MUSD Board of Education Meeting Highlights for January 2023

Monrovia Unified School District

Board of Education Meeting Highlights

January 2023

 

Recognitions
At its January meeting, the Monrovia Unified Board of Education invited Plymouth Elementary’s Femineer program students to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. They showed off some of the projects they’ve been working on this school year and did a fantastic job starting our Board meeting. 
 
Plymouth Femineer students showed off some of the projects they’ve been working on this school year and did a fantastic job starting our Board meeting.

The Board highlighted students who were chosen to be a part of SoFi Stadium’s and LACOE’s art exhibition called The Better Together Arts Project. Due to severe weather conditions, the event was canceled over Winter Break. However, the Board of Education wanted to ensure these students received the recognition they deserved for their art pieces. 
 
Plymouth Femineer students showed off some of the projects they’ve been working on this school year and did a fantastic job starting our Board meeting.

The Board of Education & the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce congratulated the following employees on being recipients of Monrovia Unified School District's "Employee of the Month" for January: 
  • Monica DeGuzman, Instructional Aide Kinder., Mayflower Elementary School 
  • Caroline Badalian, Teacher, Mayflower Elementary School (not pictured)
  • Desiree Harbaugh, Library Technician, Plymouth Elementary School
  • Mitzi Avila, Teacher, Plymouth Elementary School
The Board of Education & the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce congratulated Monica DeGuzman on being recipients of Monrovia Unified School District's "Employee of the Month" for January.
 
The Board of Education & the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce congratulated Desiree Harbaugh and Mitzi Avila on being recipients of Monrovia Unified School District's "Employee of the Month" for January.
 
The Board welcomed Danielle Gasca as the new Assistant Principal at Santa Fe. Mrs. Gasca previously served as an assistant principal at Animo Legacy Charter Middle School in Los Angeles. Her prior experience includes more than ten years of service as a teacher and leader at Endeavor College Preparatory Charter School and Davis Middle School.
 
The Board welcomed Danielle Gasca as the new Assistant Principal at Santa Fe.

Actions Taken by the Board of Education
The Board of Education approved an employment agreement with the district’s new Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Jessica Garcia. Ms. Garcia brings a wealth of experience in public and private finance. She currently serves as the Director of Fiscal Services in the Hemet Unified School District. She has previous experiences as Director of Business Services, Payroll Manager, Payroll Clerk and Technician, and Senior Accounting Technician.

The Board of Education adopted Resolution No. 2223-11, entering the November 8, 2022, General Obligation Bond Election Results Into the Minutes of the Board of Education.

Board Members approved an Educational Affiliation Agreement with California State University Long Beach allowing the Monrovia Unified School District to provide clinical education experiences to Teacher Education and School Counseling Students. 

The Board of Education approved Honors PLTW Principles of Engineering as a new Career Technical Education (CTE) course offered at Monrovia High School. Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of materials and structures, automation, and motion. This course is the second of three courses in the CTE Engineering pathway and builds upon the learning for the introductory course, Honors PLTW Introduction to Engineering Design.

The Board approved Entrepreneurship 1 as a new course offering for high school students. In the Entrepreneurship 1 course, students use their entrepreneurial skills and mindset to evolve an innovative solution to a problem into a validated business opportunity. This course will serve as the initial course of the new CTE Entrepreneurship pathway.


Board Members adopted Resolution No. 2223-12 of the intent of the Monrovia Unified School District Board of Education to establish a Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC) for Measure MM. The purpose of the COC is to keep the public informed of the District’s expenditure of bond revenues and to report on the expenditure of taxpayer funds to ensure they are spent only for permissible purposes. For those who wish to be on the committee, please fill out this application on our website by February 20, 2023.

The Board of Education approved an agreement with Food ED for a Cougar EcoLab and Heritage Learning Garden at Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School for the 2022/23 school year.

 
The Board ratified the purchase of Career Technical Education (CTE) computer replacements and upgrades for Monrovia High School. MUSD CTE courses give students hands-on experience in various career fields, such as automotive science, graphic design, video game creation, engineering, and more.

 

Staff Presentations to the Board of Education
Measure MM: Next Steps - Cheryl Plotkin, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Business Services
 
The Board of Education received a staff presentation regarding the next step for Measure MM after voters passed it. Measure MM will assist the District in improving our schools and facilities' conditions, safety, and security.

Amigo de Los Rios Project Update: Plymouth, MHS, and Santa Fe - Claire Robinson, Managing Director of Amigos de Los Rios

Amigos de Los Rois provided a project update for the Board of Education. The organization explained some successes and roadblocks they’ve experienced while working at our three sites.