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[Roll Call of Members]
PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS AS WE BEGIN THIS MEETING.UH, WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION.
TODAY'S AUGUST 25TH, 2026, AND THE TIME IS 10:05 AM I WILL TAKE ROLE MS. NEWBELL.
BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON PRESENT.
AND NOW WE WILL BE BROUGHT DIRECTLY TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
OUR, IT IS PULLING IT UP RIGHT NOW.
HELLO AND WELCOME TO TOM BRADLEY GLOBAL AWARENESS MAGNET, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AMERICA AND REPUBLIC ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND NOW WE'LL BRING UP THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATES ON LAND ORIGINALLY AND STILL INHABITED AND CARED FOR BY THE GNO AND FERNAND IAN PEOPLES WHO HAVE STEWARDED THIS LAND FOR GENERATIONS.
WE RECOGNIZE THESE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ONGOING PRESENCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS, AND HONOR THEIR CONNECTION TO THIS REGION.
WE RECOGNIZE GABRIELINO PEOPLE AS THE ORIGINAL STEWARDS OF LOS ANGELES BASIN AND THE NEARBY COASTAL LANDS AND THE FERT AS PROTECTORS OF THE NORTHERN VALLEYS.
THESE LANDS HAVE AND CONTINUE TO HOLD DEEP, CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE TO THEIR PEOPLE AND HAVE SHAPED THE COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN TODAY.
WE PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THE HANUK ANCESTORS, A ELDERS AND KIN OUR RELATIVES AND RELATIONS PAST, PRESENT, AND EMERGING, AND COMMIT TO SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, ENSURING THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD AND THEIR LEGACIES ARE RESPECTED.
WE COMMIT TO DEEPENING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORIES AND CULTURES OF THE NATIVE PEOPLES OF THIS LAND.
THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DEMONSTRATES OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND CONTRIBUTE TO HEALING AND RECONCILIATION.
[Board President's Reports]
IT'S NOW TIME FOR BOARD PRESIDENT REPORTS.AND BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME BACK ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, ALL OF OUR TEACHERS, ALL OF OUR STAFF, AND THE ENTIRE L-A-U-S-D COMMUNITY.
WELL, I'M SURE THAT MANY OF US ARE STILL GETTING OVER THE SUMMER BREAK AND TRYING TO GET BACK INTO A RHYTHM.
I THINK MY BOARD COLLEAGUES AGREE THAT WE COULDN'T WAIT TO SEE OUR SCHOOLS OPEN AGAIN AND TO SEE OUR L-A-U-S-D COMMUNITIES.
SO OVER THE LAST WEEK, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF VISITING A FEW OF MY SCHOOLS AND SAW HOW WELL OUR STUDENTS ARE ADAPTING BACK TO THEIR SCHEDULES.
IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO SEE SOME OF OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS STARTING THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY WITH US FOR THE FIRST TIME AND SEEING THE SENIORS ENTERING FOR THEIR FINAL YEAR.
SO THE SUMMER WHILE LONG TO SOME AND SHORT TO OTHERS HAS PASSED, ALTHOUGH IT'S STILL HOT.
AND NOW WE'RE BACK TO HELPING OUR STUDENTS SUCCEED.
WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.
I WISH TO THANK, THANK YOU ALL FOR AN ADVANCE TOGETHER.
AND THIS YEAR, WHAT IS MOST INTERESTING IS THE KIDS STARTING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME WATCHING THEIR PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN BOTH CRYING BECAUSE IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME AWAY FROM MOM AND SCHOOL.
BUT THE BEST PART WAS SEEING MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE THE PARENTS ARE ALSO HAPPY AND THE KIDS ARE ALL CRYING.
AND I WILL, UH, HAND IT OVER TO SUPERINTENDENT SHA BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL TODAY.
OH, LA OTHER LABOR PARTNERS HERE.
I I WAS TOLD SCIU WOULD BE HERE, BUT I'M NOT SEEING.
[Administration of Oath of Office to Student Board Member ]
UH, GOOD[00:05:01]
MORNING, EVERYONE.UH, IT, IT, IT'S A SINCERE PLEASURE TO BE BACK, UH, WHEN KIDS, WHEN OUR SCHOOLS OPEN BACK UP TO OUR STUDENTS, UH, ON THE 12TH, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING QUITE LIKE BEING BACK ON CAMPUS.
I WILL RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT.
I WAS CRYING WHEN I DROPPED OFF MY CHILDREN AT MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, THEY WERE LIKE, GO, DAD, YOU'RE EMBARRASSING US.
UH, BUT IT'S JUST AMAZING TO HAVE EVERYONE BACK.
OUR EMPLOYEES, OBVIOUSLY OUR OUR PARENTS, UH, WHO ARE TRUE PARTNERS IN THIS WORK, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR STUDENTS.
SPEAKING OF STUDENTS, UH, AND, AND THIS IS A, A SINGULAR HONOR THAT I GET TO PARTICIPATE IN TODAY.
UH, IT IS MY, MY HONOR AND FRANKLY, PRIVILEGE TO SWEAR IN OUR, OUR NEWEST STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.
UH, SO I AM GONNA ASK MS. LESLIE AVILA TO JOIN US UP HERE, AND WE'LL DO THE SWEARING IN.
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AGAINST ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THAT I WILL BEAR ALLEGIANCE AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF CALIFORNIA.
THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION, THAT I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY FREELY AND ANY MENTAL RESERVATION AND WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I'M ABOUT TO ENTER, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF, UM, UPON WHICH, UPON WHICH I, I'M ABOUT TO ENTER.
WITH THAT, IT IS MY SINCERE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, MS. LESLIE AVILA.
FIRST, I WANNA START BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR WELCOMING ME INTO THIS ROLE.
IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT STUDENTS ACROSS LUSD AND TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHERE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR FUTURE.
BEFORE I TALK ABOUT WHAT I HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH, I, I DO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK THE PEOPLE THAT HELPED ME GET HERE.
I ALSO WANNA THANK MY FRIENDS, SURY, SHYLA, PHOEBE, AND JASON.
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR ME, SUPPORTING ME THROUGH ALL THE STRESSFUL MOMENTS, LISTENING TO MY IDEAS, AND ENCOURAGING ME TO KEEP GOING.
HAVING PEOPLE AROUND ME WHO BELIEVE IN ME AND MAKE ME FEEL AND MAKE ME LAUGH ALONG THE WAY, HAS MADE THIS EXPERIENCE SO MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL.
AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU ALL IN MY LIFE.
I ALSO WANNA THANK MY TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS WHO HAVE HELPED ME GET, WHO
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HAVE HELPED ME SHAPE ME AS A STUDENT AND AS A LEADER.MS. GARCIA, MY A SB TEACHER AT NORTH HOLLYWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR PUSHING ME TO BECOME A STRONG LEADER, TRUSTING ME WITH OPPORTUNITIES, AND TEACHING ME THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK.
AND MR. FRANKLIN, MY MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEACHER, THANK YOU FOR BEING ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE ME TO GET INVOLVED IN LEADERSHIP AND TO SHOW ME THAT MY VOICE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
A LOT OF THE CO CONFIDENCE I HAVE AS A LEADER STARTED IN YOUR CLASSROOM, AND I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE IMPACT YOU BOTH HAVE HAD ON ME.
I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE PRINCIPAL ROSALES AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CHAVEZ.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AS A STUDENT LEADER AT NORTH HOLLYWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
YOUR SUPPORT HAS ALLOWED ME TO TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITIES, LEARN FROM MY EXPERIENCES, AND CONTINUE FINDING WAYS TO SERVE MY SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
AS AN L-A-U-S-D STUDENT, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE OUR DISTRICT FIRSTHAND.
I'VE SEEN THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES OUR SCHOOLS CAN PROVIDE, BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN AREAS WHERE WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW.
THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE A BIG PART OF WHY I CHOSE TO SERVE.
I BELIEVE STUDENTS SHOULDN'T JUST BE TALKED ABOUT WHEN DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE, WE SHOULD BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
STUDENTS ARE THE ONES EXPERIENCING OUR SCHOOLS EVERY DAY.
SO OUR PERSPECTIVES DO MATTER.
I WANNA MAKE SURE STUDENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE SPEAKING UP AND KNOW THAT THEIR CONCERNS, IDEAS, AND EXPERIENCES ARE ACTUALLY BEING HEARD.
ONE OF MY BIGGEST PRIORITIES THIS YEAR IS STRENGTHENING STUDENT VOICE AND REPRESENTATION.
I WANNA HEAR FROM STUDENTS ACROSS DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES, AND BACKGROUNDS, AND MAKE SURE THOSE PERSPECTIVES ARE BROUGHT FORWARD.
I ALSO WANNA HELP STUDENTS FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO THEIR SCHOOLS AND GIVE THEM MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAD, GET INVOLVED AND PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURES.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT NONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN ALONE.
SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE BOARD SUPER SUPERINTENDENT, DISTRICT STAFF, AND FELLOW STUDENT LEADERS BECAUSE I BELIEVE MEANINGFUL CHANGE HAPPENS WHEN WE LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER AND WORK TOGETHER.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE IN THE ROOM WHO IS LISTENING, WHO CARES, AND WHO'S WILLING TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM.
I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE L-A-U-S-D STUDENTS, AND I'M EXCITED FOR EVERYTHING WE CAN ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER THIS YEAR.
LESLIE, MAY I HAVE THE HONOR OF HAVING YOUR MOM AND DAD STAND UP SO THE WHOLE AUDIENCE CAN SEE YOUR PARENTS.
HAVE OUR LABOR PARTNERS COME UP.
IS SEIU HERE? COME ON UP PLEASE.
YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE, DON'T YOU BEGIN.
GOOD MORNING, SUPERINTENDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
CONGRATULATIONS, MS. AVILA AVILA.
I'M THE AS ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SEIU, LOCAL 99.
AND I'M GONNA START OFF BY INTRODUCING ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, KATHLEEN MCDONALD, WHO UP UNTIL RECENTLY, WAS AN INTERNATIONAL NEWCOMER INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE.
SINCE 2018, I WORKED FOR L-A-U-S-D MOST RECENTLY AS AN INTERNATIONAL NEWCOMER INSTRUCTIONAL AID.
IN THIS ROLE, I WORKED WITH ONE OF OUR MOST UNDERSERVED POPULATION OF STUDENTS, MANY ARRIVING WITH NO ENGLISH, AND SOMETIMES NOT EVEN PRIOR SCHOOLING.
FOR TWO YEARS, I WAS THEIR CHAMPION SHOWING UP EVERY DAY TO HELP THEM SUCCEED.
SIX MONTHS WORKING FOR THE DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE EARNED ME PERMANENT STATUS.
INSTEAD, L-A-U-S-D EXPLOITED A LOOPHOLE IN THEIR OWN RULES, UNLAWFULLY KEEPING ME AT RESTRICTED STATUS AND THEREFORE DISPOSABLE.
ON MAY 6TH, I RECEIVED A COLD SINGLE PAGE LETTER THAT SHATTERED MY STABILITY IN AN INSTANT.
MY LIVELIHOOD, MY FAMILY'S, AND MY STUDENTS THAT I SERVED EVERY DAY.
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HAVE TAKEN AN AGONIZING FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL TOLL.A IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT A DISTRICT HOLDING BILLIONS IN RESERVES CHOSE TO BALANCE ITS BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF FRONTLINE WORKERS.
YOU CANNOT TRIM A TREE AT ITS ROOTS AND EXPECT IT TO SURVIVE.
I DIDN'T LOSE MY JOB FROM UNDER PERFORMANCE.
I DIDN'T LOSE MY JOB BECAUSE I FAILED MY STUDENTS, OR I DIDN'T LOSE MY JOB BECAUSE I FAILED AT MY JOB.
'CAUSE L-A-U-S-D UNLAWFULLY KEPT ME AS A RESTRICTED EMPLOYEE.
AND THEN THAT STATUS WAS USED AS A REASON THAT I COULD SIMPLY BE DISCARDED.
YOU RUBBER STAMPED A BUDGET WITHOUT KNOWING ITS HUMAN COST, DECIDING THAT HUNDREDS OF DEDICATED EDUCATION WORKERS WERE MERELY EXPENDABLE LINE ITEMS. I SAT HERE IN THIS VERY ROOM AS ALL BUT TWO OF YOU AND I SEE YOU ALL, BUT TWO OF YOU VOTED TO UPEND MY LIFE.
YOUR VOTE SENT A DEVASTATING MESSAGE THAT THE WORK WE DO, THE MARGINALIZED STUDENTS, THAT WE SERVE MATTER LESS THAN MONEY.
YOU TOLD US WE WERE EXPENDABLE AND WE ARE NOT.
THIS BOARD NOW FACES A CHOICE.
YOU CAN LET THIS INJUSTICE STAND OR YOU CAN MAKE TAKE ACTION TO MAKE IT RIGHT, RESTORE THESE UNLAWFULLY ELIMINATED POSITIONS, PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND DO THE JOB THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO.
PRIORITIZE THE CLASSROOM, NOT THE BUREAUCRACY.
NEXT UP, WE'RE GONNA CALL UP, UH, YESENIA CHAVEZ SCHOOL SUPERVISION AID AND COMMUNITY REP.
BUENO RE UH, THE SPEAKER'S GONNA SPEAK IN SPANISH, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S UH, SAYING IN ENGLISH AS SHE'S SPEAKING IN SPANISH, PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND WE'LL GET YOU TRANSLATION HEADSETS SO YOU CAN EXPERIENCE SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION.
IT'D JUST BE ONE, ONE MOMENT, FOLKS, SO THAT WE CAN GET THE HEAD HEADSETS OUT THERE.
MY COLLEAGUE BERT IS HANDING THEM OUT, SO IF YOU PUT YOUR HANDS UP, IF YOU NEED TRANSLATION HEADSETS, WE'LL GET THEM TO YOU RAPIDLY.
DURING 16 YEARS, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF RECEIVING, I APOLOGIZE TO RECEIVE.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVE IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL, TELFER ELEMENTARY AS A COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE AND SUPERVISION.
TODAY, I FIND MYSELF HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU MY EXPERIENCE AND WITH PROFOUND WORRY, SINCE I HAVE LOST MY JOB, A SITUATION WHICH I HAD NEVER WOULD'VE IMAGINED AFTER SO MANY YEARS, DEDICATING MYSELF TO SERVICE.
MY COMPROMISE WITH THE SCHOOL WAS AFTER BEING, I STARTED AS A VOLUNTEER WITH THE TEACHERS WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE ASSISTING THAT SCHOOL.
THANKS TO THAT EXPERIENCE AND MY PASSION FOR MY WORK WITH THE CHILDREN, I STARTED IN 2009 RECEIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INCORPORATED WITH L-A-U-S-D.
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, I HAD DIVERSE RESPONSIBILITIES.
I WORKED AT THE PARENT CENTER AND WITH THE STUDENTS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL EVERY YEAR.
I RECEIVED KINDER AND FIRST GRADE STUDENTS.
I ALSO SUPERVISED DURING RECESS AND DURING LUNCH.
THOSE OF US THAT WORK CLOSE WITH THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN KNOW THAT TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL.
IT CAN BE DIFFICULT WITH KINDER CHILDREN FACING A NEW WORLD.
THEY ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE AND NEED A, AN ADULT.
THEY TRUST TO GO WITH THEM AND MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE.
MANY TIMES IT WAS ME WHO TOOK THEM TO THEIR CLASSES.
I REMEMBER A MOTHER WHO MADE A COMMENT SAYING THEIR CHILD HAD SAID
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THAT I HELPED THEM OPEN THEIR MILK DURING LUNCH.AND I REMEMBER THE CHILD WHO HAD ANXIETY, AND WHEN SHE WAS THERE LATE, THE OFFICE WOULD CALL ME.
SO BECAUSE SHE FELT CALM AND SAFE WHEN I WALKED HER TO CLASS IN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, I HELP CHILDREN THAT SUFFERED FROM BEING HURT ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS IN THEIR AIR REESE'S AREA, MAKING SURE THAT THEY RECEIVED THE NECESSARY ATTENTION DURING COVID.
WHEN OUR COMMUNITIES UNFORTUNATELY HAD THE CHILDREN HAD TO BE HOME, I WORKED AT THE SCHOOL PARTICIPATING, PREPARING AND DISTRIBUTING PACKS FOR CHILDREN AND ESSENTIAL MATERIALS SO THAT THEY CONTINUE LEARNING FROM HOME.
AS A MOTHER, I UNDERSTAND PERFECTLY THE IMPORTANCE THAT CHILDREN NEED TO FEEL SAFE AND HAVE THE BACKUP OF SOMEONE AT SCHOOL.
MY CHILDREN GRADUATED FROM L-A-U-S-D.
MY OLDEST CHILD WORKS AT L-A-U-S-D AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE AT TELFER ELEMENTARY AND IS STUDYING AT CSUN IN NORTHRIDGE.
MY OTHER YOUNGER CHILD, TWO WEEKS AGO, I TOOK HIM TO THE ARIZONA UNIVERSITY AND HE IS ALSO WORRIED BECAUSE I HIS MOTHER DON'T HAVE, DON'T NO LONGER HAVE A JOB AFTER 16 YEARS.
IN FACT, THE LOSS OF MY JOB, OF COURSE, IMPACTS ME AND MY FAMILY BECAUSE IT ALLOWED ME TO HELP WITH UNIVERSITY COSTS FOR MY CHILDREN, HELPING ECONOMICALLY IN MY HOME.
THAT'S WHY I AM HERE, NOT ONLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR MANY WORKERS THAT HAVE DEDICATED THE SERVICE TO OUR CHILDREN.
OUR WORKERS IN THE DISTRICT BELIEVE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND IN THE FUTURE OF THE CHILDREN, NUMEROUS PARENTS HAVE RECEIVED LETTERS, MAN WITH MANIFESTATION AND HELPING WITH THE REINCORPORATION OF THE WORKERS.
THEY RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF OUR JOB AND OUR TIES TO THEM.
FOR THAT, I ASK FOR THE LEADERS IN THE DISTRICT TO RECONSIDER, TO RECONSIDER THIS SITUATION AND LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES THAT MAY HELP CONSERVE THE JOBS AND RETURN THE JOBS TO THOSE WORKERS WHO ARE INVOLVED.
WE WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THERE ARE 600 EMPLOYEES, 600 FAMILIES WHO ARE WITHOUT WORK THIS NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
AND WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT THESE ARE 600 EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE OF WHAT YOU APPROVED IN MARCH 15TH LETTERS.
THESE ARE 600 EMPLOYEES WHOSE STATUS IS KNOWN AS RESTRICTED.
RIGHT NOW, WHAT ED CODE SAYS IS THAT AN EMPLOYEE UNDER RESTRICTED STATUS HAS TO RECEIVE AN EVALUATION WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT, AND WITH A POSITIVE EVALUATION CAN MOVE ON TO BE A PERMANENT EMPLOYEE.
83% OF THOSE 600 WHO WERE LET GO HAVE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS.
IN FACT, ONE IN THREE OF THOSE WORKERS HAVE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR OVER THREE YEARS.
WE HAVE OVER 2000 RESTRICTED EMPLOYEES IN L-A-U-S-D WHO HAVE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.
THE DISTRICT IS USING THE RESTRICTED STATUS TO LAY THESE EMPLOYEES OFF PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH OUR NEWCOMERS, WITH OUR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, WE STAND UP AND WE HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE PRO-IMMIGRATION.
WE SHARE OUR STORIES OF OUR FAMILIES AND OURSELVES CROSSING BORDERS IN THE IMPORTANCE, THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT OUR SCHOOLS PLAYED IN INTEGRATING OUR FAMILIES AND SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES DURING RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
PARENT ENGAGEMENT IS A CORE STRATEGY FOR THIS DISTRICT.
IT IS A CORE COMPONENT OF THIS DISTRICT'S STRATEGIC PLAN, AND YET WE ARE CUTTING OUR COMMUNITY REPS, AND AGAIN, WE'RE DOING IT OUTSIDE OF THE PROCESS AND LEGAL, UH, UH, STATUS THAT EXISTS IN ED CODE WITH OUR MARCH 15TH LETTERS.
THESE ARE UNLAWFUL ACTIONS TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY.
WE HAVE THOUSANDS, 30,000 OF OUR MEMBERS, SCHOOL
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EMPLOYEES WHO OPENED THEIR CHECKS LAST WEEK AND WHOSE RAISES WERE NOT REFLECTED.WE HAVE A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, A BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT THE INDIVIDUALS ON THIS BOARD AND OURSELVES STOOD UP AND CHEERED FOR A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT WE ALL HAD HELD HANDS AND SAID, THIS WILL DO BETTER FOR WORKERS AND BRING STABILITY TO OUR DISTRICT.
THAT JULY 1ST WHEN THOSE RAISES WERE SUPPOSED TO KICK IN, WAS NOT HONORED.
UNLAWFULLY OUR MEMBERS RECEIVED THEIR CHECKS LAST WEEK AND THOSE RAISES WERE NOT REFLECTED.
YOU ISSUED A RAISE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT THREE MONTHS TO SEE THAT RAISE REFLECTED IN YOUR CHECK.
THIS IS ON TOP OF NOT HAVING THE RETRO PAYMENT FOR THE TWO YEARS IN WHICH THE DISTRICT STOLE BARGAINING.
THEY WON'T GET THAT CHECK, OR AT LEAST THE DISTRICT HAS SAID UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
OUR MEMBERS HAVE PUSHED FOR FASTER, BUT THE DISTRICT HAS SAID WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER THE EIGHTH.
MEANWHILE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR FOLKS DO NOT WORK DURING THE SUMMER, DO NOT COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT.
THEY ARE THE ONLY QUOTE UNQUOTE SEASONAL WORKERS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.
IF YOU WORK AT DODGER STADIUM, YOU COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE OFF SEASON.
IF YOU'RE A FARM WORKER, YOU CAN COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE OFF SEASON.
IF YOU'RE A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE, YOU ARE BARRED FROM COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT DURING THE SUMMERTIME.
SO THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WE ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGE ARE AT THE LOWEST RUNG OF THE SALARY SCALE HERE AT THE DISTRICT, AND YET WE'RE DENYING THEM THE RAISES.
WE'RE DENYING THEM TWO YEARS WORTH OF BACK PAY, AND THEN WE'RE CUTTING THEIR JOBS ILLEGALLY.
WE ARE HOPING TO TURN A CORNER WITH THIS DISTRICT.
UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP, WE'VE EXTENDED OUR PARTNERSHIP TO SEEK REVENUE, TO BRING MORE RESOURCES SO THAT THE DISTRICT CAN FACE TOGETHER.
WE CAN FACE THE CHALLENGES THAT PLAGUE THIS DISTRICT AND ALL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
RIGHT? BUT THE DISTRICT KEEPS TALKING ABOUT RIGHT SIZING.
YOUR RHETORIC TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS THAT THE CHOICES YOU'RE MAKING TO CUT ARE NOT IN CUTS, BUT RATHER THAT YOU ARE RIGHT SIZING THE DISTRICT.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING RIGHT ABOUT CUTTING STUDENT SERVICES.
THERE'S NOTHING RIGHT ABOUT CUTTING FAMILY SOURCES OF INCOME.
PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO OUR KIDS.
WE CANNOT CELEBRATE THE HISTORIC GAINS OF OUR DISTRICT ONE DAY, AND THEN THE NEXT DAY DENY PEOPLE, DENY PEOPLE THE RAISES THAT THEY FOUGHT FOR.
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE IN ORDER TO BUILD PARTNERSHIP, WE HAVE TO HAVE TRUST.
TRUST CAN ONLY HAPPEN WHEN WORDS MEET ACTIONS.
WE HAVE THE WORDS IN OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE THE WORDS IN THE JOINT PRESS CONFERENCES AND PRESS STATEMENTS THAT WE'VE ALL SIGNED OFF OF.
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU ARE THE ACTIONS.
WE NEED YOU TO RESCIND THE LAYOFFS OF ALL OF THESE RESTRICTED EMPLOYEES THAT YOU ILLEGALLY, ILLEGALLY CUT THEIR JOBS.
WE NEED YOU TO IMMEDIATELY, IMMEDIATELY HONOR THE RAISES THAT TOOK EFFECT IN JULY 1ST.
AND WE NEED TO PROCESS OUR RETRO CHECKS BECAUSE WITHOUT TRUST, THERE IS NO PARTNERSHIP, WITHOUT TRUST, HOW CAN WE EXPECT TO GO OUT AND FIGHT FOR MORE? HOW WOULD YOU EXPECT YOUR EMPLOYEES TO FIGHT FOR MORE? WHEN MORE COMES, YOU HOARD IT AND KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES AND YOU CUT THEIR JOBS.
SO WE NEED YOU TO TAKE ACTION.
WE NEED YOUR ACTIONS TO BE WHERE YOUR RHETORIC IS.
AND WE NEED IT TO HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN, WIN.
I THINK I SEE ANOTHER LABOR PARTNER PRESIDENT IN THE WINGS.
YOU'LL HAVE, UH, FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M JULIE VAN WINKLE, THE U-T-L-A-A-F-T VICE PRESIDENT.
MY NAME IS JESSICA
I JUST WANNA START BY SAYING THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. AVILA.
YOUR SPEECH WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SEE YOU HERE AND YOUR PARENTS AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT.
UM, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE CHARTER SCHOOL RENEWALS.
UM, OF THE 43 CHARTER SCHOOLS PETITIONING
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THE BOARD FOR RENEWAL TODAY.11 OF THEM ARE MANAGED BY ALLIANCE COLLEGE READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE'D LIKE TO BRING TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED SINCE MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS WERE LAST AUTHORIZED.
THE CHARTER PETITION SUBMITTED TO YOU DON'T MENTION THE EXTENSIVE HISTORY AND ONGOING LITIGATION ALLIANCE MANAGEMENT HAS ENGAGED IN AS PART OF ITS OPERATIONS BETWEEN 2017 AND 2024 PER FOUND THAT ALLIANCE COLLEGE READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPEATEDLY VIOLATED THE EDUCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ACT IN THEIR TREATMENT OF EDUCATORS.
SEVEN OUT OF THE 11 SCHOOLS THAT ARE UP FOR RENEWAL HAVE HAD VIOLATIONS.
PERB HAS FOUND ALLIANCE MANAGEMENT REFUSED TO MEET AND BARGAIN MADE THREATENING AND UNLAWFUL COMMUNICATIONS TO EDUCATORS AND INTERFERED WITH AND DISCOURAGED EDUCATORS FROM ORGANIZING.
ALLIANCE EDUCATORS CURRENTLY AWAIT YET ANOTHER DECISION FROM PERB ON A CHARGE OF BARGAINING, BARGAINING AND BAD FAITH ALLIANCE'S.
UNELECTED BOARD REFUSED TO RATIFY TWO TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS NEGOTIATED BY ITS MANAGEMENT AND RATIFIED BY EDUCATORS LAST YEAR.
WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE DOES THIS RECORD SET FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES? IN ADDITION TO FAILING TO ENSURE ALLIANCE SCHOOLS COMPLY WITH THE LAW OVER THIS PERIOD, ALLIANCE CHANGED STRUCTURE AND BECAME LESS ACCOUNTABLE TO SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
ALLIANCE DISMANTLED LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD SCHOOL BOARDS, CONSOLIDATING THEM INTO ONE BOARD THAT MEETS ONLY FOUR TIMES PER YEAR AND FAILS TO PROVIDE ANY SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION FOR PARENTS AT MEETINGS.
THIS UNELECTED BOARD HAS JUST FIVE MEMBERS, FOUR OF WHOM HAVE NO KNOWN EXPERIENCE WORKING IN ANY SCHOOL IN ANY CAPACITY.
NONE HAVE ANY KNOWN CLASSROOM TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND ONLY ONE HAS BEEN AN ADMINISTRATOR.
ALL SCHOOL RELATED DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THIS UNELECTED BOARD ALLIANCE EDUCATORS CONTINUE TO BE STEADFAST IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO HAVING A COLLECTIVE VOICE IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND TO ADVOCATING FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS.
THIS BOARD SHOULD NOT ALLOW ALLIANCE TO SET A BAD EXAMPLE FOR HOW CHARTERS OPERATE IN L-A-U-S-D.
WE URGE YOU TO REVIEW ALLIANCE'S RECORD BEFORE VOTING ON THESE RENEWALS AND TO ENGAGE WITH EDUCATORS ABOUT WHAT STEPS MAY BE TAKEN TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE OVERSIGHT OF ALLIANCE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER LABOR PARTNERS PRESENT? UH, SEEING NONE, IT IS TIME
[Superintendent's Reports]
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORTS.IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE TOGETHER FOR OUR FIRST BOARD MEETING OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING THANK YOU.
THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND IT TAKES AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF COORDINATION, PREPARATION, AND CARE TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.
ACROSS LA UNIFIED PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF, TRANSPORTATION TEAMS, FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, CUSTODIANS, COUNSELORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WORKED TOGETHER TO WELCOME OUR STUDENTS BACK.
OUR FAMILIES PREPARED THEIR CHILDREN FOR A NEW YEAR AND OUR STUDENTS WALKED THROUGH THE, WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS, READY TO LEARN, RECONNECT, AND BEGIN A NEW CHAPTER.
