In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting

0 Thursday, March 14, 2024 In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting .02 Supplemental Subject 5.03.a - SUPPLEMENTAL - Human Resources – Approve and/or ratify Certificated Personnel recommendations for employment, change of status and separations, as submitted. (Dr. Lovato) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action File Attachments 03-14-24 5.03.a Supplemental.pdf (113 KB) .02 Supplemental Subject 5.03.b - SUPPLEMENTAL - Human Resources – Approve and/or ratify Classified Personnel recommendations for employment, change of status and separations, as submitted. (Dr. Lovato) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action File Attachments 03-14-24 Supplemental Board 5.03.b.pdf (111 KB) .02 Supplemental Subject 5.03.c - SUPPLEMENTAL - Human Resources - Approve and/or ratify Other Employee Personnel recommendations for employment, change of status and separations, as submitted. (Dr. Lovato) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action File Attachments 03-14-24 5.03.c Supplemental.pdf (103 KB) 0. General Information Subject Thursday, March 14, 2024, 5:30 p.m. (Closed Session); 6:30 p.m. (Open to the Public) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information HACIENDA LA PUENTE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL REGULAR BOARD MEETING Thursday, March 14, 2024 5:30 p.m. (Closed Session) 6:30 p.m. (Open to the Public) District Office Board Room 15959 East Gale Avenue City of Industry, California 91745 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY Please be advised that this meeting is being audio recorded. Any Individuals requiring disability-related accommodations may contact the Office of the Superintendent, 15959 E. Gale Avenue, City of Industry, at (626) 933-3800; or fax (626) 855-3505, at least 48 hours before the meeting and will be handled on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Americans Disability Act. If you require a language interpreter, please contact the Superintendent’s Office, at least 48 hours before the meeting. BOARD OF EDUCATION Ms. Christine H. Salazar …….. President Ms. Nancy Loera …….. Vice President Gino Kwok, Esq. ….…. Clerk Ms. Stephanie Serrano ….…. Member Mr. Jeffrey De La Torre …….. Member SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Alfonso Jim é nez Vision Statement: "The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District is a community committed to developing lifelong learners who value themselves and the diversity of all people; apply decision-making skills leading to responsible actions; and use creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving in meeting the challenges of a changing society." File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.01 - Procedural Matters and Closed Session Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information a. Call to Order Ms. Christine H. Salazar , President b. Roll Call Board of Education : Ms. Christine H. Salazar , President Ms. Nancy Loera , Vice President Gino Kwok, Esq., Clerk Ms. Stephanie Serrano, Member Mr. Jeffrey De La Torre , Member Superintendent : Dr. Alfonso Jim  énez Superintendent's Cabinet : Mr. Manoj Roychowdhury, Associate Superintendent, Business Services Dr. Rosa Isiah, Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Dr. John Lovato, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources c. Review of the agenda (addenda, deletions, corrections) File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.02 - Adoption of the agenda, including additions, deletions, corrections and adjustments in order of business. Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.03 - Audience members who wish to speak to item(s) listed under Closed Session only, may address the Board at this time. Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.04 - Adjourn from Public Meeting to Closed Session Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.04.a - Closed Session - Government Code, Section 54957.6, Conference with Labor Negotiator: Dr. John Lovato, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources; HLPTA, SEIU Local 99, and CSEA Chapter 115. Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information, Discussion Office of Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.04.b - Closed Session - Conference with legal counsel regarding potential litigation, pursuant to Government Code, Section 54956.9(d)(2), determination of significant exposure to litigation, two (2) legal matters. (Dr. Jiménez) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Discussion File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.04.c - Closed Session - Government Code, Section 54957.1(a)(3), approve Final Settlement Agreement and General Release with student receiving special education and related services, OAH Case No. 2023100604. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Office of Executive Director, Special Education File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.04.d - Closed Session - Government Code, Section 54957, Public Employee Discipline, Dismissal, Release. Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Office of Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.04.e - Closed Session - Education Code, Section 35146, Student Discipline Matters, if Needed. Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Office of Executive Director, Student and Family Services File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.05 - Adjourn from Closed Session to Public Meeting Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.06 - Reconvene the Public Meeting (approximately 6:30 p.m.) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.07 - Pledge of Allegiance Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.08 - Report of action(s) taken during the Closed Session Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.09 - Roll Call Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information Roll Call Board of Education : Ms. Christine H. Salazar , President Ms. Nancy Loera , Vice President Gino Kwok, Esq., Clerk Ms. Stephanie Serrano, Member M r. Jeffrey De La Torre , Member Superintendent : Dr. Alfonso Jim  énez Superintendent's Cabinet : Mr. Manoj Roychowdhury, Associate Superintendent, Business Services Dr. Rosa Isiah, Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Dr. John Lovato, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources Student Board Representatives : Josiah Hernandez, La Puente High School Caitlyn Sun, Los Altos High School Emily Axelrod, Wilson High School Alina Soto, Workman High School Hannah Murphy, Valley High School File Attachments 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.10 - Approve the minutes for the In-Person/Virtual Organizational/Regular Meeting December 14, 2023. Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action File Attachments Unadopted Minutes Org Reg Dec 14, 2023 w attachments.pdf (6,999 KB) 1. Procedural Matters and Closed Session Subject 1.11 - Requests to speak to agenda items Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information a. Confirmation of request cards collected from audience members wishing to speak to items on the agenda. File Attachments 2. Reports, Presentations and Announcements Subject 2.01 - Reports, Presentations and Announcements Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information 1. Student Board Representatives 2. Superintendent's Report/Comments a. Announcements/Celebrations File Attachments 3. Hearings Subject 3.00 – Hearings – None Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information File Attachments 4. Communications Subject 4.01.a. - Employee Associations b. - Audience Members Who Filed Requests to Speak Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.00 - Consent Items - Action block covers all of the items listed in the Consent Items category. Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.01.a - Board of Education - Approve and/or ratify attendance by staff member(s) at conferences/meetings/workshops, as listed. (Dr. Jiménez) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve and/or ratify attendance by staff member(s) at conferences/meetings/workshops, as listed. Analysis : In accordance with Board Policy 3350, when the cost of attending the conferences/meetings/workshops for an individual requires out-of-state travel, authorization is subject to approval by the Board of Education. The following conferences/meetings/workshops requests have been signed by the appropriate executive staff member and the Superintendent: Conference/ Meeting/ Workshop Location/Date Attendee(s) Approximate Cost Per Attendee/ Funding Source Purpose Labor Relations Press National Institute Savannah, GA; May 5-9, 2024 Dr. Mayra Helguera, Executive Director; Tara Jones, District Program Specialist (Special Education) $4,310; Special Education General fund To attend Learning Recovery Plan National Institute Conference National Schools to Watch Conference Washington, DC; June 19-22, 2024 Octavio Perez, Principal; Jennifer Collins, Teacher (Mesa Robles School) $2,350; Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds To attend Schools to Watch National Conference National Schools to Watch Conference Washington, DC; June 19-23, 2024 Dr. Rosa Isiah, Assistant Superintendent, Education Services $2,914; Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds To attend Schools to Watch National Conference National Schools to Watch Conference Washington, DC; June 20-22, 2024 Terri Serey, Assistant Principal; Sarah Kim, Teacher (Cedarlane Academy) $2,645; Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds To attend Schools to Watch National Conference National Schools to Watch Conference Washington, DC; June 20-22, 2024 Nadia Villase ñ or, Assistant Principal; Kimberly Swift, TOSA (Fairgrove Academy) $2,545; Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds To attend Schools to Watch National Conference National Schools to Watch Conference Washington, DC; June 20-22, 2024 Elizabeth Bermejo, Principal; Irene Perez, Counselor; Jeanette Garczek, SSTOSA (Valinda School of Academics) $2,226; Local Control Funding Formula Supplemental and Concentration (LCFF S&C) funds To attend Schools to Watch National Conference Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Denver, CO; June 26-29, 2024 Lilia Picado, Director, Data, Research, and Innovation; Kelly Morrow; Gerald Fisher, TOSAs (Education Services) $2,965; Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds To attend NWEA Conference American School Counselor Association Kansas City, MO; July 12-16, 2024 Lilia Picado, Director, Data, Research, and Innovation; Megan Jara; Jasminda Khan; Lorraine Ortega, Counselors (Wilson High School); Julio Mata, Counselor (Fairgrove Academy) $2,984; American Rescue Plan II Education for Homeless Children and Youth funds To attend American School Counselor Association Conference Budget Implications : All expenditures for the requests to attend conferences/meetings/workshops have been approved by the staff members responsible for the account from which the expenses will be funded. Submitted by: Dr. Alfonso Jiménez Superintendent Office of Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Executive Director, Elementary Office of Executive Director, Special Education Office of Director, Data, Research and Innovation File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.02.a - Instruction - Approve and/or ratify participation of student(s) and staff on field trips, as listed. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve and/or ratify participation of student(s) and staff on field trips, as listed. Analysis : In accordance with Board Policy 6153, field trips are intended to provide an extended learning opportunity not readily available at the school. Location/ Date Cost Per Student School Grade/No. of Students Chaperones Funding Source Transportation Purpose Wrightwood, CA; March 25–29, 2024 $420 Bixby Elementary; Los Robles Academy; Mesa Robles School 5th Grade; 22 Students 23 Students 95 Students 4 7 14 School Site Donation funds District Approved Transportation To participate in Los Angeles County of Education Outdoor Science School Crestline, CA; March 26-29, 2024 $400 Grazide Elementary School 5th Grade; 95 Students 15 School Site Donation funds District Approved Transportation To participate in Thousand Pines Outdoor Science Camp Anaheim, CA; April 3-6, 2024 $500 Mesa Robles School 6th-7th Grades; 40 Students 4 Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Booster funds District Approved Transportation To compete at HOSA Student Leadership Conference and Competition Anaheim, CA; April 3-7, 2024 $500 Los Altos High School 9th-12th Grades; 30 Students 3 Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CTEIG) funds District Approved Transportation To compete at Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Student Leadership Conference and Competition Anaheim, CA; April 4-7, 2024 $500 Wilson High School 9th-12th Grades; 5 Students 2 Vocation and Technical Education Act (VATEA); Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CTEIG) funds District Approved Transportation To compete at SkillsUSA California 56th State Leadership and Skill Conference Anaheim, CA; April 11-14, 2024 $500 Los Altos High School 9th-12th Grades; 20 Students 2 Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CTEIG) funds District Approved Transportation To compete at Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference Anaheim, CA; April 11-14, 2024 $500 Wilson High School 9th-12th Grades; 40 Students 5 Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CTEIG) funds District Approved