Board Meeting Highlights

The board held a special session to discuss potential reductions to the 2008-09 budget.
Chief Business Officer Raul Parungao presented highlights from the board memo that
was prepared for the school board, including an overview of the budget situation,
background on how the budget recommendations were developed, and a list of the
potential reductions. To read the budget memo, please click here.

ore than 75 staff and community members attended the meeting, and nine people
testified with input on the list of potential reductions that was presented to the board.
The board did not vote on any potential reductions last night. The board will continue to
discuss the budget at every meeting until June 25, when it will vote on the 2008-09
budget.

Estudio de la viabilidad de un impuesto parcelario: La mesa directiva voto parra aprobar un contrato con Tramutola and Associates para que hagan un estudio sobre la viabilidad de un impuesto parcelario. Para leer más sobre esto por favor opriman el
ratón aquí.

Discusión sobre el presupuesto:
La mesa directiva le pidió a la superintendente que presentara una
proposición preliminar de $1.8 millones de reducciones del Fondo
General en la junta de la mesa directiva del 23 de abril. La mesa
directiva les pidió a la superintendente y a su personal que pongan
las posibles reducciones en orden de prioridad y expliquen la razón
por la que están siendo propuestas. La mesa directiva anima a
la comunidad a que asista a la junta de la mesa directiva
del 23 de abril, en la cual las áreas específicas de
reducción serán consideradas por primera vez. Por favor
noten que esta junta de la mesa directiva va a tener lugar
en el MUB de la Escuela Clifford, 225 Clifford Ave. a las 7
de la tarde. La mesa directiva continuará discutiendo el
presupuesto en cada junta desde ahora hasta finales de junio

• Parcel Tax Feasibility Study: The board voted to approve a contract with Tramutola and Associates to conduct a parcel tax feasibility study. To read more, please click here.

• Budget Discussion: The board asked the superintendent to present a preliminary proposal for $1.8 million in budget reductions to the General Fund at the April 23 board meeting. The board asked the superintendent and her staff to rank the potential reductions and provide an explanation of why they are being proposed. The board encourages the community to attend the April 23 board meeting, which will be the first time specific areas of reduction will be considered. Please note that this board meeting will be held in the MUB at Clifford School, 225 Clifford Ave. at 7 p.m. The board will continue to discuss the budget at each meeting between now and the end of June.

The board held its first discussion about building the budget for the
2008-09 school year. The process of developing the district’s budget
takes place over several months. It begins with the board providing
general input to the superintendent and the chief business officer about
its priorities. Based on input from the March 26 meeting and future board
meetings, district staff will develop a preliminary budget with
recommendations for the board about how available revenues for 2008-
09 should be prioritized.

This preliminary budget will be presented at the
June 11 board meeting, and the board will discuss it. After hearing input
from the board, the staff will revise the budget and present a final budget
for adoption at the June 25 board meeting. The district is required by
law to submit a budget by June 30, even if the state has not yet
approved its budget, and must use the most current proposed budget
from the governor. Once the state approves its final budget, the district
will have 45 days to revise its budget to reflect the final state budget.

he budget discussion on March 26 began with Chief Business Officer Raul
Parungao making a presentation that provided an overview of the state
budget situation, the district budget, historical trends in RCSD revenue
and expenditures, and a series of charts showing how our district
compares to other school districts in the area. To view the Budget
Development presentation, please visit the Business Services area of the
district website,
http://rcsd.k12.ca.us/Conferences/Business_Office/FOV1-
00010B08/FOV1-000198BF/.

After the presentation, the board made comments about the areas of the
budget that they want to make the top priority. Based on current
information available, the board expressed a strong interest in maintaining
class size reduction for grades K-3, preserving special school of choice
programs such as the new project-based learning program at Roosevelt
and the IB program at Selby Lane, and continuing strong support for the District’s English Language Learners.

Due to constantly evolving information about the state budget crisis, the
board has a discussion about the budget scheduled for every board
meeting between now and June 25. To check the time and location of
each scheduled board meeting, please refer to the district calendar,
http://rcsd.ca.campusgrid.net/home/Calendar.

At its February 20 meeting, the board passed a resolution opposing the Governor’s Budget Proposal for 2008/09. To read the resolution, please click here.
The board will hold a Community Budget Meeting on Wednesday, March 5 at 7 p.m. to answer questions about how the proposed cuts will affect the Redwood City School District.