AS I VISITED SCHOOLS AND SAW OUR EDUCATORS WELCOMING STUDENTS, I WAS REMINDED ONCE AGAIN THAT THE SCHOOLHOUSE IS WHERE OUR WORK COMES TO LIFE.
THAT IS WHERE OUR PRIORITIES BECOME REAL FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
I AM PROUD OF THE WAY OUR DISTRICT CAME TOGETHER TO START THIS SCHOOL YEAR STRONG TO EVERYONE ACROSS LA UNIFIED WHO HELPED MAKE THIS FIRST WEEK POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR ONE ANOTHER.
WE ALSO BEGIN THIS SCHOOL YEAR WITH TREMENDOUS ACADEMIC MOMENTUM.
OUR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED REMARKABLE THINGS AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING.
THIS YEAR WILL BE DEFINED BY STUDENT SUCCESS STRONG SCHOOLS, AND A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO THE WORK THAT MATTERS MOST.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO NOW WELCOME OUR NEW CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, ANDRE SPICER, TO SHARE A PRESENTATION ON THE OPENING OF THE 26 27 SCHOOL YEAR AND ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ANDRE, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU IN THIS POSITION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE EXPERIENCE, PERSPECTIVE AND LEADERSHIP YOU'LL CONTINUE TO BRING TO THE WORK.
I AM HAPPY TO REPORT A SUCCESSFUL 2026, 2027 SCHOOL YEAR OPENING.
I WANT TO BEGIN THIS PRESENTATION WITH A SHORT VIDEO THAT CAPTURES THE JOY, THE EXCITEMENT, AND THE PROMISE OF A NEW BEGINNING FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
[00:35:09]
TODAY IS OUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.THERE'S JUST A JOY THAT COMES WHEN WE HAVE OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF BACK ON CAMPUS.
WE'RE READING OUR DRIVERS, OUR SUPERVISORS, AND OUR FLEET STAFF.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED SEEING ALL OUR COMMUNITIES GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.
OVER A THOUSAND SCHOOLS, SERVING OVER 400,000 STUDENTS, ACROSS 710 SQUARE MILES.
THE POTENTIAL IS GREAT FOR A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR FOR EVERY SINGLE STUDENT.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE DONE IT AGAIN HERE AT L-A-U-S-D EIGHT.
WE'RE TEACHING THE FROM TWO YEAR OLDS ALL THE WAY TO STUDENTS WHO ARE IN OUR CAREER TECHNICAL CENTERS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS ENROLLING HERE IN OUR DIVISION OF ADULT AND CAREER EDUCATION, AND WE WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN AND TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT TRAINS STUDENTS TO BECOME AIRLINE MECHANICS.
YOU WANNA HAVE A SUCCESSFUL YEAR, AND THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE SET THAT STRUCTURE UP FOR OUR KIDS.
THRIVING LEARNING, FEELING AT HOME AND SAFE.
YEAH, I'M EXCITED DROPPING THEM OFF TO THEIR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
SO WE'RE HERE TO BRING THE SPIRIT AND WELCOME ALL OUR NEW STUDENTS.
WE'RE JUST HERE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S EXCITED AND INVOLVED.
I'M HERE AT SCHOOL 'CAUSE I WANNA SEE MY FRIENDS AND MY NEW TEACHER.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT, UH, THE ROBOTICS PATHWAY THEY HAVE HERE.
WE KNOW AS USUAL IN THE DISTRICT OF OUR SIZE, THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT GOING ON, BUT OUR FOCUS MUST REMAIN THE SAME.
THE SCHOOLHOUSE, THE CLASSROOM, GETTING READY FOR THE WORLD.
UH, WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THAT VIDEO IS, UH, BESIDES THE SMILES AND THE NEW BACKPACKS AS A STUDENT, UH, TEACHING AND LEARNING IS ALREADY STARTED.
EVEN SAW OUR SUPERINTENDENT THERE WORKING OUT A MATH PROBLEM.
UH, FOR THE STUDENT'S SAKE THERE,
SO AS WE WELCOME BACK THE SCHOLARS AND THE STAFF MEMBERS, WE SAW CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT, UH, WHAT I LIKE TO CALL THE THREE CS.
CULTURE, CLIMATE, AND CURB APPEAL.
WE SAW INVITING, WARM, WELCOMING SPACES.
WE SAW THE CLIMATE WHERE IT WAS FUN, STUDENT CENTERED AND CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING AND CURB APPEAL.
OUR SCHOOLS WERE CLEAN, OUR SCHOOLS WERE ORGANIZED, AND OUR SCHOOLS WERE FRESH.
SO YOU MAY ASK, YOU KNOW, WHAT MEASURES A SUCCESSFUL OPENING? UH, WE HAVE SOME MEASUREABLES, 95.4% ATTENDANCE RATE 99, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, BY THE WAY.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT THAT OUT, UH, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY HERE SOON.
99% TEACHER FILL RATE SPEAKS TO THE WORK, WORK OF OUR HR DEPARTMENT.
OVER 2.3 MILLION MEALS SERVED ONE 1,307 BUS ROUTES COVERED, UH, 413 CENTRAL AND REGENTS OFF STAFF DEPLOYED FOR OUR DAWN PATROL, WHERE THOSE, UH, ADMINISTRATORS GO OUT AND ASSIST OUR SCHOOLS WITH A SMOOTH OPENING.
OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ARE VERY PROUD OF.
A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR SCHOOLS, UH, SUBMITTED THEIR DEEP CLEANING OR COMPLETED THEIR DEEP CLEANING.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A 98% OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL, OF OUR SCHOOLS HAD HVAC OPERATIONAL, UH, BUT WE STILL DEPLOYED 3000, UH, PORTABLE HVAC UNITS.
WHY WAS ATTENDANCE SO GOOD? YOU MAY ASK.
WELL, I BELIEVE IT HAD TO DO WITH OUR EARLY OUTREACH EFFORTS.
OUR SUPERINTENDENT ASKED US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SCOUR LOS ANGELES BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS.
AND SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE HAD OVER 6,500 PERSONALIZED CALLS.
WE HAD OVER ALMOST 2000 HOME VISITS, AND WE DID DOCUMENT, UH, FAMILY CONTACTS OVER 10,000 TIMES.
THIS WAS ALL BETWEEN JULY, UH, LATE JULY, EARLY AUGUST, JULY 27TH THROUGH AUGUST 10TH.
WE ALSO HAD A SPECIALIZED OUTREACH FOR OUR LINEAGE FAMILIES, OUR FAMILIES THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE LINEAGE FIRES, WHICH WE'LL HEAR SOME MORE ABOUT HERE SOON.
SO THE I 10 BLITZ, WHAT CALLS FOR THAT WE ARE HAVING, UH, LIKE IT IS NATIONWIDE.
WE'RE SEEING ENROLLMENT NUMBERS DOWN ALMOST 20,000 NO SHOWS, UH, HERE IN LOS ANGELES ALONE.
SO WE WERE CHARGED WITH THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, HOW DO WE REALLY ENGAGE, UH, WITH OUR FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, IN A VERY INTENSE MANNER.
AND SO WE CAME UP WITH WHAT'S CALLED THE I 10 BLITZ.
WHAT HAPPENS? WE HAD 1100 OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS TRAINED THAT WAS CLASSIFIED, THAT WAS CERTIFICATED AROUND HOW TO CODE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES PROPERLY, HOW TO ENGAGE THEM IN THEIR HOMES WITH THE PHONE CALLS AND HOW TO PROPERLY CONDUCT HOME VISITS FOR MAXIMAL UH, USAGE.
[00:40:01]
WE HAD 300 STAFF, UH, DEPLOYED FROM CENTRAL AND REGION OFFICES, GOING TO THE SCHOOLS, GOING TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.AND THEN WHAT WE FOUND WAS WE HAD OVER 19,000 PHONE CALLS, 17,000 ROBOCALLS, OVER 2,500 HOME VISITS AS OF EIGHT 20.
THAT IS A MONUMENTAL TASK, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW IMPACTFUL IT WAS.
HERE YOU SEE THAT NUMBER FIFTY SEVEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THREE, THAT'S ACTUALLY 6,000 STUDENTS THAT REENGAGED WITH LA UNIFIED SINCE THE START OF THE I 10 BLITZ.
THE 3,598 STUDENTS REENGAGED OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES IS NOW MORE LIKE 7,000 STUDENTS, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO LOCATE THEM, WHETHER THEY WENT CHECKED INTO A CHARTER SCHOOL OR PRIVATE SCHOOL OR WENT OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
UH, WE THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT 30% OF OUR NEWCOMER POPULATION DID NOT REENGAGE WITH US.
THE ACT OF FOLLOW UP IS DOWN TO 13,000.
WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 13,000 STUDENTS THAT WE WANNA LOCATE.
SO OUT OF THE 20,000 OR SO, THERE WERE NO SHOW AT THE BEGINNING.
WE'VE REENGAGED 7,000 OR SO, 6,000 OR SO OF THEM HAVE SIGNED BACK UP OR BACK AT SCHOOL WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.
AND THEN WE'VE LOCATED ANOTHER SEVEN LINEAGE.
THE BOYLE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY WAS DEVASTATED BY THIS FIRE AND ITS AFTERMATH, BUT LA UNIFIED DID WHAT WE ALWAYS DO.
WE SHOWED UP TO SUPPORT, SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.
WE WANTED TO MAKE, ASSESS THE AIR, WE WANTED TO ASSESS THE SOIL.
WE WANTED TO ASSESS ANY SURROUNDING AREAS OF OUR SCHOOL BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE SAFE.
WE DID HAVE CONTINGENCY PLANS, BUT IT WAS FOUND THAT IT WASN'T NEEDED.
SCHOOLS STARTED AND ALL OF OUR LINEAGE, ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS WITHIN THREE MILES OF LINEAGE ACTUALLY HAD HIGHER ATTENDANCE THAN THE OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.
I THINK THAT THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO HOW, UH, REGION EAST IN PARTICULAR ENGAGED WITH FAMILIES WITH WEBINARS.
THEY HAD A SERIES OF WEBINARS LED BY DR. RAMIREZ ORTIZ AND HER TEAM.
OUR BOARD MEMBER DR. RIVAS ALSO ENGAGED, UH, THOSE FAMILIES AS WELL.
ANSWERING QUESTIONS WHERE WE'RE GIVING TOURS OF OUR SCHOOLS, WHERE WE'RE DOING ENROLLMENT FAIRS AT OUR SCHOOLS.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU, OUR FAMILIES OVERWHELMINGLY, UH, REALLY APPRECIATED THAT SUPPORT WE ALSO TOOK TO THE STREETS, HAD A VERY SPECIALIZED ATTENDANCE OUTREACH IN THE LINEAGE AREA, LETTING FAMILIES KNOW THEY WAS SAFE, LETTING FAMILIES KNOW WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES, UH, THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE TO THEM SO THAT THEY WOULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT RETURNING BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM.
UH, WE'RE REAFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR STUDENTS.
SO FAR, WE'VE HAD OVER 800,000 BREAKFAST MEALS SERVED IN LA UNIFIED.
WE HOPE TO REACH ABOUT 80% OF ALL SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM.
IN THE COMING WEEKS, SUPERINTENDENT CH ASKED US TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS WERE WELCOME BACK WITH VERY VALUABLE RESOURCES.
WELL, WHAT WE DID WAS WE CURATED A CURATED, EXCUSE ME, A WELCOME BACK TEACHER PLAYBOOK, VERY EXCITED, AND ALSO A PRINCIPAL'S OPENING OF SCHOOLS TOOLKIT.
THE TEACHERS RECEIVE CALENDARS, TIPS ON PREPARATIONS, CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS, UH, TEACHING RESOURCES, ALL IN A ONE STOP SHOP FOR THEM.
ALSO, WITH OUR PRINCIPALS, THEY HAVE THE CALENDARS, THE PLANNERS SIX WEEKS ACTION PLANS.
WE ARE ONE MATERIAL SO THAT OUR STAFF MEMBERS COULD REFAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WHAT TO DO IN CASE WE HAVE FEDERAL AGENTS NEAR OR ON OUR CAMPUSES.
SUPERINTENDENT UH, MENTIONED THE GREAT GROWTH THAT WE'VE, UM, EXPERIENCED IN ACADEMICS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
WE KNOW THAT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT GROUP AND EVERY SUBJECT, ALL GRADES HAVE HAD MORE GROWTH THAN WE'VE HAD HISTORICALLY ON SMARTER BALANCE.
OUR CHARGE THIS YEAR, EVERY SINGLE REGION IS GONNA BE STAY THE COURSE, BUT ACCELERATE.
AND WHAT DOES STAY THE COURSE MEAN? IT MEANS CONTINUE WITH STANDARDS ALIGNED INSTRUCTION THAT'S DIFFERENTIATED.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO USE DATA TO INFORM INSTRUCTION AND PROGRESS, MONITOR AND OFFER SUPPORT.
AND TO ACCELERATE, OF COURSE, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S RIGOR IN EVERY CLASSROOM.
COGNITIVE DEMANDING INSTRUCTION, WRITING ACROSS ALL CONTENTS, AND, UH, ENGAGING IN SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION.
WE WILL SEE FOUR YEARS OF CONSISTENT GROWTH IN EVERY ACADEMIC SUBJECT FOR EVERY STUDENT GROUP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF SPICER.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
[00:45:01]
OKAY.[Consent Items]
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORTS, WE'LL GO THROUGH THIS CONSENT CALENDAR.THE CON CONSENT CALENDAR IS A PROCEDURAL DEVICE THAT THE BOARD USES TO GO THROUGH EACH ITEM THAT IS UP FOR ACTION TODAY AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE ON A BUNCH OF ITEMS AT ONCE OR IF THE ITEM IS GOING TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY.
SO I READ THROUGH THE CALENDAR AND THEY SAY OUT LOUD CONSENT, DISCUSSION OR QUESTION.
IF IT'S CONSENT, IT GOES ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR A BATCH VOTE.
IF IT'S, UH, DISCUSSION OR QUESTION, IT COMES OFF CONSENT.
IT'LL BE TAKEN THE ORDER AT WHICH IT APPEARS OR TAKEN OUT OUT OF ORDER IF THE BOARD PRESIDENT SO WISHES.
TAB ONE, DONATIONS OF MONEY TO THE DISTRICT.
WHAT'S THAT CONSENT TAB? TWO, APPROVAL OF ROUTINE PERSONNEL ACTIONS.
I HAVE QUESTION QUESTIONS OF COURSE, FROM GRIEGO AND MS. NEW BILL.
PROVISIONAL INTERNSHIP PERMITS CONSENT.
TAB FOUR, REPORT OF CASH DISBURSEMENTS CONSENT.
TAB FIVE, APPROVE THE DEFINITION OF TWO PROJECTS AND THEN READ THE PETITION OF A PROJECT TO PROVIDE CRITICAL REPLACEMENTS.
IF I'M MOVING TOO FAST, JUST TELL ME.
ALRIGHT, TAB SIX, DEFINE AND APPROVE.
BOARD DISTRICT PRIORITY AND REGION PRIORITY.
TAB SEVEN, UH, LOS ANGELES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND STEAM MAGNET, EMERGENCY LOCKDOWN.
REQUEST FOR ATTENDANCE RELIEF.
TAB EIGHT, SALE OF DELINQUENT TAX RECEIVABLES.
TAB NINE, APPROVAL OF PROCUREMENT ACTIONS.
QUESTIONS FROM MR. SCHUREN, MY NEW BILL AND MS. NEW BILL.
UH, TAB 10, APPROVAL OF FACILITIES, CONTRACTS, ACTIONS.
QUESTION A QUESTION FROM MR. SCHUREN.
ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, SO THAT WILL GO ON THE OTHER CALENDAR.
ALL RIGHT, TAB 11, PUBLIC HEARING.
CHARTER PETITIONS FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
THERE'S NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM.
IT'S JUST A, A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, WHICH I'LL NOTE, UH, THE BOARD WILL BE TAKING AFTER WE RUN THE CONSENT CALENDAR SO FOLKS CAN GO ABOUT THEIR DAYS AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS GIVEN.
UM, ALSO REQUESTING A WAIVER OF BOARD RULE 72, RECOGNIZING CALIFORNIA STUDENT MARK ELECTION DAY, TAB 13.
UH, RECOGNIZING WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY AS A NATIONAL DAY OF CELEBRATION.
AND WE HAVE A 1:00 PM TIME CERTAIN, WHICH UH, I ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT WE JUST LEAVE OFF CONSENT BECAUSE IT ENDS UP BEING TALKED ABOUT A BUNCH.
IS IT OKAY IF WE PUT THAT ON THE ACTION CALENDAR? THANK YOU.
UM, THIS IS FOR INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
IF NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THAT MEANS.
UH, PRIOR TO ACTION BEING TAKEN ON A REGULAR RESOLUTION THAT'S PROPOSED BY A BOARD OFFICE.
IT IS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC FIRST AT ONE MONTH IN ADVANCE FOR REVIEW AND COMMENTS.
AND THEN FOLKS CAN REACH OUT, GIVE US THEIR COMMENTS, AND THEN A MONTH LATER IT'S TAKEN FOR ACTION AT THE BOARD MEETING.
UH, TAB 18 IS A PUBLIC HEARING REPORT OF COURT ACTION IN SEPTEMBER, I'M SORRY, SEPTEMBER.
WHAT DID I SAY? JUST SAID FOR ACTION.
UH, TAB 18 REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE.
THAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I'LL BE READING A STATEMENT ON THAT.
TAB 19 COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE FOR THE 26 27 SCHOOL YEAR CONSENT TAB.
20 MINUTES FOR BOARD APPROVAL CONSENT.
[11. 001-26/27 43 Charter Schools Public Hearing Charter Schools Division]
WE BEGIN TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, WE'RE GONNA MOVE, UH, DIRECTLY TO HERE.THE, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON TAB 11.
UH, EVERYTHING THAT IS FOLLOWING IS NOT FOR ACTION TODAY.
IT'S FOR ACTION AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.
JUST SO FOLKS ARE CLEAR, UH, I'M GONNA READ A STATEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING UNDER TAB 11.
BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN ON THE FOLLOWING, A PUBLIC HEARING MUST BE HELD.
I'M GONNA READ A LONG LIST, SO I'LL GO A LITTLE BIT SLOW FOR OUR TRANSLATION FOLKS.
UH, THIS CONSTITUTES A PUBLIC HEARING ON ALLIANCE COLLEGE READY MIDDLE ACADEMY ALLIANCE, DR.
OLGA MOHAN HIGH ALLIANCE, GERTZ RESLER, RICHARD MERKIN, SIX THROUGH 12 COMPLEX ALLIANCE.
JACK H KER BALL MIDDLE SCHOOL ALLIANCE, MARK AND EVA STERN MATH AND SCIENCE ALLIANCE.
MARGARET M BLOOMFIELD HIGH ALLIANCE, UCHI O DONOVAN SIX THROUGH 12 COMPLEX ALLIANCE.
PATTY AND PETER NEW WORTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY ALLIANCE.
RENEE, UH, AND MEYER LUSKIN ACADEMY HIGH ALLIANCE.
SUSAN AND ERIC SCHMIDT, UH, TECHNOLOGY HIGH ALLIANCE.
JAMES B. TAYLOR CHARTER MIDDLE ANIMO, MAY JAMESON, UH, JAMISON, CHARTER MIDDLE HIGH, I'M CHARTER.
MIDDLE ANIMO, PAT BROWN, CHARTER
[00:50:01]
HIGH, ANIMO RALPH BUNCH.CHARTER HIGH ANIMO SOUTH LOS ANGELES CHARTER HIGH.
ANIMO WATTS COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY, BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY CENTER.
UH, CHIME INSTITUTES AT SCHWARZENEGGER COMMUNITY EQUITAS ACADEMY.
CHARTER EQUITAS ACADEMY FOUR EQUITAS ACADEMY, SIX EQUITAS ACADEMY CHARTER.
ICEF VIEW PARK PREPARATORY ELEMENTARY.
I I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A TY OR ISNA PALM ACADEMY.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULD BE ASANA.
UH, KIPP ENDEAVOR, COLLEGE PREPARATORY MULTICULTURAL LEARNING CENTER, UH, RISE KANG HIGH SCHOOL, RISE KANG MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PREP, SOUTH BAY, STELLA HIGH CHARTER ACADEMY, SYNERGY QUANTUM ACADEMY.
VALOR, UH, VALOR ACADEMY ELEMENTARY VALOR ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL, VISTA HORIZON GLOBAL ACADEMY.
WISH ACADEMY HIGH WISH COMMUNITY A MAXIMUM OF 25.
INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON THE ITEM WILL BE HEARD.
THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK SHOULD SIGN UP ONLINE.
THEY HAVE SIGNUPS ARE COMPLETE AND FULL AND THE SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED ON BY NAME.
OKAY, I'M GONNA PULL UP THE SPEAKER LIST AS I CALL YOUR NAMES.
I'M GONNA CALL THE FIRST THREE FOLKS TO SPEAK.
UM, UH, THE FIRST PERSON TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND THE OTHER TWO READY TO JUMP IN WHEN THE PERSON BEFORE THEM HAS WRAPPED UP THEIR COMMENTS.
WE EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND THE FIRST SPEAKER IS DAVID RICHARDSON.
I THINK I SAW MR. RICHARDSON EARLIER.
UH, AND THEN FOLLOWING MR. RICHARDSON IS DAISY, DAISY MADRIGAL, AND THEN JASON WATTS.
MR. RICHARDSON, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD MY TIME TO PA CINIO.
GOOD MORNING BOARD PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, AND TO OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
CONGRATULATIONS ON AN INCREDIBLY, UM, UH, POWERFUL START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR WHEN LOS ANGEL KNOWS WHEN WE ALL THRIVE.
I'M PABLO VIVIE, VICE SENSCIO, THE CEO OF ALLIANCE COLLEGE READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND HONORED TO REPRESENT THE 11 ALLIANCE SCHOOLS BEFORE YOU FOR RENEWAL.
THE THOUSANDS OF SCHOLARS, FAMILIES, AND EDUCATORS WHO CALL THEM HOME FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, ALLIANCE HAS BEEN PART OF THE FABRIC OF LOS ANGELES TODAY.
96% OF OUR SCHOLARS GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND 93% OF THOSE WITH AN A THROUGH G REQUIREMENT COMPARED TO THE 53% STATEWIDE OF OUR GRADUATES.
97% ARE ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE AND OUR 25,000 ALUMNI GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AT THREE TIMES THE RATE OF THE NATIONAL RATE FOR STUDENTS FROM SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS.
AND WE'RE ALSO PROUD THAT 91% OF OUR TEACHERS ARE RETAINED YEAR AFTER YEAR AND COMMITTED TO ALLIANCE.
THIS MONTH, US NEWS, UM, RANKED ALL 16 ALLIANCE HIGH SCHOOLS AMONG THE TOP 18% NATIONALLY, INCLUDING EIGHT IN THE TOP 5% IN THIS COUNTRY, AND TWO IN THE TOP 1% IN ALL OF THE UNITED STATES.
BUT NUMBERS DO NOT TELL THE WHOLE STORY.
IT'S A STORY OF A MOTHER AT STERN MASS WHO WATCHED HER SON GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AND PREPARE FOR LAW SCHOOL AND THEN CHOSE A SCHOOL AGAIN FOR HER DAUGHTER.
IT'S A STORY OF A SCHOOL LEADER AT LUSKIN WHO KNOWS LASTING CHANGE REQUIRES BRINGING AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY ALONG.
AND IT'S A STORY OF A TEACHER OF OSHA O DONOVAN WHO TEACH WATCHES STRUGGLING SCHOLARS BECOME CONFIDENT READERS AND WRITERS THEMSELVES CAPABLE OF THINGS THAT WE ALL BELIEVE.
THESE ARE THE STORIES THAT EXPAND TO SMITH TECH, BLOOMFIELD, MOHAN, TZ, MERKIN, TAMAN MIDDLE ACADEMY, FOUR NEW EARTH AND SKI BALL TOGETHER, THE 11 SCHOOLS BEFORE YOU.
WE'VE DELIVERED 5,000 LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND WE BELIEVE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE AMONG THE STRONGEST OF THE LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE RENEWAL OVER 11 SCHOOLS.
I YO, MY TIME TO CHRISTINA DE JESUS WITH GREEN DOT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT.
CHRISTINA DE JESUS AND I'M THE PROUD PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GREEN DOT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SIX SCHOOLS THAT ARE DOING INCREDIBLE WORK ACROSS LOS ANGELES, ANIMO WATTS, ANIMO, SOUTH LOS ANGELES, ANIMO, RALPH BUNCH, ANIMO, PAT BROWN, ANIMO, MA JEMISON, AND ANIMO JAMES B. TAYLOR.
EACH OF THESE SCHOOLS SERVES A DISTINCT COMMUNITY WITH HIS OWN IDENTITY, BUT THE RESULTS ARE CONSISTENT.
STUDENTS ARE ACHIEVING MORE THAN A YEAR OF GROWTH IN BOTH LITERACY AND MATH, INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT GAINS AMONG STUDENT SUBGROUPS.
THAT PROGRESS IS PREPARING STUDENTS TO CHART THEIR OWN PATH FORWARD.
STUDENTS ARE ACCESSING DUAL ENROLLMENT, AP CLASSES, STEM CURRICULUM, CAREER PATHWAYS, AND COLLEGE TOURS, WHICH ALL SUPPORT SUCCESS AND COLLEGE AND CAREER.
ALL OF THE GREEN DOT HIGH SCHOOLS UP FOR RENEWAL HAVE COHORT GRADUATION RATES RANGING FROM 94
[00:55:01]
TO 99% BEYOND STRONG ACADEMICS.GREEN.IS COMMITTED TO EDUCATING THE WHOLE CHILD.
THESE SCHOOLS INVEST DEEPLY IN STUDENT WELLBEING FROM ADVISORY AND ROBUST MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS TO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, PARTNERSHIPS AND EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
WE BELIEVE STUDENTS LEARN BEST WHEN THEY FEEL SEEN, SUPPORTED AND SAFE.
AND WE BELIEVE SCHOOLS SHOULD BE A PLACE OF JOY WHERE STUDENTS BUILD COMMUNITY, PURSUE THEIR PASSIONS AND COME TO SEE THEMSELVES ARE AS CAPABLE OF GREAT THINGS AND FAMILIES ARE SEEING THE DIFFERENCE.
PARENT RECOMMENDATION RATES ARE CONSISTENTLY AMONG THE STRONGEST MEASURES OF COMMUNITY TRUST AND COLLECTIVELY AVERAGE 94% ACROSS GREEN DOT SCHOOLS.
FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING THESE SCHOOLS, ADVOCATING FOR THEM AND ASKING US TO CONTINUE SERVING THEIR CHILDREN.
WE HAVE ALSO COLLECTED HUNDREDS OF LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ADVOCATING FOR RENEWALS FOR EACH OF THESE SCHOOLS.
THESE SIX SCHOOLS HAVE EARNED RENEWALS THROUGH THEIR PERFORMANCE, OVER THEIR CHARTER TERM ON BEHALF OF THEIR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE RENEWAL OF ALL SIX SCHOOLS.
A REVO, A VOTE TO RENEW THESE SCHOOLS IS A VOTE TO KEEP THIS PROGRESS GOING FOR THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE COUNTING ON THEM.
MY NAME IS JASON WATTS, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF SCHOLARSHIP PREP.
I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY WE CREATED THIS SCHOOL AND WHY WE'RE ASKING YOU TO LET US KEEP BUILDING IT.
WE OPENED SCHOLARSHIP PREP SOUTH BAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHEN FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS EVERYWHERE WERE IN CRISIS.
DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE CREATED SOMETHING THAT WILMINGTON FAMILIES COULD HAVE RELY UPON.
TODAY WE SERVE OVER 375 TK THROUGH EIGHT STUDENTS.
84% ARE SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, 20% ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND 12% ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WE DESIGNED A SCHOOL TO MEET THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES HEAD ON 100% TRAUMA TRAINED TEACHERS, DAILY CHECK-INS, MENTAL HEALTH VISION, AND BASIC NEEDS.
SUPPORTS SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHING, AND HOUSING ARE BUILT DIRECTLY INTO THE SCHOOL DAY ALONGSIDE PARTNERS LIKE VISION TO LEARN, HOP, SKIP, DRIVE, AND THE WBAS LA SPARKS.
THAT INVESTMENT SHOWS UP IN THE RESULTS.
OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, OUR STUDENTS GAINED 50 POINTS IN ELA WITH SIX OR SEVEN SUBGROUPS OUTPERFORMING THE STATE.
SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS GAINED 53 POINTS IN THAT PERIOD.
OUR HOMELESS STUDENTS SCORED 39 POINTS ABOVE LOCAL DISTRICTS SOUTH, AND EIGHT OF POINTS EIGHT POINTS ABOVE THE STATE WITH 0% CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM COMPARED TO NEARLY 31% STATEWIDE.
CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, SCHOOLWIDE IS JUST 1.4%, WHICH IS TOPS AMONGST ALL LUST SCHOOLS IN MATH.
WE GREW 33 POINTS SCHOOLWIDE WITH EVERY SUBGROUP GAINING 20 OR MORE POINTS LAST YEAR ALONE.
AND FOR FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS, OUR SUSPENSION RATE HAS BEEN ZERO.
