Novato Unified Board Meeting Highlights 8/11/15

Board Members welcomed to new Superintendent Jim Hogeboom!

The Board of Trustees were excited to announce that Kris Cosca will be the new Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources. His official start date is September 1. Mr. Cosca comes to NUSD from Napa Valley Unified School where he is Executive Director, Human Resources. He experience includes Director of Curriculum and Student Support Services, Principal, Vice Principal and elementary teacher. He holds a BA from San Diego State University, MA in Educational Leadership from Sonoma State University, and an Educational Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne

STAFF REPORTS

• Karen Maloney provided the Board with an update on the impact of the MCAL soccer season change on NUSD fields. (Board report can be found here, Item 12a.) With the new soccer schedule recently published, NUSD will be able to accommodate JV and Varsity games without the need for lights. The track fields at San Jose and Sinaloa are being replaced with new sod and are being watered with recycled water from the North Marin Water District. These new fields will be available for practice and games.

DISCUSSION/ACTION

• Karen Maloney and Nancy Walker presented the 45-day revision to the approved budget. (Board report can be found here, Item 14c.) Changes to expenditures include: negotiated 6% salary increase to CSEA and Unrepresented Groups (NFT 6% increase was included in approved budget), upgrade to Core System Project, projects savings due to changing natural gas provider and higher than projected property and liability insurance costs. The Combined General Fund ending fund balance is projected to be $12,437,338 or 16.01% of the Combined General fund expenditures and transfers out. The updated combined expenditures total $77,131,055. Board approved the revised budget.

• Julia Kempkey presented NUSD’s response to the Grand Jury Report entitled, “Every Child Counts: English Learners in Marin County Public Schools.” (Board report can be found here, Item 14e.) Highlights of the response include: NUSD is committed to meeting the needs of our English learner (EL) students, has hired an EL District Coordinator, has increased bilingual liaisons at school sites, recognizes that English learners (EL) are graduating at a lower rate, EL graduation rates fluctuate from year to year depending on the cohort of students, NUSD’s Local Control and Accountability Plan specifically addresses ELs and will include the graduation rate as a data point. Board approved the response to the Grand Jury.

• Julia Kempkey presented proposed changes to Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 5121 Grades-Evaluation of Student Achievement. (Board report can be found here, Item 14g.) This was a first reading to change current progress reports at the secondary level from every 6 weeks (2 per semester) to 1 at 9 weeks and adding two additional notification periods every 4-5 weeks to send notification to parents if their students has a grade of D and F. The policy was also updated to align with NUSD’s current practice ensuring students do not lose credits for unexcused absences or that students’ grades are not artificially impacted based on attendance. Board members suggested getting teacher and parent feedback on proposed changes before final approval.

• Debbie Butler, President NUSD Board of Trustees, sought approval from the Board to change the Open Session time of Board meetings from 6:30 pm to 7 pm to be more accommodating for the community, parents, and staff. In addition, Closed Session meeting times would also change from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm. Board approved the change in starting times.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Superintendent Jim Hogeboom pulled Consent Item E 2016-17 School Calendar (Board report can be found here, Item 15e.) off the Board agenda. Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources, Kris Cosca, will convene a Calendar Committee comprised of staff, teachers and parents to review the 2016-17 school calendar.

UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS

• August 18, 5:30 pm, District Office Room 107, Special Board Meeting to discuss District priorities and goals for the next year. Staff and the community are invited to attend.

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