USD Board Meeting Highlights

The Board and Dr. Andrews recognized 21 individuals for their commitment to students and families in their ten years of service in the Union School District. Each spring, USD will honor years of service awardees at our annual Employee Recognition event but was unable to do so in-person last year. This year, USD will honor groups of employees for their years of service at each Board Meeting. Congratulations to this group of service award recipients for their dedication to our students, families and community at large!

From left to right: —- Superintendent Dr. Carrie Andrews, Anna Leung, Pablo Carrillo and Tracy Bunger; Other award recipients: Carolyn Graves, Lis Jorgens, Helen Kamali, Mary Killen, Nina Lamour, Christina Le, Monica Lerma, Kelly Malatesta, Shellena Mangione, Gaylene McGowan, Lia Milhoan, Ana Munoz, Suzy Powers, Heidi Rawson, Katie Spencer, Lorena Thomas, Lizzette Villanueva, Kathy Williams

Principal Cathy Bailey, Intervention ToSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) Sarah Williams, Mental Health Therapist Megan O’Connor, and School Psychologist Caitlyn McNerney presented an overview of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) implemented at Alta Vista.

Alta Vista hosts weekly PAWS and Pride assemblies which are an opportunity to recognize positive behaviors while highlighting SEL in the classroom in a shared, schoolwide forum. Sarah Williams shared more about the school’s Brave Room–a designated, safe area where students can go if they need to process or regulate big emotions. Students have a “feelings check-in and check-out” and are also supported by staff and through friendship groups where they learn social skills through various activities. Megan also shared her school community newsletter called Counselor’s Corner. Started during the pandemic, the newsletter helped to address parent concerns around universal difficulties and has included topics such as self-care, emergency situations, gratitude, the power of praise and more.

Alta Vista sees many benefits of Social Emotional Learning in and out of the classroom as it promotes prosocial behavior, provides students tools for self regulation, helps students to develop positive self identity and feel and show empathy. As Principal Bailey shared, this focus as a community has really helped “build a positive culture” at Alta Vista.

Andrew Bishop, from Cooperative Strategies, presented a demographic study, which included an enrollment analysis and enrollment projections that was prepared by their firm. This study is an update to the enrollment analysis and projections report that was previously presented at the March 9, 2020 Board of Trustees meeting. The enrollment projections are included in our multi year budget planning to forecast accordingly.

USD is like many school districts across the state of California challenged by declining enrollment. Since districts like USD rely on funding via student attendance, the declining enrollment significantly impacts the district budget for staff and programs. There are a couple of factors that directly impact schools in the state with declining birth rates and individuals moving out of the state of California. In reviewing the enrollment projections and analysis, USD enrollment is relatively flat the next few years out. Included in the future projections, the expansion of Transitional Kindergarten in future years does present opportunities for increased enrollment.

Click here to view the full presentation.

Director of Learning and Innovation Annie Murphy presented on how new Union School District staff are supported as they integrate into our Union School District community, and plans for increasing that support in 2022-2023. Through multiple avenues, including summer training, new teacher programs, professional learning opportunities and readily available resources, the goal is to ensure all employees are provided the tools and support to help them be successful in their first year and beyond.

Click here to view the full presentation.

Rita Sohal, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services presented the first interim report. The First Interim Report is a status of the District’s actual financial picture through October 31, 2021 and updated projections for the remainder of the year as of June 30, 2021:

• Total General Fund Revenue (Local Control Funding Formula, Federal, State and local) $66,725,051

• Total Expenditures Expenditures (Salaries, Benefits, Supplies, Services, Utilities, and Equipment) $73,645,213

• To cover the current year expenditures and to maintain the 3% state required reserve, the District must rely on additional revenue resources such as Lease revenue from our 7 closed schools sites (Current year $4,745,632) and in addition to our USD Extended Care Program ($1,000,000)
  
  

USD is not alone in facing fiscal challenges based on the state funding model and statewide declining enrollment. To mitigate the low per pupil funding, USD relies on various local resources such as, but not limited to, parcel tax, lease revenue, school field/classroom rentals outside of the school day, local grants/donations and USD Extended Care Program. In order to provide an exemplary program for our students USD and school district as a whole we must continue to plan accordingly.

The Board approved the First Interim Report with a positive certification meaning the District can meet its financial obligation for the current fiscal year and the next two fiscal years (2021-24) maintaining a minimum of a 3% reserve for uncertainties.

Click here to view the full presentation.

In addition, a reflection of the First Interim is presented in the Budget Information At a Glance infographic resource below. The Budget at a Glance resource is a helpful tool to understand the fiscal condition of the district. We hope this resource is helpful as we work together to support our students, staff and District as a whole.

