Sep 07, 2023 School Board

[00:00:05]

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT -- AT 4:01 IN OPEN SESSION. PUBLIC COMMENTS, CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. TONIGHT WE HAVE TWO REQUESTS ABOUT CLOSED SESSION AGENDA.

THE FIRST DR. ROBINSON ON ITEM 3.7. >> THANK YOU FOR AFFORDING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDANT ABOUT A PRO FOUND CONCERN THAT I AND MANY OTHERS HAVE WITH OUR DISTRICT. I AM SPEAKING AS THE PARENT OF A SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT FOR MY FAMILY AND THOSE WHO SHARE THE SPACE WITH ME AND THOSE WOULD COME BEHIND US TO TAKE OUR PLACES. BEFORE THEY GET HERE I IMPLORE THE BOARD TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT NEED TO CHANGE SO THOSE WILL RECEIVE WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES AND WE SHOULD WANT TO PROVIDE AND THAT IS A FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT HAS THERE BEEN A SEATED BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT TO LEND AN EPL PAW -- EMPATHETIC EAR AND ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE CONSISTENTLY IMPEDED THE SUCCESS OF OUR DISTRICT. ALL SIX OF YOU CAN RELATE TO THE MARGINALIZED STRUCTURE OF AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. DR. DURATI SPOKE OF THE BUDGET BEING OUR STORY, BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU HAMMER OUT IN THE COMFORT OF THE BUILDING.

YOU PROJECT AND ALLOCATE AND DISTRIBUTE FUNDING AND EVERYBODY BREATHES A SIGH OF RELIEF WHEN IT IS DONE. THE COLLECTIVE PERM NARRATIVES OF OUR CHILDREN AND FARE TAEPLS. THAT -- AND THEIR FAMILIES. THAT IS NOT AS EASY TO TELL.

I CAN STAND HERE LIKE HAVE I AND SO MANY OTHERS HAVE AND GIVE YOU THE HEART WRENCHING, AND GUT WRENCHING NARRATIVE IN A WELL CONSTRUCTED AND WELL PLACED WORDS, BUT THEY EVAPORATE IN THE AIR ONCE I SAID THEM AND LITTLE TO NOTHING WOULD COME TO IT.

I WANT TO SHOW AND YOU NOT TELL YOU ABOUT THE IMAGE I DON'T WANT YOU TO TKPWOR GET.

THIS TABLE HOLDS THE VOLUME OF ONE SPECIAL ED'S STORY. THE SOBERING REALITY IS HIS NARRATIVE IS NOT THE EXCEPTION. IT IS THE RULE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANY CHILD'S STORY AND NOTHING CAN REWRITE IT. YOU AND ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT IT FROM BECOMING ANYONE ELSE'S STORY IN THE FUTURE. YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT JUST AS MUCH AS WE CAN WRITE A FOUGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS WE CAN ERASE THEM WITH HOW WE SUCCEED OR FAIL TO PROCESS THEM. IN LIGHT OF THE SOBERING REALITY I HAVE THREE ASKS.

THE BOARD TO HOLD AN ANNUAL TOWN HALL MEETING WHERE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND TEACHERS CAN VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND OFFER THE IDEA FOR PROGRESSIVE CHANGE.

TWO SUPER IN10 DENTS -- SUPERINTENDENTS WILL SHARE WHAT WAS WORKING WELL AND WHATNOT WORKING AT ALL AND WHAT COULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE THINGS. I WANT AN INTERNAL AUDIT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TO ASCERTAIN THE EFFICACY AND QUALITY OF THE PEOPLE LEADING THAT DEPARTMENT.

AND THE PROCESSES, PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS AND/OR LACK THERE OF USED IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

I AM CERTAIN YOU WILL BE PERPLEXED BY THE DISCONTINUE KNEW TEE AND STANDARD EYE -- STANDARDIZATIONS AND PROCEDURES. THIRDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO TASK THE DISTRICT WITH TRAINING PROTOCOLS FOR TEACHERS ALIKE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THEIR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY IN EXECUTING THE PROVISIONS OF THE IEP AND 504 PLANS. THEY INCLUDE TRAINING AS MESS SATISFACTORIEN AND FORCIBLE.

THE DISTRICT HAS TO PRIORITIZE THAT AS AN INITIATIVE. WHAT WORKS FOR MOST RESTRICTIVE STUDENTS AND FORMS ■PRACTICED FOR THE LEAST RESTRICTED. LIKEWISE WHEN WE INTENTIONALLY OVERHAUL AND DEFINE THE SPECIAL PROGRAMS IN DISTRICT IT WILL HAVE A LONG-REACHING AND

VALUABLE ECHO FOR THE ENTIRE POPULATION FOR DECADES TO COME. >> I AM THE SECOND CARD TOO.

>> THANK YOU. ITEM 3.1. >> IN MARCH WE WILL BE SUNSHINING THE CONTRACT AND WHAT WE HAVE DECIDED TO DO IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IN THE PAST AND THAT IS TO START DIGGING INTO THE CONTRACT AND THE CONCERNS RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE WHAT WE FOUND IN THE PAST IS WITH ETA, EVERYBODY HAS LOTS OF CHALLENGES AND THERE IS LOTS OF CONCERNS, BUT BY THE TIME WE GET TO ADDRESSING THEMING EVERYBODY IS IN MARCH AND THEY FORGOT WHAT HAPPENED IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER. WE STARTED THE PROCESS OF DOING WHAT I ASKED YOU TO DO AS A SCHOOL BOARD. STARTING TO GATHER INFORMATION WITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH OUR TEACHERS. WE SAT THIS WEEK WITH OUR SPECIAL ED TEACHERS AND WE INVITED THEM ALL. AND WE LISTENED TO WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. IT WAS PROFOUNDLY CONCERNING. WE LISTENED TO HIGH SCHOOL AND I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR SOME OF WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT IS THERE IS A CAROUSEL, AND THIS IS HOW THEY DESCRIBE IT.

THERE IS A CAROUSEL OF ADMINISTRATORS. THERE IS A CAROUSEL AND SPECIAL ED IS ON IT AND THE TEACHERS AND KIDS ARE ON IT. THE TEACHERS JUMP ON AND ADMINISTRATORS JUMP OFF. IT IS LIKE IT WHIRLS SO HALF THAT HALF FLY OFF.

WE CAN'T KEEP PEOPLE IN SPECIAL ED IN THIS DISTRICT AND THERE ARE REASONS.

WHEN YOU HEAR THEM THEY ARE SUPER CONCERNING. AS A PARENT I WAS ON MAYFAIR'S CAMPUS ON TUESDAY NIGHT IN THE $40 MILLION BUILDING WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND A LAB.

I WALKED 83 STEPS TO THE SPECIAL ED ROOM THAT WAS 83 DEGREES.

[00:05:03]

I TALKED TO A PARENT AND SHE SAID IT HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR FIVE YEARS.

SO HAS THE HEAT. THAT'S A SMALL FIX. WHY DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO SIT IN 80-DEGREE WEATHER. IT WAS 7:00 AT NIGHT. WHAT IS IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY? I DON'T KNOW. THESE TEACHERS ARE PROFOUNDLY DEDICATED TO THE CHILDREN. SOME OF THE THINGS WE HEARD WERE SUPER CONCERNING.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK INTO THAT. WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING THAT IN OUR LANGUAGE, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THE LANGUAGE IT HOSPITAL HAVE TO BE LIVING IF A CONTRACT FOR US TO DO THE RIGHT THING. WHAT WE HEARD WAS THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORICAL PRACTICE THAT ISN'T ROOTED IN ANYTHING EXCEPT IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE AND WE DO IT AGAIN AND NOBODY CAN EXPLAIN WHY. THEY SAID THERE IS A REVOLVING DOOR OF TEACHERS BECAUSE THERE IS LACK OF SUPPORT. ON MY CAMPUS WE HAVE A BRAND-NEW TEACHER WHO SPENT 20 YEARS AS AN AID. NOW SHE IS IN A CLASS ROOM.

SUPER EXCITED, GIVING HER ALL. SHE HAS ONE AID AND THREE ELOPERS.

THEY ARE RUNNING AWAY IN -- FROM HER. TODAY THEY QUIT SO SHE HAS NO AID. THE DISTRICT HAS COME MULTIPLE TIME TO SEE IF SHE NEEDS MORE AIDS. IT IS CONCERNING. SPECIAL ED IS WHERE WE BLEED MONEY. WHEN YOU HAVE LAWSUITS, A MILLION-DOLLAR LAWSUIT COULD HAVE BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF SERVICES. WE NEED TO STOP THE BLEED BEFORE WE ARE GETTING THERE. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF, AND THEN THEY NOW HAVE TO PUT INFORMATION IN AND THEY DON'T HAVE SCANNERS OR COLOR PRINTERS AND DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO PRINTERS. THEY DON'T HAVE STAFF. THEY ARE ASKED TO DO THAT ON THEIR OWN TIME. I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT. NOBODY PAYS TO WORK HERE.

I UNDERSTAND WE GOT A RAISE, BUT YOU CAN'T PAY THESE PEOPLE ENOUGH FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

WE HAVE SPECIAL ED FAMILIES HERE. PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THAT.

>> THANK YOU, DR. ROBINSON. >> MANAGES STEWART -- MS. STEWART, CAN WE HAVE ROLL

CALL. >> MS. ARMSTRONG. >> HERE.

>> DR. EL -- EL HUSBAND SEN. >> HERE. >> MR. CRIHFIELD.

>> HERE. >> MS. GARZA. >> HERE.

>> AND I, MS. STEWART, AM PRESENT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL RECESS TO CLOSED -- SORRY, NOT ARMSTRONG, STEWART. THANK YOU.

[3. CLOSED SESSION]

[4. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION/CALL TO ORDER]

>>> WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE. TONIGHT'S MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:01 IN OPEN SESSION AND THE BOARD ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION AT 4:08 P.M.

WE WILL NOW RECONVENE THE MEETING IN OPEN SESSION AT 6:02.

P.M. COURT CLERK AMY STEWART WILL UPDATE US ON CLOSED SESSION

TOPICS. >> SORRY. I FORGOT MY PAPER IN THE OTHER ROOM. I'M GONNA GO WITH IT. THE TOPICS DISCUSSED IF CLOSED SESSION WERE PENDING LITIGATION, ANTICIPATED LITIGATION AND LABOR

NEGOTIATIONS. THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN. >> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER STEWART. REPLACEMENT PAGES FOR ITEMS. THANK YOU.

LET'S MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS-AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS. TONIGHT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ADDRESSING THE BOARD. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA.

[5. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA]

DO WE HAVE AMENDMENTS TO THIS AGENDA? >> THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS TO

THE AGENDA TODAY. >> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO THE PLEDGE OF

[6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ]

WELCOME. >> PLEASE STAND. FACE OUR FLAG.

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 UNDERGOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH TKEUB TEE AND SKWRUS -- LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

YOU MAY TAKE A SEAT. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

[7. PRESENTATIONS FROM STUDENTS / STAFF / COMMUNITY]

WE HAVE SUFFERED. WE HAVE MADE EXCUSES. WE HAVE BLAMED AND EVEN SHAMED.

THIS YEAR IS A NEW YEAR, AND IT PROVIDES US WITH NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO DO GREAT

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THE MOMENT IS NOW. THE SENSE OF URGENCY IS UPON US ALL, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY IS ALSO SHARED UPON US. I WISH WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL AND AMAZING SCHOOL YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TODAY. [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU. PRESENTATIONS? MS. CURTIS, PRINCIPAL AT ALBERT BAXTER WILL SHARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF TONIGHT'S BULLETIN BOARD.

WELCOME, MS. CURTIS. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT GARZA, BOARD MEMBERS, DR. DRATT I AND CABINET MEMBERS. I AM VERY EXCITED TO BE HEREAFTER ABOUT ONE MONTH OF SCHOOL THAT'S TAKEN PLACE. WE'VE DEFINITELY BEEN WELCOMED BACK TO SCHOOL.

OUR BULLETIN BOARD TONIGHT WAS CREATED BY OUR FANTASTIC COUNSELING TEAM.

THEY REALLY HELPED US, OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, TO BUILD A COMMUNITY AT BAXTER.

I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND HAVE THEM COME UP TO PRESENT THE BULLETIN BOARD.

IT IS CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ AND MRS. ERIKA FLOREZ. [APPLAUSE].

>> SO I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU GUYS A LITTLE ABOUT OUR BULLETIN BOARD.

OUR BULLETIN BOARD IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING A BAXTER BEAR. MORE SPECIFICALLY SUPPORTING OUR BAXTER BEAR'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING. BELIEVE IT HELPS SUPPORT A STUDENT'S LEARNING. IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP RIGHT CORNER, ONE THING WE DO EVERY MORNING IS OUR MORNING GREETS. EACH STUDENT GETS TO PICK WHICH WAY THEY WANT TO SAY HELLO TO THEIR TEACHER. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE, SOME STUDENTS CHOSE A HIGH FIVE, OTHERS A HUG AND OTHERS A DANCE MOVE. THIS HELPS SET THE DAY OFF ON A POSITIVE NOTE AND STRENGTHEN OUR STUDENT/TEACHER RELATIONSHIP.

ANOTHER SUPPORT SERVICE I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS OUR NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION PAMPHLET.

ANY TIME A NEW STUDENT JOINS OUR SCHOOL, A COUNSELOR WILL PERSONALLY GO OVER THE PAMPHLET WITH THEM THAT TEACHES THEM ABOUT EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOING ON AT OUR SCHOOL.

AFTER WE GIVE THEM A CAMPUS TOUR, WE LINK THEM UP WITH A BUDDY IN CLASS SO THEY ARE INCONSTANTLY CONNECTED WITH A FRIEND. THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO INFORM OUR PARENTS ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON AT OUR SCHOOL. ONE THING WE ARE PROUD OF IS OUR WELLNESS CENTER THAT WE CREATED WITH THE HELP OF DISTRICT FUNDS AS WELL AS OUR LEGO SCHOOL GRANT WE RECEIVED. WE CREATED A CALMING ATMOSPHERE WHERE STUDENTS CAN UTILIZE A VARIETY OF CALMING STRATEGIES SUCH AS MINDFULNESS, SENSORY AND MUSIC AND ART STATIONS.

AS WELL AS OUR SCL LIBRARY. NOW I WILL HAND IT OFF TO MY CO-COUNSELOR SO SHE CAN

CONTINUE TELLING YOU ABOUT OUR BOARD. >> HI, EVERYONE.

IF YOU LOOK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BOARD YOU WILL FIND STUDENT WORK FROM OUR SECOND STEP, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING KAU RICK LIMB -- CURRICULUM.

THEY TEACH IN FOUR UNITS. THE UNITS COVER MINDSET AND GOAL SETTING, EMOTIONAL MINDSET. YOU WILL SEE MS. MIAKOWA AND SELF-PORTRAIT WITH OUR KINDER AND FIRST GRADE COMBO CLASS. THE NEWSLETTER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE SECTION GOES OUT TO FAMILIES TO BRIDGE THE HOME CONNECTION WITH TIPS PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE TO REINFORCE THE LESSONS AT HOME. WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE EACH CLASSROOM THEIR OWN KIT PROVIDING A CALMING AND DESIGNATED SPACE FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED A BREAK IN CLASS WITHOUT MISSING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. ALONG WITH THE CALM CORN EVERIES WE -- CORNERS WE PURCHASED CARD STOCK AND OTHER MATERIALS TO SUPPORT ATTENDANCE. ON THE BOARD YOU WILL FIND WE MISS YOU POST POSTCARDS FOR EVERY STUDENT WHO HAS AN ABSENCE. ONCE THEY RETURN FROM ABSENCE OR THE TEACHERS PICK THE BOX THAT IS AVAILABLE IN CLASS. THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH

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[APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PRINCIPAL AND COUNSELORS.

IT IS TIME FOR PTA COMMUNICATION. WE WILL GO TO STUDENT BOARD

REPORTS. >> I BELIEVE -- I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK, RIGHT? TWO WEEKS. I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE SCHEDULE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW GO TO THE STUDENT BOARD REPRESENTATIVES. TRISTA IS A SENIOR AT BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL AND INVOLVED IN ASB, KEY CLUB, THE LINC CREW AND CLASS OF 2024 CLUB AND CHEER SQUAD.

SHE PLANS TO ATTEND CSULB AND BECOMING A PEDIATRIC NURSE. SHE IS STKAOEUT -- DELIGHTED TO REPRESENT HER SCHOOL AS VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS. WELCOME, TRISTA.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS TRISTA. HERE IS THE BOARD REPORT FOR BELLFLOWER MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? OUR PAST EVENTS THAT JUST HAPPENED WAS OUR WEEK OF WELCOME. WE STARTED OFF ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WITH OUR ASB STUDENTS, LIN NC CREW AND CHEERLEADERS WELCOMING THEM IN FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

AND FOR OUR LUNCH EVENTS WE HAD MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS AND WE PASSED OUT THINGS LIKE FREE LEMONADE, FREE OTTER POPS AND WE ENCOURAGED OUR STUDENTS TO KEEP ON TRYING THROUGHOUT THEIR FIRST WEEK, ESPECIALLY THE NEW STUDENTS. AND IT IS A VERY POSITIVE WAY TO REINFORCE THEM. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR PRIDE ASSEMBLIES WHICH HELP WITH POSITIVITY, RESPECT, INTEGRITY AND DEDICATION. WE HAD A COMPANY CALLED RESCUE- A-GEN. THEY CAME IN AND GAVE SOME PHOET -- MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING TO STUDENTS. STUDENTS HAD FUN HEARING THEIR STORIES AND THEY WERE VERY REAL WITH THE STUDENTS. WE HAVE OUR PEP RALLY BEFORE OUR FIRST FOOTBALL GAME.

WE PLAYED SOME GAMES. WE HAD PERFORMANCES FROM OUR CHEER TEAM AND DRUM LINE.

THEY HAD A LOT OF COMPETITIVE GAMES. CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? OUR UPCOMING EVENTS, WE HAVE OUR BUCK TAILGATE, SEPTEMBER 8TH, TOMORROW, AND WE OFFER A TICKET FOR THE FOOTBALL GAME WITH PIZZA, A BEVERAGE AND A BAG OF CHIPS. WE HAVE A BUNCH OF GAMES FOR THE STUDENTS.

AFTER THAT WE LEAD THEM TO THE FOOTBALL GAME. WE HAVE OUR HOMECOMING RALLY COMING UP IN OCTOBER, OCTOBER 5TH, AND WE CELEBRATE LOTS OF CLUBS ON CAMPUS, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ALLOW THEM TO SHOW THE STUDENTS WHAT THEY REALLY DO IN THEIR CLUB. AND WE HAVE GAMES FOR EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN.

WE HAVE OUR HOMECOMING DANCE, LAST, BUT NOT LEAST. THIS IS WHERE WE CROWN OUR HOMECOMING KING. THIS IS FOR GRADES 9 THROUGH 12.

CAN I GET THE NEXT SLIDE? AND JUST STAYING UPDATED WITH THE SCHOOL, WE HAVE GOOGLE CLASSROOMS FOR EACH GRADE, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE.

THAT'S ALL. >> THANK YOU, TRISTA. GREAT JOB.

REPRESENTING MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL IS LENNOX SCOTT. LENNOX IS A SOPHOMORE AT MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL. BEFORE COMING TO MAYFAIR HE WAS IN A DUAL IMMERSION PROGRAM.

HE IS INVOLVED IN ASB, BOYS SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL. HE MAKES THE MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS AT SCHOOL. HE ENJOYS ENGLISH CLASSES AND CHALLENGES HIMSELF BY TAKING AP SPANISH LITERATURE. HE HOPES TO ATTEND A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE SOME DAY, BUT UNTIL THEN HE ENJOYS HIS TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL. WELCOME, LENNOX.

>> THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT GARZA, BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT DR. DRATTI AND

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ON THIS SLIDE IT HIGHLIGHTS US WELCOMING BACK OUR STUDENTS TO THE NEW YEAR.

IN A COUPLE PICTURES YOU CAN SEE OUR WELCOME BACK ASSEMBLY. AT THE TOP YOU CAN SEE OUR TEACHERS PARTICIPATING IN A GAME CALLED STICKY HANDS, HENCE THE TAPE ON THEIR HANDS.

ON THE RIGHT YOU CAN SEE THE NEW BLOCK SCHEDULE WHICH WE JUST IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR.

SOMETHING REGARDING THE BLOCK SCHEDULE I REALLY WANTED TO SAY WAS HOW PROUD I AM OF THE STUDENTS FOR REALLY EMBODYING ONE OF OUR SLOGANS WHICH IS BE WATER, OR IN OTHER WORDS, GOING WITH THE FLOW. IN CONTEXT OF THIS SITUATION, I FEEL LIKE OUR STUDENTS HAVE REALLY ADAPTED TO THIS NEW SCHEDULE. THANK YOU.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. IN THIS SLIDE, IT REPRESENTS SOMETHING YOU ALL MAY KNOW, OUR NEW STEAM BUILDING THAT WE JUST HAD, WE JUST GOT IMPLEMENTED AT MAYFAIR.

AT THE BOTTOM YOU CAN SEE BEFORE IT WAS FULLY BUILT AND HOW OUR LOVELY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WERE WORKING 24/7 ON IT. AFTER YOU CAN LOOK AROUND TO SEE HOW OUR STEAM BUILDING IS FILLED WITH LIFE. TO THE RIGHT, SPECIFICALLY, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE STEAM BUILDING REALLY PROVIDES DIFFERENT SPACES OF LEARNING FOR THE STUDENTS WHICH I BELIEVE OUR TEACHERS REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. NOW ON THIS SLIDE IT TALKS ABOUT ALL OF OUR FALL SPORTS WHICH INCLUDE FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, CHEER, FLAG FOOTBALL AND COLOR GUARD, AND THEN TWO WHICH WE WILL IMPLEMENT WHICH IS CROSS COUNTRY AND TENNIS.

TO START OFF, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT FLAG FOOTBALL WHICH IS SOMETHING NEW WE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT YOU CAN SEE FLAG FOOTBALL WINNING THEIR FIRST GAME IN THE HISTORY OF MAYFAIR WHICH I THINK IS PRETTY COOL.

AT THE TOP YOU CAN SEE VOLLEYBALL WINNING THEIR FIRST TOURNAMENT WHICH WAS HOSTED AT MAYFAIR. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE MILK BUCKET TROPHY WHICH WE ARE HONORED TO HOLD ON TO FOR SIX YEARS. THIS UPCOMING FRIDAY IS THE NEXT MILK BUCKET GAME. TO THE RIGHT YOU CAN SEE MAYFAIR ASD.

IN THE MIDDLE ARE UPCOMING EVENTS WHICH ARE THE GAME ON FRIDAY, HOME COMING AND FALL SPORTS ASSEMBLY AND PROGRESS REPORTS COMING OUT THIS WEEK. AND FINALLY DON'T FORGET TO FUNNEL MAYFAIR SOCIALS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME HERE AND REALLY SHOW YOU HOW MAYFAIR HAS STARTED TO FLOURISH. THANK YOU.

>> WONDERFUL JOB, LENNOX. THANK YOU. I WANT TO MAKE A QUICK CHANGE HERE. IT SAYS -- IT IS PROGRAM ILC, CORRECT? THANK YOU. REPRESENTING SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL IS SIERRA RIDGEWAY.

SHE IS A SAOUPB -- SAOUPB YES, SIR AT -- JUNIOR. SIERRA ENJOYS THE SPORT OF VOLLEYBALL AND WRESTLING AS SHN THE MAYFAIR CHORUS. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT GARZA AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THE CABINET AND TO ALL GUESTS IN THE AUDIENCE. MY NAME IS SIERRA RIDGEWAY AND I AM A JUNIOR AT SOMERSET. HERE ARE THE LATEST HAPPENINGS AT SOMERSET.

AUGUST 16TH, SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL HELD A BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT. AS A MODEL CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL, PARENTS WERE ABLE TO VISIT THE CLASSROOMS AND WE ARE A DEDICATED TEAM OF EDUCATED PROFESSIONALS.

A GREAT DEAL OF WORK GOES INTO PLANNING A BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT.

THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL WHO MAKES IT HAPPEN IS SCHOOL SECRETARY STEPHANIE GOUDY.

PICTURE IN THE UPPER LEFT PRINCIPAL HIGGINS BEGAN THE NIGHT WITH HONORING THE FLAG, INTRODUCTIONS AND HOPING REMARKS. IN THE BOTTOM LEFT IS ENGLISH TEACHER ELIZABETH EDEN. IN THE BOTTOM MIDDLE PHOTO IS SCIENCE TEACHER MARK JOHNSON AND COUNSELOR BELINDA DEVITA AND MS. EAGAN AGAIN. IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT IS COMPUTER AND SKILLS FOR LIVING TEACHER MR. MACIAS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

CONTINUING WITH THE BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT, THE PHOTO IN THE TOP LEFT IS SOCIAL SCIENCE TEACHER ALEX CUBIK. NEXT TO HIM IN THE MIDDLE IS GRAPHIC PRODUCTION TECH NOTHIN.

[00:25:11]

NEW SO SOMERSET'S BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT THIS IS SAUL FROM TUTORING.

SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL IS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE SUPPORT IT RECEIVES FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION. ATTENDANCE AT SOMERSET'S BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT IS THE BOARD CLERK MS. AMY STEWART SEATED NEXT TO THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES,ION MS. BONNIE CARTER.

IN THE UPPER RIGHT THERE IS BEARD -- BOARD MEMBER DR. SUE ELHESSEN.

DR. SUE ELHESSEN WAS A FORMER STUDENT. DR. WILLIAM AVILA, THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND TEACHER MR. JOHNSON.

THE LAST TWO PHOTOS YOU CAN SEE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ENGAGING IN DIALOGUE WITH TEACHER BRIAN ROMANO. BOARD MEMBER AMY STEWART AND SOME SOMERSET PARENTS.

LAST MONTH GRAPHIC PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY TEACHER BRIAN AMADA AND A GROUP OF HIS STUDENTS ATTENDED THE GRAPHIC PRO-EXPO AT THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER.

