[00:00:11]
TONIGHT'S SPECIAL MEETING AND I WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:00 PM. EXTRA SEATING IS PROVIDED AT RAMON ELEMENTARY IN THE CAFETERIA. THE MEETING WILL ALSO BE LIVE STREAMED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE DISTRICT OFFICE CUSTODIAN TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> LITTLE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. LACEY RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR RIGHT HEART. READY, BEGAN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. YOU MAY BE
SEATED. >>> THANK YOU, MR. WEAVER.
TONIGHT , WE DO HAVE REQUEST ADDRESSING CLOSE TO SESSION ITEMS . WHILE THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNING BOARD ARE NOT PUBLIC MEETINGS, THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED 3 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON TODAY PAPAS ONLY AGENDA ITEM AND OF THE BOARD WILL LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT OF EACH ITEM, THE ONLY ITEM, TO 20 MINUTES AS PER BOARD BY LAW 93.22.3.
>> I BELIEVE ROLL CALL WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS – AGENDA ITEMS]
>> THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE TERESA PEREZ TO THE PODIUM.
>> GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TRUSTEES. I AM A MEMBER OF THE MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND HAVE THREE KIDS THAT ATTEND MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE COMMENTS IN REGARD TO THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. I ENCOURAGED THE BOARD TO APPOINT A LEADER WHO IS ALREADY DEVELOP TRUST WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS . THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART AS THE BOARD CONTINUES DOWN ON THIS PATH. DURING THE PERIOD OF INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, ASK THAT THE BOARD PLEASE CONSIDER THE ACTIONS FOR THE PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT. COMPLETION OF AN ONLINE SURVEY, QUALITIES COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANT AND DO NOT WANT FOR SUPERINTENDENT, HOLDING COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE CONVERSATIONS BE HELD AT SCHOOLS LOCATIONS WHERE PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ALREADY FAMILIAR AND COMFORTABLE ATTENDING. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SUGGEST A SCREENING COMMITTEE BE CREATED AND THE COMMITTEE COULD INCLUDE STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. IT IS NOT A SEARCHED COMMITTEE AND WOULD NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE ULTIMATE DECISION-MAKING ROLE.
IT COULD FORWARD THE TOP 10 TO 12 CANDIDATES TO THE BOARD AND THE BOARD CAN NARROW THE LIST OF THE TOP THREE CANDIDATES TO INTERVIEW. AND 2014 SERENA SCHOLARS EMBARKED ON A NEW SUPERINTENDENT . IT WAS VERY SLOW AND DELIBERATE BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT IS APPROACHING HIS NINE YEAR ANNIVERSARY THIS JULY 2024 WHICH IS EXCEPTIONAL FOR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE SUPERINTENDENT. AS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WE HELD CAMPUS FORUMS WITH THE TOP THREE CANDIDATES AND SOLICITED THE ATTENDEES AND PUT THE CANDIDATE FORMS AND SET UP BOARD OF TRUSTEES TEAM TO VISIT THE CAMPUSES . THIS INCLUDED A VERY SNOWY TRIP TO WYOMING AND ALSO A TRIP DOWN SOUTH TO SAN DIEGO . ALL THE STEPS WERE TIME-CONSUMING BUT THEY WERE VERY EFFECTIVE. WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS AND PICK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THESE SUGGESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. KARINA PAEZ TO THE PODIUM. NEVERMIND. DR.
ROBINSON . >> I PULLED TWO CARDS, AM I ALLOWED TO MAKE A SECOND COMMENT?
>> WE JUST HAVE ONE AGENDA ITEM.
>> IT IS REGARDING SAFETY AND SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.
