>> ALL RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:15.
[I. OPEN SESSION]
[00:00:05]
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COULD YOU JUST HOLD FOR A SECOND.>> ALL RIGHT. 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, AND THE RECORDINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING TODAY 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
[V. CLOSED SESSION]
TO DISCUSS ONE ITEM OF CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR, DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION, A TOMAS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO ANY OF THE ITEMS IN CLOSED SESSION? NO. ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL RECONVENE OPEN SESSION AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45, OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE CONCLUSION OF CLOSED SESSION.
ALL RIGHT. WE ARE RECONVENING OPEN SESSION AT 5:45 P.M. HELEN, COULD YOU CALL THE ROLL?
[VI. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION]
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A QUORUM. ALL RIGHT.
RICK, WHY DON'T YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE?
>> ALL RIGHT. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION THIS EVENING.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, JUST REMINDER FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD BY LAW 9323, MEETING CONDUCT, INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETED PUBLIC COMMENT CARD PRIOR TO THE CONSIDERATION OF 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 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 THE MEETING, WE ASK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO REFRAIN FROM APPROACHING THE DESK 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 DESK AND ENTER IN THE AREA FOR AUDIENCE SEATING.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS THE AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION?
[X. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA]
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES 60. ALL RIGHT.
NEXT UP, WE DO HAVE A NEW STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.
[XI.a. Student Board Member - Analisa Leesha]
TONIGHT, OUR BOARD IS CELEBRATING THE SWEARING IN OF A NEW STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.I AM PROUD TO INTRODUCE AND WELCOME ANNALISA LISHA.
FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VIEW ON THIS MEETING, A STUDENT BOARD MEMBER PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE BY CASTING A PREFERENTIAL VOTE ON THIS BOARD.
THE PREFERENTIAL VOTE IS A SYMBOL OF STUDENT OPINION.
THIS YEAR, DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE 2025/2026 SCHOOL YEAR.
ANNALISA HAS BEEN A PART OF THE NATOMA CINIFIED COMMUNITY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HER HIGH SCHOOL YEARS.
SHE ATTENDED NATOMAS HIGH AND CURRENTLY ATTENDS DISCOVERY, WHERE SHE IS A SENIOR.
SHE IS EXCITED TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN HER SCHOOL AND THE DISTRICT THROUGH THIS ROLE, OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
SHE WORKS A PART TIME JOB, WHICH HAS HELPED HER DEVELOP A STRONG WORK ETHIC AND THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT.
WE'LL LET YOU OUT ON TIME, DON'T WORRY, SO YOU DON'T MISS UP YOUR HOMEWORK AND STUFF.
SHE IS THE OLDEST OF HER SIBLINGS AND OFTEN PROVIDES THEM WITH CARE AND SUPPORT.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, ANNALISA WANTS TO BECOME A LICENSED COSMETOLOGIST, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING IN HER AS OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.
ANNALISA'S TIME TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE.
SO PLEASE BRING YOUR PAPER AND JOIN ME AT THE FRONT. [APPLAUSE].
>> [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
SO REPEAT AFTER ME. I IN YOUR NAME.
>> DO SWALLOW SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.
>> DO SWALLOW SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
[00:05:01]
>> AND THE CONSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
>> AND THE CONSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
>> AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
>> AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
>> THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> AND THE CONSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
>> AND THE CONSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
>> THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY?
>> THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY?
>> WITHOUT ANY MEDICAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF [INAUDIBLE].
>> WITHOUT ANY MEDICAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF [INAUDIBLE].
>> AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FATALLY DISCHARGE.
>> AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FATALLY DISCHARGE.
>> THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I WILL [INAUDIBLE].
>> THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I WILL [INAUDIBLE].
>> CONGRATULATIONS AS YOUR STUDENT TRUSTEE? [APPLAUSE].
>> [INAUDIBLE] . >> CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT. CONGRATS AGAIN. ALL RIGHT.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE CELEBRATIONS.
[XII.a. Spring 2025 Athletics Recognition]
WE ARE VERY PROUD TO INTRODUCE AND RECOGNIZE ONE SWIM ATHLETE AND SIX INTERCOM HIGH SCHOOL TRACKING.MAN, THIS IS SUCH A GREAT NIGHT, TRACK AND FIELD.
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] SIX INTERCOM HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES.
ALL SEVEN OF THESE ATHLETES QUALIFY FOR THE CIF STATE MEET IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORT.
IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, THAT IS THE TOUGHEST THING IN THE WORLD TO DO.
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, DAVID RODRIGUEZ, WILL INTRODUCE OUR ATHLETES AND COACHES.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT GRANT, SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO, TRUSTEES, CABINET, MEMBERS.
I AM HONORED TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE COACHES AND ATHLETES FROM THE INTERCOM TRACK AND FIELD SQUAD TEAMS. AT THIS TIME, TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO PLEASE JOIN US IN THE FRONT OF THE DIAS AS WE RECOGNIZE THESE STUDENTS.
LET ME INTRODUCE. I ALSO INTRODUCE PRINCIPAL SCOTT PITTS, WHO IS HERE, SUZANNE BAKER, OUR DISTRICT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, AND THEN JUSTIN REIBER, THE SCHOOL INTERCOM HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, PLEASE JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE OUR STUDENT ATHLETES.
AT THIS TIME, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO SWIM COACH, JESSICA VIA RUEL.
HAVE HER COME ON IN TO ENTER THE BOARD ROOM.
HOW YOU DOING THIS EVENING? FIRST, LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THIS HERE. THERE WE GO.
[APPLAUSE] WE LIKE TO RECOGNIZE GRADUATE MICHAEL ROMERO AND SWIMMING.
MICHAEL ADVANCED TO THE DIVISION ONE SECTION FINAL, THEN QUALIFIED FOR THE CIF STATE SWIM MEET IN THE 100 BACKSTROKE.
MICHAEL CANNOT BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT JESSICA COACH RUEL IS HERE ACCEPTING THE AWARD ON HIS BEHALF.
SO THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. [APPLAUSE]
[00:10:07]
>> JEFF. JEFF, LET'S TAKE THE PICTURES AT THE END.
>> PICTURES AFTER. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
NOW I'M HONORED TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THE COACHES AND ATHLETES FROM THE INTERCOM TRACK TEAM.
SIX ATHLETES ADVANCED TO THE CIF TRACK MEET.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE COACH JOHN KNOWLES AND HIS STAFF TO ENTER THE BOARD ROOM AND JOIN ME HERE.
THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.
FIRST UP, GRADUATE JASMINE WILLIAMS. COME ON HERE. [APPLAUSE] JASMINE. ALL RIGHT.
JASMINE WAS THE CVS LEAGUE CHAMPION IN THE 100 AND 200.
THE DIVISION TWO SECTION CHAMPION IN THE 100 AND WAS A CIF STATE MEET QUALIFIER.
JASMINE SIGNED THIS PAST SPRING TO RUN AT CAL STATE, FULLERTON AND LEAVES TOMORROW TO START HER COLLEGIATE JOURNEY.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, COACH. APPRECIATE THAT.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE BOYS, FOUR BY 100 TEAM.
CURRENT SENIOR, JOSIAH AMY, SOPHOMORE, JEREMIAH PAYNE, JUNIORS JADEN COREY, AND BROTHER JORDAN COREY. COME ON IN.
[APPLAUSE] THEY WERE THE CVC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS, THE DIVISION II SECTION CHAMPIONS IN THE FOUR BY 100, AND WERE THE CIF STATE MEET QUALIFIERS.
PLEASE, LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE JOSIAH ONE MORE TIME BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS HE PART OF THE FOUR BY 100.
JOSIAH WAS ALSO THE LEAGUE CHAMP IN TWO OTHER EVENTS BESIDES THE FOUR BY 100.
HE WAS THE LEAGUE CHAMP IN THE 100 AND THE 110 HIGH HURDLES.
HE WAS A DIVISION II SECTION CHAMPION IN THE SAME THREE EVENTS.
HE WAS THE CIF MASTERS CHAMPION IN THE 110 HURDLES.
HE THEN MADE IT TO THE CIF STATE FINALS IN THE 110 HURDLES, AND WAS A CIF PLACER COMING IN EIGHTH PLACE IN ALL OF THE STATE.
LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] OUR LAST STUDENT ATHLETE THAT WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AS SENIOR JADEN GOODMAN.
COME ON HERE, JADEN. [APPLAUSE] WOW.
[LAUGHTER] JADEN IS A HIGH JUMPER WHO PLAYED SECOND IN LEAGUE IN SECOND IN SECTIONS, BUT THEN PROCEEDED TO BECOME A CIF MASTER CHAMPION.
HE ADVANCED TO THE CIF STATE MEET, MADE IT TO THE FINAL ROUND AND CAME IN SECOND PLACE IN THE ENTIRE STATE.
[APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] GIVE IT UP.
