LASD Board Highlights

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If you missed the meeting, you can view the video here. The highlights of the meeting are below.

Superintendent Baier and Mrs. McGonagle, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, walked through the Reopening Plan for the 2020-21 school year, which includes the Health & Safety Plan, Instructional Plan and procedures for the upcoming school year. Due to the latest California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines, the Los Altos School District will begin the school year with all students in an online learning model. According to the state, school facilities may only open in counties that have been off the state’s Monitoring List for 14 consecutive days. Santa Clara County is currently on the Monitoring List and therefore, LASD must begin the year in a distance learning model. The State order does allow for districts to apply for a waiver to allow some in-person learning for elementary school students. Although the details of the waiver process are still being worked out, Superintendent Baier indicated that the district is interested in whether it would allow in-person support for certain high-needs student populations.

Superintendent Baier walked through the details of the Health & Safety plan, which incorporates all guidelines from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and CDPH. Mrs. McGonagle explained how students will learn in the distance learning model at the beginning of the school year. She underscored the improvements LASD has made since the Spring, which take into account feedback from parents, teachers and students. She also shared the differences between the Blended Learning and Virtual School options.

The Board unanimously approved the Health and Safety portion of the Reopening Plan and discussed possible phased approaches to in-person learning. The Board will continue discussion on the phased in-person learning plans at its next meeting on August 10.

For more information, check out the video and the presentation for item F.1. on our agenda online.

Mr. Kenyon provided a brief financial update. Due to property tax revenues and income tax revenues, it appears the state may not revise its budget in September as was previously anticipated. But there may be adjustments in the December Interim Financial Report. Mr. Kenyon also walked through a number of COVID-19 relief funds, which LASD has been able to access. He also discussed increased expenditures for cleaning supplies and PPE to prepare for school reopening once it is safe and allowable; increased custodial staff; additional student nutritional services; and technology for students and staff. For more information, please review the video and the presentation for item F.2

The policies of the Los Altos School District are influenced by federal, state, and local policies, statutes, and court decisions. To keep policies current, the California School Boards Association (CSBA) periodically advises districts of recommended changes in board policies, administrative regulations and board bylaws as a means to assist boards in keeping their policies current and reflecting the changes in those laws and regulations.

The Board reviewed and discussed language for a policy to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our schools. The policy would establish actions that will be taken by the district to provide a safe learning and working environment during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, mirroring the 2020-21 Reopening Plan. Approval will occur at a future meeting.

To review the proposed policy, please review agenda item F.3. on the agenda online.

The next meeting of the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees will take place on Monday, August 10 at 7:00pm via Zoom. To attend the meeting please visit our Board web page and register for the meeting using the provided link. The link will be posted on Thursday at 5:00pm the week prior to each meeting.

Website: www.lasdschools.org
Location: 201 Covington Road
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LASDK8/