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[Roll Call of Members ]
WELCOME.THE TIME IS NOW 10:05 AM ON JUNE 17TH, 2026.
WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION, INCLUDING CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. LET'S TAKE ROLL.
UH, THE ORDER OF OPERATIONS TODAY WILL BE, WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEMS THAT THE BOARD WILL BE DISCUSSING IN CLOSED SESSION, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE SUPERINTENDENT RECOGNITIONS OF SOME VERY SPECIAL FOLKS WHO ARE LEAVING THE DISTRICT.
SO THE PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY OF TODAY'S CLOSED SESSION UNDER TAB ONE ARE STUDENT DISCIPLINE MATTERS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 4 8 9 1 8.
UH, TAB TWO PERSONNEL UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 7, UH, PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE, DISMISSAL AND RELEASE.
AND UNDER PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT ARE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, CHIEF OF SCHOOLS AND REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT.
AND ALSO THERE IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION UNDER TAB THREE CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
ANTICIPATED LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 6 0.9, THERE ARE TWO CASES AND UNDER PENDING LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 6 9 D ONE, GABRIELA CHARTER SCHOOLS V, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND L-A-U-S-D, ETAL GREEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, V-L-A-U-S-D, ETAL IN UNDER TAB FOUR CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 9 5 7 6.
THE NEGOTIATOR IS DR. MURPHY AND THE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS ARE 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 AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL AND FOR UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES, MS. NAVARRA REED IS THE NEGOTIATOR, AND UNDER THERE IS THE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, CHIEF OF SCHOOLS IN REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT.
[Public Comment]
WE TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEMS THAT I HAVE JUST READ THROUGH FOR YOU ALL.UNDER TAB ONE, STUDENT DISCIPLINE MATTERS.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, CHRISTINA JAMES SPEAKING REMOTELY.
LET ME SEE IF MS. JAMES IS WITH US ONLINE.
SO WE'LL GO TO TAB TWO SPEAKERS ON TAB TWO.
GO TO TAB THREE, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
MR. DAVID TOSKI, ARE YOU HERE? MAY BE CALLING IN.
THERE HE IS, MR. TOSKI, ON TAB THREE, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, MR. TOSKI, AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN AN OPEN PUBLIC SESSION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, UH, UNDER THE SPIRIT OF OUR REPUBLIC AND OUR DEMOCRACY.
UH, THE TWO ITEMS OF THE LAWSUITS, UH, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE, BUT THE, THE STORY IS THAT, UM, THE STAFF MAY OF LA UNIFIED MAY HAVE MISREAD THE NEW LAW OF 1505 AND ALLOWED BOTH, UH, GABRIELA AND, UH, GREEN DOT, UH, TO BE REJECTED BY THE BOARD OF ED AFTER THE DEATH STATUTORY DEADLINE.
UM, THIS IS A, UM, UH, UNDERSTANDABLE BUT BAD MISTAKE.
UH, BOTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS ADD UP TO 2000 KIDS, WHICH ADDS UP TO ABOUT $70 MILLION IF THEY WERE PART OF A PLAN TO BRING BACK IN THE DISTRICT.
NOW, THEY'RE BOTH COUNTY, UH, SCHOOLS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
UM, SOMEBODY OUGHT TO BE PROMOTED FOR THAT MISTAKE, BUT LET ME ALSO SAY THAT YOU NEED THE COUNTY LETTERS BOARD MEMBERS.
THESE ARE NOT ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE LETTERS.
I, AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR 12 YEARS, I USED TO GET THE COUNTY LETTER, MR. MOLSON.
NO DOUBT, NO DOUBT, AS PRESIDENT HAS THOSE LETTERS, YOU SHOULD SEE EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND HOW THEY WILL RESPOND IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO YOUR FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN.
NUMBER TWO, UM, WHILE YOU CAN COUNT THINGS IN THERE THAT ARE HYPOTHETICAL, UM, ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, YOU, YOU DO NOT HAVE A LIST OF THE ITEMS THAT COULD MEAN REVENUE.
CONGRATULATIONS ON DOING THE FUND 17 OR OPEP, WHICH IS SORT OF THE FUND 17 ON STEROIDS.
BUT THE 3.9 BILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS 280 MILLION WILL BE COMING TO YOU WITHIN THE NEXT, UH, WITHIN THE NEXT
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FIRST YEAR OF YOUR THREE YEARS.ADDITIONALLY, IN YOUR SECOND YEAR, YOU'LL HAVE A NEW CONGRESS.
THAT NEW CONGRESS WILL PASS LEGISLATION FOR MONEY AND SPECIAL ED IF WE LOBBY FOR IT.
AND IN THE THIRD YEAR, OF COURSE, WE'LL HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT.
ADDITIONALLY, THE CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AB 1 21 IS TO FIX THE THE THIRD YEAR PROBLEM I MENTIONED BEFORE.
SANTA MONICA, UH, HAS BEGUN THE CITIZENS' PARCEL TAX.
YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR REVENUE IN YOUR THIRD YEAR FOR SUCH A THING ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
AND FINALLY, AS YOU THANK YOU, YOUR TIME, THINK ABOUT THINGS IN THE THREE YEAR PLAN.
ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT SPEAKERS ARE JUST ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO WE HAVE 20 SPEAKERS ON GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH ARE ANY MATTERS RELATED TO DISTRICT BUSINESS.
I'LL CALL ON THE FOLKS WHO LISTED THEMSELVES AS SPEAKING IN PERSON FIRST, AND THEN I'LL CALL ON THOSE LISTED AS SPEAKING REMOTELY.
SO THE FIRST SPEAKER IS PENELOPE VALDEZ.
AND THEN AFTER MS. VALDEZ IS KIRTI BARAL AND THEN KATE VALDEZ, COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
GOOD MORNING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
I AM A LIBRARIAN COMING OUT DURING MY, UH, SUMMER DAY TO MEET YOU ALL AND HAVE THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS EXPERIENCE.
I TEACH, UH, I'M A TEACHER LIBRARIAN AT LACONTE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS UNDER MS. GREG'S JURISDICTION.
AND I COME HERE TO CHAMPION READING DECATHLON, WHICH IS A READING PROGRAM THAT IS, UH, PROMOTED AND SUSTAINED BY MY COLLEAGUES FROM DIFFERENT MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND I'M ALSO HERE TO CHAMPION MY STUDENTS AND THEIR PEERS WHO ARE IN THE PROGRAM AND THEIR PARENTS WHO SUPPORT THEM.
THE READING DECATHLON HAS SERVED 48 SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE A LITTLE PROP
OVERALL, THERE WERE 39 MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND NINE HIGH SCHOOLS WHO JOINED THIS RECENT SCHOOL YEAR.
STUDENT PARTICIPANTS HAVE READ A COMBINED TOTAL OF 56 FICTION BOOKS CONTAINING 16,800 PAGES ON BEHALF OF ABOUT 96 TEACHER LIBRARIANS AND TEACHER COCOS, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THERE WERE 402 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 147 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED BENEFITED IN THE DIFFERENT READING DECATHLON PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
PARTICIPATING STUDENTS NEURODIVERSITY RANGE FROM HIGHLY GIFTED AND TALENTED TO ELL TO SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN THE READING DECATHLON IN EVERY YEAR, BEGINNING OF THE SIXTH GRADE IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION.
WE ARE PROUD TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE 41 3 YEAR PARTICIPANTS RECOGNIZED WITH A SPECIAL MEDAL THIS YEAR.
THIS MEANS THESE STUDENTS STARTED WITH US SINCE WE HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE DISTRICT TO RUN THIS PROGRAM.
I'M THE LIBRARIAN AT CLINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE GIVING US $250,000 EVERY YEAR TO FUND READING DECATHLON.
IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT ALLOWS LIBRARIANS TO CONTINUE SPREADING BOOK JOY THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND STRENGTHEN STUDENTS' LITERACY SKILLS AND SEL SKILLS TO BE BETTER PREPARED TO CREATE AND LEAD THE WORLD THAT WE WANNA LIVE IN TOMORROW.
SO DURING MY THREE YEARS AS A LIBRARIAN AND COACH FOR READING DECATHLON, WE'VE SEEN 150% INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING.
WE'VE INCREASED, AND I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOLS, FROM NINE SCHOOLS TO 24 SCHOOLS, AND FROM 67 STUDENTS TO 194 STUDENTS.
EACH OF THESE NUMBERS REPRESENTS A CHILD WHO IS VOLUNTARILY READING UP TO 15 BOOKS.
WE GET TOGETHER, WE TALK ABOUT THE CHARACTERS, WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ARE LEARNING THROUGH THE STORIES AND WHO WE'RE MEETING.
SO CUTTING FUNDING FOR READING DECATHLON MEANS DECREASING THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AND KIDS THAT CAN PARTICIPATE.
FOR ME, I'M, OUR JOB IS CREATING LIFELONG READERS WHO DEVELOP MORE COMPASSION AND EMPATHY AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS TO CREATE A KINDER WORLD.
OUR BOOK LIST HAS 15 DIVERSE BOOKS ON IT EVERY YEAR.
THEY'RE INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND IN A WORLD THAT'S FULL OF HATE READING,
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DECATHLON GIVES ME HOPE THAT WE CAN INSPIRE STUDENTS TO READ AND USE BOOKS TO BE THEIR MIRRORS.THEY'RE WINDOWS AND THEY'RE SLIDING DOORS, AND WE KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT FSP, THAT YOU NEED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
I'M ASKING YOU TO STOP DOING THAT ON THE BACKS OF BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN FROM WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES.
IT'S A LOT OF EMOTIONAL LABOR FOR US TO COME HERE, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR FUNDS FOR THINGS WE ALREADY HAVE.
I'M ALSO THE MOM OF A BLACK AND ASIAN STUDENT.
I KNOW YOU PROTECTED BSAP YESTERDAY.
UM, WE NEED YOU TO DO THAT FOR SEMI FUND.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KATE VALEZ.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
UM, MS. KATE VALDEZ WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE.
I HAVE BEEN, UH, I'M A HISTORY TEACHER AND I'M A CO-COACH FOR READING OF THE KALON FOR THREE YEARS.
TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN HOW PARTICIPANTS IN READING OF THE KALON PROMOTES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND HELPS BUILDING A STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE.
FIRST OF ALL, THE VALUE OF READING.
READING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT VALUE SKILLS WE CAN DEVELOP.
IT EXPLAINS THE KNOWLEDGE, IMPROVES CRITICAL THINKING, AND EXPOSES US TO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND EXPLAIN EXPERIENCES.
THROUGHOUT BOOKS, WE LEARN ABOUT CULTURE, CHALLENGES AND IDEAS THAT WE MIGHT NEVER ENCOUNTER IN A DAILY LIFE.
UH, THIS UNDERSTANDING HELPS US BECOME MORE INFORMED AND EMPATHETICS ABOUT MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY.
I'M NOT AN ENGLISH TEACHER, BUT I KNOW HOW FICTION EXPERTS ARE READ IN THE CLASSROOMS. THIS PROGRAM ACTUALLY ENCOURAGES THE STUDENTS TO READ FROM COVER TO COVER.
UH, READING ON DECATHLON ACTUALLY TAKES, UM, THE BENEFITS A LITTLE BIT FARTHER TO READ ALONG, UH, SHARING EXPERIENCES WITH CLASSMATES, UH, TEAMS, AND THEN ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALSO TO BE PART OF IT.
UH, READING ALSO, UH, ENCOURAGES SOCIAL ISSUES.
UH, READING HELPS US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL ISSUES.
MANY BOOKS EXPLORE THE TOPICS SUCH AS INEQUALITY, DISCRIMINATIONS, POVERTY, MENTAL HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES, PRESERVING HERITAGE, SELF ADV ADVOCACY.
BY READING AND DISCUSSING THESE ISSUES, PARTICIPANTS BECOME MORE AWARE OF ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE SOCIETY AND ULTIMATELY INSPIRES THEM TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCES.
AND LASTLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, UH, MOST IMPORTANTLY, READING DECATHLON CREATES A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE WITH THE COMMON COMMON GOAL TO ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK, COMPETITION, UM, RATHER THAN COMPETITION.
UM, WE ENCOURAGE, UH, MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY PARENTS GET INVOLVED, STUDENTS GET INVOLVED, VENDORS AS WELL, OUR PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT GIVES US A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS NORMA ESPINOZA.
AND THEN AFTER MS. ESPINOZA IS ANNA VALDEZ, AND THEN REBECCA RAMIREZ AND GOOD MORNING BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ESPINOZA AND I'M A PARENT FROM CLINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
MY DAUGHTER'S NAME IS REBECCA RAMIREZ.
WHEN REBECCA WAS IN FIRST GRADE, COVID HIT AND EVERYONE STARTED WITH ONLINE CLASSES.
IT WAS VERY HARD FOR MY DAUGHTER TO CONCENTRATE AND COMMUNICATE WHILE BEING IN ONLINE CLASSES.
DURING THAT TIME, REBECCA FELL BEHIND.
READING WAS HER WEAKNESS, AND SHE WAS ALWAYS HIDING AWAY FROM BOOKS.
IT WAS NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR HER.
SHE WAS STRUGGLING THROUGHOUT HER ELEMENTARY YEARS.
REBECCA'S ELEMENTARY IS A ETK THROUGH SIXTH GRADE SCHOOL.
WHEN SHE WAS IN SIXTH GRADE, HER TEACHER LEFT WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION.
SIXTH GRADE WAS EVEN HARDER FOR HER SINCE HER CLASS HAD A DIFFERENT SUBSTITUTE TEACHER EVERY DAY.
WHEN THE STUDENTS WERE BACK FROM WINTER BREAK, IT LOOKED LIKE THEY FINALLY HAD A PERMANENT TEACHER, BUT ONCE AGAIN, SHE WAS STILL NOT INTERESTED IN READING.
REBECCA CULMINATED FROM ELEMENTARY AND ENTERED CLINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I ENROLLED HER FAR AWAY FROM ALL OF HER FRIENDS.
THE FIRST THING SHE DID WAS ENTER THE LIBRARY WHERE SHE MET MS. BARWELL.
MS. BARWELL INTRODUCED REBECCA TO BOOKS AND MENTIONED A PROGRAM CALLED READING DECATHLON.
AT FIRST, REBECCA WAS NOT INTERESTED IN JOINING, BUT I MENTIONED IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA FOR HER TO JOIN THE PROGRAM.
IT COULD HELP HER OUT, IT COULD HELP HER OUT RECLASSIFYING.
I SAID SHE WENT AHEAD AND SAID YES, IT WAS THE BEST DECISION SHE COULD HAVE DONE.
AT THE END OF SEVENTH GRADE, SHE CAME WITH HOME WITH THE AMAZING NEWS THAT SHE HAD RECLASSIFIED.
