[00:00:07]
THIS REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:30 P.M. . SARAH, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> MEMBER DOSICK? >> YOU HERE.
>> MEMBER RODRIGUEZ? ABSENT. MEMBER MORA?
>> PRESENT. >> VICE PRESENT GRANT?
>> PRESENT. >> PRESIDENT HEREDIA?
>> PRESENT. THE LIVESTREAM IS AVAILABLE AT OUR WEBSITE .
AND THE RECORDINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING THE DAY AFTER THE BOARD MEETING. THOSE IN ATTENDANCE SHOULD EXPECT THAT THE RECORDINGS WILL CAPTURE ALL ACTIVITY AND
[V. CLOSED SESSION]
DISCUSSIONS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER OUR MEETINGS. THE BOARD WILL BE GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TALK WITH THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING THE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD TONIGHT ON THIS CLOSED SESSION ITEM? I AM SEEING NONE. ALL RIGHT.[VI. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION]
OPEN SESSION AT 5:53 P.M. SARAH, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL>> PRESENT. >> VICE PRESENT GRANT?
>> PRESENT. >> PRESIDENT HEREDIA?
>> PRESENT. >> MEMBER RODRIGUEZ?
>> PRESENT. >> SO, MEMBER DOSICK , WOULD YOU PLEASE DISCUSS WITH WAS SITTING CLOSE SESSION?
>> NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN CLOSE SESSION THIS EVENING. BUT, BEFORE YOU MOVE ON, JUST A REMINDER FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE THAT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT BY LAW 1323, MEETING CONDUCT , INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS SHALL BE ALLOWED TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, AND THE BOARD SHALL LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON EACH ITEM FOR 20 MINUTES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE FILL OUT A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD, AND GIVE IT TO SARAH. AT THE END OF OUR MEETING, WE NUMBERS OF OUR PUBLIC FROM TO A FRAME FROM APPROACHING THE DAIS TO ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO GATHER THEIR BELONGINGS, SIGN DOCUMENTS, AND SECURE ANY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. BOARD MEMBERS MAY MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC BY STEPPING DOWN FROM THE DAIS , AND ENTERING
[IX. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA]
THE AREA OF AUDIENCE SEATING. AT THIS POINT, I AM LOOKING FOR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA?>> SO MOVED. >> MOVED BY VICE PRESENT GRANT. SECONDED BY MEMBER HARDEN. WILL YOU CALL THE ROLE
[X.a. Student Board Member ]
>> AYE. >> VICE PRESENT GRANT?
>> AYE. >> MOVING ONTO BOARD MUNICATION, STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS, TINA RODRIGUEZ?
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. ALL OF THE NIGHTHAWK SENIORS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THERE FAFSA APPLICATIONS FINISHED WITH THE HELP OF THE COUNCIL. THERE ARE CASH OR COLLEGE DEBT WORKSHOPS TO ENSURE THAT SENIORS GET THE HELP THEY NEED . SPRING SPORTS ARE IN FULL EFFECT. THE STANDOUT TEAM IS OUR VOLLEYBALL TEAM, WHICH IS UNDEFEATED. THE REST OF THE MONTH, THE NIGHTHAWKS GET TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT CAREERS WITH A STUDENT LED CAREER FAIR ON TUESDAY, AND TEACHERS FROM ALSO SPENT SUBJECTS WILL ALL YOU TO HEAR ABOUT DIFFERENT CAREERS AT THIS EVENT. IT WAS PRETTY COOL. AND THEN THEY RESEARCHED THESE CAREERS THROUGH A CAREER SEARCH ESSAY. SO, THIS IS BASICALLY A WEEKLONG COMPETITION , AND THEY CAN EARN POINTS WITH EACH GRADE PARTICIPATING. SO, I AM A SENIOR, I WROTE MY NAME DOWN, AND I, CLASS POINTS JUST FOR PARTICIPAING. THE COOL THING IS WE HAVE THIS GAME AT LUNCHTIME , WHICH I WAS SURPRISED BY. ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATION LIKE TO THE GAME . IT'S BASICALLY A TIN FOIL PAN , AND PEOPLE HAVE TO FIND BUBBLEGUM WITHOUT USING THEIR HANDS. EVERYBODY STOOD UP AND HAD WHIPPED CREAM ALL OVER THEIR FACES. I THOUGHT I WOULD EVER GET TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO, IT WAS FUNNY. WE ARE GOING INTO FOURTH QUARTER, AND HEADING INTO SPRING RECESS.
[00:05:01]
THE SCHOOL COLLEGE CAREER SPECIALISTS ARE HELPING STUDENTS COMPLETE THEIR FAFSA. ACROSS CAMPUS, MARCH MADNESS IS WRAPPING UP. THOSE IN ATTENDANCE COMPETE IN COMPETITIONS AT LUNCH FOR A TAKEDOWN EVENT ON THURSDAY.THE DRAMA CLUB WRAPPED UP THE SPRING MUSICAL ON CLOSING NIGHT SATURDAY, IN THE PSYCHOLOGY CLASS FINISHED VISITING SCIENCE STATE ON MONDAY. THIS ALLOWED THEM TO EXPLORE FURTHER JOBS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT . IN ATHLETICS, SPRING IS IN FULL SWING. AT GREEN ACADEMY, STUDENTS ARE EXCITED FOR THEIR UPCOMING SPRING BREAK. MANY OF THE NINTH AND 10THGRADERS ENJOYED A FIELD TRIP THIS WEEK. THE LJ COMMUNITY ENJOYED MULTICULTURAL NIGHT, WHERE STUDENTS AND STAFF PERFORMED. STUDENTS CALL AS A RECOGNIZE YESTERDAY DURING AN ASSEMBLY FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK. JUNIORS AND SENIORS ARE GETTING READY FOR JUNIOR/SENIOR PROM , AND THERE ARE SOME LGA HELD PROM DRESS GIVEAWAYS THIS FRIDAY TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY ON ITEMS THAT WERE DONATED. THE SIX GREAT SOCCER TEAM IS IN THE REGULAR SESSION ON A POSITIVE NOTE. THERE ARE TRYOUTS THIS WEEK FOR SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS . AT DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL, STUDENTS ARE GETTING READY FOR GRADUATION , AND THE CULINARY CLASSES HOSTED A LUNCH ON THURSDAY TO HELP WITH AWESOME ATTENDANCE AWARDS. THE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM IS 6-0 .
STUDENTS AND STAFF HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE ON APRIL 30TH TO TALK ABOUT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND ENGAGE WITH PARENTS.
STUDENTS ARE MEETING WITH THE COUNSELING TEAM TO REVIEW CLASS SELECTIONS . ON FRIDAY, STUDENTS WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN AN AWARDS ASSEMBLY WERE STUDENTS WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS , GPA, ATTENDANCE, AND ATHLETICS. THE SEVENTH AND GREAT EIGHTH-GRADE SOCCER TEAMS ARE ALSO IN FULL SWING. THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. ONE SECOND. THANK
[X.b. Board Members ]
YOU. >> SOMETHING THAT MEMBER RODRIGUEZ REMINDED ME OF WITH THE EXTENDED DEADLINE FOR THE FAFSA , THE FEDERAL APPLICATION FOR STUDENT AID. EVERYONE WHO NEEDS TO KNOW THAT INFORMATION, THE APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED. SO, WE CAN ALL SPREAD THE WORD. I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF, AND THEN IT ALWAYS IN THE SUMMER BETWEEN BRIEF AND NOT BRIEF. BUT I WANTED TO FIRST RECOGNIZE THE TWO THINGS WE ARE CELEBRATING TODAY, WHICH IS ARTS EDUCATION MONTH , AND
-- . >> SORRY. THAT'S MY FAVORITE,
SORRY. >> I KNOW I SURE THAT WITH MY COLLEAGUES, WHO ARE EXCITED, BUT IT IS ALSO FITTING WE HAVE AN UPDATE IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE ON PROP 28, WHICH IS ARTS, MUSIC, AND SPORTS. WE ARE PUTTING THIS IN THE FOREFRONT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS. WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING THE THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL AND SOCCER TEAMS. WITH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED HERE AT OUR SCHOOLS , I KNOW HOW MUCH VALUE OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING FROM THESE PROGRAMS , THEIR COACHES, AND THEIR TEAMMATES .
SOMETIMES, THOSE LESSONS AND THINGS DON'T CLICK UNTIL A LOT LATER. BUT, I PROMISE YOU THEY DO. AND I HOPE THAT THEY ARE PROUD OF THEMSELVES INDIVIDUALLY , AND ALSO PROUD OF THEIR TEAM AND HOW WELL THEY WORKED TOGETHER, BECAUSE EVERY BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT ALWAYS HAS A GOOD TEAM BEHIND IT. ANOTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT I HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND A PARENT ROUNDTABLE WITH THE PATEL MISS "PARENTS UNITED, AND IT SERVED AS A MUCH NEEDED AND VERY RICH DISCUSSION JUST BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE GROUP. I GOT TO HEAR A LOT OF PERSONAL STORIES AND CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INEVITABLE GAPS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ADDRESS. SECOND TO LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THE FIRST EVER, I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO DO A DRUMROLL . I HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND, ALONG WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES IN MANY DISTRICTS THE FIRST EVER POTOMAC LGBT
[00:10:05]
STUDENT CONFERENCE. IT WAS REALLY STUDENT LED , AND WE HAD A LOT OF STAFF WHO HELPED PLAN THE CONFERENCE . YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANT THINGS, WHICH IS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE THERE TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE AND THE JOY THAT WAS IN EVERYONE'S FACES.YOU CAN TELL THAT HE MEANT THE WORLD TO THEM. AND THERE WERE A LOT OF IMPORTANT RESOURCES , A LOT OF THINGS TO REINFORCE OUR SAFE HAVEN POLICY. STUDENT SAFETY, AND STUDENT SUPPORTS.
THIS IS ALSO A GREAT SEGUE TO, ONCE AGAIN, RECOGNIZING THE TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, A YEAR LATER, STILL AT A TIME WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND MISEDUCATION ABOUT THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY AND POPULATION. SO, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE DAY AND THE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH THAT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE. THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO MENTION IN MY BOAT REPORT IS I HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND THE ACADEMY MULTICULTURAL FAIR . THE TWO THINGS THAT KIND OF STICK OUT -- WELL, THREE THINGS . ONE, JUST BEING ABLE TO BE THERE IN COMMUNITY WITH EVERYONE . WE TALKED ABOUT TV SHOWS , WE TALKED ABOUT FOOD, WE TALKED ABOUT SO MANY THINGS. I HAD A SPICY CHICKEN AND RICE PLATE OF BEER AND HONEY THAT DID NOT LOOK SPICY, BUT THAT IS OKAY, BECAUSE I LIKE SPICY FOOD. THEY HAD TO ROSE, THEY HAD ALL KINDS OF THINGS. I EVEN RAN INTO A FORMER TEACHER WHO WAS LEADING A HULA GROUP. SO, THAT WAS REALLY NICE AS WELL. THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION IN MY REPORT , AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO OUR MEETING. >> THANK YOU , PRESIDENT HEREDIA. TO KEEP IT BRIEF, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF THE FIRST PRE-FESTIVAL CONFERENCE THAT WAS EXTORTED EARLY WELL DONE. MY THANKS TO STAFF, NOT JUST DISTRICT STAFF , ESPECIALLY NOT JUST DISTRICT STAFF, BUT THE STAFF AT ALL THE SCHOOLS, ALL THE CLUBS I GOT TOGETHER. THERE WAS TRULY SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT ALL OF THE THOMAS TOGETHER, AND I COMMEND THEIR EFFORTS FOR THAT. MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE CAN PICK A DAY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A MONSOON. EVEN DESPITE THAT, IT DID NOT AFFECT THE MOOD. OTHER THAN THAT, I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE CELEBRATION. EVEN BEFORE I KNEW THE NORTH AND MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER , WE ARE BOTH COACHING OUR KIDS IN LITTLE LEAGUE. IT CANNOT POSSIBLY BEEN 14 YEARS AGO, COULD IT? IT COULD NOT HAVE. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE JEFF AGAIN IN THIS CONTEXT. SO, THANK YOU.
>> I WILL KEEP IT BRIEF. ON CONSENT TONIGHT, THERE IS AN ITEM TO APPROVE THE ADULT EDUCATION PART OF THE COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM . I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE THAT WORKED ON , BECAUSE THE KIDS WHO ARE DOING THE COSMETOLOGY TRACK WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THOSE CREDITS . I THINK IT IS IS A GOOD AND FANTASTIC CAREER. BERBERS ARE MAKING SIX FIGURES, AND THAT WAS NOT FOR MEALS POSSIBLE TWO YEARS AGO. THE GOVERNOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK SIGNED THE LEGISLATION AWARD TO BECOME A BARBER. WE JUST GOT THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THAT. I KNOW WE DON'T USUALLY TALK ABOUT CONSENT ITEMS DURING CONSENT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THAT POSITION THAT WILL BE POSTED. COUNSEL?
>> I JUST ECHO ALL OF THE FELLOW TRUSTEES . YES, THANK YOU.
