Persons wishing to speak to Closed Session items are asked to complete a "Request to Speak" card and present it to the President prior to the meeting.  Persons submitting a "Request to Speak" card will be given an opportunity to speak at this time.

Persons who have complaints against Board Members or staff are encouraged to seek resolution of those complaints by utilization of the Vacaville Unified School District written complaint procedure rather than orally addressing them at a meeting.  Speakers are cautioned that under California law no person is immune from liability for making intentionally false or defamatory comments regarding any person simply because those comments are made at a public meeting.

ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA - Persons wishing to speak to items not on the agenda are asked to complete a "Request to Speak" card and present it to the President prior to the meeting.  Persons submitting a "Request to Speak" card will be given an opportunity to speak at this time.

ITEMS ON THE AGENDA - Persons wishing to speak to items on the agenda are asked to complete a "Request to Speak" card and present it to the President prior to the meeting.  Persons submitting a "Request to Speak" card will be given an opportunity to speak at the time the item is discussed by the Board.

Persons who have complaints against Board Members or staff are encouraged to seek resolution of those complaints by utilization of the Vacaville Unified School District written complaint procedure rather than orally addressing them at a meeting.  Speakers are cautioned that under California law no person is immune from liability for making intentionally false or defamatory comments regarding any person simply because those comments are made at a public meeting.

The Mission of the District will be reviewed for the Board.

President Joe Martinez and members Don Pippo, John Pierson, and Derek Lum of the Solano County Farm Bureau will be in attendance to make a presentation to the students and advisor, Nick Johnson, of the Future Farmers of America.

Material formerly in the regulation is now incorporated into the new policy. New policy reflects new laws (SBX3 4 and ABX4 2) which grant districts flexibility to transfer funds for "Tier 3" categorical programs and requires, as a condition of receipt of the funds, that the Board first hold a public hearing in order to hear testimony from the public, approve or disapprove the proposed use of the funding, and make explicit the purposes for which the funds will be used. Policy also contains language directing the Board to discuss the district's goals for student learning during the hearing and requiring the Superintendent to regularly report to the Board about the district's exercise of flexibility. Material formerly in regulation regarding temporary transfers and loans and permanent transfers between funds shortened to reference law and incorporated into the policy. The policy was approved as a 1st Reading at the January 21, 2010 regular board meeting. Administration recommends approval as 2nd and final reading. The approval of this new policy would also approve the deletion of the Administrative Regulation 3110, Transfer of Funds.

New optional policy expresses the Board's intent to integrate green school practices into district operations to conserve natural resources and contribute to healthy school environments. Policy includes sample strategies (e.g., environmentally preferable purchasing, green cleaning, sustainable building practices) and links to other related policies and regulations. This policy was approved as 1st Reading at the January 21, 2010 regular board meeting. Administration recommends approval as 2nd and Final Reading.

New optional policy includes strategies for making it safer and easier for students to walk or bicycle to and from school in order to promote the benefits of active transport. The policy reflects the goals and purposes of state and federal grant programs for Safe Routes to School. The policy was approved as 1st Reading at January 21, 2010 regular board meeting. Administration recommends approval of 2nd and Final Reading.

This is NOT a Measure V item. It is related to budget planning for the 2010-11 school year. On December 10, 2009 the Governing Board approved the formation of a broad-based committee which would provide a recommendation to the Board on a rank ordering of elementary schools for possible closure, if the Board decides to close a school or schools. The School Closure Committee, or SCC, met five times in the last six weeks, starting on January 11, 2010. Members of the SCC will present their recommendations. It is anticipated that other members of the SCC may wish to provide additional information as private individuals, that may not represent the majority decisions of the committee. Administration recommends accepting the oral and written reports from the committee to be considered in the 2010-11 budget deliberations.

Dr. John Niederkorn will provide information and answer questions, if necessary, regarding this item. The Governing Board is asked to approve the District's Deferred Maintenance Five Year Plan for submittal to the Office of Public School Construction. Administration recommends approval.

New policy and regulation reflect new law (AB 343) which ratifies the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. AB 343 requires districts to be flexible in implementing their local rules to facilitate the enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility for extracurricular activities, and on-time graduation of children of active duty military families when those children transfer into and out of the district. Administration recommends approval as 1st Reading.

The 2010 CSBA Delegate Assembly Ballot for Sub-Region 3-C (Solano County) is for one vacancy. The candidates for the vacancy are Larry Mazzuca (Vacaville USD) and Charles B. Wood (Fairfield-Suisun USD). The Board is asked to vote for one candidate as the 2010 Delegate for Sub-Region 3-C (Solano County).

This is NOT a Measure V project. It is funded by Headstart and First Five Solano funds. The Board has previously approved the Facilities Lease Agreement with Roebbelen Contractors, Inc. for Phase I of the project. Phase I included demolition and removal of some existing building components, for a total of $60,276.00. This Amendment #1 would increase the contract amount by $445,954.00, to a new total of $506,230.00. This Amendment would allow for the next phase of the project, which includes the building construction, site work and all related work necessary to provide a licensable Early Headstart facility at the former Kindergarten building at Fairmont Charter Elementary School. Childstart, Inc. will operate the program for 32 toddlers through a License Agreement with the District, that the Board has previously approved. The project will begin in February 2010 and is scheduled for completion in early April 2010, with the program operation scheduled to begin on May 1, 2010. Staff recommends approval.

Routine items on the Consent Calendar are enacted by the Board in one motion.  Discussion only occurs if members of the Board, Administration or public request specific items be discussed and/or removed from the Consent Calendar.