I WAS VERY HAPPY THAT THE READING DECATHLON HELPED MY DAUGHTER OUT WITH HER CONFIDENCE.
I BELIEVE READING DECATHLON IS A PROGRAM WHERE
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STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE COMPETITIVE IN LITERACY, SO PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM.OKAY, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA VALDEZ.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
WHY DON'T YOU BEGIN? AND THEN REBECCA RAMIREZ.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SOPHIA MARTINEZ.
ANNA VALDEZ WASN'T ABLE TO COME TODAY, AND I ATTENDED READING DECATHLON FOR ALL THREE YEARS, AND IT HAS, I HAVE REALLY BENEFITED FROM IT.
UM, I HAD STARTED A HABIT OF READING BOOKS, WHICH I DIDN'T, WHICH I USED TO BE ADDICTED TO MY TABLET.
AND UNTIL, UM, MY BROTHER INTRODUCED ME TO THIS PROGRAM AND I STARTED READING BOOKS PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.
ANOTHER THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME IS THAT I MET A REALLY NICE PERSON AND I BECAME FRIENDS WITH HER.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT I BENEFITED FROM THIS IS THAT I WASN'T GLUED TO A SCREEN AS MANY OTHER KIDS MY AGE WERE.
IF READING DECATHLON CONTINUES, THEN PERHAPS IN THE FUTURE, MANY KIDS MY AGE WON'T BE GLUED TO A SCREEN AS THEY ARE NOW.
I REALLY BENEFIT FROM BENEFITED FROM THIS, AND I REALLY HOPE OTHER KIDS MY AGE IN THE FUTURE CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS AS WELL.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS REBECCA RAMIREZ.
REBECCA, ARE YOU HERE? GOOD MORNING BEAR BOARD MEMBERS.
I AM ATTENDING CLINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'M CURRENTLY MOVING ON TO EIGHTH GRADE.
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, 20 25, 20 26, I WAS INVITED TO JOIN THE READING DECATHLON TEAM BY MY SCHOOL LIBRARIAN, MS. BARWELL.
AT FIRST, I FELT NERVOUS BECAUSE BEFORE I JOINED READING THE KALON, I WASN'T GREAT AT PUBLIC SPEAKING OR COMMUNICATING WITH STUDENTS.
BUT OVER THOSE NEXT MONTHS, I SLOWLY LEARNED TO STOP BEING SO SHY.
I STARTED SPEAKING MORE CONFIDENTLY IN FRONT OF MY TEAM AND OTHER PEOPLE.
THIS PROGRAM TAUGHT ME THAT I CAN OVERCOME MY FEARS AND I AM ABLE TO TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGES.
AT THE END OF MY SEVENTH GRADE YEAR, I FOUND OUT THAT I OFFICIALLY RECLASSIFIED.
THE SECOND I GOT THE NEWS, I KNEW IT WAS ALL THANKS TO THE READING DECATHLON.
IT REALLY HELPED ME IMPROVE MY COMMUNICATION SKILLS, WRITING SKILLS, AND ESPECIALLY MY READING SKILLS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU MS. BARWELL, BY INTRODUCING ME INTO THIS PROGRAM AND MY FAMILY WHO ALWAYS BELIEVED IN ME WHEN I WAS STRUGGLING.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
WE, GOOD MORNING TO THE ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M THE TEACHER LIBRARIAN AT DOTSON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A PROUD READING DECATHLON.
COACH DOTSON HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE READING DECATHLON PROGRAM THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IN OUR FIRST YEAR, 12 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR, 17 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED.
10 OF THOSE 17 WERE RETURNING PARTICIPANTS, AND FIVE OF THOSE 10 WERE SEVENTH GRADERS.
LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING A THIRD TIME FOR THEIR FINAL YEAR IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
READING DECATHLON GENERATES A JOY AND LOVE OF READING THAT IS CONTAGIOUS AND PALPABLE.
CUTTING THE PROGRAM WOULD NOT ONLY HURT OUR CURRENT STUDENTS, BUT WOULD PREVENT FUTURE STUDENTS FROM EXPERIENCING THE SAME JOY AND EXCITEMENT FOR READING.
WHILE SERIOUSLY WOUNDING THE THE DISTRICT'S PROGRESS IN LITERACY AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
L-A-U-S-D STRATEGIC PLAN CLEARLY STATES A COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION AND ENRICHED ED ENRICHING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES.
BUT DON'T JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
LET ME SHARE SOME COMMENTS FROM OUR STUDENTS.
READING DECATHLON HAS BEEN REALLY FUN FOR ME.
THE PAST TWO YEARS, A LOT OF THE BOOKS WE READ WERE REALLY ENJOYABLE AND TAUGHT ME ABOUT NEW THINGS IN THE WORLD.
READING DECATHLON ALSO ALLOWED ME TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
BEING IN THE READING DECATHLON THE PAST TWO YEARS HAS STRENGTHENED ME AS A READER, GROWN MY CRITICAL THINKING, AND EXPOSED ME TO A VARIETY OF BOOKS THAT I MIGHT NOT HAVE READ.
THESE ARE THE WORDS OF MY STUDENTS ON MY TEAM.
MY COLLEAGUE HAS SPOKEN ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS.
FUNDING HAS ALLOWED THE PROGRAM TO FLOURISH IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DISTRICT FROM ALL REGIONS OF LOS ANGELES AT A TIME WHEN LITERACY REMAINS A CRITICAL EDUCATIONAL PRIORITY.
REDUCING OR ELIMINATING SUPPORT FOR THE READING DECATHLON PROGRAM WOULD ELIMINATE A PROVEN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO GROW
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ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY.WE ASK THAT YOU FIND A WAY TO FUND THIS PROGRAM SO THAT IT MAY CONTINUE TO FOSTER A LOVE OF LEARNING IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND AFTER MS. GOZALI IS, UH, LIZ VELASQUEZ AND THEN ZINA SAMARA.
HI, GOOD MORNING TO, UH, MEMBERS OF THE ESTEEM BOARD.
I'M THE MOTHER OF, UM, GABRIELLE GOZALI.
SHE IS CURRENTLY A GOING TO BE AN EIGHTH GRADER AT DOTSON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE DECATHLON PROGRAM.
MY DAUGHTER HAS LOVED READING SO MUCH EVER SINCE SHE IS ON THIS TEAM THAT SHE STOPPED LOOKING ON HER LAPTOP BECAUSE DURING THE COVID TIME, SHE'S ENCOURAGED TO USE THE LAPTOP FOR CLASSES FOR READING.
NOW I ASK HER, DO YOU WANNA READ BOOKS ON A KINDLE OR ACTUAL BOOK? SHE'S LIKE, I WANNA READ AN ACTUAL BOOK.
AND THIS REALLY TAKES THEM AWAY FROM THAT USING, UM, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, ALL THESE THINGS THAT CAN REALLY, UH, CREATE BAD, UM, THINKING AND, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT HELPING WITH THE SCHOOL.
SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR THE BOARD TO CONTINUE FUNDING THIS PROGRAM FOR HER, FOR FUTURE MEM UH, FUTURE STUDENTS OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, BECAUSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO RETAIN, UM, ALL THESE GOOD STUDENTS INSTEAD OF HAVING THEM MOVE AWAY TO DIFFERENT DISTRICT.
RIGHT? SO IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO PLEASE CONTINUE TO FUND THIS PROGRAM AND NOT STOPPING IT.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE DECATHLON, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANOTHER MATTER, TWO THINGS TODAY, MY DAUGHTER IS ALSO ON THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM, ACTUALLY MANDARIN DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE ONLY PROGRAM DOWN IN THE SOUTH, SOUTH DISTRICT.
NOW, JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW, SOUTH DISTRICT HAS REDONDO BEACH UNIFIED COMPETING.
THEY ARE OPENING, THEY HAVE OPENED A NEW MANDARIN PROGRAM FOR 26 27.
SO A LOT OF GOOD STUDENTS ARE BEING POACHED AWAY.
I HAVE A, A YOUNG CHILD THAT IS GOING TO BE IN TK NEXT YEAR.
IF LUSE IS NOT KEEPING THIS PROGRAM, I'M GOING TO ENROLL MY SON TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT CONTINUES WITH THIS PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE IN STUDYING MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE IS VERY BENEFICIAL TO THEIR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND REALLY HELPS THEM TO BE A GOOD STUDENT AND A GOOD LEADER IN THE FUTURE THAT CAN HELP OUR DISTRICT, OUR NATION, COMPETE WITH OTHER NATIONS GLOBALLY.
SO PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THIS DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM AS WELL, ALONG WITH THE DECATHLON IN THE SOUTH DISTRICT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LIZ VELAZQUEZ.
UH, MISS IF YOU WANT US RIGHT.
UH, LIZ IS NOT ABLE TO COME HERE.
SO SHE REPRESENTS THE HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION.
SO MY STUDENT HERE WILL READ THE TEXT FROM MY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN OUTSTANDING THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS EMILY LUNA AND I'M A STUDENT AT KING DREW MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND SCIENCE.
TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A VER VARIETY OF, OF THE READING DECATHLON TO FOR, FOR THIS PROGRAM THAT HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED COUNTLESS STUDENTS, LIBRARIANS, SCHOOLS ACROSS L-A-U-S-D TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG, UM, OPPOSING TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS AFFECTING ITS FUTURE DIVERSITY.
READING DECATHLON IS NOT SIMPLY AN EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITY.
IT IS AN ACADEMIC COMPETITION THAT CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO READ MULTIPLE BOOKS, ANALYZE IDEAS ACROSS DIFFERENT TEXTS, AND ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS THAT PUSH OUR THINKING FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.
IT BUILDS ESSENTIAL SKILLS IN READING COMPREHENSION, CRITICAL THINKING, COLLABORATION, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS THAT DIRECTLY SHAPE OUR ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.
AS STUDENTS OF KING SLASH DREW MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND SCIENCE, WE DO NOT ONLY PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, WE REPRESENT OUR SCHOOL.
THOUGH ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS AGAINST OTHER SCHOOLS, WE DEMONSTRATE DISCIPLINE, DEDICATION, AND EXCELLENCE.
WE CARRY OUR SCHOOL'S NAME WITH PRIDE AND PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS ARE CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING AT HIGH ACADEMIC LEVELS WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.
MY EXPERIENCE IN THIS PROGRAM OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS BEGAN WITH ME BEING SHY AND UNSURE OF MY VOICE.
THOUGH VARSITY VARSITY'S READING DECATHLON PROGRAM, I WAS CHALLENGED TO STEP FORWARD, SPEAK UP, AND ENGAGE DEEPLY WITH LITERATURE COMPETING THROUGH READING AND ANALYZING BOOKS THAT GENUINELY FASCINATED ME, ALLOWED ME TO FULLY BECOME ENGAGED.
OVER TIME, I GREW SIGNIFICANTLY IN CONFIDENCE.
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MY ABILITY TO THINK CRITICALLY, EXPRESS MY IDEAS CLEARLY, AND BELIEVE IN MY ACADEMIC POTENTIAL.IS THERE MUCH LEFT? DO YOU WANNA FINISH READING IT? UM, YEAH.
IN ADDITION TO HELPING STUDENTS GROW ACADEMICALLY, THIS PROGRAM CREATES OPPORTUNITIES THAT MANY STUDENTS MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE.
IT ENCOURAGES US TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES, WORK TOGETHER TOWARD A GOAL, AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT EXTEND BEYOND THE COMPETITION.
IT ALSO ALLOWS STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND GRADES TO LEVEL COME THROUGH TOGETHER THROUGH A SHARED PASSION FOR READING AND LEARNING.
REDUCING FUNDING WOULD NOT SIMPLY AFFECT THE COMPETITION.
IT WOULD LIMIT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, REDUCE ACCESS TO A AVAILABLE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES AND WEAKEN A PROGRAM THAT HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS TOO.
PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE LITERACY, LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT SHOULD NOT STRENGTHENED, NOT REDUCED, SHOULD NOT BE STRENGTHENED AND NOT REDUCED.
WE RESPECTFULLY, RESPECTFULLY, BUT FIRM URGED THE DISTRICT BOARD TO CON RECONSIDER THESE BUDGET CUTS AND FULLY PRESERVE FUNDING FOR READING DECATHLON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER IS ZINA SAMARA.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE OTHER SPEAKER ISN'T HERE, SO I'LL BE, UH, FILLING IT.
I ATTEND SOUTHGATE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I'M IN THE SIXTH GRADE.
I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE READING DECATHLON EXTRACURRICULAR CLUB AND WHY I BELIEVE IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED.
I INITIALLY JOINED THE READING DECATHLON CLUB BECAUSE IT COMBINES TWO THINGS.
I LOVE THE THRILL OF COMPETITION AND THE JOYS OF READING.
WHEN I READ A NEW BOOK FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT FEELS LIKE AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY.
I ENJOY PUTTING MYSELF IN THE MAIN CHARACTER'S PERSPECTIVE AND IMAGINING THEIR WORLD.
I JOINED MY SCHOOL'S READING DECATHLON CLUB THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THE REQUIREMENT TO JOIN THIS CLUB WAS TO READ EIGHT BOOKS OUT OF 15 BOOKS.
AFTER READING THE 15 BOOKS, I FELT INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED.
I ATTENDED OUR FIRST COMPETITION ALONG WITH FIVE OTHER MEMBERS, MY TEAM MEMBERS, AND I PUT IN MONTHS OF HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, AND AS A RESULT, WE WON FIRST PLACE.
BEING A PART OF THIS CLUB NOT ONLY GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND WORK AS A TEAM, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWED ME TO FULLY IMMERSE MYSELF IN READING AND HELP ME BRING UP MY LITERACY SKILLS.
IT HAS HELPED ME IMPROVE MY CONFIDENCE AND MADE ME FEEL LIKE I BELONG.
I HOPE YOU CAN PUT YOURSELF IN MY PERSPECTIVE AND SEE HOW IMPORTANT THE READING DECATHLON CLUB IS TO ME AND HOW IT HAS CHANGED ME FOR THE BETTER.
I ALSO HOPE THAT OTHER STUDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN CLUBS THAT MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
ROSA, ARE YOU HERE? ROSA? I OKAY, GREAT.
I'M EASILY CONFUSED AS YOU, AS YOU CAN TELL.
DEBBIE ROCHA GOOD MORNING BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DEBBIE ROCHA AND I AM THE PARENT OF BELLA ROCHA, AND SHE'S AN L-A-U-S-C STUDENT.
UM, FRANCIS BACON ONCE SAID, READING MACIS A FULL MAN.
THOSE FOUR WORDS CAPTURE WHY I AM HERE THIS MORNING.
READING IS MORE, UH, THAN AN ACADEMIC SKILL.
IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF LEARNING, CRITICAL THINKING, AND LIFELONG SUCCESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE READING DECATHLON AND WHY PRESERVING IT MAKES, UH, IT MATTERS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THE BROKEN WINDOW THEORY TEACHES THE SMALL SIGNALS MATTER BECAUSE THEY INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR AND EXPECTATIONS IN SCHOOLS.
