[00:00:04]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:15 PM.
[I. OPEN SESSION]
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?>> WE HAVE A QUORUM. NUSD BOARD MEETINGS ARE LIVE-STREAMED AND RECORDED AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD.
THE LIVE STREAM IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING ONLINE.
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 DISCUSSIONS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE MEETINGS.
THIS EVENING, THE BOARD WILL BE GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS ONE ITEM, CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR, DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, CERTIFICATED AND CLASSIFIED MANAGEMENT.
IT APPEARS I DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE ITEMS IN CLOSED SESSION.
[IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING CLOSED SESSION ITEMS]
FIRST, WE'LL START WITH JEN SUSAN.>> THANK YOU. WHAT HAPPENS IN CLOSED SESSION, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT INVOLVES PROMOTING ADMINISTRATORS AND EXTENDING CONTRACTS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE UNDERMINED OUR DISTRICT HAS LASTING CONSEQUENCES FOR EVERYONE.
YOU DECISIONS TONIGHT WILL ALSO HAVE LASTING CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR SEATS.
WHETHER YOU WON BY 27 VOTES, 107 VOTES, OR 1,700 VOTES, THE COMMUNITY IS WATCHING AND KNOWINGLY REWARDING ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE ALREADY OVERPAID AND UNDERDELIVERING IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND A BETRAYAL OF THE PUBLIC TRUST.
WE'VE SEEN DAMAGE CAUSED BY DECISIONS OVER THE LAST 7-10 YEARS.
PROMOTIONS AND CONTRACT EXTENSIONS SHOULD NEVER BE APPROVED FOR LEADERS WITH TRACK RECORDS THAT INCLUDE FAILING TEST SCORES, HIGH TURNOVER, RACIST, AND ABLEIST PRACTICES, MISSED SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, VACANT RSP AND SDC POSITIONS FOR OVER A YEAR AT TWO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
FOR FAR TOO LONG, CENTRAL OFFICE LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH HARM TO BLACK, BROWN, DISABLED, AND UNDERSERVED STUDENTS IN NATOMAS.
THE DISTRICT IS INVISIBLE TO CRIME.
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO DECLINED TO APPLY FOR POSITIONS HERE BECAUSE THEY'VE HEARD BAD THINGS.
A LOVELY TEACHER CAME HERE AND TAUGHT FOR A FEW MONTHS AND DECIDED TO GO TO ELK GROVE, WHERE SHE QUICKLY GOT A JOB BECAUSE SHE'S AN AMAZING TEACHER, BECAUSE IN HER WORDS, NATOMAS IS A BAD AREA.
YOU'RE NOT PROMOTING A VISION OF PROGRESS, YOU'RE HITCHING YOUR WAGON TO A TRAIN THAT HAS ALREADY DERAILED.
SORRY, SCOTT, AM I INTERRUPTING SOMETHING? YES, WE SEE THE POLITICAL MANEUVERING.
THE THREE OF YOU HAVE CLEARLY MADE UP YOUR MINDS BEFORE THE MEETING EVER BEGINS.
THE ABSENCE OF DISCUSSION, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, IS UNLIKE ANYTHING I'VE SEEN ON ANY BOARD.
MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR ALL THREE OF YOU TO STEP ASIDE, MOVE ON, GO TO YOUR NEXT POLITICAL POSITION SO THAT THE CITIZENS AND PARENTS OF THIS AREA CAN ELECT LEADERS WHO ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, OUR CLASSROOMS, AND OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP, I HAVE SACHIKO KANASU.
LET'S START THE CLOCK AT THE PROPER TIME.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. I DIDN'T SEE THIS, TIME DONATED BY DANIEL ZEKI. YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES?
>> I'VE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND I FOUGHT VERY HARD TO GET A NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
THE REASON WHY WE WANTED A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, SO THERE WOULD BE CHANGE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
ME SUING THE DISTRICT AND GETTING YOU GUYS DISTRICTED OUT BY NOT LIVING BEHIND THE CLOSED GATE.
APPARENTLY, THAT HASN'T HELPED EITHER BECAUSE WE JUST GOT MORE RATS ON THE BOARD.
HERE'S THE THING, WE'RE TIRED OF POLITICS AS USUAL, AND YOU GUYS ARE CONTINUING TO DO POLITICS AS USUAL.
YOU HAVING THIS AGENDA ITEM WHERE THERE'S NO URGENCY FOR IT TO BE PLACED ON YOUR CALENDAR TODAY, ON A SUMMER, WHEN TEACHERS AND PARENTS ARE ON BREAK TO SLIDE IT UNDER THE CARPET, THOSE ARE CRAP THAT WE'RE USED TO.
THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE ALL THESE TEACHERS HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHDOGS IN THIS COMMUNITY, LIKE ME AND LIKE OTHER TEACHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY, TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO TONIGHT, PROMOTE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNWORTHY OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE ARE TIRED OF HAVING THESE INEPT PEOPLE, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CHANGE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF A BROWN ACT, THE BROWN ACT BECAUSE YOU DID NOT CORRECTLY POST YOUR AGENDAS WITHIN THE TIME FRAME THAT ARE IDENTICAL.
I HAVE COPIES OF ALL THREE AGENDAS THAT WENT OUT AND THEY'RE NOT THE SAME.
[00:05:06]
NOT THE ONE POSTED HERE, NOT THE ONE POSTED ONLINE, AND NOT THE ONE THAT WENT OUT VIA EMAIL.THAT IS A BROWN ACT VIOLATION.
WE'RE PUTTING YOU ON NOTICE FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU GO AHEAD AND DO NOT PULL THIS FROM YOUR CONSENT CALENDAR AND GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THAT, THERE WILL BE CIVIL LITIGATION TAKEN.
MARK MY WORDS. WE ARE TIRED OF YOU GUYS TRYING TO OK-DOKE EVERYBODY IN THE DARKNESS.
IF THIS WAS SO IMPORTANT, YOU COULD HAVE WAITED TILL SCHOOL WAS IN SESSION AND BEEN TRANSPARENT AND OPEN ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING.
HALF OF YOU DON'T EVEN READ THE STUFF THAT COMES THROUGH.
THAT'S SHAME ON YOU BECAUSE THIS IS AN ELECTED POSITION.
AN ELECTED POSITION, SO SHAME ON YOU, MS. CASTILLO, AND SHAME ON YOU, MR. GRANT, FOR TRYING TO OK-DOKE ALL THE PEOPLE AND THE CONSTITUENTS IN THIS DISTRICT.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE TOLERATED.
YOU HAVE OTHER BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T PUT ALL THE INFORMATION UP THERE EITHER.
I WOULD HOPE THAT, FOR OPTICAL REASONS, YOU GUYS PULL THIS FROM YOUR CONSENT CALENDAR SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THIS FIGHT TODAY.
BUT TRUST AND BELIEVE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A FIGHT BECAUSE FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, PARENTS, CONSTITUENTS, TEACHERS HAS COME AND COMPLAINED ABOUT YOUR SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT AND COMPLAINING THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS AND THEY'RE NOT HERE FOR THE STUDENTS, THEY'RE HERE FOR THEIR POCKETS, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT ANYMORE.
HOW DARE YOU TRY TO RUSH THIS UNDER THE CARPET, UNDER THE DARKNESS, BECAUSE WE WILL SHINE A LIGHT ON THIS EVERY TIME.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEMS IN CLOSED SESSION.
THE BOARD IS GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION,
[V. CLOSED SESSION]
AND WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CONCLUSION OF CLOSED SESSION.[VI. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION]
WE ARE RECONVENING OPEN SESSION AT 6:08 PM.HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE?
>> NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION THIS EVENING.
BUT BEFORE WE MOVE ON, JUST 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 THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ITEM, AND NO LATER THAN THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ALLOWED TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, AND THE BOARD SHALL LIMIT TO TOTAL TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON EACH ITEM TO 20 MINUTES.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE FILL OUT A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD AND HAND IT TO THE STAFF MEMBER AT THE TABLE OUTSIDE OF THE BOARD ROOM.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR MEETING, WE ASK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO REFRAIN FROM APPROACHING THE DAIS, TO PROVIDE BOARD MEMBERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY 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 THE AREA FOR AUDIENCE SEATING.
OUR FIRST ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, BUT I DO HAVE A [OVERLAPPING].
[X. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA]
>> JUST FOR A MOTION, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT, SO WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THAT MOTION JUST FOR A SECOND FROM JEN SUSAN.
I WANT TO RAISE A SERIOUS CONCERN BEFORE THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.
THE BROWN ACT REQUIRES THAT ALL POSTED AGENDAS BE IDENTICAL FOR THIS MEETING, BUT THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT VERSIONS THAT WERE POSTED.
I TOOK SCREENSHOTS AND PICTURES WITH DATE AND TIME STAMPS AND MYSELF IN THEM.
WHEN MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF THE AGENDA ARE POSTED, EACH WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATION, THE PUBLIC IS LEFT GUESSING.
ACCORDING TO THE SACRAMENTO PUBLIC LAW LIBRARY, WHO HELPED ME DO THE RESEARCH, THAT UNDERMINES TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC TRUST.
BEFORE YOU VOTE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, WE NEED ANSWERS, WHICH OF THE THREE IS THE OFFICIAL ONE, AND WHY ARE THREE DIFFERENT VERSIONS BEING POSTED? THIS DIDN'T USED TO HAPPEN.
APPROVING A FLAWED AGENDA WITHOUT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT COMPLIANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT IS OPTIONAL.
IS THAT THE MESSAGE YOU WISH TO SEND? I REQUEST THAT YOU PULL ACTION ITEM XVC OR ROMAN NUMERAL 15 C IMMEDIATELY UNTIL YOU CAN MEET THE STANDARDS OF THE BROWN ACT.
[00:10:05]
>> THANK YOU. THERE WAS A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE MORA.
[]
IS THERE A SECOND OR ANY COMMENTARY?HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> I MOVE TO AMEND ACTION ITEM C IN A WAY THAT WOULD CREATE ACTION ITEM C, D, E.
>> WAIT, BUT THERE WAS A MOTION.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE DONE THAT ON THE ITEM.
WHEN I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY COMMENT OR DISCUSSION, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TIME FOR THE MOTION.
YOU DO HAVE SOME TOOLS AVAILABLE TO YOU, BUT I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU, BUT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. AFTER YOU.
>> I'D A MOTION NOT TO APPROVE, BUT A MOTION FOR SOMETHING.
>> THAT WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE ITEM.
I'M LETTING YOU KNOW YOU DO HAVE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO YOU AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD TO REVISIT ITEMS. I WANT TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT.
>> I ACKNOWLEDGE THE TOOLS THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING, I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXERCISE THAT TOOL?
