* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:03] GOOD MORNING. THE TIME IS NOW 10:43 AM WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE DATE IS DECEMBER 16TH, 2025. [Roll Call] I'M GOING TO TAKE ROLE, UH, MS. NEWBELL. PRESENT. DR. RIVAS. PRESENT. MR. MELVIN? HERE. MS. REGO? HERE. MS. EZ? HERE. HERE. MS. ORTIZ? HERE. MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN. PRESENT BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON PRESENT. OKAY. WE'LL NOW DO THE, UH, LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THEN BOARD PRESIDENT'S REPORTS. 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 GNO PEOPLE AS THE ORIGINAL STEWARDS OF LOS ANGELES BASIN AND THE NEARBY COASTAL LANDS, AND THE FERANDO 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, ELDERS, AND HIN OUR RELATIVES AND RELATIONS PAST, PRESENT, AND EMERGING, AND COMMIT TO SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES TO 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. [Board President’s Reports] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND BEFORE WE DO OUR BOARD REPORT AND WE GET TO LABOR PARTNERS, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY A FEW MINUTES, UH, A FEW THINGS FOR A MINUTE ABOUT BEING PRESIDENT, AND I ALSO LET MS. RIVA SPEAK, DR. SPEAK AFTER. UH, YOU CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MUCH WORK GOES INTO MAKING A BOARD MEETING HAPPEN. YOU JUST CANNOT IMAGINE THE WORK. AND I APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYONE DOES BEHIND THE SCENES. AND RIGHT HERE, THE DE IS ABOUT GETTING A BOARD MEETING COMING OUT, JUST FLAWLESS, AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. AND MR. MCLEAN, TOO, FOR KEEPING THINGS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. WHAT CAN I SAY? IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL. I JUST FEEL THAT MY MAIN JOB HERE AS BOARD PRESIDENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE HEARD. NO ONE IS INTERRUPTED, NO ONE IS CUT SHORT, AND NO ONE IS PUT DOWN. ALL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE EQUAL SAY IN THIS SCHOOL BOARD, AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT AND WILL CONTINUE THE TRADITION. MS. DR. RIVAS. UH, FIRST I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR, UH, ONCE AGAIN, UH, VOTING, NOMINATING, AND VOTING FOR ME, UH, FOR THIS POSITION. UM, YES, EQUALLY SO, IT'S, IT IS, THERE IS WORK. IT'S ONE COMMITTEE, BUT IT'S, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCLUDING, UM, I DO INCLUDE THE VOICES OF BOARD MEMBERS, THEIR PRIORITIES, WHAT PRESENTATIONS THEY WANT, AND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE IS, UM, A LOT OF PRESENTATIONS WANNA, YOU KNOW, COME INTO PLAY IN ONE, IN ONE MEETING. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ONLY LIMIT IT TO A FEW. BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT WE WANNA INCLUDE IN THE COMMITTEE. SO WE ARE TRYING TO, I AM, AND MY STAFF, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INCLUSIVE OF THE PRIORITIES OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, BUT ALSO THE PRIORITIES OF OUR COMMUNITY. UM, MAKING SURE THAT THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AROUND, UM, BUDGET AND, UM, ALSO OTHER AREAS THAT, UM, IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, AND ALSO WANTING TO BRING EXTERNAL VOICES TO ALSO PRESENT. SO WE CAN ALSO HEAR FROM, UM, FOLKS THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALSO WANNA HAVE A SPACE, UM, HERE BEFORE THE BOARD. SO, UM, ONCE AGAIN, I'M, I'M VERY GRATEFUL WE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE INCLUSIVE AND ALSO TRANSPARENT IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE WHOLE MEETINGS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. RIVAS, AND I AGREE WITH YOU. UM, I APPRECIATE HAVING YOU AS VICE PRESIDENT AND WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS SERVED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. IT'S TIME FOR LABOR PARTNERS, AND I DID SEE MY FRIEND FROM UTLA. COME ON UP. MS. FLOWERS. GOOD MORNING. BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT. UM, I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF UNITED TEACHERS LOS ANGELES, [00:05:01] AND WE ARE STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH SEIU LOCAL 99. AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS AT THE BARGAINING TABLE WITH LOCAL 99, L-A-U-S-D HAS CONTINUED TO DISRESPECT SCHOOL WORKERS AND IS REFUSING TO MOVE ON CORE ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT SCHOOL, STAFF, STUDENTS, AND SCHOOL SAFETY. THIS IS A PATTERN WE KNOW IS NOT A BUDGET PROBLEM, IT'S A PRIORITIES PROBLEM. CAFETERIA WORKERS, CUSTODIANS, BUS DRIVERS, AND DEAR TO MY HEART. SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE ARE ESSENTIAL TO STUDENT LEARNING. L-A-U-S-D CONTINUES TO PAY POVERTY WAGES TO ITS EMPLOYEES WHOM THEY CLAIM TO VALUE. SO 65% OF THESE EMPLOYEES REPORT BEING HUNGRY. 65%, 10% HAVE REPORTED BEING UNHOUSED WHILE THEY'RE WORKING FOR THIS DISTRICT. 99% CAN'T AFFORD A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT IN LA COUNTY. I MEAN, THINK ABOUT THAT. SO, UTLA STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH LOCAL 99, AND WE URGE THIS BOARD TO DIRECT OUR SUPERINTENDENT BACK TO THE TABLE WITH REAL MOVEMENT SETTLE A FAIR CONTRACT THAT RESPECTS WORKERS AND SUPPORTS STUDENTS. NOW, ON TOP OF THAT, THE DISTRICT IS CUTTING SCHOOL SITE BUDGETS AND AT THE SAME TIME TAKING AWAY ALL CARRYOVER MONEY. AS OF FEBRUARY, THIS IS CREATING EXTREME UNCERTAINTY FOR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. FOLKS ARE PANICKING AND THAT IS DESTABILIZING SCHOOLS AT A TIME WHEN THEY NEED MORE STABILITY, NOT LESS. THE DISTRICT IS ASKING SCHOOL SITES TO DO MORE WITH LESS WHEN IT HASN'T SETTLED ANY LABOR AGREEMENTS. HOW DO WE EXPECT SCHOOLS TO PLAN A BUDGET THIS EARLY WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW YET WHAT NEXT YEAR'S STAFFING OR CLASS SIZES WILL BE? THE ACCELERATED BUDGET DEVELOPMENT HAS ONLY SPREAD FAIR UNCERTAINTY AND DOUBT. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DISTRICT IS IMPOSING THESE CUTS. IT IS SPENDING MORE AND MORE ON SUBCONTRACTING USING SECRET CONTRACTS THAT NO ONE HAS SEEN. NOT EVEN THIS BOARD. THIS IS CORPORATE BEHAVIOR, AND IT'S NOT THE WAY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY SHOULD ACT. NOW. IN ADDITION, WE SEE THE DISTRICT IS PROJECTED TO EXCEED ITS SERVICES BUDGET BY 37% BY THE END OF THE YEAR. MEANWHILE, UTLA HAS BEEN WAITING ALMOST FOUR MONTHS TO RECEIVE JUST 29, JUST THE 29 OUT OF 2,500 OF THESE CONTRACTS THAT WE REQUESTED UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT. WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED A SINGLE ONE, NOT ONE. UNLIKE OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS. L-A-U-S-D CHOOSES NOT TO INCLUDE THIS CONTRACTS IN BOARD MATERIALS, AND THERE IS NO SEARCHABLE BOARD RECORDS SITE THAT INCLUDES THIS INFORMATION. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND THE BOARD SHOULD DEMAND MORE TRANSPARENCY ON CONTRACTING. AND THEN FINALLY, FOR LOS ANGELES AND FOR EVERY OTHER CITY THAT'S BEEN INVADED BY ICE AND CBP TERROR, THAT'S BEEN FLANKED BY MILITARY TROOPS THIS PAST YEAR, WHAT HAS BEEN TRUE IS THAT SAFETY HAS BEEN CREATED AND DEFINED BY COMMUNITY NETWORKS THAT HAVE RESPONDED TO THIS. FEDERAL TERROR VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING SOME OF OUR UTLA MEMBERS, HAVE KEPT WATCH BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL. I'M TALKING BEING OUT THERE AT FIVE 30 IN THE MORNING. THEY'VE SHOWN UP TO ACTIVE IMMIGRATION RAID TO DOCUMENT WHAT'S HAPPENING AND TO OFFER SUPPORT TO FAMILIES. THE VOLUNTEER LED ICE RESPONSE MODELS ALSO INCORPORATE A SAFE PASSAGE RESPONSE. VOLUNTEERS LEAD WITH LOTS OF LOVE. THEY CENTER SAFETY, DEESCALATION AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES THAT THE COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY RESOLUTION THAT IS COMING TO A VOTE TODAY SEEKS TO BOLSTER AND INCORPORATE AT MORE SCHOOLS. WE CAN ALSO LOOK TO THE MODELS IN BSAP PROGRAMMING FOR HOW TO SET UP THESE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAMS. SO WE URGE BOARD MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY SAFETY RESOLUTION. WE NEED IT MORE THAN EVER AND TO LOOK FORWARD. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN ORDER TO PROTECT SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES [00:10:01] FROM VIOLENCE AND MORE TRAUMA. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU. MR. ARIAS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK FOR SEIU? YES. WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS. UH, OKAY. THREE OF US. PLEASE GO AHEAD. SEIU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS AARON JACKSON, AND I'M A SCHOOL CLIMATE ADVOCATE AT BANNING HIGH SCHOOL. I'M A FORMER SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT AND PLAYGROUND DIRECTOR, NEARLY 15 YEARS COMBINED WITH L-A-U-S-D AND A PROUD SEIU LOCAL 99 MEMBER. EVERY DAY I'M ON THE FRONT LINES MAKING SURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE, SUPPORTIVE PLACES FOR OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN. THAT'S THE WORK I WAS HIRED TO DO, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, DEESCALATING CONFLICTS, HELPING STUDENTS STAY ON TRACK. BUT TOO OFTEN THAT'S NOT THE WORK I'M ACTUALLY ABLE TO DO. INSTEAD, I'M BEING PULLED TO COVER OTHER POSITIONS. BECAUSE OUR SCHOOLS ARE SO SHORT STAFFED, I STEP IN BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS DESERVE ADULTS WHO CARE, BUT IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE WHEN ONE PERSON IS DOING THE WORK OF THREE, EVERYONE LOSES THE STAFF, THE STUDENTS, AND THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. AND THE PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN ME. ONE OF MY COWORKERS TOLD ME THAT HE GOT A JOB AS A SCHOOL CLIMATE ADVOCATE, BUT WHEN HE SHOWED UP TO START THE SCHOOL SITE, SUDDENLY TOLD HIM THE FUNDING WASN'T AVAILABLE AND STARED TO HIRE HIM AS A LOWER PAID CAMPUS AID. THEN ON HIS FIRST DAY OF WORK, HE CHANGED AGAIN. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO A STUDENT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND TOLD HE'D BE WORKING WITH THEM AS A ONE-ON-ONE. SO NOW HE'S DOING THE WORK OF A SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT, A POSITION THAT PAYS MORE, BUT HE'S GETTING PAID LESS. THAT'S NOT JUST UNFAIR. IT'S A PRACTICE THAT IMPACTS STUDENTS AND LEAVES WORKERS UNDERPAID AND MISCLASSIFIED. AND IT'S HAPPENING TO TOO MANY OF US. THE DISTRICT KEEPS FINDING WAYS TO STRETCH OUR LABOR, UNDERPAY OUR WORK, AND ACT LIKE WE SHOULD JUST BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE A JOB. THIS BOARD APPROVED A CONTRACT FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT WITH A $50,000 ANNUAL RETIREMENT BONUS, AN AMOUNT THAT MANY EDUCATION WORKERS DON'T EARN A YEAR ON TOP OF A $400,000 PLUS SALARY. SO WHEN WE'RE TOLD THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY TO FULLY STAFF SCHOOLS OR TO PAY WORKERS FAIRLY, THAT DOESN'T ADD UP. IT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT A LACK OF RESOURCES, IT'S ABOUT PRIORITIES. AND THOSE PRIORITIES ARE PUSHING WORKERS FURTHER BEHIND. THE COST OF LIVING IS PROJECTED TO RISE BY NEARLY 24% OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, BUT THE DISTRICT OFFER IS JUST 8% OVER THAT SAME TIME. THAT LEAVES EDUCATION WORKERS WITH A 16% GAP, SENDING US FURTHER INTO POVERTY. WAGES NOT CLOSER TO STABILITY. LET'S BE CLEAR, THAT'S NOT A RAISE, THAT'S A PAY CUT. THAT'S A PAY CUT. WE KNOW OUR WORTH, AND WE KNOW THE IMPACT WE HAVE EVERY SINGLE DAY ON STUDENT SAFETY, STUDENT WELLBEING, AND SCHOOL CULTURE. AND WE ARE DEMANDING THAT L-A-U-S-D RECOGNIZE IT TOO. THAT MEANS LIVABLE WAGES, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE, REAL STAFFING AND RESPECT FOR EVERY EDUCATION WORKER. BECAUSE WHEN EDUCATION WORKERS ARE SUPPORTED, OUR STUDENTS SUCCEED. WHEN OUR ROLES ARE RESPECTED AND FULLY STAFFED, STUDENTS GET THE CONSISTENCY, GUIDANCE, AND STABILITY THEY DESERVE. I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY BECAUSE THESE ARE DECISIONS ONLY YOU CAN MAKE. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO STOP THESE STAFFING PRACTICES. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO ENSURE WORKERS ARE HIRED INTO JOBS THEY'RE QUALIFIED FOR AND PAID ACCORDINGLY. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT RUNNING ON BURNOUT AND EXHAUSTION. SO TODAY I'M ASKING YOU TO HEAR US CLEARLY. NO MORE SHORT STAFFING, NO MORE POVERTY WAGES, NO MORE EXCUSES. IT'S TIME FOR L-A-U-S-D TO INVEST IN US, THE WORKERS WHO MAKE SCHOOLS WORK SO WE CAN DO THE JOBS WE WERE HIRED TO DO AND STUDENTS CAN RECEIVE THE THE SUPPORT THEY DESERVE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, UM, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT MR. CARVALLO. MY NAME IS ERICA VIEGA. I'M A FOOD SERVICE WORKER AT BEACHY AVENUE ELEMENTARY. I HAD BEEN WITH L-A-U-S-D FOR 18 YEARS. WHEN I STARTED BACK IN 2007, I WAS A SINGLE MOM JUST TRYING TO MAKE ME, AND I NEVER IMAGINED THIS [00:15:01] JOB WILL BECOME MY PASSION, MY PURPOSE, BUT IT DID. THAT'S BECAUSE EVERY DAY I GET TO FEED OUR FUTURE. I START MY DAY AT SIX 30 IN THE MORNING. I COOK, I COOK, SERVING BREAKFAST, PREPPING LUNCH, AND EVEN SUPPER. WE DO IT ALL SO THAT NO STUDENT GOES HUNGRY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN, WHEN KIDS ARE FED, WE CAN, THEY CAN LEARN AND THEY CAN GROW AND THEY CAN ALSO THRIVE. BUT LET, BUT LET ME TELL YOU, IT'S NOT EASY. MANY DAYS WE'RE SHORT STAFFED. SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE SUBS. WHEN STAFFS ARE OUT, THREE OF US WILL END UP DOING THE WORK OF FIVE FOOD SERVICE WORKERS. AND STILL, WE MAKE IT HAPPEN BECAUSE THAT'S WHO WE ARE. WE DON'T GIVE UP ON OUR STUDENTS. I'LL NEVER FORGET A STUDENT THAT WILL PICK UP LEFTOVER LUNCH. HE WOULD WALK AROUND WITH A BACKPACK PUTTING INTO WHATEVER HE CAN FIND. I STOPPED HIM ONE DAY AND GAVE HIM A HOT MEAL. LATER ON, I LEARNED THAT HIS FAMILY AND HIM WERE LIVING ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR SCHOOL IN A PARK. AND THAT FOOD WAS FOR HIM, FOR HIS SIBLINGS AND MOM. THAT'S WHEN IT HIT ME. WHAT WE DO ISN'T JUST ABOUT FOOD, IT'S ABOUT DIGNITY, IT'S ABOUT CARE, AND IT'S ABOUT LOVE. L-A-U-S-E ALSO CLAIMED TO CARE. SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO, YOU, YOU HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THAT FREE MEALS FOR ALL CHILDREN'S. WHEN SNAP BENEFITS WERE CUT, YOU HAD ANOTHER PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE THAT ALL STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE THREE MEALS A DAY. THESE ARE NOBLE EFFORTS, BUT YOU MUST DO MORE THAN THAT. MORE THAN THOSE CONFERENCE. YOU MUST ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFFING AND HOURS TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS. WE ARE WORKERS WHO FEED OUR FUTURE. WE DESERVE. WE DESERVE ADEQUATE STAFFING. WE DESERVE FAIR PAIN FOR THE HARD WORK THAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, WE DESERVE RESPECT. THANK YOU. MORNING, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO. UM, AFTER TWO YEARS OF CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE LINE WITH L-A-U-S-D. YESTERDAY WE NOTIFIED YOUR BARGAINING TEAM THAT NEGOTIATIONS HAVE REACHED AN IMPASSE AFTER 20 MONTHS OF LETTING L-A-U-S-D KNOW HOW UNDER STAFFING IS IMPACTING STUDENTS. HOW A-L-A-U-S D'S PRACTICE OF SUBCONTRACTING TO FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS UNDERMINE STUDENT SAFETY AND HOW LAD'S DEDICATED EDUCATION WORKERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY. L-A-U-S-D HAS RESPONDED WITH DEAF EARS, A MEASLY WAGE OFFER AND PIECEMEAL PROPOSALS WITH NO PERMANENT SOLUTIONS. YOU HAVE HEARD THE STORIES OF DEDICATED EDUCATION WORKERS ON THE VERGE OF HOMELESSNESS DESPITE SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO FRAMING TRYING TO FRAME THESE THINGS AS JUST ADULT ISSUES. THEY'RE NOT JUST ADULT ISSUES. THEY ARE FOR STUDENTS. THEY ARE FOR CLEAN, SAFE, SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS. THEY'RE SO STUDENTS CAN HAVE A CLEAN PLACE TO LEARN SO THEY CAN HAVE NUTRITIOUS MEAL, SAFE TRANSPORTATION. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR. AND THOSE THINGS CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF THERE'S ENOUGH ADULTS IN THE SCHOOLS. AND THESE ARE GOOD UNION JOBS. YOU HAVE HEARD THE STORIES OF SCHOOL BATHROOMS THAT MUST BE LOCKED BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH STAFF TO KEEP THEM CLEAN. YOU HAVE ALSO HEARD THE STORIES OF SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS WHOSE ROUTINES ARE DISRUPTED BECAUSE YOU CHOOSE TO SUBCONTRACT SERVICES TO NOT NON-DISTRICT VENDORS. THEY BEIS YOU HAVE HEARD ALL OF THIS, BUT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE IT. IT IS A CHOICE. A BUDGET IS A CHOICE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THE FACT IS, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO AND THIS SCHOOL BOARD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY. IN FACT, TODAY, YOU'RE TAKING UP RESOLUTIONS ADDRESSING COMMUNITY SAFETY IN RESPONSE TO EYES RATES AND CELEBRATING SPECIAL EDUCATION. THESE ARE NOBLE EFFORTS. THEY'RE THE RIGHT WORDS, BUT THEY RING EMPTY. WHEN YOUR FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN CALLS FOR LAYOFFS OF CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES AND CUTS TO STUDENTS AND FAMILY SERVICES, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF OUR MEMBERS TO DO THE WORK YET. YOU'RE THREATENING CUTS, YOU THREATENING CUTS. IF THERE'S A RACE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE. IT'S TIME FOR THIS BOARD TO STOP RUNNING. ITS OPERATING BUDGET LIKE A FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION TRYING TO FIND PROFIT NET INCOME. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO CREATE A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES THIS DISTRICT CLAIMS TO HAVE, INSTEAD OF PASSING ON YOUR BUDGET SHORTFALLS TO THE WORKERS AND THE STUDENTS BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING. WHEN YOU EXPECT WORKERS TO KEEP DOING THIS WORK, YET NOT BE ABLE TO FEED THEIR FAMILY OR HOUSE THEIR FAMILY ADEQUATELY, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO STOP HIRING AMAZON, ANOTHER CORPORATIONS THAT UNDERMINE SAFETY AND THE FUTURE OF [00:20:01] OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO FUND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE EQUITY AMONG OUR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO INTERRUPT POVERTY BY PAYING LIVABLE WAGES. YES, YOU CAN INTERRUPT POVERTY. YOU'RE THE SECOND LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE COUNTY WITH OVER 5 BILLION RESERVES. L-A-U-S-D CAN'T AFFORD IT. WE'VE HEARD THE THINGS AROUND ONE TIME FUNDS TWO TIME. IT IS A CHOICE. EVEN IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THAT RESERVE, YOU CANNOT CONTINUE TO EXPECT PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK, YET ALWAYS BE ON THE VERGE OF LOSING THEIR HOMES. LIFTING FRONTLINE EDUCATION WORKERS ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE WOULD AMOUNT TO LESS THAN 1% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET. AND I SAY THAT KNOWING THAT THE DEMANDS WE'RE MAKING ARE NOT GOING TO LIFT OUR MEMBERS ABOVE THE POWER POVERTY LINE FOR TOO LONG WITH INFLATION CATCHING UP. BUT THE CHOICE IS YOURS. YOU MAKE THIS CHOICE. AFTER 20 MONTHS AT THE BARGAINING TABLE, WORKERS HAVE HAD ENOUGH ENOUGH OF BEING IGNORED. ENOUGH OF THIS DISTRICT DISRESPECTING WORKERS WITH UNILATERAL DECISIONS TO CUT THEIR HOURS AND EVEN FORCING SOME WORKERS TO SELF THE MALT. ENOUGH OF THIS DISTRICT BALANCING ITS BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF WORKERS BY INTENTIONALLY ASSIGNING HOURS THAT KEEP THEM JUST 12 TO 15 MINUTES SHORT OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTHCARE BENEFITS. HORRIBLE. THAT'S TERRIBLE. NEXT MONTH, OUR MEMBERS WILL BE TAKING A STRIKE VOTE TO PROTEST UNFAIR PRACTICES BECAUSE WE DARE DEMAND BETTER BECAUSE WE DARE FIGHT TO GET HEALTHCARE. YOU DECIDED TO TRY AND SILENCE OUR VOICES BY RETALIATING WITH OUR MEMBERS JUST FOR DARING. SPEAK OUT. AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. NOT ONLY IS THAT UNACCEPTABLE, IT IS UNLAWFUL. THAT IS WHAT AN UNFAIR PRACTICE, UH, THAT IS WHAT AN UNFAIR, UH, CHARGE IS AT THE END OF THE DAY. SO WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING A STRIKE VOTE TO PROTEST THESE UNFAIR PRACTICES JUST FOR DARING DEMAND BETTER FOR OURSELVES AND OUR STUDENTS. LET ME BE CLEAR. OUR MEMBERS DID NOT SET OUT TO STRIKE IN 23, NOR ARE THEY TRYING TO STRIKE RIGHT NOW. BUT YOU ARE GIVING US NO CHOICE. YOU HAVE IGNORED FRONTLINE WORKERS FOR DECADES. FOR TOO LONG. I KNOW IT WAS YOUR PREDECESSORS THAT DID IT, BUT YOU HERE NOW YOU HAVE THE POWER TO FIX IT. THE CHOICE IS YOURS. THANK YOU. WE, WE, WE, WE. JUSTICE. NO PEACE. NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE. NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE. NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE. PEACE. JUSTICE. PEACE. NO JUSTICE. PEACE. NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE. NO PEACE. NO PEACE. NO PEACE. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER LABOR PARTNERS WHO WISH TO SPEAK, WHO ARE PRESENT? OKAY. MARIA NICHOLS, A A LA. TEAMSTERS, COME ON UP. THANK YOU. PEACE. PEACE, PEACE. GOOD MORNING, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. LET ME START OFF BY CONGRATULATING BOTH DR. RIVAS FOR HER VP NOMINATION AND MR. SEN. IT'S NICE TO HAVE A BOARD MEMBER WHO UNDERSTANDS THE WORK AT THE SCHOOL SITE AS AN ADMINISTRATOR. AND IT'S ALSO VERY REFRESHING TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO SITS IN THE HEALTH BENEFITS COMMITTEE AND ATTENDS OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT WE DO THERE AND TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH COST SAVINGS THAT COMMITTEE HAS DONE AND IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO DO THAT FOR THE WORKERS TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO GET THE AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS STATE OF THE ART THAT WE HAVE. I AM MARIA NICHOL, ALL LA TEAMSTER, PRESIDENT, MIDDLE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATORS IN L-A-U-S-D. I STAND HERE ECHOING THE WORDS OF MY UTLA LABOR COALITION PARTNER AND ALSO OF MR. MAX AREAS AND THE WORKERS IN SEIU. AND ONE COMMON THEME THAT CAME ACROSS IS THE SAME THEME THAT I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR WITH MY FOLKS. THE AMOUNT AND THE ABUNDANCE OF WORK, THE WORKLOAD THAT IS UNSUSTAINABLE. OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR MIDDLE MANAGERS, OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, OUR APIS ARE DOING THE WORK OF TWO TO THREE PEOPLE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE COVERAGE, CAMPUS AIDS, BIS, CAFETERIA WORKERS. [00:25:02] GUESS WHO IT IMPACTS? GUESS WHO HAS TO TAKE CARE OF THAT AT THE SCHOOL SITE? BECAUSE MY FOLKS ARE THE OPERATIONAL MANAGERS. THEY HAVE TO ENSURE OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS WHEN THERE IS TRAUMA, WHEN THERE'S A CRISIS, WHEN THERE'S ICE. WHO MANAGES ALL OF THAT? AND YET THE WORDS ECHO THAT WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND EVERY ENTITY AND EVERY LABOR COALITION UNIT. THAT IS WHAT I HEAR IN ATTENDING OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS. WHAT'S BINDING US TOGETHER NOW, IS THIS COMMON CAUSE THAT WE HAVE A FEELING AND A SENSE THAT WE ARE NOT BEING HEARD? I RESPECTFULLY THANK ALL OF YOU THAT ARE HERE, THE SENIOR CABINET FOLKS THAT I MEET WITH MONTHLY, AND WE HAVE EXTRAORDINARY, HONEST, TRANSPARENT, AND FORMATIVE CONVERSATIONS. I THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR OPENING THEIR DOORS AND LISTENING, BUT LISTENING IS NOT ENOUGH. WE MUST NOW TAKE ACTION. WE MUST NOW SHOW WHAT THE ACTIONS THAT THIS BOARD TAKES TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND CHANGE. ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM THE FOLKS THAT I DEEPLY RESPECT, BECAUSE MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I AM FOUR DECADES IN IN L-A-U-S-D AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE SITTING ACROSS FROM THE TABLE FROM ME, I KNOW AND RESPECT DEEPLY AS WORKERS, MY COLLEAGUES, AND EVERYBODY HAS A ROLE. AND WE MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. BUT WHEN WE COME TO THE TABLE WITH PROPOSALS AND CHANGE AND WHEN WE COME TO THE TABLE WITH IDEAS THAT OTHER DISTRICTS ARE IMPLEMENTING IN THEIR CONTRACT, AND ALL WE GET IS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE KNOW THAT IT'S HARD OUT THERE. THIS IS WHAT YOUR FOLKS SIGNED UP TO DO. THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING INTO. SO WE'RE GONNA STICK TO CCL. THAT'S CURRENT CONTRACT LANGUAGE. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. WE ARE NOT NEGOTIATING AGAINST OURSELVES. A NEGOTIATION INTENT ENTAILS JUST THAT COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION AND DISAGREEMENTS ALONG THE WAY. BUT DISCUSSIONS THAT TAKE AND MOVE THE AGENDA FORWARD MEETING IN MIDDLE GROUND, WE ARE GETTING AT A POINT WHERE THERE ARE TWO ARTICLES THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE RELENTLESS ON. I HAVE DISCUSSED THOSE WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS WHEN I'VE MET WITH YOU. I HAVE DISCUSSED THAT WITH SENIOR MANAGEMENT. MY STYLE OF LEADERSHIP IS VERY HONEST, VERY TRANSPARENT, AND VERY FORTHRIGHT. THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE. WE ARE ALMOST THERE. WE WILL BE JOINING OUR LABOR COALITIONS AND ECHOING THEIR WORDS. THE WORDS YOU HEARD TODAY, INVEST IN OUR FOLKS. DO WHAT'S RIGHT. LISTEN TO THE FACT THAT WORKING CONDITIONS ACROSS THIS DISTRICT ARE UNSUSTAINABLE. WE TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, BUT DO WE GET TO SEE OUR OWN? WE DID NOT GET INTO THIS JOB TO SACRIFICE OURSELVES, YET WE DO U SCHOOLS THAT ARE SAFE AND CLEAN IS ESSENTIAL. AND WE RELY ON OUR SEIU PARTNERS TO DO THAT FOR US TO FEED OUR STUDENTS. AND THE PRINCIPAL MANAGES ALL OF THAT. BY THE WAY. WE ALSO WANNA ENSURE THAT OUR FOLKS THAT ARE MENTAL MANAGEMENT, THAT MAKE BETTER SALARIES ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT WHEN THEY REQUEST FLEX HOURS AND ARE BEING DENIED, WHAT CONSTITUTES EXTRA DUTY, PAY AND COMPENSATION ABOVE AND BEYOND WHEN WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A DEFINED WORKDAY BECAUSE WE'RE BEING TOLD WE'RE SALARY. SO WE GO ON 24 7. OUR TIME IS NOW ENOUGH, IS ENOUGH TODAY. WE WILL STAND TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN WITH OUR LABOR PARTNERS AND COALITION IN UNITY, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK YOU TO LISTEN AND MOVE FROM LISTENING AND [00:30:01] ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE IS A SYSTEMIC CHALLENGE IN OUR DISTRICT. IT IS NOT THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE THIS DISTRICT. THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE IN THIS DISTRICT ARE EXTRAORDINARY, TALENTED, DEDICATED TO THE CHILDREN AND THE COMMUNITIES. DO WHAT IS RIGHT, DO WHAT IS FAIR, COMPENSATE FAIRLY YOUR FOLKS, THE WORKERS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ALL GET THE SAME RAISE BECAUSE IT LOOKS DIFFERENT, BUT REALIZE NOW THAT THE MEDIUM SALARY IN CALIFORNIA TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IS $186,000. YOU HAVE BILLIONS IN RESERVES. YOU'VE CREATED PACKAGES FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND OTHER SENIOR CABINET MEMBERS THAT MAKE QUITE A, A NICE LIVING. SO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE WORKERS AND STOP TELLING MY PEOPLE THAT THEIR WAGES ARE PRETTY DARN GOOD AND THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY SIGNED UP TO DO, BECAUSE THAT'S AN INSULT AND IT'S DISRESPECTFUL. GIVE US THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT WE DESERVE IN THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE MY FOLKS ARE THE FOLKS THAT CARRY THE WEIGHT IN THE COMMUNITIES. MY FOLKS ARE THE SHAKERS AND THE DREAMERS OF WHAT KIDS ARE ABLE TO DO. MY FOLKS MAKE YOU THE DISTRICT LOOK GOOD, SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS AND SUPPORTING THE ENTIRE STAFF THAT THEY HAVE TO NAVIGATE AT THEIR SCHOOL SITES, AT THE REGIONS, AND ALSO OUR CENTRAL FOLKS THAT PUT OUT THE CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT WE NEED. SO PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING. I KNOW WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND IT'S TIME TO STOP LISTENING AND START ACTING AND TAKE ACTION BECAUSE I KNOW L-A-U-S-D CAN DO BETTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. NICHOLS. ANY OTHER LABOR PARTNERS? COME ON DOWN MR. GOMEZ. COME ON DOWN. GILES. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME'S GIL GOMEZ. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LA SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION. AND ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO WITNESS NICHOLS SAID, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE FOR, UM, NEGOTIATING HELPING US GET A TWO YEAR CONTRACT FOR OUR HEALTHCARE. ARGUABLY HEALTHCARE IS WORTH MORE THAN OUR SALARY. AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT FINANCIALLY, IT'S, IT'S LIFE SAVING. UM, SECOND OF ALL, SUPERINTENDENT, I DON'T WANT YOUR JOB. I CAN'T DO YOUR JOB. THIS IS RESENTMENT THING AS FAR AS COMPARING MY JOB TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. THIS IS VERY LOW RESOLUTION. IT'S, IT'S, THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE A VISIBLE RESPONSE FROM PEOPLE. THAT'S FINE. UM, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT. UM, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, OFFICER NOW, OFFICER ALONZO JUST GRADUATED THE LAPD ACADEMY. UM, HE GRADUATED LAST FRIDAY. HE DID A GREAT JOB. HE GOT THE NUMBER ONE SHOOTER IN THE ACADEMY, WHICH IN, IN THE POLICE WORLD, THAT'S A BIG THING IN THE REAL WORLD. HE RECEIVED THE PRESTIGIOUS HUMANITARIAN AWARD, WHICH MEANS HE'S AN ALL AROUND GOOD GUY IN THE ACADEMY. AND I EXPECT NOTHING LESS FROM HIM. UM, NOT JUST BECAUSE HE WAS MY CHIEF OF STAFF, BUT BECAUSE OUR SCHOOL POLICE TRAINING UNIT, UM, HAS, THEY, THEY TRAIN THEM FOR ABOUT FOUR WEEKS BEFORE THEY ENTER THE ACADEMY. SO I, I BELIEVE, UH, A COUPLE ACADEMY CLASSES AGO, UM, WE HAD RECRUITS THAT WERE TOP RECRUITS AS WELL. SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, YOUR OFFICERS RANK AT THE HIGHEST IN THE LAPD ACADEMIES. UM, AND HE'S A REALLY GOOD GUY. CHRISTIAN GUY, IF I MAY, IF I MAY SAY THAT, UM, CHRISTIAN, BY, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WHEN, WHEN LABOR PARTNERS COME UP AND THEY TALK ABOUT OUTSOURCING AND, UM, HIRING NON-DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, IT MAKES ME CRINGE BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, WHEN YOU OUTSOURCE, UM, PEOPLE TO DO NON-POLICE WORK, NOT THAT, NOT THAT, UM, YOU CAN'T HAVE CONSEQUENCES, DIRE CONSEQUENCES. I'M NOT, I'M NOT, UM, SAYING YOU CAN'T, BUT IT WILL NOT RESULT IN USUALLY THINGS LIKE, UM, SOMEBODY GETTING HURT, SHOT OR KILLED ON AND AROUND OUR CAMPUS. I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT WILSON HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WASN'T GOING TO, BUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THERE WAS A INCIDENT AT WILSON HIGH SCHOOL AT DISMISSAL. DISMISSAL WAS THREE 30. AND AROUND 3 35, THERE WAS A, A SHOOTING INCIDENT AROUND OUR CAMPUS. [00:35:01] THREE DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, I WALKED MYSELF, 'CAUSE I LISTENED TO WHAT THE MEDIA SAID, AND I WALKED MYSELF, I WALKED THE CAMPUS. I USED TO WORK THE CAMPUS, AND I GOT PHONE CALLS TO GO TO THE CAMPUS. AND I SPOKE WITH BYSTANDERS WHO WATCHED EVERYTHING FOR STARTERS. AT THREE O'CLOCK, THE STAFF TOOK THEIR PLACES AROUND THE PERIMETER AND RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL IN A, UM, A A COUPLE INDIVIDUALS IN, IN, IN A CAR WITH BALLOONS IN THEIR MOUTH, UM, INHALING NAS, NITRIC OXIDE. USUALLY PEOPLE DO DRUGS BEFORE THEY'RE ABOUT TO COMMIT A VIOLENT CRIME. I ASKED THE PEOPLE AROUND THERE WHAT WOULD'VE NORMALLY HAPPENED. THEY SAID WE WOULD'VE CALLED SCHOOL POLICE BECAUSE SOMEBODY WAS ACROSS THE STREET DOING DRUGS AND THE SCHOOL POLICE CAR WOULD'VE DROVE, UM, TO THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL AND WOULD'VE POSSIBLY PREVENTED THIS INCIDENT. AND THAT MAKES SENSE. I MEAN, WHEN YOU USE THE ANALOGY OF THE HUMAN BODY, WHAT, WHEN A PATHOGEN, A A BACTERIA COMES IN THE BODY, IT HEIGHTENS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND THE THE T CELLS, THE KILLER CELLS THAT KILL CANCER SHOW UP. THIS IS, THIS IS THE RESPONSE, THE TYPE OF RESPONSE THAT THE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS DO WHEN, WHEN THERE IS AN INCIDENT OF WHATEVER LEVEL, SOME SUCH AS SMOKING NAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET OR INHALING NAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, THE STAFF COULD CALL THE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS THAT'S ASSIGNED THERE. AND WITHIN MINUTES, THE SCHOOL POLICE CAR, AT THE VERY LEAST, WOULD BE A DETERRENT FOR PEOPLE TO NOT CREATE, UM, IN THIS CASE A SHOOTING. HAVING SAID THAT, FIVE MINUTES LATER, AN INDIVIDUAL, UM, GOT EXITED THE CAR. A A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND STORY IN THE AREA OF THE HIGH SCHOOL. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS. THE PRISON GANGS FIGURED THIS OUT. WE WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GONNA NAME THEM OR GIVE THEM CREDIT. THEY DON'T WANT THE HEAT. SO YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS. YOU COULD DO WALK UP, YOU COULD DO INTENDED TARGET SHOOTINGS. SO JUST LIKE A TEXTBOOK, UH, GANG HIT, PEOPLE EXITED A VEHICLE, WALKED UP, AND APPARENTLY THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE SHOOTERS. AND THIS IS NOT COMING FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS COMING FROM ME. AND THE SOURCES ON THE GROUND THAT I SPOKE WITH, THE, THE STUDENTS WERE THE INTENDED TARGET. I BELIEVE THERE WAS TWO OF THEM RUNNING IN THE PARKING LOT. AND THE, THE SHOOTERS WERE SHOOTING AND THEY HIT TEACHER'S CARS IN THE PARKING LOT AT DISMISSAL, A PACKED DISMISSAL. THERE WAS AN, UH, A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE SITTING IN THEIR CAR AND WHILE SITTING IN THEIR VEHICLE, A BULLET HIT THE, THE, THE PASSENGER, I'M SORRY, THE WINDSHIELD RIGHT IN THE CENTER BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER. THE PRINCIPAL, GOD BLESS HIM, WHO I DID NOT SPEAK TO, HITS THE GROUND BECAUSE HE HEARD BULLETS WHIZZING ACCORDING TO BYSTANDERS, AS DID OTHER PEOPLE HEAR BULLETS WHIZZING BY. AND, AND WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE WERE REPLACED ON CAMPUS BECAUSE OF A, AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN A CITY THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR CITY, AND WE WERE REPLACED WITH, UM, SAFE PASSAGE GROUPS WHO DO NOT WORK FOR THE DISTRICT. THIS IS THE EPITOME OF OUTSOURCING. AND THEY DO NOT HAVE THE, THE, THE, THE SKILL, THE, THE, THE, THE AND ANYTHING ON THEIR, ON THEIR TOOL BELT OR THEY DON'T HAVE THE, THE, THE, THE EXPERTISE TO PROTECT STUDENTS. BUT STILL, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE ARE TRYING TO FUND THEM. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S ABOUT $18 MILLION THAT WE GIVE TO SAFE PASSAGE GROUPS WHO THEY DON'T WORK FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHY DON'T WE TAKE SOME OF THAT FUNDING AND GIVE TO THE CAMPUS AID SO WE CAN GIVE THE SCIU MEMBERS A RAISE. WHY DON'T WE TAKE SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK THAT WE'RE OUTSOURCING TO THEM AND, AND GIVE TO OUR EMPLOYEES SO THEY CAN TRY TO KEEP OUR, OUR CAMPUS SAFE. BUT ONCE AGAIN, THEY CAN'T EVEN KEEP OUR CAMPUS SAFE BECAUSE THERE IS NO PERSON TO CALL THE PROTECTOR. AND WE ARE PART OF YOUR FAMILY. THE, THE, THE, THE NUMBER ONE PROTECTIVE UNIT IN THE FAMILY WAS REMOVED FROM THE SCHOOL. AND OUR JOB IS JUST TO RESPOND AND TAKE A REPORT WE CAN NO LONGER PROTECT. ONCE YOU, ONCE YOU FIGURE THAT OUT, MAYBE WE CAN GO FORWARD AND HAVE A CONVERSATION THAT IT'S NOT IDEOLOGICALLY BASED OR, AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT POLITICS. WE CAN JUST TALK ABOUT PROTECTING CHILDREN. UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK, UH, YOU, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE YOUR, UH, YOUR HANDS FULL IN REGARDS TO NEGOTIATIONS IN THE UNION WORLD. WE'LL BE THIS, WE, WE ASK TO BE TREATED LIKE FAMILY. WE ASK TO BE TREATED, YOU KNOW, FAIR. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING SPECIAL. UM, JUST BE THOUGHTFUL AT THE TABLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MR. GOMEZ. ANY OTHER LABOR PARTNERS WHO WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW WE'RE GOING TO PASS ON TO A, A PLEASANT, PLEASANT, PLEASANT PART OF OUR BOARD MEETING. AND THAT IS THE RECOGNITIONS. AND FIRST UP IS THE RECOGNITION OF CHIEF PI WITH THE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS COME ON DOWN, WHO ARE GOING TO DO THIS PRESENTATION UPON CHIEF'S RETIREMENT COMMITTEE. [00:40:01] SO, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. UH, MY NAME IS MARK CLARK AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS A CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE VAL VERDE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA K THROUGH 12 POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION. TODAY, IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO BE HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF OUR STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE OUTSTANDING CAREER OF CHIEF AARON PIZITZ. DID I GET IT RIGHT? YOU DID. VERY GOOD. I'VE BEEN PRACTICING FOR LIKE 10 MINUTES. FOLKS. CHIEF PIZITZ BEGAN HIS SERVICE WITH THE LOS ANGELES POLICE SCHOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT IN JULY OF 1997, DEDICATING NEARLY THREE DECADES OF HIS LIFE TO PROTECTING STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES ACROSS THIS GREAT DISTRICT. OVER THE YEARS, HE SERVED IN KEY LEADERSHIP ROLES, INCLUDING TRAINING SERGEANT, LIEUTENANT, AND LEADER OF THE SAFE SCHOOL TASK FORCE, HELPING TO STRENGTHEN SAFETY PRACTICES AND INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES UNIFIED. IN 2021, HE WAS PROMOTED TO DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE, LATER SERVING AS ACTING CHIEF. AND IN OCTOBER OF 2024, HE WAS OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED AS CHIEF OF POLICE. IN EVERY ROLE, AARON HAS LED WITH INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, AND PROFESSIONALISM, ALWAYS PUTTING THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF STUDENTS FIRST. WHAT TRULY SETS CHIEF P APART, UH, IS HIS HEART FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, WHETHER MENTORING STUDENTS, WORKING ALONGSIDE SCHOOL STAFF, OR GUIDING NEW OFFICERS, HE HAS ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THAT SCHOOL POLICING IS NOT JUST ABOUT ENFORCING LAWS, IT'S ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, EARNING TRUST, AND BEING A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN THE LIVES OF KIDS. ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA K THROUGH 12 POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT HIM WITH THIS SHADOW BOX AND RECOGNITION OF CHIEF AARON PIZITZ FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION, AND LONG LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCHOOL SAFETY IN LOS ANGELES AND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR FRIENDSHIP, AND YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF THIS DISTRICT. YOU'VE MADE AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT AND YOUR LEGACY WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE ALL OF US. CONGRATULATIONS. IF ANY BOARD, ANY BOARD BOARD MEMBERS WANT TO COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE, WE, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU. SO HAPPY. SO HAPPY. THANK YOU, SIR. SO HAPPY. THANKS FOR COMING. PLEASURE, PLEASURE. YOU KNOW, I'LL PUT YOU GUYS, I'LL GO ON, GET HERE, YOU GUYS. CONGRATULATIONS. ABSOLUTELY. BUT YOU GUYS, WE'LL, WE'LL SQUEEZE ON THE OUTSIDE. WANNA BE IN THE MIDDLE? I WOULD KNEEL IN THE FRONT. , JUST DON'T REACH FOR HIS SIDEARM, SCOTT. NOT I, I KEEP MY HANDS IN MY POCKET. ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY RIGHT OVER HERE, TWO AND THREE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STILL GOT IT. I TRUCKED IT IN. YOU GET TO TRUCK IT OUT, . DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. FOLKS MIGHT WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. SO I'M GONNA SAY SOMETHING. THIS FIRST ONE, WHERE IS HE? CHIEF P, COME BACK. PAGING CHIEF P THERE. THANK YOU, SIR. SO CHIEF, UM, A LOT OF WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, UM, IT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, UH, FROM A POLICE OFFICER TO A SERGEANT TO LIEUTENANT A VARIETY OF ROLES TO DEPUTY CHIEF, TO THEN CHIEF, UH, APPOINTED BY THIS BOARD AND THIS ADMINISTRATION. WE TAKE PRIDE, UM, [00:45:01] IN THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, THE LOYALTY, UH, YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE INTEGRITY WITH WHICH YOU HAVE CONDUCTED YOURSELF AND YOUR TEAM. UH, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED A CANDOR WITH WHICH YOU HAVE APPROACHED THE WORK AND DEALT WITH ME PERSONALLY. YOU ARE A MAN AND A PROFESSIONAL OF HIGH INTEGRITY. UH, AND YOUR CONDUCT, UH, REFLECTS WELL ON YOUR ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHETHER IT WAS SITTING THROUGH ENDLESS HOURS AND DATA DIALOGUES AND PROBLEM SOLVING IMMEDIATELY, UH, OR LISTENING CAREFULLY TO THE VOICES OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OR BRINGING A SWIFT RESPONSE, UH, THAT WOULD BRING PEACE OF MIND TO PARENTS, UH, WHEN CRISIS SURROUNDING OUR SCHOOLS ERUPTED. UH, YOU HAVE BEEN THERE. YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT LEADER AND A GREAT PROFESSIONAL. SO AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, UH, WE CELEBRATE AT LEAST A TEMPORARY DEPARTURE OF GREAT PROFESSIONALS WITH A BELL. YOU'VE EARNED THE BELL. WE HAVE A BELL FOR YOU THAT YOU SHALL RING IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT I BELIEVE BEFORE WE DO THAT, OUR BOARD PRESIDENT, UH, HAS SOME WORDS. YES, CHIEF, I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR L-A-U-S-D AND ALL OF YOUR OFFICERS FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICERS TO YOUR, UH, MANAGEMENT PEOPLE. IT'S JUST AMAZING THAT I COME TO WORK EVERY DAY AS A PRINCIPAL AND AS A TEACHER AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND ALWAYS FELT SAFE AT OUR SCHOOLS. AND IT'S, A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH. YOU KNOW, UM, THE ONLY EMPLOYEES WHO, UM, IN TIME OF CRISIS RUN TO THE PROBLEM ARE THE SCHOOL POLICE. EVERYONE IS RUNNING AWAY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, AND I DON'T BLAME THEM, BUT ONLY THE SCHOOL POLICE RUNS TO THE PROBLEM TO SOLVE IT. AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO ADD, I WAS TELLING THE CHIEF WHEN WE WERE DONE TAKING A PICTURE THAT IF THIS WERE LIKE AN ITEM, I WOULD BE VOTING NO ON YOUR RETIREMENT . UM, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LET YOU GO. I'VE SAID THAT FOR SOME TIME, AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO RETIRE AND HAVE STAYED KINDA WELL BEYOND, UH, WHAT WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF YOU TO SERVE THIS DISTRICT AND OUR STUDENTS. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. IT HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY FEW YEARS FOR THE LA SCHOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND AS A BOARD MEMBER WHO'S BEEN HERE THROUGH THOSE YEARS, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. BUT THE, THE GRACE IN WHICH YOU HELPED LEAD THIS DEPARTMENT THROUGH CHALLENGING TIMES BACK IN 2020 AND EMERGING AND REBUILDING AND RE-IMAGINING AND, AND SH FASCINATING, THIS DEPARTMENT TO SERVE THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF LA UNIFIED AND BE A PARTNER, UM, HAS BEEN REALLY, UH, A PRIVILEGE TO WATCH. AND I THINK, UM, IT WAS THE, IT'S NOT LOST ON US THAT IT'S YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT HELPED GET US TO A PLACE, UH, THAT I THINK IS A MODEL FOR THE NATION AND AND BEYOND FOR WHAT, UH, WHAT A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL POLICE FORCE CAN DO. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO JUST PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, MY DISTRICT WAS DEVASTATED BY THE FIRES ALMOST A YEAR AGO. AND SCHOOL POLICE TOOK ON A NEW ROLE. I MEAN, LIKE MR. SM WAS SAYING, RAN, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY TO THE FIRE. UM, BUT HELPED NOT ONLY PROTECT, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR PROPERTIES, UH, AT TIMES WHEN THEY WERE BEING DESTROYED AND VANDALISM AND, AND SALVAGING WHAT WE COULD. BUT, UH, IT WAS HUGE HELP TO ME AND MY CONSTITUENTS AND MY STAFF EVEN, UH, IN HELPING US KIND OF SEE WHAT WAS LEFT AND HELP PEOPLE PUT BACK SOME OF THE PIECES OF THEIR LIVES AT A TIME WHEN ONLY, YOU KNOW, UH, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND, UH, POLICE PERSONNEL CAN GET IT IN. AND THE, THE WAY THAT YOU AND YOUR, YOUR, UM, THE SCHOOL, THE LA SCHOOL POLICE HELPED OUR OFFICE IN THIS DISTRICT DURING THOSE REALLY TOUGH FEW WEEKS IS SOMETHING I WON'T FORGET. SO I JUST WANNA PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, AND I HOPE YOU'RE NOT A STRANGER. I HOPE KIND OF LIKE YOUR PREDECESSOR, UM, CHIEF ZIPPERMAN, YOU'RE BACK IN LIKE A FEW MONTHS, UH, IN A DIFFERENT ROLE. BUT, UH, UH, JUST KNOW YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE AT THIS DISTRICT AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE. THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. NEWVILLE. WELL, I, TOO, I THINK MANY OF THE WORDS HAVE BEEN SAID ALREADY AND SHARED. UM, I TOO WOULD'VE VOTED NO . UM, BUT I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS FOR SOME TIME AND WE'VE BEEN KIND OF IMPEDING YOUR PROGRESS HERE. UM, AND RETIREMENT IS DEFINITELY SWEET. AND I KNOW JUST THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS DISTRICT, UM, AS MENTIONED IN THE TIMES WHICH WE'RE IN AND WHERE YOU HAVE PROTECTED OUR STUDENTS, PROTECTED OUR, OUR STAFF AND MADE SURE THAT THEY WERE FELT AND BELIEVED TO BE SAFE AT ALL TIMES. AND SO, REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS DISTRICT AND JUST THE TRAINING OF OTHER OFFICERS THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT UP THAT ARE FROM OUR DISTRICT, WHICH I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A LEGACY DISTRICT WHERE WE SEE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW ON THE FORCE AND WITH YOUR TRAINING HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND KEEP THEM SAFE. AND SO, UH, IT IS BITTERSWEET, BUT I TOO BELIEVE THAT YOU'LL COME BACK IN SOME FORM, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US, SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, AND CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU WERE BUILT TO DO. AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE DONE THAT WITH THIS [00:50:01] DISTRICT AND FOR THE TIME IN WHICH YOU SPENT WITH THIS DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MS. EZ. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL, THANK YOU CHIEF, FOR JUST YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. UM, I HAVE ALWAYS REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR RESPONSIVENESS. WHENEVER THERE'S AN ISSUE HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY, I FEEL LIKE YOU ARE QUICK TO ANSWER AND GET BACK TO ME, WHICH IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS, WE NEED THAT LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION. UM, AND I THINK YOU'VE BEEN A HELPFUL PARTNER IN BRAINSTORMING ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT IN THE EAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY WHEN WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, MUTUAL MEETINGS WITH FAMILIES, UM, WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY INCIDENTS AROUND OUR SCHOOLS. UM, YOU WERE, I FEEL LIKE SUCH A HELPFUL PARTNER AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS, ALWAYS WILLING TO, TO DO WHATEVER YOU COULD TO HELP FOR THE, THE SAFETY AND THE WELLBEING OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. AND I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. UM, WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. UM, I AGREE WITH MR. MELVOIN THAT IF YOU WANNA COME BACK, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE. UM, BUT I HOPE YOU, I DO HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT AND SOME WELL DESERVED TIME WITH, WITH YOUR LOVED ONES. THANKS. THANK YOU, DR. RIVAS. YES. I, I, UM, ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF, UH, MY COLLEAGUES OF THANKING YOU FOR YOUR, UH, COMMITMENT OF IT'S BEEN, WHAT, 28 YEARS, ALMOST THREE DECADES, UM, THAT YOU'VE SERVED THE DISTRICT, UM, AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT FOR SAFETY AND THE WELLBEING OF OUR STUDENTS. SO I WANNA THANK YOU AND, YOU KNOW, UM, ENJOY THIS TIME IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVOR, NEXT OF YOUR PHASE. I KNOW, I, I UNDERSTAND YOU LOVE THE OUTDOORS, SO I HOPE YOU GET TO ENJOY SOME NATURE, UM, CONNECT. AND ALSO I HEAR YOU, YOUR LOVE FOR TACOS, WHICH IS ALSO MY LOVE. SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY A LOT OF TACOS AS WELL IN YOUR TIME OFF. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS DISTRICT AND TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND STUDENTS. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, DR. RIVAS. OH, RIGHT HERE. GOT IT. JUST GOTTA GET IT DOWN. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. EVERYONE JUST HERE ONE, TWO AND MORE THIS WAY. ONE MORE THIS WAY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S HOW WHEN IT, WHEN IT ECHOES, THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW YOU DID IT. RIGHT? EXACTLY. NOW I GOT IT. OKAY, NOW WE GOT MORE STUFF. SO OUR NEXT RECOGNITION IS A SPECIAL ONE, ESPECIALLY TO ME AND TO BOARD DISTRICT THREE, BECAUSE IT'S OUR OWN CYNTHIA . EVERYONE IN THIS BUILDING KNOWS CYNTHIA RON SOME WAY. SOMEHOW THEY'VE HAD INTERACTION WITH CYNTHIA. EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM, HER, EVERYBODY LOVES HER. AND IT'S JUST WONDERFUL. LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT HER. SO, CYNTHIA HAS SERVED 26 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. SHE HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP INGENUITY. SHE DOES INGENUITY, CREATIVITY, AND A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE OVER THE SPAN OF HER CAREER. MS. RO, MS. EU BEGAN HER L-A-U-S-D CAREER IN 1999 AS A SECRETARY. THROUGH HARD WORK AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION, SHE ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS BECOMING SENIOR SECRETARY AND ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY IN 2001. IN 2003, SHE TOOK ON THE VITAL ROLE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO BOARD [00:55:01] MEMBERS AND BEGAN SERVING IN BOARD DISTRICT THREE, WHERE HER REMARKABLE CAREER CULMINATES IN 2025. HER MANY YEARS OF CHERISHED SERVICE TO THE BOARD DISTRICT THREE FAMILY HAVE BEEN TRULY INVALUABLE. CYNTHIA IS LEAVING FINGERPRINTS ON OUR LIVES. HER KINDNESS, HER PROFESSIONALISM, HER STEADFAST COMMITMENT HAVE SHAPED OUR COMMUNITY IN LASTING WAYS. SHE WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED. BUT I'M SO HAPPY FOR HER THAT SHE CAN RETIRE. BUT I WILL MISS HER WITH HEARTFELT APPRECIATION. WE HONOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND CELEBRATE THE LEGACY THAT YOU HAVE LEFT BEHIND. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT BOARD. DISTRICT THREE FOLKS, COME ON DOWN. WE'RE GONNA PRESENT CYNTHIA WITH A COUPLE OF THINGS. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. THIS IS OUR BOARD DISTRICT THREE FAMILY, WHICH WE SHOULD INTRODUCE OURSELVES. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. CARLO SHOUT. CARLA SHOUT. HI, MY NAME IS CARLA SVA. I'M THE BOARD COMMUNITY COORDINATOR FOR BOARD MEMBERS. WILSON, JEANIE, CAM FIELD OFFICE DIRECTOR. SYLVIA MARTINEZ, CHIEF OF STAFF. IS THERE ANYBODY? POLICY DIRECTOR. AND MILTON WILL BE OUR REPLACEMENT. EVERYBODY KNOWS MILTON TOO, BY THE WAY, SO THAT'S GREAT TOO. BUT MILTON WILL BE OUR REPLACEMENT FOR, FOR CYNTHIA. WILL HER FAMILY COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES TO HER SONS? YES. WE WANT, THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME. A BIG DEAL. I HAVE TWO OUT OF FOUR. TWO OUT OF FOUR. OKAY. INTRODUCE YOURSELF. INTRODUCE YOURSELF. YEAH. UM, I'M, UH, RUSSELL FRANCISCO. TWO OF FOUR. TWO OF FOUR. OKAY. GREAT FAMILY. UM, I'M JUST SO HAPPY YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW WONDERFUL CYNTHIA HAS BEEN TO US IN BOARD. DISTRICT THREE SAID EVERYBODY KNOWS HER, HER VOICE, HER CALMNESS, EVERYBODY CALLS HER. THEY ALWAYS TELL ME OUT IN THE FIELD OF THE VALLEY. WE LOVE CYNTHIA. DON'T TALK ME. WE LOVE CYNTHIA BECAUSE SHE'S SO HELPFUL. LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. OH MY GOD, THANK YOU. WE'RE GONNA LET YOU WE'RE LET, LET ME GO ON THE SIDE OF HER. WE'RE GONNA LET YOU PULL THIS. LEMME GO THIS WAY. WE'RE GONNA LET YOU PULL THIS BELL. NICE AND STRONG. UH OH. ALRIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY. YEAH, OF COURSE, OF COURSE. I'M NOT MESSING NUMBER TWO, SON. OKAY, . OKAY. 1, 1, 2, AND THREE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ONE MORE COMMEMORATION AND IT'S NICE TO DO THESE. IT REALLY IS SO NICE. THE THIRD RECOGNITION IS OF MIRIAM RUBAL. CALVA. COME ON DOWN. MIRIAM AND MIRIAM'S FAMILY. MIRIAM'S FAMILY. COME ON DOWN. F COME ON DOWN. WOULD YOU LIKE LOTS OF KIDS? LOTS OF KIDS. . SO MIRIAM, UH, IS, UH, BOARD DISTRICT SIX, KELLY EZ AND SHE'S GOING TO START OUR RECOGNITION. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AN AMAZING MEMBER OF MY TEAM AND ALSO THE GENERAL BOARDS TEAM WHO IS RETIRING AT THE END OF THE MONTH. THAT'S MIRIAM . MIRIAM HAS SERVED LUSD FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES, [01:00:01] 39 YEARS, STARTING AS A TEACHER'S ASSISTANT AT FIRST STREET ELEMENTARY. SHE SERVED AT EIGHT ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS FROM ELEMENTARY ALL THE WAY TO ADULT SCHOOL. UM, AND THEN SHE JOINED THE BOARD SECRETARIAT'S TEAM, UM, UNDER MR. MCLEAN, WHERE SHE SUPPORTED ALL OF US, ALL SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS, UM, AS WELL AS OUR BOARD MEETINGS AND OUR OFFICES BEFORE JOINING BOARD DISTRICT SIX, TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. UM, AND EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, IN EVERY SINGLE ROLE, SHE'S JUST BEEN A MODEL OF DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR TEAMS. SHE'S BEEN AN EXCEPTIONAL COLLEAGUE AND TEAMMATE WHO ALWAYS THINKS OF OTHERS FIRST. WHAT REALLY HAS SET MIRIAM APART WAS HER BIG HEART. UM, SHE BROUGHT THAT TO EVERY TASK AND RESPONSIBILITY, ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR THOSE AROUND HER. WHETHER THEY WERE STUDENTS REACHING OUT TO US FOR SUPPORT, FAMILIES WHO NEEDED OUR ASSISTANCE OR HER COLLEAGUES IN THE BOARD OFFICE. UM, WE ARE GOING TO MISS MIRIAM SO VERY MUCH, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, SHE HAS A HUGE AND LOVING FAMILY THAT IS EXCITED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HER. AND I KNOW MY BOARD COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN SAYING THAT WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT AND WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU. UM, AND THEN WE DO HAVE A CERTIFICATE TO PRESENT, BUT I, I WANNA PASS IT TO, I KNOW MR. MCLEAN, UM, WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOME NICE THINGS ABOUT MIRIAM TOO. WHAT AN HONOR TO SAY ANYTHING, UH, THIS DAY, BUT TO BE ABLE TO SAY IT TO YOU AS EXTRA SPECIAL. UH, MS. EZ WAS VERY GENEROUS AND HOW SHE DESCRIBED YOU COMING INTO MY OFFICE, BUT I REALLY CAME INTO YOUR OFFICE AND WHEN I STARTED IT WAS INCR. I MEAN, I'M STILL ON A LEARNING JOURNEY, BUT WHAT YOU WERE ABLE TO GET ME CAUGHT UP WITH YOUR KINDNESS AND YOUR PATIENCE, A LOOK THAT YOU WOULD GIVE ME, WHICH WOULD TELL ME, OH MY GOD, KID, YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, BUT I'M GONNA SEE IF I CAN LIMP YOU ALONG THROUGH THIS. AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF YOU BROUGHT, YOU WOULD BRING ME FOOD BECAUSE I WOULD FORGET TO EAT. YOU WOULD BRING ME A COSTCO HOTDOG WITH THE, WITH, WITH THE STUFF ON THE SIDE, NOT ALREADY APPLIED, WHICH TO ME IS A DETAIL THAT LIKE, YOU CANNOT OVEREMPHASIZE . SO, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST A TINY, TINY ASPECT. AND I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALL OF YOUR FAMILY, WHICH IS ALSO FUN. UM, AND YOU'RE A PIECE OF THE DISTRICT THAT I THINK, AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, ADDS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF CHARACTER. AND I, I SOMETIMES LIKE TO THINK OF THIS AS MY FAMILY IN A SENSE, BECAUSE I SPEND SO MUCH TIME HERE. SO HAVING SOMEONE PROVIDE BOTH PRACTICAL INFORMATION AND CARING FOR OUR SOULS A LITTLE BIT IS ABSOLUTELY INVALUABLE. SO THE DISTRICT IS A LITTLE BIT LESSER FOR YOU, FOR YOU LEAVING, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE GIVING TO YOUR FAMILY MORE THAN MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER GIVE TO US. SO THANK YOU MS. GOMEZ. SINCE HE BROUGHT UP FOOD, I HAVE TO MENTION THAT MIRIAM RUB CALVA MAKES THE BEST TURKEY DRESSING THE BEST I HAVE EVER, EVER HAD FROM COAST TO COAST, THE BEST TURKEY DRESSING. THANK YOU, MIRIAM. AND SO WE'D LOVE TO PRESENT A, A CERTIFICATE ON MIRIAM'S BEHALF. SO PERHAPS WE CAN GO DOWN AND, AND TAKE A PHOTO. UNLESS MIRIAM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA SAY, NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. DO YOU WANNA STAY ANNIE? I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION. UM, I FEEL REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE AND TO HAVE SERVED THE BOARD. UM, IT'S JUST BEEN ANOTHER HOME FOR ME FOR THE PAST 39 YEARS, AND I JUST FEEL SO PRIVILEGED AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND I WANNA THANK MY FAMILY AND THERE'S SOME FAMILY AND FRIENDS OUT THE AUDIENCE AS WELL THAT CAME TO SEE. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THEM. AND MY FAMILY MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. SERENA, SYDNEY, SCOTTY, ERIC, YVETTE, MY BABIES AND MY HUSBAND WHO COULDN'T BE HERE, JESSIE, BUT THE WORLD TO ME. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. HI. S NICE. HI. NICE TO THINK MIRIAM GAVE US SOME HURDLE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO IT'S A GOOD TIME. THEY, WE LOVE YOU. WE LOVE YOU CARLA. ALMOST AS CONGRATULATIONS. [01:09:03] OKAY, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE OUR BOARD MEETING. THAT WAS THE MOST FUN I EVER HAD AT A BOARD MEETING, SO THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY NICE. SO, SO, SO HAPPY. SO HAPPY. SO WE'RE GONNA GO ONTO OUR COMMITTEES AND WE'LL START WITH, UH, FACILITIES AND PROCUREMENT. MR. MEL, BOY. MR. MEL BOEING. OH YEAH. FACILITIES AND PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE. UM, OKAY. THANK YOU MR. SCH. SO ON DECEMBER 2ND, WE HAD OUR SECOND FACILITIES AND PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE YEAR. UM, WE RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON THE PALISADES WILDFIRE RECOVERY REBUILD NEARLY ONE YEAR AFTER THE DE DEVASTATING FIRE. AND WE TALKED ABOUT WAYS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS WAYS TO EXPEDITE THE PERMANENT REBUILD, UM, AND, UH, GET STUDENTS BACK TO THEIR PERMANENT CAMPUSES AS SOON AS WE CAN. UM, I THINK WE MAY HAVE SOME PARENTS WHO ARE JOINING US EVEN FOR TODAY'S MEETING, TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THAT AS WELL AS THEY DID FOR THAT COMMITTEE MEETING. SO I THINK THEM FOR THEIR ADV, THEIR SHARED AND JOINT ADVOCACY. WE ALSO CONTINUE [01:10:01] A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE RECENT MGT REPORT, WHICH REVIEWED DISTRICT CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES AND COMPARED THEM TO OTHER ENTITIES. TWO AREAS AND INTEREST. UH, TWO AREAS OF INTEREST AND FOCUS HAVE EMERGED FOR THE COMMITTEE, INCLUDING FINDING BETTER WAYS AND BEST PRACTICES AROUND CHANGE ORDERS DURING CONSTRUCTION, AND FINDING WAYS TO INCREASE COMPETITION BY EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF ENTITIES THAT, UH, WORK ON DISTRICT PROJECTS. FINALLY, WE RECEIVED AN OVERVIEW OF THE NEW PLAYGROUND SHADE STRUCTURE PROJECTS. AND WHILE COMMITTEE MEMBERS EXPRESSED GREAT ENTHUSIASM FROM MORE SHADE, UM, AS WE FACE CLIMATE EMERGENCIES, THEY ALSO, UH, EXPRESS GREAT SKEPTICISM AND FRUSTRATION AND QUESTIONING AROUND THE COST, UM, AND THE TIME OF, OF SHADE STRUCTURES. UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS IN THE NEW YEAR AND IN A FUTURE ACTUALLY AT OUR ADVOCACY AGENDA, HE, TODAY, I'LL BE SUGGESTING AN AMENDMENT. THANK YOU MS. ALVAREZ, WHO'S HERE ON MORE WE CAN DO AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL AROUND, UM, LOWERING THE COST OF SHADE STRUCTURES. UH, OUR NEXT MEETING IS IN FEBRUARY. UM, AND, UH, HOPE TO SEE SOME OF YOU THERE. THANKS. THANK YOU, MR. MELVOIN. AND OUR NEXT COMMITTEE REPORT IS GREENING SCHOOLS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE. YES, THANK YOU. A BOARD PRESIDENT. UH, THE GREENING SCHOOLS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE COMMITTEE CONVENED ON DECEMBER 3RD FOR A FOCUS DISCUSSION ON ADVANCING DISTRICT-WIDE SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES AND ELEVATING COMMUNITY ROOTED CLIMATE RESILIENCE EFFORTS. THROUGH A PARTNER SPOTLIGHT, MR. CHRISTUS CLIO, UH, CHIEF ECOS SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER SHARED UPDATES ON KEY PILLARS OF THE DISTRICT'S CLIMATE WORK, INCLUDING STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH L-A-D-W-P IMPLEMENTATION OF WATER CONSERVATION PILOTS, EXPANSION OF WASTE DIVERSION STRATEGIES AND COORDINATION WITH O-E-A-O-E-H-S AND FOOD SERVICES AND EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESILIENT SCHOOLS, EXTREME HEAT MITIGATION AND DISASTER PREPARERS RESOLUTION. FOR THE SECOND PRESENTATION, YOUTH LEADERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM REDEEMER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP GREENHOUSE SOUTH LA HIGHLIGHTED HANDS-ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE WORK IN SOUTH LA, INCLUDING ELECTRIFICATION, TRAINING, COMMUNITY GARDENS, ENERGY AUDITING, AND STUDENT LED EMERGENCY RESPONSE DURING EXTREME HEAT AND WILDFIRE EVENTS. THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED OPPORTUNITIES TO BETTER ALIGN THESE EFFORTS WITH DISTRICT CTE LINK LEARNING AND WORK-BASED LEADER LEARNING PATHWAYS, STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY HUBS AND CENTER YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND PLANNING, GREENING AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECTS. UH, THE NEXT GREEN COMMITTEE MEETING DATE WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28TH, 2025. AND ALSO JUST WANNA, UH, REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE COMMITTEES ARE RECORDED AND YOU CAN VIEW THEM ON THE, UM, BOARD OF EDUCATION WEBSITE IN CASE I REALLY WANT TO, UM, UM, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SEE THIS LAST ONE BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY AMAZED AT THE PRESENTATION FROM THE GREENHOUSE SOUTH LA THE STUDENTS AND THEIR VOICES. I THINK IT WAS, IT WAS JUST REALLY MOTIVATING TO HEARING THEM SPEAK. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DR. RIVAS. [Superintendent’s Reports] AND NEXT WE'LL HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT. A VERY BRIEF REPORT, BUT AN IMPORTANT ONE. RECENTLY, OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, DR. CARLA ESTRADA, AND BOARD MEMBER, SHE NEWBELL, UH, ATTENDED THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, UH, CONFERENCE, AND THEY BROUGHT BACK A VERY PRESTIGIOUS PRIZE. IN FACT, THEY BROUGHT BACK THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GOLDEN BELL AWARD, UH, FOR 2025 IN RECOGNITION OF THIS SCHOOL BOARD, THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR OUTSTANDING, UH, PROGRAM IN ADDRESSING GAPS IN STUDENT OUTCOMES CATEGORY. UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, RECOGNIZING THE EDUCATION TRANSFORMATION OFFICE AND THE GAINS MADE BY THE PRIORITY SCHOOLS AND LOS ANGELES UNIFIED. UH, THIS PRIZE, UH, CAME WITH A $1,000 CHECK, UH, TO BE INVESTED, UH, INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS. SO THE GOLDEN BELL IS A PRESTIGIOUS RECOGNITION, UH, BY, UH, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS REMARKABLE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER NEW BILL FOR ATTENDING, UH, THE CONFERENCE AND RECEIVING THIS AWARD ALONGSIDE DR. CARLOS SCHRADER. CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS, UH, RECOGNITION POSSIBLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR, UH, MR. MCLEAN. OKAY. GONNA GO INTO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MOVE IT? MOVE BY MS. GO SECOND. BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHOR. [Consent Items ( Part 1 of 4)] OKAY. THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS A PROCEDURAL MECHANISM, MECHANISM THAT THE BOARD USES TO TAKE [01:15:01] A NUMBER OF ITEMS IN A SINGLE VOTE AS OPPOSED TO VOTING ON THEM ALL INDIVIDUALLY. IT CREATES AN EFFICIENCY IN THE PROCESS AND MOVES THINGS ALONG A LITTLE BIT MORE SWIFTLY. UH, I READ THROUGH THE ITEMS ON THE LIST AND THE BOARD MEMBERS THEMSELVES WILL SAY DISCUSSION OR CONSENT IF THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. IT GOES ON DISCUSSION FOR A DIRECT VOTE INSTEAD OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR. UM, IF IT GOES ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. UH, TAB ONE, REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF 2026. ADVOCACY AGENDA DISCUSSION, . TAB TWO. DONATIONS OF MONEY TO THE DISTRICT. CONSENT. CONSENT, CONSENT. TAB THREE, PROVISIONAL INTERNSHIP PERMITS. TAB FOUR, APPROVAL OF ROUTINE PERSONNEL ACTIONS. I HAD ONE QUESTION. SO, UH, REPORT, UH, TAB FIVE, REPORT OF CASH DISBURSEMENTS CONSENT. TAB SIX, APPROVAL OF NON-FORMAL GRANT AGREEMENTS. CONSENT. DISCUSSION. I HAD A QUESTION. TAB SEVEN, COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANT 2.0. QUESTION, UH, NO QUESTION. QUESTION APPROVAL. UH, TAB EIGHT, APPROVAL OF PROCUREMENT ACTIONS. CONSENT. CONSENT. TAB NINE, APPROVAL OF FACILITIES, CONTRAST ACTIONS, CONSENT. CONSENT. TAB 10, DEFINE AND APPROVED THREE PROJECTS TO PROVIDE CRITICAL REPLACEMENTS AND UPGRADES. CONSENT. CONSENT. TAB 11, DEFINE AND APPROVED TWO. EARLY EDUCATION CENTER OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS. CONSENT. CONSENT. TAB 12, DEFINE AND APPROVE THE 24TH STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BARRIER REMOVAL PROJECT. CONSENT. CONSENT. TAB 13, DEFINE AND APPROVE SEVEN. BOARD DISTRICT PRIORITY AND REGION PRIORITY PROJECTS. CONSENT. CONSENT. TAB 14, AMENDMENT TO THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, STRATEGIC EXECUTION PLAN, CONSENT. CONSENT. TAB 15, AMENDMENT TO THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, STRATEGIC EXECUTION PLAN TO APPROVE THE SCHOOL NETWORK. ALTERNATIVE CONNECTIVITY PILOT PROJECT SENT, SENT TAB 16 AMENDMENT TO THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, STRATEGIC EXECUTION PLAN, CONSENT. CONSENT. TAB 17, APPROVAL OF THE CON CONS, CONSOLIDATION OF SAN FERNANDO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SAN FERNANDO INSTITUTE OF APPLIED MEDIA. QUESTION, UH, QUESTION TAB 18, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR NEW ACADEMY CANOGA PARK, CONSENT. CONSENT TAB 19, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR NEW ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS. CONSENT. CONSENT TAB 20, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR ASPIRE TITAN ACADEMY. CONSENT. CONSENT TAB 21, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL. PETITION FOR GO INTERNATIONAL CHARTER. CONSENT. CONSENT, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES HIGH CONSENT. THE TAB 23 AND 24 CANNOT BE ON CONSENT. TAB 25, UM, CELEBRATING NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION DATE CONSENT. AND YEAH, I'M SORRY, I'M LOOKING FOR A TIME CERTAIN ON THAT. I USUALLY HAVE IT LISTED TIME CERTAIN I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE'S A TIME CERTAIN ON THAT WE CAN LEAVE IT ON CONSENT. I'D LOVE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS. AND THEN I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT MR. MOLSEN AND BOARD MEMBER GRIEGO ARE CO-SPONSORING THE RESOLUTION. OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT. TAB 26, NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH RESOLUTION CONSENT. YES. SENT TAB 27 COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND THE NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE CONSENT. I ALSO NOTED IT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED, UM, A CO-SPONSORSHIP ALSO BY TANYA ORTIZ. FRANKLIN. THANK YOU. UM, LET'S SEE. THERE'S BOARD RESOLUTIONS FOR INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. WE DO NOT TAKE ACTION ON THOSE RESOLUTION BY MY OFFICE. TAB 30, APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW MEMBER OF THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION. TAB 33, REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE. THAT TAB 34 SHOULD GO ON DISCUSSION SINCE IT'S TIME, CERTAIN OF 3:00 PM UH, TAB 35, 20 25, 26. FIRST INTERIM REPORT AND MULTI-YEAR PROJECTIONS. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION, UH, 36, UH, ADOPTION OF THE 26 27 HEALTH BENEFITS AGREEMENT. YES, TAB 37, UH, APPOINT AD HOC BOARD RULES IN THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. ALL RIGHT. UM, I'M GONNA READ THROUGH THE LIST AGAIN JUST TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MAKE ANY ERRORS. AND THEN, UM, WE CAN BEGIN TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS. UH, TAB ONE IS DISCUSSION. TAB [01:20:01] TWO AND THREE IS CONSENT. TAB FOUR IS A QUESTION. TAB FIVE IS CONSENT. TAB SIX IS DISCUSSION. TAB SEVEN IS A QUESTION TABS 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, AND 16 ARE CONSENT. TAB 17 IS A QUESTION. TAB 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 ARE CONSENT TABS 23 AND 24 ARE DISCUSSION TABS 25, 26, AND 27 ARE CONSENT TABS. 28 AND 29 ARE NOT ACTION ITEMS. TAB 30 IS CONSENT. UH, TAB 31 AND 32 ARE NON-ACTION. TAB 33 IS CONSENT TAB 34 TIMES CERTAIN. DISCUSSION TAB 35, DISCUSSION TAB 36, CONSENT AND TAB 37 CONSENT. UH, LET'S SEE. ONE MOMENT. OKAY, [31. Charter Petitions for Public Hearings (Misc 025-25/26)] THE BOARD IS GOING TO TAKE, UH, BEFORE THE CONSENT CALENDAR CONTINUES. LET'S SEE. TAB 31, THE CHARTER PETITIONS PUBLIC HEARING. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ALREADY HERE FOR IT. SO, UM, I'M GONNA READ THE PUBLIC HEARING ON TAB 31, CHARTER PETITIONS FOR PUBLIC HEARING. THIS ISN'T FOR ACTION, BY THE WAY. IT'S JUST TO TAKE THE, TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN ON THE FOLLOWING, A PUBLIC HEARING MUST BE HELD. THIS CONSTITUTES A PUBLIC HEARING ON TEACH PREP MILDRED S CUNNINGHAM AND EDITH H MORRIS ELEMENTARY, ICEF, FIELD PARK PREP HIGH, KIPP VITA PREP ACADEMY, KIPP ACADEMY OF INNOVATION, KIPP LUMINAR ACADEMY, KIPP RICE'S ACADEMY, KIPP LOS ANGELES COLLEGE PREP, OCEAN, CHARTER CAL, AND CALIFORNIA CREATIVE LEARNING ACADEMY, MIDDLE MAXIMUM OF 15 INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND THE ITEM WILL BE HEARD. THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK SHOULD SIGN UP ONLINE AND THEY HAVE SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED BY NAME. SO I'LL CALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE IN PERSON FIRST. SO CONE THOMPSON, COME ON UP. AND THEN AFTER CONE IS SHARON OWENS. KAREN DERMAN. BEFORE WE, OKAY, SO MS. THOMPSON, UH, LET'S SEE. SHARON OWENS, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON UP. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE L-A-U-S-D BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO, MY NAME IS SHARON OWENS LINCOLN, AND I SERVE AS A CHIEF OF SCHOOLS FOR ISEF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M HONORED TO SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE RENEWAL OF IS E VIEW PARK PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL'S. CHARTER IS E VIEW PARK HIGH SCHOOL SERVES A STUDENT POPULATION THAT IS 96% AFRICAN AMERICAN AND 93% SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. THESE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE NOT JUST STATISTICS. THEY REPRESENT A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED BY PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEMS. AND THAT CONTEXT MAKES OUR RESULTS, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF OUR CHARTER TERM EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL. AT ISOP PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN VIEW PARK HIGH SCHOOL, OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER COURAGEOUS LEADERS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL FOR COLLEGE, CAREER AND LIFE. AND WE ARE DELIVERING ON THAT MISSION EVERY DAY THROUGH THE WORK TAKING PLACE AT VIEW PARK HIGH SCHOOL, AND HAVE BEEN DOING SO FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS IN THE CRENSHAW COMMUNITY OVER THE CURRENT CHARTER TERM VIEW PARK HIGH SCHOOL HAS DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE ACADEMIC GAINS. MOST NOTABLY, IN SPRING 25, OUR STUDENT ACHIEVE. OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVED GAINS OF 51.2 POINTS IN ELA AND 74.8 POINTS IN MATH. IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, WE ARE OUTPERFORMING THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA EARNING A DISTANCE OF STANDARD OF 4.4 POINTS ABOVE STANDARDS AND MATHEMATICS. OUR GAINS EXCEED BOTH STATE AND DISTRICT AFRICAN AMERICAN SUBGROUP PERFORMANCE. WE, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR GRADUATION RATES, THE STORY IS JUST AS POWERFUL VIEW PARK HIGH SCHOOL IS OUTPERFORMING THE STATE GRADUATION RATE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS, WE EXCEED THE STATE AVERAGE BY 13 PERCENTAGE POINTS ACROSS EVERY MAJOR DATA POINT VIEW. PARK HIGH SCHOOL IS SERVING AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS BETTER THAN LOCAL SCHOOLS AND THE STATE AS A WHOLE. BUT WHAT MAKES VIEW PARK HIGH SCHOOL TRULY UNIQUE IS THAT OUR SUCCESS IS NOT LIMITED TO ACADEMICS ALONE. WE'RE A CALIFORNIA EXEMPLARY ARTS EDUCATION, AWARD-WINNING SCHOOLS WITH NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAMS IN THEATER AND DIGITAL MUSIC PRODUCTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF VIEW PARK HIGH SCHOOL'S CHARTER PETITION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. UH, KAREN SNYDERMAN. KAREN S COME ON UP. [01:25:11] GOOD MORNING. I'M KAREN SNYDERMAN. I'M, I LIVE IN STUDIO CITY. I'M PART OF THE PORT DISTRICT NUMBER THREE. UM, BUT EVER SINCE MY DAUGHTER WAS DIAGNOSED AUTISTIC, UH, I KNEW THE ROAD WAS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY ONE. MY BIGGEST WORRY OF, OF COURSE, HAS BEEN HER PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE WILLINGNESS OF MAKING HER A FULLY INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUAL. THAT IS, OF COURSE, MY MAIN GOAL. SO I'VE BEEN HER STRONG AND BIGGEST ADVOCATE, NOT ONLY WITH THE HOME DISCIPLINE THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE, FOR A NARROW DIVERGENT KID THERAPY CAMPS, EXTRACURRICULAR AND SUPPORT TUTOR, AND ANY SUPPORT THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO HER SUCCESS. I MEAN, UH, WHEN LOOKING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLS OPTIONS, UH, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE GREAT RATED MIDDLE SCHOOLS NEARBY, UM, THE SETUP WAS SO BIG AND MY FEAR WAS VERY, VERY HIGH. WHEN YOU HAVE, UM, NEURODIVERGENT KID THAT IS IN THE TEEN AGE OF WILLING TO BE PART OF SOMETHING, UM, IT'S, IT'S VERY, IT'S VERY HARD BECAUSE YOU'RE IN YOUR WILLINGNESS TO FIT YOUR EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT DANGERS. AND THE BIGGEST SCHOOL, THE BIGGER THE DANGERS. SO I WAS LOOKING FOR A BETTER SETUP, AND I FOUND MIRACLE LESLIE A GREAT SCHOOL. THE NAME IS CALIFORNIA CREATIVE LEARNING ACADEMY, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR THEM. UM, IT'S A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT IS, NEEDS THE RENEWAL, AND, UH, IT'S BEEN CRUCIAL IN HER DEVELOPMENT. UM, THE COMMUNITY'S AMAZING, AND IT'S SO EMBRACING OF THE DIFFERENT AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE KIDS. SO I, MY TIME IS OUT. I HAVE MORE THINGS TO SAY, BUT I, I REALLY WANTED TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL AS CALIFORNIA CREATIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, PHIL. MANNY, ARE YOU HERE? PHIL, COME ON UP. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE, UH, JUST ELECTED. UH, MY NAME IS PHIL MANLEY AND I'M A PARENT OF A STUDENT AT CAL CREATIVE. UM, I'M HERE AS A, A GLENDALE RESIDENT, AND I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RENEWAL OF CAL CREATIVES CHARTER. UH, MY STORY, MY SON, UH, WENT TO OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL AND IT WAS A VERY, UH, UH, STRUCTURED AND RIGID EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. UH, MY SON IS NEURODIVERSE. HE HAS, UH, DYSLEXIA. AND WHAT I THOUGHT, WHAT I SAW WAS HE WAS RETREATING. HE WAS BECOMING A WALLFLOWER. HE WAS BECOMING A SHADOW OF HIMSELF. AND I, AS A PARENT, I HAD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. SO WE DECIDED TO LOOK FOR A NEW SCHOOL. UM, AT THIS TIME, MY WIFE TOOK, UH, MY SON TO THE BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER. AND, UM, IT'S A MARIONETTE THEATER IN HIGHLAND PARK, AND THERE WAS A GROUP OF KIDS THERE THAT WERE HAVING JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL, A WONDERFUL TIME. IT WAS A MUSICAL PERFORMANCE, AND THEY WERE DANCING. THEY WERE JUST FREE IN A WAY THAT I, THAT I HADN'T SEEN. AND, UH, MY WIFE WAS LIKE, WELL, WHERE DID, WHERE DID THOSE KIDS GO TO SCHOOL? 'CAUSE THEY LIVED NEAR US. AND, UH, WE WENT AND TALKED TO ONE OF THE PARENTS AND THEY WERE LIKE, OH MY GOD, IT'S THIS, IT'S THIS TINY CHARTER SCHOOL. IT'S CALLED CAL CREATIVE. AND, UH, THEY, THEY REALLY FOCUS ON, UM, COMMUNITY AND ARTS WITHIN THE CURRICULUM AND SOCIO, UM, EMOTIONAL EDUCATION. AND WE GOT OUR SON TRANSFERRED OVER THERE, AND HIS TRANSFORMATION HAS, HAS BEEN AMAZING. HE'S HAVING CONVERSATIONS THAT HE NEVER WOULD'VE HAD ABOUT, UM, RACE AND ETHICS AND CULTURE AND HISTORY AND HIS TRANSFORMATION HAS BEEN AMAZING. AND I JUST, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW VALUABLE THIS SCHOOL HAS BEEN, UH, TO HIM AND, UH, US AS A FAMILY, AND I'M JUST REALLY HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR RENEWAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, JESSICA. JESSICA, FIRST STAND. COME ON UP, JESSICA, FIRSTHAND. AND THEN, UH, ANGELA MARTINEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS JESSICA FIRSTHAND AND I AM THE PROUD PARENT TO A CALIFORNIA CREATIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT. HIS NAME IS CODY. HE IS IN SIXTH GRADE BRAND NEW TO CAL CREATIVE. THIS YEAR WE ARE FROM BURBANK UNIFIED. [01:30:01] WE MOVED THERE BECAUSE OF THE GRADE SCHOOLS, BUT CODY STRUGGLED THROUGH ELEMENTARY AND TRADITIONAL SCHOOL IS JUST NOT THE PLACE FOR HIM. WE FOUND CAL CREATIVE AFTER EXHAUSTIVE SEARCHES THAT I WENT THROUGH FOR CHARTER MIDDLES AND CAL CREATIVE IS THE PLACE FOR HIM. HE DID NOT, HE DID NOT WORK WELL IN A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM. HE COULD NOT PARTICIPATE LIKE A TRADITIONAL STUDENT. HE LEARNS BY DOING, HE LEARNS BY EXPERIMENTING. HE LEARNS THROUGH ART AND MOVEMENT AND MUSIC, AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS CAN GIVE HIM, BUT CAL CREATIVE MIDDLE CAN GIVE HIM THAT AND HE COULD NOT CONNECT TO THE LESSONS AND THE WORKSHEETS AND READING THE BOOKS. HE NEEDS TO MOVE, HE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO TINKER AN ENGINEER, AND HE CAN'T DO THAT IN A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL, BUT HE CAN DO IT AT CAL CREATIVE MIDDLE. HIS OUTLOOK HAS CHANGED. HE HATED SCHOOL, BUT HE LOVES IT NOW. WE DON'T FIGHT IN THE MORNING. THERE IS NO SCHOOL REFUSAL. HE WANTS TO BE THERE, AND HE'S MAKING CONNECTIONS TO STUDENTS WHO LIKE HIM, ARE NOT TRADITIONAL LEARNERS. THEY NEED PLACES LIKE CAL CREATIVE MIDDLE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS. I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR CAL CREATIVE MIDDLE FOR THE RENEWAL TO BE RE-UPPED SO MY KID CAN CONTINUE GOING TO THE SCHOOL WHERE HE HAS BECOME THE KIND OF STUDENT THAT HE KNOWS HE CAN BE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR HIM, FOR OUR FAMILY, AND HE WILL BE DEVASTATED IF HE CANNOT CONTINUE GOING THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ANGELA MARTINEZ. MARTINEZ. OKAY DEAR. L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT CARO. MY NAME IS KIRA KALUZA AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE OCEAN CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AFFILIATED WITH CTA FOR 20 YEARS. OUR UNION AT OCEAN CHARTER HAS BEEN GROUNDED IN COLLABORATION AND RESPECT AND A SHARED VISION. TODAY WE SERVE OUR TK THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ON A BEAUTIFUL NEW CAMPUS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THAT COLLABORATION AND BY LAD'S PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT. WE HAVE WEATHERED DIFFICULT YEARS, THE PANDEMIC, THE RECENT ATTACK ON CIVIL LIBERTIES OF STUDENTS DIFFICULT BUDGET YEARS. WE HAVE STOOD TOGETHER STRONG ON BEHALF OF OUR UNION MEMBERS. I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OCEAN CHARTER SCHOOLS CHARTER RENEWAL AT THE FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING NOW IN OUR 22ND YEAR AS AN INDEPENDENT L-A-U-S-D CHARTER SCHOOL. OCEAN IS A HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL BY DISTRICT AND STATE MEASURES. WE OFFER AN ARTS INTEGRATED PUBLIC WALDORF PROGRAM THAT IS RELATIONSHIP-BASED AND DEVELOPMENTAL. OUR GRADUATES SHOW THAT OCEAN CHARTER PREPARES STUDENTS NOT JUST TO REPLICATE THE WORLD THEY SEE, BUT TO HELP MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE. WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 560 STUDENTS, ABOUT 15% WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. I AM PROUD TO HAVE TAUGHT ONE CLASS FROM FOURTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE AND AM NOW CYCLING AGAIN WITH A NEW SIXTH GRADE. I BELIEVE SO STRONGLY IN OUR SCHOOL THAT BOTH MY CHILDREN ATTEND IT ON BEHALF OF OCEAN CHARTER TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AND OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR CHARTER RENEWAL AT THE FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT, NOW ANGELA, COME ON UP. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANGELA MARTINEZ AND I'M THE CHIEF ACADEMIC SHE ACADEMIC. THAT WAS OLD SCHOOL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR KIPP SOCAL. UM, I WANNA STATE THAT KIPP SOCAL TAKES ANY CONCERN RELATED TO STUDENT SAFETY, STAFF CONDUCT AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY. WE INVESTIGATE EVERY CLAIM WITH RIGOR, URGENCY, AND TRANSPARENCY. WE FOLLOW ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND REQUIRED REPORTING PROTOCOLS, AND WE COOPERATE FULLY WITH LUSD ON ANY RELEVANT AND ANY RELEVANT AGENCIES WHENEVER A CONCERN IS BROUGHT FORWARD. AS YOU HEARD EARLIER TODAY IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT, DURING YOUR ANNUAL MEETING, WE CONCLUDED AN INVESTIGATION AFTER CLAIMS WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION OF AN UNFAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR A PARENT. THESE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED THOROUGHLY AND OUR INTERNAL INVESTIGATION FOUND NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER OF WRONGDOING. CONTINUING TO REPEAT ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY [01:35:01] BEEN PROVEN UNFOUNDED RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEFAMATORY NATURE OF THESE STATEMENTS AND THE HARM THEY CAUSE TO THE REPUTATION OF DEDICATED EDUCATORS WHO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY. OUR FAMILIES ARE INTEGRAL TO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AND WE WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FEEL WELCOME AND SAFE AT ALL TIMES. WE REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, AND RESPONSIBLE PARTNERS WITH LUSD AND WITH THE FAMILIES WE SERVE. OUR EDUCATORS WHOSE INTEGRITY IS BEING QUESTIONED TODAY DESERVE TO HAVE THE TRUTH UNDERSCORED AND UPHELD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. KEN CAMPO. KEN CAMPO, COME ON UP. YOU'D LOVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK WHEN YOU BEGIN, AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT'S JORGE BIELA. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT CAVALLO. MY NAME IS KIM KPA AND I'M HERE ALONG WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF THE BOYLE HEIGHTS IMMIGRANT RIGHTS NETWORK, ALSO KNOWN AS THE B-H-I-R-N. WE ARE A COALITION DEDICATED TO PROTECTING, EDUCATING, AND MOBILIZING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ACROSS BOYLE HEIGHTS, EAST LOS ANGELES, AND OUR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SPEAK TODAY. IN SUPPORT OF KIPP SOCAL SCHOOLS, WHICH HAVE SERVED IN TRUSTED COM, UH, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN BOTH BOYLE HEIGHTS, EAST LA AND SOUTH LA. OVER THE COURSE OF THIS PAST YEAR, OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE ENDURED PAINFUL AND FRIGHTENING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. FAMILIES HAVE ENDURED FEAR OF SEPARATION, FEAR OF RETALIATION, AND FEAR OF SIMPLY LEAVING THEIR HOME. IN RESPONSE, THE B-H-I-R-N HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO CREATE SAFETY THROUGH RAPID RESPONSE MOBILIZATIONS, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, EDUCATION AND WORKSHOPS THAT EMPOWER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES IN THIS WORK. KIPP SOCAL HAS BEEN MORE THAN A PARTNER. THEY HAVE BEEN AN ALLY. THEIR COMMUNITY SCHOOL MANAGERS STEPPED IN AND JOINED OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT EFFORTS. THEY ATTENDED OUR RAPID RESPONSE TRAININGS, EQUIPPED THEIR STAFF AND HELPED DESIGN SAFETY PROTOCOLS AROUND THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. AT THE RECENT BACK TO SCHOOL RESOURCE FAIRS OPEN TO ALL, KIPP MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEIR CAMPUSES ARE NOT ONLY FOR CENTERS OF LEARNING, THEY ARE FOR CENTERS OF SAFETY, BELONGING, AND DIGNITY. IN TIMES OF CRISIS, A SCHOOL'S VALUES ARE REVEALED. KIPP SOCAL CONTINUES TO SHOW UP FOR FAMILIES WHEN IT MATTERS MOST. FOR THESE REASONS, WE RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE CHART RENEWAL. FOR KIPP AIS, KIPP LUMINAR KIPP ACADEMY OF INNOVATION, KIPP LA PREP AND KIPP VITA. THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE BOYLE HEIGHTS IMMIGRANTS NETWORK. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS JORGE VILA. I CONCEDE MY TIME TO LARA GARCIA EZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS GARCIA. MY NAME IS LAURA GARCIA AND I AM A PROUD MOTHER OF TWO STUDENTS ARE LIN CRUZ, WHO'S IN SEVENTH GRADE, AND MY OTHER STUDENT THAT IS SIXTH GRADE IN KIPP INNOVATION. I AM ALSO A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT TWO AND I'M HERE TO SHARE THAT I SOLIDLY, UH, SUPPORT THE RE RENEWAL FOR KIPP ACADEMY INNOVATION FOR MANY REASONS. BUT ONE VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME IS A NO CHILD NEEDS TO LEAVE LIVE WITH THE STRESS OF NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THEIR SCHOOL, WITH THEIR FRIENDS, WITH THEIR TEACHERS. THIS COULD BE A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY IN THESE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THIS SCHOOL HAS OFFERED MY CHILDREN AND MANY OTHER CHILDREN A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION WITH A SYSTEM OF EDUCATION. THAT'S EXCELLENT. KIPP INNOVATION DOES EVERYTHING SO THAT NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND. NOT ONLY ACADEMICALLY, BUT ALSO IN A PERSONAL MATTER. I ALSO LIVE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL AND I HAVE SEEN ALL OF THE RESOURCES, VALUABLE RESOURCES THAT HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR, OUR COMMUNITY FREE, UH, FOOD, UH, WORKSHOP HELP FOR FAMILIES. KIPP INNOVATION IS ALSO A PART OF A WONDERFUL TRADITION WITH AN ANNUAL FAIR WITH THE RESOURCES, A BEAUTIFUL TRADITION, RESOURCES SO THAT THE CLASSES IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER SCHOOLS I HAVE ATTENDED AND I HAVE SEEN ALL OF THE STUFF THAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR COMMUNITY. FROM FREE BACKPACKS TO CLOTHES UNIFORM FOR SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER RESOURCES AND SERVICES. AS AN IMMIGRANT, I VALUE TRULY HIGH VALUE THAT THIS SCHOOL HAS, HAS PROVIDED LEGAL HELP. KIPP INNOVATION GOES BEYOND TO ENSURE THAT ALL FAMILIES FEEL SUPPORTED AND ALSO THE PRESENCE OF THE SCHOOL IN A COMMUNITY HAS MADE IT A CLEANER COMMUNITY AND WITH BETTER SUPPORT. KIPP INNOVATION IS A PILLAR TO OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE ALWAYS FEEL A TRUE, LIKE A TRUE FAMILY. I'VE ASKED YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART TO SUPPORT THE KIPP ACADEMY RENEWAL AND TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER IS VIC CANNON. VIC CANNON. AND THEN AFTER VIC IS TANYA HERNANDEZ. HI, I'M CONCEDING MY TIME TO MARCO VIDIA. [01:40:02] GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS TEAM, SUPER ATTENDANCE AND BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARCO RIA AND I'M A PROUD WOMEN OF KIPP RICES ACADEMY. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE RENEWAL OF RACIST CHARTER PETITION. WHEN MY PARENTS IMMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY, THEY HAD NO IDEA HOW TO CHOOSE A SCHOOL FOR ME. I WAS THE OLDEST AND ENGLISH LEARNER AND EVERY SCHOOL VISITED FELT CONFUSING AND OVERWHELMING. RICES WAS THE FIRST PLACE THAT WALKED IN. MY FAMILY EXPLAINED EVERYTHING WITH PATIENCE AND TREATED MY PARENTS WITH RESPECT. AT THAT TIME WHEN THEY FELT LOST, THAT MOMENT DIDN'T JUST PLACE THEM IN A SCHOOL, IT OPENED A DOOR MY FAMILY DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED. I STARTED RACI SPEAKING, VERY LIMITED ENGLISH FROM KENYA. THROUGH SECOND GRADE, I MOVED VERY SLOWLY. THEN THE REST OF THE CLASS. I STILL REMEMBER SITTING AT MY TINY DESK WATCHING OTHER STUDENTS READ OUT LOUD WHILE I STAYED QUIET. AFRAID OF MIS EVEN A SINGLE WORD. BUT NOT ONCE DID MY TEACHERS MAKE ME FEEL BEHIND. THEY SAT NEXT TO ME. THEY REPEATED STRUCTURES WITHOUT RUSHING ME. THEY CELEBRATED EVERY NEW WORD. I LEARNED. THEIR PATIENCE. YEARS HELPED ME UNDERSTAND ENGLISH. IT GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO BELIEVE I COULD GROW EVEN WHEN I FELT LIKE THE SLOWEST KID IN THE ROOM THAT SUPPORTED, CREATED A COMMUNITY WHERE I FELT SEEN, VALUED, AND CAPABLE. RACE DIDN'T JUST TEACH ME, IT BUILT MY FOUNDATION. TODAY THAT FOUNDATION IS VISIBLE IN MY ENTIRE FAMILY. MY BROTHER IS A QUESTBRIDGE SCHOLAR, HEADED TO BOWDEN COLLEGE. MY SISTER'S IN EIGHTH GRADE AND MY YOUNGEST SISTER IS NOW A FIRST GRADER, BEGINNING HER OWN RACES ACADEMY JOURNEY. AND I'M MY FIRST YEAR AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY. A GAY SCHOLAR AND QUESTBRIDGE SCHOLAR. OPPORTUNITIES RUINED THE CONFIDENCE RACE HELPED ME FIND RACE IS MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL. IT IS A LIFELINE FOR IMMIGRANTS, FAMILIES WHO NEED GUIDANCE, DIGNITY, AND A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES IN THEIR CHILDREN. LOSING THE SCHOOL WILL CLOSE DOORS FOR THE VERY STUDENTS WHO NEED 'EM THE MOST. FOR EVERY CHILDREN. WHO REMINDS ME OF WHO AT ONCE WAS I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO RENEW KID RAICES ACADEMIES CHARGE PETITION BECAUSE WHEN YOU PROTECT RAICES, YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT JUST RENEWING A SCHOOL, YOU'RE RENEWING FUTURES THAT HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN BEGUN YET. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HERNANDEZ, KANYE HERNANDEZ, AND THEN AFTER MS. HERNANDEZ IS LINDSAY BRIANA ZA. GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO AND MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS TANYA HERNANDEZ AND I AM THE PROUD SCHOOL LEADER OF CAPE LUMINA ACADEMY. I AM ALSO A FIRST GENERATION LATINA, AN EDUCATOR, A PARENT, AND A FOUNDING LEADER OF THIS SCHOOL. ILUMINA WAS BUILT FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE, FAMILIES WHO BELIEVE DEEPLY IN EDUCATION EVEN WHEN THE SYSTEM HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN BUILT FOR US. WHEN WE OPENED OUR DOORS IN 2013, WE MADE A PROMISE THAT OUR STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A RIGOROUS, JOYFUL EDUCATION AND THAT THEIR IDENTITIES, LANGUAGES, AND EXPERIENCES WOULD BE HONORED, NOT IGNORED. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, OUR COMMUNITY HAS FACED CHALLENGES AT TESTED THAT PROMISE. COVID DISRUPTED LEARNING ROUTINES AND A SENSE OF SAFETY FOR MANY OF OUR FAMILIES. LATER, FEAR AROUND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT DEEPLY IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY. WE SAW FAMILIES NAVIGATING UNCERTAINTY, STUDENTS CARRYING ADULT WORRIES INTO THE CLASSROOMS AND EDUCATORS STEPPING UP NOT JUST AS TEACHERS, BUT AS ANCHORS OF STABILITY. AND THROUGH IT ALL, ILLUMINA DID NOT BACK AWAY. WE ADAPTED. WE STRENGTHENED OUR SYSTEMS. WE DOUBLED DOWN ON INSTRUCTION, ON RELATIONSHIPS AND ON SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED US THE MOST. TODAY, OUR CLASSROOMS ARE PLACES WHERE STUDENTS WHERE STUDENT THINKING IS VISIBLE AND FEEDBACK IS IMMEDIATE BECAUSE WE KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO WORK TO GET DONE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO GET ON GRADE LEVEL. WE ANALYZE DATA NOT TO LABEL STUDENTS, BUT TO SERVE THEM WITH URGENCY AND CARE. THIS WORK IS PERSONAL TO ME AS WELL. MY OWN CHILDREN ATTENDING LUMINA. I WALK OUR HALLWAYS NOT ONLY AS A SCHOOL LEADER BUT AS A MOTHER WHO TRUSTS THIS COMMUNITY. ALL HER HEART FAMILIES CHOOSE ILUMINA BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE ARE HONEST ABOUT OUR CHALLENGES. RECENT RELENTLESS ABOUT, ABOUT OUR GROWTH AND UNWAVERING IN OUR BELIEF IN THEIR CHILDREN. RENEWING ILUMINA. CHARTER MEANS PROTECTING A SCHOOL THAT HAS PROVEN ITS RESILIENCE, ITS IMPACT, ITS COMMITMENT TO EQUITY. IT MEANS ENSURING THAT STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM HISTORICALLY MARRIAGE, GENERALIZED COMMUNITIES, CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO A SCHOOL THAT SEES THEM, BELIEVES IN THEM, AND PREPARES THEM FOR A FUTURE THEY DESERVE. ILUMINA IS MORE THAN A SCHOOL, IT IS A PROMISE KEPT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. YOUR TIME. UH, LINDSAY ZA. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. I YIELD MY TIME TO JESSICA. I, GOOD MORNING, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS JESSICA COA AND I'M THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF KI VIDA PREP. I'M ALSO A FOUNDING TEACHER, A PROUD PARENT OF TWO KISTER AND A SAFA NATIVE. OUR PRINCIPAL IS CURRENTLY EXPECTING TWINS DUE IN JANUARY AND WISHES SHE COULD BE HERE, BUT I AM HERE TO REPRESENT OUR SCHOOL AND READ HER SPEECH IN HER HONOR. MY NAME IS AMANDA T TR AND I'M THE PROUD PRINCIPAL OF KEVITA PREP. AS A PRINCIPAL AND A FOUNDING TEAM MEMBER, I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF WITNESSING AND GUIDING OUR SCHOOL'S GROWTH OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS. FROM ITS INCEPTION, KEVITA PREP HAS STOOD AS A COMMITMENT TO JOYFUL AND EXCELLENT EDUCATION WITHIN THE VIBRANT COMMUNITY OF SOUTH [01:45:01] CENTRAL. OUR SCHOOL NAMED VITA. MEETING LIFE EMBODIES A MISSION DEEPLY ROOTED IN OPPORTUNITY AND POTENTIAL REFLECTING MY PERSONAL JOURNEY AS A PROUD DAUGHTER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, THIS MISSION, MISSION DRIVES US TO NURTURE YOUNG LEADERS WHO ARE PREPARED TO LEAD FULFILLING CHOICE FILLED LIVES AND MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGHOUT MY LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE SEEN A CONSISTENT AND NOTABLE INCREASE IN STUDENT PERFORMANCE ON THE SAC ASSESSMENTS EACH YEAR. THIS STEADY GROWTH IN ACADEMIC OUTCOMES IS A TESTAMENT NOT ONLY TO THE RESILIENCE AND DEDICATION OF OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, BUT ALSO TO THE EFFICACY OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES AND LEADERSHIP. THIS FALL, OUR EFFORTS WERE FURTHER RECOGNIZED WHEN WE AWARDED THE PBIS GOLD RECOGNITION, MAKING A SIGNIFICANT, SORRY, MARKING A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN JOURNEY TOWARDS CREATING A NURTURING STUDENT-CENTERED AND POSITIVE COMMUNITY FOR ALL THEIR STUDENTS. THIS HONOR SYMBOLIZES THE HARD WORK AND COMMIT COMMITMENT OF OUR TEAM TOWARDS EXCELLENCE AND FULL FULFILL OUR PROMISE IN BUILDING A SAFE AND JOYFUL SCHOOL COMMUNITY AS WE CONSIDER THE FUTURE. THE CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD IS CRUCIAL FOR SUSTAINING AND IT HAS A DECENT ACHIEVEMENTS. RENEWING OUR SCHOOL ENSURES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A SANCTUARY OF LEARNING AND BEACON OF HOPE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE RENEWAL OF K VIDA PREP. LET US CONTINUE TOGETHER BUILDING ON THIS LEGACY OF GROWTH AND IMPACT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MAGGIE ZAYA, MAGGIE Z, COME ON UP. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. AND THEN AFTER MS. C IS ALMA RALO. GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO AND BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MAGGIE ZAYA AND I'M THE PROUD PARENT OF THREE BRILLIANT KIPPERS, ISABELLA AND SARAH WHO ARE IN EIGHTH AND SIXTH GRADE AT KIPP LA PREP. AND MATHIAS, WHO'S IN THIRD GRADE AT KIPP PROMESA AND ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING LA PREP. WHEN DECIDING WHERE TO SEND MY CHILDREN, I'LL BE HONEST, I HADN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT LA PREP, BUT AFTER CONNECTING WITH OTH OTHER PARENTS, DOING MY RESEARCH AND SEEING THE STRONG ACADEMIC AND ATTENDANCE DATA, I FELT DRAWN TO THE SCHOOL. ONCE WE JOINED, I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE STRUCTURES, THE DEDICATED STAFF, AND THE RESOURCES OFFERED TO ALL FAMILIES. MY DAUGHTER ISABELLA IS AUTISTIC AND HAS THRIVED ACADEMICALLY BECAUSE OF THE RIGOROUS TEACHING AT PREP BEYOND ACADEMICS. THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH HER, UNDERSTANDS HER NEEDS AND SUPPORTS ME AS HER MOM IN NAVIGATING HER BEHAVIORS, ALL WITH CARE AND RESPECT. BEFORE PREP, ISABELLA DIDN'T CARE MUCH ABOUT HER GRADES OR OR HER PROGRESS. NOW SHE TRACKS HER GROWTH, USES HER RESOURCES, AND PUSHES HERSELF TO MEET HER GOALS. PREPPED HELPED HER SEE HER POTENTIAL AND THAT MATTERS MORE THAN NANNY SINGLE DATA POINT. MY SECOND DAUGHTER, SARAH, IS NOW IN HER SECOND YEAR AT PREP AND ADVANCING AT AN INCREDIBLE PACE. SHE'S READING AT A NINTH GRADE LEVEL AND PROUDLY SERVED AS HER CLASSROOM LIBRARIAN. BOTH MY CHILDREN FEEL SEEN, SUPPORTED AND CHALLENGED. WHAT MAKES L PREP SPECIAL IS THAT IT FEELS LIKE A VILLAGE. OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY IS SMALL, PERSONAL, AND DEEPLY CONNECTED. EVERYONE KNOWS MY CHILDREN BY NAME, EVEN MY THIRD GRADER. AND AFTER GROWING UP IN SCHOOLS WHERE I FELT JUST LIKE A NUMBER, THIS MEANS EVERYTHING. AS I BEGIN LOOKING AHEAD TO HIGH SCHOOL, I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR KIPP FORWARD, WHICH ENSURES I DON'T NAVIGATE THESE NEXT STEPS ALONE. AND I KNOW KIPP'S SUPPORT WON'T STOP THERE. YOUR DECISIONS HAVE A LONG LASTING IMPACT AND SHOULD CENTER PARENTS AND STUDENTS LIKE MINE RENEWING KIPP VALLEY PREP IS NOT JUST A CONTINUATION, IT'S A REAFFIRMATION OF WORKS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ADO ALMA, COME ON UP. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ALMA AND I CONCEDE MY TIME TO BRENDA GOMEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BRENDA GOMEZ AND I AM PROUD TO SERVE AS A COMMUNITY SCHOOL MANAGER AT KLA PREP. NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO, I BEGAN MY JOURNEY WITH PREP AS AN AFTERSCHOOL TUTOR. I COULD NOT HAVE KNOWN HOW DEEPLY THIS SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY WOULD CHANGE MY LIFE. TODAY SOME OF THE STUDENTS I TUTOR ARE NOW MY COLLEAGUES. THAT IS THE POWER OF PREP. IT PLANTS SEED THAT GROW INTO LEADERS WHO RETURN HOME TO SERVE THE NEXT GENERATION. PREP HAS BEEN A CONSTANT IN BOYLE HEIGHTS FOR TWO DECADES, YEAR AFTER YEAR, A WAIT LIST SHOWS THE NEED AND DEMAND FOR A HIGH PERFORMING MIDDLE SCHOOL IN OUR COMMUNITY, A SCHOOL THAT FAMILIES CHOOSE BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT OPENS DOORS. MIDDLE SCHOOL IS A CRITICAL TIME IN A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT. AT PREP, OUR STUDENTS LEAVE WITH CLEAR GOALS, BIGGER DREAMS, AND A STRONGER SENSE OF IDENTITY. I KNOW THIS FIRSTHAND. AFTER WORKING AT PREP FOR 10 YEARS, I LEFT TO SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. I'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT THAT CAREER, BUT I WOULD NOT BE THE LEADER I AM TODAY WITHOUT [01:50:01] THE FOUNDATION PREP BUILT IN ME. RETURNING LAST YEAR, IT TRULY FELT LIKE COMING HOME, SEEING FAMILIAR FACES MADE IT FEEL LIKE NO TIME HAD PASSED UNTIL I SAW THE STUDENTS I ONCE TUTORED. NOW TEACHING AND LEADING OUR SCHOOL, THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED I MIGHT BE A LITTLE OLDER THAN I LIKE TO ADMIT. BUT WHAT HAS NEVER CHANGED IS THE CULTURE, THE EXCELLENCE, THE BELIEF THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE CAPABLE OF ANYTHING. PREP CONTINUES TO OUTPERFORM LOCAL SCHOOLS AND CONSISTENTLY EXCEEDS STATE AVERAGES. THAT IS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THAT IS THE RESULT OF 20 YEARS OF COMMITMENT, STABILITY, AND LOVE. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU, NOT ONLY AS A STAFF MEMBER, BUT AS SOMEONE WHOSE ENTIRE LIFE TRAJECTORY HAS SHAPED BY THIS SCHOOL. WALKING INTO KIPP SCHOOLS MEANS STEPPING INTO A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY. IT REPRESENTS CHOICE. IT REPRESENTS THE FUTURE OF LOS ANGELES. ON BEHALF OF OUR FAMILIES, OUR ALUMNI, AND THE GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS YET TO COME, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST FOR YOUR VOTE TO RENEW KITCH CHARTERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE TWO CALLERS TO THIS ITEM. MATT BROWN. I SEE YOU'RE ON THE LINE. MATT BROWN. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. MATT BROWN. GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD. MY NAME IS MATT BROWN. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TEACH PREP. TEACH PREP WAS FOUNDED IN 2018 BY TWO VETERAN LUSD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDUCATORS TO SERVE THE FAMILIES OF SOUTH LA. WHAT HISTORICALLY LACKED CONSISTENT ACCESS TO STABLE HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TODAY WE CONTINUE THAT WORK. UM, 99.3% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND WE SERVE A LARGE POPULATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL SHARON REED AND OUR CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICERS CNI THOMPSON, THE SCHOOL HAS FOCUSED RELENTLESSLY CONSISTENTLY ON INSTRUCTIONAL EXECUTION. AND THAT FOCUS HAS PRODUCED RESULTS. IN THE MOST RECENT YEAR, TEACH PREP HAS ACHIEVED GAINS OF MORE THAN 50 POINTS IN SPAC MATH AND ELA. THIS IS APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE OF GROWTH IN THAT SAME YEAR. UM, THIS BRINGING OUR DASHBOARD PERFORMANCE LEVELS IN BOTH SUBJECTS TO THE YELLOW ON THE STATE DASHBOARD WITH ALL REPORTED SUBGROUPS ALSO ACHIEVING YELLOW IN OUR ELA OR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. AT THE GREEN PERFORMANCE LEVEL IN MATH, THIS IMPROVEMENT IS NOT ACCIDENTAL. IT REFLECTED A CLEAR INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS FOCUSED FREQUENT DATA CYCLES AND AN ACTIVE OVERSIGHT AT BOTH THE SCHOOL AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL. THESE STRUCTURES THAT PRODUCE THESE RESULTS ARE IN PLACE AND THEY'RE CONTINUING. AND THIS DATA CONFIRMS THAT TEACH PREP MEETS THE CRITERIA OF A MIDDLE PERFORMING SCHOOL. UNDER AB 1505, WE ARE DEMONSTRATING REAL STRONG AND ACCELERATING IMPROVEMENT AND WE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF TEACH PREP'S RENEWAL AT THE UPCOMING MEETING SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN THIS PROGRESS AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND I'M GONNA CALL ONCE AGAIN ON ION THOMPSON ION. OKAY. NOT HERE REMOTELY AND NOT HERE IN PERSON. ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR TAB 31. UH, THANK YOU EVERYONE. I HAVE A SMALL BIT OF, OH, HOLD ON. I THINK SHE IS ONLINE. HOLD ON, LET ME DOUBLE. AH, THERE SHE IS. MY APOLOGIES. CLOSE CALL MS. THOMPSON. I SEE YOU ARE ONLINE. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. GOOD AFTERNOON. SUPERINTENDENT CARVAL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS ANI THOMPSON. I'M THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER FOR TEACH SCHOOLS. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THE PROGRESS AND COMMITMENT OF TEACH PREPARATORY MILDRED S CUNNINGHAM AND EDITH H MORRIS ELEMENTARY. I ECHO MR. BROWN'S TESTIMONY REGARDING THE SIGNIFICANT GAINS MADE IN BOTH ELA AND MATH. IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STUDENTS IMPROVED MAKING MORE THAN 54 POINTS OF GROWTH IN A SINGLE YEAR. SIMILARLY, IN MATH, STUDENTS IMPROVED WITH A GAIN OF 51 POINTS. THESE SHIFTS MOVED THE SCHOOL FROM THE LOWEST PERFORMING LEVELS INTO THE MIDDLE PERFORMING BANDS REFLECTING REAL PROGRESS TOWARDS GRADE LEVEL PROFICIENCY. THE INDICATORS REFLECTING LOWER PERFORMANCE INCLUDE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND ENGLISH LEARNER PROGRESS. IN RESPONSE, THE SCHOOL HAS IMPLEMENTED STRUCTURED EARLY WARNING SIGNS AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES TO IDENTIFY CONCERNS PROMPTLY AND ADDRESS BARRIERS TO REGULARLY ATTENDANCE. IN ADDITION, TEACH PREP IS MAXIMIZING ACADEMIC RECOVERY OPPORTUNITIES BY PROVIDING TARGETED INSTRUCTION SUPPORT DURING SCHOOL BREAKS AND THROUGH SATURDAY SCHOOL, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO RECOUP LEARNING TIME LOST DUE [01:55:01] TO ABSENCES FOR OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS. THE SCHOOL HAS STRENGTHENED ITS FOCUS ON RESEARCH-BASED EO INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO CORE INSTRUCTION. THESE SUPPORTS INCLUDE INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION, PULLOUT SERVICES, AND DEDICATED SMALL GROUP LEARNING ALIGNED TO STUDENT LANGUAGE NEEDS. AS A RESULT OF THESE INTENTIONAL EFFORTS, WE ARE OBSERVING MEASURABLE GROWTH AMONG OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS AND REMAIN CONFIDENT AND OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IMPROVED OUTCOMES IN UPCOMING STATE ASSESSMENT RESULTS. IN CLOSING, TEACH PREPS GROWTH IN ELA AND MATH DEMONSTRATE THE SCHOOL'S CLEAR UPWARD TRAJECTORY THROUGH DISCIPLINE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS LOW PERFORMING INDICATORS. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING ALL STANDARDS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR SCHOOL'S PROGRESS WITH YOU TODAY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND WE STRONGLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. RECOMMEND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT PUBLIC HEARING. [Consent Items ( Part 2 of 4)] I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING TO DO ON TAB. SO WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR, I HAVE LEARNED THAT, UM, WHERE ARE WE? TAB 36, THE ADOPTION OF THE HEALTH BENEFITS AGREEMENT HAS TO COME SECOND IN TIME TO THE 25 26 FIRST INTERIM REPORT BECAUSE THE BUDGETARY ASSUMPTIONS AND TAB 36 RELY ON APPROVING TAB 35. SO, UM, PROCEDURALLY I'M A LITTLE BIT OF A LOSS HOW TO REMOVE SOMETHING FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR IF THE BOARD IS OKAY WITH REMOVING IT FROM CONSENT IN ORDER TO MOVE BY MS. EZ. IS THAT, I'LL MOVE IT. THANK YOU. SECOND. OKAY. ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT? UH, TAB 36, MOVING FROM CONSENT TO DISCUSSION. I APPRECIATE IT. UM, [37. Appoint ad hoc Board Rules and Governance Committee (Misc 039-25/26)] AND THEN, AND AS FOLKS ARE LEAVING THE ROOM, TAB 37, UH, CAN BE A STRAIGHT APPOINTMENT. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN ACTION ITEM. AND I WOULD LIKE TO DO SO, I WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT, UH, TO THE, UH, AD HOC BOARD RULES AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. I'D LIKE TO APPOINT TANYA ORTIZ, FRANKLIN AND DR. ROCIO RIVAS. AND IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION, I'D BE WILLING TO HAVE IT, BUT OTHERWISE I'D LIKE TO APPOINT THEM. OKAY. WE'RE GOOD. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT ITEM EITHER, SO I'M GONNA REMOVE THAT FROM CONSENT. UM, [Consent Items ( Part 3 of 4)] OKAY. AND NOW WE WILL CONTINUE TAKING CONSENT TO PUBLIC COMMENT. SO MOVING ON TO TAB TWO, DONATIONS OF MONEY TO THE DISTRICT. WE HAVE ONE COMMENT TO MR. DAVID KOSKI. ARE YOU HERE, SIR? MR. TOSKI TAB? WE WILL, UM, HE'S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW. UH, WE WILL MOVE ON TO TAB THREE. HAS NO COMMENT. TAB FIVE HAS NO COMMENT. TABS EIGHT AND NINE HAVE NO COMMENT. LET'S SEE. TAB 10. I'M HERE. I HEAR MR. TOSKI MAKING HIS WAY. SO LET'S GO BACK TO, UH, THIS IS TAB TWO. MR. TOSKI. UH, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY. THERE WE GO. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, ITEM TWO, UH, IS THE, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND IT'S ABOUT TIME, I THINK HAVING BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR 12 YEARS, THAT WE PUT SOME POLICY INTO THIS THE WAY WE DO FILMING, WHEREAS A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE GOES TO THE WHOLE DISTRICT AND CERTAIN PERCENTAGE GOES TO THE SCHOOL. IT IS PROBABLY WISE FOR THE BOARD TO STEP IN AND FIND SOME POLICY IN WHICH A CERTAIN CHAIR OF THE MONEY, UH, COMING FROM DISPROPORTIONATELY, UH, AS WE'D UNDERSTAND THE WEST SIDE OF, OF THE, UH, DISTRICT. UH, AND THEN IT'S A DE FACTO PARCEL TAX IN A SENSE. SO IF YOU CAME UP WITH AN 80 20 OR A 70 30 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULDN'T BE A DISINCENTIVE. AND THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, A PARENT GROUP COULD FOCUS AND HELP US WITH THAT. BUT I THINK YOU NEED A POLICY THAT SOMEHOW BALANCES THE TWO. UH, OTHERWISE KEEP THE MONEY FLOWING IN. UH, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK AS WELL ON THE, UM, THE MAGIC OF GOING FROM A QUALIFIED BUDGET IN JUNE TO A POSITIVE BUDGET, UH, AT THE FIRST INTERIM TODAY WITHOUT ANY NEW REVENUE COMING IN. UM, SO THE BOARD WAS ASKED TO, TO DECLARE A FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, DECLARE THAT THERE WAS, UH, UH, TROUBLE ON THE HORIZON. AND THEN WITHOUT ANYTHING, WE SUDDENLY SWITCH TO HAVING THE WIND IN OUR SAILS AND HAVE A FIRST INTERIM. THERE'S VERY LITTLE MENTION OF PROP 98 IN THERE AT ALL. THERE'S NO MENTION OF THE CHILDREN YOUTH BEHAVIORAL [02:00:01] HEALTH INITIATIVE MONIES FOR THREE YEARS FORWARD. THAT THAT JUST SEEMS ABSURD THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN PUT $10 MILLION OR $15 MILLION ADDITIONALLY, UM, IN THE, UM, LEGISLATIVE ANALYST. AND, UH, IS THE 24 25 MONEY MAY BE IN THERE. I CAN'T SEE THE 200 MILLION, BUT IT MIGHT BE IN THE 24 25 AND THE 25 26 MONEY IS NOT THERE. AND FINALLY, THE COMMENT IN THE MATERIALS THAT SAYS WE NEED THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT IN JANUARY. I THINK THAT'S FAKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT JANUARY, HE WILL BE VERY CONSERVATIVE, BUT IT IS OUR JOB TO WORK WITH OUR LABOR PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY BY MAY IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE. AND FULL COLAS GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO TAB. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TAB TWO. I'M MOVING ON TO TAB 10. UH, VICTOR AALIYAH, ARE YOU HERE, VICTOR A TO SPEAK TO TAB 10, DEFINE AND APPROVE THREE PROJECTS? NO. UM, AND THEN EMMANUEL T TURNER, ARE YOU HERE? YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY, BUT I DO NOT HAVE YOU ONLINE. I WILL DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT. NOPE. OKAY. SO THAT CONCLUDES TAB 10, PUBLIC COMMENT TABS 11, 12 AND 13, 14, 15, AND 16. DO NOT HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. LET'S SEE, TABS. UH, LET'S SEE. TAB 18, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR NEW ON CONSENT CALENDAR, UM, BOARD ANYTHING ON CONSENT, THE BOARD PLANS TO APPROVE. UM, I WILL START GOING THROUGH TAB 18. LET ME READ THE PUBLIC HEARING STATEMENT FIRST FOR TABS 18 THROUGH I BELIEVE 25. THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING STATEMENT FOR TABS 18 THROUGH 24. BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN ON THE FOLLOWING BOARD REPORTS, A PUBLIC HEARING MUST BE HELD. THIS CONSTITUTES A PUBLIC HEARING ON NEW ACADEMY, CANOGA PARK, NEW, ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS, ASPIRE TITAN ACADEMY, UH, ERTA INTERNATIONAL CHARTER PORT OF LOS ANGELES, HIGH NEW HORIZONS CHARTER ACADEMY, A NEW MILLENNIUM SECONDARY MAXIMUM OF 15 INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON EACH OF THE ITEMS WILL BE HEARD. THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK SHOULD SIGN UP ONLINE AND THEY HAVE SIGNED UP ONLINE. UM, AGAIN, HERE WE GO FOR APPROVAL OF THE RENEWABLE PETITION FOR NEW TAB 18, UH, JOANNA ESPINOZA. WAIT. OKAY. OKAY. SO I'LL, I'LL READ THE NAMES JUST IN CASE. I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY, BUT I WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT WE CALLED THE NAMES, UH, AND ELISA DI SDO. AND ELISA, YES. I'LL WAIT. THANK YOU. UH, NINA EO. YOU DID A GREAT JOB. ALEX WAIVED. THANK YOU. IT WAS WAIVED. UH, VANESSA GARCIA, WAIVED, WAIVED, UH, KENNY HANH. WAIVED, WAIVED. EDDIE CASTRO. WAIVE WAIVED ANNA NOT HERE. ALEJANDRO JIMENEZ NOT HERE. UH, VERONICA AMADOR. OKAY. UH, PATRICIA TRINIDAD. NOT HERE. SAMANTHA MAY NOT HERE. CHRISTIANA HAN NOT HERE. UH, VANESSA MARTINEZ NOT HERE. UM, UH, MONICA TOVAR. UH, NAVE. MOLINA NOT HERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TAB. TAB 19, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR NEW ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS. UH, REBECCA FRENCH. ALL RIGHT. I'M HEARING WAVING, SO I'LL CALL THE NAMES AGAIN. MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T MISS ANYBODY WHO HAD AN ALTERNATE OPINION. UH, REBECCA FRENCH. NOT, UH, WAVING. UH, CARMEN PASTOR WAVE. ANGELICA ORTEGA WAVE. MARIA SALAS? NOT HERE. NOT HERE. DR. NELSON JACKSON. WAIVE. UH, ELIZABETH ALFARO. WAIVE. WAIVE. UH, LET'S SEE. ANTHONY BATES WAVE, UH, YONA SANCHEZ. UH, VENEZUELA WA UH, MARY ROSA WADE MARIELLA BARNO, UH, MARTHA MARIN. DR. ERIC TODD WADE. UH, RICARDO BENAVIDES. AND JOSE TAPIA. WADE. OKAY. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO TAB 20. IT WAS 18, 19 20. APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR ASPIRE TITAN ACADEMY. UH, CHRIS LOPEZ? NOT HERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, LUIS LOPEZ. UH, LOURDES MERAZ? NOT HERE. MARIA HERNANDEZ? NOT HERE. UH, CARMEN LORA. UH, PABLO GOMEZ? YEAH. OKAY. I WAS WAITING FOR THAT ONE. NOT HERE. FREDDIE ZA. KAREN [02:05:01] GAMMA. TEL ESTRADA. SAMANTHA ESTRADA. VANESSA FRI. AMY MARTINEZ HUNT. ALBERTINA CARILLO. SANDRA ROCHA. AND LEILANI LAI. OKAY. FOR TAB 20. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO TAB 21. THIS IS FOR APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR ERTA INTERNATIONAL CHARTER RASHID KAHAN WAIVING CASEY JONES. UH, IAN PIERO. ABRO NOT, NOT HERE. KRISTEN PAUL WAVING. ROSA MELENDEZ. NO, NOT HERE. UH, BIGGIE. SHELTER. WAVING. WAVING. JOSH FARING. LUIS MENDEZ. UH, VALERIE AUGUSTINE. WAIVE. JOHANNES LUKI. JOHANNES WAIVE. THANK YOU. RACHEL KIMBRA WAIVE. DENISE PAYT. UH, LET'S SEE. WENDY VELA WAIVE. UH, JASON MCGRAW? NOT HERE. NOT HERE. D JANG? I'LL SAY NOT HERE. OKAY. SO THAT WAS FOR TAB 21. LOOKING NOW TO TAB 22, APPROVAL OF THE PETITION FOR PORT OF LOS ANGELES. HIGH. UH, ROGER MEJIA. NOT HERE. UH, GREG BRUBAKER. WAVE. WAVE. THANK YOU. UH, MARIA JANE LIVERPOOL AND MARY JANE LIVERPOOL. THANK YOU. IN VEDO WAVE, UH, TIM TON, WAVE. WAVE. NATHANIEL LOPEZ WAVE. UH, ERIC GUTIERREZ NOT HERE. CAROL WANG? NOT HERE. UH, JOAQUIN FONSECA, WAVE WAVE, UH, PATRICIA RAMIREZ. HERE. ARTURO ES UH, JASMINE EZ WAIVED. ANNETTE VEGA WA WAIVED. MARIA VARGAS AND ERIN LOPEZ WAIVED. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. THAT WAS FOR TAB 22. TABS 23 AND 24 ARE ON DISCUSSION. LET'S SEE. THEN WE MOVE TO TAB, UH, 25, [25. Ms. Gonez - Celebrating National Special Education Day and Calling for the Protection of Special Education Programs and Funding (Res-028-25/26) (Waiver of Board Rule 72)] CELEBRATING NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY AND CALLING FOR THE PROTECTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. UM, DID YOU WANNA TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT OR FIRST AND THEN, OKAY. SO MARIA DURAN IS ONLINE, SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY FOR TAB 25. UH, SHE'S NOT PRESENT. SO THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR, UM, THIS ITEM. WANT ME TO MAKE COMMENTS NOW OR WAIT TILL LATER? COMMENTS NOW? SOUND PRETTY GOOD? SURE. THAT SOUNDS GREAT. OKAY. UM, WELL, TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY, AND THE MORE THAN 64,000 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES THAT L-A-U-S-D SERVES, ALONG WITH THE FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS THAT SUPPORT THEM EVERY DAY. THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IS CO-SPONSORED BY MR. MOLSON AND BOARD MEMBER GREGGO RECOGNIZES THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION IS FACING REAL AND IMMINENT THREATS, INCLUDING EFFORTS TO INTENTIONALLY WEAKEN IDA ENFORCEMENT CUT MEDICAID FUNDED SERVICES THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES RELY UPON AND CONSOLIDATE AND THREATEN FEDERAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS UNDER THE CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION. NEXT YEAR, L-A-U-S-D ALONE WILL SPEND OVER $2 BILLION ON SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, WHILE FEDERAL FUNDING CONTINUES TO FALL FAR SHORT OF ITS COMMITMENT TO MEETING 40% OF, OF THE COST FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. CELEBRATING SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY MEANS HONORING OUR INCREDIBLE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND STANDING IN DEFENSE OF THE FUNDING AND PROTECTIONS THAT THEY'RE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO. SO, WITH THAT, I, I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR CO-SPONSORSHIP AND THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION. I'D LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU. SAME HERE. OKAY. THANK YOU BOTH. YES. SO, AS CO-SPONSORS, THAT WAS MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN. AND, UH, MR. MELVIN, RIGHT? MM-HMM . OKAY. LET'S SEE. TAB, UH, 26, CELEBRATING NATIONAL MENTOR MONTH. UM, BEFORE WE GET THERE, DID ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WANNA COMMENT ON TAB 25? YES, I, OKAY. ACCORDING TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEBSITE, 850,995 STUDENTS IN THE STATE FROM NEWBORN TO 22 YEARS OF AGE, [02:10:01] QUALIFIED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS DURING THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR. THAT'S 850,995. AND THAT MEANS THAT OUR STUDENTS IN LA UNIFIED RECEIVE SERVICES FOR AUTISM, HEARING IMPAIRMENT, SPEECH, OR LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT, DEAFNESS, AND OTHER CATEGORIES. DESPITE THE SUCCESS OF THESE PROGRAMS, WE CONTINUE TO SEE YEAR AFTER YEAR HOW UNDERFUNDED SPECIAL EDUCATION IS AROUND THE NATION. IT APPEARS THAT EVERY TIME THAT THERE IS BUDGET TALKS IN WASHINGTON DC SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING IS USED AS A BARGAINING CHIP. IT IS BEING USED AS A PROXY TO GAIN ACCESS TO FUNDS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO EDUCATION. WHAT, SO, HOWEVER, SPECIAL EDUCATION AFFECTS STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR LOCAL, STATE, OR NATIONAL POLITICS. WHEN IDEA WAS PASSED IN 1975, IT CAME WITH A SPECIFIC PURPOSE IN MIND. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS TO COMMIT TO FUNDING 40%, 40% OF EXCESS COST FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE COUNTRY 50 YEARS LATER. AND THAT 40% FUNDING HAS NEVER REACHED OUR STUDENTS. MEANWHILE, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES CONTINUES TO RISE, AND L-A-U-S-D HAS LESS MONEY TO COVER THOSE COSTS IF WE HAVE NOT BEEN CLEAR ENOUGH. I WANT TO STATE THE UNIFIED POSITIONS OF THIS BOARD AND THIS DISTRICT. WE DON'T JUST WANT 40% OF THE COSTS COVERED. WE WANT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS COVERED, AND WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR IT. I KNOW THE SITUATION SEEMS GRIM AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO TERMINATE STAFF THAT WORK WITH IDEA COMPLIANCE. AND WE ALSO SEE THIS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO DISMANTLE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THESE ARE NOT THE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM AND WILL CAUSE DISRUPTIONS IF SUCCESSFUL. SO IN ADDITION TO THIS BOARD AND DISTRICT ADVOCATING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING, I ALSO INVITE THE PUBLIC, YOU, THE PUBLIC, TO GET INVOLVED AND WRITE TO YOUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES, CALL THEIR OFFICES AND LET THEM KNOW HOW CRUCIAL WE NOT ONLY PROTECT THIS FUNDING, BUT ENHANCE IT. AND AGAIN, MS. GONI, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD, AND I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR AS YOU GRACIOUSLY HAVE PERMITTED ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, UH, MS. GONI FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION. UM, AS A FORMER SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER FOR 20 YEARS, UM, I HAVE SEEN, UM, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU START, UH, TAKING FUNDS AWAY FROM SPECIAL EDUCATION. CLASS SIZES GET HIGHER. THERE ARE LESS SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED IT THE MOST AT ALL LEVELS. ELEMENTARY UP ALL THE WAY UP TO 22 YEAR OLDS. UM, AS CHAIR OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE, I HAVE HEARD FROM PARENTS AND FROM EDUCATORS ABOUT THE NEEDS NOT DECREASING AS TIME GOES ON, BUT RATHER INCREASING FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THE NEEDS NOT ONLY FOR STUDENTS, BUT ALSO FOR PARENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. EVEN AT THE POINT WHEN CHILDREN ARE JUST IDENTIFIED WHEN THEY ARE THREE YEARS OLD, PARENTS NEED SUPPORT. WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT YOUR CHILD HAS A DISABILITY, IT IS VERY SCARY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF SUPPORTS ARE OUT THERE. AND IF YOU ONLY HEAR THAT THERE IS LESS FUNDING, THE MORE SCARED YOU GET BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE HARDER FOR YOUR CHILD. SO OUR PARENTS ALSO NEED SUPPORT, AND MANY PARENTS HAVE ADVOCATED FOR MORE, UH, WORKSHOPS ON THEIR RIGHTS. THEY WANNA KNOW WHAT RIGHTS THEY HAVE AT IEP MEETINGS. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE, AND THEY WANT THOSE TO BE PROVIDED AT THEIR SCHOOL SITE, NOT REGIONALLY. OUR DISTRICT HAS MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN LISTENING TO PARENTS AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS, BUT AS BUDGET CUTS LOOM, IT'LL BE VERY CHALLENGING TO BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE NEEDS AND THOSE ASKS FROM OUR FAMILIES, EVEN THOUGH THEY REALLY NEED THEM. AND SO, AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER NOW, I WANT TO COMMIT AND RECOMMIT TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR FULLY FUNDING SPECIAL EDUCATION. AND I WANT OUR DISTRICT TO DEMAND THAT OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE'VE BEEN SAYING WE'RE GONNA DO IT, BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET. AND WE NEED TO DEMAND THE STATE TO ALSO MAKE THAT DEMAND OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. OUR STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT. OUR STUDENTS SHOULD [02:15:01] BE THE CENTER. WHEN YOU CAN SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION, YOU SERVE EVERYONE. AND ALL OF OUR STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE AN EDUCATION THAT IS DIGNIFYING AND GIVES THEM ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. SO, AS WE RECOGNIZE NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY, THIS MONTH AND BEYOND, AND EVERY SINGLE DAY, WE REAFFIRM OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS ADDRESS CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING, AND ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT RECEIVES THE SUPPORTS NECESSARY TO THRIVE. AND AGAIN, AS A BOARD MEMBER, NOW, I RECOMMIT TO CENTERING SPECIAL EDUCATION AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ALWAYS PUT THEIR NEEDS AT THE FOREFRONT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PARENTS FOUGHT FOR BACK IN THE SEVENTIES, AND WE NEED, LIKE SCOTT SAID, WE DO NEED PARENTS TO CONTINUE AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT, TO BUILD A MOVEMENT AGAIN, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROTECT, DEFEND, AND TO CONTINUE TO DEMAND INVESTMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. SO, THANK YOU AGAIN, MS. GEZ, FOR SHINING THE LIGHT ON THIS. APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS, UM, BOARD MEMBER EZ TO THE FOREFRONT AND INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE, UM, DECEMBER 2ND, AS A NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY IN LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS MENTIONED, EVERY STUDENT DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A QUALITY EDUCATION IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT MEETS THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. AND OUR DISTRICT PROVIDES SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO THOSE STUDENTS IN ORDER TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY. AND SO WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FULFILL, AS MENTIONED, THE 50-YEAR-OLD PROMISE TO FULLY FUND THE IDA, THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT. AND AGAIN, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, MS. EZ, AND I'M HAPPY TO LEND MY SUPPORT TO THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR TAB 25? I KNEW IT. GO AHEAD, DR. RIVAS. YES, PLEASE ALSO ADD ME AS A CO-SPONSOR TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, RESOLUTION. AND, UM, I WAS LISTENING TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED, UM, BOARD MEMBER GREGO, UM, SCHON AND EVERYONE, AND SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IS AT, UM, UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND PRIORITY. UH, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, I MEET WITH A LOT OF PARENTS, SCHOOLS, AND TEACHERS WHO ARE RAISING A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, THE SUPPORTS AND CLASSES FOR OUR STUDENTS AS SPECIAL NEEDS. SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO ADD A COMMENT JUST FOR OUR, OUR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP HERE TO TAKE REAL CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU, UM, DECIDE TO CLOSE A CLASSROOM, UH, WHEN YOU DECIDE TO CLOSE, UM, A PROGRAM OR WHEN AN RSP TEACHER IS REMOVED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MEETING THE NUMBERS, THIS CAUSES HARM TO STUDENTS. IT REALLY DISRUPTS THEIR, UH, ROUTINE, THE PERSON THAT THEY, THE TEACHER OR THE SUPPORT, UM, THAT IS THERE ON A DAILY BASIS WHEN IT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM. IT JUST, UM, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND THAT. SO I THINK THAT COMES AT A, AT A BIG, AT A BIG CONCERN TO ME. SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT. BUT I DO FULLY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND FOR THE DISTRICT TO CONTINUE, UM, ARDUOUSLY, UM, ADVOCATING AND DEMANDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE, UM, THE FUNDS THAT THIS DISTRICT AND SO MANY DISTRICTS NEED, BUT PARTICULARLY OUR, FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND I WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT AND OUR FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS, AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE NEEDS FOR OUR STUDENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS ARE MET AND THAT THEIR PROGRAMS ARE NOT, UM, CLOSED, UM, WITHOUT, UM, A RESPONSE, AN ANSWER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DR. RIVAS. ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FOR TAB 25? SUPERINTENDENT, YOU HAVE A STATEMENT FOR US? JUST VERY BRIEFLY, I WANNA THANK, UH, BOARD MEMBER EZ AND THE, THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE REST OF THE BOARD ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR OVER THREE DECADES, UM, I, I HAVE MEMORIES OF GOING OUT TO WASHINGTON DC ADVOCATING FOR FAIR FUNDING AND FULL FUNDING, UH, UNDER THE PROMISES OF AT LEAST 40% OF THE AVERAGE, UH, EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AS [02:20:01] A NATION WITH NEVER EVEN COME CLOSE TO 20%. UH, WHICH MEANS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN UNFUNDED MANDATE AT LEAST BY 50% AT A TIME, UM, UH, WHEN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ACROSS AMERICA WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH ONE OR MORE DISABILITIES HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, PARTICULARLY THOSE ON A SPECTRUM. UH, SO IT'S AN OUTRAGEOUS, UH, IT'S AN OUTRAGEOUS, UH, EVOLUTION OF A VERY PROMISING, UH, LANDMARK PIECE OF LEGISLATION. ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED NOW, UM, AS, UH, IDA AND ALL ISSUES DEALING WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, BUT PARTICULARLY THE ADMINISTRATION OF IDA IS, UH, BEING SHIFTED OVER TO, UH, HHS, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, MUCH LIKE OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS, TITLE ONE, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, ET CETERA, UH, WHICH, UH, BRINGS ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL THREAT OF DILUTION OF IMPACT. UH, SO THE, THE OUTLOOK IS NOT POSITIVE, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S POSITION ON THIS, UH, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MCLEAN. [26. Ms. Newbill – National Mentoring Month 2026 (Res-032-25/26) (Waiver of Board Rule 72 )] OKAY. MOVING ON TO TAB 26, UH, NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH. UH, MS. NEWBELL, DID YOU HAVE COMMENTS TO MAKE? YES. UM, THIS IS, UM, OBVIOUSLY VERY DEAR, NEAR AND DEAR. UM, I THINK I CONTRIBUTE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF WHY I AM HERE TO MENTORS. UM, I WOULD NOT BE HERE IF IT WASN'T. SO IT BRINGS ME GREAT JOY TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION ON THE TOPIC OF MENTORING AND MENTORING, UH, A NATIONAL MONTH OF MENTORING FOR US TO CELEBRATE IN JANUARY. UM, AS EDUCATORS, WE OFTEN SERVE IN AS MENTORING ROLES FOR OUR STUDENTS. MENTORING HAS BEEN PROVEN TO HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS. AND I CAN, UM, AGAIN, ATTEST AS A STUDENT, AS AN ATHLETE, AS A COACH, AS A TEACHER, AND EVEN NOW AS A BOARD MEMBER. I FEEL LIKE THIS HAS BEEN DEFINITELY AN IMPACT OF MENTORSHIP. AND SO AS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH MENTORS, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO VOLUNTEER, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WHOLE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SPORTS TEAMS, AS WELL AS A PATH TO MORE POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH. MENTORING MAY START FOR US IN OUR YOUTH, BUT IT CAN CERTAINLY CONTINUE WELL INTO OUR ADULTHOOD. JUST ABOUT EVERY SUCCESSFUL PERSON STILL HAS SOMEONE IN THEIR LIFE THAT THEY CONSIDER A MENTOR OR A COACH. THE DISTRICT HAS WORKED TO ESTABLISH A NUMBER OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH MENTORING ORGANIZATIONS AS THE 5,000. WE KNOW SOME OF THE LEGACY LADIES MOTIVATED MEN, JUST TO NAME A FEW. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO EVERY MENTOR PROGRAM WITHIN LA AND EVEN REGISTER TO BE A MENTOR. UH, JUST THIS WEEKEND, I ENCOUNTERED ONE OF OUR VERY OWN SCHOOL OFFICERS WHO, IN TURN HAD A MENTOR WHO GAVE HIM A VISION TO BE ABLE TO SEE HIMSELF IN SOMETHING THAT HE NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. UH, THEY BELIEVED IN HIM, WAS ABLE TO SHOW HIM THAT YOU CAN DO THIS. AND 20 YEARS LATER, HE IS STILL GRATEFUL TO THAT MENTOR. AND SO WE KNOW THE VALUE OF MENTORSHIPS AND IT CAN EXCEED DECADES. AND SO WITH THIS RESOLUTION, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO EVERYONE. THIS IS ALWAYS, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE CARING ADULTS WHO WANT TO BE AN EXAMPLE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND OUR STUDENTS AS WELL. AND THAT WE CAN BE, AND NOT ONLY SEE AS IT SAYS, OUR STUDENTS CANNOT BE WHAT THEY CANNOT SEE. AND SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND I URGE YOU, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, MS. NEW BILL. DR. VES? YES. THANK YOU, MS. NEW BILL, UM, FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR A VERY, UM, IMPORTANT RESOLUTION THAT YOU BRING FORWARD. SO, I, I AGREE WITH YOU 100% THAT MENTORING PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN STUDENT SUCCESS, BELONGING, AND LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITY, UM, AND MENTAL HEALTH. IT'S ALL, WHEN YOU KNOW THAT SOMEBODY BELIEVES IN YOU AND IS THERE TO GUIDE YOU, THAT IMPROVES YOUR SELF-ESTEEM, YOUR CONFIDENCE IN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. SO IT'S, UH, FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANT TO HAVE MENTORS IN OUR LIVES. AND I APPRECIATE THIS RESOLUTION. IS IT UPLIFTS DISTRICT PROGRAMS LIKE BEYOND THE BELL LINK LEARNING GEAR UP AND FOSTER YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM, UH, WHILE CALLING FOR THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THESE SUPPORTS? SO I 100% SUPPORT YOUR THIS RESOLUTION AND LET'S SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS IN EVERY SINGLE WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DR. RIVAS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, [02:25:02] MS. EZ? UH, YES. WELL, I, I JUST APPRECIATE THE RESOLUTION. I'D LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU. SAME, SAME FOR MS. TANYA ORTIZ. SAME HERE, PLEASE. SAME FOR MR. MELVOIN. AND I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR RESOLUTION ALSO, IF I MAY. SURE. LET, UM, SO WHEN I WAS A, A TEACHER AND I WAS A COUNSELOR AND A PRINCIPAL, I WOULD ALWAYS ENCOUNTER STUDENTS WHO NOT ONLY NEEDED SOMEONE TO TUTOR THEM, BUT SOMEONE TO GUIDE THEM. AND YOU FIND THAT IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A, A MENTOR, A GUIDE. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO ASK FOR IT, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IT. SO THOUGH TIMES HAVE CHANGED, THE NEED FOR MENTORS TO GUIDE OUR STUDENTS HAS NOT CHANGED. LA HAS, UH, LA UNIFIED RATHER, HAS MADE WORTHWHILE INVESTMENTS INTO PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN AND BEYOND THE BELL, AND ENSURING THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE HELP AND, UM, HELP THAT GOES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND HELPS STUDENTS TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES IN THEIR LIVES. AND THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, FOSTER YOUTH, UH, FOSTER YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT, UM, AND MANY, MANY MORE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ASSIST US IN FULFILLING THESE NEEDS AND ALLOW OUR STUDENTS TO GET TO KNOW THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES BEYOND THE SCHOOLS. AND THE PHRASE, AS YOU USE ALL THE TIME IT TAKES A VILLAGE IS A TRUE ONE. EVERY STUDENT DESERVES LOVING PARENTS OR LOVING CAREGIVERS, TEACHERS WHO CARE, ADMINISTRATORS WHO KEEP THEM SAFE, AND A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT INVESTS FOR THEIR FUTURE. SO, THANK YOU, MY COLLEAGUE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, MS. SHER HENLEY NEWVILLE FOR BRINGING THIS AWARENESS TO THE CONSTANT NEED FOR MENTORS. AND IF YOU WOULD, I'D LIKE TO BE A CO-SPONSOR TOO. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE, MR. MCLEAN? ALL RIGHT. THIS BRINGS [27. Ms. Newbill – Commemorating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the National Day of Service (Res-033-25/26) (Waiver of Board Rule 72 )] US TO TAB 27, COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND THE NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE. UM, BOARD MEMBERS HAVE IN FRONT OF THEM, UH, AN AMENDMENT FROM MS. NEW BILL'S OFFICE, WHICH IS ALSO POSTED ONLINE. AND SO DID YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE AND THEN TALK THROUGH THE, UM, AMENDMENT AND THEN, UH, THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU TAKE IT IN ANY ORDER YOU WANT, IF WE WANT. DO YOU WANNA DO PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST? OKAY. I'LL RUN THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT. YES. ALL RIGHT. ALANSON DELGADO. ALANSON NOT HERE. TREJO HERE. UH, MARVIA. AVIUS NOT HERE. DYLAN. NOT HERE. JOSEPH WILLIAMS, KILAH WILLIAMS. BRUCE RANDY JONES. UH, TENAYA RAY ANTON RANKIN IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY. LET ME SEE IF MR. RANKIN IS HERE. NOT HERE. OKAY. THE, UH, FLOOR IS YOURS, MS. DUBO. THANK YOU. UM, AND I THINK THOSE AMENDMENTS CAME FROM, UM, TANYA ORTIZ. FRANKLIN AS WELL. SO WANTED TO OBVIOUSLY COMMEMORATE THE LIFE OF LEGACY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, AND A NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AS DR. KING WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER WHO FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED THROUGH NONVIOLENT MEANS. DR. KING WAS CENTRAL TO HISTORICAL EVENTS SUCH AS THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT, THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, AND THE BIRMINGHAM CAMPAIGN. DR. KING BECAME THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO EVER RECEIVE THE NOBLE PEACE PRIZE. MLK DAY WAS ESTABLISHED AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN 1984 AND BECAME A NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE IN 1994. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, JUNIOR DAY OF SERVICE IN 2026 WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 19TH. ON THIS DAY, AMERICANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOLUNTEER TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN LIGHT OF OUR CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE, OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN TESTED IN WAYS THAT WE COULD NOT EVEN IMAGINE. THIS IS A TIME FOR US TO REFLECT ON THE VALUE OF PEOPLE POWERED MOVEMENTS, AND WE ARE CERTAINLY LIVING IN A TIME WHERE THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING HISTORY ACCURATELY MATTERS. NOW, MORE THAN EVER OTHER MLK ACTIVITIES TO CONSIDER OUR VISITING OUR LOCAL MUSEUMS PARADES OR EXHIBITIONS AND READING ABOUT DR. KING, [02:30:01] OR WATCHING EVEN A MOVIE OR DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HIS LIFE WORK, AS DR. KING SAID, THE TIME IS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. AND SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, BUT MORE SO JUST THAT DR. KING, FOR EVEN STUDENTS OF TODAY, AS WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES, THE IMPACT THAT HE HAS HAD ON MANY LIVES PERMEATES THROUGH OUR DISTRICT. AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THAT. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE AS MY SON JUST EVEN THIS WEEK, UH, WAS REFERENCING A TIME AND PERIOD IN HISTORY ON THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, AND I'M LIKE, WOW, JUST TO USE IT AS A REFERENCE POINT THAT OUR STUDENTS SEE THE VALUE IN THE LIFE IN WHICH DR. LIKE DR. KING LED FOR US. AND SO, I'M GRATEFUL TO BRING THIS FORTH AND FOR US TO CONTINUE AND ON THAT DAY, TO FIND SOME WAY TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT AND FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT WAYS TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES, TO ELEVATE JUST THE WORK, AND ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME THAT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DID IN HONOR OF HIS LEGACY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. NEWVILLE. DR. RIVAS, AGAIN, PLEASE ADD, UM, ADD ME AS A CO-SPONSOR, UM, TO THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION AS WELL. UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND CONTINUING, UM, WITH THE LEGACY, THE, THE LIVING LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WITHIN L-A-U-S-D IN OUR SCHOOLS. UM, PERSONALLY FOR MY SON, I KNOW THAT IN HIS ENGLISH CLASS, THEY HAD TO ANALYZE AND REALLY, REALLY DISSECT ONE OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT SERMONS, UM, SERMON OF THE MOUNT. AND, UM, WE HAD A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT HIS LEGACY AND WHY HE'S STILL SO MUCH IMPORTANT NOW, MORE THAN EVER. SO I WANNA ADD THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND IT'S A RESOLUTION THAT HONORS HIS LEGACY. UM, WE'RE ENCOURAGING ALL OF US TO BE ROOTED IN SERVICE AND JUSTICE AND NON-VIOLENCE AND COMMUNITY CARE, AND IT CALLS FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT DEFINITELY ENGAGED MY SON AND I AS I, UM, AS I, WE HAD ALL THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT RACIAL, UH, JUSTICE, UM, AND, AND THE HISTORY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING, UM, WITH OUR SCHOOLS ON THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. THANKS. THANK YOU, DR. RIVAS. ANYONE ELSE? MR. JUST, I WOULD LOVE TO BE AT AS A CO-SPONSOR AND, UH, ECHO THE APPRECIATION, AND I APPRECIATE THE AMENDED RESOLVE TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THIS TIME WE'RE NOT ERASING THIS CRITICAL HISTORY, WHICH IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY WE'RE READING ABOUT SOME ATTEMPTS. SO, AS THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THE LARGEST BY FAR WITH AN ELECTED BOARD, WE ARE GONNA STAND FIRMLY IN OPPOSITION. THANK YOU, MR. MELVIN. AND I, I TOO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, UM, WITH EVERY YEAR THAT PASSES, WE TAKE TIME TO COMMEMORATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT ALSO TO REFLECT AS WHAT HAS CHANGED FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR. WOULD DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING BE PROUD OF THE STATE OF AFFAIRS TODAY? TIME PROGRESSES. WE MUST ALWAYS LOOK FOR WAYS TO ADVANCE JUSTICE. AND WHEN WE SAY JUSTICE, WE MEAN SOCIAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE, EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE, AND MANY OTHERS DO NOT BE FILLED WITH DESPAIR OR HOPELESSNESS, SEEING WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS WORLD. WE ARE MORE THAN ENTITLED TO FEEL THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL SUCH AS ANGER AND SADNESS, YET WHEN THE TIME COMES, LET OUR FEELINGS ALSO BE MET WITH ACTION AND ACTIONS THAT TEAR DOWN WALLS AND BUILD BRIDGES. SO ACTIONS THAT HAD THAT LEAD TO GREATER EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES FOR TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. ACTIONS THAT WOULD MAKE DR. KING PROUD OF OUR PROGRESS. SO NOT JUST FOR TODAY OR ON JANUARY THE 19TH, 2026, BUT EVERY DAY WE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO JUSTICE IN SMALL WAYS AND IN FULFILLING OUR DUTY FOR JUSTICE. THEN WE COMMEMORATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND THANK YOU AGAIN, BOARD MEMBER NEWVILLE, FOR THIS [02:35:01] RESOLUTION. AND I TOO WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN I CORRECT MYSELF? I, I SAID THE WRONG SPEECH, THE WRONG CONVERSATION WITH MY SON. IT WAS, I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH, NOT SERMON OF THE MOUTH. THAT'S JESUS CHRIST. SORRY ABOUT THAT. , BUT THEY'RE, I WAS LIKE, WAIT, THAT'S NOT THE ONE I DID MY BAD. BUT THEY'RE BOTH GOOD SPEECHES. , YOU ARE RIGHT. YOU ARE RIGHT. , MR. MCLEAN. ALL RIGHT, SO THAT CONCLUDES THAT PART OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IT WAS TAB 27. UM, LET'S SEE. WE HAVE TAB 30 WITH A ONE PUBLIC COMMENT. LET ME SEE. EZEKIEL CHU, ARE YOU HERE FOR TAB 30? APPOINTMENT OF NEW MEMBER TO THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION? NOT HERE. UH, TAB 33, REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE HAS NO COMMENT. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. ITEMS 32 IS NOT FOR ACTION, SIR. SO WE'LL TAKE THAT WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT. I APPRECIATE IT. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP, SIR. UM, ALRIGHT. AND I WANT TO NOTE FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE HOUSEKEEPING TABS 25, 26, 27, UM, ALL SEEK WAIVER OF BOARD RULE 72. THESE ARE RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE COMMEMORATIVE IN NATURE. UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE BOARD, WE CAN TAKE THE VOTE SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR THE RULE 72 WAIVER. ANY OBJECTIONS? NONE. NO OBJECTIONS BEING HEARD. UM, WE CAN NOW TAKE THE VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. ALL RIGHT. I'LL MENTION FOR THE RECORD, IT WAS MOVED BY MS. EZ AND SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN. AND ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, MS. NEWBELL? YES. DR. RIVAS? YES. MR. MELVOIN? YES. MS. GRIEGO STEPPED OUT FOR LUNCH. MS. EZ STEPPED OUT FOR LUNCH. MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN STEPPED OUT FOR LUNCH. BOARD PRESIDENT MOLSEN? YES. ALRIGHT, THAT'S FOUR. SO THE CONSENT CALENDAR PASSES AND WE WILL AWAIT FOR THE VOTES FROM MS. GRIEGO, MS. REGO, MS. GOMEZ, AND MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, THIS TAKES US BACK TO [1. Board of Education Report No. 234-25/26 Office of Government Relations (Request for Approval of 2026 Advocacy Agenda and Guiding Principles and Priorities) Recommends authorizing the Office of Governmental Relations (OGR), on behalf of Los Angeles Unified, to sponsor legislation and proactively advocate for policy and funding proposals at the local, state, and federal levels. All advocacy efforts will align with and support the goals, strategies, and initiatives outlined in the District's 2022-26 Strategic plan. (Part 1 of 2)] TAB ONE, UM, REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2026 ADVOCACY AGENDA AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND PRIORITIES. IT'S ON DISCUSSION. AND I HAVE AT A MINIMUM, UH, BOARD MEMBER GRIEGO AND BOARD MEMBER MELVOIN. AND WE HAVE, UM, ALSO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM. SO HAVING THE MATERIALS ALREADY BEEN OUT. YEAH, LET'S START WITH COMMENT. START WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. SO, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THESE PUBLIC COMMENTERS MEANT TO SIGN UP FOR ANOTHER ITEM, BUT I'LL READ THEM INTO THE RECORD. ANYWAY, OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, AARON LOPEZ FOR TAB ONE. AARON LOPEZ AND NICOLE SIMS NOT HERE. AVA BELTRAN NOT HERE. UH, JESSICA ENSA NOT HERE. ALEXANDRIA, UH, RE NOT HERE. UH, TIMOTHY PIER HERE. AND LET ME CHECK FOLKS ONLINE, UH, FOR TAB ONE. ISABEL GONZALEZ, ALSO NOT HERE. SO WE CAN BEGIN DISCUSSION OF TAB ONE, HAVING RUN THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF IT. UM, SURE. THANK YOU. UM, SO THANKS FOR THE, UH, FOR BRINGING THIS YEAR'S ADVOCACY AGENDA, AND THANKS TO MS. ALVAREZ WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE. UM, AND, UH, THERE ARE JUST TWO ITEMS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO BOTH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND I THINK SOME OF MY BOARD COLLEAGUES AND MS. ALVAREZ ABOUT THAT I WANTED TO PUT A FINER POINT ON, UM, IN REGARDS TO THINGS WE SHOULD BE ADVOCATING WITH OUR GOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS. THE FIRST IS AROUND THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS INITIATIVE. UM, I WAS EXCITED THAT THE BOARD AND THE LA CITY COUNCIL RATIFIED EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE, THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT ON COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS. WE HAVE 10. UM, AND FOR THE PUBLIC'S EDIFICATION, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE BASICALLY OPENING UP OUR SCHOOLS ON THE WEEKENDS TO BE USED AS PARKS. AND THE CITY IS COVERING THE COST AS WE ARE SHARING LIABILITY, AND OF COURSE, HAVE THE FACILITIES 10, AS I MARKED, UH, A REMARK AT THE TIME IS GREAT, BUT IS ABOUT 1% OF OUR SCHOOLS. AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO OPEN UP, UM, UH, A HUNDRED IF NOT A THOUSAND. AND SO, UM, I'D LIKE, UH, AS PART OF OUR EDUCATION COMPACT WITH THE CITY OF LA, UM, TO ENCOURAGE MORE ACTION BECAUSE SINCE THAT, UM, TO JPA AND A GENERAL COMMITMENT TO OPEN MORE PARKS, NOT A SINGLE NEW PARK HAS OPENED. UH, AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION WITH LA AND WITH ADDITIONAL CITIES TO, UM, OPEN OUR SCHOOLS ON, ON NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS. AND SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE, [02:40:01] UH, TO AMEND THE FOLLOWING AND THE FOURTH BULLET OF THE LOCAL PRIORITIES LIST. AND IT WOULD READ, AND I SENT THIS TO THE BOARD. AND, UH, JUST DURING THE COURSE OF THIS MEETING, IT WOULD SAY, PURSUE THE COMMITMENTS IN THE EDUCATION COMPACTS AND OPEN FIVE OR MORE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS FOR ACCESS AFTER SCHOOL HOURS. SO THE ASK WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE 10, UH, PARKS THAT WE ARE RUNNING WITH THE CITY THAT WE OPEN AT LEAST FIVE MORE. AND THEN I WILL ASK FOR A SECOND FOR THAT IN A MOMENT, BUT IT WOULD MOVE IT ALSO, UM, WITH ANOTHER, UH, AMENDMENT. UM, RELATED TO SHADE INSTALLATION. I, I REMARKED AS I WAS, UM, GIVING A SYNOPSIS OF OUR FACILITIES AND PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE OF A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT, UM, THE COST FOR SHADE STRUCTURES IS STILL EXORBITANT, EVEN WITH CHANGES THAT WE PUSHED FOR AT THE STATE LEVEL A FEW YEARS AGO. UM, WHAT WE SAW AT BOTH OUR BOARD FACILITIES WORKSHOP A MONTH OR SO AGO, AND OUR BOARD COMMITTEE MEETING A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT STILL COSTS OVER $400,000 FOR A SHADE STRUCTURE, UH, JUST TO COVER SOMETHING LIKE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAY STRUCTURE. HAD A TIME WHEN IT'S SO CRITICAL, UH, TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF FROM THE HEAT EXPOSURE, GIVEN THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND AND ADD THE FOLLOWING, UM, CHANGE REQUIREMENTS AND REMOVE BARRIERS TO SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THE COST FOR STRAIGHT SHADE STRUCTURE INSTALLATION. UM, I'VE BEEN TOLD PRIOR ADVOCACY AND LEGISLATIVE TEAM THAT WE MIGHT HAVE EXHAUSTED AT LEAST SOME OF THE OPTIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT, UH, WE CAN GO TO THE FEDS WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR WHAT THIS TRIGGERS. UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SUMMARIZE, WANT US TO OPEN AT LEAST FIVE MORE PARKS, UH, AND CHANGE REQUIREMENTS TO REDUCE THE COST OF SHADE STRUCTURES. AND I APPRECIATE MS. ALVAREZ AND HER TEAM. WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THAT. SO I GUESS, MIKE, I'LL MOVE, IT'S A SUPERINTENDENT'S ITEM, BUT I'LL MOVE THOSE AMENDMENTS AND, UH, I'LL ASK FOR A SECOND. SURE. I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU. SECONDED. GREAT. SECONDED BY MS. GO. UH, PERFECT. SO THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU. I GUESS, DO WE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT? THAT'S CORRECT. GREAT. SO VOTING ON THE AMENDMENT. UH, MS. NEWBELL? YES. DR. RIVAS? YES. MR. MELVIN? YES. MS. CGO? YES. MS. EZ? YES. MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN? YES. I'LL NOTE THAT WE NEED TO COME BACK FOR MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN FOR A VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT, BUT THE AMENDMENT PASSES NO MATTER WHAT. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, DR. RIVAS. UM, SO THANK YOU, MS. ALVAREZ. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA COME FORWARD, BUT, UM, WELL, USUALLY WE HAVE SOMEBODY AT THE PODIUM, SO YOU, SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM FOR ADVANCING THIS CRITICAL WORK AND THOUGHTFUL PRESENT, UM, ADVOCACY AGENDA. I KNOW THAT YOU USUALLY WOULD COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RIGHT BEFORE, AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN'T HAVE, UM, THE TIME BECAUSE WE'RE GOING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, CLOSED SESSION AND BUDGET AND THE FSP. SO SORT OF TOOK, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU WOULD USUALLY REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICES TO HAVE MEETINGS. DID YOU MEET WITH ALL OF US ON, ON TO HELP SET THESE PRIORITIES? SO THANK YOU FOR THE, A GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD MEMBERS AND BOARD PRESIDENT AND STAFF. UM, LET ME BACK UP ONE MOMENT, AND THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT EVERY YEAR I HAVE ASKED, UH, TO HAVE THE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AT A, AT A PUBLIC, UM, DISCUSSION. USUALLY I COME IN NOVEMBER, UM, AND THEN I WAS GOING TO COME IN DECEMBER, BUT THAT MEETING ALSO GOT, UH, CANCELED AND WAS GOING TO BE RESCHEDULED. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PUBLIC DISCUSSION WITH ALL OF YOU AT THE SAME TIME. UM, WITH THAT SAID, UM, WE, MY OFFICE RECEIVES, UH, SURVEY IDEAS EVERY FALL FROM BOTH, UH, DIVISIONS, DEPARTMENTS, AND ALSO FROM BOARD OFFICES. UM, AND THEN I HAVE WITH MANY OF YOU, UH, I HAVE STANDING MEETINGS WITH YOUR STAFF OR YOURSELVES, UH, NOT ALL OF YOU, BUT WITH MANY OF YOU HAVE STANDING MEETINGS. UM, UH, I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT THE PRIORITIES, UH, BUT IT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE RESOLUTIONS HAVE THAT THE BOARD HAS PASSED. UH, IT'S CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE COMMENTS THAT THE BOARD HAS MENTIONED. UH, EVEN IN FACT, AS YOU MENTIONED TODAY AS AN EXAMPLE WITH IDA FULL FUNDING, UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL PLACES IN THE, UM, THE GUIDING PRINCIP AND PRIORITIES, UH, THAT WE HAVE AND ALSO ON THE ADVOCACY AGENDA. SO MY TEAM AND I, EVEN THOUGH, UH, WE DID NOT MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY, UM, WE DO, UH, TAKE TO HEART EVERY FEEDBACK THAT YOU PROVIDE. AND WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT WHAT'S BEFORE THE BOARD, UM, IT HAS THAT INTENT OF, UM, FOCUSING ON YOUR PRIORITIES. UM, I'LL ALSO INDICATE THERE'S ONE LINE IN THE ADVOCACY AGENDA, UM, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST PARAGRAPH WHERE IT SAYS, UM, UH, LEMME SEE HERE. IN ADDITION TO THE ISSUES IDENTIFIED BELOW, THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS ALSO SUPPORTS AND ADVOCATES FOR LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS INITIATIVES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND WILL PURSUE NECESSARY POLICIES AND FUNDING IN 2026 AS NEW ISSUES ARISE AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. UM, SO WE'VE ASKED FOR THE BOARD TO, UH, ADOPT THIS, UH, PROVISION [02:45:01] IN THE PAST, AND IT'S CONSISTENT WITH PAST BOARD ACTION IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR FLEXIBILITY FOR MY OFFICE TO NOT ONLY FOR ISSUES THAT YOU BRING UP TODAY, BUT ANY FOR FUTURE MEETINGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. UH, WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR A BOARD RESOLUTION TO BE PASSED TO TELL US HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR SOMETHING. UH, WE WILL PROACTIVELY, UH, PURSUE THOSE AREAS. UM, AND LASTLY, UH, THIS VERY COMPREHENSIVE FIVE PAGE DOCUMENT, UM, CAPTURES MANY OF THE ISSUES, UH, THAT THE BOARD HAS BROUGHT UP THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR. AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING WHERE WE FELL SHORT, UH, WE'D BE HAPPY TO EXPLORE AND SEE WHETHER IT FITS WITHIN THE CURRENT LANGUAGE OR IF WE NEED TO PURSUE ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE LANGUAGE. THANK YOU FOR THAT, UM, EXPLANATION. SO I DID ASK YOU IN OUR INDIVIDUAL BOARD BRIEFINGS, UH, BOARD BOOK BRIEFINGS ABOUT, UM, WELL, ACTUALLY, YOU ACTUALLY BEAT ME TO IT. I WAS GONNA ASK YOU ABOUT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, BUT YOU MENTIONED THAT, AND I, UM, I DISAGREE AND HOW THE DISTRICT IS MOVING FORWARD WITH, UM, ADVOCATING FOR FUNDS AND NOT DIRECTLY ADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU ALSO LOOK AT RESOLUTIONS THAT WE'VE PASSED, AND THIS YEAR WE'VE PASSED, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS IN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, AND THAT IS A DIRECT PRIORITY. SO I KNOW INDIRECTLY YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, BUT I, I, UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD AN AMENDMENT TO DIRECTLY, UM, ADVOCATE FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY SINCE, UM, WE NEED TO LET THE, THE STATE KNOW THAT THIS DISTRICT IS SERIOUS ABOUT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. AND THE FACT THAT WE DID NOT RECEIVE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IS, IS AN ISSUE. IT'S A PROBLEM. AND WE NEED TO, UM, PUSH BACK ON THAT AT THE STATE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO ADD THE FOLLOWING, UH, TO THE STATE BUDGET PRIORITIES. UH, SECURE, ONGOING, DEDICATED STATE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, INCLUDING PROTECTING AND EXPANDING EQUITY-BASED FUNDING FORMULAS AND ALIGNING EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE INVESTMENTS TO ENABLE, UH, BRAIDED FUNDING MODELS THAT SUSTAINABLY SUPPORT, UH, COORDINATION AND STAFF HOLD CHILD SERVICES. AND I'LL SEND IT TO YOU, IT'S A LOT. AND CROSS AGENCY PARTNERSHIPS IN HIGH NEED SCHOOLS. AND THIS IS FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, AND IT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS IN, IN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. SO, WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, AS I SAID, I'VE RAISED THIS BEFORE, BUT I WANNA, I WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT HOW WE'RE PRIORITIZING SECURING RESOURCES FOR THIS BOARD PRIORITY, WHICH IS, AND I KNOW THAT I SHARE THAT WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL, PRIORITY OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. BUT BEYOND MONITORING WHAT CONCRETE ADVOCACY ACTIONS, UM, THIS IS A QUESTION, WILL WE ADVANCE IN 2026 TO SECURE DEDICATED SUSTAINING FUNDING IN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS RATHER THAN RELYING ON GENERAL FUNDING THAT MAY LATER BE SPREAD ACROSS COMPETING PRIORITIES? UM, HOW ARE WE ENSURING COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE INTENTIONALLY RESOURCED AS A CORE STRATEGY, NOT JUST AS AN OUTCOME FOR BROADER FUNDING DECISIONS? SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I KNOW THAT IS ALSO THAT I'VE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH BOARD AND REGO AND OTHER, UH, AND HER STAFF ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PRIORITY. UM, I WILL LET YOU KNOW A FEW THINGS. FIRST, UM, IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER GROUPS IN SACRAMENTO, INCLUDING CTA, UH, THERE'S AN EFFORT OF NOT ASKING AS OF NOW AS I UNDERSTAND NOT OF, UM, EARMARKING FUNDING FOR THIS PURPOSE, BUT RATHER TRYING TO LEVERAGE EXISTING FUNDING SOURCES. UM, I KNOW A PRIOR SPEAKER DURING PUBLIC COMMENT BROUGHT UP THE CHILD YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE. UM, THAT'S ONE AREA THAT THERE'S BEEN INTEREST FROM SOME ORGANIZATIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL TO TRY TO LEVERAGE SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES. UM, THERE'S, UH, THE FEE SCHEDULE, WHICH IS PART OF CHILD YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE. UM, THERE'S THE LEA BOP, UM, THE, UH, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, UM, REIMBURSEMENTS THAT WE PURSUE, WHICH RIGHT NOW IT'S A CHALLENGE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. UM, BUT IN DISCUSSION WITH OTHER STATE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, AS OF NOW, I AM NOT AWARE THAT THERE'S PARTICULAR ASKING FOR A YEAR MARK, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE PART, PART OF PROP 98. UM, AS THE LAO INDICATED IN, IN THE BUDGET PROJECTIONS IN NOVEMBER, THERE'S GOING TO BE, UM, LIMITED ONGOING FUNDING BEYOND THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE COLA FOR LCFF AND THE CORRESPONDING CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS. UM, SO WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS PRIORITY AT THE STATE LEVEL. UM, BUT I'LL JUST MENTION THAT THE CHALLENGE WILL BE, UM, THE COMPETITION WITH LCFF FUNDING BECAUSE LCFF IS DISCRETIONARY AND, UM, THERE'S, UH, ANTICIPATED A LOT OF ONE-TIME RESOURCES. UH, LAO MENTIONED LAST MONTH, $7.2 BILLION, UM, THAT COULD BE USED TO PAY BACK DEFERRALS, UM, UH, A PRIOR, UH, LEARNING BLOCK RENT, UM, DURING COVID. UH, BUT IT'S A LOT OF ONETIME MONEY. UM, SO A LOT OF THE INTEREST IN SACRAMENTO RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, FROM ORGANIZATIONS WHO'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT'S ON TRYING TO, UM, MAXIMIZE, UH, REIMBURSEMENTS SUCH OF LEAB, UM, CHILD [02:50:01] YOUTH HEALTH INITIATIVE AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES. UM, UH, BUT AGAIN, WE WOULD BE GLAD TO INCORPORATE IT IF THAT'S THE BOARD'S DECISION OF, OF WANTING US TO BE EXPLICITLY CALLING IT OUT. UM, IT IS IN THE ADVOCACY, UH, GUARDIAN PRINCIP AND PRIORITIES. UM, IT IS, UH, UH, LET ME SEE HERE, UNDER THE WHOLE CHILD SECTION. UH, YES. UM, ON PAGE SIX, UM, IT'S NOT AS COMPREHENSIVE AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO LOOKING AT YOUR LANGUAGE TO, UH, SEE WHERE WE CAN INCORPORATE IT. WELL, I MEAN, I THINK, UM, HAD YOU REACHED OUT KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M, THIS IS A PRIORITY, HAD YOU, YOU OR YOUR STAFF REACHED OUT ABOUT THIS OR INFORMED ME, I WOULD'VE HELPED TREMENDOUSLY. BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION IN TERMS OF, UM, THIS PRIOR OR THE PRIORITIES THAT SORT OF, WHERE THERE'S LIKE DISCONNECTION, RIGHT? UM, SO THAT WOULD'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, UM, IMPORTANT TO HAVE HAD THAT DISCUSSION. AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, UM, WHAT YOU JUST SAID RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF, UM, THE COMPETING FUNDS WITH SO MANY OTHER PRIORITIES THAT ALSO CTA HAS. BUT I THINK BEYOND THAT, WE NEED TO BE MORE, UM, FORCEFUL AND, YOU KNOW, STRONG AND, AND SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. 'CAUSE THEIR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, UM, HERE IN THE DISTRICT ARE DOING SO MUCH WORK WITH SO LITTLE MONEY AND, UM, NOT HAVING THOSE FUNDS IN THE STATE REALLY HAS IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. SO THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT. AND IF I MAY ASK, UM, SINCE I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY, AND I I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING HAD A ONE-ON-ONE WITH EACH OF YOU ABOUT THIS, UH, PRIORITIES, UH, FOR EVERYONE'S AWARENESS. IN ADDITION TO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FUNDING, UH, WE DID GET INTERNAL STAFF, UM, FEEDBACK, UH, WHICH, UM, UH, WE DID NOT CALL OUT SPECIFICALLY IN THE BUDGET PRIORITIES BECAUSE AGAIN, IF WE PUT EVERYTHING THERE, THEN THERE WON'T BE REALLY A PRIORITY. UM, SOME FOR EXAMPLES THAT ONE TIME MONEY THAT THE STATE, UM, THE FUNDING ALREADY EXPIRED OR WILL BE EXPIRING IN JUNE OF 2026, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, EDUCATOR EFFECTING A BLOCK GRANT. THAT WAS A MULTI-YEAR GRANT THAT, UH, EXPIRED THIS YEAR IN JUNE, 2026. WE HAVE THE A THROUGH G, UH, COMPLETION BLOCK GRANT THAT ALSO WAS A MULTI-YEAR GRANT WE RECEIVED DURING THE PANDEMIC. THAT MONEY'S NOT GOING TO BE REAPPROPRIATED UNLESS THERE'S A NEW ALLOCATION. UM, THERE'S A PRE-K LEARNING, UH, PRE-K, UM, EARLY EDUCATION PLANNING GRANT THAT WE GOT DURING COVID, ALSO FOR PRESCHOOL PLANNING, UM, FOR ADDITIONAL EXPANSION OF PRESCHOOL. THAT MONEY IS ALSO A ONE TIME THAT ALSO ENDED. SO THERE WAS PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE, UM, UH, IDEAS REQUESTS THAT WE GOT EITHER FROM BOARD OFFICE OR DIVISIONS. UM, BUT AGAIN, IF WE PUT ALL OF THEM, THEN IT, UH, CREATES THIS TENSION ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL AND LCFF DISCRETIONARY FUNDING FOR THE BOARD TO DECIDE HOW TO ALLOCATE THE RESOURCES OR, UM, ASKING FOR CATEGORICALS. UM, L-A-U-S-D WAS THE, ONE OF THE STRONGEST CHAMPIONS IN 2013 WHEN LCF WAS ADOPTED. UM, SO WE ARE AT THIS CROSSROADS, UM, AND I CAN PRO PROVIDE TO YOU ALL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S AFTER THE FACT, UM, THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT I HAD PREPARED FOR THE CAL MEETING WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT SOME OF THE, UH, UM, PROPOSALS FOR LCFF MODIFICATIONS THAT WOULD ALLOW THE BOARD TO, UH, FURTHER, UM, UH, INFORM, UH, WHERE WE WANT TO STAND ON LCFF MOVING FORWARD. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALSO VERY MUCH LOOKING AT IN SACRAMENTO IN OUR TEAM, BECAUSE SACRAMENTO LEGISLATORS THE, UM, PROBABLY NOT THE GOVERNOR HIS LAST YEAR IN OFFICE, BUT HE'S ANTICIPATED THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT LCFF AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH IT, GIVEN THAT MANY OF THEM WERE NOT IN SACRAMENTO IN 2013. THANK YOU, DR. RIVAS. ANYONE ELSE FOR TAB ONE? MS. NEWVILLE? THANK YOU MARTHA, UH, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. OBVIOUS, UM, A LOT OF ADVOCACY FOR 2026. WANTED TO JUST, UM, CLARIFY OR ELABORATE ON WHAT IS MEANT ON THE INVESTMENTS IN SAFER STREETS WITHIN OUR LOCAL PRIORITY AGENDA. 'CAUSE IT WASN'T REALLY CLEAR. AND I KNOW, UM, WE HAVE THE CROSSING GUARDS IN THERE AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS BACK IN THE CITY BUDGET OR IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF THIS ADVOCACY. GREAT, THANK YOU. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SAFER STREETS, UH, IT'S A COMBINATION OF NOT JUST, UH, SO YOU HAVE CROSSING GUARDS, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THE TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS. SOMETIMES THERE'S, UH, ONE TIME, UH, CITY OF LA OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE ONE-TIME TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS. UM, THEY MIGHT ADD, UM, SPEED BUMPS, THEY MIGHT ADD BOLLARDS, UM, QUICK DESIGN BUILD PROJECTS WHERE IT'S A ONE-TIME COST, BUT THEY STILL HELP SLOWING DOWN TRAFFIC. SO SAFER STREETS WAS PART OF THAT. OKAY. UM, BUT THE OTHER PIECE THAT ALSO WITHIN THE, UH, POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATE AND SAVE ROUTES TO AND FROM SCHOOLS, UH, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR CONCERNS FROM SCHOOLS AND PRINCIPALS AROUND, UM, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS NEXT TO SCHOOLS. THAT CHALLENGE, IT CREATES FOR SOME COMMUNITIES WHERE STUDENTS HAVE TO WALK, UM, ON THE STREET, THEREFORE IT CREATES SOME SAFETY CHALLENGES THEY GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL. SO THAT WAS, UM, TRYING TO CAPTURE A LOT OF BROADER, UH, AREAS WITHOUT BEING TOO SPECIFIC. UM, BUT LEMME KNOW IF YOU HAVE MORE FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS HOW WE CAN BETTER, UM, EXPLAIN THAT. GREAT. THAT, THAT HELPS A LOT. [02:55:01] AND THEN WITH THE CROSSING GUARDS, I KNOW THAT WAS A, AN AREA OF AG THAT WE HAD TO ADVOCATE FOR WITH THE CITY. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S BACK IN THE CITY BUDGET ONGOING OR IS THAT GONNA BE AN ANNUAL? SO, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. IT'S, UM, JUST LIKE WE HAVE OUR OWN ANNUAL BUDGET THAT THE BOARD HAS TO APPROVE. THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO HAS TO APPROVE THE ANNUAL BUDGET THAT THE MAYOR PRESENTS. UM, WE PLAN TO, UH, UH, WRITE A LETTER. UH, OGR WILL BE WRITING A LETTER IN JANUARY TO, UM, SEND TO THE MAYOR AND THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL, UM, THAT WOULD OUTLINE CROSSING GUARDS. UM, BUT THE, THE MAYOR WOULD HAVE TO, UM, UH, DECIDE WHETHER TO, UH, KEEP THE FUNDING AT THE CURRENT AMOUNT. UM, THERE POSSIBLY COULD BE HIGHER COSTS DUE TO STAFFING RELATED COSTS THAT THE CITY HAS FOR THEIR CROSSING GUARD, UM, GUARDS. UM, SO THEY WOULD EITHER HAVE TO AUGMENT THE PROGRAM, KEEP IT WHERE THEY ARE, MAINTAIN THE FUNDING LEVEL. UM, THE OTHER OPTION MIGHT BE REDUCING IT. UH, BUT WE INTEND TO INCLUDE THIS AS A PRIORITY IN OUR LETTER TO THE CITY COUNCIL ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS AND OTHER AREAS THAT REQUIRE CITY, UM, FUNDING INVESTMENTS TO OUR SCHOOLS. APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN LAST THING, AND I KNOW IT, I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS CAPTURED OR NOT, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ENROLLMENT VERSUS A DA, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP ON OUR AGENDA? IS IT EMBEDDED IN HERE AND WE JUST CAN'T SEE WHERE IT IS? 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT ADVOCATING FOR. YES. UM, SO WE, UM, WE SPONSORED A BILL SB 98, 2 YEARS AGO. UM, THAT REQUIRED THE LAO TO COME UP WITH THE ANALYSIS ABOUT WHAT WOULD IT TAKE THE STATE TO GET TO ENROLLMENT BASED FUNDING, LOOKING NOT JUST AT THE COST, BUT ALSO, UM, WHAT WOULD BE THE PATHWAY TO GET THERE. UM, WHAT WOULD BE THE OPTIONS FOR LCFF? BECAUSE LCF IS BASED ON ATTENDANCE, THAT ENROLLMENT, THAT REPORT'S COMING OUT FROM THE LAO WITH ORANGE, UH, THIS MONTH IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY. UM, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE, UM, THE COST, THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHAT IT INDICATES, UH, WILL BE TAKING THAT INTO OUR, OUR ADVOCACY. AND AS I RECALL, THE ADVOCACY AT, UH, THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE PRIORITY. THE LONGER DOCUMENT, I WANT TO SAY THAT WE STILL HAVE A REFERENCE THERE. UM, YES, WE DO. ON PAGE TWO, UM, IT SAYS HERE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR CALIFORNIA TO JOIN MOST STATES IN FUNDING SCHOOLS BASED ON STUDENT ENROLLMENT RATHER THAN ATTENDANCE, WHICH MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTS A FIXED COST FOR SERVING STUDENTS. THANK YOU, KELLY, GO AHEAD, PLEASE. UH, WELL FIRST I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY CIRCLE BACK ON DR. REVA'S AMENDMENT. IS THERE A MOTION ON THE TABLE FOR THAT? SO, YEAH, DR. RIVAS MOVED, UH, TO ADD THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE TO, UM, TO THE BULLET POINT TO THE SENATE BUDGET PRIORITIES, SECURE, ONGOING, DEDICATED STATE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, INCLUDING PROTECTING AND EXPANDING EQUITY BASED FUNDING FORMULAS AND ALIGNING EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE INVESTMENTS TO ENABLE BRAIDED FUNDING MODELS THAT SUSTAINABLY SUPPORT, COORDINATION STAFF WHOLE CHILD SERVICES AND CROSS AGENCY PARTNERSHIPS AND HIGH NEEDS COMMUNITIES. SO I'LL SECOND THAT AND, AND NOW A VOTE. OH YES. DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT. I'M SORRY. SORRY. I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION 'CAUSE IT SOUNDS TO ME, SO WOULD THIS BE A CATEGORICAL WE'RE ASKING THE STATE TO SET ASIDE, UM, 'CAUSE IT SORT OF SOUNDS LIKE IT'S, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT AT ODDS TRYING TO HAVE LESS CATEGORICAL. SO I GUESS I'M ASKING, IS THE AMENDMENT ASKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE A CATEGORICAL? YES. OKAY. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN SECONDED. LOOKS LIKE, NO. ALRIGHT. UH, MS. NEWBELL, HOW THIS IS FOR THE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT? YES. DR. RIVAS? YES. MR. MOEN? YES. MS. REGO? YES. MS. EZ? YES. MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN? NO. BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S SIX EYES. AND THEN I DO HAVE JUST A, A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS TO RAISE. FIRST THANK YOU TO, UM, OUR OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR PULLING THIS ADVOCACY AGENDA TOGETHER. AND I, I RECOGNIZE IT'S A CHALLENGING TIME AND IT, IT'S COMPLICATED BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PRIORITIES, BUT WE ALSO WANNA ENSURE THAT WE'RE ADVANCING WORK ON, ON THE ONES THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT. UM, AND, AND IT'S A CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. UM, I DO WANT TO BRIEFLY LIFT UP A FEW IMMIGRATION RELATED PRIORITIES THAT ARE ESPECIALLY URGENT FOR THE COMMUNITIES I REPRESENT IN THE EAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. I, I DO NOTE THAT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS REFERENCED, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT'S SPECIFIC ENOUGH. UM, AS THE BOARD KNOWS, UH, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE RAIDS AND ATTACKS ON OUR FAMILIES ARE CONTINUING TO AFFECT OUR STUDENTS FEELING SAFE COMING TO SCHOOL, HOW OUR FAMILIES ARE INTERACTING WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND CONTINUITY OF LEARNING, UM, FOR OUR STUDENTS. UM, SO TWO PIECES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. ONE IS ENSURING THAT AS THE STATE ALLOCATES FUNDS TO RESPOND TO THE ICE RATES, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ELIGIBLE ENTITIES TO RECEIVE THOSE DOLLARS SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND SUPPORTS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS SAFER ROUTE TO SCHOOLS, AND, AND MONITORING [03:00:01] THE SAFETY AROUND THE PERIMETERS OF OUR CAMPUSES, UM, AND OTHER SUPPORTS THAT WE KNOW ARE CRITICAL TO RESPONDING TO THIS CRISIS. THE OTHER AREA WHICH IS RELATED TO FUNDING IS STATE FLEXIBILITY AROUND A DA IMPACTS THAT ARE DIRECTLY TIED TO THE RAIDS AND TO THE FEARS THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE FEELING ABOUT ENGAGING IN SCHOOLS, ATTENDING SCHOOLS, AND, AND FULFILLING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A PUBLIC EDUCATION. THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE BROUGHT UP WITH LEGISLATORS IN INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS, BUT I HOPE AS A DISTRICT WE CAN BE ADVOCATING FOR, UM, FOR NO HARM TO BE DONE TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE IMPACTS OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW. UM, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH OTHER URBAN DISTRICTS ON, ON SOLUTIONS IN THIS AREA AS WELL. I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER DIFFERENT ITEMS, BUT I DON'T KNOW, UM, MS. AVAREZ, IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT. SO HAPPY TO WORK WITH MEGAN ON YOUR TEAM JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LANGUAGE WE REFINE IT AND ADDED ON AS, UM, AS INTENDED HERE FROM WHAT THE BOARD WILL BE APPROVING FOR ANY AMENDMENT ON THE A DA IMPACTS TO FUNDING. WE DID HAVE A REFERENCE IN THE ADVOCACY AGENDA UNDER THE STATE BUDGET PRIORITIES. UM, IT WAS, AGAIN, WE WANTED TO KEEP THIS AT TWO PAGES, NOT AGAIN, A LONGER DOCUMENT LIKE THIS. BUT WHAT WE HAD HERE, UM, WHICH WAS IN ALIGNED WITH THE INTENT THAT YOU JUST BROUGHT FORTH A PRIORITY. UM, THE FOURTH BULLET AND THE STATE PRIORITIES SAYS RESPOND TO IMPACTS DUE TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. UM, WE ARE WORKING WITH OTHER URBAN DISTRICTS, UM, IN THE COMING DAYS, UM, WE'LL BE DOING A JOINT ADVOCACY LETTER TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR AROUND BUDGET PRIORITIES AND THE IMPACTS TO IMMIGRATION IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS. UM, UH, SO, SO YES, THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE PLAN TO ALREADY DO. UM, I WILL SAY THE GOVERNOR DID BETO A BILL THIS YEAR, AB 1348 THAT WE SUPPORTED THAT WOULD'VE ALLOWED, UM, SOME, UH, UH, THROUGH THE J 13 WAIVER PROCESS. UM, IT ALLOWS, UH, FOR WHEN THERE'S A MATERIAL, UH, DECREASE IN ATTENDANCE, YOU CAN PURSUE A WAIVER. UM, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS INDICATED MULTIPLE TIMES SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALREADY HAVE A BUILT IN HOLD HARMLESS BECAUSE LCFF IS BASED ON A, A ONE OF THREE, WHATEVER'S THE HIGHEST, EITHER YOUR CURRENT A DA, UM, YOUR LAST YEAR'S A DA OR THE AVERAGE OF THREE THE LAST THREE FISCAL YEARS. SO IN ESSENCE, IF OUR A DA WAS HIGHER LAST YEAR, UM, BECAUSE WE HAD, UH, MAYBE NOT AS MUCH IMPACTED ATTENDANCE, THEN WE WOULD GET FUNDED UNDER LCFF BASED ON LAST YEAR'S A DA. SO THE STATE, UM, HAS A POSITION THAT AS OF NOW, THEY DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT FUNDING REDUCTION. UH, BUT WE ARE PROMOTING THE, THE DATA THAT WE HAVE FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT INDICATES, UM, EVEN FOR NEWCOMER STUDENTS, THE IMPACTS OF LESS KIDS THAT WE ANTICIPATED. SO WHAT YOU INDICATED IS VERY MUCH ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON, UM, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. OKAY. YEAH, I, I HOPE, I MEAN, I, I KNOW THAT WE ARE, WE ARE DOING A LOT ON THIS FRONT. UM, I THINK TO THE POINT OF THERE'S A BUILT-IN HOLD HARMLESS, THE PRESIDENTIAL TERM IS FOUR YEARS, SO WE CAN ANTICIPATE WE WILL FEEL THOSE IMPACTS. UM, AND I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT AS WE'RE TRYING TO MITIGATE THOSE, WE'RE NOT THEN ALSO LOSING RESOURCES BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS ARE TOO AFRAID TO COME TO SCHOOL. UM, AND THEN TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. UM, IN 2021, THE BOARD PASSED A RESOLUTION, CLEAN, SAFE, SANITARY SCHOOLS FOR ALL THAT CALLED FOR INCREASED, DEDICATED AND CONSISTENT FUNDING TO MAINTAIN THE STAFFING LEVEL LEVELS NECESSARY TO KEEP OUR CAMPUSES CLEAN. UM, I HOPE THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT FUNDING AS PART OF OUR OVERALL PRIORITIES TO ENSURE WE CAN MEET THE MINIMUM CLEANLINESS STANDARD. UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UM, GREENING IS A PRIORITY FOR ME. AND AS WE ARE INVESTING IN NEW GREEN SPACES ON OUR CAMPUSES, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP THOSE SPACES GREEN AND THRIVING IN YEARS TO COME. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US WORK TO INCORPORATE MAINTENANCE OF OUR LANDSCAPES, OUR GREEN SCHOOLYARDS INTO THE ROUTINE RESTRICTED MAINTENANCE FUNDING FROM THE STATE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT FUNDING RIGHT NOW CANNOT BE USED FOR MAINTAINING GREEN SPACES, WHICH IN MY VIEW IS AN OUTDATED READING AND IN DIRE NEED OF UPDATING. SO I, I HOPE THAT WE CAN PURSUE THAT CHANGE. THANK YOU. UM, AND THEN I JUST HAVE ONE REALLY SMALL AMENDMENT TO THE DOCUMENT, UM, ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO JUST INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO OUR STAFF, OUR, OUR IMMIGRANT STAFF, BECAUSE WE, WE KNOW IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PROTECTING OUR IMMIGRANT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, BUT ALSO FINDING PATHWAYS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PROTECT OUR IMMIGRANT STAFF, UM, AS WELL. SO I WOULD JUST, UH, MOVE TO AMEND THE SECOND BULLET UNDER FEDERAL TO RESTATE IT AS IMMIGRANT STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES. THANK YOU. AND I'LL SECOND THAT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, LET'S VOTE ON THAT AMENDMENT. UM, CHANGING THE SECOND BULLET UNDER TO IMMIGRANT STAFF AND STUDENTS. NO, I'M SORRY. COULD YOU RESTATE IT? STUDENTS, STAFF, STUDENTS. STAFF AND FAMILIES. UH, MS. NEWBELL? YES. DR. RIVAS? YES. MR. MALVO? YES. MS. [03:05:01] GRIEGO? YES. MS. CONEZ? YES. MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN? YES. UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES. OKAY. SEVEN AYES. MS. GRIEGO? YES. THANK YOU. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, UM, THE WHOLE CHILD SUPPORTING THE WHOLE CHILD AND SAFETY. SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDED THAT. I'M WONDERING, CAN YOU DETAIL HOW YOU'RE GONNA, WHAT, WHAT KIND OF WORK IS GONNA HAPPEN IN ORDER TO ONE, SUPPORT, UM, OR ADVOCATE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION? WHAT IS THAT GONNA LOOK LIKE? GREAT. OKAY. I'LL TAKE THE FIRST QUESTION. SO, UM, YOU MENTIONED BEFORE THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANY MATERIALS, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR STAFF. UM, WE, UH, SO AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, UM, KNOWING THAT THIS YEAR WOULD BE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF IDA FROM THE PASSAGE, UM, FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL ACT ACTION, WE, UM, LED, UM, LAST SUMMER, UH, WEBINAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH LEGISLATIVE STAFF FROM CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES IN OTHER, UM, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE DID THIS WEBINAR WITH SAN DIEGO UNIFIED, AND WE HAVE, I BELIEVE, A RECORDING THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO YOU. UM, THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR PROGRAMS. WE HAD TONY AGUILAR FROM L-A-U-S-D, WHO WAS OUR, OUR SPOKESPERSON ON THE ISSUE AND THE NEEDS FOR, FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE ALSO HAVE LED, AND I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND PROVIDE THAT TO YOUR STAFF, UM, A COALITION LETTER OF OVER 3000 SIGNATORIES, UM, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET FROM ACROSS CALIFORNIA, THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UM, SO THOSE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST YEAR. UM, I WILL MENTION AS PART OF THE COUNCIL GREAT CITY SCHOOLS, SINCE WE'RE PART OF THE NATIONAL CONSORTIUM OF URBAN DISTRICTS, UM, 78 OR SO ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHEN WE HAD BROUGHT UP, UM, SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING AS A PRIORITY, AS PART OF THE COUNCIL ADVOCACY AREAS, UM, WHAT THEY HAVE SHARED WITH US, UM, THE COUNCIL HAS FOCUSED MOSTLY ON TITLE ONE FUNDING, UM, BECAUSE AS URBAN DISTRICTS, UM, DISTRICTS, UM, GET MORE FUND THE MOST FUNDING FOR LOWER INCOME STUDENTS, UM, THAN FOR, FOR THIS PART OF FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. UM, SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO EVEN GET THE COUNCIL TO, UH, REPRIORITIZE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND NOT SEE IT AS AN EITHER OR, BUT AS A BOTH THAT WE NEED FUNDING, BOTH TITLE ONE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. UM, IT SHOULD BE A BIPARTISAN ISSUE. UH, WE HAVE TRIED TO ENGAGE OTHER REPUBLICAN OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UM, THE CHALLENGES ARE LA DELEGATION, UM, ARE IN THE MINORITY PARTY. UM, THEREFORE THEIR, UM, EFFORTS ON THIS TOPIC, UH, WOULD NOT BE AS INFLUENTIAL AS WE WOULD WANT THEM TO BE. UM, BUT WE KNOW THIS IS LIKE A BI SHOULD BE A BIPARTISAN ISSUE. UM, REPUBLICANS, AS YOU KNOW, CONTROL CONGRESS. UM, THE PRESIDENT, UH, AS PRESIDENT CARVAL ALREADY MENTIONED, UH, WANTS TO MOVE OVER IDA TO, UH, HHS. UM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, UM, THAT IS NOT BECAUSE OF LACK OF TRYING ON OUR EFFORT, UH, BUT IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT, UH, CONGRESS IS NOT APPROPRIATING THE FUNDING THAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING FOR THIS PURPOSE. AND HOW ARE PARENTS ENGAGED IN THIS ADVOCACY? PARENTS AND FAMILIES OF STUDENTS? SO WE HAVE DONE A TOOLKIT, AND AGAIN, WE CAN PROVIDE TO YOU. UM, WE HAVE WORKED WITH ANTONIO PLACENCIA AND THEIR TEAM, UH, IN TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS. UH, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE THIS AVAILABLE, UM, ENGLISH AND SPANISH. UM, WE HAVE DONE SAMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA TWEET SAMPLES, LETTERS OF SUPPORT, CALL TO ACTION. UM, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A TOOLKIT THAT WE HAVE USED ON IDA. UM, I HAVE ALSO ENGAGED WITH THE CAC COMMITTEE IN THE PAST. UM, THEY HAVE A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE. SO EVERY MONTH THEY'VE ASKED ME TO PROVIDE UPDATES. UM, NOW IT'S MOSTLY WRITTEN UPDATES ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING. UM, THEY'RE MORE MOSTLY INTERESTED AT THE STATE LEVEL, ANY NEW LEGISLATION OR FUNDING FROM SACRAMENTO. BUT WORKING WITH THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DIVISION WHO HELP WITH THE CAC, MY OFFICE IS SUPPORTING, UM, IN MAKING SURE THAT THE PARENTS ARE ENGAGED WHENEVER POSSIBLE. IS THERE ANY WORK, UH, BEING DONE WITH LABOR PARTNERS? I KNOW THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO UTLA TRIED TO LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN TO FULFILL THE PROMISE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT CAMPAIGN, BUT IS THERE ANY EFFORT TO WORK WITH LABOR PARTNERS ON THIS? YES, WE, WE CAN DEFINITELY REVISIT WORKING WITH THE LABOR GROUPS. UM, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT OUR ADVOCACY LEADER ADVOCACY EFFORTS. UM, I KNOW THE CTA STAFF IN SACRAMENTO. UM, I ALSO HAVE SPOKEN AND MET WITH, UH, JULIE, UH, VAN WRINKLE. UM, AND, UH, CHERYL, UH, KRISTEN MURPHY HAS BEEN PART OF SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS KNOWING THAT THERE'S ADVOCACY THAT WE CAN DO JOINTLY AT THE STATE LEVEL. SO YES, WE CAN REVISIT THAT. YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK HISTORICALLY WE'VE SEEN THAT CHANGE HAPPENS. LEGAL CHANGE HAPPENS WHEN IT'S BOTH, UH, GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER, RIGHT? THERE'S THE FOLKS WHO ARE LOBBYING LEGISLATORS, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO A MOVEMENT ON THE GROUND GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT ON THE GROUND THAT TOGETHER THEY PUSH. AND THEN THAT'S HOW CHANGE HAPPENS. BUT WHAT I'M HEARING, AND I, [03:10:01] I UNDERSTAND THAT'S YOUR JOB ISN'T GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, NOT AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, BUT I'M FEELING LIKE WE NEED TO DO BOTH IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ANY CHANGE AROUND SPECIAL EDUCATION. AND THERE IS DEFINITELY A VERY BIG INTEREST AMONG FAMILIES AND PARENTS, AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO, IF I WE'RE LEADERS IN THIS, WE'RE LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN MANY DIFFERENT AREAS, AND I THINK WE SHOULD STEP UP AND BECOME LEADERS IN GETTING THE FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. BUT I DO THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHILE YOUR WORK IS, IS PUSHING SOME, SOME LEGISLATORS AND TRYING TO AFFECT CHANGE, I DO THINK WE NEED THE GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT OF PARENTS TO ALSO PUSH ALONG. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN OUR, UM, LEGISLATIVE PLANS SOME FORM OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING ASPECT OF IT, AND SOME COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING THIS KIND OF WORK ALREADY. SO THAT, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE. BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, EVEN ASSOCIATIONS THAT WORK WITH SCHOOLS ARE NOT SEEING IT AS A PRIORITY, RIGHT? SO THE COUNCIL OF OF RATE SCHOOLS IS NOT SEEING IT AS A TOP PRIORITY. AND SO THE ONLY WAY IT'S GONNA GET THERE IS WHEN THERE'S A PUSH FROM AS MANY ENTITIES AND FOLKS AS POSSIBLE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT, BECAUSE THE SAME THING WITH SUPPORTING THE WHOLE CHILD. I SEE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN HERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA ACCOMPLISH THESE THINGS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR THESE THINGS. AND THAT WORRIES ME BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE ALL PART OF MY PRIORITY. SUPPORTING COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, LGBTQ PLUS STUDENTS, SAFE SCHOOLS, MENTAL HEALTH, UM, THEY'RE MY PRIORITIES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PRIORITIZING AND HAS BEEN ASKING FOR ADVOCACY. SO I, I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT IN THIS REPORT, BUT I ALSO WANNA SEE SOME FORM OF PLAN. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COMES AFTER, UM, BECAUSE I WOULD, UM, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME MORE DETAILS IN THAT ASPECT. THE, THE STRATEGIES, THE TACTICS, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, TO MAKE IT A REALITY. UM, AND THEN I, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AROUND THE, UM, COMPACTS, THE EDUCATION COMPACTS. I'M GLAD TO SEE IT HERE, BUT, UM, I WANNA KNOW, LIKE WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING TO CHANGE? HOW ARE WE GOING TO IMPROVE HOW THESE COMPACTS ARE IMPLEMENTED? MY DISTRICT INCLUDES A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE ENTERED INTO THESE COMPACTS. AND THE FEEDBACK I'M GETTING FROM, FROM, UM, ELECTEDS IS THAT THERE IS STILL, UH, NOT OPENING THE DOORS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO OFFER SOME SERVICES, CITY SERVICES, TO THE FAMILIES AT OUR SCHOOLS. THAT THERE'S STILL SOME DOORS BEING CLOSED, AND THEY, THE COMPACTS ARE NOT SUPPORTING, UH, ANY RELATIONSHIP BUILDING BETWEEN THE CITY AND, AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. SO HOW ARE, HOW IS THAT GONNA CHANGE? WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE LIFTING UP THE PRIORITY AND THE QUESTION. UM, EDUCATION COMPACTS, AS A BOARD MEMBER KNOWS, WE HAVE 10 OF THEM TO DATE, UH, WITH THE GOAL OF HOPEFULLY GETTING TO MORE BY 2026 IN JUNE, 2026. UM, THE EDUCATION COMPACTS, UH, THEY ARE NOT, UM, UH, TAKING AWAY FROM DISTRICT POLICIES. AND ONE BY WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, AS AN EXAMPLE, I'M AWARE OF THE CITIES THAT YOU, YOU REPRESENT, UM, AND SOME OF THEM, SOUTHGATE, HUNTINGTON PARK, UH, EVEN RECENTLY, MAYWOOD, UH, THEY, UH, CONTINUE TO FACE CHALLENGES WITH ACTING OR SCHOOL FACILITIES. EITHER THEY THEMSELVES OR SPORTING, UM, ASSOCIATIONS. UH, A YSO, THERE'S THE AZTEC. UM, SO WE KNOW THE WHO THAT GROUPS ARE. THE, WE UNFORTUNATELY, UM, OUR OFFICE HAS NOT REWRITE THE POLICIES FOR ACCESS TO FACILITIES. I KNOW THERE'S A RESOLUTION THAT THE BOARD APPROVED NOVEMBER WITH THE GOAL OF, UM, STREAMLINING AND ASSESSING THIRD PARTY USE. UM, I JUST MET WITH MARK BORIS LAST WEEK, UM, TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE CITIES THAT YOU REFERENCED IN YOUR, FROM YOUR AREA, UM, THAT THEY ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE, THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. UM, SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ADVOCATING EXTERNALLY, MY OFFICE IS ALSO THE LIAISON WITH OUR OFFICES. WERE THE ONES WHO ARE OVERSEEING THOSE DISTRICT POLICIES, UM, TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN BE BETTER PARTNERS. UM, BUT, BUT IN SHORT, UM, THOSE POLICIES, UM, ARE OUTSIDE OF THE GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, UH, DAY-TO-DAY WORK. UM, THEIR DISTRICT-WIDE POLICIES THAT THE BOARD, UM, AND ADMINISTRATION, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE GOING TO BE REVISITING, UH, GIVEN THE, THE ACTION THE BOARD TOOK LAST MONTH. UM, SO I AM HOPEFUL WORKING WITH THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT AS AN EXAMPLE, AND ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES THAT KEEPS COMING UP AS AN AREA OF CONCERN FROM THE CITIES, UM, THAT THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE, UH, IMPROVED IN 2026. UM, I HAVE STANDING MEETINGS WITH THE CITY MANAGERS, UM, FOR THE CITIES. UM, [03:15:01] WE HAVE HAD FAMILY ACADEMY SEGMENTS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE DONE IT, UM, SINCE WE'VE HAD THE COMPACTS. UH, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL CITIES HERE AND, AND HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE SCHEDULE OF THE ONES THAT COMING IN 2026, BUT IT'S BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR AND OR CITY MANAGER AND STAFF, UH, TO PRESENT TO OUR FAMILIES, UM, WHAT SERVICES THEY PROVIDE FOR FAMILIES. UM, SO IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC, UM, UH, FEEDBACK OR CONCERNS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'D LOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THOSE CONCERNS ARE, UM, BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND THEIR STAFF. YEAH. I MEAN, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS CAN WE GIVE FLYERS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR CITY FOR FREE FOR THE FAMILIES? IT'S THAT SIMPLE. AND THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT. SO WE, SO, SO THANK YOU AND HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO SEE WHICH CITIES WE CAN BETTER, UM, CLARIFY THE POLICY. WE CLARIFY WITH THE OPERATIONS TEAM WHO ARE OFTENTIMES THAT ONE CLOSER TO SCHOOLS DOING THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK, UM, THAT THERE'S NO DISCLAIMER LANGUAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT, ADDED TO THE, UH, FLYERS. UH, PRINCIPALS ARE AUTHORIZED TO SUBMIT, UM, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING TO THEIR FAMILIES. UM, SO WE PROVIDE CLARIFICATION IN WRITING TO THE PRINCIPALS, AND WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU THAT LANGUAGE AS WELL. UM, DO YOU ALSO SERVE AS A LIAISON TO OUR, UM, OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT SET POLICY AROUND CAMPUS USE OR ACCESS TO CAMPUS? ARE YOU THE INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN THE CITY AND OUR DISTRICT? YES. SO IF A CITY IS HAVING SOME TROUBLE ACCESSING OR THEY SHOULD CALL YOUR OFFICE? YES. AND, AND FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHEN SOME OF THE BOARD OFFICES HERE HAVE, UH, INFORMED ME. WHEN THE CITY ASKED FOR A PERMIT FOR A EVENT, LET'S SAY THREE WEEKS FROM NOW, AND THEY HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK ON THE PERMIT WHERE THE STATUSES HAS BEEN APPROVED, MY OFFICE GETS OFTENTIMES TAGGED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS EXPEDITED AND CAN BE RESOLVED IN A, IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER. BUT YES, FOR ANY OF YOU, IF YOU COME ACROSS CONCERNS, UH, I'VE GOTTEN, AGAIN, REQUEST ABOUT CROSSING GUARDS, A DIFFERENT NUMBER OF ISSUES. MY OFFICE IS THAT LIAISON TO OUR CITY, UM, COUNTERPARTS, BUT ALSO INTERNALLY WITH OUR DISTRICT, UM, DIVISIONS AND DEPARTMENTS. OKAY. AND THEN DO YOU ALSO MEET WITH ELECTEDS OR JUST WITH THE CITY MANAGERS? SO, UM, I HAVE MET WITH, UH, THE MAYOR, VICE MAYORS AT SOME OF THE CITIES, BUT NOT WITH THE, BECAUSE OF THE BROWN ACT LIMITATIONS. WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING. INSTEAD, MY STAFF AND I, WE'VE BEEN GOING TO THE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND ACTUALLY, UM, PROVIDING AN UPDATE AT ONE OTHER COUNCIL MEETINGS. UM, FOR EXAMPLE, CITY OF CARSON, I WAS THERE IN NOVEMBER. UM, THINKING ABOUT MAYWOOD, I THINK I WAS THERE IN OCTOBER. I'LL BE GOING TO IN JANUARY. BUT IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HEAR THE SAME INFORMATION, UH, STAFF. AND I'VE BEEN GOING IN PERSON TO PROVIDE UPDATES OR SHARE INFORMATION. OKAY. YEAH, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. AND SOME ADVOCACY TOO, UM, TO OUR, YOU KNOW, BRING BACK THE INFORMATION TO OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT SET THE, THAT, UH, IMPLEMENT THESE POLICIES. UH, BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE, UM, AS MUCH AS WE ARE EXCITED TO HEAR THAT THESE COMPACTS EXIST, WHEN I BRING THEM UP TO FOLKS, IT DOESN'T SEEM, THEY'RE JUST LIKE, YEAH, THEY, THEY'RE NOT REALLY DOING A WHOLE LOT. SO, UM, I WOULD WANT SOMETHING TO BE MORE, UM, SUBSTANTIAL. SUBSTANTIAL. OKAY. AND THEN, UM, THE OTHER THING, LET'S SEE HERE. UM, WELL, NO, THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S IT. I JUST, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THIS. I WANT TO COMMENT ALSO, UM, KELLY BROUGHT UP OUR EMPLOYEES WHO MIGHT NEED SOME IMMIGRATION SUPPORT. I KNOW THAT IN, UH, WEST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, THE TEACHERS WENT ON STRIKE AND THEY CAME BACK. UM, THEY, THEY SETTLED THEIR STRIKE AND THEY HAD LANGUAGE IN THEIR, UM, CONTRACT THAT THEY WON THAT WOULD, UH, SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS. AND SO I THINK THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ADVOCATE FOR FUNDING FOR, UH, SUPPORTING ANY EDUCATOR WHO MIGHT NEED THE, UM, UM, TO, TO RENEW THEIR PAPERS, UH, THEIR H ONE B VISA HOLDERS WHO MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCY. I UNDERSTAND THAT COST HAS GONE UP TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND THAT'S GONNA CREATE A HARDSHIP FOR DISTRICTS. SO IF YOU CAN LOOK MORE INTO THAT, THAT WOULD BE THANK YOU. APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MCLEAN. WELL, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ON THE, UM, IT'S BEEN AMENDED, UH, THREE TIMES. SO A MOTION AND SECOND ON THE UNDERLYING MOTION. MOVE IT, MOVE BY, UH, MR. SEN. SECOND. SECONDED BY MS. NEWBELL. ALL RIGHT. MS. NEWBELL? YES. DR. RIVAS? YES. MR. MELVIN? YES. MS. GGO? YES. MS. EZ. MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN? YES. BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES. OKAY. THAT'S SIX AYES. UM, RETURNING [Consent Items ( Part 4 of 4)] [03:20:01] TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR, UH, MS. GREGGO, MAY I HAVE YOUR VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? YES. AND I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO THE MARTIN LUTHER KING. UM, GOT IT. SO THAT'S TAB 27. I MAKE A NOTE. AND TO THE BLACK, OH, THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST FOR THANK YOU. NOTICE. SO THAT WILL BE, UH, NEXT MONTH. AND LET'S SEE, MS. UH, EZ ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, HOW DO YOU VOTE? I VOTE YES. YES. AND MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? YES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND MS. EZ, WE'RE GONNA CIRCLE BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR VOTE ON TAB ONE, PLEASE. YES, THAT'S A YES. ALRIGHT. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. [32. Resolution of Intention to Dedicate Corner Ramp Easement at Porter Ranch Community School (034-25/26)] UM, ON TAB 32 IS NOT FOR ACTION, BUT WE HAVE SOME, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKERS THAT WE SHOULD TAKE SO WE CAN DISPATCH WITH THAT ITEM. UH, ALIA CARMONA, ARE YOU HERE? UH, MARTY REDDICK NOT ONLINE OR IN PERSON. MARTY REDDICK. MARTY RED. OH, COME ON DOWN. AND THEN AFTER MARTY REDDICK IS NEXT, IS, UH, DAVID TOSKI. OKAY, HOLD ON. MR. TOSKI. THERE'S, UH, THERE'S A PERSON AHEAD OF YOU. AND WHILE WE ARE, BEFORE WE DO THE PUBLIC COMMENT, I WILL READ THE PUBLIC STATEMENT. I MEAN, THE PUBLIC HEARING STATEMENT REFERENCE IS MADE TO BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT NUMBER 0 5 1 DASH 25 SLASH 26. DATED NOVEMBER 18TH, 2025, THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ADOPTED THE RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO DEDICATE RAMP EASEMENT AT PORTER RANCH COMMUNITY SCHOOL. THE BOARD HAS FIXED THIS MEETING AS A TIME AND PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. UPON THE QUESTION OF SUCH DEDICATION, AN OPPORTUNITY IS NOW GIVEN TO ANYONE PRESENT TO FILE WITH THE BOARD PETITIONS PROTESTING THE PROPOSED DEDICATION SIGNED BY AT LEAST 10% OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE DISTRICT, AS SHOWN BY THE AFFIDAVIT ON ONE OF THE PETITIONERS. THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING. THERE ARE 15 OPEN SLOTS, AND NOW ONTO MARTY REDDICK. PLEASE GO AHEAD. OKAY. UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS MARTY REDDICK. I AM A SENIOR CORE PARENT LEADER AT CADRE. I AM A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN THE US SCHOOL DISTRICT REGION, SUN SOUTH BOARD DISTRICT SEVEN. I AM A GRANDPARENT AND I HAVE FOUR KIDS AND THREE GRANDCHILDREN THAT WENT THROUGH THE LA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHEN THERE ARE STUDENTS CONFLICTS SUCH AS BULLYING, POLICE SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED. INSTEAD, PARENTS AND ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED SHOULD COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS HOW TO ADDRESS THE BULLYING. SCHOOL STAFF NEED TO CONNECT AND BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL. SCHOOLS NEED TO KEEP PARENTS UP TO DATE AND INFORM PARENTS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM AND ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUS SO THAT THEY DO NOT HEAR IT FROM THEIR CHILDREN. THAT THERE WAS A FIGHT AND, AND THAT A POLICE OFFICER TOOK A STUDENT. AFTER YEARS OF ORGANIZING, STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HELPED PASS PBIS IN 2007 AND PUT IT INTO SUSPENSIONS FOR WILLFUL DEFIANCE. BUT WHY IS PBIS NOT OCCURRING? CADRE PARENTS KEEP COMING YEAR AFTER YEAR TELLING YOU ALL ABOUT PBSS AND HOW IT IS NOT HAPPENING AND HOW IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE HAPPENING. ARE YOU HEARING US? BECAUSE I AM GETTING THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU AREN'T, YOU ARE GOING TO GET TIRED OF US. SO I THINK YOU GOTTA GET TO WORK AND ENSURE THE PBIS IS HAPPENING IN ALL OUR SCHOOLS. WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MM-HMM . UH, LET'S SEE. DAVID KOSKI, I SEE YOU'RE HERE. COME ON DOWN. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. THIS IS AS TO ITEM 32, THE TAB 32 ON THE EASEMENT. UH, YES, I, UH, ESSENTIALLY SUPPORT THE EASEMENT, BUT I DO CALL UPON, UH, THE BOARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE, UH, WHAT I BELIEVE IS AN INCORRECT, UH, ALLOCATION OF FEES FROM THE PORTER RANCH DEVELOPMENT. AS WE KNOW, UH, SM MR. SML KNOWS THAT WE DID NOT BUILD ENOUGH [03:25:01] SEATS IN THE AREA BECAUSE SOMEHOW THERE WAS AN UNDERESTIMATION OF THE NUMBER OF HOUSES EACH HOUSE AS THE ONES BEING BUILT BY HILLCREST DEVELOPER. NOW AT 4,000 SQUARE FEET PER HOUSE WOULD BE $20,000 PER HOUSE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. UNDER IMPACT AND DEVELOPMENT FEES, WORSE THAN THE LACK OF COLLECTION OF THE FEES, UH, IN THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT, IS THE DEDICATION OF LAND. THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES RECEIVED, I BELIEVE, OVER A HUNDRED ACRES OF PARKLAND. MR. MALVO, WORKING WITH THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, RECEIVED FOUR OR SIX ACRES FOR AN INADEQUATE K THROUGH EIGHT SCHOOL. THAT MEANS SOMEHOW A PREVIOUS BOARD OR BOARD MEMBER ASSIGNS SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS MENTIONED IN THIS DOCUMENT, UH, AS A JULY 23RD, 2009, UH, AGREEMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AS TO WHAT DEDICATION OF LAND WAS GIVEN TO THE DISTRICT, UH, BASED UPON WHAT ESTIMATION OF STUDENTS. SO IT IS BOTH THE, THE, UM, DEDICATION OF INSUFFICIENT LAND, AND IT IS THE INCORRECT, UH, UH, COLLECTION OF FEES FROM BOTH HILLCREST TOLL BROTHERS AND PERHAPS MANY OTHER DEVELOPERS WHO SEPARATED THE DEVELOPMENT AS THE DEVELOPERS OFTEN DO INTO STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. SO THEY SAY IN PHASE ONE, WE ONLY HAVE THIS MANY CHILDREN, BUT THEY DON'T TELL YOU ABOUT PHASE TWO, PHASE THREE, PHASE FOUR, AND PHASE FIVE OF THE DEVELOPMENT. SO RATHER THAN OPPOSE A TINY EASEMENT, THIS GIVES US AN ENTRY INTO PERHAPS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE REVENUE FOR THE DISTRICT, IF IN FACT, UH, UH, IT IT'S INCORRECT. AND SECONDLY, AS MR. MELVOIN STRIVES TO GO TO A HUNDRED OR A THOUSAND LOCATIONS, HERE'S A CASE STUDY WHERE THE CITY UNDER THE COUNCILMAN IN THAT AREA RECEIVED 10 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF LAND AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, I HAVE FLIA CARMONA LISTED AS A CALL-IN. ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? UH, THALIA CARMONA? NO. AND LET'S SEE. UH, ANTON RANKIN. YOU LISTED AS CALLING IN REMOTELY. ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? NOT HERE. OKAY. SO THAT CONCLUDES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 32, WHICH IS A PUBLIC, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, BUT NOT FOR ACTION. DID SOMEONE SAY, SOMEONE IS HERE TO SPEAK TO TAB 32, THE EASEMENT EZ. OKAY. SO I'M GONNA TAKE [1. Board of Education Report No. 234-25/26 Office of Government Relations (Request for Approval of 2026 Advocacy Agenda and Guiding Principles and Priorities) Recommends authorizing the Office of Governmental Relations (OGR), on behalf of Los Angeles Unified, to sponsor legislation and proactively advocate for policy and funding proposals at the local, state, and federal levels. All advocacy efforts will align with and support the goals, strategies, and initiatives outlined in the District's 2022-26 Strategic plan. (Part 2 of 2)] A CALLER WHO JUST CALLED IN THE LAST SECOND ISABEL GONZALEZ FOR TAB ONE. ISABEL GONZALEZ. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. MS. GONZALEZ IS GONNA SPEAK IN SPANISH, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S SAYING IN ENGLISH, PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS UP FOR THE TRANSLATION HEADSETS. OKAY. SO THIS IS, YES, THIS IS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M HERE FOR THE FINANCIAL AND AUDIO FROM LOS ANGELES OF THE P THE POLICIES THAT THEY'VE DOING FOR THE SCHOOL, FOR THEM TO BE SAFE PLACES AND LEGISLATIVELY FOR THE LEARNING, FOR THE FOR SECURE LEARNINGS. WHAT SECURITY SECURITY FOR YOU IN, FOR YOUR AGENDAS OR FOR THE STUDENTS IN AUDIBLE, WHO IS IT YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT? HAS THE SCHOOL VIOLENCE REDUCED? WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS. HAVE YOU HEARD THE VOICE OF THE PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND PERSONNEL? IN WHAT WAY HAVE YOU HEARD THESE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THESE PROGRAMS AT EVERY WORKSHOP BEING HONEST AND TRANSPARENT, TO BE ABLE TO SHOW TO THE PARENTS THE FUNDS, WHERE THE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM, AND WHAT THEY'RE USED IN EVERY DOLLAR, AND WHICH WAY IS IT USED, ESPECIALLY ABOVE ALL. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF ALL THESE? ALSO, THERE IS LESS VIOLENCE. IS THERE LESS SCHOOL VIOLENCE PER YEAR IN? ARE THE STUDENTS ARE THE MOST PREPARED COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE WORLD? NO, OF COURSE NOT. WE ARE GONNA NEED POLICE AT SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AT SCHOOL. WE WANT TO HAVE A QUALITY EDUCATION. WE WANT TRANSPARENCY OF ALL THE FUNDS THAT L-A-U-S-D HAVE, MS. GRIEGO, MR. GOMEZ, REBA, MR. NIGOS, ALL THE AGENDAS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO APPLY TO THE SCHOOLS. WE DO NOT ACCEPT THEM. WE DO NOT ACCEPT THEM IN AUDI BOWL. THAT'S WHY CHILDREN LEAVE THE SCHOOLS EVERY DAY. THE CHILDREN ARE VULNERABLE AT SCHOOL. WHY ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU'RE GONNA PROTECT THE FUNDS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION [03:30:01] MS. MS. CARGO YET WHEN CLEARLY THERE IS NO REDUCTION OVER SPECIAL EDUCATION? APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. SORRY. I AM A BLACK FATHER FROM SOUTH LA, A SENIOR CORE PRAYER. AND, UH, I'M SPEAKING FROM A BLACK AND BROWN FAMILY. I CAME, CAME, I CAME UP THROUGH THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE. I KNOW THE SOUND. I KNOW THE LOOK. I KNOW THE DAMAGE. AND NOW I'M WATCHING STRAIGHT AT IT HAPPENED AGAIN FOR MY SON. MY SON WAS CALLED INTO THE OFFICE AND THEY HAD THE POLICE THERE. THEY DID NOT CALL ME. THEY DID NOT IMPLEMENT PBIS. THEY DIDN'T CALL THE TEACHER OR ANYONE. AND WHEN I, WHEN HE GOT THERE, THE POLICE WAS THERE AND THEY DIDN'T PRACTICE PBIS. SO THE REASON FOR MY CALL IS IT WASN'T RIGHT. THEY SHOULD HAVE CALLED ME. THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME WHAT WAS GOING ON BEFORE CALLING THE POLICE. SO MY SON HAD TO LOOK INTO THE POLICE FACE THINKING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THE REST OF HIS LIFE. MIND ME, HE WAS ONLY IN THE SECOND GRADE AT THAT. AND WHY WOULD THEY CALL IT POLICE? SO, UH, COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY MUST BE REAL STANDARD, REAL ACCOMPLISHED, AND PUT, PRAY AND PUT PARENTS IN REAL PLACES WHAT HE SHOULD BE. UH, THIS IS NOT A REQUEST, THIS IS NOT A QUESTION. THIS IS A DEMAND FROM BLACK AND BROWN PARENTS LIVING IN SOUTH LA THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS ON TAB 32. LET US NOW [17. Board of Education Report No. 245-25/26 Region North (Approval of the Consolidation of San Fernando Middle School and San Fernando Institute of Applied Media; Approval of the Closure of San Fernando Institute of Applied Media) Recommends approval of the consolidation of San Fernando Middle School and San Fernando Institute of Applied Media and the closure of San Fernando Institute of Applied Media.] GO TO TAB, UH, 17. THERE WERE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, UH, MS. GOMEZ AND MS. GRIEGO, TAB 17. THEN THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THE BOARD CAN FEEL FREE TO MOVE IT AND SECOND IT AND GO FORWARD WITH DISCUSSION. I'LL MOVE IT SECOND. UM, I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BUT I SPOKE TO BOARD MEMBER EZ AND SHE WAS ABLE TO ANSWER THEM FOR ME, SO I DON'T NEED TO ASK ANYTHING. THANKS. BOARD MEMBER GRIEGO. UM, AND I'LL JUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF SAN FERNANDO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE SAN FERNANDO INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED MEDIA, ALONG WITH REGION NORTH WHO ARE HERE, UM, FOR THEIR COLLABORATION AND WORK TO BRING THIS FORWARD. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL YEARS INCOMING. UM, BUT THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A, A CONSOLIDATION. IT'S ABOUT A SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION AND A NEW VISION FOR A MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT OFFERS OUR FAMILIES A HIGH QUALITY, APPEALING AND ENRICHING MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN THE CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, INCLUDING OUR DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS, A CULINARY PROGRAM, AS WELL AS CTE FARM TO TABLE INITIATIVE. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THE WORK BEYOND THIS TO CREATE A GREAT MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN THE NORTHEAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. AND, UM, I WOULD JUST WANNA SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE PRINCIPAL PEARL ARDO, WHO IS OUR PRINCIPAL AT SAN FERNANDO MIDDLE, AN ALUM OF SAN OF SAN FERNANDO, MIDDLE, FORMER PRINCIPAL OF SFIM, UM, WHO HAS JUST DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB AT THE SCHOOL, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. SORRY, JUST A QUICK QUESTION. WHEN DID THE CONVERSATIONS FIRST START? HOW MANY YEARS HAS IT BEEN? AND THE REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A PART OF OUR FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, A VISION TO CONSOLIDATE ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS. AND SO IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN OUR OWN DISTRICT, LIKE HOW LONG IT'S BEEN, SO WE CAN SEE HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE US. WELL, WE INITIALLY STARTED THESE CONVERSATIONS WHEN I, UM, TRANSFERRED OVER TO SAN FERNANDO MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HELP STABILIZE THE SCHOOL. UM, AND WHAT'S, WHAT YEAR WAS THAT? THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO. 23, 24. YEAH. SO I CAME IN THE SPRING, AND THEN, BECAUSE I WAS ALREADY ON THE CAMPUS PART OF SFIM. OKAY, SO TWO TO THREE YEARS? YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. THANK YOU. HEY, MS. GRIEGO. UM, DO YOU THINK, UM, SO THIS WAS A CAMPUS, THESE WERE TWO CAMPUSES ON ONE SITE, RIGHT? IS THAT YES. TWO SCHOOLS ON ONE SITE, CORRECT. I [03:35:01] I WAS AT A SCHOOL THAT WAS LIKE THAT, AND IT WAS CONSOLIDATED AS WELL. SO DO YOU THINK THAT EASED SITUATIONS AND WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS THAT YOU, THIS PARTICULAR CONSOLIDATION IS GETTING? WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS CONSOLIDATION IS REALLY THE FACT THAT I'VE BEEN THERE, UM, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. SO I HELPED CREATE SFIM BACK IN 2010, AND THE VISION FOR THAT WAS THE ENTIRE SCHOOL. WE WERE PART OF PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE 1.0. UM, AND SO AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE WAS WHEN WE ONLY GOT A PIECE OF IT. AND SO WHAT WE ENDED UP CREATING WAS THE HAVE AND THE HAVE NOTS. AND SO I THINK NOW THIS IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO FIX THAT AND TO REALLY PROVIDE AN EDUCATION FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND NOT JUST SOME OF THEM. UM, AND BEING THERE, BEING ABLE TO SEE THE TWO DIFFERENT SIDES AND THE DISCREPANCIES. IT'S HARD. IT'S HARD TO SEE THAT. AND IT'S A TOUGH, IT'S A TOUGH COLLABORATION. AND THEN SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT CAME UP AT THE CONSOLIDATION THAT I WAS A PART OF WAS THAT ALL TEACHERS ALL HAD TO REAPPLY. YEAH. AND THAT IN FACT, EVEN THE PRINCIPAL HAD TO REAPPLY. EVERYBODY HAD TO REAPPLY. AND THERE WEREN'T ANY OTHER THAN THAT. THERE WEREN'T, YOU KNOW, ANY CHANGES. SO WHAT ARE, WHAT IS IT LIKE AT YOUR, IN YOUR CONSOLIDATION? NO, SO NO ONE IS REAPPLYING. SO, UM, THE, THE, THE GOAL WAS THAT EVERYONE IS STAYING FOR THE, THE NEXT YEAR, UM, AT LEAST, UH, HOPEFULLY TWO. BUT WHERE EVERYONE IS STAYING, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO REAPPLYING FOR ANYONE, AND THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE NO DISPLACEMENT. AND I GUESS I'LL JUST ADD, I THINK THE STABILITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT MAINTAINING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. THE NORTHEAST VALLEY IS A PLACE WHERE LIKE COMMUNITY MATTERS A LOT. AND SO I THINK WE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THAT CONNECTEDNESS CONTINUES WHILE ALSO ENSURING THAT THE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES ARE THERE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ON THAT SITE. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, MR. MCLEAN. OKAY. ON TAB 17, ALREADY MOVED AND SECONDED. UH, MS. NEWBELL? YES. DR. RIVAS? YES. MR. MELVIN? YES. MS. GRIEGO? YES. MS. CONEZ? YES. MS. OTI FRANKLIN? YES. FOR PRESIDENT SCHON? YES. YES. THAT IS SEVEN AYE. 17. [6. Board of Education Report No. 236-25/26 Office of Government Relations (Approval of Non-Formula Grant Agreements: Ratification of Delegated Authority) Recommends the ratification of those actions related to the application for, and receipt of nonformula grants, including the execution of related agreements and documents, taken by the Office of Grants Administration and Office of the Superintendent within delegated authority as listed in Attachment “A.”] OKAY. UH, TAB SIX. UH, THE APPROVAL OF NON-FORMAL GRANT AGREEMENTS, RATIFICATION OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY, UM, UH, MS. NEW BILL, AND MS. GRIEGO, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS. THIS IS TAB SIX. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM APPROVAL OF NON-FORMAL GRANT AGREEMENTS, RATIFICATION OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY. MY NOTES HAVE ANY QUESTION. MS. NEW BILL AND MS. MS. REGO? I'LL ADD YOU. DR. RIVAS. DR. REVA, WHO IS THAT? IT'S, UH, REGO. OH, OKAY. MS. GRIEGO. UM, SO WHO WILL RESPOND TO THESE QUESTIONS? OH, GRANTS. OKAY. APPROVAL OF NON-FORMAL GRANT AGREEMENTS. SO, YEAH. IT'S OKAY. SO, UM, THESE ARE GRANTS THAT SCHOOLS APPLY FOR AND THEY, THEY RECEIVE, RIGHT? THEY'RE, THEY'RE GRANTED THESE AND THE MONEY GOES TO THE DISTRICT, AND THEN THE DISTRICT DISPERSES THE MONEY. IS THAT WHAT HAPPENS? NO, IT'S, THANK, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH. SO THEN, UNDER THE NEW OFFICE OF GRANTS ADMINISTRATION, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, UM, THAT WE'RE PROCESS PROCESSING GRANTS, UH, TO COME FOR THE BOARD FOR RATIFICATION. UM, PREVIOUSLY, UH, IT WAS AT HODGEPODGE. SOMETIMES THE BOARD WOULD, UH, BE APPROVING THEM, OR SOMETIMES SCHOOL WE DID NOT HAVE ANY, UH, PERHAPS AS MUCH OVERSIGHT OVER WHAT SCHOOLS, UM, WERE APPLYING FOR GRANTS. SO UNDER THIS NEW STRUCTURE, UM, WE PLAN TO COME TO THE BOARD, BOTH WITH DISTRICT LEVEL GRANTS AND SCHOOL LEVEL GRANTS THAT THEY APPLIED FOR. UM, THIS FIRST ITEM, IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE BRINGING ALL OF THEM AT ONCE TO THE BOARD. AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL LEVEL GRANTS. UM, THERE'S TWO MAIN BATCHES. UM, THERE'S 83 GRANTS FOR SCHOOL LEVEL. UM, OUT OF 93 TOTAL, UM, THERE'S ONE THAT'S 45 SCHOOLS AND ONE THAT'S 30 DIFFERENT GRANTS. UH, 30 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, A TOTAL OF, UM, ROUGHLY, UM, 75. UM, THOSE WERE APPLIED BY SCHOOLS. UM, AS WE UNDERSTAND FROM OUR, SOME OF OUR DIVISION STAFF FROM CT LINK LEARNING AND OTHERS, UM, THEY WEBINARS WITH SCHOOLS, UM, UH, AGAIN, PRIOR TO THIS YEAR WHEN THEY APPLIED FOR THE FUNDING AND SOME SCHOOLS CHOSE TO APPLY. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE TODAY. BUT THIS REPORT ALSO INCLUDES 10 GRANTS THAT DIVISIONS, UH, RECEIVED THAT EITHER THE DIVISION APPLIED FOR THE FUNDING OR THE LA EDUCATION FOUNDATION THAT GAVE THE MONEY TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A PASS THROUGH. AND SO WE'RE RECEIVING THE FUNDING FROM THAT FOUNDATION, AND MY OFFICE IS HELPING TO, UM, PROCESS THOSE GRANT AGREEMENTS. AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE DISTRICT IN [03:40:01] TERMS OF, UH, DIRECTIVES AS TO HOW THE SCHOOL CAN SPEND THE GRANT MONEY? IF THEY APPLIED FOR IT, THEY WROTE THE PLAN, IT WAS APPROVED, IT WAS GRANTED. MM-HMM . THEN IS THERE A ROLE THAT THE DISTRICT PLAYS? SO, SO WE PLAY A ROLE IN ONE, UM, THE SUPERINTENDENT OR THEIR DESIGNEE BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THEY'RE THE ONLY AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUAL TO SIGN THE GRANT AGREEMENTS. SO FOR MANY OF THEM ARE COMING FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE GRANT AGREEMENT, IT LITERALLY SAYS THERE, SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE. IT DOES NOT HAVE THE PRINCIPAL'S NAME TO SIGN. UM, AS I UNDERSTAND FROM OUR OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, IT IS THE, UH, UNDER CALIFORNIA PUBLIC CONTRACTING LAW. IT IS THE CHIEF OFFICIAL THAT, IN THIS CASE, SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE THAT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SIGNING THE GRANTS. SO OUR OFFICE IS GETTING, UM, INFORMATION FROM THE SCHOOLS, AND SO WE CAN PROCESS MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S NO, UM, NEW STAFFING THAT'S BEING HIRED WITH ONE-TIME MONEY. UM, WE ARE ALSO HELPING ADVISE OUR FISCAL TEAM, UH, ONCE THE GRANT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED, SO THE FISCAL TEAM CAN THEN SET UP THE ACCOUNTING CODES, AND THEN WHEN THE SCHOOL'S SPENDING ON THE MONEY, THEN THE FISCAL TEAM CAN DRAW DOWN THE MONEY FROM THAT PARTICULAR ACCOUNTING, UM, NUMBER. UM, SO, SO OUR ROLE IS ENSURING THAT ONCE THE GRANT AGREEMENT IS RECEIVED, WE SIGN IT, UM, THE FISCAL TEAM, THEN WE LET THEM KNOW THAT GRANT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED, AND THEN THEY WILL BE THE ONES SETTING UP THE ACCOUNTS. UM, AND THEN THE, THE SCHOOL LEVEL, BECAUSE THEY APPLIED FOR THE MONEY, IT WOULD BE THERE WITHIN THE, UH, CONSTRUCT OF THE APPLICATION THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO, UH, USE THOSE FUNDS FOR THOSE PURPOSES. SO WHATEVER PURPOSES THEY APPLIED FOR, YES, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO USE IT. WHAT IF THERE IS A GRANT THAT DOES CALL FOR A, A SHORT TERM HIRING OF SOMEONE? SO THESE ARE, UH, SORT OF, SORT OF, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE'RE AT THIS JUNCTURE WHERE THESE GRANTS WERE PRIOR TO THE NEW OFFICE BEING SET UP. SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE PROCESSING THE MONEY AS IF WE HAD HAD EYES ON WHAT THE SCHOOLS WERE APPLYING FOR. MOVING FORWARD. UH, WE HAVE TRAINED, UM, REGIONS, PRINCIPALS, UM, DIFFERENT DIVISIONS WHO WORK SCHOOLS DIRECTLY, SO THAT IN THE FUTURE SCHOOLS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR GRANTS UP TO $25,000 WITHOUT GETTING ANY, ANY INFORMATION, UM, UH, OVERVIEW FROM MY OFFICE, FROM THE GRANT'S OFFICE. UM, ONCE THEY RECEIVE A GRANT, THEN THEY WOULD NEED TO NOTIFY US. SO THEN WE CAN HELP, UM, GET THE AGREEMENT SIGNED. IF THE, UM, UH, SCHOOLS PURSUING A GRANT THAT REQUIRES NEW STAFFING, UM, OR ADDITIONAL STAFFING, WE'RE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL REVIEW, UM, FROM OUR FISCAL TEAM, UM, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S ANY MATCHING GRANT REQUIREMENTS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE SETTING UP THE DISTRICT FOR PAYING FOR MATCHING GRANT REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW STAFF, UM, WITH ONE TIME GRANT FUNDS. AND SO, SO WE'RE HAVING MORE DILIGENCE MOVING FORWARD WITH ANY NEW GRANTS THAT THE SCHOOLS WANT TO PURSUE. UM, SO FAR WE HAVE NOT COME ACROSS ANY SCHOOLS THAT HAVE AT LEAST INFORMED US OF THEIR INTENT TO HAVE NEW PEOPLE WITH ONE TIME MONEY. BUT WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY, IS GRANTS THAT WERE APPLIED TO PRIOR TO NOVEMBER, 2025. UM, AND AGAIN, JUST TO UNDERSCORE, IT IS OUR INTENT THAT MOVING FORWARD PRINCIPLES UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT, UH, THEY NEED TO HAVE A CONSULTATION. UM, IF IT REQUIRES MATCHING GRANT REQUIREMENTS OR NEW STAFFING, WE HAVE NOT COME ACROSS THAT. BUT IF WE WILL, IF WE DO, UM, THEN WE'LL NEED TO REASSESS WHAT ADVICE WE CAN PROVIDE TO PRINCIPALS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY SHOULD STILL APPLY AND PURSUE FOR THAT GRANT SINCE THERE'S NO MONEY INTENDED FOR NEW STAFF. AND IS YOUR OFFICE SUPPORTING SCHOOLS IN WRITING GRANTS IF THE SCHOOL'S INTERESTED IN PURSUING A GRANT? SO AT THIS TIME, UM, THE GRANTS OFFICE HAS ONE INDIVIDUAL, UM, ONE MEMBER OF MY TEAM FOR THE GRANTS OFFICE. UM, SO UNFORTUNATELY AT THIS TIME, WE DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS WITH WRITING APPLICATIONS. UM, WHERE WE HAVE LENT SOME SUPPORT, AGAIN, UM, DEPENDING ON THE STAFF CAPACITY. UH, WE HAVE HELP, UM, AT TIMES REVIEWING THE ELIGIBILITY FOR, UH, AN APPLICATION. UH, WE'VE HAD ONLY A FEW SCHOOLS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO US IN THE LAST FEW, TWO MONTHS, THREE MONTHS OF BEING IN EXISTENCE, WHERE THEY'VE ASKED, CAN YOU HELP US INTERPRET THIS ELIGIBILITY? ARE WE ELIGIBLE FOR IT? UM, BUT SO FAR, UH, WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS. UM, THE GRANTS OFFICE, UM, I WILL SAY FOR THE TIME BEING UNTIL THERE'S ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, UM, FROM OTHER DIVISIONS WHO DO HAVE GRANT STAFF, UM, WE INTEND TO ONE, UM, FOCUS ON DIVISION LEVEL DISTRICT-WIDE GRANTS THAT WE CAN PURSUE. SO MULTIMILLION DOLLAR GRANTS, THOSE THAT HAVE THE BIGGER BANK FOR THE BUCK. UM, SO FAR WE HAVE APPLIED TO OVER A DOZEN GRANTS IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. WE HAVE NOT YET HEAR HEARD BACK FROM THOSE GRANTS. THE, THE OUTCOME OF THEM. UM, AND THEN WE'LL HELP PROCESS THE SMALLER GRANTS FROM SCHOOL SITES. UM, BUT AGAIN, AT THIS POINT, UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO DO ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT FOR THE 1000 SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? DR. RIVAS? UM, BUT WE DO HAVE AN OFFICE OF GRANTS ADMINISTRATION, THOUGH. WAS THAT ESTABLISHED ONE PERSON? YES. THAT IS WITHIN YOUR OFFICE? YES. AND IT'S JUST ONE PERSON? ONE PERSON, AND THEN A PORTION OF MY TIME AT REVIEW AND [03:45:01] THEN SUPPORTING AS NEED BE? YES. OKAY. WELL, WE NEED MORE BECAUSE THIS IS AN OFFICE THAT WE ARE ALL HOPING AND, AND COUNTING ON TO BRING MORE REVENUE INTO OUR DISTRICT. I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING ALREADY RIGHT AT THE FIRST INTERIM THAT IT'S, AND THE BUDGET MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD, WE'VE, UM, BEEN PRESENTED WITH IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY AND WE NEED TO BRING IN REVENUE, AND THIS IS THE OFFICE THAT'S BRINGING IT. UM, AND IT'S ONLY ONE PERSON THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. SO I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW FOR THE, FOR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP OF A PLAN OF BRINGING MORE, UM, STAFF TO BRING MORE MONEY, PARTICULARLY FROM GRANTS TO CLARIFY, WE, THERE ARE CURRENT GRANT STAFF IN OTHER DIVISIONS, UH, WHO ARE NOT WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE OFFICE OF GRANT ADMINISTRATION. SO THEY DO NOT REPORT TO ME. THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE GRANTS DAY-TO-DAY WORK. UM, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE DIVISIONS, UM, LIKE, UH, N CT LINK LEARNING. THEY HAVE EXPERTS WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING WITH APPLICATIONS OF GRANTS. UM, AND NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT, WE DO HAVE ONE GRANT THAT WE FINALLY RECEIVED, UM, UH, UH, WILL PROCESS TO THE BOARD AT THE NEXT, UM, AT THE NEXT MEETING. BUT, UM, IT WAS IN THAT PARTICULAR GRANT, IT WAS CTE GRANT STAFF THAT APPLIED FOR THE, FOR THE GRANT ITSELF. THEY WROTE THE GRANT. UM, SO WE ARE LEVERAGING EXPERTISE IN OTHER DIVISIONS. UM, IT S FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM. THERE'S A GRANT THAT WE'LL BE PURSUING IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, UM, THAT WILL SUPPORT WITH THE DISTRICT WIDE, UH, DIGITAL, DIGITAL LITERACY GRANT, DISTRICT WIDE IMPLEMENTATION. SO WORKING WITH IT AS THEY HAVE STAFF WHO HAVE, UH, GRANT EXPERIENCE. UM, SO THEY ARE STAFF ELSEWHERE, BUT THE OVERALL ADMINISTRATION OF THIS WORK FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO ENHANCE IN THE FUTURE. WELL, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO ENHANCE IT. AND IT JUST SEEMS THAT IT GETS, THE FOCUS ON GRANTS IS DECENTRALIZED, AND I UNDERSTAND EACH DEPARTMENT, UM, KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE TO APPLY AND, AND, UM, HAS THE INFORMATION. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OF A, UM, A CENTRALIZED FOCUS OR COMMUNICATION. SO I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW, UM, MORE, LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT PLAN TO, UM, BRING BROADER COMMUNICATION INTO ALL OF THE GRANTS. UM, AND I, I MEAN, I STILL FEEL LIKE YOU DEFINITELY NEED, UM, AT LEAST ONE OR TWO MORE STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR OFFICE TO, UM, TO WORK IN THAT, UM, IN THAT OFFICE WITHIN YOUR, YOUR DIVISION. UM, OKAY. BUT THAT WASN'T MY QUESTION. UM, I, I WANTED TO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS NECESSARILY FOR YOU, UM, MS. ALVAREZ, BUT, UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M GLAD THAT ALL OF THESE GRANTS ARE ADDRESSING A LOT OF THE NEEDS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT, UM, PARTICULARLY IN, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUPPORT FOR UNHOUSED YOUTH, AND JUST A LOT OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. UM, SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL, AND PARTICULARLY ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE GOING INTO BOARD DISTRICT TWO FROM FRANKLIN, BELMONT RES, AND WILSON HIGH SCHOOL, JUST TO NAME A FEW. BUT, UM, MY QUESTION IS ON, IN REGARDING TO THE, UM, I'M SORRY, LET ME GET TO MY SLIDE HERE. MY NOTES. OKAY. UM, IT'S ON THE, THE, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PRONOUNCE IT. THE TOPE, YES, THE TOPE GRANT. UM, SO I'M EXCITED TO, I'M, I'M GLAD THAT WE, THEY'RE HAVING SOME FUNDS TO ADDRESS, UM, THE VAPING AND OTHER SUBSTANCE USE AMONG OUR STUDENTS THAT HAS BECOME VERY SERIOUS AND GROWING, UM, CONCERN. UM, SO I'M WONDERING WHAT IS THE, OVER, THIS IS ONE GRANT, BUT WHAT IS THE OVERALL PROACTIVE PLAN FROM THE DISTRICT TO ADDRESS, UM, VAPING, UM, AND OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN OUR SCHOOLS? UM, AND I RAISED THIS BECAUSE NOT ONLY HAS IT BEEN A CONCERN WITH ME SINCE I FIRST STARTED, UM, REPRESENTING BOARD DISTRICT TWO AS A BOARD MEMBER, BUT ALSO I'M RECEIVING, YOU KNOW, AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PARTICULARLY OUR STUDENTS AND OUR YOUTH IN REGARDS TO THIS. UM, JUST ONE OF, YOU KNOW, ONE OF, I HAVE TWO EMAILS THAT I JUST HAVE HERE FROM OUR STUDENTS IN REGARDS TO THIS. UM, AND THESE ARE FROM STUDENTS WHO ARE HAVING, WHO HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS OF SEEING THEIR OWN PEERS, UM, VAPING, THEY'RE DESCRIBING THE BATHROOMS AS A CHIMNEY AS THEY GO IN AND NOT WANTING TO USE THE RESTROOMS BECAUSE OF THIS USE. SO I HAVE A STUDENT FROM, UM, MENEZ HIGH SCHOOL, ANOTHER STUDENT FROM FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL WHO HAVE BEEN JUST RAISING CONCERNS. AND I SAY, THESE ARE JUST TWO STUDENTS OF MANY, BUT THIS IS A BIG CONCERN. SO I WANTED TO KNOW, APART FROM THIS GRANT, WHAT OTHER EFFORTS ARE WE DOING PROACTIVELY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS? THANK YOU, DR. RIVAS, FOR THE QUESTION. AND ANDREAS CHE, CHIEF OF SCHOOL OPERATIONS. I WILL PROVIDE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE IN WRITING, BUT IN SUMMARY, WE'RE [03:50:01] LOOKING AT A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS. ONE, OBVIOUSLY IS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF EDUCATION, LOOKING AT THE EVERY SCHOOL SAFE BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS, PROVIDING RESOURCES TO FAMILIES, UH, TO STUDENTS AND TO EMPLOYEES OR ON THE TOPIC AND THE DELETERIOUS NATURE OF VAPING. THERE'S THIS BELIEF SOMEHOW THAT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF THIS LITTLE THING, IT'S NOT AS HARMFUL AS A CIGARETTE, UH, BEFORE IN, IN PAST TIMES. THAT'S ONE. WE ALSO HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING, AND I DON'T WANT TO OVERSELL THIS. WE HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING A PILOT PROGRAM AT TWO OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF VAPE DETECTION. IT PROVES VERY CHALLENGING BECAUSE BASICALLY THE WAY IT WORKS IS ESSENTIALLY IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A SMOKE DETECTOR THAT THEN SENDS A NOTIFICATION TO AN ADMINISTRATOR TO GO AND ADDRESS IT. IN MANY CASES, WHAT WE'RE FINDING, AND WE'RE FINDING SIMILAR PRACTICES IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BY THE TIME THE ADMINISTRATOR GETS TO THE BATHROOM, THE INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ENGAGING IN THE VAPING ARE LONG GONE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR THAT. IT'S PRIMARILY A STAFFING PIECE, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. BUT LIKE I SAID, WE WILL PROVIDE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE, UH, SUMMARY UPDATE FOR YOU. UM, YES, AND THE OTHER THING ALSO IS LIKE IF YOU HAVE A, A, A DETECTOR, STUDENTS ARE VERY SAVVY KNOWING HOW TO DISARM THAT DETECTOR. SO THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT, UM, AND I KNOW THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT STARTED WHEN, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, TWO, NOT THIS PAST SUMMER, THE SUMMER BEFORE. IT'S TWO YEARS MAO. YES. OKAY. UM, BUT IT'S ACTIVELY HAVING HAPPENING NOW. SO I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE, UM, MORE OF A, A FOCUSED EFFORT ON THIS. AND LIKE I SAID, I'M HEARING THIS FROM STUDENTS THEMSELVES WHO ARE CONCERNED. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING, MY SON HAS ALSO BROUGHT UP TO MY ATTENTION . I AGREE. UM, AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND, BUT I, I, I WANT US TO DO SOMETHING A BIT MORE PROACTIVE AND BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS. BUT I THINK, I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THIS. AND I WANT, YOU CAN COUNT ON AN UPDATE BY JANUARY, DR BY JANUARY? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL FOR ME. ANYONE ELSE? MR. MELVIN, DID YOU SAY, OH, MS. NEWBELL, SORRY. IT'S OKAY. UM, JUST AS WE WERE CLARIFYING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OUR GRANT, UM, I GUESS THERE'S AN OFFICE OR A DIRECTOR AND PARTNERSHIP IN GRANTS, AND THEN THERE'S YOUR OFFICE WHERE IT HAS THE INDIVIDUAL AND SO THEY'RE DOING TWO SEPARATE TYPE OF GRANTS, CORRECT? YES. AND SO WHEN A GRANT COMES TO A SCHOOL OR A SCHOOL STUMBLES ON A GRANT, EXACTLY WHO SHOULD THEY CONNECT OR TAP INTO? THEY ALWAYS GO THROUGH THE OFFICE OF GRANT ADMINISTRATION. THE PROGRAM MANAGER IS, HIS NAME IS MICHAEL K. AND THEN ALSO MY EMAIL CAN BE USED MARTHA ALVAREZ ONE AT DUNNET. UM, AND I CAN TAP INTO MICHAEL FROM THE GRANTS OFFICE, FROM MY TEAM. UM, THE ROLE THAT YOU MENTIONED, THE DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS, THAT, THAT INDIVIDUAL, UM, IS WORKING EXCLUSIVELY ON ONE, UH, DISTRICT WIDE INITIATIVE. UM, THE I DREAM LABS. UM, SO THEIR WORK STREAM IS FOCUSED ON THAT INITIATIVE AS OPPOSED TO OUR GRANTS OFFICE IS DOING DISTRICT WIDE GRANTS. UM, NOT ONLY ADMINISTRATION, BUT ALSO AGAIN, APPLYING, PURSUING GRANTS, COORDINATING. UM, I CANNOT TELL YOU ENOUGH EXAMPLES ABOUT, UH, THROUGH THIS NEW GRANT OFFICE, EVEN THOUGH SMALL AND SMALL AND MIGHTY WITH A LOT OF GOALS FOR WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH FOR THE DISTRICT, UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UM, BETTER COORDINATE WITH THE VISIONS. WE'RE THINKING ABOUT APPLYING THE SAME GRANT AND JUST BRINGING IT FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T, UM, UNDERMINE EACH OTHER EFFORTS IF PEOPLE ARE APPLYING SEPARATELY. SO, SO THEY'RE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT THEY SHOULD BE COMING THROUGH THE GRANTS OFFICE MYSELF, UH, OR MICHAEL KO, KOO. GOT IT. AND THEN YOU SAID SOMETHING WOULD COME OUT TO SHARE WITH 25 GRAND OR LESS A SCHOOL SITE WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THAT GRANT ONCE THEY'VE CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE? THEY CAN APPLY ON THEIR OWN. UM, WE CAN PROVIDE, SHOULD THE BOARD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING THE BOARD? UH, THE REVISED BULLETIN, UM, UH, THAT WAS ISSUED JUST IN, IN, UH, EARLY NOVEMBER. UM, SCHOOLS CAN APPLY FOR GRANTS, UH, UNDER $25,000 WITHOUT HAVING TO CHECK IN OR CONSULT WITH, UM, THE GRANTS OFFICE. UM, EXCEPT WHEN THE GRANT THAT THEY'RE PURSUING, LET'S SAY IT'S A $10 GRANT AND IT REQUIRES, UM, SOME SORT OF NEW STAFFING, UM, LEVEL OR, UH, MATCHING GRANT CONTRIBUTION, UM, THEY NEED TO CONTACT OUR OFFICE JUST TO ENSURE THAT, THAT THERE'S FISCAL OVERVIEW THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT COMMITTING THE DISTRICT OR THE SCHOOL SITE TO MATCHING GRANTS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ALLOTTED FOR THAT PURPOSE. UM, OR THAT WE'RE NOT SETTING UP A SCHOOL HIRING UP INDIVIDUAL WITH ONE TIME MONEY. SO WE, THEY ONLY NEED TO CONTACT US IF IT'S UNDER $25,000 IF THOSE TWO CONDITIONS ARE MET. AND THEN IF IT'S OVER $25,000, UM, THEN WE WOULD BE LOOKING, SUPPORTING THEM WITH THE APPLICATION. UM, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT THE MONEY WOULD BE USED FOR AND THEN THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND APPLY. GOT IT. AND THEN [03:55:01] I KNOW YOU MENTIONED SOME BIGGER THINGS ABOUT THE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR GRANTS THAT MAY COME ABOUT. 'CAUSE ARE THE, IF SCHOOL FIND THOSE GRANTS, THEY DIRECT STRAIGHT TO YOU AS WELL? THEY, THEY, UM, SO WE HAVE NOT HAD TOO MUCH, UM, OUTREACH FROM SCHOOLS YET. UM, WE HAVE, UH, AGAIN, WE'VE TRAINED THE, WENT TO THE PRINCIPALS TO EVERY REGION IN AUGUST, UH, TO LET THEM KNOW AT THIS NEW OFFICE. WE FOLLOWED UP WITH THE REVISED POLICIES, UM, THE BULLETIN IN EARLY NOVEMBER. UM, AND THEN WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH, UH, BOTH, UM, OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, BOTH OF THEM, UM, THEY HAVE ONGOING, UM, ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PRINCIPAL, SO THE OPERATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONAL TEAMS. AND SO WHAT WE PLAN TO DO IS, UM, THERE'LL BE A STANDING, UM, ITEM, UM, THROUGH THE, UH, PLATFORM WHERE WE'LL BE POSTING APPLICATIONS, UM, SHOULD THEY BE WANTING TO APPLY ON THEIR OWN. UM, AND THEN IF THEY LEARN ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING OR HAVING A BROADER, UM, ENGAGEMENT, THEN THEY CAN REACH OUT TO US. BUT SO FAR WE HAVEN'T HEARD TOO MUCH FROM SCHOOLS THEMSELVES ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE COMING ACROSS OR WHAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN. GOT IT. SO IF THEY DO, THEY'LL REACH OUT. AND I'M SAYING THIS PUBLICLY BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY AS MENTIONED ALREADY, WE ARE IN DIRE NEED OF FUNDING, UM, AND FROM OTHER SOURCES OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN GENERAL FUND. AND SO IF THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN CAPITALIZE ON GRANTS, UM, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO, AND I AGREE THAT THERE HAS TO BE SOME INCREASE TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON DOING THIS FOR A DISTRICT THIS SIZE. AND IF IT'S POSSIBLE. YOU MENTIONED SOME OTHER, UM, GRANT EXPERTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. ARE THEY ABLE TO BE A PART OF THIS BULLETIN TO WHERE, I MEAN, IF THERE'S, IF THERE WAS A NEED FOR OVERSIGHT ON WRITING A GRANT THAT THEY COULD BE TAPPED AS FAR AS AN EXPERTISE IF IT'S IN THE CTE REALM? YEAH. SO WE, WE ARE WORKING WITHIN THE EXISTING STAFF THAT THERE'S, ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND DIFFERENT EXPERTS. WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM, UM, TO ENSURE IN THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION THAT THE EXPERTS ARE ABLE TO HELP INFORM WHAT WOULD THE MONEY BE USED FOR, UH, LEVERAGING EXISTING INITIATIVES, HOW WE CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, SCALE UP SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING. UH, SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM IN PARTNERSHIP. UM, THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THEY RESIDE WITHIN THE DIVISION OF INSTRUCTION WITHIN ITS WITHIN FACILITIES, UM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE EXPERTISE THAT, UM, REQUIRES A DAY-TO-DAY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GRANT, IF THE GRANT IS RECEIVED. UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S SOME DISTRICTS, UH, GRANT STAFF FOR BEYOND THE BAIL, THEY SUPPORT WITH ACTUAL OVERSIGHT OF DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF BEYOND THE BAIL, BUT THEY'RE FUNDED BY A GRANT, UH, FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA OR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. UM, BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE FEEDBACK AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST TO, UH, UM, IT IS MY INTENT AND MY COMMITMENT TO, UH, BRING BETTER COHERENCE ALIGNMENT TO THIS WORK. YES. AND I APPRECIATE THE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE ATTENTION THAT IT'S NEEDED BECAUSE IT'S BEEN LONG OVERDUE, I BELIEVE. AND UM, OBVIOUSLY HOW WE CAN STREAMLINE AND GET MORE SUPPORT IN THAT SPACE AND THAT WE DON'T LEAVE ANY MONEY ON THE TABLE. 'CAUSE I WOULD HATE FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A GRANT, AND IT'S BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO WRITE A GRANT THAT WE TURNED AWAY, YOU KNOW, VALUABLE DOLLARS THAT COULD HAVE INVESTMENT TO OUR SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS. SO THANK YOU MR. MELVOIN. YEAH, THAT WAS BASICALLY GONNA BE MY QUESTION. I WASN'T FOLLOWING THIS DISCUSSION AS CLOSELY AS I STEPPED OUT, BUT IT, IT'S, I GUESS THE QUESTION MS. ALVAREZ, IS HOW DO WE JUST MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROCESS IS SUPPORTIVE OF SCHOOLS SEEKING ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND NOT JUST AN ADDITIONAL BOTTLENECK THAT ACTUALLY DETERS SCHOOLS FROM SEEKING THAT FUNDING? I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE QUESTION WE'RE TRYING TO GET AT. SO, SO THANK YOU. UM, AGAIN, THIS OFFICE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, I'LL OFFICIALLY ESTABLISH SINCE THE SUMMERTIME. UM, I WILL DISCUSS FURTHER INTERNALLY, UH, HOW CAN WE BETTER, UM, ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT DO BECOMING A BOTTLENECK? UM, IT IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW OTHER BOARD OFFICE HAVE BROUGHT UP IN THE RECENT BOARD BRIEFINGS. UM, HOW DO WE ALSO, FROM AN EQUITY STANDPOINT, THAT WE, UM, ENSURE THEIR SUPPORT FOR ALL SCHOOLS WHO WANT TO PURSUE A GRANT. BECAUSE SOME SCHOOLS MAY HAVE MORE CAPACITY OR MORE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO PURSUE A GRANT, NOT OTHERS, UH, DO THAT. UM, SO IT IS THE INTENT WITH THE UPDATED INFORMATION TO THE BOARD, UM, THAT DISCLOSES, WHICH, UM, PARTICULAR BOARD DISTRICTS, WHICH REGIONS RECEIVE GRANTS. UM, IT IS FASCINATING TO SEE THE, UM, SOME OF THE TRENDS ALREADY. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME COMING TO THE BOARD. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK. AND, AND WE'LL GO BACK AND SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO. UM, IN ADDITION TO DOING A WEBINAR FOR PRINCIPALS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, HOW, HOW CAN WE, UM, ONE IDEA THAT'S TALKING TO SARAH MOONEY, ANOTHER FROM OUR OFFICE IS, IS, UM, PERHAPS, UM, PURSUING DISTRICT WIDE GRANTS WHERE WE ALLOCATE THE MONEY TO SCHOOLS INSTEAD OF LIVING, LIVING IT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SITES FOR THEM TO APPLY DIRECTLY. SO, SO WE'LL KEEP, UH, REFINING AS NEED BE. GOT IT. APPRECIATE THAT. ANYONE [04:00:01] ELSE, MR. MCLEAN? ALRIGHT, MAY I HAVE A MOVE? MOVE IN A SECOND. MOVE IT. MOVED BY MS. GOMEZ. SECOND. SECONDED BY DR. REVA. UH, MS. NEWBELL? YES. DR. RIVAS? YES. MR. MEL? YES. MS. YES. MS. CONEZ? YES. MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN? YES. FOR PRESIDENT SCHON? YES. THAT SET EYES. CURIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO GO BACK [4. Board of Education Report No. 184-25/26 Human Resource Division (Approval of Routine Personnel Actions) Recommends approval of 3,914 routine personnel actions including, but not limited to elections, promotions, transfers, leaves, terminations, separations, permits and contracts. (Part 1 of 2)] TO FOUR. I SKIPPED IT. UM, BY MISTAKE. SO TAB FOUR, APPROVAL OF ROUTINE PERSONNEL ACTIONS MAY HAVE A MOVE, MOVE, MOVE BY MS. EZ. SECONDED BY MR. MELVOIN. AND WE HAVE ONE QUESTION, I BELIEVE, UH, FROM MR. MELVOIN ON THIS TAB. TAB. I HAD A QUESTION. IS IT TAB FOUR? OH, MS. NEW BILL, TAB FOUR? NOT SURE. JUST I NEED CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SUBSTITUTES. I'M NOT SURE WHO WOULD. YEAH. PERSONNEL. THE QUESTION WAS ON, UM, SUBSTITUTE, THERE WAS A COLUMN FOR SUBSTITUTES AND THERE WAS A, A LINE ITEM FOR ATHLETIC ASSISTANTS. AND I WANTED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT, CAN YOU DEFINE WHAT A SUBSTITUTE FOR AN ATHLETIC ASSISTANT WAS? I'M NOT SURE, BUT, UH, WE'LL GET SOMEONE DOWN. THANK YOU. IS THAT IT? YES, THAT WAS THE QUESTION. AND THEN, I MEAN, JUST 'CAUSE THERE ARE SUBS THROUGHOUT THE DOCUMENT AS FAR AS REHIRES AND ARE THOSE SUBS COMING FROM ANOTHER POSITION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SPECIAL ED ASSISTANCE? THERE WAS QUITE A LARGE NUMBER AND I DON'T KNOW, ARE THOSE SUBS ONE AND THE SAME? THAT'S WHY I NEEDED CLARIFICATION. THEY'RE ONE IN THE SAME GROUP 'CAUSE THEY'RE NEW HIRES AND THEY'RE REHIRES AND THEN THERE'S REASSIGNMENTS AND TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE REASSIGNMENTS. WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR LINE ITEM FOR OUR SPECIAL ED ASSISTANCE. SO THAT MAY BE AN ASSIGNMENT TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL. UM, I, I WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT THE SPECIFICS OF THE, THE PEOPLE, BUT LET ME GET, LET ME FIND SOMEONE FROM PERSONNEL COMMISSION TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU DR. MURPHY. ALRIGHT. SO IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, TO TO VOTE ON IT. SO WE, WE CAN, UNLESS YOU WANT TO ABSTAIN. WAIT, SO WE'LL COME BACK TO TAB FOUR. IT'S ALREADY BEEN MOVING [7. Board of Education Report No. 243-25/26 Division of Communications, Engagement & Collaboration (Community Challenge Grant 2.0 - Renewal to Launch A New Three-Year Cycle) Recommends approval of the Community Challenge Grant 2.0 program and authorization to award a total of $2,100,000 in individual Community Challenge grants over a three-year period, to tax-exempt community organizations to provide high quality enrichment activities outside of the school and school day to Los Angeles Unified District students enrolled in high need schools.] AND SECONDED. SO NOW INTO TAB SEVEN, COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRANT 2.0. RENEWAL TO LAUNCH IN NEW THREE YEAR CYCLE. UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? I'LL MOVE IT. MOVE BY MS. GO SECOND. SECONDED BY MR. SCHON. SO THIS IS TAB SEVEN, COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRANT 2.0. AND MS. GRIEGO, I BELIEVE YOU HAD A QUESTION ON IT. YES. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, UM, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT, THAT HAVE RECEIVED THIS GRANT? AND THEN ALSO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE KIDS DO? OF COURSE, UH, THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE THE GRANTS ARE ALL LISTED UNDER THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PARTNER PAGE. BUT, UM, I CAN TELL YOU IN RATHER THAN READING THE LIST OF THEM ALL, THEY DO EVERYTHING FROM SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, ACADEMIC SUPPORTS, SPORTS, THERE'S LIKE A STREET SOCCER ORGANIZATION. UM, AND THEY RUN THE GAMUT. THEY PROVIDE SERVICES OFF CAMPUS AFTER, AFTER SCHOOL HOURS. SO THEY'RE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. I SEE. AND THEN WHERE DID THIS UH, IDEA COME? IS THIS NEW? I DON'T REMEMBER. I KNOW THERE'S A NEW, THIS IS THE SECOND ROUND. THIS, THIS IS THE SECOND ROUND. OR DIDN'T START. SO THIS, THIS STARTED A FEW YEARS BACK. UM, IT WAS APPROVED. IT WAS AN IDEA THAT CAME FROM THE BOARD AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING TO GET MORE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND IT'S BEEN WORKING OUT REALLY WELL. ALRIGHT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. SURE. ANYBODY ELSE? ONE MORE. GO AHEAD MS. NEW BILL. THIS WINDOW IS THE WINDOW. OPEN THE WINDOW AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THE RFP OUT. UM, THAT WILL BE WHAT? JANUARY? JANUARY? YEAH. JANUARY, MM-HMM . AND WE'LL GIVE YOU INFORMATION SO THAT YOU CAN SPREAD THE WORD AS WELL. GOT IT. THANKS. YEP. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. ALRIGHT. THE VOTE ON TAB SEVEN. MS. NEWBELL? YES. DR. RIVAS? YES. MR. MELVIN? YES. MS. CGO? YES. MS. CONEZ? YES. MS. TIZ FRANKLIN FOR PRESIDENT SCHON? YES. OKAY. SIX EYES. TAB SEVEN. SO WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN IN 11 MINUTES, AND WE HAVE TABS 23, 24. [04:05:07] WE'RE HOLDING, WE'RE HOLDING ON FOUR. UM, UNTIL WE CAN GET SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. IF THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE POPPED IN RIGHT NOW, IT'D BE PERFECT DOWN. UM, WE COULD TAKE ME REVIEW WHAT COMMENT WE HAVE. WE HAVE 35 AND 36 ON DISCUSSION. UM, 35. 35 COMES WITH THE PRESENTATION. THAT'S CORRECT. 36 DOES NOT COME WITH A PRESENTATION. SO LET US [36. Board of Education Report No. 258-25/26 Office of Labor Relations (Adoption of the 2026-2027 Health Benefits Agreement) Recommends adoption of the 2026- 2027 Health Benefits Agreement between the Los Angeles Unified School District and Unions/Associations Representing District Employees inclusive of Associated Administrators of Los Angeles/Teamsters Local 2010, California School Employees Association, and its Los Angeles Chapter 500, Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, Los Angeles School Police Association, Los Angeles School Police Management Association, SEIU Local 99, Teamsters Local 572, and United Teachers Los Angeles. This Agreement is being presented to the Board of Education as a joint recommendation by all of the Parties. This Agreement is being adopted subject to any requisite union procedures that each respective union(s)/association(s) may need to comply with in order to secure the approval and ratification of its membership. ( Part 1 of 2)] TAKE, UM, AT LEAST THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TAB 36. THIS IS, UM, HEALTH BENEFITS COMMITTEE AGREEMENT. UH, LET'S SEE. ROBERT ROJI, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M PRONOUNCING THAT RIGHT. UM, COMING IN REMOTELY, BUT NOT HERE. SO LET'S SEE. JOVITA SMITH, JOVITA. ANGEL, ARE YOU HERE? JOVITA ANGEL, COME ON DOWN. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ON THE HEALTH BENEFITS COMMITTEE AGREEMENT. HELLO. I HAD ORIGINALLY SIGNED UP A PARENT, BUT THEY WEREN'T PRESENT. SO I'M JUST REFERRING MY ITEM TO, TO THEM GO. SORRY. I'M A MOTHER OF THREE KIDS OF L-A-U-S-D AND L-A-U-S-D. THEY NEED TO HEAR THE STUDENTS, PARENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE SAY THAT WE DON'T WANT POLICE TO RETURN TO THE SCHOOLS, BUT WE NEED FAMILY RESOURCES LIKE, LIKE FOOD ASSISTANCE AND ASSISTANCE IN THE HOME AND AN IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION OF PBIS IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND THIS SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE RESPECT OF STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND AND TO INCREMENT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS, THE FAMILIES, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. IF THE PERSONNEL CAN UNDERSTAND THE THREE LEVELS OF PBIS AND THE TEAMS OF PBIS, INCLUDING PARENTS AND DATA ABOUT DISCIPLINE, THIS COULD PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN STUDENTS TO CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT, PRACTICES AND RESTORATIVE CIRCLES. WHEN WE DON'T CONSTRUCT RELATIONSHIPS AMONGST US, WE CREATE JUDGMENTS AND PREJUDICES AND WE JUDGE FAMILIES, PARENTS, AND THE STUDENTS. THESE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES AND PREJUDICES CAN BE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY PBIS ISN'T BEING IMPLEMENTED IN RP IN THE SCHOOLS IN THIS AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATIN STUDENTS BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT, THAT ARE NOT CONSIDERED OR VALUED OR THAT WE SHOULD LIMIT OURSELVES TO THE POLICE PRESENCE. BUT THANKS TO THE WORK DONE IN EAST LOS ANGELES WOMEN'S CENTER, I KNOW THE VALUE OF THIS RESTORATIVE PRACTICE AND I KNOW THAT WITH OUR KIDS WE CAN GENERATE A CHANGE AND YEAR AFTER YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, ADRIANA SALAZAR, COME ON UP. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT BOARD PRESIDENT SHAMAL SUN AND BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ADRIANA SALAZAR. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF TEAMSTER'S LOCAL 5 72. BUT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, I ALSO SERVE AS THE CHAIRPERSON FOR ALL LABOR UNIONS FOR HEALTH BENEFITS AND I AM PROUD TO DO SO. UM, I'M HERE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO NOT JUST YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES, BUT TO YOUR PAST EMPLOYEES, YOUR RETIREES, AND TO YOUR FUTURE EMPLOYEES, THOSE THAT YOU HOPE TO RECRUIT. UM, I THINK THE HEALTH BENEFIT AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE REACHED IS, IS, IS A SIGNIFICANT FIRST STEP IN COMPENSATING OUR MEMBERS, YOUR EMPLOYEES. AND IT'S A HUGE STEP FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE TYPE OF EMPLOYEES THAT YOU WANT. [04:10:01] IF L-A-U-S-D WANTS TO CONTINUE INCREASING TEST SCORES, UM, IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO, DOING ALL OF THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR STUDENTS, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST EMPLOYEES YOU CAN IN THE LA CITY AREA. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. WE WANT OUR MEMBERS TO STAY, WE WANT MEMBERS WHO ARE GONNA START HERE AND THINK OF THIS AS THEIR CAREER. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR RETIREES AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THEM, NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THEM. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT ACTIVE EMPLOYEES DON'T GET THE GOAL POST MOVED FROM THEM WHILE THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING. AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO RECRUIT THOSE NEW EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SURE THAT LA UNIFIED REMAINS ONE OF THE BEST EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SO THAT WAS THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TAB 36. DID DO WE HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM PC HERE YET? THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION? YEAH. OH, THERE HE IS. PLEASE COME ON DOWN. AND MS. NEW BILL, IF YOU COULD, UM, RESTATE, RESTATE YOUR QUESTION FOR UH, MR. RECO AS HE MAKES HIS WAY UP. PUT IS WITH ME TOO. OH, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BOTH. UM, WANTED TO ASK IN THE COLUMN I'M ON, IT SAID THAT THERE WAS SUBSTITUTES FOR ATHLETIC ASSISTANTS AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR AN ATHLETIC ASSISTANT? THE ATHLETIC ASSISTANTS ARE ALL SUBSTITUTE, THEY'RE TWOS. YEAH. SO ALL THE ATHLETIC ASSISTANTS ARE CONSIDERED TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES. SO THEY'RE ALL HIRED AS SUBSTITUTES BECAUSE THEY'RE SEASONAL. GOT IT. SO ALL OF THEIR POSITIONS ARE SUBSTITUTE, SOME ALL HELP ME OUT . SO THEY HAVE MULTIPLE ASSIGNMENTS, SO THEY MAY BE A CAMPUS AID AND A SCHOOL SUPERVISION AID OR A COMMUNITY REP OR ONE OF THOSE OTHER, AND THEY MAY HAVE MAYBE 45 MINUTES 0.75 AN HOUR. SO IT'S SEASONAL, TEMPORARY, DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE SCHOOL SITE AND HOW THE PRINCIPAL HIRES. GOT IT. SO THAT NUMBER REPRESENTS, UM, FOLKS THAT MAY BE IN TWO, TWO ROLES AT A SCHOOL SITE? CORRECT. OKAY. AND THEN FOR OUR SPECIAL ED ASSISTANTS, I SAW THAT THERE WAS REASSIGNMENT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT REASSIGNMENT IS? BECAUSE THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF THEM REASSIGNED. IS THAT LOCATION, IS THAT COMING FROM ANOTHER POOL INTO REASSIGNMENT? OKAY, SO FOR THE REASSIGNMENTS, IT DEPENDS ON, UH, THE TIME OF THE YEAR. UM, IT MAY BE, UM, BASED ON ECAS NUMBERS, ENROLLMENT MATRICULATION, IEPS WHERE THE STUDENT HAS MOVED FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER AND THEN THEY'RE MOVING THE PARAPROFESSIONAL WITH THE STUDENT. GOT IT. SO THEY'RE RE BEING REASSIGNED LOCATIONS? CORRECT. OKAY. AND NOT FROM A ONE OTHER POSITION TO ANOTHER AS MENTIONED WITH THE ATHLETIC ASSISTANTS, THEY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT POSITIONS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR GUESTS? ? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU GUYS. UH, THANK YOU. WE CAN [4. Board of Education Report No. 184-25/26 Human Resource Division (Approval of Routine Personnel Actions) Recommends approval of 3,914 routine personnel actions including, but not limited to elections, promotions, transfers, leaves, terminations, separations, permits and contracts. (Part 2 of 2)] NOW VOTE ON TAB FOUR UNLESS THERE'S ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON TAB FOUR. OKAY. MS. NEWBELL? YES. DR. RIVAS? YES. MR. MELVIN? YES. MS. REGO? YES. MS. CONEZ? YES. MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN. BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES. OKAY. THAT'S SIX EYES ON TAB FOUR. AND THE TIME IS NOW 2 57. [34. Ms. Griego, Ms. Ortiz Franklin, Dr. Rivas - Strengthening and Expanding Community-Based Safety Programs in Time of Heightened Immigration Enforcement (Res-025-25/26) (Noticed November 18, 2025)] UM, WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN, OH, IT'S 2 58 NOW A TIME. CERTAIN OF, UH, 3:00 PM AND, UM, SHALL WE BEGIN THE TIME CERTAIN MS. GREGO? I THINK SO. WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH A LITTLE PRESENTATION. YES, I THINK SO. I THINK WE CAN BEGIN. DO YOU WANNA, DO YOU WANNA MOVE IT AND SECOND IT AND WE'LL GET THIS PARTY STARTED? YES, I MOVE, MOVE BY MS. GR SECOND. SECONDED BY MS. EZ. THANK YOU. SO, UM, I AM VERY EXCITED TO BE BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD TODAY AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY IS AS, UM, WE PREPARE, UH, FOR DISCUSSION. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM SOME SUPPORTERS, UM, ABOUT, UH, FOR THE RESOLUTION. I I WANT, I'LL INVITE MY, MY CO-SPONSORS TO ALSO SPEAK ON IT AND, UM, WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE. SO LET ME BEGIN. LET ME SEE IF I CAN DO IT. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO FIRST I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY IN THE PAST. I WOULD SAY, UM, WHAT, SIX YEARS. AND, UM, A LOT OF THIS WORK STEMS FROM [04:15:01] WORK THAT PEOPLE ON THE GROUND HAVE BEEN DOING, RIGHT? FOLKS WHO ARE DEEPLY, UH, WHO DEEPLY CARE ABOUT SAFETY, UM, AT THEIR SCHOOLS AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS. SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT PEOPLE, PARENTS, STUDENTS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN DOING ALL THESE YEARS, WHICH HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT RIGHT NOW. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUES WHO PASSED A RESOLUTION AROUND COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. UH, IN 2023, DR. REEVAS, UH, KELLY EZ AND UH, TANYA ORTIZ, FRANKLIN ALL PASSED A RESOLUTION. SO THERE IS CERTAINLY A COMMITMENT BY OUR DISTRICT, UM, FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. AND SO HERE WE ARE NOW AND WE'RE WONDERING, WELL WHY THIS NOW THEN? UM, WELL WE WANT TO ONE, RECOMMIT TO, UH, COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. UM, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ASSESS THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT AS MUCH EFFORT AND AS MUCH, UH, MONEY AS IF WE HAVE INVESTED. WE DO KNOW THAT THERE IS STILL SOME WORK TO BE DONE. WE'VE HEARD IT FROM FOLKS, UM, AT SCHOOL SITES AND WE'VE HEARD IT FROM STUDENTS. WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME HOLES IN SOME GAPS AND WE WANNA CLOSE 'EM. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE THAT THIS RESOLUTION WILL DO. IT WILL ONE, UM, DEVELOP A PLAN THAT WILL SET FORTH A UNIFIED STANDARD FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY PROGRAMS AND PARTNERS THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT. IT'LL STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY PARTNERSHIPS AND VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT. AND IT'LL STRENGTHEN, UM, I'M SORRY, IT WILL OUTLINE FUNDING NEEDS AND SOURCES AND RECOMMEND TRAINING AND PROTOCOLS TO PROTECT SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING DURING ICE ACTIVITIES. THIS RIGHT NOW IS, WE HEARD EVEN THROUGHOUT OUR MEETING TODAY, UM, THERE IS A NEED FOR THIS. AS ICE RATES CONTINUE, THERE IS NO STOPPING IT. UM, WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE NO PLAN TO STOP ANYTHING. AND SO THIS BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. UM, WE ALSO HEARD FROM FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT PBIS, RIGHT? AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE IT EVERYWHERE. IT'S NOT JUST THE WORD, IT'S NOT JUST A BOX THAT WE CHECK OFF AND IT'S NOT JUST A PIECE OF PAPER THAT WE SUBMIT TO THE DISTRICT, BUT IT ACTUALLY BECOMES REAL. AND THAT THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT. AND THE EVIDENCE IS OUR STUDENTS, OUR STUDENT VOICES SPEAKING TO THAT AND OUR PARENTS WHO ALSO HEAR IT FROM THEIR STUDENTS. SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS COME TOGETHER AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING FORTH THIS RESOLUTION. ALRIGHT, SO I'VE BEEN VISITING THE SCHOOL. MY SCHOOLS, UH, LET ME GO HERE. I'VE BEEN VISITING MY SCHOOLS THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. I VISITED 19 SCHOOLS, MET WITH PARENTS, MET WITH TEACHERS, MET WITH STUDENTS, MET WITH ALL OF THEM IN ONE SPACE, MET WITH ADMINISTRATORS AT THEIR ADMINISTRATOR, UH, MEETING. AND I'VE BEEN ASKING PEOPLE, WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL SAFE? WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL SAFE IN YOUR SCHOOL AND OUTSIDE OF YOUR SCHOOL? AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SHARED. MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE. SAFETY GROWS THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS. CARING STAFF AND CONSISTENCY HELPS STUDENTS FEEL SECURE. THERAPISTS AND THE SERVICES SCHOOLS PROVIDE ARE VITAL FOR ALL CHILDREN IN ORDER TO FEEL SAFE. COMMUNITY CALLS FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS, AND PROACTIVE INTERVENTIONS INSTEAD OF PUNITIVE RESPONSES. COMMUNITY BASED EFFORTS LIKE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND CULTURAL EVENTS, SUPPORT WELLBEING. CUTTING BUDGETS FROM SCHOOLS IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS LEADS TO FEWER MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS FOR OUR FAMILIES, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. SCHOOLS NEED CLEAR DISTRICT-WIDE SANCTUARY PROTOCOLS AND STAFF TRAINED TO RESPOND TO ICE PRESENCE WITHOUT CONFUSION. FAMILIES URGE THE DISTRICT TO PROTECT SCHOOL SITES IN THE BUDGET. FAMILIES CALL FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY FOR SPECIAL ED AND VULNERABLE YOUTH. AND ICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE CAUSES FEAR. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I HEARD THROUGHOUT THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD. SO WHAT IS COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY? AND THERE IS A GRAPHIC THAT I THINK YOU CAN SEE UP THERE. AND AT THE CENTER OF THIS GRAPHIC IS THE SCHOOL. AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME YELLOW HIGHLIGHT HIGHLIGHTED WORDS. SAFE PASSAGE PROVIDERS, PEACE [04:20:01] BUILDING AND COMMUNITY CARE. THAT IS WHAT CONSTITUTES COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. IT'S ALL OF THESE THREE COMPONENTS HAPPENING BOTH OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL AND INSIDE THE SCHOOL. AND WE HAVE SOME OF THIS HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT. IT'S JUST THAT IT'S NOT HAPPENING EVERYWHERE. AND IT'S JUST THAT NOT EVERYONE IS TRAINED AND NOT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE FUNDING FOR IT, RIGHT? AND SO WE WANT TO BRING THIS TO EVERYONE. THESE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN PROMOTING AND EMBRACING AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY IS A HOLISTIC SCHOOL SAFETY VISION, ROOTED IN SAFE PASSAGE, PEACE BUILDING, AND COMMUNITY CARE. AND AS YOU SEE IN THIS GRAPHIC, THERE ARE MANY FOLKS WHO SUPPORT THIS. THERE'S THE CROSSING GUARDS, THERE'S THE EDUCATORS WHO WELCOME FAMILIES WHO OPEN THEIR DOORS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE PART OF THE SCHOOL. NOTHING MORE IS ASKED BY FAMILIES THAN TO BE WELCOMED INTO THE SCHOOL. UM, THERE'S PARENT MEETINGS. SO YOU NEED THE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO INVITE THE PARENTS. OUR COMMUNITY REPS, OUR PARENT REPS, ARE VITAL TO THIS PROCESS. AND YOU HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS AT THE SCHOOL SITE. IT COULD BE A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER LIKE A-P-S-W-A COUNSELOR OR A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TEACHER, OR A SCHOOL CLIMATE ADVOCATE. ALL OF THOSE FOLKS SUPPORT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELLBEING. A PSW IS A MORE OF AN EXPERT IN A PROFESSIONAL IN THAT FIELD. AND SOMETIMES YOU NEED THAT PERSON. IN FACT, A LOT OF TIMES WE HEAR WE NEED THAT PERSON AT OUR SCHOOLS. BUT THEN INSIDE THE SCHOOL WE HAVE PEACE BUILDING, WHICH IS ALSO ANOTHER VERY CRITICAL NEED FOR OUR SCHOOLS. OUR STUDENTS ARE YEARNING FOR THIS. HOW DO YOU RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER? BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR ANY HUMAN TO DO. IMAGINE A 5-YEAR-OLD OR A 12-YEAR-OLD OR A 17-YEAR-OLD, IMAGINE US AS ADULTS, RIGHT? THAT IS A HARD THING. AND SO TO HAVE THE STAFF WHO CAN SUPPORT IN PEACE BUILDING, IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND TRAINING OUR STAFF IN DEESCALATION RATHER THAN REACTING, PREVENTING THAT IS PART OF COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S COMMUNITY CARE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE CANNOT LIVE IN SILO. WE KNOW THAT OUR STUDENTS DO NOT COME TO OUR SCHOOLS IN SILO. THEY COME FROM A COMMUNITY. AND THAT COMMUNITY MATTERS TO THEM AND IT IMPACTS THEIR DAILY LIVES IN OUR SCHOOLS. SO THAT IS ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT PART OF COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY. WE NEED TO HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THEY ARE A VERY INTEGRAL PART OF THIS. SO I HOPE YOU LEARNED A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THAT, OF WHAT COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY ENTAILS. I'M VERY HAPPY TO SHARE THAT I HAVE RECEIVED, WE HAVE RECEIVED THE SUPPORT OF MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS IN MY DISTRICT AND BOARD, DISTRICT FIVE, WHO ARE ALSO EMBRACING THIS. WE HAVE, UH, ELECTEDS FROM CUDA HAY, FROM MAYWOOD, FROM HUNTINGTON PARK, FROM LA CITY COUNCIL, FROM SOUTHGATE, AND FROM BELL. MANY PEOPLE EMBRACE THIS. NOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM SOME FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY AT THE SCHOOL SITES. WE HAVE ROLE SALVADOR, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT BERNSTEIN HIGH SCHOOL IN MY DISTRICT, THAT COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY CAME TOGETHER AS A PARTNERSHIP WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER, ULTO MARTINEZ AND BOARD IN, UH, CD 13, WHO IS HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TEACHER FROM CLINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, MARELA RISAN, WHO CLINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL CALLED US LAST SEMESTER BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET, I THINK ONE OF THE LAST, UH, FEW DOLLARS THAT WE HAD FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY FOR SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAMS. AND THEN INTERVENTION SUPPORT COORDINATOR AT WILSON HIGH SCHOOL IN BOARD DISTRICT TWO, RODOLFO . SO HERE YOU GO. LET ME SEE. MY NAME IS RL SALVADOR, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT BERNSTEIN HIGH SCHOOL. I'M PROUD TO SHARE THE AMAZING PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM. WHAT MAKES THIS PROGRAM SO POWERFUL IS THAT THE SAFE PASSAGE STAFF ARE MEMBERS OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY. THEY UNDERSTAND OUR STUDENTS, THEY UNDERSTAND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY BRING US VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO WHAT OUR COMMUNITY TRULY NEEDS. THEY SUPPORT ALL OF OUR SCHOOL INITIATIVES, INCLUDING OUR ON TIME, ALL THE TIME CAMPAIGN, HELPING STUDENTS [04:25:01] MOVE TO CLASS ON TIME EVERY MORNING. THEY'RE ALSO WILLING AND ABLE TO BE EXTRA EYES AND EARS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OUR CAMPUS BECAUSE OF THEIR VIGILANCE. MANY POTENTIAL INCIDENTS AND BEEN PREVENTED BEFORE THEY EVEN BECAME A PROBLEM. OUR STUDENTS TRUST THEM, RESPECT THEM, AND SEE THEM AS POSITIVE ROLE MODELS. WE MEET MONTHLY TO ALIGN OUR SAFETY EFFORTS AND ENSURE WE CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE TEAM. WE WANT TO THANK BOARD MEMBER CARLA DIEGO, AND SPECIAL PROJECT DIRECTOR THROUGH REBECCA SOLOMON FOR BEING STRONG ADVOCATES FOR SAFETY HERE AT BERNSTEIN HIGH SCHOOL. AND WE EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO THE ENTIRE SAFE PASSAGE TEAM FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND PARTNERSHIP. HI, MY NAME IS MARIELLA R I'M THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TEACHER HERE AT CLINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. I JUST WANTED TO SHOW, UH, MY SUPPORT TO THE, UH, COMMUNITY-BASED, UH, SAFETY PROPOSAL BECAUSE OF, OF ITS THOUGHTFULNESS AND COMPREHENSIVE, UH, PROGRAM ABOUT HOW TO INCREASE THE SAFETY AND OVERALL HEALING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, AS THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TEACHER HERE AT CLINTON, I JUST WANTED US, UH, TO REALLY FOCUS ON DECREASING THE CRIMINALIZATION OF A BROWN AND BLACK YOUTH. IT IS REALLY IMPERATIVE AND IMPORTANT THAT WE HELP AND SUPPORT ALL OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE NEEDS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY FACING. SO, ONCE AGAIN, UM, MARELA EK AT CLINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, UM, IN SUPPORT OF THE, UH, COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY PROGRAM. SO I HOPE WE COULD COUNT ON YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS EZ FROM WILSON HIGH SCHOOL. I'M THE INTERVENTION SUPPORT COORDINATOR. UM, I JUST WANT TO GIVE MY SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY PROPOSAL. UM, WE DO A LOT OF WORK HERE AT WILSON HIGH SCHOOL, UH, WITH A LOT OF OUR YOUTH, AND SOMETIMES IT'S VERY HARD TO MANAGE 'CAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON. UH, WE DO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH PROGRAMS LIKE GRID, AND A PROPOSAL LIKE THIS WOULD BE A STEP FORWARD TO GETTING THINGS READY FOR, UM, THE FUTURE AND TRY TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS, UH, SAFETY ON CAMPUS AND BEYOND CAMPUS. AND SO IF, IF THIS PROPOSAL PASSES, IT'LL BE A GOOD STEP FORWARD BECAUSE WE'RE, WE NEED SO MUCH SUPPORT ON OUR SCHOOLS AND, AND THIS WOULD PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING OF RESEARCH AND, AND ORGANIZATION TO GET US TO HAVE STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS, UM, AND, AND TO, TO LEAD TO SAFETY FOR OUR YOUTH. SO I A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, THANK YOU, . SO, UM, JUST TO RECAP SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES, THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF, UH, COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY IS THAT IT ACTIVELY INVOLVES A COMMUNITY IN BUILDING SAFE SCHOOLS. IT LOOKS AT VIOLENCE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, NOT A PROBLEM OF INDIVIDUAL BAD KIDS. CRIMINALIZATION AND INCARCERATION IS INEFFECTIVE AND HARMFUL TO STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES, AND IT UNDERSTANDS THAT A KEY COMPONENT OF SAFETY COMMUNITY REQUIRES THAT A COMMUNITY HAVE SAFE PARKS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. SO NOW I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE, UH, CO-SPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION. I'M GONNA BEGIN WITH DR. RIVAS. YES. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER GREGGO. UM, SO I WANNA THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER GREGGO AND MS, UH, ORTIZ FRANKLIN FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP ON THIS RESOLUTION. I AM PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR BECAUSE IT REFLECTS A CORE VALUE. I BELIEVE THIS BOARD MUST ALWAYS STAND ON. OUR SCHOOLS MUST BE PLACES OF SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND BELONGING, ESPECIALLY IN MOMENTS OF FEAR AND INSTABILITY. I ALSO WANNA UPLIFT THE STUDENTS FROM BOARD DISTRICT TWO, FROM DOWNTOWN MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL, FROM WILSON, FROM FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL, AND MANY OTHER BOARD DISTRICT TWO SCHOOLS WHO HAVE SHOWN UP, SPOKEN OUT AND ADVOCATED, UH, FOR, FOR THIS RESOLUTION. AND ALSO WITH ME REGARDING THEIR, UM, SCHOOL SAFETY AND COMMUNITY SAFETY CONCERNS. THEIR LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE ARE A POWERFUL REMINDER THAT OUR STUDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WHAT IS AT STAKE AND ARE CALLING ON US TO ACT WITH CLARITY AND COMPASSION. AND EQUALLY SO. I WANNA THANK ALSO, AS YOU HEARD EARLIER FROM THE VIDEO, UM, MR. EZ FROM WILSON HIGH SCHOOL AND MANY OTHER SCHOOL STAFF THAT HAVE ALSO, UM, CONFERRED WITH ME THEIR CONCERNS IN REGARD TO SAFE PASSAGES AND, AND COMMUNITY SAFETY. AT A TIME WHEN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS CREATING ANXIETY AND TRAUMA IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THIS RESOLUTION IS CLEAR ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS A DISTRICT. WE DO NOT RESPOND TO FEAR WITH PUNISHMENT. WE RESPOND WITH CARE PREPARATION AND COMMUNITY POWER BY REAFFIRMING OUR SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS, EXPANDING KNOW YOUR RIGHTS [04:30:01] AND ICE PROTOCOL TRAININGS AND STRENGTHENING, RESTORATIVE AND DEESCALATION PRACTICES. THIS RESOLUTION CENTERS THE LIVED REALITY OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND OUR, AND OUR STAFF IN OUR SCHOOLS WHO ARE BEING DIRECTLY IMPACTED RIGHT NOW IN SO MANY WAYS. WHAT MAKES THIS RESOLUTION ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT IT MOVES BEYOND STATEMENTS OF PRINCIPLE AND TOWARD LASTING SYSTEMS CHANGE. IT COMMITS US TO ACCOUNTABILITY BY EVALUATING PBIS AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, AND BUILDING A DISTRICT-WIDE COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY FRAMEWORK WITH CLEAR STANDARDS AND TIMELINES. IT'S BUILDING AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS HOW VALUES BECOME REAL. PROTECTIONS ON THE GROUND AND ON EVERY SINGLE DAY OCCURRENCES. I BELIEVE DEEPLY THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR MANY FAMILIES. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT ONLY TO EDUCATE, BUT TO PROTECT, TO AFFIRM HUMANITY, AND TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD CAN LEARN WITHOUT FEAR, AND THAT EVERY PARENT CAN TAKE THEIR STUDENT OR THEIR CHILD TO SCHOOL WITHOUT FEAR. THIS RESOLUTION DOES EXACTLY THAT, AND I STRONGLY SUPPORT ITS ADOPTION AND FORM OF IMPLEMENTATION. I ALSO WANNA REITERATE THE, THE STRONG SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL, IN PARTICULARLY IN MY DISTRICT, UNISIS HERNANDEZ, WHO STEPPED UP WITH HER OWN FUNDS IN PROTECTING FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL WITH A SAFE PASSAGE. AND THE REASON SHE HAD TO DO THIS, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT FAST ENOUGH FOR THIS DISTRICT TO SUPPORT AND, AND FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL TO HAVE A SAFE PASSAGE. AND I WILL SAY SINCE THIS, UM, PARTNERSHIP WITH UNISIS HERNANDEZ AND HEALING URBAN BARRIOS AND FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL, THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INCIDENT. AND WHEN I DROP OFF MY SON AT FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL, I SEE THEM THERE. I SEE THEM PRESENT. I SEE THEM AROUND OUR COMMUNITY, MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ARRIVING TO SCHOOL SAFE AND SOUND. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO ALSO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DR. RIVAS. AND, UH, TANYA ORTIZ. FRANKLIN COULD NOT BE HERE, BUT SHE DID LEAVE A VIDEO. SO IF WE CAN PLAY THAT VIDEO, PLEASE. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER GREGO FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION, AND THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR ALWAYS REMINDING US THAT WE ARE SAFEST WHEN WE ARE WITH OUR COMMUNITY, THOSE WHO WE TRUST, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE SCHOOL CLIMATE BILL OF RIGHTS AND THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN, WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER IN LA UNIFIED THAT WE FEEL SAFEST WHEN WE GET TO WORK WITH THOSE WE TRUST WHEN WE ARE PROTECTED BY THOSE WE KNOW. AND SO HAVING A COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO SAFETY DURING THIS TIME OF FEARFUL IMMIGRATION RAIDS, WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. I'M GRATEFUL AND LOOKING FORWARD TO STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING OUR COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO SAFETY, TO HEARING A PRESENTATION NEXT YEAR AT THE SAFETY COMMITTEE, AND ULTIMATELY DOING WHAT'S RIGHT BY OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES WHO OVERWHELMINGLY ARE THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN LOOKING FOR. SO THANK YOU FOR AMPLIFYING YOUR VOICES. THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US TO CONTINUE TO DEEPEN OUR APPROACH WITH SAFETY BASED IN COMMUNITY. THANKS ALL FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ITS LIMITATION. WONDERFUL. OKAY. AND SO NOW WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS WHO HAVE COME HERE, TRAVELED HERE TO SPEAK, UM, ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION. AND I'M GONNA START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER UL SOTO MARTINEZ FROM LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL, REPRESENTING DISTRICT 13. SOME OF MY SCHOOLS HE'S SUPPORTING BERNSTEIN HIGH SCHOOL. WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, BOARD MEMBER, UH, GRIEGO. GOOD AFTERNOON. PRESIDENT SCHON, UH, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY BOARD MEMBERS, GREG ORTIZ FRANKLIN AND DR. RIVAS, UH, TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY ACROSS L-A-U-S-D. THIS RESOLUTION ADDRESSES AN URGENT NEED KEEPING STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES SAFE, BOTH ON AND OFF SCHOOL CAMPUSES. WE KNOW THAT OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON WORKING TOGETHER ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. THE CHILDREN YOU CARE FOR INSIDE THE SCHOOLS ARE THE SAME ONES WE TAKE CARE OF IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS WORK. MY OFFICE HAS ALLOCATED DISCRETIONARY FUNDS TO SUPPORT A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY'S GRID PROGRAM AND L-A-U-S-D, ENSURING SAFE PASSAGE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AT TWO SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT, BERNSTEIN HIGH SCHOOL AND VIRGIL MIDDLE SCHOOL. AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO ATTACK OUR CITY, TEAR OUR COMMUNITIES APART, AND INSTILL FEAR IN OUR SCHOOL, THESE PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS ARE MORE, MORE URGENT THAN EVER BEFORE. WE KNOW WHAT'S SUCCESSFUL IN FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THESE TACTICS, AND THAT'S PROVIDING STAFF, STUDENTS, AND FAMILIES WITH TRAINING SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO [04:35:01] IF THEY'RE CONFRONTED WITH FEDERAL AGENTS. ALL OF US AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT WORKING ON ALONGSIDE LABOR AND COMMUNITY MUST USE EVERY TOOL AND RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. AND I WILL PROUD, I WILL PROUDLY STAND WITH THIS BOARD, WITH TEACHERS AND WITH SCHOOL STAFF TO HOLD THE LINE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO, UH, BRING UP JOSEPH WILLIAMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR STUDENTS DESERVE. WOO. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, SCHOOL BOARD SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO. I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER GRIEGO. THANK YOU, DR. REVA. THANK YOU, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN. UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THANKING THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION. UM, I'M GRATEFUL TO STAND UP HERE NOT ONLY REPRESENTING STUDENTS DESERVE, BUT ALSO THE POLICE FREE L-A-U-S-D COALITION. AND ON BEHALF OF THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO TRANSFORM WHAT SCHOOL SAFETY AND SCHOOL DISCIPLINE LOOK LIKE IN L-A-U-S-D FOR DECADES AND DECADES, UM, WE KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS, UM, FOR DECADES DISPROPORTIONATELY UNDERFUNDED AND OVER CRIMINALIZED SCHOOLS THAT SERVE BLACK STUDENTS, SCHOOLS THAT SERVE LOW INCOME STUDENTS, SCHOOLS THAT SERVE IMMIGRANT STUDENTS. AND WE SEE THAT HAPPENING, UM, FROM THE MASSIVE SCALE RIGHT NOW, AS WE HEARD, OUR, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MENTION, THERE ARE COORDINATED ATTACKS AGAINST THE COMMUNITIES THAT L-A-U-S-D SERVES, UM, THAT ARE BEING CARRIED OUT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, RIGHT, THAT ARE BEING CARRIED OUT BY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. UM, I'M ALSO STANDING HERE AS A YOUNG PERSON WHO EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSECURITY, WHO EXPERIENCED PUSH OUT GROUP HOMES, SUSPENSIONS FROM SCHOOLS, AND ULTIMATELY BEING INCARCERATED WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD. UM, AND I'M ONLY HERE BECAUSE SCHOOLS AND EDUCATORS IN PARTICULAR DECIDED TO POUR INTO ME AND TO LOVE ON ME AND TO CARE FOR ME. AND THAT'S WHAT THE POWER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION STILL HOLDS IN THIS MOMENT. THE POWER TO UNITE OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS CLASS AND RACE AND DIFFERENCE, THE POWER TO HELP EMPOWER FOLKS WHO ARE TOO OFTEN SILENCED, WHO DON'T HAVE RESOURCES. THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC GOOD THAT STILL EXISTS, RIGHT? PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE LAST PUBLIC GOOD THAT STILL EXISTS, THAT STILL SERVES FOLKS REGARDLESS OF INCOME, IMMIGRATION STATUS, ETHNICITY, AND RACE AND CLASS. AND WE'RE FIGHTING TO MAKE THE VALUES AND THE VISION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION A REALITY. AND THAT STARTS WITH L-A-U-S-D AS THE SECOND LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY, TAKING A STAND AROUND WHAT REAL SAFETY LOOKS LIKE AROUND WHAT SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES LOOKS LIKE. THERE ARE EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS EVERY SINGLE DAY WHO ARE GOING OUT IN THE STREETS AND PUTTING THEMSELVES ON THE FRONT LINE BETWEEN AGENTS OF THE STATE AND STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, AND KEEPING THEIR COMMUNITIES AND LOVED ONES SAFE. THEY SHOULD BE BEING SUPPORTED BY THE DISTRICT IN MORE WAYS THAN IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING. AND SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE FOLKS WITHIN THE DISTRICT WHO ARE TAKING THE CALL FROM STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES SERIOUSLY, WHO ARE TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY IN THE MOMENT THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE IN SERIOUSLY, TO SAY, WE'VE GOTTA RECOMMIT, WE'VE GOTTA IMPROVE, WE'VE GOTTA MATCH THE ENERGY THAT PEOPLE IN THE STREETS ARE PUTTING IN UNFUNDED AND UNSUPPORTED EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND USE THE POWER AND THE RESOURCES OF THE DISTRICT TO GET BEHIND THAT IN A REAL WAY. UM, AND THIS IS THE MOMENT TO DO IT. SO I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THERE ARE LOTS OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS. THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE SPEAKING, WHO CAME ON THE SAME DAYS THAT THEY'RE TAKING FINALS, WHO HAVE TRAVELED OVER AN HOUR TO GET HERE, SOME OF THE WHOM ARE ON THIS WAY AND WILL PROBABLY MISS THIS VOTE, BUT WHO HAVE PUT IN TIME AND EFFORT AND ENERGY TO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS. SO I APPRECIATE THOSE OF Y'ALL WHO I'M SURE WILL BE VOTING YES, UM, ON THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOSEPH. AND, UM, I'M GONNA CALL ON CRYSTAL RAFLA, WHO IS A LEADER OF THE PARENT RESOURCE AND INCLUSION COMMUNITY GROUP IN THE CITY OF BELL. HI. UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, UM, AS NOT JUST, UM, A MOM, BUT I'M ALSO AN ADVOCATE. AND I DO A LOT OF OUTREACH FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AS WELL AS ADULTS BECAUSE WE'RE LACKING A LOT OF SERVICES. THERE'S, UM, A LOT OF EVIDENCE [04:40:01] BASED ON INCLUSION AND HOW WELL YOUR STUDENTS CAN DO WHEN INCLUDED IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SERVICES SOMETIMES THAT ARE BEING USED AT SCHOOL, BUT NOT COHESIVELY TOGETHER TO PRAGMATICALLY BE ABLE TO GET EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED OUT OF THEM TO WORK EFFECTIVELY IN A, IN A SMALLER AMOUNT OF TIME THAN WHAT IT HAS BEEN. THERE IS PROOF THAT THESE SERVICES ARE WORKING AS FAR AS PWS BECAUSE OF THE TRAUMA THAT KIDS ARE FACING IN EVERYDAY LIFE, NOT JUST FROM IMMIGRATION, BUT ALSO FROM BULLYING, FROM MENTAL, JUST MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ALONE. HAVING A COMPUTE COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY EXPERT COME IN TO ASSESS OUR SCHOOLS, TO TELL US HOW WE CAN COHESIVELY USE OUR SERVICES TO BE SUCCESSFUL, NOT JUST IN SCHOOL, BUT FOR WHEN THEY'RE OUT OF SCHOOL IS SO NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH THE BUDGET BEING CUT SO DRASTICALLY. WE WANNA TRY TO UTILIZE AND SAVE WHAT WE CAN IN OUR SERVICES FOR OUR KIDS. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS WORKED. UM, MY SON IS PROOF OF THAT. HE WAS A CHILD WHO WAS BULLIED FROM SIXTH TO EIGHTH GRADE, AND THEN FROM NINTH GRADE TO 10TH GRADE, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A MOM TO ADVOCATE, NOT JUST FOR MY KIDS, BUT FOR OTHER STUDENTS AS WELL, WITH RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND HANDLED CORRECTLY. MY SON WENT FROM BEING BULLIED EVERY DAY, MADE FUN OF NOT WANTING TO GO TO SCHOOL, ANGRY, WITHDRAWN, AND RESERVED, AND GETTING BAD GRADES TO BEING THE ONE OF WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS THE MOST POPULAR KID IN SCHOOL NOW. UM, ABLE TO SPEAK AND SPEAK IN CROWDS IN PUBLIC. UM, HE SPOKE AT ONE OF MY MEETINGS THAT I COLLABORATED IN MY CITY WHERE I LIVE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILIES HIMSELF, WITHOUT BEING PRESSURED, PUSHED, OR PRODDED. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT BE WHERE HE'S AT TODAY AND FEEL AS INCLUDED TODAY IF IT WAS NOT FOR ME. TALKING AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR SCHOOL, UM, OUR SCHOOL STAFF, MAKING SURE THAT I WAS OUT THERE ADVOCATING AND REALLY REACHING OUT AND TEACHING HIM THE TOOLS HE NEEDED TO, TRYING TO RAISE MORE AWARENESS AS FAR AS THE CLIMATE OF SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL SAFETY IS WHAT MATTERS. WE WANNA GET TO THE ISSUES BEFORE THEY HAPPEN, NOT AFTER THEY'VE HAPPENED. AND IT'S ALREADY CAUSED DAMAGE AND TRAUMA. MY SON IS WHAT HE CALLS THE MOST POPULAR KID IN SCHOOL NOW, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT'S NOT TRUE, BUT IT IS TRUE. , HE HAS BEEN INCLUDED. HE IS MORE OUTSPOKEN. HE'S BECOME THE HOST OF THE SCHOOL EVENTS AND EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM. EVERYBODY KNOWS ME TOO AS HIS MOM, AND THAT'S MY TITLE. BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE WORKING BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO SLEEP IMMEDIATELY. HE WAS GETTING MAD. UM, HE WAS ACTING OUT. THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT OUR KIDS TO BE DOING. I'M ADVOCATING FOR OUR KIDS RIGHT NOW TO UTILIZE AS MUCH AS WE CAN. THE SERVICES WE HAVE NOW, I'M HOPING WE DON'T HAVE TO CUT THOSE SERVICES OUT BECAUSE THEY WORK. UM, SPEAKING AS A MOM AND THE WAY IT AFFECTED MY FAMILY, IT WORKED. I HAVE THREE KIDS ON THE SPECTRUM, ONE WHO'S NOT. ALL OF THEM ARE ON DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE SPECTRUM. I HAVE A 26-YEAR-OLD WHO HAS AGED OUT OF SERVICES, AND I KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE TOO. SO PUTTING THESE IN NOW SO THAT THEY CAN BE MORE SUCCESSFUL AND FOR LONGER LATER ON, ESPECIALLY WHEN SERVICES ARE TAKEN AWAY, IS GOING TO WORK. IT IS GOING TO HELP BECAUSE YOU'RE SETTING THEM UP FOR SUCCESS WITH THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED. AND WE CAN'T HAVE THAT UNLESS WE HAVE THE RIGHT WAY TO USE EVERYTHING TOGETHER AS A TEAM. UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S ALL THAT I, I REALLY WANTED TO SAY, UM, IF I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MORE TIME LEFT, BUT, UM, A WAY THAT WE CAN INCLUDE AND HAVE INCLUSION AND A SAFE SCHOOL AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR KIDS IS GOING TO BE FROM ELEMENTARY TO YOUR SENIOR YEAR, IMPLEMENTING CERTAIN WAYS THAT WE CAN BE INCLUSIVE, MAKING IT VERY CLEAR, TRANSPARENT, AND OBVIOUS AND EVERYDAY THING THAT THESE PEOPLE, THESE CHILDREN, THESE FAMILIES, OUR FAMILIES, THEY MATTER. THEY'RE SEEN, THEY'RE HEARD. AND WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR KIDS IS BEING DONE. WE CAN ONLY DO THAT TOGETHER, RIGHT? SO ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT IS BY WORKING TOGETHER EFFICIENTLY WITH ALL THESE SERVICES IN PLACE TOGETHER AND ALLOWING THEM TO [04:45:01] HAVE TIME TO WORK. IT'S NOT GONNA BE OVERNIGHT. IT DOES TAKE WORK, BUT I KNOW IT DOES WORK AS PROOF OF MY CHILDREN, MY FAMILY, AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN JUST IN THESE PAST FOUR YEARS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING. UM, AND HOPEFULLY WHAT I SAID MATTERS, . THANK YOU. THANK YOU CRYSTAL. APPRECIATE YOU. UM, AND LASTLY, WE HAVE ADRIAN SALCEDO, WHO IS LEGISLATIVE DEPUTY FOR COUNCIL MEMBER UNIS HERNANDEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS ADRIAN SALCEDO AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF LOS ANGELES COUNCIL MEMBER UNISIS HERNANDEZ. I AM HERE TO EXPRESS HER STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE RESOLUTION BY BOARD MEMBERS GREGO ORTIZ, FRANKLIN AND RIVAS ACROSS COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE FROM CYPRUS PARK TO WESTLAKE AND PICO UNION. HEIGHTENED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS A DAILY REALITY. MASSED AGENTS ARE KIDNAPPING, ANGELENOS AT FAMILIES ARE BEING SEPARATED, AND STUDENTS CARRY THAT TRAUMA INTO CLASSROOMS WHERE THEY SHOULD FEEL SAFE. THE RESOLUTION NAMES THAT HARM AND ADDRESSES IT WITH CARE COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ BELIEVES TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY IS BUILT ON TRUST AND INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT ENFORCEMENT THAT ISOLATES FAMILIES AND ERODES CONFIDENCE IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. ALI SD SHOULD BE BOLD, DOUBLE DOWN ON BEING A SANCTUARY DISTRICT AND BUILD ON STRATEGIES AT WORK. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, EDUCATION, SAVE PASSAGE PROGRAMS AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. SCHOOLS CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. WE NEED A UNITED FRONT, ALL USD, CITY AND COUNTY TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. WE'VE SEEN OUR PEACE AMBASSADORS HELP STUDENTS TRAVEL TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY DURING HEIGHTENED ICE RAIDS. I URGE THE BOARD TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE FOSTERING THE PARTNERSHIPS NECESSARY TO MAKE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED STRONGER AND SAFER EVERY DAY. THANK YOU ADRIAN. AND THANK YOU, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER UNISA HERNANDEZ. ALL RIGHT, SO, UM, I THINK I'LL BE HAND IT BACK TO YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT. WE HAVE 10 FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. LET'S GO WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE SIGNED UP AS SPEAKING IN PERSON FIRST, AND THEN WE WILL TRANSITION TO THOSE WHO LISTED THEMSELVES AS SPEAKING REMOTELY. SO, UH, THE FIRST SPEAKER IS, UH, JULIA DIAZ. THEN AFTER JULIA DIAZ IS, UH, LUPE TORRES. THEN AFTER, UH, LUPE TORRES IS IRMA CERVANTES. UH, GIVE IT A, GIVE IT A TEST SO WE CAN READ. OH, OKAY. OKAY. UM, HI, MY NAME IS JULIA DIAZ. I'M A SENIOR AT ESTEVAN TORRES HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF INNER CITY STRUGGLE. TODAY I'M HERE TO URGE THE BOARD TO RECOMMIT TO THE COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY MODEL. JUST LAST WEEK, THERE WERE TWO FIGHTS AT MY SCHOOL, AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHERS IN THE PAST. AS YOUTH LIVING IN THIS OVERWHELMING POLITICAL CLIMATE, WE ALSO FEEL THE STRESS AND PRESSURE OF ALL THE CHANGES HAPPENING AROUND US. THESE CHANGES CAN CAUSE HIGH EMOTIONS AND POSSIBLE ESCALATED TENSIONS IN SCHOOLS. UNFORTUNATELY, RESORTING TO VIOLENCE HAS BECOME NORMALIZED, ESPECIALLY AMONG TEENAGERS. I'M AWARE THAT PENT UP EMOTIONS, A LACK OF A SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND NOT HAVING AN OUTLET CAN CAUSE THIS VIOLENCE. MORE COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY WOULD PROVIDE STUDENTS ALTERNATIVE OUTLETS OTHER THAN VIOLENCE. THEY COULD COMMUNICATE AND FIND PEACEFUL RESOLUTIONS TO THEIR PROBLEMS. I'M ASKING THE SCHOOL BOARD TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY PROGRAMS BECAUSE, BECAUSE IT IS CLEAR ON MY CAMPUS THAT IT IS NEEDED. WE ARE ALREADY LOSING $99 MILLION FROM C WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MORE. THERE IS ONE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE COORDINATOR AT TAURUS, AND WHILE SHE SERVES ONE ACADEMY, MANY OTHERS DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO HER. I KNOW HER WORK HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON STUDENTS, AND I WANT THIS FOR THE REST OF THE DISTRICT AS WELL. WE MUST NORMALIZE A SYSTEM WHERE POLICE ARE NOT THE FIRST RESORT. AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IS THE STANDARD. IT IS CLEAR THAT POLICING HAS NOT BROUGHT POSITIVE CHANGE TO OUR SCHOOLS, AND IT IS TIME TO INVEST IN WHAT CAN ACTUALLY PREVENT VIOLENCE AND CREATE A SAFER SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO HELP START THIS MOVEMENT. LISTEN TO US AS WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE ON CAMPUS EVERY DAY AND KNOW WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOES NOT. I ONCE AGAIN, URGE YOU ALL TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND INVEST DOLLARS IN COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY AND SIGN ONTO THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, LUPE TORRES, COME ON DOWN. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. GOOD AFTERNOON. PRESIDENT SCHON AND L-A-U-L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME'S LUPE TORRES, AND I AM THE UTLA IMMIGRATION JUSTICE LEAD FOR CENTRAL AREA. THANK YOU, MS. CREGO, MS. FRANKLIN AND DR. RIVAS [04:50:01] FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. FIRST, MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE WALKING TO SCHOOL THROUGH HIGHLY DENSE COMMUNITIES WITH LARGE MAIN STREETS THAT ARE HIGHLY TRAFFICKED, AND SOME OF THEM EXPOSE FAMILIES TO UNSAFE ELEMENTS. SOME OF THESE SCHOOL ROUTE EVEN LACK BASIC SAFETY LIKE A CROSSING GUARD ADDED TO THESE CONCERNS. FOR MANY OF OUR VULNERABLE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, THERE ARE WORRIES OF REPEATED ICE SURVEILLANCE AND PEOPLE ROUTINELY BEING PICKED UP BY ICE. THIS AFFECTS ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND WORKING FAMILIES, HOMES, PARENTS DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE LUXURY TO WALK STUDENTS TO SCHOOL OR EVEN DRIVE THEM OR BE AT HOME TO RECEIVE THEM. HOW DO WE ENSURE THEIR SAFETY? HOW DO WE ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL? THAT BECOMES OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE NOT JUST AT SCHOOL, BUT HOW THEY GET TO SCHOOL AND BACK HOME IN A SAFE MANNER. WE KNOW EMOTIONAL STRESS IS HIGH RIGHT NOW AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL. THERE'S ECONOMIC CUTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY OUR OWN GOVERNMENT, AND ICE IS BEING FORCED INTO SOME OF THESE SAME COMMUNITIES. FAMILIES ARE AND EDUCATORS ARE, ARE FEELING THIS. WE FEEL IT AT OUR SCHOOL AND WE FILLED IT IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS AND COMMUNITIES. SAFETY. WE NEED TO PROVIDE A SAFETY NET THAT PROTECTS ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. MORE THAN EVER, OUR STUDENTS SHOULD FEEL PROTECTED BY THE ADULTS THEY COUNT ON JUST AS WELL. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS CONSISTENCY WITH THE PERSONNEL WHO WILL LEAD THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM. THIS WILL PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH THE TRUST NEEDED TO ENSURE SAFETY OF OUR, THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS. HAVING COMMUNITY ORGS PROVIDE THIS SUPPORT WOULD BE IDEAL. THEY ARE ESTABLISHED IN A TRUSTED AND, AND TRUSTED ENTITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THEY NEED TO BE BROUGHT ON BOARD. WE NEED TO SECURE THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM WITH PEOPLE WHO WILL SHOW UP ON A REGULAR BASIS. OUR COM OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE GREAT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE REGULARLY. THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM NEEDS CONSISTENCY IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE, SCHOOLS NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SUPPORTED AND BACKED BY OUR SCHOOL BOARD. I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, IRMA CERVANTES IRMA. AND THEN AFTER MR. CERVANTES IS CHRIS NA. CHRIS NA AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS, I'M A MOTHER OF GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM L-A-U-S-D, GRANDMA OF STUDENTS OF L-A-U-S-D, A MEMBER OF INNER CITY STRUGGLE. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SECURITY BASED ON THE COMMUNITY. I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT MY CHILD HAS, HAS DEFICIT ATTENTION, A THD AND OTHER THINGS THAT AFFECT HIS BEHAVIOR. WHEN MY SON WAS 10 YEARS OLD, THERE WAS AN INCIDENT AT SCHOOL WHERE IT WAS WITH ANOTHER STUDENT. THEY CALLED THE POLICE AND THEY TICKETED HIM. WE HAD TO GO TO COURT WHERE WE HAD TO PAY AN INFRACTION OF $150, WHERE THE JUDGE ALSO GAVE MY SON A HOMEWORK OF A THOUSAND QUESTIONS. THIS WASN'T THE ONLY TIME THAT MY SON WAS CONFRONTED, CONFRONTED WITH SCHOOL POLICE AT SCHOOL. MY SON NEVER NEEDED INTERVENTION OF POLICE BECAUSE KNOWING THAT WE FIXED THIS ISSUE, THEY MADE MY CHILD BE AFRAID OF POLICE HAVING RE SAFETY RESOURCES WITH THE COMMUNITY. WELL, THEY HAD, COULD HAVE GIVEN MY CHILD OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OR SUPPORT, LIKE HAVING MENTORS AT THE SCHOOL THAT CAN GUIDE STUDENTS, YOUNG STUDENTS TO SUPPORT THEM WITH THEIR ACADEMICS AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENRICH THEIR KNOWLEDGE FOR THEMSELVES AND THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT THIS METHOD OF SUPPORT WORKS BECAUSE MY YOUNGER STUDENT PARTICIPATED IN A PROGRAM THAT HELPED HIM MUCH. MY CHILDREN ARE GRAD STUDENT, UH, GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM L-A-U-S-C, BUT I DO HAVE GRANDCHILDREN THAT DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE. KNOWING THAT OUR CHILDREN WILL PUSH, WILL SUCCEED IN THIS COUNTRY IN THE FUTURE. I ALSO WANNA REMIND YOU OF THE PROMISE THAT MR. CAVALLO GAVE THE COMMUNITY WHERE THE SCHOOLS WILL BE SAVED STONES FROM ICE. IT HAS BEEN A HARD IMPACT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING INNOCENT CHILDREN. AND AS PARENTS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, WE DON'T WANT TO ALLOW FOR THEM TO TAKE OUR STUDENTS, NEVERTHELESS, FOR THEM TO TAKE THEM. AND WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM WITH SECURITY METHODS, SPACE WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND YOU AND I COMBINING TOGETHER WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS. YOU THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. CHRIS NAVARRETE, CHRIS, AND AFTER CHRIS IS A OLI, AND THEN LATONYA HALL. GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS, UH, CHRISTOPHER NAVARRETE. I'M AN ALUMNI OF ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL AND A LEADER AT INNER CITY STRUGGLE. I'M HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE SAN BRANDO SCHOLAR PROGRAM AND HOW THIS COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY PROGRAM NOT ONLY HELPS CHANGE STUDENTS' LIVES, BUT IT ALSO KEEPS THE COMMUNITY SAFE. AS AN ALUMNI OF THE SAN BRANDO SCHOLAR PROGRAM, I COULD [04:55:01] TELL YOU THIS PROGRAM CHANGED MY LIFE. I OFTEN FOUND MYSELF DISTRACTED BY THINGS LIKE GANG CULTURE, GETTING MONEY, FOCUSING ON EVERYTHING BUT SCHOOL. THE SAN BRANDO SCHOLAR, SCHOLAR GAVE ME A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO EX TO EXPRESS MYSELF, HELP HELP ME WITH SCHOOL, DEVELOP MY LEADERSHIP, GROW MY POLITICAL AWARENESS, AND HELP ME CONTROL MY EMOTIONS. THIS, THIS HELPED ME GROW INTO A PERSON WHO NOW CARE, WHO CARED ABOUT MY PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. I, I'M NOW THINKING ABOUT MY FAMILY BEING A BETTER BROTHER, SON, FRIEND. I, I BEGAN TO SEE MY, I BEGUN TO SEE MYSELF AS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. NOW THAT I WAS, I WAS CONNECTED TO THE PROGRAM. I HAD A PLACE TO VENT, EXPRESS MYSELF, SHARE WHAT WAS GOING ON IN MY ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT FEELING CRIMINALIZED, JUDGED, OR LOOKED DOWN UPON. INSTEAD OF BEING IN PROBLEMATIC ENVIRONMENTS AND CAUGHT UP IN DRAMA, IT INFLUENCED ME TO THINK BEFORE. IT INFLUENCED ME TO THINK BEFORE I SPEAK, TO BE AWARE OF WHO I'M HANGING AROUND. IT MADE ME BEGIN TO QUESTION MY RELATIONSHIP HABITS. IT ALSO HELPED ME GROW INTO A HEALTHIER PERSON. IT ALSO HELPED ME MOVE OUTTA SURVIVAL MODE BECAUSE INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON GANG POLITICS, GETTING MONEY, I STARTED FOCUSING ON MY MENTAL HEALTH, MY EDUCATION, MY FUTURE. AND MOSTLY, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PROGRAM HELPED ME BECOME EMPATHETIC AND CONSIDERED IT AND CONSIDERATE, WHICH HELPED ME AVOID PROBLEMATIC AND VIOLENT ENCOUNTER ENCOUNTERS. BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM, I AM NOW A COLLEGE STUDENT. I HAVE A JOB. I STARTED A SMALL BUSINESS, AND I'M GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DECOLONIZING MY MIND AND BECOMING A, A HEALTHIER PERSON. THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE YES TO THE COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY RESOLUTION. SO L-A-U-S-D STUDENTS COULD GET THE HELP FROM THE PROGRAM, LIKE THE SANANDO SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. A GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD MEMBERS. BEFORE I SEED MY TIME, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT ON BEHALF OF RECLAIM OUR SCHOOL'S, LOS ANGELES AND OUR ANCHOR ORGANIZATIONS, THE ALLIANCE FOR CALIFORNIANS FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, THE LOS ANGELES ALLIANCE FOR A NEW ECONOMY STUDENTS DESERVE A UNITED TEACHERS LOS ANGELES. WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. WE THANK DR. RIVAS, CARLA GRIEGO, AND TANYA ORTIZ FRANKLIN FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. AND WE URGE ALL OF YOU TO VOTE YES. AND WITH THAT, I'M TURNING IT OVER TO EDUARDO. HELLO EVERYONE. I'M EDUARDO SOLANO AND I'M FROM MAYWOOD ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL. BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION TODAY, I WANT YOU TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE STUDENTS COMING TO THE US SEARCHING FOR A BETTER EDUCATION IN LIFE. I WANT YOU TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE ONE IN FOUR IMMIGRANT STUDENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED. I WANT YOU TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO LEAVE THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE FEAR THEY HAVE BECAUSE OF ICE. THIS GROWING FEAR CAN BE STOPPED. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. WE DEMAND THE FURTHER FUNDING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS DREAM CENTERS THAT KEEP OUR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS FEELING SAFE IN THEIR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY PROGRAMS SUCH AS SAFE PASSAGE VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND DEESCALATION, PEACE BUILDING AND CONFLICT INTEGRATION. OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT PRISONS. WE ARE THERE TO LEARN, NOT FEEL PRESSURED OR CRIMINALIZED BY POLICE. THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN BE ON OUR CAMPUSES ANYWAYS. SAFETY SHOULDN'T BE A LUXURY. IT'S A RIGHT. WE'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO SHOW UP TO OUR SCHOOLS. WE EXPECT OUR SAFETY TO AT LEAST BE CONSIDERED IN OUR BUDGET. INSTEAD OF DOING THIS, THOUGH, YOU PLAN TO CUT VITAL RESOURCES THAT HEAL, THAT HELP KEEP STUDENTS DRIVE AND GROW, AND PUTTING THIS MONEY INTO THINGS THAT KEEPS STUDENTS AWAY FROM THEM. WE'RE DE WE'RE WE'RE NOT BEGGING FOR THESE RESOURCES. WE'RE DEMANDING THEM. WE'RE DEMANDING THEM FROM YOU. LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE TODAY A ASKING FOR THE SAME. YOU CANNOT IGNORE THESE ISSUES. I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT YOU CAN HELP OUR CAUSES. AGAIN, WE URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, VALERIE MONZO, VALERIE M COME ON DOWN. HELLO, MY NAME IS VALERIE MONZO AND I'M A JUNIOR AT MAN UCLA COMMUNITY SCHOOL. AND I'M ALSO A YOUTH LEADER WITH COMMUNITY COALITION. SHAKE IT. WHEN I TALK ABOUT SAFETY, I AM NOT SPEAKING ABOUT A POLICE CAR PARKED OUTSIDE OF MY SCHOOL. I'M SPEAKING ABOUT SAFE PASSAGE STAFF WHO KNOW ME BY NAME, WHO CAN DEESCALATE CONFLICTS AND WHO WILL WALK WITH ME TO MAKE SURE I'M SAFE. SAFETY MEANS PROTECTION, ROOTED IN CARE, NOT PUNISHMENT AND SURVEILLANCE. FOR THIS REASON, I AM ASKING LUSD TO REDIRECT ALL SCHOOL POLICE DOLLARS TO FULLY EXPAND AND IMPLEMENT SAFE PASSAGE AND COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. [05:00:01] I WANNA APPLAUD BOARD MEMBER CARLA GRIEGO FOR INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION TO HIRE A COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY EXPERT. COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY CANNOT WORK IF IT IS UNDERFUNDED, UNDERSTAFFED, AND TREATED LIKE AN AFTERTHOUGHT. BLACK, UNDOCUMENTED, INDIGENOUS AND LGB ADMITTED INDIGENOUS AND LGBTQ PLUS STUDENTS HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY POLICE FOR DECADES. WE ARE THE ONE WHO ARE SEARCHED, PROFILED, AND QUESTIONED. DO YOU WANT SCHOOLS ROOTED IN FEAR OR SCHOOLS ROOTED IN CARE? AT MY SCHOOL, I'VE SEEN GAPS IN COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. A HOMELESS WOMAN WAS SLEEPING ON THE SIDE OF MY SCHOOL AND SHE WAS PRACTICALLY ON CAMPUS. AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH SAFE PASSAGE WASN'T PREPARED TO HELP THE WOMAN GET THE SUPPORT SHE NEEDED. AND THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR STUDENTS WALKING IN TO SCHOOL. AND IT'S SCARY TO KNOW THAT A PERSON STRUGGLING THROUGH SOME KIND OF ISSUE CAN JUST BE ON CAMPUS WITHOUT ANYONE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND THIS LED ME TO WONDER ABOUT OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT COULD HAPPEN AND TO THINK, TO THINK MORE ABOUT THE NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING ON COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. BSAP IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PROGRAM CONTINUING TO GROW AT MY SCHOOL. AND A FEW YEARS AGO, MAN DIDN'T HAVE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS OR ALL OF THE BSAP STAFF. BUT NOW BSAP PROVIDES FIELD TRIPS, MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, HAIR CLASSES, AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE MY PEERS FEEL SUPPORTED AND CONNECTED. I AM TELLING YOU AS A STUDENT WHAT SAFETY LOOKS LIKE, AND THAT IS NOT POLICE. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT BUDGET CUTS THAT TAKE RESOURCES AWAY FROM THE STUDENTS WHO NEED IT MOST. REDIRECT SCHOOL POLICE FUNDING, IMPLEMENT SAFE PASSAGE AND PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS WITH CARE AND NOT CRIMINALIZATION AND POLICING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. LATONYA HOLE, COME ON UP. WE HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. LATONYA HOLE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LATONYA HALL. I'M A BLACK MOTHER FROM SOUTH LOS ANGELES AND A SENIOR CORE PARENT LEADER FROM CADRE. I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. I'M FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY, BUT IF YOU DON'T CENTER PARENTS, IT'S NOT COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. WE ARE LIVING IN WHITE SUPREMACY AND IT SHOWS UP IN OUR SCHOOLS WHEN CHILDREN ARE POLICE INSTEAD OF PROTECTED, AND PARENTS ARE IGNORED INSTEAD OF RESPECTED. THERE IS NO SAFE WITH SCHOOL POLICE. POLICE IS IS SCHOOLS ARE FEAR, THEY ARE TRAUMA, THEY ARE WHITE SUPREMACY, COSTUME AS PROTECTION. REAL COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY MEANS FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF PBIS, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND A SCHOOL CLEAR IN A SCHOOL CLIMATE BILL OF RIGHTS. PARENTS ARE EXPERTS TOO. WE KNOW OUR CHILDREN, WE KNOW OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE KNOW WHAT KEEPS OUR KIDS SAFE AND THRIVING. WE DEMAND THAT YOU MEET WITH PARENTS, YOUTH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND SCHOOL STAFF. COLLECT DATA WITH US, TREAT US AS DECISION MAKING PARTNERS AT EVERY LEVEL. OUR DECISIONS MUST COUNT. I AM SPEAKING FOR BLACK AND BROWN PARENTS ACROSS SOUTH LA WHO ARE TIRED OF BEING SHUT OUT WHILE OUR CHILDREN ARE PAYING THE PRICE. AND IF COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY EXPERTS ARE NOT TREATING PARENTS AS VALUABLE DECISION MAKERS, THEN THEY ARE NOT EXPERTS. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE CARE, DIGNITY AND PROTECTION AND NOT PUNISHMENT. VOTE FOR, YES. FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. SOMEONE LISTED AS A REMOTE SPEAKER CALLED JESSICA, UM, IS NOT SIGNED IN, BUT ARE YOU IN THE ROOM, JESSICA? ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, CHANNING MARTINEZ ON THE LINE. CHANNING MARTINEZ. I SEE YOU'RE ON THE LINE. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, MR. MARTINEZ. AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. CHANNING MARTINEZ. HI. I AM ACTUALLY AT THE SECURITY ABOUT TO WALK IN. IF I CAN JUST WALK IN, GIVE MY PUBLIC COMMENT, THAT BE GREAT. COME ON IN. WE'LL DO IT LIVE . OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COME ON UP. YOU'LL HAVE, UH, TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN, SIR. THANK YOU. BOY, THE DELAYS OF THE POLICE STATE [05:05:01] TO GET IN HERE. UM, CHANNING MARTINEZ STRATEGY AND SOUL, THE STRATEGY CENTER, UM, UM, ARISTOTLE AND CONFUCIUS AND A FEW OTHERS HAD SOME REALLY GREAT THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. AND, UH, WE'RE IN ADVERSE TIMES. UM, AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, UM, IT'S THE NATURAL PROGRESSION OF, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE MY BREATH. WHEW. IT'S THE NATURAL PROGRESSION OF THE POLICING THAT BEGAN AS EARLY AS 2001 IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS WITH THE BOMBING OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTERS IN THIS INVENTION OF TERRORISM. AND QUICKLY AFTER THAT, THERE WAS AN EXTREME INCREASE OF POLICING OF STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY BLACK AND LATINX STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS. UM, YOU KNOW, DURING A DARK TIME. IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE. IT SHOWS CHARACTER TO DO THE RIGHT THING DURING, UH, DURING A DARK TIME. AND OTHERS DURING THIS DARK TIME, THEY'RE NOT SHOWING GREAT CHARACTER, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE SEE LAPD ASSISTING ICE, RIGHT? WE SEE THE LA SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ASSISTING ICE DURING A TIME WHEN IT WAS EASY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THIS BOARD CREATED THE, UH, THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM. YOU DEFUNDED LA SCHOOL POLICE WITH OUR ASSISTANCE. AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE ASKING YOU TO NOT JUST TURN YOUR BACK DURING RIGHT THE WRONG TIMES BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO DO IT. YES, YOU MIGHT RISK SOME FUNDING, THEY MIGHT CUT YOUR FUNDING BECAUSE YOU DON'T SUPPORT FASCISM. BUT ISN'T IT YOUR JOB TO JUST PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF CHARACTER THAT IS NEEDED TO GET THROUGH THIS TIME? AND THIS MOTION IS REALLY JUST THE STARTING POINT. UM, AND I HOPE YOU GUYS VOTE FOR IT TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON TAB 34. IT'S NOW APPROPRIATE FOR BOARD DISCUSSION. KELLY, GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. UM, WELL FOR, I, I THINK THE PUBLIC COMMON SPEAKERS AND I THINK, UM, BOARD MEMBERS, REGO RIVAS AND ORTIZ FRANKLIN FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION, I AM OF COURSE SUPPORTIVE OF IT AND WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR. UM, THIS IS WORK THAT HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY AND I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY COMBATING DECADES, CENTURIES OF A CRIMINALIZATION, UM, AND LACK OF INVESTMENT IN OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND OUR STUDENTS. UM, SO THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK STILL TO DO, BUT THERE'S BEEN PROGRESS AND STEPS FORWARD STARTING, YOU KNOW, WITH THE STUDENTS, UH, SCHOOL CLIMATE BILL OF RIGHTS, UM, WITH MOVING AWAY FROM WILLFUL DEFIANCE SUSPENSIONS WITH OUR ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN, UH, WITH INVESTING IN PILOT PROGRAMS AROUND COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY, WITH SHIFTING AWAY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INVE INSTEAD INVESTING IN COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, UM, FOR SAFETY AND SUPPORT ON OUR CAMPUSES. UM, BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE STILL MORE WORK TO DO. WE KNOW THAT IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND AT OUR SCHOOLS, PROGRESS IS UNEVEN, IMPLEMENTATION IS UNEVEN. AND IF WE WANT OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF TO TRULY FEEL SAFE IN THIS MOMENT WHERE THERE IS SO MUCH TRAUMA WHERE THERE ARE DIRECT ATTACKS ON THE HUMANITY AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WE MUST INVEST IN COMMUNITY AND IN CARE AND IN CONNECTEDNESS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES. SO I AM REALLY GRATEFUL THAT THIS MOTION IS COMING FORWARD. UM, I, I WAS PROUD TO BRING A RESOLUTION IN 2020 AROUND SAFETY FIRST. THAT LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SOME, SOME OF OUR FIRST SAFE PASSAGES PROGRAMS, UM, AND THEN A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN 2021, WHICH WE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS ON TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. BUT IT TAKES A WHOLE SCALE SYSTEMIC EFFORT TO ACTUALLY DO THIS, RIGHT. UM, AND COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE RIGHT ANSWER, AND THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE TODAY IN THIS MOMENT. SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS RESOLUTION COMING FORWARD. I'M GLAD TO CO-SPONSOR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MUCH MORE GREAT WORK TO COME. THANK YOU MR. MELVIN. UH, THANK YOU. JUST ECHOING MY COLLEAGUES AND THE THE SPEAKERS, UM, MS. GURU WOULD LOVE TO JOIN AS A CO-SPONSOR IF POSSIBLE AS WELL. YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, THIS CONTINUES TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE THE SAFEST PLACE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT KIDS CAN GET TO SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY IN A WORLD WITH FEARS AND CONCERNS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. WALLS CONTINUE TO SHIFT AND CREATE TRAUMA IN OUR COMMUNITIES. YOU KNOW, IN THINKING THROUGH THIS, HOW I DID HAVE ONE, UH, SUGGESTION OR, OR AN AMENDMENT THAT I'VE PASSED OUT TO THE BOARD, I THINK THE PUBLIC THAT I, I'D HOPE WOULD BE ACCEPTED AS FRIENDLY, WHICH IS JUST AROUND, UM, CROSSING GUARDS. AND I KNOW WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER SOTO MARTINEZ HERE AND OTHERS, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY, UM, AROUND THAT [05:10:01] COHERENCE AND TRYING TO NOT BE SILOED. AND EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT AS MUCH ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PEACE BUILDING AND PSYCH PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY THAT'S CORE TO THIS RESOLUTION, UM, IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH HOW KIDS GET TO SCHOOL. WE'VE SEEN SOME TRAGIC, UM, INCIDENTS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, INCLUDING A PARENT, UH, WHO WAS KILLED WALKING THEIR DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL IN MY DISTRICT JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO. WE ALSO KNOW THAT CROSSING GUARDS ARE TRUSTED MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY THAT, THAT DO WEAR MULTIPLE HATS OR VESTS, I GUESS WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE ALGAE AS THEY'RE HELPING, UH, SCHOOL, UH, KIDS IN COMMUNITY. SO THE FRIENDLY, UM, AMENDMENT JUST ADDS A 13TH BULLET TO THE, UH, TO THE LIST HERE SAYING, UM, COHERENCE AND COORDINATION WITH CITY RUN TRAFFIC SAFETY AND CROSSING GUARD PROGRAMS OR ANY VOLUNTEER CROSSING GUARD PROGRAMS THAT MAY BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING CONSIDERATION OF JOINT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. UM, THAT VOLUNTEER COMPONENT IS JUST BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH MS. ALVAREZ AND HER TEAM AND THE CITY HAS GIVEN THE FUNDING REALITIES, CAN WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO TRAIN VOLUNTEERS AND PARENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP US AS OFFICIAL CROSSING GUARDS. SO APPRECIATE THE RESOLUTION, LOVE TO SUPPORT, AND I WOULD OFFER THIS WITH THE HOPE IT'S ACCEPTED AS FRIENDLY BY THE AUTHOR. YES, THANK YOU NICK. INDEED. I CROSSING GUARDS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. WE HEARD IT HERE. AND ALSO IN MY DISTRICT ACTUALLY, WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR, UH, A LIGHT TO BE PUT ON BECAUSE OF, OF A TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED WITH A STUDENT. SO, UM, I ACCEPT YOUR AMENDMENT NEXT. MS. NEW BILL, UH, APPRECIATE THIS AND APPRECIATE ALL THOSE THAT HAVE SHARED THEIR COMMENTS TODAY. AND OBVIOUSLY AS, UH, THOSE THAT HAVE COME OUT, UM, AS WELL TO SUPPORT, UH, EXPANDING OUR COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY PROGRAM. I DID HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ONLY, UM, BECAUSE DO WE KNOW WITH THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT IS BEING ASKED HERE, HAS THIS BEEN DONE IN THE DISTRICT PRIOR? ANYTHING AROUND SAFETY? 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME REPORTS. UM, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE DID A SAFETY ASSESSMENT? IT'S, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE BROUGHT THIS RESOLUTION IS THERE HAS NOT BEEN, UM, AN ASSESSMENT OF A COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW. AND WE DO KNOW THAT IT, UH, THERE ARE SOME HOLES AND GAPS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PIECE, NOT BECAUSE OF ANY INTENTION, BUT IT IS, IT IS WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW. AND SO WE WANT TO DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND THEN ALSO WORK WITH PARTNERS AND SEE HOW WE CAN, UH, STRENGTHEN THAT AND INCREASE AND COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR AN EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. GOT IT. AND NOW IT IS MENTIONED THAT THERE'S AN RFPA TIMELINE. IS THAT REALISTIC? UM, SOMETHING THAT I, WE HAVE, UM, CONSULTED WITH PROCUREMENT AND THEY, THEY APPROVED THAT LANGUAGE. THEY BELIEVED IT WAS REALISTIC. REALISTIC, OKAY. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HAS THERE BEEN, YOU KNOW, INTRO ASSESSMENT AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, NOT BUT EXISTING COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT WE'VE RESEARCHED THAT ARE KIND OF LIKE EXCELLENT BENCHMARKS TO KIND OF PAIR UP TO? I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY EXPERT WILL BE LOOKING AT. WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE AS WELL, BUT AS WELL AS INTERVIEWING AND SPEAKING TO, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE PART OF THIS ALREADY AND GETTING INPUT FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OUR OWN DISTRICT STAFF. GOT IT. AND I GUESS MY BIGGEST CONCERN THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE BUDGET IMPACT STATEMENT THAT CAME OUT, UM, AND I KNOW THIS WAS MENTIONED IN THE RESOLUTION THAT THE EXISTING, UH, BSAP FUNDING OF ONE 25 MILLION ALONG WITH THE ONE TIME ALLOTMENT THAT WE'LL BE RECEIVING FOR 50 MILLION WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS. AGAIN, I CONSULTED WITH THE, WITH UH, BSAP AND THEY WERE GONNA BE LOOKING INTO WHAT FUNDING COULD BE USED FOR THIS. SO, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE THINKING NOW THAT IT WOULD COME FROM. IT WOULD PROBABLY, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, YES, THEY WERE GONNA LOOK INTO THAT. AND THEN ALSO THE BSAP STEERING COMMITTEE SINCE I THINK FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS AT LEAST, HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY EXPERT TO BE ABLE TO ASSESS THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AND COME UP WITH THE PLAN SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT IT WOULD COME OUT OF BSAP IF THAT'S WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS. I'M, I'M JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED 'CAUSE WE ARE TIGHT ON BUDGET THAT WE WOULD USE FUNDING THAT'S ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR A SPACE TO BE USED FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A PART OF THAT. AND SO THAT'S WHY I DO HAVE SOME CONCERN AND JUST, YOU KNOW, AS WE GO INTO THIS TIME OF FISCAL STABILIZATION AND THAT BEING THE, THE POCKET OF FUNDING THAT WE LOOK TO TO USE, 'CAUSE B SEP AS MENTIONED HERE BY SO MANY, WE FOUGHT VERY HARD AND [05:15:01] VERY HARD. I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN, TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT FUNDING AND TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT THAT FUNDING AND NOT TO USE IT WHENEVER SOMETHING ELSE CAME UP AS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE POCKET OF FUNDING THAT WE COULD TAKE FROM. SO THAT'S CONCERN. I HEAR YOU. YEAH, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE THE PLACE WHERE WE LIKE, WELL THERE WE GO. WE COULD JUST USE THAT MONEY THERE WHEN IT'S ALREADY BEEN EARMARKED FOR SOMETHING. I HEAR YOU. UM, LET ME LOOK AT THE IMPACT STATEMENT, BUT I DID CONSULT WITH DR. WHITMAN WHO LEADS THE WORK IN BSAP AND I ASKED HIM FOR HIS, UH, RECOMMENDATION. SO, WELL I'M, 'CAUSE I'M JUST LOOKING AT WHAT THEY SENT OUT 'CAUSE THEY SAID SUSTAINABILITY OF IMPLEMENTATION MAY BE THE CONCERN. SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE A CONCERN. AND THEN JUST ALSO AS IT LOOKS AS THOUGH SEEKING, YOU KNOW, A ONE SIZE KIND OF FIT ALL APPROACH FOR A MULTIFACETED, UH, ISSUE IN A DISTRICT OF THIS SIZE, UM, IS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA. JUST SO JUST, UM, TO CLARIFY ON THE FUNDING PIECE, THIS IS FOR A CONTRACT OF ABOUT A YEAR IF NOT LESS, RIGHT? FOR A COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY EXPERT THAT'S, IT'S NOT FOR AN ONGOING, THIS COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY EXPERT WILL SEEK OR MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO WHERE ELSE WE CAN FIND FUNDING FOR THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY PLAN, UH, PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, RIGHT. HOW TO IMPLEMENT WHATEVER PLAN THEY COME UP WITH. SO I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT. AND I HEAR YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE IMPACT STATEMENT SAYS COMING OUTTA BSAP. UM, THE OTHER THING, WHAT WAS THE SECOND THING YOU SAID? THE WELL, ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY THAT THE IMPACT STATEMENT REFERS TO, THAT IT'S A CONCERN. OKAY, I'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. LET ME LOOK AT IT. SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE MY CONCERN WITH QUESTIONS. THAT WAS IT. I WAS JUST GONNA, IN, IN, IN RESPONSE TO THAT. I MEAN I THINK THAT THE, THE EXPERT'S GOING TO COME BACK WITH POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES, WHICH WILL, SO I, NOT THAT NOT TO DISMISS YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS BOARD MEMBER NEW BILL, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE UPFRONT COSTS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE MINIMAL AND IT'S IDENTIFYING HOW TO SUSTAIN THIS WORK IN THE LONG TERM, WHICH IS WHAT THE ANALYSIS SEEMS LIKE. IT'S AT LEAST IN PART INTENDED TO DO. BUT BOARD MEMBER GREG, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF THAT'S INCORRECT. AND CAN I JUST ADD THAT, UM, THE RESOLUTION IS ALSO CALLS FOR PARTNERSHIPS, RIGHT? WE MENTIONED CITY COUNCIL, THAT'S WHY COUNCIL MEMBER GU MARTINEZ IS HERE. WE HAVE UNIS HERNANDEZ 'CAUSE WE'RE IN PARTNERSHIP AND I'M, YOU KNOW, AND ALSO IN CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, NITHYA RAMEN AS WELL. SO IT'S NOT JUST THIS IS A, A CITY EFFORT. SO THAT'S WHERE THIS RESOLUTION YES, CALLS FOR AN EXPERT BUT ALSO EXTENDING PARTNERS TO OTHER, UM, GOVERNMENTAL, UM, SORT OF AGENCIES LIKE OUR CITY COUNCIL. SO WE'RE NOT GONNA, UM, THE FUNDING IS GONNA COME FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES, RIGHT? SO I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT. YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. AND JUST, IF I COULD JUST SAY THIS, THAT IT DOES ALSO THE IMPACT STATEMENT, I'M READING IT HERE. SHOULD ADDITIONAL BSAP INVESTMENTS BE REQUIRED IN SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEARS? THE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE TO REVISIT HOW BSAP FUNDING IS EARMARKED WITHIN THE PROGRAM, LEVERAGING EXISTING PROGRAM RESOURCES, INCLUDING GRANTS AND SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDING THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS. AND SO I WOULD URGE US TO THINK THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO, UH, STOP FUNDING BSAP, BUT INSTEAD WE'RE GONNA LOOK TO EXPANDING BSAP UH, FUNDING BEYOND WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO. AND, AND I WOULD AGREE AND, AND I GUESS THAT THE CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT THAT'S THE LANGUAGE THAT'S WRITTEN HERE IS THAT THAT'S THE ONLY FUNDING SOURCE THAT WAS EARMARKED IN, IN THE RESOLUTION. AND I GUESS THAT'S WHY THEY WENT TO THAT EXISTING FUNDING THAT'S ALREADY THERE. THAT'S THE REASON WHY I REFERENCED THAT. THANK YOU SHERETTE. SHERETTE. LET ME JUST SECOND YOUR CONCERN ABOUT PROTECTING THE BSAP AND THE BSAP FUNDING. LET ME TELL YOU WHY I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE BIGGEST RISE IN STUDENT AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT TEST SCORES SINCE BSAP WAS WAS IMPLEMENTED. I SEE, UH, UH, HIGH SCHOOLS HAVING THEIR, UM, MASTER SCHEDULE SHOWING ALL THE COURSES NECESSARY FOR OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN KIDS THAT ARE THERE. I SEE THEM SOARING. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR SELF PRIDE AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENT AND COLLEGE GOING CAREER. SO I AGREE WITH YOU. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA MESS WITH THAT BSAP PROGRAM. OKAY. CARLA, I AM THE LAST PERSON WHO WILL BE MESSING WITH THE BSAP PROGRAM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, I WILL BE ASKING FOR MORE FUNDING AS WE APPROACH JUNE BECAUSE WE NEED TO EXPAND BSAP, BUT WE NEED TO INCREASE THAT FUNDING, NOT ONLY PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE, BUT WHAT MORE WE NEED. SO, OKAY. I WOULDN'T BE SO WORRIED BECAUSE I THINK [05:20:01] WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA GET MORE MONEY FOR B SEP. THANK YOU CARLA. AND, AND I WILL CHAMPION TO SEE HOW WE GET MORE MONEY BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. UM, AND I GUESS THAT'S WHY WHEN THE IMPACT STATEMENT VOICED ONLY BSAP AND NO OTHER FUNDING LINE. THAT'S WHY I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ELSE. BUT THAT, AND THEN TO YOUR POINT, SCOTT, AS WE JUST MENTIONED AND CHAMPIONED, UM, THE ETO OFFICE FOR SUCCESS AND OUTCOMES ACROSS THE STATE AND WAS RECOGNIZED FOR THAT BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT'S BEEN MADE. SO YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SHERETTE. I GUESS MR. MCLEAN, WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALRIGHT, VOTING ON TAB 34, HAVING BEEN MOVED BY MS. GRIEGO AND SECONDED BY MS. EZ. UH, MS. NEWBELL? NO. DR. RIVAS? YES. MR. MELVIN? YES. MS. GRIEGO? YES. MS. EZ? YES. MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN IS NOT HERE. UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES. ALL RIGHT. FIVE AYES. ONE. NO. AND ONE ABSENCE. SO IT PASSES. [General Public Comment (Approximately 3:30 P.M.)] OKAY. MR. MCLEAN, PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO ONTO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE 20 FOLKS SIGNED UP. AS USUAL, I WILL CALL ON THE FOLKS WHO LISTED THEMSELVES AS SPEAKING IN PERSON AND THEN WE WILL CALL ON THOSE WHO ARE LISTED AS SPEAKING REMOTELY. SO THE FIRST PERSON IS ANGEL CARILLO OR ANGEL CARILLO. AND THEN WE'VE GOT REBECCA FRENCH, IAN KIRKSEY AND CHERYL KNO. SO COME ON UP. ANGEL CARILLO. HOW MANY SPEAKERS? HI, MY NAME IS ANGEL CARILLO AND I'M A SOPHOMORE AT JOHN C FREMONT HIGH SCHOOL. I AM A YOUTH LEADER WITH COMMUNITY COALITION AND I'LL BE TELLING YOU THE DEMANDS I HAVE FOR SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. I DEMAND THAT LGD REDIRECT ALL SCHOOL POLICE FUNDING TO EXPAND AND FULLY IMPLEMENT SAFE PASSAGE AND COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY ACROSS THE DISTRICT. SCHOOLS SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE MY PEERS AND I FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME. NOT A PLACE WHERE I FEEL TARGETED RACIALLY PROFILED AND WHERE CONFLICT IS SOLVED WITH AGGRESSION TOWARDS STUDENTS. I DON'T WANNA BE PREJUDGED BASED ON WHAT I WEAR, HOW I SPEAK, OR THE COLOR OF MY SKIN. ONE TIME MY YOUNGER, YOUNGER BROTHER AND I WERE WALKING TO SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL POLICE PULLED UP ON THE SIDE OF US, STOPPED AND STARED AT US FOR A GOOD 15 SECONDS, BUT DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. THEY PROCEEDED TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND DROVE OFF. THAT FELT LIKE THE LONGEST 15 SECONDS OF MY LIFE. THAT IS NOT SAFETY, THAT IS INTIMIDATION. AS A BIG BROTHER, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO SHIELD MY YOUNGER BROTHER FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO KEEP US SAFE. I'M SPEAKING UP TODAY. SO CARVALLO AND THE SCHOOL BOARDS INVEST IN TRUSTED ADULTS WHO ARE TRAINED TO WORK WITH STUDENTS AT MY SCHOOL AND OTHER SCHOOLS ACROSS LAOD TO PREVENT HARM, BULLYING, AND EVEN POTENTIAL FIGHTS. WE DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FEELS SUPPORTIVE, THAT THE MONEY USED TO FUND POLICE COULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR MORE PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY BENEFIT STUDENTS. I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE WE DISCUSS WHAT WE NEED FROM OUR SCHOOL CAMPUSES, OUR TEACHERS, AND HOW STUDENT AND PARENT VOICES CAN HELP IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS SAFETY CONCERNS IN OUR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITIES. WHEN YOU PRIORITIZE OUR NEEDS, IT SHOWS THAT YOU CARE. IT BUILDS TRUST, STRENGTHENS RELATIONSHIPS, AND BRING US CLOSER TO SCHOOL. BEING A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS CAN THRIVE WITHOUT FEELING DISCOURAGED, I WANT TO KNOW THAT WHEN MY SIBLINGS GO TO SCHOOL, THEY FEEL SAFE AND DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING HARMED, BULLIED, OR INTIMIDATED BY POLICE. I AM DEMANDING THAT LSD REDIRECT ALL SCHOOL POLICE DOLLARS TO EXPAND AND FULLY IMPLEMENT SCHOOL-BASED SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. REBECCA FRENCH, ARE YOU HERE? NOT HERE. UH, IAN KIRKSEY. AND THEN AFTER MR. KIRKSEY IS CHERYL KONO. HELLO. I'M GONNA BE YIELDING MY TIME TO EZEKIEL HERE. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES ONCE YOU BEGIN. EZEKIEL. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M EZEKIEL ATTACHED WITH JUNIOR AT KING DREW, AND, UH, THROUGH STUDENTS DESERVE. I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. TO BEGIN, I WANNA RECOGNIZE BOARD MEMBER CARLA GRIEGO FOR STANDING UP FOR STUDENTS BY PUSHING LUSD TO FULLY IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. HAVING COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY MEANS HAVING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN RELY ON EACH OTHER TO WORK TOGETHER, PREVENT HARM, SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SYSTEM WHICH I HOPE TO SEE REPRESENTED ACROSS ALL SCHOOLS DISTRICT-WIDE. AS STUDENTS PLANTING THE SEEDS OF THE FUTURE, WE DESERVE AN INSTITUTION THAT FEELS LIKE A SECOND HOME, A PLACE [05:25:01] WHERE WE CAN BE AUTH AUTHENTIC SELVES, NOT ASHAMED OF OUR CULTURE OR OUR DIFFERENT DIFFERENCES. A CHILD WANTING TO BE EDUCATED SHOULD NOT FEAR BEING TARGETED OR HARMED IN THEIR OWN SCHOOL. RELYING ON COMMUNITY RATHER THAN POLICING PROMOTES CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND DEESCALATION. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND MEDIATION OVER PUNISHMENT AND PENALIZING IT ADDRESSES ROOT CAUSE. IT ADDRESSES ROOT CAUSES NOT REACTIONS. SCHOOL POLICE ONLY CARE TO RESPOND WHEN HARM OCCURS. A COMMUNITY MEDIATOR WORKS ATTENTIVELY TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING. ENFORCING COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY TURNS THE VALUES AND POLICE POLICIES INTO OF LUSD INTO ACTIONS. IF THIS DISTRICT TRULY SUPPORTS THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF IT COMMUNITIES, THESE CHANGES WILL BE MADE. THE STUDENTS OF THE WORLD NEED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, NOT POLICE SYSTEMS. COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY WILL KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE WITHOUT THE HARM OF ITS STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. CHERYL KNO, COME ON UP. CHERYL KNO AND THEN AFTER CHERYL KNO, IT IS AMIR KIR. AND THEN ON ANGEL CGA, YOU GO. GOOD AFTERNOON. I YIELD MY TIME TO WITH, TO LEXI AND ANNA MARIA. OH, CAN YOU RESTART THE TIMER PLEASE? I CANNOT GO AHEAD. PLEASE GO AHEAD. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, YOUR BOARD. BUT, UM, IF MY PPSW WAS MOVED TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION, THERE WOULD BE NO PLACE FOR STUDENT LIKE MYSELF TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO GO TO. IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING. THERE WILL BE A DISADVANTAGE NOT TO NOT BE ABLE TO LEARN THE THINGS THAT HAVE TAUGHT ME AND OTHER STUDENTS. WHAT, UM, WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY PSW IS THAT THE RIGHT TO BE WHO YOU ARE WITHOUT ANY JUDGMENT. UM, I'LL PASS THE MIC TOO, MARIA. UM, MY NAME IS ANNA MARIE AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PWS. WE, STUDENTS DO OUR BEST TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR OUR FUTURE, AND OFTEN WITH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL PROBLEMS, IT GETS OVERWHELMING. STUDENTS HAVE A LOT GOING ON IN THEIR HEAD ALL AT ONCE, ALL THE TIME, AND MOST OF THE TIME FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE NOBODY TO TALK TO. THAT'S WHY OTHER STUDENTS, AND I APPRECIATE OUR PS, WS BECAUSE THEY HELP STUDENTS FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY IS THERE TO LISTEN AND HEAR THEM WHEN THEY NEED IT. PWS HELP STUDENTS WITH PROBLEMS THAT NOBODY KNOWS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. IF MY PWS ARE EVER TO BE TAKEN FROM MY SCHOOL, I KNOW STUDENTS, INCLUDING ME, WOULD LOSE THEIR SAFE SPACE AND COMFORT ZONE, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED OUR PWS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. GOT 40 SECONDS LEFT. BECAUSE OF THIS, UM, PWS ARE NEEDED IN EVERY SCHOOL, WHICH DON'T HAVE A PSW AT ALL, AND IT WOULD NOT HAVING A PSW FOR ANY STUDENT IN ANY GRADE WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR THEM TO DEAL WITH DEPRESSION ON THEIR OWN AND TRAUMA ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT ANY COPING SKILLS, UM, CAUSING THEM, CAUSING THEM TO HAVE UN UM, SOCIAL ABILITIES THAT AREN'T, UM, PROPER IN THE REAL WORLD CAUSING, UM, MORE DEPRESSION THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AMIR KAMIR. AMIR, COME ON UP. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN, AND THEN IT'S, UH, ANGELICA ORTEGA. I'M AMIR KAMIR AND I'M USING MY TIME AT TENAYA. HELLO. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TANAYA RAY AND I'M A SENIOR AT DORSEY HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AS A LEADER AND STUDENTS DESERVE, UM, SO I'M GONNA KEEP THIS SHORT AND SWEET. UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE EDUCATION OF THE STUDENTS. UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS WHO ARE AFRAID TO SHOW UP TO SCHOOL, UM, WHICH SHOULD BE A SAFE SPACE IN FEAR OF BEING DETAINED BY ICE OR BEING DETAINED BY ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, WHICH IS COMPLETELY VALID BECAUSE MANY LEOD SCHOOLS DON'T YET HAVE SAFE PASSAGE. UM, AND SAFE PASSAGE IS LIKE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE WELLBEING OF A LOT OF STUDENTS. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL STUDENTS BE ABLE TO BE COMFORTABLE AND NOT JUST SOME STUDENTS, UM, COME WITH COMING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. UM, SO YEAH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ORTEGA LAKEL WHITE. COME ON. DAN. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. HELLO, MY NAME'S QUEL. I'M GONNA YIELD MY TIME TO CRYSTAL. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL CORONA AND I AM A LEADER WITH STUDENTS DESERVE. I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT FOR TOO LONG OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN POLICED AND CRIMINALIZED INSTEAD OF NURTURED, CARED FOR AND SUPPORTED. IT'S TIME THAT WE HAVE A CHANGE. WE DEMAND COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY AND NOT MORE POLICE. WE DEMAND REAL PROTECTIONS FOR BLACK, UNDOCUMENTED AND LGBTQ PLUS STUDENTS. WE DEMAND TO END ICE RATES AND [05:30:01] COLLABORATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE DEMAND FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORT COMMUNITIES LIKE BSAP DREAM CENTERS, COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS. AS A STUDENT WHO HAS WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT THAT HAVING A SAFE COMMUNITY CAN HAVE, I BELIEVE AND KNOW THAT MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS IS JUST WHAT MY PEERS AND I NEED. SO AGAIN, I COME TO SAY WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED, WE WILL NOT BE IGNORED. WE WILL FIGHT FOR A SAFE AND JUST EDUCATION SYSTEM WHERE EVERY STUDENT CAN THRIVE IN, WHERE EVERY STUDENT CAN FEEL SAFE IN. SO PLEASE, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO, HELP US STUDENTS RECEIVE THE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DESERVE. HELP US STOP THE NEVER ENDING CYCLE OF HATE AND UNJUST OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. JAMIAH FIELDS. JAMIAH FIELDS. FIELDS. OKAY, I'LL CALL HER NEXT. I'M JUST GONNA CALL THE NEXT PERSON SO WE CAN, UH, LET'S SEE. HAITI, MANOLA, HEIDI, HEIDI OR HAITI MANOLA UP HERE. WE'RE GOING DOWN. OKAY. WALK SLOWLY. , THERE'S STAIRS. OKAY. PLEASE COME ON UP. STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN THIS. THIS IS HEIDI. YES. OKAY. PLEASE GO AHEAD. THE TWO MINUTES IS YOURS. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS HAITI MENDOLA. I AM A STUDENT AT MENDEZ HIGH SCHOOL. ASCE HIGH SCHOOL NEEDS A HIGH NEEDS SCHOOL, A YOUTH LEADER WITH INNER CITY STRUGGLE. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS TO THE STUDENT EQUITY NEEDS INDEX. BECAUSE OF C FUNDING, MY SCHOOL HAS BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT ENGLISH LEARNERS, OFFER DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES, PROVIDE ACCESS TO A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND HOLD HOST, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC EVENTS THAT HONOR AND CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE STUDENT BODY. I HAVE PERSONALLY BENEFITED FROM THESE OPPORTUNITIES. I HELPED ORGANIZE CULTURAL EVENTS THAT MADE STUDENTS FEEL SEEN AND VALUED, AND I I PARTICIPATED IN DUAL ENROLLMENT, WHICH SUPPORTED MY ACADEMIC GROWTH WITH THE PROPOSED SEMI CUTS, INCLUDING A A 525,000 REDUCTION, 31.4% OF MY SCHOOL'S BUDGET. STUDENTS STAND TO LOSE CRITICAL RESOURCES THAT ACCESS TO OUR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, ENGLISH LEARNER SUPPORT, AND CULTURALLY AFFIRMING PROGRAMS. THESE ARE NOT EXTRAS. THESE ARE ESSENTIALS TO A STUDENT'S WELLBEING AND SUCCESS AT A TIME OF ICE ATTACKS ON OUR COMMUNITIES, A HOUSING CRISIS AND CUTS TO FOOD AND HEALTH PROGRAMS. STUDENTS NEED DEEPER INVESTMENTS, NOT CUTS TO OUR SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, WE DEMAND THAT THE DISTRICT INVEST IN COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY BY PASSING A FULLY IMPLEMENTING THE RELU RESOLUTION THAT SHOULD HAVE VOTED ON EARLIER. STUDENTS DESERVE SAFETY APPROACHES THAT UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT CRIMINALIZE US. COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY, ALONG WITH PROTECTING C SUPPORTS THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY SYSTEMATIC INEQUITIES. WHEN YOU ACCEPTED YOUR ROLE AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS, YOU MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF LUSD. THE CUTS YOU'RE PROPOSING TODAY FEEL LIKE A STEP BACKWARDS ON THAT PROMISE TO CLOSE. SEMI FUNDING IS AN IMPERATIVE FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME TO TRULY THRIVE. CUTS TOCE ALSO MEAN CUTS TO THE EDUCATION STAFF WHO SUPPORT US EVERY DAY AND MAKE LEARNING POSSIBLE. WE DESERVE A FULL, HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, ONE THAT MEETS OUR NEEDS, HONORS OUR IDENTITIES, AND PREPARES US FOR THE FUTURE. WE URGE YOU TO PROTECT THE FULL 700 MILLION INCENTIVE FUNDING. THESE FUNDS ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS ON A PAGE. THEY REPRESENT REAL SUPPORT, REAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND REAL HOPE FOR THE STUDENTS LIKE ME AND MY PEERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. JAMIAH FIELDS, JAMIAH, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON DOWN. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. NFR JAMIAH IS LAYLA KING AND THEN NATHANIEL LOPEZ. MY NAME IS JAMIAH. I'M A SENIOR AT WASHINGTON PREP AND I'M A YOUTH LEADER AT COMMUNITY COALITION. AND I'M BACK AGAIN TO SHARE WITH YOU THE DEMANDS I HAVE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO AND THE SCHOOL BOARD. HOW MANY TIMES HAS A BLACK STUDENT FACED ANTI-BLACK VIOLENCE AT SCHOOL? AND INSTEAD OF RECEIVING SUPPORT THAT STUDENT FACED HARM AND CRIMINALIZATION, EVEN MY OWN SISTER GOT JUMPED BY TWO GIRLS AS WELL AS HARASSED BY THEM FOR OVER A YEAR, AND YET SHE GOT SUSPENDED FOR DEFENDING HERSELF EVERY TIME. NOT ONLY THAT, THE DAY SHE GOT JUMPED, I WAS SITTING RIGHT HERE IN THIS BUILDING WHEN IT HAPPENED. SO OF COURSE I GOTTA DO A THING ABOUT IT, AND THEN THE POLICE WANTS TO DIRECT THE NEGATIVE ATTENTION TOWARDS THE VICTIMS AND BLAME MY SISTER FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO HER, [05:35:01] RESULTING IN MY SISTER HAVING TO GO TO COURT MULTIPLE TIMES. CLEARLY IT'S A PATTERN GOING ON, AND YET Y'ALL STILL REFUSE TO LISTEN. AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF PREJUDICE, AFTER SO MANY PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM YOUR STUDENTS PERTAINING TO SCHOOL, POLICE AND OUR HABIT OF CRIMINALIZATION, CRIMINALIZATION, CRIMINALIZING STUDENTS FOR SELF-DEFENSE, YOU AREN'T PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION TO THE STUDENTS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT THAT COULD ACTUALLY PREVENT THESE ACTS OF VIOLENCE. I GENUINELY DON'T KNOW WHAT MAKES YOU GUYS THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO RELY ON THESE SAME PEOPLE AS A RESPONSE TO ICE RAIDS, ESPECIALLY WITH HOW SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE ABDUCTIONS, WHICH I DOUBT Y'ALL KNEW ABOUT THAT, BUT IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE MAKING QUOTE UNQUOTE JOKES ABOUT ICE COMING TO OUR SCHOOL AND PEOPLE'S HOMES. STUDENTS CAN'T AND HANDLE A KNOCK ON THE DOOR WITHOUT ICE STINKING IN THE BACK OF THEIR MINDS. Y'ALL ARE MAKING SOME GOOD INVESTMENTS TO, INTO BSAP L-G-B-T-Q SUPPORT AND DREAM CENTERS. WHAT'S SO HARD ABOUT EXPANDING SAFE PASSAGE AND COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY IN THE FLINT SCHOOL POLICE? THEN MAYBE I WOULDN'T ALWAYS HAVE A PERSONAL STORY TO TELL EVERY TIME I COME UP HERE BECAUSE IT REALLY GETS TO A POINT. IT'S GETTING EXHAUSTING TRYING TO TELL YOU GUYS HOW TO DO WHAT'S OBVIOUSLY THE RIGHT THING. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE DEMAND AN ALTERNATE RESPONSE TO ICE AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT DON'T INCLUDE SCHOOL POLICE. WE DEMAND YOU GUYS TO PUT A FULL STOP ON CRIMINALIZATION OF BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH BECAUSE SHUTTING OUT THE VERY COMMUNITIES THAT MOST IMPACTED BY YOUR DECISION ISN'T GONNA DO THE JOB. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M STILL SPEAKING. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS SOBER. YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE. YOU'RE NOT GONNA SHOVE ME UP BACK WHAT I WAS SAYING. ALL RIGHT. LAYLA KING, COME ON UP. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. HELLO, MY NAME IS LAYLA KING. HI, MY NAME IS ELISE DOWNS AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT STUDENTS DESERVE. WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. WE CAN DO THAT BY LEARNING AND FOCUSING MORE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE ARE MORE ENGAGED. I ALSO FEEL LIKE STUDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD. WE ALSO, OH, WE SHOULD PROVIDE IT WITH SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. WE CAN OPENLY SHARE OUR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND EXPERIENCE WITHOUT FEAR OF JUDGMENT. PS HUH? NO. OKAY. UM, I'LL ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO URGE YOU TO ACT ON DEFUNDING THE SCHOOL POLICE BECAUSE IN THIS CASE, YOU'RE THE TARGET. WE ARE THE INFLUENCE. STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS ARE THE INFLUENCE. LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCILS ARE THE INFLUENCE. VOTERS ARE THE INFLUENCE. FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATORS ARE THE INFLUENCE, AND WE ARE THE PUBLIC. IN THIS CASE, THE PUBLIC THAT IS TARGETED ARE BLACK STUDENTS, LATINO BOYS, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, SCHOOL CLIMATE STAFFS LIKE COUNSELORS, NURSES AND PS, WS, AND MARGINALIZED STUDENT POPULATIONS. IN ESSENCE, SHIFTING RESOURCES AWAY FROM A POLICY MODEL AND TOWARDS A COMMUNITY. AND SER SERVICE ORIENTED MODEL AIMS TO FOSTER A SER, A SAFER, MORE EQUITABLE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS TO THRIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, NATHANIEL LOPEZ AND THEN EMILY VASQUEZ. DANIEL LOPEZ, EMILY VASQUEZ. WOO. COME ON UP. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. HELLO, MY NAME IS EMILY VASQUEZ. I'M A SENIOR AT GEORGE WASHINGTON PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL, A YOUTH LEADER WITH COMMUNITY COLLISION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M A LOW INCOME STUDENT FROM SOUTH CENTRAL. I STAND BEFORE YOU, NOT WITH DEMANDS, BUT WITH DIRECT EXPERIENCE. I HAVE LIVED THE REALITY OF UNDERFUNDED SCHOOLS. I HAVE SEEN CLASSMATES STRUGGLE IN SILENCE WAITING FOR COUNSELING APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE DAYS OUT. I FELT THE STRESS OF CROWDED CLASSROOMS WHERE INDIVIDUALIZED HELP FEELS LIKE A DREAM. NOW THE $320,427 CUT TO SUNNY AT MY SCHOOL WILL IMPACT COUNSELORS, TUTORS, AND MENTAL HEALTH STAFF. THIS TELLS ME AND STUDENTS LIKE ME THAT OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT A PRIORITY OF L-A-U-S-D. AND THESE AREN'T JUST LINES IN A BUDGET. THEY ARE THE REASON, THEY ARE THE VERY RESOURCES THAT KEEP STUDENTS LIKE ME. LOW INCOME STUDENTS OF COLOR, ENGLISH [05:40:01] LEARNERS, AND FOSTER YOUTH FROM FALLING THROUGH THE ACTS. YOU CANNOT FIX A BUDGET BY BREAKING THE STUDENTS WHO NEED MORE MOST SUPPORT. EQUITY ISN'T A FILL, ISN'T A FILLER. YOU SAY IT'S A PROMISE, WHICH MEANS IN CHALLENGING TIMES, YOU PROTECT THE SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS WHO ARE FACING THE GREATEST CHALLENGES. DEAR BOARD, IF LUD ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS LIKE YOU CLAIM, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO PROVE IT RIGHT NOW. RIGHT HERE, YOU HAVE A CHOICE. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO PROTECT THE COUNSELORS WHO SAVE OUR LIVES, THE TUTORS WHO UNLOCK OUR FUTURES AND THE SUPPORT STAFF WHO MAKE A SCHOOL A PLACE OF SAFETY AND DISTRESS. IT'S OUR EDUCATION, OUR MENTAL HEALTH, AND OUR FUTURES AND YOUR HANDS. I HOPE YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE AT A USD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LET'S SEE, TRAINEES. TRAINEES, ARE YOU HERE? AND THEN AFTER TRAINEES IS KAIL. OH, OH, NO, I'M SO SORRY. HELLO. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OBVIOUSLY KNOW ME. I'M TAN THOMAS, A SENIOR AT KING DREW, AND A STUDENT LEADER WITHIN STUDENTS DESERVE. LET'S GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. VOTE YES ON BOARD MEMBER CARLA GREGG'S. RESOLUTION ON COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY. IT'S A DEFINITE STEP TOWARDS WHAT STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN DEMANDING FOR YEARS. REAL SAFETY, RUDE, AND CARE NOT POLICING THAT HAS CONTINUOUSLY FAILED US. THE RECENT VIOLENT INCIDENT OUTSIDE SAN HIGH SCHOOL WHERE A PERSON WAS SHOT BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS SHOWS WHY YOU SHOULD IMPLEMENT THIS RESOLUTION IMMEDIATELY. THERE ARE, THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT ISOLATED INCIDENTS AS WE HAVE, AS WE HAVE SEEN FOLKS TARGETED ACROSS THE WHOLE DISTRICT. OUR SCHOOLS MUST BE A TRUE SAFE ZONE WHERE STUDENTS ARE PROTECTED FROM POLICE VIOLENCE AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU UNDERSTAND. I HAVE TOLD YOU MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN OTHER INCIDENTS NEAR MY SCHOOL, AND TODAY, HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. EARLIER THIS MONTH, TWO FEMALE STUDENTS WERE STANDING OUTSIDE OF MY SCHOOL AND WERE APPROACHED BY TWO MEN WHO GRABBED THEM AND SNATCHED THEIR CHAINS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. THE GIRLS ARE OKAY NOW, BUT THAT SITUATION COULD HAVE EASILY ESCALATED AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR WORSE. AND YOU KNOW THIS, IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO LISTEN BECAUSE I'M SO TIRED OF COMING TO YOU EVERY YEAR WITH NEW EXAMPLES OF WHY YOU SHOULD LISTEN AND TAKE ACTION. DO NOT HALF-ASS THINGS, DO IT PROPERLY. HELP ME AND MY PEERS FEEL SAFE. I'LL BE LEAVING IN THE L-A-U-S-D DISTRICT AND I REFUSE TO LEAVE WITHOUT TRYING MY BEST TO MAKE SCHOOLS A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL THE CHILDREN AFTER ME. THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUTH IS IMPORTANT. LET'S, THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUTH IS IMPORTANT, SO LET'S START ENSURING THEIR SAFETY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE AN AMAZING DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, KHALIL SMITH KHAL. KHALIL SMITH COMING UP, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. AND THEN AFTER MR. SMITH, IT'S ESTE CASAL KALIN, PLEASE GO AHEAD. OKAY. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS KHALIL SMITH. I'M A SENIOR AT DORSEY HIGH SCHOOL AND A LEADER IN STUDENTS DESERVE. COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY IS SOMETHING EVERY SCHOOL NEEDS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE TO FIGHT FOR. EVERYONE SHOULD ALWAYS FEEL SAFE ON THEIR CAMPUS, WHETHER THEY'RE ENTERING OR LEAVING. FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN SEEING COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY, THE STAFF PREVENTED TENSION AFTER THE BELL RUNG AND ALLOW STUDENTS TO GET HOME WITH MINIMAL ISSUE. IN OUR CURRENT STATE, IN OUR, IN THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR COUNTRY, WE SEE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS BEING TARGETED BY ICE, KIDNAPPED AND RELOCATED WITH NO COMMUNICATION. STUDENTS IN L-E-U-S-D DESERVE A BREAK FROM ALL THE RISK AND PRESSURES FROM FEELING ENDANGERED WITH NO SUPPORT WITH SAFE PASSAGE. THIS IS ALL POSSIBLE AND PREVENTABLE. COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY MATTERS IN SCHOOLS TO ENSURE STUDENTS DON'T FEEL THE DANGER WHILE OUTSIDE OF THEIR SCHOOL WALLS SCHOOL BOARD. I ASK YOU TO MAKE THE DECISION TO STRENGTHEN SAFE PASSAGE DISTRICT-WIDE FOR THE WELLBEING AND SUPPORT OF YOUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ANI ESTEFANI. LIN ESTEFANI. NO. UH, MALLORY MEJIA. MALLORY MEJIA, COME ON DOWN. MS. MEJIA, COME ON DOWN. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN, AND THEN AFTER MS. MEJIA IS ING. HI EVERYONE. I'LL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MALLORY. MY NAME IS KADEJA AND I'M A DO DORSEY HIGH SCHOOL AND STUDENT DESERVE ALUM. I'M CURRENTLY A SENIOR AT WILLIAMS COLLEGE STUDYING CHEMISTRY AND PUBLIC HEALTH. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS YEAR HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT ACROSS LA UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE BEING TARGETED AND DEPORTING, DISRUPTING STUDENTS' ABILITY TO LEARN. I'M COMING TO YOU NOT ONLY AS A STUDENT DESERVE ALUM, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. WE FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND WE FOCUS ON PREVENTION. AND WE, WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS NOT JUST AN EDUCATION ISSUE, IS A SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ISSUES. THAT IS THE LENS I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY. THIS IS ABOUT SAFETY, HOUSING STABILITY, AND FREEDOM FROM CHRONIC STRESS. WHEN THOSE THINGS ARE TAKEN AWAY, IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN. [05:45:01] FEAR DOESN'T STAY OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. IT FOLLOWS STUDENTS EVERYWHERE. AND WHEN WE ALLOW THAT HARM TO CONTINUE, WE ARE SETTING YOUNG, YOUNG PEOPLE UP FOR LIFELONG CONSEQUENCES. THAT HARM IS PREVENTABLE. BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS HARM IS NOT PREVENTABLE THROUGH THE, THE SAME SYSTEMS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY HARMED OUR COMMUNITIES. IT'S NOT PREVENTED THROUGH POLICING OR SURVEILLANCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. WE KNOW THAT SAFETY COMES FROM TRUST, STABILITY, AND RELATIONSHIPS. THAT IS WHY COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY MATTERS. SAFETY IS CREATED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE TRUSTED, WHO KNOW THE COMMUNITY, WHO, WHO HAVE STUDENTS BEST INTERESTS AT HEART, SUCH AS SAFE PASSAGE WORKERS, PEACE BUILDERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNER. THESE, THESE ARE THE INTERVENTIONS THAT ACTUALLY REDUCE HARM, LOWER STRESS, AND CREATE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN LEARN. TODAY AS A DORSEY ALUM WHO HAS A COUSIN ATTENDING L-A-U-S-D AND AN AN IMMIGRANT MYSELF WHO, WHOSE COMMUNITY IS FACING A VERY SCARY TIME, AND AS SOMEONE WHO DEEPLY CARES ABOUT ENSURING SAFE PASSAGE ACROSS L-A-U-S-D, I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, AKUR SINGH. GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO. I'M THEOR SING. I'M A VIRTUAL ACADEMY STUDENT. FIRSTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BOARD MEMBER, FRANKLIN STUDENT BOARD MEMBER JERRY YANG AND BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN FOR MEETING WITH US TO DISCUSS SOME OF OUR CONCERNS AROUND THE VIRTUAL ACADEMIES AS WELL AS BOARD MEMBER MELVOIN. WE MET WITH DR. SARAH TAN FROM YOUR OFFICE, UH, AND BOARD VICE PRESIDENT DR. REVA. WE MET WITH JACK. UM, THANK YOU ALSO MR. MCLEAN FOR YOUR EXPLANATION, UH, ON THE PROCESS TO PLACE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE HOPE TO FIRST CONTINUE RAISING OUR CONCERNS WITH YOU ALL BEFORE PLACING AN ITEM OURSELVES. WE ARE REALLY HOPING TO FIND A SOLUTION WITH YOUR HELP. THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER ES FOR YOUR RECENT EMAIL ABOUT SCHEDULING A MEETING TO DISCUSS BOARD MEMBERS GRAY GO. NEW BILL. I HOPE TO, UH, MEET WITH YOU AS WELL TO DISCUSS THESE CONCERNS. I WILL SEND OUT ANOTHER EMAIL TO YOU AND YOUR OFFICES TODAY SO WE CAN HOPEFULLY MEET. IN ADDITION TO THE MATTERS WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN PRIOR MEETINGS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER MATTERS THAT HAVE YES TO BE ADDRESSED DESPITE THEM BEING RAISED REPEATEDLY TO VA UPPER MANAGEMENT. FIRST, OUR WORK IS GRADED BY OUR HOMEROOM TEACHERS WHO ARE SPREAD SO THIN BECAUSE THEY'RE ASSIGNED UP TO 40 CLASSES. EVEN IF THEY LACK A CREDENTIAL FOR THAT CLASS. YES, THEY'RE TEACHING US WITHOUT CREDENTIALS FOR THE CLASSES. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE TO LEARN SPANISH FROM TEACHERS WHO DON'T SPEAK SPANISH. WE END UP FALLING, WE END UP NOT LEARNING AND FALLING BEHIND. THIS IS BECAUSE OF DECISIONS BY UPPER MANAGEMENT. ALSO, WE LACK SO MANY OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IN-PERSON STUDENTS HAVE. WE DON'T HAVE A GRAD NIGHT. WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR TWO YEARS FOR, FOR A PROM. AT MY VIRTUAL ACADEMY, WE HAVE ABOUT THREE CLUBS. COMPARE THAT TO THE DOZENS OF CLUBS IN PERSON SCHOOLS HAVE. THAT'S A HUGE INEQUITY. AND THIS GOES BACK TO THE FACT THAT OUR EDUCATORS FOR A VIRTUAL PROGRAM HAVE BEEN FORCED TO SPEND HOURS IN TRAFFIC TO REPORT TO IN-PERSON CAMPUSES SIMPLY TO OPEN THEIR LAPTOPS. THIS ALSO MEANS MILLIONS OF MORE CARBON EMISSIONS PER YEAR FROM CARS ON THE ROAD. WE FEEL THAT YOU, THE SCHOOL BOARD, ARE NOT BEING TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE VIRTUAL ACADEMIES. STUDENT TEST SCORES ARE SO MUCH LOWER THAN THE REST OF LUSD. CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS HUGE, WHICH MEANS LOST MONEY FOR THE DISTRICT. IT IS ALSO BE, IT IS BECAUSE OF ISSUES LIKE THESE. WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE MATTERS, PAST SOLUTIONS LIKE GIVING VIRTUAL TEACHERS THE OPTION TO WORK FROM HOME AND MEET WITH US IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY. I'M A SENIOR. MY PAST YEAR HAS ALREADY BEEN HURT DUE TO THE LACK OF ACTION. PLEASE DON'T KEEP THIS HAPPENING FOR OTHER STUDENTS AND YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY, THEN WE HAVE, UH, TWO REMOTE SPEAKERS. UH, JAMILA JAMILA, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. JAMILA, I SEE YOU'RE WITH US. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? SURE CAN. PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME IS JAMIL AND I'M A VIRTUAL ACADEMY STUDENT IN A DISTRICT OF BOARD MEMBER NEBO DISTRICT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH STUDENTS HERE BEFORE, BUT I AM RETURNING TO RETAIN, RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE EXTENSIVE ISSUES FACING THE 5,000 VIRTUAL ACADEMY STUDENTS FROM GRADES K THROUGH 12. I FOUND THAT VIRTUAL ACADEMY TO BE A APPROACHING ALTERNATIVE. IT GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO BE CLOSE TO MY GRANDMA AND HELP CARE FOR HER. HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING AND I HAVE LACKED THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS MY IN-PERSON PEERS. FOR ONE, I HAVE LESS ACADEMIC SUPPORT BECAUSE MY TEACHERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE UP TO 36 CLASSES IN VARIOUS SUBJECTS, REACHING FROM LITERATURE TO PHYSICS TO FRENCH. HOW CAN I GET THE BEST SUPPORT I NEED AS A STUDENT WHEN MY TEACHERS ARE SPREAD SO THIN? ADD TO THIS EFFECT THAT THEY NOW HAVE TO DRIVE TO IN-PERSON CAMPUS ISSUES, TO OPEN NO LAPTOPS AND CLASSES FOR STUDENTS, WHICH TAKES AWAY MORE TIME FROM STUDENTS LIKE ME. THIS ALSO MEANS STUDENTS LIKE ME LACK, LACK CLUB OPPORTUNITIES, [05:50:01] WHICH IS INCREDIBLY UNFAIR COMPARED TO THE DOZENS OF OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED AT TRADITIONAL CAMPUSES. THIS SEARCH, OUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND OUR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING. WHEN STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES LIKE THESE, THEY ONLY WOULD BORROW SHOW UP TO CLASS FOR COMPLETE WORK. HENCE, THE HIGH ABSENT RATE IN VIRTUAL SCHOOLS. LUSC COULD BE A LEADER IN VIRTUAL LEARNING, BUT AT THE MOMENT IT ISN'T. THE APPROACH ACADEMY SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND NEEDS FIXING. I EX I ASK YOU TO PLEASE WORK FIRST AND PASSING SOLUTIONS, PASSING SOLUTIONS. WE HAVE A IDEAS THAT COULD WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND THE FINAL SPEAKER ON GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT IS CHRISTOPHER, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. CHRISTOPHER, CAN YOU HEAR ME? HELLO? YEAH, PLEASE GO AHEAD. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER STELLA TORRES AND I'M A STUDENT OF THE LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC SERVICE VIRTUAL ACADEMY. L-A-U-S-D HAS MADE A GREAT STEP FORWARD WHEN IT CREATED THE VIRTUAL ACADEMIES AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT FIT INTO TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SETTINGS, WHETHER THEY ARE FACING HEALTH STRUGGLES, TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS, HOUSING ISSUES, OR DEALING WITH IMMIGRATION. HOWEVER, THE VIRTUAL ACADEMIES HAVE FALLEN BEHIND DRASTICALLY WHEN WHEN VIRTUAL STUDENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO SUCCEED, THEY'RE INSTEAD FAILING STATE TESTS AND EXPERIENCING ROCK BOTTOM GRADUATION RATES ALONG WITH ABYSMAL ATTENDANCE RATES. WHY IS THIS? WELL, FIRST, STUDENTS AREN'T PROVIDED ADEQUATE TECHNOLOGY. OUR CHROMEBOOKS ARE OFTEN BROKEN, AND WHEN THEY DON'T WORK, THEY'RE JUST REPLACED WITH EVEN MORE BROKEN DEVICES. WE ALSO OCCASIONALLY FACE DISTRACTIONS IN THE CLASSROOM. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IN A FULLY VIRTUAL PROGRAM, WE STILL HAVE TO SIT THROUGH FIRE ALARMS, LOCKDOWNS, AND LONG EARTHQUAKE SHOWS JUST BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS WERE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO IN-PERSON CAMPUSES. AND BECAUSE THERE ARE OFTEN TWO TEACHERS IN A SINGLE ROOM, WE OCCASIONALLY HEAR THEM TALKING OVER EACH OTHER. DISTRICT PROVIDES HEADPHONES FOR TEACHERS, BUT WE AS STUDENTS FEEL AS THOUGH WE ARE IN A CALL CENTER WHEN WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN A COMFORTABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. WE CAN'T EVEN GO TO THESE IN-PERSON SITES TO WORK ON PROJECTS OR ASSIGNMENTS IF WE DON'T HAVE THE, THE RESOURCES OR SPA AT HOME. INSTEAD, WE'LL BE KICKED OUT AND ESSENTIALLY TOLD, WE AREN'T WELCOME. WHAT IS THE POINT OF THESE LOCATIONS IF THEY'RE NOT EVEN HELPING STUDENTS? WE ASK THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD PLEASE WORK WITH US INTO LOOKING THESE ISSUES, FACING THE VIRTUAL ACADEMIES AS AND DISCUSSIONS AND DISCUSS SOLUTIONS SUCH AS PROVIDING ADEQUATE TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS AND GIVING VIRTUAL TEACHERS THE OPTION TO WORK VIRTUALLY. OR WOULD YOU RATHER SEND YOUR CHILD TO A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT IS FAILING? NO. THEN WHY SHOULD OUR EDUCATION HAVE TO SUFFER? WE HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL WE, WE HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ALL TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND GOODBYE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING, AND NOW WE [35. Board of Education Report No. 180-25/26 Finance Division (2025-26 First Interim Report and Multi-Year Projections) Recommends approval of the 2025- 26 First Interim Report and Multi-Year Projections and its submission to the Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools (CSS).] WILL GO TO TAB 35, THE 25 26 FIRST INTERIM REPORT AND MULTI-YEAR PROJECTIONS. MAY HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO TAKE THE ITEM. APPROVE IT. I MOVE BY MS. DUB. I'LL SECOND. SECONDED BY MR. MELVOIN. WE'LL GO DIRECTLY INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE ITEM. THIS IS TEMP 35. UM, MARIA LUISA PALMA. I BELIEVE YOU'RE HERE. MARIA LUISA PALMA. CAN YOU REPEAT THE NAME? MARIA LUISA PALMA. I, I USUALLY, I RECOGNIZE I DON'T SEE HER IN HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M SURE SHE'LL BE HERE SHORTLY. UM, MALALIA POSEY. HI, MY NAME IS MALALIA POSEY. I'M A 10TH GRADER AT MANU ARTS HIGH SCHOOL AND A YOUTH LEADER WITH COMMUNITY C I'M SORRY. OH, ALRIGHT. HI, MY NAME IS MALIA POSEY. I'M A 10TH GRADER AT MANU ARTS HIGH SCHOOL AND A, UM, YOUTH LEADER WITH COMMUNITY COALITION. I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU THE DEMANDS I HAVE FOR SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO AND THE SCHOOL BOARD. EQUITY MUST COME FIRST DURING CHALLENGING BUDGET TIMES. FUNDING CINDY AT THE FULL 700 MILLION IS CRITICAL TO ENSURE HIGH NEEDS SCHOOLS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY CUTS RATHER THAN TREATING ALL SCHOOLS THE SAME. CINDY RECOGNIZES THAT SOME STUDENTS FACE GREATER CHALLENGES, CHALLENGES THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IF WE WANT EVERY STUDENT TO SUCCEED. FOR MANY OF US, SCHOOL IS MORE THAN A PLACE TO LEARN READING AND MATH. IT IS WHERE WE GROW CONFIDENCE, DISCOVER OUR PASSIONS, AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. UNFORTUNATELY, STUDENTS IN MY COMMUNITY ARE ALSO DEALING WITH POVERTY, LANGUAGE BARRIERS, TRAUMA AND LIMITED ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. THESE ISSUES MAKE LEARNING MORE CHALLENGING. IF TARGETED RESOURCES ARE CUT, STUDENTS LIKE ME WILL CONTINUE TO BE LEFT BEHIND, NOT BECAUSE OF LACK OF ABILITY, BUT BECAUSE OF LACK OF SUPPORT. AT MANUAL ARTS, ME AND MY PEERS FEEL LIKE OUR SCHOOL CAN DEFINITELY USE SOME UPGRADES. OUR BOOKS ARE OUTDATED AND WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ENRICHING ACTIVITIES THAT ACTUALLY MAKE LEARNING MORE ENJOYABLE. THAT IS WHERE C FUNDING HELPS. I HAVE SEEN A DIFFERENCES IN CI KNOW EXACTLY HOW C HAS BENEFITED MY SCHOOL OVER THE YEARS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE STILL THE FIFTH HIGHEST NEED SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT. ME AND [05:55:01] MY PEERS ARE NOT SHY TO SPEAK UP ABOUT WHAT WE GO THROUGH AT OUR SCHOOLS. WE WANNA FIX IT FOR THE BETTER. WHEN WE INVEST IN THESE SCHOOLS, WE INVEST IN EVERY STUDENT'S POTENTIAL. THIS PROGRESS IS NOT GUARANTEED UNLESS WE CONTINUE TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN. SENDING UH, SENDING FUNDINGS, CUTTING BACK WILL NOT JUST BE A BUDGET DECISION. IT WOULD MEAN ROLLING BACK TO, UH, ROLLING BACK OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDENTS WHO NEED THEM MOST. SO I URGE OUR LEADERS, OUR EDUCATORS, AND OUR COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN CITY. LET US COMMIT TO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEMS WHERE ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF RACE, INCOME, ABILITY, OR BACKGROUND, HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY DESERVE. BECAUSE WHEN WE SUPPORT EVERY STUDENT, WE STRENGTHEN OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UM, MARIA LUISA PALMA, COME ON DOWN. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK WHEN SHE BEGIN. AFTER MARIA LUISA PALMA. IT IS MARIA DAISY ORTIZ. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MAR PALM. SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ADA, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND ON BEHALF OF PARENT VOICES. UH, THE DECEMBER 1ST MEETING, UH, FOR THE PARENT COMMITTEES ON THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, MANY PARENTS EXPRESSED THEIR FRUSTRATION, THEIR ANGER. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS DEFICIT. THEY HAD THE COMMENT THAT HOW CAN PARENTS PROVIDE SUBSTANTIVE FEEDBACK ON THE DEFICIT IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE? NOW, THESE WERE ACTUALLY PARENTS, NOT EMPLOYEES LIKE THEY WERE AT THOSE, UH, BOARD DISTRICT TOWN HALLS. UH, THIS PROVES THAT THE PAC AND THE DLAC AREN'T BEING PROVIDED. THE INFORMATION ON THE LCAP THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT, THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED DESPITE US ASKING MANY TIMES. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF FUNDS? WHAT IS PRUDENT? MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, WHO'S NOT HERE, I WANTED TO GIVE HER A THANKS THAT SHE HAD THE GUTS ON NOVEMBER 4TH AT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO TALK ABOUT THE HARD QUESTIONS, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT MUST BE HAD, SIMILAR TO WHAT SHE MENTIONED THAT DAY. IF YOU GREW 6,000 POSITIONS AT WITH COVID MONEY, THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE. WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT IN THE SURPLUS YEARS THINGS WERE NOT OKAY BECAUSE YOU ARE APPARENTLY NOT WORKING ON NOT ANALYZING THE STATEMENT OF NET POSITION. ANY PRUDENT FINANCIAL ANALYSIS MUST START THAT WAY. A REVIEW OF THE BALANCE SHEET, UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION AS OF JUNE, 2024 IS NEGATIVE $11.8 BILLION. YOU HAVE A $9 BILLION UNFUNDED OPEP UH, LIABILITY. YOU CAN'T JUST DISCUSS THE BUDGET HERE. YOU MUST PUBLICLY HEAR IN PUBLIC ANALYZE THE FULL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. YOU ALL NEED TO BE EXPERTS ON THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE OTHERWISE, YOU ARE TRUSTEES OF THESE PUBLIC FUNDS. STOP BARGAINING AWAY OUR EDUCATION FUNDS UNTIL YOU ARE EXPERTS ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE DIS STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION OF THIS DISTRICT. LONG-TERM LIABILITIES HAVE BEEN INCURRED. YOU CANNOT PUT THEM OFF FOREVER. THEY HAVE BEEN INCURRED AND YOU SHOULD KEEP THEM AT THE FOREFRONT WHILE YOU ARE ENGAGING IN BARGAINING WITH THE UNIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, JASON MELENDEZ, COME ON UP. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. SIR, THE TWO MINUTES IS YOURS. THANK YOU. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON FOLKS. CHRISTIAN FLAG. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF YOUTH ORGANIZING OVER AT COMMUNITY COALITION AND WE'RE A ANCHOR ORGANIZATION OF THE EQUITY ALLIANCE FOR LA KIDS AS WELL AS THE POLICE FREE L-A-U-S-D, UH, COALITION. UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE POWERFUL WORK THAT EQUITY ALLIANCE IS DONE TO MAKE SURE L-A-U-S-D CAN ACTUALLY CONCRETELY AND OPERATIONALIZE EQUITY. NOT AN ABSTRACT THOUGHT. FOR OVER 10 YEARS, THE COMMUNITY WORKED TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOLLARS, THE RESOURCES THAT THE MOST HIGHEST NEED COMMUNITY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES NEED CAN ACTUALLY RECEIVE THAT THROUGH THE STUDENT EQUITY NEEDS INDEX. BUT NOW IN A MOMENT WHEN COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER FIRE, LITERAL ATTACK FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE DISTRICT ARE TAKING STEPS TO CUT THAT EQUITABLE FUNDING TO CUT THOSE RESOURCES. IT IS NOT DURING THE, THE SWEET TIMES, THE TIMES OF SURPLUS THAT WE SEE AND NEED THOSE EXTRA RESOURCES. IT IS ALSO DURING THE CRITICAL TIMES OF NEED AND GREAT DESPAIR AND IT'S ACTUALLY MORE PIVOTAL, MORE CRITICAL TO GET THOSE THINGS. UM, WE FOUGHT THE COMMUNITY SAID $75 MILLION CUT TO CINDY. IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. OKAY, IT WAS APPROVED, BUT NOW WITHOUT DISCUSSION, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S $99 MILLION ARE BEING CUT AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS [06:00:01] OF THOSE CUTS TO SCHOOLS. WE DID SOME PRELIMINARY RESEARCH THAT, UH, RESEARCH AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF CUTS ARE AVERAGED AT THE HIGHEST NEEDS SCHOOLS. SO NOT ONLY ARE YOU CUTTING THE EQUITABLE TOOL THAT THE DISTRICT HAS, YOU'RE DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMING THE HIGHEST AND HIGH NEEDS STUDENTS. WE CANNOT DO THIS STUFF WHEN OUR COMMUNITIES NEED IT MOST. WE NEED TO DO THE WORK TO REVERSE THESE ACTIONS, FULLY FUND CINDY AND MAKE SURE OUR FAMILIES ARE PROTECTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MARIA RUIZ. MARIA RUIZ. MARIA RUIZ HERE. COME ON DOWN. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. MARIA, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIA RUIZ. GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN, INCLUDING MICHAEL, WHO'S A STUDENT, UH, AT, AT 12TH GRADE AT LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL. AT EAST LA I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND FOR MANY YEARS I'VE SURVIVED TO GIVE THEM THE BASICS NEEDS TO MY CHILDREN. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK HELP FOR MY CHILDREN AS A SINGLE MOTHER IN THE BEGINNING OF HIS SCHOOL JOURNEY. WHEN HE ATTENDED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE NOTICED AND WE SAW THE NECESSITY THAT HE NEEDED BASED ON HIS DEFICIT AT ATTENTION DEFICIT THAT HE HAS. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO GO TO PARENT CENTER AND CLASSES FOR MY CHILDREN TO BE PRESENT WITH FOR HIS EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY AS AN IMMIGRANT MOTHER. MY VISION FOR MY CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, LIKE MICHAEL, IT WAS FOR THEM TO BE INDEPENDENT, STUDIOUS, EDUCATED PROFESSIONALS. AND I WISH FOR AN EDUCATION FOR MY CHILDREN THAT WOULD PREPARE THEM FOR AN, FOR A SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION SO I WOULDN'T HAVE DIFFICULT TIMES TO, SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE DIFFICULT TIMES TO SURVIVE. IT'S BEEN A LITTLE DIFFERENT WITH MY SON. THE DIFFICULTIES WITH HIS MENTAL HEALTH WAS A RESULT OF A HARD EXPERIENCE THAT MADE HIM LOSE MANY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THE SUPPORT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND THE HELP OR FUNDAMENTAL FOR STUDENTS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFERENT TALENTS, DIFFERENT STUDENT TALENTS. I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE THE STORY OF MY SON IN WHICH HIS EDUCATIONAL TRAJECTORY HAS BEEN DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT FROM SCHOOL. C FUNDS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS. COUNSELORS. THEY CAN HELP OVERCOME THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOP A STRONG CHARACTER SO THAT THEY ARE NOT TAKEN BY THEIR EMOTIONS. REMOVE BUDGETS FROM SENDING SIGNIFIES THAT THERE WILL BE LESS SUPPORT FOR TUTORS AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTERS. THIS LIMIT THE SUCCESS FOR THE STUDENT. THE BUDGET WAS $75,000 TO SUNNY AND NOW IT HAS, YOU WANNA REMOVE 49,000 MILLION WITHOUT, AS SPEAKING WITH THE COMMUNITY. THE ONES WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE DECISIONS WILL BE THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PERSONNEL, AND PERSONNEL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. VIC AALIYAH, VIC, ALIA, AND THEN AFTER VIC, ALIA IS DUSTIN BRAMBLE, [06:05:13] PRESIDENT AND, UH, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO. MY NAME IS VICTOR AALIYAH AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF FAMILIES OF PALISADES CHARTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON JANUARY 7TH, 2025. THIS YEAR, OUR SCHOOL WAS DESTROYED BY A CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE. AT THE VERY FIRST COMMUNITY MEETING, WE WERE ECSTATIC WHEN SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO TOLD PARENTS THAT BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE WOULD NOT DELAY THE REBUILD OF OUR SCHOOL. YET TODAY, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING. AT THE NOVEMBER 19TH DESIGN UPDATE, PARENTS WERE TOLD PALISADES ELEMENTARY WILL NOT REOPEN UNTIL JANUARY, 2029, A FULL YEAR AFTER THE VILLAGE SCHOOL, A PRIVATE SCHOOL LESS THAN 50 FEET AWAY, THAT BURNED IN THE SAME FIRE. THE REASON WE WERE GIVEN WAS PUBLIC BIDDING BUREAUCRACY WITHOUT QUESTION. THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY. AND STATE LAW ALREADY PROVIDES EMERGENCY AUTHORITY UNDER PUBLIC CONTRACT CODE SECTION 2 2 0 5 OH AND 2 2 0 3 5 TO WAIVE PUBLIC BIDDING, PHASE CONSTRUCTION AND ENGAGE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR IMMEDIATELY. THESE LAWS EXIST FOR EXACTLY THIS SITUATION. SUPERINTENDENT DEBORAH EDUARDO OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION WROTE AN URGENT BULLETIN JUST THREE DAYS AFTER THE FIRES ENCOURAGING THE USE AND INVOCATION OF EMERGENCY STATUS TO BUILD BACK AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE THIS LETTER HERE IF IT'S HELPFUL TO LEAVE WITH YOU. WE HAVE COLLECTED OVER A THOUSAND LETTERS AND SIGNATURES FROM TEACHERS, PARENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ASKING FOR JUST THREE THINGS. FIRST, INVOKE EMERGENCY STATUS. NOW WAIVE PUBLIC BIDDING. SEPARATE THE PROJECT INTO PHASES AND HIRE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR IMMEDIATELY SO WORK CAN BEGIN. NUMBER TWO, REPLACE NOT CLEAN THE HVAC SYSTEMS IN THE HISTORIC BUILDING THAT DID NOT BURN, THAT'S STILL STANDING. CLEANING, FIRE EXPOSED DUCT DUCT WORK IS NOT SAFE. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND OUR CHILDREN DESERVE NEW, CLEAN, TOXIC, FREE SYSTEMS FULLY. THE THIRD ITEM IS TO FULLY REBUILD THE CAFETERIA KITCHEN. IT IS LUDICROUS TO SPEND $136 MILLION ON A STATE-OF-THE-ART CAMPUS THAT WE KEEP, WE KEEP GETTING TOLD IS GONNA BE BUILT FOR THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS, BUT LEAVE THE STUDENTS WITH AN OUTDATED FIRE DAMAGED KITCHEN THAT WAS ALREADY INADEQUATE BEFORE THE FIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD, CHILDREN SHOULD NOT RETURN TO CAMPUS A YEAR LATER THAN PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS. BECAU, BECAUSE OF RED TAPE BUREAUCRACY THAT WE WERE PROMISED WOULD NOT EXIST IN THIS SITUATION. I'M, THEY SHOULD NOT RETURN TO A DATED UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU YOUR TIME. APPRECIATE IT. UH, DUSTIN BRAMMO. OH, I CAN TAKE THE, DO YOU WANNA LEAVE LETTERS? YOU WANT? I'LL TAKE I'M DUSTIN BRAMWELL. I YIELD MY TIME TO TIM. THANK YOU. SHOULD I WAIT? SHOULD I WAIT? MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. IT DID. OKAY. GO FOR IT. LET START IT. I'M THE FATHER OF A KINDERGARTNER AND A FIRST GRADER AT PALADE CHARTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND NEXT YEAR I'LL HAVE ANOTHER IN TK. I APPRECIATE THE COMPLEXITY OF REBUILDING PAL ELEMENTARY AND RECOGNIZE THE EFFORT THAT HAS GONE INTO MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THERE ARE IMPORTANT CONCERNS THAT STILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BEYOND THE TIMELINE NECESSITIES THAT WERE JUST PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED IN THE LETTERS BEING DELIVERED TODAY WITH SUPPORT OF OVER 1000 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY GATHERED JUST IN THIS WEEK, UH, WE, WE DISCUSSED THESE CONCERNS. THE PROPOSED REBUILD COST OF $135 MILLION OR APPROXIMATELY 6,500 PER SQUARE FOOT IS IN AN EXTRAORDINARY INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS. A FIGURE THAT PLACES THIS PROJECT AMONG THE MOST EXPENSIVE PUBLIC SCHOOL REBUILDS IN THE STATE, IF NOT THE COUNTRY, WITH AN INVESTMENT OF THAT MAGNITUDE, IT IS REASONABLE TO, FOR THE COMMUNITY TO EXPECT A FULLY MODERNIZED, FULLY EQUIPPED CAMPUS UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN, KITCHEN FACILITIES WILL NOT BE REPLACED, RETURNING US TO THE DAYS OF THE KITCHEN, ONLY BEING CAPABLE OF MICROWAVING FOOD AND PLASTIC BAGS. AND EVEN MORNING CONCERNING IS THE EXISTING HVAC SYSTEMS THAT WERE EXPOSED TO WILDFIRE, ASH, PARTICULATES AND EXTREME HEAT CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN IN USE. THESE DECISIONS RAISE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS ABOUT LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS FOR OUR CHILDREN. INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND OVERALL VALUE OF TAXPAYERS FOOTING THE BILL AT $6,500 PER SQUARE FOOT. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR REUSING CONTAMINATED SYSTEMS OR LEAVING BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE UNFINISHED. THIS IS NOT VALUE ENGINEERING, BUT RATHER IT IS A COST SHIFTING TO THE FUTURE AND IT PUTS STUDENTS AND STAFF AT RISK. WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE ALREADY ENDURED A MAJOR WILDFIRE ARE ACCEPTABLE TO KEEP WILDFIRE EXPOSURE IS A KNOWN DAMAGE TO HVAC SYSTEMS INTERNALLY TRAVELING PARTICULATES AND CONTINUING TO CIRCULATE LONG AFTER THE FIRE IS OVER. ENSURING CLEAN AIR FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF SHOULD BE A PRIORITY, PARTICULARLY IN A POST WILDFIRE REBUILD. REUSING THESE SYSTEMS RAISES SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERNS AND OPENS THE DISTRICT TO LONG-TERM LIABILITY. THIS [06:10:01] PROJECT REPRESENTS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THINGS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME TO DELIVER A SCHOOL THAT ALIGNS ITS INFRASTRUCTURE WITH ITS VALUES AND THE BOARD'S COMMITTED TO STUDENT HEALTH, SAFETY AND STEWARDSHIP. THE TAXPAYER SHOULD NOT BE ASKED TO FUND A PROJECT OF THIS SCALE WITHOUT CRITICAL COMPONENTS ARE EXCLUDED. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO RECONSIDER THESE EXCLUSIONS AND PROVIDE CLEAR JUSTIFICATION FOR DECISIONS THAT AFFECT BOTH THE COST AND LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY, WE'RE GONNA SHIFT TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE LISTED AS SPEAKING REMOTELY. DAAN, I SEE YOU'RE ON THE LINE. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. DAAN. HELLO, MY NAME IS DAAN, SENIOR MANAGER OF K 12 POLICY AT CATALYST, CALIFORNIA. AND ON BEHALF OF THE EQUITY ALLIANCE FOR LA'S KIDS, WE URGE L-A-U-S-D TO PRIORITIZE EQUITY AND PROTECT HIGH NEED SCHOOLS WITHIN THE BUDGET AND FSP BY PROTECTING C'S 700 MILLION INVESTMENT AND PROVIDING MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE AND COSHA BUDGET DECISIONS. THE DISTRICT'S PROPOSAL TO INCREASE C CUTS FROM 75 MILLION TO 99 FOR NEXT YEAR, IN ADDITION TO A 200 MILLION CUT THE YEAR AFTER, TAKES US BACKWARDS AND ROLLS BACK A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN EQUITY WIN ESTABLISHED OVER A DECADE AGO. MOREOVER, DATA SHOWS THAT THE PROPOSED CUTS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT HIGH AND HIGHEST NEEDS SCHOOLS SERVING THE DISTRICT'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. ON AVERAGE, SUNNY HIGHEST NEEDS SCHOOLS FACE OVER THREE TIMES THE CUTS THAN SUNNY LOWEST NEEDS SCHOOLS IN THEIR SEMI ALLOCATION FROM THIS YEAR TO THE NEXT. AGAIN, THREE TIMES THE CUTS FOR SUNNY HIGHEST NEEDS SCHOOLS THAN LOWEST NEED. FOR SOME THIS HARM IS EVEN GREATER. MULTIPLE HIGH AND HIGHEST NEEDS SCHOOLS FACE 30% SUNNY CUTS FOR NEXT YEAR. AND THIS IS ONLY ACCOUNTING FOR SUNNY, NOT EVEN FOR THE LOSS OF CARRYOVER AND OTHER PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS. FURTHER, WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE BUDGET AND FSB PRO PROCESS THUS FAR WITH MULTIPLE PUBLIC MEETINGS CANCELED WITH LITTLE NOTICE AND THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF AN EQUITY IMPACT ANALYSIS THAT WAS PROMISED. L-U-S-D-A HAS NOT EVEN FULFILLED ITS OWN DIRECTIVE IN THE RESOLUTION. BUDGETING BASED ON EQUITY AND STUDENT NEED PASSED EARLIER THIS JUNE, THE ELIMINATION OF KEY INFORMATION AND MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE ONLY BREAKS TRUST AMONG STUDENTS, STAFF, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES. NO DECISION SHOULD BE MADE ABOUT US WITHOUT US. TRUE EQUITY IS NOT MERELY ABOUT AN OUTCOME, BUT EQUALLY ABOUT THE PROCESS TAKEN TO ACHIEVE IT. TODAY, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE DEMANDING BOTH EQUITY IN THE PROCESS AND EQUITY AND LUS D'S DECISIONS BY PROTECTING SENATE, THE DISTRICT'S LEADING EQUITY INVESTMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIA DAISY ORTIZ. MS. ORTIZ IS GONNA SPEAK IN SPANISH, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S SAYING IN ENGLISH, PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND WE WILL GET YOU THESE TRANSLATION HEADSETS. MARIA DAISY ORTIZ. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MARIA MARIA DEISI ORTIZ. AND IN TRUTH IS A DISGRACE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE USE OF THE WORDS THAT THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD SAID THAT YOU WANNA BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND THAT YOU WANT MORE EQUI EQUITY. A GOOD LEADER DOESN'T JUST SPEAK BEAUTIFULLY, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE CONGRUENT WORDS WITH THEIR ACTIONS. SO RIGHT NOW THAT YOU ARE PRESENTING WITH THE BUDGET IS NOT TRANSPARENT, RIGHT? BECAUSE NOT EVEN THE CENTRAL COMMITTEES ARE PRESENTING WHAT ARE PRESENTED TO YOU. YOU CALL THIS TRANSPARENCY CHAIRPERSON OR HOW WILL YOU CORRECT THIS? BECAUSE IN ORDER TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY WITH A BUDGET, YOU NEED TO HAVE A DESCRIPTION. HOW MUCH IS ANY, HOW MUCH IS GENERAL FUNDS, HOW MUCH IS CATEGORICAL FUNDS AND HOW MUCH WILL BE REDUCED AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT THE REST. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING CHAIRPERSON. AND ALSO FOR EQUITY, YOU NEED TO HAVE PARENTS ON THIS BOARD, JUST THE WAY YOU HAVE A STUDENT THAT WOULD BE EQUITY. AND RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST YOU SUPPORTING AND PAYING A PERSON FROM PCS, MR. CIA, WHO IS DOING, UH, OR CONTRIBUTING TO FRAUD WITH PARENTS SINCE HE'S THERE IS NO STATE LAW CONGRUENCY WITH THE ACTIVITY. AND ALSO THOSE WHO HAVE INTEREST WITH THE SAFE PASSAGE. WHOSE IDEA WAS IT? BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF, UH, NEPOTISM IN [06:15:01] THE DISTRICT. SURELY YOU WANT TO PAY POLITICAL FAVORS OR HIRE UH, MEMBERS, BUT THERE'S NOT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. ANYWAY, THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON. NEXT SPEAKER IS DEANNA GUILLEN. MS. GUILLEN, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. DEANNA GUILLEN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS DEANA GIEN. I REPRESENT THE NETWORK OF PARENTS FOR SCHOOL SAFETY. WE HAVE COLLECTED FIVE OVER 5,000 SIGNATURES FROM THE LATINO PARENT COMMUNITY THAT YOU'RE CLAIMING YOU WANT TO DEFEND. BUT THE PARENTS, WHAT WE WANT AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IS THAT THE SCHOOL POLICE RETURN. WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DEFENDING OUR OWN KIDS BECAUSE WE KNOW THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST IN THE SCHOOLS. AND HERE YOU TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW OH, POLICE HAS HAVE VICTIMIZED STUDENTS, BUT WE WANNA SEE THOSE, THAT DATA BECAUSE IN ALL THE MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE ATTENDED AS A PARENT GROUP AND THAT INFORMATION, THAT INFORMATION DOES NOT EXIST. ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS THERE, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEY GET THEIR INFORMATION. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY INVENTED IT. YOU ARE CREATING THIS SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM AND WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BENEFITS FOR OUR STUDENTS. PARENTS EACH TIME ARE REPORTING MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS AND YOU WANT TO INCREMENT BSAP BSAP ALREADY HAVE $150 MILLION FOR JUST A SEVEN TO 9% OF STUDENTS WHEN YOU'RE LEAVING THE ENGLISH LEARNERS BEHIND WHO ARE 23% OF THE DISTRICT OR 21, AND YOU'RE ONLY GIVING THEM $30 MILLION. SO WHERE IS THE EQUITY THERE? BSAP ALREADY HAS A LOT OF MONEY AND YOU DON'T WANT TO, AND WE DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE ANY FROM THE SCHOOL POLICE. MS. GGO, YOU'RE SAYING THAT SCHOOLS ARE ASKING FOR MENTAL HEALTH. THAT'S NOT TRUE. WHEN YOU'RE DOING THESE MEETINGS, YOU TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO SAY, OH, YOU WANT MENTAL HEALTH, RIGHT? OH, YOU WANT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES? BUT THAT DOES NOT WORK FOR US. THE PANDEMIC ALREADY HAPPENED. SO FOR THAT WAS THEN, AND NOW WE WANT SAFETY FOR OUR KIDS AND WE WANT POLICE TO RETURN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THE NEXT SPEAKER LISTED AS CALLING IN REMOTE IS THALIA. CARMONA NOT HERE. OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON TAB 35. I BELIEVE WE HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION FROM BUDGET ON THIS. DOES THAT MAKE MR. MR. CAVALLO OR, UH, FOR TAB 35? THANK YOU MR. BRAVO CINI. OKAY, THEY'RE PULLING UP THE PRESENTATION NOW. INTRODUCE THEM. GOOD AFTERNOON, SIMON BRAVO, KAMI, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR LA UNIFIED. UM, IN THE INTEREST OF ALLOWING FOR QUESTIONS, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THE SLIDES. UM, I'M GONNA FOCUS ON THE ONES THAT I THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT. BUT SOME OF THE INFORMATION IS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN, UH, OF COURSE THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AS WELL AS THE FORMS THEMSELVES. SO TODAY, WHAT WHAT YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO, TO DO TO VOTE ON IS FIRST TO CERTIFY. FIRST INTERIM. IT'S A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT IN CALIFORNIA THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEIR BOARDS, UH, CERTIFY THE FIRST INTERIM AS WELL AS SECOND INTERIM REPORTS. UH, WE ARE CERTIFYING AS POSITIVE, WHICH MEANS WE'RE ABLE TO MEET OUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AT THIS TIME, UH, THROUGH THE MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION PERIOD. UM, AND ALSO WHAT YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE IS THE TRANSFER OF THE FULL BALANCE OF FUND 17. THAT'S THE BOARD SPECIAL RESERVE TO THE GENERAL FUND. SO THIS IS THE FISCAL TIMELINE. YOU'LL SEE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE HERE IN DECEMBER WHERE SCHOOL BUDGET DEVELOPMENT IS STARTED AND, UH, WHERE FIRST INTERIM IS CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD. HERE'S JUST INFORMATION ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF FIRST INTERIM, THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT, THE DIFFERENT CERTIFICATIONS, POSITIVE, QUALIFIED NEGATIVE. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO CERTIFY POSITIVE TODAY. UM, AND THAT AGAIN, THAT MEANS WE CAN MEET OUR MEET. WE CAN CURRENTLY MEET OUR FISCAL OBLIGATIONS, UH, THROUGH THE 27 28 SCHOOL YEAR. THIS IS JUST A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF OUR BUDGET. SO THE TOTAL BUDGET INCLUDES SOURCES OF FUNDING FROM THE STATE, PRIMARILY LCFF, LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES, FEDERAL FUNDS, AND OTHER, UH, FUNDS. UH, THE TOTAL BUDGET INCLUDES OUR OPERATING FUNDS [06:20:01] WHERE WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME IN, IN BOARD MEETINGS AND IN DISCUSSIONS. BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER FUNDS, CAPITAL FUNDS, DEBT SERVICE FUNDS, INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, FIDUCIARY FUNDS, SO ON AND SO FORTH. THE MAIN, THE BIGGEST OPERATING FUND IS THE GENERAL FUND. THAT'S HOW WE FUND OUR CORE TK THROUGH 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS. UH, BUT ALSO INCLUDED IN OPERATING FUNDS IS OUR CAFETERIA FUND AND OUR ADULT EDUCATION FUND AND OUR CHILD DEVELOPMENT FUND. BUT AGAIN, GENERAL FUND. AND WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND. GENERAL FUND, UNRESTRICTED IS WHERE WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME. ONE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE BEST INDICATION OF THE DISTRICT'S FISCAL HEALTH. AND IT'S ALSO, AGAIN, WHAT WE USE TO FUND OUR CORE TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE PROGRAMS. SO THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF FIRST INTERIM. SO FIRST WE EXPECT TO END THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR WITH A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN $1.5 BILLION IN UNASSIGNED ENDING BALANCES. THIS IS JUST SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN WHERE WE WERE PROJECTING IN JUNE, LOWER BY ABOUT $3 MILLION. UM, AND IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE NOW PROJECTED TO END THE 27 28 SCHOOL YEAR, THE THIRD YEAR IN THE PROJECTION WITH A POSITIVE $10 MILLION. AND THIS IS $1.6 BILLION HIGHER THAN JUNE. IF YOU REMEMBER, IN JUNE, UH, WE WERE PROJECTING A NEGATIVE BALANCE. AND OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES I'LL DESCRIBE HOW WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO A POSITIVE ENDING BALANCE AT THE END OF THAT THIRD YEAR. SO THE NEXT FEW SLIDES JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL ON, UH, CHANGES FROM JUNE TO NOW WITH RESPECT TO BEGINNING BALANCES, REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND THEN FINALLY ENDING BALANCES. UH, NEXT YOU'LL SEE THAT SAME BREAKDOWN FOR GENERAL FUND RESTRICTED, THEN UNRESTRICTED ON THIS SLIDE. UM, AND THEN ON THE MOMENT, I'LL, I'LL PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE BIG CHANGES THAT ARE NOW REFLECTED. AT FIRST INTERIM, WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS WHAT WE EXPECT TO END THE CURRENT YEAR. THESE ARE THE ENDING BALANCES BROKEN OUT INTO THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS. UH, YOU'LL SEE THE BIGGEST IS OUR UNRESTRICTED UNASSIGNED. IT'S NOT ALMOST $1.5 BILLION THAT I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO. THERE'S $46 MILLION COMMITTED BY THE BOARD, A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN A BILLION DOLLARS ASSIGNED. AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT WE PROJECT TO HAPPEN TO ASSIGNED BALANCES OVER TIME. UM, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR REQUIRED OR STATE REQUIRED RESERVE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY. AND THEN FINALLY, NONS SPENDABLE. THESE ARE OUR INVENTORIES, THINGS LIKE SUPPLIES AND NON-CASH ITEMS. SO NEXT, THIS IS JUST A, A, A, A BREAKDOWN OF OUR ASSIGNED BALANCES AS PART OF YOUR FIRST INTERIM MATERIALS, JUST LIKE WE'VE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE BUDGET, SECOND INTERIM, ET CETERA. THE ASSIGNED BALANCE TABLE IS ABOUT TWO PAGES. THERE'S A LOT OF DETAIL BECAUSE WE'VE DESIGNATED THESE FUNDS FOR, FOR MANY DIFFERENT PURPOSES. THIS TABLE PROVIDES, UH, THEM IN CATEGORIES OR GROUPS THAT WE THINK ARE A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHY THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES. I DO WANNA CALL OUT ONE SPECIFIC AMOUNT. UH, ALMOST $800 MILLION HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE AS A FIRST INTERIM AND WHAT WE'RE CALLING WORKFORCE STABILIZATION. THESE ARE ONE-TIME FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR THE COST OF OFFERS TO OUR UNIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE. OKAY? SO THIS IS TO PAY FOR, IN PART, IT DOESN'T COVER THE FULL COST, BUT IT COVERS IN PART THE COST OF OFFERS FOR WAGES AND OTHER PROPOSALS THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE TO OUR LABOR PARTNERS. SO THIS IS WHERE I'LL JUST, I'M GONNA PROVIDE A VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED FROM JUNE TO TODAY BEFORE I INTRODUCE THE USE OF THE FUND 17 BEFORE I INTRODUCE THE USE OF OPE FUNDS THAT GOT FREED UP IN JUNE. AND BEFORE I INTRODUCE THE UPDATED FSP, THESE ARE THE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED BETWEEN JUNE AND TODAY THAT IMPACTED OUR FINANCES AND OUR ENDING BALANCES. AND SO THIS IS, UH, APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON, SO TO SPEAK. AND SO SOME OF THE MAJOR UPDATES ARE LOWER REVENUE IN THE CURRENT YEAR, UH, SORRY, LOWER REVENUE DUE TO THIS YEAR'S ENROLLMENT BEING LOWER THAN PREVIOUSLY PROJECTED. UM, INCREASED EXPENDITURE FOR DEBT SERVICE RELATED TO JUDGMENT OBLIGATION BONDS, UH, LOWER GENERAL FUND UNRESTRICTED RELIEF DUE TO REDUCED AVAILABILITY OF TITLE ONE FUNDS, UM, AND INCREASED COST RELATED TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, UH, REQUIREMENTS. AND SO COMBINATION OF FACTORS, THESE ARE THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS HAVE RESULTED IN BEFORE I INTRODUCED THOSE OTHER MATTERS. UM, A CHANGE OF ABOUT $163 MILLION, UH, LOWER IN TERMS OF OUR PROJECTED ENDING BALANCE. OUR PROJECTED BANK ACCOUNT BALANCES BY THE END OF THE 27 28 YEAR, GOING FROM 1.6 BILLION, PROJECTED NEGATIVE ENDING BALANCE TO ABOUT 1.75. SO THIS IS JUST THAT SAME INFORMATION SHOWING HOW WE'VE PROGRESSED JUST APPLES TO APPLES FROM JUNE TO NOW. AND THEN, AS ALWAYS, WE NEED TO, TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT ARE NOT NOT REFLECTED IN THIS MULTI-TIER PROJECTION. THE FIRST IS CHANGES IN COMPENSATION, WHICH WE'RE NOW NEGOTIATING ANY CHANGES THAT MIGHT BE IN THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET IN JANUARY. [06:25:01] ANY POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS IN FEDERAL FUNDING, ANY NEW MAJOR PROGRAMMATIC INVESTMENTS OR ANY ANY UNRECOGNIZED CLAIMS. SO NEXT ON THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, YOU'LL SEE THE FIRST TWO COLUMNS ARE THE PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD IN JUNE. AND THE LAST TWO COLUMNS ARE UPDATED FIGURES FOR THOSE SAME NINE STRATEGIES. SO IN SUMMARY, THE JUNE PLAN, UH, ESTIMATED SAVINGS ACROSS THESE TWO FISCAL YEARS NEXT YEAR IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR OF $1.6 BILLION. THE CURRENT FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN IS AT $1.4 BILLION. SO IT'S ABOUT $200 MILLION IN, UH, FEWER SAVINGS THAN WHAT WAS APPROVED BACK IN IN JUNE. AND THEN YOU'LL SEE STRATEGY BY STRATEGY OR ACTION BY ACTION, UH, THE CHANGES, UH, FROM JUNE TO TODAY. SO NEXT, I'M JUST GONNA GO THROUGH, UH, THE ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BEING EMPLOYED AS PART OF FIRST INTERIM THAT WE'RE ASKING, UH, TO BE CERTIFIED TODAY. SO FIRST YOU'LL SEE, AGAIN, I'M STARTING WITH THAT $1.7 BILLION PROJECTED NEGATIVE ENDING BALANCE AT THE END OF THE 27 28 YEAR. UH, TO THAT, WE FIRST ADD ABOUT $634 MILLION OF FUNDS THAT WERE FREED UP IN JUNE WHEN THE OPE CONTRIBUTION, THE CONTRIBUTION INTO THE OPE IRREVOCABLE TRUST WAS REDUCED FREEING UP FUNDS. WE ADD THAT $634 MILLION, THAT TAKES US TO A RUNNING TALLY NOW OF NEGATIVE $1.1 BILLION. SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS THEN WE TAKE THE FULL BALANCE, THE FULL REMAINING BALANCE OF FUND 17, ABOUT $500 MILLION. WE ADD THAT TO THE GENERAL FUND LEAVING A NEGATIVE PROJECTED ENDING BALANCE OF $627 MILLION. SO I'M GONNA PAUSE HERE. IF WE WERE TO TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION, IF WE WERE NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION RELATED TO THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, WE WOULD STILL BE NEGATIVE $627 MILLION. WE WOULD NOT BE CERTIFYING POSITIVE. UM, AND WE WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO. AND SO ITEM NUMBER THREE THERE SHOWS THE $1.4 BILLION OF THE NEW ESTIMATES FROM THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN. TAKING US TO A POSITIVE ENDING BALANCE OF 8 0 6, WE SET ASIDE 7 96 OF THAT 8 0 6. SO ALMOST ALL OF IT, ALL OF IT THAT WE CAN, WHILE LEAVING SUFFICIENT ENDING BALANCE OF $10 MILLION TO CERTIFY POSITIVE $796 MILLION TO PAY FOR THE SALARY INCREASES THAT WE'VE ALREADY OFFERED OUR LABOR PARTNERS, UM, AND THAT WILL BE IN MUST WILL BE USED ALREADY AS PART OF OUR MUL MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION IN THE FUTURE, LEAVING THAT POSITIVE $10 MILLION THAT ALLOWS FOR US TO CERTIFY POSITIVE TODAY. SO SOMETHING THAT I SHOULD MENTION, I'M JUST GONNA TAKE A STEP BACK ON THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN. SO I DIDN'T GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE ITEMS ONE BY ONE. UM, BUT MANY OF THESE, MANY OF THESE ACTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN POSITIONS. THEY WILL RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT IN FTE, THE UNFUNDED POSITIONS. NUMBER FOUR ARE, WOULD HAVE A A, A REDUCTION IN FORCE IMPACT. UH, THE CENTRAL OFFICE REDUCTIONS ESTIMATED $150 MILLION PER YEAR WOULD HAVE A REDUCTION IN FORCE IMPACT. AND ALSO ANY SCHOOL DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE AS A RESULT OF, OF A CHANGE IN FUNDING LEVELS WILL ALSO LIKELY RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN FORCE NOTICE. AND SO THOSE NOTICES BY STATUTE ARE REQUIRED TO BE SENT BY MARCH 15TH. THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD PRIOR TO MARCH 15TH. AND SO, WHILE I'M GONNA DEMONSTRATE IN A MOMENT THAT THE CURRENT FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN IS NOT ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THE OFFERS OF SALARY INCREASES THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO, TO COVER THOSE COSTS. UM, IT IS MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN TERMS OF BALANCING THE FINANCIAL FORECAST. UM, BUT IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WE FUND AT THE DISTRICT. THIS IS JUST A PRODUCTION OF THOSE ENDING BALANCES OVER TIME. SO YOU'LL SEE FOR GENERAL FUND UNRESTRICTED SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE PROJECTED TO GO FROM $2.6 BILLION AT THE END OF THE CURRENT YEAR TO ABOUT $1.3 BILLION AT THE END OF THE 27 28 YEAR. BUT I NEED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT BLUE IN THE 27 28 YEAR, THAT BILLION DOLLARS INCLUDES $800 MILLION OF BALANCES THAT WERE ASSIGNED TO PAY FOR OFFERS OF SALARY, INCREASES THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE. AND SO FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN SPENT. SO NEXT IS THE MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION. THESE ARE UNASSIGNED ENDING BALANCES THROUGH 27 28. AS OF FIRST INTERIM, YOU'LL SEE WHERE POSITIVE 10 MILLION, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT INCLUDES THE FUND 17 IN FULL, THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN AND ALL OF THE OPEC FUNDS THAT WERE FREED UP IN JUNE. AND HERE IN GREEN IS WHEN WE ADD THE COST OF OFFERS WE'VE ALREADY MADE. THESE ARE OFFERS WE'VE MADE AS OF THE END OF LAST [06:30:01] WEEK, AS OF FRIDAY OF LAST WEEK. SO THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF ANY OFFERS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THIS WEEK. UM, AND SO THAT NUMBER WILL CHANGE AS WE INCORPORATE THE ADDITIONAL OFFERS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO OUR LABOR PARTNERS. AND SO IN THE LAST YEAR, 27 28, AS PART OF OUR MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION, AFTER INCORPORATING THE COST OF THE OFFERS WE'VE ALREADY MADE TO OUR LABOR PARTNERS, WHICH AGAIN, ALL FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THAT MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT AND WE USE EVERY PENNY OF THAT $796 MILLION OF WORKFORCE STABILIZATION FUNDS. WE WOULD STILL BE NEGATIVE BY THE END OF THE 27 28 SCHOOL YEAR BY ABOUT $350 MILLION. AND SO THIS IS SHOWING THAT WHILE THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN IS, IS HELPING TO ADDRESS NOT ONLY THE FISCAL ISSUE THAT WE WERE FACING BACK IN JUNE AND IS MAKING US, IS ALLOWING US, IN ADDITION TO THE FUND 17 BALANCE, IN ADDITION TO THE OPE BALANCES FROM JUNE, ALLOWING US TO PAY FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WHAT WE'VE ALREADY OFFERED OUR LABOR PARTNERS. UM, THERE IS GONNA BE ADDITIONAL WORK TO DO BEYOND THE CURRENT FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN. WE WILL BE WORKING OVER THE NEXT COMING MONTHS TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS. AND THEN IN JUNE, WHEN WE ADOPT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WHEN WE AUTHORIZE NEXT YEAR'S SPENDING IN JUNE, WE WILL NEED TO INCLUDE THE 28 29 SCHOOL YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME AND IDENTIFY NECESSARY REDUCTIONS TO ENSURE THAT WE WOULD END THAT FISCAL YEAR WITH A POSITIVE ENDING BALANCE. SO THAT IS THE PRESENTATION. AND NOW I'LL PAUSE FOR, UH, QUESTIONS. SIMON, JUST A, A CLARIFICATION FOR THE, FOR THE BOARD'S BENEFIT, UH, WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT $796 MILLION WORKFORCE STABILIZATION FUND, UH, WHICH IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE END OF YEAR FUND BALANCE YES. FOR 27 28, WHICH TAKES US UNDERWATER BY $351 MILLION. CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT THAT NUMBER DOES NOT INCLUDE WHAT, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL OFFERS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO OUR LABOR PARTNERS SINCE LAST FRIDAY. AND SO ANY OFFERS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THIS WEEK, UM, ARE NOT INCLUDED. IT OF COURSE DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OTHER OFFERS IN THE FUTURE THAT MAY BE MADE THAT ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN OFFERED AS OF LAST FRIDAY. CAN YOU QUANTIFY FOR THE BOARD WHAT THAT WOULD BE ON TOP OF THE 796? UM, IT ROUGHLY, IT'S PROBABLY IN THE BALLPARK OF ANOTHER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OR SO, ASSUMING THAT OTHER SIMILAR LABOR PARTNERS RECEIVE THE SAME A A AMOUNTS. PERFECT. I JUST WANNA BE VERY CLEAR IN THE AND TRANSPARENT WITH THE BOARD ABOUT WHAT THE 70 96 IS THEN WHAT HAS BEEN PUT ACROSS THE TABLE. WHAT THIS IS SILENT ABOUT IS BOARD AUTHORIZATION FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUES THAT HAVE NOT NECESSARILY BEEN PRESENTED. SO THIS IS AT LEAST AROUND 896, CLOSE TO $900 MILLION. BUT IT STILL DOES NOT INCLUDE ITEMS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE AUTHORIZED, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ADVANCED AT THE TABLE YET. YEAH. OTHER, OTHER THINGS JUST BRIEFLY THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ARE, WE ARE ONLY INCLUDING THE REVENUE IMPACT OF THIS YEAR'S ENROLLMENT BEING LOWER. UM, GIVEN THAT THIS YEAR'S ENROLLMENT IS LOWER THAN PREVIOUSLY PROJECTED, THERE'S A VERY GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT NEXT YEAR'S ENROLLMENT AND THE YEAR AFTER ISS ENROLLMENT AND SO ON, WILL ALSO BE LOWER THAN PREVIOUSLY PROJECTED. THE, THE REVENUE, THE NEGATIVE REVENUE IMPACT OF THAT IS, IS NOT REFLECTED, BUT WILL BE REFLECTED AT SECOND INTERIM. MR. MELVOIN? SURE. UM, WELL THANKS TO YOU AND THE TEAM FOR THE PRESENTATION AND, UM, THE CONVERSATIONS I KNOW YOU'VE HAD WITH BOARD OFFICES AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE TOWN HALLS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND ALSO THE BACK AND FORTH WITH LABOR PARTNERS, UM, TO UNDERSTAND ASSUMPTIONS. AND I THINK WHAT YOU WERE GETTING AT JUST NOW AROUND WHAT'S INCLUDED AND WHAT'S NOT IS KEY. 