[00:00:05]
[I. OPEN SESSION]
THIS REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:15 PM.HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? DOSICK.
PRESENT. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A QUORUM. NUSD BOARD MEETINGS ARE LIVE STREAMED AND RECORDED AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD. THE LIVESTREAM IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING ONLINE, AND THE RECORDINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING THE DAY AFTER THE BOARD MEETING. THOSE IN ATTENDANCE SHOULD EXPECT THAT THE RECORDINGS WILL CAPTURE ALL ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSIONS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER MEETINGS. THIS EVENING, THE BOARD WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS ONE CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING ONE CASE OF POTENTIAL LITIGATION.
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE REESTABLISH A ROLL CALL VOTE? DOSICK.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE AN ULTIMATE QUORUM.
[V. CLOSED SESSION]
SO NOW THE BOARD WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS ONE ITEM OF LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING ONE CASE OF POTENTIAL LITIGATION, DISCUSS TWO STIPULATED EXPULSIONS, AND DISCUSS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION.IS THERE ANYONE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO ANY OF THE ITEMS IN CLOSED SESSION? I'M NOT SEEING ANY. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL RECONVENE OPEN SESSION AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF CLOSED SESSION.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING. WE ARE
[VI. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION]
RECONVENING OPEN SESSION AT 6:38 PM. HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? DOSICK.PRESENT. ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO ASK HELENE TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.
[Item 5]
ALL RIGHT, IN CLOSED SESSION, A DIRECTION WAS GIVEN TO LEGAL COUNSEL ON ONE CASE OF POTENTIAL LITIGATION.BEFORE WE MOVE ON, JUST A REMINDER FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD BYLAW 9323, MEETING CONDUCT: INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETED PUBLIC COMMENT CARD PRIOR TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ITEM AND NO LATER THAN THE FIRST ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA. INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ALLOWED 2 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, AND THE BOARD SHALL LIMIT THE 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 BOARDROOM.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR MEETING, WE ASK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO REFRAIN FROM APPROACHING THE DAIS TO PROVIDE BOARD MEMBERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER THEIR BELONGINGS, SIGN DOCUMENTS, AND SECURE ANY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
BOARD MEMBERS MAY MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC BY STEPPING DOWN FROM THE DAIS AND ENTERING THE AREA FOR AUDIENCE SEATING. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. IS THERE A
[X. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA]
MOTION? SO MOVED.MOVED BY TRUSTEE MORA. SECOND BY TRUSTEE HARDEN. HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? DOSICK.
ALL RIGHT, THAT MOTION CARRIES 5-0. WE HAVE AN AGENDA. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, COMMUNICATIONS. DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CSCA AVAILABLE? ALL RIGHT, DOES NOT LOOK LIKE IT. NEXT UP
[XI.b.Natomas Teacher's Association (NTA)]
WE HAVE NTA.OKAY, GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. NICO CANNOT BE HERE TONIGHT, SO I WILL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF NTA. MY NAME IS KATIE MORASH, PRONOUNS THEY/THEM.
DURING THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR, I SERVED AS THE ELEMENTARY SDC TEACHER AND NTA EXECUTIVE MEMBER AT LARGE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE ON THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE NISENAN TRIBE. THIS LAND WAS TAKEN WITH NO COMPENSATION OR REGARD TO THE LIVES OR THE WAYS OF THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OR THEIR LIVE DESCENDANTS. OUR GOAL IS TO BE THE BEST EDUCATORS OF THE CURRENT COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN BE AND ATTEND TO THE LEGACY OF THOSE OF THE LAND WE NOW INHABIT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH. AS A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, I AM GRATEFUL
[00:05:01]
FOR THE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WHOSE COURAGE, ADVOCACY, AND PERSISTENCE RESISTANCE HAVE EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS TO LIVE OPENLY AND AUTHENTICALLY.PRIDE IS BOTH A CELEBRATION OF THE PROGRESS AND A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING COMMUNITIES WHERE EVERY STUDENT, FAMILY, STAFF MEMBER FEELS VALUED, WELCOMED, AND SAFE TO BE THEMSELVES. FINALLY, AS WE APPROACH JUNETEENTH, WE RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY OF LIBERATION AND CELEBRATION WHEN SOME OF THE LAST ENSLAVED BLACK AMERICANS LEARNED OF THEIR FREEDOM. JUNETEENTH REMINDS US THAT PROGRESS REQUIRES BOTH VIGILANCE AND ACTION, AND THAT EDUCATION PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN PRESERVING THE HISTORY, EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY, AND HELPING ALL STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE ONGOING PURSUIT OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ONE CONCERN THAT NTA HAS RAISED REPEATEDLY THIS YEAR WAS THAT THE DISTRICT'S GROWING RELIANCE ON OUTSIDE CONTRACTS TO RENT EXPERTISE RATHER THAN BUILD IT WITHIN OUR OWN WORKFORCE. AS I REVIEWED TONIGHT'S AGENDA, I SAW THAT CONCERN REFLECTED AGAIN AND AGAIN IN WHAT YOU CALL SERVICE AGREEMENTS IN CONSENT ITEM E. BEFORE ADDRESSING THOSE CONTRACTS, I WANT TO NOTE THAT MANY OF THE DISTRICT'S KEY PARTIES, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND CLASSROOM STAFF, ARE ON SUMMER BREAK. WHILE PUBLISHING THESE ITEMS NOW MAY SATISFY LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, IT DOES LITTLE TO ENCOURAGE MEANINGFUL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROPOSED SPENDING AND WITH THE DRAFT LCAP THAT WILL GUIDE DISTRICT PRIORITIES. LOOKING AT THE AGENDA, I SEE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PROPOSED TO OUTSIDE LITERACY CONSULTANTS AND OVER $7 MILLION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION CONTRACTS.
THESE ARE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND DIFFERENT PURPOSES, BUT THEY ALL POINT TO THE SAME QUESTION: WHY ARE WE CONTINUING TO PAY OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE THAT WE SHOULD BE DEVELOPING AND RETAINING WITHIN OUR OWN DISTRICT? AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, THIS ISSUE IS PARTICULARLY VISIBLE FOR ME. MORE THAN 5 MILLION OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CONTRACTS BEFORE YOU ARE FOR STAFFING POSITIONS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS STRUGGLED TO RECRUIT OR RETAIN. THOSE CONTRACTORS ARE ABLE TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED STAFF, TRAIN THEM, PROVIDE BENEFITS, AND KEEP THEM WORKING. WE SHOULD BE ASKING WHAT INVESTMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE SO THAT THOSE PROFESSIONALS CHOOSE TO WORK DIRECTLY FOR OUR DISTRICT INSTEAD. I KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF STAFFING SHORTAGES LOOK LIKE. THIS PAST YEAR, I EXPERIENCED CONSTANT TURNOVER IN MY CLASSROOM AND SUFFERED TWO WORKPLACE INJURIES WHILE WORKING IN UNDERSTAFFED CONDITIONS.
YET WHEN CONTRACTED STAFF ARRIVED, THEY WERE TRAINED, EXPERIENCED, AND PREPARED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS. THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER THOSE CONTRACTORS PROVIDE VALUE.
THE QUESTION IS WHY WE'RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RELYING ON THEM INSTEAD OF CREATING CONDITIONS IN OUR OWN DISTRICT THAT ALLOW US TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE EXPERTISE OURSELVES. THE DRAFT LCAP SHOWS THAT WE'RE NOT MEETING KEY PERFORMANCE TARGETS FOR STUDENTS. CONTINUING TO SPEND MILLIONS ON TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS WHILE STRUGGLING TO BUILD OUR OWN INTERNAL CAPACITY IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY.
AS YOU REVIEW THESE CONTRACTS AND THE LCAP, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER NOT ONLY WHETHER THESE EXPENDITURES ARE ALLOWABLE BUT WHETHER THEY MOVE US CLOSER TO BECOMING A DISTRICT OUR STUDENTS DESERVE. EVERY DOLLAR SPENT RENTING EXPERTISE IS A DOLLAR NOT SPENT INVESTED IN BUILDING OUR OWN EXPERTISE.
[XI.c. Board Members]
WE HAVE OUR BOARD MEMBERS. THE GREAT BOARD MEMBER FROM AREA 01, TRUSTEE MORA.THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE REPORTS THAT HAVE COME ALREADY, AS ALWAYS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH A CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2026. AS WE ALL ARE FAMILIAR, GRADUATIONS HAVE HAPPENED, PROMOTIONS HAVE HAPPENED, AND WE ALL HAD A LOT OF FUN CELEBRATING THOSE ALONGSIDE EVERYONE IN THE DISTRICT. THE SMALLER RECOGNITIONS TOO, FOR AS AN EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AND THE SEAL OF BILITERACY, WE HAVE DIFFERENT RECOGNITIONS FOR DIFFERENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE REACHED.
SO, A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2026. I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER. EVERYONE IS ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, HERE AND IN THIS TYPE OF WORK FOR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE AND, AND GO ON TO LIVE FULL LIVES. I DO HAVE SOME TRUSTEE ACTIVITIES THAT I WANT TO SHARE TODAY, AND I'M JUST GOING TO READ THEM. I'M NOT GOING TO ADD A LOT OF COMMENTARY OR, OR STORIES ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I DID,
[00:10:01]
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, THERE'S ENOUGH OF THESE EVENTS AT THE SCHOOL SITES THAT I THINK I'LL JUST SHARE IT THIS WAY. SO, THE FIRST ONE IS THE EL LEROY GREEN ACADEMY. I HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH SOME OF THE SOFTBALL GAMES AND WE, THE TEAM, GOT PRETTY FAR. IF YOU SEE ANY OF THE STUDENT ATHLETES FROM THE LGA GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM, PLEASE CONGRATULATE THEM. THEY DID REALLY, REALLY WELL THIS SEASON. IT WAS REALLY HOT OUT THERE, SO AN ADDITIONAL KUDOS TO THEM FOR BEING ATHLETES IN THOSE CONDITIONS. OKAY, I SAID NO COMMENTARY, RIGHT? EARLY LITERACY ASSEMBLY AT BANNON CREEK SCHOOL. WE HAD AN AUTHOR THERE WHO HAD A CHANCE TO TELL HIS LIFE STORY AS A, YOU KNOW, FROM AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY, TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIS GRANDPA, AND THE STUDENTS SEEMED TO REALLY RESONATE WITH THAT.THERE WERE ALSO SOME AWARDS GIVEN FOR STUDENTS WHO CREATED EITHER ARTISTIC BOOKMARKS OR REACHED CERTAIN BENCHMARKS FOR SOME CLASSES THAT REACHED CERTAIN BENCHMARKS RELATED TO THE, TO THE INITIATIVE. I HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND THE SENIOR AWARDS NIGHTS AT ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, SO INTERCOM, NATOMAS HIGH SCHOOL, AND LEROY GREEN.
THERE'S A LOT OF CLAPPING. I HAD A CHANCE TO SEE A LOT OF MY FELLOW TRUSTEES AT THOSE EVENTS AS WELL. AND CLAPPING FOR A GOOD REASON. A LOT OF, IF YOU GET, IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR SOME OF THE STORIES OF RESILIENCY IN ADDITION TO THE STORIES OF WHAT STUDENTS ACCOMPLISHED, I THINK YOU WOULD BE REALLY PROUD OF THE STUDENTS AT ALL THREE OF OUR MAJOR HIGH SCHOOLS AS WELL. I ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND THE CSBA DELEGATE ASSEMBLY ALONG WITH MY FELLOW DELEGATE ASSEMBLY TRUSTEE MEHTA, OR SORRY, SECRETARY MEHTA. AND THIS IS THE LAST THING THAT I WILL SHARE. I HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND THE STUDENT ATTENDANCE CELEBRATION THAT IS HOSTED OVER AT THE VISTA NUEVA HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME ATTENDING ONE OF THESE ATTENDANCE CELEBRATIONS. AND I REMEMBERED SOMETHING THAT I HAD TALKED ABOUT WITH ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS FROM THE HART TEAM AND BROUGHT A LITTLE MY CORRECT PRONOUNS. SO, I PUT MR. ATTENDANCE ON THE, ON THE ATTEND, ON THE MISS, ON THE ORIGINALLY MRS. ATTENDANCE SESSION. THAT WAS REALLY, IT WAS NICE TO FEEL LIKE A CELEBRITY WITH THE STUDENTS FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR. AND ALSO SAW SOME OF MY FELLOW TRUSTEES THERE AT THAT EVENT, SECRETARY MEHTA. SO, HAVING SHARED SOME, SOME TRUSTEE ACTIVITIES THAT I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO DO, I ALSO WANTED TO WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO TALK AMONGST OURSELVES AS COLLEAGUES BECAUSE OF THE BROWN ACT. SO, I JUST WANT TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES HERE AHEAD OF OUR SPECIAL BOARD MEETING WHERE WE WILL DISCUSS DIFFERENT BOARD POLICIES. AND THIS IS NOW DIRECTED TO STAFF. I'D LIKE TO ALSO SEE SOME POLICIES ADDED FOR POLICY 7310. THE SCHOOL NAMES POLICY. I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO DISCUSS THAT WITH, IN THAT MEETING. AND FOR POLICY ZERO, THE CLOSEST POLICY FOR DISCUSSING SCREEN TIME LIMITS IN PRE-K THROUGH SECOND GRADE WOULD BE POLICY 0440. I'M ALSO VERY INTERESTED IN HAVING THAT ADDED TO THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING.
AND THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR HELPING, YOU KNOW, ME WITH PROCESS AND HOW TO GO ABOUT ADDING POLICIES TO THAT MEETING. SO, OR AT LEAST DISCUSSING THAT. AND THAT KIND OF, THAT'S IT FOR THIS AND BEING ABLE TO SAY THAT DURING, IN FRONT OF ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES DURING THIS MEETING. AND THEN LASTLY, LASTLY, I DO WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE BOTH THAT THIS IS PRIDE MONTH AND ALSO THAT WE HAVE JUNETEENTH COMING UP.
FOR PRIDE MONTH, I WILL WAIT UNTIL THE ACTION ITEM TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, UM, ABOUT SOME OTHER THINGS.
REALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION IN ITS ENTIRETY DURING THE ACTION ITEM. I THINK A LOT OF THE TIME WE PASS RESOLUTIONS FOR DIFFERENT MONTHS AND WE CAN SOMETIMES FORGET THE REALLY POWERFUL LANGUAGE THAT'S INCLUDED IN THESE DOCUMENTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED AND WE PASS YEAR AFTER YEAR, THANKFULLY.
BUT ONE THING THAT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT DURING FOR THIS IS THAT I WANTED TO REMIND US AS A DISTRICT THE REASON THAT WE STILL HAVE A PRIDE MONTH IS THAT HISTORICALLY AND FOR A LONG TIME, LGBT PEOPLE WERE DENIED JOBS, INCLUDING THOSE IN EDUCATION, HOUSING, MARRIAGE RIGHTS, HEALTHCARE ACCESS, AND A LOT OF OTHER RIGHTS. AND SO, WHEN
[00:15:01]
WE SEE A RECOGNITION OR A CELEBRATION OR EVEN A PARADE, IT REALLY IS ABOUT CREATING ENOUGH VISIBILITY AS A COMMUNITY THAT THOSE RIGHTS CANNOT AGAIN BE TAKEN AWAY AND THAT LGBT FOLKS CAN LIVE FULL LIVES LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. SO, I JUST WANTED TO PREFACE, I KNOW WE HAVE AN ACTION ITEM LATER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PERHAPS LEVEL SET WITH THAT REMINDER ALTHOUGH I ALWAYS HAVE FELT REALLY FORTUNATE TO BE A TRUSTEE IN THIS DISTRICT THAT ELECTED ME, AN OPENLY LGBT PERSON, TO THIS ROLE. AND I THINK THAT THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THIS DISTRICT, THE PEOPLE IN IT, AND THAT WE SUPPORT STUDENTS THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE A CONFERENCE. I HAVE ONE OF THE CONFERENCE KEEPSAKES THAT RESULTED FROM THE LATEST ONE THIS LAST YEAR, AND ALSO THAT WE HAVE DIFFERENT POSTERS AND DIFFERENT STICKERS THAT TEACHERS AND OTHERS CAN ADD TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A SAFE SPACE AND THAT THEY HAVE A PLACE TO BE SUPPORTED. SO, WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE MY BOARD REPORT FOR TODAY. THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A LONGER REPORT TODAY.ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, TRUSTEE MORA. TRUSTEE HARDEN.
WELL, I'M GOING TO JUST KEEP IT BRIEF.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE MORA. SO, DITTO TO EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID.
THE ONLY THING IS, UM, EVERYONE IS INVITED TO 2881 TRUXELL ROAD, TO 8 PM, FOR THE PEOPLE'S JUNETEENTH COME ON OUT, SOME FREE FOOD AND LOTS OF FUN. CONGRATS AGAIN TO OUR GRADUATES, AND SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE NATOMAS BLACK PARENTS UNITED FOR HOSTING THIS MONTH'S MEETING AND ALLOWING ME THE PLEASURE TO DO THE Q&A. LOVING THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING IN. AND, UM, YEAH, PRIDE MONTH, LET'S GO.
OH NO, I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS TIME TOO. SO, I HAVE BROUGHT UP BEFORE, UM, HOW I WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE A LOOK POSSIBLY MOVING UP THE PUBLIC COMMENTS EARLIER FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES AND ALSO JUST TAKE A LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT AGENDIZED.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, TRUSTEE HARDEN. ALL RIGHT.
I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF. ONE OF THE GREATEST JOYS I HAVE, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
NO, NO, NO, HE SAID SOMETHING.
I WAS GONNA TAKE WHAT'S FIRST.
GOT YOU, GOT YOU. ONE OF THE GREATEST PRIVILEGES I HAVE IS ATTENDING GRADUATIONS. IF YOU'RE REALLY DOING COMMUNITY WORK IN THE WAY I TRY TO DO IT, YOU DEAL WITH SOME REALLY TOUGH STORIES.
SOMETIMES YOU'RE NOT SURE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO END UP.
BUT MAN, GIVING AWAY A DIPLOMA AND SEEING SOME OF THOSE KIDS THAT YOU'VE SEEN GROW UP IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PRIVILEGES OF MY LIFE. SO, CONGRATS TO OUR GRADUATES. I WANT TO TELL A QUICK STORY. SO, EARLIER THIS YEAR, I THINK PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME, I DID NOT GROW UP RICH BY ANY MEANS. YOU KNOW, 4 OR 5 BROTHERS IN A ONE-BED HOUSE, ONE-BEDROOM HOUSE IN WATTS.
AND SO, COMMUNITY WORK IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. AND SO, I ENDED UP GOING TO WHITTIER RANCH QUIETLY EARLIER THIS YEAR AND RAN INTO SOME STUDENTS WHO WERE HAVING SOME BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. AND BECAUSE OF MY PAST AND MY BIAS, I JUST WANT KIDS TO HAVE EVERYTHING. I KIND OF DO IT TOO MUCH, EVEN WITH MY DAUGHTER, LIKE, OH, DAD, CAN I HAVE, OH, SURE, CAN HAVE THIS, RIGHT? SO I RAN INTO 3 KIDS WHO I CHALLENGED. I SAID, HEY, LISTEN, IF YOU CAN GET YOUR GRADES TOGETHER, I'LL GIVE EACH OF YOU A PLAYSTATION. OKAY, NOW I BOUGHT 3 PLAYSTATIONS AND UNFORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GIVE AWAY 2 OF THEM. OKAY, AND IN MY HEART, UM, I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I JUST WANTED THAT THIRD KID TO HAVE THAT PLAYSTATION, BUT I COULDN'T GIVE IT AWAY BECAUSE THERE'S A PART OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT THAT IS REALLY ACCOUNTABILITY, RIGHT? UM, AND I WAS SO WORRIED TAKING THE PLAYSTATION BACK AND GOING, AH, YOU KNOW, JUST DIDN'T MEET THE MARK.