>> MAYBE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TOOL IS.
>> WE JUST HAD A WHOLE MEETING LAST WEEK ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, WHICH WE VOTED ON HOW THE BOARD GOVERNS ITSELF.
THERE ARE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> THERE'S A MOTION OF RECONSIDERATION ON THE PRIOR ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> A MOTION TO RECONSIDER BY TRUSTEE MORA, SECOND BY TRUSTEE DOSICK.
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
NOW, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
TRUSTEE MORA, SINCE YOU'VE MADE THE MOTION ON RECONSIDERATION, I TAKE IT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMUNICATE SOMETHING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH.
>> THANK YOU. WELL, THAT HICCUP AND NAVIGATING PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE ASIDE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION AT THIS POINT, AT THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, TO AMEND ACTION ITEM C INTO ACTION ITEM C, D, E, AND F FOR US TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR EACH CONTRACT INDIVIDUALLY AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
>> JUST AS A CLARIFICATION, IF I MAY, EVEN IF IT'S UNDER ONE AGENDA ITEM, YOU CAN MAKE MOTIONS WITHIN THAT AGENDA ITEM.
THAT IS ALSO AN OPTION THAT YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION FOR INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS WITHIN THAT AGENDA ITEM, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE SEPARATE.
>> THERE'S A MOTION. I GUESS WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
I'M NOT PREPARED TO SUPPORT THAT GIVEN THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTERNATION ABOUT THE AGENDA ALREADY AND MULTIPLE MESSAGES, HIGHLIGHTING THAT THERE'S CONFUSION ABOUT THE AGENDA.
I'M JUST, FOR ME, NOT THAT I WANT TO STIFLE PUBLIC DISCOURSE, I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE I'M CLEARLY TELLING YOU YOUR RIGHT TO MAKE CONSIDERATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SMOOTH MEETING AT THIS JUNCTURE IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME EXPECTING THIS AGENDA.
I DID HAVE CONVERSATIONS ON THE OUTSIDE ABOUT WHAT LOOKS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOME UNCLARITY.
FOR ME, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE HAVE NOW PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND MOVE FORWARD.
I WANT TO HEAR OTHER PERSPECTIVES FROM OTHER TRUSTEES IF THEY ARE SO INCLINED.
THERE WAS A MOTION, THERE'S NOT A SECOND.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN?
>> MOVE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
>> MOVED BY TRUSTEE DOSICK. I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.
I DON'T WANT TO SHUT DOWN ANY DEBATE OR DISCUSSION, I WANT TO GIVE EVERYONE A OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION HERE.
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
[APPLAUSE] NEXT UP IS COMMUNICATIONS.
[XI.a. California School Employees Association (CSEA)]
DO WE HAVE CSEA?[00:15:01]
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ESMERALDA FERNANDEZ, AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF CSEA CHAPTER 745.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY WELCOMING EVERYONE BACK, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE ABLE TO TAKE A WELL-DESERVED SUMMER BREAK.
WE HOPE YOU HAD A TIME TO REST AND RECHARGE FOR THIS YEAR AHEAD.
THIS SUMMER, FIVE DELEGATES REPRESENTING NATOMAS AT THE 99TH ANNUAL CSEA CONFERENCE.
IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE WEEK FILLED WITH POWERFUL MOMENTS OF UNITY, INSPIRATION, AND RENEWED COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE CLASSIFIED PROFESSIONALS WHO HELPED MAKE OUR SCHOOLS RUN EVERY DAY.
[APPLAUSE] WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, COLLABORATE, AND BRING BACK IDEAS THAT WILL HELP STRENGTHEN OUR CHAPTER AND SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS.
NEXT YEAR, WE'LL MARK A HISTORIC MILESTONE AS WE CELEBRATE CSEA'S 100TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO EXTEND A FORMAL INVITATION TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
WE WILL SHARE MORE DETAILS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN A SUMMER BREAK FOR MANY, OUR WORK HASN'T STOPPED.
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE'VE CONTINUED TO MEET WITH HUMAN RESOURCE AND DISTRICT LEADERS REGARDING PENDING MOUS.
WE HAVE ALSO OFFICIALLY STARTED TO WORK UNDER A NEW BARGAINING AGREEMENT, AND WE'RE EAGER TO CONTINUE BUILDING ON THAT PROGRESS.
THIS WEEK ALONE, WE'VE ALREADY COLLABORATED WITH SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS AND SUPPORTED SOME SITE EMPLOYEES ON A RANGE OF ISSUES.
OUR COMMITMENT REMAINS THE SAME, TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DISTRICT LEADERSHIP, TO RESOLVE CONCERN AT THE LOWEST LEVEL POSSIBLE, AND TO FOSTER A POSITIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. [APPLAUSE]
[XI.b. Natomas Teacher's Association (NTA)]
NTA.>> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO, TRUSTEES.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND HONORING THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES OF THIS REGION.
SACRAMENTO IS SITUATED IN THE TRADITIONAL HOMELAND OF MIWOK PEOPLE.
WE OFFER GRATITUDE FOR THE LAND ITSELF, FOR THOSE WHO STEWARD FOR GENERATIONS, AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY, LEARN, WORK, AND BUILD COMMUNITY HERE.
WE ALSO HONOR THE WILTON RANCHERIA, THE ONLY FAIRLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THE SPACE TO ENGAGE IN CONTINUED LEARNING ABOUT THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO HAVE LIVED AND WORKED ON THIS LAND SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL.
NEXT THURSDAY IS THE OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR OUR STUDENTS.
NEXT MONDAY WILL BE THE FIRST DAY THAT EDUCATORS WILL BE STARTING THEIR PRE-SERVICE DAYS ON CAMPUS.
BUT IN REALITY, MANY OF OUR TEACHERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ON CAMPUS, WORKING HARD TO GET THEIR CLASSROOMS READY FOR OUR STUDENTS.
[APPLAUSE] YET, OUR TEACHERS AND RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE STARTING THE YEAR WITHOUT A NEW CONTRACT THAT SHOWS THEM THE RESPECT OF THEIR HARD WORK DEMANDS.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, WE HAVE LEARNED IN RECENT DAYS THAT THE BOARD AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAVE PROPOSED A SIGNIFICANT PAY RAISE TO SOME OF OUR HIGHEST-PAID ADMINISTRATORS IN THIS DISTRICT.
WE ARE INCREDIBLY DISHEARTENED TO SEE THESE RAISES AMOUNT TO OVER 15% IN INCREASES, AT LEAST 15% IN THE LAST TWO YEARS ALONE FOR COMPENSATION.
AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, I AM JOINED BY MANY OF OUR MEMBERS HERE TO VOICE OUR FRUSTRATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD WHO IS PROPOSING THESE PAY INCREASES.
BOARD MEMBERS, NATOMAS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION IS NOT JUST INTERESTED IN THE WELL-BEING OF OUR OWN MEMBERS.
WE KNOW THAT PROVIDING COMPETITIVE WAGES, BENEFITS, AND OVERALL IMPROVED WORKING CONDITIONS WILL ALSO PROVIDE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR OUR CLASSROOMS AND STUDENTS.
OUR WORKING CONDITIONS ARE STUDENTS' LEARNING CONDITIONS, AND OUR SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF THE BEST TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
[APPLAUSE] HOWEVER, THE BOARD'S DECISION TONIGHT TO CONSIDER APPROVING A SIGNIFICANT SALARY ONCE AGAIN OVER AT LEAST 15% THE LAST TWO YEARS COMBINED, AND A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR ADMINISTRATORS DOES NOT SIGNAL THAT IT SHARES THE SAME PRIORITIES AS A COMMUNITY THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT.
IT IS SHAMEFUL TO THINK THAT THE DISTRICT PROPOSED A 1.5% SALARY INCREASE TO OUR NATOMAS TEACHERS WHEN THESE PROPOSED PAY RAISES FOR ADMINISTRATORS SIGNAL THAT, CLEARLY, THE BOARD HAS THE ABILITY TO OFFER TEACHERS MUCH BETTER.
IF THE BOARD'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS, WOULDN'T YOU PRIORITIZE TAKING NECESSARY ACTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE RETAIN
[00:20:04]
HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATORS AND FUND THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND CLASSROOMS? LET ME BE CLEAR. THE MESSAGE THAT IS BEING SENT TO US TONIGHT IS THAT NATOMAS UNIFIED HAS THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO NOT ONLY MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR EDUCATORS, BUT ALSO TO FUND MORE CLASSROOM SUPPORTS, SUCH AS HIRING MORE AIDES, GIVING PREP TIME TO SDC TEACHERS, [APPLAUSE], JUST TO MENTION A FEW EXAMPLES.BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE PRIORITY IS NOT ON CLASSROOMS AND STUDENTS, BUT INSTEAD TOP-LEVEL ADMIN.
YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE TEACHERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND CLASSIFIED STAFF THAT WORK EVERY DAY IN OUR CLASSROOMS, NOT JUST YOUR DISTRICT STAFF.
WE, THE MEMBERS OF NTA, WANT TO REACH AN AGREEMENT, AN AGREEMENT THAT IS DIGNIFIED AND IS REFLECTIVE OF THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR MEMBERS TO OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
>> THANK YOU, NICO. NEXT UP, BOARD MEMBERS.
[XI.c. Board Members]
LET'S START WITH TRUSTEE MORA.[APPLAUSE] YOU WANT TO WAIT TILL THE ROOM CLEARS OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> WELL, I JUST HAVE TWO THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY AS PART OF MY BOARD REPORT TODAY.
THE FIRST ONE IS, OF COURSE, THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE START OF A NEW YEAR.
IT'LL BE THE START OF A NEW ACADEMIC YEAR IN MY THIRD YEAR AS A TRUSTEE, AND SO I THINK AT THIS POINT I KNOW WHAT TIME TO GET TO THE SCHOOLS FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL TO NOT BE STUCK IN WHAT IS INEVITABLY A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND SOME TEARS, BUT IT'S OKAY BECAUSE THE EXCITEMENT OVERSHADOWS THE TEARS OF OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS WHO ARE MAKING THAT TRANSITION.
BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO IT, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY IS ABLE TO JUST ENJOY WHATEVER IT MEANS TO THEM.
ALSO, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAFF AND SCHOOL SITE STAFF THAT MAKE THE START OF THE YEAR POSSIBLE AND SMOOTH.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REALLY JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF A PREFACE TO WHAT I KNOW IS A MEETING WITH A LOT OF INTEREST FROM THE PUBLIC.
I DON'T ALWAYS KNOW IF THIS THING IS UNUSUAL, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LIKE TO DO, SO PLEASE INDULGE ME FOR A SECOND.
I KNOW THAT AS TRUSTEES AND THEREFORE, REPRESENTATIVES, WE RECEIVE A LOT OF FEEDBACK.
