>> SUCH A CLIFFHANGER. [NOISE] I WOULD LIKE TO
[I. OPEN SESSION]
[00:00:04]
CALL THIS REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:17 PM.HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> WE HAVE A QUORUM. ANY USD BOARD MEETINGS ARE LIVE STREAMED AND RECORDED UP TO DIRECTION OF THE BOARD.
THE LIVE STREAM IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING ONLINE AND THE RECORDINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING THE DAY AFTER THE BOARD MEETING.
THOSE IN ATTENDANCE SHOULD EXPECT THAT THE RECORDINGS WILL CAPTURE ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSIONS BEFORE DURING AND AFTER THE MEETING.
THIS EVENING, THE BOARD WILL BE GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION TO
[V. CLOSED SESSION]
DISCUSS CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ON TWO CASES OF EXISTING LITIGATION.IS THERE ANYONE HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS IN CLOSED SESSION? SEEING NONE, THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE OPEN SESSION AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45 OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSION OF CLOSED SESSION.
[VI. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION]
WE ARE RECONVENING OPEN SESSION AT 5:52 PM.HELENE COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> WE HAVE A QUORUM. HELENE, COULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? TONIGHT IN CLOSED SESSION,
[IX. ANNOUNCEMENT OF ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION]
THE BOARD AUTHORIZED A SETTLEMENT FOR EXISTING LITIGATION CASE NUMBER 2025050059.THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS AND NO OTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN IN CLOSED SECTION THIS EVENING.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, JUST A REMINDER FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD BYLAW 9323 MEETING CONDUCT, INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETED PUBLIC COMMENT CARD PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION OF THE ITEM, AND NO LATER THAN THE FIRST ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ALLOWED TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND THE BOARD SHALL LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON EACH ITEM TO 20 MINUTES.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE FILL OUT A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD AND HAND IT TO THE STAFF MEMBER AT THE TABLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BOARD ROOM.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING, WE ASK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO REFRAIN FROM APPROACHING THE DAIS TO PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER OUR 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 THE AREA FOR AUDIENCE SEATING.
NEXT UP IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION?
[X. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA]
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
NEXT UP, WE HAVE CELEBRATIONS.
[XI.a. Introduction of New NUSD Administrators]
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS EXCITED TO MEET OUR NEW NATOMAS UNIFIED ADMINISTRATORS, SOME THAT ARE NEW TO THE DISTRICT AND SOME THAT ARE NEW TO THEIR ROLES.ANGELA HERRERA OUR CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER WILL LEAD THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT, CASTILLO.
WE ARE PLEASED TO INTRODUCE NEW SITE LEADERS AS WELL AS SOME KEY LEADERS FOR OUR DISTRICT'S ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM HERE IN NATOMAS UNIFIED.
THESE LEADERS ARE EITHER NEW TO OUR DISTRICT OR THEY'RE STEPPING INTO NEW ROLES AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE FRESH PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERTISE THAT THEY BRING.
PLEASE JOIN ME AS WE INTRODUCE EACH OF THEM.
FIRST, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO HEATHER BROWN.
SHE IS OUR ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT, CBO.
HEATHER STARTED HER JOINING EDUCATION AS A CBO AT GRANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT NINE YEARS AGO.
IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING AND MONITORING THE DISTRICT BUDGET, SHE HAD OVERSIGHT OF NUTRITION SERVICES, SHE COORDINATED FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, AND SHE REPRESENTED THE DISTRICT ON THE NEGOTIATIONS TEAM.
SHE ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT'S LCAP AND ACTIONS AND BUDGETS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.
SHE THEN RELOCATED THE SACRAMENTO AREA, WHERE SHE MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF BUDGETARY ACCOUNTING FOR TWIN RIVERS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND SHE WORKED CLOSELY WITH SITE ADMINISTRATORS AND CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATORS ON CATEGORICAL PROGRAMMING BUDGETS.
SHE HAS A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN BUSINESS AND HR MANAGEMENT, AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY FROM SIMPSON UNIVERSITY UP AT REDDING.
SHE ALSO EARNED A CBO CERTIFICATION FROM THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO JOIN ME IN WELCOMING HER.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, I'M GOING TO INVITE BRANDON BALMER ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
[00:05:04]
FOR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TO COME UP.>> GOOD EVENING. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE CATHY ANDERSON AS THE NEXT PRINCIPAL OF TWO RIVERS ELEMENTARY.
CATHY'S A FAMILIAR FACE AS SHE WAS TWO RIVER ELEMENTARY'S ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL LAST YEAR, AND PRIOR TO THAT, SHE WAS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT BANNON CREEK.
SHE ALSO WORKED AS PROGRAM SPECIALIST FOR ED SERVICES AND AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER IN OTHER LOCAL DISTRICTS.
CATHY HAS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF AVID, PLCS, AND INSTRUCTIONAL PEDAGOGY, AND HAS EXPRESSED HER GRATITUDE FOR BEING SELECTED AS THE NEXT PRINCIPAL AT TWO RIVERS.
PLEASE HELP ME IN CONGRATULATING HER. [APPLAUSE] NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE AMY SMITH, WHO'LL BE THE NEXT PRINCIPAL AT NATOMAS PARK ELEMENTARY.
AMY STARTED HER CAREER AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER IN THE SAN JUAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHERE SHE TAUGHT HISTORY, SERVED AS THE AVID COORDINATOR, ADVISOR FOR STUDENT GOVERNMENT, AND MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM.
SHE LATER BECAME AN ASSISTANT VICE PRINCIPAL WHERE SHE SUPPORTED FOUR SCHOOLS, INCLUDING TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND TWO HIGH SCHOOLS.
SHE MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS VICE PRINCIPAL IN SAN JUAN.
SHE WAS NOTED BY COLLEAGUES IN HER PREVIOUS DISTRICT AS COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITIVE, VISIBLE, AND AMY IS VERY EXCITED TO BE THE NEXT PRINCIPAL IN NATOMAS PARK ELEMENTARY.
PLEASE HELP ME IN WELCOMING HER TO NATOMAS.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK DAVID RODRIGUEZ, OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOL LEADER FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO COME UP NEXT.
>> [LAUGHTER] GOOD EVENING. VERY EXCITED TO INTRODUCE MS. POOJA MAHARAJ.
POOJA HAS BEEN A PRINCIPAL AT IMPACT ACADEMY OF ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY, WHERE SHE LED THE SCHOOL TO SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC MILESTONES.
SHE HAS IMPLEMENTED SCHOOL WIDE INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES TO ALIGN TEACHING PRACTICES AND FOSTER ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
POOJA HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH PBIS, AVID AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES.
POOJA IS EAGER TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS AT LEROY GREEN ACADEMY.
PLEASE WELCOME POOJA MAHARAJ. [APPLAUSE]
>> I'D NOW LIKE TO INVITE DOUG ORR AND HEATHER BROWN UP TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION SERVICES.
>> WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME ERICA LEE AS OUR DISTRICT'S NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION SERVICES.
ERICA BRINGS 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, LEADING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL NUTRITION AND STUDENT WELLNESS ACROSS THE SACRAMENTO REGION.
MOST RECENTLY, SHE SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES AT ROBLA SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHERE SHE EXPANDED THE USE OF MEALS MADE FROM WHOLE INGREDIENTS, INTRODUCED MORE CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE MENUS, AND BUILT STRONGER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CAFETERIA, CLASSROOM, AND COMMUNITY.
EARLIER IN HER CAREER, ERICA SUPPORTED REGIONAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS INITIATIVES AS A PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT THE HEALTH EDUCATION COUNCIL AND LED SCHOOL BASED SNAP-ED PROGRAMMING ACROSS MULTIPLE DISTRICTS.
ERICA IS EXCITED TO LEARN FROM THE NATOMAS COMMUNITY AND CONTRIBUTE TO N USD'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO HELP STUDENTS THRIVE. WELCOME. [APPLAUSE]
>> WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO ASK TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO TO COME FORWARD AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH OUR ADMINISTRATORS.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS.
IS THERE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CSCA AVAILABLE? I'M NOT SEEING CSCA.
[00:10:01]
NATOMAS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.[XII.b. Natomas Teacher's Association (NTA)]
IT'S GREAT. GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO AND TRUSTEES.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND HONORING THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES OF THIS REGION.
SACRAMENTO IS SITUATED IN THE TRADITIONAL HOMELANDS OF THE NISENAN PEOPLE.
WE OFFER GRATITUDE FOR THE LAND ITSELF FOR THOSE WHO HAVE STEERED IT FOR GENERATIONS AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY, LEARN, WORK, AND BUILD COMMUNITY HERE.
WE ALSO HONOR THE WILTON RANCHERIA, THE ONLY FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THE SPACE TO ENGAGE IN CONTINUED LEARNING ABOUT THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO LIVED AND WORKED ON THIS LAND SINCE TIME OF MEMORIAL.
MANY OF YOU KNOW ME, BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AS A NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE NATOMAS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
I'VE BEEN A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER FOR 11 YEARS NOW, EIGHT OF THOSE HERE IN NATOMAS UNIFIED.
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH IN VARIOUS LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FROM INCLUSION MODELS TO SELF CONTAINED CLASSROOMS. LIKE ALL MY COLLEAGUES, I'VE EXPERIENCED THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF BEING AN EDUCATOR.
OUR EDUCATORS ARE FEELING MORE ANXIETY AND UNCERTAINTY THAN EVER BEFORE, AS WE DEAL WITH DECISIONS AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL THAT IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO SUPPORT STUDENTS.
DESPITE THE CHALLENGING TIMES WE ARE IN, FACING CUTS EDUCATION, ATTACKS ON DI PROGRAMS, AND INDISCRIMINATE RAIDS ON OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, EDUCATORS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA ARE STANDING UP FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THAT IS NO DIFFERENT FOR NTA.
THROUGHOUT MY TIME AS AN EDUCATOR AND UNION LEADER, I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THAT THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF OUR TEACHERS AND THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS OF OUR STUDENTS GO HAND IN HAND.
A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
THIS PAST WEEK, NTA WAS ABLE TO BRING A TEAM TO THE CTA SUMMER INSTITUTE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL STRAND.
OUR TEAM, WHICH INCLUDED MEMBERS FROM BOTH OF OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL SITES, JEFFERSON AND NATOMAS HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE HERE TONIGHT, WERE ABLE TO BRAINSTORM HOW WE CAN FURTHER THE GREAT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WORK THAT IS BEING DONE.
IT IS ALSO EXCITING NEWS THAT NATOMAS MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL BE ENTERING ITS FIRST SERIES OF COMMUNITY SCHOOL WITH THE PLANNING GRANT THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED.
NTA'S VISION IS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXPAND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN NATOMAS AND OFFER A TRANSFORMATIVE WAY OF LEARNING THAT IS FOCUSED ON ENGAGING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I AM ALSO HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT AS OF JUNE, NTA RECEIVED AN ECONOMIC PROPOSAL THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE VERY REAL NEEDS OF EDUCATORS IN NATOMAS, WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO SUPPORTING STUDENTS IN THE FACE OF RISING HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
A 1.5% SALARY INCREASE AND NO INCREASE TO HEALTH BENEFITS IS NOT ENOUGH TO RECRUIT OR RETAIN EDUCATORS IN THIS DISTRICT.
MANY STRING DISTRICTS ARE PRIORITIZING TEACHER COMPENSATION TO A HIGHER DEGREE THAN NATOMAS, AND IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE SHIFT OUR PRIORITIES TO RETAIN VALUED STAFF.
YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE LOSE EDUCATORS TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN A DISTRICT WHERE THEY'RE UNDERPAID, UNDERVALUED.
MANY OF THESE EDUCATORS HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS IN THIS DISTRICT AND SOME OF OUR BEST TEACHERS AND SUPPORT PROVIDERS.
HOW CAN WE EXPECT A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR OUR STUDENTS IF WE CAN'T RETAIN QUALITY TEACHERS? I AM URGING THE BOARD TO RECONSIDER WHERE THE DISTRICT IS PRIORITIZING THEIR BUDGET.
COSTLY PROGRAMS AND CONSULTANTS HAVE NOT DELIVERED THE RESULTS THAT WE'RE TOLD THEY WOULD.
INCREASING POSITIONS AND SALARIES FOR CENTRAL OFFICE AND MANAGEMENT STAFF HAS NOT LED TO SAFER SCHOOLS OR HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.
INSTEAD OF WASTING THIS MONEY, WE NEED TO RETHINK HOW THIS MONEY COULD BE USED TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS.