BUT A STUDENT REACHED OUT TO ME A LITTLE BIT LATER AND WAS LIKE, HEY, MR. GRANT, I KNOW I DIDN'T, I KNOW I DIDN'T MEET THE EXPECTATION, AND I'M GOING TO MEET IT NEXT YEAR. AND SO, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? LIKE, YOU KNOW, BEING YOUR CHILD'S FRIEND IS COOL, BUT, YOU KNOW, BEING THEIR ENFORCER IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY. AND KIDS DO RESPOND TO THAT, RIGHT? AND SO SOMETHING THAT I STRUGGLE WITH, I KNOW A LOT OF PARENTS STRUGGLE WITH THAT, LIKE HEY, WE WANT TO BE OUR KID'S FRIEND. AND IT'S GOOD. IT'S GOOD TO BE YOUR FRIEND. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, MY MOM WOULD BE LIKE, BOY, AIN'T YOUR FRIEND. I'M LIKE, DAMN, THAT SUCKS.
BUT I KNOW WHAT SHE MEANT, RIGHT? AND THERE'S A TOUGH LOVE AND A TOUGH ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO, JUST BE THERE FOR KIDS WHO NEED THAT EXTRA LOVE AND EXTRA SUPPORT. AND JUST BE THEIR ROCK AND BE THEIR ENFORCER. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE THIS EVENING. ALL RIGHT.
TRUSTEE DOSICK. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE GRANT. DITTO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID. I WANT TO, IN ADDITION TO CONGRATS ALL OF OUR GRADS,
[00:20:01]
GRADUATES AND PROMOTEES, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS AND WORK.THOSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE, REALLY DID TAKE A VILLAGE TO MAKE SURE THOSE GRADUATIONS WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH. NOW I KNOW LIKE GRADUATIONS ARE LIKE WEDDINGS, THERE'S THINGS THAT ALWAYS GO WRONG AND THEY BECOME THE FUNNY STORIES AFTERWARDS, BUT AT LEAST I THINK TO MOST OF US, THOSE WERE INVISIBLE.
YEAH, OKAY, ONE PROMOTION CEREMONY, PEOPLE MAY HAVE WALKED THE WRONG WAY AND THEN SOMEONE ELSE FOLLOWED THEM AND THEN, BUT I MEAN, THOSE AGAIN ARE THE FUNNY STORIES WE GET TO LAUGH ABOUT, BUT YOU GUYS WORKED YOUR TAILS OFF. SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THOSE EVENTS SO SPECIAL FOR EVERY STUDENT, EVERY FAMILY THAT WAS INVOLVED, MUCH APPRECIATED. TRUSTEE GRAND, I DO WANNA SAY WITHOUT GOING INTO ANY OF YOUR PRIVATE DETAILS, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HAD A DIFFICULT WEEKEND AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU ARE DOING AS WELL AS YOU ARE. THANK YOU. TRULY BLESSED. AND THEN SINCE IT IS PRIDE MONTH, I DO WANT TO SAY I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SERVE WITH YOU, TRUSTEE MORA, AND FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND ALL THAT YOU STAND UP FOR. THAT'S IT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DOSICK. TRUSTEE MEHTA.
THANK YOU. THE SAME. CONGRATS TO THE CLASS OF 2026.
PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT TRUSTEE DOSICK WAS SAYING, THAT IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT FROM STAFF AND SCHOOL SITE STAFF TO GET THESE GRADUATION AND PROMOTION CEREMONIES. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PARENTS ARE HAPPY, THE KIDS ARE HAPPY, AND IT JUST TAKES A LOT OF TIME. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JUNETEENTH IS COMING, SO WE HAVE EVENTS, BY VICE MAYOR TALAMANTES AND COUNCILMEMBER KAPLAN AS WELL IN THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO GIVE A PERSONAL SHOUT OUT TO MY SON WHO GOT APPOINTED AS A CHIEF AND EDITOR FOR UCLA'S HIS FIRST EVER STUDENT NEWSPAPER.
SO, JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HIM IF HE'S LISTENING TO THIS MEETING THIS TIME.
SO, YES, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.
GO BRUINS! GO BRUINS! I'LL LET THAT SLIDE. ALL RIGHT,
[XI.d. Superintendent]
SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO.THANK YOU. IT'S ALWAYS NICE AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO HAVE ALL THE CELEBRATIONS OF ALL THE HARD WORK OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF. AND I ENJOYED ATTENDING OUR MULTILINGUAL LEARNER CELEBRATION, SENIOR SERVICE NIGHT AT INTERCOM, ALL THE PROMOTIONS AND GRADUATIONS. IN FACT, WE HAD 2 STUDENTS AT INTERCOM GRADUATION WHO LEFT GRADUATION AND WENT STRAIGHT DOWN TO COMPETE AT THE STATE TRACK MEET. AND, AND WE, WE ACTUALLY HAD 6 ATHLETES COMPETING IN THE STATE TRACK MEET. SO, VERY PROUD OF THEM TO BE COMPETING AT THAT LEVEL.
OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS HAVE KICKED OFF. I GOT TO BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER OF THE YOUTH WORKFORCE, UM, WHICH IS A SUMMER PROGRAM FOR OUR STUDENTS, UM, THAT WE PARTNER WITH THE NATOMAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THEY GET TO LEARN ABOUT PERSONAL FINANCE AND INTERVIEWING AND DRESSING FOR SUCCESS. THEY ACTUALLY GET TO INTERVIEW FOR SOME JOBS.
JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY MEETING WITH THOSE STUDENTS.
AND THEN THIS MORNING, UM, I HAD A LOT OF JOY READING A STORY AT OUR FREEDOM FREEDOM SCHOOL PROGRAM.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO SEE THE EXCITEMENT IN THE KIDS AND TO SHARE A STORY, SO THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
TODAY WAS OUR DISTRICT'S FIRST SAFETY ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING, SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO'S PARTICIPATING IN THAT, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE WORK THAT WILL BE DONE NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE A LOT OF STAFF REPRESENTED IN THAT AS WELL AS COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT WORK. CONTINUING AFTER THE SUMMER. TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING A BUDGET UPDATE, AND I WANT TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE GOVERNOR'S MAY REVISE DOES HAVE SOME IMPROVED LOOK TO THE OVERALL FUNDING FOR CALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT IT IS STILL IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR PUBLIC RESOURCES.
RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING MEANS ENSURING THAT ONGOING EXPENDITURES EXPENDITURES ARE SUPPORTED BY ONGOING REVENUES, PLANNING FOR FUTURE OBLIGATIONS, ACCOUNTING FOR NEW STATE REQUIREMENTS, MANAGING RISING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COSTS, AND MAINTAINING RESERVES THAT PROTECT, PROTECT THE DISTRICTS AGAINST ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY AND FUNDING FLUCTUATIONS.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR LONG-TERM FISCAL STRATEGY IS MAINTAINING OUR REQUIRED BUDGET RESERVE. THESE FUNDS ARE CRITICAL IN MAINTAINING ALLOWING OUR DISTRICT TO NAVIGATE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, ABSORB UNEXPECTED COSTS, AND RESPOND TO FUTURE STATE FUNDING CHANGES WITHOUT DISRUPTING SERVICES TO OUR STUDENTS. MAINTAINING ADEQUATE RESERVES IS A HALLMARK OF RESPONSIBILITY OF FISCAL MANAGEMENT, AN IMPORTANT SAFEGUARD IN OUR COMMUNITY. AS PART OF OUR BUDGET PLANNING, WE ALSO CONTINUE TO ACCOUNT FOR OUR FINALIZED AGREEMENTS WITH NTA. THAT AGREEMENT REFLECTS A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN OUR EDUCATORS AND DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO RECRUITING AND RETAINING OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES.
AT THE SAME TIME, IT CREATES ONGOING FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS THAT MUST BE SUPPORTED NOT ONLY
[00:25:02]
THIS YEAR BUT IN FUTURE YEARS AS WELL. THE MESSAGE I HOPE OUR COMMUNITY TAKES AWAY TONIGHT IS STRAIGHTFORWARD. THE STATE'S BUDGET OUTLOOK HAS IMPROVED, BUT POSITIVE NEWS DOES NOT ALWAYS LESSEN OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PLAN WISELY. NATOMAS UNIFIED WILL CONTINUE TO WELCOME ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN SCHOOLS WHILE REMAINING COMMITTED TO THE FISCAL STEWARDSHIP, TRANSPARENCY, AND LONG-TERM PLANNING THAT OUR STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND COMMUNITY DESERVE.ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE OUR
[XII. CONSENT ITEMS]
CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A MOTION? MOVE APPROVAL.MOVED BY TRUSTEE HARDEN, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE. THANK YOU.
ROUGH WEEKEND. HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? DOSICK.
[XIII.a. Draft 2026-27 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) as part of the 2024-2027 LCAP]
THAT MOTION CARRIES 5-0. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DRAFT 2026-2027 LCAP AS A PART OF THE 2024 THROUGH 2027 LCAP. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE DRAFT 2026-27 LOCAL CONTROL ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN AS PART OF THE 2024-2027 LCAP AT AT 7:02 PM. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVE FONG, I BELIEVE, IS GOING TO LEAD US THROUGH THIS ITEM. I DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT AFTER JUST FOR THOSE WAITING IN THE AUDIENCE.GOOD EVENING, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TO PRESENT THE DRAFT 26-27 LCAP, OR LOCAL CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN. AS WE START, I JUST WANT TO REALLY DEEPLY APPRECIATE ALL THE COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE DISTRICT. WHO SUPPORT THIS PROCESS, IN PARTICULAR COLLEAGUES IN OUR FISCAL DEPARTMENT. THE LCAP IS TRULY A CONNECTION BETWEEN PROGRAM AND BUDGET, AND I HAVE MANY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE VERY PATIENT WITH ALL OF MY QUESTIONS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM.
YOU KNOW, LCAP STAYS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR DISTRICT GOALS, AND WE'LL SPEAK MORE TO THIS REALLY AS WE LOOK TO NEXT YEAR AND STAYING IN THAT ALIGNMENT AS WE GO INTO OUR NEXT CYCLE.
BUT WE ALWAYS WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OUR 5 GOALS IN OUR LCAP ARE OUR 5 STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS. SO, TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME RUNNING OURSELVES WHERE WE ARE IN OUR 3-YEAR CYCLE. JUST A VERY BRIEF REFRESHER ABOUT WHAT THE LCAP IS AND WHAT'S IN IT IN CASE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANYONE'S LISTENING TO THIS, AND THEN REALLY FOCUS IN ON OUR IMPLEMENTATION FROM THE 25-26 YEAR AND THEN ALSO OUR PROJECTIONS AND PLANS FOR THE 26-27 YEAR. SO, AS WE FIND OURSELVES IN JUNE AND HERE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CURRENT CYCLE, WE JUST WANT TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT THE LCAP IS AN ONGOING PROCESS. AS SOON AS ONE LCAP IS CLOSING, WE'RE ALREADY OPENING THE NEXT ONE. IT IS THAT TRULY LIVING, BREATHING PROCESS WHERE SOMETIMES WE'LL BE IN A MEETING IN MAY AND HEAR A REALLY EXCITING PIECE OF FEEDBACK, AND THEN WE'LL BE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT HOW THAT INFLUENCES THE NEXT YEAR. SO, IT'S NEVER TRULY OVER. IT'S ALWAYS IN MOTION. WE'RE COMING BACK TO THIS SLIDE WITH SOME ADDITIONS BECAUSE AS WE'RE ENDING THE 25-26 YEAR, WHICH IS YEAR 2 OF THE CURRENT 3-YEAR CYCLE, WE'RE HEADED INTO THAT LAST YEAR, WHICH MEANS IN 26-27 WE'LL ACTUALLY BE DEVELOPING THE 27-28 LCAP, WHICH WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEW 3-YEAR CYCLE.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE, THAT COMES STILL SQUARELY IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR DISTRICT'S FORWARD FIVE STRATEGIC PLAN. SO, WE REALLY WANT TO BE COGNIZANT ABOUT STAYING IN ALIGNMENT WHERE WE HAVE OUR KEY FIVE GOALS, AND WE DO EXPECT TO TRY TO RETAIN AS MUCH ALIGNMENT TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THESE ARE TWO REALLY KEY PROCESSES AND WE WANT THEM TO STAY IN ALIGNMENT. SO, JUST AS A REFRESHER, THE LCAP IS, IF YOU'VE HELD IT OR OPENED IT UP, QUITE A LARGE DOCUMENT, AND IT'S THE PLACE WHERE THE STATE HAS REQUIRE DISTRICTS TO BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH OUR FUNDS. AND IN PARTICULAR, ALIGN THAT TO THE GOALS WE HAVE AND ALSO METRICS AND TARGETS THAT WE IDENTIFY FOR HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE. SO, IT IS REALLY WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO FOR STUDENTS. WE HAVE THOSE 5 GOALS SET IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. WHAT ARE THE ACTIONS AND SERVICES WE ARE GOING TO TAKE TO REACH THOSE GOALS AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO MEASURE PROGRESS? AND THAT IS THAT TRUE INTERSECTION BETWEEN AGAIN, BUDGET AND PROGRAM. SO, IN ADDITION TO OUR 5 GOALS, WE JUST WANT TO QUICKLY REMIND FOLKS THAT WE HAVE 2 ADDITIONAL LCAP GOALS. THESE ARE AFFILIATED WITH OUR LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA, OR LCFF, EQUITY MULTIPLIER FUNDS. THAT'S A SPECIFIC FUNDING STREAM THAT THE STATE PROVIDES TO SCHOOL SITES BASED ON SOME DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, SO HIGH SOCIOECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE PERCENTAGE. AND ALSO RELATIVELY HIGH INSTABILITY RATE,
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OR STUDENTS THAT ARE MOVING IN AND OUT OF SCHOOLS. SO, THAT'S WHY YOU SEE 4 OF OUR SCHOOLS LISTED. THOSE ARE THE CURRENT SCHOOLS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE, AND THOSE FUNDS ONLY ARE USED AT THOSE SCHOOLS. IF YOU DO HAPPEN TO OPEN THE LCAP, THIS IS A QUICK SUMMARY OF WHAT'S IN THERE. I ALWAYS LIKE TO SHARE WITH FOLKS THAT ANY OF THOSE PLACES IS A GOOD ENTRY POINT.IF SOMEONE REALLY IS MORE ORIENTED TOWARDS LOOKING AT DOLLARS AND CENTS, THEY CAN GO INTO THE ACTION TABLES AND SEE HOW WE SPEND THOSE DOLLARS ALIGNED TO ACTIONS. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO READ MORE OF A NARRATIVE CAPTURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, THEY CAN START AT THE PLAN SUMMARY. AND IF SOMEONE REALLY WANTS TO SEE WHAT THOSE ACTIONS AND SERVICES LOOK LIKE, THEY CAN DIVE RIGHT INTO THE GOALS SECTION. SO, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTERESTING INFORMATION OUT OF THE LCAP, OR YOU CAN JUST OPEN IT UP ON PAGE 1 AND GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE END. SO, EVERY YEAR WE ENGAGE A NUMBER OF GROUPS.
YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE LEFT WITHOUT READING, THROUGH THE ENTIRE LIST.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF DISTRICT-LEVEL COMMITTEES.
THESE, IN SOME CASES, REPRESENT MULTIPLE MEETINGS.
WE ALSO USE SURVEYS AND CONTINUE TO ENGAGE FOLKS ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS. WHY THE DROP FROM 1,253 PARTICIPANTS, WHAT SEEMS LIKE, TO 435? SPRING? YEAH, ARE THESE DIFFERENT SURVEYS, FAMILY SURVEY? SO THE FAMILY SURVEY IS THAT ANNUAL SURVEY IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY THAT'S BEEN THAT CUSTOMARY SURVEY THAT GOES OUT, AND THE SAME WITH THE SPRING STAFF SURVEY.
THOSE ARE AROUND THE SAME POINT IN TIME. THE FALL LCAP AND SPRING LCAP SURVEYS ARE SOMETHING NEW WE TRIED THIS YEAR THAT HAPPENED IN MID-FALL AND THEN FAIRLY RECENTLY. WE PUSHED THOSE OUT BROADLY. YOU KNOW, IT'S, UM, I THINK FAIR TO SAY IN SOME CASES THESE SURVEYS CAME AT INTERESTING TIMES IN THE DISTRICT FOR OUR DISTRICT. I'D SAY, UM, BUT, UM, THOSE ARE DEFINITELY POINTS OF IMPROVEMENT. YOU KNOW, WE REALLY HOPE TO DRIVE UP THE SPRING, UM, FAMILY SURVEY WAS ACTUALLY A GREAT IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND WE SAW A NICE JUMP AND WE REALLY WANT TO KEEP GOING EVEN HIGHER NEXT YEAR.
BUT TARGETS SIMILAR AUDIENCES ACROSS ALL THE SURVEYS? YES. SO, THE FAMILY SURVEY GOES OUT TO ALL FAMILY, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. STAFF GOES TO ALL STAFF. AND THEN THE FALL LCAP IS AVAILABLE BROADLY.
SO FOR 25-26, THIS WOULD BE IN THE CENTRAL COLUMN, THE PROJECTED EXPENDITURES THAT WE HAD AS OF THIS TIME LAST YEAR. SO, LOOKING BACK ONE YEAR AGO, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE FORECASTING TO SPEND PER GOAL. AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE THAT BROKEN DOWN BY ACTION, YOU CAN OF COURSE GO INTO THE LCAP.
AND THEN IF YOU LOOK IN THE RIGHTMOST COLUMN, WHICH HAS THE IN BOLD, THAT SHOWS OUR ESTIMATED ACTUAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR THROUGH THE END OF MAY. AND A COUPLE THINGS TO CALL OUT. ONE IS IN THE GOAL 3, WE MADE A POINT TO BREAK IT OUT BECAUSE IN PARTICULAR WHERE IT CONCERNS FACILITIES, WHICH IS QUITE A LARGE DOLLAR ACTION INSIDE OF OUR LCAP, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CARRYOVER DOLLARS WHICH WERE UTILIZED TO DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK ACROSS THE DISTRICT, SO IT DID RESULT IN THAT 14.7 $12.78 MILLION ACTUAL EXPENDITURE, WHICH IS LARGER BY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT THAN THE $12.79, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE OF THOSE CARRYOVER FUNDS. THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE FOR EVERY YEAR. WE JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT ANOMALY.
BUT OVERALL, ACROSS THE GOALS IN GENERAL, WE ARE SPENDING IN TOTAL A FAIRLY CLOSE AMOUNT TO WHAT WE PLANNED. AND WE ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT SOME ACTIONS AND EXPENDITURES ARE STILL TO BE REALIZED THROUGH SUMMER SCHOOL. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE HERE IN JUNE, SUMMER SCHOOL HAS JUST KICKED OFF AND WELL UNDERWAY, AND THOSE ACTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO INCUR EXPENDITURES. WHEN YOU LOOK AHEAD TO 26-27, BECAUSE WE ARE LARGELY MAINTAINING THE SAME OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE LCAP, YOU CAN SEE IT IS CLOSE, BUT A LITTLE BIT HIGHER. AND IT IS A GOOD POINT TO ACTUALLY REFLECT AND SAY IN MANY CASES WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LCAP, GOING INTO 26-27, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE LEVELS OF SERVICES. SO, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HAVING SOCIAL WORKERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT, PSYCHOLOGISTS, ETC., THOSE ARE ALL SERVICES BEING MAINTAINED.
AND TO THE POINT THAT WAS MADE EARLIER, WE RECENTLY INCREASED SALARIES AND BENEFITS BY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT. SO, THE MAINTENANCE OF MANY OF THESE ACTIONS IS ITSELF REALLY A PLACE TO POINT OUT THE CONTINUED PRIORITIZATION OF THOSE ACTIONS. SO, RATHER THAN LOOKING TO CUT SOME OF THOSE, THEY HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AND AT HIGHER COSTS. SO, PART OF THAT REALLY WISE EXPENDITURE OF DOLLARS IS REALLY PRIORITIZING WHAT ARE THESE CORE SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AND HOW DO WE KEEP THOSE IN PLACE.
ANOTHER QUESTION, HOW DO THESE PRIORITIES PERCENTAGES PLAY OUT WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER HIGH-PERFORMING DISTRICTS? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I MEAN, EVERY DISTRICT SHAPES THEIR OWN LCAP IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER TO BE GOAL 1, 2, AND 3 AND HOW THEY PROVIDE THOSE ACTIONS IN PLACE. SOME MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT OUR 5 CORE GOALS, SURE, SOME MAY HAVE 6 CORE GOALS, SOME MAY HAVE 4, SO IT'S HARD TO MAKE AN EXACT SLICE.
FOR US, FOR EXAMPLE, IN GOAL 5 FOR HIGH-QUALITY STAFF, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE A VERY LARGE PERCENTAGE
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OF SALARY AND BENEFITS.IN OTHER DISTRICTS, THEY MIGHT HAVE THAT ACTION ATTACHED TO A DIFFERENT GOAL, SO IT REALLY DOES DEPEND ON EACH DISTRICT'S UNIQUE GOAL STRUCTURE.
