Category Archives: meeting

Board Votes for New Programs and Feeder School Support for Portola

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Wednesday night’s Board meeting delivered on four items that add great potential for Portola:

Scholar-in-Residence: The Board voted to fund a full-time position that helps teachers use best practices in their programs and in their professional development efforts. Goals of the position include building District capacity to support new ways for students to learn, and developing research-based and locally-informed approaches to areas of need. San Francisco Unified School Distict has had success implementing a similar program. The position starts Fall 2013 at Portola Middle School, with a focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL)/Personalized Learning. Portola teachers widely support this.

Instrumental Music Program Partially Restored at Elementary Level: The Board voted to fund 2.5 Full-Time Equivalent positions to teach and coordinate instrumental music at the elementary schools that feed into Portola, as well as at the Miravista K-8 school in Richmond.

Supporters pointed out that learning to play an instrument is a singular experience that enhances coordination, sharpens concentration, creates a sense of achievement, provides a means for self-expression, has been shown to improve math ability, can boost team skills, and many more executive functions.

This program will broaden the base of musicians available for band programs in Portola Middle and El Cerrito High, and amplify the already strong band programs at those schools. It is part of a larger plan to cultivate music and performing arts as a differentiator for the El Cerrito High School Family, and provides a positive focal point for our very different populations.

Note: A large portion of Miravista students attend high school at El Cerrito High.

PE Waivers: The Board approved the staff recommendation to allow individual students to apply for PE Waivers at middle schools throughout the District. The student’s parents have to request it, and the student must pass a standardized PE test. Students who are granted PE waivers can take two electives instead of one. Staff is developing process details.

The new Portola building and the construction project: The Board ratified the selection of Arntz Builders of Novato as for the General Contractor for the new building on the Castro site. It also allocated an additional $12M for the overall Portola building budget, and named an experienced and well-regarded Construction Architect, Lee Pollard, from HY Architects. The project is end-to-end funded, and can proceed with all due speed. Look for trailers and crews at the Castro Site before Memorial Day.

In reflecting on these measures, Board member Todd Groves said, “I believe we will see a richer, deeper learning environment for all kids at Portola starting next year.”

We at GoPortola! agree. There is a lot of work ahead, but take a moment to let this good news sink in, and think about the power these new ‘tools’ have to transform Portola. It will take vision not only from the Board, but from all of us in the parent community and beyond to make the most of the coming months, and get these programs off to a good start.

WCCUSD Board Approves the Building Bid, PE Waivers, and Considers Proposals for Portola

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About 60 people attended a special meeting of the WCCUSD Board last night that focused on Portola Middle School. The meeting was extraordinarily constructive in substance and tone. Please review the information below, and let Dr. Harter and his staff, and every Board member, know we appreciate their tremendous effort and motivation on behalf of the Portola community. You can view Dr. Harter’s background presentation on the WCCUSD website.

About 20 people answered the Board’s request for public comment about what Portola’s needs are, what would define excellence in a middle school, and what steps were needed. (20130327_meeting_notes.)

The most recurring suggestion was to lower class sizes. Other common points were the ability to take more than one elective, continued diligence on safety and a positive school culture, professional development for teachers to deepen the capacity to provide differentiated learning, continuation of the Spanish Immersion program feeding from Washington Elementary through to ECHS, and building on the strength of the music program. Other suggestions were to develop a 10-year plan, with published goals and annual evaluations, allow and encourage community events such as the recent ‘Boot Classic’, and to develop an entrepreneurial volunteer capacity at the District level.

Principal Matthew Burnham presented two proposals for strengthening academics after giving a state-of-the-school report. Board member Todd Groves also made two proposals for Portola –a Scholar In Residence program and an Arts focus for the school. (See 20130327_meeting_notes for details.)

The Board voted to consider these proposals as action items on the meeting agenda for April 10, 2013.

