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[Roll Call]
THE TIME IS NOW 11:00 AM AND WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN THIS MAY 13TH, 2025, 11:00 AM MEETING OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION.I'M GONNA TAKE ROLE, UH, MS. NEWBELL.
PRESENT, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON PRESENT.
AND I'LL NOTE THAT MS. CORTEZ LOPEZ, UH, OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER IS VERY BUSY TODAY TAKING AP EXAMS, SO SHE WON'T BE JOINING US, BUT SHE WILL BE DOING VERY WELL ON HER AP EXAMS TODAY.
NOW WE JUMP RIGHT INTO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND WHICH WILL BE LED BY BD TWO.
CIA RIVAS FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE STAND.
I FEEL LIKE SELFISHLY PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE PUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATURE UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[Board President’s Reports]
I HAVE MY LITTLE STATEMENT.AND NOW THE MEETING IS YOURS, MR. BOARD PRESIDENT.
BEFORE WE START, I JUST WANNA READ A BRIEF STATEMENT FOR EVERYONE.
AND SO BEFORE I BEGIN, UH, I JUST WANNA ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED LAST MONTH AND OUR ASSURANCE TO OUR L-A-U-S-D COMMUNITY.
ON APRIL 7TH, 2025, IT WAS REPORTED THAT AGENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TRIED TO ENTER TWO L-A-U-S-D SCHOOLS, RUSSELL ELEMENTARY AND LILLIAN STREET ELEMENTARY.
FIRST, I LIKE TO COMMEND, COMMEND THE ONSITE STAFF WHO DEALT WITH THIS SITUATION SWIFTLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
THOSE ARE OUR CLASSIFIED PEOPLE IN THE MAIN OFFICE.
FIRST, FIRST, EVERYBODY WAS PREPARED FOR A, AN ENTRANCE TO THE SCHOOL OF ANY, UH, FEDERAL OFFICIALS.
WE WERE READY TO GO AND WELL-TRAINED.
AND I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
SO, BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO REACT AND FOLLOW L-A-U-S-D PROTOCOL, THEY PRESERVED THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR STUDENTS.
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, L-A-U-S-D IS A DISTRICT WHERE EVERY STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION.
PUBLIC EDUCATION IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT.
AND THIS RIGHT WAS BRIEFLY THREATENED LAST APRIL.
AND DISTRICT STAFF, STUDENTS, AND PARENTS RAISE CONCERNS AFTER THIS INCIDENT WAS MADE PUBLIC.
AND WHILE I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED HAS PROVOKED FEAR, I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY RESTATE THIS DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES.
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED WILL BE A SAFE PLACE FOR ALL PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS' RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO A FREE EDUCATION IS NOT ONLY MORALLY RIGHT, BUT CONSTITUTIONALLY JUSTIFIED.
AND THE 1982 SUPREME COURT RULING AND PLY VERSUS DOE ASSURED THAT ALL STUDENTS, CITIZENS OR OTHERWISE HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS LAST MONTH WERE A SCARE TACTIC TRYING TO INSTILL FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WELL, FEELING FEAR IS NORMAL, WHAT THESE ACTIONS HAVE DONE TO THIS BOARD, AND OUR STAFF HAS ONLY MULTIPLIED OUR DETERMINATION TO PROTECT OUR L-A-U-S-D NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WE'RE NOT HERE TO PLAY POLITICS OR CAUSE DRAMA BETWEEN OURSELVES AND ORGANIZATIONS OR ENTITIES.
OUR FOCUS IS ON THE WELLBEING AND EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS, AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO THIS GOAL.
WE ARE EDUCATORS AND OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
I GUESS WE'RE READY FOR OUR LABOR PARTNERS.
DO WE HAVE LABOR PARTNERS TO SPEAK? WE, WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD HAVE SOME LABOR PARTNERS, BUT THEN THE NAMES CHANGED.
DO WE HAVE A SPEAKER HERE ON, ON BEHALF OF, UH, UTLA? YES.
PLEASE ANNOUNCE THE GROUP YOU'RE WITH AND WE WILL KEEP YOU TO
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A FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT, PLEASE.UM, GOOD MORNING BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO.
I'M A TEACHER AT SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL.
LAST MONTH I STOOD HERE AND TOLD YOU THAT I RECEIVED A BIASED NON REELECTION FROM MY PRINCIPAL.
UM, I EVEN STOOD IN SILENCE FOR TWO MINUTES HOPING YOU WOULD FEEL THE WEIGHT I'VE HAD TO CARRY.
UM, IT REFLECTED HOW WE WERE BEING SILENCED.
WHILE THE DISTRICT HERE SHIELDS PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER AND FAILS TO PROTECT OUR QUEER YOUTH AND EDUCATORS.
TODAY, I'M NOT GOING TO BE SILENT.
UM, I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT I WAS REPEATEDLY MISGENDERED BY MY PRINCIPAL, EVEN AFTER BEING OUT AT WORK FOR THREE YEARS.
WHEN HE READ THE OFFICIAL NON-REELECT LETTER, I ASKED HIM TO PAUSE.
HE INSTEAD RAISED HIS VOICE AND READ OVER ME TWICE USING MY DEAD NAME WITH ANOTHER ADMIN IN THE ROOM PRESENT.
WE KNOW THAT THE, THE DISTRICT HAS CLEAR GUIDELINES LIKE BULLETIN 1 4 1 5 0 9, WHICH IS MEANT TO PROTECT TRANS AND GENDER EXPANSIVE EDUCATORS AND EMPLOYEES.
BUT MY PRINCIPAL IGNORED THAT IGNORANCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE.
IGNORANCE, ALLIED WITH POWER IS THE MOST FEROCIOUS ENEMY JUSTICE CAN HAVE.
I LEARNED THE NAMES, PRONOUNS, AND NAMES OF ABOUT 200 STUDENTS IN TWO MONTHS.
IF TEACHERS CAN DO THAT, THEN A PRINCIPAL WHO CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT HIS QUEER STAFF ISN'T JUST NEGLIGENT AT THAT POINT.
THE BULLETIN REQUIRES HOW TO SHARE MY NAME, HOW TO HANDLE MISGENDERING.
INSTEAD, HE HID BEHIND THE SYSTEM TREATING THESE PROTECTIONS AS OPTIONAL.
HIS TITLE OF PRINCIPLE LETS HIM MASK THIS BIAS, THIS FAVORITISM, UH, THIS DISPARATE TREATMENT, AND IT'S BECOME SYSTEMIC.
MEANWHILE, I KEEP SHOWING UP FOR MY STUDENTS FOR A GSA AND TRYING TO SHIELD THEM FROM THE SAME HARM THAT I'M LIVING THROUGH.
THIS KIND OF DISCRIMINATION DOES NOT LEAVE A PAPER TRAIL, BUT IT DOES LEAVE MARKS THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE A LONG, LONG TIME TO HEAL.
IT'S TAKEN A REAL TOLL ON ME, ON MY SENSE OF SAFETY, MY ENERGY, AND MY HOPE.
IT'S EXHAUSTING TO KEEP DOING THE WORK FOR OUR CORE STUDENTS WHILE CARRYING THE FEAR THAT I'M BEING PUSHED OUT FOR WHO, WHO I AM.
I JUST SUBMITTED MY CAL TPA A CYCLE TO LAST NIGHT, NOT EVEN KNOWING IF I'LL GET MY CREDENTIAL.
I'M TAKING MY LAST TWO CLASSES WITH IAB, NOT KNOWING IF THEY'LL BE WORTH ANYTHING IN THE END, YOU KNOW, TEACHERS WERE ALWAYS PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
MY LITTLE BOOK OF IDEAS, THIS JOURNAL THAT I HAVE ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE HAS NOT BEEN WRITTEN IN SINCE JANUARY 16TH WHEN I GOT THE NOTICE.
BECAUSE WHAT'S THE POINT? IS THERE GONNA BE A NEXT YEAR FOR ME? AND I'M ALSO SINGLE-HANDEDLY ORGANIZING OUR SCHOOL'S SECOND ANNUAL PRIDE FEST.
AN EVENT THAT IS GOING TO IRONICALLY BRING JOY, VISIBILITY, AND SAFETY TO QUEER STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
IT'S SCHEDULED FOR JUST 25 DAYS BEFORE I AM FORCED TO LEAVE THIS DISTRICT.
THERE'S A MYRIAD OF QUEER EDUCATORS QUESTIONING WHETHER THE DISTRICT'S POLICIES ACTUALLY MEAN ANYTHING.
THERE'S THOUSANDS OF EMAILS IN YOUR INBOX.
THEY AREN'T JUST SPEAKING FOR MY JOB.
THEY'RE DEMANDING THAT THE DISTRICT RESPECTS US FOR WHO WE ARE AS HUMAN BEINGS.
YOU SAY THAT YOU SUPPORT QUEER STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS.
YOU PASSED A RESOLUTION A FEW YEARS AGO TO SAY PUBLICLY, ACTUALLY, MR. SMER.
AND YOU JUST SAID, RIGHT NOW, LA UNIFIED WILL BE A SAFE SPACE FOR ALL.
BUT IF YOU CAN'T ACT, WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS ONE OF US, WHAT WAS THE POINT OF PASSING THAT OR SEEING THAT AT ALL? RIGHT.
IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO INTERVENE HERE, WHAT HOPE DO MY STUDENTS HAVE WHEN THEIR SAFETY AND VISIBILITY IS ON THE LINE? SO YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THAT BY REVERSING THE NON-REELECT AND BY HOLDING THE PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE HARM CAUSED BY HIS BIAS AND INACTION.
AND YOU HAVE THE POWER TO ENFORCE THE PROTECTIONS THAT YOUR OWN POLICY SAY EXIST AT LUSD.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE SILENCE FROM THIS BOARD HERE IS SAYING MORE THAN YOUR RESOLUTIONS COULD LOOK AT ME.
AND THIS TIME I DID NOT STAND IN SILENCE.
I AM THE UTLA CHAPTER CHAIR AND THE INSTRUCTIONAL COACH AT NORTHRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN BOARD DISTRICT THREE, REPRESENTED BY MR. SCOTT MURSEN.
I'M HERE TO TODAY TO ASK THE L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL BOARD TO SUPPORT CARLA GAL'S RESOLUTION, ALIGNING SITE-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COLLABORATION, AND DECISION MAKING IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND PILOT MODEL.
AS EDUCATORS, WE ALL KNOW THE CHALLENGES AND REWARDS OF WORKING IN THE CLASSROOM.
WE WITNESS FIRSTHAND HOW STUDENTS LIVES ARE SHAPED BY THE LESSONS WE TEACH, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE BUILD IN THE ENVIRONMENTS WE CREATE.
BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT TEACHING IS AN EVOLVING PROFESSION.
ONE THAT REQUIRES US TO CONTINUALLY ADAPT, LEARN, AND GROW.
AND THIS IS WHERE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BECOMES NOT JUST BENEFICIAL, BUT ESSENTIAL.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CAN NEVER BE OVERSTATED.
IT IS NOT JUST A BUZZ WORD OR A BOX TO CHECK.
IT'S THE KEY TO UNLOCKING BOTH OUR POTENTIAL AS EDUCATORS AND THE POTENTIAL OF OUR STUDENTS.
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TO BE EFFECTIVE, IT MUST BE RELEVANT, MEANINGFUL, AND TAILORED TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF BOTH THE TEACHERS AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TRULY RESONATE WITH US, IT MUST BE RELEVANT.
TOO OFTEN WE ATTEND PD THAT IS GENERIC, DISCONNECTED FROM THE REALITIES OF OUR CLASSROOMS, AND FAIL TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE DAY TO DAY.
THE BEST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS ISN'T A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO OUR UNIQUE CONTEXT AND THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE.
AT NORTHRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE FOCUS, UH, AT NORTHRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO UPLIFT OUR OWN SCHOOL COMMUNITY, WE MUST ABSOLUTELY FOCUS ON SCHOOL SAFETY AND BUILDING A STRONG AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR PLAN.
ONE THAT FOSTERS GROWTH AND STUDENT LEARNING.
OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE ALIGNED WITH THESE GOALS, BUT IT SELDOM IS OUR PD TIME IS FILLED WITH US HEARING ABOUT ONE SIZE FITS APPROACHES TO TEACHING AND TO LEARNING AND DISREGARD EVEN THE MOST BASIC, UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL.
AND JUST LIKE ANY COMMUNITY, OUR SCHOOL THRIVES WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER TOWARD A COMMON PURPOSE.
A SCHOOL IS A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THEIR DAYS, BUT WE SELDOM HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS.
IT IS TIME FOR US TO HONOR AND PRIORITIZE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
MY NAME IS LOES VEDO AND I AM, UH, I WORK AT MONROE HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M IN BOARD DISTRICT SIX WITH REPRESENTED BY MS. CONES.
UH, I SERVE AS A-U-T-L-A CHAPTER CHAIR, AND I'M ALSO A PROUD SCIENCE TEACHER.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY LIKE MIKE COMRADE HERE TO ASK THE L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL BOARD TO SUPPORT CARLA REGO'S RESOLUTION ALIGNING SITE BEST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COLLABORATION, AND DECISION MAKING IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND PILOT MODEL.
UH, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THIS SCHOOL YEAR, L-A-U-S-D REVIS IT STANCE ON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTONOMY.
IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE DISTRICT HONORED THE CONTRACT BY ALLOWING LOCAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING ALL OF THEIR PDS.
HOWEVER, THIS YEAR WE'VE SEEN SCHOOL PD PLANS REJECTED AND HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED INSTEAD TO FOLLOW THE DISTRICT-WIDE PD PLAN.
THIS SHIFT DIRECTLY UNDERMINES WHAT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IS DESIGNED TO BE, TO UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUENESS, THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL PD PLAN.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU THROUGH OUR PLAN FROM 20 23, 20 24 TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU PROVIDE SCHOOLS THE PURVIEW OVER PDS.
DURING THE BUYBACK DAYS, IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, WE WORKED ON SETTING THE TONE FOR THE YEAR.
WE PRESENTED AND EXPLAINED WHAT THE VIKING WAY WAS AND HOW THAT WOULD GUIDE US AS A SCHOOL THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR.
UH, AS A SCHOOL, WE SELECTED FROM A VARIETY OF OPTIONS TO FOCUS ON AND WE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON FOUR THINGS, WHICH WE CALL THE VIKING WAY.
'CAUSE OUR MASCOT IS THE VIKINGS INCREASING ACTIVE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS ONE OF THOSE GOALS, AMPLIFYING STUDENT VOICE AND ENGAGEMENT, SHARED LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION, RIGOROUS AND MEANINGFUL ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS.
AFTER MEETING AS A SCHOOL TO EXPLAIN OUR FOCUS, WE SPENT THE NEXT TWO PD MEETINGS IN OUR SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS AND DEPARTMENTS SO WE COULD HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE WOULD IMPLEMENT THE VIKING WAY AND ALL THE THINGS WE DO ACROSS OUR PROGRAMS AND COURSES.
MONROE HAS THREE PUBLIC SERVICE MAGNET PROGRAMS AND ENGINEERING AND DESIGN ACADEMY, AND A THRIVING CTE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES CULINARY ARTS, WOODWORK, AND VIDEO PRODUCTION.
WE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED AN INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AND A DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT OUR GROWING POPULATION OF ENGLISH LEARNERS AND NEWCOMERS.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE DIVERSITY OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF NEEDS ON OUR CAMPUS THAT CANNOT ALL BE MET WITH THE SAME PD.
THESE MEETINGS PROVIDED US TIME TO WORK ON SCHOOL-WIDE RESTORATIVE PRACTICE, INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECTS, INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION OPPORTUNITIES.
AND MORE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER MENU DAYS WHERE A PARTICULAR TOPIC OF IMPORTANCE WAS RELATED TO THE VIKING WAY OR BY TEACHER REQUESTS.
AND IT WAS PRESENTED THROUGH DIFFERENTIATION BASED ON TEACHER'S EXPERTISE.
NEW TEACHERS COULD BE INTRODUCED TO A TOPIC, LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE, TECHNOLOGY.
UH, THEY CAN GO TO A TRAINING WHERE THEY LEARN ABOUT SCHOOLOGY AND ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO IMPLEMENT IT IN THEIR CLASSROOM.
WHEREAS VETERAN TEACHERS COULD LEARN NEW PROGRAMS OR DIVE DEEPER INTO PROGRAMS THEY ALREADY WERE FAMILIAR WITH.
THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE WITH DISTRICT MANDATED PDS.
EACH MONTH TIME WAS ALLOTTED FOR COLLABORATION.
SO TEACHERS COULD EITHER WORK ON THINGS THEY HAD LEARNED AT A PREVIOUS PD PAIR UP OR TEAM UP WITH OTHERS TO CREATE RIGOROUS AND MEANINGFUL ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS, MODIFY CURRENT LESSONS TO AMPLIFY STUDENT VOICE AND ENGAGEMENT, OR TO WORK ON THE PLANNING OF EVENTS THAT WOULD INCREASE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE ALSO DEDICATED A FEW PDS TO FOCUS ON BUILDING COMMUNITY WITHIN.
WE REALIZED WE COULDN'T CLAIM TO BE A COMMUNITY SCHOOL IF OUR STAFF DID NOT FEEL CONNECTED WITH ONE ANOTHER.
WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED TEACHERS AND ADDITIONAL OUT-OF-CLASSROOM STAFF, SO IT'S HARD TO MEET AND GET TO KNOW EVERYONE ON OUR SCHOOL SITE.
SO WE EMBEDDED TIME FOR STAFF TEAM
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MEET, BUILDING, AND MAKING CONNECTIONS.NONE OF THESE THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE HAD WE BEEN TOLD TO IMPLEMENT DISTRICT PDS ON 50% OF OUR TUESDAYS THIS YEAR.
SUCH TRAININGS HAVE BEEN ABSENT AND GREATLY MISSED BY STAFF.
AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE PLACED IN YOUR FOLDER.
YOU CAN SEE STATEMENTS FROM ACTUAL TEACHERS AT MY SCHOOL AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE PDS THAT WE USE TO OFFER.
WE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE BUILDING AND GROWING PERSONALIZED PDS BASED ON OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL GOALS.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
SO JUST A REMINDER TO EVERYONE, WE HAD THREE IMPORTANT SPEAKERS, BUT THE TIME LIMIT IS SUPPOSED TO BE FIVE MINUTES TOTAL, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO INTERRUPT ANY ONE OF THEM.
SO LET'S JUST KIND OF REMEMBER FIVE MINUTES FOR LABOR PARTNERS, IF YOU WOULD.
I'LL ALSO NOTE QUICKLY THAT, UM, BOARD MEMBERS NEW BILL AND GO HAS JOINED US SHORT JUST SHORTLY AFTER THE 11 O'CLOCK HOUR TIME FOR COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORTS FOR THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DR. RIVAS, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT FOR US? OKAY.
BOARD PRESIDENT, UH, COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MET ON APRIL 22ND, 2025.
THE MEETING INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING.
KEY PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS MEASURE US.
UH, WE WERE PROVIDED WITH AN OVERVIEW AND PRIORITIZATION OF THE FUNDS PRESENTED BY KA CHRISTINA TOS, UH, THE CHIEF FACILITIES EXECUTIVE.
THIS PRESENTATION FOCUSED ON PRIORITIZING MEASURE US FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES, UPGRADES, AND THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE EFFICIENT EXECUTION OF THE PROJECTS THAT IMPACT STUDENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.
WE ALSO HAD A, UH, THE SECOND PRESENTATION, UH, SUPPORTING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, FRANCIS BAEZ, CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER.
ALONGSIDE MR. ANTHONY AGUILAR, CHIEF OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS. UH, THEY DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGING PARENTS AND FAMILIES IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESSES TO SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS, PARTICULARLY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THOSE IN SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS. THE NEXT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING WILL BE ON TUESDAY, MAY 20 20TH.
UH, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS ALWAYS ENCOURAGED AT THE MEETING, WHICH WILL CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE OR HERE IN PERSON.
SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT, DR.
NEXT WE HAVE FACILITIES AND PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE.
MR. MELVOIN, ANYTHING TO REPORT? YES.
UM, WE HAD A MEATY FINAL MEETING.
ON APRIL 22ND, THE FACILITIES AND PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE MET FOR THE FINAL TIME THIS YEAR.
WE HEARD A MUCH ANTICIPATED REPORT, UM, FROM FOLKS AT MGT WHO HAVE BEEN REVIEWING DISTRICT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO FIND WAYS IN WHICH THE DISTRICT IS SIMILAR, IN WHICH IT IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
THEY'RE STILL FINALIZING THAT WRITTEN REPORT FOR THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC, BUT THEY SHARED SOME OF THEIR 25 PRELIMINARY FINDINGS WITH THE COMMITTEE, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTING CHANGES TO STREAMLINE OUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROCESS, IDENTIFYING CHANGES TO INTERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS, MAKING CHANGES TO THE ABATEMENT ASSESSMENT PROCESS TO MINIMIZE EXPENSIVE CHANGE ORDERS, CREATING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE THE POOL OF CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS WHO ARE WILLING AND INTERESTED IN WORKING ON DISTRICT PROJECTS.
SO IN THE FALL, WE EXPECT TO HEAR AN UPDATE FROM THE DISTRICT FACILITIES AND PROCUREMENT TEAMS ON STEPS THAT THE DISTRICT WILL BE TAKING TO INCORPORATE THIS EXTERNAL FEEDBACK.
WE THEN HEARD AN UPDATE ON OUR DISTRICT'S HOUSING INITIATIVE AND SHARED SOME OF THE COST CONSIDERATIONS AND CHALLENGES THAT WE MIGHT FACE IN OUR NEXT PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT, UM, IN IDENTIFYING PROJECTS.
AND WE LOOKED AT TWO EXAMPLES ON THE EXISTING LIST OF NINE POTENTIAL SITES FOR FURTHER EMPLOYEE HOUSING.
UM, THE BOARD APPROVED THE CONTRACT FOR CONSULTANT TO DESIGN RFPS TO GET THESE HOUSING PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD.
AND WE LOOK MORE, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT WORK IN THE FALL.
WE THEN RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY PAIR OF UPDATES FROM THE FACILITIES TEAM REGARDING PAINTING IN THE DISTRICT.
WE LEARNED THAT THERE IS NO LONGER A DEDICATED FUNDING STREAM TO PAINT OUR SCHOOLS, UM, BUT THAT MOST PAINTINGS EITHER SCHOOL REQUESTED, INCLUDING IN LARGER NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OR TO MAKE REPAIRS.
UM, AND WE DISCUSSED THE NEED WE HEAR AND THE THE DESIRE WE HEAR FROM A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS AND CONSTITUENTS TO ENSURE OUR SCHOOLS LOOK MODERN.
AND LOOKING AT SOME NEW STRATEGIES LIKE SPRAY PAINTING, NOT LIKE GRAFFITI, BUT SPRAY AS OPPOSED TO ROLLER PAINTING TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY.
UM, WE THEN LEARNED A BIT HOW THINGS LIKE PAINTING AND OTHER MAINTENANCE REQUESTS ARE BEING USED FOR JOB COSTING, WHICH IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS WE EXPLORED ON HOW THE DISTRICT ESTIMATES TIME FOR PROJECTS AND THEN AMORTIZES EVERYTHING FROM SALARY AND BENEFITS TO THE COST OF A LADDER TO CALCULATE HOW MUCH THE JOB SHOULD COST.
UM, SO WE'LL CONTINUE DIGGING IN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CHEAPER FOR SCHOOLS AND DISTRICT, UM, STAKEHOLDERS TO GET THESE THINGS DONE.
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THE COMMITTEE'S PRIOR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD, UH, IN THE PAST.UM, AND, UH, WE'RE CONTINUING, UH, THIS INQUIRY.
SO, UH, STAY TUNED FOR THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND MEETING DATES FOR NEXT YEAR, UM, WHERE WE'LL HAVE UPDATES ON HOUSING, ON THE FIRE REBUILD, AND THEN SOME OTHER TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMITTEE.
SO THANKS FOR GIVING US THE SPACE FOR AN UPDATE, AND THANK YOU MR. MELVOIN.
NEXT WE HAVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN EARLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE, MS. EZ.
UM, EARLIER THIS MONTH, JUST LAST WEEK, IN FACT, WE HELD OUR MEETING OF THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN EARLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
WE LEARNED ABOUT EARLY NUMERACY AND HAD THE CHANCE TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM A WONDERFUL EEC PRINCIPAL AND TEACHER ON WHAT NUMERACY INSTRUCTION LOOKED LIKE AT THEIR SCHOOL SITE, INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CGI OR COGNITIVELY GUIDED INSTRUCTION, HOW NUMERACY CAN BE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE AND PLAY-BASED TO ENSURE OUR LITTLEST LEARNERS, UM, SEE THEMSELVES AS MATHEMATICIANS AND CAN ENGAGE IN THE CONTENT AND MULTIPLE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES WE USE TO ENGAGE AND SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES AROUND EARLY NUMERACY.
UM, WE ALSO LEARNED ABOUT OUR SPECIALIZED TREE PROGRAM, THE TRAUMA AND RESILIENCY INFORMED, UM, EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM, WHICH IS A TRAUMA-INFORMED MENTAL HEALTH PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR OUR EARLY EDUCATION CENTERS.
TREE IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING ADULT CAPACITY TO INCREASE PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND REDUCE RISK FACTORS FOR CHILDREN, STAFF, AND FAMILIES.
IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF AN AMAZING SPECIALIZED PROGRAM THAT WE OFFER WHERE WE CAN HELP SUPPORT OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS.
UM, WE ALSO LIFTED UP THE CURRENT FEDERAL ATTACKS ON EARLY EDUCATION, SPECIFICALLY AN EFFORT TO SHUT DOWN FEDERAL HEAD START PROGRAMS, UM, WHICH WILL DEVASTATE SOME OF OUR HIGHEST NEEDS FAMILIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND THEIR THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS, AND TAKE AWAY CARE FROM FAMILIES WHO REALLY NEED IT.
SO WE, AS AN EARLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE, ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO REACH OUT TO OUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES TO ENSURE THAT THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM IS PROTECTED.
UM, AND AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE OUR WONDERFUL EARLY EDUCATION TEAM FOR SUPPORTING US, OUR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS WHO JOINED OUR MEETINGS JUST FOR OFFERING SUCH INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE AND PERSPECTIVE.
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MAY 29TH, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN US HERE IN THE BOARDROOM OR TUNE IN ONLINE.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU MS. EZ.
AND OUR LAST REPORT WILL BE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE BY MS. GRIEGO.
ON MAY 7TH, WE HELD OUR LAST, UH, SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WE HAD A PRESENTATION FROM THE DIVISION ON THE LISTEN AND LEARN CAMPAIGN OUTCOMES AND NEXT STEPS.
THE DIVISION HELD 31 FOCUS SESSIONS ACROSS DISTRICT WHERE THEY ENGAGED OVER 1200 SURVEY PARTICIPANTS.
THE DIVISION SUMMARIZED THE KEY THEMES THAT CAME OUT OF THE SURVEY RESPONSES, AS WELL AS SHARED WHAT ACTIONS WILL BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THEM.
THE DIVISION WILL SOON MAKE ACCESSIBLE THE LISTEN AND LEARN CAMPAIGN BOOKLET IN BOTH PRINT AND DIGITAL FORMATS.
THANK YOU TO DR. JOSE SOTO, ALICIA HAAS, KRISTEN LAMBERT, AND THE DISTRICT STAFF FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS CAMPAIGN.
ADDITIONALLY, MY OFFICE WILL BE PUTTING TOGETHER A YEAR IN REVIEW IN COLLABORATION WITH PRESIDENT SMLS SON'S OFFICE, WHERE WE WILL ELEVATE THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ALL THE SPECIAL ED COMMITTEE MEETINGS THIS YEAR.
I HOPE TO SHARE THAT REVIEW WITH ALL OF OUR OFFICES.
UM, I'M ALSO HAPPY TO SHARE THAT AT THAT COMMITTEE MEETING WE HAD A STUDENT WHO CAME AND SPOKE ABOUT HIS CONDITIONS AT HIS SCHOOL.
MY DREAM IS THAT NEXT YEAR WE HAVE A BOARDROOM FULL OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT, AT OUR SPECIAL ED COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE US US INSIGHT AND INPUT INTO HOW WE SHOULD BE DOING THINGS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
I'M GONNA WORK HARD TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK EVERYBODY, SCOTT, FOR YOUR SUPPORT, THE OFFICE FOR SUPPORTING US IN THIS TRANSITION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.
OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER IS STUDYING FOR HER EXAMS OR TAKING EXAMS, AND, UH, SO WE WILL NOT HAVE A REPORT FROM HER, BUT WE WILL GO
[Superintendent’s Reports ]
ON NOW TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORTS.THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UM, PROBABLY ANYTIME IS A GOOD TIME FOR US TO RECOGNIZE A GREATNESS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND GREATNESS IS REFLECTED THROUGH THE DEDICATION, THE PERSEVERANCE, THE COURAGE, THE PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR WORKFORCE, AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION IN LOS ANGELES.
AND THAT APPLIES EQUALLY TO BOTH CERTIFICATE AS WELL AS CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES.
UH, ARE WE PERFECT? NO, WE'RE NOT.
BUT THE WORK WE DO SEEKS PERFECTION, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WE, UH, INSPIRE AND EDUCATE EVERY SINGLE DAY AT
[00:25:01]
TODAY.UH, WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING, UH, AND IT IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE EACH MAY WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF CELEBRATING THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES.
SO, UH, IT IS AN APPROPRIATE TIME, UH, FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO SO MUCH FOR SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FOR BERI, A BASE CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES, DISTRICT LEADERSHIP, ONCE AGAIN, WILL BE OFFERING YOU LUSD FAMOUS COFFEE CAKE NEXT MONDAY MORNING ON THE YEAH, LIKE YOU'VE NEVER TASTED IT BEFORE.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE WORK HARD, UH, AND WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE, UH, THOSE WHO DO THE WORK ACROSS THIS DISTRICT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, CELEBRATING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO YOU, TO THE MORE THAN 30,000, 30,000 CLASSIFIED COLLEAGUES WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELLBEING OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR EMPLOYEES, AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES HELP CULTIVATE A SAFE, CLEAN, INCLUSIVE, INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL IN LOS ANGELES.
YOU ARE ESSENTIAL TO WHAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WITH THIS BEING CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE MONTH, I WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY AS PART OF MY REPORT TODAY, TO ACTUALLY RECOGNIZE AND PUT A FACE AND A NAME TO OUR EVERYDAY HEROES WHO EVERY DAY CONTRIBUTE AND DO SO MUCH IN OUR DISTRICT.
THESE OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE AMONG OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF.
I'M TOLD BY DAVID GRECO AND HIS TEAM, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO ARRANGE FOR ALL NINE OF THEM TO BE WITH US TODAY.
SO I REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE, UH, MR. DAVID GRECO AND KRISTEN MURPHY, OUR NINE CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR, AND ANY OF OUR CLASSIFIED LABOR PARTNERS UP TO THE PODIUM, UH, FOR OUR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR.
WHEN I SAY YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT OF THE GROUP.
I WILL THEN SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MAGNI MAGNIFI MAGNIFICENT WORK AND CONTRIBUTIONS YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THUS YOUR RECOGNITION AS A CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR.
CARLA IS A SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT REPRESENTED BY SEIU, UNIT B AT CARLSON HOME HOSPITAL, UH, WITHIN BOARD DISTRICT SIX REGION NORTH.
UH, CARLA SERVED OUR DISTRICT FOR 12 YEARS.
SHE'S A ROLE MODEL TO CARLSON'S NEWEST PARAPROFESSIONALS AND IN THE COMMUNITY.
I CAN TELL YOU THE MOST TOUCHING WORK DONE IN OUR DISTRICT IS IN ENVIRONMENTS LIKE THE ONE AT CARLSON.
SHE MENTORS THE NEW SPECIAL EDUCATION PARAPROFESSIONALS ASSIGNED TO THE SCHOOL.
SHE'S ALSO HELPED MANY STUDENTS WITH MEDICAL NEEDS GRADUATE ON TIME AND RECEIVE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS.
PREVIOUSLY, SHE SERVED FOR MANY YEARS ON THE CARLSON SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL, SERVING IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AS NEEDED.
NEXT UP WE HAVE MARA INION, SENIOR OFFICE TECHNICIAN REPRESENTED BY CSCA, UNIT D AT OLIVE VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT SIX, ONCE AGAIN, REGION NORTH.
UH, MYRA HAS BEEN WITH US FOR 17 YEARS.
SHE MENTORS OFFICE STAFF SUPPORTS SUBSTITUTES WHEN OFFICE STAFF IS OUT AND ENSURES OFFICE SYSTEMS ARE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE.
ALWAYS WILLING TO LAND SUPPORT IN ALL AREAS.
NEXT UP JORGE JIMENEZ, SCHOOL OFFICE COMPUTER COORDINATOR REPRESENTED BY CSEA, UNITY AT VENICE SKILL CENTER BOARD DISTRICT FOUR REGION WEST.
JORGE HAS WORKED WITH US FOR 10 YEARS, CONSISTENTLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ASSIST STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF, ENSURING THEY RECEIVE THE,
[00:30:01]
THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.EX EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE APPROACHES EVERY TASK IN A PROFESSIONAL AND POSITIVE WAY IS A PROBLEM.
SOLVER IS SKILLS, IS ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
CERTAINLY SET A HIGH STANDARD FOR EXCELLENCE.
BRIAN IS A SCHOOL SUPERVISION AIDE REPRESENTED BY SEIU UNIT G AT MOUND GLEASON MIDDLE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT SIX, AGAIN, REGION NORTH.
THERE'S SOMETHING, THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE WATER IN BOARD DISTRICT SIX THIS TIME AROUND.
UH, BRIAN'S BEEN WITH US FOR NINE YEARS, ALWAYS AT HIS POST ON TIME AT CONTINUOUSLY CIRCULATES, UH, THE CAMPUS LOGGING OVER 20,000 STEPS A DAY.
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CANNOT GET TO THE 10,000, SHAME ON YOU
HE ENCOURAGES ALL STUDENTS TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES AND TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
NEXT UP DOUGLAS LINDSAY, SENIOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN REPRESENTED BY SEIU UNIT, C, M, AND O CENTRAL SHOP.
SPECIAL SERVICES, YOU KNOW, THESE FOLKS ARE, THEY ARE THE LAST REPAIR SHOP.
THIS IS THE, THE OSCAR WINNING DIVISION OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UH, DOUGLAS HAS BEEN WITH US FOR FIVE YEARS.
HE'S A TALENTED TECHNICIAN AND A TRUE TEAM PLAYER BRINGS INVALUABLE EXPERTISE IN INSTRUMENT REPAIR, COMPUTERS AND COMMUNICATION.
I AM TOLD THAT EVERYONE IN THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT REPAIR SHOP KNOWS THAT IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS ON JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, DOUGLAS IS THE GO-TO GUY.
BENJAMIN IS A LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSE REPRESENTED BY CSEA, UNIT D WORKS IN MANHATTAN, PLACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITHIN BD ONE REGION.
SOUTH BENJAMIN HAS BEEN WITH US FOR 19 YEARS.
HE TAKES INITIATIVE WHEN THERE'S AN AREA OF NEED THAT IMPACTS STUDENTS OR HIS OWN COLLEAGUES.
HE WILL SPEAK OUT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A RESPONSE TO THOSE IN NEED.
NEXT UP, PHA EDIN EDDI, EDDI FOOD SERVICE MANAGER REPRESENTED BY TEAMSTERS UNIT S AT ANN STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT, BOARD DISTRICT TWO REGION EAST.
SEVEN YEARS OF SERVICE WITH LOS ANGELES UNIFIED.
UM, WORKS TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT RECEIVES A NUTRITIOUS MEAL WHILE CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS WARM AND WELCOMING FOR ALL.
GREAT SPIRIT, PROACTIVE, ALWAYS CONSISTENT, UH, IN HER WORK.
ROSA IS A LIGHT BUS DRIVER REPRESENTED BY SEIU UNIT C.
BAY SCHOOL IS MARLTON SCHOOL WITHIN BD ONE REGION SOUTH, UH, 14 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH L-A-U-S-D.
SHE'S ALSO LAKOS CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR IN A TRANSPORTATION SERVICES CATEGORY.
NOT ONLY DOES SHE DO GREAT WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY, SHE ALSO VOLUNTEERS AT HER SCHOOL COORDINATING SPECIAL EVENTS, WHETHER IT IS GETTING YOU THERE OR KEEPING YOU HAPPY WHILE YOU'RE THERE, ROSA IS THE PERSON.
CONGRATULATIONS NOW, ISAAC ROMERO.
ISAAC HAS BEEN A BUILDING AND GROUND WORKER REPRESENTED BY SEIU UNIT C AT ALTA LOMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
BD ONE REGION WEST ISAAC HAS BEEN WITH US FOR FIVE YEARS, WORKS WITH INCREDIBLE EFFICIENCY, AND GETS THE JOB DONE QUICKLY WITH WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY.
[00:35:01]
HE ALWAYS DEMONSTRATES EXCELLENCE IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THROUGH HIS ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE SCHOOL'S, COMMUNITIES, EVENTS.CONGRATULATIONS, ISAAC, PLEASE.
LET'S GIVE ALL OF THESE RECIPIENTS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
WE'RE GONNA WAIT A LITTLE BIT FOR, UH, PICTURES.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE THE ADDITIONAL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES AND THEN WE'LL GO UP, WE'LL GO DOWN, UH, TO TAKE PICTURES WITH BOTH GROUP, UH, GROUPS OF, UH, OF, UH, AWARD THE RECIPIENTS, AWARD RECIPIENTS.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR REMARKABLE CLASSIFIED STAFF.
NOW, I'D LIKE TO, UH, MOVE ON TO THE SECOND RECOGNITION WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE.
UM, LOS ANGELES UNIFIED'S 2024 ABOVE AND BEYOND TEACHINGS.
CARLTON CARTON, OUTSTANDING TEACHER OF AMERICA HONOREE.
OH, THIS PERSON'S NOT HERE YET.
WE'RE GONNA WAIT FOR THIS PERSON TO ARRIVE.
I THINK WE OWE IT TO THAT PERSON.
SO THAT'S IT FOR THE RECOGNITIONS.
SO SHOULD WE TAKE THE PICTURE NOW OF THE ONES THAT ARE HERE? MAY I JUST SAY ONE THING? YES, SIR.
BEFORE YOU KNOW CLASSIFIED PEOPLE, NOT ONLY AWARD WINNERS, BUT ALL OF OUR CLASSIFIED PEOPLE, NOT ONLY DO YOU DO AN EXCELLENT JOB, BUT YOU ARE OUR EYES AND OUR EARS.
IF YOU'RE A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE, YOU ARE THE ONES WHO TELL US, HEY, I SAW THIS GIRL IN THE CAFETERIA LINE AND SHE'S ALWAYS SO HAPPY TODAY.
THE MAIN OFFICE, SOMEONE WHO'S ABSENT A LOT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE COMING BACK AND THEN THEY'RE ABSENT AGAIN.
SO YOU ARE OUR EYES AND OUR EARS FOR THE KIDS.
SO YOU ARE TEACHERS TOO, JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT.
SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP GOING WITH, UH, MY REPORT, AND THEN WHEN OUR LAST, UH, INDIVIDUAL, UH, SHOWS UP, WE WILL TAKE THE PICTURE.
IT IS WORTH THE WEIGHT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY ONE OF US GETS RECOGNIZED.
AFTER ALL, WE ARE ONE AT LOS ANGELES UNIFIED.
WELL AFTER THIS, UH, THIS GREAT SET OF RECOGNITIONS AND, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY THE BEST AMONGST US.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE SECOND REPORT IS NOT SO, SO PLEASANT.
DECISIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL HAVE CONSEQUENCES, PARTICULARLY AS THEY IMPACT THE VIABILITY OF SERVICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'D LIKE THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY TO BE AWARE OF WHAT SOME OF THOSE CONSEQUENCES AND POSSIBLE THREATS TO FUNDING AND THE CONSEQUENTIAL PROGRAMMATIC IMPACT ARE.
THE FIRST SET OF CONSEQUENCES ARE CONSEQUENCES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE SECOND SET OF CONSEQUENCES ARE CONSEQUENCES THAT MAY OCCUR BASED ON CONGRESSIONAL VOTE, WHICH WE EXPECT, UH, WILL TAKE PLACE SOON AS CONGRESS DEBATES AND EVENTUALLY WILL APPROVE, UH, ITS, UH, BUDGET.
THESE ARE CONFIRMED CUTS, SOME OF WHICH ARE PENDING THE OUTCOMES OF LAWSUITS FILED BY A NUMBER OF ENTITIES, INCLUDING OUR VERY OWN CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR. BANTA, AS WELL AS OTHER STATES.
WE VALUE MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FORTUNATELY, THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RECENTLY NOTIFIED LOS ANGELES UNIFIED OF ITS INTENT TO DISCONTINUE A FIVE YEAR CLOSE TO $6 MILLION GRANT INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN MENTAL HEALTH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES BY DISMANTLING THE MENTAL HEALTH CAREER PATHWAY.
GRANT, WE WERE IN THE THIRD YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS GRANT, WHICH FUNDS FULL-TIME PERSONNEL.
THE LOSS OF THIS FUNDING IS IMMORAL.
IT IS IMMORAL AND HAPPENS MIDSTREAM THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS GRANT, WHICH MEANS IT'S NOT FAIR OR JUST THE SECOND GRANT IS ONE THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN BECAUSE IF YOU COMPROMISE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THEN YOU GO AFTER WHAT OUR KIDS NEED AND EAT IN OUR SCHOOLS, YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING TO CHILDHOOD HUNGER, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
THE LOCAL FOOD FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM WAS A PROGRAM UNDER THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ENDED THIS YEAR.
[00:40:01]
THIS CEASES, UH, THE FEDERALLY FUNDED AND SUPPORTED OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR DISTRICT TO ACQUIRE LOCALLY PRODUCED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, WHICH BY THE WAY, STIMULATES THE LOCAL ECONOMY FOR OUR LOCAL FARMERS.AT ANY LEVEL, THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
IT IS CRUEL, IT IS PUNITIVE, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE, AND IT IS IMMORAL.
THIS IS A LOSS OF UP TO $10 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR LOS ANGELES'S UNIFIED.
AFTER CURTAILING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND FOOD, WHAT COULD BE NEXT AND WORSE? WELL, CURTAILING SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS.
WE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THE TEACHER TRAINING GRANTS, GRANTS ADMINISTERED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TERMINATED THIS YEAR.
THIS MEANS IN EXCESS OF $600 MILLION ALLOCATED ANNUALLY, INCLUDING 15 MILLION EARMARKED FOR TEACHER STIPENDS FOR PROGRAMS AT UCLA AND CAL STATE LA.
THE IMPACT OF LOS ANGELES UNIFIED WILL BE FELT IN OUR ABILITY TO HIRE THE TEACHERS THAT THESE GRANTS HAVE PROVIDED.
THIS TOO IS IRRESPONSIBLE, PUNITIVE, AND IMMORAL.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, COVID-19 RELIEF EDUCATION FUNDS.
COVID-19 IS BEHIND THIS, BUT ITS IMPACT IS NOT.
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RESCINDED THE LIQUIDATION PERIOD EXTENSION.
IT HAD GRANTED FOR COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS, INCLUDING THE ONE-TIME FUNDS ALLOCATED TO LUSD FOR EARLY EDUCATION.
LUSD HAD BEEN USING THE FUNDS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS, STAFFING OF POSITIONS IN THESE CENTERS, AND HAD A REMAINING BALANCE OF ABOUT $4 MILLION.
THIS TOO IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND IMMORAL, MY FRIENDS.
THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE MADE NOT IN CONSULTATION WITH ANYONE.
THEY WERE MADE IN A NICK OF TIME AND ANNOUNCED WITHOUT ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NATION TO PREPARE TO REACT, TO SEEK ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THESE PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO THESE FIVE SPECIFIC GRANTS, WE HAVE DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS MOVING FORWARD.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? TITLE ONE PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR AMONGST US.
IDEA FUNDING FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
JUST IN TITLE ONE ALONE, WE RECEIVE AROUND $460 MILLION.
EVEN A SMALL REDUCTION OR FLAT FUNDING CONSIDERING INFLATION AND INCREASED COST OF LIVING IS TANTAMOUNT TO A REDUCTION, CAN WE SIMULTANEOUSLY COMPROMISE AND HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR STUDENTS WHILE REDUCING THE SERVICES THAT POOR KIDS WOULD RECEIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY? THAT IS HEARTLESS, IRRATIONAL, AND IMMORAL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
OUR DISTRICT RECEIVES AROUND $177 MILLION PER YEAR.
ANY REDUCTION TO THESE PROGRAMS WILL COMPROMISE THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES FOR SOME OF THE MOST FRAGILE KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IN THIS NEW AMERICA TITLE IV, WE RECEIVE CLOSE TO $48 MILLION PER YEAR.
TITLE IV SUPPORTS IN SCHOOL BASED, UH, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS COUNSELORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKERS.
THIS CANNOT BE A WAY OF REDUCING FEDERAL SPENDING, TARGETING OUR CHILDREN, WHAT THEY EAT, THE SERVICES THEY GET, OR THOSE WHO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES IN OUR SCHOOLS.
TITLE THREE, SUPPORTING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, A $40.4 MILLION INVESTMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNUALLY INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, BENEFITING THOSE IN OUR DISTRICT WHO ARE PURSUING FLUENCY IN ENGLISH.
ANY REDUCTION TO THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS INSUFFICIENT TO BEGIN WITH, PARTICULARLY CONSIDERING THE DIVERSE NATURE OF OUR DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT WOULD BE IMMORAL AND UNFAIR.
TITLE II, A $40 MILLION INVESTMENT PER YEAR SUPPORTING TEACHER PATHWAYS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS.
THAT'S OF COURSE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE MEDICAID SUPPORT THAT OUR KIDS GET.
A $50 MILLION ANNUAL INVESTMENT INTO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM PROVIDING FOR THE MEDICALLY
[00:45:01]
NEEDY WHO HAPPEN TO BE ALSO POOR.I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT WHEN WE READ THIS LIST OF POSSIBLE REDUCTIONS, THERE'S ONE THING IN COMMON.
IT TARGETS, IT TARGETS THE NEEDIEST AMONGST US, THE POOREST AMONGST US, THE MOST FRAGILE AMONGST US, THE SICKEST AMONGST US.
WHERE IS THE MORALITY, THE JUSTICE, OR THE FAIRNESS IN THAT? ARE THERE NO BETTER WAYS OF REDUCING FEDERAL SPENDING THAN BY STARTING WITH THE NEEDIEST AMONGST US? UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS THE REALITY WE ARE FACING TODAY, BUT WE ARE ONE AT LOS ANGELES UNIFIED.
WE WILL DO OUR VERY BEST TO PROTECT OUR PROGRAMS, TO PROTECT OUR WORKFORCE, TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS.
IN FACT, THIS BOARD RECENTLY AGREED REGARDLESS OF THESE IMPACTS, WE COMMIT TO NO REDUCTIONS IN FORCE THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR.
WE ARE AMONGST ONE OF VERY FEW DISTRICTS THAT CAN ACTUALLY COMMIT TO THAT PROMISE.
IT IS THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME, CONSIDERING THE CHALLENGES AND THE ATTACKS WE ARE UNDER.
SO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS, BUT THIS IS THE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY CURRENTLY FACE IN LIGHT OF THE FEDERAL DECISIONS CURRENTLY BEING MADE IN WASHINGTON DC.
WITH THAT SAID, MR. MCLEAN IS OUR LAST AWARD RECIPIENT HERE? NOT YET.
SO I THINK IT'S TIME, UH, TO, UM, MAYBE, UH, GO DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH, UH, OUR REMARKABLE CLASSIFIED, UH, EMPLOYEES.
UH, PLEASE COME FORWARD ONCE AGAIN AND LET'S ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS TO JOIN US DOWNSTAIRS FOR A PICTURE FOR HISTORY
[00:54:31]
BACK UP SHORTLY FOR THE NEXT AWARD RECIPIENT.