I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY NUMBER OF ACTIONS? WELL, IF YOU, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. IF YOU GO INTO GOAL 1, GOAL 1 IS THAT LARGE ACADEMIC GOAL, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY 28 SPECIFIC ACTIONS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, CTE IS AN ACTION, YOU KNOW, APIB SUPPORT, AND YOU KIND OF BREAK DOWN THOSE 28 DIFFERENT ACTIONS.
AND I THINK ONE THING THAT'S LOOKING AHEAD TO '26, SORRY, TO THE '26-'27 YEAR WHEN WE'RE DEVELOPING THE NEXT LCAP FOR '27-'28, THAT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT, ARE SOME OF THESE ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME, DO WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSOLIDATE, TO REFRESH, YOU KNOW, ADD SOME NEW ONES? THAT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A NEW YEAR, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR A NEW CYCLE.
SO, THE NEXT SERIES OF SLIDES, FOR THE FIRST 5 GOALS, THERE'S A GOAL, A SLIDE SUCH AS THIS WHICH IS SHOWING OUR GOAL AND THEN THE STATE'S DEFINED LCFF PRIORITIES, AND THEN ALSO FROM OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, THE KEY AREAS THAT ARE ALIGNED TO THAT GOAL. SO, THIS IS JUST A REFERENCE, AND THEN IN THE FOLLOWING SLIDE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC ACTIONS WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. BUT WE JUST WANT TO CALL OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR EACH GOAL, WE DO HAVE THAT ALIGNMENT TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. SO, IN THE CASE OF GOAL 1, THERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME KEY CHANGES. YOU KNOW, THE, IN ACTION 1.2, SO GOING BACK TO THE QUESTION, THESE ARE SEVERAL OF THE ACTIONS FROM GOAL 1 THAT YOU CAN GO AND REFERENCE.
THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR THE EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVE BEING PUT IN, SO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT FOR THAT ACTION. YOU KNOW, IN A SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS EARLIER LOOKING AT HOW DO WE BALANCE PLACES WE WANT TO INVEST AND PLACES WE WANT TO MOVE OUR INVESTMENTS WITHIN THE ACTION 1.16. THE SUPPORT FOR AVID WILL STILL BE CONTINUED BUT NOT IN THE FORM OF A FULL TEACHER ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT. THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL TIME GIVEN TO STAFF AT THOSE SITES.
ACTION 120, THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY NAMED, I THINK, SECONDARY MATH SUPPORTS, BUT REALLY LOOKING AT THAT EXPANDING TO MATH FRAMEWORK IMPLEMENTATION AS WE MOVE INTO OUR FULL ADOPTION YEAR.
AND EXCITED TO INTRODUCE A MATH-SPECIFIC TEACHER ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT TO REALLY BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MATH ACROSS THE DISTRICT. AND ACTION 122, STREAMLINING OUR INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM. SO, NEXT YEAR WE'LL SEE THAT HAPPENING AT 3 SITES SPECIFICALLY, WHICH IS A DEFINITE STREAMLINE FROM THE PREVIOUS PREVIOUS CONTEXT, SO IT WILL BE AT JEFFERSON, PVS, AND INTERCOM.
YOU KNOW, AFTER A FEW YEARS OF EVALUATING THE GATE ALLOCATION, IT'S GOING TO BE PUSHED OUT DIRECTLY TO SITES TO PUT THAT MONEY AS CLOSE TO THE STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE.
AND THEN WE'RE EXCITED TO ADD A NEW ACTION. SO, THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE WHERE THE NUMBER OF ACTIONS WE HAD WAS STILL, WAS LARGE, BUT WE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HAD NOT ADDED A NEW ACTION REFLECTING THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS DUAL IMMERSION PROGRAM. AND SO, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THAT ACTION IN TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT IF SOMEONE PICKS UP OUR LCAP TO SEE THE WORK THAT THE DISTRICT IS DOING. AND THEN SIMILARLY, WE'VE ADDED A METRIC WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO SHOW THAT EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVE AND START TO TRACK THAT GROWTH.
SO, IN THE CASES OF GOAL 2 AND BEYOND, WE JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR CONTINUING ACTIONS THAT WE'RE REALLY EMPHASIZING. GOAL 2, WE KNOW, IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WITH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.
SO, REALLY LOOKING AT THE INVESTMENT WE HAVE IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, SOME SPECIFIC SUPPORTS FOR FOSTER YOUTH AND STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, ALL OF THE VERY BROAD CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM SUPPORTS WE OFFER.
AND THEN LAST YEAR WE ADDED AND ARE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE ADDITIONAL BEHAVIOR SPECIALISTS THAT ARE SUPPORTING STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. AND GOAL 03, WHICH REALLY FOCUSES FOCUSED ON THAT SAFETY AND CONNECTEDNESS AND ENGAGEMENT.
YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER WITH THE, THE SAFETY GROUP THAT'S MEETING, CONTINUING OUR EXPANSION AND SUPPORT OF MENTORING FOR STUDENTS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST SAFETY AND SAFE SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT THAT ALSO INCLUDES OUR CLIMATE LIAISONS, CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN THAT.
AND THEN OF COURSE A LOT OF THE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS PARTICULARLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS, WHICH CONTINUE TO ENGAGE MANY, MANY STUDENTS IN THOSE PROGRAMS. GOAL 4 IS REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. WE REALLY TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING FAMILIES IN FOR DIALOGUE, BUT ALSO EDUCATION AND REALLY EXCITING, FUN ACTIVITIES. OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT IS CENTRAL TO THAT. COMMUNICATION THEY DO, THE EVENTS THEY ORGANIZE.
PARENT UNIVERSITY IS A SIGNATURE SERIES WHICH HAS A
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VERY WIDE ARRAY OF REALLY EXCITING EVENTS. AND THEN OUR WELCOME CENTER, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED A FEW YEARS AGO, IS CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THAT ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL SORTS OF SERVICES. AND THEN GOAL 5, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TOUCHED UPON IN DIFFERENT WAYS, REALLY LOOKING AT HIRING, RECRUITING, RETAINING STAFF, CONTINUING TO INVEST IN OUR TEACHERS, GOAL 5.4, ACTION 5.4 IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST ACTIONS AND IS THAT SUPPORT DIRECTLY TO OUR TEACHING STAFF. AND THEN 5.8 AND 5.9, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO RECRUIT DIVERSE TEACHING STAFF? HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR BENCH OF ADMINISTRATORS FROM WITHIN? AND THEN THAT 5.11, WHICH WE ADDED LAST YEAR, CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN THAT SUBSTITUTE PAY INCREASE SO WE REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THE LANDSCAPE ACROSS THE REGION. FOR GOAL 06, YOU KNOW, IT'S AGAIN THE EQUITY MULTIPLIER FUNDS. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR BANDIT CREEK AND LGMA, AND THIS IS REALLY JUST REFINING ONGOING, YOU KNOW, YEAR TO YEAR. THEY HAVE THESE FUNDS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO UTILIZE THEM IN A WAY THAT MAKES MOST SENSE FOR THEM. AND SO, YOU CAN SEE HERE THERE'S SOME EXPANSION OF THE MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IN ALL THINGS PRETTY, AND THERE'S SOME OTHER PLACES WHERE THE ACTIONS ARE NO LONGER TAKING PLACE BECAUSE IN THE CASE OF ACTION 6.3, THAT WAS AN AMERICAN LAKES ACTION.THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE LCFF EQUITY MULTIPLIER FUNDING STREAM ANYMORE. ACTION 6.11 AND 6.4, THOSE ARE BOTH STILL HAPPENING, JUST NOT WITHIN THIS FUNDING STREAM.
THIS GOAL IS SPECIFIC TO THIS FUNDING STREAM.
IN THE CASE OF GOAL 7, WHICH IS AT DISCOVERY AND THOMAS MIDDLE, SOME REALLY EXCITING THINGS. IF SOMEONE WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, SEE VERY, AT A MICRO LEVEL WHAT HAPPENS WHEN, YOU KNOW, SITES GET MONEY. THEY CAN DO SOME REALLY EXCITING THINGS LIKE BRING ADDITIONAL SOCIAL WORK SUPPORT, ACADEMIC COACHING DIRECTLY IN THE CLASSROOM, AND BRINGING IN SOME MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS. SO, EXCITING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THOSE TWO SITES IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER ACTIONS THAT ARE NOT LISTED. SO, I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT OF TALKING. NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HERE WITH THE, YOU KNOW, FINALIZE LCAP FOR APPROVAL.
FOLLOWING THAT, WE'RE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT IT TO THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION. WE'VE BEEN IN DIALOGUE WITH THEM THROUGHOUT, SO WE SUBMIT EARLY DRAFTS TO THEM SO THEY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND THEY CAN GIVE US FEEDBACK. TYPICALLY, WE RECEIVE FORMALIZED APPROVAL LATER ON IN THE EARLY FALL, AND THEN WE'RE OF COURSE IMPLEMENTING. AND NEXT YEAR IS AN EXCITING YEAR TO BE LOOKING AT THAT NEXT 3-YEAR CYCLE.
SO, I BELIEVE THAT IS MY LAST SLIDE. AND HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA OPEN THE HEARING AS WELL.
SO I THINK I DID OPEN THE HEARING, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS, TRUSTEES, IF THAT'S OKAY. AND THEN WE'LL GET BACK TO TRUSTEE QUESTIONS. SO, I HAVE MS. SHARON THURMOND.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. YES, I'M SHARON THURMOND. I'M IN THE CAPACITY TODAY, HOWEVER, SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY EDUCATION COALITION, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT REPRESENTING A UNIFIED GROUP. I WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC RECORD TO SHOW A DEVASTATING TRUTH THAT DESPITE A DECADE OF VARIOUS PROGRAMS, GOOD INTENTIONS, SINCE 2015, THIS DISTRICT HAS FAILED TO BRING AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS UP TO GRADE LEVEL IN THEIR READING. LAST YEAR ALONE, OVER 2,500 STUDENTS REMAINED TRAPPED BELOW GRADE LEVEL.
OVER THIS 10-YEAR PERIOD, WHILE LCAP DOCUMENTS WERE REPEATEDLY APPROVED, THE CASPI RESULTS SHOW A DECLINE. 2015, IT WAS AT 25%. IT WAS AT 22% THIS LAST YEAR. THESE RESULTS ARE COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE WITH A BUDGET OF $217+ MILLION. MAYBE RESOURCES ARE NOT THE ISSUE.
MAYBE THE ISSUE IS ACCOUNTABILITY. WE KEEP HEARING THAT WORD.
EXPECTATIONS. OUR GROUP INSISTS THAT YOU REPLACE THE GOAL OF INCREMENTAL GROWTH WITH AN ACCELERATED GROWTH MINDSET TARGETING 25% GROWTH EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS.
TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE INSIST ON THESE 6 ACTIONS. ONE, HEIGHTENED ACCOUNTABILITY. WE INSIST THAT YOU RECEIVE ANSWERS FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT REGARDING THE SUBPAR RESULTS OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS AND INVESTIGATE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS DECLINE. NUMBER 2, AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
PROVIDE PARENTS AND PAC MEMBERS WITH THE REAL TRAINING THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
03, TARGETED INTERVENTIONS, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH AMPACT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS NEED TO BE SCREENED. THEY NEED THE FOCUSED TUTORING. IT CAN'T BE THAT HARD TO SEPARATE 2,500 STUDENTS INTO GROUPS. I'LL SUBMIT THIS DOCUMENT BECAUSE I SEE MY TIME IS RUNNING OUT, BUT WE NEED TRANSPARENT EVALUATIONS. AND WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO APPROVE THE LCAP, BUT PLEASE ALLOW FOR AMENDMENTS TO TAKE PLACE
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THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OUR COMMUNITY IS HERE AND WILLING TO HELP. WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS? WE INSIST ON A PLAN THAT REFLECTS THIS SITUATION IS HORRIBLE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT WITHIN 3 YEARS, 80% OF BLACK SCHOLARS ARE READING AT GRADE LEVEL BY 2030. THANK YOU.THANK YOU. NEXT UP, I HAVE JENNIFER SOUSA.
GOOD EVENING, DR. CASTILLO AND TRUSTEES. IS THERE FEEDBACK? ONE OF MY HOMETOWN HEROES IS FREDERICK DOUGLASS, A FELLOW ANNAPOLETAN, AND HE ONCE SAID THAT POWER CONCEDES NOTHING WITHOUT A DEMAND. IT NEVER DID AND IT NEVER WILL. I'VE BEEN VERY DEMANDING OF THIS BOARD AND THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I'M STARTING TO NOTICE A SHIFT, A SHIFT TO MORE COLLABORATIVE OUTREACHES AND MORE COLLABORATIVE TIME WITH FAMILIES AND IN THE WAY THAT YOU'RE HIRING AND PROMOTING ADMINISTRATORS. THIS LCAP EXISTS BECAUSE FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND EDUCATORS HAD A DREAM ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. WE WANTED MORE LOCAL CONTROL, AND WE WANTED MORE TRANSPARENCY.
BUT WHEN FAMILIES HAVE TO FILE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUESTS SIMPLY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PROGRAMS ARE BEING FUNDED OR HOW RESOURCES ARE BEING SPENT, THE LCAP ISN'T LIVING UP TO ITS VISION. AND NOT ALL OF THAT IS ON THE DISTRICT.
THE STATE HAS ADDED MORE AND MORE REQUIREMENTS TO THE POINT WHERE I JUST RECENTLY SAW A STATISTIC THAT SAID 300 REPORTS ARE DUE EVERY YEAR FROM NATOMAS UNIFIED. SO, AS WE REVIEW THIS DOCUMENT, I AGREE WITH WHAT MS. SHARON SAID, THAT WE CONTINUE TO STAY OPEN TO AMENDMENTS. LISTENING ISN'T ENOUGH. THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE IS VERY MINIMAL, AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE BEING IN PERSON AND GETTING FEEDBACK AND HAVING ROBUST DISCUSSIONS.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO RETHINK THE WAY THAT YOU'RE ENGAGING FAMILIES AND THE WAY THAT YOU'RE DIRECTING STAFF.
TO ASK QUESTIONS. NATOMAS IS, I DESCRIBE IT AS CALIFORNIA IN MINIATURE. WE REFLECT THE DIVERSITY, STRENGTHS, AND CHALLENGES OF OUR STATE, BUT WE ALSO ARE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF HAVING STUDENTS WITH TRAUMA AND STUDENTS WHO OFTEN HAVE NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL. I MET SOME, MOTHERS TONIGHT WHO ARE IN OUR DISTRICT AND ARE FROM AFGHANISTAN. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY SOMETIMES HAVE CHILDREN ENTERING SCHOOL AT AGE 16 WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL, AND IT'S THE GIRLS. I'VE RUN OUT OF TIME, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE LCAP REMINDS US THAT PROGRESS REQUIRES PEOPLE TO LISTEN, AND WHEN YOU'RE LISTENING, THAT YOU TAKE ACTION ON WHAT YOU'VE HEARD.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP I HAVE JELAY TOR. JELAY.
GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT.
MY NAME IS JELAY TOR. I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF NATOMA BLACK PARENTS UNITED. I REVIEWED THE LCAP AND THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE CONCERNING TO ME, BUT I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT TWO THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE FIRST THING IS TRANSPARENCY, AND THE OTHER ONE IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR BLACK STUDENTS. SO, THE, THE LCAP PLANS TO SPEND, THE DISTRICT PLANS TO SPEND LIKE $228 MILLION NEXT YEAR.
$174 MILLION OF THAT IS GOING TO BE SPENT OUTSIDE OF THE LCAP, SO THAT'S LIKE 76%. MY ISSUE WITH THAT IS THAT THAT $174 MILLION IS A VERY BROAD CATEGORY, AND THERE'S NO ITEMIZATION AS TO EXACTLY WHAT ALL THOSE EXPENDITURES WILL BE. AND FOR ME, THIS CREATES A TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY ISSUE. I WORK IN FINANCE, I WORK IN PRIVATE EQUITY, AND UNFORTUNATELY IN FINANCE, WHEN WE DON'T ITEMIZE THINGS LINE BY LINE, THAT USUALLY MEANS THAT YOU'RE HIDING SOMETHING. OR YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SPENDING THINGS ON. I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE CASE HERE, BUT FROM A TRANSPARENCY LENS, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD SEE AS PARENTS WHAT EXACTLY THAT $174 MILLION WILL BE SPENT ON LINE BY LINE. WHAT ARE, OF THAT $174 MILLION, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS INSTRUCTION? HOW MUCH OF THAT IS SALARIES? WE NEED TO KNOW. PARENTS NEED TO KNOW. THEY NEED TO BE INFORMED. THEY NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT. WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BLACK STUDENT OUTCOMES, BLACK STUDENTS ARE 20, 21% OF THIS DISTRICT. WE
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NEED TO SEE MORE DONE FOR THEM, AND WE NEED TO SEE THAT REFLECTED IN THE LCAP. THEY ARE, IN TERMS OF ELA, MATH, 68% OF THEM ARE AT GRADE LEVEL, 80% OR LESS THAN 80%. SO, IT'S WE NEED TO SEE THE ACTIONS, YOU KNOW, THE SPENDING ALONG, TIED TO THE ACHIEVEMENT. SO, THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. SO, I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENT. TRUSTEES, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? TRUSTEE MORA.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
UNDER THE KEY CHANGES FOR 26, 2026-2027, ONE OF THE NEW ACTIONS, ACTION 7.10, THE ACADEMIC COACHING. I JUST WANTED TO SEE CLARIFICATION WHO THE PROVIDER FOR THAT ACADEMIC COACHING WILL BE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THOSE WILL BE SOME ADDITIONAL TEACHERS ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT, THOUGH I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S FINALIZED.
I COULD CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH STAFF, BUT THE INTENT IS TO HAVE FOLKS WHO HAVE INSTRUCTIONAL EXPERTISE BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IN-CLASSROOM COACHING AND THEN ALSO SCHOOL-WIDE SUPPORT, CO-PLANNING, ETC. THE UNIQUE PART ABOUT THIS FUNDING STREAM IS THAT WILL BE BASED SPECIFICALLY AT THAT SITE FOR THAT SITE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE COMMENTS. WE TRULY DO HEAR YOU. STEPHEN, GREAT JOB WITH THIS. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THE EDUCATIONAL PARTNER ENGAGEMENT. WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FAMILY SURVEY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE SURVEY FOR ALL FAMILIES? SO HOW ARE WE PRESENTING THIS? SO THE SURVEY IS AN ONLINE SURVEY. YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH OUR PRINCIPALS AND OUR SITE STAFF, YOU KNOW, TO PUT IT OUT THROUGH ALL OF THEIR COMMUNICATIONS. WE ALSO UTILIZE PARENTSQUARE.
PARENTSQUARE IS A TOOL THAT ITSELF IS AN LCAP ACTION, WHICH IS HELPFUL BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE INFORMATION IN THEIR LANGUAGE. BUT IMPROVING SURVEY RESULTS IS ALWAYS A GOAL, AND CONTINUING TO FIND WAYS TO GET CLOSER TO THE AUTHENTIC WAY THAT PARENTS CAN BEST ANSWER IS GOING TO REMAIN A GOAL. SO, WE KNOW WE'RE, WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR CLOSE TO HAVING EVERY PARENT ANSWER OR EVERY HOUSEHOLD ANSWER. WE TOOK A NICE STEP FORWARD THIS YEAR, BUT WE'RE STILL FAR AWAY FROM WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
DEFINITELY, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THEM ALL, BUT JUST WANT TO LOOK AT THE FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE STILL DON'T HAVE THE INTERNET OR THE ACCESS OR CHECK THE PARENTSQUARE. SO, MAYBE WE CAN LOOK INTO THE OLD SCHOOL WAY OF SENDING IT HOME FOR AND JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
MY NEXT ONE, ACTIONS AND SERVICES UPDATE FOR 2025. THE 5, NUMBER 05, HIGH-QUALITY STAFF. WHO OR WHAT QUALIFIES AS HIGH-QUALITY STAFF? THE STATE HAS ITS OWN DEFINITION AROUND, YOU KNOW, BEING APPROPRIATELY CREDENTIALED AND APPROPRIATELY PLACED. THERE'S DEFINITIONS THAT EXIST WITH THE STATE. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DISTRICT'S DEFINITION WOULD CERTAINLY INCLUDE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE TRAINING ACROSS ALL OF OUR INITIATIVES AS WELL.
