[00:00:01]
[Roll Call]
GOOD MORNING.THE DATE IS AUGUST 26TH, 2025.
WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION.
OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, UH, I'M GOING TO TAKE ROLE MS. NEWBELL.
UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, I BELIEVE IS JOINING US REMOTELY.
UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON PRESENT.
I FAILED TO MENTION WE STARTED THE MEETING AT 10:02 AM.
OKAY, WE'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO THE, UH, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE, UH, SOME STUDENTS WHO ARE READY TO JOIN US REMOTELY FOR THE PLEDGE AND A FIRST EVER FOR, UH, A REMOTE ZOOM PLEDGE.
SO PLEASE FOLLOW ALONG WITH OUR LOVELY STUDENTS FROM 135TH STREET AND BOARD DISTRICT SEVEN.
AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO PLAY THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
IT JUST MIGHT TAKE ONE SECOND TO QUEUE UP.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATES ON LAND ORIGINALLY AND STILL INHABITED AND CARED FOR BY THE GNO AND FERNO TIAN PEOPLES WHO HAVE STEWARDED THIS LAND FOR GENERATIONS.
WE RECOGNIZE THESE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ONGOING PRESENCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS, AND HONOR THEIR CONNECTION TO THIS REGION.
WE RECOGNIZE GABRIELINO PEOPLE AS THE ORIGINAL STEWARDS OF LOS ANGELES BASIN AND THE NEARBY COASTAL LANDS AND THE FERNAND AVIUM AS PROTECTORS OF THE NORTHERN VALLEYS.
THESE LANDS HAVE AND CONTINUE TO HOLD DEEP, CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE TO THEIR PEOPLE AND HAVE SHAPED THE COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN TODAY.
WE PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THE HANUK ANCESTORS, AHI RO ELDERS, AND AKIN OUR RELATIVES AND RELATIONS PAST, PRESENT, AND EMERGING, AND COMMIT TO SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, ENSURING THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD AND THEIR LEGACIES ARE RESPECTED.
WE COMMIT TO DEEPENING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORIES AND CULTURES OF THE NATIVE PEOPLES OF THIS LAND.
THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DEMONSTRATES OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND CONTRIBUTE TO HEALING AND RECONCILIATION.
[Administration of Oath of Office to Student Board Member]
NOW WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE PROGRAM FOR SWEARING IN OF THE BRAND NEW STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.WHILE WE'RE SETTING UP, I JUST WANNA ANNOUNCE THAT, UH, THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL SWEAR IN JERRY LA JERRY YANG AS A STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, AND IN THE AUDIENCE I SEE HIS MOM AND HIS DAD AND HIS SISTER.
AND HIS PRINCIPAL, MR. ROSALES FROM NORTH HOLLYWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, AND HIS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, MR. CHAVEZ, FROM NORTH HOLLYWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
SO JERRY, YOU'RE WELL REPRESENTED WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND SCHOOL FAMILY MEMBERS, SO WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU READY?
[00:05:13]
WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.IT'S, UH, IT'S TRULY AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO, UH, SWEAR IN, UH, JERRY YANG AS THE NEWEST, UH, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WHO SO ABLY WILL REPRESENT, UH, THE STUDENT BODY OF LOS ANGELES UNIFIED, THE SECOND LARGEST AND THE MOST IMPROVED DISTRICT IN AMERICA.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER UPON WHICH I'M ABOUT TO ENTER.
YOU ARE NOW A STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
AND NOW JERRY'S GONNA TAKE HIS OFFICIAL SEAT AS STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.
AND JERRY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, THIS IS YOUR TIME, AND MAKE SURE YOU PUSH THE BUTTON.
I HAVE TO LEAN OVER A LITTLE BIT.
UH, UM, HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS.
NO, NOT LIKE THE ONE WHO FOUNDED YAHOO.
ALTHOUGH I DID YAHOO WHEN I FOUND OUT I WAS ELECTED STUDENT BOARD MEMBER
BUT ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, I'M HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ELECTED INTO THIS POSITION AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE STUDENTS OF L-A-U-S-D FOR TRUSTING ME TO REPRESENT YOUR VOICES AND INTERESTS ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
BUT I WOULD BE REMISS TO GLOSS OVER ALL THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED ME BECOME WHO I AM TODAY.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO THANK MY PRINCIPAL, MR. ROSALES AND THE NORTH HOLLYWOOD HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION FOR CREATING COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAD AND DRIVE CHANGE WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO MY TEACHERS, MS. DEUTSCH, MS. UNDERWOOD, AND MS. GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME, DEVELOPING MY LEADERSHIP, AND SUPPORTING ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL.
I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, PLANNING FIELD TRIPS, EDITING SPEECHES, PERFORMING MUSICAL NUMBERS, AND ORGANIZING SCHOOL EVENTS TO THE LA CITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WHERE I FOUND MY VOICE, MY PASSION, AND MY DEDICATION TO HELPING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES RISE UP.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ME WITH AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE IMPACTING CITYWIDE PRIORITIES TO THE STUDENT EMPOWERMENT UNIT AND TO DR. FRANCO.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING DOZENS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT TO ENGAGE WITH OFFICIALS AND INFLUENCE DISTRICT POLICY.
THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE PROVIDED GAVE ME THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE PATHWAY TO PERFORM MY DUTIES IN THIS POSITION TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND THE CAPACITY TO RECORD LOTS OF ENGAGING AND SILLY VIDEOS THAT WILL BE RELEASED STARTING TODAY ON INSTAGRAM AT STUDENT EMPOWERMENT UNIT.
AND FINALLY, THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY FOR HELPING ME COME UP WITH THE OPENING JOKE AND FOR SUPPORTING ME DAY IN AND DAY OUT, DRIVING ME ALL ACROSS LA AND FOR DRIVING ME TO BE A BETTER, MORE EMPATHETIC AND MORE OPTIMISTIC PERSON.
JOINING THIS EXTENSION OF THE FAMILY THAT L-A-U-S-D FOSTERS EMBARKING ON THIS NEW JOURNEY, I WILL STRIVE TO REPRESENT ALL STUDENTS FAIRLY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT.
I KNOW RIGHT NOW CAN BE A TRYING TIME, BUT I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL THE STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHEN I SAY THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE A SAFE PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
AND I'M PROUD OF L-A-U-S-D FOR KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS SAFE AND SECURE.
AND TO THE STUDENTS OUT THERE, IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR IDEAS, DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO STUDENT BOARD MEMBER@LAD.NET WHERE I CAN PROMISE YOU'LL BE HEARD.
[00:10:12]
WELL, WHAT AN HONOR, NOT ONLY FOR JERRY, BUT FOR HIS FAMILY TOO, RIGHT? THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR YOU.[Board President’s Reports (Part 1 of 2)]
IS OUR FIRST BOARD MEETING OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, AND I WANT TO JUST SAY GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF OUR STAFF, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.AND FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW, I'M SCOTT SCHON, I'M THE BOARD PRESIDENT, AND I ALSO REPRESENT BOARD DISTRICT THREE.
JERRY'S HOME IS IN BOARD DISTRICT THREE.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME YOU TO THE START OF THE 20 25 20 26 SCHOOL YEAR.
A LOT OF EVENTS HAVE TRANSPIRED THIS SUMMER, AND SOME OF THEM POSTED SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES.
THESE CHALLENGES RANGE FROM SOCIAL TO FISCAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND MANY MORE.
HOWEVER, IT DID NOT DETER THIS DISTRICT OR OUR STAFF FROM THE BUILDING AND GROUND SCREWS, THE TEACHERS, THE ADMINISTRATORS, AND MANY OTHERS FROM FULFILLING THEIR ROLES.
WE HAVE ALL SPENT THIS PAST SUMMER PREPARING FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, PLANNING FOR OBSTACLES THAT MAY COME OUR WAY.
THE BOARD AND I TRUST IN OUR STAFF TO ENSURE THAT THIS YEAR OUR STUDENTS ARE SAFE FROM ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE.
HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT MEANS NOTHING IF THE COMMUNITY, IF THE PARENTS, AND IF THE STUDENTS DO NOT FEEL THIS WAY.
THAT BEING SAID, I'M HAPPY TO READ REPORTS THAT L-A-U-S-D HAD HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED ATTENDANCE DURING ITS FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL TO KICK OFF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON AROUND US.
MANY PARENTS MIGHT BE WONDERING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN.
AT L-A-U-S-D, WE BELIEVE THAT STUDENT SAFETY IS THE TOP PRIORITY.
EVEN EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, STUDENT SAFETY IS THE TOP PRIORITY.
STUDENTS CAN ONLY LEARN IF THEY'RE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THEM.
AND THE ATTENDANCE REPORT FROM THE PAST WEEK SHOWS THAT PARENTS STILL TRUST US TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO OUR L-A-U-S-D PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS.
WE THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING YOU WITH OUR CHIL, TRUSTING YOU WITH OUR CHIL, TRUSTING US WITH YOUR CHILDREN, AND ALL IN THE DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE TO RISE TO THE OCCASION.
OUR GOAL FOR THIS YEAR IS NOT SIMPLY TO REMAIN STAGNANT.
WE WANT TO EXCEED LAST YEAR'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE.
THERE WERE CHALLENGES LAST YEAR AND THERE WILL BE MORE THIS YEAR, BUT TO REITERATE, I AND THIS BOARD HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN OUR STAFF TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE WELLBEING OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
SO WELCOME BACK LOS ANGELES UNIFIED FAMILY.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SUPERINTENDENT.
[Superintendent’s Reports (Part 1 of 2)]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.UH, MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT AFTER, UH, JERRY, UH, HAS BEEN SWORN IN TO WELCOME HIM FORMALLY NOW AS A STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I TOO AM THRILLED TO HAVE MET, UH, YOUR FAMILY.
UM, SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE GOING A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
THEY ALL TOLD ME THAT THEY'RE STEMS, TEAM INCLINED ENGINEERS, BUT, UH, WHO KNOWS? MAYBE WE HAVE A POLITICIAN IN THE MAKING HERE.
WE CERTAINLY NEED YOUR TALENT, YOUR DETERMINATION, AND YOUR REPRESENTATION.
SECONDLY, I'D LIKE TO ECHO THE, THE SENTIMENTS OF OUR BOARD PRESIDENT REGARDING, UH, THE FIRST DAYS OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THE WAY WE CLOSED OUT LAST SCHOOL YEAR, AND ALL THE ANTICIPATION AND GOOD WISHES GOING OUT TO OUR TEACHERS, OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR SUPPORT STAFF, CERTAINLY OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES.
WE CANNOT PROMISE THAT THIS INCOMING SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE ONE, UH, WITHOUT CHALLENGE.
UH, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION RAIDS, UH, INCREASED LEVELS OF POVERTY, ONGOING HOMELESSNESS, UH, WITH AVAILABLE BEDS FOR FAMILIES, UH, PRACTICALLY NONEXISTENT AT THIS POINT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, PAIN AND SUFFERING ANGUISH, UH, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION FELT BY MANY.
WE REMAIN STEADFAST IN SUPPORT OF OUR FAMILIES, OUR STUDENTS, AND CERTAINLY OUR WORKFORCE.
WE ARE THAT ONE DISTRICT THAT HAS NOT DONE WHAT OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE DONE.
[00:15:01]
REEMPHASIZE ONE MORE TIME, LET IT BE FORGOTTEN BY SOME.WE DID NOT RIFF ANYONE THIS YEAR, AND WE FIND OURSELVES IN AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB IN NOT DOING SO.
WE DID NOT FIRE, TERMINATE ANYONE.
SECONDLY, WE WERE ABLE TO POST THE HIGHEST LEVEL RECORD LEVELS OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT WITH THE IMPOSSIBLE ACTUALLY HAVING BEEN REALIZED WITH ALL GRADE LEVELS, ALL DISCIPLINES, ALL SUBGROUPS, MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.
IN FACT, NOT ONLY MEETING, BUT EXCEEDING SIGNIFICANTLY PRE PANDEMIC ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS.
THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE DETERMINATION, THE EXPERTISE, AND THE COMPASSION OF THOSE WHO TEACH IN OUR CLASSROOMS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THOSE WHO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.
IT'S ALSO A TESTAMENT TO THE VISION OF THIS BOARD, UH, WITH AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT STRATEGIC PLAN THAT ELEVATES GOALS THAT ARE TOUGH TO ACHIEVE, BUT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE ENERGY OUR DISTRICT NEEDS TO DO RIGHT BY THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY.
DURING THE VERY FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL, WE'VE SEEN, AS OUR PRESIDENT SAID, VERY HIGH ATTENDANCE LEVELS, BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ENROLLMENT LEVELS, PARTICULARLY ENROLLMENT LEVELS SPECIFIC TO SOME OF THE MOST FRAGILE COMMUNITIES OF STUDENTS AMONGST US, INTERNATIONAL NEWCOMERS AND OTHERS.
WE WILL NOT CEASE OUR EFFORTS IN ATTEMPTING TO CONNECT WITH EVERY FAMILY, EVERY STUDENT IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE BEGAN DOING SO, UH, ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGAN WITH ABOUT 12,000 CALLS MADE, AND OVER 1000 HOMES VISITED.
AND WE HEARD FIRSTHAND THE CHALLENGES, THE FEARS, THE ANXIETY, THE STRESS THAT MANY FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING.
WE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING TO ENTITIES AT ALL LEVELS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE NEED TO CREATE EXCLUSION ZONES, GUARANTEEING SAFE PASSAGE FOR KIDS, PARTICULARLY SOMETIME BEFORE THE SCHOOL DAY BEGINS AND SOMETIME AFTER THE SCHOOL DAY ENDS WITHIN A REASONABLE DISTANCE FROM SCHOOLS TO ENSURE, IF NOTHING ELSE, RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN AND SIDEWALKS FOR EVERYONE ELSE.
EVERYBODY WALKS THE SAME SIDEWALK TO SPARE, AT THE VERY LEAST, THE TRAUMA THAT WOULD BE IMPACTING IMPARTING ON OUR CHILDREN'S MINDS SHOULD THEY WITNESS SOMETHING THAT IS CONFUSING AND ALARMING TO MOST ADULTS.
WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS A DISTRICT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS CONTINUES ELEVATING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, ELEVATING ATTENDANCE, REVERSING ENROLLMENT DECLINES THROUGH NO FAULT OF THIS DISTRICT, AND ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT, EVERY STUDENT, IS RESPECTED FROM WHO THEY ARE AND NOTHING ELSE.
THIS IS A GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND IT IS MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY HONOR, MY TEAM'S HONOR TO SERVE THIS DISTRICT.
WE MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT WE AGREE ON THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES.
AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM, BUT I KNOW WE ARE ALIGNED WITH MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY ARE ADVOCACY AGENCIES, LABOR PARTNERS, IN ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAFE, OUR WORKFORCE IS PROTECTED, EVERYONE'S RIGHTS ARE OBSERVED, AND EVERYONE WORKS AND LIVES WITH THE DIGNITY, THE HUMANITY THAT THEY DESERVE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I CAN GUARANTEE TO YOU WE WILL HAVE A FANTASTIC 20 25, 20 26 SCHOOL YEAR.
THANK YOU VERY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MUCH MR. CARVAL.
AND I, I ASSURE YOU, THAT'S HOW ALL YOUR BOARD MEMBERS FEEL THE SAME WAY.
[Board President’s Reports (Part 2 of 2)]
PARTNERS.DO WE HAVE ANY LABOR PARTNERS IN THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW? UTLA.
JUST OVER TWO MONTHS AGO, THIS BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN SUPPORT OF A RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING ITS COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED TEACHERS LOS ANGELES.
THIS RESOLUTION COMMITTED TO FUNDING AND EXPANDING THE PROGRAM.
IT ALSO COMMITTED TO COLLABORATION BETWEEN THIS DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL STEERING COMMITTEE TO BRING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THIS BOARD ON FUTURE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, SITES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND FUNDING NEEDS BY THE END OF THE 25 26 SCHOOL YEAR.
AND LASTLY, IT RESOLVED THAT THE DISTRICT SHALL NOT RECONFIGURE THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL'S INFRASTRUCTURE
[00:20:01]
OR STAFFING WITHOUT THIS BOARD APPROVAL.RATHER THAN ENGAGE AND COLLABORATE AS DIRECTED BY THIS BOARD, THE DISTRICT CAME TO THE UTLA BARGAINING TABLE OF 140 EDUCATORS LAST WEEK AND PRESENTED A PROPOSAL TO CUT FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AFTER THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR.
WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED BY A PROPOSAL THAT NOT ONLY HARM SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, BUT DIRECTLY UNDERMINES THIS BOARD.
MEANWHILE, IN THE MIDDLE OF A TRAUMATIC AND UNPRECEDENTED ATTACKS BY FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, UTLA MEMBERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT ARE HEARING FROM ADMINISTRATORS THAT SCHOOLS ARE UNABLE TO USE EXISTING SCHOOL SITE BUDGETS FOR MUCH NEEDED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STAFF, INCLUDING PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKERS AND PUPIL SERVICE COUNSELORS, BECAUSE UNFILLED POSITIONS ARE BEING ELIMINATED.
HOW IS THIS DISTRICT LIVING UP TO THE PROMISES IT MAKES SO EASILY IN THE MEDIA PROMISES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND PROTECT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE UNDER ATTACK? WE JUST HEARD FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF STAFF WHO ARE TRAINED IN TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSES AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, THERE ARE 51 FEWER PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER POSITIONS BUDGETED, AND 32 FEWER STAFF COMPARED TO LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME.
MEANWHILE, STUDENTS' NEEDS ARE GREATER THAN EVER.
OUR BABIES ARE WITNESSING AND HEARING ABOUT KIDNAPPINGS AND RAIDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES EVERY SINGLE DAY.
FEWER SOCIAL WORKERS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR IS UNACCEPTABLE.
AGAIN, THIS BOARD HAS STOOD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY ON MANY ISSUES FACING OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
BUT THE ADMINISTRATION TIME AND TIME AGAIN, IS AT BEST FAILING TO FOLLOW THE BOARD'S LEAD AND AT WORST, INTENTIONALLY UNDERMINING IT TO TEST ITS LABOR PARTNERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE EXPENSE OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS LAST TUESDAY, UNION DEL BARRIO, ALONG WITH UTLA HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE STEPS OUTSIDE BRINGING TO LIGHT EDA HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR BEN HAMIN, MARCELO GUERRERO CRUZ, AS WELL AS NAUGHTY FROM MIGUEL CONTRERAS LEARNING COMPLEX.
HAS ANYONE HERE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THOSE FAMILIES? HAS ANYONE BEEN TO ADELANTO TO VISIT BIN HAMIN? HIS TEACHER HAS, AND WHAT SHE RECOUNTED WAS INHUMANE, DEGRADATION AND A MOTHER'S WORST FEARS.
I AM A SINGLE MOM OF A SON IN THIS DISTRICT, AND I CANNOT IMAGINE THIS TYPE OF PAIN.
WE HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO ADVOCATE AND STAND IN THE GAP FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE CANNOT BE ON PRESS CONFERENCES SAYING THAT WE DO THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS FOR IMMIGRATION AND NOT HAVE REAL TEETH IN WHAT WE ARE DOING.
WE ARE CALLING ON THIS DISTRICT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
Y'ALL CAN GO TO ADELANTO AND VISIT HAMIN.
RIGHT? RIGHT NOW, WE ARE CALLING ON THIS DISTRICT WITH FORMAL DEMANDS THAT ANY STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED FROM STATE SANCTIONED VIOLENCE, THAT THEY ARE RETURNED HOME AND PROVIDED AMNESTY.
WE CALL ON THIS DISTRICT TO BE A LEADER IN PROVIDING LEGAL SUPPORT FOR ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY THE IMMIGRATION RAIDS, INCLUDING JOINT LI LITIGATION FOR FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED AND PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
THERE ARE MORE, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS, CREATING REAL SAFETY PLANS AT SCHOOL SITES.
WHEN THESE FOLKS COME TO OUR CAMPUS, THESE ARE OUR COMMUNITIES.
LAST, UH, TWO DAYS AGO DOWN IN THE HARBOR AT TERMINAL ISLAND, OUR COMMUNITY PATROLS WATCHED AND VIDEOTAPED ICE AGENTS SAYING
[00:25:01]
A KIDNAPPING, WE WILL GO.THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I AM URGING THIS BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE.
WHERE IS THE REAL LEGS ON THE GROUND? I AM URGING YOU GUYS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
ANY OTHER LABOR PARTNERS WHO WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY, COME ON DOWN THE MR. GOMEZ SCHOOL POLICE.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LA SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
UM, WHEN YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT YOUR BUDGET, DON'T FORGET US.
DON'T FORGET THAT THE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS WORK WITH THE, THE, THE MET CLINICIANS.
IF YOU HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AT YOUR SCHOOL, CALL THE MET TEAM.
I'D LIKE TO EXPAND THE MET TEAM.
I THINK THAT, UM, IT'S NOBLE FOR, FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T HAVE THE SKILLSET TO DEAL WITH FEDERAL OFFICERS TO TRY TO GET A A PLAN TOGETHER, AND THAT THAT IS NOBLE.
BUT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE PROFESSIONAL, UM, A PROFESSIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENT, A PROFESSIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WORKS WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS TEAM, SO DON'T HESITATE TO CALL THEM.
UM, I I THINK THAT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SHED LIGHT ON INDIVIDUALS.
AND I, AND I'M, I AM NO FAN OF POLICE OFFICERS WEARING MASKS AND RUNNING AROUND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, UM, CONDUCTING WORK, POLICE OFFICERS FOR LAPD SCHOOL, POLICE, LA COUNTY SHERIFFS DO NOT.
I UNDERSTAND THE TERM DOXING AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER ISSUES.
I'M, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT, THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, BUT I, I'M, I'M NOT A FAN OF THIS.
HAVING SAID THAT, YOU HAVE A SCHOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPAND THE SCHOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUT MORE CLINICIANS IN THE, IN THE VEHICLES WITH POLICE DEPARTMENTS SO THEY COULD SERVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT THEY WERE PAID TO SERVE.
I, I, I READ A, A HOWARD BLOOM ARTICLE THAT'S TALKING ABOUT CTE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
I WENT, I WENT TO A, UM, LAST YEAR, A, A, A HUGE, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD CALL IT, DISPLAY, UM, PUTTING THE CT CREDENTIALS OUT FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE.
I WAITED IN LINE FOR LIKE 30 MINUTES, AND IT IS CAREER CHANGE.
AND I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT'S ACTUALLY GETTING THEIR CYBERSECURITY CERTIFICATION VERY SOON BECAUSE OF THIS LONG OVERDUE.
UM, I'VE KNOW WE'VE HAD THESE, THESE, THESE, UM, EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS, BUT THEY'VE BEEN IN THE SHADOWS.
IT'S, IT'S GREAT TO SEE THEM AT THE FOREFRONT.
I THINK THAT IT, IT'S GETTING, GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE A CHIP IN THE GAME.
ONE OF THE, UH, FLYER THAT CAME OUT THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT CTE CLASSES TO, TO GET YOUR PHLEBOTOMY LICENSE CERTIFICATE, THAT'S A $30 AN HOUR JOB.
THAT'S A $65,000 A YEAR JOB THAT SOMEBODY CAN GET WHY THEY GO WHILE THEY GO TO COLLEGE.
UM, SO SOMEBODY COULD GET, SO THEY COULD SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT LATELY THE DISTRICT, THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT HAVE BEEN GETTING THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE.
UM, SO YOU GOTTA GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
ANYONE ELSE? LABOR PARTNERS? IF NOT, WE WILL GO TO OUR
[Superintendent’s Reports (Part 2 of 2)]
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORTS.THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, THE FIRST REPORT WAS THE, UH, FIRST WEEK, UH, OF SCHOOL, UH, THE OPENING OF 25 26 SCHOOL YEAR.
I ALREADY PROVIDED DETAILS ON THAT.
WE REMAIN COMMITTED, UH, TO EVERY SINGLE PRONOUNCEMENT VIA POLICY AS ADOPTED BY THIS BOARD.
AND I ANTICIPATE THAT THIS SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE NO DIFFERENT.
UH, WE WILL FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE, UH, DO WHAT IS RIGHT BY OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STUDENTS, AND CERTAINLY OUR WORKFORCE.
DESPITE THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT ABOUND, UM, UH, IN OUR STATE AND CERTAINLY AROUND OUR DISTRICT, UH, DESPITE FINANCIAL, UH, CONDITIONS, UH, WE MAKE COMMITMENTS THAT WE ARE CERTAINLY MORE THAN HONORED AND ABLE TO, UH, RESPECT AND FOLLOW.
THAT INCLUDES THE JOB PROTECTION, AS I SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER.
THAT INCLUDES DOING WHAT'S RIGHT BY OUR KIDS, PROTECTING THEIR RIGHTS, NOT JUST IN WORDS, BUT THROUGH WELL-DOCUMENTED ACTIONS.
INCLUSIVE OF LEGAL PROTECTION AT NO COST TO CHILDREN, EVERY CHILD IN OUR DISTRICT.
AND THE NECESSARY PROTECTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF OUR WORKFORCE WHO MAY BE DOCK OR TPS RECIPIENTS.
WE ARE WELL IN OUR WAY IN TERMS OF DOING THAT.
[00:30:01]
CHILD SHALL BE FORGOTTEN BY THIS DISTRICT AS NO CHILD HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN BY THIS DISTRICT.THIS IS A PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND A MORAL COMMITMENT THAT WE ALL EMBRACE IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT MANNER.
UH, SHIFTING GEARS FOR A BIT, UH, TODAY WE HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS WEARING WHITE COATS.
THEY ARE, UH, THE UNIFORMS OF OUR CHEFS IN OUR KITCHENS ACROSS LOS ANGELES UNIFIED.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO SHARE MY, MY SECOND REPORT OF THE DAY, THE STUDENT AND CHEF CULINARY SHOWDOWN, WHICH WAS, WAS HOSTED BY THE FOOD SERVICES DIVISION, COLLABORATION WITH THE DIVISION OF INSTRUCTION AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION TEAM.
THIS IS A TRUE EXAMPLE OF LOS ANGELES UNIFIED'S COMMITMENT TO PREPARING STUDENTS FOR HIGH DEMAND, HIGH PAYING CAREERS, AND ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT, EVERY STUDENT, IS READY FOR THE WORLD UPON GRADUATION, WHETHER IT IS WITH A TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE, A TWO YEAR OF COLLEGE PROGRAM, OR CERTAINLY A UNIVERSITY, UM, PROGRAM.
THIS EVENT, WHICH WAS WITNESSED, UH, AND, AND, UH, AND PARTICIPATED BY SOME OF YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDED OUR STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH WELL-KNOWN SUCCESSFUL CHEFS WHO ARE STARS IN THEIR OWN RIGHTS, VERY COMPETITIVE ARENA.
UH, THE STUDENTS AND THE CHEFS USED NOTHING BUT FRESH LOCAL INGREDIENTS WHILE MEETING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF USDA, UM, REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
THE FIVE CULINARY TEAMS CAME FROM BANNING HUNTINGTON PARK, POLYTECHNIC, SOTO MEOR, AND SAN FERNANDO HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND THEY COMPETED IN THE CULINARY SHOWDOWN WHERE EACH TEAM WAS SUPPORTED AND COACHED BY THEIR CHEF INSTRUCTOR, AS WELL AS THE CELEBRITY CHEFS.
THE WINNING TEAM'S RECIPE WAS IN FACT, RECENTLY SELECTED TO BE FEATURED ON OUR DISTRICT SCHOOL MENUS.
THE TEAM ALSO RECEIVED AN ALL EXPENSE PAY TRIP TO THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA IN NAPA VALLEY, IN A TOUR OF THE WORLD FAMOUS FRENCH LAUNDRY RESTAURANT AND ASSOCIATED FARM ARE FIVE CELEBRITY CHEFS ARE JET TELA, UH, THREE TIME DAYTIME EMMY AND JAMES BEARD, UH, NOMINEE.
HE'S A RESTAURANT OWNER, A BESTSELLING AUTHOR, AND A WELL-KNOWN FEATURE IN THE FOOD NETWORK.
MICHAEL REED, THE CLASSICALLY TRAINED CHEF AND AND CO-OWNER OF POPPY AND ROSE, RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN LA AND THE ROOT OF ALL FOOD, UH, CATERING.
WE HAD JAZZY SANCHEZ, UH, A FAMOUS AND TENURED FACULTY, CULINARY ARTS CHIEF INSTRUCTOR, UH, INSTRUCTOR AT MISSION COLLEGE WITH OVER THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE.
CLAUDIA SERRATO, LA BASED CULINARY ANTHROPOLOGIST, A CHEF AND A SCHOLAR, UH, NAISHA ARRINGTON CO-STAR OF, UH, THE HIT CULINARY COMPETITION NEXT LEVEL CHEF.
AND CURRENTLY, UH, THE, THE OWNER OF NATIVE BY NAISHA, LOCATED AT THE TERMINAL THREE OF LAX.
AND, UM, FOR MORE ON WHAT, UH, REALLY TOOK PLACE AT THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT, WE'RE GONNA BRING UP, UH, MANISHH SINGH, THE DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICES DIVISION IN OUR VARIOUS STUDENT AND CHEF CULINARY SHOWDOWN PARTICIPANTS TO THE PODIUM, UH, YOU WILL SEE CHEF NAISHA ARRINGTON, CHEF INSTRUCTOR MONICA GARCIA.
UH, BRANDON ESPINOZA, UH, POLLY HIGH, UH, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.
UH, AND BY THE WAY, POLLY HIGH WAS THE WINNING TEAM ONCE AGAIN.
AND, AND THEIR DISH, THEIR DISH IS NOW BEING SERVED ACROSS, UH, LOS ANGELES UNIFIED.
I BELIEVE IT IS A, UM, A BEEF, KOREAN BEEF, UH, DISH.
UM, THAT, UH, REALLY MESMERIZED OUR BOARD PRESIDENT.
IT WAS A TASTING EVENT, BUT HE, HE DIDN'T TASTE, HE JUST ATE THE WHOLE THING, THE WHOLE THING.
UH, SO WE HAVE BRANDON ESPINOZA.
SAMANTHA VIEGAS, ALSO FROM POLY HIGH, JULISSA, ADA, POLLY HIGH GRADUATE, BY THE WAY.
UH, SAMANTHA AND JULISA HAVE ALREADY GRADUATED, BUT CAME BACK.
UH, AND MANISHA'S FOOD SERVICES TEAM, JAMIE GINSBURG, FLORENCE SIMPSON, AND JAVIER GUTIERREZ.
BUT BEFORE THAT, LET'S JUST, UH, WATCH, UH, A LITTLE PROMO VIDEO, UH, THAT IS TWO MINUTES LONG THAT REALLY SPEAKS ELEGANTLY TO WHAT TOOK PLACE RECENTLY.
IT'S OUR STUDENT AND CELEBRITY CHEF CULINARY SHOWDOWN.
YOU GUYS READY? SO I, GUYS READY TO COOK OFF.
WE BRING OUR CULINARY AND PAIR THEM WITH A CELEBRITY CHEF WHO'S BEEN ADVISING THEM FOR ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS, WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A DISH THAT USES SOME OF OUR FARM TO SCHOOL PRODUCE, AND TO TRANSFORM THAT DISH
[00:35:01]
INTO SOMETHING THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS CAN ENJOY.THERE ARE FIVE CULINARY SCHOOLS, THE WINNING RECIPE OF TODAY.
IT WILL BE IN OUR MENU NEXT YEAR.
WE HAVE INVITED JUDGES HERE TODAY, CELEBRITY CHEF GUYS, SUSAN FANGER.
THIS IS ONE OF YOUR JUDGES, WORLD FAMOUS AND A BOARD MEMBER AS WELL AS OUR STUDENTS, BECAUSE THIS IS THE FOOD THAT ULTIMATELY THEY'RE EATING EVERY DAY.
THE WINNING DISH THAT'S GONNA GO ON THE L-A-U-S-D MENU HAS TO MEET THE NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES, BUT REALLY, FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT THE FLAVOR OF THE FOOD, THE PRESENTATION.
AND I THINK, DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR THE MENU FOR THE KIDS FROM THE PLATING, THE DISPLAY OF THE INGREDIENTS, VERY ALLURING.
AH, I THINK STUDENTS WILL ENJOY THE DIFFERENT TEXTURES OF OUR DISH.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING AFTER SCHOOL, PRACTICING, TESTING, COUNTING.
I THINK THIS COMPETITION IS A GOOD WAY TO JUST HAVE FUN COOKING.
WE ARE GOING TO WIN TODAY BECAUSE OUR TEAM IS VERY POWERFUL.
AND FERNANDO, WE'RE GONNA WIN BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY CONFIDENT WE WANT THIS.
OH, NO, WE'RE DEFINITELY OH, OH, OKAY.
FOR A LOT OF KIDS LIKE MYSELF WHO MIGHT NEVER HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, COOKING IS A BRIDGE TO A BIGGER LIFE.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHICH TEAM DISH MAKES IT ON THE SCHOOL MENU.
OH MY GOD, THIS IS SO EXCITING.
DO YOU HAVE NO IDEA? GOOD MORNING BOARD PRESIDENT SCHMILL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO.
UM, THANK YOU FOR SHOWCASING SOME OF THE STUFF WHICH MY TEAM DOES.
BUT WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS ALSO PARTICIPATING, UH, REMOTELY.
UH, CHEF JESSE IS ALSO REMOTE, AND SO IS, UH, CHEF JET.
UM, AND I BELIEVE CHEF REED IS ALSO CHEF REED AND JET.
AND MICHAEL REED SHOULD BE THERE TOO.
SOMEONE'S GONNA CLICK A BUTTON AND THEN HE WILL, HE WILL APPEAR ON THE SCREEN MOMENTARILY.
AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE CHEF NAISHA ARRINGTON HERE, AND, UM, SHE WAS SUPPORTING THE WHITTING TEAM.
JERRY WAS THERE ALSO AS A JUDGE AT THIS EVENT.
