[00:00:03]
[Roll Call]
MORNING.THE TIME IS NOW 10:04 AM ON JANUARY 28TH, 2026.
WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION, INCLUDING CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. I'M GOING TO TAKE ROLE, UH, MS. NEWBELL.
PRESENT BOARD PRESIDENT SEN PRESENT.
I'M GONNA READ THROUGH THE PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY FOR THE ITEMS THAT WE WILL BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSE SESSION.
THEN WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN THE BOARD WILL RECESS IN THE CLOSED SESSION UNDER TAB ONE, STUDENT DISCIPLINE MATTERS PURSUANT TO EDUCATION CODE 4 8 9 1 8 CF UNDER TAB TWO PERSONNEL PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 4 5 4 9 5 7.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE, DISMISSAL OF RELEASE, UH, PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT INVOLVED WILL BE CHIEF OF POLICE, CHIEF RISK OFFICER, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET SERVICES AND FINANCIAL PLANNING, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION UNDER TAB THREE CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
PENDING LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 6 9 D ONE, JANE DOE, ONE ET ALL V-L-A-U-D AND THE 1776 PROJECT FOUNDATION V ALBERTO M CARVALLO IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AT ALL.
UH, CASE NUMBERS CAN BE LOOKED UP BY GOING TO OUR WEBSITE AND IF YOU WANNA LOOK THEM UP FURTHER, YOU CAN USE THE CASE NUMBER ON THE LA COUNTY WEBSITE, LA SUPERIOR COURT WEBSITE TO LOOK UP THE CASES OR THE US DISTRICT FEDERAL COURT CASE LOOKUP WEBSITE.
TAB FOUR CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 7 0.6.
THE NEGOTIATOR IS DR. MURPHY AND THE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE ASSOCIATED ADMINISTRATORS OF LOS ANGELES TEAMSTERS 2010, CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, LOS ANGELES COUNTY BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL, LOS ANGELES SCHOOL POLICE ASSOCIATION, LOS ANGELES SCHOOL POLICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, SEIU, LOCAL 99 TEAMSTERS, UNITED TEACHERS LOS ANGELES AND DISTRICT REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL FOR AND FOR THE FOLLOWING, UH, THE NEGOTIATOR IS MS. NAVARRA REED AND THE UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES ARE CHIEF OF POLICE, CHIEF RISK OFFICER, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET SERVICES AND FINANCIAL PLANNING, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.
[Public Comment]
DIRECTED AT THOSE ITEMS. WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT UNDER FOR TAB FOUR.WE HAVE NONE FOR TAB ONE, TWO, AND THREE FOR TAB FOUR.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, MR. DAVID TOSKI.
I THINK I SEE YOU OUT THERE, SIR.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.
AGAIN, I WANNA RE REITERATE MY CONCERN ABOUT THE SPIRIT OR IF NOT THE LETTER OF THE BROWN ACT WHERE YOU RECESS AND RECESS AND RECESS A MEETING THEREBY PROHIBITING THE PUBLIC FROM COMMENTING ON EACH AND EVERY TIME.
LET ME SPEAK TO THE LABOR ITEM THAT'S BEFORE YOU.
UM, LET ME JUST SAY THAT THE DECISION TO, UH, PERHAPS PAY, UH, TEAMSTERS, UH, GREATER THAN UTLA IS A VERY DIVISIVE WAY OF NEGOTIATING.
UM, THE ALLEGED, UH, PAY RAISE IS A THREE YEAR, BUT IT GOES BACK A YEAR TO 24 25, WHICH IS A GREATER AMOUNT IN A 6 4 3 THAN THE 5% OR WHATEVER IT WAS, BUT I MAY BE WRONG ON THAT.
UM, BUT IT IS VERY, UM, IMPORTANT THAT YOU BEGIN TO SETTLE BECAUSE THEN EVERYBODY CAN WORK TOGETHER AND GO TO SACRAMENTO BEFORE THE MAY REVISION AND GET THE MONEY.
TEAMSTERS LOBBYISTS IN SACRAMENTO ARE AMONG THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THROUGH FOUR OR FIVE GOVERNORS, S-C-I-U-C-T-A.
THESE ARE PARTNERS THAT CAN GET A LOT OF THAT ONE-TIME MONEY AND THE GROWTH IN THE AI STOCKS TO HELP THE CHILDREN AND THE DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
SO IF THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF IT, THAT'S GREAT STUFF.
NOW, LET ME SPEAK AS WELL TO THE COURT CASE AS THE 1789.
I MEAN, NO, IT'S NOT THE CONSTITUTION.
THEY'RE USING THE, UH, DECLARATION 1776.
UH, LET ME JUST SAY, IT WOULD BEHOOVE YOU TO PUBLISH THE ACADEMIC RECORDS OF THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY ALLEGE THAT ARE DAMAGED.
MOST OF THOSE SCHOOLS START WITH THE LETTER W UM, IRONICALLY WITH THE W THOSE SCHOOLS ARE DOING EXCEEDINGLY WELL.
THEY OUTPERFORM SCHOOLS IN ORANGE COUNTY.
THERE'S NOT MUCH DAMAGE ALLEGED IN HERE.
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LOOK AND LOOK AT THE DEI STATEMENT OF THE LAW FIRM.IT'S RIGHT ON THEIR FRONT WEBPAGE.
AND LASTLY, AS YOU DO THE PERSONNEL MATTER, NEW YORK PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS TWO INSPECTOR GENERALS.
THEY HAVE ONE FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND ONE FOR THE FOR THE FACILITIES MONEY.
YOU HAVE, UH, A, A, A DIFFICULTY WITH THE GENERAL FUND.
AND SO I WOULD DEFINITELY WORK HARD BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME, UH, HAMILTON HYATT OVER 600 MILLION AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF CONTRACTORS THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE ELOP AND OTHER MONIES.
NOW WE WILL GO DIRECTLY TO PUBLIC COMMENT, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'LL CALL ON THE FOLKS WHO LISTED THEMSELVES AS BEING IN PERSON, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THOSE WHO LISTED THEMSELVES AS SPEAKING REMOTELY.
AS A REMINDER, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS TWO MINUTES EACH.
CAROL LANDO VERDE, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON UP BAR.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION, PLEASE PUT YOUR HEADSETS ON.