POSITIVE SIGNALS AND RECOGNITION ENCOURAGE POSITIVE BEHAVIORS.
STUDENTS NOTICE WHAT SCHOOLS CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE AND THAT INFLUENCE WHAT THEY VALUE.
THE READING DECATHLON PROMOTES READING MORE BOOKS, CRITICAL THINKING, TEAM WORK, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND A LOVE OF LEARNING RESEARCH.
SO SHOWS THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE MOTIVATED TO READ TEND TO HAVE STRONGER LITERACY SKILLS AND BETTER ACADEMIC OUTCOMES.
NOT EVERY STUDENT EXCELS IN SPORTS OR THE ARTS.
THE READING DECATHLON PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS WHO SHINE ACADEMICALLY.
ELIMINATING THE READING DECATHLON MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL CHANGE, BUT SMALL CHANGES HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON SCHOOL CULTURE.
REMOVING PROGRAMS THAT CELEBRATE READING MAY SEND A MESSAGE THAT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IS LESS IMPORTANT.
THE READING DECATHLON HELPS BUILD A CULTURE WHERE LITERACY EFFORTS AND LEARNING ARE VALUED.
I RESPECT, RESPECTFULLY, ASK THE WORD TO PRESERVE THE READING DECATHLON AND CONTINUE SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE
[00:30:01]
READING EXCELLENCE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS IN PERSON, AND THAT IS, UH, MS. DEANNA GUILLEN.
UH, MS. GUILLEN'S GONNA SPEAK IN SPANISH, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S SAYING IN ENGLISH, UH, PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND WE'LL GET YOU TRANSLATION HEADSETS.
WE'LL PASS THOSE OUT WHILE MS. GUILLEN MAKES HER WAY UP.
UH, TO OUR FOLKS THAT CAME OUT TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE READING DECATHLON, UH, AS SOMEONE WHO SPENT THE BETTER PART OF MY ADOLESCENCE WITH MY HEAD STUCK IN A BOOK, UH, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL FIND THE FUNDING FOR YOU FOR NEXT YEAR.
MY NAME IS DEANNA GUILLEN, AND I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN THAT, UH, WERE IN THE LA UNIFIED.
AND YESTERDAY WE WITNESSED HOW THE UTLA PRESIDENT MANDATED THAT THE OPE TRUST, SHE TOLD HER HOW TO USE IT, AND SHE, UH, LISTEN.
AND YOU WERE IN AGREEMENT TO PUT IN RISK THAT UNTOUCHABLE FUND TO, UH, MAKE GOOD ON PROMISES FOR, UH, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED VISA.
WITH VISA, WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN THE, LIKE, THE PINATA THAT ONLY, UH, ONLY THE PROGRAMS THAT COME HERE BENEFIT FROM, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THAT YOU ARE USING IT FOR PARTIES FOR TO PUT L-G-B-T-Q, UH, PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOLS THAT DON'T LET THE PARENTS KNOW.
AND YOU'RE VIOLATING PARENTS, UH, RIGHTS.
AND ANOTHER ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THESE PROGRAMS COME HERE TO INTIMIDATE PARENTS.
YESTERDAY, THEY EXPRESSED HATE TOWARDS ME AND YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
THAT'S WHY PARENTS DO NOT COME HERE.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE NOT ENGAGED, BECAUSE THEY'RE INTIMIDATED.
AND YOU HAVE CREATED THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT THESE GROUPS COME AND CAN TALK IN SUCH A MANNER.
AND THAT INTIMIDATE US AS PARENTS.
I DO REPRESENT PARENTS FOR MANY YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN HERE ADVOCATING BECAUSE I SEE ALL THE DIRTY DEALINGS THAT HAPPEN HERE.
AND IT IS AN A SHAME THAT YOU CONTINUE TO ACT IN THIS WAY.
AND THE ONLY THING THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN IS NOT WANTING TO REALLY ENGAGE PARENT.
YOU ARE NOT IMPROVING OUR STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY.
OUR STUDENTS IN 11TH GRADE HAVE 76% IN MATH ONE GRADE LEVEL, AND 51 IS THREE GRADE LEVELS BEHIND.
AND IS THAT WHAT HAS IMPROVED VSEP? I WOULD LIKE FOR B SEP TO BE USED FOR ACADEMIC AND NOT TO BE DOING PARTIES AND THEN TAKING THEIR POLITICAL AGENDAS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT B SEP DOES, IS TO PLAY FOR THE, UH, PARTNERS.
SO THE ASSOCIATION, BECAUSE THEY SAY YOU'RE HERE JUST LIKE MS. ES, MS. ES DOESN'T HAVE ANYONE AFRICAN IMMIGRANT IN HER COMMUNITY.
ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'VE GOT FOLKS WHO ARE CALLING IN TO SPEAK.
ARE YOU IN HERE IN PERSON, MS. AGUIRE? NOPE.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN CONCERNED.
PARENT, CAN YOU PLEASE PRESS STAR? THERE YOU ARE.
SO YESTERDAY, UM, YOU APPROVED THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN BOARD MEMBERS.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN? BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO STABILIZE THE BUDGET.
NOW, I DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MADE YESTERDAY AROUND THE, THE BUDGET AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO FUND SOME OF THESE POSITIONS AND CONTINUE TO FUND IT.
BUT THE PURPOSE, THE, THE POINT IS NOT JUST GETTING MORE MONEY SO YOU CAN JUST KEEP SPENDING IT.
THE POINT IS TO LEARN HOW TO BUDGET OUR MONEY.
AND IT'S OUR MONEY BECAUSE IT'S, IT, AS TAXPAYERS, WE HAVE A SAY IN HOW THE BUDGET SHOULD BE SPENT.
NOW, A LOT OF TIMES THIS IS IGNORED BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, MANY OF ORGAN, MANY ORGANIZATIONS WHICH CLAIM TO BE PARENT LED HAVE, UM, KNOW HOW TO WORK THE SYSTEM.
[00:35:01]
ORGANIZE, THEY KNOW HOW TO COME TO THE BOARD MEETING, SIGN UP, AND, AND PRETTY MUCH TAKE OVER.SO YOU'RE ONLY GETTING A ONE SIDE OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING.
YOU ONLY HEAR WHAT YOUR, WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, NOT YOU'RE NOT USING YOUR, UH, YOUR SEAT TO HEAR ALL DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
NOW, I WANNA POINT OUT TO MENTAL HEALTH.
THERE'S A LOT OF PUSH FOR MENTAL HEALTH BOARD MEMBERS.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PUR HOW, HOW THE CRITERIA THAT'S USED TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO STUDENTS? BECAUSE I HAVE A CHILD WITH AN IEP AND EVEN WITH THE IEP, YOU STILL HAVE TO, UH, THERE, THERE'S AN ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
SO HOW ARE ALL STUDENTS ABLE TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN YOUR SCHOOLS? CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE CRITERIA IS? SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT PROGRAMS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND THEM, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE NEED AND WHAT IS BEING ASKED FOR, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT FOCUS ALL OF YOUR BUDGET DECISIONS ON A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHEN YOU HAVE 500,000 STUDENTS THAT YOU REPRESENT, EVEN THOSE THAT YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THEIR APP.
SO PLEASE LOOK INTO WHAT YOU'RE DOING, LOOK INTO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, EVERYBODY'S OPINION, NOT JUST THE ONES YOU WANT.
ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIA LUISA PALMA.
MS. PALMA, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MY NAME IS MARIA LUISA PALMER.
AND FOR THE RECORD, I WANT TO SAY TODAY THAT THE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AT THE JUNE 16TH, 2026 BOARD MEETING, MR. UH, M AND AS THE BOARD CHAIR, WHEN YOU ALLOWED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO DISRUPT MY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN, YOU AIDED AND ABETTING THE THREATENING, VIOLENT, AND HATE ACTIVITY TOWARDS ME AND OTHERS JUST BECAUSE I WAS SPEAKING ON AN OPPOSING VIEWPOINT TO THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, YOU ALLOWED DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, BULLYING BY NOT STOPPING THE PROCEEDINGS, BY NOT REMOVING THE OFFENDERS FROM THE AUDITORIUM.
YOU REFUSE TO ENFORCE THE RULES OF DECORUM, WHICH ARE IN YOUR BOARD RULES.
YOU VIOLATED MAI AND OTHERS' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH AND REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES WHEN YOU RETURN ROUTINELY FOR YEARS ALLOWED DISRUPTIVE AUDIENCE BEHAVIORS SUCH AS YELLING, BOOING, STOMPING.
YOU'VE CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT THAT CHILLS FREE SPEECH.
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO ROUTINELY.
YOU'VE CREATED AN UNSAFE SPACE FOR DEMOCRATIC DISCOURSE, FOR OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS.
YOU LA UNIFIED ARE COMPLICIT AND ANY REASONABLE PERSON MUST CONCLUDE THAT L-A-U-S-D INTENDS DELIBERATELY CREATES THIS CHILLING ENVIRONMENT FOR FREE SPEECH.
HOW CAN PARENTS EVER FEEL SECURE AND EXPRESSING THEIR OWN TRUE VIEWPOINT? THEY CANNOT.
THERE IS NO FREE SPEECH AT L-A-U-S-D AND YOU ARE ALL HELPING YOU.
ALL OF YOU BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD CARE, MR. MLS, YOU CREATED THIS ENVIRONMENT.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STEPPED UP AND STOPPED THAT PROCEEDING YESTERDAY.
YOU ALLOWED THEM TO STOMP ALL OVER US TO YELL OBSCENITIES AT US, AND THEY THREATENED US PERSONALLY.
SO WE HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS LACK OF, OF, OF OBSERVING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL FREE SPEECH RIGHTS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIA DAISY ORTIZ.
I SEE YOU'RE WITH US REMOTELY, MS. ORTIZ, UH, MS. ORTIZ IS GONNA SPEAK IN SPANISH, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S SAYING IN ENGLISH, PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND WE'LL GET YOU A TRANSLATION HEADSET IF YOU DO NOT ALREADY HAVE ONE.
AND YESTERDAY, WELL, THE ADVISORY, UH, DISTRICT LEVEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD TOLD, SAID THAT THEY DON'T HAVE INFORMATION.
THERE'S NO INTERPRETATION AND MANY OTHER THINGS, DISCRIMINATION.
WHAT WILL YOU DO? WILL YOU CORRECT THIS OR WILL YOU CONTINUE WITH THIS NEW YEAR DOING THE SAME PRACTICES? NOW ALSO, WHEN YOU MAY CUTS, WHY DON'T YOU SPECIFY AND BREAK DOWN WHAT PROGRAMS WILL BE MOST AFFECTED? LCAP WAS APPROVED, THE STABILIZATION PLAN WAS APPROVED, BUT YOU DON'T CARE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY PROGRAMS THAT ARE SO CRITICAL FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT HERE FOR THE CHILDREN, YOUR ACTIONS ARE LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS SAYING THAT YOU ARE HERE FOR CHILDREN.
[00:40:01]
BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO SHAME.AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALSO, DID YOU ALSO RECEIVE A SALARY CUT? DID DID YOU RECEIVE EVERYBODY A SALARY CUT HERE YOU ARE NOT HERE ADVOCATING FOR QUALITY EDUCATION, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
AND DO YOU THINK GRADUATING STUDENTS WITH A D IS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE? GRADUATING CHILDREN THAT READ AT THE EIGHTH GRADE LEVEL FOR HIGH SCHOOL FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT IS NOT ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
WHEN YOU CUT MAKE CUTS, IT IS NOT ACCORDING TO THE ACTIONS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PLAN.
SO TRULY, YOU WANT TO LIVE A LIE, YOU NEED TO STOP THAT.
WE, UH, TAXPAYERS NEED ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, BUT WITH ACTIONS BEHIND THEM AND ACTIONS THAT HELP FOR PARENTS TO BE THE VOICE AND ALSO MONITORING OF YOUR PROGRAMS. THANK YOU AND HAVE A NICE DAY TIME.
ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEX MARTINEZ.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR.
UH, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I AM GONNA BE SPEAKING IN SPANISH.
UH, GOOD MORNING TO ALL PARENTS, TO EVERYONE PRESENT ON THIS BEAUTIFUL MORNING.
I JUST WANNA GIVE INFORMATION.
UH, YESTERDAY, UH, DURING YESTERDAY'S MEETING, THE, THEY PROPOSED A STABILIZATION PLAN AND THEY WANTED TO CUT $10 MILLION, UH, TO THE STABILIZATION FRONT PLAN OF LOS ANGELES.
THIS MEANS THAT YOUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN, BECAUSE I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT ARE POSSIBLY WANT THEM TO BE PART OF L-A-U-S-D, AND THIS WOULD MEAN THAT OUR CHILDREN WOULD BE MORE EXPOSED, THEY WOULD HAVE LESS SAFETY INSIDE AND AROUND THE SCHOOLS DURING THE, THE CUT THAT HAPPENED IN 2020, THE FUNDS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM, UH, A CERTAIN DEPARTMENT, THEY WERE GIVEN TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY WERE RECRUITING MEMBERS, UH, GANG MEMBERS THAT HAD BEEN IN PRISON, AND NOW THEY ARE PLACED INSIDE THE SCHOOLS AND AROUND THOSE SCHOOLS SO THAT THEY CAN SUPPOSEDLY PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
AND I BELIEVE THAT NOT JUST AS PAR AS A PARENT, BUT A MEMBER OF THIS SOCIETY, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN OFFICER AROUND THE SCHOOLS, IN THE SCHOOLS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
AND WE HAVE SEEN DURING ALL THESE MONTHS AND THIS YEAR, THERE ARE MANY INCIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AT THE SCHOOLS AND AROUND THE SCHOOLS, NOT JUST WITH FIGHTS, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GUNS THAT ARE FOUND INSIDE, OUTSIDE THE SCHOOLS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU AS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT IS DECIDING TO DO THIS, REMOVE SECURITY AND PROTECTION FROM YOUR CHILDREN.
AND I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW.
AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, AND I HOPE THAT, THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS, UH, L-A-G-S-D SCHOOLS.
OH, THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE ONE PERSON WHO RETURNED FOR TAB ONE, THAT IS, UH, CHRISTINA JAMES.
I SEE YOU'RE ON THE LINE WITH US.
MS. JAMES, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN FOR TAB ONE.
SORRY, I, I SOMEHOW MISSED YOU GUYS EARLIER WHEN YOU CALLED MY NAME.
HI, UM, I'M CALLING TODAY IN REGARDS TO, UM, I'M RUNNING, I'M BASICALLY CALLING TO ADVOCATE FOR AN, TO ADVOCATE FOR AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE CURRENT RE RECESS AND LUNCH SCHEDULES FOR, FOR OUR CHILDREN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE, OR THE FIFTH GRADE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELEMENTARY, UH, WHEN IT ENDS.