MICROPHONE WAS ON. SO, I WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT THING THAT THERE WERE SO MANY ACTIVITIES , AND SO MUCH TO ENGAGE IN. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE IN THE LAST HOUR WAS THE DISCUSSION . IT WAS A STUDENT PANEL DISCUSSION. I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU JUST A FEW THOUGHTS HERE OF WHAT I HEARD.
THE STUDENTS ASKED THE PANEL , YOU KNOW, HOW WOULD THEY TREAT
[00:15:05]
OR ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T ACCEPT THEM? WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THEM? WHO ARE MISINFORMED ABOUT THEIR IDENTITY? SO, THE STUDENTS SAID TO BE PATIENT WITH THAT PERSON , NUMBER TWO, BE WILLING TO TELL THEM ABOUT THEIR MISSTEPS IF THEY DO SOMETHING TO YOU, YOU KNOW . INFORM THEM OF THEIR MISINFORMATION. AND ALSO, IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO LISTEN TO THE HATE MESSAGES ON THEIR CAMPUS , BUT TO SHARE THOSE MESSAGES WITH ADMINISTRATORS. THEY ALSO SAID THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THEIR ELDERS, AND THEY DID FIND ELDERS AS ANYBODY OVER 60 YEARS OLD. THAT WAS A REAL SHOCK. SO, THE ELDERS, THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE OF HOW TO INTERACT WITH THEM. THEY TALKED ABOUT CONCERNS . OF NOT BEING HEARD. YOU KNOW, OF NOT BEING ACCEPTED AS SOMEONE WHO IDENTIFIES AS AN LGBT MEMBER. THEY OFTEN IGNORE THE HOMOPHOBIC COMMENTS, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO INSTIGATE OTHERS TO BE MORE NEGATIVE TOWARDS THEM. SOME TALKED ABOUT HOW ON CAMPUSES, THEY FEEL SAFE, AND HOW ON A CERTAIN PART OF CAMPUS, THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE. SO, THEY REALLY TRY TO , I GOT THE IMPRESSION, TO MAKE THEMSELVES INVISIBLE THERE. THEY TALKED ABOUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SAY SOMETHING TO THEM, TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT STUDENT IS COMING FROM. WHAT IS THEIR INTENT? WHATEVER IT MAY BE, START THE CONVERSATION WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL WITH KINDNESS. YOU KNOW, AND EXPLAIN HOW WORDS AND ACTIONS HURT. AND IGNORE THEM IF THEY DON'T RESPECT YOU. IN THE LAST QUESTION WAS WHAT WAS THE NEED FOR YOUR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY LGBTQ+ STUDENTS WERE KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOUSE .THEY TALKED ABOUT CLOTHING AND FOOD . WHEN I LISTENED TO THEM ON THIS PANEL DISCUSSION, IT WAS SO MOVING. THEY ARE SO ARTICULATE , YOU KNOW, JUST SO PASSIONATE , AND LISTENING TO A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO DON'T FEEL HATE TOWARDS ANYBODY, THEY HAVE LEARNED A SET OF TOOLS TO USE WHEN THEY ARE CONFRONTED, OR WERE THEY ARE IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BEING RESPECTED, OR BEING UNDERSTOOD OR HEARD. SO, I WAS JUST REALLY IMPRESSED. AND THESE ARE STUDENTS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. SO, YOU KNOW, THE FINAL CONVERSATION, WHICH I WAS GLAD I WAS ABLE TO SIT IN THE ROOM WITH MANY OF OUR DISTRICT PERSONNEL, I WAS JUST VERY MOVED. IT WAS AMAZING HOW ADULT LIKE A GROUP OF STUDENTS COULD EXPRESS THEIR IDEAS AS PEOPLE WHO OFTEN FACES
[X.c. Superintendent's Report ]
TERMINATION. SO, THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. SUPERINTENDENT? ABLE TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE, AND BE A PART OF THE WELCOME. I DID APPRECIATE BEING UP THERE. WE HAD OUR LEADERS IS ALSO PART OF THAT WELCOMING. SO, IT WAS NICE TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS , AND JUST PUT IN THE TIME IN THE EFFORT TO WORK WITH STUDENTS TO MAKE AN EVENT POSSIBLE. WE WERE ABLE TO WALK AROUND AND SEE THE TENTS SET UP WITH ACTIVITIES AND VENDORS. SO, IT WAS REALLY NICE. IT WAS STILL A GREAT EVENT. I AM VERY EXCITED THAT NOW SPRING SPORTS IS STARTING UP. I GOT TO GO TO A SOFTBALL GAME YESTERDAY, AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. IT WAS NICE TO PLAY OUTSIDE AND SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SOFTBALL. I LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING THE OTHER SPRING SPORTING EVENTS AS THEY ARE COMING UP THIS SPRING. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO VISIT -- SCHOOL AND WALK THE CLASSROOMS WITH THE PRINCIPAL . IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO SEE THE LITTLE TEA CARES AND KINDERGARTNERS . I GOT TO ASK THEM THEIR NAME IN SPANISH, AND HOW THEY WERE IN SPANISH, AND I GOT A LOT OF WHO ARE YOU . SO, IT IS HARD TOEXPLAIN WHAT A SUPERINTENDENT IS . SO, I WORKED WITH THE PRINCIPAL TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO LEARN. BUT THEY WERE JUST ADORABLE AND WORKING HARD, AND JUST TO SEE HOW FAR THEY
[00:20:01]
HAVE COME OUT OF THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WHERE EVERYTHING WAS NEW , AND PROBABLY A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION TO BE HEARING A LANGUAGE THAT YOU ARE USED TO HEARING , AND JUST SEEING HOW WELL THE STUDENTS HAVE ADJUSTED. SO, THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN. I GOT TO GO VISIT WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL , AND GO ON A TOUR . IT WAS NEAT TO SEE EVEN BEHIND THE BUILDING, THERE IS THIS LITTLE OASIS OUTSIDE BACK THERE THAT IS REALLY KIND OF COOL, AND VISITING SOME OF THE CLASSROOMS , AND HEARING ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THERE. SO, I REALLY ENJOYED THAT. I AM SO EXCITED FOR OUR STUDENT RECOGNITIONS TONIGHT. I FELT LIKE WITH THE SOCCER AND THE BASKETBALL TEAM THAT I WAS PART OF THAT JOURNEY AND STORY. THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH EXCITEMENT AND TRAUMA. I REMEMBER WITH THOSE PRE-CASEY WENT THROUGH ONE AROUND , AND IN THE SECOND ROUND, AND THEN WE ONE ON THE VERY LAST KICK, AND HOW EXCITED THAT WAS , AND THE BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE SECTION TITLE, YOU KNOW, AND HOW EXCITING THAT WAS , AND JUST TO SEE THAT JOURNEY, AND THEN THE BASKETBALL TEAM WAS JUST ONE GAME AFTER ANOTHER ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEATS, YOUR HEART POUNDING, I TELL PEOPLE I DON'T EVEN NEED TO EXERCISE, BECAUSE THESE KIDS GET MY HEART GOING, BUT MOST IMPORTANT LEE, AND I SPOKE AND TO THIS BEFORE, IT IS THE GRIT AND DETERMINATION. THEY GET BEHIND BY 19 POINTS , TURNAROUND, AND GET ALL THOSE POINTS BACK AND WIN THE GAME. IT WAS JUST THAT DETERMINATION, THAT FIRE. THEY JUST KEPT GOING, AND YOU NEVER SAW THEM LOSE HEART. SO, I AM JUST REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT. AND THEN I JUST WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY SPRING BREAK NEXT WEEK. I HOPE EVERYONE GETS SOME REST AND RELAXATION. IT GETS SO BUSY THROUGH THE MONTH OF MARCH. WE DON'T HAVE ANY VACATIONS, WE DON'T HAVE ANY SENSE IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY, AND WHEN WE COME BACK, WE ARE GETTING INTO TESTING , AND GRADUATION SEASON, AND THE END OF THE YEAR WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT. SO, I REALLY HOPE EVERYONE GETS SOME ROLLED WELL-DESERVED REST AND RELAXATION DURING THAT[XI. CONSENT ITEMS ]
PERIOD >> THANK YOU. OKAY, MOVING ON TO CONSENT ITEMS. I AM MOVING TO HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR? MOVED BY VICE PRESENT GRANT, SECONDED BY MEMBER DOSICK. WILL YOU CALL
[XII.a. Arts Education Month: Recognize Natomas High School CTE Music Production & Recording Arts Teacher, Jeff Galindo]
>> AYE. >> VICE PRESENT GRANT ?
>> AYE. >> NEXT IS THE CELEBRATIONS.
THE ARTS EDUCATION MONTH, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL CTE MUSIC HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION AND RECORDING PROGRAM. THIS IS CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER WHO WILL LEAD
US THROUGH THE CELEBRATION. >> I WILL ACTUALLY HAVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AMY BEER SHOT COME UP AND RECOGNIZE HIM.
TRUSTEES IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE JEFF GALINDO, OR VERY TALENTED MUSIC PRODUCTION TEACHER . WE ARE RECOGNIZING MR. GALINDO IN MARCH, WHICH IS CELEBRATING ARTS EDUCATION MONTH. MR. GALINDO, WILL YOU JOIN ME? FOR OVER 19 YEARS, MR. GALINDO HAS SHARED HIS PASSION FOR EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC INSTRUCTION. IN 2005, MR. GALINDO STARTED THE ORCHESTRA PROGRAM AT NATOMAS MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND TAUGHT BAND, CHORUS, AND, YOU GUESSED IT, ORCHESTRA. AFTER 15 YEARS , HE STARTED ATOMIC HIGH SCHOOLS MUSIC PRODUCTION PATHWAY, REALLY ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO CREATE AND PERFORM THEIR OWN MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS. MR. GALINDO BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN ALL OF HIS STUDENTS, BECAUSE HE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL TEACHER WHO LOVES TO CHALLENGE EACH OF THEM TO BE THEIR VERY BEST. ASK AROUND ONE SET FOR ANYONE TO GROW UP COMPLETE, THE ARTS ARE IMPERATIVE. WE THANK YOU, MR. GALINDO, FOR BRINGING THE ARTS TO OUR STUDENTS, FOR BRINGING THEM VOICE OR MUSIC, AND FOR
HELPING THEM TO SPEAK. >> I AM TRULY HONORED , THANK YOU. BEING PART OF THE DISTRICT THAT HAS SUPPORTED THE ARTS MY ENTIRE CAREER HERE IN THIS DISTRICT IS REALLY EXTRAORDINARY. IT'S PRETTY PHENOMENAL , AND THE MUSIC WORLD, THE MUSIC EDUCATION CIRCLES ARE NOT THAT BIG. I AM TALKING TO OTHER BAND DIRECTORS, ORCHESTRA DIRECTORS, JAZZ DIRECTORS, CHOIR DIRECTORS. IT IS RARE THAT IT
[00:25:02]
IS SUPPORTED THE WAY THAT THIS DISTRICT SUPPORTS IT. I AM REALLY SUPER GRATEFUL FOR HOW THE BOARD HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED ME AND THE ARTS IN THIS DISTRICT FOR SURE. I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT I GET TO DO WHAT I GET TO DO IN THIS FIELD. I GET TO WORK WITH GUYS LIKE THIS GUY , WHO ARE AMAZING. AND I SEE HOW KIDS LIVE THROUGH MUSIC. YOU KNOW, JUST BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE PART OF IT . IT IS JUST REALLY SPECIAL. I HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT WITH CHOIRS, JAZZ BANDS , ORCHESTRAS , AND WHOLE BOARD MEETINGS IN THE PAST . AND NOW, I AM DOING SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT . IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME OR TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE DOING WHAT I AM DOING , I WOULD CALL YOU CRAZY. SO, I WANT TO THANK AJ FOR SURE.YOU ARE OUR CCTA GODMOTHER. WE ALL FEEL SO LUCKY. JUST, LIKE, HOW IS THIS HAPPENING? HOW DO WE GET TO DO WHAT WE GET TO DO ON A DAILY BASIS? JUST THE TIRELESS WORK YOU DO BEHIND-THE-SCENES , IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. MY WIFE, IF SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SAID WHAT SHE SAID ON OUR DECK ONE AFTERNOON, AND IT WAS , YOU NEED TO FOLLOW YOUR PASSION .
DO YOUR PASSION. I SAID THAT CAN'T HAPPEN, AND I SAID SHE SAID YES IT CAN. AND I SAID NO IT CAN'T. AND THEN SHE WON.
AND NOW I GET TO DO WHAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE DOING WITH PEOPLE THAT I ABSOLUTELY ADORE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
>> HOLD ON, THERE IS MORE. SO, TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT, IF YOU DON'T MIND JOINING US AT THE FRONT OF THE DAIS ? MR. BAKER , ALL OF THESE FOLKS ARE GETTING RECOGNIZE TONIGHT. LET ME GRAB MR. BAKER SO HE CAN COME IN AS WELL SO WE CAN GET A PICTURE AT THE FRONT.
