Board Meeting Highlights: March 27, 2024 (Regular)
See the Meeting Agenda for a full listing of items considered and actions taken at this meeting.
7.1 Teacher of the Year Recognition
Director of Certificated Personnel Zachary Kahn led a celebration for all Teacher of the Year honorees from Fremont Unified School District’s 41 TK-12 schools, and early learning and adult education programs. A reception was held prior to the meeting, and the finalists were honored in the Boardroom: Karli Valdez from Brier Elementary School, Renee Smith from Glenmoor Elementary School, Melissa Sides from Patterson Elementary School, Kathy Fields from Centerville Middle School, Kevin Salladay from Thornton Middle School, Belinda Musto from Robertson High School, John Muragu from Washington High School, and Adrianna Herrera from Fremont Adult & Continuing Education.
John Muragu was named Fremont Unified’s 2024 Teacher of the Year!
Congratulations to all nominees, click here to watch a video celebrating all teachers nominated for 2024 Teacher of the Year. Thank you to everyone who participated in the nomination and selection process, including our Teacher of the Year committee members, for their time and dedication to honoring our educators.
7.2 Superintendent Report
Superintendent CJ Cammack reported that Irvington High School was recognized as a 2024 California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education, and congratulated Irvington on the distinction. Last week the Fremont Education Foundation held its annual Gala and recognized our Student Support Services Department for its work; he thanked FEF for its support of our schools. He also thanked everyone who attended the in-person community meeting regarding facilities needs held on Monday and Tuesday.
7.2 Student Member Report
SURFBoardE Representative Bhairavi Senthilkumar (in place of Student Member Ananya Balaji) shared highlights from schools, including senior and student leadership events across high schools. SURFBoardE hosted its annual District Leadership Conference last week, inviting elementary students from around the District to participate in leadership-building events; both Board President Yajing Zhang and Superintendent CJ Cammack attended and provided remarks for the young leaders.
13.1 Ardenwood Elementary School Showcase
Principal Glynis Mason, School Counselor Audrey Hansen-Judd, the PTA Communications Chair/Treasurer, and the Ardenwood Student Council President presented the Ardenwood School Showcase to highlight the school's accomplishments, areas of focus, unique characteristics, student perspective, and parent/guardian and community perspective.
16.1 Receive MVROP Presentation
Mission Valley Regional Occupational Program (MVROP) Superintendent Thomas Hanson and Director of Educational Services Cliff Adams-Hart shared the annual Career Technical Education (CTE) Program Services Presentation, which is presented to Member Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) Districts to update each Board of Education regarding the current program pathways, services provided, grant efforts, and plans for the future.
MVROP currently serves CTE Program Services for the students of the Fremont, Newark, and New Haven Unified School Districts through a JPA.
This was an informational item and update, no action was taken.
16.2 Walters Middle School Playfields and Asphalt Improvements Project Design Review
Director of Facilities & Construction Adam Lint and DJ Halbert from RGM Kramer, Inc. presented the Walters MS Playfields & Asphalt Improvement Project Update.
At the October 11, 2023 and October 25, 2023 Board Meetings, the Board received public comments requesting further work to be done at the Walters Middle School campus.
At the October 25, 2023 Board Meeting, the Board received a presentation on the available funding for facilities projects.
On November 7, 2023, the District held a Community Forum at Walters Middle School to gather input from site staff and community members about requests for the site. Staff facilitated a discussion and gathered specific feedback on the items that the attendees believed to be most essential for the school.
At the December 13, 2023 Board Meeting, the Board received a presentation taking into consideration the community feedback received, consolidated requested improvements into a tentative site plans indicating various phases and scopes of work that can be completed. The Board gave direction to staff to continue with next steps for the playfield and asphalt improvements as well as master planning for the rest of the site.
District staff has worked with RGM Kramer and Lloyd Sports + Engineering on the Walters Middle School Playfields and Asphalt Improvement Project and have prepared a presentation showcasing what has been completed to date, tentative schedule for the work, and various design options.
The Board voted unanimously to approve design and project budget option #3 for the Walters Middle School Playfields and Asphalt Improvement Project.
16.7 Approve the Staff-Recommended Textbook Adoption for Chinese Levels 1-3 for Grades 9-12
The currently adopted curriculum for Chinese Levels 1-4 is Integrated Chinese (2008, 3rd edition, Cheng & Tsui). The publisher sent notice of the retirement of the 3rd edition last year. Student workbooks were determined to be out of print as well.
Since the adopted Integrated Chinese, 3rd edition, the state adopted the new World Language Standards (2019) and World Language Framework (2020).
Four (4) of the five (5) comprehensive high schools offer Chinese World Language:
- American: Levels 1-3
- Irvington: Levels 1-4
- Mission San Jose: Levels 1-4
- Washington: Levels 2-3
There are six (6) Chinese World Language teachers across these four (4) sites with approximately 550 students total enrolled in a Chinese World Language course across the four (4) levels. Due to the diverse Chinese-speaking community in Fremont, students enrolled in a Chinese World Language course may have the option to select some instructional materials, when available, in either simplified or traditional characters depending on the school site.
On March 5, 2024, the adoption committee met to review the curricula under consideration:
- Journeys: An Introduction to Chinese Language, and Culture (2024, Vista Higher Learning)
- Zhen Bang! (2022, Carnegie Learning)
- Go Far Chinese (L1 2021, L2 2022, L3 2023, Cheng & Tsui)
- Integrated Chinese 4e (L1 2017, L2 2018, L3 2018, L4 2019, Cheng & Tsui)
After a thorough review, the committee is recommending these materials from Cheng & Tsui: Integrated Chinese, 4th edition, (2022, Cheng & Tsui). Student workbooks in simplified or traditional characters will be ordered each year of the adoption based on student enrollment numbers.
The adoption materials were made available to the public for review in-person and online from January 29, 2024, to March 4, 2024. Online resources were also available to the Board Trustees from March 15, 2024, to March 27, 2024. Members of the public used a form to share their feedback.
The Board unanimously approved the staff-recommended Chinese Levels 1-3 curriculum for grades 9-12.
16.9 Authorize Staff to Purchase Dell Laptop and Desktops for Staff and Student Lab Refresh
The Information Technology Department (IT) continues its effort to keep hardware, computers, laptops, and charging carts up to date throughout the district. IT will implement a hardware refresh to replace aging staff and lab computer devices at all sites. This upgrade will enhance functionality and safeguard against potential security threats.
IT recommends the purchase of laptop and desktop devices for staff. In addition, IT recommends the purchase of state-of-the-art desktop devices to replace aging desktop systems at school sites.
The Board unanimously authorized the purchase of Dell laptops and desktops for hardware refresh purposes.
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.
