Notice to Respondents Response Requirements: The legal requirements for responses to the Grand jury findings and

R7

The Board self-evaluation form which the Board adopts should continue to have a separate section for Board Training. This section should include specific goals to ensure that all trustees receive Ethics and Brown Act trainings, as mandated by Government Code 53235, and that all trustees receive the supplemental training that all agreed would help to improve Board performance. This supplemental training, at a minimum, should include interpersonal skills, effective communication, and performance evaluation with SMART goals training. (Findings 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10)

R1

The present trustee censure policy, Board Bylaw “9401 – Trustee Censure Policy”, should be revised. An ad hoc committee of a minimum of two trustees, not subject to the complaint, will review and investigate the complaint. The subject of the complaint should not have a vote on the outcome of the complaint. (Finding 2)

R8

The Board self-evaluation form which the Board adopts should include a separate section which at the end of the evaluation year will list all Board trainings, broken down by individual trustee, including the training date, course title, and the training provider’s name. (Findings 5, 6, 7) R 9. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development”, should be revised to mandate that at least once annually all trustees attend a training together which focuses on interpersonal skills and effective communication skills. (Findings 3, 4, 5, 6)

R9

Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development”, should be revised to mandate that at least once annually all trustees attend a training together which focuses on interpersonal skills and effective communication skills. (Findings 3, 4, 5, 6) R10. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to specify that the Board submit their mandated and supplemental training activities and costs to the Superintendent within two weeks of completing each training, and that the superintendent shall create a spreadsheet of all trustee training to be stored on the computer in the Superintendent’s office. This Bylaw should state that the spreadsheet will contain a record of all trustee training broken down by individual trustee, and that it will include the training date, course title, course provider, and whether the training was mandatory or supplemental. Additionally, this Bylaw should state that all records should be maintained for five years after the training, which is mandated for Ethics and Brown Act training records per Government Code 53235.2, which states, “…these records are disclosable public records and must be maintained for five years after the training”. Finally, this Bylaw should state that the hardcopy records of trustee training will be filed in the board member’s individual files in the Superintendent’s office, and stored for the same period of time as the computerized files. (Finding 7) R11. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to include specific timeframes for the Board to meet as a whole, to set Board goals and objectives, to review Board progress towards meeting these goals and objectives, and to do a final assessment of Board performance. This Bylaw should state that the timeframe will specify that the Board will set these goals and objectives prior to the evaluation period, will review their progress towards achieving these goals and objectives midway through the evaluation period, and will discuss the completed composite Board evaluation at the end of the evaluation period, when they will set new goals for the following year. (Findings 8, 9, 10) 26 R12. The ACUSD in response to a past Grand Jury’s finding agreed to develop a plan for lighting the main parking lot at Argonaut High School. The self imposed deadline for planning and implementation of the lighting project has long since passed and the Board still has not presented a plan. Due to the obvious safety concerns of inadequate lighting in the parking lot the Grand Jury strongly recommends that the Board place a high priority on resolving this problem. (Finding 17) R13. The Board should set aside funds from the approximately $332,000 District surplus of the 2015-2016 school year, to be used specifically to fund the costs of installing additional lighting in the main parking lot of Argonaut High School. (Findings 17, 18) R14. In order to prevent possible Brown Act violations and to ensure that the public receive a response to communications sent to the Board or individual trustees, the Board should develop a Correspondence Bylaw and Policy to address how this correspondence should be processed, reviewed, and responded to. This Bylaw should include a tracking process for all of the received correspondence, which will then be stamped with a date and reference number. This Bylaw will also state that a trustee correspondence file will be kept on the computer, and will contain the date that the correspondence was received, the trustee it was addressed to, the name and return address of the sender, and the date and method that it was given to the trustee. (Finding 11) R15. The Board should conduct a performance evaluation for the Superintendent annually, and develop a new performance evaluation form which will be used each year, containing SMART goals and objectives, i.e., goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time- bound. The Board should meet with the Superintendent three times during the evaluation period: prior to the evaluation period to discuss the process, goals and objectives, halfway through the evaluation period to assess the Superintendent’s progress, giving and receiving feedback, and close to the end of the evaluation period to complete a final evaluation. The Superintendent’s performance evaluation, including any response, should be maintained in the District Office for the term of his or her employment, and three years thereafter. Any existing Board Bylaws and policies should be revised to reflect this recommendation. (Findings 13, 14) R16. The Grand Jury recommends that the 2016-2017 Grand Jury follow up on the Board’s response to the Grand Jury recommendations. These recommendations include the following Bylaws, documents, and actions: Board Bylaw “9401-Trustee Censure Policy” Board Bylaw “9400-Board Self-Evaluation” Board Bylaw “9240-Board Development” Board Correspondence Policy Board Self-Evaluation Form Superintendent’s Evaluation Form Argonaut High School Main Parking Lot Lighting 27 REQUEST FOR RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933 (c), a response to this report is required. No later than 90 days after the Grand Jury submits a Final Report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency shall comment on the findings and recommendations.

