November 1, 2021
Staff members provided an update on the mental health of students this school year. Teachers are observing more misbehavior in the classroom. Conflicts between students have also increased, requiring principals to get involved. Schools are using socio-emotional learning programs to teach explicit social skills, and CHAC delivered a weekly art therapy program to all students which received positive feedback. The program ran six weeks for grades 5 – 8 and four weeks for grades TK-4.
Assistant Superintendent Mrs. McGonagle presented an update on students not meeting grade level expectations. Based on testing results, kindergarteners are showing lower levels of early literacy skills, with more students requiring intensive support. Students requiring extra support receive it through the district’s multi-tiered system of support (MTSS).
Assistant Superintendent Mr. Kenyon was pleased to report that the City of Mountain View agreed with LASD on the desired placement of the city park within the 10th site. For more information, please see the full 10th site presentation.
The trustees also voted unanimously in favor of making the following appointments:
Terri Sachs and Vishal Verma to the Measure N Citizens Oversight Committee
PeiPei Yu to the Citizens Advisory Committee for Finance.
November 15, 2021
Our county supervisor, Joe Simitian, has been working with developers on a teacher housing project to be located at 231 Grant Avenue in Palo Alto. LASD has been allocated 12 units within the project and is being asked to contribute $600,000. Construction is expected to begin in late 2022 with a target completion date of early 2024. For more information, please see the full presentation on teacher housing.
Based on direction from board members, outdoor mask wearing will be strongly recommended rather than required for Jr. High students (of whom about 90% are fully vaccinated). Elementary school students may see the same change in early January.
LASD received $994,360 in Educator Effectiveness funding from the state of California for the purpose of professional development through the 2025-26 school year. Assistant Superintendent Mrs. McGonagle held a public hearing on the allocation plan for these funds. A portion of the funds ($174,360) will be allocated to expanding the TK (transitional kindergarten) program, which will be open to all four-year-olds by the 2025-26 school year. (TK is currently only offered to students born between Sept 2 and Dec 2.)
The board of trustees voted unanimously to approve the Transfer of Development Rights agreement with Miramar, who will have development rights on 36,000 sq ft of land at the 10th site for the price of $4.6 million. This is the third such agreement to be approved, bringing the district closer to their goal of selling 610,000 sq ft of development rights for a total of $79 million to help pay for the purchase of the 10th site (where construction plans for a new school are still being developed).
Stella Kam, Observer