Board Meeting Highlights: March 13, 2024 (Regular)
See the Meeting Agenda for a full listing of items considered and actions taken at this meeting.
7.1 Superintendent Report
Superintendent CJ Cammack reported that he was happy to read in Mrs. Brown’s class at MSJE, and classes at Parkmont Elementary classes. Recently attended MVSELPA and FCPTA meetings. Superintendent Cammack encourages the community to read the upcoming staff update and newsletter for information on a variety of upcoming events.
7.2 Student Member Report
Student Member Ananya Balaji shared that high schools are hosting “versus weeks” with spirit competitions between classes, spring flings are coming up, multicultural celebrations were held recently, and state assessments are underway now.
13.1 Glenmoor Elementary School Showcase
Principal Brian Benevides and the Student Leadership President presented the Glenmoor School Showcase to highlight the school's accomplishments, areas of focus, unique characteristics, student perspective, and parent/guardian and community perspective.
16.1 Receive and Accept the FY 2022-23 Financial and Performance Audits for the Measure E Bond Program
On June 3, 2014, the voters of Fremont approved the $650 million Measure E general obligation bond initiative, under the requirements of Proposition 39 (2000) the School Facilities Local Vote Act. The scope of the bond work includes upgrading and repairing neighborhood schools by updating technology and aging classrooms; upgrading electrical wiring to current safety codes; fixing or replacing leaky roofs, aging plumbing and restrooms; removing asbestos; and repairing, constructing and acquiring equipment, classrooms, sites, and facilities.
CWDL is the District's approved auditing firm. CWDL has audited the financial statements of the Fremont Unified School District's Measure E program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and has issued an audit report dated February 27, 2024. CWDL has also performed the performance audit of the Fremont Unified School District's Measure E program. Both the financial and performance audits were presented to the Measure E Citizen's Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, for their review and recommendation.
The data in the 2022-23 Fremont USD Measure E Financial and Performance Audit Report is current as of June 30, 2023. The results of the Bond financial audit indicate no findings. The results of the Bond performance audit indicate no findings.
The Board received and unanimously accepted the 2022-2023 Financial and Performance Audits for the Measure E Bond Program.
16.2 Second Interim Budget Report for 2023-24
Education Code Section 42130 states that the Superintendent of each school district shall, in addition to any other powers and duties granted to or imposed upon him/her, submit two reports to the governing board of the district during each fiscal year. The first report shall cover the financial and budgetary status of the district for the period ending October 31. The second report shall cover the period ending January 31. Both reports shall be approved by the district governing board no later than 45 days after the close of the period being reported.
Additionally, the District has to certify the report and submit to the County Office of Education for fiscal review. The certification of the District’s financial condition may take one of three forms:
- Positive Certification - the district will meet its financial obligation for the current fiscal year and subsequent two years
- Qualified Certification - the district may not meet its financial obligations for the current fiscal year or subsequent two years
- Negative Certification - the district will not meet its financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal or for the subsequent fiscal years
Director of Budget James Arcala presented the Second Interim Presentation 2023-24 with a budget analysis showing the detailed explanation of the changes from the First Interim Budget to the Second Interim Budget.
A multi-year budget projection (MYP) was prepared to determine that the District will be able to meet its financial commitments for the two projected years. The District is currently operating with a surplus to the ending balance mainly due to reducing expenditures to account for vacancies that are expected to go unfilled. Deficit spending balloons again to $17.3 million and $26.8 million in 2024-25 and 2025-26, respectively. As a result, our ending balance for Fund 01 (General Fund) plus Fund 17 (Special Reserves) are projected to decrease from 12.7% to 9.5% to 4.6% in the current and subsequent two years. $44.1 million and $26.8 million are Committed in 2023-24 and 2024-25 to cover future deficit spending. These Committed funds will be depleted by 2025-26 due to the District's ongoing structural deficit. The District will meet its financial obligations for the current and two subsequent years, but will need to start making budget reductions next year to eliminate deficit spending or else the reserves will be exhausted by 2026-27.
In certifying the Second Interim Budget Report 2023-24 with a positive certification, it is important to highlight the District's fiduciary responsibility to maintain fiscal solvency for the current and subsequent two fiscal years.
By a 4-1 vote, the Board certified a "Positive Certification" which certifies that, based upon current projections, and current assumptions, the District will meet its financial obligations for the current fiscal year and subsequent two fiscal years.
16.3 Approve the Mural Project at Millard Elementary School
Dr. Jorge Gonzales, Principal at Millard Elementary School is requesting two murals to be painted on site to show the diversity of the students and community of Millard Elementary school and the beauty of Fremont. The murals will be painted by Mercedes Ireland, Paraeducator at Millard and Yekta Mousavi, daughter of a staff member at Millard Elementary. The murals will be funded by the innovation grant and gifts and donations received during the school year. The artists will be painting the murals during non-instructional time, but students will have the opportunity to see the entire process and interact with the artist. The locations for the murals are on the exterior wall of room 5 and the exterior wall of the staff room.
Dr. Gonzales provided sketches of the proposed murals. Once approval has been received, Principal Gonzalez can procure the materials to begin the project.
The Board unanimously approved the Mural Project at Millard Elementary School.
16.4 Approve the Recommendation of the Citizen Advisory Committee for the Renaming of Valhalla Theater
On August 24, 2022, the Board held a discussion and approved the creation and member composition of a Citizen Advisory Committee (“Committee”) to consider the renaming of Irvington High School’s Valhalla Theater. As part of this agenda item, the request to rename the theater came with the suggestion that it be named the Linda Jackson-Whitmore Legacy Theater to honor Linda Jackson-Whitmore, a former, long-serving teacher who had a positive impact on the Irvington High School Performing Arts program.
On November 9, 2022 the Board selected and approved the members of the Committee.
The Committee met on February 8, 2024 at 6pm in Valhalla Theater. Staff presented the tasks and purpose of the Committee, as well as an overview and timeline of the process for renaming a District facility. A robust conversation followed with many members sharing their opinions on renaming the Theater. Although all of the members fully appreciate and recognize the legacy of Linda Jackson-Whitmore, the Committee members agreed that Valhalla Theater should not be renamed.
The Committee reached unanimous agreement to recommend that Valhalla Theater not be renamed, and subsequently voted to disband the Committee.
The Board unanimously accepted the recommendation of the Committee to not rename Valhalla Theater and disband the Citizen Advisory Committee.
16.6 Approve Amendment to the Agreement with RGM Kramer, Inc. for Construction Management Services for the Walters Middle School Fields and Blacktop Project
On March 22, 2023, the Board of Trustees (Board) approved Amendment #2 to the Agreement to finalize the scope, term, and cost for Program Management services, and language to allow RGM Kramer to contract for Construction Management services for projects over $100,000 via separate amendment.
The Walters Middle School Fields and Blacktop Project received an architectural contract approved at the January 31, 2024 Board Meeting. Given an estimated construction cost of $4.5M, RGM Kramer provided a Construction Management (CM) services amendment #11 to their Agreement in the amount of $297,500, based on the sliding fee scale in the Agreement. The CM fee will be reconciled to final contracted construction costs, increasing or decreasing, as compared to the estimated construction cost. The contract totals $297,500 and will come from Fund 21 Non-Measure E.
The Board unanimously approved the amendment to the agreement with RGM Kramer, Inc. for construction management services for the Walters Middle School Fields and Blacktop project.