R8

The Board self-evaluation form which the Board adopts should include a separate section which at the end of the evaluation year will list all Board trainings, broken down by individual trustee, including the training date, course title, and the training provider’s name. (Findings 5, 6, 7) R 9. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development”, should be revised to mandate that at least once annually all trustees attend a training together which focuses on interpersonal skills and effective communication skills. (Findings 3, 4, 5, 6)

R9

Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development”, should be revised to mandate that at least once annually all trustees attend a training together which focuses on interpersonal skills and effective communication skills. (Findings 3, 4, 5, 6) R10. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to specify that the Board submit their mandated and supplemental training activities and costs to the Superintendent within two weeks of completing each training, and that the superintendent shall create a spreadsheet of all trustee training to be stored on the computer in the Superintendent’s office. This Bylaw should state that the spreadsheet will contain a record of all trustee training broken down by individual trustee, and that it will include the training date, course title, course provider, and whether the training was mandatory or supplemental. Additionally, this Bylaw should state that all records should be maintained for five years after the training, which is mandated for Ethics and Brown Act training records per Government Code 53235.2, which states, “…these records are disclosable public records and must be maintained for five years after the training”. Finally, this Bylaw should state that the hardcopy records of trustee training will be filed in the board member’s individual files in the Superintendent’s office, and stored for the same period of time as the computerized files. (Finding 7) R11. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to include specific timeframes for the Board to meet as a whole, to set Board goals and objectives, to review Board progress towards meeting these goals and objectives, and to do a final assessment of Board performance. This Bylaw should state that the timeframe will specify that the Board will set these goals and objectives prior to the evaluation period, will review their progress towards achieving these goals and objectives midway through the evaluation period, and will discuss the completed composite Board evaluation at the end of the evaluation period, when they will set new goals for the following year. (Findings 8, 9, 10) 26 R12. The ACUSD in response to a past Grand Jury’s finding agreed to develop a plan for lighting the main parking lot at Argonaut High School. The self imposed deadline for planning and implementation of the lighting project has long since passed and the Board still has not presented a plan. Due to the obvious safety concerns of inadequate lighting in the parking lot the Grand Jury strongly recommends that the Board place a high priority on resolving this problem. (Finding 17) R13. The Board should set aside funds from the approximately $332,000 District surplus of the 2015-2016 school year, to be used specifically to fund the costs of installing additional lighting in the main parking lot of Argonaut High School. (Findings 17, 18) R14. In order to prevent possible Brown Act violations and to ensure that the public receive a response to communications sent to the Board or individual trustees, the Board should develop a Correspondence Bylaw and Policy to address how this correspondence should be processed, reviewed, and responded to. This Bylaw should include a tracking process for all of the received correspondence, which will then be stamped with a date and reference number. This Bylaw will also state that a trustee correspondence file will be kept on the computer, and will contain the date that the correspondence was received, the trustee it was addressed to, the name and return address of the sender, and the date and method that it was given to the trustee. (Finding 11) R15. The Board should conduct a performance evaluation for the Superintendent annually, and develop a new performance evaluation form which will be used each year, containing SMART goals and objectives, i.e., goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time- bound. The Board should meet with the Superintendent three times during the evaluation period: prior to the evaluation period to discuss the process, goals and objectives, halfway through the evaluation period to assess the Superintendent’s progress, giving and receiving feedback, and close to the end of the evaluation period to complete a final evaluation. The Superintendent’s performance evaluation, including any response, should be maintained in the District Office for the term of his or her employment, and three years thereafter. Any existing Board Bylaws and policies should be revised to reflect this recommendation. (Findings 13, 14) R16. The Grand Jury recommends that the 2016-2017 Grand Jury follow up on the Board’s response to the Grand Jury recommendations. These recommendations include the following Bylaws, documents, and actions: Board Bylaw “9401-Trustee Censure Policy” Board Bylaw “9400-Board Self-Evaluation” Board Bylaw “9240-Board Development” Board Correspondence Policy Board Self-Evaluation Form Superintendent’s Evaluation Form Argonaut High School Main Parking Lot Lighting 27 REQUEST FOR RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933 (c), a response to this report is required. No later than 90 days after the Grand Jury submits a Final Report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency shall comment on the findings and recommendations.