[00:55:52]
HEY, UH, HERE, HERE WE GO.OUR LAST, UH, RECOGNITION, UH, NOW THAT I THINK EVERYONE IS HERE, UM, IS A RECOGNITION OF, UH, LOS ANGELES UNIFIED'S 2024 ABOVE AND BEYOND TEACHINGS.
UH, AND, UM, CARLSTON OUTSTANDING TEACHER OF AMERICA HONOREE.
UM, THIS RECOGNITION IS FROM ABOVE AND BEYOND TEACHING.
EACH YEAR ABOVE AND BEYOND TEACHING RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO TEACH IN DISADVANTAGED, URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND WHO CONSISTENTLY HELP THEIR STUDENTS EXCEED ACADEMICALLY AND PREPARE THEM FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS ABOVE AND BEYOND TEACHING.
RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR VERY OWN, WITH ITS 2024 CARLSTON OUTSTANDING TEACHERS OF AMERICA AWARD.
NOAH KLEIN, A TEACHER, A DORSEY HIGH SCHOOL, WAS ONE OF FOUR OUTSTANDING TEACHERS RECOGNIZED WITH THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.
WHAT MAKES THIS, UH, EXTRA SPECIAL IS THAT HE WAS NOMINATED, UH, BY ONE OF HIS FORMER STUDENTS, A CURRENT AND FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT AT WILLIAMS COLLEGE, MAJORING IN CHEMISTRY AND A DORSEY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2022 GRADUATE.
I'D NOW LIKE TO INVITE MS. BEVERLY YOUNG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH ABOVE AND BEYOND TEACHING, AND MR. NOAH KLEIN OF DORSEY HIGH SCHOOL TO THE PODIUM.
SO MS. YOUNG MAY PRESENT NOAH WITH THIS PRESTIGIOUS RECOGNITION.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE, ESPECIALLY TO, UM, HONOR NOAH HERE, AS YOU SAID, ABOVE AND BEYOND, IT'S A, IT'S A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS.
YOU MAY REMEMBER I WAS HERE LAST YEAR WITH, UM, ANOTHER WINNER FROM LA UNIFIED.
UM, OUR MISSION IS TO RECOGNIZE AND REWARD OUTSTANDING CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THEIR STUDENTS.
UM, AS YOU SAID, NOAH WAS NOMINATED BY A FORMER STUDENT, BUT I ACTUALLY TALKED TO ALMOST A DOZEN OF NOAH'S FORMER STUDENTS FROM ACROSS DIFFERENT YEARS WHO TOLD ME OF VARIOUS WAYS THAT NOAH HAS CHANGED THEIR LIFE.
HE WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE AWARD LAST MAY, HE DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL NOVEMBER WHO THE STUDENT WAS THAT INITIATED THEIR AWARD.
BECAUSE AT OUR BIG BANQUET WHERE WE HAVE OUR, ALL OF OUR PAST WINNERS AND OUR CURRENT WINNERS COME, UM, THE, WE ALSO BRING THE STUDENT AND IT'S A SURPRISE TO THE TEACHER.
THE STUDENT MAKES THE SPEECH TELLING HOW THIS TEACHER CHANGED THEIR LIFE.
NOAH, FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY, I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM A COPY OF THE FILE THAT TELLS THE STORIES OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT STUDENTS, AND THEY TELL ABOUT HOW NOAH CHANGED THEIR LIVES.
AND BELIEVE ME, THAT EVENING WHEN WE HEAR FROM THESE STUDENTS, THERE'S NEVER A DRY EYE IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE TEACHERS LIKE NOAH, WHO NOT ONLY ENRICH STUDENTS' LIVES ACADEMICALLY, BUT CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES OFTEN IN SUPER DRAMATIC WAYS, ARE JUST SUCH SPECIAL PEOPLE.
AND IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT I GET TO DO IS BE PART OF HONORING SUCH PEOPLE.
SO AS PART OF HIS AWARD, NOAH GOT THIS BIG OSTENTATIOUS THING THAT WE HOPE HE HANGS IN HIS CLASSROOM.
UH, HE ALSO GOT A CHECK FROM US FOR $10,000.
AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO REMIND THE BOARDS AND THE PRINCIPALS THAT NOAH GETS TO DECIDE
[01:00:02]
THE NEED AT A SCHOOL TO SPEND THIS $2,000 SOMETHING TEACHERS OFTEN DON'T GET TO DO.UM, AND I'M GONNA GIVE NOAH A COPY OF HIS FILE.
I BROUGHT ALONG WITH ME COPIES OF OUR PROGRAM FROM OUR NOVEMBER BANQUET, SO YOU CAN SEE THE WRITE UP ABOUT NOAH AND HIS STUDENT AND THE OTHER TEACHERS WHO WON THIS AWARD.
SO I'LL LEAVE THESE WITH YOU AND THEN I'LL LET NOAH SAY A FEW WORDS.
I WASN'T PLANNING TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT JUST, UM, I'VE BEEN A TEACHER AT DORSEY HIGH SCHOOL FOR, FOR 26 YEARS.
BEEN A COLLEAGUE WITH SHERETTE FOR, FOR THAT WHOLE TIME.
UM, SUCH AN HONOR TO BE, UH, TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE SHERETTE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD NOW, UM, AS, AS WE'VE BEEN COLLEAGUES FOR SO LONG.
AND, UM, YEAH, JUST TO SEE, UM, MY FORMER STUDENT NOMINATE ME, UH, KHADIJA, UH, KHADIJA SHAFI, WHO'S ABOUT TO GRADUATE FROM WILLIAMS COLLEGE WAS A REAL BEAUTIFUL HONOR.
AND, UM, YEAH, WE DO THIS AS TEACHERS.
WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE SO VERY MUCH.
WE CARE ABOUT THEIR, THEIR FUTURE.
WE CARE ABOUT THEIR CONDITIONS THAT THEY EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOLS.
UM, AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO, UM, EXERCISE THEIR VOICE, UM, OVER THESE 26 YEARS TO, TO, TO, TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS OF COLOR UNDOCUMENTED YOUTH, L-G-B-T-Q, YOUTH BLACK YOUTH.
AND KHADIJA IS JUST ONE OF MANY WHO HAVE, UM, PUT THAT INTO ACTION, UM, IN HER LIFE AND, AND IN THE MOVEMENT AND, AND AT DORSEY.
AND, UH, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO GET TO, UH, WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE HER.
AND ALSO JUST I'M SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE ABOVE AND BEYOND, UH, ORGANIZATION AND DR. YOUNG FOR HONORING ME.
UH, I'M JUST ONE OF MANY INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE TEACHERS ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE.
UM, AND IT'S REAL HUMBLING TO BE, TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD.
AND NOAH, I BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD MEMBER GRIEGO HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.
CONGRATULATIONS, NOAH LIPPY KLEIN.
SO, SO EXCITED AND SO PROUD OF THIS MOMENT.
I'VE KNOWN NOAH, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING NOAH FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, AND NOAH IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT, OF THE POWER OF BEING A TEACHER ORGANIZER.
UH, NOT ONLY HAS HE BEEN DOING AMAZING WORK IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT HE'S ALSO BE DO BEEN DOING THE WORK OUTSIDE TO TRANSFORM OUR SCHOOLS TO MORE JUST SCHOOLS FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.
NOAH'S A LEADER IN UTLA AND THAT'S WHERE WE CROSSED PATHS.
HE WAS A BOARD OF DIRECTOR ON THE BARGAINING TEAM, MY FORMER UNION COLLEAGUE AND PARTNER AND FRIEND.
AND, UM, HE WAS ALSO A LEADER IN THE COALITION FOR EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE, WHICH IS NOW STUDENTS DESERVE.
NOAH SHOWS THAT A LEADER BUILDS LEADERS, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THEMSELVES.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING WITH OUR STUDENTS, HELPING THEM USE THEIR VOICE, FIND THEIR VOICE TO ADVOCATE AND FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY DESERVE.
AND, UM, YOU ARE A MODEL NOT JUST FOR EDUCATORS ACROSS CALIFORNIA, BUT ACROSS THE US AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, YOU HAVE HELPED MY OWN DAUGHTER THROUGH HER COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS, OFFERING TIME LIKE YOU DO FOR SO MANY STUDENTS AT DORSEY AND SO MANY STUDENTS ACROSS THE, THE DISTRICT HELPING THEM WITH THEIR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS AND THEIR ESSAYS.
AND SO PERSONALLY, I THANK YOU FOR THAT, BUT I'M SO, SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE BEING RECOGNIZED.
YOU REPRESENT SO MANY EDUCATORS THAT ARE DOING THIS BEAUTIFUL WORK OF NOT ONLY DOING THE WORK INSIDE OUR CLASSROOMS, BUT ALSO TAKING THE EXTRA HOURS TO ORGANIZE AND FIGHT FOR WHAT OUR STUDENTS DESERVE.
I THINK, UH, CAN I GET A PHOTO, PLEASE? A PHOTO IS GONNA, IS, UH, APPROPRIATE.
[01:05:07]
THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE MOST PROUD ABOUT.THAT'S A GOOD LUCK MATTER PROTEST RIGHT HERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THOSE, UH, YOU KNOW, PLATINUM RECORDS, YOU KNOW, OVER HERE.
OH, YOU ARE? COME DOWN AND HONOR NOTES.
BUT YEAH, WOULD YOU MIND TAKING THAT? THIS IS AWESOME.
YOU WANT TO BE HERE? PICTURE? YEAH, I GOT ONE.
I WAS JUST THINKING, I WAS JUST LIKE PICTURING LIKE, OH MY GOD.
WHAT I DIDN'T SHARE WAS WHEN YOU MADE THAT CALL TWO YEARS AGO.
WHERE'S CECE? YOU TRY THE OFFICERS.
OKAY GUYS, ARE WE WAITING FOR ANYONE? UH, I MAKE SURE FITS IN HERE.
I NEED YOU GUYS TO SQUEEZE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE.
OKAY, FOLKS, AS SOON AS THE, UH, BOARD MEMBERS ARE BACK, WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE, UH, CONSENT CALENDAR.
[01:11:15]
WELCOME BACK.TIME IS NOW 1211 AND I BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA DO THE CONSENT
[Consent Items]
CALENDAR.SO ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, UM, WILL GO DIRECTLY ONTO ONE VOTE FOR EACH ITEM.
IF THERE IS DISCUSSION OR COMMENT OR QUESTIONS ON AN ITEM, IT WILL GO ON THE REGULAR CALENDAR FOR ACTION.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEARINGS, WHICH THEMSELVES CAN GO ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WE WILL JUST NEED TO HEAR IT, UH, FROM THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS FOR EACH ITEM THAT GOES ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR PRIOR TO TAKING IT.
AND I, I'D LIKE TO START A NEW PRACTICE OF MOVING THE CONSENT CALENDAR BEFORE WE ACTUALLY TAKE IT.
SO CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE THE CONSENT CALENDAR? MOVE IT SECOND.
SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT MURSON.
ALRIGHT, TAB ONE ADOPTION OF READING DIFFICULTIES.
RISK ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT DISCUSSION.
UH, TAB TWO, APPROVAL OF ADULT EDUCATION, CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
TAB THREE, DEFINE AND APPROVE.
EARLY EDUCATION CENTER OUTDOOR CLASSROOM PROJECTS.
TAB FOUR, DEFINE AND APPROVE 86 PROJECTS TO PROVIDE CRITICAL REPLACEMENTS AND UPGRADES OF SCHOOL BUILDING SITE SYSTEMS. CONSENT.
TAB FIVE, DEFINE AND APPROVE TWO PROJECTS TO PROVIDE ADULT AND CAREER EDUCATION FACILITIES UPGRADES.
TAB SIX, DEFINE AND APPROVE SIX.
SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENT ENHANCEMENT DEVELOPMENTS FOR SCHOOLS.
TAB SEVEN, DEFINE AND APPROVE 17.
BOARD DISTRICT PRIORITY AND REGION PRIORITY PROJECTS.
TAB EIGHT, DEFINE AND APPROVE THE 20 25 20 26 EDUCATION CODE SECTION 4 7 6 1 4, PROPER 39 FACILITIES RENOVATION EFFORT AND AMEND THE FACILITIES SERVICES DIVISION.
STRATEGIC EXECUTION PLAN TO INCORPORATE THEREIN CONSENT.
CONSENT TAB NINE, APPROVAL OF PROCUREMENT ACTIONS QUESTION.
SO WE'LL PUT THAT ON DISCUSSION.
APPROVAL OF FACILITIES, CONTRACT ACTIONS.
OH, SO, SO NUMBER EIGHT IS GOING TO COME OFF CONSENT AND GO ON TO DISCUSSION.
UM, AND SO FOR NUMBER NINE, WHO HAD, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WAS IT, UH, DR. RIVAS, DR. RIVAS AND FOR 10 AND FOR 10 AS WELL.
OKAY, TAB 11, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING APPROVAL OF RENEWAL PETITION FOR ALFRED B NOBEL JUNIOR CHARTER, I'M SORRY, NOBEL NOBEL CHARTER MIDDLE CONSENT, APPROVAL OF RENEWAL PETITION FOR A DEARBORN ELEMENTARY CHARTER CONSENT.
CONSENT TAB 13, APPROVAL OF RENEWAL PETITION FOR EL ORO WAY CHARTER FOR ENRICHED STUDIES.
APPROVAL OF RENEWAL PETITION FOR NCINO CHARTER ELEMENTARY.
CONSENT TAB 15, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR HAMLIN CHARTER ACADEMY.
CONSENT TAB 16, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR LOUIS ARMSTRONG MIDDLE THAT CONSENT TAB 17, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR SUPERIOR STREET ELEMENTARY.
CONSENT TAB 18 APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR TOPEKA CHARTER SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES.
CONSENT TAB 19 APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR WILBUR CHARTER FOR ENRICHED ACADEMICS CONSENT TAB 20 APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR WOODLAKE ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY CHARTER CONSENT.
UH, TAB 21, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR WOODLAND HILLS ELEMENTARY CHARTER FOR ENRICHED STUDIES
[01:15:01]
CONSENT AND TAB 22 APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED MATERIAL REVISION FOR COLLEGIATE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES.QUESTIONS? SO THAT WILL GO ON DISCUSSION.
AND WE'VE GOT, UH, MS. NEWBELL, MS. EZ, I HAVE QUESTION TOO, DR. RIVAS.
AND THE ONLY REASON I ASK FOR THE NAMES IS JUST TO, FOR THE ORDER.
I MEAN, ANYONE CAN ALWAYS JUMP IN AT ANY TIME IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE MASTER CONTRACTS.
CONSENT QUESTION, QUESTION FROM MS. CONEZ.
UH, 24, APPROVAL OF ROUTINE PERSONNEL ACTIONS.
CONSENT, UH, TAB 25, PROVISIONAL INTERNSHIP PERMITS CONSENT.
THERE WAS, UH, 24 IS ALSO ON CONSENT, IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT OUT LOUD.
TAB 26, DONATIONS OF MONEY TO THE DISTRICT CONSENT TAB 27 IMPACT FEE POLICY UPDATE QUESTION.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION FROM DR. RIVAS.
DISPER DISBURSEMENTS REQUEST TO REISSUE EXPIRED WARRANTS CONSENT.
WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN AND TAB 30, I HAVE A TIME, CERTAIN IN THE PAST WE'VE PUT THEM ON CONSENT AND I THINK THAT THAT CAUSES SOME CONFUSION.
THEY CAN ALL BE VOTED ON AT ONCE, BUT SINCE THESE ARE TIME CERTAINS, IT'S, WE'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON THEM MORE SO IT SEEMS MORE APPROPRIATE TO PUT IT ON DISCUSSION AND TAKEN AT THAT TIME AND VOTED SPECIFICALLY.
SO I'LL DO THAT FOR TABS 29 AND TABS 30.
UM, TAB 31, MOTION DECLARING SALARIES INDEFINITE TO COMPLY WITH LAW AND ALLOW FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF LABOR AND GRIEVANCE.
UH, TAB 32, REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE, INCLUDING WILLIAMS UNIFORM COMPLAINT, QUARTERLY REPORT SUMMARY, ALSO PUBLIC HEARING, CONSENT, CONSENT, UH, TAB 33 MINUTES FOR BOARD APPROVAL.
I WAS GONNA SAY YOU HAD ME NERVOUS.
OKAY, SO, SO TAB 33 IS MINUTES GOING ON CONSENT.
I WILL NOTE OUT LOUD AND CLEARLY I WAS EXCITED FOR THAT ONE.
UH, TAB, TAB 34, ADOPTION OF THE 25 26 BOARD MEETING.
SCHEDULE, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION JUST TO, YEAH, AND I'LL NOTE THAT I HAVE A, A MINOR CHANGE THAT I'D LIKE TO RUN BY THE BOARD ON THIS ITEM AS WELL.
UM, TAB 35, UH, RECOGNIZING MAY'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND FOCUSING ON STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH.
THIS IS JUST, OH, YES, THIS IS WITH ALSO WITH A RULE 72 WAIVER CONSENT.
AND TAB 36, RECOGNIZING MAY, 2025 IS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE YOUTH AWARENESS MONTH, ALSO WITH THE WAIVER BOARD RULE 72.
OKAY, I'M GONNA READ THROUGH THE LIST.
I KNOW IT'S LABORIOUS, BUT WE'LL JUST MAKE SURE THAT I GOT EVERYTHING RIGHT.
UM, NUMBER ONE IS A TAB, ONE IS DISCUSSION.
TAB 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ARE ON CONSENT.
TABS EIGHT, NINE, AND 10 ARE ON DISCUSSION TABS.
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 ARE CONSENT.
TAB 22, DISCUSSION TAB 23, DISCUSSION TAB 24, 25, AND 26 ARE CONSENT.
TAB 28, CONSENT TABS 29 AND 30 TIMES CERTAINS FOR DISCUSSION.
UH, TABS 32 AND 33 ARE ON CONSENT.
TAB 35 AND 36 ARE ON CONSENT, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE, UM, GENERALLY WE TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
AND WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN OF 1230, SHOULD WE TAKE ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS? SURE.
SO ON TAB TWO WE HAVE, UH, ONE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE APPROVAL OF ADULT EDUCATION, CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
ARE YOU HERE, MR. MA GANDHI? I MAY, I MAY HAVE SEEN YOU.
CHECK ONLINE FOR MR. MA GANDHI.
I DO NOT HAVE MR. MA GANDHI ONLINE.
SO FOR TAB THREE, WHICH IS ALSO ON CONSENT, WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER.
UM, MAY I HAVE A MOMENT TO SET UP A MORE APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE FOR YOU? OR I'M GONNA STAND, I'M GONNA STAND.
[01:20:08]
MY NAME IS JOEL BLOCK, AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M DISABLED IT THIS MONTH IS STROKE AWARENESS MONTH AS WELL.
UH, SO I TRIED TO REGISTER IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC SPEAKING 'CAUSE I HAVE TWO ITEMS, BUT BECAUSE OF MY, I CAN ONLY UNPACK BY THE TIME I HUNT, PACK THE INFO, IT WAS TOO LATE.
I'M I, I'M AN ACTIVE ATTORNEY STATE BAR NUMBER 9 6 3 7 9.
BESIDES MY JURIS DOCTORATE DEGREE, I HAVE AN LLM IN LABOR UNEMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM AT NYU LAW SCHOOL DURING THE YEARS 1970 TO 19 70 97.
AS A UNION LEADER AND ATTORNEY, I REPRESENT UNIONS AND EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING L-A-U-S-D EMPLOYEES AND OTHER EDUCATION EMPLOYEES IN THREE STATES.
FOR 12 YEARS, I SERVED THE CSU CHANCELLOR AS CSU, CHIEF NEGOTIATOR AND CSU REPRESENTATIVE IN ARBITRATIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDS AND TESTIMONY BEFORE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES.
USD IS IN DANGER OF VIOLATING APPLICABLE LAW IN AT LEAST TWO PENDING MATTERS.
ONE IS THIS BOARD ITEM NUMBER THREE CONCERNING 16.8 MILLION FUNDING OF THREE PRE-K OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS. MORE ON THIS LATER.
THE SECOND IS THE ONGOING CLOSURE AND CONSOLIDATION OF OPTIONS PROGRAM SCHOOL SITES SERVING VULNERABLE STUDENTS.
CENTRAL HIGH TRI-C IS ADVERSELY IMPACTED, ESPECIALLY THE CLOSING, UH, POTENTIAL CLOSING OF ANGELS FLIGHT TRI-C, WHICH SERVICES HOMELESS SCHOOL CHILDREN.
PLEASE READ THE EMAILS AND PETITIONS SENT TO YOU BY STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND ADVOCATES.
NOW, THERE'S GUIDELINES THAT THE AG AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF ED HAVE GIVEN TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WHEN THEY'RE DOING CLOSURES IN RE, RE, RE, UH, MO UH, MOVEMENTS OF STUDENTS, SORRY.
SO THE ITEM THREE L I'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ITEM THREE ISSUE TO ANYBODY IN THE BOARD AFTERWARDS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE DOWN THE LIST TO, LET'S SEE, TAB 11.
SEE WE HAVE, SO THIS IS TAB 11 APPROVAL OF THE PETITION FOR ALFRED B NOBEL CHARTER MIDDLE.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ THE PUBLIC STATEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH TABS 11 THROUGH 22.
APPROVAL OF CHARTER RENEWAL PETITIONS BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING BOARD REPORTS, A PUBLIC HEARING ON EACH MUST BE HELD.
THIS CONSTITUTES A PUBLIC HEARING ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING APPROVAL OF THE RULE RENEWAL PETITION FOR ALFRED B NOBEL JUNE NOBEL CHARTER MIDDLE.
APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR DEARBORN ELEMENTARY CHARTER ACADEMY, UH, EL ORO WAY CHARTER FOR ENRICHED STUDIES.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG, MIDDLE SUPERIOR STREET ELEMENTARY, TOPEKA CHARTER SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES.
WILBUR CHARTER FOR ENRICHED ACADEMICS.
WOODLAKE ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY CHARTER IN WOODLAND HILLS ELEMENTARY CHARTER FOR ENRICHED STUDIES.
A MAXIMUM OF 15 INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON EACH OF THESE ITEMS, UH, SHALL BE HEARD.
UM, THERE ARE 15 SPEAKER SLOTS OPEN FOR EACH OF THESE ITEMS. DISCREETLY THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK SHOULD SIGN UP ONLINE SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED BY NAME.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, ONE SPEAKER FOR THIS.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BOARD OF ADMIN, SUPERINTENDENT.
UH, I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE RENEWAL OF A DISTRICT AUTHORIZED, AFFILIATED, FORMERLY KNOWN AS A DEPENDENT CHARTER IN ITS SUCCESSES OVER THE YEARS.
BUT I MARVEL AT THE FACT THAT THE BOARD OF ED AND THOSE WHO WANT TO GROW ENROLLMENT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT INCREASE ENROLLMENT.
DON'T LOOK AT THESE AFFILIATED CHARTERS AS A MODEL OF IN-DISTRICT REFORM, WHERE
[01:25:01]
YOU HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE NEAR OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS SUCH AS WESTCHESTER HIGH, SUCH AS SCHOOLS IN TORRANCE, WHICH ARE, UH, PART OF LA UNIFIED, THAT YOU DON'T FIND WAYS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE INCREASING STAFF IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND VISIONING OFFICE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT INCREASING AFFILIATED CHARTERS LIKE THE ONES THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO APPROVE.THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW ENROLLMENT, WHICH WOULD BE A GOAL, NOT ONLY OF THE BOARD, BUT WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENT CAME TO THE DISTRICT, THERE WAS A PLEDGE ABOUT GROWING ENROLLMENT, NOT JUST IMPROVING ATTENDANCE, BUT GROWING ENROLLMENT.
AND THESE AFFILIATED CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE DEMOCRATICALLY RUN BY THE FACULTY AT THE SCHOOL, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY OF SIGNIFICANCE THAT CONTINUES TO BE NEGLECTED, AND IT'S BLATANTLY, UH, REVEALING THAT THERE IS NOT A CONCERTED EFFORT TO GROW THE ENROLLMENT.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WOULD COME IN WOULD OUTPACE ANY OF THE INITIAL FIVE GRANT MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE MEETING OF MILLIONS, IF NOT TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GROWING ENROLLMENT AND USE OF AFFILIATED CHARTERS.
I'M JUST GONNA EXPLAIN ONE PART OF OUR BOARD RULES HERE.
MR. TOSKI IS ALSO SPEAKING ON EACH OF THE SUBSEQUENT, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UM, OUR BOARD RULES HERE, THE DISTRICT STATE THAT A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC IS ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD A TOTAL OF ONE TIMES.
THAT'S EITHER, UH, ITEM SPECIFIC COMMENT OR IN GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC HEARINGS AND UNDER STATE LAW, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN SPEAK TO EACH PUBLIC HEARING ITEM ON THAT SPECIFIC PUBLIC HEARING TOPIC.
SO HERE WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON TABS 11 THROUGH 22, AND ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC CAN SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON IT AS MANY ON EACH ONE, UH, MORE THAN ONE IF THEY WANT.
SO HERE WE HAVE, UH, MR. TOSKI STILL WITH US FOR TAB 12.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE.
I SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR AFFILIATED CHARTER, AND YOU WILL SEE THE SIGNIFICANT ENROLLMENT IN THIS, UH, SET OF SCHOOLS.
MR. SCHMO SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THE AFFILIATED CHARTERS.
HE'S OVERSEES THE LARGEST CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE, BIGGER THAN GREEN DOT CHARTERS, BIGGER THAN THE ALLIANCE CHARTERS.
THEY'RE ALL SCHOOLS THAT HAVE NOT AN ENROLLMENT OF 120 OR 150 KIDS.
SOMEBODY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE SMALL DECLINING ENROLLMENT AREAS THAT BORDER OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, LINWOOD, PARAMOUNT, INGLEWOOD, HAWTHORNE, TORRANCE, UH, RANCHO PALOS VERDES, WHERE WE DO HAVE SCHOOLS IN THOSE CITIES AND ARE PERFORMING BASED UPON DATA DIGS BETTER THAN THE SCHOOLS IN LARGE PART IN THOSE OTHER DISTRICTS.
IF ONE WERE TO BELIEVE IN THE OPPORTUNITY OF PARENT CHOICE, PARENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOLS IN LA UNIFIED, THAT IN MANY CASES ARE PERFORMING BETTER THAN THEIR HOME SCHOOLS, THESE AFFILIATED CHARTERS OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES WITH SIGNIFICANT CHOICE TO NOT DO ANYTHING, IS TO EVALUATE THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR NOT SEEING THE G OR ONE OF THE MANY GYMS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IN FACT, SOME OF THESE, UH, SCHOOLS THAT ARE AFFILIATED CHARTERS THAT ARE NOT BEFORE YOU TODAY ARE ALSO MAGNET SCHOOLS.
THEY'RE BOTH MAGNET AND CHARTER, AND THEY ARE DOING FAIRLY WELL, NOT JUST BASED ON SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, BUT ALSO DOING WELL BY PARENTAL DEMAND AND CHOICE.
SO I OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AT LENGTH TODAY, UM, AS YOU, UH, APPROACH THESE RENEWALS TODAY AND TO ASK WHY.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO OUR TIME CERTAIN NOW AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU FOR, UH, TAB
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
OKAY, SO NOW WE ARE ON TO TIME CERTAIN, UH, TAB 30.
I JUST BRIEFLY WANNA MAKE SOME REMARKS BEFORE WE TURN TO A VIDEO AND PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I STARTED ON THE BOARD IN 2020
[01:30:01]
AND MET AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF MOMS WHO WERE ADVOCATING FOR CHILDCARE DURING THE PANDEMIC.THEY GOT STIPENDS FROM THIS DISTRICT AND IT HELPED BOTH THEIR CHILDREN AND THE STUDENTS OF LA UNIFIED.
SINCE THEN, I'VE HAD MY OWN TWO BIRTH OF CHILDREN, ONE OF WHOM IS AN LUSD STUDENT, AND I'VE MET COUNTLESS EDUCATORS, SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD CHALLENGES WITH THE WHOLE PARENTAL PACKAGE, WITH HEALTHCARE, WITH CHILDCARE, WITH PARENTAL LEAVE.
AND SO THIS REALLY, THIS RESOLUTION REALLY BORE OUT OF THOSE STORIES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE LA UNIFIED TO BE THAT EMPLOYER OF CHOICE FOR PARENTS SO THAT EMPLOYEES CAN BE RETAINED AND SUSTAINED IN A DISTRICT THAT SERVES CHILDREN WHO NEED THEM TO BE HERE SERVING THEM.
SO WE'LL TURN TO ABOUT A SEVEN MINUTE VIDEO TO HEAR SOME OF THOSE STORIES, SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WILL SHARE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THEN I'LL INVITE MY COLLEAGUES, UH, TO POTENTIALLY CO-SPONSOR.
AND THANK YOU TO MY CO TWO CO-SPONSORS ALREADY, MS. EZ AND MS. GRIEGO, UM, FOR THIS PARENTAL PACKAGE.
L-A-U-S-D IS AN EQUITABLE EMPLOYER OF CHOICE FOR THRIVING FAMILIES.
NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY, HISTORICALLY AND CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A CULTURAL AND PRACTICAL PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES TO BECOME PARENTS AND THRIVE IN BOTH THEIR WORKPLACE AND IN THEIR HOME.
HEALTHCARE PLANS STILL DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH TO HELP PEOPLE CONCEIVE, DELIVER, AND CARE FOR BABIES.
PREGNANCY, FAMILY AND SICK LEAVE STILL DON'T STRETCH FAR ENOUGH TO GIVE PARENTS THE TIME TRULY NEEDED TO SET UP THEIR FAMILIES FOR SUCCESS.
AND CHILDCARE IS STILL TOO EXPENSIVE AND INACCESSIBLE.
THIS PARENTAL PACKAGE RESOLUTION AIMS TO CULTIVATE L-A-U-S-D AS AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE FOR THRIVING FAMILIES, SUPPORTING OUR 70,000 EMPLOYEES TODAY AND THE THOUSANDS TO COME IN THE FUTURE WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO HEALTHCARE, FAMILY LEAVE AND CHILDCARE INTERN SUSTAINS OUR EMPLOYEES TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS ARE READY FOR THE WORLD.
AS A FORMER EDUCATOR OF OVER 20 YEARS, I FULLY SUPPORT THE PARENT PACKAGE RESOLUTION BECAUSE I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED BECOMING A NEW MOM WHILE BEING EMPLOYED AS A TEACHER IN LOS ANGELES UNIFIED.
AS A NEW MOM, I EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE MANY GAPS IN SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYEE PARENTS.
OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
AND AS A DISTRICT, WE NEED TO LEAD THE WAY IN MAKING A CAREER IN EDUCATION, A SUSTAINABLE ONE FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BUILD A FAMILY.
THAT IS WHY I AM CO-SPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH WILL HELP CREATE A DATA-DRIVEN PLAN TO IMPLEMENT A MORE EQUITABLE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR EMPLOYEE PARENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER GOING FROM ONE TO TWO CHILDREN NEAR THE START OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN THERE WAS LIMITED CHILDCARE AND I COULDN'T GET SUPPORT FROM MY FAMILY TRYING TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR REMOTE BOARD MEETINGS, UM, WHILE I ROCKED AND NURSED MY NEWBORN SON AND FEELING LIKE, WOW, THIS SYSTEM WAS NOT BUILT FOR ME.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS MUCH NEEDED RESOLUTION THAT WE ARE CHANGING AND RESHAPING THE SYSTEM SO THAT IT TRULY CENTERS AND SUPPORTS MOMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, I RECENTLY HAD A BABY LAST YEAR IN MAY, UM, AND SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME WAS THAT, UM, WE DON'T PAY INTO EM UNEMPLOYMENT.
SO, UM, I WASN'T ABLE TO LIKE COLLECT MONEY.
UM, MONEY WAS VERY MUCH A STRESSOR DURING MY PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM PERIOD, UM, BECAUSE I WAS ONLY GETTING PAID UNDER HALF OF MY FULL PAYCHECK AT ONE POINT.
UM, IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I DID NOT TAKE THE FULL 12 WEEKS OF PARENT BONDING.
UM, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE MONEY.
UM, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE, UM, FULL TIME SICK DAYS.
I ONLY HAVE HALF PAY SICK DAYS, UM, AND I HAVE A FAMILY.
BECOMING A PARENT IS ONE OF THE MOST LIFE ALTERING EXPERIENCES THAT MANY OF US WILL HAVE.
AND WHEN I BECAME A PARENT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, AND EVEN BEFORE THAT DURING MY PREGNANCY, I HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEAVES AND ALL OF THE PAPERWORK THAT WAS REQUIRED TO ACCESS THOSE LEAVES.
THIS RESOLUTION WILL REALLY HELP MEMBERS OF THE L-A-U-S-D COMMUNITY ACCESS THEIR IN FULL ENTITLED LEAVE SO THAT THEY CAN REALLY MAXIMIZE TIME WITH THEIR NEWBORN BABY.
I'M SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES DEEPLY IN WHAT THIS DISTRICT SAYS, THAT IT STANDS FOR EQUITY FAMILY AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES.
BUT LET ME BE CLEAR RIGHT NOW, L-A-U-S-D IS FALLING SHORT FOR ITS WORKING PARENTS.
[01:35:01]
EVEN AS A TEACHER WITH STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT, I HAVE STRUGGLED TO HAVE AND RAISE CHILDREN.AS AN L-A-U-S-D EDUCATOR, I'VE SCRAMBLED EACH YEAR TO FIND AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, TO BALANCE MY SICK DAYS WITH THE NEEDS OF MY CHILDREN, AND TO NAVIGATE THE GUILT BETWEEN FEELING LIKE I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BEING A GOOD MOTHER OR A GOOD EMPLOYEE.
THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT A FAVOR.
IT IS A NECESSARY AND OVERDUE INVESTMENT.
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, REAL SUPPORT FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND ACCESSIBLE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE.
THESE ARE BASIC HUMAN NEEDS IN OUR SOCIETY.
IF L-A-U-S-D WANTS TO BE AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE, IT HAS TO ACT LIKE IT VALUES FAMILIES, NOT JUST SAY IT DOES.
WE SHOW OUR CHILDREN WHAT WE VALUE BY HOW WE TREAT THEIR PARENTS.
PLEASE PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND MAKE THIS DISTRICT A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES AND FUTURES CAN TRULY THRIVE.
UH, MY EXPERIENCE WAS GREAT, UH, FINDING OUT THAT WE WERE EXPECTING, UH, BUT I BELIEVE THAT TURNED TO TENSION REAL QUICK WHEN, UH, I KNEW MY POSITION WAS GONNA BE SAFE, BUT COMPENSATION DURING THIS TIME OFF, UH, WAS NOT IN THE CARDS.
UM, I REALLY HOPE THAT THIS RESOLUTION GIVES PEACE OF MIND, UH, FOR EVERYONE, THAT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING, ENJOY IT.
AS BOTH A PARENT AND A TEACHER, I FULLY SUPPORT MATERNAL LEAVE AND PARENTAL LEAVE AND ALL SUPPORTS FOR PARENTS WHO ARE JUGGLING TEACHING AND SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN OF OTHERS WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES.
AS A PARENT, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE TO SAVE MONEY AND MANAGE MY TIME IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MY CHILDREN IN THE WAY THAT WE WISH ALL OF OUR CHILDREN COULD BE SUPPORTED.
I HOPE THAT THIS MEASURE PASSES AND THAT ALL FUTURE PARENTS ARE AWARDED THE SUPPORT THAT THEY DESERVE.
AS A NEW PARENT, YOU ARE IN YOUR MOST MAGICAL PERIOD OF LIFE, WHICH I KNOW RIGHT NOW WITH A FOUR WEEK OLD, UH, AND ALSO YOUR MOST VULNERABLE AND MOST CHALLENGING.
NOW, CURRENTLY RECOVERING FROM MY SECOND C-SECTION, I HAVE FELT PHYSICAL PAIN, EXHAUSTION, REAL BABY BLUES, AND THE CHALLENGE OF BREASTFEEDING AND, AND FEEDING MY CHILD.
I HAVE ALSO SEEN MY CHILD SMILE FOR THE FIRST TIME MY 2-YEAR-OLD PLAY WITH MY NEWBORN.
THE ABILITY TO BE FULLY PRESENT FOR MY FAMILY WHILE I'M HOME ON LEAVE ALLOWS ME TO FULLY RECOVER AND ESTABLISH A HEALTHY FOUNDATION FOR MY LITTLE ONE.
BUT I DO SO KNOWING THAT I'LL RETURN WITH A FULLY DEPLETED FULL-TIME PAY NO VACATION, AND THE MAJORITY OF MY LEAVE AT HALFTIME PAY AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE SUPPORTS FOR OUR PARENTS AND FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
THIS RESOLUTION IS SO MEANINGFUL, NOT JUST TO ME AND MY FAMILY, UM, BUT IT JUST MAKES ME REALLY FEEL SEEN BY L-A-U-S-D.
AND, UM, I REALLY THINK AT THIS TIME AS WE'RE STILL FIGHTING FOR PAID PREGNANCY LEAVE HI, DEBBIE, AND STILL TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR LITTLE ONES AND ALSO SHOW UP FOR OUR STUDENTS.
ITS JUST REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACTUALLY UPLIFT HOW WE'RE WHOLE HUMAN BEINGS AS EDUCATORS.
AND THESE SUPPORTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US AS WELL.
AND WITH THAT, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM SPEAKERS AND THEN WE'LL TURN IT TO OUR COLLEAGUES.
I'M A 20 YEAR VETERAN TEACHER.
I'M A NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER, A PROUD U-T-A-U-T-L-A MEMBER AND A CHAPTER CHAIR.
I'M ALSO AN EATON CANYON FIRE SURVIVOR, A CERTIFIED LACTATION EDUCATOR AND A POSTPARTUM DOULA.
IN 2018, AFTER THE BIRTH OF MY FIRST DAUGHTER, I RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM HAPPILY EXCITED.
I NURSED MY BABY DURING MY UNPAID LUNCH BREAK.
THAT WAS FINE UNTIL IT WASN'T.
AFTER A DIS DISAGREEMENT WITH MY ADMINISTRATOR, I WAS TOLD MY DAUGHTER WAS A LIABILITY.
NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE, BUT THREE TIMES.
MY ADMINISTRATOR WAITED OUTSIDE MY DOOR, I WAS PUNISHED AND I WAS DISPLACED.
SO I ORGANIZED, I ORGANIZED NURSING TEACHERS, I ORGANIZE MOTHERS.
I STARTED A-U-T-L-A SUPPORT GROUP WITH OTHER UTLA MOMS TO HELP OTHERS NAVIGATE A SYSTEM THAT FAILS US BECAUSE HR DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO HELP US BECAUSE HR GIVES US A DIFFERENT ANSWER EVERY TIME.
BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ONLY PROTECT ITSELF BECAUSE MOTHERS ARE NOT SUPPORTED.
[01:40:02]
LET ME BE CLEAR.MOTHERS NEED PAID LEAVE, NOT SICK TIME, NOT BORROWED TIME, PAID LEAVE.
MOTHERS NEED SAFE PRIVATE SPACES TO EXPRESS MILK.
FAMILIES NEED POLICIES THAT PROTECT US, AND THOSE POLICIES MUST BE ENFORCED.
LATER IN MY CAREER, I BEGAN WORKING WITH PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS, AND I SAW THE SAME THING.
YOUNG MOTHERS IGNORED, DISMISSED, AND UNSUPPORTED.
WE NEED SUPPORT FOR MOTHERS AND PARENTING FOLKS.
THIS RESOLUTION IS A STEP FORWARD TOWARDS CHANGE.
MAYA SUZUKI DANIELS, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON UP.
SHE'S KNOWN AS A WARRIOR FOR L-A-U-S-D MOMS. HELLO, MY NAME IS MAYA SUZUKI DANIELS, AND I'M HERE AS A MOTHER, AN EDUCATOR, AND SOMEONE WHO DEEPLY BELIEVES IN EQUITY, FAMILY AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES.
RIGHT NOW, L-A-U-S-D IS FALLING SHORT FOR ITS WORKING PARENTS FALLING.
I PAY $1,600 A MONTH FOR CHILDCARE.
MY FRIEND ON THE WEST SIDE PAYS 2,800 FOR ONE INFANT THAT IS ALMOST 50% OF A STARTING TEACHER'S MONTHLY SALARY.
NEW TEACHERS CANNOT AFFORD TO BE PARENTS AT LA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
EVEN AS SOMEONE WITH RESOURCES AND STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORTS, I'VE HAD A HARD TIME HAVING AND RAISING CHILDREN.
AS AN LUSD TEACHER, I'VE SCRAMBLED EVERY YEAR TO FIND AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE TO BALANCE MY SICK DAYS WITH THE NEEDS OF MY CHILDREN AND A WHOLE LOT OF DEEP BREATHING THROUGH THE GUILT OF TRYING TO BE EITHER A GOOD PARENT OR A GOOD TEACHER.
AS AN ADVOCATE, I'VE SAT WITH MANY PARENTS WHO STARE AT ME IN SHOCK AS I EXPLAIN THE IMPACT TO THEIR PAYCHECK, ILLNESS, TIME, AND RETIREMENT PROSPECTS ONCE THEY'RE PREGNANT OR GIVE BIRTH.
I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS PEOPLE QUIT THIS PROFESSION, NOT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR STUDENTS OR WERE NOT A VALUABLE AND BELOVED PART OF THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, BUT BECAUSE THIS SYSTEM FORCED THEM TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR PASSIONS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
TO BE CLEAR, THIS RESOLUTION, L-A-U-S-D AS AN EQUITABLE EMPLOYER OF CHOICE FOR THRIVING FAMILIES IS NOT A FAVOR.
IT IS A NECESSARY AND OVERDUE INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE POLICIES WHICH SUPPORT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND ACCESSIBLE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ARE BASIC AND HUMAN NEEDS.
I KNOW THAT MY CHILD LEARNS AS MUCH ABOUT THE WORLD FROM THE CHALLENGES HE SEES ME NAVIGATE AS HE DOES IN HIS L-A-U-S-D CLASSROOM.
WE SHOW OUR CHILDREN WHAT WE VALUE BY HOW WE TREAT THEIR PARENTS.
PLEASE PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND MAKE THIS DISTRICT A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES AND FUTURES CAN TRULY THRIVE.
DE DEANNA LEE QUILLA, ARE YOU HERE? DEANNA LEE QUINTANILLA QUINTANILLA, COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND THEN IS, UH, MARIA DAISY ORTIZ.
UM, I INITIALLY WANTED PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAD SELECTED NUMBER 29, BUT GOT ASKED TO MOVE TO NUMBER 30.
MY NAME IS DINA LEE QUINTANILLA AND I AM THE PARENT OF 11-YEAR-OLD FIFTH GRADER AT EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY.
OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN A PROUD AND ACTIVE PART OF EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY FOR NEARLY SIX YEARS AND 30 YEARS PRIOR, WHICH SHOULD BE A JOYFUL AND MEMORABLE FINAL YEAR.
COMING UP FOR MY DAUGHTER IS NOW AT RISK OF BEING CUTTING SHORT DUE TO ONGOING AND SEVERE BULLYING.
ON APRIL 17TH DURING A THERAPY SESSION, MY DAUGHTER DISCLOSED TO HER THERAPIST THAT SHE HAD FORMULATED A PLAN TO END HER LIFE AS A PARENT.
THERE ARE NO WORDS TO ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THE DEVASTATION AND HEARTBREAK OF HEARING THAT YOUR CHILD NO LONGER FEELS SAFE OR VALUED IN A PLACE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE NURTURED, SUPPORTED, AND ENCOURAGED TO THRIVE.
I'M HERE TODAY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY DAUGHTER WHO IS AFRAID TO SPEAK FOR HERSELF.
DUE FEAR DUE TO FEAR OF RETALIATION.
I AM ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE MANY OTHER CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE FACING BULLYING ROOTED IN HOMOPHOBIA, RACISM, AND OTHER FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION.
THOSE WHOSE VOICES HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED OR IGNORED, NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR EDUCATION AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
NO PARENT SHOULD HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO REMOVE THEIR CHILD FROM A SCHOOL THEY ONCE LOVED TO PROTECT THEIR SAFETY AND WELLBEING.
AND NO COMMUNITY SHOULD REMAIN SILENT WHEN ITS MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS ARE SUFFERING.
THE EMOTIONAL TOLL THIS HAS TAKEN ON MY DAUGHTER AND OUR FAMILY IS IMMEASURABLE.
[01:45:01]
A VIBRANT, CURIOUS, AND CONFIDENT CHILD IS NOW A YOUNG GIRL STRUGGLING TO FEEL SAFE AND ACCEPTED.THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ONE INCIDENT OR ONE CHILD.
THIS IS ABOUT A SYSTEMATIC ISSUE THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE, COMPASSIONATE, AND SUSTAINED ATTENTION FROM SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
I URGE ALL DECISION MAKERS INVOLVED TO TREAT THIS ISSUE WITH SERIOUSNESS.
WE MUST DO BETTER FOR MY DAUGHTER, YOUR CHILDREN, AND FOR EVERY STUDENT WHO WALKS THROUGH THE DOORS OF EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY.
MS. ORTIZ IS GONNA SPEAK IN SPANISH, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S SAYING IN ENGLISH, PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND WE'LL GET YOU THESE TRANSLATION HEADSETS.
SO KEEP YOUR HANDS UP AND WE'LL GET YOU TRANSLATION HEADSETS BEFORE SHE BEGINS.
AND THEN AFTER, UH, MS. ORTIZ IS CHRISTIE WHITEHORSE, PREPARE YOURSELF.
AND REALLY, IT'S NOT THAT I'M AGAINST THE RESOLUTION.
THE EMPLOYEES, THEY NEED TO HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS THAT AN EMPLOYEE RECEIVES.
BUT I SEE THE INEQUALITY THAT THERE IS BECAUSE THE PARENTS, WE ARE VOLUNTEERS.
AND REGARDLESS, THIS SYSTEM HERE AND ALSO THE DISTRICTS HAS FAILED THOSE FUNDS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO THIS DISTRICT.
THE ONES THAT BRING THEM ARE OUR CHILDREN.
AND FOR THE PARENTS THAT ARE VOLUNTEERS, THE AUTHENTIC, THE ACTUAL PARENTS.
BECAUSE AN EMPLOYEE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE A PARENT, THEY CANNOT FUNCTION AS A PARENT BECAUSE IT'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE IT THEIR FAITHFULNESS AS TO WHO PAYS THEM.
AND LIKE YOU SIT IN THE VIDEO, MS. ORTIZ, THAT YOU DESERVE RESPECT, RIGHT? THAT THE EMPLOYEES AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PARENTS DO? NOT WHEN WE ARE VOLUNTEERS, THE WAY OF WHICH THE PARENTS ARE BEING TREATED RIGHT HERE IN THE DISTRICT, IT'S DEPLORABLE BECAUSE THE BOARD MEMBERS TO THE PARENTS, THEY DON'T EVEN, THEY'RE NOT EVEN MAKING A RESOLUTION TO TRY TO VALUE WHAT THEY PROVIDE.
AND ALSO THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE PARENTS EFFECTIVE.
NOW, I HAVE NOT SEEN A RESOLUTION ON YOUR PART FOR US.
IN FACT, THE BOARD MEMBERS, I WAS AT THE OFFICE WITH MS. CARLA GRIEGO AND SHE TOLD ME, YOUR PARENTS, I'M A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, I PAY TAXES.
AND AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, I HAVE THE SAME, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE FUNDS COME FROM BECAUSE THEY ARE PUBLIC FUNDS.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE ME AN APPOINTMENT.
SO PLEASE STOP THIS INEQUALITY WITH PARENTS THAT ARE THE REALLY ASSOCIATES AND THEY'RE VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE THE PARENTS, BECAUSE THEY GIVE THEM TO THE THREE MONTHS AND THEY ALSO APPLY 5 25 AN HOUR TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN.
AND YES, WE DO NEED MAKE A CHANGE, BUT WE DIDN'T MAKE EFFECTIVE CHANGES IN WHICH THE PARENTS, WE ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN TIME.
ARE YOU HERE? CHRISTY, COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND THEN AFTER MS. WHITEHORSE IS NADIA RAZZI.
