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In the final episode of our three-part podcast series, host Sloan Simmons joins Lozano Smith Facilities and Business Partners Megan Macy and Anne Collins, and special guest Sue Bell, Chief Facilities Officer for the Elk Grove Unified School District, to tackle all things implementation.  The experts discuss turning plans into action, from developing teams and agreements to delivery methods and launch.

Show Notes & References

• 2:14 – How to select a delivery method (Resource: Construction Delivery Methods)
• 4:53 – Lease-Leaseback method (Listen to: Episode 71 Proper Procurement & Bidding)
• 8:10 – Ensuring Board policies and resolutions are up to date
• 8:48 – Timing
• 10:16 – Project management
• 11:57 – Recommendations regarding Construction Managers
• 12:44 – Big picture takeaways

 

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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In Part 2 of this three-part podcast series, host Sloan Simmons is back with Lozano Smith Facilities and Business Partners Megan Macy and Anne Collins, and special guest Sue Bell, Chief Facilities Officer for the Elk Grove Unified School District. The group covers team building, planning with and for consultants, tips and tricks, and how to best utilize your legal team to get your project off the ground.

Stay tuned for Part 3: Implementation, and visit www.lozanosmith.com/podcast to access upcoming episodes upon immediate release.

Show Notes & References

• 1:55 – Building your team of construction professionals
• 3:07 – FAQ – Construction Professional Selection
• 5:42 – Planning for consultants on the team
• 6:41 – When to involve a CEQA consultant
• 8:11 – Starting your project (mapping, calendars, etc.)
• 10:29 – Interplay with Facilities Master Plan work
• 11:49 – Tips and tricks for procuring consultants
• 14:21 – The value of site visits
• 16:20 – Interacting with your legal team

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In this episode, we re-air Podcast 52 from March 2022, in which host Sloan Simmons joins partners and Lozano Smith Labor and Employment Co-Practice Group Leaders Michelle Cannon and Gabriela Flowers to discuss several important school district labor and employment deadlines that all fall on March 15. This brief but information packed episode includes discussion on various types of release from employment as well as layoffs.  The presenters also address changes to the classified layoff process that became effective in 2022. Sloan also discusses with Gabby some important updates and developments on these issues as of March 2025.

Show Notes & References

• 2:29 – Non-reelection of second year probationary certificated employees
• 3:32 – March 15th deadlines
• 4:51 – First year probationary employees
• 4:56 – Education Code section 44929.21
• 5:41 – Release and reassignment notices for administrators (Ed. Code section 44951)
• 8:43 – Certificated layoff process
• 10:12 – Ed. code sections 44955 and 44949
• 10:37 – Bumping rights
• 11:23 – Chronology of layoffs
• 15:55 – Classified layoff process
• 18:16 – Bumping language and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs)
• 19:16 – Definition of permanency for classified employee layoffs
• 20:02 – AB 438 impacts
• 23:14 – CBAs and classified layoffs
• 26:20 – *UPDATES* as of March 2025

 

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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In this three-part podcast series, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith Facilities and Business Partners Megan Macy and Anne Collins, as well as special guest Sue Bell, Chief Facilities Officer for the Elk Grove Unified School District, on a thoughtful discussion regarding state funding and post-Proposition 2 spending.   This discussion will assist listeners in issue spotting, problem solving, and building a proactive approach to planning and managing your district’s future.   Part 1 of the series covers what is different in the new State Bond, and what it means from a practical perspective for school districts.

Stay tuned for Part 2: Planning and Procurement and Part 3: Implementation, and visit www.lozanosmith.com/podcast to access the upcoming episodes upon immediate release.

Show Notes & References

• 3:05 – Impact of Proposition 2 State Bond and resulting changes
• 5:26 – Facilities Master Plans and how to use them
• 8:27 – New supplemental grants and modernization funding
• 12:17 – Aspects where greater clarity is still needed
• 15:58 – Interim housing for declared state of emergencies
• 17:50 – Project labor agreements
• 18:20 – Practical perspectives

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In this episode, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith’s student law experts Ed Sklar and Josh Whiteside regarding applicable laws, guidance, and anticipated developments regarding immigration enforcement and schools under the new presidential administration.  The group discusses the similar focus on this issue dating back to 2017-2018, what happened then, resulting California laws and guidance on point, and anticipated changes at the federal level that will impact California schools.

