A. Each successful applicant will be required to assess the West Contra Costa Unified School District in one or more of the five (5) areas or sub-areas as specified in AB 2265 and further delineated in this RFA. Each area of engagement requires the provider to complete a full analysis and report in a manner that is consistent with readily accepted professional methodology and/or the accepted FCMAT protocol. Prospective applicants possessing the necessary skills for this assignment and meeting the RFA consultant standards for project quality are encouraged to respond to any area or sub-area listed below.
Pupil Achievement
• Curriculum Management Assessment
• Curriculum Content Assessment
• Special Services (must include Special Education, and English language learners; may include GATE, ROP, ROTC, or other categorical program assessment.)
• II/USP and other accountability program assessment
• District’s Status Relative to Stated FCMAT Professional and Legal Standards
Financial Management
• Accounting and Internal Control Study
• Multi-Year Projections (Five Years), Including District’s Ability to Meet Loan Schedule
• An Analysis of any Internal and External Audits for Compliance
• Status of Management Information Systems
• An Analysis of Insurance Coverages and potential unfunded liability for retiree benefits
• Review and Analysis of Independent Contracts
• District’s Status Relative to Stated FCMAT Professional and Legal Standards
Facilities Management
• Protection and Safety for pupils, employees, and district property
• Five-Year Assessment of Capital Needs
• Management control and procedures for managing all construction and modernization projects
• General and Deferred Maintenance Issues
• Long-Range Planning and Maintenance of Effort
• Analysis of Appropriate Use of Proceeds of Bond Revenue
• District’s Status Relative to Stated FCMAT Professional and Legal Standards
Personnel Procedures
• Recruitment, Screening, Assessment, and Hiring Procedures, including specific efforts to retain staff
• Staff Development/Required and Desired (i.e., HIV, Mandated Child Abuse Reporting, etc.)
• Office Procedures and Efficiency
• Monitoring Compliance Procedures (i.e., Evaluations, Assistance Plans, Credentials, TB Tests, etc.)
• District’s Status Relative to Stated FCMAT Professional and Legal Standards
Governance/Community Relations
• Board Policies, Responsibilities and Boardsmanship
• Communication System (Students, Staff, Board and Community)
• Community Collaboratives and Advisory Councils
• Campus Security
• District’s Status Relative to Stated FCMAT Professional and Legal Standards
FCMAT submits that there are professional and legal standards all school districts are expected to meet. The successful applicant will be expected to assess these predetermined standards and report findings and recommendations. FCMAT will provide the applicant with a list of standards; however, the applicant is not restricted to only those standards. It is anticipated and expected that the applicants provide and note, as part of their proposal, additional professional and legal standards that will need to be tested. These additional standards shall be provided in a format consistent with the attached sample assessment format. Professional and legal standards need to be designated as either a professional or legal standard.
B. The applicant should complete specified improvement plans for the West Contra Costa Unified School District in one or more of the five (5) areas or sub-areas as specified by AB 2265 and this RFA.
Once the assessment of the standards has occurred, the applicant will be required to develop specified improvement plans in one or more of the areas assessed. The improvement plans must include a method by which FCMAT can measure whether substantial and sustained progress has been made in the five study areas. The improvement plan shall also adhere to the specifics of AB 2265 and this RFA.
C. The complete assessment and improvement plans shall be submitted to FCMAT six months after the approval date of the provider’s contract.
D. The provider shall determine a baseline for purposes of measuring progress within each of the five assessment and improvement plan areas for the purpose of considering the position of the West Contra Costa Unified School District in relationship to the predetermined professional and legal standards. The provider is required to determine where the district is relative to the standards and translate that information to the rubric established for this project. This rubric assigns a scaled score to each standard and is included in this RFA for your review and understanding. The provider will assign a scaled score to each standard. FCMAT has the right to adjust the scaled score after consultation with the provider.
E. Provide special attention to the identification of safety and health standards and describe the steps that will be required by the applicant to assist the West Contra Costa Unified School District in meeting those standards.
F. Describe how the applicant will engage the governing board, representatives of employee organizations of the district, and the community in the assessment and recovery plans as specified. The applicant is required to meet with these representatives throughout the process.
G. Include a description (including a timeline) of how the applicant will provide FCMAT with timely and comprehensive progress reports regarding the applicant’s ability to meet the project deadlines.
H. Provide a listing of staff, both primary and secondary, that will be assigned to the project, and a summary of their qualifications. Specify the point person or supervisor of the project and quantify the percentage of time this individual will devote to the project.
I. Develop a line item budget depicting the cost of the project. Keep detailed documentation of all costs incurred in providing the services requested in this RFA. These documents will be requested on a monthly basis.
J. Cooperate and communicate with FCMAT, the district superintendent, the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE), the district governing board, legislature, and any third party evaluator. Prepare and provide to FCMAT monthly status reports to evaluate progress of the assessment and improvement plans. Meet with any above-mentioned group upon request of FCMAT and as the provider’s schedule requires.
K. In the event the provider discovers any issue of illegality or impropriety as a result of their review and/or analysis of the specified areas, that information will be immediately communicated to FCMAT.