THIS WAS ALSO THE SLOT AVAILABLE TO ME.
MY NAME IS CHRISTY WHITEHORSE.
I'M THE MOTHER OF TWO DAUGHTERS, ONE AT EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE OTHER AT THE EAGLE ROCK JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CALLED KIDS HOPE.
IT'S A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR KIDS, WHICH CONCEPTUALLY WONDERFUL.
HOWEVER, THIS ORGANIZATION IS RELIGIOUS IN NATURE AND SPECIFICALLY WORKS TO PAIR CHRISTIAN CHURCHES WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I FIND THIS DEEPLY TROUBLING AS THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE OF STUDENTS INITIATING OR WANTING TO EXPRESS THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AS ITS WEBSITE STATES.
FOUNDING PRINCIPLE IS BASED ON HOW CHURCHES CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON CHILDREN, WHICH THE NEIGHBOR, WHICH THEY DETERMINED WAS WITH NIG, PARTNERING THEM, CONNECTING THEM WITH NEIGHBORHOOD, ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS AS AN LGBTQ PLUS FAMILY.
IN THIS CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE, WELCOMING A CHRISTIAN, AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION ON CAMPUS TO MENTOR OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN FEELS ILL-ADVISED AT BEST AND DOWNRIGHT THREATENING AT WORSE.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT A PROGRAM FOUNDED ON ESSENTIALLY PROSELYTIZING IN SCHOOLS TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SOMEHOW IDENTIFIED BY OUR PRINCIPAL AND KIDS HOPE STAFF, IS DEEPLY INAPPROPRIATE AND CONTRARY TO LA USD'S OWN POLICY AGAINST ENDORSING OR PROMOTING ANY RELIGION.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN COMMITTED SUPPORTERS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SINCE OUR CHILDREN REACH SCHOOL AGE.
[01:50:01]
IN A QUEER FAMILY, RAISING $2 IN NILA, WE FELT WE HAVE A LOT TO OFFER OUR COMMUNITY.I VOLUNTEERED TO TEACH A YOGA AND MINDFULNESS COURSE TO TK THROUGH SIXTH GRADE TK GUYS.
MY WIFE VOLUNTEERED AS THE COACH OF OUR SCIENCE OLYMPIAD, WHICH CAME INTO THIRD PLACE.
I MET BOARD MEMBER G'S DAUGHTER ON A FIELD TRIP TWO WEEKS AGO AND LEARNED SHE'S GONNA BE ATTENDING MY ALMA MATER IN THE FALL.
AND I FEEL LIKE I CAN SPEAK OPENLY AND WITHOUT FEAR OF RETALIATION BECAUSE DESPITE OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE ARE TAKING OUR KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOL.
I CANNOT IMAGINE A SITUATION WHERE SUBSTANTIATED COMPLAINTS OVER WAGE AND HOUR LAW VIOLATIONS, DEVASTATING PARENTAL CONCERNS OVER BULLYING AND AN ATMOSPHERE OF RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA WHEN CONTINUE, WHILE SEEMINGLY BEING IGNORED BY THIS DISTRICT.
BUT FOR THE FACT THAT OUR PRINCIPAL IS MARRIED TO THIS DISTRICT'S CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER.
GOOD AFTERNOON SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO.
MY NAME IS NADIA RAZZI, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND POLICY AT THE PARTNERSHIP FOR LOS ANGELES SCHOOLS.
THE PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTS BOARD MEMBERS ORTIZ FRANKLIN GO AND GRIEGOS PARENTAL PACKAGE RESOLUTION, A CRITICAL STRATEGY IN SUCCESSFULLY RECRUITING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS TO SERVE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
AT THE PARTNERSHIP, WE COLLABORATE WITH THE DISTRICT TO SERVE 20 SCHOOLS IN SOME OF THE HIGHEST NEEDS AREAS IN L-A-U-S-D, BOYLE HEIGHTS, SOUTH LA AND WATTS, WHERE WE STRIVE TO UPLIFT AND EQUITABLY SUPPORT OUR EDUCATORS AND STAFF TO MAINTAIN A STABLE AND HEALTHY WORKFORCE.
A FEW YEARS AGO, UCLA AND CTA SURVEYED THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS, AND ONE IN FIVE OF THEM REPORTED THAT THEY WOULD LIKELY LEAVE THE PROFESSION IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
I RESPONDED TO THIS SURVEY AS A TEACHER AT FOOTHILL HIGH SCHOOL IN PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA JUST MONTHS BEFORE I MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO LEAVE TEACHING.
AFTER 10 YEARS, I MADE THIS CHOICE FUELED BY MY DESIRE TO START A FAMILY, AND THE REALIZATION THAT MY DISTRICT'S PARENTAL BELIEF POLICY WOULD CAUSE FINANCIAL STRAIN ON MY FAMILY AND PUT ME BACK IN THE CLASSROOM BEFORE I WAS READY.
I KNEW IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTINUE TEACHING THE WAY I HAD BEEN WITH MY WHOLE HEART, 60 HOURS PER WEEK AND EXHAUSTED WHEN I GOT HOME EACH DAY.
I LOVED TEACHING, BUT I KNEW THAT I COULD NOT BE THE BEST TEACHER AND THE BEST MOTHER TO A CHILD AT THE PARTNERSHIP.
MANY OF OUR EDUCATORS, OUR PARENTS, AND WE SEE A STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN THEIR WELLBEING, SATISFACTION, RETENTION, AND STUDENT SUCCESS.
MANY OF OUR EDUCATORS RETURN TO WORK WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION OR OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS AND NEED MORE TIME TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.
FOSTER OR ADOPTIVE PARENTS MAY NEED ADDITIONAL TIME OFF FOR BONDING OR ACCO OR TO ACCOMMODATE THE AD ABRUPT CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS THAT CHILDREN FACE.
WE APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION OF DATA COLLECTION TO IDENTIFY NEEDS OF L-A-U-S-D EMPLOYEES, PARENTS, EMPLOYEE PARENTS, LACTATION ROOMS AT EVERY SCHOOL SITE, AND STATEWIDE ADVOCACY TO GROW THE CAPACITY OF LONG-TERM SUBS.
WE RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE PARENTAL PACKAGE RESOLUTION AND COMMIT TO INVITING OUR EDUCATORS TO THIS CONVERSATION TO PROVIDE INPUT ON BARRIERS AND SOLUTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AND NOW WE GO TO OUR FOLKS WHO ARE CALLING IN REMOTELY, AEM HUSSEIN.
AEM HUSSEIN, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
UM, I WANNA, UM, APPLAUD THE BOARD FOR, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION.
I THINK OUR COUNTRY AS A WHOLE NEEDS TO DO BETTER FOR WORKING PARENTS, BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I THINK LASD IS ANOTHER VERY BIG PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTING AND RETAINING STAFF.
I LIVE IN EAGLE ROCK, ONE OF MY KIDS ATTENDS AT EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY, A SCHOOL.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING ALL ABOUT THIS, THIS, UH, SESSION IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR.
WE HAD THREE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS THE COMPANY WE'RE TRYING TO RETAIN, QUIT SUDDENLY ALLEGING A TOXIC WORKPLACE AND WAGE THEFT UNDER PRINCIPAL RENEE BIAS.
ONE OF THEM EVEN PUBLISHED AN OPEN RESIGNATION LETTER TO WILLIAM DOWNING, CALLING THIS ALL OUT.
WE'RE NOW TOLD THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THESE WAGE THEFT CLAIMS. BUT THAT ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PARENTS MADE A LOT OF NOISE.
THESE EMPLOYEES WERE RAISING ALARMS AND NO ONE LISTENED TO THEM.
WHY? AND THERE ARE MAJOR ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED.
A NUMBER OF PARENTS AND EMPLOYEES HAVE STATED SPECIFICALLY THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT RETALIATION FOR SPEAKING UP IN THAT OPEN LETTER.
OUR PARENT LIAISON, WHO IS ALSO A WORKING MOM, WHO A KID AT THE SCHOOL ALLEGED THAT OUR PRINCIPAL RETALIATED AGAINST ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER DURING AN EXIT INTERVIEW AND SAID THAT SHE WAS SCARED THAT HER OWN KID MIGHT BE TARGETED 'CAUSE SHE WAS SPEAKING OUT.
AND THEN OUR PTA PRESIDENT AND OTHER PARENTS THAT HAD THEIR CAMPUS ACCESS AND THEIR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE CURTAILED OR ELIMINATED BY PRINCIPAL BAEZ AFTER THEY RAISED CONCERNS INVOLVING HIM.
NOW, THESE ARE ALL ONLY ALLEGATIONS, BUT THEY ARE NUMEROUS AND THEY ARE WELL DOCUMENTED, AND THEY
[01:55:01]
ARE ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFIED BY THE CONCERN THAT THIS PARTICULAR PRINCIPAL MIGHT, MIGHT BE ESPECIALLY PROTECTED BECAUSE HE IS MARRIED TO FRANCE BY AS THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER AT LASD.I AM NOT SAYING EVERYTHING ALLEGED IS TRUE, BUT NO ONE IN THE DISTRICT SEEMS TO BE GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THESE CONCERNS THAT A PRINCIPAL MIGHT BE RETALIATING AGAINST ITS CRITICS.
THIS IS BEYOND THE APPARENT SCOPE OF THE EMPLOYEE INVESTIGATION.
BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION TO HELP AND HIRE RETAINED STAFF IN THE FUTURE.
BUT PLEASE TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THIS CURRENT SITUATION AT EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY.
HELP US DEMAND ANSWERS AND PROTECT US, PROTECT STAFF, PROTECT PARENTS AND STUDENTS AT EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY.
LET'S SEE, WE HAVE OPHELIA RYAN.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
OPHELIA RYAN, PILLAR FIVE EMPHASIZES THE STAFF EMPOWERMENT AND WELLNESS.
YET A GROWING SENTIMENT AMONG PSA SUGGEST A SIGNIFICANT DISCONTENT BETWEEN THESE CALLS AND THE REALITY OF THEIR EXPERIENCES.
THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC DISREGARD OF SENIORITY AND AN UNFAIR DENIAL OF TRANSFER REQUESTS.
STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAM DIRECTOR DENISE MIRANDA, TOLD US AGAIN, THERE ARE NO TRANSFERS ALLOWED.
WHY NOT ALL PSAS HAVE THE EXACT SAME QUALIFICATIONS TO PERFORM SCHOOL-BASED PSA STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS OR VISA DUTIES? THE DENIAL OF TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES USE A PERCEPTION OF INEQUITY.
AND MANY WONDER IF A G TAKING PLACE.
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HIRING NEW COLLEGE GRADS INSTEAD OF ALLOWING C TSAS TO TRANSFER.
FIRST, WE ARE NOT EDS PROPERTY OR ROBOTS, AND WE SHOULD BE TREATED AS PROFESSIONALS.
TEACHERS USE A SENIORITY BASED SYSTEM AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO IMPLEMENT IT TOO ACROSS THE BOARD.
WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS, WE ALL HAVE THE SAME QUALIFICATIONS.
WE APPEAL TO THE SSP ADMINISTRATORS AS WELL AS THE PSA ADMINISTRATOR FOLLOW THE REQUIRED STEPS.
AND WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING FILING COMPLAINTS WITH THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS BOARD.
HER, THE DEPARTMENT ON LABOR AND THE EEOC SHOULD LOOK INTO THESE ALLEGATIONS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN POLICY AND PRACTICE.
RESTORE FAITH IN A'S COMMITMENT TO EMPHASIZE THAT YOU RESPECT EMPLOYERS AND REAFFIRM THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EQUITABLE WORKPLACE FOR ALL.
OUR SENIORITY MUST BE RESPECTED AND WE MUST BE ALLOWED TO TRANSFER.
LASTLY, REMEMBER, DISCRIMINATION IS ILLEGAL AND I SHOULD NOT GET FREEWAY THERAPY A PLACEMENT FAR FROM HOME ABOUT EVALUATION OR FACE MORE DISCRIMINATION FOR SPEAKING BEFORE THE BOARD TODAY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE BASIC RIGHT TO KNOW BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR THE SUMMER, WHAT OUR NEXT YEAR ASSIGNMENT IS TOO.
WE NEED TO BE TREATED WITH EQUITY AND RESPECT.
I'M OPHELIA SOPHIA RYAN, PSA COUNSELOR.
WE HAVE ONE LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? NICHOLAS PI DON'T HAVE YOU ONLINE AT THIS TIME.
SO THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON TAB 30.
UM, THANKS SO MUCH TO OUR SPEAKERS, BOTH ON VIDEO AND IN PERSON.
TO MY CO-SPONSORS, I'D LIKE TO INVITE, UM, MY COLLEAGUES TO SHARE THOUGHTS AND I BELIEVE THERE'S A, A PARTICULAR THOUGHT THAT MIGHT LIKE TO BE SHARED BEFORE WE GET TOO DEEP INTO THIS.
IF, IF THAT'S OKAY, I'LL TURN IT TO DR. RIVAS, US.
SO I HAVE A FEW WONDERFUL COMMENTS AND GRATEFUL FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
SO THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER, UH, ORTIZ FRANKLIN FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND WILL BE HAPPY TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
SO I JUST HAVE A FEW WORDS, UM, TO SAY.
AND I ALSO SUBMITTED, UM, SOME FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS.
UM, SO BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY AND PERSONAL POSSIBILITIES IS CHALLENGING, UH, FOR ANY PARENT.
AND IT'S CRUCIAL THAT OUR DISTRICT'S POLICIES REFLECT THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF ALL FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF OUR, UM, OUR EMPLOYEES.
I AM FULLY COMMITTED AND ENSURING THAT WE PROVIDE NECESSARY SUPPORTS FOR PARENT EMPLOYEES WHO ARE JUGGLING THESE RESPONSIBILITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ENSURING FAIR ACCOMMODATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NEW PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
THE PARENT, UM, PACKAGE RESOLUTION IS A VITAL STEP FORWARD.
UM, MAKING L-A-U-S-D NOT JUST A SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT A MODEL PUBLIC EMPLOYER.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT PAID LEAVE.
THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE, ABOUT RETAINING GREAT EDUCATORS, ABOUT RESPECTING OUR WORKFORCE AND ABOUT BUILDING A SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR FAMILIES, NOT AGAINST THEM.
[02:00:01]
AND MOST CRITICALLY, IT ADVANCES EQUITY BECAUSE THE REALITY IS NOT ALL EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCESS TO LEAVE.NOT ALL EMPLOYEES CAN AFFORD TO TAKE IT.
AND THAT BURDEN FALLS HARDEST ON WOMEN, ON SINGLE PARENTS, ON LOW, LOW WAGE WORKERS, AND THOSE FROM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
THIS RESOLUTION DOES MORE THAN OFFER LEAVE.
IT BUILDS A SUPPORT ECOSYSTEM, CHILDCARE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY.
IT CREATES LACTATION ACCOMMODATIONS, HELP NAVIGATING BENEFITS, AND A BACKUP BACKUP CARE OPTIONS FOR THE INEVITABLE EMERGENCIES OF LIFE.
IT'S ALSO COST EFFECTIVE IN THE LONG RUN.
INVESTING IN FAMILIES NOW REDUCES ABSENTEEISM, TURNOVER, SPECIAL EDUCATION, REFERRALS, AND HEALTHCARE COSTS LATER.
AS PARENTS, WE WANNA GIVE OUR CHILDREN THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED.
AND TO DO SO, WE NEED SYSTEMS THAT UNDERSTAND AND ACCOMMODATE OUR UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE ABILITY TO WORK WHILE MANAGING THE NEEDS OF A CHILD, PARTICULARLY WITH DISABILITIES, SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER TO SUCCESS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, NOR SHOULD IT BE A SOURCE OF ADDED STRESS.
WITH THIS IN MIND, I'M, I'VE SUBMITTED FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS, ESPECIALLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
BOARD MEMBER ORTIZ FRANKLIN FOR ACCEPTING THESE AMENDMENTS.
THESE AMENDMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICIES AND SUPPORTS ARE INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE, AND TRULY REFLECT OF THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I KNOW WE HAVE COPIES OF, OF THE AMENDMENTS.
UM, SO JUST TO, UM, SAY WHAT, WHAT THESE RE WHAT THESE AMENDMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY, UM, TO ADD TO THE THIRD RESOLVE, IT ADDS A DESEGREGATION OF, TO ADD THE DESEGREGATION OF DATA, WE'RE LEGALLY PERMISSIBLE TO IDENTIFY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES TO ASSESS WHETHER THEY FACE DISPROPORTIONATE BARRIERS OR UNMET NEEDS RELATED TO LEAVE BENEFITS OR CHILDCARE ACCESS.
AND WE'RE ALSO ADDING TO THE LAST RESOLVE, UM, FOR A FOCUS NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND CORRESPONDING SUPPORTS FOR EMPLOYEE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
AND IT HAS LIKE OTHER, UM, BULLET POINTS ON THAT, SO I'M NOT GONNA READ ALL OF THEM, UH, BUT THERE'LL BE SOME COPIES.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT THESE AMENDMENTS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE IMPACT OF THIS RESOLUTION, ENSURING THAT ALL EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE DISABILITIES, ARE SUPPORTED, EMPOWERED, AND ABLE TO THRIVE BOTH AT WORK AND AT HOME.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEAD WITH EMPATHY, EQUITY, AND REAL SOLUTIONS.
AND I'LL BE MORE THAN PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS EFFORT THAT ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IT'S A SMART THING TO DO FOR OUR STAFF, OUR STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE.
BOARD MEMBER, YOU, DR. RIVAS FOR THE ADDITIONS.
UM, AND JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THE TEAM, LOOKING AT, UH, THE VERSIONS.
SO LAST WEEK WAS POSTED VERSION TWO WITH THE RED UNDERLINE, UM, EDITS.
AND THIS MORNING WE PASSED AROUND A VERSION THREE WITH A COUPLE OF GREEN EDITS.
AND THEN DR. RIVAS IS PASSING AROUND THE BLUE EDITS.
SO OUR TEAM WILL MAKE SURE TO, TO, UH, INCLUDE THEM ALL.
UM, BUT JUST WHAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM APRIL TO TODAY WERE A COUPLE WHEREAS IS ON, UM, THE SURGEON GENERALS, UH, ADVISORY ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF PARENTS, UH, STRESSING THE URGENCY OF EMPLOYERS TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES.
UM, A A BIT MORE ON, UH, ASSISTIVE REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND THE COST OF REPLACING, UH, TEACHERS, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, SOME IMPROVED PRACTICES.
UM, LET'S SEE, RELATED TO ENROLLING EMPLOYEES, CHILDREN INTO OUR SCHOOLS, NOT JUST IN THE EARLY EDUCATION CENTERS, BUT INTO K 12, BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE THAT THIS RESOLUTION WILL ALSO HELP EMPLOYEES, UH, WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE OLD ENOUGH TO, TO STAY WITH OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM.
AND THEN THE GREEN RESOLUTION, THE GREEN EDITS, SORRY, WERE VERY TINY.
UM, ONE ABOUT ADDING, UM, SURROGACY TO THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF FAMILY PLANNING.
AND A REQUEST TO SHIFT THE TIMELINE FOR NOVEMBER 25 TO FEBRUARY 26TH TO ACCOUNT FOR THE JANUARY, UH, GOVERNOR'S BUDGET COMING OUT NEXT YEAR.
SO THESE WILL ALL BE COMBINED, UM, BUT I WOULD ASK OUR COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER VERSION THREE WITH DR.
REVA'S, UH, FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ADDED.
AND I INVITE OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, MR. SCH CHARLESON.
YES, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.
IT, IT REALLY MEANS SOMETHING.
IT'S IMPACTFUL WHEN I HEAR FROM YOU PERSONALLY LIKE THIS, SO I WILL CO-SPONSOR.
I'LL, I'LL ECHO, UH, MY COLLEAGUES.
I'LL, UH, JOIN AS A CO-SPONSOR AS WELL.
[02:05:01]
AND BELATED HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO THE MOTHERS ON THIS BOARD AND ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE.UM, YEAH, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THIS PLAN AND THE, UM, THE RESEARCH THAT GOES INTO IT, I THINK THERE ARE THINGS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
YOU KNOW, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT TEACHERS AT THE DISTRICT OF PAIN TO STATE DISABILITY THAT COULD HELP COVER IT.
I MEAN, THIS IS ONE WHERE, UM, UH, AS, AS WE'VE NAVIGATED BOTH SEEING COLLEAGUES WHO ARE TEACHERS, BUT ALSO SEEING, UM, COLLEAGUES ON MY TEAM WHO HAVE TO NAVIGATE MATERNITY LEAVE, IT'S MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT NEEDS TO BE.
AND WE WANT TO BE A DISTRICT OF CHOICE FOR NOT JUST STUDENTS, BUT EMPLOYEES.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFULNESS THAT WENT INTO THIS.
I WAS EATING LUNCH, BUT WATCHING THE VIDEO, IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY COMPELLING TESTIMONY TO HEAR FROM COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD AND ALSO, UM, COLLEAGUES AND FOLKS I KNOW THROUGH, THROUGH THE WORK OF THIS DISTRICT.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHERE WE CAN GO TO FROM HERE.
AND THEN ADVOCATING AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
I THINK STATE WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN FEDERAL RIGHT NOW, UM, BUT TO GET THE REQUISITE RESOURCES TO DO THIS AND SUPPORT OUR STAFF.
SO THANKS FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD AND, UM, EXCITED TO SUPPORT.
THANKS FOR YOUR CO-SPONSORSHIP,
UH, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
OBVIOUSLY AS WE SIT ON THIS BOARD AS MOTHERS AND HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND KNOW THAT IT'S NOT EASY, UM, TO NAVIGATE AND NEEDING SOME, SOME GUIDANCE, UM, THIS IS DEFINITELY STARTING THAT CONVERSATION TO THAT GUIDANCE AND PUTTING SOME ACTUAL, UM, MARKERS AND PARAMETERS IN, IN PLACE.
AND TO MY COLLEAGUE'S POINT THAT WE CAN GET SOME SUPPORT FROM OUR STATE AS WELL TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THIS, UM, IS STABLE AND SUSTAINABLE.
SO, UM, I TOO WOULD LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR.
WELL, I LOVE ALL THE CO-SPONSORSHIP.
AND I'LL SEE IF MY CO-SPONSORS WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANY WORDS.
UM, I WAS VERY GLAD TO CO-AUTHOR THIS WITH TANYA AND KELLY.
AND, UM, IT BROUGHT ME BACK TO WHEN I HAD MY, WHEN I STARTED TEACHING AND WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST CHILD, WHICH WAS IN 2001.
AND I WAS SO SCARED OF TELLING THE DISTRICT THAT I WAS PREGNANT.
I WAS THREE MONTHS PREGNANT AND I BATTLED FIGURING OUT HOW I WAS GONNA GET MY TB X-RAY DONE BECAUSE I WAS PREGNANT
AND I JUST REMEMBER IT WAS SO HARD.
AND FINALLY I JUST TOLD THE DISTRICT DOCTOR, I'M PREGNANT SO I CAN'T TAKE THE, THE TB.
AND I WAS ABLE TO GET PREVIOUS MEDICAL RECORDS.
BUT THAT STRESS OF TRYING TO, TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM WHILE YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE ENJOYING AND, AND, AND WE ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO IF, IF WE WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN.
UH, BUT IT WAS VERY STRESSFUL.
AND THEN I TAUGHT FOR TWO YEARS AND MY KIDS WERE GETTING SICK ALL THE TIME, LIKE ALL CHILDREN AND TODDLERS GET SICK.
SO I WAS USING UP MY SICK TIME EVERY YEAR.
AND THEN WHEN MY SON WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER HAVING A FEBRILE SEIZURE AT 6:00 AM I CALLED MY AP AND I TOLD HIM I CAN'T COME IN.
MY SON IS IN THE HOSPITAL IN THE ER, AND HE JUST GAVE THE BIGGEST SIGH FINE.
AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T DO THIS.
I CAN'T, I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS AND WORK.
AND SO I WAS, I WALKED AWAY FROM, FROM TEACHING FOR THREE YEARS AND THAT SET ME BACK CAREER WISE.
I WENT, I WASN'T ABLE TO, TO TAKE COURSES TO MOVE UP THE SALARY SCHEDULE.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD THAT FINALLY, LIKE SOME OF YOU GUYS HAVE SET HERE, THAT THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND THAT IT'S NOT A FAVOR, IT IS WHAT WE ALL DESERVE.
AND ESPECIALLY LIKE ROCIO SAID, THIS FALLS ON WOMEN.
I KNOW THAT THIS, UH, COVERS ALL, UH, FAMILY MEMBERS, BUT LET'S BE REAL THAT THIS IS FALLING ON WOMEN.
AND, UM, AND WE HAVE TO SET OUR CAREERS BACK.
WE ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO CALL IN SICK.
WE ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO STAY UP LATE, UM, WITH OUR CHILDREN.
AND I WAS MOVED BY HEARING KELLY DESCRIBE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE NURSING AND TRYING TO BE ON A BOARD MEETING AND TRYING.
I KNOW I USED TO DRIVE HOME FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I MADE IT IN 30 MINUTES TO NURSE MY BABY AND COME BACK.
THEN I SAW THIS AS A TEACHER WITH OUR PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS, HOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT PROVIDING, UH, APPROPRIATE SPACES FOR THEM TO PUMP, HOW WE ARE NOT PROVIDING THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO THIS VERY SPECIFIC POPULATION WHEN WE KNOW THAT POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION IS A REAL THING, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE A YOUNG WOMAN.
[02:10:01]
AND WE ARE STILL NOT ABLE TO, TO DO THAT FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.SO THIS RESOLUTION IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME.
IT IS, AS A MOM, AS A WOMAN, AND AS A TEACHER AND AS AN EDUCATOR OF YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT AND PARENTING, I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR STARTING THIS PROCESS, TANYA.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU, KELLY, FOR BRINGING ME IN BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED AND I'M VERY PROUD TO BE CO-SPONSORING THIS.
I'M SAD TO HAVE TO FOLLOW YOU.
UM, WELL, I'M, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO, UM, TO BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN FOR HER LEADERSHIP.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR CLOSE TO TWO YEARS NOW.
SO, UM, I'M, I'M REALLY, REALLY GLAD THAT WE'RE TRYING FINALLY TAKING THIS STEP.
UM, IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
SIMILARLY, IT IS, IT IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME.
I DID NOT HAVE CHILDREN WHEN I WAS IN THE CLASSROOM.
ALL OF MY BABIES HAVE BEEN, WELL, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD AND EVEN AS BOARD MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, BEING TOLD, UH, THAT, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO, TO LEAVE BECAUSE LIKE, WE SIMPLY DO NOT QUALIFY.
UM, AND ALL OF THE TIMES THAT MY YOUNG KIDS HAVE BEEN SICK TAKING MEETINGS FROM HOME, I MEAN, THAT'S A FLEXIBILITY THAT'S OFFERED TO ME AS A BOARD MEMBER.
WE KNOW THAT THAT DOESN'T EXIST FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AT OUR SCHOOL SITES.
AND THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE, UM, WELL, CERTAIN FOLKS WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE CHILDBEARING.
THEY DON'T WANNA SUPPORT FAMILIES.
UM, THEY DON'T WANNA SUPPORT WOMEN WHEN THEY HAVE KIDS OR THE CHILDREN.
UM, AND THOUGH THIS DISTRICT, UH, HAS TAKEN POSITIVE STEPS, YOU KNOW, OFFERING HEALTH BENEFITS THAT COVER OUR CHILDREN, WHICH I VALUE SO, SO MUCH, UM, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'VE DONE ENOUGH.
UM, I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO DO TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THE WOMEN IN OUR SYSTEM BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT TEACHING IS DOMINATED BY WOMEN.
WE ARE A WOMEN DOMINATED PROFESSION, AND YET THE THE SYSTEM IS NOT BUILT FOR THE NEEDS OF MOMS. UM, AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES IS WHAT WE EXIST TO DO AS AN INSTITUTION, AS TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES AND INVESTING IN OUR EMPLOYEES, MAKING OUR DISTRICT A PLACE THAT FAMILIES WANT TO CHOOSE, UM, IS A BENEFIT NOT JUST TO THOSE FAMILIES, BUT TO ALL OF US IN THE DISTRICT.
WE KNOW THAT WORKING IN SCHOOLS REQUIRES MORE THAN JUST SHOWING UP AND CLOCKING IN.
IT TAKES YOUR WHOLE HEART TO WORK WITH KIDS, UM, AND TO SUPPORT THEIR NEEDS.
AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT EFFECTIVELY AND FOR OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES TO FEEL THAT SUPPORT.
AND SO I KNOW THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS GOING TO DO SO MUCH TO UPLIFT THE NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEE PARENTS.
UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS AND I APPRECIATE, UM, DR.
REVA'S, UM, ADDITIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARENTS OF KIDS WITH DISABILITIES OR WHO SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS ARE INCLUDED, BECAUSE OF COURSE, THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION THAT OUR, OUR PARENTS NEED TO ADVOCATE.
BUT, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, BOARD MEMBER ORT FRANKLIN, THANK YOU TO THE MANY FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN ADVOCATING IN THE FIELD FOR SO MANY YEARS BECAUSE YOU HAVE HELPED MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN SUCH A BIG WAY.
UM, AND I'M EXCITED FOR THIS TO PASS.
UM, AND REALLY TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES.
WE HAVE A BIG VISION IN THIS DISTRICT FOR OUR KIDS TO ACHIEVE AT REALLY HIGH LEVELS.
AND WE KNOW THAT OUR STAFF NEEDS TO BE WELL TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND THIS IS GOING TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR JOURNEY TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS IN, IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL JOURNEY.
SO I SEE THE SUPERINTENDENT ALSO WANTS TO WEIGH IN, SO I'LL INVITE YOUR THOUGHTS.
JUST VERY BRIEFLY, GOOD ORGANIZATIONS, UH, DEVELOP AND SUPPORT AND ENHANCE, UH, PROTECTIVE POLICIES FOR THEIR WORKFORCE AND THE END USERS OF WHATEVER IT IS THEY DO.
UH, WE ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF, BUT IN A VOCATION OF PROTECTING STUDENTS.
AND THERE ARE NO STUDENTS WITHOUT MOTHERS, WHETHER THEY ARE, UH, OUR OWN WORKFORCE OR OTHERS.
UH, SO I BELIEVE THAT, UH, THIS STAFF, THIS TEAM CERTAINLY WELCOMES THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE FLEXIBILITY, UH, THE DATA, THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ADVANCE, UH, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROTECTIONS, CERTAINLY, UH, PARENTING, ADDITIONAL PARENTING SUPPORT, AND, UH, THE MENTAL, UH, HEALTH SUPPORT, UH, FOR, UH, FOR MOTHERS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND WITH THAT, MR. MCLEAN, I'D LOVE TO HEAR HOW THIS BOARD WILL VOTE.
[12. Board of Education Report No. 311-24/25 Charter Schools Division (Approval of the Renewal Petition for Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy) Recommends approval of the renewal petition for Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy, located in Board District 3 and Region North, for six (6) years, beginning July 1, 2025, until June 30, 2031, to serve up to 548 students in grades TK-5 in each year of the charter term. ]
ONE 30 THAT GIVES US 15 MINUTES TO PROCEED WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT ITEMS RELATIVE TO TABS 13 THROUGH 21.SO WE'LL, WE'LL GO TO TAB 13 AND SEE WHO WE HAVE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THERE.
[02:15:01]
13 APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR DEARBORN ELEMENTARY CHARTER.IT LOOKS LIKE MR. DAVID TOSKI IS ON THE LINE.
MR. TOSKI, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK TO TAB 13.
CONGRATULATIONS, UH, TO THE BOARD ON THE PREVIOUS MOTION, UM, WITH NEARLY $9 BILLION.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I AM SUPPORTIVE AGAIN, IF YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT, UM, THE GROWTH AND SUPPORT, UH, THE VERY LITTLE CENTRAL OFFICE SUPPORT TO AFFILIATED CHARTERS.
UM, BUT, UM, THE MOTION THAT JUST PASSED IS, IS, UH, VERY HELPFUL.
AND WITH $9 BILLION OF FACILITIES MONEY, UH, MENTIONED BEFORE AT BOARD MEETINGS THAT, UH, THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN THE LA COUNTY HAVE ALREADY SET UP, UH, LACTATION STATIONS AT SCHOOLS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS HAD TO CRAWL INTO BACK ROOMS IN THE MAIN BUILDING IN ORDER TO HAVE THE PRIVACY, UH, REQUISITE.
SO, UH, ONE WOULD HOPE WITH LEADERSHIP IN, UH, AT THE VERY TOP OF THIS DISTRICT, FROM THE CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, TO, UM, THE HEADS OF FACILITY THAT THE LACTATION STATIONS BASED UPON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S INSTRUCTIONS COULD HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY TO EMBODY THE, TO MOTION.
UH, TODAY THERE ARE 10 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY OF LA AND I AM THE LONE PERSON SPEAKING.
UM, THAT IS, UH, UNFORTUNATE THAT WE DO NOT ADVERTISE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THAT WE ALSO, UM, TELL THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE GONNA BE CONSENT CALENDAR THAT THEY DON'T EVEN NEED TO SHOW UP AS IF THEY HAVE NOTHING IMPORTANT.
LIKE THE FAMILIES FROM EAGLE ROCK HAVE TO TELL US ABOUT THEIR SCHOOLS FOR WORSE OR FOR BETTER, UH, TO LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC IS WHAT MR. SCHMEAR SAID WE NEED TO DO.
AND SO WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS, JUST LIKE THERE ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR ALCOHOL LICENSES AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSTRUCTION IN CITIES AND COUNTIES, WE SHOULD PUT OUT GREATER ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS SO THAT THE DEMOCRACIES OF OUR COMMUNITIES CAN PARTICIPATE AND GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK.
AND THE FEEDBACK WE HAVE IN THIS PARTICULAR CHARTER AND OTHER AFFILIATED IS THAT IT IS POPULAR AND, UH, COULD BE SPREAD TO OTHER DISTRICTS IF THERE WERE SOME LEADERSHIP ABOUT AFFILIATED CHARTER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MR. TOSKY.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UM, SO THAT CONCLUDED YOUR TAB 13 COMMENT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AS WE LACK QUORUM.
WE HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS HERE AT THE DEUS AND I THINK FIVE OUTSIDE, ALONG WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT TAKING A PHOTO.
SO WE ARE GOING TO, UM, WAIT UNTIL THEY'RE BACK.
PERHAPS I COULD GIVE A LESSON ON WHAT QUORUM IS WHILE WE'RE ALL WAITING.
AND IF WE DON'T
SO WHAT IS YOUR CHANGE? SO WE'RE JUST, AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY BACK, UM, WE HAVE TO PAUSE BECAUSE NO ACTION OR BUSINESS CAN TAKE PLACE WHILE WE DON'T HAVE A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD.
AND NOW WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR ARE HERE, WHICH CONSTITUTES A MAJORITY.
MR. TOSKI, YOU ARE BACK ON DECK.
SIR, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ON TAB 14.
PETITION FOR ENCINO CHARTER ELEMENTARY.
AGAIN, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THESE HIGHLY ENROLLED, UH, AFFILIATED CHARTERS.
BOARD MEMBERS COULD ALSO ASK FOR A LIST IF THERE ARE WAIT LISTS TO THESE SCHOOLS, UH, AND FIGURE OUT A, THROUGH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, A PROCEDURE TO EXPAND THE SUCCESSES AND REPLICATE THE SUCCESSES OF THESE SCHOOLS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE DISTRICT ALONG THE BORDERS.
UM, AND TO USE THESE AFFILIATED CHARTERS TO EXPERIMENT, UH, THE MOTION THAT CAME BEFORE YOU, UH, JUST NOW, WHICH IS WONDERFUL IN ITS, UH, INTENT.
AND I'M GLAD THAT FIVE WOMEN STEPPED OUTSIDE, UM, WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT.
BUT WHY NOT ALTER THE CHILD, UH, EARLY ED, UH, REQUIREMENTS IN THIS DISTRICT? UM, THAT IS TO SAY THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ENROLL THEIR KIDS IN EARLY ED WHO DO NOT MEET THE ECONOMIC REQUIREMENTS AS SORT OF A CHEATING TO GET IN.
AND THERE ARE OTHERS WHO WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EARLY ED, BUT WE HAVE NO SLIDING SCALE.
IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, I KNOW BY MR. MELBOURNE AND OTHERS WHY NOT FIGURE OUT AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO GROW ENROLLMENT.
I KNOW THAT'S A GOAL OF SOME BOARD MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO START WITH A, A GREATER GROWTH IN HOW MANY FAMILIES CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE, UH, AGE FOUR, THREE, AND TWO PARTICULARLY SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS, WHICH WAS PART OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S, UH, UH, CONCERNS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOARD MEETING.
SO I THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
[02:20:01]
TO SPEAK ON AFFILIATED CHARTERS.AND I HAVE JUST A COUPLE MORE COMMENTS.
SO THAT CONCLUDES COMMENT FOR TAB 14.
SO TAB 15, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ALSO HAVE YOU, MR. TOSKI.
I WOULD MOST RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU STICK TO THE TOPIC AT HAND AS YOU'VE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB SO FAR OF, AND THAT'S TAB 15, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR HAMLIN CHARTER ACADEMY.
THE TIME IS SET ASIDE, SPECIFICALLY SET ASIDE FOR THAT ITEM.
UH, MR. TOSKI, WE'RE ALL WAITING ON YOU FOR TAB 15 TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR HAMLIN CHARTER ACADEMY.
I WAS, UM, RESPONDING TO THE, UH, REQUEST I, THIS ONE AGAIN.
UH, I'M THE ONLY ONE OUT OF 10 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY WHO SEEMS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT GROWING ENROLLMENT AND AFFILIATED CHARTERS.
I I SUPPORT THIS, UH, MOTION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT'S TEAM, I'M NOT SURE WHO IS IN CHARGE OF AFFILIATED CHARTERS AND WILL SPEAK TO THESE 10 CHARTERS, UH, ON, ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT AND THE DISTRICT SUCCESS HERE.
BUT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS, THERE'S A SPRAY PAINTED, UH, UH, CHARTER SCHOOL, UH, THAT COULD BE USED CALLED MIRAMAR OR GARCIA, UH, CHARTERS.
IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM LA UNIFIED.
UH, AND TODAY YOU RECEIVE IN YOUR CORRESPONDENCE A MANDATE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CALIFORNIA IN THE CORRESPONDENCE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT SCHOOL.
I KNOW IT WAS TRIED TO DO AN AFFILIATED CHARTER IN THERE.
FINALLY THE ONLY EFFORT I'VE SEEN.
BUT THAT COULD BE A COMBO INDEPENDENT CHARTER AND AFFILIATED IN THE SAME BUILDING, RATHER THAN SPEND, UH, ONE TO $2 MILLION PLUS PAYING THE STATE BACK AND HAVING NO USE OF THE OPPORTUNITY OF A COMBO AFFILIATED INDEPENDENT CHARTER RIGHT NEXT TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND, UH, ONE OTHER ISSUE I WANNA BRING UP UNDER THE AFFILIATED, YOU COULD REALLY USE ALL OF THESE AFFILIATED TO WORK ON YOUR CHILDREN YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE, WHICH WOULD BE THE MONIES NECESSARY, UH, TO, UH, KEEP YOUR SOCIAL WORKERS, YOUR PSAS, NURSES, AND OTHER, UM, MENTAL HEALTH, UH, EMPLOYEES IN THIS DISTRICT.
UH, THIS WAS ELIGIBLE TO THE DISTRICTS IN SEPTEMBER, AND YOU COULD INITIATE AN EXPERIMENT WITH YOUR AFFILIATED CHARTERS TO MOVE FASTER.
TOMORROW MORNING, THE GOVERNOR WILL SPEAK.
NOW IS TAB 16 APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR LOUIS ARMSTRONG MIDDLE.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME FINE? SURE CAN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE CUTTING IN AND OUT.
THIS IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE AFFILIATED THAT DOES HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS PERFORMANCE IN VARIOUS SUBCATEGORIES.
UM, THERE'S APPARENTLY NOBODY ELSE GONNA SPEAK ON IT, BUT THERE, THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ONE.
AND I WAS BEGINNING, UH, TO SAY, UM, THAT, UM, THAT, UH, TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 AM AND I'M HOPEFULLY THE BOARD TODAY AND THE SUPERINTENDENT BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING CAN GIVE SOME IN, IN, IN, IN, UH, UM, IN ADVANCE OF THE, UH, BENEFITS OF GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S MAY REVISION.
WE HEARD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, UH, THE OBVIOUS, UH, CONCERNS, UH, THAT ARE HAPPENING FROM WASHINGTON DC.
BUT THERE IS, UH, SOME, UH, WORDS OF GOOD NEWS FROM, UH, SACRAMENTO THAT, UH, HOPEFULLY, UM, WILL BE ANALYZED BY THE STAFF AND GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THE CONSTITUENCIES OF LA UNIFIED.
SO THAT FROM AFFILIATED CHARTERS TO INDEPENDENT CHARTERS, TO EVERYONE CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM NOW TO THE BUDGET APPROVAL THAT WE CAN ALL BE ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, UH, AND TO GET SOME OF THE HELD BACK MONEY FROM THE STATE.
BUT, UH, THERE WILL BE A COLA THAT IS A FULL COLA AT 2.3%.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY, UH, MANY OF THE SIGNATURE, UH, ELOP AND SCHOOL MEALS THAT ARE MAKING UP FOR THE FEDERAL, UH, ATTACK ON SCHOOL MEALS AND TK AND EARLY ED WILL STILL BE MAINTAINED BY THIS GOVERNOR COMMITMENT UNDER PROP 98 TO FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHERE MOST OF THE MONEY, MOST OF THE MONEY, NEARLY ALL OF THE MONEY COMES FROM SACRAMENTO.
UH, NOT FROM WASHINGTON, DC THANK YOU.
AND NOW TAB 17, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR SUPERIOR STREET ELEMENTARY.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE MR. TOSKY ON THE LINE.
UM, AGAIN, THE BOARD, UH, SHOULD MAKE SOME ACTION TO HAVE A STRATEGIC GROWTH AND SUPPORT A CHARTER SCHOOL LIKE THIS ONE AND OTHERS.
IN AREAS WHERE ENROLLMENT IS DECLINING AND IS CLOSE TO, UH, OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IT MAY UPSET ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH,
[02:25:01]
TO OPEN UP THE FLEXIBILITY, WHICH EXISTS IN LARGE PART, BUT IT'S NOT ADVERTISED.AND IN SOME CASES, LIKE CONTINUATION SCHOOLS, WHICH THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT'S QUITE FAMILIAR WITH, STUDENTS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS COME INTO OUR CONTINUATION SCHOOLS 'CAUSE WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN LA UNIFIED USING THE AFFILIATED MODEL.
AND IN SOME DISTRICTS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, BOLD SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE STEPPED FORWARD AND TURNED THEIR SMALLER DISTRICTS INTO ENTIRE AFFILIATED CHARTER, WHICH GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY OF STUDENTS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE 80 PLUS DISTRICTS IN LA COUNTY AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO HAVE A HASSLE-FREE WAY OF ENROLLING IN THE GOOD SCHOOLS, UH, THE IMPROVING SCHOOLS OF LA UNIFIED.
SO AGAIN, UH, I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AS, UH, ONE VOICE, UH, OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE ISSUE OF THE GROWTH OF ENROLLMENT AND ALSO TO THE GREAT GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT UNDER PROPOSITION 98, UH, THAT IS MUCH MORE UPBEAT THAN THE DIRE, UH, INFORMATION PRESENTED AT THE, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOARD MEETING THE ELO MONEY.
UM, $500 MILLION PLUS FOR THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT EACH AND EVERY YEAR, FAR OUTPACES, UH, THE ONE, TWO, AND FIVE, UH, MILLION ON THE GRANTS THAT THE, THAT THE, UM, PARSIMONIOUS, UH, UH, PRESIDENT IS, UH, PURSUING AND INSTEAD FOCUS ON SPENDING OUR MONEY WISELY HERE AT LA UNIFIED AND TO AFFECT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND THE GROWTH OF THE DISTRICT'S ENROLLMENT.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, FOR EMPHASIZING, UH, UH, ENROLLMENT GROWTH AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT TOPICS AND AFFILIATED SCHOOLS PREDOMINANTLY.
UH, MR. TOSKI, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ON TAB 18, THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR TOPEKA CHARTER SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES.
I, TOPEKA, CHARTER TOPEKA, UM, FOUNDER BOARD OF ED.
UH, THIS IS ANOTHER AFFILIATED CHARTER.
AGAIN, MOST OF THESE SCHOOLS WERE GOING TO BE INDEPENDENT CHARTERS AND BREAK AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
DURING MR. MOLSON'S PREDECESSOR'S TIME, UH, SUPERINTENDENT THEN AND BOARD WORKED TO, UM, ENTICE TO, UH, THE FAMILIES TO STAY WITH THE, UM, AFFILIATED MODEL.
UM, WITH OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND, UH, STUDENTS STILL IN INDEPENDENT, UH, CHARTERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE ECONOMIC AND INSTRUCTIONAL CHALLENGES, PUTTING FORWARD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INDEPENDENT CHARTERS TO BECOME LIKE THESE AND BECOME AFFILIATED CHARTERS WITH THE DISTRICT SUPPORT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
THERE IS NO RFP TO FIGURE OUT WHY INDEPENDENT CHARTERS WILL NOT BECOME AFFILIATED.
AND WHAT WE CAN DO UNDER THE NEW LEADERSHIP OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND THIS SUPERINTENDENT TO DO SOMETHING, TO MOVE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND STUDENTS THAT ARE IN INDEPENDENT CHARTERS TO BECOME PART OF THE DISTRICT.
IN MANY CASES, UH, THE, UH, CHARTERS IN THE DISTRICT THAT ARE AFFILIATED ARE ENTIRELY UNION FROM EVERY EMPLOYEE, WHEREAS THE INDEPENDENT CHARTERS OCCASIONALLY HAVE A TEACHER'S UNION, BUT VERY OFTEN DO NOT HAVE CLASSIFIED UNIONS THAT WE WERE CELEBRATING TODAY.
FOR THE GREAT EMPLOYEES IN LA UNIFIED THAT ARE CLASSIFIED, THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN INDEPENDENT CHARTERS IN LARGE PART, AND FINALLY AN EMPHASIS ON THE BUILDING RIGHT NEXT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE.
AND I HOPE THAT, UH, THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ENDEAVOR TO DO SOMETHING THOUGHTFUL AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS SENT YOU A WRIT OF MANDATE IN YOUR CORRESPONDENCE TODAY.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE CONCLUSION OF TAB 18, TAB 19.
MR. TOSKI, YOU ARE THE ONLY SPEAKER.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MR. TOSKI HAS DECLINED TO SPEAK.
ALRIGHT, WHAT ABOUT FOR TAB 20? IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER OF MR. UH, TOSKI FOR, UH, WOODLAKE ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY CHARTER.
MR. TOSKI HAS DECLINED TO SPEAK ON TAB 20.
UM, AGAIN, UH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ONE OF 10 MILLION.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN A LOCAL, UM, BUSINESS IS, UH, EXPANDING OR CHANGING ITS LIQUOR LICENSE OR A LOCAL PER, UH, CITY IS BUILDING SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE PUT OUT, UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS WHEN WE WERE BUILDING SCHOOLS IN LA UNIFIED, UH, OVER A HUNDRED SCHOOLS, WE ANNOUNCED IN THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF AN AREA, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH BOTH THE WILLIAMS CASE WHERE WE DO NOT POST, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UH, AND WE DO NOT POST A WILLIAMS, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS AND EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO ANNOUNCE THINGS.
THE THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS IS BROKEN AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE TAKEN UP, UH, IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE EVALUATION, HOW WE
[02:30:01]
CAN IMPROVE THAT UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MR. MCLEAN REACHING OUT TO A GREATER AUDIENCE FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS.THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND WE DO HAVE A TIME CERTAIN OF 1:30 PM FOR TAB 29.