SO, I THINK DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GO, YOU GET A DIFFERENT DEFINITION.
THERE IS, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A METRIC IN THE LCAP THAT'S IN OUR LOCAL INDICATORS THAT DOES ADHERE TO THE STATE'S DEFINITION THOUGH.
I THINK MY LAST ONE WILL BE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN? OH, AND THAT'S ACTIONS AND SERVICES PLAN FOR THE 2026 EQUITY MULTIPLIER FOCUS 6 AND 7. WE'VE GOT THE BANNING CREEK LGMA. WE'VE GOT NATOMAS MIDDLE AND DISCOVERY HIGH. CAN YOU TELL THE PEOPLE AND EXPLAIN TO US, THE PUBLIC, HOW THAT IS FOCUSED AND WHY THOSE SCHOOLS OR HOW THOSE SCHOOLS? YES, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO EXPLAIN IT.
SO, ALL SCHOOLS ARE, THE STATE LOOKS AT OUR SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PERCENTAGE BY SCHOOL SITES.
SO, THOSE ARE STUDENTS WHO MEET THAT PARTICULAR DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTIC. AND THEN FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE SCHOOL IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THEY LOOK AT HOW MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS ATTENDED IT FOR MORE THAN THE MAJORITY OF THE YEAR. AND THEY DEFINE THAT AS 245 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF ENROLLMENT. SO, THE IDEA IS IF A SCHOOL HAS A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO ARE SPENDING LESS THAN THAT TIME, IT MEANS THEY'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING STUDENTS COMING INTO SCHOOL PARTIALLY THE YEAR OR LEAVING BEFORE THE YEAR IS OVER. AND THAT SCHOOL EXPERIENCES A MUCH DIFFERENT CHALLENGE THAN A SCHOOL WHERE THEY HAVE A STABLE ENROLLMENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH, EVEN IF THE STUDENTS HAVE SIMILAR SKILL LEVELS. AND SO, IF THE SCHOOL MEETS BOTH THOSE CHARACTERISTICS, THEN THEY ISSUE THEM THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS WITH THE INTENT TO TRY TO MAINTAIN MORE STABILITY.
[00:55:01]
KEY CHANGE. NEXT TIME, PRESIDENT GRANT, DO YOU DO YOU WANT ME TO JUST LIKE STOP WHEN THE SLIDES ARE UP? NO, NO, DO YOUR THING. I'M SORRY.NO, NO, NO, I'M SORRY BECAUSE I FEEL BAD NOW. SO, GOAL 1 KEY CHANGES FOR '26-'27.
DEFINITELY LOOKING TO, AND THIS IS JUST LIKE A NOTE, DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW ACTION METRICS IN GOAL 1 AND THE KEY CHANGES. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT.
AND THEN TURN, TURN. LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
OH COOL, IT'S JUST A LITTLE SIDE NOTE. AS WE CONTINUE WITH THE DIVERSITY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM, IF WE CAN JUST PLEASE ENSURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM. I'VE JUST HEARD THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HOW MANY PEOPLE FEEL AS THOUGH THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE TRUE SUPPORT, THEY'RE JUST THROWN TO THE WOLVES, AND THEN WE END UP LOSING THEM.
FOR EVERYONE WHO MAY BE TUNING IN, UNDER THE ACTION OPERATIONS AND SERVICES PLAN FOR 2026-2027. THERE'S A, WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE TOTAL PROJECTED BUDGET. THE TOTAL IS $54 MILLION AND SOME CHANGE.
WELL, NOT SOME CHANGE, AND $446,000 AND THEN SOME CHANGE.
THAT IS THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR LCAP FUNDS, CORRECT? IT'S THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FUNDS THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THE LCAP, THEY CUT ACROSS MULTIPLE RESOURCE TYPES.
OKAY, YEAH, AND IT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT WE ARE RECEIVING THROUGH THE, OH, GREAT QUESTION, AS PART OF LCAP. WELL, AS LCAP FUNDS THAT ARE GOING TO GO TO THESE LCAP PRIORITIES AND GOALS.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THIS ONE. THE LCAP TRULY IS THAT L, THE LOCAL CONTROL. SO, WE RETAIN THE LOCAL CONTROL OF HOW WE SHAPE AND FORM OUR LCAP.
THERE ARE CERTAIN FUNDS THAT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN THE LCAP LIKE LOCAL CONTROL EQUITY MULTIPLIER FUNDS, OUR LEARNING RECOVERY EMERGENCY BLOCK GRANT FUNDS, AND OUR SUPPLEMENTAL CONCENTRATION GRANT FUNDS, BUT THERE ARE NO FUNDS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LCAP FUNDS.
FUNDS. THAT TERM IS USED OFTEN.
THE BEST WAY I COULD DESCRIBE IT IS WHEN A DISTRICT OUTLINES WHAT THOSE GOALS ARE, WE HAVE THESE 5 GOALS PLUS OUR 2 ADDITIONAL GOALS. THE ACTIONS THAT WE LAY FORWARD, FORTH, LET'S SAY WE THINK THESE ACTIONS WILL ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, AND THE FUNDS THAT THEN CORRESPOND TO THOSE ACTIONS, THAT BECOMES THE LCAP. AND WE RETAIN THE LOCAL CONTROL TO CONSTRICT OR EXPAND THAT YEAR TO YEAR AS WE SEE FIT, AS LONG AS WE'RE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE THE MANDATORY FUNDS.
SOME DISTRICTS HAVE LCAPS THAT HAVE VERY, VERY FOCUSED GOALS THAT MIGHT HAVE A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THEIR BUDGET, AND SOME DISTRICTS HAVE SLIGHTLY LARGER. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN IN THIS ZONE FOR, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY, BUT IT HAS GROWN.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF FUNDS EACH YEAR THAT WE'RE SHOWING.
I KNOW HE'S GIVING A VERY TECHNICAL ANSWER, BUT WE DO HAVE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES THAT ARE RESTRICTIVE THAT HAVE TO BE USED FOR CERTAIN THINGS, AND CALIFORNIA'S SCHOOL FUNDING IS A VERY COMPLEX MACHINE. AND PART OF IT TOO WITH THE LCAP IS IN WE HAVE SOME THINGS WHERE WE ARE MATCHING SOME OF THE FUNDING.
SO, IT'S MADE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THE ACTIONS AND SERVICES THAT ARE LISTED IN THE PLAN, THAT'S HOW WE'RE SPENDING ON THOSE DOLLARS. AND THEN WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER DOLLARS LIKE TITLE I THAT IS RESTRICTIVE THAT HAS OTHER PURPOSES. SO, IT'S, IT'S VERY COMPLEX.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. MORE TIP OF THE ICEBERG EXPLANATION, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
TRUSTEE MEHTA. MY FELLOW TRUSTEES HAVE ASKED THE QUESTIONS ALREADY, BUT I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION.
AND THE GOAL 5 IN THE KEY AREAS, VALUE, RECOGNIZE, AND CELEBRATE STAFF. COULD YOU GIVE ME A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW WE ARE DOING THAT? ARE WE DOING SCHOOL SIDE? AND YEAH, WELL, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LET ME INTERJECT. SO, THAT'S OUR DISTRICT GOAL 5, AND SO WE HAVE ACTIONS AND SERVICES THAT ARE ALIGNED TO THAT GOAL SPECIFICALLY.
BUT A LOT OF THE CELEBRATIONS AND STAFF RECOGNITION, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE AN LCAP ACTION AND SERVICE TIED TO IT. SO, WE DO DO THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE LCAP.
OKAY, SO THAT'S EVERY SCHOOL SITE WOULD HAVE ALL THIS, RIGHT? THE KEY AREA, RECOGNIZING THE STAFF AND CELEBRATING THEM.
WE HAVE SOME DISTRICT-WIDE EFFORTS THAT WE DO DEFINITELY, AND SCHOOL SITES ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL THINGS. YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO VALUE OUR STAFF, AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT ACTIONS AND SERVICES TO SUPPORT THEM, BUT THAT GOAL IS SPECIFICALLY FROM OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. SO, WE HAVE SOME LCAP ACTIONS AND SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THAT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE OTHER AREAS IN OUR DISTRICT WHERE WE ALSO ADDRESS THOSE CELEBRATIONS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
[01:00:01]
THANK YOU.THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ON, I THINK THE ADDITION OF A MATH-SPECIFIC TOSA IS A REALLY GOOD THING, UM, BUT CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE APPROACH? JUST ONE PERSON, THEY'RE GOING TO COVER THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. I MEAN, WHAT'S, WHAT ARE WE THINKING ABOUT FOR THIS, POSITION.
SO THIS TOSA IS AN INTERNAL STAFF MEMBER FROM NUSD WHO'S BEEN PART OF THE MATH LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHO'S BEEN PART OF THE ADOPTION PROCESS THE LAST YEAR, AND PART OF THEIR FOCUS WILL BE CONTINUING WITH THE BTC COHORTS AND WORKING VERY SPECIFICALLY ON FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT. SO, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT EVERY TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT WITH JOB-EMBEDDED, LIKE, IN-CLASS COACHING AS AN ELI, BUT THEY'LL BE WORKING WITH COHORTS VERY SPECIFICALLY ON FORMATIVE MATH AND HELPING TO COMPLETE OUR MATH ADOPTION PROCESS THIS YEAR FOR NEW MATH MATERIALS. THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING AS WE GROW AS A DISTRICT THAT PEOPLE GET MORE SPECIFIC ROLES IN THOSE KINDS OF WAYS AND, AND MAY EXPAND.
BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THE MATH TOSA TO REALLY BE ABLE TO FOCUS IN ON VERY SPECIFIC MATH ASSESSMENTS AND HELPING TEACHERS PLAN TO MEET STUDENT NEEDS.
IS THAT SOMETHING, I MEAN, WE SHOULD EXPAND? LITERACY IS IMPORTANT, WE HAVE A LOT GOING TOWARDS LITERACY, BUT NUMERACY IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT, RIGHT? JUST THINK LIKE HAVING ONE, I MEAN, IT'S A GOOD IDEA, YOU GUYS THOUGHT OF IT, OBVIOUSLY, I DIDN'T THINK OF IT, BUT NOW THAT I SEE IT, PERHAPS WE SHOULD PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE OOMPH BEHIND IT, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING WHERE THE SCORES ARE. AND THEN THE LAST OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS ON THE SUBSTITUTE POLICY PAY.
WE DO HAVE SITES WHERE THERE'S STILL LONG-TERM SUBS, SO JUST MAYBE LOOKING AT THAT TO SEE, IS IT COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF THE LONG, LONGER-TERM SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE WHERE THERE ARE LONG-TERM SUBS IN CLASSROOMS? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO, WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH HUMAN RESOURCES TO TRY AND MONITOR THAT SO THAT THERE'S PARITY IN COMPENSATION ACROSS DISTRICTS. SO, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK.
INTERESTING SEGUE. SO, I KNOW OUR NEXT HEARING IS ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND WE DID HAVE A, I THOUGHT A VERY GOOD PUBLIC COMMENT/QUESTION ABOUT LINE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET. PERCEIVED LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. SO, I JUST, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THIS NOW DURING THE LCAP, I'M GOING TO ASK CBO BROWN, WHEN WE GET TO YOUR PRESENTATION, IF YOU COULD MAYBE JUST KIND OF ALLUDE AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION ABOUT WHERE WE CAN FIND THOSE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. BECAUSE BETWEEN THE LCAP, LCFF, AND THE BUDGET, ALL THE INFORMATION I THINK IS OUT THERE. IT'S JUST NOT NECESSARILY IN A ONE CENTRALIZED HUB, PER SE IN THE SAME FORMAT.
SO, MAYBE JUST NOT A GREAT DETAIL BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE UNTIL 11 O'CLOCK TONIGHT, BUT IF YOU COULD KIND OF DIRECT WHERE THE INFORMATION IS, I'D APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
THERE'S A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING BY TRUSTEE DOSICK. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED.
SECONDED. THANK YOU. MOVE, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE HARDEN.
AND HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? DOSICK.
ALL RIGHT, THE HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
[XIII.b. 2026-27 Proposed Budget]
THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT, UM, UNDER PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE HAVE ITEM B, THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2026-27. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2026-2027 PROPOSED BUDGET AT 7:40 PM. ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT/CBO HEATHER BROWN IS GOING TO LEAD US THROUGH THIS ITEM.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT GRANT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT CASTILLO, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE DISTRICT'S 2026-2027 PROPOSED BUDGET. I FIRST WANT TO THANK OUR FISCAL SERVICES TEAM WHO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR SITES AND DEPARTMENTS AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME TO MAKE THIS BUDGET HAPPEN.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THAT TEAM. THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE ASSUMPTIONS USED TO DEVELOP THE BUDGET, THE DISTRICT'S PROJECTED REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, AND OUR RESERVE LEVELS, AND THE MULTI-YEAR FINANCIAL OUTLOOK.
FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING, THE BOARD WILL BE ASKED TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET AT THE JUNE 24TH BOARD MEETING. AS WE DEVELOP THE BUDGET EACH YEAR, OUR FOCUS REMAINS ON SUPPORTING STUDENTS WHILE ENSURING THE DISTRICT REMAINS FINANCIALLY STABLE FOR THE FUTURE. FISCAL STEWARDSHIP REQUIRES US TO BALANCE CURRENT NEEDS WITH LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY, MAKING DECISIONS TODAY THAT PROTECT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YEARS TO COME. THE IMPROVED STATE OUTLOOK IS POSITIVE NEWS.
AT THE SAME TIME, RESPONSIBLE FISCAL STEWARDSHIP REQUIRES US
[01:05:01]
TO REMAIN THOUGHTFUL AND DISCIPLINED IN OUR APPROACH.BY PLANNING TODAY, WE POSITION NATOMAS UNIFIED TO REMAIN FINANCIALLY STRONG AND CONTINUE SERVING THE STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES WHO RELY ON US BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. ALL 5 DISTRICT GOALS ARE REFLECTED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. OUR BUDGET DECISIONS ARE ALIGNED WITH THESE PRIORITIES AND THE GOALS OUTLINED IN THE LOCAL CONTROL ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN, OR LCAP. TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION IS INTENDED NOT ONLY TO REVIEW THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL POSITION, BUT ALSO TO DEMONSTRATE HOW NATOMAS UNIFIED IS BALANCING IMPROVED STATE FUNDING WITH RESPONSIBLE LONG-TERM FISCAL PLANNING. FIRST, I WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY ASSUMPTIONS USED TO DEVELOP THE 2026-27 PROPOSED BUDGET. SECOND, I WILL REVIEW THE DISTRICT'S REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, RESERVES, AND COMMITTED FUNDS. AND FINALLY, I'LL PRESENT THE DISTRICT'S 3-YEAR FINANCIAL PROJECTION AND DEMONSTRATE THAT THE DISTRICT IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE CERTIFICATION WHILE MEETING ALL REQUIRED RESERVE LEVELS.
SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGETING IS A YEAR-ROUND PROCESS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, STAFF CONTINUALLY MONITOR ENROLLMENT, ATTENDANCE, STAFFING LEVELS, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES TO STATE FUNDING.
THE BUDGET WAS REFINED AT MULTIPLE POINTS DURING THE YEAR AS NEW INFORMATION BECOMES BECOMES AVAILABLE. TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THAT PROCESS.
FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET AS WELL AS THE STATE'S BUDGET LATER THIS MONTH, WE WILL CONTINUE MONITORING OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION THROUGH THE INTERIM REPORTING PROCESS DURING THE 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET REFLECTS A POSITIVE CERTIFICATION, MEANING THE DISTRICT IS PROJECTED TO MEET ITS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS IN THE CURRENT YEAR AND THE SUBSEQUENT TWO FISCAL YEARS.
THIS INCLUDES THE STATE-REQUIRED 3% RESERVE FOR ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES AND THE ADDITIONAL 6% RESERVE REQUIRED BY BOARD POLICY. THIS RESERVE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF RESPONSIBLE FISCAL MANAGEMENT.
MAINTAINING THESE LEVELS HELP THE DISTRICT MAINTAIN A STATE, MANAGE STATE FUNDING FLUCTUATIONS, ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, AND UNEXPECTED COST INCREASES WHILE ENSURING CONTINUITY OF SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
FOR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES, ENROLLMENT IS PROJECTED AT 10,867 STUDENTS EXCLUDING CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND THIS REPRESENTS FLAT ENROLLMENT.
AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE IS PROJECTED AT 10,020 STUDENTS, OR AN ATTENDANCE RATE OF 92.33%. THE BUDGET ALSO ASSUMES AN UNDUPLICATED PUPIL PERCENTAGE OF 67.59%, WHICH REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN THE DISTRICT'S LCFF FUNDING.
THE UNDUPLICATED PUPIL PERCENTAGE REPRESENTS STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS, ARE ENGLISH LEARNERS, OR ARE FOSTER YOUTH, AND IT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING THE DISTRICT RECEIVES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE BACK TO WHAT'S CALLED A BASE YEAR, WHICH MEANS WE WILL NEED TO GET INCOME INFORMATION FROM ALL STUDENTS AND NOT JUST, NEW STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTLY CERTIFIED. WE WILL USE A VARIETY OF STRATEGIES TO GET THIS INFORMATION, BUT OUR UNDUPLICATED COUNT MAY FLUCTUATE.
SINCE OUR LAST PRESENTATION, THE GOVERNOR'S MAY REVISION HAS IMPROVED THE STATEWIDE K-12 FUNDING OUTLOOK. HOWEVER, IT HAS ALSO INTEGRATED SOME REQUIREMENTS THAT WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE. SEVERAL KEY ASSUMPTIONS WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE PROPOSED BUDGET BASED ON THE MAY REVISION. AND THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, OR COLA, THAN DISTRICTS WERE ANTICIPATING EARLIER IN THE BUDGET CYCLE, PROVIDING WELCOME NEWS FOR CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
COLA INCREASED FROM 2.41% TO 4.31%, INCLUDING A 1.44% SUPER COLA.
THIS SUPER COLA APPLIES TO THE BASE GRANT, GRADE SPAN ADJUSTMENT, AND SUPPLEMENTAL CONCENTRATION GRANT FUNDING ONLY. ADDITIONAL ONGOING REVENUE IS POSITIVE NEWS FOR NATOMAS UNIFIED, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR CAREFUL PLANNING AND RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING. THE MAY REVISION REQUIRES IMPLEMENTATION OF UP TO 14 WEEKS OF PAID PREGNANCY DISABILITY LEAVE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. WHILE THIS REFLECTS THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES, IT ALSO CREATES A NEW OPERATIONAL AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT DISTRICTS MUST PLAN FOR CAREFULLY. SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY $422 PER ADA, BRINGING THE FUNDING RATE TO APPROXIMATELY $1,340 PER ADA. THIS IS A HISTORIC STATEWIDE INVESTMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. WHILE THE FUNDING DOES NOT CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN REVENUES AND THE ACTUAL COST OF SERVICES, IT DOES ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALITY THAT DISTRICTS CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE INCREASING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH, SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. FOR NATOMAS UNIFIED, WHICH HAS LONG PRIORITIZED SPECIAL EDUCATION
[01:10:01]
AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, THIS INVESTMENT IS POSITIVE NEWS. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATES FOR STRS REMAINS UNCHANGED AT 19.1%, WHILE THE CALPERS RATE DECREASES SLIGHTLY FROM 26. FROM 24.81 TO 26.4%. THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES NEGOTIATED SALARY INCREASES, INCREASED HEALTH AND WELFARE CONTRIBUTION FOR EMPLOYEES, A ONE-TIME MATH TEXTBOOK ADOPTION, AND THE FINAL YEAR OF FURNITURE PURCHASES FOR HEREDIA-ARRIAGA. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE STUDENT SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT HAS NOT YET BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET BECAUSE FINAL ALLOCATIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED UNTIL THE STATE STATE BUDGET IS ADOPTED. TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE PROJECTED AT APPROXIMATELY $217.1 MILLION. THE LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE CONTINUES TO BE THE LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA, OR LCFF, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR OVER $156 MILLION IN FUNDING. ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES INCLUDING FEDERAL FUNDING, STATE CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS, AND OTHER LOCAL REVENUE SOURCES, UM, MAKE UP THE REST. AS WITH MOST CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS, LCFF REMAINS THE PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE SUPPORTING DISTRICT OPERATIONS.THESE CHARTS ILLUSTRATE THE COMPOSITION OF THE DISTRICT'S REVENUES.
