[1. CALL TO ORDER IN PUBLIC SESSION]
[00:00:07]
>> TONIGHTS MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:01:00 P.M. WE HAVE REQUESTS ADDRESSING CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. SO WHILE THE MEETINGS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD ARE NOT PUBLIC MEETINGS, THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. INDIVIDUAL PEEKERS WILL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON EACH AGENDA ITEM AND THE BOARD WILL LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON EACH ITEM TO 21 MINUTES AS PER BOARD BY LAW 9322.2.
OKAY. WILL JERRY CLELLAND APPROACH.
>> BEFORE WE START PUBLIC COMMENTS, I HAVE SOME AGENDA CHANGES THAT I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER.
I MOVE THAT WE REMOVE ITEMS 2.1 AND 2.2 FROM THE CLOSED BART AGENDA. I WOULD LIKE A SECOND ON THIS
MOTION, PLEASE. >> WAIT A MINUTE, LET ME SEE.
>> MS. GARZA, COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE ITEMS?
>> 2.2 1 AND 2.2. WE ARE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING
SOME LEGAL COUNSEL. >> FROM CLOSED SESSION?
>> POINT OF ORDER, BEFORE YOU REALLY DISCUSS IT, YOU HAVE A MOTION BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE A SECOND.
>> YES, I'M WAITING FOR A SECOND.
>> SECOND. >> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? >> CALL FOR THE QUESTION,
PLEASE. >> WHY WOULD YOU REMOVE THE TWO
PRIMARY AGENDA ITEMS IN >> WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THE AGENDA CONSIDERING SOME LEGAL COUNCIL AS WELL SO THESE ITEMS WOULD FEED TO BE REMOVED ATSL A WOULD FEED TO EL AS WELL SO THE WOULD FEED TO BE REMOVED AT THIS POINT.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUT OKAY.
>> STAFF RECOMMEND THAT HAD WE DISCUSS THESE ITEMS SO THAT AS YOU'RE MAKING YOU'RE OTHER DECISION ON THE OPEN SESSION AGENDA YOU WOULD HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU COULD TO MAKE
AN INFORMED DECISION. >> I DO, TOO.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU EXPANDED THE AGENDA SO IT'S ITEM BY ITEM TO DISCUSS SO I DON'T SEE THE POINT.
TO BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THE OPTICS ON THIS ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR SO YOU NEED TO VOTE ON
THAT ONE, FIRST. >> I'M ASKING FOR OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
>> I AGREE. THE MORE INFORMATION WE HAVE THE BETTER WE ARE TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITH THE PUBLIC.
I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH BOARD MEMBER DOWNING.
>> OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL.
>> ADDITIONALLY, SORRY BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AN ITEM TO THE CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT 5.9 -- [INAUDIBLE] WHICH ALLOWS THE BOARD TO ADD AN ITEM TO THE AGENDA IN THAT THE NEED OF ACTION CAME TO THE DISTRICT'S ATTENTION AFTER POSTING OF THE AGENDA.
SPECIFICALLY I MOVE THAT A NEW CLOSED SESSION ITEM BE ADDED AS FOLLOWS: PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISMISSAL PURSUANT TO CODE FOR GENERAL COUNSEL. THIS IS BASED UPON A LETTER RECEIVED BY THE BOARD ON JUNE 23, 2022, FROM ATTORNEYS
[00:05:02]
REPRESENTING THE SUPERINTENDENT ALLEGING THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED NOTWITHSTANDING THE BOARD'S ACTIONS LAST WEEK, NOT TO REVIEW THAT CONTRACT AND LET IT END AT THE END OF JUNE.THE GENERAL COUNSEL FAILED TO INFORM THE BOARD.
IT IS APPARENT THAT THE DISTRICT REQUIRES NEW LEGAL COUNSEL.
THIS AROSE AFTER THE POSTING OF THE SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA BY THE SUPERINTENDENT AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ACTION.
I WOULD LIKE A SECOND ON THIS MOTION.
>> I WILL SEC THE MOTION. O THE MOTION.
>> CALL FOR THE QUESTION. >> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THIS? >> I CALL FOR THE QUESTION.
>> SHE'S CALLING FOR A VOTE BUT POINT OF ORDER IS THAT YOU ALLOW COMMENTS, THERE HAVE BEEN NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
STAFF WILL ADD A COMMENT THAT GENERAL COUNSEL IS NOTE AN EMPLOYEE SO IT DOES NOT FALL UNDER CLOSED SESSION RIGHTS WHICH IS WHY IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE ORIGINAL AGENDA REQUEST.
>> YOU ARE CORRECT, SUPERINTENDENT, BY ACTUALLY IT
DOES FALL WITHIN TA CODE. >> GENERAL COUNSEL IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE. IT'S AN AT-WILL EMPLOYEE.
SO WE TALK ABOUT GENERAL COUNSEL.
>> SO, UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE THE ACCESS TO COPIES BUT I CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF ONE OF THOSE TWO FOR HER TO GO AHEAD
AND REVIEW. >> I'M SAYING GENERAL COUNSEL IS NOT AN PLEA SO WE DO NOT DISCUSS HIS MATTERS IN CLOSED SESSION.
WHEN WE DISCUSS OUR LEGAL COUNSEL IT MUST BE OPEN FOR THE
>> NOT PRIVATELY IN CLOSED SESSION.
>> IF I CAN ASK A QUESTION OF THE PROPOSER OF THIS REQUEST, HOW DOES THIS HELP OUR STUDENTS OR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK WE WANT THEM TO DO.
HOW DOES IT AFFECT THEM? >> I BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GAIN NEW GENERAL COUNSEL SO WE ARE UPDATED ON WHAT OUR REQUESTS ARE AND THAT NOTHING IS GOING BEYOND OUR SCOPE AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ALL MAKE THOSE DECISIONS WE GUIDANCE FROM OUR GENERAL COUNSEL, BUT THAT HAS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON BEFORE, SO THAT IS WHY THIS IS BROUGHT UP. BUT I BELIEVE THAT WHEN I CALL FOR THE QUESTION, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED A VOTE.
IT'S JUST A VOTE. IT'S NOT A DISCUSSION.
>> YOU'RE ADDING SOMETHING NEW TO CLOSED SESSION IS WHAT I'M
HEARING YOU SAY? >> AS SUPERINTENDENT, I HAVE CHECKED WITH COUNSEL ON THIS, THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, IT IS HANDLED UNDER CONTRACTS AND THERE'S AN ITEM, 5.1 TO DISCUSS A CHANGE IN GENERAL COUNSEL BOTH 5.1 AND 5.2. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU KEEP ALL DISCUSSION REGARDING THE COUNSEL AND REGARDING OF THE COUNSEL IN PUBLIC BUT THAT'S UP TO THE BOARD.
>> WE CAN ALSO REPORT OUT, TOO. >> I'M SORRY?
>> WE CAN REPORT THAT OUT AS WELL, IF WE DISCUSS IT IN CLOSED
SESSION. >> BUT WE WOULD DISCUSS GENERAL COUNSEL IN CLOSED SESSION. THAT'S IT.
>> SO THAT'S WHY I'M ADDING IT TO THE AGENDA.
>> THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AT-WILL EMPLOYEE AND AN
EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT. >> SO THAT GENERAL COUNSEL STILL FALLS WITHIN THAT GOVERNMENT SECTION CODE.
>> SO YOU'RE NOT CALLING FOR A VOTE YOU'RE ASKING FOR THAT ITEM
>> AND IF THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD DOES NOT AGREE WITH YOU?
[00:10:03]
>> WELL, THAT'S WHY I HAD A SECOND.
>> SO YOU WANT IT TO COME TO VOTE?
>> IT WOULD HAVE TO COME TO A VOTE.
>> NO, FOR NOW THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. WE WILL NOW ENTERTAIN OUR GUESTS WHO WANT TO ADDRESS CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. WILL MR. JERRY CLEVELAND APPROACH THE PODIUM?
THANK YOU AND WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JERRY CLEVELAND I LIVE AT 5831 HERSHEL, CALIFORNIA.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND I SAW SOME OF YOUR LAST MEETING ON THE INTERNET AND I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS UNDER THE ITEM OF PENDING LITIGATION AND IT SEEMS LIKE AT THE LAST MEETING FROM WHAT I COULD SEE IS THAT THERE WAS AN AGENDA ITEM AND THE MOTION WAS NOT PERTINENT TO THE AGENDA ITEM AND THEN ACTUALLY IT SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN VOTED ON. THE PRESIDENT TRIED TO PULL IT BACK AND WAS BULLIED INTO GETTING IT VOTED ON AND I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THE NEW MEMBER AND IT'S OBVIOUS FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN HERE TONIGHT THAT THE NEW MEMBER IS A PUPPET OF MRS. GARZA AND WILL FOLLOW ALONG WHATEVER SHE SAYS.
ACTUALLY, THAT ITEM THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, IF THE GENTLEMAN WAS AN UPSTANDING GUY, HE WOULD HAVE ABSTAINED FROM THAT VOTE BECAUSE HE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING FIRSTHAND ABOUT ANYTHING HERE. SO I JUST WANT TO ALSO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT I BELIEVE THERE'S A BROWN ACT VIOLATION GOING ON HERE. I'M NOT ACCUSING ANYBODY BY IT'S JUST MY BELIEF. IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.
MRS. GARZA CALLED THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER'S ATTORNEY AND TOLD HIM, ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD REPRESENT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS THEIR ATTORNEY AND HE SAID I CAN'T DO THAT, BUT I CAN FILL IN AS AN INTERIM, GET SOMEBODY TO FILL IN AS AN INTERIM AND HE SAID WHY AND SHE SAID BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO FIRE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S ATTORNEY. MY QUESTION IS NOT A QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS DON'T ANSWER QUESTIONS, I WAS THERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. WHO IS WE? APPARENTLY THERE WAS SOME KIND OF AN ILLEGAL MEETING WITH TWO OTHER MEMBERS, A TOTAL OF THREE MEMBERS, WHICH VIOLATES THE BROWN ACT THAT SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO FIRE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S ATTORNEY. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS THING IS TURNING INTO A FIASCO HERE AND I CAN SEE THE PRESSURE ON EVERYBODY'S FACES HERE LIKE YOU GUYS DON'T SEEM TO BE TRYING TO WORK IN THE CHILDREN'S INTEREST, TRYING TO WORK IN YOUR OWN INTEREST, AND MRS. GARZA GOT EH LENGTHED STATING SHE WAS TRYING TO GET ELECTED TO FIRE THE SUPERINTENDENT SO THERE'S A VENDETTA GOING ON FROM WHEN SHE WAS A TEACHER IN THIS DISTRICT AND I CAN TELL SHE'S GOT THE BITTERNESS IN HER VOICE LIKE SHE JUST HATES THE WORLD SO I JUST WANT TO RESTATE, IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT FOR THREE MEMBERS TO MEET IN A CHAIN MEETING ON THE PHONE, ONE CALLS WIN -- I'M DONE, I MADE MY POINT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. MAY I PLEASE HAVE CAROLYN ROBERTS TO THE PODIUM AND THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE LAST MEETING GOT VERY CANTANKEROUS TO SAY THE VERY LEAST BY AFTER REVIEWING THE AUDIT THAT IS WE RECEIVED IT BECAME EVEN MORE APPARENT AS TOO WHY MS. MCSPARREN NEEDS TO GO AHEAD AND STEP DOWN.