ALL RIGHT. SO BEFORE WE TAKE A PICTURE, WE GOT THE BEST PART ABOUT ALL THIS IS THAT JADEN AND JOSIAH, JEREMIAH, AND THE COREY BROTHERS ARE ALL RETURNING, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THIS YEAR.
SO LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] IT'S ALL COME UP AND WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE. [INAUDIBLE]
>> ALL RIGHT. HOW COOL IS THAT?
[00:15:26]
WOW. SOME REAL TALENT. ALL RIGHT.NEXT UP, WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS.
LET'S START WITH OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.
READY TO GO? WE CAN TAKE A LAP THE OTHER WAY.
LET'S START WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS, TRUSTEE MAURA.
[XIII.b. Board Members]
WELL, WE CAN HYPE YOU UP BEFORE YOU START YOUR REPORT.
I THINK I WILL BE THE FIRST OF MANY UP HERE TO SAY, WELCOME, INDIVIDUALLY FROM MYSELF, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE YOU JOIN US FOR ALL OF OUR MEETINGS OR AS MANY AS YOU CAN ATTEND AS WELL.
THEN ALSO A BIG CONGRATS TO ALL OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES.
I THINK IT'S NICE TO HEAR OF ALL OF THE REGARDLESS OF THE PLACEMENTS, JUST ALL THE EFFORT THAT THEY PUT INTO WHAT THEY LOVE TO DO.
I JUST HAVE TWO THINGS TO SHARE AS PART OF MY REPORT AT TODAY'S MEETING.
THE FIRST IS IN THE SPIRIT OF CELEBRATING A RETURN TO SCHOOLS.
I HAD A CHANCE TO STOP BY THE TWO RIVERS ELEMENTARY.
WELCOME BACK FOR THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS, AND I HAD A LOT OF REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, WHENEVER THERE'S A ICE, I CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE THERE, AND SO CAN ALL OF OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TURNOUT.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE SCHOOL SITE STAFF FOR A REALLY GOOD EVENT TO ORIENT PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE FELT READY FOR THE FIRST DAY.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION IS I HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AT TWO OF OUR SCHOOL SITES.
I WENT TO AMERICAN LAKE SCHOOL, WHERE ELECTRIC EAGLE, WHICH IS THE MASCOT, WAS DANCING AND DOING THEIR THING.
I WILL SAY SINCE THEY COULDN'T QUITE GET THE MUSIC TO WORK, I ENDED UP [INAUDIBLE].
BUT THEN WHEN I WENT TO NATOMAS HIGH SCHOOL, THEY HAD THE FULL ON DJ, SO NO ONE HAD TO SUFFER THE SAME FATE.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE A RETURN TO THE CAMPUS, SEE THE CAMPUS IS LIVELY.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT WILL LIE AHEAD.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO CONCLUDE MY BOARD REPORT. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE MAURA. TRUSTEE HARDEN.
>> WELCOME. IT'S GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLE YEAR, AND WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING US AS WE GOT A CHANCE TO CHOOSE YOU.
I'VE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOU.
AS I TOLD YOU WHEN WE HAD A CHANCE TO CHAT, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL YOU'RE GOING TO BRING.
I TOO HAD A CHANCE TO GET OUT TO SCHOOLS ON THE FIRST DAY.
>> THANK YOU ALL TO ALL THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN PUT INTO IT AND I'M EXCITED.
I HAD A CHANCE TO GET OUT TO INTERCOM.
I HAD A CHANCE TO GET OUT TO NATOMAS HIGH AND I HAD A CHANCE THIS WEEK TO GET OUT TO DISCOVERY SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
I HEAR ALL OF THE GREAT EMAILS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD, AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING MUCH TO SAY, BUT I HEAR YOU ALL.
I WAS NOT AT THE LAST MEETING. I WATCHED IT.
IT WAS INTERESTING AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT FROM MARTIN LUTHER KING, LIFE'S MOST PERSISTENT AND URGENT QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR OTHERS? WELL, I'M HAPPY TO SAY I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING FOR OTHERS, AND THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.
DID ALL THE COMMENTS FROM TRUSTEE MAURA WELCOME TO THE BOARD. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
STUDENT VOICE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I CAN'T THINK OF SOMEONE BETTER TO REPRESENT THAT VOICE SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME SITE VISITS.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO NTA PRESIDENT NICO.
WE HAVE HAD SOME PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, INCLUDING SOME SITE VISITS.
WE'RE HERE AT YOUR SERVICE. TRUSTEE DOSICK.
>> LIKEWISE, I HAD A CHANCE TO GO OUT AND SEE SOME CAMPUSES.
THEY'RE LOOKING GREAT THIS YEAR.
OBVIOUSLY, EVERY START OF THE YEAR HAS IT'S HICCUPS AND WHATNOT, BUT I'VE SEEN WHICH STAFF, EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE'S BE COMING TOGETHER TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE THINGS FORWARD SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, WELCOME BACK.
IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR.
TO ANNALISA, WELCOME TO THE BOARD.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING THE NEXT YEAR WITH YOU.
[00:20:01]
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE CAN'T WAIT TO GIVE YOU A DIPLOMA NEXT SPRING.>> THANK YOU TRUSTEE DOSICK. TRUSTEE MEHTA.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ANNALISA AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE ATHLETES.
IT'S SUCH A PROUD MOMENT FOR ALL OF US.
LIKE EVERY TRUSTEE, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITTER AND PASSODA, AND IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THAT YOU COULD NOT FEEL THAT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF THE SCHOOL.
THE STUDENTS WERE HAPPY, EVERYTHING WAS UNDER CONTROL.
THANK YOU TO THE DISTRICT, TO THE TEACHERS, TO THE PRINCIPALS, AND ESPECIALLY TO THE SCHOOL SECRETARIES, BECAUSE THE FIRST DAY AND THE SECOND DAY, THERE ARE SO MANY PARENTS AND THEY WERE ALL CHEERFUL AND ASK LISTENING TO ALL THESE PARENTS.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT TO MONIQUE AT WITTER RANCH.
SHE WAS HELPING ONE OF THE FAMILIES WHO COULD NOT SPEAK IN ENGLISH AND THE WAY SHE ENROLLED AND ANSWERED ALL THEIR QUESTIONS WITH SO MUCH OF PATIENCE, HATS OFF TO HER.
BIG SHOUT TO THEM. THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR THE SUCCESSFUL FIRST FIVE DAYS OR ONE WEEK OF SCHOOL NOW. THANK YOU.
READY? ARE YOU. GO TO OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR BEING SO NICE TO ME AND BEING SO WELCOMING.
I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE ATHLETES.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND I HOPE WE ALL HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
[XIII.c. Superintendent]
>> THANK YOU AND WELCOME ANNALISA.
I GOT TO MEET WITH HER LAST WEEK, AND IT WAS GREAT TO SIT AND CHAT AND TALK, AND SHE REALLY KNOWS WHERE SHE WANTS TO GO AND WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO AND IS EXCITED ABOUT THIS ROLE, AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
IT WAS SO MUCH FUN TO CELEBRATE WITH OUR ATHLETES AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT THEY WERE DOING.
I GOT TO ATTEND THE STATE TRACK MEET AND I REMEMBER WITH JADEN, THE HIGH JUMP WAS ONE OF THE LAST EVENTS THAT WAS STILL GOING.
AT 10:00 AT NIGHT IN 90 DEGREE HEAT, WE FOUND OUT THAT HE GOT SECOND PLACE, AND SO IT WAS SO FUN TO BE THERE AND TO BE CELEBRATING WITH OUR STUDENTS.
I WAS INVITED TO SPEAK AT OUR NEW TO NUSD, AND SO I HAD A LOT OF FUN TALKING TO OUR NEW EDUCATORS COMING ON BOARD.
I WENT OLD SCHOOL WITH THE RON CLARK BOOK OF THE EXCELLENT 11 AND TALKED ABOUT THE 11 QUALITIES OF EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATORS, AND HOW I REALLY APPRECIATE SEEING THAT IN ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS HERE IN NATOMAS UNIFIED, TALKED ABOUT EDUCATORS AS ROLE MODELS AND REALLY SEEING THE INHERENT VALUE IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS.
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, I WENT OUT TO NATOMAS PARK AND INTERCOM.
I WAS REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF AT INTERCOM BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO HELP SOME STUDENTS FIND WHERE THEY WERE GOING.
A COUPLE STUMPED ME, BUT I KNEW WHO TO GO TO FOR HELP.
THEN THE NEXT DAY, I GOT OUT TO AMERICAN LAKES AND NATOMAS HIGH, AND JUST GREAT TO SEE KIDS IN CLASSROOMS AND TO SEE OUR STAFF BACK AND SO EXCITED TO BE WELCOMING OUR STUDENTS.
THIS WEEK, WE STARTED WITH NEW DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCEDURES.
I KNOW THIS WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING FOR OUR TEACHERS AND FOR MANY OF OUR PARENTS AND OUR STAFF TO REALLY FEEL THAT LEVEL OF SAFETY ON OUR CAMPUSES.
