[1. CALL TO ORDER IN PUBLIC SESSION]
[2. CLOSED SESSION]
[3. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION/CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:42]
>>> TONIGHT'S MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:01 P.M. IN OPEN SESSION.
THE BOARD THEN ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION AT 4:01.
WE WILL RECONVENE THE MEETING IN OPEN SESSION AT 6:06.
THE TOPICS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION WERE STUDENT MATTERS, PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL RELEASE.
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SUPERINTENDENT, PENDING LITIGATION, APBLTS -- ANTICIPATED LITIGATION AND LABOR NEGOTIATIONS. ACTION TAKEN WILL BE REPORTED BY THE CLERK OF THE GOVERNING BOARD , MYRA GARZA.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
THE BOARD VOTED IN CLOSED SESSION TO APPROVE THE SELL -- SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOLS. THE VOTE OF THE APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT WAS 5-0. THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION THE BOARD APPROVED IN CLOSED SESSION A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE DOWNEYMONTE LLA.
IT WAS 5-0. THE AGREEMENT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.
>> REPLACEMENT PAGES FOR THE AGENDA ITEMS 10.3.1.3 AND 10.3.1.4 ARE ON THE BACK TABLE. TONIGHT WE HAVE REQUEST ADDRESSING AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. WHILE THE MEETINGS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD ARE NOT PUBLIC MEETINGS, THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON EACH AGENDA OR NONAGENDA ITEM.
THE BOARD WILL LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT FOR 20 MINUTES BY LAW 9,322.2. WILL DR. ROBINSON APPROACH THE PODIUM? SHE IS COMING.
WELCOME, DR. ROBINSON. >> FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR ASSEMBLING AND ALL OF THE TIME YOU COMMIT.
TONIGHT WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO REC COG MS. ARMSTRONG -- RECOGNIZE MS. ARMSTRONG AS OUR OUT GOING PRESIDENT AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE TWO BOARD MEMBERS WHO WILL ALSO BE LEAVING. I I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH YOU, PASTOR. WHILE YOU WEREN'T AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, YOU WERE AN APPOINTED OFFICIAL.
I KNOW THAT YOU CAME INTO THIS NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT IT WAS ALL GOING TO BE ABOUT. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE VALUE WHAT YOU CONTRIBUTED AND HAVE DONE IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD. AND BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITH STANCE AND WHERE YOU COME, I WANT TO REACH BACK INTO THAT AND SAY SOME OF US PLANT, SOME OF US WATER AND SOME OF US HARVEST.
AND SO WHEN YOU CAME INTO THIS DISTRICT, WHAT YOU WERE FOCUSED ON DOING IS PLANTING SEEDS. WE WANT TO GIVE YOU A FEW THINGS. FIRST, THE TRUE MEANING OF LIFE IS TO PLANT SEEDS FOR TREES WHOSE SHADE YOU DO NOT EXPECT TO SIT UNDER AND THE SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME YOU HAVE BEEN HERE, THAT IS REALLY WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. I'M GONNA REACH BACK TO JAMES 4:14. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE BUT A VAPOR THAT APPEARS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN VANISHES AWAY.
[00:05:02]
FIRST CORINTHIANS, WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IN THE GLORY OF GOD.WHILE THE TIME SERVED MAY HAVE BEEN EXTENDED LONGER, YOU DON'T NEED FOUR YEARS TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU DID AND THE MONTHS YOU CHOSE TO SERVICE. WHAT I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF IS THIS AS WELL, YOU ARE EXACTLY WHERE YOU NEED TO BE.
YOU CAME AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME.
WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU WILL BE THERE, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHERE YOU WILL NEED TO BE. WE WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
>> AND NOW TO MY NEXT VICTIM. YEP, HERE WE GO MR. DOWNING.
IT WAS IN THIS VERY ROOM THAT YOU SAT IN A CHAIR RIGHT OVER THERE WHEN WE WERE CAMPAIGNING FOR YOUR FIRST RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD. WHAT YOU SAID WAS, WHY I'M RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD IS, IT'S ON MY BUCKET LIST.
YOU DID. SO I BROUGHT YOUR BUCKET WITH YOUR LIST. RICHARD DOWNING'S BUCKET LIST.
LOVE A FAMILY I HELPED CREATE. CHECK.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. CHECK.
RUN AND WIN A SCHOOL BOARD SEAT. CHECK.
HELP CHANGE A DISTRICT. CHECK.
AND NOW BEYOND THIS, I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF ROOM BECAUSE I'M 56 SO I AM SEEING I AM IN THE LAST THIRD OF MY LIFE AND I THINK YOU ARE THERE TOO, SO NEXT TO IT IS DO A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF AND THEN LEAVE A VIABLE LEGACY.
SO WHAT I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF IS THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU HAVE GIVEN US AND INVEST IN THE -- INVEST TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY IN THE TIME YOU HAVE LEFT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS GAME.
IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. WE ARE NOT GONNA PLAY TONIGHT.
WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THIS GAME, JENGA, IS PRE CURIOUS.
YOU CAN PLAY AND PUSH A PIN AND PUSH A PIN AND PUSH A PIN AND NOTHING EVER FALLS APART. OUT OF NOWHERE, ONE PIN OR ONE PEG GETS TAKEN AND EVERYTHING COMES APART.
MR. DOWNING, OF ALL OF THE REASONS YOU ARE ON THIS SCHOOL BOARD, THE MOST IMPORTANT WAS THE CHANGE YOU INITIATED.
YOU PULLED THE PEG THAT STARTED THE CHANGE.
WHILE YOU MAY NOT BE HERE TO SEE WHERE THE PEGGIES NEXT AND THE CHANGE LEADS US NEXT, IT IS YOU WHO HAVE TO BE CREDITED WITH PULLING THE PEG THAT MOVED US FORWARD THAT LEAD TO THE CHANGE THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND HERE IS YOUR QUOTE. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE LIVED.
WE SHOULD BE DETERMINED TO LIVE FOR SOMETHING.
SO THANK YOU. >> AS ONLY DR. ROBINSON CAN DO.
THANK YOU, DR. ROBINSON. MAY MAY I PLEASE HAVE LINDA ATKINS-ARNT TO THE PODIUM. COME ON, LINDA, BTA PRESIDENT.
>> HI. LINDA ATKINS-ARNT, PRESIDENT SPEAKING FOR THE ASSOCIATION. ONE THING I WANT TO SAY IS THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW LONG MEETINGS WERE GOING, AND I KNOW THERE IS A PIECE OF ME THAT SAYS WE CAN'T CUTOFF TALKING.
WE CAN'T DO THAT. THERE IS SO MUCH THAT HAS TO BE DONE. BUT I LIKE COMING AT 6.
I HAVE TO LEARN TO COME AT DIFFERENT TIMES IF THAT WILL CONTINUE. I LIKE THAT PEOPLE TALK FIRST.
WE ALWAYS HAD THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO GET HOME.
I KNOW I ALWAYS HAD HOMEWORK. I WAS SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM GRADING PAPERS. THERE ARE LOTS OF PIECES AND PARTS. THE PIECE I WORRY ABOUT IS THE HARDENED. I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER AND WHOEVER YOUR NEXT PRESIDENT IS, YOU HOLD THE POWER TO CONTROL THE AGENDA. THE PRESIDENT CREATES IT.
THE BOARD APPROVES IT OR DISAPPROVES IT.
YOU CAN STOP TRADITIONS LIKE -- AND HAVE BREAKS.
YOU CAN STOP TRADITIONS AND NOT HAVE CERTAIN THINGS LAST AS LONG AS YOU DO. I STILL FEAR BECAUSE I KNOW NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AND BELLFLOWER TEACHER ASSOCIATION IS STRONGLY AGAINST LIMITING DEBATE AND LIMITING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON. THE BEGINNING BEING EARLIER, YAY. THE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DIFFERENT
[00:10:01]
SITUATIONS, YAY. BUT SOMETIMES, JUST REMEMBERING THAT YOU CONTROL THE AGENDA AND YOU CAN CONTROL WHEN IT ENDS.IF YOU KNOW THERE IS LOTS OF LAWSUITS, YOU JUST REORGANIZE WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO THAT WEEK AND DO IT AGAIN ON ANOTHER POINT. BRAVO.
THANK YOU AND I'LL LEARN TO LEAVE EARLIER OR JUST DON'T GO HOME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MS. LINDA. [APPLAUSE].
[4. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA]
>> OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS TO
THIS EVENING'S AGENDA? >> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
YES. WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT ON AGENDA ITEM 11.4, REQUEST FOR A SECONDARY LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TO ORLANDO, FLORIDA.
IT SHOULD SAY BASEBALL AND NOT BASKETBALL.
>> OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE
THE AMENDMENTS ON THE AGENDA? >> SO MOVED.
[5. INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE]
>> WE WILL NOW ASK MS. SABRIA PA DRETI TO APPROACH THE PODIUM. SHE WILL HAVE OUR INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE FOR THE EVENING AND WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND ADMINISTRATION STAFF.
>> I AM SABRIA AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND THRILLED TO BE HERE.
FOR THIS EVENING I HAVE A STORY TO READ FOR YOU.
IS YOUR JAR FULL? A LIFE LESSON.
THE BELIEVE GEE HAS BEEN -- THIS ANALOGY HAS BEEN AROUND AND IT HAS TAKEN ON A FEW CHANGES. IF WE BREAK IT DOWN, WE CAN SEE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FROM THE EDUCATOR'S PERSPECTIVE.
A PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR STOOD IN FRONT OF HIS CLASSROOM AND HAD ITEMS IN FRONT OF HIM. WHEN THE CLASS BEGAN, WORDLESSLY, HE PICKED UP AN EMPTY GLASS JAR AND PROCEEDED TO FILL IT WITH ROCKS TO THE TOP. HE LOOKED AROUND HIS ROOM AND HE ASKED HIS STUDENTS, IS THE JAR FULL? THE STUDENTS LOOKED AND SMILED. YEAH.
HE THEN PICKED UP SOME PEBBLES THAT HE HAD IN FRONT OF HIM.
HE POURED THEM AROUND THE JAR AND SHOOK THE JAR SLIGHTLY AND TAPPED IT AROUND. THE PEBBLES ROLLED AROUND AND FILLED UP SOME OF THE EMPTY SPACES BETWEEN THE ROCKS.
THE STUDENTS STARTED LAUGHING. HE THEN ASKED THE KIDS, IS THE JAR FULL? AND OF COURSE THEY LAUGHED AND THEY'RE LIKE, YES, PROFESSOR. THE JAR IS FULL.
HE GOES, HUH. HE PICKS UP A BOX OF SAND.
HE POURS IT IN THE JAR. HE SHAKES THE JAR AROUND AND OF COURSE THE SAND FILLS IN ALL OF THE SMALLER SPACES NOW, SAYS THE PROFESSOR, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS OUR WORK AND WHAT WE DO. THE ROCKS ARE THE IMPORTANT THINGS. FOR US IT WOULD BE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. THE PEBBLES ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED OF OUR ROLE AS EDUCATORS IN PROVIDING EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT ON A SMALLER SCALE.
THE THINGS THAT KIND OF KEEP THE BUSES RUNNING ON TIME.
THE SAND IS EVERYTHING ELSE. THE SMALL STUFF THAT MAKES EVERYTHING RUN SMOOTHLY. NOW IF WE WERE TO PUT THE SAND IN THE JAR FIRST AND THEN THE PEBBLES, WE'D GET A LOT DONE.
THE JAR IS FULL, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ROOM FOR THE ROCKS.
THE SAME GOES FOR HOW WE ADDRESS OUR ROLE IN PROVIDING EDUCATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. IF WE REMEMBER THAT OUR ROCKS
[00:15:02]
ARE OUR STUDENTS AND WE USE THEM AS THE LENS FOR PRIORITIZING, PLANNING THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE, WE WILL REMAIN STEDFAST IN PROVIDING A HIGH QUALITY, INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES LITERACY FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.JUST A THOUGHT FOR THE EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE].
[6. FLAG SALUTE]
>> AND NOW WE WILL HAVE MRS. KASEY WHO WILL BE LEADING THE FLAG SALUTE THIS EVENING. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND
THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
PLEASE RISE. PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. READY.
BEGIN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> SO IT IS TIME FOR OUR STUDENT
[7. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE SCHOOL SITE REPORTS]
BOARD REPORTS. REPRESENTING BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL IS MS. BIAN NCA -- BIAN NCA AGUILLAR.WELCOME BE AN AN -- BA -- BIANCA >> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG AND BOARD MEMBERS AND COUNCIL AND EVERYBODY IN ATTENDANCE. I AM HERE TO REPRESENT AND TELL YOU ALL ABOUT WHAT BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN UP TO.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE. FOR THE PAST EVENTS THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT BELLFLOWER, IN OCTOBER TOP LEFT YOU CAN SEE A COUPLE PICTURES OF OUR FOOTBALL TEAM BECAUSE THEY DID MAKE CIF.
WE JUST HAD ROUND 2 AND WE JUST MADE SEMIFINALS WHICH I WILL TALK ABOUT LATER. NEXT, TOP RIGHT, THERE ARE PICTURES OF FALL FEST WHERE IT WAS VERY, VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAD MORE TURN OUT THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.
AND WE EVEN HAD MAY FAIR'S PRESIDENT COME.
AND THEY RAISED A LOT OF MONEY WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE CLUBS.
FROM THE FEEDBACK I HEARD IT WAS VERY, VERY FUN.
BECAUSE OF IT WE ARE THINKING OF HAVING A SPRING FEST BECAUSE IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. BOTTOM LEFT, WE HAVE SENIOR SUNRISE. WE DID HOST THAT LAST FRIDAY, I BELIEVE. THE SENIORS CAME OUT EARLY SO WE COULD SPEND THE SUMMERS -- THE SUNRISE TOGETHER.
IT WAS SO PRETTY. WE WERE THANKFUL WE DID HAVE A SUNRISE. IN PAST YEARS IT WAS GLOOMY AND CLOUDY AND THEY SADLY DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD SUNRISE.
AS YOU CAN SEE IT WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL, AND WE ALL HAD A LOT OF FUN. LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAD OUR SISTER SCHOOL COME. WE HOSTED THEM BY GREETING THEM WITH A TOUR TO OUR AUTO MECHANIC SHOP, CULINARY ARTS AND TO THE GYM WHERE WE HAD OUR DANCE AND PUT ON MUSIC SO THEY COULD DANCE AND HAVE FUN. PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG IS THERE AS WELL. I HOPE IT WAS A LOT OF FUN FOR EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE. YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND FOR OUR UPCOMING EVENTS WE HAVE, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, OUR FOOTBALL DID MAKE SEMIFINALS, AND THAT IS TOMORROW.
WE ARE SO EXCITED. IT IS IN SOUTH PASADENA.
WE WOULD LOVE FOR ANYONE TO COME OUT AND SAW -- SUPPORT US.
AS THE VIDEO SHOWS WE HAVE THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE WHERE THE CLUBS COME AND SHOW LOVE FOR BELLFLOWER AND SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER. AND WE HAVE THE BRIGADE WHO IS PERFORMING ON SATURDAY. I BELIEVE IT IS 8:45 OR 7:45.
I BELIEVE IT IS 8:45 WHEN THEY PERFORM AT DOWNEY HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. WE ARE EXCITED FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE AMAZING THIS SEASON AND THEIR SHOW IS CALLED PRISON BREAK AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. AND WE HAVE A FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY. OUR YEARBOOK IS DOING A CHICK-FIL-A FUNDRAISER SO THEY CAN RAISE MONEY FOR WHATEVER THEY MIGHT NEED TO MAKE YEARBOOK BETTER AND IT IS ON DECEMBER 8TH. WE WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU WOULD COME AND SUPPORT US. THE NEXT SLIDE IS WHERE YOU CAN CONTACT US OR IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW WHAT WE ARE DOING, THOSE
[00:20:02]
ARE ALL OF THE PASS CODES, FACEBOOK, TWITTER.>> [APPLAUSE]. >> GO BELLFLOWER.
REPRESENTING MAY FAIR HIGH SCHOOL IS LIZZIE.
WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD AND EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FORGIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY AGAIN TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL. I AM GRATEFUL AND IT IS A WONDERFUL SCHOOL. FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER WE HAD A LOT GOING ON AND A LOT TO RECAP.
I ADDED A LOT OF PICTURES TO CAPTURE THE WHOLE MONTH.
ON THE LEFT WE HAD HOME -- HOME COMING AND WE DID WIN THAT GAME 48-24, VARSITY FOOTBALL. WE HAD AN IS YOU -- AN ASSEMBLY WHERE WE HAD DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE KPHAOUPD CALLED MAYFAIR, LIKE CHINESE CLUB, HOMECOMING COURT, FOOTBALL, CHEERLEADER AND EVEN ALUMNI WHO ATTENDED THE GAME TO SHOW MAYFAIR SPIRIT.
THE DANCE ON SATURDAY WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.
EVERYONE HAD FUN AND THE DECORATIONS TURNED OUT WONDERFUL AND THE STUDENTS HAD A BLAST OVERALL.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VIDEO WE HAD A FUNDRAISER DURING LUNCH.
IT WAS SOAK A SENIOR WHERE STUDENTS CAN BRING $5 TO FOLK THEIR FAVORITE TEACHER WITH A BUCKET OF WATER.
IT WAS A LIGHT AND FUN ACTIVITY. I'M SURE THE TEACHERS WERE VERY COLD AFTER. WE EVEN HAD ONE OF OUR TEACHERS LITERALLY IN A SUIT AND HE GOT SOAKED.
IT WAS A SUPER FUNNY VENT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND -- FUN EVENT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND THEY HAD FUN SOAKING THEIR TEACHER AND WE HAD OUR OWN PRINCIPAL, MR. DIAZ IN THE BACK, PARTICIPATE.
AS YOU CAN SEE THE STUDENTS ARE SOAKING THEIR TEACHERS.
A TEACHER PARTICIPATED WITH SNORKEL GOGGLES.
IT WAS A SUPER FUN EVENT. YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT TOPIC.
SECONDLY WE HAD HALLOWEEN WHERE WE HAD TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DRESSING UP. WE HAD THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT.
THEY DRESSED UP AS BASEBALL PLAYERS.
WE HAD OUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATE. I BELIEVE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAD A DANCE WHERE IF YOU MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF A 3.0 GM -- GPA AND ABOVE AND NO TARDIES AND WE ARE RECOGNIZING THOSE STUDENTS THEY GOT TO LEAVE 5TH PERIOD EARLY TO GET A TREAT AND HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS. AND WE HAVE STUDENT LIFE GOING ON EVERYWHERE. WE HAVE OUR ON -- ENSEMBLE CLUBS AND CLASSES PERFORMING. WE HAVE OUR STUDENTS IN THE CLASS WHERE WE SELL MERCHANDISE FOR MAYFAIR AND WE PURCHASED A PORTABLE STUDENT STORE. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT IT IS CALLED. STUDENTS CAN BUY THEIR MAYFAIR GEAR AND WE CAN SPEND MORE SCHOOL SPIRIT AND DECORATE IT.
IT WAS SUPER CUTE. AND WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE STUDENT OF THE MONTH AND RECOGNIZE THE DOMINO'S PIZZA.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE TITLE 9 EVENT.
WE BROUGHT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE VARSITY WOMEN ATHLETES. IT WAS A SUPER FUNNY VENT WHERE WE HAD MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS SPEAK TO THE ATHLETES AND MOTIVATE THE WOMEN AS TO WHY WE COME TOGETHER AND OVERALL PUSH THESE ATHLETES TO BETTER THEMSELVES AND WHERE WE CAME FROM AND IT SHEDS LIGHT TO WOMEN ATHLETICS.
AND WE HAVE SOME OF OUR ALUMNIS AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE SPEAK TO THESE STUDENTS AND IT WAS SUPER INSPIRATIONAL.
LAST -- LASTLY WE HAVE A SEMIFINAL FOOTBALL GAME AND WE HAVE THE CODE FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SCAN AND BUY TICKETS.
WE HAD POSTERS AND A RALLY TODAY.
WE EVEN HAD A TELEVISION CREW COME IN AND FILM.
IT WILL BE AIRED AT THE DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL GAME NEXT FRIDAY DURING HALF TIME. AND WE HAVE OUR FOOTBALL TEAM AND OUR CHEERLEADERS AND OUR BAND.
EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER AND SUPPORTS OUR FOOTBALL TEAM AS WE ARE EXCITED TO PLAY TOMORROW.
>> AND NOW REPRESENTING SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL WE HAVE JESUS VILLEGAS WHO IS SUBSTITUTING FOR AIDAN.
>> UNFORTUNATELY HE COULDN'T MAKE IT SO I CAME TO SUB.
GOOD ARMSTRONG AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE CABINET. MY NAME IS JESUS VILLEGAS.
I AM A SENIOR AT SOMERSET. EARLIER TODAY SOMERSET HIGH
[00:25:04]
SCHOOL HOSTED THE ANNUAL TURKEY DAY EVENT IN THE KIWANIS HALL.TURKEY DAY HAS BEEN A THANKSGIVING TRADITION FOR 30 YEARS NOW. IT WAS REALLY AMAZING.
IT WAS HONESTLY AMAZING. IT WAS GOOD FOOD AND I SAW EVERYBODY LAUGHING. IT WAS CELEBRATED WITH THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE SCHOOL SITE ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS.
ADDITIONALLY TURKEY DAY ALLOWED SOMERSET TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND A FOOD DRIVE THAT WAS HELD TO SUPPORT THE BELLFLOWER VOLUNTEER CENTER. SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO JOINED US TODAY.
I SAW YOU THERE. YOU WERE MISSING OUT ON THE TURKEY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT WAS THERE. THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD SERVICES DIVISION FOR PREPARING THE MEALS.
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
LAST WEEK SOMERSET TEACHERS MR. GUZMAN AND MR. JOHNSON TOOK STUDENTS ON A FIELD TRIP LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO THE AUTO CLUB RACEWAY IN PAW -- POMONA. IT IS AN EVENT SPONSOR BY THE NHRA YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1989.
IT IS THE ONLY FULL-TIME EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN MOTOR SPORTS THAT PROVIDES QUALITY PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOLS AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE.
STUDENTS HAD A GREAT TIME. MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF SETTING GOALS AND FURTHERING THEIR EDUCATION.
THE STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED ALSO WERE AVAILABLE TO EXPLORE THE VARIATION CAREERS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND DISCOVER HOW SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH ARE AWARDED TO REAL WORLD SITUATIONS INCLUDING NHR DRAG RACING.
IN SEPTEMBER WE REPORTED THAT SOMERSET'S WELLNESS CENTER WAS SHAPING UP NICELY. WE ARE NOW HAVING TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE WELLNESS CENTER IS OPEN.
MS. SHANNON WOODS OUR SEL COUNSELOR HAS WORKED HARD WITH THE DESIGN AND LAYOUT OF THE WELLNESS CENTER.
STUDENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO WARM AND WELCOMING SPACES ON CAMPUS WHERE THEY CAN BE DE ESCALATED AND LEARN VALUABLE COPING SKILLS. THIS CONCLUDES OUR BOARD REPORTS FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND HAVE
A GREAT THANKSGIVING. >> THANK YOU.
THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR REPORTS.
THEY WERE VERY WELL DONE. AT THIS TIME I WELCOME YOU TO REMAIN FOR THE BALANCE OF OUR MEETING, BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME OTHER ACADEMIC OBLIGATIONS THAT NEED ATTENDING TO. YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE AT THIS TIME. BUT YOU COULD STAY A LITTLE BIT LONGER. WE HAVE RECOGNITIONS TONIGHT?
[8. RECOGNITIONS OF STUDENTS / STAFF / COMMUNITY]
>> YES, WE DO. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MS. CARTER TO HELP US WITH THE RECOGNITION.
>> AT THIS TIME WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MS. ANITA ARMSTRONG.
WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN US UP FRONT? CAN WE ALSO HAVE THE BOARD COME DOWN AND JOIN MS. ARMSTRONG?
>> SO THIS EVENING WE HAVE SEVERAL SPECIAL GUESTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MS. ARMSTRONG.
WE WILL CALL THEM UP ONE AT A TIME.
FIRST, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER, MAYOR PRO TEM SONNY SANTA INEZ, COUNCIL MEMBERS AMADA AND DAN COOPES.
AND VICTOR SANCHEZ. THEY NEED TO DO THEIR SPEECH AND
[00:30:02]
THEN THEY CAN COME AROUND AND PRESENT.>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE CABINET AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS SONNY SANTA INEZ. WITH ME ARE COUNCILMEMBER COOPES AND UH MA TKAU AND -- AMADA AND SANCHEZ.
APOLOGIES. HE COULD NOT MAKE IT TONIGHT.
PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEADY HAND DURING THIS PAST YEAR. IT WAS A TRYING YEAR.
IT WAS A VERY CHALLENGING YEAR. HONESTLY I WATCHED A COUPLE OF VIDEO RECORDINGS, AND IT WAS VERY PAINFUL.
IT WAS PAINFUL TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
IT WAS PAINFUL TO THE CABINET. IT IS PAINFUL TO THE TEACHERS.
IT WAS PAINFUL TO THE STUDENTS, AND IT IS PAINFUL FOR THE PARENTS. I AM HOPING THAT THAT'S BEHIND US NOW AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. AS YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL BOARD IS SEPARATE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. WE FEEL YOUR PAIN.
YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS. WE SERVE THE SAME CONSTITUENTS AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR STEADY LEADERSHIP. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THIS DILEMMA, TO PUT IT LIGHTLY, AND I THINK -- I'M HOPING THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL COME OUT STRONGER, BETTER BECAUSE IT IS FOR THE STUDENTS. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
SO WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE YOU. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER AND THE WONDERFUL RESIDENCY OF BELLFLOWER, I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG FOR YEARS OF SERVICE FOR THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED DISTRICT. THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER HONORS YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEDICATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING SERVICE.
SIGNED BY -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE]. >> NEXT, REPRESENTING CERRITOS COLLEGE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE RELATIONS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DR. DARRELL BENNIKER.
>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AT THIS BOARD MEETING, AND IT'S REALLY REFRESHING TO SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY IS ENGAGED AND HOW IT'S SO CIVIL.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
I HAVE BEEN TO MANY COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND IT'S RE-- REFRESHING TO SEE THE LEVEL OF SAW -- CIVILITY AND HOW PEOPLE TREAT EACH OTHER. I COULD BE WRONG.
I HAVEN'T WATCHED THE TAPES. WE'LL PUT THAT OFF TO THE SIDE.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CERRITOS COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTIES AND ADMINISTRATION.
WE WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP AS BOARD PRESIDENT BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING THIS PAST YEAR. WE UH -- WE APPLAUD YOU AND RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE BOARD.
IN ADDITION WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION WITH CERRITOS COLLEGE, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CERRITOS
[00:35:01]
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, OUR PRESIDENT, DR. JOSE APPS FIERO AND OUR ORGANIZATION LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE YEARS AHEAD. CONGRATULATIONS.>> YOU CAN COME FORWARD. >> REPRESENTING BELLFLOWER TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION, PRESIDENT LINDA ARNT AND DR. KIRSTEN ROB -- R-B BIN SON. ROBINSON.
[APPLAUSE]. >> HI, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I CAN ONLY SAY THAT FOR AN HOUR? MADAM PRESIDENT, MS. ARMSTRONG, AS YOUR TENURE AS BOARD PRESIDENT COMES TO A CLOSE, SO DOES YOUR FIRST TERM AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
THE BELLFLOWER TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR RE-ELECTION AND CULMINATING SERVICE. WE RECOGNIZE THE PROFOUND COMMITMENT OF TIME SERVING REQUIRES IN A TYPICAL YEAR.
THIS PAST YEAR WAS ANYTHING BUT NORMAL AND DEMANDED EVEN MORE THAN USUAL. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU INVESTED INTO THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS OF BOARD SERVICE AND THE POSITION OF LEADERSHIP YOU HELD THIS PAST YEAR. WE APPRECIATE THE DEMEANOR WHICH YOU OFTEN DIFFUSED ESCALATIONS WITH GREATER EMPATHY THAN WE HAVE SEEN ON THIS GOVERN -- GOVERNING BODY FOR A LONGTIME.
AND THE NATURE YOU TEMPERED THE HEAT, CHOOSING TO MINDFULLY ADDRESS THE PUBLIC AND GRACIOUSLY COME UNDER INTENSITY OF THE CONFLICT THAT'S REPEATEDLY AROSE, RATHER THAN RESPOND COMBATIVELY AS YOUR POSITION WOULD HAVE ALLOWED.
AS YOU RETREAT TO MEMBERSHIP YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES MINIMIZE, BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YOUR VOICE AND POWER OF YOUR VOTE IS NOT. THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER ON A SCHOOL BOARD. NOW WE LOOK AT THAT DIGIT AS WE LOOK AT YOUR YEAR OF LEADERSHIP AND LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTS AND USE WHAT YOU LEARN TO IMPACT THE FUTURE OF OUR SLEEPY LITTLE BEDROOM DISTRICT OF BELLFLOWER. FIRST VALIDATE YOUR INVESTMENT OF TIME. IT IS NOT SO UNLIKE THE STATEMENT THAT THE DAYS GO SLOWLY, BUT THE YEARS PASS QUICKLY COULD NOT BE MORE TRUE THAN YOUR YEAR AS PRESIDENT AND FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE. LIKE THE FALLING SAND THAT BARELY MOVES FROM TOP TO BOTTOM UNTIL IT ASTONISHINGLY MOVES OUT IS HOW YOUR TIME PASSED. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CRITICALLY ANALYZE HOW YOU SHOWED UP IN WHAT YOU DID AND DIDN'T DO.
SOBERLY REFLECT BACK ON WHAT YOU ENVISIONED AND COMPARE IT TO WHAT MATERIALIZED AND SET COURSE FOR YOUR NEXT TERM THROUGH THE LENS OF THE REALITY OF THE BREVITY OF YOUR LAST TERM AND THE ENORMITY OF ITS IMPACT. NEXT A TANGLED STAR BECAUSE GREATNESS AS AN ENTITY IS NOT ABOUT ONE LINEAR SUCCESS.
IT IS ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF MULTIPLE SOURCES, DISCOVERING THEIR DISTINCTION AND INFUSING IT TO THE EMINENCE OF ALL OTHER GREATNESS. INTERNAL STRUCTURES ENFORCE THE EXTERNAL ONES. THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF THE GREATNESS. STARS REPRESENT ACHIEVEMENT AND DREAMING AND THAT'S WHAT OUR AIM AS A UNIT IS AND SHOULD BE FOR OUR DISTRICT WITH RESPECT TO OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
AN IDENTIFIABLE CONSTELLATION OF STARS, DREAMERS AND DOERS.
ALL PEOPLE OF ACTION ARE GREAT DREAMERS.
OUR DREAMS SHOULD BE BIGGER THAN OUR FEARS AND ACTIONS LOUDER THAN WORDS. YOUR JOB AS THE PRESIDENT WAS TO GUIDE HOW THE DISTRICT'S VISION INTEGRATED WITH THE STAKEHOLDER'S DREAMS. IT COULD BE HARNESSED AND GIVEN LEGS. AS YOU STEP BACK AND VOTE YOUR SUCCESSOR TO THE FORE GROUND, ENCOURAGE THEM TO EMBODY THE MIND-SET FOR LEADERSHIP AND FINALLY A WINDOW.
YOUR FIRST TERM WAS FOUR YEARS LONG.
EACH QUADRANT REPRESENTS ONE OF THOSE YEARS.
IN 2019, YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR SAW CARRY OVER FROM DECADES PAST AND INNOTHING -- INAUGURAL YEAR WAS THE MOST NORMAL GIVING UH CHANCE TO FIND YOUR FOOTING BEFORE THE SAOUPB VERSE SHIFTED OFF KILTER.
2020, THE WORLDWIDE COVID PANDEMIC AND SCHOOL CLOSURES LITERALLY SHUT THE WHOLE WORLD DOWN.
INSTRUCTIONS AND MEETINGS MIGRATED TO THE VIRTUAL WORLD.
IN 2021, WE SAW THE CONTINUATION OF COVID ACCOMPANIED BY THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION. THE DISTRICT FACED A STATE AUDIT WITH STAKEHOLDER COMPLAINT AND UNREST AND CONTENTION AND ILL DEFINED POLICIES PROCEDURES AND FINANCIAL EXPENDITURES.
2022 OPENED WITH CONTINUED STAKEHOLDER UNREST AND UNFAVORABLE FINDING IN THE STATE AUDIT AND THE SEARCH FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND YOUR OWN BID FOR RE-ELECTION.
YOUR WHOLE TENURE HAS BEEN BAPTISM BY FIRE.
AS YOU HELPED GOVERN THROUGH ALL OF THE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, NOW
[00:40:02]
AS YOU BRING CLOSURE TO THIS FIRST TERM YOU CAN TURN THE WINDOW AROUND AND LOOK INTO THE FOUR QUADRANTS OF YOUR FUTURE AS A BOARD MEMBER, WIDE OPEN AND UNDEFINED.A PRESENT WAITING TO BE LIVED AND A PAST WAITING TO BE WRITTEN. THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT A FUTURE IS CREATE IT. MINDFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY SET A CLEAR PATH FORWARD.
EVERYONE PAUSES TO LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF OTHERS MOMENTARILY.
IF THEY WANT TO KNOW WHO SOMEONE REALLY IS AND WHAT THEY BRING TO THE PROVERBIAL TABLE, THEY WATCH THEIR FEET.
THERE'S A LOT OF PRE DARE -- PRECARIOUS FOOTING FOR YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES. THERE IS A SCIENCE TO EATING AN ELEPHANT. BITE AND CHEW AND CHEW AND CHEW AND THEN SWALLOW. GO SLOW TO GO FAST AND ANALYZE WHO YOU BROUGHT TO THE BOARD FOUR YEARS AGO AND HOW YOU GREW FOOT LEADER YOU WERE AND DETERMINE WHO YOU WANT TO BE AT THE END OF THE NEXT TERM. HOW CAN YOU AND WILL YOU STEER THIS DISTRICT TOWARD THE GREAT -- GREAT ES -- GREATNESS IT HAS TO BE. HOW WILL YOU PUSH THE STATUS QUO THAT LEFT US STABLE, BUT BANKRUPT IN CLIMATE, TRUST, TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY. EINSTEIN SAID YOU CAN'T SOLVE PROBLEMS BY USING THE SAME THINKING THAT CREATING THEM.
YOU RAN THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS SOMETHING YOU HAD TO OFFER, BUT PROBLEMS YOU BELIEVED YOU COULD SOLVE.
THE FIRST TERM CULMINATING WITH YOU AT THE HELM AT THE HEAD OF THE BOARD. CONSIDER THE FIRST TERM YOUR WARM UP. AS YOU PASS THE TITLE OF BOARD PRESIDENT TO THE COLLEAGUE, RECAL -- RECALIBRATE AND DO SOMETHING NECESSARY AND PIVOTAL FOR YOUR CONSTITUENCY IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. LEAVE AN INDELIBLE MARK THAT YOU WERE HERE AND MATTERS LATER IN THE FUTURE WHEN YOU ARE GONE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MADAM PRESIDENT, MS. ARMSTRONG.
[APPLAUSE]. >> REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, PRESIDENT MICHELLE QUAR
DON'T WORRY. I DON'T HAVE ALL THAT, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO PUT UP YOUR FEET AND REFLECT ON THIS PAST YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]. >> REPRESENTING BELLFLOWER COUNCIL PTA PRESIDENT RITA RIVERA.
[APPLAUSE]. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATION STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY. I ALSO HAVE WITH ME LINDA MOORE -- LINDA MORGAN. SHE IS A PAST COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND A CURRENT PARLIAMENTARIAN. PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG, WE ARE PRESENTING THIS CERTIFICATE TO YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR 12 BELLFLOWER COUNCIL PTA'S. WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND YOUR DEDICATION ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS OF THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. >> REPRESENTING THE PERSONNEL
[00:45:22]
COMMISSION, VICE CHAIRPERSON, STACY KANAN.[APPLAUSE]. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
GREETINGS, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT ONE LAST TIME. WHAT CAN I SAY THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID, RIGHT? WHAT COULD I REALLY SAY EXCEPT ONE WORD IS THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE.
THANK YOU FOR NOT GIVING UP. THAT IS A TRUE, I WOULD SAY, IDENTITY OF A LEADER. IT IS EASY TO RUN -- WELL, SOME SAY IT IS EASY TO RUN. IT IS NOT EASY TO RUN.
IT IS EASY SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE CAN THROW THINGS AT YOU AND IT IS EASY TO JUST SAY YOU KNOW WHAT? IT IS NOT WORTH IT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STICKING WITH THE DISTRICT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REPRESENTING THE BOARD AS YOU HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION, I WANT TO THANK YOU
TRULY FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> REPRESENTING BELLFLOWER LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT TEAM, BLAST PRESIDENT-ELECT DR. DIERDRE REYES. [APPLAUSE].
>> PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG, ON BEHALF OF THE BELLFLOWER LEADERSHIP SUPPORT TEAM, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT A PLAQUE CRAFTED BY THE SHOP OF SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS A RECOGNITION OF YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE PAST YEAR AND YOUR SUPPORT OF PROVIDING PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS TO BUILD FUTURES BY BECOMING RESPONSIBLE, INFORMED AND PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. THANK YOU, MS. ARMSTRONG, FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> YOU GOT IT, RIGHT?
>> WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO -- WE'D ALSO LIKE TO PRESENT MS. ARMSTRONG WITH CERTIFICATES FROM SENATOR BOB ARCHLETTA, CONGRESSWOMAN LINDA SANCHEZ, ASSEMBLYWOMEN CHRISTINA GARCIA, SUPERVISOR JANICE HAHN AND THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD.
THEY WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND AND WISH TO EXTEND THEIR CONGRATULATIONS AND APPRECIATION TO MS. ARMSTRONG FOR HER SERVICE TO THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE]. >> AT THIS TIME, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE STAFF, CABINET AND THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT MS. ARMSTRONG WITH A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION AS A THANK YOU AND MOMENTO OF YOUR TERM AS BOARD PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS,
STAFF AND COMMUNITY OF BUSD. >> MS. ARMSTRONG, IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT IS HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE? >> [INAUDIBLE].
[00:51:26]
[APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU, MS. ARMSTRONG.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR RECOGNITIONS FOR THIS EVENING.
[APPLAUSE]. >> N -- THIS WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.
I HAVE TO TAKE TIME TO ABSORB IT ALL.
LET'S JUST TAKE A SHORT RECESS AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET SOME REFRESHMENTS AND HELP YOURSELF. LET'S JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE.
AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE OUR REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS.
REFRESHMENTS, EVERYONE, PLEASE. WE WILL TAKE MAYBE ABOUT 5
IT IS NOW 7:09 P.M. AND WE WILL RECONVENE OUR MEETING.
PUBLIC HEARINGS. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS EVENING? NO PUBLIC HEARINGS?
>> NO PUBLIC HEARINGS. >> THANK YOU.
[10. ACTION]
SO THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.IT IS FOR THE OCTOBER 4TH, 2022 SPECIAL MEETING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> THANK YOU, RICHARD.
>> DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR PHEPBTS ABOUT -- COMMENTS ABOUT THOSE? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA ITEM 10.1.2? IT IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE OCTOBER 6TH, 2022 REGULAR MEETING?
>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> RICHARD AND MAY I HAVE A
>> THANK YOU, REVEREND. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA ITEM 10.1.3? THAT'S THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE OCTOBER 22ND, 2022 2ND MEETING?
>> SO MOVED. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THOSE? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE UH GENERAL DAY R -- AGENDA ITEM 10.1.4, THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE OCTOBER 23RD,
2022 SPECIAL MEETING? >> MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> THANK YOU, RICHARD. >> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, REVEREND. >> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
[00:55:03]
>> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA ITEM 10.1.5? IT IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE NOVEMBER 7TH, 2022
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, RICHARD. DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SO MOVED. >> ARE THERE NO QUESTIONS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT?
>> AFTER I GET THE SECOND. >> SECOND.
>> THE MOTION AND THE SECOND. I MAKE THE MOTION AND SHE SAID THE SECOND. AND SO NOW I WILL CALL FOR
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. >> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS
ITEM? >> DO YOU GUYS ALL HAVE THE CONTRACT, RIGHT? I DON'T.