R10

Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to specify that the Board submit their mandated and supplemental training activities and costs to the Superintendent within two weeks of completing each training, and that the superintendent shall create a spreadsheet of all trustee training to be stored on the computer in the Superintendent’s office. This Bylaw should state that the spreadsheet will contain a record of all trustee training broken down by individual trustee, and that it will include the training date, course title, course provider, and whether the training was mandatory or supplemental. Additionally, this Bylaw should state that all records should be maintained for five years after the training, which is mandated for Ethics and Brown Act training records per Government Code 53235.2, which states, “…these records are disclosable public records and must be maintained for five years after the training”. Finally, this Bylaw should state that the hardcopy records of trustee training will be filed in the board member’s individual files in the Superintendent’s office, and stored for the same period of time as the computerized files. (Finding 7)

R3

Board Bylaw “9400 – Board Self-Evaluation”, should be revised to state that the Board shall complete a group self-evaluation process. This Bylaw should state that the Board will meet approximately thirty days prior to the end of the evaluation period to discuss the composite Board evaluation, complete a written assessment of whether the Board met their goals, and write new goals for the upcoming evaluation year. Additionally, this Bylaw should state that the Board will publicly present at their next Board meeting the compiled Board Self-Evaluation, the written assessment, and the self-evaluation form which the Board will use for the new evaluation year, with any new goals contained in a separate section. (Findings 8, 9, 10, 11)

R9

Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development”, should be revised to mandate that at least once annually all trustees attend a training together which focuses on interpersonal skills and effective communication skills. (Findings 3, 4, 5, 6) R10. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to specify that the Board submit their mandated and supplemental training activities and costs to the Superintendent within two weeks of completing each training, and that the superintendent shall create a spreadsheet of all trustee training to be stored on the computer in the Superintendent’s office. This Bylaw should state that the spreadsheet will contain a record of all trustee training broken down by individual trustee, and that it will include the training date, course title, course provider, and whether the training was mandatory or supplemental. Additionally, this Bylaw should state that all records should be maintained for five years after the training, which is mandated for Ethics and Brown Act training records per Government Code 53235.2, which states, “…these records are disclosable public records and must be maintained for five years after the training”. Finally, this Bylaw should state that the hardcopy records of trustee training will be filed in the board member’s individual files in the Superintendent’s office, and stored for the same period of time as the computerized files. (Finding 7) R11. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to include specific timeframes for the Board to meet as a whole, to set Board goals and objectives, to review Board progress towards meeting these goals and objectives, and to do a final assessment of Board performance. This Bylaw should state that the timeframe will specify that the Board will set these goals and objectives prior to the evaluation period, will review their progress towards achieving these goals and objectives midway through the evaluation period, and will discuss the completed composite Board evaluation at the end of the evaluation period, when they will set new goals for the following year. (Findings 8, 9, 10) 26 R12. The ACUSD in response to a past Grand Jury’s finding agreed to develop a plan for lighting the main parking lot at Argonaut High School. The self imposed deadline for planning and implementation of the lighting project has long since passed and the Board still has not presented a plan. Due to the obvious safety concerns of inadequate lighting in the parking lot the Grand Jury strongly recommends that the Board place a high priority on resolving this problem. (Finding 17) R13. The Board should set aside funds from the approximately $332,000 District surplus of the 2015-2016 school year, to be used specifically to fund the costs of installing additional lighting in the main parking lot of Argonaut High School. (Findings 17, 18) R14. In order to prevent possible Brown Act violations and to ensure that the public receive a response to communications sent to the Board or individual trustees, the Board should develop a Correspondence Bylaw and Policy to address how this correspondence should be processed, reviewed, and responded to. This Bylaw should include a tracking process for all of the received correspondence, which will then be stamped with a date and reference number. This Bylaw will also state that a trustee correspondence file will be kept on the computer, and will contain the date that the correspondence was received, the trustee it was addressed to, the name and return address of the sender, and the date and method that it was given to the trustee. (Finding 11) R15. The Board should conduct a performance evaluation for the Superintendent annually, and develop a new performance evaluation form which will be used each year, containing SMART goals and objectives, i.e., goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time- bound. The Board should meet with the Superintendent three times during the evaluation period: prior to the evaluation period to discuss the process, goals and objectives, halfway through the evaluation period to assess the Superintendent’s progress, giving and receiving feedback, and close to the end of the evaluation period to complete a final evaluation. The Superintendent’s performance evaluation, including any response, should be maintained in the District Office for the term of his or her employment, and three years thereafter. Any existing Board Bylaws and policies should be revised to reflect this recommendation. (Findings 13, 14) R16. The Grand Jury recommends that the 2016-2017 Grand Jury follow up on the Board’s response to the Grand Jury recommendations. These recommendations include the following Bylaws, documents, and actions: Board Bylaw “9401-Trustee Censure Policy” Board Bylaw “9400-Board Self-Evaluation” Board Bylaw “9240-Board Development” Board Correspondence Policy Board Self-Evaluation Form Superintendent’s Evaluation Form Argonaut High School Main Parking Lot Lighting 27 REQUEST FOR RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933 (c), a response to this report is required. No later than 90 days after the Grand Jury submits a Final Report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency shall comment on the findings and recommendations.