WHAT WE'RE HEARING TONIGHT IS THAT HER CONTRACT HAS BEEN
[00:15:03]
AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED AND THAT I DEFINITELILY WANT TO PROTEST AGAINST. MRS. ARMSTRONG, I'M GUESSING THIS HAS TO BE ATTACHED TOS. ARS HAS TO BE ATTACHED TO THIS AGENDA, BUT ON YOUR PROFILE YOU STATED YOU WERE IN CHARGE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, THAT THAT WAS YOUR PASSION, TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN DOING THAT ACCORDING TO OUR AUDITS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN DOING THAT ACCORDING TO THE PARENTS THAT ARE CALLING ME EVERY DAY AND TEXTING ME RIGHT NOW WITH STORIES FOR THEIR KIDS.SO REGARDLESS TO WHO HAS WHAT AGENDA, THE KIDS STILL NEED TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN HAPPENING AND ACCOUNTABILITY NEEDS TO BE HAD. THAT LETTER THAT WAS SENT OUT TO US TODAY SPLINEING WHY WE HAVE SUCH A HEFTY BUDGET, HEFTY MONEY SITTING THERE, THOSE KIDS AND TEACHERS WENT WITHOUT BECAUSE OF THE CONSERVATIVE QUOTE UNQUOTE NONSPENDING THAT WAS BEING DONE.
WE HAVE TO DO BITTER AND IF THAT'S REALLY OUR PASSION, I SHOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN 10 OR 12 PHONE CULLS WITHIN THE LAST DAY OF PEOPLE TELLING THEIR STORIES. THAT AUDIT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED AND ALL OF THEM CAN'T BE WRONG. ACCOUNTABILITY NEEDS TO BE HAD AND TAKEN TODAY. I'M DONE.
>> THANK YOU MS. ROBERTS. MAY I PLEASE HAVE SYLVIA JONES
TO THE PODIUM? >> GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT POSITION. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER PUTTING SOMEONE IN THIS POSITION THAT IS A GREAT COMMUNICATOR, SOMEONE THAT COMMUNICATES WITH STAKE HOLDERS OR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ABOUT NOT ONLY THE THINGS THE DISTRICT IS DOING WELL BUT ALSO THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO IMPROVE.
THE PUBLIC BOARD MEETING IS A GREAT PLACE TO HEAR FROM THE LEADERSHIP IN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT AND SCHOOLS.
WE ALSO NEED ENGINE WHO CAN RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEMS, SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO FIX THE PROBLEMS AND COMMUNICATE AND PROVIDE UPDATES.
SEVERAL PROBLEMS WERE BROUGHT UP THE MAIN ONES ARE THAT BUSD HAS CONSISTENTLY SPENT LESS THAN BUDGETED EACH YEAR TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO ITS STUDENTS THAT IT HAS NOT PROVIDED ADEQUATE AND CONSISTENT SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
IT HAS NOT COMPLIED WITH KEY TRANSPARENCY LAWS LIMITING THE PUBLIC AND THE BOARD'S ABILITY TO OVERSEE ITS OPERATIONS.
LASTLY, SET SCHOOL BOARD HAS NOT CONSISTENTLY COMPLIED WITH OPEN MEETING LAYS. THE DISTRICT DISAGREED WITH MANY OF THE REPORT'S FINDINGS. I CANNOT SPEAK TO ALL THESE ISSUE BUT I CAN SPEAK TO PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS.
I HAVE REQUESTED PUBLIC RECORDS ON TWO OCCASIONS.
I ASKED FOR A FINANCIAL REPORT AND RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS BUT NOT P ONE I REQUESTED. IN ANOTHER I UNDERSTAND STANCE I DID NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING AT ALL. BUSD LACKS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE VARIOUS KEATS THAT GOVERNS SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATIONS AND THE DISTRICT CONSISTENTLY HAS ISSUES WITH ACCURATELY PERFORMING BASIC ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS WHEN VARIOUS AGENCIES ARE STATING THERE ARE INTERNAL PROBLEMS, BUSD SHOULD BE FIGURING OUT HOW TO FIX THEM AND NOT DISAGREE OR DISREGARDS THESE AGENCIES. THE DISTRICT IS NOT IMPROVE OR MOVE FORWARD IF THE LEADERSHIP DOES NOT RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE PROBLEMS. PLEASE CONSIDER PUTTING SOMEONE IN THE POSITION WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES AND FIX PROBLEMS. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU MS. JONES. MAY I PLEASE HAVE MS. CAROLYN
ROBERTS YOU HAD ANOTHER? >> YES, 2.3, PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT? YES.
IN REGARDS T WITH THAT, I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS STATEMENT.
THE WAY THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS CHOSEN LAST TIME; I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO THE SAME ROUTE. EITHER IT NEEDS TO BE VOTED BY THE STAKE HOLDERS OR THAT PERSON FEEDS TO BE ELECTED LIKE YOU
[00:20:01]
GUYS ORHOLDERS OR THAT PERSON FEEDS TO BE ELECTED LIKE YOU GUYS OR AN OPEN APPLICATION BUT WE NEED SOMEONE IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY. THE VOTE TO HAVE TRACY'S CONTRACT NOT RENEWED WAS SETTLED AND DONE.WHY SHE'S REPLYING TO THE PRESS, I GUESS UNTIL THE END OF JUNE SHE WILL BE HERE. THAT'S UNNECESSARY WECHLT NEED TO GET SOMEONE IN WHO CAN ACKNOWLEDGE, LIKE SHE SAID, THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM. WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
NOW LET'S FIX IT. WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PROBLEMS. OKAY, HOW DO WE FIX IT? I GOT A BUNCH OF IDEAS HOW TO FIX IT AND I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING HERE LOOKING AT THIS AND LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS. WE HAVE SOLUTIONS.
WE GOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S A PROBLEM AND THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HAPPENING HERE. GET SOMEONE IN PLACE THAT GENUINELY CARES ABOUT THE KIDS, SOMEONE WHO GENUINELY CARES ABOUT THE TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED AS WELL.
THIS CONSERVATIVE SPENDING, IT HURT THEM, IT HURT OUR STUDENTS AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. CAN WE JUST GET, HEY, SOMETHING IS WRONG. THAT'S ALL.
THAT'S HOW YOU BEGIN TO MOVE FORWARD.
NOT BACKWARDS. NOT SAYING OH, WELL, THEY DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO, I RESPECT THE AUDITS, I RESPECT THIS BY, NO, IT WASN'T US.
IT WAS, WE MAKE MISTAKES, LET'S FIX IT.
WE TEACH OUR KIDS TO DO IT, ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT US AS ADULTS ARE NOT DOING THAT. THE BOARD IS NOT DAYING THAT.
TRACY IS NOT DOING THAT. MAYBE WE NEED TO GO BACK TO KINDERGARTEN AND LEARN HOW TO DO IT.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE THE SPACE AND THINGS THERE TO BE TAUGHT. LET'S FIX THIS.
IT CAN BE DONE. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO
DO IT. >> THANK YOU,>> THANK YOU, MS. MAY I PLEASE HAVE DR. KIRSTEN ROBERTSON TO THE PODIUM?
AND WELCOME. >> THERE'S COPIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND HAVE MY SUGGESTIONS BE CONSIDERED.
FIRST I WANT TO IMPLORE THE BOARD OH WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER GOOD. WE HAVE WATCHED THE SCHOOL BOARD POLARIZED. THAT CAN NO LONGER BE TOLERATED SO I'M ASKING THAT YOU RESPECT EACH OTHER'S DIFFERENCES, SET ASIDE THE CONFLICTS AND WORK TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF OUR STUDENTS. A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF CANNOT STAND. SECOND I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO THOUGHTFULLY DISCUSS AND DEBATE THE EFFICACY OF OUR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS AN OPINION ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP. I'M POISED TO SUGGEST VIABILITY CANDIDATES. TWO OF MY TEN [INAUDIBLE] SUNSETTING ADMINISTRATIONS. THE LATTER'S POSITION THE QUESTION OF INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HINGES ON STAKEHOLDER TRUST, WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF PRIORITIES AND THE CAPACITY TO LEAD, BE RESPECTED AND FOLLOWED THAT ALL CANDIDATES THROUGH THIS LENS. AWED AID THROUGH EVERY STAGE OF HER CAREER SHE SAT ON EVERY COMMITTEE IMAGINABLE, RUNNING THEM, CONTRIBUTING TO THEM OR CPAPLATING INFORMATION FROM THEM. HER SITE I GH T S ARE UNDERSTANDS THAT CHURN NEED MORE THAN OPPORTUNITY.
THEY ALSO NEED ROLE MODELS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CHALLENGES AND CAN INSPIRE THEM. IT WAS A TEACHER FOR 16 YEARS.
SHE SAD ANT ABC UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD -- [INAUDIBLE] MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO JUST KEEP THE DISTRICT IN A HOLDING PATTERN, MAYBE WE CAN APPOINT AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT SOMEONE WHO CAN
[00:25:03]
HELP US TAKE THE FIRST HEALING STEPS TOWARD RESTRUCTURING NOW AND WORK ALONGSIDE OUR PERMANENT LEADERSHIP LATER.>> DR. ROBERTSON, THANK YOU. WILL SOPHIA PARTIDA MEES
APPROACH THE PODIUM AND WELCOME. >> THANK YOU.
HELLO, EVERYONE, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BELLFLOWER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS ON THE NEGLECT OF STUDENTS OF COLOR AT THE HAND OF THE DISTRICT.
AS WE KNOW AS BEING RESIDENTS OF THE AREA, BELLFLOWER AND LAKEWOOD ARE VERY SIMILAR IN BREAKDOWN.
ONE WOULD EXPECT THE SCHOOLS TO BE A CLEAR REFLECTION OF THE POPULATIONS? WHY ARE BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL'S DEMOGRAPHICS MORE BLACK, BROWN, AND LATINA THAN MAYFAIR'S? THE DATA SHOWS THAT BHS IS EXTREMELY SEGREGATED.
RESEARCH HAS AGAIN AND AGAIN SHOWN THAT SEGREGATED SCHOOLS RECEIVE LESS FUNDING FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OVERALL FOR STUDENT LEARNING. THE DATA SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
23% OF BELLFLOWER STUDENTS MEET THE UCC SU COURSE REQUIREMENTS WHERE 40% OF MAYFAIR'S STUDENTS MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.
STUDENTS INTERNALIZE THE LABELS WE PUT ONTO THEM.
HIGH ACHIEVING, LOW ACHIEVING, ETC., THEY INTERNALIZE THESE LABELS AND THAT SOMETIMES KEEPS THEM FROM REACHING AND ATTAINING THE SAME LEVELS OF SUCCESS AS THEIR WEALTHY, PROVE LINEALLYED PEERS. MOREIVILEGED PEERS.
MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID BUT THE SUSPENSION RATES AT MAYFAIR AND BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL ARE DISPROPORTIONALLY TARGETING BLACK STUDENTS, BLACK STUDENTS MAKE UP 10 AND 15% OF MAYFAIR AND BELLFLOWER'S CAMPUSES RESPECTIVELY.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? AS WE KNOW FROM RECENT AUDIT THAT WAS RELEASED, BUSD IS SITTING ON $83 MILLION OF EXCESS FINNING. $83 MILLION.
THAT IS AN AMOUNT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNIMAGINABLE FOR MYSELF AND OTHER WORKING CLASS FAMILY TAS ARE PART OF YOUR DISTRICT. I STAND HERE AND ASK FOR THE DISTRICT TO BE HEALTH ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE OF STUDENTS OF BELLFLOWER, BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS AND TO USE THAT FUNDING TO HELP STUDENTS FROM TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. YOU NEED TO INVEST IN OUR RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS SET UP TO KEEP US FROM SUCCEEDING. ONE OF THE REASONS PUBLIC EDUCATION STARTED IN THIS COUNTRY WAS TO CREATE A MODE FOR PEOPLE TO REACH UPWARD MOBILITY AND IT'S TIME TO MAKE THIS A REALITY FOR ALL STUDENTS. THANK YOU.
