Oct 22, 2026 School Board

[1. CALL TO ORDER IN PUBLIC SESSION]

[00:00:03]

CAPTIONER IS PRESENT. THE EVENT WILL BEGIN SOON.

GATE WELCOME TO THE NEXT REGULA MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER BOARD OF EDUCATION. THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT IBM. WE'LL CALL, PLEASE,.

>> STUDENT MEMBER DESCALA AS ABSENT.

ADDRESS CLOSE SESSION ITEM. >> THINK YOUR.

HOPE EVERYONE CAN TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME DOWN AND HAVE DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES THAT IS THE COUNSELOR IN ME TALKING.

I AM ALSO TALKING AS A TAXPAYER. I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL ANTICIPATED LITIGATION .

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HOW MUCH THE LAST BOARD MEETING IS GOING TO COST TAXPAYERS TRADE ALSO TH DIFFERENT THINGS THAT SHOULD A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS GREAT AND VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE CALM, NOT TAKE THIS PERSONAL BEING A BOARD MEMBER, WE ARE HERE FOR THE KIDS.

I WAS BULLIED AS A STUDENT AT ALBERT BAXTER AT WASHINGTON JUNIOR HIGH. AS A TEACHER, I HAD TO BREAK UP THINGS AT RECESS BETWEEN STUDENTS.

I WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE TO COME TO WORK AND STUDENTS THAT COME TO THE BOARD MEETINGS SHOULD BE MADE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE. I WAS IN A DEPRESSION FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN I FOUND OUT MOR THINGS THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ON ON THE BREAK OUTSIDE. PLEASE, YOU ARE HERE FOR THE KIDS. LET'S PLEASE GET ALONG GREAT I THINK WE NEED TO TRY TO DE-ESCALATE WITH THE RECESS, BU WE NEED TO CALM DOWN IN. PLEASE.

WE ARE HERE FOR THE KIDS. WE ARE HERE TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS . WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A TIMEOUT, TAKE A TIMEOUT.

LET'S DO A BETTER JOB. THANK YOU.

[2. CLOSED SESSION (Part 1 of 2)]

>> THANK YOU. AT THIS POINT THE

[3. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION/CALL TO ORDER (Part 1 of 2)]

>> AT THIS TIME WE RECONVENE ATT 6:32:00 P.M. RESUMING REGULAR BUSINESS. WE HAVE OUR INTERIM ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT MISS D. HURST WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE THIS EVENING. ARE THERE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE

[6. PRESENTATIONS FROM STUDENTS / STAFF / COMMUNITY]

AGENDA? >> NO AMENDMENTS THIS EVENING

PRESIDENT GARZA. >> WE GO INTO PRESENTATIONS.

CAN WE HAVE PTA PRESIDENT COME TO THE PODIUM PLEASE?

>> HI, THERE, HELLO, EVERYBODY. GOOD EVENING.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SO I HAVE A LOT TO REPORT.

STARTING OFF WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS REPORT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE NEW LOGOS. THE PTA CHANGED UP THEIR LOGOS.

WOODRUFF ADDED A NEW DESIGN, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE WORKING ON UPDATING THE LOGOS AS WELL. SO MEMBERSHIP.

WE ARE STARTING OFF SUPER STRONG.

WE'RE ALREADY AT 1686 MEMBERS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY BUT OUR KICKOFF WAS VERY STRONG.

WE ARE GETTING THERE SLOWLY. FIRST WE HAD OUR WELCOME BACK KICKOFF MIXER AND ASSOCIATION MEETING.

IT WAS A LOT OF TEAM BUILDING. WE CAME UP WITH SOME GOALS AND

[00:05:03]

IT WAS ALSO A GREAT TIME TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER WITH BTA BINGO. WE HAD OUR 33RD FALL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE. HERE WE GOT TO LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF E BIKE SAFETY, THE DIFFERENT LAWS THAT THEY HAVE THROUGH OUR CITIES BECAUSE WE ARE SHARED IN THREE DIFFERENT CITIES. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT LAWS IN EACH ONE WHETHER THEY CAN RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK OR OFF THE SIDEWALK.

THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING OUR PTA WILL BE TALKING ABOUT WITH OUR SCHOOLS. WE ALSO LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF CARE FOR OURSELVES TO BE ABLE TO CARE FOR OTHERS. WE HOSTED OUR FORUM FOR 2026 AND MEET AND GREET FOR ALL OF OUR CANDIDATES.

OCTOBER 5TH AND WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

THEY MODERATED THAT SO THANK YOU TO THEM.

AND WE'LL BE AT THE BREAST CANCER WALK THIS SATURDAY SO JOIN US THERE. WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING STICKERS, TEMPORARY TATTOOS AND CUTE LITTLE GLITTER ONES.

AND RED RIBBON WEEK A BIG EVENT FOR PTA IS GOING TO BE NEXT WEEK. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO STOP BY YOUR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS TO SEE WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING ALL WEEK ESPECIALLY ON THURSDAY ALL THE SCHOOLS HAVE ALL THE DISPLAYS.

HERE'S A LIST OF THE JUDGES THAT WILL BE ON THE BUS TOURING THAT DAY. FROM BOTH BELLFLOWER AND THAT'S A BIG ONE WE'RE EXCITING FOR THAT.

WE HAVE A BIG ARRAY OF DIFFERENT JUDGES THIS YEAR SO WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THAT. AND THEN THE REFLECTIONS PROGRAM. THIS ONE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR NOW. ALL THE STUDENTS ARE CREATING THEIR PROJECTS AND BY NOVEMBER 3RD ALL OF THEIR SUBMISSIONS AND THEN YOU WILL SEE IN MARCH WHEN WE PRESENT THE AWARDS. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. [APPLAUSE]

[7. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]

>> THANK YOU, IT IS NICE TO SEE YOU BACK.

WE NOW MOVE INTO SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

>> HOW YOU DOING? ALL RIGHT, SO GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT GARZA, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND MEMBERS OF OUR BELLFLOWER UNIFIED COMMUNITY. I WANT TO BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A NUMBER -- NOT WITH A NUMBER BUT WITH A FACE.

PICTURE A SIXTH GRADER, LET'S CALL HER ANGEL BECAUSE HER STORY BELONGS TO SO MANY OF OUR CHILDREN.

A SCHOLAR WHO UNTIL THIS YEAR HAD NEVER ONCE HEARD THE WORD COLLEGE SPOKEN IN THE SAME BREATH AS HER OWN NAME.

THIS AUTUMN ANGEL JOINED OUR INAUGURAL 24 VERITAS SCHOLARS.

THE DISTRICT RECENTLY ESTABLISHED A HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP WITH A NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED VERITAS PREPARATORY PROGRAM MAKING US ONE OF ONLY TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE ENTIRE LA AREA TO OFFER THIS PRESTIGIOUS INITIATIVE.

THROUGH THIS GROUNDBREAKING PARTNERSHIP, SCHOLARS HAVE EARLY ACCESS TO RIGOROUS COLLEGE LEVEL INSTRUCTION AND ADVANCED ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT. LED BY IVY LEAGUE TRAINERS, THE PROGRAM DEVELOPS CRITICAL SKILLS AND DEBATE, PUBLIC SPEAKING, POLITICAL SCIENCE, PHILOSOPHY, AND CRITICAL THINKING.

VERITAS HAS EARNED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FEATURED IN PROMINENT OUTLETS SUCH AS "FORBES" MAGAZINE AND GOOD MORNING AMERICA FOR SUCCESSFULLY GUIDING TALENTED SCHOLARS AMONG PATHWAYS TO IVY LEAGUE INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER HIGHLY SELECTIVE UNIVERSITIES. THEY HAVE ALSO WON THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S GLOBAL TOURNAMENT EIGHT TIMES IN THE PAST NINE YEARS. I WAS IN THE ROOM THE MOMENT THEY RECEIVED THE NEWS. SOME STUDENTS WERE ELATED.

SOME WERE MOVED TO TEARS. AND THEIR PARENTS.

THEIR PARENTS WERE WEEPING RIGHT ALONGSIDE THEM.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN A MOMENT LIKE THAT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL. YOU WERE IN THE ROOM FOR IT.

THE TEARS WERE NOT ABOUT A PROGRAM.

THEY WERE ABOUT HOPE. THEY WERE ABOUT OPPORTUNITY AND PRIDE AND THE QUIET POWERFUL REALIZATION THAT SOME ONE HAD LOOKED AT THEIR CHILD, SEEN THEIR POTENTIAL, AND DECIDED IT MATTERED. THIS IS WHY WE DO THE WORK.

WHEN I BECAME YOUR SUPERINTENDENT I MADE A

[00:10:03]

AND I MADE IT THE WAY I MAKE EVERY DECISION THAT MATTERS.

WITH DEEP THOUGHT AND REFLECTION AND A CONSTANT NORTH STAR IN CHILDREN. THE PROMISE WAS THIS.

EVERY STUDENT KNOWN, EVERY VOICE VALUED, EVERY SCHOOL READY.

THE PROMISE IS NO LONGER JUST WORDS.

IT'S COMING TO LIFE IN THE DATA WE CARRY AND THE SYSTEMS WE'VE BUILT. AND MOST OF ALL IN THE LIVES OF OUR SCHOLARS. SO LET ME BEGIN WITH THE EVIDENCE. NOT BECAUSE NUMBERS ARE THE POINT BUT BECAUSE EVERY BEHIND ONE OF THESE NUMBERS IS A CHILD WHOSE LIFE BENT TOWARD A POSSIBILITY.