AT ANY EVENT, I'M BASICALLY CALLING MANY STUDIES AND FIRSTHAND OBSERVATIONS HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF ADEQUATE AND STRUCTURED PLAYTIME AND BREAKS DURING SCHOOL EXTENDING BOTH RECESS, RECESS, AND LUNCH PERIODS, I BELIEVE WILL PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE NECESSARY TIME TO RECHARGE PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND SOCIALLY.
UM, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT LONGER RECESS PERIODS WOULD BENEFIT YOUNGER STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM K TO THIRD, AS THEY NEED OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS, UH, HEALTHY EXERCISE HABITS, AND RELEASING THAT ENERGY TO STAY FOCUSED IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. AS YOU KNOW, THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT HAS NOT REALLY BEEN RELEVANT OR HASN'T REALLY DONE GOOD, RIGHT? IN THE NINETIES, WE PROBABLY HAD MORE OUTDOOR TIME THAN WE DO NOW.
I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY ESSENTIAL
[00:45:01]
FOR THE YOUNGER KIDS TO HAVE MORE OUTDOOR TIME.SO I'M, I JUST WANNA ADVOCATE AND THROW THAT OUT THERE FOR SOMEBODY TO SOMEHOW IMPLEMENT THIS IDEA TO IMPROVISE, UM, AND REVISIT THOSE SCHEDULES.
AND, UM, I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WAS CALLING TODAY.
SO HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEBODY TO ACTUALLY TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ABOUT, FOR THE STUDENTS' WELLNESS AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THE CAPABILITIES, UM, OF BEING OUTDOORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE YOUNG CHILDREN.
AND NOW ISABEL AGUIRE IS HERE.
SO FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, ISABEL AGUIRE, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE SHE BEGIN.
AND YESTERDAY, IT WAS A VERY LONG MEETING WE HAD, AND IT WAS A MEETING THAT AS PARENTS, WE WERE LISTENING TO IT, IT MAKES US THINK, AND IT SCARES US, THAT US MEMBERS, UH, BOARD MEMBERS ARE TAKING SUCH FAST DECISIONS, MR. NICK AND, UH, SUPERINTENDENT THAT'S IN PLACE NOW, THEY CLEARLY SAID THAT THEY WERE AGAINST THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE BEING MADE, AND YOU STILL DIDN'T CARE IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO HAPPEN, HAPPEN.
AND I ASKED MYSELF, HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE GONNA TAKE WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU MADE A MISTAKE? AND IT'LL, SAME THING WILL HAPPEN LIKE IREADY AND THE PHONES, AND YOU ALLOW THINGS AND YOU CREATE THIS CHAOS.
THEN YOU COME AND YOU PUT A BANDAID ON THINGS AND YOU SAY, WELL, WE, WE, WE, WE, WE MADE A MISTAKE.
WELL, YOU ARE AGAINST CHARTERS, BUT YOU ARE THE ONES WHO ARE SENDING OUR CHILDREN TO THAT SCHOOL.
BECAUSE AS PARENTS, WE ARE TIRED THAT THE UNIONS HAVE MORE TO SAY THAN US PARENTS.
WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE BRINGING THE CLIENTS TO YOU.
YOU NEED A FINANCING CLASS MAYBE SO THAT YOU CAN HELP US UNDERSTAND AND FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND, TO MAKE BETTER AND INFORMED DECISIONS SO THAT IN THE FUTURE DOESN'T HURT US.
SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS, AND I HOPE THAT NEXT YEAR, NEXT UPCOMING YEAR, WE HAVE BETTER RESULTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS.
AND THAT DOES COMPLETE ALL PUBLIC COMMENT.
[Additional Item]
EVERYONE.GOOD MORNING, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, OF COURSE.
UH, TODAY, UH, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO LEAD, UH, A RECOGNITION BOTH OF RETIREMENTS AND MEMBERS OF OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM WHO SERVICE TO LA UNIFIED MERIT SPECIAL RECOGNITION AS THEY LEAVE THE DISTRICT.
THREE OF THESE LEADERS ARE CONCLUDING DISTINGUISHED CAREERS THROUGH RETIREMENT, DR. FRANCIS BIAS, MARELA SANCHEZ ROBLES AND LOURDES VALENTINE.
CARLA ESTRADA AND JAIME TORRENS, MEMBERS OF OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE HELPED SHAPE THE DIRECTION AND SUCCESS OF THE DISTRICT IN RECENT YEARS.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO DO SORT OF A QUICK RUN OF SHOW OF THE PLAN FOR TODAY'S RECOGNITIONS.
FIRST, I WILL OFFER BRIEF REMARKS.
FOLLOWING THOSE REMARKS, I WILL INVITE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO SHARE ANY COMMENTS THEY WISH TO MAKE.
OUR HONOREES WILL THEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER BRIEF REMARKS, AFTER WHICH WE WILL CONCLUDE WITH THE PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS AND PHOTOGRAPHS.
BEFORE RECOGNIZING OUR FIVE HONOREES, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A SPECIAL GROUP OF RETIRING EMPLOYEES WHO WILL BE HONORED AT THIS AFTERNOON'S DISTRICT RETIREMENT RECEPTION, REPRESENTING BOTH OUR CERTIFICATED AND CLASSIFIED WORKFORCE.
THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE THE RETIRING EMPLOYEES WITH THE GREATEST YEARS OF SERVICE WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE BARGAINING UNITS.
COLLECTIVELY, THEY REPRESENT MORE THAN 360 YEARS OF SERVICE TO LA UNIFIED.
TWO OF THE RETIREES WE ARE ABOUT TO RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALLY.
MARELA SANCHEZ LES AND LOURDES VALENTINE ARE ALSO AMONG THOSE BEING HONORED THIS AFTERNOON FOR HAVING THE GREATEST YEARS OF SERVICE WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE BARGAINING UNITS.
THEIR CAREERS SPAN CLASSROOMS, SCHOOL SITES, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, FACILITIES, OPERATIONS, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES.
WHILE THEIR ROLES MAY DIFFER, THEY SHARE A COMMON COMMITMENT TO SERVING STUDENTS, SUPPORTING COLLEAGUES, AND STRENGTHENING OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE ENTIRE LA UNIFIED FAMILY, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING RETIREES.
AND SO, AGAIN, THESE ARE THE CERTIFICATED RETIREES.
[00:50:01]
WITH THE GREATEST YEARS OF SERVICE BY BARGAINING UNIT FROM UTLA, WE RECOGNIZE AND HONOR ANNETTE MORALES, 44 YEARS OF SERVICE.UH, IN HER LATEST POSITION, SHE WAS THE MAAL INSTRUCTIONAL COACH AT SALLY RIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
FROM A A LA, WE RECOGNIZED AN IAN FOR 38 YEARS OF SERVICE.
IN HER LAST POSITION, SHE SERVED AS A SCHOOL SUPPORT ADMINISTRATOR, LITIGATION COORDINATOR, AND AMONG OUR DISTRICT REPRESENTED STAFF.
AGAIN, WE RECOGNIZE MARELA SANCHEZ LES FOR 32 YEARS OF SERVICE, MOST RECENTLY AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN THE DIVISION OF INSTRUCTION.
LET'S GIVE ALL OF THOSE FOLKS A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
NOW MOVING ON TO OUR CLASSIFIED RETIREES.
WITH THE GREATEST YEARS OF SERVICE FROM L-A-S-P-A, WE HAVE WAYNE WILSON WITH 49 YEARS OF SERVICE.
MOST RECENTLY AS A SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICER WITH OUR SCHOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM TEAMSTER'S LOCAL 5 72.
WE HAVE MANUAL HARMON WITH 43 YEARS OF SERVICE, MOST RECENTLY AS A PLANT MANAGER, THREE FOR WESTCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR CSEA CHAPTER 500.
WE HAVE TWIGGY BUSTOS WITH 42 YEARS OF SERVICE.
MOST RECENTLY AS AN OFFICE TECHNICIAN AT SANTANA ARTS ACADEMY FOR A A LA TEAMSTERS LOCAL 2010.
WE HAVE PAULINE GARONE WITH 37 YEARS OF SERVICE, MOST RECENTLY AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MANAGER WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY BRANCH FOR SCIU LOCAL 99.
WE HONOR LUCILA VIAL FOR 37 YEARS OF SERVICE.
MOST RECENTLY AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT AT JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL FROM THE LAOC BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL.
WE RECOGNIZED ROB ROBERTO TAMLO FOR 21 YEARS OF SERVICE, MOST RECENTLY AS A HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING FITTER WITH A FACILITY SERVICE DIVISION IN PROJECT UNIT NORTH.
AND LASTLY, FROM OUR DISTRICT REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES, WE RECOGNIZE LURE THIS MAY VALENTINE FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.
AS A SENIOR ADVISOR IN COMMUNICATIONS, LET'S GIVE ALL OF THOSE RETIREES A BIG ONE.
I WILL NOW TURN TO OUR SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS OF FIVE LEADERS WHOSE SERVICE TO LA UNIFIED HAS HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON OUR DISTRICT.
AGAIN, I'LL BEGIN WITH SOME BRIEF REMARKS FOR EACH RETIREE OR INDIVIDUAL BEING RECOGNIZED.
I'LL THEN INVITE THE BOARD IF THEY HAVE ANY COMMENTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
AND THEN I'LL INVITE THE, UH, PERSON BEING RECOGNIZED TO COME UP AND MAKE BRIEF REMARKS IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
AT THE END OF HONORING ALL FIVE FOLKS, WE WILL THEN COME TOGETHER FOR PICTURES AND ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION.
SO I WILL BEGIN, UH, WITH RECOGNIZING A FRIEND.
AND THAT IS, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE DR. FRANCIS BIAS.
FRANCES AND I KIND OF MADE OUR BONES TOGETHER AS THE EXPRESSION GOES.
SO, UH, THIS ONE IS, IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME.
UH, FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, FRANCES HAS DEDICATED HER CAREER TO LA UNIFIED, SERVING AS A TEACHER, AP PRINCIPAL, LOCAL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, AND ULTIMATELY CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER.
SHE'S ALSO A PROUD GRADUATE OF LA UNIFIED SCHOOLS.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, FRANCES HAS CHAMPIONED INSTRUCTIONAL EXCELLENCE AND STUDENT OPPORTUNITY.
HER LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTED TO IMPROVED OUTCOMES IN LANGUAGE ARTS, MATHEMATICS, GRADUATION RATES, WHILE HELPING SHAPE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
EQUALLY IMPORTANT HAS BEEN HER COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING FUTURE LEADERS, WHETHER MENTORING, ASPIRING ADMINISTRATORS, ADVANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP, ADVOCATING FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS, TAKING EARLY MORNING CALLS FROM ACTING SUPERINTENDENTS.
FRANCIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKABLE SERVICE, YOUR PASSION FOR EDUCATION, AND YOUR ENDURING COMMITMENT TO LA UNIFIED.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INVITE ANY BOARD MEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO, UH, WEIGH IN BEFORE DR.
[00:55:02]
BESIDES ALL THOSE WONDERFUL THINGS AND TRUE STATEMENTS THAT, UH, SUPERINTENDENT SHAPE MADE, FRANCIS WAS ALSO PRESIDENT AS I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE, UH, ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.AND SHE DID LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF PROMOTE ADMINISTRATORS IN L-A-U-S-D TO SUCCEED.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, FRANCIS.
I'LL JUST GO NEXT TO SAY THANK, THANK YOU, FRANCIS.
I WAS ALWAYS, UM, VERY EXCITED WHEN YOU CAME INTO THIS BUILDING BECAUSE I'D HEARD YOUR LORE HAD KIND OF PERMEATED THE DISTRICT, BUT I, I NEVER WORKED WITH YOUR REGION, ALTHOUGH EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SCHOOLS, YOUR LEADERSHIP IN COM TRANSITIONING TO THE COSA MODEL AND SOME OF THE INNOVATIVE THINGS DID BRING ME OUT A FEW TIMES.
UH, AND I WAS THRILLED TO WORK WITH YOU.
THANK YOU, UH, FOR SO GRACIOUSLY ALWAYS ANSWERING OUR, OUR MANY INQUIRIES ABOUT THINGS LIKE SCREEN TIME AND CELL PHONE POLICY AND TUTORING AND, AND ALL THAT.
YOU SPENT MANY HOURS BEFORE THIS BOARD AND HANDLED YOURSELF INCREDIBLY CAPABLY.
UM, I WAS ALSO, IN ADDITION TO GETTING TO KNOW YOU PROFESSIONALLY, I KNOW DR. RIVAS AND I HAD A LOT OF FUN ON, ON A, IT WAS A WORK TRIP, BUT WE HAD OUR FUN AS WELL, UH, A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
UM, UH, AND, UM, VERY, UH, WAS WAS VERY SAD TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR RETIREMENT.
I'LL SAY THIS TO ALL OF OUR HONOREES.
YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE THING, UH, THAT OUR INCREDIBLY CAPABLE L UNIFIED PERSONNEL ARE USUALLY BAD AT IS RETIRING.
SO I HOPE THAT GOES FOR YOU AS WELL.
UM, AND YOU FIND YOUR WAY BACK HERE IN SOME CAPACITY, UH, BUT JUST GRATEFUL FOR YEARS OF SERVICE.
AND, UH, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT I THINK THIS DISTRICT'S GREATEST GAINS, UM, MORE WHEN YOU WERE OUR CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER.
BAEZ DOESN'T KNOW THIS, BUT I ACTUALLY MET HER MANY, MANY YEARS AGO WHEN SHE AND MR. HUERTA CAME TO PRESENT THAT CONCEPT OF CSAS.
WHEN BUTNER WAS, I THINK IT WAS BUTNER WHO WAS SUPERINTENDENT.
I WAS THERE REPRESENTING, UH, ETLA, AND YOU PRESENTED THESE DIAGRAMS AT SHOW THE COSA.
I WAS LIKE, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER MET YOU.
UM, BUT I'VE BEEN, UH, VERY GLAD AND HAPPY TO HAVE WORKED WITH YOU AND COLLABORATED WITH YOU ON THE CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE.
I WANNA ECHO THAT YOU'VE BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE AND WELCOMING TO NEW IDEAS AND SUPPORTED OUR TEAM AND SUPPORTED, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR COMMITTEE IN GUIDING US, AND, UM, LETTING US KNOW ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR EDUCATORS AND OUR STUDENTS.
AND JUST VERY GRATEFUL AND VERY HAPPY FOR YOU RETIRING BECAUSE THIS IS GREAT.
I HOPE YOU GET TO HAVE FUN AND I HOPE YOU GET TO RELAX.
AND YES, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME BACK.