R11

Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to include specific timeframes for the Board to meet as a whole, to set Board goals and objectives, to review Board progress towards meeting these goals and objectives, and to do a final assessment of Board performance. This Bylaw should state that the timeframe will specify that the Board will set these goals and objectives prior to the evaluation period, will review their progress towards achieving these goals and objectives midway through the evaluation period, and will discuss the completed composite Board evaluation at the end of the evaluation period, when they will set new goals for the following year. (Findings 8, 9, 10) 26

R2

Board Bylaw “9400 – Board Self-Evaluation”, should be revised to make the Board self- evaluation process more effective. This Bylaw should state whether the evaluation period will be based on the calendar, fiscal, or school year, and to maintain consistency each year, should state that a standard evaluation form, adopted by the Board, will be the form used each year. (Findings 9, 11)

R5

All trustees should collectively attend a performance-evaluation training to assist them with the Board self-evaluation process and the Superintendent’s evaluation process. Such training should emphasize the purpose of the Board self-evaluation process, and include training on how to write SMART goals, i.e., goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time- bound. (Findings 10, 11, 13)

R4

The Board self-evaluation form which the Board adopts should only contain SMART goals, i.e., goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Should the Board adopt the self-evaluation form presented at its April 22, 2015 Board meeting, then that self- evaluation form should be revised to contain SMART goals. (Finding 11)

R6

The Board self-evaluation form which the Board adopts should continue to have a separate section for “Board Goals”. This section should include goals or objectives specific to Board performance, some of which may include interaction between the Board and the Superintendents. (Finding 11) 25