THAT'S WHY I HAVE PREPARED A FEW WORDS THAT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES, BUT I THINK THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS I ASSUMED THE CONFIDENTIALLY OF THE SEARCH WAS DUE TO THE ADVICE FROM OUR FIRM OR BINDING EDCO LAW AND I ACCEPTED THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A ROLE IN THIS HIRING PROCESS BECAUSE I TRUSTED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO INCLUDE ME IF IT COULD.
HOWEVER, UPON SOME RESEARCH I DID AFTER RECEIVING THIS MONTH'S BOARD BOOK I FOUND OUT THAT A BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY EXERCISE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN CHOOSING HOW IT CONDUCTS ITS SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH THAN WE HAVE EXERCISED. ONE WEBSITE I VISITED TPAE TOURED AN ART -- FEATURED AN ARTICLE IN WHICH THE TRUSTY CONDUCTED A SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.
SOME BOARDS WILL PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE SEMIFINALISTS OR INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE SEMIFINALIST INTERVIEW PROCESS. SOME BOARDS WILL KEEP THE PROCESS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THE PUBLIC RATIFICATION OF THE CONTRACT. WHILE I KNOW THIS COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE INTERVIEW OR KNOW THE NAMES OF THE SEMIFINALISTS, I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES TO REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL FOR THE SAKE OF NOT TELLING THEIR CURRENT EMPLOYER THEY ARE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE. IF THAT WAS THE REASON, I UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR THE WAY THIS SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED THE WAY IT WAS. BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE HERE I THOUGHT -- I FELT DISAPPOINTED.
SHE GOES ON TO SAY THAT STUDENTS SHOULD BE STRONGLY INVOLVED IN THIS IMPORTANT HIRING DECISION AND INCLUDED IN SOME PARTS OF THE INTERVIEW PROCESS. INTERVIEWS NORMALLY OCCUR CONFIDENTLY IN CLOSED SESSIONS, BUT THE FIRM CAN FIND AN AVENUE APPROPRIATE FOR STUDENTS PARTICIPATION.
OUR STUDENT TRUSTIES WERE INCLUDED IN THE THE FIRST ROUND OF CLOSED SESSION INTERVIEWS AND DEBRIEFED AFTERWARD.
SO THEN ONE OF TWO REASONS FOR MY EXCLUSION MUST BE TRUE.
THIS IS IT? I'M GOING TO KEEP READING.
>> ONE OF TWO REASONS FOR MY EXCLUSION ARE TRUE.
FIRST, IT COULD BE THAT OUR SEARCH FIRM FELL SHORT IN ITS DUTIES. THEY HAD SPOKEN TO ME AND THE REST OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ONE MONDAY MORNING AND WE HAD FOUR OTHER STUDENTS RESPOND TO A SURVEY AND THAT CONSTITUTED THE ENTIRETY OF OUR STUDENT INPUT INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS. I REALIZE THAT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH EARLIER THIS YEAR AND I HAD SPOKEN TO MR. MICAH ALI AND SAID HE WOULD GET BACK TO ME IF I COULD PERSONALLY INTERVIEW THE CANDIDATES. AFTER THE OCTOBER 22ND MEETING WHEN YOU WERE IN CLOSED SESSION DOING I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I WAS OUT HERE WAITING TO SPEAK TO MR. HE ARRIVED AND INFORMED ME THAT STATE LAW DIDN'T LET ME HAVE A ROLE IN THE HIRING PROCESS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT MY RESEARCH FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK SAID.
FOOLISHLY I DIDN'T VERIFY THE CLAIM UNTIL EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN I VISITED ED 100'S PAGE. EITHER HE DIDN'T KNOW I COULD PARTICIPATE, OR THE SECOND REASON FOR MY EXCLUSION IS THE CASE, THAT BEING THE BOARD INTENTIONALLY EXCLUDED ME FROM THE PROCESS AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO TELL ME THAT.
HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE. STUDENTS ARE SMART ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE THE STRATEGY HERE GIVE THE ILLUSION OF CHOICE WHILE MAKING ONE OPTION IMPROBABLE TO SELECT.
I AM JUST NOW LEARNING THE NAME OF WHO WE ARE VOTING TO HIRE.
I WAS JUST HANDED IT AS YOU SAW. WHERE AM I? YOU GUYS ALL HAD HOWEVER LONG YOU WERE DOING THE INTERVIEWS IN
[01:00:01]
CLOSED SESSION. AND I AM EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THIS. IT IS STRANGE TO ME.IT IS LIKE SOMEONE EARLIER SAID, WE CAN'T MAKE THE CHANGE OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS BY PRACTICING MORE OF THE SAME DECISION MAKING STRATEGIES AND THE REASON WE ARE EVEN VOTING ON THIS TODAY.
I CAN'T VOTE ON A CONTRACT I JUST RECEIVED.
BECAUSE THE WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN EXCLUSIVE, THE COMMUNITY KAFPT DEFINITIVELY -- COMMUNITY CAN'T DEFINITIVELY SAY WE GOT THE BEST PERSON OF THE JOB. IT UNDER MINDS THEIR UH -- ABILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS. SOMETHING ONLY THEY COULD ASK.
HERE IS WHY I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS IN THE PROCESS. I DON'T EXPECT YOU GUYS TO RESPOND TO WHAT I AM ABOUT TO ASK.
WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT IN CLOSED SESSION STAYS IN CLOSED SESSION.
CONSIDER THE RESPONSE IN YOUR MIND TO THE ANSWER -- THE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS. WHEN INTERVIEWING THE CANDIDATE FOR SUPERINTENDANT, DID YOU ASK THESE PEOPLE HOW THEY PLAN TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS WHO IDENTIFY AS MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR THEM TO ENCOURAGE OPEN -- COMPLETE OPENNESS BETWEEN STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR SCHOOLS AND TO CREATE A SAFEN -- ENVIRONMENT YOU MAY NOT SEE IT FROM UP HERE, BUT IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS EVERY YEAR, TEACHERS STRIKE OUT LEGAL NAMES ON THEIR ROSTER AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL BECAUSE A STUDENT WISHED TO BE ADDRESSED DIFFERENTLY. TEACHERS KNOW HOW LARGE OUR LGBTQ PLUS STUDENT POPULATION IS, AND STUDENTS EVEN MORE SO KNOW THAT. YOU CAN'T FIND A SINGLE STUDENT IN BELLFLOWER UNIFIED WHO DOES NOT KNOW SOMEONE OR OF SOMEONE WHO IDENTIFIES AS A MEMBER OF THE LGBTGQ PLUS COMMUNITY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOSTER A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM AND THEMSELVES. I KNOW STUDENTS WHO ONLY CHOOSE TO SHARE THEIR TRUE NAME WITH CERTAIN MORE ACCEPTING TEACHERS AND OTHER CLASSROOMS THEY PUT UP WITH BEING REFERRED TO A NAME THAT BRINGS THEM DISCOMFORT, BUT THEY DO SO BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT A POOR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEACHER.
I KNOW STUDENTS WOULDN'T ASK OUR CANDIDATES OR SUPERINTENDENT HOW THEY WOULD WORK WITH STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE SAFE WHO THEY ARE AT SCHOOL BECAUSE THE SUPERINTENDENT, EVEN IF THEY WERE HYPER QUALIFIED ON PAPER, THEY COULD WORSEN OUR CULTURE WITH XENAPHOBIA OR STOMP IT OUT.
DURING INTERVIEWS DID YOU ASK THE POTENTIAL SUPERINTENDENTS HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO ASSIST WITH THE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC? WE HAD A SPEAKER COME AND ADDRESS THE BOARD AND HIGHLIGHT HOW SUSPENSION RATES DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETED MINORITY STUDENTS.
AND BEYOND THAT THE SUSPENSION RATES ARE HIGH IN GENERAL.
I SPOKE TO MY GOVERNMENT TEACHER ABOUT THIS TODAY.
I KNOW STUDENTS BEING INCLUDED IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS WOULD HAVE ASKED HOW A POTENTIAL SUPERINTENDANT WOULD BE RESTORING JUSTICE PRACTICES. RESTORATIVE JUSTICES MAKES STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE TROUBLEMAKERS.
BY CHECKING BACK IN WITH STUDENTS AND MAKING THEM FEEL IMPORTANT TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, WE AVOID THE ANIMOSITY THAT BUILDS OUT OF THE CRIME AND PUNISHMENT STRATEGY.
STUDENTS WHO VANDALIZE PROBABLY WOULDN'T DO IT AGAIN IF THEY VIEW ADD -- ADMINISTRATION WHO DIDN'T GET THEM IN TROUBLE, BUT THE ADULT FIGURES WHO WAIVE HELLO IN THE FALLS.
OUR STUDENTS WOULD HAVE ASKED THESE AND A PLETHORA OF OTHER QUESTIONS. WE WOULD HAVE ASKED ABOUT COMBATING FOOD WASTE AND LITTER, BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO DO THAT. THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AT THE AFOREMENTIONED ACTIONS ARE NEEDED.
THEY CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO BE ADVOCATED BY A BOARD OF EDUCATION WHO IS NOT ON CAMPUS EVERY DAY.
YOU HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO FIND THE BEST QUALIFIED PERSON FOR THE JOB LAW GIST STICKILY, BUT -- LIEU GIST CLEAR, BUT YOU COULD HAVE FORGOTTEN TO ASK IF THEY HAVE AN OPEN MIND FOR THE NEEDS LIKE I JUST LISTED. EVEN IF A SUPERINTENDANT HAS A DOCTORATE, IF THEY ARE AN OUT OF TOUCH ADULT WHO THEY CAN'T COUNT ON EVERY DAY TO EVOLVE WITH OUR YOUTH IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
I GUESS ALL THAT TO SAY WHY WEREN'T STUDENTS INCLUDED IN THIS PROCESS WHEN IT WAS THE BOARD'S CHOICE TO DO SO, TO INCLUDE THEM AND WHY WAS I, WHO WAS ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE STUDENTS HERE EXCLUDED? THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.
THAT'S MY QUESTION. >> [APPLAUSE].
>> I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO REFER TO COUNSEL TO RESPOND TO THIS.
EVERYTHING WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT, BUT PLEASE, COUNCIL.
>> WELL, YOUR VOW -- YOU ARE ABOUT TO TAKE ACTION ON A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT FOR A VERY CAPABLE SUPERINTENDENT.
YOU HAD A VERY LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME TO DO THIS.
I MEAN, IT HAS BEEN AMAZING HOW QUICKLY YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, BUT TO INVOLVE THE STUDENT MEMBER WAS NOT REALLY POSSIBLE IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS TO MOVE IT ALONG
[01:05:05]
AND IT WAS VERY -- IT WAS A SHORT PROCESS.FRANKLY, YOU HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB AND I THINK YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE COMPETENT SOMEBODY YOU ARE ABOUT TO APPROVE.
ESPECIALLY BASED ON YOU HAVE THE SEARCH CONSULTANT AND YOU HAD TO RELY ON WHAT HE WAS TELLING YOU. HE CLEARLY WAS TAKING YOU THROUGH THIS PROCESS. YOU SPENT TWO DAYS OVER A WEEKEND INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES VERY, VERY THOROUGH INTERVIEWS.
ALSO YOU WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE PROCESS AND REVIEWED ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT THE SEARCH CONSULTANT PREPARED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND YOU TOOK THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND CLEARLY I THINK YOUR BOARD TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION IN SELECTING THE PERSON YOU ARE ABOUT TO TAKE ACTION ON.
YOU MET THE OBLIGATIONS OF A BOARD TO SELECT A SUPERINTENDENT THAT WILL LEAD THIS DISTRICT FORWARD.
I'M SORRY THAT, CHRISTOPHER, YOU FEEL YOU HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT, BUT IT HAS BEEN A VERY THOROUGH PROCESS.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE TIME THAT THE DISTRICT NEEDS A NEW SUPERINTENDANT AND NEEDS ONE QUICKLY.
>> I DO WANT TO MENTION AND ADDRESS SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN DO THAT. THE CONFIDENTIALLY IS VERY HIGH.
I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT. THEY WERE ALL SITTING SUPERINTENDENTS. WE DID WANT TO HAVE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE. NOT ONE MEMBER HERE DIDN'T WANT YOU NOT PRESENT, BUT DUE TO THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL WE WERE ASKED -- REQUESTED NOT TO DO SO. THE CONSULTANT FELT THAT HE GOT -- THIS IS WHAT HE SAID AND I AM JUST SHARING THE INFORMATION. ENOUGH INFORMATION FROM THE FORUMS AND THE ZOOM MEETINGS TO BE REPRESENTATIVE.
>> I GUESS MY QUESTION THAT COMES OUT OF THE EXPLANATION IS HEARING THE PROCESS HAD TO BE QUICK AND I UNDERSTAND THE ROLE THE SUPERINTENDENT PLAYS IN OUR DISTRICT IS CRITICAL.
I'M SEEING ONLINE ON THE SAME PAGE I CITED IN MY WORDS THAT SOME DISTRICTS TAKE UP TO A YEAR.
I UNDERSTAND THAT CAN BE LENGTHY, BUT WHAT I AM SAYING HERE IS IF WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THIS AND CONSIDER THIS, SUPERINTENDENTS ARE A HUGE PART OF OUR SCHOOLS.
STUDIES SHOW THE LONGER A SUPERINTENDENT IS IN OFFICE THE BETTER OUR STUDENTS PERFORM. SO WHY SHOULDN'T WE MAKE A BIG INVESTMENT NOW SO THAT IN THREE YEARS WE DON'T HAVE TO FIND OURSELVES DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN AND HAVING TO CONSIDER ANOTHER SUPERINTENDENT. IF WE KEEP LEAVING THE COMMUNITY OUT THE -- OUT OF THE PROCESS WE WON'T GET THE BEST PERSON FOR
THE JOB. >> PLEASE ALLOW HIM TO CONTINUE TO TALK WITHOUT THE DIS-- DISRUPTION, PLEASE.
>> WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE SO QUICK IS MY QUESTION.
>> WE FOLLOWED -- AND I INVITE ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS TO SPEAK. WE FOLLOWED THE PROCESS BECAUSE OF THE EVENTS WHERE THE CONSULTANT MET WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THEY MET WITH THE TEACHERS AND THEY MET WITH THE UNION AND BTA AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES AND PTA AND OTHER GROUPS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND THEY GAVE US A BOOKLET OF INFORMATION AND RESPONSES WHICH ALSO IDENTIFIED THE LEADERSHIP PROFILE. BASED ON THAT INFORMATION THEY DID A SEARCH AND CAME UP WITH A SERIES OF DIFFERENT APPLICANTS WE REVIEWED AND WE SELECTED THE TOP FOUR TO INTERVIEW.
IT WASN'T THAT IT WAS RUSHED. ACTUALLY THE TIMING ACCORDING TO THE CONSULTANT WAS A GOOD TIMING PRIOR TO JANUARY BECAUSE OF AVAILABILITY OF SUPERINTENDENTS TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR CONTRACTS AND COME AND JOIN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
THAT WAS THE INFORMATION GIVEN TO US AS A BOARD AS A WHOLE.
>> AND THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE WE HIRED A FIRM FOR A REASON.
>> CHRISTOPHER. WE ARE NOT HERE TO ARGUE WITH YOU. WE AGREE.
WE WANTED YOU ON BOARD. >> I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT MYSELF
ANYMORE. >> BUT ARE YOU ARGUING WITH US AND THAT'S NOT THE POINT. THE POINT IS WE DID DUE DILL STKWREPBS. -- DILIGENCE, WE REALLY D.
>> CAN I PLEASE LISTEN TO MR. DOWNEY.
>> I WAS TRYING TO LISTEN TO YOU BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE TALKING.
>> WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME. WE HAD 58 APPLICANTS TO GO THROUGH. WE WIDDLED IT DOWN TO FOUR AND ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY INTERVIEWED. FROM THAT FOUR WE FINALLY CHOSE
[01:10:05]
A NEW SUPERINTENDENT. THE PROCESS WAS SO LONG AND TIRING, I AM STILL EXHAUSTED FROM IT.I REALLY AM. I'M SORRY YOU WERE LEFT OUT.
WE WANTED YOU TO BE A PART OF IT, HONESTLY.
>> I'M ALSO GOING TO ADD, CHRISTOPHER, I WILL ADD MY APOLOGIES TO YOU PERSONALLY ON MY BEHALF.
I THINK REFLECTING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY DID -- THE OFFICIAL DID REACH OUT TO -- THE FIRM DID REACH OUT TO STUDENTS, I DON'T FEEL WE DID IT IN A CORRECT WAY SO THAT WE COULD GET A LARGER FOCUS.
THAT'S IN MY OPINION. ONE SECOND, PLEASE.
I'M SO SORRY. I HAD NEVER, MYSELF, BEEN THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, PERSONALLY, BUT IN REFLECTING, I THINK THAT WE -- I, AS A BOARD MEMBER, SHOULD HAVE GIVEN MORE DETAIL -- DETAILED EXECUTION FOR A OFFICIAL TO MAKE SURE TO CONNECT THESE STUDENTS APPROPRIATELY AND MAYBE GIVEN HIM MORE ACCESS TO EMAILS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PROCESS WAS AT THAT POINT. PERHAPS JUST GETTING A WIDER RANGE OF STUDENTS. OBVIOUSLY THAT'S SOMETHING I WILL INTERNALIZE MYSELF AND MAKE SURE THAT HOPEFULLY WE DON'T ■GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN. IF WE ARE EVER IN THAT SITUATION THAT WE ARE VERY EXPLICIT AND VERY DETAILED AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ALL -- WE ARE GETTING ENOUGH OF YOU.
ALTHOUGH WE DID GET SOME, I AGREE THAT FOUR STUDENTS IS NOT ENOUGH. I FEEL THAT WE HAD TO AT THAT POINT, JUST MOVE FORWARD, UNFORTUNATELY.
ALSO I WANT TO KAOEUPBTD -- KIND OF REMIND YOU THAT YOUR SCOPE AND ABILITY WITHIN OUR BOARD IS -- IT DOESN'T SPECIFY THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION WITH US.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO COME INTO WITH US. IF THIS IN OTHER DISTRICTS IS A COMMON PRACTICE, MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK INTO IT TO SEE HOW WE CAN ADJUST YOUR DUTIES WITHIN OUR BOARD, BUT AT THIS POINT, LEGALLY, IT WASN'T POSSIBLE TO ALLOW YOU TO COME INTO OUR CONFERENCE ROOM. YES, THE HEIDI MAPPED THAT THIS -- THE HIGH DEMAND THAT THIS PROCESS NEEDED TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL AND MAKING IT PRIVATE UNTIL THAT SUPERINTENDANT WAS ABLE TO JOIN US WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
UNFORTUNATELY THE TIMING WAS NOT RIGHT.
WE STARTED THE PROCESS AND IT WAS ALREADY IN THE SCHOOL YEAR.
ANY SUPERINTENDENT THAT WAS OF QUALITY IS ALREADY IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS OF HIGH QUALITY THAT WE NEEDED FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD WE STARTED SAYING THESE ARE THE SEMIFINALISTS. THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WOULD HAVE AUTOMATICALLY IF NOT TERMINATED THEM, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION AND THEY WOULD HAVE PULLED OUT.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT -- IT DOESN'T DO IT DUE JUSTICE TO WHAT YOU ARE INQUIRING ABOUT, AND I'M SORRY.
I DO FULLY EXTEND THAT APOLOGY TO YOU MYSELF, BUT A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN REFLECT ON AND DO BETTER.
FOR WHATEVER PROCESS WE MAY UNDERTAKE IN THE FUTURE.
AND ALSO IT IS NOT INCLUDI. WE HAVE THE POWER OF CONVERSATION TO INCLUDE THE PTA AND TO THE EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE, BUT SOME OF THE CANDIDATES, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ASKING FOR SOME TYPE OF PRIVACY DURING THE PROCESS.
WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT. IT WAS NOT ONLY THAT WE DON'T WANT YOU, AS STUDENTS REPRESENTING, BUT IN THE INITIAL CONVERSATION, WE THOUGHT AND SOMEBODY HAD THE IDEA TO INCLUDE PART OF THE LEADERS OF THE UNIONS AS WELL.
IT WAS PART OF THE PROCESS UNFORTUNATELY.
>> THANK YOU. >> AND I'M SORRY, CHRIS, LET ME CHIME IN AT THE END. ONE OF THE BOARD'S MAIN PURPOSE AND JOB IS TO HIRE AND FIRE THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THIS IS A CAST THAT -- WE HAVE ONLY WO*UPB BOARD MEMBER WHO --
[01:15:03]
ONE BOARD PH*EB WHO WENT THROUGH SOMETHING SIMILAR.THE PROCESS WAS VERY WELL DETAILED.
