Board Highlights from NUSD

PRESENTATION

Students from Marin Oaks High School shared with the Board their Inner Landscapes, a project of the Sausalito Art Festival’s Artists Teaching Art program, an after-school arts enrichment program. Laurie Marshall, local artist, is working with students to explore their passions and unleash their genius through wood cut-out body shapes and painting how they feel on the inside.

• Energy Service Contract with SolarCity Corporation to Provide Electrical Energy from Solar Photovoltaic Systems (PV): The Board of Trustees approved the Energy Service Contract with Solar City Corporation. The Energy Service Contracts are in the form of a Purchase Power Agreement and Performance Guarantee for the purchase of power generated from solar energy generation facilities at ten (10) school sites with SolarCity Corporation’s current financing partner.

The utility cost savings from the installation of the PV systems at ten (10) school sites is estimated at $7.2 million dollars over 25 years with savings of $160,000 in year one (2016/2017). Without solar power, the estimated cost of power over 25 years is $17.9 million and with solar power over the same 25 years is $10.6 million.

More information and a Solar Portfolio Summary identifying estimated costs and savings per school site and can be found under Discussion/Action 16.b.

• Update on Education Facilities Master Plan Process: Karen Maloney, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services, updated the Board on the Education Facilities Master Plan process and that the first round of community meetings have been held at each school. The purpose of the first round of community meetings was to understand each school’s current and immediate future needs, including the impact of 21st Century learning on classrooms and learning spaces.

The second round of community meetings will begin in March (dates are on the NUSD Education Facilities Master Plan webpage) and will include a report of the findings of the first round and a cost estimate of the identified projects. More information can be found in the Staff Report (Staff Report 13.b.)

• Update on Possible Dual Immersion Program: Superintendent Hogeboom updated the Board on the possible development of a Dual Immersion School at Lynwood Elementary School. Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, the district began exploring the possibility of a Dual Immersion (DI) school at Lynwood by visiting several DI schools, forming an exploratory committee, and developing a draft timeline.

Since last year, due to the advent of new board priorities, goals and action plans, the exploration of a DI school was delayed as staff did not have the capacity to develop plans to move the idea forward. Over the recent mid-winter break, a team of six individuals (3 administrators, 1 teacher, 1 parent and 1 Board Trustee) attended a Dual Immersion 101 training sponsored by the San Diego County Office of Education that was informative and educational.

Mr. Hogeboom’s report was an update on possible next steps along with a revised timeline that could see the start of a DI school in the 2018-19 school year. See the Blueprint, Timeline and Questions for possible next steps in the Staff Report 13.a. The key components recommended are:

• Hire as many qualified Bilingual Teachers as possible (Spring 2016)
• Continue visits to high quality DI programs in the area (Fall 2016)
• Form a DI Exploratory Committee (December 2016)
• Hold a School Board Study Session regarding Dual Immersion (Spring 2017)
• Explore staff and community interest in a DI School (Spring 2017)
• Ask for School Board approval to move forward (June of 2017)

More information can be found in the Staff Report. (Staff Report 13.a.)

• 2015-16 Single School Plans for Student Achievement: The Board of Trustees approved the Single Plan for Student Achievement for both Loma Verde Elementary School and Novato High School. Each year all schools must submit a formal Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) to the Board of Trustees for approval. The principal in collaboration with their Site Council, ELAC, PTA and staff developed three goals, one each in the following areas: English Language Arts, Mathematics, and School Culture and Climate. More information and the SPSAs can be found under Discussion/Action 14.b.

• Job Description: Assistant Superintendent, Education Services: The Board of Trustees approved the job description for an Assistant Superintendent, Education Services which follows their approval on January 26, 2016, of the reorganization of the Human Resources, Business, and Curriculum and Instruction Departments. This position converts one director level position (vacated due to retirement) to an Assistant Superintendent position. Mr. Hogeboom shared how the curriculum and instruction department is the heart and soul of the district supporting teachers in teaching and learning. The restructuring of the C&I Department is being done to become more effective as the district moves forward with the 6 C’s, Next Generation Science Standards, and instructional coaches to name a few areas. Having one person coordinate the C&I activities is important in a district the size of NUSD and it was also noted that this position previously existed but was reduced when the great recession hit and the district was forced to make extensive budget and personnel cuts. (Discussion/Action 14.c.)

Future Board Meetings:

3/15/16 Regular Board Meeting, 7 pm Open Session

NUSD Board Room, 1015 Seventh Street

3/29/16 Special Board Meeting, 7 pm

Budget Workshop

4/5/16 Regular Board Meeting, 7 pm Open Session

NUSD Board Room, 1015 Seventh Street

Want to watch the Board meeting? Tune in to Comcast Channel 30 or on Novato Community Television’s YouTube channel. The meetings are also rebroadcast on Channel 30 (click here for the schedule) and archived on NCTV’s YouTube channel.

Are you interested in receiving advance notice of the Board agenda and its reports? If so, please email Gladys Batz, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, at gbatz@nusd.org and say you want to be added to the email list. Ms. Batz sends out the link to the agenda and board reports for the upcoming Board meeting the Friday before a regular Board meeting. The agenda and associated board reports can also be found on AgendaOnline. The link can also be found on the homepage of the NUSD website (www.nusd.org) under Quick Links.