FOR THOSE WONDERING, WOULD A TIME CERTAIN IS A BOARD OFFICE REACHES OUT SPECIFICALLY TO HAVE THEIR ITEM HEARD AT A SPECIFIC TIME TO FACILITATE SPEAKERS OR OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO HEAR IT? I MOVE.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR THIS, UH, MOMENT AND THIS TIME.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BRING FORTH THIS, UH, MOTION, THIS RESOLUTION TO YOU ALL ON ALIGNING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, UH, AT OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND PILOT SCHOOLS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT A COMMUNITY SCHOOL IS, AND USUALLY THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE.
UM, BUT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
AND, UH, THEIR GOALS, ESPECIALLY HERE IN L-A-U-S-D, IT FOCUSES ON CREATING COMMUNITY DRIVEN SHARED DECISION MAKING, UH, PROCESS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE CHILD, INCLUDING MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
THIS APPROACH AIMS TO STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS, ENSURING STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE FULL PARTNERS IN DECISION MAKING.
HERE IN L-A-U-S-D, WE EMPHASIZE COLLABORATION, EQUITY, AND EXCELLENCE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE SCHOOL.
BECOMING A COMMUNITY SCHOOL IS INTENTIONAL.
TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS MAKE A CHOICE TO BECOME A COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
THEY HAVE TO APPLY, THEY HAVE TO COLLABORATE, THEY HAVE TO GET A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND ONCE THEY BECOME A COMMUNITY SCHOOL, THEY ENGAGE IN A VERY DEEP AND BROAD PROCESS OF ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY TO ASSESS WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND WHAT THE ASSETS ARE.
THEY DON'T JUST DO SURVEYS, PAPER SURVEYS, THEY DO FOCUS GROUPS.
THEY DO ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS AND THEY GATHER THIS INFORMATION AND CREATE A REPORT.
AND THIS GUIDES WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING.
THIS GUIDES THE PROGRAMS THEY'RE BRINGING THE SERVICES, THEY'RE BRINGING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT THEIR STAFF FEELS THEY NEED AND WANT WHERE THEY DESIRE TO GROW AND HOW IT MEETS THEIR MISSION AND THEIR GOALS.
I WAS, I'VE BEEN LUCKY THAT IN MY CAREER I WAS BOTH AT A PILOT SCHOOL AND A COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR.
I WAS PART OF THE TEAM THAT, UH, WROTE THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL'S PLAN.
AND SO I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL OFFICE OFFERS TO OUR EDUCATORS.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU, I LEARNED MORE IN THOSE PDS THAN IN ANY OTHER PD IN MY CAREER.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A COACH WHO IS ASSIGNED TO YOU, WHO SUPPORTS YOU ONE-ON-ONE.
YOU MEET AS A COHORT TO GET EVEN MORE SUPPORT IN THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED.
AND THEN EVERY, I THINK IT'S EVERY MONTH YOU GET A PD THAT IS SPECIFIC ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING SO MEANINGFUL AND SO RELEVANT.
SO THE ONLY THING THAT'S BEEN MISSING THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN THAT FLEXIBILITY FOR OUR EDUCATORS TO NOW APPLY ALL THAT LEARNING, ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN GROWING IN AND TO LEARN MORE BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN THEIR PDS OR TO SELECT THE PDS THAT THEY WANT.
AND SO THIS RESOLUTION COMES FROM A PLACE WHERE EDUCATORS ARE ASKING FOR THIS, THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT A MANDATE FOR ALL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TO DO THEIR OWN PDS.
IT IS AN OPTION FOR THOSE WHO WANT IT.
AND AS AN EDUCATOR, I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO PLAN A PD.
YOU GET PAID TWO HOURS, BUT YOU WORK 10 AND IT'S NOT A JOKE.
AND PEOPLE WHO DO IT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE HAVE SOME SCHOOLS THAT ARE PILOT AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
SO THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THESE PAST FEW YEARS THEY'VE BEEN HELD BACK AND THEY WANT THAT TO CHANGE.
AND I THINK THAT AS A DISTRICT, WHEN WE SEE INNOVATIVE, UH, INITIATIVES,
[02:35:01]
WHEN WE SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE DRIVEN TO DO THIS, WE SHOULD SUPPORT IT.AND THAT'S WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS DOING.
IT IS SUPPORTING THAT WORK THAT SOME OF OUR TEACHERS, SOME OF OUR SCHOOL TEAMS WANT TO DO.
AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THAT.
UM, I'M GONNA PAUSE RIGHT HERE BECAUSE, UM, I WANNA GIVE SPACE FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE WHO WANNA SHARE THEIR PERSONAL STORY.
I WANT YOU TO SHARE WITH ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING AT YOUR SCHOOL SITES AND WHAT MORE YOU COULD DO IF YOU WERE ABLE TO HAVE THIS FLEXIBILITY.
AND FOR OUR, UM, PRIORITY SCHOOLS, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE GETTING THEIR SUPPORT FROM ETO, WHICH IS THE UNIQUE PART OF BEING A PRIORITY SCHOOL, RIGHT? IS YOU GET THIS SUPPORT, THEY WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT.
SO I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS SUPPORTED BY ADMINISTRATORS.
ALLAH'S PRESIDENT SENT US A LETTER OF SUPPORT.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN THAT FEATURES? THIS IS IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE AT A SCHOOL SITE, AT A COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
UM, SO WITH NO FURTHER ADO, I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR FIRST SPEAKER.
WE HAVE, UH, EMILY ALVA, ARE YOU HERE? EMILY? WOO.
UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS EMILY ALVA AND I AM THE PROUD COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR OF MENDEZ HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TO ASK THE BOARD TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
WE ALL KNOW THAT AS MS. GRIEGO MENTIONED THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL IS THAT COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS AND ASSET ASSESSMENT, WHICH WE MONITOR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THIS ASSESSMENT TRULY REFLECTS THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, FAMILY, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT A WHOLE CHILD APPROACH, BUT ONE AREA OF GROWTH IN OUR DISTRICT IS IMPLEMENTING A WHOLE EDUCATOR FRAMEWORK.
OUR EDUCATORS ARE TALENTED, AWARD-WINNING AND DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS.
THEY MODEL WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LIFELONG LEARNERS.
WHEN ASKED WHAT PDS MENDEZ HIGH SCHOOL STAFF WOULD WANT, BUT CURRENTLY CANNOT, THEY SAID COLLABORATIVE PLANNING, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING STRATEGIES, TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES, LITERACY AND MATH INTERVENTIONS TAILORED TO OUR SPECIFIC STUDENT POPULATIONS.
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, NAVIGATING AI AND THE EVER INCREASING TECHNOLOGY OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO.
THE LACK OF MEANINGFUL PD IS FORCING OUR EDUCATORS INTO GENERIC TRAININGS THAT DOES NOT REFLECT OUR STUDENTS' NEEDS, OUR SCHOOL'S GOALS, AND OUR COMMUNITY'S DREAMS. OUR EDUCATORS ARE BECOMING FRUSTRATED.
THEY ARE UNABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN WAYS THAT COULD TRULY SUPPORT AND INSPIRE OUR STUDENTS.
L-A-U-S-D INVESTS AND PROMOTES PROGRAMS SUCH CTE AND LINK LEARNING FULL INCLUSION FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
BUT IN ORDER FOR THESE PROGRAMS TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND SUCCESSFUL, OUR EDUCATORS NEED TIME TO PLAN AND DEVELOP THAT TYPE OF PROGRAMMING.
IT IS PROVEN BY RESEARCH AND EXEMPLAR MODELS THAT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WORK WHEN THEY ARE GROUNDED IN LOCAL VOICE, SHARED LEADERSHIP, AND SITE-BASED DECISION MAKING.
THIS RESOLUTION RESTORES THOSE VALUES AND ENSURES OUR PD SUPPORTS THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU EMILY MARIA ALCARAZ.
AND IF YOU CAN ALSO STATE YOUR SCHOOL AND BOARD DISTRICT IF YOU KNOW IT.
HI, MY NAME IS MARIELLE CARRA AND I WORK AND I'M A PROUD PARENT OF A FIRST GRADER AT LUCILLE ROAL ALLARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A PILOT AND COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN BOARD DISTRICT FIVE.
I SERVE AS THE INTERVENTION PREVENTION SUPPORT COORDINATOR.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL BOARD TO SUPPORT CARLA REGO'S RESOLUTION, ALIGNING SITE-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COLLABORATION, AND DECISION MAKING IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND PILOT MODEL.
AS THE INTERVENTION COORDINATOR AT LUCILLE ROY ALLARD, I WORK CLOSELY WITH TEACHERS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THEIR CLASSROOMS. I HEAR THEIR CONCERNS FIRSTHAND AND ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENT NEEDS THEY VOICE IS A LACK OF TIME AND STRUCTURE FOR HIGH QUALITY, MEANINGFUL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE UNABLE TO SCHEDULE CRITICAL PD SESSIONS THAT WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT TEACHING AND LEARNING.
THESE INCLUDE SESSIONS LED BY OUR PBL CHAMP, CLIMATE LITERACY CHAMPION, OUR TWO CKLA AMBASSADORS AND DATA CHAMPION TO NAME A FEW.
WE ALSO NEED TIME FOR PD FROM OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARTNERS, AS WELL AS SESSIONS FOCUSED IN INTEGRATING COMPUTER SCIENCE INTO THE CURRICULUM AS WE ARE ON TRACK TO MEET THE 20 HOURS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE INSTRUCTION.
[02:40:01]
AWARDED THE MTL GRANT, WHICH BRINGS EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING, BUT ALSO REQUIRES TIME FOR STAFF TO LEARN, TEACH, ANALYZE, AND REFLECT.AS A LEADER IN ME SCHOOL, WE ALSO STRUGGLE TO FIND THE TIME TO EMBED PD ON THE SEVEN HABITS, WHICH IS FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR SCHOOL CULTURE.
OUR ATTEMPTS AT SELF-SELECTED PDSA CYCLES HAVE STALLED BECAUSE REVISITING OUR WILDLY IMPORTANT GOALS HAS BECOME VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THIS DEDICATED TIME.
DESPITE THOSE BARRIERS, OUR TEACHERS ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED.
MANY INVESTOR PERSONAL TIME TO ATTEND PDS IN EGI.
ULY ULY 2.0, JOYFUL DISRUPTION DEFINE LEARNING AND THE LAD'S WRITING CADRE.
SOME EVEN TRAINED WITH AMAZON ENGINEER BUDDHA AND RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN 3D PRINTER WORKSHOPS.
YET ALL OF THESE, ALL OF THIS KNOWLEDGE REMAINS IN SILOS BECAUSE WE LACK THE STRUCTURED TIME TO SHARE, REFLECT, AND IMPLEMENT COLLABORATIVELY.
WE KNOW IN THE CLASSROOM THAT ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH DOES NOT WORK.
AND THE SAME HOLDS TRUE FOR OUR PDS.
OUR TEACHERS ARE EAGER TO LEARN AND TO LEAD.
BUT WITHOUT TIME AND SUPPORT, WE ARE UNABLE TO ALIGN OUR EFFORTS AND OUR SCHOOL'S VISION OR MEET OUR STUDENTS' NEED EFFECTIVELY FOR THE SAKE OF OUR EDUCATORS, OUR PROGRAMS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ARE STUDENTS.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
I AM THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR AT LUCILLE ROY BALL ALLARD.
UM, MY COLLEAGUE MARIA JUST SPOKE.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY AND PILOT SCHOOL IN LOCAL BOARD DISTRICT FIVE WITH CARGO AS OUR FEARLESS LEADER NOW.
AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION FOR FLEXIBILITY IN OUR PDS.
UM, AS A COMMUNITY SCHOOL, WE WROTE, WHEN WE ORIGINALLY OPENED THE SCHOOL IN 2012, WE WROTE IT WITH THE INTENT TO BE A COMMUNITY SCHOOL BEFORE THAT WAS EVEN OFFERED.
THEN WE BECAME A PILOT SCHOOL BECAUSE WE WANTED THE AUTONOMY TO REALLY TRANSFORM AND ACCOMPLISH ALL THE THINGS WE WANTED.
IT GOES BEYOND THE WHOLE CHILD, IT GOES TO THE WHOLE FAMILY AND PROVIDING THOSE SUPPORTS, OVERCOMING BARRIERS, AND ALSO ENRICHING AND ADDING TO THEIR LIVES, PRODUCING THESE YOUNG LEADERS THAT, THAT'S OUR MANTRA, THE CREATING OUTSTANDING WORLD LEADERS.
'CAUSE WE WANNA PREPARE THEM NOT JUST FOR HERE, BUT FOR BEYOND.
SO WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AT CIO, ROY BALL ALLARD, A DREAMS MAGNET, A DUAL LANGUAGE.
AND WE JUST CHANGED THE NAME OF OUR RESIDENT SCHOOL, UM, OR THE VISION TO THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY BECAUSE WE REALLY ARE STRIVING TO BUILD THESE LEADERS.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THE STR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE'VE ANALYZED IT, WE'VE LOOKED AT THE BENCHMARKS, WE'VE TAKEN THE BEST PRACTICES FROM ALL OVER, AND WE REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO OUR OWN THING.
AND IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT WITH THE PDS THAT WERE GIVEN.
AS SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO WAS SAYING EARLIER, WE'RE GOING, WE'RE HEADED INTO SOME DIFFICULT TIMES OF THE BUDGET CUTS.
WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH TITLE THREE, WITH OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, WITH OUR SPECIAL ED STUDENTS, EVEN MORE SO NOW THAN EVER.
WE NEED THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS WHAT THEY NEED, NOT A COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH.
SO WE URGE YOU TO PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
WE ARE A COLLABORATIVE TEAM, SO CHRISTIE KERICK AND ESTHER MARTINEZ WILL SPEAK.
SO CAN WE HAVE FOUR MINUTES? TWO AND TWO? YOU GET TWO AND TWO.
HI, MY NAME IS CHRISTIE KERICK, THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR.
AND I'M ESTHER MARTINEZ, THE CHAPTER CHAIR AND SECOND GRADE TEACHER.
WE WORK AT TOWN AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ONE OF EIGHT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN LOCAL BOARD DISTRICT SEVEN, TANYA ORTIZ FRANKLIN'S BOARD DISTRICT.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ASK L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL BOARD TO SUPPORT CARLA GRIEGOS RESOLUTION, ALIGNING SITE-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COLLABORATION, AND DECISION MAKING IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND PILOT MODEL, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS LIKE TOWN.
ALONG WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO SHAPE IT IS A CONTINUOUS COMMITMENT.
SO HERE'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR JOURNEY AT TOWN.
TO TRULY FUNCTION AS A COMMUNITY, WE DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND CONDUCTED THE SURVEYS WITH ALL THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS.
LIKE MS. GRIEGO WAS TALKING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION TEAM AND LOCAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
AND WE REVIEWED OUR STAKEHOLDER INPUT ALONGSIDE OF SCHOOL-BASED DATA
[02:45:01]
TO COLLABORATIVELY CREATE A PD PLAN ALIGNED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF TOWN AVENUE.IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE DISTRICT HONORED THE CONTRACT BY ALLOWING LOCAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING THE ALL OF THEIR PD.
HOWEVER, THIS YEAR WE'VE SEEN SCHOOL PD PLANS REJECTED AND HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED INSTEAD TO FOLLOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PD BULLETIN.
THIS SHIFT DIRECTLY UNDERMINES WHAT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE DESIGNED TO BE.
THE GOAL OF OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL IS TO CREATE A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO SUPPORT THE WHOLE CHILD ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY, WHILE RESPONDING TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
PASSIONATE TEACHERS AT TOWN AVENUE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO DELIVER MUCH NEEDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS SUCH AS THE PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, DATA ANALYSIS AND LANGUAGE, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATH, FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS, AND IDENTIFYING SCHOOL-WIDE TRENDS THAT REQUIRE COLLECTIVE ATTENTION.
SO WHAT HAPPENED IS, THIS YEAR, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE JUST NOW GETTING TO SOME OF THOSE PDS THAT WE NEEDED THAT WERE ORIGINALLY PLANNED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, NOW IN MONTH 10.
SO THIS DELAY UNDERSCORES THE CHALLENGE OF BALANCING THE DISTRICT MANDATED PD REQUIREMENTS WITH THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM SITE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING.
SO AS A TEAM, WE'RE MAKING A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO SHIFT FROM BEING REACTIVE TO PRO, A PROACTIVE APPROACH, ENSURING THAT FUTURE PDS ARE SCHEDULED WITH INTENTIONALITY ALIGNED TO THE DATA AND DELIVERED IN A TIMELY WAY THAT SUPPORTS CONTINUOUS GROWTH BOTH FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS.
SO RIGHT, RIGHT NOW, FOR THE 25 26 SCHOOL YEAR, TOWN AVENUE HAS DEVELOPED A STRUCTURED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND CREATED A COLLABORATIVE PLANNING SCHEDULE THAT GIVES TEACHERS ADDITIONAL TIME THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL MODEL, TO MEET REGULARLY BY GRADE LEVEL.
WHERE AM I AT THE NEXT PAGE? THIS BUILT IN TIME ALLOWS TEAMS TO FOLLOW UP ON PD TOPICS AND ADDRESS AREAS OF NEED IN A MORE MEANINGFUL AND SUSTAINED WAY.
A KEY FOCUS MOVING TOWARDS IS INTO INTEGRATING OUR SEL AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING INTO CORE CONTENT AREAS, WHICH REQUIRES INTENTIONAL PLANNING TIME AND A SUPPORTIVE STRUCTURE TO IMPLEMENT IT EFFECTIVELY.
SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT DOING THIS WELL MEANS MOVING BEYOND THE DRIVE BY TRAININGS, AND INSTEAD FOSTERING ONGOING CYCLES OF LEARNING, COLLABORATION, AND CLASSROOM APPLICATION THAT TRULY BENEFITS OUR STUDENTS.
WE ARE LOOKING TO ESTABLISH CONTINUITY AND A STRUCTURED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL SITE.
OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH THE CONSISTENT OPPORTUNITIES TO REFLECT ON THEIR PRACTICE, COLLABORATE MEANINGFULLY AND REFINE INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES OVER TIME.
THE LACK OF FLEXIBILITY IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT TOWN NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OUR SCHOOL BY FORCING EDUCATORS INTO ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
TRAININGS THAT DON'T ALIGN WITH OUR STUDENTS' NEEDS, OUR SCHOOL'S UNIQUE PROGRAMS AND OUR COMMUNITY'S GOALS.
IT DIMINISHES EDUCATOR AND COMMUNITY VOICE SLOWS DOWN THE PROGRESS WE'VE WORKED SO HARD TO ACHIEVE AND CREATES GROWING FRUSTRATION AMONG STAFF, MANY OF WHOM CLEARLY ALREADY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR STUDENTS NEED, BUT ARE NOW RESTRICTED FROM ACCESSING THE TOOLS, TRAINING, AND TIME REQUIRED TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WORK WHEN THEY'RE GROUNDED IN LOCAL VOICE, SHARED LEADERSHIP, IN SITE-BASED DECISION MAKING.
THIS RESOLUTION RESTORES THOSE VALUES AND ENSURES OUR PD SUPPORTS THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU THAT, UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE, UH, THE SPEAKERS WHO WERE GUESTS OF, OF BD FIVE AND, UM, NOW I GUESS THE RESOLUTION'S OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
SO I WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, DR.
AND I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP SPACE FOR YOU ALL TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS, UH, WHO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, DR.
REIS? SO, UM, I WANNA EXPRESS TO YOU ALL WHY STRONGLY AND PASSIONATELY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
ONE THAT IS NOT ONLY TIMELY, BUT VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS, THE EMPOWERMENT OF OUR EDUCATORS, AND THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT MERELY A POLICY SHIFT, IT'S A REAFFIRMATION OF OUR DEEPEST VALUES, THAT EDUCATION IS MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN IT'S ROOTED IN LOCAL WISDOM, DRIVEN BY COLLABORATIVE EXPERTISE AND TAILORED TO THE UNIQUE STRENGTHS AND NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WHEN STRUCTURED WITH FIDELITY TO THE FOUR ESSENTIAL PILLARS, ARE ENVIRONMENTS OF CARE, LEARNING, AND EMPOWERMENT.
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE COMMON GOOD
[02:50:01]
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS POWERED BY THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW OUR STUDENTS BEST, THEIR TEACHERS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR SCHOOL LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.THIS MODEL RECOGNIZES THAT THE PATH TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT BEGINS NOT ONLY WITH RIGOROUS INSTRUCTION, BUT WITH THE TRUST, RELEVANCE, AND RESPONSE AND RESPONSIVE SUPPORT SYSTEMS. THE MISSION OF OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INITIATIVE IS BOLD TO EDUCATE THE WHOLE CHILD ACADEMICALLY, COGNITIVELY, PHYSICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY.
TO DO THIS EFFECTIVELY, WE MUST DO MORE THAN ACKNOWLEDGE COMPLEXITY.
WE MUST CREATE THE STRUCTURAL SPACE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO LEAD WITH CLARITY AND PURPOSE.
THIS RESOLUTION ENSURES THAT COMMUNITY SCHOOL, LOCAL LEADERSHIP COUNCILS AND PILOT SCHOOLS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO THEY NEED OVER SITE-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? BECAUSE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS LOCALLY DESIGNED AND CONTEXTUALLY RELEVANT.
THIS LEADS TO BETTER INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES, STRONGER SCHOOL CLIMATES, AND ULTIMATELY IMPROVED STUDENT OUTCOMES.
LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT ABOUT DECENTRALIZING FOR THE SAKE OF IT.
IT'S ABOUT ALIGNING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH THE DATA WE ALL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ALREADY HAVE FROM ASSETS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENTS TO SCHOOL CLIMATE SURVEYS.
IT'S ABOUT ENGAGING THE WISDOM OF OUR EDUCATORS, THEIR EXPERIENCE, AND THEIR EXPERTISE.
THEY LIVE THESE REALITIES IN THEIR CLASSROOMS EVERY DAY WITH THEIR STUDENTS BY FORMALLY ESTABLISHING A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE UNDER THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL STEERING COMMITTEE.
THIS RESOLUTION BUILDS THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INTENTIONAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN L-A-U-S-D AND OUR TEACHERS THROUGH UTLA.
IT PROVIDES A FORUM FOR MEANINGFUL INPUT ON DISTRICTWIDE PRIORITIES WHILE MAINTAINING THE FLEXIBILITY AND AUTONOMY THAT LOCAL SCHOOL COMMUNITIES NEED.
LET US ALSO REMEMBER THAT AUTONOMY WITHOUT SUPPORT IS INSUFFICIENT.
THAT'S WHY THIS RESOLUTION ENSURES DIFFERENTIATED ASSISTANCE FOR PRIORITY SCHOOLS, THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
THIS IS EQUITY AND ACTION BOARD MEMBERS.
ESTEEM BOARD MEMBERS WHEN YOU VOTE YES.
AND I HOPE YOU ALLALL VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
YOU ARE VOTING FOR MORE THAN POLICY.
YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION THAT TRUSTS OUR PROFESSIONALS, HONORS OUR COMMUNITIES, AND PUTS STUDENTS SUCCESS AT THE VERY CENTER.
LET US NOT MISS THIS OPPOR THIS MOMENT TO LEAD WITH COURAGE AND INTEGRITY.
LET US SAY TO OUR TEACHERS, WE SEE YOU, WE TRUST YOU, AND WE BELIEVE IN YOUR POWER TO SHAPE A BETTER FUTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.
I URGE YOU ALL TO PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
AND, UH, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A FULL BOAT OF, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ALSO THAT WE NEED TO GET TO.
SO WE'LL FINISH THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND RETURN TO, TO BOARD TO BOARD COMMENTS.
UH, MARIA T. VALDEZ, ARE YOU HERE? PLEASE COMMENT UP.
AND THEN AFTER MARIA IS, UH, CARMEL LEVIT LEVITON.
MY NAME IS MARIA TERESA VALEZ AND I AM A KINDERGARTEN DUAL LANGUAGE TEACHER AT FOURTH STREET PRIMARY CENTER, A SECOND YEAR COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN BOARD DISTRICT TWO ON THE EAST SIDE.
THANK YOU DR. RIVAS, FOR YOUR REPRESENTATION AND YOUR SUPPORT.
IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TODAY.
ON BEHALF OF A VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION, I AM ASKING THE L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL BOARD TO SUPPORT CARLA REGO'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SOLUTION.
THE GOAL OF A COMMUNITY SCHOOL IS TO CREATE A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO SUPPORT THE WHOLE CHILD ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY, WHILE RESPONDING TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WHICH I HELPED TO WRITE, LAYS OUT WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AS A SCHOOL COMMUNITY AT FORT STREET PRIMARY CENTER.
WE HAVE A DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM IN SPANISH, A COMPUTER SCIENCE FOR GOOD STUDENT CLUB, PENGUIN STUDENT AMBASSADORS LEADERSHIP GROUP AS SYMPHONIC JAZZ MUSIC PROGRAM, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SUPPORT, AND THE STAR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.
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HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT BECAUSE THEY REFLECT THE VOICES AND THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITY.TIME IS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THEM.
WHAT'S NEXT IN OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN? WELL, WE WANT TO BE TRAINED IN PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AND EQUITABLE GRADING AND INSTRUCTION.
WE ALSO WANT TO ADD RESTORATIVE PART TO OUR POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SUPPORT.
ALL INTEREST HOLDERS WOULD RECEIVE THE TRAINING, BUT IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THESE PROGRAMS, TIME IS OF ESSENCE.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO FORCE EDUCATORS IN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT DO NOT ALIGN TO THEIR SCHOOL'S IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
FRANKLY, IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF EVERYONE'S TIME AND ENERGY.
AND THAT IS WHY MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE HERE TODAY.
GIVE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS THE GIFT OF TIME SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
WE HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK AND THEN AFTER CARMEL IS LEE FU MOTO.
HELLO, I'M THE PARENT OF THE CHILD AT EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE SCHOOL THROUGH FIVE PRINCIPALS, TWO STRIKES, AND EVERYTHING THAT THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC ENTAILED.
I'VE BEEN AN ACTIVE AND INVOLVED MEMBER OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING LAST YEAR.
I SERVED ON OUR LOCAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME WITH PARENT ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE ISSUES DIRECTLY IMPACTING THE EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY, SOME OF WHICH YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT TODAY AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.
THERE'S BEEN STONEWALLING AND EVASIVENESS.
I'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO MY BOARD MEMBER'S OFFICE AND TO OUR COMMUNITY OF SCHOOLS AND REGION EAST TO TRY TO GET HELP.
I FOUND FIDENCIO AND CARLA'S OFFICE TO BE A GREAT LISTENER AND I REALLY DO FEEL HEARD BY HIM, BUT ULTIMATELY HE CAN'T MOVE MOUNTAINS.
I'VE BEEN WAITING WEEKS FOR A COMMUNITY MEETING TO BE ORGANIZED WITH REGION EAST THAT HAS BEEN COMING SOON.
I HAD MY OWN FIRST ONE-ON-ONE MEETING YESTERDAY WITH SOMEONE FROM OUR COMMUNITY OF SCHOOLS WHERE I ALSO DID FEEL HEARD, BUT I DIDN'T GET OFFERED THAT MEETING UNTIL I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT, WHICH I FELT COMPELLED TO FILE.
DUE TO OUR SITUATION FESTERING FOR WEEKS WITHOUT POSITIVE INTERVENTION OR EVEN ANY DIRECT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM OUR COMMUNITY OF SCHOOLS OR REGION EAST, I DIDN'T WANT TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT.
WHAT I REALLY WANT IS FOR THE DISTRICT TO TAKE A PROACTIVE RESTORATIVE APPROACH TO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND LISTENING TO ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING STUDENTS, FAMILIES, TEACHERS AND STAFF WHEN THEY RAISE CONCERNS SO WE CAN DO BETTER.
I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK IS, UM, APPRECIATION RATE FOR OUR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE LOST THREE OF THEM AND THEY WON'T BE HERE TO CELEBRATE NEXT WEEK, AND I'M REALLY, REALLY SAD ABOUT THAT.
LEE FUTO, ARE YOU HERE? LEE F UH, WILLIAM CHAVEZ.
AND THEN AFTER WILLIAM CHAVEZ IS MICHAEL GRAY, AND THEN RIA VAN ESH MICHAEL, AND THEN SHERIA AFTER WILLIAM.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MY NAME IS WILL CHAVEZ SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AND UT A CHAPTER CHAIR AT WILSON HIGH SCHOOL, A COMMUNITY SCHOOL REPRESENTED BY, UH, DR. ROSS RIVAS IN BOARD DISTRICT TWO.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON, WELL, I'M SURE YOU CAN GUESS RIGHT ON, ON CARGO'S, UH, RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF IT.
AND, AND IN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OUR STAFF.
AS EDUCATORS, WE KNOW OUR STUDENTS BEST.
WE SEE THE GIFTS THEY BRING ON OUR CAMPUS INTO OUR CLASSROOMS. WE KNOW WHAT THEY NEED.
WE UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES AND POTENTIAL THEY BRING INTO OUR CLASSROOMS EVERY DAY.
AT WILSON, WE ARE A PROUD INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SCHOOL.
WE ARE THE DISTRICT'S ONLY AVID NATIONAL GEN DEMONSTRATION HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAVE THREE MAGNETS, THREE CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP ACADEMIES AND TWO CTE PATHWAYS.
HOW ARE WE EXPECTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE PROGRAMS AND ALSO SUPPORT OUR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS, OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION POPULATION, THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN, AND STRENGTHEN OUR RESTORATIVE PRACTICES WHEN HALF OF OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS NOT GIVEN TO US.
THE TRUTH IS THAT THE DISTRICT MANDATED PDS ARE TOO OFTEN GENERIC AND DISCONNECTED FROM OUR REALITIES AND SENT A MESSAGE THAT WE'RE NOT TRUSTED.
AND OVER TIME, THIS LEADS TO A LOSS OF THE VERY COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD.
BUT OUR EDUCATORS AT WILSON ARE STRONG, ARE POWERFUL, ARE THE EXPERTS RIGHT? THEY'RE EXPERTS AT DESIGNING POWERFUL AND RELEVANT PDS THAT ARE ENGAGING AND CENTERED AROUND OUR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS EXPERIENCES.
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IF WE'RE GOING TO LIVE UP TO THE VISION OF A COMMUNITY SCHOOL, THEN WE MUST BE TRUSTED TO GUIDE OUR OWN PROFESSIONAL GROWTH BECAUSE THIS IS AT THE CORE OF WHO WE ARE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR STANDING WITH US IN SUPPORT OF MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ROOTED EDUCATION.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MICHAEL GRAY, UH, AND I WORK AT THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, UH, COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND PRIORITY SCHOOL AND BOARD DISTRICT FIVE.
I SERVE AS THE CHAPTER CHAIR AND MUSIC TEACHER WRAPPING UP EIGHT GREAT YEARS.
TODAY I'M ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT COLLEGE REGO'S RESOLUTION, ALIGNING SITE-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THE PD PLAN DEMANDED BY L-A-O-S-D DID NOT FULLY ADDRESS OUR STUDENTS OR OUR TEACHERS' NEEDS.
THE FORMAT AND DELIVERY ARE INEFFECTIVE IN TRANSFORMING OUR COMMUNITY.
THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL CHECKLIST TOPICS, ROTATING OUT OF CLASSROOM PRESENTERS AND PDSA WORKSHEETS ARE NOT MEANINGFUL AND FRUSTRATE TEACHERS.
THIS MANDATED PD SERIES UNDERMINES WHAT CON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE DESIGNED TO BE COLLABORATIVE.
OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION TEAM HAS CONDUCTED COUNTLESS EMPATHY INTERVIEWS AND OUR TEAM HAS A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THE GOAL OF OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL IS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION FOR ALL STUDENTS AND INCREASE PARENT ENGAGEMENT.
WE ALREADY HAVE AMAZING WRAPAROUND COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROGRAMS. IT'S THE PDS WE NEED TO SCHEDULE, BUT CURRENTLY CAN'T.
THEY INCLUDE EQUITY GRADING AND INSTRUCTION, TRAUMA-INFORMED PEDAGOGY, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
IT'S OUR STUDENTS HAVE MANY STRUGGLES AND OFTEN THEIR BASIC NEEDS ARE NOT BEING MET.
EL STRATEGIES FOR OUR SCHOOL, WE HAVE BOTH NEWCOMERS AND LONG-TERM ENGLISH LEARNERS.
MORE DEPARTMENT TIME TO COLLABORATE AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES WITH COLLEAGUES.
OUR TEACHERS REGULARLY PLAN COLLABORATIVELY AFTER SCHOOL.
AND THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL GRANT, OUR TEACHERS HAVE UTILIZED $75,000 OF COLLABORATIVE TEACHER X TIME OUTSIDE OF PED TIME.
OUR TEACHERS WANNA PLAN SO LONG AS WE ARE GIVEN THE TRUST THAT WE KNOW OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY BEST.
JEFFERSON TEACHERS CHANGED THE WORLD.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I AM THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR AND UTLA CHAPTER CHAIR AT HORACE MANN, UCLA COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND BOARD DISTRICT ONE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE LUSD SCHOOL BOARD TO SUPPORT CARLA GRIEGOS RESOLUTION.
OUR CENTENNIAL IS NEXT YEAR, SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF EYES ON US.
AND ALTHOUGH HORACE MANN IS WELL KNOWN IN SOUTH LA, WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS HAD THE BEST REPUTATION.
WHEN WE PARTNERED WITH UCLA AND EMBARKED ON COMMUNITY SCHOOLING IN 2017, THAT STARTED TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER BECAUSE WE WORKED TOGETHER AS A SCHOOL COMMUNITY DURING PAID PD TIME TO IMPROVE OUR CAMPUS CLIMATE.
STUDENTS, PARENTS AND STAFF REMARKED ON THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR STUDENTS AND FACULTY'S EXPERIENCE AT MANN.
HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOW A MEMBER OF LAD'S COMMUNITY SCHOOL INITIATIVE AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO ALIGN ALL OF OUR PD TO OUR SCHOOL'S NEEDS, WE HAVE LESS PURVIEW.
WE NEED FOCUSED PD TIME TO SUPPORT STUDENT, FAMILY AND STAFF WELLNESS.
BUT REQUIRED DISTRICT PDS HAVE LEFT LITTLE ROOM FOR THESE URGENT NEEDS.
DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF OUR POSITIVE BEHAVIOR TEAM AND OF OUR FACULTY, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELLNESS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT COORDINATED.
THE LACK OF COLLABORATION TIME IS PREVENTING US FROM BUILDING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE RESTORATIVE SCHOOL-WIDE SYSTEMS WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED TO SUPPORT A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER MAN.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SHOW OFF OUR INCREDIBLE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, FACULTY AND STAFF AT OUR CENTENNIAL.
BUT TO TRULY LIFT UP THE STRENGTHS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE NEED AND DESERVE THE PD TIME TO WORK ON OUR SCHOOL'S MOST URGENT PRIORITIES.
SO I URGE OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
SATE MANN, UCLA COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT TWO IN, IN-PERSON SPEAKERS WITH NANCY LOPEZ.
AND THEN AFTER NANCY LOPEZ IS IAN KIRKSEY.
I AM A PARENT OF TWO STUDENTS FROM EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY.
AS A PARENT, I AM DEEPLY INVOLVED IN
[03:05:01]
MY SCHOOL COMMUNITY.I HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER TWO DECADES.
UM, I'VE HAD SEVERAL OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS ATTEND THAT SCHOOL AND NOW MY KIDS.
I WAS VERY PROUD TO BE A, A MEMBER OF EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY.
I STILL AM VERY PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY.
UM, MY CONCERNS ARE THAT I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT COME TO ME AS I WAS EMPLOYED THERE BEFORE AND SAID VARIOUS THINGS.
UM, I'M SORRY, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I FEEL LIKE I MIGHT GET, UM, I, UH, TAKEN AWAY MY OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE VOLUNTEERING AT MY SCHOOL.
SO I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE OF IT, SO I APOLOGIZE.
UM, MY INVOLVEMENT IN EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY EXTENDED BEYOND JUST SIMPLY VOLUNTEERING AT THE SCHOOL.
UM, I VOLUNTEERED TWICE, THREE TIMES A WEEK.
UM, BECAUSE OF THAT, I GOT OFFERED AN EMPLOYMENT THERE.
I DEVOTED TIME AND EFFORT EVEN BEYOND MY TIME THERE THAT I WOULD GET PAID.
UM, I ADDED A LOT TO MY COMMUNITY.
I GAVE A LOT TO PTA TO THE SCHOOL BECAUSE I LOVE THE STUDENTS AND I LOVE THE STAFF.
WHILE MAINTAINING AN OPEN AND HONEST COMMUNITY WITH COMMUNICATION WITH MY CHILDREN, UM, THEY HAVE COME TO ME WITH VARIOUS AND DISTURBING ACCOUNTS AROUND THE SCHOOL, HARASSMENT, FAT SHAMING, UM, NOT SEE SALUTES.
THE FACT THAT MY CHILD CAME UP TO ME AFTER SCHOOL TELLING ME THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, MY SON, NOW HIS, UM, PEERS HAVE TOLD HIM THAT DOES HE FEAR HIS DAD GETTING DEPORTED? MY HUSBAND IS NOT AN ILLEGAL, BUT YET BECAUSE OF HOW HE LOOKS, THEY THINK HE IS.
UM, CAN I GET A FEW MORE MINUTES? I'M SO SORRY.
SO, BUT IF, IF YOU WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHT, OKAY.
UM, AS A RESULT OF THIS, I HAVE LEFT MY EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE OF HARASSMENTS.
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE STUDENTS, BUT BECAUSE OF HARASSMENTS WITH THE PRINCIPAL AS WELL.
TWO THREE OF MY OTHER, UM, COLLEAGUES HAVE ALSO RESIGNED BECAUSE DUE TO THIS, UM, AND BECAUSE OF RETALIATION, WE FEAR COMING FORWARD.
AND BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SAID, UM, I AM HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO CONTINUE MODELING, UM, STANDING UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND FOR WHAT YOU STAND FOR.
AND I FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE SHUT US DOWN MANY TIMES AND I REFUSE TO SIT DOWN AND, AND IT LOOKED PRETTY.
I REFUSE TO GIVE THAT MODELING TO MY CHILDREN.
SO I AM HERE TALKING NOT JUST FOR MY CHILDREN, BUT FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES, THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE TREATED THIS WAY, THAT WE SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND WE SHOULD BE HEARD AND WE SHOULD LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M GONNA YIELD MY TIME TO AMIR KASSIR OVER HERE.
UM, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS RESOLUTION, UM, AND APPRECIATE, UH, THE BOARD MEMBERS CARLA GREGGO FOR INTRODUCING THIS.
RI AND KELLY EZ WERE CO-SPONSORING IT.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION THAT I'VE HEARD A LOT FROM EDUCATORS, NOT ONLY AS A STUDENT, UM, WHO USED TO GO TO A COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND A PILOT SCHOOL, BUT ALSO AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.
NOW THAT I'M MORE DIRECTLY WORKING AND INVOLVED WITH TEACHERS, RIGHT? WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT L-A-U-S-D, I REMEMBER NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE INTENTION BEHIND PD TIME WAS.
LITTLE TUESDAY, A LITTLE BIT EARLY, YOU KNOW, GO DO WHATEVER I NEED TO DO.
UM, BUT I SEE NOW THE INTENT WHY I FELT LIKE THAT AS A, AS A STUDENT, RIGHT? A LOT OF TEACHERS FEEL THAT WAY.
A LOT OF TEACHERS FEEL LIKE THIS TIME ISN'T, UH, WELL UTILIZED, RIGHT? AND I'VE REPEATEDLY HEARD TEACHERS, ESPECIALLY AT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, CALLING FOR MORE RELEVANT PD COURSES, THINGS THAT WILL AFFECT AND RELATE MORE CLOSELY TO THE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE FACING AT THEIR SCHOOLS.
THINGS LIKE COURSES TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES OF RACIAL, UH, DISCRIMINATION PROFILING STUDENTS HAVING THESE, UH, BEING ATTACKED, RIGHT? AND BEING TARGETED FOR THEIR BACKGROUND.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT TEACHERS HAVE THESE, UH, COURSES BECAUSE THESE U NEW AND UNIQUE ISSUES THAT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FE SEEK TO ADDRESS ARE GONNA REQUIRE NEW AND UNIQUE SOLUTIONS, RIGHT? IT IS NOT GONNA JUST LOOK LIKE SUSPENDING STUDENTS.
IT'S NOT GONNA LOOK LIKE TAKING PEOPLE'S DIRECTLY OUTTA SCHOOLS BECAUSE THAT'S ANTITHETICAL TO THE MODEL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD.
WE'RE TRYING TO BRING STUDENTS IN THIS, INTO THIS CLASS FROM THESE COMMUNITIES AND NOT TAKE THEM OUT, RIGHT?
[03:10:01]
AND THESE LESSONS ARE GONNA BE TAUGHT BY THE TEACHERS THAT ARE TEACHING US TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THESE THINGS, RIGHT? IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE OUR, TAKE OUR TEACHERS VERY SERIOUSLY.WE KNOW THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN, RIGHT? A LOT OF THE, OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE TEACHERS AND VERY WELL UNDERSTAND HOW THAT LEADS INTO BEING MORE, UH, INTROSPECTIVE ABOUT WHAT WE NEED IN OUR CLASSROOMS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE THE LEAD ON KNOWING WHAT WE NEED, JUST THE SAME WAY THAT STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THEY NEED, AND WE HAVE STUDENT BOARD AND STUDENT ADVISORY, WE NEED TO DO THE SAME FOR TEACHERS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DICTATE THEIR PET WHAT COURSES OF DEVELOPMENT THEY NEED TO BUILD THE SCHOOLS THAT STUDENTS DESERVE, AND THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT WE CAN BUILD AN L-A-U-S-D.
SO I URGE YOU GUYS TO VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
OKAY, WE HAVE TWO FOLKS LISTED AS SPEAKING REMOTELY.
IS BRIAN SIMILE HERE OR BRIAN SIMILE? COME ON UP.
WE HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MY NAME IS BRIAN SIMILE AND I AM A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AND THE CHAPTER CHAIR OF WOODLAND HILLS ACADEMY.
A PROUD COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN BOARD DISTRICT FOUR, REPRESENTED BY NICK MELVOIN.
I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE LA USD SCHOOL BOARD TO SUPPORT CARLA REGO'S RESOLUTION, ALIGNING SITE-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COLLABORATION, AND DECISION MAKING IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND PILOT MODEL.
AT WOODLAND HILLS ACADEMY, WE ARE COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MODEL, EXPANDED AND ENRICHED LEARNING TIED TO REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS, INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORTS, ACTIVE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP.
TO FULFILL THIS MISSION, WE NEED TIME FOR INTEREST HOLDER COLLABORATION AND PD TAILORED TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
OUR TEAM HAS WORKED HARD TO ALIGN OUR PD EFFORTS WITH OUR SCHOOL'S VISION, WHICH INCLUDES CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PEDAGOGY, TRAUMA-INFORMED TEACHING, EQUITABLE GRADING, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, CENTERED ON REAL WORLD ISSUES, PBIS TO SUPPORT SCHOOL CLIMATE, MEANINGFUL DATA ANALYSIS, AND AUTHENTIC FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE DISTRICT MANDATED PD SCHEDULE HAS PREVENTED US FROM ADDRESSING MANY OF THESE PRIORITIES WHILE ALSO LIMITING THE DEPTH OF LEARNING ON THE TOPICS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURSUE.
THIS HAS BEEN VERY DISCOURAGING.
LAST WEEK THOUGH, I TOLD MEMBERS OF OUR ILT ABOUT THIS WEEK'S RESOLUTION AND FEELING OPTIMISTIC AND FEELING VERY EXCITED.
WE MET AND WE CREATED A TENTATIVE CALENDAR FOR PDS FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR BASED AROUND THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS RESOLUTION PASSES TODAY.
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS THRIVE WHEN ROOTED IN LOCAL VOICE, SHARED LEADERSHIP, AND SITE-BASED DECISION MAKING.
THIS RESOLUTION REAFFIRMS THOSE VALUES AND ENSURES OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRULY SUPPORTS STUDENT SUCCESS.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.
THE LAST SPEAKER IS RACHEL WALLACE.
ARE YOU HERE IN THE ROOM? RACHEL WALLACE? I DON'T SEE YOU ONLINE.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND NOW BACK TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS, I BELIEVE, UM, WELL, I'M GLAD THAT WE HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM THE VOICES FROM THE FIELDS.
UM, I FEEL LIKE IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT WE LIFT UP, UM, OUR EDUCATORS VOICES EVERY DAY.
WE'RE WORKING AS A DISTRICT TOWARDS OUR BIG BOARD GOALS, OUR DISTRICT GOALS, AND THAT'S ACCELERATING STUDENT LEARNING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR STUDENTS HOLISTICALLY, THEIR SOCIO-EMOTIONAL WELLBEING AS WELL AS THEIR ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND I THINK THAT OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THAT EFFORT, BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT, UH, THE APPROACH IS NOT WORKING FOR EVERYONE.
I WAS SPENDING SOME TIME READING THROUGH, UM, THE LETTERS AND FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT SPECIFICALLY FROM THE MINE MONROE HIGH SCHOOL STAFF.
AND I WANTED TO JUST LIFT UP A COUPLE OF QUOTES THAT I FOUND.
ONE IS, YOU KNOW, OUR TEACHERS ARE EXPECTED TO DIFFERENTIATE CONTENT FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND YET OUR CURRENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT APPROACH DOES NOT DIFFERENTIATE FOR OUR TEACHERS.
UM, ANOTHER THAT TALKS ABOUT THE LACK OF COLLABORATION TIME AND HOW, UM, DESPITE THE INTENDED EFFORTS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, IT'S ACTUALLY LEADING TO LESS EFFECTIVENESS IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE TEACHERS DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GET TOGETHER AND WORK ON THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR THEIR SCHOOLS.
UM, I THINK BOARD MEMBER GRIEGO REALLY WALKED THROUGH ALL THE STEPS THAT IT TAKES TO BECOME A COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
UM, WHAT STRUCK ME IN ENGAGING WITH MY BOARD DISTRICT SIX SCHOOLS IS THE TEACHERS THAT I WAS HEARING FROM, THESE ARE LEADERS ON THEIR CAMPUS.
THEY ARE WORKING SO HARD, UM, TO HELP UPLIFT NOT JUST THEIR CLASSROOM, BUT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
YOU HEARD FROM MS. VELO EARLIER WHO SHARED WITH ME A VERY EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
AND SO THEY'RE PUTTING IN THE WORK AND THEY HAVE A VISION THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH ON BEHALF OF
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THEIR STUDENTS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND OUR SUPPORTS AS A DISTRICT SHOULD UPLIFT AND ENABLE THEM TO ACCOMPLISH THAT VISION, NOT UNDERMINE AND DETRACT FROM IT.WE KNOW THAT AS EDUCATORS, UH, TIME IS THE MOST LIMITED RESOURCE.
AND SO HAVING THE TIME AND THE ABILITY TO DECIDE WHAT IS MOST IMPACTFUL FOR YOU, HOW CAN YOU BEST RESPOND TO THE EMERGENT STUDENT NEEDS, UM, ON YOUR CAMPUS, IN YOUR CLASSROOMS. UH, THAT'S A RIGHT THAT OUR, OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS NEED.
UH, FOR OUR PILOT SCHOOLS, THIS IS AN AUTONOMY THAT THEY HAVE THAT SHOULD ALREADY BE RESPECTED.
AND SO I THINK THIS RESOLUTION IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
IT'S ABOUT UPLIFTING THE LOCAL SCHOOL DECISION MAKING, UPLIFTING OUR TEACHERS AS PROFESSIONALS WHO KNOW THEIR STUDENTS BEST, UM, AND ENSURING THAT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY RECEIVE IS RELEVANT, RESPONSIVE, IT'S MEANINGFUL.
YOU KNOW, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, IT'S WHAT IS THE CONTENT OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHEN IT'S DELIVERED BY A PEER.