WE DEFINITELY WANT OUR PARENTS TO BE PART OF THEIR STUDENTS EDUCATION AND PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO BE ON THE CAMPUS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO KNOW WHO IS ON OUR CAMPUSES FOR SAFETY REASONS.
WE APPRECIATE THE STUDENTS COMING THROUGH THE GATE AND PARENTS WHO COME ON CAMPUS ENTERING THROUGH THE OFFICE, SO WE'RE AWARE OF WHO'S ON OUR CAMPUS.
IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOMETIMES IF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY NEED SOMETHING, THAT MAYBE THEY'RE AFRAID TO ASK.
I WANT TO FORMALLY SAY TO OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF, IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED, PLEASE ASK.
WE WANT OUR TEACHERS TO HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
WE WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE THE WORK ORDER SYSTEM.
IF YOU NEED SUPPLIES, YOU NEED BOOKS, YOU NEED SOMETHING FIXED, CCS IS ALWAYS THERE.
NOBODY'S GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE FOR CALLING CCS.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO MAKE THOSE CALLS AND HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
I AM OFFICIALLY SAYING, PLEASE CALL IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
TODAY, I GOT TO GO OUT TO SKOE WITH SOME OTHER SACRAMENTO COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS AND MEET WITH CONGRESSMAN AMY BERRA.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAY BE COMING DOWN IN THE FEDERAL LANDSCAPE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE HIM REACHING OUT TO SUPERINTENDENTS TO ASK US HOW POTENTIAL CUTS, POTENTIAL PROGRAM ISSUES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD AFFECT US AND SCHOOL SITES.
I APPRECIATED THAT CONVERSATION.
OUR BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS ARE STARTING TOMORROW AND GOING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 4TH,
[00:25:02]
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING OUT AND REALLY ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO GO AND HEAR ABOUT WHAT THEIR STUDENTS WILL BE LEARNING THIS YEAR.THEN I ALSO HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.
I'VE SPOKEN TO TRUSTEES A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, BUT WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT A SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM REVIEW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN THE DISTRICT.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT THERE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME AREAS THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THAT WE COULD USE SOME IMPROVEMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO BE CONTRACTING WITH ASCENDAS SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED, WHICH IS CERTIFIED THROUGH THE STATE WITH DR. MILDRED BROWN TO COME IN AND TO LOOK AT OUR PROGRAMS IN NATOMAS UNIFIED.
PART OF THE PROPOSAL IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO COME IN AND REVIEW AND HELP US DESIGN A SPECIAL EDUCATION MAP, AND BLUEPRINT OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL HELP IMPROVE PROGRAM QUALITY, INCREASED STUDENT PROGRESS, AND PARENT SATISFACTION AND ENGAGEMENT.
THE REVIEW PROCESS WILL INCLUDE A TEAM OF CONSULTANTS WHO WILL COMPLETE WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH DISTRICT STAFF MEMBERS.
TEAMS WILL GATHER DATA FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES, ANALYZE THE DATA, COMPLETE A REPORT OF FINDINGS, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THERE WILL BOTH BE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA GATHERED AS PART OF THE REVIEW.
THE PURPOSE IS TO ANSWER KEY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEVEL OF PROGRAM SUPPORT THAT CURRENTLY EXIST IN THE DISTRICT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT.
I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE WE WANT TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN IN THE DISTRICT, AND WE'RE NOT AFRAID TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND LOOK AT EVEN AREAS WHERE WE'RE DOING WELL AND AREAS WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE.
PART OF THAT WOULD ENTAIL SOME DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.
THE FIRST PART WOULD BE IN A DATA ANALYSIS OF GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION DATA.
LOOKING AT OUR ENROLLMENT, OUR DEMOGRAPHICS, OUR CALIFORNIA DASHBOARD DATA, LOOKING AT OUR 504 DATA, WHAT IS OUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND LOOKING AT OUR SST DATA AND PROCESS.
THERE WOULD ALSO BE AN IEP FILE REVIEW AND CASE STUDY.
LOOKING AT OUR FILES AND WHAT OUR QUALIFICATIONS ARE, WHAT OUR QUALIFICATION PROCESSES AND BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DATA IN THE CASE FILES TO LOOK FOR TRENDS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
OUR PART 3 WOULD BE TO LOOK AT OUR COMPLAINTS, OUR ALTERNATIVE DISTRIBUTE RESOLUTION, AND DUE PROCESS, SO THAT ARE WE LOOKING AT COMPLIANCE COMPLAINTS AND RESOLUTIONS? HOW ARE WE TRAINING OUR PARENTS AND STAFF ON THESE PROCESSES? HOW ARE WE DOING ON FACILITATED IEP MEETINGS AND OUTCOMES AND WHAT DO OUR DUE PROCESS FILINGS AND RESOLUTIONS LOOK LIKE? NOT. [APPLAUSE] SORRY, NOT QUITE FINISHED.
SORRY. I'M TRYING TO ADVANCE THIS SLIDE.
THEN ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS TO INVOLVE ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
ASCENDAS SOLUTIONS WOULD BE INTERVIEWING FOCUS GROUPS TO GET INPUT FROM OUR CAC, OUR PARENTS, LEADERSHIP GROUP, SPECIAL EDUCATION, OUR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPISTS, OTHER SUPPORT PROVIDERS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS, OUR STUDENTS THEMSELVES.
THERE MAY BE OTHER GROUPS AS WELL.
BUT TO REALLY GET THAT FEEDBACK OF HOW PEOPLE ARE FEELING AND AREAS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVEMENT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO.
WE'RE WORKING ON APPROVING A CONTRACT SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN A STUDY THIS FALL.
AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, AGAIN, OR AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM REVIEW, WE WOULD HAVE A REPORT ON ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS, AS WELL AS A ROADMAP FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS IN NATOMAS UNIFIED.
THAT IS MY REPORT FOR THIS EVENING.
>> I THINK THAT MEANS THAT WAS A GREAT REPORT.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE OUR START OF SCHOOLS PRESENTATION, BUT [INAUDIBLE] PARDON?
>> [INAUDIBLE] >> THANK YOU. IT WAS JUST CHIDED BY TRUSTEE DOSICK FOR BEING OUT OF ORDER.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY HAVE OUR CONSENT ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION?
[XIV. CONSENT ITEMS]
HELEN, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
NOW, WE HAVE OUR START OF SCHOOLS PRESENTATION.
[XV.a. Start of Schools Presentation 2025-2026 Part II]
I DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM.DOUG, SO LIKE TO GET THROUGH THOSE FIRST WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[00:30:02]
FIRST, I HAVE JEN SUSA.VERY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE YOUTH EXCELLENCE AND CELEBRATIONS.
BUT AS FAR AS THE START OF SCHOOLS GO, WE JUST GOT SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS, BUT I ALSO THINK WE STILL NEED AN HONEST ACCOUNTING OF OUR VACANCIES AND HAVING PROPERLY CREDENTIAL TEACHERS IN EVERY CLASSROOM WITHIN THE WILLIAMS MANDATED 20 DAY LIMIT.
SCHOOLS LIKE HERNE AND PVS HAVE HAD SUB TEACHERS IN SDC FOR YEARS.
THAT'S NOT A STRONG START TO ANY SCHOOL YEAR AND IT'S NOT COMPLIANT WITH CALIFORNIA LAW, WHICH REQUIRES SAFE CLEAN FACILITIES AND PROPERLY ASSIGNED TEACHERS FOR EVERY STUDENT EVERY DAY.
IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT EQUITY, WE CANNOT ALLOW ANOTHER YEAR WHERE THESE BASIC LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ARE TREATED AS OPTIONAL.
A CLEAN CLASSROOM AND A QUALIFIED TEACHER ARE NOT LUXURIES.
I'M ASKING THE BOARD TONIGHT TO COMMIT ON THE RECORD TO ALL CLASSROOMS WITH A PROPERLY CREDENTIALED TEACHER WITHIN THE 20 DAY LIMIT AND NOT A PROGRAM LIKE APEX OR SUBJECT.COM.
AN IMMEDIATE REMEDIATION OF ANY FACILITY HAZARDS WITH PERIODIC AND REGULAR FOLLOW UP AS INFESTATIONS OF RATS AND MICE ARE NOT A ONCE AND DONE TREATMENT, AND A PUBLIC REPORTING ON COMPLIANCE WITH WILLIAMS STANDARDS FOR EVERY SITE.
FAMILIES DESERVE MORE THAN A SLIDE SHOW.
THEY DESERVE PROOF THAT THE DISTRICT IS MEETING ITS LEGAL OBLIGATIONS AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP, I HAVE CHRISTY WEBBER.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THERE WE GO. I'D LIKE YOU TO KNOW HOW THE START OF THE YEAR IS GOING FOR SOME PARENTS.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE DECISION TO CLOSE CAMPUSES TO PARENTS DURING DROP OFF AND PICKUP.
AS A PARENT, I ABSOLUTELY SHARE THE PRIORITY OF KEEPING OUR SCHOOL SAFE.
BUT WHAT'S CONCERNING IS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND INCLUSION IN HOW THIS DECISION WAS MADE.