WE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY PROUD OF THE RESULTS, BUT WE'RE NOT DONE.
MATH REMAINS OUR PRIORITY AND WE HAVE A SPECIFIC DATA-DRIVEN PLAN TO BUILD ON A ON THE MOMENTUM WE SAW LAST YEAR, OUR TEAM HAS SPENT OVER A DECADE BUILDING THIS ORGANIZATION FROM THE GROUND UP.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS A SCHOOL THAT EARNS TRUST FROM FAMILIES, FROM PARTNERS, AND THE DATA SHOWS IT.
RENEWAL MEANS GIVING THESE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP BUILDING ON WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY EARNED.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ESTHER REE ESTHER.
AND THEN AFTER ESTHER IS ZION, GRANT FREEMAN, AND THEN NADIA SHAIK.
MY NAME IS ESTHER REE AND I YIELD MY TIME TO AMY LAZANO, BOARD PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO FOR THE OVER 500,000 STUDENTS IN L-A-U-S-D.
I AM AMY LOZANO AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS PRINCIPAL OF ALLIANCE ROONEY AND MEYER LUSKIN ACADEMY.
AND I'M HERE TO SHARE HOW WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE COLLECTIVE MISSION OF SERVING OUR CITY'S YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH SKILL AND THROUGH HEART.
AT ALLIANCE LUKIN ACADEMY, WE SERVE 485 STUDENTS, A HUNDRED PERCENT WHO ARE BLACK, WHO ARE BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH, AND OVER 95% WHO ARE FROM LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
OUR RESULTS SHOW WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE AN OVER 90% COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE.
OUR DATA IN BOTH MATH ELA AND ALSO SCIENCE HAS SHOWN AN OVERALL UPWARD TRAJECTORY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH AN INCREASE OF 28.5 DFS POINTS IN ELA JUST LAST YEAR, WE ACHIEVE THESE RESULTS THROUGH A STRONG STAFF AND STUDENT CULTURE, STRONG STAFF RETENTION, AND VERY INVOLVED FAMILIES.
OUR SCHOOL SITE BUILT SUCH A STRONG CULTURE OF COMMUNITY THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE FIVE ALUMNI WHO WORK AS PART OF OUR STAFF AND MANY MORE STUDENTS LOOKING TO RETURN TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT COMMUNITY.
AS PART OF THE L-A-U-S-D ECOSYSTEM AND AS A FREE PUBLIC SCHOOL, WE ARE WORKING HARD ALONGSIDE U-L-A-U-S-D TO CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP FOR STUDENTS.
A VOTE TO RENEW ALLIANCE LUKIN ACADEMY'S CHARTER IS A VOTE TO CONTINUE A PROVEN EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE STUDENTS OF SOUTH LOS ANGELES.
IT IS A COMMITMENT TO THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHOSEN A SCHOOL THAT WORKS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
IT IS A COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURES OF
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ALL OF OUR SCHOLARS.THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT SPEAKER, COME ON UP.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ZION GRANT FREEMAN AND I'LL BE YIELDING MY TIME TO EMILY CANELLA.
WHEN I LOOK AROUND MY CLASSROOM, I SEE A YOUNGER VERSION OF MYSELF AND MY SCHOLARS, THEIR DREAMS, CURIOSITY, AND POTENTIAL MIRROR, THE ASPIRATIONS I ONCE HELD.
GROWING UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, I GREW UP JUST THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE GIRTS MEIN COMPLEX.
AND FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF TEACHING EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISH AT THE GIRTS MEIN COMPLEX.
GROWING UP HERE, MY FAMILY MADE SACRIFICES SO THAT I COULD ACCESS STRONG EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
YEARS LATER, BECOMING A TEACHER, MERKIN GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HOME AND TO CREATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT EDUCATION IS NOT ONLY AN INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT, BUT A RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING BACK WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT HELP SHAPE US.
THE COMPLEX ALLOWS ME TO LIVE THAT BELIEF EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I'VE WATCHED SCHOLARS GROW ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY, AND I'VE SEEN HOW A SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL COMMUNITY CAN EXPAND WHAT THEY AND FAMILIES BELIEVE IS POSSIBLE.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO RENEW GERTZ MURKIN SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CREATE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOLARS RIGHT HERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE PROUDLY SERVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
UH, GOOD MORNING SUPERINTENDENT CHIT BOARD, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WE HAVE, UH, THREE SCHOOLS UP FOR RENEWAL, ISANA CARDINAL, ISANA PALM, AND ISANA AL.
THESE SCHOOLS HAVE SERVED THE COMMUNITIES OF SOUTH LOS ANGELES, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, AND SUN VALLEY.
OUR PROGRAM HAS RESULTED IN ACCELERATED GROWTH FOR OUR LARGE, LARGE POPULATION OF ENGLISH LEARNERS, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, LATINO, AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS.
EVERY SCHOOL AND EVERY STUDENT GROUP HAS DEMONSTRATED MORE THAN A YEAR OF GROWTH FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE BEEN INVITED BY THE DISTRICT LAST YEAR TO SPEAK AT THE CHARTER COMMITTEE, UH, WHERE WE DESCRIBED WHAT WE CALL THE ASANA BIG THREE, THREE PRIORITIES THAT HAVE LED TO THIS ADVANCED STUDENT GROWTH, A SCHOOL CLIMATE OF BELONGING, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND SUSTAINING PEDAGOGY.
I KNOW WE SHARE WITH L-A-U-S-D.
WE CREATE BELONGING THROUGH STRONG RELATIONSHIPS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND MEANINGFUL FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.
WE PURSUE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH STRONG INSTRUCTION, UH, AND INNOVATIVE CO-TEACHING MODELS, WHICH FEATURES NOT ONLY THE CO-TEACHING OF GENERAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, UH, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION CO-TEACHING PROGRAMS BETWEEN GENERAL EDUCATION AND VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS TEACHERS THROUGH THE LUSD CHARTER OPERATED PROGRAMS GRANT, WE WERE FORTUNATE TO SHARE OUR BEST, UH, CO-TEACHING BEST PRACTICES WITH OTHER SCHOOLS, BOTH CHARTER AND DISTRICT.
WE BELIEVE STUDENTS THRIVE WHEN THEY CAN SEE THEMSELVES, THEIR CULTURE, AND THEIR CREATIVITY REFLECTED IN THEIR EDUCATION.
WE INVITE YOU TO OUR SCHOOL-WIDE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASES AND ARE GRATEFUL.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ALREADY ATTENDED, OUR STUDENT AND EDUCATOR WORK HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED THROUGH CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL HONORS RECOGNITION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION COMPLIANCE AND RESULTS AND COMMUNITY AND STATE AWARDS.
WE'RE PROUDLY PARTNERING WITH THE DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS AND DEEPLY COMMITTED TO CONTINUE.
THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE COLIN F***H, FERNANDO ZARAGOZA, AND ELENA PAR ANO.
I'M THE PROUD SUPERINTENDENT OF VISTA CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HORIZON GLOBAL ACADEMY IS AN INCREDIBLE SCHOOL THAT HAS ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN ITS FIRST CHARTER TERM.
IN OUR MOST RECENT L-A-U-S-D OVERSIGHT REPORT.
VISTA HORIZON SCORED EARNED SCORES OF 4, 3, 4, AND FOUR ACCOMPLISHED IN GOVERNANCE, PROFICIENT IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, ACCOMPLISHED IN ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS, AND ACCOMPLISHED IN FISCAL OPERATIONS.
WE'RE ALSO VERY PROUD OF VISTA HORIZON'S.
MINUSCULE 4.9% CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM RATE ON THE CURRENT CALIFORNIA DASHBOARD, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BEST RATES IN ALL OF LOS ANGELES.
THIS DID NOT HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.
VISTA HORIZON HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO DEVELOP A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE WHERE EVERY STUDENT IS KNOWN, VALUED, AND CARED FOR.
WHERE EVERY, WHERE EVERY PARENT IS WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS AS A PARTNER IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION.
AND WHERE EVERY STAFF MEMBER IS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OUR STUDENTS.
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A SCHOOL CULTURE THAT YOU HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE.IT IS ALSO WHY VISTA HORIZON'S ENROLLMENT HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL YEAR SINCE THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN IN OPERATION.
LASTLY, WE'RE INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGED BY OUR PRELIMINARY ACADEMIC DATA FROM THIS LAST YEAR.
WE EXPECT INCREASED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ACROSS THE BOARD, INCLUDING VERY SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN MATHEMATICS.
WE ARE DEEPLY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE BUILT AT VISTA HORIZON IN ITS FIRST CHARTER TERM.
IMAGINE WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
ON BEHALF OF THE PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF AT VISTA HORIZON GLOBAL ACADEMY, WE HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN OUR CHARTER RENEWAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
GOOD MORNING BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT.
I WILL BE YIELDING MY TIME TO ALEX MANNA.
GOOD MORNING OR GOOD? UH, GOOD MORNING.
UH, I SERVE AS THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS COORDINATOR AT ALLIANCE SMITH TECH HIGH SCHOOL IN THE HISTORIC AND BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD OF LINCOLN HEIGHTS.
UM, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT THIS AFTERNOON TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK BEING DONE AT ALLIANCE SMITH TECH AND TO ASK FOR, UH, YOUR VOTE IN FAVOR OF OUR CHARTER RENEWAL.
AS EDUCATORS, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT WANTING TO BE DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE THE COMMUNITIES THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE ROOTED IN.
NOT JUST A SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY OR FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT TRULY A SCHOOL OF THE COMMUNITY.
NOW, IN OUR 15TH YEAR IN NORTHEAST LA, I BELIEVE THAT ALLIANCE SMITH TECH IS ONE OF THESE TRUE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
AS A FOUNDING TEACHER AT ALLIANCE SMIT TECH IN 2012, I'VE EXPERIENCED OUR JOURNEY FIRSTHAND AND SINCE ADOPTING THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FRAMEWORK IN 2024, THE GROWTH HAS BEEN REMARKABLE.
OUR SCHOOL, ACADEMIC AND CULTURE DATA IS TRENDING UPWARD.
EVEN ACHIEVING CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS RECOGNITION THIS LAST SPRING, THE ENGAGEMENT, UM, OR THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS ON FULL DISPLAY IN LAST YEAR'S BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT, WHERE WE WELCOMED MORE THAN A DOZEN COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO TABLE ALONGSIDE OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HEALING URBAN BARIOS GRID, THE LA PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE AUDUBON CENTER AT DEB'S PARK, THE LA BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, AS WELL AS FIELD REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THIS WAS NOT JUST ANOTHER BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT.
THIS WAS A TRUE COMMUNITY GATHERING, UH, TRULY A SCHOOL FOR THE COMMUNITY BY THE COMMUNITY AND OF THE COMMUNITY.
I WANNA EXTEND AN INVITATION TO YOU AND ANYONE IN LUS IN THE LUSD FAMILY TO COME AND VISIT ALLIANCE SUMIT TECH, SEE THE ENERGY, HEAR THE VOICES, FEEL THE SENSE OF BELONGING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CONSIDERATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU.
ELENA P ELENA, ARE YOU HERE? NO.
HERE'S THE NEXT BATCH OF FOLKS.
ARE YOU HERE? KATE FERRA MY TIME.
YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE, I I BELIEVE YOU.
AND, AND THEN, AND THEN, UH, AFTER, UM, THE SPEAKER IS LUZ, UH, CHUCK, AND THEN BRENDA GOMEZ.
SO PLEASE, UH, ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME AND GO AHEAD.
GOOD MORNING SUPERINTENDENT CHA AND BOARD TRUSTEES.
SOPHIA RODDY AND I'M THE CEO OF EQUITAS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS.
I BELIEVE EVERY CHILD DESERVES A SCHOOL WHERE THE ADULTS BELIEVE IN THEIR POTENTIAL AND WHERE THEY GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE.
I KNOW THE POWER OF THAT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE AS A STUDENT, MY LUSD TEACHERS HELPED ME DISCOVER MY OWN POTENTIAL.
THAT EXPERIENCE HAS SHAPED MY 30 YEARS IN EDUCATION AND MAKES THIS WORK DEEPLY PERSONAL.
FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, E EQUITAS HAS BEEN PART OF THE PICO UNION COMMUNITY.
WHAT BEGAN AS ONE SCHOOL HAS GROWN INTO SEVEN, BUT OUR STORY IS REALLY ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE TRUSTED US WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
90% WOULD SAY THAT THEY WOULD RECOMMEND EQUITAS TO A FAMILY MEMBER OR A FRIEND.
IT IS A FATHER WHO CHOOSES EQUITAS BECAUSE HE WANTS HIS DAUGHTER'S UNIQUE NEEDS, UNDERSTOOD AND SUPPORTED.
IT IS A, IT IS THE BILINGUAL STUDENT WHO DISCOVERS HIS POTENTIAL BECAUSE HIS TEACHERS SEE HIM AND PUSH HIM TO REACH IT, AND IT IS THE FAMILY WHO STAYS BECAUSE EQUITAS HAS BECOME THEIR VILLAGE.
THIS YEAR WE'RE SEEKING RENEWAL FOR FOUR SCHOOLS, THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THESE FOUR SCHOOLS ARE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WHERE WE PARTNER WITH FAMILIES TO PROVIDE STUDENTS THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED AND THEY DESERVE TO LEARN AND THRIVE.
WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED AT EQUITAS AND CLEAR, VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE WORK AHEAD.
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STRENGTHENING LEARNING SO EVERY SINGLE STUDENT ACHIEVES ACADEMICALLY.I ASK YOU TO RENEW THESE FOUR SCHOOLS SO EVERY CHILD CAN GET WHAT THEY DESERVE.
AND CHILDREN GROWING UP IN PICO-UNION TODAY CAN EXPERIENCE WHAT SCHOOL GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER THEIR POTENTIAL, THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE TO BUILD A FUTURE THEY DO NOT YET SEE.
AND A COMMUNITY THAT IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO SERVING THEM ALONG THE WAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I AM THE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN WHO STUDIED THE OLDEST.
WENDY JUST GRADUATED THIS YEAR AS A CIVIL ENGINEER FROM THE UNIVERSITY.
ALANDRA GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL LAST YEAR AND WILL BE STARTING OUR SECOND YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OF COLUMBIA AND NEW YORK.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH THEIR GOALS OF GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY THANKS TO ALL THE SUPPORT THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE FAMILY, FORMED AS SYNERGY ACADEMY IN WHICH EVERY SINGLE MEMBER THAT ARE ALWAYS ON TOP OF MAKING SURE THE STUDENTS ARE BEING SUPPORTED WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THEIR COLOR, THEIR RACE, OR THEIR DISABILITY.
THEY'RE ALL WELCOMED AND TREATED, VERY KIND.
THEIR EDUCATIVE PROGRAM AND ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL GOING TO UNIVERSITIES.
THOSE PROGRAMS INVOLVE STUDENTS AND IT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO KNOW UNIVERSITY LIFE, LIKE IT HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTERS IN WHICH THESE EXCURSIONS, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET TO KNOW THE UNIVERSITIES THEY WANTED TO ASSIST IN WHICH THEY DON'T ONLY WORRY ABOUT THE STUDENTS BUT THE FAMILIES OF THE CHILDREN AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE DOING BETTER AND SUPPORTING IN DIVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES SO THAT THE STUDENTS CAN ONLY FOCUS ON WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT THEIR STUDIES.
FOR ME, SYNERGY IS A PLACE WHERE WE ARE ALL PART OF THE SAME FAMILY, WHICH WE ARE ALL UNITED.
LOOK AND WORK TOWARDS THE SAME OBJECTIVE SO THAT THE NEXT GENERATION HAS A BETTER FUTURE AND PREPARING THEM ADEQUATELY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY.
THE NEXT SPEAKERS ARE BRENDA GOMEZ, THEN JESSE RODRIGUEZ AND THEN JEFFREY.
HI BRENDA GOMEZ SENT AN EMAIL TO YOU FOR A TIME TO HER SPEAKER.
TYPICALLY, SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN, WHAT WE LOVE IS WHEN THE PERSON WHO'S YIELDING THEIR TIME IS HERE 'CAUSE WE, WE WOULD HATE FOR SOME MISTAKE TO HAPPEN AND SOMEONE WHO SIGNED UP COME IN LATE.
SO THAT'S THE OTHER THING IS IF, JUST SO FOLKS KNOW, IF YOU SIGN UP TO SPEAK AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT AND, AND YOU PLAN ON GIVING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE, WE NEED THE EMAIL DIRECTLY FROM YOU, NOT THE PERSON WHO'S GONNA BE SPEAKING.
NOT THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE.
IT'S JUST SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE BY RIGHT, GET THE TIME THAT THEY THEY SIGNED UP FOR OR, OR NOT.
IN MY 14 YEARS AT ALLIANCE, DR.
OLGA MOHAN HIGH SCHOOL, ONE OF THE GREATEST PRIVILEGES HAS BEEN WATCHING FAMILY GROW WITH US, SOMETIMES TEACHING ONE SIBLING AND THEN WELCOMING ANOTHER YEARS LATER.
MY NAME IS MARIO OLIEN AND I TEACH NINTH GRADE MATH AT MOHAN.
I REMEMBER A SCHOLAR WHO ARRIVED IN NINTH GRADE NEEDING SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND BELIEVING COLLEGE WASN'T FOR HIM.
OVER THE FOUR YEARS, OUR TEAM PROVIDED THE SCAFFOLD, RESOURCES AND ENCOURAGEMENT HE NEEDED TO GROW.
HE GRADUATED AND WENT ON TO COLLEGE.
YEARS LATER, HE RETURNED TO OUR CAMPUS TO PICK UP HIS YOUNGER SIBLING AND SHARED HOW OUR SCHOOL HAD HELPED HIM CARE FOR HIS EDUCATION, BECOME A BETTER PERSON INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
MOMENTS LIKE THAT ARE WHY MOAN IS MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL.
WE GROW ALONGSIDE OUR FAMILIES, ADAPT TO MEET OUR STUDENT NEEDS AND HELP YOUNG PEOPLE SEE POSSIBILITIES FOR THEMSELVES.
THEY MAY NOT SEE FOR THE MAY NOT HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE RENEWAL OF ALLIANCE DR.
OLGA MOHAN HIGH SCHOOL, SO WE CAN CONTINUE SERVING OUR SCHOLARS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
L-A-U-S-D SUPERINTENDENT SHANE AND L-A-U-S-D BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M A PROUD KIPP ENDEAVOR PARENT OF JAYLENE'S, SIXTH GRADER, JAYDEN AND EIGHTH GRADER, AND ON TO NATALIA WHO GRADUATED FROM ENDEAVOR IN 2019.
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OVER 30 KIPP ENDEAVOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE TO SHOW SUPPORT OF OUR SCHOOL RENEWAL, TO SHARE THEIR OWN STORIES WITH YOU, BUT CHOOSE TO YIELD THEIR TIME SO MORE VOICES COULD BE HEARD ACROSS THE 42 CHARTER SCHOOL SHARING SAME RENEWAL TIMELINES.MY FAMILY HAS BEEN PART OF ENDEAVOR FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
WE CHOOSE ENDEAVOR BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE FEW SCHOOLS OFFERING TK TO EIGHTH GRADE, WHICH I LOVE BECAUSE IT LETS STUDENTS GROW WITHIN A SMALL, CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY.
I TRULY BELIEVE CHILDREN THRIVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THEY KNOW WELL SURROUNDED BY STAFF WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR GROWTH AND SAFETY, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT ENDEAVOR DOES.
I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND JAYLENE RECEIVING TARGETED TUTORING IN MATH AND HER GRADES HAVE IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE JAYDEN AND MY SON HAS HAD INCREDIBLE SUPPORT WITH HIS MENTAL HEALTH.
HIS COUNSELOR HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH HIM TO BUILD COPING SKILLS THAT HAVE MADE HIM MORE SECURE AND CONFIDENT.
YOUR APPROVAL OF OUR CHARTER MATTERS DEEPLY.
ENDEAVOR POSITIVELY IMPACTS OVER SIX, 600 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND I WANT FUTURE GENERATIONS TO HAVE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY.
BEYOND TODAY'S TESTIMONY, WE ALSO VALUE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT AND STRAIGHTEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO DR. RIVAS FOR MEETING WITH US AND MEANT SO MUCH TO THE ENDEAVOR FAMILIES.
I HOPE WE'LL STILL BE ABLE TO FIND THE TIME TO MEET WITH THE REST OF THE BOARD.
AS KIPP SOCAL FAMILIES ARE EAGER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WITH THAT SPIRIT OF PARTNERSHIP IN MIND, I HAVE ONE LAST FINAL ASK.
I KINDLY REQUEST A SUPERINTENDENT SHANE.
I RECOMMEND KIPP ENDEAVOR FOR RENEWAL AND I URGE THE BOARD TO SUPPORT THEIR RECOMMENDATION WITH A YES ON OCTOBER 13.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, SUPERINTENDENT SHEET AND BOARD MEMBERS.
WE ARE HERE ON BEHALF OF OLEO COFFEE AND JUICE, UH, INDIGENOUS FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM KIPP ENDEAVOR WHERE FAMILIES, WORKERS, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS GATHER WITH A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND BELONGING.
UH, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE KIPP ENDEAVORS CHARGER RENEWAL, WHICH HAVE SERVED US AS TRUSTED COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN BOYLE HEIGHTS.
OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN OPEN, WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY AND BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH KIPP UH, COMMUNITY AND WE CAN PROBABLY STATE THAT KIPP ENDEAVOR IS MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH KIPP ENDEAVOR TO BETTER OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, THROUGH COMMUNITY CLEANUPS WORKSHOPS AND MARKETS WHERE FAMILIES PARENTS COME TOGETHER.
BOTH OF MY SISTER, ONE IS FROM FIFTH GRADE AND THE OTHER FROM UH, TK ATTEND THERE AND THEY ALL TALK TO US ABOUT HOW THEY ENJOY THE SCHOOL, THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND THAT MAKES IT MEANINGFUL FOR THEM.
EXCITED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND THIS JUST SHOWS THAT IT MATTERS WHEN WE GO THE EXTRA MILE WHEN WE COME TOGETHER.
UH, IN THIS WORK, KIPP HAS BEEN MORE THAN A PARTNER.
THE TEAM STEPPED IN AND JOINED OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT EFFORTS.
THEY HELPED DESIGN SAFETY PROTOCOLS AROUND THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, THE CENTERS OF SAFELY BELONGING, DIGNITY, AND IN TIMES OF CRISIS A SCHOOL'S VALUES ARE BU THEY CONTINUE TO SHOW UP FOR FAMILIES WHEN IT MATTERS THE MOST.
AND FOR THIS REASON, WE RESPECT RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE THE RENEWAL, UH, OF KIPP ENDEAVOR.
THE NEXT SPEAKERS ARE AMY BURFIELD, ANNETTE GONZALEZ AND ALLISON VAN GREETINGS.
I'M AMY BURFIELD, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEW HEIGHTS CHARTER SCHOOL, AND THIS IS TRINA MITCHELL, OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS COORDINATOR.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SHARE PART OF OUR STORY, THE STORY OF NEW HEIGHTS CHARTER SCHOOL, WHICH OPENED 20 YEARS AGO WITH A GROUP OF DEDICATED EDUCATORS, ARTS EDUCATORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS WHO WANTED TO PROVIDE A RIGOROUS EDUCATION WITH A CARING COMMUNITY FOR STUDENTS IN SOUTH LA.
WEEKS BEFORE WE OPENED, I LET A SMALL TEAM OF SIX TEACHERS THROUGH TWO WEEKS OF COLLABORATIVE PLANNING, FOCUSING FOCUSED ON HOW TO BUILD A LEARNING COMMUNITY WHERE KIDS AND ADULTS FELT A SENSE OF BELONGING.
WE WANTED OUR 112 STUDENTS WHO ENROLLED IN A SCHOOL THAT DIDN'T YET EXIST TO FEEL CONNECTED AND RESPECTED.
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FUNNY THING WAS IT DIDN'T TAKE WEEKS OR MONTHS FOR THE STUDENTS TO FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING.BY DAY THREE, IT WAS IF THE KIDS ALREADY KNEW EACH OTHER FOR YEARS, WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO KIDS FEELING LIKE THEY BELONG? PAP IT WAS OUR SMALL SIZE, OUR TEAM-BASED COLLABORATIVE APPROACH.
THE FACT THAT ALL THE ADULTS SHARED THE SAME VISION FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING, OR THE SIMPLE TRUTH THAT EVERYONE WAS AT OUR SCHOOL BY CHOICE.
OUR DATA SHOWS THAT STUDENTS AT NEW HEIGHTS HAVE EXCEPTIONAL GROWTH.
THEY GROW MORE ON AVERAGE THAN LIKE PEERS IN OTHER CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS.
WE'RE PROUD OF THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE CHARTER OF RENEWAL PROCESS SO THAT WE CONTINUE TO HELP KIDS GROW.
WE WELCOME THE CHANCE TO SHARE WHAT WE'VE LEARNED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, SHARE WHAT WE'RE LEARNING NOW, AND BE PART OF THE GREATER LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY OF EDUCATORS THAT PRIORITIZES GETTING THE CONDITIONS RIGHT FOR LEARNING AND GROWTH.
OUR SCHOOL HAS A STRONG COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE STAFF AND FACULTY WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR 15 TO 20 YEARS.
WE HAVE STAFF WHO WERE FORMER STUDENTS.
WE EVEN HAVE A NEW STUDENT WHOSE MOM WAS ONE OF OUR ORIGINAL STUDENTS THE FIRST YEAR WE OPENED.
WE'VE HAD GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES ATTEND OUR SCHOOL.
OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROVIDES SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, REFERRALS, MEDICAL SERVICES, AND EXPANDING LEARNING, WHICH INCLUDES BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL, SUMMER SCHOOL AND INTERCESSION.
WE GROW OUR OWN TEACHERS THROUGH OUR RESIDENCY PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES TEACHING CREDENTIALS FOR OUR TEACHING PARTNERS.
WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH OUR FAMILIES EVERY DAY TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS' OVERALL HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND TO HELP THEM GROW IN THE BEST VERSION INTO THE THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES.
UH, ANNETTE GONZALEZ, ANNETTE G ARE YOU HERE? ALRIGHT.
MY NAME IS ERICA URBANA AND I'M PROUD, UH, TO SPEAK TO YOU IN SUPPORT OUR BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL RENEWAL.
FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS, I HAVE HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE BIRMINGHAM FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
I HAVE SERVED IN VARIOUS ROLES AT THE SCHOOL AND I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS A BIRMINGHAM TESTING AND ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR AND AS THE UTLA CO-CHAIR.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF A PARENT, MY SON, WHO IS CURRENTLY A 10TH GRADER AT BIRMINGHAM.
AS AN EDUCATOR, I HAVE SEE THE EVERY DAY THAT BIRMINGHAM IS TRULY STUDENT CENTER AND FOCUS AND PREPARING THEIR STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE CAREERS AND LIFE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.
OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO 21 AP COURSES, 14 TRANSFERABLE COLLEGE COURSES.
THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH LA BALLET COLLEGE, OUR EXTENSIVE SAS PROGRAMMING, OUR CTE PATHWAYS, PERFORMING ARTS, ATHLETICS, AND A COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE AND COUNSELING SUPPORTS, OUR STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO FIND AN AREA WHERE THEY COULD THRIVE.
BIRMINGHAM PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES IN THEATER, VOCAL, INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, BAND STRINGS, JAZZ AND OTHER VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
WE ALSO HAVE A STRONG AND INCLUSIVE ATHLETICS PROGRAM OFFERING MORE THAN 16 SPORTS FOR OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.
IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL SPORTS, BIRMINGHAM CONTINUES TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS LIKE GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL, BEACH VOLLEYBALL, AND CHEER.
AS A PARENT, I HAVE SEEN THE OPPORTUNITIES FIRSTHAND.
MY SON, A MEMBER OF THE MARCHING BAND, LEAN CREW PLAYS GOLF, PARTICIPATES IN SIS AND TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OUR AP COURSEWORK.
I'M PROUD AN EDUCATOR, A UNION REP, AND A PARENT OF A BIRMINGHAM STUDENT.
UH, CYNTHIA ROS, CYNTHIA TRIGUEROS, COME ON UP.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MY NAME IS CYNTHIA TRIGUEROS AND I'M THE PROUD PRINCIPAL AT RISE KANG HIGH SCHOOL.
FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO TEACH AND LEAD AT BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RENEWAL OF A FIVE OF OUR SCHOOLS, VALOR ACADEMY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, VALOR ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL, STELLA HIGH CHARTER ACADEMY, RICE ANG MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND RICE ANG HIGH SCHOOL.
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ANG MEANS HOMETOWN IN KOREAN.AT EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS, WE INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, THEIR COMMUNITIES.
IT'S AN HONOR TO SHARE WITH YOU THE STORY OF MS. ANI MIJO WITH YOU TODAY.
ANI WAS A SEVENTH GRADE STUDENT IN THE VERY FIRST COHORT OF STUDENTS I TAUGHT IN 2009 AT BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS.
ANI GRADUATED FROM OUR FLAGSHIP SCHOOL, STELLA MIDDLE IN 2011, AND FROM STELLA HIGH IN 2015.