A LOT OF FEEDBACK, I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST HAD AN INSTINCT TO SAY THAT TWICE.
SOME OF IT AT THESE MEETINGS, AND SO IT IS VERY VISIBLE, AND OF COURSE, WE ENGAGE WITH A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
WE ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF AND WITH PARENTS, AND REALLY JUST TAKE IN A LOT OF INFORMATION.
WHAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, AND THIS IS REALLY IT, IS THAT IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THESE THINGS, WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION THAT WE CAN AND WHAT WE THINK WILL BE THE MOST RESPONSIBLE DECISION, AND ALL THAT I CAN HOPE IS THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.
OFTENTIMES, A LOT GOES UNSAID, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO DO MY PART TO MAKE WHAT ARE OFTEN COLD FEELING MEETINGS FEEL A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] I GUESS THAT'S ME, NEXT.
YOU KNOW WHAT, TRUSTEE MORA, I ACTUALLY DO, THOUGH.
I USUALLY DON'T REALLY SAY A LOT DURING MY BOARD COMMUNICATION AS A BOARD REPORT BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE TO REALLY GRANDSTAND.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT I'VE MET WITH OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ON A LOT OF ISSUES AND A LOT OF ITEMS TO REALLY TAKE THE TIME AND TALK WITH ME.
I'M NEVER BOTHERED BY PEOPLE EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO PETITION A GOVERNMENT.
IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I HOPE AS WE CONTINUE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS AS A BOARD, WE'LL CONTINUE IN THAT DIRECTION.
REALLY, THANK YOU TO THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE MET WITH ME IN MY HOME, HAVE MET WITH ME AT RALEY'S, HAVE MET WITH ME AT THE PARK.
IT'S VERY VALUABLE, AND IT'S ENLIGHTENING.
PEOPLE DON'T CARE WHAT YOU KNOW UNTIL THEY KNOW THAT YOU CARE.
I KNOW WE HAVE STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE MET WITH ME THAT CARE, SO THAT'S REALLY IT. TRUSTEE DOSICK.
>> I'D FIRST LIKE TO ECHO THE COMMENTS FROM ESMERALDA EARLIER AND SAY, THANK YOU, AND TO ALL OF OUR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES.
LIKE YOU, I DON'T GET SUMMERS OFF, SO I COMMISERATE WITH YOU AND APPRECIATE
[00:25:03]
ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.I ALSO WARMLY WELCOME BACK ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND HOPE THAT THE '25,26 SCHOOL YEAR GETS OFF TO A GREAT START AND WILL BE A GREAT YEAR FOR ALL OF US.
I'M DISAPPOINTED AT SOME OF THE COMMENTS WE HEARD EARLIER.
I'M DISAPPOINTED AS WELL THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT IN PLACE WITH OUR TEACHERS YET.
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT, AND FOLKS CAN CORRECT ME LATER IF YOU WANT, BUT THERE WAS NEVER A COUNTER TO THE DISTRICT'S PROPOSAL.
THERE WAS NOT A REQUEST TO EVEN MEET.
THE DISTRICT PROVIDED DATES, BUT THE TEACHERS' UNION CHOSE NOT TO MEET WITH US, BASICALLY FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION, AND I SHARE THAT FRUSTRATION.
I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE HAD AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE BY NOW.
I'M HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY AND WITH MORE RESPECT THAN WE SAW IN THE BOARDROOM SO FAR TODAY AND OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS TO ACHIEVE A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RESULT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE [INAUDIBLE] FOR STARTING THE BRAND NEW SCHOOL YEAR, 4TH OF AUGUST.
NP3 STARTED, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO VISIT THE K TO THIRD GRADES, AND IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THE JOY OF LEARNING STARTING SO SOON, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTING NEXT YEAR.
I ECHO WHAT TRUSTEE MORA, TRUSTEE GRANT, AND TRUSTEE DOSICK SAID ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO A LOT OF TEACHERS IN THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN LAST WEEK.
WHEN THEY REACHED OUT, I COULD TOTALLY SEE THE LOVE AND PASSION THEY HAVE FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND FOR THE TEACHERS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE TIMES WE MAKE DECISIONS SO THAT IT BENEFITS EVERYBODY.
BUT WE STILL WANT TO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS.
I STILL WANT TO SUPPORT MY STAFF AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE MEHTA. SUPERINTENDENT.
[XI.d. Superintendent]
>> THANK YOU. WE HELD OUR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AND WELCOMED BACK OUR SITE ADMINISTRATORS WITH THE THEME BETTER TOGETHER, AND SO IT WAS NICE TO SEE ALL OF THEM BACK AND PREPARING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOL YEAR.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH MRS SHARON THURMAN FROM NATOMAS BLACK PARENTS UNITED, AND I APPRECIATED THE CONVERSATION.
IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT CONCERNS, THE DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD, AND PRIORITIES, AND I APPRECIATE HER REACHING OUT TO MEET WITH ME AND HAVING A POSITIVE CONVERSATION.
WE HAD OUR ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAIR ON SATURDAY.
WE HAD OVER 750 PEOPLE ATTEND.
WHEN I SHOWED UP IN THE MORNING, THE PLACE WAS PACKED.
WE WERE DOING ENROLLMENTS, IMMUNIZATIONS.
WE HAD OUR LEAP AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, ATHLETICS, OUR EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVE.
WE HAD THE ASTRONAUT OUT THERE READING TO THE KIDS, THE FREE FARMER MARKET AND LUNCH, AND EVEN HAIRCUTS TO GET KIDS READY TO START SCHOOL.
THEN JUST THE OTHER DAY, I WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE ANNUAL BACKPACK GIVEAWAY THAT WAS HOSTED BY MAYOR KEVIN MCCARTY AND VICE MAYOR KARINA TALAMANTES.
IT WAS OVER AT THE PARK IN NORTHGATE PARK IN SOUTH NATOMAS.
I THINK TRUSTEE MORA STOPPED BY THERE AS WELL.
THEY GAVE OVER ALMOST 1,800 BACKPACKS OUT, AND AGAIN, HAD COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND BIKES, AND ALL THINGS.
THEY HAD INVITED ME TO COME OUT AND ATTEND, SO I APPRECIATED GOING THERE.
THEN I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR CAFE DEPARTMENT FOR ORGANIZING A VIRTUAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS MEETING FOR OUR FAMILIES.
WE HAD ONE IN THE SPRING, AND THERE WAS A REQUEST TO CONTINUE WITH THAT.
THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THAT EVENT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO.
THAT CONCLUDES COMMUNICATIONS. NEXT UP, THERE ARE CONSENT ITEMS.
[XII. CONSENT ITEMS]
BEFORE I ENTERTAIN A MOTION, I DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT ITEM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE MORE ARE COMING.NO? YES. MAYBE SOME. FOR ACTION.
I HAVE ONE CONSENT COMMENT FROM JENNIFER SUSAN.
I THINK SHE MAY HAVE STEPPED OUT.
SOMEONE WANT TO GRAB HER, PERHAPS?
>> [INAUDIBLE] WHAT AM I COMMENTING ON?
>> YOU HAVE APPROVED PERSONNEL ITEMS.
>> GOT IT. BEFORE YOU APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR, WE NEED TO SPEAK UP FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT THAT ARE NEGLECTED.
[00:30:02]
MY DAUGHTER, RAYA, IS AUTISTIC AND HAS AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY.DUE TO NEGLECT FROM HER FIRST FAMILY, SHE DID NOT ATTEND SCHOOL UNTIL THE END OF FOURTH GRADE.
SHE DID NOT HAVE A CREDENTIAL TEACHER FOR A WHOLE YEAR, AND NOT ONE PERSON COULD STEP OUT OF THEIR IVORY TOWER FROM THIS DISTRICT OFFICE AND RUN HER CLASSROOM.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S SUBS IN SDC CLASSROOMS? SOMETIMES CHILDREN DIE.
IN ROCKLAND, A PRINCIPAL AND A TEACHER ARE DOING TIME.
IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND, A CHILD WITH PICA IN AN SDC CLASS HAD A SUB AND DIED BY CONSUMING A MEDICAL GLOVE.
YOU ARE PUTTING YOURSELVES AT RISK BY NOT DEMANDING STAFFING THAT IS APPROPRIATE AND LEGAL.
JEFFERSON SCHOOL DID NOT HAVE AN RSP TEACHER ALL YEAR.
THEY HAD AN ELEMENTARY ED CREDENTIAL STEP IN AND PROVIDE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.
THESE ARE NOT LIES OR THINGS MADE UP BY ME.
ALL OUR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES OR WITHOUT, IN GENERAL ED OR IN SDC, DESERVE THE BARE MINIMUM, A QUALIFIED TEACHER, AND NO ONE SHOULD DENY THIS TO ANY CHILD.
VOTING YES ON PERSONNEL ITEMS WHILE NOT ADDRESSING THE ONGOING CRISIS IN SPECIAL ED IS A CHOICE.
IT'S A CHOICE YOU ARE MAKING. NOT US.
THERE ARE FAMILIES WHO ARE TIRED OF BEING TREATED LIKE OUR CHILDREN ARE DISPOSABLE AND THROW-AWAY KIDS.
THEIR MONEY DOESN'T COME FROM A SEPARATE POT.
THEY BRING THEIR OWN MONEY AND DESERVE ALL THE GENERAL EDUCATION MONEY AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEES, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ON CONSENT.
I KNOW MANY OF US LIKE TO REPLY AND HAVE INTERACTIONS, BUT THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR IT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT?
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> WE ARE TRYING TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS. WHICH ONES?
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS TAKEN UP AS A WHOLE.
GENERALLY, FOR THE PUBLIC WATCHING AT HOME, AGREEABLE OR DISAGREEABLE.
CONSENT ITEMS ARE ITEMS THAT ARE USUALLY ROUTINE IN NATURE.
WHAT STAFF TRIES TO DO IS PICK THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO PASS ON MOTION SO WE CAN GET TO THE MORE MEATY PART OF THE BOARD MEETING, AND I'VE ALREADY SAID TOO MUCH BECAUSE THIS IS CONSENT.
>> I'M SORRY, PRESIDENT GRANT, BUT I DO HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CONSENT.
>> THIS IS NOT THE PLACE. GIVE ME A SECOND, GUYS.
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY AS A TRUSTEE TO PULL A CONSENT ITEM.
BUT THIS ISN'T THE PLACE WHERE WE DISCUSS THOSE ITEMS. CONSENT IS PASSED IN ONE MOTION BECAUSE THESE ARE TYPICALLY THE MORE AGREEABLE PART OF THE AGENDA.
>> THESE ALL GO. THIS IS NOT ACTION ITEM.