IT FEELS AS THOUGH FAMILIES WERE NOT INVITED TO THE PROCESS.
THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION ABOUT WHAT PROMPTED THIS SHIFT, NO OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS, AND NO EXPLANATION OF HOW THE DECISION SUPPORTS BOTH SAFETY AND COMMUNITY.
WHEN CHANGES OF THIS MAGNITUDE ARE MADE WITHOUT CONTEXT, IT LEAVES PARENTS FEELING SHUT OUT OF THE VERY SCHOOLS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PARTNERS WITH.
WHEN I APPROACHED MY SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATOR, I WAS TOLD, IT'S IN THE HANDBOOK.
SIGN OUT ON THE 30TH FROM DIDRA.
IT'S AN ED CODE WITH NO CONCRETE WRITTEN POLICY OR REFERENCE.
WELL, IT'S NOT. IT'S A LINK ON THE PAGE OF A WEBSITE IN THE DISTRICT.
AS I SPOKE WITH TRUSTEE MAURA, AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH TRUSTEE GRANT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
IT'S A PRACTICE. LET'S GET OUR LANGUAGE CONSISTENT.
WITH SAFETY BEING THE REASON, THEN PLEASE HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED THAT LED TO THIS CHANGE.
SORRY. WERE THERE SPECIFIC INCIDENTS OR CONCERNS RAISED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT STAFF OR THE DISTRICT? SHARING THAT INFORMATION DOESN'T JUST SUPPORT THE DECISION.
IT HELPS PARENTS FEEL PART OF THE SOLUTION.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE LEFT GUESSING, AND THAT ERODES TRUST INSTEAD OF BUILDING IT.
I URGE THE BOARD TO DO THREE THINGS.
COMMUNICATE OPENLY WITH PARENTS ABOUT THE FACTORS THAT LED TO THIS DECISION.
TELL THE STORY, EVEN IF IT'S NOT PLEASANT.
CREATE A PROCESS FOR FAMILY INPUT AND POLICIES THAT IMPACT PARENT ACCESS TO ENGAGEMENT AND REVISIT THIS PRACTICE WITH TRANSPARENCY SO FAMILIES FEEL INCLUDED.
SHORTENED IT CAUSE I RUN OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. EXCEPT I HAVE SHARON THURMAN.
>> GOOD EVENING TO OUR BOARD, OUR SUPERINTENDENT, TO ALL OF US WHO ARE HERE THIS EVENING AND TO THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING.
YES, MY NAME IS SHARON THURMAN, AND I'M A GRANDMOTHER.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SITTING WITH ANOTHER GRANDMOTHER ON TUESDAY EVENING, AND SHE HAD SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT HER GRANDSON HAD.
I ALSO WANTED TO ASK US ABOUT OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE FREEDOM SCHOOLS, SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE LEAP.
WONDERING HOW MANY FOLKS ARE ON THE WAITING LIST, AND WHAT WE CAN DO NEXT YEAR TO REDUCE THAT.
RECEIVED A WONDERFUL SET OF ANSWERS FROM MS. LISETTE MAHARIS WHO OVERSEES THE PROGRAM.
[00:35:03]
I WANTED TO THANK HER PUBLICLY.BUT AGAIN, FOR NEXT YEAR, IF WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF WORKING PARENTS, CHILDREN WHO HAVE TO BE ON THE WAITING LIST, THAT WOULD BE IDEAL.
BACK TO THE GRANDMOTHER WHO SHARED HER CONCERN.
MAYBE I'LL BE BRINGING A REPORT FROM THE GRANDMOTHERS.
THIS HAPPENED AT HARRAN SCHOOL.
HE'S A TK LITTLE GUY, AND SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT WAS KIND OF TRAUMATIC FOR HIM.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS GLITCHES WHEREVER HUMAN BEINGS ARE INVOLVED.
BUT WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT OUR TK STUDENTS DON'T EXPERIENCE THE TRAUMA BEING LOST WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
I HAVE THIS PERSONAL THEORY THAT WHEN ALL OF THE IMPORTANT CHILDREN, IMPORTANT ADULTS IN A CHILD'S LIFE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, WE WILL SUCCEED.
FROM WHAT I HEARD THIS EVENING, WE ARE GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE, AND THAT WILL FAREWELL FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR TEACHERS, ALL OF OUR STAFF SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, I HAVE JOANNA DAVIS.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOANNA DAVIS, AND I AM THE PARENT OF A FIFTH GRADER AND A TCARE.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO SHARE ABOUT THE START OF SCHOOL AND THE NEWS CLOSED CAMPUS POLICY THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR.
FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE, BEING PRESENT AT THOSE TIMES ISN'T ABOUT CONVENIENCE.
IT'S ABOUT SAFETY, TRUST, AND CONNECTION.
THIS DECISION WAS MADE WITHOUT PARENT INPUT, WITHOUT A BOARD VOTE, AND WITHOUT CLEAR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT INCIDENTS LED TO THIS.
INSTEAD OF INCREASING CONFIDENCE, IT HAS CREATED FRUSTRATION AND FEAR.
FOR OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY, BEING WALKED IN BY A PARENT IS PART OF EASING THE TRANSITION INTO SCHOOL.
TAKING THAT AWAY MAKES SCHOOL FEEL LESS WELCOMING FOR CHILDREN AND FOR PARENTS.
IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO INTENDS TO HARM, BANNING PARENTS DOESN'T STOP THEM, BUT IT DOES TAKE AWAY THE EXTRA EYES AND COMMUNITY PRESENCE THAT RESEARCH SHOWS MAKES SCHOOLS SAFER.
THIS IS WHY I STARTED A PETITION, URGING THE DISTRICT TO REVISIT THIS POLICY AND INVOLVE PARENTS IN THIS PROCESS.
IN SEVEN DAYS, IT HAS ALREADY GAINED OVER 330 SIGNATURES FROM FAMILIES ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS SHOWS HOW DEEPLY PARENTS CARE AND HOW MANY OF US WANT TO BE PARTNERS IN THESE SOLUTIONS.
I ASK THE BOARD TO PAUSE THIS POLICY, BRING PARENTS INTO THIS DISCUSSION, AND ENSURE DECISIONS ABOUT SAFETY ARE ROOTED IN BEST PRACTICES AND COLLABORATION.
TRUE SCHOOL SAFETY COMES FROM PARTNERSHIP,
NOT EXCLUSION. THANK YOU. >> [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY I SEE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> I SUBMITTED I HAVE A CARD THAT I GAVE.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR UP HERE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING UP HERE.
IS THERE ANYTHING OVER THERE ON THE SIDE OF TODAY?
>> FACTS. YOU PROBABLY HAVE IT TOWARDS PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END? GOT YOU. MAKE SURE YOU NOT MISS.
>> PRESIDENT GRANT, TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO.
STAFF AND PARENTS. HAPPY TO BE BACK.
PART ONE WAS AT THE LATE JULY BOARD MEETING.
I WON'T BE SHOWING YOU ALL THE SAME PICTURES FROM THE FIRST ONE.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THAT TIME AND GIVE YOU UPDATES ON THINGS LIKE STAFFING AS WELL AS ENROLLMENT.
ALSO HEALTH UPDATES AND A FEW UPDATES ON SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES.
I LIKE TO START WITH FIRST DAY MOMENTS SINCE WE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, BUT ALL OF US WERE EVERYWHERE COLLECTIVELY.
WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES OUT THERE.
A LOT OF PARENTS ACTUALLY SUBMITTED PICTURES AS WELL.
IT WAS GREAT. JUST SCROLL THROUGH SOME OF THESE.
GOT THE FREE SUN. KIDS COOKING ON THE FIRST DAY IN THE CULINARY.
[00:40:06]
SOME OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. THEN I WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND AND POINT THIS OUT.THIS IS DANIEL GINZKIS CLASS OVER AT HARRAN SCHOOL.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MODEL CLASSROOMS THAT WE HAVE THAT'S BEING SET UP IN THE DISTRICT. THERE'S A FEW OF THESE.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE EMPHASIS ON OUR EARLY LEARNING AND OUR THIRD TO 12TH GRADE READING INITIATIVES.
A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE GOING TO GET TO VISIT THAT AND EXPERIENCE SOME LESSONS AND THINGS IN THERE.
ENROLLMENT UPDATE, AS I SAID BEFORE, IN TOTAL, WE WILL SERVE SOMEWHERE 17500-18,000 STUDENTS TOTAL IN NATOMAS UNIFIED.
THAT'S ALL OF OUR NATOMAS COMMUNITY STUDENTS.
HOWEVER, FOR THE STUDENTS IN OUR DEPENDENT SCHOOLS, BACK IN FEBRUARY, WE THOUGHT WE'D BE PROBABLY SITTING AROUND OVER 11,000 AS OF YESTERDAY.
YOU CAN SEE THERE, WE'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THAT.
SINCE THAT TIME, THAT NUMBER HAS ALREADY CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES.