OUR GRADUATION RATE IS NEAR 94%. OUR ADVANCED PLACEMENT PASS RATES CLIMB FROM 59%-70%. OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS REACHED 58% AND OUR COMPLETION SURPASSED THE 50% GOAL WE SET FOR OURSELVES. DUAL ENROLLMENT IMPROVED BY MORE THAN 6%. ABBOTT NOW REACHES 13 OF OUR SCHOOLS AND LAS FLORES EARNED ITS FIRST EVER CALIFORNIA AND NATIONAL SCHOOLS TO WATCH RECOGNITION.

A SIGN THAT EXCELLENCE IS TAKING ROOT NOT JUST AT THE TOP OF OUR SYSTEM, BUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT.

BUT NUMBERS ALONE CAN NEVER TELL THE WHOLE STORY SO LET ME TELL YOU WHAT PROGRESS ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IN THIS DISTRICT.

PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE ONE OF OUR SENIORS GAIL FRIEDMAN.

THE STANDARD LIVES HERE. WITH POISE AND GRACE THAT MOVED EVERYONE IN THE ROOM, PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE THIS SCHOLARS AND EDUCATORS AT MAYF MAYFAIR AND BELLFLOWER.

GIVING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY A CHANCE TO WITNESS THE BRILLIANCE HAPPENING EVERY DAY IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND ON OUR GYMS AND FIELDS. PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE OUR SCHOLARS EARNING PRESTIGIOUS ACADEMIC HONORS PROVING THAT BELLFLOWER SCHOLARS CAN COMPETE AND EXCEL AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.

IT LOOKS LIKE OUR STUDENT ATHLETES BRINGING HOME CHAMPIONSHIPS AND TITLES REPRESENTING THEIR SCHOOLS WITH PRIDE AND DETERMINATION. IT LOOKS LIKE OUR MUSICIANS ARE ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS REMINDING US THAT EXCELLENCE LIVES WELL BEYOND THE WALLS OF ANY CLASSROOM.

AND IT LOOKS TO SIX SCHOOLS BECE IN THIS DISTRICT EVERY SCHOLAR DESERVES THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE, COMPETE, AND BELONG. AND BELONGING NOT JUST ACHIEVEMENT IS HOW A CHILD LEARNS THEY MATTER.

THAT IS PROGRESS, THAT'S OPPORTUNITY, THAT IS THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

NOW BOARD MEMBERS I WANT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, NONE OF THIS HAPPENS BY ACCIDENT. EXCELLENCE THAT CANNOT BE SUSTAINED IS TRULY NOT EXCELLENCE.

IT IS SIMPLY GOOD FORTUNE. AND SO THIS YEAR ALONGSIDE THE CELEBRATION WE DID THE QUIETER HARDER WORK OF BUILDING THE SYSTEMS THAT MAKE PROGRESS LAST. THROUGH OUR GUIDING COALITION -- THANK YOU MRS. CARTER. WE RENEWED OUR MISSION AND CORE VALUES. WE BUILT OUR BUSD LEARNER PROFILE AND DISTRICT LEARNING MODEL AND WE CREATED OUR STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT. THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE.

WE STRENGTHEN INSTRUCTION, EXPANDED OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS, AND ELEVATED STUDENT VOICE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

WE LAUNCHED OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR ROUNDTABLE SO THAT EVERY BEST EDUCATOR CAN HELP SHAPE WHAT TEACHING AND LEARNING CAN BECOME. WE INVESTED IN LEADERSHIP THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE STRENGTHENED SCHOOL SAFETY, ADVANCED OUR MASTER PLAN AND TOOK REAL STEPS TO OUR FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY.

THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS, WE'VE RETURNED AGAIN AND AGAIN TO THE SINGLE QUESTION.

HOW WILL THIS WORK IMPROVE THE LIVES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF OUR SCHOLARS? ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS THIS YEAR CAME WHEN WE HONORED OUR HOMEGROWN HEROES LAST YEAR, IN THE DISTRICT ADDRESS. BELL UNIFIED GRADUATES RETURNED TO SERVE THE VERY COMMUNITY THAT HELPED SHAPE AND MOLD THEM.

TO ME, THAT IS THE TRUEST MEASURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THAT IS LEGACY, THAT IS LOVE. THAT IS THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND I AM COMMITTED TO THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I'M DEEPLY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER.

AND IN THE SAME BREATH I WANT TO BE CLEAR-EYED WITH EACH OF YOU.

[00:15:02]

WE MUST CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE.

WE MUST CLOSE OUR OPPORTUNITY GAPS, WE MUST GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF SUPPORTING CHILDREN. AND WE MUST ENSURE THAT EVERY SCHOLAR -- NOT MOST, NOT NEARLY ALL.

BUT EACH SCHOLAR GRADUATES PREPARED FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND FOR LIFE. BECAUSE I REFUSE TO CELEBRATE AN AVERAGE THAT LEAVES ONE OF OUR SCHOLARS BEHIND.

I LOVE OUR CHILDREN TOO MUCH FOR THAT.

OUR MEASURE OF SUCCESS WAS NEVER HOW MANY INITIATIVES WE LAUNCHED. OUR MEASURE OF SUCCESS IS HOW MANY LIVES WE CHANGED. AGAIN TO OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION, OUR ADMINISTRATORS COME A TEACHER, PROFESSIONALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR SCHOLARS.

AND TO OUR SCHOLARS THEMSELVES WHOSE COURAGE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT CONTINUE TO CALL US HIGHER. THE DISTRICT IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE YOURS. WE ARE NOT SIMPLY CELEBRATING WHERE WE HAVE BEEN. WE ARE BUILDING WHAT COMES NEXT.

WE ARE BUILDING A DISTRICT WHERE EXCELLENCE IS EXPECTED.

WHERE OPPORTUNITY IS EXPANDED, AND WHERE EVERY CHILD KNOWS WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT THEIR FUTURE IS FULL OF POSSIBILITY. I BEGAN TO NIGHT WITH A SCHOLAR WHO HAD NEVER HEARD THE WORD COLLEGE.

ATTACHED TO HER NAME. I WILL END THERE TOO.

BECAUSE SOMEWHERE IN THIS DISTRICT TO NIGHT THERE IS ANOTHER SCHOLAR JUST LIKE HER WAITING TO BE SEEN.

OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE WE SEE HER OR HIM.

EVERY STUDENT KNOWN, EVERY VOICE VALUED, EVERY SCHOOL READY.

THE STANDARD LIVES HERE. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

[8. COMMITTEE UPDATES]

>> YES, MADAM PRESIDENT, WE DID HAVE A SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING.

A VERY ROBUST ONE SO THANK YOU CHRISTIAN IF HE IS HERE.

HE HAD I BELIEVE SEVEN OR EIGHT DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS IN THE ONE MEETING. WE COVERED THE GOGUARDIAN, WE WENT OVER THE GREAT SHAKEOUT, THE STAFFING AND SOME FUTURE SECURITY MEASURES THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. BOARD MEMBER CINTRON DID I

FORGET ANY? >> WE JUST TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE ISSUES AND THEN I DID WANT TO ADD THAT I. KNOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS COMMITTEE BUT IF WE COULD LOOK AT THE CALENDAR.

BECAUSE I FOR ONE THINK THAT WE SHOULD MEET MORE OFTEN.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT WE COVERED IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> COMMITTEE UPDATE PLEASE.

SORRY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY WEDNESDAY WE HAD A CULTURE AND CLIMATE MEETING BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD TO RESCHEDULE THAT. THANK YOU.

[9. PUBLIC COMMENTS: AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS]

>> OKAY. WE NOW MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS. TONIGHT WE HAVE REQUEST TO ADDRESS AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS. THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT WILL LISTEN TO EACH PUBLIC COMMENT.

HOWEVER WE WILL NOT PROVIDE RESPONSES DURING THE MEETING.

THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE WILL CONTACT THE PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR GOVERNING MEMBER IF THE COMMENT MAY CALL FOR A FOLLOW UP. BOARD MEINDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILE ALLOWED 3 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND THE BOARD WILL LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME FOR THE PUBLIC PUT TO 21 MINUTES PER BOARD BY LAW UNLESS OTHERWISE WAIVED BY THE BOARD.

CAN KRISTIN PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM?

SORRY, CAN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON. >> YEAH, IS THAT BETTER? GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'M THE MOTHER OF A. MAYFAIR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT AND A MAYOR FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE FROM THE CLASS OF 2024.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS DISTRICT SINCE MY OLDEST STARTED SCHOOL. I'M ALSO A GRADUATE STUDENT STUDYING SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING TO YOU FROM THIS PODIUM. SO EXCUSE ME IF MY VOICE QUI

[00:20:03]

I WALKED DOOR TO DOOR ASKING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TRUST HER AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN. AMY IS THE ONLY PERSON ON THIS BOARD WHOSE VOICE REPRESENTS MINE.

AND SHE ISN'T EVEN MY AREA TRUSTEE.

THAT SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING. FROM WHERE I SIT, THERE IS A CLEAR INGROUP AND OUTGROUP ON THIS BOARD.

I QUESTION WHETHER THE CENSURE IS BEING DRIVEN BY A SMALL GROUP, ANGRY THAT AMY STEWART HAS THE AUDACITY TO CHALLENGE DECISIONS AND SPEAK UP FOR HER CONSTITUENTS.

NOW WE ARE HEARING ALLEGATIONS OF PROFANITY AND A PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

I. KNOW AMY STEWART'S CHARACTER.

THE SUGGESTION THAT SHE WOULD SIMPLY PUSH SOMEONE TO THE GROUND WITHOUT ANY CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING UP TO IT DOES NOT MATCH THE PERSON THAT I KNOW. BUT I WASN'T THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. AND NEITHER DOES THE REST OF THE PUBLIC. WHO INITIATED THE CONFRONTATION? WHAT WAS OCCURRING? WAS SOMEONE DEFENDING THEMSELVES? WHERE WAS THE IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS INCIDENT? I HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE OF A INDEPENDENT UNBIASED REVIEW.

