James Jordan Middle School Board of Trustees

Minutes

Regular board meeting

Date and Time

Thursday March 21, 2024 at 7:00 PM

This Board Meeting is open to the public.

There will be a public meeting on campus but the public can also listen and participate via the zoom link listed below.

 

 

 


https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84542354836?pwd=MkxQRE50aEpFV1VETmxjYVliYlMvZz09

 

Meeting ID: 845 4235 4836 Passcode: V02flaYT

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El propósito de una reunión pública de la Junta de Síndicos ("Board") es llevar a cabo los asuntos de la Escuela en público. Nos complace que esté presente y esperamos que visite estas reuniones con frecuencia. Su participación nos asegura una comunidad con interés por nuestra Escuela.

La traducción al español está disponible en cada reunión de la junta.
 

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. If you  wish to make a public comment, expect to be limited to 3 minutes. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes in English and 6 minutes withtranslation. 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.
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 no 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 no 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, E. Castillo, N. Mondragon, T. Barillas, V. Garza

Trustees Absent

None

Non Voting Members Present

D. Jones (remote)

Guests Present

Ashley Ayala, Ayne Nieto (remote), G. Lara, James Chavez, M. Marsh (remote), P. Reyes-Guerrero, V. Albores, Vanessa Garza

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

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 21, 2024 at 7:04 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

N. Mondragon made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting on 01-18-24.
E. Castillo seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Barillas
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
V. Garza
Abstain
B. Smith
Aye
N. Mondragon
Aye

D.

Public Comment

No public comment.

II. GOVERNANCE

A.

Consideration of a new board member

B. Smith made a motion to appoint Ms Vanessa Garza to the JJMS Board of Trustees effective immediately.
T. Barillas seconded the motion.

Ms. Garza brings experience in education as a current ED

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
B. Smith
Aye
V. Garza
Abstain
T. Barillas
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
N. Mondragon
Aye

B.

election of a board Treasurer

N. Mondragon made a motion to elect Ms. Tiffany Barillas as the JJMS treasurer.
E. Castillo seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
V. Garza
Aye
T. Barillas
Aye
N. Mondragon
Aye
B. Smith
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye

C.

Independent Study program for emergency closures

N. Mondragon made a motion to table the vote for the Independent Study program for emergency closures to the April board meeting.
V. Garza seconded the motion.

An independent study program must be in place during an emergency closure. 

Barillas asked for clarification on what an independent study program is. Dr. Marsh: Allows JJMS to give student credit when kids are not physically present on campus

During the pandemic JJMS had a program that was online with daily interactions known as remote learning. 

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
N. Mondragon
Aye
V. Garza
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
B. Smith
Aye
T. Barillas
Aye

III. Academic Excellence

A.

LCAP mid year review

N. Mondragon made a motion to approve a mid-year update for the LCAP.
E. Castillo seconded the motion.
  • LCAP
    • Additional funds for low-income and foster youth
    • Mid Year- LCFF Financial YTD
    • LCAP Actions Implementation Update
  • 2024-25 LCAP New 3-Year Plan
    • Original Forecast under $6 Million 
    • The current Forecast is a little over $6 Million
  • Areas to emphasis
    • JJMS will maintain a safe and positive campus climate 
      • Facilities
      • PBIS
      • Mental Health Services
      • Student Engagement
      • Student Activities
        • Low at the moment because the end of the year celebrations will increase the amount
      • Social Emotional Learning
  • Goal 1 Outcome Average Daily Attendance
    • Baseline 98% average ADA
    • The Year 2021-22, 95%
    • The year 2022-23, 94.3%
    • Data not yet available
    • Desired Outcome- 95%
  • The main reason- Medical Reasons 
    • Some, with or without proper documentation
  • We have school counselors & social workers to support and provide family resources.
  • Suspension Rate
    • 2022-23 More kids having access/use to drugs on campus
      • We will no longer suspend students for drug use and will be assigning them to the ACE program
      • There are more incidents of violence
        • Mental Health resources are assigned
  • Superior Levels of Student Achievement
    • We are outperforming local schools and the district
    • Scores are not as high as we had before the pandemic
  • ELPAC
    • This school year, we have set up a series of interventions
      • A small class led by staff to assist with language skills
      • Teachers are working in their classes, practicing these skills
      • Students with Disabilities & ELLs were able to be reclassified
      • Admin hosting a Saturday Bootcamp ELPA class for students to practice domains and skills
  • Parent Engagement 
    • ELAC and SSC are working together to continue to planning family events
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Barillas
Aye
V. Garza
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
B. Smith
Aye
N. Mondragon
Aye

B.

8th grade analysis

  • Presenting 8th Grade Teacher (Chavez, Ayala, Nieto)
    • Update on 8th Grade Student Academic Progress
      • Hosted Parent Meeting
        • Met with all 80 parents
        • All 80 students did a retake of a diagnostic
    • Data shows improvement in both Math and Reading Diagnostic for overall 8th grade
  • Follow up questions: What is the data only for those 80 kid?

IV. Finances

A.

Second Interim Report

E. Castillo made a motion to approve the Second Interim report as presented.
N. Mondragon seconded the motion.

 

The board will approve SACS report

  • Breakdowns are by object code
  • The report is electronically submitted
  • The purpose for the board to approve so both (Board of Trustee & the LAUSD) are review and informed the 

 

 

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Barillas
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
B. Smith
Aye
N. Mondragon
Aye
V. Garza
Aye

B.

Fiscal report through January 2024

N. Mondragon made a motion to to approve the financial report as presented.
V. Garza seconded the motion.

 

 

Projecting a .76% COLA for next year, it will slightly improve two years from now. 

 

Waiting on the May revision. 

 

The ADA and enrollment at JJMS are very stable in comparison to other schools. 

 

More revenue is coming than anticipated. 

 

STRS is lower than what was budgeted. 

 

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Barillas
Aye
V. Garza
Aye
N. Mondragon
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
B. Smith
Aye

C.

Approve selection of auditor

V. Garza made a motion to approve Clifton Larson Allen as our auditor for FY 23-24.
T. Barillas seconded the motion.

JJMS proposes to approve Clifton Larson Allen as our auditor for FY 23-24.

 

JJMS was compliant with no findings in the 2022-23 school year. 

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
N. Mondragon
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
T. Barillas
Aye
B. Smith
Aye
V. Garza
Aye
B. Smith made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:55pm.
T. Barillas seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
N. Mondragon
Aye
T. Barillas
Aye
V. Garza
Aye
B. Smith
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye

V. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
G. Lara
Documents used during the meeting
  • Vanessa_Garza_Resume_01_27_2024.pdf
  • James Jordan Middle School LCAP Mid Year Report Slides 2023-24 (2).pptx
  • JJMS FY23.24 Second Interim Form 62 (2).pdf
  • 01.2024 JJMS Board Package.pdf