Softball field, student health, district budget on trustees’ agenda

The Davis school board is set to discuss the varsity girls softball facilities at Davis High School when it meets at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Community Chambers at City Hall, 23 Russell Blvd. The item was on the Feb. 21 meeting agenda but was put off until this week.

According to the agenda summary, “the softball field/facility has not been upgraded since it was originally set during the 1960s. In order to bring the field up to par with other district athletic facilities and preserve the field, covered dugouts, batting and pitching cages and fencing are needed as a minimum; a scoreboard, bathrooms, snack bar and press box are desired.

“Planning meetings have occurred with the high school softball parents, coaches and staff. The district and softball community partnership efforts would generate funds to complete  the project.”

Complicating the question is the location of the field, which is partly on school district property, and partly on city-owned land in Community Park. According to the agenda summary, “Informal strategizing between the city and district has occurred but no formal discussions or final decisions have been made.”

Three options are outlined as the most feasible for consideration:

* Working with the city on an easement and proceed with improvements to the softball field;

* Swapping fields with JV baseball; and

* Using Community Park’s lighted field for varsity softball games.

Other items on Thursday’s agenda include:

* A midyear update on student health and well-being. The agenda summary indicates that several topics will be addressed, including “the recent emergency preparedness efforts in the wake of the (school shooting) tragedy in Connecticut, new concussion protocols, trends and needs in the area of social-emotional well-being, and efforts to decrease unnecessary academic pressures. A summary of work in progress will also be offered” by staff.

* A report on progress implementing the new Common Core academic standards in the school district. The standards have been adopted by 45 states, and are “strongly aligned with college and career readiness standards and set high expectations for students,” according to the agenda summary. Associate Superintendent Clark Bryant will give this report.

* An update on the school district’s budget by Associate Superintendent Bruce Colby, who will outline the potential impact of the proposed local control funding formula, which is Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed overhaul of public school finance. The governor’s proposal would phase out many existing categorical programs and allocate additional funding to districts with high percentages of students from low-income households and students who are English learners.

* A presentation describing academic programs at Willett Elementary School.

In addition, the board may report a closed-session decision on the status of Davis High School Principal Jacqui Moore, who confirmed Saturday that she will not return to her job this fall, citing “philosophical differences” with the school board. Sheila Allen, board president, told The Enterprise “there is no current plan to release any classified or certificated employee before the end of the school year.”

Thursday’s meeting will be carried live on Davis cable Channel 17 and as live streaming video on www.djusd.tv.

— Reach Jeff Hudson at jhudson@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8055.