WE HAVE ACTION ITEMS, A, B, AND C. THERE MIGHT BE SOME CONFUSION ON PERSONNEL.
>> YES, I AM CONFUSED, SO I TAKE MY THING BACK. YES.
>> LET'S RE-ESTABLISH THE VOTE.
THERE'S A MOTION BY TRUSTEE DOSICK.
JUST FOR FURTHER CLARITY, I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THE CONTRACT TONIGHT VERSUS ROUTINE PERSONNEL ITEMS TO GET THE DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD.
>> YES. >> HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> NO WORRIES AT ALL. FOUR-ZERO.
[XIII.a. Constituent and Customer Services Update]
THE FIRST ONE IS THE CONSTITUENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICES UPDATE.THIS BOARD REPORT WAS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA WHEN IT WAS PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 1ST.
THERE'S NO PRESENTATION FOR THIS ITEM, BUT STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM TRUSTEES ON THE CCS UPDATES.
I DON'T SEE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
TRUSTEES, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? BOARD REPORT.
>> JUST OUR USUAL SEMI ANNUAL.
MY PERSONAL SEMI ANNUAL THANKS TO THE CCS TEAM, AND IT'S GOING TO GET REALLY FUN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AS SCHOOL STARTS.
I'M JUST REALLY THRILLED WITH WHAT THIS OFFICE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, THE RAPIDITY AT WHICH YOU'RE ABLE TO RESPOND TO
[00:35:03]
CONSTITUENT REQUESTS AND THE TRACKING TO ENSURE COMPLETION.I REFER PEOPLE TO CCS ALL THE TIME.
HERE, PEOPLE MAY NOT ALWAYS GET THE ANSWER THAT THEY WANT, BUT THEY GET THE ACCURATE RESPONSE AND THEY GET IN A TIMELY MANNER.
I THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS ON THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THOSE REMARKS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, TRUSTEES?
>> I'LL SHOW SOME LOVE TO SOME OF OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THE REPORTS.
THANKS FOR THE WELCOME CENTER UPDATE.
>> WE'RE STILL ON CONSTITUENT SERVICES, YES.
THEY MAY BE TANGENTIALLY CONNECTED, SO YOU SHOULD FINISH YOUR COMMENTS.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE NEXT ITEM.
I WILL HOLD UNTIL ITEM B THEN.
>> I'M TRYING SO HARD FOR THE WATCHING PUBLIC, I'M TELLING YOU.
I WILL TAKE IT THAT TRUSTEE MORA IS INTERESTED IN MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[XIII.b. Welcome Center Update]
THE WELCOME CENTER UPDATE.THIS BOARD REPORT WAS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA WHEN IT WAS PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 1ST.
THERE'S NO PRESENTATION, BUT STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO THE PUBLIC AND TRUSTEES.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? DON'T SEE ANY. TRUSTEES?
>> I THINK TRUSTEE MORA MIGHT HAVE A COMMENT.
>> MY ONLY COMMENT IS JUST HAVING HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT THE WELCOME CENTER TWICE, ONCE, I THINK ALL OF US WHEN IT FIRST OPENED, AND THEN LATER, MAYBE A YEAR OR OVER A YEAR LATER, THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN DONE IN MAKING IT A FULLY FUNCTIONING AND REALLY EFFICIENT PLACE FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT ARE THERE.
THEN JUST BEING ABLE TO SEE A LOT OF THE DATA AND THE NUMBERS THAT PROVIDE MORE CONTEXT, I COMMEND THAT, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE BETTER OFF FOR IT.
>> AWESOME. ME TOO. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM, TRUSTEES.
NEXT UP, ACTION ITEM C UNDER BOARD REPORTS,
[XIII.c. Safety and Safe Schools Update]
A SAFETY AND SAFE SCHOOLS UPDATE.THIS BOARD REPORT WAS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA WHEN IT WAS PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 1ST.
THERE'S ALSO NO PRESENTATION, BUT STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I ALSO DON'T SEE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
COMMENTS, DISCUSSION, TRUSTEES.
RICK, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DISTRICT, HAVING SAFE SCHOOLS.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF TO WORK ON, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I KNOW THE WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS SAFE, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, WHOEVER IS CLAPPING. THAT FEELS GOOD.
NOW WE WILL MOVE TO ACTION ITEMS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[XIV.a. Approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between Natomas Unified School District and Studios for the Performing Arts Operating Company (CLARA) to Support Arts and Music Instruction]
ACTION ITEM A IS APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM, MOU BETWEEN NATOMAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND STUDIOS FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY, CLARA, TO SUPPORT ARTS AND MUSIC INSTRUCTION.I DON'T SEE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
TRUSTEES, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT JUST GOT INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THOSE ARE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT, GREAT. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
>> TRUSTEES, ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM?
HELEN, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
ACTION ITEM B, RATIFY THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE DISTRICT
[XIV.b. Ratify the Memorandum of Understanding between the District and CSEA Regarding the Salary Range for the Instructional Assistant IV, Special Education Position]
AND CSEA REGARDING THE SALARY RANGE FOR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT 4.THAT'S FOUR, [INAUDIBLE]? THANK YOU.
I DON'T SEE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. ANY COMMENTS?
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR COLLEAGUES FROM CSEA FOR THE WAY THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE DISTRICT'S ATTENTION, AND THEN WE'RE ENSURING REALLY FAIRNESS PAY EQUITY FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE DUTIES THAT THEY PERFORM.
WITH THAT, I'LL GLADLY MOVE APPROVAL.
>> I'LL SECOND IT. ALSO, I'LL JUST MAKE A COMMENT THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE IAS IN THE CLASSROOM.
I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY TRUSTEE DOSICK.
YOU'RE GOOD? HELEN, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
ACTION ITEM C, APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO
[XIV.c. Approve Amendments to Employment Agreements and Salary Schedules for Deputy Superintendent Angela Herrera; Associate Superintendents Tonja Jarrell and Doug Orr; Chief of Staff Christina Huth]
[00:40:02]
THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND SALARY SCHEDULES FOR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT ANGELA HERRERA, ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENTS, TANYA GERALD, DOUG ORR, AND THE CHIEF OF STAFF, CHRISTINA HUTH.LOTS OF PUBLIC COMMENT I'M SEEING ON THIS ONE.
CLEAR THE ONES WITH DONATIONS OF TIME.
LET ME READ DISCLAIMER AND THEN I'LL GET THROUGH THIS.
TONIGHT, THE BOARD HAS ASKED TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND ASSOCIATED SALARY SCHEDULES FOR FOUR STAFF MEMBERS AND PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING VERBAL SUMMARY AS REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT CODE.
THIS IS THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH ANGELA HERRERA.
THE AMENDMENT EXTENDS THE CONTRACT TERM TO JUNE 30, 2028.
THE ANNUAL BASE SALARY IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH STEP 3, WITH 15 YEARS OF SERVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF LONGEVITY AS REFLECTED ON THE ATTACHED SALARY SCHEDULE.
EFFECTIVE JULY 2025, MRS. SARA [INAUDIBLE] TITLE SHALL BE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT.
NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES ARE BEING MADE.
THIS IS THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH TANYA GERALD.
THE AMENDMENT EXTENDS THE CONTRACT TERM TO JUNE 30, 2028.
THE ANNUAL BASE SALARY IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH STEP 1, WITH NINE YEARS OF SERVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF LONGEVITY AS REFLECTED ON THE ATTACHED SALARY SCHEDULE.
NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES ARE BEING MADE.
THIS IS THE FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH DOUG ORR.
THE AMENDMENT EXTENDS THE CONTRACT TERM TO JUNE 30, 2028.
THE ANNUAL BASE SALARY IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH STEP 3, WITH 15 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF LONGEVITY AS REFLECTED ON THE ATTACHED SALARY SCHEDULE.
NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES ARE BEING MADE.
THIS IS THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH CHRISTINA HUTH.
THE AMENDMENT EXTENDS THE CONTRACT TERM TO JUNE 30, 2028.
THE ANNUAL BASE SALARY IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH STEP 5, WITH 11 YEARS OF SERVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF LONGEVITY AS REFLECTED ON THE ATTACHED SALARY SCHEDULE.
NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES ARE BEING MADE.
BEFORE WE GET INTO BOARD DISCUSSION, WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
JUST GIVE ME ONE SECOND TO SORT THROUGH THIS IN THE DONATED TIME JUST BRIEFLY.
THESE ONES AREN'T DONATED TIMES.
THESE DIDN'T HAVE A PAPER CLIP. ON [INAUDIBLE] OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM JENNIFER SUSAN.
>> EVERY MEETING I TELL YOU I'M NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THE WAY WE'RE BEING TREATED, SO I ASK YOURSELF, WHO ELSE COULD I BE SPEAKING TO AND WHAT ACTIONS COULD THEY TAKE? FRIDAY WAS A VERY BAD DAY FOR ME STARTING AT 4:15 WHEN I OPENED THE AGENDA AND SAW THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING PROMOTIONS AND RAISES.
IT IS NOT AN OVERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT I WAS DEVASTATED.
THE FACT THAT YOU, AS SUPERINTENDENT, AND YOU, AS BOARD PRESIDENT, ARE CHOOSING TO KEEP AND REWARD PEOPLE WHO HAVE DESTROYED TRUST, HARM STUDENTS, AND BULLIED FAMILIES IS DEVASTATING.
I'VE ADVOCATED FOR MY CHILDREN TO RECEIVE WHAT THEY ARE LEGALLY OWED UNDER FAITH, AND FOR THAT, I'VE BEEN SILENCED, MADE TO FEEL LIKE A PROBLEM.
MEANWHILE, THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE ONGOING VIOLATIONS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW.
THE BLATANT DISREGARD FOR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS, AND [INAUDIBLE] VIOLATIONS, ALONG WITH A CULTURE OF INTIMIDATION.
THIS IS NOT A SECRET OR NOT WELL-KNOWN.
IT IS VERY WELL-KNOWN IN THIS DISTRICT, HOW WE ARE TREATED BY LEADERSHIP AND HOW THEY THINK OF US.
WHEN SOMEONE NEVER SPENDS ONE DAY IN PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THEIR LIVES, THEY DON'T HAVE THE HAPPY MEMORIES THAT TEACHERS, AIDES, AND PRINCIPALS DO WHO CAME UP THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
THIS ISN'T LEADERSHIP, AND WHETHER YOU ARE IN OVER YOUR HEAD OR YOU SIMPLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW EDUCATION WORKS, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO START TAKING ACTION THAT SUPPORTS ALL OF US.
ASK FOR HELP, CONSULT EXPERTS.