[00:05:01]
>> FOR TONIGHT'S PUBLIC COMMENT IT IS ONLY OPEN TO THE CLOSED SESSION ITEM, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. IF THERE IS A DECISION TO DISCUSS QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE NEW
INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT -- >> I HAVE COMMENTS TO THAT BUT MY CONCERN IS THE COMMENTS I MAKE MY INTO ACTION THAT IS UNFAVORABLE FOR ME AND THE SCHOOL BOARD AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT IN PUBLIC FORUM. I WILL KEEP IT VERY
BRIEF, IF THAT'S OKAY. >> YOU MIGHT NEED TO BE CLEVER
AND JUST TIE IT IN. >> I AM GOING TO GO RIGHT TO THE WIRE AND WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
>> I KNOW NONE OF US ON THE SIDE OF THE DIOCESE HAS A SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS NEXT AND I ALSO TRUST ALL OF US HAS THE RIGHT AND OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE INPUT IN TODAY'S MY HOPE THAT YOU WILL MOVE TOWARD THE DECISIONS AND YOU WILL MINDFULLY INTENSELY CONSIDER THE APPOINTS THAT WE HOLD IN THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WE SHARE HERE PUBLICLY TODAY AND IN THE DAYS TO COME.
I WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD OF THE REALITY THAT WHILE YOUR FIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUND THAN INTEREST AND EXPERTISE IN LIFE AND WORK EXPERIENCES YOU ARE MORE SIGNIFICANTLY A SINGULAR UNIT TASK WITH INCREDIBLE PART DUTY OF CUSTODIANSHIP OF THE DISTRICT AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHWAYS FOR THE CHILDREN. IT'S YOUR JOB AS UNIT ESTABLISH, MONITOR SUPPORT AND COURSE CORRECT ON THE MISSION OF THE DISTRICT. THE OFFICE ADMINISTRATION CARRIES OUT AND IT IS NOT AS IT HAS BEEN FOR TWO DECADES, THE OTHER WAY AROUND. MUST OF US MAY WANT EXPLANATIONS OF ROSA CONFIDENTIALITY MAY PRECLUDE ANY OF US KNOWING WHY THE BOARD MADE THE DECISION IT DID LAST WEEK A DECISION THAT GIVE ALL OF US PAUSE. MANY WILL QUESTION IN SOME LIKELY CRITICIZING OTHERS WILL GRIEVE THE LOSS ENTERED THE SAME DISTRICT CHANGES THAT WILL ENSUE FOLLOWING THAT SIMPLE CHOICE.
WHAT I PERSONALLY VALUED ABOUT THE DEFINITIVE ACTION WAS THAT JULY MESSAGE THAT THE PUBLICLY ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE THE DISTRICT IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE AND IT IS NOT NOW AND NEVER SHOULD'VE BEEN AND HOPEFULLY NEVER WILL BE A AGAIN THE OTHER WAY AROUND. ALL FIVE OF THE RAIN ON PLATFORMS OF IMPROVEMENT AND PROMISED TO WORK TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES AND NOW IT'S TIME TO MAKE IT ON YOUR COMMITMENTS TO THE PEOPLE WE PLACED AT THE HELM THE LAST SUPERINTENDENT WAS INSPIRATIONAL AND EQUIPS PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH MUCH MORE THAN THEY ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE AND WAS A DECENT HUMAN BEING AND A GOOD MAN. I WISH THAT HAD BEEN ENOUGH BUT AFTER DECADES OF TRANSACTIONAL LEADERSHIP, HIRING HIM PROVED TO BE A STEP SKIP. SOMEDAY WE WILL BE READY TO EMBRACE A VISIONARY BUT FIRST WE NEED TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP, SOMEONE WHO CAN GET PEOPLE TO DO WELL -- WHAT THEY MAY NOT TO DO IN THE FIRST PLACE BUT THE NEXT LEADERS NEED TO CHANGE MORE THAN THE NAME ON THE PLACARD OF THE DOOR THE SUPERINTENDENTS OFFICE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BE MORE CLEAR THAN TO STATE THAT THE ONLY CONSTANT HAS THE PEOPLE SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE SUPERINTENDENT ON THE SIDE OF ADMINISTRATORS AND THE MENTALITY THAT LETTUCE TO IT IS NOT ONE THAT LEADS US OUT WHOEVER YOU BRING NEXT TO THE HOME NEEDS TO CLEAN HOUSE AND SOME ONE WHO CAN REMOVE OR RELOCATE STAGNANT AND INEFFECTIVE DISTRICT STAFF AND LEAD PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO FOLLOW AND NOT JUST MANAGE PEOPLE WHO