THEY'RE BEING PASSED OUT RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
I WANNA SAY THAT I AM UNSATISFIED.
LAST WEEK, UH, DISTRICT EMPLOYEES WERE THERE BECAUSE OF THE PETITION THAT I MADE TO THE BOARD OF THOMAS FOR THOMAS STAR KING.
WE HAD AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE HISTORY TEACHER WAS REMOVED.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY'RE GIVING HIM 20 STUDENTS.
THEY WERE THERE LAUGHING AT SPECIAL NEED PARENTS, VULNERABLE PARENTS.
AND WHAT WE WILL DO TODAY IS A FORMAL COMPLAINT AND FEDERAL COMPLAINT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT CORRECT THAT CHILDREN WITH IEP CHILDREN WITH DEFICIENCY ISSUES, THEY CAN'T WALK, THEY CAN'T REALLY HEAR OR TALK.
THE DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROFESSIONALS, BUT THEY'RE LAUGHING AT THE PARENTS THAT IS NOT PROFESSIONAL.
AND THIS IS A BULLYING THAT YOU AS A DISTRICT SHOULD SEE, SHOULD SEE THAT DIRECTLY.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY COME WITH BIG JACKETS AND SAYING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED? NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED.
WE NEED TO PLEASE MR. ALBERTO CAVALLO, PLEASE.
MR. MR. CARVALLO, WE NEED, WE NEED, WE, WE NEED, PLEASE.
WE NEED THE ATTENTION BECAUSE WE WILL CONVENE ALL THE PARENTS FROM STAR THOMAS STAR KING SO THAT THEY CAN NOTE.
BECAUSE IF NOT, I WILL TALK, I WILL KNOCK ON DONALD TRUMP'S DOOR, NOT JUST DONALD TRUMP.
WE WILL GO TO FEDERAL LAWS SAYING THAT YOU ARE VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WITH IEP.
AND THE DISTRICT IS GETTING PAID SO THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE THE BEST SERVICE.
AND STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING THE BEST SERVICE.
YOU WANNA BE IN THEIR POSITIONS, MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS ARE GOOD.
MANY STUDENTS OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE WHITE.
AND THE REPRESENTATIVE LIKE MS. ROCIO, SHE'S A RACIST.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TODD GRABOWSKI.
AND THEN AFTER MR. GRABOWSKI IS BRIDE LEE, AND THEN CHRISTINA BROWN, COME ON UP.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THEY HAD IT IN FRONT OF THEM.
SO THEY HAVE IT IN FRONT OF THEM.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
UM, I'M A PARENT OF A FIRST GRADER, UM, AT A TITLE ONE SCHOOL IN
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LAUD.UM, I'VE HAD A FEW MEETINGS WITH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES TO TRY AND GET ANSWERS TO SOME OF MY QUESTIONS ABOUT BASIC ISSUES REGARDING LIOS D'S TECH POLICIES.
UM, I'VE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEARING WITH ME.
UM, I'VE GOTTEN SOME ANSWERS, BUT AGAIN, THESE ARE LIKE ON REALLY BASIC STUFF.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE I-READY PERSONALIZED INSTRUCTION MINUTES ARE NOT MANDATED BY THE DISTRICT.
I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
IF THAT'S, IF I'M WRONG ABOUT THIS, I INVITE SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO OR MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF TO CORRECT ME ABOUT THIS.
UM, BUT EVEN STILL, EVEN WITH THAT CONFIRMATION, AND THAT'S BEEN CONFIRMED IN BY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER MEMOS FROM THE DISTRICT, WE ARE HEARING FROM PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS WHO IN RESPONSE TO PARENTS SAYING, LOOK, I WANNA OPT OUT OF THE I-READY PERSONALIZED INSTRUCTION MINUTES.
PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS ARE SAYING, SORRY, YOU CANNOT OPT OUT BECAUSE THE WEEKLY MINUTES ARE MANDATED BY THE DISTRICT.
WHY ARE THE PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS MISUNDERSTANDING THIS? IT'S JUST UNCLEAR.
CAN THE DISTRICT PUBLICLY COMMUNICATE FULL THROATED UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT THE I-READY PERSONALIZED INSTRUCTION MINUTES ARE NOT REQUIRED? I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE RUP.
I'VE ASKED WHAT HAPPENS IF A PARENT DECLINES TO SIGN THE RUP? JUST WANNA READ FROM THE RUP.
THE RUP ASKS PARENTS TO AGREE THAT THE DISTRICT IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIMS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, COSTS, OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS ARISING FROM THE USE OF THE NETWORK OR DISTRICT ACCOUNTS OR PERSONAL DEVICES.
THE RUP ALSO ASKS PARENTS TO AGREE THAT THE DISTRICT DENIES ANY LIABILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR QUALITY OF THE INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH THE DEVICES.
WHY IS THE DISTRICT ASKING PARENTS TO AGREE THAT THE DISTRICT IS NOT PROVIDING ACCURATE INFORMATION TO STUDENTS TO CHILDREN? WHY IS THE DISTRICT ASKING PARENTS TO AGREE THAT THE DISTRICT IS NOT LIABLE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
IF, IF CHILDREN ARE HARMED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SIR OR GIVEN WRONG INFORMATION ON THESE DEVICES.
I'VE PROVIDED THE, THE, I'VE MADE A MOTION, UH, UNDER BOARD RULE 1 32 I SIR, PROVIDING AN AGENDA FOR THE DISTRICT AND THE BOARD.
LEE, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND THEN AFTER MS. LEE IS CHRISTINA BROWN AND THEN MARIA LUISA PALMA.
WE LIVE IN A MOMENT IN WHICH WE ARE TOLD NOT TO BELIEVE OUR OWN EYES.
THAT TRUTH IS A MATTER OF OPINION.
A RELIC SO MANIPULATED AND DENIGRATED BEYOND RECOGNITION THAT IT CEASES TO EXIST AS A BASIS FOR PUBLIC DISCOURSE.
WE LIVE IN A MOMENT IN WHICH OUR INSTITUTIONS AND ELECTED LEADERS HAVE FAILED US.
WE LIVE IN A MOMENT IN WHICH MORAL IMPERATIVE IS WRITTEN OFF AS MORAL PANIC AT THE CENTER OF THIS BREAKDOWN AND TRUTH AND LEADERSHIP IS AN EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR GROUP OF TECH LEADERS THAT HAVE USED THEIR UNPRECEDENTED WEALTH AND POWER TO DESTROY EVERY PILLAR OF OUR SOCIETY.