Transportation To compete at Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Executive Director, Elementary Office of Executive Director, High School File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.03.a - Human Resources – Approve and/or ratify Certificated Personnel recommendations for employment, change of status and separations, as submitted. (Dr. Lovato) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve and/or ratify Certificated Personnel recommendations for employment, change of status and separations, as submitted. Analysis : The Certificated Personnel list is a compilation of actions regarding credentialed employees, employment, change of status and resignations. All individuals meet criteria for employment, retirement, or change of status, and have been recommended for Board approval by the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources. Budget Implications : It has been verified with Fiscal Services that each school or department has sufficient funds to warrant the employment of named individuals. Submitted by: Dr. John Lovato Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources File Attachments 03-14-24 5.03.a.pdf (122 KB) 5. Consent Items Subject 5.03.b - Human Resources - Approve and/or ratify Classified Personnel recommendations for employment, change of status and separations, as submitted. (Dr. Lovato) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve and/or ratify Classified Personnel recommendations for employment, change of status and separations, as submitted. Analysis : The Classified Personnel list is a compilation of actions regarding non-credentialed employees, employment, change of status and resignations. All individuals meet criteria for employment, retirement, or change of status and have been recommended for Board approval by the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources. Budget Implications : It has been verified with Fiscal Services that each school or department has sufficient funds to warrant the employment of named individuals. Submitted by: Dr. John Lovato Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources File Attachments 03-14-24 Board 5.03.b.pdf (138 KB) 5. Consent Items Subject 5.03.c - Human Resources - Approve and/or ratify Other Employee Personnel recommendations for employment, change of status and separations, as submitted. (Dr. Lovato) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve and/or ratify Other Employee Personnel recommendations for employment, change of status and separations, as submitted. Analysis : The Other Employee Personnel list is a compilation of actions regarding credentialed and non-credentialed employees, employment, change of status and resignations. All individuals meet criteria for employment, retirement, or change of status, and have been recommended for Board approval by the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources. Budget Implications : It has been verified with Fiscal Services that each school or department has sufficient funds to warrant the employment of named individuals. Submitted by: Dr. John Lovato Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources File Attachments 03-14-24 5.03.c.pdf (114 KB) 5. Consent Items Subject 5.04.a - Business and Operations - Approve and/or ratify current year expenditures and purchase orders for the period ending February 20, 2024, for the various accounting funds. (Mr. Roychowdhury) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve and/or ratify current year expenditures and purchase orders for the period ending February 20, 2024, for the various accounting funds. Analysis : All expenditures require Board approval or ratification. The following list of purchase orders indicates the vendor, purpose, location, and amount of each expenditure. The lists are presented separately for each fund. Budget Implications : As listed in the Purchase Order listing. Submitted by: Manoj Roychowdhury Associate Superintendent, Business Services Office of Director of Purchasing and Warehouse File Attachments BA PO List 03-14-2024.pdf (46 KB) 5. Consent Items Subject 5.04.b - Business and Operations - Approve to accept donations as listed and send a letter of appreciation to the donors on behalf of the Board of Education, upon request. (Mr. Roychowdhury) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve to accept donations as listed and send a letter of appreciation to the donors on behalf of the Board of Education, upon request. Analysis : DONOR DONATION SITE/DEPARTMENT DONATION TO BE USED FOR VALUE ESTIMATED BY DONOR Credit Union of Southern California Check Superintendent Principal for a Day Student Scholarships $ 500 Nami California Check Wilson High School ASB NAMI Club $ 250 TNC Trading, Inc. Check Wilson High School ASB Cheerleading $ 300 NextGen Dining Group, Inc. Check Wilson High School ASB Baseball Team $ 500 Assemblymember Lisa Calderon Check Superintendent State of the District Student Scholarships $ 350 William R Martin LPHS Reunion 1959-62 Check La Puente High School La Puente High School Museum $1,700 Budget Implications : None; N/A; $0 Submitted by: Manoj Roychowdhury Associate Superintendent, Business Services Office of Director of Fiscal Services File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.04.c – Business and Operations - Approve to ratify acceptance of funds from After-School Education and Safety program, from July 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, for an amount of $3,806,021.74. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve to ratify acceptance of funds from After-School Education and Safety program, from July 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, for an amount of $3,806,021.74. Analysis : Students enrolled in the District’s After-School Education and Safety (ASES) program at Bixby, California, Del Valle, Kwis, Nelson, Palm, Sparks, Sunset, Wing Lane and Workman Elementary Schools; Baldwin, Cedarlane, and Fairgrove Academies; Sierra Vista, Sparks, Newton, and Orange Grove Middle Schools; Lassalette and Mesa Robles Schools; Grandview College Preparatory Academy; and Valinda School of Academics are given the opportunity to participate in music, fine arts, performing arts, sports and science programs through a variety of enrichment activities. The ASES Program provides an opportunity to merge school reform strategies with community resources to improve assistance to students and broaden the base of support for education in a safe, fun, and enriching environment. Budget Implications : After-School Education and Safety (ASES) funds Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Executive Director, Adult and Continuing Education File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.04.d – Business and Operations – Approve 2024-25 Head Start Non-Competing Continuation Application for Head Start Program Grant, from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, for an amount of $5,201,601. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve 2024-25 Head Start Non-Competing Continuation Application for Head Start Program Grant, from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, for an amount of $5,201,601. Analysis : The Hacienda La Puente Head Start Program is applying for continued funding for the 2024-25 program year #09CH012258-02, to provide services for 292 children in 16 classrooms, at 13 elementary schools throughout the District, including 16 Early Head Start children. The application requires a Non-Federal Share of parent volunteer hours, which is 20 percent of the total funded amount of the Head Start Basic Funding, and Training and Technical Assistance Grants. The proposed budget will include the following, but is not limited to certificated and classified salaries, employee benefits, books and supplies, operational expenses, indirect costs, and Training and Technical Assistance funding. Budget Implications : None; N/A; $0 Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Director, Child Development/Early Childhood Education File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.04.e – Business and Operations - Approve acceptance of funds for eight Los Angeles County Office of Education scholarships for foster youth students to attend the California Foster Youth Education Summit, "Imagine, Inspire and Innovate" in Sacramento, California, from April 14-16, 2024. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve acceptance of funds for eight Los Angeles County Office of Education scholarships for foster youth students to attend the California Foster Youth Education Summit, "Imagine, Inspire and Innovate" in Sacramento, California, from April 14-16, 2024. Analysis : The Los Angeles County Office of Education scholarships cover conference registration fees, transportation to and from, including flights, hotel, and some meals for District foster students and two chaperones. Grant funds will be used to cover the expense for one additional chaperone. Food will not be provided outside of the conference times. General funds will support food, snacks, and incidentals not covered by the scholarship. Three counselors will chaperone students throughout the conference. Budget Implications : General Fund, Unrestricted, Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds; not to exceed $1,000 General Fund, Restricted, Homeless Innovative Program (HIP) Grant funds; not to exceed $3,000 Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Director, Equity, Access and Family Engagement File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.04.f – Business and Operations - Approve to submit application for additional funding for District programs and authorize the Superintendent and/or designee to sign the necessary documents, as listed. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve to submit application for additional funding for District programs and authorize the Superintendent and/or designee to sign the necessary documents, as listed. Analysis : At the Regular meeting of May 4, 2023, the Board approved submission of applications for supplementary funding for District programs for the 2023-24 school year. As of this date, additional grants have become available. Funding applications will be submitted to the following programs: California Department of Education 2023-24 Specialized Secondary Programs Grant Budget Implications : None; N/A; $0 Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Coordinator, Instructional Services File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.04.g – Business and Operations – Approve to receive and reject claim for damages filed by Jessica Castro, Esq., of Law Firm of Castro and Company, on behalf of E.M.G., alleging $3,500,000 in damages, and authorize the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources to forward the claim to the District’s claim administrator. (Dr. Lovato) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve to receive and reject claim for damages filed by Jessica Castro, Esq., of Law Firm of Castro and Company, on behalf of E.M.G., alleging $3,500,000 in damages, and authorize the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources to forward the claim to the District’s claim administrator. Analysis : On or about, February 22, 2024, Jessica Castro, Esq., of the Law Firm of Castro and Company, on behalf of E.M.G., notified the District about a possible legal claim. Plaintiff’s counsel, in their letter, has alleged damages of $3,500,000. Budget Implications : Liability funds; if necessary Submitted by: Dr. John Lovato Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources Office of Director of Risk Management File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.04.h – Business and Operations – Approve to receive and reject claim for damages filed by Jessica Castro, Esq., of Law Firm of Castro and Company, on behalf of M.A.G., alleging $1,000,000, in damages, and authorize the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources to forward the claim to the District’s claim administrator. (Dr. Lovato) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve to receive and reject claim for damages filed by Jessica Castro, Esq., of Law Firm of Castro and Company, on behalf of M.A.G., alleging $1,000,000, in damages, and authorize the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources to forward the claim to the District’s claim administrator. Analysis : On or about, February 22, 2024, Jessica Castro, Esq., of the Law Firm of Castro and Company, on behalf of M.A.G., notified the District about a possible legal claim. Plaintiff’s counsel in their letter has alleged damages of $1,000,000. Budget Implications : Liability funds; if necessary Submitted by: Dr. John Lovato Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources Office of Director of Risk Management File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.05.a – Contracts and Agreements - Approve to ratify amendment to contract between Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and California Department of Education for California State Preschool Program, to increase the maximum reimbursable amount, from $7,254,132 to $7,424,435, effective January 1, 2022. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve to ratify amendment to contract between Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and California Department of Education for California State Preschool Program, to increase the maximum reimbursable amount, from $7,254,132 to $7,424,435, effective January 1, 2022. Analysis : The California Department of Education has increased the amount of the California State Preschool Programs (CSPP-3201-01) from $7,254,132 to $7,424,435, with the 244 minimum days of operation requirement to remain the same. Budget Implications : None; N/A; $0 Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Director, Child Development/Early Childhood Education File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.05.b – Contracts and Agreements - Approve to ratify amendment to contract between Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and California Department of Social Services for General Child Care and Development Programs, to increase the maximum reimbursable amount, from $1,720,840 to $1,794,235, effective January 1, 2022. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve to ratify amendment to contract between Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and California Department of Social Services for General Child Care and Development Programs, to increase the maximum reimbursable amount, from $1,720,840 to $1,794,235, effective January 1, 2022. Analysis : The California Department of Social Services has increased the amount of the General Child Care and Development Programs ( CCTR-3109-02) from $1,720,840 to $1,794,235 with the 244 minimum days of operation requirement to remain the same. Budget Implications : None; N/A; $0 Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Director, Child Development/Early Childhood Education File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.05.c – Contracts and Agreements - Approve agreement between Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and CNC Equestrian Management Services, Inc., for use of the Industry Hills Expo Center for William Workman High School’s graduation ceremony on May 21, 2024, for an amount not to exceed $4,500 for parking. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve agreement between Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and CNC Equestrian Management Services, Inc., for use of the Industry Hills Expo Center for William Workman High School’s graduation ceremony on May 21, 2024, for an amount not to exceed $4,500 for parking. Analysis : William Workman High School's graduation has been hosted at the Expo Center for many years to accommodate graduates, families, and guests. CNC Equestrian Management Services, Inc., charges $5 per vehicle to park, and the District will cover the cost to allow parents and families to park without a fee. The donation of the Expo Center is part of an ongoing partnership with the City of Industry. Budget Implications : Parking is paid from the General Fund; not to exceed $4,500 Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Executive Director, High School File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.05.d – Contracts and Agreements – Approve agreement between Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and Mobile Ed Productions, Inc., to provide a science assembly program for students at Los Robles Academy, on April 19, 2024, for an amount not to exceed $1,495. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve agreement between Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and Mobile Ed Productions, Inc., to provide a science assembly program for students at Los Robles Academy, on April 19, 2024, for an amount not to exceed $1,495. Analysis : Students will experience the magic of science through a science assembly. Subjects and skills covered include chemistry experiments, math, problem solving, magnetism, physics, optical illusions and exploration. Budget Implications : School Site Donations funds; not to exceed $1,495 Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Executive Director, Elementary File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.05.e – Contracts and Agreements - Approve agreement between Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and Walgreens Pharmacy, as an externship site for adult students enrolled in Hacienda La Puente Adult Education Pharmacy Technician program, from March 15, 2024, through March 1, 2027. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve agreement between Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and Walgreens Pharmacy, as an externship site for adult students enrolled in Hacienda La Puente Adult Education Pharmacy Technician program, from March 15, 2024, through March 1, 2027. Analysis : Many health career programs require clinical competencies to be performed in a medical setting for program completion. The District’s Adult Education program maintains agreements with multiple community health facilities, including acute and long-term hospitals, medical and dental offices, and pharmacy sites, to furnish practical experience in a work-based setting. Pharmacy Technician students who have completed foundational theory modules will be ready to enter externship training, which is a mandatory, 240-hour component of the Pharmacy Technician program. Walgreens Pharmacy will provide necessary practical experience to Pharmacy Technician students, ensuring that they satisfy state licensure and/or registration requirements, and gain on-the job training experience. The goal of this externship is to equip Hacienda La Puente Adult Education students with the necessary skills for successful entry into the Pharmacy Technician career pathway. Budget Implications : None; N/A; $0 Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Executive Director, Adult and Continuing Education File Attachments 5. Consent Items Subject 5.05.f - Contracts and Agreements - Approve Amendment to Continuity of Work Agreement between Hacienda La Puente and Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trade Councils, Signatory Craft Councils, Unions, beginning April 1, 2024 for five years. (Mr. Roychowdhury) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve Amendment to Continuity of Work Agreement between Hacienda La Puente and Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trade Councils, Signatory Craft Councils, Unions, beginning April 1, 2024 for five years. Analysis : At the December 12, 2013 meeting, the Board approved a Continuity of Work Agreement with the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. At the March 14, 2019 meeting, the Board approved the original agreement that was extended and revised to include all projects with an estimated construction value of over $200,000, and a provision that allows the District to unilaterally add projects below the dollar threshold to the agreement. This agreement will extend the existing agreement for an additional five year period beginning April 1, 2024. Budget Implications : No budget impact known at this time. Submitted by: Manoj Roychowdhury Associate Superintendent, Business Services Office of Executive Director, Facilities File Attachments 6. Policy Items Subject 6.00 - Policy Items - None Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information File Attachments 7. Administrative Items Subject 7.01.a - Bond Project - Approve and/or ratify