The President will call the meeting to order.  The meeting is held in person at 1290 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA  95131.

Any individual who requires disability-related accommodations or modifications, including auxiliary aids and services, in order to participate in the SCCBOE meeting should contact Ruby Parra in the County Superintendent's Office at least two working days in advance of the meeting. BB 9322 (Government Code 54954.2) Contact Info: rparra@sccoe.org or (408) 453-6878.

For those who wish to observe the meeting via live stream, please visit:

https://tinyurl.com/sccboardmeeting
Scroll to the bottom and choose LIVE

Simultaneous Spanish Interpretation:
Local 1 (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 727 334 810 
Para espanol llame al 1 (669) 900-6833 y despues el numero 727 334 810 

Simultaneous Vietnamese Interpretation:

Local 1 (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 921 8153 9516

De nghe Tieng Viet:
Goi so 1 (669) 900-6833, sau do bam ma so Meeting ID: 921 8153 9516

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Background

The SCCBOE will recite the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Roll call of the trustees will be taken and any absences of trustees will be recorded. The board may take action on absences if needed.

The Board shall set the agenda by establishing it as posted.  Changes to the posted agenda may only occur as permitted by Education and Government Code including the Brown Act or as described in Board Bylaws.  Permitted revisions to the posted agenda include the movement of items from consent to action or reordering the sequence of agenda items.

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Background

Representatives from the Office of County Counsel will present a training for the SCCBOE regarding the Levine Act and related conflicts of interest. Shana Heller, Michaela Lewis, and Marcelo Quinnones will provide an overview of the Levine Act and its application to the SCCBOE.

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Background

The County Board will hold a hearing and take action on an interdistrict attendance appeal on behalf of student; Resident District; Oak Grove School District, Desired District: San Jose Unified School District.

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Background

The County Board will hold a hearing and take action on an interdistrict attendance appeal filed on behalf of two students; Resident District; Santa Clara Unified School District, Desired District: Cupertino Union School District.

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Background

Expulsion Appeal Filed on Behalf of Student-Resident District: Campbell Union School District

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

The County Board will hold a Closed Session to discuss the following matter:

Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation 

Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2): 1 case

Report of Actions Taken in Closed Session

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Requested Action

Approve Consent Action Items as listed in Item #6 Consent Action Items.

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Jessica Bonduris, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent Educational Services

Background

The Consolidated Application (ConApp) is used by the California Department of Education (CDE) to distribute categorical funds from various state and federal programs to county offices, local educational agencies (LEA), and direct-funded charter schools throughout California. Annually, each local educational agency (LEA) submits the spring release of the application to document participation in these programs and provide assurances that the LEA will comply with the legal requirements of each program. Program entitlements are determined by formulas contained in the laws that created the programs.

Student Impact

The Consolidated Application directly impacts Santa Clara County Office of Education's students. The Consolidated Application is submitted annually to the California Department of Education and in the process, LEAs apply for federal funds to include Title I, II, III and Title IV.  Title I and IV funds provide supplemental services and support to meet academic and social and emotional needs of students who identify as low-income and students experiencing homelessness. Title II funds support the development of highly qualified teachers, and Title III funds provide supplemental support for students who identify as English Learners. 

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Jessica Bonduris, Ed.D., Associate Superintendent, Professional Learning Service and Support

Background

The Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families, (ACF) Department of Health and Human Services has funded SCCOE to provide services to preschool and infant/toddler children and families. The Head Start and Early Head Start grant promotes a child's development through services that support early learning, health, and family well-being. SCCOE provides these services to young children and families to prepare and succeed in their transition to elementary school.
 

In addition, SCCOE was awarded CARES Act grant funding for one-time activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. OHS has determined that the widespread impact of the coronavirus continues to adversely impact all Head Start grantees. OHS allows flexibilities for continuing grants to utilize unearned grant award from a previous program year with formal notification to and approval by the Head Start Policy Council and Santa Clara County Board of Education.
 

The program requests that a no-cost extension to the unearned grant award of $342,556 be approved. An approval will allow for the program to submit a request to the Office of Head Start Regional Office to utilize funds in the 2023-24 academic school year. The program will fund one-time projects that enhance the capacity of SCCOE to respond to the continuing impact following the coronavirus pandemic in the delivery of services to children and families.
 

The intent is to utilize funds by March 31, 2024 and these funds will be used to support Early Learning Services:
 

• Planning sessions for staff. Preparing for in-person comprehensive services by ensuring that staff has the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to operate effectively.

