The Board Brief October 17, 2024

The Board Brief will be published by the central office following each regular meeting of the OPA Board of Directors. The Brief is designed as a reasonable summary of meeting content to keep the OPA community informed and is not an official record of meetings. To view official meeting minutes, please visit BoardDocs and click on the specific meetings of interest. Each meeting's minutes are presented to the Board for approval at the following meeting. For questions or comments about this Brief, please contact communications@opaschools.org

Dr. Stephanie Henry, Chief Academic Officer, presented OPA's outstanding scores from the 2023-2024 CAASPP testing. The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is an annual statewide assessment that supports the assessment of student performance in English language arts/literacy, mathematics, and science.

OPA remains an incredibly high-performing school with scores continuing to rise year over year and ranked among the highest in Orange County. This is a testament to the work our professors and staff do on an everyday basis and the culture of academic excellence deeply embedded within OPA.

Mrs. Maggie Burdette, Middle School Chancellor, presented on the Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways and courses. Current pathways are:

- Business and Finance

- Arts, Media, and Entertainment

- Information Communication and Technology

CTE in middle school introduces students to a variety of career fields, allowing them to explore different industries while emphasizing practical, project-based learning experiences that help develop real-world skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and technical abilities. Benefits of CTE include early career awareness, improved engagement and motivation, development of critical skills, increased academic achievement, building confidence and self-efficacy, and building a foundation for high school success.

For an example of a student-led project created in the Arts, Media, and Entertainment course, click the Eagle image.

Mrs. Deirdre Didion, Multi-Language Coordinator and Interim SOC Dean, presented certificates of achievement to our very talented Multi-Language Learners. The Board was pleased to recognize all of their hard work!

On August 2, 2024, the California Department of Education (CDE) issued new guidance on statutory changes to independent study policy based on Senate Bill 153. OPA Board Policy (BP) 6158 was amended to reflect this guidance. Major changes to the policy include:

- Short-term independent study can be collected for any length of absence (including a single day).

- Contracts can be signed at any point of the school year.

- Work can now be completed on a digital platform.

The Independent Study Policy was approved retroactively to the first day of the 2024-2025 school year. Communication on the implementation of the new revised Board Policy will be forthcoming from the school site.

Historically, the Board has operated with the use of committees in five defined areas:

- Finance and Audit Committee

- Academic Excellence Committee

- Governance Committee

- Strategy and Development Committee

- Agenda Prep Committee

During the September 19, 2024 Board meeting, the Board was asked to pass a resolution to define the type of committee each Board Committee would function as. The Board tabled discussion on the resolution for the Finance and Audit Committee until further review could be completed. Further review was completed and the Board passed Resolution #2024-04 establishing the Finance and Audit Committee as a Board Advisory Committee.

The initial 2024-2025 stipend schedule was approved during the September 19, 2024 Board meeting. After careful consideration, the stipend schedule was amended to include a $1,000 annual stipend for the Yearbook Advisor at each OPA school site. The stipend is compensation for the duties required in addition to their regular teacher duties. Yearbook Advisors are responsible for the entire yearbook design, including taking and uploading the photos, managing the yearbook software, submitting the final version for printing, and organizing distribution to classrooms once the yearbooks are delivered.

The location of meetings rotates between the school sites. Meetings can be attended in-person, viewed via Zoom, and live-streamed on our District YouTube channel.

• November 14, 2024 - Regular Meeting - Saddleback Valley - 6:00 p.m.
  
• December 12, 2024 - Regular Meeting - South Orange County - 6:00 p.m.
• January 16, 2025 - Regular Meeting - Saddleback Valley - 5:00 p.m.