Dec 12, 2024 School Board

[1. CALL TO ORDER IN PUBLIC SESSION]

[00:00:14]

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD. THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT

4:01 P.M. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. >>

[2. PUBLIC COMMENTS – CLOSED SESSION ITEMS]

>> TONIGHT WE DO HAVE REQUEST ADDRESSING CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. WHILE MEETINGS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD ARE NOT PUBLIC MEETINGS THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON EACH AGENDA OR NON-AGENDA ITEM IN THE BOARD WILL LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT TO 21 MINUTES. THREE MINUTES EACH PER BOARD BY LAW. NINE 332.2. MAY I HAVE DR. ROBINSON.

WELCOME, DR. ROBINSON. THE RIGHT BUTTON. NO. JUST TOUCH IT. THE LITTLE GREEN. I DON'T THINK SO. I COULD TRY. BUT

IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. >> BOARD AND CABINET AND SUPERINTENDENT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TONIGHT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE . THEY'VE BEEN SLOW. PLATO SAID THE BEGINNING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORK BUT IT IS HOW YOU AND THAT MATTERS AND OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT AT THE END YET. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US. WHEN WE HAD THE LAST TWO SUPER IN ATTENDANCE ONE THING WE WERE LOOKING FOR WAS A COMMON INTEREST BARGAINING. YOUR CHAIR BARGAINING TEAM HAS ON HIS WEBSITE THAT IS ONE OF HIS PRIORITY AND HIS STUDENTS ARE HIS PRIORITIES. HOWEVER, WE ARE CHALLENGED BY SOME OF THE DECISIONS BEING MADE REGARDING WHAT WE ARE DOING LOOKING FORWARD FOR KIDS. TONIGHT MYSELF AND ALL OF THOSE BEHIND ME AND THOSE NOT IN THE ROOM CURRENTLY WHO ALSO SHARE THE SAME VIEWS WOULD LIKE TO ARTICULATE TO THE BOARD THAT WE WANT THE INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN REPRESENTED. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE THE BEST. THAT IS WHY ANY OF US GET UP EVERY MORNING AND STAND IN THE CLASSROOM. THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE YOU SAID ON THE DAIS AND USER BEHIND THOSE TABLES.

TO INFLATE CLASS SIZES DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. HISTORICALLY WHEN WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WE'VE ALWAYS COME TOGETHER AND VOTED ON OUR BACKS. THIS ISN'T ABOUT TEACHERS AND WHAT IS HARD FOR TEACHERS. WE DO HARD THINGS EVERY DAY. BUT WHAT IS BEST FOR CHILDREN IS NOT CRAMMING THEM INTO A ROOM AND HEARD THEM.

RIGHT NOW POST-COVID WE HAVE LONG COVID NOT JUST PHYSICALLY BUT FOR OUR KIDS ACADEMICALLY AND EDUCATIONALLY. STACKING KIDS IN HER ROOM DOESN'T MAKE ANY MORE SENSE ANYMORE THAN PUTTING ALL OF YOU UP THERE MAKES ANY SENSE. THE REALITY IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT INSTRUCTIONAL DECISIONS WE ARE ASKED TO LOOK AT DATA . WHEN YOU MAKE DECISIONS MAYBE YOU COULD PRODUCE SOME OF THAT, AS WELL. BUT IT CAN'T BE A HARD-LINE THIS IS WHAT WE WANT, WHAT WE NEED, AND HOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. WHEN WE COME TO THE TABLE OUR INTEREST IS THE CHILDREN. WHEN YOU SIT BEHIND THAT DIOCESE YOUR INTEREST IS IN THE CHILDREN. HISTORICALLY OUR DISTRICT OFFICE HAS NOT HAD THAT SAME INTEREST. I DO NOT WANT US TO START PLUMMETING DOWN A HILL THAT TAKES US BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED. WE WORKED TOO HARD TO GET HERE AND PUT SOMEONE IN A POSITION TO MOVE US FORWARD, NOT BACKWARD. IN OUR CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE STEPPING AWAY. WE NEED HER TO BE REPLACED BY SOMEONE WHO CARRIES THAT SAME KIND OF MIND-SET AND THE CABINET YOU WORK SO HARD TO CHANGE HAS TO ALSO HAVE THAT SAME MIND-SET.

THIS ISN'T POINTING ANY FINGERS, BUT WHEN THE PEOPLE WHO JUST GOT HERE DECIDE WHAT WE ARE DOING MOVING FORWARD THERE HAS TO FACTOR IN WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN HAPPENING HERE ALL ALONG AND WHAT WE HAVE AS INTEREST FOR CHILDREN. OUR CHILDREN IN BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT DESERVE THE BEST. 30 OF THEM, 35 OF THEM, 38 OF THEM, 40 OF THEM IN A

CLASSROOM IS NOT THE BEST. >>

>> THANK YOU, DR. ROBINSON. MAY I HAVE ROSS? WELCOME AND THANK

[00:05:07]

YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. -- I'M A BILINGUAL INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT AND RETIRED TEACHER.