DEMOCRACY, EQUAL RIGHTS, FREE PRESS, DUE PROCESS, JOBS, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND OF COURSE, EDUCATION LESS THAN ONE MILE.
FROM HERE, JURY SELECTION IS UNDERWAY FOR A TRIAL AGAINST GOOGLE'S YOUTUBE, NBC AND OTHERS REPORT YOUTUBE'S INTERNAL DOCUMENTS.
WE ASPIRE TO CREATE AN APP THAT IS ADDICTIVE.
INCREASING NUMBER OF CHILDREN ARE IN THERAPY AFTER WATCHING YOUTUBE.
NO WAY TO BLOCK UNSAFE CONTENT, COMMENTS, ADS, HARD TO STAY ENGAGED.
YOUTUBE TOO GOOD AT DISTRACTION, HARD TO DO MY HOMEWORK WHEN I COULD BE WATCHING WILL FERRELL.
GOOGLE WILL AMPLIFY WHAT WE DO IN SCHOOLS ACROSS PRODUCT, MARKETING AND SALES TO CREATE A PIPELINE OF FUTURE USERS.
IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS SHIFT BUDGETS FROM TEXTBOOKS TO YOUTUBE SUBSCRIPTIONS.
YOUTUBE IS ALSO A WELL-DOCUMENTED SOURCE OF ANTI-IMMIGRANT RADICALIZATION AND RUNS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR DHS AD CAMPAIGNS.
THE CURRENT SITUATION IN MIN MINNEAPOLIS ARGUABLY EVEN ORIGINATED WITH A POPULAR ANTI-IMMIGRATION YOUTUBER.
BIG TECH IS THE BIG TOBACCO OF OUR TIME.
AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT PROMOTE ITS USE WILL JOIN THE SAME HISTORICAL RANKS AS DOCTORS DOING CIGARETTE ADS IN THE FIFTIES, PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN BIG TECH HAS SUNK TO A PITIFUL 24%.
AND POLITICIANS FROM BOTH SIDES ARE RUSHING TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS WINNING BIPARTISAN ISSUE.
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO DO THE SAME.
IT'S TIME FOR L-A-U-S-C TO BLOCK YOUTUBE.
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THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINA BROWN.CHRISTINA BROWN, MARIA LUISA PALMA.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND THEN AFTER MS. PALMA IS MONICA OLA AND THEN KATE BRODY.
DISTRICT ENROLLMENT IN FREE FALL.
AND NOW THE QUESTION, ARE LA UNIFIED SCHOOLS SEGREGATED? AND IF SO, HOW DID THEY GET THAT WAY? IT'S TOO BAD MS. GONI ISN'T HERE TODAY.
'CAUSE I WANTED TO ASK HER WHERE HER KIDS MIGHT BE GOING TO SCHOOL.
I WONDER IF IT'S AT HADDON ELEMENTARY, REALLY CLOSE TO HER DISTRICT OFFICE WHERE 41% OF STUDENTS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ARE AT LEVEL ONE.
UH, 38% IN MATH ARE AT LEVEL ONE OR MORE LIKELY MAYBE AT WONDERLAND ELEMENTARY, WHERE 90% EXCEED OR MEET THE STANDARDS, AND 70% ARE AT LEVEL FOUR.
AND SOME OF YOU, UH, EXECUTIVES HERE AND IN OTHER FANCY OFFICES IN THIS BUILDING ATTEND.
HAVE YOUR KIDS WHO ATTEND SCHOOLS LIKE CLEVELAND MAGNET SCIENCE ACADEMY, BECKFORD ELEMENTARY.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.
'CAUSE I BOUGHT MY HOUSE SO MY DAUGHTER COULD ATTEND GRANADA HILLS CHARTER.
MY SON WENT TO SCIENCE ACADEMY.
I DIDN'T JUST PICK THOSE SCHOOLS.
I WOULD NOT HAVE SENT MY KIDS TO THIS DISTRICT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL IF NOT FOR THOSE SCHOOLS.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? AM I RACIST? ARE SOME OF YOU RACIST? SO THIS FEAL CONTROVERSY, THE 1776 LAWSUIT, ARE YOU, WHEN YOU ARE ACTING IN YOUR PERSONAL CAPACITIES LIKE I AM, ARE WE TO BLAME FOR THE SEGREGATION? OR ARE WE JUST DOING THE BEST WE CAN FOR OUR OWN KIDS PICKING SCHOOLS BASED ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE? I DON'T CARE WHAT THE RACE IS OF THE STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL.
I WANT THE BEST SCHOOL FOR MY CHILDREN.
SO AS ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO DECREASE AND WE HAVE JUST PENNIES BEING DEVOTED TO GIFTED PROGRAMS, AND WHY, WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE TO HAVE KIDS CALLED GIFTED? SO LET'S STOP THIS HYPOCRISY.
WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW? ALL THE, THE DOLLARS, THE FOCUS, THE NARRATIVE IS ALWAYS WITH THE, TO THE LOWEST PERFORMING STUDENTS.
SO YOU'RE PUSHING OUT THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE RESOURCES, THAT HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BEST SCHOOLS.
SO IF YOU WANT TO PRESERVE ENROLLMENT, THINK ABOUT THIS.
WHO FAMILIES WHO CAN SEND THEIR KIDS ELSEWHERE, THEY DON'T ACCEPT THE GARBAGE SCHOOLS THAT AND NEITHER DO YOU.
SOME OF YOU, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
MR. OLA IS GONNA SPEAK IN SPANISH, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S SAYING IN ENGLISH AS SHE'S SPEAKING IN SPANISH, PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND WE'LL GET YOU A TRANSLATION HEADSET.
UH, KATE BRODY, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND AFTER MS. BRODY IS DEANNA GUILLEN.
IN ANNIE DILLARD'S NONFICTION CLASSIC, THE WRITING LIFE.
SHE TACKLES THE THORNIEST AND MOST BANAL OF ALL ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS.
SHE WRITES THAT A SCHEDULE IS A NET FOR CATCHING DAYS.
