Monrovia Unified School District
Board of Education Meeting Highlights
October 2023
Recognitions
Applauding our students who helped start our October Board meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance! James Vierra from Clifton Middle School and Usvaldo Llamas from Canyon Oaks High School did a fantastic job leading our board meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Board of Education & the Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate the following employees on being named Monrovia Unified School District's "Employees of the Month" for October:
- Monique Zendejas, Preschool Teacher, CELC
- Simone Wright, Preschool Developmental Aide, CELC
- Marylou Prichardo, After School Site Manager, Village
- Gustavo Olguin, Public Information Officer, District Office
- James Campbell, Bus Driver, MOT
- Nadia Medina, Head Custodian I, COHS/Mt. Park
- George Howell, Adult Education Teacher
Congratulations to all of these MUSD employees! We thank you for your daily hard work and dedication to the classrooms.
Our students took center stage at the latest board meeting as we celebrated their incredible milestone: reclassification from English Learner (EL) status to Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) status.
Congratulations to all of our students and families on this fantastic milestone! Thank you to all the parents and family members who came out to celebrate these incredible kids.
Actions Taken by the Board of Education
The Board approved the employment agreement for Flint Fertig as Interim Superintendent, effective September 18, 2023. This interim appointment will remain in effect until a Superintendent of Schools is employed, as specified in the contract.
The Board members discussed the creation of a memorial to honor Anne Battle's 51 years of dedicated service to the Monrovia Unified School District. We encourage community participation throughout this memorial process, and the Superintendent and the Board will carefully review all suggestions.
The Board approved a contract between Monrovia Community Adult School (MCAS) and the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA). This agreement allows MCAS to serve as an approved training provider for the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist (Medi-Cal PSS) Training Program, contributing to our community's mental health and well-being.
Resolution No. 2324-16 was approved, including several architectural/engineering firms in a pool of Architects to provide services for future Measure MM bond projects, emergency repairs, and other public initiatives. The District will select architects from this pool based on project requirements, service fees, and experience.
The qualified firms included in the pool are:
- HMC Architects
- Little Diversified Architectural Consultants
- PBK Architects
- PCH Architects
- PJHM Architects
- Westberg White Architecture
- Security Fencing Improvements
The Board approved authorization to go to bid for the Security Fencing Improvements District-Wide Project. The district staff will collaborate with security companies to ensure the most effective use of fencing at our school sites, prioritizing the safety of our students and staff.
The Board of Education approved a contract with the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association (SGVCCA) to provide a Chinese Lion Dance program at Plymouth Elementary for the 2023-2024 school year. This program will offer three workshops per class for students in grades TK-5, enriching their cultural experiences.
The Board adopted Resolution No. 2324-17, recognizing October 2023 as "Filipino American History Month." This month honors the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States, dating back to October 18, 1587.
Board members adopted Resolution No. 2324-18, proclaiming the week of October 23 – 31, 2023, as "Red Ribbon Week, Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug-Free." The Monrovia Unified School District continues to prioritize drug and alcohol use prevention, supporting a research-based plan to prevent substance abuse.
Staff Presentations
California School Dashboard Local Indicators Report - Dr. Greg Gero, Director of Elementary Education
The Board of Education received a presentation on the CA Dashboard. The dashboard is an online tool showing how districts and schools perform on six state and five local measures, which align with the State Priorities.
2023-2024 Census Day Enrollment - Jessica M. Garcia, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services
The Board of Education received a presentation on Census Day Enrollment. The three data points the District monitors for revenue are enrollment, unduplicated pupils, and attendance.