AND I ALSO WROTE A TEN PAGE PAPER ON THIS SO IF YOU GRICE INTERESTED READING ABOUT MY RESOURCES AND DIFFERENT STATISTICS, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPEN TO SHARE.
>> STAFF, CAN YOU GET A COPY OF TH
>> I CAN E-MAIL IT. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANYMORE CARDS? OKAY. I APPRECIATE ALL THOSE COMMENTS.
[2. CLOSED SESSION]
AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION.OPEN SESSION WILL RESUME APPROXIMATELY AT 6:00 P.M.
[3. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION/CALL TO ORDER]
TONIGHT'S MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:00 P.M. AND THE BOARD WENT INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 4:30 P.M.WE WILL NOW RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AT 6:09:00 P.M. THE TOPICS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION WERE CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL TUNE SELL AN IT THE PATED LITIGATION, WE HAD TWO CASES.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL PENDING LITIGATION AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT EFFECTIVE
[00:30:03]
JUL JULY 1, 2022.THE CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD IS THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS – AGENDA ITEMS]
ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE EFFECTIVE JULY FIRST.MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES THE ADDRESS THE BOARD ON EACH AGENDA ITEM. THE BOARD WILL LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME TO EACH ITEM TO 21 MINUTES AS PER BOARD BYLAW, OKAY? AT THIS TIME MAY I PLEASE HAVE MS. CAROLYN ROBERTS TO THE
PODIUM, AND WELCOME. >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MS. MCSPARREN GETS EXTENDED VACATION WITH PAY.
THE NEXT MEETING IS IN JULY, RIGHT? THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
PETE, I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU. THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO US.
IT SEEMS LIKE YOU VOTED ON AN ITEM, IT SEEMS LIKE THE VOTE WENT THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO WHERE A NEW SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE PUT INTO PLACE. I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION NOW WHO YOU NEED TO PUT INTO PLACE AS FAR AS ACTING SUPERINTENDENT. I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS YOUNG LADY. THIS IS NOT ON THE AGENDA BUT SHE SPOKE ON A LOT OF GOOD TOPICS AND RACE DISCREPANCIES AT MAYFAIR AND BELLFLOWER. FOR HER TO BE TOLD HERE WE GO WITH THIS RACE SHIT, PARDON MY FRENCH, THIS YOUNG LADY IS IN COLLEGE AND IS TRYING TO BETTER OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE HAD BACK AND FORTHS BEFORE BUT NOTHING OF THAT SORT.
IF THERE'S GOING TO BE DECORUM, JERRY, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE DECORUM, THEN YOU GUYS NEED TO LAY DOWN THE LAW AS FAR AS SOMEONE ELSE COMING AND SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT'S TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A BOARD THAT'S LISTENING TO PEOPLE SO WE CAN'T HAVE BOARD MEMBERS AND FORMER BOARD MEMBERS ASKING AS SUCH. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS SCHOOL. I WANT THIS DISTRICT FIXED.
HER BEING ON PAID VACATION IS NOT GOING TO FIX IT.
IT'S A WASTE OF MONEY. LET HER TAKE THE POSITION SHE WAS OFFERED AND HAVE THE RIGHTS TOO AND BE IN A CLASSROOM SHORTLY AFTER JULY VERSUS BEING THE SUPERINTENDENT.
WY WANT ANS WANT ANSE WANT ANSWM SOON.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU MS. ROBERTS.
MAY I PLEASE, MS. ROBERTS. MAY I PLEASE HAVE TO THE PODIUM STEVEN LOPEZ. [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. I WANTED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 5.2, THE REQUEST OF MS. GARZA TO HAVE A NEW LEGAL COUNSEL SOUGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND HER FOR MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION, I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH AND I'M SURE MOST OF THE PEOPLE OUT HERE DO. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BOARD TO HAVE AN AGREED UPON ETHICAL LETHAL COUNSEL IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO DO SAY ON THIS MATTER, THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, MR. LOPEZ. MS. CAROLYN ROBERT.
>> OKAY, COME ON. >> NO, I'M GOING TO TAKE ALL THE TIME I CAN. YOU HAVE BEEN TALK ABOUT BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS, YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YES, I AGREE WE NEED A NEW GC, SOMEONE WHO IS NOT COSTING US $800,000 A YEAR
[00:35:01]
TO GO SEE THEIR GRAND KIDS AND, OF COURSE, FIGHTING ALL THESE CASES BUT WE'RE LOSING ALL OF THEM, TOO.AT THAT POINT, SOMEBODY HAS TO DO SOMETHING.
I DON'T APPRECIATE ALSO, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WEREN'T HERE, WE GOT SOMETHING TODAY FROM BUSD DISTRICT. IF YOU READ IT, IT SAID THE TEACHERS WERE PAID, THE MONEY WAS SPENT CONSERVATIVELY.
WE HAVE A HEFTY BUDGET AND RESERVE BUT WE HAD CHILDREN GOING WITHOUT FOOD, TEACHERS GOING WITHOUT THE ESSENTIALS AND HAVING TO BUY SUPPLIES OUT OF THEIR POCKET.
WE HAD BROKEN DOWN CHROMEBEAKS THAT EITHER DIFFERENT WORK OR DIDN'T COME WITH THE PROPER CHARGERS.
WE HAD OUR DISABLES STUDENTS LEFT TO LAY BY THE WAYSIDE.
WE HAD SUSPECTS WHO WOULDN'T DARE TOUCH BUSD WITH A TEN FOOT POLE AND YET SHE GETS TO GO ON VACATION.
THAT MONEY COULD HAVE WENT TO OUR CLASSROOMS BEING OUTFITTED WITH CAMERAS. IT COULD HAVE WENT TO OUR TEACHERS BEING PAID MORE FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAD TO DO TO GET OUR KIDS READY IN A PANDEMIC, TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN IN A PANDEMIC. THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH A WHOLE LOT TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE KIDS ACCLIMATED TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT AND YOU WOULDN'T EVEN PAY FOR SUBSTITUTES? THAT'S WRONG. SO WHAT GOOD IS IT TO HAVE ALL THIS MONEY IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT FOR THE THINGS -- THEY SHOULD NOT ARE TO COME OUT OF THEIR POCKETS TO PAY FOR ANYTHING. FOR ANYTHING.
THE ONLY THING THEY NEED TO PAY IS ATTENTION.
THAT'S IT. [LAUGHTER] AND I WISH YOU GUYS WOULD PAY ATTENTION TO US AS WELL BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. WE'RE NOT.
I SAID IT BEFORE. WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTI THE GOOD NIGHT. WE'RE HERE AND WILL STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THESE KIDS, HUE THIS MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND I DON'T CARE WHO YOU WANT TO BLAME IT ON, IT WASN'T THE AUDITORS.
THIS IS NOT THEIR FAULT. RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE THE LAST TWO THINGS I'M GOING TO SAY TO THIS BOARD. TAKE SOME.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, MS. ROBERTS.
MAY I PLEASE HAVE DR. KIRSTEN ROBERTSON TO THE PODIUM AND
WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONSIDERATIONS OF THE MOVE FORWARD PLAN. THE QUESTION OF SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDACY HINGES ON KEY CONCEPTS, UNDERSTANDING AND CONTRIBUTING TO BOARD POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROGRAM PRIORITIES, THE ABILITY TO HIRE, DELEGATE AND EQUIP, EMPOWER AND SUPPORT LOWER LEVEL MANAGEMENT TO DRIVE OBJECTIVE DECISION MAKING. THE FINESSE TO RELATE TO, CORNER RESPECT FROM [INAUDIBLE] OUR DISTRICT STAKEHOLDERS INHABIT EVERY CREVICE OF THIS DISTRICT AND KNOW WHAT IS AND IS NOT WORKING. WE NEED A PERPETUAL FORUM FOR DISCOURSE. I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO DEVELOP A STAKEHOLDER TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP AND MEET OUTCOMES STARTING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE INVESTMENT IN A FIRM TO HELP US WITH CANDIDATES BUT I THINK WE CAN AND SHOULD DO THE HEAVY LIFTING INTERNALLY FIRST, [INAUDIBLE] YOU HAVE PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY SCATTERED ACROSS THIS DISTRICT IN THE EXTENDED COMMUNITY WITH THE EXPERTISE TO DROP METRICS FOR RESEARCH.
WE CAN BUILD SURVEYS AND HOLD FOCUS GROUPS AND RESURRECT THE MEETINGS THAT ONCE ALLOWED A FORUMED DIALOGUE ABOUT SOLUTIONS. PLACE OUR NEXT LEADERSHIP WITH OUR INTERIM BEING A BRIDGE NOT THE DEFAULT.
I IMPLORE THE BOARD TO MINDFULLY SEAT AN INTERN [INDISCERNIBLE] I SUGGEST WE START RESUMING THE OVERSIGHT OF OUR BUSINESS AND AS THE DISTRICT'S MIND SET AND CULTURE SHIFT THAT IS WE ONLY
[00:40:01]
EMPLOY PEOPLE WHO REFLECT OUR STRUCTURED VALUES.THE SHOCKING CONDITIONS OF OUR FINANCES AND FAILINGS OF OUR FISCAL MANAGEMENT TEAM WERE DISCOVERED.
I'M EM EMPLOYERING THE BOARD TO WHO HE WOULD OUR CFO THAT DISTRICT AND MRS. HOLGAIF IS NO LONGER A GOOD FIT FORN IS NO LONGER A GOOD FIT FOR BUSD. [APPLAUSE]
>> WHAT YOU LEFT THERE IS A COPY OF WHAT YOU WROTE AND I WILL MAKE SURE WE GET A COPY, PLEASE, FOR OUR REFERENCE.
WILL DAVID BRISTOL PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, AND
WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING.
I REPRESENT ADMINISTRATORS AND CLASSIFY EMPLOYEES OF K-12S.
MY BACKGROUND ALSO IS THAT I USED TO REPRESENT K-12S.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENT.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING ON JUNE 16TH THAT THE BOARD TOOK ACTION TO NOT RENEW THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT WHICH WAS COMING UP EXPIRING JUNE 30TH AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY. PURSUANT TO SECTION 35031, THAT ACTION OF THE BOARD WAS UNLAWFUL.
THE BOARD CANNOT GIVE 14 DAYS NOTICE BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF A CONTRACT TO NOT RENEW THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT.
THE REQUIREMENT UNDER THE LAW IS THAT THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO GIVE AT LEAST 45 DAYS NOTICE BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF A CONTRACT OF THE BOARD'S DECISION NOT TO RENEW A CONTRACT.
IF THE BOARD FAILS TO PROVIDE THAT NOTICE, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT, BY OPERATION OF LAW, IS AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED FOR ONE ADDITIONAL TERM.
SO I'M THEREFORE REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO RESCIND ITS UNLAWFUL JUNE 16TH ACTION TO NOT RENEW THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT BECAUSE BY OPERATION OF LAW, THE SUPERINTENDENT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THIS DISTRICT FOR THE NEXT YEAR. FOR THE 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> IT'S ILLEGAL. >> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE STEVEN
LOPEZ TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE. >> HELLO AGAIN.
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO ITEM 5.3, WHICH IS THE REQUEST OF BOARD MEMBER GARZA TO EMPLOY AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY TO SERENELY FOR AARCH FOR A REPLACEMENT SUPERINTENDENT.
I BELIEVE IT'S IMPERATIVE TO EMPLOY IMPARTIAL SERVICES.
WE NEED TO GET ON WITH THE REBUILDING PROCESS.