HOW CAN THE PUBLIC TRUST THE JUDGMENT MADE BY PEOPLE WHO MAY BE PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THIS DISPUTE? AND PROFANITY? ON JUNE 24TH, 2025, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DROPPED THE F BOMB TO CAMERAS NATIONWIDE ON TV. YET WE ARE DISCUSSING CENSURING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER PARTLY OVER PROFANITY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AMONG COLLEAGUES THAT ARE ADULTS.

REALLY? AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT, I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THE DISTRICT SHOULD UNDERSTAND. MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, AND FOR BOARD MEMBERS.

WE TEACH CHILDREN EMOTIONAL REGULATION, EMPATHY COMPASSION, AND GRACE. WE RECOGNIZE PEOPLE HAVE BAD DAYS. AND THE EMOTIONS SOMETIMES RUN HIGH. WHERE WAS THE GRACE HERE? GRACE DOESN'T MEAN EXCUSING VIOLENCE.

IT MEANS UNDERSTANDING CONTEXT. HEARING EVERY SIDE AND RECOGNIZING PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN THEIR WORST MOMENTS.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT GRACE REFLECTED IN THIS PROCESS.

INSTEAD I SEE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BOARD MAJORITY MORE INTERESTED IN CONDEMNING A DISSENTING VOICE THAN UNDERSTANDING THE FULL CIRCUMSTANCES. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

WE NOW HAVE CINDY. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, DOCTOR SIMON, CABINET, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

I'VE BEEN TEACHING AT LINDSTROM FOR 30 YEARS.

I GREW UP IN BELLFLOWER AND DURING MY TIME AT BELLFLOWER MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, BOARD MEMBER AMY STEWART AND I WERE CLASSMATES AND TEAMMATES. SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG LEADER AND A LOYAL FRIEND. HER FOCUS ON AND OFF THE COURT WAS ON WHAT SHE COULD DO TO HELP OTHERS SUCCEED AND HER PASSION CONTINUES AS SHE SERVES HER COMMUNITY AS A BOARD MEMBER.

SHE LISTENS, ASKS QUESTIONS, AND MAKES DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT'S BEST FOR STUDENTS. SHE DOES THE SAME FOR HER OWN STUDENTS. MISS STEWART IS AN ACTIVE BOARD MEMBER WHO VISITS CAMPUSES AND ATTENDS NUMEROUS SCHOOL EVENTS.

HER VISIBILITY AND BOARD REPORTS SHOW HOW MUCH SHE IS INVESTED IN ALL OF US. WE BOTH HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN BELLFLOWER AND ATTENDING THE USD SCHOOLS.

THIS IS WHY WE RETURNED AND CONTINUE TO BE PART OF THIS DISTRICT. I HOPE MY PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS WILL LOOK BACK AND HAVE FOND MEMORIES AS WELL.

I'D LIKE TO END BY THANKING THE BOARD MEMBERS AND DR. SALMON FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

CAN WE PLEASE HAVE JOHN? >> GOOD EVENING.

BELLFLOWER HIGH CLASS OF 1980. I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL BELLFLOWER HIGH ALUMNI TO COME TO OUR HOMECOMING GAME 7:00 P.M.

TOMORROW NIGHT. WE HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF HOMECOMING. MY SISTER MELISSA WAS A HOMECOMING PRINCESS IN 1984. AND I HOPE PEOPLE WILL BRING THEIR LETTERMAN'S JACKETS OR WEAR SCHOOL COLORS TO REACQUAINT

[00:25:02]

ALSO TO REMEMBER THE ONES THAT HAVE PASSED ON AND I APPRECIATE FRED FOR DOING THE MEMORIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED PEOPLE HAVE PASSED ON RECENTLY AND SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS ON SCOTT STREET HAVE PASSED AWAY. SO I HOPE EVERYBODY CAN COME TO THE GAME TOMORROW NIGHT. 7:00 P.M.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

WE NOW HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. THIS EVENING ON THE REAPPOINTMENT OF BOARD APPOINTEE TO PERSONNEL COMMISSION.

>> I BELIEVE THERE IS ONE MORE SPEAKER.

>> THANK YOU. SPEAKER AMANDA.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M AMANDA AND I'VE BEEN HERE A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AND SINCE THEN I HAVE WATCHED THE BOARD MEETINGS ON TV JUST TO SEE THE CONCERNS I HAD BROUGHT TO ATTENTION MAY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP AGAIN AND WHERE THEY MAY BE GOING.

HOW MUCH INFORMATION THAT DAY I MIGHT GATHER IN THE MEETING.

BUT I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT I WATCHED NOVEMBER 8TH OCTOBER 8TH BOARD MEETING AND AS A MOTHER OF FIVE STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM -- I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH WHAT I OBSERVED. THE BEHAVIORS AMONGST THE BOARD MEMBERS. THE ELITE GROUP THAT REPRESENTS OUR DISTRICT AND THE DECISION MAKING WITHIN.

THIS GROUP AND TO SEE THE WAY THEY CONDUCTED THEMSELVES.

I TRIED TO UNDERSTAND FULLY LIKE THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT AND DR. SIMON'S NEEDS. I GET SO MANY EMAILS FROM HER -- THANK YOU. BUT I GET LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED BUT EVEN JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING ENTIRELY HOW WE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT GOT DURING THE MEETING.

I AM CONCERNED WITH THE DIRECTION THE BOARD IS GOING AND THE CONFIDENCE I HAVE IN THIS BOARD TO REALLY MAKE DECISIONS ON THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE WHAT WAS DISPLAYED PUBLICLY I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IS NOT DISPLAYED.

I REALLY HOPE THAT EACH CONCERN THAT IS BROUGHT TO YOU GUYS IS HANDLED SERIOUSLY BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT MAYBE WHAT WE GOT TO SEE IS THE WAY THAT SOME CONCERNS MIGHT BE ADDRESSED AND/OR NOT HANDLED IN THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT TO SAY OTHER THAN I REALLY HOPE THAT SOME OF THOSE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE ARE NOT TRUE SUCH AS THE WAY THE BOARD HAS BEEN HANDLING LAST YEAR OR LIARS OR STORIES THAT NEED TO BE TOLD. IT'S JUST VERY CONCERNING TO WATCH THAT AND WONDER WHAT IS GOING ON.

WHO IS APPOINTED TO HANDLE THINGS ON BEHALF OF OUR KIDS? WHAT THINGS WERE NOT HANDLED RIGHT THIS LAST YEAR? WAS IT MY CONCERNS MAYBE? WAS IT OTHERS? I JUST HAVE TO SAY I REALLY HOPE THAT THAT THE STANDARDS WE HOLD OUR TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, AND EVEN OUR STUDENTS TOO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT IN MIND FOR OURSELVES ESPECIALLY WHEN WE SIT AT A BIG TABLE LIKE THIS AND MAKE SUCH AN IMPORTANT DECISION ON BEHALF OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.

I THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

AND I APPRECIATE THE PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK TO WHAT I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO SEE IN OUR DISTRICT.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER?

[10. PUBLIC HEARING]

AT THIS TIME I DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN.

WOULD ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM?

>> HI, JONATHAN. I'M ONE OF THE FEW MEMBERS THAT ATTENDS PERSONNEL COMMISSION'S MEETINGS.

WHICH I THINK IT USED TO BE IN HERE BUT NOW IT'S IN BUILDING C NOW. I HOPE PEOPLE WILL COME.

I'VE OBSERVED JASON WYLIE AT THE MEETINGS TO BE VERY PROFESSIONAL

[00:30:02]

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT REGARDING MY CONCERNS WITH ANOTHER PERSONNEL COMMISSIONER WHO HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN FAIR WITH OTHER SUBGROUPS OF EMPLOYEES AT ANOTHER LEARNING INSTITUTION. AND ALSO HAVING BIAS REGARDING CLASSES OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH HER REGARDING MY CONCERNS FOR THAT SO WE ARE NOT AT A LEGAL LIABILITY. THANK YOU.

>> DOCTOR SIMON, WOULD YOU PLEASE FOLLOW UP?

>> TO SAY THIS. I DON'T HAVE ANY JURISDICTION OVER THE PC. I THINK THAT'S WITH DOCTOR SUE.

THAT WOULD NOT BE WITH ME PERSONALLY.

THE CHAIR OF THE P C. COMMISSION.

OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY OVERSIGHT OF THE PC. NO, SIR.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION, DOCTOR SIMON.

>> HI. >> I'M JUST UP HERE TO ACCEPT HOPEFULLY THAT YOU DO APPOINT JASON.

HE DOES DO A GOOD JOB. HE TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OUR CLASSES. CSCA IS ON BOARD.

>> THANK YOU. ANY ONE ELSE? AT THIS TIME I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD?

[11. DISCUSSION ITEM]

DOCTOR SIMON. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GARZA.

MISS PEARL WILL BE JOINING US. THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK.

TO THE PODIUM TO SHARE THE REVISIONS OF THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS APART THAT WAS APPROVED AT THE SEPTEMBER 10TH 2026 MEETING. WELCOME.

>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. SUPERINTENDENT, CABINET.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME COME BACK THIS EVENING.

I DON'T LIKE IT RIGHT IN MY FACE.

JUST A VERY QUICK PRESENTATION TO NIGHT TO PRESENT TO YOU WHAT IS UP FOR APPROVAL THIS EVENING. FIND THE CLICKER.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, I'M NOT GOING TO READ THIS SLIDE. THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR WHICH WAS THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS YOU APPROVED IN SEPTEMBER WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE DISTRICT KEPT OUR TRANSACTIONS IN A DISTRICT SYSTEM. AND IT WAS REQUIRED TO UPLOAD THE SAME INFORMATION INTO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE EVENT SYSTEM AS WELL. SO THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WAS REQUIRED. PRIOR TO THAT WE KEPT OUR INFORMATION AND OUR OWN SYSTEM. THAT BEING THE FIRST YEAR IT WAS REQUIRED, WE PROCEEDED PRIOR TO ME THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF WORK DONE TO GET ALL OF THAT TRANSACTION INTO THE SYSTEM.