I TOO GRADUATED FROM STELLA THOSE YEARS.
I BECAME PART OF THE FOUNDING TEAM AT RISE COY YOUNG MIDDLE SCHOOL IN 2012, AND THEN RISE COY YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL IN 2016.
IN 2019, WHEN TIANI GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, SHE REACHED OUT TO ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT SHE WANTED TO TEACH AND SHE WANTED TO DO IT IN THE SCHOOLS THAT HELPED RAISE HER ALONGSIDE THE ADULTS WHO INSPIRED HER.
ANI BECAME MY FIRST ELD TEACHER AT RISE KOY YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS FALL MARKS TANI'S SIXTH YEAR AS A TEACHER AT RISE COY YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL.
AND LIKE ME, SHE HAS BEEN PART OF THE BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS NETWORK FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
DANI CREDITS THE SUPPORT SHE RECEIVED AT BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS FOR GETTING HER TWO AND THROUGH COLLEGE.
PLEASE VOTE FOR THE RENEWAL OF ALL FIVE BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO AFFORD STUDENTS IN LOS ANGELES WITH AN EXCELLENT ACADEMIC OPTION AND THE OPPORTUNITY SO THAT THEY TOO CAN COME BACK TO OUR ANG.
UH, AARON STUDER, AARON S ARE YOU HERE? AARON STUDER.
AND THEN AFTER AARON STUDER IS MELISSA RODRIGUEZ.
BOARD MEMBERS, UH, AND SUPERINTENDENT CH MY NAME IS AARON STUDER AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CHIME.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY IN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING OF CHIME INSTITUTE, SCHWARZENEGGER COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND THE RENEWAL OF OUR CHARTER PETITION.
WE AT CHIME ARE PROUD OF OUR 25 YEARS OF DEMONSTRATING FULL INCLUSION AS A CHARTER SCHOOL.
OUR PROGRAM ENROLLS OVER 700 STUDENTS IN GRADES TK THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE AND IS THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL FOR CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE.
APPROXIMATELY 20% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
SEVEN AND A HALF PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT NEEDS.
10% OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS GIFTED AND IN SOME OUR STUDENTS HAIL FROM 42 DIFFERENT ZIP CODES ACROSS THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.
THIS INTENTIONALLY DIVERSE GROUP OF STUDENTS LEARN TOGETHER IN DYNAMIC GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS WHERE EDUCATORS APPLY RESEARCH-BASED BEST PRACTICES IN HIGH QUALITY INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS.
I'M ALSO PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE CALIFORNIA DASHBOARD SHOWS THAT OUR MODEL WORKS.
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, CHIME HAS OUTPERFORMED THE STATE CAL STATE OF CALIFORNIA'S PERFORMANCE ACROSS ALL SUBGROUPS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, MATH, AND SCIENCE.
AND AS THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL FOR CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE, THE LARGEST COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IN LOS ANGELES, PREPARING MORE TEACHERS FOR L-A-U-S-D THAN ANY OTHER UNIVERSITY.
WE PLAY A UNIQUE ROLE IN OFFERING IN-SERVICE, PRE-SERVICE, UH, FIELD WORK, UH, ACTIVITIES, STUDENT TEACHERS, AND WE, UH, ARE THE LEAD ENTITY IN AN 18 SCHOOL TEACHER RESIDENCY CONSORTIUM.
IT'S UPON THIS TRACK RECORD OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING THAT WITH YOUR SUPPORT L-A-U-S-D BOARD MEMBERS, WE WILL, UH, CONTINUE ON INTO OUR NEXT RENEWAL, CONTINUING TO BE AN INCUBATOR OF INNOVATION FOR LOS ANGELES, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A SUCCESSFUL RENEWAL PROCESS.
ALL RIGHT, MELISSA RODRIGUEZ, COME ON UP.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MEMBERS OF THE L-A-U-S-D BOARD, MY NAME IS MELISSA RODRIGUEZ AND I'M PROUD TO BE A FOUNDING TEACHER AT VILLAGE CHARTER ACADEMY, WHERE I HAVE TAUGHT KINDERGARTEN SINCE WE OPENED OUR SCHOOL IN 2014.
OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED OUR SCHOOL GROW INTO A STRONG, INCLUSIVE AND HIGH PERFORMING COMMUNITY WHERE WE TRULY BELIEVE EVERY CHILD BELONGS AND EVERY CHILD IS CAPABLE OF SUCCEEDING.
ONE OF THE GREATEST STRENGTHS IS OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
OUR STUDENTS WITH ITS DISABILITIES ARE VALUED AND INCLUDED ALONGSIDE THEIR PEERS WHILE RECEIVING THE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT THEY NEED TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY, WE BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION BEGINNING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH CORE KNOWLEDGE.
LANGUAGE ARTS STUDENTS DEVELOP ESSENTIAL LITERACY SKILLS, VOCABULARY, BACKGROUND, KNOWLEDGE AND COMPREHENSION.
OUR COMMITMENT TO STRONG INSTRUCTION IS REFLECTED IN OUR ACHIEVEMENT WITH VILLAGE CHARTER ACADEMY BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AS A HIGH PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOL AND OUR STUDENTS PERFORMING ABOVE STATE STANDARDS
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IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATHEMATICS.WE ALSO BELIEVE EDUCATION GOES BEYOND TEST SCORES.
OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE GAIT, ENRICHMENT, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PLAYS, MUSICALS AND ENRICHMENT ASSEMBLIES, GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCOVER THEIR TALENT AND BUILD CONFIDENCE.
NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT INCREDIBLY DEDICATED FACULTY AND STAFF WHO GIVE THEIR TIME, CREATIVITY, AND HEARTS TO OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES EVERY DAY.
VILLAGE CHARTER ACADEMY IS MORE THAN THE SCHOOL WHERE I WORK.
OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED CHILDREN GROW FAMILIES BECOME PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND FORMER KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS RETURN AS CONFIDENT YOUNG PEOPLE.
THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE WHAT MAKES THIS SCHOOL FEEL LIKE HOME.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE RENEWAL OF VILLAGE CHARTER ACADEMY SO WE CAN CONTINUE SERVING OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FOR YEARS TO COME.
OKAY, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER ANDERSON.
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED BOARD MEMBERS.
HEATHER COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY, SO I'LL BE SPEAKING IN HER PLACE.
MY NAME IS JAMES ZANG AND I AM A PROUD GR HILLS CHARTER GRADUATE FROM THE CLASS OF 2024 AND I TODAY WORK AT GRANADA HILLS CHARTER AS A VISUAL CAPTION HEAD FOR THE MARCHING HIGHLANDERS.
I CAME TO GHC FROM FROST MIDDLE SCHOOL AS A BAND STUDENT, AND MY FIRST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL WAS ENTIRELY ONLINE DURING THE COVID TO 19 PANDEMIC.
BUT EVEN THEN, WE NEVER SKIPPED A BEAT.
MY TEACHER KEPT US ENGAGED AND I BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLASSMATES BEFORE I EVER REALLY KNEW THE CAMPUS.
WHEN WE RETURNED IN PERSON, I JOINED WATER POLO AND MARCHING BAND.
THOSE EXPERIENCES TAUGHT ME ABOUT TEAMWORK, DISCIPLINE, AND COMMUNITY.
THROUGH PERFORMANCES AT FOOTBALL GAMES, COMPETITIONS, PARADES, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, I DISCOVERED HOW MUSIC CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I ALSO FOUND MENTORS AT JHC, ESPECIALLY OUR BAND DIRECTOR, MR. COOPER.
THEIR SUPPORT HELPED ME REALIZE THAT THE WAY I WANTED TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY WAS THROUGH MUSIC AND EDUCATION.
AFTER GRADUATING, I CAME BACK TO GHC TO WORK IN THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT.
I'M NOW ATTENDING PIERCE COLLEGE AND PLAN TO TRANSFER TO CSUN NEXT YEAR TO EARN MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MUSIC EDUCATION.
AND SOMEDAY I HOPE TO COME BACK AGAIN THIS TIME AS A TEACHER.
IN FACT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE OVER FOR MR. COOPER.
HE'LL HAVE TO RETIRE EVENTUALLY.
IT HELPED ME DISCOVER THAT WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH MY LIFE, IT GAVE ME MENTORS WHO BELIEVED IN ME AND IT GAVE ME A COMMUNITY I WANTED TO RETURN TO AND SERVE.
GRANADA HILLS CHARTER IS STILL MY SECOND HOME.
I HOPE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HIGHLANDERS HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, SUPPORT AND SENSE OF BELONGING THAT I HAD.
AS YOU CAN SEE TO GRANADA HILLS CHARTER'S RENEWAL, I HOPE YOU'LL THINK ABOUT STUDENTS LIKE ME, STUDENTS WHO FOUND OPPORTUNITIES, MENTORS, AND THE COMMUNITY AT GHC AND WHO WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE GENERATIONS THAT FOLLOW.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THE RENEWAL OF GRANADA IDAHO'S CHARTER FOR THE MAXIMUM SEVEN YEAR TERM.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHAT GHC HAS MEANT TO ME.
ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT SPEAKER I HAVE IS, UH, GAIL NADLER.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE MULTICULTURAL LEARNING CENTER, KNOWN AS MLC.
TODAY, I BRING YOU THE WORDS OF OUR ALUMNI WHO SEND US MESSAGES OF HOPE EVERY YEAR THROUGH A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY.
HERE IS WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
MLC HAS TAUGHT ME THAT SUCCESS SHOULD BE A PROCESS AND NOT AN END GOAL.
AND YOU CAN FIND SUCCESS THROUGH THE WAY YOU CARRY YOURSELF AND GET THE MOST OUT OF EVERY EXPERIENCE PRESENTED TO YOU.
MLC HAS TAUGHT ME TO SPEAK UP FOR WHAT I TRULY BELIEVE IS RIGHT, AS WELL AS GIVING ME THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO SPEAK FOR THOSE THAT ARE INCAPABLE OF SPEAKING UP FOR THEMSELVES.
THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY MLC BUILT FOR ME AND MY CHILDHOOD, I FEEL A SENSE OF DEDICATION TO BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME RECOGNIZING MY OWN FAULTS AND DOING THE NECESSARY WORK TO FIX THEM.
MLC IS A CATALYST OF CHANGE, PUTTING IN MOTION YOUNG ADULTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO ENGAGE IN DIVERSE CONVERSATIONS, TO SEEK AND PURSUE JUSTICE AND TO USE THEIR OWN VOICES TO ADVOCATE FOR A BETTER WORLD.
ONE OF MY STRONGEST MEMORIES AT MLC IS PARTICIPATING IN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CIRCLES WHERE WE CAME TOGETHER AS A CLASS TO DISCUSS OUR FEELINGS SURROUNDING A PARTICULAR INCIDENT.
LISTENING TO EACH OTHER ALWAYS FELT LIKE A POWERFUL MOMENT FOR ALL OF US, AND IT TAUGHT ME ABOUT CONFLICT RESOLUTION, EQUITY, AND THE POWER OF LISTENING.
ML C'S STRONG ACADEMIC CURRICULUM NOT ONLY ENSURES SPANISH FLUENCY, BUT ALSO CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
AT MLC, STUDENTS LEARN TO WELCOME AND APPRECIATE DIVERSE
[01:35:01]
PERSPECTIVES, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD WITH LESS FEAR OF DIFFERENCES.NOT ONLY IS AN MLC EDUCATION ACADEMICALLY SOUND, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS THAT EMPOWER STUDENTS TO BE KIND, RESPONSIBLE, AND SEE THEMSELVES AS A PART OF THE GREATER COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT THESE 25 YEARS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO 30 WITH YOUR APPROVAL OF OUR CHARTER PETITION.
WE'VE GOT ANTHONY GOHAR, THEN ISABELLA KAMAL.
MY NAME IS TONY GAITHER AND I TEACH EIGHTH GRADE SCIENCE AT ALLIANCE JACK HS SKIRBALL MIDDLE SCHOOL.
11 YEARS AGO, I CAME TO S SKIRBALL AS AN OUTSIDER AND THE COMMUNITY WELCOMED ME WITH OPEN ARMS AND OVER TIME IT BECAME MY FAMILY.
AT S SKIRBALL, OUR SCHOLARS KNOW THAT THEY'RE DEEPLY CARED FOR AND HELD TO HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
I THINK OF ONE SCHOLAR WHO ARRIVED IN EIGHTH GRADE CARRYING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FROM OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, AND HE WAS UNSURE OF WHERE HE BELONGED.
WHEN I LEARNED HE LOVED SOCCER, I INVITED HIM TO JOIN OUR TEAM.
HIS TEAMMATES AND I COULD MAKE HIS PROBLEMS GO AWAY, BUT WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT HE DIDN'T FACE THEM ALONE.
THROUGH PRACTICES, GAMES, EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS HE BUILT, FRIENDSHIPS, FOUND TRUSTED ADULTS, AND BEGAN OPENING UP BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
HIS ACADEMIC GROWTH EXCEEDED WHAT MANY OF US IMAGINED POSSIBLE WHEN HE FIRST ARRIVED.
THAT EXPERIENCE REMINDED ME THAT EDUCATORS CANNOT REMOVE EVERY CHALLENGE OUR SCHOLARS FACE, BUT WE CAN HELP THEM MOVE THROUGH THOSE CHALLENGES WITH SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE.
I RESPECTFULLY ASKED THE BOARD TO RENEW SCUR BALL SO WE CAN CONTINUE HELPING SCHOLARS BUILD THE CONFIDENCE AND FOUNDATION THEY NEED FOR HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND BEYOND.
THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I TEACH SEVENTH GRADE ENGLISH, UM, AT OCHI O DONOVAN COMPLEX, AND I LEAD THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT AT, UM, ALLIANCE O' DONOVAN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WHAT MAKES O' DONOVAN MEANINGFUL TO ME IS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT ALL STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE, AND TOGETHER WE CHALLENGE STUDENTS.
WE BRING GRADE LEVEL WORK, AND WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS, AND WE BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND WE PROVIDE REAL SUPPORT.
I SEE THAT IN MY CLASSROOM EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
I STARTED IN 2018, SCHOLARS COME INTO THE SEVENTH GRADE SOMETIMES STRUGGLING TO EXPLAIN THEIR THINKING OR SUPPORT THEIR IDEAS WITH EVIDENCE THROUGH CONSISTENT ROUTINES, FEEDBACK AND DISCUSSIONS.
I BELIEVE THAT WE MAKE READING AND WRITING VISIBLE TO STUDENTS.
I WATCHED THOSE SAME STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS BECOME CONFIDENT READERS AND WRITERS.
AND AS A TEACHER, I KNOW WHO THEY ARE, A YOUNG PERSON BEGIN TO SEE THEMSELVES CAPABLE.
PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE SO THAT STUDENTS SEE THEMSELVES CAPABLE IN RENEWING.
UH, ISABELLA KAMAL, THEN SANDRA G GLASSMAN, AND THEN CECILY MULLING.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE PERSON I AM TODAY AND THE PERSON I AM BECOMING, I THINK ABOUT SOMETHING MY MOTHER ONCE TOLD ME.
IT'S NOT WHAT SCHOOL YOU GO TO, IT'S WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT.
MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME THAT WHAT TRULY MATTERS IS THE FOUNDATION YOU BUILD AND THE PEOPLE WHO HELP YOU ALONG THE WAY.
FOR ME, THAT FOUNDATION HAS BEEN BLOOMFIELD.
MY NAME IS, IS ALVAS, AND I'M A PROUD 12TH GRADE SCHOLAR AT ALLIANCE BLOOMFIELD TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY TO BE, EXCUSE ME.
TO ME, BLOOMFIELD HAS NEVER JUST BEEN A SCHOOL.
IT IS WHERE I HAVE GROWN, FOUND MY VOICE, AND BECOME MORE CONFIDENT IN WHO I TRULY AM.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES BLOOMFIELD HAS GIVEN ME IS LEADERSHIP AS CLASS PRESIDENT AND THROUGH MY EXTENSIVE INVOLVEMENT IN NO PLACE FOR HATE, I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO LISTEN TO MY PEERS, MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS, AND BRING TOGETHER DIFFERENT VOICES.
I CAN TRULY BE SOMEONE OTHERS CAN RELY ON.
THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE TAUGHT ME RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND HOW TO LEAD WITH EMPATHY AND LESSONS.
I KNOW I WILL CARRY FAR BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WHAT HAS SHAPED ME THE MOST IS OUR PEOPLE.
OUR TEACHERS DO MORE THAN TEACH US AND ON OUR HARDEST DAYS, THEY MAKE SURE WE FEEL SAFE, SEEN AND SUPPORTED.
THEY NOTICE WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG, THEY CHECK ON US AND THEY PUSH US EVEN WHEN WE MAY NOT SEE OUR OWN POTENTIAL.
YET, THAT'S WHY I CALL MR. VENA, MY AP PSYCHOLOGY TEACHER, MY FATHER AND MS. RES, AN ENGLISH TEACHER.
THOSE NAMES TO US ARE NOT JUST JOKES OR NICKNAMES.
IT IS REPRESENTED OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE BUILT AND HOW THEY HAVE SHOWN UP FOR ME.
THEY HAVE ENCOURAGED ME, CHALLENGED ME, LISTEN TO ME, AND REMINDED ME THAT I AM MORE CAPABLE THAN I SOMETIMES BELIEVE I AM.
IN A LOT OF WAYS, THE ADULTS OF BLOOMFIELD HAVE HELPED RAISE ME, NOT ONLY THE STUDENT I AM TODAY, BUT THE PERSON I AM BECOMING BECAUSE OF BLOOMFIELD.
I'M NOT ONLY PREPARED TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT I'M BECOMING MORE INDEPENDENT, MORE RESILIENT, AND A DETERMINED PERSON WHO IS READY TO TAKE ON COLLEGE, PURSUE MY GOALS, AND BUILD A FUTURE I CAN REALLY BE PROUD OF.
BLOOMFIELD HAS ALREADY HELPED SHAPE MY FUTURE, AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU, GIVE FUTURE SCHOLARS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THE SAME FOUNDATION, BELONGING AND SUPPORT.
UH, SANDRA G GLASSMAN, THEN CECILY MULLINGS.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT CH.
MY NAME IS SANDRA G GLASSMAN, PRINCIPAL OF IS E VIEW
[01:40:01]
PARK PREPARATORY ELEMENTARY.VIEW PARK HAS PROUDLY SERVED THE CRENSHAW COMMUNITY SINCE 1999.
APPROXIMATELY 89% OF OUR SCHOLARS ARE BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN.
9% ARE HISPANIC AND 16% RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.
OUR THEME THIS YEAR IS ONE VISION, ONE BLUEPRINT BLUE RIBBON RESULTS.
IT REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO ALIGNING SCHOLARS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES AROUND A SHARED VISION FOR EXCELLENCE.
AND OUR RESULTS DEMONSTRATE THAT COMMITMENT VIEW PARK ELEMENTARY MEETS ALL CHARTER RENEWAL CRITERIA, INCLUDING STRONG PERFORMANCE ON VERIFIED DATA ASSESSMENTS AND CAST GROWTH IN ELA AND MATH.
FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS, WE HAVE MET AND EXCEEDED VERIFIED DATA GROWTH TARGETS ACROSS THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENT GROUPS.
MOST RECENTLY, IN SPRING 2026, SCHOLARS ACHIEVED 131% OF ANNUAL TYPICAL GROWTH IN READING AND 108% IN MATH.
OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ACHIEVED 126% IN READING AND 109% IN MATH.
WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF OUR CASP ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOLARS.
OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THEY HAVE OUTPERFORMED STUDENTS AT OUR RESIDENT SCHOOLS BY AN AVERAGE OF NEARLY 44 DFS POINTS IN ELA AND 24 DFS POINTS IN MATH.
THEY HAVE ALSO OUTPERFORMED AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE BY APPROXIMATELY 12 DFS POINTS IN ELA AND 32 DFS POINTS IN MATH.
THESE OUTCOMES DEMONSTRATE THAT ISEF VIEW PARK ELEMENTARY SUCCESS IN SUPPORTING AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS AND POSITIONS OUR SCHOOL AS A TOP CHOICE FOR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, WE PREPARED SCHOLARS NOT SIMPLY JUST TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, BUT TO LEAD, CONTRIBUTE, AND POSITIVELY IMPACT THE WORLD.
THAT IS OUR BLUEPRINT, AND THOSE ARE OUR BLUE RIBBON RESULTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL OF I PARK PREP ELEMENTARY.
GOOD MORNING BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT CH.
MY NAME IS CECILY MULLINGS AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS VICE PRINCIPAL AT WISH.
MY JOURNEY HERE STARTED LONG BEFORE THAT TITLE.
IN 2011, I BEGAN AS A PARAPROFESSIONAL, THEN A FIRST AND THIRD GRADE TEACHER, AND NOW I'M MY SECOND YEAR AS VICE PRINCIPAL.
I'VE HAD THE RARE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING OUR SCHOOL GROW, NOT JUST IN SIZE, BUT IN IDENTITY FROM ITS EARLIEST YEARS INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY, WHAT HAS NEVER CHANGED THROUGH EVERY STAGE OF THAT GROWTH IS OUR COMMITMENT TO THE WHOLE SCHOLAR AT WISH.
WE BELIEVE THERE'S A PLACE FOR EVERY CHILD EXACTLY AS THEY ARE.
EVERY ABILITY LEVEL, EVERY RACE, EVERY GENDER, EVERY INTEREST.
THAT'S NOT JUST THE SLOGAN THAT WE PUT ON A WALL.
IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE IN OUR HALLWAYS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
A STUDENT WHO LIGHTS UP IN THE GARDEN IS CELEBRATED JUST AS MUCH AS ONE WHO EXCELS IN MATH.
A CHILD WHO FINDS THEIR VOICE THROUGH MUSIC OR ON THE PE FIELD OR CURLED UP WITH A BOOK OR SOMETHING NEW IN TECHNOLOGY IS SEEN AS JUST AS SUCCESSFUL AS A CHILD WHO THRIVES ON A STATE ASSESSMENT.
WE DON'T ASK KIDS TO FIT IN INTO WHAT MOLD OF WHAT SMART OR SUCCESSFUL LOOKS LIKE.
WE BUILD A SCHOOL WHILE ENOUGH FOR ALL OF THEM TO FIND THEIR PLACE IN IT.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES WISH DIFFERENT.
WE'RE NOT JUST TEACHING ACADEMICS.
WE'RE RAISING GOOD PEOPLE, KIDS WHO KNOW HOW TO COLLABORATE, HOW TO BE CURIOUS, HOW TO FAIL AND TRY AGAIN, AND HOW TO SEE THEIR OWN WORTH BEYOND A SINGLE TEST SCORE OR SUBJECT AREA.
THIS YEAR IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL FOR ME PERSONALLY BECAUSE MY OWN SON STARTED TK AT WISH.
I GET TO WATCH NOW AT BOTH AS AN EDUCATOR AND A PARENT, THE VERY THING I'VE BELIEVED IN FOR YEARS, AND I CAN SAY WITH FULL CONFIDENCE THAT THIS IS A PLACE WHERE EVERY CHILD TRULY BELONGS.
MY NAME IS JACQUELINE BERNHEIMER.
I'M A PROUD PARENT OF TWO WISH STUDENTS, HANNAH, A THIRD GRADER, AND ABIGAIL A FIRST GRADER.
BOTH OF MY KIDS STARTED AT WISH AND TK AND OUR FAMILY HAS NOW BEEN PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR FIVE YEARS.
SO WHEN I FIRST TOURED, WISH I WAS VERY QUICK.
I KNEW VERY QUICKLY THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE.
FIVE YEARS LATER, I CAN SAY THAT THAT FEELING HAS GROWN STRONGER.
I HAVE WATCHED NOT ONLY MY OWN CHILDREN, BUT SO MANY CHILDREN GROW BECAUSE THEIR TEACHERS AND STAFF TAKE THE TIME TO TRULY KNOW THEM.
AT WISH DIVERSITY ISN'T SIMPLY ABOUT WHO IS IN THE CLASSROOM.
IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT CHILDREN LEARN DIFFERENTLY, COMMUNICATE DIFFERENTLY, AND HAVE DIFFERENT STRENGTHS, INTERESTS, BACKGROUNDS, AND ABILITIES.
AND THE LAST SPEAKER IS ANAK CHAVEZ.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST SAY, UM, MISS, UH, BOARD MEMBER EZ.
I'M A PROUD PARENT WITH A STUDENT AT RIO VISTA ELEMENTARY IN WALTER REED.
AND TO THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, I WANNA THANK YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING EMPATHY FOR OUR FAMILIES AND MOVING THIS ITEM 11 TO AN EARLIER TIME.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR ALSO, UH, RENEWING CENTRAL CITY VALUE.
I DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL AND THEN TODAY I'M HERE, UH, TO YIELD MY SPOT, UH, TO JACQUELINE MENDEZ
[01:45:01]
TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK ABOUT EVEREST VALUE SCHOOL MORNING BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF, AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.I'M HERE TODAY AS MY SON, RAMSEY'S MOM.
HE IS CURRENTLY IN FIFTH GRADE.
HE HAS BEEN PART OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY SINCE HE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD AND HE STARTED KINDER THERE.
UM, THIS HAS BECOME SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A PLACE WHERE HE GOES AND LEARNS.
IT HAS BECOME PART OF OUR FAMILY AND OUR VILLAGE.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, HE HAD TEACHERS WHO SUPPORTED HIM, ENCOURAGED HIM, AND CHALLENGED HIM.
EACH TEACHER HAS PLAYED A DIFFERENT ROLE IN HIS JOURNEY, BUT ALL OF THEM HAVE MADE AN IMPACT.
UM, FOR MY SON, IT HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY HARD BECAUSE HE HAS, UM, A DISABILITY AND HE HAS BEEN IN THIS SCHOOL FOR HIS WHOLE LIFE.
AND THEY HAVE GUIDED ME THROUGH THE IEP PROCESS.
THEY HAVE HELPED HIM TO MAKE SURE HE IS WELL-ROUNDED.
THEY HAVE ALSO CARED FOR HIS MENTAL HEALTH, AND IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE, UM, WORKING WITH THEM AS WELL BECAUSE I WORK AS A PARAPROFESSIONAL WITH THE SCHOOL.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW, WE CAN'T JUST ALL STAY AT HOME AND BE STAY AT HOME MOM.
SO I GET TO BRING HIM TO WORK WITH ME AND WATCH HIM GROW OVER THE, UM, OVER THE YEARS.
THEY REALLY SEE EACH CHILD AS THEIR OWN LITTLE PERSON.
EACH SCHOOL STAFF MEMBER KNOWS MY CHILD.
HE IS CURRENTLY AT AN EIGHTH GRADE READING LEVEL AND EVERYBODY SUPPORTS HIM IN THE SCHOOL.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ON TAB 11, THE BOARD WILL BE TAKING ACTION ON THESE CHARTER PETITIONS AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
PETITIONS DENIED MAY BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION OR DIRECTLY TO THE STATE FOR ACTIONS.
THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ON THIS.
UH, JUST, UH, A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE FOLKS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, THE BOARD WILL NOW RETURN TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR, UM, AND BEGIN TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS, UH, SLATED TO BE HEARD ON CONSENT.
WANNA MOVE IT OR NOT YET? AFTER DISCUSSION? LET'S MOVE IT.
I'M GONNA LET PEOPLE SHUFFLE OUT BEFORE WE BEGIN, UH, TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING.
WE'LL BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.
DONATIONS OF MONEY TO THE DISTRICT.
UH, MARK BREWERS, ARE YOU HERE? MARK D BREWERS? NOT HERE.
YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? AND, UH, RICH, ARE YOU HERE? RICH M ALRIGHT, NOT HERE.
THERE'S NO SPEAKERS ON TAB THREE.
TAB FOUR, REPORT OF CASH DISBURSEMENTS.
PENNY, ARE YOU HERE? PENNY S ARE YOU HERE? NOT HERE.
UH, THE NEXT CONSENT ITEM IS TAB 12, BUT, UH,
[01:50:02]
TAB 12.UM, RECOGNIZING CALIFORNIA STUDENT MOCK ELECTION DAY.
UH, CHLOE CLAXTON, ARE YOU HERE? CHLOE C UH, NOLA NEWELL, ARE YOU HERE? UH, RA RACHEL BARAKA.
ARE YOU HERE? AND LATE? NU ARE YOU HERE? THERE'S A CHANCE SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE OUTSIDE WAITING TO COME IN.
SO IF A INFLUX OF PEOPLE ARE OBSERVED COMING INTO THE BOARDROOM, WE'LL RECALL SOME NAMES.
THE NEXT CONSENT ITEM IS TAB 13.
NEXT CONSENT ITEM IS TAB 18, REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE.
KAREN AMAYA, ARE YOU HERE? ACTUALLY, FIRST LET ME READ THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR MR. TOSKI WAS HERE.
HE IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE SPEAKING ON THIS IN THIS ITEM, BUT LET ME READ THE PUBLIC HEARING STATEMENT FIRST.
TAB 18 WILLIAMS UNIFORM COMPLAINT QUARTERLY SUMMARY BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN ON THIS REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE, INCLUDING WILLIAMS UNIFORM COMPLAINT QUARTERLY REPORT SUMMARY, A PUBLIC HEARING MUST BE HELD.