WHEN IT'S A TOPIC THAT'S RELEVANT THAT'S GOING TO BE MEANINGFUL AND MAKE CHANGE, THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR SOMETHING THAT'S SIMPLY PUT, PULLED OFF THE SHELF.
UM, SO I JUST REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE THE, THE FOLKS FROM SCHOOL COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE LIFTED UP THEIR VOICES AND CALLED FOR THIS RESOLUTION, UM, AND BOARD MEMBER GRIEGO FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE AND WORK WITH YOU.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE RESOLUTION PASSING AND ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT WILL HAPPEN AT OUR SCHOOL SITES BECAUSE OF THIS.
SO BEFORE SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO CARLA GRIEGO WAS, BUT I LEARNED A LOT FROM HER SINCE SHE'S BEEN ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, SHE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FROM THE MINUTE SHE GOT ON THE NO, BEFORE SHE GOT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.
AND I KNOW THAT SHE KNOWS SHE'S DONE IT.
SHE'S AN HONEST PERSON, SHE'S TRUSTWORTHY, AND I SUPPORT THIS.
AND UH, I WANNA SAY JUST THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS, UM, FROM COMING FROM A COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND THE WORK THAT GOES INTO IT.
I KNOW, UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT AS MENTIONED BY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS ABOUT EDUCATORS AND BEING ABLE TO, TO DESIGN AND BEING ABLE TO BE HANDS ON.
AND AS A FORMER PHYSICAL EDUCATOR, I KNEW IT WAS ALWAYS INTERESTING FOR PDS BECAUSE WE WERE ALWAYS TOSSED IN WITH THE ELECTIVES AND IT WAS LIKE, HEY, JUST FIGURE IT OUT, FOREIGN LANGUAGE, FIGURE IT OUT.
I WAS LIKE, WELL, FOREIGN LANGUAGE, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, UM, WE'RE NOT TALKING THE SAME LANGUAGE.
SO DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT THE COOKIE CUTTER MODEL DOESN'T WORK.
AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS THAT ARE PILOTING THE WAY ALONG WITH OUR PILOT SCHOOLS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND JUST TO SEE THE IMPACT THAT WILL HAPPEN ON THOSE CAMPUSES AND TO SEE THE WORK BECAUSE AS WE IN THIS DISTRICT, AS WE ARE ONE, BUT WE ARE ALSO ONE THAT IDENTIFIES AND KNOWS THE NEEDS IN EACH COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT.
AND SO JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE THAT AND APPRECIATE THE VOICES THAT CAME TO SPEAK TODAY TO ELEVATE THAT SO THAT WE ALL CAN RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THOSE THAT HAVE BROUGHT THIS RESOLUTION TO THE BOARD AND FOR US TO CONTINUE TO CHAMPION THAT.
AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE WORK DONE ON THOSE CAMPUSES.
I'LL JUST BRIEFLY, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BRIAN, UH, BOARD DISTRICT FOUR TEACHER IS ALSO MY TEACHER ADVISORY GROUP.
AND THANK YOU BRIAN FOR YOUR COMPELLING TESTIMONY, BUT ALSO FOR THE INPUT YOU GIVE, UM, AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AT YOUR SCHOOL.
I WAS THRILLED TO MEET, UM, WITH SOME TEACHERS AND ORGANIZERS AT WOODLAND HILLS, UM, ACADEMY JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO AND APPRECIATED, UH, THE THOUGHTFULNESS THAT WENT INTO THIS RESOLUTION.
AND ALSO THE TESTIMONY FROM EDUCATORS.
I THINK MORE BROADLY, UM, AND I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT IN THIS, UH, FOR MY TIME ON THE BOARD, WE NEED TO BETTER CALIBRATE KIND OF WHAT IS SCHOOL SITE, SCHOOL SITE DESIGN, WHAT IS CENTRAL IN THAT, UH, KIND OF HAVING A, UM, ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AND A METRIC THAT HONORS THE INGENUITY AND CREATIVITY OF EDUCATORS AND ACTUALLY MAKES DECISIONS THAT ARE CLOSEST TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS, WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE WE'RE DRIVING THE WORK FORWARD.
I KNOW THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS TEAM ARE WORKING TOWARDS THAT.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS, HAS BEEN DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, UM, WITH OUR LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, UM, AND, UH, PARTICULARLY AROUND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND, AND THE PILOT SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THEIR OWN AUTONOMY FOR A WHILE.
SO, UM, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY.
UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT KIND OF FINDING THAT RIGHT MIX, UM, AND UNDERSTANDING HOW WHEN OUR NORTH STAR IS ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR SCHOOLS, WE KNOW WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE AS I THINK IT IS IN CASES LIKE THIS ONE FOR, FOR TEACHERS AND FOR EDUCATORS TO CREATE THE, THEIR DESTINY AT THEIR OWN SCHOOL AND WHEN WE MIGHT NEED SOME SUPPORT AND WHAT GUARDRAILS WE'RE PUTTING IN.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I JUST HOPE AND, AND IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH, UM, THE EDUCATORS
[03:20:01]
AT WOODLAND HILLS, JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE'S A REALLY HEALTHY CULTURE THERE BETWEEN THE SCHOOL SITE LEADERSHIP, THE PRINCIPAL, THE TEACHERS, THE STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT'S NEEDED.UM, AND UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY KNOW, UM, THEY KNOW THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY THE BEST.
SO I HOPE THAT CAN BE A MODEL.
AND I KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE AN ITERATIVE PROCESS.
SO, UH, APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT.
SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SUPPORTING THIS.
UM, I JUST WANNA READ, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE COLLABORATION THAT HAS COME THROUGH IN, IN THIS RESOLUTION AND I'M VERY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORTIVE PRINCIPLES.
UM, UM,
HI, LET'S GIVE HER, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD TANYA, IF YOU WERE GONNA SAY SOMETHING.
JUST GONNA SAY, UM, THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS AND FOR LIFTING UP THE VOICES OF OUR LEADERS AT SCHOOL SITES.
I THINK A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, UM, DECISION MAKING BEING CLOSEST TO THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THOSE DECISIONS.
SO JUST MUCH APPRECIATION, UH, PARTICULARLY FOR TOWN AVENUE COMING UP EARLIER AND SPEAKING AND SHOWING ME THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING ON YOUR CAMPUS.
UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES FROM THIS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO READ A FEW LINES FROM THIS LETTER THAT ONE OF OUR PRINCIPALS, UH, SENT TO US FROM LUCILLE ROY BALL AND SHE WROTE AUTONOMY OVER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT IS A KEY STRENGTH OF A COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND PILOT SCHOOL MODELS.
WHEN SCHOOLS HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT SITE-BASED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, THEY ARE BETTER POSITIONED TO CONNECT INITIATIVES TO RESEARCH-BASED BEST PRACTICES, ALIGN EFFORTS WITH SCHOOL-WIDE GOALS, AND DIRECTLY RESPOND TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENT, STAFF AND COMMUNITY.
THESE PRACTICES ALIGN WITH AUTHENTIC PDSA PLAN, DO STUDY ACT CYCLES THAT ARE GROUNDED IN THE SCHOOL'S, CLEARLY DEFINED OPPORTUNITY OF PRACTICE AND THEORY, THEORY OF ACTION.
THIS STRUCTURE ALLOWS COMMUNITIES OF TEACHERS AND LEARNERS TO ENGAGE IN DEEP INQUIRY, REFLECT MEANINGFULLY ON STUDENT DATA AND TAKE COLLECTIVE ACTION TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING AND INSTRUCTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS ACROSS THE CAMPUS.
IT REINFORCES A CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT THAT IS BOTH INTENTIONAL AND RESPONSIVE.
I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WONDERFUL THINGS COME OUT OF THIS WORK BECAUSE WE WANT TO, TO SHOWCASE ALL THESE MODELS LIKE NICK WAS SAYING, THAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE WORKING.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING AND SEEING THE BEAUTIFUL WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE GONNA BE DOING.
SO THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE EDUCATORS WHO CAME OUT AND SHARED YOUR, UH, YOUR WORK.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
OKAY, NOW IT'S TIME FOR VOTE ON TAB 29 THAT WAS MOVED BY, UH, MS. GRIEGO AND SECONDED BY MS. EZ.
AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PUBLIC COMMENT.
[24. Board of Education Report No. 305-24/25 Human Resources Division (Approval of Routine Personnel Actions) Recommends approval of 4,822 routine personnel actions (including, but not limited to elections, promotions, transfers, leaves, terminations, separations, permits and contracts).]
BRINGS US TO TAB 24, APPROVAL OF ROUTINE PERSONNEL ACTIONS.WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS, UM, HENRY ZAHI, ARE YOU HERE? AND THEN AFTER HENRY, WE HAVE ASIF, ZAHID AND NADIA ZAHEED.
SO THOUGH IT APPEARS WE DON'T HAVE QUORUM HERE, WE HAVE ONE OTHER, UH, BOARD MEMBER WHO'S JOINING US REMOTELY FROM THE, UH, ADDRESS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
[03:25:01]
GOOD.I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ FROM A LETTER THAT WAS SENT FROM, UM, THIS IS IN RELATION TO A NON REELECTION, WHICH IS HOW IT RELATES TO THE AGENDA ITEM.
UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ A PIECE FROM A LETTER THAT OUR TEACHERS WROTE TWO YEARS AGO TO OUR CSA AND I THINK IT TIES INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH ME TODAY.
UM, I'LL ALSO SEND IN COPY OF THIS LATER.
UM, OUR PRINCIPAL HAS A REPUTATION FOR TREATING MALES AND FEMALES ON CAMPUS.
DISPARATELY, HE BELIEVES IT IS OKAY TO REPRIMAND WOMEN FOR USING PROFANITY NOT IN FRONT OF STUDENTS YET HE DOES NOTHING.
WHEN A MALE ANNOUNCES OVER ZOOM THAT HIS WIFE IS K***Y, IT IS CLEAR THAT HE FEELS SUPERIOR TO WOMEN BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE INTERACTS WITH THEM.
UH, HE HAS EVEN MADE CONDESCENDING COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO WHY A FEMALE TEACHER DOESN'T COOK.
HE'S NOT ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE HIS PERSONAL BELIEFS, ALTHOUGH ANTIQUATED FROM HIS PROFESSIONAL ROLE, HE HAS EVEN GONE AS FAR AS THREATENING A FEMALE ADMINISTRATOR IN FRONT OF STUDENTS', PARENTS AND STAFF.
THIS ADMINISTRATOR DID FILE A COMPLAINT, YET APPARENTLY VERBAL THREATS ARE NOT JUSTIFIABLE FOR MOVEMENT.
THIS SITUATION SENT SENT THE MESSAGE TO STAFF THAT HIS BEHAVIOR MUST BE DEEMED ACCEPTABLE BY THOSE WHO WERE MADE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT, AND IT IS OKAY FOR HIM TO TREAT STAFF MEMBERS IN THIS MANNER.
UM, THIS WAS A LETTER WRITTEN IN 2022 SENT TO OSA.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF MY SIBLING TEACHER HENRY ZAHI, WHO ADDRESSED YOU JUST NOW AS WELL AS THE BE BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOARD MEETING.
AS A FELLOW QUEER EDUCATOR, I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED BY THE BIAS DISPLAYED BY SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL WHO RECOMMENDED HENRY'S NON REELECTION, NOT AS A RESULT OF HENRY'S COMPETENCE IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PRINCIPAL'S OWN INEFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT, HENRY WAS NOT PROVIDED TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE FEEDBACK OR SUPPORT BY HIS ADMIN BEFORE HIS NON REELECTION WAS REVEALED.
SO THIS SEEMS AT BEST TO BE A RESULT OF POOR MANAGEMENT BY THE PRINCIPAL.
AT WORST, IT IS A RESULT OF THE BLATANT DISCRIMINATION THAT IS ALREADY EVIDENT IN THE PRINCIPAL'S CONSTANT MISGENDERING AND DEAD NAMING OF MY SIBLING.
IF A QUEER STAFF MEMBER IS NOT SAFE AT THEIR SCHOOL SITE, WHAT MESSAGE DOES THIS SEND TO THE QUEER STUDENTS AT THAT SCHOOL? I URGE THE L-A-U-S-D BOARD TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND REVERSE THE DECISION TO NOT REELECT HENRY RESIDE FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, RESPECTED SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS NADIA ZAHI, AND I'M TEACHER HENRY'S MOM.
I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND WAS PROUD WHEN MY CHILD CHOSE TO BECOME A TEACHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, I'VE SEEN THEM POUR THEIR HEART AND SOUL IN WORKING TOWARDS THEIR TEACHING CREDENTIALS.
THERE WERE NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN THEY MISSED THE FAMILY GATHERINGS IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS OR PLAN ENGAGING LESSONS FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH EFFORT A YOUNG TEACHER PUTS INTO GETTING THEIR TEACHING CREDENTIALS.
THERE'S ALSO A GREAT DEAL OF INVESTMENT ON THE PART OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PREPARING AND EXTENSIVELY TRAINING A TEACHER.
CONSIDERING THIS, IT DOESN'T MAKE AN, I WOULD OF SENSE TO LET GO OF A DEDICATED TEACHER PREPARED AND TRAINED BY THE DISTRICT JUST BECAUSE OF THE PRINCIPAL'S OWN INEFFICIENCY AND NEGLIGENCE AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, THE PRINCIPAL'S DECISION TO REMOVE A YOUNG AND PASSIONATE TEACHER FROM THEIR POSITION AND NOT RECOMMEND THEM FOR THE PROFESSIONAL TEACHING CREDENTIALS THEY WORKED SO HARD FOR IS UNFAIR, INCONSIDERATE, AND BIASED.
AS EDUCATORS, WE ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGING AND FACILITATING OUR STUDENTS.
SO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, IS IT NOT YOUR DUTY TO ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE THE TEACHERS WHO JOIN THIS PROFESSION AND STAY IN IT DESPITE THE CHALLENGES WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND REELECT TEACHER HENRY SO THEY CAN RECEIVE THEIR TEACHING CREDENTIALS AND CONTINUE SUPPORTING AND IMPARTING EDUCATION TO THE STUDENTS OF L-A-U-S-D WHO NEED EMPATHETIC AND POSITIVE ROLE MODELS IN THEIR LIVES.
SO WE HAVE COMMENT NEXT ON TAB 31.
MOTION DECLARING SALARIES INDEFINITE TO COMPLY WITH LAW.
G, HEIDI, INDIRA, ALLISON, ALLISON, BRIAN TENAYA.
[03:30:01]
ARE HERE AND THEY'RE NOT ONLINE EITHER.[32. Report of Correspondence including Williams Uniform Complaint Quarterly Report Summary (ROC-011-24/25) ]
TAB 32, UH, REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE, WHICH IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING.UH, HERE'S A STATEMENT TO BE READ ON TAB 32 BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN ON THE REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE, INCLUDING THE WILLIAMS UNIFORM COMPLAINT QUARTERLY REPORT SUMMARY, A PUBLIC HEARING MUST BE HELD.
THIS CONSTITUTES A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE REPORT AND A MAXIMUM OF 15 INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON THIS ITEM WILL BE HEARD.
THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK AND HAVE NOT ALREADY SIGNED UP SHOULD SIGN UP.
ONLINE SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED BY NAME.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE FIVE SPEAKERS, ALL OF WHOM ARE LISTED AS REMOTE.
UM, I WILL CALL FIRST ON ERLINDA MORTA ERLINDA MORTA.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MY, I I SIGNED UP MY SON AT DOWNTOWN MAGNET.
IN THE BEGINNING, HE ENTERED THE NINTH GRADE IN ENGINEERING CLASS.
IN THIS CLASS, THEY HAD DIFFERENT PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF THEM MONTHLY WHILE THEY WERE TAKING THE CLASS IN LINE.
THE PERSON IN CHARGE COULDN'T HELP WITH ANY QUESTION THAT THEY WERE ASKING.
THEN THEY PLACED A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER THAT HAD NO GUIDANCE WITHIN THE TEACHING.
IN 2024, MY SON WANTED TO TAKE THE AP PHYSICS CLASS AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.
WE HAD NO, THEY HAD NO PERSONNEL TO COME THROUGH WITH THE CLASS.
I REMOVED HIM FROM THIS CLASS.
I MOVED HIM TO DOWNTOWN BUSINESS MAGNET ON AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
MY SON WANTED TO TAKE AP PHYSICS AGAIN OR UNIVERSITY PHYSICS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE NO PERSONNEL WITH A STRUCTURE GUIDE.
AND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO YEARS.
THEREFORE, IT'S GETTING WORSE EVERY TIME.
AND THE CLASSES THAT HE WANTS TO TAKE, HE CAN'T TAKE THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A PERSON THAT HAS CREDENTIALED TO TEACH THEM CLASS.
TAKE ACTION AND WE NEED YOUR HELP.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
YOU GONZALEZ WILLIAMS WILLIAMS COMPLAINT.
YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS POINT IS A VERY INTERESTING, BUT I HAD TO BE, I HAD TO TAKE LIKE A CANINE DIG AND DIG UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO FIND WHAT IT WAS ABOUT OR WHAT THIS TOPIC REFERRED TO.
EVEN THOUGH I'M INVOLVED IN THIS SCHOOL, I'M A MEMBER OF ENGLISH LEARNERS FROM SSC AS WELL.
NO ONE HAS TOLD ME WHAT THIS LAW IS ABOUT.
I BEEN TO MEETINGS WITH THE PRINCIPAL.
I'VE BEEN TO ELPAC MEETINGS, AND NO ONE TALKS ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC AS PARENTS FROM DISTRICT STUDENTS.
WHAT'S HAPPENING? WHY ARE YOU HIDING THIS? WHY DON'T YOU WANT PARENTS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS? I ASK JUST LIKE YOU'RE INVOLVED IN IMMIGRATION TOPIC, TALK ABOUT THE WILLIAMS LAWS, ESPECIALLY AT THE SCHOOLS.
I ASK THAT YOU TALK ABOUT THIS IN EVERY SCHOOL.
PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW AND MAKE SURE THAT THE SCHOOLS MAINTAIN AN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, REQUIREMENTS FOR LEARNING.
AND THE LAW REQUIRES THAT SCHOOLS GIVE INSTALLATIONS AND LIGHT THAT ARE WORKING ADEQUATELY.
THIS IS, YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON THE QUALIFICATION OF EVERY SCHOOL AND FOR IT TO BE IN THIS DISPOSITION OF THE PUBLIC.
WHERE CAN WE SEE OR CAN WE SEE SOMEONE INFORMING THE EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOLS? HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS COMPLAINT? NOTHING.
WHY? BECAUSE IT IS NOT CONVENIENT FOR YOU.
WE DEMAND THAT YOU APPROVE SOLUTIONS.
AUDIO IS BREAKING, AUDIO IS BREAKING VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MARIA DAISY ORTIZ, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
WHAT WAS THAT?
[03:35:02]
GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL.JUST AS MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ASKED FROM YOU AND YOU SHOULD BE REPORTING HOW MANY SCHOOLS HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS AND HOW HAVE YOU HANDLED THEM? PARENTS SHOULD RECEIVE TRAINING.
WHAT ARE THE AREAS THAT APPLY TO WILLIAMS COMPLAINT? AND OF COURSE, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW, WHEN WILL YOU GIVE THE RESULTS OF THE THREE AREAS THAT THE DISTRICT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH? ACCORDING TO THE AUDIT THAT WAS MADE IN ONE OF THE AREAS IS TEACHERS.
UH, THERE ARE TEACHERS THAT JUST DO PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND THEY'RE TEACHING MATH AT A HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
NOW ALSO, WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL PAR PARENT CENTERS LIKE FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY DON'T HAVE A SINK TO WASH YOUR HANDS.
AND I MADE A WILLIAMS COMPLAINT, AND AS OF NOW, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM ANYONE.
AND LASTLY, A ROYAL SEKO SCHOOL.
THIS IS A SCHOOL THAT IS IN AN AREA WHERE IT SHOULDN'T FUNCTION AS A SCHOOL.
THIS IS A AREA WHERE THIS IS A KINDER THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE AND THERE AREN'T ENOUGH BATHROOMS AT THE SCHOOLS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU MANAGE THIS, HOW YOU MANAGE WILLIAMS COMPLAINTS, BUT YES, IT IS TRUE.
YOU HAVE THIS VERY RESERVED, YOU NEVER GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS, YOU NEVER GIVE INFORMATION OF THE AREAS AND WHAT RESULTS THEY HAVE.
FROM THE WILLIAMS COMPLAINT, THERE SHOULD BE A REPORT, HOW MANY WILLIAMS COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE A MONTH.
AND THE, SO THE SOLUTION, HONESTLY, TO FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK IS WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO THE MOST.
YOU KNOW, AND YOU JUST DO PAPERWORK AND YOU DON'T DO A FOLLOW UP.
THEREFORE, THIS WILLIAMS COMPLAINT IS NOT WORKING BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT WORKING IN A TRANSPARENT WAY WITH PARENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, MR. DAVID TOSKY IS LISTED ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING, BUT I DO NOT SEE YOU ONLINE.
MR. TOSKY, ARE YOU IN THE ROOM, MR. TOSKY? NO, HE'S NOT IN THE ROOM.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, LET'S SEE.
NORMA GONZALEZ, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? NORMA GONZALEZ.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TAB 32.
WE'LL NOW GO TO, WE HAVE TABS 35 AND 36 THAT HAVE COMMENT ARE THE REMAINING TWO FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
UM, MARUS MOORE, CHERYL KONO, KHALIL SMITH, LAKEL WHITE, AMIR KAMIR, CHANNING MARTINEZ, JASMINE KONO SONG.
NONE OF THE FOLKS ARE ONLINE EITHER.
UM, OKAY, NOW LOOKING AT TAB 36, A PUBLIC COMMENT.
MACKEY, DRAPER, BRAXTON, JORDAN, CAMILA, LEO OR LEO, JOSEPH WILLIAMS, PATRICIA SAMARA, ALLISON MONTGOMERY, HENRY RA SKYE OR XAVIER GILROY.
THESE ARE ALL FOLKS LISTED AS SPEAKING IN PERSON AND DO NOT APPEAR TO BE ONLINE EITHER.
SO THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
UM, IT WOULD NOW BE APPROPRIATE TO VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
UH, IT WAS MOVED BY MS. EZ AND SECONDED BY MR. SCHUREN.
WE'VE GOT 1, 2, 3 BOARD MEMBERS IN PERSON AND ONE REMOTE.
AND I WILL CALL THE CON CALL THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
UH, MS. NEWBELL? YES, DR. RIVAS.
UH, MS. GRIEGO? UH, MS. EZ, UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN? YES.
AND BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
AND NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UM, ITEMS THAT WERE LISTED AS DISCUSSION.
UM, WE'VE GOT ITEM NUMBER ONE,
[1. Board of Education Report No. 291-24/25 Division of Instruction (Adoption of Reading Difficulties Risk Screening Instrument) Recommends adoption of one state-approved reading difficulties risk screening instrument to screen all kindergarten through second grade students annually for the risk of reading difficulties, including dyslexia, beginning in the 2025-26 school year.]
ADOPTION OF READING DIFFICULTIES, UH, RISK SCREENING INSTRUMENT.I HAD A QUESTION ON THIS, ALTHOUGH MS. NEW BILL, MS. NEW BILL, MS. NEW BILL, WAS THAT YOU? OKAY.
SO LET'S, UH, LET'S MOVE IT AND SECOND IT AND GET TO, AND GET TO WORK ON IT.
SO, CAN I HAVE A, UM, A MOTION TO HEAR IT MOVED BY, UH, MR. SCHUREN? SECOND, SECONDED BY MS. NEWBELL? PAY ATTENTION SOMETIMES.
[03:40:12]
SO I DID HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.I KNOW, UM, WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE, UH, IT WAS RECOMMENDED FOR US TO ADOPT DIBELS, I KNOW THAT THEY WERE OFFERED TWO OTHER OPTIONS AND WANTED TO KNOW, UM, THE PROJECTED COSTS.
ONE FOR IF WE SELECT DIBELS, WHAT IS THE PROJECTED COST FOR PD AFTER THE FIRST YEAR? OKAY.
UM, SO YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECTED COST FOR PD AFTER THE FIRST YEAR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY, UH, APPROXIMATELY 30 TO $50,000 BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR TEACHERS ARE ALREADY TRAINED IN THE USE OF DIBELS.
SO THIS WOULD BE FOR NEW TEACHERS, UM, THAT WOULD NEED THE TRAINING.
AND THEN WITH THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE THREE THAT WAS OFFERED, WAS THERE THE SELECTION PROCESS, WAS THERE A PRESENTATION GIVEN FOR EACH OF THE OPTIONS WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS OR, OR THE INTEREST HOLDERS THAT PARTICIPATED IN ALL OF OUR MEETINGS DID RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
UH, AND SO, UH, WE RECEIVE AN OVERWHELMING, UH, REQUEST FROM TEACHERS, FROM PRINCIPALS, FROM PARENTS, FROM THE DYSLEXIA WORKING GROUP THAT DIBBLES WAS THE PREFERRED METHOD OF SCREENING BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCE FROM TEACHERS, UH, IN THIS AREA.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT WAS PREDOMINANTLY THE, THE, UM, INTEREST OF, OF, UH, ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE MET WITH.
SO IT WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR PRIOR USE OF THE ASSESSMENT, NOT THAT IT COMPARED TO THE OTHER TWO THAT WE SHARED THE INFORMATION FROM OF EACH OF THE VENDORS OR EACH OF THE, UH, UH, SCREENERS WITH OUR, UM, AT THE MEETINGS.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO SHARE WITH THEM WHAT WAS AVAILABLE AND, BUT NEVERTHELESS, THEY STILL, UH, CHOSE THIS, UH, DIBEL EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A COST ATTACHED TO DIBELS AND THERE MAY NOT BE A COST ATTACHED TO THE OTHERS.
SO THE ONE THAT WAS, DIDN'T HAVE AN ASSOCIATED COST THERE.
THEY HAVE DONE SOME, UM, PILOT STUDIES, BUT WITH A VERY SMALL SAMPLE SIZE.
UH, AND DESPITE IT BEING A VIABLE OPTION, IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SCALABILITY.
UM, BUT HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH IF WE ARE PRESENTING THIS AS AN OPTION FOR, UH, FOR YOUR APPROVAL, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE EXAMINING OUR SCREENERS AND ENSURING THAT THEY'RE EFFECTIVE.
AND IF SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING, THEN WE PIVOT.
WE CONTINUE TO DO OUR PLAN, DO STUDY, ACT MODEL, UM, SO THAT THAT IS, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER, UH, PROVIDER WE BRING ON BOARD OR SCREENING THAT IT HAS THE SCALABILITY FOR THE DISTRICT, THIS LARGE.
AND SO WITH DIBELS, 'CAUSE WE'VE USED IT BEFORE, OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS THE CHOICE.
AND I GUESS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT IS THE COST SAVINGS WAS NOT PART OF OH, WE DISCUSSED THE ASSOCIATED COSTS WITH, WITH OUR, WITH EVERYONE THAT WE MET.
WITH EVERYONE THAT WE MET WITH, YEAH.
AND SO THEN THE LAST THING IS WITH THE RESEARCH ONGOING, IS DIBELS GONNA PROVIDE ONGOING RESEARCH? 'CAUSE I KNOW THE OTHERS WERE ATTACHED TO SOME UNIVERSITIES THAT MAY DO RESEARCH IN THIS AREA.
SO WITH REGARDS TO WHATEVER DIBELS UH, RESEARCH IS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY ARE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, SO THEY'RE CONTINUOUSLY ALSO CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO IT'S, UM, THEY'RE ALWAYS UPDATING THEIR PRACTICES AND, AND CALIBRATING IN TERMS OF WHAT THEIR, WHAT THEIR PRODUCT IS.
AND I KNOW THEY'RE WITH UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, BUT THEN THEY ALSO HAVE A VENDOR WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION, WHICH NOW I THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, UM, THAT DRIVES THEM AS THE VENDOR, UH, ALONG WITH OREGON AMPLIFY.
AND I GUESS THAT'S, THAT'S IT THAT I HAVE.
AND I BELIEVE YOU WERE THE ONLY QUESTION FOR, UH, ONE MORE, KELLY.
AND SORRY, I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IF I REPEAT ANY QUESTIONS, I APOLOGIZE.
I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT IN TRANSIT.
UM, I WAS WONDERING WHAT WOULD BE SUBSTANTIVELY DIFFERENT WITH REGARD TO OUR READING AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ASSESSMENTS WITH THIS ACTION THAT WE'RE TAKING TODAY WITH THIS ACTION? UM, THE, THE DIBELS IS BEEN, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SCREENER IN OUR SYSTEM, AND IT, UH, AND IT DETERMINES THE STUDENT'S ABILITY TO DECODE, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE NONSENSE WORD FLUENCY, THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHAT STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO, WHAT LETTERS ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THOUGH, WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING A SPELLING COMPONENT.
AND THE REASON WHY THE SPELLING COMPONENT IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THEN THE TEACHERS ARE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW THE STUDENTS SPELL THE WORD AND SEE WHETHER THERE ARE ANY RISKS OF, UH, READING DIFFICULTIES BASED ON THEIR ANALYSIS OF THE SPELLING.
UH, AND OF COURSE THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GONNA COME WITH THIS.
AND ALSO THAT THE STUDENTS WHO WILL HAVE THE, IF THEY ARE AT RISK AND DIFFICULTIES READING DIFFICULTIES, THEN WE'LL NEED TO PROVIDE A PLAN AND, UH, ENSURE THAT THERE'S A PLAN IN PLACE FOR INTERVENTION FOR SUPPORT AND ONGOING PROGRESS MONITORING AND SUPPORTS AS WELL TO OUR PARENTS AND OUR FAMILIES.
SO IT'S A LOT ABOUT THE, UM, THE INTERVENTION
[03:45:01]
AND SUPPORT THAT'S GONNA BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SCREENER.SO INSTEAD OF HAVING TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE USE OF THE SCREENER, WE'VE GOT THAT WE'RE GONNA ADD THE SPELLING, BUT THEN ADD DEEPER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR, FOR TEACHERS TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO IDENTIFY THOSE READING DIFFICULTIES NOW THAT, THAT HAD NEVER BEEN AS PRESENT BEFORE, BUT USING THEIR STRONG FOUNDATION THAT THEY'VE HAD IN, UM, TEACHING READING, THIS IS GONNA TAKE US NOW TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO WE, WE ALREADY HAVE THE FAMILIARITY WITH THE ASSESSMENT TOOL.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THIS WILL ENABLE US TO FOCUS ON THE INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT THAT'S CORRECT.
SIDE OF THE WORK? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, AND THE SPELLING COMPONENT IS NEW? WE HAVEN'T PREVIOUSLY UTILIZED THAT AS PART OF OUR ASSESSMENT.
IT'S NOT BEEN PART OF THE SCREENING OF THE BATTERY OF SCREENERS THAT WE'VE BEEN USING.
UM, AND WILL ANYTHING CHANGE WITH REGARD TO OUR OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF READING FOR K THROUGH TWO STUDENTS? SINCE WE'RE ADOPTING, WE ARE CONSIDERING ADOPTING THIS AS THE SCREENER? SURE.
SO, UH, BECAUSE, UH, THE SCREENER CANNOT BE A HIGH, CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY HIGH STAKES ASSESSMENT, UH, RECLASSIFICATION IS CONSIDERED HIGH STAKES.
AND SO WE HAD TO CHANGE THE RECLASSIFICATION TOOL, SO IT WOULD NO LONGER BE DIBELS.
UH, BUT WE KNOW THAT OVER 40 PER 47% OF OUR KINDER THROUGH SECOND GRADE STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY TAKING USING THE, UM, THE I-READY ASSESSMENT.
SO I-READY ASSESSMENT WOULD BE THE RECLASSIFICATION INSTRUMENT.
SO IT'S IN STATE LAW THAT IT, IT CAN'T BE UTILIZED AS BOTH THE SCREENER AND THE HIGH STAKES? THAT'S CORRECT.
WELL, I THINK, UM, I MEAN THAT, THAT MAKES SENSE AND I APPRECIATE THE STAKEHOLDER INPUT THAT YOU ALL GOT.
I GUESS I WOULD, MY FEEDBACK FOR OUR STATE LEGISLATORS IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT MIGHT RESULT FROM THAT THEN IS MORE TESTING FOR SOME OF OUR YOUNGEST, MORE TIME TESTING FOR SOME OF OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS.
AND, UM, I WOULD SAY THAT GENERALLY THAT'S NOT IDEAL.
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER IS THAT PARENTS CAN OPT OUT OF THE SCREENER, UH, AND IT'S ONLY DONE ONCE, ONLY DONE ONCE EVERY YEAR ANNUALLY.
AND SO PARENTS CAN OPT OUT OF, OF HAVING THEIR CHILD TAKE THE SCREENER.
I THINK IT JUST SPEAKS TO, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE LOCAL CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT AND IF THERE WAS GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN HOW WE COULD IMPLEMENT IT, IT MIGHT ALLOW US TO DO SO IN A COST EFFECTIVE, A MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAY.
AND ALSO IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T ENHANCE, UH, TESTING TIME FOR OUR, OUR PRIMARY AGE STUDENTS.
ESRA RESPOND? OH YEAH, NO, SORRY, GO AHEAD.
I JUST ALSO WANTED, UH, THIS WAS A CONCERN FOR US AS WELL.
UH, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE TEAM DID ALONG WITH THE MED FOLKS WAS JUST INTENTIONALLY LOOK AT TESTING ACROSS THE YEAR AND SEE LIKE, HOW DO WE SCHEDULE THIS IN A WAY WHERE THINGS ARE NOT OVERLAPPING? SO THEN STUDENTS ARE NOT FEELING LIKE THEY'RE TESTING CONSTANTLY.
AND SO THEY REALLY WERE INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD A STAGNANT SCHEDULE AROUND THESE ASSESSMENTS.
SO I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE THE SAME CONCERN, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY THAT WE MADE SURE THAT THE MED TEAM AND THE DIVISION OF INSTRUCTION BUILT OUT A SCHEDULE THAT ALLOWED THAT ABILITY TO SEE WHEN STUDENTS WERE ACTUALLY BEING TESTED WHEN THEY WERE NOT, AND THAT WE DIDN'T SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING SO CLOSELY TOGETHER.
SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AS WELL.
AND I, I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF STAFF.
I WOULD SAY THAT PERHAPS AN EXAMPLE OF THE STATE LAW BEING IMPERFECT IN US JUST OPERATING WITHIN THAT, THAT CONTEXT.
UM, TWO OTHER QUICK QUESTIONS FOR YOU, DR.
ONE IS JUST, I KNOW THE KIND OF STARTUP COSTS ARE DISCUSSED IN THE BOARD ITEM.
WHAT ARE THE ONGOING ANNUAL COSTS? SO THAT WOULD BE FOR THE LICENSES.
SO THAT WOULD BE 784,000 APPROXIMATELY.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UH, THE ITEM SPEAKS TO ALTERNATIVE PROTOCOLS BEING ESTABLISHED FOR STUDENTS, UM, WHO SPEAK WHOSE PRIMARY LANGUAGE THERE DOES NOT EXIST AS A SCREENER TOOL, WHICH IS IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THOSE ALTERNATIVE PROTOCOLS? SURE.
SO, UM, THE POLICY HAS A READING DIFFICULTY, RISK SCREENER, TOOL SELECTION FLOW CHART, UH, FOR OTHER, UH, OTHER LANGUAGES.
SO THE TEACHER CHECKLIST AND HOME LANGUAGE SURVEY OR INTERVIEWS WOULD BE, UH, WOULD SUPPORT TEACHERS IN MAKING INFORMED INSTRUCTIONAL DECISIONS.
AND THOSE ARE, UM, WE WILL, IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT INTERVENTION AND, UM, SUPPORT TRAINING TO OUR EDUCATORS, I ASSUME WE'LL PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR OUR TEACHERS OF MLLS WHO SPEAK LANGUAGES OTHER THAN SPANISH.
UM, SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ANSWERED THIS QUESTION WHEN I WAS OUT, BUT, UH, REGARDING PAYING FOR THE TEST FOR THE LICENSES, IF WE WERE ALREADY USING IT, WHY ARE WE HAVING TO PAY? OR IS IT A DIFFERENT, IS IT A DIFFERENT TEST THAT WE'RE TAKING OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE PAY EVERY YEAR? WELL, SO SIBBLES HAS BEEN PART OF OUR, UM, TOOLKIT.
IT'S, WE WE'RE GOING TO JUST CONTINUE TO PAY BASED ON THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN USING.
SO IT'S NOT NEW THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS.
AND THEN REGARDING, UM, MONITORING STUDENTS, HOW OFTEN IS, UH,
[03:50:01]
ARE THEY, IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO MONITOR THEM? MONITOR? IT'S ALWAYS RECOMMENDED THAT WE MONITOR EVERY TWO WEEKS TO SEE HOW STUDENTS ARE PROGRESSING IN THAT PARTICULAR CATEGORY.SO THEY WOULDN'T TAKE US AN ENTIRE BATTERY OF SUB TESTS, IT'S JUST IN THE AREA THAT THE CHILD DEMONSTRATED SOME NEED.
THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD JUST ASSESS, UM, OR SCREEN, UH, OR PROGRESS MONITOR EVERY TWO WEEKS.
AND WE'LL BE USING DOUBLES AGAIN.
AND, UM, HOW LONG WOULD THAT TAKE FOR A STUDENT TO GENERALLY DO A YEAH, SO DEPENDING ON THE GRADE LEVEL.
UH, SO WHEN WE HAVE THE, EACH ONE OF THE SUBTEST, IT'S APPROXIMATELY ABOUT A MINUTE.
UM, SO LET ME JUST GET MY LITTLE CHART SO I COULD GIVE YOU THE CORRECT.
SO IN KINDERGARTEN IT'S UP TO FOUR MINUTES.
UH, FOR GRADE ONE IT'S UP TO FIVE MINUTES.
AND FOR GRADE TWO, IT'S UP TO, UH, IT'S UP TO, UH, THREE MINUTES.
UM, THAT'S, SO EACH, THERE'S ONE MINUTE FOR EACH OF THE SUBTEST.
SO IF THE CHILD SAY DID WELL ON ONE OR TWO OUT OF, UH, I'M SORRY, ONE OUT OF THE THREE, THEN THEY WOULD ONLY NEED TO TAKE THE ONES THAT THEY DIDN'T DO WELL IN.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE DOING I-READY FOR THESE CHILDREN FOR K TO K TWO.
THAT'S, SO THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN TAKING THE I-READY MATH.
THAT'S ALREADY BEEN AN ESTABLISHED PRACTICE.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ADDING THE, UM, THE READING I-READY COMPONENT BECAUSE WE CAN'T USE, UM, THE, UH, THE, UH, READING DIFFICULTY SCREENER AS A, UM, HIGH STAKES ASSESSMENT.
AND BECAUSE WE NEED IT FOR RECLASSIFICATION.
THAT'S WHY I-READY IS THE, IS THE TOOL THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE I-READY AS THE, UH, RECLASSIFICATION TOOL.
UM, AND WE KNOW THAT ABOUT 47% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ALREADY TAKING IT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT MANDATED.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY THAT IT PROVIDES THAT DIBBLES DOES.
AND DIBBLES IS THE FOUNDATIONAL READING.
IT'S A, IT'S A SCREENER FOR UNDERSTANDING THEIR ABILITY TO DECODE.
AND, AND YET I'M WORRIED TOO BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THESE LITTLE PROGRESS MONITORING ARE THREE TO FIVE MINUTES, OR ONE TO FIVE MINUTES, A CHILD KNOWS WHEN THEY'RE BEING TESTED AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH IT'S VERY SMALL.
SO NOW OUR KIDS ARE GONNA BE DOING THE MONITORING FOR SOME OF THEM.
THEY'LL BE DOING MONITORING PLUS THE I-READY THREE TIMES A YEAR.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE DOING THIS, BUT I JUST, I JUST WANNA UPLIFT THAT, THAT IT REALLY IS ADDING ANOTHER ASSESSMENT TO OUR STUDENTS.
AND THEN IN PARTICULARLY, UM, FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, AS YOU KNOW, UM, THEY GET OVER TESTED.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, BUT I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO DO THIS AND, BUT THAT'S THE REALITY.
UH, THE OTHER THING IS YOU MENTIONED, UM, OPTING OUT.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR PARENTS TO OPT OUT? UH, WE WOULD INFORM THE FAMILIES RIGHT BEFORE THE ASSESSMENT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE, THAT THERE'S AN OPT OUT OPTION, AND WE PROVIDE THEM WITH THE LETTER TEMPLATE.
UH, WE INFORM THEM THAT THE ASSESSMENT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE, SORT OF LIKE THE WAY WE DO WITH THE STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT.
LIKE THE SMARTER BALANCE IS GONNA BE ADMINISTERED DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS, THIS IS WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE ADMINISTERED, THIS IS THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE TO OPT OUT.
WE WOULD FOLLOW A SIMILAR PROCESS.
AND THEN LASTLY, ON THE SPELLING, IS THAT RECOMMENDED BY THE COMPANY TO, TO TEST STUDENTS FOR SPELLING? THAT IS ONE OF THE, YEAH, THAT IS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDED BATTERY OF ASSESSMENTS.
JUST ONE FOLLOW UP, WHICH YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE SPELLING COMPONENT AND THE, UH, ONGOING MONITORING.
WHEN THEY OPT OUT, ARE THEY OPTING OUT OF, THEY HAVE OPTIONS OF WHAT TO OPT OUT OF AS A PARENT? WHAT IS THEIR OPTIONS? WHAT WOULD BE GIVEN THEIR OPTIONS CONSIDERING THE SPELLING COMPONENT IS NEW AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE PAST, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH DIBELS, WHAT WOULD BE THE OPT-OUT OPTION? THEY WOULD BE OPTING OUT OF THE READING DIFFICULTIES, RISK SCREENER.
SO THE ENTIRE THING, WHICH IS A TOTAL OF FOUR MINUTES FOR ONE GRADE, FIVE MINUTES FOR ANOTHER, THREE MINUTES FOR ANOTHER.
AND THEN THE SPELLING AND THE WHOLE GROUP IS ABOUT 15 MINUTES.
SAY THE LAST PART, THE SPELLING COMPONENT LAST 15 MINUTES AS A WHOLE GROUP.
ANY OTHER COMMENT? UM, JUST TWO, TWO, UM, TWO FOLLOW UPS, OR I GUESS MAYBE THREE FOLLOW UPS.
CAN, BASED ON, UM, MS. REGO'S QUESTION ABOUT OPT OUT, CAN PARENTS OPT OUT OF IREADY IF KIDS AREN'T ENGLISH LEARNERS? YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT ONE.
UH, REGARDING THE I-READY, I'M PREPARED TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE READING DIFFICULTIES WITH SCREENER,
[03:55:01]
BUT I'LL, I'LL COME BACK WITH THAT ONE.UM, AND CAN WE GET A COPY OF THAT, THE ASSESSMENT CALENDAR? ABSOLUTELY.
ONCE, ONCE YOU ADOPT IT, THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU THE, THE CALENDAR.
I JUST, BUT WE KNOW THAT NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER IS WHEN WE'RE, UM, LOOKING TO ADMINISTER THE SCREENER.
'CAUSE I THINK TOO, I MEAN THAT'S HELP.
A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE CREATED IN ISOLATION.
SOME ARE SCHOOL SPECIFIC, SOME ARE A LOT OF DISTRICT SPECIFIC, SOME ARE STATE SPECIFIC.
THEN WE HAVE LIKE FOR SOME SCHOOLS WHO ARE IN A, AND SO I THINK RARELY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THEY'RE HAPPENING MAYBE IN, IN SILOS OR VACUUMS THAT MAKE SENSE.
BUT WHEN YOU LAYER IT ON, IT'S A LOT OF ASSESSMENTS FOR KIDS KIDS AND FIGURING OUT WHICH ONES YOU CAN OPT OUT OF AND WHICH ONES ARE HELPFUL.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND THEN ALSO, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY 'CAUSE THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, IREADY ENGLISH IS NEW THIS YEAR.
THE I-READY READING AND MATH HAVE BEEN IN, IN A, IN EFFECT SINCE WE'VE ADOPTED IT IN OUR DISTRICT.
UH, AND SO MATH HAS BEEN AN, UM, AN ASSESSMENT THAT KINDER THROUGH SECOND HAS BEEN TAKING SINCE WE ADOPTED.
THE READING HAS ALSO 47% OF OUR KINDER THROUGH SECOND GRADE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN TAKING THE READING EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED TO.
IT WILL BE A REQUIREMENT MOVING FORWARD IF THE READING DIFFICULTIES RISK SCREENER, UH, IS DIBELS BECAUSE WE CAN'T USE THAT ONE AS A HIGH STAKES ASSESSMENT.
SO IF THIS IS ADOPTED, THEN FOR K TWO IT BECOMES A REQUIRE I-READY BECOMES A REQUIREMENT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S VOTE.
THIS IS TAB, UH, TAB ONE ADOPTION OF READING DIFFICULTIES.
AND BOARD PRESIDENT MOLSON? YES.
THAT IS TWO NOS AND FIVE EYES SO IT PASSES.
AND I'LL NOTE THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENTER FOR THAT ITEM, UH, NEVER SHOWED UP.
MOVING ALONG TO, WE HAVE TAB EIGHT, DEFINE AND APPROVE THE 20 25, 20 26 EDUCATION CODE SECTION 4, 7, 6 1 4 PROP 39 FACILITIES RENOVATION EFFORT.
AND, UM, WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT.
AND THEN, UM, MS. GRIEGO, I BELIEVE HAD SOME QUESTIONS.
MR. TOSKI IS THE ONE PUBLIC COMMENTER.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM, MR. TOSKI? AND HE'S ALSO NOT ONLINE.
SO THAT'S THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THAT IS OVER.
UM, AND MS. GRIEGO, YOU HAD, YOU HAD QUESTIONS? YES.
UM, MY QUESTION WAS AROUND THE SCOPE OF WORK AT SONYA AT, SO MAOR, UM, THE FACILITY RENOVATION PROJECT? OKAY.
SO, UH, SOTO MOOR, I BELIEVE IS, UM, A NEW CHARTER CO-LOCATION AT THE SITE.
AND SO WHEN WE, UH, ARE DOING THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR A NEW CHARTER CO-LOCATION, THAT TYPE OF WORK CAN INCLUDE, UH, NEW FURNITURE AS NEEDED, RECONFIGURATION OF THE, UM, BELL AND SPEAKER SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL NEW, UH, BUZZER AND SECURE ENTRYWAY IF THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SECURE ENTRYWAYS.
SO THIS AMOUNT IS AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT WILL COST WELL, IF ANY OF THESE THINGS CORRECT ARE NEEDED.
AND IF, IF WE FIND OUT THAT THERE AREN'T THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED, THAT ESTIMATE CAN BE LOWERED AND WE TURN THAT AMOUNT BACK TO THE CHARTER BUCKET.
UM, JUST TO SHARE THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOLS REQUESTED AN ALTERNATIVE AGREEMENT WHEREBY THEY WOULD NOT ACTUALLY BE GOING TO SODA MAOR.
UM, THIS IS A MULTI-SITE OFFER, SO WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT, UM, HAPPENING AT THIS TIME.
AND YOUR NAME? YOUR NAME? I'M JEANETTE BORDEN, CHARTER SCHOOL'S OPERATIONS MANAGER.
IT LOOKS LIKE, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE THE VOTE ON TAB EIGHT, AND I NEVER GOT A MOVE AND A SECOND ON THAT.
MOVE IT MOVE MOVED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON, SECONDED BY VICE PRESIDENT DR. RIVAS.
[04:00:01]
MR. MALVIN? YES.UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHROEN? YES.
AND IF I COULD PLEASE RECORD, UH, A COUPLE OF MISSING VOTES FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
AND IF IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO BE A CO-SPONSOR ON TABS 35 AND 36, UM, BOARD NUMBER HANDY, NEW BILLS RE YES.
SO LET ME, LET ME JUST GO SUPER SLOW BECAUSE I'M A SLOW GUY.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO TAB 35 AND 36, UH, MISS NEW BILL'S RESOLUTIONS AND ADD CO-SPONSORS.
UM, MAY I HEAR ABOUT CO-SPONSORS FOR TAB 35? YES.
