[1. CALL TO ORDER IN PUBLIC SESSION]
[00:00:05]
>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.
THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:00 P.M..
ROLL CALL PLEASE? >> STUDENT MEMBER IS ABSENT.
MS. ARMSTRONG >> PRESENT. MS. STEWART
>> PRESENT. MS. CINTRON >> PRESENT. MR. CRIHFIELD
>> PRESENT.. PRESIDENT GARZA IS ABSENT.
>> TONIGHT WE DO HAVE SPEAKER REQUESTS FOR REGARDING CLOSED
[2. CLOSED SESSION (Part 1 of 2)]
SESSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND AT THIS TIME WE'LL[3. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION/CALL TO ORDER (Part 1 of 2)]
>> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. WE NOW RECONVENE OUR MEETING TO OPEN SESSION AT 6:33 P.M. AND RESUME THE REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS. WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK INTO CLOSED SESSION LATER. SO DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, DOCTOR SMITH, WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE THIS
EVENING. >> ARE THERE ANY AMENDMENTS TO
[5. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA]
[6. PRESENTATIONS FROM STUDENTS / STAFF / COMMUNITY]
THE AGENDA? >> PRESIDENT GARZA, NO
AMENDMENTS THIS EVENING. >> THANK YOU.
IT'S TIME FOR COMMUNICATIONS, AND WE HAVE LINDA COME TO THE
GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT GARZA, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT SIMON, CABINET AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
ON BEHALF OF FOUNDATION PRESIDENT CASTELLANOS, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT A BRIEF UPDATE ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO SINCE OUR LAST REPORT HERE LET ME SEE THERE WE GO.
SO MY NAME FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW IS LINDA MORGAN AND I SERVE ON THE FOUNDATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WHILE OUR BOARD IS CURRENTLY KIND OF SMALL, WE ARE ACTIVELY MAKING PROGRESS. OUR MISSION STATEMENT, I WILL READ IT FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING AND CAN'T SEE THE SCREEN, WE ARE GROUNDED IN STUDENT CENTERED PURPOSE, TRANSPARENCY, AND THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
THE BUSD FOUNDATION WILL CONNECT AND COLLABORATE WITH THE DISTRICT, ALUMNI, FAMILIES, AT ALL PARTNERS TO SUPPLEMENT AND ADVANCE STUDENT EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS THROUGH EVENTS, FUND-RAISING AND SUPPORT FOR MEANINGFUL STUDENT PROGRAMS. SINCE OUR LAST REPORT, WE HELD OUR FIRST BOARD RETREAT WHERE WE OBVIOUSLY REFINED OUR MISSION STATEMENT, ESTABLISHED PRELIMINARY GOALS AND STANDARDIZED SOME OF OUR CORE OPERATIONAL PROCESSES. TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS REPRESENTED OUR ORGANIZATION AT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY EDUCATION PHILANTHROPY SUMMIT. THIS VALUABLE CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON STRATEGIES FOR ADVANCING PUBLIC EDUCATION, RESOURCES AND ESTABLISHING COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY NETWORKS AND IT FEATURED PARTICIPANTS FROM VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS, LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
DEFINITELY A VALUABLE RESOURCE OR CONFERENCE.
WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO ATTEND THE DISTRICT'S FIRST BACKPACK AND SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY. WHICH WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT AND WE HOPE TO PARTNER WITH THAT NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN PRESIDENT CASTELLANOS APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS OUR BUSD COMMUNITY AND FORMALLY INTRODUCED THE FOUNDATION DURING THE BUSD WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST.
TO ENHANCE OUR OUTREACH AND BRAND RECOGNITION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE DESIGNING NAME TAGS AND APPAREL FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF OUR WEBSITE. SO WHILE REFINEMENTS WILL CONTINUE, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT THE SITE AND CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION.
JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT AND HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.
[7. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU MISS MORGAN.
NEXT WE HAVE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
>> THANK YOU PRESIDENT GARZA, BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF, FAMILIES
[00:05:02]
AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST WEEK THAT REFLECT THE ENERGY AND DEDICATION PRESENT ACROSS OUR DISTRICT.ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH, MORE THAN 500 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ATTENDED THE REGIONAL COLLEGE FAIR HOSTED COLLABORATIVELY BY BELLFLOWER SCHOOL DISTRICT LYNWOOD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CERRITOS COLLEGE. HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM 90 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF POST-SECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES.
THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR HELPING MAKE THIS MEANINGFUL EVENT POSSIBLE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14TH, WE HELD OUR SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL. IT WAS AN INSPIRING GATHERING AND THE BRILLIANCE IN THAT ROOM WAS TRULY ON FULL DISPLAY.
OUR STUDENTS, INCLUDING OUR OWN STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, BROUGHT THOUGHTFUL PERSPECTIVES, MEANINGFUL QUESTIONS AND A GENUINE PASSION FOR IMPROVING THEIR SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.
THESE VOICES REMINDING US THAT OUR SCHOLARS ARE NOT JUST RECIPIENTS OF THEIR EDUCATION, THEY ARE ACTIVE PARTNERS IN SHAPING IT. AM GRATEFUL FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO ELEVATE STUDENT VOICE THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS WEEK I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT TWO OF OUR CAMPUSES, THOMAS JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY AND LAS FLORES. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO BE BACK IN CLASSROOMS AND TO WITNESS TEACHING AND LEARNING IN ACTION PREPARED AT BOTH SITES I SAW SCHOLARS FULLY ENGAGED IN THEIR LESSONS, THEY WERE CURIOUS, THEY WERE FOCUSED AND EAGER TO LEARN.
EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE WAS WATCHING OUR STAFF AT WORK, DELIVERING INSTRUCTION WITH CARE, SKILL AND HEART.
