District presents proposed revisions to family engagement policy; Family Action Committee helped craft changes
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Director of Family and Community Partnerships Lita O'Donnell presented revisions to board policy 0050 to align family engagement with the district strategic plan; the Family Action Committee helped vet strategies and the district reported progress on APTT adoption and survey metrics.
Lita O’Donnell, director of Family and Community Partnerships, presented proposed revisions to Board Policy 0050 on parent and family engagement, saying the updates aim to align the policy with the district strategic plan and provide clearer, more actionable language.
O’Donnell said the Family Action Committee’s subcommittee reviewed the existing policy and developed recommendations informed by family and staff feedback. She highlighted district goals and current measures: a family engagement survey baseline year produced 85% favorability with a goal to increase by 2% annually; the survey had received more than 550 family responses and remains open through May 30. She said the percentage of schools including a Family Engagement Catalog strategy in their annual action plan rose from a 24% baseline year to 70% and the district’s goal is 100%.
O’Donnell described Academic Parent Teacher Teams (APTT) as a research‑based strategy introduced in 2019 and noted the program will expand into secondary schools when sustainable funding is identified. She said current grant funding supporting APTT from the Stolte Family Foundation ends after the 2025–26 school year and the district is exploring sustainable funding options.
Family testimony: Patty Palomino, a long‑time Family Action Committee member, described the committee as constructive and collaborative: “I've been very lucky to be able to help, with my voice, to reach other families and along with other parents make my voice be heard,” she said.
Why it matters: The proposed policy revisions anchor family engagement in the district’s vision and provide clearer expectations for schools and families, with an emphasis on equity, access and community voice. The item was introduced for board consideration; policy revision will move through the district’s introduction and action timeline.
Ending: O’Donnell asked the board to note the progress and the district’s intent to work across departments to secure sustainable funding for family engagement initiatives and APTT expansion.