BAEZ, YOU KNOW, UM, WHEN I RE WHEN WE RECEIVED YOUR EMAIL ABOUT YOUR RETIREMENT, YOU KNOW, I RESPONDED, I WAS IN SHOCK BE, AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE, UM, WE FIRST, UH, CROSSED PATHS, UM, WHEN YOU WERE A REGION EAST.
AND, UH, AND THEN AFTER THAT YOU WERE THE REGION EAST, YOU KNOW, SUPERINTENDENT AND THEN CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER.
SO FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE AN EXAMPLE OF A LATINA STRIVING FOR MORE, A LATINA THAT WANTS TO GIVE BACK TO HER COMMUNITY.
AND YOUR PASSION AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND YOUR FIERCENESS JUST REALLY HAS, YOU KNOW, SHINED THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.
AND I KNOW THAT, THAT PASSION AND THAT YOU LOVE FOR, FOR, FOR EDUCATION, FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, FOR RESEARCH, AND ALL OF THAT IS, IS GONNA GO ON FURTHER.
AND I KNOW THAT SOON I'LL BE SEEING YOU, HOPEFULLY, I DON'T KNOW, I ENVISION YOU AS PROFESSOR BIAS, SO WE'LL SEE YOU, YOU NEVER KNOW.
BUT I KNOW THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO, TO RISE HIGH AND ENDEAVOR, UM, AND BE AN EXAMPLE, A ROLE MODEL FOR, FOR ALL LATINAS, PARTICULARLY DOCTORATES, DR.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR SWEAT, YOUR TEARS, EVERYTHING THAT YOU WENT THROUGH.
IT WAS TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DISTRICT, UM, IS THAT DISTRICT YOU ENVISION TO BE PART OF.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ABILITY TO CONNECT.
I THINK EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'VE HAD, YOU'VE MADE AN MADE IT A POINT TO CONNECT.
AND I WANNA SAY, PERSONALLY, THANK YOU FOR JUST UPLIFTING AND MAKING SURE THAT I WAS DOING GOOD IN WHAT I AM HERE TO DO, UM, BY PROVIDING WHATEVER INFORMATION I NEEDED, WHATEVER RESOURCES I NEEDED, UM, TO MAKE MY JOY, MY WORK, A JOY.
UH, I WANT TO ALSO SAY, UM, TO NICK'S POINT THAT,
[01:00:01]
UM, WE, WE, WE DO AROUND HERE, NOT RETIRE WELL, UM, I KNOW I'M AROUND MANY OF THOSE, UM, BUT TO KNOW THAT WE WILL, I WILL CALL UPON YOU OFTEN TO, TO HELP SUPPORT THIS DISTRICT.AND IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE THE LEGACY OF L-A-U-S-D STAND BEFORE US AND TO CONTINUE TO HELP OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, UH, BE AT THEIR BEST.
AND I THINK YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR DISTRICT SHINE IN THAT WAY.
VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE SERVICE YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS DISTRICT, AND THE FAMILIES ARE GRATEFUL AS WELL.
UH, I GOT TO, I WAS SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING I HAD WRITTEN ABOUT YOU A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
YOU'VE SEEN IT, BUT, UM, THE THEMES REMAIN TRUE, WHICH IS THAT YOU ARE A CHAMPION FOR EQUITY AND YOU HAVE A COMPASSIONATE HEART.
AND THAT IS THE LEGACY THAT YOU'RE LEAVING BEHIND IN LA UNIFIED.
AND I DO HOPE YOU LEAVE IT BEHIND BECAUSE THE OTHER THING I SAID, AND WHEN I WROTE ABOUT YOU WAS THAT YOU RISE TO EVERY CHALLENGE THAT YOU FACE.
AND I HOPE YOU RISE TO THE CHALLENGE OF RELAXING AND REJUVENATING AND ENJOYING RETIREMENT.
UM, YOUR LEGACY WILL ABSOLUTELY LIVE ON.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, DR.
BIAS, REMEMBER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, SO IT'S BOTH AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR MY CAREER IN L-A-U-S-D.
UM, L-A-U-S-D TEACHES US TO SEE POSSIBILITY AND CHALLENGES.
AND WITH EVERY CHALLENGE I FOUGHT HARD TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WHAT THEY DESERVED FROM THE MOMENT I STEPPED INTO THE CLASSROOM WHERE THERE WERE NO BOOKS, MATERIALS, OR A PIECE OF CHALK, MUCH LESS, MUCH LESS ESTABLISHED STANDARDS, BECAUSE THAT WAS BEFORE STANDARDS WERE ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED IN THE COUNTRY.
I DEVELOPED A PATH FOR OUR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE AND TAUGHT STUDENTS TO READ AND RECLASSIFIED MANY STUDENTS FROM ENGLISH LEARNERS TO MAINSTREAM ENGLISH.
DURING MY EARLY YEARS, I WAS THROWN INTO THE WORLD OF POLITICS, MAKING SENSE OUT OF PROP 180 7, PROHIBITING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FROM ACCESSING PUBLIC EDUCATION, NON-EMERGENCY HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
THIS WAS A SHOCKING LAW, BUT I WAS DETERMINED TO TEACH MY STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR STATUS.
PROPOSITION 2, 2, 7 REQUIRED PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO TEACH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT STUDENTS PRIMARY IN ENG, PRIMARILY IN ENGLISH, RESTRICTING BILINGUAL EDUCATION.
I WENT FROM A BILINGUAL EDUCATOR TO TEACHING SOLELY IN ENGLISH OVERNIGHT.
DESPITE THIS, I HELPED OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS NAVIGATE THE UNCERTAINTIES.
WITH EVERY NEW LAW AND EMERGENCY IN L-A-U-S-D, I STEPPED IN TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
I QUICKLY FOUND THAT THE FAMILIES MIRRORED MY FAMILY AND I WAS HONORED TO SUPPORT THEM AND SERVE THEM.
I'M BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN EDUCATED BY L-A-U-S-D, HIRED BY L-A-U-S-D AND HAVE THE BELIEF OF L-A-U-S-D IN MY ROLE AS CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER.
IN MY 31 YEARS, I'VE MET PARENTS, SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO'VE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, AND I WILL CARRY THEIR STORIES IN MY HEART FOREVER.
IN MY SEVEN YEARS AS PRINCIPAL, I HAD THE HONOR OF LOOKING INTO THE EYES OF EVERY STUDENT TO DISCUSS THEIR PROGRESS AND HEAR THEIR FUTURE GOALS DURING MY ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH THEM.
THESE ARE THE MO MOST UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS FOR ME.
AS THE LANDSCAPE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND L-A-U-S-D CHANGES, I HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS BOARD.
FOCUS ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN SO THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE A FOCUS.
PREVENT ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES TO AVOID OVERWORKING YOUR EMPLOYEES.
THE CENTRAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES CARRY YOUR INITIATIVE.
IF YOU WANNA REDUCE CENTRAL OFFICE STAFFING, THEN PLEASE BE MINDFUL ABOUT THE MANY INITIATIVES THAT ARE INTRODUCED.
I ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED RESPECT OF CENTRAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ENTER TEACHERS' PAYROLL.
WHEN THEY ATTEND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
THEY PREPARE EMPLOYEES TO OPERATE SUMMER SCHOOL.
THEY OPERATE HUBS FOR STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS OR TO PREPARE FOR ENROLLMENT.
CENTRAL OFFICE SUPPORT IS ALSO STUDENT SUPPORT.
KEEP PROMOTING, KEEP PROMOTING INNOVATION.
INNOVATION COMES WHEN THERE IS A CHALLENGE, SUCH AS DIMINISHING RESOURCES ALLOW TIME FOR INNOVATION.
WE HAVE VERY CREATIVE EMPLOYEES, PARENTS AND STUDENTS, AND THEY WILL IMPRESS YOU.
CONTINUE HAVING FAITH IN OUR SCHOOLS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE LED AS THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER.
I LOVE EVERY MEMBER OF THE DIVISION OF INSTRUCTION WHO HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR STUDENTS.
I THANK MY DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION FOR HER SUPPORT AND TO MY SUPERINTENDENTS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP.
DURING THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES, THE REGION SUPERINTENDENTS AND CABINET HAVE BEEN GREAT TEAMMATES.
THE IMPROVEMENTS IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT HAVE BEEN DUE TO A COLLECTIVE EFFORT OF EVERY MEMBER OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
I WILL CONTINUE CHEERING ON THIS GREAT DISTRICT, AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ME TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS THAT STUDENTS DESERVE.
I WILL CARE FOR MY AGING MOTHER, BUT I WILL ALSO STEP INTO, UH, SOMETHING THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT IS ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ENSURING THAT IT CONTINUES AND IT THRIVES.
THANK YOU FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, AND
[01:05:01]
I WILL FOREVER CARRY YOU IN MY HEARTS.I WOULD NOW LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MARELA SANCHEZ ROBLES OVER THE COURSE OF 32 YEARS WITH LA UNIFIED.
MARELA HAS SERVED IN NUMEROUS LEADERSHIP ROLES, BEGINNING AS A BILINGUAL CLASSROOM TEACHER, AND ULTIMATELY SERVING AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITHIN THE DIVISION OF INSTRUCTION.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE HAS BEEN A CHAMPION FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS INSTRUCTIONAL EXCELLENCE AND EDUCATIONAL EQUITY.
SHE HELPED LEAD THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, BUILT PARTNERSHIPS THAT STRENGTHENED INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE AND SUPPORTED PRINCIPLES IN SCHOOLS IN IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS.
MOST RECENTLY, MARELA HAS PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP IN ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION, HELPING GUIDE INITIATIVES IN ARTS, EDUCATION, INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY, AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, WHILE BRINGING CLARITY, COLLABORATION, AND PURPOSE TO COMPLEX WORK.
MARELA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DECADES OF SERVICE AND FOR THE LASTING IMPACT YOU HAVE MADE ON STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT LA UNIFIED.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP TO BOARD MEMBERS.
WELL, I HAVE TO SAY, MARIELLA, YOU'RE ONE OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES PEOPLE BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I REALLY, REALLY MET YOU, UH, FACE TO FACE.
YOU'RE ONE OF THESE PEOPLE WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, GETS ALL THE WORK DONE, AND I KNOW THAT FRANCIS IS VERY GRATEFUL TO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.
I'M A SECONDARY PERSON, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE, WE'RE FOCUSING ON ELEMENTARY, BUT WE ALL HAVE BILINGUAL KIDS, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT YOU GAVE US AND CONSTRUCTED.
I'LL JUST, UH, WE HAVEN'T WORKED TOO CLOSELY TOGETHER, BUT I, I, UM, WE HEARD IT WITHIN THE DLAC PRESENTATION YESTERDAY, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST PROUD OF IN MY TENURE ON THIS BOARD IS OUR EXPANSION OF DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS ON REALLY LEANING INTO BILINGUAL, TRILINGUAL, UM, UH, LEARNING AS A STRENGTH, AS AN ASSET OF THE DISTRICT FOR FAR TOO LONG IN THE STATE, LEGALLY AND BEYOND.
AND I KNOW THAT'S, THAT YOU'VE BEEN REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN, IN THAT.
AND SO YOUR LEGACY WILL CONTINUE, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE THIS BOARD'S COMMITMENT TO KIND OF, IN YOUR HONOR, AND DR.
B'S HONOR TO CONTINUE OUR WORK AROUND MULTICULTURAL, MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION AND REALLY INTO THOSE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
SO THANKS FOR BEING A, A TRUE TRAILBLAZER ON THAT.
YES, I MET YOU, I THINK, AT THE ART FEST LAST YEAR, AND SO I WANNA APPRECIATE YOU FOR GUIDING THAT WORK, UM, THROUGH THE ARTS EDUCATION OFFICE.
AND THEN I SAW YOU AGAIN AT THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS EVENT, WHICH I DID NOT KNOW THAT YOU WERE ALSO LEADING THAT WORK.
SO, LIKE SCOTT SAYS, YOU DO, YOU'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES AND RUNNING A LOT OF INITIATIVES.
AND I WANNA APPRECIATE THAT WORK.
BIAS, I'M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU THAT YOU ARE IN THIS PLACE WHERE YOU ARE RETIRING, AND I HOPE AND WISH FOR YOU A WONDERFUL TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES.
AND OF COURSE, IF YOU WANNA COME BACK AND, AND OFFER YOUR YOUR SERVICES, I'M SURE WE'D BE GLAD TO HAVE YOU AGAIN.
SO, HAVE FUN DURING RETIREMENT, SIX MONTHS AND ONE DAY, THEN YOU CAN COME BACK.
WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? THANK YOU.
SIX MONTHS IS ALWAYS WHAT I SAY.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT SIX MONTHS AND THEN YOU GET TO COME BACK.
UH, BUT ALWAYS WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS HELPING US.
AND, UH, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO BE IN A DISTRICT WHERE PEOPLE REALLY LOVE WHAT THEY DO AND WHEN THEY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SAY, I'M GONNA RETIRE.
UH, BUT WE DO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR, UH, BEING ABLE TO, TO MAKE OUR WORK BETTER HERE IN THE DISTRICT.
AND SO, SIX MONTHS AND ONE DAY
AND I'LL JUST SAY IT'S, UH, A GOOD REMINDER FOR US TO INVITE THE TEAM TO STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT.
THIS IS YOUR MOMENT FOR THE SPOTLIGHT, BUT WE KNOW BEHIND THE SCENES YOU'VE BEEN ALSO LEADING SO MUCH OF THE BRIGHT WORK.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR LEGACY TOO WILL LIVE ON HERE.
WELL, I DO HOPE TO RETIRE AND I HOPE IT, IT, IT WILL BE, UH, 'CAUSE I THINK I'M 35 YEARS, BUT, UM, SO HOPEFULLY IT DOES HAPPEN.
BUT I STAND HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY TEACHERS OFFICE AND CLASSIFIED STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS AND COLLEAGUES I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING
[01:10:01]
WITH THROUGHOUT MY CAREER.AT, AT EACH OF THE SCHOOLS AND DISTRICT DEPARTMENTS, I HAVE WORKED AT, EACH OF THEM HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN MY JOURNEY THROUGH THEIR SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, HONESTY, AND FRIENDSHIP.
WHETHER IT BE A PHONE CALL, A HUG, THEIR BRILLIANCE, TROUBLESHOOTING A CONCERN, SHARING WORDS, WORDS OF WISDOM, CRITICAL FEEDBACK, OR SIMPLY BEING THERE.
THEY NAVIGATED, THEY HELPED ME NAVIGATE CHALLENGES, CELEBRATE SUCCESSES, GROW AS A LEADER.
AND WITH THAT, I FELT VALUED AND SEEN IN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
I'M EQUALLY GRATEFUL TO THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO ENTRUSTED ME WITH A SMALL PART OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY, WHETHER IN MY CLASSROOM AS A TEACHER OR IN THE SCHOOLS I SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OR PRINCIPAL.