THESE VISITS ARE A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE MEANINGFUL WORK HAPPENING EVERY DAY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND I WANT TO THANK THE TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, OUR INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES AND STAFF AT BOTH CAMPUSES FOR THEIR WARM WELCOME AND THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING MORE OF OUR SCHOOLS IN THE NEXT WEEK AHEAD.
I AM PLEASED TO SHARE THAT THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT STEPHEN FOSTER ELEMENTARY HAS BEEN AWARDED A $5000 EDUCATION GRANT FROM THE BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS. THE FUNDING WILL SUPPORT CREATING AN ACCESSIBLE APPROPRIATE SPACE FOR STUDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST DISABILITY NEEDS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSIE NOMINATED STEPHEN FOSTER FOR THIS GRANT, HELPING US SECURE THIS ADDITIONAL RESOURCE FOR OUR STUDENTS. HAS ALWAYS, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND THE BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND THEIR INVESTMENT IN OUR STUDENTS.
SOMETHING THAT IS SUPER EXCITING FOR ME, AND THIS JUST HAPPENED THIS PAST TUESDAY, BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE VERITAS PREPARATORY PROGRAM PROUDLY WELCOMED THEIR FIRST COHORT OF STUDENTS DURING A SURPRISE ACCEPTANCE CEREMONY HELD ON THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
THE SELECTED STUDENTS ALL SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS ARRIVED BELIEVING THEY WOULD PARTICIPATE IN ANOTHER ROUND OF INTERVIEWS FOR THE PROGRAM. BUT INSTEAD THEY WERE GREETED BY FAMILY MEMBERS, WE HAD TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT, VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD AND BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG.
DISTRICT LEADERS, VERITAS REPRESENTATIVES FOR A SPECIAL CEREMONY CELEBRATING THEIR ACCEPTANCE INTO THIS PRESTIGIOUS ACADEMIC PROGRAM. WE RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH A NATIONAL RECOGNIZED VERITAS PREPARATORY PROGRAM TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH EARLY ACCESS TO RIGOROUS ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND COLLEGE LEVEL INSTRUCTION. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, STUDENTS WILL BUILD SKILLS INTUBATE, PUBLIC SPEAKING, POLITICAL SCIENCE, PHILOSOPHY, LITERARY ANALYSIS, CRITICAL THINKING AND OTHER SUBJECTS LED BY IVY LEAGUE TRAINED INSTRUCTORS. VERITAS HAS EARNED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR HELPING TALENTED STUDENTS PREPARE FOR PATHWAYS TO HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND STUDENTS HAVE ALSO ACHIEVED NOTABLE SUCCESS IN ACADEMIC DEBATE, INCLUDING MULTIPLE VICTORIES, 8 OUT OF 9 VICTORIES IN HARVARD'S UNIVERSITY'S GLOBAL ACADEMIC DEBATE COMPETITION.
OUR DISTRICT IS ONE OF ONLY TWO DISTRICTS IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA TO PARTNER WITH VERITAS. I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM. IT REFLECTS OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING INNOVATIVE, HIGH QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE CAREERS AND BEYOND.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GARZA. >> THANK YOU DOCTOR SIMON.
[8. COMMITTEE UPDATES]
ARE THERE ANY COMMITTEE-- AD HOC COMMITTEE UPDATES THIS EVENING?>> WE HAD A MEETING THIS WEEK, WE APPROVED OUR ACTUALS.
[00:10:02]
WE LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENT CLASSES THAT WE ARE OFFERING AND WE ARE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF GROWTH IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ABC UNIFIED. THERE'S A FEW MORE SCHOOLS, A FEW MORE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING TO OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND WE ARE OFF TO A REALLY GOOD START.I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING.
>> THAT PRETTY MUCH COVERED IT. I WOULD SAY WE DID HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE WORK WITH CAL LABS AND I THINK THAT WARRANTS FURTHER DISCUSSION. TALKED TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ABOUT IT AND THAT THE CAL LABS HAD A FULL CONVERSATION ABOUT IT SO I HOPE WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND TRY TO MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
>> YEAH, SO I DON'T KNOW, DOCTOR SIMON, IF I CAN MEET WITH YOU OR IF BOTH BRAD AND I CAN MEET WITH YOU BUT WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMITTEES? THANK YOU.
[9. PUBLIC COMMENTS: AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS]
WE GO ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. TONIGHT WE DO HAVE REQUESTS TO ADDRESS AGENDA/NONAGENDA ITEMS. THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL LISTEN CAREFULLY TO EACH PUBLIC COMMENT HOWEVER WE WILL NOT PROVIDE RESPONSES DURING THE MEETING.THE SUPERINTENDENT OR A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE WILL CONTACT THE PARENT GUARDIAN AND/OR COMMUNITY MEMBER IF THE COMMENT MAY CALL FOR FOLLOW UP. MEETINGS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD ARE NOT PUBLIC MEETINGS, THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED 3 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND THE BOARD WILL LIMIT THE TIME TO 20 MINUTES UNLESS OTHERWISE WAIVED BY THE BOARD. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE MIR
MY NAME IS MIRANDA O'HARE. I AM A PROUD PARENT OF A KINDERGARTEN STUDENT AT ILC AND I WANTED TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE OKAY IF I ASKED ANOTHER PARENT TO SPEAK WITH ME AS PART OF A
>> HELLO, I AM ALSO A PROUD PARENT OF A KINDERGARTNER AT
ILC. >> I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF, TRY TO BE. NOT ONLY AM I A PARENT, I ALSO WORK AS A SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO I'M A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE AND I'M SUPER INVESTED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I WANT BOTH OF MY CHILDREN TO HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
AT HOME, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE FOCUS ON GIVING OUR KIDS THE BEST INPUT FOR LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT.
THAT IS SHARED READING, PRINT BOOKS AND ALSO AUDIOBOOKS.
WE LIMIT SCREENS. SO WHAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS TO YOU GUYS TONIGHT IS, LIKE MANY PARENTS, WE HAVE NAVIGATED THE CHALLENGES OF TECHNOLOGY AT HOME.
WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR EXPERIENCES AND RESEARCH AND WE IMPLEMENT BOUNDARIES AT HOME. WE LIMIT TV SPECIFICALLY DURING THE SCHOOL WEEK AND WE DON'T USE TABLETS FOR OUR THREE AND FIVE YEAR OLD. SO THIS IS MY PERSPECTIVE AND WHERE I'M COMING FROM AS A MOM AND A PROFESSIONAL.
THERE'S LOTS OF RESEARCH OUT THERE RIGHT NOW THAT WE KNOW, AND I COULD SPEW IT AT YOU, BUT ONE OF THE MORE RECENT RESEARCH SHOWS THAT NATIONAL TEST SCORES HAVE DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE SAME PERIOD THAT SCHOOLS HAVE INCREASED EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION.
SO THIS IS IN THE CONTEXT OF MY FOUR YEAR OLD, MY FIVE YEAR OLD, I'M SORRY, WHO HAS FOUR EDUCATIONAL LEARNING APPS THAT SHE'S EXPECTED TO LEARN ON THROUGHOUT A WEEK.
AND SO AS A PARENT IT'S MY CHOICE WHAT SHE CAN USE AND WHAT SHE CAN'T USE BUT WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT AND HOPEFULLY GET SUPPORT AND MAYBE WE CAN COLLABORATE MOVING FORWARD IS PUTTING LIMITS ON SCREEN TIME USE IN THE CLASSROOM. I AM A LA USDA EMPLOYEE SO I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD THAT LA USDA RECENTLY CAME OUT AND TOOK SCREENS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM FOR K THROUGH SECOND GRADERS. I HAVE TONIGHT, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE, IF I CAN PASS THIS OUT, THESE ARE THE LA USD GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT SCREEN TIME POLICY PER GRADE LEVEL, HOW MUCH WE ARE EXPECTED TO USE SCREENS PER WEEK.
SO THIS HAS BEEN DONE AND THOUGHT THROUGH AND AS A PARENT I'M REALLY SEEKING THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF YOU AND OTHER PARENTS AS WELL TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP OUR STUDENTS LEARN BETTER. KIDS CAN READ BETTER THROUGH PRINT, HANDWRITING IMPROVES, THEIR COGNITION IS STRONGER WHEN THEY WRITE BY HAND VERSUS TYPING.
THERE'S LOTS OF RESEARCH. NISHA.
>> I WILL MAKE IT BRIEF. I COME FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE.
I COME FROM THE TECH SIDE. I'M A DATA SCIENTIST IN THE WEEDS OF AI EVERY DAY AND I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT MIRANDA IS SAYING. I'VE SEEN HOW MUCH MY KINDERGARTNER HAS TO MANAGE IN SCHOOL WITH THE DIFFERENT APPS.
TO RESEARCH IS NOT FRINGE, WE SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
THERE ARE SO MANY STUDIES THAT SHOW WHAT IT DOES DEVELOPMENTALLY TO OUR CHILDREN. WE ARE NOT ANTITECH, I'M IN
[00:15:04]
TECH. I'M NOT ANTITECH BUT IT HAS TO COME SEQUENTIALLY, RIGHT? RIGHT NOW WE ARE THROWING THESE APPS AT KINDERGARTNERS AND INSTEAD WE ARE ASKING IS WHAT LA USD HAS ALREADY DONE, WE DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL, START SLOW, BAN IT FROM KINDERGARTEN TO SECOND GRADE AND SEQUENTIALLY INCREASE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.[10. PUBLIC HEARING]
WE WILL GO ON TO PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING ON THE RESOLUTION SUFFICIENCY OF STANDARDS ALIGNED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR 2026-2027, GRADES TK-12.AT THIS TIME I DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN.
WOULD ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM?
>> IS THERE A WAY TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE ITEM BEFORE WE DECIDE
TO SPEAK [INDISTINCT] >> SO GENERALLY IF THERE WAS A PRESENTATION ON THE ITEM, THE BOARD CAN FIRST ALLOW FOR THE PRESENTATION ON THE ITEM AND THEN OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON THE INFORMATION THAT IS PRESENTED. THERE IS ALSO A...THERE'S A RESOLUTION ON CONSENT THEREAFTER AS WELL AND IN THE ACTUAL PACKET, AGENDA PACKET WHICH IS POSTED, THERE'S GENERALLY A STAFF REPORT IN THERE AS WELL SO IF THERE'S NO PRESENTATION, THERE'S LIKELY A STAFF REPORT IN THE PACKET ITSELF THAT PROVIDES
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. >> SO WE HAVE A...IT'S OVER ON THE SIDE, RIGHT, FOR THEM TO GO AHEAD AND PICK IT UP AND READ
IT? >> THAT'S JUST THE AGENDA.
THE ENTIRE PACKET IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
>> OKAY. SO SINCE WE DO HAVE OUR PRESENTATION, SHOULD I JUST POSTPONE THIS PART?
>> NO, YOU STILL NEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK. I BELIEVE THE BOARD BOOK IS IN THE BACK AS WELL THAT HAS THE ACTUAL RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE VOTED ON BY THE BOARD THIS EVENING, SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PERHAPS MOVE ON TO-- WELL UNFORTUNATELY THE NEXT ITEM IS A CONSENT CALENDAR SO IF YOU WOULD ALLOW FOR A RECESS MAYBE, IF THEY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION, BUT THAT'S UP TO THE
PRESIDENT'S DISCRETION. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THIS ITEM? IS THERE ANY INFORMATION THAT
MAYBE STAFF CAN PRESENT? >> WE CAN ALWAYS READ THE RESOLUTION OUT LOUD IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
>> DID YOU WANT TO READ IT OUT LOUD? WOULD YOU MIND READING IT OUT LOUD? THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG WILL READ
IT OUT LOUD. >> THIS IS RESOLUTION FOR SUFFICIENCY OF STANDARDS ALIGNED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.