WE GAVE THEM -- WE GAVE THAT COMPANY A TIMELINE IN WHICH TO ADHERE TO. WE HIRED THE COMPANY AND THE COMPANY HAD TO PERFORM AS WE ASKED THEM TO.
WE WERE CATAPULTED INTO THIS CIRCUMSTANCE WHICH WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BEGIN A RAW SEARCH OF A SUPERINTENDENT.
WE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND WE DID OUR WORK AND OUR HOMEWORK. IT WAS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER OF CONFIDENTIALLY. WE ARE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO PRACTICE
>> YOU MUST TRUST THAT WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
EVEN THE APPLICANTS. THE APPLICANTS HAD A CLOSE WINDOW TO APPLY. WE DIDN'T HAVE IT OPEN FOR MONTHS. WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT TIME.
YOU GOTTA REMEMBER OUR HEAD WAS BASICALLY CUTOFF.
APPLICANTS HAD A SHORT TIME TO GET THINGS DONE.
WE PUT A TIMELINE ON HYA TO GET SURVEYS DONE AND INTERVIEWS DONE. THEY PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT.
YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER, BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE THEM DRINK.
I'M VERY SORRY ONLY FOUR STUDENTS -- ONLY FOUR STUDENTS -- I'M VERY SORRY FOR THAT.
JUST LIKE WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO EVEN GET MORE APPLICANTS, WE HAD ENOUGH, BUT WE HAD THAT WINDOW CLOSED.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DRAG OUR FEET.
WRAOE -- WE NEED A SUPERINTENDENT.
>> AND THAT MAKES SENSE. THE QUESTION I I WAS GOING TO ANSWER AFTER THAT -- ASK. TO CLARIFY -- I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE COULD -- FROM MY RESEARCH I THOUGHT WE COULD AFFORD THE EXTRA YEAR. WHAT YOU EXPLAIN WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR START AND WHAT HAPPENED TO A SUPERINTENDENT APPLYING, THAT MAKES SENSE. I UNDERSTAND WHY THEN IT HAD TO BE THAT RAPID. SO SOME SUGGESTIONS I WOULD MAKE THOUGH IN THE NEXT INSTANCE IF THIS WERE EVER TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND WE HIRE A SUPERINTENDANT IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE IF WE WERE TO TAKE OUR TIME AND WE HAD THAT YEAR AND WE DIDN'T HAVE -- IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, IF WE HAD A YEAR, PERHAPS WE COULD AMEND THE DISTRICT POLICY THAT GOVERNS HOW STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS OPERATE AND WE CAN TRY EXERCISING ANONYMOUS STATEMENTS FROM CANDIDATES. IF THE POINT IS CONFIDENTIALLY, MAYBE PUT OUT ANONYMOUS STATEMENTS LIKE I WAS ELECTED FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SAY, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT STATEMENT.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE SELECTING, BUT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE INPUT AND GET RESPONSES FROM CANDIDATE A, B, C, D AND NOT CANDIDATE SO AND SO. LASTLY, THE REASON WE HAD THAT -- THE REASON IT DIDN'T START OVER THE SUMMER IS UNFORTUNATELY -- FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE WAS AN ERROR ON OUR BEHALF IN HOSTING THE VOTE TO CONSIDER A YES OR NO ON RENEWING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT AT A TIME WHERE IT WAS ILLEGAL TO SAY NO. THERE -- THAT WAS A SLIP UP, BUT WHAT IT COMMUNICATES IS EVERYBODY'S MIND WAS SET UP THAT WE WERE GOING TO RENEW THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT.
WE WERE GOING TO HOLD THE YES-NO VOTE.
WE HAD PUBLIC COMMENTS WHERE IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO SAY I THINK WE SHOULDN'T EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMED LIKE THE DISTRICT'S MIND WAS MADE UP. WHAT I AM SUGGESTING TO BE CAREFUL IN THE FUTURE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS IN THIS --
>> I'M SORRY, CHRIS. CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEAN,
WHAT YOU JUST SAID? >> ON MONDAY I MET WERE THE ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT AND ASKED ABOUT CLARIFICATION ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE LITIGATION REGARDING A FORMER SUPERINTENDENT. WHAT SHE EXPLAINED IS THERE WAS AN EDCO THAT SAID 45 DAYS WAS THE TIME PERIOD WHICH YOU HAD TO NOTIFY A SUPERINTENDENT BEFORE YOU DID NOT RENEW THEIR CONTRACT. TO MY UNDERSTANDING WE HOSTED THE YES/NO VOTE WELL INTO THE 45 DAYS.
EITHER THAT WAS AN ERROR OF JUDGMENT OR WE WERE JUST CONFIDENT THAT WE WERE GOING TO RENEW THE CONTRACT.
SO CONFIDENT THAT WE WERE WILLING TO HOST IT IN THAT TIME PERIOD. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR. THAT'S WHAT I GOT.
[01:20:01]
IF IT IS NOT ALREADY IN HERE, WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL OR MAURY RESPONSIBLE -- MORE RESPONSIBLE WHEN WE TAKE A VOTE.IF WE TAKE A VOTE OF POSSIBLY NOT RENEWING THE CONTRACT WE DO IT WITH THE 45 DAYS IN MIND. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> IT MAKES VERY GOOD SENSE, CHRISTOPHER.
WE COULD DEFINITELY TALK LATER ABOUT THIS.
LIKE I SAID, WE WERE CATAPULTED INTO THIS CIRCUMSTANCE TO WHERE WE VOTED THE SUPERINTENDANT OUT WITHOUT A PLAN.
THAT'S THE FACT. BUT WE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND WE RECTIFIED THE SITUATION. IT IS A LOT FOR US TO LEARN TOO THOUGH. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS. >> YOU CAN BLAME ME FOR THAT.
I MADE A MISTAKE AND I WAS THE ONE THAT ASKED NOT TO RENEW THE CONTRACT WITHOUT THE 45 DAYS NOTICE, BUT WE RESOLVED IT AFTERWARDS. IT WAS DONE LEGALLY AFTERWARDS.
>> IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE THAT WAS THE SCHEDULED DAY FOR SAYING YES OR NO. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO SAY NO WITHOUT THERE BEING A LEGAL BATTLE AFTERWARDS.
WE HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL WHEN WE HOST THE YES OR NO VOTE.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS YOUR FAULT. >> IT WAS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE VOTED ON AN ITEM THAT WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
LIKE I SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO YOU ABOUT THAT LATER.
I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SAY IT, BUT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND AND FOR IT TO GO ON THE RECORD, IT WAS REALLY AN ILLEGAL VOTE.
>> NO. THAT WAS PART -- THAT ACTUALLY WAS ONE OF THE ACTIONS. IT JUST WASN'T STATED.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD. CHRIS, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT. AND HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE -- HOPEFULLY NOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT IF THIS SHOULD EVER HAPPEN AND WE WOULD HAVE HAD A YEAR TO LOOK FOR A SUPERINTENDENT AND CIRCUMSTANCES WERE DIFFERENT AND CONFIDENTIALLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE, WE WOULD HAVE ACTED DIFFERENTLY. IN THIS CASE, THIS IS THE HAND
WE WERE DEALT. >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY'S EXPLANATIONS. THEY WERE ALL VERY HELPFUL.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I ENJOYED THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AND I WOULD NOW LIKE
>> I. >> DR. EL -- EL HUSBAND SEN --
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WITHHOLD ITEMS 10.3.2.6 -- I'M SORRY. WE JUST DID.
OKAY. I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A CONTRACT. IT SHOULD BE ON THE BACK TABLE.
THERE YOU WILL SEE THE CONTRACT AND THE NAME OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. WE HAVE GOTTEN DR. BEN DROTTI.
THAT IS THE NAME. HE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT.
WE'VE JUST COME TO THIS DECISION.
WE HAVE JUST COME TO THIS DECISION.
NOW ALL THAT CONFIDENTIALLY, WE CAN RELAX A LITTLE BIT.
I AM GOING TO START OVER. MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WITHHOLD 10.3.2.6, 10.3.5.1, 10.3.5.2, 10.3.5.4, 10.3.6.1, TEPBLG -- 10.3.6.2, AND 10.3.6.3.
DO I HAVE A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THOSE ITEMS?
>> I THINK WE GO IN ORDER. >> NO QUESTIONS?
[01:25:06]
IT IS STAFFING CHANGES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.SO WE'RE GOOD? NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> WAIT. THAT WAS ON WHICH ONE?
10.3 -- >> THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WHICH ONE? >> SO WE SAID WE WERE WITHHOLDING ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE WERE JUST ASKING FOR COMMENTS ON WHICH ITEM?
THE FIRST OR ANY ONE? >> NO, RIGHT NOW YOU ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA SO YOU ARE APPROVING THE CONCEPT AGENDA -- CONCEPT AGENDA WITHHOLDING THESE ITEMS AND THEN ADDRESS EACH ONE
SO WE CAN HAVE ROLL CALL. >> MR. MENDOZA?
>> I. >> SO THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS ARE THOSE WITHHELD FROM THE CONCEPT AGENDA.
AND SO THE FIRST IS AGENDA ITEM 10.3.2.6.
IT IS CLASSIFIED STAFFING CHANGES.
DO I HAVE A MOTION. >> MOTION.
>> DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ONE?
>> YES. MY QUESTION IS THE FOLLOWING.
WHAT IS THE REASON OR REASONS WE ARE ADDING THESE POSITIONS AT
THESE SCHOOLS? >> WE HAVE TWO STAFFING ADDITIONS HERE. ONE IS FOR A TECHNOLOGY TECHNICIAN FOR A POSITION FOR A VIRTUAL REALITY LAB AT MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL. THE OTHER TWO POSITIONS ARE FOR INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS AT CRAIG WILLIAMS.
>> INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS FOR WHICH PROGRAMS?
>> FOR CRAIG WILLIAMS. IT IS AT CRAIG WILLIAMS, I'M SORRY. IT IS THEIR CONCENTRATION
FUNDING. >> SO WILL THESE INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS BE GOING TO THE REGULAR GENERAL ED CLASSROOMS OR WORKING
WITH SPECIFIC STUDENTS? >> YES.
IT IS REGULAR ED CLASSROOMS. >> OKAY.
AND WHAT WILL THEY BE DOING WITHIN THOSE CLASSROOMS?
>> SO THE TWO INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS AT CRAIG WILLIAMS WILL BE SUPPORTING WITH FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS.
>> THANK YOU. AND SO THE OTHER QUESTION, THE MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY TECHNICIAN, IS THAT THE -- IS THAT PERSON GOING TO GO INTO THE STEIN BUILDING WHEN IT IS READY?
>> YES. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT CLASSROOM WILL BE IN THAT BUILDING, BUT WILL BE SUPPORTING
THOSE PROGRAMS. >> IS THIS INSTRUCTOR LIKE A ROVING TEACHER OR DO THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CLASSROOM?
>> NO. THIS IS A TECHNOLOGY TECHNICIAN, SO IT'S NOT AN ACTUAL CLASSROOM TEACHER.
IT IS SOMEBODY THAT IS GOING TO ASSIST IN THE VIRTUAL REALITY
>> I'M SORRY. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL?
>> RECEIVE SREPD IVENS -- IVENS. >> I.
>> THE NEXT IS AGENDA ITEM 10.3.5.1 AND THAT'S THE REVISED BUDGET 2022-2023 FISCAL YEAR. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND. >> THANK YOU, RICHARD.
DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ONE?
>> MS. ARMSTRONG FOR CLARIFICATION DID WE GET A
FIRST? >> CAN I GET A FIRST STP.
>> SO MOVED. >> AND RICHARD YOU SECOND?
SO LET'S HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE.
>> THANK YOU. MY FIRST QUESTION IS WITH THE GENERAL FUND AND RESTRICTED TO 5300 AND 7300, AS A FORM OF CLARIFICATION, WE STARTED THE CURRENT BUDGET WITH 0 AND THEN HAVE AN ADJUSTMENT WHICH MEANS WE DEDUCTED 694,000 AND THEN IT WILL GO TO THE -- THEN WE MOVE IT OVER TO 694,000.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME A LITTLE MORE WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?
>> SO IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE STARTING THE BUDGET WITH 0 THERE. IT IS ACTUALLY OUR GENERAL FUND, OUR UNRESTRICTED FUND. ON THAT FIRST ONE IT HAS TO DO
[01:30:04]
WITH INDIRECT COSTS. AND SO BECAUSE YOU SEE THE PARENTHESISES THERE IT IS A COLLECTION OF THE INDIRECT COSTS. THOSE ARE SOME INCREASES IN THE GENERAL FUND IN TERMS OF EXPENDITURES THAT ARE GOING TO BE DONE AND THOSE ARE FOR SOME PROGRAMS ATLAS -- AT LAS FLORES.IT IS NOT THAT YOU ARE STARTING WITH THE BUREAU, BUT ADJUSTMENTS BEING MADE TO THE PROPOSED APPROVED BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU. NO MORE QUESTIONS.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
ROLL CALL PLEASE. >> MR. MENDOZA?
>> I. >> THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM WITHHELD IS AGENDA ITEM 10.3.5.2 AND THAT IS A TRANSFER OF FUNDS BETWEEN MAJOR CLASSIFICATIONS. DO I HAVE A MOTION?
>> I MOVE. >> THANK YOU, REVEREND.
>> SECOND. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ONE?
>> YES, PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG. SO IS THIS THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE ARE MOVING FROM ONE ORB -- ONE OBJECT TO ANOTHER?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. YOU ARE SEEING HERE THE CAPITAL OUTLAY, THE 10,000 IS NOW BUYINO DIFFERENT OBJECT CODES THERE, CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND BOOKS AND SUPPLIES WHICH IS WHY YOU SEE A 0 AT THE END.
IT IS A STRAIGHT WASH. IT IS TRANSFERRING FROM ONE
MAJOR OBJECT TO THE OTHERS. >> OKAY.
AND WE ARE MOVING IT BECAUSE -- >> SO THIS HAS TO DO WITH CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL SALARIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TRANSFERRED TO PAY FOR STAFF OVERTIME HOURS, CUSTODIAL SUPPLIES AND TRANSPORTATION FOR FIELD TRIPS AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE NEGATIVE ACCOUNTS IN THOSE OBJECT CODES SO TO BALANCE IT
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> NO MORE QUESTIONS.
ROLL CALL, PLEASE. >> MR. MENDOZA.
>> I. >> THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM WITHHELD TONIGHT IS AGENDA ITEM 10.3.5.4. IT IS THE AMENDMENT TO ANNUAL CONTRACT LISTINGS AND AGREEMENT FOR THE 2022-2023 FISCAL YEAR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, RECEIVE -- REVEREND.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? >> YES, PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG.
UNDER NUMBER ONE IT SAYS WHAT IS THE SERIES OF PARENT WORKSHOPS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING.
>> YES. THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT FORTH BY BELLFLOWER MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL. THEY ARE OFFERING A VARIETY OF PARENT WORKSHOPS IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL.
I CAN GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE TOPICS THEY ARE COVERING. IT INCLUDES SUPPORTING PARENTS FOR TECHNOLOGY, ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND COLLEGE CAREER READINESS, ESTEEM, FAMILY LITERACY ARE EXAMPLES.
THEY PUT TOGETHER A SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS WITH AN AGENDA AND WE CAN PROVIDE SOME SAMPLES OF THE AGENDA FOR THE BOARD FOR
THEIR AWARENESS. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THANK YOU. AND HOW MANY OF THESE WORKSHOPS
ARE WE PROVIDING? >> CURRENTLY I KNOW THEY HAD ABOUT SEVEN OF THEM. I WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH AN UPDATE AS FAR AS THE DURATION OF HOW MANY THEY PLAN ON OFFERING, BUT BY THE WAY IT IS BEING APPROVED IT WILL ALLOW MORE SCHOOLS TO OFFER THIS USING SOME OF THEIR TITLE 1
FUNDING TO ENGAGE PARENTS. >> AND ARE THESE OFFERED IN
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. >> THEY ARE OFFERED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPAN TPHEURPB -- SPANISH.
>> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION.
IT IS NUMBER 3, THE LECTURE, THE LATINO FAMILY LITERACY PROJECT.
WHEN THEY SAY PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INSTRUCTION MATERIAL FOR PARENTS ENGAGEMENT, THIS IS GOING TO BE A TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS OR IT IS TO TRAIN
TEACHERS TO HELP PARENTS? >> THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS
[01:35:01]
REALLY INTENDED TO ENGAGE OUR PARENTS AND REALLY PROVIDING THEM WITH STRATEGIES ON HOW TO ENGAGE THEIR CHILDREN WITH LITERACY DEVELOPMENT. SO IT IS REALLY WORKING WITH OURPARENTS SPECIFICALLY. >> AND THIS WHEN IT SAYS 24K PER PROGRAM, IS GOING TO BE FOR THE WHOLE DISTRICT OR FOR A SPECIFIC
SCHOOLS? >> BY SPECIFIC SCHOOL.
RIGHT NOW THIS REQUEST IS BEING BROUGHT FORTH BY RAMONA ELEMENTARY WHO IS CURRENTLY UTILIZING THIS PROGRAM AND THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THIS PROGRAM FOR THEIR PARENTS.
IT'S BEEN REPORTED THEY HAVE DONE THIS IN THE PAST AND PARENTS RESPONDED WELL TO THE PROGRAM AND WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THIS PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PARENTS WITH DEVELOPING LITERACY IN THEIR CHILDREN.
>> I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE UNDER ORGANIZATION. IT IS WE REPLACED IT WITH BROADWAY TYPEWRITER COMPANY INC., DBA.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT IS THE CHANGE THERE? WHY? OR IS IT THE SAME COMPANY?
>> IT IS NOT EXACTLY THE SAME COMPANY.
VUSONIC PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS ON THERE AT FIRST, AND NOW IT IS INCLUDING THE DBA WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE DIRECT SELLER OF THE HARDWARE.
THE CHANGE IN THIS CONTRACT MATRIX IS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SO WE HAD TO HAVE THEIR FULL NAME ON THERE AND THAT'S WHY IT IS CHANGED.
>> THANK YOU. THAT MAKES SENSE.
AND SO THE 8500, IS THAT THE TOTAL FOR ALL STAFF TO BE
TRAINED ON THE VUSONICS? >> THAT'S ACTUALLY ADDITIONAL.
ALL STAFF HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN AND IT WAS RECEIVED WELL, BUT AN OVER VIEW, AS WE ARE USING THE VUSONICS WE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS AND WE ARE ADDING ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR ADDITIONAL
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS
ON NUMBER -- LET'S SEE. SORRY.
PUT MY GLASSES ON. THE FOLLOWING PAGE, CHANGE ORDER FOR 2H CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. WE HAVE -- THIS IS THE BID FOR THE MAYFAIR STEAM BUILDING AND THEY HAVE COME BACK -- OR WE HAVE AMENDED THIS CHANGE ORDER. CAN SOMEBODY GIVE ME MORE OF A CLARIFICATION ON WHY WE ARE DOING THIS?
>> THIS IS CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 13 AND IT PROVIDED -- IT PROVIDES -- THIS CHANGE OVER SPECIFICALLY IS DEALING WITH HORIZONTAL REINFORCING BARS AS WELL AS SOME EXTENDED ROOF DECK AND CONNECTION TO THE FRAMING AND PHASE 3 OF THE UTILITY REMOVAL AND THE FLOORING CHANGES AS WELL AS REVISED PADDING UNDER CARPET TILES AND REVISIONS TO PHASE 3 AT THE PARKING LOT AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL LIGHTING AND SOME JOINTS AS WELL AS LIGHTING AND INTERSECTION. ALL OF THESE ARE THINGS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE SCOPE OF WORK.
AND AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF OUR INSPECTOR AND ARCHITECTS ABOUT LINING THIS -- SOME THINGS AS THE PROJECT IS GOING ON, OUR DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE HAS VETTED THESE CHANGE ORDER REQUESTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE THEMES THAT ARE VALID AND THAT ARE NECESSARY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.
