[I. OPEN SESSION]
[ II. ROLL CALL/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
[00:00:31]
100.1. >> WE ARE ALL HERE. PLEASE STAND AND SAY THE PLEDGE.
[III. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA]
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> THANKS.
>> NOW THAT SO EFFECTIVE JULY 14TH 2020 SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT A LIMITED CAPACITY -- THAT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO. THAT THOMAS BOARD MEETINGS ARE LIVE-STREAMED AND RESCOREDD -- THE LIVE STREAM IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING ON OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE AND IT'S ALSO ONLINE.
IT'S A VERY LONG DOT DOT DOT BOARD OF TRUSTEES SLASH VIDEOS AND THE RECORDINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE A DAY AFTER THE BOARD MEETING. THOSE IN ATTENDANCE SHOULD EXPECT THAT THE RECORDINGS WILL CAPTURE ALL ACTIVITY DISCUSSIONS BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE
MEETING. >> PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING OUR SYSTEM TO INCLUDE CLOSED CAPTIONING ONTO LIVE STREAM. CURRENTLY CLOSED CAPTIONING IS AVAILABLE ON THE RECORDINGS THAT ARE POSTED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE THE DAY AFTER THE BOARD MEETING. WE HAVE THE AGENDA. MOVING ON IN THE AGENDA MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE BOARD MEETING IN PERSON TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT TORE SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT AT PUBLIC COMMENT AT NATOMAS UNIFIED BOARD MEETING.
PLEASE NOTE THAT TONIGHT'S MEETING IS A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING SO PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED IN REGARDS TO THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE SHOULD NOT SWIM BY OURSELVES.
IT IS DANGEROUS. SORRY FOR THE LITTLE LEVITY OF THE MOMENT TOTALLY OK.
THE BOARD IS SLATED TO HAVE A REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS NEXT WEDNESDAY IN PERSON AND PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THAT'S SET MOOING AS THEY ARE FORMALLY FOR EVERY REGULAR MEETING. -- NOW MOVING ON THE ACTION
[Items IV A & V]
ITEMS. AT THIS TIME THE ONLY ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2021 MONTH OF AUGUST 2020. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AND PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME PLEASE FILL OUT A GREEN CARD AND IF YOU FILLED IT OUT COULD YOU PLEASE HAND IT TO MS. SIMPSON UP FRONT SOY CAN CALL YOUR NAME. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THE RECORD AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE I WILL NOW MOVE ONTO DID NO THOMAS RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS BY E-MAIL FOR THE ACTION ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.>> WE RECEIVED PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA. HE COMMENT FROM THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO ACTION ITEM A JENNIFER SLAY, JENNIFER JONES, DALIA WOLF FIRST, BRENDA BILE FORD, ROBINSON, SCHOOL, CINDY, GEORGIA, MARA, AND KRISTEN. THESE PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND APPROPRIATE STAFF FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION AND THE SPECIFICS OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE RECORDED IN THE OFFICIAL BOARD MEETING MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW MOVING ONBOARD MEMBERS TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
TRUSTEE. >> JUST NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY BACK HERE.
[00:05:02]
I'M TRYING TO GUESS WHO IS WHO BUT NICE TO SEE HALF FACES. THAT'S ALL.THANK YOU. >> TRUST CITY? >> SO MY HOPE -- IS THAT TONIGHT THAT WE WILL APPROVE THIS 2 WEEK BASICALLY DELAY IN THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AS PART OF THE ADJUST MEANT TO THE CALENDAR. MY HOPE IS ALSO THAT -- I'M HOPING THEY'LL BE SOME POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS OF THE TIME THAT WE HAVE BEFORE WE TRY TO RESUME SCHOOL AND BASED ON THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING FROM PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND OTHERS WHILE THE DISTANCE LEARNING WE HAD IN THE SPRING WORKED FOR SOME FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF OUR FAMILIES IT DID NOT WORK IN TERMS OF THE STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY TO GROW ACADEMICALLY. I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS OBVIOUSLY AS I'VE EXPRESSED BEFORE IN OUR MEETINGS ABOUT WHAT DO OUR WORKING CLASS FAMILIES DO WHEN THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN STAYING HOME WITH A KID AND DISTANCE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT VERSUS -- VERSUS GOING TO WORK AND IT REALLY PUTS FAMILIES IN AN UNTENABLE SITUATION BUT I ALSO RECOMMEND AS A RESULT OF THIS PANDEMIC THESE ARE THE CHOICES THAT WE'RE FACING THESE DAYS.
BUT REGARD LESS OF WHAT SCHOOL LOOKS LIKE IF THE FALL MY HOPE IS THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THAT WHAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY ON IS NOT JUST WHAT DISTANCE LEARNING SOMETHING GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHETHER IT'S A HYBRID MODEL BUT WHAT DISTANCE TEACHING MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
I DRAW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN DISTANCE LEARNING WHERE TO ONUS IS ON THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES VERSUS DISTANCE TEACHING WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF EXPERTS IN THIS DISTRICT IN EDUCATING OUR KIDS. WE HAVE PHENOMENAL AMAZING TEACHERS AND I'M JUST HOPING WE CAN FIND A WAY THAT WE CAN HAVE THE TEACHERS ENGAGE WITH OUR STUDENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PROGRESS ACADEMICALLY SOCIALLY
EMOTIONALLY. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
IT REALLY NICE TO SEE HALF OF EVERYONE'S FACES. >> TRUSTEE.