WHEREAS THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 24TH 2026 IN COMPLIANCE WITH EDUCATION CODE 60119 AND THE CALIFORNIA CODE-- TO DETERMINE IF THE DISTRICT HAS A SUFFICIENT OR INSUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF STANDARDS ALIGNED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND WHEREAS, SUFFICIENT TEXTBOOKS OR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS MEANS THAT EACH PUPIL HAS A TEXTBOOK OR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS OR BOTH TO USE IN CLASS, AND TO TAKE HOME, AND WHEREAS, THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PURCHASES BASIC INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR USE IN TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12 THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE ADOPTED CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS AND CONTENT STANDARDS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND WHEREAS, SUFFICIENT TEXTBOOKS OR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS WERE PROVIDED TO EACH PUPIL ENROLLED IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE OR HEALTH CLASSES.
AND WHEREAS, LABORATORY SCIENCE EQUIPMENT WAS AVAILABLE FOR SCIENCE LABORATORY CLASSES OFFERED IN GRADES NINE THROUGH 12 INCLUSIVE. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS PROVIDED EACH PUPIL WITH SUFFICIENT TEXTBOOKS AND STANDARDS ALIGNED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ADOPTED THIS 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> THANK YOU. SO I'M GOING TO ASK AGAIN, WOULD ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM?
[00:20:09]
>> USUALLY WE HAVE A PAPER BOARD BOOK RIGHT HERE.
IS IT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE ROOM? SOMEBODY HAS IT. I THINK THIS IS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. LIKE, AND ALSO INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION. SO WAS THIS VERIFIED BY STAFF OR WAS IT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT TEXTBOOKS SO WE DON'T HAVE A WILLIAMS COMPLAINT LATER? I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, IF WE HAD THE INFORMATION MORE CLEARLY OR A PRESENTATION WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT BEFOREHAND, BESIDES READING THE RESOLUTION. LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, MAKING SURE EVERYBODY HAS WHAT THEY NEED. BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO SAY THEY DON'T HAVE IT OR THEY LOST IT.
ALSO DO WE HAVE EXTRA IN CASE THEY LOSE IT, THE MATERIALS?
THANK YOU. >> I THINK WE SAID IT'S ONLINE, CORRECT? SO EVERYONE HAS THAT RIGHT NOW.
MISS CARTER. >> WE DO HAVE A PROCESS FOR TEXTBOOK CERTIFICATION THAT WE SEND OUT A FORM FOR EACH ONE OF OUR SCHOOL SITES TO HAVE OUR TEACHERS VERIFY WHETHER THEY HAVE ALL THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN THEIR CLASSROOM.
THEY VERIFY THAT THEY DO AND THEN THE PRINCIPAL VERIFIES THAT THEY DO AS WELL. AND SO THAT CERTIFICATION IS THEN SENT TO OUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE, AND THEN WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS COMPLETED THAT PROCESS IN A TIMELY FASHION.
AND WE DO HAVE A PROCESS FOR IF IN THE FUTURE THERE IS EXTRA TEXTBOOK NEEDS. THEY CAN SUBMIT THAT NEED AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE FULFILL THAT NEED.
AND WE DO HAVE EXTRAS IN THE WAREHOUSE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A QUESTION? FROM THE PUBLIC? AT THIS TIME I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE
BOARD? >> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.
SO THERE WILL BE A FOLLOW UP WILLIAMS VISIT AFTER THIS,
CORRECT? >> WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF WILLIAM VISITS ACTUALLY. I BELIEVE WE JUST COMPLETED THEM. THERE ARE CERTAIN SCHOOLS THAT GO AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE MATERIALS.
>> RIGHT. SO THE TRANSPARENCY PART IS THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE US--
>> IN PERSON WITH THE INSPECTOR THAT COMES IN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ANYONE ELSE?
[11. CONSENT AGENDA]
OKAY. THANK YOU.WE MOVE ON TO CONSENT AGENDA. DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS TO WITHHOLD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING?
>> YES, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ITEM 11.12.
CONTRACT LISTINGS AND AMEN AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 11.12?
>> ROLL CALL. >> STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG, BOARD MEMBER STEWART, BOARD CLERK CINTRON, VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD, PRESIDENT GARZA.
[11.12. CONTRACT LISTINGS AND AMENDMENTS]
>> FIRST ITEM WITHHELD, 11.12. DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? >> YES MADAM PRESIDENT.
I PULLED THIS ONE BECAUSE THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO TABLE THE CONTRACT FOR-- IT'S ACTUALLY A LEASE IN THE CONTRACTS AND LISTINGS FOR R F DICKERSON AND THE LEASE AGREEMENT, IT'S A 10-YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT AND THAT THE MAIN REASON I WOULD TABLE IT IS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION IN IT.
THE LEASE AGREEMENT ITSELF IS MISSING ATTACHMENT A SO I WANTED TO GIVE STAFF ENOUGH TIME TO OBTAIN THE FULL LEASE AGREEMENT BEFORE WE APPROVE SOMETHING FOR ANOTHER TEN YEARS.
THAT AGREEMENT WAS PUT IN PLACE TEN YEARS AGO.