THEY INSPIRED ME WITH THEIR STORIES OF RESILIENCE, CHALLENGED ME TO BE BETTER, AND REMINDED ME DAILY OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS WORK.
THEIR STORIES AND MIND BECAME INTERTWINED.
TOGETHER, WE LEARNED, WE STRENGTHENED OUR COMMUNITY, OVERCAME OBSTACLES, AND CELEBRATED COUNTLESS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
EVERY EXPERIENCE HELPED SHAPE ME AS AN EDUCATOR AND LEADER.
AS I RETIRE, I AM ESPECIALLY MINDFUL OF THE SACRIFICES THAT MADE THIS JOURNEY POSSIBLE.
I AM A PROUD DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANT PARENTS, JOSE MARIANA, WHO LEFT YA, MEXICO IN SEARCH OF GREATER OPPORTUNITIES, THEIR COURAGE, FAITH, HARD WORK, AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR EVERYTHING I HAVE ACHIEVED.
ALONG WITH MY BROTHERS, JOSE AND LUIS, THEY INSTILLED IN ME A STRONG WORK ETHIC, A DEEP SENSE OF IDENTITY, AND A MORAL COMPASS THAT HAS GUIDED BOTH MY LIFE AND CAREER FOR WHICH I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL TO MY HUSBAND GABRIEL, AND MY CHILDREN.
NOW ADULT CHILDREN, ISAAC AND JACKIE, THANK YOU FOR BEING MY GREATEST SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND PURPOSE.
YOU SHARED THIS PROFESSION WITH ME THROUGH EARLY MORNINGS, LATE NIGHTS, SCHOOL EVENTS, AND COUNTLESS HOURS DEVOTED TO SERVING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
THE BEST PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DECISION I'VE EVER MADE WAS ACTUALLY ENROLLING MY OWN DAUGHTER AT MY OWN SCHOOL.
AND I ACTUALLY AM A DISTRICT PARENT AS WELL.
AS I LEAVE THIS PROFESSION, I SMILE KNOWING THAT I'M PASSING MY BATON TO MY SON, WHO IS A NEW TEACHER AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR AND VOLUNTEERING IN HIS CLASSROOM.
MY 35 YEARS IN THIS DISTRICT HAVE BEEN DEFINED BY SERVICE PURPOSE AND SERVANT LEADERSHIP.
LIKE YOU ALL SAID, MY JOB WAS ENSURING, OR WHERE IS HE? DR.
I DID IT EXCEPTIONALLY WELL, AND I ENSURED OTHERS TOOK THE CREDIT FOR IT.
ALL THE INITIATIVES, ALL THE PROJECTS CAN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
AND AS YOU LOOK AT ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION, YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS.
SO WITH THAT, MY 35 YEARS IN THIS DISTRICT HAVE BEEN DEFINED BY ALL THAT, BY SERVICE PURPOSE, AND THE EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED AND WALKED ALONGSIDE ME.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING PART OF THIS JOURNEY FILLED WITH MEANING, GROWTH, IMPACT, AND JOY.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR, UM, REMINDING US HOW IMPORTANT CENTRAL OFFICE PEOPLE ARE.
IT'S NOT A BATTLE BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS AND CENTRAL OFFICE.
WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE SAME, UH, REASON.
AND THE SANCHEZ ROBLES, YOU TAUGHT ME A LESSON TOO.
I'M GONNA PUSH ANOTHER BUTTON BESIDES 24, BECAUSE I KNOW ALL MY SCHOOLS SO WELL, BUT I DON'T KNOW ALL THE FLOORS IN THIS BUILDING.
AND I THINK YOU GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO START VISITING PEOPLE.
SO DON'T GET SCARED IF I COME VISIT YOU.
I JUST WANNA SEE WHO YOU ARE, AND I THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT TO ME.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MS. SANCHEZ ROBLES FOR YOUR 35 YEARS OF SERVICE.
BEFORE WE, UH, RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE LEAVING THE DISTRICT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE LOURDES VALENTINE.
FOR 20 YEARS, LUDIS HAS SERVED THE DISTRICT IN LEADERSHIP ROLES ACROSS PROCUREMENT SERVICES, BUSINESS SERVICES, AND COMMUNICATIONS, HELPING STRENGTHEN HOW THE DISTRICT CONNECTS WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EMPLOYEES, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE HAS LED INNOVATIVE COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING INITIATIVES, INCLUDING SUPPORTING THE DISTRICT'S REBRANDING EFFORTS, ADVANCING DIGITAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES, AND ENHANCING THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES ACCESS INFORMATION AND RESOURCES.
HER WORK HAS CONSISTENTLY REFLECTED A COMMITMENT
[01:15:01]
TO PUBLIC SERVICE TRANSPARENCY AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT, WHETHER LEADING AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS, PRODUCING MAJOR DISTRICT EVENTS, OR HELPING TELL THE STORIES OF OUR STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS LURE.THIS HAS ELEVATED THE DISTRICT'S ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE AND CONNECT.
UH, AGAIN, I WILL THROW IN A A PERSONAL NOTE.
UH, I'VE BEEN AT A NUMBER OF PRESS CONFERENCES, FIRES, NATURAL DISASTERS, ALL KINDS OF NOT SO FUN STUFF.
AND NO MATTER HOW CHARGED THE MOMENT WAS, AS LONG AS I COULD LOOK OUT THERE AND SEE LURE THIS WITH THAT VERY CALM SMILE, I KNEW WE WERE GONNA BE OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, CREATIVITY, AND SERVICE TO LA UNIFIED.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS AND WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT.
I'D NOW LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD.
LET ME JUST SAY SOMETHING, UH, LOURDES BEFORE WE GO TO MY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD TO LOOK UP THE WORD PLEASANT IN THE DICTIONARY, HER PICTURE WOULD BE THERE FOR PLEASANT.
THIS IS A PERSON WHO I HAVE NEVER SEEN FROWNING OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE FEELS INSIDE, BUT SHE'S ALWAYS PLEASANT TO EVERYBODY, AND I THINK THAT'S SO GREAT.
AND LOURDES, I REMEMBER, UH, I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT, UM, ADVERTISING THE DISTRICT BY PUTTING THESE POSTERS ON OUR TRUCKS, THE TRUCKS THAT GO TO THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND ADVERTISING PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS.
AND YOU LISTEN AND YOU DID IT.
AND I'M JUST SO PROUD AND THANKFUL FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE, HELPED OUR OFFICE SO MUCH WITH COMMUNICATIONS WHEN WE WERE STUCK.
AND YOU'RE JUST, YOU'RE JUST TERRIFIC.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND, AND LIKE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, JUST ALWAYS BEING A REASSURING PRESENCE IN THOSE TOUGH, OFTEN TOUGH ENVIRONMENTS.
I, IT'S, UM, I WAS, I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS SPEAKING THAT IT REALLY IS LIKE YOU HELPED US WITH LITERAL FIRES.
I MEAN, NOT JUST METAPHORICAL, BUT IN MY INSTANCE, IN BOARD DISTRICT FOUR LITERAL FIRES, UM, AND, UH, UM, WAS ABLE TO HANDLE, I THINK THE WINS AND LIKE THE, THE MARKETING WELL, BUT ALSO IN THOSE AREAS OF CHALLENGE, UM, HELP US NAVIGATE TOUGH ENVIRONMENTS.
AND I WILL SAY THAT I THINK YOU DESERVE CREDIT EVERY TIME THE DISTRICT AND THE BOARD LOOKS GOOD.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU CREDIT AND EVERY TIME YOU LOOK BAD, I'LL BLAME THE SUPERINTENDENT.
SO, UM, BUT LOURDES, THANK YOU, UH, UH, FOR, UM, ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR INDIVIDUAL BOARD OFFICES AND FOR THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
WELL, I, I AM REALLY, REALLY SADDENED TO SEE YOU GO.
UM, THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE YES, YOU WERE ALWAYS SO, YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON YOUR FACE.
AND I KNOW WHEN I FIRST STEPPED INTO THIS ROLE, LIKE MY FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU WERE THERE REASSURED, YOU KNOW, JUST HELPING ME FEEL REASSURED.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE TIMES, YOU KNOW, THAT YOUR KINDNESS REACHED OUT AND, AND WOULD GIMME A HUG.
AND I WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST SOMEONE WHO OFFERS HUGS.
AND, UM, YOU ALWAYS SEEMED VERY COOL, CALM, AND COLLECTED NO MATTER WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AND THAT IS SOMEONE WHO, FOR ME, SHOWS NOT ONLY ARE YOU IN CONTROL, BUT YOU BRING JUST POSITIVE ENERGY INTO THE SPACE.
AND I ALWAYS FELT THAT EVERY TIME I SAW YOU.
AND WHEN I WOULD SEE YOU, I ALWAYS, I WOULD ALWAYS SMILE.
I WAS LIKE, OH, THERE'S LOU THIS.
SO YOU ALWAYS, EVERY TIME I WOULD SEE YOU ALWAYS HAVE JUST A LOVING FEELING TOWARDS YOU AND JUST WANNA WISH YOU, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR OTHER ROLES IN THIS DISTRICT, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOUR WORK AND YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS DISTRICT.
AND, AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR NEXT PHASE OF YOUR LIFE.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S, THEY SAY RETIREMENT, BUT YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO TO KEEP YOU VERY BUSY AND IN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE.
HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON, CARLA.
I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS GETTING THOSE SMILES IN THE ELEVATOR.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE OFTEN IN THE ELEVATOR.
I ALWAYS ASSUME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ME OR DON'T REMEMBER ME.
AND SOMEHOW YOU ALWAYS MADE THAT CONNECTION.
AND IT JUST REMINDS ME OF, YOU KNOW, OUR EDUCATORS, RIGHT? AND HOW PEOPLE FEEL WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL.
OUR STUDENTS FEEL WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL, IF YOU JUST SMILE, YOU JUST, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR STRESS LEVEL GOES DOWN AND YOU ALWAYS DO THAT.
AND I REALLY DID FEEL VERY SPECIAL, AND I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE.
I WAS A LITTLE BUMMED WHEN I HEARD YOU WERE THE ONE RETIRING BECAUSE OF THAT.
WHEN I RUN INTO YOU, YOU'RE SUCH A POSITIVE PRESENCE, BUT MUCH GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
ALSO, BEHIND THE SCENES, AND I HAVE SEEN YOU AT THE PRESS CONFERENCES, BUT I DID NOT KNOW ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR OUR DISTRICT.
SO MUCH GRATITUDE AND, AND OF COURSE WISHING YOU THE BEST.
HOPEFULLY YOU GET TO TRAVEL AND YOU GET TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS IN YOUR RETIREMENT AND ENJOY YOUR LOVED ONES.
I ALWAYS GET TO TELL REPORTERS
[01:20:01]
THANK YOU FOR TELLING OUR STORY, WHEN REALLY I SHOULD BE THANKING YOU FOR TELLING OUR STORY.YOU'VE REALLY LIFTED UP THE HEARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND, UM, HELPED TO PUT OUT THE GOOD NEWS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT, LOURDES, YOU'RE DEFINITELY LEAVING A HOLE, BUT ALSO GREAT BIG SHOES THAT I KNOW THE TEAM WILL FILL TO CONTINUE TELLING OUR LUSC STORY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
I MEAN, EVEN WHEN I CAME IN TODAY, I WAS LIKE, SHE'S SMILING AND YOU MAKE ME SMILE.
SO, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY APPRECIATE, UM, JUST MAKING US LOOK.
WELL, I MEAN, COMMUNICATIONS IS A BIG ISSUE, I THINK WHEN I STARTED IN THIS ROLE.
IT'S LIKE OUR COMMUNICATION IS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES.
AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE MAKING SURE THAT OUR DISTRICT, UH, NARRATIVE OF THE GOOD AND POSITIVE THINGS THAT GO OUT FROM OUR DISTRICT IS ALWAYS HIGHLIGHTED.
AND WHEN WE COME INTO THE SPACE AS, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS INTO THAT ROOM WHERE IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING AND UNCOMFORTABLE, UM, IT IS ALWAYS WELCOMING TO SEE YOU AND TO GIVE, TO GIVE A HUG.
AND I KNOW, UM, IT WORKS FOR YOU AS THE THEORY SAYS, YOU KNOW, 14 HUGS A DAY, UM, DEFINITELY KEEPS YOUR SPIRIT UP, AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT FOR US.
AND DEFINITELY SMILING WHEN IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE FEEL COMFORTED IN THOSE SPACES.
SO THANK YOU AND ENJOY RETIREMENT AGAIN, JEALOUS.
UM, MAKE SURE THAT, UM, RETIREMENT IS DONE AS WELL AS YOU'VE DONE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS, LORD, IT'S YOUR TURN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR.
UM, SUPERINTENDENT CHA, BOARD PRESIDENT SHAMON AND BOARD MEMBERS, ESTEEMED BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO LOS ANGELES UNIFIED BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO, WHICH IS MAKING CONNECTIONS, TELLING STORIES, AND ELEVATING THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT EVERY DAY.
I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS JOURNEY, AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT THIS, I'M JUST GONNA NAME SOME INSTANCES THAT WHEN I HAVE CALLED YOU ANSWERED, EVEN WHEN YOU'RE VACATIONING ON MAUI, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, COOP, OR WHEN WE NEEDED MORE SUPPORT FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT ADDRESS, YOU WERE THERE WHEN I CALLED MIDNIGHT, OR AT 4:30 AM YOU WERE THERE.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THE TEAM, AND EACH TIME MY COLLEAGUE STEPPED IN AND UP AND IT WAS SO AMAZING.
SO, IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR TEAM, THE DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS, ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION TO STAND.
AND THIS INCLUDES OUR KLCS TEAM.
BEHIND THE CAMERAS WE'RE THE STORYTELLERS, EVENT PLANNERS, TRANSLATORS, AND THE CONNECTORS TO OUR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, OUR COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
BY RECOGNIZING ME, YOU SHINE A LIGHT ON THEM AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM THAT INCLUDES MY COLLEAGUES FROM PRIOR YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
WHILE I WILL NOT MISS THE DRIVE, THE 100 MILE DRIVE EVERY DAY, I WILL MISS THE PEOPLE, SOME OF WHO HAVE, WHOM HAVE BECOME LIFETIME FRIENDS, THE MOMENTS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN THAT MAKE L-A-U-S-D SO SPECIAL.
AND FINALLY, I DO WANNA THANK MY FAMILY AND MY HUSBAND FOR ALWAYS STANDING BY MY SIDE THROUGH THIS WILD AND AMAZING RIDE.
AND ONE LAST THING, KEEP SMILING.
I LEARNED IT FROM MY MAMA AND IT REALLY DOES HELP.