R9

Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development”, should be revised to mandate that at least once annually all trustees attend a training together which focuses on interpersonal skills and effective communication skills. (Findings 3, 4, 5, 6) R10. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to specify that the Board submit their mandated and supplemental training activities and costs to the Superintendent within two weeks of completing each training, and that the superintendent shall create a spreadsheet of all trustee training to be stored on the computer in the Superintendent’s office. This Bylaw should state that the spreadsheet will contain a record of all trustee training broken down by individual trustee, and that it will include the training date, course title, course provider, and whether the training was mandatory or supplemental. Additionally, this Bylaw should state that all records should be maintained for five years after the training, which is mandated for Ethics and Brown Act training records per Government Code 53235.2, which states, “…these records are disclosable public records and must be maintained for five years after the training”. Finally, this Bylaw should state that the hardcopy records of trustee training will be filed in the board member’s individual files in the Superintendent’s office, and stored for the same period of time as the computerized files. (Finding 7) R11. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to include specific timeframes for the Board to meet as a whole, to set Board goals and objectives, to review Board progress towards meeting these goals and objectives, and to do a final assessment of Board performance. This Bylaw should state that the timeframe will specify that the Board will set these goals and objectives prior to the evaluation period, will review their progress towards achieving these goals and objectives midway through the evaluation period, and will discuss the completed composite Board evaluation at the end of the evaluation period, when they will set new goals for the following year. (Findings 8, 9, 10) 26 R12. The ACUSD in response to a past Grand Jury’s finding agreed to develop a plan for lighting the main parking lot at Argonaut High School. The self imposed deadline for planning and implementation of the lighting project has long since passed and the Board still has not presented a plan. Due to the obvious safety concerns of inadequate lighting in the parking lot the Grand Jury strongly recommends that the Board place a high priority on resolving this problem. (Finding 17) R13. The Board should set aside funds from the approximately $332,000 District surplus of the 2015-2016 school year, to be used specifically to fund the costs of installing additional lighting in the main parking lot of Argonaut High School. (Findings 17, 18) R14. In order to prevent possible Brown Act violations and to ensure that the public receive a response to communications sent to the Board or individual trustees, the Board should develop a Correspondence Bylaw and Policy to address how this correspondence should be processed, reviewed, and responded to. This Bylaw should include a tracking process for all of the received correspondence, which will then be stamped with a date and reference number. This Bylaw will also state that a trustee correspondence file will be kept on the computer, and will contain the date that the correspondence was received, the trustee it was addressed to, the name and return address of the sender, and the date and method that it was given to the trustee. (Finding 11) R15. The Board should conduct a performance evaluation for the Superintendent annually, and develop a new performance evaluation form which will be used each year, containing SMART goals and objectives, i.e., goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time- bound. The Board should meet with the Superintendent three times during the evaluation period: prior to the evaluation period to discuss the process, goals and objectives, halfway through the evaluation period to assess the Superintendent’s progress, giving and receiving feedback, and close to the end of the evaluation period to complete a final evaluation. The Superintendent’s performance evaluation, including any response, should be maintained in the District Office for the term of his or her employment, and three years thereafter. Any existing Board Bylaws and policies should be revised to reflect this recommendation. (Findings 13, 14) R16. The Grand Jury recommends that the 2016-2017 Grand Jury follow up on the Board’s response to the Grand Jury recommendations. These recommendations include the following Bylaws, documents, and actions: Board Bylaw “9401-Trustee Censure Policy” Board Bylaw “9400-Board Self-Evaluation” Board Bylaw “9240-Board Development” Board Correspondence Policy Board Self-Evaluation Form Superintendent’s Evaluation Form Argonaut High School Main Parking Lot Lighting 27 REQUEST FOR RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933 (c), a response to this report is required. No later than 90 days after the Grand Jury submits a Final Report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency shall comment on the findings and recommendations.

R14

In order to prevent possible Brown Act violations and to ensure that the public receive a response to communications sent to the Board or individual trustees, the Board should develop a Correspondence Bylaw and Policy to address how this correspondence should be processed, reviewed, and responded to. This Bylaw should include a tracking process for all of the received correspondence, which will then be stamped with a date and reference number. This Bylaw will also state that a trustee correspondence file will be kept on the computer, and will contain the date that the correspondence was received, the trustee it was addressed to, the name and return address of the sender, and the date and method that it was given to the trustee. (Finding 11)