IT IS A COLLABORATION OF COMING TO A CONCLUSION THAT BECAUSE SOME OF THESE THINGS MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED IN THE PLANS, THEY ARE VALID AND WE NEED TO HAVE THESE THINGS HAPPEN TO ENSURE THAT WRAOE GET A SECURE -- WE GET A SECURE BUILDING COMPLETED
WITH THE CHANGE ORDER REQUESTS. >> THANK YOU.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED AND I BELIEVE TKPW -- ABOUT THE INCREASING COSTS AND WE STILL HAVEN'T OPENED THE STEAM BUILDING YET.
SO THIS WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS ADDED OR APPROVED BY PREVIOUS BOARDS. CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE BACKGROUND AS TO HOW MUCH MONEY WAS ALLOCATED TO
BEGIN THIS PROJECT? >> WHEN THERE WAS THE PROPOSED ARCHITECT ESTIMATE WHEN THIS WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL PROJECT THAT'S WERE ESTIMATED FOR THE BOND, ORIGINALLY IT WAS AT 29 MILLION. AT THAT POINT IT WAS A STEM BUILDING AND NOT A STEAM BUILDING.
AND NOW IT INCLUDES THE ARTS AND GOING INTO THE APPROVAL AND
[01:40:02]
TAKING OUT TO BID IT WAS BID FOR A 10 MILLION INCREASE.THAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION. AND SO WHEN THAT TOOK PLACE WHEN LOOKING AT THE BOND AND THE ANNUAL BOND RECOGNITION, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FINISH THIS BASED ON WHAT WAS LEFT IN THE BOND. THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY IF NOT, AND IF NOT WE WOULD HAVE TO USE RESERVES TO FINISH ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE NOT -- MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO BE COMPLETED WITH THE BOND FUNDING WHICH IS WHY SOME OF THE OTHER PROPOSED BUDGETS -- I'M SORRY, PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT ARE ALSO LISTED ON THE BOND WHICH INCLUDE A PARKING LOT AT THOMAS JEFFERSON, MAINTENANCE UPGRADE AT THE MAINTENANCE YARD AND THE MAYFAIR FIELDS WERE NOT STARTED BECAUSE OF THE FUNDS LEFT IN THE BOND AND WE DID NOT WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT WHEN WE KNEW THAT THIS PROJECT IN ITSELF MIGHT TAKE ALL OF THOSE FUNDS.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH WE ALLOCATED FOR CON --
CONTINGENCIES? >> WE NORMALLY ALLOCATE 10% BECAUSE THAT'S THE MAX OF THE CHANGE ORDERS.
THOSE ARE THE UNFORESEEN CHANGES.
IN THIS CASE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CON -- CONTINGENCY IS
3 MILLION 936,000. >> HOW FAR INTO THIS CONTINGENCY
ARE WE RIGHT NOW? >> RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT 8.7%.
THAT IS A TOTAL CHANGE OF 3 MILLION 437, 855.12.
>> SO WE HAVE SOME PERCENTAGE OF THE CONTINGENCY LEFT?
>> CORRECT. >> DO WE HAVE A DAY FOR WHEN WE ARE GOING TO BE OPENING THIS BUILDING?
>> SO I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH AN INFORMATIONAL UPDATE IN THE INFORMATIONAL SECTION, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION NOW, WE ACTUALLY JUST RECEIVED SOME INFORMATION THAT FINALIZED ALL OF THE PUNCH WALK ITEMS. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE END OF MARCH TO BE ABLE TO.
SO IT IS DELAYED AND THAT'S DUE TO SOME ASSEMBLY -- SOME THINGS NOT COMING IN LIKE OUR CAMERAS HAVEN'T COME IN, THE OUTDOOR CAMERAS. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN INSTALLED AND WIFI AND CONCRETE POURING THAT HASN'T TAKEN PLACE.
AGAIN, WE DO NOT TAKE OVER A BUILDING OR ANY TYPE OF PROJECT UNTIL THE FINAL PUNCH WALK IS DONE.
WE CAN HAVE A SOFT OPENING, BUT UNTIL THE PROJECT ACTUALLY BECOMES OURS IS WHEN WE SAY EVERYTHING ON THAT PUNCH WALK LIST IS COMPLETE AND HAS MET OEUR STANDARDS -- OUR STANDARDS AND THE INSPECTOR'S STANDARDS. THAT DATE IS LOOKING TO BE
MARCH. >> BUT AT THAT POINT IT WILL BE A SAFE BUILDING FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND.
IT WILL HAVE ALL OF THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT IN THERE.
TEACHERS WILL KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE MOVING AND A PLAN WILL BE MADE WITH THOSE PRINCIPALS TO DO THIS?
>> RIGHT NOW WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE PRINCIPAL TO DISCUSS THE MOVING, A SLOW MOVE IN. AND SO JUST BASED ON THAT INFORMATION AND THIS IS JUST US WORKS -- WORKING WITH THE PRINCIPAL. WE HAVEN'T DETERMINED IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION. HE WILL WORK WITH HIS STAFF.
WE ARE COLLABORATIVELY WORKING WITH HIM TO DETERMINE WHEN IS THE BEST TIME SO WE ARE NOT DISRUPTING PROGRAMS.
>> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ALSO.
ABOUT THE CHANGE ORDERS,ION AND I UNDERSTAND A LITTLE ABOUT CONSTRUCTION, BUT WHEN THESE CHANGE ORDERS COME UP BECAUSE I KNOW WE ARE DEALING WITH THE INSPECTORS, CONTRACTOR AND THE ARCHITECT. WHEN THESE CHANGE ORDERS COME UP, WE GET HOW MUCH MORE MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO PUT INTO IT.
ARE YOU NEGOTIATING? WHEN IS IT NOT OUR FAULT WHEN WE HAVE TO PAY FOR WHETHER IT IS -- IT WASN'T PLANNED RIGHT OR OMITTED. IS THERE A WAY THAT -- I KNOW YOU SAID DAN VETS IT, HE VETS A LOT OF THE CHANGE ORDERS THAT COME WITH US. CAN YOU EXPLAIN?
>> YES. I WILL ACTUALLY HAVE MR. BUFFINGTON SHARE OUR PROCESS IN OUR WEEKLY MEETINGS.
>> GOOD EVENING. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHANGE ORDERS THAT YOU HAVE IN -- CHANGE ORDER 13, THE FIRST TWO
[01:45:02]
ITEMS INDICATE THAT THERE IS A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.THE FIRST EYE -- THE FIRST ITEM WAS REINFORCING STEEL THAT HAD TO BE INSTALLED IN THE FOUNDATION WHILE WE ARE POURING IT OUT. THIS WAS BACK AGES AGO, MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO NOW. AND WE WERE NEGOTIATING THEIR COST AND ULTIMATELY WE SETTLED ON ONE-THIRD OF THE CHANGE ORDER. THE SUBCONTRACTOR ACCEPTED A THIRD OF THE COSTS AND THE SAME WITH THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR.
IT WAS A LONG PROCESS. IT IS BECAUSE THE PLANS WERE NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH. THEY COULD SAY IT DIDN'T SHOW IT ON THE PLANS. THE DIVISION STATE ARCHITECTURE SAYS IT HAS TO BE THERE. SO THERE THERE WAS THAT AREA OF NEGOTIATIONS. THE SAME THING OCCURRED WITH THE EXTENDED ROOF DECK. THE CONTRACTOR MISS READ THE PLANS. THE PLANS WERE AMBIGUOUS IN AN AREA. WE HAD TO NEGOTIATE THE COST AND WE SHARED HALF THE COST. WE BENEFITED FROM THE ADDITIONAL STEEL. THEY ATE THE COST FOR A LOT OF THE LABOR. THAT'S THE PROCESS WE GO THROUGH. THERE IS TIMES IN WHICH THERE ARE AN AMOUNT OF CHANGE ORDERS. WE HAVE NOW IN FRONT OF US -- LET ME GET THE LAST PAGE HERE. AND WE CURRENTSLY -- CURRENTLY ARE WORKING ON CHANGE ORDER 187. THAT'S A LOT OF CHANGE ORDERS.
THIS IS A LARGE STRUCTURE IN -- INTRICATE DETAIL.
WE CHANGED FLOORING. WE GOT RID OF A LOT OF THE CARPETING AND WENT TO A TILE FLOOR.
THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL COSTS TO THAT, BUT FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR BUILDINGS, IT IS A MUCH BETTER PRODUCT FOR US.
COLLEGE UNIVERSITY CARPETING MAY BE GREAT, BUT IN OUR SITUATION,
FLOOR TILE. >> YOU KNOW WHAT, I CAN REMEMBER VISITING THE BUILDING AND WE HAD SOME WIRES UP THERE THAT -- IT WAS SOMETHING BUILT IN THAT I GUESS WITH THE UPGRADES THAT WE DON'T NEED IT NOW. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT? >> IT IS NOT AN UPGRADE.
IT WAS ACTUALLY OLD TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS DESIGNED IN THE BUILDING SEVEN YEARS AGO, OVERHEAD PROJECTORS.
THE SHORT FLOW PROJECTORS AND THE PULL DOWN SCREENS.
WE ARE NOW USING THE VUSONIC BOARDS IN THE CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE, SOME CONDUIT, NO WIRE PILED THROUGH. NO WIRE PULLEDDED THROUGH.
WE STOPPED IS IT AND WE EXPECT TO GET A CREDIT FOR THE EQUIPMENT AND WE WILL AND IT WILL SHOW UP ON THE CHANGE ORDER. THE FIRST COUPLE CHANGE ORDERS WE HAD A LOT OF CREDITS. THEY WERE SMALL CHANGE ORDERS, PWRUT LARGE -- BUT LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNTS.
THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IT IN A LESS EXPENSIVE WAY AND WE
RECEIVED A CREDIT FOR THAT. >>
>> WHO IS THE CONTRACTOR WORKING ON THE STEAM BUILDING.
>> 2H CONSTRUCTION. >> SO IT IS 2H CONSTRUCTION.
>> AND THE ARCHITECT NAME? >> WESBURG AND WHITE AND OUR
REPRESENTATIVE IS BOB BENDER. >> DO WE CONTINUE TO USE THIS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY? IN OTHER PROJECTS?
>> YES, WE HAVE USED THEM IN OTHER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
A LOT OF BOND PROJECTS WERE THROUGH WESBURG AND WHITE.
WE HAVE DONE WORK WITH RAN NICHOLS ARCHITECTURE FIRM AND THERE ARE SEVERAL FIRMS WE DEAL WITH.
THIS LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WAS WESBURG AND WHITE AND THE SAME WITH THE DESIGN OF TOMAS JEFFERSON'S PARKING LOT AND STUDENT DROP OFF AREA AS WELL AS THE FIELD RENOVATION AND PARKING LOT EXTENSION. THEY WERE ALL WESFORD AND WHITE PROJECTS. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO USE THEM IN THE FUTURE. WE CAN BRING ANOTHER ARCHITECTURE FIRM TO MANAGE THE PROPBLG SKPWREBGT.
TO MANAGE THE PROJECT. >> MS. GARZA, WHEN IT COMES TO
[01:50:01]
THE CONTRACTOR, WE HAVE TO GO OUT TO BID AND THEN SELECT THE MOST RESPONGES SEUF, RESPONSIBL, RESPONSIBLE BIDDER.>> THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER. YOU'RE RIGHT.
MY CONCERN IS WE ARE USING THE SAME CONTRACTOR FOR SEVERAL
PROJECTS AT OUR SCHOOLS. >> I MAY HAVE MISS -- MISS STOKE. MISS SPOKE.
2H HAS ONLY DONE THE STEAM BUILDING.
THEY HAVE DONE ONE OTHER PROJECT WHICH IS THE WAREHOUSE ADDITION HERE AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE WAREHOUSE AND THAT WAS PROBABLY
15 YEARS AGO. >> AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO SAY THE SAME THING, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT A FACILITY THAT IS A SCHOOL.
THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR BUILDINGS NEED TO BE RETRO -- RETROFITTED AND THEY NEED TO HAVE ALL OF THESE PLANS INCLUDED THAT WOULD USE THE CURRENT-TO-BEING -- CURRENT TECHNOLOGY. I MEAN IT SEEMS LIKE COMMON SENSE. WHY PUT A CARPET IN A BUILDING WHERE A LOT OF KIDS WILL BE WORKING IN AND WALKING IN.
I WASN'T HERE SO I DON'T REALLY -- IN MY MIND I'M JUST THINKING GOING FORWARD COULD WE MAYBE DO A BETTER JOB OF -- TO SAY LOOK AT HOW THESE PEOPLE ARE COMPLETING PROJECTS.
THAT WAY WE ARE NOT HAVING TO COME BACK AND FORTH AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE USING THE PROPER MATERIALS.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN HOW TO DO
THEMSELVES. >> TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED.
AS FAR AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PWREULD -- BUILDING 2H HAS PLANS ON WHAT THEY BID ON. IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE FIRM, YES WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PIECES THAT GO INTO PLAY.
AND THE STAFF AT MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL WAS BROUGHT IN ON THE DESIGN PHASE OF THE BUILDING. IT WAS A COLLABORATIVE BUILDING.
>> AND ALSO I WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH DSA WHICH IS THE STATE ARCHITECTURE FOR APPROVAL.
AND THEY ARE REALLY DILIGENT IN REGARDS TO SAFETY AND MATERIALS USED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT.
AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, THOSE HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE ARCHITECTURE. IT TAKES SO LONG TO GO THROUGH
THE PROCESS. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT
INFORMATION, BUT I THINK -- >> YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO -- I MEAN, I APPRECIATE HOW WHEN THINGS ARE BEING BUILT AND YOU HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY BUILDING IT AND BEING ABLE TO CALL OUT WHAT MAY NOT BE PROPER OR THAT YOU NEED MORE SUPPORT.
KUDOS TO THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND EVEN THE INSPECTOR WHO REALLY CALLS OUT AND FINDS THESE INADEQUACIES.
BECAUSE WE DON'T -- FOR ONE THING WE DON'T WANT A FINISHED BUILDING THAT WE CANNOT INHABIT. MY ONLY CONCERN AND I HOPE WE DON'T GET THERE IS WHAT IS GONNA REALLY HAPPEN IF WE RUN OUT OF MONEY? IF WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN. THAT'S ABOUT IT.
>> THANKS SO MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS ON THIS? >> MAYBE THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT TIME TO ASK THIS, BUT COULD WE GET A PROFESSIONAL OPINION ON WHETHER WE HAVE A SOFTER OPEN OR HAVE A FULL ON OPENING? I'M JUST THINKING THAT MAYBE DOING A SOFT OPENING MIGHT EXTEND THE PROCESS EVEN LONGER BECAUSE THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY HAS TO WORK AROUND STUDENTS BEING IN THE BUILDING.
IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME TO ASK THAT QUESTION?
>> STUDENTS WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED IN THE BUILDING UNTIL EVERYTHING WAS CLEARED. THE SOFT OPENING MEANING TEACHERS CAN MOVE SOME OF THE MATERIALS AND SET UP SOME OF THE CLASSROOMS. NO STUDENTS WOULD BE ALLOWED IN
[01:55:01]
THE BUILDING UNTIL WE GET THE APPROVAL.THANK YOU. >> WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, A CHANCE TO TOUR THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE STEAM BUILDING AND IT IS
LOOKING VERY GOOD. >> THANK YOU.
>> SO CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL? >> MR. MENDOZA?
>> I. >> THE NEXT IS 10.3.6.1.
IT WILL BE THE SECOND READING OF 9323 MEETING CONDUCT.
AND AFTER REVIEWING THIS ITEM AND THE CURRENT BOARD BY LAW, I ASK TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU AN AMENDED BY LAW AND I PROPOSE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION REFRAIN FROM MOVING FOR A SECOND READING OF THE BYLAW OF 9323 AND INSTEAD AMEND IT, AMEND THE UNIQUE BOARD BYLAW9322.2, THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT TO INCLUDE MEETING PROCEEDING -- MEETING PROCEDURES AS ON THE AMENDED BOARD BYLAW MONEY 322 -- 9,322-POINT A.
SO IN SHORT WE WILL KEEP WHAT WE HAVE AND ADD THE MEETING PROCEDURES. DID YOU GET A COPY OF THAT?
>> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG,.
>> SO THAT'S HOW IT WOULD LOOK. THE TOP PART IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO ADD. IT IS WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY AND
WE ARE JUST ADDING THE TOP PART. >> SO ARE YOU ASKING US TO --
>> APPROVE. >> WELL, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT WE ARE APPROVING. I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED.
YOU'RE BRINGING UP BOARD BYLAW 9,323.2A AND YOU WANT US
TO TAKE WHAT PORTION? >> THE FIRST.
>> SO WE JUST TAKE THE -- SO WE TAKE PARAGRAPH 3 AND 4 FROM
BYLA9323? >> THIS IS WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
I'M SORRY. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY THAT I AM SHOWING YOU.
THE ONLY THING NEW WOULD BE THE WRITING IN BOLD WHICH IS AT THE TOP, MEETING PROCEDURES. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION COMMENT, MEETING PROCEDURES. UNDER THE BOLD, THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WE ALREADY HAVE THAT.
THAT'S THE LANGUAGE WE HAVE. >> OH, SO YOU'RE SAYING THE ONLY
>> IT IS THE ADDITION AT THE TOP.
>> THE PORTION IN BOLD. >> YEAH.
>> YES. THAT'S THE ONLY THING.
IT IS WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE EXCEPT WHAT'S IN BOLD.
LET'S JUST ADD THAT. >> GO AHEAD.
>> WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK IS WHAT YOU JUST HANDED US, IS THAT THE SAME AS WHAT'S 9,323.2A THAT WAS IN OUR HANDBOOK?
IT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT? >> THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT IS
THE LAST SECTION. >> THAT IS CORRECT, MS. GARZA.
THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PORTION THAT YOU WERE GIVEN AS PART OF YOUR BOARD BOOK IS BYLAW 9,322.2 THE ADDITION -- THE AMENDED PART THAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED THAT IS THE MEETING PROCEDURES AT THE TOP. YOU ARE CORRECT.
THAT WAS THE ONE THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU AS THE CURRENT BOARD
BYLAW IN YOUR BOARD BOOK. >> SO THIS IS A FIRST -- I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING FOLLOWING EVERYONE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE GET
I JUST ADDED IT BECAUSE OUR CURRENT BYLAW TKRAS -- ADDRESSES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND IT ADDRESSES THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING SPANISH SPEAKERS.
[02:00:01]
HOWEVER, IT LACKS MEETING PROCEDURE.INSTEAD OF RESCINDING THE CURRENT BOARD BYLAW, THE 9,322.2 , I JUST PROPOSE WE JUST AMEND AND ADD THE MEETING
PROCEDURES. >> COULD WE HAVE ONE MORE MEETING TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS? I JUST GOT IT IN MY HANDS.
>> I WANT TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW YOU AND CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS WE ARE ADDING ON TO OUR 9,322.2.
>> THE MEETING PROCEDURES. >> YES.
IF POSSIBLE PLEASE. AND MAYBE CONTINUE IT TO OUR
NEXT BOARD MEETING. >> YOU CAN HAVE AS MUCH READING
AS YOU WANT FOR POLICY. >> ARE WE OKAY WITH THAT?
>> SO SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS FOR NEXT
MEETING. >> JUST FOR THE ADDITION?
I APPRECIATE THAT. >> SO WE NEED A MOTION.
>> SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO CONTINUE TO DELIBERATE ON THE PROPOSED BYLA 9,322.2A UNTIL NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING.
RICHARD AND MYRA, THANK YOU. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM WITHHELD TONIGHT IS AGENDA ITEM 10.3.6.2.
THAT'S THE SECOND READING OF THE BOARD BYLA 9271, BOARD MEMBER CODE OF ETHNICS. DO I HAVE A MOTION?
DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, TOMAS. DOO -- DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THIS? >> IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, CHRISTOPHER CORRECT ME, BUT HE HAD ADDITIONAL CHANGES AND WE ACCEPTED THOSE CHANGES AS IS AND THEREFORE WE WERE JUST LOOKING
>> ARE THOSE INCLUDED? >> YEAH.
>> OH, OKAY. >> RIGHT, CHRISTOPHER? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU UNDERSTOOD?
>> I BELIEVE WE CAN STILL TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE --
>> YEAH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.
>> WERE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING? LAST TIME I TALKED ABOUT GRAMMAR AND I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT GRAMMAR AGAIN TODAY. DESPITE THE FACT THAT I COMPLAINED LAST MONTH ABOUT THE BYLAW FILLED WITH GRAMMATICAL ERRORS I MYSELF MADE AN RORY WORDING THE -- MADE AN ERROR REWORDING THE POLICY. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN S AT THE WORD INDIVIDUAL WHICH IS THE LAST BULLET POINT IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH. LET ME KNOW IF YOU FIND IT.
