[00:00:04]
THE TIME IS NOW 11:26 AM ON JANUARY 27TH, 2026.
WELCOME TO THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING, ORIGINALLY NOTICED FOR 10:00 AM AND THE TIME IS NOW 11:26 AM I'M GOING TO TAKE ROLE.
[Roll Call]
NEWBELL.PRESENT? PRESENT BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN.
STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG HERE.
WE'RE GONNA GO DIRECTLY INTO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I WILL SAY, FOLKS, THAT THERE ARE TWO VERSIONS, SO WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE DONE WITH THE FIRST, DON'T SIT DOWN YET.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA GET THAT QUEUED UP, AND AS SOON AS IT'S UP, WE CAN, UH, WE CAN DO IT.
DONATION TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND REPUBLIC ONE NATION WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING UP THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATES ON LAND ORIGINALLY AND STILL INHABITED AND CARED FOR BY THE GNO AND FERNO TIAN PEOPLES WHO HAVE STEWARDED THIS LAND FOR GENERATIONS.
WE RECOGNIZE THESE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ONGOING PRESENCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS, AND HONOR THEIR CONNECTION TO THIS REGION.
WE RECOGNIZE GABRIELINO PEOPLE AS THE ORIGINAL STEWARDS OF LOS ANGELES BASIN AND THE NEARBY COASTAL LANDS AND THE FERT 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,
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 (Part 1 of 2)]
PRESIDENT'S REPORTS.DO WE HAVE ANY LABOR PARTNERS PRESENT? COME ON DOWN.
AND I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT CONTRACTS.
UM, FIRST CONTRACT I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS THE HEALTH BENEFIT AGREEMENT THAT YOU ADOPTED LAST MONTH.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR ADOPTING THAT CONTRACT.
UM, THAT WAS A HUGE FIRST STEP MOVING FORWARD, UM, TOWARDS THE OVERALL COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.
AND IT REALLY, REALLY SHOWS THE COMMITMENT YOU HAVE TO YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES AND YOUR RETIREES.
AND HOPEFULLY IT SHOWS THE COMMITMENT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO YOUR FUTURE EMPLOYEES AS WELL.
BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT OVERALL COMPENSATION AND HEALTH BENEFITS ARE ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS THAT EMPLOYEES COME HERE TO WORK.
THE SECOND REASON THEY COME IS FOR COMPENSATION, PERIOD.
AND THAT'S THE SECOND CONTRACT I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
UM, AS OF TODAY, IT'S BEEN 22 MONTHS SINCE TEAMSTER'S LOCAL 5 72 HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN BARGAINING WITH LA UNIFIED 22 MONTHS.
UM, THE FIRST 18 MONTHS WE WAITED FOR AN ECONOMIC COUNTER PROPOSAL, AND THAT CAME AFTER 18 MONTHS.
UH, WE HAVE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DISTRICT TODAY, AND I AM HERE TO
[00:05:01]
PUBLICLY SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER WE CAN WAIT BEFORE WE MUST MAKE FORWARD MOTION WITH OUR OWN MEMBERS AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT MOTION IS SIGNIFICANT.UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO BE YOUR TRUSTED LABOR PARTNER.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO REPRESENT OUR MEMBERS AS WELL.
SPEAKING OF OUR MEMBERS, LATER ON YOUR BOARD AGENDA, THERE IS A THIRD CONTRACT THAT REPRESENTS OVER 500 TEAMSTERS, LOCAL 5 72 MEMBERS.
AND THESE MEMBERS HAVE WORKED FOR YOU AS PART OF YOUR CONTRACT PROFESSIONAL GROUP FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS PART OF THE DISTRICT.
THEY SEE WHAT THEY DO AS BEING PART OF THE DISTRICT.
UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CONTRACTS, UH, AND WHEN WE AS LABOR ORGANIZATIONS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CONTRACTING OUT, WE REALLY LOOK TOWARDS THOSE CONTRACTS YOU HAVE WITH NON-UNION ENTITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT COST MORE FOR UNSKILLED WORKERS.
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT ALL OF YOUR CONTRACTS ARE.
YOU DO HAVE CONTRACTS WITH UNION FORCE.
YOU HAVE CONTRACTS WITH SKILLED EMPLOYEES.
THEY ARE SO SKILLED, YOU EVEN HIRE THEM TO COME WORK FOR YOU.
AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE CONTRACTS GET ADOPTED.
UM, THE LAST THING I WANT, WANTED TO SAY REALLY GOES TOWARDS OVERALL JUST LOOKING AT THE DISTRICT OVERALL AND ALL THE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE.
THEY GET MADE BECAUSE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES.
THEY DON'T GET MADE BECAUSE SOMEONE AT THE TOP MADE A WONDERFUL DECISION.
THAT DECISION THEN HAD TO BE SHARED WITH PEOPLE AND ACTUALLY HAD TO BE WORKED OUT.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM HELPS MAKE YOU THE BEST.
AND THE ONLY WAY YOU GET TO STAY THE BEST IS IF YOU CONTINUE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST.
ANY OTHER LABOR PARTNERS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WISH TO SPEAK? IF NOT, WE WILL GO TO OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS AND WE HAVE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WITH, UH, DR. RIVAS.
DO WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT? I'M NOT QUITE READY.
I HAVE MY REPORT HERE BEFORE ME.
[Superintendent’s Reports]
ONE YEAR, A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER THE DEVASTATING FIRES, UH, CREATED SUCH HEARTACHE AND SUCH SENSE OF LOSS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WE CAN TODAY CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT MARK, AS A STUDENTS HAVE RETURNED TO A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS.UH, PA ELEMENTARY STUDENTS CONTINUE TO GET A GREAT EDUCATION AT THEIR CO-LOCATED, UH, SITE IN BRENTWOOD.
AND TODAY, UH, POLY HIGH STUDENTS HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR SCHOOL WITH A GREAT DEAL OF JOY, UM, IN CELEBRATION OF MANY CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY SO MANY TO QUICKLY RESTORE, UM, THAT SCHOOL COMMUNITY, UH, TO AS MUCH NORMALCY AS POSSIBLE.
CONSIDERING, UH, THE IMMEASURABLE LAWS SUFFERED, UH, THE TEAM PUT TOGETHER, UH, A VIDEO, UH, THAT CELEBRATES WHAT WAS DONE, WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, AND CERTAINLY BUILDS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
WE STAND TOGETHER IN THE HEART OF THE PALISADES ON THE VERY GROUND WHERE DEVASTATION ONCE STOOD TO CELEBRATE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY, RESILIENCE, RENEWAL, AND THE UNSTOPPABLE SPIRIT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN THE WILDFIRES TORE THROUGH MARCUS CHARTER ELEMENTARY, PALISADES CHARTER ELEMENTARY, AND PALISADES CHARTER HIGH, THEY DID NOT JUST BURN BUILDINGS.
THEY TESTED OUR COURAGE, OUR UNITY, AND OUR BELIEF IN WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
WHAT ROSE FROM THE ASHES IS NOT JUST BRICK AND MORTAR.
IT'S PROOF OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND NEIGHBORS COME TOGETHER WITH ONE SHARED PURPOSE TO REBUILD HOPE.
[00:11:20]
NICK, DID YOU WANNA SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS? BECAUSE IT'S YOUR DISTRICT.UH, LORD, PRESIDENT AND I, I DO, I'LL BE BRIEF.
UM, BUT IT IS EXCITING AND SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK.
IT'S LIKE MOST PEOPLE LEAVE DURING THE CREDITS OF A MOVIE, BUT IT WAS NICE TO SEE THE CREDITS ROLLING THERE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN THANK THE COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS.
I SPENT MY MORNING, UM, AT PALLY HIGH, UH, BEFORE COMING INTO THIS MEETING.
IT'S THE FIRST DAY BACK FOR THAT SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY EXCITING, UH, TO SEE THE COMMUNITY, PARENTS, TEACHERS, THE MARQUEZ FACULTY CAME DOWN TO WELCOME THEM, SO MANY OF THEIR FORMER STUDENTS.
BUT I WAS ALSO STRUCK WHEN I WALKED ON CAMPUS AND INTO CLASSROOMS BY JUST THE NORMALCY OF IT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE MOST EXCITING PART, THAT AFTER SO MUCH DISRUPTION IN STUDENTS' LIVES ACROSS THE DISTRICT, OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, DECADE WHEN IT COMES TO COVID AND FIRES THAT AFFECTED NOT JUST THE PALISADES, BUT HALT, DENA AND PASADENA.
AND WE HAD DISTRICT SCHOOLS CLOSED YEARS AGO FOR FIRES, BUT PARTICULARLY IN THE PALISADES THIS MORNING, UM, TO SEE THOSE STUDENTS BACK ON CAMPUS.
UH, NINTH GRADERS WHO WERE ACTUALLY THERE YESTERDAY FOR A TOUR BECAUSE SOME PARENTS REACHED OUT TO OUR OFFICE AND SAID, EVERYONE'S SAYING ABOUT BRINGING PALI BACK, THESE NINTH GRADERS HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO, TO MAKE A NOTE BECAUSE, UH, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND I WERE, WERE IN THE PALISADES, UH, THE DAY AFTER THE FIRES, LITERALLY WITH SCHOOL POLICE AND WITH TOUGH, UH, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, PUTTING OUT FIRES.
UM, AND THE, THE WORK THAT THE DISTRICT DID OVER THE LAST YEAR FROM THAT INCREDIBLE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND EVACUATING SCHOOLS AND PERSONNEL AND THE HEROISM OF OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO LEFT THEIR OWN PERSONAL VEHICLES TO GET ON BUSES WITH STUDENTS TO THE WORK THE DISTRICT DID TO, WITHIN A WEEK, A WEEK RELOCATING TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FULLY WITH THEIR TEACHERS AND PEERS AND FACULTY AND, UH, PRINCIPALS JUST A FEW MILES AWAY TO WORKING WITH THE, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO PRIORITIZE SCHOOL, UM, UH, SCHOOLS AND DEBRIS REMOVAL, UH, TO GETTING, UH, THIS PROCESS GOING.
AND THE FULL, THE FULL PLAN FOR PERMANENT BUILDINGS TO THEN WITH SEPTEMBER, LITERALLY NINE, WITHIN NINE MONTHS, GETTING MARQUES BACK INTO THE PALISADES.
UM, AND THEN TODAY, JUST A, A BIT OVER A YEAR FROM THOSE DEVASTATING FIRES TO HAVE 2,500 STUDENTS BACK AT PALI HIGH.
PALI IS ALSO THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE PALISADES.
SO WHEN I'VE TALKED TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE RESILIENCE AND THE REBUILDING OF FOLKS COMING BACK TO THOSE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND, UH, RESTAURANTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, UM, WHO ARE, UH, NOT EVEN CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOL, BUT NOW THAT THEY SEE HIS PAL, PAL IS BACK, AND THE WORK THAT OUR OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY DID AND OUTSIDE EXPERTS TO REMEDIATE AND SHOW THE SAFETY, UM, I IS THE, IS THE GATEWAY BACK FOR SO MANY IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING, UH, AS WE CONTINUE TO REBUILD AS WELL, AND CUT, UH, TIMELINES IN HALF AND WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS.
UM, I REMEMBER BEING ON PHONE CALLS WITH SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, UH, IN THE DAYS, UH, FOLLOWING.
AND WE SAID, AT A TIME WHEN FAITH AND GOVERNMENT AND WHAT WE CAN DO IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IS HIS AT HISTORIC LOWS.
THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO SHOW WHAT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE CAN DO.
AND IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE TO SEE THIS DISTRICT RESPONSE.
I THINK IN MY TENURE HERE, IT'S OFTEN OUR DARKEST MOMENTS WHERE WE SEE THE MOST HEROIC, UH, RESILIENCE.
AND I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, QUICKLY THANK, AND THEN I'LL TURN IT BACK TO OUR BOARD PRESIDENT.
BUT, UM, UH, OUR SUPERINTENDENT, UM, WHO, UH, THERE'S BEEN NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR, YOUR TEAM AND OUR OFFICE FROM DAY ONE.
UH, AND I'M SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO THIS BOARD, UM, WHO HAS, UH, SUPPORTED MY CONSTITUENTS, UH, WITH BOTH THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH AND ALSO THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO REBUILD.
UM, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, FOR THIS, THEIR SUPPORT THROUGH THIS PROCESS FOR OUR FACILITIES TEAM, CHRISTINA TOS AND ISAM DUL, UM, LORENA PADILLA, UH, EVERYONE THERE WHO'S WORKED
[00:15:01]
ON THE REMEDIATION, THE PORTABLES, THE PERMANENT REBUILDING, WHO'S DONE SO MANY, UH, SO MANY COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH US, WHO'S BEEN WORKING WITH FEMA AND WITH CALLO EHS AND OTHERS, UM, TO OUR OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, CARLOS TORRES, JENNIFER FLORES AND THEIR TEAM WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK, UM, AND BEEN GETTING, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST GRATIFYING THINGS FOR ME IS A GROUP OF EXPERTS IN SCIENTISTS, UM, FROM HARVARD AND SAN AND UCLA WROTE A LETTER JUST A COUPLE DAYS AGO, VALIDATING THE SAFETY EFFORTS AT P HIGH CLEARING US FOR REOPENING.BUT WHAT THEY SAID IS THAT THEY'RE ALSO ALL PARENTS, AND THAT THEY WERE WRITING IT NOT JUST AS EXPERTS, BUT AS PARENTS.
AND THEY WOULD SEND, THEY, THEY FELT CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO SEND THEIR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.
AND THAT'S THANKS TO THE WORK OF CARLOS AND JENNIFER AND THEIR TEAM, THE BUS DRIVERS FROM SCIU AND, AND, UH, OUR, ALL OF OUR LABOR PARTNERS WHO EVACUATED STUDENTS ON JANUARY 7TH AND HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL WITH THE MOVE, UH, WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE TO BE DOWN AT ONE OF OUR WAREHOUSES RECENTLY, TALKING TO SOME OF THOSE FOLKS WHO WERE, UH, THE ONES WHO OVER THE, OVER THE WEEKEND AND LITERALLY OVERNIGHT MOVED US TO SCHOOL CAMPUSES INTO THEIR NEW HOMES OVERNIGHT, UM, TO, UH, THE SCHOOL STAFF INVOLVED.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WANNA START THE PRINCIPLES OF THE HOST SCHOOLS, PRINCIPAL BRUNSON, UM, AND PRINCIPAL, UM, UH, UH, LAS OVER AT, UH, BRENTWOOD SCIENCE AND NORRIS STARRY, WHO, WITHOUT ASKING ANY QUESTIONS, WELCOME TO ENTIRE NEW SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
AND I WILL SAY THAT AS, UM, AS MUCH AS THESE SCHOOLS HAD GONE THROUGH, SO SOMETHING SO DEVASTATING, THEY WERE ALSO THEN GETTING SO MUCH OF THE ATTENTION.
AND THE STUDENTS AND THE FACULTY AND STAFF AT BRENTWOOD SCIENCE AND NORRIS STARRY WERE JUST SUCH GREAT, HUMBLE PARTNERS AND HOSTS AND DESERVE SO MUCH CREDIT.
UM, THE PRINCIPALS HERMAN AT P HA PALI ELEMENTARY AND TIMBERMAN AT MARQUEZ HAD, UH, DR.
PAM MCGEE, WHO'S THE CAPABLE LEADER, PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PALI HIGH.
I THINK WE HAVE A LOT, AND I KNOW SEEING FOLKS IN THIS AUDIENCE, SOMETIMES THERE'S A LOT OF TENSION BETWEEN OUR CHARTER PARTNERS AND THE DISTRICT.
THE COMMITMENT I HAD MADE TO MY CONSTITUENTS LAST YEAR WAS THAT THERE'LL BE NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN THE CHARTER SCHOOL PALI HIGH AND LA UNIFIED.
AND I THINK WE'VE HONORED THAT COMMITMENT, AND IT'S BEEN AS IF WE'VE BEEN WON IN RECOVERING.
AND I THINK THAT'S A NICE LESSON FOR ALL OF US GOING FORWARD.
UH, COLLIER, OUR REGION WEST SUPERINTENDENT, UM, WHO'S BEEN INCREDIBLE, DR. DEBORAH BRYANT, WHO I KNOW IS NO STRANGER TO THIS BOARD, SHE'S WORKED ALL OVER, BUT IS KIND OF THE FIRE CAN SIGLY, IF YOU WILL, UH, AND HAS JUST BEEN, UH, SO, UM, EFFECTIVE AND COMPASSIONATE.
UH, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL, UH, THE ELLIE UNIFIED FOUNDATION, SADIE JEFFERSON, AND HER INCREDIBLE TEAM.
UM, AND JUST MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE FAMILIES AND STUDENTS WHO PUT OUR, THEIR TRUST IN THIS DISTRICT EVERY DAY.
SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY EXCITING.
UM, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT WHEN FOLKS LOOK AT LA UNIFIED'S RESPONSE TO THIS FIRE COMPARED TO MAYBE ANY OTHER AGENCIES, UH, IT'S, IT'S SEEN WITH SUCH, UH, APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE.
AND I THINK QUITE FRANKLY, FOLKS ARE IMPRESSED WITH WHAT WE CAN DO HERE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
SO, I KNOW IT WAS A LITTLE LONGER THAN I PLANNED, BUT THANK YOU, SCOTT, BECAUSE IT'S JUST, IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE AND EXCITING.
[Board President’s Reports (Part 2 of 2)]
TO DR. RIVAS FOR OUR COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE REPORT.UM, THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, UH, CONVENE ON JANUARY 20TH FOR A FOCUSED DISCUSSION ON THE DISTRICT'S FISCAL OUTLOOK AND STUDENT CENTERED STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS ENROLLMENT SHIFTS, GROUNDED IN SHARED COMMITMENT TO STABILITY, BELONGING, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS, L-A-U-S-E, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
KEVIN GORDON OF CAPITAL ADVISORS GROUP PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF THE STATE BUDGET AND PROPOSITION 98, HIGHLIGHTING KEEP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DISTRICT AS A BUDGET CYCLE UNFOLDS.
MARTHA ALVAREZ, UH, CHIEF OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, FOLLOWED WITH THE DISTRICT'S LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY AND RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL.
UH, MR. SIMON BRAVO KAMI, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THEN PRESENTED THE DISTRICT'S FISCAL OUTLOOK, INCLUDING KEY ASSUMPTIONS AND THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN AND CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO TIMING, REVERSIBILITY AND WORKFORCE IMPACTS.
DISCUSSED THE RISKS, ADVOCACY PRIORITIES, AND HOW TO ALIGN FISCAL DECISIONS WITH, UH, WITH STUDENT NEEDS.
THE SECOND HALF OF THE MEETING FOCUSED ON ENROLLMENT TRENDS AND EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO STABILIZE ENROLLMENT AND IMPROVE ATTENDANCE.
ANDREW, ANDREW THOMAS, DIRECTOR OF INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS UNIT PRESENTED DATA ON LONG-TERM ENROLLMENT DECLINE, FOLLOWED BY MR. JOSE COL, GUTIERREZ, SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY, AND DR.
EL C ROSADO FROM STUDENT SUPPORT AND ATTENDANCE SERVICES, WHO SHARED DISTRICT STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND TAILOR APPROACHES ACROSS GREAT SPANS.
THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED ALIGNING NEAR TERM FISCAL DECISIONS WITH THE LONG TERM TIMELINE NEEDED FOR ENROLLMENT STRATEGIES TO SHOW RESULTS WHILE BUILDING ON CREATIVE STRATEGIES ALREADY WORKING IN SCHOOLS AND COMPETITIVE OFFERINGS SUCH AS ATHLETICS AND TARGET INVESTMENTS TO ATTRACT FAMILIES.
[00:20:01]
NEXT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH.[Consent Items]
CONSENT CALENDAR.THE CONSENT CALENDAR, UH, AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, IS A PROCEDURAL MECHANISM THAT THIS BOARD USES TO TAKE A NUMBER OF ITEMS ALL AT ONCE.
IF IT IS AGREED THAT THERE WILL BE NO DISCUSSION ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
SO WHAT I DO NOW IS I READ THROUGH THE ITEMS ON THE, ON THE, UM, AGENDA, AND THE BOARD WILL SAY OUT LOUD, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD WILL SAY OUT LOUD, CONSENT, DISCUSSION, OR QUESTION.
IF IT GOES ON CONSENT, IT WON'T BE DISCUSSED.
IF THERE'S A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, IT WILL GO ON THE REGULAR CALENDAR.
TAB ONE, DONATIONS OF MONEY TO THE DISTRICT.
TAB TWO, REPORT OF CASH DISBURSEMENTS, CONSENT.
TAB THREE, APPROVAL OF THE UPDATE, UH, CERTIFICATION, CERTIFICATION OF SIGNATURES OR FISCAL YEAR 25, 26, CONSENT.
TAB FOUR, APPROVAL OF ROUTINE PERSONNEL ACTIONS.
OH, SORRY, QUESTION, QUESTION.
NEW BILL, TAB FIVE, PROVISIONAL INTERNSHIP PERMITS 10.
CONSENT TAB SIX, AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GREENING PROJECT.
CONSENT TAB SEVEN, AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE AN EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH OCEAN CHARTER SCHOOL.
CONSENT TAB EIGHT, EMERGENCY CLOSURE OF GARFIELD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN MONTEREY, CONTINUOUS CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, TAB NINE, APPROVAL OF PROCUREMENT ACTIONS, CONSENT.
CONSENT TAB 10, APPROVAL OF FACILITIES, CONTRACTS, ACTIONS.
SO AS, AS TO 10, I'VE GOT, UH, MS. NEW BILL.
MR. MELVIN, MR. MELVIN, AND DR. RIVAS.
AND TAB NINE, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION? YEAH.
DO YOU KNOW ON WHICH ITEM? ITEM? I, I, OKAY, SO TAB NINE IS QUESTION ON ITEM I, TAB 11, COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENT OF LOCAL BOND MEASURES.
TAB 12, PROPOSITION 39, CHARTER FACILITIES COMPLIANCE FOR THE 26 27 SCHOOL.
YOU'RE FINDING I HAVE QUESTIONS.
APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR KIPP ACADEMY OF INNOVATION.
APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR KIPP LUMINAR ACADEMY.
APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR KIPP LOS ANGELES COLLEGE PREP, CONSENT.
TAB 16, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR KIPP RAAS ACADEMY.
CONSENT TAB 17, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR KIPP VIDA PREPARATORY ACADEMY.
CONSENT TAB 18, CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
OH, THERE'S A PRESENTATION FOR TAB 18, BUT IT'S CONSENT, BUT SHE WANTS TO DO PRESENTATION.
SO, UM, SHALL WE PUT IT JUST ON, ON CONSENT? AND YOU, OKAY.
UH, TAB 19 IS A 1230 TIMES CERTAIN.
UH, SO THAT SHOULD BE ON DISCUSSION.
UH, ONE 30, UH, TIMES CERTAIN FOR TAB 20 SHOULD ALSO BE ON DISCUSSION.
UH, TAB 21, APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER TO SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BOND CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
CONSENT, ADOPTION OF THE UPDATED 25 26 L-A-U-S-D COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE.
I BELIEVE THERE'S AN AMENDMENT THAT'S IN THE MATERIALS ALREADY, JUST FOR A CHANGE TO DATE IN THE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE.
IS THERE A CONSENT ON THIS? CONSENT? YEAH.
SO THAT, THAT'LL BE, UH, FOR DISCUSSION.
UH, 23 REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE, CONSENT.
CONSENT AND TABS, UH, 24 AND 25 ARE NOT VOTED ON.
AND A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD FOR TAB 24.
AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 24 25.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ THROUGH THE WORK WE'VE JUST DONE TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MAKE ANY ERRORS.
TABS 13, 14, 15, 16, AND 17 AND 18 ARE CONSENT TABS 19 AND 20 TIMES CERTAIN DISCUSSIONS.
TAB 22, QUESTION TAB 23, CONSENT.
WE HAVE 38 MINUTES TO DO, UM, TO TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR WHICH THERE ARE
[00:25:01]
COMMENTERS.THERE'S NO COMMENT ON TAB TWO OR THREE.
COMMENT ON TAB FIVE OR SIX OR SEVEN.
13 TABS, 13, 14, 15, 16, AND 17 ALL HAVE FULL PUBLIC COMMENT.
AGAIN, THIS IS FOR RENEWAL PETITIONS.
SO WE'LL START WITH TAB 13, APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL PETITION FOR KIPP ACADEMY ON CONSENT, UH, GILBERT SANCHEZ.
WE'RE GONNA WAIVE OUR TIME FOR, FOR ITEMS. SORRY.
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I GET THEM CORRECT.
UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'M GOING TO READ THE NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP IN THE EVENT.
THERE IS SOMEONE WITH AN OPPOSITIONAL OPINION AND WE DON'T ACCIDENTALLY MISS THEM.
UH, GILBERT SANCHEZ, CATHERINE, ADA, SARAVIA, JAYLENE GILDO.
LYDIA MENIS, UH, SIANNA BELLA.
NOEMI HERNANDEZ AND JORGE VILA.
SO ALL THOSE FOLKS HAVE WAIVED THEIR TIME.
AND THEN WE WILL GO ON TO THE NEXT TAB.
TAB 14 HAS ALSO, FOR THE RECORD, INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO WAIVE TIME, BUT I'M GONNA READ THE NAMES AGAIN INTO THE RECORD.
MICHAEL MARTINEZ, JOCELYN GARCIA.
CHRISTOPHER SANDOVAL, YESENIA, MONTREAL.
UH, MELISSA PART GUILLERMO FERNANDEZ.
AND MY STAFF WHO SOMETIMES HAS A BETTER HANDLE ON THINGS THAN ME, HAS REMINDED ME TO READ THE PUBLIC HEARING STATEMENT BEFORE WE CONCLUDE ACTION ON THE ITEM.
SO FOR TABS 13 THROUGH 17, APPROVAL OF CHARTER RENEWAL PETITIONS, THIS FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS TO BE READ BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN.
ON THE FOLLOWING BOARD REPORTS, A PUBLIC HEARING MUST BE HELD.
THIS CONSTITUTES THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS IS FOR KIPI, UH, ACADEMY OF INNOVATION, KIPP LUMINAR ACADEMY, KIPP LOS ANGELES COLLEGE PREP, KIPP RICES ACADEMY, KIPP VIDA PREPARATORY ACADEMY.
THE MAXIMUM OF 15 INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON EACH OF THE ITEMS WILL BE HEARD.
THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK SHOULD SIGN UP ONLINE.
FOLKS HAVE SIGNED UP ONLINE, AND WE ARE IN FACT GOING THROUGH THE LIST RIGHT NOW.
UM, FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, I WILL ALSO HAVE A STATEMENT TO READ, BUT WE WILL GET TO THAT.
THOSE SPEAKERS HAVE ALSO WAIVED THEIR TIME.
THOSE SPEAKERS ON TAB 16 HAVE ALSO WAIVED THEIR TIME.
[00:30:02]
CURTIS WATLEY, UH, IKA TIGA.THOSE FOLKS ON TAB 17 HAVE ALSO WAIVED THEIR TIME.
WE HAVE NINE SPEAKERS ON TAB 18.
AND MS. NEWBELL, DID YOU WANNA MAKE A COMMENT? YES.
UM, OBVIOUSLY, UH, DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, UM, WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WHICH IS AN ANNUAL OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE CENTRAL ROLE BLACK AMERICANS HAVE PLAYED IN SHAPING OUR HISTORY, CULTURE, AND DEMOCRACY OF THE UNITED STATES.
THIS YEAR HOLDS A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, 2026.
MARKS THE CENTENNIAL LEGACY OF DR. CARTER G WOODSON, WHOSE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEGRO HISTORY WEEK IN 1926 LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT WE NOW OBSERVE AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
WOODSON BELIEVED DEEPLY IN THE POWER OF EDUCATION AND TRUTH, THAT SCHOLARSHIP WOULD CHALLENGE PREJUDICE AND EXPAND DEMOCRACY.
HIS VISION CONTINUES TO GUIDE US A HUNDRED YEARS LATER.
FOR A CENTURY, BLACK HISTORY COMMEMORATES HAVE PRESERVED, ELEVATED AND HONORED BLACK LIFE, CULTURE AND ACHIEVEMENT.
THE MILESTONE IS REFLECTED IN THE 2026 THEME FROM THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY, WHICH IS A CENTURY OF BLACK HISTORY COMMEMORATIONS FROM THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE TO CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
FROM VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 TO TODAY'S ADVANCEMENT IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, GOVERNMENT, AND THE ARTS, BLACK AMERICANS HAVE SHAPED EVERY ASPECT OF OUR NATION'S PROGRESS.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH ALSO REMINDS US THAT MANY STORIES HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN OVERLOOKED OR EXCLUDED.
WHILE OUR NATION'S FOUNDING IDEALS WERE NOT WRITTEN FOR EVERYONE, BLACK AMERICANS HAVE CONTINUOUSLY FOUGHT TO MAKE THOSE IDEALS REAL FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR ALL OF US.
THEIR LEADERSHIP, COURAGE, AND CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE STRENGTHENED AMERICAN DEMOCRACY FOR THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE CENTENNIAL MOMENT REINFORCES OUR COMMITMENT TO CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE EDUCATION, INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM, AND HISTORICALLY ACCURATE INSTRUCTION.
THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN, WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS OPPORTUNITIES, GAPS, OPPORTUNITY GAPS, AND SUPPORT THE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND COMMUNITY NEEDS OF OUR BLACK STUDENTS.
OUR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, AS WELL AS OUR ETHNIC STUDIES CURRICULUM ENSURES THAT STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT AMERICAN CIVILIZATION, THE AFRICAN DIASPORA, THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, AND THE ONGOING PURSUIT OF JUSTICE.
OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS NOT ONLY A TIME OF REFLECTION, IT'S A REAFFIRMATION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO ANTI-RACISM, EDUCATIONAL EQUITY, AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE EVERY STUDENT FEELS SEEN, VALUED, AND EMPOWERED.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER AT OUR SCHOOL WEEK OF ACTION, WHICH SUPPORTS OUR STUDENT VOICE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN EDUCATION.
SO, AS WE HONOR A CENTURY OF BLACK HISTORY COMMEMORATIONS FROM 1926 TO 2026 AND BEYOND, WE RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO ENSURING THE FUTURE GENERATIONS LEARN FROM THIS LEGACY
[00:35:01]
AND CARRY IT FORWARD.WE RECOMMIT TO PROTECTING CIVIL RIGHTS, EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND BUILDING A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY FOR ALL.
AND THAT BLACK HISTORY IS ALSO AMERICAN HISTORY.
MAY I BE, UM, HONORED BEING A CO-SPONSOR? THANK YOU.
ME AS A CO-SPONSOR AS WELL, AND, UM, JUST WANTED TO ALSO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BOARD MEMBER, UM, HANDY NEW BILL FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS IMPORTANT CELEBRATION AS WE MARK THE CENTENNIAL OF BLACK HISTORY COMMEMORATIONS.