>> I WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS MADE BY TRUSTEES. I THINK WE'RE FACED WITH EXTRAORDINARY TIMES AND YOU KNOW I'VE SAID THIS IN SOME OF MY CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADERS PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY. I THINK THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE ALL NEED TO HAVE ON THE SAME JERSEY. I DON'T THINK A PANDEMIC IS THE TIME TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS.
I THINK A PANDEMIC IS A TIME WHEN WE NEED TO TRUST EXPERTS TRUST COMMUNITY MEMBERS GET TOGETHER AND MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS. AND FROM WHAT I CAN SEE AS A TRUSTEE IN MY INTERACTIONS IN MY LIMITED INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY PEOPLE WANT SOLUTIONS RIGHT? AND SO I'M ALWAYS GOING TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ENGAGE AND FIND WHAT THOSE SOLUTIONS ARE. THERE'S NO PERFECT SOLUTION.
THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS. WHAT WE CAN DO UP HERE IS AS 5 TRUSTEES IS MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL FAMILIES.
LOOKING AT SOME OF THE DATA WE CAN SEE WHAT DISTANCE LEARNING ACHIEVED.
I THINK THAT THOMAS DID THE BEST JOB IN THE REGION IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTING A COMPLIANT PLAN THAT TRIED TO KEEP KIDS LEARNING -- BUT I'M WELL-AWARE OF THE LEARNING LOSS THAT HAS OCCURRED.
I'M ALSO AWARE OF THE WORKING CLASS FAMILIES WHO DO RELY ON SCHOOL IN TERMS OF PLANNING.
AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE'S PARENTS WHO MAY HAVE ISSUE WITH ANY MODEL THAT WE COME UP WITH BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN. SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE OPTIONS PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT I THINK THEY'RE REASONABLE. THAT THOMAS IS NOT OMNI PRESENT.
WE'RE PEOPLE AND WE HAVE CHILDREN -- AND WE DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND.
SO AGAIN I WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS THE TRUSTEES. WE SHOULD ALL HAVE ON THE SAME JERSEY RIGHT NOW RIGHT. I LOOK FORWARD TO PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS AND THESE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES CALLS FOR EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES. THINGS AREN'T NORMAL LIKE WE WOULD HAVE HOPED BUT AGAIN I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL REACH A SOLUTION THAT IS IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF ALL STUDENTS. >> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE.
>> WELL, IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK HERE. IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN THIS ROOM TO SEE EVERYONE. SO I'M GLAD WE'RE MEETING NEXT WEEK AGAIN.
[00:10:01]
SO I MEAN THE 3 GENTLEMEN BEFORE ME MY FELLOW TRUSTEES EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE SAID WE'RE PART OF MY COMMENTS WHEN PRESIDENT POSED THE QUESTION ASKED US TO SPEAK BUT I JUST WANT TO REITERATE MY CONCERNS. I'VE BEEN ON NUMEROUS ZOOM CALLS AND PHONE CALLS AND IN WORKSHOPS IN MY ROLE AS A TRUSTEE AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION.AND TRUSTEES ACROSS THIS STATE ARE GRAPPLING WITH THIS MANY OF WHOM ARE STILL TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT IS THE BEST OPTION AND I CAN SAY THAT THE NUMBER 1 PRIORITY FOR ALL OF THE TRUSTEES FROM WHO I HEARD FROM IS SAFETY, SAFETY OF OUR KIDS. SAFETY OF OUR TEACHERS.
SAFETY OF OUR CLASSIFIED WORKERS. AND SAFETY OF PEOPLE WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH OUR KIDS. JUST YOU KNOW ON A PART-TIME BASIS.
SO AND I THINK THAT'S ALSO THE SENTIMENT ON THIS BOARD IS SAFETY.
SCIENCE AND SAFETY. OUR CHALLENGE AS MENTIONED BEFORE IS OF THE LEARNING LOSS.
WE WORK REALLY HARD IN THIS DISTRICT TO BRIDGE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE AND WE WORK REALLY HARD AND MY CONCERN IS ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE WE COLLECTIVELY THOSE TEACHERS IN THE CLASS ROOM HAVE WORKED SO HARD OVERTIME AND CLASSIFIED STAFF THAT WE MAY HAVE LIKE SOME DISTRICTS A GAP THAT MAY NOT BE AS CLOSED AS WE THOUGHT IT WAS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN REPORTED BY MANY TRUSTEES ACROSS THE STATE IS THAT THE TIME BETWEEN MARCH AND THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR THE DISTANCE LEARNING REALLY FOCUSED ON YOU KNOW LET'S GET KIDS IN LEARNING SITUATIONS. LET'S GET THE COMMUTERS.