WE AS A NATION HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE CHAOS THAT CAN ENSUE WHEN SOMEBODY WHO IS VOTED OUT, LEGITIMATELY, REFUSES TO LEAVE WITH DIGNITY. YOUR SIGN IN THE BACK SAYS WE BUILD FUTURES. LET'S BUILD FUTURES AND STOP TRYING TO FIX THE PAST. THE PAST IS BROKEN.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT. NOW, MIND YOU, I DON'T BLAME THE SUPERINTENDENT BECAUSE IF I HAD A HIGH PAYING JOB WHICH LET ME WIELD A LOT OF POUR THAT I WAS COMPLETELY UNQUALIFIED FOR, I WOULD DO EVERYTHING I COULD TO HOLD ONTO THAT, TOO, SO LET'S NOT REVERSE OUR DECISION. LET'S DO THAT.
WE NEED TO GET OUR OWN LEGAL COUNSEL AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET AROUND THIS. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, CAN I PLEASE HAVE MARISSA PEREZ TO THE PODIUM? AND WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. WHICH ITEM, I PULLED OUT TWO CARDS. 5.4 OR 5.3.
>> YOU CAN DO 5.3. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY NAME IS MARISSA PEREZ. I AM A MEMBER OF THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMUNITY.
I HAVE THREE STUDENTS WHO ATTEND MAYFAIR.
A 7TH GRADER, 9TH GRADER AND 11TH GRADER.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT RECRUITER, 5.3.
MY SUGGESTIONS ARE FOR YOU TO HIRE A FIRM TO RECRUIT CANDIDATE
[00:45:04]
WHO IS ARE EXPERIENCED AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS IN WORKING WITH OUR LA TEE NO, BLACK, AND ASIAN STUDENTS, FOSTER YOUTH AN STUDENTS, FOSANO, BLACK, AND AS STUDENTS, FOSTNO, BLACK, AND ASN STUDENTS, FOSINO, BLACK, AND ASIAN STUDENTS, FOSTER YOUTH AND UNHOUSED STUDENTS. WE NEED SOMEONE WHO IS A GOOD COMMUNITIER, WHO WILL RESPECT OUR FAMILIES, OUR EMPLOYEES, AND CAN REPAIR THE BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY.IT WON'T BE AN EASY SEARCH AND I WILL BE COUNTING ON EACH OF YOU FOR LEADERSHIP. LAST, I ASK THAT YOU CREATE A SCREENING COMMITTEE TO HELP IDENTIFY THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR YOU TO INTERVIEW. THE COMMITTEE SHOULD INCLUDE STUDENTS, PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TEACHERS, CLASS FIED STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS.
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE VESTED IN THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS. AS EACH OF YOU KNOW, I HAVE REPRESENTED OUR COMMUNITY NOW FOR SEVEN YEARS AND I HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF SEARCHING FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT PRESIDENT.
IT TOOK A GREAT AMOUNT OF TIME BUT I FIRMLY BELIEVE WE HAD A GREAT SEARCH FIRM TO HIRE A GREAT CANDIDATE AND HE'S BEEN WITH US FOR SEVEN YEARS. WE DID RENEW HIS CONTRACT AND HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE BUSD UPDATE IN THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CERRITOS COLLEGE. I'M COUNTING ON EACH AND ERE ONE OF YOU TO LEAD, HIRE A GREAT SEARCH FIRM, HIRE SOMEONE WHO WOULD REALLY HELP YOU AS YOU BEGIN THE SEARCH BECAUSE IT CAN BE DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME. >> THANK YOU, MARISSA PEREZ.
MAY I PLEASE HAVE NICOLE GATES? WELCOME.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING SCOOT BOARD MEMBERS.
I AM HERE TODAY TOHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU HIRE AN EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT RECRUIT TORE SEARCH AND SELECT A POOL OF QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED SUPERINTENDENTS. THESE STAKEHOLDERS SHOULD INCLUDE TEACHERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, CLASSIFIED STAFF, FAMILIES, AND STUDENTS. MORES A OVER, THE RECRUITER SHOULD FORM SUBCOMMITTEES, HAVE TOWN HALL MEETINGS TO ENSURE ALL STAKEHOLDERS' INPUT AND SUGGESTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE SELECTION PROCESS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT.
THE QUALIFICATIONS I'M LOOK FOR ARE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND PROBLEM SOLVING. POST-COVID, THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES OUR DISTRICT WILL FACE.
SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES INCLUDE DECLINING ENROLLMENT, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEA CONCERNS AND ACADEMIC LOSS.
WE NEED A SUPERINTENDENT THAT WILL MEET WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND FORM AN ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS THE DIVERSE AND VARIED NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUSD IS NOT DEMONSTRATING COMP PSI AND/OR DESIRE TO ABIDE BY LEGISLATURE AND KEYS.
THE STATE AUDITOR'S FINDINGS THAT BUSD HAS NOT CLEARLY COMMU COMMUNICATED ITS BUDGET.
THE DISTRICT'S FAILURE TO CONSISTENTLY PROVIDE MANDATED SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
THE DISTRICT'S FAILURE TO NOT CONSISTENTLY COMPLY WITH TRANSPARENCY LAY. BUSD'S LARGE FINANCIAL RESERVE IN THE AMOUNT OF $83 MILLION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO ADDRESS SUPPLIES FOR TEACHER, AP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVELS AND A MYRIAD OF OTHER NEEDS FOR OUR DISTRICT.
HAVING A SUPERINTENDENT THAT CAN ADDRESS OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL BUSD STUDENTS, THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. MS. ROBERTS. THIRD CARD.
>> I HAD A THIRD CARD? >> YES.
[00:50:02]
WE DO NEED A NEW GC, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS UP FOR DEBATE. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR SHOULD I SAY THERE'S SOME ONE INTEREST.JUST KEEPING TRACY AROUND. SOMEBODY EXPLAIN, LIKE WHY? IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST HER BUT LIKE STEVEN SAID LAST TIME. IF YOU'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB, I WOULD WANT TO STEP ASIDE BECAUSE I WOULD VALUE MY COMMUNITY, MY TEACHERS, MY BOARD MEMBERS BETTER, MORE THAN MYSELF. LET ME STEP ASED AND LET SOMEONE ELSE COME IN WHO CAN DO THIS JOB AND WHO CAN DO IT BETTER THAN I CAN. THAT'S CALLED HIGH HUMILITY.
YOU SAID SHE COULD HAVE A TEACHING POSITION.
YOU'RE NOT FIRING IF SHE CAN HAVE A TEACHING POSITION.
IF SHE KAUNT TAKE THAT POSITION, THAT'S ON HER.
SHE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO TEACHING, LET HER SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, THE KIDS NOT WANTING TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
TEACHERS HAVE BEEN SPAT ON, WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT SECURITY. GO BE A TEACHER AND COME BACK TO HUMILITY. GO BACK TO SOME ROOTS THAT MAKE YOU GUYS HAVE FORGOT BITTY, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THIS COMMUNITY AND THESE STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER.
I SAID IT WOULD BE THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY, BUT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO FIND IT IF NOT HERE? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT IF NOT HERE? WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A SOLUTION TO ONE PROBLEM, LET'S HELP FIX THE REST
OF THEM. >> THANK YOU, MS. ROBERTS.
MAY I PLEASE HAVE YOLANDO MELENDEZ TO THE PODIUM?
>> I HAVE BEEN A STAKEHOLDER IN BUSD FOR 20 YEARS.
BOTH OF MY KIDS GRADUATED FROM MAYFAIR.
I HAVE BEEN AN ACTIVE PARENT ALL THE YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN HERE. WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AT BUSD IS THAT THEY HIRE A COMPETENT SUPERINTENDENT.
I KNOW THE PROCESS WAS CUT SHORT WHEN BRIAN JACOBS LEFT.
WE HAD A FIRM LOOKING BUT IT WAS DECIDED TO GIVE TRACY MCSPARREN THE POSITION TEMPORARILY, SO I THOUGHT, AND HERE WE ARE FOUR YEARS LATER, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS WORSE OFF FINANCIALLY AND OUR KIDS ARE NOT BEING SERVED LIKE THEY SHOULD.
I WOULD LIKE THE PROPER CHANNELS BE FOLLOWED, ONE THAT CAN LEAD AND BUSD BE A DISTRICT WHERE WARRANTS WOULD WANT THEIR KIDS TO COME. LISTEN TO OUR PARENU PS PARENTS COMMUNITY, THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MY I PLEASE HAVE STEVEN LOPEZED TO POEM YUM AGAIN, LOPEZ TO POEM YUMDUM AIUM AGAIN, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, THIS IS THE LAST TIME.
I WANT TO TAKE ABOUT 5.4, THE BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS.
THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE A RIGHT TO TRANSPARENCY AND ALSO YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS ARE PART OF THE PUBLIC AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM, THAT YOU WERE NOT GETTING THE FULL INFORMATION. YOU WERE NOT GETTING ALL OF THE NEWS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPORTED TO YOU.
KNEW, THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WE HAD THAT VOTE.
THE PREVIOUS TIME PRIOR TO THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHO SUGGESTED IT BUT THERE MIGHT BE SOME MALFEASANCE WITH FINANCES AND BOTH BOARD MEMBERS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE REMOVAL OF MCSPARREN WERE INDIGNANT ABOUT THESE ACCUSATIONS.
I WOULD LOVE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NOTHING THERE AND I
[00:55:01]
CERTAINLY HOPE THERE ISN'T, BUT PLEASE, BY YOUR ACTIONS, STOP MAKING IT LOOK LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT.SO NOW WE HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT THAT'S ON PAID ADMINISTRATE I HAVE LEAVE AND AN ATTORNEY TRYING TO FIND A LOOPHOLE TOLEA FIND A LOOPHOLE TO KEEP HER IN I HAVE AS.
SEW WE'RE PAYING FOR HER TO STAY IN A JOB SHE'S NO LONGER IN.
AN OBSCURE LOOPHOLE CODE WAS CITED.
I'M 99% SURE THERE'S LEGAL PRECEDENCE.
YOU CANNOT JUST DO WHATEVER YOU WANT IN YOUR JOB AND EXPECT TO RETAIN EMPLOYMENT REGARD OF ANY CODE OR LEGAL BOOK ANYWHERE,
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. LOPEZ.
MAY I PLEASE HAVE MS. MARISSA PEREZ TO THE PODIUM AND WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS MARISSA PEREZ AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON 5 HNT 4. THANK YOU SO MU4.
THANK YOU SO MTHANK YOU SO MUCH ME THIS TIME.
I WANT TO THANK BOARD MEMBER SUE ELHESSEN FOR A AGEDIZING THIS ITEM. THE BROWN ACT IS TO HAVE SCHOOL BOARDS CONDUCT DELIBERATIONS OPENLY.
IT'S ABOUT TRANSPARENCY SO THAT WE, AS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, CAN PARTICIPATE. ON PAGE 33 OF THE STATE AUDIT, THE AUDITOR STAIDED THAT BUSD HAS NOT CONSISTENTLY COMPLIED WITH THE BROWN ACT. FOR EXAMPLE, LIMITING THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO OVERSEE ITS OPERATIONS.
BELLFLOWER DID NOT COMPLY WITH STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES IT TO DISCLOSE PENDING LITIGATION FOR SCHOOL BOARD [INAUDIBLE] AND MAY HAVE CREATED DISSTRESSTRUST ABO OPERATIONS.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM WHAT PARENTS ARE TELLING YOU, THERE'S GREAT DISTRUST BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE DISTRICT AND THE BOARD.
I URGE YOU TO WORK WITH THE STAID AUDITOR.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY SUGGESTED ARE ESTABLISHING A PROCESS TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF ITS BOARD AYEN DAS.