I'M COMING ON BEHALF OF CLASSIFIED AND CERTIFIED. FIVE YEARS HERE WITH BELLFLOWER. MY WORK WITH THE DASHING STUDENTS AND WORKING WITH THEM AND MIKE MANY STUDENTS COMING IN AND WE HAVE HAD EVEN RIGHT NOW 30 STUDENTS NOT JUST ME AND ASKED HIM WORK WITH. WE NEED MORE HELP AND LESS STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. THEY DESERVE THAT ATTENTION. WE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF STUDENTS COMING FROM VIETNAM, PHILIPPINES, EGYPT, DIFFERENT LOCATIONS OF LATIN AMERICA. AND WE ARE TO ADDRESS ALL OF THAT AMOUNT WITH THE HIGH QUANTITY OF STUDENTS. IT IS UNFAIR TO THEM. WE CANNOT GIVE THEM THE ATTENTION THAT THEY NEED WHEN THE CLASSES ARE MAXED OUT. WE REALLY NEED THAT TO BE PAID ATTENTION BECAUSE THEN ALSO THEY GET DISCOURAGED WITH THEIR OTHER CLASSES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT LEARNING.

WE NEED THOSE CLASSES TO BE MUCH SMALLER. THANK YOU.

>> JONES TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE. WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING

HERE. >> BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT, I WANT TO SAY MY BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT THIS YEAR I WAS VERY PROUD BECAUSE I GOT TO TELL THE PARENTS THAT WE NOW HAD A THEATER CLASS, MUSIC, NO COMBOS. TALK ABOUT PE. WE'VE HAD ALL OF THESE GREAT MOVEMENTS. I FELT LIKE STARTING THE YEAR, OH MY GOSH, I AM FINALLY FEELING GOOD BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF JADED FEELINGS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AS FAR AS THE DISTRICT AND WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR CHILDREN. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES. THE BEHAVIOR.

EVERY ELEMENTARY CAMPUS WE HAVE KIDS RUNNING OUT OF CLASSROOMS, HITTING, KICKING, BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN . THAT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT SIMPLY ANYWAY. THE BEHAVIOR. MAYBE PROBLEM-SOLVING , FINDING WAYS TO DEAL WITH THESE KIDS BECAUSE ONE STUDENT CAN TAKE OVER YOUR ENTIRE CLASS. A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SELF-REGULATION, AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY WITH LAWS PASSED THROUGH CALIFORNIA WITH THE STUDENTS NOT HAVING AS MANY CONSEQUENCES AND WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CHILDREN ARE EXPERIENCING AND THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO NOW DEAL WITH STUDENTS IN CLASS I WAS REALLY SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT WE WILL INCREASE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SO MANY ISSUES JUST WITHIN OUR CONTAINED CLASSES. THE BEHAVIOR IS NOT THE SAME AS IT WAS WHEN I STARTED TEACHING 24 YEARS AGO. THE MIND-SET, THE WORK ETHIC, ALL OF IT. I KNOW IT IS GENERATIONALLY CHANGING, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES AND I DON'T SEE WHERE HAVING MORE STUDENTS IN CLASSES WILL BE BENEFICIAL AT ALL. AND IF YOU'VE BEEN TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF 38 KIDS WOULD FIT INTO CLASSROOMS. AND ALSO, WHAT IF I AM A PARENT AND FOR SOME REASON MY GRADE LEVEL COHORT HAS 38.

EVERY YEAR, FOURTH, FIFTH, SIX, MEANWHILE OTHER GRADES ALONGSIDE WITH THOSE AVERAGES HAVE 30. I DON'T THINK THAT'S AT BE ANGRY AS A PARENT TO SEE THAT AND SAY WHY DOES MY CHILD CLASSES ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN OTHERS. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT WHEN WE ARE COMING TO THIS AVERAGE AND NUMBERS. I KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS, BUT LIKE MANY GO ON A TRIP AND YOU SAY YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR OXYGEN MASK ON FIRST BEFORE YOU HELP YOUR CHILDREN. OUR MENTAL HEALTH ALSO MATTERS.

WHEN WE ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH A LOT OF ADVERSITY RIGHT NOW IT JUST SEEMS LIKE -- I MEAN I LOVE MY STUDENTS. I LOVE MY JOB, IT IS HARD AND IT IS WAY HARDER THAN IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO OR 15 YEARS AGO. I ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME THAT I'M ABLE TO STAY HEALTHY MENTALLY. THAT IS ANOTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. >>

[00:10:07]

>> SHANNON SPAKE. WELCOME. >> MY NAME IS SHANNON PFLUEGER, PERFECTLY THIRD-GRADE TEACHER RAMON ELEMENTARY. THIS IS MY 25TH YEAR AS AN EDUCATOR IN THIS DISTRICT. I HAVE A PASSION FOR THIS JOB AND PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME WOULD SAY FIRED UP.

