Staff and Board Members would like to celebrate the work of the student scientists who participated so successfully in the Science Fair this year.  We will also honor the parents and volunteers who coordinated these efforts and mentored our students all along the way.  

The Science Fair is an annual event and is open to all students in grades 5-8th. The categories for submissions include: Physical Sciences (Chemistry, Physics, Material Science); Life Sciences (Biological Systems, Behavioral Sciences); Earth, Space and Environment Sciences, Engineering, Technology and Application of Science (Engineering and Technology, Mathematics, Computer Science).  Finalists from the SCSD science fair may qualify to go on to the San Mateo County STEM Fair. Finalists from the County Science Fair may then qualify to go on to the Bay Area Science Fair and/or the California State Science Fair.

Students are supported by volunteer mentors of experienced scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and innovators who have a passion for science and are interested in sharing their knowledge and experience with student scientists working on science fair projects.  Several of the mentors have also been and still are science fair judges for San Carlos and other neighboring school districts, including the County and the California State Science Fair.  Many of them are educators at all grade levels and scientists and engineers working in R&D companies in the local community.

Staff seeks approval of gift to the District (Heather Elementary School).

Matching employee gift from Wells Fargo Bank to Heather Elementary School.

Board Policy requires any gifts/donations to the District to be approved by the Board.

Approve acceptance of gift.

Matching gift of $188.45.

Staff seeks approval of gift to District/Preschool.

Preschool parent made donation through employer as United Way donation.

Board policy requires any gifts/donations to the District to be approved by the Board.

Approve acceptance of gift.

Gift total of $306.00.

Staff seeks Board approval of MOU with Portola Valley School District

Staff presents this MOU with Portola Valley School District.  As we have expanded our continuum of special education programming within the district, we have been able to add two moderate-severe classrooms within the district.  Because of the lower incidence of students with these more intensive needs, our district does not have enough students to fill these classes and as such we have been able to accept students from other districts who are seeking such placements into our programs.  

Staff seeks Board approval of proposed MOU with Portola Valley School District. 

This is a positive fiscal impact on the district.  While the costs of establishing the program (e.g. materials, staffing, etc.) are set, this is revenue which can help to offset the costs of special education encroachment on the general fund. 

Staff recommends approval of Schreder & Associates proposal to prepare developer fee justification study for the District.

The amount of the District's fees as authorized by Education Code Section 17620 are reviewed every two years to determine if a developer fee increase as determined by the State Allocation Board (SAB) is justified.  The fees recommended by SAB will likely be adjusted to $3.48 per square foot for residential and $0.56 per square foot for commercial/industrial.  The current residential fee is $3.36 and commercial/industrial $.054.

In order to increase its fee to the new SAB adjustment, the District must perform a Residential and Commercial/Industrial Developer Fee Justification Study.  The objective of the study is to determine if a reasonable relationship exits between new residential, commercial, and industrial development and the need for new and/or reconstructed schools in the District.  The study will be documented to provide the District with the justification necessary to levy developer fees per Ed Code.

Staff is recommending that Schreder & Associates perform this study based on their familiarity with the District and similar work it is performing for SUHSD.  Schreder's fee of $5,850 is consistent with fee paid to Dolinka Group which conducted the justification study in 2012.

Board approval needed for service contracts/proposals.

Approve the engagement of Schreder & Associates, Inc. to prepare developer fee justification study for SCSD.

Cost of $5,850 to be financed through the General Fund.

Staff seeks Board approval to discard obsolete special education testing materials.

When assessment measures are re-normed, the District must purchase updated materials.  As such, the items listed are not longer useable. 

Staff recommends Board approval of discard list as proposed by staff

None

Staff seeks Board approval of MOU with Hillsborough School District for special education services

Services are for a special needs student for which we did not have an in-house program to serve the child. 

Staff recommends Board approval of MOU with Hillsborough School District

The bulk of this MOU was anticipated and was in the adopted budget; however, there is an increase of $683 to the budget.

Staff will present revised Technology Plan and Technology Scope and Sequence for Board feedback and discussion

A committee comprised of District teachers, administrators and parents met over the course of several months to craft a Three Year District Technology Plan. On November 19, 2015, staff presented a of draft Technology Plan.  Staff considered Board, as well, as administration, teachers and staff feedback and is bringing this back for further Board discussion.  In addition to the revised Technology Plan, staff is presenting a draft of a Technology Skills Scope and Sequence for Grades K-8.