THANK YOU AGAIN, LORD, TO THIS, BEFORE RECOGNIZING OUR FINAL TWO HONOREES, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHILE FRANCIS MARELA AND LOURDES ARE CONCLUDING DISTINGUISHED CAREERS THROUGH RETIREMENT, OUR NEXT TWO RECOGNITIONS HONOR MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT'S EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHO SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS WARRANT SPECIAL RECOGNITION AS THEY CONCLUDE THEIR TENURE WITH LA UNIFIED.
[01:25:01]
ALTHOUGH THEIR PATH FORWARD DIFFER, ALL FIVE INDIVIDUALS SHARE A COMMON COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND TO THE SUCCESS OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE.NEXT, I AM PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE MR. MIME, JIM TORRANCE.
FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, JIM HAS SERVED AS SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, PROVIDING THOUGHTFUL COUNSEL, STRATEGIC INSIGHT, AND TRUSTED LEADERSHIP.
DURING A PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY AND CHALLENGE FOR OUR DISTRICT, DRAWING ON DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, OPERATIONS, AND PUBLIC SERVICE, JIM HELPED ADVANCE KEY DISTRICT INITIATIVES, STRENGTH AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND SUPPORT INFORMED DECISION MAKING AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
HIS STEADY LEADERSHIP, PRACTICAL WISDOM AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION HAVE MADE HIM A VALUED COLLEAGUE AND TRUSTED ADVISOR.
I WANT TO PARTICULARLY RECOGNIZE HIS WORK, UH, IN ECOS SUSTAINABILITY WITH OUR OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY.
UH, HE AND I HAD A CHANCE TO PARTNER ON SOME KEY INITIATIVES AROUND TRANSPORTATION.
AND AGAIN, THE, THE WORDS I JUST SHARED ARE EXACTLY INDICATIVE OF WHAT JIM BRINGS TO THE TABLE.
UH, WISDOM, THE ABILITY TO COLLABORATE, THE ABILITY TO BE OPEN TO OTHERS' IDEAS, AND TO FIND A PATH FORWARD THAT MEETS THE NEED OF THE MOMENT.
JIM, AS YOU BEGIN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO ELLA UNIFIED AND FOR THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS YOU HAVE MADE TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
SO, MR. TORRANCE, I CONSIDER YOU THE QUIET MAN.
DEEP THINKER, DEEP THINKER, BUT THE QUIET MAN WHO GETS THINGS DONE BEHIND THE SCENES AND, AND ALL THESE IMPORTANT, UM, THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE DISTRICT.
I ALWAYS SEE YOUR NAME AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST OF ONE OF THE CONSULTANTS ON THIS, THESE PROJECTS.
AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND GREAT THINKING.
UM, YES, JIM, I THINK THE MINUTE YOU GOT HERE, UM, SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO HAD BASICALLY SIGNED YOU TO ALL MY KEY PRIORITIES, UM, THAT NEEDED FIXING FROM FACILITIES TO UNDERUTILIZED ASSETS, TO LEASING TO THE AI STUFF.
UM, AND SO, UH, WELL, YOU ARE KIND OF A, A BEHIND THE SCENES THINKER, AND I THINK SOME FOLKS ARE LIKE, WHO'S JIM? HA, WE KNEW YOU WELL BECAUSE I DRAGGED YOU TO TOUR EVERY FACILITY BASICALLY IN THE DISTRICT.
UM, SOME WHICH ARE NOW THE SITES OF OUR HOUSING INITIATIVES THAT ARE OUT.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I HOPE YOU WILL COME BACK FOR THAT RIBBON CUTTING IN JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS.
UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR TACKLING KIND OF THE REALLY CHALLENGING, UH, THINGS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH IN THIS DISTRICT, WHETHER IT'S THOSE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES OR, UH, TIME AND EFFICIENCY AND COST ON FACILITIES, PROJECTS.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE, UM, THE SEXIEST THINGS, UH, BUT IT'S THINGS THAT, UH, YOU AND I, I THINK JOINTLY FOUND VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I APPRECIATED YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
I ALWAYS JOKE ABOUT KIND OF ALL UNIFIED EXCEPTIONALISM, AND I THINK YOU WERE HELPFUL TO SAY, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, OH, THERE IS, THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO DO THIS.
UM, OR WE CAN LOOK AT SOME, UH, WHETHER THINGS THAT YOU DID IN MIAMI OR, OR KIND OF CONNECTING WITH THE COUNCIL IN GREAT CITY SCHOOLS AND OTHER DISTRICTS.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT PERSPECTIVE.
AND, UH, I KNOW A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THIS BOARD WILL BE UNDERTAKING, LIKE HOUSING, WHO LEASING RESOLUTION, AI, AND SCREEN TIME POLICY KINDA WILL HAVE YOUR FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER.
SO THANK YOU AND ENJOY, UH, RETIREMENT.
WELL, I, I SAY THE SAME QUIET, BUT I DID GET TO HEAR YOU SPEAK QUITE A BIT WHEN WE'RE IN THE CLOSED SESSION.
SO I WAS LIKE, HE'S QUIET OUT HERE, BUT WHEN WE'RE IN THERE, YOU HAVE SOME TO SHARE.
AND I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, HAD THE INTERACTION AND THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE WORKED WITH OUR ECOS SUSTAINABILITY TEAM, WHICH THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE SOMEWHAT INVISIBLE, SO TO SPEAK, BUT THEY PRODUCE SO MUCH FOR US IN THE LONG RUN.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK IN THAT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THAT IS AN AREA MOVING FORWARD IN OUR FUTURE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THE BENEFITS OF IT, AND SO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT AND APPRECIATE FOR, FOR WHATEVER REASON.
WHENEVER I'M IN THE HALLWAY, I'M BUMPING IN THE GYM IN THE HALLWAY
SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE TIME IT AT JUST THAT MOMENT, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS DISTRICT, AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT WITH THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR, UM, AS WAS MENTIONED ABOUT THE E SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE.
YOU CAME WHEN THE OFFICE WAS FIRST CREATED, AND YOU REALLY, YOU KNOW, UM, GAVE YOUR ATTENTION AND FOCUS AND, UH, WORKING ALONGSIDE CRISTOS TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT OFFICE REALLY TOOK OFF ON, ON, ON A STRONG, ON A STRONG START.
AND, UM, THAT THE GREENING EFFORTS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND EVERYTHING, YOU WERE SO KNOWLEDGEABLE, LIKE, YEAH, I MEAN, WHEN YOU WOULD SPEAK, YOU WERE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNEW WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, AND WE KNEW
[01:30:01]
THAT, UM, YOU, YOU KNOW, PLACING YOU, YOU PLACED IN CHARGE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES WERE, UM, BECAUSE YOU HAD THE EXPERTISE AND THE KNOWLEDGE.SO I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, UM, THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE HERE IN L-A-U-S-D AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND, UM, WITH, BUT WHENEVER PHASER THING IS NEXT FOR YOU.
UH, APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS BEING AVAILABLE.
LIKE AS SOON AS MY OFFICE NEEDED YOUR SUPPORT WITH OEHS, YOU WERE ON IT RESPONSIVE, MAKING SURE THAT, UM, WE UNDERSTOOD THE ISSUE AND WHAT WE WERE DOING.
SO REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN THAT.
AND THEN ALSO, OF COURSE, SUPPORTING OUR ECO SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE.
UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, FROM CHRISTOS THAT HE'S VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR WORK, AND WHEN I HEAR THAT FROM FOLKS, UM, EXPRESSING THAT ABOUT THEIR SUPERVISORS, THAT GIVES ME INSIGHT INTO YOUR WORK.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WISH YOU THE BEST.
I JUST WANNA, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION JIM WAS ALSO, UH, IN MANY WAYS THE POINT PERSON FOR THE RECOVERY IN THE PALISADES, UM, AND GETTING THE SCHOOLS RELOCATED WITHIN A WEEK AND REALLY HELPING WITH PALLY HIGH, OUR INDEPENDENT, BUT CONVERSION CHARTER, THAT'S ALSO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL FOR THE PALISADES AND, AND, UH, ON OUR PROPERTY, UM, BOTH IN THE, THE SEARS BUILDING THAT WAS CONVERTED IN RECORD TIME, UM, AND THEN BACK TO THEIR CAMPUS, WHICH THEY WERE ABLE TO, UH, UH, REPOPULATE IN JANUARY.
SO JIM, IT WAS, UH, WHENEVER WE HAD A HURDLE OR THERE WAS GONNA BE A DELAY THAT WAS AFFECTING COMMUNITY THAT HAD BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH, I WOULD CALL YOU AND YOU FIXED IT, UM, WITHOUT FAIL EVERY TIME.
AND SO IT IS, IT IS NOT AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THE REASON THAT THOSE KIDS WERE SO SUPPORTED AND BACK WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE SO QUICKLY WAS THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE KIND WORDS, UH, REALLY, UH, COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER STAFF THAT'S BEING RECOGNIZED TODAY.
I'M RELATIVELY SHORT TIMER HERE AT L-A-U-S-D, BUT I REALLY HAVE ENJOYED MY TIME HERE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF, OF THIS DISTRICT OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
UH, AND, AND IT WAS MENTIONED HERE, ECOS SUSTAINABILITY.
OBVIOUSLY, I WAS ONE OF THE, THE, UH, THE KIND OF THE CROWN JEWEL IN WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN BRINGING ALL THESE BOARD RESOLUTIONS OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES AND BRINGING 'EM TO FRUITION AND UNDER ONE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, ESTABLISHED LEADER AND, UH, AND CHRISTOS AND THE TEAM AT ECOS SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE.
THANK YOU FOR, FOR HELPING ME AS WELL, UH, WITH THE OTHER O OFFICE REPORTING DIRECTLY TO ME.
UH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IS CARLOS TORRES AND THE TEAM THERE.
UH, REALLY, UH, IN PARTICULAR AFTER THE FIRES PLAYED A TREMENDOUS ROLE IN GETTING OUR, OUR SCHOOLS REOPENED AND, AND, UH, GETTING, UH, UH, BASICALLY THE, THOSE FACILITIES READY TO, TO BE REOCCUPIED BY STUDENTS, UH, AND ON A NUMBER OF OTHER AREAS THAT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN.
IT'S, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU BOARD MEMBERS, UH, DIRECTLY, IT WAS SUPERINTENDENT AND, UH, I WAS VERY GRATEFUL WHEN SUPERINTENDENT CARVALLO, UH, UH, CAME OUT AND I WAS ABLE TO COME WITH HIM AND, AND TRY AND HELP.
I MEAN, WE'RE COMING OUT OF COVID.
THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT STILL NEEDED TO BE, UH, LAUNCHED, UH, AND I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES AND PUT SOME THINGS IN PLACE THAT, UH, OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS WE'LL HELP WITH THINGS SUCH AS, UH, THE REDUCING THE, UH, EXPENDITURES ON GENERAL FUND WITH ECO SUSTAINABILITY, SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES ON, ON WITH, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND TO THE, UH, EXECUTIVE TEAM AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, ACCEPTING ME IMMEDIATELY.
UH, I KNOW IT'S, UH, AS AN OUTSIDER COMING IN TO A MASSIVE ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS, UH, I FEEL VERY GRATEFUL TO EVERYBODY THAT, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, NOT, NOT ONLY, UH, COLLABORATED, BUT REALLY BECAME FRIENDS.
UH, SO I REALLY AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
I'M, AS, UH, WAS SAID, READY TO MOVE ON TO, UH, UH, NEXT PHASE OF MY LIFE WITH MY FAMILY, AND I THANK MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY FOR THEIR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT EVERYTHING MOVING OUT HERE, UH, AND THE TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
CARLOS STRALA OVER THE COURSE OF HER DISTINGUISHED CAREER FROM SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER TO DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION, DR. ESTRADA HAS LED WITH COURAGE, COMPASSION, AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS.
[01:35:01]
CONSIDER DR.ESRA FELLOW LIFER, WHO JUST TOOK A BRIEF SORT OF BREAK FROM L-A-U-S-D BEFORE COMING BACK.
UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, LA UNIFIED ACHIEVED SOME OF THE STRONGEST ACADEMIC OUTCOMES IN DISTRICT HISTORY.
YET HER GREATEST LEGACY EXTENDS BEYOND ANY SINGLE MEASURE OF PERFORMANCE.
IT CAN BE FOUND IN THE LEADERS SHE DEVELOPED, THE EDUCATORS SHE INSPIRED, AND THE STUDENTS WHOSE LIVES WERE POSITIVELY IMPACTED BY HER WORK.
ESTRADA'S FAVORITE REMINDERS WAS, IF THEY DON'T GIVE YOU A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR,
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE NOT ONLY BROUGHT HER OWN CHAIR, SHE ALSO CREATED SPACE FOR OTHERS.
SHE OPENED DOORS, ELEVATED VOICES, AND ENCOURAGED COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES THEY MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISE IMAGINED POSSIBLE.
CARLA, AS YOU TRANSITION TO YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL CHAPTER, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR STEADFAST DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF LA UNIFIED.
IT IS NO OVERSTATEMENT TO SAY YOUR IMPACT WILL BE FELT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
NO, THAT WAS, I THINK THAT WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE'S REACTIONS WHEN WE HEARD THE NEWS.
UM, OF COURSE, WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY WHEN PEOPLE GET TO MAKE GOOD LIFE CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES, BUT WE'RE VERY SAD.
WHEN YOU CAME BACK TO THE DISTRICT, I, I KNOW IT FELT LIKE HOMECOMING FOR YOU, BUT I THINK IT FELT LIKE HOMECOMING FOR THE DISTRICT AS WELL.
AND WE FELT YOUR JOY AND YOUR PASSION, BUT ALSO YOUR VERY, VERY STRONG LEADERSHIP FOR KIDS.
UM, YOU ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE SUCCESS STORIES OF LA UNIFIED FROM BEING A STUDENT HERE, WORKING ALL THE WAY THROUGH UP, UH, THE DISTRICT.
AND SO, UM, AGAIN, YOUR LEGACY WILL LIVE ON SO MANY, SO MANY OTHERS HAVE, BUT, UM, JUST DEEPLY AND POWERFULLY, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU IN THIS SPACE.
WELL, I WAS REALLY BUMMED WHEN I HEARD THAT YOU WERE LEAVING BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY ARE YOU JUST A SUPER COOL HUMAN BEING BECAUSE YOU REALLY ARE, BUT ALSO YOU ARE, YOU ARE VERY SMART, AND YOU, YOU HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT BRING PEOPLE IN.
LIKE, I ALWAYS FEEL THAT LEADERS ARE THOSE WHO BUILD OTHER LEADERS, AND YOU'RE THAT, AND YOU ARE ALSO HUMBLE, BUT ALSO VERY, UM, EMPOWERED AND STRONG.
AND SO YOU'RE A GREAT ROLE MODEL.
I WANNA SAY THAT, AND I REALLY, REALLY VALUE THE TIMES THAT WE MET WITH KAREN.
