The Board of Trustees met on August 30, 2023. Here are a few highlights of the meeting. To view the complete meeting, visit our website here.
Diversity , Equity and Inclusion in NUSD: Review and Preview of What’s Ahead
As part of the district’s core value of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, staff provided Trustees with an update on the district’s 3-year professional development plan that focuses on ensuring that all NUSD students feel safe and connected in the classroom. The report includes a review of the work that has been done thus far including:
- During the 2022-2023 school year, all staff training in anti-race/anti-bias training, culturally and linguistically responsive classroom management strategies, training and coaching on implicit bias, and our districtwide DEI Family Literacy Nights that were held at all TK-5 and TK-8 sites last school year.
The report also includes a preview of next steps for the 2023-2024 school year including:
- Building teacher knowledge on topics such as Systemic Oppression, Inequities, and Cultural Responsiveness with support from Dr. Sharokky Hollie.
This update was delivered in the form of a Board Report and can be viewed here.
Board Approves New NUSD Goals
The Board of Trustees approved NUSD goals, which will set the direction of the district and help develop the Forward 5 Strategic Plan, the 2024-2027 LCAP, the District Budget, the Facility Master Plan, etc. Prior to the approval, staff provided a brief overview of the previously approved essential elements of the Forward 5 (NUSD Vision and Core Values), a reminder of the previous stakeholder engagement efforts to date, goals development, and next steps. The Board engaged in a discussion, provided feedback to staff, and adopted the following goals:
- Maximize Academic Growth, Responsibility, and Achievement for Each Student. Cultivate the Social-Emotional Well-Being of Each Student.
- Create a Safe, Engaging Environment Where Students Connect to School.
- Engage Parents and Families to Support Student Success.
- Hire, Train, and Retain High Quality Staff.
Now that the goals have been approved, there will be opportunities for families, staff, and students to provide input on priorities for each goal. Families can expect the first of a series of short surveys to begin September 6.
Leading 4Ward for Our Students: A Roadmap for Supporting Our Students Update
Trustees received a report on the next steps being taken in usage of the centralized (district) and decentralized (site-specific) allocations approved by the Board at the November 16, 2022, board meeting to support students with learning loss due to the pandemic. At that meeting, the Board approved one-time funds in the amount of $2.24 million for Phase 2 of NUSD’s Learning Recovery plan.
In the report, staff reviewed how the funding has been used, the plans for our district wide system of assessments in 23-24, and plans for how principals will monitor priority students this year to share the progress of their decentralized, site based learning recovery solutions. This report can be viewed here.