THE STATE AUDIT MENTIONS THAT YOU HAVE YOUR YEN COUNCIL REVIEW THEM. YOU PAY GENERAL COUNSEL $800,000 A YEAR AND HE'S HERE TODAY. WHY AREN'T WE ASKING HIM? DID HE ACCURATELY REVIEW THE BOARD AGENDAS BECAUSE APPARENTLY THAT'S NOT OCCURRING. PLEASE ASK THAT OF YOUR GENERAL COUNSEL. NUMBER TWO, OFFER THE PUBLIC TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE BOARD AT EACH ACTION ITEM.
GROUPING THESE ITEMS INTO WIN ITEM IS NOT HOW THE BROWN ACT IS. THAT'S NOT SEEN IN ANY GOVERNMENT BODY I HAVE EVER OBSERVED IN 25 YEARS OF WORKING IN PUBLIC GOVERNMENT. PRIORITIZE THESE RECK MEN INDICATIONS AND COMPLETE THEM BY AUGUST OF 2022 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE AUDITOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, MS. PEREZ.
>> I SHARED SHH WITH YOU EARLIER BUT I'M SAYING IT AGAIN.
MY NAME IST WITH YOU EARLIER BUT I'M SAYING IT AGAIN.
MY NH WITH YOU EARLIER BUT I'M SAYING IT AGAIN.
MY N WITH YOU EARLIER BUT I'M SAYING IT AGAIN.
MY NS WITH YOU EARLIER BUT I'M SAYING IT AGAIN.
MY NAME IS SOPHIA [INAUDIBLE] AT THE HANDS OF THE DISTRICT.
AS WE KNOW FROM BEING RESIDENTS OF THE AREA, THE CITIES OF BELLFLOWER AND LAKEWOOD HAVE VERY SIMILAR BREAKDOWNS.
ONE WOULD EXPECT OUR SCHOOLS TO REFLECT THE CITY'S RESIDENCE.
WHY ARE BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL'S DEMOGRAPHICS MORE BLACK, BROWN, AND LATINO THAN MAYFAIR'S? THE CITY'S POPULATION IN COMPARISON TO BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL.
[01:00:01]
THE DATA SHOWS THAT BHS IS EXTREMELY SEGREGATED, RECEIVING LESS ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATORS AND OVERALL SUPPORT FOR STUDENT LEARNING. 23% OF BELLFLOWER STUDENTS MEET THE UC/CSU COURSE REQUIREMENTS WHERE 40% OF MAYFAIR STUDENTS MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS. WHY IS THAT? STUDENTS INTERNALIZE THE LABELS WE PUT ONTO THEM, HIGH ACHIEVING, LOW ACHIEVING, THEY INTERNALIZE THESE LABELS AND THAT SOMETIMES KEEPS THEM FROM REACHING AND ATTAINING THE SAME LEVELS OF SUCCESS AS THEIR WEALTHY, PRIVILEGED PEERS.MORE NEEDS TO BE SED SATE BUT THE SUSPENSION RATES DISPROPORTIONALLY TARGET BLACK STUDENTS.
BLACK STUDENTS MAKE UP 15% AND 10% OF BELLFLOWER AND MAYFAIR CAMPUSES RESPECTIVELY. SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? AS WE KNOW FROM THE RECENT AUDIT, BUSD IS SITTING ON $83 MILLION OF EXCESS FUNDING, AN AMOUNT THAT'S UNIMAGINABLE FOR MYSELF AND OTHER WORKING CLASS FAMILIES THAT YOU SERVE THIS YOUR DISTRICT. I STAND HERE AND ASK FOR THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE AND TO ASK THEM TO USE THAT FUNDING FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED STUDENTS. YOU NEED TO INTERVENE AND SUPPORT YOUR STUDENTS BY INVESTING IN OUR RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS SET UP TO KEEP US FROM SUCCEEDING. ONE OF THE REASONS PUBLIC EDUCATION STARTED IN THIS COUNTRY WAS TO CREATE A MODE FOR PEOPLE TO REACH UPWARD MOBILITY. IT'S TIME TO STOP MAKING THIS ACCESSIBLE TO SOME BUT A REALITY TO ALL STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU. MAY I PLEASE HAVE ANETTE AMADA
TO THE PODIUM? >> GOOD EVENING.
TODAY MY DAUGHTER SENT ME THE UPDATE THAT WAS RELEASED ON THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT'S WEBSITE AND I READ IT IN MY OFFICE AT WORK LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY.
HERE'S SOMETHING I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
WORKING TOGETHER, BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT WORKED WITH THE PROCESS INCLUDING MEETING WITH SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF THROUGH PHONE CONFERENCE AND SUBMISSIONS OF DOCUMENTS. NO RESPONSIVE INFORMATION OR RECORDS WERE WITH HELD. THE AUDIT CLEARLY SAID THAT OUT OF TEN REQUESTS, THREE WERE NOT RECEIVED.
OUT OF THE SEVEN LEFT, FOUR OF THOSE WERE LATE OR WERE NOT FULLY -- EVERYTHING WASN'T DISCLOSED THAT WAS ASKED.
WHO WROTE THIS? WHICH ONE OF YOU GUYS SUBMITTED THIS AND PUT IT ONLINE FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE? IT'S A BLATANT LIE. THE AUDIT REPORT STATES THAT IT'S A LIE. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS A COMMUNITY. YOU'RE LOOKING AT FACTS ON THE WEBSITE, THIS IS YOUR TRANSPARENCY OR LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. THE PRESS TELEGRAM, CERRITOS NEWS, WHATEVER THINGS OUT THERE? IT'S NOT JUST BELLFLOWER ANYMORE. IT'S GOING OUT FURTHER AND FURTHER, THE COMMUNITY BEYOND THE COMMUNITY NOW KNOWS THAT WE ARE IN TROUBLE. SO HERE WE ARE.
SHE'S GOT HER PAID VACATION FOR A MONTH UNTIL WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE LEGAL WAY IS TO GET HER OUT.
I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR COMING EVERY MONTH AND WE HAVE GIVEN YOU PETITIONS TO HAVE YOU RESIGN. WE HAVE GIVEN YOU PETITIONS FOR MULTIPLE THINGS BUT THERE'S DEAF EARS UP THERE.
WE CAN TALK AND TALK AND TALK UNTIL SOMEONE LISTENS.
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED YOU IN?
[5. ACTION]
OKAY. THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS 5.1, AND AT THE REQUEST OF BOARD MEMBER GARZA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD PRESIDENT OR ACTING SUPERINTENDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH[01:05:01]
LIEBERT, CASSIDY, AND WHIT MER FOR LEGAL SERVICES.DO I HAVE A MEDICATION? >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON COMMENTS? YES?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT WHERE THIS CAME FROM.
>> IT WAS A RECOMMENDATION MADE TO ME. OH.
>> IT WAS BY AN ATTORNEY. >> OKAY, WE NEED TO HAVE INFORMATION ON THAT. WE HAVE TO HAVE HIM VETTED, DOES HE WORK FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS? HIS PRICING, THERE ARE SO MANY
THINGS. >> YES, YOU ARE CORRECT.
SO I DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION HERE.
UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAND IT OVER TO STAFF, BUT I WILL MAKE THAT AVAILABLE AT THIS MOMENT.
IT IS ACTUALLY A LAW FIRM THAT I'M RECOMMENDING, CAME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. SO I'M NOT SURE HOW WE CAN GET
THESE COPIES. >> WAS THAT BY THE ATTORNEY THAT YOU MET WITH WITH THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER?
>> I DID NOT MEET WITH SUCH ATTORNEY.
I DID SPEAK TO THAT ATTORNEY AND HE DID MAKE A RECOMMENDATION,
THAT'S ALL IT WAS. >> I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MORE
THAN ONE ATTORNEY TO LOOK INTO. >> YES, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IT
OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. >> RIGHT.
SO UNTIL STAFF CAN GENERATE A LIST OF OTHER PERSPECTIVE LAW FIRMS, I THINK WE TABLE THIS AT THIS POINT.
>> IT IS UP TO THE BOARD TO DECIDE THAT, YES, ABSOLUTELY.
THAT IS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS I AM MAKING, BUT IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE OR ANYBODY ELSE KNOWS OF ANYONE, OR STAFF CAN OFFER ANYBODY, THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS.
>> I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE INFORMED OF
OTHER -- >> YES, ABSOLUTELY, I AGREE.
THAT'S WHY I AM SAYING THAT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS THAT FIRM HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THEM.
>> SURE. >> WOULD YOU MIND, PLEASE?
[CHEERING] >> GOOD EVENING, I AM A PARTNER AT LIEBERT, CASSIDY, WHITMORE WITH THE LOS ANGELES OFFICE.
I'M GOING TO REMOVE MY MASK TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE BEEN PRACTICING PUBLIC LAW SINCE 1980.
WE DO NOT REPRESENT FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES.
PERSONALLY FOR ME I HAVE BEEN WITH THE FIRM SINCE 2001 AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION ENTITIES SINCE THAT TIME. I REPRESENT K-12, COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS WELL AS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF THE DISTRICT THAT IS I HAVE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST INCLUDE SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED, LOS ANGELES UNIFIED, HOPE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SANTA BARBARA, COMPTON USD, SAN GABRIEL USD AND MY PARTNERS ALSO REPRESENT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WE HAVE A VERY DEEP BENCH.
WE HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT FIRMS AND APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 95 TO WIN HUNDRED ATTORNEYS DEPENDING ON TURNOVER AND LEAVE ANDATTORNEYS AND LEAVE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE PRACTICE ALL AREA THAT IS YOU MAY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH. WE DO STUDENT WORK, PUBLIC, MERRIMENT WORK, LABOR NOTIONS, FACILITIES, CONTRACTS, ANYTHING YOU MAY NEED WITH EXCEPTION OF TAX, BONDS, AND WORKER'S
COMPENSATION. >> SO WHAT'S BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION?
>> ME, I DO NOT HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION BUT ANY OF OUR ATTORNEYS ARE AVAILABLE.
[01:10:04]
WE WILL ASSIGN THE ATTORNEY FOR THE NEED THAT YOU HAVE.MY SPECIALITY IS EMPLOYMENT ISSUES, CONTRACTS, THINGS LIKE THAT. I WORK WITH TITLE NINE, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS,I, CONSTITUTIONX, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, BUT WE DO HAVE PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE WHO
SPECIALIZE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. >> HOW MANY OPENINGS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR FIRM IN DEALING WITH K-12?
>> IN THE FIRM? WE HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT OFFICES.
I WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
IT'S INFORMATION THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU, BUT MY LIMITED WORK IS WITH DOING THE EMPLOYMENT WORK AND SO I DEAL WITH THOSE CASES DIRECTLY. I WOULD HAVE TO SPEAK TO OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION ATTORNEY AS TO THOSE ISSUES SO WE CAN PROVIDE
YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, I WANTED TO KNOW WHEN YOU WERE APPROACHED, WHAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR INTENDED SCOPE OF SERVICES?
>> TODAY I PROVIDED INFORMATION TO MS. GARZA.
WE HAVE HAD VERY LIMITED DISCUSSIONS.
I DID PROVIDE A FIRM RESUME AS TO OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION WORK, SPECIFICALLY WITH K-12 AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS BEING PROVIDED TO YOU AT THIS TIME. AND OUR SCOPE, LIKE I SAID, CAN INVOLVE ANYTHING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TAX, WORKERS' COMP
>> THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT CONSULTED WITH THE REST OF THE BOARD SO WE NEED TO THOROUGHLY LOOK AT THIS AND ALSO TALK TO OTHER ATTORNEYS AT THIS POINT.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS?