current year expenditures and purchase orders for the period ending February 20, 2024, for the various accounting funds for Measure BB Bond projects. (Mr. Roychowdhury) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve and/or ratify current year expenditures and purchase orders for the period ending February 20, 2024, for the various accounting funds for Measure BB Bond projects. Analysis : All expenditures require Board approval or ratification. The following list of purchase orders indicates the vendor, purpose, location, and amount of each expenditure. Budget Implications : As listed in the Purchase Order listing Submitted by: Manoj Roychowdhury Associate Superintendent, Business Services Office of Director of Purchasing and Warehouse File Attachments BOND Copy of BA PO List 03-14-2024.pdf (11 KB) 7. Administrative Items Subject 7.02.a – Board of Education - Approve "Resolution No. 2023/24-32 Proclaiming March, 2024 as Arts Education Month." (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve "Resolution No. 2023/24-32 Proclaiming March, 2024 as Arts Education Month." Analysis : Arts education includes dance, design, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts. These subjects are taught as core academic subjects and are an essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students, TK-12. Schools integrate the arts across content throughout the year. In March, District schools will have activities and classroom lessons that align arts integration with music across content. This celebration raises awareness of the value and importance of arts education for District students. Projects and pieces of art created throughout Arts Education Month will be showcased at our schools, and at the annual District arts showcase. Activities will take place across the District in celebration of Music in Our Schools Month. Our Visual and Performing Arts Teachers on Special Assignment work within our schools to ensure that students and staff are empowered to embed the arts across content and celebrate the arts throughout the school year. In March, specifically, schools will celebrate their arts programs and support music education. Budget Implications : None; N/A; $0 Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Coordinator, Visual and Performing Arts File Attachments RESOLUTION - Arts Education Month 2024.pdf (234 KB) 7. Administrative Items Subject 7.02.b – Board of Education - Approve “Resolution No. 2023/24-33 to Designate April 8-12, 2024 Adult Education Week.” (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve “Resolution No. 2023/24-33 to Designate April 8-12, 2024 Adult Education Week.” Analysis : The Board of Education wishes to take this opportunity to observe Adult Education Week in Hacienda La Puente Unified School District to recognize and praise the students who work so hard to overcome obstacles of all types to succeed, and the teachers and staff who help them. The Board of Education is aware of the challenges that adult students face. The Board honors them all for recognizing the importance of completing a good education, no matter the obstacles presented, and for the dedication, they have given to making that goal a reality. Budget Implications : None; N/A; $0 Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Executive Director, Adult and Continuing Education File Attachments RESOLUTION - Adult Ed. Week 2024.pdf (261 KB) 7. Administrative Items Subject 7.02.c - Board of Education - Approve “Resolution No. 2023/24-34 to Honor the Life of Activist Dolores Huerta on April 10, 2024.” (Dr. Jiménez) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve “Resolution No. 2023/24-34 to Honor the Life of Activist Dolores Huerta on April 10, 2024.” Analysis : On Wednesday, July 18, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2644, designating April 10, as Dolores Huerta Day. Dolores Huerta, civil rights leader and community organizer, is the only living person to hold this honor. This day is designated to recognize her lifelong work as a civil rights activist and community organizer, her role as the co-founder and vice president of the United Farm Workers union, and her current work as president of the Dolores Huerta foundation. The state law encourages schools to teach their students about Dolores Huerta and her life. Budget Implications : None Submitted by: Dr. Alfonso Jiménez Superintendent File Attachments 3.14.24 Dolores Huerta Resolution.pdf (275 KB) 7. Administrative Items Subject 7.03.a – Instruction - Examine English Language Arts High School novels, to be approved for Grades 9-12 English Language Arts curriculum District-wide. (Dr. Isiah) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Discussion Recommendation : Examine English Language Arts High School novels, to be approved for Grades 9-12 English Language Arts curriculum District-wide. Analysis : The High School English Language Arts (ELA) Curriculum Committees met and agreed upon this list of 13 novels to be approved by the School Board. Two of the 13 novels are recommended curriculum for Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Grades 11th and 12th, AVID 3 and AVID 4. These novels are new to our existing list, procured through the recommendation of the High School ELA Curriculum Committee, comprised of classroom teachers and site administrators. These books will help diversify the novel list used currently. American Born Chinese , by Gene Luen Yang American Born Chinese tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he's the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables; and Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who is ruining his cousin Danny's life with his yearly visits. Their lives and stories come together with an unexpected twist in this action-packed modern fable. American Born Chinese is an amazing ride, all the way up to the astonishing climax. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe , by Benjamin Alire Saenz Set in El Paso, Texas in 1987, the novel follows two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle "Ari" Mendoza and Dante Quintana, their friendship, and their struggles with racial and ethnic identity, sexuality, and family relationships. When Aristotle, a loner, meets Dante at the swimming pool, the two strike up an unparalleled relationship. Dante is everything Aristotle wishes he were: articulate, smart, and self-confident. Together they begin questioning the secrets of the universe and navigating the painful journey from adolescence into adulthood. A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini A Thousand Splendid Suns is a 2007 novel by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini, following the huge success of his bestselling 2003 debut The Kite Runner . Mariam, an illegitimate teenager from Herat, is forced to marry a shoemaker from Kabul after a family tragedy. Laila, born a generation later, lives a relatively privileged life, but her life intersects with Mariam's when a similar tragedy forces her to accept a marriage proposal from Mariam's husband. Hosseini has remarked that he regards the novel as a "mother-daughter story" in contrast to The Kite Runner , which he considers a "father-son story". It continues some of the themes used in his previous work, such as familial dynamics, but instead focusing primarily on female characters and their roles in contemporary Afghan society. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood , by Trevor Noah Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, shares his remarkable story of growing up in South Africa with a black South African mother and a white European father at a time when it was against the law for a mixed-race child to exist. But he did exist--and from the beginning, the often-misbehaved Trevor used his keen smarts and humor to navigate a harsh life under a racist government. In a country where racism barred blacks from social, educational, and economic opportunity, Trevor surmounted staggering obstacles and created a promising future for himself thanks to his mom’s unwavering love and indomitable will. This honest and poignant memoir adapted from the #1 New York Times bestseller Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood will astound and inspire readers as well as offer a fascinating perspective on South Africa’s tumultuous racial history. This novel is recommended for the high school AVID 4 class. (Grade 12) Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities. Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens’ anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can’t imagine leaving behind. Gilead , by Marilynne Robinson In 1956, toward the end of Reverend John Ames's life, he begins a letter to his young son, an account of himself and his forebears. Ames is the son of an Iowan preacher and the grandson of a minister who, as a young man in Maine, saw a vision of Christ bound in chains and came west to Kansas to fight for abolition: He "preached men into the Civil War," then, at age fifty, became a chaplain in the Union Army, losing his right eye in battle. Reverend Ames writes to his son about the tension between his father--an ardent pacifist--and his grandfather, whose pistol and bloody shirts, concealed in an army blanket, may be relics from the fight between the abolitionists and those settlers who wanted to vote Kansas into the union as a slave state. And he tells a story of the sacred bonds between fathers and sons, which are tested in his tender and strained relationship with his namesake, John Ames Boughton, his best friend's wayward son. This is also the tale of another remarkable vision--not a corporeal vision of God but the vision of life as a wondrously strange creation. It tells how wisdom was forged in Ames's soul during his solitary life, and how history lives through generations, pervasively present even when betrayed and forgotten. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever. Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice. This novel is recommended for the high school AVID 3 class. (Grade 11) Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI , by David Grann In Killers of the Flower Moon , writer and journalist David Grann offers an intimately detailed account of a little-known but devastating chapter in American history: the Osage Reign of Terror, officially recognized as a period of five years from 1921 to 1926 during which upwards of twenty Osage Indians were murdered in cold blood for access to their valuable shares of oil money. The Osage, whose reservation just outside of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, once sat atop one of the largest oil deposits in the country, and whose legal protection under tribal law gave each member of the tribe a headright (a share of the mineral trust), were the wealthiest group of people in the country per capita by the early 1920s. In most cases, though, the Osage were deemed “incompetent” by the government and forced to enter into guardianships, in which their own funds were beyond their control, and their white neighbors were placed in control of the overflowing accounts. As white Americans began hearing sensationalized tales of the Osage’s wealth, many became indignant—and those living in the towns on and around the Osage reservation sought to dispatch members of the tribe through cruelty, trickery, and downright evil in order to inherit their fortunes. Love Medicine , by Louise Erdrich The stunning first novel in Louise Erdrich's Native American series , Love Medicine tells the story of two families, the Kashpaws and the Lamartines. Written in Erdrich's uniquely poetic, powerful style, it is a multi-generational portrait of strong men and women caught in an unforgettable drama of anger, desire, and the healing power that is love medicine. Love Medicine follows the intertwining lives of three central families, the Kashpaws, Lamartines, and Morrisseys, and two peripheral families, the Pillagers and the Lazarres. Members of the families variously reside on the fictional Ojibwe reservations of Little No Horse and Hoopdance, and in Minneapolis-St.Paul and Fargo. Erdrich employs a non-linear format in Love Medicine , and each chapter is told from the point of view of a different character, using first-person and third-person limited narration. Love Medicine begins with June Morrissey freezing to death on her way home on Easter Sunday, 1981, and ends in 1985, with the reunification of June's former husband, Gerry Nanapush, with June and Gerry's son, Lipsha. Encapsulated between those two chapters are interrelated stories that proceed in loosely chronological order from 1934 onwards. A pair of stories at the midpoint of the novel converge on a single day in the lives of Lulu Lamartine, Marie Lazarre, and Nector Kashpaw, who are involved in a love triangle. On Beauty , by Zadie Smith On Beauty is both a tribute to and a riff on English novelist E. M. Forster’s Howard’s End , updated as an exploration of the politics of contemporary life. In a book as bold and funny as it is precise and insightful, Smith applies her dazzling powers of description to a middle-class family in the United States. The Belseys are based at a fictional college called Wellington, where earthy African American Kiki, abstract—and English—Howard, and their three searching children seem the picture of modern liberal success. Yet in spite of their outward harmony and privilege, all are eagerly pursuing private agendas. Jerome, the eldest child, is alienated from his secular and liberal family by his conversion to Christianity and attraction to conservatism. Zora, the only daughter, aggressively follows her father’s path, attending Wellington where she adopts a veneer of