THEY HAD A FULL DAY OF EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND THERE ARE EXHIBITS AND PASSING THE AWARDS AND PERSONALIZATION. PICTURES WITH MR. AMADA ARE STUDENTS MEDINA AND JOSHUA AND CAITLIN AND JAROD AND JOSE ROSALES RAMIREZ. THEY ALSO SEE THE EXHIBITERS DEMONSTRATING THE OPERATIONS OF AN AMBRODIA MACHINE. THIS PAST JUNE SOMERSET CONTRACTED WITH ENRICH L.A. FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GARDEN. PHASE 1 OF THE GARDEN IS COMPLETE. HERE IN THESE PHOTOS YOU CAN SEE THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLAN -- PLANTAR BOXES MADE WITH REDWOOD. THERE ARE EIGHT IN TOTAL.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND THEN ALL OF THE BOXES ARE FILLED WITH ORGANIC SOIL AND PREPARATION FOR PLANTING. AND THE GARDEN IS OUTFITTED WITH A TIMED IRRIGATION SYSTEM AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE PHOTO ON THE LEFT. THEY PLANTED A VARIETY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND FRUIT JUICES. OUR GARDEN IS PRODUCING AS THERE ARE TOMATOES RIPE FOR THE PICKING. OTHER FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CAN BE SEEN SPROUTING UP ARE BELL PEPPERS, ZUCCHINI, SQUASH. CONSTRUCTION ON PHASE 2 WILL BEGIN IN NOVEMBER AND IT WILL INCLUDE AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM WITH BENCHES, DRY ERASE BOARD AND SHADE COVERING. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ADDED DIMENSION ABOUT OUR KAU RICK -- CURRICULAR PROGRAM. WE HAD A VERY BUSY START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR THAT STARTED JULY 19TH. SOMERSET WILL HOLD ONE WEEK IN A SESSION, SEPTEMBER 15TH, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22ND. SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED FROM SEPTEMBER 25TH, TO OCTOBER 9TH. BEFORE THEN, PICTURE DAY FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL BE NEXT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH. THIS CONCLUDE OUR BOARD REPORT FOR THE EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING. [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. EXCELLENT JOB. AT THIS MOMENT WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE OTHER OBLIGATIONS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE US AND GO DO SOME HOMEWORK PERHAPS OR PRACTICE, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. [APPLAUSE]. IT'S TIME FOR BOARD OF

[8. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS]

>> NOW IT IS BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. HI.

I AM SO GLAD TO BE HERE AND I AM GLAD EVERYBODY ELSE IS OUT HERE AND SHOWING AN INTEREST IN

[00:30:03]

THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD. WHICH IS GREAT. IT IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND TO BE HONEST, I'LL PUT THIS OUT, MY -- ONE OF MY CHILDREN ACTUALLY WENT TO THE PROGRAM FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND IT REALLY IS A GOOD PROGRAM TO HELP KIDS GET BACK ON TRACK AND TO REGAIN THEIR FOCUS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS MONTH.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. BOARD MEMBER DR. EL --

DR. ELHESSEN. >> THANK YOU, BOARD PRESIDENT. A BUSY START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. I WAS HAPPY TO ATTEND MAYFAIR AS WELL AS BELLFLOWER, SOMERSET AND THE BAY CENTER'S BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT. THE BAY CENTER WAS A GREAT EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE AND ITS PROGRESS AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP NOW OF CLIFF HIGGINS. I THINK IT IS HEADED TO A GREAT START.

I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE TEACHERS AND THE COUNSELORS THERE WHO ARE DO -- DOING A GREAT JOB. I NEED TO EMPHASIZE THAT IT IS GOING THROUGH A PROCESS FOR SUPPORT OF STUDENTS. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION, I ATTENDED CAL APPS AND OUR ENROLLMENT -- I COULD BE OFF ON MY NUMBERS, BUT 238 STUDENTS, I BELIEVE, AND OUR AVIATION PROGRAM IS UP AND RUNNING. I ALSO ATTENDED THE PTA COUNCIL MEETING.

I REMAINED SILENT AS INSTRUCTED DR. DRATTI WAS DOING A LISTENING TOUR TO SEE WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

I WANTED TO MENTION I SPOKE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF -- THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTS AND I SPOKE TO ONE OF OUR -- MY COMMISSION MEMBERS WHO SERVES WITH ME ON THE DISABILITY ACCESS COMMISSION. OUR DOORS MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND SPECIFICALLY AT MAYFAIR WE HAVE MANY STUDENTS WHO ARE WHEELCHAIR USERS.

THEREFORE, WE WANT TO PROVIDE EQUAL ACCESS AND FULL INCLUSION INTO OUR BUILDINGS.

I WANT TO WORK CLOSELY WITH STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HAVING THAT DONE IN AN APPROPRIATE TIME FRAME. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT READING OVER THE BY LAWS WE PASSED, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE ASSEMBLY BILL SB551. THERE IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS BY REQUIRING THE BOARD AND EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO STUDENTS AND MEMBERS AGE 25 YEARS OR YOUNGER WITH SCALE REQUIREMENTS BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE BOARD.

THIS KIND OF COINCIDES WITH WHAT I PARTICIPATED WITH YESTERDAY.

I DID A RIBBON CUTTING WITH THE L.A. COUNTY SUPERVISOR WHO I AM ONE OF HER COMMISSIONERS ON SOCIAL SERVICES. WE DID A RIBBON CUTTING ON A NEW HOMELESS SHELTER TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN NEED. IT IS CALLED THE HONDO HEALING CENTER.

I THINK IT IS GREAT TO INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT I HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH LEGAL COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO LOOKING AT OUR BY LAWS AND SOME AREAS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE, AND I HAVE SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS I SHARED WITH MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS IN THE FRIDAY MEMO WHICH I ENCOURAGED THEM TO READ.

I THINK IT IS GREAT INFORMATION FOR US AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN CREATING THESE BY LAWS TO SUPPORT OUR -- OUR BY LAWS ARE OUTDATED. THEY ARE BACK FROM 2013.

WE ARE GRADUALLY MAKING PROGRESS. I THINK TONIGHT WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON A COUPLE OF BOARD POLICIES WE ARE LOOKING AT ADOPTING.

I WANTED TO MENTION A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO THE GREAT COMMUNITY FAIR THAT WAS DONE BY

[00:35:04]

I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND MAKE SURE YOU TUNE INTO THE LATEST WORKSHOPS GOING ON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

BOARD MEMBER STEWART? >> GOOD EVENING. SO THERE WERE A LOT OF EVENTS AND MEETINGS I ATTENDED OVER THE LAST FOUR WEEKS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A BOARD REPORT OVER THE LAST MONTH. SOME OF THE THINGS I WENT TO WERE NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION, BELLFLOWER'S FOOTBALL GAME VERSUS GARDEN GROVE. I WENT TO THE DUAL IMMERSION ME COUNCIL MEETING. I WENT TO BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT AT SOMERSET, MAYFAIR, BELLFLOWER AND THE BAY CENTER AND UH -- ADULT TRANSITION CENTER AND CLASSROOMS. THEY WERE ALL UH -- AMAZING. I LOVED SOMERSET.

AT BAY, THAT WAS MY FIRST VISIT. I ENJOYED MEETING THOSE TEACHERS. I LOVE THAT WE AGREED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONNECTIONS WE MAKE WITH THE STUDENTS. SO THAT THAT WAS HUGE. I ENJOYED MY VISIT.

I WANTED TO LIST A FEW OF THE COMMUNICATIONS I HAVE HAD BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF COMMUNICATIONS. I RECEIVED A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK REGARDING THE TRANSFERRING AND THE COMMUNICATION IMPROVING ON OUR BOARD AGENDAS AND THE BUSD NEWS. I DID HAVE CONCERNS ON THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF SCHOOL.

HAVING SITE MEETINGS ON THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR TEACHERS.

TEACHERS AND STAFF NEED TIME IN THE CLASSROOM. I HOPE WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND POSSIBLY DO THAT NEXT YEAR AND TRY TO PUT OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON OTHER DAYS.

THERE IS A NEW TEACHER THAT LITERALLY RAN OUT OF THE GYM. I UNDERSTOOD BECAUSE HE NEEDED TO GET TO HIS CLASSROOM. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN WORK ON ROSTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I HOPE WE'LL LOOK AT THAT NEXT YEAR A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

I EVEN HAD CONCERNS WITH EMAILING BOARD MEMBERS FROM SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

IF YOU LOOK AND I WENT ON OUR WEBSITE, YOU CANNOT EMAIL THE BOARD MEMBERS DIRECTLY WITH THEIR EL -- EMAIL ADDRESSES. IT IS LIKE YOU PUSH EMAIL THE BOARD MEMBER AND IT GOES TO A FORM PAGE. YOU SEND ONE EMAIL TO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS, BUT I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE MY EMAIL LISTED ON THE WEBSITE SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CAN BE AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER THING OR HOW WE LOOK AT THAT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME DIRECTLY.

I HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING WE LOOK AT. OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH THE REORGANIZATION AND THE DUAL IMMERSION.

I'M GONNA BE HONEST. IT KEPT ME UP AT NIGHT. I WENT TO BED AT 3:30 SOME NIGHTS. I WAS RESPONDING TO TEACHERS AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING.

THEY'LL TELL YOU. BUT I'M HAPPY WE ARE COMMUNICATING AND TALKING ABOUT IT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AND WE ARE GONNA LOOK AT THAT FOR NEXT YEAR.

THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS LEARN FROM IT AND MOVE FORWARD AND WE CAN COLLABORATE AND TALK ABOUT IT AND MAKE IT BETTER. I DO BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF IS DOING.

I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING MEETINGS AND TALKING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO MAKE THAT BETTER FOR NEXT YEAR. ALSO THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH COMBO CLASSES AND I UNDERSTAND. SOMETIMES WE NEED COMBO CLASSES.

I GET IT 100%. I DO NOT FEEL THEY BENEFIT OUR TEACHERS OR OUR STUDENTS.

I HOPE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO TRULY LIMIT THEM AND NOT CONTINUE TO GROW AND HAVE MORE.

AND ONE OTHER THING I HEARD FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT SITES IS HOW THINGS SHOULD BE HANDLED. SOME TEACHERS FEEL THEY DO NOT KNOW CERTAIN PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES AND WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS WHO DO THEY GO TO? THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IS AND CHARTS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT.

THEY ARE UNCLEAR HOW THINGS SHOULD BE HANDLED AND THEY WANT TO EXPRESS CONCERNS WITHOUT RETALIATION. THEY WANT TO TALK TO US BOARD MEMBERS, BUT I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE DISCOURAGED FROM DOING IT BECAUSE IT MAKES THEIR SITE LOOK BAD.

WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER THOUGH. THERE IS CONCERN OF RETALIATION, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO ANGER THEIR LEADERSHIP, BUT THEY HAVE CONNECTIONS. DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS WITH US AND WITH YOU GUYS AND WITH OTHER PEOPLE. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHO THEY CAN TALK TO WITHOUT THEIR ADMINISTRATION COMING DOWN ON THEM ORIE TALL KWRAEUGS.

OR RETALIATION. I DO WISH WE WOULD CHANGE THE BOARD REPORTS BACK TO THE END.

I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT SO WE CAN COMMENT ON THOSE AND ADD THINGS ON OUR REPORT AFTER HEARING ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND PRESENTATIONS IN THE MEETING. I HOPE WE WILL LOOK AT THAT. AND THEN LASTLY, I HAVE TO SAY

[00:40:04]

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR MENTORSHIP AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO DR. D RATTI. DR. DRATTI'S BIRTHDAY WAS A FEW DAYS A*BG. WHAT WAS HE DOING? WORKING.

HE WAS PRESENTING TO OUR PTA A 2-HOUR PRESENTATION AND GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR. I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS SEE THE WORK HE IS PUTTING IN AND ALL OF OUR DISTRICT STAFF ARE PUTTING IN, AND I THANK THEM

FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER

STEWART. BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD? >> THANK YOU.

MINE IS NOT GOING TO BE NEARLY AS GOOD AS MISS STEWARTS, BUT I'LL GIVE IT A GO.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL. I KNOW I'M HAVING A GREAT TIME. I KNOW BEING ON THE BOARD, IT REALLY IS A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT IS SO REWARDING AND SO FUN. I FEEL HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID, I WAS -- I HAD THE PLEASURE OF FLIPPING THE COIN AT THE MAYFAIR BELLFLOWER FOOTBALL GAME AND THAT WAS AWESOME AND THEN BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT AT BELLFLOWER AND MAYFAIR. I DIDN'T MAKE SOMERSET AND I APOLOGIZE. ALSO MY FIRST TIME BEING AT THE BAY CENTER, I AM SO GLAD I GOT TO TOUR THAT FACILITY AND HEAR WHAT THEY DO THERE AND REALLY GET A BETTER GRASS -- BETTER GRASP ON THAT. I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO WHEN YOU ARE NEWLY ELECTED YOU DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH. THAT FIRST YEAR OF TAKING IT ALL IN AND EDUCATING MYSELF HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL FOR ME. IT IS VERY HEARTWARMING TO SEE ALL OF THE GOOD WORK THAT'S BEING DONE IN THIS DISTRICT. AND SPEAKING OF THAT, THE ADULT TRANSITION CENTER AS WELL.

I MEAN, IT REALLY DOES -- IT LITERALLY WARMS MY HEART HAVING A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS SEEING THE SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED AND SEEING THE WORK THAT IS THEY -- THAT THEY ARE DOING, IT IS AMAZING AND IT IS A GEM. MOST PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING ME, NOT TOO LONG AGO, WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE THINGS WE DO AS A DISTRICT THAT ARE AMAZING. THAT WAS REALLY GREAT. THE PTA COUNCIL MEETING, AND I TOO REMAINED QUIET AS DIRECTED. ALSO THE DUAL IMMERSION MEETING WITH DR. DRATTI.

I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN A REALLY BIG TOPIC AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO DR. DRATTI FORGIVING THE PRESENTATION AND THAT'S REALLY THE BIGGEST THING I LOOK FOR I AM GIVING THOSE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND NOT ONLY EXPLAIN, BUT ALSO OPEN UP THE CONVERSATION TO WORK TOWARD BETTER SOLUTIONS IN THE FUTURE. SO I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT. THE CAL APPS SPORTS MEETING WITH DR. ELHESSEN AND SHAMELESS SHOUT OUT, MY PODCAST. MR. PALACIOS, THE WHIZ JUST LAST WEEK AND HEARING ABOUT THE E SPORTS PROGRAM AT MAY -- MAYFAIR AND TAKING A DEEP DIVE INTO THE WAY IT CAME ABOUT AND THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING WITH E SPORTS.

THAT WAS EDUCATIONAL. AND ALSO THE ONE I DID RECENTLY WITH DR. DRATTI JUST REGARDING OUR DISTRICT RE-OL -- DISTRICT RE-ORG AND HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND ABOUT WHY IT HAPPENS AND ABOUT POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS COMING FORWARD -- GOING FORWARD I THINK IS BEN -- BENEFICIAL. I'M VERY PROUD TO BE IN A DISTRICT THAT IS REALLY -- THAT HAS TAKEN THE EXTRA STEPS TO BE TRANSPARENT AND COMMUNICATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS NOT THE EASIEST ROUTE TO TAKE. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE RIGHT NOW AND ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE ON THIS DIOSCE.

I GOT A LOT OF EMAILS WITH VERY VALID CONCERNS. I DIDN'T STAY UP UNTIL 3:30, BUT USUALLY IT IS LIKE 1:30 ANSWERING THE EMAILS AND I'M HAPPY TO DO IT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE. >> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD. AS FOR MYSELF, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT FOR OUR BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL. I ALSO ATTENDED BAY BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT AS WELL.

THE BAY CENTER. AGAIN, I AGREE WITH MY BOARD COLLEAGUES, EVERYTHING THEY SAID I AGREE WITH AS WELL. WE ARE IN A TIME OF TRANSITION AND GROWTH AND IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THE TRANSPARENCY COMING THROUGH AND PARENTS CONTINUING TO TALK TO US AND TEACHERS CONTINUING TO TALK TO US. THERE IS STILL A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

[00:45:05]

I BELIEVE, DR. DRATTI WE ANNOUNCED IT ON THE BSDU NEWS? IS THERE SOMEWHERE THEY CAN GET

THIS APPLICATION? >> WE'LL MAKE SURE IT IS ON THE SCHOOL SITE'S WEBSITE AND THE

DISTRICT AS WELL. >> PERFECT. WONDERFUL.

PLEASE, STUDENTS, LOOK FOR THIS APPLICATION. APPLY.

THE DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 22ND. THEY GO THROUGH ALL SORTS OF TRAINING FOR YOU AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING.

THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF. I BELIEVE THEY ALSO MAY BE TAKING YOU TO VISIT THE STATE CAPITOL AT ONE POINT. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS IN THE FUTURE.

IF YOU DECIDE TO ENGAGE IN THIS JOURNEY. >> BOARD PRESIDENT GARZA, MAY I JUST ADD TO THAT? THERE IS ALSO NOW FOR STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE IN LEADERSHIP AS CSBA. WHEN OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER COMES ON BOARD, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR BOARD PRESIDENT FOR MOVING UP THE BOARD REPORTS AND GIVING ME A VOICE TO SPEAK BECAUSE I HAD TO LEAVE EARLY AT NIGHT AS AN ADA ACCOMMODATION. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU THAT AND ALLOWING ME MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO SPEAK AND SHARE WITH MY COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER ELHESSEN.

[9. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT]

ANYTHING TO REPORT STP. >> YES, I DO. I WILL TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS TODAY. THE FIRST IS ABOUT THE REORGANIZATION AND WHAT I WILL TRY TO DO SINCE HEARING AND EXPERIENCING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME, I THINK I HAVE CONTEXT OF WHERE THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW. I WILL DESCRIBE TO YOU WHAT I SEE AND THEN EXPLAIN WHAT REORGANIZATION IS. SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS A NORMAL THING THAT UH -- THAT OCCURS IN THE DISTRICT. BEFORE I LAUNCH INTO THE MECHANICAL PIECES OF IT, I REALIZE WE ARE DEALING WITH HUMAN LIVES HERE AND THE DISRUPTION OF PEOPLE'S HOMES.

I DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. IF SOME OF THE ACTIONS WE DID THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE REORGANIZATION WE HAVE TO DO IMPACTED THE FAMILIES, I WANT YOU TO HEAR FROM ME THAT WE DID IT PURPOSELY TO YOU OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE IT TO HEART. I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND WE WILL TRY TO MAKE IT BETTER.

LET ME FIRST EXPLAIN. I PUT QUESTIONS AND THIS WILL BE PART OF THE BUSD NEWS.

I AM JUST GOING TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS I POSED TO MYSELF SO I RESPOND TO.

IT WHAT IS REORGANIZATION AND WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? REORGANIZATION IN SKAOLTS -- SCHOOLS IS THE PROCESS OF MAKING SURE THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS MATCH UP CORRECTLY. WE DO THIS BY COUNTING HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE IN EACH GRADE LEVEL BETWEEN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW THE PLANNING FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR KICKS INTO GEAR AROUND MARCH WHEN YOU START ANTICIPATING WHO IS SUPPOSED TO COME BACK AND WHO ISN'T. THERE IS A WHOLE COUNTING OF THINGS THAT OCCUR IN THAT TIME. WE HAVE A GUESS BECAUSE WE CAN SEE FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 11TH GRADE HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE IN EACH CLASS. WE MOVE THE STUDENTS TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL AND WE HAVE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE INCOMING KINDERGARTEN, HOW MANY WE WILL HAVE. IF 100% OF THE STUDENTS MOVE FROM ONE GRADE TO THE NEXT, THEN WE HAVE EXACT -- WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE WE WILL HAVE AND A KINDER DARR -- DASH KINDERGARTEN POPULATION WE HAVE TO ESTIMATE. THAT DOESN'T OFTEN HAPPEN THAT YOU GET 100% MOVE. WE TRY OUR BEST TO MAKE THAT GUESS.

DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL WE COUNT. EVERYBODY DOES THIS.

YOU HAVE TO COUNT THE WHITES OF THE EYES OF THE STUDENTS TO SEE IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY THERE OR NOT. IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE STILL ENROLLING STUDENTS.

[00:50:03]

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE DISTRICT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE NEXT MOVES ARE.

IN THE CASE WHERE SCHOOLS ARE OVER THE CONTRACTED LANGUAGE FOR A TEACHER, SAY THERE ARE 10TH 5TH GRADERS AT SCHOOL B. AND 10 KIDS OF THE SAME GRADE LEVEL IN SCHOOL B, THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS MOVE THE STUDENTS TO ANOTHER PLACE AND THAT IS A HEART WRENCHING THING TO DO FOR A FAMILY THAT IS PLANNING TO GO TO THAT SCHOOL.

THAT IS THE BALANCING THAT OCCURS. SOMETIMES WE GIVE A CHOICE TO SAY YOU CAN DO A COMBO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE THESE STUDENTS.

YOU CAN DO A COMBO IF IT MATCHES. SOME SCHOOLS HAVE DECIDED TO COME TOGETHER AND DISCUSS. IF WE TAKE THESE STUDENTS AND THOSE STUDENTS AND COMBINE AND WE WILL BE OKAY. SOME HAVE DONE THAT SUCCESSFULLY AND SOME DO IT TO AVOID MOVING STUDENTS TO ANOTHER SITE I HAVE ALSO GIVEN OUR CONTEXT, GIVEN PERMISSION BECAUSE WE HAVE TEACHER AND STAFF THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM AND ON SITE WITH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND COACHING AND INTERVENTIONS. I ASKED FOR THOSE WHO DON'T SEE THEMSELVES WHETHER IT IS A COMBO OR MOVING STUDENTS TO POSSIBLY UTILIZE ONE OF THOSE ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBERS TO BALANCE OUT THE CLASS. I GIVE THAT DECISION LOCALLY FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE AT THEIR SITES. THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING.

REORGANIZATION IS CHALLENGING IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. YOU HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT AS TRANSIENT. THEY STAY THERE AND IT IS EASIER TO COUNT AND THESE HOUSEHOLDS HAVE FOUR KIDS AND THEY WILL BE HERE AND WE CAN COUNT ON THAT.

IF YOU HAVE APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND RENTALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, ALL WE CAN DO IS GUESS UNTIL WE COUNT THE EYES OF THE STUDENTS SITTING THERE. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO DEAL WITH THE TRANSIENT SITUATION IF YOU APPROACH THINGS IN THAT WAY.

ESSENTIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A TRANSIENT COMMUNITY IT MAKES IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

IF YOU ARE A DECLINING ENROLLED DISTRICT, LIKE EVERY DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY HERE WE -- YOU WILL RUN INTO THIS SITUATION. YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW WHO IS STICKING AROUND AND WHO IS LEAVING. IN CALIFORNIA, PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO PLACES THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE, BAKERSFIELD, STOCKTON. THOSE SUPERINTENDENTS ARE RECEIVING STUDENTS AND L.A. COUNTY AND EVERYONE ELSE IS LOSING STUDENTS.

THAT CAUSES ISSUES, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. IT COMPLICATES MATTERS.

LASTLY, WHEN YOU RUN SMALL SCHOOLS, SMALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS LIKE WE DO, IT BECOMES A LOT MORE DIFFICULT TO BALANCING. INSTEAD OF BALANCING WITHIN A SCHOOL, THE BALANCING HAS TO OCCUR ACROSS SCHOOLS. YOU HAVE 10 STUDENTS IN THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL AND SPECIFIC GRADE LEVELS, WHAT IF THOSE SCHOOLS WERE TOGETHER AND THE BALANCING REMAINS INSTEAD OF BEING OVER THERE. IT IS ANOTHER CHALLENGE IN THE DISTRICT. OUR TRANSIENCY AND DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND IT IS A TRIPLE EFFECT. THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN IMMEDIATE THE STEPS.

WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. IF WE DON'T WANT COMBOS THAT'S AN OPTION. THAT IS THE OPTION TO TRY TO CONSOLIDATE SCHOOLS.

[00:55:07]

>> BASED ON THE 15-DAY COUNT OUR ENROLLMENT IS DOWN 400 STUDENTS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME. TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT, THAT IS AS MUCH AS ONE OF MY MID-SIZED ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE HAVE TO ADJUST TO THAT. WE DIDN'T FIND THAT OUT FULLY UNTIL DAY 15. THAT'S WHERE THE MOVEMENT HAS TO OCCUR.

I KNOW PEOPLE SAY HOW COME YOU DIDN'T PREDICT THIS? WE THOUGHT WE WOULD GET MORE KIDS. PEOPLE SAID THEY ARE COMING, BUT THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. TKWOPBT GET -- DON'T GET ME WRONG, ALSO IN THIS DISTRICT WE TAKE PHENOMENA THAT ARE OCCURRING OTHER PLACES AND BEAT OURSELVES UP, NOT REALIZING PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING. I TALKED TO SOMEBODY WHO LOST 700 STUDENTS. THEY ANTICIPATED HAVING THEM AND DIDN'T HAVE.

THEY ARE BIGGER THAN US WHERE IT IS NOT AS IMPACTFUL. 400 IS GREATER BECAUSE OF OUR SIZE. THIS IS WHERE I JUST CAME FROM, AND IT IS BAD BECAUSE OF THE COST OF LIVING. HOW CAN WE MANAGE THE SITUATION? THIS IS A THING THAT OCCURS IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES DEALING WITH THAT. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT AND ALREADY THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS AS WELL. CONSEQUENTLY AFTER THAT, WE HAVE TO BASICALLY REASSIGN TEACHERS, CONSOLIDATE CLASSROOMS AS WE DID, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE. WE WILL HAVE SOME ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE LOSS IN REVENUE.

THIS IS DUE TO ENROLLMENT AND CAPACITY AND THE DUAL IMMERSION PROGRAM THEY WANT TO DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. AOLT -- ANOTHER QUESTION I'M GOING TO ASK IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO CONDUCT THE ORGANIZATION THAT IS NOT DISRUPTIVE TO THE FAMILIES? THERE IS AND I WILL PROPOSE THAT TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE ARE -- WHEN I EXPLAIN IT TO YOU, YOU WILL SEE IF I DO THIS, THIS IS POSSIBLY ANOTHER REACTION.

THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME UPSET PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION TOGETHER.

SO I'M GONNA CALL THESE TWO APPROACHES THE WAITING GAME. THIS IS MY OWN TERM.

DON'T GOOGLE IT. THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE. YOU WON'T FIND IT.