• Staff wellness and mental health support. Engaging in data collection to better understand the needs of team members. Increasing access to mental health consultation and therapy services for staff, increase utilization of SCCOE's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and continuing staff wellness that includes activities such as mindfulness breaks and opportunities for self-reflection.

• Professional learning and development for staff. Providing professional learning experiences on key topics such as equity, diversity, inclusion, bias, economic mobility, trauma-skilled practices, and other topics.

• Personnel costs. Offering extra time that support in-person comprehensive services to children and families.
   

Fiscal Implications

Head Start/Early Head Start CARES ACT Funding Grant
 

Student Impact

The Head Start/Early Head Start Program is federally funded to serve up to 2,188 children, ages 0-5, from very low-income families to promote their school readiness by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. These services are provided in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties.

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Background

The Board adopts the certifications of signature(s) of person or persons authorized to sign, in the absence of the County Superintendent of Schools, for orders drawn on the funds of the Santa Clara County Office of Education, notices of employment and contracts in accordance with the provisions of Education Code Sections 42632 and 42633.

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Background

August 31, recognized as International Overdose Awareness Day, is an opportunity to raise awareness about drug overdose and to empower youth and community members to make safe and healthy decisions. The Santa Clara County Office of Education collaborates to address the dangers of substance use specific to youth and works with municipalities and educational organizations to share collateral specific to campaigns aimed at youth.

Student Impact

In 2021, 154 opioid-related overdose deaths were recorded in Santa Clara County, 31 of which were youth aged 15-24, and 11 ages 10-19. The Santa Clara County Office of Education collaborates to address the dangers of fentanyl and other illicit drugs specific to youth and works with municipalities and educational organizations to share collateral specific to campaigns aimed at youth, empowering them to make safe and healthy choices.

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Requested Action

Approve minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of July 19, 2023 (#2322)

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Requested Action

Approve minutes of the Meeting of July 20, 2023 (#2322-1)

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Background

The following donation was made to the Santa Clara County Office of Education: 

Fiscal Implications

The above donation will be accepted for the Youth, Health & Wellness Program.

Student Impact

The above donation will be used to support Wellness Program operations. 

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Background

California has one of the largest and most diverse student populations in the nation, where 77% of the student population represents its ethnic diversity and the state has more than 200 spoken languages. Santa Clara County has a rich and diverse cultural history and houses one of the most diverse metropolitan areas in the country with 80% of its student population representing a race other than white. Under a new law, passed in 2021, high schools must begin offering ethnic studies courses in the 2025-26 school year, and students in the class of 2030 will be the first ones subject to the graduation requirement.

Student Impact

Ethnic Studies curricula benefits all students by exposing them to accurate, unbiased information. Ethnic Studies courses provide an interdisciplinary study of differences. It is intended to deepen our students sense of our shared history, the significant contributions of historically underserved races, and helps our students understand and appreciate the rich histories and cultural contributions of various communities that challenge racial oppression.

Administrators
Mary Ann Dewan Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools
Mefula Fairley, Executive Director of Charter Schools

Background

Pursuant to Education Code Section 47607(e), the County Board may nonrenew a charter if it finds that the charter school is demonstrably unlikely to successfully implement the program due to substantial fiscal factors, substantial governance factors, or it is not serving all pupils who wish to attend.  Education Code Section 47607(e) also provides procedural steps to follow in such cases, including providing at least 30 days notice to the charter school of the alleged violation(s) and providing the charter school with a reasonable opportunity to cure the violation(s), including submission of a corrective action plan proposed by the charter school. 
 

Bullis Charter School, governed by The Bullis-Purissima Elementary School, a nonprofit public benefit corporation, (collectively "BCS") was initially approved in September 2003 for a three-year term as a grade K-6 school on appeal from Los Altos School District ("LASD").  BCS opened fall 2004 with 187 students.  BCS's charter has been renewed three times in 2007, 2011, and 2016.  The charter was also materially revised in 2007 and 2021 to change the enrollment preferences and in 2008 to add grades seven and eight.  Current enrollment is approximately 1055 students.  BCS's current term has twice been extended by operation of law and expires June 30, 2025.  