I SAW HOW YOU BROUGHT KAREN IN TO THE CONVERSATION, AND THAT TO ME SHOWED THE KIND OF LEADER THAT YOU ARE AND YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR OPENNESS.
UH, YOU'RE WILLING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WHETHER WE AGREED OR DISAGREED, BUT YOU WERE OPEN TO THE CONVERSATION, OPEN TO THE IDEAS.
AND AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE LEADERS THAT I REALLY VALUE VALUE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW INNOVATION HAPPENS.
I REALLY AM, I AM HOPEFUL FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOUR NEXT STEP IS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU COMING BACK AGAIN,
UM, BUT I AM PERSONALLY, I AM GONNA MISS YOU, AND I HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE DOING GREAT WORK WHEREVER YOU GO.
UM, I THINK YOU OR CHRISTINA TOKS GOT THE MOST CALLS FROM ME THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THIS BUILDING, WHETHER IT BE FACILITIES OR INSTRUCTION, WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, FACILITIES INSTRUCTION.
AND I'LL THROW IN, UH, CARLOS TORRES TOO FOR MOLD.
I'LL THROW HIM INTO, I MEAN, YEAH.
ANYWAY, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWERING ALL OF MY CALLS AND THEN GETTING BACK TO ME ON EVERYTHING DOING WITH INSTRUCTION.
AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WOULD TALK TO ME WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEING A STUDENT AT L-A-U-S-D AND ALL THE STRUGGLES THAT YOU HAD AS A YOUNG KID.
YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR KIDS ARE FACING IN SCHOOL.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT POINT OF VIEW THAT YOU HAVE, THAT HELPING ALL KIDS, AND ESPECIALLY THE KIDS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH, CARLA.
I DON'T APPROVE OF THIS RETIREMENT AND WILL NOT
UM, I, UH, I REMEMBER YEARS AGO I WAS IN BOSTON, I THINK, FOR A CONFERENCE.
AND I, I MET, UH, THEN SUPERINTENDENT TOMMY CHANG, UH, I THINK AT AN IRISH PUB.
AND I WAS ASKING HIM ABOUT THE SUCCESS, AND HE WAS LIKE, OH, IT WAS ALL, IT'S ALL THIS WOMAN CARLOS ESTRADA.
AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD YOUR NAME.
AND SO WHEN WE BROUGHT YOU OUT HERE, IT FELT LIKE SUCH A COUP.
UM, AND, UH, AND IT REALLY WAS.
[01:40:01]
I, I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU LED AND WERE SUCH AN ENGINE OF CHANGE IN BOSTON AND HERE AS WELL, AND LED ON SO MANY INITIATIVES AND EVEN INITIATIVES YOU DIDN'T NECESSARILY WANT TO GO.BAEZ WAS TALKING ABOUT CENTRAL OFFICE INITIATIVES, I FEEL LIKE SHE KIND OF HAD ME IN MIND.
AND FRANCIS, I HEAR YOU, I HEAR YOU THERE, AND I, I OWN IT.
UM, BUT, BUT YOUR, YOU AND YOUR TEAM BEING ABLE TO ANTICIPATE WHERE THIS BOARD MIGHT GO.
I THINK MOST RECENTLY WITH THE SCREEN TIME RESOLUTION AND EVEN KIND OF BEFORE THE VOTES WERE CAST, UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE DISTRICT NEEDED TO GO, UH, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF KIDS AND FAMILIES, BUT ALSO, UH, A AGAIN, LEADING, UM, AND BUILDING A COALITION WITH SUCH, WITH SUCH GRACE.
UH, IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE TO WORK WITH YOU.
UM, AND I THINK, LIKE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT YOUR STORY, I'M ALWAYS REMINDED AS WE HAVE SHARED A GRADUATION STAGE A FEW TIMES, INCLUDING I THINK A WEEK AGO TONIGHT AT TAFT.
UM, SEEING HOW YOUR STORY RESONATES WITH OUR STUDENTS, UH, IS, UH, INCREDIBLY COMPELLING.
UM, I HOPE YOU ENJOY SOME WELL DESERVED TIME OFF.
I HOPE YOU ARE ALSO RACKED WITH GUILT AT LEAVING US IN OUR HOUR OF NEED.
UM, BUT, UH, APPRECIATE YOU AND DON'T BE A STRANGER.
WELL, FOR MYSELF, YOU KNOW, I'M IN DENIAL.
I'M IN DENIAL THAT YOU'RE LEAVING.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEARD YOU WERE LEAVING, I WAS REALLY SAD.
AND EVERY TIME I SAW YOU, I COULDN'T BRING MYSELF TO SAY, YOU KNOW, TO SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE OF THIS.
AND, UM, I ADMIRE YOU SO MUCH.
UM, YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE WHEN I SAID, HEY, THIS IS HAPPENING.
YOU WERE ALWAYS READY TO, TO TROUBLESHOOT AND TO, YOU KNOW, WORK IT OUT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST BEEN A PLEASURE.
AND YOU'RE A PERSON THAT I TRULY DO ADMIRE.
UM, AS BOARD MEMBERS MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO KNOW YOU IN THIS SHORT TIME, BUT IN THIS SHORT TIME, I REALLY GOT TO KNOW YOUR HEART.
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE YOURSELF REFLECTED IN OUR STUDENTS, UH, FROM SPECIAL ED, FROM OUR STUDENTS IN CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOLS AND EVERY, EVERY PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I WISH YOU THE BEST.
I WISH YOU COULD STILL BE WORKING ON THE GREAT THINGS FOR THIS DISTRICT, BUT I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER YOU GO, YOU'RE GOING TO SHINE AND YOU'RE GONNA DO WONDERFUL THINGS FOR THE STUDENTS, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, FOR OUR CITY.
YOU KNOW, UM, THE SKY'S A LIMIT FOR YOU.
AND, UM, SO MY ADMIRATION FOR YOU IS HIGH.
AND, UM, AND I HOPE IT CAN STAY CONNECTED IN ONE WAY OR SO.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE THROUGHOUT YOUR LONG TRAJECTORY HERE IN THE DISTRICT, BUT ALSO IN THIS CAPACITY THAT, UM, AS DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT AND THANK YOU, AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU.
I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE WENT FIRST, UM, OH, WOW.
LEADERSHIP, UM, YOU HAVE HAD THE CAPACITY TO, TO JUST TRANSLATE THAT INTO OTHERS AROUND YOU, UM, TO, TO BE EMPATHETIC, TO LISTEN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU LISTEN NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY.
UM, I, I'VE GOTTEN CALLS BACK AT 10 11, DIDN'T MATTER.
UM, YOU PUT THIS DISTRICT, THE STUDENTS FIRST, YOU PUT EACH AND EVERY PERSON THAT YOU, THAT YOU WANTED, YOU ELEVATED THEM AND YOUR STORY.
UM, AS MENTIONED HERE, SO MANY TIMES I OFTEN THINK ABOUT IT WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS DISTRICT, THE LEGACY OF THIS DISTRICT, JUST THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT PIECES.
L-A-U-S-D IS SUCH AN AMAZING SPACE AND PLACE, AND I'M SO TREASURED THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO BE HERE, TO BE A PART OF THIS JOURNEY, TO BE A PART OF MY JOURNEY.
UM, I'LL JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR SHORT COMMENTS OF INSPIRATION AND DEDICATION TO EVEN MAKING SURE THAT I'M SUCCESSFUL.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU JUST, I KNOW WHEN I GOT THE EMAIL, I WAS LIKE, THIS IS NOT REAL.
I'M LIKE, I GOTTA CALL TO VERIFY.
IT'S NOT, IS THIS REAL? IS THIS GENUINE? BUT I KNOW THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FOR EDUCATION NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.
UM, YOU WILL UPLIFT WHEREVER YOU ARE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND.
YOU WILL MAKE ANY SPACE THAT YOU GO IN BETTER THAN YOU LEFT IT.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HONEST AND NOT AFRAID TO, TO AGREE TO DISAGREE.
AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT, FOR MODELING THAT.
[01:45:01]
AND I, I DO WISH YOU THE BEST.I WILL HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE IN CONNECTION.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS DISTRICT.
APPRECIATE YOU AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO IN THE WORLD OF EDUCATION.
WELL, THANK YOU MR. TATE, FOR THIS HONOR AND RECOGNITION.
UM, OF COURSE, I NEED TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE DR.
BAAS AND MARELA ON THEIR RETIREMENT.
THEY TRULY HAVE BEEN BOLD, UNSTOPPABLE, AS DR.
AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS DISTRICT.
UH, YOU MODEL EXACTLY WHAT PEOPLE ARE DESCRIBING IS, IS EXACTLY YOUR LEADERSHIP IN FRONT OF THE SCENES OR BEHIND THE SCENES.
I THINK ALL LEADERSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT IS CENTERED ABOUT DOING WHAT YOU CARE THE MOST ABOUT.
AND THAT SHOULD BE OUR CHILDREN.
SO THANK YOU, UM, TO THE BOARD.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR TO SERVE THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES OF LOS ANGELES.
UH, AS A CONTINUATION SCHOOL GRADUATE OF EINSTEIN HIGH SCHOOL, UH, AS A DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS, UH, AND AS A LEADER WITH OVER 25 YEARS IN LA UNIFIED, I HAVE SAT IN DIFFERENT ROLES THAT HAVE PREPARED ME TO BE ABLE TO BE CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO LEAVE TO GO TO BOSTON.
I HAD NEVER LEFT LA UH, BUT I FELT LIKE, UH, LA UNIFIED PREPARED ME WITH SKILL SETS, UH, THAT ALLOWED ME TO BE COURAGEOUS IN OTHER PLACES, UH, TO WORK FOR THE STATE.
WHATEVER IT WAS, UH, LA UNIFIED CREATED THAT FOUNDATION THAT I KNEW I COULD DO IT.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME BACK HOME TO MY HOME DISTRICT WHEN I DID COME BACK.
YOU KNOW, UH, OUR RESULTS FROM ACADEMIC GAINS, UH, TO THE DREAM IT ACHIEVE, IT HAS BEEN BECAUSE THE BOARD HAS SET, UH, A VISION, UH, HAS SET CLARITY OF WHAT MATTERS MOST.
AND THEN WE HAVE AMAZING TALENT THAT EXISTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO HAS SAID, WE ARE READY TO STEP UP AND DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO DELIVER FOR OUR KIDS.
UH, THE WORK THAT WE DO IT AT THE CORE HAS TO BE A COUPLE THINGS.
AND FOR ME, FIRST IT STARTS WITH COURAGE.
UM, I KNOW THAT OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EXPECT TO GET IT RIGHT.
THEY EXPECT US TO GET THIS RIGHT.
AND I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR HONORING AND RECOGNIZING WHEN THERE WERE MOMENTS THAT WE NEED TO BE COURAGEOUS.
UH, BUT IT ALWAYS CAME FROM A PLACE OF KNOWING THAT WE ARE AN L-A-U-S-D FAMILY, AND WE SHOULD DO THAT TOGETHER.
UH, THE SECOND PIECE IN LEADING, IT'S ALSO HUMILITY.
UM, I KNOW OUR KIDS ARE SO DIFFERENT IN UNIQUE, IN SO MANY WAYS.
THERE IS NO WAY ONE PERSON KNOWS THE ANSWERS.
WE HAVE TO TAKE THE COLLECTIVE IDEAS, THE INSPIRATION FROM SO MANY IN ORDER TO TRULY DELIVER FOR OUR KIDS.
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT I'VE WORKED WITH CENTRAL OFFICE REGION LEADERS, UH, PRINCIPALS AND FAMILIES, AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE SAID WE WANT THIS.
AND BEING ABLE TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THAT REQUEST IS TRULY WHEN IT'S BEEN MOTIVATING ME.
AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT ULTIMATELY IN THE WORK, IT'S ALWAYS LEADING WITH LOVE.
UH, BELL HOOKS TALKS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOVE IS A CHOICE.
LOVE IS AN ACTION, NOT JUST A FEELING.
AND LOVE REMINDS US OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE TO THOSE THAT WE SAY WE LOVE.
AND SO, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME DO WHAT I LOVE MOST, AND THAT'S SERVING MY COMMUNITY.
I APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU, MR. SO NOW TO CONCLUDE OUR RECOGNITION, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR FIVE HONOREES TO JOIN US AT THE PODIUM, AND OF COURSE, OUR ESTEEM BOARD MEMBERS FOR PICTURES AND SOME ADDITIONAL RECOGNITIONS.
AND IN, IN FRONT OF ME, SHE ALWAYS BLOCKS MY PICTURES.
[01:50:01]
IT'S GONNA BE GREAT.WHO'S FIRST? LET ME HOLD PRACTICING THE MUSCLE TO, SO DROP THAT ON YOUR FOOT.
PLEASE TAKE, UH, BUT, UH, THERE WE
[Recess into Closed Session]
WILL BE RECESSING INTO CLOSED SESSION.THE BOARD IS GONNA RECESS INTO CLOSED SESSION.
[Reconvene to Open Session]
THE TIME IS NOW 3:48 PM ON JUNE 17TH, 2026.I HAVE MS. NEW BILL, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN, MS. GOMEZ, AND MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN FOR A QUORUM OF FOUR.
UM, I'M GOING TO, AND, UH, MR. MALVIN IS HERE TOO.
NOW, UH, LET US REPORT OUT UNDER TAB ONE, STUDENT STUDENT DISCIPLINE.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE EXPULSION OF STUDENTS IN CASE NUMBER 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, AND 75 WITH THE RECOMMENDED DISPOSITIONS.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE EXPULSION OF STUDENT AND CASE NUMBER 73.
WITH THE RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION.
NO BOARD OF PRESIDENT SCHUREN.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DENIED THE ENROLLMENT OF STUDENT IN CASE NUMBER
[01:55:01]
22 WITH THE RECOMMENDED DISPOSITIONS.UH, THE VOTE WAS SEVEN A'S, UH, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE CONDITIONAL ENROLLMENT OF THE STUDENTS IN CASE NUMBERS 2021 AND 23.
WITH THE RECOMMENDED DISPOSITIONS, THE VOTE WAS SEVEN A'S UNDER TAB TWO, PERSONNEL PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPOINTED ANDRE SPICER TO THE POSITION OF CHIEF OF SCHOOLS WITH THE TERM BEGINNING ON JULY 1ST, 2026, AND ENDING JULY TH JULY 30, 20, 27.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
UPON THE FINALIZATION OF THE AGREEMENT, THE VOTE WAS SEVEN AYES.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPOINTED ROBERT WHITMAN TO THE POSITION OF REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE TERM BEGINNING ON JULY 1ST, 2026 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 20, 27.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
UPON THE FINALIZATION OF THE AGREEMENT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT OUT.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ADJOURNMENT? THE TIME IS 3:49 PM THANKS ALL.