AND SO OFTEN WHEN WE QUESTION OUR KIDS' EXCESSIVE TECH USE, WE'RE GIVEN REASONS THAT AMOUNT TO SCHEDULING OUR KIDS NEED TO COMPLETE X DIGITAL TASKS ON X PLATFORM, X NUMBER OF TIMES OVER X PERIOD IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR AN ASSESSMENT, WHICH WILL HAPPEN ON THIS DATE OR CATCHING DAYS.
BUT ALSO IN THE SAME SCHEDULING SECTION IS DILLARD'S MOST FAMOUS PIECE OF WISDOM.
THE GENTLE REMINDER THAT HOW WE SPEND OUR DAYS IS OF COURSE HOW WE SPEND OUR LIVES.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE TOO OFTEN FORGET WHAT WE DO WITH THIS HOUR.
AND THAT ONE IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.
THE SCHEDULING CHOICES WE MAKE EACH DAY.
PRIORITIZING THE URGENT OVER THE IMPORTANT OR PERHAPS THE FACILE OVER THE DIFFICULT ACCUMULATE TO SHAPE OUR ENTIRE LIVES.
A COROLLARY TO THIS MIGHT BE HOW OUR CHILDREN SPEND THEIR DAYS IS OF COURSE, HOW OUR CHILDREN SPEND THEIR CHILDHOODS.
DAYS SPENT READING AND PLAYING WITH FRIENDS AMOUNT TO A CHILDHOOD, SPENT READING AND PLAYING WITH FRIENDS.
HOW WE SPEND OUR DAYS IS HOW WE SPEND OUR LIVES.
WE ARE GIVEN SO MANY REASONS THAT OUR
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CHILDREN NEED TO BE ON THEIR DEVICES RIGHT NOW.AND OF COURSE, ANY ONE DAY SPENT ON A SCREEN MIGHT BE PERFECTLY FINE, BUT WHAT OF A WHOLE CHILDHOOD? DILLARD WRITES, THERE ARE NO SHORTAGE OF GOOD DAYS.
IT IS GOOD LIVES THAT ARE HARD TO COME BY.
WHO WOULD CALL A DAY SPENT READING A GOOD DAY, BUT A LIFE SPENT READING THAT IS A GOOD LIFE IS A CHILDHOOD SPENT IN THE EDTECH DATA.
DO YOU FEEL ANY SOUL LEVEL REACTION TO THAT PROSPECT? HOW YOU SPEND THEIR DAYS IS HOW THEY SPEND THEIR LIVES.
DEANNA GUILLEN AND THEN MARIA DEIZ.
AND THEN, UH, SANDRA MARTINEZ ROW.
MS. MS IS GONNA SPEAK IN SPANISH, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S SAYING IN ENGLISH, PLEASE PUT YOUR HEADS UP FOR A TRANSLATION HEADSET IF YOU DO NOT ALREADY HAVE ONE.
WHEN I STARTED, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I REPRESENT THE PARENT NETWORK FOR SCHOOL SAFETY.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION.
IN 1975, THERE WAS A LAY CREATED
IT WAS A SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW TO ASSIST STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS SO THAT THE DISTRICT COULD PROVIDE SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEY COULD HAVE, UH, FREE APPROPRIATE WITH NECESSARY SERVICES, UH, EDUCATION.
HOW 15 EMPLOYEES HOW HAVE BEEN AT THE REGION WEST, ALONG WITH THE REPRESENT THE REPRESENTATION OF CIO RBAS.
WHEN WE CAME TO THEM, THEY WENT, I THINK DURING ONE OF THESE, UH, UH, MEETINGS TO INTIMIDATE THE PARENTS.
THEY DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION TO THE SITUATION.
THEY WANTED TO TAKE AWAY THE HISTORY TEACHER SO THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A TEACHER THAT WAS A SOLUTION.
AND TO HAVE 20 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND HAVE ONE SOLE TEACHER AND THREE HELP THREE, THREE HELPERS.
SO THE LAW SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE THREE TO EIGHT STUDENTS FOR EVERY TEACHER.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS ALL THESE PEOPLE ARRIVED TO DO NOTHING.
SO HOW IS THAT GOING TO SOLVE ANYTHING? THESE PEOPLE CAME TO INTIMIDATE AND THAT, AND EVEN WERE MAKING FUN OF THE PARENTS BECAUSE THEY SAID, OH, THE PARENT, THE THE CLASS IS GOING TO HAVE FOUR ADULTS.
WELL, WHO ARE THE ADULTS? THEN WE START TO ASK QUESTIONS.
AND THEY TOLD US, OH, THE CONTRACT FOR TEACHER SAYS THEY HAVE TO HAVE 10 STUDENTS AND ONE, UH, ONE ASSISTANT.
AND THEN WE WANNA ASK, OKAY, WELL WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT? WHERE'S THE POLICY IN THE DISTRICT WHERE IT SAYS 15 EMPLOYEES COULD NOT GIVE US THE POLICY BECAUSE, SO I HAD TO LOOK FOR IT ON THE INTERNET AS PER THEIR INSTRUCTION.
HOW CAN THEY TREAT THE COMMUNITY LIKE THIS? IT'S DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE CAN'T DO THAT.
IMAGINE I HAVE TO GO READ THE CONTRACT OF THE TEACHERS.
YOU SERIOUSLY HAVE TO CHANGE THESE POLICIES AND SHOW US THE POLICIES THAT FAVOR US PARENTS OR THE ONES THAT ARE DISCRIMINATING BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
I I I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT, UM, BOARD MEMBER EZ HAS BEEN HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE, SO I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT CALLING ON YOU FOR ROLE.
ARE YOU HERE, MS. EZ? I'M HERE.
AND YOU'RE, AND YOU'RE ATTENDING REMOTELY AND THERE'S NOBODY OVER 18 IN THE ROOM WITH YOU.
I'M ATTENDING AT MY LISTED LOCATION.
UNDER THE TRADITIONAL BROWN ACT RULES.
OH, UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
MY NAME IS MARIA DE ORTIZ AND EVERY TIME IT'S SAD WHEN WE'RE HERE TALKING BEFORE YOU, AND LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID, THE FAVORITE PLACE FOR US IS NOT OUR FAVORITE PLACE.
LIKE MR. BUNNEY SAID, OH, OH, THE PARENTS LEAVE.
I'LL TELL YOU WHY THE PARENTS LEAVE FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LA BECAUSE MAYBE YOU MAY NOT KNOW.
THEY LEAVE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF RESULTS.
