Modesto school board to talk technology, policies on moving students

The Modesto City Schools board will weigh buying $1.3 million in laptops for elementary and junior high schools and discuss policies for shifting students between schools to even out class size at their meeting Monday.

Board Vice President Amy Neumann asked for a review of the district’s policies for moving elementary students. District procedures, in place for the past 20 years, give a priority to children by enrollment date, if the student is a new transfer to the school and if it would split up a family, according to an agenda report.

The district has about 250 children in kindergarten through sixth grade who were moved from their preferred school this school year, all given school bus rides to their new spot, the report says.

Up for a vote is a plan to place a bid for an estimated $1.3 million in class sets of laptops on mobile carts. The purchase would be part of an anticipated $5 million worth of computer hardware, software and related services the district expects to buy this school year.

The board will also consider a $190,000 consulting contract with LPA Inc. to advise it on long-deferred fixes, disability-code compliance and replacing old portable classrooms. Trustees will also be asked to approve seeking a consultant to apply for energy upgrade funding available through Proposition 39, commonly known as the California Clean Energy Jobs Act.

Two new clerical positions and the bump of a staff position up to management are proposed. A management position – called the coordinator of student, parent and community support services – will be considered as part of a package of generally routine items to be voted on as a block. The change would boost what is now the intervention coordinator position, paid $18.80 to $24 an hour, to the lowest management pay range. Managers pay is listed on posted salary schedules as a daily rate. Dividing by eight, the hourly rate would be $29.81 to $32.46, at least a 35 percent boost.

A resolution for state lawmakers is on the agenda. As proposed, it protests a new law that would in the future force districts to spend down their savings to minimal levels, noting the district counts on reserves to manage delays in state and federal funding. Wellness policies will get a second read as well.

This story was originally published November 16, 2014 at 6:07 PM with the headline "Modesto school board to talk technology, policies on moving students."