En su junta del 20 de febrero, la mesa directiva pasó una resolución oponiéndose a la Propuesta del Presupuesto del Gobernador para el año escolar 2008/09. Para leer la resolución por favor oprima el ratón aquí.

a mesa directiva va a tener una reunión sobre el presupuesto con la comunidad el miércoles, 5 de marzo a las 7 p.m. para responder a las preguntas acerca de como los recortes propuestos van a afectar al Distrito Escolar de Redwood City.

As part of its process to develop a 5-year Strategic Plan, on February 27 the Redwood City School District Board of Trustees voted to approve a new mission statement, set of belief statements and long-range goals. To read them, please click here.

he next step in the Strategic Plan is to form committees comprised of staff, parents and community members who will work on specific areas, including Curriculum/Instruction, Special Education, English Language Development, Diversity, Technology, Finance, Human Resources, Facilities and Parent/Community Involvement.  If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, please contact Assistant Superintendent John Baker at 423-2251 or via e-mail, jbaker@rcsd.k12.ca.us.

Como parte del proceso del desarrollo de un Plan Estratégico de 5 años, el 27 de febrero los miembros de la Mesa Directiva del Distrito Escolar de Redwood City votaron a favor de aprobar la declaración de la misión, las  convicciones y las metas a largo plazo del distrito.  Para leerlas por favor oprima el ratón aquí.

l paso próximo del Plan Estratégico es formar comités compuestos de personal, padres de familia y miembros de la comunidad los cuales trabajarán en áreas específicas, incluyendo, el Programa de estudios/instrucción, la Educación especial, el Desarrollo de la lengua inglesa, la Diversidad, la Tecnología, las Finanzas, los Recursos humanos, los planteles escolares, y la Participación de los padres de familia/la comunidad.  Si están interesados en servir en uno de estos comités, hagan el favor de comunicarse con el Asistente del Superintendente John Baker llamando a 423-2251 ó vía e-mail, jbaker@rcsd.k12.ca.us.

At its February 6 meeting, the Redwood City School District school board voted to pilot a two-year Project-Based Learning program at Roosevelt School beginning in the 2008-09 school year. Project-Based Learning, also called Problem-Based Learning, involves children in learning through deep investigation of subjects, often in small groups. Projects include reports, presentations, performances or items created in class. Research studies show significant improvement in motivation, critical thinking skills, self esteem and standardized test scores for students involved in project-based learning.
According to Principal Sonya Dineen, project-based learning is ideal for classrooms where students with mixed abilities can pool their talents collaboratively and discover a solution. “Student motivation is central in project-based learning,” said Dineen, “and we know that motivation is a key component in students making significant academic gains.”
Families interested in enrolling their children in the new Project-Based Learning program at Roosevelt should fill out an application form by April 30, available in the Roosevelt office or at the District Office. Spaces will be limited to one class per grade level for the first year. The program will be open to all students in the district, with priority given to current Roosevelt students, children who live within the Roosevelt boundary, and siblings of current Roosevelt students.
Roosevelt will hold several Open Houses to introduce the program to parents: 9-10 a.m. and 7-8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, and Saturday, March 1 from 9-11 a.m. All interested parents are welcome to attend. For more information about the Project-Based Learning program or enrollment in the program, please contact Principal Sonya Dineen at 369-5597 or sdineen@rcsd.k12.ca.us.