WE ARE DOING SO AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND FOR OUR DEMOCRACY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE TEACHING OF HONEST HISTORY, THE PURSUIT OF RACIAL JUSTICE, AND THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF BLACK COMMUNITIES ARE BEING ACTIVELY CHALLENGED AND RESTRICTED AND POLITICIZED IN THAT CONTEXT.
THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT SYMBOLIC.
IT'S A STATEMENT OF VALUES AND RESPONSIBILITY.
THIS RESOLUTION AFFIRMS THE BLACK, THAT BLACK HISTORY IS ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTANDING WHO WE ARE AS A NATION AND TO FULFILLING THE PROMISE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
IT REINFORCES THAT CULTURAL RESPONSIVE EDUCATION, ETHNIC STUDIES, AND THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN ARE NOT OPTIONAL INITIATIVES, BUT CORE COMMITMENTS THAT SHAPE STUDENT BELONGING, ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND CIVIC UNDERSTANDING.
BY ADVANCING THIS WORK, WE ARE CHOOSING THE TRUTH OVER ERASURE AND ACTION OVER RHETORIC.
HONORING BLACK HISTORY REQUIRES SUSTAINED INVESTMENT IN BLACK STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITIES, AND THE WILLING WILLINGNESS TO STAND FIRM WITH THOSE COM COMMUN COMMITMENTS WHEN THEY ARE BEING TESTED.
ESPECIALLY IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT ONLY TO COMMEMORATE THE PAST, BUT TO PROTECT THE PRESENT AND SHAPE A MORE JUST FUTURE FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR CITY AND OUR NATION.
WE ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSORS, IF YOU'D BE OPEN TO IT, PLEASE.
YOU SAW YOUR ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSORS.
AND CARLA, MISS, GO AHEAD, MS. DIEGO.
UM, BOARD MEMBER NEW BILL FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION UP AGAIN.
UM, AS AN EDUCATOR, BLACK HISTORY MONTH WAS, UM, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MONTHS FOR ME TO TEACH MY STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN A SCHOOL THAT WAS PREDOMINANTLY LATINA.
TO ME, IT FELT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO BE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE HISTORY OF, OF BLACK PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY, THE CONTRIBUTIONS, AND TO FIND INSPIRATION IN ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE, UM, THROUGHOUT OUR, OUR, OUR HISTORY AND CONTINUE.
AND SO FOR ME, UM, HERE IN THIS DISTRICT, I TAKE GREAT PRIDE THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE MADE THAT COMMITMENT TO BS A TO THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN.
I WOULD LOVE FOR OUR STATE TO ALSO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT TO OUR BLACK STUDENTS.
AND, UM, I'M GLAD THAT THIS RESOLUTION CALLS FOR THE DISTRICT TO CONTINUE WITH ITS EFFORTS TO CLOSE THE ACADEMIC GAP, THE, UM, ACHIEVEMENT GAP FOR BLACK STUDENTS, AND TO ENSURE THAT BLACK STUDENTS SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED IN THE CURRICULUM.
I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS CHAIR OF THE CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE, IT IS THE MOST COMMON COMMENT THAT I GET FROM PARENTS, FROM STUDENTS, UM, AND EDUCATORS.
SO I'M GLAD THAT THIS LANGUAGE IS INCLUDED IN THE RESOLUTION.
UM, I DID NOT READ A FULL ARTICLE, BUT THERE WAS AN ARTICLE TODAY ABOUT WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE FOR BLACK BOYS TO HAVE JOY.
I WANNA LOOK FOR THAT ARTICLE AGAIN.
I SAW IT, SAW THE HEADLINE, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO READ IT.
BUT I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
HOW DO WE MAKE BLACK LIVES JOYFUL? AND, AND STICK WITH THAT AND DO THAT.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE LOTS OF PARENTS WHO WANT THAT FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND SOMETIMES THEY LEAVE OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL THAT IN OUR SCHOOLS.
AND I WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY THAT, ALTHOUGH THAT THAT IS, THAT MAY BE THE CASE IN SOME PLACES.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE COMMITTED IN THIS BOARD, ON THIS BOARD TO MAKE BLACK LIVES MATTER, NOT JUST IN FEBRUARY, BUT ALL THE TIME.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.
I WANNA MAKE SURE WE GOT ALL THE CO-SPONSORS ON THAT.
I THINK ALL OF US ARE ONE TO MY RIGHT.
[00:40:02]
OKAY.THERE ARE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, UH, CHRISTOPHER COVINGTON.
ARE YOU HERE? MARCUS? AN INDIVIDUAL ONLY AS MARCUS TENAYA.
ARE YOU HERE? UH, MYLA TURNER, ARE YOU HERE? THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN PERSON.
I WILL CHECK TO SEE ON THE LINE, UH, IF THOSE FOLKS ARE HERE.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
CAN, YOU CAN SEE ME? WE SURE CAN SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT AND, AND BE SURE TO SPEAK A LITTLE SLOWER, PLEASE.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT CVA.
MY NAME IS IRA AND I'M A SENIOR POLICY ADVOCATE AND ORGANIZER WITH THE A CLU OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
ON BEHALF OF THE A CU SOCAL, WE SUPPORT BOARD MEMBER'S RESOLUTION, RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND HONORING THE LEGACY OF DR. CARTER WOODS.
DECISION FOR TRUTHFUL INCLUSIVE HISTORY EDUCATION.
UH, THIS RESOLUTION AFFIRMS THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, INCLUSIVE, AND HISTORICALLY ACCURATE EDUCATION IN L-A-U-S-D INITIATIVES LIKE EXPANDED AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND ETHNIC STUDIES CURRICULUM, ALONG WITH ONGOING EFFORTS TO FOSTER AFFIRMING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS ARE IMPORTANT STEPS FOR UPLIFTING BLACK VOICES YEAR ROUND.
THESE INITIATIVES ARE CRITICAL TO ADDRESSING DECADES OF SYSTEMIC NEGLECT AND UNDER RESOURCING FOR BLACK STUDENTS INEQUITIES THAT BLACK HISTORY MONTH REMINDS US WE MUST CONTINUE CONFRONTING HEAD ON.
WE PARTICULARLY APPLAUD THE DIRECTIVE TO EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN, WHICH WAS BORN FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND STUDENT ADVOCACY.
UH, BSAP HAS ALREADY SHOWN PROGRESS, INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS IN A THROUGH G COMPLETION RATES WITH RECENT FUNDING INCREASES.
UH, NOW IS THE TIME TO BUILD ON THAT MOMENTUM BY INVESTING FURTHER AND PROVEN EQUITY FOCUSED STRATEGIES.
UM, YEAH, AS WE HONOR THIS CENTURY OF BLACK HISTORY COMMEMORATION, L-A-U-S-D FACES A NEW LAWSUIT FROM AN OUT-OF-STATE CONSERVATIVE GROUP.
UH, THE 1776 PROJECT FOUNDATION, CHALLENGING THE DISTRICT P-H-B-A-O AND MAGNET PROGRAM.
THESE LEGALLY REQUIRED PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED TO CORRECT HISTORICAL SEGREGATION AND PROVIDE TARGETED SUPPORTS IN SCHOOLS SERVING PREDOMINANTLY STUDENTS OF COLOR.
AND SO WE URGE THE, THE BOARD TO VIGOROUSLY DEFEND THESE PROGRAMS IN COURT AND CONTINUE EXPANDING VAP AND SIMILAR EFFORTS THAT SERVE AS NATIONAL MODELS FOR SUPPORTING HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED YOUTH.
HONORING BLACK HISTORY MEANS COMMITTING TO SUSTAINED ACTION THAT ADVANCES JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR ALL STUDENTS.
AND SO, THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TOWARDS SAC.
UH, WE BELIEVE L-A-U-S-C WILL PREVAIL IN COURT AND ARE READY TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT.
THE NEXT FOLKS LISTED THEMSELVES AS SPEAKING REMOTELY.
JASON MELENDEZ, ARE YOU HERE? YOU'RE NOT ONLINE.
CHRISTIAN FLAG, ARE YOU HERE? YOU ARE ALSO NOT ONLINE.
UH, DORIA AHMED SIGNED TO SPEAK REMOTELY, ALSO NOT HERE.
SO THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON TAB 18.
NEXT, ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS TAB 21.
THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON TAB 21.
COMMENT NEXT ON THE NEXT CONSENT ITEM IS TAB 23, REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE.
THERE IS ONE PERSON SIGNED UP AS VVC.
22 IS ON DISCUSSION, SIR, SO THAT WE'RE ON CONSENT RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT ITEMS. CAN I HAVE A MOVE AND A SECOND FOR HEARING THE CONSENT CALENDAR? I'LL MOVE IT.
MOVED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCH NO.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS? OBVIOUSLY NOT MS. NEW BILL? YES.
STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG? YES.
WE HAVE 18 MINUTES BEFORE OUR NEXT TIME.
[1. Board of Education Report No. 273-25/26 Finance Division (Donations of Money to the District) Recommends approval of the donation of money to the District totaling $569,105.00.]
THERE IS NO COMMENT ON THE ITEM.MS. NEW BILL, YOU HAD A QUESTION? THIS IS TAB ONE, DONATIONS OF MONEY TO THE DISTRICT.
I'M NOT SURE WHO'S HERE TO ANSWER.
[00:45:04]
YEAH, YEAH.SO MY QUESTION IS, UM, THE FUNDS THAT ARE ALLOCATED FROM THE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, THERE'S A DONATION, UM, TO OUR DIVISION OF ADULT AND CAREER EDUCATION FROM THE FOUNDATION.
WHERE WILL THE PROGRAMS BE LOCATED WITHIN THE DISTRICT? DO YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE? SO THEY WILL BE PROVIDED, UH, BOARD MEMBER TO OUR DAYS PROGRAMS. WE'LL GET YOU THE LIST.
IT'S, UH, PARTICULAR PROGRAMS THAT THE DONATION WAS IDENTIFIED FOR.
SO WE'LL, WE WILL PROVIDE YOU THAT LIST.
THEY WERE ALREADY IDENTIFIED WHEN THE DONATION WAS.
SO THERE WAS SPECIFIC SCHOOLS.
AND YOU'LL HAVE A LIST PROVIDED FOR US.
WE'RE WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW TO GET DOWN TO YOU.
WE JUST WAIT UNTIL WE CAN TAKE ACTION.
YEAH, THERE WAS PUBLIC COMMENT LISTED.
UH, VC IS THE ONLY PERSON I CALLED THEIR NAME.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, UH, RECESSING FROM CLOSED SESSION TO CLOSED SESSION, I BELIEVE, UH, VIOLATES THE SPIRIT, IF NOT THE LETTER OF THE BROWN ACT.
IF SOMEBODY CONTINUED TO RECESS THE CLOSED SESSION FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR, IT WOULD PRECLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR.
I'M NO EXPERT ON THE BROWN ACT, BUT I'M CERTAINLY LETTING IT BE HEARD IN A PUBLIC MEETING THAT THERE IS SOME CONCERN WITH RESPECT TO THAT.
NUMBER TWO, THERE IS NO IG PRESENT IN THIS CLOSED SESSION OR THIS OPEN PUBLIC MEETING WHO REPRESENTS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
UH, I ENCOURAGE YOU AS A BOARD TO USE YOUR STAFF WI WISELY, UM, SO THAT WHEN YOU DO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AND YOU HAVE, UH, ENTIRE STAFF FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT SIDE, THAT YOU HAVE THE STAFF THAT HAS DIRECT CONTROL OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR CLEAR THE CLOSED SESSION SO THAT THE EIGHT OF YOU CAN SPEAK HONESTLY.
UH, NUMBER THREE ON THE BROWN ACT.
UH, I WISH TO SPEAK, UH, PERHAPS AGAINST, UH, KIPP CHARTERS HYPOTHETICALLY, BUT THERE IS NO OPPORTUNITY IN THIS BOARD TO SPEAK IF IN FACT ALL POSITIONS ARE TAKEN BY THE PRO SIDE.
I WOULD REFER YOU TO THE WAY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ED OPERATES AND OTHER BOARDS OF ED, WHICH ALLOWS BOTH SIDES OF AN ISSUE TO BE HEARD BY ALLOWING SOMEBODY TO FILL UP EVERY SPOT, PRECLUDES THE PUBLIC FROM HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UH, LET ME ALSO SAY, THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WAS A WONDERFUL MEETING.
UM, IT SPOKE ABOUT THE MAY REVISION AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE MORE MONEY FOR THIS DISTRICT.
MS. RIVAS ASKED IN THE OPEN MEETING WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESENTATION BY THE DISTRICTS INCLUDED THE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 25 REVENUES ON THE FRANCHISE TAX BOARD, THE JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY.
SO YOU CONTINUE TO GET A PRESENTATION OF A FISCAL CLIFF, AND YOU CONTINUE TO GET NEGATIVITY WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE A GREAT THING.
AND TO CALL THE GOVERNOR A LIAR IN AN OPEN MEETING IS DISGRACEFUL.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND THE GOVERNOR TO SPEAK RIGHT HERE AND SAY WHAT HIS STATE BUDGET ALLOWS.
I'LL REMIND FOLKS THAT WHEN THEY'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM SPECIFIC, THAT THEY KEEP THEIR COMMENTS CONSTRAINED TO THAT ITEM.
SO THIS WAS TAB ONE DONATIONS OF MONEY TO THE DISTRICT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
HAS IT BEEN MOVED YET? MOVE IT AGAIN.
MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHROEN? YES.
[4. Board of Education Report No. 251-25/26 Human Resources (Approval of Routine Personnel Actions) Recommends approval of 2,802 routine personnel actions including, but not limited to elections, promotions, transfers, leaves, terminations, separations, permits, and contracts.]
TO TAB FOUR, APPROVAL OF ROUTINE PERSONNEL ACTIONS.THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM, BUT WE DO HAVE MS. NEW BILL WITH A QUESTION.
AND I HAD A QUESTION REGARDING OUR SUBSTITUTE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE.
[00:50:01]
THAT SOMEBODY FROM THE TEAM COMES DOWN AND ANSWERS THE QUESTION.SO THE, THE QUESTION IS, SO THE NUMBER OF SUBSTITUTE, UH, SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT WANTING TO KNOW IF THIS IS REGULAR, GIVEN THE REPORT TIME PERIOD, I THINK THERE WAS LIKE 138 SUBSTITUTES.
AND WHETHER THAT NUMBER IS HIGHER THAN USUAL, OR IS THAT THE SAME NUMBER? MM-HMM
WE WILL LOOK INTO THAT AND WORK THAT TOO.
AND ARE THESE SUBS IN SPECIAL ED ASSISTANTS HELPING US TO REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON OTHER AGENCY STAFFS FOR THIS PARTICULAR ROLE? SO, I CAN'T AN ANSWER THE SECOND PART OF THAT IN THAT IT'S THE IEP TEAM IS THE ONE WHO DETERMINES WHO WOULD DELIVER THE SERVICES THE STUDENT NEEDS.
UH, IN MOST CASES, IT'S OUR OWN SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
BUT THERE ARE MOMENTS THAT THE IEP TEAM MAY DETERMINE THAT A NON-PUBLIC AGENCY SHOULD PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT.
AND THEN, IS THIS NUMBER HIGHER THAN USUAL? YOU DON'T.
WE'LL FIND, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'LL CONFIRM.
BUT I WILL, WE'LL ASK DAVID TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION FOR US.
AND THOSE ARE JUST MY CONCERNS.
AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION FOR CHANGING THE TITLE OF LIBRARY AID TO LIBRARY TECHNICIAN.
SO VERY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON.
[8. Board of Education Report No. 285-25/26 Division of School Operations (Emergency Closure of Garfield Senior High School and Monterey Continuation High School; Request for Allowance of Attendance Due to Emergency Condition; Payment of Employees) Recommends approval to formally acknowledge the emergency closure of Garfield Senior High School and Monterey Continuation High School on October 28, 2025, due to a nearby explosives investigation that commenced on Monday, October 27, 2025. Approval is also requested for authorization to submit Form J-13A to the California Department of Education for the purpose of obtaining attendance allowance for the day of closure, and to ratify the payment of salaries to all affected employees.]
TAB EIGHT.THIS IS EMERGENCY CLOSURE OF GARFIELD'S SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ITEM.
THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE ITEM.
UM, I JUST WANNA START BY THANKING YOU AND THE REGION, EAST SCHOOL OPERATIONS AND ALL THE STAFF.
UM, THE WORK THAT YOU DID DURING THIS INCIDENT AND FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES THROUGH WERE VERY CHALLENGING, PRECARIOUS, AND QUITE FRANKLY, VERY SCARY SITUATION.
UNCERTAIN, UNCERTAIN SITUATION.
I ALSO APPRECIATE YOU FROM WALKING US THROUGH THESE QUESTIONS, UH, DURING OUR BRIEFING.
SO THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS JUST FOR PUBLIC, UM, KNOWLEDGE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND TO SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY AND SHARED LEARNING.
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, UM, CAN, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE G 13 A FORM IS AND WHY THE DISTRICT IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT IT AFTER AN EMERGENCY CLOSURE AND WHY THIS ITEM IS COMING TO THE BOARD, UM, AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS? THANK YOU.
SO, UH, THE J 13 A IS A FORM THAT'S SUBMITTED ANYTIME WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY CLOSURE OF A SCHOOL.
UM, AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE EMERGENCY CLOSURES TOOK PLACE FOR GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AND MONTEREY CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL DUE TO, UM, EXPLOSIVES THAT WERE FOUND AT A HOME NEARBY.
SO THE J 13 IS SUBMITTED TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE AND TO RECTIFY ANY PAY FOR, UH, THE STAFF THAT ARE INVOLVED.
AND SO WE'RE, WE ASK FIRST, THE FIRST STEP IS TO ASK FOR THE BOARD TO, UM, APPROVE THE, UH, BOARD, UH, REPORT.
AND THEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH SUBMITTING THE J 13 A TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SO THAT THEY CAN, UM, RECTIFY.
AND SO THE SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE TO MAKE UP, UH, A DAY OF SCHOOL.
AND THIS CAME BECAUSE THIS HA OCCURRED IN OCTOBER, RIGHT? UM, CORRECT.
AND THEN BECAUSE WE HAD, NOVEMBER WAS SHORT AND WE HAD THAT, UH, BREAK, AND THEN, UM, DECEMBER CAME, IT WAS JUST SHORT.
SO BECAUSE OF JUST, YOU KNOW, THE, THE NUMBER OF DAYS, THAT'S WHY IT'S COMING FORWARD RIGHT NOW, CORRECT? YES.
AND MY LAST QUESTION IS, BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE, WHAT WERE THE KEY LESSONS LEARNED, PARTICULARLY AROUND COMMUNICATION, FAMILY REUNIFICATION, AND HOW ARE THOSE LESSONS, LESSONS INFORMING DISTRICT EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND PROTOCOLS MOVING FORWARD? WELL, THE LESSONS THAT WERE LEARNED, YOU KNOW, GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL IS A VERY LARGE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO WE LEARNED THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO PIVOT.
YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO MAKE CHANGES ON A JUST MOMENT'S NOTICE AS FAR AS REUNIFICATION, UM, MAYBE MOVING THE REUNIFICATION LOCATION CLOSER SO FAMILIES DON'T HAVE TO WALK AS FAR MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO HAVE WATER POP-UP TENTS TO TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILIES.
'CAUSE THEY WERE WAITING PATIENTLY.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE FAMILIES IN LINE FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF HOURS.
ALSO, MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE GENERATORS ON HAND, MAKING SURE YOU HAVE, UH, EXTRA LAPTOPS, UM, ENSURING THAT YOUR TEAM IS READY TO RUN AND PICK UP THE STUDENTS.
BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, AT GRIFFITH, THEY WERE LOCATE BECAUSE THEY'RE LARGE.
[00:55:01]
WERE LOCATED IN DIFFERENT AREAS ON THE CAMPUS, BUT OVERALL, UM, IT WENT WELL.WE WERE ABLE TO REUNITE ALL THE KIDS WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
AND, UM, WE WILL, OH, ALSO, ONE BIG THING IS FOR LARGE SCHOOLS TO HAVE ON HAND THEIR EMERGENCY BOOKLETS WITH THE EMERGENCY CARDS AND MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES KEEP THOSE UPDATED.
'CAUSE NOT EVERYONE IS AVAILABLE TO PICK UP THEIR CHILD.
IT MAY BE A NEIGHBOR OR A GRANDPARENT OR SOMEONE.
SO THOSE WERE SOME OF THE LESSONS WE LEARNED.
AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A MOBILE UNIT, RIGHT.
OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM HAS A MINIVAN THAT IS LOADED AND READY TO GO IN CASE OF EMERGENCY WITH STOCKWOOD SUPPLIES TO SUPPORT ANY SCHOOL IN CASE WE HAVE TO DO ANOTHER EMERGENCY CLOSURE.
HOPEFULLY WE DON'T ANYTIME SOON.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, LIKE I SAID, THE WHOLE ENTIRE TEAM JUST KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS, OUR STUDENTS SAFE, AND OUR STAFF.
SO THAT'S TAB EIGHT, MOVED BY MS. EZ.
SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON.
MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
[9. Board of Education Report No. 215-25/26 Procurement Services Department (Approval of Procurement Actions) Recommends the ratification of the contract actions taken by the Procurement Services Department within delegated authority as listed in Attachment “A” including the approval of award of Professional Service Contracts not exceeding $250,000: New Contracts; Purchase Orders; Goods and General Services Contracts: Purchase Orders; District Card Transactions; Rental of Facilities; Travel/Conference Attendance; General Stores Distribution Center; and Book/Instructional Material Purchase Orders; and approve Professional Service Contracts (exceeding $250,000): New Contracts; and Goods and General Services Contracts (exceeding $250,000): New Contracts as listed in Attachment “B.”]
MS. APPROVAL OF PROCUREMENT ACTIONS.WE WILL TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THE ITEM IS DISCUSSED.
SO WE HAVE ONE, UH, CALL IN AND ONE IN PERSON.
UH, MS. UH, ROCHELLE TUNSELL, ARE YOU HERE? ROCHELLE.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN SHORTEST.
MY NAME IS RACHELLE TOSTO AND I AM A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER FOR ZOOM SCHOOL BUS SERVICES.
I'VE BEEN A DRIVER FOR 35 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN OPERATING AS A COVER DRIVER FOR 20 YEARS.
I'M A LONGSTANDING MEMBER OF THE TEAMSTERS LOCAL 5 72, WHERE I SERVE AS A SHOP STEWARD.
UM, I'VE BEEN, I LOVE WHAT I DO AND THE GOAL IS PROVIDING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SAFETY, CONSISTENCY AND PROFESSIONALISM TO OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO ENSURE THAT THIS GOAL IS ACCOMPLISHED.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT, I AM ABLE TO FOCUS ON COVERING THE ROUTES AND TRANSPORTING OUR STUDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST AND THE SAFEST MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
THE SCHOOL BUS, I'M SORRY, THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES DEPENDS ON US WORKING TOGETHER, ACCOMPLISHING THIS GOAL.
WE FORWARD, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK, WORK RELATIONSHIP WITH L-A-U-S-D TRANSPORTATION.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME SPEAK AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE ONE REMOTE CALLER, MARIA LUISA PALMER.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OBA, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
SO TODAY, AS YOU DO IN EVERY BOARD MEETING, YOU CONSIDER SOME SPECIFIC CONTRACTS AND VARIOUS AMOUNTS AND VARIOUS LENGTH, VARIOUS LENGTHS OF TIME.
AND WHY, WHY DO YOU DO THAT? YOU MAY, YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
I'M ASSUMING YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE DETAIL THAT GOES INTO THAT AND RIGHTLY SO.
BUT THESE ARE SMALL DOLLARS AND THESE DOLLARS THAT YOU LOOK AT IN THESE CONTRACTS AFFECT NOT JUST THE CURRENT, BUT A LONGER TERM OPERATING BUDGET.
BUT WHAT IS MISSING HERE IN TODAY'S BOARD MEETING, WHAT WE ARE MISSING IS A HIGH LEVEL REVIEW OF THE BIG LIABILITIES, LONG TERM LIABILITIES.
WHERE WOULD WE FIND THOSE? IN THE FULL SET OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH YOU HAVE ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY ON ITEM 25.
BUT THAT ITEM IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
EDUCATION CODE SECTION 4 1 0 2 0 0.3 SAYS THAT THE BOARD MUST REVIEW AT A PUBLIC MEETING, THE ANNUAL AUDIT AND ITS FINDINGS, NOT RECEIPT.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT.
BUT HOW ARE YOU IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT? IF THE PUBLIC CANNOT ADDRESS DIRECTLY WHAT IS IN THAT ANNUAL AUDIT? YOU KNOW, I AM A BROKEN RECORD IN THE CRITIQUE.
YOU NEED TO ANALYZE THE LONG-TERM LIABILITY.
ANY ASSESSMENT ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ANY ENTITY, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SHOULD BEGIN WITH THE BALANCE SHEET.
YOUR STATEMENT OF NET POSITION.
YOU SHOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT SITUATION, UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION IN, IN JUNE, 2025.
STILL NEGATIVE 11 4, 11 0.4 BILLION.
SO YOUR STATEMENT OF NET POSITION AND YOUR STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES BY FUND THAT
[01:00:01]
ARE INCLUDED IN THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE THE MOST DESCRIPTIVE.YOU SHOULD BE USING THESE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE, EVEN IF THEY'RE UNAUDITED ACTUAL.
THIS BECOMES MORE AND MORE ESSENTIAL AS THIS DEFICIT SITUATION CONTINUES.
AND PLEASE DISCUSS THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN PUBLIC.
CAN I HAVE A MOVE IN A SECOND TO BRING THIS TO THE TABLE AND BE HEARD? MOVE IT.
SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON.
AND MS. GREG, I BELIEVE YOU HAD QUESTIONS.
UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY, UH, THERE IS A NEED TO CONTRACT THESE SERVICES? GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS DANIEL KANG, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION.
UM, BOARD MEMBER GREGGO TRANSPORTATION HAS 1400 ROUTES WITH 950 DRIVERS.
WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF DRIVERS AS WELL AS EQUIPMENT.
UM, FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES, IT'S BEEN A, UM, PLAN TO DIVERSIFY OVER THE, OVER THE YEARS.
WE RANGE FROM ANYWHERE FROM 1400 ROUTES TO 2000 PLUS.
UM, SINCE THE DISTRICT HAS SHRANK OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS IN REGARDS TO THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TRANSPORTED, THE NUMBER OF ROUTES HAVE BEEN REDUCING.
SO WE HAVE, UH, THIS CONTRACT SAYS THAT IT'LL SUPPORT 405 BUS ROUTES.
UH, 75 ARE SPED ROUTES AND 30 ARE MAGNET ROUTES.
SO THE OTHERS ARE JUST ARE WHAT THAT IS OF THE RIGHT 3 75 SPED ROUTES.
OH, IT SAYS HERE IN THE BOOK IT SAYS 75 BEEN MAYBE THE THREE WAS LOOK TYPO LEFT OUT I 45, BUT ZOOM, THE NUMBER IS 3 75.
AND UM, SO THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BUS DRIVERS.
HOW LONG HAS THAT BEEN AN ISSUE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BUS DRIVERS? UM, IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS, UH, THAT WE CONTINUOUSLY WORK WITH PC.
AND, UM, AND WE ALSO IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE STARTED OUR OWN TRAINING ORIGINALS PROGRAM IN-HOUSE.
UM, BUT, UH, THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND ESPECIALLY OUR MARKET, UH, CLASS A DRIVERS OR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND AND PEOPLE ARE NOT APPLYING FOR THOSE JOBS.
IT'S HIGH DEMAND, BUT THEIR PEOPLE ARE NOT APPLYING.
WHY IS THAT? DUE TO THE REGULATIONS, THERE ARE HIGH STANDARDS, MEANING ABSOLUTELY CLEAN RECORD, UM, AND, UH, A LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY OUTSIDE OF DRIVING HOURS, MEANING YOU ARE NOT SPEEDING, YOU ARE NOT DRINKING ALCOHOL.
UM, DRI CLASS A CERTIFIED DRIVERS ARE OFTEN VERY PROFESSIONAL, RESPONSIBLE, UH, LINE OF FOLK.
OKAY, SO THIS CONTRACT IS $63 MILLION.
WHAT WOULD THAT BE? IF WE HAD THEM IN-HOUSE, WHAT WOULD BE THE COST FOR US? IF IT WAS IN-HOUSE, THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL BUS YARD.
SO I WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME ANALYSIS TO PROVIDE THAT.
SO YOU'RE SAYING NOT ONLY DO WE NEED THE BUS DRIVERS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE A SPACE TO HOLD THE BUSES AND, AND, CORRECT.
AND WE, WE HAVE PLENTY OF LAND, I THINK ALL OVER THE DISTRICT THAT WE COULD DO THAT.
AND SO, YEAH, SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THIS IS $63 MILLION AND I KNOW SOME OF OUR LABOR PARTNERS ARE CONCERNED, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT ZOOM ARE REPRESENTED BY TEAMSTERS, UM, WHICH IS GREAT.
I'M GLAD THAT THEY ARE REPRESENTED BY A UNION.
UM, BUT I DO WANNA KNOW, UH, WHAT THE COST WOULD BE IF WE WERE TO HAVE THESE EMPLOYEES IN HOUSE, THE BUSES IN HOUSE.
UM, DURING OUR BRIEFING, I ASKED ABOUT THE, UH, ALSO ABOUT, UH, SPECIAL ED BUSES AND OR THE BUSES USED TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS IN WHO RECEIVE SPECIAL ED SERVICES.
AND, UM, I HEARD THAT OUR BUSES DON'T HAVE THE HARDWARE FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENTS.
SO IS THAT AN YES AND NO? STILL AN ISSUE? UM, WE HAVE 19 DIFFERENT BUS MODELS AND MAJORITY OF OUR SPED ROUTES, UM, OUR CONTRACT THROUGH OUR CONTRACTORS WITH SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT.
LET'S SAY WE NEED ABOUT 400 BUSES WITH WHEELCHAIR LIFTS.
AND THEN THEREFORE WE CONTRACT OUT WITH SPECS SAYING WE NEED BUSES WITH WHEELCHAIR LIFTS IN THIS AMOUNT TO HELP US COVER OUR NEED.
AND I KNOW WE'RE ACQUIRING A LOT OF GREEN BUSES, RIGHT? ARE THESE ARE THE BUSES THAT ARE COMING IN THE NEW ONES? ARE WE TRYING TO GET SOME THAT WILL MEET THAT NEED? YES.
UM, BUT TO ADD TO THAT CAVEAT, UH, MS. GRIEGO IS THE MAJORITY OF OUR 250 ORDER HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY FOR OUR HEAVY BUSES.
