Vibrant Schools: School Board Brief for June 23, 2016

Vibrant Schools School Board Report:

June 23, 2016

(Here is the same report as a pdf file): 2016 June 23 School Board Report Final 8.2.2016

President Vialle, and Directors Ushka, Heinze, Winskill and Cobb were all present. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Garcia was present. Superintendent Santorno was away on a sister cities trip to South Africa.

The “Vibrant 3” Comments and Priorities

1. Vibrant Schools speaks to systemic issues around institutional racism that have both broad and specific impacts on youth and their families, and, at times, on staff of color.  School board meetings allow for general testimony, but the coalition would like to explore specific conduits that families, and staff can pursue if, and when, they encounter obstacles and unequal treatment that requires serious investigation and follow up.
2. Dietary restrictions are increasingly recognized as important aspects of serving a wide range of people in the community.  Testimony at this meeting indicated a specific need for the District to address gluten-free options in its food service options.  The testimony offered by a district mother, her children alongside her, was honest and compelling and speaks to the need to begin providing gluten free and possibly additional options to the hundreds if not thousands of youth who may have these dietary limitations.
3. Vibrant Schools heartily supports the extension of Superintendent Santorno’s Contract. We believe she has done extraordinary work during her tenure. We believe it is important to offer a three-year extension to provide both the stability and time to enable the district to keep moving forward. The coalition looks forward to working with our pro-active superintendent to end the achievement gap and assure that all students are performing at grade level.  We believe that pursuing benchmark goals and regularly assessing measurable progress is a powerful tool designed toward this purpose.

Recognitions. 

1. Ready Set Read, the pre-K reading program sponsored by Communities in Schools were recognized.  This is the meeting every year where the Pre-K students who have read all 50 books in the program come to be recognized.  It is one of the most fun School Board Recognitions of the year and students and their families were present to celebrate.
2. Lincoln High School track and field champs.  Coaches and several athletes from the state champion Lincoln HS track team were honored.
3. National Merit Scholars—Two were recognized this year from Foss High School.
4. Air Force Association Teacher of the Year (from SAMI)
5. Tacoma Gents—Gold Star Community Partner award.
6. TPS PR team—multiple awards from the Public Relations Association, for Communications in School Districts.

Budget Presentation.  Kristin Bell of the Budget Office gave an overview of the mid-biennium budget.  This preceded the public hearing on the budget.  There were two significant issues identified for the Board:

• The District has been conservative in its budgeting and spending, with the result that there are savings in excess of the required 5% reserve.  The proposed budget includes spending some of those dollars but retaining an 8.36% reserve amount.  This decision ties to the McCleary decision as outlined below:
• Legislative inaction on the funding required by the McCleary decision, and the risk that local levies will be constrained starting in 2018.  This is sometimes called the “levy cliff” and could cause Tacoma to be short several million dollars in its budget in the future.  Thus, the Board is committed to keeping enough in savings to offset this possible loss.

The total operating budget is now over $400 million a year.  This does not include construction projects.  On a more detailed note, ASB (Associated Student Body) fees are no longer able to cover all athletic expenses so the staff and Board will be reviewing this situation over the summer.

Public comment.  Vibrant School’s Director, Lucas Smiraldo and Steering Committee Member, Sally Perkins, testified in favor of the extension of the Superintendent’s contract.  The comments were well-received by the Board.

See the full testimony of Vibrant Schools leadership here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJkMG1HndRs    Begin the video at 1:07:41

A parent testified about the positive support her son was given in SAMI and SOTA for his unique learning needs.  She advocated for this support to be provided in all high schools.

Alton McDonald of the New Century Justice Network testified about racism in TPS and the need for racism to be addressed by the Board.  He advocated for the Board to direct the Superintendent to address issues of racism among the staff.  He asserted that black children are targeted in the schools from an early age and that black employees in the District are mistreated.  Mr. McDonald noted that racism will not go away by itself.

Vibrant Inquiry: Vibrant Schools speaks to many broad and systemic issues around institutional racism that have both broad and specific impacts on youth and their families, and, at times, on staff of color.  School board meetings allow for general testimony, but the coalition would like to explore specific conduits that families, and staff can pursue if, and when, they encounter obstacles and unequal treatment that requires serious investigation and follow up.

A parent testified that her child has celiac disease and Type 1 diabetes but that the District lacks celiac awareness and is not a gluten-free District.  She advocated for the District to implement gluten-free products, and noted that her child needs to carb count for his insulin levels.  He needs support to do this with school lunches.  When he brings his own lunch, the other students hassle him.

Vibrant Comment:

Dietary restrictions are increasingly recognized as important aspects of serving a wide range of people in the community.  Testimony at this meeting indicated a specific need for the District to address gluten-free options in its food service options.  The testimony offered by a district mother, her children alongside her, was honest and compelling and speaks to the need to begin providing gluten free and possibly additional options to the hundreds if not thousands of youth who may have these dietary limitations.

Superintendent’s Report, Remann Hall, Day Reporting Center school programs.  [Please note:  The Powerpoint for this presentation is not currently on the District’s web site.].

Significant effort has been invested in improving the educational progress of students who are incarcerated or who are otherwise affected by the Juvenile Justice system.  All students who move through Remann Hall are now using Edgenuity, the on-line course work option for high school students.  This means that these students can access their classes no matter where they are, so students who are temporarily in the justice system can continue to make academic progress and earn credits.  Remann Hall is also using a behavior modification approach with a point system that allows students to earn privileges.

Remann Hall school options serve about 650 students a year with approximately 2000 “in and out” during any given year.

Board presented follow up questions, led by Director Cobb, focused on where students go next after they leave the Remann Hall program.  More information will be forthcoming on this.

Financial update— is on the web site.

Curriculum and Instruction.  This featured a long list of items to approve including:

• The Indian Education Federal Grant,
• Handbook for Parents Participation,
• Next Generation Science Kids,
• Math Express Materials,
• Springboard Materials, and;
• The Head Start Continuation Grant.

Business Matters.  Request for approvals, all granted by the board, included:

• The interlocal agreement with ESD 112,
• The RFP for Athletic Training Expertise from Children’s Hospital in Seattle,
• A new scoreboard for Mount  Tahoma High School,
• An elevator maintenance contract,
• A pre-construction award for Browns Point Elementary,
• A construction bid for SAMI, and
• The land lease for SAMI.

Other Business.  The Superintendent’s contract is being extended until June 20 2019 (the maximum amount of time allowed).  The Superintendent is in South Africa so Deputy Superintendent Garcia made comments on her behalf.  The Board took a roll call vote, 5-0.

Vibrant Comment: Vibrant Schools heartily supports the extension of Superintendent Santorno’s Contract. We believe she has done extraordinary work during her tenure. We believe it is important to offer a three-year extension to provide both the stability and time to enable the district to keep moving forward. The coalition looks forward to working with our pro-active superintendent to end the achievement gap and believe that pursuing benchmark goals and assessing measureable progress is a powerful tool toward this purpose.

Report to the Board:  None.

Board member reports—Brief comments

Next Board meetings:  July 14, August 25.  There will also be a Board Retreat sometime in August, probably on a Saturday.

Vibrant Schools Call to Action: None at this Time