Show Notes & References

• 2:01 – Immigration enforcement and impact on public school students
• 4:56 – Recent events unfolding and preparing for change
• 7:01 – Sanctuary school districts and schools
• 8:03 – State Senate Bill 54 (Identified California as a sanctuary state) (Client News Brief 75 – November 2017)
• 12:15 – 2017 Nationwide Injunction
• 13:59 – Legal obligations for school districts (Plyler v. Doe (1982) 457 U.S. 202)
• 15:17 – State law and policies (Assembly Bill 699) (Client News Brief 64 – October 2017)
• 17:36 – California Attorney General guidance (Client News Brief 1 – January 2025)
• 18:27 – Potential consequences for sanctuary school districts
• 20:10 – October 2021 Department of Homeland Security “Protected Areas” memorandum
• 22:15 – February 20, 2017 Department of Homeland Security memorandum
• 28:22 – Expectations going forward
• 31:41 – Comparisons to 2017 and what districts can do now
• 37:07 – UPDATE 1/22/25! – Important post-inauguration update
  • January 20, 2025 Executive Order “Protecting the American People Against Invasion”
  • January 21, 2025 Statement from Department of Homeland Security regarding Rescission of “Protected Areas” memorandum
  • January 21, 2025 Department of Justice Memorandum on Changes regarding Immigration Enforcement

 

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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Join Lozano Smith Student attorneys Ruth Mendyk, Alexandra Carubis, and Josh Whiteside as they discuss developments from the most recent legislative session and evaluate the impacts on California students beginning January 1, 2025.

Show Notes & References

• 2:03 – Prohibition of suspension for students seeking help with substance use (Assembly Bill (AB) 2711)
• 5:53 – Lawful possession of fentanyl antagonists and test strips (Senate Bill (SB) 997)
• 8:19 – Immunity for opioid antagonist administration (AB 2998)
• 9:34 – Health education and student instruction regarding fentanyl use (AB 2429)
• 13:14 – Financial literacy (AB 2927)
• 14:27 – Menstrual health education (AB 2229) (Client News Brief 46 – October 2024)
• 16:12 – Social sciences curriculum changes (AB 1821)
• 17:17 – Homework policy development (AB 2999) (Client News Brief 48 – November 2024)
• 21:54 – Truancy notification letter requirements (SB 691) (Client News Brief 45 – October 2024)
• 24:38 – Excused absences (SB 1138) (Client News Brief 45 – October 2024)
• 26:39 – Limits on student social media use at school (SB 1283)
• 28:32 – Cell phone bans on campus (AB 3216) (Client News Brief 40 – September 2024)

 

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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This Lozano Smith Podcast episode is the fourth and final in a 4-part series Leadership in Action, brought to you by Lozano Smith and Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services, also known as CCS.  Due to a long pattern of declining enrollment and resulting budget challenges, school districts around the state are increasingly faced with making the difficult decision of whether and how to close or consolidate schools.  In this episode, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith CCS expert Ron Carruth, Ed.D. and Partner Harold Freiman regarding their unique expertise and best practice recommendations for this challenging process, which is often fraught with emotion for the schools and for the community.  Adding to the challenge are recent legal guidances on school consolidation and on equity considerations that should be considered.  Practical takeaways on this topic from this episode—whether on demographics studies, communication plans, or legal strategies—can benefit superintendents, school district cabinet leaders of all departments, and school board members.

Show Notes & References

• 4:10 –  Observations on school consolidation
• 7:00 – Decreases in ADA (Average Daily Attendance) and demographic patterns
• 8:19 – Lessons on reconfiguration/consolidation
• 11:12 – Key legal issues surrounding reconfiguration/consolidation
• 11:50 – Community input (Education Code section 17487)
• 12:22 – CDE guidance (Best Practices Guide for Potential School Closure)
• 14:09 – Assembly Bill (AB) 1912 and specific school closure requirements for financially distressed school districts
• 16:37 – Equity issues and Attorney General guidance letter (April 2023)
• 20:35 – Criteria to consider
• 24:24 – Awareness of common legal challenges
• 26:18 – Comparing the established 7/11 committee process to the new guidance on district advisory committees
• 29:31 – Insights into the motivations behind and creation of AB 1912
• 33:49 – Careful analysis in assisting districts with reconfiguration/closure
• 37:22 – Demographics, parameters, and best practices regarding time frames
• 39:24 – Communication plans, community outreach, and the importance of good documentation
• 45:43 – The Superintendent’s role in the reconfiguration/closure process
• 48:14 – The importance of engaging with the entire district team
• 50:54 – The Board’s role in the reconfiguration/closure process
• 56:01 – Final thoughts

 

To learn more about the Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services (CCS) team, join us here.