UH, AND OF COURSE WE HAD, UM, BOARD MEMBER EZ THERE AS WELL.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY TEAM AT THIS POINT OF TIME.
CHEF JAMIE GINSBURG, WHO'S OUR RESIDENT CHEF.
UH, SHE IS A CIA GRADUATE, HAS DONE WONDERFUL THINGS FOR OUR, UH, DIVISION.
FLORENCE OVERSEES PROCUREMENT, THE CENTRAL KITCHEN, AS WELL AS ALL THE MENU DEVELOPMENT, ET CETERA.
AND THEN JAVIER GUTIERREZ IS OUR REGIONAL MANAGER, AND HE OVERSEES THE NEWMAN CENTER, THE FOOD TRUCK.
ANYTIME YOU NEED A FOOD TRUCK, HE'S THE MAN.
ALRIGHT, SO, AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE ESTHER.
WITHOUT ESTHER, WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS.
YOU KNOW, ESSENCE, CIMA WERE REALLY BIG SUPPORTS FOR US, AND JAIME IS BEING SHY, BUT THIS VIDEO CREATION WAS HIS CREATION.
UH, SO AS YOU CAN SEE WITHIN OUR OWN LASG NETWORK, IT'S SUCH A COLLABORATION, AND THAT'S HOW TEAMWORK WORKS.
AND TO THE WINNING TEAM, AND TO, MONICA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S GONNA BE ON THE MENU, AND THEN MORE THINGS ARE GONNA FOLLOW.
SO, SO WE HAVE SOME BEFORE THE, UH, BEFORE THE, THE PROCLAMATION, LET'S, LET'S, UH, HAVE OUR TWO REMARKABLE CHEFS, CHEF REED AND CHEF TILA, UH, PROVIDE US WITH SOME, SOME COMMENTS AND, AND MAYBE SOME FOOD
UM, I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW WHAT AN HONOR IT WAS TO BE A PART OF THIS AS A NATIVE ANGELINO AND AS A, UH, YOU KNOW, A A PERSON WHO GREW UP ALL OVER THE CITY.
I WAS, IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE SUCH, UM, A PART OF THIS.
AND, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS.
UH, AND LIKE I SAID IN THE VIDEO, F FOOD WAS MY BRIDGE TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE, UM, IN THIS AMAZING CITY.
AND I HOPE IT IS FOR YOU, AND I HOPE I GET A CHANCE FOR A REMATCH FOR THE NEXT SET,
UM, BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL, AND, UH, MY FAMILY, MYSELF, MY TEAM WILL ALWAYS BE HERE TO SUPPORT, UM, L-A-U-S-D,
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THIS GREAT CITY.AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US BE A PART OF THIS.
UM, JET SAID IT SO BEAUTIFULLY, YOU KNOW, LIKE, HONESTLY, THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS TO ALL THE STUDENTS THAT LET US PARTICIPATE IN THIS.
IT WAS MY FIRST TIME DOING IT THIS YEAR, AND IT WAS JUST A REMARKABLE TO SEE THESE YOUNG KIDS WITH SO MUCH TALENT POUR OUT SO MUCH ENERGY AND LOVE INTO THEIR FOOD, UM, AND GIVING 'EM THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT REALLY SPARKS THEIR CURIOSITY AND INTEREST AND WANTS THEM TO GO TO SCHOOL, IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO ME.
UM, AND JUST TEACHING THEM HOW TO COOK IN GENERAL.
SO WHAT YOU GUYS PUT ON WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF IT AGAIN FOR NEXT YEAR'S CHALLENGE AND GO FOR THAT GROUND.
ARE YOU SURE, MICHAEL? UH, WOULD YOU SEE IF CHEF JESSE SANCHEZ IS ON? NICE CHEF, SUPER HONORED TO BE A PART OF THESE AMAZING HUMANS WHO PUT EVERYTHING THEY HAD INTO THE IDEATION AND THE PROCESS AND THE EXECUTION.
IT'S REALLY INSPIRING AS A CHEF MYSELF, AS WELL AS JACK COMING UP IN LOS ANGELES AND BEING A PART OF THIS ECOSYSTEM.
UM, BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE GARDEN AND GET INSPIRED BY THE INGREDIENTS AND THEN BE ABLE TO FUEL THE YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL MINDS OF LA IS, UH, TRULY, TRULY AN HONOR.
SO I'M REALLY PROUD THIS GUY'S DID IT ALL THE WAY IN, COACH.
DO YOU WANNA DESCRIBE WHAT MAKE US HUNGRY? WHAT THE, THE WINNING DISH, WASN'T IT? THE, THE KOREAN BEEF BI MAP BOWL.
UM, THE STUDENTS WERE GIVING INGREDIENTS THAT ARE USED ON AT THE DAILY CAFETERIA MENU.
WE USE, UH, WHOLE GRAIN RICE, UM, BEEF CRUMBLE, UH, VEGETABLES THAT WE USE FROM LOCAL FARMS. AND THE STUDENTS HAD TO COME UP WITH, UH, SOMETHING NEW THAT WILL BRING IN THE STUDENTS TO WANNA COME AND EAT THE DAILY SCHOOL LUNCH MENU.
SO THEY CREATED A KOREAN INSPIRED BEBE BOP BOWL, UH, WITH SOME SPICINESS, SOMETHING THAT WASN'T REALLY ON THE DAILY USUAL BURGER SANDWICH THAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY GET EVERY DAY, SOMETHING.
SO THEY WANTED SOMETHING REFRESHED.
SO THE STUDENTS CAME UP WITH THE IDEA, WE TESTED IT IN THE KITCHEN.
UH, WE, I TEACH IN THE CTE DEPARTMENT.
I TEACH, UH, IN THE HOSPITALITY AND FOOD SERVICES.
SO WE STARTED TESTING SINCE NOVEMBER, DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, AND WE WERE MAKING BATCHES, AND WE JUST STARTED TESTING IT OUT WITHIN OUR SMALL GROUP OF STUDENTS.
AND THEN WE WERE JUST GIVING IT OUT TO THE CLASS, AND THE STUDENTS WERE LIKING IT.
SO WE JUST HAD TO FINISH UP SOME FINAL TOUCHES, AND WE JUST WENT FOR IT.
SO AS A TEACHER, IT IS, UH, REALLY NICE TO SEE HOW THEY COME IN THE CLASSROOM NOT KNOWING THAT MAYBE THIS IS WHAT THEY WANNA DO AS A CAREER.
AND TO JUST COME IN AND YOU CAN SPARK THAT LITTLE LIGHT INTO SOMEONE AND DECIDE THAT THEY WANNA GO TO CULINARY SCHOOL.
IT'S A BIG HONOR AS A TEACHER, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
SO IF YOU CAN DO THAT TO ONE STUDENT AND IMPACT THE LIFE OF THE STUDENT LIKE THAT, YOU'VE ALREADY HAD IT DONE.
SO AS A TEACHER, I FEEL, UH, LIKE A GREAT HONOR TO HAVE BEEN IMPACT HAVE BEEN AN IMPACT INTO THE STUDENT'S LIFE.
SO AS OF AS OF NOW, I AM WINNING IN LIFE.
I, UH, I SEE THIS CHEF SANCHEZ HAS JOINED US, UH, REMOTELY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHEF MONICA.
WHAT ARE FANTASTIC, UH, WORDS YOU SHARED.
AND, UH, I JUST WANNA THANK THE BOARD AND ALL OF THE TEACHERS WHO ACTUALLY PUT A LOT OF WORK AND TIME INTO THIS.
UH, YOU GUYS DID A FANTASTIC WORK.
I'M A, I'M A PROFESSOR AT LOS ANGELES MISSION COLLEGE.
THE SKILLS OF COOKING, AS CHEF STATED, IS A LIFE SKILL FOR THEM, FOR THEM.
AND WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THOSE OF YOU GUYS WHO ARE IN THE TRENCHES TEACHING.
CHEF MONICA, YOU ARE JUST FANTASTIC ON, UH, GUIDING YOUR TEAM.
AND, UH, CHEF TILA, KEEP CO KEEP COACHING, RIGHT? AND WE'RE AT MISSION COLLEGE.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE MANY OF YOU GUYS FROM HIGH SCHOOL COME JOIN US.
UH, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL FACILITIES.
UM, WE, WE LOVE TO SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE, UH, AND TO SHARE THE IDEAS THAT YOU MIGHT CREATE.
SO THIS IS, YOU ARE THE NEW CHEFS, THE, UH, THE NEW, UH, PEOPLE SERVING GREAT FOOD.
AND, UH, L-A-U-S-D AS A FATHER OF TWO ON L-A-U-S-D.
[00:45:01]
WE REALLY LOVE TO HAVE FRESH FOOD.UH, LOVE TO SEE ALL OF THESE NEW INGREDIENTS.
AND, AND AGAIN, THANKS TO THE BOARD, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED THIS PROGRAM, AND LOS ANGELES MISSION COLLEGE IS OPEN FOR YOU FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
UH, LET'S PLAN ON, AND, UH, LET'S, LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED.
WE'LL BRING SOME FOOD TO YOU, UH, ELLO, UM, NEXT TIME AROUND.
THANK YOU, JET MICHAEL, UH, JESSE AISHA, AND OF COURSE, UH, DR.
CLAUDIA SERATO WASN'T ABLE TO JOIN US.
SHE WAS TEACHING, UH, BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CONVEYED OUR THANKS TO HER FOR ALL THAT SHE DID FOR US.
SO, SO MANISHA, I'D LIKE TO GIVE A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE BOARD MEMBERS TO COMMENT IF, BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT EVENT, I, I'LL START WITH MYSELF.
AND I JUST WANNA TELL YOU, WHEN I WAS PRINCIPAL, ALL THE KIDS WANTED WAS HAMBURGER OR PIZZA.
AND IF THERE WASN'T HAMBURGER OR PIZZA THAT DAY, THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED.
NOW, NOW THEY'RE WILLING TO TRY EVERYTHING.
AND THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
HEALTHY, HEALTHY FOODS AND MEAN THIS.
ONE THING THAT YOU NEVER MENTIONED THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IS THERE IS NOTHING FRIED IN THE CAFETERIA.
I WOULD SWEAR THAT SOME OF THAT STUFF IS FRIED, BUT IT'S NOT.
IT'S BAKED, BUT SO WELL THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S FRIED.
SO JUST COMPLIMENTS, KELLY, ANYTHING? OH, IT WAS JUST SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO BE THERE, UM, TO WITNESS SUCH MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN.
I FEEL LIKE THIS EVENT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE BEST OF L-A-U-S-D, OUR FOOD PROGRAM, WHERE WE'RE FEEDING THREE MEALS A DAY TO SO MANY STUDENTS.
AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S THIS, UM, MYTHOS AROUND CAFETERIA FOOD AND AROUND KIDS BEING STIGMATIZED FOR RELYING ON FREE MEALS.
BUT I THINK IN THIS DISTRICT, UM, THAT'S A POINT OF PRIDE THAT WE PROVIDE THAT FOOD FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND WE ALSO BELIEVE IT SHOULD TASTE GOOD.
OUR KIDS DESERVE TO HAVE PLEASURE AND JOY WHEN THEY EAT THE FOOD THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THEM.
UM, SO IT HIGHLIGHTS THE BEST OF OUR PROGRAM, THE FRESH FOOD THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN THE PRODUCE LOCALLY.
UM, AND THEN JUST THE INCREDIBLE TALENT OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR WONDERFUL INSTRUCTORS.
IT WAS, UH, JUST A GIFT TO ME TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY, UM, THE CULINARY TREASURES THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER.
AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR.
UM, I KNOW THE BOARD DISTRICT SIX WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON TOP.
ONE OF MY SCHOOLS ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED HUNTINGTON PARK HIGH SCHOOL.
I WENT TO VISIT THEM LAST WEEK, AND THEY HAD BREAKFAST FOR US.
I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE TALENT.
UM, BUT I WANNA COMMEND YOU TEACHER BECAUSE, UM, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR PROFESSION RIGHT NOW IS HELPED THESE YOUNG PEOPLE FIND THEIR PASSION.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT AS WE ARE GROWING UP, AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR TEEN YEARS, WE WANT TO FIND THAT ONE THING THAT CAN HELP US GET THROUGH SO MANY DIFFICULT MOMENTS THAT WE HAVE JUST IN GENERAL AS TEENAGERS.
AND YOU HAVE THIS, THAT YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TALENT THAT WHO DOES NOT LIKE TO EAT, RIGHT? EVERYBODY LOVES TO EAT.
AND SO YOU CAN SHARE THIS BEAUTIFUL TALENT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE, AND YOU KNOW, YOU CAN KNOW THAT YOU WILL BRING JOY WHEN YOU DO THIS.
I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE ABLE, AS A DISTRICT TO OFFER THIS BECAUSE LIKE, THE, THE CULINARY, LIKE MUSIC, LIKE ART, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT, UM, THAT REALLY BRING US JOY AND, UM, AND, AND THE THINGS THAT WE, THAT ARE NOT MEASURED ON THE ESPA, RIGHT? BUT THEY ARE CERTAINLY MEASURES OF JUST HOW YOU FEEL IN GENERAL AND THE KIND OF HUMAN BEING THAT YOU WILL BE AS YOU GO ON INTO, INTO THE WORLD.
I HOPE THAT I CAN TASTE YOUR FOOD ONE DAY.
IT SEEMS VERY POPULAR, SO MAYBE I'LL STOP BY POLLY ONE TIME AND TASTE IT.
SO I THOUGHT IT WAS COOL A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I JUST WENT TO THE NEWMAN NUTRITION CENTER AND SAW JAMIE AND HER TEAM.
AND NO OFFENSE TO JAMIE, THERE WERE NO CELEBRITIES THERE, BUT IT WAS STILL AMAZING TO SEE IT.
UM, AND, UH, JUST WHAT A PRODUCTION THAT YOU ALL HAVE THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO OUR CELEBRITY CHEFS, NOT ONLY FOR PARTICIPATING AND SHOWING CAREER PATHS FOR OUR INCREDIBLY TALENTED STUDENTS, BUT ALSO FOR HELPING GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT WHAT, AS MY COLLEAGUES ALLUDED TO, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, UM, IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS UNDER, UNDER MIN LEADERSHIP AND SUPERINTENDENT AND THIS BOARD, THE INNOVATION, WE'RE SEEING FROM THREE MEALS A DAY TO THE LARGEST FOOD RELIEF EFFORT IN SCHOOL AMERICAN HISTORY, DURING COVID TO THE STUDENT TASTE TEST, TO THE COMEY OVENS, TO, UM, SEEING, UH, TO THE FOOD TRUCK, TO SEEING EVEN WHAT JAMIE WAS DOING.
UM, LOOKING AT NEW, UH, UH, INGREDIENTS.
[00:50:01]
WHEN I WAS THERE A FEW MONTHS AGO, MAC AND CHEESE WAS SOMETHING WE WERE LOOKING AT.NOT JUST THE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, OUT OF A BOX, BUT ACTUALLY, UM, FRESH MILK AND FIGURING OUT KIND OF THE FOOD SCIENCE AND THE CHEMISTRY OF HOW TO GET THE NUTRITIONAL ELEMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, UH, AND ALSO HAVING THAT TASTE TEST, AND THEN SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING AT OUR SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
I, UM, MY YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR FINAL SESSION OF THE YEAR AT SOSSMAN CENTER FOR ENRICH STUDIES.
IT HAS A STATE-OF-THE-ART KITCHEN, AND THOSE STUDENTS COOKED A GOURMET MEAL THAT ACTUALLY HAD ONE COMPETITION.
UM, AND WHEN FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IT IS REMARKABLE.
AND THEN YOU SAY THAT WE'RE DOING THAT AT LIKE A DOLLAR 27 PER MEAL OR SOMETHING, AND IT REALLY BLOWS PEOPLE'S MINDS.
SO THANK YOU FOR, TO THE CELEBRITY CHEFS FOR HELPING US, UM, TELL THIS STORY.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A COOKING SHOW I WOULD WATCH.
SO WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S PRECARIOUS TIMES FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN USE KLCS AND OTHERS TO PROMOTE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO JUST LIKE YOUR CELEBRITY CHEF MENTORS GOING TO YOUR RESTAURANTS, UM, IN LA IN YEARS TO COME, UM, AND COMING TO SCHOOLS BEFORE THEM.
BUT THANK YOU, UH, MANISHH AND JAMIE AND YOUR TEAM, AND ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT WE, UH, SEE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE, THE PRODUCTION.
UM, JUST GETTING THE FOOD OUT TO THE, TO A THOUSAND SCHOOL CAMPUSES IS A HUGE PRODUCTION.
AND THAT, SO NOW TO THINK ABOUT USING FRESH PRODUCE AND THE FARM TO TABLE STUFF THAT WE'RE DOING AT A TIME WHEN, UM, OUR, OUR PARTNERS IN, IN WASHINGTON AND SACRAMENTO TO, TO THAT EXTENT, SHOULD BE SUPPORTING IT.
AND INSTEAD, THEY'RE MAKING IT HARDER.
AND WE'RE STILL FINDING A WAY TO DO EVERYTHING FROM SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS TO SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS, TO SUPPORTING THE INCREDIBLE WORKFORCE AT ALL UNIFIED.
SO THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE IT, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO DO IT.
AND I WILL SAY WE'VE HAD IT AS A BOARD, BUT WHEN I'M AT SCHOOLS TOO, WE'RE, WE'RE EATING THOSE SCHOOL MEALS.
I'M EXCITED FOR THE BIMBA BOWL, BUT EVEN TO THE TERIYAKI AND THE, UH, CHALUPAS AND THAT MAC AND CHEESE, JAMIE, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO, TO TRY SOON.
LIKE MR. SINGH SAID, I WAS AT THE CHEF SHOWDOWN AS WELL AS A STUDENT JUDGE.
AND, AND WOW, I'M JUST REALLY PROUD OF THE DISTRICT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS BEING INCORPORATED IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT DECISIONS, EVEN WITH SCHOOL FOOD.
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A, A POINT OF NOTE FOR, FOR STUDENTS WHEN TALKING TO ME.
UM, BUT ALSO SEEING THE STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO SHAPE THEIR OWN DISHES AND REALLY REPRESENT THE DIVERSE AND UNIQUE CULTURES THAT CAN BE FOUND ACROSS ALL L-A-U-S-D SCHOOLS.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO PARTICIPATED, ORGANIZED, AND MADE THIS HAPPEN.
IT, IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS A JUDGE FOR MASTER CHEF OR SOMETHING.
UM, AND THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY TO THE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED, UH, AND CONTINUED TO LEARN IN THESE CULINARY PATHWAYS AS WELL.
WITHOUT YOU SHOWING UP AND SHOWING OUT, THERE WOULDN'T BE THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING AN EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT AN AMAZING, ENGAGED AND DEDICATED STUDENT LOOKS LIKE.
AND ONE LAST NOTE, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE FOOD THAT POLY HIGH MADE WAS TRULY AMAZING.
IT WAS LIKE RESTAURANT GRADE, YOU KNOW, CHEF'S KISS
JERRY ROCIO, UM, DEFINITELY, UM, A FOOD BEING SERVED HERE IN OUR DISTRICT HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED SINCE I WAS A STUDENT.
UM, AND L-A-U-S-D, UM, FOR ME, MY FAVORITES WERE THE BURRITOS, AND THEY STILL ARE.
BUT, UM, I'M JUST GLAD TO KNOW THAT OUR STUDENTS NOW ARE ABLE TO, UM, ENJOY CULINARY, UM, LIN FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE, OF, OF OUR, YOU KNOW, NATION OF OUR COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, IT REPRESENTS A MULTI, UM, DIVERSITY HERE IN THE DISTRICT.
AND FOR A STUDENT TO BE EATING SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY KNOW OF THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, FEEL CONNECTED TO.
WE CONNECT THROUGH FOOD, RIGHT? THAT IS SOMEWHERE BREAKING BREAD WITH SOMEONE OR SHARING SOMETHING THAT IS CLOSE TO YOUR CULTURE OR WHERE YOU GREW UP, UM, IS TREMENDOUS.
I GREW UP IN KOREATOWN, SO FOR ME, KOREAN FOOD AND ALSO JAPANESE FOOD, EATING SUSHI WAS JUST LIKE, FOR A LITTLE MEXICAN GIRL, LIKE MYSELF WAS LIKE, WHAT IS THIS? I WANT MORE OF IT.
AND NOW KNOWING THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR, OUR CHILDREN, LIKE MY SON, UM, WHO'S IN HIGH SCHOOL IS ABLE TO, TO ENJOY THIS AND CONNECT WITH IT IS TREMENDOUS.
AND TO KNOW THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR STUDENTS LIKE YOURSELVES ARE GONNA BE LEAVING OUR DISTRICT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANNA DO.
YOU'VE IN, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE CONNECTED TO YOUR PASSION, AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO CONNECT WITH FOOD.
UM, FOR ME, I, I FEEL VERY CLOSE TO BEING TO CHEFS AND, AND KITCHENS.
UM, MY FATHER IS A CHEF, UH, WELL, HE'S RETIRED, UH, CHEF TINO.
AND I GREW UP WITH HIM IN THE KITCHEN, YOU KNOW, DOING EVERYTHING.
AND I WAS JUST AMAZED AT, AT WHAT HE COULD CREATE WITH, YOU KNOW, JUST SOME INGREDIENTS IN CREATING ART, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IT IS.
IT'S AN ART, IT'S GASTRONOMY, RIGHT? IT'S AN ART, UM, OF A FORM OF ART WHERE YOU'RE CREATING SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND THEN YOU'RE
[00:55:01]
SHARING IT WITH OTHERS, RIGHT? SO MY, UM, UM, MY, UM, SINCERE, YOU KNOW, UM, WISHES FOR ALL OF YOU AND FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO CONNECT WITH, UM, THIS WONDERFUL ART OF CULINARY, CULINARY ARTS.AND, UM, AND I KNOW THAT, UM, IN THIS GREAT CITY WE'RE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, WE'RE FOODIES ALL OVER THIS CITY AND WE HAVE GREAT RESTAURANTS THAT ONE DAY I'LL BE, WE'LL BE GOING TO A RESTAURANT AND I'LL BE AN L-E-U-S-D ALUM WHO IS A CHEF, WHO OWNS A RESTAURANT, WHO IS FEATURED LIKE THESE WONDERFUL, UM, YOU KNOW, CHEFS, UM, AND THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YOU TO SHOW, YOU KNOW, THEIR SKILLS AS WELL.
AND THAT FOR ME WILL BE JUST FOR THE TOP OF, OF, YOU KNOW, THE ICING ON THE CAKE, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.
AND, UM, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY SINGLE STUDENT WHO'S GONNA BE ABLE TO CONNECT, UH, WITH CULINARY ARTS, WITH OUR WONDERFUL CTE PROGRAMS. AND, UM, SO YEAH, BON HAVE AIT
UM, AS WE WERE WATCHING, I WAS LIKE, I WAS WAITING TO BINGE, I WANTED TO WATCH SOME MORE, LIKE, YOU WANNA SEE THE NEXT EPISODE, UH, AND YOU WAITING FOR THE PLATES TO COME THROUGH AND GIVE US ALL A SAMPLE UP HERE ON THE DESK.
SO, BUT IT WAS EXCITING JUST TO SEE THE PASSION THAT YOU GUYS PUT INTO IT AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT IN OUR SCHOOLS.
AND I APPRECIATE JUST THE TIME OF THE CHEF THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO OUR STUDENTS, UH, TO INSPIRE THEM, TO GIVE THEM VISION FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE.
UH, AND APPRECIATE THE TEACHERS, THE COACHES OF CTE THAT CONTINUE THIS THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT AND OPENING MORE DOORS, I'M HOPING.
UM, WE'RE GETTING PREPARED, UM, AS, UH, AS WE SPEAK.
ACTUALLY, MY SON IS NOW TAKING A CULINARY CLASS, SO HE'S EXCITED, UM, TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS 'CAUSE HE LIKES TO EAT.
SO YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO COOK
UH, SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS ON MOM OR DAD, SO THAT'S ALWAYS A, A PLUS WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, FEND FOR YOURSELF.
UH, BUT WANTED TO JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK PUT IN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TEAMS THAT SHOWED UP, AND, UM, JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO, AS WE MENTIONED, FARM TO TABLE IS, IS AMAZING.
AND TO HAVE A PASSION TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, PUTTING TOGETHER SCIENCE AND, UM, ART TOGETHER.
IT'S AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT DISPLAYED THE, THE EFFORT PUT INTO IT, THE TALENT, THE, THE APPRECIATION FOR HEALTHY FOOD, AND THEN CONTRIBUTING TO OUR DISTRICT IN SUCH A WAY.
AND THE LEGACY OF WHAT YOU PROVIDE, I THINK IS AMAZING BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW IS GOING TO BE HERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AND YOU GUYS ARE, YOU KNOW, NOW ON THE MENU.
SO YOU GOT SOME BOASTING RIGHTS NOW, WHICH IS AMAZING.
YOU CAN WALK AROUND AND SAY, YEAH, I, I DID THAT.
AND AS I WAS COMING HERE, SO MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
I SAW THE FOOD TRUCK GOING ON THE TENT AS I WAS COMING THIS WAY.
SO WE ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS IN LA UNIFIED.
AND SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU AGAIN AND JUST APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE CHEFS FOR BEING HERE, AND MANISH AND YOUR TEAM FOR CONTINUING THIS EFFORT AS WE CONTINUE TO CHANGE THE LIVES IN L-A-U-S-D.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATS AGAIN.
AND FINAL WORDS FOR MR. MELVIN.
UM, BECAUSE IN OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY AND THE VOTERS AND MENTION THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PUT IN THE BOND THAT WAS PASSED LAST NOVEMBER WAS AROUND $300 MILLION FOR A CENTRAL KITCHEN, UM, TO DO MORE, UM, DIRECTLY WELL, UH, FARM TO TABLE, BUT LIKE, UH, COOKED FOOD AS OPPOSED TO, UH, FROZEN AND REHEATED FOOD.
AND WE KNOW A LOT OF OUR SCHOOL CAMPUSES ONLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REHEAT FOODS.
UM, AND SO ONE, ACTUALLY, AS I'M THINKING ABOUT IT, IT WOULD BE GREAT AT AN UPCOMING BOARD MEETING OR COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE TO HAVE AN UPDATE.
I KNOW THAT'S STILL ONLY, WELL, I GUESS WE'RE COMING UP TO A YEAR ON THE BOND, BUT THINK ABOUT THAT.
UM, BUT ALSO JUST WANNA PLUG THAT, THAT WAS A REAL PRIORITY OF MINE, AND I KNOW THIS BOARD IN MAKING SURE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE UPGRADES WE'RE DOING TO SCHOOLS, THIS WOULD BE A NEW FACILITY, UM, $300 MILLION TO DO MORE OF, OF TAKE YOUR CREATIONS, COOK THEM DAILY, AND BRING THEM DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS.
AND SO THEY HAVE THAT FRESH FOOD.
SO JUST WANTED TO THANK VOTERS FOR SUPPORTING THAT AND MAKE A PLUG AND, AND MAYBE WE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON THAT SOON.
MR. MCLEAN, LAST WORD, A VERY RARE WORD FOR ME.
I ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, JAMIE AND JAVIER AND THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO WORK THROUGH LUNCH, ON BOARD MEETING DAYS.
WE'LL ALSO BE EATING THE EXACT SAME FOODS THAT ARE PREPARED BY THE KITCHEN SO
[01:00:01]
THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS ARE EATING THE FOOD.SO WE ARE SO HONORED THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO COME DOWN TO YOU, ALL OF YOU, WHEN YOU ARE GIVEN YOUR PROCLAMATION AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH ALL OF YOU.
YOU HAVE INSPIRED, SO YOUR ORIGINAL, I HOPE YOU'RE GONNA COOK, YOU GONNA CONTINUE DO THIS BECAUSE I HAVE A SON WHO LOVES TO COOK AND HE MAKES ME SO HAPPY.
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO PUSH IT.
INITIALLY WE WERE TOLD, OH, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
AND I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF OUT LOWERED THEM AND I WAS LIKE, WE'RE GONNA DO IT.
YOU'LL REMAIN FOR PROCLAMATION TO GIVE HIM YES, THEY ALREADY HAVE IT.
YEAH, WE HAVE FREE, THAT'S FOR THE WINNING TEAM, RIGHT? YES, WE HAVE SAMANTHA.
AND NOW YOU GO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
[01:05:03]
YEAH, HE'S BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AND HE'S WEATHERED A LOT OF STORMS.I REMEMBER THE DAY HE TOLD ME.
WELL, WHEN I RETIRED, BUT I DON'T KNOW, I MAY RUN FOR SCHOOL.
THESE THREE DO SO MUCH STUFF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES.
SHE BE, I'VE, AND I'LL MENTION YOUR SUPPORT HAS ALWAYS AWESOME.
BEEN EVER SINCE HE WAS A PRINCIPAL.
I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT SERVICES ARE, SHOW WHAT YOU DO.
AND I THINK IT'S SHOWING MORE CONNECTED THAN BEFORE.
NOT JUST FEEDING, BUT NOW YOU'RE INCORPORATING.
BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE ANOTHER RECOGNITION COMING UP.
ALL OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE BACK.
THE FUN CONTINUES WITH A NEXT PRESENTATION FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
THIS IS A BITTERSWEET RECOGNITION, UH, BECAUSE IT TOUCHES, UH, SO MANY OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF.
UH, ALL OF YOU HAVE KNOWN, UH, MANNY FOR FAR LONGER THAN I'VE KNOWN.
UM, AFTER ALL, HE'S BEEN WITH LOS ANGELES UNIFIED FOR 34 YEARS.
HE STARTED OUT IN, BACK IN 1991 AS A LIGHT BUS DRIVER, AND WITHIN SIX MONTHS HE WAS PROMOTED TO, UH, A HEAVY BUS DRIVER.
AND TODAY HE'S STILL HEAVY ON A PEDAL.
[01:10:01]
HE WAS ROTATING BETWEEN A LIGHT BUS DRIVER AND HEAVY BUS DRIVER UNTIL 2 0 0 1, 2001 WHEN HE BECAME THE SERGEANT OF ARMS IN THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.MANY IS MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE.
UH, TO ME HE'S LIKE THE HUMAN VERSION OF WAYS.
THE HUMAN VERSION OF GOOGLE MAPS AND THE OLD THOMAS GUIDE ALL IN ONE.
I MEAN, HE DOES NOT NEED GOOGLE MAPS.
HE KNOWS THE BEST WAY, EVERY WAY, THE FASTEST WAY TO GET TO EVERY LUSD SCHOOL AND PROPERTY.
WE CANNOT SAY FOLLOWS THE RULES OF THE ROAD ALL THE TIME, BUT HE IS ALWAYS SAFE, HONORABLE, RESPECTFUL, KIND TO EVERYONE.
HE'S BEEN A, A PILLAR IN THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, WELL KNOWN TO YOU FOR 24 YEARS.
HE HAS DRIVEN, I'M TOLD 10 DIFFERENT SUPERINTENDENTS.
HE HAS OUTSTATE ALL PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENTS, BUT ONE, HE IS THE REAL DEAL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A SOLID VOICE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING SECRETS, MY OWN AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S.
MANNY SAYS HE, HE'S GOT A BOOK TO WRITE, BUT HE WON'T
THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME ABOUT LA FOR SHOWING ME THE SHORTCUTS, THE PLACES TO VISIT THE STREETS, TO AVOID THE BEST TACOS TO EAT, FOR GETTING ME TO MEETING SAFELY AND ON TIME FOR ALWAYS LISTENING.
AND HONESTLY, FOR YOUR TRUE FRIENDSHIP, THIS DISTRICT, THE OFFICE WILL NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU.
WE SAY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME AND GO.
MANY IS NOT THE KIND OF PERSON, UH, THAT WILL BE EASILY OR EVER FORGOTTEN.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
HE CERTAINLY HAS DESERVED AND EARNED THIS RETIREMENT.
I PREDICT THAT GLORIA, HIS BELOVED WIFE OF MANY YEARS, SIX MONTHS FROM TODAY, WILL SEND HIM BACK, UH, OR HIS BELOVED SON, MICHAEL WILL TELL HIM ONE TIME TO MANNY THAT HE WANTS TO GO TO THE STEAKHOUSE, HIS FAVORITE STEAKHOUSE, NOT THE ONE CLOSE TO THE HOUSE, BUT HIS FAVORITE ONE.
ON WEEKENDS, MANNY WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY SOCCER AND THEN COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PAIN IN THIS BODY ON MONDAY MORNING,
MANNY WILL BE ENJOYING HIS SAUVIGNON BLANC FOR HE DOES NOT DRINK RED AND ONLY ONE GLASS ON A GOOD WEEKEND.
THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING ALL THAT.
DO WHAT YOU DO IN SUCH AN HONORABLE AND PROFESSIONAL WAY.
THIS COMMUNITY, THIS DISTRICT LOVES YOU, APPRECIATES YOU, AND RESPECTS YOU.
I WILL NOT THINK MY WIFE, I THINK SHE'S WATCHING, AND MY SON MICHAEL, FOR ALLOW ME TO BE WITH, WITH YOU 24, 25 YEARS AND JUST 10 OF YOU.
AND WE TRIED TO COUNT ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT PROBABLY PAST 30, SOME OF THEM.
JANIA, HAYES, KOSKI, MS. CASTRO, MIKE LANSING, MONICA GARCIA, MS. TORRES, COR, I MEAN MS. STEIN, MS. LAMO, STEVE, ZIMMER, MCKENNA, TAMAL, GALL, YOU NAME IT.
AMALIA, RAQUEL, UH, MONICA ZUNIGA, UH, LISA.
I MEAN, I CAN GO OVER ON AND OFF FOR 25 YEARS.
I WILL BE THE LAST MAN STANDING, BUT THE LAST MAN STANDING HAS TO KEEP ON GOING.
YOU TEACH YOUR HOMEWORK, SUPERINTENDENT.