OUR LARGE BUSES DUE TO THE AGE.
OUR NEXT WAVE OF ORDERS ARE THE LIGHT BUSES WITH THE SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED.
SO WE ARE, UH, ACQUIRING BUSES THAT WILL MEET THIS NEED.
AND HOPEFULLY, I MEAN, EVENTUALLY DO YOU THINK WE MAY NOT NEED TO USE, UM, ZOOM SERVICES FOR SPECIAL ED
[01:05:01]
TRANSPORTATION? THAT WOULD BE AN IDEAL GOAL TO GET THERE WILL REQUIRE ANOTHER BUS YARD OR, UM, AN AMENDMENT TO OUR TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY.SO THERE ARE SEVERAL VARIABLES INVOLVED IN THAT.
AND THAT THAT CONVERSATION HASN'T HAPPENED.
IT, IT, IT DOES CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
AND WHEN WOULD WE SEE GOALS FOR THIS? WHEN, UH, THAT WOULD BE A CONTINUED DISCUSSION WITH LEADERSHIP? UM, I, I'LL SPEAK TO THIS.
I, I THINK ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, THERE'S A NUMBER OF VARIABLES AS MR. KING NOTED, IS, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT MODERNIZATION EFFORTS THAT, UM, WILL VERY MUCH INFORM OUR STRATEGY AROUND RIDERSHIP AND SUPPORTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, IT'S REALLY DRIVEN BY SPECIAL ED SERVICES AND IEP AND THE ELIGIBILITY OF OUR STUDENTS.
AND I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY, UM, REQUIRES A DISTRICT TO BE A LITTLE MORE NIMBLE AND FLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THE REQUIRED, UM, SET OF, UM, ADD-ONS ON A BUS THAT WE NEED.
SOME MAY ACTUALLY REQUIRE A BUS, SOME MAY REQUIRE SPECI SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ON A BUS TO SERVE A PARTICULAR STUDENT.
AND SO THE, THE CONTRACTING NATURE ALLOWS US TO BE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE WHEN WE ACQUIRE THE BUS.
WE NOW HAVE THAT THERE, AND IT MAY NOT BE UTILIZED BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE CERTAIN THINGS THAT A STUDENT MAY NOT REQUIRE.
UM, SO WE KNOW THAT THE MORE EFFICIENT WAY OF LOOKING AT IT IS KIND OF A MIXED PORTFOLIO.
WE DO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THE CONTRACTED SIDE, THINKING ABOUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS TWO YEARS FROM NOW? AND THINKING ABOUT ALSO THE RECRUITMENT OF STAFF THAT WILL, I WOULD SAY, JOIN IN UTILIZING THE NEWLY ACQUIRED BUSES THAT WE INTEND TO BRING ON THROUGH OUR KIND OF GRANT PROGRAM AND, AND OUR GREENING OF OUR FLEET.
UM, IS THAT, ARE THOSE PLANS AND GOALS WRITTEN ANYWHERE? ARE THEY PART OF ANY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT.
I MEAN, IF WE DON'T SET GOALS, IF WE DON'T SET SOME TIMELINES, IF WE DON'T, THEN IF WE'RE JUST DISCUSSING WITHOUT ANYTHING CONCRETELY THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD, I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'RE GONNA GET TO THAT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, 'CAUSE I, I WOULD LIKE TO REDUCE CONTRACTING OUT SERVICES THAT'S PRIVATIZING OUR WORKFORCE.
AND SO I DON'T WANT THAT, THAT'S DEFINITELY NOT THE ROUTE THAT WE WANNA GO.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT NOW IT PROVIDES SOME FLEXIBILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, BUT WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOWARD A GOAL THAT REDUCES THAT.
SO WHEN CAN WE SEE THIS REPORT? HOW ARE WE GONNA SEE THIS REPORT? WHO'S GONNA PRODUCE THIS? IT IT, IT HAS BEEN PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, WHAT WE'VE SET, UM, I WOULD SAY VERY CLEAR GOALS ABOUT UTILIZATION AND LEVERAGING THE CAPACITY THAT OUR SYSTEM PROVIDES FOR TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR EXISTING FLEET AND CONTRACTED FLEET.
UM, THE KEY THING FOR US IS REALLY LOOKING AT HOW DO WE MEET A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS, WHETHER IT'S MODERNIZATION, SO THAT WE HAVE QUALITY RIDERSHIP, PARTICIPATION FROM FAMILIES AND UTILIZING WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN THE SYSTEM.
SECOND, IT'S REALLY LOOKING AT HOW DO WE LOOK AT OUT YEAR, UH, I WOULD SAY CONSOLIDATION OF ROUTES SO THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY PROVIDING A VERY CLEAR SET OF PARTICIPATION FOR FAMILIES WHEN IT COMES TO EXPECTATIONS AROUND RIDERSHIP TIME.
UM, OUR GOAL IS STRIVING TO A, A RIDERSHIP TIME OF UNDER 60 MINUTES.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GET THERE AND IT REQUIRES US TO LOOK AT ALL THESE VARIOUS VARIABLES, UH, TO IMPROVE THAT.
SO I WILL SEE THAT IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
ALL OF THE, IN THE, THAT IS IN THE EXISTING, IN THE CURRENT ONE.
AND THEN IN THE NEXT ONE, YOU, THAT'S OUR INTENT ARE CREATING NEW GOALS.
UM, AND THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER GRIEGO.
AND I ALSO WANT TO APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO BE IN A POSITION OF NEST NEEDING CONTRACTED SERVICES, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE A PARTNER THAT HAS A UNIONIZED, UM, THAT HAS UNIONIZED WORKERS.
AND I, I APPRECIATE THE, THE TESTIMONY OF THE BUS DRIVER WHO SPOKE.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING EFFORT WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO, UM, CLOSE THE GAP WHEN IT COMES TO BUS DRIVERS AND ALSO PHYSICAL BUSES.
SO I AGREE THAT MORE DETAILS WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL AS KIND OF A YEAR OVER YEAR ANALYSIS.
SO WE HAVE, WE'VE EXPANDED THE HOURS OF OUR BUS DRIVERS.
WE HAVE THIS TRAINING PROGRAM.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW THE EFFICACY OF THOSE EFFORTS.
UM, WHETHER THE SUPPORTS AND TRAINING THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE ARE ACTUALLY RESULTING IN, UM, MORE FOLKS BEING HIRED AS BUS DRIVERS, UM, FOR L-A-U-S-D.
AND THEN THE CONFLUENCE AS I THINK MR. UM, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT
WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SPACES THAT EXIST.
HOW DOES THAT ALIGN WITH OUR WORKFORCE AND ENSURING
[01:10:01]
THAT WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, UM, TO MEET, TO MEET THE EXPANDED TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.UM, SO I, I AGREE THAT MORE DETAILS WOULD BE HELPFUL, UM, PARTICULARLY AS WE LOOK FOR A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, AND THEN AGAIN, HOW DOES THIS ALIGN WITH OUR ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LABOR PARTNERS, UM, ABOUT HIRING MORE L-A-U-S-D EMPLOYEES WHO ARE BUS DRIVERS.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. MCLEAN? ALL RIGHT.
HAVEN'T BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ALREADY.
ON BALANCE, UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN? YES.
UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
DO YOU WANNA CATCH UP ON VOTES? I'M GONNA COLLECT SOME VOTES AND THEN WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN THAT WE'RE RUNNING EIGHT MINUTES BEHIND.
SO, UM, WE'LL RUN THROUGH THE VOTES WE MISSED.
UM, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, HOW DO YOU VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? YES, THAT'S A YES.
HOW DO YOU VOTE ON TAB ONE? YES.
HOW DO YOU VOTE ON TAB TWO? THAT WAS CONSENT.
NO, YOU MEAN TAB FOUR? UH, REPORT OF CASH DISBURSEMENTS.
UH, MR. MELVIN ON TAB FOUR? YES.
AND THEN TAB EIGHT, UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN.
[19. Ms. Newbill, Mr. Schmerelson, Dr. Rivas – Opposing the Unlawful Transfer of U.S. Department of Education Functions to Other Federal Agencies (Res-034-25/26) (Noticed December 16, 2025)]
US CURRENT.NOW WE'RE ON TO TAB 19 WITH A TIME CERTAIN OF ONE 30.
I APOLOGIZE TO THOSE WHO WERE HERE TIMELY.
WE ARE RUNNING NINE MINUTES LATE, MS. OKAY, MS. NEWBELL.
WELL, THIS IS, UM, SO FITTING, UH, AS THE TIME, UH, WE ARE BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE THE ADMINISTRATION'S UNLAWFUL TRANSFER OF CORE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FUNCTIONS TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, ACTIONS THAT UNDERMINE CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY AND THREATEN THE STABILITY OF OUR NATION'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
CONGRESS ALONE, AS WE KNOW, HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ALTER THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
FOR DECADES, THE DEPARTMENT HAS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROTECTING STUDENTS CIVIL RIGHTS AND ENSURING ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS OF COLOR, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, ENGLISH LEARNERS, STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND STUDENTS FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES, WHICH WE ALL SHARE WITHIN THIS DISTRICT.
WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE ACTIONS.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE TRANSFER OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RESULTED IN OPERATIONAL FAILURES, DELAYED GUIDANCE AND DISRUPTED ACCESS TO FUNDING.
EXPANDING THESE TRANSFERS WOULD ONLY INCREASE CONFUSION, REDUCE OVERSIGHT, AND PLACE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE AGENCIES THAT LACK THE EXPERTISE OR INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADMINISTER THEM.
WE PARTICULARLY ARE ALARMED BY THE POTENTIAL TRANSFER OF TITLE ONE, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION OVERSIGHT, ESPECIALLY AS WE MARK THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF IED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITY EDUCATION ACT.
THESE MOVES WOULD REPRESENT A SERIOUS STEP BACKWARDS FOR EQUALITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT.
THIS RESOLUTION AFFIRMS THAT LAD'S COMMITMENT TO DEFENDING THE RULE OF LAW, PROTECTING STUDENT RIGHTS, AND CALLING ON CONGRESS TO REA RESET ITS AUTHORITY AND SAFEGUARD THE MISSION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SO I'M GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES, BOARD MEMBER SCOTT SEN AND ROCIO RIVAS FOR CO-SPONSORING OF THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
AND I WILL NOW INVITE THEM TO HAVE SOME WORDS AS WELL AS COMMENTS.
AND SEN, WOULD YOU INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKER? THANK, I'LL, I WILL.
AND, UH, LOS ANGELES UNIFIED IS VERY AWARE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ULTIMATELY SHUTTER THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
AND I SIGNED ON TO BOARD MEMBER NEW BILL'S RESOLUTION BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS
[01:15:01]
MATTER THAT WILL ULTIMATELY HARM OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENT POPULATIONS.SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ADVOCATES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND STUDENTS LIVING IN POVERTY AND HELPS ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESSIBLE MEANS TO EQUALITY EDUCATION.
AND THESE DEMOGRAPHICS ALSO TRANSCEND POLITICAL AND SOCIAL IDEOLOGIES.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM YOU STUDENTS SIT ON, IT AFFECTS MANY.
SO, UH, THERE'S AN ARGUMENT THAT, UH, TRANSFERRING THESE TASKS TO OTHER FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS WILL STREAMLINE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SERVICES.
HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT PROVES THAT ARGUMENT.
SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN, I KNOW, IS THIS, THERE WILL BE DISRUPTIONS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS OR THE EXECUTION OF PROGRAMS, AND WE CALL ON THE FEDERAL EDU, SORRY, WE CALL ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RATHER THAN CLOSING IT DOWN.
NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE ANTHONY REGINA, WHO REPRESENTS THE OFFICE OF SENATOR LE A GONZALEZ, CALIFORNIA SENATOR OF THE 33RD DISTRICT, WHO'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UH, MY NAME IS ANTHONY REGINA, AND I SERVE AS DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR SENATOR LINA GONZALEZ.
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SENATOR INSTRUCT SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE UNLAWFUL TRANSFER OF UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FUNCTIONS TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.
THIS RESOLUTION IS A CRITICAL AFFIRMATION OF CONGRESS'S CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH AND OVERSEE FEDERAL EDUCATION POLICIES.
ANY UNILATERAL EFFORT TO DISMANTLE OR REASSIGN CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UNDERMINES THE AUTHORITY AND THREATEN THE STABILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND EQUITY OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN ADMIN, IN, IN ADMINISTERING AND ENFORCING PROGRAMS THAT SERVE MILLIONS OF STUDENTS NATIONWIDE, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
THESE INCLUDE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, ENGLISH LEARNERS, STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND STUDENTS FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
TRANSFERRING THESE RESPONSIBILITIES TO AGENCIES WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE EXPERTISE OR INFRASTRUCTURE RISK SERVICE DISRUPTIONS WEAKEN CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT AND DIMINISHES VITAL PROTECTIONS THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES RELY ON EVERY DAY.
AS THIS RESOLUTION NOTES, PREVIOUS TRANSFERS OF EDUCATION RESPONSIBILITY HAVE ALREADY RESULTED IN OPERATIONAL FAILURES AND REDUCED OVERSIGHT AT A TIME WHEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEED CLARITY, CONS, CONSISTENCY, AND STRONG FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP.
THESE ACTIONS MOVE OUR NATION IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
SENATOR GONZALEZ CONDEMNS THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR TAKING THE PRINCIPAL STAND IN DEFENSE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE RULE OF LAW, AND RESPECTFULLY URGES THE BOARD TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUE COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS AND FAMILY OF LOS ANGELES.
THANK YOU, MR. REGINA, FOR COMING DOWN IN PERSON.
AND OUR THANKS TO THE SENATOR.
UH, SHIRLEY, I BELIEVE THAT, UM, MS. DR. RIVAS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'M HONORED TO JOIN, UH, MY COLLEAGUES, MR. SCHON AND MS. HE NEWBELL AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION.
AND TO RECOGNIZE THE LEADERSHIP OF BOARD MEMBERS, UM, A BOARD MEMBER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD FOR A DISTRICT OF OUR SIZE AND REACH, SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION.
STUDENT, L-A-U-S-D EDUCATES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, SERVE SOME OF THE MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN THE NATION, AND OPERATES AT A SCALE THAT MAKES FEDERAL POLICY DECISIONS IMMEDIATES AND REAL IN OUR CLASSROOMS. THE UNLAWFUL TRANSFER OF THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FUNCTIONS IS NOT A TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENT.
IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL THREAT TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT, SO TO IDEA PROTECTIONS FOR NEURODIVERGENT STUDENTS, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO TITLE ONE FUNDING FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS, AND TO THE UNACCOUNT, THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS THAT SAFEGUARD EQUITY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FRAGMENTING THESE RESPONSIBILITIES ACROSS AGENCIES THAT LACK EDUCATION EXPERTISE, WEAKENS OVERSIGHT, DESTABILIZES IMPLEMENTATION, AND PUTS THE MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS AT RISK AS ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY.
L-A-U-S-D HAS BOTH A RESPONSIBILITY AND A NATIONAL VOICE.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL DIRECTLY SHAPES OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER SERVICES, UPHOLD STUDENT RIGHTS, AND MEET OUR LEGAL AND MORAL OBLIGATIONS.
WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN HOW IMPROPER TRANSFERS CREATE CONFUSION, DELAY GUIDANCE, AND DISRUPT PROGRAMS THAT
[01:20:01]
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES RELY ON.THOSE CONSEQUENCES ARE MAGNIFIED AT OUR SCALE BY ADOPTING THIS RESOLUTION.
L-A-U-S-D IS DRAWING A CLEAR LINE.
CIVIL RIGHTS, SPECIAL EDUCATION PROTECTIONS AND EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE, AND ATTEMPTS TO WEAKEN THEM WILL BE MET WITH PRINCIPAL OPPOSITION FROM THIS BOARD AND THIS DISTRICT.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD, WE CAN TAKE, UH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT, FOLKS, AND THERE IS NO, NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
CAN I PLEASE BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR? THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE RESOLUTION.
I REALLY, I WANTED TO REALLY QUICKLY COMMENT ON THIS RESOLUTION IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE IT'S INCREASINGLY RELEVANT TO STUDENTS AND IT'S BEEN A CONSISTENT POINT OF DISCUSSION.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK TO THE STUDENTS, UM, AS STUDENTS AND THE YOUTH WHO WILL INHERIT THE SYSTEMS WE ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN, IT CAN OFTEN BE DISHEARTENING TO LOOK AT THE NEWS EVERY DAY AND SEE PERSONAL FREEDOMS BEING VIOLATED AND KEY ISSUES LIKE EDUCATION BEING CAST ASIDE.
UM, AND I THINK THIS RESOLUTION IS A CONTINUATION OF THE PRECEDENT LOS ANGELES HAS ALWAYS SET.
BEING IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF ADVOCACY THAT IS WILLING TO RESIST OPPRESSIVE, UNLAWFUL, AND UNETHICAL CONDUCT.
ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND ALL THE STUDENTS OF LA UNIFIED, I WANT TO THANK BOARD MEMBER NEWBLE FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION TO THE BOARD, AND ALSO IN GENERAL, THANK THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE TO OUR EVER EVOLVING POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE.
UM, ALWAYS PRIORITIZING STUDENT EXPERIENCES AND RESOURCES.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, CARLA? WELL, FIRST THANK YOU, JERRY, FOR MAKING THOSE COMMENTS AND BRINGING THIS STUDENT VOICE AND HOW ALL OF THESE IMPACT YOU ALL AND ALSO WHAT YOU ARE UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYZING OUT OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT VOICE.
UM, I'M GLAD THAT, UH, VIA THIS RESOLUTION, WE ARE TAKING A CLEAR STANCE, UM, AGAINST THE DISMANTLING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
THIS DISMANTLING IMPACTS OUR STUDENT CIVIL RIGHTS, AND ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR STUDENTS IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUT PRESSURE ON OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ALSO CALL ON OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES TO JOIN US IN THIS FIGHT.
WE HAVE SO MANY CONSTITUENTS IN THIS DISTRICT WHO I KNOW ARE ALSO IMPACTED BY THIS AND WANNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND WE NEED TO BRING THEM TOGETHER TO JOIN IN THIS CALL AND IN THIS FIGHT TO, UH, STOP THIS DISMANTLING.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, AND I'D LIKE TO BE A CO-SPONSOR AS WELL.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I WOULD JUST LOVE TO BE ADDED AS WELL.
YOU GOT ALL, GOT 'EM ALL? OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL.
YOU READY FOR VOTE? CAN WE HAVE A MOVE? SECOND MOVE BY MR. MALVO, SECONDED BY DR. RIVAS.
MS. STUDENT, BOARD MEMBER YANG? YES.
JUST VERIFY THE NUMBER OF CO-SPONSORS.
SO FOR CO-SPONSORS ON THAT, THE ORIGINAL SPONSORS WERE, UH, MS. NJO BROUGHT IT, BOARD PRESIDENT SMLS, AND THEN DR.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, JUST FOUR MORE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ADDED.
SO THAT'S KELLY, GREG, MS. GREGO, UH, MR. MALVO, AND MR. T FRANKLIN.
SO ALL SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS AND, AND JERRY.
WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN OF ONE 30, SO WE CAN GO ON TO OTHER REMAINING BUSINESS.
SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE TAB 22 ADOPTION OF THE UPDATED 25 26 CALENDAR.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE WAIT 10.
NO, I, I, UH, YOU WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PAGE.
[10. Board of Education Report No. 120-25/26 Procurement Services Department – Facilities Contracts (Approval of Facilities Contracts Actions) Recommends the ratification of Procurement Services Department contract actions taken by Facilities Contracts under delegated authority as listed in Attachment “A” including: award of advertised construction contracts; approval of change orders; completion of contracts; award of informal contracts; award of architectural and engineering contracts; extra services / amendments for architectural and engineering contracts and approve proposed contracts in Attachment “B” including structural engineering task order contracts; and update to Best Value Procurement Policies and Procedures as listed on Attachment “C”.]
10.AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS FROM MS. NEW BILL AND MR. MELVOIN AND MAYBE OTHERS.
ROCIO? YEAH, I HAD JUST A QUESTION ON OUR BEST VALUE POLICY AS A TOOL.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WILL THIS, UH, TOOL ALLOW US TO LEVERAGE MORE TOOLS TO OBTAIN COMPETITIVE PRICING ON ITEMS WE PURCHASE IN VOLUME SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE
[01:25:01]
TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR PUBLIC DOLLARS, LIKE FLEXIBILITY FOR PIGGYBACKING PRICES, UM, WITH OTHER AGENCIES? WOULD THAT GOOD AFTERNOON.MATT FRIEDMAN, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER.
UM, SO BEST VALUE IS SPECIFIC TO PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
SO THIS METHOD IS BEING USED STRICTLY IN, IN A CONSTRUCTION MANNER.
AND SO WILL WE BE ABLE TO OBTAIN BETTER PRICING THAT COULD IN TURN BENEFIT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN LA COUNTY OR OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE? UM, THE, THE BEST VALUE METHOD DOESN'T LOOK AT COST SPECIFICALLY.
UM, IT'S A RANGE OF, UH, QUALIFICATIONS AROUND WHETHER IT BE, UM, THE SPECIFICS OF THE, THE, THE RESUMES OF, UH, THE PROJECT TEAM, UM, A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT ARE BASED AROUND QUALITY AS OPPOSED TO PRICE PRICES FACTORED IN AS PART OF THE SCORING METHOD.
SO DO, DO WE LOOK AT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I MEAN, PUBLICLY OF THE COST TO ANOTHER ENTITY OR ANOTHER TO BE ABLE TO FACTOR THAT PRICE IN THERE TO SEE THAT WE ARE GETTING THE BEST VALUE? I I THINK MAYBE WHAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE ASKING IS WHETHER AN ASSESSMENT OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS ACROSS DIFFERENT DISTRICTS CORRECT.
UH, I I CAN RECALL THAT THERE WAS A, A RECENT STUDY, UM, DONE BY MGT AROUND OUR, OUR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM, AND THAT'S ONE FACTOR.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S OTHER ANALYSIS THAT HAVE BEEN PERFORMED TO TAKE A, TAKE A LOOK OR ASSESS KIND OF THE, THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS IN COMPARISON TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
WHEN I ASK ABOUT THE COST THAT'S GOING INTO THE BEST VALUE, CORRECT.
THE, THE, THE SCORING METHODOLOGIES THAT, UM, THE, THE BID PRICE OR THE COST IS DIVIDED BY THE, THE ACTUAL QUALITY SCORE IN A BEST VALUE, UM, FORMAT.
AND THEN, UH, UH, AN ULTIMATE SCORE IS, IS GIVEN.
SO COST IS A FACTOR IN IT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE, THE ENTIRETY OF, OF THE DECISION.
AND THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT BEST VALUE, RIGHT? SO AGAIN, THE BEST VALUE FOR THE DISTRICT AMONGST QUALITY AND OTHER FACTORS OR SCENARIOS AND THE QUALITY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MEASURE IT AGAINST WHERE DO WE GET THE CRITERIA FOR THAT QUALITY TO BE IN THE BEST? SURE.
UM, SO AS PART OF, UM, THE, THE STATE'S LAW AND, AND CERTAINLY WHEN IT WAS GIVEN AS A PILOT TO THE DISTRICT, UM, THE, THE IDEA WAS AROUND REDUCED CONTRACT DELAYS, UM, REDUCED CHANGE ORDERS, UH, CONSTRUCTION CLAIMS. AND IN 2024, UM, THE DISTRICT HAD A INDEPENDENT AUDIT DONE.
AND IT BASICALLY FOUND THAT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE BEST VALUE METHOD WAS INTENDED TO, TO ACHIEVE, UM, IS BEING ACHIEVED.
AND SO THAT IN THIS EQUATION, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE THAT GET THE BID OR GET THE JOB, THEY WILL HAVE LESS CHANGE ORDERS IN THERE.
PARTICULAR, OR, 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT ALSO BOOSTS, I MEAN, WE WE'RE HERE LOOKING AT COST OFTEN, RIGHT? AND WE WANT COST AND PRODUCT TO MATCH.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE PIECE, AND WE WANT TO BE BEST STEWARDS OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE SPEND DISTRICT-WIDE STATEWIDE.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, ARE WE ABLE TO SAY YES, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CHANGE ORDERS, WHICH BENEFITS THE COST, WE KNOW THAT THE PRODUCT IS DONE WELL BECAUSE THE STATE REVIEWS, WHOMEVER WE USE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW A CERTAIN STANDARD.
I THINK MAYBE LOOKING AT IT FROM LIKE A TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP, SO CHANGE ORDERS, CONSTRUCTION CLAIMS, UM, THE BACK AND FORTH THAT MAY BE INVOLVED WITH A PROJECT, UH, OF THE, THE SCALE AND SIZE OF THE DISTRICT.
UM, SO ALL OF THOSE IN AGGREGATE SHOULD BE REDUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS METHOD.
AND IN THAT AUDIT, THEY MORE OR LESS, UH, AGREED WITH THOSE FINDINGS TO SAY, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT, THAT HAVE, HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED WITH THE PROGRAM.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE STATE'S ACTUALLY NOW, UM, WRITTEN LAW THAT ALL K 12 DISTRICTS CAN USE THE BEST VALUE METHOD.
I HAD A SIMILAR QUESTION ABOUT BASICALLY IF VALUE IS DRIVING UP QUALITY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IMPROVING QUALITY, IT COULD ALSO BE DRIVING UP COST, AND HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT IT'S NOT? AND SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.
AND I HAVE HEARD FROM THE TEAM ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT AUDIT AS WELL, BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING AS WE ASSESS THIS, AND NOW THAT IT'S CODIFIED IN LAW TO THINK THROUGH, UM, AT WHAT COST ARE WE GETTING THIS QUALITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, UH, CONTINUALLY REASSESSING.
I GUESS MY, MY ONE OTHER QUESTION WAS THAT, WELL, THIS IS LIMITED TO FACILITIES CONTRACTS.
I DID NOTE THAT ONE OF THE CHANGES IS THAT WE CAN NOW USE BEST VALUE FOR NON BOND FUNDED PROCUREMENTS.
AND SO IS THAT JUST NON BOND FUNDED WITHIN FACILITIES? AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT? CORRECT.
SO IT'S SPECIFIC INTO TO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
UM, SO ELOP FUNDED PROJECTS, COPS FUNDED PROJECTS, BUT SPECIFICALLY TO, UH,
[01:30:01]
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.AND, AND MAYBE A WAY TO LOOK AT IS LIKING IT TO NON-CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WHERE COST ISN'T NECESSARILY THE SOLE DRIVER OF, OF A DECISION.
IT'S IT'S OBJECTIVE CRITERIA SET WITHIN THE SCOPE AND THE RFP.
UH, AGAIN, FOR NON-CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, IT'S VERY SIMILAR IN THAT MANNER.
SO PRIOR TO THIS POLICY CHANGE, IT WAS STILL ONLY CONSTRUCTION, BUT ONLY BOND FUNDED, UH, SPECIFIC TO THE DISTRICT.
SO IN, IN THE STATE CODE, IT'S, IT'S ALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
AND SO WHAT THIS POLICY ADOPTION BY THE BOARD IS DOING IS SAYING THAT THE ELOP, THE COPS, THE NON BOND FUNDED CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, WE CAN ALSO APPLY BEST VALUE.
OCIO, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS? NO ONE ELSE.
CAN I MOVE IN A SECOND? ON TAB 10, MOVE, MOVE BY DR. RIVAS.
SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON.
UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
IN STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG? YES.
[12. Board of Education Report No. 282-25/26 Charter Schools Division (Proposition 39 Charter Facilities Compliance for the 2026-2027 School Year - Finding and Written Statements of Reasons Why Certain Charter Schools Cannot be Accommodated on a Single School Site, and Determination of Necessity to Move) Recommends the Board of Education makes findings and adopts a written statement of reasons why certain charter schools (Extera Public School, Gabriella Charter School 2, ISANA Cardinal Academy, ISANA Nascent Academy, ISANA Palmati Academy, Lashon Academy, Lashon Academy City, Magnolia Science Academy 5, and WISH Community School) that submitted a Proposition 39 facilities request for the 2026-2027 school year cannot be accommodated on a single school site, and also determine it is necessary to move part of certain charter schools’ operations to an additional school site.]
WE HAVE SEVEN SPEAKERS ON TAB 12, PROPOSITION 39, CHARTER FACILITIES COMPLIANCE FOR 26 27.UH, NICOLE AND DUETTE, ARE YOU HERE TO SPEAK TO TAB 12? UH, KEITH DELA DE LAQUILA, ARE YOU HERE FOR TAB 12? YES, YOU ARE.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS LOS ANGELES, SERVING MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND STUDENTS.
UM, WE BELIEVE THE DISTRICT CAN DO BETTER ON FACILITY ISSUES.
AND THIS ITEM CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE WHERE WE HAVE AREAS FOR GROWTH IN THE ITEM BEFORE YOU.
WE ARE REPEATING THE SAME FLAWED ANALYSIS AND INEVITABLY SEEDING THE SAME OLD CONFLICTS THAT WE DO WANT TO MOVE PAST.
AND WE'RE NOT MOVING CLOSER TOWARDS LASTING SOLUTIONS.
WE'RE MOVING CLOSER TOWARDS REPEATING THE SAME CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.
IT'S FRUSTRATING OF HOW FAMILIAR THIS ALL FEELS.
THE FINDINGS THAT YOU HAVE THIS YEAR READ VERY SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR.
THAT'S A LOT OF COPY AND PASTE.
UM, THE SAME CONCLUSIONS, THE SAME ASSUMPTIONS, AND THE SAME LACK OF SCHOOL SPECIFIC ANALYSIS.
COURTS HAVE ALREADY MADE CLEAR THAT THE DISTRICT CAN'T PROVIDE ITS OWN CONVENIENCE OVER EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR STUDENTS.
UM, BUT THIS REPORT RECYCLES THE SAME APPROACHES UNDER SOME NEW LABELS.
THERE'S NO CLEAR DATA ANALYSIS HERE SHOWING WHY SCHOOLS CAN'T BE ACCOMMODATED ON A SINGLE SITE.
NO TRANSPARENT CLASSROOM CALCULATIONS.
UM, NO MEANINGFUL COMPARISON OF CAPACITY AND ENROLLMENT.
UM, THAT ANALYSIS JUST SIMPLY ISN'T HERE.
THE REPORT CONTINUES TO DETAIL HYPOTHETICAL IMPACTS TO DISTRICT PROGRAMS WITHOUT RECKONING WITH THE REAL IMPACT TO CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS.
UM, BUT ULTIMATELY THIS IS A TIRED APPROACH.
IT'S ONE THAT I THINK EACH ONE OF US HERE AT THE DEAS MIA AT THIS MICROPHONE, AN APPROACH THAT WE'VE INHERITED, NOT ONE THAT WE'VE REALLY EMBRACED.
AND SO WHAT I'M ASKING YOU FOR IS DON'T KEEP RECYCLING THE SAME APPROACHES.