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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This Lozano Smith Podcast episode is the third in a 4-part series Leadership in Action, brought to you by Lozano Smith and Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services, also known as CCS.  In this episode, host Sloan Simmons connects with Lozano Smith CCS expert Brandon Krueger, Ed.D. and Partner Sarah Levitan Kaatz regarding building and sustaining a professional organizational culture.  This discussion highlights overarching concepts, practical approaches, and a framework for the extremely important, hard, and sustained work necessary to develop, improve, and maintain a successful, professional organizational culture.   Applicable takeaways from this episode can benefit school district leaders, but uniquely governing board members, superintendents, and other members of a district’s leadership cabinet.

Show Notes & References

• 2:48 –  Differentiating between culture and climate
• 6:00 – Shifting culture
• 10:15 – Accountability (external and internal)
• 12:45 – Organizational culture work
• 17:11 – Timelines and tailoring trainings to each individual participant
• 22:27 – Bias incident response work example
• 27:09 – Flexibility to encourage participant investment
• 29:49 – Supporting administrators to maintain positive shifts
• 35:05 – Training “bites” and the importance of repetition in learning
• 37:11 – Strategies to combat administrator attrition and retirement
• 41:34 – Reference checks
• 42:10 – New requirements for job applicants and hiring entities (Assembly Bill (AB) 2534) (Client News Brief 47 – November 2024)

 

To learn more about the Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services (CCS) team, join us here.

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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This Lozano Smith Podcast episode is the second in a 4-part series Leadership in Action, brought to you by Lozano Smith and Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services, also known as CCS.  Whether your school district successfully passed a bond or parcel tax in years past or just this month, once those financial resources are accounted for, the process of moving forward with construction begins.  In this episode, host Sloan Simmons connects with Lozano Smith CCS expert George S. Sziraki, Ed.D. and Partner Kelly Rem regarding best practices for superintendents and their teams for advanced planning, issue spotting, engaging with their school boards, constituents, and other important stakeholders in the school construction project process.  Practical takeaways from this episode can benefit school district leaders at any stage of the school construction process, but in particular those at the starting point of the process.

Show Notes & References

• 3:06 –  Budget process and the importance of management oversight
• 4:25 – The impact of timeline development on budget markers
• 7:19 – Accounting for unanticipated delays
• 8:40 – Stakeholder communications and legal aspects that come into play
• 12:36 – School bonds and Oversight Committees
• 13:37 – Lozano Smith Podcast Episode 68 Citizen Bond Oversight Committees: A Primer for School Districts (Listen here)
• 13:55 – Strategies for fostering good relationships with Oversight Committees
• 15:06 – Communications through the preconstruction phase and understanding delivery methods
• 17:11 – Potential legal engagement and knowing when to pass the baton
• 18:09 – The Levine Act
• 18:53 – Factoring in Title IX inequity issues and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance
• 21:40 – Front-end policy development
• 22:34 – CUPCCAA (California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act)
• 23:53 – When disputes arise
• 26:03 – Big picture takeaways

 

To learn more about the Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services (CCS) team, join us here.

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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This Lozano Smith Podcast episode is the first in a 4-part series Leadership in Action, brought to you by Lozano Smith and Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services, also known as CCS.  Increasingly in recent years, the perception of governing board meetings have trended negative, with school leaders concerned over disruptions, lack of productivity, and more.  In this episode, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith CCS expert Kevin Skelly, Ph.D. and Partner Megan Macy regarding best practices in fostering a welcoming and positive experience during governing board meetings, to the benefit of district constituents, students, staff, administrators, and the governing board.  Practical takeaways from this episode can benefit both new and veteran governing board members in improving the experience and productivity of board meetings.

Show Notes & References

• 3:13 – Making board meetings positive
• 7:04 – Planning for meetings and bringing issues forward
• 8:38 – Creating welcoming board meetings for constituents
• 13:10 – Connecting with constituents at meeting
• 13:57 – Celebrating success at board meetings
• 16:54 – Media coverage and relationships with local news networks
• 19:08 – Importance of board trainings and in-the-moment issue spotting
• 23:36 – Taking students and teachers into account
• 26:35 – Getting a “win” out of a “loss” at a board meeting
• 31:25 – Qualities of good governance teams and successful strategies to employ
• 36:27 – Modeling respect at board meetings

 

To learn more about the Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services (CCS) team, join us here.

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.