(Editor’s note: This is a PUSD recap of the relatively short — just over an hour — Aug. 12 Board of Education meeting and not Exedra original reporting. One item not noted in the district’s recap is that, per APT’s president, Dr. Elise Marks, the district has hired 18 new teachers. Retaining teachers is a priority, she said, as is negotiating for a COLA increase and negotiations between APT and PUSD are to begin again in the coming days, she said. We will resume regular school board reporting on Aug. 24.)
At its August 10th meeting, the Piedmont Unified Board of Education:
Received COVID Procedures Update – Prior to the opening of the school year, PUSD families and staff were sent letters from Interim Superintendent Evans detailing the District’s policies in regards to COVID. PUSD will align with guidance from the state and Alameda County as conditions change during the school year.
Reviewed 2022-23 Revised Budget (As Required By Ed Code 42127(I)(4)) Based On Final 2022-23 State Budget Approved By Governor – The District based its 2022-23 Budget on the Governor’s May Revision to his Proposed Budget. The State Legislature approved a final budget in June, and Governor Newsom signed it into law on June 27, 2022. Read summary here.
Approved and Adopted Resolution 01-2022-23 – Temporary Borrowing From Alameda County Treasurer – Because a large portion of the District’s revenues are from property taxes, the District experiences dips in cash in the months before the tax collections are distributed to the District in December and April. Education Code 42620 and the California Constitution allow for school districts to borrow from their county in anticipation of the tax collections. Resolution 01-2022-23 will authorize temporary borrowing from the Alameda County Treasurer. Because the amount borrowed is in anticipation of tax revenues, it must be repaid by the end of April 2023, once tax collections are available. Based on our cash flow projections, $5 million is the maximum needed to cover this cash shortfall. Read full background.
First Reading – Board Bylaw 9150 – Student Board Representative – In order to enhance communication and collaboration between the Governing Board and the student body, and to teach students the importance of civic involvement, the Board supports the participation of high school students in district governance.
Board Bylaw 9150 describes the process for selecting Student Board Representatives, their roles and responsibilities and training. This item will come back to the Board for a second reading on August 24.
Approved and Adopted Resolution 02-2022-23 – Declaration of Surplus Property.
Next Regular Board Meeting – Wednesday, August 24, 7:00 pm