OKAY, SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO NINE.
[Items 9 & 10]
FOR TABS NINE AND 10.I DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
REVA AND MS. REGO ON TAB NINE AND 10.
ONE SECOND WHILE I GET MY, OKAY.
SO I HAD A QUESTION FOR ITEM L AND ALSO ITEM Q, WHOEVER, SO YOU CAN GET READY FOR ITEM Q.
UM, SO ITEM L, UM, CONTINUUM CLOUD, L, LC.
MY QUESTION IS AROUND, UM, BUDGET.
IT'S, UM, SO WANNA KNOW WHAT THE, WHAT ARE THE CONTINGENCY PLANS, UM, IF TO ANTICIPATE IF THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE GRANT IS NOT SECURED FOR THE $2 MILLION.
UM, HOW WILL THE DISTRICT ENSURE THAT CONTINUITY AND EXPANSION OF THE EHR SYSTEM WITHOUT THIS FUNDING IN CASE? DO WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THAT? UH, GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD, UH, JOEL CISNEROS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES.
UH, WE WILL WORK INTERNALLY WITH OUR BUDGET TEAM AND WE WILL WORK WITHIN OUR DIVISION TO IDENTIFY THOSE FUNDS.
SO THAT IS THE CONTINGENCY PLAN THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
YEAH, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO, UM, HAVE A PLAN.
IN CASE BEFORE, YOU KNOW, COMING HERE, JUST PLAN A AND PLAN B AND SYMPTOMS PLAN C IS ALWAYS GOOD.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE VOTE ON IT, THAT THE FUNDS ARE THERE.
SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, THE DISTRICT IS ACTIVELY, YOU KNOW, FOCUSED ON, UM, PLAN A AND ALSO OBVIOUSLY PLAN B.
SO WANTED TO JUST CHECK ON THAT.
SO YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE BUDGET? YEAH.
MS. GRIEGO, I, I HAVE A QUESTION ON ITEM NI HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, BUT, OH, I'M SORRY.
OKAY, MR. FREEMAN, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR CONCERNS FROM LABOR PARTNERS REGARDING THE USE OF AMAZON AND OTHER OUTSOURCING PRACTICES, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO THE IMPACT ON LOCAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES, UH, THE RELIANCE ON EXTERNAL VENDORS AND THE LACK OF UNION SUPPORT FOR AMAZON WORKERS.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO ON HOW THE DISTRICT IS ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS AND WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO UTILIZE INTERNAL RESOURCES SUCH AS OUR WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS, WHERE POSSIBLE? SO THESE CONTRACTS HERE ARE MASTER CONTRACTS THAT ALLOW FOR ANYBODY, UH, SCHOOLS OR OFFICES IS TO PURCHASE FROM.
UM, WE IN PROCUREMENT DON'T DICTATE OR TELL SCHOOLS AND OFFICES HOW TO USE THOSE FUNDS AND, AND PURCHASE FROM WHERE, UH, WE, WE BASICALLY ARE OUR, OUR JOB IS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THAT BASED ON THE NEEDS OR THE WANTS OF SCHOOLS AND OFFICES TO THAT.
THERE'S STILL A DISTRICT WAREHOUSE THAT OPERATES, UM, VERY WELL, UH, AND, UH, CONTINUES TO OPERATE IN A, IN A FASHION TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND OFFICES.
SO THERE'S THE ABILITY TO, TO HAVE BOTH.
WELL, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO PROVIDE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
UM, I KNOW THAT THESE ARE, AMAZON IS ONE, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO THINK IF YOU'VE HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT USING, YOU KNOW, THESE COMPANIES, YOU KNOW, IT'S WONDERFUL TO JUST AMPLIFY THE SELECTIONS FOR STUDENTS AND NOT, ARE WE DO THE STU ARE OUR
[04:05:01]
SCHOOLS BEING INFORMED THAT THEY SHOULD PRIORITIZE THE WAREHOUSE AND THEN THESE ARE IN CASE THE WAREHOUSE ISN'T HAVE WHATEVER PARTICULAR MATERIALS OR INSTRUCTIONAL, UM, MATERIALS THAT THEY NEED THAT THEY CAN HAVE OTHER OPTIONS.AND HAVE YOU ALSO RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM OUR SCHOOLS REGARDING THESE VENDORS OR HOW TO, UH, ADD OTHER VENDORS THAT THEY PREFER? YEP.
SO, UH, HISTORICAL PURCHASING TO BE ABLE TO DICTATE OR, OR TELL US WHERE WE SHOULD GO AND GET MASTER CONTRACTS.
UM, SO AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S SCHOOLS AND OFFICES BASICALLY TELLING US WHAT THEY WANT AND WE GO OUT AND SOURCE IT WITH BEST, BEST PRICING MASTER CONTRACTS TO SUPPORT THAT.
AND IF SCHOOLS HAVE THEIR OWN PREFERRED VENDOR, CAN THEY ALS, CAN THEY USE THAT? IF IT'S NOT PART OF A BENCH, CAN THEY USE THAT EXTERNAL VENDOR? YES.
SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT SORT OF IS A BARRIER OR CHALLENGE FOR THEM TO GET AN APPROVAL FOR A VENDOR THAT'S NOT PART OF, OF THIS BENCH.
JUST PROCUREMENT CODE AROUND PROCUREMENT CODE, PURCHASING THRESHOLDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT WE CAN SUPPORT AND BEING ABLE TO, TO, TO GET WHAT THEY NEED.
SO, DR. RIVAS, MANY YEARS AGO THERE WERE ITEMS YOU HAD TO BUY FROM THE CATALOG.
YOU HAD TO BUY FROM THE CATALOG AND THEY WOULD TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO TAX AND THERE'S FREE DELIVERY, NO TAX TO US AND FREE DELIVERY.
SO YOU HAD TO BUY THROUGH THEM.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE DO THAT ANYMORE.
UH, THERE'S STILL THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE FROM THE DISTRICT WAREHOUSE.
UH, IF, IF YOU GO THROUGH OUR PROCUREMENT ARIBA WEBSITE, UM, ACCESS TO THE DISTRICT WAREHOUSE AND PURCHASING THROUGH THERE, BUT AGAIN, WE, WE DON'T DICTATE WHAT SCHOOLS AND OFFICES WANT.
WE, WE USED TO DICTATE WHAT YOU CAN BUY AND YOU HAD TO BUY IT FROM THE DISTRICT WAREHOUSE.
THAT'S HOW IT WAS BEFORE, IF ANYBODY WAS A TEACHER A LONG TIME AGO.
JUST TO THAT POINT WITH THE WAREHOUSE IS THROUGH THE DATA, IS THERE AN IMPACT ON OUR WAREHOUSE? ARE WE SEEING A DECLINE OR ITEMS BEING STORED OVER TIME EXTENDED? WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON YOUR DATA FOR OUR WAREHOUSE CURRENT CURRENTLY THIS YEAR, THERE'S A SLIGHT DECLINE IN SALES.
UH, BUT FROM A AN OVERALL PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S SOME ITEMS THAT WE'VE, UM, NOT FOCUSED ON.
SO WE'RE FOCUSING ON KIND OF THE HIGH TURN THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY BEING SOLD.
UM, SO IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DATA AND WHAT WE HAVE, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND OFFICES AS BEST WE CAN.
AND ARE WE SEEING DUPLICATE ITEMS SAYING THAT THE WAREHOUSE DOES CARRY IT, BUT THEY'RE PURCHASING IT FROM OUR MASTER CONTRACTS? SO THERE'S LIMITATIONS.
UM, IF YOU TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC TO AMAZON, THERE'S LIMITATIONS IN WHAT CAN BE PURCHASED FROM THEM.
UH, SO COMPETITIVE ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE WAREHOUSE VERSUS AMAZON.
UM, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A LIKELIHOOD THAT THERE'S PURCHASING OF ITEMS FROM AN AMAZON, FROM AN OFFICE DEPOT, FROM A STAPLES, FROM A, UM, YOU NAME WHATEVER THAT THAT RETAILER IS THERE.
THERE'S A LIKELIHOOD THAT THERE'LL BE ITEMS THAT ARE, THEY'RE DUPLICATES.
AND CHARLET, I'M WILLING TO BET WHEN THERE'S A DROP IN BUYING FROM THE WAREHOUSE IS A DROP IN THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT L-A-U-S-D OFFERS.
AND THEN WE, I SEE YOU MISS, UH, TANYA, YOU'RE GOING TO AFTER HER.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION ON ITEM NI DON'T KNOW.
THE CITY OF LA, DEPARTMENT OF RE RECREATION AND PARKS, AND IT'S A CONTRACT TO PROVIDE LOW INCOME CHILDREN WITH L LA WITHIN L-A-U-S-D COMMUNITIES WITH ONE LUNCH MEAL PER DAY DURING THE MONTH WHEN THE SCHOOL IS CLOSED FOR SUMMER RECESS.
MY DISTRICT INCLUDES NON LA CITIES, THE SOUTHEAST CITIES ARE INDEPENDENT.
SO I'M WONDERING, DO WE HAVE SOMETHING WITH THOSE CITIES AS WELL? IT MIGHT BE A BETTER QUESTION FOR MANISHH, UM, AND, AND OUR FOODS TEAM TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT, UM, IN, IN SPEAKING AND, AND LISTENING TO SOME OF THE CONVERSATION LAST WEEK, IT SOUNDS LIKE THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVEN'T TAKEN PLACE WITH OTHER CITIES, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT.
KIM, WE CAN PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THAT END.
UM, 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S A GOOD QUESTION GIVEN THAT THEY DO ALSO HAVE PARKS AND REC PROGRAMS HAPPENING OVER THE SUMMER.
UM, SO WE CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
AND I WOULD ADD ALSO FOR EAST LA I'M SORRY, FOR EAST LA.
TANYA, WHAT'S THAT? THE HARBOR AREA FOR THAT TOO.
ACTUALLY MINE WAS BACK ON ITEM Q ON THE AMAZON QUESTION.
I ASKED IT IN BRIEFING AND IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWUPS WE RECEIVED, UM, FROM THE S SOUPS TEAM.
SO WE GOT THE NUMBER OF HOW MUCH WE SPENT ON AMAZON LAST YEAR, BUT CAN WE ALSO GET THIS YEAR'S TO DATE? UM, AND THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WAREHOUSES IS MAKING ME THINK OF, UM, A COMPARISON WOULD ACTUALLY BE HELPFUL.
LIKE ITEMS FOR LIKE ITEMS, UH, I'LL FOLLOW UP IN WRITING IF IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, UM, BUT JUST TO FLAG THAT WE HAD REQUESTED
[04:10:01]
IN THE BRIEFING TO GET, UH, THIS YEAR TO DATE SPEND ON, ON IT AS WELL.SO, UM, I'LL, I'LL LOOK FOR THAT AS A FOLLOW UP.
WE'RE READY FOR TAB 10 APPROVAL OF FACILITIES ACTIONS.
AND WE HAVE DR. RIVAS AND MS. GRIEGO FOR QUESTIONS.
CAN WE, UH, VOTE ON TAB NINE? WE CAN
CAN I HAVE A MOVE FOR TAB NINE? I MOVE IT.
SECONDED BY VICE PRESIDENT REBA.
AND BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
AND CAN I HAVE, UH, SOMEONE MOVE TAB 10? MOVE, MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT DR.
SO THERE WERE, UM, DISCUSSION ON TAB 10.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON ITEM S, THE AIR INC.
UM, UM, CAN YOU PROVIDE A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF WHICH SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY RECEIVE SERVICES FROM AIR, UM, FROM AIR INC.
UM, AS PART OF THE EMERGENCY CONTRACT AND WHAT SPECIFIC SERVICES WERE REQUESTED FOR AND WHICH WERE THE SCHOOLS THAT REQUESTED SERVICES? SURE.
SO THE ONE THAT YOU'RE SEEING IN ITEM S IS SPECIFICALLY FOR PALISADES HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, WE WILL PROBABLY BE SEEING, UM, IN NEXT MONTH'S BOARD REPORT FOR RATIFICATION, SAME AIR INK WILL BE DOING THE SAME WORK AT MARQUEZ AND PALISADES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
UM, THEY'RE PERFORMING, THEY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REMOVAL AT ALL THREE OF THESE SITES.
UM, SO THAT INCLUDES THE REMOVAL OF LEAD AND ASBESTOS FROM ANY OF THE REMAINING BUILDINGS ON THE CAMPUSES, THE REMOVAL OF ANY CONTAMINATED REP, UM, MATERIALS, SOFT MATERIALS THAT WERE ABSORBENT AND THE, UM, HEPA FILTERING AND WIPED DOWN OF ANY HARD SURFACE MATERIALS.
SO OEHS WAS CONDUCTING THE TESTING AND AIR INK IS ACTUALLY REMOVING IT? CORRECT.
O-E-H-N-S UM, USED A CONSULTANT WHO DID THE TESTING AND THEN AIR INK IS THE CONTRACTOR THAT IS DOING THE ABATEMENT AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL REMOVAL.
SO GIVEN THE CONCERNS RAISED BY MEDIA, UM, BY EXPERTS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF CLEANUP, POST CLEANUP OF POST FIRES, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS AFFECTED BY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, HOW DO THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THIS CONTRACT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PROPER HAZARDOUS CLEANUP PROCESSES AND THE POTENTIAL OF LONG-TERM IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY? SO THIS SPECIFIC CONTRACT IS RELATED TO, UM, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OUR SCHOOL SITES.
UM, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OEHS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING ALL THE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND THERE ARE MANY, AND THEN THERE'S SUPPLEMENTAL TESTING DONE AFTERWARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CLEANUP WAS PROPERLY DONE.
UM, AND ALL OF THAT IS SHARED AND MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE BY OEHS FOR, UM, THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR OTHER AGENCY COUNTERPARTS, UM, TO LOOK AT THE IMPACTS OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS TO OUR SCHOOL SITES.
WE ARE DOING BOTH SOILS TESTING THAT WILL BE ONGOING AS WELL AS AIR MONITORING AROUND THE PERIMETER OF OUR SCHOOL SITES TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO HEALTH IMPACTS SO THAT WHEN STUDENTS AND STAFF RETURN, IT IS SAFE AND MEETS ANY REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.
ARE THERE AIR TESTING QUA, UM, YOU KNOW, SORT OF METRICS THAT ARE BEING USED BEFORE AND AFTER TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONTAMINANTS ARE NOT BEING SPREAD OR WHAT ARE SOME OF THE INSTRUMENTS THAT THEY'RE USING JUST TO SURE.
SO I'M GETTING A LITTLE OUT OF MY LEVEL OF EXPERTISE.
'CAUSE THIS WORK IS DONE BY OEH AND S, BUT I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS AIR TESTING THAT THEY, UM, MONITOR AROUND THE PERIMETER OF OUR SCHOOL SITES.
THEY KNOW WHAT KIND OF A BASELINE IS, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY'RE TESTING FOR, AND THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE, UM, ENSURE THAT THERE IS THE QUALITY OF WHAT THEY'RE TESTING FOR MEETS WHATEVER REQUIREMENTS ARE TO ENSURE THAT THE AIR IS SAFE.
SO THAT'S DONE, THAT WAS DONE BOTH PRIOR AT, UM, ONE OR TWO OF THOSE SITES.
WE'RE NOW GONNA ENSURE THAT, THAT THE TESTING IS DONE AT ALL THREE SITES.
YOU MENTIONED THAT OEHS, UM, PROVIDES A REPORT OF THAT.
IS THAT ON THEIR WEBSITE? SO NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, YES.
SPECIFIC PALISADES COMMUNITY, BUT ALL OF US CAN BE ABLE TO, TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION.
IT'S SO IT WAS, UM, ALREADY MADE PUBLIC FOR THE SITES,
[04:15:01]
UM, THAT HAD BEEN CLOSED AND HAVE SINCE REOPENED.UM, WHILE THESE REPORTS ARE BEING COMPLETED, THEY WILL BE MADE PUBLIC FOR THESE THREE SITES AS WELL.
AND LAST QUESTION, ARE THERE ADDITIONAL PLANS IN PLACE FOR ONGOING TESTING AT POLY STATES HIGH SCHOOL, MARQUEZ ELEMENTARY AND POLY STATES, ELEMENTARY OR OTHER SCHOOLS THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE FIRE AND, AND WINDSTORMS? YES.
SO THERE WILL BE A SERIES OF, UM, CONTINUING MONITORING OF THESE SITES WHEN THEY'RE REOPENED NOT ONLY IN REGARDS TO AIR, BUT ANY OTHER PROTOCOLS DEEMED NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THESE SITES ARE SAFE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GONNA BE CLEANUP, UM, IN THE LARGER AREA AS WELL, AS WELL AS CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS FOR YEARS TO COME.
I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, NOT A QUESTION, JUST A KUDOS.
YOU, YOU MIGHT BE AN EXPERT AT THIS POINT ON THIS NOW BECAUSE OF ALL THE TOWN HALLS AND WORK YOU'VE DONE.
SO I JUST WANT TO CREDIT YOUR TEAM AND CARLOS, JENNIFER, AND OEHS BECAUSE, UM, THIS DISTRICT HAS GONE ABOVE WHAT THE CITY'S DOING, WHAT THE COUNTY'S DOING, WHAT THE STATE'S DOING, WHAT FEMA'S DOING, WHAT THE ARMY CORPS IS DOING WHEN IT COMES TO THE TESTING.
THEY'RE DOING IT WITHIN THE BURN SCAR AND IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS FOR SCHOOLS THAT HAVE REQUESTED IT.
AND THE TRANSPARENCY WITH WHICH YOU'RE WORKING TO DO THESE TOWN HALLS.
I THINK WE'RE WELL OVER A DOZEN AT THIS POINT, PUT IT ON THE WEBSITE TO DR.
REVA'S POINT, UM, AND REALLY BUILD COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
AND BUY-IN IS, IS NOT ONLY REALLY REASSURING FOR MY CONSTITUENTS, BUT I THINK A MODEL FOR THE, YOU KNOW, A NATIONAL MODEL.
UM, SO THANK YOU AND AGAIN, TO OEHS.
AND I ALSO JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE A MILESTONE IN THE RECOVERY FOR THE PALISADES IS THAT THIS WEEK, UH, CHRISTINA AND THE DISTRICT ARE DROPPING PORTABLE CLASSROOMS AT PALI HIGH AND AT MARQUEZ ELEMENTARY, UH, FOR A POTENTIAL REPOPULATION IN THE FALL OR EARLY 2026.
SO REALLY INCREDIBLE WORK, AND I JUST WANNA THANK FACILITIES IN OEHS.
MS. GRIEGO? OH, NO, I HAVE QUESTIONS.
UH, MS. NEWBELL, THIS IS ON TAB 10, I'M SORRY, TAB 10.
AND BOARD PRESIDENT SHAM? YES.
ALL RIGHT, NOW WE MOVE TO TAB 22.
[22. Board of Education Report No. 321-24/25 Charter Schools Division (Approval of the Proposed Material Revision for Collegiate Charter High School of Los Angeles) Recommends approval of the material revision for Collegiate Charter High School of Los Angeles to transfer operations, governance and management to Equitas Academy Charter School, Inc.; relocate outside the community; and revise related charter elements and provisions. Collegiate Charter High School of Los Angeles is presently located in Board District 2 and Region East.]
SO TAB 22, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A ONE A, UH, THE SHORT PRESENTATION AND COMMENTS FROM THE SCHOOL.SO, UH, WE'LL CUE THAT, WE'LL CUE THAT PRESENTATION.
THERE'S A LITTLE CLICKER WITH ARROWS THERE FOR A LITTLE DIRECTIONAL ARROWS.
JUST SO YOU KNOW HOW IT OPERATES.
THE, UH, THE TWO MINUTES IS SHORT, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S YOURS.
AND THEN WE'LL HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM, FROM THE AUDIENCE.
FOR YEARS, OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARD A COMMON GOAL TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS TO STRONG, STABLE, AND CONTINUOUS PATH TO COLLEGE SUCCESS.
TODAY WE'RE PROPOSING A MERGER THAT UNITES TWO COMMUNITIES, TWO HISTORIES WITH ONE MISSION TO PROVIDE STUDENTS A SEAMLESS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
I'M TED MORRIS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGIATE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES.
AND I'M SOPHIA RODDY, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT E EQUITAS ACADEMY.
OKAY, CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? UH, WE ARE HERE TO RE RE, UH, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A MATERIAL REVISION TO COLLEGIATES CHARTER TO INTEGRATE COLLEGIATE INTO THE EQUITAS NETWORK AND TO RELOCATE TO A PERMIT FACILITY ENDING OUR RELIANCE ON PROP 39 SPACE.
THIS ENSURES LONG-TERM STABILITY THROUGH A PERMANENT HOME AND SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.
WITH THIS GROWTH, STUDENTS WILL GAIN ACCESS TO MORE COURSE OFFERINGS AND EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES.
WITH ACCESS TO EQUITAS TEAM OF ACADEMIC SPECIALISTS, OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP COACHING WILL DELIVER AN EVEN MORE RIGOROUS HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE FOR EQUITAS.
THIS MATERIAL REVISION MEETS YEARS OF FAMILY DEMAND FOR A HIGH SCHOOL, ALIGNED WITH OUR VISION AND OUR INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACH AND BUILDS ON COLLEGIATE SUCCESS FOR COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE.
BOTH COMMUNITIES ARE UNITED IN PREPARING STUDENTS TO THRIVE IN COLLEGE, LEADING THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE.
THIS ALSO BENEFITS STEVENSON MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REIMAGINE THE USE OF THE CURRENT SPACE.
THE COLLEGIATE IS OCCUPYING A MOVE SUPPORTED BY STEVENSON'S LEADERSHIP AND THE PARTNERSHIP FOR LOS ANGELES SCHOOLS.
[04:20:01]
PROPOSAL IS ROOTED IN YEARS OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND COLLABORATION.THIS YEAR ALONE, FAMILY, STAFF AND STUDENTS HAVE SPOKEN AT PUBLIC MEETINGS, SUBMITTED LETTERS AND LED TOURS, UNITED IN THEIR BELIEF THAT STUDENTS DESERVE A STRONG CONTINUOUS EDUCATION.
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL.
AND NOW WE HAVE, UH, LOOKS LIKE 10 FOLKS WHO ARE IN PERSON HERE TO GIVE COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
I DID READ THE PUBLIC STATEMENT EARLIER THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, SCHOOL HAS MADE THE PRESENTATION, SO WE'LL TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS GISELLE CHAVARRIA ARE YOU HERE? AND THEN ADELAIDE GONZALEZ AND THEN JONATHAN LIMA.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I WANTED TO YIELD MY TIME TO LEAH DRISCAL GARCIA OF THE PARTNERSHIP FOR LA SCHOOL, SO THAT'S FINE.
YOU'LL HAVE ABOUT ONE MINUTE 50 SECONDS.
GOOD AFTERNOON SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT CARIO.
MY NAME IS RICCO GARCIA, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS AT THE PARTNERSHIP FOR LOS ANGELES SCHOOLS.
THE PARTNERSHIP FOR LOS ANGELES SCHOOLS IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT THAT SERVES 20 LESD SCHOOLS IN BOYLE HEIGHTS, SOUTH LOS ANGELES AND WATTS.
AND WE PROVIDE DIRECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT STRENGTHEN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR HIGHEST NEED COMMUNITIES.
THE PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTS COLLEGIATE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES AND EQUITAS CHARTER ACADEMY, AND THEIR JOINT PROPOSALS FOR MATERIAL REVISIONS TO THEIR CHARTERS.
THESE MATERIAL REVISIONS PRESENT A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER SERVE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AT STEVENSON COLLEGE AND CAREER PREP.
ONE OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE PARTNERSHIPS NETWORK COLLEGIATE HAS BEEN CO-LOCATED AT STEVENSON FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
AND WHILE WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE, WE RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS FOR STEVENSON STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF.
IF COLLEGIATE TRANSITIONS TO ITS OWN DEDICATED CAMPUS AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE'D HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND THE DISTRICT TO REIMAGINE THAT PHYSICAL SPACE AND ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR STEVENSON STUDENTS.
THIS TRANSITION WILL STRENGTHEN STEVENSON'S LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, WHILE ALSO ALLOWING COLLEGIATE AND EQUITAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A HIGH SCHOOL OPTION FOR STUDENTS IN PICO-UNION AND MACARTHUR PARK COMMUNITIES.
WE UNDERSTAND THIS WILL LARGELY AFFECT CURRENT STUDENTS AT EQUITAS AND COLLEGIATE AND WOULD HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON NEARBY LUSD HIGH SCHOOLS.
WE RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO APPROVE THESE MATERIAL REVISION REQUESTS TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR COLLEGIATE, EQUITAS AND STEVENSON COMMUNITIES.
AND WE ARE EAGER TO COLLABORATE WITH THE BOARD AND DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TO ENSURE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION THAT PRIORITIZES STUDENTS AND FAMILIES' NEEDS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ALI, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND THEN AFTER, UH, MS. GONZALEZ IS JONATHAN LIMA.
MY NAME IS MAD OF THREE STUDENTS, JOHNNY VIOLET AND JOHNNY VIOLET AND CATHERINE, I AM TALKING TO YOU RESPECTFULLY TO ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL FOR TITAS HIGH SCHOOL, A SCHOOL THAT WILL HAVE A BIG PROFOUND IMPACT ON ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MY CHILDREN HAVE ASSISTED TITAS ACADEMY SINCE KINDERGARTEN UP UNTIL EIGHTH GRADE, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW THE SCHOOL PROVIDES A HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL EDUCATION WITH COMPASSION AND SUPPORT FOR EACH STUDENT.
MY SON, WHO HAS A DEGENERATIVE DISABILITY, HAS BEEN ASSISTED AND HELPED WITH SO MUCH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, AND THE STAFF HAS MADE SURE THAT IT'S BEEN AN ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
I FEEL VERY SECURE SENDING MY CHILDREN THERE.
MY DAUGHTERS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY'VE BEEN LEADERS AND THEY'VE BEEN GUIDED VERY WELL.
I I AM VERY CONFIDENT THAT KIITA WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WITH EXCELLENCE AND THEY DESERVE OUR, OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES A SCHOOL THAT IS, THAT IS, UH, HERE TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
HELLO, UH, WE'RE IN SHARE OUR SPEECH.
I'M JONATHAN LIMA, AND MY NAME IS GI CHAVARRIA AND WE'RE BOTH JUNIORS AT COLLEGIATE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I AM HERE TO ASK YOU FOR APPROVAL FOR COLLEGIATE'S REQUEST TO REVISE THIS CHARTER SO OUR SCHOOL COULD JOIN THE EQUITAS NETWORK.
AS I BELIEVE THIS MERGER WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO STUDENTS LIKE US COM COLLEGIATE IS A SPECIAL SPACE BEST DESCRIBED
[04:25:01]
IN TWO WORDS, COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT.THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT HERE ARE UNLIKE ANYTHING I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED AT OTHER SCHOOLS.
WHEN I COME TO SCHOOL, I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M JUST ATTENDING SCHOOL.
I FEEL SAFE AND I FEEL ACCEPTED.
THE SUPPORT FROM EACH STAFF MEMBER IS AMAZING.
AND THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM COLLEGIATE STAFF, I HAVE EARNED A $3,000 SCHOLARSHIP TO YOUNG, TO A YOUNG MAN'S SUMMER PROGRAM CALLED REACH ACADEMY.
AND I HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO CO UM, TO COLLEGE MATCH OF LA A COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS.
UM, WITHOUT COLLE COLLEGIATE STAFF, I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN KNOWN ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS, LET ALONE HAD THE SUPPORT IN THE APPLICATION.
PROGRESS AND COLLEGIATE ALSO SUPPORTS US ACADEMICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
AS THIS TIME, FOR THE FIFTH TIME, IN SEVEN YEARS, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR SENIORS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO FOUR YEAR TO, TO A FOUR TO FOUR YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANNA GRADUATE FROM THE SCHOOL THAT'S TRULY SUPPORTED ME.
FUNNY ENOUGH, DURING MY FRESHMAN YEAR, I ACTUALLY TRANSFERRED TO A LARGER HIGH SCHOOL FROM THE SECOND SEMESTER, BUT THAT MOVE OPENED MY EYES.
AT THE OTHER SCHOOL, I DIDN'T FEEL THE SAME SUPPORT BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY STUDENTS THAT IT WAS EASY TO GET LOST.
IN FACT, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE PRINCIPAL'S NAME.
WHILE AT COLLEGIATE, IT'S DIFFERENT.
AND SINCE I WANNA GO TO STANFORD ONE DAY, I KNOW THAT THE LEVEL OF GUIDANCE I GET HERE IS GIVING ME THE BEST CHANCE TO REACH THAT GOAL.
SINCE COMING BACK, I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD IN EVERY CLASS AND THE SUPPORT FROM TEACHERS AND STAFF HAS NEVER STOPPED, WHICH IS WHY THE MERGER WITH EQUITAS WOULD BE SO BENEFICIAL.
THE EXPOSURE THAT WOULD COME WITH THIS MERGER WOULD HELP SO MANY STUDENTS HAVE A GOOD CHANCE AT A BETTER LIFE, JUST LIKE IT HAS HAD.
I STILL, I KNOW I STILL HAVE LIKE A YEAR LEFT, BUT SO FAR MY TIME WITH COLLEGIATE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT GREAT.
HOPEFULLY WITH THIS MERGER, SO MANY STUDENTS GET THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, ROXANA PENA, COME ON UP, MS. PENA
OKAY, HOW ABOUT, OH, COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
WE'VE GOT, UH, HOW ABOUT DIEGO MEIA, COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
WE ARE ALUMNI FROM THE FOUNDING CLASS OF COLLEGIATE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL.
COLLEGIATE WAS ABLE TO CONNECT ME WITH THE POSSE FOUNDATION, WHERE I RECEIVED A FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP TO HOBY AND WILL SMITH COLLEGE IN NEW YORK.
BECOMING COLLEGIATES FIRST, BUT NOT ONLY POSSE SCHOLAR.
THERE I WAS ABLE TO STUDY, UM, MAJOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, WHICH ALLOWED ME TO STUDY ABROAD IN AUSTRALIA.
AND THE BAHAMAS INSPIRED TO HELP OTHERS FROM MY COMMUNITY.
I DECIDED TO RETURN TO COLLEGIATE TO WORK IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND HELP, UH, OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS. FOR ME, I KNEW I WANTED TO ATTEND A FOUR YEAR INSTITUTION, BUT AS AN UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT, THERE WERE MOMENTS WHERE I WAS UNCERTAIN IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES BEFORE ME.
I WAS FORTUNATE TO ATTEND COLLEGIATE WHERE THE FACULTY SAW MY POTENTIAL AND ADVOCATED FOR MY FUTURE.
CCHS GAVE ME OPPORTUNITIES THAT SPARKED A PASSION FOR SCIENCE AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.
WITH THE HELP OF ALL THE CCHS STAFF, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND WHITMAN COLLEGE IN WASHINGTON WHERE I OBTAINED A DEGREE IN ASTRONOMY AND PHYSICS AND BECAME THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE.
NOW AS A LATINA IN STEM, I CARRY A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE A ROLE MODEL FOR STUDENTS WHO, LIKE ME, DO NOT ALWAYS SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THESE SPACES.
I HAVE RETURNED TO COLLEGIATE AS A PHYSICS TEACHER THROUGH THE TEACH FOR AMERICA PROGRAM TO HELP UPLIFT STUDENTS WHO FACE THE SAME QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES.
CCHS AND EQUITAS MERGER WOULD ALLOW MORE STUDENTS TO ACCESS THE SUPPORT RESOURCE AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE.
IT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE SCHOOL'S MISSION TO PROVIDE A STUDENT-CENTERED EDUCATION THAT ER, THAT EMPOWERS THE STUDENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF THE CCHS FAMILY AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH THE SAME PASSION AND DEDICATION THAT WE ONCE RECEIVED.
WE KNOW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT THAT THIS SCHOOL HAS ON THE STUDENT LIFE AND WE HOPE THAT YOU VOTE TO CONTINUE AND BROADEN OUR IMPACT.
UH, NATALIE MEJIA AND THEN BRENDA CAMPOS AND THEN KAYLEE CARNEY.
SO NATALIE MEJIA, BRENDA CAMPOS, AND THEN KAYLEE CARNEY.
OKAY, SO I'M JUST GONNA READ THE NAMES IN CASE SOMEONE'S HERE UNDER A DIFFERENT UMBRELLA.
CAN YOU LET ME KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA DECLINE BRENDA? OKAY.
UH, KAYLEE CARNEY ALSO GOING TO DECLINE.
[04:30:03]
KNOWING THAT I'M A MOTHER OF A 12TH GRADE STUDENT THAT WILL ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE UNIVERSITY AND, AND I ALSO HAVE TWO STUDENTS THAT WILL ATTEND NEXT YEAR.COLLEGIATE IS NOT JUST A A SCHOOL, IT'S A FAMILY.
THIS IS HOW I FEEL AND I'M SURE THAT OTHER PARENTS FEEL THE SAME.
COLLEGIATE PERSONNEL HAS SUPPORTED ME AND CONDITIONALLY WHEN I'VE NEEDED THEM.
MY SON HAS AN IEP AND HE HAD MANY DIFFICULTIES DURING HIS YEARS.
IN THE FIRST, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE CHALLENGES INVOLVED A PARENT THAT HAD TO DO WITH ANOTHER PARENT.
THERE WAS BULLYING AND I WAS OBLIGATED TO FIND A HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS SAFE AND ACCOMMODATING TO MY CHILD.
WHEN WE HEARD ABOUT COLLEGIATE, MY SON SAID, I WANNA GO TO COLLEGIATE.
HONESTLY, THIS HIGH SCHOOL WILL AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE BEST DECISION I'VE EVER MADE.
NOW I SPEAK WITH OTHER MOTHERS AND I TELL THEM ABOUT MY STORIES AND HOW MY SON HAS HAD SUCCESS IN THIS SCHOOL AFTER SO MANY CHALLENGES THAT HE HAD AT OTHERS.
AND I ASK THAT YOU APPROVE WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR SO THAT MY NIECES CAN HAVE A PERMANENT INSTALLATION AND THEY CAN ALSO BENEFIT FROM THIS COM SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
JANELLE IS INDICATING THAT SHE'S GOING TO DECLINE.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON TAB 22.
AND NOW I BELIEVE WE HAVE, UH, MS. NEW BILL, UH, MS. EZ AND DR.
REBA WHO HAD COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON, ON TAB 22.
UM, UH, 'CAUSE AS IT APPEARS THE MATERIAL REVISION FOR COLLEGIATE CHARTER, CORRECT.
NOW THEY'LL BE GOING UNDER LIKE A NEW MANAGEMENT AND EQUITAS, AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE LIKE A NEW GOVERNANCE.
IT WOULD BE THE EQUITAS GOVERNANCE AND A NEW LOCATION.
AND WILL IT BE A NEW COMMUNITY PER DISTRICT POLICY? YES.
WHILE IT'S ALL IN BOARD DISTRICT TWO REGION EAST, IT'S ABOUT A FIVE POINT FILE, YOU KNOW, UH, DISTANCE FROM THEIR CURRENT LOCATION AT STEVENSON, A DISTRICT SITE TO THE EQUITAS SITE THAT THEY WOULD, UH, OCCUPY SHOULD THIS BE APPROVED, AND THEN WHAT SCHOOLS DOES IT IMPACT MOVING INTO THAT SITE? WE CAN PULL THAT, THAT LIST HERE.
WHERE'S THE PAGE? LET US FIND THAT PAGE NUMBER.
OR IS THERE ANOTHER QUESTION WE CAN OKAY.
AND SO THEN I HAVE A NEW NAME AT THIS TIME IT'S THE, IT IS STILL THE COLLEGIATE.
THAT MAY BE SOMETHING DOWN THE LINE IF THEY WISH TO, UH, TO UPDATE.
AND SO IN THE REPORT THAT YOU PRESENTED, UM, COLLEGIATE AND EQUITAS ACADEMY DATA, IT'S JUST A LITTLE CONFUSING FOR ME SINCE EQUITAS IS NOT PRESENTING A MATERIALISM ONLY SERVING K THROUGH EIGHT, AND WE ARE PROJECTED THAT THE DATA AND THE INFORMATION FROM EQUITAS WILL BE GOOD FOR THE STUDENTS NINE THROUGH 12.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO, A COUPLE THINGS.
FIRST, THE, THE, THE MATERIAL PROVIDES THE DATA FOR COLLEGIATE AS WELL AS EQUITAS.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC THE FULL ANALYSIS RELATED TO THE, UM, CURRENT ACADEMIC, UH, ACHIEVEMENT OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS.
NOW, REGARDING EQUITAS, WE SHARED THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE WHILE THEY DO NOT HAVE CURRENT EXISTING HIGH SCHOOLS, WE LOOKED AT THEIR CAPACITY AND HAD A CAPACITY INTERVIEW WITH BOTH ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSESS THEIR STAFFING, THEIR EXPERIENCE, AND THE LIKE.
AND THEY DO HAVE STAFF AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL THAT TO SUP, THAT HAVE SUPPORTED HIGH SCHOOLS.
SECONDLY, THE COLLEGIATE TEAM, ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS, THEY'VE SAID WHO WISH TO CONTINUE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE.
SO THAT STAFF WILL CONTINUE AS WELL WITH THEIR EXPERIENCE.
THEY WANT TO BENEFIT FROM THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS THAT THE CENTRAL OFFICE, THE HOME OFFICE THAT EQUITAS HAS.
NOW, IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, AS WE LACED IN THE MATERIALS, COLLEGIATE STILL HAS ROOM FOR GROWTH.
WHILE THEY SHOWED SOME STRENGTH IN MATH, THEY HAVE ROOM FOR GROWTH IN EA AND OTHER AREAS.
[04:35:01]
EQUITAS, YOU SEE IN THEIR RECORD.WHILE THEY HAVE STRENGTHS, UH, THEY ALSO HAVE SOME ROOM FOR GROWTH, BUT WE LOOKED AT HOLISTICALLY THEIR RESULTS AS WELL AS THE STAFF CAPACITY ARE ORGANIZATIONALLY.
UM, WE CAN ANSWER THAT OTHER QUESTION.
YEAH, MARLON, ABOUT THE SCHOOLS THAT IMPACT.
SO THERE LOOKS LIKE THERE'S 31 SCHOOLS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT SERVE, UH, SIMILAR GRADE LEVELS.
THEY RANGE FROM K THROUGH 12 THROUGH NINE THROUGH 12.
UM, THEY'RE A MIX OF CHARTERS AND DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS.
THERE'S SOME DISTRICT, UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, BELMONT HIGH IS ONE OF THEM.
ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, UH, CORINA SCHOOL AND CONTRERAS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TOURISM, UH, LET'S SEE, LOS ANGELES HIGH.
SANTI ALSO, UH, WEST ADAMS PREP HIGH.
IN THE REPORT, SINCE YOU SAID THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT A HOLY EQUITAS AS IT DOESN'T HAVE A NINE THROUGH 12 PROGRAM IN THEIR COMMUNITY OF SCHOOLS CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW.
AND THEREFORE THERE'S NO EDUCATIONAL PLAN THAT THEY INCLUDED IN FOR THE STUDENTS AT COLLEGIATE.
SO THEY WOULD BE ADOPTING WHAT COLLEGIATE HAS.
IS THAT THE MODEL THAT THEY'LL YES, AT THIS POINT THE COLLEGIATE PROGRAM WOULD CONTINUE AND THEN WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS.
UM, AND THEN HOW DOES THIS KIND OF DEMONSTRATE THAT IT SERVES THE INTEREST OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY? YEAH, THAT'S A FULL, UH, UH, THAT'S A BIG QUESTION THAT THE MATERIALS TRY TO GET AT.
LET ME BRIEFLY ADDRESS THAT FIRST.
AS PART OF THE LAW, WE NEED TO, OH, UH, DISTRICT POLICY ACTUALLY FOR A MOVE OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S A COMMUNITY IMPACT ANALYSIS THAT'S COMPLETED AND WE CITE THAT IN THE MATERIALS.
AND SO IN SHORT TO, TO BOIL IT DOWN, WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FACILITIES PLAN, THEIR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ET CETERA.
AND THERE ARE SOME AREAS, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THEY FOLLOW THE DISTRICT'S POLICY MET THAT BAR, THE FACILITIES PLAN IS NET POSITIVE IN TERMS OF A PRIVATE SITE THAT'S ALREADY WOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE STUDENTS.
THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY, BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY CONCERNS AT THIS TIME.
UH, AND THEN ALSO WOULD BE EXITING A PROP 39 CO-LOCATION.
SO IN A SENSE, THERE'S A, THESE ARE UNIQUE BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN, IT'S NOT A NEW SCHOOL, IT'S AN EXISTING SCHOOL THAT WOULD OTHERWISE STILL EXIST.
IF THIS WEREN'T APPROVED, THEY WOULD REMAIN A SCHOOL THAT'S IN OPERATION AT STEVENSON.
THEY'VE ALREADY ACCEPTED THEIR PROP 39 FOR NEXT YEAR PENDING THIS.
AND THEN THERE WOULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE AGREEMENT TO EXIT.
SO LOOKING AT THAT WHOLE PICTURE, WE SEE, YES, THERE COULD BE SOME, THERE WILL BE SOME IMPACT ON THE NEW COMMUNITY AS THE, AS THE MATERIALS SHOW.
YOU, WHILE THIS, WHILE THEY HAVE STUDENTS WHO WILL MATRICULATE AND THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE WITH THE SCHOOL, SO THEY'LL CONTINUE THAT AND MAY MITIGATE THE IMPACTS, THERE COULD STILL BE SOME IMPACTS.
AND THEN WE LOOKED AT, UM, THE, THE, THE LACK OF IMPACT NOW IN THE, IN THE CURRENT COMMUNITY WITH THE PROP 39, THAT WILL BE, IN A SENSE, AN ABSENCE OF THAT.
AND SOME OF IT WILL TRANSFER TO THE NEW COMMUNITY.
AND NOW IS THERE EVIDENCE OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE DONE WITH THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS GATHERING, LIKE, YES, THAT'S ALL IS PART OF THE MATERIALS WE HAVE.
I I THINK THERE'S A LINK, THE ATTACHMENTS TO THEIR COMMUNITY, TO THE COMMUNITY IMPACT, UH, ASSESSMENT THAT THEY DID, UH, ET CETERA.
AND THEN WITH COLLEGIATE, RIGHT NOW, ARE THEY OWING OUR DISTRICT SOME FUNDING FOR PROP 39 FOR OVER ALLOCATION FOR SOME SPACE? PER THE, PER THE MATERIALS, THEY ARE IN A PAYMENT PLAN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR PRIOR OVER ALLOCATION THAT WAS EXECUTED BY THE DISTRICT AND THE CHARTER SCHOOL.
AND OUR TEAM ALWAYS CONNECTS WITH THE APPROPRIATE OFFICES TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE CURRENT ON THAT PAYMENT PLAN.
AND PER THE ACCOUNTING OFFICE, THEY ARE CURRENT AND HAVE BEEN CURRENT.
AND THEN COLLEGIATE'S GRADUATION RATE, WAS THAT INCLUDED IN THE REPORT? YES, IT SHOULD BE IN THE DATA SET.
IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, BASED ON THE, UM, WELL, THANK YOU.
BASED ON THE DASHBOARD FOR, UH, 23 COLLEGIATE'S GRADUATION RATE WAS 81.1%.
'CAUSE IT'S SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE STATE, CORRECT? IT IS SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE STATE.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND THE BOARD REPORT, THIS IS MORE LIKE A MERGER OF EVERYTHING FROM THEIR LEGAL, THEIR FINANCIALS.
THEY'LL BE MERGING EVERYTHING IN JUST A CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP ESSENTIALLY.
AND, AND LEGAL COUNSEL DID REVIEW THIS AS WELL.
SO I GUESS IN IN ESSENCE, THE SCHOOLS THAT YOU MENTIONED ARE BELMONT
[04:40:01]
OR CORTINA, WAS THAT CONSIDERED IN THE IMPACT AS WELL? THE COMMUNITY IMPACT? ALL OF THE, UH, MISS PER PER BOARD POLICY, ALL OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN A COMMUNITY DISTRICT AND CHARTER ARE FACTORED IN.SO WE WOULD LOOK AT THE ENROLLMENT OF ALL OF THOSE SCHOOLS, THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL OF THOSE SCHOOLS, ET CETERA.
UM, SO THE QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT THE OVERALL ALLOCATION FEES YES.
THAT ARE OWED, WHICH ARE 76,000.
SO I KNOW COLLEGIATE IS UNDER A PAYMENT PLAN, BUT WITH THIS MERGER, DOES NOW THAT DEBT FALL UNDER EQUITAS, SINCE THEY'RE GONNA BE, SO ACUITAS IS GONNA SORT OF ABSORB THAT, THAT WOULD STILL, THAT'D BE PART OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS ONGOING.
AND, UM, YOU WILL HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT MEETING, MAKING SURE THAT THEY MEET THE PAYMENT PLAN, AND NOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA PAY THE 76,000.
WE HAVE A SYSTEMIC APPROACH, ONGOING MONITORING THAT INFORM OUR, UH, ABOUT QUARTERLY UPDATES TO THE BOARD.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR ACCOUNTING TEAM WHO, WHO DOES THAT ONGOING MONITORING AND REAL ESTATE.
AND SO WE'RE THANKFUL TO REPORT THAT TO DATE OVER SEVERAL MONTHS.
CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT ARE ON THOSE PAYMENT PLANS HAVE BEEN CURRENT.
AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS AS WELL.
WELL, I MEAN, THIS IS A SPECIFIC CASE.
SO IT'S DIFFERENT FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM PRE FROM THE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT ALSO HAVE OVER A PIECE.
AND SO, UM, JUST SO I UNDERSTAND, SO IT WAS MENTIONED IN, IN YOUR REPORT THAT POSSIBLY COLLEGIATE MIGHT CHANGE ITS NAME TO E EQUITAS HIGH SCHOOL, POSSIBLY RIGHT AFTER THIS MERGER.
SO I WANNA UNDERSTAND THE RENEWAL PROCESS.
SO, UM, COLLEGIATE OR, OR E EQUITAS, THEY WOULD COME IN 2028 AND THEN THERE WOULD BE, WHAT WOULD BE THE MEASUREMENT THAT YOU WILL, JUST THINKING AHEAD, I'M SURE YOU HAVEN'T WORKED ON THE REPORT, RIGHT.
BUT, UH, SINCE THIS, UH, THIS IS A UNIQUE CASE, WILL YOU BE LOOKING AT THE DATA FROM THE MONTH, FROM BEFORE WHEN THERE, RIGHT NOW, AT THE LOCATION, RIGHT BEFORE THE MERGER? SO HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD IMPACT THE RENEWAL? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
THE, THE SCHOOL, THE DATA FOR THE SCHOOL WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW IT WHILE IT'S, IT WOULD CHANGE GOVERNANCE SHOULD THIS BE APPROVED.
SO THAT RECORD WILL BE LOOKED AT IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AT THAT TIME AND DISTRICT POLICY.
SO, UH, WHATEVER THE DATA ARE WOULD FOLLOW THE SCHOOL AND THEN THEY WOULD BE ASSESSED ACCORDINGLY.
SO SINCE THIS IS A NEW MERGER, UH, RIGHT, THIS IS UNIQUE.
RIGHT? SO THIS IS A NEW CHANGE.
UM, SO NOW WITH THIS, WITH THE, WILL YOU, ARE YOU HAVING, OR IS YOUR TEAM, UM, HAVE PLANS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MERGER'S GOING WELL OR SUBSEQUENT SORT OF VISITS AND ALL OF THAT? SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE ALREADY PLANNING ON DOING? ABSOLUTELY.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE DONE TO GET TO THIS POINT AND TO MAKE RECOMMEND TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND APPROVAL RECOMMENDATION.
AND THAT DUE DILIGENCE WILL CONTINUE INCLUDING THE, THE COMMITMENTS THE ORGANIZATIONS MADE IN THE TRANSITION, UH, TO THEIR STAFF, TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, ET CETERA.
SO WE WILL, WE WILL BE VERY CLOSELY WATCHING, UH, THEIR TRANSITIONS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS FULFILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HOWEVER THE BOARD ACTS TODAY.