THIS CONSTITUTES A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE REPORT AND A MAXIMUM OF 20 INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK AND HAVE NOT ALREADY SHOULD SIGN UP.
ONLINE SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED ON BY NAME.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON, UH, THE LEGISLATION THAT, UH, JACKIE GOLDBERG WROTE FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA UNDER A LAWSUIT THAT, UH, IDENTIFIED THREE CHALLENGES THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE.
ONE IS, UH, THE HEAT WAVES THAT WE'RE HAVING NOW, UM, WHERE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS MAY BREAK DOWN.
SO IN EVERY CLASSROOM, BY LAW, THIS FORM MUST BE POSTED.
I THINK THE ONLY PERSON IN THE DISTRICT WHO SEEMS TO POST IT IS MR. MCLEAN IN THE FRONT ROOM.
EVERY SCHOOL YOU VISIT, WHEN YOU GO TO STEVENSON MIDDLE SCHOOL, OR YOU GO TO HALE MIDDLE SCHOOL OR WHEREVER YOU GO, THIS MUST BE COMPLIANT.
IT GIVES PARENTS, FACULTY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, HEY, I WANNA LET FACILITIES KNOW IMMEDIATELY THAT SOME FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE FACILITIES IS NOT WORKING RIGHT.
SECONDLY, AT THE START OF SCHOOL, WHERE THERE ARE CLASSROOMS THAT ARE BEING COVERED BY A NONCOMPLIANT EDUCATOR, MEANING SOMEBODY THROUGH HR MS. MURPHY'S OFFICE IS TEACHING CHEMISTRY WHO DOESN'T HAVE A CHEMISTRY BACKGROUND OR A SUBSTITUTE RATHER THAN A CONTENT AREA OF THE PERSON.
AND PARENTS START TO MOAN AND THEN THEY CALL UP MS. GRIEGO OR MS. RIVAS OR MS. NEW BILL AND SAY, HEY, I'VE GOT THE WRONG PERSON IN MY CLASSROOM.
SO A PARENT KNOWS THAT ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SIMPLY CHECK OFF A CONCERN AND THE GOOD STAFF WILL TAKE CARE OF IT WITHIN A FEW WEEKS.
RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT LOCAL DISTRICT SUPS AND THEIR TEAMS DO.
AND LASTLY, OF COURSE, OUR CURRICULAR MATERIALS.
SO SOME OF YOU ARE OBSESSED WITH I-READY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU WALK IN A CLASSROOM, DOES IT HAVE A MATH TEXTBOOK SERIES? DOES IT HAVE ENGLISH? DOES IT HAVE SOCIAL STUDIES FOR SECOND GRADERS? DOES IT HAVE ALL THE CURRICULAR MATERIALS? AND IF IT DOESN'T, A PARENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT THIS IN THERE.
YOUR SCOFF LAW BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN GOING ON LIKE MANY OTHER DISTRICTS FOR A LONG TIME, AND YOU OUGHT TO FIX IT.
UH, SONYA PINERA, ARE YOU HERE IN THE ROOM? NO.
SONYA P YOU ARE ALSO NOT ONLINE.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE, UH, MARIA DAISY ORTIZ CALLING IN.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
[01:55:01]
MARIA DA ORTIZ.I'M ASKING HER TO UNMUTE MARIA DA ORTIZ.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I SEE YOU ARE ON THE LINE WITH US.
WE WILL, UH, COME BACK TO YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KARINA LOPEZ, ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? I HAVE YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY, BUT UH, YOU'RE NOT IN THE ROOM AND YOU'RE NOT ON LINE.
MARCELLA GARCIA, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? YOU'RE SIGNED TO SPEAK REMOTELY, BUT I DO NOT HAVE YOU IN THE ROOM NOR ONLINE.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO TAB 19 AND 20, SEE IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THOSE.
AND THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THOSE.
THE CONSENT CALENDAR HAVING BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
I'M GONNA READ THROUGH WHAT'S FOR CONSENT.
WE COULD TAKE A VOTE NOW IF YOU'RE PREPARED.
UH, TABS 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18, 19, AND 20 ARE ALL ON CONSENT.
WE HAVE RUN THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THOSE ITEMS AND FOLKS ARE NOT HERE.
UM, IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY, UH, MS. GO SECONDED BY DR.
UH, MR. T FRANKLIN IS ABSENT FOR PRESIDENT SCHMERIN? YES.
AND FOR THE VERY FIRST, THE VERY FIRST CONSENT VOTE FROM OUR BRAND NEW STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.
MS. AVILA, HOW DO YOU VOTE? YES.
CAN WE DO ONE OF THESE? ALRIGHT.
WE WE'RE AT NOON, UM, MOVING RAPIDLY.
[2. Rep-001-26/27 Approval of Routine Personnel Actions Human Resources Division]
UP FOR DISCUSSION.UH, IS, UH, TAB TWO APPROVAL OF ROUTINE PERSONNEL ACTIONS.
UH, LET ME SEE IF THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM BEFORE THE BOARD BEGINS TAKING QUESTIONS.
ALEX MERO, ARE YOU HERE? ALEX.
SO, UH, WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM MS. GRIEGO AND MS. NEW BILL ON TAB TWO.
UM, REGARDING THE RESTRICTED POSITIONS, CAN YOU DEFINE WHAT THAT IS AND WHY WE HIRE SURE.
FOLKS UNDER THAT? GOOD AFTERNOON.
DAVID GRECO, PERSONNEL DIRECTOR, UH, RESTRICTED POSITIONS ARE, UH, ESTABLISHED FROM THE EDUCATION CODE.
SO THE EDUCATION CODE REQUIRES THAT ALL CLASSIFIED, UH, POSITIONS IN THE DISTRICT.
UH, IN ORDER TO, UH, GAIN A JOB, YOU HAVE TO PASS AN EXAM.
RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEES ARE AN EASIER ENTRY POINT AND THERE IS NO EXAM FOR THEM TO, UH, TO COME INTO THE DISTRICT.
SO THEY'RE HIRED, UM, ESSENTIALLY JUST BY PASSING THE, UH, ENTRANCE QUALIFICATIONS.
SO THIS ALLOWS FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS AT THE SCHOOL SITES TO BE HIRED MORE EASILY, LIKE IN, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY REP, UH, THAT'S A RESTRICTED STATUS POSITION AT THE ENTRY POINT.
SO THEY CAN HIRE A COMMUNITY MEMBER INTO THAT POSITION.
SO LONG AS THAT COMMUNITY MEMBER PASSES THE DISTRICT PROFICIENCY TEST AND MEETS THE ENTRANCE QUALIFICATIONS, IF IT WAS AN EXAM RATED POSITION, THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE TO TEST PASS THE EXAM AND BE REACHABLE IN THE TOP THREE RANKS.
SO THE RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEES HAVE AN EASIER ENTRY POINT INTO THE DISTRICT, AND THEY COME IN AND THEY, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS.
UH, AS, AS A REGULAR STATUS EMPLOYEE, UH, AFTER SIX MONTHS, THEY'RE ENTITLED TO TAKE AN EXAM.
THE WAY THAT HISTORICALLY THE DISTRICT HAS DONE THAT IS THROUGH A PROMOTABILITY EVALUATION.
THAT PROMOTABILITY EVALUATION, ONCE THE EMPLOYEE HITS SIX MONTHS, IS SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO EVALUATE THIS EMPLOYEE.
[02:00:01]
UH, THE PROMOTABILITY EVALUATION BY THE PRINCIPAL, THEN THEY ARE ELEVATED TO A REGULAR STATUS.AND AT THAT POINT, THEIR SENIORITY BACKS TO THE DATE THAT THEY WERE FIRST HIRED AT THE DISTRICT IN A RESTRICTED STATUS.
SO IF THEY ARE RESTRICTED, IT IS US, THE CENTRAL OFFICE WHO LETS THE PRINCIPAL KNOW IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO EVALUATE.
DO THEY ALL GET THAT SIX MONTH EVALUATION OR ONLY SOME GET THAT? SO IT IS MY DEPARTMENT MM-HMM
THAT SENDS EACH PRINCIPAL A EMAIL FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE WHO'S RESTRICTED STATUS ON THEIR CAMPUS THAT HAS MET THAT THRESHOLD FOR EVALUATION.
AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GET THOSE EMAILS ON PERIODIC WAVES, UH, UNTIL THE EVALUATION IS COMPLETED.
UM, UH, THE PRINCIPALS, SOME OF THEM WILL FILL OUT THE EVALUATION RIGHT AWAY.
SOME OF THEM WILL HOLD OFF ON IT AND THEY WILL WAIT.
UM, THEY'RE NOT READY TO BASICALLY EVALUATE THE EMPLOYEE AT THAT TIME TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION.
AND IF A, A PERSON IS NOT EVALUATED AT ALL THAT YEAR, WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE YEAR? DO THEY CONTINUE BEING RESTRICTED? DO THEY HAVE TO REAPPLY? THEY CONTINUE IN A RESTRICTED STATUS.
SO, SO IDEALLY WHAT THE SITUATION SHOULD BE IS THAT THEY SHOULD BE SEPARATED, BUT WE HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO CONTINUE EMPLOYMENT AND REMAIN IN A RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYMENT.
IT'S NOT MANDATED THAT THEY HAVE TO GET EVALUATED.
OH, I DON'T, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY MANDATED? LIKE, IS THERE ANY LAW OR ANYTHING THAT SAYS, OKAY, AFTER SIX MONTHS YOU MUST EVALUATE A PERSON? AND THEN, BECAUSE I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH US FOR TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS AS RESTRICTED STATUS, I WOULD ASSUME THAT MEANS THAT THEY NEVER GOT EVALUATED AND THAT'S WHY THEY THEY REMAIN ON RESTRICTED STATUS.
OR IS THERE ANOTHER WAY THAT YOU REMAIN RESTRICTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE EVALUATION? NO, YOU DO NOT.
SO AGAIN, OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE SMALLER POPULATIONS WILL ACTUALLY REQUIRE AN EXAM.
SO LET'S SAY YOU BRING IN A COMMUNITY REP FOR, UH, RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYMENT AT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD THEN ALLOW THAT EMPLOYEE TO SIT FOR THE EXAM TO TEST LIKE ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER CLASSIFICATION WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
AND IF THAT EMPLOYEE DOES NOT PASS THE EXAM, THEN THEY WOULD BE SEPARATED BECAUSE THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE REACHABLE TO BE EMPLOYED.
SO THERE IS NOTHING IN ED CODE OR LAW THAT SAYS THAT A RESTRICTED EMPLOYEE MUST BE EVALUATED AFTER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MONTHS OR, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY CAN JUST CONTINUE BEING RESTRICTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
THERE ISN'T ANYTHING IN ED CODE THAT SAYS THAT, THAT REQUIRES IT.
THEY, THEY MUST BE OFFERED THE ABILITY TO TAKE THE EXAM, WHICH IN THIS CASE, LIKE I SAID, IS THE EVALUATION MM-HMM
SO THAT'S WHEN WE SEND OUT THE EVALUATIONS TO THE PRINCIPALS AND GOING FORWARD.
UM, SO IN, IN THE PAST WE HAVE, UH, A LOT OF PRINCIPALS WHO JUST WILL NOT FILL OUT THE EVALUATION RATHER THAN FAIL THEM ON THE EVALUATION.
BECAUSE IF THEY FAIL THEM ON THE EVALUATION, THEN THE EMPLOYEE NEEDS TO BE SEPARATED.
UH, SO IF THEY, IF THEY REMAIN SILENT ON THE EVALUATION, THE EMPLOYEE CAN CONTINUE WORKING AT THE DISTRICT.
AND THAT'S HOW WE HAVE SEVERAL RESTRICTED EMPLOYEES FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, THEN WE, IT LOOKS, IN THE REPORT IT SAYS THAT WE REHIRED SOME CLASSIFIED STAFF AND IT SAYS RESTRICTED.
SO ARE ANY OF THOSE REHIRES FOLKS WHO WERE LAID OFF IN JUNE, ARE, ARE WE BRINGING SOME OF THEM BACK OR, OR NOT? SO LET ME ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION KIND OF POINT BY POINT.
FIRST OF ALL, LAID OFF IS A TERM OF ART.
SO I WOULD NOT USE LAID OFF BECAUSE RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEES WERE NOT LAID OFF.
THE ED CODE HAS A LAYOFF PROCEDURE THAT REQUIRES A MARCH 15TH NOTIFICATION.
A RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEE DOES NOT HAVE RIGHTS UNDER THAT STATUTE FOR A LAYOFF NOTICE.
THEY CAN BE SEPARATED ANY TIME.
SO THE DISTRICT'S PROCESS FOR RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEES IS NOT COMING TO THE BOARD AND ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR, UH, THE LAYOFF BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO THAT STATUTE.
SO IN MAY WHAT WE DO IS THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION WILL LOOK AT ALL OF THE, UH, VACANCIES.
WE TAKE A SNAPSHOT OF THE VACANCIES DURING A HIRING FREEZE AFTER BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN THE RIF WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.
AND WE USE EVERY VACANCY FOR EVERY REGULAR STATUS EMPLOYEE.
SO WHEN THERE'S NOT A VACANCY FOR A RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEE, THAT EMPLOYEE WOULD GET A SEPARATION NOTICE.
UM, SO IN THE RIF PROCESS, IF AN EMPLOYEE IS RIFT OR LAID OFF, THEY GO ONTO A REEMPLOYMENT LIST, WHICH IS, AGAIN, BY STATUTE, THE RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE REEMPLOYMENT LIST.
SO I CANNOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITHOUT GOING BACK AND LOOKING SPECIFICALLY WHO WE HIRED AND DETERMINE IF THEY WERE SOMEBODY WHO RECEIVED A SEPARATION NOTICE IN MAY.
UM, BUT WITH THE OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS WHERE THERE'S A REEMPLOYMENT LIST, AGAIN BY ED CODE, WE ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE REEMPLOYMENT LIST.
SO IF YOU HAVE A B AND G WORKER, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO IS LAID OFF AND GETS PUT ON THE REEMPLOYMENT LIST, WE'RE NOT LEGALLY PERMITTED TO HIRE ANYBODY NEW TO THE DISTRICT UNTIL THAT REEMPLOYMENT LIST IS EXHAUSTED.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
[02:05:01]
AND THEN WHAT ABOUT REASSIGNMENTS? I SAW SOME THAT WERE REASSIGNED AND IT SAID, UM, SOME, IT SAID PERMANENT AND THEN LIKE SAY 16 PERMANENT REASSIGNED AND THEN FOUR TO RESTRICTED.SO HOW, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN, THOSE REASSIGNMENTS? WERE THEY PERMANENT AT ONE POINT AND NOW THEY'RE RESTRICTED OR NO, YOU WOULD NEVER GO FROM A PERMANENT OR REGULAR STATUS POSITION TO A RESTRICTED STATUS POSITION.
YOU CAN ONLY GO FROM RESTRICTED STATUS POSITION TO A PERMANENT POSITION.
SO HOW WERE THESE REASSIGNMENT? THE, IN THE COLUMN REASSIGNMENT AND THEN IT SAYS RESTRICTED? WELL, LET, I, LET ME FINISH THE LAST QUESTION THAT I WAS, I HAD ONE MORE POINT TO MAKE.
SO WHEN YOU ASKED IF SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE REHIRED, UH, AGAIN, BECAUSE THE RESTRICTED STATUS, UH, POSITIONS ARE NORMALLY COMMUNITY BASED, SOME OF THAT ALSO ALL DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY LIVE AND WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE TO WORK.
SO, SO THERE COULD BE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE REHIRED, BUT IT'S HIGHLY LIKELY THAT SOME OF THEM ARE NEW BECAUSE THE VACANCIES MAY NOT MATCH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.
UM, SO THE REASSIGNMENT PROCESS DURING THE RIF PROCESS IS, UH, WE HAVE TO AGAIN, FIND A FUNDED VACANCY FOR EVERYBODY WHO HAS PERMANENT STATUS WITH THE DISTRICT.
SO THE REASSIGNMENTS WOULD BASICALLY BE, UH, THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION ASSIGNING SOMEBODY TO A VACANCY.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE CUT A BGW WORKER FROM ONE SCHOOL SITE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT FUNDED, WE WOULD FIND THAT INDIVIDUAL A VACANCY AT ANOTHER SCHOOL SITE THAT'S CONSIDERED A REASSIGNMENT.
SO THE REASSIGNMENTS HAPPEN, UH, PERIODICALLY, UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT YOU'LL SEE A HIGH NUMBER NOW BECAUSE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE, SO WHAT WE DO IS WE ORIGINALLY FIND PEOPLE AN ASSIGNMENT, BUT THE REASSIGNMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE HIGH PROBABLY THROUGH NOVEMBER, BECAUSE WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REASSIGNED TO A POSITION THAT MAY NOT FIT THEIR NEEDS.
AGAIN, PERSONALLY FOR GEOGRAPHIC REASONS AND DRIVING REASONS.
SO WE'LL GET CALLS FROM A BGW OR AN OFFICE TECH WHO WAS, WHO WAS DISPLACED INTO ANOTHER SCHOOL SITE.
MAYBE, MAYBE WE TRY OUR HARDEST TO KEEP THEM IN THE SAME REGIONS.
BUT LET'S SAY THEY'RE AT THE FAR END OF THE SOUTH AND WE PUT THEM AT THE NORTHEST POINT OF THE SOUTH, THEY MIGHT CALL US AND ASK TO BE REASSIGNED AGAIN.
SO AGAIN, WE HAVE A LOT OF SHUFFLING GOING ON.
THAT'S THE REASSIGNMENT PROCESS.
WHEN THE BOARD DECIDED TO RESTORE POSITIONS AT SCHOOL SITES, THOSE RESTORATIONS ARE BEING, WERE CREATED POSITIONS AT THE C SCHOOLS, BUT AS SOON AS WE HAVE A FUNDED POSITION, WE'RE TAKING THOSE RESTORATION PEOPLE AND PUTTING THEM INTO A FUNDED POSITION AND CLOSING THE RESTORATION POSITION.
SO THOSE ARE ALSO SOME OF THE REASSIGNMENTS YOU WILL SEE.
AND THOSE MAY INCLUDE SOME OF THE RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN REASSIGNED.
SO THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN, MY QUESTION, I GUESS IS THEY'VE, ALL THESE RESTRICTED NUMBERS THAT I SEE HERE, THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN RESTRICTED.
THEY'RE JUST MOVED FROM ONE POSITION SOMEWHERE WHERE IT WAS A RESTRICTED POSITION AND NOW THEY'RE MOVED TO ANOTHER OPEN POSITION THAT IS RESTRICTED POSITION.
SO AGAIN, YOU HAVE THE RESTRICTED STATUS CLASSIFICATIONS, LIKE COMMUNITY REP INSTRUCTIONAL AID.
UH, THEY COME IN, THE ENTRY POINT, AGAIN, IS AS A RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEE.
BUT ONCE THEY DO GAIN PERMANENCY, THEN THEY HAVE A, THEY HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS AND BENEFITS AND BURDENS OF A REGULAR STATUS EMPLOYEE.
SO DURING THE RIF PROCESS, WE MAY HAVE ACTUALLY, UH, CUT OR, OR LAID OFF PERMANENT REGULAR STATUS COMMUNITY REPS.
BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE RESTRICTED STATUS ARE THE ONES THAT WOULD GO OUT THE DOOR AND BE SEPARATED.
SO AGAIN, WE WOULD FIND A FUNDED POSITION FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE CUT AT ONE SCHOOL SITE IF THERE THEY'RE A REGULAR STATUS AND PUT THEM INTO A FUNDED POSITION.
SO YOU'LL SEE RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEES ARE GOING OUT THE DOOR, EITHER BECAUSE THEY WERE CUT FROM, UH, THEIR POSITION AT THEIR SCHOOL SITE, THEIR, THE PRINCIPAL CHOSE TO CLOSE THOSE, THOSE POSITIONS.
OR A REGULAR STATUS EMPLOYEE IN THAT CLASSIFICATION IS BUMPING A RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEE OUT OF THEIR POSITION.
ARE THESE, UH, HIRED AT THE SCHOOL SITE? YOU SAID THEY'RE, THESE ARE FOLKS AT THE SCHOOL SITE, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO COME IN FOR THIS SUPERVISION AID POSITION.
IS THAT HOW THEY HIRED? CORRECT.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO KNOW.
CHARETTE, MAY I JUMP IN BEFORE YOU? OH, YEAH.
SO, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS, ONE OF THE STATEMENTS I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT A PRINCIPAL WOULD NOT DO THAT EVALUATION IN ORDER NOT TO HAVE TO GET RID OF THAT, NOT GET RID OF, IN ORDER TO LET THAT EMPLOYEE GO.
SO THAT'S KIND OF SCARY THAT SOMEBODY WOULD WANNA KEEP AN EMPLOYEE WHO'S NOT, WHO, WHO THE PRINCIPAL'S AFRAID WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE AT THE SCHOOL.
NOW, UH, SOMEBODY HAS TO, UH, INTERVENE IF A PRINCIPAL IS NOT, IF EVALUATING
[02:10:01]
SOMEONE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE EVALUATED.UH, ONE OF THE, THE PIECES THAT I'M WORKING WITH CHIEF SPICER ON REINFORCING FOR OUR PRINCIPAL SUPERVISORS FOR OUR DIRECTORS IS THAT WHEN THEY GO OUT TO SCHOOLS AND THEY DO THEIR REGULAR CHECK-INS, MAYBE ONCE A MONTH, EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH THEIR PRINCIPALS, THAT THEY HAVE THESE SORT OF, I'LL, I'LL KIND OF PUT THEM UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF HR ITEMS AS POINTS OF DISCUSSION.
SO THEY CAN SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, HERE'S A, A RESTRICTED EMPLOYEE, YOU KNOW, JILL SMITH, HAVE YOU DONE THE EVALUATION? AND SO ON.
SO AGAIN, WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROCESSES ARE HAPPENING WITH FIDELITY.
SO THE, THE DIRECTOR WILL KNOW WHO THE, UM, EMPLOYEES ARE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN AN EVALUATION.
UH, NOT ONLY DOES MR. GRECO'S OFFICE ALREADY PROVIDES THAT INFORMATION DIRECTLY TO PRINCIPALS, BUT AS PART OF OUR ADDITIONAL FOLLOW UP HERE, WE'LL ALSO GIVE IT TO OUR PRINCIPAL SUPERVISORS SO THEY CAN FOLLOW UP.
AND I'M SURE YOU'RE GIVING IT TO THE PRINCIPALS, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO MAKE SURE THE PRINCIPALS DO THAT PART.
ONE OTHER THING WITH, UM, MY FAVORITE TOPIC, LIBRARY TECHS, YOU KNOW HOW WHEN WE CLOSE SO MANY LIBRARY TECHS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN LIBRARY TECH HAS TO GO TO TWO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND MAYBE ONE SCHOOL'S IN SAN PEDRO AND ONE SCHOOL'S IN SYLMORE.
SAN PEDRO THAT WAY IN SYLMORE THAT WAY.
SO THAT IS REALLY, I KNOW YOU MUST TRY YOUR BEST TO CO TO MAKE THEM AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE.
I WOULD, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT YOUR SCENARIO IS DID NOT HAPPEN THERE.
THERE ARE CASES WHERE THE DISTANCE IS, IS MORE THAN IDEAL, BUT NOT, NOT THAT BAD.
I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, SUPERINTENDENT CHAIN, BECAUSE I HAVE, UM, A PRINCIPAL WHO'S WELL SEASONED AND HE WASN'T AWARE THAT HE NEEDED TO, UH, DO THE EVALUATION.
AND WHEN HE BROUGHT IT UP TO, I'M, I'M NOT SURE WHOSE ATTENTION HE SAID, OH YEAH, BUT YOUR, THE EVALUATION IS PROBABLY IN YOUR SPAM FOLDER.
AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS IN THE SPAM FOLDER, AND BY THAT TIME IT WAS TOO LATE TO SAVE TWO OF THESE EMPLOYEES.
I, I SENT THAT EMAIL TO YOU ALSO TO KRISTEN.
I'M, I KNOW FOR SURE FOR KRISTEN.
AND HE REALLY WANTED TO SAVE THEIR JOBS, SO HE WASN'T AWARE ABOUT THE EVALUATION.
UH, MY QUESTION IS ON OUR NEW HIRES ASSOCIATE PROJECT ENGINEERS, UH, POSITION, IS IT ENGINEER ONE? AND I GUESS THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON PROJECTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
DO WE KNOW HOW MANY PROJECTS WE CURRENTLY HAVE? SO THAT WOULD BE A MISS TOES QUESTION.
AND I KNOW THAT WE HAD TO HIRE EXTRA ONES.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 109 OF THEM AND WE ARE VACANT 20 POSITIONS.
AND THESE ARE IN ADDITION TO THE 20 POSITIONS, IS THAT CORRECT? GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
CHRISTINA CHOKES, CHIEF FACILITIES EXECUTIVE.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE OF HOW MANY ARE VACANT AND HOW MANY, UM, ARE CURRENTLY FILLED, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE DISTRICT CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT $5.4 BILLION WORTH OF WORK UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S MORE THAN WE'VE EVER HAD, UM, AT ONE TIME.
AND THIS IS A LOW LEVEL, ENTRY LEVEL POSITION, UM, THAT HELPS BUILD OUR SUCCESSION PLAN FOR PROJECT ENGINEERS GROWING FROM THIS POSITION TO A PE TWO, TO PROJECT ENGINEER TO SENIOR OR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER TO SENIOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER.
PREVIOUSLY WE DID NOT HAVE THIS POSITION IN THE DISTRICT AND IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR US TO RECRUIT INTO THAT LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE THAT HAD FIVE TO 10 YEARS.
WE CALL THESE OUR BABY ENGINEERS.
UM, BUT IT IS PROVED TO BE VERY, VERY, UM, INSTRUMENTAL IN GROWING TALENT IN THE DISTRICT.
UM, AND THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE STAFF, BOTH AS WE MANAGE THE CONSTRUCTION NOW, AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE BIDDING ABOUT $1.5 BILLION WORTH OF WORK IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
AND WE NEED THE STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PRO, THOSE PROJECTS ARE NOT DELAYED, BUT WE CAN PROVIDE THE FOLLOW UP ON THE VACANCY.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE WITH OUR HIRING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THESE RIGHT AWAY.
WE WANTED TO OPEN THESE AND THEN WE WILL, UM, OVER TIME HAVE A ROLLING, UH, RECRUITMENT AND FILLING PROCESS.
AND SO DO THEY NORMALLY STAY WITH US? SO THIS IS, HASN'T BEEN A PRACTICE.
SO WHEN DID THEY START COMING UP? OH, WE'VE HAD THIS, WE THINK WE OPENED THESE POSITIONS ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO.
PREVIOUSLY IN THE BOND PROGRAM, WE DID NOT HAVE THIS ENTRY LEVEL POSITION.
AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WORKED WITH THE PREVIOUS HEAD OF PC,
[02:15:01]
UM, CARLA GOON.AND WITH THE SIX YEARS AGO, ARE WE ABLE TO HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON HOW MANY IS NEEDED TO MOVE THE PROJECTS AS TO WHY WE NEEDED TO HIRE ADDITIONAL? YES.
SO WE HAVE STAFFING PLANS FOR ALL OF OUR PROJECTS.
THEY VARY DEPENDING ON THE COMPLEXITY AND THE SIZE OF THOSE PROJECTS.
SO OBVIOUSLY A $300 MILLION COMP MOD WILL HAVE MORE STAFF ON IT THAN, LET'S SAY A $5 MILLION HVAC.
UM, AND SO LOOKING AT BOTH THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE AND THE PROJECTS THAT WE EXPECT TO BID, THIS IS WHAT OUR TEAM CONCLUDED THAT WE NEED OVER ABOUT THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
THESE ARE GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS VARIOUS, YOU KNOW, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 PROJECTS.
UM, TYPICALLY WE HAVE ABOUT ONE A PE OR TWO A PE, UM, ON PROJECTS THAT ARE OVER ABOUT, I WOULD SAY 40 TO 50 MILLION.
AND SO, AND I GUESS THE, THE, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, BECAUSE IF THERE IS A NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 34, 'CAUSE THIS IS ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT, BUT THERE'S ALREADY VACANCIES, SO WASN'T THERE BUDGET FOR THE VACANCIES THAT ARE NOT ALREADY FILLED? IS THERE ANTICIPATION THAT YOU WILL GET 34 IN ADDITION TO THE 20? UM, WE WILL SEE, UM, THESE ARE ALL BOND FUNDED POSITIONS.
THEY'RE SOLELY ON BOND FUNDED WORK.
WE'RE ONLY GONNA HIRE THE ONES THAT WE NEED.
SO THERE'S, THIS IS NOT A, WE JUST FILL SEATS AND THEN THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO.
WE ALWAYS LOOK AT, UM, WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE UNDERWAY AND WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING TO BID, WHICH PROJECTS ARE CLOSING.
AND THAT'S USED TO DETERMINE THE FORECAST THAT WE NEED.
AS I SAID, IT WOULD BE HARD TO FILL ALL 34 JUST LIKE THAT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO USE THESE POSITIONS AND AS WE ESTABLISH A BENCH, WE'LL HIRE FROM THAT BENCH.