SO THE BOARD APPROVED THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS ON SEPTEMBER 10TH. AND THEN AS PART OF THE REVIEW, WHICH IS A REQUIRED REVIEW, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF INCONGRUITY BETWEEN THE FORUMS THAT YOU USED THAT NIGHT AND WHAT WAS IN THE SYSTEM.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT THEY HAVE ASKED THAT THE BOARD APPROVE SOME REVISED FORMS. IN ORDER TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF WORK. I AS THE ACCOUNTING CONSULTANT CAME IN, DIGESTED A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. AND MADE QUITE A FEW TRANSACTIONS. NOW THE BULK OF THESE ISSUES WERE THAT STEMMED FROM BEGINNING BALANCES, NOT COMING IN IN THE RIGHT MANNER OF BEING DOUBLED UP WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

[00:35:04]

I'LL GO OVER THOSE TONIGHT. NO CHANGES WERE MADE TO EXPENSES OR REVENUES. SO WHAT YOU APPROVED IS VIRTUALLY THE SAME. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDS THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THIS.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH SOME ACCOUNTING 101, I WILL SAY THAT CASH IS AN ASSET. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE IS A LIABILITY AND THOSE TEND TO CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT BY THE WAY.

THOSE BALANCES ARE HELD. A LITTLE BIT OF ACCOUNTING BUT ALL OF THESE FUNDS HAD SOME ISSUE WITH THOSE TWO BALANCES.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND CASH. THOSE NEEDED -- SOME THINGS NEEDED TO BE REVERSED BECAUSE THEY WERE DOUBLED UP.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT THAT'S THE BULK OF WHAT CHANGED FOR ALL OF THE FUNDS EXCEPT THE GENERAL FUND.

THE GENERAL FUND THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF A BEGINNING BALANCE RESTATEMENT THAT WAS $261,000.

THAT DOES IMPACT THE BALANCE. IT ADDS TO THE ENDING BALANCE SO GOOD NEWS. I'LL KIND OF GIVE YOU A OVERVIEW. THIS SLIDE IS KIND OF WHAT YOU APPROVED SEPTEMBER 10TH. THE FIRST COLUMN OF NUMBERS THERE SHOWS WHAT YOU APPROVED THAT NIGHT.

THE SECOND COLUMN WITH THE TWO HIGHLIGHTED AMOUNTS SHOWS THOSE CHANGES. THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE WENT UP BY THE $261,000 AND THE ENDING FUND BALANCE WENT UP A VERY SMALL AMOUNT TO JUST UNDER $45 MILLION TO A LITTLE OVER $45 MILLION. NOT MUCH OF A CHANGE THERE.

BUT IT IS -- IT IS NECESSARY THAT THESE BE APPROVED BECAUSE THE DASH BECAUSE THEY NEED TO MOVE THAT FORWARD TO CDE. AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE HAVE CORRECTED ANY DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN WHAT THE BOARD APPROVED AND WHAT'S IN OUR SYSTEM OF RECORD WHICH IS CONSIDERED THE SYSTEM OF RECORD. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER THOSE FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

OTHERWISE IT'S ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA.

>> QUESTIONS COMMENTS? >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BUT I DO HAVE A COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK AND EXPLAINING THAT TO US. I REALLY APPRECIATED.

I KNOW WE HAD A LITTLE MORE TIME AND INSIGHT WITH YOU ON THIS.

I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND HELPING US MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS AS IT SHOULD. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THE

PRESENTATION TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU.

I LIKE TO SEE IT WRAPPED UP NEATLY AND GET IT COMPLETELY APPROVED TO CDE. I FEEL THAT'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUT WITH THIS AND GETTING IT ALL STRAIGHTENED OUT. I. KNOW THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS KIND OF DASHED THERE IS A LOT OF COMPATIBILITY ISSUES WITH THE SYSTEM. I KNOW THAT WAS A CONSIDERATION.

IS IT FIXED AND THIS WON'T BE A PROBLEM GOING FORWARD OR IS IT JUST FIXED FOR NOW BASED OFF THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY?

>> IT IS FIXED FOR '25-'26 CLOSURE.

SOME DISCUSSION HAS TRANSPIRED BETWEEN FISCAL STAFF, BYE BYE BAILEY, DOCTOR SIMON, TO HOW TO PROCEED REGULARLY SO IT CAN BE AVOIDED SO YOU'RE NOT AT YOUR END WONDERING ARE OUR BALANCES CORRECT? YOU'RE DOING A REGULAR AMOUNT OF

CHECKING THAT WOULD BE IDEAL. >> SO IT'S A STILL COMPATIBILITY ISSUE WITH THE SOFTWARE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SPOT CHECK

AS WE GO FORWARD? >> IT IS.

THE CONSULTANT THAT SET UP THE TRANSFER OF INFORMATION HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS.

HIS COMPANY IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOT DIRECTLY WITH POWER SCHOOLS BUT THAT'S PRIMARILY THE WORK HE DOES. HE'S BEEN CONSULTED AND UNDERSTANDS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU AGAIN. >> ANYONE ELSE? QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? THANK YOU.

[00:40:03]

11.2 DATA UPDATE. DOCTOR SIMON.

>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GARZA. THIS TIME I'LL BE TURNING IT OVER TO ASSISTANT PRESIDENT CARTER.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.

TONIGHT WE PRESENT OUR FALL 2026 DATA UPDATE.

THIS EVENING'S PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS THE MOMENTUM BUILDING ACROSS OUR DISTRI. MULTI-YEAR GROWTH THAT CONSISTENTLY OUTPERFORMS STATE TRENDS.

LOOKING AT OUR STATE TESTING DATA AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS WE ARE SEEING REAL MOMENTUM AS NEARLY HALF OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE NOW COMPLETELY SURPASSED THEIR PRE-PANDEMIC BENCHMARKS.

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS BELLFLOWER UNIFIED HAS STEADILY OUTPACED THE STATE'S GROWTH TRAJECTORY OVER ALL WHILE ALSO SHOWING STRONG POSITIVE TRENDS AMONG OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND HISPANIC COHORTS.

THIS GROWTH IS ENCOURAGING OUR OVERALL DISTRICT PROFICIENCY REMAINS AN AREA OF CONTINUED FOCUS.

TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THIS AND BOOST FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE SCIENCE AND READING TRAINING THROUGH THE INITIATIVE FOR UPPER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS. PAIRED WITH DEDICATED RELEASE DAYS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY DISTRICT WIDE AND REVISIT COMMITMENTS MADE LAST YEAR DURING THE GETTING RIGHT TRAINING. WHEN WE EXAMINED THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD FOR ELA THE SITE LEVEL MOMENTUM IS CLEAR.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOL SITES IMPROVED THEIR PERFORMANCE THIS YEAR WITH NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF OUR CAMPUSES SITTING IN THE HIGHEST SCREEN IN BLUE PERFORMANCE BANDS.

TONIGHT WE ARE LOOKING AT BOTH STATE TESTS WHICH HIGHLIGHT THE PROFICIENCY OF STUDENTS ON STATE STANDARDS FOR ELA AND MATH AS WELL AS THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD DATA WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE GROWTH MADE IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR.

RED AND ORANGE SHOWS DECLINE. YELLOW MEANS SCORES HAVE MAINTAINED AND GREEN AND BLUE MEANS THERE HAS BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT. OUR OVERALL DISTRICT STATUS FOR ELA ACHIEVEMENT REMAINED ORANGE. AS WE DECLINED SLIGHTLY IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT OUR ALTOS WHO ARE IN THE RED CATEGORY. OUR SITE EA SPECIALISTS TO REVIEW DATA AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES.

TARGETED SUPPORTS ARE ALSO BEING PROVIDED THROUGH ELEVATION DATA CHATS. SMALL GROUP LITERACY INTERVENTIONS AND CLOSELY MONITORING INDIVIDUAL STUDENT PROGRESS. IN MATHEMATICS, OUR EFFORTS CLEAR. WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE SCHOOLS SURPASSING THE PRE-PANDEMIC SCORES.

OUR DISTRICT'S MULTIYEAR GROWTH OUTPACED THE STATE AVERAGE DRIVEN BY SIGNIFICANT UPWARD TRAJECTORIES AMONG STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. ENGLISH LEARNERS, AFRICAN AMERICAN, HISPANIC, AND SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS. EVEN WITH THESE GAINS, OVERALL MATH PROFICIENCY REMAINS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY PRIORITIES.

AND THE ELEMENTARY WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE GROWTH IN SCHOOLS UTILIZING NEXT GEN MATH WITH FIDELITY AND THE SECONDARY SITES ARE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING COMMON ASSESSMENTS AND PROVIDING DIRECT MATH SUPPORT TO STUDENTS IN NEED.

THIS FOCUS WORK AND MATH TRANSLATES TO A UPGRADED DASHBOARD STATUS FROM ORANGE TO YELLOW DUE TO CAMPUS LEVEL GROWTH ACROSS THE DISTRICT. MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR EQUITY REPORT SHOWS WE HAVE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED THE RED CATEGORY ACROSS ALL STUDENT GROUPS. ALTHOUGH MOMENTUM IS CLEAR TO DIRECTLY TACKLE THE LOW MATH PROFICIENCY AND BUILD DEEP CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE PARTNERED DIRECTLY WITH UCLA AND THE CURTIS CENTER TO DELIVER THE BIG IDEAS FRAMEWORK FOR ALL K THROUGH 12 MATH TEACHERS ALONG WITH PROVIDING DEDICATED MATH LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORKS, TRAINING FOR SITE ADMINISTRATORS THIS YEAR.

WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS WHO RECLASSIFIED, THE DATA PROVES WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE TRULY CAPABLE OF.

ARE WE CLASSIFIED SCHOLARS ACHIEVING AT SOME OF THE HIGHEST ACADEMIC LEVELS IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT ACROSS BOTH MATH AND ELA. OUR CURRENT ENGLISH LEARNERS AND LONG TERM ENGLISH LEARNERS ARE DEMONSTRATING ST STEADY POSITIVE MULTIYEAR GROWTH TRENDS. THE POST-SECONDARY OUTLOOK FOR OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS HAS IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY

[00:45:01]

COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS AND OUR HIGH SCHOOLS IS DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL STRENGTH.

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS OUR ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAM PASS RATE FOR HS AND MH S. HAS RISEN SIGNIFICANTLY TO 70%.

OUR DISTRICT WIDE GRADUATION RATE STANDS STRONG AT 93% AND OUR SINGLE YEAR COMPLETION RATE EXPERIENCED A DOUBLE JUMP.

ON THE STATE DASHBOARD FOR GRADUATION RATE HALF OF OUR STUDENT GROUPS EARNED THE HIGHEST BLUE AND GREEN PERFORMANCE RATING WITH ZERO STUDENTS FALLING INTO THE RED CATEGORY. WHEN WE DISAGGREGATE OUR GRADUATION DATA AGAINST STATE AVERAGES, BUSD OUTPERFORMS AGAINST VIRTUALLY EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP INCLUDING OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS, SOCIALLY ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, HOMELESS YOUTH, AND AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOLARS WHO ACHIEVED A REMARKABLE 97.6 GRADUATION RATE. OUR THREE YEAR TREND ON THE STATE'S COLLEGE CAREER INDICATOR REFLECTS ACCELERATED GROWTH AS THE PERCENTAGE OF GRADUATING SENIORS DEEMED FULLY PREPARED NEARLY DOUBLED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

CONCURRENTLY THE PERCENTAGE OF NON-PREPARED STUDENTS SHRANK SIGNIFICANTLY. WE ACHIEVED A MAJOR MILESTONE.

ZERO STUDENT GROUPS IN RED OR ORANGE TO TRANSITION OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY APPROACHING PREPARED AND TO FULLY PREPARE WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES. REMOVE COSTS FROM STUDENTS TAKING AP EXAMS AND IDENTIFY AVENUES FOR WORK BASED LEARNING.

THE GROWTH EARNED BELLFLOWER UNIFIED THE ULTIMATE DISTINCTION OF THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD.

A BLUE PERFORMANCE RATING. WHICH IS THE HIGHEST STATUS ACHIEVABLE. EVERY SCHOOL CAMPUS INCREASED ITS PERCENTAGE OF PREPARED GRADUATES AND EVERY STUDENT GROUP SHOWED SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH. THIS SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IS A TESTAMENT TO THE LEADERSHIP AND TO THE STAFFS AND STUDENTS HARD WORK AT THE SCHOOL SITES. THE COUNSELING SYSTEMS AND PROGRESS MONITORING EFFORTS WILL BE CONTINUED TO ENSURE THIS LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT IS SUSTAINED.

OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER MOMENTUM IS BACKED BY A ROBUST STRUCTURAL FOUNDATION. THROUGH OUR THREE YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH HATCHING RESULTS OUR COUNSELORS BUILT UP SYSTEMS TO MONITOR STUDENT PATHWAYS, TO SUSTAIN THE EFFORTS WE'VE ALSO PERFORMED ACROSS DESIGN TEAMS SCALED AND EXPANDED MAYFAIR. WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH TOMORROW'S TALENT TO CONNECT OUR STUDENTS DIRECTLY WITH EMPLOYERS, INTERNSHIPS, AND WORKPLACE TRAINING AND LEARNING.

CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM HAS IMPROVED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS FROM

[00:50:03]

TO BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM AND PUSH ABSENTEEISM LOWER, WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON HEAVILY OUR EARLY ATTENDANCE HABITS COMMUNICATION AND RECOGNITION OF IMPROVEMENT AND INCREASED AWARENESS OF INDEPENDENT STUDY OPTIONS. 92% OF ALL THE USD SCHOOLS IMPROVE THEIR ATTENDANCE RATES THIS YEAR.

OF PLACING TWO-THIRDS OF OUR CAMPUSES IN THE GREEN AND BLUE DASHBOARD BANDS. TO SUPPORT THE SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENT GROUPS STRUGGLING WITH ATTENDANCE OUR SITE ATTENDANCE TEAMS AND KEY SERVICE WORKERS ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH FAMILIES TO ELIMINATE NONACADEMIC BARRIERS TO SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. TO OPERATIONALIZE OUR EFFORTS WE TRAINED OFFICE STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS, AND REVIEWED REFERRAL PROTOCOLS WITH SITE ATTENDANCE TEAM.

DATA IS REGULARLY SHARED WITH SITE ADMINISTRATORS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CELEBRATION AND BEST PRACTICES DURING THE MEETINGS. OUR COMMITMENT TO POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATE DRIVEN OUR DISTRICT SUSPENSION RATE INTO THE GREEN DASHBOARD CATEGORY HIGHLIGHTED BY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS WHILE SUSPENSIONS DECREASED ACROSS DISPROPORTIONATE GROUPS ELIMINATING BEHAVIORAL PROPORTIONALITY REMAINS A COMPLETE FOCUS. TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT PROACTIVE BEHAVIOR OVER ALL. TO FOSTER WELCOMING ENVIRONMENTS WE IMPLEMENTED CAPTURING KIDS HEARTS ACROSS OUR CAMPUSES AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SURVEY DATA FROM '25 AND '26. THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL YEAR DATA AND THERE'S AN INCREASE IN EACH AREA.

WE PROVIDED EDUCATORS DE-ESCALATION TRAINING AND USED NAVIGATION 360 TO PROVIDE INTERVENTIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. OUR CONTINUED FOCUS IS ENSURING SOCIAL CONTRACTS AND DE-ESCALATION PRACTICES ARE CONSISTENTLY REINFORCED. OUR EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAMS ARE EXPERIENCING UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND AND GROWTH.

IN FACT IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR ALONE REGISTRATION NUMBERS MATCHED WHAT WE PREVIOUSLY SERVED ACROSS THE ENTIRE YEAR. IN AUGUST WE LAUNCHED A SINGLE CENTRALIZED DIGITAL PLATFORM TO STREAMLINE FAMILY ACCESS.

OUR ONGOING FOCUS IS SCALING STAFFING CAPACITY WHILE MAINTAINING TOP TIER ENRICHMENT ALIGNMENT ACROSS ALL SITES.

AS MENTIONED EARLIER AND CONTINUED EFFORT TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN HIGH QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR STUDENTS WE ARE MOVING OUR VISION TO ACTION AND OUR FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE. FOLLOWING BOARD APPROVAL IN AUGUST OUR ACTIVATION TEAMS MET IN SEPTEMBER TO BEGIN BUILDING OUT DISTRICT METRICS AND CLASSROOM PRACTICES ALIGNED TO THE PROFILE OF. THE FRAMEWORK HAS BEEN POSTED ON THE BUSD WEBSITE WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE UPDATED AS WE SOON TO IMPLEMENT THE FRAMEWORK. OUR PROGRAM EXCELLENCE CONTINUES TO GROW IN RECOGNITION. THE INTENSIVE LEARNING CENTER IS APPLYING FOR THE AWARD FOR THE DUAL IMMERSION PROGRAM WHILE BOTH BELLFLOWER MIDDLE AND MAYFAIR MIDDLE ARE APPLYING FOR THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS TO WATCH DESIGNATION.

OUR CAMPUSES CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE STATE AND NATIONAL ACCOLADES. BOTH BELLFLOWER HIGH AND MAYFLOWER HIGH NAMED USA'S BEST HIGH SCHOOLS.

EARNING HONOR ROLL STATUS WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE HAD SUSTAINED HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND EIGHT OF OUR CAMPUSES RECEIVED CALIFORNIA PLATINUM GOLD OR SILVER AWARDS.

A MILESTONE THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS HAS EARNED A ALL BLUE STATUS ON THE DASHBOARD.

THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS REALIZED THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF DIRECTOR ZILLA AND THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF THE LAS FLORES HOME INDEPENDENT STUDY ACADEMY AND SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

FINALLY, WE ARE IMMENSELY PROUD TO SHARE THAT BELLFLOWER MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN AWARDED ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S PREMIER HONORS. THE CSBA GOLDEN BELL AWARD FOR SCHOOL WIDE AVID AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS FOR ALL.

THE AWARD VALIDATES OUR DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO SYSTEMIC EQUITY AND ACHIEVEMENT. IN SUMMARY, OUR 2026 DATA DEMONSTRATES CLEAR MOMENTUM. OUR STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING AT RECORD RATES QUALIFYING FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER AND HISTORIC NUMBERS. ATTENDING SCHOOL MORE CONSISTENTLY AND THRIVING IN AWARD WINNING ENVIRONMENTS.

EQUALLY IMPORTANT OUR DATA PROVIDES CLEAR DIRECTION ON WHERE WE MUST CONTINUE TO FOCUS OUR ENERGY AND RESOURCES.

[00:55:04]

IT IS AS WE KNOW THE STANDARD LIVES HERE AND WE ARE ALL UNIFIED IN PURPOSE TO IGNITE THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY LEARNER.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> , WE HAVE TWO MAJOR ACTION ITEMS.