AND EARLY COMMITMENT. IN THE WAITING GAME, WE COULD KEEP DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. IT IS A WAITING GAME. THIS HELPS US TO SEE WHO IS GOING TO SCHOOL AND WHO ISN'T. FIRST WE MAKE SURE STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE AREA HAVE A SPOT IN THE SCHOOLS. THAT'S WHAT WE DO NOW. IF YOU LIVE IN THE AREA, YOU HAVE A SPOT. THEN WE ADD STUDENTS WHO COME FROM OTHER PLACES.

THE PROBLEM IS THE METHOD TAKES SOME TIME. IT IS WHAT I JUST GOT THROUGH DESCRIBING. THE COMMITMENT IS A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

WE ARE DOGGED ABOUT GETTING COMMITMENT FROM FAMILIES AND COMMITMENT MARCH TO JUNE 15TH. AND WHOEVER COMMITTED FROM JUNE TPEF TEENTH, THAT IS -- JUNE 15TH. IRRESPECTIVE IF YOU ARE A TRANSFER STUDENT OR A STUDENT THAT IS A RESIDENT IN A CERTAIN AREA. TELL US IF YOU ARE HERE OR NOT.

ANYBODY THAT COMES AFTER THAT DEADLINE, THEN WE WOULD SAY YOU GO TO WHERE THERE IS ROOM AND OPPORTUNITY AND THE BALANCING OCCURS IN THAT WAY. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE POSSIBILITIES OCCUR AND YOU ARE DOING THIS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN AFTER THE DEADLINE.

I NEED SOME TEACHING HERE AND I'M NOT GOING TO TEACH THERE TO BALANCE -- SO THOSE ARE THE TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT PEOPLE TAKE. OURS ARE MORE DIFFICULT, SMALL SCHOOLS, TRANSIENCY AND THE SIZE OF THE SCHOOLS WE RUN. THOSE ARE THE TWO WAYS AND WHAT

[01:00:01]

WE ARE GOING TO START A CONVERSATION IN TWO WEEKS. I WILL HAVE A GAME PLAN AND THEY REQUIRE BOARD POLICY CHANGES AS WELL AS CHANGES THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN TERMS OF PHONE CALLS AND REORGANIZING THE DISTRICT STAFF TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO TAKE THOSE ON.

I I WOULD NEED PERMISSION TO SAY WE WILL TAKE ONE OF THE APPROACHES.

SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR REORGANIZATION. I HOPE TO PROVIDE MORE EDUCATION ABOUT THIS AND I HOPE PEOPLE DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL. WE HAVE TO MANAGE THIS DISTRICT AND WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD ON SOME OF THESE THINGS AND CONTINUE TO GROW AS A DISTRICT. I'M VERY POSITIVE WE CAN. I THINK THIS PLACE CAN BE SPECIAL, BUT WE MIGHT HAVE TO GO THROUGH GROWING PAINS TO GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

LASTLY, THE ONLY OTHER THING I'LL TALK ABOUT -- >> DR. DRATTI, REAL QUICK, COULD YOU ENTERTAIN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BOARD ABOUT RE-ORG.

>> I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE TO D, YOU CAN DO CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AND LIMIT IT -- OTHERWISE IT

WILL GO INTO THE SECOND ITEM AND WE DIDN'T SCHEDULE -- >> WHAT I AM HEARING IS A LOT OF VARIABLES GO INTO RE-ORG, BUT THE MAIN ARE DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND TRANSIECY.

THE SITES DID HAVE OPTIONS AND THE SITES MADE THE DECISIONS, AND IT WASN'T YOU TELLING THEM WHAT THEY HAD TO DO. THEY HAD KWHOEUSS, CORRECT? -- CHOICES, CORRECT?

>> YES. THAT'S HOW I OPERATE. I LIKE GETTING PEOPLE TO DEFINE DECISIONS. YOU HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO WORK WITHIN HERE AND GAVE THEM

AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. >> THANK YOU. YOU CAN CONTINUE.

>> IN TERMS OF OTHER BUSINESS, STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING ELECTED RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE NOT HERE. I THINK WE HAVE ONE DONE.

BELLFLOWER IS READY. I THINK MAYFAIR AND SOMERSET IS GETTING SITUATED.

ONCE THAT IS DONE WE ARE WORKING ON A TRAINING. I AM WORKING ON A PAMPHLET.

ONCE WRAOE HAVE THAT -- ONCE WE HAVE THAT WE WILL TRAIN THEM AND GET THEM READY.

I HOPE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO WE CAN START TO BRING THEM ON BOARD.

THAT CONCLUDES THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. >> THANK YOU.

[10. DISCUSSION ITEMS]

PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT? >> YES WE DO. WE HAVE THREE DISCUSSION ITEMS I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. AVILA TO GIVE THE BOARD INFORMATION ON THE FIRST

READING OF BOARD POLICY 5113: ABSENCES AND EXCUSES. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE PRIOR BOARD MEETING WHICH TOOK PLACE TWO WEEKS AGO SET THE STAGE FOR LOOKING AT VARIOUS DATA POINTS.

ONE OF THE DATA SETS THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS STUDENT ATTENDANCE.

WE SAW CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS FACED BY MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE RATE WAS 10.10%.

WHEREAS IN 2021 AND 2022 THE CHRONIC ABSENTEE RATE INCREASED TO 28%.

MOVING FORWARD AND OFFERING SERVICES TO THE STUDENTS, WE NEED TO LOOK UP OUR BOARD POLICY WHICH PROVIDES GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION. THIS BOARD POLICY THAT I WILL BE SPEAKING ON PROVIDES A FOCUS AROUND STUDENT ATTENDANCE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. THERE ARE NOT MANY REVISIONS. BUT AS I SAID EARLIER, AS WE LOOK AT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, WE WANT TO ALWAYS REFLECT ON OUR BOARD POLICIES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE UP-TO-DATE AND CURRENT AND WE CAN PROVIDE THEM TO SCHOOLS SO THEY CAN IMPLEMENT THE BOARD POLICIES AND OUR ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS AND UP-TO-DATE PROCEDURES.

IN THIS AREA, AND REALLY LOOKING AT THIS PARTICULAR BOARD POLICY TALKING ABOUT EXCUSED ABSENCES WE ARE MAKING A SMALL REVISION OF -- AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND COST PARTICIPATION ARE INTEGRAL PARTS OF STUDENT LEARNING EXPERIENCES.

PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ARE HERE IN SCHOOL HOURS. THANK YOU.

THE SECOND ITEM, THE STUDENT SHALL NOT BE ABSENT WITHOUT THEIR PARENT, OR GUARDIAN'S KNOWLEDGE EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF MEDICAL EMERGENCIES PURSUANT TO EDUCATION CODE 46,010.1 FOR CONFIDENTIAL MEASURES. SO THOSE ARE THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER. REALLY, THIS LIKE I SAID AS A WHOLE, THE BOARD POLICY IN

[01:05:02]

DOES THE BOARD HAVE INPUT? >> BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG? >> SO WHAT IS GOING TO BE IN PLACE WHEN THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT IS JUST NOT POSSIBLE FOR PARENTS TO --

OR FAMILIES TO ADHERE TO THESE POLICIES. >> LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, MS. ARMSTRONG. THIS BOARD POLICY SPECIFICALLY WILL SPEAK TO WHAT ARE CONSIDERED EXCUSED AND NOT EXCUSED ABSENCES.

THE ADMINISTRATOR OF REGULATION ALLOWS FOR DECEMBER -- DISCRETION AT OUR SITE. AS WE WORK THROUGH THE PROGRESSION AND HOLD FAMILIES ACCOUNTABLE WE DO OUT REACH TO REMOVE BARRIERS AND FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE NOT COMING TO SCHOOL. IF NEED BE WE PROVIDE INTERVENTIONS AND UPLT MATILY

-- ULTIMATELY IT WILL BE SPOKEN TO IN THE NEXT ITEM. >> YES.

AND THEN SO WHEN STUDENTS ARE OUT, HOW ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE

PARENTS KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. >> THAT'S WHERE OUR SCHOOL CLERKS DO A GREAT JOB IN CALLING FAMILIES TO WHENEVER STUDENTS ARE OUT. THEY CONTINUOUSLY CALL FAMILIES AND THEY CAN FIND A REASON AND THAT'S WHERE THEN FAMILIES, IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF THEM, THEY DO RECEIVE THE AUTOMATED NOTIFICATIONS AND THEN ON THE ATTENDANCE ON THE REPORT CARDS AND IT HAS ATTENDANCE. WE CAN TRY TO INFORM FAMILIES

IN MULTIPLE WAYS THAT WHEN YOUR STUDENT IS ABSENT. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. BOARD MEMBER ELHESSEN?

>> THANK YOU. I WAS READING AND THE HIGHEST ABSENTEEISM IS IN A CHRONIC STATE, LIKE COVID. THEY IDENTIFY BY SPECIFIC GROUPS.

I WAS WONDERING IF THAT WAS PART OF OUR -- I WANTED TO FIND OUT IF THINGS COINCIDE WITH US.

NEARLY EVERY GROUP HAD A HIGHER RATE OF ABSENTEEISM. THE HIGHEST RATE WAS AMONG KINDERGARTENERS AND THE HIGHEST WAS BLACK, PACIFIC ISLANDERS OR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES HAD RATES OF 50%. I JUST WANT TO -- I JUST WANTED A MENTAL FRAMEWORK.

HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO OUR STUDENT BASE ABSENTEEISM. >> OUR DATA IS CONSISTENT TO THOSE. WE DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE PACIFIC HAWAIIANS POPULATION AND WE DID NOTIFY -- AS WE LOOKED AT THE DATA FROM OUR LAST PRESENTATION THERE IS A SPECIAL PAP LAYINGS

AND CONSISTENT TO WHAT YOU ALSO IDENTIFIED. >> KINDER IS USUALLY CONSISTENT WITH ATTENDANCE. THAT WAS ONE OF THE GROUPS WE WERE TRYING TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC ATTENTION TO. WHILE AT KINDER, SOME OF THEM ARE NOT SIX YET, LAW IS TAKING PLACE AT SIX. WE WANT OUT REACH AND WE KNOW THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT MAY DECIDE TO KEEP THEIR CHILD HOME FOR WHATEVER THE REASON MAY BE AND WHATEVER WE TRY TO ACTIVELY

ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO BRING KIDS TO SCHOOL. >> SOMETHING I THOUGHT OF WAS WHAT WE ALL FEAR IS THIS IS THE NEW NORMAL. AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT

REALLY HIT HOME IN REGARDS TO WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. >> AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE

[01:10:03]

WE RECOGNIZE STUDENTS ARE SICK OR ILL. PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL.

REPORT YOUR ABSENCE. WE WANT TO DO MORE ADDITIONAL OUT REACH.

MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE ON TIME AND THERE EVERY DAY. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, DR. ELHESSEN. >> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER ELHESSEN.

BOARD MEMBER STEWART? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO.

>> BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD? >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AS IT PERTAINS TO ATTENDANCE, ARE THERE ANY -- WERE THERE ANY POLICIES DURING THE COVID YEARS THAT WOULD CHANGE AND STILL EXIST TODAY OR DID THE POLICIES STAY THE SAME AND WHAT IS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE.

>> THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, THAT CODE. CERTAIN REASONS WHERE IT CAN BE EXCUSED. QUARANTINE WAS ALWAYS ONE, BUT WE NEVER HAD TO EXPERIENCE THA.

IT IS IN THERE AS AN ALLOWABLE EXCUSED ABSENCE. HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD THAT FOR YEARS. I HAVE ALWAYS -- 2003 -- WE NEVER USED IT.

WE USED THE QUARANTINE CODE TO KNOW WHEN A STUDENT WAS ABSENT. >> WE HAVE VARIOUS ATTENDANCE COATED -- CODES AND IT IS MARKED BY THE REASON THE PARENT REPORTS THE ABSENCE.

IF IT IS A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WE REPORT IT AS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE.

IF IT IS DUE TO A QUARANTINE, WE DO HAVE AN ATTENDANCE CODE FOR THAT.

THEN WE RUN OUR DATA AND WE CAN SAY HOW MANY WERE ABSENT FOR THIS REASON AND THIS REASON AND

ARE UNDER QUARANTINE. >> YOU KNOW I WILL ASK YOU TO DO WORK NOW.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET THAT DATA? I WOULD BE KWAOUR YOUS -- CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE AND SPECIFICALLY QUARANTINE AND HOW THAT HAS

DROPPED. >> TO CLARIFY IT IS THE 21-22 SCHOOL DAY -- DATA OR NARROW

DOWN THE SCOPE? >> I WOULD SAY LAST YEAR'S DATA.

>> YES. >> GREAT. >> BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD?

>> I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HANDBOOK. DOES IT HAVE THE DEAF -- THE

DEFINITION OF EXCUSED AND UNEXCUSED AND EXAMPLES? >> OUR NOTIFICATION HAS INFORMATION ON AB SEASONS -- ABSENCES TO BE AWAREFUL. AWARE OF.

I AM NOT SURE THE PARENTS READ THE NOTIFICATION BOOK. I KNOW I AM GUILTY OF THAT AS A PARENT. I KNOW WE ARE DOING DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TO OUT REACH AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IS EXCUSED AND WHAT IS NOT EXCUSED AND TO DO MORE OUT REACHING AND PARENT

AWARENESS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT LEG WORK TO HELP OUR STUDENTS AND FARE TAEPL -- THEIR FAMILIES. I ALSO AGREE WITH DR. ELHESSEN THAT WE NEED TO BE VIGILANT AS TO HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTING OUR MINORITY GROUPS, SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR FOSTER YOUTH AND THE GROUPS THAT WE SAW IN OUR LAST MEETING.

A LOT OF TIMES IT IS NOT NECESSARILY THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE HERE.

IT IS THE FACT THAT MAYBE THEY CAN'T GET HERE. AND HOW ARE WE AT OUR DISTRICT -- AT OUR SCHOOL SITES OPENING OUR CAMPUSES AND HAVING THOSE WELCOMING FACES ON OUR CAMPUSES SO PARENTS CAN COME AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? MY CHILD HAS BEEN ABSENT FOR SO LONG AND THIS IS WHY. WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO SOMETHING THAT IS KIND OF NEGATIVE WHICH I'M SURE YOU ALL THOUGHT ABOUT AS WELL. I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE MAYBE AN UPDATE AS SOON AS MAYBE A QUARTERLY UPDATE AND THAT'S HIGHWAY -- THAT'S HOW WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THE GROUPS FOR OUR DISTRICT, PLEASE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR

COMMENTS? >> I DO HAVE ONE MORE CONCERN. SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE -- THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME TO SCHOOL THAT ARO STAY HOME, BUT REALLY NOT THAT SICK. DURING COVID WE HAD POLICY THAT SUPPORT HOME LEARNING.

[01:15:08]

>> YES. MS. CARTER DID PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO OUR PRINCIPALS.

WE HAVE THE USE OF INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR SHORT-TERM PURPOSES AND WE HAVE THE LONG-TERM INDEPENDENT STUDY OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES. MS. CARTER, I DON'T KNOW IF

THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? >> NO.

WE JUST KNEW IT WAS AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO RE-- TO REMIND OUR PRINCIPALS THAT INDEPENDENT STUDY LAWS HAVE NOT CHANGED AND THEY ARE STILL IN PLACE.

>> PERFECT. THANK YOU. >> AND WE ALSO HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL OUT THERE, LASS FLORES -- LAS FLORES. I WAS LOOKING AT DATA PRE COVID AND AFTER COVID AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE A LOT OF STUDENTS LIKE TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY. THE NUMBERS HAVE GROWN THERE. THEY DO WONDERFUL WORK OVER

THERE. >> ONE OTHER QUESTION. BUT IF THE STUDENT -- BECAUSE THAT CURRICULUM IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, THEN WHAT IS REALLY OFFERED.

AND SO IF A STUDENT IS GOING TO CHOOSE TO DO LAS FLORES, WHAT TIME -- TIME FRAME WOULD THEY

NEED TO ADHERE TO. >> WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT LAS FLOREZ, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO THINGS HERE. A CHILD IS SICK AND THEY ARE GONNA BE OUT AND THEY ARE GONNA BE OUT MORE THAN THREE DAYS, THAT CAN BE AN INDEPENDENT STUDY.

YOU ARE NOT CHANGING SCHOOLS OR DOING THAT. >> HE BROUGHT UP LAS FLORES.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A DIFFERENT CURRICULUM. OUR FULL ONLINE STUDENTS DO, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THE SYNCHRONOUS TIME WHERE THEY CONNECTED AND WE HAVE THE STUDENTS THAT ARE THERE THREE DAYS A WEEK AND ENRICHMENT. A GREAT PROGRAM.

BUT YES YOU'RE RIGHT. THERE ARE TWO THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

>> GREAT. >> THANK YOU. OF -- THANK YOU.

I'M GOING TO MOVE ON. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE BOARD POLICY PERTAINING TO STUDENT ABSENCES AND WE ARE TRANSITIONING NOW TO TALK ABOUT BOARD POLICY 5,113.12, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REVIEW BOARD, SARB. AND I WILL PROVIDE UPDATES REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

IN THIS MATTER, THE DISTRICT HAS PARTICIPATED AND PARTNERED WITH SARB.

WE PARTNERED TO CONDUCT SARB HEARINGS FOR ELIGIBLE FAMILIES REFERRED.

THIS IS A NEW POLICY THAT HAS BEEN PUT OUT FOR DISTRICTS. WE DON'T HAVE THE CURRENT POLICY SO THIS WOULD BE A NEW ADDITION THAT WE ARE REQUESTING THE BOARD TO CONSIDER FOR ADOPTION. IT IS GOING TO MATCH OUR PRACTICE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THAT. NOW WE HAVE A POLICY THAT SUPPORTS THE WORK WE DO AS PART OF THE SARB PROCESS. ESSENTIALLY SARB SHALL MAINTAIN CONTINUAL INVENTORY OF RESOURCES INCLUDING ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES PROGRAMS. IT IS FROM PARENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES INCLUDING AND NOT LIMITED TO PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND COUNTY WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, STAFF, LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY-BASED YOUTH SERVICES, SCHOOL GUIDANCE PERSONNEL, CHILD WELFARE AND ATTENDANCE PERSONNEL, HEALTHCARE, MENTAL HEALTH, DISTRICT ATTORNEY REPRESENTATIVES AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS. THOSE ARE ALL POSSIBLE STAKEHOLDERS WHO WANT TO BE PART OF THE SARB PROCESS AND WILL HEAR CASES AND PROVIDE REMEDIES TO ADDRESS POOR ATTENDANCE. ULTIMATELY RECOMMEND SOLUTIONS TO FAMILIES THAT ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH. ESSENTIALLY THE GOAL OF SARB IS TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE AND BEHAVIOR THROUGH PRO ACTIVE EFFORTS AND FOCUS ON BUILDING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS AND IMPROVING SCHOOL CONNECTEDNESS. I KNOW WHEN I WAS PART OF SARBS IN THE PAST, OUR GOAL WAS NOT JUST TO ISSUE CONSEQUENCES, BUT RATHER FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON, REMOVE BARRIERS AND GET STUDENTS AND FAMILIES REENGAGED IN LEARNING.

YES, CONSEQUENCES MAY BE ISSUED AND COULD LEAD TO FURTHER CONSEQUENCES, BUT THE GOAL IS TO REENGAGE FAMILIES AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE ENTERTAINING SCHOOLS ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. OUR DISTRICT SARB SHALL OPERATE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF EDUCATION CODE WHICH IS LISTED ABOVE. AS PART OF THIS WE SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORTS TO OUR COUNTY OFFICE REGARDING SARB REFERRALS. THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN INCLUDE TO THE BOARD AND PROVIDING THE INFORMATION AS FAR AS HOW MANY STUDENTS WE REFER TO SARB.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALSO PROVIDE THE BOARD. JUST TO SUMMARIZE AGAIN, WE ARE

[01:20:05]

BACKS UP WHAT WE ARE DOING IN OUR DISTRICT. >> THANK YOU.

BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? >> SO, LOOKING AT THE THIRD BULLET AND IT SAYS -- OKAY. I'M JUST GONNA ASK THE QUESTION.

HOW ARE YOU THINKING A WAY TO SUPPORT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO IMPROVE THE STUDENT ATTENDANCE WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO USE TO SET THE KIDS UP? WE ARE MENTIONING MENTAL HEALTH LIKE WHAT IS OUT THERE THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY USE TO HELP ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO COME TO

SCHOOL? >> WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT OF SARB, IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU ARE PLACED ON A CONTRACT. YOU HAVE TO ADHERE TO THESE REQUIREMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE COUNSELING, IF THAT'S ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS PLACED ON THE SARB CONTRACT, THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD ASK FAMILIES TO HELP ENSURE THAT THEIR CHILD ATTENDS THOSE COUNSELING SESSIONS, THAT THEY ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THE THINGS WE ARE ASKING OF THEM. IF THEY DON'T, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO MORE CONSEQUENCES. THE ISSUE WITH COUNSELING IS IT HAS TO BE VOLUNTEER -- VOLUNTARY. THEY HAVE TO WANT TO SEE THE THERAPIST AND TALK TO THE THERAPIST AND SHARE THESE THINGS. SOME MAY NOT WANT TO DO THAT.

WE WANT TO ULTIMATELY IDENTIFY BARRIERS AND OFFER REMEDIES, BUT ALSO TRY TO FIND WAYS AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING TO IS INCENTI SRAOEUDZING -- INCENTIVIZING AND PHOET -- MOTIVATING STUDENTS. IT IS ONE OF THOSE WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS AND WHAT CAN WE OFFER? WHAT I LOVE ABOUT SARB, UNFORTUNATELY WHEN WE GET THERE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS WITH DIFFERENT LENSES. A LENS FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH AND THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. WE SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND WE CAN OFFER DIFFERENT

REMEDIES. >> THE REASON I AM ASKING IS BECAUSE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT AS A DISTRICT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING GOALS FOR OUR STUDENTS FOR A STPAOU -- FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.

I CAN FORWARD SOME INFORMATION TO YOU SO WE CAN BE PROACTIVE. TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND TO FEEL LIKE WE CARE MORE. A LOT OF TIMES WE HEAR, OH, YOU KNOW, THE STUDENTS ARE ACTING OUT. THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS OH WELL THE COUNSELOR DOESN'T CARE. SO I'LL BE GETTING WITH YOU WITH SOME THINGS SO WE CAN BE PROACTIVE AS A DISTRICT FOR THE STUDENTS. THAT'S IT.

>> THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. BOARD -- BOARD MEMBER ELHESSEN.

>> THANK YOU. I MEAN, THIS LOOKS FINE TO ME, BUT ARE CONSEQUENCES GOING TO BE DELIVER AT THE SITE, OR ARE THE CONSEQUENCES COMING FROM THE DISTRICT?

>> SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONSEQUENCES. AT A SCHOOL SITE THEY CAN ISSUE CONSEQUENCES AND POSSIBLY A DETENTION FOR MISSING SCHOOL. THEY ALSO CAN PUT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ON WHAT IS CALLED A SART CONTRACT. THAT'S A CONSEQUENCE.

THAT RESTRICTS THINGS AND PARENTS AND BRINGS AWARENESS OF WHAT WE ARE ASKING AND EXPECTING FOR YOU TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH. STUDENTS CAN LOSE PRIVILEGES AT SCHOOL SITES. THOSE ARE SCHOOL-BASED CONSEQUENCES THAT THEY CAN DELIVER. ONCE WE GET TO THE DISTRICT LEVEL, THAT'S WHEN WEE -- THAT'S WHEN WE CAN IMPOSE DIFFERENT CONSEQUENCES. A SARB CAN PLACE A STUDENT AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL. THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE CAN IMPOSE AS PART OF THAT.

ULTIMATELY BEYOND THE DISTRICT THERE ARE OTHER CONSEQUENCES THAT THEY CAN ISSUE A STUDENT

AND FAMILIES. >> RIGHT. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR POPULATIONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES. FOR EXAMPLE OUR FOSTER YOUTH BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR PARENTS, WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE FOSTER PARENT? ARE THERE ANY? THIS IS ONE OF THE CHRONIC GROUPS, AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO SAY GET UP AND GO TO SCHOOL AND MAYBE THE FOSTER PARENTS ARE OFF TO SCHOOL AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IS -- BUT THERE IS NOT A MOTIVATION FOR THAT POPULATION.

[01:25:08]

HOW WILL WE SUPPORT THAT STUDENT. >> THE CASE OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE FOSTER YOUTH, WE WILL WORK WITH THE FOSTER PARENT. WE WOULD ALSO THEN CONNECT WITH THE FOSTER YOUTH SOCIAL WORKER TO SEE IF WE CAN REENGAGE THE YOUTH AND ALSO WORK WITH THE FOSTER PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALSO SUPPORTING THE STUDENT WITH COMING TO SCHOOL.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN OUT REACH TO -- OUT REACH TO THE FAMILIES OR THE FOSTER PARENTS AND EVEN THE SOCIAL WORKERS TO TRY TO HELP GET THE STUDENTS TO SCHOOL.

THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO IN THAT AREA. >> AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION IS YOU ARE AB -- ABSENT AND MISSING SCHOOL AND MISSING ASSIGNMENTS AND MISSING CREDITS. SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO CREDIT RECOVERY? ARE WE ALL GOING TO OFFER LAS FLORES ARE WE GONNA OFFER SOMERSET? ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE STUDENT OPTIONS OR DOES THE DISTRICT AND THE PARENT

DECIDE AT THAT POINT? >> THAT GOES BACK TO THE PRE-INTERVENTIONS THAT THE STUDENT DOES. IF THE STUDENT FALLS BEHIND THEY WILL WORK WITH THE COUNSELORS AND THEY WILL BE OPTIONS. IT DOES ALLOW FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO CREDIT RE -- CREDIT RECOVERY. WE HAVE OUR CONTINUATION SCHOOL THAT HELPS WITH RECOVERY AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT AVENUES. WE HAVE SOCCER SCHOOL PROGRAMS -- WE HAVE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. WE HAVE OPTIONS AND THEY CAN

GRADUATE ON TIME. >> I THINK THOSE WERE MY MAIN CONCERNS.

I FELT THERE WERE GAPS. IF THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED BE SIDES -- BESIDES IN REGARDS TO OUR OWN DISTRICT POLICY, THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER ELHESSEN. BOARD MEMBER STEWART?