I AM URGING THE DISTRICT TO DO BETTER BECAUSE I KNOW YOU CAN. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, NICO. BOARD MEMBERS,
[XII.c. Board Members]
COMMUNICATIONS, TRUSTEE MORA.>> THANK YOU. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR PERSONNEL WHO ARE NEW TO THE DISTRICT.
I KNOW WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF OTHER CHANCES TO ALL WORK TOGETHER.
TODAY IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO DO TWO QUICK THANK YOUS TO TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO OUR HR DEPARTMENT FOR BEING ABLE TO RECRUIT SOME NEW TEACHERS AT THE JOB FAIRS THAT HAPPENED.
I'M SURE YOU KNOW WE READ EVERYTHING THAT COMES ACROSS OUR WAY, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS ESPECIALLY WORTH HAVING A SHOUT OUT WITH HOW DIFFICULT WE KNOW IT IS TO RECRUIT PEOPLE IN EDUCATION.
THE SECOND REALLY SHOUT OUT THAT I WANT TO DO, BUT ALSO A REMINDER FOR ANYONE WHO MAY BE WATCHING OR ANYONE WHO'S HERE IS THAT THANKS TO OUR CAFE TEAM, COMMUNITY AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TEAM, THERE'S ANOTHER KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PRESENTATION THAT WILL BE HAPPENING PRETTY SOON, IN COLLABORATION WITH A LOCAL ORGANIZATION CALLED
[00:15:01]
NORCAL RESIST FOR ANYONE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT IMMIGRATION RIGHTS ARE, ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF THE FEDERAL ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING AND REALLY HERE LOCALLY, WE KNOW IN SACRAMENTO RECENTLY.THE FIRST ONE THAT HAPPENED WITH THE DISTRICT IN COLLABORATION WITH ANOTHER COMMUNITY PARTNER IN PERSON WAS THIS ROOM WAS ENTIRELY FULL.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A BIG ASK FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE ALL SEEN LESS PEOPLE SHOW UP TO DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE AND ELSEWHERE.
I HOPE EVERYONE CAN SHARE THE DETAILS FOR THAT WORKSHOP WITH ANYONE THAT YOU MAY THINK NEEDS THAT INFORMATION.
THEN THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO SHARE IS RELATED TO THE CABSE.
HOLD ON. EVERY TIME THERE'S AN ACRONYM, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT ALL THE DIFFERENT LETTERS MEAN.
IT'S THE CALIFORNIA BLACK SCHOOL EDUCATORS.
I HAVE SEVEN PAGES WORTH OF NOTES, AND I FIGURED IT'D BE BETTER TO COME UP WITH AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TO SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
BUT I WANT TO REALLY JUST SAY THAT IT'S HANDS DOWN ONE OF THE MOST SUBSTANTIVE CONFERENCES THAT I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A CRISIS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT OR LACK THEREOF BECAUSE OF SYSTEMIC ISSUES.
I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME CRITICAL INFORMATION THAT I HAD A CHANCE TO SEE AND THAT I WANT TO SHARE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STUCK OUT TO ME WERE REALLY FOUNDATIONAL, THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT DISTRICT CULTURE.
EVEN IF YOU HAVE ALL THE MODELS FROM OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND THAT YOU CAN SEE AND TAKE IN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME OF THE FOUNDATIONAL THINGS.
I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS REALLY AN ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE TO HAVE.
IT WAS ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT BUT NOT TO BRAG, BUT A 10 MINUTE CONVERSATION WITH COLIN KAEPERNICK.
HE'S DOING A LOT OF WORK AROUND AI EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, BUT IT ALSO HAS A BIG EQUITY FOCUS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FOCUS.
I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I CAN REMEMBER FROM THAT CONVERSATION IS THAT SCHOOL HAS TO BE INTERESTING AND SCHOOL HAS TO BE ENGAGING AS ONE OF THE MOST BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE, EVEN THE DECISIONS HERE AT THE DAIS.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO END MY BOARD REPORT. THANK YOU.
>> I WILL JUST ECHO WHAT TRUSTEE MORA HAD TO SAY.
ALSO, JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO NICO ON BECOMING NTA PRESIDENT.
ALSO, [APPLAUSE] I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL YOU'LL BRING TO NTA AND RIGHT HERE WITH US.
ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO GO OUT TO JEFFERSON SCHOOL, TRIED IT TWICE TO CHECK OUT FREEDOM SCHOOLS.
THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE A READ-ALONG, DIDN'T QUITE WORK OUT, BUT I SAY THAT THE KIDS SEEM TO ENJOY THEMSELVES.
NO REPORT FROM ME. TRUSTEE DOSICK.
>> LIKEWISE, I HAD A CHANCE TO GO AND VISIT FREEDOM SCHOOL AT BANNON THIS SUMMER AND VERY MUCH ENJOYED THE VISIT.
I DID GET TO DO THE READ-ALONG AND I DID FOR ANYONE WHO'S BEEN TO FREEDOM SCHOOL, I MADE THE EITHER ERROR OR AN OPPORTUNISTIC CHOICE TO SAY GOOD MORNING, AND I WAS GREETED WITH A TWO-MINUTE, GOOD MORNING SONG, WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING IN MY PROFESSIONAL WORK LIFE.
IT MIGHT MAKE SOME MORE FUN MORNINGS.
I HOPE EVERYONE'S ENJOYING THE RELATIVE CALM OF SUMMER, BUT KNOWING THAT THE SCHOOL YEAR IS COMING UP ON US RATHER QUICKLY.
LIKEWISE, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE NICO ON ASSUMING THE PRESIDENCY FOR NTA.
LOOK FORWARD TO A LONG AND COLLABORATIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
HOPING THAT YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW HOW THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS WORKS.
LOOKING FORWARD TO NTA COUNTERING, UNFORTUNATELY, WE SEEM TO HAVE LOST THE SUMMER, BUT HOPEFULLY, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, GETTING BACK TO THE TABLE SO WE CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY, PROVIDE THE CERTAINTY THAT I KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR TEACHERS NEED AND WANT MOVING FORWARD.
THEN ONCE NEGOTIATION IS COMPLETE, I HOPE YOU'LL REACH OUT.
WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN, MEET WITH YOU AND LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT.
OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NO OTHER THAN THAT, NO MORE THAN.
[00:20:01]
>> [LAUGHTER] THANKS, TRUSTEE DOSICK. TRUSTEE MEHTA.
>> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEWS JOINE STAFF, AND CONGRATULATIONS, NICO FOR THE NEW ROLE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LOSS OF OUR FRIEND AND EDUCATOR, IKA, WHO LOST HER LIFE ON 10TH OF JULY.
SHE'S BEEN A GOOD FRIEND AND SHE'S BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOR SO MANY YEARS.
CURRENTLY, SHE WAS NOT WORKING WITH US, BUT SHE HAS TOUCHED MANY LIVES OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
THAT'S ALL FOR THE REPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, VERY GOOD MEMO.
IF IT DOESN'T OFFEND THE BOARD, WILL ADJOURN IN HER MEMORY THIS EVENING.
[XII.d. Superintendent]
>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ECHO CONGRATULATIONS TO NICO AS THE NEW NTA PRESIDENT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN YOUR NEW CAPACITY.
HAVE HAD SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH HIM IN THE PAST, AND SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
ALSO, I HAVE A HOT-OFF-THE-PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I KNOW TRUSTEE MORA IS ESPECIALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
WE HAVE A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH SAC STATE.
STARTING THIS SCHOOL YEAR, SAC STATE WILL GUARANTEE ADMISSION AND AUTOMATICALLY ENROLL ANY STUDENT WHO GRADUATES FROM A NATOMAS UNIFIED HIGH SCHOOL, PROVIDED THAT THEY MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, DAVID RODRIGUEZ, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT PARTNERSHIP, AND SO WE WILL BE CELEBRATING AND GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT, BUT LIKE I SAID, HOT OFF THE PRESSES.
I ALSO AM EXCITED THAT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE THIS SUMMER FOR OUR READ TO SUCCEED LITERACY INITIATIVE, THERE HAS BEEN SOME MISINFORMATION CIRCULATING ABOUT THE EFFORTS, AND I WANT TO CLARIFY SOME FACTS OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
OUR STAFF ATTENDED A TRAINING ON THE SCIENCE OF READING THIS SUMMER THROUGH THE NATIONAL LITERACY INSTITUTE.
THE GOAL OF THIS INSTITUTE WAS TO PROVIDE EDUCATORS WITH RESEARCH-BASED KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL STRATEGIES THAT ALIGN WITH THE SCIENCE OF READING FRAMEWORKS THAT INCLUDE BUILDING STRONG FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS, WITH ESSENTIAL LITERACY SKILLS, FOCUSING ON PHONEMIC AWARENESS, PHONICS, FLUENCY, AND COMPREHENSION.
IDENTIFYING AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE LEARNING NEEDS THROUGH TARGETED INTERVENTIONS AND EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, CREATING RIGOROUS, EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM THAT INTEGRATES THE KEY COMPONENTS OF READING, DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION EFFECTIVELY, AND TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE WITH TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND STRATEGIES GROUNDED IN THE SCIENCE OF READING.
WE HAVE CREATED WITH THE NATIONAL LITERACY INSTITUTE CYCLES OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT HAVE BEEN PLANNED FOR EVERY TK-2 TEACHER BASED ON THE COMPONENTS OF THE SCIENCE OF READING.
EARLY LITERACY MATERIALS, INCLUDING PHONEMIC AWARENESS, AND PHONICS CURRICULUM AND SUPPLIES, HAVE BEEN PURCHASED TO BE USED IN EVERY TK-2 CLASSROOM IN THE DISTRICT.
WE ARE ALSO FOCUSING ON IMPLEMENTING RESEARCH-BASED INTERVENTIONS IN GRADES 3 THROUGH 12 AS WELL.
VERY EXCITED FOR THOSE THINGS, AND AS WE MOVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE WILL BE SURE TO SHARE WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE AND THE RESULTS THAT WE ARE GETTING WITH OUR STUDENTS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INVITE EVERYONE TO OUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAIR THAT IS COMING UP ON AUGUST 2ND.
IT WILL BE RIGHT OUTSIDE OF OUR WELCOME CENTER, RIGHT IN OUR OTHER BUILDING OVER HERE.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO COME AND ENJOY A FREE FARMERS' MARKET.
THERE'S FOOD TO BE EATEN, AND THEN ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS GETTING INFORMATION ABOUT IMMUNIZATIONS, SPORTS, PHYSICALS, TECHNOLOGY, BUS PASSES, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO START THE YEAR IS AVAILABLE, AND SO INVITE FAMILIES TO COME OUT AND ATTEND. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR,
[XIII. CONSENT ITEMS]
BUT BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.YES, I SAID THAT EARLIER. YOU WANT ME TO MAKE SOMETHING UP, OR? YES. WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM JEN SUSAN.
>> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO, PRESIDENT GRANT AND TRUSTEES AND NEIGHBORS.
MY COMMENT IS ABOUT HOW WE'RE ALLOCATING TITLE I, II, III, AND OTHER CATEGORICAL FUNDS.
THESE DOLLARS ARE MEANT TO CLOSE GAPS FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, FOSTER YOUTH, OF WHICH I WAS A FOSTER PARENT IN THIS DISTRICT FOR 10 YEARS, AND AKA RAMSEY HELPED ME SO MUCH WHEN I HAD KIDS AT INTERCOM, A HUGE LOSS.
ENGLISH LEARNERS AND THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
YET YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE SEE A GROWING SHARE OF THESE FUNDS ABSORBED BY ADMINISTRATIVE LAYERS.
OUR DISTRICT IS VERY TOP-HEAVY AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE.
MONEY IS FUNNELED INTO PROGRAMS THAT DON'T DIRECTLY REACH CLASSROOMS.
[00:25:02]
FAMILIES ARE TOLD THESE DOLLARS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, BUT WHEN THERE'S NO CLEAR BREAKDOWN, WHEN IT'S DIFFICULT TO READ THE BUDGET AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THE MONEY WENT, WHEN THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE TRULY REACHING THE STUDENTS THEY'RE INTENDED TO SERVE.HOW MUCH OF THIS FUNDING WILL ACTUALLY PLACE INTERVENTION TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS GRADES 3 THROUGH 12, EXPAND LITERACY SUPPORT OR CREATE DIRECT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS? HOW MUCH WILL CONTINUE TO BE SPENT ON CONSULTANTS, TRAINING SESSIONS, AND BOUTIQUE INITIATIVES LIKE IB THAT GENUINELY SERVE ABOUT 120 STUDENTS? IT'S DISINGENUOUS TO SAY THAT IB IS SERVING THOUSANDS.