During the meeting, the Board also took action on the following:

  1. The Board unanimously approved the resolution to accept the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for the Portola Middle School immediately at the conclusion of the bid protest period, which ends no later than Monday, April 1.
  2. The Board voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the District Athletic Director to begin offering a PE Waiver at Portola to students who meet (at least two) of the following strict conditions:
  • The Student Passes 5 out of 6 of the standardized ‘Healthy Fitness Zone’ tests for the age group.
  • The Student is enrolled in a regularly scheduled physical activity program, such as an extracurricular sport.
  • The Student demonstrates exceptional talent or ability in a physical activity that far exceeds the standard for their peers.

No details were given about the application or testing process.

The new Portola building project has ended its public bid process, and after the District makes the award next week, the parties will negotiate with the trade unions for jurisdiction to particular crafts, secure bonding and insurance information, and provide a schedule.

GoPortola! will provide more details of the PE Waiver processes as they develop.

WCCUSD Special Board Meeting Focused on Portola

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Wednesday, March 27, 7pm Lavonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Ave., Richmond 94805

What is your vision for academics and programs at Portola Middle School? The WCCUSD Board is inviting parents in the Portola catchment to define what success means for our kids at Portola. The Board has taken notice of the spirit and purpose from the community around getting the Portola building construction moving, and they want to tap into this energy to help Portola continue on an upward path to reach its full potential.

Whether your child attended Portola in the past, is currently attending, will attend, or will never attend, please consider this an opportunity to state your expectations and brainstorm with other parents about what qualities define excellence in a middle school, given our unique community, and what steps the Board, faculty, and community members need to take to get there.  Please spread the word. We want the Board to hear from everyone – including those who have recently chosen not to send their kids Portola. Our community will be strengthened by the discussion and actions we take in support of this school.

If you cannot make the meeting but have ideas to share, please post them as comments here, write to the Board, or send an email to goportola@gmail.com.

Meeting Notes From February 28

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We had a well attended and very productive meeting last Thursday. Here are the meeting notes: Go Portola Meeting_02282013_final.

There are a number of projects underway – if you’d like to get involved with a particular project described in the notes, please let us know (GoPortola@gmail.com). Next month, we will likely meet in sub-committees to work on specific issues.

A letter to sixth grade parents regarding the upcoming class selection process is also in the works. This letter will be posted to this site by the end of the week, and will also be e-mailed to sixth grade parents.

Stay tuned!

Go Portola Meeting, Thursday Feb 28, 7pm, Madera

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Please join us for the next Go Portola meeting, Thursday, February 28 at 7 pm in the Madera Elementary School library.

Madera is just off Arlington, at 8500 Madera Drive, in El Cerrito.

AGENDA

1. Preparing students for the first Year at Portola – What to expect:

  • Visit by Portola Counselor in Spring
  • Placement Requests
  • Orientation

2. Mixers for incoming students – starting with March 2 kickball game at Madera (see information below)

3. Math programs at Portola

  • Pull-out Program Update
  • Geometry?

4. Update on computer workstations for students

5. Afterschool programs, including jazz bands, athletics, and the potential for an enhanced language program

6. Beautification/Improvement of temporary site

  • Existing planters
  • Community garden
  • Bathrooms and locker rooms

7. Recruitment – Portola PTSA and Go Portola

Upcoming event/mixer – The Boot Classic!  Saturday, March 2, 2013 12:00-5:00pm at Madera.  A kickball tournament / Madera vs. Kensington Hilltop vs. Fairmont vs.
Harding!
Volunteers will be needed and very appreciated – contact Christian
Matthews <xian.matthews@gmail.com>.

Go Portola Meeting, Thursday Feb 28, 7pm, Madera

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Please join us for the next Go Portola meeting, Thursday, February 28 at 7 pm in the Madera Elementary School library.

Madera is just off Arlington, at 8500 Madera Drive, in El Cerrito.

AGENDA

1. Preparing students for the first Year at Portola – What to expect:

  • Visit by Portola Counselor in Spring
  • Placement Requests
  • Orientation

2. Mixers for incoming students – starting with March 2 kickball game at Madera

3. Math programs at Portola

  • Pull-out Program Update
  • Geometry?

