Board Highlights November & December 2019
Update on Biology and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
In the fall of 2018, site and district leaders re-examined science pathways and sought to understand more thoroughly the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Informed by input from department chairs, leaders decided that beginning in 2019-20, SUHSD schools would cease offering Advanced Integrated Science (AIS), a course that neither formed part of an NGSS-aligned sequence nor met "A-G" completion college requirements.
In the spring of 2019, the Professional Development (PD) and Curriculum departments developed a three-day training for biology teachers. The goal for the PD was to support teachers shifting instruction toward implementation of all elements of the NGSS; while supporting learners with diverse levels of background, knowledge, literacy levels, and English proficiency in the same classroom.
Additional optional support was offered by the PD and Curriculum departments' Science Instructional Coach, Daisy Yeung. This included paid PD and guided planning in the June PD Week, August Teacher Orientation Week, and individual or course-team coaching offered as release time or after-school support. Training and support for Chemistry and Physics teachers followed the Biology professional development.
Parallel to these efforts, the Differentiated Assistance (DA) team, facilitated by the San Mateo County Office of Education, decided to explore the impact of increasing heterogeneity in freshman classes. This fall, Biology teachers participated in a "fishbowl" exercise to share with the DA team early indicators of success and challenge following the elimination of AIS and the increased inclusion of NGSS in instruction.
In this update, the Board of Trustees will be presented with an overview of the science professional learning and support as well as teacher feedback related to recent changes in standards and course offerings.
Link to presentation: Board Update Next Generation Science Standards Support 2018-20
Update on Stanford 3D Collaborative
The Stanford-Sequoia K-12 Research Collaborative is a research practice partnership between the Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) and nine local school districts. The purpose of the Collaborative is to create a long-standing, mutually beneficial partnership between the GSE and Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD) and its eight elementary partner districts. Officially launched in the fall of 2017, all nine local school districts agreed to partner on a set of research projects with Stanford GSE faculty. These projects all focus on equity issues, with most specifically addressing the performance of English learners (EL).
Tonight, the Board will hear some preliminary findings from one of the District's projects. Together with Redwood City and Ravenswood elementary districts, and research teams led by Stanford Professors Dr. Guillermo Solano-Flores and Dr. Guadalupe Valdes, the SUHSD is seeking to understand the trajectory of Long Term English Learners (LTEL). Tonight's data looks at their findings thus far.
Click here to view the presentation.
San Mateo County CSBA Equity Network
Three SUHSD Board members and the Superintendent are participating in a series of workshops sponsored by the San Mateo County California School Boards' Association's Equity Network. The participants will provide the Board with an update on the first two meetings of this important experience and propose next steps.
First Interim Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2019-20
The First Interim Report provides an updated projection of revenues and expenditures based on actual figures through October. It provides an updated Multi-Year Projection based on the State Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20. It also includes the latest relevant available information on the State Budget as well as updated assumptions on property taxes, charter school enrollment, and expenditures.
Infant Toddler Care for District Employees and Parenting Students
Peninsula Family Services (PFS) has provided childcare services for the children of District students in space provided at Redwood High School since 1999. In the last few years, the number of student babies being served has declined by 75% from historical averages. Owing to its funding and program requirements, Peninsula Family Service is limited in its ability to adjust its pricing to the District or adjust its service model (for example, serving a broader range of families). As such, it was mutually decided to end the relationship between the District and Family Services agency.
In order to more efficiently serve District students with infants/young children, and to ensure that the facility at Redwood High School is utilized more fully, the District released a request for proposal (RFP) to identify qualified childcare providers willing to provide childcare services at the campus.
The District received two responses to the RFP: from Kids Konnect Infant Care and Preschool, and from Happy Campers (which operates a childcare program in District-provided space at Carlmont High School). The panel that reviewed the RFP responses determined that both proposals reflected quality programs, and ultimately a contract was drawn up with Kids Konnect, of Pacifica.
Kids Konnect currently operates four childcare facilities in the Bay Area, including the centers in Pacifica and San Mateo, and is excited to partner with SUHSD.
The District will provide Kids Konnect with space at the Redwood High School, free of charge, along with utilities and major maintenance of the facility. Kids Konnect will provide childcare services for the children of District students at a full-time rate of $1,600 per month, per child, and it will provide the same discounted rate to the children of full- and part-time District employees, who have enrollment priority over community members.
The goal is to enroll up to 20 District staff members' children by the beginning of the next school year; to provide quality childcare to other Peninsula families; as well as to care for the children of parenting students, including those children older than 24 months.
Thus, Sequoia district will help address the child care challenges its employees face, as well as help address the chronic shortage of childcare options in this very expensive area where the District operates. Of course, the most important priority remains the quality care of SUHSD students’ children.
Staff is interested in pursuing a possible early childhood education partnership in conjunction with Cañada College and Kids Konnect.
Makinya Ward, CEO of Kids Konnect will be present at the Board meeting. Ms. Ward has also recently been elected to the State Board for Quality Early Learning.
Fiscal Impact: This new financial arrangement should save the District approximately $150,000 annually and provide a savings to District employees of approximately $6,000 per year, per child enrolled.
Resolution to Support the Efforts to Reduce Availability and Use of E-Cigarettes by Youth in San Mateo County
Resolution No. 1658, Supporting the Efforts of County, Municipalities, and Partner School Districts to Reduce Availability and Use of E-cigarettes by Youth in San Mateo County, embraces the cooperation with other local governing agencies. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and is a contributing factor to many illnesses.
Data released in 2019 shows that current cigarette use among high school students has more than doubled since 2017, with more than one in four high schoolers having used e-cigarettes within the past 30 days. The use of e-cigarettes at school leads to behaviors requiring a disciplinary response, which in turn impacts academic outcomes and student learning. With the adoption of Resolution No. 1658, SUHSD endorses the efforts of San Mateo County, municipalities, and its partner school districts to restrict and reduce the availability of e-cigarettes by youth. Staff strongly recommends that the Board of Trustees adopts Resolution No. 1658.