NOTE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR ENTIRE CAREER IN NUSD MIGHT NOT HAVE THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE THEY NEED TO LEAD, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'VE NEVER INTERVIEWED FOR A JOB BECAUSE OF THEIR FAMILY CONNECTIONS.
TO THE FAMILY, STUDENTS, AND TEACHERS WHO ARE WATCHING FROM HOME, DON'T GIVE UP.
I KNOW YOU'RE STILL WATCHING BECAUSE YOU COME UP TO ME, YOU TEXT ME, AND YOU EMAIL ME.
YOU STOP ME IN PARKING LOTS AND AT FESTIVALS TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP FOR US.
I CARRY THAT WITH ME EVERY TIME I SPEAK. IT GIVES ME STRENGTH.
YOU REMIND ME I'M NOT ALONE, AND NEITHER ARE YOU.
THE DISTRICT BELONGS TO US, NOT TO THEM.
CHANGE IS COMING, AND IT STARTS WITH US.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE SACHA CANATSU [PHONETIC] WITH DONATED TIME FROM AZO KITTLES [PHONETIC].
IT'S GOING TO BE FOUR MINUTES.
[00:45:09]
>> THERE WAS ANOTHER SIGN THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED YOU TO SEE IT, AND IT TALKED ABOUT TEACHER BURNOUT.
WE HAVE ASKED YOU TIME AND TIME AGAIN FOR SPECIFICALLY TANYA GERALD AND HERRERA NOT TO BE PROMOTED.
ACTUALLY, WE'VE ASKED FOR YOU TO HAVE THEM FIRED.
OTHER PUBLIC GROUPS, OTHER TEACHERS, MYSELF PERSONALLY, WE HAVE ALL SUFFERED AT THEIR HANDS IN THEIR POOR DECISIONS.
ONCE AGAIN, BROWN ACT VIOLATION, THAT YOU GUYS MOVED AHEAD WITH THIS MEETING EVEN BECAUSE YOUR AGENDAS WERE NOT CORRECT.
I HAD THE LUXURY OF SPEAKING WITH THE DOJ LAST WEEK, SO I KNOW THAT THEY'LL BE WATCHING THIS.
I KNOW THAT THEY KNOW THAT YOU'RE ON NOTICE AND THAT YOU'RE CONTINUING TO DO ILLEGAL THINGS AS A BOARD.
HOPEFULLY, YOU GUYS WILL SUFFER THE MOST THAT THEY CAN DO TO YOU GUYS, WHETHER THAT'S KICK YOUR ASSES OUT, SORRY, OR MAKE YOU FIRE PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE HARMING OUR CHILDREN.
THEY ARE LITERALLY HARMING OUR CHILDREN BY NOT GIVING THEM WHAT THEY WANT.
MEGHAN HUDSON HAS MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO SAY THAT ANY PERSON WHO REQUEST AN IEE, THAT YOU TAKE US TO THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING.
IT COMES FROM DIRECTION OF THE TOP.
THE TWO PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE THESE RAISES AND EXTEND THEIR CONTRACTS TO, IT'S LUDICROUS.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER AND OUR TEACHERS DESERVE BETTER.
YOU HAD 11 TEACHERS MASS EXITED FROM NATOMAS PARK.
YOU DON'T HAVE TEACHERS TO START THE NEW YEAR IN EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM.
YOU DON'T HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION FILLED UP.
YOU GUYS WILL NOT EVEN TELL US ABOUT THE MEDICAL MONEY REIMBURSEMENTS THAT YOU GET.
WHERE IS THAT MONEY? DID ANY OF YOU EVEN ASK THAT QUESTION TO YOUR ACCOUNTING AFTER LAST MONTH'S MEETING? YOU GUYS DON'T EVEN HAVE A CLUE ABOUT THAT MONEY, WHERE IT GOES, WHERE IT'S SPENT, HOW MUCH YOU'RE GETTING BACK.
YOU HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY, AND IF YOU'RE INCOMPETENT AS A BOARD, THEN YOU NEED TO GO.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE TO BE READING.
YOU DON'T NEED TO EXCLUDE THEM, OUR SPECIAL ED CHILDREN, FROM YOUR TK DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION.
YOU'RE SQUINTING YOUR EYES LIKE YOU'RE JUST RIGHT NOW FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT'S GOING ON IN THIS DISTRICT.
THAT'S WHY WE WANTED A NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
HE DIDN'T RETIRE JUST BECAUSE HE WANTED TO.
YOU CAN HAVE OTHER PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND SAY, WE'RE HERE TO NEGOTIATE.
I'M FIGHTING FOR MY BLACK CHILDREN.
MY CHILDREN ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
I HAVE CHILDREN IN THIS DISTRICT.
I'M NOT JUST SOME OLD PERSON HERE WHO WANTS TO JUST COME UP AND TRY TO GET PEOPLE ON THE BOARD AND BE POLITICS.
THESE ARE MY CHILDREN'S LIVES THAT I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR 20 YEARS.
YOU DIDN'T DO RIGHT BY MY OTHER CHILD IN SPECIAL ED, BUT YOU'LL GODDAMN WILL DO IT BY THIS ONE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, I HAVE AMANDA H. I CAN'T READ THE LAST.
>> WITH DONATED TIME FROM FRED LAVELLE.
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. I AM AN SDC TEACHER AT NATOMAS PARK ELEMENTARY AND 15 TEACHERS MASS EXITED AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNEW.
WE HAVE 15 NEW TEACHERS, AND OUR PRINCIPAL WAS PUSHED OUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE SCHOOL WAS OUT, SO WE HAVE A NEW PRINCIPAL AS WELL.
MY COMMENT IS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADMIN SALARIES.
MAY 16TH LAST YEAR, I SPOKE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT AFTER A PRESENTATION ABOUT HOW 50% OF THE WHITE CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT WERE NOT AT GRADE LEVEL READING, AND THE NEXT HIGHEST, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH.
>> WAS IT HISPANIC? WAS THAT 19%? WE'RE FAILING.
WE HAVE A HIGH GRADUATION RATE WITH KIDS THAT CAN'T READ, AND YET, YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE RAISES TO ADMIN WHO ARE LETTING THIS BE THE STATUS QUO IN THIS DISTRICT.
WE HAVE CLASSROOMS THAT DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FURNITURE IN IT.
FURNITURE. MY SCHOOL DOES NOT PAY FOR PAPER, PENCILS, MARKERS, SCISSORS.
[00:50:09]
I HAVE TO USE MY CLASSROOM FUNDS FOR THAT OR ASK MY PARENTS TO PROVIDE THAT.AS AN SDC TEACHER, LEGALLY, WE ARE GEN ED CLASSROOM FIRST, SPECIAL EDUCATION ON TOP OF IT.
WE SHOULD BE RECEIVING IDEA MONEY.
WE SHOULD BE RECEIVING OPTIONS FOR MEDICAL TO IMPROVE OUR PROGRAMS. I'M ON A CAMPUS WHERE LAST YEAR I SPENT $2,000 ON MY CLASSROOM.
I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND A MORTGAGE TO PAY.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING MONEY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE FAILING OUR STUDENTS, WHO ARE FAILING OUR TEACHERS.
I APPRECIATE THE SAFETY PLAN, AND I'M GOING TO READ THAT WHEN I GET HOME BECAUSE I'D LOVE TO KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO BE SAFER BECAUSE OUR CAMPUS IS NOT SAFE.
WE FINALLY, THANK GOD, HAVE A CLOSED CAMPUS POLICY IN THE DISTRICT BECAUSE WE HAD ADULTS COMING ON CAMPUS TO BEAT UP OTHER CHILDREN, AND WE HAD PEOPLE THAT NOBODY KNEW WHO THEY WERE.
THERE'S SO MUCH THAT IS NOT HAPPENING CORRECTLY HERE.
IN MY PREVIOUS DISTRICT, THREE TIMES A YEAR, THE SPED DEPARTMENT WOULD GET AN EMAIL AND SAY, MEDICAL TIME, GO SEE WHAT ITEMS YOU NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR PROGRAM.
I SPENT $13,000 IN ONE YEAR ON EQUIPMENT FOR MY STUDENTS AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF MONEY LEFT OVER AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO.
I MADE A REQUEST FOR ROCKING CHAIRS AND WIGGLE STOOLS, AND I WAS TOLD TO ASK IF OTHER TEACHERS ON CAMPUS HAD THEM.
MY COLLEAGUE NEXT DOOR HAD 13 STUDENTS.
HOW MANY DESKS DO YOU HAVE? TWELVE.
>> I JUST MOVED OUT OF MY ROOM TO MOVE IN RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO MY COLLEAGUE, TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE FOR MY STUDENTS.
I TOOK EVERY PIN OFF THE WALL.
THE BRAND NEW SIXTH GRADE TEACHER, WHY ARE WE ADDING SIXTH GRADE TO OUR CAMPUS ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN WE CAN'T CONTROL THE FIFTH GRADERS? WHY ARE WE KEEPING THEM SO THAT THEY'RE BIGGER AND CAN HURT PEOPLE MORE AND TRAUMATIZE THEIR CLASSMATES AND THEIR TEACHERS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I TOOK EVERY PIN OFF THAT WALL.
THAT NEW TEACHER WALKED INTO THAT CLASSROOM WITH TABLES.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP IS DARCY PACHECO.
>> YES. I WANT TO JUST CHECK BRIEFLY TO MAKE SURE SHE'S NOT IN OVERFLOW.
NEXT UP, I HAVE, MS. SHARON THURMAN.
THE CLIMATE IS SOBER AS IT SHOULD BE.
I DO WANT TO ADDRESS ITEM C AS A LATE PERSON, SEEING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT OUR ADMINISTRATORS EARN OR MAKE, EARN MIGHT BE TOO STRONG A WORD.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE PAYING THEM MORE THAN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS PAYING THE GOVERNOR WHO OVERSEES 33 MILLION PEOPLE.
JUST ON THE BASIS OF RATIO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE PAY SOMEONE $239,000 TO OVERSEE, I THINK WE'RE AT 17,000 STUDENTS OVERALL, MAYBE 1,600 EMPLOYEES.
NOT THAT YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT THE MARKET SAYS.
BUT AS A BOARD, YOU DO HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT IT IS YOU DEMAND FROM THAT INVESTMENT THAT'S BEING SPENT IN TERMS OF READING STANDARDS, MATH STANDARDS, CLIMATE FOR THE STAFF, SAFETY, ETC.
I'M HERE TO ASK OUR BOARD TO CONSIDER WHAT MESSAGES WE'RE SENDING WHEN WE
[00:55:03]
MAKE THESE KINDS OF PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND MAYBE DO A BETTER JOB EXPLAINING THE WHYS, FOR THE WHAT, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THE BOARD IS REQUIRING OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, OUTCOMES THAT MERIT THE SALARIES.>> I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
NOW AT THIS BOARD DISCUSSION, SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SHARE ON THIS ITEM BEFORE WE ENGAGE?