AS WE'VE IDENTIFIED STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT SHOWN UP, AND AS MORE STUDENTS CONTINUE TO COME IN EVERY DAY TO ENROLL, AND OUR STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING LATE INTO THE NIGHT, LOTS OF HOURS TO GET EVERYBODY IN AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
A LOT OF TIMES IT JUST TAKES A LOT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK THAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO COME BACK AND FORTH.
FORTUNATELY, THE WELCOME CENTER HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH A LOT OF THAT, AND IT'S BEEN A BIG HELP.
I THINK WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, AS WE GET TO SEA BEDS, WHICH IS OUR CENSUS DAY IN OCTOBER, WE'RE GOING TO BE UP AND SHOWING GROWTH FOR THIS YEAR.
THE REASON I'M FOCUSING ON TK IS THAT THIS WAS THE LAST YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY EXPANSION FOR TK.
THEY ADDED THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF ELIGIBILITY.
NOW ALL FOUR YEAR OLDS, IF YOU'RE FOUR BY SEPTEMBER 1ST, YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR TK.
WITH THAT, NOW THAT IT'S LIKE A DEFINITE YEAR, THE EXCEPTIONS CHANGE A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT AS FAR AS LIKE APPEALS AND THINGS.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY GROWN ABOUT 150 STUDENTS OVER WHAT WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE.
WE HAD A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE PROJECTION AFTER A FEW YEARS OF SLIGHTLY LESS THAN PROJECTED GROWTH.
EVEN OUR THIRD PARTY CONSULTANTS PROJECTION DIDN'T MEET THIS.
BUT IT'S BALANCING OUT A LITTLE BIT WITH KINDERGARTEN.
WITH THAT, ANY CLASS SIZES OVER 20, WE'RE NOW WORKING TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL AID.
SOME OF THAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST DAYS RIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED.
WE'VE POSTED POSITIONS TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL AID TO ANY CLASS THAT'S OVER 20, AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT AS NUMBERS FLUCTUATE.
SOME OF THOSE CLASSES WHERE WE'VE WORKED TO ADD AIDS HAVE NOW ACTUALLY DROPPED BACK BELOW 20, SO WE'RE SHUFFLING TO TRY TO KEEP THINGS UP IN THESE FIRST DAYS.
THAT IS NOW A CALIFORNIA LAW THOUGH WITH A TEN TO ONE RATIO.
THAT WAS A CHANGE FOR THIS YEAR.
A LOT OF ATTENDANCE EFFORTS OUT THERE, TEACHERS, STAFF, EVERYBODY OUT THERE TRYING TO TAKE REALLY GOOD ATTENDANCE, HELP US TO GET A REALLY GOOD HANDLE ON OUR NUMBERS AND MAKING THOSE CALLS AT 9:00 AM WHEN A STUDENT IS NOT PRESENT, BOTH FOR SAFETY AND JUST FOR REMINDING EVERYBODY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE START OF SCHOOL.
THAT NUMBER THAT I GIVE YOU LAST TIME OF 24 STUDENTS HAS NOW GROWN TO 25 WITH THE EXEMPTIONS.
THERE ARE 20 STUDENTS REMAINING THAT ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM TO HELP THEM GET ALL THEIR SHOTS.
THAT'S A VERY LOW NUMBER COMPARED TO PAST YEARS.
THAT'S DUE TO THE HARD WORK OF OUR NURSES AND ALL THE STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HELP WITH THE CLINIC.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM ALL THE STAFF THAT'S HERE TONIGHT.
ANTHONY AND MARIAM AND LOUIS AND THEIR TEAMS HAVE BEEN AMAZING TO HELP GET EVERYTHING OFF THE GROUND SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF.
THESE YOU SAW BEFORE IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, BUT WE WANTED TO INCLUDE THEM BECAUSE THESE ARE PUBLIC DOCUMENTS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS ALL THE DIFFERENT THESE AREN'T EVEN ALL OF THEM, BUT JUST MANY OF THE SUPPORTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR STUDENTS.
AS ALWAYS ON THE WEBSITE, THERE IS A 24 HOUR LINE THAT CAN BE CALLED IF ANYBODY IS EXPERIENCING ANY SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO.
THERE'S A HOT-LINE, THERE'S LOTS OF SUPPORT THAT CAN BE HAPPENED AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY, OR IF SOMEBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER STUDENT, ESPECIALLY AS WE RETURN TO SCHOOL.
STRESS CAN PICK UP, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS IN AP CLASSES OR WHO KNOWS WHAT? BUT IT'S THERE. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE SUPPORTS, AND SO JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT.
WE HAVE LOTS OF TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL THAT THE BOARD IS AUTHORIZED TO HELP US IDENTIFY WHEN STUDENTS MAY BE EXPERIENCING SOME OF THOSE SIGNS.
INCLUDING OUR STAFF DOING TRAININGS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS THAT THEY GO THROUGH AND ARE COMPENSATED FOR IN ADDITION. STAFFING UPDATE.
AS OF YESTERDAY, AND DAN MAY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BECAUSE THINGS WE'RE WORKING EVERY DAY.
THERE WERE STILL TEN CERTIFICATED VACANCIES.
[00:45:02]
HOWEVER, A FEW OF THOSE WERE NON CLASSROOM BASED VACANCIES, MEANING THEY'RE NOT THE PRIORITY IF WE'RE ABLE TO HIRE THEM GREAT, BUT WE'RE WORKING REALLY TO COVER THE CLASSROOM POSITIONS.THERE ARE TWO REMAINING SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM POSITIONS THAT WE'RE WORKING TO HIRE A FULLY CREDENTIAL TEACHER FOR.
THEY ARE COVERED IN THE MEANTIME THROUGH SUBSTITUTES.
WE HAVE TWO ALSO CLASSROOM POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING COVERED BY CERTIFICATED TOSAS WHO ARE CREDENTIAL TO TEACH THOSE POSITIONS IN OUR MULTIPLE SUBJECT CLASSROOMS. THEN IN OUR SINGLE SUBJECT, OUR SECONDARIES, THERE ARE THREE.
TWO OF THOSE ARE SCIENCE, AND ONE IS AN ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR.
AGAIN, POSITIONS ARE COVERED FOR THE MEANTIME, WHILE HR IS OUT THERE STILL WORKING TO FIND THE LAST REMAINING PEOPLE.
I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'VE ADDED A LOT OF AID POSITIONS IN THE LAST DAYS.
SOME OF THOSE ARE STILL OBVIOUSLY VACANT.
WE'RE WORKING THROUGH INTERVIEWS, A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING.
HUMAN RESOURCES HAS BEEN HOLDING JOB FAIRS.
THEY'VE GONE TO EXTERNAL JOB FAIRS.
INTERVIEWS ARE HAPPENING DAILY SO IT'S FULL COURT PRESS.
IF THERE'S SOMEONE TO HIRE AND THEY'RE ABLE, WE'LL HIRE THEM AS LONG AS THEY MEET OUR STANDARDS AND READY TO GO.
LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, WE HAD 47 VACANCIES.
STILL WORK TO BE DONE. LEAP ACADEMY, AS MENTIONED EARLIER.
ALL OF OUR TK-5, TK-8 SCHOOLS, THEY'RE UP AND RUNNING, INCLUDING A TOMAS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THERE IS A WAIT LIST THAT WILL BE MAINTAINED AT EACH SCHOOL IF IT'S NEEDED, AND THE STAFF ARE GOING TO WORK TO ENROLL FAMILIES AND BASED ON THE REGULATIONS AND THE RULES AND THE FUNDING, THEY DO NEED TO PRIORITIZE STUDENTS IN THE DESIGNATED PRIORITY GROUPS AS DESIGNATED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THEY'LL FOLLOW ALL THOSE REGULATIONS, BUT YOU CAN SEE A COUPLE OF PICTURES HERE JUST FROM THE FIRST DAY THIS YEAR LAST WEEK.
LOTS OF UPDATES FOR YOU, BUT I WON'T READ ALL THIS OUT LINE BY LINE.
BUT YOU CAN SEE EVERYBODY OUT AND ABOUT CHECKING ON THINGS WITH TRAFFIC, MAKING SURE GATES, EVERYTHING'S HAPPENING THE WAY WE NEEDED TO.
I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO SHOW YOU THESE LAST TIME.
A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN GOING ON AT JOY'S FOOD LOCKER.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE OF A PERMANENT HOME AND WE WERE ABLE TO WORK THAT OUT THROUGH SOME CREATIVE CHANGING OF SOME GATES AND SOME FENCES AND THINGS.
IT'S JUST MUCH MORE EFFICIENT, PROVIDING US ALSO A PERMANENT HOME FOR WHERE WE STORE THE FOOD INSIDE AN AIR CONDITIONED AREA AS OPPOSED TO HAVING OTHER SOLUTIONS.
A LOT OF WORK THIS SUMMER TO GET THAT DONE AND HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORK TO GET THAT DONE.
IT'S BACK OPEN SO MESSAGING HAS BEEN GOING OUT, BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE FAMILIES BACK TOMORROW WITH THAT.
WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE DANCE ROOMS OVER AT NATOMAS HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MEANTIME, WITH THE WHOLE UPDATE, WHICH ALWAYS FOOD LOCKER.
THERE WAS THE SWITCH WITH THE DANCE ROOMS, AND NOW THEY'RE READY TO GO WITH ALL THEIR NEW AMENITIES YOU SEE THERE.
IT'S NOT PAINT DRYING, I KNOW, SCOTT,
BUT TRUNCATED DOMES, WHICH ARE THE LITTLE YELLOW BUMPS. >> [INAUDIBLE]
>> THERE YOU GO. THIS IS OUT AT THE BACK OF H AND HIGHT NATOMAS MIDDLE.
IT'S FOR HELPS VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE.
ALSO, IT'S JUST A SAFETY REMINDER FOR ANYBODY CROSSING.
THAT HAD TO BE UPDATED. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE BACK THERE, ALSO WITH THE BASKETBALL COURTS AND THE PARKING AREAS.
A LOT OF THAT'S BEEN DONE. IN NATOMAS, WE HAVE EXPANSIVE SOIL.
I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE. IT WASN'T EVEN THAT LONG AGO THAT WE REDID THE TENNIS COURTS AT NATOMAS HIGH AND INTERCOM.
THE SOIL HAS SHIFTED, AGAIN, SO WE HAD TO UPDATE INTERCOM ALREADY.
WE'RE WATCHING NATOMAS HIGH INTERCOM WAS IN A LOT AND NEEDED IT QUICKER.
THAT'S DONE AND NOW TENNIS IS BACK PRACTICING AT I THINK TODAY WAS THE FIRST DAY BACK ON THE COURT, SO NICE FRESH COURTS.
DOCTOR CASTILLO MENTIONED TOMORROW IS THE FIRST ONE.
WE PUT THEM HERE FOR EVERYBODY, SO THEY HAVE A CONVENIENT WAY TO SEE THIS.
IT'S UP ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL.
TOMORROW, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE NEXT WEEK, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK AS WELL.
AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, CCS.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE, BUT TONIGHT WE WANTED TO DIVE A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.
WITH THIS SLIDE, I WANTED TO MENTION WHERE THIS ALL STARTED.
BACK IN 2012 WE REALIZE THERE'S A NEED, SO A PROGRAM WAS STARTED CALLED YOU CALL WE HAUL, AND THAT REALLY MORPHED INTO CCS.
IT WAS RUN OUT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, AND IT STILL IS, AND BASICALLY IF SOMEONE'S MISSING A DESK, IF THEY'RE MISSING A CHAIR, IF THERE'S ANY THING THAT'S NOT BEING RESOLVED, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GET IT RESOLVED AT THE LOWEST LEVEL.
THAT'S USUALLY THE BEST WAY TO GET SERVICE, BUT IF IT'S NOT, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS FOR.
LIKE ROBIN SAID, IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO CALL, YOU CALL WE HAUL IS STILL THE UNOFFICIAL MOTTO.
[00:50:03]
BUT CONSTITUENT CUSTOMER SERVICE, THAT'S THE GOAL.I JUST WANTED TO SHOW THAT. WE DO HAVE THESE DIFFERENT PATHS TO SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION.
THEY'RE HERE AGAIN, JUST SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THEM.
EVERYTHING FROM ATHLETICS, SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND THE REST.
THAT'S THE UPDATE I HAVE FROM YOU NOW.
I WANTED TO POINT OUT, WE'VE TAKEN ABOUT 02,000 ENROLLMENTS SINCE WE OPENED ENROLLMENT IN JANUARY.
OBVIOUSLY, THE SENIOR CLASS LEFT.
WE'RE NOT UP 2,000 STUDENTS, BUT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF CHANGEOVER AND A LOT OF WORK.
ALTHOUGH OUR ENROLLMENT SHOWS WERE UP A LITTLE BIT, PROBABLY, IT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR THAT LITTLE BIT OF GROWTH TO GET EVERYBODY TO THE RIGHT SPOT.
FOR ALL THE STAFF, TEACHERS, CHANGING CLASSROOMS, ALL THAT STUFF, IT'S JUST A HUGE TEAM EFFORT, ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT, WE JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE TRUSTEES, A LOT OF WORK GOES IN.
WE START THE START OF SCHOOLS PROCESS IN MARCH.
MEETING, TALKING THINGS OUT, WORKING THROUGH LOGISTICS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE LITTLE GLITCHES, GIVEN NASA HAS GLITCHES AND THINGS, BUT WE WORK TO MINIMIZE THAT, AND WE'RE NOT ROCKET SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AT LEAST NOT ALL OF US. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DOUG. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS. TRUSTEES.
>> DOUG, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND TO YOUR TEAM BECAUSE I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW THE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN HELPED DURING THE ENROLLMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TK.
THEY ARE NEW PARENTS AND THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO CONNECT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND ALSO TO THE HEALTH CLINIC BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ACCOMMODATING OF THEIR NEEDS, THE LANGUAGE AND EVERYTHING. THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN NICE. THE RESPONSE WAS SO STRONG, ACTUALLY, THAT WE DID RUN OUT OF SOME OF THE VACCINES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO START SCHOOL.
WE GOT IT CAUGHT UP. THAT'S A GOOD PROBLEM.
>> CHESSIE HARD AND TO SEE YOUR LIGHT.
>> YES. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GRANT.
WHAT ARE THE TWO SCHOOLS THAT HAVE THE VACANCIES FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS?
ARE THEY BEING COVERED BY CREDENTIAL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AT THIS TIME?
>> THE COVERED BY SUBS ALONG WITH EXTRA SUPPORT.
>> ARE WE LOOKING AT FULL TIME SUBS?
>> WHO IS WRITING THE CURRICULUM OR HELPING THEM WITH THE DAILY PLANS? THE AIDS?
>> THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPORT, THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPORT EXECUTE AIDS.
>> CAN YOU STEP FORWARD? I'M SORRY.
IT ACTUALLY IT WAS A QUESTION THAT CAME IN FROM SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE, SO THAT IS ASKED.
>> OTHER TEACHERS CREDENTIAL SUB SPECIAL HEAD TEACHERS ARE HELPING TO WRITE THE CURRICULUM.
>> JUST FOR THE RECORD, CAN YOU JUST START AT THE VERY BEGINNING? BECAUSE IT WAS A QUESTION FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT'S TEXT, SO CAN WE START FROM THE VERY BEGINNING?
>> WHO IS HELPING WRITE THE LESSON PLANS? JUST THE WHOLE THING.
>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE TWO SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASS.
>> WELL, IT'S MY QUESTION. THERE WE GO. HOW ABOUT THAT?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE TWO SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM VACANCIES, ONE AT HN HEIGHT, ONE AT HERNE.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY STAFFED BY SUBS WITH SUPPORT FROM TWO EXTRA ADDITIONAL IAS, ONE A HIGHER LEVEL INSTRUCTIONAL AID.
AS FAR AS FOR EXECUTION IN THE CLASSROOM AND SUPPORT FOR THAT TEACHER, AS FAR AS THE PLANNING GOES, CLASSROOM PLANNING IS HAPPENING WITH THE HELP OF OTHER TEACHERS.
>> ON CAMPUS TO HELP WRITE THE LESSON PLANS.
I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO LOUIS HATE AND HIS TEAM.
IF YOU THINK THEY DON'T, I VOLUNTEERED WITH HIS STAFF A FEW YEARS BACK, AND I WAS SORE FOR SIX MONTHS.
[LAUGHTER] DOUG, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE OUR ACTION ITEMS.
[XVI.a. Approve Provisional Internship Permits]
I'M NOT SEEING ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS. ACTION ITEM A, APPROVED PROVISIONAL INTERNSHIP PERMITS.I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE APPROVAL OF THAT ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND?
SEEING NONE. HELEN, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
[00:55:01]
>> ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRY 60.
[NOISE] EXCEPT WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[XVII. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
I HAVE 1, 2, 3.I JUST HAVE ABOUT EIGHT PUBLIC COMMENTS, CARDS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
THE BOARD, WILL HEAR FROM THESE SPEAKERS ONLY AND ENSURE THE MEETING IS CONDUCTED IN AN ORDERLY AND EFFICIENT MANNER IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD BY-LAW 93-23.
FIRST UP, I HAVE KENNETH ELLSWORTH, FOUR MINUTES WITH BORROWED TIME.
>> HELLO. I'M HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF MY MOTHER.
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE TONIGHT'S MEETING.
HOWEVER, SHE DID WRITE SOMETHING FOR ME TO READ TO THE BOARD. HERE IT GOES.
UNFORTUNATELY, I AM NOT ABLE TO MAKE TONIGHT'S MEETING.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF YOUR ACTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE LAST MEETING.