I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE-- WE WOULD BE DILIGENT IN LOOKING AT THAT LEASE AGREEMENT AND SEEING HOW THAT AGREEMENT STANDS TODAY AS OPPOSED TO TEN YEARS AGO. SO A COUPLE THINGS I WOULD WANT TO SEE WITH THAT ITEM WOULD BE THE ESTIMATED 10-YEAR VALUE OF THAT AGREEMENT. CURRENTLY IT STANDS AT $1 COST
[00:25:04]
TO THE TENANT AND THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS WITH DISCOUNTED GAS THAT COMES OUT OF THAT AS WELL. BUT LOOKING INTO SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS, THEY ALSO EXPANDED THAT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE ELECTRIC CHARGING AS WELL BUT OUR BENEFIT IS CONSTRAINED TO JUST FUEL. AND IF WE ARE GOING TO ENTER INTO ANOTHER 10-YEAR, I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TERMS ARE VERY CLEAR AS FAR AS OUR ONGOING [INDISTINCT] FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS ESPECIALLY WITH DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND REDUCING ROUTES AND SEEING WHAT ADDITIONAL BENEFIT THE DISTRICT CAN HAVE IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING AS MUCH BENEFIT OUT OF THAT AGREEMENT AS POSSIBLE. BUT PRIMARILY MAKING SURE WE HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TO MAKE A FULL DECISION.>> AND MADAM PRESIDENT IF I MAY, THE CRUX OF THE AGREEMENT IS LESS THE EXTENSION OF THE LEASE BUT MORE OF AN ASSIGNMENT.
THERE WAS A COMPANY THAT BOUGHT OUT THE ORIGINAL COMPANY THAT ENTERED INTO THE LEASE. THE DISTRICT DOES HAVE THE PREROGATIVE TO EITHER ACCEPT THE ASSIGNMENT OR DECLINE IT.
WHICH WOULD IMPACT THE OUTCOME OF THE LEASE ITSELF.
WE DID GET THE REQUIRED CONTRACTUAL REQUIRED NOTICE 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE LEASE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND IT, HOWEVER IN ORDER TO DO THAT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE AN ASSIGNMENT AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD LIES. AND SOME ADDITIONAL TIME WOULD LIKELY BE BENEFICIAL IN EXPLORING SOME ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DISTRICT AS WELL.
>> ANOTHER THING. IN THE ORIGINAL LEASE AS IT WAS PRESENTED IN THE DOCUMENTS, WAS THERE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MAINTAINING AND COVERING THE COST OF MAINTAINING THAT FACILITY AND IF YOU REMEMBER, LAST YEAR WE DID A TRANSPORTATION AUDIT AND IN THAT AUDIT IT HAD A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THAT FACILITY.
I THINK THERE WERE FOUR OR FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO UPDATE THAT FACILITY FOR SAFETY. SO I WOULD LIKE A REPORT TO SEE IF THOSE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THAT FACILITY AND AT THEIR COST AS STIPULATED IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT.
YEAH. SPEAKER WITH THOSE UPDATES BE IN THE REPORT THAT WE JUST GOT, THE FACILITIES REPORT, FINAL FACILITIES REPORT THAT WE RECEIVED? NO? OKAY.
>> I BELIEVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE STILL IN THAT FACILITIES PLAN. AND AGAIN, WITH THIS CONTRACT, THE-- WHEN IT CAME ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A BAD DEAL, WE DO GET SOME BENEFIT AND IT'S VERY CONVENIENT TO HAVE. I WENT DOWN A RABBIT HOLE ON COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS AND THERE'S SOME BENEFIT BUT THE BENEFIT TEN YEARS AGO IS PROBABLY DIFFERENT THAN IT IS TODAY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT AND THEN ALSO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TEN YEARS FROM NOW AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STILL MAINTAINING THAT BENEFIT.
BECAUSE THE 10-YEAR LEASE LEND, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME WE DO ANYTHING WITH LAND IN OUR DISTRICT AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR DISTRICT, IT HAS TO BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR DISTRICT SO THE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR TENANT IN THAT CASE, THE TERMS SHOULD REFLECT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. AND I KNOW THAT THAT COMPANY HAS DONE SOME WORK AND EXPANDED THEIR OPERATION OUT OF THAT CNG PUMP TO FUEL EVEN MORE TRUCKS, EVEN TRUCKS FROM THE PORT.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BENEFIT IS GROWING WITH I WOULD ASSUME THEIR BENEFIT OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS.
>> ANYONE ELSE? SO JUST TO CONFIRM, VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD, DO YOU WANT TO TABLE THIS ITEM?
>> I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE THE REST OF THE CONTRACTS IN ITEM 11.12 AND TABLE THE SPECIFIC CONTRACT.
>> THAT'S ITEM-- >> RF DICKINSON.
>> SO THAT WAY OUR STAFF CAN LOOK AT COMPARABLE PRICING.
[00:30:03]
>> YEAH, TO HAVE THE TIME TO GET THE FULL AGREEMENT, SPECIFICALLY AMENDMENT A OF THE MASTER AGREEMENT.
BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE OUR PROJECTED FUEL SAVINGS FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS AND THAT WOULD IMPLY HOW MANY OF THESE CNG BUSSES, BECAUSE WE GOT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF HOW WE ARE-- HOW MANY WE ARE OPERATING SO WHAT OUR TRANSPORTATION PLAN WILL LOOK LIKE OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS TO MAKE SURE OUR BENEFIT IS REFLECTIVE. SO COST ANALYSIS FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS. AND ALSO FINDING OUT IF-- BECAUSE THE LEASE AGREEMENT IS STRICT TO THAT FUEL BUT I ALSO UPGRADED WITH THE ABILITY TO DO ELECTRIC CHARGE TO BUSSES.
IF OUR ELECTRIC BUSSES ARE ABLE TO GET THAT DISCOUNT AS WELL
FROM THEIR FACILITY. >> THANK YOU VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD. I THINK FOR A 10-YEAR PROJECTION, I DON'T BELIEVE-- I'M JUST LOOKING AT WE ARE IN OUR INTERIM CBL BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.
WE CAN'T PROVIDE A PROJECTION OVER TEN YEARS BUT TO YOUR POINT, THE ATTACHMENTS AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ORGANIZATION, I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO, TO LOOK AT OUR LEASE AND ALSO LOOK AT THE BENEFITS TO THE DISTRICT.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO.
AS FAR AS A 10-YEAR PROJECTION, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S FEASIBLE.