THE PHRASE ENDS WITH "INDIVIDUAL."
>> YOU MEAN APOSTROPHE S? >> I WENT OVER THIS LAST NIGHT AND NOTICED IT. LET ME SEE.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LAST BULLET POINT?
>> IT SAYS UNDERSTANDING AUTHORITY RESTS WITH THE BOARD AND NOT INDIVIDUAL. WE NEED AN S.
>> SO YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT THE SECOND PAGE?
>> YES, SECOND PAGE. >> LAST BULLET.
>> YES. UNDERSTAND THAT AUTHORITY RESTS WITH THE BOARD AND NOT WITH THE INDIVIDUAL.
I THINK AN S IS IN ORDER THERE. AND THEN ALSO.
>> AND THEN ALSO ON THE SAME PAGE THERE IS A PHRASE THAT SAYS I THINK IT IS IN THE BULLET POINT -- BASICALLY THERE IS A
[02:05:05]
PHRASE THAT SAYS WHILE COLLECTIVELY SUPPORTING THE DIVERGENT OPINIONS OF ANY MINORITY OF BOARD MEMBERS WHICH MAY EXIST. I THINK THE WORD "RESPECTING" I- "SUPPORTING" IS BETTER. THAT CAN BE AWKWARD.I'M SORRY. THAT'S THE WRONG PHRASE.
THE REVISED PHRASE WOULD BE WHILE COLLECTIVELY RESPECTING THE DIVERGENT OPINIONS OF ANY MINORITY BOARD MEMBER EXISTS.
DO YOU KNOW WHICH ONE I'M ON? >> IS THAT THE FIRST PAGE?
>> IS IT ON THE FIRST PAGE? >> I'M ASKING.
>> YEAH. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS ON THE FIRST PAGE, THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST PAGE.
>> THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST PAGE STARTS WITH SUPPORT SHALL ABIDE BY THE DECISION AND THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS.
>> WHEN IT SAYS SUPPORTING THE DIVERGENT OPINIONS OF IT SOUNDS LIKE A DOUBLE SUPPORTING. RESPECTING IS BETTER.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. >> SO THAT AS WELL.
WE'RE ALL CLEAR ON THAT? >> SO CAN WE -- IS THE BOARD
CLEAR ON THE CORRECTIONS? >> IT IS JUST TWO.
IT IS AN S -- >> IT IS AN S AND INSTEAD OF
SUPPORTING IT IS RESPECTING. >> JUST THOSE TWO OF THE GRAMMATICAL REVISIONS. SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE
>> SO THEN ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, BESIDES THE GRAMMATICAL STUFF, ON -- BETWEEN OCTOBER SECONDSTH -RB -- 6TH AND NOW IT BECAME UH PARENT THE BULLET POINT I PROPOSE, AND I WILL READ IT, PRACTICE ACCOUNTAL SPEAKING IN BOARD MEETINGS TO ENSURE ALL CONVERSATIONS ARE PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT, RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ITEMS BEING DISCUSSED AND LEND VALUE AND RESPECT TO THE TIME AND ENERGY OF THE PUBLIC, DISTRICT STAFR AND -- STAFF AND INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS.
>> I FEEL LIKE THAT PHRASE BECAUSE IT HAS -- IT WAS CONFIRMED TO ME THAT THE CODE OF ETHICS CAN BE USED AS -- BREAKING THE CODE OF ETHICS IS GROUNDS FOR CENSURE, I FEEL IT KIND OF -- I THINK IT CAN BE INTERPRETED IN A WAY WHERE THE BOARD CAN SAY THAT BY ASKING TOO MANY QUESTIONS THEY AREN'T RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF ITEMS AND LENDING VALUE TO THE TIME OF STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS. IT SOUNDS LIKE ASKING TOO MANY QUESTIONS ARE GROUNDS FOR CENSURE AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD
THING. >> I THINK WE SHOULD -- I'M
SORRY. >> AND WHAT I AM PROPOSING AS AN ALTERNATIVE AND I'M SORRY TO PROPOSE A DOUBLE ALTERNATIVE.
I WILL READ IT SLOWLY. AN ALTERNATIVE IS -- IT IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME, BUT REWORDED.
ENSURE ALL CONVERSATIONS ARE PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT BY BEING MINDFUL OF THE TIME AND ENERGY INVESTED BY THE PUBLIC, DISTRICT STAFF AND INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE MEETINGS RUN. WHAT THAT IS SAYING IS YOU CAN'T ASK TOO MANY QUESTIONS. AS LONG AS WE ARE STAYING ON TOPIC AND PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT.
>> RIGHT. >> THAT IS MY ALTERNATE -- MY ALTERNATIVE TO THE ADDITIONAL POINT I MADE AT THE LAST MEETING. IF YOU NEED ME TO READ IT BEGIN -- READ IT AGAIN TO WRITE IT DOWN.
OR DO YOU LIKE IT? >> I APPRECIATE THE ACCOUNT -- ACCOUNTABLE SPEAKING BECAUSE HOW COULD YOU MEASURE THAT? THAT WAS THE ONLY THING -- I LIKEN SURE ALL CONVERSATIONS
WITH PRODUCTIVE. >> I LIKE THE MINDFULNESS.
>> DO YOU NEED ME TO READ IT AGAIN OR DID YOU CATCH IT?
YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE SHE GETS IT.
>> GREAT. SO THEN THOSE ARE THE ONLY THREE REVISIONS I AM OFFERING FOR THIS POLICY.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CHRIS.
OKAY, SO WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO THIS.
>> I ALSO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. >> I'M SORRY.
>> THAT'S FINE. MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHO BROUGHT
UP THIS BYLAW? >> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A REQUEST OF A BOARD MEMBER. I DON'T RECALL WHO, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A REQUEST OF THE BOARR BECAUSE THESE ARE BOARD BYLAWS.
>> AND YOU DON'T REMEMBER THE BOARD MEMBER WHO REQUESTED THIS BOARD BYLAW? THE REASON I AM ASKING IS I WANT TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION THAT I THINK ONLY THAT BOARD MEMBER
WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL ME. >> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
[02:10:04]
>> WHAT QUESTION? ALL OF US ARE HERE.
>> WELL, I THINK IF I KNEW THE BOARD MEMBER I WOULD BE ABLE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS DIRECTLY SO THAT WAY I WOULD UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT WAS TAKEN BECAUSE SOME OF THESE BULLET POINTS HERE SEEM VERY -- THEY SEEM A LITTLE CONTRADICTORY TO SOME OF OUR BOARD BYLAWS WE ALREADY HAVE.
FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE FIRST PAGE, THE FOURTH BULLET POINT, SUFFICIENT TIME TO PROPOSED ACTIONS.
IT IS ALMOST IN CONTINUE PWEUBGS TO -- CONTRADICTION TO 9323A IN
THE THIRD PARAGRAPH. >> BOARD POLICY CAN ALWAYS BE
SO WHAT I'M ASKING THAT BOARD MEMBER IS THAT IF IT IS IN DIRECT CONTRADICTION TO A BY LAW WE ALREADY HAVE, SHOULD WE HAVE INCLUDED THIS BULLET POINT? IF WE GO BACK TO 9,322-POINT A, I BELIEVE THE THIRD PARAGRAPH -- DEVOTES SUFFICIENT TIME TO PROPOSE ACTIONS TO BE ABLE TO BASE DECISIONS UPON ALL AVAILABLE FACTS AND VOTE IN ACCORDANCE.
IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE TYPES OF DECISIONS, THEN LIMITING OUR MEETING HAD TO GO UNTIL ONLY 9 P.M. IS CONTRADICTION TO THAT SECOND BOARD BYLAW.
BECAUSE THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE TIME --
>> YOU WOULD HAVE TIME BECAUSE IT CAN BE EXTENDED UNTIL 10.
IF YOU CAN'T WORK WITHIN A 4-HOUR BASIS, THEN EVEN IF YOU HAD SIX OR SEVEN HOURS TO WORK, IT WOULDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS FAR ASY -- AS FAR AS EFFICIENCY. IF YOU DEVOTE SUFFICIENT TIME, THOUGHT AND STUDY IN A PROPOSED ACTION, WHEN YOU COME TO VOTE ON ANY ISSUE OR HAVE ANY DISCUSSION , YOU WOULD HAVE
ALREADY PREPARED FOR THAT. >> WELL, A LOT OF TIMES --
>> I'M SORRY. I JUST WANT TO FINISH MY
I THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE. >> I DON'T SEE A CONFLICT IN THE TIME AS YOU ARE STATING FROM THE FIRST BYLAW AS FAR AS MEETING CONDUCT. THIS IS BASICALLY LOOKING AT BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES PRIOR TO COMING TO
MEETINGS. >> SO ARE YOU STATING THAT BOARD MEMBERS DON'T READ THEIR BOARD --
>> NO. I'M NOT POINTING A FINGER ON ANYBODY. THIS IS A GENERAL STATEMENT THAT SAYS THAT THAT'S WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.
>> BUT THAT'S MY POINT THOUGH. IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A GENERAL STATE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF FACTS AND DATA TO BACK THAT UP. WE CAN'T JUST SAY, WELL, LET'S PLACE THIS ON THE BOARD BYLAW BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE -- BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOT READING THEIR AGENDAS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT IS GOING ON.
>> NO. >> SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IS STATED HERE. BECAUSE WE ARE NOT MAYBE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE PRIOR TO COMING INTO THE MEETING, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE READING THIS BOARD BOOK. I SUSPECT THAT WE ALL KNOW WE NEED TO BE PREPARED AND READ OUR BOARD BOOK BEFORE WE GET IN
THAT'S JUST ONE SMALL COMPONENT. >> YES.
THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING PERHAPS MAYBE TAKING THAT OUT.
WE NEED TO DELIBERATE AND WE NEED TO TALK.
THE QUESTIONS WE ALL ASK UP HERE ARE NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW. IT IS WHERE ARE YOU COMING FROM? I WANT TO UNDERSTAND YOU. WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS AS ME OR YOU WHOMEVER -- ANY ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS STARTS SPEAKING AND GIVING THEIR THOUGHTS.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR OUR BOARD, THAT ONE
BULLET. >> I THINK WHAT MRS. GARZA IS TRYING TO SAY IS LIKE WHAT RONITA SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE POLICY I PROPOSED. HOW DO YOU GAUGE THAT A BOARD
[02:15:01]
MEMBER HAS DEVOTED SUFFICIENT TIME, THOUGHT AND STUDY.IT IS A CLEAR AND APPARENT STRATEGY TO ASK QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CONFUSED IN THE AUDIENCE.
NOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD NEED TO DO THAT, THAT PLACES DISCUSSION THAT DEALS WITH THE PREVIOUS 10.3.6.1.
I HAD A LOT I WAS GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT IN HOW WE CAN SPEED UP BOARD MEETINGS. I THINK IT IS A LEGITIMATE STRATEGY TO ASK QUESTIONS. I WOULDN'T SAY STRATEGY.
IT IS A LEGITIMATE AND ACCEPTABLE PRACTICE TO ASK QUESTIONS FOR CLARIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, SO HOW WOULD YOU -- IT SOUNDS LIKE IF YOU ARE ASKING TOO MANY QUESTIONS IT CAN BE CONTRIBUTED TO YOU DIDN'T DEVOTE TIME, THOUGHT AND STUDY INTO ACTIONS AND IT IS GROUNDS FOR CENSURE.
IN GENERAL WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CODE OF ETHICS, HOW DO WE GAUGE WHETHER OR NOT THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BROKEN SOME OF THESE POINTS? THAT KIND OF JUST RELATES TO THE WHOLE CODE OF ETHICS. DEBATE ISSUES AND NOT PERSONALITIES. HOW DO YOU GAUGE THAT PEOPLE ARE DEBATING PERSONALITIES? I THINK IT IS JUST A QUESTION
THAT COMES AT YOU WILL. >> I AGREE WITH YOU.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS BOARD BYLAW IS VERY SUBJECTIVE.
WHAT IS DEBATING AN ISSUE OR A PERSONALITY MAY BE DIFFERENT FOR YOU, FOR EVERY ONE OF US. HOW CAN WE PLACE THIS WITHOUT HAVING A RUBERIC IN FRONT OF US. WE CAN'T IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO
>> THIS IS VERY SUBJECTIVE. >> ETHICS IS PART OF EVERY SINGLE BOARD POLICY AND PROCEDURE.
WHEN REVIEWING DIFFERENT ETHIC BY LAWS AND POLICIES, THIS IS NOTHING NEW. IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO REMOVE BECAUSE YOU ARE READING -- OR QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT -- ETHICS IS VERY SUBJECTIVE.
PERIOD. SO A PERSON CAN BE ETHICAL AND BREAK THE LAW AND SAY I WAS BEING ETHICAL.
IN MARE -- IN THEIR MIND -- IN REALITY THEY BROKE THE LAW.
ETHICS DEPENDS ON THE LENS YOU ARE LOOKING THROUGH.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS JUST TO HAVE SOME GUIDELINES AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AS A BOARD AND THESE BOARD MEMBERS COME ON, THAT THERE IS STRUCTURE AND THERE IS CLARIFICATION.
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME WHAT DOES A BOARD MEMBER REALLY DO? WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO? MANY TIMES I SAY THERE IS NOT A TO DO LIST FOR BOARD MEMBERS. BASICALLY WE LOOK AT POLICY.
WE LOOK AT PROCEDURES. THIS IS THE WHOLISH -- THE WHOLE ISSUE LOOKING AT BOARD BY LAWS AND ACTUALLY RONITA AND I WERE LOOKING THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE BYLAWS WE NEED TO UPDATE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT AS A BOARD. THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN UP -- UPDATING OUR BOARD POLICY, TO INCLUDE STUDENT ISSUES WHETHER IT IS GENDER ISSUES OR BULLYING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS COMING UP, HEALTH CONCERNS. WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THERE IS A GAMUT OF INFORMATION. WE CAN APPROVE A BOARD BYLAW AS IS, OR WE CAN APPROVE IT WITH THE CHANGES.
IT IS NOT MY POLICY. IT IS NOT MY BYLAW.
ETHICS IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE.
>> AND THAT IS WHY I WAS ASKING WHO BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS YOURS OR SOMEONE ELSE'S.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE THOUGHT PROCESS WAS.
A LOT OF THESE BULLET POINTS ARE SUBJECTIVE.
YES, THIS IS SUBJECTIVE AND MAYBE ANOTHER DISTRICT HAS THIS ALREADY IN PLACE, BUT WE NEED TO ADOPT SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS FAIR FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS. AND IT IS NOT JUST US, FUTURE BOARD MEMBERS. AND WHEN YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER BOARD BYLAWS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND UPDATE, I AGREE AND THERE ARE MANY.
THOSE ARE NOT THE ONES WE ARE CONSIDERING TONIGHT.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE CONSIDERING THIS ONE.
SOME STATEMENTS ARE IN CONTRADICTION.
THERE ARE VERY SUBJECTIVE PARTS IN HERE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE NEXT PAGE, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5TH BULLET POINT, PROHIBIT INDIVIDUALS FROM EXERCISING AUTHORITY AS A BOARD MEMBER EXCEPT IN A MEETING OR AS A DELEGATE -- DELEGATED
[02:20:03]
AUTHORITY BY THE BOARD. THIS ACTUALLY -- I DON'T THINK ANY ONE OF US MAKES DECISIONS ON OUR OWN.I KNOW THE PUBLIC KNOWS AND THEY UNDERSTAND IT TAKES THREE OF US.
WHAT ARE YOU STATING? WHAT IS THAT BOARD MEMBER STATING? I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY YOU.
>> IF SOMEONE COMES TO YOU FROM THE PUBLIC AND SAYS I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER DOING THIS, YOU ARE A BOARD MEMBER.
YOU WOULD SAY, NO, I'M SORRY. I HAVE TO CONSULT WITH THE BOARD
MEMBERS. >> ARE ANY OF YOU SAYING THAT? I'M ASKING YOU RIGHT NOW. WE ARE HAVING THE DISCUSSION.
I HAVE NEVER SAID THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF US ARE
SAYING THAT. >> I THINK WHAT DR. SUE IS SAYING IS THAT IN A SEPBGS, IF -- SENSE IS IF IT ISN'T WRITTEN IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. SO HAVING THIS IN A POLICY -- I MEAN IN A BOARD BYLAW, TO HAVE THESE THINGS AS GUIDELINES OR SOMETHING, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK ON TOGETHER. WE CAN WORK ON THIS TOGETHER AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO AGREE ON AN ETHICS POLICY FOR US TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR US AND
FUTURE BOARD MEMBERS. >> I AGREE.
SO THERE IS A LOT IN HERE THAT I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK AND REVISIT. MY SUGGESTION IS TO CONTINUE IT TO NEXT MEETING, AND MAYBE WE CAN SIT DOWN AND HAVE A STUDY
SESSION ABOUT IT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE JUST TO APPROVE IT AND MAKE MODIFICATIONS AS WE MOVE
FORWARD. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE -- FROM THIS
SEAT IT SOUNDS LIKE -- >> I REALLY NEED YOU ALL TO KEEP
IT DOWN, PLEASE AND THANK YOU. >> THE MAJOR THEME I AM RECOGNIZING HERE IS A CONCERN THAT -- I AGREE HAVING A -- HAVING GUIDELINES FOR BOARD MEMBERS IS NECESSARY.
I THINK THE CONCERN IS IT BEING IN CONJUNCTION WITH A SEN -- CENSURE POLICY. WE CAN'T USE VAGUENESS, BUT WE ARE ACCEPTING THESE ARE VAGUE STATEMENTS AND USING THE CONJECTURE WITH THE -- I KNOW RANITA PROPOSED WE SEPARATE IT A
FEW MEETINGS AGO. >> IT WAS SCRATCHED OUT.
>> I THINK WHAT NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED IS THAT THESE ARE JUST GUIDELINES. NONE OF THESE POINTS WILL BE USED AS GROUNDS FOR CENSURE. CAN WE SAY THAT NONE OF THESE WILL BE USED FOREGROUNDS FOR CENSURE -- FOR GROUNDS FOR
CENSURE. >> IT IS NOT PART OF THE SEN --
CENSURE POLICY. >> BUT I THINK THE CONCERN IS THEY COULD BE USED. ULTIMATELY WE WILL NEVER GET IT TO -- LIKE MYRA SAID HAVE A FULL RUBERICK.
IT WILL STAY VAGUE. AS LONG AS IT IS NOT -- BEING USED AS GROUNDS FOR CENSURE IT CAN BE VAGUE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> RIGHT.
THE INTRODUCTION DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
>> I WOULD VOTE YES ON THIS IF WE HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT IT WILL NOT BE USED AND IT SOUNDS LIKE I HAVE THAT ASSURANCE.
>> RIGHT. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE TO APPROVE THE BOARD ETHICS -- CODE OF ETHICS.
WITH THE CHANGES WE TALKED ABOUT.
>> WITH CHANGES? >> YES BECAUSE CHRISTOPHER
MENTIONED -- [INAUDIBLE]. >> THE S AT THE END OF INDIVIDUAL AND RESPECTING INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING AND THEN
THAT DIFFERENT BULLET POINT. >> IF I MAY RECOMMEND, BOARD MEMBER MENDOZA, THAT WE HAVE A STUDY SESSION INSTEAD BECAUSE IF NONE OF US ARE ON THIS BOARD FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WHO IS TO SAY THAT THEY WILL INTERPRET THIS BOARD BYLAW JUST THE WAY THAT YOU AND I OR PERHAPS OTHER MEMBERS SEE IT NOT LINKED TO THE
CENSURE POLICY? >> WHAT IF WE ADD A FOURTH AMENDMENT WHERE WE SAY THIS BYLAW CANNOT BE USED FOR CENSURE? AND NOW IT IS IN THE BYLAW THAT
IT CAN'T BE USED FOR CENSURE. >> SO THEN WE WOULD NEED TO GO BACK -- HENCE, WHY I AM SUGGESTING A STUDY SESSION SO WE CAN SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT IT AND TALK ABOUT IT.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO YOU? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO ME? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO EVERYBODY.
