[I. OPEN SESSION] [00:00:07] >> HI, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:15 P.M. HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL >> MAYOR WINGET: THE NATOMAS MEETINGS ARE LIVE STREAMED AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AFTER THE BOARD MEETING. THOSE IN ATTENDANCE SHOULD EXPECT THEY WILL CAPTURE ALL ACTIVITY BEFORE AND AFTER. WE ARE GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS CONFERENCE LABOR NEGOTIATOR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE. DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? [IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING CLOSED SESSION ITEMS] THE BOARD IS GOING TO HEAR, WE HAVE MORE THAN TEN PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE BOARD WILL HEAR FROM THESE SPEAKERS TO ENSURE THE MEETING IS CONDUCTED IN A MATTER, ALLOWED TWO MINUTES AND BOARD SHALL LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME TO 20 MINUTES. LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST ONE I HAVE IS MANILAS MORSE. THEY ONE HAS DONATED TIME FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR MINUTES. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIELLA MORSE. I'M A NATOMAS UNIFIED ALUMNUS. A FORMER DISTRICT HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, A VERY CONCERNED NATOMAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT MOTHER. MY SON IS IN T-K AT THE DISTRICT'S ONLY DUAL IMMERSION SCHOOL. WHILE THE SCHOOL HAS MANY AMAZING QUALITIES, THE MOST AMAZING THING ABOUT THE SCHOOL IS ITS TEACHERS. IT IS BECAUSE OF MY SON'S AMAZING TEACHER, NATALIA MONTOYA AND THE SUPPORT SHE HAS PROVIDED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE HELP, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET MY SON THE HELP THAT WE AS PARENTS WERE UNAWARE THAT HE SO DESPERATELY NEEDED. MY SON WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. HE IS COGNITIVE TYPICAL BUT HAS SPEECH, EMOTIONAL AND SENSORY NEEDS THAT HAVE REQUIRED HIM TO HAVE AN IEP. I'M HERE TODAY FOR MY SON, TO BY HIS VOICE AND TO BE HIS ADVOCATE. I'M ALSO HERE TODAY TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE AMAZING TEACHERS OF THIS DISTRICT. TEACHERS THAT HAVE SHAPED ME INTO THE PERSON I AM PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. TEACHERS THAT HAVE PROVIDED MY SON WITH A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR HIM TO LEARN. NOT ONLY FOR HIM TO LEARN BUT A SPACE FOR HIM WHERE HIS NEEDS ARE SPECIFICALLY MET. THESE TEACHERS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND EVERY DAY. NOT JUST FOR A PAYCHECK. NOT JUST FOR RECOGNITION. NOT FOR A CUSH SCHEDULE. NOT FOR SUMMERS OFF. FOR SOMETHING MUCH MORE PURE AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND. THEY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR A LOVE OF LEARNING AND FOR PASSION TO IMPART THAT KNOWLEDGE ONTO THE NEXT GENERATION. THEIR DEMANDS ARE NOT UNREASONABLE. SMALLER CLASS SIZES. FUNDING FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS. FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. AND FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE. I URGE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS OF THIS DISTRICT. AND REMEMBER, HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR TEACHERS LIKE THE AMAZING ONE THAT THIS DISTRICT HAS IN THEIR EMPLOY, THAT YOU YOURSELVES MAY NOT BE UP HERE SEATED IN FRONT OF US TODAY. >> EXACTLY. >> DO THE RIGHT THING. AND DO SO WITH STUDENTS LIKE MY SON IN MIND. [00:05:05] STUDENTS WHO ARE THRIVING BECAUSE OF THEM, WE STAND WITH THEM. DO THE RIGHT THING. NEXT UP I HAVE ISACC MCCRORY WITH A TOTAL OF FOUR MINUTES OF TOTAL TIME WITH DONATED TIME. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS ISACC, I'M IN FOURTH GRADE. AT NPE. I'M HERE BECAUSE I REALLY CARE ABOUT MY TEACHER AND MY SCHOOL. AND WOULD LIKE THINGS TO GO BACK TO NORMAL. MY TEACHER WORKS REALLY HARD FOR OUR CLASS. SHE HELPS US WHEN WE ARE CONFUSED. SHE ENCOURAGES US WHEN LEARNING FEELS HARD. AND SHE MAKES SURE EVERYONE FEELS INCLUDED. TEACHERS DON'T JUST TEACH US READING AND MATH. THEY HELP US GROW AND BELIEVE IN OURSELVES. RIGHT NOW OUR TEACHERS ARE NOT AT SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN SUPPORTED. THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO TEACH MORE AND MORE STUDENTS IN THEIR CLASSROOM. WHILE THEIR PAY HASN'T KEPT UP WITH HOW EXPENSIVE THINGS ARE GETTING. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HEAR ABOUT BIG RAISES FOR DISTRICT STAFF THAT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR TO THE TEACHERS. TEACHERS WHO WORK WITH KIDS EVERY DAY. MY BROTHER AND SISTER HAVE ALREADY TRANSFERRED INTO CHARTER SCHOOLS BECAUSE MY PARENTS FEEL LIKE OUR DISTRICT HAS NOT BEEN LISTENING OR HELPING THE STUDENTS IN OUR FAMILIES. THE WAY THEY HAD HOPED FOR A LONG TIME. WE REALLY WANT MY TEACHER BACK IN THE CLASSROOM. RIGHT NOW, I WOULD RATHER BE ON THE PICKET LINE SUPPORTING MY TEACHER BECAUSE SCHOOL DOESN'T FEEL THE SAME AND DOESN'T FEEL AS SAFE WHEN THE KIDS AREN'T FOLLOWING THE RULES THE WAY THEY USUALLY DO. PLEASE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE TEACHERS AND SETTLE THIS SO THEY CAN COME BACK TO SCHOOL. WE MISS OUR TEACHERS AND WE WANT TO LEARN WITH THEM AGAIN. THANK YOU. NEXT UP I HAVE -- TRUJILLO. >> ALL RIGHT. TRUJILLO, A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY. I HAD MY DAUGHTER, SON AND NOW MY GRANDSON AT NATOMAS SCHOOL. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO REALLY WORK WITH THE TEACHERS. THEY ARE THE BONE OF THIS COMMUNITY. THEY DESERVE A GOOD HEALTHCARE. THEY DESERVE TO BE LISTENED, PROVIDED ALL THE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE, THEY REQUIRE IN THE CLASSROOM. BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT EDUCATE OUR KIDS. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT COME TO THE SCHOOLS AT 7:00 A.M. AND LEAVE AT 5:00-6:00 P.M., EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE FAMILIES, THEY STAY IN OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT NATOMAS STUDENTS. SO I URGE YOU TO WORK WITH THEM AND GET ON THE BARGAINING TABLE. BECAUSE YOU ARE LOSING -- YOU PUT ON YOUR WEBSITE ON FACEBOOK. FOUR DAYS ONLY IS $583,000 WITH 200. SO YOU RAISE MONEY WHEN YOU NEED TO BE WORKING WITH OUR TEACHERS AND SETTLE THIS BARGAINING CONTRACT THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IT. PLEASE DO IT. IT'S ABOUT TIME. IT'S NOT A TIME TO BE PLAYING WITH OUR KIDS. DO IT FOR YOURSELF, FOR OUR KIDS, FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I AM NOT HERE TO BE FRIENDLY WITH ANY OF YOU. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT OUR NATOMAS STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING. IT'S ABOUT TIME. [00:10:02] GRACIAS. >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS CHRISTINA, LAST NAME IS T-U-N, I CAN'T MAKE OUT THE LAST. >> CHRISTINA TUNN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY I'VE BEEN SO PROUD OF OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SCHOOL. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HAAS WHERE MY DAUGHTER GOES, I LOVE HER TEACHERS. THEY ARE THE ONES I INTERACT WITH AND THEY HAVE MADE EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT SCHOOL SO FANTASTIC. I HAVE BEEN READING THE DISTRICT'S COMMUNICATIONS TO US ABOUT NOT HAVING FUNDING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM AND TO GIVE THEM A FAIR CONTRACT BECAUSE IT MIGHT CUT SPECIAL PROGRAMS OR OPPORTUNITIES. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS. IT SEEMS WE ARE PAYING FOR A PERSONAL CHEF WHEN WE CAN'T EVEN KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. OUR TEACHERS ARE THE BACKBONE AND HEART OF OUR SCHOOLS. IF WE DON'T HAVE THEM, WE DON'T HAVE SCHOOLS. SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO MAYBE CUT THE PROGRAMS OR LOOK AT THE FINANCIALS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS ARE EVERYTHING. THE PASSION THAT THEY BRING TO OUR SCHOOLS AND THE WAY THEY ARE ABLE TO HELP TEACH OUR STUDENTS IS FANTASTIC AND I WOULD LOVE FOR NATOMAS TO BE A PLACE WHERE TEACHERS WANT TO WORK AND THEY WANT TO COME. BECAUSE THAT WOULD JUST BENEFIT OR STUDENTS SO MUCH MORE. SO REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT SOMETHING ELSE. BECAUSE WE NEED TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. THIS STRIKE IS RIDICULOUS. AS YOU TOLD MY DAUGHTER, I'M A MOM, I'M ANGRY AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO FIX IT. THANK YOU. >> NEXT UP I HAVE IVANA AND JAYA. JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS STILL TWO MINUTES. >> HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS IVANA BERNARDO. >> I'M JAYA. >> WE ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. WHILE STANDING WITH MY TEACHERS DURING NEGOTIATIONS AND CURRENT STRIKE, I NOTICED SOMETHING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME, TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE BEEN COMING TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS AD THE THE PEOPLE IN THEM. >> BUT SEEING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ALSO MADE SOMETHING ELSE VERY CLEAR, MANY OUR TEACHERS STAY IN THIS PROFESSION BECAUSE THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS AND COMMITTED TO HELPING US SUCCEED. THAT PASSION IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES OUR SCHOOLS SPECIAL. AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S DIFFICULT NOT TO FEEL LIKE THAT DEDICATION IS BEING TAKEN FOR GRANTED. AS STUDENTS WE RELY ON TEACHERS NOT JUST FOR ACADEMIC SUPPORT BUT FOR GUIDANCE, STABILITY AND FOR ENCOURAGEMENT. WHEN TEACHERS FEEL UNDER VALUED OR UNSUPPORTED, IT ULTIMATELY AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENT WE LEARN IN. >> WE KNOW THAT THE BOARD CANNOT ANSWER QUESTIONS BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK A FEW TO REFLECT ON AS DISCUSSIONS OVER THE FUTURE OF NATOMAS EDUCATION. SO MY FIRST QUESTION FOR THE BOARD IS, >> IF THE GOAL OF THE DISTRICT IS STUDENT SUCCESS, WHY ISN'T THE BUDGET CONTRIBUTED TO THE ONES WHO EDUCATE THOSE STUDENTS. >> AND THEN HOW ARE SUBSTITUTES THAT WE BARELY KNOW AND NEVER CONNECTED WITH SUPPOSED TO TEACH US IN A WAY THAT WE UNDERSTAND? >> AND HOW ARE THE PAY RAISES FOR SUPERINTENDENTS DETERMINED AND WHO DECIDES THAT? >> AND THEN WHAT CONCRETE STEPS WILL THE DISTRICT TAKE TO ENSURE THAT TEACHERS WHO INVEST IN THEIR STUDENTS FEEL VALUED ENOUGH TO STAY IN OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU TO OUR TEACHERS WHO EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND GUIDE US EVERY DAY. WE OFTEN FORGET ABOUT THE ONES WHO LEAD US THERE. WITHOUT OUR TEACHERS IT WOULD BE MUCH HARDER FOR US TO ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> GOOD EVENING. YOU I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A PARENT OF A STUDENT. OVER THE LAST WEEKS IT HAS FELT LIKE CHAOS. KIDS ARE HANDED PACKETS AND EXPECTED TO COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE DAY WITH LITTLE TO NO