera Unified. A participant commented “Congratulations retirees!” in the Zoom chat box. 

Old Business

The Board unanimously voted to approve this old business item:

• Request Approval of Lawrence Engineering Group proposal for design services of the HVAC and associated plumbing, electrical, and structural design for the District Office Server Room 

New Business

Joseph Halford, the Director of Information Technology for the Madera Unified School District, provided an overview of this request. 

• Request Approval of Request for Proposal for the installation and operation of a turn-key Private Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Network

He stated that “there are 1600 students using hotspots for school. Approximately 800 of those students live in the “Desert Areas” with no wireless access. The approximate cost is $55,000 per month (about $660K per year). With the Comcast Essential Program, there are approximately 60 families, which costs roughly $600 per month. Halford stated that if the Board approves this item, then they will move forward with soliciting requests for proposals to build a high-speed, state of the art I.TF data communications network to service low socioeconomic students and students in rural locations with no wireline service or unaffordable connectivity. “The service must be capable of providing distance learning and streaming video capabilities to all distance education users while maintaining security of District information Systems and networks. MUSD desires the service to not only meet current digital applications and bandwidth requirements but also future requirements that will allow the enhancement of education and administrative activities at all sites across MUSD”, stated Halford. The Board voted unanimously to approve this request. 

The next item up for approval was: 

• First Reading of Revised Board Policies for the Human Resources Department. BP 4113.5 Working Remotely, BP 4213.5 Working Remotely, BP 4313.5 Working Remotely

Selma Gonzalez, the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for Madera Unified, stated “a position like this would allow us to do more.” They were tasked to look at job descriptions and identify positions that can work remotely from home. Approving the item would allow employees to work from home in non-emergency situations. Kristin McKenna, the Director of College and Career Readiness, stated “We need a counselor to fill the need for this gap”, in support of the new role, the Counselor on Special Assignment, which would work collaboratively with teachers and train them on working with students and addressing specific needs. Trustee Salazar asked if there is a scope of work for the role and what the vision is since she “did not want the new person to go on a rampage. I want results.” At this, Gonzalez said “This is not an administrative position, this is a Certified position. We need to make the information accessible for all students so they are educated on their decisions post-graduation.” The Board voted unanimously to approve this request. 

Board Member Committee and Information Reports

Trustee Poore – No report

Trustee Cortes – He stated he attended a meeting. 

Trustee Fernandes – He stated he would be turning in his resignation letter due to parent’s declining health and not being able to fully commit to the role. “It is not fair for everyone in this room, not fair for the people in my area, and the students I serve. It is with a heavy heart that I will have to resign.” 

Trustee McIntyre – He thanked the staff for their work. 

Trustee Salazar – She attended a conference where she got to network with other professionals and learn new things. 

Trustee Seibert – He expressed his support for Trustee Fernandes and his decision to resign. 

Advanced Planning

The next Trustee meeting is scheduled to be held Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. It will be streamed live through Zoom. 

Adjournment

Mayor Mendoza adjourned the Board of Trustees meeting at 9:15 p.m.