>> I STILL HAVE COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

SPEAKER I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I WONDER MAYBE ON THE FRIDAY MEMO YOU GUYS CAN TAKE EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES AND MAYBE JUST PUT 1-3 BULLETS OF JUST THINGS YOU THINK WE'VE PUT IN PLACE THAT ARE WORKING. THINGS WE WANT TO CONTINUE OR THINGS THAT YOU ARE THINKING OF LOOKING AT IT TO OUR CAP IN THE FUTURE TO ADD PROGRESSION IF YOU COULD JUST DO THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS AWESOME.

THANK YOU. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

>> I WANT TO COMMENT ON TOMORROW'S TALLY.

I KIND OF LIKE THAT IT REMINDS ME OF THE ROP PROGRAM THAT I WENT THROUGH WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL.

SO THIS IS IN ADDITION TO OUR PROGRAM BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOME OF OUR KIDS PARTICIPATING IN CAL APPS.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GET SIMILAR

EXPERIENCES. >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

CTE, CAL APPS WILL BE CTE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL DAY AND TOMORROW'S TALENT IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO HELP US LEVERAGE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, PLACES WHERE OUR STUDENTS CAN DO INTERNSHIPS OR BRING INTO OUR SCHOOL TO DO WORK BASED LEARNING. IT'S AN EXTENSION OF WHAT WE

ALREADY HAVE. >> THAT'S GREAT.

WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. >> THANK YOU.

>> I DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR THIS.

WAS REALLY EXCITED ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU FIRST PRESENTED THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE, THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE INSPIRING TO DO. THIS IS WHAT YOU TOLD US IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT IT IS HAPPENING.

IN BIG WAYS. MORE THAN I ANTICIPATED SO QUICKLY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATED CAPTURING ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT BUILDS CAPACITY AROUND THE PROGRAMS TO BETTER SUPPORT THE STUDENTS. I KNOW THAT WAS MY BIGGEST CONCERN. HOW DO WE BUILD CAPACITY AROUND THIS. I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.

I JUST APPLAUD ALL THE HARD WORK THAT EVERYBODY IS DOING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING IT TO US.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COM

[12. MAJOR ACTION]

TONIGHT WE HAVE TWO MAJOR ACTION ITEMS. LET'S BEGIN WITH ITEM 12.1. OF CONSIDERATION FOR RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-1022 CENTERING OF BOARD MEMBER AMIE STEWART.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? FROM THE BOARD?

>> YES. PRESIDENT GARZA, IS THERE SOME WAY THAT WE CAN TABLE THIS OR FIND ANOTHER WAY TO MOVE FORWARD? THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE WHEN I READ THE RESOLUTION IT HAD AN ACCOUNT BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT ONLY HAD ONE SIDE OF THE ACCOUNT.

ALSO IF IT NEEDS AN INVESTIGATION, HAVE AN INVESTIGATION, HOWEVER IF THERE IS SOME WAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AS A TEAM AS A SPECIAL MEETING. WE CAN HAVE A STUDY SESSION.

WE CAN HAVE A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.

THERE'S RESOURCES OUT THERE. THAT WE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

I'M SAYING IT'S ONE SIDED. I DID ONE SIDE BUT I DON'T GET THE OTHER SIDE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

>> GENERAL COUNSEL? >> RELATED TO THAT.

THERE IS NO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR THE INVESTIGATION TO BE DONE INTO THE MATTER.

THE WAY IT WORKS IN THE PARLIAMENTARY SETTING IS THAT

[01:00:01]

IF THERE'S A DECISION TO TABLE IT CAN BE TABLED.

IF THERE'S A DECISION TO PROCEED IT CAN PROCEED.

THE WORDS IN THE CENSURE NOTICE ARE THE WORDS THAT THE BOARD WOULD BE ADOPTING. THERE CAN BE DISCUSSION REGARDING THAT. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY CAN BE PRESENTED. THAT THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT IT HAPPENS. BOARD MEMBER STEWART HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT THAT THE BOARD HAS TO UPHOLD AND SO ULTIMATELY IT IS A DELIBERATION OF THE BOARD AND THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT ADDITIONAL FACT FINDING BE DONE IN ORDER TO TAKE UP THIS ITEM CONSIDERED AND VOTE ON.

>> ANOTHER REASON WHY I ASK IS BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY THIS BOARD HAS WORKED ON A HANDBOOK AND I CAN REMEMBER ASKING FOR A SECTION ON CENSORSHIP BE INCLUDED AND IT WAS REJECTED.

AND I FOUGHT FOR IT SAYING THAT WE NEED TO AT LEAST PROVIDE GUIDELINES. NOT THAT WE WANT TO A SISTER ORR OR ANYTHING. I WANTED TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE HANDBOOK. IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND SET THE STANDARDS FOR US SO THAT WE CAN BE ACCOUNTABLE AND WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE ACT.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HANDBOOK IS.

THAT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE. ANYWAY THAT'S IT.

I JUST REALLY WISH WE CAN TABLE THIS OR FIND ANOTHER SOLUTION TO WORK THROUGH THIS. THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY.

>> BOARD MEMBER STEWART? >> I WANT TO ADDRESS THE PROPOSED CENSURE RESOLUTION. I UNEQUIVOCALLY DENY ENGAGING IN UNLAWFUL PHYSICAL MISCONDUCT AND I STRONGLY DISPUTE THE ALLEGATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS CONTAINED IN THE PROPOSED CENSURE RESOLUTION BECAUSE THIS INCIDENT IS REPORTEDLY THE SUBJECT OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION I RETAIN LEGAL COUNSEL AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT TO DISCUSS THE UNDERLYING FACTS PUBLICLY AT THIS TIME. MY ATTORNEY FIRMLY OBJECTED TO THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION AND REQUESTED THAT CONSIDERATION BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE RELEVANT EVIDENCE CAN BE APPROPRIATELY REVIEWED. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE BOARD IS BEING ASKED TO MAKE FINDINGS CONCERNING A DISPUTED EVENT WITHOUT A INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OR A COMPLETE EVALUATION OF THE EVIDENCE. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD POSTPONE CONSIDERATION OF THIS RESOLUTION.

IF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO PROCEED, I ASK THAT MY OBJECTION AND MY ATTORNEY'S CORRESPONDENCE BE INCLUDED IN THE OFFICIAL RECORD.

I REMAIN COMMITTED TO FULFILLING MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN ELECTED TRUSTEE AND SERVING THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EMPLOYEES, AND COMMUNITY OF BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR

COMMENTS? >> YES, MADAM PRESIDENT.

I HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT TO SAY MUCH BUT I JUST CAN'T HELP IT.

I DO WANT TO SAY I GET IT. I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT TO MY BOARD MEMBERS AND I'VE SAID IT ABOUT MY COLLEAGUE AMIE STEWART AS WELL. I THINK THAT ACKNOWLEDGING A BEHAVIOR DOESN'T TAKE AWAY BUT THEY DO AND HOW THEY ARE AS A BOARD MEMBER. SO I DO GET IT.

SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE AND ACTIVE AND DOES HER RESEARCH AND SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN GREAT. WE VOTED THE SAME OVER 85% OF THE TIME. WE END UP ON THE SAME CONCLUSION. IT'S JUST WHEN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE WE DON'T AGREE THEY TEND TO SPILL OVER INTO SOMETHING ELSE. AND WITH THIS -- NOBODY WANTS TO DO THIS. NOBODY WANTS TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AT ALL. BUT WHEN WE SAY THE STANDARD LIVES HERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A STANDARD.

THE IDEA OF JUST BRUSHING THE BEHAVIOR UNDER THE RUG IS UNACCEPTABLE. AND IT'S NOT A CONDEMNATION OF A SINGLE PERSON OR A PHYSICAL BOARD MEMBER.

IT'S ACKNOWLEDGING THE BEHAVIOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

THAT'S WHY I FEEL LIKE IT'S APPROPRIATE TO TALK ABOUT CENSORSHIP AND IT'S A LEGISLATIVE ACTION NOT A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FOR ANY OF THAT.

US AS BOARD MEMBERS, THIS IS HOW WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE TOOLS A BOARD HAS TO KEEP THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE. AND I DON'T THINK ANY ONE BOARD MEMBER WEARS IT. OBVIOUSLY IT'S A BAD LOOK FOR EVERYBODY. NOBODY WANTS TO BE DOING THIS.

[01:05:02]

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS A BOARD ADMINISTRATOR, TEACHERS, HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO THE ACTUAL BEHAVIORS THAT WE ARE DOING. THANK YOU.

>> MADAM PRESIDENT, IF I MAY. JUST WANTED TO FOR THE RECORD AS GENERAL COUNSEL CONFIRMED THE FOLLOWING POINTS THAT WERE MADE BY TRUSTEE STEWART AND HER STATEMENT.

IN COMPLIANCE WITH CALIFORNIA CODE SECTION ALL CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED FROM STEWART'S COUNSEL AND STATED OBJECTION TONIGHT HAVE BEEN FORMALLY INCORPORATED INTO OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORD AND EVERY BOARD MEMBER HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH THAT COMMUNICATION FROM BOARD MEMBER STEWART'S COUNSEL AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE MINUTES AS WELL FOR THE PUBLIC VIEWING AT A LATER TIME.

THE LEGAL AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD UNDER THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, THE ELECTED GOVERNING BODY HAS THE INHERENT CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO CENSURE A MEMBER WHO BREACHES FORMS AND GOVERNMENT STANDARDS BECAUSE AN ELECTED TRUSTEE HOLDS NO PROPERTY OR EMPLOYMENT INTEREST IN THEIR SEAT.

THE INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATION OR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING IS NOT REQUIRED. SO BASICALLY GOING BACK TO THE POINT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION PRIOR TO CENSURE VOTE BEING TAKEN.

HOWEVER IT IS NOTED THAT IT WAS REQUESTED.