>> NOT AT ALL. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AT THIS DISTRICT AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MS. GARZA.
>> OKAY. SO YOU WERE JUST APPROACHED AND
>> YES, AS A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD.
>> OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> NOT AT THIS TIME. WE NEED TO INTERVIEW OTHER LAW
FIRMS. >> I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT AFTER BEING APPROACHED BY OUR BOARD MEMBER.
I DO APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE COME AND GIVEN US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FIRM AND I SEE WE HAVE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY REVIEW; HOWEVER, I THINK WE COULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER AND LOOK INTO THIS, BUT OUR PROCEDURE AND PROCESS, WE DO HAVE PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES IN PLACE AND WE WILL PROBABLY CONSIDER YOU AND OTHER AGENCIES, OKAY?
>> THANK YOU, AND I DID PROVIDE, FOR YOUR REVIEW, A CONTRACT WITH A RATE SHEET. AS I WAS SITTING HERE, I RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM MY OFFICE THAT THE RATES WE PROVIDED WERE OUR NON-PROFIT RATES SO THE RATES ARE LOWER THAN YOU HAVE IN YOUR CONTRACT IN FRONT OF YOU.
>> WILL YOU TELL US WHAT THE PUBLIC RATE IS, THEN, FOR
EDUCATION? >> YES, LET ME GRAB MY PHONE AND
>> SO FOR PARTNERS THE RATE IS 380.
FOR ASSOCIATES THEY RUN BETWEEN 240 AND 325, PARALEGALS 145 AND WE GENERALLY HAVE A MATTERS REVIEW.
[01:15:03]
THE PARTNERS REVIEW THE WORK BUT ASSOCIATES HANDLE MOST OF THEWORK TO MAINTAIN THE COST DOWN. >> WE DO HAVE THAT SCHEDULE AND
FEES COST. >> I BELIEVE THE COSTS THAT YOU HAD WERE HIGHER BECAUSE YOU HAD THE NON-PROFIT FEES AND WHAT I PROVIDED FOR YOU RIGHT NOW IS OUR PUBLIC ENTITY FEE.
WE DO REPRESENT NON-PROFITS SUCH AS HOSPITALS AND OTHER NON-PROFITS, BUT THE FEES THAT I'M GIVING YOU NOW ARE THE ONES THAT WOULD APPLY TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL.
380 INSTEAD OF 425, WHICH IS WHAT I CHARGE ANY NONPROFITS.
>> YOU HAVE A RANGE, IT'S 240 TO 425.
IS THAT RANGE JUST FOR NONPROFITS?
>> IN THE SCHEDULE THAT YOU HAVE, 425 IS THE FEE FOR A NONPROFIT. MY RATE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS 380. SENIOR COUNSEL, 345, ASSOCIATES, 325 THROUGH 240 AND THAT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
THEY HAVE. >> SO 325 TO 340 YOU MEAN?
>> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT CORRECTION.
>> CALL THE QUESTION. >> EXCUSE ME?
>> CALL THE QUESTION. >> A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> NO, WE STILL HAVE QUESTIONS. >> DO WE HAVE ANYMORE QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS? >> THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS DO WE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR OTHER LAW FIRMS?
>> AT THIS TIME I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER LAW FIRMS BUT WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT. THIS COULD BE ONE.
SHE'S HERE, SHE'S PRESENTING AND SO WE CAN'T HELP BUT CONSIDER.
>> POINT OF ORDER, PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG.
MS. GARZA REQUESTED 5.2 WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ASK FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR GENERAL COUNSEL SO THERE'S THAT ITEM THAT WOULD REQUEST PROPOSALS THAT WOULD ALL BE CONSIDERED AT THE SAME TIME THROUGH AN INTERVIEW PROCESS AND FOLLOWING THAT PROCESS THAT DR. ELHESSEN PRESENTED.
>> I CALL FOR THE QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> ROLL CALL. >> I THINK YOU NEED TO CLARIFY WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON BECAUSE THE MOTION WAS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. AT THIS TIME THERE'S NOT BEEN A MOTION MADE FOR ACTION. IT WAS DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT.
SO IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT MOTION THEN I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE
MADE. >> I WOULD SUGGEST WE CLOSE THE PREVIOUS MATTER FOR DISCUSSION AND RECOMMEND WE POSTPONE THIS UNTIL WE HAVE OTHER LAW FIRMS BE EXAMINED AND VETTED BEFORE WE
MAKE A FINAL DECISION. >> I AGREE WITH THAT.
I CAN SECOND THAT MOTION. >> FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES CAN YOU RESTATE YOUR MOTION, PLEASE?
>> I'M MAKING A SUBSTITUTION MOTION IN PLACE OF WHAT YOU HAD.
YOU PROPOSED WE LOOK AT THIS. YOU DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION TO
ACCEPT, REJECT. >> YES, IT WAS STATED ON HERE.
POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT.
THAT'S THE FIRST MOTION. >> THAT WAS YOUR FIRST MOTION, I AGREED TO OPEN IT AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS I CLOSE IT WITH A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT WE POSTPONE ANY FINAL DETERMINATION
REGARDING THIS FIRM. >> I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. OPEN THE MOTION AND CLOSE THE MOTION? WE HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE.
>> LET ME CLARIFY. WHAT MAYRA IS STATING, WHAT SHE HAS UP FOR MOTION IS THAT WE OPEN THE RFP PROCESS, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE. >> WE'RE ASKING FOR REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS, CORRECT? >> MY MOTION WAS TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH LIEBERT,
[01:20:04]
CASSIDY AND WHITMORE. >> WE'RE IN THE 5.1.
>> SO WE NEED TO FIRST -- >> SO WE NEED TO VOTE ON YOUR ACTION, WHETHER WE WANT TO ACCEPT THIS OR NOT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THEN CALL FOR THE VOTE.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE MORE, WHICH IS FINE.
BUT I KIND OF LIKE THIS, SO. >> YOU NODE A ROLL CALL.
>> ROLL CALL. >> DR. ELHESSEN.
>> NO. HOWEVER, WE WILL BE LOOKING INTO THIS, OKAY? THANK YOU.
SO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS 5.2 AND AT THE REQUEST OF OUR HONORABLE BOARD MEMBER GARZA, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR GENERAL COUNSEL LEGAL SERVICES FROM QUALIFIED LAW FIRMS. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
SO AT THE REQUEST OF GARZA, SHE'S ASKING FOR US TO AUTHORIZE THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT, I GUESS ONCE WE GET ONE, TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR GENERAL COUNSEL, LEGAL SERVICES FROM QUALIFIED LAW FIRMS. DO I HAVE A MOTION?
MAYRA SAID YES. >> IN REGARDS TO OUR DISCUSSION FROM THE FIRST ONE, YOU'RE NOW ASKING FOR AN RFP SEPARATE FROM WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT? OKAY, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> I WILL SECOND HER MOTION. >> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOW VOTING ON IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL LAW ENFORCEMENTS THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS.
>> SO, AGAIN, WHAT IS THE INTENT OF THIS ITEM? GIVE ME THE OVERALL INTENT SO EVERYBODY CAN BE CLEAR.
>> THE PURPOSE IS TO HAVE LEGAL SERVICES FOR LABOR LAW NEGOTIATIONS WITH FUTURE OR UPCOMING LEGAL ISSUES WITH REGARD TO THE SUPERINTENDENT LAWSUIT.
>> SO BOARD MEMBER GARZA, THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO EXPLORE IS WHAT WE NEED. I AGREE.
>> THAT'S WHAT THE RFP IS FOR. >> I AGREE WITH THAT.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> LET ME CLARIFY, THAT IS FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HAVE A
NEW ATTORNEY LAW FIRM? >> THAT IS CORRECT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL.
OKAY. SO NOW WE HAVE WORK TO DO.
SO THE NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA ITEM AT THE REQUEST OF BOARD MEMBER GARZA, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A RECOGNIZED EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT RECRUITER TO SEEK CANDIDATES FOR A DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT. DO I HAVE A MOTION?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A LEGAL STATEMENT.
CAN WE CHECK WITH LEGAL ABOUT THAT?
[01:25:12]
>> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS YOU WOULD PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. YOU WOULD INTERVIEW THOSE CANDIDATES WHO SUBMITTED REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS IN OPEN SESSION AND THEN YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR DECISION FOR WHICH SEARCH FIRM YOU WANTED TO UTILIZE IF OPEN SESSION.
SO WHAT MS. GARZA IS ASKING FOR IS JUST TO BEGIN THE PROCESS
FROM A SEARCH FIRM. >> THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT NOT THE BOARD. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
IF THE BOARD IS DOING THE SEARCH, ISN'T THE BOARD RESPONSIBLE FOR LOOKING INTO THE RFPS?
>> BUT THE BOARD DOES NOT CONTACT OR CREATE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS. STAFF WOULD DO THAT.
WHAT THE BOARD WOULD BE DOING IS GIVING STAFF, WHICH WOULD BE PERSONNEL STAFF, TO START THE PROCESS THROUGH THAT DEPARTMENT FOR THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. ONCE THOSE WERE SUBMITTED, THE POORED WOULD HEAR FROM THOSE INDIVBOARD WOULD HEAR FROM THOS INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES WHO WANTED TO WORK WITH BUSD AND
MAKE THE DECISIONS >> SO THE STAFF WOULD FLY THIS PROPOSAL AND WHATEVER CAME IN WE WOULD REVIEW AS A BOARD AND MAKE
OUR INDICATION BASED ON THAT? >> YES, ONCE THE DEADLINE HITS, ANYONE WHO QUALIFIED AND SUBMITTED APPROPRIATELY ON TIME WITH MEETING ALL THE GOALS OF WHATEVER WAS NEEDED FOR THAT PROPOSAL. THEY WOULD COME TO A BOARD MEETING TO BE INTERVIEWED BY THE BOARD.
>> SO WE ARE NOW ENTERTAINING THE OPTION OF OTHER OPTIONS,
TOO, OR JUST VOTE THIS ONE -- >> RIGHT NOW THERE HASN'T BEEN A FORMAL MOTION MADE SO THE QUESTION BECOMES WHAT IS THE MOTION THAT YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE AT THIS TIME? BUT THAT'S HOW THIS WOULD READ WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A SEARCH FIRM, ASKING FOR PROPOSALS AT THAT TIME.
IF YOU VOTE ON THIS AND APPROVE IT, AT THAT TIME, YOU CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO NOT GO WITH ONE OF THOSE SEARCH FIRMS OR YOU CAN CHOOSE TO CHOOSE ONE OF THOSE.
WHAT THIS IS ALLUDING TO IS JUST THE OPTION OF OPENING IT OUT AND SEEING WHAT'S OUT THERE AND WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
SUPPORTING THE DISTRICT. >> I HAVE ANOTHER SUGGESTION OF
A POSSIBLE, SO DO WE -- >> AT SOME POINT WE NEED A MOTION SO YOU CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION.
>> OKAY. I MOVE TO HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION IN REGARDS OF HOW TO APPROACH THE RECRUITMENT OF A
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> SO NOW LET'S HAVE SOME QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. THIS ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS ARE WE ASKING THAT AN ACTING SUPERINTENDENT, THAT'S IF WE
APPOINT ONE, FOR THEM TO SELECT? >> NO, THAT IS NOT THE MOTION.
THE MOTION IS TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO LOOK FOR FIRMS THAT WILL DO
THIS FOR US. >> NO, I JUST INTRODUCED A MOTION FOR US TO EXPLORE OPTIONS.
IT COULD BE FIRMS, IT COULD BE OUR PERSONNEL OFFICE DOING AN RFP TO GO OUT NATIONWIDE AND WE HAVE OUR STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS BOARD AND STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES TO EXPLORE THAT OPTION. THAT WAS THE MOTION THAT I INTRODUCED. AND SHE SECONDED.