R9

Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development”, should be revised to mandate that at least once annually all trustees attend a training together which focuses on interpersonal skills and effective communication skills. (Findings 3, 4, 5, 6) R10. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to specify that the Board submit their mandated and supplemental training activities and costs to the Superintendent within two weeks of completing each training, and that the superintendent shall create a spreadsheet of all trustee training to be stored on the computer in the Superintendent’s office. This Bylaw should state that the spreadsheet will contain a record of all trustee training broken down by individual trustee, and that it will include the training date, course title, course provider, and whether the training was mandatory or supplemental. Additionally, this Bylaw should state that all records should be maintained for five years after the training, which is mandated for Ethics and Brown Act training records per Government Code 53235.2, which states, “…these records are disclosable public records and must be maintained for five years after the training”. Finally, this Bylaw should state that the hardcopy records of trustee training will be filed in the board member’s individual files in the Superintendent’s office, and stored for the same period of time as the computerized files. (Finding 7) R11. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to include specific timeframes for the Board to meet as a whole, to set Board goals and objectives, to review Board progress towards meeting these goals and objectives, and to do a final assessment of Board performance. This Bylaw should state that the timeframe will specify that the Board will set these goals and objectives prior to the evaluation period, will review their progress towards achieving these goals and objectives midway through the evaluation period, and will discuss the completed composite Board evaluation at the end of the evaluation period, when they will set new goals for the following year. (Findings 8, 9, 10) 26 R12. The ACUSD in response to a past Grand Jury’s finding agreed to develop a plan for lighting the main parking lot at Argonaut High School. The self imposed deadline for planning and implementation of the lighting project has long since passed and the Board still has not presented a plan. Due to the obvious safety concerns of inadequate lighting in the parking lot the Grand Jury strongly recommends that the Board place a high priority on resolving this problem. (Finding 17) R13. The Board should set aside funds from the approximately $332,000 District surplus of the 2015-2016 school year, to be used specifically to fund the costs of installing additional lighting in the main parking lot of Argonaut High School. (Findings 17, 18) R14. In order to prevent possible Brown Act violations and to ensure that the public receive a response to communications sent to the Board or individual trustees, the Board should develop a Correspondence Bylaw and Policy to address how this correspondence should be processed, reviewed, and responded to. This Bylaw should include a tracking process for all of the received correspondence, which will then be stamped with a date and reference number. This Bylaw will also state that a trustee correspondence file will be kept on the computer, and will contain the date that the correspondence was received, the trustee it was addressed to, the name and return address of the sender, and the date and method that it was given to the trustee. (Finding 11) R15. The Board should conduct a performance evaluation for the Superintendent annually, and develop a new performance evaluation form which will be used each year, containing SMART goals and objectives, i.e., goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time- bound. The Board should meet with the Superintendent three times during the evaluation period: prior to the evaluation period to discuss the process, goals and objectives, halfway through the evaluation period to assess the Superintendent’s progress, giving and receiving feedback, and close to the end of the evaluation period to complete a final evaluation. The Superintendent’s performance evaluation, including any response, should be maintained in the District Office for the term of his or her employment, and three years thereafter. Any existing Board Bylaws and policies should be revised to reflect this recommendation. (Findings 13, 14) R16. The Grand Jury recommends that the 2016-2017 Grand Jury follow up on the Board’s response to the Grand Jury recommendations. These recommendations include the following Bylaws, documents, and actions: Board Bylaw “9401-Trustee Censure Policy” Board Bylaw “9400-Board Self-Evaluation” Board Bylaw “9240-Board Development” Board Correspondence Policy Board Self-Evaluation Form Superintendent’s Evaluation Form Argonaut High School Main Parking Lot Lighting 27 REQUEST FOR RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933 (c), a response to this report is required. No later than 90 days after the Grand Jury submits a Final Report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency shall comment on the findings and recommendations.

R15

The Board should conduct a performance evaluation for the Superintendent annually, and develop a new performance evaluation form which will be used each year, containing SMART goals and objectives, i.e., goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time- bound. The Board should meet with the Superintendent three times during the evaluation period: prior to the evaluation period to discuss the process, goals and objectives, halfway through the evaluation period to assess the Superintendent’s progress, giving and receiving feedback, and close to the end of the evaluation period to complete a final evaluation. The Superintendent’s performance evaluation, including any response, should be maintained in the District Office for the term of his or her employment, and three years thereafter. Any existing Board Bylaws and policies should be revised to reflect this recommendation. (Findings 13, 14)