AND IF WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE, WE DO THAT, UM, KNOWING THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED THIS WORK OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE HERE, DO THEY JUST, ARE THEY REMOVED? ARE THEY NOT, WE'RE NOT USING THE TERM LAID OFF.
HOW ARE THEY REMOVED FROM, HOW DOES THAT WORK AS A PC? SO IF THERE'S A LACK OF NEED FOR THESE POSITIONS, THEY WOULD BE LAID OFF.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME FOR BOARD AUTHORIZATION IN MARCH OR UH, FEBRUARY FOR AUTHORIZATION TO CUT X AMOUNT OF POSITIONS AND THEY WOULD RECEIVE A MARCH 15TH NOTICE.
UM, WITH THE WORKLOAD THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE PLANNED, AS I WAS SAYING, THE 5.4 BILLION THAT WE HAVE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE OTHER 1.5 THAT WE PLAN TO BID IN THE NEXT 12 TO 16 MONTHS, WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE, UM, FORECASTING LAYOFFS ON BOND FUNDED POSITIONS THAT SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.
UM, WHERE WE WOULD SEE BASICALLY A DECLINE IN POSITIONS IS, UM, ONCE WE'VE COMPLETED AND THERE'S ABOUT $5 BILLION OF PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DESIGN THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN BID.
UM, BUT ONCE THOSE PROJECTS KIND OF WORK THROUGH THE PIPELINE, UM, AND WE HAVE COMMITTED OR PUT MOST OF OUR PROJECTS OUT TO CONSTRUCTION, BUT TYPICALLY WHERE WE SEE LAYOFFS WOULD BE HAPPENING FIRST OR REDUCTIONS IN FORCE WOULD BE ON THE PLANNING AND DESIGN SIDE, AND THEN IN TO THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE.
SO WE'RE NOT FORECASTING THAT THESE POSITIONS WOULD NOT BE NEEDED IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
AND THEN JUST, UM, AS THE SIX YEARS DO, AS THEY GOT EXPERIENCE, THEY'RE HERE FOR YEARS, DID THEY MOVE UP INTO POSITIONS AND STAY PRETTY MUCH WITH THE ORGANIZATION AFTER? AS WE SEEN, YES.
WE HAVE, UM, A STRONG PIPELINE TO WHAT'S CALLED AN A PE TWO, WHICH IS THE NEXT LEVEL UP.
UM, AND I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN PROMOTIONAL ONLY.
SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT THOSE APS THAT HAVE GAINED THE EXPERIENCE.
THEY'RE OUT IN CONSTRUCTION TRAILERS, UM, THEY'RE LEARNING, UM, YOU KNOW, THROUGH EXPERIENCE ON THE JOBS THAT WE HAVE FOR THEM.
UM, AND THEN THEY'LL MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR AN A PE TWO, WHICH I THINK REQUIRES, I DUNNO IF IT'S OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THREE TO FIVE YEARS OR EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS, BUT THEY CAN THEN BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY TO THAT NEXT LEVEL UP.
AND AFTER THAT THERE IS A A PE, NO, JUST A PE AND THEN A SENIOR.
UM, AND OF COURSE THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO COULD CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT AND GO WORK, UM, ELSEWHERE.
WE KNOW THAT THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION MARKET IS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE AND HOT RIGHT NOW, AND EVERYONE IS SEARCHING FOR TALENT, WHICH IS WHY THAT WE CREATED THIS POSITION SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT TYPE OF SUCCESSION PLAN.
AND SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PROJECTS WE CURRENTLY HAVE RIGHT NOW.
WE JUST KNOW THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
UM, I CAN I, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DOES THIS FEED IT? YEAH.
I CAN'T, I HAVE IT ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE, BUT I CAN, UM, COME BACK AND LET YOU KNOW.
[02:20:07]
JUST A QUICK QUESTION JUST FOR, UH, PUBLIC INFORMATION.UH, WE HEARD EARLIER, UM, A NUMBER OF 600 RESTRICTED EMPLOYEES THAT WERE LET GO, BUT ON A BOARD INFORMATIVE, I JUST WANNA KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER.
AND, UH, UH, BASED ON THE BOARD INFORMATIVE ON APRIL 30TH, AND I'M SURE MAYBE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED, IT SAYS 458 POSITIONS, UH, BY RESTRICTED OR TEMPORARY STATUS EMPLOYEES WILL BE CLOSED FOR 26 27.
AND ADDITIONALLY, 270 FROM SCHOOL SITES, UH, WILL ALSO BE, UM, RELEASED DUE TO UNFUNDED POSITIONS.
SO WHAT, DO YOU HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER? HOW MANY RESTRICTED, UH, EMPLOYEES WERE ACTUALLY LAID OFF OR LET GO? SO THOSE TWO NUMBERS COMBINED WOULD BE, YEAH, THEY CALL IT TO SEVEN TWENTY EIGHT.
HOWEVER, WHAT I DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW, AND I CAN GET IT FOR YOU, IS HOW MANY OF THOSE EMPLOYEES WITHIN THAT 728 ARE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES? AND HOW MANY ARE RESTRICTED RIGHT NOW? YES, BUT THE, BUT WHAT YOU SEE, THE 270 RESTRICTED OR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE SEPARATED OUT FROM THE 4 58, THE 4 58 ARE ONES THAT THE SCHOOL SITES THEMSELVES CUT OUT OF THEIR BUDGET.
AND THE 270 ARE ONES THAT WERE BUMPED OUT BECAUSE OF A REGULAR STATUS EMPLOYEE NEED.
WE, US NEEDING THAT VACANCY TO FILL AND THE, THESE, THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF THESE EMPLOYEES.
I HAVE HERE CAMPUS AID COMMUNITY REPS, EDUCATION, RESOURCE AID, EDUCATION AID, INSTRUCTIONAL AID, OFFICE TECHNICIAN, WHICH IS ONE, UM, SCHOOL CLIMATE ADVOCATE AND SCHOOL SUPERVISION AIDE.
SO THOSE ARE ALL THE POSITIONS THAT FELL UNDER THE RESTRICTED OR TEMPORARY.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WERE IMPACTED.
IN MAY, MAY, THERE ARE, THERE'S OTHER, UH, EARLY ED CENTERS HAVE A FEW, I THINK TWO RESTRICTED STATUS, UH, CLASSIFICATIONS, BUT NONE OF THEM WERE IMPACTED.
AND ANY OF THESE EMPLOYEES, ARE THEY PLACED IN A POOL FOR POSSIBLE REHIRE OR THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHTS TO BE REHIRED IF THEY WERE UNDER THESE CATEGORIES? WE ALWAYS MAINTAIN THE LIST OF ANYBODY WHO GOES OUT THE DOOR AND WHEN PRINCIPALS NEED THEM TO, TO, UH, TO FILL A POSITION.
WE PROVIDE THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED OR WHO HAVE RECENTLY, UH, SEPARATED FROM EMPLOYMENT FOR THE, FOR THE REASON OF BEING A RESTRICTED STATUS EMPLOYEE.
UM, BUT I, WITHOUT LOOKING SPECIFICALLY, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHETHER OR NOT HOW MANY HAVE BEEN REHIRED OR HOW MANY WILL BE REHIRED.
UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S NOT A REEMPLOYMENT LIST.
IT'S MORE OF AN INTEREST LIST.
SO WE PROVIDE THE NAMES TO THE PRINCIPALS OF THOSE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE POSITIONS.
IF YOU CAN SEND THAT INFORMATION OVER JUST TO BREAK DOWN, THAT'D BE GREAT.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? I HAVE THE NUMBER.
SO WE HAVE CURRENTLY, UM, 229 PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF JUST OVER 5 BILLION.
AND THEN WE HAVE NOT YET IN, UM, CONSTRUCTION, BUT APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND IN WHAT WE CALL PRE-CONSTRUCTION 636 PROJECTS OF WHICH, UH, WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF 4.7 BILLION.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE NOT YET EVEN BROUGHT TO THE BOARD.
THOSE ARE SITTING IN THE CATEGORIES THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THE PRIORITIZATION.
AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OVER, I THINK 1.1 TO $2 BILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS YET TO BE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD.
SO WE HAVE, UM, DEFINITELY FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS OF HARDY WORK AVAILABLE FOR US JUST IN THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN.
UM, JUST TO, TO FOLLOW UP, UH, SIMILAR QUESTIONS ON THE RESTRICTED EMPLOYEE FRONT.
SO OF THE SEVEN 20, THE 270 IS THE NUMBER THAT WAS DUE TO BUMPING? CORRECT.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE TOO, THAT THESE 728 EMPLOYEES WERE NOT JUST RANDOMLY SELECTED FOR SEPARATION.
EVEN IF THEY WERE PERMANENT STATUS, 728 PEOPLE WOULD'VE BEEN OUT THE DOOR BECAUSE THEY WERE CUTS THAT WERE MADE.
UM, AND THEN JUST, I THINK THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC POSITIONS WITH DR. RIVAS WENT OVER, ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE TODAY WAS A NEWCOMER, A WHICH, UM, I, I DON'T THINK WAS ONE OF THE CLASSIFICATIONS THAT WAS LISTED.
THAT'S A WORKING TITLE THAT MAYBE SHE'S USING.
UM, JUST, I JUST WANNA CLARITY ON THIS.
YOU SAID THAT THERE IS NO ED CODE THAT SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO, UM, UM, WHAT
[02:25:01]
EVALUATE FOLKS AFTER SIX MONTHS, IS THERE A DISTRICT POLICY WRITTEN THAT SAYS THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE DO WITH RESTRICTED EMPLOYEES? THE DISTRICT POLICY IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT I EXPLAINED TO YOU, THAT WE OFFER THE PRINCIPAL THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT THE EVALUATION.UM, THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION DOES NOT HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE PRINCIPALS TO MANDATE THEM TO FILL OUT THE THEM.
SO THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A QUESTION FOR, UH, MAYBE DR. MURPHY.
MAYBE WE, WE ARE, UM, WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION TO, UH, MAKE CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
I THINK THE SUPERINTENDENT ALLUDED TO THOSE WHERE WE WILL BE SENDING OUT MONTHLY LISTS, EVERY LIST, EVERY MONTH, NOT ONLY TO THE PRINCIPAL, BUT ALSO TO THE REGION AND PRINCIPAL SUPERVISORS, ALSO TO SEIU.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION WITH SEIU SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE A LIST OF THEIR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE REACHED THAT 130 DAY MARK, THEIR MEMBERS WHO HAVE REACHED THE 130 DAY MARK AND CAN ALSO HELP TO, UH, HELP THEIR MEMBERS ADVOCATE TO BE EVALUATED.
SO, UM, WE HAVE DONE A SIGNIFICANT WORK ON THIS ISSUE SINCE IT, UH, CAME UP LAST SPRING.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THIS, THAT WE'RE MORE INTENTIONALLY, UM, MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE NO, WE, WE DO IT.
WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING KRISTEN.
IS THAT THE, THE IMPROVED PROCESS? YEAH.
AS FAR AS, UH, ADDITIONAL FOLLOW UP, BUT NO, WE ACTUALLY HAD SEVERAL, IT WAS A TOPIC AT SEVERAL PRINCIPALS MEETINGS LAST YEAR.
THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION SENT OUT ABOUT IT, UH, THROUGH THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION AND STAFF RELATIONS.
UH, BUT WE ARE REDOUBLING THAT EFFORT THIS YEAR, UH, AND INCLUDING OUR LABOR PARTNERS, SEIU, UM, TO, UH, ENSURE THAT THE, UH, EVALUATIONS HAPPEN IN A TIMELY MANNER.
I JUST HAD A CLARIFYING QUESTION WITH THE EVALUATIONS.
'CAUSE SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SPAM.
WHO IS SENDING THE EVALUATION? IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATOR OR IS THAT COMING FROM PC? THE, THE EMAILS ARE COMING FROM PC AND THEY'RE COMING THROUGH, UM, THE BLACKBOARD CONNECT SYSTEM AND UNFORTUNATELY THE BLACKBOARD CONNECT SYSTEM SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN PEOPLE'S SPAM OR JUNK MAIL.
UM, THAT WOULD BE AN ITS QUESTION.
UH, BUT LIKE I RECEIVE SOME EMAILS, SOMETIMES I GET SOME THAT COME STRAIGHT TO MY, MY INBOX AND THEN ANOTHER ONE THAT'S COMING FROM THE SAME EXACT SERVICE IS GOING TO MY JUNK MAIL.
SO I WAS JUST, I'M JUST BRINGING THAT, ELEVATING THAT, BECAUSE IF THAT IS PART OF THE GLITCH, THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE, 'CAUSE YOU COULD SEND IT OUT AND IT'LL GO CORRECT TO THEIR SPAM.
AND, AND I, AND IN OUR RECENT COMMUNICATIONS WE HAVE PUT IN WRITING, PLEASE CHECK YOUR JUNK FOLDER AND YOUR SPAM FOLDER.
AND IN ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH PRINCIPALS, I ALSO SAID IT'S A GOOD HABIT TO GET INTO BECAUSE A PARENT COULD ALSO BE SENDING YOU AN EMAIL THAT GOES INTO YOUR JUNK OR YOUR SPAM FOLDER.
NOW AGAIN, JUST SO I AM CLEAR, IF THE RESTRICTED EMPLOYEE IS EVALUATED AND RECEIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A TEST, IS THAT OR IS JUST THE EVALUATION IS GONNA SUBSIDIZE FOR THE TEST? SO THE ED CODE REQUIRES THAT THE EMPLOYEE BE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE EXAM.
HISTORICALLY, THE, BECAUSE OF THE, THE HIGH NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE OF THESE EMPLOYEES, HISTORICALLY THE EVALUATION, THE PROMOTABILITY EVALUATION HAS BECOME THE SUBSTITUTE FOR THE EXAM.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S THE BEST OPPORTUNITY OR NOT, BECAUSE IF WE OFFER THEM THE EXAM, THEN IT'S MORE INCUMBENT ON THE EMPLOYEE THAN THE PRINCIPAL TO TAKE THE EXAM.
BUT THE PASS RATE COULD ALSO BE DETRIMENTAL TO SOME OF THESE EMPLOYEES.
SO THEY, AT SOME POINT, HISTORICALLY IT WAS AN EVALUATION WAS THE MOST FAIR THING FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON TAB TWO? ALRIGHT, MAY I HAVE A, A MOVE AND A SECOND TO TAKE THE ITEM, MOVE IT MOVED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON SECOND BOARD MEMBER.
I ALSO HAVE A BOARD MEMBER DO IT TOO.
I HAVE A READOUT FOR, UH, TAB TWO, UH, UNDER OPEN SESSION APPROVAL OF THE 2026 APPOINTMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE, FOR GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT, REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT AND CHIEF OF SCHOOLS.
IN THESE, THE ROUTINE PERSONNEL ACTIONS.
UH, ITEM TWO, PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL
[02:30:01]
AS PART OF ROUTINE PERSONAL ACTION ITEMS. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO IS THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR SUPERINTENDENT AND ANDREAS CHA.UH, GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 3 REQUIRES THE BOARD PRIOR TO TAKING FINAL ACTION TO PROVIDE AN ORAL SUMMARY OF A RECOMMENDATION FOR A FINAL ACTION ON THE SALARIES, SALARY SCHEDULES, OR COMPENSATION PAID IN THE FORM OF FRINGE BENEFITS OF A LOCAL AGENCY EXECUTIVE DURING THE OPEN MEETING IN WHICH THE FINAL ACTION IS TO BE TAKEN.
THIS IS THAT OPEN MEETING PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 3, UH, SUBDIVISION C3.
UH, WE REPORT THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF COMPENSATION AND FRINGE BENEFITS FOR AND ANDREAS CHA.
UH, ONE ANNUAL BASE SALARY OF $395,867 FOR THE TWO YEAR TERM OF THE CONTRACT WITH A POTENTIAL TWO YEAR EXTENSION UPON RECEIVING A MINIMUM OF SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE RATING.
TWO, VACATION AND ILLNESS PAY AS WELL AS HEALTH BENEFITS PER DISTRICT POLICY.
USE OF A DISTRICT EMPLOYED DRIVER SOLELY IN CONNECTION WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF DISTRICT DUTIES AND ATTENDANCE OF DISTRICT EVENTS, A DISTRICT CELL PHONE AND DISTRICT DEVICES.
PAYMENT FOR DISTRICT RELATED EXPENSES PER DISTRICT POLICY.
POTENTIAL BUYOUT OF ANY REMAINING ILLNESS.
PAY A AFTER AS 12 WEEK OF AFTER THIS IS WORDED INCORRECTLY.
12 WORK WEEK OF DISABILITY LEAVE.
IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES, THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING WILL RECEIVE, UH, REGULAR HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS ACCORDING TO 12 MONTHS.
CERTIFICATED ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT.
TWO STANDARD SENIOR MANAGEMENT DISTRICT VACATION AND ILLNESS DAYS, WHICH ARE 24 VACATION DAYS.
13, FULL PAY ILLNESS DAYS AND 87 HALF PAY ILLNESS DAYS.
THREE, USE OF A DISTRICT AUTOMOBILE OR MONTHLY CAR ALLOWANCE OF $250.
UH, FOUR A TERM COMMENCING ON JULY 1ST, 2026 AND ENDING JULY 30TH, 2027 WITH AN ANNUAL SALARY AS FOLLOWS, ANDRE SPICER AS CHIEF OF SCHOOLS AT 305,000 PER YEAR.
ROBERT WHITMAN AS REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT AT $260,500 PER YEAR.
UH, THERE ARE NO ACTIONS TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM.
THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN CALLED THIS MOTION.
AND NOW WE'LL TAKE THE VOTE ON TAB TWO.
AND STUDENT BOARD MEMBER AVILA? YES.
NOW WE ARE GONNA GO TO TAB NINE.
BEFORE, BEFORE WE DO SO WE HIT, WE MOVED RATHER QUICKLY TODAY, AND ONE OF OUR CALLERS, UM, WHO, WHO WE MISSED ON TAB 18 IS ON THE LINE, UH, FOR TAB 18.
MARIA DAISY ORTIZ, PLEASE GO AHEAD, MS. ORTIZ.
UM, SPEAKING TO TAB 18, PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I SEE YOU'RE ONLINE WITH US, MS. ORTIZ.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MARIA DECI ORTIZ AND I REGISTERED, UH, UNDER WILLIAM'S COMPLAINT.
AND I AGREE WITH WHAT MR. KOSKI JUST SAID, THAT PARENTS AT THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT, THEY'RE NOT PROMOTING THAT COMPLAINT.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW THIS COMPLAINT WORKS, HOW TO FILL IT OUT, AND WHAT IS THE PROCESS THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN AND THE DETERMINATION.
SOMETIMES THEY DO WILLIAMS COMPLAINTS AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE KNOWN AT THE SCHOOLS.
THEY SHOULD PROMOTE THIS AND THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
YOU KNOW THAT BECAUSE YOU SEE THE COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN.
ALSO, PARENTS SHOULD KNOW AND BE AWARE THAT WHEN THERE ARE TOO MANY SUBSTITUTES INSIDE A CLASSROOM, THIS IS A WAY OF SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT.
BUT BECAUSE PARENTS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, THEY DON'T KNOW AND THEY DON'T DO IT.
THIS IS NOT E EQUITY, THIS IS NOT TO INFORM IT IN A TRANSPARENT WAY.
WE ARE PAYING FOR POSITIONS THAT ARE NOT EVEN DOING THE WORK OF THE PARENTS.
LET'S SAY FOR THE ELECTIONS FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS.
ONLY TWO PARENTS FROM A REGION OF MORE THAN 200 SCHOOLS WERE THERE.
AND THIS IS A BAD WORK THAT MR. PLACENCIA, THEY'RE PAYING HIM FOR THIS AND MR. CHA IS IGNORING THIS.
THEREFORE, IN REALITY, THEY NEED TO BEGIN TO WORK WITH EXCELLENCE AND TRANSPARENCY.
HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON FOR YOUR TIME.
[9. Rep-006-26/27 Approval of Procurement Actions Procurement Services Department]
ON TO TAB NINE.MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO TAKE TAB NINE? MOVE IT, MOVE BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN SECOND.
ALRIGHT, LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
[02:35:01]
PUBLIC COMMENT.LAY G ARE YOU HERE? LAY G NOT HERE VERY MUCH.
SO WE HAVE, UH, QUESTIONS FROM, IT LOOKS LIKE MS. NEW BILL AND BOARD PRESIDENT SCHROON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD, MS. NEW BILL? I WOULD LIKE MS. NEW BILL.
I THINK I HAD ITEM O YES ON OUR WITH TRANSPORTATION.
UM, WANTED TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT IS OUR COST CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW PER RIDER? GOOD AFTERNOON.
MATT FRIEDMAN, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER.
SO CURRENTLY OUR COST PER RIDER IS ABOUT 16,000.
AND THAT'S IN LINE WITH, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD, I THINK BACK IN MAY OR APRIL AS FAR AS SOME OF THE STATS AROUND OUR TRANSPORTATION.
WILL THIS CHANGE THE COST PER RIDER THIS IN THIS, UH, AUTHORIZATION? THIS WILL NOT, NO, THIS WILL NOT, THIS WOULD STAY IN LINE.
UH, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE SPENT WITH STA FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND THIS SPECIFICALLY IS FOR JUST THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
SO THE INTENT WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD COME BACK TO THE BOARD AGAIN NEXT SCHOOL YEAR FOR ANY CAPACITY INCREASE THAT WE NEED FOR THIS SERVICE.
SO, AND CURRENTLY, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR SEATS THAT WE CURRENTLY FILL ON OUR BUSES? UM, SO THE, THE NUMBERS EVOLVING AS THE SCHOOL YEAR KIND OF UNFOLDS.
UH, RIGHT NOW THERE'S ROUGHLY 24,000 STUDENTS THAT HAVE OPTED IN FOR TRANSPORTATION AND ACTUAL RIDERSHIP ON A DAILY BASIS IS RANGING IN THAT NINE TO 11,000.
SO, UM, ROUGH MATH, LESS THAN 50% OF WHAT WE PLAN FOR AS A DISTRICT ARE ACTUALLY UTILIZING THE BUS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
AND THEN THIS IS FOR OUR, UH, FOR THE ELECTRIC BUSES OR NOT? UH, SO IDAM O IS SPECIFIC TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF AMERICA.
UH, THIS, UH, THEY PERFORM SPECIFICALLY SPED ROUTES ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT.
SO THEY CURRENTLY, THERE ARE ABOUT 102 OF OUR ROUTES THAT ARE DEDICATED SPECIFIC TO SPECIAL EDUCATION.
AND NOW, ARE WE GETTING FUNDING OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THESE TRANSPORTATION COR? CORRECT.
SO THIS IS PART OF THE CALCULATION AS FAR AS THE HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT, WHICH IS ABOUT, IS 60% OF OUR DISTRICT COSTS THAT ARE, UH, REIMBURSABLE.
I THINK THAT'S IT FOR RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE A, A BUNCH FOR, UM, ITEM B.
SO, UM, THE LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS WAS VERY, VERY HELPFUL FOR ME.
AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, WAS THERE NOT A WAY TO INCLUDE, UM, THOSE METRICS WHILE DOING THE LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS? DID YOU FIND THEM ANY USE FOR THE LANDSCAPE? GOOD AFTERNOON.
TRAVIS BRANDIS, YOUR DIRECTOR.
CAN YOU CLARIFY THE, THE METRICS ON THE LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WELL, HOW WE SELECTED THE FIRM OR THE INFORMATION THAT WAS GIVEN IN ORDER FOR, UH, WELL, LET ME GET TO THE PART THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
SO I WANNA KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY USABLE METRICS IN PLACE TO MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VENDORS IN THE BSAP AND SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM? 'CAUSE I I COULDN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION TO THEM.
SO SPECIFICALLY THERE'S AN INTERNAL STUDY THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY WITH SAFE PASSAGE AS REGULAR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
WE HAVE QUALITATIVE DATA FROM OUR SCHOOL LEADERS THAT INDICATE WHEN AND WHERE THOSE PROGRAMS ARE BEING SUCCESSFUL AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT, WE DO NOT BRING THOSE VENDORS BACK.
WELL, THAT WILL ANSWER ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE FOR, UH, THANK YOU FOR NINE.
JAY, LET ME JUST, THIS, THAT'S ABOUT THE BIG BUS THAT, UH, TAKES EMPLOYEES FROM UNION STATION TO, UH, TO, UM, THE SHUTTLE RY THE SHUTTLE.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAS VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE SHUTTLE BUS.
I KNOW EVERYTHING COSTS MONEY, EVERYTHING COSTS MONEY.
BUT THE POINT IS, WE HAVE EMPLOYEES AT BERY WHO COME AS FAR AS SAM BERNARDINO AND GOD KNOWS
[02:40:01]
HOW FAR MORE THEY COME FROM, BUT I THINK THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THAT SHUTTLE FROM UNION STATION TO THE DISTRICT IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE NOT TO PARK HERE BECAUSE THE PARKING IS REALLY LIMITED AND IS VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE FOR US.AND ALSO, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY THAN THAT.
THAT SHUTTLE BUS AS A INCENTIVE, IF YOU COME BY TRAIN METROLINK, WHATEVER, YOU HAVE THAT SHUTTLE BUS AT UNION STATION.
YOU DON'T NEED TO, UNLESS YOU WANNA COMMENT ON IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
THEN I HAVE, UH, ITEM, UH, N AND THAT IS A TO Z BUS, SALES WESTERN TRUCK, EXCHANGE BUS, BUS WEST, LLC.
SO, UM, WHY IS THERE SUCH AN INCREASE IN THE REPLACEMENT COSTS? IS IT THE, THE HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF BUSES REQUIRING REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE? MAINTENANCE THAT WE ANTICIPATED OR NOT? WHAT'S THE COST? SO SPECIFICALLY THIS IS AN ASK FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY.
SO WHEN THIS ITEM ACTUALLY CAME BACK IN EARLY MARCH, UH, OF 2023, IT WAS PRESENTED AS A THREE YEAR CONTRACT PLUS TWO OPTION YEARS.
AND SO THE UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE INITIAL REQUEST WAS FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THE CONTRACT, AND NOW WE'RE COMING BACK FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO BE USED.
WHEN NEEDED TO BE USED WHEN NEEDED.
AND SPECIFICALLY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE AVERAGED ROUGHLY $750,000 OF REPLACEMENT BUS PARTS.
AND AGAIN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A, A FLEET OF ROUGHLY 1300 TO 1500 VEHICLES, UM, WITH AN AVERAGE AGE OF 11 YEARS.
AND SO UNDER UNDERSTANDING THE AGING FLEET AND BEING ABLE TO, TO REPLACE AND, AND REPAIR OUR VEHICLES, UM, IT'S, THAT'S THE REASON.
ONE MORE ITEM O WHICH MAYBE WILL MAKE SENSE AFTER YOU TELL ME, I DON'T KNOW.
SO WHY ARE WE CONTRACTING WITH STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF AMERICA IF WE ALREADY USE ZOOM FOR OUR EXTRA, UH, BUSES AND EXTRA DRIVERS WHO MAYBE NOT HAVE TO DO THE ROUTE? SO WHY ARE WE USING ANOTHER COMPANY, STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF AMERICA? UM, OPERATIONALLY IT ALWAYS MAKES SENSE TO HAVE BUILD CONTINGENCIES IN YOUR OPERATIONS.
SPECIFICALLY IF ZOOM WERE TO HAVE A CYBER ATTACK OR SOMETHING OF THE THAT NATURE, WE STILL HAVE ACCESS TO SUPPORT ROUTES FOR OUR DISTRICT STUDENTS.
ARE WE USING THEM NOW? WE ARE CORRECT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A CYBER ATTACK.
WELL, SO WASN'T ZOOM SUFFICIENT? BESIDES OUR NORMAL L-A-U-S-D TRANSPORTATION, WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID CONTRACTING OUT WHENEVER POSSIBLE CORRECTO YES.
YEAH, AND AND TO SPEAK TO THAT, AND, AND MR. FRIEDMAN ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER IN HIS REMARKS.
THERE'S A VERY SPECIFIC AND STRATEGIC REASON WHY WE'RE ONLY COMING TO BOARD ASKING FOR ONE YEAR'S WORTH OF APPROVAL FOR CAPACITY.
ONE OF OUR INTERESTS HERE, OF COURSE, IS TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE'RE, WE'RE SPENDING OUR DOLLARS IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION.
WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN WE HAVE 20 PLUS THOUSAND STUDENTS THAT OPTED IN, BUT AN AVERAGE RIDERSHIP OF 11 TO 12,000 PER ON ANY GIVEN DAY, WE HAVE TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THAT.
SO WHAT I'VE ASKED THE TEAM TO DO AGAIN, IS TO TAKE IT YEAR BY YEAR, ALWAYS BE AS THOUGHTFUL AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE SPEND HERE IN THE CONTRACTED SPACE.
I, I DID VOTE FOR ZOOM RELUCTANTLY BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING OUR L-A-U-S-D DRIVERS TO THE ULTIMATE CAPACITY.
SO DO THE DRIVERS FOLLOW A CONTRACT SIMILAR TO DISTRICT EMPLOYEES? YOU KNOW OFFHAND? YES.