LET'S ADDRESS YOU KNOW FOOD IN SECURITIES AND A LOST OF THINGS BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT RICH CURRICULUM THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED SOME EXTRA TIME AND SOME EFFORT ON JUST LENGTH IN TIME THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WHAT WAS OFFERED TO KIDS ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
SO I THINK WHEN WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION AND I SAY MORAL OBLIGATION TO WHEN WE COME BACK TO REALLY ASSESS WHAT IT IS THAT OUR KIDS LACK IN TERMS OF THE CURRICULUM FROM LAST YEAR BEFORE WE GO FORWARD AND WE HAVE TO TRULY ASSESS THAT AS OPPOSED TO TRANSITIONING THEM INTO ANOTHER GRADE LEVEL AND FOR SOME THAT MAY REQUIRE THAT THEY BE IN A CLASSROOM THAT ONE ON ONE THAT FACE-TO-FACE YOU KNOW INTERACTION WITH AN EDUCATOR. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF MY GREATEST CONCERNS IS THE GROWING GAP THE LEARNING LOSS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESEARCH ON LEARNING LOSS IN THE TIME OF THAT IN THE LIMITED SITUATIONS IN LIMITED TIME WHEN THEY PUT IT TOGETHER. ANYWAY I LIKE TRUSTEE LIKE GRANT I TOO FEEL THE SAME WAY BUT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER NOT ONLY AS A BOARD BUT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
AGAIN NO PERFECT SOLUTION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER.
THIS IS A TIME WHEN IT'S SO CRITICAL BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO BE A SECOND GRADER OR A THIRD GRADER AND IF WE FAIL THEM THEN THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT ALL OF US I'M SURE CANNOT WANT. WE'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS BECAUSE NOT EVERY KID FALLS INTO THE SAME LEARNING BOX, LEARNING MODALITIES, OPPORTUNITIES AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ON A REGULAR BASIS OF BEING IN A SCHOOL.
I WORRY ALSO FOR THOSE KIDS NEW TO SCHOOL WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT AT HOME OR MAY NOT ALWAYS BE WITH THE MOST APPROPRIATE PEOPLE TO HELP THEM ADVANCE THEIR SUCCESS THROUGH SCHOOL. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.
[00:15:04]
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. JUST AS AN OPPORTUNITY THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES AND WE HAVE TO HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS. TRUSTEE BANE A COUPLE OF US HERE ARE IMMUNE NO COMPROMISED. THANK YOU SO MUCH -- IMMUNE NO COMPROMISED.
>> AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AS BOARD MEMBERS WE ARE MAKING IMPERFECT DECISIONS BASED OFF OF IMPERFECT DATA AND IMPERFECT INFORMATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING TOGETHER AND HAVING POSITIVE PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OFFER STAFF AND CLASSIFIEDS. I KNOW THIS IS JUST APPROVING WHAT SCHOOL LOOKS LIKE AND A COUPLE EXTRA WEEKS AS EVERY DAY WE TEND TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW. I THINK FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS AS WE PLAN I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE BOARD LOOKING AT THIS CHANCE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS DELAY. ONE WE JUST SUPERINTENDENT ON THE TIMING.
A COUPLE OF PARENTS HAVE TALKED ABOUT LIKE AFTER SCHOOL. WHERE ARE WE IN THAT PLANNING
PROCESS IF YOU DON'T MIND? >> YEAH. OUR STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT BUT UNTIL THERE'S ACTUALLY EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS APPROVED THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.
WE CAN'T COMMUNICATE TO OUR FAMILIES ABOUT AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE UNTIL WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT THE SCHOOL DAY WILL LOOK LIKE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO FAMILIES WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION.
WE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS AND THEN I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT TIME. PARENTS ARE HAVING TO MAKE DECISIONS OH WHAT THEY WANT FOR THEIR CHILD. I AM THANKFUL THAT THIS BOARD HAS BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT. YOU'VE YOU CAN FIND ON OUR WEBSITE BOARD APPROVED PLANS OF WHAT WE THINK OUR OPTIONS SHOULD LOOK LIKE. WE DO HAVE A HAND BIKE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE -- THAT MAY ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. I HOPE PARENTS AND OTHERS BOARD MEMBERS ARE REFERRING PARENTS. PLEASE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THAT'S WHAT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS FOR. I DON'T THINK WE'LL HAVE THE ANSWERS.
I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING TO STATE LEADERS FOR THOSE ANSWER. NONE OF US ARE IN THE HEALTH PROFESSION AND KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS BUT I KNOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE OF WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS AND MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ONE COMING BACK IN PERSON AND WE HAVE TO SHOW LEADERSHIP BY BEING HERE TONIGHT. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION.
>> I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2021 MONTH OF AUGUST 2020 AS
PRESENTED. >> THANK YOU. MOTION?
>> SECOND. >> SECOND BY TRUSTEE GRANT. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MS. SIMPSON.
THIS BOARD MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED AT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.