AND UH, AGAIN, BITTER SWEET BECAUSE I GOTTA GO AND MOVE ON AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND MOVE ON THROUGH THE, LIKE I TOLD PEOPLE THROUGH THE BIG, THE FRONT DOOR, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE STILL ENJOY WHAT WE DOING TO THE LAST MINUTE.
AND I THINK, AND I TELL PEOPLE, WHATEVER YOU END UP BOARD, MEMBER, OFFICE, SUPERINTENDENT, UH, ANYWHERE, MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT.
[01:15:01]
WHAT I ALWAYS SAID IT TO MY COLLEAGUES, MY PEOPLE MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT.AND THAT'S WHAT I DID FOR 25, 34 YEARS, NINE WITH THE KIDS AND 25 WITH THE BIG ONE.
BIG KID
UM, THAT, UH, I CAN THINK OF, UH, MS. RILEY, MEGAN, AND THEN THEY WILL CALL HIM THE, THE ITALIAN MAFIA GUY WHEN WE STOP AND GET COFFEE.
CARVALLO, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
OKAY? AND I LOVE YOU ALL AND KEEP DOING THE SAME THING.
AND I'M STAYING IN TOWN, SO YOU PROBABLY SEE ME AROUND AND I'LL SAY HI AND BYE
WE HAVE A, OBVIOUSLY A PROCLAMATION AND UM, THIS IS COOL.
YOU GOT TO TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU OUTSIDE
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET BACK FROM
I HOPE FOR YOU GETTING THE REAL CAR.
SORRY, I WANNA READ THIS BOOK.
I WANT THE BOOK DID GO ON THIS SIDE.
WE SCOOT JUST A LITTLE CLOSER.
THE NICEST GUY YOU'LL EVER, EVER MEET.
JUST TO MAKE THE NOISE, TWO THINGS.
[01:20:24]
THE TIME IS NOW 1122.UM, WE WILL WAIT A FEW MORE MOMENTS AND THEN WE WILL SET THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[Consent Items]
CALENDAR IS A PROCEDURAL MECHANISM THAT THE BOARD USES IN ORDER TO TAKE MULTIPLE ITEMS AT ONCE.AND SO I READ THE NAME OF THE ITEM AND IF THE BOARD, UM, AGREES MORE OR LESS OUT LOUD, PUT IT ON CONSENT, THE ITEM WILL BE VOTED IN A, IN A GROUP OR A BATCH OF, OF REPORTS.
LOOKS LIKE WE ARE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYONE ONLINE.
MS. EZ WILL BE JOINING US SHORTLY.
SO I'LL READ THROUGH THE CONSENT ITEMS AND WE'LL BEGIN.
UH, TAB ONE, RATIFICATION OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ACCESS AND INFORMATION CERTIFIED WELLNESS COACH GRANT.
UH, TAB TWO, RATIFICATION OF INCENTIVE GRANT AWARDS TO L-A-U-S-D.
UH, TAB THREE, AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES FOR THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS PROGRAM.
YOU, YOU TWO? YES, IT'S, UH, MS. GREGO, MS. GOMEZ.
DONATIONS OF MONEY TO THE DISTRICT.
UH, TAB FIVE, DEFINE AND APPROVE SEVEN PROJECTS.
DID HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH, JUST ON THAT FOR TAB FIVE, FOUR.
ALRIGHT, SO TAB FIVE, DEFINE AND APPROVE SEVEN PROJECTS TO PROVIDE CRITICAL REPLACEMENTS AND UPGRADES OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL JUST PUT THAT ONTO DISCUSSION.
MULTIPLE, ACTUALLY, I'LL, I'LL WRITE IT DOWN.
WHO HAS, IS IT MS. EZ? MS. REGO? YEP.
WHAT NUMBER? I DO, UM, FOR TAB FIVE.
OKAY, TAB SIX, DEFINE AND APPROVED TWO.
EARLY EDUCATION CENTER, OUTDOOR CLASSROOM PROJECTS.
TAB SEVEN, DEFINE AND APPROVED 27 BOARD DISTRICT PRIORITY AND REGION PRIORITY PROJECTS.
UH, TAB EIGHT, APPROVAL OF FACILITIES, CONTRACTS, ACTIONS.
ANY OTHERS? OKAY, UH, TAB NINE.
UH, ITEM A HAS BEEN, UH, WITHDRAWN.
SO TAB NINE, ITEM A IS WITHDRAWN.
SO IF IT GOES ON CONSENT, THIS ITEM IS NOT BEING CONSIDERED.
UM, I HAVE DISCUSSION ON OTHER ITEMS. OKAY, SO DISCUSSION.
SO MS. GRIEGO AND ME, I DO TOO.
TAB 10, AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH PALMER THIRD STREET PROPERTIES.
CONSENT TAB 11, AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A 39 MONTH LEASE EXTENSION WITH, UH, B NINE VN, ROSCOE OWNER, LLC, CONSENT.
CONSENT TAB 12, CONSIDERATION OF A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT PETITION FOR CHINATOWN, BID.
TAB 13, CONSIDERATION OF STREET LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT FOR THE GRAD'S EARLY EDUCATION CENTER LIGHTING DISTRICT CONSENT.
TAB 14, CONSIDERATION OF STREET LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT FOR THE 10TH STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIGHTING DISTRICT CONSENT VENT, FENT TAB 15, CERTIFICATION OF UNHOUSED PUPILS FOR CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES, PROGRAM APPLICATIONS.
SO WE HAVE MS. GRIEGO, MR. SCHUREN, UH, MS. EZ? NO.
SO TAB 16, REPORT OF CASH DISBURSEMENTS PRESENT, SENT TAB 17, APPROVAL OF ROUTINE PERSONNEL ACTIONS.
ALRIGHT, TAB 18, PROVISIONAL INTERNSHIP PERMITS CONSENT.
SO TABS 19, 20, 21, 22, AND 23.
OUR RESOLUTIONS FOR INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE PUT THESE ON THE AGENDA TODAY AND THE PUBLIC HAS THE TIME FROM TODAY UNTIL THE NEXT BOARD MEETING TO REVIEW THEM.
AT THE NEXT MEETING, THEY'LL BE VOTED ON.
UH, SO TAB 24 REAPPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, CONSENT, CONSENT, AND TAB 25 REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE CONSENT.
OKAY, SO I'M GONNA READ THROUGH, UH, THE CALENDAR AND THEN WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT ITEMS AND THEN,
[01:25:01]
UH, TAKE THE VOTE ON THE CONSENT ITEMS. SO TABS 1, 2, 3, 4, AND FIVE ARE DISCUSSION TAB SIX AND SEVEN, CONSENT TAB EIGHT AND NINE, DISCUSSION TABS 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 ARE CONSENT.TAB 15, DISCUSSION TAB 16, 17, 18, 24, AND 25 ARE ALL CONSENT.
OKAY, SO WE'LL MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
SO WE HAVE FOUR FOLKS TO SPEAK TO TAB 17, SEE IF THEY'RE WITH US.
BELINDA MA, I SEE YOU'RE ONLINE WITH US.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
BELINDA MA, MS. MA, YOU'RE ONLINE WITH US.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MY NAME IS BELINDA MA AND I AM A PARENT.
OH, GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT COLORADO.
I'M AN, UM, PARENT AT BROADWAY ELEMENTARY.
A THIRD GRADE PARENT REPRESENT A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE SALWAR PARENTS AND TEACHERS AT OUR SCHOOL.
THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR ON BROADWAY'S PARENT BOOSTER CLUB'S, ELECTED BOARD.
WE ALL EXTREMELY BUSY WORKING PARENTS, BUT WE CAME TO YOU MANY TIMES BEFORE THE SPRING BREAK TO IMPLORE YOU TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE FAILURES OF DISTRICT WEST FIRST BEFORE ALLOWING THEM TO IMPLY, APPLY SIMPLISTIC AND INEFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE MYRIAD TROUBLING PATTERNS IN OUR SCHOOL.
NOT ONLY WERE OUR WARNINGS NOT HEATED, BUT YOU HAVE ALLOWED THE VERY PERPETRATORS OF THE CONTINUED MISHANDLING OF THE WORST PROBLEMS AT OUR SCHOOL TO REMAIN IN CONTROL, TO COVER UP THEIR BUMBLING LEADERSHIP AND REMAIN A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE FUTURE OF OUR SCHOOL.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED AT BROADWAY OVER THE SUMMER.
BROADWAY REMAINS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND DISTRICT WEST WITH THE ABSOLUTE LOWEST PER STUDENT SPENDING OUT OF ANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE ENTIRETY OF DISTRICT WEST.
SO WE ASK FEW BOARD MEMBERS WHY THIS COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN.
LA UNIFIED RE RECEIVES THE SAME FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING PER STUDENT AS ALL OTHER SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT WEST, BUT BROADWAY IS ALSO A DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM, UH, WITH AMAZING TEACHERS AND HARDWORKING STAFF ATTEMPTING TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE, TEACH CHILDREN LITERACY IN TWO LANGUAGES SIMULTANEOUSLY.
AND YET WE REMAIN RUNG WITH LESS FUNDING PER STUDENT THAN ALL OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
AND DISTRICT WEST BROADWAY HAS ALSO ACHIEVED THE DUBIOUS HONOR OF BEING THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND DISTRICT WEST, WITH THE WORST STUDENT TO STAFF RATIO OF ANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE ENTIRE REGION OF DISTRICT WEST.
THE WORST RATIO IN ALL OF DISTRICT WEST.
DESPITE HAVING AN ACTIVE PARENT BOOSTER CLUB THAT RAISES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR TO HIRE MORE STAFF TO IMPROVE THIS EMBARRASSING RATIO.
THE PARENTS ARE EXTREMELY DISCOURAGED AND IT IS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY IN DEVASTATING WAYS.
DISTRICT WEST IS FAILING BROADWAY ELEMENTARY IN A SPECTACULAR FASHION.
THESE ARE THE COLD, HARD, INDISPUTABLE FACTS.
AND ADD TO THESE, THE LONG LIST OF BROKEN PROMISES FROM DISTRICT WEST.
WE STILL DON'T HAVE ANY DISTRICT SUPPLIED MANDARIN CURRICULUM.
AFTER 15 YEARS OF INSISTENT REQUESTS, NO STANDARDIZED MANDARIN TESTING IN PLACE.
STILL ZERO MANDARIN LIBRARY BOOKS PERMITTED ON ANY IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY, LIBRARY, NO SCHOLARSHIP PIPELINE FOR TEACHING ASSISTANCE IN OUR TARGET LANGUAGE.
NO TK CLASSES, AND THE LIST JUST KEEPS GOING ON A LONG TRAIL OF BROKEN PROMISES BY SUCCESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MATT LEY, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? MATT LEY.
SO YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY? I DON'T.
HAVE YOU SIGNED IN? UH, DO YOU HAPPEN TO BE IN THE ROOM? MATT? R OKAY, WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU.
ACTUALLY, YOU ARE NOT ON THE LINE.
BRIDGET STEWART, I SEE YOU'RE ON THE LINE.
BRIDGET STEWART, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF IN THE LINE.
BRIDGET STEWART, I SEE YOU'RE ON THE LINE.
BRIDGET STEWART, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HELLO, GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT.
MY NAME IS BRIDGET STEWART, AND I'M THE PARENT OF A THIRD GRADER IN THE MANDARIN IMMERSION PROGRAM AT BROADWAY ELEMENTARY.
DESPITE ROADBLOCKS, BROADWAY'S MANDARIN PROGRAM HAS STEADILY GROWN SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2010, LITERALLY SAVING THE SCHOOL FROM CLOSURE LAST YEAR REACHED THE HIGHEST ENROLLMENT OF ANY DUAL LANGUAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN L-A-U-S-D AT A TIME WHEN ENROLLMENT ELSEWHERE IS DECLINING.
FAMILIES EVEN COME FROM OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT TO JOIN THIS PROGRAM.
INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING THE SUCCESS LOCAL DISTRICT WEST LEADERSHIP UNDER DENISE COLLIER AND AGNES KAMAU HAS UNDERMINED IT.
THEY REMOVED OUR PRINCIPAL WITHOUT WARNING, SEWING CHAOS.
OUR MANDARIN CURRICULUM HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN 15 YEARS.
WE STILL LACK STANDARDIZED TESTING SUPPORT TO MEASURE LITERACY.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY KILLED A GROUNDBREAKING LMU PARTNERSHIP THAT WOULD'VE BROUGHT RESOURCES TO BROADWAY IN THE WIDER DISTRICT.
THIS ISN'T JUST MISMANAGEMENT, IT'S EDUCATIONAL MALPRACTICE AGAINST THE PROGRAM THAT SAVED THE SCHOOL AND BECAME ONE OF LA'S MOST SOUGHT AFTER MODELS.
[01:30:01]
THIS BOARD TO INVESTIGATE LOCAL DISTRICT WEST MISMANAGEMENT, REMOVE THE BARRIERS, HURTING OUR CHILDREN, AND GIVE BROADWAY'S MANDARIN IMMERSION PROGRAM THE RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT IT DESERVES.THAT CONCLUDES COMMENT ON TAB 17.
LET ME SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER CALLERS TO ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE ON CONSENT.
THERE ARE NO OTHER FOLKS TO SPEAK ON CONSENT.
OKAY, SO TAB 10 IS ON CONSENT.
THIS IS AUTHORIZATION TO EXIT EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH PALMER THIRD STREET.
ARE YOU WITH US? NOT SIGNED IN RIGHT NOW.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? MR. SANCHEZ IS NOT HERE.
MR. TOSKI, ARE YOU WAITING TO SPEAK ON A CONSENT ITEM? I OKAY.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN, SIR.
BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT ITEM SIX ON EARLY EDUCATION.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY ON EARLY ED SITES WHERE THERE'S ONLY THREE AND FOUR CLASSROOMS THAT ARE GREENING, WHEREAS THERE'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OF EIGHT, NINE, AND A THOUSAND KIDS THAT HAVE ABOUT 12 CLASSROOMS THAT ARE TK, K AND EARLY ED.
SUPPORTING ITEM SIX, ITEM ONE.
THE, UH, THE YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF LATE ITEM ON C-Y-B-H-I $8 MILLION.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ITEM CLOSELY.
I'M GLAD, GLAD YOU PUT IT ON REGULAR CALENDAR.
UH, IT CONNECTS TO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
SEE THE MEDI MEDI-CAL AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE CONNECTED.
SOMEHOW IT'S BEEN DISCONNECTED.
ITEM OF, UH, TWO, FIND OUT HOW MANY OF THE TEACHERS ARE ACTUALLY COMING IN THE PIPELINE FROM CLASSIFIED.
ITEM THREE, YOUR CITY PARKS MEASURE.
YOU HAVE A BILLION DOLLARS OF GREEN IN THE BOND.
YOU HAVE MONEY TO DO THIS, NOT TO DO FIVE OR SIX LITTLE SPOTTY SITES, BUT TO RE-ENVISION LA UNIFIED WITH PARKS, WITH HOUSING, THERE'S THE LAND AND THE VISION.
ITEM FIVE, FAIRFAX HIGH SCHOOL PLASTIC FIELD.
THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SAID, I THOUGHT THIS BOARD WANTS GREEN.
AND HERE THEY COME WITH PLASTIC FIELDS, $10 MILLION FOR FIELD AND ANOTHER $130 MILLION AT FAIRFAX, BUT NO COORDINATION IN ALL OF THAT.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, UH, PALISADES HIGH, $20 MILLION OF ARCHITECTURAL FEES.
HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE COMMITMENT THAT THIS $20 MILLION IS GONNA BE REIMBURSED BY INSURANCE OR BY FEMA.
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE SPENDING 20 MILLION JUST ON ARCHITECTURE FOR THREE SCHOOLS.
AND FINALLY, UH, YOUR LOOK AT, I, HOPEFULLY AT THE 6,000 KIDS ONLINE PRISON.
THERE ARE ABOUT 15 POINTS IN MATH AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND SCIENCE BELOW EVERYTHING ELSE.
WE'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING FOR THESE KIDS.
IF NOT, SUE THE PRESIDENT FOR CAUSING MORE KIDS TO LOSE THEIR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION.
IF HE'S DOING THAT, IF THAT IS DRIVING KIDS INTO ONLINE AND GETTING THAT HORRIBLE EDUCATION, YOU NEED TO TALK TO GENERAL COUNSELS AND MOVE ON IT.
UH, NOW FOR TAB 25, ANN HUTTON, ARE YOU HERE? ANN H AND HUTTON, COME ON UP.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
THIS IS TO THE REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE.
HELLO, I'M ANNE HUTTON, A PARENT OF A CHILD AT SUMMIT VIEW WEST, A NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL.
I FILED A WILLIAMS COMPLAINT AND RECEIVED TWO RESPONSES WITH LIMITED INFORMATION.
DESPITE FOLLOWING THE POLICY BULLETIN, I'VE BEEN REFERRED TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHO'S REFERRED ME BACK TO THE BOARD TO SPEAK, TO FILE AN APPEAL.
I THEN RECEIVED A SECOND RESPONSE FROM THE DISTRICT ADVISING ME TO GET BACK TO MY CHILD'S IEP TEAM.
I'M LOOKING FOR A RESPONSE TODAY FOR SOMEONE TO SPEAK WITH AS THE POLICY OUTLINES FROM L-A-U-S-D RELATED TO TEACHER MISS ASSIGNMENT AND VACANCY.
I BELIEVE A REPRESENTATIVES CAN COME DOWN AND SPEAK WITH YOU.
THAT CONCLUDES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[01:35:01]
PLEASE HAVE, UH, SOMEONE MOVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR VOTE MOVE IT MOVED BY MS. EZ, SECOND BY DR. RIVAS.MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
AND FOR THE FIRST ADVISORY VOTE FROM STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES.
SO NOW THAT WE'VE DISPATCHED WITH THE CONSENT CALENDAR, WE MOVE ON
[1. Board of Education Report No. 010-25/26 Medical Services Division Student Mental Health and Wellness Services (Ratification of California Department of Health Care Access and Information’s (HCAI) Certified Wellness Coach Grant) Recommends ratification of the acceptance of Certified Wellness Coach Grant awarded to the District in the amount of $8,093,946, and corresponding grant agreement for a period beginning August 31, 2024 through June 2026; and authorization of staff to perform related functions necessary to implement and administer the grant.]
TO ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION.SO TAB ONE, RATIFICATION OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND INFORMATION.
UM, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT IN THAT ITEM, BUT MS. GRIEGO, I BELIEVE YOU HAD A QUESTION.
UM, YEAH, MY QUESTIONS WERE ABOUT THE POSITIONS THAT THIS GRANT COVERS.
ARE THESE CLASSIFIED POSITIONS OR CERTIFICATED? YES.
UH, JOEL CISNEROS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE FOR CLASSIFIED POSITIONS.
WHAT ARE THE TITLES FOR THESE POSITIONS? AGAIN? THEY ARE THE STUDENT AND FAMILY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS.
IS THAT THE SAME AS THE HEALTHY NAVIGATORS, OR IS IS AM I USING THE SAME? YES.
AND THEY BELONG TO WHICH BARGAINING UNIT? S-C-E-I-U-S-C-I-U-I BELIEVE.
UM, AND THEN I'M JUST WONDERING, UM, BECAUSE THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED, RIGHT? THIS FOR A YEAR, IT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
SO WHY ARE WE RATIFYING IT NOW AND NOT IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT, UH, ON OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS A YEAR AGO.
SO IT'S AN OVERSIGHT THAT SO GENERALLY WE WOULD SEE IT BEFORE.
UM, AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO ASSESS THE IMPACT THAT THIS PROGRAM IS, UH, FULFILLING? ONE OF THE DELIVERABLES IS THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS A WELLNESS COACH IS OUTLINED IN THE GRANT.
UH, OUR TARGET WAS 86 AND WE'VE EXCEEDED THAT.
SO THAT'S ONE WAY WE'RE, WE'RE MONITORING THAT.
SO WE ARE NOT ASSESSING STUDENT, UH, HOW STUDENT NEEDS ARE BEING FULFILLED BY THIS POSITION.
WELL, THE GRANT DELIVERABLE WAS VERY CLEAR ON CERTIFYING STAFF TO BECOME WELLNESS COACHES, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE DRIVERS FOR THE GRANT.
AND WHAT WE WROTE IN IS A TARGET AND THE TARGET WE'VE HIT AND EXCEEDED.
AND THEN I'M JUST WONDERING, HOW LONG IS THIS GRANT FOR AGAIN? UH, IT ENDS JUNE, UH, 2026.
AND SO HOW WILL WE DETERMINE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE AND WHAT ARE THE WAYS THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS IF IT'S, IF IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM? UM, YEAH, AND THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
WE WOULD LOVE TO, THIS IS GRANT DOLLARS BEING OFFERED THROUGH THE STATE.
UH, WE ARE MONITORING ACTIVELY IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL RFPS COMING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
UH, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY AT THIS POINT, SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR.
SO WE'RE, UH, HOPING THAT THE GRANT, WE'RE RELYING ON THE GRANT.
SO IS THERE A PLAN FOR IT TO CONTINUE IF THERE IS NO GRANT FUNDING TO CON TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM? THIS PROGRAM? MM-HMM
SO THE, WE'RE USING THESE FUNDS TO HELP PAY FOR STUDENT FAMILY RESOURCE NAVIGATOR POSITIONS.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS THAT WE'LL BE ENGAGED IN MM-HMM
AS PART OF BUDGET DEVELOPMENT TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO FUND SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS.
SO WE WILL BE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION PROBABLY LATER ON THIS YEAR.
AS WE'RE ALSO ASSESSING HOW THESE PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS.
AND IF THERE IS NO GRANT MONEY, BUT IT'S SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AND IT'S FULFILLING A NEED THAT WE HAVE, WE WILL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN USE OTHER FUNDS TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY AND RESOURCE NAVIGATORS WERE FUNDED THROUGH ESSER FUNDS AND ESTABLISHED WITH THE ESSER PROGRAM.
AND AS WE, YOU KNOW, PHASED OUT POSITIONS THAT WERE FUNDED THROUGH ESSER, UM, WE EITHER HAD TO FIND ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES, WE MIGHT REMEMBER WE MIGRATED POSITIONS TO TITLE ONE TO OTHER PROGRAMS. THE NAVIGATORS ACTUALLY, WE IDENTIFIED THIS GRANT OPPORTUNITY AND WE WERE ABLE TO APPLY AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FUND AND BUILD THE BRIDGE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
BUT TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE ONGOING SUSTAINABILITY THAT IS PART OF THE FSP AND THE ONGOING KIND OF BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, BECAUSE THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY THE UNFUNDED POSITIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
SO I JUST WANT US TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE CONTINUE TO PROGRESS THROUGH THE YEAR.
BECAUSE THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME POSITIONS THAT PERHAPS ARE NOT FUNDED, UM,
[01:40:01]
LONG-TERM, AND YET THEY MEET A NEED THAT OUR POPULATION HAS.SO WE NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY BE THINKING ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THIS, AND WHAT IS THE FUNDING THAT IS OUT THERE THAT WE CAN USE TO SUSTAIN THIS? YEAH.
I DIDN'T SEE YOU MS. NEW BILL CLEARING.
I KNOW IN THE GRANT IT SPOKE ABOUT INTERNS.
ARE INTERNS INCLUDED IN THIS? I'D HAVE TO LOOK, BUT I, NO, WE, WE, WE PRIMARILY USE THESE FUNDS TO HELP, AGAIN, PAY FOR STUDENT FAMILY RESOURCE NAVIGATOR POSITIONS.
AND THEN THE, IS THERE A DIRECT POPULATION OR CENTER, OR HOW DO WE KNOW WHERE EXACTLY THE 86 PERSONNEL RESIDE? SO THE 86 TAR, IT WAS A TARGET, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION.
THE 86 WAS A TARGET DELIVERABLE BY THE GRANT WHERE WE SAID WE WOULD PROVIDE 86 CERTIFIED, AT LEAST 86 STAFF MEMBERS TO BECOME WELLNESS COACHES.
WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO EXCEED THAT NUMBER.
AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE MORE THAN 86 WELLNESS COACHES THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM.
SO, SO WE HAVE, UM, WE DID PROVIDE A LIST OF THE, OF THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE STUDENT FAMILY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS.
UH, WE, WE COULD PROVIDE IS A, A EVEN MORE DETAILED LIST OF WHERE WE HAVE THE WELLNESS COACHES OUT OF THAT LIST WHERE, WHERE WE HAVE THOSE.
BUT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE ALONG AND EXPAND THE NUMBER OF CERTIFICATED STUDENT FAMILY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS TO BECOME WELLNESS COACHES.
MR. MCLEAN, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE THE, TAKE THE VOTE, MOVE IT.
SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON.
[2. Board of Education Report No. 003-25/26 Human Resources Division (Ratification of Incentive Grant Awards to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)) Recommends ratification of the acceptance of two grant awards from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, totaling $1,485,000 and authorization of the Chief Procurement Officer and/or designee to execute professional services contracts with external partners, colleges and universities as necessary to support the implementation of the California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program.]
TAB TWO.THERE IS ONE PUBLIC COMMENT ON IT.
SO THIS IS TAB TWO RATIFICATION OF INCENTIVE GRANT AWARDS.
ALANA H ARE YOU HERE? ALANA HAINE.
I'M GONNA SEE IF, UH, MS. HAINE IS ONLINE WITH US.
SO WE HAVE DISCUSSION ASSOCIATED WITH TAB TWO.
WHO AM I ASKING THE QUESTION TO? OKAY.
COME ON UP IF YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TAB AND, UH, INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
SO MISS, UH, GREGGO KNOWS WHO SHE'S TALKING TO, AND THEN, UH, YOU CAN HAND IT OFF TO WHOEVER KNOWS BEST ONCE HER QUESTION IS MADE.
AVA, ADMINISTRATOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES.
MIGUEL GARZA, DIRECTOR OF CERTIFICATED EMPLOYMENT REGION NORTH.
PATRICIA PERIN, DIRECTOR OF ICAP.
MY QUESTION IS REGARDING, UM, THIS PROGRAM.
UM, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND THE DISTRICT INTERN PROGRAM?
YEAH, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE, THE, IS IT, UH, IT, IT'S CLASSIFIED STAFF WHO WANT TO GO INTO TEACHING.
BUT ARE THEY ALREADY, DO THEY ALREADY HAVE THEIR BA AND ARE THEY CONTINUING THEIR CLASSIFIED POSITION WHILE PURSUING THEIR TEACHING CREDENTIAL, OR, SO CAN YOU DESCRIBE IT TO ME? WHAT YES, MA'AM.
UM, SO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM REFERS TO GRANT FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE AS A PART OF OUR CAREER LADDER PROGRAM.
OUR CAREER LADDER PROGRAM SEEKS TO SUPPORT CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES IN EARNING THEIR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES AND THEN EITHER, UH, ENTERING THE CERTIFICATED WORKFORCE AS A TEACHER OR A SCHOOL NURSE.
AND THIS PARTICULAR GRANT SUPPORTS CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING TEACHERS.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF 60 SEMESTER UNITS OF COURSEWORK OR AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, AND THEN THEY HAVE CHOICE IN TERMS OF WHAT TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ENTER.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS DO CHOOSE TO ENTER OUR ICAP, UH, DISTRICT INTERN PROGRAM.
UH, HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME THAT WILL CHOOSE A UNIVERSITY PATHWAY DEPENDING ON THEIR CREDENTIAL THAT THEY'RE PURSUING.
[01:45:01]
AND ARE THEY STILL EMPLOYED BY THE DISTRICT WHILE PURSUING THE PROGRAM? THE YES.INTERN PROGRAM, THEY, THEY REMAIN AS CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES OR AS SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS WHILE THEY'RE PURSUING THEIR CERTIFICATION.
UM, AND SO IT, IT'S, THE ICAP IS THE SAME AS THE DISTRICT, WHAT IS USED TO BE CALLED THE DISTRICT INTERN PROGRAM.
UM, AND THEN I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT KIND OF OUTREACH WE'RE MAKING TO OUR LABOR PARTNERS, UM, U-T-L-A-S-C-I-U-C-S-C-A IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THIS PIPELINE TO MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE PEOPLE TO DO, TO GET INTO THIS PROGRAM.
SO WE DO CONDUCT QUITE A BIT OF OUTREACH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REACHING, UH, CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE DO IS EVERY SPRING WE HAVE A CAREER LADDER FORUM.
WE SEND A DIRECT INVITATION TO EVERY CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY CAN COME FOR A DAY OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THAT WILL SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR CURRENT ROLE, AND ALSO TO ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION WHERE THEY CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY TO BE IN THE CAREER LADDER.
UH, AND ALSO ABOUT WHAT SUPPORTS WE OFFER IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND MENTORSHIP.
SO IT'S THE, THE RECRUITMENT IS DIRECTLY WITH THE CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES, NOT NECESSARILY THROUGH LABOR PARTNERS AS ONE OF THE AVENUES TO RECRUIT? YEAH.
THAT IS ONE OF THE STRATEGIES.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO LEAN HEAVILY ON OUR PRINCIPALS.
WE WILL GO TO REGIONAL PRINCIPALS MEETINGS SO THAT PRINCIPALS MIGHT TAP SOMEBODY ON THE SHOULDER IF THEY HAVE THE DISPOSITION AND SKILLS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE EDUCATOR.
UM, SO THAT WAY THEY CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR STAFF MEMBERS AND THEN BE OFFERED THAT INDIVIDUALIZED ADVISEMENT.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE DATA AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE RETENTION IS 50%.
IS THAT, UM, AM AM I CORRECT IN THAT I, IT SAID SOMETHING LIKE, OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ENTER THE PROGRAM, 50% STAY IN THE TEACHING PROFESSIONAL OR CONTINUE TO PURSUE TEACHING AS PART OF THIS, UM, BOARD MEMBER JACOB, BEFORE WE GO FORWARD, UM MM-HMM
UM, FOR OUR DISTRICT INTERN PROGRAM PROGRAM ARE NOT YET IN A CLASSROOM WORKING AS THE TEACHER.
THEY MAY BE WORKING AS AN AIDE, THEY MAY BE WORKING ELSEWHERE AS A CER AS A CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE.
BUT THERE IS A, A, A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DI PROGRAM WHERE I COME IN WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND START TEACHING ON MY FIRST DAY WHILE EARNING MY CREDENTIAL THROUGH THE DISTRICT OR THE, THE CAREER LADDER PROGRAM, WHICH TAKES FOLKS WHO ARE NOT IN THAT SAME PLACE YET AND MOVES THEM MAYBE EVEN TOWARD THE DI PROGRAM.
IS THAT YEAH, I, THAT'S, THAT WAS MY ORIGINAL QUESTION ACTUALLY.
I WANTED TO SEE IF IT WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND THE DI PROGRAM.
UM, BUT I SAW SOMETHING WHERE, UM, LET ME LOOK AT THE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY.
SOMEWHERE THAT, UM, 316 PARTICIPANTS IN BOOST YEAH.
AND THEN 150 HAVE BEEN TEACHING IN OUR CLASSROOMS. SO WE GET 316 FOLKS WHO PARTICIPATED, BUT ONLY 150 MADE IT TO THE CLASSROOM.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO 316 FOLKS HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATED BY THIS GRANT.
THIS IS THE FOURTH ROUND OF FUNDING THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE.
AND OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE GRANT, 316 CLASSIFIED STAFF MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING.
THE NUMBER THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, THE 134 ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MATRICULATED AS CLASSROOM TEACHERS.
WE STILL HAVE ACTIVE MEMBERS WHO ARE SERVING AS SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANTS AS SAAS OFFICE TECHNICIANS, TAS, WHO MAY NOT HAVE RECEIVED THEIR BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR ARE STILL WORKING ON MEETING THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME A TEACHER.
AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THEM.
I THINK THAT, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE QUESTION YOU ASKED, WHICH I THINK WAS RELATED TO RETENTION, AND BASED ON THE DATA THAT THAT'S BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO US, OUT OF THE 134, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HIRED AS TEACHERS, 86% REMAIN ACTIVIST TEACHERS AS PART OF THAT COHORT.
SO THEN THE BALANCE BETWEEN A THREE 16 AND 134, THEY'RE STILL WORKING TOWARD THAT? YES, MA'AM.
OTHER QUESTIONS? ES UH, THANK YOU.
I ALSO HAD A COUPLE OF THOSE QUESTIONS, SO APPRECIATE YOU ASKING THOSE BOARD MEMBER DIEGO.
UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN THE GROWTH AND LEARNING OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
[01:50:01]
I WAS WONDERING ABOUT IS JUST, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTENTIONALLY INVEST IN STAFF AT OUR HIGHEST NEEDS SCHOOLS SO WE CAN BOTH PROMOTE THEIR GROWTH, GREATER RETENTION AT OUR HIGHEST NEEDS SCHOOLS, AND ALSO ENSURE IMPROVED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.UM, SO I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT IF THAT'S AN APPROACH YOU ALL HAVE CONSIDERED THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THESE GRANTS, AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD UNDERTAKE IN THIS UPCOMING GRANT CYCLE.
I DEFINITELY THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON IN, UH, COLLABORATION BETWEEN HR AND ETO AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE REACHING OUT TO OUR STAFF MEMBERS AT THOSE SCHOOLS.
YEAH, I THINK AN INTENTIONAL PRIORITIZATION, UM, WOULD HELP US REACH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS AND, AND WOULD BE A GOOD USE OF THESE DOLLARS.
SO APPRECIATE YOU ALL TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, MR. MCLEAN? OKAY.
MAY I HAVE A MOVE TO TAKE THE VOTE? MOVE IT.
YOU GUYS MOVE REAL FAST FOR ME.
IN STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG? YES.
THAT BRINGS US, SORRY, CAN YOU GO BACK, MR. MCLEAN? OH, YES, I'M HERE PLEASE.
UH, SO FOR TAB TWO, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES.
AND FOR, UM, TAB ONE, HOW DO YOU VOTE ALSO? YES.
AND FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR, HOW DO YOU VOTE AL ALSO? YES.