LET'S SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE SAW A TREMENDOUS EXAMPLE OF IT THIS MORNING IN WELCOMING BACK 2,500 KIDS TO PALISADES CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL THAT TOOK ADULTS WORKING TOGETHER BEYOND OUR OLD PARTISAN OR IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES.
TREMENDOUS WORK FOR WHICH THIS DISTRICT DESERVES A CLAIM AND APPRECIATION.
WE CAN DO THAT WORK ELSEWHERE.
THE CHARTER COMMUNITY IS HERE TO WORK WITH YOU.
WE DO NOT WANT THIS BOARD TO ENGAGE IN THE SAME FIGHTS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR CONVERSATION AROUND A COMPREHENSIVE FACILITIES PLAN.
LET'S MOVE PAST THESE SAME OLD TIRED ARGUMENTS.
UH, DAVID RICHARDSON, WAIVING TIME.
UH, CARMEN LORA IS CALLING IN.
LET ME SEE IF THAT PERSON, SHE'S NOT LINE.
UH, JUSTINE GONZALEZ, ARE YOU HERE? HERE? AND CASEY NDA SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ONLINE.
SO THAT COMPLETES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TAB 12.
MAY HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO TAKE THE ITEM.
WE CAN MOVE IT AND, AND BRING IT, YEAH.
AND BRING IT TO THE TABLE FOR THIS MOVE BY DR.
SECOND, SECONDED BY MS. NEWBELL.
YOUR QUESTIONS? SO I HAVE CHARTER SCHOOL DIVISION COMES FORWARD, PROP 39.
[01:35:01]
WILL BE MATERIAL REVISIONS SEPARATE FROM WHAT IS BEFORE US TODAY.UH, CAN, UH, STAFF CLARIFY WHAT REVISIONS ARE ANTICIPATED AND HOW THOSE CHANGES CAN BE REFLECTED IN THE FINAL FINDINGS AND WRITTEN STATEMENTS, AND WHAT MATERIALS WILL BE ULTIMATELY BE SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE FORMAL PROP 39 RECORD? AND THIS IS IN REGARDS TO XTRA BOARD VICE PRESIDENT.
I'LL TAKE THAT FOR THE TEAM, UH, SINCE IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT'S PENDING.
BUT TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, UM, SOMETIMES SCHOOLS INDICATE TO US THEY MAY HAVE PLANS FOR PRIVATE FACILITIES IN THIS CASE, AS YOU NOTED, TER IS ONE, THEY, THEY DISCUSSED THAT THEY MAY BE SUBMITTING OR THEY PLAN TO SUBMIT A MATERIAL VISION IF THEY HAVE ALREADY.
AND SO THEN THE TEAM WILL BE REVIEWING THAT PER PROCESS, AND AT SOME POINT, SHOULD THEY HAVE THOSE FACILITIES, THE DISTRICT CAN ENTER INTO AN ALTERNATIVE AGREEMENT, THEN, UH, POTENTIALLY THEN THEY'LL GO TO THAT PRIVATE SITE AND POTENTIALLY THEN NOT BE ON A DISTRICT SITE.
SO IT'LL DEPEND ON THOSE FACTS AND THE TIMING, ET CETERA.
OTHER CASES, THERE MAY BE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE CHANGES.
THERE COULD BE THOSE DISCUSSIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE AGREEMENTS.
AT THAT POINT, THE BOARD HAS DELEGATED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS DESIGNEE, AND THEN THOSE ALTERNATIVE AGREEMENTS CAN BE ENTERED INTO CERTAINLY WITHIN THE ALTERNATIVE AGREEMENT.
LASTLY, I'LL NOTE THERE IS CONFER WITH THE BOARD OFFICE PER POLICY.
SO JUST TO GET THIS TO UNDERSTAND.
SO THERE, THERE WILL BE SOME MATERIALS REVISIONS THAT YOU WILL BE ANALYZING AND BRINGING FORWARD TO US FOR A VOTE.
UM, AND BASED ON THAT, THERE, THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE AN ALTERNATIVE AGREEMENT JUST FOR, BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE IN THE MATERIAL REVISIONS.
FOR THAT CASE OR ANY OTHER CASE.
THE MATERIAL VISION TIMELINES ARE PRETTY MUCH GONNA BE PASSING TO GET IT DONE BY JUNE.
SO, BUT THAT IS ONE THAT WE, UH, WILL BE ANALYZING.
AND AT ONE POINT, WILL ANY OF THESE CHANGES BE COMMUNICATED TO THE, THE CO-LOCATED SCHOOLS? IT'LL BE ONCE WE HAVE THE FACTS.
AND SO WITH ANY ALTERNATIVE AGREEMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SCHOOLS IN THE REGIONS ARE VERY MUCH INVOLVED.
SO AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, THERE WILL BE, UH, THERE'LL BE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM TO CONSIDER THOSE ALTERNATIVES.
YOU HAVE, UM, AN ESTIMATED TIMELINE OF, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY'VE ALREADY TURNED, SUBMITTED THEM.
SO AFTER THIS POINT, WHAT WOULD BE SORT OF OKAY, AN A TIMELINE THAT YOU WOULD GUESS, BASED ON THE CURRENT SUBMISSION, WHILE THE TARGET DATE IS JUNE, WE, THE TEAM WILL ASSESS A POTENTIAL ACTION FOR MATERIAL VISIONS IN MAY, IF POSSIBLE.
UH, AND THEN ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE ACTIONS THEREAFTER.
SO WHEN IS THE ULTIMATE LAST DATE THAT A ALTERNATIVE AGREEMENT HAS TO BE, UM, SORT OF SETTLED OR THERE'S ROLLING, THERE'S NO, NO ONE DEADLINE.
IT CAN HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE CYCLE.
CERTAINLY THE TIMELINES OF THEN OCCUPANCY OR YOU'RE NOT GONNA OCCUPY.
BUT WE'VE HAD THAT BEFORE WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS, UH, EXPLORING PRIVATE FACILITIES WHERE THERE MAY BE SOME LANGUAGE, UH, THAT IS ADDED TO CONSIDER THE TIMING.
UM, IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO OCCUPY THAT HAVE TO BE DONE BY SAY, JUNE 30TH, BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, ACADEMIC NECESSARY YEAR? NOT NECESSARILY, NO.
SO IT COULD BE DONE IN JULY, CORRECT? I'LL BE IN AUGUST.
IT COULD, OBVIOUSLY, THE CLOSER YOU GET TO, UH, THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THERE'LL HAVE TO BE DECISIONS MADE BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL, THE DISTRICT TO REALLY, UH, UNDERSTAND THOSE IMPACTS.
I I MEAN, I'M ASKING IN TERMS OF SETTLING THE ULTIMATE ALT ALTERNATIVE AGREEMENTS.
SO IT CAN BE AT ANY POINT YOU'RE IN THE CYCLE.
UM, BASED ON THAT SCENARIO, UM, I THINK IT'S BEST TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON OUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS SO THEY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING.
BECAUSE IF THERE IS NO, IF ALL OF THIS IS UNCERTAIN AND OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT, NEED TO KNOW IF THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THE SPACE OR NOT, UM, UM, PARTICULARLY, UM, YEAH, ALL OF THE THREE SCHOOLS ARE, WE HAVE EASTMAN BREED AND SECOND STREET, SO IT'D BE GOOD FOR THEM TO ALSO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING, HAVE A COMMUNICATION, SO THEY KNOW ALSO HOW TO PLAN AND PREPARE SURE.
AND KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY HAVE USE OF THE EXTRA SPACE THAT THEY WILL BE GETTING.
AND OUR OPERATIONS COORDINATORS, UH, WILL BE IN TOUCH AND ARE IN TOUCH WITH THE SCHOOL, IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GO FOR IT.
UM, I HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING, UM, DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE, UH, DECIDE THAT A MIDDLE SCHOOL OR A SPAN SCHOOL, CHARTER SPAN SCHOOL WILL BE CO-LOCATED WITH AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UH, LIKE A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
[01:40:01]
SURE.SO, UM, MY NAME IS JEANETTE BORDEN, CHARTER SCHOOLS OPERATIONS MANAGER IN THE CHARTER SCHOOLS DIVISION.
UM, SO OUR TEAM IN ASSESSING THE FACILITIES REQUESTS THAT ARE RECEIVED FROM CHARTER SCHOOLS, UM, WORKS WITH THE REGIONS AND OTHER OFFICES IN LA UNIFIED TO ASSESS EACH FACILITY'S REQUEST, INCLUDING THE, THE GRADE LEVELS THAT ARE SERVED BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL AND THE LOCATIONS WHERE THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS REQUESTING TO CO-LOCATE.
UM, AND SO WHETHER A CHARTER SCHOOL IS CURRENTLY CO-LOCATED, IF THEY'RE ALREADY AT A PARTICULAR SITE AND THEY'RE REQUESTING TO REMAIN AT THAT SITE, THAT PLAYS A FACTOR IN, UM, IN, IN THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE AS, UM, ONE OF THE, THE DISTRICTS, UM, EXCUSE ME, UM, ONE OF THE DISTRICTS MATCHING GUIDELINES IS TO NOT MOVE A CHARTER SCHOOL UNNECESSARILY.
UM, THAT'S PART OF THE STATE REGULATIONS AS WELL.
UM, AND SO, UH, IF A CHARTER SCHOOL IS ALREADY IN A CONFIGURATION LIKE THAT, THEN THEY, UM, MAY STAY IN, IN SUCH A CONFIGURATION, AND OTHERWISE IT'S AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT SPACE IS AVAILABLE IN THE AREA WHERE THE CHARTER SCHOOL HAS REQUESTED TO LOCATE.
SO IT'S, IT'S GUIDED BY SPACE AVAILABILITY, IT SOUNDS LIKE.
NOT NECESSARILY BY THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS.
IT DEPENDS TOO ON WHAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S REQUESTING, THE, THE SPECIFIC FACTS OF EACH FACILITY'S REQUEST.
UM, SOMETIMES THERE IS A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT'S PARTICULARLY REQUESTING A SITE THAT MAY BE, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE A CHARTER SCHOOL MAY HAVE GRADES K THROUGH EIGHT AND REQUEST TO BE AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, THE FULL INVENTORY OF WHERE SPACE IS AVAILABLE AND OTHER FACTORS AT EACH OF THE DISTRICT CAMPUSES.
UM, THAT PLAYS INTO WHAT, HOW THE REGION AND, UH, OUR OFFICE WORKS TOGETHER TO ASSESS WHERE THE MOST APPROPRIATE, UM, COLOCATIONS MIGHT BE.
SO WE LOOK AT THE CHARTER REQUEST AND THAT GUIDES WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
OR DO WE ALSO LOOK AT THE, AT THE DISTRICT SCHOOL, WE ABSOLUTELY DO TO SEE HOW THE, WHAT THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE.
THAT'S PART OF OUR DISTRICT MATCHING GUIDELINES AS WELL, IS CONSIDERING STUDENT SAFETY.
AND, UM, AND, AND SO THE STARTING POINT IS LOOKING AT WHAT IS IN THE FACILITIES REQUEST.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE STATE REGULATIONS TELL US, TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY'VE REQUESTED AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THAT FIRST TO ASSESS IF THAT IS POSSIBLE.
UM, AND IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER OTHER LOCATIONS.
AND HOW ARE SCHOOLS SUPPORTED? BOTH SCHOOLS, THE CHARTER AND THE, THE DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPPORTED IN SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE, UM, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, DISTRICT SCHOOL, AND THEN A MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL, AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, EACH SCHOOL HAS ITS OWN RULES, EXPECTATIONS OF KIDS, UM, POLICIES.
SO HOW DO WE SUPPORT BOTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER, TO WHEN ISSUES COME UP THAT ARE IMPACTING STUDENT SAFETY, HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THAT? HOW OFTEN DO WE GO AND TALK TO THEM? DO WE INCLUDE THE EDUCATORS FROM BOTH, UM, SCHOOLS IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS? GREAT QUESTION.
UM, SO MOST IMPORTANTLY, COMMUNICATION AT THE SCHOOL SITE IS PARAMOUNT.
UM, WHEN, WHEN THE, IN ORDER TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CO-LOCATION COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE, THE CO-LOCATED SITES, SO THE, THE CHARTER PRINCIPAL AND THE DISTRICT PRINCIPAL, THAT'S THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS OVERSEEING THE OPERATIONS.
SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY CREATE SHARED SCHEDULES.
THEY CREATE, UM, THEY HAVE AT LEAST MONTHLY MEETINGS, IF NOT MORE FREQUENT, TO DISCUSS, UM, OPERATIONAL CONCERNS TO, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULES, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUALLY ADJUST AND BE RESPONSIVE TO EACH OTHER'S NEEDS.
UM, AND SO AT THOSE CO-LOCATION MEETINGS THAT, UM, OUR STAFF IN THIS CHARTER SCHOOLS DIVISION, WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT AT THOSE MEETINGS IF, IF THEY WANT US TO BE THERE.
UM, WE'RE ALSO GOING OUT AND PROVIDING TRAINING TO BOTH THE CHARTER PRINCIPAL AND THE DISTRICT PRINCIPAL ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE.
UM, AND THEN CHECKING IN AND HELPING TO, UH, MEDIATE AS NEEDED WHEN THERE ARE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
SO THE PRINCIPALS HAVE TO CALL YOU IN ORDER TO GET THAT SUPPORT.
OUR STAFF GOES OUT PROACTIVELY.
UM, WE HAVE PARTICULAR CHECK-INS, AND THEN OUR STAFF IS, YOU KNOW, CONTINUALLY AS THE, THE WEEKS UNFOLD, GOING OUT AND DROPPING BY TO CHECK IN TO SEE IF THERE ARE ISSUES THAT THEY NEED SUPPORT WITH.
I HAD A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS THAT HAD SOME CONCERNS AROUND THAT, AND THEY WERE STRUGGLING WITH, UM, BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE, UM, THE CONCERNS FROM THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE CONCERNS THEY HAD WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, LIKE AROUND SAFETY, STUDENT SAFETY.
UM, I ALSO, YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT JUST THE TRAFFIC THAT IT CREATES WHEN, YOU KNOW, SOME PARENT, AND IT WASN'T THE PRINCIPAL AND IT WASN'T THE EDUCATORS FROM THE CHARTER, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY THE PARENTS WHO WERE NOT FOLLOWING THE POLICIES, THE PARKING AND DRIVING POLICIES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE CHARTER PRINCIPAL ALSO COULDN'T DEAL.
LIKE THEY JUST, THEY HAD TRIED, THEY UNDERSTOOD THE
[01:45:01]
ISSUE, BUT NOTHING WAS GETTING DONE.AND I THINK I SHARED IT WITH YOU.
SO, I MEAN, I, I WANT THOSE THINGS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE WHAT THE GENTLEMAN EARLIER SAID ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE SOMETHING THAT FEELS FAIR TO BOTH SIDES, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THAT, THAT'S WHEN ISSUES COME UP.
AND, UM, AND THAT'S MY CONCERN WITH CO-LOCATIONS BECAUSE I DON'T, I DON'T, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT EACH SIDE, UM, WELL, AT LEAST FOR US, FOR THE DISTRICT, FOR OUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THEY CHOSE THAT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IMPOSED ON THEM.
RIGHT? AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT'S MORE WORK FOR YOU ALL IN THE CHARTER SCHOOL DIVISION TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT RELATIONSHIP, THAT CONVERSATION, THOSE CON THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE, ARE DONE IN A FAIR WAY, IN A FAIR MANNER FOR BOTH.
I ALSO WANTED TO ADD, WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH REGION OPERATIONS.
UM, AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE CONTINUALLY, YOU KNOW, BRINGING TOGETHER DIFFERENT OFFICES TO MAKE SURE THAT NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED.
AND WE, WE DO APPRECIATE WHEN WE HEAR CONCERNS SO THAT WE CAN MORE, UH, WE CAN ADDRESS THEM REACTIVELY AND WE'RE OUT THERE PROACTIVELY TRYING TO GET INFORMATION AND SEE WHERE WE CAN HELP SUPPORT AND COORDINATE AROUND, UH, CHALLENGES AT, AT OUR CO-LOCATED SITES FOLLOW UP.
AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICE ON OTHER DETAILS.
UM, NOW IF WE CAN, UH, GO FOR A VOTE ON THIS.
THIS HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
MS. EZ? MR. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON AND STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG? YES.
I KNOW SOME FOLKS ARE GRABBING LUNCH, SO WE'LL RETURN TO THOSE VOTES SHORTLY.
SO NOW I'M NOT SURE IF, UM, MS. HENDEE NEW BILL IS READY FOR, I KNOW IT'S NOT ONE 30 YET, BUT IF YOU WANNA START NOW OR WE CAN MOVE ON.
[20. Ms. Newbill – Recognizing January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Affirming Support for Student Safety and Prevention (Res-037-25/26) (Waiver of Board Rule 72)]
ITEM 22.UH, ITEM 20, RECOGNIZING JANUARY'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH AND AFFIRMING STUDENT SUPPORT FOR STUDENT SAFETY AND PREVENTION.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, UM, WORK HERE.
AND SO JUST THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING ME TO BRING THIS, UM, WHERE AM I? SO THIS RESOLUTION, UM, IS IMPORTANT IN LEARNING AND DISCUSSING WHAT EDUCATORS SHOULD PRIORITIZE WHEN ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR SCHOOLS.
A THOUSAND OF OUR CHILDREN IN THE US ARE AT RISK OF CHILD EXPLOITATION AND LABOR TRAFFICKING.
EVERY YEAR, SCHOOLS CAN DO THEIR PART TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING BY INCORPORATING AGE APPROPRIATE LESSONS, TEACHING STUDENTS TO CATCH WARNING SIGNS OF TRAFFICKING, AND INCLUDING SURVIVOR STORIES WITHIN THE CURRICULUM.
ALSO REINFORCING ANNUALLY WITH OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, HIGH SCHOOL, HOW TRAFFICKERS BUILD TRUST ONLINE AND IN PERSON THROUGH GIFTS, SECRETS, AND THINGS OF ISOLATION.
ANNUAL ANNUAL TRAINING FOR OUR EDUCATORS AND STAFF TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.
THE NATIONAL HOTLINE HAS STRUGGLED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH INCREASED CALL VOLUMES AND REQUEST STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL CAPACITY HAS INCREASED TECHNOLOGY AND DATA SECURITY CHALLENGED IN THIS VITAL SUPPORT SYSTEM TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS.
THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONAL WAYS TO HELP ENSURE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS THAT CAN EXIT SITUATIONS OF TRAFFICKING AND CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEYS TOWARD RECOVERY, HEALING, AND FREEDOM.
AND SO, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKER TODAY.
UM, HEIDI FEINSTEIN SOTO IS THE 43RD LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY, THE FIRST FEMALE CITY ATTORNEY IN THE LOS ANGELES HISTORY, AND THE FIRST LATINE ELECTED CITYWIDE.
SHE IS THE CITY'S GENERAL COUNSEL AND SERVES AS A LEGAL ADVISOR TO THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL AND ENTIRE, AND ENTITIES THAT MAKE UP THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND TO HUNDREDS OF BOARDS, DEPARTMENTS, OFFICERS, AND ENTITIES THAT MAKE UP THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.
SHE AND HER TEAM OF OVER 300 ATTORNEYS HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE AREA OF HOMELESSNESS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SENIOR ABUSE ENVIRONMENT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DRUG AND HUMAN
[01:50:01]
TRAFFICKING.THIS IS WHY WE THOUGHT IT VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY TO HEAR FROM HER ON THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS, EDUCATORS, STAFF, THE COMMUNITY TO SUPERINTENDENT AND TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE.
I WANNA ESPECIALLY THANK BOARD MEMBER SHERETTE HENDY, NEW BILL OF DISTRICT ONE, UM, FOR THE INVITATION AND FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER AS L-A-U-S-D, FORMER RECOGNIZES HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH.
UM, I'M HEIDI FELDSTEIN SOTAL.
I AM YOUR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY, AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PARTICULARLY THE SEX TRAFFICKING OF OUR MINORS, UM, SINCE ALMOST MY FIRST DAY IN OFFICE.
UM, THIS YEAR, THE THEME OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH IS STRONGER CONNECTIONS, STRONGER FUTURES.
AND I THINK THAT SHOWS THE SHIFT IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT APPROACH TO THIS PROBLEM AND TO THIS TERRIBLE CRIME BECAUSE WE HAVE FOR TOO LONG IN OUR HISTORY, CRIMINALIZED THE VICTIMS AND GIVEN A PASS TO THE PERPETRATORS.
AND SO, STARTING IN 2023, UM, MY OFFICE WAS VERY PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THAT DISRUPTING THIS KIND OF TRAFFICKING REQUIRES CONNECTIONS LIKE THE ONES WE SEE HERE TODAY, BETWEEN THOSE WHO INTERACT WITH OUR CHILDREN, WHO ARE IN A POSITION TO KEEP THEM SAFE, EDUCATORS, STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITY, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT, PRIMARILY THE SOUTH BUREAU AND THE 77TH STREET STATION ON THE FIGUEROA CORRIDOR INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE BEEN SPEARHEADING AND SERVICE PROVIDERS.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT, AND AT THIS POINT IN TIME, OUR PATROL CARS AND OUR RESPONSE TO THE SEX TRAFFICKING, ESPECIALLY OF MINORS ALONG THE FIGO ROWA CORRIDOR AND ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY OF LA, HAS A PROVIDER, A COUNSELOR, SOMEONE WHO IS FOCUSED ON TRAUMA CENTERED CARE RIGHT THERE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SO THAT WHEN WE APPROACH A VICTIM, A POTENTIAL VICTIM, WE ARE IN A POSITION TO HAVE THEM SPEAK TO SOMEONE WHO'S NOT WEARING A BADGE AND A UNIFORM AND A GUN, AND SOMEONE WHO CAN RELATE TO THEM AND HOPEFULLY GET THEM THE HELP THEY NEED.
JUST THIS MORNING, I WAS VERY PROUD TO STAND WITH OUR LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY WITH ONE OF OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS, JOURNEY OUT AND, UM, WITH THE, UM, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ANNOUNCE THE EXPANSION OF OUR ANTI-TRAFFICKING MEASURE TO THE WESTERN AVENUE BETWEEN SANTA MONICA AND WASHINGTON.
UM, VERY GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL MEMBER UGO SOTO MARTINEZ FROM CD 13 FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND HELP IN US MOVING THIS PROJECT AS WELL INTO HIS DISTRICT TRAFFICKING.
AS I LEARNED, AND IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WAS IN MY LIFE EXPERIENCE WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT COMES ABOUT AS A RESULT OF SOMETIMES FORCE SUCH AS KIDNAPPING, SOMETIMES FRAUD, BASICALLY THE SEDUCTION OF A YOUNG PERSON OR COERCION INTO SOME KIND OF LABOR OR COMMERCIAL SEX ACT.
I WISH I COULD TELL YOU IT WAS UNCOMMON.
UM, IT CAN HAPPEN IN ANY COMMUNITY, AND VICTIMS CAN BE OF ANY AGE, ANY RACE, ANY GENDER, ANY NATIONALITY, AND ANY ECONOMIC STATUS.
UM, SOME OF THE VICTIMS THAT WE HAVE RESCUED OFF THE FIGUEROA STREET CORRIDOR, UH, WERE AS YOUNG AS 12, UM, AND AT LEAST SOME OF THE ADULTS WERE HERE AS STUDENTS AT OUR SCHOOLS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND WERE ROMEO OUT, WHAT WE CALL A ROMEO AND JULIET RELATIONSHIP THAT TURNS ABUSIVE AND COERCIVE TRAFFICKERS USE VIOLENCE, MANIPULATION, ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS, YOU KNOW, PROMISES OF FAME AND FORTUNE AND WELL-PAYING JOBS TO BASICALLY ENTRAP PRIMARILY YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS, UM, BUT SOMETIMES BOYS AND YOUNG MEN INTO A LIFE WHERE THEY NO LONGER HAVE ANY CHOICE AND THEY CANNOT LEAVE.
SO THE OBJECTIVES FOR THIS WORK, AND WHICH ARE SO WELL ENSHRINED IN YOUR APPROACH IN THIS RESOLUTION, ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST TO ASSIST AND DECRIMINALIZE THE VICTIMS, THOSE WHO ARE TRAFFICKED IN THIS TRADE.
SECONDLY, TO DISRUPT THE DEMAND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PURCHASERS, THE EXPLOITERS, THE JOHNS PAY A PRICE FOR COMING OUT AND PURCHASING SACKS FROM A MINOR.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE QUITE SERIOUSLY.
UM, THIRD, TO BUILD A CASE AND PROSECUTE THE PREDATORS, THE PROFITEERS, THE TRAFFICKERS THEMSELVES WHO ARE EARNING MONEY OFF OF OTHER PEOPLE'S BODIES.
[01:55:02]
SHUTTING DOWN THE CRIME MAGNETS, THE MOTELS, THE PLACES OF BUSINESS THAT TOLERATE THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY.IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE'VE RESCUED OVER 250 CHILDREN, UH, THE YOUNGEST OF WHOM WAS 12.
WE'VE SENT OUT OVER 2000 DEAR JOHN LETTERS, WHICH ARE PHOTOGRAPHS OF, UH, THE LICENSE PLATE, AND OF, USUALLY IT'S A MAN WHO'S BUYING THE SERVICES, UM, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE OPERATING IN THE AREA.
AND WE HAVE ARRESTED AND PROSECUTED MORE THAN 190 JOHNS PERPETRATORS AND PIMPS IN MY OFFICE AS SORT OF MISDEMEANOR PROSECUTIONS.
THERE WERE ALSO 66 FELONY PIMPING AND PANDERING ARRESTS, AND 68 HUMAN TRAFFICKING ARRESTS, WHICH USUALLY ARE REFERRED TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WE ALSO HAVE 85 SUPERVISING PROSTITUTION ARREST.
IN LEVERAGING ALL OF THIS, WE HAVE TRIED TO BRING A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, AND I'M PROUD TO STAND HERE TODAY AND SAY THAT, UM, THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS FOR A LONG TIME BEEN IN THE SCHOOLS, AS I SUSPECT, YOU KNOW, HOLDING QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND WITH TEACHERS, AND WITH OTHER ADULTS IN THESE CHILDREN'S LIVES TO HELP THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND BE ABLE TO REPORT IT.
AS I WRAP UP WITH THIS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE TO THE FOREFRONT.
I WANNA ASSURE YOU THAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN TALKING TO THE LAPD ABOUT JOINING AND EXPANDING THAT EFFORT IN ORDER TO BUILD PUBLIC AWARENESS AND TO BUILD EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN'T BE SEDUCED AS THEY LEAVE THE SCHOOL TO GO HOME OR AS THEY WALK TO THEIR SCHOOL.
WE ARE MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THE TRAFFICKING OF OUR CHILDREN ANY PLACE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, WHETHER IT'S THE FIGUEROA CORRIDOR, IT'S THE WESTERN CORRIDOR, THE SEPULVEDA TRACK, OR BEYOND.
FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE LISTENING, PLEASE KNOW THERE IS A NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE.
IT OFFERS 24 7 CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE IN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, 200 LANGUAGES.
AND SO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CALL THEM.
THE NUMBER IS EIGHT EIGHT EIGHT THREE SEVEN THREE SEVEN, WHOOPS, 7 8 8 8.
OR YOU CAN TEXT THEM AT 2 3 3 7 2 2.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALWAYS KEEPING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR CHILDREN FIRST, FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THIS BOARD, UM, AND FOR YOUR WORK IN MAKING ALL OF US SAFER, BECAUSE WITH OUR KIDS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTS.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
UM, OTHERWISE I APPLAUD THE L-A-U-S-D TRAFFICKING RESOLUTION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A PARTNERSHIP AS WE GO FORWARD.
UM, AGAIN, SO APPRECIATE YOU TO BE HERE BECAUSE, UM, THOSE TWO OF THOSE AREAS DRIVE THROUGH DISTRICT ONE.
UM, AND WE'RE OFTEN, UM, IN SUPPORT OF THOSE FAMILIES.
I, AS A COACH, HAVE BEEN, I'VE SEEN THAT FACE-TO-FACE.
I'VE SEEN ONE OF MY STUDENTS ON THE STREET.
UM, AND SO IT IS DEFINITELY AN AREA WHERE WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BRING AWARENESS TO CONTINUE TO, UM, PROVIDE RESOURCES, UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, WITH THAT NATIONAL HOTLINE, 1 8 8 3 7 3 7 8 8 8, AGAIN, BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT WHERE WE CAN BE ABLE TO SUPPORT AND HELP EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS.
SO I THINK THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS.
FIRST, THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY FOR, FOR WHAT YOU DO.
AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, YOU ARE A FLUENT SPEAKER OF SPANISH, PUERTO RICO, KENYA.
I JUST WANTED OUR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT, UH, YOU CAN BE CONTACTED IN ENGLISH OR IN SPANISH.
I WANNA EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO YOU REALLY FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CO-SPONSOR THIS RESOLUTION.
AND THIS, UH, IS A UNFORTUNATE AND HORRIFYING PROBLEM THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING IN LOS ANGELES.
NOTHING NEW, JUST A FEW BLOCKS ON FIGUEROA STREET.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ATROCITIES BY, UH, WRITTEN BY THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAPPENING BEFORE OUR VERY EYES, RIGHT ON FIGUEROA AND IN THE VALLEY, TOO.
I HAVE TO ADMIT, I REPRESENT BOARD DISTRICT, UH, THREE IN THE VALLEY ALSO.
AND AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE MUST REALIZE HOW THIS AFFECTS OUR STUDENTS,
[02:00:01]
THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR FRIENDS.WHILE THE THOUGHT OF GOING ON SO CLOSE TO WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY SITTING IS UNIMAGINABLE, WE CANNOT AVERT OUR EYES FROM THE REALITY.
SO HOWEVER, WE ARE HERE TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
THAT'S OUR JOB, AND TO TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO WE ARE HOLDING OUT HOPE FOR ANYONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING THESE TERRIBLE CONDITIONS TO REACH OUT TO YOUR LOCAL L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL.
AND WHEN I SAY THE SCHOOL, THAT DOESN'T JUST MEAN YOUR TEACHER OR YOUR PRINCIPAL, IT'S EVERYBODY.
IT COULD BE THE B AND G WORKER, YOUR CAFETERIA WORKER, YOUR LIBRARY TECHNICIAN, YOUR CAMPUS AIDE, REACH OUT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE AT SCHOOL WITH WHOM YOU CAN SPEAK.
AND IF YOU ARE A SURVIVOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PLEASE KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE, OKAY? WE CARE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY.
I DIDN'T MENTION THIS, BUT ALSO TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE PUBLIC.
HE SAID, FOR YOUR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO ASK THEM TO INCREASE FUNDING AS WE TALK ABOUT, UM, FOR A TRAFFICKING HOTLINE, AS WE MENTIONED, THEY'RE INUNDATED.