THROUGHOUT MY CAREER I SERVED ON MANY DISTRICT COMMITTEES, HELD VARIOUS LEADERSHIP ROLES, ALONG WITH THE AMAZING TEACHERS HERE I REPRESENT WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS WHO HAVE DEVOTED OUR HEARTS AND SOULS TO OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND THE ADMINISTRATION IN THIS DISTRICT. HAVE TAUGHT IN EVERY GRADE K-6. THIS YEAR I REQUESTED TO MOVE FROM SIXTH GRADE DOWN TO THIRD. WHEN I'M ASKED WHY I MADE THAT CHOICE MY FIRST RESPONSE IS SIMPLY, I CAN MAKE A GREATER IMPACT IF I GO FROM TEACHING 34 KIDS DOWN TO 24. I DO NOT FEEL EQUIPPED TO SUCCESSFULLY FACILITATE LEARNING FOR THAT MANY HUMANS IN ONE ROOM ALL DAY WITH NO AID SUPPORT, MINIMAL BRAKES, AND NO INDIVIDUAL PLANNING TIME. THIS FIRED UP TEACHER, HE DOES SAY IT, HER FLAME IS DWINDLING. I UNDERSTAND BUDGET AS A MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR YOUR REASONING TO CONSIDER INCREASING CLASS SIZES. AND WE ARE FACING MANY INDISPUTABLE ISSUES WE ALL WANT TO SOLVE.

BUT I IMPLORE YOU TO ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION, HOW WILL ADDING MORE STUDENTS TO ALREADY CROWDED CLASSROOM SOLVE OUR ISSUES AND BENEFIT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. HERE ARE A FEW CONCERNS TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU MAKE THIS DECISION. NUMBER ONE, STUDENT ENROLLMENT IS DECREASING AS FAMILIES ARE OPTING TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITH SMALLER CLASS SIZES AND HOMESCHOOLING. HOW WILL ADDING MORE STUDENTS TO CLASSROOM SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? TWO, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN ALL ACADEMIC AREAS IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW IN THIS DISTRICT WITH AROUND 30% PROFICIENCY IN ELA AND EVEN LOWER IN MATH. HOW WILL ADDING MORE STUDENTS TO CLASSROOMS SOLVE THIS ISSUE AND BENEFIT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS? THREE, THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY, EMOTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL, THEY ARE STEADILY INCREASING. THE SPECTRUM OF DIVERSE NEEDS IN A CLASSROOM IS BEYOND OVERWHELMING AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TACKLE WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES AND STUDENT NUMBERS WE CURRENTLY HAVE. HOW WHEN WE ARE ADDING MORE STUDENTS TO THE CLASSROOM WILL RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND BENEFIT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. FINALLY, I HAVE 37 SECONDS, TEACHER EFFICACY ACROSS THE DISTRICT HAS SEVERELY DIMINISHED AND THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO FIND IT. TEACHERS CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN AND SUCCEED. WE WANT TO SEE POSITIVE CHANGE AND, UNFORTUNATELY, WE NEED YOUR HELP. WE ARE IN A BATTLE TO OVERCOME MANY CHALLENGES AND BECOME A THRIVING DISTRICT. WE WANT YOU TO HELP US AND EMPOWER US, WORK WITH US TO BRAINSTORM WAYS TO UTILIZE FUNDS CREATIVELY AND CONTINUE TO TRY AND FIND SOLUTIONS. OUR MOTTO IS WE BUILD FUTURES. IT IS REPRESENTED BY A FLAME AND A TORCH. PLEASE DO NOT SNUFF OUR TORCH.

>>

WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, CABINET, AUDIENCE. ONE OF THE AMAZING THINGS UST HAS TO OFFER IS HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION WITH LOWER CLASS SIZE -- LOWER CLASS SIZES AND THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB ADVERTISING ALL OF THE POSITIVE THINGS UST HAS TO OFFER. SMALLER CLASS SIZES, NO COMBOS, THEY SHOULD BE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA. AFTER COVID STUDENTS HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS. WE ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE LEARNING LOSS AND STUDENTS HAVE A GREATER NEED FOR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

CREASING CLASS SIZES DOES NOT SERVE BUSD STUDENTS. THE DISTRICT JUST IMPLEMENTED THE NO COMBO CLASSES THIS YEAR.

THOSE SMALLER CLASS SIZES ON INTERVENTION IN ITSELF. WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. LET'S WAIT AND SEE. LET'S GET THE DATA ON THAT AND SEE IF THOSE PROGRAMS, THE NO COMBO CLASSES IN LOWER CLASS SIZES ARE SUCCESSFUL . IF THE GOAL IS KEEPING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TOGETHER LET'S BRAINSTORM OTHER WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. WE HAVE INCREASED CLASS SIZES IN THE PAST TO ALLOW FAMILIES TO STAY TOGETHER AND IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. IT JUST MOVED THE BAR. CLASS SIZES WERE HIGHER AND, GUESS WHAT, ONCE WE

[00:15:02]

IT DIDN'T WORK. NOW THOSE FAMILIES ARE STILL BEING SEPARATED. LET'S BRAINSTORM OTHER WAYS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF RAISING CLASS SIZES. LAST SCHOOL YEAR DATA FROM ADMIN, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD GOT TOGETHER THROUGH THE ALLIANCE AND DEVISED A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT TO LIMIT SEPARATING FAMILIES. THROUGH THE REORGANIZATION PROCESS. DID WE IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN? LET'S BE MORE PROACTIVE INSTEAD OF REACTIVE. IF THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING CLASS SIZES IS FINANCIAL I URGE YOU TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO SAVE MONEY.