>> NO. I UNDERSTAND THIS POLICY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD? >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. DID WE EVER -- DO WE EVER ASK STUDENTS WHO ARE CHRONICALLY ABSENT WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO SCHOOL? IF WE SURVEYED IT, WOULD IT JUST BE IT IS BORING AT THE TOP?

>> WEE -- WE HAVE DIFFERENT SURVEYS AND THE DAY TAU GIVES US INFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL CLIMATE. AND SO WE DO HAVE THAT DATA THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE BOARD JUST TO LET THEM KNOW HOW OUR STUDENTS, HOW THEY ARE PROCEEDING DID -- PROCEEDING AND HOW THEY ARE DOING ON CAMPUS. THAT'S WHERE THEY INCORPORATE THE DATA AS PART OF THE ACTION PLAN, AS PART OF THEIR SCHOOL PLANS.

WE ARE USING IT AS DATA INDICATORS. WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY. ONE OF THE ITEMS IS PANORAMA. WE USE THE DATA TO HELP GUIDE.

>> I LIKE IT. WERE YOU ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION ABOUT WHY YOU --

WHY KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL? >> YEAH.

WITH THE CHRONICALLY ABSENT STUDENTS IN GENERAL, LIKE FINDING OUT WHY.

>> SO WHEN A STUDENT -- SO AT A SARB MEETING AT THE SCHOOL SITE, THE PRINCIPAL, THE COUNSELORS AND THE VARIOUS TEAMS, THE STUDENT AND THE PARENT WOULD BE PART OF THAT.

TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON. WHY AREN'T YOU GOING TO SCHOOL. THERE ARE VARIOUS RESPONSES.

I MAY NOT BE MOTIVATED OR STRUGGLING WITH THIS OR UNFORTUNATE LIVING.

OUR HOUSING SITUATION, THERE MAY BE SOMETHING GOING ON THERE.

THERE IS A VARIETY OF REASONS. THAT'S WHERE OUR COUNSELORS AND OUR SERVICE WORKERS TRY TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT, AND THEN AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL EVEN AT SARB IT IS A QUESTION ASKED. TELL US WHY YOU ARE NOT COMING TO SCHOOL AND THEN TRY TO IDENTIFY IT. OFFER SOLUTIONS TO HELP ADDRESS THAT.

>> WHAT YOU ASK IS VERY IMPORTANT. AS WE GET INTO THE DATA A PART OF WHAT I'M GOING TO BE ASKING WHETHER IT IS ACHIEVEMENT OR THESE PARTICULAR GROUPS WE ARE WORKING WITH, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOME KIND OF A CONVERSATION WITH THEM TO GET QUALITATIVE DATA. WE NEED THAT INFORMATION IN ORDER TO RESPOND.

OTHERWISE IT IS -- TALKING TO THEM PERSONALLY WILL GIVE THEM MORE INFORMATION TOO.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH THE DATA, I ASSUME THAT DIFFERENT CATEGORIES MAY HAVE DIFFERENT REASONS, BUT EPL TPAU SIGH -- EMPHASIZES -- EMPHASIZING THINGS LIKE SPORTS.

[01:30:06]

ONCE I JOINED THE WRESTLING TEAM, THERE WAS SOMETHING THEY COULD TAKE AWAY THAT I WANTED SO IT WAS A SENSE OF PURPOSE ON CAMPUS AND THAT'S IMPORTANT WHETHER IT IS A CLUB OR ATHLETICS. I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT CAN MOTIVATE.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD. THAT IS A GREAT POINT.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STUDIES DONE THAT WHEN KIDS DO ENGAGE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

THEY TEND TO COME TO SCHOOL MORE OFTEN. >> WHEN WE DO THE SURVEY WE ASK WHY YOU COME TO SCHOOL AND IT IS CLUBS, SCHOOLS -- FRIENDS, TEACHERS.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION AND I BELIEVE IT WILL GO TO GENERAL COUNCIL.

SORRY TO BROADSIDE YOU, AND IF YOU NEED TIME TO GATHER THE INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE GREAT. MY QUESTION PERTAINS TO, IT SAYS SARB SHALL OPERATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CODE. THAT'S WHERE THAT RESIDES AND LIVES.

ALSO THE BROWN ACT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE OF ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THOSE TWO. IF THERE ARE, WHERE AND WHICH ONE WOULD PREVAIL?

WOULD IT BE EDUCATION EDUCATION CODE OR THE BROWN ACT? >> I CAN HELP WITH THAT INITIALLY. WHAT MOST DO IS AS PART OF THE BROWN THERE ARE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS SUCH AS THE POSTING OF YOUR AGENDA. THE NOTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE HOLDING A HEARING. THERE ARE CERTAIN ELEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE ADHERED TO.

OUR DISTRICT IS ALSO WORKING WITH PARAMOUNT TO SEE HOW WILL WE COMPLY WITH THAT? ARE WE POSTING OEUR AGENDAS IN -- OUR AGENDAS IN ADVANCE? ARE WE MEETING THE 72-HOUR NOTIFICATION. WE DON'T PUT THE STUDENTS NAMES WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SARB, BUT AS THE AGENDA WE PUT THE CASES THAT WILL BE HEARD AND THAT IS POSTED AND NOTIFIED AS PART OF WHERE WE HOLD THE HEARINGS. WE DO MEET THOSE ELEMENTS.

THE EDUCATION CODE THAT IS REFERENCED HERE GIVES THE DISTRICT AND THE SARB THE AUTHORITY TO HOLD THE SARB HEARING TO ISSUE A CONTRACT AND WE GO TO TRUANCY AND THEN COURT. IF -- IT HAS TO DO WITH THE NOTIFICATION SKP-SZ THE POSTINF THE AGENDAS AND MAKING SURE WE ARE COMPLYING WITH THAT PART OF THE BROWN ACT.

>> AS FAR AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FURTHER RESEARCH BECAUSE IT AFFECT -- COULD AFFECT THE MEMBERS WHO SIT ON THE SARB. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BROWN ACT AND TRANSPARENCY AND POSTING IS THE DELIBERATION, IS DISCUSSION AND THAT IT BE MAINTAINED IN THE MEETINGS AND NO OUTSIDE DISCUSSION. AND THEN TO ANSWER WHICH PRIORITIZES OVER THE OTHER I CAN ANSWER THAT WITH ADDITIONAL RESEARCH TOO.

>> THANK YOU. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU.

AND ALSO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WHEN THIS GOES INTO EFFECT , IT IS ACTUALLY MORE -- IT IS FURTHER DOWN THE LINE. IT IS NOT NECESSARILY LIKE THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME THAT THE

ABSENCES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO. >> THERE IS A PROCESS BEFORE A STUDENT GETS TO SARB.

>> AND ONE MORE AND THE DISTRICT -- THE BOARD SHALL APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE DISTRICT SARB. SO CAN THE BOARD MEMBERS APPOINT TO THE SARB?

IF SO HOW DOES THAT PROCESS HAPPEN? >> WE WILL HAVE TO REVISIT THE SECTION. THAT IS A OPTION WHERE THE BOARD CAN APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE BOARD I'M SORRY. MEMBERS TO THE SARB. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE A SARB PANEL THAT EXISTS ALREADY AND THERE WOULDN'T BE THE NEED FOR THE BOARD TO APPOINT SOMEBODY

TO THE SARB PANEL. >> IF I CAN, ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY SITTING ON

THAT BOARD, WERE THEY APPOINTED BY THAT BOARD AT THE TIME? >> TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD HAVE NOT BEEN APPOINTED BY OUR BOARD NOR PARA-- PARAMOUNT BOARD.

[01:35:09]

>> SO IT IS A COMBINED BOARD BETWEEN PARAMOUNT AND BELLFLOWER? I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERJECT. SO THERE -- WHEN THERE IS

TURNOVER, IN TIME, HOW ARE THEY REPLACED? >> THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO DO MORE RESEARCH ON. USUALLY IN MY EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT THEY HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO WORK AS PART OF THE SARB.

THEY WILL ASSIGN SOMEBODY FOR THAT POSITION. >> A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.

SO IT IS PROBATION -- PROBATIONARY AND IT IS PEOPLE IN HEALTHCARE.

IS THAT WHO COMPRISES THE BOARD? SOCIAL AND WELFARE ATTENDANCE

PERSONNEL? >> LET ME SEE IF SHE HAS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT

THE SARB PANEL MAKE UP. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA MAKE THE BEST ATTEMPT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. I HAVE BEEN ON A SARB PANEL BEFORE AS A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND NOW THAT I'M SERVING FOR BELLFLOWER UNIFIED AS THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR OVERSEEING ATTENDANCE, I AM SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE SARB PANEL. I SPOKE WITH PARAMOUNT UNIFIED THIS MORNING.

PREVIOUSLY PARAMOUNT UNIFIED, BELLFLOWER UNIFIED AND DOWNEY UNIFIED WERE TOGETHER ON THE SARB -- IT IS LIKE AN IDENTIFIEDING -- IDENTIFYING CODE.

# 20B. THEY WERE A TEAM. AND THEN DOWNEY SPLIT APART FROM THE GROUP. NOW IT IS JUST PARAMOUNT AND US.

THE SARB HEARINGS ARE HELD WITH MEMBERS FROM PARAMOUNT UNIFIED AND BELLFLOWER UNIFIED TOGETHER. USUALLY IT IS DISTRICT ADMINISTRATE ARES AND CASE --

ADMINISTRATORS AND CASE WORKERS WHO HAVE A CHILD IN ATTENDANCE. >> SO SINCE WE SERVE CERRITOS AND LAKEWOOD, WHY DON'T WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THOSE AREAS?

>> EVERY DISTRICT OPERATES DIFFERENTLY. FOR EXAMPLE, MY PRIOR DISTRICT, IT WAS ONE DISTRICT WHO IS THEIR OWN SARB PANEL. THEY CAN APPOINT WHOEVER THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT. IN BELLFLOWER, WE COLLABORATE WITH PARAMOUNT TO HOLD A SARB, SO IT GIVES A WIDER PERSPECTIVE AND SOMETIMES SOME DISTRICTS AREN'T ABLE TO REFER ENOUGH STUDENTS AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOR SALB.

SARB! YOU CAN BETTER SUPPORT STUDENTS.

>> MY LINE OF THOUGHT IS WE ARE SERVING POPULATIONS IN THE DISTRICTS, BUT WE ARE NOT SERVING STUDENTS FROM PARAMOUNT OR DOWNEY. SAID -- SO WE WHOA -- WE WOULD BE MORE IN TUNE WITH LAKEWOOD OR SAW -- CERRITOS BECAUSE WE SERVICE THOSE AREAS.

>> ABC MAY HAVE THEIR EXISTING SARB. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE PART OF

YOUR OWN SARB OR PARTNER WITH A DISTRICT OF THE SARB PROCESS. >> BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION.

OKAY. >> JUST ONE MORE THOUGHT, IT SAYS THAT THE -- IT WAS LAST REVIEWED AUGUST 18TH. IS THAT AN OVER SIGHT? THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF

THIS, RIGHT? >> THIS ONE, THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN OVER SIGHT.

THIS IS A NEW POLICY. >> SO I WOULD LIKE TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE POLICIES.

IF IT IS NOT COURT APPOINTED SEATS ON THE BOARD YOU SHOULD CHANGE IT.

>> RIGHT. LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

>> THIS IS OUR NEW POLICY? >> YES. >> WOULD IT BE A RECOMMENDATION

TO CHANGE THAT? >> CORRECT. AND SO THE ONE I HAVE THAT I AM NOT SURE HOW THE BOARD HAS IS THE ONE THAT IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE LANGUAGE WHRER -- WHERE THE BOARD SHALL APPOINT. THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD REVISE AND BRING BACK.

[01:40:07]

>> I WOULD WANT TO APPOINT. >> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION.

>> I THINK -- WHAT DO YOU THINK, WITH I WILL YES, MA'AM? >> THE BOARD WILL GIVE DIRECTION TO THE STAFF, BUT ULTIMATELY THERE MAY NOT BE A NEED FOR THAT.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A CAN OF WORMS. I DON'T KNOW. IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING BOARD

ALREADY. I'LL PASS THAT TO YOU. >> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD. MY NEXT QUESTION IS ACTUALLY DIRECTED TO GENERAL COUNCIL.

GENERAL COUNSEL. CAN WE LOOK INTO THE EDUCATION CODE AND WHAT IT SAYS AS FAR AS WHO DOES THE APPOINTING. I GUESS AT THIS POINT WE ARE NOT SURE.

APPARENTLY IT WOULD BE THE DISTRICTS THAT PARTICIPATE ON THAT BOARD ITSELF, BUT IF IT DOES SAY ON IT THROUGH EDUCATION CODE THAT IT IS A SCHOOL BOARD WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT LANGUAGE AND SEE HOW THAT LOOKS AS IT CHANGES THE POLICY.

>> SO YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WHO DOES THE NOMINATING AND THE TERMS AS WELL?

>> YES, PLEASE. AND MAYBE IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE HOW THE PROCESS OF LIKE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BROUGHT UP, A NEW BOARD MEMBER COMES ON TO THE BOARD.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A CONSORTIUM MORE THAN A BOARD. THAT'S LANGUAGE TO LOOK AT TOO.

>> YES. YOU'RE RIGHT. >> I KNOW I DID WORK WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ON THAT AND WE WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THAT IN THE FRIDAY MEMO.

AND WE CAN BRING IT BACK FOR A SECOND READING FOR CLARIFICATIONS.

>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LEG WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE -- OR YOUR STAFF HAS DONE FOR THAT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR

QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. >> AND WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH AWARENESS BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE BOARD MAY HAVE THIS AWARENESS, BUT HOW IT ALL FITS TOGETHER AGAIN. I KNOW OUR COAL VALUES IS WHAT GUIDES THE WORK WE DO AS A DISTRICT AND MAKING SURE AND WE ARE LOOKING THROUGH THE LENGTHS OF EQUITY, AS THE BOARD HAS BEEN SHARING WITH US, MAKING SURE WE HAVE A SPECIAL FOCUS REGARDING OUR SPECIAL POP HRAEUGTSS AND MAKING SURE WE AREN TKPWURPBLGING -- POPULATIONS AND MAKING SURE WE ARE ENGAGING THEM. BUSD WILL PROVIDE A PLACE FOR LEARNING AND OUR FOCUS IS A DECREASE IN SUSPENSION ABSENTEEISM. IT IS TO HELP ENGAGE OUR STUDENTS. THESE ARE THE METRICSS IN WHICH WE ARE MEASURED BY.

WE WANTED THE COMMUNITY TO BE AWARE HOW IT FITS TOGETHER AND HOW THE BOARD ESTABLISHES THE POLICIES FOR US THAT GIVES US THE GUIDANCE AND SO WE CAN FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THESE ITEMS. AND THEN REFERENCING AS BEEN MENTIONED IN THE PAST THE LIVE METRICS AND REVIEW OF THE DATA. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE THAT AWARENESS. ULTIMATELY I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR TO GIVE THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY MORE CONTEXT AS FAR AS WHAT WE ARE DOING AROUND

ATTENDANCE TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. >> HELLO AGAIN.

THANK YOU. I THINK THAT HAD THIS VISUAL BEEN PREVIOUSLY SHARED BEFORE WE WENT INTO SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS, PERHAPS SOME OF YOUR FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS OR CLARIFYING QUESTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. OF COURSE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK ME CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AS WELL. AS YOU LOOK AT THIS AND I LIKE TO CALL IT THE ATTENDANCE WHEEL. IT DOES NOT GO IN ANY PARTICULAR SEQUENTIAL ORDER. THE FOUR ROUNDED TRIANGULAR PIECES YOU CAN SEE THERE, THEY ARE ALL INTEGRAL PARTS OF WHAT THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT INTENDS TO DO.

WHAT BETTER TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS THAN SEPTEMBER BECAUSE THE NATION IS CELEBRATING SEPTEMBER AS ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH. LET'S LOOK AT EACH ONE OF THOSE PIECES AND I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE ACTIONABLE DATA PIECE FIRST AS IT SAYS THERE. THE NUMBERS TELL A STORY.

WE ALL KNOW THAT. WE TALK ABOUT IT ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE THROW THAT WORD AROUND IN KOPBLG -- CONVERSATIONS. DATA, DATA, WE ALWAYS WANT TO LOOK AT DATA. SOME OF THE THINGS YOU LOOKED AT TWO WEEKS AGO WITH THE TARGETED ASSISTANCE BEING PROVIDED FOR GROUPS OF STUDENTS.

[01:45:09]

WHEN THEY SIT DOWN IN THE MEETINGS WITH CABINET MEMBERS AND WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT.

THAT TAKES US TO THE BUILDING CAPACITY PIECE WHERE WE ARE LOOKING TO BUILD ATTENDANCE TEAMS AND GIVING BACK THE POWER TO THE SCHOOL SITES WHERE THE PRINCIPAL TOGETHER WITH THEIR COUNSELORS AND THEIR TEACHERS AND THEIR CASE CASEWORKERS CAN MAKE A COHESIVE COLLABORATIVE TEAM TO TACKLE AND ATTACK THE ATTENDANCE PROBLEMS. AS AN EXAMPLE I SPOKE WITH A PRINCIPAL AND THERE IS A STUDENT AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT IS REFUSING TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THE CHILD FEELS ANXIOUS. THE PRINCIPAL AND I TALKED ABOUT HOW THAT LITTLE PIECE OF OUT REACH WHERE THE PRINCIPAL WOULD CALL THE FAMILY AND SET UP A MEETING AND OFFER TO SPOOK WITH -- SPEAK WITH THE STUDENT AND WELCOME THE STUDENT BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW PLACEMENT COME ON DOWN AND SEE OUR CLASSROOMS AND MEET YOUR TEACHER.

SHE IS FABULOUS. ALL OF THAT WILL HELP THE CHILD BE LIKE, OKAY, I HAVE A CERTAIN NEGATIVE PERSPECTIVE ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL. THEREFORE MY ABSENCES ARE PILING UP. BUT I'M GONNA GIVE THIS LADY A CHANCE.

SHE IS OFFERING TO HELP ME. LET ME SHOW UP TOMORROW. IT IS THOSE LITTLE THINGS, THOSE PHONE CALLS, THE EMAILS THAT TAKES US TO THE EARLY INTERVENTION AND THE POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT PIECE AS WELL. THE PARENT CONTACT, RIGHT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, BUT THE ATTENDANCE CHECKPOINT TO SAY I NOTICE YOUR CHILD HASN'T BEEN IN SCHOOL FOR 10 DAYS. TELL ME WHY YOU DON'T WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL, SWEETIE? WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU? THE SARB AND SART PROCESSES ARE INTERVENTION-BASED.

I KNOW THEY SOUND LIKE YOU WILL HAVE A CONSEQUENCE, BUT MORE THAN HAVING A CONSEQUENCE IT IS JUST TO BUILD A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE ON THE FAMILY TO SAY WE ARE WATCHING.

WE SEE YOU NOT COMING TO SCHOOL. WE WOULD LIKE TO HELP YOU.

HERE IS THE LIST OF RESOURCES. HERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO REMOVE BARRIERS THAT ARE PREVENTING YOUR CHILD FROM COMING TO SCHOOL. WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT FOSTER YOUTH THERE ARE TIMES THAT FOSTER YOUTH CANNOT GET TO SCHOOL.

SO THE ED SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO WORK ON HOW THEY CAN POSSIBLY PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO STUDENTS AND WE HAVE MANY STUDENTS ON OUR ROSTER THAT ARE RECEIVING THAT ASSISTANCE. IT IS TAILORED. IT IS CUSTOM-MADE TO THEIR CONVENIENCE SO THEY CAN GET TO MAYFAIR AND TOMAS JEFFERSON. COMING BACK TO PERHAPS THE MOST KEY INGREDIENT IN ALL OF THIS WHICH IS PREEMPTIVE, NOT WAITING FOR BAD ATTENDANCE TO HAPPEN, BUT DO IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. DO IT FROM THE GET GO.

IT IS THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK. YOU WILL SEE A LITTLE OF THAT TOMORROW WHERE WE ARE ASKING KIDS TO SHOW UP. WE JUST GOT STARTED. WE HAVE ONLY BEEN IN SCHOOL FOR TWO WEEKS. YOU WILL SEE THE POSTERS AND THE BANNERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT AS THE WEEKS AND MONTHS GO BY. THE PRINCIPALS AND SITES WILL RECEIVE FLIERS.

IT IS A LITTLE NUDGE, A REMINDER TO SHOW UP AND COME TO SCHOOL.

THOSE FOUR PIECES MAKE UP BUS SD'S UH-HUH -- BUSD'S APPROACH TO IMPROVING ATTENDANCE.

WHEN I STARTED TO MEET WITH ATTENDANCE EXPERTS AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN FOR DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, EXPONENTIALLY REVERSING THE DAMAGE COVID DID, THOSE ARE THINGS THEY ARE DOING AS WELL. CAN I PREDICT THAT BY DECEMBER WE'LL HAVE IMPROVED BY 50%.

I CAN'T TODAY, BUT I CAN PROMISE THAT IF WE START TO TAKE THOSE STEPS, WE WILL START TO SEE POSITIVE IMPROVEMENTS AND HAVE MANY MORE STUDENTS ON OUR CAMPUSES ON A DAILY BASIS.

FELT -- FEEL FREE TO ASK ME QUESTIONS. >> BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG.

>> I HAVE NO QUESTIONS, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> BOARD MEMBER ELHESSEN. >> YOU KNOW I ALWAYS HAVE A QUESTION.

>> YOU SHOULD. >> YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT TRIGGERED IN MY MIND.

[01:50:04]

WAIT BEFORE YOU CALL A STUDENT? >> I'M SORRY YOU SAID -- >> AFTER 10 DAYS.

>> IT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF DAYS. THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE I SHARED IS A STUDENT THAT HAS GONE TO A FEW CAMPUSES AND HAS ANXIETY ABOUT ATTENDING SCHOOL.

IT IS AN ISOLATED CASE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT 10 DAYS. >> THAT'S MY CONCERN.

IS THERE A DISTRICT POLICY THAT WE ARE GONNA SEND OUT FOR PRINCIPALS TO SAY -- OR TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, WE NOTICED FIVE DAYS OR THREE DAYS A STUDENT HASN'T BEEN HERE.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A REPORT. WE DON'T KNOW FROM THE PARENTS. WE DON'T KNOW FROM THE STUDENT WHY THE STUDENT HASN'T SHOWED UP. I WAS THINKING EARLY INTERVENTION ON CONTACT WOULD BE A KEY PIVOT IN TERMS OF HAVING THE STUDENT START TO COME. AND THE PARENT, LIKE YOU ARE OT THEM KNOW WE ARE WATCHING.

I THINK THEN DAYS -- DASH I THINK 10 DAYS -- >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE SCHOOL SITES DO. IF A STUDENT DOESN'T SHOW UP FIRST DAY, SECOND DAY AND IT DOESN'T MATTER, AT ANY POINT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IT IS THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CLERK'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REACH OUT IMMEDIATELY TO ASK, WELL, MOM, I DIDN'T HEAR FROM YOU TODAY.

JOHN IS ABSENT. IS HE NOT GOING TO BE AT SCHOOL? SKWR IS HE NOT HERE. -- WHY IS HE NOT HERE. SOMETIMES THEY FORGET.

IT GOES BACK TO EXCUSED AND NON-EXCUSED ABSENCES. PARENTS ARE FAMILIAR, AND I AM A PARENT AT ANOTHER DISTRICT, BUT SOMETIMES WHEN HIGH CHILD HAS STAYED HOME BECAUSE HE IS SICK I HAVE FORGOTTEN TO CALL IN AND SAY IT. BOOM, 9:30, I GOT A CALL TO SAY YOUR SON IS NOT AT SCHOOL. I FORGOT HE HAD A TERRIBLE MIGRAINE.

THERE ARE SYSTEMS BUILT INTO PLACE THAT THE SCHOOL SITES ARE DOING.

THAT INTERVENTION PIECE IS IN SEVERE CASES. IT IS IN CASE CASES WHERE THEY HAVE NOT SHOWN UP FOR DAYS. YOU HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING AND NOT GOTTEN AN EXCUSED ABSENCE

YOU ARE DOING THAT SARB SITUATION. >> AFTER ONE DAY WE CALL.

>> WHEN DO THE POLICE KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND SAY WHY ARE YOU NOT AT SCHOOL?

>> THAT'S SOMETHING I AM NOT SURE ABOUT HOW WE WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO THE HOME VISITS. ULTIMATELY, I HAVEN'T DONE THOSE IN THE PAST, BUT ULTIMATELY I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AVAILABILITY TO DO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND WE CAN DO RESEARCH AND PROVIDE MORE AT A LATER TIME.

>> THANK YOU. >> BOARD MEMBER STEWART. >> IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.

ONE QUESTION. WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, DOES IT CHANGE ANYTHING AS FAR AS ABSENTEEISM AND HOW WE APPROACH THAT? SPEAKING AS A PARENT MYSELF OF ONE, THE AMOUNT OF DOCTOR VISITS AND THERAPIES. WHEN SHE IS SICK SHE HAS A RESPIRATORY -- SO SHE IS OUT FOR LONGER THAN I WOULD SAY A TYPICAL KID WOULD BE.

I APPRECIATE THE CALLS EVERY DAY, BUT SOMETIMES I FEELS LIKE --

>> SO THERE ISN'T -- SO IF A STUDENT IS ABSENT IT GOES BACK TO EXCUSED AND UNEXCUSED.

AFTER THREE UNEXCUSED ABSENCES WE ISSUE A TRUANCY LETTER. THAT'S A REQUIREMENT.

FOR STUDENTS ABSENT DUE TO EXCUSED ABSENCES, THEY ADD UP, AND THAT GOES INTO CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, WHEN THEY MISS 10% OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WHETHER EXCUSED OR UNSKAOUGSED.

THE FAMILIES THAT DO HAVE STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE ILLNESSES, WE HAVE DIFFERENT PROCESSES TO SUPPORT THEM WHETHER IT IS A HEALTHCARE PLAN AND WE CAN EXCUSE THE ABSENCES.

THEY WON'T GET TRUANCY NOTIFICATIONS, BUT WE CAN WORK WITH THE FAMILIES TO FIGURE OUT WHY THEY AREN'T COMING TO SCHOOL AND SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN PUT IN PLAYINGS.

>> THANKS. SO THERE IS CONSIDERATION FOR THOSE CASES? AND WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM TO THE DISTRICT?