Staff seeks Board guidance on this plan and will consider further feedback.  Staff will bring this agenda item back again for approval along with the accompanying budget. 

None directly in relation to this discussion

Staff will present a draft of a process and timeline for completing high level priorities as established by the Board.  

This item is a follow up to the Board Retreat held on January 22, 2016.  At that time, Trustees identified several high priorities for the coming year and requested that staff bring back for discussion a process and timeline for achieving goals associated with those activities.  Items identified include:

- Facilities Construction Projections (as identified in the Facilities Master Plan)
- Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAP)
- Budget Adoption
- Quality Outdoor Play & Learning Spaces
- World Language
- Master Schedule 
- Homework
- Staff Performance Evaluation System
- Technology Plan
- Communications Plan  

Staff will present a "first read" of the revised BP 2121 - Superintendent's Contract for Board discussion

This policy has been updated to reflect CSBA's recommended language and federal law which prohibits favoring "highly compensated" individuals in therms of the level of benefits provided.  This revision also reflects new language which amends the maximum cash settlement allowable at termination of a superintendent's contract per new law, AB 215 which went into effect as of January 1, 2016.  Specifically, it provides that no cash or non cash settlement may be given if the termination is for fraud or other illegal fiscal practices.

None directly for these discussion purposes

Budget Update in preparation for 2nd Interim Report

Staff will update the Board on budget changes since 1st Interim Report presented on December 14, 2015 in preparation for 2nd Interim Report on March 10, 2016.

Staff wishes to update the Board on high level budget changes since the 1st Interim Report was presented in preparation for 2nd Interim Report.

Staff seeks Board appointment of committee members to Surplus Property (7-11) Advisory Committee.

The Board appointed 4 members of the Committee at its meeting of February 11, 2016.  At that time, staff noted it would bring back additional members to be appointed to bring the Committee to its minimally required size of 7 members.  The Board requested that a representative from the Heather Elementary School community by appointed as well.  Murat Sumbal, Karen Clapper, and Tom Quibble have agreed to participate (Committee bios attached).  Staff has reached out to Heather representative and is waiting word on their interest.

Board approval of committee members required.

With the understanding that the Board will soon name another member to this committee who will represent the Heather School community, move to appoint Murat Sumbal, Karen Clapper, and Tom Quiggle to the Surplus Property (7-11) Advisory Committee.

Staff seeks Board approval of Chavan & Associates, LLP to conduct annual independent audit of SCSD for fiscal year ending June 30, 2016.

Per AR 3460(c) the Board shall select a public accounting firm that has not performed audit services for the district in each of the six previous years.  The District's current auditor has reached such restriction and in accordance with this administrative regulation, District staff solicited proposals from three auditing firms that 1) were state approved; 2) performed work for districts within San Mateo County; and 3) came recommended by other districts.   The three firms reviewed included Chavan & Associates, LLP; Vavrinek,Trine, Day & Co., LLP; and Patel & Associates, LLP.  

Staff is recommending that the District engage Chavan & Associates, LLP to perform the fiscal year 2015-16 District audit.  This recommendation is based on the extensive work the firm has done for districts within the county, the quality of its key staff, the clearly delineated phases of its proposed work, its management discussion and analysis assistance, highest budgeted staff hours (190), and lowest proposed price of $16,000 which includes Proposition 39 Bond Audit.  Further, the firm received excellent recommendations from other districts for audits performed.   

Board approval needed for engagement of District independent auditor.

Approve Chavan & Associates, LLP to conduct the District's annual independent audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2016.

Fee for such services is $16,000 to be funded through the general fund.

Staff will present revised AR 5111.1 - District Residency- for discussion and possible approval

This is a new board policy and reflects new law (AB 1101) which mandates any district that elects to conduct investigations of students' residency to adopt policy with specified components including the circumstances under which the district may initiate an investigation, the investigatory methods that may be used (including the possible use of an investigator), a prohibition against surreptitious photographing/video-recording and an appeals process.  There is not a redlined version as we did not have a board policy (only an AR) previously. 

The revised Administrative Regulation adds language for residency if the parent/guardian of a student lives with the student in the place of his/her employment within the district boundaries a minimum of 3 days/week.  The AR also contains language for granting residency for students whose parent/guardian is employed within the district boundaries (Allen bill transfers) for a minimum of 10 hours/week. 

Staff recommends Board approval of proposed new BP 5111.1 and AR 5111.1 -District Residency