sophistication and maturity that disguises her insecure heart. The youngest, Levi, longing for an authentic “blackness,” is absorbed into a countercultural identity that belies his class status. The novel unfolds through a series of unexpected disruptions to the Belsey’s idyllic life. First comes the arrival in town of the Kippses, led by Monty, Howard’s bitter rival in theory and politics. Kipps and his family are, on paper, the Belseys’ opposites: the polished men epitomize a conservative ethic while the decorative women are expected to follow traditional gender roles. Yet the mothers, Carlene and Kiki, form a bond as wives of willful men and as lovers of beauty, a bond that disturbs the balance of distrust between the two families. Additional troubles add to the fray: Howard and Kiki’s marriage is in danger; Jerome falls deeply in love with Monty Kipps’s daughter Victoria; an educated young spoken-word artist enters the Wellington world and Zora’s life; recent immigrants from Haiti transform Levi; and at Wellington Monty Kipps and Howard are on a collision course that threatens Howard’s hard-won status. In these conflicts Smith considers the impact of lies, the humiliation of unrequited love, and the battle between the will of the mind and the desires of the body as each member of the Belsey family questions their previous assumptions about family, race, and morality. Summer of the Mariposas , by Guadalupe Garcia McCall When Odilia and her four sisters find a dead body in the swimming hole, they embark on a hero’s journey to return the dead man to his family in Mexico. But returning home to Texas turns into an odyssey that would rival Homer’s original tale. With the supernatural aid of ghostly La Llorona via a magical earring, Odilia and her little sisters travel a road of tribulation to their long-lost grandmother’s house. Along the way, they must outsmart a witch and her Evil Trinity: a wily warlock, a coven of vicious half-human barn owls, and a bloodthirsty livestock-hunting chupacabras. Can these fantastic trials prepare Odilia and her sisters for what happens when they face their final test, returning home to the real world, where goddesses and ghosts can no longer help them? This novel is a Mexican-American retelling of The Odyssey. The Testaments , by Margaret Atwood More than fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale , the theocratic regime of the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within. At this crucial moment, the lives of three radically different women converge, with potentially explosive results. Two have grown up as part of the first generation to come of age in the new order. The testimonies of these two young women are joined by a third: Aunt Lydia. Her complex past and uncertain future unfold in surprising and pivotal ways. With The Testaments , Margaret Atwood opens up the innermost workings of Gilead, as each woman is forced to come to terms with who she is, and how far she will go for what she believes. This novel is a sequel to The Handmaid's Tale . The Underground Railroad , by Colson Whitehead Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. Life is hell for all the slaves, but especially bad for Cora; an outcast even among her fellow Africans, she is coming into womanhood—where even greater pain awaits. When Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad, they decide to take a terrifying risk and escape. Matters do not go as planned—Cora kills a young white boy who tries to capture her. Though they manage to find a station and head north, they are being hunted. In Whitehead’s ingenious conception, The Underground Railroad is no mere metaphor—engineers and conductors operate a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. Cora and Caesar’s first stop is South Carolina, in a city that initially seems like a haven. But the city’s placid surface masks an insidious scheme designed for its black denizens. And even worse: Ridgeway, the relentless slave catcher, is close on their heels. Forced to flee again, Cora embarks on a harrowing flight, state by state, seeking true freedom. Like the protagonist of Gulliver’s Travels , Cora encounters different worlds at each stage of her journey—hers is an odyssey through time as well as space. As Whitehead brilliantly recreates the unique terrors for black people in the pre–Civil War era, his narrative seamlessly weaves the saga of America from the brutal importation of Africans to the unfulfilled promises of the present day. The Underground Railroad is at once a kinetic adventure tale of one woman’s ferocious will to escape the horrors of bondage and a shattering, powerful meditation on the history we all share. These books can be used for small group and whole group instruction. An example of small group instruction is how the novels are utilized with Literature Circles. These books compliment the McGraw Hill Study Sync textbook adopted materials and resources, enhancing the ELA and AVID programs for HLPUSD high school students. Any concerns of sensitive topics will be addressed with supporting documentation and discussions around the topics and will be discussed with an unbiased lens. Budget Implications : School Site funds Submitted by: Dr. Rosa Isiah Assistant Superintendent, Education Services Office of Director, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, TK-12 File Attachments 7. Administrative Items Subject 7.04 - Human Resources - None Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Information File Attachments 7. Administrative Items Subject 7.05.a - Business and Operations - Approve certification of the 2023-24 Second Interim Financial Report. (Mr. Roychowdhury) Meeting Mar 14, 2024 - In-Person/Virtual Regular Board of Education Meeting Type Action Recommendation : Approve certification of the 2023-24 Second Interim Financial Report. Analysis : Education Code, Sections 35035 (i), 42130 and 42131, mandate that twice a year, the Governing Board certify the District's ability to meet its financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year and for the subsequent two fiscal years. This is the second report of the school year. The District's Governing Board is required to review the following: Interim Report (General fund summary of revenue, expenditures, and changes in fund balance) General fund narrative Brief narrative of all other District funds Attendance detail Cash flow and analysis Standards and criteria Three-year budget projection for the General fund The 2023-24 Second Interim Financial Report shows the District to be in positive financial condition, based on our analysis at this time. The report can be found on the District’s website at https://www.hlpschools.org/district/business-services-division . Budget Implications : Report only Submitted by: Manoj Roychowdhury Associate Superintendent, Business Services Office of Director