[XII.b. Boys Basketball and Soccer Teams of Natomas High School ]
[00:31:17]
CELEBRATION IS OUR BOYS BASKETBALL AND SOCCER TEAMS OF THE THOMAS HIGH. I THINK YOU PROBABLY HEARD THEM OUTSIDE THERE. SO, THIS IS SUPERINTENDENT WHO WILL LEAD USTO THE CELEBRATION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS YOU KNOW, TEAM ACHIEVEMENT DOES NOT GO WITHOUT GREAT COMMUNICATION.
SO, THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL HEAR FROM US UP THERE. I'M VERY HONORED TONIGHT TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THE COACHES AND PLAYERS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A WHILE HERE.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS TO JOIN US FROM THE DAIS, AND IT WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INVITE MR. BAKER AND COACH CARTER TO COME BACK APPEAR TO WELCOME OUR TEAMS. SO, FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE NATOMAS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER TEAM . AFTER WINNING THAT HEART POUNDING FINAL MATCH IN PK WHICH YOU HEARD ABOUT , THE BOYS ARE ADVANCING TO BECOME THE 2023-2024 CIF TEAM SECTION DIVISION FOUR SOCCER CHAMPIONS , WHICH IS NO SMALL FEAT. SO, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE COACH, HIS STAFF, AND THE PLAYERS TO ENTER THE BOARD ROOMS, AND INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. I AM THE
HEAD COACH. >> I AM THE ASSISTANT COACH.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS -- AND I AM A SENIOR. NEXT YEAR, I WILL BE PLAYING COLLEGE SOCCER AT AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE.
>> --, SENIOR. >> MY NAME IS XAVIER, AND I AM
A SENIOR. >> MY NAME IS DONOVAN RODRIGUEZ, AND I AM A SENIOR.
>> MY NAME IS -- , AND I AM A SENIOR. I WILL BE PLAYING
COLLEGE SOCCER NEXT YEAR. >> MY NAME IS DEAL GONZALEZ, I'M A SENIOR, AND I PLAN ON GOING TO -- FOR MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING. >> MY NAME IS -- , I AM A SENIOR, AND I PLAN ON ATTENDING ZACH STATE TO MAJOR IN
BUSINESS LIVING. >> JARED , 11TH GRADE.
[00:35:06]
>> MALIK, 11TH GRADE. >> I AM ISAAC RAMOSE, I AM AN
11TH GRADER. >> ISAAC RAMOSE, 11TH GRADER.
PLEASE HAVE THE GROUP COME BACK IN SO WE CAN TAKE A NICE GROUP PHOTO.
STAY UP HERE, WE ARE ABOUT TO RECOGNIZE ONE MORE GROUP. SO, NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE NATOMAS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM. YEAH! SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO SUMMED IT UP WITH THE EXCITEMENT YOU GET WATCHING THESE BOYS PLAY THIS YEAR. THIS YEAR, THEY WERE THE GREATER SACRAMENTO LEAGUE CHAMPIONS, THEY WERE THE CIF DIVISION FOR RUNNER-UP IN A FOUR-POINT HEARTBREAKING LOSS . BUT ONE THING I REALLY, REALLY ADMIRE ABOUT THIS TEAM AND THE COACHING OF THIS TEAM IS THAT IF THERE WAS EVER A MISTAKE OR ANYTHING THAT DID NOT GO THEIR WAY, THEY DID NOT MAKE EXCUSES, THEY DID NOT HANG THEIR HEADS, THEY FORGOT ABOUT IT, AND THEY WANT TO THE NEXT PLAY, AND IT WORKED. IT WAS SO AMAZING TO WATCH. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE INVITE COACH BRIAN MCKENZIE AND HIS STAFF AND PLAYERS TO ENTER THE BOARD ROOM AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
HEAD COACH. >> D'ANGELO JAKIN'S,
ASSISTANT COACH. >> DAVID LOWERY, ASSISTANT
[00:40:07]
COACH. >> THANK YOU. AARON WALLACE,
ASSISTANT COACH. >> WILL LOGO, FRESHMAN COACH.
AND I'M GOING TO ZACH STATE NEXT YEAR.
>> I AM A SENIOR, AND I PLAN ON GOING TO XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL.
>> JOSEPH MCNEIL, AND I AM A FRESHMAN.
>> EJ ROSE, AND I AM A FRESHMAN.
>> I AM JONATHAN BEHEMOTH, AND I AM A JUNIOR.
>> I AM AARON WALLACE, AND I AM A FRESHMAN.
>> AND JEREMY RUBY, AND I AM A JUNIOR.
>> --, SENIOR. >> DARIAN JENKINS, AND I AM A
SENIOR. >> -- JENKINS, AND I AM A
SOPHOMORE. >> MVP AND FIRST TEAM ON
EVERYTHING. >> IF WE CAN HAVE THE TEAM COME BACK IN FOR A GROUP PHOTO, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
[00:45:02]
FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM! FOLLOWING KIDS. EVEN WHEN THEY ARE BIG KIDS. SO, WE ARE ON[XIII.a. TK-12 World Language Instructional Materials Recommendation for Adoption ]
THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM , ITEM 13 A. THIS IS OUR KT THROUGH 12 WORLD LANGUAGE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS RECOMMENDATION FOR ADOPTION. THIS IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA WHEN IT IS PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY THE 22ND OF MARCH, AND STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE TRUSTEES REGARDING THIS ADOPTION. YES,MEMBER MORA? >> NOT A QUESTION, BUT APPRECIATION. I NOTICE WE HAVE OR THERE ARE A LOT OF UPDATES TO MAKE, AND JUST A LOT OF WORK TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ALL OF THOSE UPDATES ARE. JUST, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS I THINK CAN NEVER BE UNDERSTATED ENOUGH . WE HAVE GLOBAL CITIZENS IN OUR STUDENTS. SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY?
>> THE ADOPTION OF MATERIALS IS A LONG PROCESS. THIS IS NOT
[XIV.a. Present and Approve the A-G, AMI M, EEG,and LREBG Plans and 2024-2025 Budget Actions ]
SOMETHING WE TAKE VERY LIGHTLY. SO, THANK YOU TO STAFF OR THE REPORT ALSO. MOVING INTO ACTION ITEMS NOW, 14 A, PRESENT AND APPROVE THE A THROUGH G A.M. I AM , E.G., AND THE LRE E.G. PLANS -- RIGHT, I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER ANGELA HERRERA AND DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT TO LEAD US TOTHIS PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT HEREDIA. YES, WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SING THE ALPHABET EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT THIS BUDGET. I WILL TAKE THE FIRST PART, AND THEN BILL WILL COME AFTER ME TO WRAP UP A FEW THINGS FOR OUR BUDGET ACTION ITEMS. ARE WE GOOD? OH, IT IS NOT UP. OKAY, IS IT OKAY IF WE GO OFF OF YOUR PAPER COPIES FOR NOW? JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC, THIS WILL BE POSTED ONLINE, AND EVERYBODY WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO ACCESS IT
] >> IT IS OKAY. OKAY, THANK YOU.
SO, JUST TO AFFIRM OUR DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW WE ARE LOOKING TO SPEND A BUDGET THAT WE ARE REQUESTING APPROVAL ON IS GOING FOR REVISION. THE SHOWS OUR VALUES AND OUR DISTRICT GOALS. WE COULD NOT PICK A SINGLE DISTRICT GOAL, BECAUSE THIS COVERS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. SO, TONIGHT, WE WILL REVIEW SEVERAL OF OUR FUNDING SOURCES . WE WILL REMIND TRUSTEES OF WHAT THOSE FUNDING SOURCES WERE INTENDED FOR , AND HOW MUCH IS LEFT IN EACH OF THE FUNDING SOURCES , AND THEN WE HAS A MIXED MANAGERS RELATED TO THOSE PLANS AND SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIONS. WE RECEIVED THE A 3G ACCESS GRANTS, AND THE A THROUGH G LEARNING LOSS MITIGATION GRANTS. THIS WAS A RESULT OF COVID. THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE IN THE DISTRICT TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH EITHER INCREASING ACCESS TO COURSES, OR INCREASING THEIR SUCCESS. AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR PAPER , THERE ARE TWO ALLOCATIONS BETWEEN THOSE TWO GRANTS , AND YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE REMAINING AMOUNT IS THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT. HERE IS WHY. IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, WE HAVE RECEIVED QUITE A FEW BUCKETS OF MONEY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE HAVE BEEN
[00:50:03]
CONSTANTLY WORKING TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE MOST RESTRICTIVE SOURCES, WHAT DO WE NEED TO SPEND FIRST. IN ADDITION, THE A THROUGH G GRANTS WE WERE RECEIVE REQUIRE YOU TO SUPPLEMENT , NOT SUPPLANT, OTHER ACTIONS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, IN OUR L CAPITAL LOAN, WE HAVE TIMELINES RELATED TO ACTIONS FOR A 3G ACCESS AND READINESS FOR STUDENTS. THOSE ARE PRE-EXISTING ACTIONS THE TRUSTEE IS HAD ALREADY SET US ON THE COURSE TO ACCOMPLISH AND FUND. THEREFORE, IT BECOMES MORE CHALLENGING TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE ADDITIONAL ACTIONS THAT WE CAN BE TAKING. BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF THOUGHT PUT INTO THAT. AND WE ALSO WERE SPENDING DOWN OUR LEARNING RECOVERY THAT YOU WILL SEE A BIT MORE ABOUT LATER. THE TEAMS COME TOGETHER, AND WE HAVE A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS. WE WOULD LIKE TO HIRE A COUNSELOR ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT. THIS PERSON WANTED HELP FROM A DISTRICT WIDE PERSPECTIVE ALIGNING WORK IN EACH OF OUR SECONDARY SITES. YOU CAN SEE THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT , AND WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING THIS FOR TWO YEARS. DEFINITELY HELPING US FROM A DISTRICT WIDE PERSPECTIVE ON BALANCING MASS SCHEDULES. THIS WAS A SCHEDULE OF ALL THE COURSES THAT ARE OFFERED IN HIGH SCHOOLS, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE BEST ACCESS POSSIBLE TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, WE ARE LOOKING AT PROVIDING SOME ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR TEACHERS WHO ARE TRAINING ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES . AS YOU RECALL, WE HAVE TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT ADVANCED PLACEMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE SCORING THAT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN OUR AP SCORES THAT WE HAVE IS HELPING OUR TEACHERS BECOME SCORES OF AP EXAMS WITH OTHER DISTRICTS. THEY ACTUALLY READ THE EXAMS, AND GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND CALIBRATING AS A SCORER HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND THE CONTENT THAT THEY ARE TEACHING , AND HOW TO HELP PREPARE THEIR STUDENTS FOR THOSE EXAMS. AND THEN LASTLY, YOU WILL HEAR THE PHRASE "INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK" IF YOU TIMES ACROSS THE DIFFERET FUNDING SOURCES.WE ARE REALLY LOOKING TO FUND THE COST OF DEVELOPING, RISING, AND PROVIDING TRAINING FOR THE NINE THROUGH 12TH GRADE PORTION OF OUR INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK. THERE IS A VERY BROAD TERMS. THESE REALLY ADDRESS WHAT OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE AS SUPPORT INSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS , AND THEN THE MEMBER THAT STUDY SESSION WE DID WITH MTS ? WELL, THIS REALLY HELPS ALIGN THE DISTRICT ON WHAT DO WE DO FOR STUDENTS GETTING TO THAT TIER TWO LEVEL? WHAT IS THAT SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCE THAT THEY NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH ? AND ALSO, UP TO TIER THREE MUCH MORE INDIVIDUALIZED. REALLY, WE'RE JUST BUILDINGS COPPERHEADS OF INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO FUND A PORTION OF THAT WORK THAT IS FOCUSED ON EITHER 12TH GRADE WITH A THROUGH G. BEFORE I MOVE ONTO THE NEXT SOURCE, WE WILL RESTATEWHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FOR BUDGET APPROVAL AT THE END . SO, WE WILL GO THROUGH, AND THEN JUST TAKE ONE ACTION AT THE END. THE NEXT FUNDING SOURCE , A.M. I AM , YOU CAN SEE THAT THESE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS. WE HAVE DONE A FAIRLY GOOD JOB OF SPENDING ON THIS FUNDING SOURCE. WE HAVE TWO YEARS TO SPEND THE REST OF THAT MONEY. SO, YOU WILL SEE IN YEAR THREE AND FOUR IS WHERE WE ARE REALLY FOCUS.
TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION, YOU WILL SEE IN THAT PURPLE BLOCK, SOME OF THE THINGS IN THE STABLE THERE ARE LOOKING TO SPEND THAT SHOWS THAT BY THE END OF YOUR FORM, WE WILL HAVE EXPENDED ALL OF THE FUNDS. MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE JUST TO SUMMARIZE THAT, AGAIN, JUST SOME ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT , THE REALLY IN-DEPTH TRAINING AND COACHING FOR PARTICULARLY SIGHTED ADMINISTRATORS. OUR SITE ADMINISTRATORS , THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHING STAFF WITH WHAT TO DO WHEN STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING, AND WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY ARE EXCELLING. SO, WE REALLY NEED TO INVEST IN THAT TRAINING FOR THEM. TRUSTEES, YOU HAVE GIVEN US DIRECTION IN PROVIDING A WIDE VARIETY OF LIBRARY MATERIALS AND RESOURCES THAT REFLECT OUR STUDENT BODY . SO, WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT WORK IN PROVIDING BOOKS FOR OUR LIBRARIES AND FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. WE ALSO RIGHT NOW HAVE A TEMPORARY INCREASE FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE DISTRICT IN LIGHT OF THE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED HEALTH AND WELFARE COSTS FOR EMPLOYEES. SO, THIS ACCOUNT FOR CONTINUING ALLOCATION FOR THE DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION. IN ADDITION, YOU SAW THE BOARD REPORT TONIGHT ABOUT OUR WORLD LANGUAGE ADOPTION RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. YOU WILL SEE THE ACTUAL APPROVAL ITEM AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING , BUT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WOULD BE COMING FROM THIS FUNDING SOURCE THAT WILL HELP COVER THE TOTAL COST OF ALL OF THE ADOPTIONS. YOU HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED SOME FUNDS,
[00:55:02]
AND THIS WILL HELP WRAP IT UP. WE HAVE SOME LPNS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE EXTENDING FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS THAT ARE FORMALLY FUNDED BY ONE-TIME PANDEMIC FUNDS.THIS IS A DEFINITE CONTINUED NEED FOR THOSE SERVICES WITH OUR STUDENT NEEDS , INCLUDING THINGS LIKE -- AMONG OTHER THINGS. SO, THAT IS AMIM. NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO EEG.
THERE IS A BRIEF DISCUSSION WHAT IT IS FOR, REALLY FOCUSED ON INCLUDING EDUCATOR EQUITY, QUALITY EFFECTIVENESS. AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF THE FUNDING. SO, WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL LAYERS TO SPEND THE FUNDING DOWN. THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS A TABLE OF WHAT OUR PLANNED ACTIVITIES WERE. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO TRUSTEES, I WANT TO SAY WAS A 2021? WE BROUGHT IT TO TRUSTEES FOR AN INITIAL APPROVAL. THIS WILL BE AN UPDATE TO REALLOCATE SOME FUNDS. YOU CAN SEE THE TWO RED BOXES FOR INDUCTION TEACHER COSTS, AS WELL AS THE VIRTUAL-REALITY PILING CLASSROOMS. AS I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER WITH MOVING DIFFERENT GROUPS OF FUNDING AROUND TO THE MOST APPROPRIATE FUNDING SOURCES , THE VIRTUAL-REALITY PILOT IS ACTUALLY BEING FUNDED NOW . THAT IS OUR E-SPORTS PROGRAM THAT WE ARE PILOTING RIGHT NOW. WE ARE ABLE TO APPROPRIATELY ALLOCATE TO THOSE FUNDS . SO, THERE ARE A FEW BUCKETS OF MONDAY MONEY THAT ARE GETTING FREED UP, AND WE LIKE TO REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR DEVELOPED WORK WITH OUR INITIATIVE. AND, FOR READING INTERVENTIONS , AS WELL AS REALLY EXCITING WORK TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF WITH STUDIES AND SOME SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND THEN, THAT IS AN INCREASE FROM THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT THAT WE HAD PROJECTED.
>> COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE READING
INTERVENTIONS? >> SURE. I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO
HAVE TONYA SPEAK TO THAT. >> YES. SO, THE READING INTERVENTION STARTED AS A PILOT WITH THREE SCHOOLS IN ADDITION TO TEACHERS ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT BEING TRAINED TO USE LETTERS , WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY TRAINING CLASSROOM TEACHERS TO BECOME LIKE READING INTERVENTION TEACHERS . MAYBE I AM JUST TOO LOUD. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WE HAVE SOME TRULY PROMISING PRACTICES AT TWO OF OUR SITES. WE WILL BE EXPANDING ACROSS THE SITES.
INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME ] IT WILL BE IN OUR SPRING PROGRAM AND PART OF OUR SUMMER PROGRAM, AND I WILL CONTINUE INTO THAT.
>> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. JUST A COUPLE OF MORE ITEMS FOR THIS FUNDING SOURCE. WE ARE PROVIDING A COUPLE OF OUR SITES WITH SOME TARGETED CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SUPPORTS , AND SOME OF THE GRADE LEVELS BASED ON FEEDBACK, AND JUST WORKING ON SITE LEADERS , AND THEN AS YOU WILL RECALL FROM PRIOR NEGOTIATIONS FROM NTA , THERE IS THIS CONCEPT OF 1% TRAINING. IF TEAM MEMBERS COMPLETE 12 HOURS OF TRAINING, THEY RECEIVE AN OFF SCHEDULE ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF 1% OF THEIR SALARY. SO, WE ARE REQUESTING AN INCREASE TO THAT FUNDING ALLOCATION BASED ON THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE PROJECTED RIGHT NOW FOR THIS YEAR. IT MAY BE LESS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROPERLY ALLOCATE THOSE COSTS.
AND THEN, I THINK THIS IS THE LAST ONE? SO, JUST A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF WHAT THIS IS , AND THEN WE HAVE DONE A FAIRLY GOOD JOB OF SPENDING ALL THAT MONEY. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN ORIGINAL. THERE WAS A HIGHER AMOUNT THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROVIDED TO OUR DISTRICT, BUT AFTER SOME SEAT BUDGETING , THAT WAS REDUCED BY COUPLE OF MILLION DOLLARS. THE YOU SEE THAT REFLECTING THAT ADJUSTMENT , AND WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 4 1/2 MILLION LEFT, AND WE HAVE FOUR YEARS, BUT WE ARE DOING A FAIRLY GOOD JOB AND HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY. YOU CAN SEE THAT BY THE END OF THE 2026 YEAR , YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE SPENT ON THE FUNDING SOURCE. WE HAVE THE TABLE THAT HAS ALL THE LINE ITEMS, BUT I
[01:00:02]
WILL JUST SUMMARIZE CONTINUED WORK WITH OUR LITERACY AND MATH SUPPORTS. AND THEN, WE HAVE SOME TARGETED SUPPORTS TO STUDENTS THAT BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING THAT LEARNING RECOVERY INTERVENTION , AND THEN WE RECENTLY INCREASED RATES JUST TO ATTRACT SUBSTITUTES TO OUR DISTRICT AND STAY COMPETITIVE. THERE WERE ALSO SOME RECENT APPROVALS FOR THE HOMELESS AND ATTENDANCE SUPPORTS . THERE IS A PROGRAM SPECIALIST THAT IS DOING THAT WORK FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND ALSO, ATTENDANCE PROGRAMS THAT WE ANTICIPATE WILL HELP US RECOVER ATTENDANCE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THEN THERE IS A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF COSTS. SOME NEW ALLOCATIONS ARE FOR ISL. WE ARE NOW FAMILIAR, WE TALKED A BIT ABOUT READY IXL. WE INITIALLY LAUNCHED THESE TWO PLATFORMS AS A RESULT OF TRUSTEES APPROVAL TO FUND SOME CENTRALIZED SUPPORTS TWO SITES. THAT WENT THROUGH IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR , SO NOW, WE ARE REQUESTING TO CONTINUE ALLOCATING FUNDS , BECAUSE WE HAVE MOVED FROM A PILOT TO USING I-READY . SO, WE LIKE TO CONTINUE THAT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. ONE MORE THING THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT, AND THEN WE WILL TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS. WE ARE REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT NATOMAS PARK ELEMENTARY. LOOKING AT THEM AS A CAMPUS, THEY ARE RIGHT THERE NECK AND NECK . AS YOU RECALL, WE MADE THAT DECISION LAST YEAR TO FUND AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, SO WE ARE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION. AND THIS IS THE COST OF THAT ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL POSITION.>> AND THEN, ANOTHER ONGOING INTRODUCTION PRESENTED FOR YOU TONIGHT IS, AS WE LOOK AT OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND POPULATION, WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. WE ARE PLANNING ON THAT'S , AND HIRING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AS WE HAVE LOOKED AT OUR DATA , WE ARE LOOKING FOR TEACHERS FOR NEXT YEAR. WE ARE LOOKING FOR ONE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER , A SPECIAL EDUCATION AND STRUCTURAL AID LOOKING AT 12 FTE , AND THEN ONE ADDITIONAL FTE FOR NEXT YEAR.
THE APPROXIMATE COST IS ONE .4 MILLION . IT WILL BE FUNDED BY SPED, WE HAVE EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT IS REFUNDED. FOR US, THIS IS ABOUT A 16% 40% INITIATIVE. THIS IS 16 PERCENT 40% POSSIBLE FUNDING EDUCATION FUNDING.
THIS IS YOUR REQUEST PRESENTED TO YOU TONIGHT. AS WE LOOK AT SUMMARIZING THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION FOR YOU, WE ARE SEEKING BOARD APPROVAL. YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR APPROVAL FOR ONE TIME FUNDING FOR THE A 3G LEARNING LOSS EDUCATION PACKET , THE ARTS, MUSIC, AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT A BLOCK THAT , EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS GRANT , AS PRESENTED, ALSO ONE TIME MONEY , THE LEARNING RECOVERY EMERGENCY BOUGHT GRANTS, ONE TIME FUNDING . SO, ALL THE ONE TIME FUNDING HAS CERTAIN EXPIRATION DATES THAT NEED TO BE MET UNDER THE PROGRAM APARTMENTS. AND THE ONGOING FUNDING REQUEST THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR AT THIS TIME IS AN ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND THEN SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFFING AS WE GET TO THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, SLIDE 20. WE ARE LOOKING FOR BOARD APPROVAL ON THESE PROPOSED ACTIONS.
>> NO TRICK QUESTIONS. THIS ALL LOOKS GOOD FROM MY STANDPOINT.
I AM A BIG SPECIAL-EDUCATION LOVER. I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE TIME , BUT I WANT TO LOOK AT THE TIME FRAME AND BRING IT UP.
THE LACK OF INTERVENTION FOR READING -- WE NEED A TIER TWO INTERVENTION FOR ALL OF OUR COUNTY IS. THAT LOOKS GOOD.
THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ONE OF THE BUDGET ITEMS HERE. SORRY, THERE IS A LOT HERE.
[01:05:11]
SO, THE INDUCTION FUTURE COSTS -- I AM SORR. IF I MISSED THIS, I AM SORRY. WE ARE LOOKING AT TEACHER COSTS FOR HOW MANY YEARS? TO REDUCE THIS?>> OKAY. DO WE NOT NEED TO GIVE MONEY TO TEACHER INDUCTION?
>> WE DON'T NEED THAT MUCH. >> WE DON'T NEED THAT MUCH? OKAY. I ONLY ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK THAT FOR TIME, WE THINK ABOUT TEACHER INDUCTION AND HOW MUCH WE ACTUALLY DO IN HOUSE VERSUS HOW MUCH TRAINING IS OUTSIDE OF OUR DISTRICT, I WOULD REALLY LIKE US TO BE DARK COGNIZANT OF THAT, BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TIME WHERE IT IS ALL IN HOUSE . WE WANT THE EXPERTISE HERE TO DO IT. THAT IS WHY I QUESTIONED IT. WE'LL PUT THAT ON ANYBODY'S RADAR RIGHT THERE. THEN I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION. LET'S SEE. SO, I THINK IT WAS -- SORRY. I SHOULD HAVE PULLED THIS UP. THE ATTENDANCE AND PLAN OF PROGRAMS. I AM LOOKING ON PAGE FIVE -- NEVERMIND. DON'T SAY FIVE, BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENT FATE PAGE. BUT IT SAYS FIVE. IT HAS THE ATTENDANCE AND CENTER PROGRAM ADMITTED TO THE ATTENDANCE PROGRAM. CAN YOU TALK TO ME JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE READ THOSE SAFETY PLANS , AND IN THE SAFETY PLANS, THERE IS A LOT OF ATTENTION TO ATTENDANCE. SO, I DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT OR HOW THAT RELATES TO THE SAFETY PLANS.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUSED WORK THAT IS BEING DONE UTILIZING THE PLATFORM THAT WAS APPROVED LAST SPRING. IN ADDITION TO DOING A LOT OF CAMPAIGNING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENDANCE, WE PROVIDED A DASHBOARD THAT WE CAN USE TO WORK VERY QUICKLY WITH SITES AS STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH TRUANCY. CREATING UNIFORM WAY THAT WE COMEDIC A WITH FAMILIES , AND ARE ABLE TO INTERVENE EARLY.
THERE IS A PROACTIVE PIECE , AND ALSO A RESPONSIVE PIECE FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING TO STUDENTS. IN ADDITION THAT WAS COUPLED WITH THIS PROGRAM SPECIALIST IS PART OF THEIR WORK IN SUPPORTING HOMELESS STUDENTS, WE HAVE A HOTLINE FOR OUR HOMELESS YOUTH THAT THEY CAN CALL WITH ANY ACCESS TO RESOURCES. BUT ALSO, THIS PROGRAM SPECIALIST IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY ON THE SCHOOL SITES TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO ENGAGE WITH THE STUDENTS TO TRY TO INCREASE
>> I WAS JUST CURIOUS. THE ITEM UNDER INDIRECT COST , CAN YOU JUST ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT WOULD CONSTITUTE THAT?