HOW MANY ADMEN DO WE HAVE IN OUR DISTRICT? WHAT IS THE RATIO OF ADMEN TO STUDENTS? HAS THIS RATIO INCREASED? ARE THE OTTOMAN DIRECTLY SERVING STUDENTS? WHEN PLANNING THE SECONDARY SCHEDULES ARE THE OTTOMAN GETTING TEACHER INPUT? THESE ARE JUST THINGS TO THINK ABOUT. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAN INCREASING CLASS SIZES. BUSD NEEDS TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS. SOLVING PROBLEMS ON THE BACKS OF THE STUDENTS IS NOT THE ANSWER. THANK YOU.

>>

THE PODIUM. >> WE ARE NEGOTIATING NOW THAT WE HAVE ONLY A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. GOOD AFTERNOON. IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME MY NAME IS ROBIN BAYLOR. I THINK I KNOW ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE TO SHAPE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN BUSD. WE'VE BEEN PLAGUED FOR YEARS WITH AN APATHETIC BOARD, A DYSFUNCTIONAL AND FOR POORLY STOP DISTRICT OFFICE, HIGH TURNOVER AND ADMINISTRATION WHICH LEADS TO BROKEN SYSTEMS IN SCHOOLS. WITH THE STAFFING CHANGES YOU HAVE MADE SUCH AS THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT WHO LISTENS AND CARES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND TEACHERS, NEW STAFFING IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE WITH FRESH IDEAS, AND A NEW CBO WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING AND LOOKING AT FINANCES THINGS HAVE BEEN SLOWLY IMPROVING. THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO BE AVAILABLE TO YOUR COMMUNITY . FOR RESPONDING AND LOOKING INTO CONCERNS AND REACHING OUT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF EVERYONE. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THIS BOARD WE ARE FINALLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT. I AM SURE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM UNDERSTANDS HOW DIFFERENT EDUCATION IS IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE. ALL OF US I COULD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY ARE PROPERLY SERVED AND GIVEN THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE. CLASS SIZES SIZE IS INTEGRAL PART OF STUDENT SUCCESS. HAVING STUDENTS TO THE CLASSROOM IS NEVER A WAY TO IMPROVE EDUCATION, TEST SCORES, OR CLIMATE. SMALLER CLASS SIZES ARE IMPORTANT TO HELP FORM RELATIONSHIPS, REDUCE BEHAVIOR ISSUES, INCREASE ENGAGEMENT.

WITH SO MANY STUDENTS STRUGGLING WITH LEARNING LOSS, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, PETITION WITH TECHNOLOGY THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS LIMIT CLASS SIZES RESPONSIBLY. I UNDERSTAND CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THERE NEEDS TO BE FLEXIBILITY IN ORDER FOR US TO ADD STUDENTS WITHOUT ADDING ANOTHER CLASSROOM. I BELIEVE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT IS BOTH A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND US BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR STUDENTS. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR STUDENT NUMBERS BUSD ALONG WITH MANY OTHER DISTRICTS LOST A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS. OVER 2000 IN FIVE YEARS. WHOEVER STAFFING RATIO DOES NOT REFLECT THIS LOSS. WE HAVE A STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO 17 TO 1. WERE MOST DISTRICTS SIT AT 20 OR 21 21. WE ARE OVERSTAFFED WITH TEACHERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTLY TIED TO STUDENTS. WE ALSO HAVE AN INCREASE IN ADMEN -- THIS IS ANOTHER AREA THAT WE COULD LOOK AT THEM I HAVE A SIGNIFICANT FISCAL IMPACT. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO HELP SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS, STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND THIS DISTRICT. I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WILL HELP MAINTAIN SMALLER CLASS SIZES WHILE CONTINUING TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU GUYS.

>> COME ON DOWN. WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

[00:20:02]

>> IN AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT, MEMBERS OF CABINET, AND GUESTS. MY NAME IS ANNE-MARIE SHARP, ADOPTED SPECIAL EDUCATION SPECIALIST FOR BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS IS , DEDICATED, PASSIONATE, ENERGETIC SOMETIMES MISUNDERSTOOD ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. 15 YEARS AGO GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHER MISSES BOSSE AND MYSELF ARE JOINING OUR CLASSES ON A WEEKLY BASIS BEFORE CO-TEACHING EXISTED IN OUR DISTRICT. I VIVIDLY REMEMBER A GIRL STANDING VERY FAR FROM MY STUDENTS. MISSES BOSSE ALSO NOTICED THIS. AFTER CLASS AS HIS BOSS ASKED HER WHAT IS WRONG. AND SHE WOULD EVENTUALLY TELL HER SHE WAS AFRAID OF OUR STUDENTS, SHE WAS AFRAID SHE WOULD CATCH SOMETHING FROM US STUDENTS. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND. I QUICKLY REALIZED THIS WAS THE OPPORTUNITY AND SIGN THAT WE NEEDED TO EDUCATE. BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF ABOUT STUDENTS WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES. THIS IS A VERY SMALL PORTION OF MY STORY, OF WHY I BECAME SO PASSIONATE ABOUT TEACHING STUDENTS OF ALL ABILITIES IN AN INCLUSIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT.

MY TWO AREAS OF SPECIALTY OR PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. I WORK BEST WITH MY STUDENTS FOR THE BEST AROUND.