WE NEED A CLEAR PUBLIC ACCOUNTING OF HOW THESE CATEGORICAL FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT.
EVERY DOLLAR SHOULD BE DRIVING OUTCOMES FOR THE KIDS WHO NEED IT MOST, NOT PADDING CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGETS OR SUBSIDIZING PROGRAMS THAT DON'T BENEFIT THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS.
MY 20-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, LINA, CAME OUT AND SPOKE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO YOU.
SHE IS READING AT ABOUT A FOURTH-GRADE LEVEL AFTER A YEAR OF TUTORING, YET SHE GRADUATED FROM INTERCOM HIGH SCHOOL.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, BUT I DO HAVE A REQUEST TO GO BACK TO BOARD COMMUNICATIONS FROM TRUSTEE HARDEN AND, JUST TO MAKE A QUICK.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL JUST GO BACK BRIEFLY.
>> JUST A CORRECTION. I SAID JEFFERSON FOR THE FREEDOM SCHOOL, AND IT WAS VANACREEK. THANK YOU.
>> NO PROBLEM. THAT'S ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT I HAVE ON CONSENT. IS THERE A MOTION?
>> MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> SECOND BY TRUSTEE HARDEN, WHO GIVES IT AWAY TO TRUSTEE MEHTA? HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
NEXT UP, WE DO HAVE A START OF SCHOOLS PRESENTATION.
[XIV.a. Start of Schools Presentation 2025-2026 Part I]
WE DO HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.THE FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO GO HEAR FROM THESE FOLKS FIRST.
>> IS IT PUBLIC COMMENTS FIRST, THEN PRESENTATION?
>> IT SAYS START OF SCHOOLS UPDATE, SO WE USUALLY HANDLE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS FIRST, IF YOU'D LIKE TO.
>> SURE. IT'S A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
AGAIN, I'VE BEEN COMING TO THESE BOARD MEETINGS FOR 20 YEARS NOW.
IT'S A SHAME THAT I HAVE TO HEAR THE TEACHERS STILL SAY THE SAME THINGS THAT US PARENTS HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR 20 YEARS.
GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
SHOW US WHERE THE MONEY IS, BE EQUIPPED.
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, THE CLASSROOMS NEED TO BE EQUIPPED.
IT'S COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE JUNIOR HIGH ONLY HAS ONE WHEELCHAIR.
YOU HAVE SEVERAL CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THAT HAVE TO SHARE A WHEELCHAIR.
YOU HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT TEACHERS DON'T HAVE TO GO RUNNING AROUND SEARCHING FOR A WHEELCHAIR WHEN THEY HAVE TO GET STUDENTS UP AND DOWN THE ELEVATOR.
IT'S APPALLING TO HEAR THAT YOU STILL DON'T HAVE CHANGING TABLES IN YOUR SPECIAL ED CLASSES FOR THE CHILDREN WHO ARE OF A BIGGER SIZE THAT THE AIDES CAN'T JUST READILY LIFT TO CHANGE THEIR DIAPERS OR ATTENDS OR WHATEVER IT IS.
LET'S GET THE SCHOOL READY AT 100%.
STOP LEAVING YOUR SPECIAL ED BEHIND, STOP NOT BEING PREPARED, GIVE THE TEACHERS THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
SHAME ON ALL OF YOU SITTING UP HERE.
YOU HAVE A FINANCIAL, FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS COMMUNITY, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU SITTING UP THERE.
SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN SITTING UP THERE WAY LONGER THAN OTHERS THAT SHOULD KNOW THIS AND SHOULD HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED THESE CHANGES OR CHAMPIONED FOR THEM, INSTEAD OF TALKING BAD ABOUT SPECIAL ED CHILDREN, LIKE MR. DOSICK DID AT THE LAST MEETING, SAYING THAT THEY COST A LOT AND THE MONEY.
YOU NEED TO GET READY AND WE EXPECT FOR THE TEACHERS TO HAVE WHAT THEY NEED FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I HAVE ONE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT. JENSUU.
>> GOOD EVENING. WHEN I HEAR START OF SCHOOL'S READINESS, IT DOESN'T MATCH THE REALITY THAT MY FAMILY LIVED THROUGH LAST YEAR.
MY DAUGHTER WAS NEGLECTED AND ABUSED AND STARTED SCHOOL AT THE END OF FOURTH GRADE.
SHE WAS PLACED IN A CLASSROOM WITHOUT A CREDENTIALED TEACHER.
SHE HAS HAD REGRESSION AND PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIORS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF STABILITY.
FOR THE YEAR, WE HAD AN UNFILLED SDC POSITION, BUT NO ONE FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE STEPPED OUT OF THEIR OFFICE TO RUN THE CLASSROOM AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
[00:30:02]
FIRST, HOW MANY OF THESE CRITICAL POSITIONS ARE STILL UNFILLED RIGHT NOW? WHAT'S THE DISTRICT'S CONCRETE PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT ON DAY 1, EVERY CLASSROOM, EVERY CHILD HAS A STABLE, CREDENTIALED TEACHER AND THE NECESSARY AIDS.NOT WEEKS OR MONTHS LATER, BUT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
THIS VACANCY IN MY DAUGHTER'S CLASSROOM WAS KNOWN ABOUT IN MARCH 2024? EQUITY BEGINS WITH STAFFING, NOT WITH SLIDES OR POLISHED REPORTS.
IF WE CAN'T GUARANTEE FULLY STAFFED CLASSROOMS FROM THE FIRST DAY, ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS LIKE MY DAUGHTER.
PRESENTATIONS AND READINESS MEANS VERY LITTLE TO US.
MY ASK TONIGHT IS VERY SIMPLE.
PUBLISH THE FULL STAFFING LIST FOR EVERY SCHOOL.
TEACHERS, AIDES, AND SPECIALISTS, AND DO IT BY AUGUST 1ST.
UPDATE FAMILIES WEEKLY UNTIL EVERY POSITION IS FILLED, AND PLACE ADMINISTRATORS FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE INTO SDC AND RSP POSITIONS UNTIL EVERY POSITION IS PROPERLY FILLED.
MY DAUGHTER SHOULD NOT BE GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK BECAUSE SOMEONE DOESN'T WANT TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM.
OUR STUDENTS, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, DESERVE TRANSPARENCY, AND THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR'S CHAOS.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THAT'S ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT I'LL HAVE ON THIS ITEM.
DOUG OR ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT IS GOING TO I'LL PRESENT. THANK YOU, DOUG.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GRANT, TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO, AND STAFF AND COMMUNITY THAT ARE HERE.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE PRESENTATIONS EVERY YEAR IS TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE EFFORTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, CLASSIFIED STAFF, EVERYBODY'S GOING FULL SPEED RIGHT NOW, TRYING TO GET READY FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, INCLUDING HIRING, LOTS OF OTHER THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT IN THIS REPORT.
TONIGHT, LIKE I SAID, A COUPLE OF QUICK OBJECTIVES, I WILL BE BACK IN AUGUST TO SHARE MORE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO START WITH AN ENROLLMENT UPDATE, SO WE CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE COMPARED TO WHAT WE THOUGHT BACK IN FEBRUARY.
TALK ABOUT SOME FACILITIES, THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON.
WE WILL GO INTO A STAFFING UPDATE, HAVE SOME UPDATED INFORMATION THAT'S EVEN CHANGED SINCE WE PRINTED THIS AT NOON.
HEALTH, AND THERE'S SOME EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED TONIGHT ALREADY. THERE'S MORE STUFF IN HERE.
FIRST, JUST BIG PICTURE, NATOMAS COMMUNITY, ALL OF OUR CHARTERS, EVERYBODY, WE EXPECT 17,000-18,000 STUDENTS TO BE SERVED BY OUR DISTRICT THIS YEAR.
JUST WANT TO PUT THAT NUMBER OUT THERE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS FLOATING AROUND, BUT THAT'S REALLY THE NATOMAS COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF SCHOOL.
FOR OUR ENROLLMENT UPDATE BACK IN FEBRUARY, WE PROJECTED THAT WE'D HAVE ABOUT 11,008 STUDENTS WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED.
AS OF MONDAY OR TUESDAY, I GUESS, WE HAD 10,878, BUT WE ALSO HAD 84 ENROLLMENTS PENDING.
WE ARE COMING REALLY CLOSE TO OUR NUMBER.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE KIDS THAT HAVE MOVED.
SOME OF THOSE WE WON'T FIND OUT UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS.
HOWEVER, MORE KIDS WILL NOW COME IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS AS WELL.
SOMEWHERE THAT WE'LL ALL SETTLE OUT, AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT WE THOUGHT, BECAUSE WE'RE STAFFING BASED ON WHAT WE THOUGHT, WHICH IS GOOD.
TK THIS YEAR, WE'VE ADDED MULTIPLE TKS WITH A CHANGE IN ELIGIBILITY.
WE'RE SEEING OUR TK AND OUR KINDERGARTENS EVEN OUT AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF THEM.
WE DO STILL HAVE SPACE, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT AND ADDING STUDENTS AS IN ROLE.
A LOT OF ENROLLMENT AND MARKETING THINGS ARE GOING ON TO HELP WITH THAT, BUT WE DO STILL HAVE THREE ENROLLMENT NIGHTS COMING UP.
THE FIRST BEING NEXT TUESDAY FROM 5:00 TO 7:00 PM.
THEN WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE ON AUGUST 5TH AND THE FINAL ONE ON AUGUST 11TH.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO OUR SCHOOLS BEING OPEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
THE NIGHTTIME IS JUST ANOTHER SERVICE.
WE PROVIDE STAFF EXTRA PAY TO STAY LATE, HELP FAMILIES GET ENROLLED AFTER WORK OR WHATEVER, AND THEN IF IT'S A QUIET TIME, THEN THEY JUST HAVE OTHER WORK THAT THEY CAN CATCH ON TO KEEP THEIR OFFICES UP TO SPEED.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT THING IN THE PAST.
IT'S REALLY HELPED OUT. WE'RE ALSO HAVING A BACK-TO-SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION CLINIC.
RIGHT NOW ONLINE, WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT TIMES PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP FOR TO COME IN AND GET IMMUNIZATIONS.
AS OF YESTERDAY, WE HAD ABOUT 288 STUDENTS THAT WEREN'T COMPLIANT YET.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT FROM THE SAME DAY LAST YEAR. THAT'S GOOD.
WE HAVE A LOT OF EFFORT GOING ON WITH THAT, AND OUR NURSING STAFF IS REALLY DOING A GREAT JOB AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERS, HELPING THAT FREE CLINICS AS WELL.
AT THE BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, WE'LL BE OFFERING IMMUNIZATIONS ON AUGUST 2ND ON SATURDAY, SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT, SHARE THAT INFORMATION.
SIGN UP ONLINE IS IT'S MUCH BETTER TO SIGN UP ONLINE.
WE ALSO HAVE A MOBILE CLINIC THAT WE'VE INVESTED IN OVER THE YEARS THAT WE CAN TAKE OUT TO SCHOOL SITES TO HELP PEOPLE
[00:35:02]
GET ON THE FIRST DAY IF THEY STILL HAVE ANY SHOTS.>> QUICKLY, COULD YOU ALWAYS HAD A DIFFERENT TIME TO SEND ME THE AMOUNT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE AN EXEMPTION?
GUYS, ABOUT STANDARD FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.
>> CAN'T BE DOUG, LOOK, YOU ALREADY KNEW.
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY ANTHONY DEMARTO.
HE KNOWS HIS DATA BE ANTHONY. PROVIDED ME THAT.
ANOTHER THING BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR AS MENTIONED EARLIER BY MULTIPLE TRUSTEES.
YOU'LL NOTICE ON THE LAST BULLET IN THE KEY COMPONENTS IS THE NORS INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE THERE AS WELL, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EARLY LITERACY CORNER.
>> NUTRITION SERVICES WILL BE OUT THERE.
THERE'LL BE FOOD AND FARMERS MARKET AND COME SEE THE WELCOME CENTER, MEET STAFF.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A 360 PHOTO BOOTH.
WE REALLY WANT KIDS TO COME OUT.
FAMILIES TO COME OUT, GET PREPARED FOR SCHOOL, GET THEIR SHOTS IF THEY NEED THEM STILL, THEIR VACCINATIONS AND BE READY TO GO FOR THE FIRST DAY.