>> SURE. WITH INDIRECT COST, THERE'S USUALLY A 5% ESTABLISHED BASED ON THE BUDGET OF FUNDING. AND INDIRECT COST IS ASSOCIATED WITH MAKING SURE THAT IF THERE IS PAYROLL ACTIVITIES, THERE IS PAYROLL STAFFING THAT CAN SUPPORT THAT. WE HAVE CLERICAL STAFFING THAT CAN SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
THOSE ARE DIRECTLY RELATED COSTS TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE PROGRAMS. AND THAT IS WERE IN COURT INDIRECT COST CAN DO.
>> THANK YOU. >> I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A NOD TO PROP 20 THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME RECENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL GET ITS OWN
[01:10:01]
CONVERSATION WITH TRUSTEES. SO, THIS DEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENED OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, AND WE RECOGNIZE WE NEED TO HAVE A SEPARATE CONVERSATION. SO, YOU WILL HEARMORE DETAILS ABOUT THAT. >> OKAY, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. IN THIS GOES BACK TO THE SPECIAL ED STAFFING. YOU KNOW, OUR STAFFING NEEDS ARE ESCALATING . ESPECIALLY THIS IS WHEN I HAVE SEEN 12 INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS IN THE FTE E HERE. MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, IN THE OLD DAYS, WE DID NOT GET OUR ADEQUATE SHARE OF THE MONEY , AND IT ALL STARTED COMING OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUNDS. I MEAN, WHAT ARE YOUR
THOUGHTS? >> NOT KNOW THAT WE HAVE BECOME OUR OWN DISTRICT , WE ARE SHARING THAT FOR MULTIPLE DISTRICTS. WE ARE IN A BETTER PLACE TODAY THAN WE WERE 10 YEARS AGO. WHILE IT IS STILL AN UNDERFUNDED PROGRAM , IT IS LESS AROUND -- IT WAS MORE LIKE 60-40 NOW. SO, FINANCIALLY WE ARE BEING OUR OWN SELF. SO, IT IS MUCH DIFFERENT TODAY THAN FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO.
>> OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT ESCALATING
COST. >> AND I APOLOGIZE, I DRIFTED OFF. CAN YOU REPEAT THE LAST LINE OF HOW IT IS HELPFUL?
>> OUR FUNDING WAS PULLED WITH MULTIPLE DISTRICTS. AS A SINGLE DISTRICT THAT WAS GROWING , WE GOT RATES THAT WERE 10 YEARS OLD. OUR RATES WEREN'T ADJUSTED DURING THAT
TIME. THANK YOU. >> AT I THINK AT THIS POINT, TRUSTEES, WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN ACTION ON THIS PRESENTATION.
>> ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR ACTION ITEMS? THIS WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION, ALTHOUGH I MUST SAY , THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE BOARD COMMUNICATIONS , YOU KNOW, AND ONE ON ONES. AT THIS POINT THEN, I AM LOOKING FOR A
MOTION IN A SECOND. >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> MOVED BY VICE PRESENT GRANT, SECONDED BY MEMBER HARDEN. WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE PLEASE, SARAH? SORRY, SARAH, I DO NOT SEE YOU THERE.
>> THAT IS FINE. MEMBER DOSICK?
>> AYE. >> VICE PRESENT GRANT?
[XIV.b. Approve the Comprehensive Site Safety Plans (CSSPs) for the 2024 - 2025 School Year ]
>> AYE. >> THAT MOVES 6-0. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING ONTO THE CONFERENCE OF SITE SAFETY PLANS FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR.
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.
>> MOVED BY VICE PRESENT GRANT, SECONDED BY MEMBER MORA.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PLANS?
>> I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PLAN. I THINK THE PLANS ARE GOOD. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON SCHOOL SAFETY THIS YEAR , I SUPPORT THIS TOPIC, AND I AM CULPABLE WHERE THE PUBLIC IS.
>> WELL, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. THERE ARE JUST A FEW KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE HERE. ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL IS THAT IT WAS A TEMPLATE. SO, IN LOOKING AT THE PLANS , YOU KNOW, JUST ONE OF THE THINGS, I KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE . ON ONE OF THEM, FOR EXAMPLE, IT TALKS ABOUT ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND PARENT RESOURCE INFO FOR 2021. SO, I WASN'T SURE THAT I MISSED SOMETHING, AND IT NEEDS TO GO BACK, AND THEN GO TO THE RIGHT PAGE. THAT IS WHAT
WAS IN THE REPORT. >> FIRST, I WILL INTRODUCE DIRECTOR SHANNON HENRY, WHO IS IN OUR ASSISTANT DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS. YOU'RE REFERRING TO SOME DATA SETS THAT YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ON?
>> YEAH, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS WHEN I LOOKED AT THEM,
[01:15:05]
WHEN I LOOK AT THE MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL , I GOT A SAMPLE AND REALLY LOOKED AT THEM. SO, I JUST APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE THERE IS SOME CONSISTENCY WITH IT. BUT I JUST NOTICED THAT THE AMERICAN LAKE'S HAD YOUR SUPPORT. MY ONLY NOTES UNDER PARENT RESOURCES INFO IS UP TO 2021. SO, I WASN'T SURE IF THERE IS VERY RESOURCES. YOU KNOW, EVERY SCHOOL HAS THAT PAGE , BUT THERE IS JUST THAT IN THE AMERICAN LAKE'S ONE.ANYWAYS , I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOU. OKAY. AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS -- I WILL SAY THAT ONE LATER. THE OTHER ONE IS A REALLY APPRECIATED THE CALIFORNIA CODE SPEED ASSOCIATED WITH THE INFORMATION THERE , BECAUSE WHEN PARENTS ASK ABOUT THINGS RELATED TO SAFETY OR WHATEVER IT IS , THANK YOU. I AM JUST MAKING SURE THAT ALL THAT IS IN THERE.
SO, I ALSO APPRECIATED THE DISCIPLINE MATRIX . I THOUGHT IT REALLY SPELLS IT OUT. I AM JUST NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE REALLY EVEN LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION OR ARE AWARE OF THAT INFORMATION. SO, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ATTENDANCE NEAR THE BUDGET ITEMS FOR ATTENDANCE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT FOR OUR SAFETY PLANS IN-HOUSE, AND HOW THAT CORRELATES TO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO THERE. I'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE HERE. WE HAVE INGRESS AND EGRESS MAPS . YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THAT, ESPECIALLY FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK THERE WAS AMERICAN LAKES. YOU COULD REALLY SEE IT COMPARED TO OTHER SCHOOLS. SO, THE CELL PHONE POLICY, WHICH IS AGAIN, ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. THAT ALL FALLS UNDER SAFETY, RIGHT? I KEPT THINKING, OKAY, DRESS, CELL PHONES, ALL OF THAT IS IN THERE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS DISTRICT IS WORKING TOWARDS IS GETTING SOME KIND OF CONSISTENCY WITH THE CELL PHONE ISSUE IN THIS DISTRICT. I LOOK FORWARD TO A TIME WHEN THAT IS IN THERE AND WE GET MORE THERE. I CAN SHARE OTHER ONES LATER WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT , BUT ANYWAYS, I JUST LOOKED AT THOSE AND WROTE THOSE . I LIKE THAT WHEN IT WAS TAILORED TO THE SCHOOLS. ESPECIALLY NATOMAS HIGH SCHOOL. THEY ACTUALLY BROKE THE ATTENDANCE DOWN BY GENDER . ETHNICITY AND GENDER.
THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT THE OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS . THAT REALLY GAVE A REALLY GOOD PICTURE OF WHAT WAS
HAPPENING THERE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE FEEDBACK.
WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE. >> THAT WAS A LOT OF WORK.
>> SO, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT AND WORKING WITH OUR
SCHOOLS. >> ALL RIGHT. SO, WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND . SO, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE PLEASE?
>> VICE PRESENT GRANT? 13 >> MEMBER MORA? 13
>> MEMBER HARDEN? 13 >> PRESIDENT HEREDIA?
[XIV.c. Approve the 2024-2025 Regular Board Meeting Schedule ]
>> AYE. >> THE CARRY 6-0. MOVING ON TO 14 C , APPROVING THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE. THIS IS
FOR THE 2024-2025 . >> I MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> MEMBER MORA. ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
>> THIS SEEMS BALANCE. IT GIVES TRUSTEES SOME TIME . I THINK WE
] >> ALL RIGHT. SARAH, WOULD YOU
CALL THE ROLE PLEASE? >> MEMBER DOSICK?
[XIV.d. Annual Consideration of Approval for Board Members' Remuneration Effective July 1,2024 in accordance with Board Bylaw 9250 and Ed Code Section 35120 ]
>> AYE. >> VICE PRESENT GRANT? 13
>> THE CARRY 6-0. FINALLY HERE, ANNUAL CONSIDERATION OF
[01:20:01]
APPROVAL FOR BOARD MEMBER CONSIDERATION, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2024 , IN ACCORDANCE WITH BY LAW 21450 IN GRANT SECTION31520. >> I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE NEED IT. I AM GOING TO VOTE NO TONIGHT.
>> OH, REALLY? I AM GOING TO VOTE NO. I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE NEED IT. I KNOW I WORK HARD, SO I FEEL LIKE I DON'T NEED IT PERSONALLY. BUT THAT IS JUST ME.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? >> YOU KNOW, I WAS EXCITING TO SOMEONE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN BOARD MEMBERS HAVE NOT GIVEN THEMSELVES WHAT COMES OUT TO BE $40.00 OR $20.00 A MONTH FOR A RAISE. THERE ARE TIMES IN THE PAST THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT ESPECIALLY TIMES IN THE DISTRICT WHERE TEACHERS ARE FURLOUGHED. I THINK THE SUPERINTENDENT AT THAT TIME ALSO DID NOT TAKE A RAISE. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS . I THINK, YES, WE DO WORK HARD. YES, WE DO KNOW THAT. AND WE KNOW THAT WE WILL WORK HARD. WE KNOW YOU WILL BE IN SCHOOLS, AT EVENTS , YOU WILL BE ON CALL , THERE WILL BE EMERGENCIES, THERE WILL BE MEETINGS, THERE ARE MEETINGS IN ADDITION TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS , BUT WE DO KNOW THAT. THAT WE TAKE THIS JOB VERY SERIOUSLY , AND WE DO OUR BEST , AND WE DO GO THROUGH BOARD GOVERNANCE TRAINING AND TRY TO ADHERE TO EVERYTHING THAT IS IN LINE FOR US WITH OUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. I SUPPORT THE IDEA BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE WHO SIT IN THE SEATS DESERVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZED AND REWARDED . AND AGAIN, WE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE 300, 400, $500,000.00. WE ARE EARNING A PROXIMALLY $40.00, RIGHT? YEAH, THE
RAISES $45.00 AFTER TAXES. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GO THROUGH MY MIND WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM , JUST TO THAT WE CAN REALLY TALK ABOUT AND BE TRANSPARENT. I DO THINK INEVITABLY IT IS A BIT ABOUT CURRENTLY BEING IN THE SEATS AND BEING IN THE LONG TERM. YOU KNOW, THE STATEMENT IS HELPFUL IN TERMS OF OTHERS WHO MIGHT FILL OUR SEATS . THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I THINK IS USEFUL . YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BE PRESENT , TRYING TO PARTICIPATE , THAT IS PART OF WHAT THE STIPENDS ADDRESS. SO, IT WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS TO IS NOT ABOUT US , BUT IN THE LONG TERM EFFECT, IF WE WERE ABLE TO VOTE NO, THAT NUMBER WILL SLOWLY CATCH UP TO WHERE IT COULD BE BY THE STATE FOR HOW WE CAN DO THIS EVERY YEAR AND HOW MUCH WE CAN INCREASES BY EVERY YEAR. I JUST WANT TO LAY OUT MY THINKING , WHERE WHICH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL WHAT THE NUMBER WILL BE AT THAT POINT . THAT IS WHY AM INCLINED TO VOTE YES , YOU KNOW, SO WE CAN GET THAT WORK AT A STEADY PACE , YOU KNOW, TO THE HEALTHY STIPENDS NUMBER. BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM MY OTHER COLLEAGUES AS WELL.
>> AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO DELIVER IT. FULL TRANSPARENCY, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IN THE PAST WHERE I HAVE SUPPORTED IT.