THE CHART ON THE LEFT SHOWS UNRESTRICTED REVENUE, WHERE APPROXIMATELY 94% OF FUNDING COMES FROM LCFF SOURCES. THE MIDDLE CHART SHOWS RESTRICTED REVENUE, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY SUPPORTED BY STATE CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS AND FEDERAL FUNDING. AND THE CHART ON THE RIGHT COMBINES THESE AND DEMONSTRATES THAT APPROXIMATELY 72% OF THE DISTRICT'S TOTAL FUNDING COMES FROM LCFF SOURCES. THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF ENROLLMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND UNDUPLICATED PUPIL COUNTS IN MAINTAINING THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL STABILITY. TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE BUDGETED AT APPROXIMATELY $228.9 MILLION. AS IS TYPICAL FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PERSONNEL COSTS REPRESENT THE LARGEST PORTION OF EXPENDITURES.
SALARIES AND BENEFITS ACCOUNT FOR THE MAJORITY OF DISTRICT SPENDING AND SUPPORT THE EMPLOYEES WHO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO STUDENTS. THE REMAINING CATEGORIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXPENSES ARE OUTLINED HERE, INCLUDING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, BOOKS AND SUPPLIES, SERVICES, UTILITIES, MAINTENANCE, TRANSPORTATION, AND OTHER OPERATIONAL COSTS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT DISTRICT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, THIS PROVIDES A VISUAL BREAKDOWN OF UNRESTRICTED, RESTRICTED, AND TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT PERSONNEL COSTS CONTINUE TO REPRESENT THE LARGEST EXPENDITURE CATEGORY IN ALL THREE CHARTS. WHEN LOOKING AT JUST UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUND, APPROXIMATELY 86% OF EXPENDITURES SUPPORT EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND BENEFITS. WHEN RESTRICTED FUNDS ARE INCLUDED, PERSONNEL COSTS ACCOUNT FOR APPROXIMATELY 79% OF TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.
THESE PERCENTAGES ILLUSTRATE THE STAFFING DECISIONS HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE DISTRICT'S OVERALL BUDGET. AND THIS ALSO TIES IN TO HOW PORTIONS, THE LCAP, AND WHY NOT ALL OF THAT FULL BUDGET IS LISTED IS BECAUSE SO MUCH IS TIED DIRECTLY TO SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
AGAIN, 79% OF THE TOTAL $220 $28.9 MILLION IS MADE UP OF SALARIES AND BENEFITS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS ENROLLMENT AND ADA TRENDS OVER TIME.
FOR BUDGET PURPOSES, ENROLLMENT IS PROJECTED TO REMAIN STABLE AT APPROXIMATELY 10,867 STUDENTS THROUGH THE MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION PERIOD. ADA IS ALSO PROJECTED TO REMAIN RELATIVELY STABLE AT APPROXIMATELY 92.3%. WHILE ENROLLMENT HAS STABILIZED, STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE PATTERNS BECAUSE THEY DIRECTLY IMPACT DISTRICT FUNDING. THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES SEVERAL OF THE PLANNING FACTORS USED TO DEVELOP THE DISTRICT'S MULTI-YEAR PROJECTIONS. THESE ASSUMPTIONS INCLUDE PROJECTED COLA RATES, THE STRS AND PERS EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATES, AS WELL AS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RATES. WHILE THESE ESTIMATES ARE BASED ON CURRENT INFORMATION FROM SCHOOL SERVICES OF CALIFORNIA AND THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS. THEY REMAIN SUBJECT TO CHANGE, AND ANY FUTURE CHANGES TO THESE ASSUMPTIONS COULD IMPACT THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS.
COULD YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW, LIKE, THAT CHANGE COULD IMPACT? YEAH, SO EACH YEAR IS WHEN THE PERS RATES COULD BE ADJUSTED.
SO, WE ARE USING THE RATES PROJECTED FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS BASED ON WHAT THEY ESTIMATE THEM TO BE, BUT BECAUSE THAT WILL CHANGE EVERY YEAR, IF THEY GO UP, THAT WILL THEN OF COURSE MAKE IT, OR DOWN, RIGHT, WILL IMPACT THAT FUTURE YEAR'S BUDGET. THANK YOU.
CERTAINLY WITH COLA AS WELL, RIGHT? WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT COLA, THAT WILL CHANGE EVEN AT THE INTERIMS. WE WILL GET UPDATED INFORMATION FOR THE OUT YEARS, WHICH WE WILL THEN INCORPORATE AT THE INTERIMS TO MAKE SURE
[01:15:01]
THAT WE'RE TRENDING EXACTLY WITH WHAT SCHOOL SERVICES RECOMMENDS US TO USE FOR OUR PROJECTIONS.OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE DISTRICT HAS IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF INTENTIONAL ACTIONS TO IMPROVE LONG-TERM FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY WHILE CONTINUING TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FINALIZED AGREEMENT WITH NTA. THAT AGREEMENT REFLECTS A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN EMPLOYEES AND DEMONSTRATES THE DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO RECRUITING AND RETAINING HIGH-QUALITY STAFF.
AT THE SAME TIME, THESE ARE ONGOING COMMITMENTS THAT MUST BE SUSTAINED IN FUTURE YEARS, PARTICULARLY AS HEALTH AND WELFARE COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE. AS PART OF THE DISTRICT'S EFFORT TO SUPPORT THESE COMMITMENTS WHILE MAINTAINING LONG-TERM FISCAL STABILITY, STAFF HAVE IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY $8.2 MILLION IN REDUCTIONS AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES.
THESE ACTIONS INCLUDE REDUCTIONS IN EDUCATION CENTER STAFFING AND OPERATING BUDGETS, ADJUSTMENTS TO PROGRAM STAFFING REDUCTIONS IN CONTRACTS, AND SHIFTS OF CERTAIN EXPENDITURES TO ONE-TIME FUNDING SOURCES WHERE APPROPRIATE. THE DISTRICT HAS ALSO REDUCED PLANNED FACILITIES TRANSFERS, TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT EXPENDITURES, AND OTHER OPERATIONAL COSTS.
NATOMAS UNIFIED'S GOAL IS TO PRIORITIZE CLASSROOMS AND STUDENTS, AND BUDGET REDUCTIONS ARE NEVER EASY, BUT THE DISTRICT HAS APPROACHED THIS WORK THOUGHTFULLY AND STRATEGICALLY WITH THE GOAL OF PROTECTING CORE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND STUDENT SUPPORTS, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAKE NATOMAS UNIFIED SPECIAL. WE ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED BY THE ONGOING WORK OF THE DISTRICT'S HEALTH BENEFITS COMMITTEE. THE DISTRICT REMAINS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS AND LOOKS FORWARD TO IDENTIFYING BOTH SHORT AND LONG-TERM APPROACHES THAT SUPPORT EMPLOYEES WHILE RESPONSIBLY MANAGING HEALTH BENEFIT COSTS OVER TIME.
TRUSTEE DOSICK. QUESTION ON, ON NO NUMBERS, BULLET 5-ISH, SHIFT INCREASED SUBRATES TO ONE-TIME FUNDS. CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT THAT IS? YEAH, SO THERE IS ROUND 1 OF THE STUDENT SUPPORT BLOCK GRANT, AND WE ARE USING SOME OF THOSE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR LONG-TERM SUBRATES.
AND WE'RE DOING THAT AS A, JUST FOR THE '26-'27 AND '27-'28, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THOSE ONE-TIME FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR, FOR BOTH YEARS. WE HAVE 2 YEARS OF ONE-TIME FUNDS.
YES, WE, IT'S A ONE ALLOCATION THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE YEARS TO USE, AND SO WE'VE ALLOCATED IT OVER THOSE 2 YEARS.
AND BECAUSE I'M NOT KNOWN FOR BEING SUBTLE, THE REASON I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION IS WE'VE SEEN OTHER DISTRICTS IN INCLUDING ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS THAT HAVE PUT BUDGET ITEMS IN, BUT AS THAT HAD ONE-TIME FUNDING BUT WERE ONGOING EXPENDITURES, AND THEN WERE, STRUGGLE TO ACCOUNT FOR HOW TO COVER THOSE EXPENSES WHEN THE ONE-TIME FUNDING EVAPORATES.
AND SO, IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT '27-'28, FOR EXAMPLE, '28-'29, RIGHT, WE WOULD, WE NEED TO BE ACCOUNTING FOR THOSE BACK IN OUR UNRESTRICTED FUNDS.
SO JUST WANTED, AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
YES, BUT THE TRANSPARENCY, BUT ALSO THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT GOES WITH THAT, THAT WE WON'T FIND OURSELVES WONDERING, GOSH, WHERE'S THAT $1.2 MILLION GONNA COME FROM? IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND WHY THAT MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION IS SO IMPORTANT TO REALLY REVIEW WHAT'S IN RESTRICTED, WHAT'S ENDING, AND DO WE NEED TO EITHER END SOMETHING OR MOVE IT BACK, OR, RIGHT, THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF THAT MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION PROCESS. SO, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
AS SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE, THE DISTRICT IS PROJECTED TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE ENDING FUND BALANCES THROUGHOUT THE 3-YEAR PROJECTION PERIOD WHILE MEETING ALL REQUIRED RESERVE LEVELS, INCLUDING COMMITTED RESERVES AND STABILIZATION FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY BOARD POLICY.
THE DISTRICT MUST CONTINUE ALIGNING ONGOING EXPENDITURES WITH ONGOING REVENUE TO PRESERVE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY AND MAINTAIN MAINTAIN THE 9% RESERVE REQUIRED BY THE BOARD. ALTHOUGH THE DISTRICT CONTINUES TO DEFICIT SPEND, THE REDUCTIONS IMPLEMENTED DURING BUDGET DEVELOPMENT HAVE HELPED STRENGTHEN THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL POSITION, PRESERVE REQUIRED RESERVE LEVELS, AND MAINTAIN A POSITIVE CERTIFICATION. LOOKING AHEAD, ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS AND ONGOING FISCAL ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE NECESSARY TO CONTINUE MEETING THE RESERVE REQUIREMENT AND ENSURE THE DISTRICT REMAINS FINANCIALLY STABLE IN FUTURE YEARS.
CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT 9% RESERVE ACTUALLY IS? I THINK PEOPLE THINK IT'S A, LIKE, A SUPER LARGE NUMBER THAT COULD OPERATE INDEFINITELY, WHEN IN REALITY IT'S LIKE 2 MONTHS OF OPERATING EXPENSES, IF THAT.
YEAH, ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF OF PAYROLL. AND SO, IT'S JUST A FUNCTION OF 9% OF OUR TOTAL OVERALL EXPENDITURES.
THAT 9% IS WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HIT TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON FOR A MONTH. AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I WANT TO SAY THIS VERY CLEARLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT SACRIFICES TO THAT RESERVE, THAT'S TEACHERS, THAT'S PEOPLE THAT WE SUPPORT AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH. WE WANT WORKING FOR OUR DISTRICT. THAT HAS AN
[01:20:01]
ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THEM TOO.SO, WE CAN'T PAY THEM. IT'S A REALLY DEVASTATING THING, RIGHT? SO JUST ONE TIME, ONE TIME, JUST ONE MONTH.
YEAH, SO THAT ALSO HAS AN IMPACT. SO, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RESERVE, IT'S NOT SOME BOOGEYMAN THAT WE WANT TO JUST HOARD ALL THE TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS AND KEEP IT FOR OURSELVES. NO, WE ARE TRYING TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE IS A CRISIS, RIGHT, AND CALIFORNIA IS FILLED WITH THEM, RIGHT, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN LOOKING AROUND, THAT WE CAN KEEP THE LIGHTS ON FOR A MONTH AND DO RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS.
AND IF I COULD BUILD ON THAT, TRUSTEE GRANT, THIS IS NOT, AS YOU YOU CHOOSE YOUR WORDS, A BOOGEYMAN. THIS IS BASED ON HISTORY, AND IT WAS, I THINK IT WAS 2010.
2010, WHEN THE STATE HAD A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CRISIS, AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THEY, THAT THE STATE ADDRESSED IT WAS THROUGH WHAT THEY EUPHEMISTICALLY REFERRED TO AS DEFERRALS. AND THOSE DEFERRALS WERE, WE'RE GOING TO PAY YOU EVERYTHING WE OWE YOU, WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO PAY IT TO YOU TIMELY. WE'RE DELAYING EVERYTHING, FOR EXAMPLE, BY 2 MONTHS. AND, YOU KNOW, GET YOU, YOU KNOW, THE EQUIVALENT BASICALLY WOULD BE YOUR EMPLOYER TELLING YOU, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY YOU YOUR SALARY FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST, RIGHT? AND WE'LL START PAYING YOU AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PLAY CATCH-UP, BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP PAYING YOU AND EVENTUALLY WE'LL PLAY CATCH-UP. BUT IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAD TO COVER YOUR MORTGAGE AND ALL YOUR EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF JULY AND AUGUST, WHICH WAS A SITUATION THAT EVERY PUBLIC, TRADITIONAL PUBLIC AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL HAD TO FACE.
IN THAT 2010-11 SCHOOL YEAR, FISCAL YEAR. SO, THIS IS NOT WITHOUT PRECEDENT, AND THE STATE IS IN A VERY TUMULTUOUS FINANCIAL SITUATION.
SO, I SHARE TRUSTEE GRANT'S APPREHENSION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DIPPING INTO THAT MORE THAN WE HAVE TO.
WELL, THAT'S WHY CASH FLOW IS SO IMPORTANT, AND IT IS ANOTHER PIECE TO THIS BUDGET THAT IS SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY OFFICE TO TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT CASH FLOW IN CASE OF SOMETHING LIKE DEFERRALS, RIGHT? BECAUSE THOSE ARE MORE COMMON THAN WE WOULD LIKE.
YES. THE UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUND BUDGET REFLECTS APPROXIMATELY $8.3 MILLION IN DEFICIT SPENDING FOR 2026-27. SEVERAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THIS DEFICIT, INCLUDING THE MATH TEXTBOOK ADOPTION, TECHNOLOGY REFRESH CYCLE, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE CONTRIBUTIONS, INCREASING SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS, INCREASED HEALTH AND WELFARE CONTRIBUTIONS, AND ONGOING SALARY AND BENEFIT STEP AND COLUMN INCREASES. THE BUDGET INCLUDES A $100,000 CONTRIBUTION TO THE PENSION STABILIZATION ACCOUNT FOR OPEB, OR OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND APPROXIMATELY, $28.3 MILLION IN COMMITTED STABILIZATION RESERVES.
FOR 27-28, THE DISTRICT ASSUMES A STATUTORY COLA OF 3.3% BASED ON CURRENT SCHOOL SERVICES OF CALIFORNIA ESTIMATES.
ENROLLMENT AND ADA ARE PROJECTED TO REMAIN STABLE.
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL REVENUES ARE ASSUMED TO REMAIN RELATIVELY CONSISTENT.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THE PROJECTION INCLUDES STEP AND COLUMN INCREASES, ONGOING OPERATIONAL COSTS, AND EMPLOYER RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION RATES. THE PROJECTION ALSO REFLECTS THE EXPIRATION OF CERTAIN ONE-TIME FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING SOURCES. THE UNRESTRICTED DEFICIT FOR 27-28 IS PROJECTED AT APPROXIMATELY $8.6 MILLION.
KEY FACTORS INCLUDE ONGOING TECHNOLOGY REPLACEMENT, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE CONTRIBUTIONS, SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS, INCREASED HEALTH AND WELFARE CONTRIBUTIONS, SALARY SCHEDULE MOVEMENT, AND A PLANNED ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS TEXTBOOK ADOPTION. THE DISTRICT CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN COMMITTED RESERVES INCLUDING A $100,000 CONTRIBUTION TO THE PENSION STABILIZATION ACCOUNT AND APPROXIMATELY $19.7 MILLION IN STABILIZATION RESERVES.
FOR 2028-29, THE PROJECTED COLA DECREASES SLIGHTLY TO 3.09%.
ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE ASSUMPTIONS REMAIN UNCHANGED.
REVENUES ARE PROJECTED TO REMAIN RELATIVELY STABLE WHILE EXPENDITURES CONTINUE TO REFLECT ONGOING OPERATIONAL COSTS, EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION GROWTH, AND RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS.
THE CALPERS EMPLOYER RATE IS PROJECTED TO DECREASE SLIGHTLY IN 2028-29, PROVIDING SOME RELIEF TO FUTURE EXPENDITURE GROWTH.
THE UNRESTRICTED DEFICIT IS PROJECTED TO DECREASE TO APPROXIMATELY $5.7 MILLION IN 2028-29. THE PRIMARY DRIVERS REMAIN TECHNOLOGY REPLACEMENT, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, SPECIAL EDUCATION CONTRIBUTIONS, EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELFARE COSTS, AND STEP AND COLUMN SALARY INCREASES. EVEN WITH CONTINUED DEFICIT SPENDING, THE DISTRICT REMAINS ABOVE REQUIRED RESERVE LEVELS AND MAINTAINS APPROXIMATELY $14 MILLION IN STABILIZATION RESERVES IN ADDITION TO OTHER COMMITTED AND RESTRICTED BALANCES.
ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS WILL BE NECESSARY TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE MINIMUM 9% RESERVE REQUIREMENT PER BOARD POLICY AND PROTECTING THE DISTRICT'S LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY.
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EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS. TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION SERVES AS THE REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DISTRICT'S PROPOSED BUDGET.THE NEXT STEP WILL OCCUR AT THE JUNE 24TH, 2026 BOARD MEETING WHEN THE BOARD WILL BE ASKED TO ADOPT BOTH THE LOCAL CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN AND THE 2026-27 BUDGET.
FOLLOWING BUDGET ADOPTION, STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR STATE FUNDING UPDATES, ENROLLMENT TRENDS, AND EXPENDITURE ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING PRESENTATION FOR THE 2026-27 PROPOSED BUDGET. THE PROPOSED BUDGET REFLECTS A POSITIVE CERTIFICATION, MAINTAINS COMPLIANCE WITH STATE RESERVE REQUIREMENTS AND BOARD POLICY, AND INCORPORATES APPROXIMATELY $8.2 MILLION IN INTENTIONAL BUDGET REDUCTIONS TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT'S LONG-TERM FISCAL STABILITY. THE DISTRICT APPRECIATES THE IMPROVED FUNDING OUTLOOK REFLECTED IN THE GOVERNOR'S, REVISION AND WELCOMES THE STATE'S CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE PROPOSED BUDGET RECOGNIZES THAT RESPONSIBLE FISCAL STEWARDSHIP REQUIRES BALANCING NEW REVENUES WITH NEW OBLIGATIONS, RISING COSTS, AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS. THE BUDGET BEFORE YOU REFLECTS THAT BALANCED APPROACH BY MAINTAINING STRONG RESERVES, SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES, PROTECTING STUDENT PROGRAMS, AND POSITIONING NATOMAS UNIFIED FOR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY. AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM JELAY TOR.
GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. SO, AFTER REVIEWING THE PROPOSED BUDGET, IT'S CLEAR THAT NATOMAS UNIFIED IS ON STABLE GROUND.
WE ARE FINANCIALLY STRONG, AS YOU SAID. SO, THE QUESTION IS NOT ABOUT BEING FINANCIALLY SOLVENT, BUT ARE OUR STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY STRONG? THAT'S THE QUESTION. SO, ARE WE ALIGNING OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES WITH ACADEMIC STUDENTS' ACADEMIC NEEDS? THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY WONDERING HERE. THE DISTRICT SAYS THAT THE BUDGET IS THE ROADMAP FOR MAINTAINING PROGRAMS, STAFFING, SERVICES THAT SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS' SUCCESS. IS THAT REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE? STUDENT SUCCESS IS NOT ALWAYS ACHIEVED BY JUST MAINTAINING RESERVES.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, MAINTAINING THE RESERVES ARE IMPORTANT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
IF STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING IN READING, MATH, SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, ATTENDANCE, ALL OF THAT, ACADEMICS, THEN THE BUDGET NEEDS TO RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THOSE NEEDS. RESERVES ARE IMPORTANT, LIKE I SAID, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T BECOME THE DISTRICT'S ONLY PRIORITY. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MAINTAINING THE RESERVES OR RETAINING, MAINTAINING SOME TYPE OF STANDING, BUT OUR STUDENTS ARE ACTUALLY REALLY IMPORTANT IN THE CLASSROOMS. CLASSROOMS, WE NEED TO HAVE CLASSROOMS THAT ARE FULLY STAFFED WITH QUALIFIED EDUCATORS THAT CAN ACTUALLY TEACH OUR STUDENTS. SO, I'M URGING THE BOARD, AS YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS PROPOSED BUDGET AND MAKING DECISIONS, THAT YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU LOOK AT THE THEORY OF ACTION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS AND THAT YOU'RE ALIGNING YOUR DECISIONS WITH WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STUDENTS AND LOOKING AT THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE MORA.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION AND FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE SUPERCOLA.