FOR THOSE OF YOU BOARD MEMBERS WHO WERE HERE LAST MONTH, YOU TO MOVE THE CAMERA SO THAT THE AUDIENCE COULD NOT SEE A 100-PLUS TEACHERS IN ATTENDANCE TO PROTEST YOUR EXTENSION OF CONTRACT AND 15% PAY INCREASE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
FORTUNATELY, IT BACKFIRE ON YOU BECAUSE NOT ONLY WERE THE CAMERAS FOCUSED ON YOU THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT IT ALSO SHOWED THE AUDIENCE HOW INCOMPETENT AND STUPID YOU ACTUALLY ARE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR UPCOMING RECALL OF SEVERAL OF YOU ON THIS BOARD.
NOW THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
I AM ALSO A STUDENT HERE IN THE DISTRICT.
I SUFFER GREATLY FOR MANY YEARS BECAUSE OF THE INCOMPETENCE OF STAFF IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
I DO NOT WANT MY SIBLINGS TO DEAL WITH THE SAME THINGS THAT I HAD TO.
YOU NEED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND GIVE MY SIBS EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE, BECAUSE I WASN'T GIVEN THE EDUCATION THAT I DESERVE BY THE DISTRICT, AND I'M STILL SUFFERING THOSE CONSEQUENCES TO THIS DAY.
I HAD AN IP, AND IT WAS BLATANTLY IGNORED.
THE SPECIAL EDUCATION BLUEPRINT IS A GREAT ID IN THEORY.
HOWEVER, JUST LIKE MY IPS, NOBODY FOLLOWED THEM.
THE BLUEPRINT LOOKS GOOD ON PAPER, HOWEVER, THEY WERE NEVER ENFORCED OR IMPLEMENTED THE WAY THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.
IS THIS GOING TO BE A WAY TO HELP THE PARENTS WHO HAVE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION? WILL THIS BE A TOOL TO ACTUALLY HELP THEM EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE IEP, MAKE SURE THAT BOTH THE STUDENT AND THE PARENTS AND EVERYONE IN THE SUPPORT SYSTEM IS INVOLVED AND INCLUDED, AND TOLD THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
OR IS THIS JUST GOING TO BE A WAY TO PACIFY THEM, SAY, "HEY, WE'RE DOING THIS THING, THIS THING.
LOOK AT THE BLUEPRINT, AND THEN NOTHING ACTUALLY EVER GETS FOULED UP." MY LITTLE SIBLINGS HAVE IEPS, AND SO I HOPE THE BLUEPRINT AND SPECIAL EDUCATION MAP WILL HELP THEM.
HOWEVER, IF IT IS ANYTHING LIKE ME, THEY WERE NOT HELPED WHATSOEVER, AND I WAS NOT HELPED WHATSOEVER.
MY IP WENT ALMOST ENTIRELY IGNORED, AND I HAD MANY, MANY ISSUES IN SCHOOL DUE TO THE FACT THAT SIMPLY, MY NEEDS WEREN'T BEING MET BECAUSE MY NEEDS WERE LISTED CLEAR ON THE IP, AND THEY WERE NOT FOLLOWED.
I TALKED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MANY PEOPLE ON THE BOARD MANY TIMES, ME AND MY MOTHER, TRIED AND GET ME THE HELP, BUT IT DID NOT HELP.
HOWEVER, I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS A GOOD SIGN OF CHANGE.
HOWEVER, I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.
I HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE TOMES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR PRETTY MUCH MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I HAVE HELPED THE COMMUNITY DO MANY, MANY THINGS THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I WISH NOTHING BUT SUCCESS FOR THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE I AM IN THIS COMMUNITY, MY LITTLE SIBLINGS ARE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN ME OR OTHER FAMILIES GO TO THE HIGHER UPS AND SAY, "HEY, THERE'S THIS ISSUE, WE'D LIKE HELP.
WE'D LIKE THE HELP TO ACTUALLY BE ANSWERED, TREATED LIKE HUMANS, AND EXPLAINED SIMPLY AND CLEARLY, INSTEAD OF JUST BEING IGNORED OR SHUFFLED ALONG THE VERY COMPLICATED ED CODE AND MUMBO JUMBO JARGON OF THE HIGHER-UPS AT SCHOOL BOARDS OF FOLLOW THIS, THAT, AND THE THIRD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP, I HAVE JEN SUVA.
>> WELL, GOOD EVENING AGAIN. IT'S GREAT TO HEAR SO MUCH STUDENT EXCELLENCE,
[01:00:01]
AND ALSO REALLY HEARTWRENCHING TO HEAR THAT SOMEONE WAS FAILED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.BUT I'M REALLY HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU, ANNALISA.
GOOD EVENING, AND CONGRATULATIONS.
I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AS A PARENT AND A TEACHER IN THIS DISTRICT TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND HOW IMPORTANT YOUR ROLE IS.
I HAVE TO SAY I DO LOVE A COSMETOLOGIST.
YOU'RE HERE REPRESENTING STUDENTS.
YOU'RE THEIR ADVOCATE, THEIR VOICE, AND YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIAL ROLE.
YOU HAVE THAT OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN TO SCHOOL HERE, WHO WALKS THE HALLS.
YOU'LL LEARN REALLY QUICKLY THAT THIS BOARD AND PEOPLE WHO COME TO SPEAK HAVE MANY PERSPECTIVES, BUT YOURS IS REALLY UNIQUE.
YOU'VE SAT IN THE CLASSROOMS, YOU'VE HAD FUN, YOU'VE BEEN BORED TO DEATH, AND YOU CARRY ALL THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO EVERY DISCUSSION, AND THAT'S POWERFUL.
NO ONE CAN TAKE YOUR VOICE AWAY FROM YOU, AND THIS IS YOUR MOMENT TO SHINE.
MY ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU IS TO LISTEN DEEPLY, ASK QUESTIONS.
TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE OF THEM, SO YOU KNOW THE KIND ADULT THAT YOU WANT TO FOLLOW AND THE KIND ADULT THAT YOU WANT TO BE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY AS TEACHERS AND AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE ARE REALLY ALL HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
YOU COULD CALL ON ANY TEACHER, AND WE WOULD HELP YOU WITH ANYTHING YOU'RE GOING THROUGH ON THE BOARD OR IN SCHOOL.
I REALLY WISH WE HAD KNOWN WHERE YOU WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL SO WE COULD HAVE HAD THOSE TEACHERS HERE, BECAUSE TO BE HONEST, YOU ARE A TEACHER'S DREAM.
WHAT'S GOING ON FOR YOU IS WHAT WE WANT.
[LAUGHTER] YOUR TIME ON THE BAR REPRESENTS WHAT WE WANT FOR EVERY CHILD.
GOOD ENOUGH IN SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO LEARN TO READ, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
YOU ARE THE STUFF THAT TOUGHNESS IS MADE OF.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO YOUR NEW ROLE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, I HAVE ERIN HERREDA.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS HERREDA.
I AM A PARENT OF A KINDERGARTEN STUDENT IN HIS SECOND YEAR AT HEREDIA-ARRIAGA BILINGUAL SCHOOL.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO LINE MY COMMENTS WITH THE FOLKS WHO SPOKE PREVIOUSLY ON THE CLOSED CAMPUS POLICY, AND I HAVE SOME REMARKS TO SHARE.
TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE START OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, I OPENED MY EMAIL TO FIND MENTION OF A NEW CLOSED CAMPUS POLICY BEING ROLLED OUT AT ALL THE TK THROUGH EIGHT SITES IN OUR DISTRICT.
MY IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS ONE OF CONCERN AND SURPRISE.
WHY WAS THE DECISION MADE, SEEMINGLY WITHOUT ANY COMMUNITY INPUT OR VETTING? VAGUE RATIONALE WAS PROVIDED OVER THE ENSUING WEEKS FROM STAFF CLAIMING THE INCREASED SECURITY BENEFITS AND A DESIRE TO KNOW WHO WAS ON CAMPUS.
HOWEVER, THIS REPORTED EXTRA SECURITY COMES AT A COST.
AS THE FALLOUT FROM RECENT LEGISLATION, SUCH AS ASSEMBLY BILL 218, HAS SHOWN US, WHICH LIFTED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS WHO WE ARE ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AND OTHER PUBLIC AGENCY STAFF? KNOWING WHO IS REGULARLY INTERACTING WITH YOUR CHILD AND HAVING TRUST WITH THEM IS CRUCIAL FOR PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS.
UNDER THIS NEW POLICY, HOW ARE PARENTS SUPPOSED TO FEEL LIKE THEY KNOW WHO THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATOR IS.
WILL ONLY THOSE ABLE TO REGULARLY VOLUNTEER BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT PRIVILEGE? THIS POLICY ISOLATES STUDENTS INSTEAD OF PROTECTING THEM.
WHAT VALUE ADD IS IT TO HAVE STUDENTS TROTTED TO THE CAFETERIA FROM THEIR CLASSROOM 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE AFTERNOON BELL AND LOSE OUT ON THE POTENTIAL INSTRUCTIONAL TIME? LASTLY, THIS POLICY IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE DISTRICT'S LOCAL CONTROL ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN, THE DISTRICT'S HANDBOOK, WHICH PARENTS SIGNED OVER THE SUMMER AS PART OF THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, NOR IS IT IN THE SCHOOL'S STATE-MANDATED COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN JUST UPDATED IN MARCH OF 2025.