IF ANYBODY'S ON A SATURDAY LOOKING TO COME OUT AND MAYBE PICK UP A POSITION. STAFFING UPDATE.
AS OF TODAY, AND LIKE I SAID, THIS WAS AT ABOUT NOON, BUT IT'S ALREADY CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE 25 CERTIFICATED VACANCIES THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT'S 25 CLASSROOMS WITHOUT TEACHERS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE 16 CLASSROOM POSITIONS RIGHT NOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO HIRE.
WE DO HAVE PLAN TO MAKE SURE EVERY CLASS IS COVERED TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE 16 CLASSIFIED POSITIONS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED.
WE'VE DONE MULTIPLE JOB FAIRS, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE.
LAST YEAR, AT THIS TIME, WE HAD QUITE A FEW MORE VACANCIES THAN WE HAVE THIS YEAR.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EFFORT TO GET OUT THERE.
THERE ARE FOUR SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM POSITIONS THAT STILL NEED TO BE FILLED.
TWO CLASSROOM POSITIONS FOR ELEMENTARY, ALTHOUGH ONE HAD AN OFFER OUT ON IT AS I WALKED IN HERE TONIGHT.
WE'RE HOPING THAT FILLS, THAT WILL TAKE US DOWN TO ONE.
THEN IN OUR SINGLE SUBJECT, WE HAVE 10, AND YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE LISTED THERE.
WE DID THIS AFTERNOON SIGN A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER, AND WE HAVE A MATH OFFER OUT, WHICH IS GREAT.
THE OTHER ONES WILL ALL BE COVERED.
THE OTHER POSITIONS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT AREN'T INCLUDED IN THESE, THOSE WOULD BE FOR OTHER AUXILIARY POSITIONS, BUT THOSE WOULD BE AFTER WE HAVE CLASSROOM POSITIONS FILLED.
THE MAIN THING IS GET THE CLASSROOM POSITIONS FILLED.
WE STILL HAVE THREE WEEKS, APPROXIMATELY, WHICH IS GREAT, AND THE TEAM IS WORKING HARD.
THAT'S FIRST PRIORITY RIGHT NOW.
I'LL HANDS ON DECK FOR THAT, AND THINGS ARE CHANGING DAILY, AS I JUST MENTIONED.
ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S THE MOST STATUS AS OF RIGHT NOW, UP TO DATE STATUS.
THIS IS JUST MORE FOR THE PUBLIC.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY, SCHOOL STARTS QUICK.
MP3 STARTS AUGUST FOURTH, AND THEN WEST LAKE AND THOMAS CHARTER START A DAY BEFORE WE DO.
THEN WITH THAT, OUR START TIMES ARE AS FOLLOWS.
SOME SCHOOLS HAVE MULTIPLE START TIMES DEPENDING ON THE GRADE LEVELS, BUT NO CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR.
THIS WILL STILL BE POSTED. SOON SCHEDULES.
WE ARE STARTING A WEEK LATER THIS YEAR, WHICH OFFERS A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO GET THINGS READY FOR SCHOOL TO START, BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT OUR TRADITIONAL SCHEDULE DISTRIBUTIONS AND THINGS ARE ALL PUSHED BACK ONE WEEK.
ONE DIFFERENCE. THERE'S LETTERS GOING OUT FROM PRINCIPALS.
JUST A LITTLE BIT CHANGE IN HOW WE DO TO PRIVACY RIGHTS IN CALIFORNIA, HOW WE POST CLASS LISTS AND SCHEDULES, THEY ARE NO LONGER POSTED UP ON THE FENCE FOR EVERYONE TO COME SEE.
THROUGH PARENT SQUARE AND STUDENTS SQUARE AND ALL OF OUR TECHNOLOGY NOW, FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO GO ON THERE AND ACCESS IT.
THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO COME UP TO THE SCHOOL, ALTHOUGH FOR THE EVENTS, WE DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE THEM TO OR THEY CAN ENTER THE SCHOOL OFFICE AND GET THE INFORMATION AND THE PRIVACY OF CONVERSATION WITH STAFF MEMBER.
A LOT OF SUMMER PROJECTS GOING ON.
THIS IS JUST TO GIVE YOU GUYS A SENSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
BUT YOU CAN SEE AT AMERICAN LAKES, A LOT OF REFURBISHMENT IN THE NPR ROOM AND IN THE CAFETERIA, NO LONGER HAVING THE ACOUSTIC CEILING, PEOPLE CALL POPCORN CEILING.
THAT'S ALL BEEN TAKEN CARE OF NEW FRESH COAT OF PAINT.
YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF HAND RAILS AND THINGS GETTING FRESHENED UP OVER IN NATOMAS MIDDLE, FIRE LANES, I DON'T HAVE TO READ IT AT ALL, BUT IT'S THEREFORE, YOU GUYS TO SEE, WE DID DO THREE MAJOR PAINTING PROJECTS AS WELL, WHICH I'LL SHOW YOU.
THIS IS SOME PICTURES FROM AMERICAN LAKES, SOME OF THE WORK GOING ON THERE.
THE NATOMAS MIDDLE AND BANNON CREEK.
WE'VE BEEN EXPANDING PRETTY WELL OVER THE YEARS WITHOUT A PERMANENT HOME.
THIS SUMMER, WE WERE ABLE TO PAUSE A LITTLE BIT AND MAKE SOME PERMANENT ADJUSTMENTS TO MOVE INTO AN AIR CONDITIONED CLIMATE PERMANENT HOME FOR JOEY'S FOOD FOR THE FOOD, WHICH IS REQUIRED WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD.
THEN ALSO TO REINFORCE THE FLOORING AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN GOING IN AND OUT WITH THE HEAVY PALLETS.
THIS SHOULD REALLY HELP LONG TERM FOR JOEY'S FOOD LOCKER TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH ACCESS TO FREE FOOD AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE PROVIDE THERE.
[00:40:03]
IT'S NOT BECAUSE LONDON GOES THERE. I GET THIS ALL THE TIME.
SOMETIMES YOU PLAY BASS LIBER HERE AND IT'S LIKE YOU'RE ON SKATES MAN.
HAVE WE DONE ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> YEAH, WE ARE WORKING ON THAT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAYBE CHANGE THE VISCOSITY, IF POSSIBLE THROUGH SOME CODING.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT.
WE HAVE NOT TAKEN ACTION TO DO THAT YET, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THAT.
BUT WE DID PAINT, AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE.
NATOMAS HIGH SCHOOL, NATOMAS PARK, AND HERON SCHOOL ALL RECEIVED THE WHOLE SCHOOL PAINT, 20-25 YEARS IS THE LIFE CYCLE FOR PAINT AT A SCHOOL.
ALL THREE OF THOSE WERE APPROACHING THAT.
THINGS CRACK BASED ON SUNLIGHT AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
SUMMER PROJECT PICTURES, ALSO, A LOT OF BRANDING, A LOT OF SIGNAGE GOING UP AS WELL FOR SAFETY, ENTRY PLACES, SCHOOL RULES AND THINGS.
A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE ON THAT.
INTERCOM HIGH SCHOOL, LEROY GREENE AND NATOMAS HIGH SCHOOL ALL HAD THEIR GYM FLOORS RESURFACED.
HOWEVER, INTERCOMBS NEEDED SOME MORE SUBSTANTIAL WORK, WHICH WAS TAKEN CARE OF OVER THE SUMMER, AND IS NOW BACK OPEN FOR SPORTS AND KIDS ARE ALREADY PREPARING TO GO BACK IN THERE.
SOME NEW LOGOS FOR SOME OF THE SCHOOLS.
TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS WITH PRINCIPALS AND STAFF MEMBERS FROM THE SCHOOLS OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO.
A LOT OF SAFETY UPDATES REGARDING THE SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS.
WE UPDATE OUR MAPS EVERY YEAR, WHERE THE LOCATIONS OF THINGS LIKE AEDS ARE, AND ALL OF THAT, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS ACCESSIBLE, EASY TO READ IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.
NUTRITION SERVICES HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK ALL SUMMER, CONTINUING TO PROVIDE MEAL SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, EVEN THOUGH THE RULES AND THE REGULATIONS SEEM TO CHANGE YEARLY NOW.
BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE LOTS OF POP UP EVENTS AND STILL GET OUT THERE AND PROVIDE LOTS OF DIFFERENT SERVICES THROUGH DIFFERENT GRANTS AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
A LOT OF UPCOMING STAFF TRAINING OBVIOUSLY WITH THE START OF SCHOOL, INCLUDING OUR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE.
WE DO A TWO DAY EVENT FOR OUR NEW TEACHERS TO NSD, AND WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL TRAINING FOR MODERATE TO SEVERE TEACHERS AND OTHER SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME PRE SERVICE DAYS FOR EVERYBODY, INCLUDING LOTS OF SCREENINGS FOR DYSLEXIA AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
THEN WE HAVE SPECIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LIKE THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT EARLIER RELATED TO OUR EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVES AND THE READING INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING THROUGH THE UPPER GRADES.
THESE ARE JUST SOME PICTURES WE SNAPPED.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS WHEN YOU'RE GETTING SCHOOL READY TO GO.
CURRICULUMS COMING IN, HAS TO GET UNPACKED, HAS TO GET SHIPPED OUT TO SITES.
THIS IS JUST THE SENSE OF OUR WAREHOUSE IS PRETTY FULL.
WE HAVE THIS OTHER WAREHOUSES BASICALLY RIGHT BEHIND YOU GUYS, WHERE A LOT OF THE CURRICULUM THAT'S COMING IN IS JUST BEING BROKEN DOWN AND DISTRIBUTED, INCLUDING A LOT OF THE EARLY LITERACY INTERVENTION MATERIALS THAT CAME IN.
BUT IT ALL REQUIRES A LOT OF CLASSIFIED STAFF, A LOT OF MANAGERS, TEACHERS VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME PEOPLE TO HELP COME IN AND BREAK THIS STUFF DOWN AND GET IT TO THE RIGHT PLACES AND INTO THE HANDS.
OUR LEAP PROGRAMS. ONE INTERESTING THING IS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND SPACE AT ALL OF OUR LEAP PROGRAMS BETWEEN 20-40 SEATS THIS YEAR.
THAT'S EXCITING BECAUSE THERE'S A HIGH DEMAND FOR THAT, AND WE NOW HAVE IT AT ALL OF OUR TK5 AND TK8 SCHOOLS, INCLUDING NATOMAS MIDDLE AND AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE A WAIT LIST, BUT ADDING THOSE 20-40 SEATS IS REALLY GOING TO HELP WITH THAT AND HELP FAMILIES OUT.
WE'LL START RIGHT AFTER THE START OF THE NEW YEAR WITH ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AS WELL.
COMMUNITY CAFE HAS REALLY BEEN OUT THERE MESSAGING.
YOU'RE PROBABLY STARTING TO GET YOUR INBOX AND YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA IS PROBABLY STARTING TO FILL UP WITH A LOT OF THEIR BRANDING, WHICH IS GREAT, INCLUDING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES THAT ARE HAPPENING AND REMINDERS ABOUT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
PARENT SQUARE. NOW IT'S YEAR 3.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS, BUT WE ARE NOW IN YEAR 3 OF PARENT SQUARE.
IT'S JUST BECOMING PART OF THE NORM.
IT'S ALLOWING US TO DO THINGS LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE WITH THE PRIVACY AND THE SAFETY IN REGARDS TO THE CLASS LIST POSTINGS AND THINGS.
THE FOCUS THIS YEAR IS ON SUPPORTING STAFF TO USE MORE OF THE FEATURES.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY USING IT.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT AREN'T UTILIZED THAT WE COULD THAT ARE PAID FOR AND WHAT WE HAVE.
NOW IT'S JUST HELPING PEOPLE EXPAND WHAT THEY DO.
NOW WE HAVE A SERIES OF THINGS THAT WE PUT IN HERE TO HELP PEOPLE GET INTO CONTACT WITH US WHEN THEY NEED HELP, INCLUDING OUR INFORMATION ABOUT CCS AND THE AFTER HOURS ANSWERING SERVICE THAT WE HAVE IN CASE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ON A WALK AND THEY SEE SOMETHING,
[00:45:02]
THEY SEE A BROKEN WINDOW OR WHATEVER THEY CAN CALL THESE NUMBERS AND LET US KNOW, OR IF A SPRINKLER IS FLOODING, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS.WE HAVE OUR PATH TO SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN UPDATED FOR OUR SCHOOL SITES, AS WELL AS IN THE MULTITUDE OF LANGUAGES WE HAVE AND HOW TO ACCESS THAT.