I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR MY STUDENTS. IT'S PROPOSED MAINTAINING LONG-STANDING ONE TEACHER TO 55 STUDENTS IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE DISTRICT IS PROPOSING TO REMOVE THAT ONE TO 55 WHICH IS REALLY DISHEARTENING. WE HAVE HAD THIS UNDERSTANDING THAT FOR MR. PHILLIPS AND THE INCREDIBLE PROGRAMS HE RUNS FACILITIES BARELY SUPPORT THE CLASS SIZES THEY CURRENTLY HAVE. AS EVERYONE ELSE AND HAS HAD, WE BROUGHT TO ATTENTION THE STATE OF OUR FACILITIES, THE LOCKER ROOMS CANNOT SUPPORT LARGER CLASS SIZES. WE SEE ALL OVER THE FACEBOOK PARENT PAGE ALL OF THE ISSUES IN THE LOCKER ROOMS. A LARGER CLASS-SIZE WOULD NOT HELP THAT. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TEACHING VERSUS BABYSITTING. WE ARE HIRED TO TEACH. I AM NOT GOING

TO GET THROUGH ALL MY STUFF. >> IF YOU NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. WE ARE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME. CAN WE EXTEND AN

EXTRA TWO MINUTES. >> AS A FORMER PTA BOARD MEMBER STANDING COMMUNITY MEMBER FOR FOUR YEARS I HAVE TO SHARE THAT I AM SHOCKED AND IN DISBELIEF ABOUT WHAT WE ARE READING REGARDING SPECIAL EDUCATION NEGOTIATIONS. FOR YEARS EMPLOYED A LEGAL TEAM -- NOT NOW, BUT BEFORE, THEN CHARGED OUTRAGEOUS VIEWS, WOULD NOT SETTLE CASES, AND CONTINUE TO ALLOW LEADERS IN THIS DISTRICT TO NOT FOLLOW LAWS WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION TIME AFTER TIME. WE FINALLY HAVE A LEVEL OF EXPERTISE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN MANY, MANY YEARS. WE'VE MADE IMPROVEMENTS AND NOW BST IS SUGGESTING TAKING AWAY SOME OF THAT COLLABORATION. ON MAY 30TH BUSD AGREED TO HAVE TEACHERS THAT TRAVEL LIKE MYSELF -- ONLY AT TWO SITES. WE HAVE THEM AT FIVE SITES LAST YEAR. THAT IS NOT THE BEST INTEREST OF KIDS WHATSOEVER SO WE AGREED TO TWO ANOTHER PROPOSAL IS TO REMOVE THAT LANGUAGE. WE WENT THROUGH HE DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS DURING COVID. STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD LOST A HECK OF A LOT AND OUR STUDENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION SUFFERED IMMENSELY. I GOT TO KNOW FAMILY IS ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL BECAUSE OF COVID AND THAT IS THE ONLY THING I AM THANKFUL FOR.

BECAUSE WITHOUT MY PARENTS SHOWING UP WITH HER STUDENTS THERE WAS NO EDUCATION GOING ON. ADULT TRANSITION CENTER WHICH EDUCATES OUR STUDENTS WITH THE MOST NEEDS FROM 18 TO 22, WE HAVE A CURRENT CASELOAD OF 10 AND THE PROPOSAL IS TO REMOVE THAT. IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN OVERSIGHT SO I WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS NEEDED. FOR TOO LONG DISTRICT LEADERS HAVE NOT LISTENED AND MADE POOR FINANCIAL DECISIONS.

OUR STUDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER AT THE EXPENSE OF ADULT DECISIONS. WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING THE MANY SUCCESSES OF THIS DISTRICT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. INSTEAD WE ARE

[00:25:03]

WEEK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>

>> THANK YOU, MISS SHARP. AND THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR BEING SO RESPECTFUL OF THE TIME AND ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. YOU ARE

[3. CLOSED SESSION]

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

[5. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA]

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. WE WILL RECONVENE OPEN SESSION AT 6:09 P.M. VICE PRESIDENT STEWART WILL PROVIDE A SUMMARY

IN SESSION. >> THE TOPICS WERE STUDENT MATTERS, PETTY LITIGATION, NEIGHBOR NEGOTIATIONS, AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE , DISMISSAL, RELEASE. NO ACTION

WAS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION. >> THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT .

REPLACE PAGES FOR ITEM 13.2, 13 POINT EIGHT, 13.1 ON THE BACK TABLE. TONIGHT WE HAVE REQUESTED ADDRESSING AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE CELL PHONE POLICY WILL HAPPEN LATER WHEN WE ADDRESS THAT ITEM. FOR MEETINGS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD ARE NOT PUBLIC MEETINGS THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND THE BOARD WILL LIMIT TOTAL TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT TO 21 MINUTES. AS PER REPORT BY 19322.2. UNLESS OTHERWISE WAIVED BY THE BOARD. FIRST UP, SONIA POSADAS TO THE PODIUM. IF I BUTCHERED YOUR NAME I APOLOGIZE. WELCOME. PUSH THE BUTTON TO THE RIGHT. PERFECT.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I AM HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE FOR DR. HUDSON FOR HER SERVICE TO THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS OF BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT ATTEND BELLFLOWER AND ONE OF MY TWO CHILDREN ARE PERMANENTLY DISABLED. EVERY PARENT WANTS TO TREAT THEIR CHILDREN EQUALLY. AND PROVIDE , BUT SADLY THERE ARE MANY BARRIERS IN SOCIETY THAT PRESENT THAT DOES PREVENT THAT. MY SON EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION IN MANY AREAS INCLUDING SCHOOL SETTING.