I THINK WE GOT A RAISE LAST YEAR . SO, I AM HAPPY TO LET ANOTHER BOARD DO IT SOME OTHER TIME DOWN THE LINE, BUT PERSONALLY, THAT IS WHERE I FEEL ON IT. THE PUBLIC IS
[01:25:06]
LOOKING AT US AS WE MAKE BUDGETING DECISIONS . I KNOW I CAN PERSONALLY LIVE WITHIN MY MEANS , SO I DON'T NEED THIS GRANT OF THE TRUSTEE. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT, AND IF WE GO ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER, THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT.IT'S REALLY NOT A BIG DEAL. IT IS JUST $40.00, BUT FOR ME,
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT. >> YEAH, SO, I THINK I AM WITH VICE PRESENT GRANT. IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A RAISE BEFORE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MEMBER MORA, BUT THESE SEEDS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SO MANY YEARS AS IT IS , I CAN'T SEE US SPENDING IT ON ANYTHING ELSE WHETHER WE WANT TO OR NOT. THINK OF WHERE THAT CAN GO , ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE WILL HAVE. SO, I, TOO, WILL BE VOTING NO. I COMPLETELY THINK THAT HAVING THIS COMING AROUND, THAT BEING SAID, WE DO WORK EXTREMELY HARD . BUT, IT IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING , AND RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS OF THAT MONEY COULD BE USED FOR, SUCH AS SOME OF THE UNDERPAID TRUSTEES THAT WE CAN POINT OUT AS WELL. IT'S A PREFERENCE. ARE NOT HERE TO DELIVERY. LIKE I SAID, THE COMMUNITIES THE COMMUNITY, SO I WANT TO GET TO ALL THAT, BUT THAT BEING SAID, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE GOES ON THE RECORD.
NOT THINK THIS WOULD BE A LONG AGENDA ITEM, BUT WE DO NEED TO TALK AMONGST OURSELVES OUTSIDE OF MEETINGS. I APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW THAT WERE SHARED. JUST TO HEAR WHAT SOME OF THE REASONINGS BEHIND OTHER YEARS VOTES ARE , AND HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN BEFORE RENUMERATION HAD BEEN APPROVED.
SO, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT . I WILL END THERE, BECAUSE I THINK WE MIGHT BE READY TO VOTE.
>> WE WILL TAKE FIVE VOTES OF THE TRUSTEES. THE STUDENTS WILL NOT PUT ON THIS ITEM. OKAY, SO I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL RIGHT, I WILL MOVE IT. I WILL PUT A MOTION ON THE AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND? NO SECONDS? OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
>> I WAS GOING TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE FOR DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY. THERE IS A MOTION -- THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE NUMERATION, BUT THERE IS NO SECOND. SO THEN, THERE IS NO VOTE ON THAT. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
>> I HATE 3-2 VOTES. SOMETIMES GOOD THINGS COME FROM IT. AND TO TRUSTEE MORA'S POINT, THIS IS THE FIRST CHANCE WE HAD AS A GROUP TO ACTUALLY DISCUSS THIS. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE ME MORE COMFORTABLE , BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING THAT SAYS WE HAVE TO ACT ON IT THIS MONTH. THE COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE, TRUSTEE HARDEN BROUGHT THIS UP . I BELIEVE WE ARE SOME OF THE LOWER PAY TRUSTEES IN THE AREA, AND THIS CONVOLUTED FORMULA WITH THE STUDENT POPULATION IS BETWEEN X AND Y, AND THEN HE GET THIS AND THAT, AND IT IS HARD TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES. BUT I WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT COMPARISON DATA WE LOOK AT HOW TO RETRAIN AND ATTRACT STAFF . I WOULD ALSO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF WE WAITED TO ACT ON THIS UNTIL AFTER WE RESOLVE OUR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. SO, AS OPPOSED TO HAVE ANY MOTION , I LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD GET THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND BRING THIS BACK IN WHAT I'M HOPING WILL BE A COUPLE OF MONTHS WE HAVE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS THAT WILL BE CONCLUDED.
[01:30:01]
>> SO, IS THAT A MOTION? >> THAT IS WAS A MOTION AND
MORE OF A REQUEST . >> THIS WOULD JUST BE BOARD DIRECTION AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT THE ITEM WAS ATTENDED AS AN ACTION. BUT WE CAN DO AN ACTION.
>> WE CAN'T DO A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT NEEDS A MOMENT, BUT LET'S JUST ACT ON THAT TODAY AND BRING IT BACK . AGAIN, MY REQUEST WAS AFTER NEGOTIATIONS ARE DONE WITH OUR CERTIFICATES , AND TO GIVE THE DISTRICT SOMETIME TO COME BACK AND GET SOME CERTIFICATION ABOUT COMPARISONS OF COMPARABLE DISTRICTS IN THE REGION.
>> OKAY. YEAH, THERE IS A FORMULA TO HAVE, LIKE, 15,000 STUDENTS , BUT I THINK THAT IS ALREADY SPELLED OUT. RIGHT?
IT'S ALREADY THERE. >> BUT JUST TO LOOK AT THE REAL NUMBERS AND SEE WHAT THOSE COMPARISONS LOOK LIKE.
>> I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THAT. >> JUST FOR THE RECORD , I THINK OUR STAFF HAS SO MUCH OTHER STUFF TO DO NO MATTER HOW
IT COMES OUT. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT. SO, WE WILL MOVE ON. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS POINT , I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE AUDIENCE , WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO OUR MEETING. WE KNOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE REAL QUICK IF YOU WILL GIVE US A STAY SECOND THAT WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS THAT MIGHT ADDRESS ONE OR TWO ITEMS , SO WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DO THIS , BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PLAYGROUNDS TODAY , WE ONLY HAVE 20 MINUTES ON THE ITEM. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. SO, JUST HOLD TIGHT FOR A FEW SECONDS HERE.
[XV. PUBLIC COMMENTS ]
[01:35:24]
>> SHE'S IN THE BUILDING. I WILL CALL HER.
>> WILL YOU PLEASE? SHE IS OUR FIRST SPEAKER. WE NEED TO FIND HER. WE NEED HER TO BE THE FIRST.
PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND A LIFELONG RESIDENT. I COME TO YOU TONIGHT DRAWING FROM BOTH MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND PROFESSIONAL ROLE. I CANNOT OVERSTATE THE CRITICAL ROLE OUR SCHOOLS PLAY IN SHAPING THE ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE OF OUR COMMUNITY. TEST SCORES ARE NOT JUST A NUMBER, THEY ARE A REFLECTION OF THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION STUDENTS RECEIVE AND DIRECTLY INFLUENCE BUSINESSES DECISIONS TO OPERATE WITHIN OUR REGION. WHEN A SIGNIFICANT PORTION, SUCH AS 80% OF OUR STUDENTS, ARE NOT PERFORMING AT GRADE LEVEL, IT SENDS A CLEAR SIGNAL THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM PRESENTS A CHALLENGING -- A CHALLENGE TO ATTRACTING AND RETAINING BUSINESS. HIGH-PERFORMING SCHOOLS , ON THE OTHER HAND, SERVE AS A BEACON OF POTENTIAL INVESTORS. IT SHOWCASES THAT OUR COMMUNITY PRIORITIZES EDUCATION, AND BOOSTS A SKILLED WORKFORCE CRITICAL FOR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY. GIVEN THESE STATES, IT IS INCUMBENT UP TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FULFILL THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR STUDENTS BY SUMMONING STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES. WE MUST FOCUS ON RAISING TEST SCORES O ENSURE THAT OUR MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE GOOD AT GRADE LEVEL. THIS WILL NOT ONLY EMPOWER OUR YOUTH WITH TOOLS FOR SUCCESS , BUT ALSO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, I DO RECOMMENDATIONS TO REINSTATE FREEDOM FOR SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR SUMMER . ADDITIONALLY, I ENCOURAGE DIVING INTO THE RESERVE FUNDS AT THE DISTRICT TO ENSURE THE CONTINUATION OF THIS PROGRAM. MOREOVER, ALSO HIRING MORE AIDES FOR OUR CLASSROOMS IS ALSO JUST ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL SET UP OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FOR SUCCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN.
THREE , FOUR, FIVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SPEAK ON THE TOPIC OF
[01:40:06]
MIRACLE UNIVERSITY. AM I CORRECT ON THAT? IF THERE ARE OTHERS, I DON'T HAVE THEM. THE FIRST ONE IS ELIJAH. OH, OKAY. LET ME MAKE SURE. I THOUGHT ALL OF YOU WANTED TO TAKE A TURN TO SPEAK. IS THAT THE CASE? OKAY, SURE.EVERYBODY CAN STAND, AND I WILL CALL YOU IN THE ORDER THAT YOU SPEAK. SURE YOU CAN, YES. WHAT IS YOUR NAME, PLEASE?
>> OKAY, DR. RUSSIA, SOMEBODY DONATED TIME TO YOU , SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT INSTEAD OF YOUR TWO MINUTES, YOU WILL GET FOUR MINUTES , BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR SARAH. SARAH IS HELPING US, AND THEN SHE WILL GET BACK OVER THERE.
>> OKAY, DR. RUSSIA HAS FOUR MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. YES,
[01:46:26]
A FEW STUDENTS WHO WILL JUST SHARE THEIR NAME , HOW THEY ARE DOING BEFORE, AND HOW THEY ARE DOING NOW JUST REALLY BRIEF.>> OKAY. IS IT ANGELIQUE? OKAY. SPEAK INTO THE MIC.
SPEAK LOUD. >> HELLO. I GUESS I'M HERE TO TELL YOU GUYS THAT I USED TO GO TO GRANT HIGH SCHOOL . THAT WAS THE FIRST HIGH SCHOOL I HAD EVER BEEN TO, FRESHMAN YEAR. I WAS DOING OKAY , BUT THE ATMOSPHERE AND EVERYTHING GOT A HOLD OF ME IN THE WRONG WAY , AND I WAS FAILING REALLY BAD.
I ENDED UP HAVING A BABY , WHICH ADDED TO MY FAILURE.
AFTER THE PRINCIPAL REFERRED ME TO MIRACLE UNIVERSITY , EVER SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF FAITH , I WILL GRADUATE, AND IT MAKES YOU PROUD OF MYSELF.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO BE A NURSE.
>> OKAY. MY NAME IS ELIJAH HEARD. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT BEFORE, -- LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU ARE CRAZY. BUT I WOULD SAY MY LAST , BEFORE I CAME HERE TO MIRACLE UNIVERSITY , WAS BAD. BUT EVER SINCE THEN, I HAVE MY COACH RAY HERE.
HONESTLY, COMING FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL, YOU PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT IT IN THE AREA. BUT IT WASN'T A VERY GOOD ATMOSPHERE.
IS REALLY TOXIC. VERY DRAFTY IF YOU GET MY DRIFT. HONESTLY, I AM JUST GLAD TO BE HEARING OUT. I AM NERVOUS, BUT I AM PROUD OF MYSELF. SO, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> HELLO, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I AM KEIRA, I AM 16 , AND I AM IN THE MIRACLE PROGRAM. BEFORE THE MIRACLE PROGRAM , I WAS DOING A LOT. I WAS STRUGGLING SCHOOL LIES , PARENT WILD , IT WAS HARD BECAUSE I HAVE YOUNGER SIBLINGS , AND MY PARENTS, THEY DID NOT REALLY PLAY THAT ROLE, SO I STEPPED IN AND I HELPED YOUNGER SIBLINGS . GOING TO SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME, IT MADE IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO STAY ON TRACK, BUT I STILL TRIED. I STILL ENDED UP FAILING , AND EVENTUALLY, THE SCHOOL ENTIRELY WAS NOT THERE. THERE WAS NO MOTIVATION. SO, I ENDED UP STAYING HOME AND FOCUSING ON MY SIBLINGS. EVENTUALLY, I GOT KICKED OUT OF THE SCHOOL I WAS GOING TO AND GOT TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER SCHOOL. I GOT KICKED
[01:50:01]
OUT OF THAT SCHOOL AGAIN, AND GOT TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER SCHOOL. I GOT KICKED OUT OF THAT ONE AND GOT TRANSFERRED AGAIN. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND THE MIRACLE PROGRAM . DR. RUSSIA STARTED HELPING ME, HE GAVE ME THAT MOTIVATION THAT I NEEDED, AND HE MAY BE A BETTER PERSON. I AM JUST GLAD TO SAY THAT I AM GOING TO GRADUATE , BECAUSE A YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO, I DID NOT BELIEVE I WAS GOING TO GRADUATE. I THOUGHT IT WOULD END UP ON THE STREETS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE THAT I SEE. I DISLIKE THE MIRACLE PROGRAM IS WHAT IS NEEDED. SO, THANK YOU.MIRACLE UNIVERSITY, I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL JUST TO SKIP CLASS AND LEAVE EARLY ALL THE TIME. I HAD NO MOTIVATION . THEY KICKED ME OUT. THEY SENT ME TO A CONTINUATION SCHOOL. AT FIRST I WASN'T DOING GOOD. I WAS JUST DOING THE SAME THING.