THE LATTER OF WHICH EVEN INDICATED THAT PARENT ACCOMPANIMENT DURING BREAKFAST ON CAMPUS WOULD CONTINUE.
THE LCAP AND COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN REQUIRE PARENT AND COMMUNITY VETTING.
YET THIS POLICY SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED AND ONLY REFLECTED IN OUR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS HANDBOOK IN BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE CORE VALUES OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOUNDATIONAL TO PUBLIC EDUCATION GOVERNANCE IN CALIFORNIA.
I URGE YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS POLICY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP, I HAVE JOANNA DAVIS.
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. AS A PARENT, NOTHING MATTERS MORE TO ME THAN MY CHILD'S SAFETY.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT BEING PRESENT AT SCHOOL MATTERS TO THEM TOO.
I AM HERE AS A CONCERNED PARENT REGARDING THE RECENT IMPLEMENTED CLOSED CAMPUS POLICY.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE DISTRICT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN SAFETY.
[01:05:06]
THIS POLICY SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITS PARENT INVOLVEMENT DURING DROP OFF AND PICKUP, MOMENTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR OUR CHILD SENSE OF SECURITY AND BELONGING.THE SUPERINTENDENT WROTE IN HER WELCOME LETTER BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED, ONE OF OUR DISTRICT'S CORE VALUES IS WE VALUE OUR FAMILIES AS PARTNERS IN THE EDUCATION OF THEIR STUDENTS.
PARENTS WANT TO BE PARTNERS IN THIS EFFORT, INCLUDING IN KEEPING SCHOOLS SAFE, BUT WE NEED TRANSPARENCY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AND A GENUINE WILLINGNESS TO INCLUDE FAMILIES IN THESE DECISIONS.
TO THAT END, I REQUESTED DISTRICT-WIDE DATA ON INCIDENCES INVOLVING PARENTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, INCLUDING TRENDS AND CATEGORIES OF EVENTS.
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED DID NOT CLEARLY SUMMARIZE THESE TRENDS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER THIS BLANKET RESTRICTION IS PROPORTIONATE OR EFFECTIVE.
WITHOUT CLEAR DATA, FAMILIES ARE LEFT IN THE DARK, UNABLE TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE ABOUT SAFETY AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT.
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR PRIVACY BREACHES OR INDIVIDUAL DETAILS.
WE'RE ASKING FOR CLARITY, CONTEXT, AND COLLABORATION.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE POLICIES THAT ARE BOTH SAFE AND REASONABLE.
WE ARE ASKING FOR POLICIES THAT ARE NOT ONLY SAFE BUT ALSO TRANSPARENT, COLLABORATIVE, AND FAIR BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN DESERVE NOTHING LESS. THANK YOU.
>>THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP, I HAVE CHRISTY WEBBER ON THE TOPIC OF EQUITY.
>> HELLO, AGAIN. GOOD EVENING AGAIN.
I JUST WANT TO START WITH WHAT WE SAY AND WHAT WE DON'T SAY IN THE MOMENTS THAT MATTER CAN DEFINE TRUST BETWEEN SCHOOLS, STUDENTS AND, FAMILIES.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND THE NEED FOR EQUITY, AND HOW NUSD ENGAGES WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RAISE A QUESTION.
WHAT EQUITY AND CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING DO DISTRICT STAFF RECEIVE? BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE.
WHEN I SAY STAFF, I MEAN ALL STAFF, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, OFFICE STAFF, NUTRITION STAFF, AIDES, CUSTODIANS, BUS DRIVERS, AND ALL OF THEM.
BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE SEEN EXAMPLES WHERE TONE DEAF DECISIONS AND MICROAGGRESSIONS CAUSE HARM.
LAST YEAR, A SPIRIT DAY WAS APPROVED WITH THE THEME COUNTRY VERSUS COUNTRY CLUB.
WHILE IT WAS COUNSELED QUICKLY AFTER PARENTS VOICE CONCERNS, AND I DO CREDIT STAFF FOR LISTENING.
THE FACT THAT THIS WAS APPROVED AT ALL THROUGH THE EIGHTH-GRADE LEADERSHIP TEACHER AND AN ADMINISTRATOR SHOWS A GAP IN AWARENESS.
SIMILARLY, WHEN A WHITE ADMINISTRATOR OPENLY SAID TO ME, THAT THEY CODE-SWITCH WHEN SPEAKING WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS AS A WAY TO CONNECT, IT REVEALED NOT CONNECTION, BUT A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CULTURAL COMPETENCY IS.
I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK TO ANYBODY ELSE ABOUT THAT.
THESE EXAMPLES ARE NOT ISOLATED.
THEY HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENT TRAINING AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EVERY ADULT WHO INTERACTS WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
PARENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE THE BACKSTOP FOR CULTURAL COMPETENCY.
IT SHOULD BE EMBEDDED IN DISTRICT PRACTICE, NOT JUST WRITTEN IN OUR VALUES, BUT SEEN ON A DAILY BASIS.
I COULD GO ON AND ON. I HAVE A STUDENT AT HERNE, AND WE LIVE IN A HAPPY LITTLE BUBBLE AT HERNE.
BUT MY STUDENT HAS COME HOME IN GRADES TRAUMATIZED BY TEACHERS TAUNTING HER.
SHE COMES HOME AND TALKS ABOUT THE WORDS SHE LEARNS, AND I'M AN ACTIVE PARENT.
>> NEXT UP, I HAVE SHARON THURMAN.
>> I MUST SAY, I'M GLAD THIS IS A SHORT MEETING TODAY, AND I'M GLAD I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, AND I REALIZE THAT YOU'RE CONDUCTING THE PUBLIC BUSINESS AND CAN'T ENGAGE WITH US.
BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR PARENTS TO CONTINUE TO COME TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS, PRESIDENTS, TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENTS WHO WILL LISTEN, AND THAT CAN HAPPEN ASIDE FROM THIS MEETING.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE THIRD THROUGH 12TH GRADE TIMELINE FOR THE READING INTERVENTION THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE, SO HAPPY THAT TK THROUGH SECOND GRADERS ARE GOING TO FALL UNDER THE SCIENCE OF READING, BUT WOULD NEED TO HAVE MORE SPECIFICS SHARED WITH
[01:10:01]
US AS TO HOW OUR THIRD THROUGH 12TH GRADERS ARE GOING TO EITHER RECEIVE SMALL GROUP OR OTHER INTERVENTION THAT WILL HELP THEM LEAVE OUR DISTRICT READING AT GRADE LEVEL.IF THAT COULD BE PRESENTED TO US NO LATER THAN A MONTH FROM TODAY, THAT WOULD HELP US AS A COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DISTRICT IS DOING.
ALL OF THOSE PARENTS WHO REALIZE THAT THEIR THIRD THROUGH 12TH GRADER IS NOT READING AT GRADE LEVEL WILL BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE DONE, YES, DO THEIR PART, BUT NONE OF OUR PARENTS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT HOW TO TEACH A STUDENT TO DECODE PHONICS AND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, AND SO WE ARE RELYING ON OUR DISTRICT TO DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THE LAST PUBLIC OUT I HAVE IS FROM HUSIS SIA.
DID I GET THAT RIGHT? YEAH. GOT YOU.
FIRST TIME I'M EVER DOING THIS.
>> JUST A SECOND WHAT SOME OF OTHER PARENTS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CLOSED CAMPUS.
WE GOT NOTICED JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE I STARTED TO HAVE A TK AND THEN A SECOND GRADER.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE WAS NO TRANSPARENCY, NO JUSTIFICATION, NO CLARITY.
I THINK EVERYBODY CAN AGREE THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
WITH THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN YOU GUYS AND LET US KNOW WHAT ARE THE INCIDENTS AND WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS AND US BEING INVOLVED IN THOSE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS, LEARNING FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AS WELL, WE ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS, AND AS YOUR CUSTOMERS, WE WANT TO BE HEARD, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS FOR CATION OF OUR KIDS.
MY CONCERN IS. I THINK IT SEEMS LIKE THAT DECISION WAS MADE WITHOUT THINKING OF THE REST OF THE YEAR OR HOW IT'S GOING TO BE WHEN TK COMING IN THE FIRST TIME TO SCHOOL, HOW IT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE TK, YOU LEAVE ON TO GO ON ZONE, OR TAKING ALL THE KIDS OUT OF THE SCHOOL AND BEING ALL LUMP AND CHAOS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY 100-DEGREE WEATHER RAINING, FREEZING COLD OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
I WANTED TO ASK WHEN WILL THE PARENTS HAVE A RESPONSE FROM THESE CONCERNS? WHAT WILL BE THE TIMELINE OF WHEN YOU WILL RESPOND TO THAT, AND WHAT ACTIONS WOULD YOU? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT OR ANY OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD, SO WE'LL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 6:57 PM.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.