REMAIN RESISTANT TO CHANGE. TO SOME DEGREE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WHAT IS IMPOTENT WITHOUT THE WHO THE INTERIM APPOINTMENT NEEDS TO BRIDGE THE DISTRICT FROM WHAT NO ONE WANTS TO CONTINUE TO BE TO WHAT EVERYONE'S ENVISIONED IT. IT'S TIME TO RESTRUCTURE THE LANDSCAPE AND REDEFINE THE CULTURE TO DEFINE AND OPERATIONALIZE THE DIVISION OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO FOR CHILDREN AND THIS TIME PLEASE GO SLOW TO GO FAST AND IN MY LAST 14 MINUTES I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT PETER HERRERA SEE IN THIS ROOM HAS BEEN MAKING COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I'M FINE WITH IT HE'S ALLOWED IT IS PUBLIC FORUM AND THAT WE ARE HERE AND YOU CAN SAY THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH BUT I AM NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL BUT A PARENT AND TEACHER AND WHEN I FEEL THREATENED WHEN I COME HERE BECAUSE MY CHILD WAS GOING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE I WORK HAS STUDENTS COMING TO TALK TO HIM AND TELL HIM, I HEARD YOUR MOM DID SOMETHING WRONG AND THE FEDS ARE COMING TO GET HER AND THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HER BOSS AND THAT IS CONCERNING FOR ME. IF A STUDENT DID THAT YOU WOULD REMOVE THEM FROM SCHOOL BUT WHEN A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY DOES THAT, YOU ALLOW HIM TO KEEP COMING TO MEETINGS.
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE I WILL ALLOW AN EXTRA MINUTE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. BUT PLEASE , ONE MORE MINUTE.
>> I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE HERE IN A PUBLIC FORUM . I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY WHATEVER WE WANT. NONE OF US HAVE THE RIGHT NEITHER LEGAL OR ILLEGALLY TO LIBEL OR SLANDER SOMEONE ELSE. WHEN SOMEBODY PUTS IN THE CONTEXT AND WRITE IN A PUBLIC FORUM THAT LAWS HAVE BEEN BROKEN BY PEOPLE THAT I DON'T EVEN PRACTICE OF LAW OR THE LOSS OF THE DISTRICT BUT TO MAKE THE IMPLICATION THAT I AND OTHER PEOPLE AND THOSE WHOM I SERVE AND SERVE WITH HER BREAKING FEDERAL LAWS AND MY CHILD HEARS FROM THAT COME ABOUT THAT FROM OTHER KIDS AND
[00:10:01]
IS AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN TO HIM AND IS AFRAID FOR ME TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME, THAT'S PROBLEMATIC I WANT TO PUT IT OUT IN THE PUBLIC BECAUSE OF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN I WANTED TO BE A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD SO IF I'M NOT HERE THAT AT LEAST MY CHILDREN CAN COMPENSATE SOMETHING BECAUSE THEIR ONLY MOTHER AND THE ONLY PERSON THEY HAVE COME IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME AS NOBODY IS CRAZY UNTIL EVERYBODY IS CRAZY AND NO ONE EXPECTS ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING AND IF THAT HAPPENS I WANT TO BE A PUBLIC RECORD THAT IF THE DISTRICT KNEW AND CHOSE NOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND IT'S JUST -- NOT JUST ME. ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN, IT'S WRONG AND THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, LEGALLY,FORMALLY OR INFORMALLY. >> LINDA ATKINS ART. COME ON
DOWN. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CAREFUL THOUGHTS. I KNOW THE NEXT INTERIM PERSON , YOU WILL THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT IT AND WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY GUIDING US BECAUSE THERE ARE PIECES AND PARTS THAT I'M AFRAID ARE GOING TO GET LEFT BY THE SIDE. I'VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY AND I'M RETIRED TEACHER FROM BELLFLOWER . AS PART OF RETIREMENT AS A CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEE, WE GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS AS RECENT AS LAST WEEK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT ERRORS IN REPORTING AND HOW HE -- SOUNDED LIKE WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AND BE CLEAR AND HELP GET EVERYONE CHECKED THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED. I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TALKING WITH THE DISTRICT WITH HELP FROM THE DISTRICT STAFF AND FROM EVERYONE AROUND WITH THE INTERIM PERSON YOU GET AND OF COURSE WITH THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT YOU CHOOSE TO