THEY WERE GOING TO KICK ME OUT AS WELL , BUT I MET DR. RUSSIA, AND HE MOTIVATED ME TO START GOING TO SCHOOL, AND I STARTED GOING EVERY DAY . MY GRADES ARE GOOD, AND I'VE BEEN DOING
BETTER. >> DID EVERYONE GET A CHANCE TO TALK? OKAY. YOU DON'T HAVE A CARD. CAN YOU DO IT IN A
MINUTE? OKAY. GO AHEAD. >> MY NAME IS -- . BEFORE I WENT INTO THE MIRACLE PROGRAM , I FILLED MY JUNIOR AND SOPHOMORE YEAR. I DID NOT THINK I WAS GOING TO GRADUATE, SO I STARTED SLACKING OFF. I HAD NO MOTIVATION TO DO ANYTHING, AND I STOPPED PLAYING SPORTS. I LOVED BLANK SPORTS. I DID FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL THIS YEAR. AS THE YEAR WENT ON , HE CAME UP TO ME, HE TOLD ME MY SISTER RECOMMENDED ME, AND I JOINED. MY GRADES ARE BETTER . I HAVE NOT DROP BEFORE BELOW F ALL YEAR, AND IT IS MAYBE A BETTER PERSON.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS MY BROTHER.
>> JUST A SECOND. >> YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU NEED TO FILL IT A GREEN FORUM BEFORE YOU WALK OUT THE DOOR AND HANDED TO SOMEONE. OKAY? WILL GIVE YOU A MINUTE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS KATIE ON, AND BEFORE I WANT TO MIRACLE UNIVERSITY , I WANT TO EL CAMINO. I WASN'T DOING TOO GOOD. I WAS FEELING CLASSES. IT WASN'T UNTIL MY MOM FOUND DR. RUSSIA , AND WROTE ME INTO MIRACLE. NOW THAT I AM IN MIRACLE, I HAVE ALL E IS NOW. I HAVE A JOB AND EVERY THING IS
STARTING TO GO GOOD NOW. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I KNOW IT IS HARD TO TALK IN FRONT OF US SOMETIMES. ANYWAYS, THANK YOU, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE TONIGHT. SO, THANKS.
ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHAWN KING , AND THEN -- OH, OKAY, HAMMOND DONATED TIME TO SHAWN KING. SO, YOU HAVE
GOT FOUR MINUTES. >> THANK YOU, ALL, AND GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SHAWN KING, AND I AM A MEMBER OF BLACK PARENTS UNITED. ON THEIR BEHALF, I AM HERE TO ASK IF THE FUNDS ARE IN THE UST RESERVE AND DESIGNATED FOR THE LEGISLATOR COURSE FOR THE LEGISLATURE FOR SPECIFIC LEARNING INTERVENTIONS THAT WILL BE UTILIZED FOR ALL OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS WHO ARE READING BELOW GRADE LEVEL. THESE FUNDS ARE INTENDED TO SERVE THE SCHOOL HERE INTO THE SUMMER. WE ARE AWARE OF THE RECENT 173 PAGE BUDGET REPORT , AND THE WISE RESOLUTION BY OUR TRUSTEES THAT IS LARGER THAN REQUIRED IN A 3% RESERVE IN THE GENERAL FUND. BUT IF THE RESERVE CONTAINS MONEY THAT WAS MEANT TO BE USED ON BEHALF OF TODAY'S STUDENTS, IT IS ONLY RIGHT TO RELEASE THOSE FUNDS TO HELP OUR SCHOLARS THIS YEAR.
ESPECIALLY SINCE OUR LEGISLATORS , TAXPAYERS, AND CDE OFFICIALS RELEASED THE FUNDS FOR THEIR PURPOSE. I AM
[01:55:02]
NOT SAYING WE SHOULD NOT HAVE A HEALTHY RESERVE , BUT THAT IT SHOULD NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR STRUGGLING STUDENTS. IF THE RESERVE IS SET AT LEAST 10%, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REDUCE THAT TO FIVE OR SEVEN . WE HAVE A SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM LIKE THE FREEDOM SCHOOL THAT CAN BE HIGHER. SINCE WE KNOW THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE ON THE CURRENT WAITING LIST, AND FAMILIES WHO NEED AUGMENTED LEARNING OF SUMMER SCHOOLS AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR PERCENTAGE OF THE EXTRA RESERVE TO BE USED TO HIRE PROGRAMS LIKE FREEDOM SCHOOLS TO SERVE THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE ON THE WAITING LIST OF THE SUMMER , OR WHO CAN'T BE SERVED IN THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF LACK OF STAFF. THE GRANTS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, WE RECENTLY MET WITH MEMBERS , MISS CRYSTAL KING, AND MISS CHERYL BERMAN, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH KEVIN MCCARTHY , AND VOICE OUR COLLECTIVE CONCERNS. A SENATOR MEMBER MCCARTHY SHARED WITH BOARD MEMBER INFORMATION CONCERNING FISCAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE ALLOCATED TO UST, BUT IT IS A SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF ELA LEARNING OUTCOMES. THE EQUITY MULTIPLY WAS A TWO-POINTER MILLION THAT WAS WORTH NOTING -- I'M SORRY, IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THESE FIRMS ARE A PRIORITY OF THE BLACK CAUCUS, AND ARE AVAILABLE THIS SCHOOL YEAR. HOW WILL UST USE THESE FUNDS? PROP 20 ART AND MUSIC FUNDING AT ONE $700,000.00.HAVE THESE FUNDS BEEN USED ? AND IF YES, HOW AND WITH WHAT STUDENTS? UNIVERSAL AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AT 6.2 MILLION. HOW WAS THIS FUNDED THAT WILL BE USED? A SEPARATE REPORT TO ITEMIZE THE COST -- HOW AND HAVE THESE FUNDS BEEN
USED? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OKAY. SO, WE CANNOT TAKE ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENT FORUMS. THANK YOU.
OKAY, SO, THREE SPEAKERS THIS EVENING WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING THE FREEDOM SCHOOL. SO, NOEL MILLER? SHE IS FIRST. IS SHE HERE? OKAY.
>> HI. I AM NOEL MILLER. I USED TO GO TO FREEDOM SCHOOL WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, I AM AN AUTHOR, POET, AND SPOKEN WORD ARTIST. I LOVE READING, I LOVE WRITING, I LOVE COMING UP WITH STORY IDEAS ALL THE TIME, I LIKE DOING RESEARCH ON THINGS , AND I HAVE A THING FOR SCHOOL WHEN IT IS NOT, YOU KNOW, CRAZY, BUT I DO LOVE LEARNING. I WOULD NOT BE -- IT WOULD NOT HAVE THESE PASSIONS , AND ENJOY SCHOOL THE WAY I DO IF IT WEREN'T FOR FREEDOM SCHOOL . IT TALKED ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, I AM A SCHOLAR, YOU KNOW, IN COLLEGE , AND I LOVE TO READ . THE MORE WE JUST SPOKE THOSE THINGS INTO EXISTENCE, I REALIZE NOW IF I WAS NOT REPEATING THOSE THINGS EVERY FRIDAY , THEN I PROBABLY WOULD NOT LOVE READING IS MUCH AS I DO NOW . FREEDOM SCHOOLS WAS A VERY CARING AND INTIMATE PLACE WHERE I FELT SEEN, HEARD, AND WAS EXPOSED TO ALL OF THESE BOOKS ABOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO DID ALL OF THESE GREAT THINGS. AND THEY LOOKED LIKE ME, OR LOOKED SIMILAR TO ME, WHICH MAY BE FELT REPRESENTED IN A GOOD WAY. SO, FREEDOM SCHOOLS IS JUST FREE TO BE HERE, AND I AM THE PERSON I AM NOW BECAUSE IT WAS A MAJOR
GRADUATING FACTOR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MY NEXT TWO SPEAKERS ARE -- , AND THEN -- .
WILL BE READING A TESTIMONY ROM A STUDENT WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT. HELLO, MY NAME IS LENA KING, AND I AM A STUDENT AT NATOMAS AND A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE SCHOOL PROGRAM.
[02:00:02]
I ATTENDED WHEN I WAS IN THIRD, FOURTH, AND FIFTH GRADE. I'M SORRY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING, BUT I FEEL SO PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS THAT I HAVE TO SHARE ONE MORE TIME. FREEDOM SCHOOL WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. I BONDED DEEPLY WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF MY TEACHERS. IT WAS A CHANCE FOR ME TO BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS THAT I NOW GO TO SCHOOL WITH. THE TEACHERS CARE SO MUCH ABOUT EVERY STUDENT, MAKING EVERYONE FEEL SPECIAL. HOMEWARD HEALTH DID NOT MAKE ME FEEL INFERIOR OR INCAPABLE . I WAS READING AT THE EIGHTH GRADE LEVEL IN FIFTH GRADE. I THINK IT WAS SO MEANINGFUL, BECAUSE MANY OF THE TEACHERS LOOK AT ME. I FELT UNDERSTOOD, AND I TRUSTED THEM . IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN A SCHOOL SETTING I HAD A CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT ME, MY PEOPLE, AND NOT AS SLAVES. A BONUS WHERE THE FIELD TRIPS THAT EXPOSED US TO AGRICULTURE, LITERACY, AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES. I VIVIDLY REMEMBER MY STUDENT LEADER HAD TO HEAD BACK TO COLLEGE, AND I WAS SO UPSET. WE BOTH CRIED, BUT I WAS HAPPY AT THE SAME TIME THAT I GOT TO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE. I WANT EVERY BLACK CHILD LIKE ME WHO HAS NEVER SEEN THEMSELVES TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANKYOU. >> SO, IS THE NEXT BEAKER IN
THE ROOM? >> HELLO. I AM -- BERNARD , AND A MINI TEACHER IN SACRAMENTO FOR MANY YEARS. I STARTED WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG, AND I ENJOY TEACHING VISUAL PERFORMING ARTS , AND I AM A PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND LEAD ORGANIZER FOR --, WHICH IS A GROUP OF OVER 500 RESIDENTS . I HAVE A STUDENT WHO WILL HOPEFULLY ONE DAY BE A PATEL MIST STUDENT. I THINK I AM HERE TONIGHT AND AS A PARENT NOT JUST TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FREEDOM SCHOOL, BUT ONE AS AN EDUCATOR. I FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO PARENTS. I HAVE DEALT WITH PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THEY KNEW HOW TO RAISE MY CHILD BETTER THAN I DO, AND WHAT I HAVE GOTTEN , BECAUSE I WORKED AT NATOMAS CHARTER AS WELL, IS THIS IDEA, ESPECIALLY FROM NONBLACK PEOPLE, IS BECAUSE THERE IS DIVERSITY IN NATOMAS WHERE THERE IS NO RACISM, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE PROXIMITY DOES NOT NEGATE THE FACT THAT THERE IS RACISM . BECAUSE SLAVE MASTERS WERE VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SLAVES AND BLACK PEOPLE , AND RACISM STILL EXISTS TODAY. SO, LET'S NOT GET SACRAMENTO IS THE MOST DIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT IS STILL THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES , AND PATEL MISSES THE MOST DIVERSE SECTOR IN SACRAMENTO , AND STILL, I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF RACISM. SO, I DON'T WANT YOU ALL TO THINK THAT , LIKE I SAID, BECAUSE THERE IS DIVERSITY, THERE CAN BE RACISM. THAT IS NOT HOW THAT WORKS. I WANT TO ALSO REMIND YOU ALL THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT THAT THERE IS A LACK OF BLACK PARENTS SHOWING UP AND SITTING HERE TODAY. I AM IN A ROOM FULL OF AMAZING BLACK PARENTS, AND I THINK THAT I AM NOT DISCOURAGED, BUT THE ENERGY THAT CLEARLY SOME BOARD MEMBERS SEEMED VEXED THAT WE WERE TAKING UP SPACE. SO, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE UP SPACE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE UP SPACE, SO, IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE BETTER ON YOUR BEHALF IF YOU SUPPORTED THE FACT THAT WE ARE SHOWING UP AND LETTING OUR VOICES BE HEARD, AND NOT BE VEXED THAT WE ARE TAKING UP SPACE. THAT IS THE PLAN OF OUR ANCESTORS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT FREEDOM SCHOOLS, BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS DESERVE A SPACE TO BE HEARD AND SEEN.
THANK YOU, SUSAN. >> ALL RIGHT. CRYSTAL KING? OKAY. WE HAVE THREE HERE. OKAY, CRYSTAL KING, AND THEN WE
HAVE RACHEL . GO AHEAD. >> GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL KING, AND I AM HERE THIS EVENING TO SHARE A LITTLE ABOUT -- THERE IS A STAGGERING DIFFERENCE IN THE OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT REFLECTED IN RECENT TEST SCORES SHOWING AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS. LIKE ANY PRESIDENT UNIFIED AFRICAN
[02:05:01]
AMERICANS STUDENTS THAT HAVE SIMILAR LEARNING OUTCOMES.ANOTHER KEY ASPECT BETWEEN USD AND F USD IS THE ELEVATED SUSPENSION RATE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOLARS.