>> WE CAN PROVIDE THAT AS PART OF A BOARD MEMO, BUT WE TALK IN REGARDS TO FAMILIES WHO DO IT.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE WILL PROVIDE A RESPONSE IN THE FRIDAY MEMO REGARDING THE NUMBER OF ABSENCES AND THE FISCAL IMPACT. AS WE COMMUNICATE WITH FAMILIES, IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE FISCAL IMPACT, IT IS THE LEARNING LOSS.

>> I WOULDN'T LEAD WITH THAT FOR SURE, BUT I APPRECIATE IT. >> TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, WE ARE FUNDED ON ADA AND NOT ENROLLMENT. IT DOES IMPACT OUR ADA WHICH IS AVERAGE DAILY UH -- ATTENDANCE AND WE HAVE SEEN A DROP IN THAT THE LAST FEW YEARS SO IT DOES

HAVE AN IMPACT. >> I WONDER WHAT THAT NUMBER LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THE

[01:55:06]

BENEFIT US. >> THE STATE DID RECOGNIZE THAT WITH COVID AND THAT'S WHY THEY ALLOWED FOR THE THREE-YEAR AVERAGE. PRIOR TO COVID WE WERE IN THE 96, 97 PERCENTILE. AFTER COVID IT WAS 92, 91 PERCENTILE.

>> AND I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. WHEN IT COMES TO -- AND I HEAR THIS A LOT. AT THE COLLEGE PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CO SREUTD -- COVID STILL AND KWAURPB -- QUARANTINING. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING TO A PARENT WHO IS HOLING THEIR KID -- HOLDING THEIR KID FROM SCHOOL FOR 10

DAYS BECAUSE OF QUARANTINING. WHAT IS THE SCRIPT? >> OUR HEALTH OFFICES WILL PROVIDE GUIDANCE. THE SPRINGS PAL -- THE PRINCIPAL WILL HAVE UPDATES PROVIDING PROTOCOLS. THE STAFF IS COMMUNICATING TO THE FAMILIES TWH -- WHEN THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR QUARANTINING. WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR

OUR SITES TO BE CONSISTENT WITH FAMILIES. >> I KNOW IT SAID ENCOURAGING PARENTS FOR ATTENDANCE. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE DID A COMMUNICATION TO THE COMMUNITY

ABOUT OUR CURRENT COVID PROTOCOLS? >> I THINK IT WAS OVER THE SUMMER. I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LAST TIME WE PUSHED OUT COMMUNICATION TO

FAMILIES. >> I THINK IT IS A GRAY AREA FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES.

I THINK THEY WOULD APPRECIATE CLARITY. >> ESPECIALLY WITH THE UP TICK

RIGHT NOW. >> RIGHT. >> THAT'S WHY ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH AND WE WILL PUT OUT MORE COMMUNICATION TO FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW TO COME TO SCHOOL. IF THEY ARE SICK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADHERING TO

PROTOCOLS. >> SWEET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD. MY FOLLOWING QUESTION PERTAINS TO I GUESS PROCEDURES WITH REGARDS TO TEACHERS. ARE THEY AWARE OF EXCUSED AND NOT EXCUSED AND HOW THEY ARE TAKING ATTENDANCE. AS A TEACHER, BUYING -- BEING ON A SITE IN ANOTHER DISTRICT, IT IS A LITTLE AMBIGUOUS SOMETIMES AS TO WHETHER A CHILD IS CONSIDERED ABSENT WHEN THEY ARE SICK, BUT THEY SHOW UP AND MAYBE THE PARENT FEELS LIKE THEY NEED TO TAKE THEIR CHILD HOME. ONCE THEY ARE ON THE CAMPUS AND THEY HAVE TO GO HOME. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE CALLING ON THE PHONE IN MAYBE -- LIKE MAYBE 11:00 IN THE MORNING. I AM TALKING ABOUT THE CHILD SEEMS TO HAVE A LOW GRADE FEVER, BUT THE PARENT BRINGS THEM ON CAMPUS.

DOES IT TURN INTO AN ABSENCE? ARE THEY PRESENT? >> I WILL ANSWER IN A COUPLE WAYS. IF A STUDENT IS PHYSICALLY THERE, THEY ARE PRESENT.

IF THEY ARE NOT FEELING WELL AT ANY PART OF THE DAY, THE TEACHER SENDS THEM TO THE HEALTH OFFICE. THE HEALTH OFFICE WILL SCREEN THE STUDENT.

WHAT IS GOING ON AND IF YOU NEED TO GET SENT HOME WE NOTE YOU WERE THERE AND YOU WERE SENT HOME. THEN WE WOULD -- THE OTHER SCENARIO IS IF THE STUDENT IS NOT PHYSICALLY THERE THEY WOULD MARK THE STUDENT ABSENT. WHEN THE ATTENDANCE CLERK -- THE ATTENDANCE STAFF CALLS THEY WOULD SPEAK TO THE PARENT AND FIND OUT THE REASON AND CODE IT A DIFFERENT CODE DEPENDING ON THE REASON THE PARENT REPORTS. THE TEACHER'S ROLE IS ARE THEY THERE OR NOT. IF THEY ARE THERE THEY DON'T MARK ANYTHING.

IF THEY ARE NOT THERE, THEY MARK ABSENT. IT IS UP TO THE OFFICE TO

RECONCILE THE ATTENDANCE. >> IF I TAKE MY CHILD ON SAY -- THIS IS AN IMAGINARY SITUATION.

IF I TAKE MY CHILD BEFORE 8:00, START TIME AND I KNOCK ON THE TEACHER'S DOOR AND SAY LITTLE JOHNNY IS NOT FEELING SO WELL TODAY. I'M NOT SURE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO I TAKE HIM HOME? HOW DOES THE TEACHER CODE THAT?

>> THE TEACHER -- IF THE STUDENT IS PHYSICALLY THERE THEN THEY MARK THAT THEY ARE THERE. IT DEPENDS. DID THEY GO IN THE CLASSROOM -- IN THAT SCENARIO, THERE IS A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION I NEED TO BE GIVEN.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE PHYSICALLY PRESENT, BUT THEN THEY WOULD -- ULTIMATELY IT IS THE PARENT'S DECISION IF THEY WILL KEEP THE CHILD IN SCHOOL OR NOT.

THEY WOULD DIRECT THEM TO THE HEALTH OFFICE AND THE HEALTH STAFF CAN EVALUATE THE STUDENT AND THEY CAN MAKE THE DETERMINATION WHETHER THEY NEED TO GO HOME ORIE MAIN ON THE CA.

>> SO THE TEACHER REFERS THE PARENT TO THE HEALTH OFFICE FIRST.

THEY DECIDE. >> THE TEACHER SHOULD NOT BE MAKING THE DECISION ON WHETHER

[02:00:01]

>> PERFECT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANKS. WE ARE GOING TO USE THE SAME STRUCTURE FOR ONE MORE POLICY. WE WILL SHARE THE REVISIONS AND THEN INVITE A STAFF MEMBER TO PROVIDE MORE AWARENESS AS FAR AS WHAT WE ARE DOING TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR AREA.

THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER. THIS PARTICULAR AREA IS ANOTHER AREA IN WHICH -- SEPTEMBER IS ANOTHER RESOLUTION WHERE WE CAN ADDRESS -- PUT ON THE BOARD SUICIDE PREVENTION. THA*SZ -- IN PREPARATION FOR THAT WE WANTED TO REVISIT BOARD POLICIES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE UP-TO-DATE. HERE BOARD POLICIES -- THEY ARE ASKING THE BOARD TO CONSIDER REVISION IS 5,141.52 AND THE THREE SECTIONS THAT WE ARE UPDATING HAVE TO DO WITH THE FIRST ONE REGARDING STAFF DEVELOPMENT.

MAKING SURE WE HAVE EXPANDING WHO IS GOING TO BE TRAINED AND MAKING SURE -- BECAUSE WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS EVERY YEAR WHERE OUR STAFF GOES THROUGH A SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING, AND THAT'S -- WE WANTED TO EXPAND THE AUDIENCE TO MAKE SURE INDIVIDUALS ARE AWARE AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR AND THEY CAN ULTIMATELY GET THEM CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR OR DESIGNATED STAFF ON THE CAMPUS TO SUPPORT THEM. THE FIRST HAS TO DO WITH EXPANDING THE STAFF WHO WILL BE TRAINED IN THE AREA. OUR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS AND OUR COACHES AND OUR EXTENDED DAY LEARNING STAFF. THE SECOND SECTION HAS TO DO WITH REVIEWING OUR MATERIALS AND RESOURCES THAT WE USE TO COMMUNICATE AND TO SHARE THE BEST PRACTICES FOR COMMUNICATION REGARDING SUICIDE PREVENTION. I WILL BRING UP IN A FEW MINUTES ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHO WILL PROVIDE MORE CONTEXT AS FAR AS HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE THAT TO OUR STAOEUPBTS TO KNOW WHERE TO SEEK SUPPORT FROM.

THE LAST AREA THAT WE ARE ASKING TO BE UPDATED WAS A NEW REQUIREMENT THAT DISTRICTS NEED TO ESTABLISH SCHOOL AND DISTRICT CRISIS TEAMS. WE DO HAVE TEAMS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL THAT SERVE ON OUR DISTRICT CRISIS TEAM AND OUR SCHOOL SITES THAT INCLUDES OUR PRINCIPALS AND OUR COUNSELORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS AND ASSISTANT PRINCE -- PRINCIPALS WHO MAKE SURE WE ARE RESPONSIVE AND MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAINING AND INTERVENTIONS AND PREVENTION. THESE ARE THE REVISIONS WE ARE ASKING FROM THE BOARD.

>> BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG? >> THANK YOU, DR. AVILA. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS.

>> BOARD MEMBER ELHESSEN? >> PART OF THE INTERVENTION TEAM I THINK -- I THINK A GOOD MATCH IS STUDENT AMBASSADORS AS WE LOOK AT DEVELOPING THE PROGRAM.

STUDENTS HELP IDENTIFY OTHER STUDENTS IN NEED SOMETIMES BEFORE COUNSELORS OR BEFORE

TEACHERS. >> I KNOW BELLFLOWER IS EXPANDING THAT AREA.

AND SO STUDENTS WOULD BE ANOTHER LAYER OF SUPPORT WHERE THEY CAN SELF-ADVOCATE AND GET KIDS TO THE APPROPRIATE STAFF. STUDENTS PLAY A BIG ROLE IF THAT.

>> IT WAS GREAT. I THINK THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AT BELLFLOWER.

>> BOARD MEMBER STEWART? >> I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. AT THE.

THANK YOU. >> BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD? >> NO QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. >> I ACTUALLY DO HAVE A QUESTION MYSELF.

IT IS ON -- LET'S SEE, UNDER INTERVENTION PART AND IT IS THE THIRD PARAGRAPH.

ON THE THIRD LINE IT SAYS THE WORD "OR." IF WE ARE TALKING AND LOOKING AT INTERVENTION, DOES THE PRINCIPAL -- LETS SEE. SORRY.

THE COUNSELOR MAY REPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL OR STUDENTS, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS WHEN THERE IS REASONABLE CAUSE. AS PART OF THE INTERVENTION SHOULD WE NOT ALSO INCLUDE PARENTS IN THAT COMMUNICATION? SHOULD THAT READ STP -- READ AND/OR OR JUST AND?

>> AS PART OF OUR -- WE HAVE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE WHEN WE ARE HAVING TO CONDUCT RISK SCREENS.

IF THERE IS A STUDENT WHO WE SUSPECT MIGHT BE IN DANGER, WE WOULD FIRST ADDRESS THAT MANNER

[02:05:07]

AND THAT'S THE PART WHERE EVERY SITUATION MAY BE DIFFERENT. I WANT TO START WITH THAT.

IF THERE IS A SCENARIO THAT WE HAVE TO RESPOND AND CONTACT ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES, -RG THERE ARE TIMES WE MAY NOT CONTACT PARENTS RIGHT AWAY, BUT RATHER IT IS GONNA BE THE PRINCIPAL OR COUNSELOR WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS. IN THE EVENT OUR COUNSELORS ARE NOT THERE, THE PRINCIPALS NEED TO STEP IN. IT CAN BE EITHER OR.

>> SO AND/OR SHOULD BE USED HERE? YOU ARE TELLING ME IT IS EITHER/OR, AND SO "AND" WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL PORTION OF THAT LINE?

AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? >> THE "OR" CAN BE EITHER/OR.

THAT'S THE PART WHERE I I GUESS WE CAN LOOK INTO THE LANGUAGE IN THAT AND BRING IT BACK.

BUT IT CAN EITHER BE THE PRINCIPAL OR THE COUNSELOR. IT CAN BE THE COMBINATION OF BOTH. USUALLY WHEN WE DO THESE PROCEDURES IT IS TYPICALLY IN PAIRS. IT CAN BE TWO COUNSELORS, A COUNSELOR PSYCHOLOGIST OR PRINCIPAL. WE CAN LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE A LITTLE MORE TO MAKE IT

CLEARY -- CLEARER. >> AND SO IN THESE SITUATIONS IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED

TO ADDRESS RIGHT AWAY. >> THERE IS IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION.

WE ARE PUTTING ON A PARENT WORKSHOP IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER TO PROVIDE MORE AWARENESS IN THIS AREA IN REGARDS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR FAMILY RESPONSE PROCEDURE.

>> AND WHERE IN THIS PROCESS DOES THE PARENT RECEIVE COMMUNICATION THAT THIS IS

HAPPENING TO THEIR CHILD OR IF THEY HAD AN INCIDENT. >> ULTIMATELY THE THE FIRST PART IS STUDENT SAFETY. WOO R -- WE WOULD FIRST INTERVENE AND THEN WE WOULD CONTACT THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM. EVERY SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.

THERE MIGHT BE INSTANCES WHERE THE FAMILY MEMBER MIGHT BE THE STRESSOR WHICH IS CAUSING THE STUDENT TO HAVE THESE THOUGHTS. AT THE SAME TIME WE CONTACT PARENTS WE LET THE PARENT KNOW OF THE SITUATION OCCURRING. IT DEPENDS ON THE TIMING AND THE SITUATION.

>> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. SORRY, REAL QUICK.

I KNOW THEY SAY SUICIDE PREVENTION. WHAT ARE THESE?

>> WE ARE GONNA SHOW YOU. >> SORRY. I AM JUMPING THE GUN.

MY BAD. >> I AM GLAD THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN THESE TOPICS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO PROVIDE MORE AWARENESS OF OUR PROCEDURES.

>> TRY TO GET THROUGH ONE WITHOUT A QUESTION, BUT IT DID SPARK A THOUGHT.

I UNDERSTAND EVERY SITUATION IS DIFFERENT, BUT AM I HEARING ONCE A SITUATION HAS BEEN INTERVENED, YOU DO ENCOURAGE THE STUDENT TO TELL THE PARENT OR DO WE REACH OUT TO THE

PARENT? >> WE REACH OUT TO THE PARENTS. >> SO WE DO --

>> WE WILL CONTACT THE PARENT AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE SITUATION OCCURRING.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?

THANK YOU. >> AGAIN, FOR THE COMMUNITY'S AWARENESS, HOW IT ALL FITS IN, THROUGH OUR CORE VALUES, OUR LCAP AND OUR FOCUS AREAS AND SERVICES AND METRICS ARE ALL ALIGNED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING THE SAFE SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND WE ARE PROVIDING THE PROPER RESOURCES. THIS IS A SLIDE IN REGARDS TO SAFETY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SAFETY, IT IS NOT JUST THE SAFETY MEASURES AND IT IS LOOKING AT IT FROM A HOLISTIC APPROACH. IT IS REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE SUPPORTS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH AREA. AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TARGETING THIS AREA.

THIS AREA FURTHER. AT THIS POINT I WILL INVITE OUR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR AND WHAT DO WE DO TO ENSURE WE ARE PROVIDING SAFE ENVIRONMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS.

SHE WILL EXPLAIN THE THINGS YOU HAVE IF FRONT OF YOU AND WE WILL BE SHARING WITH OUR

COMMUNITY ALSO. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT GARZA AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

AS DR. AVILA EXPLAINED WE ARE PROVIDING UPDATES TO THE SUICIDE PREVENTION BOARD POLICY. ALONG WITH THESE UPDATES, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO SUPPORT STUDENT WELLNESS. IF WE START IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER WE HAVE OUR WELLNESS CENTER THAT'S WE STARTED WORKING ON ACTUALLY LAST YEAR IN FINDING A ROOM, GETTING EVERYTHING OUT OF THE ROOM ORDERING FURNITURE AND THINGS THAT NEED TO GO IN THERE. THIS YEAR WE ARE PUTTING THEM

[02:10:01]

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAY BE IN THE WELLNESS CENTER COULD BE PLAY THERAPY, COULD BE SENSORY, ARE ART, YOGA, MUSIC. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT WORKS FOR THE STUDENT.

WE HAVE A VARIETY. WE ALSO HAVE ALOT OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OUT REACH.

WE HAVE COMMUNITY FAMILY GUIDANCE FOR COUNSELING AND PATHWAYS IS SPECIFIC FOR GRIEF COUNSELING, CARING CONNECTIONS FOR BASIC NEEDS, LACOTA IS THE CENTER FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG UH -- ABUSE. WE HAVE BEFORE SCHOOL CARE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE.

WE HAVE STUDENT ASSEMBLIES THAT WE CAN DO AND WE HAVE PARENT WORKSHOPS THAT WE PROVIDE AS WELL. FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING WE HAVE CURRICULUM THAT WE HAVE PURCHASED. OUR SECOND STEP CURRICULUM STARTS IN PRESCHOOL AND GOES TO 8TH GRADE. OUR SCHOOL CONNECTS IS 9TH GRADE TO 12TH GRADE.

OUR COUNSELORS HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN TERMS OF REGULATION AND THEY SUPPORT THE TEACHERS AT THE SITE SO THE TEACHERS CAN SUPPORT THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOMS. WE HAD COACH RUDY OUT MULTIPLE TIMES TO DO SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING WITH CLASSIFIED STAFF AND CERTIFICATED STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION AS WELL.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE SUPPORT STAFF, COUNSELORS, THERAPISTS HEALTH PLAN PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKERS. ALL OF THESE WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND MENTAL WELLNESS. IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER YOU CAN SEE THE SUICIDE IN CRISIS LIFELINE. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A POSTER WE ARE HAVING PRINTED THAT WILL BE SENT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL SO THEY CAN BE POSTED AROUND THE SCHOOL.

THEY ALSO INCLUDE A QR CODE THAT WILL LEAD THE STUDENTS TO OUR RESOURCES ON THE BUSD WEBSITE. UNDERNEATH THAT IS THE ID CARD THAT YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT.

ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THEIR ID CARD THAT SUICIDE LIFELINE IS RIGHT THERE. THEY WILL SEE IT ON THE POSTERS.

THEY HAVE DISTRICT RESOURCES. THE LAST THING ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT HARPED CORNER -- RIGHT HAND CORNER IS A LINK TO CONFIDENTIAL CONTACTS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE ON OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE AS WELL. ONE MORE THING, WE GET A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM EASE FOR STAFF. IT IS THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANT SERVICE FOR EDUCATION.

IT IS SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH. SO WHEN THE STAFF WAS PROVIDED WITH INFORMATION HERE, SOME RESOURCES AND THEN THE THIRD PAGE IS WORKSHOP TRAINING AND EVENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. AND SO ALL OF THAT COMES TOGETHER TO SUPPORT OUR

STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF. >> SO OUR MAIN AB TIFF, THE BOARD -- OBJECTIVE, THE BOARD MAY BE AWARE OF WHAT WE DO, BUT THE COMMUNITY MAY NOT BE AWARE. THANK YOU.

THE POLICY NEEDS TO BE UPDATED AND WHAT ARE WE DOING ON THE BACK END TO MAKE SURE THE THINGS WE ARE DOING AS A DISTRICT TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NO QUESTIONS. >> BOARD MEMBER ELHESSEN? >> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THAT

YOU DO. >> BOARD MEMBER STEWART? >> NO QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD? >> HI.

>> HI. >> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. JUST ONE QUESTION.

I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH.

I BELIEVE JOSH LOWENTHAL JUST AUTHORED A BILL ABOUT THAT. OUT OF ALL THIS, HOW MUCH DO WE TACKLE THAT ISSUE SPECIFICALLY OR IS IT JUST AOEUPBD -- KIND OF EMBEDDED IN THERE.

>> CURRICULUM DOES ADDRESS THE ISSUES. SOMETIMES WITH SOCIAL MEDIA THERE IS SOCIAL BULLYING AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT CAN INVOLVE SOCIAL MEDIA.

THERE IS A HARMFUL EFFECT ON STUDENTS TO UNPLUG AND DISCONNECT AND HOW THEY CAN OUT REACH AND GET SUPPORT IF THEY ARE FEELING THE NEED MORE FOR SUPPORT IN THAT AREA.

[02:15:04]

>> I JUST KNOW THAT SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO COPE FROM STRESS AND ANXIETY THAT THEY WILL REVERT AND GO INSIDE THEIR PHONE WHICH ACTUALLY -- IT IS NOT JUST CYBERBULLYING, BUT IT IS THE EFFECTS ON SELF-ESTEEM ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG GIRLS. WHETHER IT IS USING FILTERS ALL THE TIME OR THEY ARE COMPARING THEMSELVES TO OTHER PEOPLE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS AN ASSEMBLY IN THE FUTURE OR SOME TYPE OF PRESENTATION, BUT WE ARE GIVING A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE IT IS KIND OF SOMETHING THAT IS SUBTLE, BUT CONSTANT AND THEY MAY NOT SEE IT AS WELL. HOWEVER THAT IS INFUSED IS

BENEFICIAL FOR A LOT OF OUR KIDS. >> WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT.

>> VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT. OUR SURGEON GENERAL SAYS TWO TO THREE HOURS OF EXPOSURE TO OUR PHONES OR SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE HIGHEST INCREASE OF ANXIETY AND SUICIDE. FRANCE, THE WHOLE COUNTRY, THEIR EDUCATION PROGRAM, THEY BANNED CELL PHONES GOING TO SCHOOL. THEY ARE JUST NOT ALLOWED.

I AM NOT SAYING WE SHOULD BE THAT DRASTIC, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT VICE PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD WAS SAYING IS WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE CLASSROOM TO LIMIT AS MUCH PHONE EXPOSURE OR EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ON THEIR SITES. THAT IS A BIG PREDICTER AND HE

BROUGHT UP VERY VALID POINTS. >> I JUST WANT TO -- EXCUSE ME. WE DID HAVE A PARENT WORKSHOP THAT WAS OFFERED SO MAYBE THAT WORKSHOP CAN BE OFFERED AGAIN. I THINK ONLY SIX PARENTS ATTENDED. OR MAYBE IT WAS SIX TOTAL. IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD INFORMATION. WE HAVE THE INFORMATION. WE JUST HAVE TO CONTINUE TO

OFFER IT AND MAYBE WE'LL HAVE SOME TAKERS. >> I THINK WE CAN LOOK INTO

MORE WORKSHOPS. >> WE'LL LOOK INTO IT. I DO NOTICE THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO OFFER, BUT JUST GETTING PEOPLE HERE IS DIFFICULT. AS WE THINK THROUGH THIS, WE MAY HAVE TO RECONSIDER OUR WAY OF COMMUNICATING OR PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OR INFORMATION. MAYBE WE JUST HAVE TO DO IT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA OR THE

PLATFORMS. >> IT WAS VIRTUAL. >> WAS IT?

>> IT WAS VIRTUAL. >> OH, WELL WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY.

>> I PERSONALLY TRIED TO ATTEND THE MEETING SO WE CAN GET NUMBERS.

WE ARE PUTTING IT OUT AS A DISTRICT, BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO COME AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

>> OKAY. I DO HAVE A QUESTION. DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CELL

PHONE POLICY IN OUR DISTRICT? >> OUR HANDBOOKS DO REFERENCE CELL PHONE POLICIES.

TO QUOTE EACH ONE OF THEM I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE BOARD IN REGARDS TO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE BECAUSE -- YEAH, BEFORE I PROVIDE A RESPONSE TO THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT. BEING THE MOTHER OF THREE BOYS WHO ARE COMPLETELY CONNECTED TO THEIR PHONES, I DO SEE THAT THAT IS PERHAPS OUR NEXT STEPS. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING INFORMATION VERY EARLY. WHEREAS MAYBE 10 YEARS AGO IT USED TO BE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, SOMETIMES WE START SEEING CELL PHONES AND EVEN I WATCHES AND PRIMARY CAMPUSES AS WELL. THAT IS -- I THINK WE NEED TO PHAEBG SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THAT -- NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION TO PARENTS SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN IT BECOMES AN ADDICTION. THIS CAN BECOME THAT.

THERE IS CURRENTLY A DOCUMENTARY ON NETFLIX. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS SEEN IT. IT IS VERY PROFOUND AS TO WHAT RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND ABOUT TIME SPENT ON THE PHONE. THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT ARE ACTUALLY BEAK AFFECTED IN THE BRAIN AND HOW IT REALLY DOES KIND OF REACT AS A DRUG TO A STUDENT.

RECENTLY, LAST NIGHT, I WAS WATCHING THE NEWS AND THERE WAS A REPORT WHERE A STUDENT BECAME ADDICTED TO GAMBLING ONLINE ON THEIR PHONE. ALL THOSE THINGS DO EXIST NOW FOR OUR KIDS. AS ADULTS, THIS IS NEW TO US, AND THIS IS THE WORLD THEY ARE

[02:20:06]

PHONE POLICIES CURRENTLY. >> I WANT TO ADD TO BOARD MEMBER GARZA'S COMMENT AND ESPECIALLY FOR OUR TK AND KINDERGARTENERS, THEY SAY ANY TYPE OF WORK ON AN I PAD OR I PHONE LIMITS MOBILITY AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS. SO THEY ARE SLOWER LEARNERS.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT I HOPE WE DON'T INTRODUCE THAT IN THE KINDERGARTEN AND TK WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO SCHOOL. THAT'S ONE THING THAT PARENTS OFTEN DO TO ENTERTAIN THEIR KIDS BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH HARM THEY ARE DOING. THIS IS BASED ON CLINICAL

RESEARCH. >> I AM A CON TERROR -- CON TERROR -- CONTRARIAN AT HEART.