WE NOW HAVE A PATH OF SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, WHICH IS LISTED HERE AND WE'LL BE ON THE WEBSITE, OR IS ON THE WEBSITE, AND THEN NEW THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL STUDENT POPULATIONS, SABRINA JACKSON, [APPLAUSE] AND PARENT ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION, AND SUPPORT.
IT'S JUST A CONNECTION FOR FAMILIES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND TRAININGS, HELPING PARENTS UNDERSTAND IEPS AND 504S, AND REALLY TO FOSTER THAT COLLABORATIVE PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP THAT EXISTS TO KEEP THAT GOING STRONG.
WE WELCOME HER. WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER K8 ATHLETICS PATH TO SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION TO GET SUPPORT OR HELP WHEN THERE'S QUESTIONS, AS WELL AS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS.
THIS WILL HOPEFULLY BE REALLY HELPFUL TO FAMILIES.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TODAY. THIS IS PART 1.
I'LL BE BACK, LIKE I SAID, IN AUGUST WITH PART 2.
THIS IS JUST A SMALL SMATTERING OF ALL THE HARD WORK THAT TEACHERS, CLASSIFIED AND ADMINISTRATORS AND EVERYBODY HAS DONE TO HELP US GET US READY.
>> THANK YOU, DOUG. BOARD MEMBERS, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CUST HARDEN.
>> YES. I RECEIVED A TEXT FROM SOMEONE WATCHING AT HOME.
THEY SAID, CAN YOU ELABORATE ABOUT THE PLAN TO HAVE EVERY CLASSROOM FILLED BY THE FIRST DAY? I TOLD THEM IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YOU CAN'T, IF NOT, AND THEN THEY SAID IT'S PART 2, WILL YOU BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM FILLED? IS THERE A PLAN FOR THAT?
>> YEAH, SO ELEMENTARY, LIKE I SAID, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TWO CLASSROOMS THAT ARE VACANT.
WE HAVE ONE OFFER OUT ON ONE OF THOSE.
WE DO HAVE TOSS AND PEOPLE TOO THAT WILL BE COVERING UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO HIRE IF WE HAVE NOT ALREADY HIRED BY THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
FOR ELEMENTARY K, THINGS LOOK PRETTY GOOD.
HIGH SCHOOL IS A LITTLE HARDER BECAUSE OF THE SPECIALIZED CREDENTIALS.
WE DO HAVE SUBS AND WE DO HAVE OTHER STAFF THAT CAN HELP FILL IN THE MEANTIME.
BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'VE BEEN MOVING THIS AFTERNOON, WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE ONE AND PUT AN OFF OUT ON A MATH TEACHER.
THAT'S THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THOSE FILLED AND USE OUR SUPPORT STAFF TO FILL THE REST OF THE POSITIONS.
I'M TRYING TO THINK. IS THERE ANYTHING I MISSED, DAN? WHAT'S THAT? FOR NOW IT'S THE PLAN. WE HAVE THREE WEEKS.
THAT'S 24 HOURS TIMES THREE WEEKS, WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO IN THAT TIME. THAT'S WHAT'S LEFT.
>> WE WON'T STOP JUST WHEN SCHOOL STARTS. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING.
>> I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OTHER LIGHTS. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE OUR ACTION ITEMS.
[XV.a. Approve the Retirement of Nine (9) Diesel School Buses in Exchange for a $4,050,000 Grant from Sacramento County Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Towards Nine (9) New Electric Buses]
ACTION ITEM A, APPROVED THE RETIREMENT OF NINE DIESEL SCHOOL BUSES IN EXCHANGE FOR A $4 MILLION GRANT FROM SACRAMENTO COUNTY, AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TOWARDS NINE NEW ELECTRIC BUSES.I HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM FROM JEN SUSAN.
>> THREE, THE CLEANER ELECTRIC BUSES ARE A GREAT INVESTMENT, BUT THEY DON'T SOLVE THE REAL PROBLEM THAT MANY PARENTS ARE FACING, WHICH IS ACCESS.
RIGHT NOW, MANY STUDENTS IN OUR SPECIAL DAY CLASS PROGRAMS ARE DENIED DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE PLACED IN RAT INFESTED CLASSROOMS THAT DON'T TAKE CBIS AND THAT DON'T HAVE THE PROPER APPLIANCES TO MEET THEIR IEPS.
THESE ARE ALSO STUDENTS WHO CANNOT SAFELY WALK, BIKE, OR USE PUBLIC TRANSIT FOR THESE FAMILIES.
LAST YEAR, I WAS FACED WITH A CHOICE NO PARENT SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE.
SEND MY DAUGHTER INTO A RAT INFESTED CLASSROOM WITHOUT COMMUNITY BASED INTEGRATION SUPPORTS OR SOMEHOW AS A SINGLE PARENT, PROVIDE MY OWN TRANSPORTATION TO ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT WAS MORE ORGANIZED AND MORE SET UP.
THIS $4 MILLION THAT YOU'RE GETTING BACK MUST MEAN MORE THAN JUST A FLEET UPGRADE OR MONEY IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
IT NEEDS TO GO BACK INTO OUR CHILDREN WHO USE THAT TRANSPORTATION THE MOST.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE JUST TRADING DIESEL FUMES FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS, WHILE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE STILL LEFT WITHOUT A WAY TO GET TO SCHOOL.
[00:50:03]
TIE THIS INVESTMENT TO AN ENFORCEABLE COMMITMENT THAT EVERY SDC STUDENT, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE ATTENDING SCHOOL HAS DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION.THAT IS WHAT EQUITY LOOKS LIKE.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. THAT'S ANOTHER ITEM.
DEBATE, DISCUSSION. IS THERE A MOTION?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DOUG, THIS WAS YOU, ON THE GRANT?
>> IT'S OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAM. ULTIMATELY, YES.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU AND THE TRANSPORTATION TEAM, AND I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY.
WE'RE RETIRING NINE POLLUTING DIESEL BUSES AND GETTING NINE ELECTRIC BUSES BASICALLY FOR FREE.
>> YOU GUYS JUST APPROVED PREVIOUSLY ONE AND THEN WE WERE CONTACTED ABOUT THIS AND YEAH, IT'S NINE OF OUR OLDEST SCHOOL BUSES.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE WERE LOOKING TO DO ANYWAY.
IT WOULD HAVE COST WHAT YOU SEE MINUS ABOUT $5,000 A BUS FOR OUR GPS AND OUR CAMERAS AND THINGS.
IT'S BASICALLY LIKE A $4 MILLION EXPENSE WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO COVER, GETTING COVERED FOR FREE.
BUT YES, I'LL BE ELECTRIC VERSUS DIESEL, AND THEY ARE SOME OF OUR OLDEST BUSES.
>> WHICH IS PHENOMENAL WHEN YOU THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUSES ARE DRIVING BASICALLY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITHIN THE DISTRICT, WHICH ARE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT ROUTES FOR ELECTRIC.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY THANK YOU AND MOVE APPROVAL.
>> TRUSTEE DOSICK. THERE'S A SECOND BY TRUSTEE MEHTA.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
ACTION ITEM B, CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE UPDATED GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK.
[XV.b. Consideration of Approval of the Updated Governance Handbook]
I DO HAVE ONE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM JEN SUSAN.THE GOVERNMENTS HANDBOOK IS THE UPDATE IS A CHANCE TO MAKE A REAL COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, SOMETHING THIS DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE, BUT OTHER DISTRICTS DO, NOT JUST IN WORDS, BUT ALSO IN PRACTICE.
RIGHT NOW, FAMILIES LIKE MINE ARE LEFT IN THE DARK ON CRITICAL ISSUES.
WHY AREN'T PARENTS GIVEN CLEAR PERIODIC SERVICE MINUTE REPORTS SO THEY CAN SEE IF THEIR CHILD IS ACTUALLY RECEIVING WHAT'S IN THE IEPS? HOW MUCH IS THE DISTRICT TRULY SPENDING ON THE IB PROGRAM COMPARED TO PROGRAMS THAT SERVE ALL STUDENTS? HOW IS CATEGORICAL AID FUNDING MEANT FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS BEING TRACKED AND REPORTED? WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IB, LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
>> JEN, I'M GOING TO JUST PAUSE REAL QUICK.
THE GOVERNMENT'S HANDBOOK IS HOW THE BOARD OPERATES INTERNALLY IT SET OF RULES.
I'M NOT SEEING A NEXUS TO IEP, IF YOU WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN AND THAT'S TOTALLY FINE. I WANT TO GIVE YOU YOUR CREDIT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN, IT'S JUST THAT WE HAVE TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE ITEM.
>> I'M GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO CONTINUE, BUT IT HAS TO BE [OVERLAPPING].
>> BECAUSE THE BOARD DIRECTS THE DISTRICT, CORRECT?
>> BUT THIS IS ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE RELATED TO HOW THE BOARD OPERATES, NOT NECESSARILY ANYTHING IN EXTENSION TO THAT.
THIS IS HOW WE CONDUCT OUR MEETINGS.
>> THIS COULD BE A GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> YEAH. THIS COULD BE A GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> I DON'T HAVE A CARD FOR A GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, AND BECAUSE OF THE COMPLICATED WAYS THAT THIS DISTRICT RUNS PUBLIC COMMENTS, I CANNOT MAKE IT NOW.
>> I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND IT SO YOU CAN DO THAT.
I'M JUST EXPLAINING THE RULES.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SHUT YOU DOWN.
>> THAT'S NOT WHAT MOST PEOPLE AT HOME THINK.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I CAN'T HELP WHAT EVERYONE THINKS.
I'M EXPLAINING TO YOU IN REAL TIME HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT.
I THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY FAIR.
>> I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE OPTICS, BUT I CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR EVERY SINGLE OPTIC.
I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE ON THIS ITEM.
THEN, AFTER WE DISCUSS THIS ITEM, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR YOU TO TAKE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT IS 20 MINUTES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THERE IS. I ALREADY HAVE THREE.
WE'RE BACK TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF THE UPDATED GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK.
I GUESS I'LL JUST START AND PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT TO WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
TRUSTEE MEHTA AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT HOW THE BOARD OPERATES AND OUR RULES AROUND GOVERNANCE.
A LOT OF OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, OR WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE THAT WE DISCUSSED?
>> ROSENBERG'S RULES OF ORDER. THIS ONE IS SPECIAL TO ME BECAUSE I DO THINK
[00:55:01]
THAT IT WAS THE WORLDWIDE WEST AND HOW WE HAVE OUR BOARD PROCEDURES.IF YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY, THERE IS NOT A CLEAR EXPLANATION ON HOW THAT WORKS.
THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ASKING FOR FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS, NO LIE.
I'M HAPPY THAT THIS IS THE GENERAL RESULT.
I DON'T KNOW IF BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I WOULD PERSONALLY FLAG JUST FOR REVIEW.
IT REALLY CODIFIES THE THINGS THAT WE DO AS THE BOARD ALREADY IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL PRACTICES.
BUT THERE ARE SOME MINOR CHANGES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BEFORE I DO THAT, LET'S SEE IF THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT OUR GOVERNANCE PROCEDURE, WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND ANYTHING HERE.
BUT THERE ARE SOME CALL-OUTS THAT I WOULD JUST WANT TO BRING TO THE AWARENESS OF THE BOARD FOR GENERAL ATTENTION.
I'LL STOP THERE AND WAIT, AND IF NOT, THEN I'M HAPPY TO CONVERSE AND CONTINUE WHAT I THINK MIGHT BE A GOOD PATH FORWARD.
>> I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU FIRST, THANKS TO YOU AND SUMITI FOR BEING THE WORK GROUP THAT SPENT THE TIME DOING THIS.
THANK YOU TO YOU BOTH AND FOR STAFF FOR WORKING TO GET THIS DONE.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE A FEELING YOU MIGHT ADDRESS THEM ANYWAY, AS ONE OF THE WORK GROUP MEMBERS, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS, AND THEN I CAN JUMP IN IF THERE'S ANYTHING NOT COVERED.
>> SURE. AGAIN, THIS REALLY CODIFIES HOW WE OPERATE AS A BOARD AND PRACTICE WHAT WE'VE DONE, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CALL-OUTS.
TO ME, THE FIRST CALL OUT IS THE MOTION TO RECESS.
GENERALLY, IN OUR BOARD BYLAWS, THAT'S DONE BY A MAJORITY VOTE.
THE PRESIDENT MAKES A MOTION TO RECESS; ONLY THE PRESIDENT CAN MAKE A MOTION TO RECESS, THEN THERE'S A SECOND, AND THEN WE GO RECESS, AND THEN WE HAVE THAT SPECIFIC TIME.