R9

Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development”, should be revised to mandate that at least once annually all trustees attend a training together which focuses on interpersonal skills and effective communication skills. (Findings 3, 4, 5, 6) R10. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to specify that the Board submit their mandated and supplemental training activities and costs to the Superintendent within two weeks of completing each training, and that the superintendent shall create a spreadsheet of all trustee training to be stored on the computer in the Superintendent’s office. This Bylaw should state that the spreadsheet will contain a record of all trustee training broken down by individual trustee, and that it will include the training date, course title, course provider, and whether the training was mandatory or supplemental. Additionally, this Bylaw should state that all records should be maintained for five years after the training, which is mandated for Ethics and Brown Act training records per Government Code 53235.2, which states, “…these records are disclosable public records and must be maintained for five years after the training”. Finally, this Bylaw should state that the hardcopy records of trustee training will be filed in the board member’s individual files in the Superintendent’s office, and stored for the same period of time as the computerized files. (Finding 7) R11. Board Bylaw “9240 – Board Development” should be revised to include specific timeframes for the Board to meet as a whole, to set Board goals and objectives, to review Board progress towards meeting these goals and objectives, and to do a final assessment of Board performance. This Bylaw should state that the timeframe will specify that the Board will set these goals and objectives prior to the evaluation period, will review their progress towards achieving these goals and objectives midway through the evaluation period, and will discuss the completed composite Board evaluation at the end of the evaluation period, when they will set new goals for the following year. (Findings 8, 9, 10) 26 R12. The ACUSD in response to a past Grand Jury’s finding agreed to develop a plan for lighting the main parking lot at Argonaut High School. The self imposed deadline for planning and implementation of the lighting project has long since passed and the Board still has not presented a plan. Due to the obvious safety concerns of inadequate lighting in the parking lot the Grand Jury strongly recommends that the Board place a high priority on resolving this problem. (Finding 17) R13. The Board should set aside funds from the approximately $332,000 District surplus of the 2015-2016 school year, to be used specifically to fund the costs of installing additional lighting in the main parking lot of Argonaut High School. (Findings 17, 18) R14. In order to prevent possible Brown Act violations and to ensure that the public receive a response to communications sent to the Board or individual trustees, the Board should develop a Correspondence Bylaw and Policy to address how this correspondence should be processed, reviewed, and responded to. This Bylaw should include a tracking process for all of the received correspondence, which will then be stamped with a date and reference number. This Bylaw will also state that a trustee correspondence file will be kept on the computer, and will contain the date that the correspondence was received, the trustee it was addressed to, the name and return address of the sender, and the date and method that it was given to the trustee. (Finding 11) R15. The Board should conduct a performance evaluation for the Superintendent annually, and develop a new performance evaluation form which will be used each year, containing SMART goals and objectives, i.e., goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time- bound. The Board should meet with the Superintendent three times during the evaluation period: prior to the evaluation period to discuss the process, goals and objectives, halfway through the evaluation period to assess the Superintendent’s progress, giving and receiving feedback, and close to the end of the evaluation period to complete a final evaluation. The Superintendent’s performance evaluation, including any response, should be maintained in the District Office for the term of his or her employment, and three years thereafter. Any existing Board Bylaws and policies should be revised to reflect this recommendation. (Findings 13, 14) R16. The Grand Jury recommends that the 2016-2017 Grand Jury follow up on the Board’s response to the Grand Jury recommendations. These recommendations include the following Bylaws, documents, and actions: Board Bylaw “9401-Trustee Censure Policy” Board Bylaw “9400-Board Self-Evaluation” Board Bylaw “9240-Board Development” Board Correspondence Policy Board Self-Evaluation Form Superintendent’s Evaluation Form Argonaut High School Main Parking Lot Lighting 27 REQUEST FOR RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933 (c), a response to this report is required. No later than 90 days after the Grand Jury submits a Final Report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency shall comment on the findings and recommendations.

R12

The ACUSD in response to a past Grand Jury’s finding agreed to develop a plan for lighting the main parking lot at Argonaut High School. The self imposed deadline for planning and implementation of the lighting project has long since passed and the Board still has not presented a plan. Due to the obvious safety concerns of inadequate lighting in the parking lot the Grand Jury strongly recommends that the Board place a high priority on resolving this problem. (Finding 17)

R13

The Board should set aside funds from the approximately $332,000 District surplus of the 2015-2016 school year, to be used specifically to fund the costs of installing additional lighting in the main parking lot of Argonaut High School. (Findings 17, 18)