The pupil balance at BCS has long been a concern of the County Board and the Santa Clara County Office of Education. County Staff has worked to collaborate with BCS and support its development and implementation of plans to increase its efforts and successes in enrolling a more diverse student population, consistent with the letter and spirit of the Charter Schools Act. On May 5, 2021, the County Board authorized the issuance and delegated to the County Superintendent or designee authority to issue a notice(s) to BCS pursuant to Education Code Section 47607(e) and provide BCS a reasonable opportunity to cure the matters raised in the notice(s). On May 21, 2021, pursuant to that County Board authorization and delegation of authority, the County Superintendent issued to BCS a notice pursuant to Education Code Section 47607(e) and notice of concern ("Notice") that complied with the statutory requirements of Education 47607(e). The Notice informed BCS that its Charter might not be renewed on the basis that it was not serving all students who wished to attend, provided supporting evidence, and provided BCS a reasonable opportunity to cure the violations, including submittal and implementation of a corrective action plan.  Since the issuance of that Notice, BCS and the Santa Clara County Office of Education have been engaged in the exchange and review of responses to the Notice. BCS submitted a corrective action plan, which it called an Enrollment Action Plan(EAP), obtained County Board approval to add two new admissions preferences, and the County Office of Education has provided feedback on the EAP and monitored BCS's implementation of the EAP and the results thereof.

The County Office of Education recently conducted statistical analyses of BCS's enrollment and demographic data, including in comparison to the demographics of the LASD, the district in which BCS is located, including for 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years (the two years for which BCS has provided data since the issuance of the Notice).  This analysis has concentrated on the following student groups, which were underrepresented at BCS when the Notice was issued:
 

• English Learners
• Hispanic/Latino
• Socioeconomically disadvantaged
• Students with disabilities

Key takeaways from these analyses include:
 

• As of the 2022-23 academic year, the proportions of LASD's student body who are Hispanic/Latinx, English learners, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and have disabilities are statistically significantly higher than those of BCS.
• Excluding LASD students with interdistrict transfer agreements, there is not a statistically significant difference between the proportion of students with disabilities enrolled at LASD and the proportion enrolled at BCS in 2022-23.
• When analyzing data for TK/kindergarten and first grade (because TK/kindergarten are the only grades at which there is substantial new enrollment due to the lack of openings at other grade levels at BCS), while the small data set makes it difficult to draw strong conclusions, BCS's efforts appear to have made some impact at kindergarten.

While the County Board and the County Office of Education have complied with all requirements of Education Code Section 47607(e), and there is no legal requirement to do so, given the extensions to BCS's Charter term and the time that has passed since issuance of the Notice, County Staff recommends that the County Board authorize the issuance of a reaffirmation of the Notice ("Reaffirmation") as a courtesy to BCS and to help ensure that BCS serves all students who wish to attend BCS.  The additional procedures provided by Education Code Section 47607(e) in cases in which a charter school may not be renewed because it is not serving all pupils who wish to attend afford the charter school additional notice of concerns that could lead to nonrenewal and an opportunity for the charter school to cure the issue, including by developing and implementing a corrective action plan.  By authorizing the issuance of a Reaffirmation of the concerns in the Notice, the County Board will be providing BCS with additional due process, specifically including notice and an opportunity to respond and cure the violations, in advance of BCS seeking renewal of its Charter. 
 

Proposed Resolution further summarizes these matters and authorizes and delegates authority to the Superintendent or designee to issue a reaffirmation(s) of the Notice.  County Staff recommends that the County Board adopt Resolution and authorize the issuance and delegate to the County Superintendent or designee authority to issue a reaffirmation(s) of the Notice that was issued to BCS on May 21, 2021, pursuant to Education Code Section 47607(e). 

Recommended Action
Adopt Resolution authorizing and delegating authority to the Superintendent or designee to issue a reaffirmation(s) of the May 21, 2023, Notice issued to Bullis Charter School pursuant to Education Code Section 47607(e).

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Stephanie Gomez, Assistant Superintendent-Business Services

Niti Sharma, Director, Internal Business Services

Background

This report reflects budget revisions for the month of July 2023. If an expenditure budget is increased, it is supported either by an increase in revenue, a decrease in carryover (use of carryover), a decrease in fund balance or any combination of the three. If an expenditure budget is decreased, the result could be due to a decrease in estimated revenue, or an increase to credit it back to fund balance.

During the month of July 2023, expenditure budgets were increased by $68,000 and fund balance was decreased by $68,000.

Fiscal Implications

None

Student Impact

None

Requested Action

Approve the Budget Revisions for the Month of July 2023.

Administrator
Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools
Mefula Fairley, Executive Director, Charter Schools

Background
At each regular Board Meeting, a Charter Schools Update is provided as a standing agenda item. Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Downtown College Prep (DCP)
Staff will provide an update on DCP.