EARLIER THE SCHOOL YEAR THE DISTRICT REFUSED TO PROVIDERS AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN PLAY BEFORE SCHOOL PROGRAM. WE ADVOCATED FOR OUR SON PASSIONATELY BUT LOCAL ADMINISTRATORS DISMISSED OUR CONCERNS AND FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THEY WERE ENGAGING IN DISCRIMINATION. WHEN DR.

LEARNED ABOUT OUR SITUATION SHE REACHED OUT AND LISTEN TO HER STORY. SHE ADVOCATED FOR US ON AN INSURED HIS NEEDS ARE MET.

SOON AFTER SHE GOT INVOLVED HER SON WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BEFORE SCHOOL PROGRAM WITH HIS PEERS. TODAY OUR SON IS HAPPY, THRIVING, AND PARTICIPATING IN THE BEFORE SCHOOL PROGRAM. HIS SCHOOL IS SLOWLY LEARNING TO ACCEPT HIS DISABILITY AND BECOME AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. DR., WE APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION A■ND ENSURING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE INCLUDED AND HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED TO THE GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS. PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE TRULY APPRECIATED AND YOUR EFFORTS MADE A HUGE

IMPACT ON OUR SON'S JOURNEY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>

>> IS THIS JUST OPEN COMMENT? >> NON-AGENDA OR AGENDA. OR THE

CELL PHONE POLICY? >> I WAS GOING TO SPEAK ON THE DIGITAL POLICY AND THEN I HAD ANOTHER TOPIC.

>> YOU CAN DO THE OTHER TOPIC AMOUNT. THE CELL PHONE POLICY COMES UP YOU CAN COME BACK UP AGAIN.

>> OKAY. HELLO. I AM MARLA BRUINS. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL WAYS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SEEING SEVERAL THINGS HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS I MET. THINGS POST-COVID THE STUDENT NEEDS HAVE GREATLY INCREASED. I KNOW THAT THERE IS ON THE AGENDA THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATION. MY CONCERN IS IF WE ARE POTENTIALLY INCREASING THE STUDENT NUMBERS IN THE CLASSROOM I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ARE LEGITIMATELY GOING TO FIT

[00:30:02]

IF YOU CAN'T PHYSICALLY GET TO THE CLASSROOM AND YOU ARE ABLE-BODIED, YOU DON'T HAVE A BOOT ON YOUR FOOT, SOMETHING HINDERING YOU, BUT YOU CAN STILL TEACH, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD HELP ALL OF THE STUDENTS. IT PROHIBITS TEACHERS FROM GOING BACK THERE WHEN THEY HAVE A QUESTION AND SAYING, HEY, I NEED HELP WITH THIS. ESPECIALLY IN THE KINDERGARTEN AREAS. IF YOU PUT MORE DESKS IN THE ROOM YOU ARE GOING TO LIMIT CENTERS, PULLING KIDS ASIDE TO HELP INDIVIDUALLY AT THAT TABLE THE WAY THEY ARE SET UP NOW. THAT IS STUFF KIDS NEED.

ESPECIALLY POST-COVID WHEN THEY ARE STRUGGLING. I KNOW THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS INVOLVED, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER. IF YOU WANT TO HELP THE KIDS DO THEIR BEST IT IS NOT PUTTING MORE KIDS IN THE ROOM SO THAT THE KIDS WHO NEED HELP GET IGNORED. UNFORTUNATELY, AND I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE TOO, THOSE KIDS DOING WELL, THE TEACHER DOESN'T KNOW THEIR NAME, DOES EITHER PAPER, BUT IF YOU ADDED MORE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THAT IS THAT MUCH LESS ATTENTION THAT STUDENT CAN GET BECAUSE ONE TEACHER IS ONLY ONE TEACHER.

YOU CAN BE DIVIDED BY 32, 36, BY THE TIME YOU GET TO 40 YOU ARE DEFINITELY WATER DOWN. SO FROM A PARENT OBSERVING THINGS AND HELP HER AT THE SCHOOL OBSERVING THINGS THAT NIETZSCHE -- MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. ADDING FOUR MORE PEOPLE PER CLASSROOM PER GRADE IT WILL AFFECT LUNCH, RECESS, ALL OF THAT, YES, BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT THE KIDS TO GET THE BEST EDUCATION AND TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WHERE THEY ARE GETTING THEIR EDUCATION AND TO BE SAFE I THINK YOU NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT DOING THAT -- HOW THAT WILL AFFECT THE CLASSROOM.

OTHERWISE YOU'LL RUN LATE AND THAT WILL COST MORE.

>> THANK YOU. MARION FOOT? COME ON DOWN. I LOVE THE HAT.

WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD, BOARD MEMBERS, CABINET . AND PEOPLE BEHIND ME. I'M SORRY. I'M LOOKING AT LISA. WE STARTED TOGETHER IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SO I KNOW SHE IS AS PASSIONATE ABOUT THINGS AS I AM. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED SIZE OF THE STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO. I RIGHT NOW AM A THIRD-YEAR CO-TEACHER. I HAVE AT MOST 29 STUDENTS IN MY CLASSROOM. I HAVE A SEATING ARRANGEMENT OF SIX BY FIVE. AND THIS ALLOWS ME AND MY CO-TEACHER TO HAVE TWO TEACHER DESKS AND THE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE AROUND AND MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. IT IS A SMALL CLASSROOM. IT WASN'T DESIGNED FOR THIS DAY AND AGE AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT. OUR CHILDREN ARE LARGE AND THEIR BACKPACKS ARE LARGE TOO. THE ONLY SPACE I HAVE IN THE CLASSROOM FOR BACKPACKS IS UNDERNEATH. OFTEN, BECAUSE THEY ARE KIDS, BACKPACKS AND UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CLASSROOM. IF WE WERE TO ADD FIVE MORE DESKS IN MY CLASSROOM THE DESK FOR THE ONE-ON-ONE AIDE HAS TO BE REMOVED. BECAUSE I DO HAVE ONE ON ONE. I AM ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO REMOVE A STATION CENTER WHERE I HAVE DATA KIDS HAVE ACCESS HAVE -- TO PAPER GOODS AND PENCILS. YOU PUT 40 IN THERE BECAUSE THE PROPOSED MAXIMUM IS 40 STUDENTS, I AM NOW RESTRICTED. I CANNOT GET TO MY STUDENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER TO HELP THEM AND THEY NEED HELP. I FEEL AT THIS TIME IF WE WERE TO ADD MORE SEATS IN MY CLASSROOM IT BECOMES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND BEING ABLE TO MOVE AROUND. I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE STATION ROTATIONS CAREFULLY. AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE DISTRACTING BEHAVIORS AND THE DISRUPTION THAT OCCURS. BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO MOVE STUDENTS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER SOMETIMES.

I HAVE THE SPACE NOW TO DO THAT. MY IEP NUMBERS ARE ABOUT

[00:35:03]

>> MOVE ON I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR KIDS. AND EACH OTHER AS TEACHERS. WE VALUE YOU, WE HEAR YOU. I WANT TO RESPECT TO THE BARGAINING PROCESS. I KNOW THE CONVERSATION IS STILL HAPPENING. I'M SURE WILL BE ABLE TO GET MORE CLARITY AS WE GO FORWARD. I AM STILL VERY CONFIDENT IN THE DIRECTION WE'VE WORKED SO HARD TO CREATE IN THIS DISTRICT. AGAIN, THANK YOU. NEXT TIME I THROW AN EVENT I WILL DEFINITELY HAVE IT BECAUSE IT WORKS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE HAVE A

CORRECTION FOR THE AGENDA? >> TWO FRACTIONS, 12.2, FIRST INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. UNDER THE RECOMMENDED ACTION ON PAGE ONE IS DATES AND THAT IT IS THE SECOND INTERIM REPORT.

IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED TO READ THE FIRST INTERIM REPORT. AND THEN CORRECTION NUMBER TWO, ITEM 12.3, BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUNDATION NUMBERS. THIS ITEM WILL BE TABLED AND BROUGHT BACK AT A LATER DATE.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS

TO THE AGENDA? >> IS THE AMENDMENT TO THE INFORMATION NECESSARY OR NO? YOU HANDED US A PAPER ON THAT,

AS WELL. >> THAT IS A REPLACEMENT PAGE.

I'M SORRY. THAT WAS LISTED AT THE TOP.

>> TO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGES?

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> A SECOND?

>> I SECOND. >> WILL CALL, PLEASE.

>> RECOGNITIONS. DO WE HAVE ANY -- NO. EDIT THE TAPE. WE NOW MOVE

[6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ]

>> THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND, FACE THE FLAG, PLACE YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART. 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. BOARD PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD, BOARD MEMBERS , EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. I WAS GIVEN SOME INSTRUCTIONS . I ALSO GOT TO DO THE INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE AND I WAS TOLD TO KEEP IT

BRIEF. SO I WILL DO THAT. >> ACTUALLY YOU WILL COME UP IN

[7. RECOGNITIONS OF STUDENTS / STAFF / COMMUNITY]

>> I'M OUT OF HERE. >> STICK AROUND, THERE IS PIZZA. WE HAVE RECOGNITIONS AND THEN WE WILL JUMP RIGHT BACK TO YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY RECOGNITIONS THIS EVENING?

>> WE DO. CAN I ASK THE BOARD TO PLEASE COME DOWN FROM THE DAIS UP TO THE FRONT. THIS EVENING WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING DR. HUDSON AS A MEMBER OF BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. AT THIS TIME THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT, OFFICE STAFF AND CABINET WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION AS A THANK YOU FOR YOUR TERM AS A BOARD MEMBER. I HAVE TWO THINGS FOR YOU. SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE BOARD IN

[00:40:09]

HUDSON HAS WORKED WITH MULTIPLE BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF, ADMINISTRATION, AND SUPERINTENDENTS DURING HER TIME OF SERVICE. WE THANK HER FOR HER TIME AND HAVE A VIDEO TO SHOW EVERYONE. IF WE COULD GET EVERYONE TO TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN, WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO.