>> I WANTED TO IF YOU COULD PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THERE IS ANY REORGANIZATION CHANGES IN THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR.
WHAT IS THIS LEADERSHIP GOING TO HANDLE? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS?
>> SURE. MOVING INTO '25-'26, OUR ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE FOR ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT.
PRIOR TO THIS TIME, WE HAD TWO EQUAL POSITIONS, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT AND CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER, WHICH WERE EQUAL LEVEL POSITIONS.
WHEN WE HAD A CHANGE OF A CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICIAL, WE ACTUALLY CHANGED THAT LEVEL DOWN.
IT WAS PART OF OUR 500,000 ADMINISTRATIVE SAVINGS THAT WE SHARED WITH THE BOARD IN JUNE.
I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
NONE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE GETTING PROMOTIONS OUT OF THESE CONTRACT CHANGES.
THE ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENTS ARE REMAINING AS ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENTS.
THEY'RE SAYING AT THE SAME LEVEL.
ORGANIZATIONAL WISE, MS. GERALD, WHO WILL BE OVERSEEING SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND ED SERVICES IS GOING TO BE REPORTING DIRECTLY TO ME.
THAT IS, FOR ME, WITH A LOT OF THE IMPORTANT INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVE, OUR 312 INTERVENTION, A LOT OF THOSE THINGS THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME DIRECT AND REGULAR CONVERSATIONS, AS WELL AS WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND CONNECTIONS AND WITH OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS AT THAT LEVEL.
FOR MS. HERRERA, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING SOME MOVING AND CHANGING OF RESPONSIBILITIES, SHE'S GOING TO BE WORKING WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES, OUR TECHNOLOGY, AND OUR STUDENT SERVICES AND SUPPORT.
THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER TITLE DOESN'T APTLY FIT THE JOB THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE DOING IN '25-'26 AND PROBABLY HASN'T REFLECTED WHAT SHE'S BEEN DOING THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH JUST A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITIES IN DEPARTMENTS.
I'VE ASKED HER TO FOCUS IN ON THOSE AREAS AND ALSO WORKING WITH OUR ASSOCIATES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY, COHESIVELY AND THAT THERE IS TEAMWORK ACROSS THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS IN OUR DISTRICT.
CHANGING THE TITLE TO THE PREVIOUSLY EXISTING AT THE SAME LEVEL, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE POSITION AND WHAT SHE'S DOING.
IT'S NOT A PROMOTION, IT'S A CHANGE OF TITLE.
OUR CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICIAL, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, SHE WAS WORKING IN OUR FISCAL AREA, OUR NUTRITION SERVICES, IN THAT AREA.
HE THERE WERE A LOT OF ACCOLADES FOR OUR HEART DEPARTMENT OPENING THE WELCOME CENTER.
HE BUILT THAT DEPARTMENT UP FROM SCRATCH WITH HIS TEAM.
HE IS ALSO OVERSEEING FACILITIES FOR US RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A VACANT POSITION FOR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF FACILITIES, AND MR. OR HAS BEEN FILLING IN AND OVERSEEING THAT DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AND TRANSPORTATION.
MR. MUSSER IS CONTINUING WITH SAFETY AND SAFE SCHOOLS, MS. POWELL WITH CAFE, AND OUR CHIEF OF STAFF CHRISTINA HUTH, OUR CUSTOMER CONSTITUENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE, AS WELL AS OUR NEW COORDINATOR FOR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS.
THE WAY THAT IT LOOKS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
IT ALLOWS ME TO PUSH FORWARD SOME INITIATIVES THAT ARE CLOSE AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND TO FOCUS IN AREAS THAT NEED SOME ADDITIONAL ATTENTION.
AGAIN, THESE ARE NOT PROMOTIONS FROM ONE POSITION TO THE NEXT, AND IT DOES ENTAIL A TITLE CHANGE.
I DO ALSO WANT TO COMMENT WITH THE SALARY SCHEDULES, WHICH ARE DIFFERENT.
THERE IS A NEW LEGISLATION, AV 1997.
IT WAS SIGNED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, AND MOVING FORWARD, THERE ARE RULES AND PROTOCOLS THAT GO WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
OUR CERTIFICATED STAFF AND LOOKING AT THE RETIREMENT,
[01:00:03]
PART OF THAT BILL REQUIRES THAT MOVING FORWARD THE CERTIFICATED POSITIONS HAVE A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SALARY SCHEDULE.RATHER THAN JUST HAVING A CONTRACT WITH $1 AMOUNT, THERE WILL BE A SALARY SCHEDULE.
WHILE YOU SEE THESE SALARY SCHEDULES, IT'S MOVING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OFF OF THE CONTRACT ONTO THE SALARY SCHEDULE.
THE BENEFIT TO THIS IS IT IS VERY TRANSPARENT.
YOU CAN SEE THE STEPS AND THE COLUMNS THAT ARE THERE FOR EACH POSITION, RATHER THAN HAVING TO LOOK BACK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT, THE AMENDMENTS THAT WENT ALONG WITH THEM AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT RAISES WERE APPLICABLE OVER TIME AS CONTRACTS ALL INCLUDED DIFFERENCES WITH THEM, AND NOW IT IS CONSOLIDATED, AND IT'S GOING TO BE STANDARD ACROSS.
THIS BRINGS US AN ALIGNMENT WITH A REQUIREMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE BY JANUARY.
IT IS A WAY FOR US TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT.
THE RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACTS, ADDING TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS, WE WANTED TO HAVE THE JOB TITLES REFLECT WHAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY DOING.
WE DID NOT CHANGE THE LEVEL OF ANYBODY'S POSITION, AND THIS WAS NOT ABOUT RAISES.
IT WAS ABOUT MEETING THE STANDARD OF HAVING THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SALARY SCHEDULES THAT HAS THE STEPS THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT IS ATTACHED IN THE AGENDA.
>> WE NEED TO HAVE DECORUM IN THE BOARD ROOM.
I'M JUST GOING TO ASK VERY POLITELY FOR THAT DECORUM TO BE MAINTAINED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. TRUSTEE MEHTA.
DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? DOES HER ANSWER SATISFY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?
WITH THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, YOU WOULD HAVE MISS GERALD DIRECTLY REPORTING TO YOU?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, TRUSTEES, COMMENTS? TRUSTEE MORA.
>> I HAVE A MOTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION ONCE AGAIN FOR US TO DIVIDE THIS ACTION ITEM C INTO INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEMS LIKE WE HAVE IN THE PAST, WHERE WE VOTE ON EACH CONTRACT INDIVIDUALLY.
>> THERE'S A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND ON THAT MOTION? LET'S JUST PAUSE THE MOTION FOR A SECOND.
I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION FIRST, AND I WANT TO MAKE JUST MY COMMENTS ON THE ITEM OVERALL.
I THINK SOMETIMES THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION THAT BOARD MEMBERS ARE JUST LIKE BYSTANDERS IN A SITUATION THAT WHERE YOU'RE NOT INTIMATELY AWARE OF.
I'VE TAKEN THIS YEAR AS PRESIDENT TO GROW AND LEARN AND TALK, AND TRY TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO THINGS AS A DISTRICT.
I HOPE YOU'RE FEELING THAT DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THE MEETINGS ARE GOVERNED.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO HAVE A PRIVILEGE OF AS PRESIDENT IS I HAVE A CABINET MEETING EVERY TWO WEEKS.
I GET TO SIT IN AND TALK WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS ABOUT THE VISION OF THE DISTRICT, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE AGENDA? WHAT'S NOT WORKING? WHAT IS WORKING? BELIEVE ME, THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME PERSONALLY.
I KNOW TRUSTEES HAVE THEIR ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AS WELL TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT WORKING, WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE.
I'VE ALWAYS RESPECTED THAT AND I MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO MEET WITH ANYONE AT ANY TIME.
WE'VE MADE SOME CHANGES IN THIS DISTRICT, AND WE HAVE A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, AND A SUPERINTENDENT, I THINK, INITIALLY, HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON CULTURE AND CLIMATE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PTSD ALL AROUND FROM BOARD MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAUMA HERE AND SOME EXPERIENCED.
I THINK OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS BEEN RIGHTLY FOCUSED ON, LET'S MAKE THIS PLACE FEEL DIFFERENT.
BUT NOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR, AND I'M ASKING FOR IT.
I THINK OUR SUPERINTENDENT IS ASKING FOR IT, IS THAT WE HAVE SOME ACADEMIC STANDARDS THAT WE NEED TO MEET, AND THEY'RE DEVASTATING.
IT IS SHOCKS THE CONSCIENCE, THE PERFORMANCE THAT WE GET IN THIS DISTRICT FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.
LISTEN, WE HAD ELECTIONS, AND THE PUBLIC DID CHOOSE US, AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.
I'VE NEVER BEEN A GUY. I'M FROM WATTS.
I'M FROM THE SOUTH CENTRAL LA.
I'M JUST TO BE HONEST. I DON'T HEAR THREATS.
I'M GOING TO MAKE EVERY BEST DECISION THAT I CAN MAKE, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF I'M GOING TO WALK TO THOSE GATES, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO PUBLIC. THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
I'M NOT UP HERE LOOKING FOR A HIGHER OFFICE.
I'M NOT UP HERE LOOKING TO MOVE TO THE NEXT THING.
ANYBODY THAT DOES THIS JOB, I GOT NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR THEM.
OVER THE YEARS, MY RELATIONSHIPS WITH EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN IN THE SEAT HAS CHANGED AND HAS GROWN, AND I'VE GOT CLOSER TO BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS REQUIRES.
FOR ME, ACTUALLY IT'S NOT SIMPLE,
[01:05:01]
BUT I HAVE IT DOWN TO A SIMPLE STATEMENT.IS THAT WE HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT.
I WANT TO GIVE THE SUPERINTENDENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE YOUR VISION.
BUT THIS IS NOT INFINITE, AND IT'S NOT UNLIMITED.
WHAT I WOULD EXPECT THIS BOARD TO DO IS IF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING AT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION AND WITH OUR OWN INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S GOING ON DO NOT WORK, THEN WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS TRUSTEES TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
THERE'S A SCRIPTURE IN THE BIBLE THAT SAYS, FOR A PERSON TO KNOW THE RIGHT THING, AND FOR HIM TO DO IT, AND NOT, FOR HIM, IT IS SIN.
I'D LIKE TO FINISH MY COMMENTS, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. I DIDN'T INTERRUPT FOR ANYONE WHEN THEY WERE SPEAKING.