INSTRUCTION AND NO COMMUNICATION. THAT'S NOT MEANINGFUL AND NOT LEARNING. IT'S INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING FOR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS ALIKE. BECAUSE THIS I DECIDED TO KEEP [00:15:01] MY CHILD AT HOME UNTIL THE STRIKE HAS ENDED. I ALSO HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE SUBSTITUTES WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN. WHO ARE THESE INDIVIDUALS? HAVE THEY BE PROPERLY CLEARED? ARE THEY QUALIFIED TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS. WE ARE HEARING THEY ARE BEING PAID $600 A DAY, WHILE SCHOOLS ARE PROVIDED WITH THINGS LIKE MAGIC SHOW BOXES OR ART SUPPLIES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. YET MANY OF OUR TEACHERS REGULARLY SPEND THEIR OWN MONEY OUT OF POCKET FOR BASIC NEEDS FOR CLASSROOM SUPPLIES. CLEARLY THE DISTRICT DOES HAVE THE MONEY AVAILABLE. THE QUESTION WHY ISN'T IT BEING USED PROPERLY TO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS WHO SHOW UP FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT'S TIME TO START PAYING OUR TEACHERS APPROPRIATELY AND INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK THEY DO IN INVEST IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS AND WHAT THEY DESERVE, WHICH INCLUDES SMALLER CLASS SIZES AND PROPERLY SUPPORTED CLASSROOMS. OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DESERVE BETTER. AND RIGHT NOW, WE NEED YOU TO GET BACK ON THAT BARGAINING TABLE. NEXT UP I HAVE AMANDA HIDAGI. >> HI, FRIENDS. FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HAPPY RAMADAN FOR THOSE OF US WHO CELEBRATE, THIS IS AN AMAZING JOYOUS MONTH THAT'S BEEN TAMPERED DOWN BY A REALLY INTENSE, EMOTIONALLY-DRAINING EVENT. NONE OF US WANT TO BE ON STRIKE. I THINK YOU KNOW THAT. I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT. NONE OF US WANT TO BE ON STRIKE. ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID, WHAT DO WE WANT? I YELLED "TO BE IN MY CLASSROOM". THAT'S WHAT WE WANT RIGHT NOW. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THOSE OF YOU ON THE BOARD WHO MADE THE RIGHT DECISION IN THE LAST BOARD MEETING TO CONTINUE MY TENURE HERE AT NATOMAS UNIFIED. THAT WAS ANOTHER EXTREMELY DRAINING EXPERIENCE AND I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU MADE THAT RIGHT DECISION, BECAUSE I AM HERE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR NO OTHER REASON. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, WE ARE AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION. AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, NOT CHARTER, NOT PRIVATE. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY, OF OUR FUTURE. THE CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT RECEIVING THE MONEY RIGHT NOW ARE THE BACKBONE AND THEY ARE OUR FUTURE. THE TEACHERS PROVIDE THAT EDUCATION. THE ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS ARE TO SUPPORT EDUCATION, NOT TO LINE THEIR POCKETS. TEACHERS ARE NOT GREEDY, PETTY OR OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE LOCAL FISCAL SITUATION, MS. SUPERINTENDENT. YOUR COMMUNICATIONS ARE DISRESPECTFUL, DEMEANING AND VILLAINIZING TOWARDS TEACHERS. WE ARE ALL VERY EDUCATED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. STEALING PORT-O-POTTIS. MISCALCULATING EXPENSES AND FEAR MONGERING ABOUT TAX DOLLARS BEING WRONGLY PRIORITIZED INTO DEEP POCKETS INSTEAD OF THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATION IS RIDICULOUS. IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO HIRE TEACHERS OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAN TO INVEST IN THOSE WHO WANT TO STAY. IT'S ALSO RIDICULOUS TO GIVE T-K'S, OBTUSE AND RIGHT TRIANGLES TO RECOGNIZE IN THEIR PACKETS. >> MANDY, YOU ARE OUT OF TIME. COMMENT I HAVE ON THIS ITEM IS FROM RENEE DICKIE. >> SHE IS COMING. >> I WILL JUST WAIT A MINUTE FOR HER TO COME BACK, OKAY? WITHOUT OBJECTION FROM THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT. PARDON? OH, GOT IT, SORRY. IS RENEE DICKIE AVAILABLE YET? OKAY, SO I JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE, JUST FOR FOLKS IN THE ROOM. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND A LOT OF COMMUNICATION. I VALUE THOSE VOICES, I KNOW THE BOARD VALUES THOSE VOICES. TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS HEARD I WANT TO RUN AN EFFICIENT MEETING. I WILL WAIT A COUPLE MORE SECONDS HERE. [00:20:06] THANK YOU, I'M REALLY PARCHED. THEN WE WILL HAVE TO GO TO CLOSED SESSION. IT'S NOT AN EFFORT TO CLOSE ANYONE DOWN. WE HAVE TO RUN AN EFFICIENT MEETING. THERE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE STATUTORILY DUE IN THIS MEETING THAT I NEED TO GET TO. ALL RIGHT? I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT. >> OKAY, HERE WE GO. OKAY, GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS RENEE DICKIE, AND I AM HERE TONIGHT AS BOTH A PARENT AND TEACHER IN NATOMAS UNIFIED DISTRICT. MY SON IS A THIRD GRADER AT HERON ELEMENTARY AND HE HAS A 504 PLAN. THAT EXISTS BECAUSE HE NEEDS SPECIFIC SUPPORTS IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. HIS TEACHER, JENNIFER TEJADA KNOWS HIM. SHE UNDERSTANDS HIS NEEDS, HIS CHALLENGES AND WHAT HELPS HIM LEARN. BECAUSE OF THAT RELATIONSHIP, MY CHILD FEELS SAFE IN HIS CLASSROOM. HE FEELS SUPPORTED AND HE IS ABLE TO GROW. DON'T LOWER THE MIC, LET ME BE HEARD, PLEASE. RIGHT NOW SUBSTITUTES ARE BEING PLACED IN CLASSROOMS WHO DO NOT KNOW MY CHILD. HIS NEEDS, OR HIS 504 PLAN. BECAUSE OF THAT, I AM NOT SENDING MY SON TO SCHOOL. AS A PARENT, I CANNOT TAKE THE RISK THAT THE PLAN DESIGNED TO SUPPORT HIM WILL BE OVERLOOKED, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE ADULT IN THE ROOM DOESN'T KNOW HIM. AND AS A TEACHER IN THIS DISTRICT, I'M ALSO HEARING DIRECTLY FROM MY OWN STUDENTS WHAT THEIR DAYS LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW. THEY TELL ME THEY ARE GIVEN A PACKET. ONCE THEY FINISH IT, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO SIT ON THEIR CELL PHONES FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. STUDENTS ARE BEING ASKED TO WEAR NAME TAGS BECAUSE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE. INSTEAD OF THE INSTRUCTION MS. TEJADA COULD BE GIVING MY SON AND THE QUALITY EDUCATION I COULD BE GIVING MY STUDENTS THEY ARE THERE WASTING THEIR TIME DOING INVALUABLE WORK. THAT IS NOT SCHOOL. THAT IS NOT LEARNING. AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THE CHILDREN OF NATOMAS DESERVE. OUR STUDENTS DESERVE STABILITY. THEY DESERVE EDUCATORS WHO KNOW THEM, WHO CARE ABOUT THEM, AND WHO ARE TRAINED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: YOU ARE AT TIME. >> SUBSTITUTES ARE BEING PAID $600 A DAY WHILE THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR CAREERS TO THESE CHILDREN ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR A FAIR CONTRACT. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I DON'T WANT TO THROW ANYONE OUT. >> AS A TEACHER AND PARENT, THAT IS HEARTBREAKING. IF THIS DISTRICT TRULY WANTS SCHOOLS OPEN, THE PATH FORWARD IS SIMPLE, RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE AND GIVE TEACHERS THE FAIR CONTRACT THEY DESERVE. YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT I HAVE ON THIS ITEM. WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION. [V. CLOSED SESSION] WE WILL RECONVENE CLOSED SESSION AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45 OR SHORTLY FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF CLOSED SESSION [VI. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION] >> PRESIDENT GRANT: THANK YOU. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION THIS EVENING. CAN YOU TURN UP THE MIC. PART OF IT IS WE HAVE A PROTEST. SO I WILL DO MY BEST TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS CAN HEAR ME. IS THAT GOOD? IS THIS BETTER? BEFORE WE MOVE ON, INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST COMPLETE A COMMENT CARD [00:25:06] PRIOR TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ITEM AND NO LATER THAN THE FIRST ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA. INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ALLOWED TWO MINUTES AND THE BOARD WILL ALLOW TOTAL TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT TO 20 MINUTES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE FILL OUT A 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 AVOID APPROACHING MEMBERS ON THE DAIS SO WE CAN SIGN DOCUMENTS AND GATHER ITEMS. MEMBERS MAY MAKE THEMSELVES [X. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA] AVAILABLE BY STEPPING DOWN FROM THE DAIS AND INTO THE AUDIENCE. NEXT IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. BEFORE I ENTERTAIN A MOTION, I WANT TO HEAR FROM AS MUCH PEOPLE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, I HAVE A MODIFIED MOTION I WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORWARD THAT I THINK ALLOWS US TO DO THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA SPECIFICALLY TO TABLE THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. MOVE PUBLIC COMMENT TO AFTER COMMUNICATIONS SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT ALL NIGHT. AND THE PROPOSED ORDER OF THE AGENDA WOULD BE COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA, CONSENT, BOARD REPORT AND THEN ACTION IET HES. ITEMS. ALL I'M DOING IS REQUESTING WE MOVE PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING SO PEOPLE CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE FAMILIES AND THEY WANT TO GET TO THEM. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I HAVE A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE HARDEN. HELENE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CARRIES 5-0. NEXT UP WE WILL GO TO COMMUNICATIONS. IS THERE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CSEA? WE WILL MOVE ON. NTA. IS NICO PRESENT? [XII.b. Natomas Teacher's Association (NTA)] >> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY TO YOU TONIGHT. OUR PARENTS, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OUR EDUCATORS, WE ARE OUT HERE SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE ARE ASKING THE DISTRICT TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE. WE HAVE BEEN READY SINCE LAST WEEK AND WE WILL STAY HERE AS LONG AS IT TAKES. >> YES, WE WILL! >> ONE DAY LONGER, ONE DAY STRONGER. YOU HAVE THE CHOICE TO REPRIORITIZE AND INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS AND RIGHT NOW YOU ARE MAKING THE WRONG CHOICE SO WE WILL STAY HERE AS LONG AS IT TAKES. I HOPE YOU HEAR US LOUD AND CLEAR. WE CAN'T WAIT. GOOD NIGHT. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: OKAY. I'M GOING TO MAKE... [00:30:18] >> PRESIDENT GRANT: OKAY. OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO MAKE -- >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH THAT IT'S NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. OKAY. I HEAR YOU IN THE HAT. I WILL MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO GET THROUGH THE REST OF THE AGENDA, OKAY? NEXT UP. [XII.d. Board Members] WE DO HAVE OTHER COMMUNICATIONS. SO WE WILL TRY TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT. FIRST UP WE HAVE TRUSTEE MORA. >> I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT. SO I HAVE NO REPORT. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: NEXT UP WE HAVE TRUSTEE HARDEN. >> I WON'T PRESENT A REAL REPORT BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LET IT GO BY WITHOUT GIVING A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE NATOMAS NIGHT HAWKS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM. THEY HAD AN AMAZING SEASON AND WE ARE TREMENDOUSLY PROUD. AT THE SAME TIME LAST MONTH WAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE FOR A FEW MINUTES THE EVENT THE INTERCOM HIGH, I PURCHASED BOOKS FROM THE AUTHOR, I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME. BECAUSE I RAN FROM THE BASKETBALL GAME AND THE BLACK EXCELLENCE EVENT AT NATOMAS WAS EXCELLENT AS ALWAYS. I WILL PRESENT A REAL REPORT IN TWO WEEKS. THANK YOU. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE HARDEN. MY COMMENTS ARE SIMPLE. IT'S NOT A ZERO SUM GAME. I WOULD LIKE TO REACH A CONCLUSION WITH OUR TEACHER PARTNERS AS WELL. I LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND TALK MANY OF YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP DIALOGUE OPEN. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. TRUSTEE DOSICK. >> LIKE MY COLLEAGUES I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT SO WE CAN GET TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND MOVE ON WITH OUR BUSINESS. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: TRUSTEE MEHTA. >> LIKE MY COLLEAGUES I DON'T HAVE COMMENTS. I WANT TO KEEP THE TIME FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: TRUSTEE HARDEN? >> I APOLOGIZE. I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT I HOPE WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS FOR THE SAKE OF THE FACT THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THIS ROOM. YOU DON'T MIND IF WE HECKLE ALL NIGHT LONG. BUT LET'S REMEMBER THAT WE ALSO HAVE A JOB TO DO AND BE RESPECTFUL. AND AT THE SAME TIME -- ENSURE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALL YOUR INFORMATION. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. THANK YOU. REMIND EVERY ONE OF OUR POLICY. WE WANT TO ORGANIZE. I UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION. I MADE A MOTION TO CHANGE THE AGENDA 0 THE THINGS WE ARE SHOUTING OVER THE DAIS WE CAN HAVE IT UP HERE SO EVERYONE CAN SPEAK, OKAY? I DON'T WANT TO CALL A RECESS. I'M REALLY TRYING MY HARDEST NOT TO DO THAT. WE HAVE BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF. OKAY? >> PRESIDENT GRANT: OKAY, I'M LISTENING TO YOU AND TRYING MY BEST. [XII.e. Superintendent] I WANT TO GIVE OUR SUPERINTENDENT A CHANCE TO SPEAK. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GRANT. YOU KNOW, LET ME BE CLEAR. I KNOW THESE ARE EMOTIONAL TIMES. AND I WANT TO BEGIN WITH SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT WE VALUE OUR TEACHERS DEEPLY. THEY ARE THE HEART OF OUR SCHOOL AND DESERVE OUR RESPECT AND SUPPORT. AND LEADERSHIP HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR HIGHER PAY AND BENEFITS, THAT'S THEIR ROLE IN THE PROCESS AND WE RESPECT THAT AS WELL. THAT'S WHY CALIFORNIA LAW REQUIRES A NEUTRAL FACT-FINDING PROCESS. TABLE, IT INCLUDES A 4% SALARY INCREASE AND HEALTH BENEFITS OPTION. ZERO COST TO EMPLOYEES. WE STAND READY TO WORK ALONGSIDE TEACHERS AND LABOR [00:35:01] PARTNERS TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE RESOURCES IN SACRAMENTO AND IN THE STATE. THANK YOU. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DR. CASTILLIO. NEXT WE ARE MOVING TO PUBLIC COMMENT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE FELT THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GRAB A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD. BECAUSE WE DID SWITCH THE AGENDA ITEMS, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ON THE OUTSIDE WHO MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THAT WE SWITCHED PUBLIC COMMENT TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD, OKAY? I THINK THAT'S FAIR. YES? >> WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 4:00 P.M. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I UNDERSTAND THAT. I WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT A CARD BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ORDER TO HOW WE RUN THE MEETING. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A 4-5 MINUTE RECESS TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FILL OUT A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD, OKAY? SO WE ARE GOING TO RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES. WE WILL GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO FILL OUT PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK. OKAY? ALL RIGHT. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: OKAY. SO WE ARE GOING TO RESUME FROM [XVI. PUBLIC COMMENTS] OUR RECESS HERE. I HAVE MORE THAN TEN PUBLIC COMMENTS. S WE DID GET SOME, TEST, TEST, TEST, CAN WE RAISE THE MIC. THANK YOU. IS THAT BETTER? I DID GET MORE THAN TEN PUBLIC COMMENTS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD BYLAW 9323 WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO GET ALL THE COMMENTS. INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ALLOWED TWO MINUTES AND THE BOARD SHALL LIMIT TOTAL TIME TO 20 MINUTES. LET'S DO IT. THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS BREESA TRUJILLO. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE LETTER THAT MY SON GOT YESTERDAY FROM HIS SON THAT IS A AMERICAN LAKES STUDENT. [INDISCERNIBLE] IT IS SAYING THAT MY SON HAS TO SIGN INDEPENDENT STUDY THAT HE DID NOT REQUEST IT. BECAUSE MY GRANDSON IS ON THE STRIKE WITH HIS TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOL. SO WHY IS THIS MISLEADING INFORMATION THAT THE DISTRICT IS SENDING TO THE PARENTS, SAYING THAT WE NEED TO SIGN THAT PAPER. AND NOT ONLY THAT, MY GRANDSON HAS AN IEP. SO HIS EXTRA SERVICES AREN'T BEING PROVIDED OR AREN'T BEING PROVIDED BY ANY SUBSTITUTE TEACHER. SO WHY ARE YOU LYING TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAYING WE ARE GETTING EDUCATION IN OUR CLASSROOMS RIGHT NOW? THAT IS NOT ACCURATE. YOU HAVE ALMOST $40 MILLION IN REVENUE. WHY NOT SIT AT THE TABLE AND WORK WITH THE NTA TO RESOLVE THIS? YOU WANT TO BE LOSING 145,000 PAYING ON SUBSTITUTE INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH US? YOU NEED TO STOP DOING THAT. YOU NEED TO REALLY HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT WE HAVE, THAT HAS ONLY BROUGHT UNDER HER TENURE MORE ADMINISTRATION OFFICES, MORE ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL AND NO MORE TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT. SO YOU NEED TO STOP DOING THAT AND WORK WITH OUR NTA. THANK YOU. [00:40:05] >> PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT UP I HAVE AMANDA HIDAGI. I'M GOING TO GIVE AMANDA ABOUT 30 MORE SECONDS. I GET ITS CROWDED. THIS IS NOT AN EFFORT TO SHUT OFF DISCOURSE, OKAY? >> SHE IS COMING. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: OKAY, THANK YOU. >> WHO IS AFTER AMANDA. WE WILL GET THEM READY. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: THAT'S NOT NORMALLY SOMETHING I DO FROM THE DAIS. I CALL THEM IN ORDER. >> THIS IS NOT A NORMAL BOARD MEETING. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: THAT'S FAIR. I CAN VIBE WITH THAT. THE PERSON AFTER AMANDA WILL BE SADARTHA, LOOKS LIKE AURORA. THAT'S AFTER. AWARE THAT WE HAVE CORNERED YOU THIS WEEK. BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL DEADLINE AND HAS THEIR FINALS AND WE HAVE EPA EXAMS AROUND 60 DAYS AND TEACHERS ARE ON STRIKE. YOU GUYS ARE FOOLING US, THE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY BY PROMISING 180 INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS COMMITMENT. IN OUR SCHOOL, WE ARE DOING ANYTHING USELESS AND JUST LABELING AS INSTRUCTIONAL DAY. STUDENTS ARE WATCHING TIKTOK, CUTTING THEIR CLASSES, WATCHING NETFLIX AND YOU ARE COUNTING US INSTRUCTIONAL DAY. AT LAST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT SUPPORT THE TEACHERS BECAUSE EVERY BIG PERSON, INCLUDING YOU WAS ONCE TAUGHT BY A TEACHER. AMANDA, WE WILL GO BACK TO YOU. >> THANK YOU, THE SECURITY OUTSIDE IS A LITTLE INTENSE. I AM HERE TO CELEBRATE WOMEN HISTORY MONTH TOO. I WISH THERE WERE CELEBRATIONS ABOUT RAMADAN ON YOUR CALENDAR BECAUSE DURING HANUKKAH THERE WAS, CHRISTMAS THERE WAS. DURING OTHER HOLIDAYS THERE WERE, SO PLEASE DON'T FORGET US. I DON'T HAVE MY AGENDA OUT SO I'M WASTING TIME BECAUSE I FORGOT WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IN ALL THE CRAZY. OKAY, SO. PAYROLL. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. PAYROLL. THANKS SO MUCH FOR PAYING US. I APPRECIATE IT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE -- IT IS ON THE AGENDA. >> WE ARE ON PUBLIC COMMENT. >> WE ARE ALREADY ON PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE MISSED ME. OKAY, PUBLIC COMMENT, I WILL TALK ABOUT PAYROLL ANYWAYS BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC COMMENT. WE ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE WHO HAVE MULTIPLE JOBS OUT HERE JUST TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THIS DISTRICT. I DON'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH. I'M THE BREAD WINNER IN MY HOUSEHOLD AND IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE. I HAVE TWO WEDDINGS TO GO TO IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT. I'M HOLDING THIS SCARY FLYER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN IT THAT SHOW HOW MUCH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT MAKE. AND WHILE I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE IMPORTANT, I FEEL YOU COULD PAY A COUPLE EXTRA TEACHERS ON THESE SALARIES AND STILL MAKE-OVER $100 GRAND. IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE TO SEE THAT WE'RE JUST SO DEVALUED AND NOT APPRECIATED IN AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION. I WOULD HOPE THAT THE LEADERS OF EDUCATION WOULD WANT EDUCATION AND EDUCATORS TO BE VALUED. THANK YOU. [00:45:07] >> PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP I HAVE ERIC KRISTEN. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS ERIC KRISTEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR COALITION, I PICKED A HECK OF A NIGHT TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU. AS A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL, I FEEL WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH AS WELL AS WHAT THE TEACHERS ARE GOING THROUGH. ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO YOU MADE THE UNWISE DECISION TO OPENLY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE WORKFORCE IN THIS STATE AND REGION THAT CHOOSES EVERY DAY TO WAKE UP AND WORK IN A UNION-FREE ENVIRONMENT. A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST THEM IN THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT WAYS. WHICH I WON'T GET INTO TONIGHT BECAUSE SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD BEFORE. IT CUTS DOWN ON YOUR BITTERS, DEVALUES THE WORTH OF YOUR BOND BY 20-40% AND YOU HAVE A CHANCE IN NOVEMBER TO MODIFY IT SUBSTANTIALLY AND WELCOMEIN MORE BIDDERS. I HAVE SUBMITTED A PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST I WILL LEAVE FORMALLY TONIGHT BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR BACK FROM THE EMAIL I SENT AND YOU HAVE TEN BUSINESS DAYS TO RESPOND TYPICALLY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S RECEIVED BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THE STATISTICS ON ALL YOUR PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT JOBS. I WANT TO KNOW THE LOCAL HIRES, THE ESTIMATES AND COST AT THE TIME IT IS DONE, WAS IT ON TIME, ON SCHEDULE? ALL THAT DATA SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE TO YOU THE BOARD, AND TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE IT'S THEIR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK. I WILL SUBMIT THAT BECAUSE YOU NEED TO HAVE DATA BEFORE YOU WHEN YOU MAKE A DECISION IN NOVEMBER WHETHER TO DO AWAY WITH THE PLA, WHICH WE RECOMMEND OR ALTER TO MAKE IT MORE FRIENDLY TO THE NON-UNION MEN AND WOMEN. YOU NEED THAT DATA TO MAKE YOUR DECISION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING YOU ARE DEALING WITH. I KNOW YOU HAVE A BUNCH ON YOUR TABLE. YOU SHOULD BE DEALING WITH THIS, NOT TELLING COMPANIES HOW TO BUILD PROJECTS. THEY KNOW HOW TO DO IT. WE KNOW HOW TO BUILD CALIFORNIA. PL.A.'S ARE JUST A LEVEL OF BUREAUCRACY YOU DON'T NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP I HAVE EBONY YOUNG AND AFTER THAT I HAVE MELISSA ITA. SO EBONY YOUNG AND MELISSA, LOOKS LIKE AITA OR ITA. MY NAME IS EBONY YOUNG. I AM A MOTHER OF THREE STUDENTS HERE IN NATOMAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'M HERE TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH HOW YOU ARE TREATING OUR TEACHERS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY DO THE WORK, THEY ARE IN THE CLASSROOMS. THEY ARE WITH STUDENTS DAY IN AND DAY OUT. MS. CASTILLO, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU SAT IN A CLASSROOM ALL DAY? >> NEVER. >> EXACTLY. THANK YOU. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY DESERVE BETTER PAY, NOT $6, THAT $20 RAISE YOU GOT. WHAT IS THAT? YOU ARE PAYING THEM PENNIES VERSUS WHAT YOU GET? YOU ARE GETTING STEAK DINNER. PAY THESE TEACHERS WHAT THEY DESERVE. THEY TAKE CARE OF MY BABIES. I'M A SINGLE MOM. I'M A SINGLE MOM RAISING THREE CHILDREN IN YOUR DISTRICT. DOING THE BEST I CAN. YOU KNOW WHO THE BACKBONE OF MY SUPPORT IS? THE TEACHERS. THE ONES THAT CALL AND CHECK ON MY CHILDREN, THE TEACHERS. THEY DESERVE MORE THAN WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR. THEY DESERVE YOUR PAY. GIVE THEM SIX FIGURES. YOU GOT SOMEONE SITTING ON YOUR DISTRICT THAT HER KIDS GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOL. SHE DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE DISTRICT. BUT THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU. IT'S NOT OKAY WITH ME AS A PARENT. I WILL PULL MY CHILDREN OUT OF THIS DISTRICT AND TAKE THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. YOU'RE NOT NICE. YOU CAN SIT THERE AND MEAN MUG ME ALL DAY LONG, HONEY. BECAUSE WE CAN GO TOE-FOR-TOE. YOU SHOULD PAY THESE TEACHERS WHAT THEY ARE WORTH. [00:50:12] >> HI THERE. I AM COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A VERY PROUD TEACHER'S SPOUSE. ALSO AS AN H.R. PERSON. SO I COME WITH A VERY UNIQUE SKILL SET HERE. IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO WATCH MY PARTNER CONTINUE TO TEACH IN THIS DISTRICT. WATCHING HER BE HONORED TWO YEARS AGO IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU FOR BEING TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT EACH ALLEN HEIGHT ONLY TO GO RIGHT FROM THAT TO HAVE A STROKE. TO REALIZE JUST HOW POOR THE BENEFITS SHE WAS ENROLLED IN, THAT SHE COULD FORWARD WERE. COULD AFFORD WERE. IT WAS HEARTBREAKING GOING THROUGH THIS LONG RECOVERY JOURNEY, ONLY TO FIND SHE COULDN'T AFFORD THE DISABILITY BENEFIT THAT'S WERE SUPPLEMENTAL. MY PARTNER CHOSE TO COME TO THIS DISTRICT DESPITE US LIVING IN KARMICHAEL AND LOVED THE SAN JUAN DISTRICT. THE WAY THAT I HAVE WATCHED OUR TEACHERS BE TREATED IS NOT TRAUMA-INFORMED. IT'S QUITE DISGUSTING. IT'S ABUSIVE AND ITS DISRESPECTFUL. I HAVE WATCHED MY PARTNER WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND GO TO HAIGHT WHERE SHE HAS BEEN BEATEN, PUSHED, KICKED, FOUGHT. THERE IS INADEQUATE SUPPORT FOR THE TEACHERS IN THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL. AND THERE'S NO PLAN. PART OF WHAT SHE FACES IS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL VACANCIES IN THE FIFTH GRADE TEAM. BOTH THROUGH FMLA AND AN INABILITY TO STAFF THOSE POSITIONS. BECAUSE OF THE INADEQUATE PAY. I DO SALARY EVERY DAY. I DO COMPENSATION. IT'S A HUGE PART OF MY JOB. I HAVE TO SAY I WAS SHOCKED AT WHAT YOU MAKE. I WAS SHOCKED AT WHAT THE ENTIRE TEAM IS MAKING WHEN THESE TEACHERS DON'T HAVE JUST THE BASICS TO SUPPORT. I TELL YOU, I SPEND A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MY TIME STAFFING HER AMAZING "HARRY POTTER" CLASSROOM WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE PAY FOR OUT OF OUR POCKET. SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE HEAR THE TEACHERS AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NEXT UP, KATHRYN MORASCH. CIRIN DAVIS AND JESSICA, I BELIEVE IT'S ROMAN? I WILL SAY THAT AGAIN. KATHRYN MORASCH. CIREN DAVIS AND JESSICA ROMAN. KATHRYN? MORASCH. CIREN DAVIS AND JESSICA ROMAN. KATHRYN? OKAY. >> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BARD, THE PUBLIC. MY NAME IS KATHRYN MORASCH, PRONOUNS THEY/THEM. I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR A LONG TIME NOW. I HAVE TAUGHT IN TWO COUNTRIES, FOUR STATES, ONE REGION. AND I HAVE DEALT WITH 12-HOUR SHIFTS WITH ONE 15-MINUTE BREAK TAKEN IN THE CAFETERIA WITH THE STUDENTS. I HAVE DEALT IN NEWARK NEW JERSEY WITH TIRES STOLEN OFF OUR CARS IN THE PARKING LOTS. ALLENTOWN PENNSYLVANIA, BEING ALLOCATED ONE RAEM OF PAPER THE ENTIRE YEAR. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA WHERE THEY HAVE MISMANAGED FUNDS. THEY WILL NOT PRESS CHARGES IF SHE LEAVES QUIETLY. AND THIS BY FAR HAS BEEN THE DISTRICT THAT MAKES ME SO SICK FROM THE WAY YOU ARE MANAGING THIS. IF WE ARE IN A STRIKE THAT WE NEED TO NEGOTIATE AND COME TO A COMPROMISE. I CANNOT BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN ON STRIKE FOR TWO DAYS AND YOU DON'T WANT TO SIT DOWN. OUR PARENTS WANT YOU TO SIT DOWN. WE WANT YOU TO SIT DOWN. PLEASE, PLEASE SIT DOWN WITH US AND LISTEN. I HAVE BEEN POISONED. I HAVE BEEN CONCUSSED THREE TIMES. I HAVE BEEN STABBED. I HAVE BEEN CHOKED. I HAVE HAD MY NECK TRIED TO SNAP. I HAVE HAD A CHAIR WHAMED AGAINST MY BACK W.W.E. STYLE. I HAVE BEEN BITTEN BY A POISONOUS SNAKE TO PROTECT A CHILD. I HAVE PUT MY BODY ON THE LINE. I WANT THOSE BUTTS IN SEATS SO WE TALK. [00:55:16] >> CIARAN. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: SORRY, I WASN'T TRYING TO DISRESPECT YOU. >> HI, MY NAME IS CIAREN DAVIS, I'M A FIFTH GRADE STUDENT IN MRS. MCCLURG'S CLASS. I THINK THE TEACHERS SHOULD BE PAID FAIRLY AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SMALLER CLASS SIZES AND MORE RESOURCES. PLEASE. MY TEACHERS WORK HARD AND DESERVE MORE MONEY SO MAKE A RESPONSIBLE DEAL WITH THE TEACHERS SO WE CAN GET BACK TO LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM. JESSICA VROMEN? >> HI THERE, I'M A PARENT OF THREE STUDENTS AT HERON SCHOOL. TWO OF WHOM HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. WHEN I WAS FIGHTING THIS DISTRICT TO GET SERVICES FOR MY KIDS I EMAILED EVERY ONE OF YOU SITTING UP THERE AND HOW MANY OF YOU RESPONDED TO ME? LET ME TELL YOU. NONE. YOU KNOW WHO DID? MY KIDS TEACHERS. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED I WILL KEEP MY THREE CHILDREN HOME FROM SCHOOL AS LONG AS THIS TAKES BECAUSE THESE TEACHERS BEHIND ME ARE WORTH MORE THAN GOLD. THE SALARIES THESE LEADERS MAKE ARE DISGUSTING. THE TACTICS THAT YOU ALL HAVE APPROVED AND ARE USING TO MISLEAD PARENTS AND MISINFORM THEM IS REPREHENSIBLE. I WILL MAKE SURE THAT EVERY PARENT IN THIS DISTRICT KNOWS THAT THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT YOU GUYS SPENT FOR THIS INFORMED K-12 EMAILS WE ARE GETTING EVERY DAY IS AN END AROUND TO COUNT OUR KIDS FOR ATTENDANCE PURPOSES IF WE SIGN THOSE CONTRACTS. HAVE YOU EXPLAINED TO PARENTS WHEN YOU SEND EMAILS YOU ARE LYING TO THEM SO YOU CAN GET AROUND US KEEPING OUR KIDS AT HOME SO YOU CAN STILL GET THE MONEY FOR TEACHING OUR KIDS WHEN YOU ARE NOT. HAVE YOU BEEN HONEST ABOUT THAT? WHAT ABOUT THE THREATENING LETTERS THESE ARE UNEXCUSED ABSENCES, WE WILL CUT THE PROGRAMS. GUESS WHAT, WE ALREADY DON'T HAVE THE PROGRAMS. UNTIL YOU ADEQUATELY SUPPORT THESE TEACHERS, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BACKBONE AND LIFE BLOOD OF THESE SCHOOLS. MAYBE WHEN CONSIDERING HOW TO PAY THEM, YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR OWN SALARIES BECAUSE WHAT YOU MAKE IS RIDICULOUS COMPARED TO THESE TEACHERS AND HOW DARE YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY AND GAL TO LOOK AT THEM AND SAY I'M WORTH ALMOST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS AND YOU ARE WORTH FAR LESS THAN THAT. IF ANYONE OF YOU COULD NAME ONE OF MY KIDS AND TELL ME EVEN FIVE FACTS ABOUT THEM, I WILL GO HOME AND SHUT UP AND I SERIOUSLY DOUBT YOU COULD. PAY THESE TEACHERS FAIRLY. WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY UNTIL YOU DO. THANK YOU. SO I HAVE JOANNA DAVIS. JACKIE, IT LOOKS LIKE FREITAS. AND LAST NAME IS GIBBS. IT COULD BE ATHENA. A THENA IS HERE? LET'S START WITH ATHENA FIRST, CAN WE DO THAT. THEN WE WILL GET JOANNA DAVIS AND JACKIE RIGHT AFTER. >> JOANNA IS IN HERE, BY THE WAY. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: OKAY, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. >> HI, MY NAME IS ATHENA GIBBS I'M THE SCHOOL PSYCH AT NATOMAS PARK ELEMENTARY. THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR IN TT DISTRICT. I'VE BEEN IN EDUCATION FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, TEN IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION HERE AT K-12. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THROUGH A STRIKE. I'VE BEEN IN A SMALLER SCHOOL LAST YEAR. WE HAD MORE TITLE I FUNDING THAN WHAT MPE IS BEING OFFERED. I'VE NEVER BEEN AT A DISTRICT THAT'S HAD SUCH FEW SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCES. I FEEL I AM CONSTANTLY FIGHTING FOR OUR BABIES. OKAY. I'M IN IEP'S ALL THE TIME TRYING TO SUPPORT PARENTS AND I FEEL WE ARE CONSTANTLY UP [01:00:04] AGAINST THE WALL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTIONS. WE HAVE SDC AND WE HAVE RSP. OUR KIDS ARE UNIQUE, OKAY? MUCH SMALLER DISTRICTS HAVE HAD MORE, OKAY? AND THEN I FIND OUT WE ARE SELPA. THIS IS A SMALL DISTRICT TO BE OUR OWN SELPA. WHERE IS THAT MONEY? I WANT TRANSPARENCY, IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THIS MONEY AND NOT HAVE OPTIONS FOR OUR BABIES, PLEASE EXPLAIN WHERE IS THE MONEY. I SEE, AS A NEW PERSON HERE, THE SALARIES. I'M NOT SAYING YOU ALL DON'T DESERVE IT. NO ONE IS SAYING YOU DON'T DESERVE NOTHING BUT WHEN I SEE 20% RAISES? AND I KNOW ALL OUR BABIES WHO ARE TRAUMA-INFORMED, WE HAVE SO MANY BABIES TRAUMA-INFORMED. I KNOW YOU KNOW AND I WILL SPEAK FOR MPE BUT THIS IS THE WHOLE DISTRICT. THE CONSTANT TURNOVER OF STAFF. IF YOU HAVE THE CONSTANT TURNOVER OF STAFF, THAT IS NOT TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES. IT IS NOT. OKAY? I HAVE ALREADY ELECTED NOT TO RETURN NEXT YEAR. BECAUSE OF WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED HERE AT THIS DISTRICT. OKAY. AND THAT IS JUST NOT RIGHT. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS JOANNA. AND I'M A NATOMAS PARENT HERE. I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AT THESE MEETINGS. SAID IT BEFORE IN EMAILS. THERE'S A HUGE PROBLEM WITH TRANSPARENCY IN THIS DISTRICT. AND I'M FED UP. WE ALL ARE, IT'S RIDICULOUS. I COULD SAY THE NUMBERS AGAIN. EVERYBODY HAS ALREADY SAID THE NUMBERS THAT THE PAY FOR ADMINISTRATORS VERSUS TEACHERS AND WHAT YOU GUYS ACTUALLY OFFERED TEACHERS THIS LAST TIME. 4% OVER TWO YEARS. THAT'S 2% A YEAR. THAT'S NOT EVEN LIKE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS. AND ALSO THE PAY OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. YOU -- I MEAN JUST TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE, THE L.A. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH HAS OVER 600,000 REGISTERED STUDENTS, THEIR SUPERINTENDENT EARNED $443,000 LAST YEAR. SO OUR SUPERINTENDENT HERE MAKES -- HAS 46 TIMES FEWER STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT THAT YOU ARE SERVICING. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THIS TO THE COMMUNITY? WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY THAT YOU GUYS SAY THAT YOU HAVE? OUR TEACHERS ARE THE REASON OUR CHILDREN LEARN TO READ, TO THINK, TO GROW. THEY BUY SUPPLIES OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: SO YOU ARE AT TIME. >> THANK YOU. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. > PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT, IS JACKIE FREITAS HERE? Select to skip to this part of the video">SENSE" ] >> PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT, IS JACKIE FREITAS HERE? SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION EARLIER. I SAW YOU SPIN AROUND. >> I AM A TEACHER, I CAN DEAL WITH IT. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I RESPECT THAT. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JACKIE FREITAS, I'VE BEEN AN ENGLISH TEACHER FOR 11 YEARS AND TEACHING FOR 26. JUST A COUPLE THINGS I DO AT THE SCHOOL. I'VE BEEN THE CICA COORDINATOR, THE ATA COORDINATOR, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY ADVISOR, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, ASB INSTRUCTOR AND CURRENTLY THE ADVISOR FOR THE SIKH SERVICE HONOR SOCIETY AND WOMEN OF COLOR. AND ASSISTANT TENNIS COACH. NOT THAT I PLAY TENNIS BUT THEY NEEDED SOMEONE TO RIDE THE BUS SO THE BOYS COULD PLAY THE MATCH. AND I WAS THERE FOR THEM. AND WHILE I'M NOT IN THE UNION LEADERSHIP POSITION, I AM A UNION MEMBER AND PROUD OF IT. IN FACT, THE ONLY THING I'M MORE PROUD OF BEING A UNION MEMBER ARE MY STUDENTS. I SHOW UP FOR MY STUDENTS. [01:05:06] SORRY. I SHOW UP FOR MY STUDENTS. I TEACH THEM HOW TO READ AND WRITE AND PREPARE THEM TO BE A PRODUCTIVE PARTICIPANT OF OUR COMMUNITY. I WORK TO CREATE A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT TO EVERY ONE OF MY STUDENTS I AM THERE FOR THEM AND I EXPECT THE DISTRICT TO BE THERE FOR ME. THAT'S NOT ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW. SO WHEN THE DISTRICT NEGOTIATORS CANCELLED NEGOTIATIONS ON MONDAY AND HAVEN'T BEEN BACK AT THE TABLE TO SETTLE THIS CONTRACT THAT TELLS ME THEY DON'T RESPECT ME. THEY DON'T RESPECT MY CLASSROOM AND THEY DON'T RESPECT THE STUDENTS. INSTEAD THEY ARE PLAYING GAMES. AND THAT IS WHY I AM HERE AND MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES ARE HERE ON STRIKE. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES US FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME IN THE SCHOOL, THE DISTRICT NEGOTIATORS ARE PLAYING CHICKEN WITH OUR STUDENTS' EDUCATION. I HAVE LITERALLY PUT MY BODY ON THE LINE. YES, I HAVE BEEN INJURED TRYING TO PROTECT MY STUDENTS. WHAT HAS THIS DISTRICT DONE? YOU HAVE SAID THAT I DON'T DESERVE A FULL RAISE, ONLY APAR SHALL RAISE. YOU HAVE SAID I DON'T DESERVE FULLY PAID HEALTHCARE REGARDLESS OF MY FAMILY SITUATION. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: YOU ARE AT TIME. >> YOU ARE SAYING MY STUDENTS AND I DON'T DESERVE A SAFE PLACE TO LEARN. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: YOU ARE AT TIME. >> QUICK QUESTION, DID YOUR 8% RAISE COVER LESS THAN HALF OF YOUR WORKING [INDISCERNIBLE] I'M HERE AS A RESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY DEMANDING YOU GET BACK TO WORK. WE ARE ON STRIKE BECAUSE YOU WALKED AWAY. WE DIDN'T. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: OKAY, THANK YOU. LOOKS LIKE GARRISON. THEN I HAVE ZACHARY MOLENBERG AND JACK SLEVIN. >> HI, FRIENDS. I NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD PURPOSELY DISRESPECT YOU BY TALKING TO YOU IN MY WINNIE THE POOH HAT. I APOLOGIZE. NORMALLY I WOULD BE A LITTLE FANCIER, FORGIVE ME FOR THAT, MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE POETIC JUSTICE, I APOLOGIZE FOR MY CASUAL RETIRE. -- ATTIRE. I'M A BIG WINNIE THE POOH FAN AND YOU CATCH MORE BEES WITH HONEY THAN VINEGAR. RESPECT WAS SHOWN BY THE BOARD WITH A 15% RAISE IN AUGUST FOR FOLKS HIGH UP IN THE DISTRICT FORTHE WORK THEY DO. THAT'S GREAT. I'M HAPPY FOR THEM. PEOPLE DESERVE TO BE WELL COMPENSATED. BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DICHOTOMY OF HAVING THE FUNDING TO DO THAT BUT NOT TO GIVE TEACHERS THE RAISE OF 4.5% THIS YEAR AND 4% NEXT YEAR. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING TEACHERS HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE SINCE 2023. IT'S HARD TO JUSTIFY. I ASK THAT YOU SHOW TEACHERS THE SAME RESPECT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WORK. IN FACT, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK OF YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER. I PERSONALLY CANNOT REMEMBER WHO WON THE WORLD SERIES LAST YEAR OR WHO WON THE OSCAR FOR BEST PICTURE, BUT I REMEMBER MR. INSCO, MS. BASSEREL, MS. ANDERSON AND SO MANY OTHER TEACHERS. IT'S IMPORTANT WORK. IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE. TODAY WE WERE PICKETING VERY PEACEFULLY IN FRONT OF MY SCHOOL WHICH IS IN NATOMAS PARK, BY THE WAY. ONE OF MY STUDENTS CAME WITH A CUPCAKE AND SAID MS. GARRISON, HERE IS A CUPCAKE. THANK YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. SHE SAID IT'S MY BIRTHDAY. I HUGGED HER AND CRIED. AND SAID BUDDY, I'M MISSING YOUR BIRTHDAY. I'M SO SORRY. WE WERE CRYING. ALL THE TEACHERS RALLIED. ALL THE TEACHERS LEFT THE PICKET LINE TO SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HER AT HER RECESS. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT AND THAT'S WHAT TEACHERS DO. THANK YOU. PLEASE HELP US. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: THANK YOU. >> HI, MY NAME IS ZACH MOLENBERG, I'M A TEACHER AT HAIGHT AND SOCCER COACH, MATH [01:10:10] ADOPTION TEAM AND E2C2 COMMITTEE. I WEAR A LOT HATS. THE REASON IS I DON'T GET PAID VERY MUCH, SO I HAVE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS TO MAKE ENDS MEET. THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS I DO THAT. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BEING AN EARLY CAREER EDUCATOR IN NATOMAS. WHEN YOU MAKE $300,000 OR MORE YOU MIGHT BE REMOVED FROM THAT REALITY SO I WANT TO BRING THAT HOME. THERE ARE TEACHERS TAKING HOME EVERY MONTH LESS PATHAN THEY PAY IN THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE. THEY ARE PAYING MORE MONEY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN THAT THEY GET TO TAKE HOME AND PAY RENT AND BUY FOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU KNOW IS SO EXPENSIVE THESE DAYS. THERE ARE TEACHERS ON MY SIDE ON PUBLICLY FUNDED HEALTH PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE DISTRICTS PROGRAMS. THERE ARE CLASSES AT MY SITE THAT HAVEN'T HAD A TEACHER ALL YEAR LONG. THERE ARE TEACHERS AT MY SITE SPLIT TO OTHER CLASSROOMS FOR WEEKS ON EARL END. NOT EVEN A LONG-TERM SUB. MANY WERE IN MY CLASS LAST YEAR AND NOW WHEREVER WE CAN FIND SPACE. SOMETIMES MY CLASSROOM, SOMETIMES SECOND GRADE, SOMETIMES SIXTH GRADE. I NEVER KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO BE AND THEY DON'T EITHER. CAN YOU IMAGINE COMING TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY AND NOT KNOWING WHAT CLASS YOU WILL BE IN. THAT'S A REALITY AT MY SCHOOL SITE EVERY SINGLE DAY. WHEN YOU CLAIM TO VALUE EDUCATORS BUT YOU CAN'T ATTRACT ENOUGH EDUCATORS TO FULFILL, THAT SHOWS THAT IS NOT TRUE. WITH MY LAST 15 SECONDS IT SEEMS THE DISTRICT THINKS IF WE JUST IGNORE THIS PROBLEM IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY. LET ME TELL YOU, THAT IS NOT THE CASE. FOR YOU IT'S A FINANCIAL PROBLEM. FOR US IT'S OUR LIVELIHOODS. THIS IS WHETHER I CAN START A FAMILY OR TEACHERS CAN FEED THEIR FAMILIES. WE WILL NOT GO AWAY. COME TO THE TABLE. >> I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. MY NAME IS JACK SLAVIN. I'M A TEACHER AND BEEN THERE 11 YEARS AND RESIDENT OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I DON'T WANT TO IMAGINE WORKING ANYWHERE ELSE BUT I WANT TO BRING FACTS BEFORE THE BOARD I THINK ARE REALLY CONCERNING. THERE ARE 45 TEACHERS, RSP TEACHERS IN THIS DISTRICT. JUST 10.5 YEARS, I'M NUMBER FOUR IN SENIORITY, THAT IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE AND NOT A DISTRICT THAT VALUES STAFF RETENTION AT ALL. IT'S EVEN WORSE FOR A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST WE CLOSELY WORK WITH. OUR MOST SENIOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST STARTED IN 2017, LESS THAN TEN YEARS IN THIS DISTRICT. NO ONE HAS WORKED LONGER AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS DOESN'T REFLECT ON THOSE WHO SUPERVISE THESE DEPARTMENTS AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS, INABILITY TO CONSISTENTLY RETAIN STAFF. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE TEACHER INDUCTIONS FOR NINE YEARS NOW IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING TO TRAIN PEOPLE AND HAVE THEM LEAVE. AND WHENEVER WE STATE REASONS THEY ARE LEAVING, EVERYTHING COMES UP ABOUT THE WORK CONDITIONS IN THE DISTRICT. IT'S ALWAYS ONE OF THE REASONS THEY LEAVE. AND WHEN I TALK TO THEM AFTER THEY HAVE GONE TO THEIR FOLLOWING DISTRICT THEY FIND THE WORK CONDITIONS THERE ARE SO MUCH BETTER. I WANT A DISTRICT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE HIRED IN. BUT ALSO WANT TO RETIRE IN. I'M A DEDICATED RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND I WANT OUR SCHOOLS AND STAFF RETENTION TO REFLECT THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SO THE NEXT NAMES THAT I HAVE ARE, YOU CAN'T HEAR ME, I'M SORRY, THE NEXT NAMES ARE SARA GOALEN, JAKARA JOHNSON AND JOSCRAN CAR. SARA GOLDEN, JAKARA JOHNSON AND LOOKS LIKE JOSCARON -- YOU WANT TO SAY THAT IN THE MIC. >> JOSCAREN CAR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SARA GOLDEN. I'M ONE OF OUR RSP TEACHERS AT NATOMAS, ALSO AN INTERN TEACHER. A FEW DAYS AGO I HAD AN ADMINISTRATOR INFORM ME WHEN I'M AT MY INTERN CLASSES THE PLACE WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SAFE VOICE, WHERE I'M [01:15:02] SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT MY SITES AND ASK FOR HELP, HE CALLED ME OUT FOR IT. APPARENTLY ONE OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS WHO WORKS FOR THIS DISTRICT, AND WHO ALSO TAUGHT FOR THE INTERN PROGRAM WENT TO MY PRINCIPAL, CALLED ME OUT FOR SPEAKING UP A LITTLE BIT AND VENTING TO MY CLASSMATES AND I WAS REPRIMANDED FOR THAT. THAT'S NOT OKAY. YOUR ADMINISTRATOR SHOULD NOT BE DOING THAT. ON TOP OF THAT, ROBYN, YOU MAKE OVER $400,000 A YEAR, THAT'S MORE THAN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. MAKE THAT MAKE SENSE. THAT'S NOT OKAY. I HAVE GONE HOME IN TEARS. I'VE SPENT MONDAY-FRIDAY WORKING WITH OUR KIDS, SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WHO NEED THAT EXTRA SUPPORT CRYING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEM EVER. I NEED SUPPORTS FOR BOTH EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, SENSORY SUPPORT. I'VE ASKED FOR IT AND I KEEP BEING TOLD, OH, UNLESS THEY HAVE O.T. SERVICES WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THAT. AS AN INTERN TEACHER AND A FIRST-YEAR TEACHER I MAKE ABOUT $56,000. BACK IN 2023, I BELIEVE IT IS, I SPOKE AND SAID GENERAL MANAGERS MAKE $60,000 AT MCDONALD'S. GENERAL MANAGERS. GUESS WHAT, THEY DON'T HAVE AN EDUCATION LIKE WE DO. THEY AREN'T MADE TO SIT IN CLASSROOMS EVERY DAY BUT THEY MADE $60,000. THAT NUMBER TODAY $62,000-$80,000. MAKE THAT MAKE SENSE. THEY MAKE MORE THAN I DO WITH A SIX-YEAR EDUCATION. THAT'S NOT FAIR. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: YOU ARE AT TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR LISTENING. I AM A PARENT AND I'M PART OF THE PTA. I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND I'M A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. BUT MOST OF ALL I'M AN ALUMNI OF THE NATOMAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. I STARTED AT BANNON CREEK AND WENT TO LEROY GREEN BEFORE IT WAS AN ACADEMY. I DECIDED MY CAREER IN THIRD GRADE WITH MY THIRD GRADE TEACHER, MS. NAHAMADI. I MET MY HUSBAND AND FATHER OF MY TWO CHILDREN, EXPECTING THE THIRD AT BANNON CREEK. AND OUR CRUSHES AND LOVE STORY STARTED AT LEROY GREEN IN TT GATE PROGRAM AND THE BAND PROGRAM. SO FOR ME, OUR DISTRICT AND WHAT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PROGRAMMING NEEDS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. I'VE BEEN REALLY AFRAID OF WHAT IT CAN PROVIDE TO MY KIDS NOW. I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HESITANT ABOUT INCLUDING MY YOUNGER GENERATION INTO THIS. I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT, I WANTED PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR THE DIVERSITY OF NATOMAS, BECAUSE OF ITS PROGRAMMING, THE DIVERSITY AND GROWTH. BUT I FEEL ITS STAGNATED. MY MAIN ISSUE IS TEACHERS HAVE BEEN UNDER PAID FOR A LONG TIME. BUT TO THE POINT THEY HAVE BEEN UNDER APPRECIATED AND ARE NOW STRIKING IS A NEW LOW FOR ME. I REALLY DO THINK TEACHERS NEED TO BE FUNDED MORE. ESPECIALLY OUR NEW SCHOOLS. SHE GOES TO HEREDIA MAGA, WHICH IS AN IMMERSION. AND NOW SCHOOLS HAVE LACK OF FUNDING BECAUSE OF THE SMALL POPULATION AND A LOT OF THE THINGS IN THE GROWTH IS JUST NOT HAPPENING AND A LOT OF PARENTS ARE NOT INFORMED. INFORMED OF WHAT THE TEACHERS ARE NEEDING AND THE RESOURCES THEY ARE NEEDING. I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION A LOT OF DUAL IMMERSION TEACHERS ARE CERTIFIED EXTRA, HAVE GONE TO EXTRA SCHOOLING BUT THE RESOURCES THEY NEED COST MORE TO HAVE BILINGUAL RESOURCES. THEY ARE NOT APPRECIATED FOR THE EXTRA WORK THEY PROVIDE. AND I WANT THAT TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THEY DO SO MUCH FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THIS PERIOD. SO PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT. YOU KNOW THE STRIKE IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AFTER THIS STRIKE, IT'S NOT THAT IT ENDS UP BEING CUT COSTS AND IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING FOLLOW THROUGH OR STAFF CUT, WE WOULD LIKE SOME FOLLOW THROUGH, THROUGHOUT. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU ARE AT TIME. THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. I'VE BEEN A PARENT AT NATOMAS PARK FOR TEN YEARS AND BEEN A [01:20:01] COMMUNITY MEMBER. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WITHOUT TEACHERS WE HAVE NOTHING. IF THERE'S NO TEACHER IN THE SCHOOLS WE DON'T HAVE DOCTORS, WE DON'T HAVE ENGINEERS, NONE OF THE KIDS ARE BECOMING ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE EDUCATED. WHY ARE THE TEACHERS STRIKING. WHY ARE THEY ONLY GETTING RAISES 2%, THE OTHER 2% YOU ARE PROMISING IS HAPPENING AT THE END OF FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR. NOT EVEN THIS YEAR. WHEN WE HAVE YOU GUYS, ADMINISTRATORS GETTING THE, YOU GUYS ARE GETTING PAID MORE THAN WHAT THE TEACHERS DESERVE. WE HAVE THE KIDS IN THE GYM RIGHT NOW. AND THEY ARE JUST WATCHING MOVIES. EVEN THE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ARE SENDING OUT EMAILS SAYING, THEY ARE LEARNING. THEY AREN'T LEARNING ANYTHING, FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS THAT WE HAVE TEACHERS ON STRIKE. SO I WOULD SAY RECONSIDER THAT WE NEED TO HAVE OUR TEACHERS BACK IN THE CLASSROOMS WHERE THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF OUR TEACHERS OF WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR. BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING A LOT. I HAVE SEEN IT. I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING AT SCHOOLS. SO I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT THE TEACHERS GO THROUGH AND WHAT THEY HAVE. AND WE HAVE LACK OF WHERE THERE'S NO SUPPORT FOR THE TEACHERS. AND THEN WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. SO YOU GUYS NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. AND I KNOW SPEAK PUNJABI, I WILL SAY IT IN PUNJABI TOO. FROM NATOMAS PARK JUST BECAUSE OF THIS DISTRICT. AND WE HAVE SUCH GREAT TEACHERS AT NATOMAS PARK. IN THE LAST TEN YEARS WE HAVE LOST SO MANY TEACHERS BECAUSE OF UNDER PAID TEACHERS. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE FROM LINDSEY BERG AND JENNIFER MAISE. >> MY NAME IS LINDSEY BIRD AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN EDUCATOR IN THE DISTRICT. I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST 24 YEARS. YEAH, I STARTED WHEN I WAS A BABY. I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR STUDENTS, OUR SCHOOLS AN THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY. EDUCATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF REPRESENTED BY NTA SHOW UP EVERY DAY, WORK LONG HOURS, INVEST OUR HEARTS AND SOULS INTO OUR CLASSROOMS AND STUDENTS AND MAKE SURE THEY FEEL SAFE, SUPPORTED, LOVED AND SUCCESSFUL. RIGHT NOW WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING FOR A FAIR CONTRACT. WE ARE ASKING FOR FULLY STAFFED SAFE SCHOOLS. AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE. AND THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT OUR OWN FAMILIES WHILE DOING THE WORK WE LOVE. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE BOARD AND DISTRICT CAN PROVIDE 15-25% RAISES TO HIGH-LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS DIRECTORS AND SUPERINTENDENTS WHILE THE DISTRICT IS OFFERING EDUCATORS WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE STUDENTS AROUND 2%. YES, 2%. NOT THE MISLEADING 4% THAT'S BEING CLAIMED. THAT IS NOT EQUITABLE AND IT SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES. WE LOVE OUR STUDENTS. WE WANT TO BE IN OUR CLASSROOMS DOING WHAT WE DO BEST, TEACHING, MENTORING AND SUPPORTING YOUNG PIM. NOT STANDING HERE. NOT LIKE THIS. THIS IS EMOTIONAL AND IT'S UNSETTING BECAUSE WE CARE SO DEPLY ABOUT THE WORK WE DO. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO FEEL VALUED AND RESPECTED BY THE DISTRICT WE SERVE. TONIGHT I ASK THE BOARD TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR EDUCATORS. HELP US REACH A FAIR CONTRACT SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER AND CONTINUE FOCUSING ON WHAT MATTERS MOST, OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: THANK YOU. JENNIFER MAISE. >> HI THERE. BOARD MEMBERS AND PARENTS AND [01:25:04] MY COLLEAGUES. I'M JENNIFER MAISE AND I HAVE BEEN A NATOMAS TEACHER FOR 33 YEARS. OVER HALF OF MY LIFE. I HAVE DRIVEN TO NATOMAS AND TAUGHT INSIDE A NATOMAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT CLASSROOM. OVER HALF MY LIFE. I'M A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER. AND I HOPE THAT MY WORDS FLOAT LIKE BUTTERFLIES RIGHT ON OVER TO YOUR HEARTS, EVERYONE SITTING IN THIS ROOM AND YOU HOLD THEM INSIDE OF YOUR HEART THIS EVENING. TEACHERS WORK HARD. WE STRIVE FOR QUALITY FIRST INSTRUCTION. WE BRING THE CREATIVITY, THE HUMOR, THE PERSONALITY AND THE HEART TO OUR CLASSROOMS AND TO OUR SCHOOL FIGHTS. WE ARE THE POINTS OF CONTACT WITH OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. AND TEACHERS LIKE ME, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY SO LONG, WE HAVE TAUGHT PARENTS WHOSE KIDS ARE IN OUR CLASSROOMS NOW AND WE HAVE GREAT CONNECTIONS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO US AND MAKE NATOMAS WHAT IT IS. WELL, WE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT GO TO WALMART ON THE WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL TO BUY THE THINGS TO KEEP IT ALL TOGETHER IN OUR CLASSROOM EVENTS. WE DECORATE THE CLASSROOM FOR OPEN HOUSE, WE BRIBE OUR FAMILY MEMBERS TO HELP US SET UP BULLETIN BOARDS IN THE SUMMER SO OUR CLASSROOMS WILL BE READY FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE ARE IT. WE MATTER. WE ARE WORTH WHAT WE ARE BARGAINING FOR. AND LET'S ALL OF US IN THE ROOM REMEMBER THAT WE ARE NATOMAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. UNIFIED. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT. > PRESIDENT GRANT: I'M GOING TO MOVE ON WITH THE CONSENT Select to skip to this part of the video">WAIT" ] >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I'M GOING TO MOVE ON WITH THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT. >> NO ONE CAN HEAR ANYTHING. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I CAN'T ACOUNT FOR EVERY INTANGIBLE. THERE'S A PACKED HOUSE TONIGHT. >> PASSED THE TIME. >> THEY WOULDN'T LET US IN. YOU HAD SECURITY. AND THEY TURNED OFF THE AIR-CONDITIONING. THERE'S NO AIR-CONDITIONING IN THE HALLWAYS. DAVID IS DRIPPING IN SWEAT. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD. I REALLY DO. >> YOU CAN ALSO DO WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ASK THE BOARD IF YOU WILL ALLOW OTHER COMMENTS. I'M HERE ALMOST EVERY MONTH. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I'M GOING TO ELECT TO -- >> THAT'S NOT OKAY. YOU TOOK EVERY WHITE MAN'S CARD BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LET THE WOMEN SPEAK. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I DON'T KNOW WHAT REMARKS YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE WITH IMPLICATIONS TO RACE. >> [01:30:01] TO RECESS. I'M GOING TO RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES I'M GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MEETING. TEST, TEST. WE ARE GOING TO RESUME NOW. I'M GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MEETING AS WE HAVE OUTLINED. I HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT ITEM FROM AMANDA HIDAGI. IS SHE HERE? >> SHE IS OUTSIDE. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I'M NOT GOING TO GO BACK AND FORTH. IS AMANDA HIDAGI PRESENT? >> SHE IS HERE. SHE IS COMING. >> MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR. [XIII. CONSENT ITEMS] >> PRESIDENT GRANT: THERE'S A MOTION BY TRUSTEE DOSICK, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY TRUSTEE HARDEN. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> [XIV.a. NUSD Transportation Plan for 2026-2027] >> PRESIDENT GRANT: MOTION CARRIES 5-0. NEXT UP WE HAVE THE BOARD REPORT. THE BOARD REPORT WAS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA WHEN IT WAS RELEASED. ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANY TRUSTEES ON THE BOARD REPORT? >> NONE HERE. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT. SO THAT IS RECEIVED. [XV.a. Present and Approve 2025-26 Second Interim Budget Report and Positive Certification] SO NEXT UP WE ARE GOING TO OUR ACTION ITEMS. ACTION ITEM A IS TO PRESENT AND APPROVE AT 2025-26 SECOND INTERIM BUDGET REPORT AND POSITIVE CERTIFICATION. HEATHER BROWN, OUR ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT WILL LEAD THIS PRESENTATION. >> SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE DISTRICT'S 25-26 SECOND INTERIM BUDGET REPORT. THIS UPDATES OUR BUDGET TO REFLECT CURRENT ESTIMATES FOR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES GIVING US A CLEARER PICTURE OF HOW WE EXPECT TO END THE FISCAL YEAR AND PROJECTIONS FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION THE BOARD WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE THE REPORT AND CERTIFICATION. ALL OF THE DISTRICT GOALS ARE PRESENTED HERE, AS THEY ARE ALL REFLECTED IN OUR 25-26 BUDGET. TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION HAS SEVERAL OBJECTIVES. FIRST WE WILL REVIEW THE CONTINUOUS CYCLE OF BUDGET DEVELOPMENT AND WHERE THE SECOND INTERIM REPORT FITS WITHIN THAT CYCLE. NEXT WE WILL HIGHLIGHT KEY BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS AND CHANGES SINCE FIRST INTERIM. WE WILL THEN REVIEW THE DISTRICTS REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND RESERVES AND COMMITTED AND RESTRICTED RESERVES AND WALK THROUGH THE MULTI-YEAR FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS AND NEXT STEPS. SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGETING IS A YEAR-ROUND PROCESS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE CONTINUALLY MONITOR REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, STAFFING LEVELS, INROLLMENT AND STATE BUDGET CHANGES AND EACH REPORT PROVIDES AN UPDATED LOOK AT THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL POSITION AND ALLOWS US TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED. CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TWO INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORTS EACH YEAR. THE FIRST INTERIM REPORT COVERS FINANCIAL ACTIVITY THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST, AND MUST BE SUBMITTED BY DECEMBER 15TH. AND THE SECOND REPORT COVERS ACTIVITY THROUGH JANUARY 31ST AND TYPICALLY DUE BY MARCH 15TH. AFTER THE BOARD APPROVES THE REPORT THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION REVIEWS OUR CERTIFICATION AND OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION. THIS PROCESS ENSURES THAT DISTRICTS REMAIN FISCALLY SOLVENT AND ABLE TO MEET THEIR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. WE MUST SELF-CERTIFY WHETHER WE CAN MEET THE OBLIGATIONS IN THE CURRENT YEAR AND TWO SUBSEQUENT [01:35:05] YEARS. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF CERTIFICATIONS. POSITIVE MEANS WE ARE ABLE TO MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR AND NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS. QUALIFIED BUDGET MEANS THERE'S UNCERTAINTY. AND NEGATIVE MEANS WE ARE UNABLE TO MEET THE SAME OBLIGATIONS. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE DISTRICT IS ISSUING A POSITIVE CERTIFICATION. THIS MEANS WE EXPECT TO MEET OUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS THIS YEAR AND THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS. THE DISTRICT MAINTAINS A 9% RESERVE, WHICH INCLUDES A 3% STATE REQUIRED RESERVE FOR ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES. AND AN ADDITIONAL 6% RESERVE REQUIRED BY BOARD POLICY. ENROLLMENT IS PROJECTED AT 10,865 STUDENTS, EXCLUDING CHARTER SCHOOLS. AND OUR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE IS PROJECTED AT 10,072 OR APPROXIMATELY 92.83% ATTENDANCE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS ENROLLMENT AND TRENDS OVER TIME. WE ARE PROJECTING FLATTEN ROLLMENT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR ATTENDANCE CLOSELY. THE DISTRICTS UNDUPLICATED PUPIL PERCENTAGE REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE. I WANT TO NOTE THAT NEXT YEAR IS A BASE YEAR. WHICH MEANS WE MUST COLLECT INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTLY CERTIFIED, NOT JUST NEW STUDENTS. WE WILL USE MULTIPLE STRATEGIES TO GATHER THIS INFORMATION FROM FAMILIES. BUT BECAUSE WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO ALL FAMILIES RATHER THAN ONLY NEW ONES, OUR UNDUPLICATED COUNT MAY CHANGE. WE ALSO MADE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON OPEN, NEW OR CLOSED POSITIONS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. AND IN ADDITION WE UPDATED PROJECTIONS DUE TO HIGHER UTILITY AND OPERATING COSTS. THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES THE DISTRICT'S GENERAL FUND REVENUE. THE MAJORITY OF DISTRICT FUNDING COMES FROM THE LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA OR LCFF, WHICH IS DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND UNDUPLICATED PUPIL COUNTS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS HOW THE DISTRICT'S GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE DISTRIBUTED. LIKE MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS THE MAJORITY OF OUR SPENDING SUPPORTS STAFF SALARIES AND BENEFITS. APPROXIMATELY 85% OF UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES GO TOWARD PERSONNEL COSTS. WHEN RESTRICTED FUNDS ARE INCLUDED, PERSONNEL COSTS REPRESENT ABOUT 76% OF TOTAL GENERAL FUND SPENDING. THE ENDING FUND BALANCE REPRESENTS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. WITHIN THAT BALANCE THE STATE REQUIRES THAT DISTRICTS MAINTAIN A MINIMUM RESERVE EQUAL TO 3% OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES. OUR BOARD POLICY REQUIRES A HIGHER RESERVE, TOTAL OF 9% WHICH PROVIDES ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL STABILITY. TO PUT 9% INTO PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 1.5 MONTHS OF PAYROLL. MAINTAINING THESE RESERVES HELPS THE DISTRICT MANAGE RISKS SUCH AS STATE FUNDING FLUCTUATIONS, ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS AND UNEXPECTED COST INCREASES. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE PROJECTED GENERAL FUND RESERVE LEVELS AS OF JUNE 30, 2026. THESE RESERVES INCLUDE BOTH THE STATE REQUIRED RESERVE AND THE ADDITIONAL STABILIZATION RESERVE REQUIRED BY BOARD POLICY. MAINTAINING THESE RESERVES IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR DISTRICT'S LONG TERM FISCAL HEALTH. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THESE PROJECTIONS DO NOT INCLUDE ANY FUTURE NEGOTIATED NTA INCREASES. CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REQUIRED TO PREPARE A MULTI-YEAR FINANCIAL PROJECTION COVERING THE CURRENTYEAR AND THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS. FOR 26-27 OUR PROJECTIONS ASSUME A 2.41% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT OR COLA, BASED ON ESTIMATES FROM SCHOOL SERVICES OF CALIFORNIA. THIS IS A DECREASE FROM FIRST INTERIM WHERE COLA WAS PROJECTED AT 3.02%. THIS COLA IS APPLIED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET FOR ALL EXPENSES, NOT STAFFING ALONE. WE ASSUMED ADA WILL REMAIN STABLE AT APPROXIMATELY 92.83%. AND WE HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR ANYONE-TIME FUNDS THAT ARE ENDING AND ASSUMED OTHER FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL REVENUES TO REMAIN RELATIVELY CONSTANT. ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, WE INCLUDED PROJECTED STEP AND COLUMN INCREASES FOR STAFF. WE ALSO INCLUDED ANTICIPATED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MATH TEXTBOOK ADOPTION AND ADDITIONAL SCHOOL SITE STAFFING. AGAIN, THESE PROJECTIONS DO NOT INCLUDE ANY FUTURE NEGOTIATED NTA INCREASES. FOR THE 27-'28 FISCAL YEAR, WE ASSUMED A PROJECTED 3.06% COLA. THIS IS AGAIN A DECREASE FROM [01:40:05] FIRST INTERIM WHERE COLA WAS PROJECTED AT 3.42%. WE ASSUME THAT ADA WOULD REMAIN THE SAME AT 92.83%. WE ALSO INCLUDED EXPECTED EXPENDITURES SUCH AS AN ELA ADOPTION, STEP AND COLUMN ADJUSTMENTS AND OPERATIONAL COSTS. NO ONGOING NTA INCREASES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. THIS SUMMARIZES SEVERAL PLANNING FACTORS. COLA AND STRS AND PRS. THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES WHAT OUR PROJECTED ENDING FUND BALANCES WILL BE FOR '25-'26 AND THE NEXT TWO YEARS. WE ARE PROJECTED TO END THE FISCAL YEAR WITH RESERVE OF 18.64% WHICH WILL DECREASE TO 13.09% BY THE END OF '27-'28 DUE TO CONTINUED DEFICIT SPENDING. GIVEN OUR COLLABORATIVE APPROACH AND DESIRED TO SEEK A RESOLUTION WITH NTA LEADERS OUR STRONG OFFER ON THE TABLE REQUIRES US TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS AND IMPLEMENT REAL CUTS. WITH THE CURRENT OFFER WE HAVE MADE TO NTA, OUR RESERVES ARE PROJECTED TO DROP BY JUST OVER 10% MORE BY THE END OF '27-'28 WHICH WOULD PUT US OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH OUR BOARD POLICY AND NOT MEET THE STATE REQUIRED RECITY -- RESERVE OF 3%. WE MUST LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING REDUCTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MEETING OUR BOARD POLICY MINIMUM OF 9% IN RESERVES. THE FOLLOWING REDUCTIONS ARE NOT CURRENTLY IN THE MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION THAT WAS PRESENTED TONIGHT BUT WILL BE INCORPORATED FOR THE UPCOMING '26-'27 ADOPTED BUDGET. THESE INCLUDE REDUCTIONS IN ED CENTER POSITIONS, AS WELL AS ED CENTER OPERATING BUDGETS. WE ARE ALSO REDUCING SOME IB PROGRAMS AND STAFFING AS WELL AS REDUCING OUTSIDE SERVICES. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE SHIFTED SOME COSTS TO ONE-TIME FUNDING SOURCES WHERE APPROPRIATE. AND LASTLY, WE ARE REDUCING THE AMOUNT TRANSFERRED FOR FACILITIES. IN TOTAL, THE DISTRICT HAS IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY $8.6 MILLION IN BUDGET REDUCTIONS TO DATE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND UPDATE THESE PLANS AS NEEDED AS WE PREPARE THE '26-'27 ADOPTED BUDGET. THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION OF THE '25-'26 SECOND INTERIM REPORT AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT. TRUSTEES, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? DISCUSSION? TRUSTEE MORA? >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. COULD YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON BOTH THE REDUCTION OF CONTRACTS AND SOME EXAMPLES WHAT THAT ENTAILS. AND FOR THE REDUCTION OF FACILITIES TRANSFERS, ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. >> YEAH SO THE REDUCTION IN CONTRACTS, THERE'S A LARGE TECHNOLOGY CONTRACT THAT WOULD BE REDUCED FOR NEXT YEAR, AS WELL AS OUTSIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. THAT WOULD BE REDUCED. AS FAR AS THE REDUCTION IN THE FACILITIES TRANSFER, THERE WERE TWO BIG FACILITIES PROJECTS WE HAVE BEEN SAVING FOR. ONE IS ATHLETIC FIELD AND TURF REPLACEMENT COSTS. THE OTHER IS THE GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM AND INDERKUM HIGH SCHOOL. IT'S AGING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. BY REDUCING THAT, IF THAT WERE TO BREAK DOWN IN THE NEAR FUTURE WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT OBTAINING A LOAN TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE THAT. >> BUT THAT ALSO COULD BE ADDRESSED CONCEPTUALLY THROUGH MAYBE A BOND AT A LATER DATE? >> THAT'S A POSSIBILITY, YES. >> THANK YOU. >> YEAH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> PRESIDENT GRANT: TRUSTEE DOSICK? >> THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT BROWN. -- ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT BROWN. COULD YOU GO BACK, YOU READ A SENTENCE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE DISTRICT'S OFFER. COULD YOU REPEAT THAT SENTENCE? AND THE BUDGETARY IMPACT OF IT. >> YEAH. SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT ENDING ON THE '27-'28 YEAR WITH RESERVES OF 13.09%. WITH THE CURRENT OFFER THAT WE HAVE MADE TO NTA, OUR RESERVES ARE PROJECTED TO DROP BY JUST OVER 10% MORE. WHICH WOULD PUT US OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH OUR BOARD POLICY AND EVEN THE STATE REQUIRED RESERVE OF 3%. >> SO TIMEOUT. PAUSE. YOU ARE SAYING IT VERY MATTER OF FACTLY BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY. WITH STATUS QUO, WE ARE JUST MAINTAINING BASED ON THIS REPORT OUR MANDATORY RESERVE, THE STATE MANDATED RESERVE OF 3%, PLUS THE ADDITIONAL 6% PER [01:45:08] BOARD POLICY. AND THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THAT, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THE STATE HAS REDUCED CASH FLOW, AMONG OTHER REASONS. THE STATE HAS REDUCED OR DELAYED PAYMENTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THAT 9% REPRESENTS LESS THAN -- >> MONTH AND A HALF OF PAYROLL. >> SIX WEEKS OF PAYROLL, NOT EVEN OTHER EXPENSES, JUST SIX WEEKS OF PAYROLL. >> CORRECT. >> OKAY, SO IF WE WERE TO IMPLEMENT THE OFFER THE DISTRICT HAS MADE, WE WOULD DROP BELOW NOT ONLY THE 9% BUT DROP BELOW THE 3% THAT'S MAIN DATED. SO WE WOULD BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW? >> YES. >> BASED ON THE CURRENT PROJECTIONS? >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE '26-'27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS, IS THAT PART OF THE SECOND INTERIM REPORT WE ARE APPROVING TONIGHT OR IS THAT GOING TO BE APPROVED AS PART OF THE THIRD? >> IT WOULD BE PART OF THE '26-'27 ADOPTED BUDGET. THOSE PROJECTONS ARE NOT CURRENTLY IN SECOND INTERIM'S MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION. >> OKAY. SO THE NEXT PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS WILL POTENTIALLY INCLUDE THESE REDUCTIONS, DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF NEGOTIATIONS AND THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO MAINTAIN THAT RESERVE? >> YES. AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT DEFERRALS, WE ARE IN FACT GOING TO BE SEEING ANOTHER DEFERRAL. THIS UPCOMING YEAR. WE WON'T RECEIVE OUR FUNDING IN JUNE. IT WILL BE DEFERRED TO JULY. SO YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT. CASH FLOW IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THOSE THINGS DO HAPPEN. >> I DO REMEMBER THE STATE'S PREVIOUS BUDGET CRISIS WHERE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE MASSIVELY STRUGGLING AND MANY WERE HAVING TO TAKE OUT BASICALLY THE EQUIVALENT OF PAY DAY LOANS FOR BRIDGE FUNDING TO COVER PAYROLL. THANK YOU, I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: THANK YOU. >> IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS I'M PREPARED TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE SECOND INTERIM BUDGET. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: MOVED AND SECONDED BY DOSICK. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. [XV.b. Ratify the Memorandum of Understanding Between the District and CSEA Regarding the Reclassification of Two Student Assistants to Instructional Assistant IIIs - Moderate/Severe/SES] >> ACTION ITEM B, RATIFY THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND CSEA REGARDING THE RECLASSIFICATION OF TWO STUDENT ASSISTANTS TO INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT III AS, MODERATE/SEVERE/SES. >> MOVE APPROVAL, THANKS TO CSEA FOR THEIR COLLABORATIVE APPROACH THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING CARE OF ALL OF OUR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES. >> I SECOND THAT MOTION. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: MOVED BY TRUSTEE DO*S DOSICK. SECOND BY TRUSTEE HARDEN. HELENE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> DOSICK? >> AYE. >> GRANT? >> AYE. >> HARDEN? >> AYE. >> MEHTA? [XV.c. Approve Resolution No. 26-11 Authorizing Issuance and Sale of the District’s 2026 General Obligation Refunding Bonds (Refinance)] >> AYE. >> MORA? >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: THAT CARRIES 5-0. ITEM C, APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 26-11, AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE AND SALE OF DISTRICT'S 2026 GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS. IS THERE DISCUSSION, COMMENTS? COULD WE ACTUALLY HAVE STAFF EXPLAIN THIS? ITEM. >> YEAH. SO THANK YOU, TRUSTEE GRANT. THIS IS FOLLOWING UP WITH THE PRESENTATION THAT GFSI KEITH AND LAURIE PRESENTED AT A PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING. AS WE PREPARE TO REFINANCE SOME OF OUR EXISTING BONDS, WE ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL SAVINGS TO THE TAXPAYERS IN NATOMAS ABOUT $6 MILLION AND INCREASING BONDING CAPACITY FOR GEOTHERMAL OR OTHER EXPENSES IN FACILITIES. THIS ALLOWS THE TEAM TO DO THE WORK THEY NEED AHEAD OF THAT. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT, I LIKE THAT. I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THAT ITEM, WITHOUT OBJECTION. >> SECOND. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: SECONDED BY TRUSTEE DOSICK. HELENE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> DOSICK? >> AYE. >> GRANT? JAO*I. >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: THAT MOTION [XV.d. Approve Resolution No. 26-13 Declaring an Emergency Exists and Authorizing Repairs at Natomas Middle School] CARRIES 5-0. ACTION ITEM D. APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 26-13 DECLARING AN EMERGENCY EXISTS AND AUTHORIZING REPAIRS AT NATOMAS MIDDLE SCHOOL. THIS WAS FOR THE FLOODING, YES? >> YES, THAT'S CORRECT. WHILE THE EMERGENCY EXISTS WE NEED TO BRING A RESOLUTION AT EACH BOARD MEETING UNTIL ITS REPAIRED. THEY ARE ALMOST DONE. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: MOVED BY TRUSTEE MEHTA. IS THERE A SECOND? >> I'LL SECOND. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: SECONDED BY TRUSTEE HARDEN. HELENE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> [XV.f. Select and Vote for Candidate(s) to Serve as a Representative to the CSBA Delegate Assembly] >> PRESIDENT GRANT: PASSES 5-0. ITEM E WAS TABLED FOR A LATER DAY. [01:50:03] WE WILL GO TO ACTION ITEM F. SELECT AND VOTE FOR CANDIDATES TO SERVE AS A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE CSBA DELEGATE ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE A FELLOW TRUSTEE ON THE BALLOT. >> WE WOULD NEED A MOTION TO SELECT, NOMINATE? >> I COULD SPEAK TO THIS ONE. SO THIS IS THE BOARD'S OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY VOTE. IT'S AN ACTION ITEM FOR CANDIDATES FOR 6B, DELEGATE ASSEMBLY. THERE ARE TWO VACANT SEATS. TRUSTEE MEHTA IS ONE OF THE NOMINEES, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE, THEY HAVE TO BE FROM AREA 6B, IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH NOMINATIONS WERE RECEIVED FOR THAT AREA. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: WHAT IS THE VERB AGAIN? WE ARE VOTING. IS THERE A MOTION TO VOTE? >> THE MOTION WOULD BE YOU WOULD APPROVE TRUSTEE MEHTA AS DELEGATE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO. AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE IF YOU WOULD LIKE. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE FOR WRITE-IN, STACY BASHAN AT TWO RIVERS. >> I DON'T KNOW STACY. >> I FEEL AWKWARD BECAUSE THEY ARE FROM THE SAME PLACE. I'M THINKING OF SASHA FROM TWO RIVERS. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: IS THERE ROOM FOR MORE THAN ONE >> PRESIDENT GRANT: >> NO, ONE WRITE-IN CANDIDATE. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: I'M HAPPY TO QULAOELD. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: WE HAVE A MOTION TO NOMINATE TRUSTEE MEHTA AND WRITE-IN... OKAY, I'M TIRED. >> COULD WE KEEP IT SIMPLE, COULD WE VOTE FOR SUMITI. >> COULD YOU WRITE TEN WORDS ABOUT THE CANDIDATE. >> STRONG AMAZING, DEDICATED, ONCE A TEACHER IN THAT DISTRICT, BUT HAS GONE A LONG WAY TO MEND FENCES ALONG THE WAY. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: OKAY. SO THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE HARDEN. >> I'LL SECOND. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: SECOND BY TRUSTEE DOSICK. HELENE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> DOSICK? >> AYE. >> GRANT? >> AYE. >> HARDEN? >> AYE. >> MEHTA? >> AYE. >> MORA? >> AYE. >> PRESIDENT GRANT: ALL RIGHT, THAT MOTION CARRIES 5-0. ALL RIGHT. NO OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD, WE WILL CALL THIS * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.