THEY LEAVE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SAFETY, BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY FIGHTS, DRUGS WITHIN AND OUT OF THE SCHOOL BECAUSE PARENTS AREN'T LISTENED TO BECAUSE PARENTS ARE ONLY USED, THEY'RE NOT RESPECTED.
THERE IS NO COMMITTEE OTHER THAN TO JUST COMPLY, BUT THEY'RE NOT WORKING.
AND ALL THEIR IRREGULARITIES, THE TEACHERS ARE NOT PROPERLY QUALIFIED.
AND THEN WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE.
AND THE LOSSES AFTER TWO WEEKS, THERE SHOULD NOT BE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER IN THE CLASSES.
AND HERE YOU'RE GIVING YOU SPEECHES ONE
[00:25:01]
ONTO THE OTHER.AND THIS IS WHY THE PARENTS LEAVE FROM THE DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY'RE SICK OF EXHAUSTED FROM FALLING ON DEAF EARS BECAUSE IT'S TWO, YOU, YOU HAVE TWO POINT INCREASE AND YOU THINK YOU'RE THE BEST DISTRICT.
AND OUR KIDS NEED EXCELLENCE FOR THEIR EDUCATION.
BUT THEN COME THE CHARTERS, THEN HIGHLAND PARK WAS CLOSED BECAUSE OF A MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS.
THE OTHER ONES THAT HAVE ARRIVED TO HIGHLAND HAVE CLOSED DUE TO BAD INVESTMENTS OF FUNDS.
SO YOU ARE THE REASON WHY PARENTS ARE THINKING THEY'RE GOING THERE FOR THINGS TO WORK OUT, BUT NO.
SO YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO GIVE RESULTS PROGRAMS EXCELLENT ONES TEACHERS, HIGHLY QUALIFIED IMPLEMENTATION, INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS.
UH, SANDRA MARTINEZ ROW RIGHT HERE.
YOU'D HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HI, MY NAME IS SANDRA MARTINEZ WITH SCHOOLS BEYOND SCREEN, REPRESENTING FAMILIES THAT CAN'T BE HERE TO COME TO GIVE A PUBLIC COMMENT IN REGARDS TO TECHNOLOGY IN OUR SCHOOLS, TECH IN THE CLASSROOM.
BUT WHY SANDRA? WE HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH IN IT.
OUR SALESPEOPLE AT I-READY GOOGLE AND YOUTUBE ASSURED US THAT THE DATA WE COLLECT WILL HELP US MAKE INFORMATIVE DECISIONS AND THAT THE TEST SCORES WOULD SOAR.
THE PEOPLE AT GOOGLE EVEN MENTIONED SCREENS WERE NOT ADDICTIVE.
EVEN THOUGH TOP CEOS DON'T LET THEIR OWN KIDS USE SCREENS.
WHAT ABOUT EQUITY? SHOULD ALL KIDS FALL BEHIND? SHOULDN'T ALL KIDS FALL BEHIND TOGETHER? TOO MUCH SCREEN TIME IS LINKED TO EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION AND THAT IT NEV NEGATIVELY IMPACTS LITERACY AND MATHEMATICS.
IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, JUST ASK THE EDUCATORS.
AS A MOTHER, I'M OUTRAGED AT THE LACK OF YOUR OUTRAGE.
THE DATA IS CLEAR, THE ISSUES ARE OBVIOUS, AND THE WORLDWIDE WEB IS NOT A SAFE PLACE FOR KIDS.
SO WHY IS IT IN OUR SCHOOLS? IT'S FRANKLY NOT EVEN SAFE FOR ADULTS AT THIS POINT.
CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN FROM OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, NOT SCREENS.
THEY NEED A CONNECTION, NOT AN ALGORITHM.
EDUCATORS NEED TO FEEL INSPIRED, SUPPORTED, AND EXCITED TO TEACH.
AND HAVING BIG TECH DICTATE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE JUST DOESN'T ADD UP.
COMING FROM A FAMILY OF EDUCATORS, I HEAR THE FRUSTRATIONS.
THE KIDS CAN'T FOCUS, THEY CAN'T RETAIN INFORMATION, THEY GET DISTRACTED.
MY KIDS ONCE SAID, OH, I DON'T HAVE TO READ.
THE COMPUTER WILL READ IT FOR ME.
WHAT THE WHAT? ASK FOR EQUITY.
AS A FIRST GENERATION OF AMERICAN, WHEN I HEAR EQUITY WHEN IT COMES TO TECH, I CRINGE.
THE POWERS THAT BE CONTINUE TO SYSTEMATICALLY BAIT AND SWITCH US.
CONTINUING THE WEALTH GAP, THE GENDER GAP, AND NOW THE EDUCATION GAP.
AND THIS STARTS WITH ALL OF YOU ASS AN OPTIMIST.
WHILE THE BOARD STRUGGLES TO BALANCE A BUDGET AND PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND EDUCATORS STRUGGLE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF ONE, HERE'S SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, NICOLETTE SANTOS.
AND THEN AFTER MS. SANTOS IS ISABEL GONZALEZ.
I'M A PROUD PARENT OF AN L-A-U-S-D-U-S-D ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE GROWING ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN EARLY CLASSROOMS. TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT ANTI-TECHNOLOGY.
I'M A PRO CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND PRO EFFECTIVE TEACHING.
MY FIRST CONCERN IS TECHNOLOGY OVERUSE.
OUR CHILDREN ALREADY LIVE IN A WORLD SATURATED WITH SCREENS.
SCHOOLS SHOULD BE A, A PLACE WHERE THEY PRACTICE BEING HUMAN, MAKING EYE CONTACT, LISTENING, COLLABORATING, LEARNING TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES WITH CONFIDENCE, CRITICAL THINKING, CONNECTION AND DISCUSSION ARE SURVIVAL SKILLS AND THEY DEVELOP THROUGH HUMAN INTERACTION, NOT SCREEN DEPENDENCE.
RESEARCH SHOWS DEVICES CAN INCREASE DISTRACTION WHILE HANDWRITING AND LIVE DISCUSSION SUPPORT DEEPER LEARNING TECHNOLOGY SHOULD SUPPORT LEARNING, NOT REPLACE THESE EXPERIENCES.