[3. Board of Education Report No. 024-25/26 Facilities Services Division (Authorization to Execute a Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Los Angeles for the Community School Parks Program) Recommends authorization of the Chief Facilities Executive and/or her designee(s) to execute a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) and related documents with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (City) for the continued operation and expansion of the Community School Parks (CSPs) Program at various campuses, including the addition of new sites as CSPs.]
TAB THREE AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES FOR THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS PROGRAM.WE HAVE, UH, NINE FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, I'LL TAKE THE FOLKS WHO ARE LISTED AS SPEAKING IN PERSON, AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO THOSE LISTED AS SPEAKING REMOTELY.
MI AND THEN AFTER MS. VALENCIA'S, UH, FRANCESCA DE LA ROSA, AND THEN JAMES LOPEZ.
LEMME MAKE SURE YOUR MIC IS ON, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS MIRIA VALENCIA AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF LA NEIGHBORHOOD LAND TRUST, A PARK EQUITY NONPROFIT, AND A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE LA LIVING SCHOOL YARDS COALITION.
AS AN ORGANIZATION DEVOTED TO INCREASING ACCESS TO PARKS AND COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THEM MOST, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO VOICE OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT AT HAND.
WE BELIEVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS ARE A CRITICAL PIECE IN ENSURING EVERYONE IN LA LIVES WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK TO A PARK.
WE KNOW ALL TOO WELL THAT VACANT LAND IS HARD TO COME BY IN LA AND WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE, IT COMES WITH A STEEP PRICE TAG.
THUS, SCHOOL SCHOOLYARDS MAY BE THE ONLY LARGE, CENTRALLY LOCATED PLACE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE TO MEET PRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THEY PROVIDE SAFE PLACES TO PLAY AND EXERCISE SHADE TO ESCAPE EXTREME HEAT AND SPACE TO FOSTER SOCIAL CONNECTION.
ALTHOUGH WE STILL NEED FUNDING TO SUSTAIN THIS PROGRAM, THIS JPA LAYS ESSENTIAL GROUNDWORK FOR SCALING THIS PROGRAM EQUITABLY AND EFFICIENTLY ACROSS LA AS WE COLLECTIVELY RESPOND TO URGENT CLIMATE HEALTH AND EQUITY CHALLENGES HERE IN LA.
SCALABLE AND COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS LIKE THE CSP PROGRAM ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED GET US HERE TODAY.
UH, MS. DE ROSA, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
UM, MY NAME IS FRANCESCA DELAROSA.
I SERVE AS THE GREEN SCHOOL YARDS CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR FOR THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF TPL AND THE LOS ANGELES LIVING SCHOOL YARDS COALITION.
WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT AND THANK ALL OF YOU, UH, FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO MOVE THIS PARTNERSHIP FORWARD WITH WRAP AND OUR CITY PARTNERS.
UM, AND WE THANK OUR CITY PARTNERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
TPL IS CURRENTLY GREENING THREE SCHOOLS IN BOYLE HEIGHTS AND TWO IN SOUTH LA.
AND LIKE ALL OUR PARTNERS IN THE LIVING SCHOOL YARDS COALITION, WE, WE CONTINUE TO APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU TO EXPAND AND PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE GREENING AND SHADE INFRASTRUCTURE IN SHADE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS.
BUT WE BELIEVE GREENING GOES HAND IN HAND WITH UNLOCKING GATES ON ALL SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
THAT SAID, WE ALSO KNOW THAT FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS PROGRAM WILL DEPEND ON SECURING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR WRAP TPL, THE LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOOD LAND TRUST AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE GONNA BE WORKING ON THIS, UM, IN THE COMING YEAR AND THE YEARS TO COME TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM.
AND WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU, UH, TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT TO SECURE FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM.
UM, BUT TODAY WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTIONS TODAY, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND FOR MOVING THIS PROGRAM FORWARD.
[01:55:01]
WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME.UM, AND, UH, WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
I REPRESENT, UH, THE PLAY EQUITY FUND.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY FOR THE PLAY EQUITY FUND AND ALSO THE ORGANIZER OF THE LA PLAY EQUITY COALITION.
UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT, UH, BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA FOR THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PARK PROGRAM.
WE COMMEND THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE FACILITY SERVICES DIVISION FOR FINDING SOLUTIONS TO STREAMLINING THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.
OUR COMMUNITIES NEED MORE PLAY SPACES AND THE CSP PROGRAM IS AN EFFICIENT AND IMPACTFUL WAY TO CREATE MORE PLAY SPORTS AND JUST GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE REGION.
UM, ACCORDING TO THE 2024 PLAY EQUITY REPORT, TWO OUTTA THREE KIDS IN LOS ANGELES ARE NOT GETTING THE CDC RECOMMENDED, UH, AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EVERY DAY.
AND SO, UM, BY ADVANCING AND EXPANDING THE CSP PROGRAM, WE CAN BEGIN TO SEE MORE KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO PLAY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN WALKING DISTANCE TO THEIR, UH, IN THEIR HOMES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH THE DISTRICT AND THE CITY TO HELP EXPAND THE PROGRAM AND HELP PROVIDE, UH, SUPPORT AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES ACROSS ALL CSP LOCATIONS.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK THIS BOARD FOR ALWAYS CONTINUING TO LIFT UP THE ISSUE OF PLAY EQUITY, CONTINUING TO ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF PLAY AND, AND SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOVEMENT.
UM, AS Y'ALL SUPPORTED THE NATIONAL DAY OF PLAY BACK IN JUNE AS WELL.
UM, EVERYONE DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES OR PAYING FOR VERY EXPENSIVE PROGRAMS THAT BECOME AN ECONOMIC BURDENS OF FAMILIES.
AND, UH, WE THINK THE CSP PROGRAM IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND WE THINK THE BOARD AND THEIR LEADERSHIP FOR HELPING CREATE MORE ACCESS TO SPORT, PLAY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
NEXT WE HAVE UP LUCIANO MANOLO FROM PLAYWORKS MORNING BOARDS, BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL.
I AM ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM, OPERATION PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS AT PLAYWORKS.
I REPRESENT PLAYWORKS TODAY, PLAYWORKS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND WE ARE PROUD MEMBERS OF LOS ANGELES PLAY EQUITY.
AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT OF THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROGRAM.
I DO HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION HERE AS A FATHER OF THREE BOYS AND ONE THAT HAS RAISED THEM AT THE WILMINGTON PARK ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY.
UM, I FEEL CONNECTED TO THIS, UH, PROGRAM.
UM, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW STILL LIVES THERE AND WE STILL VISIT THE GREENBELT PARK.
WE LOVE PLAYING AND PRACTICING OUR SOCCER SKILLS THERE.
UNFORTUNATELY, SAFETY AND ACCESS IS A BIG CONCERN FOR ME.
UH, THERE IS POOR LIGHTING AND, UH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, UM, SOCCER FIELD THAT WE HAVE, UH, NO ACCESS TO.
MY KIDS ALWAYS ASK ME, WHY CAN'T WE GET THERE? AND I SAY, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'RE NOT JUMPING OVER THE FENCE.
UM, THIS AGREEMENT CREATES A PATHWAY FOR L-A-U-S-D AND RECREATION OF PARKS TO OPEN SCHOOL YARDS AND NEARBY PARKS SAFELY.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PARKS OR NOT JUST ABOUT MORE PARKS.
UM, IT'S ABOUT SAFE, ACCESSIBLE SPACES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES LIKE OURS AND MINE.
AND, UM, JUST A LITTLE CONNECTION TO THE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE PIECE.
UM, I LEARNED TODAY AND THIS WEEK, UM, I MEAN, UH, THAT TWO OUT OF THREE KIDS IN LA COUNTY ARE GIVING ENOUGH, UH, DAILY ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOLS OR WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO THIS PROGRAM, I SEE THAT CONNECTION, HELPING THEM CLOSE THAT GAP BY MAKING PLAY MORE ACCESSIBLE.
UH, WE ARE EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH L-A-U-S-D AND THE CITY TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES HAVE SAFE AND WELCOMING SPACES.
EVERY KID DESERVES THIS OPPORTUNITY.
OPPORTUNITY AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
NATALIE GUTIERREZ, ARE YOU HERE? NATALIE G.
NATALIE GUTIERREZ, ARE YOU HERE? NO.
MR. SALAS, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
RE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, SUPERINTENDENT CARAVALO.
UH, MY NAME IS DANNY SALAS AND I AM THE CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER AT WOODCRAFT RANGERS.
WE SERVE IN THE EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAMS. WE'VE BEEN PARTNERS WITH L-A-U-S-E FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AND VERY PROUD OF IT.
UH, WE ARE PROUD MEMBERS OF THE LOS ANGELES PLAY EQUITY COALITION AND I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE NEW JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT BETWEEN L-A-U-S-D AND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND REC.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE FACILITY SERVICE DIVISION FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND STREAMLINING THIS PARTNERSHIP BY REDUCING BARRIERS.
YOU'RE NOT ONLY CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND
[02:00:01]
FAMILIES ACROSS OUR CITY TO SAVE ACCESS, WELCOMING SPACES, YOU'RE ALSO EMPOWERING ENTIRE COMMUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER, CONNECT AND THRIVE.FOR OVER 40 YEARS, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH L-A-U-S-D TO SERVE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ACROSS LOS ANGELES.
OUR WORK HAS ALWAYS CENTERED ON EXPANDING ACCESS, MEETING THE COMMUNITIES WITH THE HIGHEST NEEDS, WHERE THEY ARE CREATING SAFE, ENRICHING SPACES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW THROUGH PLAY LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION.
ACCORDING TO THE 2024 PLAY EQUITY REPORT, TWO OUT OF THE CHILDREN IN LOS ANGELES ARE NOT MEETING THE CDC GUIDELINES FOR DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS IS A POWERFUL STEP FORWARD, CHANGING THAT REALITY.
WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT PLAY STRENGTHENS, UH, NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL HEALTH, BUT THE FABRIC OF ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHEN FAMILIES HAVE SAVED PLACE TO GATHER, CHILDREN ARE MORE ACTIVE, PARENTS ARE MORE ENGAGED, AND COMMUNITIES ARE MORE RESILIENT.
BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE ARE NOT JUST OPENING PLAYGROUNDS, WE ARE OPENING DOORS TO EMPOWERMENT, BELONGING AND OPPORTUNITY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH THE DISTRICT, THE CITY, AND OUR COALITION PARTNERS TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM AND PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SPORT AND PLAY OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARK SITES.
EVERYONE DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY, GROW, FEEL, AND BE, UH, PROUD OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND ON BEHALF OF WOODCRAFT RANGERS IN THE LOS ANGELES PLAY EQUITY COALITION, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION AND COMMITMENT TO CREATING A HEALTHIER AND MORE EMPOWERING LOS ANGELES UNIFIED.
UH, MS. GUTIERREZ IS JOINING US ONLINE, SO WE'LL GET TO HER AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN PERSON, UH, JACQUELINE HAMILTON OR JACQUELINE HAMILTON.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MY NAME IS JACQUELINE HAMILTON.
I'M DEPUTY MAYOR FOR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNDER MAYOR KAREN BASS.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT.
I OVERSEE SIX DEPARTMENTS FOR THE MAYOR, ONE OF WHICH IS RECREATION AND PARKS.
AND, UH, I'M JOINING YOU TODAY TO THANK YOU AND THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS AND FINALLY GETTING IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT STEP.
UH, COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS ARE, UH, COMMON IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, EVEN IN SOME OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE BECOMING MORE COMMON IN SAN DIEGO, SAN FRANCISCO.
SO I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING THAT PATH.
UM, I GO BACK TO 2001 ON THIS ISSUE WHEN I WAS RUNNING THE LOS ANGELES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROJECT OFFICE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND, AND WE WERE WORKING ON ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE.
I THEN RAN AN EDUCATION NONPROFIT THAT ALSO WORKED ON COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS.
SO I'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND 25 YEARS LATER, WE HAVE 10.
SO I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS JPA DOESN'T CREATE ONE SINGLE ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOT OF RECREATION SPACE, BUT WHAT IT DOES DO IS ALLOW US NOT TO START OVER EACH TIME.
IT GIVES US A FRAMEWORK SO THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN SPEED UP CREATION OF NEW COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS.
AND I DO WANNA TELL YOU, WE MEAN TO GO FAST.
WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MIGHT BE LIKELY SITES.
WE'VE STARTED WORKING WITH L-A-U-S-D STAFF AND WE ARE HOPING THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET ANOTHER TWO OPEN, ONE OR TWO, POSSIBLY BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
UM, WE THINK WE HAVE SOME LIKELY CANDIDATES, AND NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF BOTH THE BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.
AS A FORMER L-A-U-S-D PARENT, I'VE SEEN WITH SOME ALARM THEY SHIFT AWAY FROM THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS, I THINK, HOLD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DISTRICT TO MAKE THEIR SPACES WELCOMING AND FAMILIAR IN A WAY THAT WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR PARENTS TO SELECT WHERE THEY'RE GONNA SEND THEIR CHILDREN, THEY'RE GONNA SAY, OH, YEAH, I KNOW THAT SCHOOL.
I'M, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HI, GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS.
I'M THE, UH, PRINCIPAL RECREATION SUPERVISOR THAT OVERSEES THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS.
I, I'M ALSO A PROUD L-A-U-S-D ALUMNI.
I WANNA EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND LUSD THAT MAKES COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PARKS, UH, THE PROGRAM POSSIBLE.
THE PARTNERSHIP IS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW TWO PUBLIC AGENCIES CAN COME TOGETHER TO MAXIMIZE THE RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFITS OF STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS.
BY OPENING SCHOOL YARDS TO THE COMMUNITY DURING NON-SCHOOL HOURS AND ACTIVATING THEM WITH SAFE INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING.
WE ARE CREATING MORE ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE RECREATION AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS MOST NEEDED.
[02:05:01]
WHAT WE SEE ON THE GROUND IS THAT THESE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS QUI QUICKLY BECOME THE HEARTBEAT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES.PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS FEEL SAFE BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN OUT TO PLAY, UH, HAVING WELCOMING SPACES TOGETHER FAMILIES CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER IN WAYS THAT STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY.
FOR MANY FAMILIES, THE SCHOOL YARDS ARE THE ONLY NEARBY OPEN SPACES AVAILABLE AND TRANSFORMING THEM INTO VIBRANT COMMUNITY PARKS HAS IMPACTED AND AND CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE L-A-U-S-D TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN SUPPORTING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PARKS AND RECREATIONS FOR ALL ANGELENOS, THANK YOU TO THE L-A-U-S-D BOARD, THE L-A-U-S-D STAFF, MAYOR BASS, AND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES FOR EVERYBODY'S CONTINUED TO SUPPORT.
NATALIE GUTIERREZ, I SEE YOU'RE ONLINE WITH US.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HI, BOARD MEMBERS, MY NAME IS NATALIE GUTIERREZ.
I REPRESENT CHJS, THE CENTER FOR HEALING I JUSTICE THROUGH SPORT.
AND WE ARE PROUD MEMBERS OF THE LOS ANGELES PLAY EQUITY COALITION.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES FOR THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS PROGRAM.
AT CHS, WE BELIEVE IN THE HEALING POWER OF SPORT AND MOVEMENT, AND CURRENTLY THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF TRAUMA AND STRESS HARMING THE HEALTH OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE BRAIN CAN HEAL FROM TRAUMA.
WHAT WE NEED ARE PRACTICAL AND ACCESSIBLE SOLUTION OR, AND MOVEMENT LEVERAGES PATTERN REPETITIVE AND RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES THAT INHERENTLY REGULATES OUR BRAINS AND CONDITIONS.
A REGULATED STRESS RESPONSE WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT KNOWLEDGE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE OVER 600 PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY WITH PLAYGROUNDS, GREEN SPACE AND SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE.
OPENING THESE SITES FOR COMMUNITY YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL HOURS AND ON WEEKENDS WOULD CREATE A PARK SPACE THAT IS WITHIN 10 MINUTE WALK FROM, FROM HOME FOR 1 MILLION ANGELINO.
WE JUST REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE INCREASING PARK ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PARKS PROGRAM IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARDS INCREASING THE OVERALL HEALTH HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND AGAIN, EVERYONE DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, IT'S NOW TIME FOR A VOTE ON TAB THREE.
YOU MAY HAVE A MOVE TO VOTE, MOVE IT.
I HAVE QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION, MOVING TOO QUICKLY.
I'M SO MOVED BY, SECONDED BY DR. RIVAS, BOARD MEMBER.
I DON'T THINK THE STUDENT MEMBER CAN DO AN BUT WE CAN DO A SPIRITUAL SECOND.
AND NOW IT'S OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
UM, WELL I WANT TO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT STAFF FOR WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR CITY PARTNERS TO FINALIZE THIS JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS PROGRAM.
THIS HAS LONG BEEN A PRIORITY OF THE BOARD AND I THINK IS REALLY ABOUT EQUITY AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE FOR OUR FAMILIES WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO PARKS NEARBY OR TO SAFE SPACES NEARBY.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT, UH, THIS BOARD'S SHARED COMMITMENT THAT OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES ARE NOT JUST SPACES FOR DAYTIME USE BY STUDENTS, BUT THEY'RE COMMUNITY ANCHORS THAT PROVIDE VERY MEANINGFUL BENEFITS FOR OUR FAMILIES OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY.
UM, WITH THAT IN MIND, I DO HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR THE TEAM.
UM, I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DIVE IN.
UM, AND THEY'RE REALLY ABOUT CREATING EQUITY IN COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS AS COMPARED TO THE, UH, STANDARD LA CITY PARKS.
UM, BOTH IN PROGRAMMING THE TYPES OF SPACES THAT WE CAN ACCESS.
UM, AND HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO STRENGTH THIS, THIS PROGRAM SO THAT MORE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WILL ACCESS OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS.
UM, SO FIRST THE JPA SPEAKS TO OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES CONSISTENT WITH A CIVIC CENTER PERMIT AND SPECIFICALLY STATES THERE WILL BE NO ACCESS TO INDOOR FACILITIES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RESTROOMS. UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF PARK BASED ACTIVITIES THAT ARE CONDUCTED INDOORS, UM, DANCE AND ARTS AND CRAFTS, MARTIAL ARTS, ET CETERA.
AND IN LOOKING AT THE PHOTOS THAT ARE INCLUDED, UM, IN THE JPA, YOU CAN SEE THAT A NUMBER OF THE EXISTING CSPS, UM, ARE PRIMARILY COMPOSED OF ASPHALT PLAYGROUNDS, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES LIKE THE VALLEY WHERE, UM, WE KNOW IT IS EXTREMELY HOT.
UM, THESE, THE INTENTION IS THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS WILL BE OPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING DURING THE SUMMER BREAK WHEN TEMPERATURES ON ASPHALT CAN EXCEED 140 DEGREES.
UM, SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT, IS THERE A PATHWAY TO INCLUDE OUT INDOOR SPACES AS WELL AS OUTDOOR SPACES SO THAT THERE CAN BE HABITABLE AND APPEALING SPACES FOR FAMILIES TO TAKE THEIR KIDS TO IF THEY COME TO THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS? YES.
CHRISTINA TOOKS, CHIEF FACILITIES EXECUTIVE.
[02:10:01]
WAY THAT THE JPA IS WRITTEN IS THAT SHOULD THE CITY WANNA USE INDOOR SPACES, WE WOULD BE VERY, UM, QUICKLY ABLE TO DO AN AMENDMENT FOR THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL SITE.UM, DETERMINING WHAT THAT INDOOR SPACE IS, WHETHER IT'S A GYM OR AN AUDITORIUM, COME TO THE TERMS OF WHAT ARE THE ADDITIONAL PARAMETERS AROUND THE USE OF THAT SPACE IN REGARDS TO MAINTENANCE OR ACCESS, AND THEN FOLD THAT IN WITHOUT HAVING TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD OR, UM, THE CITY HAVE TO COME BACK TO THEIR, UH, REC AND PARKS.
SO UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERY SCHOOL IS DIFFERENT.
RIGHT NOW, THE CITY HAS SAID WE WANNA PRIMARILY USE THAT FOR INDOOR, I MEAN OUTDOOR PLAY, BUT SHOULD THEY WANNA USE INDOOR, WE CAN EASILY DO THAT WITH AN AMENDMENT.
IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THAT FLEXIBILITY EXISTS.
THE LANGUAGE ITSELF SEEMED A LITTLE BIT MORE PROHIBITORY.
UM, SO, UH, PERHAPS WE COULD PROACTIVELY APPROACH THEM AND ASK THAT THAT'S AN, IF THAT'S AN AREA OF INTEREST, PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY EXTREME HEAT, LIKE THE SITE IN MY DISTRICT.
UM, AND THEN SECONDLY, SECTION FIVE B OF THE JPA APPEARS TO PROHIBIT ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS BROADLY.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A CORE PART OF YOUTH RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND UM, I THINK THE CITY DOES A GREAT JOB AT OFFERING THESE AT LOW COST.
THEY'RE VERY APPEALING TO FAMILIES.
UM, WHY IS THAT THE POSTURE THAT'S TAKEN BY THE JPA AND IS THERE AN ABILITY TO POTENTIALLY OPEN THIS UP TO ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS? ABSOLUTELY.
SO THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION POINT THAT WE WORKED WITH THE CITY ON.
UM, WHEN COMMUNITY PARK SCHOOL PARKS WERE ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED, IT WAS ESSENTIALLY FOR PASSIVE PLAY TO OPEN OUR SCHOOLS IN PARK PORT AREAS SO THAT FOLKS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO RECREATION, BUT NOT NECESSARILY TO RUN LEAGUES.
ONCE WE START LOOKING AT LEAGUES, THERE'S A DIFFERENT PARAMETERS AND LIABILITY THAT COMES WITH THOSE LEAGUES.
ARE THEY ADULT LEAGUES? ARE THEY YOUTH LEAGUES? HOW MANY SPECTATORS ARE COMING IN? WHAT OTHER SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS ARE THERE? SO OUR INTENT IS TO HAVE, UM, INFORMAL PLAY INFORMAL LEAGUES, BUT SHOULD THEY WANNA DO LEAGUES AGAIN, WE CAN DO THAT WITH AN AMENDMENT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
AND IF OUR RISK MANAGEMENT NEEDS TO REVIEW THAT FOR LIABILITY CONSIDERATIONS OR IF THERE'S MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS, WE WOULD LOOK AT ADDING THAT LANGUAGE AS WELL.
UM, THAT IS A HELPFUL CLARIFICATION.
UM, AND THEN I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE CSPS IN THE FUTURE HOPEFUL EXPANSION OF CSPS.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT IS DEPENDENT ON THE CITY'S BUDGET.
UM, BUT KIND OF WHAT IS, WHAT ROLE IS THE DISTRICT PLAYING IN ADVOCATING FOR THE EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS, ESPECIALLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT COULD MOST BENEFIT FROM IT? SO I THINK THIS STEP IS WONDERFUL, BUT HAVING A TEMPLATE AGREEMENT THAT AT ANY TIME SHOULD THE CITY IDENTIFY FUNDING, UM, WE DON'T NEED TO COME BACK TO OUR RESPECTIVE BOARDS.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY AS SOON AS FUNDING IS IDENTIFIED.
WE WOULD WORK QUICKLY WITH THE PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL SITES TO MAKE THAT ACCESS WORK.
I THINK JUST LAST WEEK THE CITY WAS LOOKING AT THREE SITES POTENTIALLY, UM, SHOULD THEY IDENTIFY FUNDING.
SO WE WERE ALREADY OUT THERE PROACTIVELY WALKING THOSE SITES WITH THEM.
UM, AND THEN JUST AS WE LOOK TO THE, THE EXPANSION IN THE FUTURE, HOPEFULLY, UM, ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS JUST AROUND THE PARK-LIKE ENVIRONMENT.
I, I KNOW THAT THAT IS THE GOAL OF, UH, OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS, BUT WE KNOW THAT MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS LACK A PARK-LIKE ENVIRONMENT.
UM, SO THE SITE IN MY DISTRICT C AVENUE ELEMENTARY, THE PRINCIPAL SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED LIKE GESTURING TO THE ASPHALTS PLAYGROUND.
THIS IS THE AREA THE KIDS HAVE TO PLAY IN AND IT LIMITS THE ACTIVITY, IT LIMITS WHETHER FAMILIES WANT TO COME DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE THAT DAY.
UM, WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ALIGN THIS WITH OUR GREETING EFFORTS TO POTENTIALLY SEEK JOINT FUNDING TO CREATE MORE OF A PARK-LIKE ENVIRONMENT AT OUR CURRENT COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS? ARE ARE THOSE CONVERSATIONS OCCURRING FOR THE FUTURE? THEY ARE.
SO, UM, THE DISTRICT IS MAKING TREMENDOUS STRIDES, UM, COMPARED TO WHERE WE WERE PROBABLY SEVERAL YEARS AGO ON GREENING.
UM, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD RESOLUTION OF TARGETING SCHOOLS WITH LESS THAN 10% GREEN SPACE.
WE HAVE PROJECTS AT 50% OF THOSE SCHOOLS, UM, WHERE WE WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY ADDING GREEN SPACE.
WE DO COORDINATE, UM, WHERE THERE ARE PROJECTS, THERE'S KIND OF A TWO STEP PROCESS.
SO ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IS ONE OF THE THREE SCHOOLS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT, DOES HAVE A GREENING PROJECT THAT'S CURRENTLY, UM, IN UNDER DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE WOULD WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN OPEN IT, BUT ONCE IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THEY WOULD PROBABLY HIT PAUSE AND THEN ONCE THE CONSTRUCTION WAS OVER IT WOULD REOPEN.
SO IT'S A, UH, DYNAMIC PROCESS THAT ALLOWS US TO PURSUE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, MINDFUL THAT WE'RE EXPANDING GREENING AT MANY OF OUR CAMPUSES, SO MANY, UM, POTENTIAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS MIGHT HAVE GREENING PROJECTS, UM, NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.
AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROGRESS AND THE CONTINUED ACCELERATION OF IT.
[02:15:01]
ON THE QUESTION OF JOINT LIKE REVENUE POTENTIALLY THAT WE COULD UTILIZE TO INVEST, IS THAT A DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE HAVING AROUND WHETHER ARE THERE PARK INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS, BOND MONIES, ET CETERA, THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO UTILIZE TO INVEST AT THESE SITES? SO WE KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS, UM, MORE OPPORTUNITIES AT THE CAPITAL SIDE IN REGARDS TO FUNDING THAN THERE ARE ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE AND THE MAINTENANCE SIDE.SO WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS OF OUR BOND DOLLARS, PROBABLY, UM, CLOSE TO THREE QUARTERS OF A BILLION DOLLARS OF GREENING PROJECTS UNDERWAY AND APPROXIMATELY 1.2 BILLION IN MEASURE US.
UM, THAT WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR BOTH THE CITY AND THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN FINDING THE GENERAL FUND OPERATIONAL DOLLARS TO KEEP THE STAFF AND THE MAINTENANCE ONGOING.
WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CAN BRING OTHER EXTERNAL RESOURCES THAT COULD HELP BOTH THE CITY AND THE DISTRICT, UM, CONTINUE TO GROW THIS PROGRAM.
OKAY, THANK YOU NICK, THEN CARLA, THANK YOU.
I HAD SIMILAR QUESTIONS AND UH, APPRECIATE YOU ASKING THEM A LOT OF GRATITUDE AND EXCITEMENT AND THEN ALSO THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AS WE HEARD FROM OUR ADVOCATES THAT WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO, UM, ON THIS PROGRAM.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL START WITH THE, WITH THE GRATITUDE.
THANKS ONE TO OUR ADVOCATES WHO HAVE BEEN PUSHING FORWARD AT LEAST AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD AND, AND, UH, ASKING THE DISTRICT AND THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO ALL WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY, THANKS TO THE CITY TO WRAP, UH, TO JIMMY KIM, TO JUAN SOTO, WHO'S BEEN A REAL ALL STAR IN YOUR TEAM WHO'VE WORKED AT THE EXISTING ONES AND HAVE JUST BEEN SO GREAT TO WORK WITH TO JACQUELINE AND THE MAYOR'S TEAM AND THE CITY COUNCIL, PARTICULARLY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, RAMON AND RAKI, WHO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ON THIS ISSUE.
UM, SO, AND, AND TO THE DISTRICT STAFF OF COURSE, UM, TO, WHETHER IT'S MARTHA ALVAREZ, TO CHRISTINA, TO THE SUPS TEAM, UM, THIS IS, THIS HAS BEEN A TEAM EFFORT.
UM, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE US GETTING OVER THE FINISH LINE AND IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH CELEBRATING.
AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ACCIDENT OF HISTORY THAT THE DISTRICT, THE CITY, THE COUNT, THE COUNTY FOR THAT MATTER ARE DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
UM, AND FROM A CONSTITUENT STANDPOINT, UM, WHEN YOU ARE A PARENT OR WHEN YOU ARE A CHILD TRYING TO WALK TO YOUR LOCAL GREEN SPACE OR YOUR LOCAL PLAYGROUND, IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT ONE IS THE CITY ONE IS THE DISTRICTS WAS ONE IS THE COUNTY.
UM, IT'S ALSO KIND OF AN ACCIDENT, OR NOT REALLY AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT IS CIRCUMSTANTIAL THAT WE HAVE GATES AROUND OUR SCHOOLS.
YOU GO TO A LOT OF PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY, AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE UN GATED.
AND EVERY WEEKEND, EVERY SCHOOL IN THAT COMMUNITY IS USED BY, BY KIDS, UM, AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S MY VISION, AND I THINK IT'S SHARED BY MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD THAT THAT SCHOOLS WILL BE OPEN AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE GATED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN AND, AND CRIME AND, UM, AND WEAR AND TEAR.
AND IT'S HARD BECAUSE WE'RE A SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND SO WE DON'T HAVE A WRAP, UM, UH, A REC AND PARKS BUDGET.
UM, BUT I, I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN GETTING US TO WORK MORE COLLABORATIVELY ON, BE ON BEHALF OF OUR, OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND SO I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD THINK MORE OF URGENTLY ABOUT HOW, UM, HOW WE OPEN THE GATES, UM, ON ALL OF OUR SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
AND I THINK IT IS, IT'S COMPLICATED IN THAT YOU HAVE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS AND LIABILITY, BUT WE ALSO OVERCOMPLICATE IT.
AND I'VE REALLY BEEN TRYING TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS ON ALL SIDES TO, TO THINK ABOUT THIS MORE SIMPLY.
WHEN THE DISTRICT IS ACTING, ACTING IN A CITY FUNCTION, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE CITY-LIKE LIABILITY AND THE CITY SHOULD FUND THE PERSON TO OPEN THE GATES.
UM, IT REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT GETS MORE COMPLICATED, BUT IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE MORE COMPLICATED.
IF WE ARE SAYING THAT WE ARE SAVING OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY AND COUNTY, UNTOLD BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO BUILD MORE CITY, UH, PARKS IN A PARK POOR REGION, THEN LET'S JUST FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADEQUATELY FUND THIS AND, AND SUPPORT WITH JOINT LIABILITY.
AND LET'S ALL BE GOOD PARTNERS.
NOT, UM, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.
BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS, BECAUSE IT PARKS FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN TO PARKS, THINGS HAPPEN, KIDS FALL, PEOPLE TRIP.
UH, AND THAT'S, IF WE HIDE BEHIND THAT LIABILITY AND THE CONCERNS, AND I SAY THIS AS A LAWYER WITH A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE LAWYERS WORKING ON THIS, UM, WE WON'T DO ANYTHING.
SO WE HAVE TO, UH, TOLERATE A LITTLE OF THAT RISK, UH, FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
I ALSO THINK THAT 10, UH, IS GREAT, BUT 20 IS BETTER, AND WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE CLOSE TO A THOUSAND.
UM, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, ANY PUBLIC SPACE IN MY MIND THAT IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC IS A TRAGEDY.
AND SO THE FACT THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOLS ON WEEKENDS, UM, ARE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, WE KNOW THERE'S OTHER ACTIVITIES AND, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT LEASING AND SPORTS LEAGUES AND ALL THAT, BUT IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE.
AND SO THIS IS AN EXCITING FIRST STEP, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO DO MORE, MORE QUICKLY.
UM, ONE, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A BIG, UH, A BIG PART OF THAT IS FUNDING.
AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY, DESPITE THEIR BUDGET CHALLENGES.
WE SHOULD ALSO TALK TO THE COUNTY.
WE SHOULD ALSO TALK TO PHILANTHROPISTS AND GRANTS AND FOLKS WHO WANNA DO THAT OPEN SPACE.
I ALSO THINK THAT WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE COST.
AND AS JIMMY AND JUAN AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ME SAY FOR NOW YEARS, WE DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE CADILLAC VERSION OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARK MODEL.
WE CAN THINK OF THE E-BIKE VERSION RIGHT AWAY.
[02:20:01]
KNOW, YES, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE GREEN SPACE ON EVERY CAMPUS AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND FOUR OR FIVE STAFF RIGHT NOW.WE JUST NEED SOMEONE TO UNLOCK THE GATE.
UM, AND THEN THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE WEAR AND TEAR THAT WE KNOW IS GONNA HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE USING THE BATHROOMS AND THEY'RE USING THE FACILITIES.
AND WE JUST, WE, I WANNA START THERE AND THEN BUILD.
AND SO I REALLY DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE US BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT ACTIVE PARKS AND ALL THEIR PROGRAMS. LIKE, THINK ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON OPENING A GATE, THEN GOING TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A FEW MILES AWAY, OPENING THAT GATE, CIRCLING AROUND.
I MEAN, THERE, I JUST, I ENCOURAGE US TO KIND OF GET BACK TO FIRST PRINCIPLES HERE TO DO MORE OF THESE.
IT'S EXCITING THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, UM, ABOUT TWO OR THREE MORE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
BUT I'D LIKE US TO THINK ABOUT 20 OR 30.