>> THE CURRENT MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS POSSIBLE ACTION TO CHOREAS THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT,AUTHORIZE THE AC SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH IS NOW STAFF, TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A RECOGNIZED EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT RECRUITER TO SEEK CANDIDATES. THAT'S THE MOTION
>> THAT WASN'T THE MOTION. >> MS. GARZA, THAT'S JUST THE TITLE OF THE ITEM. THERE WAS NO MOTION MADE.
>> MY FAULT, SORRY. I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED THERE.
THERE'S CURRENTLY A MOTION THAT HAS BEEN SECONDED BY THE PRESIDENT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON.
>> THANK YOU. I MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
>> YOU CAN'T DO THAT. >> YES, I CAN.
>> WE HAVE TO GET RID OF THIS ONE.
>> NO. IN PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS I CAN MAKE A SUBSTITUTION THAT WE WILL VOTE FIRST ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND THEN WE VOTE ON THE FIRST MOTION.
[01:30:03]
OKAY. SO WE HAVE THE FIRST MOTION BUT NOW WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. SO IF WE VOTE THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION DOWN, IF WE SAY NO TO IT THEN WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL?>> OH, I SEE. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> SO SUBSTITUTE MOTION. >> MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO AUTHORIZE AT THIS POINT STAFF TO BEGIN THE RECITEMENT PROCESS OF SEEKING A FIRM TO RECRUIT CANDIDATES FOR OUSEEKING A FIRM CANDIDATES FOR OUR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT.
>> SHE SAYS A FIRM SO THAT'S LIMITED.
>> YOU NEED A SECOND. >> I NEED A SECOND.
IF I DON'T GET A SECOND, IT DIES.
>> I SECOND. >> OKAY, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SO I WOULD THINK WE WOULD WANT STAFF TO SET UP INTERVIEWS WITH EXECUTIVE RECRUITERS AND US AS A BOARD DURING PUBLIC OPEN SESSION BECAUSE I WANT EVERYBODY TO SEE THIS, TO SELECT A RECRUITER TO HELP US WITH CANDIDATES, THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN DO WE ALL AGREE THAT WE WOULD LIKE DISTRICT TO START THE PROCESS ON THIS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND WORK WITH THE BOARD? I DON'T WANT TO BE LEFT OUT ON THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE HOLDING OUR FEET TO THE FIRE, YOU KNOW.
>> I WOULD ASSUME THAT WE WOULD BE INVOLVED AND SO WOULD OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS. BUT THAT IS ACTUALLY WHY WE ARE GOING OUT TO GET AN RFP TO SEEK THE CORRECT FIRM THAT WILL ALLOW
US ALL TO BE IN THAT PROCESS. >> OKAY, ONE MORE THING.
THE REASON I'M ASKING IS SUE ALSO MENTIONED, INSTEAD OF JUST LIMITING OURSELF TO A FIRM, WE COULD STILL ENGAGE, HAVE STAFF PUT WHAT IS NEEDED AND FLY THAT POSITION NATIONWIDE ON ED JOIN BECAUSE SUPERINTENDENTED MOVE FROM STATE TO STATE IF THEY HAVE TO. I DON'T WANT TO LIMIT IT TO JUST A FIRM. I THINK WE SHOULD OPEN UP ALL
GATES. >> MOST FIRMS REALLY HAVE ALREADY SELECT CANDIDATES THAT THEY -- MOST OF THEM HAVE SELECT CANDIDATES THAT ARE REJECTS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN THEIR POOL FOR YEARS OR MONTHS.
SO I THINK WE WOULD HAVE A FRESHER PERSPECTIVE OF CANDIDATES WHEN WE PUT IT OUT THROUGH ED JOIN AND GO NATIONALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING OPEN TO NEW POSSIBILITIES VERSUS A POOL THAT'S BEEN STAGNANT WITH CONSULTING FIRMS WHO POOL IN SUPERINTENDENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THEY HAVE ALREADY SELECTED THE PERSON BEFORE WE EVEN, AS A BOARD, KNOW OR LOOK
AT THE POSSIBILITIES. >> SO WE WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO BOTH. I'M GOING TO SAY ROLL CALL.
>> I CONCUR WITH DR. SUE ON THIS.
WE SHOULD FLY THE POSITION TO ED SOURCE AND ALSO LOOK FOR A SEARCH FIRM. THAT'S WHAT WE DISCUSSED BEFORE AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY WE GO.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO MOVE WITH THESE TWO OPTIONS?
>> THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, GARZA WANTS US TO SEEK JUST THE RECRUITER. A RECRUITING MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
LET'S HAVE A VOTE. SO THE MOTION IS THAT WE HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT RECOGNIZE A RECRUITER SEEK FOR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT. THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE FLOOR.
[01:35:03]
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT IT'S NOT -- WE DON'T HAVE AN ACTING SUPERINTENDENT RIGHT NOW. SO IT WOULD BE -- YES.
IT WOULD BE THE FIRM. THAT'S WHAT I STATED.
>> MY MOTION IS THAT WE FILE IT THROUGH ED JOIN NATIONALLY AND THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM OUR UNION, OUR BTA, OUR CSCA, OUR STUDENTS, WE HAVE A STUDENT REP NOW WHO WILL BE ON BOARD AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH AND ALSO COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE, PTA, THEY CAN HAVE A PARENT REPRESENTATIVE AND ANOTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER.
SO THAT WAY WE HAVE FILL REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY
AND STUDENTS AND BOARD. >> WE ALSO END UP WITH A BETTER CHANCE FOR DIVERSITY AS FAR AS A NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
THAT'S THE KEY THING TO FLYING THE POSITION NATIONWIDE.
WE CAN FIND THAT DIVERSITY. THAT'S WHAT OUR STAKEHOLDERS WANT. IT NEEDS TO BE SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS THE COMMUNITY, WHO UNDERSTANDS DIVERSITY OF OUR DISTRICT. THAT'S DONE BY FLYING THE POSITION, HAVING STAFF REVIEW IT AND FROM THERE WE CAN SELECT THE CORRECT CANDIDATE TO FILL THIS POSITION FOR SUPERINTENDENT FOR
BELLFLOWER. >> THE STAKEHOLDERS SAY THEY
WANT -- >> THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT WITH
THE AUDIENCE, THANK YOU. >> IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY WHAT THE STAKEHOLDERS WANT, THEY'RE HERE.
>> I, MYSELF, HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
WE VOTED ON MAYRA'S. MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS THAT WE OPEN UP THE FLOOD GATES. WE DO A MANAGEMENT RECRUITMENT, WE CAN ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT, WE CAN ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT AND I DO HAVE A FIRM THAT WE CAN USE, BUT WE CAN ALSO LOOK INTO OTHER FIRMS AND I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FLYING IT ALSO. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T DO
BOTH. >> THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SAY. [APPLAUSE]
>> MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS THAT WE AUTHORIZE THE STAFF TO FIND A COMPANY SO THAT WE CAN ENTER INTO A MANAGEMENT RECRUITMENT COMPANY AND I WOULD LIKE TO -- I CAN SUGGEST ONE, BUT NOT IN THIS MOTION. AND WE ALSO PUT THAT POSITION ON
ED JOIN. >> THERE HAS TO BE A POINT WHERE
THEY COME TOGETHER. >> YES, THEY WILL COME TOGETHER, BUT WE HAVE A POOL HERE AND A POOL HERE.
>> WE CAN'T HAVE TWO SEPARATE SEARCHES GOING ON.
>> IF I MAY, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD PUT IN THE RFP FOR THE FIRMS THAT THEY WOULD BE AWARE OF THAT THE DISTRICT INTENDS TO DO THEIR OWN SEARCH THROUGH ED JOIN AND TRY TO GET CANDIDATES. THE SEARCH FIRM CAN ALSO GET THEIR CANDIDATES AND IT'S UP TO THE BOARD AND THE INTERVIEW PANEL TO DETERMINE WHO THE CANDIDATES ARE THAT WOULD BE FINALISTS AND/OR FILL THE SEE BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT VERY AWARE TO THE AGENCIES BUZZ THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR AGENCIES IN WHETHER TO COME AND JOIN TO WORK WITH BUSD SO THAT WOULD BE PART
OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. >> SO DO I HAVE A SECOND TO THE MOTION FOR ENTERTAINING BOTH THE MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE AND ED
>> THERE WAS NO MOTION. >> MY MOTION? THAT WAS MY MOTION TO DO BOTH. MINE IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION --
>> EXCUSE ME MADAM PRESIDENT, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON DR. SUE'S MOTION
[01:40:07]
FIRST AND THEN YOU CAN RECOMMEND YOUR MOTION.THAT SUBSTITUTE MOTION NEEDS TO BE CUT DOWN FIRST, WHICH WOULD BE MINE. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO IT THIS WAY.
WE'RE GOING TO CALL FOR THE MOTION FOR DR. SUE.
I WILL SECOND YOUR MOTION. >> IT WAS ALREADY SECONDED.
>> OKAY, ROLL CALL. >> MRS. GARZA?
>> SO NOW MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION. A NEW MOTION.
OUR NEW MOTION IS THAT THE STAFF AUTHORIZE AN AGREEMENT WITH AN EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT RECRUITER AND FLY THE POSITION ON ED JOIN TO SEEK CANDIDATES FOR OUR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT.
>> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL.
>> REVEREND IVENS. >> [CHEERING] [APPLAUSE]
>> OKAY, I'M HOPING WE'LL HAVE A FLOOD GATE OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WE CAN CHOOSE. SO THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS.
SO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AT THE REQUEST OF BOARD MEMBER DR. ELHESSEN, THE BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS.
>> SO YOU GOT A BRIEF INTRODUCTION IN REGARDS TO THE
BROWN ACT FROM MS. PEREZ -- >> POINT OF ORDER.
WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION TO DISCUSS.
>> I'M SORRY. >> I MOVE THAT WE DO NOT DISCUSS THIS ITEM 5.4 BECAUSE IT DOES NOT FALL UNDER OUR PER VIEW.
THIS IS DISCUSSION ABOUT BROWN ACT ANDVIEW.
THIS IS DISCUSSION ABOUT BROWN ACT VIEW.
THIS IS DISCUSSION ABOUT BROWN ACT VIEW.
THIS IS DISCUSSION ABOUT BROWN ACT UVIEW.
THIS IS DISCUSSION ABOUT BROWN ACT RVIEW.
THIS IS DISCUSSION ABOUT BROWN ACT AND WE DO NOT DECIDE ON BROWN ACT ISSUES, THAT'S FOR THE FPP TO DISCUSS.
>> WE CAN DISCUSS BROWNED ACT VIOLATIONS.
>> POINT OF ORDER, YOU NEED A SECOND.
>> I SECOND. >> WHAT DID YOU SECOND?
>> YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THE BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DISCUSS IT AND SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION? OKAY. AND I SECOND.
SO NOW WE CAN DISCUSS AND SEE -- >> THE ONLY PERSON WHO MADE A MOTION WAS MRS. GARZA AND HER MOTION WAS NOT TO DISCUSS IT.
SO AT THIS POINT, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A SECOND, IT NEEDS TO BE A SECOND ON MRS. GARZA'S MOTION.
IF I DON'T >IF I D IF I DON'T G WILL DIE.
>> I SECOND SUE'S BECAUSE I WANT TO HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.
>> IS THERE A TIME? >> IT'S UP TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT WHEN SHE DETERMINES IT'S BEEN LONG ENOUGH TO WAIT
FOR A SECOND. >> SO WE MOVE ON?