WHAT ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT WE CAN USE THE SUPER COLA FOR? NO, IT'S, IT'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO BE USED, YOU KNOW, FOR BASICALLY FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDS, BUT IT DOES ALSO INCREASE HOW MUCH WE GET FOR SUPPLEMENTAL CONCENTRATION GRANT FUNDING, WHICH IS A LITTLE MORE RESTRICTED IN THE SENSE THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE USED FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO GENERATE THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, AND THAT'S OUR UNDUPLICATED SO PART OF THAT WILL BE FOCUSED ON THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES.
DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PREGNANCY LEAVE? AND THE PREGNANCY LEAVE, THAT PIECE IS A NEW MANDATE THAT JUST CAME THROUGH IN THE MAY REVISION, PROVIDING UP TO 14 WEEKS OF PAID PREGNANCY DISABILITY LEAVE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS NEW, AND WE'RE LOOKING, WE DID INCLUDE THAT IN OUR BUDGET AS WELL TO ESTIMATE A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. AND SO, PART OF THAT SUPER COLA WAS SPECIFICALLY TIED TO THIS NEW MANDATE.
OH, I SEE. AND THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I HAD HEARD. SO, I JUST WANTED TO ASK AND CLARIFY.
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YES. IT'S GREAT NEWS. I THINK TO HEAR THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE IN THAT REGARD.THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION FOR HOW THE TWO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER.
UH, HEATHER, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
YOU CUT NO CORNERS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
YOU'RE VERY THOROUGH, AND THAT MADE IT BE LIKE THAT.
AND FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE HEAR YOU. AND THANK YOU, FELLOW TRUSTEES, FOR ALL THE GREAT QUESTIONS.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE, ALL MY COLLEAGUES, HAD A CHANCE TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE I ASK ANOTHER. THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION. IT'S RELATED TO, WELL, ACTUALLY, IT'S RELATED TO THE LARGER BUDGET DOCUMENT. I HAD A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH SOME OF THOSE PAGES AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ACROSS THE MULTI-YEAR BUDGETS JUST FOR WHETHER IT'S '26-'27, '27-'28, OR '28-'29, WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, WE, THERE'S A COMMONALITY THAT WE'RE IN THE RED. AND I, SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A DISTRICT TO ADDRESS THAT. YES, SPECIAL EDUCATION ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE GOVERNMENTS TO, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION ONLY CONTRIBUTES ABOUT 10% OF WHAT WE NEED. AND SO, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED, THERE IS GOING TO BE A DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION THAT WILL COME INTO PLAY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING FUNDED AND PROVIDED IN THE WAY THAT IT NEEDS TO.
AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE DOING, I MEAN, WE'RE CONSTANTLY CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT MODELS OR WAYS THAT WE CAN MEET OUR STUDENTS' NEEDS.
BUT WHEN YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, COSTS ACROSS THE BOARD IN ALL AREAS ARE RISING, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SERVICES, AND THAT'S JUST, THAT'S PART OF IT. SO, WITH THAT INCREASE FOR THE STATE CONTRIBUTION, IT IS VERY HELPFUL. IT IS HISTORIC, THE INCREASE THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING, BUT IT IS STILL JUST A ONE PIECE. THAT'S NEEDED, AND THE DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION WILL CONTINUE TO BE A REQUIREMENT, I WOULD SAY, FOR JUST ABOUT ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CALIFORNIA, UNLESS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN REALLY STEP UP AND DO WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO.
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. I THINK IT ALSO SERVES AS A REMINDER FOR TRUSTEES, BUT ALSO FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, FOR WHY THAT ADVOCACY ADVOCACY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS SO IMPORTANT, AND TO DO IT IN UNISON, THAT IT HAS, THAT TRANSLATES TO VERY REAL THINGS ON THE GROUND HERE.
MOTION TO CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL RIGHT, SO MOTION BY TRUSTEE HARDEN, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE DOSICK. HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? DOSICK? YES.
[XIV.a. District Progress Report]
MEHTA? AYE.MORA? AYE. ALL RIGHT, THE HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AT . ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS, THE DISTRICT PROGRESS REPORT.
MS. JARRELL WILL LEAD US IN THIS ITEM. I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ALRIGHT, DR.
DARRYL HAS PASSED IT DOWN TO ME. HI EVERYBODY, GOOD EVENING.
HOW YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU.
YOU TOO. SO, DR. ROCHELLE CIPHER, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE DISTRICT PROGRESS REPORT FOR SPRING 2026 AND SOME OBJECTIVES. JUST RENEW, REVIEW, SORRY, THE PURPOSE AND ALIGNMENT OF WHY WE DO THE DISTRICT PROGRESS REPORT AND THEN GIVE SOME UPDATES ON ON SOME OF THE METRICS AND THEN TALK ABOUT SOME NEXT STEPS. SO, THE PURPOSE IS DIRECTLY ALIGNED TO OUR THEORY OF ACTION. WE CREATED THIS 10 YEARS AGO NOW.
IT'S AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT, BUT IT WAS BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD WAS AVAILABLE. IT'S OUR WAY OF SHOWING SOME OF OUR DATA LONGITUDINALLY AND THROUGHOUT ADMINISTRATIONS OF SOME OF OUR METRICS TO THE PUBLIC.
IT'S ALL, IT'S OUR WAY OF BEING TRANSPARENT WITH OUR DATA. AND I WANT TO JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ALIGNMENT. I HAVE A FEW SLIDES ABOUT THE ALIGNMENT.
YOU HEARD ABOUT THE LCAP, EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE MEASURING THERE, ALL THE ACTIONS. YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THOSE ACTIONS IN THE DATA PRESENTED IN THE DPR, BUT ALSO WITH OUR DART, WHICH IS A RECOGNITION TOOL FOR SOME OF OUR SITES, AND THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD. HERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THOSE 4 THINGS DO AND HOW THEY ALIGN. AND THEN A QUICK CHART JUST JUST TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE METRICS. SO, IN THE
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DISTRICT PROGRESS REPORT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE 34 METRICS NOW.WE'LL GET TO TALK ABOUT A NEW ONE TONIGHT, BUT THEY ARE ALSO ALL ACTIONS IN THE LCAP AND THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT AS WE'RE GIVING THIS RECOGNITION TOOL. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD STILL ONLY HAS A FEW OF THESE METRICS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS WHY WE CONTINUE TO ADD INTERNAL METRICS FOR US TO LOOK AT HERE. SO, HOW TO READ EACH METRIC. SO, WE MOVED TO AN ELECTRONIC VERSION USING GOOGLE GOOGLE DATA STUDIO, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO USE, I THINK. SO, ALL OF THE METRICS ARE IN THAT FIRST DROPDOWN, SO THAT'LL BE THE TITLE OF THE METRIC, AND THEN THERE'S A DESCRIPTION OF THE METRIC WITH THE OVERALL RESULTS, SOME STUDENT GROUP RESULTS, AND THEN IMPORTANT, SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIONS. THESE ARE TIED TO WHAT WE'RE SUPPORTING TOO IN OUR LCAP AND OUR BUDGET, BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO IMPLEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THOSE TARGETS THAT WE'VE SET. AND THEN JUST 6 AND 7 SHOW THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE INCLUDED BECAUSE NOT ALL METRICS HAVE ALL THE SCHOOLS.
SOME OF THEM WE, WE HAVE INTERNAL DATA ONLY FOR SOME OF OUR SITES AND THEN THEIR GRADE LEVEL BECAUSE SOME OF THEM ARE VERY GRADE SPECIFIC. SO, THIS IS OUR UPDATE SINCE JANUARY. SO, SINCE OUR FALL DPR, WE HAVE SOME CONNECTEDNESS AND SAFETY RESULTS FROM OUR FEBRUARY ADMINISTRATION OF OUR CO-VITALITY SURVEY. WE HAVE SOME ATHLETICS PARTICIPATION RATES. IT'S BEEN FUN TO WATCH ALL THE ATHLETIC CELEBRATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THIS ROOM AND OUT. AND THEN WE HAVE SOME IREADY MATH AND ELA, SOME WRITING DIAGNOSTICS.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU JUST A TO-DATE PROJECTIONS OF OUR CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM RATE AND OUR SUSPENSION RATE. AND THEN OUR NEW ONE, WHICH IS OUR DIBELS EARLY READING SCREENER. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT GROWTH AT, AT OR ABOVE AT, UM, MEETING THOSE STANDARDS. AND THIS ONE'S REALLY COOL, YOU'LL SEE IT ONLY HAS ONE YEAR, BUT IT'S, IT'S FUN TO WATCH. SO, FOR A FEW OF THESE, I JUST PUT HIGHLIGHTS BECAUSE THEY ARE ACROSS MULTIPLE GRADE LEVELS.
THERE IS SAFETY AND CONNECTEDNESS. IT'S A LOT OF DATA, SO JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
WE'VE SEEN AN OVERALL INCREASE IN, UM, 4TH GRADE FEELING OF CONNECTEDNESS, 8TH GRADE FEELING OF CONNECTEDNESS, AND ALMOST IN ALL OF OUR STUDENT GROUPS IN 11TH GRADE. SO, THIS IS LOOKING. IF YOU'RE GOING FROM FALL TO SPRING, IT'S THAT SEPTEMBER ADMINISTRATION DATE TO ABOUT FEBRUARY ADMINISTRATION DATE, BUT DEFINITELY SEEING AN INCREASE IN CONNECTEDNESS AND ALSO IN SAFETY. IN SOME OF OUR GROUPS, WE'RE SEEING AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 10% FROM 23-24 TO 25-26. SO, WE'VE, WE'VE SEEN ALL THE INVESTMENTS BEING MADE IN OUR SAFETY AND SAFE SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT, EVERYTHING GOING ON. SO, REALLY SEEING THAT IN THE DATA AS WELL. AS FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENT GROUPS.
I'M LOOKING AT ATHLETICS PARTICIPATION RATE. I DIDN'T, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE METRICS UP HERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS A DECREASE IN 4TH THROUGH 8TH ATHLETICS, BUT IT'S STILL AT 32%. AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW THAT CORRELATES TO LIKE ESPORTS AND ARTS AND VAPA AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS HAPPENING AT THOSE GRADE LEVELS, STILL HAVING 1 IN 3 OF THOSE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN ATHLETICS. AND THEN WE SAW AN INCREASE IN 9 THROUGH 12. I MEAN, IT'S FUN TO SEE ALL OF THEM HERE TOO. AND OUR PARTICIPATION RATE FOR BLACK AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS HAS ALSO INCREASED TO 39%. JUST TO DATE RATES, THESE ARE TOTAL PROJECTIONS.
WE ARE CLOSING OUT END OF YEAR, SUBMITTING TO THE STATE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT A PROJECTED 0.5% DECREASE IN SUSPENSION OVERALL. WE WILL HAVE THE FINAL RATE FOR IN OUR FALL TO 2026, AND IT ALSO WILL COME OUT ON THE DASHBOARD AND IN DATAQUEST AND EVERYTHING IN THE FALL. SO, WE WILL SEE LIKE REAL RATES, BUT THAT'S OUR PROJECTION.
FOR CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.
WE'RE BUMPING ABOUT 7% INCREASE. THIS IS MAINLY DUE TO THE STRIKE AND THE ATTENDANCE RATES DURING THE STRIKE. WE LOOKED AT PRE-STRIKE, SO MARCH 7TH THIS YEAR COMPARED TO MARCH 7TH LAST YEAR, AND WE WERE ACTUALLY PROJECTING A DECREASE OF 1%, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A 3-YEAR DECREASE.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT IMPACT QUITE A FEW THINGS THIS YEAR. SO, I, I KNOW THIS IS SMALL AND I KNOW IT'S HARD TO READ, BUT I WANTED TO PUT SOME OF THESE INTO A VISUAL BECAUSE SOME OF THESE METRICS DO SHOW THE PROGRESSION OF YEAR BY YEAR AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION BY ADMINISTRATION. SO, YOU CAN SEE FROM FALL TO SPRING AS WELL AS YEAR TO YEAR. SO, THIS IS OUR IREADY READING DIAGNOSTICS POINTING OUT THAT THERE'S BEEN AN 18.4% INCREASE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO OUR LAST ADMINISTRATION THIS SPRING, AND THEN ALSO SHOWING SOME READING GROWTH FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENT GROUPS. THIS IS HARD TO SEE, I KNOW. IT IS ALL ONLINE, IT'S ALL UPDATED, SO YOU CAN HOVER AND IT MAKES IT BIGGER AND IT SHOWS EVERYTHING.
IT'S POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE., AND IT'S UPDATED AS SOON AS WE HAVE RESULTS, SO IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO READ IT THERE. BUT I WANTED TO JUST SHOW THOSE VISUALS BECAUSE THERE IS MORE THAN ONE DATA POINT. AGAIN, WITH OUR POST-WRITING ASSESSMENT, WE'RE SEEING SOME OVERALL INCREASES FROM SPRING LAST YEAR TO SPRING THIS YEAR,
[01:40:01]
AND OVERALL PROFICIENCY IN SOME OF OUR STUDENT GROUPS. AGAIN, THIS ONE'S JUST POST-FALL TO SPRING, BUT IF YOU COULD HOVER OVER AND SEE EVERYTHING IN THIS ONE AND THEN OUR NEW ONES.SO THIS IS, OH, SORRY, COULD YOU GO BACK TO SLIDE? YEAH, JUST SO, JUST, I THINK IT'S HELPFUL. SORRY, GO BACK, BACK A SLIDE. YEAH, THANKS.
ALL RIGHT, NO, I THINK THAT'S GOOD. SO, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE, YEAH, OKAY, SO THE READING PROFICIENCY INCREASED FROM, INCREASED 18.4% FROM FALL TO SPRING, RIGHT? CAN YOU, CAN YOU MAKE THOSE NUMBERS REAL? LIKE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE FOCUSING A LOT ON LITERACY AND READING SKILLS.
IT LOOKS LIKE A REALLY GOOD NUMBER.
WHAT CAN YOU, LIKE, BASELINE NUMBER, LIKE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, TRANSLATE INTO, LIKE, UNDERSTANDABLE NUMBERS? YEAH, SO IN THE, IN THE FALL, WE'RE LOOKING AT STUDENTS WHO ARE SCORING AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL. WE WERE AT 21.6% OVERALL. SO, WITH ALL OF THE EARLY, LIKE EVERYTHING HAPPENING WITH EVERY INTERVENTIONS, LITERACY, EVERYTHING, WE INCREASED THAT TO 40% IN OUR LAST ADMINISTRATION.
SO, 40% ARE AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL IN THE IREADY READING DIAGNOSTIC AS ONE MEASURE OF THEIR READING LEVEL.
AND THEN UP ANOTHER 10.8% FROM THERE FROM, SORRY, THAT WAS SO FALL TO SPRING IS HERE AND THEN THIS IS LIKE MID-YEAR.
SO ALMOST A DOUBLING, NOT QUITE, OF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO WERE TESTING PROFICIENT AFTER OUR EFFORTS? CORRECT, FROM BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO THE END OF THE YEAR.
OKAY, OUR NEW ONE, OUR DIBELS.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF IMPLEMENTATION, A LOT OF ROLLOUT. WE HAVE OUR EARLY LITERACY TEAM.
THERE'S, YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT THIS SIMILAR, TRUSTEE DOSICK, WE'RE SEEING ALMOST 10% INCREASE FROM THE FALL TO THE SPRING.
SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT, THAT GROWTH, BECAUSE THIS ONE'S REALLY HARD TO READ AND ONLY HAS ONE YEAR OF DATA NOW. BUT ACROSS EVERY STUDENT GROUP, THERE IS GROWTH FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO THE END OF THE YEAR IN OUR VERY FIRST YEAR OF ROLLING A BRAND NEW SCREENER OUT. SO, I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW YEAR 2 LOOKS AND YEAR 3. AND LIKE I SAID, AS WE GET DATA AND AS WE ANALYZE DATA, LIKE BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR RESEARCH AND DATA TEAM, IT IS IMMEDIATELY PUT IN HERE AS FAST AS WE CAN SO THE PUBLIC CAN SEE AND MONITOR THAT. I MEAN, PUBLIC AND STAFF AND EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO LOOK AT IT. SO, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE. SO, NEXT STEPS, LIKE I SAID, ONGOING UPDATES.
ARE MADE. WE'RE FINISHING OUT THE YEAR, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF DATA. I KNOW THE FALL DPR, I MEAN, YOU HAVE GRAD RATES, A-G, CTE, ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO BE PUT IN AS SOON AS WE HAVE IT, AS SOON AS IT'S PUBLIC. BASED ON PROGRESS, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT OUR TARGETS, ADD SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO UPDATE THIS, LIKE THE NOTES AND THE TARGETS, AND THEN CONTINUE TO USE ALL OF THESE RESOURCES WE HAVE. I MEAN, THESE ARE JUST LISTED FOR FOR OUR INTERNAL MONITORING, BUT WE HAVE DATA COMING OUT OF OUR EARS AND IT'S SO FUN TO LOOK AT AND PRESENT TO PEOPLE. SO, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE USING THAT TO LOOK FOR AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT AND AREAS TO CELEBRATE.
ANY QUESTIONS? TRUSTEES, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? TRUSTEE DOSICK. FIRST, THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU WERE TRYING TO KEEP IT BRIEF, BUT YOU KNOW, KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE THE DATA JUNKIE PRESENTATION. SO, I NOT ONLY APPRECIATE THE DETAIL THAT YOU PROVIDED, BUT YOU UNDERSCORED THIS A LITTLE BIT. YOUR TEAM UPDATES THIS ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY, AND IT IS AVAILABLE TO LITERALLY ANYONE TO ACCESS. SO, WE'RE VIRTUALLY LIVE STREAMING AS THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT, SO WE CAN SEE THE PROGRESS AS IT'S HAPPENING, AND I THINK THAT'S TREMENDOUS.
THIS, AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
THANKS SO MUCH. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
[XV.a. Approve School Plans for Student Achievement for 2026-27]
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP ARE OUR ACTION ITEMS. ACTION ITEM A, APPROVE THE SCHOOL PLANS FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FOR 2026 2027. ANY COMMENTS, TRUSTEES? DEBATE? MOVE APPROVAL. MOVED BY TRUSTEE DOSICK. SECOND BY TRUSTEE HARDEN. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, EACH SCHOOL SITE, SOMEONE'S REALLY ENJOYING A REALLY COOL DIET COKE RIGHT NOW. SO, EACH, EACH SCHOOL SITE HAS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND FOR INSTANCE, I'M LOOKING AT THE ONE LOOKS LIKE FOR WHITTER RANCH. SORRY, TRUSTEE MEHTA, IT'S JUST THE ONE THAT CAME UP. THERE'S A COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS AND[01:45:01]
ASSESSMENT COMPONENTS TO EACH PLAN. THEY'RE REALLY THOROUGH. TAKE THE TIME AND READ THEM. THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ALIGNMENTS AND ARE WE SPENDING THE MONEY IN THE RIGHT PLACE. SO, YEAH, IT'S HERE, RIGHT? SO WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NOT ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I THINK THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND. HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? DOSICK.[XV.b. Approve the 2025-26 Proposition 28: Arts and Music in Schools Funding Annual Report]
HARDEN.ALL RIGHT, THAT MOTION CARRIES 5-0. ACTION ITEM B: APPROVE THE 2025-2026 PROP 28 ARTS AND MUSIC IN SCHOOLS FUNDING ANNUAL REPORT. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? TRUSTEE MORA.
MOVE TO APPROVE WITH A NOTE THAT IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT, THAT THERE'S SOMETHING RELATED TO BEING DONE WITH THE PROP 28 FUNDS AT EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL SITE.
YES, I'LL SECOND IT, AND I DO AGREE WITH TRUSTEE MORA.