AND I THINK BESIDES WORKING ON THE FUNDING, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE COST AND, AND WHY ARE THESE COSTING SO MUCH WHEN, AGAIN, AT, AT ITS CORE, THIS IS ABOUT SOMEONE OPENING THE GATES AND THEN THE WEAR AND TEAR.
UM, AND YES, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE SUPERVISION, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF CITY PARKS, THERE ARE NO SUPERVISION ON THE WEEKENDS.
UM, AND SO I, I WANT US TO, AGAIN, I JUST, I WANNA, UM, UH, BE A BROKEN RECORD ABOUT THAT, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OVERCOMPLICATING THIS BECAUSE, UH, 10 IS GREAT, BUT A THOUSAND IS WHERE WE NEED TO GET TO.
I DON'T MEAN TO BE, UH, TO, TO NOT, I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
THIS HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING, BUT I ALSO, JUST AS OUR ADVOCATES ARE REMINDING US, DON'T WANT US TO REST ON OUR LAURELS ON THIS ONE, THIS IS THE, THE BASIS.
AND AS MS. TOES WAS SAYING, THIS ENABLES US TO ADD OTHER THINGS LIKE SPORTS LEAGUES OR INDOOR SPACES, OR IT'S JUST ADD TWO OR THREE PARKS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND THEN MAYBE, YOU KNOW, 20 BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.
AND, AND LET'S THINK BIG ON THIS BECAUSE, UH, IT IS SO CRUCIAL FOR OUR KIDS TO HAVE OPEN GREEN SPACE, UH, AND JUST PLAY SPACE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
EXCITED TO, UH, GET THIS OVER THE FINISH LINE.
THANK YOU, UH, NICK CARLA? YES.
UM, THIS IS VERY EXCITING TO ME PERSONALLY.
UM, I GREW UP ON BEVERLY AND NORMANDY AND MY LOCAL SCHOOL, ALEXANDRIA ELEMENTARY, UM, WAS NOT OPEN.
AND FRANKLY, IT WAS ABOUT OVER A MILE TO GET TO A PARK FOR ME.
AND, UH, SO IT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY TO HAVE OUR SCHOOLS, UH, BE THAT HUB FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UH, BEYOND THAT, I THINK THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW WE SHOULD BE FUNCTIONING AS A DISTRICT.
WE SHOULD NOT BE WORKING IN SILO TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS, RIGHT? WE SHOULD BE WORKING IN COMMUNITY WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AS OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT.
THEY DON'T JUST COME TO OUR SCHOOLS ON THEIR OWN, AND THAT'S IT.
THEY ARE A PART OF A COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH CITY ENTITIES, WITH COUNTY ENTITIES TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND SERVE THE COMMUNITIES.
AND SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
AND SO IT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY.
I REMEMBER OUR FIRST CONVERSATION WITH NICK WHEN HE SHARED THAT THIS WAS IN THE, IN THE PIPELINE.
AND I TOLD HIM HOW SUPPORTIVE I WAS OF THAT, BECAUSE THAT IS MY DREAM.
OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD BE THE HUB OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WE SHOULD BE COLLABORATING WITH EVERYONE JUST LIKE WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IN TRYING TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS FROM, UM, FROM BEING ABDUCTED AND THEIR FAMILIES BEING ABDUCTED.
SO, UM, BUT IT ALSO IS A REMINDER THAT THERE ARE STILL, LIKE YOU ALL WERE SAYING, THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF SCHOOLS, AND IN PARTICULAR IN MY DISTRICT WHERE THERE IS A BIG PART OF MY DISTRICT THAT IS NOT PART OF THE CITY OF LA.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING, UM, HOW ARE WE NOW WORKING WITH THE SOUTHEAST CITIES, UM, WHO I KNOW ARE VERY DESIROUS OF HAVING THIS COLLABORATION WITH US TO OPEN UP OUR SCHOOLS FOR PARKS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO I WOULD LIKE, UM, FOR OUR STAFF AND FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT TO, TO WORK ON HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN ALSO IN THE SOUTHEAST CITIES.
WE ALWAYS SAY THAT PLAY GREEN SPACE IS NOT A LUXURY, BUT WHEN WE ARE NOT INTENTIONALLY MAKING THESE EFFORTS TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE, IT DOES BECOME A LUXURY.
AND SO FOR US AS LEADERS OF CIVIC LEADERS OF AS, UH, FOLKS WHO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
THAT WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY, CONSTANTLY BE FIGHTING FOR MORE AND MORE.
AND LIKE NICK WAS SAYING, NOT JUST FIVE, BUT 20, RIGHT? WE NEED A DREAM BIG BECAUSE THAT'S, WE CANNOT JUST STOP AT A LITTLE BIT AND BE SATISFIED.
WE NEED TO BE WILLING TO ASK FOR MORE BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN DESERVE THAT AND OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE THAT.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, I'M SUPER HAPPY ABOUT THIS AND VERY HAPPY TO VOTE.
ROCIO, UH, WELL, I ECHO THE SAME, UH, SENTIMENTS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS MS. EZ FROM OUR, UH, THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE SPOKEN.
UM, AND YES, THIS IS A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE, UM, THIS MILESTONE IN, IN GETTING THIS JPA,
[02:25:01]
UM, APPROVED, FINALLY FINALIZED, AND NOW FINALLY APPROVED.AND YEAH, I WANNA THANK, UM, OUR CITY, UM, PARTICULAR, UH, COUNCILWOMAN NAIA RAMEN, AND ALSO, UH, KATIE ROSOVSKY, WHO'S BEEN WORKING, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS MOVES FORWARD.
AND ALSO TO, UM, OUR PARKS AND, AND OUR REC, UH, WRAP RECREATION AND PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THE LA PARKS FOUNDATION.
THIS IS A WORK THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, UM, INVOLVED A LOT OF FOLKS THROUGH A LOT OF YEARS.
BUT, UM, SO HAPPY THAT WE'RE FINALLY ABLE TO, UH, TO VOTE FOR THIS.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SINCE 2020 2008, THIS PARTNERSHIP HAS TRANSFORMED SCHOOL CAMPUSES AND SAVE FREE AND WELCOMING GREEN SPACES FOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY IN OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY PARKED POOR.
SO TODAY'S VOTE REFLECTS A SHARED COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND STUDENT WELLBEING.
UM, THIS, YOU KNOW, HELPS IMPROVE HEALTH AND PLAY, UH, PROMOTES PARK AND EQUITY WITH ACCESS, UH, IMPROVES ATTENDANCE AND ENROLLMENT OF, YOU KNOW, FOR THE DISTRICT, AND ALSO PROMOTES COLLABORATION THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
WITH THIS JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT, WE'RE NOT ONLY CONTINUING OUR INVESTMENT IN EXISTING COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS, UM, INCLUDING IN MY BOARD DISTRICT, LEO
UM, I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALITY THAT FUNDING IS TIGHT, UH, FOR BOTH THE DISTRICT AND THE CITY, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER CREATIVELY LEVERAGING CITY RESOURCES.
AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EXTERNAL NONPROFITS ORGANIZATIONS TO ALSO PARTAKE IN, IN, IN THIS ENDEAVOR.
UM, AND THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS AND, AND THEIR PROGRAMMING CAN ALSO HELP IN FUNDING THESE PROGRAMS. SO WE HAVE EXPAND LA WE HAVE LE 84 AND SO MANY OTHER, UH, NONPROFITS WHO HAVE BEEN SERVING THE DISTRICT, AND NOW THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THAT, UH, THAT PROGRAMMING FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO, UM, THANK YOU TO OUR CITY PARTNERS AND L-A-U-S-D STAFF IN MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, VERY QUICKLY, LET ME GET HERE.
ARE THERE FEES, PERMIT FEES, OR ANY FEES THAT WE ARE, UM, HAVING TO, UM, PERMIT? NO.
WITH THIS ONE, UM, THE CITY JUST PAYS FOR THE COST OF THE DISTRICT TO DO BOTH OPENING THE CAMPUSES AND WHATEVER MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED OF THE SPACE THAT THERE'S USES.
SO IT'S AT NO COST TO THE DISTRICT, BUT THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL FEES THAT WE PUT ON THE CITY FOR THIS USE.
SO NO OTHER ADDITIONAL FEES THAT WE ARE IMPOSING ON, ON THIS PROGRAM.
UM, AND ALSO, THIS IS ONLY FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, RIGHT? UM, WE'RE OPEN TO ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, THE CITY FIRST STARTED WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOW LOOKING AT MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE BIGGER PLACE SPACES.
SO AGAIN, WE ARE OPEN TO WHATEVER BEST FITS THE NEEDS OF THIS PROGRAM.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, UH, A MARKETING EFFORT TO LET OUR COMMUNITIES ARE PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE THE NEARING COMMUNITIES OF OUR SCHOOLS, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT SCHOOL IS OPEN AND, UH, PROMOTING IT AND ALSO HAVE EVALUATING AND GETTING SOME, UM, FEEDBACK FROM, UH, OUR PARENTS TO SAY, DO YOU LIKE IT? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO? LIKE OPENING IT INDOOR SPACES WHEN IT GETS REALLY HOT? SO THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT WE CAN DO.
UM, AND THIS IS ALSO EXTENDS THE POSSIBILITY OF OPENING ADDITIONAL 10 OR 20 SCHOOLS, OR AS MANY SCHOOLS AS WE CAN.
BUT AS MENTIONED, FUNDING IS TIGHT.
UM, BUT MY HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING TOWARDS THIS, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS AMAZING, RIGHT? THIS IS GOOD STUFF.
UM, I DID HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AND I DO APPRECIATE ALL THAT HAS COME TO SPEAK FOR US, JUST TO ADVOCATE AND CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE BECAUSE SCHOOLS AND PLAY SPACES, UH, FOR ME HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SYNONYMOUS.
'CAUSE I GREW UP, UNLIKE SOME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARKS AND SCHOOLS TO KIND OF WORK TOGETHER, UM, BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE ONE AND THE SAME WHEN THEY WEREN'T.
AND THEY'RE LIKE, NO, THAT'S THE PARK NOW, THAT'S THE SCHOOL.
BUT THEY ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS THE SAME.
AND SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT WE HAVE MOVED BACK TO THAT MODEL THAT WAS CREATED BACK PROBABLY IN THE 1930S WHEN THAT CREATED FOR ME AT THIS SCHOOL SITE.
BUT WANTING TO SAY WITH THIS, UM, IS THERE A MASTER LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA BASED ON THIS HALF MILE DISTANCE OR GREATER FROM A CITY PARK?
[02:30:01]
UM, SO THE CITY HAS THE LEAD IN IDENTIFYING WHERE THEY WANNA OPEN THESE PROGRAMS BASED ON CRITERIA THAT THEY'VE DEVELOPED OF LOOKING AT PARK POOR AREAS, UM, IMPACTS TO HEAT AND CLIMATE CHANGE, UM, AND OTHER INDICATORS.THEN THEY PROVIDE US WITH THE AREA THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN OPENING.
AND THEN WE WORK WITH SCHOOL SITES TO DETERMINE WHICH ONES WOULD BE THE BEST FIT, UM, THAT HAVE ADEQUATE PLAY YARD SPACE THAT DON'T HAVE, LET'S SAY, A CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM HAPPENING.
AND THEN WE MEET WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND THE, UH, CITY STAFF TO WALK THROUGH THOSE SITES.
AND THEN IF THERE'S, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, WHEN WE FIND THOSE PARTNERS THAT WANT TO CONNECT, WILL THERE BE A PROCESS DIFFERENT OR SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING TO KIND OF STREAMLINE, TO MAKE THESE OPPORTUNITIES KIND OF MOVE A LITTLE FASTER AND TO AID OUR 10% GREEN SPACE GOAL? SO 30, THIS, UM, THIS AGREEMENT DEFINITELY WILL ALLOW US TO WORK, UM, FASTER WITH THE CITY WE HAD BEEN OPENING, UM, OR THEY HAD BEEN OPERATING COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS UNDER THE CIVIC CENTER PERMIT, WHICH HAS WORKED FINE.
UM, HOWEVER, IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED CONSTANTLY.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS AGREEMENT AND THIS AGREEMENT IS 10 YEARS WITH TWO FIVE YEAR OPTIONS, UM, WE CAN KIND OF GET RID OF THE PAPERWORK PART AND JUST FOCUS ON THE USE OF IT.
SO YES, IT WILL BE ABLE US TO WORK FASTER.
AND AS I WAS SAYING, ON REGARDS TO THE 10% GREENING, UM, THE DISTRICT CONTINUES TO INVEST IN GREENING.
THAT'S A BIG COMMITMENT THAT WE'VE MADE IN MEASURE US PROBABLY MORE THAN $1.2 BILLION.
SO WE'RE GONNA SEE MANY PROJECTS NOT ONLY AT THESE SCHOOLS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
AND SO, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE CITY WILL BRING FORTH.
WOULD THERE BE LIKE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE ON COMMUNITIES, THERE'S SEVEN BOARDS HERE.
HOW WOULD THAT OPERATE FOR THE DISTRICT? UM, SO THIS CITY BASICALLY IS LOOKING AT WHERE THERE'S THE GREATEST NEED FOR PARKS THAT SPANS THE ENTIRE CITY.
UM, WE WORK WITH THEM RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT AREAS IN THE EAST VALLEY AS WELL AS IN THE SOUTH LA AREA.
UM, AND AS THEY OPEN MORE, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO KIND OF GO DOWN THEIR LINE OF ADDRESSING AREAS WITH THE HIGHEST NEED.
UM, AS MENTIONED AS EVERYONE SAID HERE, THIS IS JUST AMAZING, JUST PLAY.
I MEAN, THAT'S, AS THEY SAY, THAT'S MY JAM.
JUST, YOU KNOW, SPORTS AND, UH, ATHLETICS AND PLAY AND, UH, FORMER AND STILL I'M A PHYSICAL EDUCATOR TO THE HEART.
AND I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY AND THOSE THAT HAVE COME TO REPRESENT AND FOR THE TWO SCHOOLS THAT I HAVE, UM, BARACK OBAMA AND PO PICO, WHICH I'VE SEEN TO HAVE ENJOYED AND APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND TO THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN MARQUIS DAWSON AND HEATHER HUTT FOR THEIR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP IN WHAT THEY DO.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORTH AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE.
JERRY? YES, I, I HAD QUESTIONS, BUT THEY WERE ALL ANSWERED.
UM, IN MY EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE CITY OF LA AND, AND TALKING TO STUDENTS ON THE GROUND, I'VE GROWN TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF RECREATIONAL SPACES AND THIRD SPACES TO STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE, WELCOME, AND CAN SOCIALIZE.
AND I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS JPA CONTINUES.
THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS PROGRAM HAS LONG BEEN ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT I LOVE WORKING WITH, AND I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND ITS ABILITY TO IMPROVE STUDENT WELLBEING, KEEPING STUDENTS OUT OF HARMFUL SITUATIONS, AND JUST CREATING A TIGHTER KNIT COMMUNITY WITHIN A SPACE THAT'S ALREADY FAMILIAR TO THE STUDENTS.
UH, ON THE WEEKENDS, THESE SCHOOLS TRANSFORM INTO PLACES WHERE TEENS CAN HANG OUT, WHERE FAMILIES CAN HAVE FUN AND AS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL.
MOREOVER, GREEN SPACE HAS BEEN PROVEN TO INCREASE ATTENTION, FOCUS, AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
SO CONTINUING TO OPEN UP THESE SCHOOLS AND EXPANDING THIS PROGRAM WILL BENEFIT THE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES OF STUDENTS AS WELL AS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT THERE ARE GREENING INITIATIVES ALONGSIDE THIS PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE GREEN PARKS, UM, THAT ARE OPEN.
MY ONLY RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD IS, IS GOING KIND OF ALONG THE LINE OF WHAT BOARD MEMBER MELVOIN SAID, IS TO CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL FOR THESE SPACES TO BE FUNDED BY OTHER SOURCES LIKE PHILANTHROPISTS, UM, AND POTENTIALLY FUNDING FROM BOTH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND L-A-U-S-D, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE BOTH SERVE THE SAME INTERESTS, WHICH ARE THE STUDENTS.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM TO STUDENTS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT TO HOPEFULLY EXPAND IT, EVEN DESPITE POTENTIAL FUNDING CUTS, UM, IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.
THIS JPN, ITS COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH RECREATIONAL SPACE.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE BEING INVOLVED WITH THIS PROGRAM THAT IS SO CRITICAL TO STUDENTS.
JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND I'LL END WITH, UH, MR. CARVAL'S COMMENTS.
SO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, SUPPORT THIS, BUT ONE THING MAKES ME
[02:35:01]
NERVOUS, MAYBE 'CAUSE I WAS A PRINCIPAL, IS THAT SOMEONE'S GONNA COME OPEN THE GATES AND LEAVE.THAT MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS AT A SCHOOL THAT THERE'S NOBODY THERE TO SUPERVISE.
AND I THINK ABOUT, WELL, SUPPOSE SOMEONE GETS REALLY BADLY HURT.
SUPPOSE THE BATHROOM'S OVERFLOWING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, SO THE IDEA OF JUST SOMEONE COMING AND GOING REALLY, REALLY MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
I WILL VOTE YES, I WILL VOTE YES, BUT I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, THAT'S MAKING ME FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT.
AND I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT CONCERN AND JUST ASSURE YOU AND ALL PRINCIPALS OUT THERE LISTENING THAT WE NEVER LEAVE THE SITE UNATTENDED.
UM, L-A-U-S-D OPENS THE GATES.
A CITY AND PARKS EMPLOYEE HAS TO STAY AT THAT SITE FOR THE DURATION THAT THAT SITE IS OPEN.
IF IT'S QUITE A LARGE, UM, PLAY YARD, THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE MORE THAN ONE PERSON.
UM, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE SAME SECURITY CLEARANCES AND BACK CHECKS AS L-A-U-S-D EMPLOYEES NEED TO DO.
AND THEN WHEN THE PARK, UM, WHEN THAT, UM, HOUR IS DONE, THEN THEY LEAVE.
OUR PERSON COMES IN AND SHUT THE GATES.
BUT AT ANY TIME, THERE NEEDS TO BE EYES ON THE SITE AND THERE ARE BETWEEN US OPENING IT AND THE CITY STAFF WHO WILL BE, UM, SUPERVISING IT.
SUPERINTENDENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, I JUST WANT TO, NUMBER ONE, ACKNOWLEDGE THE EFFORTS OF, UH, OF THE BOARD, SPECIFICALLY THE EFFORTS OF SOME OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO, SINCE I ARRIVED, UH, HERE IN LA, HAVE REALLY ELEVATED THIS AS A CRITICAL PRIORITY, CONSIDERING, AS MANY OF YOU HAVE STATED, THE LACK OF, UH, ACCESSIBLE, UH, PARK FACILITIES, UH, GREEN AREAS IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN ELEVATES JOY AS, AS A PRINCIPAL TENANT, UH, THAT IS CRUCIAL, UH, FOR THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN.
UH, THAT JOY IS NOT ACHIEVED JUST IN A CLASSROOM, IN A SCHOOLHOUSE.
IT'S ACHIEVED ALSO, UH, BY, UH, VIA PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, WITH ENTITIES THAT OPENED THE GATES, UH, FIGURATIVELY AND LITERALLY SPEAKING, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.
I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR YOUR VISION, UH, YOUR PERSEVERANCE ON THIS MATTER.
UH, IT'S BEEN MANY, MANY YEARS THAT ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE AT NEGOTIATING AND BRINGING THIS GPA, BOTH THE CITY AND THE BOARD.
AND THAT DAY HAS ARRIVED WITH THE CITY, ACTUALLY HAVING APPROVED IT RECENTLY AT ITS, UH, AUGUST 7TH MEETING.
I WANNA THANK ALSO, UH, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES MAYOR BASS, UH, THE STAFF, UH, THE ADVOCATES, THE ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES, UM, ACROSS LOS ANGELES UNIFIED FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR KIDS.
AND CERTAINLY, UH, TO OUR, UH, VERY, VERY STRONG, VERY CAPABLE, UH, LEADER CHRISTINA TOS FOR, UM, SHEPHERDING THROUGH THIS, THIS PROCESS.
NOT AN EASY ONE, BUT AN IMPORTANT ONE.
UM, WITH THAT SAID, EXPECT, UH, OUR TEAM TO BRING BACK TO THE BOARD EVEN, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT, BASED ON THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE HEARD AND THE SHARED BELIEF THAT WE CAN DO MORE, UM, THAN WHAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THUS FAR, OR THE THREE ADDITIONAL, UH, POTENTIAL, UM, CSPS IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE CAN DO MORE.
SO AS PART OF THE LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS THAT WE'RE CONDUCTING ACROSS THE ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE ARE INCLUDING THE AVAILABILITY OF SITES, WILLING SITES.
UM, SECONDLY, UH, THE PURSUIT, THE PHILANTHROPIC THIRD PARTY FUNDING, WHICH MAY INCLUDE NAMING RIGHTS FOR ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE ON THESE SITES, SPONSORED BY THIRD PARTY ENTITIES AND PHILANTHROPIC AGENCIES.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, WE WILL BRING, UH, AN UPDATE BACK TO THE BOARD WITHIN 90 DAYS THAT WILL SPELL OUT A POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS OF EXPANSION.
TODAY'S, UH, TODAY'S G UH, JPA, UH, IS NOT, THE CEILING IS NOTHING BUT THE FLOOR OF OPPORTUNITY.
UH, WE NOW HAVE A FRAMEWORK WORK THAT, UH, THAT MUST WORK AND BE EXPANDED IN A SWIFT AND DELIBERATE MATTER TO THE QUESTIONS THAT COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE ABOUT HOW ABOUT, UH, OTHER CITIES BEYOND LOS ANGELES? THOSE ARE ACTUALLY BEING ADDRESSED THROUGH ONGOING COMPACTS.
IN FACT, MAR ALVAREZ AS COMMUNICATED WITH ME THAT JUST TODAY SHE HAD A MEETING, UH, WITH, UH, THE LEADERSHIP OF, UH, THE CITY OF BELL, UH, TO WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NEGOTIATED COMPACTS.
AND WE HAVE NOW 11 OR 12 COMPACTS TO FIND WITHIN THOSE COMPACTS A JOINT USE OF FACILITIES AGREEMENTS.
THE SAME IS BEING DONE, UH, FOR UNINCORPORATED AREAS WITHIN THE COUNTY, UH, THAT DON'T HAVE A CITY AS LEADERSHIP.
SO WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ALSO WITH, WITH COUNTY, UH, SUPERVISORS AND THEIR LEADERSHIP TEAMS, UH, TO REALIZE THESE POSSIBILITIES WITHIN THOSE AREAS AS WELL AS WELL, SO MUCH MORE TO BE DISCUSSED AND BROUGHT TO THE BOARD WITHIN 90 DAYS.
THAT I THINK WILL ACCELERATE AND EXPAND ALL OF IT THROUGH A LENS OF
[02:40:01]
EQUITY.OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL FOLLOW, UH, THE POWERFUL NEED THAT IS OBSERVED IN MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, SPECIFIC TO, YOU KNOW, PARK, UH, DEFICIENCY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE BOARD, UH, AREAS THAT HAVE HIGH NEED ON THE BASIS OF POPULATION DENSITY, ELEVATED, UH, TEMPERATURES, UM, LACK OF GREEN SPACE, UH, OVERUSE OF ASPHALT AND CONCRETE, UH, WHICH DRIVE THOSE INDICES THAT DEFINE AND PRIORITIZE THE PROJECTS THAT WE'LL BE ENVISIONING, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
SO, UM, LONG AWAITED MOMENT, I AM THRILLED THAT WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT THROUGH THE FINISH LINE, BUT THE FINISH LINE IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE STARTING POINT OR THE STARTING LINE.
SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, TO EVERYONE AND ETERNAL GRATITUDE FOR THE BOARD AND YOUR WISDOM IN PUSHING THROUGH THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU, MR. SUPERINTENDENT.
BEFORE WE GET TO MR. MCLEAN, DEPUTY MAYOR HAMILTON, I KNOW WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS PROJECT MANY TIMES WHEN WE SEE EACH OTHER, AND I KNOW YOU MUST BE A VERY HAPPY PERSON.
OKAY, MR. I JUST LIKE TO SAY AFTER THE VOTE, IT WOULD BE GREAT.
MR. SOTO, MS. HAMILTON AND THE ADVOCATES WHO ARE HERE, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO TAKE A PICTURE TO CELEBRATE THIS, IF WE COULD DO THAT IN FRONT AS WELL.
SECONDED THE ITEM FOR DISCUSSION.
UM, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
IN STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG? YES.
[02:46:11]
OKAY, WE ARE NOW ONTO[4. Board of Education Report No. 009-25/26 Finance Division (Donations of Money to the District) Recommends approval of the donation of money to the District totaling $2,731,394.98.]
TAB FOUR.I DON'T HAVE ANY, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
CAN WE MOVE IT AND SECOND IT AND THEN MOVE INTO DISCUSSION, MOVE IT.
MOVED BY MS. EZ, SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN.
AND THEN, UH, MS. NEW BILL HAS QUESTIONS.
SOME OF 'EM HAD REALLY CLEAR DEFINED PURPOSES, AND THEN KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION, IT JUST SAID, FUNDS THAT HELP FAMILIES AND WELLNESS, AND I WAS LIKE, IT WASN'T REAL CLEAR, SO I'M LIKE, WHAT, WHAT DOES IT DO? HOW DO WE USE IT? THE EXACT LANGUAGE THAT IT'S WRITTEN HERE.
ANTHEM, I THINK ANTHEM WAS A LITTLE MORE CLEAR.
ANTHEM SAID IT FUND THE 5K HEALTH AND WELLNESS FESTIVAL WELLNESS PROGRAMS, THE PROJECT GENERAL SUPPLIES Z TIME REFRESHMENTS FOR STAFF.
BUT KAISER JUST SAID TO FUND STAFF AND PARENT WELLNESS, AND I WASN'T CLEAR WHAT THAT MEANS.
UM, I DID REACH BACK TO THE TEAM.
I BELIEVE THAT FUNDING IS USED TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN SOMEONE FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH.
UM, SO WE, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF, UH, SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS, UH, RECEIVED FROM KAISER.
UH, MANY OF THEM HAVE GONE TO SUPPORT, UH, A NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND TO SUPPORT DIRECT SERVICES.
AS YOU'LL KNOW IN SOME OF THE OTHER LINE ITEMS, THERE'S DONATIONS FOR OUR 5K AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS HERE.
IT'S ALSO BEEN FOR OUR, UH, COLLABORATIVE, UM, THAT WE CONVENED AROUND, UH, BRINGING PROVIDERS TO KIND OF FOCUS ON MENTAL, WELL, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS EFFORTS IN THE DISTRICT.
SO IT GETS UTILIZED FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UM, EFFORTS IN THE DISTRICT.
SO WHEN IT SAYS THE PARENT WELLNESS, HOW DOES IT REACH OUR PARENTS? EXACTLY.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO CONNECT THE PARENTS? YEAH.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WHEN WE'VE DONE OUR VISION SERVICES, HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR THAT WE'VE, UH, HELD ON SATURDAYS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE THOSE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT, UH, DIRECT SERVICES TO FAMILIES.
AT FIVE, I MEAN, ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON FOUR.
WE'LL COME BACK TO MS. ORTIZ, FRANKLIN AND MS. REGO, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
AND STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG? YES.
[5. Board of Education Report No. 011-25/26 Facilities Services Division (Define and Approve Seven Projects to Provide Critical Replacements and Upgrades of School Building/Site Systems and Components and Amend the Facilities Services Division Strategic Execution Plan to Incorporate Therein) Recommends definition and approval of seven critical school facility projects to replace and upgrade essential building and site systems, as detailed in Exhibit A. Also recommends the amendment of the Facilities Services Division Strategic Execution Plan to include these projects, with a combined budget of $36,193,839, and the authorization of the Chief Procurement Officer, Chief Facilities Executive or designee(s) to take all legally permissible actions to implement the projects, including executing instruments, budget modifications and procurement of necessary equipment and materials.]
THERE ARE NO FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON TAB FIVE.CAN I HAVE A MOVE AND A SECOND MOVE BEFORE WE DISCUSS? MOVE IT.
SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT MOLSEN.
I HAD ASKED A QUESTION ON FIVE, AND, UH, MS. TOS EXPLAINED VERY, VERY WELL TO ME ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARTIFICIAL TURF AND NATURAL GRASS.
AND SHE DID EXPLAIN THAT, UH, ARTIFICIAL TURF IS BOND FUNDABLE
[02:50:01]
AND ARE NATURAL GRASS FIELDS ARE NOT BOND FUNDABLE UNLESS IT'S AN ENORMOUS PROJECT.MS. TOS WITH IRRIGATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, SHE DID EXPLAIN IT VERY WELL.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, ALTHOUGH I DID LIKE YOUR EXPLANATIONS, I AM NOT A FAN OF ARTIFICIAL TURF.
AND AS A MEMBER OF THE VALLEY ALLIANCE OF NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE VALLEY ALLIANCE IS AGAINST HAVING ARTIFICIAL TURF ALSO, WHEN THE POSSIBILITY OF NATURAL GRASS IS THERE.
PERSONALLY, I THINK IT'S UNSANITARY.
I THINK IT'S VERY DANGEROUS WHEN SLIDING ON IT.
YOU HAVE TO WATER IT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IF IT GETS TOO HOT, YOU HAVE TO WATER ARTIFICIAL TURF.
SO, UM, SO HERE'S MY REAL QUESTION.
SO, MS. TOKS HAS PREVIOUSLY STATED THAT ARTIFICIAL TURF CAN CREATE A HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, AND CAN THIS OFFSET ANY POSITIVE IMPACTS FROM GREENING OUR SCHOOL YARDS, SUCH AS COOLING FROM NATURAL SHADE? AND I DO WORRY BECAUSE IN MY DISTRICT AND IN MISS GOMEZ'S DISTRICT, THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, THE TEMPERATURES AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE LA METROPOLITAN AREA.
SO IT'S ABOUT THE, UH, HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.
UM, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHS AND CHRISTINA TOQUES, CHIEF FACILITIES EXECUTIVE, WE DO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE DISADVANTAGES OF USING SYNTHETIC TURF IS A HEAT EFFECT.
UM, IT DEFINITELY DOES NOT HAVE THE TEMPERATURES OF A NATURAL TURF FIELD.
UM, THAT SAID, THE DISTRICT DOES USE ESSENTIALLY WATER CANNONS TO COOL DOWN THE FIELD, ESPECIALLY BEFORE PLAY AND DURING PLAY, SO THAT IT IS SAFE, UM, FOR STUDENTS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT AS PART OF OUR GREENING INITIATIVES ACROSS THE DISTRICT, AS WE REMOVE ASPHALT AND CREATE GREEN SPACES, UM, REALLY LOOKING AT MAKING OUR SCHOOLS 30% GREEN, THAT WE ARE HOLISTICALLY REMOVING ASPHALT AND ESSENTIALLY HOTTER SURFACES FROM OUR CAMPUSES, UM, WHILE WE REPLACE IT WITH PERMEABLE SURFACES.
UM, AND WE HAVE, AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT WE HAVE ALREADY MOVED A LOT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE OF ASPHALT AND HOT SERVICES, THIS PARTICULAR ONE.
UM, WE ARE FOLLOWING A POLICY THAT ESSENTIALLY SAYS WHERE THERE ARE HIGH USAGE ATHLETIC FIELDS, MEANING THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE SPORTS TEAMS PLAYING AT THEM, AND THERE ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY USE, AS WE JUST HEARD, FOR EITHER CIVIC CENTER PERMIT OR OTHER JOINT USE.
UM, THE DISTRICT'S POLICY IS TO USE SYNTHETIC TURF BECAUSE IT IS MORE RESILIENT IN TERMS OF, UM, USAGE AND NOT WEARING OUT AS FAST.
SO, SO CHRISTINA, DOES GREEN MEAN DOES GREEN POSSIBLY MEAN ARTIFICIAL TURF? IT DOES NOT.
NO, AND I FORGOT TO MENTION YOU, NICK WOODLAND HILLS IS THE HOTTEST PART OF THE VALLEY, SO I APOLOGIZE.
WELL, UM, YOU, I WANT TO JUST BRIEFLY ALSO, UH, MAKE SOME COMMENTS ON THE SYNTHETIC TURF BECAUSE IT'S A, UH, A HOT TOPIC
UM, SO WE'VE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE'VE SEEN THE LETTER FROM BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, UM, AND THE, AND THE CONCERNS THAT THEY RAISED.
WHILE THERE IS AN AGREEMENT THAT BOTH SCHOOLS ARE IN URGENT NEED OF FIELD REPAIRS, THERE REMAIN, UM, SERIOUS UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS ABOUT REPLACING THESE FIELDS WITH THIS SYNTHETIC TURF.
THE COMMITTEE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, WHICH IS BROUGHT UP THE STUDENT SAFETY AND INJURY RISKS, UH, MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION LIFECYCLE COSTS, AND WHETHER NATURAL GRASS ALTERNATIVES MIGHT BE, MIGHT BETTER ALIGN WITH OUR CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.
GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT INVOLVED $22 MILLION BOND FUNDS, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE BOARD BE FULLY INFORMED, UM, TOWARDS, UH, THE USE OF SYNTHETIC TURFS OR THE REPLACEMENT OF IT.
UM, SO JUST WANNA MENTION THAT THIS IS, UH, THIS IS AN AREA THAT'LL BE BE FURTHER DISCUSSED, UM, AND STUDIED IN THE GREEN SCHOOLS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCY COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THAT OIG CONDUCTED A STUDY IN 2021.
UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER STUDIES THAT ARE BEING, THAT HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED ON, ON THE USE OF SYNTHETIC TURF.