AND LASTLY THE RESOLUTION WAS REVISED BEFORE TONIGHT'S MEETING WAS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC AGENDA PACKET.

THE PAGES WAS REPLACED. SECTION ONE OF THE RESOLUTION EXPLICITLY ADOPTS THE RECITAL SOLELY TO THE FINDINGS OF THE BOARD REGARDING BREACHES OF DISTRICT DECORUM BASED ON THE REPORT OF TRUSTEE MEMBERS. THE BOARD IS IN FULL LEGAL AUTHORITY TO PROCEED WITH THE CENSURE BUT AGAIN THAT'S A DISCUSSION FOR THE BOARD TO HAVE.

I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBER STEWART'S COMMENTS WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE RECORD AS WELL.

>> I HAVE ONE COUNT OF A QUESTION FOR LEGAL COUNSEL.

I KNOW YOU SAID THE STATEMENT WAS A REVISED.

I BELIEVE THAT THE FIRST STATEMENT IS NOW REPLACED WITH THE SECOND STATEMENT AND THE FIRST STATEMENT IS JUST GONE.

>> YES. BECAUSE IT WAS REPLACED.

THE ITEM ITSELF WAS AGENDIZED CORRECTLY WITHIN 72 HOURS.

THE ITEMS CAN BE AMENDED AS LONG AS THE AMENDMENT IS NOT MATERIAL. IN THIS CASE IT'S NOT MATERIAL SO IT GETS REPLACED AND THE ORIGINAL VERSION IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET. IT CAN BE REQUESTED BUT IT'S

NOT -- >> HOW WOULD YOU REQUEST IT?

>> CPR. >> THANK YOU.

>> BOARD MEMBER PRESIDENT GARZA, I STILL -- JUST A CONSIDERATION SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS. IS THERE SOME WAY BECAUSE I AM BENT ON RESTORING AND BUILDING OUR TEAM.

NOT THAT I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING AWAY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN GO ABOUT IT A DIFFERENT WAY. WE TALK ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR OUR CHILDREN. DO YOU THINK WE CAN PRACTICE SUCH PRINCIPLES? TO TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS?

AS A TEAM? >> I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TRIED TWICE. OUR WHOLE BOARD HAS.

>> WELL, I DO KNOW -- >> WITH A MEDIATOR.

WITH A MEDIATOR. >> OKAY, DO YOU REMEMBER OUR BOARD RETREATS THAT WE HAD? AND IT WAS VOTED TO RELEASE -- I

[01:10:07]

I WISH WE COULD REVISIT THAT TO WHERE WE COULD REVISIT.

IF WE DON'T BRING THAT INDIVIDUAL BACK MAYBE ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL TO TRY TO HELP US GET US TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

I'M JUST ASKING. >> NO, THAT'S A GOOD REQUEST.

I THINK WE CAN DO THAT. WE CAN BRING SOMEONE BACK.

ABSOLUTELY. >> I DO WANT TO REITERATE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD BOARD RETREATS.

WE HAD THE TEAM BUILDING RETREATS AND WE'VE DONE IT MULTIPLE TIMES. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN EFFECTIVE.

I DO THINK -- M. REQUESTING IN THE FRIDAY MEMO THERE'S A TRADING I THINK THAT'S REALLY VALUABLE FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM TO DO. I THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO SIGNED UP FOR IT SO FAR BUT IT'S A REALLY GOOD TRAINING.

I LIKE IT. I THINK THAT TRAINING WOULD BE VERY VALUABLE. BUT THE ONES WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST HAVE NOT ENDED WELL. IN FACT THEY ACTUALLY ENDED WITH PEOPLE STORMING OUT OF THE ROOM. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE VALUABLE AND WE HAVE TRIED AND WE'VE INVESTED MONEY IN DOING IT. IT HAS NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T DO IT AGAIN BECAUSE AGAIN A CENSURE IS NOT -- YOU DON'T STOP WORKING AS A TEAM.

YOU HAVE TO BUILD FROM HERE AND WE NEED TO TRY SOMETHING.

I HOPE EVERYBODY SIGNS UP FOR THAT TRAINING THAT WAS ON THE MEMO. IN FACT THERE IS ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION I'D BE LOOKING AT AS WELL.

>> ANY ONE ELSE? OKAY.

I HAVE SOME COMMENTS TO MAKE. ACKNOWLEDGING THE INCIDENT TONIGHT'S AGENDA INCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF A CENSURE OF BOARD MEMBER STEWARD'S. THE ITEM STANDS FROM A INCIDENT DURING THE MEETING OF OCTOBER 8TH IN WHICH BOARD MEMBER STEWARD PHYSICALLY SHOVED HER ME OVER A CHAIR CAUSING ME INJURY. IT WAS UNEXPECTED, IT WAS WRONG, IT WAS BATTERY. THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES IT TO BE SAID SO PLAINLY. DISAGREEMENT NEVER JUSTIFIES ABUSE. EVERY ONE OF US WILL DISAGREE AT TIMES. AND WE SHOULD.

DIFFERING OPINIONS ARE PART OF SERVING THE PUBLIC.

BUT TOLERANCE -- BUT INTOLERANCE OF A DIFFERENT VIEW MUST NEVER LEAD TO PHYSICAL OR VERBAL ABUSE.

NO MATTER WHAT IS BEFORE THIS BOARD.

NO DISAGREEMENT IS EVER A REASON TO PUT HANDS ON ANOTHER PERSON OR TO DEMEAN THEM. WE MODEL BEHAVIOR AS BOARD MEMBERS. WE SET THE EXAMPLE FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, AND THIS COMMUNITY.

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WATCH HOW ADULTS HANDLE CONFLICT.

PHYSICAL VIOLENCE IS NOT LEADERSHIP.

AND IT IS UNACCEPTABLE. NO ONE.

NO ONE SHOULD TOLERATE IT IN A BOARD ROOM OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

IN OUR SCHOOLS. SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT.

STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTEND OUR MEETINGS.

AND THEIR SAFETY IS OUR HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL TIMES.

INCLUDING DURING BOARD MEETINGS. EVERYONE WHO WALKS INTO THIS ROOM SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT IT IS SAFE.

RESPECTFUL. AND ORDERLY.

[01:15:04]

>> SORRY. WE NEED A MOTION.

>> SORRY, DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> YOU HAVE IT.

>> SECOND. >> ROLL CALL PLEASE.

>> BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG? >> NO.

>> BOARD MEMBER STEWART. >> NO.

>> BOARD MEMBER CINTRON. >> YES.

>> VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD? YES.

>> PRESIDENT GARZA. YES.

>> NEXT ITEM IS 12.2. APPROVAL OF TEMPORARY AT WILL AGREEMENT FOR INTERIM ASSISTANT SUPER INTENDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES. SORRY.

GENERAL COUNSEL WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME OUT WITH THIS.

>> YES. CONSIDERING ACTIONS OF THE BOARD IT TAKES TONIGHT, THIS ITEM IS RENDERED MOOT BY THE RETURN OF DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF HR RYAN SMITH.

IF THERE'S A MOTION FOR THE ITEM IT'LL BE CONSIDERED.

IF THERE'S NO MOTION THE ITEM DOES PASS

DOES NOT PASS. >> IS THERE A MOTION? HEARING NO MOTION THE ITEM FAILS.

WE NOW MOVE ON TO CONSENT AGENDA.

[13. CONSENT AGENDA]

THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> ROLL CALL PLEASE?

>> BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG? >> AYE.

>> BOARD MEMBER STEWART? >> AYE.

>> BOARD MEMBER CINTRON? >> AYE.

>> VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD. AYE.

[14. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS]

>> PRESIDENT GARZA? >> AYE.

WE NOW MOVE INTO BOARD COMMUNICATIONS.

LET'S BEGIN WITH BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG.

>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GARZA. >> OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AS WE GET THROUGH THE BUSINESS OF THE DISTRICT. AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT WHAT I HAVE DONE LATELY I'VE ATTENDED THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT TEACHERS OF THE YEAR FOR THE '26-'27.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 45 YEARS LOS ANGELES COUNTY OF EDUCATION TAKES PRIDE IN HONORING TEACHING ACHIEVEMENT.

THIS YEAR A TOTAL OF 72 TEACHERS WERE RECOGNIZED AND HONORED INCLUDING THE PRESENTATION OF 16 COUNTY TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AND THE PRESENTATION OF THE 56 DISTRICT TEACHERS OF THE YEAR.

SO I WANT TO EXTEND MY THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO THE STAFF OF BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR BEING ONE OF THE DISTRICTS THAT TOOK PART IN THIS YEAR'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM. THE TEACHERS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND IN COMPILING INFORMATION AND WRITING AT LENGTH ABOUT

[01:20:01]

SHE HAD TWO OF MY CHILDREN. WHICH INCLUDES HONESTY, INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, MERIT, AND RESPECT.

MRS. HILL THRIVES TO ENSURE HER STUDENTS FEEL SAFE, TO TRY, TO FEEL SAFE TO FAIL, TO FEEL SAFE TO ASK QUESTIONS, AND TO FEEL SAFE TO RELAX. HER PRINCIPAL SHARED AS SHE SAID -- I CAN'T PRONOUNCE HER FIRST NAME.

ANYWAYS, SHE SAID MRS. HILL IMPACT IS EVIDENT NOT ONLY IN STUDENT PERFORMANCE BUT IN THE CONFIDENCE AND RESILIENCE HER STUDENTS CARRY WITH THEM LONG AFTER THEY LEAVE HER CLASSROOM.

SOME OF THE TEACHERS RECEIVED FLOWERS AND VARIOUS PRIZES FROM THE SPONSORS OF THE EVENT. I ALSO JOINED BTAS REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL. I HAVE FLASHBACKS TO WHEN I SERVED AS THE TREASURER FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. SO ANYWAY.