ALL RIGHT, SO THERE'S A MOTION BY TRUSTEE MORA AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE MEHTA. HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? DOSICK.
[XV.c. Appoint Eight Members to the Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC)]
AYE.AYE. ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES 5-0. ACTION ITEM C: APPOINT 8 MEMBERS TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT FROM RYAN DISMAN. I'LL TAKE THAT FIRST.
GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS RYAN DIGMAN, AND I'M A PARENT, SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCATE, AND SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES NEED A STRONG, ACTIVE, AND INDEPENDENT VOICE WITHIN THIS DISTRICT. THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A CAC. A CAC IS NOT INTENDED TO SIMPLY RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM STAFF. IT IS INTENDED TO ELEVATE PARENT VOICES, IDENTIFY BARRIERS FACING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND ADVISE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP ON AREAS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT.
AFTER REVIEWING RECENT CAC MEETING MATERIALS, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE COMMITTEE IS NOT FULLY MEETING THIS PURPOSE.
FAMILIES HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESS TO INFORMATION, TRANSPARENCY, AND UNDERSTANDING WHO REPRESENTS THEM ON THE COMMITTEE. PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO EASILY ACCESS MEETING MATERIALS, UNDERSTAND HOW MEMBERS ARE SELECTED, AND KNOW WHO IS ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY. A STRONG CAC SHOULD BE ACTIVELY SEEKING FAMILY INPUT, DISCUSSING PARENT CONCERNS, IDENTIFYING TRENDS CONDUCTING OUTREACH, AND BRINGING RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THE MOST EFFECTIVE CACS ARE NOT PASSIVE, THEY'RE ADVOCATES. THEY ASK DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. THEY HELP DISTRICTS IDENTIFY PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME LARGER ISSUES. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY ENSURE FAMILIES HAVE A MEANINGFUL SEAT AT THE TABLE. I ENCOURAGE THIS BOARD TO EVALUATE HOW THE CAC CAN BECOME A STRONGER VEHICLE FOR PARENT ADVOCACY, TRANSPARENCY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SO THAT FAMILIES KNOW THEIR CONCERNS ARE HEARD AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THEY DESERVE. KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION AND WHERE THIS MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND HOW THE, WHAT NEEDS ARE NOT BEING MET.
ALSO, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU SAID YOU WANT KIDS TO HAVE EVERYTHING. THESE ARE CIVIL RIGHTS. THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING DISCREDITED. THEIR PARENT VOICES ARE BEING DIMINISHED.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU GUYS ARE IN THE DEFICIT, IT IS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO THE VOICES THAT TRULY MATTER, AND THAT'S THE STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS THEMSELVES.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S THE LAST PUBLIC COMMENT THAT I HAVE ON THIS ITEM. AND TO DEMONSTRATE I'M A VERY GOOD LISTENER, I ACTUALLY DO HAVE A GOOD LIST OF QUESTIONS, UM, ON CAC. SO, IF THE TRUSTEES WILL INDULGE ME, I'D LIKE TO START ASKING THEM. OKAY, UM, SO CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW MANY MEMBERS ARE COMPOSED OF THIS COMMITTEE? IF THIS IS, THE APPOINTMENTS ARE APPROVED TONIGHT, IT WILL BE A 9-MEMBER COMMITTEE.
OKAY, AND OF THE, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF FEEDBACK, OF THE 9 MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE CONNECTED TO LIKE PARENTS OF LIKE SPECIAL KIDS WHO WOULD HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS? 5 OF THE 9 ARE PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
OKAY, UM, CAN YOU TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE HAS MADE ITS SELECTIONS? IN THIS LAST ROUND, THEY REVIEWED THE APPLICATIONS THAT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED OVER A SERIES OF MONTHS AS THEY WERE DETERMINING THEIR SELECTIONS. THEY ACTUALLY DID A BLIND SCREENING, SO THEY REVIEWED THE CONTENTS OF PEOPLE'S APPLICATIONS WITHOUT THE NAMES ATTACHED TO THEM AS THEY WERE IDENTIFYING HOW THEY WOULD FIT THE VACANCIES OR FILL THE VACANCIES, AND THEN THEY MADE THOSE SELECTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT.
OKAY, AND THEN THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS I THINK THE LAST TIME, OR SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT THE TERMS OF THE COMMITTEES. I THINK WE MAY HAVE BEEN OUT OF COMPLIANCE.
[01:50:01]
THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH WHEN A VACANCY CAME UP BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAD TO LEAVE DURING THE MIDDLE OF THEIR TERM. WHEN PEOPLE WERE BEING FILLED IN THE VACANCY, IT WAS NOT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THAT TERM, IT WAS FOR A NEW TERM. SO, IT CREATED SOME ODDITIES WITH WHEN TERMS WERE EXPIRING, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING SO MANY RIGHT NOW. SO, AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS AND THE CONFIRMING WITH THE BYLAWS, THERE'S GOING TO BE A STAGGERING OF TERMS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE YEAR THERE WOULD BE 4 VACANCIES, THE FOLLOWING YEAR THERE WOULD BE 5, TO CREATE THAT, THAT CONSISTENCY IN THE VACANCIES BEING FILLED.OKAY, THANK YOU. AND THEN UPDATES TO THE BYLAWS. YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF THE UPDATES THAT WERE MADE.
THE BYLAWS THAT WE HAD ACTUALLY WERE ANTIQUATED. THEY WERE TIED TO TO FORMER STATUTES THAT NO LONGER APPLY TO THESE TYPES OF COMMITTEES. SO, WE NEEDED TO UPDATE THOSE, AND ALONG WITH THAT, WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ALIGNED TO CURRENT EDUCATION CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR A COMMITTEE LIKE THIS, AND ALSO NOT IMPLEMENTING THINGS THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED OF A COMMITTEE LIKE THIS. SO, WE NEEDED TO DO WHAT WE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, CALL CLEANUP LANGUAGE, BUT ALSO ALIGNING TO CURRENT REGULATIONS.
OKAY, FINAL QUESTION. THERE WAS SOME LEGITIMATE FEEDBACK, I THINK, IN TERMS OF, HEY, THIS, THIS APPEARS STACKED, RIGHT? THIS IS ALL DISTRICT FOLKS OR PEOPLE RELATED TO DISTRICT FOLKS. HAVE WE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED THAT, YOU WOULD SAY, THROUGH THIS NEW PROCESS? YES, I THINK, I THINK THAT WE HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL.
WE'VE ALSO, WE ACTUALLY WENT FROM 7 TO 9 AS WE IDENTIFIED PEOPLE WHO HAD APPLIED THAT REALLY WANTED TO BE A PART OF OF THE MEMBERSHIP, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUALLY REVISIT EVERY YEAR AS WE'RE LOOKING AT VACANCIES. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GETTING AS MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND PARENTS INVOLVED AS POSSIBLE.
OK, SO THIS IS PUBLIC, RIGHT? I JUST WANT TO, I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT ANYONE ON THE SPOT. I WANT TO READ THE LIST OF NAMES JUST INTO THE RECORD. IT'S ON THE AGENDA. SAMANTHA FOWLER, CARRIE TRAN, PARENTS, IT SAYS. JOCELYTADA, WHO I KNOW, COMMUNITY MEMBER. KATIE MARASH, SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER. IS THIS ERICA ACKLIN, A PARENT? MELISSA MOORE, PARENT. KIM TAXAR, SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER.
ROBERT TOLEDO, COMMUNITY MEMBER. IS THERE ANY REASON THE BOARD WOULD HAVE PAUSE, UM, FOR ANY OF THESE MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO, AS FAR AS YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, TO THE, TO THE COMMITTEE HERE? NOT THAT WE'RE AWARE OF.
OKAY, IT'S A BROAD QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO ASK IT PUBLICLY.
I'M NOT AFRAID TO ASK THE QUESTION. BOARD MEMBERS, WE'RE NOT OMNISCIENT, I'M NOT OMNIPRESENT, AND SO THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. AND SO, I, I DO WANT TO SEE THIS COMMITTEE PERFORM IN A MANNER THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO PERFORM, RIGHT? IT'S NOT PERFORMATIVE. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE, AND I'M GOING TO TRUST THAT THE DISTRICT HAS MADE THE APPROPRIATE MODIFICATIONS AND WILL OPERATE THIS IN A MANNER THAT PARENTS DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING TALKED DOWN TO OR THEY CAN'T TRULY ACCESS IT. SO, I'M COMFORTABLE MOVING APPROVAL. THOSE QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED SIGNIFICANTLY TO ME, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I DO WANT TO MONITOR TO MAKE SURE IT'S PERFORMING THE WAY THAT IT NEEDS TO PERFORM.
WAS THAT A MOTION? THAT WAS THE MOTION. I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL.
I KNOW I DON'T WANT TO CUT OFF DISCUSSION. I WILL SECOND FOR PURPOSES OF MOVING MOVING FORWARD, SO YOU HAVE A SECOND AND THEN I'LL LET YOU GO.
YEAH, BUT YEAH, WE CAN, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT, RIGHT? I WANT TO, TRUSTEE HARDEN.
YEAH, YEAH, NO, FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GRANT. GREAT QUESTIONS BEING ASKED. THANK YOU. WE HEARD THE COMMENT. I BELIEVE THAT I TOO FEEL THE HEAT AND THE PROBLEMS, AND I THINK WE'RE MOVING IN A GREAT DIRECTION.
BUT COME HERE, CALL US, TEXT US, HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT THINGS WE HAVE NOW MOVED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. AND STARTING JULY 1ST, EVERYTHING IS BRAND NEW, PEACHY KEEN.
BUT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. WE DON'T WANT TO EVER BECOME THAT DISTRICT.
WE CANNOT DO BETTER UNLESS WE KNOW BETTER. SO, PLEASE CALL US OUT ON SOMETHING.
BUT I TRULY BELIEVE, AND I'M SPED FOR LIFE, THAT THINGS ARE MOVING IN A GREAT DIRECTION.
ALL RIGHT, SO THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND AGAIN, NOT TRYING TO POWER THROUGH THIS ITEM. IF FOLKS WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE, I'M HAPPY TO, BUT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DISTRICT STAFF. I WAS VERY DELIBERATE IN MAKING SURE THAT I GOT A LOT OF ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERED THEM PUBLICLY.
SO, I HOPE THAT MEETS YOUR STANDARD IN TERMS OF LISTENING. OK, THERE'S A MOTION AND THERE'S A SECOND.
HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? DOSICK. AYE.
[XV.d. Approve Lease Lease Back Agreement with XL Construction for Heredia-Arriaga Dual Immersion School, Phase II Project]
THAT MOTION CARRIES 5-0. NEXT UP IS ACTION ITEM D, APPROVE LEASE, LEASEBACK AGREEMENT WITH XL CONSTRUCTION FOR HEREDIA-ARRIAGA DUAL IMMERSION SCHOOL PHASE 2[01:55:02]
PROJECT.SECONDED BY TRUSTEE METTA. IF THERE'S NOT ANY OBJECTION, WE CAN SUBSTITUTE THE PRIOR UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE. ALL
[XV.e. Approve Resolution No. 26-23 Declaring Property as Exempt Surplus Land and Intent to Exchange Land, and Letter of Agency at Paso Verde School]
RIGHT, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION CARRIES 5-0. ACTION ITEM E, APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2623 DECLARING PROPERTY IS EXEMPT SURPLUS LAND AND INTENT TO EXCHANGE LAND AND LETTER OF AGENCY AT PASO VERDE.DOUG, COULD YOU ACTUALLY EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT? THAT'S A MOUTHFUL.
I KNOW THE PUBLIC'S WATCHING AND IT'S ALMOST SUMMER, SO YEAH.
WHAT THIS IS, IS WE HAVE SOME LAND THAT WE PURCHASED WITH PASO VERDE SCHOOL THAT IS ACTUALLY IN THE AIRPORT FLYWAY AREA. WE CANNOT USE THIS LAND.
ACTUALLY, THE DEVELOPER WANTS IT, CANNOT USE IT OTHER THAN FOR HOUSES, BUT THEY CAN USE IT FOR DETENTION BASIN FOR WATER IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS LAND.
THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO POTENTIALLY USE OTHER LAND BETTER. WE CAN THEN EXCHANGE THIS FOR SOME LAND THAT WE COULD PUT SPORTS FIELDS ON.
WHICH WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE SCHOOL BECAUSE THE FIELD THERE IS FAIRLY SMALL. IN ORDER TO DO ALL OF THAT, WE NEED TO DO A COUPLE THINGS. WE NEED TO FORMALLY DECLARE IT'S EXEMPT SURPLUS LAND, AND IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO SOME OF THE PROVISIONS THAT NORMALLY ARE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT EVER HAD RECREATION ON IT OR DEVELOPED IT. ALSO, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT INTENT TO EXCHANGE OUT THERE, AND THEN ALSO THE LETTER OF AGENCY, WHICH ALLOWS THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO, WHEN THEY GO TO THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO OR LAFCO TO ASK TO BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY, THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCLUDE PASO VERDE SCHOOL INTO THE ANNEXATION REQUEST WITH THAT. SO, WHICH WOULD BE A GREAT THING FOR US BECAUSE IT BRINGS ALL OF OUR SERVICES INTO ALIGNMENT, RIGHT? SO THIS LAND SWAP IS BENEFICIAL TO THE DISTRICT? YES, VERY BENEFICIAL. THIS IS ALSO STEP 1 OF LIKE 3 OR 4.
SO, AS THINGS PROGRESS, WE'LL BE COMING BACK FOR THE NEXT STEPS. THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
UH, THIS IS SECONDED BY TRUSTEE MEHTA. DEBATE, DISCUSSION, COMMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS? WE LIKE GOOD LAND. OKAY, IF THERE'S NO DEBATE, UM, WE'LL SUBSTITUTE THE PRIOR UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE. ALL RIGHT,
[XV.f. Approve Award for Food and Supply Vendors for Student Meals]
THAT CARRIES 5-0. ACTION ITEM F, APPROVE AWARD FOR FOOD AND SUPPLY VENDORS FOR STUDENT MEALS. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.[XV.g. Ratify a Memorandum of Understanding between the District and Natomas Teachers Association (NTA) Regarding Transfer and Reassignment for Moderate Homeroom Openings]
THERE'S NOT ANY OBJECTION, WE COULD SUBSTITUTE THE PRIOR UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE. 5-0.ACTION ITEM G, RATIFY THE MOU BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND NTA REGARDING TRANSFER REASSIGNMENT FOR MODERATE HOMEROOM OPENINGS.
SECONDED BY TRUSTEE HARDEN. IF THERE'S NOT AN OBJE, DO WE NEED TO, ON THE MOU WE CAN STILL DO THIS. OKAY. IF
[XV.h. Approve the Reclassification of Four (4) CSEA Positions]
THERE'S NOT AN OBJECTION, CAN WE SUBSTITUTE THE PRIOR UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE? ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES 5-0.ACTION ITEM H, APPROVE THE RECLASSIFICATION OF 4 CSCA POSITIONS. JUST QUICK QUESTION, WHICH POSITIONS ARE THESE? 4 ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIES ARE BEING RECLASSIFIED TO A HIGHER POSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
SO THIS IS, I'M ASSUMING THAT COMES WITH A PAY INCREASE. AND THAT'S CORRECT. OH, THAT'S SUCH A GOOD THING.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING THE JOB, SO CORRECT. YEAH, SO THEY DESERVE IT.
AND ALSO, THEY'VE BEEN DOING AN AMAZING JOB.
THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY BUSY. I SEE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
OKAY, UM, IS THERE A MOTION? YES.
MOVED BY TRUSTEE MEHTA, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE HARDEN.
THERE'S NOT AN OBJECTION. WE CAN ALSO SUBSTITUTE TO THE
[XV.i. Approve Resolution No. 26-22 Recognizing June 2026 as Pride Month]
PRIOR UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES 5-0. ACTION ITEM, WHICH IS THIS? AYE, THANK YOU, SORRY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 2622, RECOGNIZING JUNE 2026 IS PRIDE MONTH. AND I DO HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM AHMAD CORBETT. CORBETT, I'M SORRY.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MA CORBETT, A RISING SOPHOMORE FROM MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, ALSO A CURRENT SUMMER INTERN FOR THE VICE MAYOR KARINA TALAMANTES. I WANT TO SHARE THAT SACRAMENTO'S VICE MAYOR KARINA TALAMANTES PROUDLY EXPRESSES HER SUPPORT IN THE PASSING OF THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2026 AS PRIDE MONTH. THE VICE MAYOR STRONGLY BELIEVES IN UPLIFTING OUR LGBTQIA+ STUDENTS, BOTH IN THE NATOMAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO, AND HOPES THAT THE THOMAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN SET AN EXAMPLE OF CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY IN OUR SCHOOLS. HAPPY PRIDE MONTH, AND THANK YOU.
[02:00:05]
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT, LET ME MAKE A COMMENT. SURE. I WANTED TO SAY, I COULD NOT SAY IN MY COMMENTS, IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU, TRUSTEE MORA. AND NOW YOU SHOULD MAKE A MOTION.
ALL RIGHT, BUT I THINK TRUSTEE MORA ALSO HAD A REQUEST THAT HE'D LIKE TO DO BEFORE.
YES, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. AS I SAID EARLIER, I WOULD LIKE TO, I THINK WE CAN MOVE SO QUICKLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE APPROVE RESOLUTIONS, THAT SOMETIMES SOMETIMES WE MIGHT EVEN FORGET WHAT THE RESOLUTION ITSELF ACTUALLY SAYS. I KIND OF, THAT KIND OF HONED ON ME RECENTLY AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS MEETING.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A LONG MEETING, SO I PROMISE THAT I WILL, THAT I WILL READ THROUGH THIS VERY DELIBERATELY.
BUT THE GOOD THING IS THAT IT'S PRETTY SHORT IF YOU, IN ITS ENTIRETY. SO, I JUST WANT TO, I JUST WANT TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS RESOLUTION SAYS NATOMAS UNIFIED VALUES EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE DISTRICTS IN THE STATE AND IN THE NATION, AND IS A DISTRICT THAT PROVIDES A SAFE HAVEN FOR ALL STUDENTS. WE HAVE THE SAFE HAVEN POLICY THAT I THINK MANY ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
I'M SUMMARIZING THE BEGINNING BECAUSE AGAIN, I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONTENT TODAY. BUT THIS IS WHERE I REALLY DO WANT TO HONOR THE WORD FOR WORD OF WHAT THIS SAYS. THE CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE ENSURES THAT ALL STUDENTS RECEIVE EQUAL ACCESS AND RIGHTS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. CALIFORNIA STATE LAW ADDRESSES DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, AND BULLYING TOWARDS LGBTQIA+ YOUTH. AND AGAIN, THAT'S STATE LAW.
BOARD POLICY 0410 PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION IN ALL ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS BASED ON GENDER OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AMONG OTHER CHARACTERISTICS.
OUR DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS BY MAKING INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SOCIAL WORKERS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, PROVIDED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS AT EVERY SCHOOL, AND ESTABLISHED CONFIDENTIAL SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS. A DEDICATED WEB PAGE EXISTS WITH ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED, A HELPLINE, AND MATERIALS THAT SITES CAN USE TO DESIGNATE SAFE SPACES FOR STUDENTS. STAFF WORKED WITH STUDENTS IN OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS TO HOST THIS THIS WAS THE, THIS PAST YEAR WAS THE THIRD YEAR OF THE LGBTQIA STUDENT CONFERENCE.
THANK YOU TO STAFF AND ALL THE STAFF AND ALL THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WHO HELPED TO PUT THAT ON. WHEREAS SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER EXPRESSION BIASED BULLYING, WHICH I KNOW MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT IN SCHOOLS, IS A SERIOUS MATTER THAT IMPACTS STUDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY AND DIMINISHES STUDENTS' ABILITY TO ENGAGE SAFELY IN SCHOOL.