THE S BOTH ST AND ZOOM HAVE LABOR AGREEMENTS OF, UH, ON THEIR OWN OR THE THEMSELVES, CORRECT.
UH, ARE THEY A UNION COMPANY? YES.
THEY ALSO HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF, UH, D-O-T-C-H-P AND, AND BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY DRIVE A BUS AS WELL.
SO ASIDE FROM THEIR AGREEMENTS, WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY, THEY'RE COVERED FROM ALL THE ASPECTS THAT ARE REQUIRED AS A BUS DRIVER.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE USE OUR L-A-U-S-D CONTRACTED DRIVERS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON TAB NINE? NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
HAVING BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, UH, MS. NEW BILL? YES.
MR. MELVOIN? UH, MS. REGO? YES.
MS. EZ? I'M A NO ON ITEM OA YES ON THE BALANCE.
[02:45:03]
UH, LET'S SEE.MR. ORTIZ, FRANKLIN IS ABSENT, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
AND WE'LL RETURN FOR MR. MELVOIN.
[10. Rep-005-26/27 Approval of Facilities Contracts Actions Procurement Services Department - Facilities Contracts]
TAB 10.LET ME SEE IF WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
YES, WE HAVE FIVE FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS.
I NEED TO ADJUST, UH, THE ADVISORY VOTE FOR TAB NINE.
UH, STUDENT BOARD MEMBER AVILA? YES.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT THERE'S A GREAT CHANCE I'M GONNA DO THAT AGAIN.
UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION, ANDY? SECOND FOR TAB 10.
MOVE BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHUREN SECONDED.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE FIVE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP AS CALLING IN FOR TAB 10.
CARMEL LEVITON, I SEE YOU'RE ON THE LINE.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE TWO TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M THE PARENT OF A KID AT EAGLE ROCK HIGH AND A KID WHO IS IN SIXTH GRADE WHO WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR AS IT'S A JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL SPAN SCHOOL.
UM, I WAS INTERESTED IN THIS TAB BECAUSE OF THE FACILITIES PROJECT SPECIFICALLY.
I NOTED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL, UH, GRASS FIELDS COMING IN.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE IT IS 100 DEGREES TODAY IN EAGLE ROCK.
AND WE ARE PLANNING ON SEVERAL 100 DEGREE DAYS THIS WEEK, EVAN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S ACTION ON HEAT MITIGATION THAT YOU TOOK NEXT NOVEMBER, AND I HOPE THERE'S GONNA BE CONTINUED FOLLOW UP.
I DO WANNA NOTE THAT THE SURVEY AND THE RESULTS, AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU
UM, THIS RELATES TO ME SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE, UM, I WILL HAVE A KID AT THE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR AS IT'S A SPAN SCHOOL.
THE SCHOOL HAS SEVEN THROUGH 12 AND THEY ARE PLANNING ON PUTTING IN A SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD TO REPLACE OUR BEAUTIFUL GRASS.
BECAUSE THIS PROJECT WAS APPROVED BEFORE THE BOARD'S RESOLUTION FAMILIES AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN CONCERNED HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
IT'S TOO LATE, IT'S IN THE WORKS, BUT MANY OF US DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
I LOOKED AT THIS BEAUTIFUL TAB WITH SO MANY NEW GRASP GRAPH FIELDS GOING IN AT SCHOOLS, AND I REALLY ASKED THE BOARD TO CONSIDER, CAN YOU CONSIDER CHANGING THE PROJECT FOR OURS? I THINK IT'S MISLEADING TO CALL OUR SCHOOL A HIGH SCHOOL WHEN WE HAVE TWO GRADES IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I DON'T SEE ANY REASON THAT THOSE STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE MORE EXTREME HEAT DAYS.
AND SO I REALLY HOPE THAT THE BOARD WILL THINK ABOUT WHETHER THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN GET NATURAL GRASS PUT IN AT EAGLE ROCK HIGH.
I SEE ELSEWHERE ON THIS AGENDA, IT IS POSSIBLE TO MODIFY APPROVED PROJECTS, BUT THAT ONLY THE BOARD CAN DO IT.
SO PLEASE, I THINK SOME OF THE STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL BE SPEAKING LATER AFTER SCHOOL TODAY.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT IS SCALDING OUT THERE AND AC HAS ALREADY FAILED AT THE SCHOOL LAST WEEK.
UM, AND CONSIDER WHETHER WE TOO CAN HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL PROJECTS.
I NOTE THAT ONE OF THESE PROJECTS IS BY ONO CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS DOING OURS.
SO ALTHOUGH WE WERE TOLD AT A SCHOOL MEETING LAST WEEK THAT THIS COMPANY EXCLUSIVELY DOES SYNTHETIC FIELDS, I SEE FROM READING THE BOARD AGENDA THAT IN FACT THIS COMPANY IS PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.
AND SO I HOPE THE BOARD WILL MINIMALLY DIRECT FACILITIES TO GET AN ESTIMATE FOR WHAT IT WOULD COST TO PUT IN GRAPHS.
ALL RIGHT, AINSLEE DRAKE, I SEE YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY, BUT YOU'RE NOT ONLINE.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? AINSLEY DRAKE? NO.
UH, YOU'RE ALSO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY, UH, BUT YOU ARE NOT SIGNED IN.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? MARI? NO.
UH, BNA S ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY, BUT I DO NOT HAVE YOU ONLINE ALSO.
UH, ELISA SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY, UH, BUT NOT SIGNED IN.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM, LUISA? NOPE.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON TAB 10.
UH, I HAVE A, UH, QUICK DISQUALIFICATION NOTE TO READ.
THERE IS ONE CONTRACT BEFORE THE BOARD, UM, THAT WILL REQUIRE BOARD MEMBER EZ, UH, TO DISQUALIFY FROM THE VOTE ON THIS DISCRETE ITEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS SECTION 1 8 4 3 8 0.8.
BOARD MEMBER GOMEZ IS DISCLOSING THE RECEIPT OF A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION IN EXCESS OF 500 FROM $500 FROM A PARTY INTERESTED IN THE FOLLOWING CONTRACT ACTION AND IS PUBLICLY DISCLOSING HER QUAL DISQUALIFICATION.
FOR THE RECORD, UH, BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT NUMBER 0 0 5 DASH 26 27, FACILITIES, CONTRACTS, ACTIONS, ITEM IMLA GREEN INC.
DBA STUDIO, STUDIO MLA SLASH C 1 0 814.
[02:50:01]
ML MLA GREEN INC.SO IF THERE IS DISCUSSION OF ITEM, I, UM, MS. EZ WILL LEAVE THE ROOM FOR THAT.
UH, AND, UH, SHE CANNOT VOTE ON ITEM I, JUST SO EVERYONE'S CLEAR VOTING ON EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF THIS TAB.
SO FOR QUESTIONS ON TAB, UH, 10, SO I AM ITEM G, SO JUST STAY.
DOES ANYONE HAVE, UH, QUESTIONS ON I, SO I CAN JUST KIND OF CHECK THIS BOX FOR MYSELF? OKAY, GREAT.
YOU CAN RELAX NORTH HOLLYWOOD.
SO YOU DID EXPLAIN ABOUT THE WELDING PROBLEM WITH THE AUDITORIUM CHAIRS.
IT WAS VERY CLEAR TO ME, BUT I JUST HAVE THE QUESTION ABOUT WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR SEEING THE, OVERSEEING THE INSTALLATION OF THE WELDING AND WHO OVERSEES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WELDING.
'CAUSE I, I'M KIND OF SURPRISED IT WASN'T CAUGHT RIGHT AWAY.
I KNOW THAT, AND I KNOW YOUR CONTRACTORS, THEY'RE A ONE, BUT THINGS HAPPEN.
SO WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE INITIAL INSTALLATION OF THE WELDING? DO YOU KNOW OFFHAND? SURE.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR SUBCONTRACTOR WHO WAS THE SUBCONTRACTOR INSTALLING THE CHAIRS AND DOING THE WELLS OF THE CHAIRS IN THE AUDITORIUM.
SO THE FOREMAN OF THAT SUBCONTRACTING COMPANY WOULD BE THE ONE WHO WOULD BE OVERSEEING THAT WORK.
UM, AND JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, UM, OUR, THIS PROCESS WORKED EXACTLY AS IT SHOULD.
THE INSPECTOR CAUGHT THE DEFECTIVE WELDING, WHICH WAS AT PROBABLY AT APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE CHAIRS.
THERE'S A SPECIFIC TYPE OF WELDING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND THEY WEREN'T DONE TO THAT SPECIFICITY.
UM, AND SO THAT WAS CAUSED, CAUSED, CAUGHT BY OUR, I'M GLAD INSPECTOR WHO SPECIFICALLY DOES, UM, WELDS AND STEEL.
THIS IS AN L-A-U-S-D INSPECTOR? CORRECT.
BECAUSE BEFORE SOMEONE SITS DOWN ON THERE AND GETS HURT, I'M GLAD IT WAS CAUGHT.
SO WHO'S GOING TO OVERSEE THE REPLACEMENT? UM, IT'S THE SAME SUBCONTRACTOR AND CONTRACTOR.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING IT TO THE DISTRICT SPECIFICATIONS.
SO AT NO COST TO THE DISTRICT, THEY HAD TO REDO ALL OF THAT WORK.
THE WELDS HAD TO MEET THE DISTRICT'S REQUIREMENTS.
UM, THEY DID THAT WORK AND IT'S NOW COMPLETED AND MEETS SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND INSPECTED BY OUR L-A-U-S-D INSPECTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON TAB 10? ALL RIGHT, SO NOW HAVING BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, TAKING THE VOTES ON TAB 10, UH, MS. NEWBELL? YES.
MS. EZ RECUSED ON ITEM I? YES.
UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN IS ABSENT BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
AND STUDENT BOARD MEMBER AVILA? YES.
MR. MELVIN, MAY I COLLECT YOUR VOTE ON TAB NINE? YOU MAY.
AND WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN FOR ONE O'CLOCK.
AND WE JUST FINISHED A PIECE OF BUSINESS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
[14. Res-006-26/27 Dr. Rivas, Mr. Schmerelson- Protecting California's Investment in Public Education Support for Proposition 3 - California Children's Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2026 (Res-006-26/27) (Waiver of Board Rule 72) 1:00 P.M. TIME CERTAIN]
TO TAB 14, WHICH INCLUDES A WAIVER OF BOARD RULE 72.UM, IF I COULD DO THIS A FAST WAY.
DOES ANYONE OBJECT TO THE BOARD RULE 72 BEING APPLIED TO THIS ITEM? NO.
UH, SO GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
UH, BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE MADE SOME MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE RESOLUTION AND A COPY HAS BEEN PASSED OUT TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, THOSE CHANGES ARE WE WANTED TO CLEAR, TO BE CLEAR ON THE SCHOOL FUNDING MECHANISMS AND THAT THE RESOLUTION PROPERLY INFORMS THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BOARD'S SUPPORT FOR PROP THREE.
TODAY, I'M PROUD TO BRING FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION AND STRONG SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION THREE, THE CALIFORNIA CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE PROTECTION ACT OF 2026.
UH, PROPOSITION THREE IS STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT DOES NOT CREATE A NEW TAX OR INCREASE EXISTING TAX RATES.
IT MAKES PERMANENT THE VOTER APPROVED INCOME TAX RATES CURRENTLY PAID BY THE CALIFORNIA'S HIGHEST INCOME EARNERS BEFORE THEY EXPIRE IN 2031.
THESE RATES HAVE BECOME AN ESSENTIAL PART OF HOW CALIFORNIA FUNDS PUBLIC EDUCATION.
SINCE 2012, THEY HAVE GENERATED APPROXIMATELY ONE 120 BILLION FOR, UH, TK 14 EDUCATION THROUGH THE EDUCATION PROTECTION ACCOUNT.
PROPOSITION THREE WOULD PRESERVE BETWEEN 5 BILLION
[02:55:01]
AND 15 BILLION IN ANNUAL STATE REVENUE.THIS IS NOT AN ABSTRACT STATE BUDGET ISSUE.
THESE DOLLARS SUPPORT THE EDUCATORS, COUNSELORS, NURSES, CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, AND STUDENT SERVICES DELIVERED EVERY DAY ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS.
OUR DISTRICT IS ALREADY EXPERIENCING THE FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT BECAUSE CALIFORNIA'S SCHOOL FUNDING SYSTEM IS BASED LARGELY ON ENROLLMENT AND AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE.
FEWER STUDENTS MEAN FEWER STATE DOLLARS, AND WE ARE ALREADY FACING GROWING PRESSURE ON SCHOOL SITE STAFFING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AT OUR SCHOOLS.
AT A TIME OF RISING COSTS AND CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY IN FEDERAL FUNDING, CALIFORNIA CANNOT AFFORD TO SURRENDER A STABLE SOURCE OF EDUCATION REVENUE.
PROTECTING THIS FUNDING MEANS PROTECTING OUR SCHOOLS, OUR EDUCATORS, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AS STUDENTS DESERVE.
THIS RESOLUTION EXPRESSES A BOARD STRONG SUPPORT FOR PROP THREE.
IT ALSO ENCOURAGES TO BECOME INFORMED ABOUT PROPOSITION THREE AND OTHER MEASURES THAT WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.
I WANNA THANK BOARD MEMBER PRESIDENT SCOTT SCHON FOR CO-SPONSORING HIS RESOLUTION AND FOR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO OFFER ANY REMARKS AS A CO-SPONSOR.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A CO-SPONSOR.
UH, L-A-U-S-D FACES A FINANCIAL CHALLENGE AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION.
AS COSTS KEEP RISING, EVERYONE IN THIS DISTRICT IS DOING MORE WITH LESS, AND WE KEEP HEARING THREATS OF LOSING EVEN MORE FUNDING THAN WE ALREADY HAVE.
SO I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT JUST SIMPLY AN L-A-U-S-D ISSUE.
THE DEVALUATION OF EDUCATION IN AMERICA HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF FUNDING SOURCES, AS WELL AS APATHY ABOUT THE ROLE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN SOCIETY.
MORE THAN EVER, STUDENTS ARE QUESTIONING WHETHER EDUCATION PARTICULAR HIGH EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION IS EVEN WORTH IT ANYMORE.
MORE THAN EVER, STUDENTS ARE QUESTIONING WHETHER THAT IS HAPPENING.
THIS IS, DESPITE THE STATISTICS, STILL SHOWING THAT THE JOB MARKET HIGHLY FAVOR STUDENTS WITH BACHELOR'S OR TECHNICAL DEGREES OR HIGHER.
WE HAVE SEEN INDIVIDUALS WHO OPPOSE PUBLIC EDUCATION, HAVE THEM TAKE POWER AND SPEND A LOT OF TIMES DEVALUATING OUR SCHOOLS, OUR TEACHERS, AND OUR STAFF.
WE HAVE SEEN A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ATTEMPT TO SYSTEMATICALLY DISMANTLE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
DESPITE THIS, L-A-U-S-D HAS SHOWN TREMENDOUS SUCCESS THROUGH KEY INVESTMENTS.
THE DISTRICT HAS HELPED STUDENTS OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES AND IMPROVE AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THE STATE AVERAGE.
IT SHOWS WHAT PROPER FUNDING CAN DO TO HELP SCHOOLS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THIS NOVEMBER.
CALIFORNIANS WILL MAKE A CHOICE.
THERE IS A LOT OF OPPOSITION TO THIS MEASURE, BUT WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW OUR SCHOOLS TO FAIL.
WHAT IS AT STAKE IS THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING EVERY STUDENT WITH A QUALITY EDUCATION.
SO THANK YOU DR. RIVAS, FOR SPONSORING THIS AND ALLOWING ME TO CO-SPONSOR.
UH, WE ARE ALSO GRATEFUL TO BE JOINED TODAY BY MR. JUAN RAMIREZ, REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS.
C-F-T-C-F-T HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR CALIFORNIA'S EDUCATOR STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE ITS SUPPORT FOR PROP THREE.
MR. RAMIREZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PLEASE, UM, GIVE US YOUR REMARKS.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, SUPERINTENDENT CHA, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, AND I THINK I, WELL, I DO KNOW ALL OF YOU.
UH, MY NAME IS JUAN RAMIREZ AND I AM, UH, THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AT CFT.
UH, THAT'S CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS AND ALSO A PROUD UTLA MEMBER.
AND ALSO I'M AN ELEMENTARY BILINGUAL, UH, TEACHER HERE AT L-A-U-S-D.
I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TO ENDORSE PROP PROPOSITION THREE.
THE CALIFORNIA CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND HEALTH, UH, CARE PROTECTION ACT OF, UH, 2026 PROP THREE EXTENDS ATTACKS THAT ALREADY, UH, IS IN PLACE ON THE WEALTHIEST IN CALIFORNIA BY MAINTAINING THE EXISTING RATES ON THE WEALTHIEST 2%, PROPERTY WILL BRING 10 BILLION OR MORE TO THE STATE OF GENERAL FUND EVERY YEAR.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES RELY ON THIS, UH, CRITICAL RESOURCES.
AND WITHOUT THESE FUNDS, WE'LL BE FACING, UH, LAYOFFS OF TEACHERS AND CLASSIFIED STAFF,
[03:00:01]
LARGER CLASS SIZES AND CUTS TO THE PROGRAMS THAT SUCCESSFULLY HELP MANY OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS FAILURE TO PASS PROPERTY WITH ESSENTIALLY AMOUNT TO A TAX CUT ON MILLIONAIRES AT, AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FUTURE.UH, SO ON BEHALF OF THE 125,000 EDUCATORS AND CLASSIFIED PROFESSIONALS, WE REPRESENT AT CFT.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ON BEHALF OF THE 8 MILLION PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE STAND WITH US AND ENDORSE PROPOSITION THREE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. RAMIREZ, FOR JOINING US AND FOR CFTS CONTINUED ADVOCACY FOR STRONG AND STABLE PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING.
I ALSO WANNA THANK THE EDUCATORS, LABOR ORGANIZATIONS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA WHO ARE WORKING TO PROTECT THIS CRITICAL FUNDING.
WITH THAT, I TURN THE ITEM BACK TO BOARD, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
MR. MCLEAN, TELL US WHAT'S HAPPENING.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, UH, KEITH DELA, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON UP.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
AND AFTER MR. DE AQUILA IS MR. DAVID TOSKI.
GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD MEMBERS AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE VERY TIME, CERTAIN TIME CERTAIN MR. MCLEAN.
UH, I'M KEITH DE LAQUILA WITH THE CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION, STANDING IN STRONG SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION THREE.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ENDORSED THE PROPOSITION.
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE TAKING THIS ITEM UP, UH, BEFORE YOU TODAY, AND ENCOURAGE A UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR PROPOSITION THREE TODAY.
UM, YOU SAID IT, PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS CALIFORNIA ARE FACING CHALLENGES WITH DECLINING ENROLLMENT, BUT INCREASED NEED AND RAPIDLY RISING COSTS.
THIS WILL CONTINUE CRITICAL FUNDING FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UM, AND WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD TO STAND IN STRONG SUPPORT OF IT.
UM, IT CAN BE A STRANGE EXPERIENCE SITTING IN THIS BOARDROOM SOMETIME, UH, PARTICULARLY WHEN THOSE OF US WHO CARE MOST AND HAVE DEDICATED OUR LIVES TO PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE OFTEN HERE IN CONFLICT OR FIGHTING OVER SMALL PARTS OF A PIE.
SO AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAND TOGETHER, TO GROW THE PIE, TO DO THIS WORK TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP IS ABSOLUTELY WELCOME.
AND SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF FROM THIS DISTRICT.
UM, EARLIER TODAY, WE HAD 43 CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS BE BEFORE YOU.
UM, THANK YOU FOR HEARING THEM.
THANK YOU FOR MOVING THAT QUICKLY.
THIS YEAR, 40% OF STUDENTS IN CHARTER SCHOOLS WILL HAVE THE FATE OF THEIR SCHOOLS IN THIS BOARD'S HAND TODAY.
SO WE ARE HOPING TO SEE GREATER PARTNERSHIP, GREATER OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER, AND A FUTURE WHERE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAN USE TO MATTER.
AND WHERE SCHOOLS WHO ARE DELIVERING FOR STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED, UM, BOTH BY THIS BOARD, BUT ALSO BY THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WITH PROPOSITION THREE.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS UP TODAY, AND WE, UH, STRONGLY URGE THE SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION THREE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. DAVID TOSKI.
YOU'D LOVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, BRINGING THIS MOTION AND RESOLVE.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE CAMPAIGN OF INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE AND VOTING.
AND THAT STARTS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IN ABOUT 15 DAYS AND 30 DAYS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO, YOU CANNOT ADVOCATE, BUT YOU CAN INFORM AND YOU CAN INFORM VERY CLEARLY THAT IT'S TIME TO VOTE.
UNLIKE OUR PRESIDENT WHO SPENDS TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW PEOPLE CAN'T VOTE, WHICH NOBODY HAS COMMENTED AT ALL ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF US.
SECONDLY, UH, WE'VE MISSED THINGS.
JOHN GRAY CAME RIGHT HERE AND TESTIFIED IN FRONT OF YOU AND FORGOT TO MENTION THE 5.9 BILLION BEING HELD BACK CONSCIOUSLY KEPT THAT AWAY FROM YOU.
NOW YOU'RE BATTLING FOR 3.9 FROM THE GO ON THEIR WEBSITE.
TAKE A LOOK AT WHO THEY ARE FROM BAKERSFIELD.
TAKE A LOOK AT KERN COUNTY AND THEIR VALUES AGAINST URBAN AND INNER CITY KIDS.
YOUR REVENUE TASK FORCE IS DOING SOME INTERESTING GOOD START.
WE HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR NOW, AND THAT NEW GOVERNOR IS VERY INTERESTED IN IMMIGRANTS AND TITLE THREE.
HIS SPEECH WILL BE DONE FOR JANUARY.
WE HAVE A NEW CONGRESS COMING ON JANUARY 3RD.
WE HAVE NO AGENDA FOR THEM TO CONTINUE THE SPECIAL ED WORK AND THE FINANCES.
WE HAVE A NEW STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS WHO WANTS TO POSSIBLY PUT A SURCHARGE ON SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT.
AS THE OLYMPICS COME, WE HAVE A SPLIT ROLE.
CFT WAS THE LEADER IN THE SPLIT ROLE.
WE HAVE A NATIONAL ELECTION COMING UP.
DON'T WAIT TO SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE NO SALES TAX ON SERVICES.
WE HAVE NO RELIEF, UH, FROM TELECOM COSTS AND WATER IN THE DWP.
WE HAVE NO MONEY FROM LINEAGE.
WE HAVE ALL THIS CONTRACTING OUT MONEY.
WE HAVE TECH MONEY THAT'S BEING SPENT.
WE HAVE THE CRA FUNDS AND ABOVE ALL WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, WE HAVE A REPORT ON IMPACT FEES SHOWING THAT CITIES
[03:05:01]
LIKE HUNTINGTON PARK AND OTHERS ARE NOT PAYING THE DISTRICT THEIR REVENUE.GO AFTER THEM, GO AFTER THOSE BUILDINGS NEXT DOOR TO YOU WHO DON'T PAY THEIR DEVELOPER FEES.
THERE'S A LOT MORE REVENUE THAN JUST PROP THREE AND YOU NEED TO PURSUE IT.
ALL RIGHT, LEAH DRISCOLL, I SEE YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ONLINE, BUT YOU ARE NOT ONLINE.
ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? LEAH DRISCOLL.
AMBER MILES ALSO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTE.
UH, BUT YOU ARE NOT SIGNED IN.
UH, AND JOANNA GERRA, YOU ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK REMOTELY AND YOU ARE SIGNED IN.
SO PLEASE, UH, PRESS STAR SIX JOANNA O AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
ONCE YOU BEGIN JOANNA O, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I SEE YOU'VE UNMUTED YOURSELF.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD MEMBERS.
I WANTED TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT ANOTHER PARENT HAS SAID ABOUT THIS HEAT IN OUR CHILDREN.
AND THE REASON I'M BRINGING IT INTO PROP THREE.
'CAUSE PROP THREE IS SUPPOSED TO HELP WITH, UM, THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN IN AND AS IT TIES TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND MY COMMENT IS THERE'S, WE ALL HAVE CHILDREN AND THE THOUSANDS OF SCHOOLS THAT LASD HAS, AND I THINK THAT WE AS A DISTRICT, UM, WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO SOMEHOW REMOVE A LOT OF THE BLACKTOP THAT SO MUCH OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE.
AND THAT CREATES THIS HEAT ISLAND EFFECT THAT ACTUALLY MAKES OUR SCHOOLS HARDER, HOTTER THAN THEY NEED TO BE.
AND IT JUST, IT'S CONTRIBUTING TO LIKE A LOWER QUALITY OF WELLBEING FOR OUR KIDS, THEIR HEALTH, BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE HEAT.
AND THIS ISN'T GONNA BE A PROBLEM THAT'S GONNA GO AWAY, IT'S JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW AND BE EXACERBATED AS WE SEE THE TREND IN WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH OUR, WITH, WITH WEATHER.
AND SO IT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT AND JUST WANTED TO BRING MORE ATTENTION AND MORE LIGHT TO IT, THAT IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE REMOVE THE BLACKTOP FROM OUR SCHOOLS.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A SMALL THING, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY IT.
WITH ALL THE PROPERTIES THAT THE DISTRICT HAS, IT HAS A CUMULATIVE EFFECT.
AND IN A WAY, WE START BECOMING AN EXAMPLE FOR THE CITY ITSELF.
THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO START CONSIDERING WHEN WE PAVE OVER OUR, THE GROUND, WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEAT THAT OUR, THAT OUR CITIES ARE SUFFERING FROM.
AND THAT WAS THE ONLY COMMENT I HAD.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT ON TAB 14.
UH, IS THERE ANY BOARD DISCUSSION? UM, YEAH.
THANK YOU SCOTT AND ROCIO FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, RESOLUTION UP FOR US TO VOTE.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SHARED HERE, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.
AND ALL I JUST WANNA SAY IS THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US AS INDIVIDUALS TO PROMOTE THIS, TO SHARE THE INFORMATION, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER TO SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH OTHER STUDENTS TO CONNECT, UM, HOW WE WE FUND OUR, OUR SCHOOLS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR VOICE IN MAKING THAT DECISION.
SO, UM, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO ARE PROBABLY GONNA BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, UM, THIS NOVEMBER, SO IT'D BE GREAT TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THEM.
AND, UM, JUST, UH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO USE, UH, TO SPREAD THE WORD OR SOCIAL MEDIA.
ANYTHING ELSE I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO DO.
AND I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
I'LL ALSO ASK TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR AND JUST WANT TO, UM, THANK DR. RIVAS FOR BRINGING THIS.
AND WE KNOW THAT AT A TIME WHERE, UM, ALL OF OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET IS UNDER DURESS, THANKS TO THE CUTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ATTACKS ON WORKING FAMILIES, THE ATTACKS ON IMMIGRANTS THAT THIS FUNDING THAT'S PROVIDED, UM, IS EVERMORE ESSENTIAL.
AND SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE TAKING A STAND IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION THREE AND, UM, I THINK IT PAIRS NICELY WITH THE STUDENT MOCK ELECTION DAY RESOLUTION.
I KNOW THERE'S A NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS TO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL PRE-REGISTRATION EVENT.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, AND I HEAR FROM, UH, YOUTH IN MY COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AS MUCH AS WE CAN DO, REGI NEW VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES PRE-REGISTRATION EVENTS AT OUR SCHOOLS TO REALLY MOBILIZE OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
I THINK WITH SO MANY BIG CHALLENGES, IT CAN FEEL
[03:10:01]
SOMETIMES LIKE, HOW DO I HELP? WHAT CAN I DO? AND I THINK PROPOSITION THREE REPRESENTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD, UM, AND TO FIGHT FOR SUPPORT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THIS.
ANYONE ELSE I KNOW I'M GONNA GO TO WOULD LOVE AHEAD, EXCUSE ME.
WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR AND HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO ADD.
I WANTED TO BE EDITED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
SO, BECAUSE THERE IS A BLUE MOON OUT AND WE DO, UH, WE'RE MOVED VERY QUICKLY TODAY.
SHERETTE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, UH, AND YOU MENTIONED, UH, MOCK ELECTION DAY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, 12 AND 13? I WOULD.
UM, AND IT, WE GOTTA VOTE, WE GOTTA VOTE ON THIS ONE.
SO LET'S, LET'S VOTE ON TAB 14 REAL FAST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME, UH, INCLUDING THE, UM, RULE 72 WAIVER.
UH, LET'S JUST A MOTION A SECOND.
MOVED BY MS. GOMEZ, SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON.
AND THIS IS BOTH FOR THE RULE, UM, BOARD RULE WAIVER, RULE 72 AND THE ACTUAL ACTION.
SO, UH, DOC, UH, MS. NEWBELL? YES.
UH, MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN IS ABSENT BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON? YES.
AND STUDENT BOARD MEMBER AVILA? YES.
MS. NEWBIE, YOU HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
[12. Res-001-26/27 Ms. Newbill - Recognizing California Student Mock Election Day, October 6, 2026, in the Los Angeles Unified School District (Res-001-26/27) (Waiver of Board Rule 72)]
I DID.AND, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS PAST RESOLUTION.