Local Indicators Status Reported on the 2022 California School Dashboard
Staff will provide an update on a discrepancy in the status level of local indicators reported on the 2022 California School Dashboard.

Student Impact
The Charter Schools Department provides monitoring and oversight for 21 County Board of Education-authorized charter schools, serving approximately 10,000 students. 

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Background

The members of the Board may give reports on activities related to their duties as members of the Santa Clara County Board of Education. 

The following Committee met after the July 19, 2023 SCCBOE meeting:

Policy Development Subcommittee (Vice President Sreekrishnan)

Standing Committees

Policy Development Subcommittee: September 6, 2023 (Vice President Sreekrishnan)
Joint Legislative Advisory Committee (JLAC): September 20, 2023 (President Chon)
Budget Study Committee: Next meeting TBD (Dr. Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools)
 

Membership Committees and Activities

California School Boards Association (CSBA) Delegate: November 28-29, 2023 (Trustee Berta)
California County Boards of Education (CCBE) Board of Directors: September 8, 2023 (Trustee Berta)
Santa Clara County School Boards Association (SCCSBA): September 27, 2023 (Trustee Mah)
Head Start Policy Council: September 26, 2023 (Trustee Lari)
 

Liaison Committees, Workgroups, and Community Activities

Warmenhoven Inclusion Collaborative Advisory Board: September 15, 2023 (Trustee Berta)
Strong Start Coalition: August 8, 2023 (Trustee Lari)
Silicon Valley Reads Advisory Committee: September 13, 2023 (Trustee Mah)

The superintendent may give a report on any activities related to her duties.

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Jessica Bonduris, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services Division

Background
As per the Head Start Act, all Head Start agencies are required to provide program information to the Board of Education.  Attached are the following reports:

Program Reports:

• Program Information Report 2020-21 (PIR) - June 2023
  Provides information on progress of services provided to children and families to meet required timelines as per specific indicators and thresholds

• Enrollment Report - June 2023
  Summarizes the year-to-date enrollment activity in the Head Start Program to comply with enrollment requirements

Financial Reports:

The financial reports for the month are a snapshot in time. The financial reports for June 2023 reflect the alignment of the program fiscal year to SCCOE's July 1 - June 30 fiscal year.  

• Financial Report HS Basic/EHS Basic Total Grant Award - June 2023

• Administration Cost Limitation - June 2023
  Limits the amounts of funds charged as development and administrative costs to 15%

• Purchase Card Summary - June 2023
  Serves as an oversight check of program expenses

• California Child Food Program Summary Reports (USDA) - June 2023

          Serves as an oversight check of program expense

Student Impact

The Head Start/Early Head Start Program is federally funded to serve up to 2,188 children, ages 0-5, from very low-income families to promote their school readiness by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. These services are provided in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties.

Administrator

Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D., County Superintendent of Schools

Stephanie Gomez, Assistant Superintendent-Business Services

Niti Sharma, Director, Internal Business Services

Background

Per Board Policy BP 3312 (a) contracts from $250,000 and over are to be provided as one information item at a regular meeting of the Board.

For your information, the table below lists the contracts processed from April 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023.

Per AR 3310, there are several award processes. It is noted in the table below whether the contract was awarded through:

• Bid: A competitive process in which a public entity publishes bid specifications and bidders submit proposals. In the competitive bid process a contract must be awarded to the lowest bidder.
• Request for Proposal (RFP): A public entity asks vendors to submit their own proposals as long as they meet certain general requirements. The contract award is based on expertise and established evaluation criteria in the RFP.
• Request for Quote (RFQ): Informal process under the bid threshold where a public entity asks vendors to submit their own proposals as long as they meet certain scope of work requirements. The contract award is based on price, expertise, and overall proposal evaluation.
• Best Source Justification: A public entity selects services from a contractor that is deemed to be a "best source" as demonstrated by specific expertise; experience in providing such services; and the quality, cost, timeliness, and availability of such services.
• Sole Source Justification: A public entity contracts for goods or services with a contractor that is the only source of goods and services or may be selected due to the limited availability of contractors that are available to provide the goods or services.

Fiscal Implications

Funding has been designated to pay for the anticipated expenditures associated with these contracts.

Student Impact

Students throughout the County of Santa Clara will directly benefit from these contracted services.

The next Santa Clara County Board of Education regular meeting is scheduled for September 6, 2023.