Documenter: Ramiro Merino

Summary

• Jovanni Manzo, the Associated Student Body President for Torres High School reported on activities put on by the student body. 

• Jaimie Brown was awarded the Dairy Council of California 2020 Let’ Eat Healthy Leadership Award. 

• The Student Bill of Rights Stakeholders was recognized, as well as the students who put in the work for this bill. 

• Superintendent Lile thanked the health workers for School Nutrition Hero Day and their work amidst the pandemic. 

• The Board discussed and agreed to appoint someone for Area 7. 

MUSD Board of Trustees

• Ray G. Seibert, Trustee for Area 1

• Ed McIntyre, Trustee for Area 2

• Ruben Mendoza, Trustee for Area 3

• Joetta Fleak, Board Clerk and Truste for Area 4

• Lucy Salazar, Trustee for Area 5

• Israel Cortes, Trustee for Area 6

• Brent Fernandes, Trustee for Area 7

Student Board Member Duties

The Student Board Member functions as a preferential voting representative to the MUSD Board of Trustees. They provide the MUSD Governing Body and the Superintendent with information regarding student interests and concerns gathered via the Student Councils and diverse student populations and ideas, thereby enhancing relevance and effectiveness of many school sites and district programs. 

Student Board Members

• Kiyana Granados

• Abigail Poore

• Jeremiah Goodman

• Gladys Torres

• Annelise Stephens

• Aaliyah Basques

• Miquelina Mendoza-Cruz

The Scene

The Madera Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting was called to order at 6:48 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, 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 76 participants present via Zoom. Almost everyone in the meeting wore masks. Viviana Cadena commented in the chat feature that she would interpret if needed at any moment during 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 

Student Board Representative Report

Jovanni Manzo, the Associated Student Body President for Torres High School, gave a report on the high school. “We created our own Walk of Fame where we cut out stars for each student and it was placed on a wall. We put on the Women’s Equity Panel, where we discussed the importance of equity and inclusion in our school. We hosted a 4.0 Drive Thru Awards Ceremony, where students who received a 4.0 GPA were announced as they crossed the stage. On Monday we opened the first day of in-person learning. Our cheer team greeted students every morning during the week. We also hosted a Club Rush event on Tuesday and Thursday for students to join. We had 113 out of 140 students in our ELA to take the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California. Our cheer team participated in their first competition of the school year, virtually, where they won first place. Our Torro athletics program is off to a great start. The football team closed the season with a 2-1 record. Our cross country team ended the season with a 9-1 record.” Jovanni experienced some technical difficulties during his report, but powered through it. 

Communications: Student and Staff Recognition

Recognition of Jaimie Brown, recipient of the Dairy Council of California 2020 Let’s Eat Healthy Leadership Award. Marty Bitter 

Marty Bitter said “It has been remarkable as we built the PE program.” Renee Farias said “We are impressed with her passion for health and her commitment for the students of Madera Unified. Her leadership has helped make Madera Unified a model for fitness and wellness.” Jaime Brown said “I am truly honored to receive this award. I would like to change the recipient name to Madera Unified School District. Our teachers have put a lot of work to enhance our program from a face-to-face learning format to a virtual one. We have ongoing reflection and strategic planning. Everyone has helped to implement nutrition and fitness into our program. I think it’s important that we are awarded this award because we are an agricultural school.” 

Recognition of Student Bill of Rights Stakeholders, presented by Alyson Crafton, Director of Student Services

Alyson Crafton said “There were 5 staff and 53 students who participated in 6-7 listening sessions to share ideas, thoughts, and feelings, and group thoughts. There were 16 students from the 6th grade group, 21 students from 7th and 8th grade, 6 students from 9th and 10th grade, and 7 students from 11th and 12th grade.” The students were congratulated for their time and work since they volunteered their efforts after school to be a part of the bill. 

Superintendent’s Time

Superintendent Todd Lile congratulated the scholarship winners. He also announced School Nutrition Hero Day to congratulate the health workers in the district for their hard work and efforts, especially during COVID-19. “They adjusted their hours, offered to-go options, pick up, and delivery. These health workers embody the word hero. As of today, they have provided 5 millions meals to the children of Madera. Congratulations to the Child Health workers, you are heroes in my book. I would like to state again that Madera County is still in the red tier, and is slowly declining in COVID-19 cases. Please do consider the vaccinations as they can help address COVID. Our intentions for next school year is to resume in-person instruction for five days for all students in the school district.” 

Approval of Minutes

The Board unanimously voted to approve the Regular Board Meeting Minutes of April 13, 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: 

Superintendent/Board

• Request Approval of Consultant Services Agreement between Madera Unified School District and Geil Consulting to assist the Superintendent Executive Cabinet with the implementation of coaching strategies following the Predictive Index Assessment for the 2020/21 fiscal year.

