The Davis school board will hear an update on the school district’s developing 21st-Century Learning Facilities Plan, and review the district’s response to recent school-safety recommendations by the Yolo County Grand Jury, when the trustees meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Community Chambers at Davis City Hall, 23 Russell Blvd.
The majority of the district’s classrooms date from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s — before personal computers, smartphones, the internet and other technologies that are now common in everyday life. In May, the school board approved preparation of a 21st-Century Learning Facilities Plan, with an eye toward developing strategies to “optimize interior instructional spaces to increase learning and innovation.”
The developing plan also looks to “enhance exterior spaces for instructional purposes, including (school) gardens and athletics, to optimize learning and school connectedness.” And the plan seeks to “create exceptional interior and exterior communal spaces” where students can gather.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, the backup material for the facilities update presentation had not been posted on the school district’s website, so further details cannot be described.
But the presentation comes at a time when the school district is gearing up to put a facilities bond measure before local voters in November 2018. The last such bond measure election was in May 2000, when voters approved funding for construction of Montgomery Elementary, Korematsu Elementary, Harper Junior High and the Instructional Performing Arts Building at Davis High School, as well as modernization of many classrooms, school bathrooms and other facilities at older schools.
The measure was approved by 85.5 percent of voters, with only 14.4 percent voting no.
On the consent agenda Thursday, the school board also will review a response by Davis Superintendent John Bowes to the recommendations made by the Yolo County Grand Jury in July regarding school-safety measures in the county.
In a letter, Bowes notes that the Davis school district is already in compliance with, or working on, several of the grand jury’s recommendations.
However, he says the Davis school district disagrees with some grand jury recommendations.
The grand jury report noted that access to some Yolo County schools is “not restricted by fencing” — with locked gates — entirely enclosing the campus. “Public walkways/bike paths run directly through some campuses. Gates at some campuses are not secured during school hours,” the grand jury noted.
Bowed responded that “although the (Davis) district acknowledges its campuses’ proximity to public bike trails and city parks, it has implemented adequate policies and continues to work closely with local law enforcement agencies to maintain security during school hours. …
“The lack of (100 percent) perimeter fencing around some district campuses is consistent with the purposes provided in the Civic Center Act, which requires the district to make school facilities and grounds available to citizens and community groups after hours. While the district prioritizes school safety … it must also balance such concerns with valid community interests. The (district’s) safety policies … reflect that assessment.”
Thursday’s school board meeting will be carried live on Davis cable Channel 17 and as streaming video by Davis Media Access.
September 6, 2017
The Davis Enterprise
By Jeff Hudson
No comments:
Post a Comment