>> I UNDERSTAND IT WOULDN'T BE A VERY ACCURATE PROJECTION BUT EVEN WHAT OUR BENEFIT WAS TEN YEARS AGO WHEN WE ENTERED INTO THE AGREEMENT COMPARED TO WHAT IT IS NOW, BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK BACK JUST FOUR YEARS, WE ARE USING LESS OF THE FUEL AS WE REDUCE ROUTES, AS, YOU KNOW, THESE EVEN TALKS OF GETTING RID OF THE CNG BUSSES COMPLETELY BY STATE LAW OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. SO EVENTUALLY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO WITH OUR FLEET GOING FORWARD BUT EVEN IF WE COULD FIND THAT INFORMATION, WHICH I'M SURE EVEN THAT IS PROBABLY HARD, BUT WHAT OUR FUEL SAVINGS WAS TEN YEARS AGO, WHAT THAT SAVINGS WAS BACK THEN COMPARED TO WHAT IT IS NOW BECAUSE WE ARE DOING THE SAME-- THIS WOULD BE-- IF WE JUST APPROVED IT IT WOULD BE THE SAME EXACT AGREEMENT BASED OFF OF WHAT WAS SMART IN THE DISTRICT TEN YEARS AGO. SO IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FROM
WHAT IS SMART FOR US TODAY. >> DOCTOR SIMON, DID YOU-- DID YOU NEED A LITTLE MORE CLARIFICATION ON THAT?
>> I THINK I HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING.
I HAVE PEOPLE SCRIBING FOR ME AS WELL.
LOOKING AT OUR SAVINGS, RIGHT, WHAT WE PAID TEN YEARS AGO, WHERE WE ARE NOW. SO WE HAVE SOME ASPECT OF HOW MUCH WE PAID 2-3 YEARS AGO THAT SHOWS SOME SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS FOR US BUT WE WILL WORK ON THE REST AND GO FROM THERE.
FOR THE ATTACHMENT AND ALSO THE ACTUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMPANY THAT OUR GENERAL COUNSEL WILL ASSIST US WITH.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR GETTING THAT INFORMATION. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS A LITTLE BIT. AND I KNOW IT'S FINDING THE NUMBERS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO BUT I DO THINK IT DOES PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL BENEFIT. I'M NOT SAYING NO TO THIS CONTRACT BY ANY MEANS, I JUST THINK IT WARRANTS MORE CONVERSATION OVER A 10-YEAR COMMITMENT, THAT'S ALL.
I DO APPRECIATE IT. >> IF THERE IS SOMETHING WE CANNOT LOCATE, WE WILL LET THE BOARD KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT LOCATABLE. THE INFORMATION WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE, WE WILL PROVIDE THAT TO THE BOARD.
>> DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE FOR YOU TO GET THAT
INFORMATION TO US? >> I THINK AS FAR AS THE CONVERSATIONS AS FAR AS THE ATTACHMENTS, WE HAVE ASKED FOR THAT ALREADY. I'M JUST LOOKING AT OUR GENERAL COUNSEL ASSISTING WITH MORE OF THE CONVERSATION SO I WANT TO PASS IT BACK TO HIM AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HIM FOR HOW
LONG HE THINKS THAT WOULD TAKE. >> I WILL CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO THEM TOMORROW. HOPEFULLY I CAN GET AHOLD OF THEM AND START THAT PROCESS. ONCE I HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THEY ARE AT, I CAN GIVE YOU A MORE ACCURATE TIMELINE. TO PUT IT IN VERY BROAD TERMS, COULD BE AS SOON AS TWO WEEKS FROM NOW.
IT COULD TAKE AS LONG AS A COUPLE MONTHS IF WE END UP ENTERING INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THAT COMPANY.
SO IT REALLY DOES DEPEND ON THEIR RESPONSE AND KIND OF WHAT
[00:35:02]
THE ASSOCIATED POTENTIAL BENEFITS WOULD BE FOR THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS ANY NEW TERMS THAT MIGHT BE ADDED TO THE AGREEMENT IN RETURN FOR THE ASSIGNMENT.SO THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW AS SOON AS I HAVE A MORE CLEAR PICTURE AS TO HOW LONG I THINK IT WILL T BECAUSE THE RENEWAL IS SET FOR OCTOBER 14TH, WOULD BE THE ACTIVATING OF THE RENEWAL. THEY GAVE US THE REQUIRED 90 DAY NOTICE. BUT FOR THE ASSIGNMENT PORTION, AS YOU MENTIONED, CAN THAT GO BEYOND THE OCTOBER 14TH DATE OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO COME BACK BEFORE THEN?
>> WE CAN ALWAYS ENTER INTO A TEMPORARY CONTRACT LIKE A HOLDOVER TO GIVE US TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. SO A LOT OF THOSE TERMS WILL BE DICTATED AS TO THE CONVERSATION THAT TAKES PLACE WITH THE COMPANY IN THE COMING DAYS AND I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH TIME FOR THE DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST PUT SOMETHING TEMPORARY IN PLACE UNTIL A MORE PERMANENT AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS. SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 11.12, EXCLUDING THE LEASE OF DISTRICT PROPERTY THROUGH--
>> YOU HAVE THAT MOTION. >> I SECOND.
>> ROLL CALL PLEASE. >> STUDENT MEMBER, BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG, BOARD MEMBER STEWART, BOARD CLERK CINTRON, VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD, PRESIDENT GARZA.
[12. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS]
SPEAKER WE NOW MOVE ON TO TO...BOARD COMMUNICATIONS.LET'S BEGIN WITH STUDENT MEMBER. >> HELLO, EVERYONE GOOD EVENING.
TODAY I WANTED TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON THE NEW LANYARD POLICY ON HIGH SCHOOLS. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE, STUDENTS SEEM TO BE ADJUSTING WELL ALTHOUGH IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME FOR THEM TO REMEMBER TO BRING IT EVERY DAY.