Administration recommends approval of recommendations for Expulsion Cases       ; Admittance Cases 07 through 09-0809AD; and ReAdmittance Cases   .

Administration recommends acceptance of gifts.  Letters of thanks will be sent to the donors listed below.

1.  Ann Schmidt-Fogarty for a donation of Staples script in the amount of $200.00 to purchase printers for Alamo Elementary School

2.  Brandi Narvaes for a donation of a Brother MFC 5440 CN All-in-One Ink-jet printer (donor reported value:  $150.00) to the Special Education Department.

3.  The Father's House for a donation of a camera/media switcher (donor reported value:  $7,270.00) to Buckingham Charter High School.

4.  To Michael's Craft Store/Debbie Russell for a donation of 37 boxes of miscellaneous Christmas items (donor value not reported) to the Vacaville Unified School District.

5.  Wells Fargo Foundation/Melanie Dodds for a donation in the amount of $71.50 from the Annual Giving Campaign to Cooper Elementary School.

6.  Troy Nichols for a donation of a BAM Cello Case (donor reported value:  $700.00) to the Vacaville High School Music Department.

7.  Rebecca Miller for a donation in the amount of $125.00 to Browns Valley Elementary School.

8.  Charlotte Howison for a donation in the amount of $294.84 to Browns Valley Elementary School.

9.  Brigitte Harper for a donation of $100.00 to the "50 Year - $50.00 Donation Fund" at Willis Jepson Middle School.

10.  James Eustis for a donation of $50.00 to the "50 Year - $50.00 Donation Fund" at Willis Jepson Middle School.

11.  Leigh Rabold for a donation of books (donor reported value:  $213.28) to the Library at Callison Elementary School.

12.  Rita Emery for a donation of art supplies and PE equipment (donor reported value:  $500.00) to the Class Act Program for the year 2009.

Vacaville High School Future Farmers of America is requesting permission for eight students to travel to Fresno, California, to attend the State Leadership Conference from April 17 to 20, 2010. The Vacaville High School Future Farmers of America attend the Chapter Officer Leadership Conference each year in order to maintain active membership in the State Organization. Students participate in a variety of leadership activities in order to build strong ties in the club and with the FFA chapter. The cost of meals, room and entry fees will be approximately $210.00. The students will be accompanied by Nick Johnson, the certificated advisor for the Future Farmers of America at Vacaville High School. Fundraisers are available for students and no student will be denied the opportunity to participate due to the cost. Administration recommends approval.

Members of the Hemlock School Strategic Planning Team presented the final draft of the Hemlock School Strategic Plan to the Board at the January 21, 2010 regular meeting. The Board is asked to approve the plan. Administration recommends approval.

This usual and customary business practice permits the District to pay vendors who supply our district with goods and services. Attached is a summary of vendor warrants issued from January 1 through January 31, 2010 in the amount of $3,227,074.36. Administration recommends approval of the vendor warrants summary.

Policy revised to reflect new law (SB 680) which reauthorizes the “school district of choice” program, including provisions that (1) require that a random drawing be held in public at a Board meeting when more students apply to transfer than the Board has elected to permit, and (2) add to the information that the Superintendent must report to the Board regarding student applications for admittance. Policy also contains new section for use by districts of residence that wish to limit the number of students transferring out to attend school in a school district of choice, including authorizations added by SB 680 for districts with a negative budget certification resulting from such student transfers. Administration recommends approval.

Policy updated to reflect new law (ABX4 2) which authorizes a district, upon agreement with employee organizations, to reduce the school year through 2012-13 by up to five days of instruction without incurring financial penalties from the state. Administration recommends approval.

Policy updated to reflect the multiple challenges facing foster youth, add language on strategies for building students’ feelings of connectedness with the school, and add monitoring of suspension/expulsion rates to program evaluation. Regulation updated to (1) expand role of district liaison to include monitoring of students’ progress, (2) require regular monitoring of district liaison’s caseload, (3) add section on “Applicability of Graduation Requirements” reflecting new law (AB 167) which exempts foster youth who transfer in grades 11-12 from locally established graduation requirements, (4) add section on “Grades/Credits” and (5) add section on “Eligibility for Extracurricular Activities” reflecting new law (AB 81) which makes foster youth who change residences immediately eligible for interscholastic sports or other extracurricular activities in the new district. Administration recommends approval.

This is a Measure V item. The project team has certified that this project is ready for a Notice of Completion to be filed. Per law, the NOC will be filed with Solano County. Staff recommends approval.

Administration recommends approval of personnel actions.

Valerie Rogers will provide the State of the School report for Browns Valley Elementary School.

Mark Frazier, Chief Academic Officer, will provide a report concerning curriculum and instruction, and educational services provided by Vacaville Unified.

Kindergarten registration for school year 2010-2011 will begin on March 3, 2010 at elementary schools in the Vacaville Unified School District. Please contact your neighborhood school for exact times. This information is also available on the Vacaville Unified School District web site at www.vacavilleusd.org. 

To register your child, please bring: 1) birth certificate (your child must be five years old on or before December 2, 2010); 2) immunization record; 3) proof of a physical exam after your child was 4 years, 3 months old or written proof of an appointment for an exam; 4) proof of residence, e.g., PG&E bill or cable bill; and 5) proof of a dental exam done within the year prior to registration. Proof of a dental exam must be supplied to the school by May 31, 2011.

The Elementary Instruction Council has approved the submission of the audiovisual instructional materials to the Board as per attached list. These videos have been screened by the various departments and are available through the Educational Services Department for review. These videos are to be recommended for adoption as only for use in the After School Program for students in grades K-6 at the next board meeting.