>> OKAY. I SAID A SECOND, I CAN ACCEPT THAT AND WE CAN ROLL CALL IT, OKAY?
[01:45:03]
>> THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS. I JUST WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU
HAVE TO SAY. >> BUT THAT WAS YOUR MOTION BUT SHE HAD A MOTION SO WE HAVE TO GET A SECOND ON HER MOTION.
THERE WAS SILENCE DURING THEIR POINT, IT'S YOUR DECISION AT THAT POINT TO MOVE ONTO A MOTION THAT WE DISCUSS POSSIBLE BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS. YOU JUST HAVE TO MOVE ON NOW.
>> I'M READY THE MOVE ON. >> SO THE PROPER TERMINOLOGY IS MRS. GARZA'S MOTION DIES FOR LACK OF SECOND AND THEN YOU CAN
ENTERTAIN AN ADDITIONAL MOTION. >> OKAY.
SO MRS. GARZA'S MOTION DIES FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
>> NOW YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOUR MOTION TO DISCUSS.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DISCUSS? OR ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? THE MOTION IS TO DISCUSS THE BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS, DO I HAVE A MOTION?
>> SO MOVED. >> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> YOU NEED A SECOND. >> DO I HAVE A SECOND? SO MOVED, YOU HAVE A MOTION, DO I HAVE A SECOND? OKAY. I WILL SECOND IT.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> THANK YOU.
AS I STATED EARLIER, MS. PEREZ GAVE YOU A BRIEF DEFINITION OF THE BROWN ACT AND, YES, SHE'S RIGHT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS AND I WANT TO READ THE ANY RULES PERTAINING TO COMMUNICATIONS OUTSIDE A PROPERLY NOTICED MEETING SB 1732 EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2009 AND THIS AMENDS THE BROWN ACT [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNICATIONS OVER ANY KIND DIRECTLY OR THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES TO DISCUSS, DELIBERATE, OR TAKE ACTION ON ANY ITEM OF BUSINESS THAT IS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY. SO IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THROUGH A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AND I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD THAT IT IS A VIOLATION. SO IN ADDITION TO REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS, A MAJORITY OF BOARD MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE BODY, THE BROWN ACT ALSO ADDRESSES COME CONTACTS BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES. ON ONE HAND, THE BROWN ACT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT NOTHING IN THE ACT IS INTENDED TO IMPOSE BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL CONTACTS OR CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN MEMBERS OF A LEGISLATIVE BODY OR ANY OTHER PERSON, HOWEVER, THE BROWN ACT ALSO PROHIBITS THE SERIES OF INDIVIDUAL CONTACTS AND IF THEY RESULT IN A SERIAL MEETING.
THAT'S SECTION 54952.2 B. IT PROHIBITS A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS OF A LEGISLATIVE BODY OUTSIDE OF A LAWFUL MEETING FROM DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY USING A SERIES OF MEETINGS TO DISCUSS, DELIBERATE OR TAKE ACTION ON ANY ITEM WITHIN A SUGGESTIVE MANNER OR JURISDICTION WITHIN THE BODY. ANY MEMBER WHO IS ENGAGING OUTSIDE DOES NOT INCLUDE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS IS IN VIOLATION OF SERIAL MEETINGS. SO THERE ARE -- THEY DO RECOMMEND FOLLOWING GUIDELINES TO AVERT VIOLATIONS OF MEETINGS AND THE RULES OF CONDUCT APPLY ONLY WHEN A SUMMERED OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES IS INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF CONTACTS OR COMMUNITIES. THE TYPES OF CONTACTS CONSIDERED INCLUDE LOCAL AGENCY STAFF MEMBERS, CONSTITUENTS, DEVELOPERS, LOBBYISTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.
SO IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY JERRY CLEVELAND EARLIER -- I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD AND IN DOING SO, WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT AS A BOARD, OKAY? SO IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD DURING CLOSED SESSION ITE GARZA, ON HER OWN, CONTACTED OUR LEGAL AT THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER AND REQUESTED THAT THEY COME AND WORK FOR BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS WAS DONE ON HER OWN WITHOUT
[01:50:07]
BOARD NOTIFICATION OR DISCUSSION AT ALL.IT WAS ALSO THERE HAVE BEEN A SERIES OF COMMUNICATIONS VIA E-MAIL THAT INCLUDE A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD EXCLUDING THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND MYSELF ON DOING A SPECIAL MEETING.
THAT'S CONSIDERED A SERIAL MEETING.
FURTHERMORE, SPECIAL MEETINGS WERE TRYING TO BE SCHEDULED WITHOUT CONTACT OF THE FULL BOARD.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. IN THE E-MAILS I RECEIVED LAST WEEK, IT DID APPEAR TO BE A VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT AND I WANT TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
I DID CONTACT THE [INAUDIBLE] AND LET HER KNOW THAT SHE WAS IN VIOLATION. SHE WAS CREATING A [INDISCERNIBLE] IN HER E-MAILS AND THAT'S ILLEGAL.
SO OUR PERSON AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER HAS BEEN ADVISED I KNOW BY MYSELF. I CALLED HER PERSONALLY AND TOLD HER WHAT SHE WAS DOING WAS WRONG AND SORRY THAT IT HAPPENED BUT IT DID HAPPEN AND IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
BOARD MEMBER DOWNING, YOU DID NOT MAKE A CALL TO ME.
YOU E-MAILED ME WITH ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS INCLUDED AND ASKED ME THAT REQUEST. NOW, I CALLED YOU AND I CLARIFIED WITH YOU THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO BECAUSE YOU, MR. IVENS, AND I AT THAT POINT WERE CONSIDERED A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD AND WE WERE TRYING TO AGENDIZE A MEETING THAT OUR OTHER TWO COLLEAGUES WERE NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH.
THAT IS WHEN I REQUESTED MRS. MCSPARREN TO PLEASE AGENDIZE
THAT MEETING. >> WE WERE NEVER CONSULTED IF WE
WERE AVAILABLE. >> YOU WERE NOT MEMBERS OF THE
MAJORITY AT THAT POINT. >> WE ARE STILL BOARD MEMBERS TO
BE PART OF THE MEETING. >> THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU WROTE YOUR E-MAILS AND YOU WERE RIGHT, I WAS WRONG, I E-MAILED YOU AND ADVISED YOU THAT WHAT YOU WERE DOING WAS WRONG AND YOU CALLED ME AND I CLARIFIED YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
LISTING ALL THREE NAMES ON AN E-MAIL WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM MYSELF OR DR. IVENS. YOU WERE ACTING ON YOUR OWN.
I AGENDIZE SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING AS AD SO NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING AS A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO PRESENT A CLAIM, YOU CAN GO TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND
PUT IN A CLAIM. >> THAT'S CONSIDERED SERIAL MEETING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> NO, IT'S NOT. THEN HOW ARE WE GOING TO AGENDIZE A MEETING TO GET THESE ISSUES OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
>> CAN I JUST SAY THIS? I KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING AFTER OUR LAST BOARD MEETING AND SO THE NEXT DAY I IMMEDIATELY CALLED OUT TO THE OFFICE AND GAVE THEM THIS PARTICULAR DATE WHICH WOULD GIVE EVERYBODY ENOUGH TIME TO DO WHAT THEY HAD TO DO OR CHANGE THEIR SCHEDULE OR WHATEVER SO I HAD ALREADY CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING AND THAT'S WHEN THE DISTRICT, OUR DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE REACHED OUT TO YOU ALL. I DIDN'T KALE YOU GUYS, I SENT
IT TTO IT TO THE DISTRICT. >> YES, YOU DID.
AT THAT POINT, I REQUESTED AN AN AGENDIZED MEETING WHICH WAS THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY. LET ME LOOK TO GIVE YOU THE EXACT DATE. IT WAS ON THE 21ST IS WHEN I HAD PROPOSED THAT MEETING AND YOU WERE REFERRED TO THAT AS WELL IN THE E-MAIL, MRS. MCSPARREN SAID MS. ARMSTRONG LOOK AT THE
INFORMATION BELOW. >> I CALLED IT ON THE 28TH.
>> YOU CAN CALL YOUR MEETING, THAT'S FINE.
[01:55:01]
>> I CALLED OUR MEETING >> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. YOU CAN CALL OUR MEETING AND YOU CAN CALL THE MEETING THAT YOU HAD PROPOSED ON THE 28TH AND THEY BOTH WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE AND THAT'S WHAT I STATED IN MY E-MAIL, BOTH MEETINGS CAN OCCUR AND IT IS NOT A BROWN ACT VIOLATION. SO WHEN I CALLED THAT MEETING AND IT WAS NOT AGENDIZED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT AND IT WAS BY THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD, THAT ITSELF IS A VIOLATION SO IF ANYONE HAS A VIOLATION TO PRESENT, IT'S ME.
>> KNOWING THAT WE NEEDED A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THIS PURPOSE, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING AND THIS WAS THE DATE I HAD GIVEN THE DISTRICT. UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THOUGH I DID THAT, I WANTED TO MEET EARLIER AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
>> THAT IS CORRECT BECAUSE THE SUPERINTENDENT DID NOT AGENDIZE THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD MEETING PRIOR TO THE 28TH.
>> SO YOU MET WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD AND DISCUSSED THE
TOPICS YOU WANTED TO HAVE? >> NO, I DID NOT MEET WITH THEM.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A CLARIFICATION.
WHEN RENITA, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, WHEN YOU SENT AN E-MAIL, IF YOU CHECK MY E-MAIL, MY RESPONSE, I JUST SAID THAT WE NEED BECAUSE THE URGENCY OF THE TOPIC WE NEED TO MEET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND I SAID I AM AVAILABLE THE REST OF THE WEEK.
THAT'S WHAT I SAID. I WAS OPEN IF IT WAS THE 28TH BUT I WAS ASSUMING THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE NEEDED TO MEET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND MY RESPONSE WAS I AM AVAILABLE THE REST OF THE WEEK, MONDAY EXCEPT THE HOLIDAY, OF COURSE, AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY BUT I ALWAYS SEE THE INVOLVEMENT OF ALL OF YOU IN THE E-MAILS BACK AND FORTH SO I DON'T SEE --
>> THERE WAS A MEETING CALLED FOR A FRIDAY AFTERNOON I WAS NOT CONSULTED ABOUT OR THE TIMING OF THAT MEETING AND I WAS MEETING WITH SUPERINTENDENT JANICE HAHN AND ALSO HAD OTHER PRESSING
ENGAGEMENTS. >> SO WE JUST NEED TO BE MORE CAREFUL BUT WHEN I SENT MY E-MAIL OUT, IT WAS FOR YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT A MEETING WAS COMING UP AND THAT IF YOU HAD ANY ITEMS THAT YOU WANT TO AGENDIZE IS SUB MET THEM TO THE OFFICE. IF YOU NOTICE, I DON'T RESPOND TO ANYONE. ALL I DO IS PUT THAT OUT SO YOU CAN DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AS FAR AS GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE OFFICE, THE DISTRICT I HAOFFICE SO, ALL RIGHT.
SO, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ANYTHING? OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. WE WILL STRIVE TO CONDUCT OURSELVES ACCORDING TO THE LAW AND NOT VIOLATE ANYMORE BROWN ACTS. AND WITH THAT, THE BOARD IS --
>> MS. ARMSTRONG. THERE IS NO ACTION, BUT YOU HAD A FIRST AND A SECOND AND YOU HAD DISCUSSION SO MAYBE CLOSE THE ITEM, CLOSE THE DISCUSSION VIA ROLL CALL.
>> OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CLOSE THIS ITEM, DISCUSSION OF THE BROWN ACT.
>> AYE. SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED UNTIL THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.