COME TO A CONSENSUS. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE USED AS A TOOL TO
[02:25:03]
CENSURE ANY BOARD MEMBER. SOME OF THESE ITEMS WOULD PROHIBIT A BOARD MEMBER FROM GOING AND HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A CONSTITUENT. I AM REALLY WORRIED THAT THIS IN THE FUTURE WOULD BE LOOKED AT DIFFERENTLY WITHOUT THE BACKGROUND WE ARE ESTABLISHING. >> WOULDN'T A DEFINITIVE SENTENCE AT THE START OR END OF THIS POLICY BY SAYING THIS BOARD
BYLAW -- WHAT IS IT? >> BB9271.
>> BOARD BYLAW 9271, WILL NOT BE USED AS GUIDANCE FOR DETERMINING GROUNDS FOR CENSURE FOR BOARD MEMBERS.
WOULDN'T THAT ELIMINATE ANY CONCERN THAT THIS COULD BE USED FOR CENSURE? NOW IT IS ENSHRINED IN THE --
>> I THINK SO. >> IT CAN'T BE USED.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT THERE ARE STILL OTHER BULLET POINTS THAT MAY PROHIBIT A BOARD MEMBER FROM HAVING A CONVERSATION.
>> SO THEN MAYBE A FIFTH REVISION THAT SAYS THESE POINTS ARE STRICTLY GUIDANCE. THEY CANNOT BE USED -- THEY ARE STRICTLY TO GUIDE A BOARD MEMBER IN THEIR ACTIONS.
I WOULDN'T SAY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE WE ARE EXPECTING BOARD MEMBERS TO DO THIS.
I WOULDN'T SAY NO -- LIKE NO CONSEQUENCES WOULD COME OUT OF BREAKING -- BREAKING THESE BECAUSE SOME ARE RELATED TO THE
BROWN ACT. >> THEY ARE RELATED TO THE BROWN
ACT. >> SO WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING THAT SAYS THEY CAN'T BE USED FOR CENSURE AND A STATEMENT THAT SAYS THESE -- THE POINTS MADE IN THIS BYLAW ARE TO BE STRICTLY USED TO GUIDE BOARD MEMBER CONDUCT.
I THINK -- >> THAT'S ALL IT IS.
IT IS CODE OF ETHICS. >> MAYBE I AM NOT CATCHING SOMETHING. IT IS STATING IT IS JUST GUIDANCE AND CAN'T BE USED AS LEGAL GROUNDS FOR CENSURE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE COULD ADD.
>> AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT PERHAPS THIS IS A BOARD BYLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BY THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS COMING ON IN DECEMBER. THEY WILL BE HERE, I WILL REMIND EVERYONE, FOR FOUR YEARS. PERHAPS JUST WAITING ONE MORE MONTH SO THAT WAY THEY CAN ALSO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION GOING FORWARD WOULD BE A BETTER CHOICE AT THIS POINT.
>> I SEE WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM.
>> I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT ONE
FIRST. >> NO, SUBSTITUTE MOTIONS GO FIRST AND THEN WE WILL VOTE ON THE ACTUAL MOTION.
>> OH, OKAY. >> SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS THAT WE CONTINUE THIS FOR NEXT MONTH, IN DECEMBER, WHEN WE COME BACK WITH OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ON WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A CODE OF CONDUCT IN OUR BOARD AND THAT THIS WILL NOT BE USED AS A TOOL TO CENSURE A BOARD MEMBER.
>> NOW WE HAVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE AMENDMENTS FIRST TO VOTE ON? THAT'S WHAT I HAD STATED.
>> YOU VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND THEN YOU VOTE ON THE
ORIGINAL MOTION. >> YOU NEED A SECOND OR YOU WILL
>> IS IT A SECOND ON THE SUBSTITUTE OR THE ORIGINAL?
>> THERE WAS. >> ON THE SUBSTITUTE.
>> AND SO NOW WE CAN VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTES.
LET'S VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE. >> MR. MENDOZA?
>> NO. >> POLICIES CAN BE AMENDED.
>> I THOUGHT I WAS THE MINOR IN THE ROOM.
>> SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
>> I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE DISCUSSED AND
APPROVE THE CODE OF ETHICS. >> I SECOND.
DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? >> WAIT.
>> WITH THE AMENDMENTS. >> WITH THOSE THREE AMENDMENTS.
>> WITH THE AMENDMENTS. >> WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO TACK
[02:30:03]
ON THE TWO I SUGGESTED, THAT IT WON'T BE USED GROUNDS FORCENSURE. >> THOSE -- SO THE 4 AND 5 ARE
WE HAVE IT. IT IS ALL RECORDED.
>> IF WE VOTE YES ON THIS NOW WE WILL NOT TALK ABOUT THIS
ANYMORE? >> NOT UNLESS WE WANT TO
AMENDMENT IT YEARS LATER. >> THEY CAN CHOOSE TO AMEND IT
IF THEY DEEM IT NECESSARY. >> WE CAN PASS IT FOR NOW AND IF THE NEW BOARD DEEMS IT NECESSARY.
>> AND IT WILL BE GREAT BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE IT ALL CLEANED UP WITHOUT THE SCRATCHES AND EVERYTHING.
IT WILL BE FINE. WITH THE AMENDMENTS.
>> FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES CAN WE GO OVER THE AMENDMENT THAT'S ARE BEING ASKED SO WE HAVE THEM CLEAR PLEASE.
>> SO FIRST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SECOND PAGE, THE LAST BULLET POINT ADD AN S TO THE WORD INDIVIDUAL.
SO UNDERSTAND THAT AUTHORITY RESTS WITH THE BOARD AND NOT WITHVILLES. WITH INDIVIDUALS.
YOU GOT THAT? AND THEN THE LAST POINT ON THE FIRST PAGE, SUBSTITUTING THE WORD -- THE PHRASE WHILE COLLECTIVELY SUPPORTING THE DIVERGENT OPINIONS WITH WHILE COLLECTIVELY RESPECTING THE DIVERGENT OPINIONS.
GOT THAT? THE THIRD WAS CHANGING THE PHRASE I PROPOSED PRACTICE ACCOUNTABLE SPEAKING.
AND THE REVISED PHRASE IS -- LET ME PULL IT UP.
TELL ME WHEN YOU ARE READY. ENSURE ALL CONVERSATIONS ARE PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT BY BEING MINDFUL OF THE TIME AND ENERGY INVESTED BY THE PUBLIC, DISTRICT STAFF AND INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE MEETINGS RUN.
YOU GOT THAT? AND THEN WE NEED TO COME UP WITH WHAT ARE THE OFFICIAL PHRASING FOR THE 4TH POINT.
THE FOURTH POINT BEING THAT WE STATE THE BOARD BYLAW9271 -- 9271 MAY NOT BE USED AS -- WELL, NO, THE IDEA -- THE REASON I AM SUGGESTING THIS POINT IS WE ARE SAYING IT CANNOT BE USED AS GROUNDS FOR CENSURE. SO THE SENTENCE I AM SUGGESTING IS BOARD BYLAW9271 CANNOT BE USED AS GROUNDS FOR CENSURING A
BOARD MEMBER -- OR -- OKAY. >> I'M SORRY, CHRIS.
CAN WE SAY THIS BOARD BYLAW IS FOR GUIDANCE.
>> WE CAN SAY THIS BOARD -- >>
>> I'M GOING TO RESPECTFULLY REDR. ELHESSEN THAT YOU -- REMIND DR. ELHESSEN YOU PROMISED BOARD MEMBER MENDOZA THOSE ITEMS WERE GOING TO BE ADDED. SO AMENDING WHAT HE WANTS ON
>> I DON'T SEE HARM IN DOUBLING DOWN AND REPEATING A SENTENCE.
IF YOU MADE CLEAR THAT IT IS FOR GUIDANCE, THERE IS NO HARM ADDING A SENTENCE THAT SAYS BOARD BYLA9271 IS TO STRICTLY BE USED FOR GUIDANCE AND IS NOT TO BE USED IN CONJECTURE WITH WHATEVER THE POLICY NUMBER IS FOR CENSURE.
JUST ADD IT THERE, I THINK. IF THE NEXT BOARD DECIDES THIS IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN, THEY CAN CHOOSE TO
GOT IT? >> DO YOU WANT TO REPEAT IT TO
MAKE SURE WE GOT IT ACCURATELY. >> I JUST NEED TO KNOW DO YOU NEED IT AT THE END OF THE PARAGRAPH? SO AFTER THIS CLEAR STATEMENT IS SUPPORTED BY YOU WANT THAT SENTENCE YOU JUST SAID AT THE END OF THAT ONE?
>> YES. >> BOARD BYLAW 927 IS TO BE USED FOR GUIDANCE AND NOT TO BE USED IN CONJECTURE WITH CENSURE
THANK YOU. >> DO WE HAVE ROLL CALL?
[02:35:02]
>> SO THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THIS HAS ALREADY DRAGGED ON. LET'S MOVE IT TO THE NEXT MEETING AND WE WILL HAVE THE STUDY SESSION, I THINK.
LET'S BRING BACK THAT MOTION. >> ALL RIGHT.
SO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM WITHHELD TONIGHT IS AGENDA ITEM 10.3 --
>> DID WE RESOLVE -- I THOUGHT --
>> SO DO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH IT OR IS IT DONE NOR
THE NIGHT? >> IT IS DONE FOR THE NIGHT AND IT IS NOT BROUGHT UP AND NOT PART OF THE BOARD POLICY.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM WITHHELD TONIGHT IS AGENDA ITEM 10.3.6.3 AND THAT IS THE SECOND READING OF THE BOARD BYLAW9280, BOARD MEMBER CENSURE POLICY AND PROCEDURE. DO I HAVE A MOTION?
>> I HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT WE CONTINUE THIS READING -- ACTUALLY, I HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT WE DO A STUDY SESSION ON THIS BOARD BYLA IN DECEMBER WHEN WE HAVE OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS SO THAT WAY THEY CAN BE PART OF CRAFTING THIS
BOARD BYLAW. >> I WILL SECOND THAT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT?
ROLL CALL PLEASE. >> MR. MENDOZA?
>> ABSTAIN. >> REVEREND IVENS.
[11. INFORMATION ITEMS]
WE HAVE THREE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS THIS EVENING.ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS? WE HAVE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
>> PART OF YOUR AGENDA SO YOU ARE ASKING IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE INFORMATION ITEMS. THOSE ARE YOUR TRIPS AT THE END OF THE BOARD BOOK.
SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY -- IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU
I WILL MOVE ON. IT IS TIME FOR BOARD/STUDENT MEMBER/SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF COMMENTS.
LET'S START WITH MR. MENDOZA. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
THIS WEEK I WORKED WITH SOME OF MY TEACHERS TO ARRANGE MEET -- ME TO SPEAK AT SOME OF MY PEER CLASSES.
I VISITED MR. GETTY'S CLASS AND MR. FONG'S CLASS.
I BASICALLY SPOKE TO THEM AND BEHAVE -- GAVE A BOARD GOVERNANCE 101. I OFTEN FIND WHEN I AM THERE THEY SAY WHAT IS THE BOARD? I SAW YOU IN THE OFFICE NEXT TO PEOPLE. PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS ROOM EVEN EXISTS. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA -- I CALLED IT BASICS OF GOVERNANCE AND CONTEXT FOR INVOLVEMENT AND GAVE AN UPDATE. THIS IS WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE WORKS WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
TALKED -- I GIVE THESE PRESENTATIONS ON TUESDAY AND MONDAY. I SAID ON THURSDAY WE WOULD BE VOTING WHETHER OR NOT TO APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT.
I HOPE WE GET STUDENT INVOLVEMENT.
THAT'S WHAT I DID AT SCHOOL. AND I WOULD LIKE TO -- I KNOW, AGAIN, THE PEOPLE IN HERE ARE THE UBER INVOLVED SO YOU DON'T NEED ME TO REMIND YOU, BUT PAPER TUTORING IS AVAILABLE.
THIS SOMETHING MY ENGLISH TEACHER, MRS. BROWN, AT THE START OF CLASS SHE SAID I WAS DOING THE GRADING, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE DISTRICT WRITING PROMPTS.
I WAS DOING GRADING AND THE PERSON I WAS WITH SAID THE PAPER TUTORING PROGRAM IS GREAT. SHE TURNED TO HER AND SAID WHAT IS THAT? APPARENTLY A LOT OF TEACHERS DON'T KNOW WE EVEN HAVE IT. SHE WALKED THROUGH IT IN KLANS
[02:40:01]
AND HELPED US OUT WITH -- THROUGH IT IN CLASS AND HELPED US WITH IT. IF WE CAN PUT OUT A STATEMENT TO ADVERTISE IT. I CAN'T MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THERE THOUGH. AND PROJECT SHEPHERD IS GOING ON AND THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD IS COLLECTING CANNED GOODS AS ALWAYS MONSOONS ARE GOING HARD AT IT.FOR MR. GREEN'S CLASS I AM ONE OF THE AM PWASZ -- AMBASSADORS.
TAKE THAT, EVAN. I'M SPEAKING UP HERE.
JUST KIDDING. EVAN IS KILLING IT.
AND I WORKED AT THE POLLS AT THE LAST ELECTION AND I WAS INSPIRED BY DEMOCRACY IN ACTION, BUT ALARMED BY HOW DISTRESSFUL VOTERS WERE OF ME. I SAID I CAN TAKE YOUR BALLOT TO THE BACH. SHE SAID I THINK I I WILL KEEP IT. IT MADE ME FRUSTRATED AND UPSET WHEN I GOT HOME. WOW, THESE PEOPLE WHO SHARE MISSION FOSS ARE THE -- MISINFORMATION ARE THE WORST.
I CAN RECOGNIZE CONSPIRACY THEORY WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION, WE HAD AN ENORMOUS TIME WITH WAIT TIMES AN HOUR.
MOST PEOPLE SEEMED TO THINK WAITING IN LINE IS THE ONLY WAY TO VOTE. THAT'S THE STRATEGY OF ELECTION DENIERS IS TO SPREAD FEAR. THEY ARE BULLIES.
OTHER THAN THAT THAT WAS AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE.
ON THE NOTE OF ELECTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATIONS ANITA AND RECEIVE -- REVEREND TOMAS AND DOWNING FOR PARTICIPATING.
YOU HAD A WILL TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME I KNOW EVERYONE WHO RAN IN THAT RACE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS IN SOMEWAY, SHAPE OR FORM. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK REVEREND DOWNING AND MR. EYE VERSE. MR. IVERS.
I KNOW MRS. ARMSTRONG WILL WILL BE WORKING.
AND I AM GLAD TO WORK WITH YOU WHO ARE MOST REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR VALUES AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY.
THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAVE FOR NOVEMBER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHRIS. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
MAY WE PLEASE HEAR FROM BOARD MEMBER DOWNING.
>> MINE WAS JUST THE VISIT FROM THE CITY OF LAS MUCHAS.
WE HAD LUNCH AND TOURED THE STEAM BUILDING.
IT IS COMING ALONG VERY, VERY WELL.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OPEN BY LATE NOVEMBER, BUT I GUESS MARCH IS IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER DOWNING.
MAY WE PLEASE HEAR FROM BOARD MEMBER GARZA?
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND TOWARD THE END OF OCTOBER THE MID-HIGH SCHOOL -- THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL FALL FESTIVAL. I WAS THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
I ALSO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE LIGHTS ON AFTER SCHOOL AND THEIR FALL FESTIVAL AT WASHINGTON SKPWH -- AND I MADE MY WAY TO EARLY PILE AND ATTENDED THEIR PANTHER PUMPKIN FESTIVAL AS WELL. IT WAGS -- IT WAS NICE TO BE OUT AND ABOUT. I DENT GET TO GO WITH LOS MOCHES OR ATTEND THE CITY EVENTS BECAUSE I HAD BEEN -- OBVIOUSLY IT WAS DURING THE DAY AND I HAD TO WORK.
AT OTHER TIMES I HAVEN'T BEEN REALLY WELL.
I JUST GOT OVER WHATEVER IT WAS I HAD IN SEPTEMBER.
NOW I'M FEELING A LOT STRONGER AND WILL BE OUT THERE A LITTLE BIT MORE. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
AND BEFORE I FORGET, THE SALVATION ARMY IS ALSO PARTNERING WITH OUR DISTRICT AND ASKING IF THERE'S ANY FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED THIS TIME OF YEAR TO PLEASE GO AHEAD AND REACH OUT TO THEM. WERE WE ABLE TO SEND OUT THAT
THEY HAD AN UPDATE IN REGARDS TO ALL OF THOSE.
>> SO PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD FOR US IF ANY FAMILY HAS A NEED OR IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE THEY CAN WALK TO THE SALVATION ARMY.
IT IS RIGHT OFF OF -- I THINK IT IS FLORES OR SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T WANT TO SEND YOU SOMEWHERE WRONG, THE WRONG DIRECTION.
AT THIS TIME I KNOW THAT INFLATION IS GOING TO BE AFFECTING OUR FAMILIES AND WE MAY HAVE A LARGER NEED.
THAT IS ONE OPTION THAT SOME PARENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, MEMBER GARZA. MAY WE HEAR FROM DR. ELHESSEN.
>> I WAS BUSY ATTENDING ALSO SOME EVENTS WITH THE CITY OF
[02:45:05]
LAKEWOOD, THE BRAVO -- ACTUALLY THEY ARE AWARDING HONORING CITIZENS AND ALSO FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE. I WAS HR-SZ -- ALSO WITH LOS MOCHES AND THE STEAM BUILDING.I WAS ALSO INVOLVED WITH OUR LATEST UPDATE AND WANTED TO SHARE ABOUT CAL AP S. OUR I HAVE A VAGUES PROGRAM WILM WILL BE MOVING FORWARD. OUR CEO HAD A GRANT FOR 794,000 TO START OUR AVIATION PROGRAM. IT IS GOING TO BE IN COLLABORATION WITH CYPRESS COLLEGE.
AND ACTUALLY THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO BE FLIGHT SIMULATORS AND VARIOUS DRONES AND FLIGHT CURRICULUM AND STUDENTS AS YOUNG AS 16 MAY EARN THEIR PRIVATE PILOT LICENSE THROUGH THE SERIES OF PACIFIC TRAININGS THROUGH CAL SP*PTS AP -- CAL APS. KUDOS TO THEM AND OUR BOARD ANNUAL LIE BEING INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING THIS NEW PROGRAM FOR
CAL APS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. ELHESSEN. MAY WE PLEASE HERE FROM REVEREND
SAME. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP OF LOS MOCHES. ONLY I WAS PRESENT IN BELLFLOWER , BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT ALONG WITH THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP, BOTH SCHOOLS. I PARTICIPATE IN A TRAINING IN A BROWN ACT TRAINING THIS PAST OCTOBER AND IN PREPARATION FOR THIS THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION, I HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE BOARD OF CARING CONNECTIONS. THIS COMING SATURDAY WE ARE ORGANIZING ALONG WITH THE CASE MANAGERS THE TURKEY DISTRIBUTION BASICALLY ALL FAMILIES FROM BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT A FEW SCHOOLS FOR THE FALL FESTIVAL AND SPECIFICALLY IT WAS WITH THE TABLE AND WOODRUFF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I DIDN'T GET THE CUSTOMS, BUT I BE THERE, AND IT WAS A GREAT TIME WITH THE LITTLE ONES AND THE PARENTS AND ALL OF THE STUFF. THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, FOR THIS BOARD MEETING.
I NEVER HAERBD -- HEARD OF LOS MOCHES BEFORE.
IT WAS A VERY, VERY FUN-FILLED DAY.
SO I HAD FUN. BOY, I TELL YOU, THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT GRADUATED FROM OUR -- FROM BELLFLOWER AND/OR MAYFAIR, AND IT WAS LIKE A HOMECOMING FOR THEM.
THEY ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT STARTING THIS PROGRAM BACK UP AFTER THE PANDEMIC WHERE THEY WANT TO PROVIDE MUSIC EXPERIENCES FOR OUR CURRENT STUDENTS.
I'M TELLING YOU, IT WAS LIKE A REUNION.
AND THEY WERE -- THEY ARE A LIVELY GROUP OF WOMEN.
I HAD SO MUCH FUN. AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED.
THEY HAVE SEEN HOW OUR SCHOOLS HAVE GROWN.
THEY WERE HERE AND OH MY GOODNESS, HOW LONG HAS LOS MOCHES BEEN AROUND? YEAH.
A LONGTIME. I NEVER HEARD OF IT.