UM, AND I'M RECOMMENDING OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM TO REQUEST THAT WE HAVE A CONGREGATIONAL DELEGATION AS WELL.
I, I WILL ADD TO THIS, THAT MY OFFICE DOES HAVE SOME FUNDING AVAILABLE.
UH, WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED CHILDREN EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE.
UM, AND WE USE THAT GRANT GRANT MONEY TO PARTNER WITH OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILDREN THAT ARE, UM, AND WITH CHILDREN, I WILL SAY RESCUED, OKAY? I DO THINK THAT ADULTS HELP THEMSELVES, BUT WITH CHILDREN THAT WE RESCUE GET INTO A SAFE SPACE.
SO, UM, WE SHOULD COORDINATE WITH THAT.
UM, WELL, THANK YOU, UH, MS. NEW BILL FOR THIS.
SO, AT A TIME WHEN STUDENTS ARE FACING INCREASED EXPOSURE TO EXPLOITATION BOTH ONLINE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES, I STRONG SUPPORT YOUR RESOLUTION AND RESPECTFULLY REQUEST TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
UM, HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A GRAY VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND A REAL AND PRESENT DANGER FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
IN THE CURRENT MOMENT, UH, MARKED BY ECONOMIC INSTABILITY AND DISPLACEMENT AND DIGITAL EXPLOITATION, THE RISK OF TRAFFICKING IS HEIGHTENED PARTICULARLY FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY VULNERABLE.
SCHOOLS ARE OFTEN ONE OF THE FEW STABLE INSTITUTIONS IN A YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE.
EDUCATORS, COUNSELORS, AND SCHOOL STAFF ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO RECOGNIZE WARNING SIGNS, INTERVENE EARLY, AND CONNECT STUDENTS TO TRUSTED SUPPORTS.
I WANNA THANK BOARD MEMBER NEWBELL FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD, WHICH AFFIRMS THE DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITY TO PRIORITIZE PREVENTION, TRAINING, AND TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSES, AND TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROTECT STUDENTS AND SUPPORT SURVIVORS.
RAISING AWARENESS IS AN IMPORTANT STEPPING STONE THAT SUPPORTS AND STRENGTHENS OUR BROADER EFFORTS, INCLUDING CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN STAFF, TRAINING, CLEAR PROTOCOLS, AND COORDINATING SYSTEMS OF CARE SO THAT EVERY CAMPUS IS EQUIPPED TO RESPOND WITH CARE, CLARITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND MOMENTS LIKE THIS, AFFIRMING STUDENT SAFETY AND DIGNITY IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR MISSION AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SORRY, CARLA, YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK.
YEAH, THANK YOU, SHERETTE, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
LIKE YOU, I HAD STUDENTS WHEN I WORKED AT A SCHOOL FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING MINORS WHO WE SUSPECTED MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED.
AND IT'S REALLY HARD BECAUSE AS A TEACHER, UM, YOU DON'T, YOU MAY NOT KNOW ALL THE SIGNS, RIGHT, OF IT, UH, OF, AND SO I'M WONDERING, I SAW THE, THE RESOLUTION HAD SOME LANGUAGE AROUND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT I WANNA ASK MY, OUR STAFF, IF WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON THIS, ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING, WE HAVE, UH, ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AS WELL AS OUR CSEC, WHICH IS COMMITTEES THAT ARE ESTABLISHED AT THE SCHOOL SITE THAT ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY, PROVIDE INTERVENTION, AND COORDINATE, UM, WITH CITY SERVICES, L-A-S-P-D, UM, TO CONTINUE KIND OF EDUCATING FOLKS ON LOOKING FOR THOSE SIGNS, BUT ALSO HOW DO YOU RESPOND.
UM, IT'S ALSO PART OF OUR RESILIENCE CURRICULUM THAT, UM, OUR, UH, STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS.
UM, SO THERE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE EXECUTED ON OVER THE YEARS, UM, AND WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.
ARE THESE MANDATORY OR ARE THEY OPTIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT? THEY'RE, THEY'RE OPTIONAL, UH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE KNOW MANY OF OUR SITES, SITES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, OF THE TIME AND EFFORT.
[02:05:02]
ANYONE ELSE? MR. MALVO? SURE.I'LL JUST APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE FOR BRINGING THIS.
I'D LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
ALSO, WANNA THANK OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
I KNOW IN THE PAST AND THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND I, A COUPLE YEARS AGO MET WITH FOLKS FROM THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN LA AND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OVER THIS AS WELL, HAVE SEEN A PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING THAT FEDERAL SUPPORT, BUT APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
UM, AND JUST, UH, MS. FELD SOTO, YOUR, YOUR SUPPORT IN GENERAL, UM, UH, FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IT'S BEEN, UH, YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOU BEING HERE ON THIS ISSUE, PUT ON EVERY ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE STUDENTS OF LA.
AND IT IS MY HONOR TO DO SO BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE.
IF WE DON'T INVEST IN OUR KIDS, IF WE DON'T PROVIDE A PATH FOR THEM TO GO FORWARD, WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT.
WE HAVE FAILED AS A SOCIETY WITH OUR LEGACY.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO MAKE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER.
I WANTED TO THANK BOARD MEMBER NEWBELL AND CITY ATTORNEY INE SOTO FOR BRINGING AWARENESS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE OF MAKING MY PEERS AND I MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE INJUSTICES THAT MANY HUMAN BEINGS FACE AND MANY OF THEIR PEERS MIGHT FACE AS WELL.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE PROLIFERATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAS TAKEN MANY DIFFERENT FORMS THAT ARE OFTEN DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY, MAKING IT ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT TO INFORM STUDENTS OF THE DANGERS IN VARIOUS TACTICS.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS INFORMATION AND AWARENESS EXTENDED BEYOND PD SESSIONS TO MANDATORY CLASSES LIKE HEALTH EDUCATION.
SEEING AS STUDIES HAVE ACTUALLY PROVEN THAT EDUCATION ON THE VARIOUS FORMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS DIRECTLY CORRELATED WITH INCREASED REPORTING AND IDENTIFICATION OF DANGEROUS ONLINE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SCHEMES.
THE FIRST STEP TO ACTION IS EDUCATION AND LEARNING.
AND THIS COMMITMENT REPRESENTS A CRITICAL STEP TOWARDS A SAFER LOS ANGELES FOR ALL STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
UM, LET ME JUST SAY, AS YOU MENTIONED ONLINE, AS DID BOARD MEMBER GRIEGO, UM, WE HAVE A BILL THAT WE ARE TAKING TO SACRAMENTO THIS YEAR.
IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE ONLINE CRIMES, BASICALLY THE PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IS A CRIME.
WE HAVE A BILL THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TO SACRAMENTO TO CRIMINALIZE THE VIEWING OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ON THE INTERNET, BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO SHIFT THE FOCUS FROM THE INDIVIDUALS, FROM THE CHILDREN WHO ARE VISIBLE ON THE TAPE OR ONLINE TO THE PEOPLE CREATING THE DEMAND FOR THAT KIND OF EXPLOITATION.
AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN A VOLUNTEER PROJECT AND YOU MIGHT WANNA WORK WITH US ON A BILL, UH, THAT WE ACTUALLY WILL BE PUSHING THROUGH SACRAMENTO, I WOULD INVITE YOU OR ANY OF YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS TO JOIN US.
WE HAVE AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN MY OFFICE, AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A BILL AFFECTING KIDS START TO FINISH.
SO, MS. FELDSTEIN SOTO, I JUST HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT, UH, CHILDREN ARE SO IMPORTANT TO US.
THIS IS THE LA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND WE AS TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS AND ADMINISTRATORS, WE SEE WHAT GOES ON IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WE RECOGNIZE WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH A CHILD, SOMETHING IS JUST WRONG.
WE CAN TELL HOW THEY'RE ACTING.
THEY'RE JUST ACTING THE SAME AS NORMAL.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE GET INTO THIS BUSINESS OF MAKING SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR OFFICE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND THAT'S, UH, OUR JOB TO HELP YOU.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO BOARD MEMBER NEW BILL FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE AND INVITING ME.
THANK YOU AGAIN, APPRECIATE IT.
ALRIGHT, WE'VE GOT SOME PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM.
I'LL READ THE FOLKS WHO ARE LISTED AS SPEAKING IN PERSON, AND THEN TRANSITION TO THE PERSON WHO LISTED THEMSELVES AS SPEAKING REMOTELY.
UH, AIDEN, ARE YOU HERE? AIDEN? UH, NOLA NEWELL.
ARE YOU HERE? BRIAN Z UH, TRAINEES, ARE YOU HERE? UH, JOSEPH WILLIAMS, NOT HERE.
UH, KHALILA WILLIAMS. UH, LEO ERON.
UH, FELIX MAXWELL, GILBERT LOPEZ.
AND THE REMOTE SPEAKER IS DION GUI.
MS. GUI IS GONNA SPEAK IN SPANISH, SO IF YOU'RE LIKE TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S SAYING IN ENGLISH AS SHE'S SPEAKING IN SPANISH, PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND WE WILL GET YOU THESE TRANSLATION HEADSETS.
OKAY, MS. GUILLEN, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS DEANNA GIEN, AND I REPRESENT A PARENT
[02:10:01]
NETWORK FOR SCHOOL SAFETY.AND WE HAVE COLLECTED HUNDREDS OF SIGNATURES SO THAT SCHOOL POLICE CAN COME BACK TO THE PREMISES ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.
SO WE WANNA THANK THE, UM, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY TO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT THIS.
SINCE THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MINORS IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM IN OUR DISTRICT, SHE PROVIDED SOME VERY IMPORTANT FACTS AND HOW HER WORK AND POLICE IS IMPORTANT AND VITAL FOR TO DEAL WITH THESE TYPES OF CRIMES.
SO WE'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR TWO YEARS NOW, TRYING TO FIGHT FOR THIS, AND MS. T AND MR. MALVO AND MS. EZ AND MORE, EVEN MS. ROCIO, WHO FIGHT FOR OUR KIDS FOR SAFETY, BUT THEY CONTINUE NOT WANTING POLICE IN THE SCHOOLS.
THERE IS A LAW, RIGHT? SB 3 57, THAT WAS, THAT WAS CALLED SAFE, SAFE STUDENT SAFETY FOR ALL.
AND IT SAYS WHAT? THERE SHOULDN'T BE DISCRIMINATION FOR, UH, BLACK WOMEN FOR CRIMINALIZATION, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CRIMES WHERE WOMEN ARE BEING OBLIGATED TO WORK IN THIS SEXUAL REALM.
SO PLEASE LISTEN TO OUR VOICES AS PARENTS TO PROTECT OUR KIDS.
AND WE DON'T FEEL LISTENED TO.
SOMETIMES THEY CREATE LAWS, BUT THEY'RE REALLY HURTING US AS A SOCIETY.
TO ME, THIS LAW IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT REQUIRES MORE, NOT JUST NOT TO DISCRIMINATE THE ADULT PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED TO, UH, PROSTITUTION, BUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PROTECT KIDS WITHOUT POLICE AND SAY, IF THERE IS SUSPICIONS OF A MINOR THAT IS BEING ABUSED, POLICE IS NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING.
AND SOMETIMES, UH, SHE AT LEAST THIS PERSON KNOWS THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I HOPE THE ON THE RULE 72 WAIVER, MOVE IT, MOVE BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON SECOND.
UH, MS. NEW BILL? YES, DR. RIVAS.
MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
SO IT'S FOUR, IT'S FOUR VOTES.
THE REST ARE EITHER AT LUNCH OR RETURNING TO US SHORTLY.
SO TAB 20 PASSES, WE'LL COME BACK AND I'M SURE IT'LL BE MORE VOTES FOR THAT.
THE ACTUAL MOVED, MOVED BY FOR PRESIDENT MOLSEN SECOND, SECONDED BY MS. NEW BILL.
UH, MS. NEW BILL? YES, DR. RIVAS.
MR. MELVIN, THIS IS FOR TAB 20 PROPER.
MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
AND STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG? YES.
SO TAB 20 PASSES ALONG WITH THE, WE HAVE MORE BUSINESS.
I'D LIKE TO GO TO TAB 22, IF THAT'S OKAY.
VERY QUICKLY, THERE IS JUST ONE AMENDMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE TO THE CALENDAR THAT WAS POSTED FOR THE COMMITTEE SCHEDULES, AND THAT WAS TO MOVE THE FEBRUARY 26TH SAFETY COMMITTEE FROM 1:00 PM TO 2:00 PM TO ACCOMMODATE.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE THAT'S BEEN MADE TO THE COMMITTEE SCHEDULE.
WE'RE GONNA HERE, WE'RE GONNA PAUSE FOR A MOMENT.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS.
WE DON'T HAVE A, WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM FOR THE TIME BEING.
[02:15:20]
OKAY.[22. Adoption of the Updated 2025-2026 LAUSD Committee Meeting Schedule (044-25/26)]
WITH TAB 22.IT'S JUST CHANGING A DATE FROM FEB.
UH, TIME ON FEBRUARY 26TH WITH SAFETY COMMITTEE FROM 1:00 PM TO 2:00 PM I'LL MOVE THIS.
MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN? YES.
UH, STUDENT BOARD MEMBER YANG? YES.
UM, LET ME SEE IF I CAN COLLECT ANY VOTES.
BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON ON TAB 12.
THAT WAS THE CHARTER FACILITY.
THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE FOR THAT.
[25. Receipt of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report 2024-2025 (037-25/26)]
TO TAB 25? I BELIEVE THERE'S A BRIEF PRESENTATION, THE RECEIPT OF ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.AND, AND BEFORE WE INVITE, UM, MR. MUS UP, I, I, I THOUGHT IT'D BE IMPORTANT TO JUST GO OVER SOME, SOME QUICK HIGHLIGHTS AND JUST WANNA EXTEND MY, MY GRATITUDE TO, UH, SOME ON BRAVO KAMI, UM, KURT, JOHN, UH, ERNIE THOMAS, VICTORIA REYES, UH, THE TEAM THAT PREPARED THIS REPORT, AND, AND IT'S INTENDED TO PROVIDE A, A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE WELLBEING OF THE DISTRICT'S, UH, FINANCIAL, UM, POSITION.
AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE, IN THE REPORT IS THAT WE ARE SEEING A ACCELERATION OF REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS, UM, FROM THE 2324 TO 24 25, UM, CALENDAR YEARS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, LESS RESOURCES THAT HAVE COME AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGES IN ESSER, UPWARDS OF $800 MILLION IN LESS REVENUE.
UM, AND WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH JUST GENERAL FUND UNRESTRICTED REVENUE, IT'S A NET DIFFERENCE OF $1.7 BILLION LESS REVENUE THAT IS SEEN IN THE 24 25 YEAR.
UM, THE OTHER KEY THING THAT I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS THAT, AND YOU ALL WILL SEE THIS IN THE SECOND INTERIM REPORT, IS THAT THERE IS ABOUT SEVEN $57 MILLION, UH, MORE REFLECTED IN UNENDED DOLLARS IN THE 24 25 YEAR, AS COMPARED TO THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS THAT CAME TO THE BOARD IN SEPTEMBER.
UM, AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE REFLECTING THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS, UH, LESS EXPENDITURES IN OUR SPECIAL ED PROGRAM AND ALSO SOME HIGHER LCFF REVENUES THAT, UM, WERE NOT CAPTURED IN THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS.
AND SO WITH THAT, I WOULD INVITE MR. MUSA, UM, TO KIND OF WALK US THROUGH THE HIGH LEVEL POINTS OF THE, UM, ANNUAL, UH, COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
AND I'VE ALSO, UM, WILL LOOK TO SIMON, ERNIE, JOHN, UM, KURT, AND THE TEAM TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MIGHT HAVE.
MY NAME IS JOE MUSA, AUDIT PARTNER WITH SIMPSON AND SIMPSON CPAS.
I SERVED AS THE ENGAGEMENT, UH, ENGAGEMENT PARTNER OVER THE AUDIT OF THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF JUNE 30TH, 2025.
SO, UM, AS, AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION OVER THE RESULTS OF OUR AUDIT AND CERTAINLY ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
SO OVERALL, WHAT, WHY ARE WE HERE? WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT? YOU'LL SEE HERE ON OUR SLIDE? UH, THE ED CODE 41 0 2 0 REQUIRES AN ANNUAL AUDIT OF EVERY L E'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AND WE'RE HERE TO SATISFY THAT REQUIREMENT AND ASSIST THE DISTRICT IN RESOLVING THAT REQUIREMENT.
UH, IT IS THE DISTRICT'S RESPONSIBILITY DISTRICT MANAGEMENT TO PREPARE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, UH, WITH OVERSIGHT BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE AN OPINION WHETHER THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MATERIALLY STATED AND ACCORDING TO OUR AUDITING STANDARDS.
WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
UH, WE'LL HAVE A VERY HIGH LEVEL EXECUTIVE, UH, OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT.
WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, THE THREE FACETS, WHICH IS THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT, OUR FEDERAL COMPLIANCE AND STATE COMPLIANCE AUDIT.
AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR, FOR QUESTIONS AS WELL.
SO, WHAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO AUDITORS, AND THIS IS, UH, IN STATEMENTS OF AUDITING.
STANDARD ONE 14 IS OUR REQUIREMENT TO COME
[02:20:01]
TO THE GOVERNING BOARD OF OUR AUDITEE TO PRESENT OUR FINDINGS TO THAT GOVERNING BOARD AS A WAY TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH YOU WHAT OCCURRED DURING THE AUDIT.SO, A FEW OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS WE PLAN THE AUDIT.
UH, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO REVIEW THE DISTRICT'S INTERNAL CONTROL AND TO IDENTIFY AREAS THAT ARE, THAT ARE VERY RELEVANT TO FINANCIAL REPORTING TO REVIEW THOSE CONTROLS FOR EFFECTIVENESS.
UH, WE ALSO, UH, PLAN PROCEDURES, AUDIT PROCEDURES TO GAIN A REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE FREE FROM MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS.
WE ALSO CONDUCT, UH, TESTS OF OTHER LAWS AND PROVISIONS, A LOT OF WHICH ARE COVERED IN OUR STATE AND FEDERAL AUDITS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE IN LINE WITH THOSE PROVISIONS.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROVIDE AN OPINION IN.
SO, MOVING OVER HERE TO, UH, THE SLIDE THAT KIND OF TALKS ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
SO AGAIN, MANAGEMENT PREPARES THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WITH OVERSIGHT OF THE GOVERNING BOARD.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE A DETERMINATION IF THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE REASONABLY STATED IN ACCORDANCE TO GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.
UH, SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO REPORT TO THE DISTRICT IS THAT WE ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION.
AND WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS, IT'S, IT'S A QUOTE UNQUOTE CLEAN OPINION.
UH, MEANING TO SAY THAT WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS CURRENTLY STATED, UH, IS REASONABLY STATED AND MEET THE, THE REQUIREMENTS OF ACCOUNTING STANDARDS.
NOW, MOVING ON HERE TO THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WON'T FIND INSTANCES OF FINDINGS OR NON-COMPLIANCE.
UH, AND WHAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IS FOR US TO ALSO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE CERTAIN AREAS THAT WE IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF OUR AUDIT.
SO, TALKING A LITTLE BIT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT, AND I'LL BE WALKING YOU THROUGH SOME PAGE NUMBERS IN THE EVENT THAT YOU HAVE THE ACT FOR IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, UH, OUR ACTUAL OPINIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THAT REPORT.
WE HAVE AN OPINION OVER THE FINANCIAL AUDIT, THE FEDERAL AND STATE COMPLIANCE.
AS WE LOOK OVER OUR FINANCIAL AUDIT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT BRIEFLY IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR US TO LOOK AT YOUR INTERNAL CONTROL.
SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED A FEW INSTANCES, UH, WHERE THERE ARE DEFICIENCIES THAT WE NOTED WHERE ARE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT THAT THE DISTRICT SHOULD MAKE.
ONE OF THEM IS SURROUNDING, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE REVIEW OF IT AND VARIOUS VULNERABILITIES.
THE DISTRICT DOES A VERY GOOD JOB IN IDENTIFYING VULNERABILITIES, AND THEY ALSO RECTIFY THOSE.
AND WE HAVE BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS THAT TALK ABOUT RECTIFYING THOSE WITHIN A 30 TO 60 DAY PERIOD.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY, UH, THE DISTRICT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THAT TIME PERIOD DURING CERTAIN PERIODS.
UH, THEY, THEY HAVE VERY VALID RESPONSES THAT THEY'VE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT.
UH, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT PAGE 2 53 TALKS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS FINDING.
SO THEY PROVIDED RESPONSES AGREEING WITH OUR REC, EXCUSE ME, WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION.
AND, UH, ESSENTIALLY THE IDEA HERE IS THAT THEY'VE HAD VERY GOOD, UH, COMPENSATE AND CONTROLS IN PLACE TO ENSURE IF A VULNERABILITY EXISTS LONGER THAN THE 30 OR 60 DAYS, THAT THERE WON'T BE ANY ACTUAL, UH, YOU KNOW, NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY COME IN AND, UH, BE, BE ABLE TO RUIN OR MESS WITH THE SYSTEM IN PLACE.
OKAY? SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
ANOTHER, UH, SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY WE IDENTIFIED AS AN ACCRUED PAYROLL.
WE IDENTIFIED ABOUT $21.7 MILLION OF LIABILITIES THAT REALLY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THESE ARE RELATED TO ACCRUALS THAT WERE NOT REVERSED FROM PRIOR YEAR.
UH, SO WE PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DISTRICT TO GO BACK INTO THE ACCRUED PAYROLL TO REVIEW THOSE AND TO REVERSE THEM FROM THE BOOKS.
SO WHEN IT, WHENEVER IT COMES TO US PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS, THE DISTRICT WILL PUT TOGETHER A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN.
THAT PLAN WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THAT DOESN'T OCCUR AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
SO WHAT WE DO NEXT YEAR IS WE REVIEW THAT PLAN IN DETAIL, AND WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY FOLLOW THROUGH ALL THE VARIOUS STEPS THAT THEY IMPLEMENTED OR SAID THEY WOULD DO.
AND THOSE ARE ALSO DOCUMENTED IN THE REPORT AS WELL.
UH, FROM TIME TO TIME, WE MAY HAVE INSTANCES WHERE WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DISTRICT'S, UH, PROCESSES.
THOSE COME IN THE FORM OF A MANAGEMENT LETTER.
SO WE HAVE FOUR AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED.
THESE DO NOT RAISE TO THE LEVEL OF A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY, BUT MORE SO ENCOURAGING THE DISTRICT TO IMPROVE PROCESSES.
AS WE GO TO THE FEDERAL COMPLIANCE AUDIT, IN THE CURRENT YEAR, WE HAD A TOTAL OF FIVE MAJOR PROGRAMS. SO WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT THE DISTRICT MANAGES THAT HAS FEDERAL FUNDING, AND WE DO A SAMPLE SELECTION OF THOSE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
WE HAD FIVE OF THEM IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
WE DID IDENTIFY THREE INSTANCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE.
IT RESULTED IN A TOTAL OF ABOUT $117,000 IN QUESTION COSTS.
YOU'LL FIND THOSE, UH, DISCUSSED ON PAGE 1 54 OF YOUR, OF YOUR REPORT.
THE NEXT ONE IS STATE COMPLIANCE.
UH, AND WITHIN THE STATE COMPLIANCE REALM, UH, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WILL PROVIDE AUDITORS A LIST OF PROCEDURES, UH, THAT THEY WOULD LIKE, UH, PERFORMED OVER LEAS.
UH, AND FOR THE MOST PART, THE DISTRICT PRETTY MUCH QUALIFIES FOR A MAJORITY OF THOSE.
SO WE AUDITED A TOTAL OF 28 DIFFERENT STATE PROGRAMS. UH, AND WITHIN THAT
[02:25:01]
REALM, WE IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 14 INSTANCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE.THAT AMOUNTED TO ABOUT $47.7 MILLION OF QUESTION COST.
93% OF THAT, WHICH IS 44 MILLION, COMES FROM THE, UH, CLASSROOM TEACHER SALARY TEST.
AND THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT, UH, SALARY, UH, SALARY OVER TEACHERS IN THE GENERAL FUND ARE AT LEAST 55% OF TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.
THE DISTRICT IN THE CURRENT YEAR MISSED IT BY ABOUT A HALF PERCENT.
UH, WHEN OBVIOUSLY THE REQUIREMENT IS 55%.
I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THIS IS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
LAST YEAR, THE DEFICIENCY WAS ABOUT 7.92%.
THIS YEAR, IT'S ONLY ABOUT A HALF PERCENT.
UH, THE, I, EXCUSE ME, THE IDEA HERE IS THAT THE DISTRICT WILL SUBMIT A WAIVER TO LACO, UH, TO AVOID THAT PENALTY, WHICH IS THE $44 MILLION THERE.
UH, SO THAT, THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 93% OF THE CURRENT YEAR FINDINGS IDENTIFIED IN STATE COMPLIANCE.
THE REMAINING 13 FINDINGS AMOUNT TO ABOUT $3.4 MILLION OR 7% OF OUR IDENTIFICATION IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, I'M VERY MUCH OPEN TO QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO SPEAK MS. RIE.
SORRY, WAS THAT ME? SORRY, THAT WAS YOU.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
I'M WONDERING WITH THE 55%, UM, PART THAT WE'RE NOT IN COMPLIANT, WE IMPROVED, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
WHAT IS THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THEY GO AND SUBMIT A WAIVER OR WHAT ELSE? WHAT OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR US? YEAH, NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS NOT FOR THE DISTRICT TO SUBMIT A WAIVER.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE DISTRICT TO CONTINUALLY TRACK THEIR SPENDING THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR SO THAT THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE AT.
OBVIOUSLY THE REQUIREMENT IS TO MEET THE 55%, WHICH IS OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY DO.
SO, UH, THE DISTRICT HAVE PUT IN THEIR CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN THAT THEY'RE GONNA CREATE MEASURES OF, UH, CONTINUED MONITORING.
SO THEY HAVE BEEN MONITORING, AS YOU CAN SEE, AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PERCENTAGE.
THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE MONITORING THAT PERCENTAGE AS WELL.
BUT OUR RECOMMENDATION, OF COURSE, IS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT OF THE, THE STATUTE.
AND, UM, I, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE BEEN NOT IN COMPLIANT IN THIS PARTICULAR SECTION? I BELIEVE, UH, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, ABOUT FIVE YEARS COUNTING THIS YEAR, I BELIEVE SINCE, UH, THE COVID ERA BEGAN.
BUT EVEN WHEN WE HAD A LOT OF MONEY, WE DID NOT MEET THIS CRITERIA, I BELIEVE BACK STARTING 21 OR 2021, AROUND THAT TIME PERIOD.
I WAS GONNA SAY, I, I, I LIKE MADE A LITTLE COMMENT, SO I'LL JUST SAY TO MY COLLEAGUE, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S KIND OF WHY WE HAVEN'T MET THE CRITERIA IS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SO MUCH MONEY WE'VE SPENT OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM FOR A LOT OF THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS AND THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
AND SO, UM, WHEN WE RECEIVE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HOLISTIC NEEDS OF STUDENTS, WHICH HAS MADE THE RATIO OF IN-CLASSROOM SUPPORTS GOING DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE TEAM WANTS TO LAYER ONTO THAT, BUT THAT'S HOW I'VE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD IT.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT THAT WE REDUCED CLASSROOM PERSONNEL.
THAT TOO HAS GONE UP BECAUSE OF SHIFTS ON CLASS SIZE REDUCTION DURING NEGOTIATED, UH, TWO YEARS AGO.
BUT, UH, OUTSIDE OF CLASSROOM PERSONNEL, AS A RESULT OF THOSE, UH, COVID, UH, PROTECTION MONIES, UH, UH, INCREASED IN A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE WAY AS A PERCENT OF THE BUDGET.
AND OBVIOUSLY POST COVID, EVEN THOUGH THOSE FUNDS SUNSETTED, UH, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS.
UH, AND THAT CONTINUES TO CREATE, UH, THIS PROBLEM.
MY QUESTION WAS, UM, HOW DO YOU, WHO DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE A TEACHER WHEN YOU START COUNTING TO THE 55%? THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF TEACHERS.
AND, AND THE DISTRICT DOES HAVE A VERY DETAILED SCHEDULE IN WHICH THEY OUTLINE THE SPECIFIC TYPE OF TEACHERS THAT QUALIFY IN THIS CALCULATION.
BUT YES, THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY.
THANK YOU, UH, TO THE TEAM, UH, AT SIMPSON SIMPSON FOR THE, FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT.
I FEEL LIKE USUALLY WE DO THIS AT LIKE 10:00 PM SO THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT EVEN TWO O'CLOCK, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR YOU OUT AND ANSWER QUESTIONS THANKS TO SIMON AND ERNIE AND, AND THE TEAM.
UM, YEAH, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS, SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
I ALSO, DESPITE THE PROGRESS FROM A 70, 70 MILLION, $770 MILLION GAP TO A $44 MILLION GAP ON THE, UM, 55% RATIO, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS MAKE THESE MANUAL ADJUSTMENTS.
AND THIS MAYBE IS MORE OF A QUESTION FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT.
JUST HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE MANUAL ADJUSTMENTS ARE NOT JUST MANIPULATIONS TO MAKE IT LOOK BETTER THAN WE ARE? I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE, SO IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK, I MEAN, THAT WAS MS. GRIEGOS QUESTION TOO, BUT WHAT STEPS ARE WE TAKING THERE? YES.
UM, THIS IS THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR THAT THE DISTRICT MANAGED AND MAINTAINED AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF, UH, WHAT WE CALL COLUMN FOUR B OVERRIDES.
AND THERE ARE VERY CLEAR REQUIREMENTS IN THE EDUCATION CODE THAT STIPULATES WHAT SHOULD QUALIFY AS A DEDUCTION IN THIS AREA.
[02:30:01]
SO I'M JUST GONNA READ IT OUT JUST SO THAT WE'RE PRECISE.THE PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY CATEGORICAL AID.
UH, THE EXPENDITURES ARE RESTRICTED IN NATURE.
SO MEANING TO SAY THERE ARE, THEY, THEY HAVE RESTRICTIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU COULD SPEND THE MONEY ON.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY THERE CAN BE NO TEACHER OR INSTRUCTIONAL, EXCUSE ME, AID SALARIES.
SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE CALCULATION BY THE DISTRICT, WE TOOK A VERY DETAILED APPROACH AT LOOKING AT EVERY PROGRAM THAT WAS INCLUDED IN COLUMN FOUR B AS A MANUAL OVERRIDE TO ENSURE THAT THE NATURE OF THAT PROGRAM IS CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE ED CODE.
JONATHAN WILL ADD IS OBVIOUSLY SIMON AND HIS TEAM PREPARE THE PAPERWORK, BUT, UH, THEY VERIFIED IT, UH, IN, IN, IN PARALLEL TO STATE GUIDELINES.