I THINK THAT'S A LOT BECAUSE OTHER GOVERNING BODIES, THE PRESIDENT JUST SAYS, HEY, WE NEED TO CALL A RECESS FOR A FIVE-MINUTE PERIOD OR 10-MINUTE PERIOD.
THAT'S NOT A SUBSTANTIAL DEPARTURE FROM PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.
I THINK A PRESIDENT, WHEN GOVERNING AND TRYING TO RUN A ROOM AND LOOKING AT WHERE THINGS ARE GOING, NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO CALL A RECESS.
EVEN FOR SECURITY REASONS, WE HAD THAT HAPPEN.
WE HAVE SOME VERY CONTENTIOUS BOARD MEETINGS WHERE, ACTUALLY, I'VE GOT TO GET INTO IT.
BUT WE DID HAVE A VERY INTERESTING BOARD MEETING WHERE THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THERE WAS A MOTION, AND THE MOTION WAS UNCLEAR, AND I THINK THAT JUST FOR SAFETY REASONS AND ALSO JUST FOR SMOOTH GOVERNANCE, THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, WE'LL TAKE A QUICK RECESS AND COME BACK OUT.
I WANT TO PAUSE THERE, AND I'M OPEN TO OBVIOUSLY A DISAGREEMENT OR AGREEMENT OR SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE.
>> IT'S A MOTION TO RECESS, NOT A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> WE GIVE OURSELVES A TIME-OUT BASICALLY.
>> LIKE, HEY, LET'S TALK FOR 10 MINUTES.
THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM, LIKE, IF WE HAVE TO CONTINUE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF RULES. THAT DOESN'T APPLY.
THIS IS JUST A QUICK RECESS, GOING TO THE BACK AND PERHAPS GATHER OURSELVES AND COME BACK OUT.
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT EVEN VERY CLEAR WHEN WE HAVE CELEBRATIONS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK RECESS.
I MEAN, THAT'S AN ARBITRARY APPLICATION OF THAT POWER.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING IN OUR RULES FORMULATE THAT SAYS WE DO THAT.
JUST TO FORMALIZE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND EXTEND IT TO OTHER PARTS OF THE MEETING.
>> I FRANKLY THINK THAT IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN WRITING.
I WAS THERE FOR THAT MEETING, AND IT NEEDED TO BE DONE, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S LONG OVERDUE.
>> THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT, AND I WANT TO BE JUST FULLY TRANSPARENT.
IN OUR WORK GROUP, THERE WAS A HEALTHY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.
RIGHT NOW, AS WRITTEN, AND I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO THE BOARD, A MEMBER WHO VOTED WITH THE MAJORITY HAS THE RIGHT TO MOVE TO RECONSIDER AT THE SAME MEETING.
I CAN GO EITHER WAY. WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT BOARD AND A VERY AGREEABLE BOARD, BUT I DON'T THINK WE MAKE POLICIES FOR THE CURRENT SITUATION.
I THINK WE MAKE POLICY THAT LASTS AND CAN FIT ANY SITUATION.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S A MEMBER WHO VOTED WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD HAS THE RIGHT TO MOVE TO RECONSIDER.
THAT MEANS IF, LET'S SAY, TRUSTEE MEHTA WAS NOT IN THE WINNING COALITION, BUT SHE WANTED US TO RECONSIDER AN ITEM.
SHE WOULD HAVE TO MAYBE SEEK ONE OF US WHO ARE IN THE WINNING COALITION TO MAKE A MOTION, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR FOUNDERS INTENDED TO PROTECT THE MINORITY.
I THINK OUR FOUNDERS WERE LIKE, HEY, YOU SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE ONE SHOT TO GO, HEY, I'M GOING TO MOTION TO RECONSIDER.
I'M NOT ABOUT SUPER-POWERED BOARDS.
I THINK WE ARE A REPUBLIC, AND PEOPLE SEND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO GO TALK, AND I'M NOT ENTIRELY ALWAYS LIKE, HEY, THAT PERSON SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY.
I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE ONE CHANCE OPPORTUNITY, EVEN IF IT'S A DISAGREEABLE POSITION, DISAGREEABLE POSITIONS AREN'T AN INCONVENIENCE. THEY'RE NECESSARY.
PERSONALLY, I WOULD THINK ANY MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECONSIDER AT THE SAME MEETING.
POTENTIALLY WITH A LIMIT. IT SHOULDN'T BE JUST INDEFINITE.
I'D BE OPEN TO LIKE A CAP ON THAT.
MAYBE THREE PER MEETING PER MEMBER,
[01:00:03]
SO THAT WAY, WE DON'T HAVE JUST, I'M GOING TO RECONSIDER THAT.AS A BOARD MEMBER, YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BE SMART ABOUT BUILDING COALITIONS AND LOOKING FOR WHERE THERE'S CLEAR PATHWAYS TO A WINNING PROPOSITION, I WOULD SAY.
SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, THEN I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECONSIDER AN ITEM, AND I'LL BE QUIET NOW BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M TALKING WAY TOO MUCH.
>> I THINK THREE IS BEING REALLY LENIENT.
I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF [INAUDIBLE] PER MEETING OR WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> LET'S SAY IF A BOARD MEETING WITH SEVEN ITEMS, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY RECONSIDER ON THREE OF THOSE SEVEN, AND THAT'S A LOT.
I JUST KNOW HOW THIS BOARD GETS SO I'M JUST TRYING TO START FROM A POSITION OF LIKE, HEY, I'M OPEN-MINDED IN THIS.
IT COULD JUST BE ON EVERY ITEM, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
WE DON'T DO THAT HERE IN THE NATOMAS.
WE ONLY RECONSIDER WHEN I THINK THERE'S AMBIGUITY OR THERE WASN'T CLARITY, OR ON A MOTION.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT COME FROM AN EXTREMELY DISAGREEABLE POSITION, BUT IT COULD BE NECESSARY.
WE SHOULDN'T, AGAIN, MAKE A POLICY THAT IS TAILORED TO US.
WE SHOULD MAKE IT TO WORK AND LAST THE TEST OF TIME.
THIS IS MY 2 CENTS, I THINK, ANY MEMBER, AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT AND WE'RE HAVING MEETINGS THAT ARE BEING EXTENDED POLITICALLY, WE DO HAVE THE 10 O'CLOCK LIMIT ON BOARD MEETINGS, AND THEN WE HAVE THE MOTIONS TO EXTEND.
I CAN SEE OUR STAFF'S CONCERN QUITE FRANKLY, LIKE, HEY, WE HAVE TO RUN TIMELY, ORGANIZED MEETINGS, PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO HOME.
THEY HAVE FAMILIES, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT ISSUE.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE ANY MEMBER HAS THE RIGHT TO MOVE TO RECONSIDER AT THE SAME MEETING.
>> I'M OKAY WITH THE RECONSIDERATION. I THINK THAT THAT'S FAIR.
I KNOW I'VE MADE MISTAKES, SO I LIKE THAT PART.
I THINK THREE IS EXCESSIVE, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM OUR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
I LIKE EVEN NUMBERS, TOO, SO I LIKE THE NUMBER TWO.
>> IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A NUMBER. IT COULD JUST BE ANY NUMBER. TRUSTEE MORA.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, AND THIS IS IF IT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN ASKED, THE WAY THAT A MEMBER IN THE MINORITY WOULD SIGNAL THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING ESSENTIALLY A MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY MOVE TO RECONSIDER WOULD BE JUST INFORMALLY HERE.
>> CAN WE MOVE TO RECONSIDER? I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
>> CAN I TELL YOU A PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THIS? WHY I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED WHEN YOU HAVE TO BEG TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT.
FOR MANY YEARS ON THIS BOARD, THE BY-LAW SAID THAT ANY BOARD MEMBER CAN REMOVE ANY ITEM OFF OF CONSENT.
IN PRACTICE, I WOULD LOOK FOR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO THEN TAKE AN ITEM OFF CONSENT.
IT OPERATED LIKE THAT FOR LIKE TWO YEARS, AND I'M LIKE, THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR BY-LAW SAY, AND IT WAS IGNORED, FRANKLY.
IF YOU LOOK ON OUR BOARD AGENDA AT THE CONSENT SECTION, THE ALIGN WAS ADDED IN ALIGNMENT WITH BOARD BY-LAW 9322; THE ITEM SHALL BE REMOVED AND GIVEN INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION FOR ACTION AS A REGULAR GEN ITEM.
I BASICALLY COULDN'T PULL AN ITEM UNLESS THE BOARD AGREED, EVEN THOUGH IT'S WRITTEN IN THE BY-LAWS THAT ANY BOARD MEMBER CAN PULL AN ITEM FOR CONSENT.
I DON'T LIKE THINGS WHERE YOU GOT TO BEG TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT.
YOU PUT IN A TIME, YOU GO WALK AND YOU TALK AND YOU DO ALL THE COMMUNITY WORK, YOU DO THE FUNDRAISING, AND THEN HEY, GO POUND SAND, NO, THAT'S INAPPROPRIATE TO ME.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO REPRESENT PEOPLE THAT ELECTED YOU.
I THINK THAT'S A FORM OF IT, IS THE SENT AND TO SAY, HEY, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
THAT COULD HAPPEN FOR MULTIPLE REASONS; IT'S HAPPENED ACTUALLY, IF WE LOOK AT THE ITEM ON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
I RECOGNIZE THERE WAS A MISTAKE.
I WASN'T IN A WINNING COALITION. THERE WAS NO COALITION.
I SAID, HEY, WELL, HERE'S WHERE I'M SITTING, AND MAYBE WE SHOULD RECONSIDER THAT BECAUSE I KNOW MY BOARD.
TO ME, THAT'S A MATTER OF ELECTING A PRESIDENT.
I'M NOT SAYING I'M THAT GUY, JUST ELECTING A PRESIDENT, THAT'S FAIR AND ADJUDICATES PROPERLY.
IF YOU CAN'T TRUST THE PERSON IN THE SEAT, THEN YOU HAVE A REORGANIZATION MEETING AND YOU MOVE THE PERSON OUT.
AGAIN, I WOULD MUCH RATHER HEAR FROM OUR BOARD ON THIS ITEM.
I THINK ANYONE SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO DO IT. THAT'S MY 2 CENTS.
>> WE'RE ENTRUSTING ESSENTIALLY THE PRESIDING OFFICER THAT USUALLY THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE IF A MEMBER IN THE MINORITY WANTS TO-
>> NO, YOU WOULD JUST TURN ON YOUR LIGHT AND SAY PRESIDENT GRANT OR PRESIDENT DOSICK OR PRESIDENT MORA MOTION TO RECONSIDER, AND THEN I WOULD SAY, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> WELL, THAT WAS A QUICKER WAY TO, I THINK,
[01:05:03]
SUMMARIZE WHAT I'M ASKING, AND THE ANSWER IS YES.>> NO. IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU COULD MOTION ON YOUR OWN.
YOU DON'T NEED ME TO DO THAT; YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN MOTION.
WHEN YOU TURN ON YOUR LIGHT, I WOULD JUST RECOGNIZE YOU FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, BUT IT'S YOUR RIGHT TO MAKE A MOTION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> HOLD ON. THE LANGUAGE HERE SAYS, A MEMBER WHO VOTED WITH THE MAJORITY HAS THE RIGHT TO MOVE TO RECONSIDER AT THE SAME MEETING?
>> THAT'S PROPOSED LANGUAGE I DON'T AGREE WITH ENTIRELY.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE ANY MEMBER HAS THE RIGHT TO MOVE TO RECONSIDER AT THE SAME MEETING.
>> CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE RATIONALE FOR WHY IT SAYS WITH THE MAJORITY, THEN?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WAS THE INITIAL LANGUAGE FROM LIKE ROSENBERG'S OR ANOTHER SET OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT, JUST EVERY TIME THAT A VOTE DIDN'T GO A CERTAIN PERSON'S WAY, THEY COULD THEORETICALLY JUST ASK FOR RECONSIDERATION WHEN IT'S CLEAR THAT THE VOTE WENT A CERTAIN WAY.
I THINK THAT IS THE RATIONALE.
>> SOMEONE COULD HAVE LOST A VOTE FOR ONE, MOTION TO RECONSIDER, AND THEN MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND GET INTO AN INFINITY LOOP.
I THINK I GET THE THEORETICAL SITUATION WE WANT TO AVOID.
