Regular Open Meeting Brief – July 20, 2023
The entire meeting agenda can be viewed at July 20, 2023, BOE Meeting
Staff Recruitment and Retention
The Human Resources Department shared information related to staff recruitment and retention for the coming year. Recruitment activities include updates to the district website to make notice of openings and the application process more user-friendly, development of a robust recruitment flyer, participation in college fairs, implementation of Grow Your Own paraprofessional to teacher program, and development of diversity recruitment teams to increase minority representation in our staff. The Human Resources Department uses several data points that help guide understanding of retention needs and improvement opportunities, which include; listening tours, engagement, and exit survey analysis, Stay Put Thought Exchange, new teacher interviews, and retirement/resignation data comparisons.
English Language Development Programming
A presentation on English Language Development (ELD) initiatives was provided. The projected enrollment of ELD students for 2023-24 is 584. Strategies to assist these students include creating and filling an ELD Facilitator position, initiating a 1st - 5th-grade newcomer classroom (half-day pull-out instruction) for students with less than one year experience with the English language, and review/alignment of resources for ELD instruction.
Discipline Committee Update
Activities and recommendations by the District Discipline Committee were reviewed. Process changes and enhancements to the Code of Conduct will be made related to weapons, staff safety violations, and drug/alcohol issues. In the coming year, the committee will review and evaluate the Code of Conduct related to truancy, transportation, and trespassing.
Wellness Committee Recommendation
Over the past year, the Wellness Committee identified, through a culture and wellbeing survey, that improved workspace conditions were a high priority for staff members. Staff workstations from all buildings were evaluated by an ergonomist and prioritized with assistance from the District Wellness Coordinator. Workspace improvements will occur in phases over the next few years. Based on recommendations from the ergonomist, a standardized ergonomic staff workspace was identified which includes: an adjustable height desk, ergonomically adjustable chair, adjustable monitor and laptop stand, file cabinet, and standing mat. This first phase of workspace equipment is for the replacement of desks, chairs, and filing cabinets in the areas with the highest priority.