Board Meeting Highlights: April 19, 2023 (Regular)
See the Meeting Agenda for a full listing of items considered and actions taken at this meeting.
6.1 Report on Action taken in Closed Session
The Board unanimously approved the appointment of the following staff for the 2023-24 school year:
- Laurie Garcia, Assistant Principal - American High School
7.1 Superintendent Report
Superintendent CJ Cammack extended his best to everyone after spring break, and noted that he’s looking forward to traveling with three Trustees to Washington, D.C. for the Coast2Coast advocacy trip.
7.2 Student Member Report
Student Member Sissi Zhang reported school-specific updates, and that SURFBoardE is considering applications now for the 2023-24 school year.
8.1 Consent Calendar
All items were passed unanimously, with brief remarks to celebrate the partnership between FUSD and the City of Fremont, which is among the agreements included in item 11.6 Consideration of Approval of Contracts and Purchases Over $25,360.
15.1 Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)
Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Leticia Salinas a several directors presented on the Fremont Unified Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) a framework for organizing and providing a tiered instructional, behavioral and social-emotional continuum to support all students. MTSS helps to intervene early and quickly. MTSS focuses on the whole child, which means that all facets of learning are identified and addressed to assist all students to be successful. MTSS has tiers of support that provide more levels of support from one level to the next. Students move up and down tiers based on data and their needs.
FUSD has several initiatives that make up its MTSS framework. These initiatives and district plans include academic, social-emotional and behavioral elements that bridge together to formulate the systematic approach to support the whole child. Today’s presentation is an update on our district work and will also highlight next steps.
There was no action; this was an informational presentation on the Multi-Tiered System of Supports.
15.2 Approve the Staff-Recommended Textbook Adoption for Chemistry in the Earth System Grades 10, 11, and 12
The California Science Framework was updated in 2016 with a three-course model for science in high school. Chemistry in the Earth System was introduced as a core science course integrating chemistry with earth and space science. A supplemental resource was adopted in 2020 to bridge the existing course and text until a new scope and sequence could be developed by FUSD teachers and new texts could be piloted. A more current text that is fully aligned with NGSS and the updated California Science Framework is needed.
An adoption and pilot teacher committee was formed and met regularly from September 2022 through March 2023. The committee narrowed the text selection and began piloting these texts:
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt - Chemistry in the Earth System (2020)
- SAVVAS - Experience Chemistry - (2021)
Materials were piloted from October 2022 through March 2023 in classrooms at each school site that included students with IEPs and English learners. After piloting the materials in their classrooms, the committee identified one text to recommend for adoption: SAVVAS Experience Chemistry.
The adoption materials were made available to the public and Board Trustees from March 16-30, 2023. Members of the public were offered a form to share their feedback. The adoption committee did not receive any feedback.
The committee recommends the purchase of student and teacher texts, plus one set of hands-on lab kits per school to use as a model for what they will need to order in the future for all classes. Since this course now includes earth science labs that require new non-consumable materials such as heat lamps that are not included in the SAVVAS kits, the committee also requests a one-time allocation of $2,000 per school site to purchase these other lab materials.
The Board unanimously approved the recommended textbook for Chemistry in the Earth System.
15.3 Discretionary Block Grant Plan
Discretionary Block Grant funds (Arts, Music, Instructional Materials Block Grant) are available to county offices of education, school districts, charter schools and state special schools to obtain standards-aligned professional development and instructional materials in specified areas, obtain professional development on improving school culture, develop diverse and culturally relevant book collections, operational costs and COVID personal protective equipment.
The governing board or body of each school district, county office of education, or charter school receiving funds shall discuss and approve a plan for the expenditure of funds received at a regularly scheduled public meeting.
Director of Budget, Audit and Attendance James Arcala presented the Discretionary Block Grant Plan 2022-23.
The Board unanimously approved the Plan.
