Led by Dr. Maysa  Bitar

Impact Aid Pre-meeting 9-26-2023 District Office (P17)

The meeting began: at 9:07 am

• Pre-meeting is based on committee request so we have ample time to review and collaborate with each other.
• Ron McCowan (Superintendent) welcomed the group
• Open in a good way: Prof. Dixon provided words of hope
• Round-the-room introductions
• Approval of Minutes from the last meeting (Oct 25, 2022)

• Dr. Bitar read/scrolled through the minutes, and shared which items will be discussed at the formal meeting next month
• Discussion: None
• Motion to approve the agenda by: Laurie Gonzalez
• Seconded by: Prof.  Dixon

• Shared today’s agenda

• Motion to approve the agenda: Inez Pojas
• Seconded by: Shanna Bojorquez

• Previewed content areas for the next meeting

• James Trujillo (Jimmy) inquired about the process of approval - Asking for discussion and vote for approval in the room.  
• Dr. Bitar shared that she thought since a motion was made, it was approved.  
• Jimmy requested a copy of the minutes to look at them more closely before making a motion to approve to check for accuracy. A request was made to email the minutes ahead of time and will be motioned on during the official meeting next month.  
• The group acknowledged the intent was on target but would like to be able to have a discussion and have more time to look them over.  Making adjustments to our system for approvals.

Title Funds:

• Dr. Bitar displayed the title funds and walked the group through them
• Time to review what is currently being proposed/in place and asks for discussion

• Title 1:

• Discussions on which schools are Title 1, and how Title 1 schools are determined
• Discussions on the funds received and how we are spending them
• Question about the difference in funding this year from last year?

• Answer: We received more Title I funds this year than last year

• Question about increased effort on completing the family information Forms and their impact on the funds we receive        

• Answer: yes in some cases

• Title 2 Part A: Professional Development

• Discussions on what Title II Funds are, what was received and shared how it is being spent
• Questions: Does Teacher and Admin training include cultural competency?
• Answer: Yes

• Migrant: Discussions on what the migrant fund is, what was received and how we spent it.

• Title 3:

• Discussions on what Title III funds are, what was received, and how we spent it.

• Title 4: This year we did not receive but share what the funding area covers.

• Title 6:

• Funding received and how it’s being spent
• Questions: None

Discussions on how student needs are identified:

•  discussed methods for collecting information/input
• Surveys, committees, data points, etc..

Services offered reviewed

Size and scope of equitable services, reaching out to non-profit private schools for consultation

Discussions on the following items were being provided:

Who provides services based on Titles? How services are assessed? When decisions are made regarding delivery and services? Parent engagement requirement and best practice.

Question: Do we see the face of this changing as our Valley is changing?

 Dr. Bitar spoke of the percentage of low-income families and migrant populations and how this impacts funding of the grants

Dr. Bitar requested to have participants sign a form that the Titles were reviewed and discussed.

The committee requested to have the presentation with the information emailed out to the group so they could review the funds’ information.

Discussion from a committee member re: signing the form.  Would like to be provided with more time to discuss the title funds in order to have more meaningful collaboration.

Questions about impact aid: Clarification regarding this being different funds

Policy Review:  

The committee requests to have the policies reviewed as a whole group to go over in detail as a group to discuss and clarify as we work through them.  

Attestations:  

Does the document define what constitutes consultation?

How do we determine that they've been adequately disseminated?

The community wants to know specifically when parents have the opportunity for input. A request was made to create a timeline that shows the process and gives parents clarity about their access to provide input

Shanna: can we work on with the tribes and schools to relay information to parents? Parents like getting information regarding Title VI in school newsletters from principals.

Comment about allocating a portion of impact aid funds for native students… how do we allocate our funds and create our budgets?  Understanding the budget process.  What are the rules for allocation and how can we create a timeline to make that change to the budget when the budgets are being created? Helping native students will include actions that will benefit all students.

Helping all students with impact aid funds should not be lost… if there is a way allocating funds could help, then it should be looked at.  Mutual benefit and most federal land is native land.  Have heard requests for multiple years so let’s look into it and research it. Specific amounts are not being requested.  Just would like an effort. Students are not rising academically with the support of the Title VI aide.  Looking for another way to make connections and make academic progress.  Would like more adults on campus for students to connect with.  Would like to have a full-time aide, especially at MS and HS levels.

Inherent trauma means they need more support.  

What does the Budget Cycle look like at the district level? Districts are July 1 and tribal governments are Oct 1

Statement from the district about using general funds to support services for Native students.

 Discussed Flora Howe move to Pauma School, now missing the  person who was there daily.  Now only on club day. Grandparents and parents tell the kids to look for Flora.  Also feel they needed to be consulted on her employment assignment due to part title 6 funding.

Discussions were made regarding the beginning of the school year process to get the on-campus approvals ahead of time for ed centers.

Policy 1:

Clarity on what sufficient advance notice is: The committee agreed that at least 15 days notice would be sufficient (changing it from 10 to 15)

Suggestion to add a definition page/summary/key points describing the title funds in the IPP

Discussions were made on ways to get more inputs: Example: More email reminders, text messages, collaboration with ed centers etc.            

Dr. Bitar announced that the time is 10:32 am and that next time we meet we will proceed with policy 2.