I JUST HAVE SOME COMMENTS, SO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THOSE POINTS.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE YOUR STAFF FOR PROVIDING A VERY THOROUGH ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MATERIAL VISIONS FOR COLLEGIATE CHARTER.
IT WAS VERY THOROUGH AND I APPRECIATE IT.
IT WAS, I WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING.
UM, THIS REVISION INVOLVES A, A MOVE INTO A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT CURRENTLY RESIDES IN THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT, WHICH IS WHY I PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE STAFF ANALYSIS AND, WHICH IS WHY I ALSO PAID A VISIT, UM, TO EQUITAS.
AND I MET, UM, WITH BOTH SCHOOLS AND BOTH STAKEHOLDERS.
SO I WANTED TO HEAR FROM THEM.
AND I WAS, UM, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO HEAR FROM STUDENTS, ALUMNI, AND CURRENT STUDENTS, AND ALSO PARENTS AND EQUITAS.
AND, UM, FROM THAT INSTANCE, FROM THAT VISIT, I, UM, I DID FEEL, I DO FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE THIS IS A MOVE THAT, YOU KNOW, IS, YOU KNOW, VERY ANTICIPATED, VERY, UM, THEY'RE HAPPY ABOUT THIS.
SO I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT EQUITAS, UM, HAS AND COLLEGIATE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND THAT THEY THOROUGHLY, UH, SPOKE TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS, THEIR TEACHERS, THEIR PARENTS, AND THEIR STUDENTS.
UM, BUT FOR ME, THE REASON THAT I, UM, APART, APART FROM ALL OF THAT FOR ME IS, UM, IT'S A REDUCTION OF A CO-LOCATION, AS YOU ALL KNOW.
UM, I'M NOT A FAN OF CO-LOCATIONS AND NEITHER ARE OUR SCHOOLS, BUT THE MOVE TO TRANSFER OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT TO EQUUS ACADEMY REDUCES THE COMPLEXITY AND LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH CO-LOCATIONS, ENSURING THAT
[04:45:01]
BOTH SCHOOLS CAN OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND FOCUS ON THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES WITHOUT OVERLAP OR COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES.IT OPENS THE DOOR TO ONE LESS CO-LOCATION, WHICH WE CAN ALL, UH, GREATLY APPRECIATE.
AND I KNOW THAT STUDENTS FROM COLLEGIATE ALSO, UM, EXPRESSED THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACED AS WELL AT, UM, IN, YOU KNOW, CO-LOCATING AT, UM, STEVENSON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO I HEARD THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATED THEM BEING VERY, UM, HONEST ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE.
SO MAKING THESE DECISIONS IS ALWAYS CHALLENGING, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE COMMENT FROM MY COLLEAGUE AND, YOU KNOW, FEW OTHER COMMENTS FROM OTHER COLLEAGUES HERE.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR ANALYSIS.
I DO APPRECIATE VISITING WITH, UH, THE COMMUNITY, EQUITAS AND, AND COLLEGIATE AND, UM, AND WE WILL BE, UM, LOOKING TO SEE HOW THIS MERGER WORKS, AND I HOPE IT WORKS OUT FOR WELL FOR EVERYONE.
UM, DEFINITELY AGREE ON THE FACILITY STANDPOINT THAT THERE'S BENEFITS FROM THAT.
AND I, I HEARD FROM THE SPEAKERS ABOUT HOW FAMILIES FEEL IT'LL BE POSITIVELY IMPACTFUL.
UM, I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FISCAL CHALLENGES THAT EQUITAS HAS FACED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
I THINK THOSE ARE, LET'S SEE, PAGES 5 57 THROUGH ABOUT 5 50, 5 59 OF THE, UM, MATERIALS.
UM, SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD MAYBE SUMMARIZE, UH, THOSE FISCAL ISSUES THAT EQUITAS HAS EXPERIENCED AND WHETHER, UM, IN THE TEAM'S ASSESSMENT, THOSE ISSUES HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY ADDRESSED BY THE OPERATOR.
THAT CERTAINLY WAS ONE OF THE KEY AREAS THAT WE ALSO, UH, CONSIDERED IN OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
SO FIRST, THIS CONTEXT TO YOUR QUESTION, UH, EQUITAS, EVEN AS RECENTLY AS THIS FALL WITH ONE OF THEIR RENEWALS HAD BENCHMARKS BECAUSE AS PART OF OUR OVERSIGHT, OUR TEAM OBSERVED TWO YEARS OF REPEAT FINDINGS IN PRIOR AUDITS.
ANYTIME WE SEE REPEAT FINDINGS, THOSE RAISE CONCERNS FOR US.
UH, AND WE, WE ENGAGED IN OUR TIERED INTERVENTION, INCLUDING A NOTICE TO CURE AND ASSESSED THE BENCHMARK FOR THEIR ONE OF THEIR RENEWALS IN THE FALL.
BECAUSE OF THAT, SINCE THAT TIME, THEIR MOST RECENT AUDIT FOR THE 24 YEAR FISCAL YEAR DID NOT HAVE SUCH FINDINGS.
SO THAT WAS A POSITIVE MARKER.
SECONDLY, WHILE THE BENCHMARKS FOR THE RENEWAL BEGIN JULY ONE, OFFICIALLY BECAUSE OF THE TERM, THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED MANY OF THOSE EFFORTS AND HAVE REPORTED TO OUR TEAM SOME OF THEIR POSITIVE PROJECTIONS, INCLUDING THEIR PLAN TO, UH, REPAY SOME OF THE, UM, FUNDS FROM SOME OF THEIR SCHOOLS BACK ABOUT TWO YEARS EARLY.
UH, ALL OF THEIR SCHOOLS ARE IN THE BLACK, THEIR HOME OFFICE HAS ABOUT A $14.5 MILLION NET ASSET POSITION.
UM, SO CONSIDERING ALL OF THOSE FACTORS AND THE PROJECTIONS MOVING FORWARD, UM, AND THE RIGOROUS OVERSIGHT OUR TEAM HAS DONE, THAT GAVE US A SENSE THAT THEY DID HAVE THE CAPACITY TO, TO PROCEED HERE.
WE ALSO LOOK CLOSELY AT COLLEGIATE'S FINANCIALS, AND WHILE THEY'RE IN THE BLACK HAVE HAD DECLINING ENROLLMENT, THEIR PROJECTIONS, UH, HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A, OF A BUMP.
UH, THEY STILL ARE MEETING THE RATIOS THAT WE HAVE SET FOR SCHOOLS IN OUR OVERSIGHT.
SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WATCH CAREFULLY.
BUT HAD THAT NOT BEEN THE CASE, I CAN TELL YOU IN TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE AREAS OF PROGRESS ON THE FINANCIALS AND THE CLEAN AUDIT, WE COULD BE HAVING A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION HERE.
BUT BECAUSE OF THOSE PIECES AS WE ASSESSED IT, UM, IT FELL MORE ON THE POSITIVE IN TERMS OF CAPACITY.
YOU KNOW, THOSE RECENT ACTIONS DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, I THINK YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION, BUT, BUT GIVEN ALL THAT, WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT E EQUITAS HAS THE CAPACITY TO ENSURE COLLEGIATE'S CONTINUED OPERATION AND ITS FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY, INCLUDING THE OVER ALLOCATION PAYMENT YES.
THAT THEY'RE DEMONSTRATING LIKELY TO DO THAT.
CAN I HAVE A MOVE AND A SECOND FOR TAB 22? MOVED BY MR. MOLSEN.
SECOND, SECONDED BY DR. RIVAS.
SO TAB TWO, APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED MATERIAL REVISION.
UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
SO THAT'S 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 EYES ONE.
ITEM PASSES, LET'S SEE, WE HAVE ITEM 23
[23. Board of Education Report No. 331-24/25 Division of Special Education Medical Services Division (Delegation of Authority to Negotiate and Execute Master Contracts for Special Education Supports and Services and Special Education Health and Nursing Services) Recommends the Board of Education delegate authority to the Superintendent and/or his designee(s) to execute NPS/A Master Contracts for Special Education Supports and Services, including Related Services and NPA Master Contracts for Special Education Health and Nursing Services for the 2025-26 school year, and each specific school year thereafter. Pursuant to state requirements (Education Code Section 56360 et seq. and Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations), stating each Special Education Local Plan Area (“SELPA”) ensure a continuum of program options are available to meet the needs of students with Individualized Education Programs (“IEP”) in special education and related services. ]
WITH NO, NO, UM,[04:50:01]
NO PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT A QUESTION FROM MS. CONEZ.AND ACTUALLY, UM, WELL, MY, MY CONCERN WAS, YOU KNOW, CONTINUED BOARD MEMBER OVERSIGHT OVER, UM, A SIGNIFICANT FUNDING AMOUNT, $255 MILLION, AND AN AREA OF SPECIAL EDUCATION WHERE, UM, SOME NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY'RE SERVICING REALLY HIGH NEEDS STUDENTS.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST ISSUES OF ABUSE AND SOME OF THESE, UH, FACILITIES IN THIS INDUSTRY OVERALL.
UM, SO JUST WANTING TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE, UM, BEING TREATED APPROPRIATELY AND GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
BUT I'VE GOTTEN, UH, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF, SO I FEEL THAT THOSE CONCERNS WILL BE ADDRESSED.
AND SO YOU DON'T NEED TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE BOARD RECEIVE A, A QUARTERLY UPDATE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THESE SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THE OUTTA STATE SCHOOLS.
GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT.
YES, YOU'LL SEE A QUARTERLY UPDATE.
CAN I HAVE A MOVE AND A SECOND FOR TAB 23? MOVE IT MOVED BY, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON SECOND.
SECONDED BY VICE PRESIDENT DR. RIVAS.
MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, UH, MR. SCHON? YES.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM DR. RIVAS.
LET'S DO A MOVE IN A SECOND WHILE WE'RE WAITING.
SECONDED BY BEFORE PRESIDENT SCHON.
SO THIS IS, UH, THE IMPACT FEE POLICY UPDATE.
UM, I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT PROMPTED THIS, UM, THIS UPDATE TO THE POLICY, UM, FOR THE EXEMPTION, WHAT PROMPTED THIS? OKAY.
UM, TIM RESNICK, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL PLANNING AND BUDGETING.
UM, WE BECAME AWARE OF A, A PROJECT THAT WAS BEING DONE FOR THE STUDENTS' BENEFIT NEAR ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES.
AND SO THERE WAS A DESIRE TO, UM, NOT PUT ANOTHER HURDLE IN, IN THE WAY OF THAT DEVELOPMENT BY WAY OF OFFERING AN EXEMPTION.
UM, SO THIS POLICY WAS WRITTEN FOR THAT TYPE OF PROJECT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY TAILORED TO THAT PROJECT.
AND CAN YOU BE SPECIFIC ON WHAT THE, UM, PROJECT IS OR WHERE? MY INFORMATION, THE PROJECT I'M AWARE OF IS A PROJECT NOSE LULU'S PLACE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS IN, UM, PLA PLA VISTA.
UM, AND IT'S, IT'S IN JUST 'CAUSE IT'S IN MY DISTRICT, IT'S IN IT'S RIGHT ADJACENT TO WESTCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL.
IN, IN THE GREATER WESTCHESTER PLAYA AREA.
UM, AND, AND, AND IT'S A, THE DEVELOPMENT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS TO PUT IN A NUMBER OF ATHLETIC FIELDS, UM, SOCCER FIELDS AND MULTI-USE FIELDS, VOLLEYBALL COURTS, TENNIS COURTS, UM, AS WELL AS A FEW STRUCTURES, UM, THAT THE SUPPORT, UM, THE, THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES THAT WILL OCCUR THERE.
AND, UM, IF THIS IS APPROVED, WOULD YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO ANALYZE OTHER PROJECTS THAT MAY ALSO QUALIFY FOR THIS EXEMPTION? OR IS THIS JUST MOVING FORWARD, OR ARE YOU GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER PROJECTS THAT ALSO HAD THESE FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS? UM, I WOULD CONSULT WITH OGC TO GET A FINAL DECISION ON THIS, BUT GENERALLY, A, AN AN EXEMPTION OR A REFUND MUST BE REQUESTED IN 90 DAYS OF THE PAYMENT OF THAT.
SO WE WOULD NOT GO BACK MORE THAN 90 DAYS, UM, IN ANY CASE, UM, UNLESS I WAS TOLD OTHERWISE, BUT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW.
'CAUSE OTHERWISE WE'D LOSE THE MONEY THAT WE ALREADY SPENT.
HOW WILL THE DISTRICT ENSURE THAT THE EXEMPTION OR REDUCED RATES FOR NONPROFITS ARE APPLIED FAIRLY AND CONSISTENTLY ACROSS ALL MOVE ALL ELIGIBLE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD? LIKE, DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC METRICS THAT WOULD MEASURE, FOR INSTANCE, WHAT IF THERE IS, UM, A BUILDING THAT HALF OF IT IS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES OR OFFICES AND THE OTHER HALF IS FOR STUDENT ACTIVITY? SO HOW WOULD YOU SORT OF QUANTIFY THAT SPACE INTO FEES OR EXEMPTIONS? YEAH, I MEAN, AT A HIGH LEVEL, THIS PARTICULAR EXEMPTION, THE WAY IT'S STATED, UM, WE WOULD LOOK AT THE POPULATION SERVED AND THE PERCENT OF THE POPULATION THAT QUALIFIES THE, THE LE UNIFIED ORIENTED STUDENT POPULATION VERSUS THE TOTAL POPULATION AS WELL AS THE PERCENT OF TIME THAT THOSE POPULATIONS ARE USING IT VERSUS THE TOTAL PERCENT OF THE FACILITIES USED IN GENERAL TO TRY TO BE VERY MATHEMATICAL ABOUT WHAT THAT ANSWER IS.
SO IF WE HAD TWO PROJECTS, WHY DID THIS ONE GET 80%? WHY'D THAT ONE GET 90%? THAT WE COULD DEMONSTRATE NUMERICALLY HOW WE GOT THAT
[04:55:01]
ANSWER? AND WHAT MEASURES ARE IN PLACE TO EVALUATE THE SUCCESS AND IMPACT OF THE YOUTH-BASED PUBLIC BENEFIT SPACES, UM, THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BENEFIT FOR THIS EXEMPTION? GENERALLY, WHEN WE OFFER EXEMPTIONS LIKE THIS, WHETHER IT'S A PRIVATE SCHOOL EXEMPTION OR A SENIOR HOUSING EXEMPTION, UM, THE, THE REFUND OR THE EXEMPTION IS GIVEN ON THE CONDITION THAT THAT IS HOW THE FACILITY IS OPERATED.IF THERE WILL BE TO BE A MATERIAL DEVIATION FROM THAT FACILITY IN THE WAY THAT FACILITY WAS USED, FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE WE GAVE IT TO A SWIMMING POOL, IT WOULD BE USED FOR LOW INCOME KIDS AND IT BECOMES A COUNTRY CLUB INSTEAD, THE FEW WOULD BECOME DUE AT THAT TIME IN TERMS OF THE EFFICACY OF THE PROGRAM.
AND ARE THE STUDENTS GETTING MUCH OUT OF THAT PROGRAM THAT ISN'T SOMETHING OUR DEVELOPER FEE OFFICE IS ORIENTED TOWARDS AND REALLY WOULDN'T BE QUALIFIED TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF BENEFIT THE KIDS ARE GETTING IF THE BOARD DESIRES THAT.
I THINK A D YOU KNOW, MORE STUDENT DEVELOPMENT RELATED DEPARTMENT SHOULD REVIEW THAT.
I MAY, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS.
OBVIOUSLY, UH, WHEN THESE TYPES OF EXEMPTIONS ARE GRANTED, UH, WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST AS A DISTRICT IN ENSURING AS THESE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED AND THE FUNCTIONS, UH, CONDUCTED BY THESE ENTITIES BEGAN THAT IN FACT THEY ARE ALIGNED WITH WHAT WAS DECLARED WAS THE REASON FOR THE EXEMPTION, THIS CASE AND OTHER CASES, UH, OBVIOUSLY THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A BENEFIT TO OUR STUDENTS, TO OUR WORKFORCE, TO OUR DISTRICT IN GENERAL.
SECONDLY, CONSIDERING, UH, THE SORT OF STILL THE NOVELTY ASPECT OF THIS TYPE OF TRANSACTION EXEMPTION, I THINK WOULD BE PRUDENT TO, ON A ROUTINE BASIS, SPOT CHECK AND ACTUALLY AUDIT, UH, NOT ONLY THIS ONE, BUT OTHER PERSPECTIVE, UH, TYPES OF EXEMPTIONS.
HOW WILL THE POLICY IMPACT THE DISTRICT'S OVERALL REVENUE FROM DEVELOPER FEES? DO, DO WE ANTICIPATE OR HAVE YOU DONE LIKE ANY, UM, I I ANALYSIS OF IF WE WOULD LOSE MONEY OR LIKE HOW, WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT FOR THIS? I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT PROJECTS THAT HAD PAID DEVELOPER FEES IN THE CITY OF LA OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND I REALLY DIDN'T IDENTIFY ANY SIMILAR PROJECTS, UM, THAT I THOUGHT WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS EXEMPTION.
SO BASED ON THAT, I'M GONNA SAY I BELIEVE THE IMPACT WILL NOT BE MATERIAL TO THE DEVELOPER FEE PROGRAM OR THE IMPACT FEE PROGRAM AS A WHOLE.
UM, BUT IT IS HARD TO DETERMINE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD PEOPLE SAYING, YOU KNOW, I WANT THIS EXEMPTION BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN OFFERED BEFORE.
SO WITH THAT CAVEAT, I HAVE TO SAY I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT'LL BE MATERIAL.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO PREPARE FOR ANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OR ANY LOOPHOLES THAT ANY DEVELOPERS MAY WANNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OVER THIS EXEMPTION.
SO THAT'S SORT OF MY APPREHENSION, UM, IS WE PROVIDE THIS EXEMPTION AND WHAT ARE SORT OF THE METRICS AND ALSO THE OVERSIGHT TO MONITOR THAT THESE SPACES, UM, ARE BEING USED FOR STUDENTS, FOR STUDENT PURPOSES AND ANYTHING MOVING FORWARD.
SO JUST WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AHEAD.
UM, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT NO ONE'S GONNA TAKE ANY DEVELOPERS ARE GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.
WE HAVE THE SAME GOAL SO THAT, SO THAT WE, THE DISTRICT IS RECEIVING THE FEES THAT OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES RIGHTLY DESERVE.
JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
REVA SAYS QUESTIONS WERE SOME OF THE SAME THAT I HAD, BUT JUST TO CLARIFY, IN THE, IN THE NEW LANGUAGE, IT SPEAKS TO THAT THEY MAY RECEIVE AN EXEMPTION CREDIT SLASH REDUCED RATE AND OR REFUND IN PART OR IN FULL.
UM, CAN YOU SHARE LIKE HOW IT WILL BE TURN DETERMINED, WHICH OF THOSE OPTIONS A PARTICULAR PROJECT WOULD WOULD RECEIVE? WELL, I THINK IN TERMS OF REFUND OR CREDIT, UM, IT'S REALLY, DO THEY WANNA COME TO US IN ADVANCE AND WE'LL DO THE WORK AND DETERMINE WHAT THAT EXEMPTION WILL BE? OR DO THEY WANT TO PAY THE FEE AND THEN COME BACK AND ASK FOR THE REFUND AND WE'LL PROCESS THE REFUND.
AND THAT'S OFTEN KIND OF A MEASURE OF THE URGENCY OF THE PROJECT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE OFFER THIS, HAVE OFFERED IT FOR SENIOR HOUSING FOR INSTANCE, AND IN MOST CASES THEY WILL PAY THE FEE AND THEN GET THE REFUND LATER.
UM, RATHER THAN HOLD UP THE PROJECT FOR US TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, UM, IN TERMS OF WHETHER IT'S IN WHOLE OR IN PART, AGAIN, WOULD DETERMINE HOW THE FACILITIES USED.
IF IT'S, IF THE ONLY BENEFICIARIES OF THAT PROJECT ARE SCHOOL AGE KIDS FROM THE DISTRICT, IT MIGHT BE PRETTY EASY TO SAY THAT'S A FULL REFUND.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF IT'S SOME KIDS WILL BE OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND SOMETIMES ADULTS WILL USE IT.
AND I MEAN AT THAT POINT IT'S GONNA BE, AGAIN, DETERMINING THAT PERCENTAGE TO DETERMINE WHAT'S APPROPRIATE.
MIGHT YOU BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP WITH MORE DETAILS? I MEAN, I JUST THINK FOR EXAMPLE, WHETHER ALL STUDENTS ARE FROM WITHIN ALL THE SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN ARE FROM WITHIN THE DISTRICT, BOUNDARIES SEEMS SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO FULLY ENSURE.
I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY IS LIKE A REGIONAL SPORTS FACILITY, SO I MIGHT IMAGINE THAT SOME KIDS MIGHT
[05:00:01]
TRAVEL TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING THERE.UM, SO MORE DETAILS JUST ON HOW THIS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED WOULD BE HELPFUL.
YEAH, ON, UM, A LOT OF THE ANALYSIS WILL BE DONE BASED ON REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPERS.
UM, I DON'T, WE DON'T PLAN ON HAVING PEOPLE AT THE GATE, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE YOU FROM? UM, WOULDN'T WANT THAT.
I MEAN, THAT, THAT WOULD BE INTIMIDATING.
SO MOST, SO IT IS BASED ON REPRESENTATIONS AND IT'S NOT, UM, HISTORICALLY WE'VE NOT AUDITED IT, YOU KNOW, GONE BACK AND SAID, YOU SAID IT WAS 80% AND IT'S ONLY 75.4, WHATEVER.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN THAT EXACTING IN THE PAST.
UM, BUT IT IS SOMETHING I THINK AS WE IMPLEMENT THE POLICY THAT POTENTIALLY, UH, WE MIGHT DO FOLLOW UPS, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, THE A YEAR IN ASK THEM IF THEY CAN ACTUALLY DOCUMENT THE, WHAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED.
AND MORE INFORMATION NOT IN THIS MEETING IS OKAY TOO.
THIS IS ON TAB 27, MS. NEW BILL, UH, DR. RIVAS ABSTAIN.
UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
AND WE'LL COME BACK TO MS. NEW BILL THAT'S, UH, FIVE EYES ONE ABSTENTION AND WE'LL COME BACK TO MS. NEW BILL.
UM, FOR OUR FOLKS WHO ARE HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'RE DOING ONE MORE PIECE OF BUSINESS BEFORE WE GET TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND BEFORE WE GET THERE, MS. EZ, MAY I RECORD YOUR VOTE ON TAB NINE? UM, I AM A NO ON ITEM Q, THE AMAZON CONTRACT, BUT YOU CAN RECORD ME AS A YES ON THE BALANCE OF THE ITEM.
SO FOR, UH, MS. EZ ON TAB NINE, BOARD REPORT 2 7 2, NO ON ITEM Q SPECIFICALLY.
AS TO THE REMAINING ITEMS, YES.
AND MS, CAN I ALSO, SORRY, SINCE, CAN I ALSO CHANGE MY VOTE ON MS. EZ AND VOTE NO ON Q? SO YOU WANT TO YES.
SO THAT ITEM Q STILL PASSES, UM, WITH FIVE APPORTIONED TO VOTES.
AND THEN MS. UH, ORTIZ, FRANKLIN, I BELIEVE WE HAVE YOU, I'M LOOKING TO RECORD YOUR VOTES FOR TABS 22 AND 23.
AND THEN THIS TAKES US TO, UM, TAB 34 ADOPTION OF THE 25 26 BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE.
AND FOLLOWING THIS WE WILL GET TO, UM, THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR PATIENCE.
I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH, UH, BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT TODAY THAT I WILL PROPOSE A SCHEDULE THAT STARTS AT 10:00 AM FOR THE OPEN SESSION AND 10:00 AM ALSO FOR THE CLOSED SESSION.
WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THAT 10 O'CLOCK FOR BOTH SESSIONS.
I I WAS HELPING MS. UH, GREGGO HERE.
CAN WE HAVE A MOVE IN A SECOND FOR THE, I TAKE IT BACK.
MOVED BY MS. EZ, SECONDED BY DR. RIVAS.
AND YOU WERE SUGGESTING SOMETHING? YES, ABOUT REVISED TIMES.
I WAS SU SUGGESTING A REVISED TIME FOR OUR OPEN SESSION MEETINGS, UH, ON TUESDAYS LIKE TODAY AND OUR CLOSED SESSION ON WEDNESDAY, LIKE TOMORROW, I'D LIKE THEM BOTH TO BE AT 10:00 AM SO WE HAVE CONSISTENCY IF THAT'S OKAY WITH BOARD MEMBERS.
THERE IT'S LISTED AS 10:00 AM CURRENTLY ON THE, ON THE PROPOSED, ON THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE, WE HAVE TWO FOLKS WHO ARE GONNA GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON IT AND THEN, OKAY.
AND THEN, UH, SO, UH, LAQUAN MOHAMMED, ARE YOU HERE LAQUAN TO SPEAK ON, UH, THE BOARD SCHEDULE? OKAY, SO THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 34,
[34. Adoption of the 2025-2026 Board Meeting Schedule (070-24/25) ]
BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2025.YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
UM, UM, HELLO, HOW Y'ALL DOING? UH, MY NAME IS QUAN MUHAMMAD.
UH, I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH THE BROTHER SON SALES COALITION.
[05:05:01]
UH, IT'S NOSTALGIC TO BE BACK IN THIS BUILDING.UM, BUT THE NOSTALGIA COMES AT A COST.
THE COST OF BLACK STUDENTS AND OTHER MARGINALIZED YOUTH BEING SYSTEMATICALLY UNDERSERVED DESPITE RESOURCES BEING RIGHT THERE.
THE REALITY IS L-A-U-S-D HAS A HISTORY OF DISREGARDING THE SUCCESS OF BLACK STUDENTS, NOT BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDING, BUT BECAUSE OF LACK OF WILL.
UM, WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I HAD ACCESS TO PROGRAMS, BUT NOTHING AS INTENTIONAL, AS TRANSFORMATIVE AS A BSAP.
UM, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY, UM, TO DEMAND THAT, UM, THE, THE BOARD GIVE 30 MILLION IN FAVOR OF B, SAP, UM, AND REINSTATING B SAP IN ITS FULL FORM.
YOU CANNOT CLAIM SUPPORT, YOU CANNOT CLAIM TO SUPPORT BLACK STUDENTS WHILE STRIPPING AWAY ONE OF THE FEW PROGRAMS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO UPLIFT THEM.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE A PART OF A BLACK MALE YOUTH ACADEMY, A SPACE THAT WAS CRUCIAL TO MY SUCCESS AS A STUDENT.
UM, BUT I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT SUP THAT SUPPORT WITHIN SCHOOL WALLS IS NOT ENOUGH.
IMAGINE IF L-A-U-S-D HAD INVESTED IN MY SUCCESS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.
IF MY IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY HAD THE SAME RESOURCES AND REINFORCEMENTS, WHO KNOWS WHERE I'D BE IB AND SO MANY OTHERS COULD BE TODAY, THAT'S THE TYPE OF FUTURE BSAP WAS BUILDING.
UM, YET INSTEAD OF EXPANDING THESE NECESSARY SUPPORTS, L-A-U-S-D HAS CHOSEN TO ROLL BACK, UH, PROGRESS AND DENIES BLACK STUDENTS, UH, WHAT THEY ARE OWED.
THE DISTRICT HAS ENACTED ANTI-BLACK POLICIES THAT HAVE DENIED BLACK STUDENTS IN EQUAL EDUCATION.
IT'S TIME TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE HARM THAT'S BEEN DONE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO CORRECT IT.
UH, REINSTATING BSAP IN ITS FULL CAPACITY IS NOT A REQUEST, IT'S A DEMAND, UM, SHOWING US THAT YOU'RE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE UPLIFTING BLACK STUDENTS.
SHOW US THAT YOU LEARNED FROM THE PAST.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 34.
SO THIS IS THE, THE BOARD CALENDAR.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO NOTE FOR THE BOARD.
UM, AFTER LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE, THIS IS THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE THAT MY OFFICE SENDS OUT TO YOU TO THEN APPROVE AND DISCUSS.
UM, THERE IS A, BY WAY OF EXPLANATION, THERE'S AN, UH, AN 8 5 25 CLOSED SESSION THAT'S STATUTORILY REQUIRED AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE NEED TIME TO REPORT TO THE COUNTY STUDENT DISCIPLINE MATTERS AND WE HAVE NO JULY MEETINGS.
AND SO THE REASON THAT MEETING IS ON EIGHT FIVE IS SO THAT WE CAN ADHERE TO THAT, THAT STATUTORY DEADLINE.
AND UM, I DO NOT THINK IT IS NECESSARY THEN TO HAVE AN EIGHT 12 MEETING.
SO CLOSE TO THE EIGHT FIVE MEETING IF WE HAVE THE EIGHT FIVE MEETING.
UM, AND IF THERE'S ANY INPUT FROM THE OGC, I'D LOVE THAT.
I'M GETTING A, THAT'S A OKAY FROM OGC.
SO, UM, IT WOULD BE REVISING WHAT WAS SUGGESTED YOU TO OMIT THE EIGHT 12 MEETING.
UM, AND SINCE WE'RE ALREADY MEETING ON EIGHT FIVE, I WOULD RECOMMEND MEETING ON EIGHT SIX FOR THE, UM, THE REGULAR MEETING THAT IS ON THE SCHEDULE AT EIGHT 19 INSTEAD OF BREAKING IT UP THOSE THREE WEEKS.
IF WE'RE ALL HERE ON THE FIFTH, I WAS SORT OF THINKING IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO HAVE THE MEETING ON THE SIXTH ALSO, BUT THAT'S, THESE ARE MY SUGGESTIONS.
IT'S NOT AN ORDER IN ANY WAY, IT'S JUST, IT'S UP FOR, IT'S UP FOR DISCUSSION.
SO I'M SUGGESTING OMITTING THE EIGHT 12 MEETING ENTIRELY AND MOVING THE EIGHT 19 MEETING TO EIGHT SIX.
MR. SCH, I'LL JUST SAY THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR ME.
ONE, THE REASON I PULLED THIS IS 'CAUSE MY ONE CONFLICT, UM, IS ON THE 19TH, SO IF THAT WORKS WITH THE 8 5, 8 6 BACK TO BACK, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE IDEAL FOR ME.
ANYONE ELSE? CAN YOU REMIND US THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL? IT'S THE 14TH, THE THURSDAY RIGHT OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
SO IF WE DID 8, 5, 8 6, WE'D MEET THE WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS VERSUS THE TUESDAY AFTER.
AND UM, THERE'S ALSO AN ERROR ON THERE.
IF YOU GO DOWN TO DECEMBER 16TH, 2025, THE ANNUAL MEETING WOULD START AT 10:00 AM AND THE REGULAR MEETING WOULD START AT 10 30.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO ADD IF THERE'S DISCUSSION OR INPUT.
NOW IS THE TIME, SORRY, THE ANNUAL MEETING WOULD START AT 10 AND THE REGULAR MEETING WOULD START AT 10 30 ON DECEMBER 16TH.
OH YEAH, SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE YOU.
I KNOW WE HAD TALKED AND HAD, UH, IN THE PAST HAD ADDITIONAL MEETINGS FOR CHARTERS.
UM, NOT A COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT A FULL BOARD MEETING.
GIVEN THE NUMBER OF RENEWALS, IS THAT CONTEMPLATED IN THIS SCHEDULE OR IS THERE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL MEETINGS FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF CHARTER RENEWALS THIS YEAR? IT'S, IT'S CONTEMPLATED IN THIS SCHEDULE IN THE SENSE THAT LOOKING BACK HISTORICALLY WE USED TO HAVE MORE CHARTER MEETINGS AND
[05:10:01]
IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE MORE SCHEDULE MORE TIME IN THE SCHEDULING MONTH, THOSE MEETINGS CAN BE ADDED AS NEEDED ONCE IDENTIFIED, UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHARTER SCHOOL DIVISION.SO YES, SHORT ANSWER, YES, CONTEMPLATED BUT NOT LISTED BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THE EXACT FLOW YET.
SO WHAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU IS WE MIGHT ADD ADDITIONAL MEETINGS TO ADDRESS THOSE? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND I JUST KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO ADD THINGS LATE IF THERE ARE ANY RETREATS THAT WE NEED OR, UM, YOU KNOW, DEEP DIVES THAT WE SOMETIMES DO.
I IMAGINE THOSE ARE NOT YET ON HERE.
UM, SO YOU KNOW, THE SOONER WE CAN SCHEDULE THOSE FOR THE FULL YEAR, I THINK THE BETTER FOR US.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO HAVE ALL THOSE ON THE CALENDAR AT THIS POINT.
IT OFTEN, UM, COMES UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND, AND CAN BE A CHALLENGE JUST ON THE, THE AUGUST SWITCH TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
SO THE CLOSED SESSION NEEDS TO HAPPEN ON THE FIFTH? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD LIKE DO A SWITCHEROO OF THE CLOSED AND THE REGULAR ONE ON THE FIFTH AND ONE ON THE MAYBE SO THAT IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE, THE EXISTING SCHEDULE ON EV EVERY OTHER WEEK WHERE IT'S TWO FOR OPEN AND WE WEDNESDAY FOR CLOSED.
I, I CONSIDERED THAT, BUT I CHECKED IN WITH THE STUDENT, UM, STUDENT DISCIPLINE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID EIGHT FIVE IS THE MEETING WE, I, SO I PROPOSED TO THEM BOTH EIGHT FIVE AND EIGHT 12 AND THEY SAID THE EIGHT FIVE IS THE, IS THE DATE WE'D HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO NOT BE IN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO THE COUNTY.
AND WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING WAS DOING IT ON THE SIXTH, NOT ON THE FIFTH.
SO THAT WE ARE, BECAUSE USUALLY WE'RE DOING OUR REGULAR MEETINGS, OUR OPEN MEETINGS ON TUESDAYS AND OUR CLOSED SESSIONS ON WEDNESDAYS.
SO IT WAS JUST A SUGGESTION THAT MAYBE WE WANNA BE CONSISTENT SO IT'S NOT CONFUSING.
VO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NOT THAT IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT
IF, IF, IF WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS THE 12TH WAS TOO LATE OR FIFTH WAS THE, IF THE SIXTH WORKS, I LIKE THAT TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY I BELIEVE THE SIXTH WORKS, BUT I HAVE NOT CHECKED IN SPECIFICALLY ON THAT DATE.
SO IF THEY'RE HERE, ANYONE FROM STUDENT DISCIPLINE WANNA CALL DOWN.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WAS JUST GONNA ADD IS TO MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN'S POINT, MIGHT WE MAYBE IN JUNE, MR. SMIS THEN SCHEDULE THAT IF THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL CHARTER MEETING OR TWO SHE'S GIVEN HOW DIFFICULT IT'S BEEN TO SCHEDULE VARIOUS RETREATS.
MAYBE WE CAN SCHEDULE THOSE NEXT MONTH, JUST GET THEM ON THE CALENDAR AS WELL.
DID YOU MENTION 10 30 FOR ONE OF THE TIMES I DID.
SO ONCE, HOW COME WE HAVE AN ANNUAL MEETING, UH, ON THE SAME DAY AS A REGULAR MEETING AND THAT ANNUAL MEETING HAPPENS IN DECEMBER AND A NON-ELECTION YEAR.
THOSE MEETINGS ARE VERY, VERY SHORT.
IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST THE BOARD DECIDING WHO'S GONNA FILL PARTICULAR POSITIONS THAT ARE NOT ON THE BOARD AND THAT MEETING GOES BY VERY QUICKLY.
SO THAT MEETING WOULD BE AT 10:00 AM AND IT'S SEPARATE AND DISTINCT, UH, FROM THE REGULAR MEETING.
SO THAT REGULAR MEETING WOULD START AT 10:30 AM OKAY.
I AM GONNA MOVE THAT WE ADOPT AN AMENDED VERSION OF THIS THAT INCLUDES A REGULAR MEETING ON EIGHT FIVE, A CLOSED SESSION MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, EIGHT SIX AND CHANGES THE TIME OF THE 8 12 16 MEETINGS TO 10:00 AM FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING AND 10:30 AM FOR THE REGULAR MEETING.
I WILL SECOND WHAT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A JUNE MEETING TO WORK ON CHARTER SCHOOL REQUESTS? I, I THINK WHAT MR. MEIN WAS SUGGESTING THAT AT ONE OF OUR UPCOMING JUNE MEETINGS, OKAY, I BRING TO THE BOARD A PRESENTATION OF, UM, POSSIBLE DATES FOR THE CHARTER MEETINGS BASED ON THIS.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE MOTION AND THE SECOND, UM, AND NOW WE WOULD VOTE ON THAT.
UM, AND THAT BRINGS US DIRECTLY TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
[General Public Comment (Approximately 3:30 P.M.)]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.SO I'M GONNA CALL FOUR NAMES IF THE FIRST PERSON COULD COME TO THE PODIUM AND THEN THE FOLLOWING THREE, PLEASE BE READY, UH, TO COME ON UP.
SO THE FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE MARIA LUISA PALMA.
MARIA LUISA PALMA, THEN MAO TREJO AND THEN MACKAY AMOU AND THEN DAVID PIERCE.
WHO IS IT THAT ALL OF YOU WORK FOR? WELL YOU WORK FOR US, THE TAXPAYERS.
[05:15:01]
WE ARE THE ONES WHO PAY ALL OF YOUR SALARIES.EVERYONE'S SALARIES IN THIS BUILDING.
BUT HERE YOU TAKE HOURS AND HOURS ON PASSING OUT AWARDS, SYMBOLIC RESOLUTIONS, TAKING PHOTOS, AND YET SOMEHOW YOU NEVER QUITE GET TO REALLY DISCUSSING THE 18 PLUS BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.
YOU DON'T HAVE A FINANCE COMMITTEE, YOU HAVE SCANT PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON ANY FINANCIAL ISSUES AT ALL WHATSOEVER.
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT, YOU HAD ABSOLUTELY NO DISCUSSION OF THE ACTUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM HERE.
DESPITE THE LAST TWO YEARS OF INCREASED REVENUES MORE THAN EXPENSES, WHICH MEANS YOU WERE NOT IN A DEFICIT POSITION, YOU STILL HAVE AN UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION OF NEGATIVE 11.8 BILLION.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS WHEN UTLA GOES AROUND SAYING THE DISTRICT HAS A TRUST FUND? NO, NO, NO.
WE ARE IN THE WHOLE, WE HAVE AN UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITY OF $7 BILLION.
UNFUNDED OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT LIABILITY OF $9 BILLION.
AND NO ONE HERE HAS DISCUSSED THAT.
WHY NOT? I'VE NEVER ONCE HERE HEARD YOU ALL DISCUSS ANYTHING ABOUT THE LCAP, THE MID-YEAR UPDATE.
YOU EX YOU SKIPPED RIGHT OVER IT.
WE'VE ASKED YOU ALL AT THE PARENT COMMITTEES FOR THE I-READY EXAM DATA.
THE PARENT COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DENIED THAT INFORMATION.
THE STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS THAT YOU'VE SET YOURSELVES NOW YOU'RE GONNA MOVE THE GOALPOST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA HIT THOSE ITEMS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF DATA POINTS IN THE LCAP THAT COULD BE DISCUSSED TO DECIDE AND FIGURE OUT HAVE THE USE OF FUNDS BEEN EFFECTIVE OR INEFFECTIVE? SO YOU ALL WORK FOR US YET WE HAVE HIDDEN DATA, HIDDEN MONEY AND MY NAME IS BARAMA.
APPARENTLY I'M THE ONLY ONE HERE OUT OF THE ENTIRE CITY OF LA.
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MONEY BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ACCOUNTABILITY YET.
WE PAY YOUR SALARIES, SHOW US THE DATA, SHOW US THE MONEY, SHOW US YOU UNDERSTAND WHOSE POCKETS THE MONEY IS ENDING UP WITH AND WHO, WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED.
ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC? THAT'S WHAT WE WANNA KNOW.
HEAR MY NAME IS DOM AND ELENA.
UH, MR. REJO IS YIELDING IS TIME TO DOM AND ELENA IT SOUNDS LIKE.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
HELLO, MY NAME IS DOMINIC GARRA, AN 11TH GRADER FROM MCLC AND A LEADER AT STUDENTS DESERVE.
I CAME HERE TO ADDRESS THE URGENT NEED FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO COMMIT TO PROTECTING BLACK UNDOCUMENTED AND L-G-B-T-Q STUDENTS.
WE ASK YOU THE SCHOOL BOARD TO DO THE HONESTLY THE BARE MINIMUM.
WHILE THESE VERY COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER ATTACK AS HUMANS, IT IS OUR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO STAND UP TO OUR OPPRESSORS AND PROTECT THE OPPRESS.
WE NEED YOU TO COMMIT TO NOT TURN A BLIND EYE TO THESE INJUSTICES BECAUSE IF NO ONE STANDS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, WHO WILL, SCHOOLS SHOULD BE SAFE SPACES WHERE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE EMPOWERED AND UPLIFTED.
SO WE ASK YOU TO NOT HESITATE TO PROTECT THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
EDUCATION IS MEANT TO BE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AND IN MOST DIRE NEED OF SUPPORT, WE NEED MORE THAN WORDS.
WE NEED YOUR FULL COMMITMENT TO PROTECT BLACK UNDOCUMENTED L-G-B-T-Q STUDENTS, NOT JUST STATEMENTS.
SO YOU NEEDED FULLY COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING BSAP FUNDING DREAM CENTERS AND L-G-B-T-Q CURRICULUMS NOW THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M IN THE NINTH GRADE AND I ATTEND AUGH HIGH SCHOOL BY SIGNING THIS PETITION, I AGREE THAT L-A-U-S-D NEEDS TO INCREASE AND EXPAND PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKERS POSITIONS AND PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO MEET THE HIGH DEMAND FOR SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICES IN L-A-U-S-D SCHOOLS.
BASED UPON CURRENT HIGH RATES OF MENTAL HEALTH IN CRISIS REPORT DATA, THE NEED FOR SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES HAS REACHED A CRITICAL LEVEL.
EVERY DAY, MORE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ARE SEEKING ASSISTANCE TO COPE WITH TRAUMA AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
YET THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN SCHOOL ARE STRETCHED TOO THIN OR NON-EXISTENT.
CURRENTLY THE DISTRIBUTION OF PS WS DOES NOT MEET THE HIGH DEMANDS WITH MANY SCHOOLS HAVING INSUFFICIENT OR LACK OF SERVICES.
RESEARCH STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WITHOUT, WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, STUDENTS STRUGGLE, STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, HAVE DIFFICULTIES CONCENTRATING, ENGAGING IN SCHOOL, RELATING TO OTHERS, REGULATING THEIR EMOTIONS, SOCIALLY ISOLATING, ADDRESSING BULLYING AND DIS DISCRIM DISCRIMINATION.
OKAY, MACKAY AMOU, THIS IS OUR PETITION WITH 18 818 TIMES.
IF YOU LEAVE IT THERE, I'LL COLLECT IT.
I AM 15 YEARS OLD AND A PROUD BLACK STUDENT FROM SOUTH LA AND I ATTEND MAN UCLA.
[05:20:01]
TODAY AS A LEADER IN THE BROTHERS SON SALES COALITION WITH COMMUNITY COALITION AND I'VE BEEN A PART OF BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN AT MY SCHOOL.I'VE SEEN HOW BLACK BSAP CAN SUPPORT STUDENTS LIKE ME.
WE RECEIVE RESOURCES, RECOGNITION, AND A SPACE WHERE BLACK STUDENTS FEEL SEEN.
BUT I BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM COULD GO FURTHER.
BLACK STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY ME BLACK BOYS, ARE THE LOWEST PERFORMING SUBGROUP IN LASD.
THAT'S NOT BECAUSE WE AREN'T CAPABLE IS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN THE SAME LEVEL OF TARGETED SUPPORT AS OTHER GROUPS.
SO I ASK WHY DOESN'T LUSD BELIEVE THAT BLACK BOYS DESERVE REAL FOCUSED INVESTMENT VS.
A FUNDS SHOULD BE USED TO HELP AND HELP US SUCCEED NOT JUST WITH AWARDS, BUT WITH TUTORING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, BUT MENTORS AND PROGRAMS THAT REFLECT OUR CULTURE AND EXPERIENCES.
WE NEED SAFE SPACES TO GROW, TO HEAL AND TO LEAD AND TO MISS NEWVILLE, YOU ARE THE ONLY BLACK SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
YOU REPRESENT BLACK PE BLACK STUDENTS LIKE ME IN YOUR DISTRICT AS A BLACK EDUCATOR, COMMUNITY LEADER AND PARENT, WE URGE YOU TO LEAD BOLDLY AND PROTECTING AND EXPANDING BSAP FOR THE FUTURE OF BLACK YOUTH ACROSS LESD.
IF THIS DISTRICT IS SERIOUS ABOUT EQUITY, THEN IT HAS TO START WITH US.
WE MATTER AND WE DESERVE FULL SUPPORT OF THE SYSTEM.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M A RECENTLY RETIRED K THROUGH FIVE THEATER TEACHER AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SERIOUS SHORTCOMINGS IN LAD'S PUBLIC RECORDS ACT RESPONSE PROCESS AND TEACHER INVESTIGATIONS.
ON JANUARY 27TH, I SUBMITTED A PRA REQUEST SEEKING DATA ON HOW MANY TEACHER INVESTIGATIONS OCCURRED AFTER THE DISTRICT REVISED ITS INVESTIGATIVE PROTOCOLS.
I ALSO WANTED TO CONFIRM WHETHER THE DISTRICT IS STILL CONDUCTING THE FIVE DAY PRELIMINARY INQUIRY PROCESS, A KEY SAFEGUARD THAT WAS BYPASSED DURING MY OWN INVESTIGATION.
IN MY CASE, HAD THAT INQUIRY BEEN CONDUCTED, IT WOULD'VE QUICKLY REVEALED FROM THE CLASSROOM TEACHER WHO WAS PRESENT AT ALL TIMES THAT THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ME WERE UNTRUE, BUT INSTEAD THE DISTRICT INSTANTLY LAUNCHED A FULL INVESTIGATION.
WHEN I ASKED WHY, I WAS TOLD ALL SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS TRIGGER LENGTHY INVESTIGATIONS TO ENSURE STUDENT SAFETY, THEIR EXPLANATION WAS NOT DISTRICT POLICY.
AFTER SUBMITTING MY PRA REQUEST, I RECEIVED A RESPONSE PROMISING IN AN ESTIMATED RELEASE DATE BY FEBRUARY 20TH.
THAT DATE CAME AND WENT AND NO ESTIMATE EVER ARRIVED.
SINCE THEN, I'VE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO'VE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.
MANY SAY THE ONLY WAY TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE DISTRICT IS THROUGH LEGAL ACTION.
TRANSPARENCY ISN'T OPTIONAL IN A PUBLIC INSTITUTION.
I URGE THE BOARD TO EXAMINE BOTH THE PRA RESPONSE PROCESS AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE DISTRICT'S INVESTIGATION PROTOCOLS.
AND SCOTT SCHUREN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING ME WHEN I WAS REINSTATED.
I'M A SENIOR AT MANUEL ARTS HIGH SCHOOL AND A YOUTH LEADER COMMUNITY COALITION.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH BSAP AND IT SIGNIFICANCE FOR TO BE FOCUSED ON BLACK STUDENTS.
I THINK IT'S A LITTLE NONSENSICAL TO TAKE THE CRITERIA OF BEING BLACK OUT OF BSAP AND IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT Y'ALL DID THIS OUTTA FEAR OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
BUT IF BLACK STUDENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY BEING HARMED BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC RESOURCES TO COMBAT THE HARM.
AT MY SCHOOL, WHICH HAS A LOWER DEMOGRAPHIC OF BLACK PEOPLE OFTEN FEEL EXCLUDED AND ALONE.
AND SINCE I'M A MAGNET STUDENT, I'M TYPICALLY THE ONLY BLACK PERSON IN MANY OF MY CLASSES.