I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT THESE AGREEMENTS TONIGHT.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK IN THE MIRROR AS BOARD MEMBERS.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BOARD MEMBER AS ADMIN.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT A MIRROR AS A COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS NOT AN INFINITE MANDATE TO DO THINGS NORMALLY.
WE NEED TO HAVE SOME CLEAR COMMUNICATED STANDARDS TO THE PUBLIC ON WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, AND WE NEED TO MEET THEM, AND WE NEED TO DRIVE AT THEM HARDER THAN WE HAVE EVER PUSHED BEFORE, SO THAT'S MY COMMENT ON THAT.
THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY ON THIS ITEM FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING.
>> TRUSTEE MORA DOES HAVE A MOTION.
I WANT TO RESPECT HIS MOTION AND GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO REACT TO HIS MOTION.
THEN AFTER THAT, THEN WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE REMAINDER OF BOARD COMMENT.
TRUSTEE MORA, I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S A SECOND ON THAT MOTION.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY BOARD COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT I DO AGREE THE TEST SCORES NEED TO GO UP.
I DO AGREE THAT TEACHERS NEED SUPPORT IN THE CLASSROOMS. WE NEED MORE IAS.
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN THE CLASSROOM FOR HELPING OUR TEACHERS, HELPING OUR STUDENTS, HELPING OUR FAMILIES.
AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO WANT TO TRUST IN OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT AS A NEW BOARD MEMBER.
I WANT TO KEEP THAT FAITH AND TRUST IN OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT, AND I WOULD WANT TO SUPPORT THIS.
>> I WILL BE VERY BRIEF AND JUST SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE DURING DISCUSSION.
>> ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, DISCUSSION? I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND SALARY SCHEDULE. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> THERE'S A MOTION, AND THERE'S A SECOND.
SUPERINTENDENT THANKS FOR YOUR EXPLANATION.
I DO THINK OUR PACING, AS SOME OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE INDICATED, THIS IS WILDLY COMPLEX IN MY EIGHTH YEAR, I'M STILL STRUGGLING.
>> I WILL TAKE MS. SUSAN'S RECOMMENDATION TO TALK WITH ANYONE ABOUT HOW TO GET BETTER EDUCATED.
THERE'S NO EGO HERE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALYN, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[XV. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
AT THIS TIME, I HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 PUBLIC COMMENTS WITH SOME DONATED TIME.THE BOARD WILL HEAR FROM THESE SPEAKERS ONLY AND ENSURE THE MEETING IS CONDUCTED IN ORDERLY AND EFFICIENT MANNER, ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD BY LAW IN 9323.
>> MY PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT CONCERNS TWO THINGS.
WE'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT PROMOTIONS AND PAY RAISES.
WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT EXTENSIONS.
2028 IS A REALLY LONG TIME TO BE SADDLED WITH THE SAME PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY CREATED A MESS.
MY SECOND COMMENT IS THAT IT RECENTLY CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVE EXCLUDES CHILDREN WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE DISABILITIES.
YOU CAN'T SAY YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT EARLY LITERACY IF YOU LEAVE OUT KIDS WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE DISABILITIES.
YOU KNOW WHO ELSE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT TEACHING READING? TK THROUGH THIRD GRADE TEACHERS.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING REVOLUTIONARY OR NEW.
I WAS TAUGHT TO TEACH PHONICS IN 1992.
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS ILLEGAL.
NO MAKING UFLI AND THE CHOICES AVAILABLE TO SDC CLASSES IS CRIMINAL.
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT ON EACH CLASSROOM.
MY DAUGHTER LEARNED TO READ BECAUSE OF A PROGRAM LIKE UFLI THAT I PAID FOR OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL DAY, AND SHE LEARNED THAT AFTER FOURTH GRADE.
THAT'S NOT YOUR FAULT, BUT BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS FOR THE KIDS THAT YOU'RE EXCLUDING IN THE EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVE.
[01:10:02]
[APPLAUSE].>> [APPLAUSE] SEPARATE BUT EQUAL IS NOT OKAY.
PHONICS ARE ESSENTIAL TO LEARN TO READ.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS MADE SITE VISITS AND ALREADY PUT YOU ON NOTICE.
YOU'RE EXTENDING PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING ACTIVELY INVESTIGATED IN A 2-3 YEAR PROCESS.
OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE FACED FEDERAL LAWSUITS FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND LOST.
LET'S BE HONEST, YOU'RE NOT EXCLUDING THESE KIDS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T LEARN.
YOU'RE EXCLUDING THEM BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HELP.
TO THE FAMILIES, I SEE YOU, I HEAR YOU.
I'M HERE WITH YOU. YOU'RE NOT IMAGINING IT.
YOU ARE BEING PUSHED ASIDE WITH A SYSTEM THAT WAS MEANT TO EXCLUDE, AND THEY ARE EXCLUDING YOU.
EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO LEARN TO READ REGARDLESS OF THEIR DISABILITY OR RACE.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I HAVE SACHIKO KANASU WITH DONATED TIME FROM JEN SUSAN, SO THAT'S FOUR MINUTES.
>> IT SAYS SPECIAL ED FOR THIS ONE.
>> SPECIAL ED. WE'LL JUST FOLLOW WITH THAT.
THE TEACHER WHO CAME UP HERE AND SPOKE, I HAD A NICE CONVERSATION WITH HER PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.
SHE TOLD ME THAT AT HER SCHOOL, THEY HAVE NOW MOVED THE SPECIAL ED CHILDREN INTO THE PORTABLES.
SHE MADE MENTION THAT SHE HAD TO MOVE HER CLASSROOMS, AND THOSE PORTABLES ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH SYNCS.
THEY DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE STUFF THAT THE REGULAR CLASSROOMS HAVE.
YOU GUYS NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, LIKE MS. SUSAN IS SAYING, YOU GUYS ARE EXCLUDING THEM AND YOU'RE TREATING THEM LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS. THAT'S NOT OKAY.
WE WILL NOT STAND UP FOR THAT.
AS PARENTS OF SPECIAL ED CHILDREN, WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THAT.
IT'S ILLEGAL AND IT'S IMMORAL.
LIKE SHE SAID, THE BLOOD WILL BE ON YOUR HANDS.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS, YOU'VE MADE NOTICE.
AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND MARKING DOWN EVERY ILLEGAL THING THAT YOU'VE HAD.
I'VE HAD SOME LOVELY CONVERSATIONS THAT LASTED SEVERAL HOURS.
FOR YOU, MR. GRANT, I'M SORRY TO TELL YOU THAT I DO BELIEVE IN GOD.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IN THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, IT IS ILLEGAL.
EVERY TIME YOU QUOTE THE BIBLE SITTING ON THE DAIS.
IT IS THE RULES, AND I'M NOT THE ONLY OTHER PERSON WHO FEELS THAT WAY.
YOU AGAIN, ARE FORCING YOUR BIBLE BELIEFS, YOUR RELIGION ONTO OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO DON'T HAVE THE SAME BELIEFS, AND THAT'S ILLEGAL.
AGAIN, THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE ARE FOR ALL THE CHILDREN, NOT JUST SOME OF THE CHILDREN.
THAT'S WHY WITH THE APPOINTMENTS THAT YOU'RE EXTENDING, WE WANT THE CULTURE TO CHANGE.
YOU GUYS HAVE A CULTURE OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO DISENFRANCHISE PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, PEOPLE OF GAY LESBIAN TRANSGENDER.
THAT'S WHY WE DON'T WANT THESE PEOPLE.
LOOK AT THE COLLEGES THAT THEY WENT TO.
LOOK AT WHAT THEY WERE EXPOSED TO.
WE WANT A CULTURE OF INCLUSION FOR ALL.
YOU EXTENDING THESE CONTRACTS ARE SADDLING US WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE INCLUSION FOR ALL, WHO CONTINUE TO MAKE BAD CHOICES FOR YOUR SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT, WHO CONTINUE TO OKAY FOR THINGS TO BE DONE ILLEGALLY.
I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE MONEY ABOUT THE MEDICAL.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
YOU GUYS HAVE NOT MANAGED MONEY COLLECTIVELY, NOT ALL OF YOU, BUT THIS BOARD AS A WHOLE, HAS A HISTORY OF NOT MANAGING MONEY CORRECTLY, AND ITS STATUS QUO.
WE WANT THE MONEY SPENT ON THE CHILDREN, NOT ON THE UPPER MANAGEMENT.
THE KIDS BRING THE MONEY IN AND LIKE YOU SAID, I AM ALL OF YOUR BOSSES, AND YOU'RE NOT LISTENING.
SO MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL.
MAYBE THOSE OPTICS MIGHT MAYBE BRING YOU SOMETHING TO LIFE SO YOU CAN SEE.
THE INCOMPETENCE IN THIS MEETING ALONE OF SOME OF YOU SITTING ON THIS BOARD, YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU CAME ON THE BOARD.
YOU CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE THE BROWN ACT WHEN IT'S JUST OKAY FOR YOU AND GIVE MISINFORMATION, SAYING IT'S NOT.
LOOK UP THE LAW, SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
>> THANK YOU. I BET YOU YOU SHOULD COME BACK BECAUSE I HAVE YOU NEXT ON PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> I KNOW, I DIDN'T [INAUDIBLE].
>> APPRECIATE IT. I HAVE THIS TOPIC SAYS RATS IN SCHOOLS.
[01:15:04]
>> YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES WITH DONATED TIME FROM DANIEL ZEKI.
THIS DAIS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE RATS FOR FOUR MONTHS NOW, AND THEY'RE STILL HERE, JUST LIKE THE CERTAIN RATS THAT ARE SITTING ON THE DAIS.
HERE'S A NEW PICTURE, WHICH, AGAIN, MS. SUPERINTENDENT, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UNLESS IT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK.
THE RATS HAVE BEEN HERE SO LONG THEY HAVE CHEWED HOLES THROUGH YOUR WALLS.
THIS ONE IS IN THE MATH DEPARTMENT AT INDERKUM.
HERE'S A COPY OF SOME OF THE FURNITURE THAT WAS IN THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE.
YOU GUYS HAVE WASTED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WHEN YOU FOUND OUT THAT THE RATS WERE THERE.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ACTUALLY WENT AFTER THE LAST TIME I SHOWED PICTURE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WALMART DIDN'T HAVE ANY BIG ENOUGH PAPER FOR ME.
IF YOU CAN PASS THIS TO THE DAIS BECAUSE I'M NOT ALLOWED TO APPROACH THEM, PASS THOSE TO THEM NOW, PLEASE, SO THEY CAN LOOK AT IT IN REAL TIME.
THESE TEACHERS DESERVE BETTER.
HAVING TO WORK IN A CLASSROOM WITH RATS IS A STRESSFUL SITUATION FOR THE TEACHERS.