SECOND, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT YOUNG CHILDREN BEING EXPOSED TO AI TO EARLY STUDENTS NEED TO BUILD THEIR OWN REASONING AND CREATIVITY BEFORE RELYING ON TOOLS THAT CAN DO THAT
[00:30:01]
THINKING FOR THEM.FINALLY, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES AND TRUST.
MY CHILD'S SCHOOL DOESN'T HAVE A FUNCTIONING LIBRARY OR LIBRARIAN YET THE DISTRICT CONTINUES EXPANDING ON SPENDING ON CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY WHEN ESSENTIAL LEARNING RESOURCES ARE MISSING.
IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE CHOOSING TECHNOLOGY OVER HUMANITY.
PLEASE REBALANCE, PUT HUMANITY FIRST.
SCREENS CAN WAIT, CHILDHOOD CANNOT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ISABEL GONZALEZ.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN RIO.
YOUR PRIORITY PUBLIC SERVANTS SHOULD BE THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS.
WHY DO YOU COVER DELINQUENCY? WHY DO YOU ALLOW STUDENT DEATHS? WHY DO YOU ALLOW VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOLS? WHY DO YOU ALLOW BULLYING? WHY DO YOU ALLOW DRUG CELL, FENTANYL CELL, OR WHY DO YOU, UH, ALLOW ABUSE TO THE STUDENTS AND ALCOHOL CIGARETTES? AND WHY DO YOU ALLOW STABBINGS? WHY DO YOU ALLOW FIREARMS IN THE SCHOOLS? WE WANT SCHOOL POLICE PEOPLE THAT ARE CAPABLE, THAT ARE TRAINED AND QUALIFIED LIKE SCHOOL POLICE.
SINCE SCHOOL POLICE WAS REMOVED FROM THE SCHOOLS, THE THE VIOLENCE WITHIN THE SCHOOLS ARE VERY ALARMING.
AND YOU PRETEND NOT TO SEE THAT YOU ARE ACCOMPLICES TO THAT YOU ONLY, YOU ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN YOUR AGENDAS.
LIKE BUREAUCRACY, MORE PARASITES, YOUR PARASITES.
WE DON'T WANT MORE PROGRAMS LIKE SAFETY PASSAGES THAT DON'T WORK.
WE NEED STOP BSAP PROGRAMS. STOP TRYING TO PUT IN PROGRAMS LIKE LGBTQ PLUS, LGBTQ PLUS WE WANT MORE INFORMATION WITHIN THE SCHOOLS, MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.
WE WANT FUNDS THAT ARE CO COME IN BY SCHOOLS.
WE WANT A UNIFORMED, A DETAILED INFORMATION FROM THE SCHOOLS, FROM ALL TYPES PER SCHOOL.
WE WANT OUR CHILDREN IN A SAFE PLACE JUST LIKE ONE OF YOU ARE IN A SAFE PLACE.
WE WANT YOU, RIGHT? MS. CARLA, WE WANT YOU TO STOP ALLOWING HATE, FEAR, DISCRIMINATION DIVISION ACCUSING PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR HIS AGENDAS.
STOP BLAMING BUSINESSMEN THAT MANAGE EDUCATION, RIGHT? MS. CARLA, STOP BLAMING OTHERS BECAUSE THEY ARE GRADUATING.
THANK YOUR TIME WITH ABSENTEES.
ELIZABETH NEWMAN, I BELIEVE YOU'RE HERE.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
UM, MY NAME'S ELIZABETH NEWMAN.
I'M THE MOTHER OF A T CARE AT MITCHELL TYRANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I WAS RAISED BY TWO LIFELONG EDUCATORS, ONE OF WHICH WAS A DEPUTY SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.
UM, AND I'VE OVER THE LAST YEAR BECOME REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS OUR CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO AT SCHOOLS.
MAINLY I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXPOSURE OF TECH FOR OUR KIDS.
I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON HERE WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE CONCERN ABOUT I-READY.
BUT WE REALLY HAVE TO COME UP WITH MORE CONCRETE PLANS ON HOW WE, UM, SORRY.
I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, UH, ON HOW WE, UH, C COME TOGETHER WITH THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGE RESTRICTIONS.
THERE'S NO REASON A 4-YEAR-OLD AND A FIVE-YEAR-OLD SHOULD BE LEARNING FUNDAMENTALS ON A SCREEN.
THEY DO NOT, IT DOESN'T STAY WITH THEM AND IT DOESN'T TEACH THEM THE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE LEARNING.
MY CONCERN IS SHARED WITH MANY OTHER PARENTS AND, AND AT OUR SCHOOL AND EVERY TIME WE GO TO EITHER OUR PRINCIPALS OR THE BOARD MEMBERS, WE GET RUNAROUNDS.
WE, WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED THAT THIS PROGRAM IS AFFECTING OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
UM, WE ALL AGREE THAT OUR CHILDREN NEED TO BE LEARNING TECH, BUT WE DO, UH, WE
[00:35:01]
NEED TO IMPLEMENT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.WHEN WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE PRINCIPALS AND THE BOARD, WE GET THE RUNAROUND AND ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR RIGHT NOW IS AN OPTOUT OPTION AND TO EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS FOR OUR CHILDREN INSTEAD OF TECH-BASED LEARNING TO START WITH.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINA BROWN.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE ONLINE, UH, WAITING PATIENTLY, I WILL COME TO YOU AFTER WE COMPLETE OUR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD BEFORE MY TIMER STARTS.
I NEED TO PASS SOMETHING OUT TO YOU GUYS.
SO THIS ONE WILL GO TO WHOEVER DOESN'T HAVE IT AT THE END.
AND BEFORE MY TIMER STARTS, I'D LIKE YOU TO ALL HAVE THE COPY.
I AM CHRISTINA BROWN FROM MITCHELL TONA.
MR. CARVALLO, ARE YOU, YOU'RE HERE.
OKAY, SO I JUST HANDED YOU A STACK OF 142 OPT OUT LETTERS FROM OUR SCHOOL.
142 FAMILIES WANT TO OPT THEIR KIDS OUT OF SCREEN-BASED LEARNING.
BUT WE'RE ALSO, WE'RE NOT ASKING, WE'RE JUST TELLING YOU THAT WE ARE OPTING OUT.
YOU'VE MADE IT CLEAR IN TWO DIFFERENT MEMOS THAT IT'S OPTIONAL AND WE ARE TAKING THAT OPTION.
WE HAVE WHOLE CLASSES THAT ARE OPTED OUT.
WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN BEING ON SCREENS.
WE ALSO MADE A SCAN OF THE STACK THAT I JUST GAVE YOU BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST L-A-U-S-D TO DISAPPEAR THAT STACK, GIVEN THE FACT THAT YOU'RE LIKE DELETING YOUR MEMOS OFF OF YOUR WEBSITE, EVERYBODY.
THIS IS TO SCHOOL MEMBERS, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE.
THIS WAS WORK, BUT IT WASN'T HARD WORK.
START TALKING TO THE OTHER PARENTS AT YOUR SCHOOL AND HAVE THEM.
WE HAVE ALL THE MATERIALS READY TO GO.
MITCHELL TORINA HAS A WHOLE PACK OF THINGS.
YOU GUYS ARE SOMEHOW, SOMEHOW CARVALLO HAS GOTTA BE PROFITING OFF OF THIS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER EXPLANATION FOR THIS, BUT WORD ON THE STREET IS YOUR FORM 700 IS KIND OF LIGHT.
AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REPORTING ANY GIFT OF $50 OR MORE FROM A SINGLE SOURCE.
SO IF YOU'RE ON THE BOARD OF TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REPORTING EVERY SINGLE DINNER, EVERY SINGLE MEETING, EVERY SINGLE COFFEE THAT COSTS $12 AND ADDS UP TO MORE THAN $50.
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
IT'S NOT THAT THE BOARD DOESN'T CARE WHAT YOU'RE, HEAR, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THEY CANNOT RESPOND SUBSTANTIVELY TO REQUESTS MADE AT THE, AT THE PODIUM LIKE THAT DUE TO THE BROWN ACT.
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ABOUT IT LATER, UM, I CAN CERTAINLY EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.UM, IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE ON, ON ONLINE.
I HATE TO SAY THAT, BUT, UM, THE BROWN ACT PROHIBITS THE BOARD, UH, ENGAGING IN AN ITERATIVE BACK AND FORTH DISCUSSION DURING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE PUBLIC IS NOT FULLY APPRISED OF THE DISCUSSION THAT IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE AND THEREFORE THEMSELVES CANNOT PREPARE TO PARTICIPATE.
SO WHILE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE RECEIVING STATED AGGRESSIVE SILENCE, IT IS MERELY ADHERENCE TO THE LAW.
NO, I WE'RE GONNA, WE HAVE TO MOVE ON ACTUALLY TO THE, THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
NOW HERE'S THE LAST MS. ANA ANYA MEEN.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HELLO? UM, MY NAME IS ANYA MESON AND I AM ON THE LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE OF SCHOOLS BEYOND SCREEN.
IN THAT ROLE, I HAVE PUBLICLY ADDRESSED THIS BOARD SEVEN TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS REGARDING THE URGENT PROBLEM OF UNREGULATED ED TECH IN OUR SCHOOLS.
AND WE HAVE GOTTEN NO RESPONSE FROM YOU TODAY.
I WANT TO ADDRESS YOU AS A MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, A FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY AND A 15 MONTH OLD GIRL ABOUT WHOSE FUTURE I AM SO DEEPLY WORRIED.
OUR WORLD IS FULL OF DEVASTATING, UNPRECEDENTED PROBLEMS ON A HISTORIC SCALE, PROBLEMS THAT OUR CHILDREN WILL HAVE TO FACE AS THEY GROW UP.
AND THERE IS ONLY ONE TOOL THAT COULD ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO SURMOUNT THESE PROBLEMS. ONE TOOL THAT COULD LEAD THE NEXT GENERATION OUT OF THE CHAOS OUR SOCIETY HAS FALLEN INTO THAT ONE TOOL IS EDUCATION.
REAL RIGOROUS EDUCATION THAT CULTIVATES CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, RESILIENCE, INTEGRITY, AND COMPASSION.
WHEN WE SHOW UP TO THESE BOARD MEETINGS BEGGING YOU TO SAVE OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION FROM BEING COLONIZED BY IMMORAL PROFIT HUNGRY CORPORATIONS.
WHAT WE ARE REALLY SAYING IS WE NEED YOU TO HELP SAVE OUR SOCIETY AND OUR FUTURE.
WE NEED YOU TO PRESERVE THE ABILITY OF OUR CHILDREN TO THINK INDEPENDENTLY, TO WRITE ELOQUENTLY, TO READ VORACIOUSLY, TO IMAGINE POSSIBILITIES THAT NOBODY BEFORE THEM HAS EVER DREAMED OF.
BUT HOW CAN THEY DO THAT IF THEY SPEND HALF THEIR DAYS STARING AT SCREENS, BECOMING MORE AND MORE ADDICTED TO MY NUMBING TECHNOLOGY THAT PACIFIES THEM INTO COMPLIANCE AND OBEDIENCE, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE GOAL.
HOW WILL THEY SAVE THE WORLD IF THEY CAN'T MOTIVATE THEMSELVES TO TURN OFF THE BOTTOMLESS SCROLL OF YOUTUBE OR PULL THEMSELVES AWAY FROM A VIDEO GAME? WHO SHOULD BE A SANCTUARY FROM DIGITAL ADDICTION? NOT ANOTHER PLACE WHERE KIDS LOG ON AND ZONE OUT.
PLEASE BOARD MEMBERS THE TIME FOR ACTION ON THIS ISSUE IS NOW.
WHICH ONE OF YOU WILL LEAD THE WAY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE? THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, MARCELLA GARCIA, I SEE YOU'RE ON THE LINE.
MARCELLA GARCIA, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MARCELLA GARCIA, GOOD MORNING.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ONCE AGAIN, I AM HERE FOR THE SAFETY IN THE SCHOOLS.
WE NEED TO HAVE POLICE PATROLLING THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO ACT IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY.
I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.
THE REDUCED BUDGET FROM THE SCHOOLS IS AFFECTING THE EDUCATION OF OUR KIDS BECAUSE THE PROGRAMS ARE NOT COMPLETE LIKE THE PSYCHOLOGIST AVAILABLE EVERY DAY OR THE SCHOOL NURSE.
SO I'M WONDERING IF THEY'RE, IF YOU'RE HAVING AND THEY'RE HAVING LESS FUNDS, WHAT IF YOU REDUCE YOUR SALARIES? WOULD THAT ASSIST THINGS? BECAUSE IF THERE'S A REDUCTION IN SCHOOLS AND THE KIDS ARE THE ONES WHO SUFFER THAT SHOULD YOU HAVE MAYBE REDUCTIONS, JUST PLEASE THINK IN OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE VERY LOW INCOMES, DON'T JUST THINK IN YOURSELVES.