BEING IN MAGNET HAS GRANTED ME LOTS OF EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES, LIKE BETTER CLASSES AND MORE ATTENTIVE SUPPORT.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT A LOT OF OTHER BLACK STUDENTS AT MY SCHOOL HAVE ACCESS TO MAGNET.
BSAP MAKES UP FOR IT BY GIVING BLACK STUDENTS THE EXTRA LEVEL OF NEEDED SUPPORT.
[05:25:01]
MANUAL ARTS, OUR BSAP STAFF WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE OUR NEEDS ARE MET AND THEY DO THEIR JOBS VERY WELL.ALTHOUGH THEY DO THEIR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE SUPPORT WE NEED, THEY'RE UNDERSTAFFED AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE SUPPORT NECESSARY TO DO THEIR JOBS.
THERE ALSO ISN'T ENOUGH FUNDING TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO A LARGE NUMBER OF BLACK STUDENTS, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THE EVEN SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS TO FULLY BENEFIT FROM BSAP.
NOT PRIORITIZING BLACK STUDENTS MAKES THIS PROBLEM WORSE.
THE CRAZY THING IS AT MY SCHOOL, THE CRAZY THING IS THAT MY SCHOOL IS SUPPOSEDLY A MODEL FOR BSAP, BUT IF BEING A MODEL SCHOOL FOR BSAP MEANS THAT WE ARE CONSISTENTLY UNDERSTAFFED AND CONSISTENTLY UNDERFUNDED, THEN HOW DOES BSAP LOOK AT SCHOOLS THAT ARE INTENTIONAL? I DON'T THINK Y'ALL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDING WITH US DURING THIS TIME OF NEED.
WE AS BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO BE MOST AFFECTED BY THE BUDGET CUT THREATS THAT TRUMP IS MAKING, WHICH IS WHY IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS EXPANSION IS NECESSARY.
BSAP WAS CREATED TO BE A REPARATIVE PROGRAM TO REPAIR THE HARM THAT WAS HISTORICALLY DONE TO BLACK STUDENTS, WHICH IS WHY I DEMAND FOR BLACK TO BE PUT BACK IN BSAP AND FOR IT TO BE EXPANDED BY A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY.
BELTON WHITLOCK BELTON, COME ON UP.
WE'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MY NAME IS BELTON WHITLOCK AND I GO TO MAN UCLA COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
I'M A YOUTH LEADER AT COMMUNITY COALITION IN BROTHERS SUMS THEMSELVES.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT BSAP.
I WOULD LIKE TO START MY SPEECH BY SAYING I LIVE AROUND THE CRENSHAW AREA AND I REALIZE THAT BSAP HELPS OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
I HAVE, I HAVE A BSAP COUNSELOR NAMED MS. JACKSON AND SHE ALWAYS TELL ME ABOUT THE UPCOMING EVENTS COMING UP FOR BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH.
SHE MAKES ME FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTS ME.
I ALSO WENT ON A BSAP COLLEGE TOUR AND I WENT TO GO ON, UH, GO TO STANFORD, UC, BERKELEY AND SAN FRANCISCO UNIVERSITY.
I LEARNED ABOUT THESE NICE COLLEGES BECAUSE I GOT TO LIKE, OH, I'M SORRY.
I LEARNED ABOUT THESE NICE COLLEGES THAT HELPED ME SEE THAT WHAT'S POSSIBLE IN MY FUTURE AND IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE B SAP WAS REALLY FOR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS.
THEY LOOKED OUT FOR US HAVING TO COME HERE KNOWING YOU ARE NOT WORKING TO PROTECT BSAP MAKES ME FEEL SAD AND LIKE MAKE ME FEEL LIKE YOU ARE NOT FOR US.
YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS AND INVEST IN US.
I'M HERE TODAY TO DEMAND A CHANGE IN YOUR HEART.
UH, YOU NEED TO PROTECT AND INVEST IN BSAP.
BSAP HAS HELPED ME, BUT I NEED MORE, UH, EXPANDING EVEN MORE.
I DEMAND YOU GUYS RAISE BSAP FUNDING BY 50 MILLION TO A HUNDRED MILLION.
YOU MUST PROTECT AND INVEST BLACK IN BLACK STUDENTS.
EMILY VASQUEZ AND AFTER EMILY IS MICHAEL AL.
HELLO, MY NAME IS EMILY VASQUEZ.
I'M A JUNIOR AT WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL AND A YOUTH LEADER AT COCOA.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH THREE NON-NEGOTIABLE DEMANDS TO PREVENT THE DISMANTLING OF THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM.
A PROGRAM THAT HELPS STUDENTS.
AND IF THIS DISTRICT CLAIMS TO VALUE EQUITY, YOU'LL FIGHT FOR IT.
NOT BOUNCE BUDGETS ON THE BLACK, ON THE BACKS OF BLACK STUDENTS.
UD MUST, UH, ISSUE A FORMAL APOLOGY TO BLACK STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FOR THE SYSTEMIC HARM THIS DISTRICT HAS INFLICTED.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GENERATIONS OF STOLEN OPPORTUNITIES, UNDERFUNDED SCHOOLS OR POLICE CLASSROOMS. AND I MAY NOT BE BLACK, BUT I KNOW WHEN I KNOW INJUSTICE.
WHEN I SEEN IT, I WATCHED MY BLACK CLASSMATES SUFFER WHILE OUR TEXTBOOK RUMBLES IN OUR HANDS.
I SAT IN CLASSROOM WITH OUR ONLY SUPPORT OFFERED IS A COP AT THE DOOR.
AN APOLOGY WITHOUT ACTION IS JUST NOISE.
AND WE ARE DONE LISTENING TO NOISE.
DEMAND TWO 50 TO 100 MILLION FOR BSAP.
NEXT, THIS DISTRICT WILL INCREASE B SAP'S BUDGET BY 50 TO 100 MILLION.
NOT NEXT YEAR, NOT WHEN FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE.
NOW WE NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND ACADEMIC SUPPORTS AND COMMUNITY SAFETY RESOURCES BECAUSE LET'S BE REAL.
IF YOU CAN FIND MONEY FOR POLICE, THEN YOU CAN FIND MONEY FOR BLACK STUDENTS.
FUTURES DEMAND THREE, COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY TEAMS. FINALLY, WE DEMAND REAL SAFETY.
EVERY PEACE OP SCHOOL MUST HAVE COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH OF PROFESSIONALS AND RESERVE JUSTICE TEACHERS, PEACE BUILDERS, PEOPLE WHO CARE, NOT PUNISHED.
BECAUSE IF BLACK STUDENTS DON'T, BECAUSE BLACK STUDENTS DON'T NEED MORE SURVEILLANCE, THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT.
IF L-A-U-S-D TRULY BELIEVES THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER, PROVE IT, PUT 50 TO 100 MILLION.
WE'RE MISSION STATEMENTS ARE TO COMMUNITY CARE FROM A BUZZWORD INTO A REALITY.
AND REMEMBER, WE ARE WATCHING THE
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STUDENTS IN THE CRUMBLING CLASSROOMS, WATCHING THE FAMILIES FIND FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S DIGNITY WATCHING YOUR STUDENTS AND THE BOARD MEETINGS RIGHT NOW WATCHING.UM, GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE DOWNTOWN LA SOCCER CLUB, WERA SOCCER CLUB WHOSE MISSION IS TO GIVE MOSTLY HISPANIC YOUTHS FROM THE UNDERSERVED URBAN COMMUNITIES OF LOS ANGELES SUCH AS PICO UNION, MACARTHUR PARK, EAST LA AND OTHERS.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN AND PLAY SOCCER IN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT REGARDLESS OF THEIR FAMILY'S ECONOMIC SITUATION.
ONE OF OUR PRIME OBJECTIVES IS THE TRAINING AND RECRUITING OF LATINA ATHLETES WHO MAKE UP OVER 200 OF OUR 500 ROUTE ROSTERED PLAYERS.
OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE SENT A NUMBER OF OUR LATIN ATHLETES TO D ONE AND D TWO COLLEGE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS TO NATIONAL TEAMS IN SEVERAL SOUTH CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES.
ALL OF THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CIVIC CENTER MANDATE, WHICH STATES THAT CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A DIRECT COST RATE TO NONPROFIT COMMUNITY GROUPS GIVEN THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA.
THE DOWNTOWN LA SOCCER CLUB HAS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS PERMITTED THE FIELD AT LATHE MIDDLE SCHOOL UNDER THE CIVIC CENTER MANDATE DURING WHICH IT HAS BECOME AN INTRICATE PART OF THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED, AS WELL AS HAVING MANY STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL ENROLLED IN OUR CLUB.
THAT IS UNTIL LATE LAST YEAR WHEN A NEW LEADERSHIP GROUP TOOK OVER FACILITIES WITH A SEEMINGLY PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF IGNORING CIVIC CENTER PERMANENT APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITIZING LEASING APPLICATIONS, WHICH ARE THREE TIMES AS COSTLY AS A CIVIC CENTER APPLICATION.
AND GIVING THEM PRIMARILY TO NATIONALLY FRANCHISED YOUTH SOCCER ORGANIZATIONS FROM DISTANT AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES AND LEAVING SOCCER PROGRAMS WHO OPERATE WITHIN THE L-A-U-S-D COMMUNITY SUCH AS OURS.
WITHOUT A PLACE FOR OUR KIDS TO TRAIN.
WE ASK THEREFORE THAT THE BOARD INSTRUCT FACILITIES TO PRIORITIZE, ALLOWING KIDS TO HAVE ACCESS TO FIELDS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND NOT BE LEFT AS THE KIDS FROM THE DOWNTOWN LA SOCCER CLUB ARE ALMOST ALL OF WHOM ARE PRESENTLY LA WE SEE STUDENTS WITH NO PLACE TO PLAY.
CAN I SPEAK ON THE SAME TOPIC HERE? WHAT'S YOUR NAME? CHABA SANCHEZ.
SO YOU'RE LISTED AS SPEAKER 17.
YEAH, I AM A PARENT AND I, I AM HERE TO TESTIFY HERE THAT THIS BANK IS PROVIDING TREMEND OPPORTUNITIES TO MANY LATINA GIRLS THAT WILL NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OTHERWISE.
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS, THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO IS RUNNING THIS BUREAUCRACY HERE IS TRYING TO TAKE THIS FIELD AWAY.
YOU KNOW, LIKE USING THE WORDS, THE SUPERINTENDENT THIS MORNING, THAT WILL BE I MODEL TO TAKE AWAY, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITY FROM POOR KIDS, YOU KNOW, AND GIVE TO AFFLUENT COMMUNITY.
SO I, AND IF ANYBODY HERE FOLLOW THE, THE, THE NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM, ANY LATINA THAT YOU CAN MENTION, NONE, ZERO, NO LATINA SOCCER PLAYER THERE.
WHY? WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY SOCCER HERE IN AMERICA IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
THIS MAN IS PROVIDING TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT THAT THE, THE ENTIRE GOAL OF L-A-U-S-D TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY TO THIS KID HERE.
EDUCATION IN SPORT SPORTS GO HAND TO HAND.
I DON'T SEE WHY AM I DOING HERE TODAY? YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD COMMON SENSE.
WHY DO YOU WANNA TAKE THE, THE FUEL AWAY AND GIVE IT TO THE WEALTHY COMMUNITIES IN THE WEST PART OF THE CITY? MAKES NO SENSE TO ME WHATSOEVER.
SO PLEASE RECONSIDER AND LOOK INTO THIS.
AND I'VE BEEN LEAVING MESSAGES TO THE BOARD MEMBER WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THAT.
SO PLEASE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
KALILA WILLIAMS. KHALILA WILLIAMS, COME ON UP.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK WHEN SHE BEGIN KHALILA, THERE'S ALSO SLASH JOSEPH WILLIAMS. YEAH, I'M YOU OKAY? WE CAN'T HEAR THAT MR. WILLIAMS IS YIELDING HIS TIME TO THESE TWO FOLKS.
SO YOU'LL, YOU'LL EACH HAVE A, YOU HAVE A TOTAL OF TWO MINUTES, SO DON'T YOU START THE TWO MINUTES STARTS.
HELLO, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO AND BOARD MEMBERS ACKNOWLEDGING MENTAL HEALTH IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS INTO SUPPORTING STUDENTS.
MY NAME IS AMIR THOMAS, A LEADER AS STUDENTS DESERVE, AND A STUDENT AT AUGH CAVALLO.
YOU SAID YOU WOULD BE A HYPOCRITE IF YOU DIDN'T FIGHT FOR THOSE TODAY, WHO ARE FACING CONDITIONS YOU FACED 40 YEARS AGO AS AN UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANT.
BUT YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE AS A SUPERINTENDENT FOR ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO ACTUALLY FIGHT FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED, BUT YOU RARELY DO ANYTHING TO HELP YOU.
ALONG WITH YOUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD HELP BY EXPANDING BSAP BY A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY.
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AND THE BOARD AS WELL SHOULD DEDICATE $5 MILLION TO THE DREAM CENTERS IN LOS ANGELES.UM, MONEY SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAFETY OF YOUR KIDS AND STUDENTS.
APART FROM THAT, YOU GUYS HAVE THE MONEY TO HELP.
MONEY SHOULD BE THE LAST THING TO WORRY ABOUT.
I REMIND YOU ALL THAT WE, THE STUDENTS ARE THE REASON YOU GUYS HAVE JOBS.
SO PLEASE LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS AND DEMANDS.
HELLO, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO AND BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DANIEL AND WE MEET AGAIN TO REFRESH YOUR MINDSET, I'M A STUDENT AT ROY BALL LEARNING CENTER RIGHT DOWN THE STREET AND I'M LEADER AT STUDENTS DESERVE.
SO I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING MENTAL HEALTH AND ALL OF THAT AND WHAT SHE, WHAT SHE CONTINUED ON.
BUT I'M LO RUNNING LONG TIME, SO I'LL JUST MAKE IT QUICK.
ALL OF YOU HERE, INCLUDING HIM AND HIM AREN'T LISTENING TO US.
I WANT YOU GUYS TO LISTEN TO US.
WE HAVE CONCERNS, REAL CONCERNS AND REAL DEMANDS.
WE ARE HERE AND WE WANT THOSE DEMANDS MET.
WE NEED $5 MILLION TO DREAM CENTERS PLEASE AND A HUNDRED AND EXPAND BSAP BY A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
PLEASE, PLEASE, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.
ALL OF MY TEACHERS ARE LIKE, THEY'RE VERY INCLUSIVE, THEY, THEY'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND THEY'RE VERY KIND AND THAT'S ALL THANKS TO BSAP.
LET'S SEE, MARIAH WILLIAMS. MARIAH WILLIAMS, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON UP.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS EMERY AND MY NAME IS, IS MARIAH.
WE ARE STUDENTS AT GIRLS ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AND WE ARE HERE TO DEFEND THE LIVES OF RACIAL MINORITY GROUPS AND DRAW MORE ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEMS THEY'RE FACING.
UNDER THE FEW, UNDER THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WE WITNESSED SOME OF THE MOST UNCONSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS WITH AND WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS.
AS OF TODAY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAS GREATLY INCREASED FUNDING FOR ICE RAIDS AND IS ON TRACK TO RUN OUT OF THEIR YEARLY BUDGET BY JULY.
INSTEAD OF PROTECTING THE LIVES OF IMMIGRANT STUDENTS, SOME OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOLS HAVE SET ADHERED TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S DEMANDS BY ALLOWING EYES TO ABDUCT THEIR STUDENTS AND BY LETTING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CONTROL THE CURRICULUM THEY TEACH IN EXCHANGE FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DONATIONS.
IN ADDITION TO HOMELAND SECURITY TARGETING UNIVERSITIES, THEY HAVE ALSO BEGUN TARGETING L-A-U-S-D ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE REFUSED ENTRY, THE TARGETING OF SCHOOLS WITH YOUNG KIDS IS EXTREMELY HOSTILE AND POSES A DIRECT THREAT TO STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AS WELL.
BECAUSE OF THIS, WE DEMAND THAT YOU INVEST $5 MILLION TOWARDS DREAM CENTERS, WHICH IT HELPS STUDENTS FROM IMMIGRANT FAMILIES BY PROVIDING THEM, BY PROVIDING THEM WITH RESOURCES, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, ACADEMIC SUPPORTS, AND HELP STUDENTS NAVIGATE THROUGH TIME IN WHICH THEIR SAFETY IS AT RISK.
BY INVESTING MONEY IN DREAM CENTERS, YOU WOULD HELP PROTECT THE 58% OF L-A-U-S-D STUDENTS WHO ARE FROM IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE IN THE SCHOOLS THEY'RE IN, AS WELL AS ENSURE THAT THEIR EDUCATION IS PRIORITIZED.
INSTEAD OF ALLOWING A CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION TO INCENTIVIZE FEAR AMONGST MINORITY GROUPS IN SCHOOLS, WE ARE ALSO DEMANDING THAT L-A-U-S-D PUTS THE BLOCK BACK IN BSAP AND WITH OUR STICKER CAMPAIGN WHERE WE PASSED OUT 17,000 STICKERS, IT SHOWS THAT L-A-U-S-D STUDENTS ARE WITH US TOO.
IT IS YOUR JOB AS OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND STUDENT AND SUPERINTENDENT TO LISTEN TO WHAT SO MANY THINK IS A PROBLEM AND FIX IT.
BLACK GIRLS AND BOYS HAVE BEEN DENIED EQUAL EDUCATION FOR DECADES AND WHEN YOU'RE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO SLOWLY START THE CHANGE TOWARD FIXING THAT UK.
SO WE ARE DEMANDING THE BLACK CRITERIA BE PUT BACK IN THE BSAP PROGRAM, INCREASE THE BSAP BUDGET BY A HUNDRED MILLION AND APOLO AND AN APOLOGY FOR THE THOUSANDS OF BLACK STUDENTS TO YOU BY CHANGING THIS CRITERIA ARE FAILING.
AS SUPERINTENDENT, WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO FOCUS ON THE DEMANDS OF THE STUDENTS AND FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS THAT MINORITY GROUPS ARE FACING IN SCHOOLS.
BECAUSE OF THIS, WE WANT YOU TO INVEST MONEY IN CREATING DREAM CENTERS AND PUTTING THE BLACK BACK IN BSAP AGAIN.
I'M YIELDING MY TIME TO ROMY AND PATRICIA.
OKAY, MR. MOORE, AS YIELD IS TIME TO ROMY AND PATRICIA.
SO YOU BOTH HAVE TWO MINUTES TOTAL.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA SAMURA, A SENIOR AT ROYAL BOWL LEARNING CENTER, AND I AM A LEADER IN STUDENTS DESERVE.
I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BLACK UNDOCUMENTED L-G-B-T-Q STUDENTS AND BETTER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. SINCE TIME AND TIME AGAIN, L-A-U-S-D HAS FAILED TO DO SO.
ACKNOWLEDGING THE MENTAL HEALTH IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS SUPPORTING STUDENTS.
L-A-U-S-D MUST GO FURTHER BY INVESTING IN THE WELLNESS AND SAFETY OF BLACK STUDENTS, UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND QUEER YOUTH THROUGH REAL PROGRAMMING AND CARE CENTERED, UM, SUPPORTS.
AS A BLACK STUDENT UNDER L-A-U-S-D, I HAVE FACED NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF DISCRIMINATION AND ISSUES WITH MENTAL HEALTH THAT HAVE PLACED ME IN UNFAIR CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO MY COLOR.
WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE WHO, WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOUR COLOR OR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE SHOULD NOT DICTATE THE AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITIES AND HELP THAT ARE
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AVAILABLE.L-A-U-S-D HAS THE RESOURCES TO STOP THAT TO GIVE BLACK UNDOCUMENTED AND L-G-B-T-Q STUDENTS THE RESPECT AND NECESSARY OPPORTUNITIES THEY DESERVE.
I'M RUNNING OUTTA TIME 'CAUSE I WANT HER TO SPEAK BUT FUND BSAP AND LET BLACK STUDENTS GET THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE.
MAKE MORE ROOM, MAKE MORE DREAM CENTERS SO UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS CAN GET THE HELP THEY DESERVE.
CREATE PROGRAMS SO L-G-B-T-Q STUDENTS HAVE A PLACE THEY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE IN AND GROW.
YOUR STUDENTS ARE DEPENDING ON IT.
YOU ALL RAN WITH THE PROMISE THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT THE STUDENTS OF LUSD AND NOW WHEN ALL STUDENTS BUT ESPECIALLY ARE MOST VULNERABLE ARE UNDER ATTACK.
YOU CAN'T GET ELECTED BY RUNNING ON THE PLATFORM OF PROTECTING BLACK YOUTH, BUT BACK DOWN WHEN THEY NEED YOU MOST.
SO FOLLOW FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE PROMISES YOU MADE TO YOUTH WHEN YOU ALL WERE ELECTED.
WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO TO LISTEN CLOSELY TO THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING AND ADVOCATING FOR THESE DEMANDS.
OUR SAFETY AND SUCCESS DEPENDS ON THE BOLD AND IMMEDIATE ACTIONS FROM YOU.
THE TIME IS NOW FOR YOU TO FINALLY FOLLOW THROUGH ON YOUR PROMISES AND PROTECT BLACK, UNDOCUMENTED AND LGBTQ PLUS STUDENTS.
AURELIA VALDIVIA, AURELIA VALDIVIA, COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN AND THEN AFTER AURELIA IS ABIGAIL JOSIAN.
OKAY, SO THAT'S, UH, AEL IS YIELDING HER TIME.
HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO.
MY NAME IS DONNA MEJIA AND I'M A 12TH GRADER AT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TODAY STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
WE'RE DEMANDING THAT YOU TAKE REAL ACTION TO PROTECT BLACK LGBTQ PLUS UNDOCUMENTED AND IMMIGRANT STUDENTS IN L-A-U-S-D AT MY SCHOOL, WE'VE HAD THE SUPPORT OF A DREAM CENTER.
IT'S BEEN A SAFE PLACE FOR ME AND MY CLASSMATES TO COME TOGETHER AND GET SUPPORT, FEEL PROTECTED, ESPECIALLY DURING THE TIME WHEN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER ATTACK.
IT'S BEEN A SAFE HAVEN FOR MANY OF US DURING THESE SCARY AND UNCERTAIN TIMES.
I WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE AVAILABILITY OF A DREAM CENTER IN MY SCHOOL LAST YEAR.
SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF SOCIALIZING MORE CLOSELY WITH MY LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE DREAM CENTER PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE FUNDING OF LA FLORE PACI FOR ANNUAL FRANKLIN RENDA LOS MUTOS.
AS YOU MAY KNOW ALL, AS YOU MAY, AS YOU MAY ALL KNOW, LA FLO DECI IS A PRE-HISPANIC FLOWER, MANY LATIN AMERICANS TERRORISTS FOR ITS VALUE.
IN THE TRADITION OF HONORING AND REMEMBERING OUR LOVED ONES, I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW MANY MORE THINGS I COULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED DURING MY HIGH SCHOOL CAREER.
HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THE FRANKLIN'S, ABOUT FRANKLIN'S DREAM CENTER SOONER MY FAMILY AND I IMMIGRATED FROM MEXICO TO THE UNITED STATES ABOUT 13 YEARS AGO.
MY EXPERIENCE SETTLING AT MY NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS CHALLENGING, BUT MY OLDER SIBLINGS HAD A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TIME ADAPTING TO THEIR NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY HAD TO STAND HEARING DISCRIMINATORY COMMENTS TO ANTE MOVE FORWARD IN THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES.
IF MY SIBLINGS WOULD HAVE HAD ACCESS TO A DREAM CENTER AT I ROCK HIGH SCHOOL, THEIR LEARNING AND SOCIAL EXPERIENCES I CAN GUARANTEE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.
IT'S HONESTLY WILD TO ME THAT I AM THAT IN A DISTRICT WITH OVER A THOUSAND SCHOOLS, THERE ARE ONLY FOUR DREAM CENTERS.
L-A-U-S-D CAN AND SHOULD DO BETTER.
SO I'M HERE TO ASK INVEST IN PROTECTING IMMIGRANT STUDENTS.
WE NEED MORE THAN JUST STATEMENTS.
WE NEED REAL RESOURCES BEHIND THESE PROTECTIONS.
OKAY, ABIGAIL IAN, PLEASE COME ON UP.
I'M HERE AGAIN TO URGE L-A-U-S-D TO TAKE REAL ACTION AGAINST THE GROWING HATRED AND DISCRIMINATION TOWARDS THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
TODAY I'M SPEAKING UP FOR MANY JEWISH STUDENTS WHO COULDN'T BE HERE BECAUSE OF EXAMS OR BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEIR CONCERNS WILL BE IGNORED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
ANTISEMITIC INCIDENCES IN K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS INCREASED BY 135% LAST YEAR.
THIS YEAR, 71% OF JEWISH PARENTS SAY THEIR CHILDREN HAVE FACED ANTISEMITISM IN THE CLASSROOM.
THESE ARE NOT JUST STATISTICS, THIS IS THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF STUDENTS RIGHT HERE IN L-A-U-S-D.
YESTERDAY, CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS ANNOUNCED AB SEVEN 15 A BILL TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM IN SCHOOLS.
WHILE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP, L-A-U-S-D SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR THE STATE.
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TAKING PROACTIVE ACTION.WHEN UTLA DEMANDS THE REMOVAL OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATION, LA USD'S RESPONSE SHOULD BE THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
WE SHOULD BE EXPANDING EDUCATION ABOUT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND ANTISEMITISM FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ALIKE.
OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES REPRESENTATION.
WE CANNOT BE PASSIVE IN THE FACE OF HATE.
WE HAVE TWO MINUTES WAITING FOR YOU TO SPEAK AND WELL TAKE YOUR TIME, YIELDING YOUR TIME IF YOU NEED TO COME OVER.
IF YOU'RE YIELDING YOUR TIME, DO IT FROM THERE.
TO WHOM? TO WHOM? ALISON AND, OKAY.
ALISON AND TENAYA, PLEASE COME ON UP.
AND WHILE THEY'RE COMING, UM, UH, BOARD MEMBER NEW BILL, CAN I RECORD YOUR VOTE ON TAB 27? THAT WAS THE IMPACT FEE POLICY UPDATE.
AND THEN ON TAB, UH, 34, WHICH WAS THE ADOPTION OF THE BOARD CALENDAR.
HI, MY NAME IS ALISON MONTGOMERY.
I'M A SENIOR AT DORSEY HIGH SCHOOL AND A LEADER IN STUDENTS DESERVE.
I'M HERE TODAY AGAIN TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY PEERS AND MY STU AND MYSELF.
AKA, THE STUDENTS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING.
L-A-U-S-D HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT ALL STUDENTS.
BUT FROM TIME TO TIME, WE'VE SEEN THAT BLACK AND UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS ARE CONSTANTLY LEFT BEHIND, IGNORED AND PUSHED ASIDE.
SCHOOL IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS FACE CHALLENGES ALMOST ENDLESSLY.
HOW CAN UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS FOCUS ON THEIR EDUCATION WHEN THEY'RE TOO AFRAID TO SHOW UP? AFRAID.
AFRAID OF BEING DETAINED, TARGETED, AND BEING SEEN.
THIS FISH SHOULD NEVER WALK THROUGH SCHOOL DOORS WITH THEM.
WE NEED L-A-U-S-D TO IMPLEMENT A REAL SAFETY PLAN FOR THOSE FOR THESE STUDENTS.
NO, NOT PROMISES, NOT WORDS, BUT ACTIONS.
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS SHOULD FEEL PROTECTED, SUPPORTED, AND NOT INVISIBLE.
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DREAM CENTERS AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY GOING INTO DREAM CENTERS.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK STUDENTS, HOW MANY MORE TIMES DO WE NEED TO SAY IT? PUT THE BLACK BACK IN BSAP, THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN SHOULD ONLY CENTER AND UPLIFT BLACK STUDENTS, NOT LESSEN THEIR NEEDS IN ORDER TO SATISFY A LARGER GROUP.
WE WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO ALLOW YOU TO ERASE US BECAUSE THIS WAS CREATED FOR US TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC BRUTALITY, INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND EDUCA EDUCATIONAL AND INEQU INEQUALITIES.
WE CONFRONT THAT, THAT THAT BEING SAID, INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR BSAP BY A HUNDRED MILLION.
HOW MANY TIMES ARE WE GONNA HAVE TO SHOW UP? HOW MANY TIME, HOW MANY SPEECHES, HOW MANY PRO MORE PROTESTS, AND HOW MANY DEMANDS WILL INTO THE SCHOOL BOARD LISTENS? YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T GET TO IGNORE US THEN CALL IT EQUITY.
YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THE SAME FACES.
YOU'LL CONTINUE HEAR THE SAME ISSUES AND WE'LL KEEP COMING BACK LOUDER, STRONGER AND MORE UNITED UNTIL YOU DREW A JOB AND FIGHT FOR US LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO.
I AM TENAYA RAY, A JUNIOR AT DORSEY HIGH SCHOOL AND A NEW LEADER IN STUDENTS DESERVE.
I AM BLACK, A YOUNG WOMAN AND A PART OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY MAKING ME A TRIPLE MINORITY.
AND PEOPLE LIKE ME DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE, SEEN AND HEARD AT SCHOOLS, WHICH AS STUDENTS IS WHERE WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME.
WHAT ABOUT MY UNDOCUMENTED FRIENDS? THEY ALSO DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE, SEEN, HEARD AND PROTECTED.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS A TIME WHERE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER ATTACK.
THE SIMPLE DEMANDS THAT WE HAVE FOR SUPERINTENDENT, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO ARE TO PROTECT BLACK, UNDOCUMENTED AND LGBTQ PLUS STUDENTS BECAUSE WE ARE THE FUTURE OF YOUR DISTRICT AND THIS COUNTRY.
AND WITHOUT SIMPLE PROTECTION AND SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS, THERE ISN'T ONE.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT DOING MUCH TO PROTECT AND ENSURE THAT STUDENTS THAT YOU WORK FOR ARE SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
FAUR SINGH, ARE YOU HERE? FAUR SINGH? I HERE COMING FROM UPSTAIRS.
AND THEN AFTER MR. SINGH IS CINDY NUNEZ AND THEN VANESSA.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE, DON'T YOU BEGIN.
[05:50:01]
GOOD AFTERNOON.I'M A MEMBER OF THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL AND A STUDENT FROM THE LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC SERVICE VIRTUAL ACADEMY.
THIS YEAR, OVER 300 VIRTUAL ACADEMY TEACHERS WERE SUDDENLY REQUIRED TO REPORT TO PHYSICAL CAMPUSES TO CONTINUE TEACHING 100% REMOTELY.
WHILE I APPLAUD L'S COMMITMENTS TO SUSTAINABILITY AND REDUCING ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT, IT HAS MOVED REMOTE TEACHERS TO IN-PERSON CAMPUSES, MOST OF WHICH ARE FAR AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES, WHICH CONTRADICTS THESE GOALS.
INSTEAD OF BEING PLACED ON CAMPUSES NEAR THEIR HOMES, TEACHERS HAVE BEEN PLACED INDISCRIMINATELY.
MANY HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO EXTENSIVE DAILY COMMUTES AS HIGH AS FOUR HOURS IN A SINGLE DAY, ADDING TO TRAFFIC, POLLUTION AND BURNOUT.
WHY ADD MORE CARBON INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE? THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT HAS ALSO BEEN AFFECTED DUE TO THIS POLICY.
TEACHERS AT THE VIRTUAL ACADEMIES HAVE BEEN PLACED IN SHARED ROOMS. AS A STUDENT, I OFTEN HEAR OTHER CLASSES IN THE BACKGROUND.
THIS ALSO MEANS A COMPLEX AND LIMITED SPACE FOR TEACHERS.
HOW CAN MY TEACHERS BE THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATORS FOR STUDENTS IN SUCH A DISRUPTIVE, LIMITED AND NOISY ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME? VIRTUAL LEARNING HAS BEEN A LIFE CHANGING OPTION.
MY MOM, A SINGLE PARENT, STRUGGLED TO MANAGE TWO KIDS IN IN A JOB WITHOUT PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION.
LEARNING VIRTUALLY GAVE ME THE SUPPORT I NEEDED AND A SPACE TO THRIVE.
IT ENABLED ME TO BECOME ONE OF 10 FINALISTS FOR STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS EARN SEVERAL AWARDS, INCLUDING BEING ONE OF 16 LUD STUDENTS TO WIN THE $20,000 WARREN CHRISTOPHER AWARD IN 2024.
HOWEVER, THE ISSUES WITH THIS POLICY MAKE IT MUCH HARDER FOR STUDENTS TO ATTAIN THIS SORT OF SUCCESS.
F-L-A-S-D IS TRULY SERIOUS ABOUT CLIMATE ACTION AND STUDENT SUCCESS.
GIVE REMOTE TEACHERS THE CHOICE BETWEEN TEACHING FROM HOME OR TEACHING ON CAMPUS, BUT AT THE CLOSEST LOCATION POSSIBLE.
WITH OVER A THOUSAND SCHOOLS WITHIN L-A-U-S-D, THIS IS EASILY DOABLE.
TEACHERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND UNNECESSARY HOURS AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES HOURS, WHICH COULD ALSO BE INVESTED IN STUDENTS LIKE ME THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT, SOMETHING TEACHERS WERE FORMALLY ABLE TO OFFER EASILY ON ZOOM FROM HOME, BUT ARE NOW UNABLE TO DUE TO EXTENSIVE COMMUTES.
FURTHERMORE, ELISIA HAS OUGHT TO ALLOW TEACHERS TO ALTERNATE WHICH DAYS THEY'RE ON CAMPUS, AS TO END THE ISSUE WITH SHARED SPACES AND DISRUPTIONS AND ALSO REDUCE EMISSIONS.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
CINDY IS VANESSA AND THEN BRAXTON, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
MY NAME IS MARIA HERNANDEZ AND I'M A SENIOR FROM MAYWOOD ACADEMY IN SOUTHEAST LA.
IN JANUARY, WE WALKED OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS TO FIGHT FOR OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY STUDENTS IN SOUTHEAST LA ARE READY TO FIGHT AGAINST THE ATTACKS OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.
JUST LESS THAN ONE MONTH AGO, ICE THREATENED OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE DISTRICT HAS DONE NOTHING BUT GIVE BLANK STATEMENTS.
PUT THE BLACK BACK IN BSAP AND FULLY FUND DREAM CENTERS AT EVERY SCHOOL.
AS I PREPARE TO WALK THE STAGE IN JUNE, I HOPE I CAN BE PROUD KNOWING THAT L-A-U-S-D TOOK MEANINGFUL ACTION TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURES.
HELLO, MY NAME IS
BEFORE I GRADUATE, I WANNA SPEAK ON A CRITICAL ISSUE AFFECTING STUDENTS LIKE ME ACROSS L-A-U-S-D, THE LACK OF MEANINGFUL SUPPORT FOR SPANISH SPEAKING STUDENTS.
TWO, OFTEN THEY'RE EXPECTED TO PERFORM AT THE SAME ACADEMIC LEVEL AS OUR ENGLISH SPEAKING PEERS WITHOUT BEING GIVEN THE RESOURCES TO SUCCEED.
THAT EXPECTATION IS NOT JUST UNREALISTIC, IT'S DEEPLY UNFAIR.
THE LANGUAGE BARRIER IS ONE OF THE MANY SYSTEMIC OBSTACLES STUDENTS ARE FACING RIGHT NOW.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SPANISH SPEAKING STUDENTS, IT'S ABOUT THE WAY LU IS D IS FEELING.
BLACK, UNDOCUMENTED AND L-G-B-T-Q STUDENTS TOO.
WE ARE ALL NAVIGATING SYSTEMS THAT WERE NEVER DESIGNED FOR US TO THRIVE IN.
THAT'S WHY I STAND WITH THE DEMANDS THAT STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT ARE ORGANIZING FOR.
WE NEED L-A-U-S-Z TO PROTECT AND EXPAND BSAP FUNDS DREAM CENTERS AND INVEST IN L-G-B-T-Q STUDENTS.
WE WANT TO SUCCEED, BUT WE NEED THE TOOLS, THE SAFETY, AND THE SUPPORT TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
THAT INCLUDES LANGUAGE ACCESS, YES, BUT ALSO RACIAL JUSTICE, IMMIGRATION, IMMIGRANT JUSTICE, AND QUEER AND TRANS JUSTICE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
I'M DEMANDING THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO MEET OUR DEMANDS, FUND THEIR FUTURES, AND MAKE L-A-U-S-D-A PLACE WHERE EVERY STUDENT, NO MATTER THEIR LANGUAGE, IDENTITY OR IMMIGRATION STATUS, HAS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, VANESSA.
HI, MY NAME IS VANESSA AND I'M AN 11TH GRADER AT MIGUEL CONTRERA SCHOOL OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.
AND I'M A PROUD LEADER WITH STUDENT DESERVE.
I'M HERE TO DEMAND THAT SUPERINTENDENT CARLO AND THE L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL BOARD GUARANTEES SANCTUARY PROTECTIONS FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS.
RIGHT NOW, THE SCHOOL TO PRISON TO DEPORTATION PIPELINE IS HARMING OUR COMMUNITIES.
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS ARE BEING CRIMINALIZED, PUSHED OUTTA SCHOOL AND TREATED LIKE THEY DON'T BELONG.
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TRUE IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE, WESTLAKE, AND PICO UNION, WHERE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE AND SUPPORT THEIR KIDS.I'VE LED WALKOUTS, I'VE SEEN HOW STUDENTS ARE TREATED JUST FOR HAVING STRONG VOICES ARE COMING FROM THE WRONG BACKGROUND.
TOO OFTEN WE ARE JUDGED BY RACIST UNFAIR EXPECTATIONS INSTEAD OF BEING SUPPORTED AS LEARNERS AND LEADERS.
THAT'S WHY I'M DEMANDING REAL SANCTUARY, NOT JUST WORDS, BUT ACTION.
L-A-U-S-D MUST STOP CRIMINALIZING IMMIGRANT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND FULLY STAFFED AND FUN DREAM CENTERS AT EVERY SCHOOL.
SO STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL HELP, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, AND SPACE WHERE THEY FEEL SAVED AND VALUED.
MY NAME IS ENDUR PARTITA, A SENIOR AT DORSEY HIGH SCHOOL AND A LEADER AND STUDENTS DESERVE.
I AGREE THAT ALL TEACHERS DESERVE TO BE PAID WELL, BUT I ALSO STAND HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THE SAME ISSUES THAT HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION AND STILL HAVE RESULTED IN NO CHANGE.
I STAND HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN HEAVILY IMPACTED BY OUR NEW PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATION AND ITS POLICIES AND YOUR SILENCE.
I STAND HERE TODAY DEMANDING THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD TAKE ACTION TO PASS A BUDGET SO THAT ALL SCHOOLS IN L-A-U-S-D HAVE NOT ONLY A, HAVE NOT ONLY QUEER AFFIRMING SPACES AND INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM, BUT TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF DREAM CENTERS ALL ACROSS L-A-U-S-D AS WELL.
AS OF TODAY, MOST OF L-A-U-S-D CAMPUSES DO NOT HAVE A DREAM CENTER, INCLUDING MY VERY OWN DORSEY HIGH DORSEY AND THE COMMUNITIES AROUND DORSEY UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION IS VERY HIGH FOR US NOT TO HAVE ONE.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE THAT THERE IS A DREAM CENTER IN ALL OF BOARD DISTRICT ONE DREAM CENTERS PROVIDE ACCESS TO IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEY PROVIDE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
THESE CENTERS ARE CRUCIAL FOR ENSURING THAT STUDENTS FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTED IN BOTH THEIR SCHOOL AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
IT'S UNFAIR FOR THE, IT'S UNFAIR FOR THESE STUDENTS TO SIT IN A CLASSROOM WITH 30 PLUS KIDS, ONE TEACHER AND A LANGUAGE BARRIER.
IT MAKES THEIR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.
I HAVE SEEN THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, ESPECIALLY IN MY SCHOOL, WHERE A STUDENT'S LEARNING IS LIMITED BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE PROPER RESOURCES LIKE BOOKS AND ASSIGNMENTS IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE.
AND TEACHERS WHO HAVE TO USE GOOGLE TRANSLATE JUST TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.
YOU HAVE THE POWER AND THE RESOURCES TO CHANGE THIS.
YOU HAVE THE POWER AND THE RESOURCES TO CHANGE THIS.
YOU HAVE THE POWER AND RESOURCES.
IT'S THE SAME THING FOR L-G-B-T-Q STUDENTS BY HAVING QUEER AFFIRMING SPACES AND CURRICULUM INSTEAD OF TRYING TO ERASE QUEER PEOPLE COMPLETELY FROM OUR HISTORY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, BRAXTON JORDAN, COME ON UP.
BRAXTON JORDAN, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM A SENIOR AT DORSEY HIGH SCHOOL AND A LEADER IN STUDENTS DESERVE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT I'M HERE TODAY TO REMIND YOU ALL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO WORK FOR
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THE STUDENTS.US STUDENTS NEED YOU TO DO YOUR JOBS NOW MORE THAN EVER BY ONE EXPANDING BSAP BY $100 MILLION.
AND I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT, UM, CONSIDERING THAT YOUR BUDGET IS $18 BILLION WITH A B, IT'S REALLY THE BARE MINIMUM.
TWO, APPLYING REAL SUPPORT FOR L-G-B-T-Q, YOUTH MEANING PROPER RESOURCES, CLUBS AND STAFF REPRESENTATION FOR THESE STUDENTS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, TRIPLING THE AMOUNT OF DREAM CENTERS EIGHT DREAM CENTERS FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN LATINO AND AND HISPANIC STUDENTS MAKE UP 69% OF THE SCHOOLS OF THE STUDENTS ATTENDING YOUR SCHOOLS.
AS A STUDENT OF L-A-U-S-D, I'M CALLING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO TO PASS A BUDGET THAT PROTECTS WHILE ALSO EXPANDING BSAP RESOURCES.
L-G-B-T-Q SUPPORT AND REP REPRESENTATION ALONG WITH DREAM CENTER ACCESSIBILITY.
WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE CARE.
WE'RE TIRED OF PLAYING THESE GAMES WITH Y'ALL.
WE COME HERE EVERY MONTH AND TELL Y'ALL THE SAME THINGS.
WE WILL NOT WAIT ANY LONGER THIS BUDGET SHOULD WE REFLECT THESE DEMANDS.
AND I WANT IT DONE BEFORE WE GRADUATE, AS YOU JUST SAW, WHICH IS IN JUNE.
SO, YOU KNOW, TIME IS TICKING.
I DON'T WANT MY MY SIBLINGS TO GO TO A SCHOOL THAT USED TO HAVE BSAP OR DECIDES TO AID THE UNDOCUMENTED AND THE L-G-B-T-Q YOUTH.
WHEN IT'S TRENDY, THESE PEOPLE EXIST AND WE FEEL THESE ISSUES.
PERSONALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO FEEL PERSONAL AS WELL AND TAKE ACTION.
IT'S TIME FOR L-A-U-S-D TO TAKE A BOLD STANCE AND PROTECT BLACK UNDOCUMENTED AND L-G-B-T-Q STUDENTS.
THAT IS ALL WE HAVE FOR HELLO? THE MIC, THE MICROPHONE'S OFF.
IS THIS DIANNA GUILLEN? ARE YOU HERE IN PERSON? OKAY.
SHE'S NOT HERE AND NOT ONLINE.
THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND I BELIEVE, UM, THAT CONCLUDES THE BUSINESS.
WE HAVE SOME ADJOURNING MOTIONS OR ANN ADJOURNING MOTION.
OKAY, I HAVE AN ADJOURNING MOTION.
AND, UM, SO MY MOTION IS IN HONOR, UH, OF RUTH BUGLE HOLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY HERE ON THE BOARD KNOW WHO SHE WAS, BUT, UM, I'M GONNA LET HER DAUGHTERS COME DOWN AND, AND, AND SIT HERE.
SO I'M GONNA READ, UM, WHAT THEY WROTE.
UM, RUTH BUGLE HOLE WAS AN INCREDIBLE FORCE FOR GOOD IN THE WORLD.
RUTH DIED ON APRIL 21ST, 2025.
RUTH WAS AN IMMIGRANT, BORN AND RAISED IN WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND TO HER PARENTS, PAM PEARL AND ERNEST.
BEHOLD, RUTH STUDIED WHAT WOULD BECOME HER LIFE CALLING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
IN 1985, SHE WORKED AS A PARENT EDUCATOR WITH THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AS PART OF THAT POSITION, SHE FOUNDED THE TEEN PARENT AND CHILDCARE PROGRAM AT
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THE LOS ANGELES TECHNOLOGY CENTER, WHERE SHE CREATED AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE TEENS IN THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT AND HELP THEM LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN.UPON RETIREMENT FROM L-A-U-S-D, RUTH FOUNDED THE CENTER FOR NONVIOLENT EDUCATION AND PARENTING, WHICH WAS LA LATER RENAMED AS ECHO PARENTING AND EDUCATION AT THE CENTER.
HER WORK INFLUENCED COUNTLESS EDUCATORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, THERAPISTS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
IN THE PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE OF RAISING CHILDREN WITH NON-VIOLENCE, RUTH HAS DEVOTED YEARS OF ADVOCACY AND ATTENTION TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF ECHO PARK AND SILVER LAKE.
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SHE HAD A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ELYSIAN HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY, TEACHING PARENTING CLASSES AND SUPPORTING THE STAFF.
RUTH DREW FROM A DEEP WELL OF LOVE FOR AND FROM HER FAMILY.
SHE HAD THREE CHILDREN, DAVID GOLDBERG, RABBI SUSAN GOLDBERG AND MAXI GOLDBERG WITH CHILDREN IN LAW, CARLA ALVARADO GOLDBERG, BRIAN JOSEPH, AND UNI VIRGI.
EACH OF WHOM CONTINUES TO FOLLOW HER EXAMPLE OF ENTHUSIASTICALLY CREATING COMMUNITY AND WORKING FOR A BETTER WORLD.
THEY ARE ALSO A FAMILY DEVOTED TO THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF L-A-U-S-D.
DAVID IS A FORMER ELEMENTARY TEACHER AT MURCHISON STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IS NOW PRESIDENT OF CTA.
MAXIE IS A TEACHER OF DEAF, DEAF STUDENTS AT MARLTON SCHOOL.
CARLA IS A PSW AT MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL.
AND RABBI SUSAN SERVES ON THE L-A-U-S-D FAITH ADVISORY COUNCIL.
SHE HAS SURVIVED BY EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN, MAYAN GRIFFIN, MINA, RAVI, MATHIS, LI ROSE, ROWAN, AND MABEL, WHO WERE CONTINUOUS SOURCE OF JOY FOR HER AND FOR WHOM SHE WAS AN INCREDIBLE GRANDMA.
RUTH WAS DEVOTED TO HER FAMILY AND ABUNDANTLY PROUD AT RUTH'S FUNERAL, HER NIECE, HELEN RICHIE, SPOKE FOR MANY WHEN SHE SAID RUTH SUPPORTED US, CHALLENGED US, STRETCHED US, IGNITED US, AND TAUGHT US.
MAY HER MEMORY BE FOR A BLESSING.
I WAS, YES, I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE KNOWN RUTH FOR A FEW MOMENTS, UM, AS A PARENT WHO TOOK HER CLASSES.
MY FIRST CHILD WAS TWO YEARS OLD AND HE WAS A TODDLER WITH LOTS OF ENERGY.
AND, UH, CARLA VERADO GOLDBERG TOLD ME ABOUT THE CENTER FOR NONVIOLENT EDUCATION AND I ATTENDED THOSE CIRCLES.
IT WAS A SERIES OF CLASSES AND THAT WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WHERE SHE ALLOWED PARENTS TO NOT ONLY LEARN ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT AND WHY THE BEHAVIORS HAPPENED, BUT ALSO ABOUT OUR OWN SELVES AND HOW THAT IMPACTS HOW WE RAISE OUR CHILDREN.
SO, UM, I LATER SAW HER AGAIN A FEW MONTHS AGO AND, UH, PICKED HER BRAIN ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AT MCALLISTER HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT WORK.
SO I'M SO PROUD AND SO BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO, TO PRESENT THIS MOTION.
AND WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR THE FAMILY.
ANY OBJECTIONS? UH, THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.