GUIDE US. >> THANK YOU, LINDA. NEIL
NAVICKAS . >> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME -- MAN, IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE WHAT YOUR DECISION WAS TO REMOVE -- TO DO THAT. ALL THAT MATTERS NOW IS YOUR DECISION GOING FORWARD. I REALLY, REALLY HOPE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE A PLAN. BECAUSE , I HAVE A SENIOR AT MAYFAIR READY TO GRADUATE . I'VE A FIVE-YEAR-OLD AND A TWO-YEAR-OLD AND THEY WANTS TO PUT ON THE CAMPUS IN BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM HIGH SCHOOL. I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN BELLFLOWER AND A RESIDENT BELLFLOWER AND LIVED 39 YEARS, 35 IN BELLFLOWER. WE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, WE WORK WITH CARE CONNECTIONS AND OTHER PEOPLE AND WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND IT HAS BEEN A MESS. THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS BEEN A MESS FOR THE KIDS AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS IS THE KIDS. NOBODY IN THIS ROOM THAT MATTERS , ONLY THE KIDS. NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE. NOBODY -- IT DOESN'T MATTER. THE KIDS DON'T MATTER, THEY ARE JUST A DOLLAR NUMBER IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE SOME TYPE OF PLAN GOING FORWARD AND THAT YOU JUST DON'T NAME SOMEBODY BECAUSE YOU NEED TO NAME SOMEBODY AND BECAUSE YOU NEED TO PUT SOMEBODY IN THAT POSITION BECAUSE THEY TELL YOU YOU NEED TO PUT THEM IN THAT POSITION. I TRULY HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A PLAN BECAUSE YOU GUYS DECIDED TO HIRE DR. BEN DRATI AND ONE YEAR LATER YOU DECIDED TO FIRE HIM. YOUR FIRST PLAN OBVIOUSLY DID NOT WORK WITH YOU GUYS HIRING HIM. HOPEFULLY GOING FORWARD HE DID HAVE A PLAN TO FIX THIS BECAUSE KIDS NEED STABILITY. WE ALL NEED STABILITY AND IN MY HOUSEHOLD ALL I CARE ABOUT THE STABILITY. AS LONG AS MY KIDS ARE STABLE THEN NOTHING ELSE MATTERS TO ME. AND WE HAVE KIDS IN THIS DISTRICT THAT DON'T HAVE STABILITY AT HOME, SOMEBODY IN IT WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE STABILITY IN SCHOOL, THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, IF YOU HAVE A PLAN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT PLAN IS , THE LADY SAID SOME OTHER STUFF AND WHATEVER THAT ADVICE IS, GREAT BUT I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A PLAN GOING FORWARD BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY ALL THAT MATTERS IS THE KIDS. THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY MORE CARDS? AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL
[5. CLOSED SESSION]
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION AT 5:16 PM. UPON CONCLUSION OF[00:15:02]
THE BOARD SESSION THEN THE BOARD WILL RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AND REPORT ANY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BOARD. THE BOARD WILL -- I'M SORRY , THAT IS A SCRIPTURE AFTER. I WILL WAIT FOR THAT ONE.RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AT 6:42 PM. MS. GARZA WILL REPORT
WHAT IS -- WAS DISCUSSED. >> THE BOARD TOOK ACTION IN CLOSED SESSION TO DIRECT GENERAL COUNSEL TO ENGAGE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT.
>>
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.