Castaic Board to review new board policy

Castaic Union School District Building. Dan Watson/The Signal
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A new board policy about involuntarily student transfers is expected to be discussed during a regular meeting of the Castaic Union School District Governing Board Thursday.

The board policy reflects a new law, Senate Bill 1343, which authorizes school districts to transfer students if they are convicted of a violent felony or a designated misdemeanor—like possession of a firearm—and are enrolled in the same school as the victim of the crime for which they were convicted.

Before the student is transferred, the student and his or her parents must be notified of their right to meet with the principal.  The superintendent or designee must also attempt to resolve the conflict by using restorative justice, counseling or other services.

To enact this law, the Governing Board must adopt its own policy and notify parents and guardians of the updates as part of its annual policy notifications.

In addition to the new law, the Governing Board is expected to adopt revised exhibits that reflect other laws and propositions.

These changes include adding parental notifications related to language acquisition programs for Prop 58, adding involuntary transfers for SB 1343 and adding enrollment priorities for homeless and foster youth in before and after school programs for AB 2615.

It also will delete notifications related to structured English immersion programs and update legal citations.

Public Hearing

The Governing Board is also expected to hold a public hearing to present information on its Reserve of Economic Uncertainties (REU).

State law requires the board to keep REU at a minimum of 3 percent; however, due to volatile revenues and uncertainty of LCFF revenue, gap funding implementation and declining enrollment, the district plans to exceed the minimum required reserve amount.

This means the state required REU would be 647,964.54 and 6 percent REU would be $1,295,929.08.

The district’s projected Unassigned/Unreserved balance at June 30, 2017 is expected to be $2,938,377.30, which exceeds the minimum REU by $1,642,448.22.

“The goal of maintaining a reserve above 3% creates a more stable educational environment for students and staff,” the board agenda item read.

According to the district, it plans to exceed the minimum for financial flexibility to absorb unanticipated expenditures without significant disruption to education programs, to protect against exposure to significant one-time outlays such as disasters or lawsuits, to protect against the volatility of state revenues, to protect against decking enrollment and for cash management.

“The district is committed to maintaining a prudent level of financial resources to protect against the need to reduce service levels because of temporary revenue shortfalls or unpredicted expenditures,” the agenda item read.

Resolutions

The Governing Board is also expected to approve two resolutions recognizing Attendance Awareness Month and Week of the School Administrator.

The first resolution will proclaim September as Attendance Awareness Month to combat chronic absenteeism by working with families and communities to monitor and promote attendance and address hurdles that keep children from getting to school.

“Good attendance is essential to student achievement and graduation, and the District is committed to dedicating our resources and attention to reducing chronic absenteeism rates, with a focus starting as early as pre-kindergarten and kindergarten,” the board agenda item read.

According to the district, chronic absence is a proven predictor of academic trouble and dropout rates.  By highlighting the importance of student attendance, the district hopes to “give all children an equitable opportunity to learn, grown and thrive academically, emotionally and socially.”

The second resolution will declare Oct. 9 to Oct. 13 as Week of the School Administrator to recognize the contribution school administrators make to pupil achievement.

Additional Agenda Items

  • Approve of independent contract with Lelani Avila to provide Physical Education instruction to Castaic Elementary School Students once a week
  • Approve estimate of services from Dickinson Enterprises, Inc. to repair Bus No. 4 , a Special Education bus
  • Approve of School Bus Maintenance and Mechanical Services agreement to perform regular and emergency services
  • Approve agreements for the Santa Clarita Valley School Food Services Agency to provide food services to Val Verde State Preschool, Northlake Hills Community Preschool, Castaic Community Preschool and Northlake Hills State Preschool
  • Approve resolution to reduce the hours of work per day for a Special Circumstance Instructional Aide at Live Oak Elementary School
  • Conduct first reading to adopt revised administrative regulation: Earthquake Emergency Procedure System
  • Approve a five-year agreement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for supplemental law enforcement services

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