AND WE WILL, UM, I WILL LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE THAT STUDY TO SEE IF, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S FURTHER, YOU KNOW, UH, IMPLICATIONS OR OTHER AREAS THAT WE WANNA LOOK INTO IN THE SYNTHETIC TERMS. SO NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE AND THAT YOU'VE, UM, ANSWERED SOME QUESTIONS, I JUST,
[02:55:01]
YOU KNOW, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH HOW THE, UH, DISTRICT IS, IS EVALUATING ENVIRONMENTAL AND STUDENT SAFETY ISSUES? UH, WHAT RESEARCH CURRENTLY SHOWS, UH, ON INJURIES AND HEALTH IMPACTS, AND WHETHER NATURAL GRASS OR HYBRID ALTERNATIVES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED IN THE LONG-TERM PLANNING FOR OUR ATHLETIC FIELDS? SURE.UM, SO WE OBVIOUSLY TAKE THE SAFETY COMPONENT, UM, VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE DID ENGAGE IN, UM, HAVING A CONSULTANT DO A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY TO SEE IF THERE WAS, UM, RESEARCH THAT CAN CONCLUDE WHETHER SYNTHETIC TURF OR NATURAL TURF WERE MORE SAFE.
UM, THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY, UM, AND THEY ANALYZED ESSENTIALLY 22 STUDIES, UM, CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO DIFFERENCE IN OVERALL INJURY INCIDENCES BETWEEN SYNTHETIC AND NATURAL TURF FIELDS.
AND THAT MOST INJURIES ARE DUE TO PLAYER TO PLAYER CONTACT AND NOT PLAYER TO SURFACE CONTACT.
THEY ALSO IDENTIFIED THAT THERE IS A LOT OF CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE.
SO YOU CAN FIND ONE STUDY, UM, ASSERTING ONE THING AND ANOTHER STUDY ASSERTING ANOTHER.
UM, SOME STUDIES SHOW HIGHER INJURY RATES ON SYNTHETIC TURF, UM, ESPECIALLY NFL DATA SHOWING 28% HIGHER NON-CONTACT, LOWER EXTREMITY INJURIES.
OTHER STUDIES SHOW LOWER INJURY RATES ON SYNTHETIC TURF WHEN IT COMES TO KNEE INJURIES OR PELVIC AND THIGH INJURIES.
AND MANY STUDIES SHOW EQUIVALENT INJURY RATES.
UM, THE BIG TAKEAWAY WAS THE REPORT NOTES THAT, UM, OR EMPHASIZES THAT PROPER MAINTENANCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR SAFETY REGARDING TURF TYPE.
SO I GAVE IN THE EXAMPLE OF WE COULD HAVE A BRAND NEW NATURAL, UM, GRASS FIELD THAT WOULD BE SAFER THAN A OLD WORN OUT SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD THAT HAS LIKE THE CARPET COMING UP AND MAY HAVE A TRIPPING HAZARD.
LIKEWISE, WE COULD HAVE A NEWER SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD, UM, THAT IS NOT AS UNSAFE AS AN OLDER GRASS FIELD THAT HAS GOPHER HOLES, THAT HAS UNEVEN SURFACES, AND WHERE THE GRASS IS SORE, WORN OUT, THAT THERE'S REALLY A VERY HARD IMPACT FOR STUDENTS TO FALL.
SO THERE'S VERY, UM, UH, VERY VARIED CONDITIONS MAKING IT HARD TO MAKE ONE SINGLE DETERMINATION.
BUT IF THE DISTRICT WERE TO FIND OUT, OR THERE WAS NEW RESEARCH THAT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE THAT ONE MATERIAL WAS MORE UNSAFE THAN ANOTHER, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD WANNA BRING THAT RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THAT NEW RESEARCH.
RIGHT NOW, AFTER OUR LATEST CONCLUSION, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONCLUSIVE DATA.
AND AS I MENTIONED THE OIG REPORT, THEY DID MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH WERE, UM, UM, FOLLOWED BY FACILITIES, UM, WHEN THEY WERE MADE IN 2021.
BUT, UM, HOW ABOUT ANY RESEARCH IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WITH THE, YOU KNOW, CONTAMINATION AND, AND OUR WATER? AND ALSO, AS WAS MENTIONED IN THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, UM, LETTER, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABLE TO, THE, THE COOLING OF THE SYNTHETIC TURF CAN BE DONE WITH WATER, BUT THEN THAT SORT OF EVAPORATES, RIGHT? AND THEN THAT'S CONTINUED USAGE OF WATER.
SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, YOU ARE WASTING WATER ON THAT.
SO ANY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT RESEARCH, UM, THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF OR THAT YES, CAN ADDRESS THAT.
SO I'LL SPEAK TO, UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SAFETY CONCERNS, UM, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, I'M GONNA FIRST TALK ABOUT DIRECTLY TO THE USERS AND THEN THE BROADER, UH, ENVIRONMENT FOR, YOU KNOW, THE CITY, UM, OUR REGION AND MAYBE THE PLANET.
SO IN TERMS OF OUR STUDENT USE OF SYNTHETIC TURF FIELDS, ALL THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE USED IN THE MAKEUP OF THAT FIELD, INCLUDING THE PLASTIC OF THE GRASS, THE INFILL MATERIALS, THE SHOCK ABSORBER PAD UNDERNEATH, UM, ALL OF THAT IS VERY CAREFULLY REVIEWED BY THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY.
UM, AND TO ENSURE THAT NONE OF THOSE PRODUCTS ARE UNSAFE FOR THE STUDENTS OR COMMUNITY USERS OF THAT, UM, SYNTHETIC TURF HAS PROGRESSED, UM, A LOT OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS WHEN THE DISTRICT HAS STARTED USING IT.
I GAVE THE EXAMPLE AT SOME POINT IN TIME, UM, WE THOUGHT IT WAS, OR THE INDUSTRY THOUGHT THAT USING RECYCLED RUBBER MATERIALS WAS MORE SUSTAINABLE.
THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS TRACE METALS ON THOSE BECAUSE THEY CAME FROM RECYCLED TIRES.
WE THEN WENT ON TO VIRGIN RUBBER.
WE HAD SOME INCIDENCES OF CLUMPING WITH THE VIRGIN RUBBER.
WE'RE NOW USING ESSENTIALLY, UM, A MATERIAL OF GROUND UP NUTSHELLS, LIKE WALNUT
[03:00:01]
SHELLS, ET CETERA, THAT ARE USED FOR THAT INTEL MATERIAL.BUT AT ALL TIMES, WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OEHS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THOSE PRODUCTS ARE SAFE FOR STUDENTS.
HOWEVER, WE DO KNOW THAT JUST THE USE OF PLASTICS AND THEIR FOREVER PLASTICS, UM, HAS LARGE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
UM, IT'S NOT EASILY RECYCLABLE LIKE MANY OF OUR BUILDING MATERIALS, WHETHER THOSE ARE CARPETS OR OUR LIGHTING FIXTURES, WE KNOW THAT BUILDING IN GENERAL HAS CONSIDERATIONS ON THE ENVIRONMENT BY JUST THE AMOUNT OF MATERIALS THAT IT USES, MANY OF WHICH THAT WE TRY TO BE SUSTAINABLE ARE NOT EASILY RECYCLABLE.
AND THE, UM, MAINTENANCE OR THE REPAIRS OR THE OF, FOR SYNTHETIC TURF, IT'S ABOUT HOW OFTEN EIGHT, EVERY EIGHT TO 10 YEARS AS THEY'RE DETERIORATING.
SO THE DISTRICT USES APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TO 10 YEARS ON FAIRFAX.
UM, THIS SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD IS A LITTLE OVER 10 YEARS OLD ON HUNTINGTON PARK.
SO A LOT OF THAT CAN DEPEND ON THE AMOUNT OF WEAR AND TEAR THAT IT'S SEEING AND HOW MUCH USE IT HAS.
IF IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT WEEKEND AND NIGHTTIME USE, IT MAY LAST LONGER.
IF IT'S USED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 12 HOURS A DAY, IT'S OBVIOUSLY GONNA WEAR OUT MORE.
WE HAVE THAT SAME ISSUE ON OUR GRASS FIELDS AS WELL.
THE CHALLENGE THERE IS YOU NEED TO RESEED OR OT IT, THAT ACTUALLY, THAT ALSO HAS A DOWNTIME, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE ANNUALLY.
SO THE PROS AND CONS ARE AT SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD, YOU'RE REPLACING THAT FIELD MAYBE 8, 10, 12, 15 YEARS ON A GRASS FIELD.
YOU'D WANNA RECEDED OR OD THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
SO BOTH HAVE FACTORS OF DOWNTIME.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL, UM, SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN, IN LINE FOR REPLACEMENT OF SYNTHETIC TURFS? YES, THERE ARE.
WE HAVE, UM, A FEW SCHOOLS THAT WE ARE MONITORING AND WE BELIEVE WILL SOON NEED TO BE REPLACED OR ELSE THEY WILL BE, UM, DETERMINED AS MOST LIKELY, UM, UNUSABLE.
UM, SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE AND DETERMINING WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE ON THOSE IN TERMS OF COSTS, WHICH IS MORE EXPENSIVE, SYNTHETIC TURF OR THE SEEDING FOR, FOR GRASS, DEFINITELY THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD IS MORE COSTLY THAN A NATURAL GRASS FIELD.
THE COMPLICATION COMES INTO THE COLOR OF MONEY THAT WE CAN USE.
UM, WHEN WE REPAIR, REPLACE A SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD, WE CAN USE BOND FUNDS TO DO THAT.
IF WE ARE GONNA OD OR RECEDE A GRASS FIELD, THAT FALLS UNDER A NON BOND FUND EXPENSE.
SO WE HAVE TO USE GENERAL FUNDS TO DO THAT OTING OR RECEDING.
UM, AND WE JUST KNOW AS OUR GENERAL FUNDS CONTINUE TO FACE CHALLENGES AND MAINTENANCE BUDGETS DECREASE THAT WE PROBABLY WILL NOT HAVE AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEDE OR RASHAD IF WE'RE RELYING ON GENERAL FUND.
DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHEN, UH, THE, UH, SYNTHETIC TOPHI IS REPLACED? WHAT, WHERE DOES THAT REPLACEMENT GO? DOES IT, IS IT RECYCLED FOR SOMETHING ELSE? OR WHAT IS THE USE AFTER IT'S BEEN, UM, REMOVED? SO WE, UM, WITH OUR SPECIFICATIONS TRY TO, UM, IDENTIFY PRODUCTS THAT COULD BE RECYCLABLE.
WHAT WE HEARD FROM OUR CONTRACTORS IS OFTENTIMES THE CHALLENGE IS FINDING A MARKET WHERE THEY CAN RECYCLE IT.
AND WE KNOW THAT'S OFTEN A CHALLENGE WITH RECYCLABLES, IS YES, THE PRODUCT MAY BE RECYCLABLE, BUT FINDING A MARKET OF SOMEONE WHO WILL ACQUIRE IT AND RECYCLE IT HAS BEEN THE CHALLENGE.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR CONTRACTORS, IS THEY ARE CHALLENGED BY FINDING PLACES WHERE THEY COULD GO AND TAKE IT TO ACTUALLY BE RECYCLED.
MEANING THERE'S A CHALLENGE, SO THEY DON'T RECYCLE IT, SO IT, DOES IT GO IN THE LANDFILL OR SOMETHING? IT WOULD, IF THEY'RE UNABLE TO RECYCLE IT, IT WOULD GO IN THE LANDFILL.
WE HAVE CARLA FOLLOWED BY KELLY.
YEAH, THIS IS A TOUGH ONE, RIGHT? BECAUSE OF ALL THAT YOU'VE SHARED CHRISTINA.
AND, UM, I KNOW IN PARTICULAR FOR HUNTINGTON PARK, THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG TIME FOR THEIR FIELD.
AND THE, THE, THE COACHES, THE TEAMS, THE PEOPLE WHO USE THE FIELD ARE, FEEL THAT THE TURF IS BETTER JUST BECAUSE OF MAINTENANCE AND IT'LL LAST LONGER.
AND I HAVE ALSO ASKED OTHER COACHES IN MY FAMILY, AND THEY AGREE THAT TURF IS BETTER, AND YET WE KNOW IT'S NOT THE BEST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND SO, UM, I, AND IT, IT'S TOUGH FOR ME BECAUSE I'M THINKING WE HAVE THIS GREENING INITIATIVE AND HOW DOES THIS CONNECT WITH THAT? RIGHT? IT SEEMS TO CONTRADICT.
AND SO, UM, WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT STUDIES, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO STUDY, UM, MORE MORE OF THAT ENVIRONMENTAL
[03:05:01]
IMPACT, RIGHT? BECAUSE I, I HEAR ALL ABOUT THE INJURIES AND, AND ALL OF THAT, THAT THERE ISN'T, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY CORRELATE TO THE FIELD TYPE.UM, HOWEVER, WE DO KNOW THAT IT CAN DEFINITELY IMPACT, UM, OUR ENVIRONMENT.
AND IN FACT, AS I WAS PREPARING FOR THIS, UM, THERE ARE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SOUTHEAST CITIES, ONE OF THEM, UM, EC YARD COMMUNITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
AND WE REACHED OUT TO THEM AND ASKED THEM THEIR THOUGHTS.
AND THEIR CONCERN WAS THAT SOMETIMES THESE LITTLE RUBBER PELLETS WHEN IT RAINS, GOES INTO THE SEWAGE, AND THEN OF COURSE IT ENDS UP IN THE OCEAN.
AND, UM, AND SO HOW DO WE MITIGATE THAT? AND, UM, SO I KNOW THAT FOR, FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, THE, UM, THE ATHLETICS, UH, DEPARTMENT WERE ASKED, RIGHT? WERE SURVEYED.
UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE FUTURE FOR US TO ALSO INCLUDE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT, EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE PLAYING ON THE FIELD AND IT IS OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THIS HAS A GREAT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I WOULD LOVE FOR THE NEXT PROJECTS THAT WE INCLUDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN, UM, IN, IN THESE HEARINGS OR THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT THAT WE LOOK AT ALL, UH, LET'S, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST LOOK BROADLY AND DEEPLY AT, UM, THE OTHER AVENUES THAT WE HAVE, UM, TO ALTERNATIVES TO SYNTHETIC, UM, FIELDS.
BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION, RIGHT? SO WHAT OTHER FUNDING I UNDERSTAND THAT MEASURE R IS CAN HELP WITH THIS.
I DON'T KNOW, SOMEBODY MENTIONED THAT TO ME.
SO WHAT OTHER FUNDING IS THERE FROM THE STATE, FROM THE COUNTY, FROM THE CITY THAT CAN SUPPORT MAINTENANCE OF, OF GRASS FIELDS? AND BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, IF THEY ARE NOT MAINTAINED, THEY'RE JUST AS BAD.
AND, UM, SO, AND I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONCERNS FROM THE BOC AND I UNDERSTAND THEIR FRUSTRATION, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, WAIT, WE'RE HERE TO ADVISE YOU, BUT THEN YOU GO AND VOTE, YOU KNOW, IN OPPOSITION TO WHAT WE'RE ADVISING.
SO I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, FRUSTRATION.
AND I WANT TO, UM, COMMIT THAT WE, THAT I'M GONNA ADVOCATE FOR THAT KIND OF STUDY AND THAT WE DO BROADEN THE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WE BRING INTO THE CONVERSATION BEFORE WE RECOMMEND SOMETHING.
SO, UM, AND I KNOW YOU'RE VERY GOOD ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CHRISTINA, YOU ALWAYS ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
SO, UM, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL, YOU WILL DO THAT.
AND, UM, SO YEAH, SO THEN JUST LASTLY, I ALSO WOULD LIKE FOR US TO INVESTIGATE, UM, SUPPORT, FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF, UH, GRASSFIELD FOR, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY, UH, PRUDENT AND WISE AND, UH, RESPECTFUL.
HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN? THANK YOU.
UM, WELL, I'D ECHO, UM, ALL OF THE POINTS RAISE I BY BOARD MEMBER GRIEGO AND DR. RIVAS.
UM, I HAVE SIMILAR CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS.
I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND HOW FROM THE ATHLETICS WORLD, THERE IS A PREFERENCE FOR SYNTHETIC TURF, BUT I THINK THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ARE SIGNIFICANT AND ONLY GROWING AS, UM, AS IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY HOT AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE FOREVER CHEMICALS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON OUR HEALTH, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE ARE A CHILD SERVING ORGANIZATION.
UM, AND I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEAT EXPOSURE, UM, GIVEN THAT IT IS BECOMING EVER MORE HOT IN LOS ANGELES, UM, AND THAT OUR ATHLETES ARE EXERCISING SOMETIMES DURING HOT DAYS, UM, ON THESE, ON THESE TURFS.
UM, SO I THINK THAT ANALYSIS THAT WAS SPOKEN TO WOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, LOOKING AT THE, THE LIFETIME COST, UH, OF BOTH TURF, NATURAL TURF AND SYNTHETIC TURF AND HOW THOSE COMPARE, UM, TO GIVE US A REAL SENSE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY STACK UP, UM, AS WELL AS ANY ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, DATA WE'RE ABLE TO GATHER.
UM, I ALSO THINK LOOKING AT HEAT INJURIES, I KNOW THAT YOU, YOU MENTIONED THE RESEARCH IN GENERAL DOESN'T SHOW INCREASED, UM, INJURIES.
MAYBE THAT WAS LOOKING AT, UH, YOU KNOW, TWISTED ANKLES AND SCRAPED KNEES.
UM, BUT I'M, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEAT EXPOSURE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAT ILLNESS AMONG ATHLETES AND STUDENTS UTILIZING THESE SPACES.
UM, SO IF THERE'S ANY MORE INFORMATION WE CAN GET ON THAT FRONT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, AND JUST IN GENERAL, I MEAN, I THINK THE BOC DIDN'T APPROVE, BUT THEY DIDN'T DISAPPROVE NECESSARILY.
I, I THINK THIS RAISES A REALLY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION THAT WE AS A DISTRICT NEED TO HAVE.
THE POLICY THAT'S IN PLACE WAS PASSED IN 2017.
WE KNOW THAT A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN.
THERE'S BEEN GROWING RESEARCH, UM, ON THIS SUBJECT.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT THIS MORE COMPREHENSIVELY.
[03:10:01]
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO AGREE WITH ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ME.FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM THE STUDENTS, THERE ARE MANY, MANY STORIES ABOUT ARTIFICIAL TURF AND, AND DIFFERENT CONCERNS.
THE FIRST ONE AND THE BIGGEST ONE, UM, LIKE BOARD MEMBER GO HAS TOUCHED UPON, UH, IS THE HEAT.
UH, NATURAL TURF HAS IMMENSE BENEFITS FOR MITIGATING THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, UH, BY BEING SEVERAL DEGREES COOLER ON ANY GIVEN DAY THAN CONCRETE ASPHALT.
UM, AND ESPECIALLY ARTIFICIAL TURF.
AND IT'S BEEN PROVEN IN MANY STUDIES, AND THE STUDENTS TELL ME AS WELL THAT ARTIFICIAL TURF TEMPERATURES OFTEN CLIMB SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THAT OF NATURAL TURF AND SOMETIMES EVEN HIGHER THAN THAT OF REGULAR CONCRETE.
AND IT'S SIMPLY UNSUSTAINABLE AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO RISE TO HAVE STUDENTS PLAYING ON THESE FIELDS, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GONNA OPEN THEM UP AS COMMUNITY PARKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ON THE WEEKENDS, IN THE SUMMER, LIKE WE CAN'T EXPECT STUDENTS TO PLAY ON THOSE FIELDS AND, AND BE ABLE TO GET THE FULLEST EXTENT AND THE, THE PLAYTIME OUT OF IT.
SECOND, ARTIFICIAL TURF ALSO MAKES IMPACTS MUCH HARDER AS WELL.
I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THERE, THERE WAS SOME INC INCONCLUSIVE STUDIES, UM, AND THERE THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
BUT WHEN I TALKED TO THE FOOTBALL TEAM AT MY SCHOOL AND, AND OTHER SPORTS TEAMS, UM, AND THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH ARTIFICIAL TURF, THEY NOTICE THAT IMPACTS ARE HARDER, INJURIES ARE USUALLY MORE SEVERE.
AND OFTENTIMES WHEN THE ARTIFICIAL TURF ISN'T MONITORED AND CARED FOR PROPERLY, IT CAN CLUMP UP AND BECOME AN EXTREMELY HARD SURFACE THAT IS SOMETIMES LITERALLY LIKE CONCRETE.
SO IMAGINE LIKE A STUDENT GETTING TACKLED AND THEY'RE BASICALLY SLAMMING INTO CONCRETE.
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE WANT STUDENTS TO HAVE.
UM, SO WITH ALL THIS IN MIND, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, THE BOARD AND THE DISTRICT LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES TO ARTIFICIAL TURF.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALREADY BEEN EXTENSIVE DESIGN AROUND THESE PROPOSALS AND THAT ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELDS ARE BOND FUNDABLE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER ALTERNATIVES EXPLORED, ESPECIALLY WHEN CONSIDERING THEIR IMPACT ON STUDENT WELLBEING.
NICK, ANY COMMENTS? NO COMMENTS.
MR. MCLEAN ON THE VOTE FOR TAB FIVE, MS. NEWBELL? DR. RIVAS? YES.
MS. EZ, I'M GONNA ABSTAIN ON PROJECTS FIVE AND SIX AND VOTE YES ON THE BALANCE.
SO ABSTAINING ON PROJECTS FIVE AND SIX, AND YES, ON 1, 2, 3, 4, AND THE REST.
UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN? UH, YES.
UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? I WILL VOTE YES AS LONG AS MS. TOKS KEEPS IN MIND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED ABOUT ARTIFICIAL TURF VERSUS NATURAL TURF.
BUT I WILL VOTE YES, THAT IS A YES.
AND, UM, STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG.
UM, I'LL ABSTAIN ON, ON SIX AND SEVEN AND VOTE YES.
ABSTAINING ON SIX AND SEVEN AND YES, ON THE BALANCE.
OKAY, WE'LL COME BACK FOR MS. NEW BILL'S VOTE TAB, UM, SIX TAB.
[8. Board of Education Report No. 005-25/26 Procurement Services Division - Facilities Contracts (Approval of Facilities Contracts Actions) Recommends ratification of the Procurement Services Division contract actions taken by Facilities Contracts under delegated authority as listed in Attachment “A” including: award of advertised construction contracts; award of job order contracts; approval of change orders; completion of contracts; award of informal contracts; award of professional services contract; award of architectural and engineering contracts; extra services / amendments for architectural and engineering contracts; emergency contracts/purchase orders and approved proposed contracts in Attachment B including playground matting task order contracts (PCC 20118.5-.9).]
WE HAVE NO, NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON IT, SO LET'S MOVE IN SECOND ON TAB EIGHT, MOVE IT AND BRING IT TO THE BOARD SO THAT MS. EZ MOVED.AND SECOND BY MR. FOR PRESIDENT SCHUREN.
AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS, I BELIEVE.
I HAVE, YEAH, I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
ON ITEM D, UM, WHO AM I ASKING? WHO'S, WHO'S ANSWERING? SO I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT THE CHANGE ORDERS.
SO IT SAYS HERE, THESE WERE RATIFIED CONTRACTS THAT WERE BELOW TWO 50, RIGHT? AND SO NOW I'M WONDERING, ARE THEY, HAVE THEY GONE OVER WITH THE, UH, OVER TWO 50? AM I ON THE RIGHT ONE? OKAY.
SO, SO AM I ON IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE EIGHT ITEM D.
I'M LOOKING FOR IT ON IN MY BOOK, BUT I CAN'T SEE IT.
SO, SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU'RE, YOU'RE SPEAKING TO THE APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDERS? YES, CORRECT.
BUT IT'S, UH, UNDER ITEM D ON THE FACILITIES PROCUREMENT.
AND I'M SORRY, COULD YOU ASK THAT QUESTION AGAIN? SO, OKAY, SO THESE WERE ALL, THESE ARE AWARDED UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY.
SO THESE, UM, I'M WONDERING IF THEY HAVE ALREADY SURPASSED THE THRESHOLD OF TWO 50 K.
IS THIS, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER, RIGHT? MY, SO, SO SPECIFIC TO EACH OF THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THERE? YES.
ANY OF THESE, NONE OF THOSE HAVE, UH, GONE OVER OUR DELEGATED AUTHORITY.
[03:15:01]
EVEN WITH THE ADDED AMOUNT, UM, THOSE ADDED AMOUNTS WOULD BE, UH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A BOARD APPROVED ACTION, SO, YOU KNOW, A BOND, UM, PROJECT OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.OKAY, SO THERE'S STILL WITHIN THAT SCOPE? CORRECT.
UM, AND THEN I'M SEEING HERE CONTRACTS, I'M, I FEEL LIKE I'M LOOKING AT, OH, THE PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS.
'CAUSE IT JUST, SO HERE, THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON ITEM D.
ANY OTHERS? OKAY, SO THE VOTE ON TAB EIGHT, MS. NEWBELL? YES.
UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
AND STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG? YES.
COULD, UH, COULD MS. NEWVILLE GIVE HER A VOTE? AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT YOU WERE A COACH, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANYTHING TO ADD FOR THE LAST ITEM.
YEAH, NO, YOU GUYS, WE DID A GOOD JOB.
SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOTE? OKAY.
SO, UH, FOR TAB FOUR, MS. NEWBELL, UH, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU VOTE? THAT WAS DONATIONS TO OF MONEY TO THE DISTRICT? YES.
MS. JOHNSON? YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.
SO, MS. NAL, I NEED YOU ON TAB FIVE.
AND THEN MS. ORTIZ, FRANKLIN, I NEED YOU ON TAB FOUR.
AND MS. GRIEGO, I ALSO NEEDED YOUR VOTE ON TAB FOUR.
[9. Board of Education Report No. 007-25/26 Procurement Services Division (Approval of Procurement Actions) Recommends ratification of the contract actions taken by the Procurement Services Division within delegated authority as listed in Attachment “A” including the approval of award of Professional Service Contracts not exceeding $250,000; New Contracts; Contract Amendment; After the Fact Transactions; Purchase Orders; Goods and General Services Contracts: District Card Transactions; Rental of Facilities; Travel/Conference Attendance; General Stores Distribution Center; Book/Instructional Material Purchase Orders; and approval of Professional Service Contracts (exceeding $250,000): New Contracts; and Goods and General Services Contracts (exceeding $250,000): New Contracts as listed in Attachment “B.”]
US TO TAB NINE.SO ON TAB NINE, UH, ITEM A, UH, HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
UM, WE DO HAVE A RECUSAL FOR, UM, THE CSBA CONTRACT.
SO I WILL BE RECUSING MYSELF FROM TAB NINE, ITEM D, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE ON VOTE YES, EXCEPT FOR D.
PRESIDENT, DO ANY BOARD MEMBERS PLAN TO DISCUSS THAT ITEM? THE CSBA? OKAY.
SO THE CSBA CONTRACT, NOT ITEM D.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ITEM D.
'CAUSE IF THERE WAS DISCUSSION, MS UH, DR. RIVAS WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE, LEAVE THE ROOM ON THAT PARTICULAR ONE.
BUT IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM, IT'S ALMOST AS IF IT'S ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR BECAUSE THESE ITEMS ARE BROKEN OUT, UH, DISCREETLY FROM THE TAB.
UM, SO I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU NEED TO LEAVE THE ROOM IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ON THE, ON THE ITEMS. SO WE'RE, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, DON'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS, AND THEN THE DISCUSSION ON THE OTHER ITEMS. OKAY.
SO FOR TAB NINE, AMINA COUTURE, ARE YOU HERE? AMINA? I DON'T THINK SHE'S HERE.
UH, REBECCA HUSSEI, ARE YOU HERE? LET'S SEE.
ESTEE CHANDLER, ARE YOU HERE? UH, JOHN KRENER.
ARE YOU ALEJANDRO CASILLAS? UH, ISRAEL BELTRAN.
ARE YOU HERE? KARINA ESPINOZA.
AND WE DO HAVE SOME CALLIN FOLKS.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
UH, SUPERINTENDENT, PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LOS ANGELES FROM IVANHOE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO JAMES MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL, TO JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M A PROUD PRODUCT OF L-A-U-S-D, AND TODAY I'M SPEAKING SIMPLY AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THIS DISTRICT AND ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
AS A STUDENT IN A USD, I REMEMBER SEARCHING FOR PIECES OF MY IDENTITY AND WHAT WE WERE TAUGHT.
TOO OFTEN, THOSE STORIES, THE STORIES OF MY COMMUNITY AS A MUSLIM AMERICAN, SO MANY OTHERS WERE MISSING.
IT SENDS A QUIET MESSAGE ABOUT WHO BELONGS AND WHO DOESN'T, WHO'S REPRESENTED AND WHO ISN'T.
[03:20:01]
WHY GRANTS SUCH AS THE CALIFORNIA ETHNIC STUDIES OF UCLA CENTER X ARE SO PERSONAL TO ME.AS THIS, AS THIS PROGRAM HELPS CHANGE THAT, IT GIVES TEACHERS AND STUDENTS THE TRAINING AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BRING ALL HISTORIES INTO THE CLASSROOM.
IT MAKES SPACES FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR TO FEEL SEEN FOR EVERY STUDENT, TO BETTER THEIR, UNDERSTAND THEIR NEIGHBORS.
AND FOR OUR DISTRICT TO LIVE UP TO ITS RESPONSIBILITY OF PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR DIVERSE WORLDS, THEY'RE GROWING INTO.
I'VE HEARD THAT THIS GRANT IS BEING QUESTIONED IN EVEN REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA BECAUSE OF UCLA'S HANDLING OF THE PRO-PALESTINIAN ENCAMPMENTS.
AND LET'S BE HONEST, THOSE ENCAMPMENTS WERE AN ACT OF FREE SPEECH ASSEMBLY THAT ARE PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
DISAGREEING WITH THOSE PROTESTS SHOULD NOT BE A REASON TO TAKE RESOURCES AWAY FROM L-A-U-S-E TEACHERS AND ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER LOSE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE OF POLITICS.
AND CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME MAY BELIEVE, PULLING THIS GRANT IS A THREAT TO ETHNIC STUDIES.
IT UNDERMINES THE VERY PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN BUILDING INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS AND SENDS A CHILLING MESSAGE ABOUT WHOSE HISTORIES ARE VALUED.
BRINGING THIS GRANT BACK TO THE TABLE AND APPROVING IT IS ABOUT MUCH MORE ABOUT FUNDING.
IT'S ABOUT TELLING OUR STUDENTS AND OUR CHILDREN THAT THEIR VOICES AND THEIR STORIES MATTER.
IT'S ABOUT GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO BE PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE AND TO RESPECT THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN THIS DISTRICT, THIS DISTRICT, AND IS A PROUD CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, YOUTH.
TAHA, I SEE YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY, BUT I DO NOT HAVE YOU ON THE LINE IN FRONT OF ME.
MUFI AND FATMA, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? ARE YOU IN THE ROOM OF FATMA? I THINK THERE'S SOME FOLKS WHO, WHO SHOWED UP.
CAN YOU PUT YOUR HANDS UP IF YOU SHOWED UP FOR TIME NIGHT? NO.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? REBECCA HUSSEINI.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
THANK YOU TO BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS REBECCA HUSSEINI AND I SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION AT THE MUSLIM PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL.
I AM HERE TODAY AS A COMMUNITY LEADER AND AS SOMEBODY WHO BELIEVES DEEPLY IN LAD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT, NO MATTER THEIR BACKGROUND, IS EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO THRIVE AND TO BE REPRESENTED.
IMPACT STANDS FOR ALL STUDENTS.
THE CALIFORNIA ETHNIC STUDIES GRANT WITH UCLA CENTER X IS NOT JUST A PROGRAM, IT'S A LIFELINE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ACROSS LOS ANGELES FOR OVER A DECADE.
THIS PARTNERSHIP HAS PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CURRICULUM SUPPORT THAT CLOSES OPPORTUNITY GAPS, AFFIRMS THE VOICES OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND BUILDS CLASSROOMS ROOTED IN EQUITY AND INCLUSION, BUT THERE IS MORE AT STAKE HERE.
THIS GRANT HAS COME UNDER FIRE BECAUSE OF POLITICAL DISAGREEMENTS OVER STUDENT PROTEST.
LET'S BE CLEAR, THE UCLA ENCAMPMENTS WERE AN EXERCISE OF FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY AND SPEECH PROTECTED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
DISAGREEING WITH STUDENTS' MESSAGES SHOULD NEVER JUSTIFY DISMANTLING PROGRAMS THAT SERVE OUR TEACHERS AND CHILDREN.
WE ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR ON ANOTHER POINT.
IMPACT STANDS FIRMLY AGAINST ANTISEMITISM IN ALL ITS FORMS. IT IS REAL, IT IS HARMFUL, AND IT MUST BE CONFRONTED.
BUT ANTISEMITISM MUST NOT BE CONFLATED WITH CRITICISM OF ISRAELI GOVERNMENT POLICIES, NOR WITH ANTI-ZIONISM TO DO SO, UNDERMINES FREE EXPRESSION AND DANGEROUSLY DISTORTS THE VALUES OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND EQUITY THAT ETHNIC STUDIES WAS BUILT TO UPHOLD.
TO BLOCK THIS GRANT NOW WOULD ROLL BACK YEARS OF PROGRESS AND SEND A CHILLING MESSAGE THAT POLITICS MATTER MORE THAN STUDENTS TO APPROVE.
IT WOULD REAFFIRM LAD'S LEADERSHIP AS A MODEL FOR INCLUSIVE, CONSTITUTIONAL AND FORWARD LOOKING EDUCATION.
ON BEHALF OF PAC AND THE COMMUNITIES WE REPRESENT, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA AND VOTE YES ON THE CALIFORNIA ETHNIC STUDIES GRANT WITH UCLA CENTER X, OUR STUDENTS DESERVE NOTHING LESS.
AND, UH, MA'AM, YOU CAME IN LATER.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? ESTEE CHANDLER.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M ESTEE CHANDLER, THE FOUNDING ORGANIZER OF JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE LOS ANGELES AND BOARD CHAIR OF JVP ACTION AND FORMER NORTH HOLLYWOOD HIGH STUDENT.
AS A JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADER, I WANNA MAKE CRYSTAL CLEAR THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CALIFORNIA ETHNIC STUDIES GRANT TO UCLA CENTER BEING RENEWED.