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LGBTQIA+ FROM ALL RACES, FAITHS, NATIONAL ORIGINS, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUSES, EDUCATION LEVELS, AND POLITICAL BELIEFS. AND ALTHOUGH VARIOUS, VARIOUS ADVANCES HAVE BEEN MADE TO RESPECT EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF LGBTQIA+ LGBT PEOPLE, UM, LGBT PEOPLE STILL FACE DISCRIMINATION FOR BEING WHO THEY ARE, THUS MAKING IT IMPORTANT FOR DISTRICTS LIKE OUR OWN TO STAND UP AND SHOW SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
BY RECOGNIZING PRIDE MONTH, WE SUPPORT OUR POLICY'S CORE VALUES AND PRACTICES THAT HONOR AND RESPECT LGBTQIA+ STUDENTS, STAFF, AND THEIR FAMILIES. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE GOVERNING BOARD COMMITS TO ENSURING THAT THE DISTRICT REMAINS A BEACON OF HOPE AND A SAFE SPACE TO INSPIRE, CREATE ALLIANCES, CELEBRATE DIVERSITY, AND ESTABLISH SAFE ENVIRONMENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS FOR THE EQUAL TREATMENT OF ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF, INCLUDING LGBT INDIVIDUALS.
AND LASTLY, THAT THE GOVERNING BOARD DOES HEREBY DECLARE THE, THE MONTH OF JUNE AS PRIDE MONTH IN OUR SCHOOLS AND INVITES EVERYONE TO REFLECT ON WAYS THAT WE CAN WE CAN LIVE AND WORK TOGETHER WITH A COMMITMENT TO MUTUAL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING. AND THAT IS OUR RESOLUTION THAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON, AND THAT I THINK THE ENTIRE DISTRICT SHOULD KNOW IS THE RESOLUTION THAT THIS BOARD HAS APPROVED FOR THE LAST, I THINK IT'S BEEN, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT YEAR, BUT IT'S BEEN EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY SPECIAL.
AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE TOO, WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T NEED MY NOTES, THAT IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO LIVE ALL OF WHAT THIS DOCUMENT SAYS
[02:05:02]
WITH MY COLLEAGUES, STAFF IN THE DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, CONSTITUENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT IS NOT LOST ON ME. YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE THIS TO BE REALLY FORTUNATE, FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE A LOT OF THAT LACK OF, YOU KNOW, BIAS AND LACK OF DISCRIMINATION IN A LOT OF ASPECTS IN MY LIFE. SO, SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, IN MY LIFE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH MY FAMILY, THROUGH MY CAREER, BUT IT'S ALSO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE FOUND THAT HERE IN THIS PROFESSIONAL SETTING AND WITH WITH THE HUMAN BEINGS WHO WORK HERE TOO. AND I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT AS WE VOTE ON THIS THIS YEAR.ALL RIGHT, SO IS THAT A MOTION? AND I VERY ECSTATICALLY VOTE, MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
SO THERE'S A MOTION BY TRUSTEE MORA, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE HARDEN. HELENE, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? DOSICK.
[XVI. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES 4-1. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP ARE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. I HAVE 7, AND SO THE BOARD WILL HEAR FROM THESE SPEAKERS ONLY, ENSURE THAT THE MEETING IS CONDUCTED IN AN ORDERLY AND EFFICIENT MANNER IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD BYLAW 9323. SO, UH, FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT I HAVE IS FROM JEN SUSAN.SO, I TRIED TO GET THE REST OF THE NATOMA SPECIAL EDUCATION PTA OUT HERE TONIGHT. THEY COULDN'T COME FOR VARIOUS REASONS. ONE IS WE'RE GETTING FIRE TRAINING FOR THE FIREWORKS FOR MR. BAKER. BUT WE WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO, UM, CELEBRATED A DIFFERENT PRIDE MONTH. IT'S DISABILITY PRIDE, WHICH IS EVERY JULY. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FLAG, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO 3 ACTIONS THIS YEAR AS THE SEPTA. THE FIRST IS A PICNIC ON JUNE 27TH AT WITTER RANCH PARK.
EVERYONE'S INVITED. THE 501ST LEGION WILL BE THERE. WE'LL HAVE 321 POP, WHICH IS A DISABILITY-RUN BUSINESS THAT SELLS POPSICLES. WE HAVE, UM, HOT DOGS, 500 BAGS OF DONATED CHIPS, WATER, BEEF AND VEGAN HOT DOGS, A SELFIE BOOTH, AND OF COURSE THE, THE PARK IS REALLY WELL EQUIPPED WITH A SPLASH PAD, BATHROOMS, AND SHADE. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE CELEBRATION FUN BUT QUIET SO THAT EVERYONE'S COMFORTABLE THERE, AND EVERYONE'S INVITED. WE EXPECT TO HAVE PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE REGION. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE CLEAR CHANGES BEING MADE ON THE CAC, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE IT WAS DONE BY A BLIND CHOICE, WHICH I'VE NEVER, WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE MEMBERS WERE, READ THE APPLICATIONS.
I'VE GONE TO MANY, MANY OTHER CAC MEETINGS JUST TO SEE HOW IT'S RUN, BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM LIKE SOMETHING'S BEEN OFF HERE FOR A LONG TIME. AND I FOUND THAT EVERY DISTRICT USUALLY GETS TO APPOINT SOMEONE, AND USUALLY THE PEOPLE COME TO THE MEETING AND THEY STILL APPLY, BUT EACH TRUSTEE AREA WOULD HAVE A MEMBER ON THE CAC. SO, THAT'S SOMEPLACE WHERE WE'RE DOING IT VERY DIFFERENTLY. AND I'VE NEVER BEEN ON ANY COMMITTEE WHERE APPLICATIONS ARE READ ALOUD TO ME WITHOUT THE NAME OF THE PERSON. THAT ISN'T, THANK YOU, WHAT A PRIVATE BALLOT IS OR SECRET BALLOT.
THAT'S LIKE, I GUESS, AN ANONYMOUS.
ALL RIGHT. SO, APOLOGIES BEFOREHAND. IT APPEARS THE NAME IS ELK DEMASON. DEMASON. SO, SORRY. ELKE.
OKAY, MY BAD. YEAH, GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE DONE THIS, AND MY NAME IS ELKE DAMISON. I'M THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR ENGLISH LITERACY, AND WHAT WE DO, WE ARE AN ESL ONLINE SCHOOL.
WE TEACH AFGHAN WOMEN ENGLISH AND AFGHAN, AND WE ARE SPECIFICALLY SPECIALIZED FOR AFGHANS. I WAS IN AFGHANISTAN 2 YEARS AGO. I TRAINED ALL MY TEACHERS, AND WE STARTED IN AFGHANISTAN 2021 AFTER THE TALIBAN TOOK OVER. AND WE ARE NOW TEACHING 300 AFGHAN GIRLS AND WOMEN, INCLUDING 2 CLASSES KIDS, ENGLISH.
WE'VE HAD, THEY STARTED WITH ZERO, AND WE HAVE NOW, THEY ARE ADVANCED ENGLISH. WE
[02:10:02]
HAVE OUR OWN STUDENTS, OUR TEACHERS NOW. AND WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW SINCE APRIL LAST YEAR, WE ARE TEACHING 300 AFGHAN WOMEN AND FATHERS AND MOTHERS HERE IN SACRAMENTO.AND WE'VE HAD REALLY A LOT OF SUCCESS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT THERE'S A HUGE NEED FOR AFGHAN FAMILIES TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE BECAUSE THEY, A LOT OF WOMEN, THEY'RE STUCK AT HOME. THEY DON'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE. AND THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR PROGRAM IS THAT MY TEACHERS ARE ALL IN AFGHANISTAN. SO, THEY'RE ALL IN KABUL. AND SO, WE HAVE A TRIPLE IMPACT. SO, BASICALLY WE TEACH IN AFGHANISTAN, BUT WE TEACH HERE. AND MY TEACHERS UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE. THEY SPEAK DARI. WE ALWAYS HAVE A PASHTO N THE CLASSES. AND WE HAVE 80% ATTENDANCE RATE. THEY ALL FINISH THEIR CLASSES USUALLY.
AND I WOULD REALLY RECOMMEND THAT WE WOULD, THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO HAVE, YEAH, FOR US TO HAVE MORE CLASSES AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH THE AFGHANS HERE.
BECAUSE THEY OFTEN DON'T HAVE THE CONTACT AND CONNECTIONS TO THE DISTRICT. AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE STUDENTS AND THE DISTRICT.
YOU'RE WELCOME. I HAVE A HANDOUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE JELAY TOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I THINK I HAVE SEVERAL, SO I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE YOU'RE REFERRING TO, BUT OKAY, GREAT, WONDERFUL. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU THIS FRIDAY TO THE DISTRICT 1 JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL. NATOMA'S BLACK PARENTS UNITED WILL BE BE THERE. WE'LL HAVE A TABLE, AND WE ARE LAUNCHING, FORMALLY LAUNCHING OUR EARLY START FAMILY ACADEMY. THE EARLY START FAMILY ACADEMY IS A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE LITERACY PROGRAM FOR OUR STUDENTS HERE IN NATOMAS. WE WANT BOOKS, WE WANT LITERACY THAT THE CHILDREN RELATE TO. I'M AN IMMIGRANT. I WAS NOT BORN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. I WAS BORN IN WEST AFRICA, AND YET WHEN I CAME TO UNITED STATES HERE, I HAD NO DELAY WHATSOEVER IN LITERACY OR ANY OTHER SUBJECT BECAUSE LITERACY IS NOT JUST READING A BOOK. LITERACY IS SINGING. LITERACY IS ENGAGING.
LITERACY IS TALKING. AND WE COME FROM A VERY, FROM A GRIOT CULTURE WHERE WE TELL STORIES.
AND SO, WE WANT TO EXPOSE OUR STUDENTS IN NATOMAS TO A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE LITERACY PROGRAM THAT THEY WILL ENGAGE WITH, INTERACT WITH. AND WE'LL HAVE STORIES THAT WE'LL BE READING TO THEM THAT REFLECT THEIR HERITAGE, THEIR CULTURE, AND THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE.
SO, WE'RE INVITING YOU TO COME AND VIEW IT. THE STUDENTS WILL BE GETTING FREE BOOKS AND LITERACY SUPPLIES.
THEY'LL HAVE ACTIVITIES AND SNACKS AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
SO, WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME AND SEE THAT IN ACTION AND SEE WHAT A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE LITERACY PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE. THANK YOU.
AND NEXT WE HAVE JELAY TOR SPEAKING ON HOOP HEROES BASKETBALL PROGRAM. IF I HAD LOOKED DOWN EARLIER, I WOULDN'T HAVE MADE YOU COME BACK UP.
CAN I RECLAIM MY 30 SECONDS? SO I'M HERE AGAIN. IT'S ME AGAIN. SO, HOOP HEROES, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO, AS PARENTS HERE IN NATOMAS, WE ARE DOING WHAT THE DISTRICT IS ASKING.
WE ARE ENGAGING, WE ARE FINDING SOLUTIONS, WE ARE COMING UP WITH PROGRAMS TO FILL THE GAP AND FILL THE NEED FOR OUR STUDENTS. HOOP HEROES IS THAT TYPE OF PROGRAM. IT IS RAN BY PARENTS OF THE DISTRICT WHO LIVE WORK AND HAVE CHILDREN THAT GO TO SCHOOL IN THIS DISTRICT, AND THEY ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE AN ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY FOR OUR STUDENTS. HOOP HEROES TEACHES SO MANY THINGS, DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK. IT'S A CHANCE FOR THE CHILDREN TO ENGAGE, UM, AND TO SEE MENTORS THAT LOOK LIKE THEMSELVES. HERE'S THE ISSUE: THE PARENTS ARE TRYING TO DO THIS PROGRAM, RUN THIS PROGRAM. THEY'VE DONE IT BEFORE. THE DISTRICT IS NOT ALLOWING IT. AND I THINK THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE WHEN YOU HAVE PARENTS THAT ARE TRYING TO DO SOME GOOD FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT, AND THEY'RE GETTING PUSHBACK AND THEY'RE
[02:15:01]
GETTING NOS, AND THEY'RE REACHING OUT TO EMPLOYEES AND ADMINISTRATION AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING PHONE CALLS BACK OR THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANY RESPONSE. SO, I'M HERE TO PUBLICLY ASK YOU ALL TO RESPOND TO THE PARENTS WHEN THEY REACH OUT. REQUESTING FOR THIS PROGRAM, SAYING THAT THEY WANT TO FUND THIS PROGRAM FOR OUR STUDENTS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS AN ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. IT IS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL. PARENTS LOVE IT.KIDS LOVE IT. I DON'T SEE WHAT THE REASON IS THAT THE DISTRICT IS NOT ALLOWING THIS PROGRAM.
MAYBE YOU GUYS COULD ELABORATE, BUT FROM THE PARENT SIDE OF IT, IT LOOKS, UM, PRETTY BAD THAT THE DISTRICT IS NOT ALLOWING THIS PROGRAM. SO, PLEASE, WE'LL REACH OUT AGAIN ABOUT IT AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME POSITIVE RESPONSE.
THANK YOU. SHOULD I STAY? STAY.
NEXT, JELAY TOR ON THE SCHOOL SAFETY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE DISTRICT TAKING THE STEP TO FORM THE SCHOOL SAFETY COUNCIL. I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL. AS I SAID BEFORE, NBPU, PRIOR TO NUSD SCHOOL SAFETY COUNCIL, FORMED THEIR OWN SCHOOL SAFETY TASK FORCE, AND WE'VE MET QUITE A FEW TIMES ALREADY WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARENTS, STAFF, ALL OF THAT, AND WE HAVE A GREAT FRAMEWORK FOR OUR SCHOOL SAFETY TASK FORCE. WE ARE HAPPY TO WORK AND ENGAGE WITH THE DISTRICT TO COLLABORATE ON THE SCHOOL SAFETY, COUNCIL.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE FIRST MEETING TODAY BECAUSE I WAS RECRUITING AND TRYING TO HIRE SOME NEW PEOPLE, UM, BUT I WILL BE THERE AT ALL THE OTHER MEETINGS. MY ASK IS THAT I KNOW FOR A FACT AT LEAST ONE OTHER PARENT HAS SENT AN EMAIL TO THIS BOARD REQUESTING TO BE ON THE SCHOOL SAFETY COUNCIL, AND THEY GOT NO RESPONSE. THERE ARE OTHER PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF NUSD SCHOOL SAFETY COUNCIL.
IN ORDER FOR THIS TO WORK AND BE SUCCESSFUL, THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMMUNITY-LED, A COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH, WHICH MEANS PARENTS NEED TO ENGAGE, ESPECIALLY THE PARENTS THAT WANT TO ENGAGE. SO, I'M ASKING YOU, IF PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHOEVER SEND YOU EMAILS ASKING TO BE ON THE SCHOOL SAFETY COUNCIL, THAT YOU AT LEAST RESPOND TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW YES, NO, OR THE REASONS FOR YOU NOT ALLOWING THEM TO BE ON THE SCHOOL SAFETY COUNCIL.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I'M HEARING SILENCE FROM THE PARENT.
THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY'RE GETTING NO RESPONSE, AND THAT MAKES IT SEEM PERFORMATIVE.
WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU WANT TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGE WITH PARENTS ON SCHOOL SAFETY, BUT PARENTS ARE REACHING OUT TO YOU AND YOU'RE NOT RESPONDING.
SO, HAPPY TO BE ON THE COUNCIL, WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PARENT ENGAGEMENT.
PARENTS ARE TRYING TO ENGAGE WITH YOU, PLEASE RESPOND.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE REACHING OUT TO OUR CONSTITUENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS, AND THEN THAT WAY THEY MAKE SURE IT GETS PROCESSED INTO THE CORRECT PERSON, JUST FOR WHATEVER, JUST TO, FOR WHATEVER QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE IN ANY OF THESE ASPECTS. SO, JUST A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE THAT.
SO IN ADDITION TO EMAILING ALL OF YOU, ALL CUSTOMER CONSTITUENT SERVICES.
THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TRY MY BEST TO PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME, IS IT UJOMA OGUDERE? UJOMA.
THANK YOU. AND IT'S ON YOUTH FREE PROGRAM? YES. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS UJOMA OGUDERE. I AM THE CO-FOUNDER FOR KED AFRICA, A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES FREE PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR PROGRAM INCLUDES HOPE HEROES, PRINCESS TO QUEEN PROJECT, EVEN AFRICA DAY WHERE WE TEACH CULTURE AND ALL THAT. LAST YEAR, WITH THE SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER LISA KAPLAN, WE WERE ABLE TO USE HER CHALLENGE FOR HOPE HEROES FREE BASKETBALL AND FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM.
THE CHILDREN HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO GO AFTER SCHOOL. THEY BUILD FRIENDSHIP, LEARN TEAMWORK, GAIN CONFIDENCE, AND STAY ENGAGED IN POSITIVE ACTIVITIES.
PARENTS TOLD US THIS PROGRAM GAVE THEM PEACE OF MIND. THEY KNEW THEIR CHILDREN WERE SOMEWHERE SAFE. SAFE, SUPPORTED, AND PRODUCTIVE.
THIS YEAR WE ARE TOLD THAT WE NEED DISTRICT APPROVAL TO USE THE VENUE AGAIN.
SINCE THEN, PARENTS HAVE BEEN CALLING ME ASKING WHETHER THE PROGRAM WILL RETURN THIS SUMMER. MANY FAMILIES DEPEND ON THESE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS. A FREE SPORTS PROGRAM REMOVES FINANCIAL BARRIERS, REDUCES STRESS FOR PARENTS, AND GIVES YOUNG PEOPLE A HEALTHY OUTLET DURING SUMMER MONTHS.
[02:20:02]
NOT ASKING YOU FOR FUNDING BECAUSE WE ARE SELF-SPONSORED.I'M ASKING FOR A VENUE, A SAFE SPACE WHERE OUR CHILDREN CAN CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY LOVE AND HAVE A CHANCE TO THRIVE. I BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ON THIS TABLE TODAY CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN. IF YOU PROVIDE US WITH THIS VENUE, YOU WILL BE INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH, SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES, AND HELPING STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CHILDREN.
AND OUR LAST PUBLIC COMMENT IS KINGSLEY OGWEDIA ON HOOP HEROES.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. I AM A FORMER HARLEM GLOBETROTTER AND I AM THE FOUNDER OF HOOP HEROES.
AND THAT'S MY WIFE, BEAUTIFUL WIFE THAT JUST SPOKE.
AND I HAVE TO PUT, EMPHASIZE THE BEAUTIFUL PART.
AND THE REASON I'M TALKING ABOUT HOOP HEROES HERE IS BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT SHE SAID IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
LAST YEAR WE PUT THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER. I SPONSORED THE PROGRAM. I PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER WITH HER HELP. AND THE PARENTS LOVED IT. WE PROVIDED FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR THE KIDS, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, TEACHING THEM BASKETBALL. AND I BROUGHT SOME OF MY HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS FRIENDS SO WE CAN ENTERTAIN THEM WHILE THEY ARE LEARNING. AND I PLAYED PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL OVERSEAS, SO I HAVE, I PLAYED ON THE FIBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, SO I HAVE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE WHERE WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A CULTURAL PROGRAM WHERE THESE KIDS AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, THEY'VE LEARNED FINANCES, THEY'VE LEARNED, YOU KNOW, BASKETBALL, THEY'VE LEARNED TEAMWORK. NOW WE'LL TAKE THEM CULTURAL LEARNING, TAKE THEM OVERSEAS BECAUSE WE WANT TO DO EXCHANGE PROGRAM. THIS IS WHERE IT REALLY GETS GOOD BECAUSE THE, WHERE WE START THIS PROGRAM IS WHERE IT'S GOING TO GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK. IN TERMS OF THE BIGGEST EXPOSURE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IF WE DO CORRECTLY HERE, YOU KNOW, THAT OTHER PLACES WILL EMULATE IT.
BECAUSE ONCE WE GET A PROGRAM WHERE OUR KIDS ARE SUCCEEDING, WE'RE TEACHING THEM, THEY'RE LEARNING, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, PROGRESSING, AND NOW WE START TRAVELING INTERNATIONAL, EXCHANGING CULTURE, VALUES, AND VIEWS.
NOW OUR MINDS ARE OPEN. YOU KNOW, THESE KIDS ARE NOT JUST GOING TO BE LIMITED TO WHAT THEY SEE HERE. THEY LEARN ABOUT OTHER CULTURES, HOW THEY BEHAVE, AND SO ON.
SO, IF YOU GUYS, IT STARTS WITH SPACE. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A LOT. ALL WE NEED IS THE GYM SPACE SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GET THE PROGRAM GOING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. AND IF WE CAN HAVE STAFF FOLLOW UP WITH OUR FOLKS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, TONIGHT'S, SEEING NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT, TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING, REGULAR BOARD MEETING, IS ADJOURNED AT 8:59 PM.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.