I THINK IT'S JUST TIMELY AND AS, UM, UH, MS. EZ MENTIONED, JUST AS IT DOES TIE TOGETHER AND AS WE CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THE VOICES OF OUR STUDENTS AND AS WE HAVE OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER HERE TODAY, I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD SOME COMMENTS TO, UH, RECOGNIZING CALIFORNIA STUDENT MOCK ELECTION DAY FOR OCTOBER 6TH IN 2026, UM, HERE IN LA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AS WE ARE CULTIVATING OUR LIFELONG VOTERS, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO ELEVATE, WE WANT TO ELEVATE CIVIC HABITS THAT ARE FORMED EARLY.
AND BY PARTICIPATING IN THE CALIFORNIA STUDENT MOCK ELECTION ON OCTOBER 6TH, L-A-U-S-D IS DOING THAT BY ALLOWING VOTING PROCESSES AND BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR LIFELONG CIVIC PARTICIPATION BEFORE STUDENTS EVEN TURN 18.
WE ARE EMPOWERING YOUTH VOICES.
THIS RESOLUTION ENSURES THAT OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND L-A-U-S-D MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE A STRUCTURED SAFE SPACE TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS ON THE REAL CANDIDATES AND PROPOSITIONS THAT ARE SHAPING CALIFORNIA'S FUTURE.
UM, WE HAVE HANDS-ON, WHICH IS NONPARTISAN EDUCATION.
THE MOCK ELECTION IS STRICTLY NONPARTISAN AND ENTIRELY EDUCATIONAL.
USING OFFICIAL STATE TOOLKITS THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED FOR US IN A MODERN DIGITAL VOTING PATHWAY LIKE A MICROSOFT FORM.
OUR CLASSROOMS WILL TRANSFORM INTO ACTIVE POLLING PLACES WHERE STUDENTS WILL LEARN TO RESEARCH, DEBATE, ANALYZE CRITICAL ISSUES OBJECTIVELY.
IT WILL LASTLY BRING A BRIDGE TO THE BALLOT BOX, WHERE IN TANDEM WITH MOCK ELECTION, LUSD IS LAUNCHING ITS TARGET VOTER PRE-REGISTRATION DRIVE, WHICH WE ALREADY HAD ENHANCED AND HOPEFULLY WILL CONTINUE TO DO BY HELPING OUR ELIGIBLE 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS PRE-REGISTER BY GOING THROUGH OUR REGISTER TO VOTE.CALIFORNIA.GOV.
WE ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE FULLY PREPARED TO CAST A BALLOT BY THE TIME THAT THEY ARE TURNING 18.
AND WHAT DOES THIS DO OVERALL? IT STRENGTHENS THE COMMUNITY AND DEMOCRACY AT A TIME WHEN OUR PRESIDENT IS TRYING TO QUENCH OUR VOTE AND DISCOURSE.
UM, IT IS VITAL FOR THIS INITIATIVE WHICH TEACHES OUR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, THOUGHTFULLY RESPECTFUL AND DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR VOTE AND VOICE MATTERS.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, MS. HANDY, NEW BILL FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I WILL BE VERY GRATEFUL TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO YOUR RESOLUTION.
UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRACY, UM, IS SUSTAINED NOT ONLY BY VOTING, BUT ALSO BY ORGANIZING BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE THE POWER TO SHAPE THE DECISIONS AFFECTING THEIR LIVES.
UH, MOCK ELECTION DAY GIVES OUR STUDENTS AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE THAT KIND OF PARTICIPATION.
THEY CAN RESEARCH THE ISSUES, DISCUSS DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, ORGANIZE AROUND THE CAUSES THAT THEY CARE ABOUT, AND EXPERIENCE WHAT IT MEANS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD THROUGH THE BALLOT.
[03:15:01]
THAT THIS RESOLUTION CONNECTS CIVIC LEARNING WITH VOTER PRE-REGISTRATION.WE'RE NOT ONLY TEACHING STUDENTS HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS, WE ARE GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO PARTICIPATE, ORGANIZE, AND LEAD.
SO, ONCE AGAIN, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND GLAD TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
YES, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
YOU, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE JUST A PROCEDURAL NOTE.
IT HAS ALREADY BEEN VOTED UPON, SO THAT'S LIKE THE, THE DOOR HAS BEEN CLOSED ON CHANGING IT.
I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO REOPEN THE DOOR SO THAT YOU COULD RE-VOTE ON IT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE SOMEONE MOVING TO VOTE AGAIN ON THE ITEM.
AND THEN IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF WORK 'CAUSE IT WAS A CONSENT.
I'LL MOVE TO REOPEN VOTING ON THE ITEM.
ANY OBJECTIONS? NO OBJECTIONS.
SO THE
MAY I PLEASE HAVE THE, THE FOLKS WHO WANTED TO BE ADDED ONE AT A TIME? IT'S, AND THIS IS TAB, IF YOU COULD, THIS IS TAB 12, IS THAT CORRECT? TAB 12? YEAH, I DON'T THINK SO.
SO, UH, GOING FROM MY LEFT TO THE RIGHT, CAN WE ADD THE CO-SPONSORS? DONEZ COSPONSOR, RIE MURSON STUDENT BOARD MEMBER ALLOWED? YEAH.
UH, MR. MELVOIN AVILA AND AS A CO-SPONSOR, YOUR FIRST CO-SPONSORED RESOLUTION, DR.
LET'S, UH, LET'S TAKE THE VOTE ON THIS.
UM, WHO'S GONNA MOVE THE VOTE? MOVE SECOND.
REVA SECONDED BY BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON.
MS. ORTIZ FRANKLIN IS ABSENT BOARD PRESIDENT SHAMON? YES.
IN STUDENT BOARD MEMBER AVILA? YES.
THE TIME IS NOW 1 24 OR 1:22 PM UH, OUR AGENDA STATES THAT WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AT APPROXIMATELY THREE 30.
UM, SO I SPOKE WITH BOARD PRESIDENT MOLSON.
UH, HE RECOMMENDS THAT WE, UH, RECESS THE MEETING UNTIL ABOUT 3:10 PM AND TAKE THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
THEN, UM, SO THE MEETING IS GO, IT'S NOW 1:23 PM THE MEETING IS GOING TO RECESS UNTIL, SORRY, SORRY.
BECAUSE WE PUT IT ON CONSENT AND TYPICALLY WE HAVE COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION AND BECAUSE I HAD ANOTHER RESOLUTION THAT WE PUT ON CONSENT, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN MOTION OR MOVE TO READ, TAKE OUT AND THEN OH, TAKE OUT, OR JUST COMMENTS ON THE ITEM, BECAUSE IT IS TIME WE HAD, AND YOU CAN FOR SURE COMMENT.
AND BECAUSE IT IS, UH, TIME SENSITIVE, IT WAS OUR WOMAN'S EQUALITY DAY.
UH, LET ME FIND MY NOTES ON HERE.
SO, WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY, IT HONORS THE LEGACY OF SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT WHILE RECOGNIZING THE ONGOING WORK TOWARDS EQUALITY, EQUALITY IN EDUCATION, EQUITY, CAREERS AND LEADERSHIP.
AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR AUGUST 26, UM, AS THE NATIONAL DAY FOR WOMEN'S EQUALITY.
L-A-U-S-D IS A PIPELINE OF OPPORTUNITY WHERE FEMALE STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING, ENROLLING IN COLLEGE, AND LEADING AT RECORD LEVELS.
OUR GIRLS CONSISTENTLY OUTPERFORM SOME OF OUR BOYS IN GRADUATION.
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT, DEMONSTRATING RESILIENCE, DETERMINATION, AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY THROUGH POLICIES LIKE TITLE IX, HAVE TRANSFORMED OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIRLS FROM CLASSROOMS TO ATHLETICS.
WOMEN, EDUCATORS AND STAFF HAVE BEEN THE BACKBONE OF OUR L-A-U-S-D FAMILY SHAPING EXCLUSIVELY SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
DESPITE THE PROGRESS GAPS STILL REMAIN IN PAY EQUITY, IN LEADERSHIP REPRESENTATION, AND ACCESS TO HIGH GROWTH FIELDS.
UNDERSCORING THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUED ACTION.
RECOGNIZING OUR WOMEN EQUALITY DAY REINFORCES LAD'S COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, REPRESENTATION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY STUDENT.
WE'RE ASKING TOMORROW TO HONOR AUGUST 26.
OTHER REPRESENTING IN COLORS AS WELL AS GREEN,
[03:20:01]
PURPLE, AND WHITE ARE GREEN FOR HOPE, GROWTH, AND NEW BEGINNINGS ARE PURPLE FOR JUSTICE, DIGNITY, AND LOYALTY TO THE CAUSE.AND RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONALLY AS COLOR FOR GENDER EQUITY AND WHITE FOR EQUALITY AND PURITY AND INTEGRITY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE COMMENTS.
SO THE, THE BOARD IS GONNA RECESS, UH, FROM NOW.
IT'S 1:26 PM AND LET'S BE BACK IN HERE AT 3:10 PM AND SETTLE IN AND BEGIN TO TAKE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT THAT TIME.
THE TIME IS NOW 3:16 PM ON AUGUST 25TH, 2026.
I'M GOING TO TAKE ROLE MS. NEW BILL, PRESENT DR.
BOARD PRESIDENT SCHON PRESENT.
WE ALSO HAVE A BOARD MEMBER WHO IS GOING TO JOIN FROM A LISTED ADDRESS.
UH, MS. EZ, AS SOON AS SHE LOGS IN, WE'LL MAKE SURE SHE'S AT THE ADDRESS AND SHE WILL JOIN THE MEETING.
[General Public Comment (Approximately 3:30 P.M.)]
ARE, UH, RECONVENING JUST FOR A GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.SO I'M GONNA CALL ON THOSE FOLKS WHO LISTED THEMSELVES AS BEING HERE IN PERSON FIRST, AND THEN WE WILL TRANSITION TO THOSE WHO LISTED THEMSELVES AS CALLING IN.
I'LL CALL ON THE FIRST THREE FOLKS.
UM, AND PLEASE ONE PER THE FIRST PERSON TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
AND THEN THE OTHER TWO, JUST PLEASE BE READY TO COME ON UP.
MOUNT TREJO, YOU'RE THE FIRST SPEAKER.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN, THEN MARSHA DOSS, THEN ARAYA BLAKELY.
I'M SORRY, WHAT? YOU'RE GOING TO WAIT.
MARSHA DASS, ARE YOU HERE? NOT HERE.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
THERE'S YOU, YOU'RE GONNA DO GREAT.
MY NAME IS IAN KIRKSEY, AND AS ALWAYS, UH, DEFUND SCHOOL, POLICE AND FUND BSAP AND STUDENT PROGRAMS. I'M GONNA YIELD MY TIME TO ELOISA HERE.
UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS ELOISA SITZ.
I'M FROM EAGLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE, TO ADDRESS THE INSTALLATION OF ARTIFICIAL TURF ON THE ATHLETIC FIELD AT MY HIGH SCHOOL.
I THINK I TALKED TO YOU, MS. GRIEGO ABOUT THAT LAST WEEK.
UM, SO AS YOU MAY KNOW, ARTIFICIAL TURF HAS A PLETHORA OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, UM, THE PFAS THAT IT CONTAINS, UM, CARCINOGENS.
IT HAS THOUSANDS OF LIKE PLASTICS IN IT AND TOXINS THAT WILL AFFECT BOTH ATHLETE HEALTH AND OUR ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY AS IT ENTERS OUR WATER SYSTEMS WITH RAIN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, I'M SURE YOU GUYS ALL KNOW ABOUT THE RISKS OF IT.
AND, UM,
SO, FIRST OF ALL, I'VE HEARD LOTS OF COMMENTS THAT ARTIFICIAL TURF SAVES WATER.
WELL, IN REALITY, I LIKE TO QUESTION THAT STATEMENT BECAUSE, UM, AS I'VE BEEN TOLD, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WET DOWN OUR FIELDS, UM, QUITE REGULARLY BECAUSE ARTIFICIAL TURF GETS, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, EXTREMELY HOT DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL MONTHS.
SO I'D LIKE TO QUESTION HOW MUCH WATER ARE WE ACTUALLY SAVING? FURTHERMORE, UM, YOU GUYS HAVE SAID THAT, UH, IT'S COST EFFECTIVE, BUT IN REALITY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO RE REPAIR OUR, UH, FIELD, OR IN FACT REDO IT EVERY 10 YEARS WHEN IT DEGRADES.
[03:25:01]
ALSO YOU'VE SAID THAT STUDENT ATHLETES WANT THIS FIELD.UM, THERE'S PLENTY OF STUDENTS AT MY SCHOOL WHO I KNOW DON'T WANNA DEAL WITH THE TURF BURNS, THE HEAT ILLNESS, THE ISSUES THAT, UM, THE TURF RAISES FOR US.
AND, UM, IT'S, I MEAN,
UM, EVEN MS. MS. REGO LAST WEEK, YOU TOLD ME ON THE ZOOM THAT YOUR SON'S CLEATS MELTED AT A CERTAIN TIME AT MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL.
I MEAN, DO YOU REALLY WANT, ARE YOU REALLY GONNA BACK YOUR CLAIM SAYING THAT THIS IS, UM, BETTER FOR STUDENTS? THAT THIS IS BETTER FOR ATHLETES TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE, UM, EFFECTS OF THE TURF? SO IN REALITY, I DON'T THINK THAT, I THINK WHAT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT US IS HAVING A NATURAL GRASS FIELD.
AM I DONE? OH, UM, A NATURAL GRASS FIELD.
I REALLY, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IF PEOPLE WOULD LISTEN TO THIS CONCERN.
THERE'S ABOUT A PETITION OF 300 PEOPLE WHO CREATED WITHIN THE PAST WEEK WHO HAVE ALL SPOKEN OUT TO DISAGREE WITH, UM, THE ARTIFICIAL TURF BEING INPUT INTO OUR SCHOOL.
AND I DEMAND THAT AS REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY, THAT YOU LISTEN TO US AND, UM, GIVE US THE NATURAL GRASS, THE SAFE, HEALTHY PLAYING FIELD THAT WE WOULD, THAT WE DESERVE.
JULIA P JULIA PADILLA, UH, Y LOPEZ.
ESTHER A ARE YOU HERE? ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO ARE CALLING IN, UH, CHERYL KONO.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
LET ME GET TO THE PROPER PAGE HERE.
SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND START.
SO, HELLO, MY NAME IS CHERYL KONO.
AS A-P-S-W-I PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE FOR STUDENTS TO SHARE THEIR TRUTHS, WHICH OFTEN INCLUDES DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE DEEPEST TOPICS THAT TOUCHES MY HEART THE MOST.
I'M ABLE TO LISTEN, VALIDATE, AND SUPPORT STUDENTS WHILE THEY SHARE ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS, TRAUMAS AND TRIGGERS, AND CURRENT AND PAST SUICIDAL IDEATIONS, PLANS AND OR ATTEMPTS, AND EVEN UP TO HOSPITALIZATIONS.
BY DEVELOPING PLAN WITH THESE AND THEIR PARENTS, I'M ABLE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, A POSITIVE SUPPORT SYSTEM AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL, AND LINKAGES TO SCHOOL-BASED PSW AND ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
I'M ABLE TO HELP STUDENTS RATHER THAN STANDING ON A TIGHTROPE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH OR ON THE SIDE OF DEATH TO BE ABLE TO LIVE, BREATHE, AND WALK ON THE SIDE OF LIFE AND HAVE HOPE.
PS WS HELP TO SAVE STUDENTS' LIVES.
ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS', PARENTS AND PWS, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADD TO THE RESOLUTION.
TO SCOTTON FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH FOR THE SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING.
WHEREAS PSW ARE L CSWS, LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS OR ASSOCIATES ASS WS, AND HAVE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE IN SUICIDE PREVENTION INTERVENTION, CRISIS RESPONSE, MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORK.
PWS SERVE AS SCHOOL SITE CRISIS TEAM LEADS AND OUR MAIN CRISIS TEAM MEMBERS CONDUCTING SUICIDE SELF-INJURY AND THREAT RISK ASSESSMENTS, AND CRISIS RESPONSE AND SAFETY PLANNING.
AND WE MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF THE SUICIDE SELF-INJURY RISK ASSESSMENTS.
AND THE LEC ISTAR REPORTS RESOLVE THE L-A-U-S-C PLACE IN A STRATEGIC PLAN AND OVERALL BUDGET.
AND THE FISCAL STABILIZATION PLAN TO PRIORITIZE THE FUNDING, HIRING, SUSTAINING, AND SUPPORTING PWS FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICES.
LASC WILL THEN BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, AND PWS WILL HELP SAVE STUDENTS' LIVES.
LESLIE VIEJO, I SEE YOU'RE ONLINE.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
LESLIE V HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
THANK YOU TO MR. STEREN FOR PROPOSING THE SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH 2026 RESOLUTION.
I AM PRESIDENT OF THE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CLUB AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE SAFE COMMUNITY IN MY SCHOOL.
LIKE THE MHA CLUB AND RIDE BSWS ARE IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE GONE THROUGH PERSONAL STRUGGLES IN THE PAST, SUCH AS DEPRESSION, COPING WITH MY FEELINGS IN A HEALTHY MANNER, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO RELY FAMILY, SCHOOL.
SPORTS AND CLUBS HAVE HELPED FACE MY STRUGGLES IN A POSITIVE MANNER, ESPECIALLY WITH RELIABLE FRIENDS AND STAFF.
SUICIDE IS A THOUGHT THAT MANY TEENAGERS FACE AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO REACT AND TAKE THE
[03:30:01]
FIRST STEP TO IMPROVE.PWS ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO ONE'S HEALTH BECAUSE THEY ACT AS A TRUSTWORTHY FRIEND.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT TEENAGERS KNOW THAT SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER.
AND HELP IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE IN THE DARKEST TIMES.
A GREAT WAY THE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CLUB ADVOCATES AROUND THE SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S COLLABORATION WITH OTHER CLUBS, EVENTS, SCAVENGER HUNTS, AND MUCH MORE.
OVERALL, I BELIEVE PS WS NEED RECOGNITION THAT THEY DESERVE BECAUSE THEY ARE IRREPLACEABLE.
PSW PROVIDE MULTI SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSAL SELECTED AND INTENSIVE LEVELS OF UNIVERSAL INTERVENTIONS INCLUDE SCHOOL-WIDE CAMPAIGNS, MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, PARENT WORKSHOPS, AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CLUBS.
SELECTED LEVEL INTERVENTIONS INCLUDE GROUP COUNSELING, CLASSROOM PRESENTATION, AND EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE.
INTENSIVE LEVEL INTERVENTIONS INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, CRISIS INTERVENTION CASE MANAGEMENT, AND SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY REFERRALS AND LINKAGES.
THIS CONCLUDES THAT ALL STUDENTS AT ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD HAVE PSW.
LET'S SEE, I'M GONNA SEE IF THERE'S ANY MORE CALLERS ONLINE.
THERE ARE NO MORE FOLKS ONLINE TO SPEAK.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M A STAFF MEMBER WITH STUDENTS DESERVE AND A MEMBER OF THE COALITION FOR POLICE FREE SCHOOLS.
UM, I WAS NOT PLANNING TO SPEAK, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER THE NATURE FOR US TO BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS.
UM, BUT, UH,
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UM, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE THIS LAST, UM, BUDGET CYCLE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUND, UM, THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN.
UM, SO WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU WHO VOTED IN SUPPORT OF MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
UM, SECOND, I THINK 'CAUSE WE ALL KNOW, AND I THINK AS OF YESTERDAY WE'VE SEEN THE CONTINUOUS ATTACKS ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.
I THINK IT IS NEEDED THAT OUR SCHOOL BOARD, UM, HERE IN LOS ANGELES TAKE A BOLD STANCE AND WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STUDENTS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PROTECT, UH, PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACTUALLY SUPPORTING, UM, RETAIN OUR STUDENTS HERE IN LA SCHOOLS, INCLUDING THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN, UH, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, UM, INCLUDING GREETING OUR SCHOOL CAMPUSES AND SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AND THE REST OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PROTECT THESE PROGRAMS AND WE COULD TAKE A BOLD STANCE AGAINST THE COUNTY WHO'S TREND, WHO'S THREATENING, UM, TO OVERTAKE OUR, OUR BUDGETS.
AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, THAT WE REVISIT THOSE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE STATEWIDE ADVOCACY THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ENSURE MORE MONEY CAN GO TO SUPPORT, UM, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
UM, WE'RE ALSO SEEING, RIGHT, THE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS WHERE GUNS HAVE BEEN FOUND.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SCHOOL POLICE DID NOT PREVENT THAT.
I THINK IT WAS SCHOOL STAFF THAT ENSURED, UM, THAT THOSE, UM, GUNS WERE, WERE, WERE TAKEN AND THAT THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE SUPPORTED.
AND I THINK THERE'S A NEED, UM, IF BUDGET CUTS NEED TO BE MADE, WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO WORK WITH US TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN ELIMINATE THE LOS ANGELES SCHOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MAKE IT EASIER TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY PROGRAMS ACROSS SCHOOLS.
THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
I CALLED ON EVERYONE WHO HAD SIGNED UP.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOMEBODY'S RAISING THEIR HAND.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? I DO, I DO NOT HAVE YOU ON HERE, BUT, UM, DID NOT SIGN UP.
UM, DON'T HAVE YOU ON THE LIST.
SO FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE WHO ARE JUST LISTENING OR WATCHING, WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE SAYING THAT SHE, SHE SIGNED UP, UH, LIO IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? THERE IS NO LIO ON ON THIS LIST.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK ONCE YOU BEGIN.
I'M AN 11TH GRADE STUDENT AT EAGLE ROCK JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I'M ALSO SPEAKING ABOUT THE PLAN TO TURN OUR NATURAL GRAPH INTO TURF AS PART OF THE ATHLETICS FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT PLAN AT MY SCHOOL.
AND SO AS A STUDENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBER, I UNDERSTAND THE DEEPLY HARMFUL EFFECTS THAT THIS ARTIFICIAL TURF WILL HAVE ON MYSELF
[03:35:01]
AND MY PEERS.WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE GLENDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE HAD A ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELD.
AND I AM NOW IN 11TH GRADE AND I STILL FIND PIECES OF THE LITTLE GRASS EVERYWHERE.
I AM SURE THAT IT'S GONE INTO MY BODY AND INTO THE WATER I'M DRINKING AND IT'S DISGUSTING.
UM, IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE SO HOT.
IT'S A MASSIVE, UM, LIKE FOOTBALL FIELD FULL OF, UM, PLASTIC AND, UM, IT'S SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TO CAUSE THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.
UM, WHEN THE GRASS, THE FAKE GRASS GETS OVER 160 DEGREES AND WE'RE EXPECTED TO HAVE PE AND PLAY OUR SPORTS ON THIS TOXIC MATERIAL.
SO WE EVEN HAVE SPRINKLERS TO COOL DOWN THE GRASS BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO HOT AND SO DANGEROUS.
UM, SO YOU ALL HAVE CREATED BOARD RESOLUTION 17, WHICH STATES THAT, UM, THIS ARTIFICIAL TURF IS NO LONGER ALLOWED IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
AND SO JUST BECAUSE OUR SCHOOL OR YEAH, OUR PROJECT WAS PASSED BEFORE THIS RESOLUTION, I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD STILL APPLY TO US BECAUSE WE WILL STILL FACE THE DANGEROUS HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS, UM, BETWEEN TWO COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
UM, US STUDENTS WERE TOLD THAT THERE'S A TURF STUDY GOING ON WITHIN L-A-U-S-D AND UNTIL THAT COMES OUT LATER THIS FALL, THEY WON'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS FOR US.
AND SO THIS STU UM, THIS PROJECT IS STILL GONNA CONTINUE EVEN THOUGH IT IS GOING TO HARM US STUDENTS.
UM, OUR FIELD HAS BEEN NEGLECTED.
OUR GRASS FIELD, THERE'S GOPHERS IN IT, THERE'S HOLES, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A $13.6 MILLION, UM, PROJECT CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP A SAFE GRASS FIELD FOR US AND INSTEAD NEEDS TO TRADE IN THE HEALTH OF OVER 2000 STUDENTS IN AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
DID ANY OF THE FOLKS WHO WALKED JUST WALKED IN ABOUT, UH, ONE MINUTE AGO, DID YOU, ARE YOU ALL SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BY CHANCE? BY SHOW OF HANDS? LOOKS LIKE A NO.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE HAVE TWO ADJOURNING MOTIONS, ONE FROM NICK AND, UH, THREE ADJOURNING MOTIONS.
SO, UH, UM, MS. EZ, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? YES, I'M HERE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO US TO ADJOURN TODAY IN MEMORY OF BOARD DISTRICT SIX TEACHER JANICE HARRINGTON, WHO TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY ON JULY 20TH, 2026.
JANICE SERVED THE ARMENTA EEC COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
SHE BEGAN HER CAREER AS A GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHER, AND THEN TRANSITIONED INTO BECOMING A SPECIAL EDUCATION PCC TEACHER UNTIL HER RETIREMENT IN 2015.
JANICE ALWAYS PUT THE NEEDS OF HER STUDENTS FIRST.
SHE MADE SURE EVERY CHILD WAS HEARD, SEEN AND SUPPORTED.
BEYOND THE DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS, JANICE LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON HER COLLEAGUES.
HER COMPASSION AND POSITIVITY WERE CONTAGIOUS TO ANYONE WHO WAS IN HER PRESENCE, WHETHER IT WAS HER WARM PERSONALITY, HER SAGE ADVICE, OR HER ABILITY TO BRING JOY TO HER FELLOW EDUCATORS.
JANICE WAS THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE ARMA EEC COMMUNITY.
DESPITE RETIRING OVER 10 YEARS AGO, JANICE'S IMPACT IS STILL FELT TODAY AMONG THOSE WHO WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE CALLED HER A COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND AS A STAPLE OF THE CAMPUS.
FOR OVER 30 YEARS, JANICE HARRINGTON WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED BY THE ARMA EEC COMMUNITY.
OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO GENESIS, FRIENDS, FAMILY, THE ARMENTA, EEC COMMUNITY, AND EVERYONE WHOSE LIVES WERE IMPACTED BY JANICE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE US TO ADJOURN TODAY IN MEMORY OF BOARD DISTRICT SIX, CROSS COUNTRY COACH AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT ISMA MAYO, WHO TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY ON JULY 30TH, 2026.
ISMAEL WAS A MONROE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNUS FROM THE CLASS OF 2006.
HE HELPED LEAD THE BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM TO WIN THE 2005 CITY SCHO CITY CHAMPIONSHIP.
HE THEN ATTENDED UNIVERSITY IN NEW MEXICO ON A RUNNING SCHOLARSHIP.
AFTER HIS TIME IN UNIVERSITY, ISMAEL CAME BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY TO GIVE BACK.
HE WORKED AT LINKEDIN ELEMENTARY FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT AND THEN MADE HIS WAY BACK TO MONROE HIGH SCHOOL TO COACH CROSS CROSS COUNTRY.
ISMAEL WAS AN INSPIRATION TO HIS STUDENTS.
HE ALWAYS REMINDED THEM TO NEVER GIVE UP AND TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES.
HE MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES, BOTH ON AND OFF THE TRACK.
DURING HIS SEVEN YEARS OF SERVICE AT MONROE HIGH SCHOOL, ISMAIL HELPED BRING FOUR ADDITIONAL CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS TO THE SCHOOL.
HE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO RETURN TO AND UPLIFT YOUR COMMUNITY.
OUR DEEPEST CON CONDOLENCES TO ISMAEL'S FRIENDS, FAMILY, THE MONROE HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AND EVERYONE'S WHOSE LIVES WERE TOUCHED BY ISMAEL.
YEAH, I DID WANNA AUR, UH, ADJOURN AND HONOR OF DOLLY PARTON, UM, AN ICON AND TRUE
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NATIONAL TREASURE WHO PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING.AND WHILE SHE WAS MOST FAMOUS FOR HER MUSIC, SHE USED HER VOICE FOR MORE THAN HER LEGENDARY COUNTRY HITS.
AND AMONG THE MANY IMPORTANT CAUSES SHE SUPPORTED, DOLLY WAS AN OUTSPOKEN ADVOCATE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY.
UH, HER IMAGINATION LIBRARY BEGAN IN 1995, MAILING ONE FREE BOOK A MONTH TO YOUNG KIDS.
REGARDLESS OF FAMILY INCOME, IT HAS EXPANDED GLOBALLY.
AND SHE HAD DONATED OVER 270 MILLION BOOKS.
SHE ALSO STARTED PROGRAMS TO LOWER DROPOUT RATES AND OFFER COUNTLESS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS, INCLUDING PAYING THE FULL COLLEGE TUITION FOR, UH, EVERY DOLLYWOOD THEME PARK EMPLOYEE, UH, AND THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, DOLLY PARTON WAS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING UNIFYING FORCES IN AMERICAN CULTURE, AND WE HONOR HER LEGACY BY CONTINUING TO CHAMPION EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY KID TO THRIVE.
SO WE HONOR DOLLY PARTON TODAY AS WELL.
UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ADJOURNING.