IT'S ALWAYS SO FUNNY OF THESE BY-LAWS, IT'S ALMOST LIKE, IS THE CONSTITUTION A LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT OR WAS IT SET IN STONE BY THE FOUNDERS? I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT.
I THINK THE SAME THING FOR THIS.
I'M LEANING TOWARDS WHERE TRUSTEE GRANT IS RIGHT NOW.
IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT REQUIRED AN AMENDMENT OF THIS POLICY TO AVOID THE REPETITIVE AD NAUSEAM MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER.
YEAH, I'D PROBABLY BE MORE DOWN WITH, ANY MEMBER HAS THE RIGHT TO MOVE TO RECONSIDER AT THE SAME MEETING, AND JUST LEAVE IT AS SUCH.
>> I GUESS I'M WONDERING WHAT WILL A CLAUSE THAT SAYS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ENTER INTO AN INFINITY LOOP LOOK LIKE?
>> WELL, IN PRACTICE IN PRACTICE, IF YOU'VE MADE A MOTION AND THERE WAS NO SECOND, WE JUST MOVE ON.
>> IT'S ONE OF THOSE IF WE END UP IN THAT PROBLEM, WE'LL FIX THE POLICY AT THAT POINT, AND VICE VERSA.
IF I'M GOING TO ERR ON WHICH PROBLEM WE MIGHT HAVE TO FIX IN THE FUTURE, I'D RATHER START WITH AFFORDING ALL MEMBERS, I MEAN, IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MAJORITY TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY IN ALL SITUATIONS.
I'D RATHER ERR ON THAT SIDE AND FIX IT IF IT BECOMES A PROBLEM THAN THE OPPOSITE.
>> IS THERE A MOTION ON THE TABLE FOR A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE?
>> NOT AT THIS TIME. BUT I WOULD HAPPILY MAKE THAT MOTION.
>> WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE ONCE WE CONSENT ON WHAT LANGUAGE YOU WANT TO SEE HERE AND WHAT OTHER CHANGES WE MIGHT HAVE, THEN WE COULD HAVE A MOTION IN TOTAL FOR MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM WITH THE CHANGE TO THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND THIS AND THIS.
>> THEN TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS IN OUR BOARD BY-LAWS THAT MATCH.
WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S HANDBOOK SAYS.
THAT WOULD BE A MOTION FROM ME, ACTUALLY. THAT'S MY MOTION.
>> I'D BE CURIOUS TO HEAR FROM TRUSTEE MEHTA SINCE SHE ACTUALLY HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THIS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS WHAT WE HAD DISCUSSED AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE'RE LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM OTHER TRUSTEE MEMBERS AS WELL AND SEE WHAT THEY WANT AS WELL.
IT'S LIKE A DECISION WE ALL WILL MAKE TOGETHER.
>> I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THEN.
>> BEFORE YOU DO, WOULD IT MAKE MORE SENSE TO US TO LOOK AT THE REST OF IT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER CHANGES WE WANT TO MAKE TO THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE?
>> I GUESS I'M CURIOUS LIKE ANYONE ELSE.
I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE LANGUAGE.
>> YEAH. THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, BY THE WAY, DID YOU LIKE TO POINT ORDER ON THE WHOLE THING?
>> ON THE MOTION TO SUSPEND RULES, CAN YOU HELP ME HERE AND JUST GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE IT SAYS SOME RULES CANNOT BE SUSPENDED, BUT THESE MOTIONS SOLELY APPLY TO THE RULES OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES.
I'M JUST BLANKING ON, LIKE IN PRACTICE, WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN.
[01:10:01]
>> FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE ARE THINGS WRITTEN IN ED CODE.
I THINK EVEN PARTICULARLY TO EMERGENCIES THAT HAVE TO GO THROUGH A CERTAIN PROCESS, SO WE'RE NOT SUSPENDING THOSE THINGS.
THESE ARE JUST, I WOULD SAY, THE RULES OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES THAT ARE LISTED HERE.
RIGHT. WE CAN'T JUST GO AND, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO SUSPEND ALL THE RULES AND GO DO EVERYTHING WE WANT.
IT'S ONLY RELATED TO PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES.
I THINK THAT'S STRICTLY GOVERNED BY ED CODE.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS IF YOU LOOK IN ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, IT'LL SAY MAJORITY RULES, BUT THE BROWN ACT SAYS MAJORITY OF THE BOARD.
THAT'S WHERE YOU COULDN'T SUSPEND A RULE THAT CAME FROM THE BROWN ACT OR EDUCATION CODE OR SOMEWHERE.
>> GOT IT. I THINK IT WAS JUST LACKING THE CONTEXT.
IF MY COLLEAGUES DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS, OR COMMENTS, I WOULD HAPPILY MAKE THE MOTION AS PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED IF THE CHAIR WOULD SO ENTERTAIN.
>> TRUSTEE MORA HAS A QUESTION.
>> I HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE MOTION TO LIMIT DEBATE.
IT SAYS, WHEN A MEMBER MAKES THIS MOTION, THE CHAIR CAN EXPEDITE MATTERS BY TREATING IT AS A REQUEST RATHER THAN A FORMAL MOTION.
I JUST WANT TO GET CLARIFICATION TO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING IT BE TREATED AS A REQUEST RATHER THAN AS A FORMAL MOTION.
>> I THINK THAT'S ONE THAT'S REALLY RELATED TO DECORUM.
LET'S SAY YOU MAKE A MOTION TO LIMIT DEBATE.
>> BUT THE CHAIR GETS A READ OF WE'RE NOT ENTIRELY DONE, BUT WE CAN HEY, LET'S MOVE ON.
I DO THAT OFTEN, SAYING, HEY, MEMBERS, LET'S KEEP OUR COMMENTARY GERMANE.
LET'S RECOGNIZE THAT STAFF HAS LIVES.
[LAUGHTER] IT DOESN'T ALWAYS REQUIRE A HARD MOTION TO DO THAT.
IT JUST GIVES THE CHAIR A FLEXIBILITY TO SAY, YOU HEARD, MEMBERS, CAN WE SPEED UP WITHOUT A MOTION BECAUSE SOMETIMES HARD MOTIONS CREATE HARD FEELINGS.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE SHUT DOWN.
MOTION SECONDED, BOOM, AND THEN NO DISCUSSION.
I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF WISDOM, A LITTLE BIT OF DISCERNMENT, THAT IT GIVES A CHAIR.
OF COURSE, IF IN THAT DISCERNMENT, YOU COULD SEE THAT THE ROOM WAS CLEARLY FLAT AS IT IS NOW, WE WOULD JUST TAKE THE MOTION AND A SECOND AND MOVE ON.
I KNOW TO THE PUBLIC, THIS MAY SEEM LIKE THE MOST BORING STUFF ON EARTH, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TOWARDS THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE BOARD.
BOARD MEMBER WRIGHTS WENT UP HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE SEND US TO REPRESENT THEM, AND THEY SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THE RULES AND THE BACK AND FORTH.
A PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER, EVEN THE PRESIDENT MAKING A MOTION TO PROVIDE PEOPLE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS EVEN EXERCISED VERY RECENTLY BECAUSE IT'S IN OUR BYLAWS.
SOME PRESIDENTS TREAT IT LIKE IT'S NOT, AND DON'T EVEN OFFER THAT TO THE PUBLIC.
I ALWAYS OFFER THAT BECAUSE I REALIZE WHAT'S IN OUR AUTHORITY TO DO.
I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT'S IN THERE.
IT'S NOT A GRIEVANCE FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
UNLESS IT'S CUMBERSOME TO THE TIME LIMIT ON THE BOARD, IN MY OPINION.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT I MISSED EARLIER, BUT THERE'S NOTHING MORE TO IT.
>> THAT BEING THE CASE, I WILL MAKE POSSIBLY THE LONGEST MOTION I'VE EVER MADE FOR ACCURACY'S SAKE.
I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE UPDATED GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK WITH THE CHANGE IN LANGUAGE TO THE MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER, WHERE THE FIRST BULLET WILL NOW READ, ANY MEMBER HAS THE RIGHT TO MOVE TO RECONSIDER AT THE SAME MEETING.
THAT THE DISTRICT BRING FORWARD ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO EITHER BOARD POLICIES OR BYLAWS TO CONFORM WITH THE REVISED GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK.
>> YOU CAN DIRECT STAFF TO BRING FORWARD THE BOARD POLICY REVISIONS THAT ARE ALIGNED TO THE GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK.
>> I LIKE THAT. I WILL SECOND THAT IF THE SUPERINTENDENT FEELS THAT MOTION IS ACCURATE TO THE DISCUSSION.
>> BECAUSE I WOULD HAPPILY ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO WITHDRAW THE PART ABOUT GIVING STAFF DIRECTION, IF YOU WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.
>> I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE MOTION, I THINK JUST IN ADDITION, WE CAN DIRECT STAFF TO UPDATE THE POLICY TO REFLECT THE CHANGES IN THE GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK, WHICH WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
>> THEN I WOULD HAPPILY ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
>> I WILL MOVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, WHAT SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO SAID, EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T ENTIRELY REMEMBER IT, BUT I THINK IT'S ACCURATE.
>> IT BASICALLY CHANGES MY MOTION TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE UPDATED GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK WITH THE CHANGE TO THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER SO THAT FIRST BULLET WILL NOW READ ANY MEMBER HAS THE RIGHT TO MOVE TO RECONSIDER AT THE SAME MEETING, PERIOD.
>> SECOND. I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.
[01:15:04]
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?I'M GOING TO CLAP ON THAT ONE, ACTUALLY.
GOOD STUFF. [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER]
>> THE AUDIENCE ONLINE WAS RIVETED BY THE ENTIRE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. [OVERLAPPING]
[XVI. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
>> I'M ALSO GOING TO MAKE A MOTION BECAUSE JEN SAYS THERE'S SOME CLARITY AROUND THE RULES.
I HAVE HER TWO MINUTES TO DISCUSS HER ITEM ON PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> A SECOND BY TRUSTEE DOSICK.
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, JEN, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TWO MINUTES BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION NOW.
>> AS I WAS SAYING, WHY AREN'T PARENTS GIVEN CLEAR PERIODIC SERVICE MINUTE REPORTS SO THEY CAN SEE IF THEIR CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY RECEIVING WHAT'S IN THEIR IEPS? HOW MUCH IS THE DISTRICT TRULY SPENDING ON IB PROGRAMS COMPARED TO PROGRAMS THAT SERVE ALL STUDENTS? HOW IS CATEGORICAL AID FUNDING MEANT FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS BEING TRACKED AND REPORTED? HOW ARE PROGRAMS BEING EVALUATED? IF IB WAS GOING TO RAISE SCORES, IT ALREADY WOULD HAVE DONE SO.
WE'VE HAD IB FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN THIS DISTRICT.
WHILE I'M ON THE TOPIC OF IB, LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
THE LORE THAT IB PULLED THIS DISTRICT OUT OF A FINANCIAL CRISIS IS SIMPLY FALSE.
THE ROUGHLY 13 STUDENTS WHO LEFT FOR MIRALOMA WEREN'T BANKRUPTING US.
WHAT HURT THIS DISTRICT WAS THE GREAT RECESSION AND THE UNPRECEDENTED WAVE OF FORECLOSURES IN NATOMAS, NOT A HANDFUL OF TRANSFERS.
IF PARENTS WANT IB, THEY CAN ENROLL IN JUST A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE IB.
FOR EXAMPLE, PVS AND INTERCOM WOULD BE GREAT CANDIDATES TO BE IB SCHOOLS.
THESE ARE THE FACTS THAT FAMILIES DESERVE TO SEE CLEARLY, BACKED BY DATA AND NOT BURIED IN SELECTIVE NARRATIVES.
CLEAR LANGUAGE ON SERVICE MINUTES AND COMPLIANCE FOR STUDENTS WITH IEPS, DETAILED SPENDING COMPARISONS FOR IB VERSUS DISTRICT-WIDE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACTUALLY WORKING, AND TRACKING ALL AID BROKEN DOWN BY SCHOOL AND STUDENT POPULATION SERVED.
TRANSPARENCY BUILDS TRUST, AND WITHOUT IT, THERE CAN'T BE ANY ACCOUNTABILITY, ONLY POLISHED TALKING POINTS.
FAMILIES DESERVE BETTER, FAMILIES DESERVE TRANSPARENCY, AND FAMILIES DESERVE HONESTY. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, I HAVE SACHIKO KONATSU.