4. Update on computer workstations for students

5. Afterschool programs, including jazz bands, athletics, and the potential for an enhanced language program

6. Beautification/Improvement of temporary site

  • Existing planters
  • Community garden
  • Bathrooms and locker rooms

7. Recruitment – Portola PTSA and Go Portola

Board Votes for a Full-time, Onsite CA

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Hurrah to everyone who sent emails to the WCCUSD Board, provided expert opinions, gracefully endured a flurry/flood of email, and rallied around providing the Portola Building project with a full-time, onsite construction architect/administrator (CA). The Board listened, and made a unanimous vote tonight in favor of the amended contract!

There is now a fighting chance to have an early completion date for the project (best case scenario, Fall 2015 instead of Fall 2016), which will not only move our middle school kids into a great facility, but will start the ball rolling on the much-needed Fairmont Elementary rebuild.

Thanks go out to all of the Board members for their votes, and in particular to Charles Ramsey, who did the due diligence and read through the contract when it came out, found the detail that didn’t make sense, brought it to our attention, and pressed the staff for an amended recommendation.

Several parents who commented prior to and at the meeting have experience in the construction industry. They said the CA role can often save money and reduce change orders by averting misinterpretations and corner-cutting. In discussion prior to the vote, Project Architect Marcus Hibser explained that the CA has a desk in the construction site trailer and works all day at the site. The big advantages come from being there for conferences between subcontractors.

In their vote, the Board also resolved to require six-month status updates at Facility Subcommittee meetings as well as at Full Board meetings, so that they can evaluate whether the CA role is functioning as intended.

As a reminder, the Bid period is now open and closes on March 14th. Our best prediction right now is that the Board will vote whether or not to accept the bid at their March 20th meeting. Meanwhile, if you have ideas for report designs for this project that you would like to see coming out of the Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC), please post a reply to this blog. We’ll pass your ideas on to that committee.

Want to Make an Impact? Tell the Board You Want a CA at the Construction Site

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The WCCUSD Board will vote next Wednesday evening (Feb 13, 7pm) whether or not to hire a Construction Architect (CA) to be on site to immediately resolve questions that come up during construction, and to monitor fidelity to the plans. District staff has recommended this position for the Portola rebuild project. You can directly influence this decision by making a 2-minute comment to the Board.

This item is first on the agenda so people will have a chance to speak right away rather than wait for a couple of hours.

What do We Stand to Gain? This is of most importance to current 3rd and 4th graders at the feeder schools, and to the Fairmont* community. Think about it…6 feeder schools x (~50 3rd graders + ~50 4th graders) + the whole population of Fairmont Elementary = at least 800 kids! How many chances do you have to make a positive impact for so many people?

Will Portola open its doors by Fall of 2015? By Fall of 2016? A full-time architect on site definitely gives the earlier date a better chance.

Please be there to make a difference! Download the agenda!

Location: LaVonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 MacDonald Ave., Richmond.

*Fairmont Elementary will move in to the temporary spot where Portola is now, as soon as the middle school kids move to the Portola campus. Then Fairmont will be remodeled in its current location.

Bid Walk Packed

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Bottom Line: A deep bench of Bay Area contractors showed up today for the mandatory hard hat-smallproject Bid Walk, which bodes well for a competitive bid on the Portola Rebuild project. And parents from each of the feeder schools — Madera, Harding, Washington, Fairmont, and Kensington also turned out to see this long-in-coming project kick off. WCCUSD Board members Charles Ramsey and Todd Groves attended, championing the project and signaling their engagement level to the construction crowd.

The bid closes on March 14th, and the WCCUSD Board will likely take up Approval/Ratification at their meeting on Wednesday, March 20th.

We need parents to stay involved by attending the meetings listed below! Some of these meetings are at crazy times, and it may feel awkward to walk in. But we parents are key stakeholders. Our kids deserve to have a modern school with gym and a performance space. Opening this building – whether in Fall 2015 or Fall 2016, will be part of Portola becoming the school we know it can be.