En la junta del 6 de febrero, la mesa directiva del Distrito Escolar de Redwood City votó a favor de un programa de aprendizaje piloto de dos años basado en proyectos que tendrá lugar en la escuela Roosevelt comenzando el año escolar 2008-09.  El aprendizaje basado en proyectos también llamado aprendizaje basado en la solución de problemas, involucra a los niños en el aprendizaje por medio de una investigación a fondo de las áreas académicas, a menudo en grupos pequeños.  Los proyectos incluyen reportes, presentaciones, actuaciones, o artículos creados en la clase.  Los estudios de investigación muestran una mejora significativa en la motivación, las habilidades del pensamiento crítico, la autoestima y las calificaciones en los exámenes estandarizados de los estudiantes involucrados en el aprendizaje basado en proyectos.
De acuerdo a la Directora Sonya Dineen, el aprendizaje basado en proyectos es ideal para las clases en las que los estudiantes con habilidades variadas pueden usar sus talentos en colaboración y de esa forma descubrir una solución.  “La motivación de los estudiantes es lo principal en el aprendizaje basado en proyectos” dice Dineen, “y nosotros sabemos que la motivación es el componente clave en los grandes aumentos académicos hechos por los estudiantes”.
Las familias que estén interesadas en inscribir a sus niños en este nuevo Programa de Aprendizaje Basado en Proyectos de Roosevelt, deben llenar una forma de solicitud de inscripción a más tardar el 30 de abril, la cual se encuentra en la oficina de Roosevelt o en la Oficina del Distrito.  El primer año, los espacios estarán limitados a una clase por grado.  El programa estará disponible para todos los estudiantes del distrito, se les dará prioridad a los alumnos que asisten a Roosevelt en la actualidad, los niños que viven en el área de asistencia de la escuela Roosevelt, y los hermanos de los alumnos que asisten en la actualidad a Roosevelt.
Roosevelt va tener varias recepciones escolares para padres de familias y alumnos en las que se va a introducir el programa.  Estás recepciones tendrán lugar el miércoles, 20 de febrero de 9-10 a.m. y de 7-8 p.m. y el sábado, 1 de marzo de 9:00-11 a.m. Invitamos a todos los padres de familia a los que les interese asistir.  Para más información sobre el Programa de Aprendizaje Basado en Proyectos o la inscripción en el programa, por favor telefoneen a la Directora Sonya Dineen, 369-5597 ó email a sdineen@rcsd.k12.ca.us.
 

January 9, 2008

• School Start Dates: The Board voted on school start dates for the next three
years for both traditional and year-round schools. Year-round schools will start
on August 11 in 2008, August 10 in 2009 and August 9 in 2010. Traditional
schools will start on September 2 in 2008, September 8 in 2009 and September 7
in 2010.

• Roosevelt School: The Board heard an update from Roosevelt principal Sonya
Dineen on progress toward revitalizing Roosevelt School. Ms. Dineen provided
information to the Board on discussions with staff and parents about the two ideas
that most strongly emerged during community forums, conversations with the
Roosevelt staff, parents and neighbors, and surveys: to adopt a project-based
learning strand for K-5 students, and to turn Roosevelt into a K-8 school. In
addition to Ms. Dineen’s presentation, the Board heard testimony from a number
of staff and parents. The Board asked questions of Principal Dineen and
Superintendent Jan Christensen, and will make a final decision about Roosevelt at
the February 6 board meeting.

December 19, 2007

• Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe gave a presentation on data-driven decision
making and explained how student assessment data and relevant background
information is being used to inform decisions related to planning and
implementing instructional strategies at the district, school, classroom and
individual levels.

December 12, 2007

• The Board swore in new trustee Alisa MacAvoy and trustees Masur and McBride.
The Board elected officers for 2008. Trustee Masur will serve as President,
trustee Diaz-Slocum will serve as Vice-President and trustee McBride will serve
as Clerk.

September 19: The board recognized Tim Christianson, teacher at Fair Oaks School, and Veronica Lobos, Fair Oaks Community School Coordinator, for their ongoing support of the Fair Oaks School community. Fair Oaks principal Larry Johnson made a presentation about Fair Oaks school. Director of English Language Learner Services Yvette Irving provided the board with an overview of current programs through the draft Master Plan for English Language Learners. The board will adopt a Master Plan at a future Board meeting.

September 26: The board heard testimony from a number of parents and staff members about school start dates for both year-round and traditional calendars. The board explained that they wish to adopt school start dates for the next three years. Once the start date is set, district administrators will negogiate the rest of the calendar with the teacher’s association. The board will vote on start dates at a future meeting.

The Homework Committee presented a revised proposal for a new homework policy.
The Board had additional questions, so the proposal was sent to the Board Policy
Committee for further discussion. Assistant Superintendent Liz Wolfe gave an update on summer school and on the District Achievement Plan. Ms. Wolfe reported that 75% of teachers in the district have now attended Houghton-Mifflin, Prentice Hall, Intervention and Supplementary Trainings. She also explained the planning that is being done to help schools organize the targeted instructional time during which students will receive extra help or enrichment depending on their specific needs.