I JUST THOUGHT WHEN PEOPLE SEE A MANUAL ADJUSTMENT, IT'S, I WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANT IN TERMS OF MANUAL OVERRIDE.
UM, I KNOW, AND, AND YOU CONFIRM THAT THE DISTRICT'S TAKING, UH, ARE UNDERTAKING SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES AROUND OUR IT SECURITY, PARTICULARLY AFTER THE CYBER ATTACK A FEW YEARS AGO.
UM, AND YET, UH, WE SEE SOME VULNERABILITIES IN THE AUDIT, UM, UH, AND, AND SOME FROM LAST YEAR'S AUDIT THAT ARE ONGOING IN TERMS OF REMEDIATION.
SO WHAT ELSE DOES THE TEAM NEED TO ENSURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER ON THE CYBERSECURITY, UH, UPGRADES IN IT SECURITY IN GENERAL? I, I, IF I CAN JUST CLARIFY.
SO, SO WHAT WE TEST IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A MONITORING TOOL IN PLACE TO IDENTIFY VULNERABILITIES.
SO WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THEY DON'T RECTIFY THOSE OR TURN THEM AROUND OR CLEAN THEM UP.
I THINK WE JUST HAVE A BEST PRACTICE FOR THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH WE WOULD EXPECT THEM TO GET CLEANED UP.
AND ACTUALLY THAT IS WITHIN THE DISTRICT'S POLICY.
SO THERE ARE CERTAIN REASONS FOR WHY THEY MAY NOT RECTIFY THEM, UH, WITHIN THAT TIME PERIOD.
FOR INSTANCE, IF A PATCH IS NOT AVAILABLE, IF THERE'S A BLACKOUT PERIOD AS A RESULT OF THE SCHOOL STARTING.
SO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO STAY WITHIN BEST PRACTICE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR RESPONSE IN THE FINDING, THEY HAVE VERY GOOD COMPENSATING CONTROLS TO ENSURE THAT NOBODY CAN ACTUALLY COME INTO THE SYSTEM, RIGHT.
OR MANIPULATE THAT VULNERABILITY SO THEY KNOW WHAT THE VULNERABILITIES ARE, THEY DO TURN THEM AROUND, UH, AND THEN WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT WEREN'T TURNED AROUND TIMELY WERE EVENTUALLY TURNED AROUND.
SO THE, THE NATURE OF OUR FINDING IS MAINLY SAYING, LOOK, WITHIN THE TIMING OF BEST PRACTICE, THIS IS WHAT WE RECOMMEND.
AND THE DISTRICT HAS AGREED TO THAT, BUT WHAT THE DISTRICT IS, YEAH, SURE.
IT'S MORE ABOUT HERE ARE THE FEEDBACK LOOPS AND BEST PRACTICES TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING THESE VULNERABILITIES.
AND THE DISTRICT IS FOLLOWING THOSE.
AND I, AND I SEE SOHAIL IS HERE.
I DON'T KNOW, THAT WAS MY QUESTION MOSTLY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO COME WHILE YOU'RE HERE, YOU'VE WALKED THIS WAY ANYWAYS, SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST COME AND GIVE US A QUICK UPDATE.
UM, DEFINITELY WHAT WAS SHARED HERE EXACTLY WHAT'S, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PROCESS.
WE HAVE A VULNERABILITY MANAGEMENT.
A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE IN PLACE.
THERE ARE SOME POLICIES OF COMPENSATING CONTROL.
ONE EXAMPLE I CAN IDENTIFY DURING THE OPEN OFFICE OPENING OF THE SCHOOL, WE STAY BACK FROM PATCHING THE SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, YOUR COMPUTER RECEIVED THE PATCH DURING OPENING SCHOOL, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO IMPACT THE ENROLLMENT AND THE SIGNIFICANT TIMELINE.
WE PASS THAT 30 DAYS SOMETIMES THAT PART OF OUR, DURING THAT TIME WE HAVE COMPENSATING CONTROL, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WE PUT IN PLACE EXTRA MONITORING, RELYING ON, UH, CONTRACTORS FOR OFFSITE MONITORING AND ALERT US IMMEDIATELY IF ANYTHING HAPPENED.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SOMETIMES THEY WANTED, THE PATCH IS NOT EVEN AVAILABLE.
IT DOESN'T, THE VENDOR DOESN'T RELEASE THE PATCH WITHIN 30 DAYS, AND WE PASS THAT TIMELINE.
THE FINDING IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE WORK WITH THE BUSINESS, ESSENTIALLY WITH FINANCE AND OTHER DEPARTMENT, THAT THE SYSTEM NEED TO BE PATCHED TO SHARE AND DOCUMENT THOSE RISKS WITH THEM AND SHARE THE COMPENSATING CONTROL.
IT'S MORE ABOUT, I WOULD SAY, DOCUMENTATION AND PROCESSES THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE.
IT IS NOT ABOUT TECHNO GAP IN TECHNOLOGY.
THAT'S HELPFUL FROM, FROM BOTH ENDS.
UH, ONE, AND THIS WAS ADDRESSED EARLIER IN THE PROCUREMENT ITEM, AND I COULD HAVE BROUGHT IT UP THEN, BUT IT'S REALLY THE, THE OBSERVATIONS AROUND FAILURES AND TRACKING HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION ARE CONCERNING.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A LARGER REVAMP.
THIS IS PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OR OR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT.
UM, BUT NOT BEING 9% OFF IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IF WE CAN PUBLICLY EXPLAIN HOW WE'RE ENSURING OUR TRACKING SYSTEMS ARE OPERATING BETTER MOVING FORWARD.
AND THEN, UH, AND GIVEN THE CONVERSATION WE HAD A BIT AGO AROUND THE ZOOM CONTRACT, WHEN MIGHT, MIGHT WE RECEIVE AN OVERVIEW OF, OF MORE BROAD CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRANSPORTATION DIVISION? OH, I DON'T SEE, IT'S, OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT IS NOT HERE, BUT, UM, OUR SUPERINTENDENT ON THE, THESE ISSUES.
SO I, I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE AUDITORS TO SPEAK TO WHAT THEY SAW.
BUT, UH, TO THE MORE IMPORTANT, IN MY OPINION, PART OF YOUR QUESTION, UH, WE ARE DOING A, A DEEP, DEEP DIVE, UH, INTO ALL DOLLARS SPENT ON TRANSPORTING STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT, ANALYZING FOR EFFICIENCY, UM, UNDERSTANDING THE DRIVERS THAT, UH, CREATE
[02:35:01]
COST ESCALATION BEYOND INCREASED COST OF FUEL AND THE LIKE.AND, UH, WE'RE COMING UP WITH SOME CONCLUSIONS EVEN BY BENCHMARKING IT AGAINST OTHER LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT TRANSPORT MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF STUDENTS.
EVEN IN SMALLER DISTRICTS, THERE ARE SOME IMPEDIMENTS.
UM, THOSE THAT WERE ESTABLISHED BY POLICY, UH, A LONG TIME AGO, SUCH AS, UH, THE STARTING TIME OF SCHOOLS BEING PRETTY CLOSE ACROSS THE BOARD, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND SENIOR, NOT ALLOWING, UM, NOT ALLOWING THE FLEET TO DO MULTIPLE RUNS, UM, THAT CAUSES COST ESCALATION IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT WAY.
SECONDLY, LEGAL PARAMETERS SPECIFIC TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND MAGNET PROGRAM TRANSPORTATION THAT REALLY RESTRICT THE AVAILABILITY OF TRANSPORTATION FOR OTHER STUDENTS, BUT STILL REQUIRE A VERY, VERY LARGE NUMBER OF BUSES ON THE ROAD TO TRANSPORT THOSE KIDS WHO ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO TRANSPORTATION.
SO, UH, NOT VERY SOON, BUT SOON ENOUGH, THE BOARD WILL BE RECEIVING, UH, A NUMBER OF STUDIES, ANALYSES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO DECREASE COST, POTENTIALLY BRING IN TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, UH, SECTORS THAT TRANSPORTATION ARE CURRENTLY FARMED OUT TO PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITIES, UH, AND TRANSPORTING GREATER NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT THE SAME OR LOWER COST.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD? NO, I MEAN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO QUOTE, I DID HEAR ABOUT THIS EARLIER ABOUT AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT, BUT THIS WAS NOT WITHIN THE REALM.
THIS WAS NOT SIMPSON AND SIMPSON, UH, AUDIT THAT, THAT ASPECT.
I'M, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY WERE REFERRING TO.
OH, YEAH, BUT IT WASN'T, YEAH, THAT WAS RIGHT.
NO, THIS WAS, BUT THIS WAS IN YOUR AUDIT WAS AROUND THE 9% HOME TO SCHOOL.
SO, SO, SO THAT WAS ANOTHER CONVERSATION.
SO, SO, SO THAT SPECIFIC, UH, OBSERVATION, UH, IS MAINLY AS A RESULT OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT WAS CHARGING INDIRECT COSTS.
SO, UH, ABOUT 90% OR SO OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ACTIVITIES DOES QUALIFY FOR HOME TO SCHOOL RELATED PROGRAM, BUT THERE'S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT DOES NOT.
SO WHAT THEY WERE DOING IS THEY WERE CHARGING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEIR ADMIN TO THE HOME TO SCHOOL PROGRAM WHEN THEY REALLY SHOULD HAVE JUST BEEN CHARGING THE PERCENT APPLICABLE TO THE OVERALL WORK THAT THAT DEPARTMENT DOES.
SO THAT WAS THE MAIN OBSERVATION THAT WE IDENTIFIED, AND THEY WENT THROUGH A VERY DETAILED, UH, ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE SHOULD BE, AND THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THAT, UH, $2 MILLION NUMBER.
UH, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE APPLYING THAT SAME METHODOLOGY MOVING FORWARD.
AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S COMMENTS TOO.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT THERE HAVE BEEN THESE DISPARATE AND DISCREET CONVERSATIONS AROUND TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER IT'S, UM, REDUCING SOME OF THE OPTIONS AS PART OF THE FSP, UM, AND THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN OR THE OUT, YOU KNOW, THE CONTRACTING, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT AN HOUR AGO, AND NOW THIS, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S WARRANTING A MORE HOLISTIC REVIEW, WHICH THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS ALLUDING TO.
I GUESS MORE BROADLY SPEAKING, MY LAST POINT, UM, WHICH IS MAYBE MORE A QUESTION FOR THE, THE DISTRICT STAFF, IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REASSURING ABOUT THIS AUDIT, UM, IS THAT A LOT OF THE AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE THINGS THAT THE DISTRICT IS EITHER INDEPENDENTLY THROUGH THE SUPERINTENDENT OR THROUGH BOARD ACTION, WORKING TO IMPROVE ADDITIONALLY AROUND TRANSPORTATION, M AND O EFFECTIVENESS CONSTRUCTION PROCESSES, UM, THE DIGITIZATION RESO THAT I BROUGHT A FEW MONTHS AGO.
AND SO I GUESS THE, THE QUESTION, UM, IS REALLY AROUND HOW DO THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS AUDIT TO, I GUESS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT ALIGN WITH THE WORK THE DISTRICT'S ALREADY DOING BASED ON THESE STUDIES, UM, AND WHERE, HOW, WHERE DO THEY COMPLEMENT? ARE THERE THINGS WE WANT TO ADD TO THE OVERALL OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES THAT WE'RE LEARNING FROM THIS AUDIT? SO WHILE THE, THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, ARRIVED AT, UH, BY THIS INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE AUDIT ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, THEY'RE USUALLY MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON VERY SPECIFIC ISSUES, SOMETIMES BASED ON STATE POLICY, UH, OR BUDGETARY PRACTICES AT THE DISTRICT.
THEY ALIGN WELL, HOWEVER, WITH A BIGGER PICTURE THAT, UH, WE'RE SEEKING TO CREATE EFFICIENCIES, WHETHER IT IS IN M AND O, CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORTATION, DIGITIZATION, ET CETERA, THOSE RELY IN PART ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS AUDIT, BUT ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM VERY SPECIFIC AUDITS TO THAT DIVISION OR THAT FUNCTION SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE OR TRANSPORTATION.
BUT YES, THESE, UH, THESE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS SHALL BE EMBEDDED IN OUR FUTURE PRACTICE ALONGSIDE THE LARGEST SCALE AND MUCH DEEPER SCALE EXAMINATION UNDER THOSE VERY, VERY SPECIFIC AUDITS.
AND I'LL JUST SAY, I'LL CONCLUDE BY, BY SAYING IT IS NICE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
I THINK WE'RE AT A TIME WHERE WE'RE HAVING MORE PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS AROUND, UH, OUR FINANCES AND BUILDING CREDIBILITY IN THOSE FINANCES AT A TIME WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS WITH LABOR PARTNERS AND AROUND SCHOOL SITE BUDGETS.
AND SO I THINK THIS IS HELPFUL.
THERE'S ALSO A LOT IN HERE THAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT OUR, OUR NET POSITION.
AND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR SLIGHTLY
[02:40:01]
IMPROVED POSITION WITH OUR NET, UH, OUR LONG-TERM LIABILITIES AND THE CONVERSATIONS THE BOARD IS HAVING AROUND OP, OUR EP TRUST, THERE'S ALSO JUST SOME INTERESTING THINGS IN HERE ABOUT THE LARGER LA LANDSCAPE WHEN IT COMES TO LARGEST TAX CONTRIBUTORS.AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IS IT, IS IT UNIVERSAL VERSUS CENTURY CITY MALL AND ALL THESE THINGS.
SO AP APPRECIATE KIND OF THE CONTEXTUAL KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU'RE, THAT YOU, THAT THIS ALSO HELPS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRICT.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER, BACK TO, UH, MR. SHAMISEN.
ANYONE ELSE? SHERETTE, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
UM, AND I THINK YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED THIS, JUST, UM, FOR THE RECORD, HOW LONG HAS THE FIRM, UM, BEEN THE AUDITOR, UH, SINCE 2007, 2007, AND AS YOU MENTIONED, UM, BEST PRACTICES THAT THE DISTRICT CAN IMPLEMENT TO REDUCE POTENTIAL AREAS OF VULNERABILITY IN THE FUTURE.
UM, WHERE IDENTIFIED, AS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR FINDINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN SECURITY OF THE DISTRICT, UM, SERVER AS WE TALKED ABOUT, AND, UH, THE WAY OF CAL STIRS, HOW IT'S ACCRUED REVENUE IS CAPTURED, ARE THERE BEST PRACTICES THAT WE MAY PUT IN PLACE THAT WE HAVEN'T? WELL, ACTUALLY, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE HAVE IN THE REPORT, THERE'S ALWAYS ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH DIS WITH THE DISTRICT'S CONTROLLER'S OFFICE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IMPROVING CERTAIN PROCESSES.
WHAT WE HAVE LAID OUT IN THE REPORT IS A COMBINATION OF THOSE THAT WE BELIEVE ARE SIGNIFICANT AND NEED VERY, VERY GREAT ATTENTION OF THE DISTRICT, UH, WHICH WE'VE SEEN THEY'VE PAID, AND THEN ALSO RECOMMENDATIONS OF LOWER LEVEL CONTROL DEFICIENCIES IN OUR MANAGEMENT LETTER WHERE WE BELIEVE, UH, THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL HELP AVOID A POTENTIAL DEFICIENCY IN THE FUTURE.
SO WHAT WE BELIEVE IN THE REPORT AS IT STANDS ENCAPSULATES A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVED IN THE INTERNAL CONTROLS.
AND THEN IS THERE A REPORT THAT SHOWS WHEN YOU SAY DEMONSTRATE STRONGER CONTROLS OVER DOCUMENTATION IN AREAS LIKE REPORTING BEST PRACTICE, ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION TO MAKE COMPLIANCE REPORTING, PROGRAMMATIC FUNDING ALLOCATIONS? IS THERE YEAR TO YEAR WHERE WE CAN SEE DEFINITIVELY THIS IS WHAT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED? SO WE SEE NEXT YEAR AND SUBSEQUENT SINCE YOU'VE BEEN WITH US SINCE 2007? YES.
SO WI WITHIN THE AUDIT REPORT, THERE IS A SECTION, I'M JUST TRYING TO PULL UP THE PAGE, BUT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT TO FOLLOW UP ON PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS.
SO WHAT WE DO IS WE LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S RECOMMENDATION AND THE DISTRICT'S CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN, AND WE ASK FOR DOCUMENTATION REFLECTING THAT THEY DID THAT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY, IF THEY DO, UH, STATE THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TRAININGS EVERY QUARTER, THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT DOCUMENTATION REFLECTING THAT THEY DID THAT.
IF THERE'S A NEW PROCESSES IN A SYSTEM, WE WANT TO SEE THAT THAT PROCESSES WAS IMPLEMENTED.
SO OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO LOOK AT THE PLAN THAT THEY'VE CREATED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND MAKE SURE IN THE CURRENT YEAR THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED THAT PLAN.
AND THEN WHAT WE DO IN THE REPORT, AND I'M HOPING I CAN FIND THE PAGE OR NUMBER, UH, IN THE REPORT, WHAT WE DO IS WE DOCUMENT WHETHER OR NOT THAT CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN WAS INDEED IMPLEMENTED.
AND ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE ACT FOR, IF YOU GO TO THE VERY, UH, BACK OF THE AFER, YOU'LL FIND THAT THAT REPORT SUMMARIZES EVERY FINDING FROM PRIOR YEAR AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN FISCAL YEAR 25.
SO YES, WITHIN YOUR ACT FOUR, YOU'LL ABSOLUTELY SEE OUR FOLLOW UP ON PRIOR FINDINGS.
AND THEN WITH THE AREAS OF NON-COMPLIANCE WERE THAT WERE IDENTIFIED, THE ACTION OR WHAT THEY SAID WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED IS THERE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
SO IF WE SAY WE HAVE 14 THAT ARE NON-COMPLIANT, AND NEXT YEAR WE LOOK, THERE'S ANOTHER 14 MAY NOT BE THE SAME, 14, RIGHT? IS THAT WHERE WE CAN SEE THAT? IS THAT REPORT AVAILABLE THAT WE CAN TRACK YEAR TO YEAR? UH, THAT MAY BE A SPECIAL REPORT THAT WOULD NEED TO BE CREATED FOR YOU TO SEE IT ALL, YOU KNOW, IN ONE PIECE AS OPPOSED TO PULLING EVERY REPORT FROM EVERY FISCAL YEAR.
BUT, BUT IT'S ALL DOCUMENTED FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
SO FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE'S A FISCAL YEAR 24 FINDING THAT WAS INDEED IMPLEMENTED IN FISCAL YEAR 25, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE THAT LANGUAGE ANYMORE NEXT YEAR IN 26.
IF THEY DON'T IMPLEMENT IT, WE KEEP CARRYING IT FORWARD UNTIL IT IS FINALLY IMPLEMENTED.
AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD NEEDS JUST TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW AS WE LOOK AT THINGS IN THREE YEARS, WE DON'T, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY YEAR TO YEAR, BUT WHEN WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS, WE'RE LOOKING THREE YEARS OUT FOR US.
AND THAT'S, THAT WAS MY QUESTION THAT MIGHT ASK TANYA ORTIZ.
UM, SINCE 2007, HAVE WE EVER HAD AN UNMOTI OR A MODIFIED OPINION? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME, IF WE DID? NO.
UM, SO, SO WHAT, WHAT'S IMPORTANT I THINK, TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE OPINIONS IS UNMODIFIED DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ISSUES IN THE AUDIT OR, OR ADJUSTMENTS THAT WERE POSTED.
UH, WHEN WE FIND THE REALM OF MODIFIED OR QUALIFIED, THAT MEANS THAT THERE WERE MAJOR INSTANCES WHERE EITHER MANAGEMENT WAS UNWILLING
[02:45:01]
TO BOOK ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE CREATED OR THAT WE HAD RECOMMENDED, OR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE ACCOUNTS THAT WE'RE TESTING ARE NOT SUPPORTED, THEY DON'T HAVE DOCUMENTATION, THEY'RE WITHHOLDING DOCUMENTATION.SO THAT'S WHAT IT, THAT'S WHAT WOULD LEAD TO A MODIFIED OPINION IS IF THERE'S A REASON FOR US TO MODIFY IT.
UH, SO EVERY YEAR WE HAVE AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS AND WE HAVE IT IN OUR PRESENTATION IN THE APPENDIX THAT THERE ARE CORRECTED AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS, AND ALSO, UH, WE DETERMINE THAT UNCORRECTED AUTO ADJUSTMENTS ARE IMMATERIAL.
SO THOSE ARE ALL ALWAYS A PART OF AN AUDIT ANNUALLY.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO, THOUGH WE HAVE NOT ISSUED A MODIFIED OPINION ON THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL STATEMENT SINCE WE'VE BEEN THEIR AUDITOR.
UM, THERE WAS A, A STATEMENT IN THE SUMMARY, PROBABLY LOTS OF US LEANED ON THE SUMMARY TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE FULL PACKAGE, UM, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR, LIKE HOW YOU WOULD RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC WHO, UM, SAYS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR OFTEN.
SO THE STATEMENT THAT IS IN THE EVAL OR IN THE SUMMARY SAYS THE DISTRICT'S NET FINANCIAL POSITION CONTINUES TO BE NEGATIVE.
THIS IS ALONG THE LINES OF MR. MELVIN'S LAST THOUGHT.
HOWEVER, VARIOUS BUDGET STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO HELP ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT ON REVENUE AND TO MITIGATE STRUCTURAL DEFICITS AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT TO MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE NEGATIVE, BUT WE'VE GOT A PLAN TO GET OUT OF THE NEGATIVE.
UM, SOMETIMES PEOPLE PUBLICLY SAY, WELL, THE DISTRICT HAS ALL THIS MONEY IN RESERVE, SO YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY FOR X, Y, Z.
WHAT WOULD YOU, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, KIND OF HELP SOMEONE UNDERSTAND WHO SAYS TO US, YOU HAVE SO MUCH MONEY IN RESERVE, HOW CAN IT BE THAT YOU HAVE THIS NET UH, DEFICIT? YEAH, I, I'VE SEEN THE DISTRICT ADDRESS THIS A LOT, AND, UH, WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS TO LOOK AT THE COMPOSITION OF YOUR NET POSITION.
THERE'S A, A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY THAT'S RESTRICTED, MEANING TO SAY YOU HAVE TO SPECIFICALLY USE IT FOR PURPOSES OF WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING, STATE COMPLIANCE, FEDERAL COMPLIANCE, THERE'S LAWS THAT RESTRICT HOW YOU CAN USE THAT MONEY.
UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR BALANCE SHEET, YOU CAN VERY CLEARLY SEE SOME OF THE MAJOR TICKET ITEMS AND LIABILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR MANY YEARS.
YOUR LONG-TERM DEBT, YOU KNOW, YOUR BORROWINGS ARE, ARE A BIG ELEMENT.
YOUR OPEP, YOUR PENSION IS A VERY BIG ELEMENT.
THOSE, THOSE ARE CRITICAL AND, AND THOSE ARE THERE AND ARE NOT GONNA DISAPPEAR RIGHT, UNTIL THE DISTRICT HAS THE MEANS TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
UM, WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS WELL IS TRACKING KO'S APPROVAL OF THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET.
WE UNDERSTAND IN THE MOST CURRENT YEAR, THE DISTRICT HAS PUT TOGETHER A FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, WHICH IS A, A WAY FOR THEM TO OUTLINE HOW TO DEAL WITH THE DEFICITS COMING UP IN THE FUTURE.
AND LACO ASKED FOR THE DISTRICT TO SUBMIT THAT IN THEIR LATEST SUBMISSION.
THE DISTRICT DID DO THAT, WHICH LAYS OUT A PLAN TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE IMPROVING AND, AND ULTIMATELY MAKING SURE THAT, UH, YOU DON'T GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU DON'T GET YOUR BUDGET APPROVED BY LACO.
THE NUMBERS IN THE BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT WE AUDIT.
SO OUR OPINION OF UNMODIFIED SAYS THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE REASONABLY STATED.
UH, SO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU SHOULD RELY ON THOSE FIGURES TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING WITH REGARDS TO HOW THE DISTRICT IS DOING FROM YOUR PURVIEW, HOWEVER YOU'D LIKE TO ANALYZE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
SO WE'RE PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING.
UH, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T AUDIT THE BUDGET, WE, WE DO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE.
HAVING THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, IN OUR OPINION, IS VERY GOOD STEP TO MAKING SURE THAT YOU ADDRESS SOME OF THE FUTURE, UH, POTENTIAL DEFICIT ISSUES.
AND I'LL END WITH HOW THIS CONVERSATION WAS OPENED, WHICH IS JUST A SHOUT OUT AND APPRECIATION FOR OUR BUDGET TEAM THAT HAS GOTTEN US TO THIS POSITION.
SO THANK YOU SIMON AND KURT AND THE ENTIRE TEAM ROCIO.
UM, WELL, WHEN I WAS LISTENING IN THE BACK, UM, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS THAT ALREADY POSED, PARTICULARLY MS. GREGO MENTIONED THE, UM, 54.5%, SO THAT WAS ASKED IN MR. MOVA AND ALSO ASKED, ASKED SOME QUESTIONS.
SO FORGIVE ME IF I DIDN'T HEAR EVERYTHING, IF I REPEAT A QUESTION.
SO, UM, AND I DID HEAR MR. UH, SOHEIL TAL ALSO COME UP, SO I'M GONNA TRY AND IDENTIFY SOME FORMS OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED.
SO, UM, I'LL GO WITH THIS ONE.
SO SEVERAL FINDINGS, INCLUDING PROP 28 AND THE TRANSPORTATION, UM, UM, ISSUE THAT WAS ALREADY ASKED ABOUT THE HOME TO SCHOOL PRO TRANSPORTATION, UH, REFLECT DOCUMENTATION AND OVERSIGHT GAPS, UH, RATHER THAN MISUSE OF FUNDS.
WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF INTERNAL CONTROLS AT THE SCHOOL SITE AND CENTRAL LEVELS, AND HOW IS THE DISTRICT TIGHTENING THOSE CONTROLS AS THESE PROGRAMS SCALE? WELL, I CAN GIVE YOU OUR PERSPECTIVE AS THE AUDITOR.
SO IT, IT, IT, IT, IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT.
UH, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING IT UP AS RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, WITHIN OUR RECOMMENDATION, WE ARE, WE ARE REQUESTING FOR AN IMPROVEMENT IN DOCUMENT RETENTION, UH, AND ANALYSES AND FOLLOWING PROCEDURES.
SO THAT'S VERY CLEARLY OUTLINED.
UH, SO WHENEVER YOU HAVE THESE FINDINGS, IT'S, IT'S USUALLY LEADING TO SOME SORT OF AN INTERNAL CONTROL ISSUE.
AND, AND OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO FIND WHAT'S THE BEST RECOMMENDATION TO ASSIST THE DISTRICT IN BEING COMPLIANT MOVING FORWARD.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WE'VE OUTLINED A VERY GOOD PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT.
THEY REVIEW IT, THEY TAKE A LOOK TO SEE IF IT'S EVEN REMOTELY POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO APPLY OUR CORRECTIVE ACTIONS, AND THEY TYPICALLY
[02:50:01]
WILL AGREE AND FORMULATE A, A PLAN AROUND THAT.AND DO YOU ALSO SUGGEST OR, UM, DISCUSS IF, UM, SOME OF THESE, UM, IDENTIFIED, YOU KNOW, WEAKNESSES OR VULNERABILITIES CAN EITHER BE ADDRESSED, UM, THROUGH POLICY OR THROUGH, RATHER THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, SOME, A SYSTEM THAT NEEDS A PATCH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, OR, UM, OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS? YEAH, IF IT NEEDS A STRUCTURAL INTERVENTION OR BOARD LEVEL POLICY, ANYTHING LIKE THAT? OF COURSE.
YEAH, NO, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO A, A LOT OF WHAT WE FIND, UH, AND YOU MAY BE REFERRING TO THE STATE COMPLIANCE, SINCE THERE'S TYPICALLY A, A NUMBER OF THOSE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, OFTENTIMES IT MAY JUST BE VERY WELL THAT THE SCHOOL IS JUST NOT FOLLOWING POLICY ALREADY APPLIED AND ALREADY PRESENT.
UH, SO IT'S A MATTER OF REINFORCING THE POLICY.
IT MAY NOT BE THAT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE POLICY POLICY'S GOOD, IT'S JUST THAT PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY FOLLOWING IT.
SO HOW ARE WE FOLLOWING UP TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE POLICY IS? ARE THERE TRAININGS? UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, IF YOU READ THROUGH THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN, THERE'S A LOT OF, A LOT THERE ABOUT DROP-IN SESSIONS MEETING WITH THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS, KIND OF GOING BROADER SO THAT WE CAN GET THE INFORMATION DOWN AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.
UM, AND IF THERE IS A POLICY ISSUE, WE WILL RECOMMEND THAT IF WE FIND THAT THE POLICY LACKS SOME SORT OF A GUIDANCE IN ORDER FOR THE DISTRICT TO STAY ON TRACK, THEN WE WILL MAKE SURE TO NOTE THAT IN OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THE POLICY NEEDS TO BE EITHER BEEFED UP CLARIFIED, OR MAYBE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE WR WRITTEN UP THAT'S MORE DETAILED.
UH, SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THOSE POSSIBILITIES, UH, BECAUSE WE SEE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN AUDITING SINCE 2007.
WE CLEARLY SEE A, A, A RHYME A RHYTHM HERE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
SO WE HAVE A GOOD WAY OF REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE CORE ISSUE IS.
AND WE GO OUT TO THE SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE VISITED 140 SOME ODD SCHOOLS THIS YEAR.
WE MEET WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS, THE PRINCIPALS, WE HAVE A GOOD IDEA IN TERMS OF HOW THE OPERATIONS ARE THERE.
SO WE ALSO USE THAT IN OUR IMPLEMENTATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DISTRICT.
AND, AND LASTLY, UM, WHAT INFORMATION WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL FOR THE BOARD TO RECEIVE DURING THE YEAR, UH, RATHER THAN AT AUDIT TIME, TO BETTER EXERCISE OVERSIGHT OR OVER COMPLIANCE OR ANY FISCAL RISK? ANY INSTANCES WHERE THE DIS WHERE THE BOARD SHOULD BE, UM, OR IS NECESSARY FOR THE BOARD TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES OR INTERVENE OR BE AT LEAST NOTIFIED RATHER THAN WAITING FOR YOUR REPORT? YEAH, UH, I THINK, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE ANSWER IS GONNA BE THE SAME FOR ANY ORGANIZATION.
UH, HAVING INFORMATION IN ADVANCE IS ALWAYS USEFUL TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGE.