Key Upcoming Meetings

√ Tuesday, February 12, 4pm: Facilities Subcommittee meeting – The draft agenda shows an update for the Portola building project. At least half a dozen staff members attend this meeting, and sometimes there is time for public comment. When the Portola project is on the agenda, Principal Matt Burnham is usually in attendance. It’s a good time to connect with him, and a great way to show District staff you are interested. Location: District offices at 1300 Potrero, Richmond.

√ Wednesday, February 13, 6:30pm: WCCUSD Board meeting – Because the project is important and needs to move as quickly as possible, the District staff has made a recommendation, to be taken up by the Board at this meeting, to hire a full-time Construction Architect. This is an architect who will be on site to immediately deal with questions about the plans. Location: LaVonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 MacDonald Ave., Richmond.

√ Wednesday, March 20, 6:30pm: WCCUSD Board meeting – We expect that this is the public meeting at which the full board will vote on whether to accept the bid recommended by the staff. Location: LaVonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 MacDonald Ave., Richmond.

Today’s Bid Walk Agenda: Lew Brower, the Project Manager appointed by the District, led the meeting for multiple representatives from 14 different general contracting firms. Brower introduced key District staff and consultants, and provided top-line comments and direction for the bid package. This included:

  • Labor agreements and Payroll requirements
  • Efforts to keep the projects $ in our community – The General Contractor must demonstrate good faith effort in hiring 30% of supplier/subcontractor businesses to come from West County area, and scheduling 24% of hours worked on the project by people who live in West County
  • Markup Meeting – Happens before the job starts, to sort out what work will be done by specific trades
  • Hazardous material procedures – A Haz Mat engineer from the large environmental firm, GHD, will be supervising during demolition to ensure safe handling and disposal.
  • Geotechnical/Soils issues
  • Project Reporting system (“Primavera”) – An ERP system through which standardized reports (designed in part by the Community Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC)) about the project status will be available to the community.
  • Working hours, delivery routing, site security – Brower and Hibser set the expectation to be good neighbors with the community.
  • Pre-bid RFI Process and Forms – To set rules for transparency in asking questions about the specs and distributing answers fairly to all firms who are bidding.

Brower led the contractors on a tour of the site, and the project architect, Marcus Hibser, led the parents on a tour of the site. See the plans, here. A couple of details to note:

  • The school is designed to house a maximum of 600 students.
  • The District’s Robotics Lab, which is part of the “Pathways” program, may be housed at the new Portola building, once it is open. (There is room.)
  • The living roof planned for gymnasium prevents heat loss, reduces glare, and filters runoff. The ‘green’ material will be a succulent ground cover (not grass…so, shucks, no mowing opportunities).
  • The library is going to have some awesome Bay views!

Key People – For Your Records:

Name Role Employer/Organization Notes/Previous Experience in our Community
Lew Brower Project Manager SGI PM for El Cerrito High and for Kensington
Marcus Hibser Principal Architect HY Architects PA for Kensington
Keith Holtslander Public Liaison WCCUSD 510-412-5657  KHoltslander@wccusd.net
Andrew Mixer Project Manager WCCUSD amixer@wccusd.net
Rene Barrera Project Engineer SGI Coordinates reports, etc.
Kris Gilbert Inspector of Record WCCUSD
Darrel Jackson Architect of Record HY Architects
Christiano Mello Geotechnical Engineer of Record Kleinfelder Associates
Steve Spire Electrical Commissioning EQC
[name tbd] Hazardous Material Consultant GHD

Portola Teacher Panel sponsored by PARC

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Portola parents, elementary school parents, and community members are invited to attend a teacher panel at Portola on Monday, January 28, 6:30pm.rigor-1

This meeting is organized by the Parent Academic Rigor Committee (PARC) at Portola and will focus on the ways teachers at Portola strive to maintain rigor in their curriculum. Teachers (probably 5 or 6 total) will first answer a series of prepared questions. Then they will take questions from the audience.

You are welcome to email questions you would like considered to Sally Fraser. Deadline for receipt of proposed questions is Thursday, January 17. Due to time limitations, not all questions will be used; however, you can ask them during the open-question period.

Email or call:  sally@frasermeacham.com, Phone: 510 295-8041

Monday, January 28, 2013, 6:30 pm, Portola Campus, Room 7