Questions  and  Comment  Cards  

Town  Hall  Meeting  at  La  Mirada  HS  

 March  4,  2014  

 1. How  does  the  LCFF  impact  SSC?  The  School  Site  Council  (SSC)  at  each  school  will  still  be  

involved  in  the  development  of  the  new  plan  that  uses  the  new  funding  LCCF  –Local  Control  Funding  Formula  to  support  programs  for  the  students  and  staff  and  parents  of  the  school.  New  regulations  will  be  coming  from  the  CA  Department  of  Education  soon.    

2. Why  is  the  District  focusing  on  all  8  priorities  when  they  could  choose  less  to  focus  on?    It  seems  the  effectiveness  will  be  seriously  diffused  by  this  approach.  The  8  state  priorities  are  required  to  be  addressed  in  each  LCAP  plan  because  they  are  the  basic  legal  (Ed  Code),  educational,  and  economic  guidelines  provided  by  the  State.  It  is  part  of  the  template  that  was  approved  on  January  16  along  with  other  emergency  regulations.  IT  IS  a  three-­‐year  plan  that  can  allow  for  a  focus  each  year,  if  the  process  determines  that  after  input  from  stakeholders.    

 

3. Will  La  Mirada  schools  be  funded  at  the  same  levels  as  the  Norwalk  schools?  The  equitable  distribution  of  funds  in  order  to  create  parity  among  programs  will  be  emphasized  in  the  development  of  the  plan.  

 

4. What  is  being  done  to  help  students  who  don’t  fall  under  “basic”  or  “Special  Ed,”  etc.?    Those  that  can  fall  through  the  cracks  easily?    I  have  noticed  and  been  through  this  -­‐    my  child  would  have  fallen  through  the  cracks  if  I,  her  parent,  didn’t  push  for  answers/responses.  The  District  has  developed  interventions  including  digital,  common  core  aligned  programs  such  as  I-­‐Ready,  remedial  reading  programs  such  as  Read  180,  Reading  Plus,  tutoring  etc,  The  District  provides  support  for  these  data  driven  programs  that  help  teachers  to  differentiate  their  instruction  and  enable  all  children  to  catch  up  to  their  grade  level  peers.    A  strong  focus  will  continue  to  address  the  needs  of  at  risk  academically  and  emotionally.                                                      

 

 

 

Comments  

• May  I  suggest  on-­‐going  town  hall  meetings?    Perhaps  twice  a  year.    You  may  gain  public  support  and  confidence  if  your  local  schools  and  communities  are  heard.  

• Conversation  is  very  important  in  order  to  make  truly  informed  decisions.  • Better  advertising  about  the  town  hall  meetings.  • Charts  are  deceiving  –  black  words  =  in  place,  but  are  not  in  place  at  all  schools.  • Has  this  new  funding  formula  been  done  before?    If  so,  what  have  been  the  results?  • Success  –  academic  and  psycho-­‐social  is  dependent  on  the  village:  

o All  of  us!  o Create  this  environment  o Make  parents  engage  and  be  responsible  for  the  schools’  success  

• I’d  like  to  see  good/great  programs  expanded  throughout  the  District.    • Make  good/great  teachers  a  focus:  

o Reward  them  monetarily  and  give  professional  development  • Would  like  to  hear/have  conversation  with  all  stakeholders.  • Better  advertising/communication  of  meetings  and  task  force  members.  • Black  lines  –  programs  in  district  –  are  deceptive,  not  all  schools  have  equal  access.  • While  I  understand  the  3  dots  were  to  prioritize  funding,  I  hope  the  LCAP  Task  Force  is  

cognoscente  of  all  8  state  priorities.  • It  is  deceptive  to  indicate  programs  that  are  in  place  and  only  some  schools  on  charts  as  

if  they  are  in  place  at  all  schools.  • Basic  services  –  priority  • The  issue  of  attracting  and  retaining  quality  teachers  to  ensure  student  success  is  

ongoing  o Competitive  salary  benefits  

• Please  don’t  let  Special  Education  become  the  red-­‐headed  step  child,  and  include  our  children.  

• More  parent  input  needs  to  happen.    Teachers  will  have  union/TANLA  to  advocate.    Parents  need  it  too.  

• California  8  State  Priorities  –  post  on  District  website.