Administrative and Support Services

• Request Approval of one committee member recommendation for the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee

• Request Approval to Award Bid No.031621-Exterior Paint Projects at Multiple School Sites to the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder

Area Assistant Superintendent

• Request Ratification of approval for Eastin-Arcola School to apply for Whole Kids Garden Grant in the amount of $3,000.

• Request Approval to amend Purchase Agreement between Madera Unified School District and Solution Tree for staff to attend the Fresno PLC Conference via site host from June 15-18, 2021.

Education Services

• Request Approval to appoint district/school representatives to the California Interscholastic Federation Leagues for the 2020/21 school year

Fiscal Services

• Request Adoption of Resolution No. 34-2020/21: February 2021 Budget and Expense Transfer Reports

• Request Approval of the February 2021 Student Body Statement of Club Trust Accounts

• Request Approval of February 28, 2021 Financial Report

• Request Ratification of March 2020 Payroll Payment Order

• Request Approval of 2020-21 Second Interim Reports for District Authorized Charter Schools

• Request Ratification of Commercial Warrant List

Human Resources

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

• Request Approval of Agreement between Madera Unified School District and the California School Employee Association and its Local Chapter No. 169 with a salary schedule increase of 2% for the 2019/20 school year.

• Request Approval of Agreement between the Madera Unified School District and the non-represented employees (Classified Management, Supervisors, and Confidential) with a salary schedule increase of 2% for the 2019-2020 school year.

• Request Approval of new Certificated position and corresponding job description for the position of Teacher on Special Assignment – Teacher support Mentor (K-12).

• Request Approval of new classified position, corresponding job description, and salary recommendation for the position of Pool Maintenance Technician.

• Request Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between the Madera Unified School District and the Madera Unified Teachers Association regarding the COVID-19 Related Expenditures for the 2020/2021 school year.

Student and Family Support Services

• Request Approval to amend the existing Consultant Services Agreement between Madera Unified School District and Angelina Rodriguez to increase contract from $30,000 to $50,000 due to COVID-19 pandemic requiring additional support to the FIT/Foster populations for the 2020-21 school year

• Request Approval of Contract for Services between Madera Unified School District and Madera County Superintendent of Schools to reimburse Madera Unified School District $20,000 for additional cost of services provided by FIT and Foster Consultants from April 28, 2021, through June 30, 2021.

• Request Approval to amend the existing Consultant Services Agreement between Madera Unified School District and Sandra Serna to increase contract from $30,000 to $50,000 due to COVID-19 pandemic requiring additional support to the FIT/Foster populations for the 2020-21 school year

• Request Approval to amend the existing Consultant Services Agreement between Madera Unified School District and Tara O’Neill to increase contract from $30,000 to $50,000 due to COVID-19 pandemic requiring additional supports to the FIT/Foster populations for the 2020-21 school year.

• Request approval of the Affiliation Agreement between Touro University Worldwide and Madera Unified School District (MUSD) beginning April 28, 2021, through June 15, 2026, to provide university students a supervised experience with field instruction in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT).

Old Business

Administrative and Support Services

The Board unanimously voted to approve this old business item:

• Request Approval of Madera High School Varsity Softball Modernization Project-Phases 1, 2, and 3

Human Resources

• Second Reading and Request Approval of Revised Board Policies for the Human Resources Department. BP 4113.5 Working Remotely BP 4213.5 Working Remotely BP 4313.5 Working Remotely

New Business

Superintendent Board

• Discussion and Action on Board Vacancy and Available Options – Trustee Area 7

The Board discussed appointing someone as a provisional, special election. The candidate would have to live in Area 7 and be interviewed. The District would pay approximately $20,000 to cover the cost of the appointment search. The Board opened the meeting for public comment, at which no written comments were submitted and no one in the audience raised their hand to speak. With a 4 to 1 vote, the Board agreed to appoint someone for Area 7. 

Administrative and Support Services

• First Reading of Board Bylaws – Complete 3000 Series

Fiscal Services

• First Reading of the 2021-22 Proposed Core Staffing 

Announcements

There will be a Student Board Trustees meeting on Wednesday, May 5 to induct the new student board members. 

Board Member Committee and Information Reports

• Trustee Poore – No report

• Trustee Cortes – No report.  

• 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 meeting regarding the blocks for school. 

• Trustee Seibert – No report. 

Advanced Planning

The next Trustee meeting is scheduled to be held Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. It will be streamed live through Zoom. 

Adjournment

Trustee Mendoza adjourned the Board of Trustees meeting at 9:16 p.m.