WHEN YOU ARE PROMOTING VOTES FOR YOURSELVES, YOU GO EVERYWHERE.
ONCE YOU'RE IN THAT POSITION, YOU'RE, YOU BARELY SHOW UP.
AND IF YOU DO, IT'S ONCE IN A WHILE AND IT'S NOT TO, TO, TO SUPPORT
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THE SCHOOLS AND ASK IN WHAT WAYS THEY CAN HELP OUR PRINCIPALS AND OURSELVES.YOU ARE NOT TO BE SEEN ANYMORE.
SO PLEASE THINK OF OUR KIDS, THEIR FUTURE, AND THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND PLEASE THINK OF SCHOOL SAFETY.
UH, CORINA LOPEZ, I SEE YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM, MS. LOPEZ? NO.
UH, RAQUEL DIAZ, YOU'RE LISTED, UH, TO SPEAK ONLINE, BUT I DON'T HAVE YOU ON THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF ME.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? SHE'S NOT HERE.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE SURE CAN.
JUST MAKE SURE TO SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT AND, AND PLEASE DON'T TALK TOO FAST.
I'M A LICENSED CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST PARENT AT AN L-A-U-S-D SCHOOL AND A MEMBER OF SCHOOLS BEYOND SCREENS.
I'M WITNESSING PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND EXPERTS COME TO MEETING AFTER MEETING TO TELL YOU THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TECH USE AT SCHOOLS ONLY TO BE MET WITH A RESPONSE.
THAT TECH AT HOME IS THE PROBLEM.
MY KINDERGARTNER COMES HOME FROM SCHOOL AND SAYS, MOMMY, WHY AM I NOT ALLOWED TO WATCH YOUTUBE AT HOME? WHEN WE WATCH YOUTUBE VIDEOS EVERY DAY AT SCHOOL, WHEN SAFEGUARDING OUR KIDS FROM INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT IS BEING UNDERMINED BY OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM.
WE ARE DOING OUR PART AS PARENTS, MINIMIZING SCREEN TIME, DELAYING SMARTPHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
NEUROSCIENTISTS, JARED HORVATH SHARED HIS DATA IN CONGRESS THAT GEN Z IS LESS COGNITIVELY CAPABLE THAN ANY GENERATION BEFORE IT.
WHEN ONE-TO-ONE TECH ENTERS THE CLASSROOM PERFORMANCES DECLINE.
I HAVE PERSONALLY SHARED THIS DATA WITH ADMINISTRATION AT MY SCHOOL TO KNOW AVAIL.
THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO LEAD ON THIS JUST LIKE YOU DID WITH BANNING PHONES, BUT PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME BANNING PHONES YET, GIVING IPADS TO KINDERGARTNERS.
WE ARE ASKING YOU TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
LIKE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ALREADY DOING.
BALTIMORE COUNTY ELIMINATED ONE-TO-ONE TECH IN ELEMENTARY AND THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS NO LONGER TAKE HOME DEVICES.
THE SAN MARCOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT JUST BANNED YOUTUBE FROM ALL K THROUGH EIGHT SCHOOLS.
THE CHICAGO SCHOOL DISTRICT ALLOWS PARENTS TO OPT OUT OF AI TOOLS ALTOGETHER.
I'M ASKING LA USD TO FOLLOW THIS EXAMPLE AND BE THE HERO WE NEED.
AND THE FINAL CALLER IS DEANNE NEWKIRK.
I DON'T SEE YOU ONLINE IN FRONT OF ME.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? DEANNE NEWKIRK.
OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES, UH, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND ALL COMMENT FOR TODAY.
[Recess into Closed Session]
THE BOARD IS NOW GOING TO RECESS INTO CLOSED SESSION.THE TIME IS 10:52 AM GOOD AFTERNOON.
[Reconvene to Open Session]
WELCOME BACK.THE TIME IS NOW 2:55 PM ON JANUARY 28TH, 2026.
MR. T FRANKLIN PRESENT BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN PRESENT.
THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS PRESENT.
ALL MEMBERS WERE PRESENT IN CLOSE SESSION.
I'M GOING TO REPORT OUT TAB ONE.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE EXPULSION OF STUDENTS IN CASE NUMBERS 27 28 AND 30 WITH THE RECOMMENDED DISPOSITIONS.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE EXPULSION OF STUDENTS IN CASE NUMBER 29 WITH A RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION.
THE VOTE WAS SIX A'S AND ONE NO BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE CONDITIONAL ENROLLMENT OF THE STUDENTS IN CASE NUMBERS 13 A AND 14 A WITH THE RECOMMENDED DISPOSITIONS.
TAB TWO, PERSONNEL, PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE, DISMISSAL AND RELEASE.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AUTHORIZED THE DISMISSAL OF ONE CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE.
A PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPOINTED DONALD R. GRAHAM JR.
TO THE POSITION OF CHIEF OF POLICE WITH THE TERM BEGINNING ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2028.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE UPON THE FINALIZATION OF THE AGREEMENT.
THE VOTE WAS FIVE AYES AND TWO NOS.
MS. GREGO AND DR. RIVAS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPOINTED BAYWAY TWO TO THE POSITION OF CHIEF RISK OFFICER WITH THE TERM BEGINNING ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2028.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPOINTED WAHE, GAO, GAO, I'M SORRY, TO THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF BUDGET SERVICES AND FINANCIAL PLANNING WITH THE TERM BEGINNING ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026
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AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2028 AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPOINTED ADRIAN PACHECO TO THE POSITION OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES, MA MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS WITH THE TERM BEGINNING ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2028.THE VOTE IN ALL THOSE MATTERS WAS SEVEN AYES.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE UPON THE FINALIZATION OF THE AGREEMENT.
I'LL NOTE THAT BOARD MEMBER NEW BILL IS HERE.
TAB THREE, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AUTHORIZED A SETTLEMENT IN THE CASE OF JANE DOE.
ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE UPON THE FINALIZATION OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE VOTE WAS SEVEN A'S AND UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ADJOURNMENT, THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THE TIME IS 2:57 PM THANK YOU.