THAT IS UNTIL 2017 ONE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACADEMIC ACCELERATION WAS FOUNDED. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS, QUOTE, TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THE FUNDAMENTAL CAUSES FOR THE DISCREPANCY AND ACADEMIC OUTCOMES BETWEEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS AND THEIR DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS AND OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS. SOME OF THEIR KEY COMPONENTS INVOLVE ACID-BASED APPROACHES , CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS, AS WELL AS STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES. AS A RESULT, THEY HAVE SEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN AFRICAN-AMERICANS CONFIDENCE, STUDENTS CONFIDENCE, TEST SCORES, AND OVERALL LEARNING EXPERIENCES. WHILE I UNDERSTAND A VERSION IS BEING PILOTED WITH 40 STUDENTS , THE GROSS NEED DISTRICTWIDE IS SO SIGNIFICANT , WE ARE ASKING THE A.B. FORM BE ADOPTED COMPLETELY ACROSS THE DISTRICT IN EVERY GRADE LEVEL. WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY HERE TO MAKE AN IMPACTFUL SHIFT IN HOW WE TEACH OUR STUDENTS THAT HAS THE CAPACITY TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES. I IMPLORE YOU TO CONSIDER THESE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN THIS EVENING, AND TRULY REFLECT ON HOW THEY WILL BEST SERVE OUR STUDENTS, AND TO ADD THIS INITIATIVE TO THE
FUTURE AGENDA. THANK YOU. >> IS RACHEL -- THERE SHE IS.
GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR UP LAMENTING THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SPRINGBOARD COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DID TO HELP PERFORMING STUDENTS TO HELP THEIR READING SCORES AND HELP CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP . THE LITERACY GAP. THE PROGRAM -- CRYSTAL JUST DID A GREAT JOB DETAILING. THE A4 PROGRAM INCLUDES MANY MORAL COMPASS INSIGHT HOPING THAT AND UST WILL EVENTUALLY ADOPT. I SEE THIS WILL INCLUDE 50 BLACK AND HISPANIC STUDENTS AT TWO SITES WITHIN THE LEAD ACADEMY WITH A GOAL TO HAVE THE STUDENTS READ AT GRADE LEVEL BY FOURTH GRADE.
I BELIEVE NATOMAS CAN DO A LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER JOB WITH THE PILOT PROGRAM, AND EXPAND TO INCLUDE MORE SITES. CAN YOU ADD TWO MORE SITES WITH THE GOAL OF EXPANDING INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR? THERE ARE MANY MORE HIDING STUDENTS THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE LEAK PARTNERSHIPS OF THE SPRING WERE COLLABORATIVE. FRESNO UNIFIES A4 PROGRAM THAT HAS INITIATIVES SUCH AS DEDICATED ACADEMIC ADVISERS, STUDENTLEADERSHIP, AND ACADEMIC CENTERS FOR STUDENTS. IT WOULD BE NICE TO INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES INTO A FORMALIZED PROGRAM IN UST. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARTY HAVE VARIOUS PROGRAMS ALREADY IN PLACE, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL FORMALIZED PROGRAM THAT PRODUCES SPECIFIC OUTCOME DATA FOR BLACK AND HISPANIC POPULATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADD THE ACADEMIC CENTER FOR SUSPENDED STUDENTS , MODELED BY FRESNO UNIFIED. THE ACADEMIC CENTER FOR SUSPENDED STUDENTS OFFERS ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WHO WERE SUSPENDED FOR SCHOOL FOR NONMANDATORY EXPULSION OFFENSES, AND AIMS TO PREVENT AN ACADEMIC SPINE FOR THE STUDENTS, AND ASSIST IN ACCELERATING THEM TO GRADE LEVEL. FRESNO UNIFIED HAS ONE OF THE FIRST CENTERS DEDICATED TO ASSISTING SUSPENDED STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY. IN SUMMARY, I AM ASKING YOU TO PULL FROM THE GREAT WORK YOU ARE ALREADY DOING, AND FORMALIZE AN A4 PROGRAM AT AT LEAST TWO MORE PILOT LEAD SITES THAT HAVE THE SPRING WERE COLLABORATIVE, AND AT THE ACADEMIC CENTER FOR SUSPENDED STUDENTS. I BELIEVE A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS, AND THIS PROGRAM CAN EVENTUALLY BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL HIGH NEEDS STUDENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WERE IN LOGAN? I WAS WANT TO SAY THE WAY WOULD BE IN
SPANISH. >> THANK YOU. HI, EVERYONE. WE ARE HERE TONIGHT IN AN EFFORT TO RALLY FOR READING , WHICH IS ABOUT MAKING SURE AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOLARS RIGHTS TO EDUCATION IS HONORED. ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS A4. A4 STANDS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ACADEMIC ACCELERATION. IT IS A PROGRAM OUT OF FRESNO. THE SUPERINTENDENT, WHEN HE WAS ON BOARDING, NOTICE THE DISCREPANCIES IN THE SCORES , AND DECIDED THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS WOULD NOT FAIL UNDER HIS WATCH, AND ALLOW THE EXECUTIVE IN MINISTRATION TO FIGURE IT OUT, AND MS. WENDY IN HER TEAM CAME UP WITH A4. WE CAN UTILIZES
[02:10:01]
PROGRAM MODEL TO STOP THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE, JUST AS WE ARE DOING IN THE UNIVERSITY MENTIONED.HONESTLY, MY KIDS ATTEND A CHARTER SCHOOL HERE IN NATOMAS, BUT IT HAS PROBLEMS. WHEN I WANT TO RESEARCH THE SCHOOL WE ARE ASSIGNED TO, IT WAS A NO GO. I AM PARTLY HERE TO MAKE US BETTER, NOT JUST FOR MY KIDS, BUT MY NIECE AND NEPHEW WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE. MY NIECE, ALI, I AM SORRY, ATTENDS JEFFERSON , AND WE ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL BLACK AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS IN NATOMAS HAVE THEIR EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS OBSERVED. NOT ALL KIDS CAN GO TO A CHARTER SCHOOL , SO, WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS.
THEY DESERVE A FIGHTING CHANCE IN A SYSTEM THAT IS SET AGAINST HIM. ALL WE ARE ASKING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOLARS CAN READ, WRITE, COMPREHEND, AND CRITICALLY THINK SO THAT THEY CAN VOTE APPROPRIATELY , AND THAT THEY ARE MORE CAPABLE, AND THAT THEY ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE AND WILLING AND ABLE TO DO AMAZING THINGS IF THEIR BASIC RIGHTS ARE UPHELD. SO, AGAIN, TONIGHT, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE HEARING US WITH RALLY TO READ, AND IT IS COMING UP WITH STRATEGIES
FOR THIS COURSE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. I HAVE TWO PEOPLE WANTING TO TALK ABOUT -- OKAY.
SO, IS IT ARIANNA? OKAY, IS YOURS FOCUSED ON READING?
>> THE MIRACLE UNIVERSITY. >> YOU PUT THE TOPIC AS READING
] >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD.
SCHOOL STUDENT . UNFORTUNATELY, -- COULD NOT JOIN US TODAY , SO I WILL BE SPEAKING ON HER BEHALF. SO, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF HEARING DR. ROGER SPEAK ABOUT MIRACLE UNIVERSITY AND THE HARD WORK HE AND HIS TEAM HAS DONE TO THE GROUNDWORK FOR STUDENT THAT HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN, OVERLOOKED, AND DISREGARDED. HIS PASSION FOR SCHOOL IS INSPIRING AND INFECTIOUS. WELL I HOPE THAT NO STUDENT IS EVER FACED WITH A DECISION TO DROP OUT, OR IS FORCED TO DROP OUT, I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT THERE ARE STUDENTS IN A HOME FOR INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS MIRACLE UNIVERSITY. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS FOR OUR SCHOLARS, WE NEED MIRACLE UNIVERSITY. SUCCESS AT MIRACLE UNIVERSITY WILL CREATE FAR MORE THAN JUST YOUR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. SUCCESS WILL ALSO HAVE RATES OF CONVERSATION, PLEASE INTERACTIONS, POVERTY RATES, AND MORE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS BENEFITS AS WELL TO INCREASE SELF-ESTEEM , THE ABILITY TO SELF START, AND BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO -- INDEED, THE ABILITY TO GET OUR BLACK AND BROWN SCHOLARS TO SUCCEED TAKES A LITTLE TIME AND MONEY, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO THE SOCIETY ABOVE. I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF ENROLLING APPLICABLE STUDENTS IN MIRACLE UNIVERSITY WHILE CREATING THE UNIVERSITY OF OUR OWN. THANK YOU.
I AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY ALARMING CONCERN ABOUT THE POOR LITERACY RATES AMONG OUR SCHOLARS WITHIN UST. AND PARTICULARLY, OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOLARS. FOR 2023 ELY ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS IDENTIFIED AT 43.5% OF ALL STUDENTS NOT MEETING THE STANDARD. THIS INCREASES TO 58.48% FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS. WHILE THESE NUMBERS ARE ABYSMAL, I AM CONFIDENT THIS COULD BE CORRECTED, EXPEDITIOUS, AND APPROPRIATE ACTION. WHILE I'M QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE BIDDING PROCESS, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF FUNDS THAT CAN STILL BE
[02:15:03]
ALLOCATED. >> PASTOR EVERETT. SO, SOMEBODY DONATED TWO MINUTES TO YOU. SO, YOU'LL GET FOUR
MINUTES TO SPEAK. >> THANK YOU. THERE IS ONE THING THAT BEING A PASTOR AND A MENTOR TO YOUNG BLACK BOYS AND GIRLS HAS TAUGHT ME. WHEN OUR CHILDREN STRUGGLE ACADEMICALLY AND ARE LEFT WITHOUT RESOURCES CONDUCIVE TO THEIR LEARNING STYLE. THEY BECOME FRUSTRATED , AND THE SCHOOL FEELS MORE LIKE A PRISON CELL THAN A SAFE SPACE. THERE IS A PARABLE IN THE BIBLE ABOUT A SHIP WITH 100 SHEEP, AND ONE GOT LOST.
JESUS ASKED THE QUESTION, DOES NOT THAT CHAUFFEURED LEAVE 99 AND A SAFE PASTOR AND GO OUT AND FIND THE ONE THAT IS LOST? AND WHEN HE RETURNS FOR THE LOST SHEEP, EVERYONE, EVERYONE REJOICES. THAT IS THE SIGN OF A GOOD SHEPHERD. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE, AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD SHEPHERDS WITH SO MANY BLACK STUDENTS WITH ABILITY TO READ AND COMPREHEND A BOOK , WRITE AN ESSAY, OR SOLVE AN EQUATION THAT IS FALLING DESPITE THE SUSPENSION THAT IS RISING IN OUR SCHOOLS. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEET WITH YOU ALL ONE-ON-ONE TO DISCUSS THE VISION OF WHAT A SAVE SCHOOL CLIMATE AND CULTURE LOOKS LIKE. TO MAKE THAT VISION A REALITY , IT REQUIRES OUT OF THE BOX THINKING AND RESOURCES LIKE WHAT WE HEARD TONIGHT. AND OTHER RESOURCES SUCH AS HIGH SCHOOLS, I HAVE SEEN THIS PROGRAM TURNED SEVERAL OF AMERICA'S WORST SCHOOLS INTO HUBS FOR SUCCESS. I ASK YOU TO MAKE TIME TO MEET WITH THE LOCAL LEADER REPRESENTATIVES TO BRING SUCH A PROGRAM INTO OUR SCHOOLS IF YOU TRULY WANT TO CHASE AFTER THE ONE LOST SHEEP. THIS VISIT ALSO INCLUDES MAKING LEARNING DESIRABLE AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT TO ALL STUDENTS.
THERE WAS A TIME WHERE MY READING LEVEL WAS SUBSTANDARD, BECAUSE I WAS FORCED TO READ BOOKS BY GREEK PHILOSOPHERS , AND 14TH-CENTURY AUTHORS , BOOKS THAT DO NOT RELATE TO ME AS A YOUNG BLACK BOY. BUT THANK GOD I HAD A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WHO WAS A FORMER AIRMAN WHO GAVE ME BOOKS BY AUTHORS SUCH AS LANGSTON HUGHES AND CARTER G WOODSON . SO, ASK YOU TO CONSIDER GIVING STUDENTS CULTURALLY RELEVANT RESOURCES TO BOOST THEIR CONFIDENCE AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS IF YOU TRULY WANT TO CHASE AFTER THE ONE LOST SHEEP. AND LASTLY, I AM SURE THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD. YOU, THE TRUSTEES, OR A PART OF THIS VILLAGE . THESE PARENTS AND EDUCATORS HERE TONIGHT, THEY ARE A PART OF THE VILLAGE. THE CHURCHES IN THIS COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT I PASTOR, IS A PART OF THIS VILLAGE , AND THAT OUR CHURCH CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, WE ARE OFFERING FREE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING TO ANY CHILD AND ANY FAMILY WHO NEEDS IT ON FIRST AND SECOND SUNDAYS. WE ALSO HAVE MONTHLY YOUTH SESSIONS IN WHICH WE TALK ABOUT ALCOHOL AND DRUG REVISION, INCLUDING MARIJUANA , AND A LOT OF THE YOUTH TO CREATE THEIR OWN DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROFESSIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS. I ASK YOU TO WORK WITH THIS VILLAGE THAT IS HERE TONIGHT IF YOU TRULY WANT TO CHASE AFTER THE ONE LOST SHEEP. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENT CARDS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED , SO, JUST BEFORE I L, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING. ANYWAYS, THANK YOU, EVERYONE , AND I
[02:20:12]
WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING NOW AT 8:12.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.