1Call to Order
1.1Roll CallProcedural
20:14Welcome
2.1Welcome by the School Board PresidentProcedural
31:20Changes to the Agenda
3.1Changes to the AgendaDiscussion
41:54Approval of Agenda (Action Required)
4.1Approval of AgendaAction
52:34Oral Communication - If you have public comment related to a Regular Board Meeting item, please post it on: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3rKbPfVCTpOsK5ILqjnU2u-h-NuNx-vUq4OZxYNVR8lc4aQ/viewform?usp=sf_link) prior to the Regular Board Meeting or immediately upon the meeting opening.
Maria Stockton (1min) — Thanked the principal Jude and a staff member for quickly installing a safety barrier at Clifford School after she raised the concern at the previous board meeting.
64:05School/Community Reports
6.1The Sobrato Organization ReportInformation
738:02Bond Program Consent Items (Action Required)
7.138:02Approval of $200,000 Movement from Program Contingency to Energy and Security ProjectAction (Consent)
7.238:02Approval of Encroachment Permit Fee for Taft School with the City of Redwood CityAction (Consent)
7.338:02Approval of Generator Rental and Purchase Proposals for Orion Alternative School (Formerly John Gill School) with Peterson PowerAction (Consent)
7.438:02Approval of California Environmental Air Quality (CEQA) Construction Oversight Proposal and Change Order #1 for Orion Alternative School (Formerly John Gill School) with SCS EngineersAction (Consent)
7.538:02Approval of Final Plan and Field Review Invoice for Kennedy Middle School Administration and Parking Lot Project with the Division of the State Architect (DSA)Action (Consent)
8Bond Program Action Items (Action Required)
8.138:02Approval of Covid-19 Safety Compliance Officer (SCO) August Proposal and New Agreement for Active Construction Sites with The Safety GuysAction
938:34Discussion Items
Michelle Torito (3min) — Described teachers working 10-12 hour days including weekends due to excessive planning, grading, emails, meetings, and state mandates, calling the situation unsustainable and asking for schedule changes and workload relief.
Christina Granado (1min) — A third-grade teacher described an overwhelming workload even when splitting lessons with teammates, questioned the need for the additional attendance form, and asked the board for support to help teachers do their jobs well.
Vanessa Sanchez (1min) — A second-grade teacher reported averaging 82.5 hours of work per week—50 hours above her contracted 32.5—and said the administration's suggestion that most tasks could be done in the 6.5-hour Wednesday prep day was a blatant disregard of teachers' reality.
Rita Melton (1min) — Described lesson preparation now taking four to five times longer than in person, said the district's letter response to RCTA's concerns was devoid of compassion, and asked why teachers are not treated with the same empathy they show students.
Michelle Bond (2min) — A Northstar teacher said she was voluntarily working 12-hour days plus weekends, described physical symptoms of stress, and argued that every minute spent on clerical tasks like the new attendance requirements takes away from quality instruction for students.
Sharon Tsuchiyama (2min) — Described spending four hours planning each lesson and working 10-plus hours a day seven days a week, and asked for scheduling flexibility to hold more small groups, use office hours differently, and build stronger student relationships.
Megan Blackburn (2min) — A fifth-grade teacher at Roosevelt said the current rigid schedule is not good for 10-year-olds, described being unable to complete planning, grading, attendance, and parent communication within contracted hours, and called the workload unsustainable.
Monica Voltz (2min) — Said teachers are working a minimum of 10-hour days seven days a week, described students being pushed through link after link rather than feeling nurtured, and urged the board to provide support and a lighter workload.
Heather Irani (1min) — A 31-year veteran first-grade bilingual teacher at Hoover described spending Labor Day and another full day working at school with her college-age daughter's help, and said the workload is simply not sustainable.
Chelsea Williams (8min) — A middle school math teacher described being live with students or in office hours from 8:15 to 2:00 with 40-plus emails and 50-plus comments to address daily, said lessons take four to five times longer to create, and stated that working 30-plus hours beyond contracted hours each week is not sustainable.
