Board Meeting Highlights: August 23, 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 employees:
- Eydie Dalton-Sausedo, Assistant Director – Special Education
- Anthony Talbert, Director – Information Technology
7.1 Superintendent Report
Superintendent CJ Cammack thanked our community for entrusting Fremont Unified to serve our community and students. He thanked staff for their hard work to make the start of the year successful, noting most feedback on the first day of school was positive. Fremont Unified launched an expanded TK program and extended day kindergarten, and opened three new middle school campuses; Superintendent Cammack visited Centerville, Hopkins and Thornton middle schools on the first day of school with FUDTA President Vicky Chon.
Adjustments to meet needs with special education transportation services, course scheduling, and staffing are happening as quickly as possible in response to enrollment patterns.
He also thanked staff for their cooperation as Fremont Unified took required steps to increase network security with a change in passwords for staff. The technology team is deploying resources to support staff throughout FUSD, and bringing solutions-focused thinking to their support of colleagues and work with our vendor coordinating this update.
7.2 Student Member Report
Student Member Ananya Balaji shared that students are excited as the new school year begins, and thanked staff for their support of students in the first days. She also noted some student concerns with student schedules at high schools and classes with high enrollment. Schools are also having club events, rallies and other welcome back events.
15.1 Receive Report on the 2023 Revenue Measure Feasibility Survey Results and Decide on Next Steps for Placing a Future General Obligation Bond and Parcel Tax Measures on a Future Ballot
On June 3, 2014, the voters of Fremont approved the $650 million Measure E general obligation bond initiative to upgrade and repair neighborhood schools. The funding provided by this bond will be spent by December 31, 2025.
On June 7, 2016, the citizens of Fremont approved to continue a local funding measure (parcel tax), Measure I, an annual tax of $73 per parcel. Measure I passed with a 70.28% approval rate. Measure I generates approximately $4.3 million per year in local revenue and expires in June 2025.
Currently, additional funds are needed to maintain math, science, reading and writing programs, restore smaller class sizes, preserve elective and college prep classes, and attract and retain qualified teachers, as well as make basic repairs and upgrades to local school classrooms, science labs, improve classroom technology, campus security, and fire/ earthquake safety systems; repair and replace outdated portable classrooms; and replace inefficient heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing systems with updated, sustainable solar systems.
At its March 8, 2023 Board of Education meeting, a request was made to bring forward a feasibility study to identify community priorities for Fremont schools, and to explore community interest in funding strategies to support those priorities and our District’s teaching and learning vision.
At its March 22, 2023 Board of Education meeting, the Board was provided with a feasibility study presentation by Keygent, the District's financial advisor. Further, the Board authorized staff to enter into an agreement with the District’s long time polling professional Godbe Research to conduct an Educational Priorities and School Funding Survey.
Brian Godbe, President of Godbe Research presented public opinion survey results regarding public opinion related to education, interest in service priorities for local schools, assess perceptions of FUSD's need for additional funding, and potential future mechanisms.
The Board received the feasibility report and direct staff and consulting team to proceed with next steps for additional community outreach to address local school needs.
15.2 Opening of the Year Report
Superintendent Cammack presented an Enrollment Presentation with updates on enrollment (actual enrollment exceeds estimates at this time), staffing for FUSD schools, as well as progress related to significant facility upgrades and modernization projects.