UH, OF COURSE, LOOKING AT OUR RESULTS THIS YEAR AND SEEING THAT AND KNOWING THAT IT'S LIKELY GONNA HAPPEN UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING DONE IS A GOOD ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, REMINDER TO SAY, HEY, LET'S START LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES, UH, DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY EXIST, UH, SOME OF THESE ARE, ARE REPEATING ON ON YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHICH IS WHY I MENTIONED THAT SOMETIMES IT'S NOT HOW THE DISTRICT IS APPLYING THE POLICIES, WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING IT.
UM, SO I THINK MONITORING IS A BIG THING IN, IN AN INTERNAL CONTROL ENVIRONMENT, MORE MONITORING, MORE INFORMATION IS ALWAYS HELPFUL.
SO THAT'S ONE THING I WOULD ALWAYS RECOMMEND.
MORE INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD.
RIGHT, FOR THE BOARD, RIGHT UNDER, YEAH, GETTING A SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND IF THERE IS, IF THERE WAS UPDATES TO CERTAIN PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT, UNDERSTANDING WHETHER THERE COULD BE RED FLAGS COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE, UH, BEFORE WE BEGIN AUDITING.
THOSE ARE ALWAYS USEFUL TO HAVE, PARTICULARLY WITH, I WAS ASKED BEFORE ABOUT THE ITS, UM, SORT OF FINDINGS, WHY WEREN'T THEY ADDRESSED WITHIN THOSE 30 DAYS, AND I DID HEAR THE RESPONSE TO THAT.
SO KNOWING THAT RIGHT BEFOREHAND FOR, YOU KNOW, FINDING, UNDERSTANDING WHY THOSE DELAYS HAPPEN, RIGHT.
IF IT HAPPENS AFTER THE YEAR, DURING THE SUMMER, AND DON'T WANNA ADDRESS ANY SORT OF, UM, AS I HEARD MICE'S ISSUES OR WANNA SORT OF, UM, IGNITE OR START AN ISSUE THAT COULD PREVENT, UM, OR BE A CHALLENGE FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, MR. MCLEAN.
THERE'S NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM.
SO THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION AND THE QUESTION PERIOD.
I HAVE TO FALL ON MY SWORD AND ADMIT THAT I FORGOT TO CALL ON CALLER WHO HAD SIGNED IN.
SO WE'LL RETURN TO THAT CALLER, MS, UH, MARIA DAISY ORTIZ ON TAB 22, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MY NAME IS MARIA DE ORTIZ AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU WILL REVIEW THE COMMITTEES.
I HOPE, I BELIEVE THAT THIS BIG DISTRICT, AND WE WANNA BE ABLE TO RECEIVE INFORMATION AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE MORE OR SHOULD GIVE US MORE TIME SO OTHER VOICES
[02:55:01]
COULD BE HEARD.YOU SHOULD ESTABLISH A BUDGET COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING HOW THE BUDGET IS BEING USED, AND ALSO TO EDUCATE PEOPLE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COME AND GIVE THEIR OPINION.
ANOTHER SUBCOMMITTEE THAT YOU SHOULD ADD THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
I'M NOT SURE WHY IS NOT WHAT YOU DO IS WHAT YOU, IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY, IT'S WHAT YOU DO.
UH, WE REPRESENT THE PARENTS' VOICE, AND I KNOW IT'S NOT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU, BUT I BELIEVE THAT PARENTS AND FAMILIES SHOULD BE INCLUDED.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE HEAVY AGENDAS, LIKE, LIKE LAST WEEK'S IT WAS ALMOST, UH, AT 3:00 PM THAT'S WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT AT A COMMUNITY HALL.
AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD ESTABLISH MORE COMMITTEES SO THAT THEY COULD, WE CAN HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES OR YOU CAN HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO LISTEN TO OTHER VOICES AND ALSO TO GIVE TRANSPARENCY, ESPECIALLY WITH BUDGET.
I BELIEVE THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO BE A PRIORITY FOR YOU FOR THIS NEW YEAR AND FOR IT TO, FOR US, FOR YOU TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.
I'M GONNA COLLECT SOME VOTES ON TABS.
SO TAB 12, UH, MS. FRANKLIN, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES, YES.
ON TAB 20, HOW DO YOU VOTE ALSO? YES.
AND WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR, PLEASE.
20 IS A YES, THAT'S YES, BOTH.
AS TO THE RULE 72 WAIVER, AND I ASSUME YES, THANK YOU SPONSOR.
AND MS. RIVAS, HOW DO YOU VOTE ON TAB 20? YES, FOR BOTH.
I'M JUST MAKING SURE I DON'T MISS ANYTHING.
AND MS. RIVAS, ON TAB 22, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES.
AND MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN, TAB 22? YES.
[24. Charter Petitions for Public Hearing (040-25/26)]
24 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.I'M GONNA READ A PUBLIC HEARING STATEMENT, AB 24 CHARTER PETITIONS FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, THIS CONSTITUTES A PUBLIC HEARING ON GROVER CLEVELAND CHARTER HIGH, ASPIRE JUNIOR COLLEGIATE ACADEMY, ASPIRE, CENTENNIAL COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY, AND ELAINE LEROY LOCKE COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY AND MAXIMUM OF 15 INDIVIDUALS WHO ADDRESS, WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND THE ITEM WILL BE HEARD.
THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK SHOULD SIGN UP ONLINE SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED ON BY NAME.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
I'LL CALL ON THE FOLKS WHO LISTED THEMSELVES AS BEING IN PERSON, AND THEN IF ANYONE IS REMOTE, I WILL CALL ON THEM.
UH, JEANETTE JOHNSON SMITH, COME ON DOWN.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND AFTER MS. JOHNSON SMITH IS BELEN RAMIREZ AND THEN AN ANNABELLA MOSKOWITZ.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS JEANETTE JOHNSON SMITH AND I'M PROUDLY SERVE AS THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING AND COLLEGE PERSISTENCE FOR GREEN DOT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE DEEPLY IN WHAT IS HAPPENING AT LOCKE.
OUR STUDENTS COME TO LOCKE WITH EXTRAORDINARY POTENTIAL.
THEY ALSO ARRIVE CARRYING REAL CHALLENGES, ACADEMIC GAPS AND UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR COMMITMENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHERE A STUDENT STARTS NEVER DETERMINES HOW FAR THEY GO.
AND OVER TIME, THAT PROMISE HAS TURNED INTO PROGRESS.
LOCKE IS RANKED IN THE MIDDLE TIER SCHOOL.
LOCKE IMPROVEMENT IN DISTANCE FROM STANDARD IN ENGLISH, AND MATH IS GREATER THAN THE STATES AND LOCKS HAS MULTIPLE SOURCES OF VERIFIED DATA THAT DEMONSTRATE LOCKE STUDENTS ARE ACHIEVING MORE THAN ONE YEAR OF GROWTH EACH YEAR.
GRADUATION RATES HAVE STEADILY IMPROVED.
COLLEGE AND CAREER INDICATOR OUTCOMES HAVE ALSO RISEN.
LOCKE NOW OFFERS MULTIPLE CAREER PATHWAYS, INCLUDING COMPUTER SCIENCE, CONSTRUCTION, AND BUILDING, CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND MEDICAL APPRENTICESHIP.
THE MEDICAL APPRENTICESHIP PATHWAYS IN PARTICULAR HAS BECOME A MODEL FOR WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
ITS IMPACT HAS BEEN SO STRONG THAT ASSEMBLY MEMBER GIBSON IS SPONSORING A LEGISLATION INSPIRED BY THE PROGRAM AT LOCKE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXPAND ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.
[03:00:01]
THIS PAST WEEKEND, LOCKE HOSTED A YOUTH POLICY FORUM EVENT TYPICALLY HELD IN SACRAMENTO.BUT INSTEAD OF ASKING WATT STUDENTS TO TRAVEL FAR TO ACCESS OPPORTUNITY, WE BROUGHT THE EXPERIENCE TO THEM BY REPLICATING THIS HALLMARK EVENT ON OUR CAMPUS.
LOCKE ENSURE STUDENTS COULD ENGAGE DIRECTLY IN CTE LEARNING POLICY EXPOSURE IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT BARRIERS.
LAST YEAR ALONE, THE PERCENTAGE OF LOCKE GRADUATES ENROLLED ON THE FIRST DAY OF THEIR SECOND YEAR COLLEGE INCREASED BY 19 PERCENTAGE POINTS AND COLLEGE AND CAREER INDICATOR OUTCOMES INCREASED BY MORE THAN 22 PERCENTAGE POINTS FOR BLACK SCHOLARS AND ENGLISH LEARNERS AT LOCKE.
COUNSELING AND COLLEGE PERSISTENCE ARE PROMISED TO SUPPORT AND BELIEVE IN ALL STUDENTS FROM THE DAY THEY ARRIVE AND THROUGH GRADUATION AND BEYOND.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS WORK AND FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS.
YOU LOVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HELLO, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO, BOARD PRESIDENT SEN AND ESTEEM BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BELEN RAMIREZ AND I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS CO-PRINCIPAL AT LOCKE.
THIS IS MY 19TH YEAR IN EDUCATION, 10TH YEAR WITH GREEN DOT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SIXTH YEAR AT LOCKE.
I COME TO THIS WORK NOT ONLY AS A SCHOOL LEADER, BUT AS A FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN AMERICAN WHO GREW UP IN COMPTON AND HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE POWER OF ACCESS TO A STRONG PUBLIC EDUCATION.
LOCKE IS NOT JUST A SCHOOL FOR THE WATTS COMMUNITY.
IT HAS LONG STOOD FOR PRIDE LEADERSHIP AND POSSIBILITY.
SINCE OPENING IN 1967, GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES HAVE PLACED THEIR HOPES IN THE SCHOOL.
WHAT MATTERS MOST IS NOT JUST WHERE LOCKE HAS BEEN, BUT WHAT IT IS BECOMING.
TO UNDERSTAND OUR PROGRESS, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR STUDENTS START.
ON AVERAGE, OUR SCHOLARS ARRIVE PERFORMING IN THE BOTTOM THIRD PERCENTILE IN ELA AND SIX PERCENTILE IN MATH COMPARED TO THEIR PEER STATEWIDE.
ONCE ENROLLED AT LOCK, STUDENTS SHOW CONSISTENT ACADEMIC GROWTH YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE STUDENT GROWTH IS SHOWING UP IN OUTCOMES LOCK IS RANKED AS A MIDDLE TIER SCHOOL.
MULTIPLE SOURCES OF VERIFIED DATA SHOW OUR STUDENTS ARE ACHIEVING MORE THAN ONE YEAR OF GROWTH EACH YEAR.
WHEN GREEN DOT BEGAN ITS WORK AT LOCKE, LESS THAN HALF OF THE SENIORS WERE GRADUATING TODAY, OUR GRADUATION RATE SENT AT 72%.
MORE OF OUR GRADUATES ARE PERSISTENT IN COLLEGE WITH A 19 PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE IN STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE FIRST DAY OF THEIR SECOND YEAR.
SINCE GREEN DOT ASSUMED OPERATIONS BETWEEN EIGHTH AND 11TH GRADE, UH, YEAR LOCKE STUDENTS ARE GROWING SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER THAN THEIR PEERS OUTPERFORMING THE STATE IN ELA AND MATH.
IN THE PAST YEAR ALONE, LOCKE IMPROVED BY 29 POINTS IN DFS IN ENGLISH, AND BY 30 POINTS IN DFS IN MATH.
THE PROGRESS WE SEE TODAY IS A RESULT OF DELIBERATE CHOICES, SUSTAINED EFFORT, AND SHARED BELIEF IN WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING WHEN OPPORTUNITY IS PAIRED WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND STRONG SYSTEMS OUTCOMES, AND LIVES CHANGE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, NEIL BRANDENBURG, ARE YOU HERE, MR. BRANDENBURG? THANK YOU.
UH, GORDON GIBBONS, COME ON DOWN.
SIR, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO, BOARD PRESIDENT SHAMMIEL SIN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM THE CHIEF SCHOOL'S OFFICER FOR GREENDALE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING LOCKE FOR 12 YEARS.
WHEN LOCKE FIRST OPENED IN 1967, IT WAS EMBRACED BY THE WATTS COMMUNITY.
WE'RE PROUD TO BE PART OF THE LOCKE FAMILY.
ITS FIRST PRINCIPAL JAMES B. TAYLOR IS ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRINCIPALS IN LOS ANGELES, LOCKE'S MARCHING BAND.
THE MARCHING SAINTS TRAVELED, THE COUNTRY GRADUATES WENT ON TO BECOME LEADERS AT EVERY SECTOR.
OVER TIME, THE PROMISE WAS TESTED.
IN 2007, OVER 50% OF TEACHERS PETITIONED FOR GREEN.TO OPERATE LOCKE.
AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN THESE 17 YEARS HAS BOTH CHALLENGED US AND TAUGHT US WHAT IS TRULY TAKEN TO RUN A COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL WITH ROBUST PROGRAMMING FOR ALL STUDENTS.
WE DON'T DO THIS WORK ALONE AND WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE DR.
VVI FOR THE YEARS OF SERVICE AT LOCKE AS A PRINCIPAL AND LEADER, AS DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, HIS LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS THAT OF BOARD MEMBER TANYA FRANKLIN ORTIZ, AND THE LUSD BOARD.
AND MANY STAFF MEMBERS OF LUSD ARE ALL PART OF LOCKE'S SUCCESS TODAY.
IT HAS BEEN A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL AND WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN SERVING ANY STUDENT WHO WISHES TO TED.
WHAT WE SEE TODAY IS GROWTH ACROSS MULTIPLE FRONTS.
LOCKE IS RANKED AS A MIDDLE PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOL BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
LOCKE HAS MULTIPLE SOURCES OF VERIFIED DATA THAT DEMONSTRATES STUDENTS
[03:05:01]
ARE ACHIEVING MORE THAN ONE YEAR OF GROWTH EACH YEAR.GRADUATION RATES CONTINUE TO RISE.
OUR APPROACH IS ALIGNED TO THE LESD STRATEGIC PLAN, AND WE DO THIS WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR UNIONIZED, CERTIFICATED, AND CLASSIFIED STAFF BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE CLOSER TO THE STUDENTS MATTER.
WE BELIEVE EDUCATOR DESERVE VOICE, DIGNITY, AND PARTNERSHIP IN THE WORK OF CHANGE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN AND AFTER, UM, NOMI IS ALMA VIEIRA.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS NOME COAS AND I'M VERY PROUD AND HONORED TO BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE, A PROUD PARTNER WITH LOCKE COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY.
IN 2024, LOCKE WAS AWARDED A 1.9 MILLION FIVE YEAR GRANT TO DEEPEN WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS THAT REMOVE BARRIERS TO LEARNING AND ALLOW STUDENTS TO FULLY ENGAGE IN THESE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS GRANT, I LIKE TO SHARE HOW LOCKE HAS EMBRACED THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS GRANT AND PROPELLED STUDENT GROWTH WITH THE SUPPORT OF STRONG SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COMMITTED EDUCATORS, AND A MEANINGFUL PA PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE.
NEARLY 90% OF STUDENTS REPORT HAVING AT LEAST ONE CARING ADULT, REFLECTING, UM, RELATIONSHIP, REFLECTING THE SCHOOL'S STRONG CULTURE AND SUPPORT AND ME MENTORSHIP.
AT LOCKE, WE HAVE ALSO SEEN MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN ATTENDANCE, ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
BECAUSE THE SCHOOL TAKES A PROACTIVE AND STUDENT-CENTERED APPROACH, MONTHLY ATTENDANCE INCENTIVES, PRACTICAL SUPPORTS, AND ONE-ON-ONE WELLNESS CHECK-INS HAVE ALSO HELPED REMOVE EVERYDAY BARRIERS THAT CAN KEEP STUDENTS FROM COMING TO SCHOOL.
AS A RESULT, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM HAS DECLINED BY 11 PERCENTAGE POINTS YEAR TO YEAR, REFLECTING A SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT IN ATTENDANCE.
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT HAS ALSO GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY.
LOCKE HAS INTENTIONALLY EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS BY OFFERING ESL CLASSES, HOSTING RESOURCE FAIRS, ORGANIZING CLOTHING DRIVES, AND ALSO PROVIDING TARGETED SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES FACING IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT HAS ALSO GROWN THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RAINBOW LABS AND PATH HACKING INITIATIVE.
AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THESE OPPORTUNITIES, 50% OF STUDENTS SAY THEY NOW SEE STEM AS A MORE INCLUSIVE FIELD AND ALSO REPORTED INTEREST BEYOND ACADEMICS, STUDENTS ARE BUILDING LIFE SKILLS.
100% REPORTED THAT THEY LEARN SKILLS THAT THEY WILL USE IN THEIR EV EVERYDAY LIVES.
AND 83% SAID THAT THE ACTIVITIES WERE RELEVANT TO THEIR DAILY EXPERIENCES.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO PARTNER WITH A SCHOOL THAT UNDERSTANDS THAT EDUCATING CHILDREN IS NOT ONLY ABOUT OUTCOMES, BUT ABOUT DIGNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LOCKE.
AND THEN AFTER MS. VIE IS TONY GIN.
COME ON DOWN, MR. CAR AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
I'M A PROUD MOTHER AND ASPIRE AND A BELIEVER IN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
MY TRAJECTORY WITH ASPIRE HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR YEARS WITH STUDENTS THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM ASPIRE SCHOOLS AND HAVE GONE ON TO COLLEGE TODAY.
THIS ROAD CONTINUES WITH MY YOUNGEST SON, WHO IS AN ACTUAL STUDENT IN ASPIRE JUNIOR COLLEGE ACADEMY.
ASPIRE HAS ALWAYS GIVEN MY FAMILY A SOLID EDUCATION, DIRECTION AND SUPPORT, AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THE SUCCESS OF MY CHILDREN.
AS A MOTHER, I VALUE BEING INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATION OF MY KIDS.
AND ASPIRE REALLY TRULY DOES VALUE PARENT PARTICIPATION PERSONNEL SINCE THEY HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY SUPPORT STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
MY KIDS NOT ONLY WERE PREPARED TO GRADUATE, BUT ALSO THEY FELT SAFE AND READY TO HAVE SUCCESS IN LIFE AND UNIVERSITY.
NOW ASPIRE JUNIOR COLLEGE ACADEMY.
I STILL SEE THAT EXCELLENCE AND THAT PROMISE SINCE THEY PRIORITIZE THE STUDENTS AND THEIR GROWTH AND A SAFE, SOLITARY, UNIFIED PLACE WHERE THERE CAN BE PROSPERITY FOR STUDENTS.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO RE TO REENACT THIS SO THAT MORE FAMILIES LIKE MINE CAN BENEFIT FROM HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION THAT ASPIRE OFFERS.
I ALSO INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR SCHOOLS SO THAT YOU CAN SEE FIRSTHAND THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT ASPIRE HAS ONTO THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS.
[03:10:01]
YOUR LAST NAME.I'M A 30 YEAR VETERAN EDUCATOR WHO GREW UP IN THE WATTS AREA.
I HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO THE LOCKE SCHOOL FOR 15 YEARS, SERVING AS A TEACHER, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND NOW PROUDLY SERVE AS A CO-PRINCIPAL.
REAL CHANGE HAPPENS WHEN SCHOOLS ARE GROUNDED IN THE COMMUNITY.
LOCKE IS A SCHOOL THAT HAS KNOWN BOTH CHALLENGE AND POSSIBILITY.
17 YEARS AGO, WHEN GREEN DO BEGAN ITS WORK HERE, THE FOCUS WAS NEVER ON QUICK WINS.
IT WAS ALWAYS ON LONG-TERM COMMITMENT AND SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT.
TODAY THAT COMMITMENT IS PRODUCING RESULTS.
LOCKE IS CURRENTLY A MIDDLE TIER SCHOOL WITH CONSISTENT IMPROVEMENT IN DISTANCE FROM STANDARD IN ENGLISH AND MATH.
MULTIPLE VERIFIED DATA SOURCES SHOW THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ACHIEVING MORE THAN ONE YEAR ACADEMIC GROWTH ANNUALLY.
MANY OF OUR SCHOLARS ARRIVE BELOW GRADE LEVEL.
IN RESPONSE, WE'VE BUILT TARGETED STUDENT-CENTERED SUPPORTS.
MANY OF ARE IN LINE WITH YOUR RESOLUTIONS THIS MORNING FROM OUR BLACK SCHOLARS, OUR BLACK EXCELLENCE TEAM, AND TIER TWO AFFINITY SPACES, STRENGTHEN BELONGING, RECOGNIZED BLACK GIRL MAGIC, AND AMPLIFIED BLACK BOY JOY.
OUR ELD ACADEMY SERVES APPROXIMATELY 140 FIRST AND SECOND YEAR SCHOLARS, MANY WITH INTERRUPTED FORMAL EDUCATION TO SUPPORT THE WHOLE STUDENT.
WE INVEST IN SEVEN SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND A DEDICATED MCKINNEY-VENTO AND FOSTER YOUTH SPECIALISTS.
AS A RESULT, OUR SUSPENSION AND OUR SUSPENSION RATE REMAINS BELOW 2% AND NEARLY 90% OF OUR SCHOLARS REPORT THEY HAVE AT LEAST ONE CARING ADULT ON CAMPUS.
CONTINUED PROGRESS IN ETHNIC STUDIES PROGRAMS SHOW THAT WE ARE BUILDING SOMETHING THAT IS WORKING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION TO THE CHILDREN OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, ESPECIALLY IN THE WATTS AREA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, CARMEN LORA.
UH, NATALIE DIXON, COME ON DOWN.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN AND AFTER.
UH, NATALIE IS MELISSA PARTITA.
GOOD EVENING, MR. CARVALHO AND BOARD PRESIDENT MR. SMLS.
I AM A PROUD PARENT AT JCA ACADEMY.
MY SON HAS AUTISM AND A DHD, AND HE HAS ATTENDED EXPIRE SINCE FIRST GRADE.
HE IS NOW IN THIRD GRADE, AND THE GROWTH I HAVE SEEN IN HIM IS TRULY REMARKABLE.
ASPIRE, JCA HAS PROVIDED MY SON WITH UNDERSTANDING, STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT HE NEEDS TO SUCCEED.
ASPIRE, JCA NEEDS TO REMAIN OPEN BECAUSE THEY TRULY SPECIALIZE IN SUPPORTING NEURODIVERSE STUDENTS.
THE IEP TEAM IS EXCELLENT AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH OUR FAMILY TO ENSURE MY SON'S NEEDS ARE MET.
WHEN HE NEEDS A BREAK, HE IS GIVEN APPROPRIATE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE PLAYING BASKETBALL, WHICH HELPS HIM REGULATE AND REFOCUS.
HE ALSO WORKS WITH A WONDERFUL THERAPIST WHO SUPPORTS HIM THROUGH BREATHING, EXERCISING, AND CREATING OUTLETS SUCH AS DRAWING TO HELP HIM MANAGE HIS EMOTIONS.
BECAUSE OF THIS LEVEL OF CARE AND ATTENTION, MY SON FEELS SUPPORTED, UNDERSTOOD, AND SAFE AT SCHOOL.
HE HAS BOTH CHALLENGED ACADEMIC ACADEMICALLY AND GIVEN THE TOOLS HE NEEDS TO SUCCEED, TO SUCCEED.
AS AT ASPIRE, HE HAS HELPED MY, UH, ASPIRE HAS HELPED MY SON BUILD CONFIDENCE AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES AND SUPPORTED HIS LEARNING AND OVERALL WELLBEING.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU RENEW ASPIRE JCA TO SO THAT STUDENTS LIKE MY SON, CAN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE A SPECIALIZED SUPPORT THEY DESERVE.
I ALSO INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR SCHOOL FIRSTHAND IN INCLUSIVE, UM, THE INCLUSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT ASPIRE, JCA PROVIDES.
AS A PARENT, I WILL WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE GROWING A STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN INSPIRE AND L-A-U-S-D.
SO TOGETHER WE CAN BEST SERVE STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE LEARNING NEEDS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS AND, UH, TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
ARE YOU HERE? JESSICA G UH, MARIA HERNANDEZ, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON DOWN.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
EZ LIKE YOU SAID, MY NAME IS MARIA HERNANDEZ.
I'M HERE FROM CENTENNIAL SCHOOL.
I'M A MOTHER OF A STUDENT THERE, A
[03:15:01]
DAUGHTER, AND IT'S BEEN A WHILE THAT I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO TALK ABOUT SPIDER.I'D LIKE TO, IN HONOR OF ALL THE PARENTS THAT STAYED AND THE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL, I WANNA SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF TO SAY THE GREAT, THE GREATNESS THAT THESE SCHOOLS ARE.
AND I LIVED A VERY DIFFICULT, UH, SITUATION WITH MY ELDEST, AND IT WAS A DISTRICT SCHOOL, AND IT WAS WHEN I WAS AWARE OF A SPART SCHOOL THAT MY DAUGHTER ATTENDED WHEN JUANITA TE OPENED, AND THAT'S WHEN WE DISCOVERED HOW GREAT THE SP DAY SCHOOLS ARE.
I ALSO HAVE A DAUGHTER IN TITAN, A 7-YEAR-OLD AS AS A STUDENT THERE.
AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY'RE SMALL SCHOOLS.
AND EVERY MOMENT THAT YOU GO BY, YOU SEE MEMBERS FROM THE, FROM THE STAFF, AND YOU FEEL LIKE A FAMILY.
IT'S NOT SUCH A HUGE SCHOOL SO THAT KIDS AT THAT AGE AREN'T LOST.
AND SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS ARE SO ENORMOUS.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU THAT YOU PLEASE RENEW US ONCE AGAIN SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE SCHOOL.
UH, AND MY DAUGHTER CAN CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM IT BECAUSE SHE CALLS MOM, MOM, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON? AND I RESPOND, IT'S OKAY.
AND I, I TRUST YOU THAT I CAN PROVIDE A GOOD ANSWER FOR HER.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON TAB 24.
UM, THERE'S NO ACTION BEING TAKEN ON THIS ITEM TODAY.
UM, THE BOARD WILL BE TAKING ACTION ON THESE CHARTER ITEMS AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, WHICH WILL BE FEBRUARY 10TH WHEN THEY APPEAR ON THE AGENDA FOR, UM, UM, FOR ACTION BY THE BOARD.
GIMME ONE QUICK SECOND TO CONFER WITH, UM, THE BOARD PRESIDENT.
NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, I KNOW THOSE WATCHING ON THE TELEVISION CAN'T SEE, BUT CAN THOSE HERE FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT? PUT YOUR HANDS UP.
IS ANYONE HERE FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT? I'M GONNA GO SEE IF THERE'S ANY FOLKS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT HERE.
'CAUSE WE HAVE ARRIVED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN USUAL.
SO AS FOLKS FILTER OUT, UM, WE'LL TAKE A BRIEF, A BRIEF BREAK.
WE ARE WELL AHEAD OF OUR THREE 30, UH, APPROXIMATE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE ABOUT A 10, 15 MINUTE BREAK, AND AS FOLKS TRICKLE IN FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, WE, WE WILL BEGIN TAKING IT, BUT NOT, NOT BEFORE 3:00 PM SO, UM, AS THEY SAY, WE'RE JUST GONNA COOL OUR HEELS FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
[General Public Comment (Approximately 3:30 P.M.)]
BACK.WE'RE GONNA START WORKING THROUGH THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT A LITTLE EARLY.
IF FOLKS AREN'T HERE WHEN I FIRST CALL ON THEM, WE'LL BE SURE TO RETURN AND CALL BACK ON THEM AGAIN AS WE WIND DOWN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, I'LL CALL ON THE FOLKS WHO ARE LISTED AS BEING IN PERSON FIRST, AND THEN WE WILL TRANSITION TO THOSE WHO ARE LISTED AS SPEAKING REMOTELY.
ALL RIGHT, LAKEL WHITE, ARE YOU HERE? AND AGAIN, WE'LL COME BACK TO FOLKS.
MA TREJO, ARE YOU HERE? I SAW MR. TREJO JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO.
CHRISTOPHER SANDOVAL, UH, MARSHA DOSS.
I CAN SEE MR. I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT MR. KIRKSEY.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN, SIR.
I'M YIELDING MY TIME TO GILBERT HERE.
[03:20:02]
GO AHEAD GILBERT.I'M A SENIOR AT VENICE HIGH SCHOOL AND A LEADER WITH STUDENTS DESERVE.
AS STUDENTS WE COME TO, WE COME IN DEMAND PROTECTION FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR FROM IMMIGRATION AND OTHER ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
ALTHOUGH THE DISTRICT HAS INTRODUCED SAFE ZONES, THE GOAL OF WHICH IS PUT SCHOOL AREAS ON WATCH FOR ICE PATROL.
VERY FEW TEACHERS, LET ALONE STUDENTS KNOW OF THIS INITIATIVE BY THE DISTRICT.
IF NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT IT, THEN WHEN WILL THIS IDEA START AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR US TO COME TRUE FOR IT TO COME TRUE? ALL MY TIMES AT THESE PUBLIC COMMENTS, I'VE ALWAYS ADVOCATED FOR ASSEMBLIES AND DRILLS TO PASS THIS KNOWLEDGE FOR SUPPORT FOR AFFECTED FAMILIES AND FOR STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE.
ALTHOUGH YET WE HAVE A LAG OF ALL THESE THINGS ARE HOW THEY'RE MOVING, WHAT'S THE PLAN OF ISIS TO BE IN OUR AREA? OR HOW WILL OUR PARENTS KNOW WE ARE SAFE? OR EVEN HOW CAN I KNOW I'LL BE SAFE AT SCHOOL? THESE ARE ALL COMMON QUESTIONS STUDENTS ASK THEMSELVES EACH DAY.
ALL WE WANT IS FOR THE DISTRICT TO COMMUNICATE WITH US AND WORK ALONGSIDE US.
SO EDUCATION CAN BE GIVEN WITHOUT WORRY.
NOW WE KNOW THERE'S MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.
WE'VE HAD THESE TALKS WITH THE DISTRICTS AND IN HERE, BUT IT'S TIME TO TAKE THESE DISCUSSIONS TO OUR PEERS.
WE CALL AND INVITE ALL STUDENTS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND SEED ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK WITH US, THE STUDENTS, BECAUSE IT IS TIME FOR US TO MAKE A PLAN OF SAFETY.
IT IS TIME FOR US TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
ONE, TOO MANY HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR US AND NOW IT'S OUR TURN AND NOT LET HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF.
AND WE DEMAND FOR THE BOARD FOR, AGAIN, FOR THERE TO BE DRILLS, ASSEMBLIES, AND A PLAN OF ACTION.
THAT WAY WE KNOW WHERE TO GO AND THAT WAY WE CAN BE WORRYFREE OF OUR EDUCATION.
UH, MR. TREJO, DO YOU WANT TO GO? SURE.
UH, MARQUE MOORE, LUCAS, SHANE, YESENIA MONTIEL, ISAAC CHONG, SASHA SOLOMON DERU, UH, AMBER SEALEY.
