James Jordan Middle School Board of Trustees
Minutes
BOARD MEETING
Date and Time
Thursday March 18, 2021 at 7:00 PM
This Board Meeting is open to the public.IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDERS FROM GOVERNOR NEWSOM, THIS BOARD MEETING WILL BE ONLINE. James Jordan Middle School ("School") welcomes your participation at the School's Board meetings.
zoom.us/j/96140272136?pwd=YkxDcU... (ID: 96140272136, password: 437390)
Join by phone(US) +1 301-715-8592
Password: 437390
The purpose of a public meeting of the Board of Trustees ("Board") is to conduct the affairs of the School in public. We are pleased that you are in attendance and hope that you will visit these meetings often. Your participation assures us of continuing community interest in our School.
To assist you in the ease of speaking/participating in our meetings, the following guidelines are provided:
1. Agendas are available to all audience members on the home page of www.jamesjordanms.com.
2. ONLINE Board meetings will still have time reserved for PUBLIC COMMENT. If you wish to make a public comment, expect to be limited to 3 minutes. To speak, send an email to bsmith@jamesjordanms.com with a Subject of PUBLIC COMMENT.
a. Non-agenda items: any person may address the Board concerning any item not on the agenda provided that no individual presentation shall be for more than 3 minutes (or 6 minutes with translation) and the total time for this purpose shall not exceed 20 minutes (provided that the President may grant additional time if circumstances permit). Ordinarily, Board members will not respond to such presentations and no action can be taken as the Board is allowed to take action only on items on the agenda. However, the Board may give direction to staff following a presentation or calendar the issue for further discussion. Individuals may also request that a topic related to school business be placed on a future agenda and once such an item is properly agendized and publicly noticed, the Board can discuss, respond, and possibly act upon such an item.
b. Agenda Items:The presentation to the Board shall be made at the time a specific item is under discussion. Any person may address the Board concerning any item on the agenda provided that no individual presentation shall be for more than 3 minutes (6 minutes with translation) and the total time for this purpose shall not exceed 30 minutes (provided that the Board Chair may grant additional time if circumstances permit). Speakers are requested to state their name and address and adhere to the time limits set forth herein. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes in English and 6 minutes with translation. Spanish translation will be provided by the school at every board meeting. If you need translation for another language, please contact the school 48 hours in advance to allow us to find a translator.
4. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and upon request, the School may furnish reasonable auxiliary aids and services to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require appropriate alternative modification of the agenda in order to participate in Board meetings are invited to contact the Principal (lara@jamesjordanms.com, 818-882-2496)
zoom.us/j/96140272136?pwd=YkxDcU... (ID: 96140272136, password: 437390)
Join by phone(US) +1 301-715-8592
Password: 437390
The purpose of a public meeting of the Board of Trustees ("Board") is to conduct the affairs of the School in public. We are pleased that you are in attendance and hope that you will visit these meetings often. Your participation assures us of continuing community interest in our School.
To assist you in the ease of speaking/participating in our meetings, the following guidelines are provided:
1. Agendas are available to all audience members on the home page of www.jamesjordanms.com.
2. ONLINE Board meetings will still have time reserved for PUBLIC COMMENT. If you wish to make a public comment, expect to be limited to 3 minutes. To speak, send an email to bsmith@jamesjordanms.com with a Subject of PUBLIC COMMENT.
a. Non-agenda items: any person may address the Board concerning any item not on the agenda provided that no individual presentation shall be for more than 3 minutes (or 6 minutes with translation) and the total time for this purpose shall not exceed 20 minutes (provided that the President may grant additional time if circumstances permit). Ordinarily, Board members will not respond to such presentations and no action can be taken as the Board is allowed to take action only on items on the agenda. However, the Board may give direction to staff following a presentation or calendar the issue for further discussion. Individuals may also request that a topic related to school business be placed on a future agenda and once such an item is properly agendized and publicly noticed, the Board can discuss, respond, and possibly act upon such an item.
b. Agenda Items:The presentation to the Board shall be made at the time a specific item is under discussion. Any person may address the Board concerning any item on the agenda provided that no individual presentation shall be for more than 3 minutes (6 minutes with translation) and the total time for this purpose shall not exceed 30 minutes (provided that the Board Chair may grant additional time if circumstances permit). Speakers are requested to state their name and address and adhere to the time limits set forth herein. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes in English and 6 minutes with translation. Spanish translation will be provided by the school at every board meeting. If you need translation for another language, please contact the school 48 hours in advance to allow us to find a translator.
4. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and upon request, the School may furnish reasonable auxiliary aids and services to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require appropriate alternative modification of the agenda in order to participate in Board meetings are invited to contact the Principal (lara@jamesjordanms.com, 818-882-2496)
Trustees Present
B. Smith (remote), H. Blunt (remote), N. Mondragon (remote)
Trustees Absent
A. Bierman
Guests Present
E. Hodes (remote), G. Lara (remote), Gladis Morales (remote), Iris Cruz (remote), J. Green (remote), Leslie Gameros (remote), M. Antone (remote), M. Marsh (remote), Martiza Flores (remote), P. Reyes-Guerrero (remote), Randy Palisoc (remote), S. Griego (remote), T. Baier (remote), V. Albores (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
B. Smith called a meeting of the board of trustees of James Jordan Middle School Board of Trustees to order on Thursday Mar 18, 2021 at 7:06 PM.
C.