ANYWAY, I ALSO ATTENDED A BUNCH OF THE FOOTBALLS -- FOOTBALL GAMES FOR MAYFAIR AND BELLFLOWER , ARE AND I THINK BOTH OF THEM ARE THEY STILL IN THE RUNNING? YEAH. TIME GOES BY SO FAST FOR ME.
ANYWAY, AND THE BAND HAS BEEN PERFORMING.
I NEED TO TELL YOU, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE PERFORMANCES FROM BOTH OF THE BANDS, YOU'RE MISSING OUT.
YOU JUST GOTTA -- LOOK UP SOMETHING.
I'M SURE IT IS SOMEWHERE RECORDED, PROBABLY SHOULD BE RECORDED. ANYWAY, BUT ANYWAY, YOU GUYS GOTTA -- WE HAVE AN AMAZING GROUP OF TEACHERS LEADING OUR
[02:50:03]
STUDENTS AND DOING WONDERFUL THINGS.THAT'S IT FOR ME. SO NOW IT IS TIME FOR
SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. >> YES.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MONTH'S BULLETIN BOARD. I INVITE BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL DEAN OF CLIMATE AND CULTURE MS. LUIS KASEY TO SHARE THEIR
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING, BOARD PRESIDENT, RANITA STORM -- ARMSTRONG, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TEACHERS AND STAFF. I AM THE DEAN OF CLIMATE AND CULTURE AT BELLFLOWER MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE BEEN WITH BELLFLOWER UNIFIED FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF MONTHS. IT IS A PLEASURE TO PRESENT OUR BULLETIN BOARD SPOTLIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO HIGHLIGHT AND THANK MEGAN RUIZ AND SARA, TRULY TWO DEDICATED AND TALENTED TEACHER THAT'S HELPED ME PUT THIS BEAUTIFUL BOARD TOGETHER. IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEM. OUR THEME IS FALLING INTO SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING. WELLNESS MATTERS.
CONSIDERING ALL OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES HAVE FACED THE LAST TWO YEARS, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING MUST BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT WE AS EDUCATORS DO.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, COACH RUDY HAD A TWO-DAY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON TEACHING METHODS FOR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING FROM THE CURRICULUM THAT WAS ADOPTED. THEY WERE PROVIDED A BOOK CALLED EGG-CELENT LEARNING THAT WILL BE USED FOR ALL STAFF.
OUR SUCCESS SEMINAR IS A LIFE SKILLS CLASS ON CAMPUS THAT HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IMPLEMENTING LESSON PLANS SCOOT CONNECT CURRICULUM. CURRENT ENROLL MEANT IS 198 STUDENTS AND WE HOPE TO GROW THE PROGRAM IN THE UPCOMING YEARS FOR ALL STUDENTS. ONE ACTIVITY CALLED DIGITAL ZOMBIE THAT GOES THROUGH HOWDY PENDANT WE HAVE COME WITH OUR PHONES AND PROVIDED ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE PHONE USE.
FURTHER -- FURTHERMORE WE WERE THE FIRST SCHOOL TO HOST STREET RACING KILLS SCHOOL WIDE. IT DIDN'T MAKE THE NEWS.
THIS ASSEMBLY HAD AN EXTREMELY POWERFUL OVERARCHING MESSAGE OF THE DANGERS OF STREET RACING. IT IS ONE WHO DID PRISON TIME FOR STREET RACING AND A SHERIFF WHO SPOKE OF FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCES WITH DEATH CAUSED AND MORE.
OVERALL THIS ASSEMBLY BROUGHT REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES AND AWARENESS TO THE DANGER THAT'S COME ALONG WITH DANGEROUS CHOICES LIKE STREET RACING. PLEASE CHECK OUT THE PICTURES OF THIS EVENT AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY OUT TONIGHT.
FURTHERMORE, THE MAHS WAS FORTUNATE TO GAIN ASSETS TO THE TEAM, WELLNESS COUNSELORS. ONE PRACTICE THEY HAVE STARTED IN ADDITION TO MANY OTHER THINGS IS A WELLNESS WEDNESDAY EMAIL THAT GOES OUT EVERY WEDNESDAY TO THE STAFF.
IT PROVIDES A TOPIC. FOR EXAMPLE, DECISION MAKING.
IT GIVES A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF HOW TEACHERS CAN INFUSE THESE TOPICS INTO THEIR CURRICULUM AND PROVIDE ACTIVITIES AND ACTION STEPS TO FOLLOW. THESE WEEKLY EMAILS HAVE RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS ON CAMPUS AND WILL CONTINUE EACH WEEK THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.
THERE ARE EXAMPLES YOU CAN CHECK OUT.
WE CLOSED OUT THE LAST WEEK OF OCTOBER WITH RED RIBBON WEEK AND DRUG AWARENESS. OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS CAME OUT DURING ONE OF THE LUNCH PERIODS AND SIGNED A PLEDGE TO BE DRUG FREE. IT WAS HUNG ON A LARGE POSTER OUTSIDE OUR SCHOOLS FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO ENJOY A SMALL FOCUS GROUP ASSEMBLY WAS HOSTED FOR THE STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE. THE FEEDBACK FROM THE STUDENTS AND THE GUEST SPEAKERS WAS MOVING.
AS I WALKED THE GUEST SPEAKER OUT HE SAID, WOW, THAT WAS TRULY A BEAUTIFUL AND MOVING EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYBODY.
I NODDED WITH HIM AND SAID IT INDEED WAS.
I HOPE ON YOUR EXIT THIS EVENING YOU TAKE TIME TO ENJOY THE WONDERFUL ART ON THIS BULLETIN BOARD FROM OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND TEAM. I WOULD LIKE TO END WITH A POWERFUL QUOTE. WE ARE BLESSED EVERY DAY WITH OPPORTUNITY TO HELP CHANGE THE COURSE OF SOMEONE'S LIFE WITH OUR WORDS, OUR ACTIONS AND OUR BELIEF IN THEIR ABILITIES.
BY CHANGING OUR PERSPECTIVES, WE CAN CHANGE LIVES EVERY DAY.
>> PLEASE PARDON ME FOR MY EXIT. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> MS. ARMSTRONG REMEMBER YOU HAVE THE TWO CARDS.
>> COULD I PLEASE HAVE ISAAC SILVA TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE?
[02:55:06]
WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS ISAAC SILVA AND I WANTED TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT NOT ENOUGH IS BEING DONE FOR THE STUDENT OR TEACHERS' INTEREST.
I WAS GOING TO GO ON A SPIEL ON HOW THEY ARE DEBT -- DETRIMENTAL TO STUDENTS BECAUSE OF LACK OF A GOOD TEXTBOOK AND FALSE AND MISLEADING INFORMATION IN THE STEM SCOPE CURRICULUM BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND READ WHEN I WAS A SOPHOMORE AS A PILOT STUDENT FOR THE CHEMISTRY PROGRAM.
I BELIEVED THE YOU NEW SCIENCE STANING TKERDZ WERE -- STANDARDS WERE TOO EASY AND DUMBING IT DOWN FOR THE KIDS.
I NOW KNOW UPON TALKING TO MY MANAGER FOR THE COMMUNITY PIPELINE THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE.
MS. ROBERTS WAS THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF YOU ORGANIZING THE TEACHERS TO PICK A NEW CURRICULUM, THAT THE NEW STANDARDS WERE THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I HAD THOUGHT.
THEY WERE NOT ACTUALLY EASY -- EASIER AND IT WAS A SWITCH TO A NEW DYNAMIC LEARNING WHERE YOU MUST FULLY UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT CONCEPTS AND HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER IN REAL WORLD SCENARIOS IN ORDER FOR THE KIDS TO UNDERSTAND -- FOR THEM TO HAVE A YOU TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE.
INSTEAD OF REMEMBERING THINGS LIKE THE MITOCHONDRIA IS PART OF THE CELL. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BOOKS REMAINS, BUT THEY ARE JUST SHORT, FLIMSY PAMPHLETS AND THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH INFORMATION COMPARED TO THE OLD TEXTBOOKS.
IF WHAT I HEARD WAS TRUE AND THE NEW WAY OF TEACHING, IT JUST HAS A HARDER LEARNING CURVE, BUT POTENTIAL TO TURN OUT MORE SUCCESSFUL SCIENTIFIC THINKERS ALL POWER TO IT.
BUT I THEN STARTED TO GAIN A NEW UNDERSTANDING FOR THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND ADD MINUTE BECAUSE OF THE -- ADMIN BECAUSE OF THE DISCUSSION OF WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT MANY DON'T CARE TO PEEK BEHIND.
THE THREE ADULT GROUPS ARE TRYING TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN INTERESTS WHILE TRYING TO THINK OF OTHERS.
ALTHOUGH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT YOURSELF IN ANOTHER PERSON'S SHOES NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU THINK YOU CAN OR YOU TRY TO, THERE IS A MASSIVE PROBLEM I HAVE IDENTIFIED AS AS I CHANGE MY WAY OF THINKING. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE LIKE ME AND QUICK TO JUMP TO CONNECTICUT COLLUSIONS ABOUT -- CONCLUSIONS ABOUT ANYTHING. THE TRUTH COMES OUT WHEN WE HAVE OPEN AND HONEST COMMUNICATION. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT AS THE WORLD MOVES FORWARD, PLENTY OF PEOPLE ARE LEFT THINKING IN THE PAST. THIS IS BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE HOPE AND HONEST LINES OF DISCOURSE BETWEEN PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATION.
THE REALITY IS IT IS A SMALL MINORITY OF EACH OF THESE GROUPS THAT ACTUALLY CARES ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE.
WHY WAS THERE NOT EVEN FIVE CURRENT OR FORMER ALUMNI HERE WITH US? WHY IS THIS ROOM NOT FULL RIGHT NOW OR EARLIER? THE STUDENTS DO NOT SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING AN INITIATIVE IN THE COMMUNITY BY BEING HERE. WE HAVE ALL HAD TEACHERS THAT DON'T TEACH AND SEEN ADMINISTRATORS THAT DON'T REALLY CARE AND SEEN PARENTS THAT DON'T DESERVE THE GIFT GOD GAVE THEM.
THAT'S THE STUDENTS, THE KIDS. I WILL SAY WHAT WE ARE LACKING IS HONEST AND OPEN COMMUNICATION.
IN MY EYES ONE OF THE BIGGEST FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS THAT SLOWS DOWN CHANGE IS WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND WE ARE ALWAYS DELEGATING OUR PROBLEMS TO OTHER PEOPLE FOR THEM TO TRY TO FIX WITHOUT GIVING THEM OUR OWN PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION. THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WALK IN ANOTHER PERSON'S SHOES AND WE EXPECT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO WALK IN ALL OF THEM AT ONCE.
AND THEN AFTER WE DELEGATE OUR WHOAS WE HOPE THEY WILL CARE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, BUT IN REALITY THEY ARE OVERWHELMED BY THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS ALREADY GIVEN TO THEM TO SOLVE BY OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT YOU. THIS IS WHY WE NEED AN EDUCATED STKAU MOCK RAW SEE WHERE THE TEACHERS AND PARENTS HAVE AS MUCH POWER AS THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THERE IS NO FIXING THE SITUATION GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS IN THIS HELLISH GAME OF TELEPHONE EVERYONE AGREES TO PLAY.
IT AFFECTS THE KIDS MOST OF ALL. MS. ARMSTRONG, YOU ASKED US EARLIER TO TRUST YOU AND THE BOARD, BUT THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE WAY WE SEE THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING.
WHERE IS THE RAISE IN TEACHER'S PAY AND THE SECTIONS YOU TALKED ABOUT FOR THE KIDS FADING. LIKE RIGHT NOW, WHY DIDN'T WE TALK ABOUT ANY OF THAT? I SAW TOO MUCH CONGRATULATIONS FOR A GREAT JOB DONE WHEN WE LET ALL MY PEERS GRADUATE WHEN HALF OF THEM SHOULDN'T HAVE, INCLUDING ME.
I FAILED FIVE OF MY CLASSES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND STILL
[03:00:01]
PASSED TO SENIOR YEAR AND GRADUATED ON TIME.I KNOW MANY OTHERS DID THE SAME. WE DID NOT RECEIVE THE PROPER ADDITIONAL HELP OR SUPPORT THAT WE WERE PROMISED TO BE GIVEN UPON RETURNING. WE WERE TOLD WE WILL HAVE TO GROW UP BECAUSE WE ARE BEING CENTS OUT TO THE -- SENT OUT TO THE REAL WORLD. INSTEAD, ONE OF MY TEACHERS HAD A LIST OF SENIORS HE WOULD CALL UP PUBLICLY IN FRONT OF OTHER PEERS. HE ACTED LIKE HE WOULD CALL THEM UP AND IT WAS NOT OBVIOUS TO THE REST OF THE CLASS THEY WERE THE FAILING SENIORS, BUT THE BIGGEST PATTERN AMONG THESE KIDS WAS THE PHONE USE AND THE SADNESS IN THEIR EYES.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN INVISIBLE TO THE TEACHER AND EVERY OTHER ADULT ON CAMPUS. THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. KIDS THESE DAYS ARE ADDICTED TO THEIR PHONES AND THEY ARE HELPLESS TO RECOVER BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP THEM.
>> YOU HAVE RUNWAY PAST YOUR TIME.
I AM LETTING YOU GO, BUT CAN YOU WRAP IT UP?
THANK YOU. >> CAN I JUST READ MY SPEECH? KIDS THESE DAYS ARE ADDICTED TO THEIR PHONES AND HELPLESS TO RECOVER BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THIS.
WHILE WE HAVE THEM TRAPPED IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM STILL UNTIL THEY ARE 18. SOMEONE COULD ARGUE CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT THEY ARE DOING WHEN THEY STARTED USING SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INTERNET AT AN EARLY AGE OR THEIR PARENTS SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING AND THAT IS NOT THE JOB OF THE INSTITUTION WHICH THEY SPEND EIGHT HOURS OF THEIR DAY.
YOU THINK THEY ARE TOO IGNORANT TO SEE THEY ARE JUST KIDS AND MUCH LESS UNDERSTAND IT. AND THE CONSEQUENCES THEY WILL FACE. YOU THINK YOU ARE NOT THE PERSON I AM LOOKING TO REACH WITH MY MESSAGE UNLESS YOU HAPPEN TO STAND IN AN ADMIN OR TEACHER POSITION IN WHICH CASE PLEASE FIND A DIFFERENT JOB. YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
AFTER THE PANDEMIC WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM -- I'M
SORRY? >> AFTER THE PANDEMIC WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM I WAS BEYOND EXCITED AND I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO MY PEERS AGAIN, BUT THINGS SIMPLY CHANGED TOO MUCH. THE TEACHER WAS NOT LECTURING OR INTERACTING WITH THE CLASS AND IT WAS DEAD SILENT AND EVERYONE WOULD EITHER DO THEIR WORK SILENTLY OR PULL OUT THEIR PHONES AND JUST BE ON THEIR PHONES AND NOT TALK WITH ANY PEERS OR ANYTHING. THERE WAS NO MORE OF THE USUAL CHATTER THAT OCCURS WHEN A BIT OF EMPTY SPACE COMES AROUND.
THE SILENCE WAS DEAFENING. WHEN THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS CLASS TIME IS SPENT ON THEIR PHONE AND THE TEACHERS JUST SIT AROUND KNOWING IF THEY TRY TO TAKE THEIR PHONES THEN BOTH ADMIN AND PARENT BODIES WILL TURN ON THEM, THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS AND NOT BLAME ANYONE.
WE MUST SIMPLY TAKE THE PROPER ACTIONS TO COMBAT IT.
IT WOULD BE AS SIMPLE AS REQUIRING KIDS TO DROP THEIR PHONE OFF TO SECURITY ■ATEVERY GATE IN THE MORNING AND THEN HOLDING THEM CATEGORIZED ALPHABETICALLY AND A CLASSROOM MONITOR AT ALL TIMES. YOU GUYS DON'T NEED ME TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR YOU TO DO THAT OR SOMETHING.
YOU SHOULD JUST TRY AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.
PEOPLE TOLD YOU THAT IS A PROBLEM, THE PHONES.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW IN MY OPINION.
OUR ENGLISH TEACHERS MAKE US ADD S'S.
EVERYBODY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM. ALL ADMIN NEEDS TO DO TO GET THIS DONE IS, WELL, THEY COULD PLACE IT IN THE PAMPHLET THAT EVERYBODY SIGNS WHICH INCLUDES THE STUPID DRESS CODE WHICH IS BANNING SPAGHETTI STRAPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT WE CAN'T SQUEEZE IN A FEW LINES ABOUT THE SCHOOL POLICY THEY HAVE TO
YOU ARE GETTING OFF TRACK. >> I WOULD INVITE YOU TO COME TO THE NEXT MEETING AND TALK ABOUT THIS.
I SAW SOMEBODY ELSE COME IN. HE WANTS TO TALK AS WELL.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A COPY OF YOUR -- I THINK YOU ARE VALID AND I KPHEPD YOU FOR COME -- I COMMEND YOU FOR COMING.
I THINK WE DO NEED A POLICY AND WE NEED TO HELP OUR TEACHERS TOEN HORSE THAT THEY DON'T -- SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY TEACH STUDENTS LIKE YOU ARE SAYING AND THE PHONE IS NOT A DISTRACTION.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING
IT TO OUR ATTENTION. >> AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
>> NEXT WE HAVE -- >> [APPLAUSE].
>> NEXT -- MRS. ARMSTRONG HAD TO STEP AWAY FOR A MEDICAL ISSUE.
>> PLEASE COME FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO TRUSTY DOWNING EARLIER. I'M SORRY I WAS NOT HERE AT THE BEGINNING DUE TO CHILD CARE ISSUES.
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ME AT THE END.
IN THE SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
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TAKING THOSE SEATS. IT IS NOT EASY.SOME DAYS IT IS NEVER FUN. SOME DAYS YOU WANT TO SCREAM AND SAY WHY DID I DO THIS? IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT ON YOUR PART. I KNOW THAT I MYSELF HAVE SENT EMAILS WHERE I WAS UPSET. IN THE SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT VIEW POINTS YOU BRING TO THE DISCUSSION AND TO THE BOARD. I APPRECIATE THOSE WHO REACHED OUT. WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS AND I APPRECIATE THAT A LOT. I SPOKE TO MR. DOWNING AND DELIVERED MY MESSAGE TO HIM EARLIER.
MR. IVENS, THIS IS YOUR LAST MEETING AT THIS POINT AND I THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND BEING WILLING TO FILL IN THE GAP DURING THIS TIME. IT HAS BEEN CRAZY.
I KNOW THE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN LONG, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE HAD A LOT TO DEAL WITH. IT IS NOT JUST NORMAL BUSINESS.
YOU ADDED MORE ON TOP OF THAT. KEEP THAT IN CONSIDERATION.
I WILL SHOW UP FOR DOUBLE THE MEETINGS IF IT MEANS I KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
I THINK WE ALL WANT TRANSPARENCY AND SO I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS AND THE CLEAR LANGUAGE.
PLEASE, PLEASE CONTINUE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEW BOARD. THOSE OF YOU STAYING ON, LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND UPWARD. LET'S MAKE THIS THE BEST WE CAN BECAUSE IT MATTERS TO OUR LEARNERS AND OUR FAMILIES AND THE STUDENTS IN THE SEATS. IT MATTERS THAT THEY CAN LEARN WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN. THE PANDEMIC HIT ALL OF US WHETHER WE ARE BOARD MEMBERS OR STUDENTS OR PARENTS ORCHIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP IS NOW THAT WE HAVE A CHANGE IN THE GUARD, I WOULD LIKE A DISTRICT CHART OF WHO IS IN CHARGE OF WHAT AND WHERE.
WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER HERE ON THE LEFT OF THE CABINET AND I HAVE TO THE MET HIM PERSONALLY. I THOUGHT HE ONLY OVER SPECIAL ED. I WAS INFORMED HE HAS SEVERAL OTHER DEPARTMENTS UNDERNEATH HIM AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO KNOW. COMMUNICATION IS GETTING BETTER AND I APPRECIATE THAT. KEEP THE LINES OPEN AND KEEP ASKING THE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE DON'T ALL GET INAUDIBLE] WE NEED TO HEAR IT AT THE BOARD MEETINGS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD
IN A POSITIVE MANNER. >> THANK YOU, MARLA.
THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS COMING FORTH.
WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING AT IT LOOKS LIKE 9:25 P.M.
>> THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.