THESE RATS WERE IN THE CLASSROOMS WHERE YOUR MOST VULNERABLE, WE'RE GOING EVERY DAY.
YOU HAD CHILDREN WITH ILLNESSES WHO ARE CATCHING COLDS, GETTING SICK MORE THAN USUAL BECAUSE OF THE RATS.
I HAVE OTHER PICTURES, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PAPER TO PRINT THEM FOR ME, SO I'LL BRING THOSE TO THE NEXT BOARD.
YOU GUYS ARE USING PAPER TRAPS THAT THE RATS HAVE LITERALLY NOW THEMSELVES FREE ON.
YOU NEED TO DO MORE THAN THAT.
YOU NEED HEAVIER DUTY MOUSE TRAPS.
SCHOOL IS ALREADY STARTING, AND YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN RID OF THE PROBLEM.
ONCE AGAIN, YOU'RE STARTING TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS THAT DON'T HAVE CLASSIFIED TEACHERS FULL TIME, YOU'RE STARTING WITH RAT INFESTATION THAT HAS CONTINUED, AND YOU'RE PUTTING ALL OF OUR KIDS AT RISK.
THERE HAS BEEN VIRUSES IN THE NEIGHBORING STATE THAT'S NOT THE BUBONIC PLAGUE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING CLOSE TO IT AND THE HANTAVIRUS.
GOD FORBID, A STAFF MEMBER, A CLASSIFIED, A TEACHER, WHOEVER, AND A CHILD CATCHES ONE OF THOSE DISEASES, ALL OF YOU ARE CULPABLE, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO DO MORE FOR THIS.
WE HAVE BEEN MONTHS NOW, AND I SHOULD NOT STILL BE SEEING CURRENT PICTURES OF RATS THAT HAVE GNAWED AND CHEWED UP THE FACILITY, THE COUCHES, AND TEACHERS HAVING TO CLEAN WITH THEIR OWN CLEANING SUPPLIES, RAT FECES, MICE FECES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY'RE AT ALL OF YOUR SCHOOLS.
[APPLAUSE] JUST LIKE THE POOR EDUCATION THAT YOU GUYS ARE GIVING THE KIDS, THIS INFESTATION HAS MULTIPLIED INTO ALL OF YOUR SCHOOLS, AND IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE NOT BLAMING CLASSIFIED, WE'RE NOT BLAMING THE JANITORS BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN DOING THEIR JOBS AND NOTIFYING THAT YOU GUYS HAD THIS PROBLEM.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, IT FELL ON DEAF EARS.
[APPLAUSE] YOU FORCE THESE PEOPLE TO BE WORKING IN THESE CONDITIONS AND HAVE OUR CHILDREN.
THERE'S A SCHOOL WHEN THEY SAY RED CRAYONS, THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CRAYONS.
WHEN THE TEACHERS SEE THEM, THEY NOTIFY THE WHOLE SCHOOL IS AWARE.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL CODE TO NOTIFY THAT THERE ARE RATS AROUND WHERE THE KIDS IN REAL TIME IN THE SCHOOL DAY.
YOU NEED TO DO YOUR JOB THAT YOU WERE ELECTED FOR.
>> NEXT UP, I HAVE CASS HAMMER.
>> GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEE, SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
OUR MEMBERS ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE OFFER OF 1.5%.
I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU A LIST OF PROBLEMS YOU CAN SOLVE WHEN YOU SHIFT YOUR BUDGET FOCUS FROM BLOATED DO POSITIONS TO INCREASING TEACHERS, INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS, AND SUBSTITUTES PAY.
NUMBER 1, HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS, INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS AND SUBSTITUTES WOULD LINE UP TO FILL AND STAY IN OUR YEAR LONG VACANCIES, SO STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO COUNT ON HAVING THEIR IEP MINUTES EVERY WEEK.
CLASSES WOULD NO LONGER NEED TO BE SPLIT WHEN A TEACHER IS ABSENT, ENDING THE LEARNING INTERRUPTIONS FOR CLASS AND THE WHOLE GRADE LEVEL.
TEACHERS WHO HAVE GROWN INTO EXCELLENT EDUCATORS
[01:20:02]
HERE WON'T BE DISTRICT SHOPPING AS THEIR CONFIDENCE GROWS.INCREDIBLE EDUCATORS HAVE NEEDED TO LEAVE SO THAT THEY COULD FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
IN SEVEN YEARS, I AM MORE THAN HALF WAY TO THE TOP OF THE SENIORITY LIST.
>> SEVEN YEARS. WE ARE LOSING EXPERIENCE AND VALUE TO OTHER DISTRICTS.
A STAFF THAT FEELS VALUED WILL NOT ONLY STAY IN NATOMAS, BUT WORK HARD AND HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE ABOUT IT.
IF WE COULD DO THIS, TEACHERS COULD QUIT THEIR ADDITIONAL JOBS AND HAVE MORE ENERGY FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
NATIONALLY, 17% OF TEACHERS WORK A SECOND JOB.
IN OUR DISTRICT, IT'S MORE THAN 50.
MORE THAN 50% OF TEACHERS DO A SECOND JOB.
I'M GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIME, BUT PLEASE LET THAT SINK IN.
AS YOU SIT ON THE HUGE AND UNNECESSARY RESERVE LIKE A DRAGON GUARDING THEIR HOARD.
YOU ARE MAKING OUR SITUATION HERE IN NATOMAS MUCH WORSE THAN IT NEEDS TO BE.
TRUST THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE ON HARD FINANCIAL TIMES.
YOU'RE SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY WHILE IT'S POURING.
[APPLAUSE] YOU ARE BLAMING US FOR THESE PROBLEMS, PRETENDING THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO WHILE YOU SIT ON THE SOLUTION.
AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE NOW LAYING DOWN THE PIPELINE FROM SCHOOLS TO PRISONS.
INVEST IN STUDENTS NOW SO WE CAN END IT.
OUR KIDS NEED READING SPECIALISTS, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, AND HAPPY TEACHERS, NOT PUNISHMENT. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. YOU'RE AT TIME. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP, I HAVE MS. SHARON THURMAN.
>> THIS ONE SAYS, WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, SO IT'S ACADEMICS.
>> FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING OUR SUPERINTENDENT TO ISSUE THE STATEMENT THAT THE READING NEEDS FOR OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.
THE READING OUTCOMES ARE NOT WHERE THEY SHOULD BE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS.
WHEN WE START WITH THE CONFESSION OF WHAT'S WRONG, WE CAN BEGIN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE'RE THERE.
WHAT WE WILL ASK OR WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT WE ALSO BE ACCOUNTABLE ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO THE PUBLIC FOR WHAT THOSE ADVANCES LOOK LIKE, IF POSSIBLE, AND BE SHOWN WHAT THE YEAR'S PLAN WILL BE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE THIRD THROUGH 12TH GRADERS.
ARE WE HIRING SPECIALISTS, PULLING KIDS OUT IN SMALL GROUPS BASED ON THEIR NEED? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM OF TUTORS COME IN AND INDIVIDUALLY WORK WITH THOSE THIRD THROUGH 12TH GRADERS.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH OUR DISTRICT IN BRINGING EXCELLENCE TO EDUCATION.
WHERE WE GO FROM HERE DEPENDS ON HOW DILIGENT WE ARE IN GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, NOT JUST HAVING GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT HAVING THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT WE WILL PROCEED.
I CAN'T BELIEVE, I GOT MY POINT ACROSS IN 35 SECONDS.
IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE ADMINISTRATORS, PERHAPS AN APOLOGY FROM THOSE ADMINISTRATORS WHO HAVE BEEN EGREGIOUS TO OTHERS WILL HELP US GET TO A GOOD PLACE.
>> MS. SHAMANN, YOU SHOULD HANG ON BECAUSE YOU'RE THE LAST PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
>> MORE GOOD NEWS REGARDING SAFETY.
YES, WE WILL HAVE CLOSED CAMPUSES, AND THAT IS A BENEFIT TO OUR TEACHERS, OUR STUDENTS.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING WITH THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT NATOMAS PARK ELEMENTARY, AND SHE MENTIONED THAT EVERY FRIDAY, THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOW PARENTS TO ACTUALLY COME IN AND ESCORT STUDENTS SO THAT THE PARENTS DON'T FEEL TOTALLY ISOLATED FROM THE SITUATION WHERE THEY HAD TOTAL FREEDOM.
THAT SHOULD HELP IMPROVE SAFETY FROM THE EXTERNAL POSITION.
NOW WE NEED TO IMPROVE SAFETY INTERNALLY.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP OUR CHILDREN NOT BEAT UP ON EACH OTHER? WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR CAMPUS A HAPPY CAMPUS, IN ORDER TO RESPECTFULLY FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF THEIR TEACHERS, ETC.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE BOARD FOR MAKING THAT REVISION IN THE SAFETY COMPONENT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING THERE TO BE NO USE OF CELL PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM.
IF I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS A NEW POLICY THAT SHOULD HELP OUR CHILDREN AND OUR TEACHERS FOCUS ON THE LEARNING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN.
[01:25:02]
AND WE WANT TO MENTION THOSE BECAUSE WE CAN GO FROM WHAT'S GOOD TO WHAT'S BETTER TO WHAT'S BEST.THE LAST THING I'LL ASK IS THAT WE LOOK AT OUR RATIO OF ADMINISTRATORS TO STAFF AT EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS TO BE SURE THAT IF OUR SCHOOL HAS 800 STUDENTS, WE HAVE A COMPARABLE, EFFECTIVE NUMBER OF SUPERVISING ADMINISTRATORS ON THOSE CAMPUSES, AS WELL AS THE RATIO OF TEACHERS TO STUDENTS.
YOU GOT ONE MORE. I'M SO SORRY. I'M NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE.
>> NO, I DIDN'T KNOW I'D BE THE LAST PERSON TO SPEAK.
>> ON SPED. WE KEEP HEARING THAT WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING, WE NEED MORE QUALIFIED SPED TEACHERS, AS WELL AS ASSISTANTS IN THE CLASSROOMS. WE NEED THE CLASSROOMS TO BE SAFE.
WE JUST NEED THE LEADERSHIP, AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR SUPERINTENDENT WHO TOOK THE TIME TO WALK WITH ME AFTER I INVITED HER, WHO COULD HAVE SAID, OH, NO, WHAT KIND OF LOOK IS THAT GOING TO BE ME WALKING WITH YOU IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR BOARD WHO IS OPEN TO HEARING FROM US.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BRING AN EXCELLENT LEVEL OF EDUCATION TO OUR CHILDREN. LET'S DO IT.
WE KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE ON BOARD.
WE KNOW WHO THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE.
AS THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM, LET'S JUST DO IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THAT IS ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT I HAVE.
WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:27. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.