ONE, I WROTE SAY IT IS A BIG ISSUE. I ALSO THINK FINDING THE AGE APPROPRIATENESS OF EACH THING BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AND EDUCATING FOR THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY. I THINK FOSTERING THAT IN A HEALTHY WAY IS GREAT AND IT IS AWESOME. BUT I ALSO THINK WE TALK ABOUT FINDING OUT THE EFFECTS BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE OF THAT. WE TALK ABOUT THE PILOT PROGRAM SOMETIMES. I KNOW I AM THE LAST PERSON ON THE BOARD THAT SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT TAKING AWAY ANYBODY'S PHONE BECAUSE I AM ON IT.

I GET IT. BUT SOMETIMES THERE IS NOTHING HARDER THAN TAKING YOUR KIDS' DEVICES AWAY. IF THERE IS A PILOT PROGRAM AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE THERE IS A NO PHONE ZONE, I WOULD GUESS YOU WOULD HAVE A LOT OF PARENTS THAT WOULD BE HAPPY TO GO THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS BEEN DONE.

SOME DISTRICTS HAVE A NO PHONE CALL SEE, RIGHT? I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING

THAT POLICY AND WHERE IT STANDS TODAY. >> IT IS SOMETHING WE WILL DO

RESEARCH ON. >> THAT MIGHT EVEN CHANGE OUR NUMBERS FOR STUDENTS PER TPOPLING BELOW AVERAGE TO AT LEAST AVERAGE. THAT'S BASED ON PHONES AND THE

MEDIA. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? GREAT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE ARE ON TO NEW BUSINESS. DO ANY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

[11. NEW BUSINESS]

>> WE HAVE ONE MORE PRESENTATION, RIGHT? SORRY.

DOES ANYONE NEED A BATHROOM BREAK? >> I JUST NEED SOME CLARIFICATION. ARE WE DOING NEW BUSINESS OR DOING A PRESENTATION?

>> NEW BUSINESS AND THEN MAJOR ACTION. >> I DO HAVE NEW BUSINESS, BUT

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE WANTS TO -- >> IT IS NEW BUSINESS RIGHT

NOW. >> SO NO ONE IS TAKING A BREAK? I DIDN'T WANT TO -- OKAY.

I WANTED TO INTRODUCE WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT INITIALLY ABOUT MEETING CONDUCT BASED ON THE RESEARCH HAVE I -- I HAVE DONE AND TALKING TO LEGAL COUNSEL. THE LAST PROPOSAL THAT WAS SUBMITTED, MEETING CONDUCT, THAT WE HAVE IN OUR BY LAWS, BUT THE BOARD NEVER VOTED ON GETTING RID OF IT. WE NEVER ADOPTED 9322.2. I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BRING THAT BACK AND DISCUSS IT AND LOOK AT REVISING IT AND ADOPTING IT BECAUSE WE DON'T

HAVE ONE NOW. >> SO THE WAY IT WOULD GO IS IF YOU WANT CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, YOU CAN ASK DR. ELHESSEN AND WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO PUT IT IN A FUTURE BOARD

[02:25:03]

MEETING. >> BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG? WE ARE?

DISCUSSIONS, QUESTIONS COMMENTS. >> WE DON'T HAVE TO MOTION

FIRST? >> WE ARE DISCUSSING WHETHER OR NOT --

>> I THINK IT IS PHO*R OR -- MORE OR LESS -- THERE NEEDS TO BE CLARIFYING QUESTIONS ABOUT

WHAT DR. ELHESSEN HAS PROPOSED. >> POINT OF ORDER, I THINK THE QUESTION IS AND PERHAPS LEGAL CAN HELP, MOTION, SECOND AND THEN ASK QUESTIONS AND THEN VOTE.

>> CORRECT. >> I MOVE TO REVIEW THE BY LAWS ON MEETING CONDUCT IN OUR NEXT

BOARD MEETING. >> I SECOND. >> BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG?

>> SO CLARIFYING QUESTIONS IS NOT GONNA WAIT UNTIL IT IS PUT ON THE AGENDA?

>> ON THE AGENDA. RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING A MOTION TO PUT IT.

IF THERE IS AN AGREEMENT AND THERE IS A MAJORITY VOTE, THEN IT WILL GO ON TO THE NEXT

AGENDA. >> SO NOW WE ARE VOTING? >> NO DISCUSSION --

>> BUT WE CAN ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS? >> YES.

>> I DON'T HAVE CLARIFYING QUESTIONS. >> BOARD MEMBER STEWART?

>> MY CLARIFYING QUESTION IS CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MANY TIMES WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS

IN FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS? MORE THAN TWICE? >> I BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN MORE

THAN TWICE. THANK YOU. >> IT WAS ONCE IN DECEMBER PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL. AND THEN IT WAS ALSO SECOND TIME WHEN YOU WERE HERE.

>> I ARRIVED IN DECEMBER. I WAS SWORN IN IN DECEMBER. AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND VOTED ON IT A FEW MEETINGS AGO AS WELL. SO THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE --

MULTIPLE TIMES WE DISCUSSED THIS. >> I THINK THE LAST VOTE BECAUSE WE HAD ONE BOARD MEMBER MISSING, THERE WAS NO TIEBREAKER SO THAT'S WHY THIS

IS COMING BACK. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG DID

NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE. >> BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD? >> I KNOW YOU JUST MENTIONED IT, BUT IS THERE A SPECIFIC PART OF THE POLICY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE A DEEPER

LOOK AT SO WE CAN NARROW THE FOCUS OF IT? >> I THINK THE POLICY SHOULD BE PUT IN OUR BOARD MEMO THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PUT OUT. RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A BOARD

POLICY. >> I'M SORRY? >> THIS WAS ORIGINALLY IN OUR BOARD POLICY, AND IT WAS BB9323 IT WAS REMOVED WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL.

I CHECKED WITH LEGAL REGARDING THIS, AND THEY SAY IT CANNOT BE REMOVED UNLESS THE BOARD APPROVES IT OR APPROVES A BY LAW OR A POLICY THAT WOULD REPLACE IT.

THE ONE THAT WE CREATED TO REPLACE WAS NEVER VOTED UPON BY A FULL BOARD AND SO THEREFORE I AM BRINGING IT BACK TO DO THAT. WE ARE INTO DISCUSSION AND I KNOW --

>> NO. MY QUESTION IS CLARIFYING BECAUSE I'M CURIOUS.

SO THE CLARIFYING QUESTION I WOULD ASK IS THAT BOARD POLICY WAS REMOVED?

>> I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT DR. SUE ELHESSEN IS SAYING. MY OFFICE HAS RESEARCHED THAT AND WE HAVEN'T FOUND THAT. IT WAS REMOVED, BUT WE DON'T HAVE RECORD OF IT.

I WILL HAVE YOU SPEAK TO WHAT YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT. >> THAT'S A PRETTY BIG -- A BIG

PART OF THIS. >> WE CURRENTLY HAVE A BOARD BY LAW.

IT IS CALLED PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT WAS VOTED ON ON FEBRUARY 4TH, 2021. THE TWO BY LAWS ARE BASICALLY THE SAME.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT MEETING CONDUCT HAS THE TIME ENDING.

SO IT GIVES IT A TIME FRAME FOR THE MEETING TO START AND END. >> SO THE ONE FROM 2021, WHAT

NUMBER IS THAT? >> THIS IS A UNIQUE BY LAW, AND IT IS 9,322.2.

>> 9,322.2? AND YOU'RE SAYING THE ONE THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT WITH THE

TIME AT THE END IS NOT THERE ANYMORE? >> WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT ONE TO BEGIN WITH. THAT IS MEETING CONDUCT. THIS ONE, 9,322.2 WAS BASICALLD FROM THAT ORIGINAL MEETING CONDUCT BY LAW, BUT THAT PART DR. SUE WAS TALKING ABOUT, WAS

TAKEN OUT AND RENAMED IT AND THAT'S WHAT THIS NEW BY LAW IS. >> IT STILL SOUNDS CONFUSING.

[02:30:08]

>> WORTH A LOOK. >> YEAH. THANK YOU.

>> WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT IT AT THE MEETING BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW. HAVING IT IN FRONT OF YOU GIVES YOU CLARITY AROUND WHAT IS BEING ASKED. IT DOESN'T HURT TO LOOK AT IT AT A MEETING.

WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THAT. WE DO NEED A VOTE TO SAY WHETHER WE WANT TO BRING IT OR

NOT. >> I WAS JUST HOPING BEFORE THAT MEETING WE WOULD HAVE EVERYTHING -- WE WOULD HAVE CLARITY ON IT BEFORE WE DISCUSS IT.

>> YOU WOULD HAVE A POLICY IN THE ORIGINAL FORM AND THEN THE ADJUSTED FORM BEFORE US SO WE

CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE? >> WE WOULD HAVE -- WHEN DR. SUE SAYS THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY OR NOT TAKEN AWAY, WHATEVER THAT WAS IN THERE, WE ARE GOING TO BRING THAT. AND THEN WHATEVER CHANGES THAT DR. SUE WANTED TO SEE, SHE IS

GOING TO SEE THAT AS WELL. >> I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION.

IF I COME AND ASK YOU A QUESTION AS COUNSEL, I AM ALLOWED TO JUST TALK ABOUT THAT UP HERE? FOR MY OWN FUTURE REFERENCE? IF I HAVE ANY RANDOM QUESTION

FOR COUNSEL -- >> IT HAS TO BE AGENDIZED. >> RIGHT.

HERE IT IS UNDER NEW BUSINESS. IF A MEMBER OF THE BOARD HAS FOR INSTANCE -- AND IN THIS OCCASION IT IS AN ITEM THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD FOR A FUTURE BOARD UH SKWR-PB -- AGENDA AND THEY RECEIVE A MAJORITY VOTE IT IS FOR A FUTURE MEETING. CLARIFYING QUESTIONS CAN BE ADDED. WHAT IS THIS BOARD POLICY? THE ONLY VOTE IS TO ADD THAT TO

A FUTURE AGENDA. >> AND IS IT NORMAL PROCEDURE TO JUST ADD AGENDA ITEMS RIGHT HERE ON THE SPOT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO LIKE RESEARCH IT AT ALL?

>> WE ARE ADDING THIS TO THE FUTURE MEETING. WE WILL GIVE YOU THE

INFORMATION. >> THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION WILL COME LATER? SO STAFF WOULD PROVIDE A REPORT THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND THE CON TEBGDZ -- CONTEXT TO DR. DRATTI'S POINT, HISTORICAL CONTENT WHERE IT WAS ENACTED

AND NO LONGER ENACTED, A TIMELINE. >> RIGHT.

THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW JUST TO -- I UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. I DO HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION. IT IS WITH REGARDS TO, THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW PROCESS WE ARE ENGAGING IN AS ADDING THIS PORTION OF NEW BUSINESS. WHEN WE DID ASK FOR THE VOTE LAST TIME, YOU'RE RIGHT. BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG WAS NOT HERE.

BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS A TIE. GENERAL COUNSEL, AS A TIE DOES THAT REQUEST DIE?

CAN IT BE BROUGHT BACK? AND IF SO HOW LONG? >> I BELIEVE IN THIS INSTANCE THERE WAS A TIE BEFORE SO THERE WAS NO VOTE FOR ORGANS. FOR OR AGAINST SO IT WOULD BE

OPEN TO BRING BACK. >> THANK YOU. AND ALSO JUST TO CLARIFY TO

STAFF, WE NEVER REMOVED THAT POLICY, CORRECT? >> I CAN'T SPEAK TO ANYBODY FROM THE PAST OR ANYTHING. MY OFFICE HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT -- WE ARE NOT SAYING DR. SUE IS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

WE ARE JUST TRYING TO RESEARCH THE INFORMATION. IN THAT RESEARCH WE HAVEN'T

FOUND WHAT HAPPENED THERE. >> OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS BECAUSE -- IT IS STATING A BOARD POLICY WAS APPROVED TO BE REMOVED WITHOUT OUR KNOWING IS GONNA LEAD US IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. I'M ASSUMING FROM YOUR

CLARIFICATION THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED. >> YES.

>> PERFECT. >> MAY I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? IF AN -- NOT JUST THIS ONE, BUT ANY IN GENERAL, IF AN ITEM IS VOTED ON AND IT IS VOTED YES -- I'M SORRY.

IF IT IS VOTED NO, CAN THAT PERSON CONTINUE TO BRING IT BACK OR IS THERE A TIMELINE OF WHEN THEY CAN PRESENT IT AGAIN? LET'S SAY WE VOTE ON AN AGENDA ITEM AND WE VOTE NO.

CAN THEY KEEP BRINGING IT BACK AND BRINGING IT BACK AND BRINGING IT BACK AND PUT IT ON NEW BASEBALLS THEY ARE ALLOW -- BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BY LAWS AND SEE WHAT THEY SPEAK TO AS OF THAT.

GENERALLY THE ANSWER IS NO. IF THE BOARD HAS VOTE ETD -- VOTE OWED IT AND THERE IS CONSENSUS, THEN IT WOULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO THE NEXT AGENDA BECAUSE THE BOARD HAS MADE A

DECISION. OR YES, SAME EFFECT. >> I'M SORRY.

ONE MORE QUESTION. SAY YOU VOTE NO ON A BY LAW, BUT THEN THERE ARE A FEW CHANGES MADE ON THE BY LAW AND YOU BRING IT BACK, YOU CAN DO THAT IF THERE ARE CHANGES TO

[02:35:04]

THAT BY LAW? >> AMENDING THE BY LAW? >> YES.

>> IT IS POSSIBLE. AN AMENDMENT CAN BE INSIGNIFICANT OR SIGNIFICANT.

IT JUST DEPENDS. BY LAWS CAN BE AMENDED. >> THANK YOU.

>> EVEN IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND. AT SOME POINT YOU CAN CHANGE

YOUR MIND AND SAY I WANT TO DO THIS, YOU CAN BRING IT BACK. >> IF I MAY? I WANT TO GET MY HEAD AROUND IT. WHEN WE SAY REMOVE A BY LAW, DO WE HAVE A MASTER LIKE LIST OF BY LAWS? I KNOW WE HAVE IT IN PDF FORM.

ARE WE SAYING THERE IS ONE NOT THERE THAT WASHAT WHAT WE ARE ? >> THIS IS ONE THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME TO REVISE. I WAS GIVEN THIS BY LENNY AND NOW IT IS NO LONGER IN

EXISTENCE WHEN I LOOK FOR IT. >> WHERE? >> ON GAMUT OR ON --

>> THE BY LAWS ARE ALL LISTED. HOWEVER, THAT BY LAW WAS -- THERE WAS A TIME AND I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TIMELINE WHERE WE WERE CONSIDERING REVISING IT, BUT IT NEVER PASSED. SO THAT BY LAW WASN'T -- SO IT WASN'T THAT THE BY LAW WAS

THERE AND IT WAS REMOVED. IT WAS PROPOSED. >> IT WASN'T ONE OF OUR BY LAWS

TO BEGIN WITH. >> OKAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS APPROVED IN THE PAST AND IT WAS STANDING AND NOW IT IS NOT THERE. THAT HELPS.

>> THE ONLY ONE APPROVED WAS 9,322.2, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. >> ANY OTHER CLARIFYING QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE WE HAVE THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND DR. ELHESSEN

WOULD YOU RE RESTATE IT PLEASE STP. >> I MOVE TO BRING -- I MOVE TO

LOOK AT THE BY LAW FOR MEETING PROCEDURES, MEETING CONDUCT. >> I SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. ROLL CALL. >> MS. ARMSTRONG?

>> I. >> DR. ELHESSEN? >> I.

>> MISS STEWART? >> NO. >> MR. CRIHFIELD.

>> I. >> MRS. GARZA. >> I.

[12. MAJOR ACTION ]

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO MAJOR ACTIONS. THE FIRST ITEM IS THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS. DR. DRATTI, DO WE HAVE INFORMATION ON THIS ITEM?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP MRS. HOGAN TO DO THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE INFORMATION.

>> THANK YOU, DR. DRATTI. SO TONIGHT THE BOARD IS BEING PRESENTED WITH THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS FOR THE 2022-2023 FISCAL YEAR. THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS WILL PROVIDE FISCAL INFORMATION ON HOW THEY ENDED IN REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES NOW THAT THE BOOKS ARE CLOSED AND IT ALLOWS THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED BASED ON THIS MOST UPDATED TREND INFORMATION AND KNOWN TO THE MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION INFORMATION BASED ON DECISIONS THE DISTRICT HAS COMMITTED TO. FIRST OF ALL LET'S START WITH WHY THEY ARE CALLED UNAUDITED ACTUALS. THEY ARE UNAUDITED ACTUALS BECAUSE THE FIGURES YOU WILL SEE ARE BASED ON THE INTERNAL FISCAL WORK THE DISTRICT HAS DONE AS WE CLOSED OUR BOOKS. THE FISCAL INFORMATION IS USED BY THE EXTERNAL AUDITORS AND THE NUMBERS MAY CHANGE ONCE THEY COMPLETE THEIR AUDIT WHICH IS FINALIZED IN DECEMBER AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD IN JANUARY. THE BUDGET CYCLE YOU SEE HERE DRIVES THE REPORTED PERIOD OF WHAT NEEDS TO OCCUR. SO IN JUNE YOU MAY RECALL THAT THE BOARD ADOPTED THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2023/2024 BASED ON KNOWN INFORMATION AT THAT TIME.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHEN THE ADOPTION TAKES PLACE, THE BOOKS FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR ARE NOT CLOSED AND THAT'S WHY THEY FOLLOW THE BUDGETED ADOPTION PROCESS.

THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS PROVIDE A COMPARISON OF PREVIOUS YEAR FISCAL YEAR TO CURRENT YEAR.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT COMPARES 22-23 ESTIMATED ACTUALS TO 23-24 BUDGET AND THEY HELP PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR ADJUSTMENTS THAT MAY BE NEEDED FOR FUTURE REPORTING WHICH AS YOU SEE HERE WILL INCLUDE FIRST INTERIM AND SECOND INTERIM REPORTING.

EVERY REPORTING PERIOD IS CRITICAL AS NUMBERS CHANGE RAPIDLY BASED ON ADJUSTMENTS AND KNOWN INFORMATION AT THE TIME MAKING THE BUDGET VERY FLUID.

I DO WANT TO NOTE HERE THAT THE COUNTY HAS CONCURRED AND APPROVED OUR OUT -- OUT CAP AND BUDGET WITH A CONTINGENCY THAT WE MUST PROVIDE UPDATES TO OUR FISCAL STABLIZATION PLAN WHICH

[02:40:04]

AND SO NOW AS WE DIVE INTO THE NUMBERS, WE WANT TO FIRST START BY COMPARING THE ESTIMATED ACTUALS TO THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS NOW THAT THE BOOKS ARE CLOSED.

AND HERE THE INFORMATION IS BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD IN MARCH WHICH WAS SECOND INTERIM REPORTING. DURING OUR SECOND INTERIM REPORTING OUR REVENUE INFORMATION WAS SLATED TO BE A LITTLE OVER 195 MILLION AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE FIRST COLUMN THERE UNDER THE ESTIMATED ACTUALS.

ONCE OUR BOOKS ARE CLOSED AND OUR APPORTION MEANTS WERE RECEIVED AS WELL AS THE REVENUE KNOWN AND WAS BUDGEDDED WE CLOSED CLOSE TO $216 MILLION. THIS AS YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE OTHER STATE REVENUE HAD AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 75% AND THAT WAS LARGELY IN PART TO COVID ONE-TIME MONEY THAT WAS BUDGETED IN 22-23 FISCAL YEAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN LOOKING AT FUTURE REVENUES. NOW LET'S LOOK AT OUR ACTUAL EXPENDITURES. WE DID WANT TO PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH MORE CONTEXT BY HAVING THE BOARD LOOK AT A COMPARISON BETWEEN 2022 AND 2023 TO LOOK AT TRENDS THAT WE WILL USE TO LOOK AT MULTI-YEAR PROJECTIONS AND DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

AS YOU CAN SEE OUR EXPENDITURES WENT UP ROUGHLY 26.5 MILLION WITH MOST OF THE INCREASES BEING IN THE AREA OF SALARY. WE KNOW THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE BOARD-APPROVED RAISE AND ADDITIONALLY OUR SERVICES AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENDITURES ALSO INCREASED AND SOME OF THOSE EXPENDITURES WERE DUE TO COVID FUNDS -- EXPENDITURES WITH COVID FUNDS.

MOVING ON HERE, THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO RESTRICTED RESOURCES. CONTRIBUTIONS TO RESOURCES ARE REQUIRED WHEN THOSE FUNDS CANNOT COVER THE TOTAL OPERATING COST OF SERVICES NEEDED FROM THOSE FUNDS.

THE UNRESTRICTED FUNDS HAVE TO STEP IN AND PROVIDE A CONTRIBUTION.

SOME ARE MANDATORY IN TERMS OF BUDGETING WHICH INCLUDE OUR RESTRICTED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND OTHERS ARE REQUIRED BECAUSE THOSE FUNDS DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH REVENUE.

A BIG AREA WHICH THE GENERAL FUND HAS TO CONTRIBUTE TO IS OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION DOES NOT COVER ALL THE COSTS.

HERE AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE AND LOOKING AT OUR TRENDS IS THAT OUR CONTRIBUTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION DID INCREASE IN 22/23 FISCAL YEAR CLOSE TO 5 MILLION AND THAT MAKES UP MOST OF THE DIFFERENCE OF THE INCREASE IN THE CONTRIBUTION WHICH WE HAD IN 21-22 WAS 27.6 MILLION TO 32 SIN 6 MILLION. ADDITIONALLY THE INCREASE THAT WE HAVE IN THAT CONTRIBUTION CREATES A MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

WE HAVE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION EXPENDITURES OR BUDGETING TREND BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE TO SPEND DURING THE CURRENT YEAR THE SAME WE SPENT THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND/OR INCREASE IT. UNLESS WE CAN SHOW THAT THERE WAS A DRASTIC REASON WHY THAT, WHY THOSE EXPENDITURES WOULD BE DECREASED.

SO FOR EXAMPLE IF WE HAD MAYBE A PAYMENT TO A NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT WAS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS AND THAT WAS A DRASTIC CHANGE, THEN THAT COULD BE A REASON IT WAS RELEASED.

YOU HAD TO PROVE THAT EXPENDITURE IS NO LONGER NEEDED.

ANOTHER CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GENERAL FUND, BUT IT IS REFERRED TO AS A TRANSFER WE HAD WAS MONEY GIVEN TO THE BOND FUND WHICH WAS COMMITTED BY THE BOARD AS PART OF THE ENDING FUND BALANCE. AND THAT WAS TO COVER THE OVERAGE COSTS OF THE STEAM BUILDING THAT THE BOND FUNDS NO LONGER HAD REVENUE TO FUND. NOT ALL OF THE COMMITTED, AND WHEN YOU SEE THE COMPONENTS OF OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE, NOT ALL OF THE COMMITTED FUNDS BASED ON THE OVERAGE HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED YET. BUT YOU CAN SEE THE 318,000 WAS

[02:45:05]

AGAIN AS I SAID, WHILE OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE IS HEALTHY, IT IS ALL RESTRICTED AND/OR COMMITTED AT THIS TIME. RESTRICTED FUND BALANCES MAY NOT BE TOUCHED AND COMMITTED EITHER HAVE TO BE TRACKED OR WILL REQUIRE A RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD TO MAKE CHANGES THERE YOU CAN SEE THAT 40 MILLION IS UNDER THE RESTRICTED AND THEN HIGHLIGHTED IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL CONCENTRATION AND THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER MUST BE TRACKED.

WHILE THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERED RESTRICTED, THEY ARE CONSIDERED COMMITTED IN THE SENSE THAT THEY CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSES OF UNDO PHRAU INDICATED STUDENTS -- UNDO PHRAU INDICATED STUDENTS AND WE HAVE TO TRACK AND ENSURE WE ARE SHOWING THAT.

ADDITIONALLY, IT IS A BREAK DOWN OF THE REST OF THE COMPONENTS THERE AND THAT ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 135 MILLION. OUR UNAUDITED ACTUALS ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING OTHER SPECIAL FUNDS AND THEIR ENDING FUND BALANCE TO HELP THE DISTRICT MONITOR WHETHER FUTURE TRANSFERS MAY NEED TO OCCUR. A TRANSFER WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE FUND CANNOT MEET ITS EXPENDITURE OBLIGATION. AS I SHARED EARLIER WE HAD TO TRANSFER MONEY INTO OUR BOND AND YOU CAN SEE THAT'S FUND 21 THERE, THE BUILDING FUND.

YOU CAN SEE IT IS PRETTY MUCH DEPLETED. ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE YOU SAW THERE THAT WE HAD -- THE BOARD HAS COMMITTED FUNDS TO THE STEAM BUILDING OVERAGE THOSE FUNDS THERE WOULD BE TRANSFERRED INTO THE BUILDING FUND TO COVER THAT.

THAT COULD ALSO HAPPEN FOR ANY OF THESE OTHER FUNDS UNDER SPECIAL FUNDING WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE TO MONITOR THEM CLOSELY. FUND 13, OUR CAFETERIA FUND, IF THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS, THEN THE GENERAL FUND WOULD HAVE TO COME IN.

HOWEVER, WE SEE HERE THAT THEY ARE IN A HEALTHY STATE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT GUIDES DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENERAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS. ADDITIONALLY WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR OUR ONE-TIME FUNDS. OUR ALLOCATION WAS A HEALTHY ONE.

WE DID RECEIVE OVER $64 MILLION IN COVID FUNDS, AND TO DATE WE HAVE ACTUALLY EXPENDED OVER 37 MILLION. WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 27 MILLION AS YOU SEE HERE TO GO WHICH CURRENTLY HAS AN EXSEPARATION DATE -- AN EXPIRATION DATE OF SEPTEMBER OF 2024. WE DID RECEIVE APPROVAL FROM THE STATE TO USE A LARGE PORTION OF THE FUNDING TO REPLACE OUR PLAYGROUNDS. IF YOU MAY RECALL WHEN WE HAD THE FACILITIES PRESENTATION WE SHARED WE ARE LOOKING AT USING SOME OF OUR COVID FUNDS AND WAITING FOR STATE APPROVAL ON THAT AND WE DID RECEIVE THAT. SO WE WILL BE REPLACING ALL OF OUR PLAY -- PLAYGROUNDS AT OUR ELEMENTARIES. EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WITH THE APPROVAL, THIS IS SOME OF THE MONEY THAT WILL BE BUDGETED INTO THE BUDGET AND CHANGE THE REVENUE THAT WOULD HAPPEN BY FIRST INTERIM NOW THAT WE RECEIVED THE APPROVAL.