SOME TEACHERS HAVE CREATED PINS TO ADD ON TO LANYARDS TO REPRESENT CLUBS AND SPORTS STUDENTS MAYBE IN.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO GET STUDENTS EXCITED TO WEAR LANYARDS AS WELL AS SHOW PRIDE AND SCHOOL SPIRIT.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU STUDENT MEMBER.
BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. >> THANK YOU PRESIDENT GARZA.
WELL, TO PASS TWO WEEKS, I'M SO GLAD.
LAST THURSDAY WE DID NOT HAVE A BOARD MEETING BECAUSE I HAD MY OPEN HOUSE. I SHOULD SAY BACK TO SCHOOL AT MY JOB. AND IT WAS-- IT WAS-- IT WASN'T AS EXCITING AS THE BACK TO SCHOOL HERE BUT I AM AT A SMALL SCHOOL BUT WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME SEEING THE PARENTS AND LETTING THE PARENTS, YOU KNOW, SEE THE CURRICULUM I'M USING AND SHOWING THEM THE PICTURES OF THE CHILDREN THAT I HAVE SO FAR.
IT'S SO NICE TO SEE THE PARENTS, YOU KNOW, HAPPY ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE THEIR KIDS DOING. I ALSO-- I WAS THERE AT THE THE INAUGURAL ACCEPTANCE FOR OUR FIRST SET OF CHILDREN.
THAT'S GOING TO GO THROUGH THE VERITAS PREPARATORY PROGRAM.
AND I'M EXCITED. I ALMOST WANT TO DO THE PROGRAM.
SHOOT, I WANT TO DO THE PROGRAM. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SO GREAT. IT'S GOING TO BRING OUT SOME SKILLS IN OUR CHILDREN. AND WITH THAT IN MIND, I WILL SPEAK TO JUST A FEW PEOPLE ABOUT THE SPEECH DECATHLON THAT THEY HAVE AND I JUDGED IT MOST YEARS. I HAVEN'T DONE IT THIS PAST YEAR BUT I CAN REMEMBER NOT SEEING ANY OF OUR STUDENTS THERE SO THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO TO SEE IF WE CAN GET OUR KIDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT DECATHLON.
SO EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT A PART OF THIS VERITAS PREPARATORY PROGRAM THERE ARE STILL OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR OTHER STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH DEBATES AND ORATIONS.
>> THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG.
BOARD MEMBER STEWART. >> GOOD EVENING.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT TONIGHT. I'M REALLY EXCITED TOMORROW TO GO TO THE BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT VERITAS AND LIKE I SAID, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING AND SPEAKING. IT'S REALLY NICE TO GET THE
[00:40:04]
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PARENTS OR DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS. I BROUGHT UP THE SCREEN TIME MONTHS AGO AND HONESTLY IT WAS MY FAULT I DID NOT FOLLOW TOO MUCH ON IT SO I'M GLAD YOU GUYS BROUGHT IT BACK TO US.WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN LA USD AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I DO AGREE.
I THINK THAT-- I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID OLD SCHOOL, THE WRITING, DOING THINGS WITH PAPER, LIMITING THE SCREEN TIME BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THEY GO HOME AND THEY SIT ON THE SCREEN EVEN MORE SO I DO AGREE WITH THAT AND SO THANK YOU, WE ALWAYS WELCOME SPEAKERS COMING TO COLLABORATE AND BRING THOUGHTS TO OUR BOARD SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER STEWART.
BOARD CLERK CINTRON. >> I WILL BEGIN BY SAYING CONGRATULATIONS TO THE VERITAS COHORT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND WATCHING THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS. WITH THAT, I DID WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE APPROVED TONIGHT. IT'S THE U.S. C B U.S. D COLLABORATIVE. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
SO I WROTE SOMETHING SO I COULD STAY ON POINT.
I AM ENCOURAGED TO SEE THE DISTRICT INVESTING IN THE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF OUR CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES AND CREATING A PATHWAY FOR FUTURE SCHOOL LEADERS.
I APPRECIATE THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP COMBINES CREDENTIAL COURSEWORK, COACHING, FIELD EXPERIENCE WHILE ALIGNING WITH BUSD'S PRIORITIES. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW WE CAN MEASURE THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT AND TO ENSURE THIS INVESTMENT ULTIMATELY STRENGTHENS LEADERSHIP AND STUDENT OUTCOMES ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND KUDOS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALSO APPROVING THIS. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE 35TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY FAMILY GUIDANCE CENTER GOLF CLASSIC FUND-RAISER. I DO NOT DO THESE THINGS.
IT WAS PRESENTED BY IBE DIGITAL. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FAMILY GUIDANCE CENTER. THEY DO IMPORTANT WORK IN SUPPORTING UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN SOUTHEAST LOS ANGELES COUNTY WHO ARE NAVIGATING TRAUMA, ABUSE, EMOTIONAL...HARDSHIPS AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
AND IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL. IT WAS A REALLY WONDERFUL EVENT AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FROM SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES TO TALK ABOUT IMPORTANT-- THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE THESE CRITICAL SERVICES.
INVESTING IN THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN TODAY REALLY HELPS GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT AND THE FOUNDATION THAT THEY WILL NEED TO THRIVE IN THE FUTURE AS ADULTS.
I PERSONALLY HAD, I'VE WORKED WITH WHAT THEY CALLED BACK WHEN I WAS A TEACHER EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED KIDS AND THE COMMUNITY FAMILY GUIDANCE CENTER WAS A HUGE SUPPORT IN THOSE FAMILIES AND IN THOSE STUDENTS. AND A LOT OF THEM WERE ABLE TO FIND TOOLS OR TO LEARN THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEEDED TO THRIVE AS ADULTS, AND A LOT OF THEM WENT TO COLLEGE AS THE FIRST STUDENT TO GO TO COLLEGE AND THEIR FAMILY AND A LOT OF THEM NOW HAVE REALLY GREAT CAREERS AND ARE SUPPORTING THEIR COMMUNITIES AS WELL. SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST SHOUT OUT THE COMMUNITY FAMILY GUIDANCE CENTER AND THAT'S ALL
FOR ME, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU BOARD CLERK CINTRON. VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD.
>> THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT. AND TRUSTEE CINTRON'S IS RIGHT SHE DOES NOT GO OFF. I SAW HER TRY.
PRETTY BAD. I WASN'T THAT GREAT EITHER THOUGH. A COUPLE THINGS.
SO WE LOST THE MILK BUCKET TWO LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL PAIR BUT NEXT YEAR WE ARE GOING TO GET IT BACK AND I'M GOING TO RUB IT IN THE VICE MAYOR'S FACE WHEN WE FINALLY TAKE IT BACK.
SO THAT'S THE GOAL. IT WAS A GREAT GAME.
AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING PROJECT VERITAS.
I WENT THERE AND I GOT THE CHILLS, THE GOOSE BUMPS, ALL THE
[00:45:01]
FEELS WERE IN THE ROOM. MAN, THE KIDS WERE SUPER EXCITED BUT THE PARENTS EVEN MORE. THEY WERE JUMPING OUT OF THEIR SEATS. IT WAS AWESOME.I THINK DR. SIMON WAS ABOUT TO START CRYING BUT SHE'S PRETTY GOOD AT TURNING AWAY WHEN SHE STARTS BUT IT WAS GREAT AND I THINK THE PROGRAM WILL BE AWESOME.
DEBATE FOR THESE KIDS AT THAT AGE IS JUST A HUGE DEVELOPMENTAL. I MEAN, THEY ARE GOING TO GROW A LOT SO I'M REALLY EXCITED WITH WHAT THAT COHORT IS GOING TO DO AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN KEEP IT GOING.
I KNOW THERE WILL BE SOME REALLY GOOD RESULTS AND HOPEFULLY I CAN GET MY DAUGHTER IN IT TOO BECAUSE SHE WILL BE ABOUT THAT AGE FOR THE NEXT COHORT. ALSO DID THE LAKEWOOD EDUCATION FOUNDATION GOLF TOURNAMENT, SUPPORTING THEM.
TODD ROGERS AND THAT FOUNDATION DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK.
THEY PROVIDE STIPENDS TO OUR LAKEWOOD TEACHERS AND THEY ARE JUST SO CONSISTENT. EVERY YEAR THEY REALLY DO A LOT OF WORK SO I WAS HAPPY TO BE OUT THERE SUPPORTING THEM.
I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
I KNOW ON OCTOBER THIRD WE HAVE THE SECOND ANNUAL SPECIAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE AND COMMUNITY FAIR.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. LAST YEAR IT WAS AWESOME SO GLAD WE ARE DOING IT AGAIN THIS YEAR. REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING THERE. ON THAT NOTE, WE ALSO PASSED ITEM 11.6 WHICH IS THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER COACHING PROGRAM. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY KUDOS FOR THAT, FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT PROGRAM, REALLY EXCITED FOR OUR TEACHERS TO GET THE EXTRA SUPPORT AND SEEING THAT ROLL OUT.
AND THANK YOU FOR OUR SPEAKERS WHO SPOKE ON SCREEN TIME.
LIKE MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM EITHER PEOPLE AND KEEP THINGS ON THE RADAR BECAUSE THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
I HAVE TALKED TO MY DAUGHTERS MYSELF AND IT'S A PROBLEM.
SO I'M GLAD YOU SPOKE ON IT TODAY AND I THINK THAT THERE'S MORE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO. OFTEN TIMES I THINK WE KIND OF FOLLOW BEHIND SOME OF THESE BIGGER DISTRICTS LIKE LA USD AND SOMETIMES THAT'S CALCULATED AND SOMETIMES IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED TO BE THAT FAR BEHIND SOMETIMES SO I THINK IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO KEEP HAPPENING.
SO THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON THAT.
THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD.
I ALSO AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT VERITAS FIRST COHORT.
I ALSO WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO ADVANTAGE COMMUNICATIONS.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE WORKING AND STARTING A SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM AS WELL IN OUR LOWER PRIMARY GRADES AS WELL SO HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE ACROSS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHEN THEY GET UP TO THE UPPER GRADES, THEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO START BRINGING HOME THOSE ACCOLADES AND THOSE TROPHIES AND MEDALS.
AS PER WHAT OUR BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG SAID ABOUT ACADEMIC DECATHLON, THAT IS SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS.
I'M HOPING THAT THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THAT AND THAT THAT WILL BE ONE OF THEIR COMPETITIONS.
MY SON DID IT FOR THREE YEARS WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I CAN SAY THAT HE LEARNED A LOT. WHILE HE WAS DOING THAT.
SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THIS, ABOUT OUR NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE, YOU KNOW, USC AND ALSO HAVING OUR COHORTS OF NEW SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND GIVING THEM THE SUPPORT THAT THEY'VE ALWAYS REQUESTED AND THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR TO DOING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH DOCTOR, FOR DOING THAT AND BRINGING THAT TO US.
WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT YOU BRING TO US AND THAT WE TALKED TO OUR CABINET TO BRING TO
[13. INFORMATIONAL ITEM]
FRUITION. SO DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON INFORMATIONAL ITEMS THIS EVENING?[2. CLOSED SESSION (Part 2 of 2)]
OKAY. SO WE WILL BE ADJOURNING TO CLOSED SESSION AT THIS TIME AND WE WILL-- THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER ACTION TAKEN IN[3. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION/CALL TO ORDER (Part 2 of 2)]
. >> WE RESUME REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS. AT THIS TIME WE WILL DISCUSS
POSITION. >> THE TOPICS DISCUSSED IN CLOSEED SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WERE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE DISMISSAL RELEASE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, SUPERINTENDENT AND NO ACTIONS WERE TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION.
[00:50:02]
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND THIS ADJOURNS THE MEETING AT T
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.