The Union School District has worked with PARS to design a Supplementary Retirement Plan (SRP); a retirement incentive plan that may encourage senior employees (Certificated & Classified Non-Management as well as Management and Confidential employees) to retire early. The goal of the program is to generate savings, or at a minimum, no cost to the District by increasing the number of retirements in the 2021-2022 school year. The program allows the District to offer the plan, conduct enrollments, analyze the participation, and elect to move forward or cancel the program depending on the participation and overall projected savings or cost of the program.

The Board approved the PARS Service Agreement and Resolution No. 21-22-06. Eligible employees will be contacted by PARS regarding the opportunity. The enrollment period for eligible employees is open until January 28th, and at the February 7th Board Meeting the results will be presented to the Board. The overall purpose of the program is a cost savings to the District that also could benefit eligible employees.

Click here to view the full presentation.

Click here to view Resolution No. 21-22-06.

Announced in October 2021, the grant requires a public hearing and Board adoption of the plan before December 30, 2021. Based on the number of staff in 2020-21, this one time funding is required to be spent before June 2026 and all spending must follow acceptable parameters. Union SD will be allocated $1,087,109 from the grant, and funds will be used in the following specific areas:

• Programs that lead to literacy across all areas

• Social emotional learning and mental health services

• Coaching and mentoring of staff serving in an instructional setting

Click here to view the presentation from the November meeting.

Click here to view the proposed Educator Effectiveness Block Grant plan.

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and California Education Code §64001, the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) is an annual compliance requirement for schools receiving federal funds under the Consolidated Application and Reporting System. The plans are updated by the site administrator, reviewed and approved by the School Site Council and were presented to the governing board for approval.

To view each site’s School Plan for Student Achievement, click on the links below.

• Alta Vista 2021-22 SPSA

• Carlton 2021-22 SPSA

• Dartmouth 2021-22 SPSA

• Guadalupe 2021-22 SPSA

• Lietz 2021-22 SPSA

• Noddin 2021-22 SPSA

• Oster 2021-22 SPSA

• Union 2021-22 SPSA

Revised Board Policy 6159: Individualized Education Program

The Board of Trustees approved the revised Board Policy: Individualized Education Program 6159. One of the roles of the Governing Board is to ensure District Board policies are reviewed, added, removed and kept up to date in order to keep the District legally compliant.

Click here to review USD’s Policy 6159.

At the Organizational Meeting each year as per Ed Code 35143 and Board Policy 9100 the Board of Trustees approved a schedule of regular meetings for the year. The start time for the regular meetings will remain at 6:00 p.m. Special meetings and board workshops will be scheduled on an as-needed basis.

The meeting schedule is as follows:

2022-23 School Year - Regular Board Meetings

(Second Monday of each month unless noted otherwise)

• August 15, 2022 (Third Monday)

• September 12, 2022

• October 10, 2022

• November 14, 2022

• December 12, 2022

• January 9, 2023

• February 13, 2023

• March 13, 2023

• *April 17, 2023 (Third Monday)

• May 8, 2023

• June 5, 2023 (First Monday)

• June 12, 2023

* Meetings adjusted to the holiday schedule.

Open meetings begin at 6:00 p.m.

Also at this Annual Organizational Meeting, the Board of Trustees elected Sheila Billings to serve as President, Doug Evans as Vice President, Thomas E. Rossmeissl as Clerk and appointed the Superintendent as secretary to the Board.

In addition, the Board of Trustees designated Vickie Brown to serve on the Santa Clara County Committee on School District Organization and Jennifer Petroff to serve on the Santa Clara County School Boards Association Executive Board.

Please join us for our next regular Board of Trustees Meeting on January 10, 2021. The meeting will be held at the USD District Office Board Room at 5175 Union Ave. Visit the Board of Trustees page for virtual meeting access and information on future meetings.

On the Agenda in January - School Calendar Coming Soon

The official school district calendar for the 2022-23 school year will be brought forward to the Board of Trustees at the Board Meeting on January 10th, 2022. If approved, the calendar will be published and shared with school sites and families.

Do you have a new student joining USD for the first time? Register early starting February 1, 2022.

For registration information, required documentation, and online registration links, visit our website at: https://www.unionsd.org/families/enroll-in-usd

New Transitional Kinder or Kindergarten parent or guardian? Our schools will be hosting TK/Kinder orientation evenings starting in January. These meetings will be posted on the school’s website.

Board of Trustees

Sheila Billings

Vickie Brown

Doug Evans

Jennifer Petroff

Thomas E. Rossmeissl

Superintendent

Dr. Carrie Andrews

Email: vanherkl@unionsd.org
Website: www.unionsd.org
Location: 5175 Union Avenue, San Jose, CA, USA
Phone: 408-377-8010
Facebook: facebook.com/UnionSchoolDistrict
Twitter: @USDUpdates