SMALLER NUMBERS HERE BECAUSE NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT MULTI-YEAR PROJECTIONS.

AND NOW THAT WE HAVE MORE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION WE CAN TAKE THIS INFORMATION AND START TO LOOK AT OUR MULTI-YEAR PROJECTIONS. BECAUSE OUR BUDGETS HAVE BEEN INFLATED WITH ONE-TIME FUNDS, OUR DEFICIT SPENDING HAS BEEN DELAYED.

HOWEVER, AS YOU SAW PREVIOUSLY, OUR EXPENDITURES FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT WENT UP 26 MILLION.

HERE YOU CAN SEE THE REVENUES IN THE YEARS TO COME ARE DECLINING.

AGAIN, THIS IS IN LARGE DUE TO ONE-TIME FUNDS NOT BEING PART OF THE REVENUE AND ADDITIONALLY

[02:50:04]

WITH THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AS YOU LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS TO MINIMIZE THE PREDICTED DEFICIT SPENDING. HERE AGAIN AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE AREAS OF BOOKS AND SUPPLIES AS WELL AS SERVICES AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENDITURES WE ARE CUTTING BY ABOUT 50% BY THE TIME WE GET TO 25-26. BASED ON THE KNOWN INFORMATION. AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE REVENUE WHICH IS UP AT THE TOP BEING REDUCED. WE HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE FIRST THREE SOURCES WHICH ALL ARE TIED TO SALARIES. YOU HAVE YOUR CERTIFICATED SALARIES AND HEALTH AND WELFARE BECAUSE THOSE ARE ONGOING COSTS AND WE HAVE MADE COMMITMENTS.

BUT WE HAVE ALIGNED THEM TO THE FRIENDS THAT WE ARE SEEING AND THEY INCLUDE OUR STEP IN COLUMN. THOSE PRO SECTIONS -- PROJECTIONS INCLUDE STEP IN COLUMN, BUT SOME ATTRITION BASED ON OUR FISCAL STABLIZATION PLAN THAT WE HAVE.

SO NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION, THIS IS WHERE WE START TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION AND REALLY LOOK AT WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS KNOWN INFORMATION AND THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE TRENDS. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE ARE MATCHING IT TO WHAT OUR UNAUDITED ACTUALS ARE AND EVEN WITH THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME DEFICIT SPENDING. AS SHARED EARLIER WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET CYCLE AND IT IS FLUID AND TAKES CONSTANT MONITORING THAT IS BASED ON TRENDS AND COMMITMENTS AS WELL AS THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE STATE. CURRENTLY WE KNOW REVENUES MAY CHANGE BECAUSE OF THE FILING OF TAXES WERE DELAYED AND DISTRICTS ARE FUNDED LARGELY BECAUSE OF INCOME STATE TAXES. SOME OF THESE NUMBERS MAY CHANGE AND WE MAY HAVE SOME OF THE UPDATES WHICH WOULD COME TO YOU IN DECEMBER DURING THE FIRST INTERIM.

TONIGHT WE ARE AT THE UNUH TKWEUT -- THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS AND WE ARE SUBMITTING THEM TO THE COUNTY WHO SUBMITS THEM TO THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT AND IN DECEMBER WE ARE LOOKING AT FIRST INTERIM REPORTING AND WHILE ALL OF THAT IS HAMMING -- HAPPENING WE ARE PREPARING FOR 24-25. SO THE IMPORTANCE OF CURRENT KNOWN INFORMATION IS WE ARE GETTING BACK TO THE TIMES OF NORMAL FUNDING. THE ONE-TIME FUNDING IS GOING AWAY AND DEALING WITH DECLINING ENROLLMENT WHICH ALL OF THESE REPORTING CYCLES WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT IN MONITORING THE NUMBERS VERY CLOSELY. THANK YOU.

>> BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? >> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

I STUDIED THIS SO I REALLY HAVE NO QUESTIONS. I UNDERSTAND THE ONLY THING IS THAT -- WELL, THE ONLY QUESTION I DO HAVE IS LIKE WHAT ELSE -- WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO -- WHAT ELSE ARE WE GONNA DO TO MITIGATE THIS SO THAT WE WON'T GO INTO SOME REAL DEFICIT SPENDING? BUT I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT.

>> YEAH. I DON'T WANT THAT TO -- SHOULD WE BE PAYING ATTENTION AND MAKING PLANS TO ADJUST THE BUDGET? YES.

I DON'T WANT YOU PANICKING. I'M GLAD WE GAVE THE RAISE. WE CAN AFFORD IT, IF WE STICK

TO OUR GAME PLAN, THE STABLIZATION. >> WE HAVE A PLAN.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. BOARD MEMBER ELHESSEN?

>> SO IN LOOKING AT THIS, I THINK ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING MOVING FORWARD.

PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN NEEDS TO INCLUDE OUR BUDGET AND HOW WE ARE GONNA IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AS WELL AS SALARY INCREASES AS WELL AS REMOVAL OF CERTAIN PROGRAMS THAT AREN'T WORKING AND IN REGARDS TO OUR FACILITIES UPDATE. WITH ALL OF THAT I'M THINKING WHEN DO WE AS A BOARD START TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE SOME PROGRAMS WE WILL BE ELIMINATING AND WHAT ARE SOME PROGRAMS WE ARE GOING TO KEEP, AND HOW DOES THAT OVERALL IMPACT OUR STUDENT OUTCOMES KWH ARE -- WHICH ARE DREARY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THEIR ACADEMIC PROFILES THAT WE SAW IN OUR LAST SPECIAL MEETING. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IN MY HEAD. I AM NOT ASKING FOR A RESPONSE, BUT I AM JUST SAYING I THINK IN

[02:55:04]

>> ABSOLUTELY. AND THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS WE ARE THINKING ABOUT.

MY CONFIDENCE COMES FROM THE FACT THAT I THINK WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.

I HOPE WE CAN ENGAGE IN SOME DEEP CONVERSATIONS THROUGH SOME OF THESE ALLIANCE MEETINGS AND DIFFERENT PROBLEM SOLVING. I AM SEEING THE PRINCIPALS ARE ENGAGING WITH THE SITE LEADERS ABOUT WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT. THAT INFORMATION WILL BUBBLE UP TO INFORM THE DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE. THINGS WE STRUGGLE WITH, FOR EXAMPLE IN THAT BUDGET WE HAVE COMMITTED ABOUT 2.5 MILLION FOR SUBS FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, BUT IT IS HARD TO USE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SUBS. THAT MEANS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING ISN'T TAKING PLACE. HOW CAN YOU GET CREATIVE? CAN WE USE THOSE FUNDS TO DO BUY BACK DAYS? WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS. WE WILL BE -- THE NEXT SET OF MEETINGS AND I'M GLAD YOU ARE HAVING THE UNAUDITED MEETINGS, BUT THE NEXT MEETINGS YOU WILL HAVE GOOD DOSE TO LOOK AT THE ONE ON ONE'S TO LOOK AT THE CONTRACT AND WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S TPOTD -- NOT AND DUPLICATION OF RESOURCES. THINGS YOU CAN TOUCH.

WE HAVE A QUESTION OF THE FIELDS AT MAYFAIR R AND THE FACILITIES.

YOU COMMITTED FUNDING TO. WE HAVEN'T ASKED SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU WANT US TO DO.

WE HAVE TO BRING THAT BACK TO YOU. DO YOU WANT LOCKER ROOMS? THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN USE THE FUNDS FOR. THOSE THINGS ARE COMING, BUT THE MORE EVERYBODY IS UNDERSTANDING THE BUDGET SITUATION AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HAVING THESE PROGRAMS SO YOU CAN ALSO SEE SOME OF THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL PROGRAMS. EVERY DECISION WE MAKE MAY IMPACT THE PROGRAMS. WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SO WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS ON THOSE THINGS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO RESHAPING THIS BUDGET. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT YEAR FOR US.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER ELHESSEN. BOARD MEMBER STEWART?

>> MY FIRST QUESTION IS IS THIS PRESENTATION ONLINE OR ON THE AGENDA?

>> NOT ON THE AGENDA, WE WILL SEND IT WITH THE BSD NEWS, HOW WE NORMALLY DO AFTER THE BOARD

MEMBERS. >> PRESIDENT GARZA, I REALLY THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PRESENTATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT THAT BE MACE -- PLACED ON OUR

AGENDA UNDER THIS ITEM. >> WE CAN DO THAT. >> THANK YOU.

MY SECOND QUESTION IS DO WE HAVE A BOARD POLICY STATING WHAT PERCENT OF RESERVE WE

WOULD LIKE TO MAINTAIN? >> THE CURRENT BOARD POLICY DOES NOT STATE A PERCENTAGE.

IT IS WHAT THE BOARD FEELS IS REASONABLE. >> AND I GUESS MY NEXT QUESTION

IS WHAT IS OUR RESERVE PERCENTAGE CURRENTLY? >> ABOUT 40 -- RYE --

RESTRICTED FUNDS. >> SO ABOVE 30%, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE AN ACTUAL NUMBER OF THAT?

>> BREAK THAT DOWN FOR YOU. >> CAN WE PLEASE HAVE IT ON OUR FRIDAY MEMO?

>> SURE. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR RIGHT

NOW. >> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER STEWART.

BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD? >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US AND GOING THROUGH THIS IN DETAIL.

IT REALLY DOES HELP. I DO HAVE SOME -- A FEW QUESTIONS HERE.

ONE IN REGARDS TO THE DELAYED FACILITIES MASTER PLAN THAT THE BOARD USED.

DR. DRATTI I KNOW YOU JUST MENTIONED IT. AT WHAT POINT WILL BE BEGIN TO EXECUTE THAT? I KNOW YOU MENTIONED LIKE THE BOARD GOTTA LET US KNOW, BUT AT

SOME POINT -- >> WE ARE PLANNING TO BRING THAT TO YOU WITH A FEW THINGS FOR YOU TO LOOK AT BEFORE WE CAN START TAKING ACTION. I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO VOTE ON

SOMETHING WE CAN START WORKING RIGHT AWAY. >> IF I REMEMBER THAT PRESENTATION KWEBGT -- CORRECTLY THERE WAS A LOT OF TIER1 A LOT OF THINGS ON SAFETY AND IMPORTANT TO GET DONE. ALSO A QUESTION ABOUT -- YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE A REAL MONSTER NOT TO BE FOR PLAYGROUNDS. I AM ALL FOR PLAYGROUNDS. WHO MADE THAT DECISION TO

COMMIT THE MONEY TO PLAYGROUNDS? >> THAT WAS COVID FUNDING.

>> RIGHT. >> AND THEY HAD GUIDE HRAOEUPBTS -- GUIDELINES ON

WHAT YOU COULD SPEND THAT MONEY TO. >> RIGHT.

[03:00:03]

>> IT HAD TO DO WITH SAFETY AND HEALTH. THAT WAS ONE AREA THAT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS WERE -- LIKE WITH OUTDOOR SHELTERS AND DIFFERENT THINGS WE WERE SEEING WERE BEING APPROVED AND WE KNEW OUR SCHOOL SITES NEEDED THE PLAYGROUNDS BASED ON OUR CURRENT WORK ORDER AND WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND THE STATE DID CONCUR WITH THAT THAT IS

SOMETHING THAT IS ALLOWABLE. >> KUDOS FOR DOING THAT, BUT I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE PROCESS IN TANDEM IN THE QUESTION BEFORE, SAY WITH THE COVID TPUPBTD -- FUNDING I KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE USED BEFORE IT EXPIRES AND ON CERTAIN THINGS. I'M CURIOUS AT WHAT POINT IS THE DIRECTIVE TO USE THAT FUNDING FOR THAT PROJECT. WAS THAT BROUGHT BEFORE THE

BOARD OR NOT? >> IT WASN'T BROUGHT DIRECTLY. IT WAS SHARED WITH THE BOARD THAT WE WERE USING -- LOOKING TO USE COVID FUNDS FOR PLAYGROUNDS.

WE LOOKED AT SITES AND LOOKED AT WHAT ARE THE NEEDS AND BASED ON OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AND WHERE WE GET A LOT OF AREAS OF REQUEST AND PLAYGROUNDS ARE ONE OF THOSE AREAS.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE WOOD CHIPS AT THE PLAYGROUNDS AND THEY ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THE WOOD CHIPS. WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT SO WE MADE THE DECISION BASED ON THAT SAYING THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS WE FEEL COVID FUNDS COULD HELP

SUPPORT BECAUSE THERE ARE RESTRICTS -- RESTRICTIONS. >> I THINK IT IS GREAT, BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE PROCESS. WE MENTIONED AT SOME POINT ASKING THE BOARD WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE FUNDINGS. I'M CURIOUS HOW IT HAS HAPPENED

IN THE PAST. >> I THINK IT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK PROCESS-WISE WE NEED TO CALL OUT MORE ESSENTIALLY. WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON THE BUDGET AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE IDEA. IN THAT MEETING YOU GUYS SAID OKAY LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH THE WHOLE BUDGET. WE NEEDED TO PROBABLY -- I CAN SEE HOW WE CAN POINT THAT OUT MORE AND SAY, LOOK, WE LOOKED INTO IT.

>> THAT'S A BIG WIN. NEW PLAYGROUNDS IS SOMETHING WE CAN HIGHLIGHT AND TALK ABOUT.

IT IS GOOD TO KNOW IT IS HAPPENING. I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.

ALSO THE CAFETERIA, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE DOING PRETTY GOOD CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME THE FOOD SERVICES, HOW THEY BILL SITES FOR THEIR FOOD? THE REASON I'M ASKING IS I HAVE NOTICED -- I HAD A COUPLE CONVERSATIONS, ONE MORE RECENTLY AT BELLFLOWER HIGH, SEEING THE INVOICE FROM FOOD SERVICES. THEY CREATE PROFIT CORRECT?

>> SORRY. THAT'S OUR CATERING DEPARTMENT. OUR CATERING DEPARTMENT, YES.

IT CREATES PROFIT FOR THAT AREA BUT IN TERMS OF FOOD FOR STUDENTS, THEY WOULD NOT BILL.

SKWRAOEUL IS THAT -- WHEN IT SAYS CAFETERIA IS IT THE SAME THING?

>> THAT WOULDN'T BE TIED TO THAT FUND. >> WHERE IS FOOD SERVICES IN

THIS? >> SO FOOD SERVICES -- OH MY MICROPHONE IS NOT ON. SORRY. SO THAT IS THE CAFETERIA FUND WITH REGARDS TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS, ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH STUDENTS.

THE CATERING IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE FUND THAT IS MONITOR -- MONITORED BY THAT

DEPARTMENT. >> SO WE DON'T SEE THOSE NUMBERS?

>> KREBLGT -- CORRECT. THEY BILL OUR SITES FOR THE FOOD, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT. >> SO WE PAY -- SO HONESTLY I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS.

SO THEY ARE A COMPLETELY SEPARATE ENTITY. >> THEY ARE UNDER US.

IT IS LIKE THE ASB ACCOUNT. SO THE SAME AS FUND 8 IN REGARDS TO KEEPING THE FUNDS SEPARATE. WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT WE ARE NOT MIXING THE FUNDS THAT WE ARE GETTING FOR OUR STUDENTS SO THEY KEEP THEM SEPARATE.

>> SO WE HAVE NO OVERSIGHT OF THAT? >> WE HAVE OVERSIGHT LIKE WE DO WITH THE -- WITH THE ASB FUNDING, BUT NOT LIKE WITH THE CAFETERIA FUNDS IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAFETERIA FUNDS. THEIR FUNDS COULD CONTRIBUTE

INTO OUR CAFETERIA FUNDS. >> SO WERE THEY PROFITABLE THIS PAST YEAR?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE EXACT NUMBERS FOR YOU TO LET YOU KNOW.

>> IF IT IS PROFITABLE THAT MONEY WOULD COME BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND, RIGHT?

>> IT COULD. YES. IT AND IT COULD GO TO SUPPORT

THE ADDITIONAL THINGS THEY MAY WANT TO DO AS WELL. >> OKAY.

>> THERE ARE DISTRICTS -- LIKE THE ONE IN SANTA BARBARA, THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD THEY COULD SELL TO OTHER AGENCIES AND PASS A BUDGET WITH THAT. IF PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY LIKING

[03:05:02]

I APPRECIATE IT. >> POINT OF ORDER, BOARD PRESIDENT I AM GOING TO NEED TO

LEAVE FOR AN ADA ACCOMMODATION. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET CYCLE MAYBE -- LET ME ASK YOU THIS FIRST QUESTION. CAN YOU REMIND ME WHEN IT WAS THAT WE ADOPTED AND WENT

FORWARD TO USING SOME OF OUR BUDGET FOR FACILITIES? >> SORRY.

WHEN WE ADOPTED OR WHEN WE COMMITTED? >> WHEN WE COMMITTED.

>> THAT WAS OUR ADOPTION OF THE 23-24. SO THAT WAS BACK IN JUNE.

>> BACK IN JUNE. >> I THANK YOU. SEEING THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING

THAT WAS MORE BOARD DRIVEN, CORRECT? >> CORRECT.

WHEN IN THIS CYCLE DOES THE BOARD ACTUALLY GET TO NOT JUST APPROVE THE BUDGET THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS, BUT MAYBE RECOMMENDS AND SUGGESTS AREAS OF WHERE WE ALSO AS A BOARD FEEL THAT ARE NECESSARY CHANGES TO THE BUDGET. I KNOW THAT THAT WAS -- I KNOW THAT WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME I EVER EXPERIENCED THAT BEING ON THE BOARD FOR THREE YEARS NOW. I'M HAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO NOT JUST RECEIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR STAFF, BUT US AS WELL. IF WE FIND THAT WE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT A CERTAIN PROGRAM, A CERTAIN DIRECTION THAT WE GIVE THAT INPUT TOO.

I DON'T SEE THAT ON HERE. MAYBE I MISSED IT AT SOME POINT.

IT IS NOT VERY CLEAR TO ME. >> DURING THAT TIME WHEN WE ARE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF WHERE THO*S ITEMS COULD -- THOSE ITEMS COULD BE COMMITTED.

AT THAT TIME THE BOARD CAN SAY WE WOULD LIKE TO INSTEAD LOOK AT MAKING CHANGES AND MAKING THE COMMITMENTS TO THAT. WE PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH MORE OF A GENERAL GUIDANCE WHICH IS WHY YOU SEE IT AS FACILITY REPAIRS AND AS DR. DRATTI SAID WE COULD LOOK AT SOME OF THE ITEMS WE HAVE IN THE FASTER FACILITY PLAN AND SAY THAT IS UNDER DELAYED FACILITIES REPAIRS AND NOW WE WANT TO SPELL IT OUT AND IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE ITEMS ACTUALLY ARE.

AND WE SAY WE WANT TO TAKE 12 MILLION FROM THAT TO DO THIS BASED ON THE DELAYED FACILITIES AND TAKE IT FURTHER. IT WOULD REQUIRE A RESOLUTION TO MAKE THE CHANGES BECAUSE

CURRENTLY THEY ARE COMMITTED. >> OKAY. >>

>> SO IT IS -- IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET VERY CLOSE TO THE BUDGET WHERE THE CHOICES ARE. AND IF WE DO THIS THIS MEETING WE WANT DO THIS.

AS LONG AS WE ARE CLEAR ON THAT AND WE CAN NAME IT, IT MAKES IT EASY.

THE CHALLENGE BETWEEN WHEN YOU DO THAT AND -- AS WE ARE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION, SAY STAFF IS MAKING A RECOMMENDATION, WE ALREADY CALCULATED HOW TO SAVE ON THAT.

AND JUST LIKE A RAISE, SAYING THE PERCENTAGE WE RECOMMEND ON THAT, IN MY MIND WE ALREADY KNEW WE HAVE TO DO THIS HERE TO UH -- TO AFFORD THAT. WE WOULD NEED THAT KIND OF UNDERSTANDING AS YOU REQUEST SOMETHING IT IS US LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AND SAYING THAT MEANS WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING HERE AND YOU GUYS GIVE US DIRECTION ON WHERE TO GO FROM

THERE. >> I AGREE WITH YOU. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE GONNA NEED AND TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS MORE OFTEN PERHAPS. THAT WAY WE ARE ON THE SAME

[03:10:06]

IS IT JULY 24TH THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE STATE BUDGET? IF YOU CAN PINPOINT FOR ME EXACTLY WHERE AND WHEN THAT WOULD HAPPEN, THAT WOULD BE

WONDERFUL. >> YEAH. IT WOULD BE WHEN THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED, BUT IT ALSO COULD HAPPEN AT THE INTERIM PHASE WHERE WE SHARE WITH YOU WHERE IT IS. AT THAT POINT IF THERE IS SOMETHING THE BOARD WANTS TO DO IN TERMS OF CHANGING THE COMMITTED FUNDS, WE WOULD BRING A R-S -- RESOLUTION AND MAKE THE CHANGES BASED ON THAT. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN TO MAKE IT MORE GENERIC TO GIVE THE FLEXIBILITY. IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GETTING MORE SPECIFIC, THAT CAN BE DONE THERE. WITH THE DELAYED FACILITY REPAIR WE COULD LOOK AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS UNDER THE FASTER FACILITY AND/OR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT AS SHARED BEFORE DIDN'T COME TO FRUITION IN THE BOND. THAT WOULD BE THE DECISION THE

BOARD IF YOU WANTED TO SPELL IT OUT MORE THERE. >> THAT CONVERSATION HAS TO

OCCUR BETWEEN THOSE MEETINGS, RIGHT? >> YES.

>> SO YOU ARE NOT AT THE BOARD MEETING, YOU ARE TRYING TO DECIDE SPH-BG -- SOMETHING YOU WOULD HAVE IN YOUR MIND THE UNDERSTANDING IF WE DO IT THIS MEANS THAT.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR ANYONE ELSE ON THE BOARD RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME AS A BOARD MEMBER IF STAFF TELLS ME THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE CAN NOW ENTERTAIN BOARD MEMBER SUGGESTIONS. WE HAVE NEVER, IN THE THREE YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE, EVER ENTERTAINED A BOARD MEMBER SUGGESTION OTHER THAN THE FACILITIES PORTION. AND THAT WAS STILL RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.

I'M LOOKING TO ALSO ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT WE HAVE TO COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS ALREADY KIND OF THIS PROCESS AND THIS BUDGET HAS BEEN

ALLOCATED, BUT MOVING FORWARD AND WE NEED TO BE PART OF THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND ESPECIALLY -- SO IN JUNE YOU HAVE TWO MEETINGS, RIGHT? YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING WHERE THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS PRESENTED, BUT YOU DON'T UH CONTINUE -- ADOPT IT.

THE FIRST MEETING IS A GOOD TIME WHERE CLING -- CHANGES CAN BE MADE.

THAT WOULD BE IN THE JUNE ADOPTION? >> YES.

>> ADDITIONALLY DURING THIS CYCLE HERE, IF AT ANY TIME THE BOARD CAN BRING A RESOLUTION AND WE CAN MAKE THOSE CHANGES. AS DR. DRATTI WAS SAYING IF WE BRING FORWARD A FACILITIES PRESENTATION AND IF THE BOARD GIVES DIRECTION BASED ON WHAT WE ARE COMMITTED THAT IS

SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT. >> OKAY. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT CONFUSING ANYONE. I AM NOT SAYING WE WANT CHANGE OR A STRATEGIC PLAN GOING FORWARD. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO AND DIFFICULT THINGS WE MAY ENCOUNTER IN THE FUTURE WHICH OBVIOUSLY WE ARE GONNA TAKE OUR BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS INTO MIND. BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL. THANK YOU.

>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY I AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK WHAT WE ARE THINKING IS WE TALK WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WE HEAR A LOT OF THINGS.

I NEVER HEARD PLAYGROUNDS. MAYBE THAT. BUT WAS THE COMMUNITY SURVEYED ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE OR IS IT JUST THE STAFF AT THE SITES?

>> FOR THAT ONE BECAUSE AGAIN THE FUNDING WE HAVE TO USE IT WITHIN A TIME FRAME AND KNOWING HOW MUCH FUNDING WE HAD, WE DID REALLY WORK WITH JUST THE SITES AS WELL AS OUR MAINTENANCE

DEPARTMENT. >> ANYONE, QUESTIONS COMMENTS? >> IF I MAY, WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST THE POSSIBILITY OF A FOUNDATION. I'M CURIOUS, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF A TIMELINE STP I HAVE NEVER STARTED -- TIMELINE.

I HAVE NEVER STARTED A FOUNDATION BEFORE. DO YOU SEE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND IS THAT SOMETHING THE DISTRICT SHOULD CONSIDER?

WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? >> IT IS PART OF MY RECOMMENDATION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT DON'T DO THAT ARE MISSING OUT ON RESOURCES THEY CAN GET. THAT IS VERY FLEXIBLE. TIMELINE-WISE, MY GOAL IS TO

[03:15:03]

>> IF I MAY, I HAVE ALSO NEVER CREATED A RESOLUTION BEFORE SO MAYBE LEGAL, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD WORK, BUT WOULD THAT BE A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION IF THE BOARD WERE TO DISCUSS AND AGREE THAT THE CREATION OF A DISTRICT FOUNDATION WOULD BE A GOOD THING STP.

>> THAT WOULD BE A STEP TOWARD CREATING A DISTRICT FOUNDATION IS BY A RES -- RESOLUTION.

YES. >> THANK YOU. >> AND IF WE DID HAVE RESOLUTIONS WE WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, BRING UP, WOULD THAT BE UNDER THE NEW BUSINESS?

HOW WOULD THAT WORK? >> YES. OR JUST TALKING TO ME.

IN IS WHAT WHAT I -- THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO. THE NEW BUSINESS WAS MORE OR LESS SOMEBODY WANTED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ON THE RADAR.