>> I WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS MADE AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING THAT WERE VERY APPALLING TO ME, AND I DIDN'T GET HERE ON TIME, SO I DIDN'T GET TO HEAR DR. CASTILLO'S COMMENTS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING BUDGETS AND STUFF, SO LET'S BE CLEAR.
YOU LABEL OUR KIDS AS INAPPROPRIATELY SPECIAL NEEDS.
THEY'RE JUST KIDS WITH A DISABILITY.
THESE KIDS ARE NOT DRAINING YOUR SYSTEM.
THESE KIDS ARE ACTUALLY BRINGING THE MONEY THAT YOU HAVE INTO THIS DISTRICT.
MOST KIDS COME WITH MEDI-CAL, YOU GET MEDI-CAL REIMBURSEMENT.
I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE BUDGETS.
NOWHERE DOES YOUR BUDGET PEOPLE DISCUSS HOW MUCH REIMBURSEMENT OF THE MEDI-CAL YOU GUYS GET FOR THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR SERVICES.
IT'S UNCLEAR ON WHEN YOU GET THE REIMBURSEMENT ARE YOU ACTUALLY PUTTING IT BACK TO THE OTHER KIDS? YOU ARE GETTING MONEY FROM MAA, WHICH IS PRONOUNCED AS MAA, AND MEDI-CAL REIMBURSEMENT, WHICH MAA IS YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE COST.
YOU BOARD MEMBERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS.
THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT USE THIS MONEY TO GO BACK INTO THE SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT, SO YOU'RE KIND OF DOUBLE-DIPPING HERE.
I'M ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION ON THAT MONEY.
NOT ONLY DO THEY BRING MEDI-CAL MONEY.
MOST OF THEM ARE LOW-INCOME; THEY BRING THAT MONEY THAT COMES IN.
MOST OF THEM ARE CHILDREN OF COLOR, SO THEY GET OTHER POTS OF THAT MONEY.
TO HEAR YOU PEOPLE SAY, WELL, CATEGORICAL MONEY, THE SPECIAL ED KIDS ARE ONLY ENTITLED TO THE SPECIAL ED MONEY.
NO, LET'S BE CLEAR, THEY'RE ENTITLED TO ALL OF THE MONEY, AND THEY'RE ENTITLED TO ALL THE MONEY THAT THEY BRING INTO THIS DISTRICT THAT YOU SHOULD BE POURING BACK INTO THOSE KIDS.
THEY'RE NOT COMING IN WITH BAGGAGE THAT YOU GUYS ARE JUST DUMPING MONEY ON THEM.
THEY'RE COMING WITH THEIR OWN MONEY.
THEY EARN MORE MONEY THAN THE AVERAGE KID THAT COMES IN ON THEIR OWN.
90% OF YOUR KIDS COME WITH TWO OR THREE SOURCES OF EXTRA MONEY.
YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE TO EVERY SINGLE PARENT THAT YOU GUYS SAID THAT TO.
AGAIN, YOU NEED TO HIRE PEOPLE OF CALIBER.
[01:20:03]
JUST BECAUSE SABRINA JACKSON HAS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR BOARD PRESIDENT, SHE'S NOT QUALIFIED.SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT AT THE CHARTER SCHOOL, [OVERLAPPING] AND YOU NEED TO CLEAN YOUR SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT, NOT KEEP HIRING UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE. [NOISE]
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE LERNA CONNOR FROM NBPU.
>> GOOD EVENING. I CAME THIS EVENING WITHOUT WRITTEN NOTES BECAUSE I WANTED TO SPEAK TO EACH OF YOU.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK DOWN AT MY PAPER.
I CAME AND I'M GLAD THAT I CAME THIS EVENING TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE BECAUSE WHAT I CAME TO SAY IS THAT NATOMAS BLACK PARENTS UNITED, WHILE WE ARE IN COALITION AND COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER GROUPS, WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENTED, AND SOMETIMES WE WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT OUR PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION IS NOT ADVERSARIAL TO THE BOARD.
WE ARE TRYING TO BE ADVOCATES WITH THE BOARD.
WE WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT OURSELVES WITH DECORUM AND WITH RESPECT WHEN WE COME.
WE HAVE A PASSION, AND SO WE ARE SOMETIMES VERY ANIMATED, AND PERHAPS OUR LANGUAGE IS VERY SHARP.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE HERE FOR THE SAME REASONS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THICK SKINS BECAUSE YOU ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND DISMANTLE YOU AT EACH MEETING.
WE'RE GLAD TO BE HERE AND ALSO TO SAY THAT, BECAUSE WE ALSO ATTENDED FREEDOM SCHOOL, I DID GET TO READ.
I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT AS PART OF OUR COALITION, YOU GUYS HEARD US, YOU MOVED ON THAT, AND WE DO SEE MOVEMENT, AND WE DO APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, BECAUSE EVERYBODY CAN DO MORE.
BUT WHAT WE'RE HERE TO SAY IS THAT WE ARE IN NO WAY COMING TO BE RUDE, DISRESPECTFUL, DISHONORING, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT IN OUR DECORUM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I HAVE SHARON THURMAN, NBPU.
I'M HERE TO MAKE TWO OBSERVATIONS AND ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE EVENT TODAY THAT WAS SPONSORED BY FREEDOM SCHOOL, CALLED NATIONAL DAY OF SOCIAL ACTION.
I'M GLAD THAT SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND ONE OF THE FREEDOM SCHOOL SESSIONS AND TO PRESENT THE STORIES.
OUR CHILDREN LOOKED WONDERFUL.
AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT POSSIBLE FOR THEM.
MY SECOND OBSERVATION IS THAT IT WAS A YEAR.
WE WANT TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND HAVE THEM ANSWERED.
LOOKING AT 25 VACANCIES THIS YEAR AS OPPOSED TO, I THINK I HEARD 52 LAST YEAR.
I'M WONDERING IF OUR HR TEAM HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK WHY THOSE VACANCIES HAPPENED.
DID PEOPLE LEAVE BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL REASONS, BECAUSE MAYBE THEY DIDN'T FEEL SUPPORTED AS TEACHERS? BECAUSE IF WE KNOW THE REASONS WHY, PERHAPS WE CAN AVOID THE REPLICATION OF THOSE ERRORS.
NOT NECESSARILY ERRORS, BUT WE CAN PREVENT TEACHERS FROM LEAVING OUR DISTRICT IF WE KNOW WHY THEY LEFT.
ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE, AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AN ANSWER IS, IS THERE A WAY FOR OUR BOARD TO ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR SESSIONS? SACRAMENTO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION ALLOWS FOR FOLKS TO MAKE THEIR PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA PHONE, AND THAT ALLOWS PARENTS FROM THEIR HOMES TO MAKE COMMENTS.
THAT ACTUALLY IS TWO REQUESTS.
MY THIRD QUESTION IS, WOULD OUR BOARD BE WILLING TO COME AND ATTEND A PUBLIC SESSION WHERE MORE PARENTS COULD ATTEND, ASK QUESTIONS, RECEIVE ANSWERS, AND HAVE MORE OF A DIALOGUE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT PERMITTED UNDER THE CURRENT GUIDELINES. THANK YOU.
>> JEN SUSAN. THIS COMMENT IT SAYS WAS ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
THESE LAST TWO ARE YOU, SO WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH THAT.
>> I MADE A POSTER SINCE I DON'T HAVE POWERPOINT PRIVILEGES.
BUT THIS STATISTIC COMES FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS, WHICH RECOMMENDS, A DISTRICT OF OUR SIZE SHOULD HAVE ABOUT 63 TOTAL DISTRICT OFFICE EMPLOYEES.
IT'S NOT UPDATED, THE ORG CHART.
[01:25:01]
THERE'S PEOPLE ON THERE WHO DON'T WORK HERE ANYMORE, LEFT BACK IN MARCH, THERE'S BEEN MORE PEOPLE ADDED.FROM WHAT I FOUND, THERE'S 105 DISTRICT OFFICE EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS NEARLY 70% MORE THAN WHAT'S NEEDED.
WHILE WE'RE OVERSTAFFED AT THE TOP, OUR CLASSROOMS ARE STRUGGLING.
THERE'S UNFILLED TEACHER POSITIONS, UNDERSTAFFED SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND STUDENTS WITHOUT RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED OR JUST ATTEND THE SCHOOL DAY.
EVERY EXTRA ADMINISTRATOR IS MONEY TAKEN AWAY FROM OUR KIDS AND OUR CLASSROOMS. THE PRIORITIES ARE UPSIDE DOWN.
I URGE THIS BOARD TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THIS BLOAT AND SHIFT RESOURCES BACK TO WHERE THEY BELONG WITH THE STUDENTS AND WITH THE TEACHERS.
I LOOKED AT A FEW NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS WHO ARE SIMILAR IN SIZE.
CENTER JOINT UNIFIED SHOULD HAVE, ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS, 53 DISTRICT OFFICE EMPLOYEES, AND THEY HAVE 52.
IT'S ATTAINABLE, IT CAN HAPPEN, BUT WE JUST HAVE TO PUT OUR ENERGY AND OUR ATTENTION ON SERVING STUDENTS.
>> YOU SHOULD STAY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> [INAUDIBLE]
>> GOT YOU. SORRY. THEN THE NEXT ONE I HAVE IS ON BUDGET PRIORITIES, OR DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR ORDER?
>> THAT'S FINE. MY DAUGHTER IS A STUDENT AT NATOMAS UNIFIED FIRST AND FOREMOST.
HER EDUCATION DOES NOT COME FROM A DIFFERENT POT OF MONEY, AS HAS BEEN STATED AT PAST MEETINGS.
IT IS EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE TO HEAR THAT.
SHE'S NOT SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE DISTRICT, AND HER RIGHT TO A MEANINGFUL EDUCATION IS NOT OPTIONAL OR CONDITIONAL.
MILLIONS ARE SPENT ON DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS, LUXURY CONSULTANTS, AND PET INITIATIVES WITH LITTLE EXPLANATION OR TEACHER INPUT.
A LIE WAS TOLD RECENTLY THAT TEACHERS WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A NIDS WHERE THEY COULD PARTICIPATE IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK THAT SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE.
IT'S NOT TRUE. THAT WASN'T OFFERED AS A NIDS.
THE INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK COMMITTEE WAS HAND-PICKED BY SOMEONE, AND IT WAS WHO THEY WANTED ON THERE.
WE'RE STRUGGLING TO COVER THE BASICS.
LAST YEAR, ONE SDC TEACHER SPENT $2,000 OF HER OWN MONEY TO SET UP HER CLASSROOM, AND HER NEIGHBORING TEACHER SPENT $3,000 FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.
IT WAS ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
MEANWHILE, PARENTS LIKE ME ARE SIGNING THE MEDI-CAL REIMBURSEMENT BOX AT EVERY IEP.
I'VE HAD 11 CHILDREN IN THIS DISTRICT WITH IEPS.
FAMILIES DON'T SEE ANY TRANSPARENCY.
THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE TWO MILLION DOLLARS SITTING, NEVER HAVING BEEN SPENT.
EDUCATIONAL FUNDING ISN'T ABOUT SEPARATE SILOS OR GLOSSY PROGRAMS OR MAKING YOURSELVES LOOK GOOD.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE EVERY STUDENT, AND ALL STUDENTS, HAVE QUALIFIED TEACHERS, WORKING MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES, AND ACCESS TO THE PROGRAMS THEY NEED.
WHEN MONEY IS MISALLOCATED OR SIMPLY NOT USED, KIDS PAY THE PRICE.
STAFF ARE LEFT SUBSIDIZING THE SYSTEM OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS.
BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER, AND EVERY STUDENT, DESERVES TO BE TREATED AS A FULL MEMBER OF THIS DISTRICT, NOT A SEPARATE LEDGER ENTRY, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] LAST PUBLIC COMMENT ON SDC FUNDING? WHAT WE'LL DO IS BUDGET PRIORITIES THAT NEXTS US INTO THAT.
>> I THINK WE GOT TO ALL MY PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NOT ANY OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF AKURA RAMSEY.
ALSO, A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.
GREAT PEOPLE, DID A LOT FOR THIS DISTRICT, USED TO WORK IN THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE HERE, AND WAS ALSO DOING SOME OUTSIDE WORK, DOING DEI STUFF.
A VERY REPUTABLE PERSON, WAS ALSO DRAFTED IN PLAYING THE WNBA.
ALL AROUND GOOD PEOPLE. WE MISS HER DEARLY.
IF YOU COULD DO ANYTHING TO REACH OUT TO THE FAMILY, WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY ENCOURAGE THAT.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL ADJOURN IN HER MEMORY.
[NOISE] THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.