THIS PROGRAM MATTERS BECAUSE IT TRAINS TEACHERS TO TEACH TRUTHFULLY AND INCLUSIVELY.
IT MATTERS BECAUSE IT ENSURES THAT STUDENTS FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES SEE THEIR HISTORIES AND COMMUNITIES CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY REFLECTED IN CLASSROOMS. IT MATTERS BECAUSE IT PREPARES ALL L-A-U-S-D STUDENTS TO LEAD RESPONSIBLY, THINK CRITICALLY, AND THRIVE IN A DIVERSE DEMOCRACY.
[03:25:01]
GRANT ISN'T BEING QUESTIONED BECAUSE OF ITS IMPACT.IT'S BEING TARGETED BECAUSE OF THE PRO-PALESTINE ENCAMPMENTS AT UCLA.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, WELL, THOSE ENCAMPMENTS WERE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED EXERCISES OF FREE SPEECH AND ASSEMBLY.
STUDENTS SHOULDN'T BE PUNISHED AND TEACHERS SHOULDN'T LOSE RESOURCES BECAUSE A MINORITY OF ANGELINOS DISAGREE WITH LAWFUL PROTEST.
ANTI-SEMITISM SHOULD OF COURSE BE CONFRONTED, BUT CRITICISM OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND ANTI-ZIONISM ARE NOT ANTI-SEMITIC.
AND CONFLATING ANTI-ZIONISM WITH ANTI-SEMITISM IS AN UGLY AND DANGEROUS WEAPONIZATION OF JEWISH IDENTITY TO SILENCE DISSENT, IT UNDERMINES FREE EXPRESSION AND DISTRACTS FROM FIGHTING ACTUAL ANTI-SEMITISM.
DENYING THIS GRANT WILL SEND THE CHILLING MESSAGE THAT POLITICS MATTER MORE TO THIS BOARD THAN EDUCATION, TRUTH AND JUSTICE.
PLEASE STAND WITH TEACHERS, STAND WITH STUDENTS IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND AFFIRM THE L-A-U-S-D WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH COURAGE AND EQUITY.
I URGE YOU TO PROTECT FREE SPEECH, PROTECT OUR STUDENTS, AND PROTECT ETHNIC STUDIES BY VOTING YES ON CONTINUING THIS GRANT.
DID YOU SIGN UP AND I I CALLED YOUR NAME ALREADY? YES, AS WELL.
MY NAME IS HEIR ZA AND I'M THE POLICY COORDINATOR AT THE COUNCIL ON AMERICANS COUNCIL ON AMERICAN COUNCIL ON ISLAMIC AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS GREATER LOS ANGELES CHAPTER, THE UCLA CENTER X PROGRAM WITH THE CALIFORNIA ETHNIC STUDIES GRANT IS A CRUCIAL PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN IN EFFECT FOR OVER A DECADE.
THE RE VOTING AGAINST THE RENEWAL OF THIS GRANT WOULD BE A DISCRIMINATORY DECISION THAT FALSELY CONFLATES ANTI-ZIONISM WITH ANTI-SEMITISM.
IT INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE ABLE TO CRITIQUE A PARTICULAR POINT OF VIEW WITHOUT PUTTING AN ENTIRE PROGRAM AT RISK.
ETHNIC STUDIES, AS WE ALL KNOW, DOES NOT ONLY COVER ARAB AMERICAN STUDIES, IT COVERS BLACK, LATINO, ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES AND MORE.
FREE SPEECH AND PROTEST AGAINST GENOCIDE ARE NOT RELATED TO AN ETHNIC STUDIES GRANT THAT ENCOURAGES EDUCATION AROUND DIVERSITY AND SILENCING.
ONE MINORITY WOULD DIRECTLY GO AGAINST THE MISSION OF EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY.
BEING ARAB-AMERICAN MYSELF AND HAVING GROWN UP IN THE LA COUNTY EDUCATION SYSTEM, I WOULD HOPE THAT L-A-U-S-D WOULD CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ENSURING THAT ACADEMIC SPACES ALLOW FOR THE HISTORY OF MINORITIES TO BE SEEN, HEARD, TAUGHT, AND RECOGNIZED.
YOU CAN'T BOAST ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ALLOWING FOR POLITICS TO REMOVE THE VERY CORE OF EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM THAT EMPOWERS THAT.
ON BEHALF OF KLA, WE STRONGLY URGE THAT L-A-U-S-D PUT THIS ITEM BACK ON THE AGENDA AND VOTE IN FAVOR FOR IT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO UPLIFT ETHNIC STUDIES AS A CRITICAL PART OF EDUCATION.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM.
WE HAVE, UM, A NUMBER OF ITEMS ON UNDER TAB NINE FOR FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO SPEAK TO.
UM, MS. GREGA ANDON AND MS. EZ AND STUDENT BOARD MEMBER JERRY HAVE ALL, UM, SIGNALED THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO ITEMS ON TAB NINE.
AND WHILE WE'RE HERE, I CAN READ, UH, THE, UM, RECUSAL LANGUAGE, UM, FOR TAB NINE, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 1 8 7 0 7 OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS BOARD MEMBER REVA, UH, IS AND HAS PUBLICLY RECUSED HERSELF FROM DISCUSSING OR TAKING ACTION ON, UH, ITEM D WITHIN TAB NINE, UH, DUE TO A TRAVEL PAYMENT RECEIVED FROM THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION.
SO THAT'S A-C-S-B-A RELATED, UM, BOARD REPORT, ITEM D, EVERYTHING ELSE IS FAIR GAME REPORT, UM, FOR DR. RIVAS TO TAKE PART IN.
SO IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR J IF I MAY, UM, IT'S THE APPROVAL FOR PROCUREMENT ACTIONS ITEM J, DIGITAL SCEPTER CORPORATION.
AND MY QUESTION IS, SINCE WE ARE ON THE TOPIC OF CYBERSECURITY, WHEN WE RATIFY A CONTRACT WITH A VENDOR, DO WE USUALLY ASK THEM ABOUT HOW THEY PROTECT THEIR SYSTEMS? AND IF WE DON'T ASK THEM THOSE QUESTIONS, WHY NOT? SINCE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO VALUABLE DISTRICT INFORMATION AND THAT, THAT, THAT FOR $3,364,986, OH, SORRY.
I WAS WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS.
I'LL REPEAT MADE, I'LL REPEAT.
THANK, SINCE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF CYBERSECURITY, WHEN WE RATIFY A CONTRACT WITH A VENDOR, DO WE USUALLY ASK THEM ABOUT HOW THEY PROTECT THEIR SYSTEMS? AND IF WE DON'T ASK THEM WHY NOT SINCE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO VALUABLE DISTRICT INFORMATION? YEAH, I'M SOIL CATAL, CHIEF INFORMATION
[03:30:01]
OFFICER.UM, AS PART OF OUR, UH, PROCUREMENT, UM, BOILERPLATE LANGUAGE, BASIC LANGUAGE, WE REQUIRE THE VENDOR TO SUBMIT THE SECURITY PLAN AND ANSWER TO ALL OF THE QUESTION THAT WE OFFLINE FOR THE VENDORS.
EVERY CONTRACT, UH, BY DEFAULT HAVE THOSE MATERIAL INCLUDED, ESPECIALLY SERVICES OR ANY TOP PART OF THE CLOUD.
UM, AND WHEN THEY PROVIDE THOSE ANSWERS, THEY NEED TO MEET OUR REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS INDUSTRY STANDARD, UH, TYPE OF SECURITY REQUIREMENTS.
AND THIS CASE, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S USED THE BOILER PLANE LANGUAGE.
YES, I HAVE QUESTION ON ITEM B, UM, REGARDING A CONSULTANT TO ASSESS, LET ME GET TO THAT, ASSESS THE LEGAL BENCH.
JUST WONDERING WHY WE ARE HIRING OUTSIDE FOLKS TO ASSESS OUR LEGAL BENCH.
LIKE WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT OURSELVES? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE QUESTION FOR YOU.
UH, DANENE COX, DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL BEHIND YOU SPEAKING, UH, THE CURRENT BENCH, UH, OF LEGAL FIRMS IS EXPIRING AT THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
UH, THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS BEING DONE BY THIS PARTICULAR, UH, OUTSIDE VENDOR IN ORDER TO, UH, ASSESS HOW OUR DIFFERENT FIRMS FROM THE LEGAL BENCH HAVE, UH, CONDUCTED BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT.
THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL IS NOT, UH, CONDUCTING THIS ASSESSMENT OURSELVES BECAUSE IT WOULD SEEM A BIT SELF-SERVING.
UH, SO WE'RE HAVING AN OUTSIDE FIRM CONDUCT THAT FOR US.
I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT WOULD SEEM SELF-SERVING.
I THINK THAT, I MEAN, ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE CANNOT BE, THAT IT WOULD NOT SEEM OBJECTIVE, UM, IF WE WERE TO DO IT OURSELVES TO SEE, I MEAN, WHETHER IT'S THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL OR THE FINANCE OFFICE TO LOOK AT OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENTS.
I MEAN, HOW DO WE ASSESS OTHER, OTHER BENCHES THAT WE HAVE? DO WE OFTEN SEEK, UM, CONSULTANTS TO DO THAT OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO DO THAT? I'LL LET PROCUREMENT SERVICES SPEAK ON THAT BEHALF.
SO MATT FRIEDMAN, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER, UM, TYPICALLY, UH, THOSE ASSESSMENTS ARE DONE INTERNALLY.
UM, NOT TO SAY THAT THEY AREN'T DONE EXTERNALLY, UH, BUT TYPICALLY IT'S AROUND DATA OF THE SERVICES, THE EFFECTIVENESS, UM, AND SO, SO ON.
SO, OKAY, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
UM, JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HERE WE ARE IN A TIME OF, OF FISCAL STABILITY, RIGHT? WE'RE TRYING TO STABILIZE OUR BUDGET AND IF WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, WHY ARE WE DOING IT NOW? WHAT IS THE, THE URGENCY TO HIRE TO SPEND GENERAL FUNDS? IT'S 193,000 MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT, BUT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, EVERY PENNY COUNTS FOR STUDENTS.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING HOW, WHAT IS THE, THE, UM, THE DIRE NEED TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON AN OUTSIDE ENTITY TO DO THIS ASSESSMENT WHEN WE'VE NEVER DONE IT FOR OUR LEGAL BENCH.
SO WHY NOW, BOARD MEMBER RIEGEL, THERE ISN'T A DIRE NEED.
THIS WAS JUST, UM, INTENDED TO ASSIST WHEN WE COME BACK WITH THE NEW BENCH, UM, FOR QUESTIONS THAT MAY COME FROM, UH, THE BOARD OR THE SUPERINTENDENT.
IT JUST WASN'T EXTRA LAYER OF INFORMATION TO PROVIDE ON BEHALF OF OGC.
SO IT WAS JUST, LET'S JUST PROVIDE THIS EXTRA LAYER RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED, BUT THERE ISN'T A DIRE NEED FOR IT.
I HAD A QUESTION FOR ITEM M, THE L-A-U-S-D ECOS SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.
UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THIS BUILDS UPON AND USES CURRENT SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES OR IF IT'S PLANNING TO CREATE A WHOLE SET OF NEW ONES.
CHRIS LIO, CHIEF ECOS SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER YES, ACTUALLY IS BUILDING ON THE EXISTING INITIATIVES AND BUILDING ON THOSE AS WELL.
AND BY DEFINING, UM, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR ALL THE DIVISIONS AND DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN LA UNIFIED.
AND THEN I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMENT AND SAY THAT, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS HAVE LONG THOUGHT IS NECESSARY, UM, TO HAVE A SPECIFICALLY ENUMERATED SUSTAINABILITY PLAN THAT SETS FORTH CONCRETE GOALS ON
[03:35:01]
HOW TO MOVE FORWARD, ESPECIALLY FOR, FOR INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS AND TALKING WITH STUDENTS.ANOTHER POINT THEY'VE BROUGHT UP, UM, IS THAT, UM, MAYBE FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER GOING FORWARD, UH, FOCUS BEYOND JUST FACILITIES AND, AND, UM, DISTRICT DEPARTMENTS, BUT ALSO ON, UH, SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CURRICULUM BEING TAUGHT TO STUDENTS.
UM, I'VE HEARD FROM COUNTLESS STUDENTS THAT THERE'S A NEED TO SHIFT CLIMATE CURRICULA TO FOCUS MORE ON LOCAL ISSUES, TO GET STUDENTS MORE INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND ALSO TO MAKE LEARNING, ESPECIALLY IN THIS FIELD, MORE PROJECT BASED TO GET STUDENTS ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO LEARNING VALUABLE SKILLS AND INSIGHT.
UM, AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THIS TRANSITION TO GREENER FACILITIES, THAT IN THIS TRANSITION TO GREENER FACILITIES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE STUDENT INVOLVEMENT WITH THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN WHEREVER, UM, AND WHEREVER, WHENEVER AND WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
UM, SO THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES ACCOUNTED FOR WHEN CONSIDERING IMPROVEMENTS OR CHANGES.
UM, AND THIS STUDENT INVOLVEMENT WILL ALSO HAVE THE ADDED BENEFIT OF PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND BEING ABLE TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY BY DISSEMINATING IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO THEIR PEERS.
UH, NICK, ANY QUESTIONS? NO ETTE ANY QUESTIONS? I BELIEVE YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE.
ON ITEM F AND IT'S REGARDING THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
UM, IT SAYS HERE THAT THE, THIS TOTAL AMOUNT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES EXPENDITURES INCLUDE ARE FOR BOTH SCHOOL AND DIVISION'S APPROVED BUDGETS.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT IS SCHOOLS AND WHAT IS DIVISIONS? AND THEN I THINK WE'VE ASKED FOR A LIST OF THE DIFFERENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT WE, THAT WE SPEND MONEY ON, AND I DON'T THINK WE RECEIVED THAT.
SO, UM, BUT CAN YOU TELL ME RIGHT NOW, WHAT IF, IF NOT AN AMOUNT, WHAT PERCENTAGE IS SCHOOLS? WHAT PERCENTAGES IS CENTRAL? SO WE, WE DON'T ACTUALLY DISAGGREGATE THAT DATA.
UH, BUT MAYBE WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THE, THE SPENDING HERE IS OFF CONTRACT PURCHASE ORDERS THAT'S DIRECTLY TIED TO SCHOOL AND OFFICE BUDGETS.
SO LOOKING AT A A SCHOOL'S BUDGET, YOU CAN SEE THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDING, UM, NOT SPECIFIC TO THE SPENDING, BUT IN GENERAL.
AND IT WOULD BE GREAT, AND I WOULD ASK THAT IF YOU COULD DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW, RIGHT? HOW MUCH IS SPENT FOR SCHOOLS, HOW MUCH IS SPENT CENTRALLY AND WITHOUT HAVING TO GO INTO EVERY SCHOOL'S BUDGET.
AND, UM, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO KNOW HOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE USING THEIR BUDGETS TO SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING, STUDENT JOY AND WELLNESS AT THE SCHOOL SITES AND WHAT VENDORS ARE USING.
MR. CLEAN, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, I THINK WE HAD, DIDN'T, UH, MS. EZ HAVE A QUESTION ON, ON SOMETHING ON TAB NINE? SO, UM, IF WE COULD WAIT A MOMENT, I'LL GO CHECK WITH HER BEFORE WE VOTE.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON ITEM N ON THE MISSION.
UM, SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO PROVIDE, UM, OFFSITE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS IN OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, UM, ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS AS WELL AS FIELD TRIPS, UM, ET CETERA.
UH, CURIOUS ABOUT OUR CAPACITY AS A DISTRICT TO, UM, IN THE FUTURE BRING THIS IN-HOUSE AND UTILIZE OUR OWN LESD BUS DRIVERS TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE.
UM, I, THERE ARE MANY OF THEM.
WE ARE GROWING OUR BUS DRIVERS.
UM, SO I, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN OUR OWN EMPLOYEES RATHER THAN CONTRACTING OUT THESE SERVICES.
IF YOU COULD SHARE ABOUT WHAT, WHETHER AND HOW WE'RE EXPLORING THAT FOR THE FUTURE.
BOARD MEMBER, DANIEL KING, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, AND YES, UM, DOI BEYOND THE BELL DOES REACH OUT TO TRANSPORTATION SERVICES BRANCH FOR THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO COVER ALL THESE TRIPS AND REQUESTS.
THE MAIN CONCERN IS CAPACITY AS TRANSPORTATION, PRIMARILY PRIORITIZES AIM AND PM TRIPS WHICH SUPPORT INSTRUCTION.
UM, SOME OF THE TRIP REQUESTS, UH, FALL WITHIN THE AM AND PM TIME, SUCH AS MORNING IS BETWEEN SIX 30 8:30 AM IN THE AFTERNOON BETWEEN TWO 30 AND 5:30 PM WHERE THERE'S PASSIVE AVAILABLE.
WE DO TAKE DRIVERS OFF THESE ROUTES TO SUPPORT THESE TRIPS, AND THEN ROUTES ARE THEN CONSOLIDATED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE AM AND PMM INSTRUCTION WHEN DEMAND GOES UP SEASONALLY.
[03:40:01]
SAY FOR INSTANCE, UH, FOOTBALL SEASON, UH, PLAYOFFS, ET CETERA.UH, THAT'S WHEN WE DEPEND, EXCUSE ME, THAT'S WHEN WE DEPEND ON THE CHARTER BUS SERVICE LIST, WHICH WE AS A DISTRICT HAVE ABOUT 25 PRIVATE COMPANIES ON THAT LIST.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT WITH MST IS TO ENSURE, UH, A MORE STABLE PRICE WHENEVER THE DISTRICT UTILIZES THIS CONTRACT SERVICE LIST.
WE'RE AT THE WHIM OF PRIVATE SECTOR AND WHAT WE CALL ON DEMAND PRICING, WHICH IS KIND OF SIMILAR TO LIKE UBER, LYFT, AND THE PRIVATE MODEL.
UM, WE'RE USING THE ACES GRANT TO, TO FUND THIS TRANSPORTATION.
IT'S, IT'S A, LIKE A RESTRICTED GRANT RATHER THAN GENERAL FUNDS THAT WE'RE USING.
I'M THE INTERIM DI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BEYOND THE BELL.
AND TO RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION, ACES IS ONE OF OUR GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVED TO PROVIDE EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAMS. OKAY.
AGAIN, AS I SAID, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED.
OBVIOUSLY THE PRIORITY IS TRANSPORTING STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL, UM, AND THAT WE MIGHT HAVE CAPACITY CHALLENGES IN THIS AREA.
UM, I JUST WONDER IF THESE, YOU KNOW, REVENUE SOURCES MIGHT BE AN AREA WHERE WE COULD, UH, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HOURS TO CERTAIN BUS DRIVERS BRING ON ADDITIONAL BUS DRIVERS TO PROVIDE THIS, THIS TYPE OF SERVICE RATHER THAN GOING WITH AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTING ENTITY.
UM, SO WOULD JUST ASK THAT THE STAFF EXPLORE THAT POSSIBILITY FOR FUTURE SCHOOL YEARS.
AND ALSO IT'S, IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KING, UH, ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN THIS, IT, IT IS OUR POSITION THAT WE DO NOT EV AVAIL OURSELVES OF THESE RESOURCES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THERE IS EITHER A CONFLICT THAT WE CANNOT SOLVE FOR OR LACK OF CAPACITY.
SO OBVIOUSLY DURING PEAK TIMES, UH, OUR BUS DRIVERS AND OUR BUS FLEET ARE USING BOTH THE MANPOWER AND, AND THE EQUIPMENT ITSELF TO TRANSPORT KIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
THOSE WOULD BE THE ONLY TIMES IS THAT IF WE HAVE NO BUSES AND NO DRIVERS OTHER THAN THAT WE WILL ALWAYS USE, UH, AS A MEASURE FIRST RESORT.
UH, OUR EQUIPMENT AND OUR DRIVERS, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT THAT, THAT'S BEEN VERY CLEAR, AT LEAST FROM FROM MY OFFICE, THAT, THAT THAT'S THE ONLY TIME THAT THE UTILIZATION OF THOSE SERVICES WOULD BE CONTEMPLATED.
THAT'S A HELPFUL CLARIFICATION AND GOOD TO KNOW.
WE WILL CONTINUE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN OPTIMIZE OUR EXISTING STAFF.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO HAD A QUESTION ON ITEM OR A COMMENT ON ITEM I, THE NATIONAL EDUCATION EQUITY LAB.
UM, I, I THINK THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN AMAZING PROGRAM AND EXCITED TO HEAR THAT WE'RE AVAILING OURSELVES OF IT, UM, TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES AS AT LOTS OF DIFFERENT GREAT INSTITUTIONS NATIONWIDE.
UM, AND LOOKING AT THE LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING, I KNOW THIS IS VOLUNTARY, THAT SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE, BUT THERE ARE NO SCHOOLS IN MY BOARD, DISTRICT BOARD DISTRICTS SIX THAT CURRENTLY PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.
UM, JUST WONDERING IF, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL MIGHT COMMIT TO MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS IN THE EAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CAN OFFER THESE COURSES TO OUR STUDENTS.
SO I, I HAD NOTICED THAT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DATA AS WELL, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO IS THE, UM, COUNSELING COORDINATOR OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF INSTRUCTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION IS GOTTEN OUT TO THE SCHOOLS TO LET THEM KNOW THE COURSES FOR THIS FALL.
AND THEN AGAIN, THERE'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IN THE SPRING SEMESTER BECAUSE THERE'S A FALL AND SPRING.
THE COURSES AREN'T ALWAYS THE SAME.
UM, SOMETIMES THEY SHIFT, IT JUST DEPENDS UPON THE STUDENT INTEREST, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY MAKE THAT COMMITMENT.
AND HOWEVER WE CAN HELP GET THE WORD OUT AMONG OUR PRINCIPALS.
WE WANNA ENSURE OUR STUDENTS IN BOARD DISTRICT SIX CAN BENEFIT FROM THESE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
CAN I HAVE A MOVE AND A SECOND ON TAB NINE? MOVE IT, MOVE BY FOR PRESIDENT SEN SECONDED BY, UH, MS. EZ.
MS. GRIEGO? WE'RE VOTING ON ALL OF 'EM TOGETHER.
ON TAB NINE, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT ITEM A WAS WITHDRAWN.
I HAVE ONE THAT I'M GONNA VOTE, I'M GONNA ABSTAIN FROM B.
OKAY, SO FROM MY NOTES AND EVERYTHING ELSE? YES.
ITEM B, YOU HAVE ABSTAINED FROM? YES.
UH, MS. EZ I'LL ALSO ABSTAIN FROM B AND I'M A NO ON ITEM N AND I'M A YES ON THE BALANCE.
[03:45:01]
ME.THAT'S AN ABSTAIN AND A NO ON N ON ITEM N AS IN NANCY AND A YES ON THE REMAINDER.
UH, STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG ALSO NOT HERE.
SO WE'LL COME BACK FOR, UH, DR.
SO, UM, ALL RIGHT, THAT BRINGS US TO
[15. Board of Education Report No. 023-25/26 Facilities Services Division (Certification of Unhoused Pupils for Charter School Facilities Program Applications) Recommends the adoption of a resolution to fulfill the requirements of the California Code of Regulations Title 2 Section 1859.162.1, for charter school operators independently applying for funding under the Charter Schools Facilities Program.]
TAB 15.LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON IT VERY QUICKLY.
TAB 15, WE HAVE, UH, ONE PERSON, UH, MARTIN FARAN.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HELLO, L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND DISTRICT STAFF.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU ALL TODAY.
MY NAME IS MARTIN FARHAN AND I AM PROUD TO SERVE AS A STAFF MEMBER AT GREEN DOT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ANIMO JACKIE ROBINSON CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL'S TITLE TWO APPLICATION FOR FUNDING UNDER THE CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES PROGRAM.
AND TO ALSO SHARE ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ROLE OUR SCHOOL HAS PLAYED FOR FAMILIES IN LOS ANGELES SINCE 2006.
AT ANIMO JACKIE ROBINSON, OUR PRINCIPAL, TEACHERS AND STAFF WORK CLOSELY WITH THE GREEN.TEAM TO ENSURE THAT OUR 600 PLUS SCHOLARS HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY CLASSROOMS, STRONG INSTRUCTION, AND THE SUPPORT NEEDED TO SUCCEED.
LAST YEAR THE SCHOOL REACHED A 97% GRADUATION RATE, EXCEEDED THE STATE IN THEIR COLLEGE AND CAREER INDICATOR RATE, AND EXCEEDED ONE YEAR OF GROWTH IN ENGLISH AND MATH.
AS A CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY SCHOOL, OUR SCHOOL IS KNOWN FOR PROVIDING A SAFE, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT WHILE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE.
THROUGH RIGOROUS COURSEWORK AND INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT, WE VALUE THE DISTRICT'S ONGOING PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THE PROPOSITION 39 PROGRAM AND ARE EAGER TO CONTINUE THAT COLLABORATION WITH THIS APPLICATION.
ANIMO JACKIE ROBINSON IS MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL AS IT IS A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS ARE SEEN, SUPPORTED, AND CHALLENGED TO RISE.
THAT COMMITMENT WAS RECOGNIZED WHEN WE ARE NAMED A CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL IN 2024.
FAMILIES TAKE PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE INCLUDED IN DECISION MAKING AND KNOW THEY BELONG.
A PERMANENT FACILITY NEAR OUR CURRENT SITE WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND THESE OFFERINGS WHILE HONORING OUR PROMISE TO SERVE LOS ANGELES STUDENTS FOR YEARS TO COME.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR TAB 15? MOVE IT.
MOVE BY EZ AYE FOR SECOND? UH, MR. MELVOIN GETS THE SECOND AND WE HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.
WELL, THE LANGUAGE IN THIS MATERIAL IS VERY CONFUSING, VERY CONFUSING, BUT AFTER READING IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, I THINK I GOT IT.
UM, SO JUST FOR CLARITY, CAN ANYBODY EXPLAIN WHAT AN UNHOUSED STUDENT IS IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS TAB? I KNOW WHAT AN UNHOUSED STUDENT IS, BUT IN THIS TAB, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CHRISTINA TOSS, CHIEF FACILITIES EXECUTIVE, AN UNHOUSED PUPIL IS A, A VERY DEFINED TERM USED BY THE STATE.
UM, AND IT IS ESSENTIALLY STUDENTS THAT THE DISTRICT CANNOT ACCOMMODATE WITHIN ITS EXISTING CAPACITIES.
SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR HOUSING STATUS AS THE TERM YOU WOULD THINK WOULD BE, BUT IT'S REALLY A TECHNICAL TERM.
UM, BASICALLY SAYING THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS.
UM, AND JUST FOR BACKGROUND, WHEN THIS DISTRICT HAD, UM, SEVERE, UM, ENROLLMENT INCREASES ABOUT TWO OR THREE DECADES AGO IN THE PAST, UM, AND WE HAD TO IMPLEMENT YEAR ROUND CALENDARS AND MANDATORY BUSING, THAT WAS SO THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY UNHOUSED PUPILS.
AND THERE WAS A TIME MANY YEARS AGO WHERE THE DISTRICT WORKED, UM, WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CAPACITY FOR UNHOUSED PUPILS.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE ANY UNHOUSED PUPILS.
SO THE ACTION THAT IS BEING ASKED OF THE BOARD TODAY
[03:50:01]
IS NOT AN ACTION IN SUPPORT OR, UM, IN OPPOSITION OF CHARTERS MAKING APPLICATIONS.IT'S PURELY AN ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENT BY THE STATE THAT THE BOARD PASSES A RESOLUTION JUST CERTIFYING HOW MANY UNHOUSED PUPILS THE DISTRICT HAS.
WE HAVE ZERO UNHOUSED PUPILS, SO IT'S PASSING A RESOLUTION STATING THAT FACT.
THAT'S A LOT OF WORDS FOR A ZERO
BUT I DO HAVE THIS QUESTION FOR YOU.
UH, MANY CONCERNS WITH THE ITEM FROM THE LANGUAGE AND THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF WHAT THE MONEY WILL POTENTIALLY BE USED FOR, BUT THE PAPERWORK IS TURNED IN AND IT'S A COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.
SO I SEE NO REASON TO VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM, BUT IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST CONFUSING ITEMS I HAVE READ SO FAR, BUT THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE, CARLA? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BECAUSE I DID GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT THAT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN? THERE'S NO ONE ELSE? STUDENTS IN L-A-U-S-D.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPLANATION AND WHAT THE VOTE MEANS.
UH, MS. NEWBELL? YES, DR. RIVAS.
UH, BOARD PRESIDENT MOLSEN? YES.
SO I'LL HAVE TO COME BACK FOR DR.
UM, WE HAVE DISPATCHED OF ALL THE OTHER BUSINESS.
WE HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT THREE 30.
SO, UH, THE MEETING IS GOING TO HAVE TO RECESS UNTIL 3:20 PM THANK YOU.
EVERYONE WILL BE BACK HERE AT 3:20 PM OKAY.
TIME IS NOW AUGUST, I MEAN, THE TIME IS NOW THREE 30.
UH, THE DATE IS AUGUST 26TH, 2025.
WELCOME BACK TO THE REGULAR MEETING IN LOS ANGELES, UNIFIED SCHOOL OF DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION.
WE ARE BACK FROM RECESS AND I WILL TAKE ROLE.
REVA, UH, MR. MALVO IS NOT HERE.
MS. EZ IS HERE FROM HER FIELD OFFICE.
CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME, MS. EZ? WE DIDN'T, I DIDN'T QUITE HEAR YOU.
UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN AND BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON PRESENT.
UH, MR. MELVOIN IS LISTENING, JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[General Public Comment (Approximately 3:30 P.M.)]
UH, WE'LL START WITH THOSE WHO ARE LISTED AS SPEAKING IN PERSON, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THOSE LISTED AS SPEAKING REMOTELY.OH, IT LOOKS LIKE SHE SWITCHED TO ONLINE.
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU, MS. KONO.
UM, IF YOU'RE ONLINE, I'M GONNA HEAR FROM THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN PERSON FIRST.
UH, BIRDIE LEE, ARE YOU HERE? BIRDIE, COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M BRADY LEE, THE ORGANIZER OF PHONE FREE IVANHOE AND A MEMBER OF SCHOOLS BEYOND SCREENS.
LAST WEEK, MY SON CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL WITH THE L-A-U-S-D RESPONSIBLE USE POLICY, WHICH INSTRUCTS MY THIRD GRADER TO READ AN INITIAL EACH SECTION.
THE DOCUMENT BEGINS BY CITING IMPORTANT LEG LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CHILDREN ONLINE AND THEN PROMPTLY PROCEEDS TO PLACE ALL OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A CHILD'S PROTECTION, NOT ON THE ADULTS IN CHARGE OF PROVIDING SAFE CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY, BUT INSTEAD ON THE CHILD DESPITE ITS CLUMSY LOGIC.
LET'S IMAGINE A LAWYER WROTE THIS, I IMAGINE A WELL EDUCATED ADULT IN A BUSINESS SUIT SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM MY 8-YEAR-OLD SON IN A SLUSHY STAINED T-SHIRT WITH FIVE MISSING TEETH, USING WORDS HE'S NEVER HEARD BEFORE, LIKE PORNOGRAPHIC AND SEXTING.
HE ASKED HIM TO SIGN HIS INITIALS NEXUS STATEMENTS LIKE, I WILL NOT MEET ANYONE IN PERSON.
I HAVE MET ONLY ON THE INTERNET.
YES, APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO THE LUSD RESPONSIBLE USE POLICY, THIS SCENARIO IS POSSIBLE ON A SCHOOL ISSUED DEVICE.
AND FURTHERMORE, IT'S THE CHILD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO WHAT NOT BE PREYED UPON BY A CRIMINAL SEXUAL PREDATOR WHILE TRYING TO GET AN EDUCATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE VISION OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT'S A LOT LESS CREEPY.
L-A-U-S-D IS THE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CALIFORNIA,
[03:55:01]
A STATE FAMOUS FOR TECH INNOVATION.INSTEAD OF HANDING OUT, HANDING AN 8-YEAR-OLD CHILD A FOUR PAGE SINGLE SPACE DOCUMENT WITH OVER 40 DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL THREATS TO VOID ON HIS SCHOOL DEVICE, WHY DON'T THE ADULTS IN CHARGE OF CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING THIS TECHNOLOGY TO YOUNG STUDENTS TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY? ARE WE REALLY SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT THE, THE SAME BIG TECH COMPANIES MAKING SELF-DRIVING CARS, ROCKETS, AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SO POWERFUL, IT WILL ELIMINATE MOST JOBS, CAN ALSO CREATE CHILD SAFE EDUCATIONAL COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE.
IT'S TIME TO HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE AND IT'S TIME FOR L-A-U-S-D TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH ALL OF ITS ECONOMIC LEVERAGE AND DEMAND BETTER FOR ITS STUDENTS.
I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT BOARD MEMBER ORTIZ FRANKLIN ARRIVED ABOUT ONE MINUTE AGO, SO THANK YOU.
ARE YOU HERE? MR. ACHE? COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK WHEN YOU BEGIN.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF UH, 43, UH, FAMILIES FROM WONDERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT SPLIT CLASSES.
UM, HONESTLY, UH, MOST PARENTS DON'T LIKE SPLITS.
AND, UH, I'VE SPOKEN WITH SOME TEACHERS, WE DON'T LIKE THEM EITHER, BUT WE ALL UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES IT'S A NECESSARY COMPROMISE AND WE ACCEPT THAT.
BUT WHAT WE THE PARENTS REALLY DON'T WANT IS FOR SOME KIDS TO BE FORCED TO BE IN SPLIT CLASSES MORE THAN ONCE, WHILE SOME NEVER ARE.
WE WANT FAIRNESS AND TRANSPARENCY WHEN SPLITS ARE FORMED.
UH, HERE IS AN ONGOING EXAMPLE FROM THIS YEAR.