Take public comment
D.
approve minutes
N. Mondragon made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Board meeting to provide annual training for Brown Act compliance on 02-25-21.
H. Blunt seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| N. Mondragon |
Aye
|
| A. Bierman |
Absent
|
| B. Smith |
Aye
|
| H. Blunt |
Aye
|
E.
Approve minutes
H. Blunt made a motion to approve the minutes from BOARD MEETING on 02-18-21.
N. Mondragon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| B. Smith |
Aye
|
| A. Bierman |
Absent
|
| H. Blunt |
Aye
|
| N. Mondragon |
Aye
|
F.
RECRUITING for the JJMS Board of Trustees
B. Smith made a motion to Ms. Maritza Flores was presented at the February 25 Brown Act training and now the board is voting to make her an immediate member.
N. Mondragon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| B. Smith |
Aye
|
| N. Mondragon |
Aye
|
| H. Blunt |
Aye
|
| A. Bierman |
Absent
|
G.
Lead Teacher Report
6th Grade- Doing well with distance learning. Added more kids to the campus cohorts. Improvement in grades and participation. Virtual Fieldtrip- Ancient cave with an opportunity to have snacks. Diagnostic results are coming in. Spring Festival Drive-Thru
7th Grade- March 1st Virtual field trip to Joshua National Park. An experiment was modeled. Celebrating green ribbon students for completion of Green i-Ready lessons. Kids will be able to virtually go back to Joshua Tree.
8th Grade- Culmination preparations. Drive-In culmination
II. Financials
A.
Financial Report
B. Smith made a motion to to approve the January Financial Report including the
cash flow, check register, and balance sheet.
N. Mondragon seconded the motion.
Maritza Flores- Aye
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| B. Smith |
Aye
|
| A. Bierman |
Absent
|
| H. Blunt |
Aye
|
| N. Mondragon |
Aye
|
B.
Approve contract with VLS auditing firm
H. Blunt made a motion to approve a contract with VLS (New name CLA) auditing firm.
N. Mondragon seconded the motion.
Martiza Flores- Aye
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| N. Mondragon |
Aye
|
| B. Smith |
Aye
|
| A. Bierman |
Absent
|
| H. Blunt |
Aye
|
C.
Approve 2nd interim financial reporting for submission
N. Mondragon made a motion to approve the 2nd interim financial reporting for
submission.
B. Smith seconded the motion.
Martiza Flores- Aye
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| H. Blunt |
Aye
|
| B. Smith |
Aye
|
| N. Mondragon |
Aye
|
| A. Bierman |
Absent
|
III. Governance
A.
Board will review candidates for the position of Project Manager for the new school building
B. Smith made a motion to authorize Dr Marsh to sign a contract with Antonio Gonzalez as the Project Construction Manager for the Lanark project.
H. Blunt seconded the motion.
Maritza Flores-Aye
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| N. Mondragon |
Aye
|
| B. Smith |
Aye
|
| A. Bierman |
Absent
|
| H. Blunt |
Aye
|
B.
Board Policy regarding student and staff incentives
B. Smith made a motion to adopt to establish board policy regarding student and staff incentives as written effective immediately:
JJMS has a 16 year tradition of giving cash awards to students for academic excellence,
attendance, and other accomplishement. These awards are paid for using dollars set aside from private donations. Public
money shall never used to purchase gift cards that are used for these cash awards. The
selection of recipients shall be made by a group of no less than 3 relevant JJMS employees.
One annual award for staff is made during the month of June. The Spirit of JJMS award is
chosen by the full panel of administrators. This award goes to an employee who has made a
profound contribution to the longevity and effectiveness of the school as a whole. This
employee must represent the three pillars Character, Colllege and Community. The board
delegates to the Executive Director, Principal and Assistant Principals the ability to purchase
gift cards for these awards using only funds from private donations.
N. Mondragon seconded the motion.
Maritza Flores- Aye
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| A. Bierman |
Absent
|
| H. Blunt |
Aye
|
| N. Mondragon |
Aye
|
| B. Smith |
Aye
|
C.
Plans for reopening in person instruction for grade 6
B. Smith made a motion to endorse the plans for reopening instruction for grade 6 to include the following, JJMS will invite the sixth grade to return to campus for a hybrid of in-person and zoom instruction. At this time, we expect about 30% of the students will choose to be on campus. We expect credentialed teachers to spend a proportionate amount of time focused on in-person instruction for those students. At this time, our expectation is for credentialed teachers to spend one day on campus with the in-person students. Four days a week, all 6th-grade students will receive their lessons via Zoom. Some from campus, supervised by the paraprofessional assigned to their section, and the other students from home. If the number of students who choose to be on campus is larger than 30%, we will increase the commitment of time for in-person interaction from credentialed teachers.
N. Mondragon seconded the motion.
Maritza Flores- Aye
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| H. Blunt |
Aye
|
| B. Smith |
Aye
|
| A. Bierman |
Absent
|
| N. Mondragon |
Aye
|
IV. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
H. Blunt made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:57pm.
N. Mondragon seconded the motion.
Maritza Flores- Aye
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| A. Bierman |
Absent
|
| B. Smith |
Aye
|
| N. Mondragon |
Aye
|
| H. Blunt |
Aye
|
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:57 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
G. Lara
Documents used during the meeting
- CLA audit contract.pdf
- Project Manager Comparison.pdf
- LAUSD reopening in person.docx