Sandy Hoover (1min) — A TK teacher at Clifford described putting in 12-hour days five days a week just to have weekends with family, listed numerous duties impossible to complete in a seven-hour day, and said the situation is causing anxiety, poor sleep, and is not sustainable long term.
Christy Herrera (2min) — A kindergarten teacher in her 20th year described working a minimum of 12 hours a day every day including weekends, said tech troubleshooting alone adds hours daily, and urged the board to explore using existing platforms like Google Classroom and Seesaw to eliminate redundant reporting forms.
Stephanie Pappalardo (2min) — A middle school RSP teacher advocated for her special education students, describing them as overwhelmed by multiple digital platforms and excessive screen time, and asked the board to reconsider requiring students to do additional work on Wednesdays.
Erin Washburn (2min) — As RCTA president, presented survey data showing 75% of members working more than nine hours above contracted hours and 43% working more than 16 hours above, called the workload a grievable contract violation, and said schedules and attendance tracking must be simplified.
Angie Teeple (2min) — A fifth-grade teacher with 28 years of experience described teachers working six to seven days a week at 12 hours a day, gave the example of spending 90 minutes just to format a single math problem online, and asked the board to acknowledge that teacher well-being is valued.
Katherine Rivera (2min) — As principal of Orion Alternative, offered a silver lining by praising the teachers' amazing work and highlighting how two previously divided parent groups have united this year in supporting both students and staff.
Mohammed Tabrizi (2min) — A parent expressed disappointment that the district did not switch from Google Meet back to Zoom over the summer despite requests made last spring, calling the delay inexcusable and saying it worsened an already difficult learning environment.
Tia Knoedler (1min) — A special education instructional assistant in her eighth year at Roosevelt said the workload is oppressive, demoralizing, and borderline persecutory after only three weeks, and urged the board to prioritize teachers' needs over any parent-driven agenda.
Marlena Goanna Mendoza (3min) — A special education teacher described going to a student's home on her prep day to teach him how to navigate his iPad and read a clock, training her aides in technology, and said countless small but necessary tasks leave her with no time despite working long hours.
Shannon Cody (3min) — Expressed love for the district and its people, acknowledged the difficulty of distance learning, and called for the whole community—teachers, administrators, board, and families—to work together toward what is best for students because none can do it alone.
9.1Discussion on COVID-19Discussion
102:36:31Consent Items (Action Required)
10.12:36:31Acceptance of DonationsAction (Consent)
10.22:36:31Approval of Additional Vendors to be Included with Non-Public School ("NPS")/Non-Public Agency ("NPA") Master ContractAction (Consent)
10.32:36:31Approval of Agreement between Redwood City School District and Peninsula Community Center (PCC) for Fiscal Year 2020-21 (PE+ Program)Action (Consent)
10.42:36:31Approval of Agreement between Redwood City School District and Sequoia Healthcare District (Healthy Schools Initiative Grant)Action (Consent)
10.52:36:31Approval of Agreement between Redwood City School District and One Life Counseling (Increased Counseling Services)Action (Consent)
10.62:36:31Approval of Agreement between Redwood City School District and San Mateo County Office of Education for Library Services for 2020-21Action (Consent)
10.72:36:31Ratification of Warrant Register, August 1, 2020 - August 31, 2020Action (Consent)
11Action Items (Action Required)
11.12:36:31Approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Redwood City School District and the California School Employees AssociationAction
11.22:36:31Approval of Variable Term Waiver RequestAction
11.32:36:31Approval of Personnel Changes for 2020-21Action
122:37:19Board and Superintendent Report
12.1Report from Board Members and SuperintendentReports
132:44:13Information
13.1Information on San Mateo County Investment Fund - July, 2020Information
142:44:23Correspondence
152:45:09Other Business/Suggested Items for Future Agenda
162:46:06Board Agenda Calendar
16.1Changes to the Board Agenda ScheduleInformation
172:47:06Adjournment (Action Required)