NUSD Board Meeting Highlights - September 1, 2015

PRESENTATION

San Ramon Elementary School ‘Yellow Jackets’ shared with the Board of Trustees how at recess time they help keep the playground safe, clean and ensure that everyone is getting along and not feeling left out. They’re doing their part to make a difference at their school!

DISCUSSION/ACTION

· Priorities & Goals: Superintendent Jim Hogeboom presented the draft four priorities for 2015-16 created from the August 18, 2015, Board Workshop on Priorities and Goals. Those four priorities are:

o Equity

o Student Success

o Staff Support

o Community Involvement and Engagement

Also presented were draft goals supporting these priorities which will be further developed by school principals and staff. The goals will also become SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-oriented, and Timebound.) Mr. Hogeboom pointed out that these priorities are multi-year priorities (three years) and that SMART goals for each year will be developed. (Discussion/Action Item 13.a.) Board approved draft priorities and goals.

To read more about the priorities and goals, please visit the 2015-16 Board Priorities and Goals webpage. Also, if you would like to submit any comments or suggestions, please email prioritiesandgoals@nusd.org.

· National Equity Project: Karen Maloney, Assistant Superintendent Business & Operations, presented an update of staff work with the National Equity Project and a revised contract to include more professional development for teachers, classified staff members, and administrators. The National Equity Project is working with NUSD to develop leaders throughout the organization who will develop the will, skill and knowledge to lead in a different way that works to truly create a system where each child truly has opportunities for educational success. This work is about closing the opportunity gap versus only focusing on the achievement gap. Forty-four staff members have attended the Leading for Equity Institute and more have expressed interest to attend the Institute in the winter. (Discussion/Action Item 13.c.) Board approved the revised contract with the National Equity Project.

·Elementary Report Cards: Amanda Langford, San Ramon

Principal, presented the final draft of the Elementary

Report Cards to the Board for approval. Mrs. Langford

reviewed the process the district undertook to align the

reports cards with the Common Core State Standards

which included a pilot during the 2014-15 school year,

feedback from teachers and parents, and a parent

information night. The report cards, along with a brochure

to help parents understand the new reporting, will be

posted on the NUSD website under Curriculum & Instruction,

Elementary Programs Information, Elementary CCSS Report Card Information. (Discussion/Action Item 13.d.) Board approved the new Elementary Report Cards.

· GATE Clusters: Julia Kempkey, Director Secondary

Programs, and Ruthanne Bexton, Director, Elementary

Programs, presented an update on how NUSD is supporting

our gifted and talented students as well as teacher training

and a comprehensive communication and engagement plan.

The presentation and board report can be found under

Discussion/Action Item 13.e. The board approved the

Contract for Dr. Brulles to provide additional professional

development and support.

·EADMS Assessment: Brent Menke, Hamilton 7th and 8th grade math teacher, shared how he uses EADMS (Educators Assessment Data Management System.)

EADMS is an assessment platform allowing teachers to create and

administer standards-based assessments. Brent shared how he uses

it to develop assessments for his class and, while College

Preparatory Math has good questions related to the Smarter Balanced

tests, he wants a range of questions with multiple depths of

knowledge. He explained how he’s able to go into the program and

select questions like a shopping cart and, once complete, the program

will let him know whether or not the assessment just created is rigorous. Being similar in format to the Smarter Balanced tests, EADMS is a good complement to the Smarter Balanced assessments. (Consent Item 14.h.) Board approved the contract for access to EADMS.

· Property in Hamilton Area: Leslie Benjamin, Public Information Officer, presented the contract for Air & Water Sciences to review the public environmental documents pertaining to the proposed remediation and construction at 970 C Street in the Hamilton area. This parcel was purchased by Thompson Development Group and is located across the street from the Novato Charter School and Hamilton School. The final report will be presented to the Board at the September 15, 2015, board meeting. (Discussion/Action Item 13.g.) Board approved Air & Water Sciences contract.