'CAUSE I THINK WHEN WE SEE NUMBERS THAT DON'T COMPORT WITH WHAT WE'RE MAYBE HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC OR, UM, IT'S, IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHAT IS INCLUDED AND WHAT'S WHAT'S NOT. AND SO STARTING WITH THAT, I MEAN, MY FAVORITE QUESTION TO ALWAYS ASK IS, SO THE KIND OF $5.1 BILLION FOR RESERVE OR IN THE BANK THAT I THINK THE DISTRICT ACKNOWLEDGES WE HAD AMASS AT THE END OF THE 24 25 SCHOOL YEAR. UM, CAN YOU EXPLAIN, I MEAN, 'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG PUBLIC DISCONNECTS RIGHT NOW IS YOU'RE SITTING ON THIS MONEY, WELL, WE'RE SITTING ON LESS OF IT THAN WE HAD AT THE END OF LAST SCHOOL YEAR, AND IT'S, IT'S BAKED INTO THESE THREE YEARS. AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF SLIDE 10 IS THE BEST EQUIVALENT 'CAUSE THAT'S JUST A GENERAL FUND UNRESTRICTED, BUT CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH, LIKE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE STRATEGICALLY KIND OF AMASSED SOMEWHAT OF A RESERVE GIVEN THE ONE-TIME FUNDING AND BECAUSE WE HAD LABOR NEGOTIATIONS AND BECAUSE OF THE, UM, THE, UH, KIND OF CAPRICIOUSNESS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND NOW WE ARE SPENDING IT OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. AND SO CAN YOU JUST WALK US THROUGH HOW THAT WORKS AND LIKE SURE. THAT WAS THE END OF 24, 25. WHAT IS IT AT THE END? WHAT IS IT NOW? LIKE, WHAT IS IT GONNA BE AT THE END OF 25, 26? AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THAT'S NOT THE BEST SLIDE BECAUSE THAT'S JUST GENERAL FUND SURE. AND [06:35:01] RESTRICTED. CAN YOU, LIKE, WHERE CAN THE PUBLIC SEE WHERE THAT NUMBER IS NOW? SO FIRST OF THE $5 BILLION IS A REFERENCE TO HOW, WHERE WE ENDED LAST SCHOOL YEAR. WHEN YOU INCLUDE GENERAL FUND RESTRICTED, WHICH ARE BALANCES THAT ARE RESTRICTED BY LAW, MEANING WE, WE, WE HAVE NO SAY, IT'S NOT AT OUR DISCRETION WHAT THOSE RESTRICTED FUNDS ARE USED FOR. UM, WHEN YOU INCLUDE THOSE RESTRICTED FUNDS, WHICH ARE, UH, AGAIN, RESTRICTED BY LAW, AND YOU ADD THE FUND 17 BALANCES AND YOU ADD EVERY COMPONENT HERE IN GENERAL FUND UNRESTRICTED, WHICH INCLUDES THE STATUTORILY REQUIRED, WERE RESERVED FOR ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, INCLUDES BALANCES THAT ARE NONS, SPENDABLE. THEY'RE CALLED NONS SPENDABLE 'CAUSE THEY CANNOT BE SPENT. UM, AND ASSIGNED BALANCES THAT AT THE TIME ARE PRINCIPALLY THE LARGEST UNASSIGNED BALANCE ARE SCHOOL CARRYOVERS. AND SO THAT'S HOW WE ENDED LAST SCHOOL YEAR. AGAIN, WITH THOSE CAVEATS, IT INCLUDES RESTRICTED BALANCES, RESTRICTED BY LAW, IT INCLUDES THE FUND 17, WHICH I'VE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED. WE ARE RELYING ON NOW AT FIRST INTERIM, WE'RE RELEASING IN FULL AT FIRST INTERIM. AND AFTER INCORPORATING THE COST OF LABOR AGREEMENTS, OUR OFFERS THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE, WE STILL HAVE WORKED TO DO. UM, AND SO TO ATTEMPT TO GIVE AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON USING THE RESTRICTED BALANCES, WHICH CANNOT AGAIN BE SPENT FOR ANY PURPOSES. THEY'RE RESTRICTED BY LAW. AND THE FUND 17 BALANCES, WHICH WE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED WE'RE USING, WE WOULD BE ENDING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WITH ABOUT $3.5 BILLION. AND SO WE'D BE LOWER BY ABOUT 1.5 FROM THE END OF LAST YEAR. UM, AND THEN WE WOULD END THE 27 28 SCHOOL YEAR WITH ABOUT 1.3. IF I INCLUDE EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE 5 BILLION. AND I'M, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD INCLUDE EVERYTHING. THERE'S RESTRICTED BALANCES IN THERE THAT ARE RESTRICTED BY LAW. NOW THAT 1.3 INCLUDES $800 MILLION. THAT I'VE ALREADY SAID, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES HAS BEEN SPENT. IT'S IN OUR ASSIGNED BALANCES AT FIRST INTERIM, GIVEN WHERE WE ARE, IT'S A SNAPSHOT IN TIME, BUT THAT $800 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT AND IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP US FROM GOING NEGATIVE AT THE END OF 27, 28. BUT A, AS OF THIS MOMENT, WE'RE ALREADY LOW LIKE THAT 5.1 IS IS, I MEAN, IT'S NOT YET THE 3.5 BILLION, IT WILL BE THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, BUT AS OF THIS MOMENT, IT'S LESS THAN 5.1 SUBSTANTIAL. IT'S A DYNAMIC NUMBER. AND SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO KNOW THAT IT'S, IT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGED. YEAH. AND SO THE BEST, ANOTHER THING I CAN ADD IS AT THE END OF LA LAST SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH HAPPENED, IT'S NOT A PROJECTION, IT'S NOT BASED ON OPTIMISTIC OR PESSIMISTIC ASSUMPTIONS WHATSOEVER. IT HAPPENED, THOSE NUMBERS WERE APPROVED BY THE BOARD AS PART OF THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS OF SEPTEMBER LAST SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH ALREADY HAPPENED. WE SPENT $2 BILLION OR MORE IN THE GENERAL FUND THAN WE HAD IN REVENUES. RIGHT. AND THAT'S ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE HAD RESERVES. RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT TOO, BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT DEFICIT SPENDING, BUT BECAUSE OF THE ONE TIME INFLUX OF COVID MONEY, WE ACTUALLY WEREN'T YEAR OVER YEAR UNTIL LAST YEAR. WHICH TO YOUR POINT POINT, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. POINT IS IN THE BOOKS. AND, AND LAST YEAR, AND JUST SAY THAT POINT AGAIN. LAST YEAR WE SPENT MORE THAN WE TOOK IN, WE SPENT ABOUT $2 BILLION MORE THAN WE HAD IN REVENUE. WE BROUGHT, WE SPENT MORE, 2 BILLION MORE THAN WE BROUGHT IN. AND THAT'S ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN YOU HAVE THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT, WHICH AS YOU NOTED, WE, WE DID BUILD UP OVER, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC YEARS. AND THAT ABOUT $2 BILLION OF SPENDING BEYOND WHAT WE BRING IN IS PROJECTED TO CONTINUE. UH, IT'S PROJECTED TO CONTINUE WITHOUT ACTION, WHICH IS WHY THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN WAS REQUIRED, UH, IN JUNE. AND THEN TO THE POINT OF, WELL, WHY AREN'T YOU USING THIS RESERVE OR THIS, WHAT YOU BANKED AT THE END FOR RAISES? I MEAN, I KNOW OUR LABOR PARTNERS AND AND OTHERS PARENTS, ET CETERA, MIGHT WANT US TO USE MORE. BUT WHAT YOU'RE SHOWING THIS IN THIS FIRST INTERIM IS THAT AT LEAST THIS, WHAT, 700 AND, YOU KNOW, 796 MILLION, THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE TAKING THAT MONEY AND WE'RE PUTTING IT IN THIS WORKFORCE STABILIZATION PLAN. THAT'S EXACTLY AS CONTRACTS ARE STILL OPEN. UM, YOU MENTIONED FUND 17 ONE. WHY ARE WE SWEEPING FUND 17 NEXT YEAR AND NOT THIS YEAR? LIKE WHY IS IT, UM, WHY ARE WE DRAWING IT DOWN? YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IN THAT SLIDE IT'S IN 27, 28 BECAUSE THAT'S THE FIRST YEAR WHERE WE WOULD BE PROJECTED TO BE NEGATIVE WITHOUT IT. UM, WHETHER IT WAS DRAWN DOWN THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR, 27, 28, THE IMPACT ON THAT THIRD YEAR BALANCE WOULD BE IDENTICAL. IT WOULD NOT HAVE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THIS IS A RUNNING TALLY. THIS IS, UH, A CUMULATIVE BALANCE. AND SO IF I WERE TO ADD IT NEXT YEAR, THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR, THE IMPACT WOULD BE EXACTLY THE SAME BY THE THIRD YEAR. AND WHY ON SLIDE 17, WHICH KIND OF SHOW THE ENDING BALANCES IS FUND 17 NOT INCLUDED? BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY FULLY IN THE GENERAL FUND, BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE BOARD TODAY WILL APPROVE ITS TRANSFER IN FULL FROM FUND 17 BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND. AND SO SOME OF YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S IT PART HOW WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIGN $800 MILLION TO PAY FOR THOSE COSTS OF OFFERS THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE. AND THEN, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TIME HORIZON IS WE ARE HEARING AS SCHOOLS GOT THEIR BUDGET RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING ABOUT, ABOUT CUTS AT SCHOOLS. UM, AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE WERE [06:40:01] PROJECTED, I THINK LIKE THE SWEEPING OF CARRYOVER. BUT, UM, BUT THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME, UH, DECISIONS THAT WERE, THAT WERE NOT ANTICIPATED. AND MAYBE ONE OF THEM WAS MISCOMMUNICATION. THE BOARD WAS HEARING A LOT ABOUT IB PROGRAMS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER CUTS TO SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF OR THAT WE'RE GONNA START TO HEAR ABOUT RELATED TO THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN? THE THINGS THAT WILL, THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTED SCHOOLS, BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY STARTED BUDGET DEVELOPMENT. WERE FUNDING SE AT THE PER PUPIL RATE, WHERE WE WERE IN 21, 22, 21 22 SCHOOL YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT CNI WAS FUNDED AT $700 MILLION. THAT WAS POSSIBLE AT THE TIME BECAUSE WE USED $300 MILLION OF ESSER FUNDS. SO WE HAD $400 MILLION OF OUR KIND OF LCFF SUPPLEMENTAL CONCENTRATION FUNDS. WE ADDED 300 MILLION OF ESSER. UM, IT WAS FUNDED THAT WAY FOR TWO YEARS AT $700 MILLION BECAUSE OF THE EXISTENCE OF ESSER FUNDS. AND SO BECAUSE OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT, AND THIS WAS A MINUS, I BELIEVE THIS IS HOW, UM, IT WAS ESTIMATED IN JUNE THAT USING THAT METHODOLOGY, USING THAT FORMULA OF KEEPING THE PER STUDENT AMOUNT THE SAME AS IT WAS IN THE FIRST YEAR THAT IT WAS AT $700 MILLION, WOULD RESULT IN AN ALLOCATION OF 6 25 OR A REDUCTION OF 75. UM, WITH NEW DATA, WITH UPDATED DATA OF STUDENT COUNTS ON DUPLICATED COUNTS SPECIFICALLY. THAT'S THE, THE BASIS ON WHICH WE FUND SE. UM, AND BECAUSE OF LOWER ENROLLMENT THAN PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATED, USING THE EXACT SAME CALCULATION RESULTED IN AN ALLOCATION OF $601 MILLION INSTEAD OF 6 25. SO SCHOOLS WERE ALLOCATED, THEY'RE BASED ON THE SAME FORMULA THAT HAS EXISTED FOR SE THE SAME METRICS, THE SAME WEIGHTS, THE SAME DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN OUR HIGHEST NEEDS SCHOOLS AND OUR LOWEST NEEDS SCHOOLS. NONE OF THAT CHANGED. UM, BUT THE GRAND TOTAL WAS 600 TO $1 MILLION. SO THAT HAS ALREADY MOVED THAT, THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN, UH, ALLOCATED TO SCHOOLS DURING BUDGET DEVELOPMENT. THE OTHER THING THAT IMPACTED SCHOOLS DIRECTLY WAS ADVANCING 0% CARRYOVER FOR THOSE TWO PROGRAMS FOR GEN GENERAL FUND SCHOOL PROGRAM. AND SE ADDITIONALLY, IN THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, THERE ARE CENTRAL OFFICE REDUCTIONS. WE ESTIMATED IT RIGHT AT THIS TIME OF ABOUT $150 MILLION A YEAR ONGOING AS PART OF THOSE CENTRAL OFFICE REDUCTIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AT THE DISTRICT IS IN SERVICE OF STUDENTS LEARNING AND, AND, AND, AND IN SUPPORT OF STUDENTS. AND SO EVEN CENTRAL OFFICE REDUCTIONS, IMPACT SERVICE LEVELS. AND SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OTHER THAN WHAT I'VE MENTIONED RELATED TO THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN. UM, BUT, BUT THAT'S A, A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW. WELL, AND ALSO, NOT ONLY ARE THE SERVICES IN OR THE CENTRAL OFFICE FUNCTIONS, IDEALLY IN SERVICE OF SCHOOLS, BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT MOST OF OUR BUDGET, 90 PLUS PERCENT IS PERSONNEL AND BUMPING, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO REALIZE, BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS, AND I SAW IT WHEN I WAS A TEACHER GETTING RIFED, WHICH I ALWAYS WILL REMIND PEOPLE, BUT IS THAT YOU HAVE CUTS IN THIS BUILDING AND A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS IN THE, ON THE CERTIFICATED FRONT CAN THEN GO BACK TO SCHOOLS AND BUMP SCHOOL PERSONNEL. SO A CENTRAL OFFICE REDUCTION STILL LEADS TO A SCHOOL SITE DISRUPTION, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO KNOW. THE LAST LAST QUESTION IS JUST, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN HEARING, YOU KNOW, EVEN FROM SOME OF OUR LABOR PARTNERS WHO'VE BEEN AT THE TABLE FOR MONTHS, UM, THAT WHEN WE MENTIONED THAT THIS FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN ANTICIPATES RIFTS THAT THE BOARD MIGHT HAVE TO VOTE ON AS SOON AS FEBRUARY, THAT THAT'S NEWS TO THEM. AND SO CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, BAKED IN HERE AND ACCOUNTING FOR SOME RETIREMENTS AND ATTRITION, UM, WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE, UM, HUMAN IMPACT IN TERMS OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND THIS FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN? SO FOR THE VERY REASON YOU MENTIONED, BECAUSE LIKE ALL DISTRICTS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR RESOURCES ARE SPENT ON PEOPLE WE'RE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE ARE TEACHING AND SUPPORTING AND SERVING STUDENTS. AND SO FOR THAT VERY REASON, WHEN YOU MAKE REDUCTIONS OF THE SIZE THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR OUR DISTRICT, UH, FOR MANY, FOR MOST DISTRICTS, UH, IT'S PRIMARILY GONNA BE A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS. AND SO WHEN WE MAKE REDUCTIONS IN POSITIONS, THERE ARE STATUTORY RULES THAT WE MUST FOLLOW, UH, SENIORITY RULES. AND SO WHETHER IN CERTIFICATED STAFFING OR CLA OR OR CLASSIFIED STAFFING, UM, THOSE WITH THE MOST SENIORITY, UH, IF THEIR POSITION IS REDUCED, THEY GENERALLY, THEY OFTEN HAVE SENIORITY IN A, IN A LOWER CLASSIFICATION. AND SO THAT'S THE BUMPING THAT YOU, THAT YOU REFER TO. AND SO BY LAW, WE, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A DIS OUR DISCUSSION AS A DISTRICT, UM, GENERALLY THE, THE FOLKS, THE EMPLOYEES WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SENIORITY ARE THOSE THAT ULTIMATELY MAY LOSE, UH, THEIR JOB WITH, WITH THE DISTRICT. AND SO WHILE THERE WILL BE RETIREMENTS, WHILE THERE WILL BE OTHER REASONS WHY PEOPLE MAY LEAVE THE DISTRICT, THEY MOVE OUT OF STATE, THEY MOVE OUT OF THE CITY, UM, GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE REDUCTIONS THAT WE ARE, THAT ARE NECESSARY, UM, NOT ALL OF THE REDUCTION IN POSITIONS WILL BE ABSORBED BY ATTRITION, BY RETIREMENTS, BY OTHER SEPARATIONS FROM THE DISTRICT, BY VACANCIES, VACS [06:45:01] THAT MIGHT EXIST ELSEWHERE. UM, AND SO IT'S A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF, OF THOSE AMOUNTS, UH, WHEN BUDGET DEVELOPMENT ENDS AT THE END OF JANUARY. BUT, UM, IT, IT, IT WILL BE IN THE THOUSANDS, IN THE THOUSANDS OF OUTSIDE OF ATTRITION, OUTSIDE OF CLOSING VACANCIES, RETIREMENTS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED WHO THIS BUDGET WILL ANTICIPATE THE, THE NEED FOR A RIF. THAT'S RIGHT. MEANING AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR ON JUNE 30TH, THEY WOULD BE LAID OFF. YEAH. AND NOW WE ALWAYS MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO, TO MAKE OTHER POSITIONS AVAILABLE TO OUR VALUED EMPLOYEES. UM, BUT, BUT YES, THERE WILL BE A, A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. UM, YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS, DR. RIVAS? SO GOING BACK TO THE QUESTION ON THE SAN, UM, BEING REDUCED TO 99, ORIGINALLY IT WAS 75 AND THEN 99 BECAUSE YOU THE CHANGE OF ENROLLMENT. THAT'S RIGHT. WAS THAT BECAUSE IT WENT FROM ONE TO THE OTHER? THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. OKAY. AND, UM, I'M SORRY, I'M JUST LOOKING THROUGH MY QUESTIONS. SEE, WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT QUESTION TO ASK YOU? UM, YEAH, I'LL MOVE ON FROM C SO GOING BACK ON C ON HOW THE IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOLS WILL HAVE, UM, HOW DO C ALLOCATIONS REDUCTIONS IN ZERO CARRYOVER ASSUMPTIONS ALIGN WITH OUR STATED EQUITY COMMITMENTS, PARTICULARLY FOR FOSTER YOUTH, ENGLISH LEARNERS OR MARGINALIZED STUDENTS? WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT THERE? SO THE CNI FORMULA IS UNCHANGED. AND SO WHAT'S, WHAT'S DIFFERENT IS THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT. UM, AGAIN, KEEPING KIND OF THE PER STUDENT AMOUNT AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE 2122 SCHOOL YEAR. THE FIRST YEAR THAT SE WAS INCREASED TO $700 MILLION. BUT THE, THE METRICS THAT ARE USED, THE STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE USED TO, TO DETERMINE WHAT A WHAT A SCHOOL GETS ARE THE SAME. UM, THE WEIGHTS THAT THEY EACH RECEIVE ARE THE SAME. AND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE HIGHEST FUNDED, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SEMI RANKED NUMBER ONE SCHOOL AND THEN THE LOWEST RANKED SCHOOL, THAT DISTANCE IS ALSO THE SAME. AND THE FACT THAT IT'S ALLOCATED ON A PER UNDUPLICATED STUDENT BASIS, NOT ALL ENROLLMENT SPECIFICALLY UNDUPLICATED STUDENTS IS UNCHANGED. AND SO THE EQUITABLE DESIGN OF THE ALLOCATION IS THE SAME. WHAT'S DIFFERENT IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT IS, IS LOWER. AND HOW DO THESE PROJECTIONS, UM, THROUGHOUT, NOT ONLY IN STANDING, BUT THROUGHOUT THE, UM, FIRST INTERIM CHANGE CLASS SIZE CA CLASS, UH, COUNSELOR RATIOS, NURSE ACCESS INTERVENTION, STAFFING, OR AT HIGH NEED SCHOOLS, BEGINNING IN 26, 27, WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT TO OUR SCHOOLS? SO THE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF SCHOOL RESOURCES AND POSITIONS ARE NOT ANY AND OTHER DISCRETIONARY ALLOCATIONS. THE BIGGEST, OF COURSE, ARE THE POSITIONS THAT ARE PROVIDED BASED ON, ON THE NORM, WHAT WE CALL THE NORM. AND SO THE CLASS SIZES THAT ARE USED TO CALCULATE HOW MANY TEACHERS A A SCHOOL RECEIVES UNCHANGED. AND SO THE CLASS SIZES DUE TO THE NORM ALLOCATION OF TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, COUNSELORS UNCHANGED. AND AGAIN, THAT REPRESENTS THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESOURCES AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR TO, YOU COULD SEE A SCHOOL IMPACT, NOT BECAUSE WE CHANGE ANY FORMULA, BUT BECAUSE WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT. SO IF A SCHOOL LOSES A HUNDRED STUDENTS, NOT BECAUSE THE FORMULA CHANGED, BUT THAT LOSS OF STUDENT COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT DROP OFF IN ENROLLMENT, AS YOU KNOW, WE WENT FROM A PROJECTED, UH, ENROLLMENT DECLINED OF AROUND 2%, UH, TO, UH, 4%. IT'S GETTING BETTER BY THE WAY. WE KEEP PICKING UP STUDENTS MYSTERIOUSLY A FEW HUNDRED EVERY WEEK, WHICH IS VERY ENCOURAGING NEWS. SO WE WENT FROM A LOSS OF 4% TWO WEEKS AGO TO NOW 3.6%, UH, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. BUT THE ANTICIPATION WAS ONLY 2%. SO I WANNA BE CLEAR, THE FORMULAS DON'T CHANGE, BUT COULD A SCHOOL TO THE QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED, UH, BOARDMAN, MELVOIN OR DR. RIVAS, COULD A SCHOOL SCHOOL SEE AN IMPACT EVEN THOUGH THE FORMULA DOES NOT CHANGE? ABSOLUTELY. COULD, UH, ON A BASIS OF, UH, OF, [06:50:01] UH, DROP OFF IN ENROLLMENT, OTHER SCHOOLS COULD ACTUALLY SEE A GAIN OF FUNDING BECAUSE THEY HAVE PICKED UP ENROLLMENT, WHICH IS A PHENOMENON THAT VARIES FROM ZIP CODE TO ZIP CODE. THANK YOU. UM, HAVE YOU ANALYZED OR LOOKED INTO WHICH SCHOOLS LOSE THE MOST FLEXIBILITY UNDER ANY CARRYOVER ELIMINATION AND WHAT STUDENT SERVICES WILL BE MOST AT, AT RISK AS A RESULT? SO WE, WE DO KNOW WHAT THE ALLOCATIONS WERE BY SCHOOL AND CAN OF COURSE, COMPARE THAT TO LAST YEAR'S AL OR THIS YEAR'S, EXCUSE ME, ALLOCATION. AND SO THE FACTORS THAT WOULD CHANGE AN INDIVIDUAL'S SCHOOL'S ALLOCATION FOR CE ARE, OF COURSE, THE FACT THAT THE GRAND TOTAL SEMI IS, IS LOWER. UH, SO AT INSTEAD OF $700 MILLION, IT'S AT 6 0 1. BUT THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT GO INTO THE SEMI CALCULATION AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. ONE IS THE SEMI RANK, AND A SCHOOL'S RANK DOES CHANGE BECAUSE EVERY YEAR IT'S RECALCULATED BASED ON THOSE METRICS AND WEIGHTS THAT I MENTIONED. EVEN IF THE METRICS AND WEIGHTS THEMSELVES DON'T CHANGE A SCHOOL'S STUDENT DATA COULD CHANGE. AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER FACTOR. AND THEN THE THIRD IS, OF COURSE, THEIR UNDUPLICATED COUNT. AND SO FOR, AS THE SUPERINTENDENT JUST MENTIONED, IF THEIR UNDUPLICATED COUNT IS LOWER OR HIGHER THAN, THAN IN THE CURRENT YEAR, THEN THAT WOULD ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT ON C. WE WON'T KNOW ULTIMATELY WHAT SCHOOLS HAVE DECIDED TO DO WITH C FUNDS UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY. SO AT THE END OF JANUARY, WE'LL KNOW IF SCHOOL A DECIDED TO MAKE A REDUCTION IN MONEY SET ASIDE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS OR INDIVIDUAL POSITIONS, WE WON'T KNOW ULTIMATELY UNTIL JANUARY. 'CAUSE CURRENTLY SCHOOLS DO HAVE, UH, DISCRETION. UH, THEY HAVE TO WRITE A PLAN OF COURSE, BUT THEY DO HAVE DISCRETION ON, ON HOW SEMI FUNDS ARE BUDGETED. AND DID THE DISTRICT, DID YOU, UM, MODEL, UM, DID YOU DO A, UM, MODEL A DIFFERENTIATED IMPACT ON ACTIONS ON THESE ACTIONS ON HIGH POVERTY VERSUS LOW POVERTY CAMPUSES? SO NOT ON SEMI, BUT JUST OVERALL O OF THE, OF THE C CHANGE ITSELF OR JUST SE THE FISCAL, UM, STABILIZATION PLAN JUST OVERALL OF THE, UM, UH, PRODUCTION. UM, I MEAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY PRODUCE AN ANALYSIS IF, IF, IF THE BOARD WISHES. UM, BUT, BUT AGAIN, THE SEMI FORMULA WAS UNCHANGED, MAINTAINING THE EQUITABLE DESIGN. UM, AND SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, SCHOOLS SAW A CHANGE BASED ON THE OVERALL REDUCTION, BUT THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL IMPACT IS GONNA DEPEND ON THOSE OTHER, OTHER FACTORS THAT I MENTIONED. THE, WERE THESE DECISIONS MADE, UM, ANALYZING STUDENT IMPACT, UM, THAT NOW WILL LAY HEAVILY ON SCHOOLS DECISIONS? UM, I MEAN, YES, ALL DECISIONS THAT GET MADE BY THE DISTRICT WITH RESPECT TO THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, DAY-TO-DAY DECISIONS, OF COURSE, UH, MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS WHEN WE'RE FACING THE KIND OF OVERALL REDUCTIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY. UH, EVEN WHEN WE MAKE VERY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS TO CENTRAL OFFICE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES AS, AS WE ARE, AS WE'VE DEMONSTRATED IN THE UPDATED FSP, BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF OF RESOURCES ARE AT THE SCHOOLS AS THEY SHOULD BE. IT'S, IT'S A SCHOOL DISTRICT, UM, THERE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE FISCAL CHALLENGES THAT WE AND OTHER DISTRICTS ARE FACING. IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO WITHOUT MAKING CHANGES TO, TO SCHOOL LEVEL RESOURCES. NOW, I'LL JUST ECHO UH, SIMON'S POINT ON THAT. AND THEN ALSO, AS YOU LOOK AT THE FRAMEWORK OF THE FSP, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTENDED TO TRY TO REDUCE IMPACTS AT SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON THOSE FUNCTIONS, UH, INVESTMENTS THAT ARE FURTHEST AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL SITE. BUT THERE WILL UNINTENDEDLY THE UNINTENDEDLY BE IMPACTS AS A RESULT OF EITHER CENTRAL OFFICE REDUCTIONS, A REDUCTION IN CARRYOVER. BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YEAR OVER YEAR ALLOCATIONS OF SCHOOL SITES, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUSTAIN, UM, THOSE RESOURCES FOR OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. UM, SO MOVING ON TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SO OVER THE PAST YEAR, MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED THAT ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE FISCAL CIVILIZATION PLAN HAS NOT BEEN REALLY MEANINGFUL, AND THAT TOWN HALLS DID NOT ALLOW FOR REAL DIALOGUE OR SHARED PROBLEM SOLVING. WHEN WILL THE PUBLIC RECEIVE A CLEAR BREAKDOWN OF THE CONCRETE CHANGES TIED TO THE FSP ACTION, UH, FOR THE 26, 27 BUDGET CUTS? BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY IN OUR SCHOOLS. UM, I MEAN, WE ALWAYS WANT TO IMPROVE THE WAY WE ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND WHILE THE TOWN HALLS, WE THINK WE WERE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY, TO HEAR THEIR RESPONSES, TO QUESTIONS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT. UM, YOUR, YOUR FEEDBACK IS, IS APPRECIATED. SO STEP ONE IS, AS LACO IS REQUIRING US, WE'RE PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN FIGURES. AND SO, UH, THAT IS INCLUDED TONIGHT [06:55:01] IN THE SLIDES INCLUDED IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE, OF THE FIRST INTERIM BOARD MATERIALS. UM, AND THERE WILL, OF COURSE, UH, IF THE BOARD WISHES, WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL UPDATES. AND, UH, ONCE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT IS OVER IN PARTICULAR, WHEN WE HAVE A LOT MORE DETAIL ON SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT, THAT WERE FINALIZED BY EITHER SCHOOLS OR, OR CENTRAL OFFICES AS A, AS A RESULT OF THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, UM, WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE THAT AT A COMMUNITY OF THE WHOLE OR OR BOARD MEETING OR, OR IN WRITING. UM, SO YOU MENTIONED, UH, COMMUNITY OF THE WHOLE OR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITIES. OKAY. UM, ONE LAST QUESTION. SURE. WHY? BECAUSE I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING TO MY SCHOOLS AND MY PRINCIPALS, AND THERE ARE SOME OF MY SCHOOLS THAT THEIR ENROLLMENT DID NOT CHANGE OR REMAIN FLAT, ACTUALLY INCREASED, BUT THEY'RE STILL SEEING, UM, VAST REDUCTIONS IN THEIR BUDGET. SO THE ECA DIDN'T CHANGE AT ALL. UM, BUT THEY'RE STILL RECEIVING SOME REDUCTIONS. WHY? WHAT COULD BE THE REASONS FOR THAT? SO FOR A SCHOOL WHOSE ENROLLMENT IS, IS, IS HAS NOT DECLINED, LIKE THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED, THE NORM POSITIONS SHOULD NOT CHANGE. AND SO THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS, THE ADMINISTRATORS, THE COUNSELORS, ALL, ALL THE DIFFERENT CLERICAL STAFF, ALL THE POSITIONS THAT ARE PROVIDED AS PART OF THE NORM SHOULD NOT CHANGE. UM, BUT EVEN A SCHOOL WITH FLAT ENROLLMENT, WHEN C AS A WHOLE IS REDUCED FROM 700 TO 6 0 1, THERE WILL STILL BE CHANGES, UH, AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. AND SO THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED. UM, AND THE 0% CARRYOVER IS ANOTHER THAT, THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL MAY, MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED. BUT, BUT OTHERWISE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THE NORM WOULD, SHOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED. SO THE REASONS I WAS ASKING, UM, AND THE QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE IMPACT TO OUR SCHOOLS, UM, IT'S BECAUSE FISCAL SOLVENCY IS NECESSARY. SO I'M NOT ARGUING AGAINST THAT. BUT OVERALL, IT'S NOT EFFICIENT. UM, SUFFICIENT. A BUDGET THAT BALANCES BY SHIFTING RISKS ONTO SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS IS NOT TRULY SUSTAINABLE FOR THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND SERVICES THAT OUR STUDENTS NEED. AND, UM, AND THE ACTIONS OR THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN OVERALL IS, UM, IS GONNA CAUSE QUITE HARM. AND IT IS, AND I FEEL IT WHEN I GO TO MY SCHOOL, IS THE, THE STRESS AND THE FEAR, NOT ONLY FROM PRINCIPALS, BUT TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND EVEN STUDENTS AS WELL. SO THEY'RE ALREADY, UM, SEEING A DOOM JUST IN THE NEXT YEAR. SO THE, THIS BUDGET AND NEXT TWO, THE NEXT TWO YEARS IS, UM, IS COMPLETELY GONNA DESTABILIZE OUR CLASSROOMS AND OUR SCHOOLS. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR ON THE IMPACT FROM, UM, FROM C AND TARGETED FUNDS. THEY SEEM TO BE TOOLS RATHER THAN PROTECTED INVESTMENTS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY HERE IN THIS DISTRICT, WE TALK, THE DISTRICT TALKS A LOT ABOUT EQUITY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET, IT'S QUITE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE, WE, WHAT WE STAND FOR IN THIS DISTRICT. SO THIS CONTRADICTS OUR STATED VALUES. EQUITY SHOULD NOT BE THE LAST PLACE WE CUT, NOT THE FIRST PLACE THAT WE BORROW FROM AS WELL. SO WE WE'RE BORROWING FROM THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE ALLOCATED TO OUR HIGHEST AND HIGH NEED SCHOOLS AND TAKING AWAY FROM THEM. UM, AND I'VE, I'VE HEARD YOUR ARGUMENTS ON, ON WHY THIS IS SO, BUT UM, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS GONNA CAUSE QUITE HARM FOR OUR SCHOOL. SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. I HAVE MORE COMMENTS LATER, BUT I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR MY OTHER COLLEAGUES WHO WANNA ASK MORE QUESTIONS. MS. RIEGEL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIMONE. UM, I WANNA, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, UH, THAT STEM FROM YOUR PRESENTATION. UM, I SEE THE, WHERE IT SAYS BREAKING DOWN LAU IS THESE OVERALL BUDGET, I THINK IT'S A ONE OF THE FIRST OR SECOND ONES. UM, YEAH, SO I SEE GENERAL FUND, IT HAS UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED, AND THEN IT ALSO HAS SPECIAL RESERVE ADULT ED, CHILD DEVELOPMENT FUND AND CAFETERIA FUND. MM-HMM . SO I THOUGHT ADULT ED CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND CAFETERIA WORTHY RESTRICTED FUNDS. BUT I SEE ANOTHER BOX HERE THAT SAYS RESTRICTED. SO WHAT FALLS UNDER THOSE RESTRICTED? SO WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, AS YOU POINT OUT, THERE IS UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED, AND WE DON'T DECIDE WHAT GOES INTO RESTRICTED VERSUS UNRESTRICTED. THEY'RE, UM, RESTRICTED BY LAW. BUT THE ADULT ED FUND AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT FUND AND CAFETERIA FUNDS ARE ALSO RESTRICTED [07:00:01] IN A WAY. SO ADULT ED FUNDS ARE FOR USE ONLY WITHIN THE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM. THE CAFETERIA FUND, BECAUSE OF THE SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR, FOR THE CAFETERIA FUND, IS ALSO RESTRICTED TO ONLY BE USED WITHIN THE CAFETERIA PROGRAM. SO THAT'S FOR THINGS LIKE THE FOOD ITSELF AND THE STAFF THAT, THAT PREPARES AND, AND, AND, AND SERVES IT. AND, AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT FUND ALSO, IT IS RESTRICTED FOR USE ONLY WITHIN THOSE PROGRAMS. BUT WHAT IS THE, THE SECOND BOX UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED, WHAT GOES UNDER THAT BOX OF RESTRICTED? THOSE ARE UNDER GENERAL FUND ONLY. SO WHAT ARE THEY, WHAT ARE THOSE FUNDS? SO LIKE EXAMPLES OF THAT. SO LCFF IS THE BIGGEST SOURCE OF UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FOR THE DISTRICT. OKAY. UM, EXAMPLES OF RESTRICTED FUNDS ARE TITLE ONE, UH, SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDS LIKE IDEA AND AB 6 0 2, UM, ELOP, THE EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM. UM, THOSE ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF, OF PROGRAMS THAT EITHER BY THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE RESTRICTED. OKAY. IT WOULD BE SUPER HELPFUL TO SEE THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT CONSTITUTES PART OF THE RESERVE. RIGHT? AND THEN WHEN WE'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FIVE POINT SOMETHING BILLION DOLLAR RESERVE, WE'RE LOOKING AT BOTH THE RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED FUNDS. AND SO WE KNOW UNRESTRICTED CAN GO TO ANYTHING BUT THE RESTRICTED, I THINK WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, BREAK IT APART AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT THOSE FUNDS ARE. BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE, TITLE ONE, A LOT OF POSITIONS ARE PURCHASED WITH TITLE ONE FUNDS, RIGHT. SO IT'S NOT ONLY UNRESTRICTED THAT PAYS FOR SALARIES. THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S ALSO RESTRICTED, THAT PAYS FOR SALARIES. AND I THINK FOR ME, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL AND A MUCH, UH, CLEARER PICTURE TO SEE WHAT EXACTLY COMES OUT OF RESTRICTED. WHAT, WHAT POSITIONS ARE WE PAYING POSITIONS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE, YOU ARE SAYING THEY TAKE UP MOST OF OUR BUDGET. SO WHAT POSITIONS ARE PAID FOR OUT OF RESTRICTED, UM, YOU KNOW, TITLE ONE, THAT THAT MONEY HAS BEEN REDUCED DRAMATICALLY, LIKE DR. REBA'S WAS SHARING ABOUT HER SCHOOLS. I HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AT MY SCHOOL WHERE THEIR, UM, THEIR ENROLLMENT DIDN'T DECREASE, BUT THEIR TITLE ONE FUNDS DECREASED. I UNDERSTAND THE SEMI I WE TALKED ABOUT THAT HAPPENING. IT WAS IN THE FSP, BUT TITLE ONE BA I THOUGHT IT WAS BASED ON, ON THE ENROLLMENT, BUT IF THERE'S NO ENROLLMENT CHANGE, THEN WHY WAS THAT REDUCED? UM, SO YEAH, WHAT, WHY WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN REDUCED IF THERE WAS NO ENROLLMENT CHANGE? SO TITLE ONE, AS YOU KNOW, IS, IS, UH, FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND SO EACH YEAR WE RECEIVE OR ESTIMATE TO RECEIVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TITLE ONE, AND THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE IT WORK WITHIN THE, THE, THE, THE DIFFERENT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AND ALLOCATIONS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO SCHOOLS WITH THE FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE. AND SO THAT INCLUDES BOTH THE AMOUNT THAT WE'LL RECEIVE AS NEW REVENUE, BUT ALSO ANY CARRYOVER FUNDS THAT HAVE CARRIED OVER FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. SO TITLE ONE DOES ALLOW FOR SOME LIMITED AMOUNT OF CARRYOVER OF UNSPENT FUNDS FROM PRIOR YEARS. AND SO WHAT WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR IS FEWER CARRYOVER FUNDS FOR TITLE ONE THAN WE HAD IN THE PAST. AND SO SPENDING LEVELS HAD INCREASED FOR TITLE ONE, UH, UH, THIS YEAR. AND SO THERE'S EXPECTED TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS CARRYOVER FUNDS AND THEN ALSO THE NEW REVENUES THAT WE EXPECT TO GET FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TITLE ONE ARE ALSO LOWER. SO THAT COMBINATION OF FACTORS IS WHY THERE WAS AN IMPACT ON, ON SCHOOL ALLOCATIONS. SO PART OF IT IS WHAT IS REAL AND HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. PART OF IT IS A PROJECTION THAT, THAT IMPACTED HOW MUCH MONEY A SCHOOL GOT. YEAH. I MEAN, WHENEVER WE'RE BUILDING THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, WE, WE DO HAVE TO RELY ON, ON, ON A PROJECTION ON ON ESTIMATE. SO THAT COULD CHANGE, THOUGH. SCHOOLS COULD GET MORE MONEY. IT'S POSSIBLE AT SOME POINT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, IT'S POSSIBLE. AND THAT IS PART OF OUR KIND OF GENERAL PRACTICE TO TRUE UP. I, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, YOU KNOW, RESTRICTED FUNDS IN THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PRODUCE A REPORT THAT CLEARLY OUTLINES HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE KIND OF COMMITTED IN THOSE RESTRICTED AMOUNTS, JUST LIKE YOU SEE IN KIND OF, IN THE, UH, FOLLOWING SLIDES AROUND THE ASSIGNED, UH, BALANCES. I, I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT TOO. UM, BECAUSE I, I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS USEFUL. I KNOW WE'VE DONE IT IN, IN PRIOR PRESENTATIONS, SO YOU CAN SEE SPECIFICALLY WHAT THOSE RESOURCES ARE COMMITTED TO DISTRICT WIDE. UM, BUT I, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT YEAR OVER YEAR, WE ALWAYS PROJECT OUT, BUT ALSO LOOK AT IT FROM, I WOULD SAY, UH, A MORE PROGRESSIVE AND LIBERAL SENSE THAN WHAT ACTUALLY CD EVEN RECOMMENDS WHEN IT COMES TO HOW WE PROJECT OUT, UH, ENROLLMENT IMPACTS FOR TITLE I, UM, CD WOULD GENERALLY SAY THAT TO BALLPARK IT TO 85% OF YOUR ENROLLMENT, UM, WE'RE CLOSER TO 95%. SO WE ARE A LITTLE MORE, UM, LIBERAL IN HOW WE'RE KIND OF DEFINING THE OUT YEAR PROJECTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO TITLE ONE. UM, ARE WE, WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE'RE EXPECTING [07:05:01] TO, TO LOSE IN, IN THIS BUDGET YEAR? WHAT IS THE PROJECTED PERCENTAGE THAT WE TOOK ACCOUNT WHEN WE DECIDED TO, TO SEND, YOU KNOW, A RED, A REDUC, A REDUCED AMOUNT TO THE SCHOOL SITES? LEMME, LEMME TRY TO ANSWER THAT. SO, AS SIMON SAID, THE BIGGEST, THE BIGGEST ISSUE IMPACTING TITLE I IS NOT NECESSARILY A REDUCTION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL BECAUSE THE FEDS HAVE NOT APPROPRIATED FOR THE NEXT YEAR. IT IS, AND I'LL GIVE YOU, I'LL SPECIFY FOR YOU, WHAT'S AMAN SAID IS THAT IN TITLE ONE, LIKE OTHER FUNDS, HISTORICALLY THE DISTRICT HAS UNDERSPENT, THE FEDERAL LAW ALLOWS UP TO 15% OF THE DISTRICT'S ALLOCATION OF TITLE ONE TO BE ROLLED OVER. IF YOU GO OVER THE 15%, YOU LOSE THE MONEY UNLESS YOU FILE AN APPEAL TO KEEP IT OVER THE PAST 3, 4, 5 YEARS. CERTAINLY AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, THE CARRYOVER HAS ACTUALLY BEEN PRETTY HIGH. HOWEVER, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, MUCH LIKE EVEN SCHOOL CARRYOVER PRINCIPALS, SCHOOL COUNCILS HAVE BEEN MORE EFFICIENT THAN SPENDING THE MONEY. SO FOR THIS COMING YEAR, THE, AND WE SAW THIS EVEN THIS PAST YEAR, THE CARRYOVER OF TITLE ONE SHRUNK DRAMATICALLY. HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE SCHOOL BUDGET? WHEN WE HAVE A CARRYOVER, THE DISTRICT COLLECTS THAT MONEY BACK, UNLIKE GENERAL FUND, TITLE ONE CARRYOVER ACTUALLY COMES BACK TO THE DISTRICT AND THEN REALLOCATES IT BACK TO THE SCHOOLS. SO SCHOOLS WOULD SEE SOMETIMES AN ALLOCATION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR TO THE FOLLOWING YEAR THAT ACTUALLY WENT UP. NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE, NOT BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN POVERTY INCREASED, BUT BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE DISTRICT HAD TO DISTRIBUTE ACTUALLY WENT UP. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE, AND DR. ESTRADA WHO, WHO RUNS THE TITLE ONE, UH, DIVISION, AND AT HER SIGNALED WHEN I ASKED THE QUESTION, CAN WE CAPITALIZE ON MORE TITLE ONE FUNDING TO OFFSET SOME OF THE REDUCTIONS ELSEWHERE, NO, BECAUSE PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOLS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN MORE EFFICIENT IN UTILIZING THE TITLE ONE FUNDING IN THE YEAR THERE WAS ACTUALLY ALLOCATED, I CAN ASSURE YOU EVEN THOUGH, GOOD QUESTION. SO THAT, THAT VARIANCE UP TO 15%, THAT COULD BE IMPACTING SCHOOLS AS A FUNCTION OF A MUCH LOWER CARRYOVER. WE DO NOT KNOW AT THIS POINT EXACTLY WHAT THE APPROPRIATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE. THAT IS A PROJECTION. SO BEST CASE SCENARIO IS THAT IT WOULD BE WHATEVER IT WAS THIS YEAR, WE HAVE SOME FEELINGS THAT IT MORE THAN LIKELY WILL NOT BE BASED ON COMMENTS MADE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. UM, BUT WE CANNOT ANTICIPATE THAT. BUT THE GREATEST IMPACT IS THE REDUCTION OF CARRY OVER THAT TRANSLATES INTO POSSIBLY IN SOME CASES A LOWER ALLOCATION BACK TO SCHOOLS. SO IT'S A REAL, UM, IT'S NOT A PROJECTION. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THAT IT'S ACTUALLY A REAL AMOUNT, UH, THAT WAS, THAT WAS NOT CARRIED OVER THIS YEAR. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY LEFT OR RIGHT MEMBER GREG. ABSOLUTELY. SO THE, THE ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH A LOWER CARRY OVER THAT TRANSLATES INTO AN OR OVERALL LOWER INVESTMENT BACK TO SCHOOLS IS NOT A PROJECTION. IT IS A REAL NUMBER. OKAY. UM, I MIGHT, I MIGHT HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, JUST TOTALLY GET IT. BUT LET ME, LET ME QUALIFY THAT WE STILL HAVE MONTHS TO GO. WHAT WE GET IS THE RATE OF SPEND AT SCHOOLS, RIGHT? SO WE SEE THE PROJECTION TO ACTUAL, AND BASED ON THE RATE OF EXPENDITURE IN THE TITLE ONE ACCOUNTS, WE EXPECT THAT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, LIKE WE SAW LAST YEAR, THAT CARRYOVER WILL BE GREATLY REDUCED. IF FOR WHATEVER REASON SOMETHING HAPPENS WHERE FOR THE REMAINING FIVE, SIX MONTHS UNTIL THE END OF THE, THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR, UM, THE RATE OF EXPENDITURES DECREASES, THEN THERE WOULD BE AN ADJUSTMENT. BUT BASED ON THE RATE OF EXPENDITURES SO FAR, THAT IS WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE. OKAY. UM, AND THEN REGARDING C YOU SAID THAT THE, THE REDUCTION OR THE MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE SCHOOLS WAS BASED ON THE METRICS OF, OR THE ENROLLMENT OF 20 20, 20 21, IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? AND THEN, SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S A REDUCTION. IT'S DUE TO THAT'S PART OF A, THE REASON WHY THERE'S REDUCTION IT'S DUE TO, TO DECLINING ENROLLMENT IS, IS CORRECT. THAT'S OKAY. BUT WE USED THE MONEY THAT, UM, THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO SCHOOLS IN 2021 WAS THE BASELINE, RIGHT? SO SAY A SCHOOL GOT A MILLION DOLLARS IN 2021 BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT QUALIFIED FOR THAT AMOUNT, YOU USED THAT SAME NUMBER TO ALLOCATE FOR THIS COMING YEAR, RIGHT? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? LEMME TACKLE THAT. SO THE PUREST EXAM, YES. THE ANSWER IS YES. LET ME QUANTIFY FOR YOU. LET'S SAY A SCHOOL GOT A MILLION DOLLARS INCENTIVE AND THEN THEY LOST 10% OF THEIR STUDENTS OVER YEARS, THEN THE SCHOOL IS PROBABLY GETTING $900,000 [07:10:01] INSTEAD OF A MILLION BECAUSE THE SCHOOL LOST 10% OF ITS MEMBERSHIP, THEREFORE LOST 10% OF ITSS. THE DISTRIBUTION IS STILL DONE ON THE BASIS OF SE, HIAS, SEHI, ET CETERA. THAT DOES NOT CHANGE. BUT WHAT IS BEING, WHAT IS REFLECTED, UH, IN THE PLAN AT THIS POINT, SPECIFIC TO SE, IS NOT A REDUCTION OVERALL REDUCTION OFS INVESTMENT PER PUPIL. IT IS A REDUCTION AS A RESULT OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT AT THAT SPECIFIC SCHOOL. OKAY. WELL, THE REASON WHY I ASK IS BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT WE HEARD FROM FOLKS AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE GROUND FROM SCHOOLS IS THAT SOME OF OUR HIGHEST SUNNY SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY THE ONES LOSING THE MOST. SO THAT TELLS ME THAT THOSE ARE, AND I KNOW MY DISTRICT IN SOUTHEAST LA AND SOUTH LA ENROLLMENT HAS DO, HAS GONE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY. A A BIG REASON IS, YOU KNOW, THE ICE RATES. SO THE EQUITY PIECE SEEMS TO BE MISSING IN THAT, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S A, IT'S AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN HIGHLY IMPACTED BY THINGS THAT THEY'RE OUT OF THEIR CONTROL. LIKE ENROLLMENT IS NOT, THE ENROLLMENT DECREASE IN THAT IN THOSE AREAS IS NOT THE SAME. WE CAN ASSUME IT'S NOT THE SAME AS REGULAR LOW ENROLLMENT THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE HAPPENED. SO IF THOSE SCHOOLS ARE NOW LOSING EVEN MORE BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF THEIR, THEIR CONTROL AND THINGS THAT WE WERE NOT EXPECTING, THAT MEANS THAT THEY ARE NOW FEELING EVEN MORE SO OF A DESTABILIZATION AND, AND ARE HURTING MORE. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM FOLKS ON, YOU KNOW, AT SCHOOL SITES IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S LIKE THERE'S A SCHOOL THAT I GOT AN EMAIL THAT'S LOSING 31 POSITIONS, OTHERS THAT ARE LOSING LIKE A HUNDRED, YOU KNOW, $200,000. WHAT I'M HEARING TOO IS THAT NORMALLY THEY WOULD PURCHASE PSW PSAS, EVEN SCHOOL CLIMATE ADVOCATES, AND THOSE ARE THE POSITIONS THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PURCHASE ANYMORE. PS ANY OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE, OF THE NORM, LIKE YOU SAID, THEY'RE NOT LOSING THEIR NORMS. TRUE. BUT NOW THEY DON'T HAVE THAT FUNDING FOR ALL THE OTHER THINGS, INTERVENTIONISTS, EVERYTHING, ALL THESE OTHER SUPPORTS THAT I HAVE. SO I'M JUST LIKE WORRIED THAT THESE HIGH SUNNY SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN HIGHLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN STABILIZED ARE NOW FURTHER DE EVEN MORE SO THAN WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING BECAUSE OF THIS. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT THE THE UM, THE UH, THE SEMI, UH, TAKE BACK WAS DONE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A PIECE MISSING THERE IN TERMS OF EQUITY IF WE CAN'T SEE IT. ALL THE DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT ARE IMPACTING SCHOOLS AND SOME, AND I THINK WE NEED TO, I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY AND I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD DO THAT STUDY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW SOME OF OUR HIGH, HIGH SUNNY SCHOOLS ARE, ARE DOING. AND IF THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, INDEED MORE THAN HIGHLY IMPACTED. SO THAT'S ON C THE OTHER THING I WANNA ASK IS ABOUT FUND 17 MM-HMM . SO YOU SAID WE'RE GONNA WITH, WE'RE GONNA WITHDRAW THE MONEY FOR FUND 17 NEXT YEAR IN 27, 28, WRITE THE FULL MONEY, ALL OF IT. WE'RE NOT GONNA DO IT NOW. AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE YEAR THAT WE WOULD GO INTO A DEFICIT. YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S THE YEAR THAT WE START TO SEE IT DIP. THAT'S RIGHT. NOW THERE IS AN ARGUMENT THAT HAS BEEN SAID THAT PART OF THE REASON WHY WE'RE PULLING BACK CARRY OVER IS BECAUSE THERE'S, THAT'S MONEY THAT IS BUDGETED. IT'S SITTING THERE AND SCHOOLS SHOULD BE USING MONEY THAT ARE GIVEN AND ALLOCATED THAT YEAR FOR THE STUDENTS THAT YEAR. OUR STUDENTS, THE STUDENTS RIGHT THERE DESERVE THAT. I WOULD USE THE SAME ARGUMENT WHEN IT COMES TO FUND 17. I WOULD SAY OUR STUDENTS NEED IT NOW. AND IF WE ARE HEARING THAT THERE ARE MAJOR REDUCTIONS AND MAJOR CUTS TO SERVICES THAT IMPACT STUDENTS' HOLISTIC WELLBEING, I DON'T WANNA WAIT TILL 27, 28 TO USE THAT MONEY. THAT TO ME CONCERNS ME. AND YOU'RE SAYING IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME THING AT THE END, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE TO DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO, BUT IT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE HOLDING OFF ON USING FUND 17 NOW IN THIS COMING YEAR SO THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN HAVE THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED, THEIR HOLISTIC SUPPORTS NOW BECAUSE THAT IS MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SITTING THERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, NOT JUST THIS YEAR. AND SO THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. NOW WE'RE USING IT TO, TO STABILIZE, BUT OUR KIDS NEED IT NOW. SO I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE SHOULD USE THE SAME, WE SHOULD FOLLOW OUR OWN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOL SITES AND [07:15:01] USE THE MONEY NOW. SO THAT'S ON THE ON FUND 17, UM, ASSIGNED. SO THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, THE GENERAL FUND, UNRESTRICTED ASSIGNED BALANCES. UM, I SEE HERE, UM, THE CARRYOVER, OKAY, THIS YEAR WE'RE PULLING ALL THAT CARRY OVER AND THEN THERE'S NONE PULLED. WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THAT MONEY? I MEAN, WHAT ALL OF THESE ASSIGNED MONIES? WHAT HAPPENS TO IT? SO WHEN IT'S BEING UNASSIGNED, UM, AND THEN BASICALLY IN PRACTICE TRANSFERRED TO UNASSIGNED OR BECOMES UNASSIGNED, UM, IT ALLOWS FOR US TO ADDRESS THE PROJECTED NEGATIVE BANK ACCOUNT BALANCE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. OTHERWISE WE'D HAVE TO IDENTIFY OTHER CUTS. AND SO ANYTIME WE MOVE A BALANCE FROM ONE CATEGORY TO UNASSIGNED, UH, FROM ASSIGNED TO UNASSIGNED FROM FUND 17 TO UNASSIGNED, IT ALLOWS US TO OFFSET CUTS DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR THAT WE OTHERWISE WOULD'VE HAD TO MAKE. AND SO, UM, THAT, THAT'S WHAT WHAT'S HAPPENING. SO YOU'RE SAYING IT'S ALSO BEING USED IN THE SAME WAY AS, OKAY, SO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, IT GOES 5.7 THIS YEAR, 11.7 THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AND THEN 17.6, WHAT DOES THAT CONSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS? THOSE ARE JUST PRE ESTIMATES FOR, UH, FUNDS THAT CURRENT THAT CARRY OVER. SO THE CARRYOVER PRACTICE IN THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN ONLY AFFECTS C AND THE GENERAL FUND SCHOOL PROGRAM, THERE ARE MULTIPLE OTHER SCHOOL CARRYOVER PROGRAMS WHERE THE CARRYOVER PRACTICE IS UNCHANGED. AND, AND THAT'S, UH, ONE EXAMPLE OF THEM. OKAY. BUT I, I JUST WANNA KNOW, DOES THAT, IS THAT MONEY GONNA BE USED FOR THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS DIRECTOR, FOR THE COACHES, FOR THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATORS AT SCHOOL SITES? FOR THE COMMUNITY REPS AT SCHOOL SITES FOR THE $300,000? YES. IS THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE? YES. OKAY. THOSE FUNDS CANNOT BE USED. THOSE FUNDS ARE RETAINING THOSE ACCOUNTS. SO THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS LINE IS NOT TOUCHED. UH, THE CARRYOVER POLICY DOES NOT APPLY. IF SCHOOLS DON'T USE IT IN ONE YEAR, IT MOVES OVER TO THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THE SCHOOLS CAN USE THOSE DOLLARS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL'S GUIDELINES. THEY CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE FOR GENERAL FUND RELIEF. THEY ARE TIED TO THAT PROGRAM. SO AGAIN, THEN ANY SORT OF, UM, OFFERS ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IS PART OF THE, THE DEMANDS, UM, FROM BOTH OF OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR BARGAINING, UH, PARTNERS. UM, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THESE FUNDS THEN ARE NOT PART OF THE WORKFORCE PROTECTION STABILIZATION BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY PROTECTED UNDER THIS LINE? THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE FUNDS ARE ALREADY IN LINES AT SCHOOLS. THE $796 MILLION IN THE WORKFORCE STABILIZATION FUND, PLUS THE 100 MILLION, UM, ARE NOT IN SCHOOLS YET. THEY'RE AT CENTRAL OFFICE. SO THOSE INVESTMENTS OF THE ROUGHLY $900 MILLION IN THE WORKFORCE STABILIZATION FUND ONCE INVESTED INTO SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF EITHER POSITIONS, HOURS, UM, STIPENDS FOR ADDITIONAL, UH, UH, COMMUNITY SCHOOL, UH, ENTITIES ARE NOT REFLECTED IN THESE ACCOUNTS YET. THIS IS BASICALLY UNSPENT MONEY AT SCHOOL ACCOUNTS SPECIFIC TO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. OH, THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS LINE. THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. IT'S UNSPENT MONEY. ALRIGHT. OKAY. WE, WE DON'T TOUCH THAT. THAT'S RIGHT. AND, AND ACCESS AND EQUITY PROGRAMS, WHAT ARE THOSE? SO THIS IS JUST A CATEGORIZATION OF, OF, UM, THE DETAIL THAT'S PROVIDED IN THE FIRST INTERIM REPORT. AND WE CAN PROVIDE YOU A, THE MAPPING TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S INCLUDED IN EACH OF, EACH OF EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES. I THINK IT WOULD BE, I KNOW IT'S IN THE BOARD BOOK IN, IN THE, UH, MATERIALS THAT YOU GAVE ME MM-HMM . THAT YOU GAVE US. I'M SORRY. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO, TO GIVE EXAMPLES OF WHAT THEY ARE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ALSO SEE THAT IT'S EASILY ACCESSIBLE SO WE KNOW WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE. OKAY. UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, AND WE CAN GIVE YOU THE DETAIL, IT'S SPECIFICALLY AROUND ACCESS TO AP, COVERING THE COST FOR STUDENTS, UM, DRILL TEAM UNIFORMS, ENSURING THAT ALL SCHOOLS HAVE THAT COVERED FROM A DISTRICT PERSPECTIVE. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCESS AND EQUITY ACROSS THE DISTRICT. UM, AND THEN, LET'S SEE HERE. UM, I'M GONNA STOP THERE. I MIGHT HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS THOUGH. THANK YOU. OH, WHO'S NEXT? SHERETTE PLEASE. THANKS AMAN. UM, THANKS FOR THE [07:20:01] REPORT AND UM, A LOT HAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED AND I WON'T REPEAT TOO MANY, BUT, UH, WANTED, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WE DID MENTION C AND I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT CA LOT AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED, UM, C AND THE DATA USED TO CALCULATE C WAS 21 DATA AND THEN WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL 400. IS, IS THAT WHAT YOU MENTIONED IN 2122, THERE WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT SUNNY WAS AT THE, TO THE CURRENT, TO THE TOTAL OF $700 MILLION WHERE IT'S BEEN THROUGH THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR. AND $700 MILLION WAS FUNDED IN PART 300 MILLION OF THE 700 WAS FUNDED USING SER FUNDS. THOSE ONE TIME COVID FUNDS, ONE TIME FUNDS. SO THOSE FUNDS ARE GONE. THAT'S RIGHT. AND SO TO KEEP, I GUESS THE SAME I ALLOCATION, HOW WERE WE DOING THAT? SO OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE RELIED ON KIND OF UNSPENT FUNDS FROM WHAT WE CALL TSP TARGETED STUDENT POPULATION FUNDS. BUT WE'VE HAD TO KIND OF SCRAPE IT TOGETHER. UM, IT, IT'S BEEN, UM, THROUGH THOSE THAT THAT'S HOW IT'S BEEN MAINTAINED AT $700 MILLION THERE, THERE HASN'T BEEN SUFFICIENT ONGOING NEW SUPPLEMENTAL CONCENTRATE, SUPPLEMENTAL CONCENTRATION GRANT FUNDING, WHICH IS THE PORTION OF THE LCFF FUNDS THAT, THAT FUND SENI AND OTHER IMPORTANT PROGRAMS TO FUND SENI AT $700 MILLION AND ALL OF THE OTHER IMPORTANT SUPPORTS AND SERVICES THAT ARE ALSO FUNDED WITH THOSE SAME, UH, GRANTS FROM THE STATE. GOT IT. AND SO WITH THAT SEMI FUND, AT THE RATE OR THE ALLOCATION THAT WAS EARMARKED, DID STUDENTS RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME POT OF MONEY, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND LET THE, AND AS THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND, IT'S THE SAME POT OF MONEY, CORRECT. DO THEY GET DOUBLE BECAUSE YOU USE THIS EQUATION BUT HOWEVER FUNDED IT AT 700 WHEN THAT WASN'T WHAT THE EQUATION COULD HAVE BEEN FUNDED BASED ON THE BUDGET THAT WE HAD? SO THE, THE, I, I'LL TRY NOT TO GET, GET TOO INTO THE WEEDS, BUT C IS, AS I MENTIONED, THE THE METRICS THAT ARE USED, THE STUDENT METRICS, THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE USED, AND THEN THE WEIGHTS THAT EACH ARE GIVEN HAS BEEN THE SAME, HAS BEEN UNCHANGED. UM, THE, WHAT'S CHANGED IS THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT, UM, THAT'S USED TO PROVIDE EACH SCHOOL THEIR KIND OF PRO RATA SHARE OF THAT TOTAL. SO THAT PRO RATA SHARE THAT EACH SCHOOL GETS IS BASED OFF OF THOSE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED, THE DIFFERENT STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS, THE WEIGHTS THAT THEY, THEY'RE THAT ARE APPLIED TO EACH, THE UNDUPLICATED COUNT FOR EACH SCHOOL. UM, AND THE WAY THE FORMULA WORKS IS THE LOOK AT HIGH SCHOOLS TOGETHER, FOR EXAMPLE, BASED ON THOSE METRICS AND WEIGHTS, THERE WILL BE A SEMI RANKED NUMBER ONE HIGH SCHOOL THAT HAS THE HIGHEST NEEDS BASED ON THAT METHODOLOGY, THEN SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE LOWEST RANKED HIGH SCHOOL. AND SO THE WAY THAT THAT IT WORKS IS THE, AND I THINK YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS, BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF, OF THE PUBLIC, UM, THE TOP RANKED THE HIGH, THE NUMBER ONE RANKED SEMI SCHOOL WITHIN HIGH SCHOOLS GETS THREE TIMES THE PER UNDUPLICATED STUDENT AMOUNT AS THE LOWEST RANK HIGH SCHOOL. AND SO IT'S THREE X THREE X NOT PER STUDENT, THREE X PER UNDUPLICATED STUDENT. AND THE UNDUPLICATED STUDENTS, THAT TOP RANK SCHOOL MIGHT HAVE THREE TIMES THE NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED STUDENTS AS THE LOWEST RANK SCHOOL. SO IN THIS EXAMPLE, THEY MIGHT GET NINE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF, OF FUNDING THE HIGHEST RANK VERSUS THE LOWEST RANK SCHOOL. SO THAT, AND THEN EVERY SCHOOL FROM TWO ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM IS KIND OF EVENLY DISTRIBUTED. AND SO THE LAST DETAIL TO IDENTIFY THE AMOUNTS ARE, IS THE GRAND TOTAL. AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE MADE THE AVERAGE PER STUDENT AMOUNT, THE PER STUDENT AMOUNT DEPENDS ON THE SCHOOL, RIGHT. SOME SCHOOLS GET A MUCH HIGHER PER STUDENT AMOUNT THAN THAN OTHERS. THE AVERAGE PER STUDENT AMOUNT IS THE SAME AS IT WAS IN 2122 THE FIRST YEAR THAT IT WAS AT 700 MILLION. AND EVEN THOUGH THE ENROLLMENT HAD NOT BEEN THE SAME AT 21, THAT'S EXACTLY, SO IN ESSENCE, THOSE STUDENTS EVEN THREE TIMES NINE TIMES, WERE RECEIVING MUCH MORE WITH THE EQUATION BECAUSE THE BUCKET OF FUNDING WAS AT THE LEVEL AT WHICH, YES. IF YOU HAD THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS YOU HAD IN 21, 22, YES. OKAY. JUST WANTED THAT FOR CLARIFICATION. AND THEN I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT THE CARRYOVER AND I KNOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE REALLY HURTING ON THE CARRYOVER. AND I KNOW SOME MENTION HERE THAT IT MAY BE ROOM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T FORESEE THE FUTURE, BUT WHAT ABOUT SCHOOLS THAT HAD SAVED MONEY TO PURCHASE POSITIONS? OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NO LONGER, BUT IF THAT WAS PART OF STABILIZING THEIR SCHOOL, HOW DO WE HELP THEM TO STAY STABLE IF THIS FUNDING [07:25:01] IS REMOVED? SO WE ALWAYS ADVISE SCHOOLS THAT IT'S POSITION SHOULD NOT BE FUNDED WITH, WITH CARRYOVER. UH, CARRYOVER BY DEFINITION IS ONE TIME FUNDING. IT'S FUNDING THAT EITHER WAS UNSPENT FROM THE PRIOR YEAR OR MAY HAVE ACCUMULATED OR SEVERAL YEARS WHERE IT CONTINUED TO GROW. AND SO FUNDING A POSITION AS PART OF ANY KIND OF STRATEGY AT THE SCHOOL WITH CARRYOVER FUNDS IS, IS, IS WE NEVER WOULD RECOMMEND AS PART OF THE, THE SUPPORTS THAT WE PROVIDE AND BUDGET TO SCHOOLS THAT THE REGIONS AND, AND REGION DIRECTORS PROVIDE. SO THAT, THAT WE WOULD NEVER ADVISE A, A SCHOOL TO DO THAT. WHAT WE DO ADVISE, AND THIS IS NOT SO MUCH BUDGET AS, AS THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS IN THE REGIONS, BUT WE DO SUPPORT SCHOOLS IN PRIORITIZING AND, AND DETERMINING WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY SHOULD BUDGET BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS, BASED ON THEIR ACADEMIC SCORES, BASED ON THEIR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT WHETHER WE ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE IN THE PANDEMIC WHERE THERE ARE RECORD LEVELS OF FUNDING OR IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WE FIND OURSELVES NOW WHERE FUNDING LEVELS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER. AND SO THAT SUPPORT IS ABOUT PRIORITIZATION WITH, WITH FEWER RESOURCES AND, AND MAKING SURE THAT, UM, TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS WHEN THEY'RE DECIDING DO I FUND THIS TYPE OF POSITION OR THIS KIND OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR THIS KIND OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND, AND TO WHAT, WHAT'S GONNA MEET THE, THE NEEDS OF, OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS STUDENTS. GOT IT. BUT, AND I MEAN, TO THAT POINT, AS YOU MENTIONED THAT AND APPRECIATE THE ADVICE TO NOT FUND POSITIONS, BUT WITH THE SERS, IS THAT NOT WHAT WE HAD ULTIMATELY DONE? I MEAN WITH ONE TIME FUNDS? THAT'S RIGHT. 'CAUSE ESSER WAS NOT IN PERPETUITY, BUT YET WE FUNDED POSITIONS AND NOW WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE NO LONGER HERE. AND TO MY COLLEAGUE MELVIN'S POINT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA BE HERE BECAUSE THAT FUNDING IS NOT HERE. CORRECT. YES. UM, LIKE I SAID, MUCH HAS BEEN SAID, I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE SOME OF THE THINGS SO WE ALL KIND OF SPEAKING IN THE SAME LANGUAGE. AND I KNOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UM, ONCE FUND 17 IS GONE, THAT'S NOT REPLENISHED AT ALL ONCE IT'S GONE. THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S ZEROED OUT. GOT IT. YES. UM, IF, IF I MAY, WHAT THE BOARD MEMBER MM-HMM . THINKS ABOUT THE NEXT QUESTION. SO THIS, UM, THE UPDATED FSB PLAN, WHICH IS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERED FROM WHAT YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE, CAN BE ALTERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I MEAN, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE GOVERNOR RELEASES HIS BUDGET REQUEST IN JANUARY. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR, MONITOR WHAT IS HAPPENING. SECOND INTERIM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR, MONITOR OUR FISCAL POSITION. ALSO, WHAT NONE OF THESE PLANS INCLUDE, UM, AT THIS POINT IS THE ADVOCACY. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE MADE MYSELF AVE I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THE PREMISE OF LABOR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. US AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT JOINTLY ADVOCATING IN SACRAMENTO AND IN WASHINGTON DC I THINK WE'LL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN SACRAMENTO AND WASHINGTON DC TO BRING IN FUNDS TO AVOID, POSSIBLY AVOID SOME OF THESE REDUCTIONS. ALSO ON THE TABLE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW REALISTIC IT WILL BE, IS TO THE POINT THAT BOARD MEMBER GRIEGO MADE RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT OF, UH, IMMIGRATION RAID IN OUR COMMUNITY. AS I SAID, EVERY WEEK WE'RE SEEING THREE, 400 KIDS COMING BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS, WHICH IS INTERESTING. SOME OF THEM WERE PREVIOUSLY ENROLLED, SOME ARE NOT. WE SUSPECT SOME OF THEM ARE COMING FROM STATES WHERE THEY'RE NOT SO WELCOMED AS WE WELCOME THEM IN CALIFORNIA AND, AND IN LA. SO THERE WILL BE A NUMBER SHIFTING, UH, AREAS AND THE BOARD WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO, TO MODIFY IT FURTHER. I WILL BE, SO I'M SIGNALING TO THE BOARD AT THIS POINT, THE CENTRAL REDUCTIONS AND THE POINT YOU MADE EARLIER, ANY CENTRAL REDUCTION AT SOME POINT HAS AN IMPACT ON SCHOOLS, UH, PARTICULARLY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PERSONNEL. BUT THE OVERALL NUMBER OF POSITION REDUCTIONS DOES NOT CHANGE. IT IS WHAT IT IS. IT'S JUST A TRICKLE DOWN IMPACT. BUT OUR CENTRAL REDUCTION, UM, EXPERIENCE THUS FAR, UH, IS FAIRING BETTER THAN WHAT WE DECLARED THERE. I'M TELLING THE BOARD WE DON'T HAVE FINAL NUMBERS YET, BUT WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? WELL, TO OFFSET AND REDUCE SOME OF THE IMPACTS THAT THE SCHOOL SITE. SO NEXT TIME YOU SEE THIS, IT IS QUITE LIKELY THAT THAT $15 MILLION VARIANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, INCENT, UH, FROM 75 TO UH, 99 MAY GO BACK TO 75. THAT WOULD BE MY WILL, UH, AS WE MONITOR THE MOVES IN THESE OTHER AREAS, RIGHT? SO WE'RE GONNA DO OUR VERY BEST TO SPARE ADDITIONAL IMPACT TO SCHOOLS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WE'RE GOING TO RAMP UP OUR EFFORTS SPECIFIC ADVOCACY TO BRING IN DOLLARS THAT [07:30:01] WOULD FURTHER OFFSET THESE NECESSARY REDUCTIONS. AND APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, I MEAN, WE WANT MORE REVENUE. AND IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THAT STILL DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. AND I KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US TO DO COLLECTIVELY, UM, TO, TO SEARCH THAT OUT IN THE, I'LL SAY IT, YOU KNOW, THE FOURTH LARGEST ECONOMY. AND YET WE'RE SITTING HERE TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT. WE'RE ALWAYS AT THE BOTTOM. SO, BUT APPRECIATE THIS INFORMATION AND, UM, AS WE CONTINUE, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE AS YOU SAID, AND I THINK THAT THAT LED INTO THE QUESTION OF THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN BECAUSE THINGS ARE MOVING AND SO WE'LL STILL HAVE ROOM TO BE ABLE TO MOVE WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE AND HAVE CONVERSATION TO THE POINT, UH, ROCIO HAD MADE AS FAR AS OUR COMMUNITIES ARE INVOLVED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE VOICES ARE BEING HEARD. THANKS. OKAY. I GUESS I'M, LAST, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION OR ASK A QUESTION FIRST. DO WE CONSIDER OUR DISTRICT, LOCAL DISTRICT, NORTHEAST, SOUTHWEST? DO WE CALL THEM CENTRAL? WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THEM? SEMI CENTRAL . I MEAN, THERE'S MANY WAYS THAT WE CAN CATEGORIZE. THEY'RE, THEY'RE NON-SCHOOL. YES. UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK TRADITIONALLY THEY'RE THOUGHT OF AS IN BOWRY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PHYSICALLY HERE. BUT HERE'S MY, UH, GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. I THINK, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING. MAYBE I SHOULD READ UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY ASKED THE QUESTION, BUT THAT THE THEORY OF ACTION BEHIND REDUCTIONS IS YOU REDUCE LESS AS IT GETS CLOSER TO SCHOOLS. SO THE LION'S SHARE REDUCTION TO NON-SCHOOL SITE, UH, EXPENDITURES IS SEEN AT BEARY. NO DOUBT. UM, EVEN THOUGH REGIONAL OFFICES ARE NOT SCHOOLS, THEY HAVE NON-SCHOOL BUDGETS, THE IMPACT OF REDUCTIONS IS FELT A LOT LESS THERE TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY HAPPEN, THAT THEY ARE FELT AT CENTRAL OFFICE, MEANING BEARY. AND SO NOW, UH, AND I'LL JUST ADD AN ELEMENT THERE AS WELL. EVEN WITHIN CENTRAL OFFICE, OUR FIRST, YOU KNOW, OPERATIVE APPROACHES FOCUS ON NON-LABOR IMPACTS. YOU KNOW, ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE, UM, SERVICES SPEND ON THAT WOULD NOT IMPACT PEOPLE, UH, CONTRACTUAL SPEND. AND THEN FROM THERE, YOU THEN LOOK STRATEGICALLY AT, UH, VACANCIES, YOU KNOW, POSITIONS WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T FILLING THOSE PARTICULAR, UM, ROLES. AND THEN FROM THERE WE GO A LITTLE DEEPER. AND SO WE DO LOOK AT IT FROM A PHILOSOPHY OF, LOOK, WE WANT TO HAVE THE LEAST IMPACT ON PEOPLE AND INDIVIDUALS AND OUR EMPLOYEES AS WE LOOK AT THESE REDUCTIONS, WHETHER IT'S CENTRAL OFFICE OR AT SCHOOL SITES. YES. AND MR. CARAVA, YOU, YOU WERE READING MY MIND, UH, BUT HERE'S WHAT I'M HOPING THAT WE WOULD PACK OUR LOCAL DISTRICTS WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT SCHOOLS WOULD NEED WHEN THEY RUN OUT. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE AND LOSE YOUR PSW, YOU'LL LOSE YOUR PSA. I WOULD BE HOPING THAT THE LOCAL DISTRICT WOULD HAVE PEOPLE THERE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO GO OUT TO THE SCHOOLS AND HELP THEM OUT IN THIS TIME. I CAN'T EXPECT THEM TO COME DOWN FROM BERY TO THE LOCAL SCHOOLS, BUT I, I KIND OF HOPE THAT THEY WOULD COME FROM THE LOCAL DISTRICT TO HELP THEIR SCHOOLS WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY POSSIBLY MAY NEED DUE TO CUTS. SO THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. SO THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT, OBVIOUSLY FIRST BEGINS AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL. AND EVEN TO THE QUESTION THAT, UH, BOARD MEMBER NEW BILL ASKED, THERE WILL BE INSTANCES, INSTANCES, AS IS THE CASE RIGHT NOW, IF A SCHOOL, UH, HAS A DIRE NEED AND THEY'RE FACING A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT DID NOT ANTICIPATE, USUALLY THE PRINCIPAL COMMUNICATES TO THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, UH, AND THE REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT THAT IS USUALLY, UH, ELEVATED TO THE, TO CARLA ESTRADA TO PETAL SEATED TO MYSELF. AND WE PERIODICALLY MAKE ADJUSTMENTS WHERE EVEN THOUGH THE SCHOOL ON THE BASIS OF ENROLLMENT MAY NOT NECESSARILY MERIT THE ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE PRINCIPAL IS PLANNING TO DO SOMETHING, OR WE RECOGNIZE THE CATASTROPHIC IMPACT, THE DELETERIOUS IMPACT, THAT THAT REDUCTION AS A RESULT OF THE CARRYOVER IMPACT WOULD HAVE ON THE SCHOOL. AND WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ALL THE TIME BEYOND THE FORMULA TO AVOID CATASTROPHIC, UH, YOU KNOW, CONSEQUENCES AT SCHOOLS, UH, AT SCHOOL LEVELS. THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE PRACTICE. WE'LL NEVER CLOSE THE DOOR ON ADDRESSING, UH, SPECIFIC NEEDS, SCHOOL BY SCHOOL, UH, BASED ON, UH, THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW MAY BE HAPPENING AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. YEAH. AND I, I DO APPRECIATE THAT. I DO APPRECIATE THAT, UH, THINKING LIKE THE, IT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE HAVING A BIG PROBLEM WITH YOUR COMPUTERS AT SCHOOL AND YOU DON'T HAVE AN IT TECH AT YOUR SCHOOL. YOU COULDN'T AFFORD IT, BUT THE LOCAL DISTRICT WOULD HAVE ONE THAT COULD THEY LOAN OUT FOR A WHILE, NOT PERMANENTLY, JUST FOR A WHILE TO GET YOU BACK ON YOUR FEET AGAIN. AND THOSE ARE THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I THINK OUR SCHOOLS NEED. [07:35:01] AND I ALWAYS THINK AS A, UH, SCHOOL PERSON, RIGHT? SO THAT'S HOW IT IS. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. MR. UH, UH, MS. EZ HAS HER HAND UP. MS. EZ IS, UH, ATTENDING REMOTELY FROM HER LISTED LOCATION. MAY I GO AHEAD? YES. OKAY, GREAT. UM, WELL, UH, THANK YOU TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND TO THE BUDGET TEAM FOR THIS FIRST INTERIM REPORT AND FOR WALKING US THROUGH THE ASSUMPTIONS BEHIND IT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY VERY COMPLICATED, SO I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TO TRY TO PROVIDE CLARITY FOR THE BOARD AND FOR THE PUBLIC. UH, WHILE WE ARE BEING ASKED TO CERTIFY THIS REPORT AS POSITIVE, THE DATA AND THE EXPLANATIONS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE STABILITY IS BEING ACHIEVED THROUGH ONE-TIME SOLUTIONS. AND THE REPORT ITSELF ACKNOWLEDGES THAT A MORE EXTENSIVE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN WILL BE NECESSARY. AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT REALITY TO NAME. AS WE LOOK TOWARDS JUNE, UM, WE ARE RELYING ON ONE-TIME ACTIONS LIKE RELEASING THE OPEP FUND FUNDS AND ELIMINATING FUND 17. YET THE CHALLENGING NATURE OF THIS MOMENT IS THAT WE ARE SEEING REAL IMPACTS ON OUR SCHOOL SITES BECAUSE OF THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN. AND AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED DISPROPORTIONATELY SO AT OUR HIGHEST NEED SCHOOLS, WE KNOW THAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING AT THIS TIME. YET WE HAVE A CHALLENGE WHERE OUR REVENUES ARE NOT GROWING AT THE SAME PACE AS OUR EXPENSES ARE. UM, SO I JUST WANNA NAME THE, THE CHALLENGE IN THIS MOMENT. I DO ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY RESOLUTION THAT THE BOARD APPROVED LAST JUNE, WHICH HAS BEEN REFERENCED HERE, BUDGETING BASED ON EQUITY AND STUDENT NEED, WHICH HAD SEVERAL COMPONENTS. THE FIRST WAS COMMUNITY TOWN HALL MEETINGS, AND EACH BOARD DISTRICT, WHICH HAS HAPPENED. AND I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S NOT A FULL, UM, FULLY THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT WE WANT TO GET TO WITH OUR COMMUNITIES IN ON THE BUDGET TOPICS. BUT IT IS A FIRST STEP AND AN AN ESSENTIAL ONE, UM, TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS A VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BUDGET AND OUR INVESTMENTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT ALSO CALLED FOR BUDGET UPDATES TO BE PRESENTED AT TWO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETINGS, UH, BEFORE WE VOTED ON THE FIRST INTERIM. SO WHILE WE DID HAVE ONE OF THOSE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE PRESENTATIONS, UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO THE BOARD'S CALENDAR, ADDITIONAL CLOSED SESSION MEETINGS, THAT SECOND MEETING DID NOT HAPPEN. UM, ADDITIONALLY, THE RESOLUTION CALLED FOR PRIOR TO THOSE MEETINGS AND EQUITY IMPACT ANALYSIS ON HOW THE COMPONENTS OF THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN WOULD AFFECT HIGH NEEDS STUDENTS, DIFFERENT STUDENT GROUPS AND SCHOOL TYPES, AS WELL AS THE REVIEW OF CENTRAL, UM, CONSULTING CONTRACTS. THOSE TWO PIECES OF INFORMATION, WHICH I THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND HAVE BEEN ALLUDED TO, UM, KIND OF THE LACK OF CLARITY AROUND THOSE IMPACTS HAVE BEEN ALLUDED TO AS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. WE DON'T HAVE THOSE ANALYSES YET. UM, SO I, I WANNA START BY ASKING THE TEAM, WHEN DO WE EXPECT THOSE TO BE AVAILABLE? SO, UM, YES, WE, WE DID RESCHEDULE NOT ONLY THE SECOND COW, BUT ALSO THE PLAN BUDGET WORKSHOP. UM, AND SO I THINK WE CAN WORK WITH, WITH YOUR STAFF, AND WE'VE HAD SOME EARLY CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR TEAM, BOARD MEMBER EZ, ABOUT, UH, WHEN IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE THOSE TWO PIECES IN ADVANCE OF, UH, ANY COW THAT MAY BE RESCHEDULED. I, I, I UNDERSTAND THE, THE CHALLENGES WITH, WITH SCHEDULING THOSE MEETINGS AND WHY THEY GOT CAN, WHY THEY WERE CANCELED. UM, BUT CAN YOU, UM, MR. BRAVO, KAMI, COULD YOU GIVE ME A, LIKE A, A CLEAR TIME EXPECTATION AS TO WHEN WE WOULD RECEIVE THOSE ANALYSES? WILL THEY BE READY IN JANUARY? YES. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANKS. UM, I ALSO, AS I, AS I WAS IN JUNE, UM, AND IN MAY, I, I CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING BUDGET REDUCTIONS IN WHILE WE KNOW REDUCTIONS ARE NECESSARY, DOING SO IN WAYS THAT ARE INEQUITABLE, SUCH AS THE CUTS TO SEND ME, I, I UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE FOR WHY THE, WHY THE CUT WAS INCREASED FROM 75 MILLION TO 99 MILLION. HOWEVER, I, I, I STILL DON'T SUPPORT THAT. UM, I THINK MANY OF OUR, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED ABOUT HOW THESE CUTS ARE IMPACTING OUR HIGH AND HIGHEST NEEDS SCHOOLS AS COMPARED TO LOWER NEEDS SCHOOLS. AND I THINK THAT'S VALID. UM, I THINK WE SHOULD IN THAT ANALYSIS, BUT ALSO IN, IN THE NEXT STEPS AROUND THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, BE GOING MUCH FARTHER TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROACTIVELY PROTECTING OUR HIGH AND HIGHEST NEEDS SCHOOLS BY MAKING THE CONSCIOUS DECISION THAT IF WE HAVE TO MAKE REDUCTIONS AT SCHOOL SITES, WE SHOULD BE DOING SO, UM, FROM THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE LESSER NEEDS, AND THAT ARE NOT BEING AS GREATLY IMPACTED BY THE MOMENT THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN. UM, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS PART OF THAT EFFORT TO SEE THE PER STUDENT SENDING ALLOCATION FOR NEXT YEAR AND OR SCHOOL ALLOCATION SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS ARE BEING AFFECTED. UM, I ALSO WANT TO LIFT UP ONE, ONE ADDITIONAL PIECE THAT COULD BE AFFECTING OUR HIGH AND HIGHEST NEED SCHOOLS, MORE THAT WE DON'T HAVE EYES ON IT YET, AS CENTRAL REDUCTIONS HAPPEN AND BUMPING OCCURS, WE KNOW THAT, GENERALLY SPEAKING, OUR HIGH AND HIGHEST NEED SCHOOLS HAVE STAFF THAT HAVE LESS SENIORITY. AND SO IT IS, IT IS POSSIBLE, MAYBE EVEN LIKELY, [07:40:01] UM, THAT THEY WOULD BE MORE GREATLY IMPACTED BY BUMPING. SO I HOPE THE TEAM CAN, CAN HAVE EYES ON THAT, UM, AND LOOK CLOSELY AT THE WAYS IN WHICH THOSE REDUCTIONS, UM, MAY BE AFFECTING OUR HIGHEST NEED SCHOOLS MORE, MORE THAN OTHERS. UM, I ALSO WANNA NOTE, AND I, I MENTIONED IT EARLIER IN THE STATE ADVOCACY CONVERSATION, UM, JUST THE, THE INCREASES IN DECLINING REVENUE, HOW THAT'S AFFECTING OUR, SORRY, THE INCREASES IN DECLINING ENROLLMENT, HOW THAT'S AFFECTING OUR REVENUE, UM, AND ALSO HOW THAT IS DIRECTLY TIED TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES RIGHT NOW. WE KNOW IN COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE IN THE EAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, THE RAIDS AND ABDUCTIONS OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE CREATING FEAR AND DISPLACEMENT, WHICH ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTING ATTENDANCE AND ENROLLMENT, WHICH IMPACTS OUR REVENUE FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. UM, THAT MEANS THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE BEING HARMED BY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, AND THEN WE ARE EXACERBATING THE HARM THROUGH THE LOSS OF ADDITIONAL SCHOOL RESOURCES. SO THAT'S A STATE ADVOCACY P PIECE, BUT IT IS ALSO, AND I APPRECIATE, UM, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S COMMITMENT TO ADVOCATE AND, AND WHAT, UM, MS. ALVAREZ SHARED EARLIER AROUND COLLECTIVE ADVOCACY ON THIS ISSUE. BUT WE ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTING THOSE CUTS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE HAD GREATER DECLINES IN ENROLLMENT, LIKELY DIRECTLY TIED TO THE RAIDS ARE ALL, ARE NOW FACING LESSER INVESTMENTS IN THIS SCHOOL BUDGETING PROCESS. SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN SOLVE AT RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT AS WE'RE VOTING ON THE FIRST INTERIM, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO CONSIDER, MAYBE IT'S AN INTERNAL HOLD HARMLESS. UH, MAYBE AS HOPEFULLY WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN STATE ADVOCACY AROUND, UM, PROTECTING OUR SCHOOLS FROM THE IMPACTS OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ON OUR SCHOOL REVENUES. WE CAN DIRECTLY PASS THOSE SAVINGS OR WHATEVER FUNDS WE CAN GENERATE TO THE SCHOOL'S MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED, UM, BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR WE'RE, WE'RE SEEING THOSE IMPACTS RIGHT NOW, AND THEY ARE EXACERBATING THE, THE CUTS THAT WE KNEW WERE ALREADY GOING TO BE ANTICIPATED. UM, SO I, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE CAN, CAN SOLVE THIS SOLUTION, SOLVE THIS RIGHT AT THIS VERY SECOND, BUT I HOPE TO, TO SEE A COMMITMENT FROM OUR LEADERS THAT WE WILL DO SOMETHING TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT DOUBLING THE HARM THAT SCHOOL COMMUNITIES ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. EZ. I GUESS WE FINISHED OUR DISCUSS. OH, YES, YOU MAY GO AHEAD, MR. HOW I, I THINK I HEARD IN, IN THAT COMMENT, UH, A REQUEST OF ADMINISTRATION AND, UH, LOOK, I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS COMMUNITY IS GOING THROUGH. I UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR DISTRICTS IS GOING THROUGH. I I UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURES, UH, AND ALSO THE STRATEGY. SO YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT, WE'LL DO ALL THAT WE CAN, UH, IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS LEADING TO JANUARY FOR A NECESSARY CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN POSTPONED WHERE WE'LL PRESENT THE BOARD, UH, WITH, UH, POSSIBLE WAYS OF MINIMIZING SCHOOL IMPACT BEYOND WHAT YOU CURRENTLY SEE. UM, SEIZING ON POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, RELYING ON, UH, STATE, UM, UH, STATE, UH, PROTECTIVE MEASURES THAT, UH, THAT THE GOVERNOR, UH, AND, UH, AND SACRAMENTO MAY BE WILLING TO DO. YOU HAVE THAT COMMITMENT FROM US. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD, CARLA. I JUST HAVE THANKS KELLY, FOR BRINGING ALL OF THOSE ISSUES UP AND, AND ARTICULATING THEM SO ELOQUENTLY. I THINK I WAS TRYING TO SAY THE SAME THING. I DON'T KNOW IF I GOT THROUGH , BUT THANK YOU. UM, I WONDERING ABOUT LCFF, HAS THE, THAT AMOUNT CHANGED? DO WE KNOW YET IF IT'S CHANGED? UM, OVER TIME? YEAH, OVER TIME WE NO, FOR THIS COMING YEAR OR YEAH, OR, OR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. UM, THE LAO WAS ESTIMATING THAT THE COLA WOULD BE ABOUT 2.5% FROM THIS YEAR INTO NEXT YEAR. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S LOWER THAN WHAT'S CURRENTLY ASSUMED IN OUR PROJECTIONS, WHICH IS ABOUT 3%. UM, IT'S NOT, THE TWO POINT A HALF PERCENT IS NOT A DONE DEAL. THERE ARE SOME ECONOMIC INDICATORS THAT ARE STILL PENDING THAT COULD IMPACT THAT, BUT IT'S ALM IT'S VERY, VERY LIKELY TO BE LESS THAN THE 3% THAT'S, THAT'S CURRENTLY ASSUMED. AND THAT'S GONE UP AND DOWN OVER TIME, RIGHT? YEAH, I THINK, UH, THE PANDEMIC YEARS WERE KIND OF OUTLIERS WHERE WE GOT REALLY HIGH LEVELS OF COLAS, UH, KIND OF HISTORICALLY HIGH LEVELS. UM, GENERALLY THEY HOVER MORE ABOUT LIKE ONE AND A HALF, TWO AND A HALF, UH, AROUND, AROUND, AROUND THERE. IS LCFF ONLY COLA OR ARE THERE OTHER FUNDS? UM, THE COLA APPLIES TO OTHER REVENUES GENERALLY, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT IMPACT ON, ON US IS LCFF. 'CAUSE IT'S THE BIGGEST SOURCE OF, OF FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE. IF WE WERE TO RECEIVE MORE, DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE GET MORE FUNDING BECAUSE WE HAVE LESS KIDS? SO THE, THE AMOUNT OF LCFF, THE TOTAL THAT WE'RE GONNA RECEIVE NEXT YEAR IS GONNA BE A FUNCTION OF THE COLA, WHICH I MENTIONED. THERE'S AN ESTIMATE NOW THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY LOWER THAN WHAT WE HAVE BAKED IN TO OUR PROJECTIONS HERE. [07:45:01] THE OTHER FACTOR IS NEXT YEAR'S REVENUE WILL BE BASED ON AN AVERAGE OF THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS. SO FOR A DA, SO IT'LL BE BASED ON THIS YEAR'S A DA LAST YEAR'S A DA AND THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S A DA. AND SO THAT'S JUST THE WAY ONE YEAR DECLINING ENROLLMENT DISTRICT, YOU'RE FUNDED BASED ON AN AVERAGE OF THE PRIOR THREE YEARS. AND SO THE THING, THE BIG THINGS THAT IMPACT LCFF, IN SUMMARY, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WE HAVE, THEIR ATTENDANCE, AND THEN FINALLY HOW MUCH THE STATE INCREASES THE PER STUDENT AMOUNT FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT. OKAY. SO IF WE HAVE LESS KIDS, BUT THE PER STUDENT AMOUNT GROWS, THEN WE SHOULD SEE SOME. OKAY. YEAH, SO THE THING THAT WHAT, WHAT WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN, THIS WON'T NEXT YEAR'S REVENUE IS GONNA BE BASED ON A DA FROM THIS YEAR END PRIOR. BUT MOVING FORWARD, THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT REFLECTED HERE YET, WHICH WILL HAVE A, A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR REVENUE. ONE IS THAT ENROLLMENT IS LIKELY GONNA BE LOWER THAN WE PREVIOUSLY PROJECTED. THE OTHER IS THAT NEXT YEAR'S COLA IS LOWER THAN WHAT LIKELY TO BE LOWER THAN WE PREVIOUSLY PROJECTED, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IN THE YEAR AFTER THAT, THE COLA WILL BE HIGHER THAN CURRENTLY PROJECTED. WE, WE JUST DON'T KNOW. AND SO ANY GOOD NEWS THAT WE EVEN GET FROM THE JANUARY PROPOSED BUDGET FROM THE GOVERNOR, UH, WILL, WILL NEED TO BE USED TO PAY FOR THE OFFERS THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE TO OUR UNIONS BECAUSE WE, WE'VE SEEN THAT EVEN AFTER THE FSP, WHICH HAS BEEN, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT, UH, EVEN AFTER THE FSP, WE STILL NEED TO IDENTIFY JUST THROUGH 27, 28, ANOTHER $350 MILLION OF REDUCTIONS. AND SO WE ARE OF COURSE, HOPING FOR GOOD NEWS IN JANUARY. WE, WE REALLY HOPE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY ONE TIME FUNDING FROM THE STATE. BUT WE'LL NEED THAT TO PAY FOR THE OFFERS WE'VE ALREADY MADE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO, AND THANK YOU. UH, WE HAVE A SEVEN O'CLOCK TIME. OKAY, GO AHEAD. ROCIA, JUST WANNA FLAG IN JUST A STATEMENT THAT I JUST NEED TO, I NEED TO SAY, UM, FIRST I, I JUST WANNA FLAG THAT THE PROJECTED, UM, 37.5 INCREASE IN SPENDING ON PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES AND, AND OPERATING AT EXP EXPONENT, UM, EXPENDITURES. UM, JUST WANNA FLAG THAT, THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, I'VE BEEN ASKING TO SEE THE, UM, THESE CONTRACTS AND I KNOW OTHER COLLEAGUES AS WELL, AND WE HAVE NOT YET TO RECEIVE THIS. SO I DO WANT TO SEE THOSE CONTRACTS, A CLEAR LIST OF PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING AGREEMENTS AND WHICH SERVICES COULD REASONABLY BE DONE IN-HOUSE USING EXISTING, UH, DISTRICT EXPERTISE. SO I, I'VE ASKED THAT MANY TIMES, SO I DO WANT TO SEE WHY THERE'S BEEN SUCH A, UM, INCREASE IN PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, UM, I'M CONFLICTED, VERY CONFLICTED ON, ON ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF DATA ANALYSES, A LOT OF PROJECTIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS THAT, UM, JUST DON'T SIT WELL WITH ME. UM, AND I KNOW THINGS ARE GONNA CHANGE IN JANUARY, AND WE ARE GONNA HAVE THE SINKING INTERIM, AND THERE'S GONNA BE MORE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS, AS THE SUPERINTENDENT MENTIONED, THAT, YOU KNOW, HE HAS A COMMITMENT TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING ALL OF THE CONCERNS RAISED HERE. UM, BUT FOR ME, UM, I'LL SEE IT WHEN I, I I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT. AND, UM, SO I'M CONFLICTED. UM, SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, WE OWE OUR STUDENTS MORE THAN A TECHNICALLY BALANCED BUDGET. WE OWE THEM STABILITY, CONTINUITY, AND HONESTY WITH ABOUT THE TRADE-OFFS THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING. UM, FISCAL DISCIPLINE SHOULD PROTECT CLASSROOMS, NOT QUIETLY HOLLOW THEM OUT, WHICH IS WHAT I'M HEARING IN, IN MY COMMUNITIES, UH, IN BOARD DISTRICT TWO, THAT, UM, WE'RE DESTABILIZING OUR SCHOOLS, WE'RE HOLLOWING THEM OUT, WE'RE STARVING OUR SCHOOLS. THIS IS LIKE DEEP AUSTERITY MEASURES THAT, UM, THAT SEEM TO ME, UM, VERY DANGEROUS FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE CLEAR THAT, UM, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY DOES MATTER. UM, BUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT JUST ABOUT CERTIFYING POSITIVE, IT'S ABOUT WHAT CERTIFICATION COSTS OUR STUDENTS. THIS REPORT TECHNICALLY BALANCES, BUT IT DOES NOT, BUT IT DOES. SO BY SHIFTING RISK DOWNWARD TO SCHOOLS AND FORWARD IN FUTURE YEARS, THE PROJECTIONS RELY ON ELIMINATING SCHOOL CARRYOVER AND REDUCING EQUITY. WHERE OUR SCHOOLS, THOSE ARE NOT ABSTRACT ACCOUNTING MOVES. THEY SHOW UP AS FEWER ADULTS ON CAMPUS, LESS STABILITY IN PROGRAMS, AND LESS ABIL, LESS ABILITY TO PLAN FOR STUDENTS OVER TIME. FOR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY OUR HIGHEST NEED STUDENTS, THAT INSTABILITY IS NOT THEORETICAL. IT, IT AFFECTS RELATIONSHIPS, ACCESS TO SERVICES AND LEARNING CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY NOW AS WE'RE [07:50:01] MOVING TOWARDS INCREASING OUR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. HOW IS THAT GONNA BE DONE IF WE HAVE LESS, UM, SUPPORT IN OUR SCHOOLS? I'M PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT EQUITY INVESTMENTS ARE TREATED AS FLEXIBLE WHEN PRESSURE RISES. SE AND TARGETED STUDENT FUNDS ARE USED AS BALANCING TOOLS, EVEN AS WE STATE OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY. IF EQUITY IS A VALUE, IT SHOULD BE PROTECTED IN HARD TIMES, NOT TAPPED FIRST. I'M ALSO TROUBLED BY HOW THIN MARGIN BE THE, HOW THIN THE MARGIN BECOMES A PROJECTED 10 MILLION ENDING AND BALANCE IN 27, 28 ON A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET LEAVES VIRTUALLY NO ROOM FOR ERROR. ANY ENROLLMENT SHIFT, STATE ACTION, LABOR COSTS OR EMERGENCY IMMEDIATELY LANDS ON SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO ADDRESS NOW. FINALLY, WHAT IS MISSING MATTERS? THERE IS NO STUDENT IMPACT ANALYSIS, NO SCHOOL LEVEL MODELING, NO EXPLANATION OF WHICH SERVICES ARE REDUCED FIRST. IF ASSUMPTIONS FAIL WHEN A PLANT DEPENDS SO HEAVILY ON SCHOOL LEVEL ACTIONS, WE OWE SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES TRANSPARENCY. I WANT THIS DISTRICT TO BE FISCALLY SOUND. YES. AND STUDENT CENTERED. THOSE GOALS ARE NOT IN CONFLICT, BUT THIS REPORT RESOLVES ATTENTION BY PRIORITIZING CERTIFICATION OVER CLASSROOM STABILITY. I CANNOT AND CAN, I CANNOT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS APPROACH WITHOUT STRONG GUARDRAILS, CLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY AND EXPLICIT PROTECTIONS FOR STUDENTS. THEIR CERTIFICATION IS ACHIEVED BY RELYING ON ONE-TIME SOLUTIONS, EQUITY, FLEXIBILITY, AND SCHOOL LEVEL ABSORPTION OF RISK WITHOUT A CLEAR ACCOUNTING OF STUDENT IMPACT. THE REPORT MEETS TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS, BUT IT DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD OF TRANSPARENCY IN STUDENT PROTECTION THAT I BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE. A POSITIVE CERTIFICATION SHOULD REFLECT NOT ONLY THE ABILITY TO PAY BILLS, BUT THE ABILITY TO DO SO WITHOUT DESTABILIZING CLASSROOMS OR DISPROPORTIONATELY BURDENING OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS. UNTIL STUDENTS' IMPACTS ARE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED, MITIGATED AND PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGED, I DON'T FEEL I CAN SUPPORT CERTIFYING THIS REPORT AS PRESENTED. MY DEEP CONCERN IS ROOTED IN VALUES, NOT POLITICS, STABILITY FOR STUDENTS, HONESTY ABOUT TRADE-OFFS AND EQUITY THAT HOLDS EVEN WHEN BUDGETS ARE TIGHT. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE MOST CREATIVE THAT THIS DISTRICT CAN BE. WE NEED TO GO BACK AND REANALYZE FOR OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE THIS CURRENT MOMENT DEMANDS THIS FROM US. SO I FEEL VERY CONFLICTED BECAUSE VOTING FOR THIS MEANS THAT I'M VOTING FOR A STABILIZATION PLAN THAT I DID NOT VOTE FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT ALSO, I KNOW THAT THIS IS NEEDED FOR OUR HEALTH BENEFITS AGREEMENT, WHICH I FULLY SUPPORT, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES RECEIVE WHAT THEY, UH, RIGHTLY DESERVE. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT JUST TO CLEARLY STATE WHERE I'M COMING FROM AND HOW I MAY OR MAY NOT SUPPORT THIS INTERIM UNTIL I SEE MORE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN SAID HERE. THAT'S GONNA BE DONE FOR OUR SCHOOLS. THANKS. THANK YOU, ROCIO. SO WE, AND THANK YOU, SIMON FOR ALL THIS. APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A SEVEN O'CLOCK TIME STOP FOR ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, SO I WANNA JUST KEEP THIS MOVING. AND MR. MCLEAN, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. OKAY. UH, LET'S SEE. WE HAVE A VOTE ON TAB 35. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MS. NEW BILL, SECONDED BY MR. . I KNOW MS. NEW BILL IS HERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE WHERE SHE IS RIGHT NOW. UM, CAN I CLARIFY, CLARIFY REGARDING THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN AND VOTING YES OR, OR NO ON THE INTERIM REPORT BY VOTING ON THE INTERIM REPORT. DO DOES THAT ALSO MEAN THAT WE'RE VOTING FOR THE FISCAL? I KNOW IT'S ALREADY BEEN VOTED ON THOUGH, RIGHT? I ALSO, I ABSTAINED FROM THAT VOTE. UM, MY UNDERSTANDING, WHAT I HEARD HERE TODAY IS THAT WE ARE, THAT FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN IS A LIVING DOCUMENT MM-HMM . AND THEREFORE THERE IS GONNA BE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADJUST BEFORE WE MAKE HARD DECISIONS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, LIKE DR. RIVAS AND LIKE KELLY, I DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE PARTS OF THE, UH, FISCAL STABILIZATION AND THE, PARTICULARLY THE ANY POTENTIAL LAYOFFS. SO I'M, CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR ME SURE. WHAT THE VOTE IS RIGHT NOW? THE VOTE IS TO CERTIFY FIRST INTERIM, WHICH IS A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT. UH, IT'S A LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT DISTRICTS CERTIFY, UH, FIRST INTERIM AND SECOND INTERIM, UH, REPORTS. UH, IT'S IN THE ED CODE. IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A REQUIREMENT. UM, WHAT THE VOTE TO CERTIFY FIRST INTERIM DOESN'T DO IS LOCK IN THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN. AT FIRST INTERIM, WE COULD NOT EVEN IF WE WANTED TO OBLIGATE [07:55:01] NEXT YEAR'S FUNDING, THAT'S NOT DONE UNTIL JUNE. JUNE IS WHEN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS ADOPTED. AND SO ANY INCREASES OR REDUCTIONS WHILE WE, THERE'S ALWAYS THIS CHALLENGE WITH TIMING BECAUSE, AND THIS IS TRUE FOR EVERY DISTRICT, WE'RE NOT UNIQUE. THE JUNE VOTE APPROVES THE BUDGET, BUT OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO PREPARE THE BUDGET MUCH EARLIER THAN THAT. AND SO IT'S DONE THROUGH MEETINGS WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND DISCUSSIONS AT COMMITTEES AS A WHOLE AND, AND BOARD MEETINGS. AND SO A VOTE AGAINST THE CERTIFICATION OF FIRST WOULD NOT BE A, NECESSARILY, AS A TECHNICAL MATTER, IS NOT A VOTE AGAINST THE FSPA VOTE FOR CERTIFICATION OF FIRST INTERIM, BUT IS NOT A VOTE FOR THE FSP. UM, THE FSP IS NOT BEING VOTED ON AT FIRST INTERIM, I WILL SAY THE SAVINGS FROM THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN ARE ESSENTIAL FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT. THEY'RE NOT ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THE INCREASES IN SALARIES. WE'VE ALREADY OFFERED OUR LABOR PARTNERS. I'M NOT MAKING A VALUE JUDGMENT ABOUT THIS REDUCTION VERSUS THAT REDUCTION, THE, THE, THE MERITS OF ONE OPTION VERSUS ANOTHER. BUT THE FSP IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND SO I'M NOT BY SAYING THAT YOU'RE NOT VOTING FOR THE FSP OR AGAINST THE FSP TONIGHT, I'M NOT TRYING TO TELL TELEGRAPH IN ANY WAY THAT IT'S, THAT FSP IS NOT IMPORTANT. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UM, NO. WHAT'S BEING VOTED ON TONIGHT IS CERTIFYING FIRST, WHICH IS LE IS, IS LEGALLY REQUIRED FOR DISTRICTS TO DO. AND IF IT DOESN'T DO IT, THEN THERE ARE ARE SUBSTANTIAL, UH, RAMIFICATIONS FOR A DISTRICT. AND THEN SINCE WE ARE SUBMITTING A POSITIVE, WHY DO WE HAVE TO SUBMIT, UH, THE FSP? WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT? WHEN LACO APPROVED, OUR BUDGET, UH, INCLUDED IN THE APPROVAL LETTER WAS A REQUIREMENT THAT WE INCLUDE AN UPDATED, AN UPDATE TO THE FSP AT FIRST INTERIM. SO LACO REQUIRED US TO DO IT. THEY DIDN'T SAY HAVE SHORT, HAVE THE BOARD VOTE AS A SEPARATE ACTION, THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, BUT THEY DID REQUIRE, WHEN APPROVING OUR BUDGET, UH, THAT WE INCLUDE AN UPDATED, UH, UPDATED FIGURES IN, IN OUR FIRST INTERIM NUMBERS. AND THE UPDATE IS THE, THE FUND 17, THE MOVE OF FUND 17. SO THE UPDATED FSP IS THE 1.4 BILLION TOTAL, WHICH IS ABOUT 200 MILLION LESS THAN THE 1.6. BUT WE'RE ALSO AT FIRST INTERIM DOING OTHER, OTHER THINGS USING ALL THE FUND 17, USING EVERY PENNY OF THE OPE FUNDS THAT WERE FREED UP IN JUNE. OKAY. OKAY. READY TO GO AHEAD, MR. MCLEAN. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. OKAY. VOTING ON TAB 36, I MEAN 35. UH, MS. NEWBELL? YES, DR. RIVAS? I'M GOING TO VOTE YES ONLY BECAUSE THIS IS, OUR HEALTH BENEFITS AGREEMENT IS CONTINGENT UPON THIS. AND BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HEARING OVER AND OVER THAT THE FSP IS NOT SET IN STONE, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT BECAUSE EQUITY IS A PRIORITY AND THAT HAS TO BE REFLECTED IN A BUDGET. SO I WILL VOTE YES, THAT'S A YES. MR. MELVIN. YES. MS. GGO? YES. MS. GO. NO. MS. ORTIZ. FRANKLIN IS NOT HERE RIGHT NOW. BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES, THAT IS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 YESES. UM, ONE NO, AND ONE, UH, NOT PRESENT. SO IT PASSES. THANK YOU, SIMONE. THANK YOU. UM, CAN [36. Board of Education Report No. 258-25/26 Office of Labor Relations (Adoption of the 2026-2027 Health Benefits Agreement) Recommends adoption of the 2026- 2027 Health Benefits Agreement between the Los Angeles Unified School District and Unions/Associations Representing District Employees inclusive of Associated Administrators of Los Angeles/Teamsters Local 2010, California School Employees Association, and its Los Angeles Chapter 500, Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, Los Angeles School Police Association, Los Angeles School Police Management Association, SEIU Local 99, Teamsters Local 572, and United Teachers Los Angeles. This Agreement is being presented to the Board of Education as a joint recommendation by all of the Parties. This Agreement is being adopted subject to any requisite union procedures that each respective union(s)/association(s) may need to comply with in order to secure the approval and ratification of its membership. ( Part 2 of 2)] I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON TAB 36? I'LL MOVE IT. WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON IT. UH, MR. MELVOIN IS MOVED. SECOND. SECOND IS, UM, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN. AS A REMINDER, THIS IS ADOPTION OF THE 26 27 HEALTH BENEFITS AGREEMENT. UH, MS. NEW BILL? YES, DR. RIVAS? I'M SORRY, WHAT? ARE WE VOTING ON? HEALTH BENEFITS? OH, YES. HEALTH BENEFITS. YES. A BIG YES. YES. . OKAY. THAT'S A YES. FROM DR. RIVAS. UH, MR. MELVIN? YES. UH, MS. GRIEGO? YES. MS. EZ? YES. YES. FROM MS. EZ. UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN IS NOT HERE RIGHT NOW. UH, BOARD PRESIDENT MOLSON? YES. THAT IS SIX. EYES ABSENT. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE MOVE ONTO AN INCREDIBLY PATIENT GROUP FOR WHICH WE THANK YOU. UH, TAB 23, [23. Board of Education Report No. 205-25/26 Charter Schools Division (Denial of the Renewal Petition for New Horizons Charter Academy) Recommends denial of the renewal petition for New Horizons Charter Academy, a Middle performing, Start-Up Independent charter school, located in Board District 6 and Region North, for five (5) years, beginning July 1, 2026, until June 30, 2031, to serve up to 300 students in grades TK-8 in each year of the charter term.] DENIAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR NEW HORIZONS CHARTER ACADEMY. UM, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND A PRESENTATION, UH, THE TWO MINUTE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, UH, BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RICHARD THOMAS. ARE YOU HERE? OKAY. WE'LL GET THAT QUEUED UP RIGHT NOW. UM, [08:00:52] OH, IS THIS, UM, SO BECAUSE I HAVE THE PRESENTATION AND THEN I'M A SPEAKER AFTER THAT, I, I, CAN I HAVE THE FOUR MINUTES? YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. GIMME ONE SECOND. GOOD EVENING. BOARD CHAIR ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS RICHARD THOMAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRINCIPAL OF NEW HORIZONS CHARTER ACADEMY. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THIS INCREDIBLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND OUR TEACHERS AND FAMILIES FOR 11 YEARS, FOR OVER 25 YEARS. MY CAREER FROM ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION AND SCHOOL CHARTER SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN A FOCUS WITH ONE MISSION, UH, SUPPORTING STUDENTS THAT MISSION GUIDES EVERY DECISION WE MAKE AT NEW HORIZONS CHARTER ACADEMY. NEW HORIZONS HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED STRONG GOVERNANCE AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY YEAR AFTER YEAR, AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE SLIDE, WE'VE HAD EXTENSIVE MANY YEARS OF, UM, STRONG GOVERNANCE AND STRONG FISCAL, UH, REVIEWS FROM THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES. OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITS, UH, CONTINUE TO COME BACK CLEAN AND WITH NO FINDINGS FOR INTERNAL CONTROLS, INCLUDING OUR CURRENT YEAR AUDIT, DEMONSTRATING OUR COMMITMENT TO SOUND FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP. THE CHARTER BOARD AND MYSELF ARE COMMITTED TO STRONG COMPLIANCE, AND THIS IS EVIDENCE IN THE CORRECTIONS MADE AND SUBMITTED TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL DIVISION. OUR SCHOOL IS ALSO IN A STRONG POSITIVE POSITION MOVING FORWARD. ENROLLMENT IS CLIMBING AGAIN WITH OUR OPENING OF OUR NEW SCHOOL BUILDING, INCLUDING ABOUT 20 NEW STUDENTS ALREADY SCHEDULED TO ENROLL IN JANUARY, 2026. TRANSITIONING OFF THE PROP 39 INTO OUR PERMANENT FACILITY WILL REDUCE COSTS AND SUPPORT LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY. OUR EXPECTED OPERATING SURPLUS IS ABOUT 490,000 AS YOU ADJUST FOR THE LEASE EXPENSE REQUIREMENT THAT HAS TO BE REPORTED. OUR CASH IS PROJECTED AT 190,000 IN CASH RESERVES AT 9.9% ON NUMBER THREE, BUT THE HEART OF OUR SUCCESS IS OUR ACADEMIC GROWTH. THIS YEAR, OUR RESULTS ON THE CALIFORNIA DASHBOARD SPEAKS VOLUMES. WE ACHIEVED 36% GROWTH IN ELA AND 34% GROWTH IN MATH. THESE INCREASES ARE FAR BEYOND WHAT IS TYPICAL SEEN STATEWIDE. ADDITIONALLY, OUR LP GROWTH SHOWS THAT WE'VE MOVED FROM ORANGE TO BLUE, INCREASING 17% WITH 70% OF OUR EL STUDENTS MAKING PROGRESS ABOVE THE STATE'S, 46%. OUR EL PERFORMANCE MOVED FROM YELLOW TO GREEN, AND OUR MATH PERFORMANCE MOVED FROM ORANGE TO YELLOW. AND, UM, EACH OF OUR ACADEMIC, UH, PERFORMANCE AREAS HAVE NEW HORIZON. NEW HORIZONS OUTPERFORMING THE DISTRICT, THE STATE, AND THE RESIDENT SCHOOLS FOR ALL STUDENTS AND FOR ALL OUR SUBGROUPS. WITH THESE RESULTS, NEW HORIZONS NOW PERFORMS ON PAR WITH TOP 10% OF SCHOOLS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. WHEN COMPARING SIMILAR DEMOGRAPHICS, DESPITE SERVING A STUDENT POPULATION OF 90%, SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, AND 30% GO TO NUMBER FOUR, 30% ENGLISH LEARNERS. OUR SIMILAR SCHOOL RANKING IS 10 OUT OF 10. THESE GAINS ARE NOT ACCIDENTAL. THEY CAME, THEY COME FROM THE PASSION AND DEDICATION OF OUR TEACHERS AND OUR EFFECTIVE BLENDED LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL, WHICH HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE FOR OUR STUDENTS BEYOND [08:05:01] THE CLASSROOM. WE HAVE INCREDIBLE STATE OF THE ART STEM ACADEMY FOR GRADES FIFTH THROUGH EIGHTH. THIS ACADEMY OFFERS 17 HANDS-ON CAREER MODULES THAT IMMERSE STUDENTS IN REAL WORLD DESIGN, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCES. THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT IS REMARKABLE. FOR THE PAST DECADE, OUR SCHOOL HAS OPERATED ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, OUR K TO FOUR STUDENTS ON A PRIVATE SITE, AND FIFTH THROUGH EIGHT ON A PROP 39 SITE, UNTIL WE HAD TO COMBINE THOSE TWO SITES WHEN OUR PRIVATE LEASE WAS, UM, NOT RENEWED. UM, WE HAVE, UH, HAVE HAD A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PROP 39, UH, CO-LOCATION SITE AT FAIR AVENUE DURING THESE, UH, 10 YEARS. LAST YEAR, THE BOARD APPROVED OUR VISION TO BUILD OUR NEW SCHOOL, AND TODAY I'M PROUD TO SHARE THAT WE'RE ABOUT A WEEK AWAY FROM MOVING INTO OUR FOREVER HOME. PLEASE, UH, LOOK AT ALL OF OUR INFORMATION WHEN YOU, UH, AND PLEASE LET US CONTINUE OPERATING WITH OUR STUDENTS AND THRIVING, UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES OF NEW HORIZON STUDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON THIS TAB. UM, ARIANA OLI OLIVA, UH, GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS ADRIAN ADRIANA OLIVA, AND I'M THE RESOURCE SPECIALIST AT NEW HORIZONS CHARTER ACADEMY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK THROUGH ONE LENS THAT MATTERS DEEPLY TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR MISSION, HOW WELL WE SERVE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND HOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THAT WORK AT OUR SCHOOL. SPECIAL EDUCATION IS NOT A DEPARTMENT. IT'S A PROMISE THAT EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF NEED, HAS ACCESS TO STRONG INSTRUCTION, MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE LIFE OF THE FULL LIFE OF THE SCHOOL. THAT PROMISE SHOWS UP IN THE WAY WE DESIGN SUPPORTS, BUILD STAFF CAPACITY AND PARTNER WITH FAMILIES. IT SHOWS UP IN OUR BELIEF THAT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND NOT OUR, NOT DEFINED BY LABELS, BUT BY POTENTIAL. AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO REMOVE BARRIERS SO THAT POTENTIAL CAN GROW. THROUGHOUT MY THREE YEARS WORKING AT NEW HORIZONS, I HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE BLENDED LEARNING MODEL THAT MR. THOMAS HAS IMPLEMENTED IN EACH CLASSROOM. THIS TEACHING PRACTICE HAS SHOWN TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF ACADEMIC NEED. THIS BLENDED LEARNING INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL, CONTINUED GROWTH AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ENVIRONMENT IS WHY NEW HORIZON STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM ATTENDING THIS AMAZING CHARTER SCHOOL. NEW HORIZONS HAS 20 NEW APPLICANTS FOR THE NEW SCHOOL SITE, WHICH OPENED NEXT WEEK. NEW HORIZONS CHARTER ACADEMY WAS RANKED 19TH HIGHEST GROWTH OUT OF 352 CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH A 34% GROWTH IN ELA AND A 36% GROWTH IN MATH. WE ALSO HAVE 70% OF OUR EL STUDENTS MAKING PROGRESS. I BELIEVE THESE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND SHOWS THE DEDICATION THAT EACH TEACHER, PARAPROFESSIONAL AND STAFF MEMBER HAS FOR EACH STUDENT. AT NHCA NEW HORIZONS BELIEVES OUR RECORD DEMONSTRATES THAT WE TAKE STUDENTS SERIOUSLY AND WE ARE ASKING FOR RENEWAL BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THIS WORK, ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS RECEIVE A FREE, APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH SERVICES AND INSTRUCTION THAT LEADS TO REAL PROGRESS AND BRIGHTER FUTURES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR OVERSIGHT AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, BELLA. IAN, BELLA, UH, JADEN MULATTO, COME ON UP. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JADA MULATTO AND I'M AN EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING PART OF NEW HORIZONS CHARTER ACADEMY SCHOOL COMMUNITY SINCE KINDERGARTEN. AFTER SO MANY YEARS HERE, THE SCHOOL HAS BECOME SO MUCH MORE THAN A PLACE WHERE I LEARN IT TRULY FEELS LIKE A SECOND HOME. THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS STRONG, AND I'VE ALWAYS FELT SUPPORTED BY THE PEOPLE AROUND ME. ONE OF THE THINGS I APPRECIATE MOST IS HOW CARING AND WELCOMING THE TEACHERS ARE. THEY DON'T JUST TEACH US. THEY ENCOURAGE US, CHALLENGE US, AND BELIEVE IN US. THEIR DEDICATION HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE. IN PARTICULAR, MY EIGHTH GRADE TEACHER HAS PUSHED ME WITH A RIGOROUS CURRICULUM THAT HAS PREPARED ME TO EXCEL. WHEN I MOVE ON TO HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR, I FEEL CONFIDENT, MOTIVATED, AND READY FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDATION I'VE BUILT HERE. ANOTHER PART OF MY EXPERIENCE THAT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON ME IS THE STEM LAB. IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES ON CAMPUS. BEING ABLE TO EXPERIENCE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS HAS SPARKED MY CURIOSITY AND [08:10:01] STRENGTHENED MY PASSION FOR STEM, ESPECIALLY COMPUTER SCIENCE. IT HAS INSPIRED ME TO KEEP LEARNING, KEEP EXPERIMENTING, AND KEEP REACHING FOR BIGGER GOALS AS I GET READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR. I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THE SCHOOL HAS GIVEN ME, TEACHERS, THE OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS SHAPED WHO I AM TODAY. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR NEW HORIZONS CHARTERER ACADEMY, AND I FEEL ESPECIALLY HONORED TO BE PART OF THE VERY FIRST GRADUATING CLASS TO WALK THE STAGE IN OUR NEW FOREVER HOME. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, LUCINA IAN LUCINA EVENING. MY NAME IS LUCINA IAN AND I AM PROUD PARENT OF WONDERFUL SIXTH GRADE STUDENT AT NEW HORIZON CHARTER ACADEMY. AS A MOTHER, NOTHING, UH, NOTHING MATTERS MORE THAN MORE TO ME THAN KNOWING MY CHILD IS SAFE, SUPPORTED, AND TRULY UNDERSTOOD. BEFORE COMING TO NEW HORIZONS, I WAS WORRIED CONSTANTLY ABOUT WHETHER MY DAUGHTER WAS BEING CHALLENGED ACADEMICALLY OR IF SHE WAS SIMPLY BECOMING ANOTHER QUIET STUDENT LOST IN THE CROWD. I FEARED THAT HER CONFIDENCE, HER POTENTIAL, AND HER LOVE FOR LEARNING WERE FADING. BUT EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN SHE ENROLLED AT NEW HORIZONS. NOT ONLY DOES MY DAUGHTER FEEL SAFE AND PROTECTED EVERY DAY, SHE'S DRIVING ACADEMICALLY IN WAYS I HAD ONLY HOPED FOR. SHE COMES HOME EXCITED TO SHOW ME WHAT SHE LEARNED, WHETHER IT'S A NEW MATH SKILL SHE MASTERED, A WRITING ASSIGNMENT SHE'S PROUD OF, OR SCIENCE CONCEPT. SHE CAN'T WAIT TO EXPLAIN. I SEE HER BECOMING MORE CURIOUS, MORE CONFIDENT, AND MORE MOTIVATED. HER TEACHERS DON'T JUST TEACH. THEY INSPIRE. THEY TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND HER STRENGTH, SUPPORT HER CHALLENGES, AND PUSH HER TO REACH HIGHER. SHE FEELS NOTICED. SHE FEEL VALUED. SHE MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE BELIEVES IN HERSELF AGAIN AS A PARENT, HEARING HER TALK WITH EXCITEMENT ABOUT SCHOOL, SEEING HER PROUDLY BRING HOME IMPROVED GRADES, AND WATCHING HER ACTUALLY ENJOY STUDYING, DOING HOMEWORK, TRULY EMOTIONAL. IT TELLS ME SHE'S IN ENVIRONMENT WHERE SHE CAN GROW ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY. HER HORIZONS HAS GIVEN MY DAUGHTER MORE THAN JUST SAFELY AND SUPPORT. IT HAS GIVEN HER THE CONFIDENCE TO SUCCEED, THE COURAGE TO PARTICIPATE, AND THE MOTIVATION TO DREAM BIGGER. THANK YOU FOR FOSTERING A SKILLED SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENT FEEL LOVED, PROTECTED, AND INTELLIGENTLY CHALLENGED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LILI IAN. LILI, COME ON DOWN. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. UM, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS, UH, LILI SHIRIN, AND I'M A SIXTH GRADER IN MY FIRST YEAR AT NEO HORIZON'S CHARTER ACADEMY, WHEN I FIRST JOINED NHCA, I HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH THIS SCHOOL WOULD HELP ME GROW. NOT ONLY IN MY LEARNING, BUT IN MY CONFIDENCE. ONE OF MY BIGGEST AREAS IN GROWTH HAS BEEN IN MATH. I USED TO FEEL UNSURE OF MYSELF, BUT HERE MY TEACHERS SUPPORT ME IN WAYS THAT MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. WE LEARN THROUGH DIRECT INSTRUCTION USING TECHNOLOGY THROUGH INDEPENDENT WORK, WHICH IS MY FAVORITE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS ME TO CHALLENGE MYSELF AND THROUGH COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH A PARTNER. EVEN THOUGH THE WORK IS RIGOROUS, IT HAS HELPED ME BECOME STRONGER ACADEMICALLY. MY UNDERSTANDING HAS GROWN SO MUCH THAT EVEN MY FAMILY HAS NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE. THEY TELL ME THEY CAN SEE HOW MUCH MORE CONFIDENT I AM WHEN I TALK ABOUT SCHOOL. ANOTHER PART OF MY EXPERIENCE HERE IS THE STEM ACADEMY, WHERE WE EXPLORE DIFFERENT CAREER YEARS THROUGH HAND-ON ACTIVITIES. ONE STATION I ENJOYED WAS 3D PRINTING, WHICH SHOWED ME HOW IDEAS TURN INTO REAL OBJECTS. STEM GIVES US AN EARLY IDEA OF WHAT HIGH SCHOOL PATHWAYS MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO HELP US IMAGINE OUR FUTURE POSSIBILITIES. [08:15:01] WHAT I APPRECIATE MOST IS HOW NHCA PREPARES US, NOT JUST FOR OUR NEXT ASSIGNMENT, BUT FOR THE NEXT STAGES OF OUR EDUCATION. I'M GRATEFUL FOR HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, DANIELLE RAMIREZ. DANIELLE RAMIREZ. MY HELLO. MY NAME IS DANIELLE RAMIREZ, AND I'M A SEVENTH GRADE STUDENT AT NEW HORIZONS CHARTER ACADEMY. I HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS SCHOOL SINCE KINDERGARTEN, WHICH MEANS I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE GROWING UP HERE. BECAUSE OF THAT, NEW HORIZONS HAS ALWAYS FELT LIKE MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL. IT FEELS LIKE A SECOND HOME. MY FAMILY HAS A STRONG CONNECTION TO THIS SCHOOL. MY SISTER, WHO IS NOW A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, ALSO GRADUATED FROM NEW HORIZONS, AND MY YOUNGER BROTHER IS CURRENTLY IN THIRD GRADE HERE. SINCE ALL OF MY SIBLINGS HAVE ATTENDED NEW HORIZONS, MY FAMILY IS VERY INVESTED IN THIS SCHOOL AND ITS COMMUNITY. WE TRULY BELIEVE IN THE EDUCATION AND VALUES IT PROVIDES. ONE OF THE THINGS I APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT NEW HORIZONS IS A POSITIVE AND POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE TEACHERS AND STAFF GENUINELY CARE ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS AND ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP US SUCCEED. THE SCHOOL OFFERS GREAT PROGRAMS SUCH AS AFTERSCHOOL TUTORING, WHICH GIVES US EX, WHICH GIVES STUDENTS EXTRA SUPPORT WHEN THEY NEED IT. IT HELPS US STAY ON TRACK ACADEMICALLY. ANOTHER PROGRAM I REALLY ENJOY IS THE STEM LAB. THE STEM LAB ALLOWS US TO EXPLORE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH IN HANDS-ON AND EXCITING WAYS. IT HAS HELPED MY SPARK INTEREST IN LEARNING AND PROBLEM SOLVING. IT HAS SHOWS HOW WHAT WE LEARN IN CLASS CAN BE APPLIED IN REAL LIFE. BEING AT THIS SCHOOL FOR SO MANY YEARS HAS ALLOWED ME TO BUILD A STRONG FRIENDSHIPS AND MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY CLASSMATES AND TEACHERS. I'VE LEARNED IMPORTANT LESSONS, LESSONS ABOUT TEAMWORK, RESPONSIBILITY, AND PERSEVERANCE. NEW HORIZON CHARTER ACADEMY HAS HELPED SHAPE WHO I AM TODAY, AND I AM GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF SUCH A CARING AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I ACTUALLY DIDN'T GET A MOVE IN A SECOND ON THIS, SO CAN I GET A MOVE IN A SECOND TO TAKE THIS ITEM, MOVE IT, MOVE BY SECOND. OKAY. MOVE BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN, SECONDED BY MS. NEW BILL. OKAY. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS, LET'S SEE, UH, ERIC GIBSON. HI, MY NAME IS ERIC GIBSON AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE A LITTLE ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AT NEW HORIZON CHARTER ACADEMY. I STARTED ATTENDING NEW HORIZON THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND I COULD HONESTLY SAY IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I'VE MADE. I CHOSE THIS SCHOOL BECAUSE IT CAME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS WHO GRADUATED LAST YEAR. EVERY AMAZING THING MY FRIEND TOLD ME TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE, AND I'M TRULY GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. FROM THE MOMENT I WALKED INTO CAMPUS, I COULD FEEL HOW WARM AND WELCOMING THE SCHOOL IS. THE STUDENTS, THE STAFF AND THE OVERALL ENVI ENVIRONMENT MADE IT EASY FOR ME TO ADJUST AND FEEL COM COMFORTABLE. SINCE THEN, I'VE MADE SO MANY MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIPS, FRIENDS WHO SUPPORT ME, MAKE ME LAUGH, MAKE EVERY DAY HEAR SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO. I REALLY FEEL LIKE I BELONG HERE. ONE OF THE THINGS I APPRECIATE MOST IS THE TEACHERS. THEY ARE KIND, SUPPORTIVE, AND TRULY DEDICATED TO HELPING US LEARN AND SUCCEED. I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY EIGHTH GRADE TEACHER AND OUR TEACHING ASSISTANT. THEY HAVE BOTH PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN MY GROWTH. THIS YEAR, MY TEACHERS PREPARING ME TO TAKE HONORS AND AP CLASSES IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND BECAUSE OF THAT GUIDANCE, I FEEL CONFIDENT AND READY FOR THE CHALLENGES AHEAD. I ALSO CAN'T FORGET TO MENTION SOMETHING. WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW FOREVER HOME. IT'S NOT JUST ME WHO'S LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE TOO. IT REPRESENTS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY AND THE BRIGHT FUTURE. THAT NEW HORIZON CONTINUES TO BUILD FOR US. OVERALL, I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE, GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE I'VE MET AND GRATEFUL THE OPPORTUNITY, THE SCHOOL I'VE GIVEN ME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT NEW HORIZON FOR MAKING THIS SCHOOL YEAR SO SPECIAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MCKAYLA, MIND DEVILLE, MCKAYLA, GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME IS MIKAILA MENVILLE, BOARD MEMBER FOR NEW HORIZONS CHARTER ACADEMY. I HAVE BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR TWO YEARS AND HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN OVERSEEING THE SCHOOL'S REPO RESPONSE TO THE NOTICE OF CURE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION PLANS. I AM A PARENT [08:20:01] OF ONE STUDENT WHO ATTENDED NEW HORIZONS SINCE KINDERGARTEN, SINCE KINDERGARTEN, AND IS NOW IN HIGH SCHOOL. AND I CURRENTLY HAVE A SON AND A DAUGHTER ATTENDING THIS SCHOOL AS WELL. NEW HORIZONS HAS ALWAYS FOCUSED THE EFFORTS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, WHICH IS EVIDENT BY THE OUTCOMES DEMONSTRATED BY THE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC GROWTH. I WANT TO BEGIN BY EMPHASIZING THAT OUR BOARD UNDERSTANDS ITS RESPONSIBILITY. STRONG GOV GOVERNANCE EXISTS TO PROTECT STUDENTS, ENSURE STABILITY, AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC TRUST. THAT LENS HAS GUIDED EVERY DECISION WE HAVE MADE. AS PART OF THAT WORK, THE BOARD CAREFULLY REVIEWED AND STRENGTHENED OUR GOVERNANCE SYSTEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN REVIEWING MATTERS RELATED TO THE SCHOOL CREDIT CARD USE, WE CONFIRMED THAT THE BOARD HAS REVIEWED STATEMENTS EACH MONTH TO ENSURE THAT THE EXPENSES ALIGN WITH THE FISCAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PRECISE DOCUMENTATION AND WE HAVE STRENGTHENED OUR PROCEDURES TO ENSURE CLARITY AND ACCURACY MOVING FORWARD. SIMILARLY, WHEN QUESTIONS WERE RAISED ABOUT TRAINING ON FISCAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, THE BOARD WORKED WITH OUR BACK OFFICE PROVIDER EACH MONTH TO DISCUSS AND UNDERSTAND EACH COMPONENT OF THIS FISCAL POLICIES AND REVIEW PROCESS TO ENSURE PROPER USE OF SCHOOL FUNDS AND UPDATE ACCOUNTING POLICIES IF NECESSARY. CORRECTIONS WERE MADE TO ENSURE THAT FINANCIAL RECORDS AND INTERNAL CONTROLS ARE IN PLACE AT EVERY LEVEL. THESE STEPS WERE TAKEN TO ENSURE ACCURACY, TRANSPARENCY, AND COMPLIANCE. OUR BOARD HAS FULLY IMPLEMENTED ALL COMPONENTS OF THE THREE ACTION PLANS COM SUBMITTED TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL DIVISION DIVISION. BASED ON THE OVERSIGHT FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED, NO FURTHER CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WERE IDENTIFIED AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO FULL COMPLIANCE AND TRANSPARENCY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MARYAM KAY. MARYAM, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON UP. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MIRIAM AND MY FIRST YEAR AT NEW HORIZON CHARTER ACADEMY HAS BEEN A JOURNEY OF BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND FEELING TRULY SUPPORTED. BEFORE COMING HERE, I WAS VERY QUIET AND SHY AND I DOUBTED MY ABILITIES. NHGA GAVE ME A PLACE WHERE I FEEL SAFE TO LEARN AND GROW. MY TEACHER USES DIFFERENT TEACHING STYLES, INCLUDING DIRECT INSTRUCTION, INDEPENDENT WORK, AND COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE. MY FAVORITE IS DIRECT INSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT HELPS ME FEEL CLEAR AND CONFIDENT WHEN LEARNING SOMETHING NEW. WITH MY TEACHER SUPPORT, THROUGH THE SMALL TUTORING SESSIONS OFFERED EVERY MONDAY AND TUESDAY, I MADE REAL PROGRESS IN MATH AND ELA. THOSE SMALL TUTORING SESSIONS HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE LESSONS BETTER AND GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO PARTICIPATE MORE IN CLASS AND NOW RAISE MY HAND VOLUNTEER ANSWERS AND FEEL PROUD OF HOW FAR I'VE COME. AND IF SHE AND NHCA ALSO SUPPORTS STUDENTS EMOTIONALLY, TEACHERS CHECK IN WITH US AND MAKE SURE WE NEVER FEEL ALONE. I ENJOY, I ENJOY RNPE, WHICH HELPS ME EXPRESS MYSELF AND STAY ACTIVE. THE STEM ACADEMY HAS ALSO BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY EXPERIENCE. I JOINED THE FORENSIC SCIENCE STATION WHERE I LEARNED HOW OBSERVATION AND PROBLEM SOLVING CONNECTS TO REAL CAREERS. BECAUSE OF NHCA, I FEEL PREPARED FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND CONFIDENT ABOUT MY FUTURE. ANOTHER REASON I FELT READY TO ATTEND NHCA WAS BECAUSE MY BROTHER ATTENDED BEFORE ME. HIS POSITIVE EXPERIENCE SHOWED ME THIS WAS A CARING AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL, AND HE WAS RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND JENNIFER FCA, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON UP. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JENNIFER CONKA AND I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NEW HORIZON CHARTER ACADEMY. I'M ALSO A FORMER STUDENT. THE SCHOOL'S FIRST EIGHTH GRADE GRADUATE AND VALEDICTORIAN. ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE OF NEW HORIZON'S EDUCATION AND PREPARATION. I EARNED A FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO UCLA AND I'M CURRENTLY COMPLETING MY REGISTERED NURSING DEGREE. I PARTICIPATED IN THE AMAZING STEM ACADEMY THAT THE STUDENTS ALSO MENTIONED AT NEW HORIZONS, WHICH PROVIDED ME WITH CLEAR DIRECTION OF 17 DIFFERENT MODELS THAT ALLOWED ME TO DEVELOP WHERE I NEEDED TO GO. ENTERING HIGH SCHOOL AS A NEW BOARD MEMBER, I HAVE SEEN STRONG AND IMPROVING GOVERNANCE PRACTICES. WE RECEIVE ONGOING TRAINING AND FISCAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, REVIEW EXPENDITURES AND CREDIT CARD PURCHASES, AND ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH THE ACTION PLAN SUBMITTED IN AUGUST, 2025. I ALSO, I HAVE ALSO REVIEWED PRIOR ACTION PLANS SUBMITTED TO THE DISTRICT. SO I AM FULLY INFORMED OF THE SYSTEMS IN PLACE. THE BOARD HAS STRENGTHENED WITH THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, AND WE ARE PROVIDING CLEAR AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE, LEADERSHIP, STUDENT OUTCOMES, STRONGLY SUPPORT RENEWAL, NEW HORIZON. STUDENTS OUTPERFORM THE STATE, L-A-U-S-D [08:25:01] AND LOCAL SCHOOLS EARNING A 10 OUT OF 10 IN RANKING NEW HORIZONS. CHARTER ACADEMY IS SERVING UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AND DELIVERING RESULTS. JUST LIKE ME, I AM A LIVING TESTAMENT AT TO WHAT NEW HORIZON MAKES POSSIBLE. I'M A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT WHO ARRIVED IN THE US FROM HONDURAS. AND WHEN I BEGAN MY JOURNEY, I BEGAN IT AT NHCA. I KNEW VERY LITTLE ENGLISH. THROUGH A SUPPORTIVE AND HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION SYSTEM, I WAS GIVEN GUIDANCE, OPPORTUNITY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BELIEF. BECAUSE OF THAT SUPPORT, I AM EXCELLING ACADEMICALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. AND I AM ONLY ONE OF THE MANY EXAMPLES OF THE IMPACT NEW HORIZONS HAS ON STUDENTS. THEREFORE, I, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU RECONSIDER THE, THE DENIAL OF THIS CHARTER SO THESE STUDENTS CAN CONTINUE TO SUCCEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CALLERS. LANA HEIM. LANA IS NOT ONLINE. ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? UH, LET'S SEE. THE OTHER CALLER IS, UH, MARY MANASSIAN OR MARY IS NOT ONLINE. ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? NO. NEXT CALLER IS DAVID SAMS. I SEE YOU'RE ON THE LINE. DAVID, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN DAVID SAMS. AND THEN AFTER THAT IS WENDY CHAVEZ, WHO'S ALSO REMOTE. YES. UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD, GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DAVID SAMS AND I HAVE SERVED NEW HORIZONS CHARTER ACADEMY FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS AS BOARD CHAIR, BOARD SECRETARY, AND BOARD MEMBER, CONCLUDING MY TERM AS CHAIR THIS PAST JUNE. I'M SPEAKING TODAY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF GOVERNANCE, FISCAL OVERSIGHT, AND BOARD ACCOUNTABILITY. DURING MY TENURE, OUR CH OUR CHARTER BOARD TOOK ITS RESPONSIBILITIES VERY SERIOUSLY. WE MAINTAINED STRONG INTERNAL CONTROLS, FOLLOWED ESTABLISHED FISCAL POLICIES, AND ENGAGED IN CONSISTENT DETAILED FINANCIAL REVIEW. AS A RESULT, NEW HORIZON EARNED, PROFICIENT AND ACCOMPLISHED RATINGS AND GOVERNANCE AND FISCAL OVERSIGHT IN OUR INDEPENDENT, HONEST, WERE CLEAN YEAR AFTER YEAR. THESE OUTCOMES WERE NOT INCIDENTAL. THEY REFLECTED ACTIVE BOARD ENGAGEMENT, TRANSPARENCY OF ACCOUNTABILITY. OUR BOARD ALSO CAREFULLY REVIEWED EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S WORK WITH EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS. WE CONFIRMED THAT THESE MEETINGS WERE APPROPRIATE, ALIGNED TO PER DIEM GUIDELINES AND SUPPORTED INSTRUCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT. THE CONSULTANTS PROVIDED THEIR EX, UH, EXPENSE, PRO BONO, AND MANY OF THESE EXPENSES WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH THE GPSN GRANT. BASED ON OUR REVIEW, THE BOARD DETERMINED THAT ALL EXPENSES WERE LEGITIMATE, REASONABLE, AND CONNECTED TO STUDENT OUTCOMES. THE ACADEMIC GROWTH IN ELA MATH AND AMONG OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS DEMONSTRATES THE DIRECT IMPACT OF THIS WORK. AS BOARD CHAIR, I CONDUCTED REGULAR EVALUATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MR. THOMAS AND CONSISTENTLY FOUND HIS LEADERSHIP TO BE A KEY DRIVER OR A STRONG OVERSIGHT, PRACTICES FINANCIAL INTEGRITY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. WHEN NOTICES TO CURE WERE ISSUED, THE BOARD RESPONDED PROMPTLY. WE REVIEWED EACH CONCERN, DEVELOPED DIRECTIVE ACTION PLANS, AND SUBMITTED 'EM TO THE DISTRICT. WE DID NOT RECEIVE FOLLOW UP GUIDANCE, AND WE WOULD HAVE WELCOMED CONTINUED COLLABORATION TO ENSURE FULL ALIGNMENT MOVING FORWARD. IN CLOSING, I STAND FIRMLY BEHIND THE GOVERNANCE PRACTICE OF OUR BOARD AND THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THE RE RESULTS WE RECEIVED WERE THE PRODUCT OF DILIGENCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR STUDENTS WELL. AND BASED ON THAT RECORD, I BELIEVE NEW HORIZON ACADEMY HAS DEMONSTRATED THE CAPACITY, INTEGRITY NECESSARY, NECESSARY FOR REVIEW. AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. WENDY CHAVEZ. WENDY CHAVEZ, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. WENDY CHAVEZ. HI, GOOD EVENING. BOARD CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT AND TEAM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS DR. WENDY CHAVEZ AND I SERVE AS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. I AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR NEW HORIZONS CHARTER ACADEMY. AS I REVIEW THE DATA PRESENTED TO YOU, I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE THE SUCCESS THAT MR. THOMAS HAS ACHIEVED THROUGHOUT THE BLENDING LEARNING MODEL AT NEW HORIZONS. I FIRST CLOSELY WORKED WITH MR. THOMAS WHEN WE OPENED A NEW SCHOOL AT ALLIANCE, UM, A NEW HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER. AND WHERE THIS BLEND LEARNING MODEL, UM, WAS FOUND TO HAVE PROFOUND IMPACT ON STUDENTS. I LATER SERVED [08:30:01] AS HIS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT A LEAGUE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, WHERE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SAME INSTRUCTION MODEL RESULTED IN 30% INCREASE IN OUR SCORES AND OPENED THE DOORS FOR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS TO GRADUATE. I INVITE YOU TO LOOK CLOSELY TO THE SLIDES BEFORE YOU. THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROVIDED TO TEACHERS HAVE PRODUCED 34% GROWTH IN ELA 36% GROWTH IN MATH, AND 70% GROWTH IN, UM, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. MAKING PROGRESS ON THE EL ELPI AS A FORMER, UM, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER MYSELF. AND NOW AS A, UH, PRINCIPAL WHO HAS DEDICATED HER CAREER TO ADVANCING OUTCOMES FOR EL STERN, I CAN PERSONALLY ATTEST TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE GAIN. THE CHALLENGES IN, IN THE CHANGES IN STRUCTURE BUILT ON THOUGHTFUL WORLD STRUCTURE BLENDED LEARNING MODEL HAVE CLEARLY MADE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE FOR THE TK EIGHT STUDENTS. OVER THE YEARS, NEW HORIZONS HAVE CONSISTENTLY OUTPERFORMED BOTH DISTRICT AND STATE OVERALL ACROSS THE SUBGROUPS WHEN COMPARED TO ITS RESIDENT SCHOOLS. NEW HORIZON, AGAIN, DEMONSTRATES STRONGER PERFORMANCE. THE, UH, CALIFORNIA DASHBOARD DATA YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU HIGHLIGHT SIGNIFICANT GAINS ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES. EVIDENCE THAT NEW HORIZONS IS NOT ONLY MEETING EXPECTATIONS BUT EXCEEDING THEM. I HAVE KNOWN MR. THOMAS FOR 15 YEARS AND DURING THIS TIME I HAVE SEEN HIS UNWEIGHTING COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND TEACHERS. WHETHER IT IS WORKING WITH EXPELLED YOUTH IN COMPTON, SANTA ANA, OR STOCKTON. HIS FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH RE FOR YOUR TIME OF THE CHALLENGES OR CIRCUMSTANCES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK. OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. FOR THIS ITEM, UH, IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE BOARD TO DISCUSS, UH, AND VOTE THEY HAVE TO PRESENT. NO. ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? OKAY. UM, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MS. NEW BILL, SECONDED BY MR. MOLSEN. UH, LET'S TAKE THE VOTE. MS. NEWBELL? YES. DR. EVAS? YES. MR. MELVIN? YES. MS. REGO? YES. MS. CONEZ? YES. UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN'S NOT WITH US RIGHT NOW. UH, BOARD PRESIDENT MOLSEN? YES. OKAY. THAT'S SIX A'S ONE ABSENT. MOTION PASSES. AND FOR [24. Board of Education Report No. 206-25/26 PUBLIC HEARING Charter Schools Division (Denial of the Renewal Petition for New Millennium Secondary) Recommends denial of the renewal petition for New Millennium Secondary, a Middle performing, Start-Up Independent charter school, located in Board District 7 and Region South, for five (5) years, beginning July 1, 2026, until June 30, 2031, to serve up to 225 students in grades 9-12 in each year of the charter term.] TAB 24, DENIAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR NEW MILLENNIUM SECONDARY. UH, MAY HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MOVE IT. SECOND MOVE BY MS. EZ. SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN. UM, DR. DR. RICE, ARE YOU HERE? YES. YOU'LL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION, SIR. YES. THANK YOU, SIR. UM, OUR TEAM WILL GET THAT PRESENTATION QUEUED UP IMMEDIATELY, IF NOT SOON. OKAY. PLEASE GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR THE PRESENTATION. UH, WELL, GOOD EVENING TO, UH, ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT CAVALLO. MY NAME IS DR. DEREK RICE AND I HAVE BEEN EDUCATED FOR THE LAST 27 YEARS, CURRENTLY, UH, EDUCATED ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, LARGE CAMPUSES, ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS, TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS, AND SPECIALIZED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. BUT ACROSS EVERY ONE OF THOSE SETTINGS, ONE TRUTH HAS REMAINED CONSTANT IN SCHOOLS THAT OPERATE AT SMALL INTENTIONAL LEARNING COMMITTEE CREATES, CREATE STRONG CONDITIONAL JUST FOR SUCCESS. UM, IF YOU, UH, REVIEW OUR DATA HERE, UH, AT NEW MILLENNIUM, WE HAVE BUILT A, BUILT A STRONG MODEL FOR THEIR, AROUND THEIR BELIEF THAT WE ARE SMALL BY DESIGN, BUT WHEN STUDENTS ARE KNOWN, KNOWN DEEPLY THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED AND MORE EFFECTIVELY, CHALLENGED MORE MEANINGFULLY IN OUR COMMUNITY, STUDENTS DO NOT JUST FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS. BUT ADULTS NOTICE WHEN STUDENTS STRUGGLE TO INTERVENE QUICKLY AND THEN ADJUST STARTS TO MEET INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. UH, THIS APPROACH, UH, PRODUCES REAL ACADEMIC RESULTS OVER TIME, NEW MILLENNIUM HAS DEMONSTRATED A CLEAR UPWARD ACADEMIC TRAJECTORY WITH OVERALL PERFORMANCE IMPROVING BY, BY MORE THAN 60 POINTS. [08:35:01] IF YOU REVIEW OUR ACTUAL, UH, SPAC DATA PRESENT ON THE SCREEN, UM, WITH THAT DLA SCORES INCREASED NEARLY 90% ACROSS MULTIPLE YEARS. THESE ARE NOT JUST ISOLATED GAINS, BUT THEY REFLECT SUSTAINED GROWTH, DRIVEN BY ALIGNMENT CURRICULUM, TARGETED, ITERATE INTERVENTIONS, AND STRONG TEACHER STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS. WHAT WHAT MAKES OUR OUR, OUR MAKES OUR PROGRAM MORE MEANINGFUL IS WHO WE SERVE. NEW MILLENNIUM EDUCATES HIGHER AN AVERAGE POPULATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, ENGLISH LEARNERS, LONG-TERM EL STUDENTS, AND MANY OUTTA COHORT YOUTH. DESPITE THIS, OUR SCHOOL ACHIEVED GRADUATION RATES ABOVE LOCAL AND STATE AVERAGES DEMONSTRATED OUR SMALL SCHOOL MODEL SUPPORT, PERSISTENCE AS WELL. PERFORMANCE, UM, BEYOND GRADUATION, OUR STUDENTS ARE LEAVING PREPARED FOR THE NEXT WHAT, WHAT'S NEXT TO COME NEXT, NEW MILLENNIUM. CONSISTENTLY OUT PERFORMANCE DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE ENROLLMENT REFLECT STRONGLY WITH COUNSELING, COLLEGE ACCESS SUPPORT, AND CLINICAL SEGREGATED PATHWAYS. WHILE, WHILE STATE RANKING REMIND US THAT THERE ARE MORE WORK TO DO, THE DATA IS CLEAR THAT WHEN STUDENTS ARE KNOWN, SUPPORT IMPROVES KNOWING. IT IS PROOF THAT SMALL INTENTIONAL SCHOOL COMMUNITY GUIDED BY EXPERIENCE, DATA AND PURPOSE CAN CHANGE STUDENT TRAJECTORY. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO NOTE THAT AS WE WORK WITH MANY OF OUR, OUR DIFFERENT COHORTS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS WHO ARE OUTTA COHORT OR WHO MAY BE AT PROMISE YOUTH, WE HAVE DECIDED WE HAVE, WE HAVE ADDRESS MANY, MANY WALK AROUND SERVICES, UH, WELLNESS CENTER AT OUR SCHOOL, AND AS WELL AS WORKING ON MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH DIFFERENT KIND OF SUPPORTS AND NEEDS. AND THEN WITH THAT, I YIELD MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR. UH, WE WILL GO TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THIS, OF WHICH, UH, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. DID YOU WANNA CONTINUE AND USE YOUR TWO MINUTES NOW? YES. OKAY, SIR, PLEASE CONTINUE. WE WILL BEGIN THE TIMER. THANK YOU. I SAID BEFORE. MY NAME IS I'M DR. DEREK RICE, THE CEO AND PRINCIPAL HERE AT NEW MILLENNIUM. UH, NEW MILLENNIUM SERVES A POPULATION THAT INCLUDES STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OUT OF CORE STUDENTS, MANY CREDIT DEFICIENT LEARNERS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERRUPTION IN THEIR EDUCATION. MANY OF OUR STUDENTS COME, COME TO US SEEKING NOT JUST ACADEMIC RECOVERY, BUT STABILITY CONSISTENTLY IN A SCHOOL COMMUNITY WHERE THEY'RE TRULY KNOWN AND SUPPORTED. OUR SMALL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST STRENGTHS. REDUCE CLASS SIZE, ALLOW TEACHERS TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS AND PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION, TARGETING, INTERVENTION, AND ONGOING PROGRESS. MONITORING THIS STRUCTURE IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION POPULATION, WHERE INCLUSIVE PRACTICES, INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT, AND CLOSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN GENERAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF, ENSURE STUDENTS CAN ACCESS RIGOROUS STANDARD ALIGNED INSTRUCTION AND APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS. WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING OUR OUT OF CORE STUDENTS, OFFERING PERSONALIZED LEARNING PLANS, FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING AND MEANINGFUL CREDIT RECOVERY PATHWAYS THAT KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED MOVING FORWARD FOR GRADUATION. IN RESPONSE TO STUDENTS' NEEDS AND WORKFORCE REALITIES, NEWLY HAS INTENTIONALLY SHIFTED ITS FOCUS TO BECOMING A COLLEGE CAREER FOCUSED SCHOOL. WE ARE EXPANDING OUR DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES, STRENGTHENING OUR OUR CTE PATHWAYS AND INCREASING STUDENT ACCESS TO INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS. THESE INITIATIVES HELP STUDENTS CLEAR, SEE A CLEAR PURPOSE FOR THEIR LEARNING AND SUPPORT THEM, UH, DEVELOPING A FUTURE FOCUSED MINDSET, WHETHER THEY ARE ATHLETES, COLLEGE OR CAREER, OR BOTH. IN THE RECENT MONTHS WITH THE SCHOOL CLIMATE AROUND STUDENT SAFETY HAS SHIFTED. INCREASING ICE PRESENCE IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES HAS CREATED FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY FOR MANY OF OUR FAMILIES, CONTRIBUTED TO A DECLINE IN OUR, PER OUR PER IN PERSON ENROLLMENT. STUDENTS WHO WILL OTHERWISE ATTEND, REGULARLY CHOOSE TO ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO DISENGAGE, DO NOT DUE TO SCHOOL QUALITY, BUT OUT OF CONCERN FOR PERSONAL AND FAM FAMILY SAFETY. DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, NEWLAND HAS CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE ACADEMIC GROWTH. WE HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENT IN CREDIT ACCUMULATION, COURSE COMPLETION, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND GRADUATION READINESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS NICOLE SIMS, UH, JORGE BIELA, ALEXANDRIA CARUTHERS. UM, LET'S SEE. MR. RICE. DR. RICE, YOU JUST SPOKE AGAIN. KYLE LENTZ HERE. COME ON UP, SIR. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. UH, INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS KYLE LINZ. I HAVE BEEN TEACHING AT NEW MILLENNIUM FOR SEVEN YEARS AND VERY HONORED [08:40:01] TO DO SO. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA POINT OUT THAT YOU PROBABLY DON'T SEE IS THAT WE KIND OF HAVE A SUPERPOWER AT NEW MILLENNIUM AND IT IS OUR SMALLNESS BECAUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY OF GARDENA, OUR SMALLNESS MEANS OPPORTUNITY. AND I'M GONNA EXPLAIN THAT WITH ONE NUMBER THAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER AND YOU NEED TO REMEMBER IT. 'CAUSE THERE IS A QUIZ. I'M A TEACHER AFTER ALL THAT NUMBER'S, 21%. 21% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE LABELED AS DISADVANTAGED OR DISABLED, MEANING WE HAVE A LOT OF FIVE OH FOURS AND IEPS AND OUR SMALLNESS GIVE US THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT YOU GUYS WERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. WHEN YOU'RE SMALL, YOU CAN'T HIDE. SO WE MEET OUR STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE, WE FOCUS ON THAT WHOLE STUDENT, WE TAKE THEM FROM WHERE THEY ARE, AND WE WORK WITH THEM TO GET BETTER. AND IF YOU LOOK AT OUR RESULTS, YOU WILL SEE THAT OUR YEAR OVER YEAR IMPROVEMENT ON TESTING, OUR DATA, SHOWING IS GOING UP. THAT TAKES TIME WHEN YOU HAVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE VARYING NEEDS AND WANTS, BUT WE'RE DOING IT NOW. 21% ALSO REPRESENTS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE LAUD, WHICH IS 15%. SO IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE TAKING ON STUDENTS FACING MORE CHALLENGES AND WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THERE FOR. THAT'S WHY WE'RE SMALL. IT MAKES US AGILE. UH, FINALLY, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE ONE STUDENT WHO CAME HERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AS A SENIOR WHO HAD THE CREDITS OF A FRESHMAN THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND ASSISTANTS. WE ARE RAPIDLY GETTING HER TO THE POINT THAT SHE IS THE FIRST TIME SAYING, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GRADUATE. NOW, IF WE CAN'T DO THAT AS A SCHOOL, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHY WE EXIST IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT WE ARE DOING IT. AND EACH STUDENT MEANS A LOT TO US. AGAIN, IT'S OUR SMALLNESS, OUR ABILITY TO TAKE WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP THE STUDENT FASHION, A WAY TO HELP 'EM AND MAKE SURE THEY GET TO THE FINISH LINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. KEITH DE LAQUILA. I SEE YOU'RE HERE, KEITH, COME ON UP. ALRIGHT, WAVING. UM, DAVID R. DAVID R HERE, JUSTINE GONZALEZ. I DO NOT SEE CASEY NDA WAVING. AND LET'S SEE. LET'S TRY THE CALLERS. WE HAVE, UH, ONE CALL CALLER KAREN LOZANO. KAREN LOZANO, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU, YOU'LL LEFT TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN. KAREN LAZANO, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN. PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KAREN. I CURRENTLY WORK AT THE, AT A, I'M SO SORRY. I CURRENTLY WORK AS A REGISTRAR HERE AT NEW MILLENNIUM SECONDARY SCHOOL. PRIOR TO BECOMING AN EMPLOYEE, I WAS A STUDENT HERE. I GRADUATED IN 2016 WITH MY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND I HAD STARTED COLLEGE. I ALREADY WORKING TOWARDS MY ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE FROM THE START. THIS SCHOOL HELPED ME TO HELP ME BUILD THE DISCIPLINE CON THE DISCIPLINE CONFIDENCE, AND THE BELIEF THAT HIGHER ED OF EDUCATION AND A BETTER FUTURE WAS POSSIBLE FOR ME. SHORTLY AFTER GRADUATING, I BECAME PREGNANT AND LIFE BECAME MUCH MORE CHALLENGING. I WAS A FULL-TIME STUDENT WHILE WORKING TWO JOBS JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET. ONE OF THOSE JOBS WAS HERE AT NEW MILLENNIUM. THOUGH AT THE TIME I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW LIFE-CHANGING THAT OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE. CISCO QUICKLY BECAME MY GREATEST SOURCE OF SUPPORT. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO A FULL-TIME POSITION, LEAVE MY SECOND JOB, AND BEGIN BUILDING A STABLE CAREER. THE MENTORSHIP, FLEXIBILITY AND TRUST I RECEIVED HERE PREPARED ME NOT ONLY TO SUCCEED PROFESSIONALLY, BUT TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATION AND GROW AS A PERSON. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WAS SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN ME DURING ONE, ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT CHAPTERS OF MY LIFE. BECAUSE OF NEW MILLENNIUM, I WAS ABLE TO RAISE MY DAUGHTER WHILE STILL BEING PRESENT IN HER LIFE. I EARNED MY ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, COMPLETING MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND CONTINUE WORKING IN EDUCATION WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO LIKE ME, SIMPLY NEEDED SOMEONE TO BELIEVE IN THEM. THIS SCHOOL DOES MORE THAN EDUCATE STUDENTS. IT CHANGES LIVES. IT CREATES STABILITY, OPPORTUNITY, AND HOPE. I'M LIVING PROOF OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SCHOOL INVESTS IN ITS PEOPLE. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY, NOT JUST AS AN EMPLOYEE, BUT AS A FORMER STUDENT, A PARENT, AND SOMEONE WHOSE FUTURE WAS SHAPED BY THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA READ THE NAMES OF OTHER FOLKS WHO LISTED THEMSELVES AS BEING CALLIN, UH, SPEAKERS, BUT UM, THAT NO ONE ELSE IS ACTUALLY LOGGED IN TO SPEAK. AND NATHANIEL GAN, ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? KYLE KURTZ, ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? NO. DR. ISADORE HALL. ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? AND WALTER CARROLL ALSO NOT IN THE ROOM. OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT [08:45:01] ON TAB 24. IT'S NOW APPROPRIATE FOR THE BOARD TO DISCUSS AND VOTE. ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? MOVE TO VOTE. OKAY. UH, VOTING ON TAB 24. DENIAL OF THE RENEWAL POSITION FOR RENEW MILLENNIUM SECONDARY. UH, MS. NEWBELL? YES. DR. RIVAS? YES. MR. MELVIN? YES. MS. GRIEGO. MS. EZ? YES. UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN? YES. AND I'VE BEEN REMOTE FOR CHILDCARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES. AND MS. GREG ON TAB 24? YES. THAT'S SEVEN AYES. OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES THAT PIECE OF BUSINESS. UM, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, WHILE I HAVE YOU HERE, AND THERE'S, UH, NOBODY OVER THE AGE OF 18 IN THE ROOM WITH YOU? NOPE, JUST THE LITTLES. OKAY, GREAT. SO ON TAB FOUR, UH, THAT'S APPROVAL OF ROUTINE PERSONNEL ACTIONS. HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES. THAT'S A BABY. SO CUTE. I KNOW. UH, TAB SEVEN. THIS IS COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANT 2.0. YES. THANK YOU. UH, LET'S SEE. NOW WE'RE GOING ON TO TAB 34. LET ME JUST READ THE TAB. UM, ITEM NUMBER FOR YOU. TAB 34. UM, YES, THAT WAS, UH, MS. REGO'S RESOLUTION, STRENGTH STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY PROGRAMS, WHICH I'M CO-SPONSORING. YES. YES, YES, YES. AND LASTLY, I HAVE YOU FOR TAB 35 AND TAB 36. TAB 35 IS THE FIRST INTERIM. YES. YES. AND TAB 36 IS THE ADOPTION OF THE 26 27 HEALTH BENEFITS AGREEMENT. YES. THAT'S A, THAT'S A YES. SO THAT MOVES THAT TO SEVEN EYES. THAT CONCLUDES, UH, THE BUSINESS FOR, UH, TODAY. THE TIME IS, UM, 7:30 PM ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ADJOURNING? YES. HAVING HEARD NOT, I JUST WANTED TO AN ADJOURN MOTION. AN ADJOURNING MOTION. OH, AN ADJOURNING MOTION. PLEASE GO AHEAD. YES. UM, AND I'LL BE REAL. UM, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING IN THE MEMORY OF THE LIVES LOST DUE TO THE MASS SHOOTING AT BONDY BEACH IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA ON FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH. THIS EVENT, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, ILLUSTRATE THE HARM DONE BY SENSELESS ACTS OF GUN VIOLENCE. I KNOW THAT GUN VIOLENCE IMPACTS COMMUNITIES HERE AND ABROAD. THE UNDERLYING ISSUE IS LIMITING ACCESS, OBVIOUS TO GUNS. AS WE MOVE FURTHER INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WE HOLD MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE GRIEVING IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. AND WE ALSO HOPE TO SEE A DAY WHEN WE STOP LOSING OUR LOVED ONES TO GUN VIOLENCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY. THE MEETING, IT'S 7 31. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. MM-HMM . * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.