YOU'D HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK WHEN SHE BEGIN.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON OUR CHILDREN'S LEARNING AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, ALL OF YOU BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESEARCH AND FACTS ABOUT HOW DETRIMENTAL SCREENS ARE TO OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH STUDY AFTER STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT EDTECH LEADS TO WORSENING TEST SCORES, POORER SOCIAL SKILLS, AND AN OVERALL LACK OF CRITICAL THINKING.
AND YET THIS BOARD DOES NOTHING SADLY, EVEN THOSE OF YOU WHO SAY YOU SUPPORT LIMITING SCREEN ACCESS IN SCHOOLS.
MY SIXTH GRADER COMES HOME EVERY SINGLE DAY HAVING ACCESS TO YOUTUBE CHAT, GPT, AND OTHER WEBSITES THAT HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE OPEN ACCESS TO.
HIS CONSTANT ACCESS TO THESE UNSAFE SITES GREATLY WORSENS HIS A DHD AND HIS OVERALL SCHOOL PERFORMANCE.
GOOGLE'S OWN INTERNAL DOCUMENTS RELEASED IN THE NEWS HAVE STATED THAT THEY ARE ONLY GIVING FREE CHROMEBOOKS TO GAIN LIFELONG CUSTOMERS.
THE PEOPLE WHO DESIGN THESE ADDICTIVE TECHNOLOGIES DON'T ALLOW THEM FOR THEIR OWN KIDS.
AND YET, L-A-U-S-C IS OKAY WITH FORCING CHILDREN TO SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THEIR DAY ON A DEVICE AT OUR SCHOOL.
THERE IS NO OTHER CURRICULUM OR WAY TO DO HOMEWORK.
SHOULD A CHILD WANT TO OPT OUT OF SCREENS, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION FOR ANYONE WHO DOES NOT WANT THEIR KID ACCESSING UNSAFE WEBSITES? WHY DON'T BOARD MEMBERS WHO SAY THEY SUPPORT GROUPS LIKE SCHOOLS BEYOND SCREENS TAKE ACTION? YOU REPEATEDLY TELL US PARENTS THAT YOUR HANDS ARE TIED, BUT EVERY BOARD MEMBER CAN PRESENT ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED ON THE AGENDA.
AND IT IS YOUR JOB TO WORK FOR THE KIDS OF L-A-U-S-D.
ALL OF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE STATISTICS OF WHAT SCREENS DO TO KIDS LEARNING.
HOW CAN YOU JUSTIFY HAVING CHILDREN BE IN CONTROL OF STOPPING THEMSELVES FROM THESE DEVICES AND WEBSITES, WHICH WERE LITERALLY DESIGNED TO BE ADDICTIVE, AND WHICH EVEN US ADULTS DO NOT HAVE THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX STRENGTH TO WITHSTAND THE LORE OF.
I BEG OF YOU, PLEASE TAKE ACTION AND NO LONGER LET OUR CHILDREN BE BIG TECH GUINEA PIGS AND ALSO FULL SOLIDARITY WITH THE AMAZING FOLKS AT STUDENTS DEMAND.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AMIR.
I AM GIVING MY TIME TO, UH, FELIX PHOTO MAXWELL RIGHT HERE.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS FELIX FOTA MAXWELL, A JUNIOR AND A MEMBER OF THE STUDENTS DESERVE CHAPTER AT JOHN MARSHALL SENIOR HIGH.
I COME TO SPEAK IN THE LIGHT OF THE INCREASED ICE PRESENCE IN LOS FIELD AND THE INCREASED NEED FOR PROTECTIONS FOR STUDENTS IN OUR AREA.
OUR SCHOOL HAS BEEN PUT ON LOCKDOWN A MULTITUDE OF TIMES IN THE PAST WEEKS, LEAVING FAMILIES AND STUDENTS IN FEAR OF BEING DETAINED ON THEIR TRIP HOME.
A FRIEND OF MINE HAS TURNED TO BRINGING HIS PASSPORT TO SCHOOL IN A BAG THAT HE CARRIES
[03:25:01]
AROUND HIS NECK.THE CONSEQUENCES OF ICE RAYS ARE NO LONGER DISTANT OR ABSTRACT, BUT DIRECTLY FELT BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STUDENTS.
JUST FOUR WEEKS AGO, A BELOVED MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, KEITH PORTER, JR.
WAS FATALLY AND CARELESSLY SHOT BY AN OFF-DUTY ICE AGENT.
JUST THREE DAYS AGO, ICE AGENTS KILLED AN ICU NURSE CARING FOR VETERANS.
HIS LAST WORDS WERE, ARE YOU OKAY? AS HE DEFENDED A WOMAN FROM GETTING BEATEN BY ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
THESE ARE FATHERS, MOTHERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND ALL EQUALLY HUMAN ICE ATTEMPTS TO STRIP US OF OUR HUMANITY.
CONSIDERING THE PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS ESTIMATING $1.2 BILLION, WE NEED GUARANTEES THAT PROGRAMS LIKE THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN DREAM CENTERS AND OUR COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY INITIATIVES REMAIN FULLY FUNDED.
STUDENTS OF COLOR SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY IF THEIR PROTECTIONS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE DURING SUCH A TURBULENT TIME.
INSTEAD, WE MUST DEMAND LUSD SCHOOL POLICE.
UH, WE MUST DEFUND L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL POLICE, WHICH ONLY CREATES A DOMINEERING PRESENCE IN A TIME OF MUCH UNCERTAINTY AND ANXIETY.
WHEN WE SHOULD BE UPLIFTING STUDENTS AND MAKING THEM FEEL SECURE, WE CAN THEN DIVERT THIS FUNDING INTO ALTERNATIVES LIKE COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY, WHICH PROVIDES AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS CONNECTION, SAFETY, AND TRUST.
CBS CAN STRIP SCHOOL SECURITY FORCES OF THEIR BIAS, RACIAL PROFILING, AND INTIMIDATING PRESENCE.
WE MUST ALSO IMPLEMENT A WIDER NET FOR THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM AS AREAS OF HIGH CRIME AND GANG ACTIVITY ARE NO LONGER THE SINGULAR TARGET FOR ICE ATTACKS.
SO FAR, ONLY 5% OF STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SAFE PASSAGE.
A STARTLING DIFFERENCE FROM THE AMOUNT OF HISPANIC AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS MAKING WELL UP, MAKING UP WELL OVER THREE HOARDERS OF THE L-A-U-S-D STUDENT POPULATION.
THIS IS NO LONGER JUST ABOUT PROTECTION FROM CRIME AND VIOLENCE.
THIS IS ABOUT THE PROTECTION OF FAMILIES FROM BEING SPLIT APART.
ANOTHER SHOCKING DISCREPANCY EXISTS IN THE SCHOOL BUSING SYSTEM.
BUSES ARE A THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
ARE YOU HERE? PATRICIA VARGAS? ARE YOU HERE? PATRICIA VARGAS? YES.
LET'S GO TO OUR REMOTE CALLER.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
SO YOU'RE WITH US, MS. LUPO, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I SEE YOU'RE UNMUTED, MS. LUPO.
ALRIGHT, WE WILL, UH, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
UH, 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT HEARING YOU.
I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THE LIST AGAIN.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
WHY DON'T YOU BEGIN? FOR FOLKS JUST WALKING AND I CALLED ON A BUNCH OF NAMES.
I'M RETURNING TO THE NAMES AS SOON AS WE GO THROUGH THE CYCLE AGAIN.
SO PLEASE, THE TWO MINUTES IS YOURS.
UM, I'M GONNA YIELD MY NAME, MY TIME TO JANAE.
YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW WHO I AM.
AND I WANNA THANK THE BABY THAT UPLIFTED MY COUSIN.
SO IF YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW KEITH PORTER JR.
THAT WAS MY FAMILY THAT WAS SNATCHED BY ICE.
[03:30:01]
DOESN'T KEEP US SAFE AND NEITHER DOES SCHOOL POLICE.SCHOOL POLICE HAS BEEN STATIONED ON MY CAMPUS SINCE OCTOBER.
EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD THEM REMOVED, THEY'RE NOT GONNA KEEP US SAFE.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR PASSING THE COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY RESOLUTION.
BUT NOW WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S IMPLEMENTED PROPERLY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S REALLY A COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY EXPERT HIRED BY THIS DISTRICT ON AT LEAST CENTRAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CORRECT ANALYSIS ARE DONE AND WE'RE MATCHING SCHOOLS WITH THE PROPER COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY PARTNER IN THEIR AREAS.
WITH ALL OF THESE BUDGET CUTS THAT WE'RE FACING, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE GUARANTEE THAT YOU GAVE US, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO, THAT BSAP AND NONE OF ITS STAFFING POSITIONS OR RESOURCES WOULD BE CUT.
AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO GROW THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE IN SHORTENING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN OUR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS AND OTHERS.
WE NEED A GUARANTEE THAT YOU GUYS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO KEEP OUR BLACK LGBTQ PLUS LATINX STUDENTS SAFE, OUR GENDER EXPANSIVE STUDENTS SAFE.
AND RIGHT NOW, MY EMOTIONS ARE REALLY RAW BECAUSE IT'S A FARCE TO THINK THAT SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS AT THE FRONT DOOR OF A CAMPUS CAN DO ANYTHING AGAINST ICE WHEN LAPD ITSELF IS COMPLICIT.
SO HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FAITH IN THAT SCHOOL? POLICE? THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION IS TO PROTECT PROPERTY, NOT PEOPLE.
SO I ASK YOU GUYS TODAY TO CONTINUE TO HONOR YOUR STUDENTS, HONOR YOUR FAMILIES, AND TO HONOR US AS STAFF MEMBERS AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO ALL THAT YOU CAN IN YOUR POWER, IN THE ELECTED POWER THAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO ACTUALLY REALIZE REAL COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY AND TO DO ALL OF YOU, ALL THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO TO MAKE IT COME TO FRUITION, NOT JUST IN NAME ONLY.
WE DON'T WANNA HAVE ANY MORE LAPSES IN KEEPING OUR FAMILIES OR OUR STAFF SAFE.
UH, TRAINEES FROM QUAIA TRAINEES.
ARE YOU HERE? QUAIA, ARE YOU HERE? OH, THERE YOU ARE.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M JANICE THOMAS, A SENIOR AT KING DREW AND A STUDENT LEADER WITHIN STUDENTS DESERVE.
YOU KNOW ME, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND SO HAVE SO MANY OF MY PEERS.
WE WE ARE HERE AGAIN TO TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM ONCE AGAIN.
SAFE PASSAGE NEEDS TO BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY.
AS OF LATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN STUDENTS, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE ROBBING STUDENTS IN WATTS AND THE POLICE DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AS THEY SIT IN THEIR CAR ZONE NEARBY AND WATCH SAFE PASSAGE WAS NOT PRESENT THIS DAY FOR SOME REASON.
AND THE P THE POLICE, THE POLICE HAVE WITNESSED THIS AND HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN ONE DAY WHEN A STUDENT IS SHOT OVER A GOLD CHAIN, WHO WILL BE THEN TO BLAME THE POLICE WHO SIT THERE AND WATCH, OR THE STUDENT WHO JUST WANTS TO WEAR JEWELRY? YOU GUYS CANNOT, YOU GUYS HAVE TO FULLY IMPLEMENT SAFE PASSAGE BECAUSE THERE ARE STUDENTS' LIVES WHO ARE IN TROUBLE OVER SOMETHING AS STUPID AS A CHAIN.
WITH UPCOMING BUDGET CUTS, WE DEMAND LUSD FULLY DEFUND LA SCHOOL POLICE.
WHAT BENEFIT DOES SCHOOL POLICE PERSONALLY BRING YOU THE ONES WHO AREN'T AFFECTED BY A SINGLE POLICY THAT YOU IMPLEMENT AT THIS POINT, YOU ARE AWARE OF THE BAD L-U-S-L-A-S-P-D DOES, AND YOU JUST DISMISS IT.
I LIVE, I LIVE IN THESE CLASSROOMS EVERY DAY.
I SEE WHAT L LA L-A-S-P-D DO AND AS, SORRY.
UM, AS YOU HAVE SEEN ON THE NEWS LATELY, ICE HAS BEEN MERGING PEOPLE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AND NOW MORE THAN EVER IS A TIME FOR LAUC TO PROTECT UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS.
ICE VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WHAT IS L-A-U-S-D GOING TO? WHAT IS LASD GOING TO DO TO KEEP STUDENTS SAFE WITHOUT POLICING? 'CAUSE THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING.
EVERY STUDENT HAS A RIGHT TO GO TO SCHOOL WITHOUT BEING TERRIFIED OF BEING DETAINED BY ICE.
THERE HAS BEEN ICE SPOTTED IN INGLEWOOD, HARTHORNE, AND WATTS, WHERE A LOT OF UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS LIVE.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR LIVE ICE IS KILLING PARENTS, NURSES WHO ARE JUST TRYING, AND NURSES WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO HELP.
AND IT'S NOT GONNA START, IT'S NOT GOING TO END THERE.
THEY'LL CONTINUE TO KILL PEOPLE.
THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HARM AND KILL PEOPLE.
REST IN PEACE TO EVERY LIFE THAT WAS TAKEN BY ICE.
YESENIA MONTIEL YESENIA, ISAAC CHONG.
CHERYL KONO, LINDSAY MARTINEZ, PATRICIA VARGAS.
[03:35:01]
MAO TREJO.YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND ISABELLA? YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
ISABELLA AND MISS ISABEL, ARE YOU THERE? THEY'RE READY FOR YOU.
WE GOTTA WE WE WE GOTTA MOVE ALONG.
MA DO YOU WANNA GIVE YOUR TWO MINUTES AND HAVE THIS TIME? I I CAN GIVE HER MY TWO MINUTES WHILE WE FIGURE IT OUT.
WE'RE GONNA, WELL, IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET, SKIP ME BECAUSE I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY CONNECTION AND I WAS DEFERRING MY TIME TO A PARENT AND STUDENT AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING SO THEY GOT DISCONNECTED.
ARE THEY HERE NOW? THEY'RE ON THE PHONE.
I'M TRYING TO RECONNECT THEM RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PERSON.
THEY'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PERSON AND THEY COME, CAN COME BACK.
SO, SO MAO, DO YOU WANT TO USE YOUR, YOUR TWO MINUTES RIGHT NOW OR NO? OKAY.
UH, CHRISTOPHER SANDOVAL? YES.
IS THAT OKAY? I DON'T KNOW WHO HIM IS.
SHANE, THE NUMBER, THE AGENDA FOR PEOPLE IS NOT WORKING.
WE'LL DOUBLE CHECK IT JUST IN TIME.
PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP.
UH, I'M A STUDENT AT KING DREW MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND SCIENCE, AND A JUNIOR, UH, AND A LEADER THROUGH STUDENTS DESERVE.
AS A STUDENT OF A SCHOOL BUILT ON A, ON CREATING SUCCESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK YOUTH, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS MY DUTY TO STAND HERE TODAY AND DEMAND THAT LUSD PROTECT THE PROGRAMS AND EMPOWER STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF AS A JUNIOR, UM, SOON TO LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL.
I HOPE THESE WORDS LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
I WANNA TAKE THIS TIME TO CELEBRATE THE SUCCESSES OF BSAP AND MY OUTSTANDING COUNSELORS.
FROM THE MOMENT I ARRIVED, I ARRIVED ON MY CAMPUS.
I FELT ENDEARED SURROUNDED BY LOVE, SUPERVISION, AND SUPPORT THROUGH BSAP STAFF WHO TRULY CARE ABOUT MY EDUCATION AND GROWTH.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THIS FEELING AND CREATE MOTIVATION NOW PUSHING MYSELF TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE.
THIS IS A FEELING I WANT DEVELOP IN EVERY CHILD IN EVERY LUSD SCHOOL.
STUDENTS DESERVE IS FOCUS ON BUILDING A, A POLICE FREE LUSD, DESTROYING THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.
I BELIEVE MAINTAINING FUNDING TOWARDS BSAP OVER LOS ANGELES SCHOOL POLICE WILL DO EXACTLY THAT, ALLOWING SCHOOLS TO FACILITATE AND EMPOWER THE MINDS OF BLACK YOUTH.
IT IS LUS D'S RESPONSIBILITY TO, TO MAKE A CHANGE, TURNING THIS PIPELINE FROM SCHOOL TO PRISON INTO SCHOOL TO HIGHER LEARNING.
AS I MENTIONED IN A PREVIOUS COMMENT, BSAP IS ONE OF THE FEW SYSTEMS WHERE BLACK STUDENTS CAN SEARCH FOR, REPRESENT REPRESENTATION IN AN EDUCATION SYSTEM DESIGNED TO HINDER THE SUCCESS OF BLACK STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY CRIPPLED BY EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS.
BSAP CREATES A SAFE SPACE FOR STUDENTS, ALLOWING THEM TO FINALLY FEEL EQUAL AND EMPOWERED SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE.
WITH THIS, I COME TO THE QUESTION, WHY, WHY DOES LUSD WISH TO REMOVE SUCH A POWERFUL SYSTEM? WHY PROMOTE THE DESCRIPTION, THE DESTRUCTION OF FUTURES RATHER THAN EMPOWER THEM? WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO KICK DOWN A MISREPRESENTED COMMUNITY? LUSD HAS A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET WITH, WITH LOS ANGELES'S FUTURE IN THEIR HANDS.
STUDENTS ARE PEOPLE NOT PRODUCTS.
UH, I'M DOUBLE CHECKING THE PHONE LINE RIGHT NOW.
ENTER YOUR OTHERWISE JUMP PRESS DOWN PHONE LINE.
SEEMS TO BE, SEEMS TO BE WORKING.
I DON'T MEAN TO EVADE RESPONSIBILITY, BUT SOMETIMES IT CAN BE
[03:40:01]
OPERATOR ERROR WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE DIALING FOR THE FIRST TIME.SO THAT'S IT FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, UNLESS OTHER FOLKS HAVE CHECKED IN IN THE BACK.
WOULD YOU JUST NAME WHO IT IS AND WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO IT? OKAY.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I AM SASHA D GOOD, A JEWISH STUDENT UNION BOARD MEMBER AND JUNIOR AT HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTING STAN WITH US TODAY, WE MARK INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY TO HONOR THE 6 MILLION JEWS AND MILLIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE MURDERED DURING THIS TRAGIC EVENT.
THIS DAY IS A REMINDER THAT NOT ONLY HAVE WE FACED PREJUDICE IN THE PAST, BUT ALSO AS A COMMUNITY, WE CONTINUE TO FACE IT TODAY.
THE DAY SERVES TO LET US MOURN FORMER TRAGEDIES AND EMBOLDENS US TO CREATE A FUTURE WHERE WE OPPOSE ANTISEMITISM AND OTHER FORMS OF HATE TOGETHER.
ANTISEMITISM IS A GROWING ISSUE IN OUR SOCIETY.
AS A-L-E-U-S-D JEWISH STUDENT, I'VE ALWAYS FELT PROUD TO WEAR MY JEWISH CHARTER TO SCHOOL, BUT I HAVE FELT UNSURE HOW TO CONFRONT STUDENTS WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN NEGATIVE JEWISH STEREOTYPES.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE I NEED TO DEFEND MY IDENTITY IN ORDER TO LIVE IT.
L-A-U-S-D HOLOCAUST EDUCATION IS SEVERELY LACKING GIVEN THAT I LEARNED THE ACTUAL DETAILS OF THE HOLOCAUST FOR MY EIGHTH GRADE US HISTORY TEACHER.
NOT BECAUSE IT WAS EVER TAUGHT TO ME, BUT BECAUSE I ASKED L-A-U-S-D NEEDS TO PARTNER WITH JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS TO EDUCATE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST.
WE NEED TIME DEDICATED TO THE TEACHING OF THIS GENOCIDE, NOT JUST THROWN IN WITH THE REST OF WORLD WAR II HISTORY.
EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IT IS THE NEED TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE THAT PREJUDICE AND PERSECUTION AGAINST ANY MARGINALIZED GROUP IS UNACCEPTABLE IN JUDAISM.
THE CONCEPT OF TIKUN ALUM TEACHES US THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO HEAL THE WORLD.
I SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ALL THE EFFORT OF THE LUSD HAS MADE TO PROTECT MARGINALIZED GROUPS, NOT JUST JEWS, BUT ALSO THOSE CURRENTLY UNDER ATTACK.
HOLOCAUST EDUCATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT TEACHING HISTORY, BUT SHOULD LEAD US TO ACTION SO THAT NEVER AGAIN DOES ANY GROUP SUFFER UNDER THE DANGER OF TYRANNY AND OPPRESSION THAT WE ARE STILL WITNESSING TODAY.
I GOT, I GOT CHERYL CON THE PHONE.
CHERYL CONNO COMING IN ON THE LINE.
UH, TWO MINUTES AND THEN I WILL TURN TO MS. RUO.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
THIS IS CHERYL KONO, PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER.
I DEFER MY TIME TO, UM, MS. GONZALEZ AND ISABELLA MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.
MY DAUGHTER, THE ONLY SAFE PLACE FOR HER WAS HER HOME AND SHE STARTED TO SEE MS. CONNO AND EVERYTHING STARTED TO CHANGE FOR THE GOOD.
SHE LEARNED TO MANAGE HER EMOTIONS AND HER FEARS.
AND I WANT ALL THE SCHOOLS TO HAVE A PSW SO THAT SHE, THEY CAN HELP STUDENTS JUST LIKE MY DAUGHTER.
I ASSURE YOU THAT THEY WILL, IT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
HERE'S MY DAUGHTER AND WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING WS IN EACH SCHOOL SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HELP US EXPRESS OUR EMOTIONS MORE.
AND THEY TEACH US SKILLS THAT I FEEL ARE NEEDED FOR OUR EMOTIONS.
SO WE KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS OURSELVES FREELY.
EACH SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE A PSW BECAUSE IT GIVES STUDENTS SOMEONE TO CONFIDE IN AND SHARE THEIR FEELINGS WITH.
AND FOR ME, THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HAS HELPED ME THROUGHOUT MY HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR.
UH, JENNIFER LUPO, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I AM A PARENT TO AN L-A-U-S-D STUDENT AND A SCHOOL-BASED PSW.
I'M HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF PSW TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORK WORK SERVICES FOR ALL L-A-U-S-D STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE A PSW.
THERE WAS A STUDENT WHO WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH BEING BULLIED AND PICKED ON BY PEERS.
THE PARENT REACHED OUT FOR SUPPORT FROM THE SCHOOL, BUT HER CHILD CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE WITH FEELING DISCONNECTED AND TARGETED.
THE PARENT BECAME VERY FRUSTRATED AND REACHED OUT TO PARENTS IN THE SCHOOL TO ASK FOR HELP.
AS A PS STUDY AND A PARENT, I COULD ONLY IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT IT'S BEEN FOR THE STUDENT AND MOTHER.
I PROVIDED RESOURCES TO THE STAFF AND ADMIN ABOUT TIER ONE RESOURCES
[03:45:01]
THAT COULD HELP.I OFFERED THE PARENTS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOURCES THAT COULD HELP HER CHILD.
IF SHE HADN'T SPOKEN OUT TO THE WIDER SCHOOL COMMUNITY OF PARENTS, I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS HAPPENING AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL.
THIS WAS AN INSTANCE WHERE MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL COULD HAVE TRULY BENEFITED FROM HAVING A PSW AT THEIR SCHOOL.
L-A-U-S-C NEEDS TO INVEST IN ALL OUR STUDENTS AND PROVIDE CENTRAL DISTRICT ALL STUDENTS.
PS MENTAL HEALTH AND PSW SERVICES ARE A RIGHT AND A NECESSITY, NOT JUST A PRIVILEGE FOR SOME, BUT FOR ALL LAUS STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT ALL SCHOOLS, PROGRAMS, AT ALL LEVELS FROM EARLY EDUCATION, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL.
ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION AND ADULT EDUCATION, PLEASE FUND PSW SO THAT ALL OUR STUDENTS CAN BENEFIT.
UH, LAYLA, YOU'LL HAVE COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M A SENIOR AT MAN UC LAKE COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND I'M A LEADER IN STUDENTS TO SERVE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY DEMANDS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO AND THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I'M HERE TO, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE, UM, YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR PROGRAMS LIKE BSAP AND DREAM CENTERS AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS CENTERS BECAUSE US STUDENTS RELY ON THESE PROGRAMS FOR SUPPORT AND MUCH MORE.
AND I FEEL LIKE US AS STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY COLORED STUDENTS, DEFINITELY RELY ON PROGRAMS SUCH AS BSAP FOR, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINDING SCHOOLS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT FEELS MORE THAN, IT'S NOT JUST A PROGRAM, BUT IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT US STUDENTS RELY ON, UM, PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY.
SO I FEEL LIKE US CUTTING FUNDING FROM BSAP IS UNNECESSARY WHEN IT'S COULD BE USED ON US ALL THE TIME.
AND I FEEL LIKE WE NEED THE FUNDING MUCH MORE THAN SCHOOL POLICE DO.
AND I THINK STUDENTS OF COLOR BENEFIT FROM IT MUCH MORE THAN IT'S REALIZED.
THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M SORRY, WHAT NAME? LUCAS SHANE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LUCAS SHANE AND I'M A SENIOR AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH STUDENT UNION AT UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL CHARTER AND A KENNETH LEVENTHAL HIGH SCHOOL INTERN AT STAND WITH US TODAY.
AND EVERY JANUARY 27TH, WE OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY.
IT'S A TIME TO HONOR THE 6 MILLION JEWS MURDERED IN THE HOLOCAUST, REMINDING US WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN PREJUDICE, FEAR AND DISCRIMINATION GROW UNCHECKED.
FOR ME, HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE IS PERSONAL.
MY LATE GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR.
SHE WAS FORCED INTO THE WARSAW GHETTO, FOUGHT IN THE WARSAW GHETTO UPRISING, SURVIVED MJ AND AUSCHWITZ AND WAS LIBERATED ON JANUARY 27TH, 1945.
SHE WENT ON TO LIVE MORE THAN A CENTURY REMINDING EVERYONE SHE MET THAT SURVIVAL IS NOT JUST ABOUT ENDURING, BUT ABOUT CHOOSING HUMANITY.
I'M A FOURTH GENERATION HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, URGING L-A-U-S-D TO EXPAND ANTISEMITISM EDUCATION ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND TO KEEP MISINFORMATION AND HATE OUT OF OUR CLASSROOMS. IN MY AP WORLD HISTORY CLASS, THE HOLOCAUST WAS SIMPLY FOLDED INTO A LESSON COVERING EVERY GENOCIDE IN HISTORY.
WHILE IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEARN ABOUT ALL GENOCIDES PRESENTING THE HOLOCAUST, THIS WAY STRIPS IT OF CONTEXT, SPECIFICITY, AND MEANING.
WHEN JEWISH HISTORY IS RUSHED OR REDUCED, IT SENDS THE MESSAGE WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR NOT, THAT JEWISH SUFFERING IS INTERCHANGEABLE OR LESS WORTHY OF DEEP STUDY.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TROUBLING IN TODAY'S CLIMATE.
ACCORDING TO THE A DL ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS IN K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS INCREASED BY 434% FROM 2020 TO 2024.
AN ACADEMIC STUDY FOUND THAT OVER 60% OF JEWISH EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO ANTISEMITISM IN THE WORKPLACE.
THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT ABSTRACT.
THEY REFLECT THE REAL EXPERIENCES OF JEWISH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHY MEANINGFUL JEWISH REPRESENTATION AND, AND INTENTIONAL HOLOCAUST EDUCATION AND L-A-U-S-D CLASSROOMS TRULY MATTERS.
INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE TODAY REMINDS US THAT SILENCE HAS CONSEQUENCES.
HONORING HISTORY MEANS ACTING NOW TO ENSURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE, INCLUSIVE, AND WELCOMING FOR JEWISH STUDENTS AND FOR ALL STUDENTS.
THERE ARE MAINSTREAM JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS READY TO PART WITH YOU RIGHT NOW TO EDUCATE ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS.
JEWISH STUDENTS DESERVE EDUCATION THAT ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY,
[03:50:01]
DIVERSITY, HISTORY, AND LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WANNA REMIND FOLKS WE HAVE A CALL IN SYSTEM, UH, WITH A NUMBER LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
IF YOU WISH TO CALL IN AND, AND APPEAR REMOTELY.
UH, WE PLEASE HOPE YOU, UH, COME IN PERSON.
IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT IN PERSON, PLEASE USE THE CALL AND SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE SET UP.
THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S AN ADJOURNING MOTION.
UH, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING IN MEMORY OF EMILY BUTNER WHO PASSED AWAY ON JANUARY 6TH, 2026.
I KNOW THE WHOLE L-A-U-S-D FAMILY JOINS ME IN SENDING OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO FORMER SUPERINTENDENT AUSTIN, VIRGINIA AND THE WHOLE BUETTNER FAMILY DURING THIS DEVASTATING TIME.
HEMLEY WAS A JUNIOR STUDIO ARTS MAJOR IN THE LMU COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND FINE ARTS WITH A PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY, YOGA, AND A TRUE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.
SHE HAD RECENTLY TRAVELED TO TIJUANA FOR A SERVICE TRIP TO WORK ON A NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR A LOCAL FAMILY.
PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THAT THEY CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT A FAMILY MUST BE GOING THROUGH IN THESE SITUATIONS.
AND ON ONE LEVEL OF COURSE WE CAN'T.
BUT AS A NEW PARENT MYSELF, I CAN BEGIN TO APPRECIATE JUST HOW CRUSHING THE LOSS OF A CHILD MUST BE.
AND WE'RE SENDING SO MUCH LOVE AND COMFORT AND AS MANY PRAYERS AS WE CAN TO THE BUTNER FAMILY, AS WE SAY IN JUDAISM, MAY HER MEMORY BE FOR A BLESSING.
UM, I JUST ALSO WANT TO ADJOURN, UM, THIS MEETING IN THE MEMORY OF A TEACHER FROM WILSHIRE PARK ELEMENTARY, MAA JIMENEZ, WHO, UM, WE LOST, UM, LAST WEEK AND, UH, WILSHIRE PARK ELEMENTARY HAD A VIGIL.
HER, HER COLLEAGUES AND PARENTS AND STUDENTS WERE OUT, UM, IN, IN HER MEMORY.
AND I JUST WANNA ADJOURN, UM, IN HER NAME AND IN HER MEMORY AND KNOW THAT, UM, SHE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
AND OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO WILSHER PARK ELEMENTARY.
AND, UM, SO THANK YOU MS. MAIRA JIMENEZ, UM, FOR YOUR LEGACY, NOT ONLY AT WILSHER PARK, UM, ELEMENTARY, BUT ALSO WHAT YOU GAVE TO SO MANY OF YOUR, OF YOUR STUDENTS.
AND YOUR, YOUR MEMORY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
AND UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OBJECTIONS, THE MEETING, UH, SHOULD BE ADJOURNED.
THE TIME IS NOW 3:47 PM THANK YOU.