A SECOND GRADER, ELISA WAS ASSIGNED TO A SPLIT CLASS FOR THE SECOND TIME, AND THAT MEANS SHE'S LISTENING TO FIRST GRADE CURRICULUM FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A ROW.
WHEN THE PRINCIPAL WAS ASKED FOR REASSIGNMENT, TWO OTHER STUDENTS WHO TO MY KNOWLEDGE, UH, HAD NEVER BEEN IN A SPLIT, WERE REASSIGNED TO A FULL SECOND GRADE, BUT NOT ALI.
AND THE ONLY EXPLANATION GIVEN WAS WHAT IT WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION.
SOME OTHER FAMILIES HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES IN PAST YEARS.
THIS IS BIGGER THAN ONE FAMILY.
IT'S A SYSTEM PROBLEM OF TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS, AND EQUITY.
WE'VE ALREADY ASKED REGION WEST, UH, TO ISSUE OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE, BUT WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD TO CONSIDER A DISTRICTWIDE POLICY.
OUR SPECIFIC ASK TO A BOARD, UM, IS A BOARD RESOLUTION WITH A DEFAULT TO AVOID REPEAT SPLIT PLACEMENTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, CHILDREN SHOULD BE ADVANCING, NOT LOOPING THE SAME CONTENT BECAUSE OF, BECAUSE OF NON TRANSPARENT PLACEMENT PRACTICES.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK A BOARD MEMBER TO SPONSOR THIS ITEM AND REQUEST WHAT IT'LL BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT AVAILABLE REGULAR MEETING.
I'LL NOTE THAT DR. RIVAS IS WITH US NOW AS WELL.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN ALLEN WOODEN.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JOHN ALLEN WOODEN.
MY CHILD ATTENDS WALTER REED MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I'M A MEMBER OF SCHOOLS BEYOND SCREENS.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR BANNING SMARTPHONES BELL TO BELL.
UNFORTUNATELY, PHONES ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE DIGITAL DISTRACTION ICEBERG.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, CONCERNED BY MY SON'S CONSTANT COMPLAINTS THAT HIS HONORS CLASSES WERE TOO LOUD AND CHAOTIC FOR HIM TO LEARN.
I SAT IN ON TWO FULL DAYS OF INSTRUCTION.
WHAT I WITNESSED FROM THE REAR OF CLASS AFTER CLASS WAS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF DISTRACTION CAME NOT FROM PERSONAL PHONES, BUT FROM THE SCHOOL ISSUED CHROMEBOOKS ATOP EVERY DESK ON WHICH ALMOST NO ACTIVITY WAS.
ACADEMIC KIDS GOOF AROUND ENDLESSLY WITH CHROMEBOOK CUSTOMIZATION AND WEBCAMS CHATTING INSIDE SHARED DOCUMENTS.
AND BECAUSE THE DISTRICT HAS FAILED TO BLOCK THE OPEN INTERNET, STUDENTS BRAZENLY PLAY WEB GAMES, SHOP ON AMAZON, WATCH SPORTS AND STREAM ENDLESS VACUOUS JUNK ON YOUTUBE.
MEANWHILE, TEACHERS SIMPLY CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE CHROMEBOOKS.
INFINITE, HIGHLY ADDICTIVE TEMPTATIONS, ALL ATTEMPTS TO POLICE DEVICE MISUSE, RESTORE CLASSROOM ORDER FOR A MINUTE AT TWO OR TWO AT BEST, IT'S ANARCHY, A FARCICAL BLACK HOLE OF LEARNING.
OUR CULTURE BOUGHT A SIMPLISTIC NARRATIVE THAT BECAUSE COMPUTERS RULE THE WORLD OF WORK, KIDS MUST USE THEM TO LEARN.
BUT THERE WAS NEVER ANY DATA TO SUPPORT THAT, AND IT'S NOT WORKING.
SCORES KEEP DROPPING AND OUR KIDS CAN'T CONCENTRATE.
[04:00:01]
THAT'S BECAUSE CHROMEBOOKS ARE NOT LEARNING DEVICES, THEY'RE DISTRACTION DEVICES.AND GOOGLE'S COLONIZING OUR CLASSROOMS IS PROVIDING AS MANY COGNITIVE BENEFITS AS A BOWL OF LEAD PAINT CHIPS.
THE ONE-TO-ONE DEVICE POLICY IS AN ABJECT FAILURE.
WE MUST RETURN TO PAPER AND REAL BOOKS AND THE ANALOG TEACHING METHODS THAT SERVED US BRILLIANTLY FOR CENTURIES.
PLEASE PURGE ALL ED TECH FROM L-A-U-S-A SCHOOLS.
UH, MAO TREJO, I SEE YOU'RE HERE.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN, OR MAL WAS HERE EARLIER.
OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT PERSON.
YOU LOVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK WHEN YOU BEGIN AND THEN I'LL BE YIELDING MY TIME TO LAYLA HERE.
LAYLA, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I CAME FROM HORSEMAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND I'M A LEADER IN STUDENTS RESERVE AND A PART OF POLICE FREE L-A-U-S-D COALITION.
I'M DEMANDING FOR YOU GUYS TO LISTEN TO MY DEMANDS SOMETIME.
LAST YEAR WE HAD WON A MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE MAJOR EVENTS FROM L-A-U-S-D TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT BLACK, UNDOCUMENTED AND QUEER STUDENTS.
BUT THE CURRENT ICE RAID IS NOT ENOUGH.
LAUD SHOULD NOT ALLOW ICE ON ANY SITES AT ALL.
COLLABORATION WITH ICE AND LAPD SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.
LAUD SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES BY BRINGING BENJAMIN A STUDENT FROM ATA HIGH SCHOOL AND BRING 'EM HOME AND ALL LAUD STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED BY ICE TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES IMMEDIATELY IN ASSOCIATION WITH UTLA.
WE DEMAND THAT UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED LEGAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO FACE DEPORTATION OR CRIMINALIZATION, AS WELL AS MUTUAL AID AND MUTUAL AID FOR SUPPORT OF THEIR FAMILIES OF MINE.
AFTER LOVED ONES HA HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED AND TAKING A STEP FURTHER TO PROTECT THESE STUDENTS BY EXPANDING SAFE PASSAGE AND COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY AROUND SCHOOLS WITHOUT THE HELP OF POLICE.
AND SPEAKING OF COMMUNITY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT ENDING FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
WHY ARE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TREATED AS LESS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ALREADY STRUGGLED WITH FUNDING FOR BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS CHROMEBOOKS DESK AND HIRING ENOUGH TEACHERS AND STAFF AND NOW FACING POSITIVE LOSS TO SCHOOLS COMPLETELY.
I BELIEVE EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT EVERYWHERE AND THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL ARE THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING.
BECAUSE CLASSES ARE SMALLER, STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO, TO HAVE BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE TUTOR TEACHERS, ALLOWING EVERYONE TO GET BETTER SUPPORT FOR THEIR STUDIES.
I BELIEVE STUDENTS BENEFIT A LOT WHEN GETTING GOING TO A COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
AND I AM ONE OF, I'M ONE OF THE ONE OF THOSE WHO GO TO COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY MY TEACHERS AND STAFF AT MY SCHOOLS WITH MY WORK AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS IN WAYS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SUPPORTED IN REC SCHOOLS.
AMIR KASMIR, ARE YOU HERE, AMIR? I THINK I, I AM LEAVING MY TIME TO GILBERT.
I'M HERE WITH STUDENTS DESERVE AND I STAND HERE RIGHT NOW TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR STUDENTS OF LUD TODAY IN AN AGE WHERE STUDENTS ARE SUFFERING DUE TO TO EVENTS OCCURRING THROUGHOUT IMMIGRATION, WE'VE WITNESSED STUDENTS, WE'VE WITNESSED STUDENTS, FRIENDS AND FAMILIES BE DEPORTED, DETAINED, AND IN DETAINED INTO HANDCUFFS AND EVEN KIDNAPPED STUDENTS ARE EXTREMELY FEARFUL OF BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN PROPER STUDENT REPRESENTATION.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN ACTION, WE HAVEN'T SEEN SAFETY THROUGHOUT LSD SCHOOLS.
AS OF NOW, LSD HAS TAKEN MINIMAL ACTION IN REGARDS OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO, YOU HAVE STATED INTO THE PUBLIC IN A NEWS REPORT BY CBS QUOTE, THE STAFF HAVE BEEN TRAINED ON HOW TO RESPOND AND FEDERAL AGENTS SHOW UP ON SCHOOL PROPERTY TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS.
IF THIS IS TRUE, HOW COME WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DRILLS ON THIS PLAN? HOW COME WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY SORT OF ASSEMBLIES REVOLVING ABOUT THIS PLAN? HOW COME STUDENTS ARE STILL OUT THERE IN SCHOOL WITH FEAR, NOT KNOWING LIKE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IF WE WERE TO SEE THIS TO HAPPEN IN PLAY? IN ADDITION, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SPOKEN LIKE ABOUT TRYING TO RECEIVE ASSEMBLIES, TRYING TO RECEIVE AWARENESS THROUGHOUT THE STUDENTS.
WE HAVE SPOKEN ON THIS TOPIC MULTIPLE TIMES, DEMANDING FOR ASSEMBLIES ABOUT KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
LAST TIME WE CAME UP HERE, THE BOARD, MOST OF YOU GUYS ALSO LISTENED TO US SAYING ABOUT THIS IDEA AND
[04:05:01]
HAVE EVEN AGREED WITH US AS STUDENTS, WE DEMAND OF THE FOLLOWING.WE DEMAND FOR DRILLS OF THIS PLAN THAT THESE STAFFS KNOW TO BE IN ACTION.
WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO REACT WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
WE DEMAND FOR MEETINGS, ASSEMBLIES OF KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TO HAPPEN NOT NEXT SEMESTER, BUT NOW WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAPPEN BY NEXT SEMESTER.
WE NEED THESE ASSEMBLIES NOW FOR STUDENTS TO KNOW ON WHAT TO DO IF EVERYTHING GOES WEST AND WE DEMAND FOR BETTER RESOURCES SUPPORTING UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND OR STUDENTS WITH UNDOCUMENTED PARENTS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT.
MY NAME IS GUADALUPE AND I AM A FRESHMAN AT SANTI.
I WANT TO SHARE HOW IMPORTANT COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES IS TO ME AND MANY OF MY PEERS ACROSS DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT EASY FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD IN MEETINGS LIKE THIS.
THE STRUCTURE OF THESE BOARD MEETINGS OFTEN MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE IT ONTO THE AGENDA, EVEN THOUGH THE DECISIONS BEING MADE DIRECTLY AFFECT US.
TODAY, I AM SPEAKING NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT ALSO FOR STUDENTS LIKE ALEJANDRO FROM HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL AND ISRAEL FROM MENDEZ HIGH SCHOOL WHO COULDN'T SPEAK EARLIER TODAY.
FOR ME, C-I-S-L-A HAS BEEN A GUIDING FIGURE SINCE BEFORE I EVEN STARTED HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY HELPED ME THINK ABOUT MY FUTURE AND GAVE ME MENTORS AND OPPORTUNITIES I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD OTHERWISE.
C-I-S-L-A IS MORE THAN JUST AN ACADEMIC, IS MORE THAN ACADEMIC SUPPORT.
IT'S A SAFE SPACE WHERE STUDENTS FEEL CELEBRATED, SUPPORTED, AND SEEN.
MY PEERS SHARE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.
ALEJANDRO, A SENIOR AT HAMILTON WANTED TO WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT C-I-S-L-A IS DEEPLY INGRAINED IN HIS SCHOOL'S CULTURE AS HE BEGINS APPLYING TO UNIVERSITIES.
CISL A'S STAFF ARE HELPING HIM WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND GUIDANCE THROUGH A STRESSFUL PROCESS, HE CANNOT IMAGINE LOSING THAT SUPPORT DURING SUCH AN IMPORTANT TIME.
ISRAEL, A JUNIOR AT MENDEZ SAYS C-I-S-L-A FEELS LIKE FAMILY.
HE FIRST CONNECTED WITH THEM IN MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH SUMMER BRIDGES, SUMMER BRIDGE, AND THEY'VE BEEN BY HIS SIDE EVER SINCE.
CHECKING IN, MOTIVATING HIM AND REMINDING HIM THAT HE BELONGS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ISRAEL ACROSS MANY C-I-S-L-A SCHOOLS IN LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
STUDENTS, PARENTS AND STAFF HAVE SENT OVER 300 SUPPORT LETTERS TO YOUR OFFICES AS PROOF OF HOW MUCH THIS ORGANIZATION MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT MANY, THAT NOT EVERY STUDENT IS ABLE TO SPEAK UP IN SPACES LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY OUR UNDOCUMENTED PEERS.
THAT'S WHY PROGRAMS LIKE C-I-S-L-A MATTER SO MUCH, THEY PROTECT STUDENTS AND PROVIDE STABILITY.
IF C-I-S-L-A SERVICES WERE DISRUPTED, OVER 900 STUDENTS ACROSS L-A-U-S-D WOULD LOSE GUIDANCE AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT SHAPE WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE WILL BECOME.
THEIR ABSENCE WOULD CREATE RIPPLES THAT AFFECT ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
I URGE YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO GAPS IN C-I-S-L-A SERVICES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND TO MOVE QUICKLY SO THAT ALL STUDENTS CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT WE NEED TO SUCCEED.
OKAY, NOW WE HAVE A REMOTE CALLER, CHERYL KONO.
CHERYL KONO, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HELLO? YEAH, I'M ACTUALLY RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR.
UM, BUT I CAN'T GET IN, BUT I WANT TO, UM, DEFER MY TIME OVER TO LAYLA.
SO LELA SHOULD BE IN THE AUDIENCE.
IS LAYLA COMING UP? I BELIEVE SHE IS, YEAH.
I'M JUST COMING IN THE DOOR RIGHT NOW,
UH, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LAYLA AND I'M A PART OF THE STUDENT DESERVE GROUP AT AUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, I'M SPEAKING ON PSW YET AGAIN, AND LET ME NOTE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER DIFFERENT WAYS A PSW CAN HELP US.
THEY CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO STUDENTS WHO NEED IT AND HELPING THEM TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND NOT JUST IN SCHOOL, BUT IN LIFE.
IF OUR SCHOOL DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO PAY FOR A PSW, THIS CAN CAUSE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
WE WANT THE DISTRICT TO HIRE MORE PSW BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF SCHOOLS WHO HAVE NOBODY, INCLUDING MANY ELEMENTARY AND CONTINUATION SCHOOLS.
FINALLY, I WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOL HAS THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE SUPPORT FOR ALL STUDENTS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD, THIS IS WHY I WOULD WANNA BECOME A STUDENT OR A CHILD SOCIAL WORKER SOMEDAY, BECAUSE
[04:10:01]
I BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILDREN HAS A VOICE.EVERY CHILD HAS A VOICE AND DESERVE A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, AND I WANNA HELP MAKE THAT A REALITY.
IN SHORT, THIS JUST ISN'T A CAREER FOR ME.
IT'S A CALLING AND I'M DRIVEN BY EMPATHY AND A DESIRE TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE.
AND I'M READY TO DEDICATE MYSELF TO HELPING VULNERABLE CHILDREN BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
UM, CAN MY OPERATIONS FOLKS, UH, CONFIRM FOR ME THAT THERE'S NO BARRIER TO ENTRY TO THE, TO THE ROOM? I APPRECIATE IT.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THERE IS, BUT I SAW MS. KONO COME IN, BUT I'D HATE TO THINK THAT ANYONE WOULD THINK THEY COULDN'T GET INTO THE BOARDROOM.
ANYA MEEN, I SEE YOU'RE ON THE LINE.
ANYA MEEN, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS ANYA MESON AND I'M A MEMBER OF SCHOOLS BEYOND SCREENS.
I'M GONNA READ A RESOLUTION THAT WAS FIRST ADOPTED BY THE BURKE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND WHICH IS NOW BEING ADOPTED BY SCHOOL BOARDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.
THIS RESOLUTION ADDRESSES HOW WE WE SHOULD BE FRAMING THE USE OF DIGITAL AND ONLINE PRODUCTS IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND I ASK YOU TO TAKE THIS LANGUAGE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN FORMULATING A PLAN FOR THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF ED TECH IN LA USD.
WHEREAS THE BURKE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS RECEIVE A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION THAT PROMOTES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, CRITICAL THINKING, AND LONG-TERM RETENTION OF KNOWLEDGE.
AND WHEREAS RESEARCH CONSISTENTLY SHOWS THAT HANDWRITING AND READING FROM PAPER MATERIALS ENHANCE COMPREHENSION, MEMORY, RETENTION, AND COGNITIVE ENGAGEMENT COMPARED TO READING OR WRITING ON DIGITAL SCREENS.
AND WHEREAS PEN AND PAPER INSTRUCTION ENCOURAGES FOCUS MINIMIZES DISTRACTIONS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND FOSTERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF FINE MOTOR SKILLS AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND NOTE TAKING IN ORGANIZATION.
AND WHEREAS EXCESSIVE SCREEN TIME HAS BEEN LINKED TO INCREASED EYE STRAIN, REDUCED ATTENTION SPANS, SLEEP DISTURBANCES AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH, PARTICULARLY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.
AND WHEREAS WHILE DIGITAL TOOLS HAVE AN APPROPRIATE PLACE IN MODERN EDUCATION, THEIR USE MUST BE BALANCED WITH PROVEN TRADITIONAL METHODS TO BEST SUPPORT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND WELLBEING.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BURKE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AFFIRMS ITS SUPPORT FOR PEN AND PAPER INSTRUCTION AS THE PRIMARY MODE OF LEARNING IN CLASSROOMS, PARTICULARLY FOR NOTE TAKING, READING COMPREHENSION, WRITING AND ASSESSMENT, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE BURKE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN PHYSICAL LEARNING MATERIALS, INCLUDING PRINTED TEXTBOOKS, NOTEBOOKS, AND WRITING SUPPLIES, AND WILL PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO EDUCATORS ON MAXIMIZING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION METHODS.
AND THE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD ENCOURAGES THE RESPONSIBLE AND LIMITED USE OF DIGITAL DEVICES RESERVING SCREEN TIME FOR ACTIVITIES WHERE TECHNOLOGY OFFERS CLEAR EVIDENCE-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL ADVANTAGES.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS LANGUAGE AS L-A-U-S-D SEEKS A BETTER PATH FORWARD FOR THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF ED TECH.
THE NEXT PERSON LISTED AS CALLING IN IS KAMI.
RIA, ARE YOU THERE? KAMI PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I AM A PSW AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE HIRING FREEZE ON SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH POSITIONS FOR THE UPCOMING 2020 5 26 SCHOOL YEAR SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY ALLOCATED FUNDING FOR PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKERS, YET L-A-U-S-D IS NOT ALLOWING SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH TO HIRE NEW, RETIRED OR RETURNING PSW TO FILL THESE FUNDED VACANCIES.
IN 2020, THE DISTRICT COMMITTED TO PROVIDING CENTRAL FUNDING FOR ONE FULL-TIME PSW AT EVERY SCHOOL SITE.
WHILE OUR DEPARTMENT GREW BETWEEN 2020 AND 2023, IN 2324, A HIRING FREEZE WAS IMPOSED HALTING NEW HIRES AND PREVENTING VACANT POSITIONS FROM BEING FILLED AS PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKERS.
WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY FUNDED POSITIONS REMAIN UNFILLED.
THIS FAILURE DOESN'T JUST LEAVE STUDENTS' NEEDS UNMET.
IT DAMAGES THE CULTURE OF OUR DISTRICT.
SCHOOLS BEGIN TO ASSUME THESE ROLES ARE UNAVAILABLE AND REMOVE THEM FROM STAFFING PLANS ALTOGETHER FURTHER REDUCING ACCESS TO CARE.
STUDENTS ARE LEFT WITHOUT CRITICAL SUPPORT AND OUR DISTRICT SHIFTS AWAY FROM PRIORITIZING WELLNESS.
MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT OPTIONAL.
IF WE WANT STUDENTS TO LEARN, THRIVE, AND FEEL SAFE, CSWS AND COUNSELORS MUST BE RECOGNIZED AS ESSENTIAL.
PLEASE PROTECT AND FILL THESE POSITIONS FOR THE WELLBEING OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE OF OUR SCHOOLS.
UH, HARRIS TARAN, I SEE YOU'RE LISTED AS SPEAKING REMOTELY, BUT I DO NOT HAVE YOU SIGNED IN.
ARE YOU WITH US IN THE ROOM? HARRIS? TARYN? NO.
UH, MARCELLA GARCIA, YOU'RE LISTED AS SPEAKING REMOTELY.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
[04:15:01]
LOPEZ.UH, MS. LOPEZ, GIVE US A MOMENT.
MS. LOPEZ 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 PUT YOUR HANDS UP PLEASE IF YOU NEED A TRANSLATION HEADSET.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.
THE PARENT REPRESENTATION IS JUST DIMINISHING EACH TIME.
UH, MORE SO WITHIN THE COMMITTEES LIKE ELAC AND THE SCHOOL PSYCH COUNCIL.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE RETAKE THIS PARTICIPATION, UH, THAT IS GENUINE ON BEHALF OF PARENTS OF FAMILIES, UH, EACH TIME WE ARE SOMEHOW AND BEING DIMINISHED WITH THE POWER OF OUR OUR WORD WHEN IT COMES TIME TO TAKE ACTION WHEN IT IN COMMITTEES.
THIS ACTIVITY IS IMPORTANT AND WE SHOULD HAVE MORE OFFICIALS IN THE SCHOOL SITES SINCE THE SAFETY HAS BEEN A PROBLEM, UH, FOR OUR FAMILIES.
SO PLEASE DON'T IGNORE WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
I SEE YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY, BUT I DO NOT HAVE YOU SIGNED IN? ARE YOU IN THE ROOM WITH US? THAT'S A NO.
YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY, BUT I ALSO DO NOT HAVE YOU SIGNED IN RIGHT NOW.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM, MS. DIAZ? NO.
SAYI, ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? HUSNA ALSO NOT ONLINE.
AARON CRAIG, I DO SEE YOU ONLINE WITH US.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AARON CRAIG, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MY NAME IS AARON CRAIG AND I'M WITH THE SCHOOLS BEYOND SCREENS GROUP.
UH, SOME OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN IN THE GENERAL, AND I WANT TO SPEAK, UH, VERY IN THE SPECIFIC ABOUT MY DAUGHTER'S SITUATION.
SO ON JULY 17TH, I SENT THE DISTRICT A REQUEST FOR SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEVICES THAT MY DAUGHTER WILL BE USING AND, UH, WHAT KIND OF DATA IS COLLECTED, WHY THAT DATA'S COLLECTED, HOW THAT DATA'S GONNA BE USED, WHO'S GONNA HAVE ACCESS TO IT, THE SECURITY AROUND THAT DATA, BASIC GETS HACKED, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UH, OVER A MONTH LATER, I DON'T HAVE ANY RESPONSE.
AND, UH, AS SUCH, IT, UH, IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE PARENTS ARE LOOPED INTO THIS AT ALL.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEVEN YEAR OLDS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE, THAT THE PARENTS HAVE, UH, UH, AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE GONNA BE GETTING THEIR THEMSELVES INTO.
SHE'S NOT ALLOWED TO USE A DEVICE AT HOME WITHOUT STRICT SUPERVISION, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE ONE AT SCHOOL WITHOUT UNDER, YOU KNOW, UNDER ANY DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.
UH, I ALSO HAVE ASKED FOR AND HAVEN'T RECEIVED STUDIES DATA INFORMATION REGARDING HOW THE DISTRICT CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT GETTING EVERY SINGLE CHILD IN THE CLASSROOM A ONE-TO-ONE DEVICE IS A GOOD IDEA.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT DATA EXISTS OR THOSE STUDIES EXIST, BUT I'D SURE LOVE TO ASSUME THAT THEY DO.
BUT SINCE IT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING, THEN I'M, AND I'VE ALSO SENT THIS THROUGH THE PARENT
[04:20:01]
PORTAL IN WRITING, BUT I'M GONNA PUT IT DIRECT HERE AS WELL.I WANNA WITHDRAW MY DAUGHTER COMPLETELY FROM THE 1 0 1 DEVICE PROGRAM ALTOGETHER.
I DON'T WANT HER TO HAVE A DEVICE.
I DON'T WANT HER PARTICIPATE, UH, IN THE USE OF IT UNTIL THE DISTRICT GETS BACK TO ME AND GIVES SOME INFORMATION ON, UH, AS, AS I'VE REQUESTED.
SO THAT'S THE RIGHT NOW, AND UH, I HOPE I HEAR BACK FROM YOU.
OKAY, MARGARET FUENTES, I SEE YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF.
MY NAME IS MARGARET FUENTES, PREVIOUS CHAIR TO THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND A VOLUNTEER TO THIS DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
AND LISTENING IN ON TODAY'S BOARD MEETING MEETING, I'M GLAD TO HEAR CONVERSATIONS OF CONCERN THAT THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HAS RAISED IN THE DECISIONS OF MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THIS BODY.
WHAT I AM NOT GLAD TO HEAR IS ANY CONVERSATION ON THE ONGOING NEED TO ADDRESS AN MOU REVISION.
WITH THAT BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH A DEDICATED GROUP OF VOLUNTEER STAKEHOLDERS AND ITS STAFF THAT OVERSEE THE EXPENDITURES OF L-A-U-S-D AND AS A TAXPAYER, I FIND IT RATHER CONCERNING THE LACK OF INTEREST OR KNOWLEDGE WITH THE WORK OF THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT AT ITS AUGUST 14TH MEETING, AGAIN, THIS MOU THAT IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN AN INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH THE WORK OF HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE IN REGARDS TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE SPENDING OF BOND DOLLARS MENTIONED IT HAD NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE AND LACKED ANY INTEREST IN THE FORM OF A RESPONSE TO THE BOND OVERSIGHT FROM L-A-U-S-D.
THIS REQUEST IS NOW BEING FORWARDED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT SERVE IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC FOR RESOLVE.
I ASK THAT YOU RESPONSIBLY ADDRESS THIS REQUEST TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC WITH ITS PUBLIC FUNDING.
AND MOVING FORWARD, I CAN HOPE THAT MORE PEOPLE TAKE AN INTEREST ON HOW OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING INVESTED AND SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVING THE COMMUNITIES MOST IN NEED.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION, YOUR WORK AND YOUR TIME.
OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE MARIA DAISY ORTIZ, YOU ARE IN THE ROOM.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND AFTER MS. ORTIZ IS, UH, MAO TREJO.
AND WHILE WE WAIT FOR MS. ORTIZ TO COME ON DOWN, UM, DR. RIVAS, I NEED TO RECORD YOUR VOTE FOR TAB 15, IF YOU RECALL.
UH, MS. ORTIZ IS GONNA SPEAK IN SPANISH, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S SAYING IN ENGLISH AS SHE'S SPEAKING, PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND WE'LL GET YOU THESE TRANSLATION HEADSETS.
THEY'RE COMING AROUND RIGHT NOW.
MY NAME IS MARIA DEISI ORTIZ AND WE ARE HERE ANOTHER YEAR, RIGHT? LISTENING FOR THESE RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE RECYCLABLE IN THE SAME PRACTICES.
BECAUSE IF YOU HAD MADE A CHANGE, YOU WOULD PUT A COMMITTEE IN CHARGE OF THESE BUDGETS AND THAT WOULD BE TRANSPARENCY.
THERE WOULD BE A SUBCOMMITTEE WITH PARENT INVOLVEMENT.
UM, BECAUSE PARENT INVOLVEMENT, I BELIEVE IT'S AT THE LAST, UH, LEVEL OF PRIORITY FOR YOU ALL.
BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, I'M HERE BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE TO, MY TIME TO BE PLAYED WITH MY TIME IS WORTH MORE BECAUSE IT IS AS A VOLUNTEER.
AND THIS IS BECAUSE I'VE SENT YOU SIR MR. SUPERINTENDENT ALBERTO CAL, A POWERPOINT IN WHICH I ASKED FOR YOU TO RESPOND WITH YOUR FEEDBACK.
BUT IT SEEMS, AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT FOR YOUR POOR COMMUNICATION.
I DUNNO IF IT'S YOUR PERSONNEL OR YOUR AGENDA THAT IS TOO COMPACT, BUT YOU CANNOT INSULT MY INTELLIGENCE OR PLAY WITH MY TIME.
I THINK THAT WHEN I WAS MEETING WITH YOU, I BELIEVED IN YOU.
AND I LIKE WORKING WITH PEOPLE
[04:25:01]
WHO WE GIVE EACH OTHER THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND OPEN A DIALOGUE FOR A CHANGE.BUT WHAT I HAD AS A RESPONSE WAS THAT YOUR PERSONNEL SENT THIS POWERPOINT TO ANTONIO CIA.
BUT YOUR OFFICE AND CARLA ESTRADA WERE SO KIND TO SAY, WEREN'T EVEN KIND ENOUGH TO SAY WE RECEIVED IT.
SO THAT IS HOW YOU TREAT PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND THOSE PARENTS WHO WANT TO WORK FOR AN EFFECTIVE CHANGE TO CLOSE THE GAP FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND WHILE THE PARENTS ARE NOT PART OF THIS DECISION MAKING, YOU ARE PLAYING WITH OUR TIME BECAUSE ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING.
AND I WANNA TELL YOU THAT I DON'T WANT YOUR PITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, STRENGTHS, AND WE ARE RESISTANT.
AND THAT WHO TAKES THOSE WHO TAKE ACTION WILL ALWAYS BE BETTER FOR IT.
I'M LY MY TIME TO PRISCILLA, COME ON UP.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TOTAL TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS PRISCILLA AND I AM A STUDENT FROM ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M HERE WHAT STUDENTS DESERVE.
UM, TO START OFF, TO START OFF, THESE ICE RAIDS HAVE DEEPLY AFFECTED THE LA COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS.
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ARE AFRAID TO STEP OUTSIDE AND FEAR OF BEING TAKEN, UM, WORRIED, AB WORRIED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL.
THE PARENTS, PARENTS ARE AFRAID TO DO THEIR NORMAL ROUTINES.
NO ONE DESERVES TO GO THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE.
WE ALL KNOW THEY ARE TREATING, WE ALL KNOW HOW THEY ARE TREATING THOSE WHO ARE BEING DETAINED.
UM, MANY ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS HAVE HAD OR HAD SEEN ICE STANDING OUTSIDE OF THEIR SCHOOL, UH, PREMISES.
UM, TO GET INTO THE CAMPUSES AND TRY TO DETAIN THOSE STUDENTS.
UM, LIKE THE 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT IN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY THAT WAS JUST DETAINED LAST WEEK, OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE COME TOGETHER TO CREATE ICE PATROL TEAMS TO LOOK OUT FOR UNMARKED VEHICLES AS WELL AS UN UNCOVER UNDERCOVER AGENTS AROUND SCHOOL GROUNDS.
WE'VE BEEN PLANNING TO SEND OUT POSTERS TO INFORM NEARBY RESIDENTS WHILE WE ARE HERE PUTTING OUR EFFORT AND SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
WE ARE HERE TO REMIND YOU, L-A-U-S-D, TO CONTINUE YOUR EFFORT IN PROTECTING YOUR STUDENTS, NOT JUST WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION GOING ON, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOR THE PROMISES YOU MADE TO FIGHT FOR UNDOCUMENTED LGBTQ PLUS AND BLACK STUDENTS.
THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO UNLESS THERE'S ANY OBJECTION TO ADJOURNMENT, THE MEETING COULD BE OVER.
WE HAVE, UH, A LATE JOINER TO THE CALLS.
UM, WE HAVE ONE MORE THAT'S, UH, MARCELLA GARCIA.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MARC GARCIA, GOOD AFTERNOON, YOU HEAR ME? GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M HERE ONCE MORE TO, TO, TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS.
AS PARENTS, WE, WE NEED, WE WANT, WE WANT WORKSHOPS, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE I-READY IS.
WE NEED TO HAVE INSTRUCTION THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND AND ALSO TO GIVE US TIME TO SET NOT OPEN HOUSE.
WE WANT OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL TIME FOR PARENTS BECAUSE OPEN HOUSE, EVERYBODY'S IN A RUSH.
EVERYONE WANTS TO GO TO THE CLASSROOMS OF THE YOUNGSTERS, ESPECIALLY MORE SO IN, IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
[04:30:01]
WANT IS WE WANT A GOOD INSTRUCTION TO UNDERSTAND I-READY, WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT AS PARENTS, SO THAT WAY OUR CHILDREN CAN BE PREPARED.SO THAT WAY WE KNOW WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, HOW WE CAN HELP AND HOW WE CAN BE OF ALL AS PARENTS.
BECAUSE IN FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL YESTERDAY, THEY GAVE, WITH COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL, THEY GAVE US INTERPRETATION, WHICH LAST YEAR WE DID NOT HAVE AND WE HAD NEVER HAD IT FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SENT.
AND ALSO I'M SPEAKING ABOUT SECURITY OF THE YOUNGSTERS THAT GO WALKING AFTER SCHOOL AND THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ABOUT TO START.
FOR SPORTS, WE WANT OUR YOUNGSTERS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, ESPECIALLY AROUND SCHOOL BECAUSE AS PARENTS, WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR YOUNGSTERS, BUT WE CAN'T ACT WHEN THERE IS AN ACCIDENT OR AN ATTACK.
THE POLICE, THE SCHOOL POLICE, THEY CAN ACT.
AND SO WE NEED THAT TYPE OF SECURITY POLICE BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY.
OUR CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY.
SO WE WOULD LIKE, WE WHAT WE WANT THE BEST FOR THEM, WE NEED FOR YOU TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AFTER SCHOOL, AFTER THEIR SPORTS.
AND ALSO THE DISTRICT SAYS THAT IF THEY SEE SOMETHING, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
THAT'S WHAT THE DISTRICT SAYS.
THANK YOU MUCH, MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THAT NOW CONCLUDES GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND THE MEETING CAN ADJOURN.
IF I MOVE, WE ADJOURN THE MEETING.