A LOT OF TIMES WE TRY TO TAKE INFORMATION AND KNOW WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO GO AND STATUTORY -- THINGS WE HAVE TO DO AS WELL AS ADDRESSING THE TIME.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE ONE-TIME THINGS THAT ALL OF YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT WHERE YOU COME TO ME AND I HAVE TO ASK PERMISSION AND NOT HAVE THE CLARITY THIS ALLOWS ASKING

PEERS. >> I WOULD ADD MAYBE AT THIS POINT THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE BOARD. YOU HAVE DONE SOME LEG WORK. YOU ARE NOT JUST SAYING, HEY, I

HAVE THIS IDEA. DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT? >> AND OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE LIMITATIONS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU CAN TALK TO AND I DON'T. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SAY CAN YOU LOOK INTO THIS AND THEN IF IT POPS UP, THAT IS NOT A PART OF THE NEW BUSINESS, THAT'S BECAUSE EVERYBODY AGREES. SAY I CAN'T GET CLARITY ON THAT, I WILL GO BACK TO YOU AND SAY, LOOK, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY IS ON THERE. IF YOU WANT TO BRING IT AND ASK YOUR BOARD MEMBERS I WILL SAY THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU TO ASK I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEING DONE IN JUNE. I WONDER, WE HAVE A MACRO CALENDAR, WE CAN ADD THAT FOR THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS AT THAT TIME. THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO -- I HAVE A MOTION? A MOTION TO APPROVE. THANK YOU.

>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS. >> DO I HAVE A SECOND.

>> YOU HAVE A SECOND. >> ROLL CALL PLEASE. >> MS. ARMSTRONG.

>> I. >> MS. STEWART. >> I.

>> MR. CRIHFIELD. >> I. >> MRS. GARZA.

>> I. >> THANK YOU. THE NEXT I -- ITEM IS THE GANN LIMIT. DO WE HAVE INFORMATION ON THIS ITEM?

>> THESE TWO ARE CONNECTED WITH THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, BUT THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE STEPS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE AND UNDER THE AGO ACTUALS AND MRS. HOLGUNN WILL TAKE IT

THROUGH -- TAKE US THROUGH IT. >> THERE IS A GANN LIMIT FORM AND THIS IS A CURRENT ED CODE THAT REQUIRES THE GOVERNING BOARD TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO IDENTIFY THE APPORTION MEANT LIMITS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. EACH DISTRICT IS REQUIRED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. ANNUALLY IT IS APPROPRIATION -- SORRY, SUBJECT TO THAT LIMITATION AND THAT IS THE AMOUNT OF ITS STAKE AID APPORTION MEANT AND WITHIN THE PROCEEDS OF THE TAXES AND THE AMOUNTS EXCLUDED FROM THOSE LIMITS.

THE DISTRICT MUST HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT SHOWS THOSE AMOUNTS.

THAT'S PART OF YOUR BOARD ITEM THERE. TONIGHT WE ARE JUST SHOWING WHAT THE AMOUNTS ARE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 22-23 AND 23-24. 22-23 BEING THE PRECEDING AS SHARED IN THAT INFORMATION. THIS IS A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY DISTRICT HAS TO DO

[03:20:08]

FROM THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS. >> THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG,

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE.

>> BOARD MEMBER STEWART? >> NO, THANK YOU. >> BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD?

>> NO. NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> AND I HAVE NO QUESTIONS EITHER. SEEING THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE GANN LIMIT. >> YOU HAVE A MOTION.

>> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. ROLL CALL PLEASE.

>> MS. ARMSTRONG. >> I. >> MS. STEWART.

>> I. >> MR. CRIHFIELD. >> I.

>> MRS. GARZA. >> I. WE MOVE NOW TO THE CONSENT

[13. CONSENT AGENDA]

IN I AGENDA ITEMS THIS EVENING? >> I WOULD LIKE TO WITHHOLD 13.5.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO WITHHOLD SOME PURCHASE ORDERS, THE 240-0473.

>> SO THAT WOULD BE ITEM -- >> LET ME SEE. THE PURCHASE ORDER IS 13.14.

THAT ONE AND THE OTHER PURCHASE ORDER -- >> POINT OF ORDER, I THINK YOU

JUST PULL THE WHOLE ITEM. >> OKAY, 13.14. >> OKAY.

13.14. >> OKAY. ANYONE ELSE HAVE AN ITEM THEY

WISH TO WITHHOLD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> DO WE HAVE A 13.14?

>> IT IS UNDER THE -- IT IS 13 CONSENT AGENDA AND A BUNCH OF ITEMS.

THAT'S NUMBER 14. >> THANK YOU. I SIGH -- I SEE WHERE THE DISCONNECT. LET'S MOVE FORWARD. OKAY.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA EXEMPT -- EXCEPT 13.5 AND 13.14 WHICH

HAVE BEEN PULLED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? >> SO MOVED.

>> DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> YES YOU HAVE A SECOND. >> I SECOND.

>> PERFECT. ROLL CALL PLEASE. >> MS. ARMSTRONG?

>> I. >> MRS. STEWART. >> I.

>> MR. CRIHFIELD? >> I. >> MRS. GARZA STP.

>> I. GOING BACK TO THE ITEMS WITHHELD FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION, FIRST IS THEIR -- 13.5. WHICH HAS BEEN PULLED BY BOARD

MEMBER STEWART. DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE ITEM? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY. >> I JUST PULLED THIS ITEM 13.5, DISCONTINUE WEDNESDAY OF SERVICE OF PERSONNEL, AND JUST THE REASON IS I TALKED TO DR. DRATTI, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE WHAT SITES, IF WE CAN LIST THE SITES ON WHERE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING FROM.

WHEN DO IT WHEN WE HIRE, BUT IT IS NOT ON THERE FOR THE SITES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THESE EMPLOYEES ARE RESIGNING OR MOVING ON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SITES THEY ARE AT. CAN WE HAVE IT LIST OWED THAT SHEET IN THE FUTURE?

H -- LISTED ON THE SHEET IN THE FUTURE? >> THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG?

>> NO. >> BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD? >> NOPE.

>> I HAVE NONE AS WELL. MAY I PLEASE HAVE -- DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM?

I'M SORRY. ROLL CALL. >> MS. ARMSTRONG.

>> I. >> MS. STEWART. >> I.

>> MR. CRIHFIELD. >> I. >> MRS. GARZA.

>> I. >> OUR NEXT ITEM WITHHELD IS ITEM 13.14.

[03:25:05]

, PO'S. DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND? >> THANK YOU. >> THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY

BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. >> THANK YOU, BOARD PRESIDENT GARZA.

SO LAST MONTH I ASKED ABOUT ADDING AN ADDITIONAL SCORE -- KWAUR RUM -- QUARUM AND -- FIRM AND WE APPROVED TWO FIRM PREVIOUSLY. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OMLA IS THE GENERAL COUNSEL, RIGHT? OKAY.

WHY IS PURCHASE ORDER 240-0528 FOR AAL R AND R IN THE AMOUNT OF -- EXCESS OF 17,000 IS HIGHER THAN THE PURCHASE ORDER 240-0473. THAT WAS FOR OMLA IN THE AMOUNT OF -- IN EXCESS OF 14,000. DO WE TRULY ONLY HAVE ONE GENERAL COUNSEL?

>> WE HAVE ONE GENERAL COUNSEL. THE LLR DEALS WITH SPECIAL ED. SPECIAL ED CASH DASH THEY DO --

SPECIAL ED IS A SPECIAL AREA AND WILL HAVE MORE. >> SO GOING BACK, THAT'S WHY I AM ASKING BECAUSE I WAS TOLD -- YOU WEREN'T HERE WHEN WE PUT OUT THE REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS ONLY FOR GENERAL COUNSEL. THANK YOU FOR JUST -- I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT'S WHY I WITHDREW MY MOTION. I'M LIKE, IT WASN'T JUST FOR GENERAL COUNSEL BECAUSE WE DID GENERAL COUNSEL AND WE DID SPED.

SO I WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR. >> BOARD MEMBER STEWART? >> NO QUESTIONS.

>> BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD? >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WAS FOR GENERAL COUNSEL.

WE DID BEFORE THE PROS IT IS WAS -- PROCESS WAS COMPLETED WE DID APPROVE LLAR BEFORE THE PROCESS, BUT THE UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ONCE THE PROCESS WAS DONE THAT WAS OUR SELECTED GENERAL COUNSEL AND THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR GENERAL COUNSEL.

I THINK THAT WAS THE IDEA. I KNOW I ASKED BEFORE BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE SPENT ON LEGAL TO DATE, I THINK THAT WAS REQUESTED BEFORE. I DO APPRECIATE THE CHANGES IN THE PO'S AND HOW WE ARE DOING IT NOW AND I APPRECIATE THE TRANSPARENCY IN BILLING THAT WE HAVE MOVED TOWARD AS OPPOSED TO OLD PRACTICES WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE.

IT WAS CRAZY AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK TO CLEAN IT UP. THAT NUMBER WOULD BE HELPFUL SO THE BOARD KNOWS KIND OF WHERE WE ARE AT. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

IS IT MY -- IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE MOVING TOWARD CONSOLIDATING TO

JUST ONE FIRM? >> YES, WE ARE. YOU SAW THE REMANENCE OF THAT

EARLIER TODAY. >> YEAH. >> WE ARE GONNA -- WE WILL GET MORE AND MORE SPECIAL ED CASES AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED TO SEE SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION. IN TERMS OF YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TO DATE, WE ARE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO CRUNCH SOME NUMBERS

AND GET IT TO YOU IN THE FRIDAY MEMOS. >> I YOU PRAOERB -- I APPRECIATE YOUR APPROACH. I THINK KEEPING ONE FIRM AND LOWEST COSTS AND WE WANT OUR DISTRICT TO HAVE THE BEST REPRESENTATION POSSIBLE AND I APPRECIATE THE CAUTIOUS APPROACH OF SLOWLY MOVING ISSUES OVER AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS SOME PROGRESS THERE, BUT DOING IT CASE BY CASE AND NOT JUST DOING IT ABRUPTLY SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

THAT'S MY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

I'M SORRY. SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN HAVING GENERAL COUNSEL IN OUR OPEN SESSIONS. HOW MUCH IS IT COSTING US PER SESSION NOW, EVERY TIME WE HAVE A BOARD MEETING, HOW MUCH IS THAT COSTING US TO HAVE A BOARD MEETING?

>> WE ARE GONNA INCLUDE THAT AS PART OF THE BREAK DOWN THAT WE GIVE YOU GUYS.

I THINK A REQUEST CAME TO US TO PROVIDE WHERE WE ARE YEAR TO DATE IN TERMS OF THE COSTS.

WE WILL BREAK IT DOWN TO WHAT IT IS, SPECIAL EDUCATION, BOARD MEETINGS.

[03:30:06]

WE WILL BREAK IT DOWN SO YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURE. >> THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS PREVIOUSLY WE HAD VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TIME. WE HAD GENERAL COUNSEL, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE GENERAL COUNSEL SITTING IN OUR OPEN SESSIONS, FOR REASONS GOING HOURS UPON HOURS. IT WAS REALLY COSTING US UNLESS THEY ARE GIVING US A FLAT RATE FOR ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS. AND LIKE I SAID, WE RARELY HAD OUR COUNSEL AT OUR MEETINGS.

SO IT DIDN'T COST US SO TO SPEAK. NOW WE HAVE A COST ATTACHED TO HAVING BOARD MEETINGS. LIKE I SAY, I WAS PART OF BEING BASHED FOR ATTORNEY FEES, AND TO SEE THIS IS JUST -- I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, I JUST -- I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU. >> I THINK -- I THINK YOU GUYS WILL DIRECT ME ON HOW TO DO THAT. WHAT I WILL DO IS PROVIDE YOU INFORMATION.

THEN WE WILL GET DIRECTION FROM YOU GUYS ON WHERE WE GO. >> MADAM PRESIDENT IF I MAY?

CAN I GO? >> I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION. WHO MAKES THE DECISION TO MOVE TO ONE GENERAL COUNSEL? OR WHO MADE THAT DECISION? I HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THAT

BEFORE. >> I COULD HAVE SWORN THAT I HEARD -- MAYBE I NEED TO

CLARIFY. >> I CAN ANSWER THAT. WHEN WE WENT TO A SUBCOMMITTEE, THE TASK AT HAND WAS TO COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR GENERAL COUNSEL SO THAT THE CONSENSUS IN THAT COMMITTEE WAS TO KEEP IT TO ONE COUNSEL. SO WHEN WE CAME OUT AND THERE WAS THE CONFUSION WITH THE TWO AND WE WERE TRYING TO WORK ON THE PREVIOUS COUNSEL, IT HAS BEEN A PROCESS, BUT A CAUTIOUS ONE. PHO*ES -- MOST OF THE -- IF I MAY, BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG, THE BILLING PRACTICES HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD, AND ALL OF THOSE COSTS ARE IN THE FRIDAY MEMO. YOU CAN SEE EVERY MEETING AND I'M NOT GONNA DISAGREE WITH

YOU. TURNS OUT LAWYERS MAKE A LOT. >> I'M SORRY.

BUT THE REASON FOR MY QUESTION IS BECAUSE I WANTED THE ANSWER TO BE PUBLIC.

>> OH, OKAY. >> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAD THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND THEY WANTED TO PICK A GENERAL COUNSEL, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE SAID WE WANTED TO GO ONLY TO ONE. WE WANTED TO NAME A GENERAL COUNSEL, BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD UNTIL RIGHT NOW OF MOVING EVERYTHING AND ONLY HAVING ONE COUNSEL.

>> SO THE TASK WAS TO SELECT -- THE BOARD ONLY VOTED ON ONE COUNSEL.

SKWR*EU -- WE VOTED FOR A -- >> THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SUBCOMMITTEE, GOING THROUGH

LOTS OF HOURS OF INTERVIEWS -- >> I KNOW IT. YOU KNOW I WANTED TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT AND RETAIN AS MANY ATTORNEYS FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

>> RIGHT. >> THAT'S WHY I CAME BACK TO TALK ABOUT GENERAL COUNSEL AND

NOW WE HAVE TWO. >> RIGHT. AND SO THAT PROCESS, SELECTING THE ONE GENERAL COUNSEL, THAT WAS THE TASK AND THAT IS WHAT WE VOTED ON.

THERE WAS A -- I BELIEVE IT WAS DR. ANDRATTI, VERY, VERY EARLY ON WE HAD CASES WE NEEDED COUNSEL IMMEDIATELY AND WE DID AS A BOARD APPROVE THAT COUNSEL.

THE TASK OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE WAS TO SELECT OUR GENERAL COUNSEL, RIGHT?

AND THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT IS OUR COUNSEL. >> AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE DYE TPHAPL -- DYNAMICS, BUT WE ARE SAYING WE ARE MOVING FOR CLARIFICATION MOVING EVERYTHING TO ONE COUNSEL AND I AM JUST WONDER WHOG MAKES THAT DECISIOT DECISION? DOES THE BOARD MAKE THE DECISION? DO CERTAIN PEOPLE ON THE BOARD MAKE THE DECISION? DOES A SUBCOMMITTEE?

AGAIN I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT UNTIL TONIGHT. >> LET ME GIVE CONTEXT.

WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE I KNEW YOU GUYS HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE PREVIOUS COUNSEL.

WE WERE GOING NOWHERE FAST. THERE WERE CASES ON TOP OF US WE HAD TO ADDRESS WHETHER IT WAS WITH THIS OR THAT. I KNEW WE NEEDED COUNSEL RIGHT AWAY.

YOU NOTICE THE PROTS SUCCESS IS TAKING -- PROCESS IS TAKING LONGER.

WE HAD SEVERAL DAYS OF INTERVIEWS AND IT WOULD BE ANOTHER MONTH UNTIL A DECISION WAS MADE. THE CASES WERE PILING UP ON US. I CONVINCED YOU GUYS SAYING I KNOW AALR. IF YOU ARE GOOD WITH THEM I CAN BRING THEM IN TO TAKE ON THESE

[03:35:03]

AT THE SAME TIME YOU WANT TO KEEP TRACK OF THE BUILDING. YOU HAVE PREVIOUS COUNSEL AND THEN AMLO I THOUGHT I HEARD IN CLOSED SESSION THAT THIS IS GETTING CON FUELS -- MERGE EVEE CAN TRACK THE BUDGET BETTER, IS A LOGICAL REASON. DO I THINK WE CAN HAVE MORE THAN ONE COUNSEL? I THINK WE DO. EVENTUALLY WE ARE GET -- GETTING INTO COMPLICATED SITUATIONS. SOME WILL NEED A SECOND OPINION ON THIS AND HAVING THE PROTECTION OR SOME OTHER FIRMS HAVE A GOOD FEEL FOR CERTAIN AREAS WE CAN LOOK INTO. HAVING THAT AT OUR DISPOSAL HELPS.

THEY ARE NOT JUST ON RETAINER AND THERE TO -- THEY ONLY GET PAID WHEN THEY ARE DOING WORK.

SO LET'S JUST SAY IF ALR IS ON THE BOOKS AND WE NEVER CALL THEM FOR ANYTHING, YOU WILL

NEVER SEE A BILL SAME WITH AMLO. >> I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THAT.

I AM SAYING HOW DID IT GET MADE? WAS IT A DISCUSSION? DID WE VOTE ON IT? HOW DID THAT DECISION GET MADE TO DO THAT?

>> IT WAS MY READ FROM THE CONVERSATION I HEARD. >> SO YOU MADE THAT DECISION TO

GO TO ONE GENERAL COUNSEL ONLY? >> YES. >> NO.

>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. I AM CONFUSED. MAYBE IF I HAD MORE INFORMATION

I WOULD UNDERSTAND, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND NOW. >> PART OF THE CONFUSION IS GOING IN A SUBCOMMITTEE. I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE LAID OUT AND HOW IT CAN WORK. A HIGH-FUNCTIONING BOARD IS GOOD AT GETTING STUFF DONE.

>> IF WE ALL HAVE THE INFORMATION. >> IN SUBCOMMITTEE THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO T THAT'S WHERE REPORTING -- I AGREE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE REPORTING OUT FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE. I DO AGREE WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A STRUCTURED, AGREED UPON BREAK DOWN OF HOW WE ARE GRADING EACH PEOPLE AND WE CAN DO BETTER NEXT TIME BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR A GENERAL

COUNSEL. THE PROCESS WAS ACCURATE. >> I AM NOT DENYING THAT PART OF IT OF HOW WE CHOSE IT. AGAIN, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION WE WOULD HAVE TWO GENERAL COUNSELS SO TO MOVE TO ONE TPH-PL YES -- I AM QUESTIONING.

NOT THE PROCESS. I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT. WHEN WE DECIDED TO MOVE AND HAVE ONE ONLY. AND I GUESS FOR CLARIFICATION, IF WE DO DO THAT WITH THE CONTRACTS, WE DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE CONTRACTS, WE JUST DON'T APPROVE ANOTHER ONE?

>> I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THAT. IT IS THE USE OF IT. IT IS THE USE OF THE PEOPLE.

YOU CAN HAVE PEOPLE UNDER RETAINER AND NOT USE THEM. THE ONLY REASON WAS CONVERSATION AROUND THE BILLING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. ALWAYS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO IS PRESENTING WHAT CASE AND IT BECAME -- I THINK THERE WAS ALSO A NEED FOR YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE THE GENERAL COUNSEL KNEW WHAT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION COUNSELOR WAS ALSO DOING.

INSTEAD OF HAVING TWO FIRMS TALK, THEN THE LOGICAL THING IS LET'S SEE HOW THIS WORKS IF THE

SAME FIRM HAS A SPECIAL ED MEETING WITH GENERAL COUNSEL. >> AND LAST THING I WILL SAY --

>> BUT TO -- TO MRS. STEWART'S POINT WE STPHEFR -- NEVER BROUGHT IT FOR DISCUSSION.

IT WAS A READ OF INDIVIDUAL CON SRER SATISFACTIONS I -- INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS I HAD WHERE THE STAFF -- THEY CAME TO ME AND SAID WHO SHOULD TAKE OVER THIS CASE? THAT'S WHY I DIRECTED IT GIVEN THE DIRECTION LET'S MOVE THIS DIRECTION.

BECAUSE OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS. MAYBE I READ WRONG. >> BUT ALSO IN JUST KIND OF REMINDING THE BOARD WHO IS PRESENT, WHEN WE DO GO THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS WE DID SAY ONE GENERAL COUNSEL. THAT IS WHAT WAS DIRECTED OF STAFF.

SO NOW IT HAS BEEN A VERY LENGTHY, DIFFICULT PROCESS FOR US AS STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS AND A LOT OF COSTS -- CAUSES OF CONFUSION. YOU'RE RIGHT THOUGH.

THERE WAS A NEED TO GET ALL OF IT ORGANIZED AND SIFT THROUGH IT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ONLY ARRIVED AT ONE WHICH WHICH WAS -- WHICH WAS WHAT THE RFP WAS ASKING FOR.

[03:40:09]

NONE OF OUR STAFF, NONE, AS WELL VERSED AS THEY ARE, ARE ATTORNEYS.

NOT EVEN OUR SUPERINTENDENT. HE IS NOT AN ATTORNEY. WE ARE PROTECTING THE DISTRICT

BY HAVING A GENERAL COUNSEL PRESENT AT THAT TIME. >> AND WE CAN ALWAYS REFER OUR CABINET AND OUR SUPERINTENDANT TO CONTACT LEGAL WHEN WE NEED IT.

OR WHEN WE NEED CLARIFICATION. WE COULD. >> YOU'RE CORRECT.

>> THAT WAY -- BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE GENERAL COUNSEL IN OUR MEETINGS.

>> YOU'RE CORRECT, BUT THAT'S ALSO -- >> AND YOU STILL FUSSED ABOUT HOW MUCH HE WAS BEING PAID. BUT NOW THEY ARE SITTING UP HERE IT WILL 10:00, 11:00.

>> BUT THAT ALSO ACTUALLY DOESN'T HELP US AS WE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS. IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE BUSINESS OF THAT MOMENT, GENERAL COUNSEL BEING HERE IS VERY USEFUL TO US BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT A WHOLE TWO WEEKS TO GET THAT INFORMATION BACK. I PERSONALLY FOR ONE DO NOT WANT A MEDIATOR BETWEEN OUR GENERAL COUNSEL AND THE BOARD. THERE SHOULD NEVER, EVER, EVER BE A PLACE WHERE ANYONE IS A GO BETWEEN BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ONLY THEY CAN

TELL US, NOT ANYONE ELSE ON OUR STAFF. >> SO WITH THAT, I UNDERSTAND YOU JUST TOTALLY OVER LOOKED THE SUPERINTENDENT? I'M JUST ASKING.

>> NO. I THINK YOU MISS INTERPRETED ME.

I CAN GIVE YOU SOME CLARIFICATION RIGHT NOW, SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.

SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IF WE HAVE A QUESTION THAT PERTAINS TO LEGAL ISSUES, ONLY OUR GENERAL COUNSEL CAN GIVE US THOSE ANSWERS. OUR SUPERINTENDENT CAN GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON WHAT OUR GENERAL COUNSEL TELLS US IS WITHIN OUR MEANS AND LEGALLY WE CAN DO AND STAFF CAN CHIME IN AND GIVE US INFORMATION. THAT'S A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.

THAT IS WHY THEY ARE HERE. IF THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD FEELS THEY DON'T NEED TO BE HERE, THEN THAT IS THE DECISION THAT WE CAN MAKE AT THAT TIME, BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEN WE ARE OPEN TO ANY TYPE OF LITIGATION BECAUSE THE DISTRICT WAS NOT PROTECTED IN THAT WAY WHEN WE MADE THOSE DECISIONS. IF I'M WRONG, GENERAL COUNSEL, LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> GENERAL COUNSEL REPRESENTS THE DISTRICT. BOARD MEMBERS HAVE THE ABILITY AND AN ACCESSIBILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH GENERAL COUNSEL.

TO YOUR POINT, THIS IS A COST. THERE CAN BE, IT DEPENDS ON THE DISTRICT, BUT THE -- BUT ALSO NOT HAVING THEM READILY AVAILABLE. IT DEPENDS ON THE DISTRICT.

IT DEPENDS ON MANY FACTORS. THERE ARE CONSIDERATIONS TO CONSIDER.

AND BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. DRATTI, IT IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF WE ARE HERE NOW, BUT AS PROGRESS IS HAPPENING, THERE MIGHT NOT NEED TO BE SO MUCH AVAILABILITY OR

SO MUCH PRESENCE. >> MADAM PRESIDENT IF I MAY? WHAT I WILL SAY IS I THINK THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS A LITTLE BIT SLOW AND BUMPY A BIT. I THINK THE ENTIRE IDEA IS THAT TRANSPARENCY AND OPEN COMMUNICATION AND INCREASING THE FLOW OF INFORMATION AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WERE GOING. AND WITH THE BILLING I WAS NEVER FUSSING ABOUT THE LEGAL COSTS. IT WAS THE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MONEY WE DON'T NEED TO SPEND.

[03:45:01]

EVEN THE ACCOUNTING PROCESS IS TRANSPARENCY AND BILLING IS SO MUCH BETTER NOW.

I APPRECIATE THE CHANGES MADE, BUT THINGS CAN BE CHANGED AS A BOARD AS TO HOW WE GET THE DECISIONS ACROSS. I THINK THEY CAN BE MUCH BETTER WE SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE OF A PRESENTATION OUT OF THAT SUB SUBCOMMITTEE -- SUBCOMMITTEE AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY, BRAD, YOU AND DR. SUE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN INTERVIEWING ALL OF THOSE LAW FIRMS BECAUSE YOU DEFINITELY TOOK ONE FOR THE TEAM FOR ME. I STILL APPRECIATE THE WORK.

>> I BELIEVE IF THERE IS NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS WE CAN TAKE ROLL CALL.

>> MS. ARMSTRONG. >> I. >> MS. STEWART.

>> I. >> MR. CRIHFIELD. >> I.

>> MRS. GARZA. >> I. SO INFORMATIONAL ITEMS IS OUR

[14. INFORMATION ITEMS]

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS THIS EVENING? >> WHAT ARE THE ITEMS?

>> A QUICK REMINDER IS NECESSARY. STAFF, WOULD YOU PLEASE REMIND

US WHAT THE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS WERE? >> IT IS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS. IT WAS BASICALLY A SUMMARY ON THE BOARD ITEMS.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> APPARENTLY I DON'T

UNDERSTAND SO I HAVE NO QUESTIONS EITHER. >> WOULD YOU GIVE US JUST LIKE

A QUICK DESCRIPTION? >> THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

>> THAT BOARD ITEM IS JUST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAL ITEMS, BUT THERE ARE NO INFORMATIONAL

ITEMS THIS EVENING. >> THERE ARE NO ITEMS THIS EVENING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SO IS THE BOARD -- IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 9:42 UNTIL THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY,

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.