IT WAS A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE MEETING AND I LIKED THE WAY OUR TEACHERS COME OUT AND THEY COME OUT AND THEY FILL THE ROOM UP AND THEY HAVE BUSINESS. AND THEN ON OCTOBER 5TH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN OWNERS AND PTA COUNCIL HOSTED THE CANDIDATES QUORUM AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR SHOWING UP AS A CONCERNED STAKEHOLDER AND VICE PRESIDENT CRITCHFIELD AND BOARD MEMBER STEWART WAS THERE TO CHEER US ON.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I JUST CAME BACK FROM A CONFERENCE AND THEY TALKED ABOUT -- I GUESS WE WERE GETTING READY TO DO THE MATH OPTION. I HAVE SOME BOOK LISTS TO SHARE WITH YOU. BUT ANYWAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MATH. A LOT OF MATH.

SO THANK YOU. >> BOARD MEMBER STEWART?

>> GOOD EVENING. THREE WEEKS AGO I ATTENDED THE STATE OF THE CITY. THEY DID A GREAT JOB PRESENTING THE CITY'S DATA AND I APPRECIATE THE YEARLY UPDATES.

BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL ENSEMBLE PERFORMED AND THEY ARE SO FANTASTIC. EVERYONE AT OUR TABLE WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH HOW GREAT THEY SOUNDED SO KUDOS TO HE AND HIS STUDENTS. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE NORTHGATE BEING BUILT ON ROSE GROUNDS AND CLARK AND THE VALLARTA AT THE ROSE GROUNDS AND MCNAB LOCATION.

I BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITY NEEDED MORE GROCERY STORES SO THIS IS AWESOME TO HEAR THOSE PLANS. I HAD A MEETING WITH DR. SIMON.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THE NEW PROGRAMS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TOWARD THE BOARD AND EXCELLENT WORK SHE'S DOING HERE IN BELLFLOWER. HER WORK ETHIC INTEGRITY AND ABILITY TO SEE THE SOLUTIONS WE NEED WHETHER THAT BE WITH SYSTEMS, EMPLOYEES, AND OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IS A BLESSING AND I'M SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH HER AND OVERSEE THE POSITIVE PROGRESSION OF HER EFFORTS.

I WENT TO THE BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME A FEW WEEKS AGO VERSUS SANTA FE SPRINGS. WE WON 40-33.

AUSTIN MILLER RETURNED AND SCORED HIS FIRST TOUCHDOWN.

HIS SENIOR QUARTERBACK SAXTON WAS 25-34 WITH 339 YARDS AND FOUR TOUCHDOWNS. SOPHOMORE DAVID NANSEN HAD SEVEN TACKLES AND THREE SACKS. A FRESHMAN RUNNING BACK KEVIN HAD 22 CARRIES AND 154 YARDS AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS.

A FRESHMAN WIDE RECEIVER KEANDRE SMITH HAD TEN CATCHES FOR 147 YARDS AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS. I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW HE IS SECOND IN THE NATION AND YARDS AND SCORING AND HE'S A FRESHMAN AND DOING AMAZING. I APPLAUD HIM.

I WATCHED THE STATE OF EDUCATION ON THE LIVE STREAM.

RENITA AND I WERE THERE FOR THE CONFERENCE BUT IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE OUR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI CELEBRATED DURING THE EVENT SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. GAIL FREEMAN AND DR. SIMON DID A GREAT JOB HOSTING. CONGRATS TO GAIL FOR BEING CROWNED HOMECOMING KING AT MAYFAIR.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIS MOM AND SHE WAS HOMECOMING QUEEN SO IT'S NICE TO SEE HIM KEEP THAT GOING IN THE FAMILY. OF THURSDAY AND FRIDAY I ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE AND ATTENDED THREE SESSIONS.

THE FIRST SESSION WAS FROM BARRIERS TO BROTHERHOOD WHICH IS A BLUEPRINT OF A DESIGN TO DESIGN A SIMILAR PROGRAM AT OUR OWN SITES. I'M GOING TO TALK TO DR. SIMON ABOUT THIS MORE THE NEXT TIME I MEET WITH YOU BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT COULD MAKE AN IMPACT ON OUR YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN AND OUR SCHOOL SITES. AND SCHOOL SITES CAN IMPLEMENT THIS ON THEIR OWN. IT COULD BE ORGANIZED WITH THE

[01:25:02]

JUST MYSELF I FEEL LIKE WE ALWAYS TALK A LOT ABOUT COLLEGE, CAREER, AND FUTURE BUT WE DON'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT THE THINGS THAT CAN GET YOU TO THAT LOCATION.

I REALLY LIKE THE PROGRAM AND MAYBE SOME OF THE SITES WOULD LIKE TO IMPLEMENT IT BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO TAKE WHAT I LEARNED BACK TO THE DISTRICT. THIS PROGRAM REMINDED US THAT WE WILL NOT LEAVE THEIR DEVELOPMENT TO CHANCE AND WE WILL SEE THEIR STRENGTHS, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND CREATE OPPORTUNITY.

I ATTENDED ANOTHER SESSION CALLED THE MASS OF MIDDLE STUDY AND RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES FOR THE TOP TIER STUDENTS WHO ARE SEEN AND GIFTED AND LOWER LEVEL STUDENTS WHO ARE OFTEN UNSEEN OR LABELED AS PROBLEMATIC BUT IT IS THE STUDENTS IN THE MIDDLE THAT ARE OFTEN FORGOTTEN. THE 2.0-2.8 STUDENTS STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS BUT ARE SHY AND MAY NOT ASK FOR HELP OR RESOURCES THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.

THIS SESSION REMINDED US AS BOARD MEMBERS TO CREATE POLICIES, TO BROADEN IDENTIFICATION, TO PRACTICE AND SOMEHOW BUILD RECOGNITION FOR THOSE STUDENTS, AND TO CONTINUE TO RESEARCH AND LEARN WAYS TO IMPACT THE MASSIVE MIDDLE.

I ATTENDED A THIRD SESSION. ACCOUNTABILITY TO SYMBOLIC CLOSURE. IT DISCUSSED HOW SCHOOLS ARE NAVIGATING TENSION SURROUNDING RACE, LANGUAGE, BELONGING, AND INCLUDING HOW ADULTS RESPOND WHEN RACIALLY HARMFUL LANGUAGE OCCURS. I KNOW AT MY SCHOOL IN MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT'S A PROBLEM ON OUR CAMPUS SO I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO ATTEND THE SESSION. THE ORGANIZATION STRESSED THE BELIEF THERE IS NO PROPER TENSE AND WHAT DO EDUCATORS DO WHEN IT HAPPENS? THEY RECOMMENDED TO KEEP THE PEACE, PREPARE EVERY DAY BUSINESS, TALK ABOUT A DISTRICT WIDE, TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED TO CALL IT OUT IN LIVE SETTINGS AND EDUCATE STAFF AND COMMUNITY.

I HOPE WE ARE DOING THAT WITH THAT.

LAST THING, TOMORROW'S HOMECOMING AT BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL AND THE GAMES AGAINST NORWALK AT 7:00 P.M.

THERE'S A LOT OF ALUMNI COMING OUT AND I HOPE EVERYONE CAN COME OUT AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES.

THEY'RE VERY YOUNG BUT THEY'RE VERY EXCITING AND DOING GREAT THINGS. I HOPE YOU'LL COME OUT AND SUPPORT. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER STEWART.

BOARD MEMBER CINTRON. >> I WILL NOT BE MAKING A BOARD REPORT TONIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD? >> THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.

A COUPLE THINGS THE STATE OF THE DISTRICT.

I LOOKED BACK ON HOW IT WAS LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR WAS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT AND IT WAS VERY AWESOME TO SEE.

I APOLOGIZE I WAS A BIT LATE I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

BUT YOU AND GAIL TOTALLY CRUSHED IT.

SEEING ALL OF OUR STUDENT PERFORMERS AND SEEING MURRAY ON THE DRUMS THE WHOLE NIGHT. A GREAT EVENT AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR. I'M PROUD OF THE EVENT AND WHAT IT'S BECOMING. ONE OF THE THINGS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT 13.3 -- I DIDN'T -- I DIDN'T WANT TO PULL IT BEFORE BECAUSE WHEN YOU PULL SOMETHING JUST TO SAY SOMETHING PEOPLE GET NERVOUS THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS OR SOMETHING.

I WILL SPEAK ON IT NOW. THAT'S OUR MOU FOR THE UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL PROGRAM. THAT'S A GREAT PROGRAM THAT WE ARE EXPANDING AND THE MOU PAYS OUR TEACHERS THREE EXTRA HOURS IT TAKES TO RUN THE PROGRAM AND GROW THE PROGRAM SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED MAKING THE AGREEMENT HAPPEN AND OUR TEACHERS.

JUST REALLY GROWING THE PROGRAM AND INVESTING IN IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM. I'VE BEEN SAYING IT SINCE I GOT ON THE BOARD IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I AM SO PROUD OF THAT WE DO HERE AND I'M GLAD TO SEE IT GROWING.

ALSO I WANT TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO OUR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WALK THAT'S HAPPENING SATURDAY. THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ONE FOR THIS WEEKEND. I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT AND SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS TOO.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. >> THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT

[15. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS]

[01:30:08]

[2. CLOSED SESSION (Part 2 of 2)]

SPEAKER WE NOW RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION AT 8:57 P.M. AND RESUME

[3. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION/CALL TO ORDER (Part 2 of 2)]

CLOSED SESSION TOPICS. >> THE TOPICS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION WERE ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, EMPLOYEE DISMISSAL,

THIS. >> SPEAKER-01: RELEASE, LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, SUPERINTENDENT AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION. THANK YOU.

>> IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 8:58 P.M. UNTIL THE NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.