>>

>> IF WE COULD GET A QUICK PICTURE. THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND WE MAY HAVE A GUEST OR TWO THIS EVENING. IF YOU LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM YOU ARE WELCOME TO DO SO NOW.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, CABINET, COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THAT I CALL HER DR. SUE -- I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT HER WITH A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM CERRITOS COLLEGE. MY NAME IS DON GREEN AND I REPRESENT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATION, SERVICE, AND LEADERSHIP AS BOARD MEMBER OF THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION WITH CERRITOS COLLEGE WE THANK YOU. CERRITOS COLLEGE, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, -- THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >>

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING A STRONG SUPPORTER OF -- PROGRAM DURING MY TIME OF SERVICE AS CEO. WE WISH YOU WELL.

TRANSITIONING

[00:45:02]

>>> GOOD EVENING, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF OF SUPERVISOR TO JOIN THE SUPERINTENDENT, BOARD AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS YOU RECOGNIZE DR. SUE ELHESSEN, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE TIRELESS EFFORTS, THEY HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED AND I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU SUPERVISOR FOR DISTRICT COMMITTEE FOR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATED SERVICE AS A BOARD MEMBER OF BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT , AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WE WANT TO WHOLEHEARTEDLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR NINE YEARS OF SERVICE AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU AGAIN.

>> OKAY WE HAVE ONE MORE.

>> GOOD EVENING, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. SUE FOR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AT THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE KNOW BEING ON THE BOARD IS A BIG DEDICATION OF TIME AND COMMITMENT THAT OFTEN GOES UNNOTICED, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR RECOGNITIONS FOR THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO COME TAKE A PICTURE?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, LET'S GET A PICTURE.

>> SHOULD I WARN MR. STERN NEEDS TO GET READY?

[8. PRESENTATIONS FROM STUDENTS / STAFF / COMMUNITY]

>> I AM BUILDING UP THE ANTICIPATION BECAUSE HE KNOWS IS COMING UP NEXT. NOW WE WILL DO PRESENTATIONS FROM STAFF, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTING THIS MONTH'S STUDENT SPOTLIGHT. FOR REAL THIS TIME. WELCOME.

>> OKAY THANK YOU, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO DO THE INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE BEFORE AND I LOOKED UP ONE OF MY FAVORITES, MY WIFE CALLS HER HIS BOYFRIEND, SIMON CYNIC , HE HAS A LOT OF GREAT INSPIRATIONAL INFORMATION OUT THERE AND HE SPOKE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPTIMISM AND POSITIVITY AND INSPIRATION VERSUS MOTIVATION. I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU BEFORE I DO MY STUDENT SPOTLIGHT BECAUSE MOTIVATION IS SOMETHING WE ALL STRIVE TO HAVE. WE GET , SOME PEOPLE HAVE A NATURAL INTRINSIC MOTIVATION, SOME PEOPLE GET

[00:50:05]

HE HAS A LOT OF THINGS HE LOVES TO DO. MICHAEL FROM HIS FIRST GRADE TEACHER SAYS IT WAS A JOY HAVING MICHAEL IN MY FIRST GRADE CLASS. IT WAS A HARD WORKER ALWAYS WANTED TO HELP OTHERS, THRIVED ON RESPONSIBILITY AND IT WAS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE THE WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN HE IS GROWING UP TO BE. MS. MOSES HIS THIRD GRADE TEACHER SAYS MICHAEL WAS IN MY THIRD GRADE CLASSROOM. A POLITE FRIENDLY BOY WITH A GREAT SMILE AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE, WILLING TO DIVE INTO ANY PROJECT WITH ENTHUSIASM AND LOVED TO LEARN. HE DEMONSTRATED A LOVE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HELP KEEP CHROMEBOOKS IN ORDER EACH DAY.

I MIGHT HAVE TO HIRE YOU FOR THAT ONE. I RECORD -- RECOMMENDED HIM AS A 40 -- FRIDAY MORNING TECHIE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE PROFICIENT IN THE SKILLS AND I'M SO PROUD OF MICHAEL'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS. MOVING UP TO ONE INTERVENTION TEACHER WHO HELPS MR. TIM, MICHAEL HAS BEEN A VITAL PART OF OUR SOUND CREW FOR YEARS, HE LEARNED COMPLEX SKILLS UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF MR. TIM , HIS OLDER BROTHER JACOB, HE HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE TO THE SCHOOL SITE MAKING SURE WE HAVE SOUND AND MICROPHONES READY FOR EVERY EVENT. HE DOES THIS WITHOUT COMPLAINT, TAKES THE JOB SERIOUSLY AND DOES IT EXTREMELY WELL OUR SCHOOL IS BEYOND LUCKY TO HAVE A TALENTED, INTELLIGENT, HELPFUL YOUNG MAN WHO MAKES GOOD THINGS HAPPEN AT OUR SCHOOL. WAY TO GO MICHAEL. I HAVE TEACHERS COMING UP TO ME SAYING DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION? DO YOU WANT ME TO GIVE HER SOMETHING ELSE? THEY KEPT TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY LOVE YOU AND HOW PROUD THEY WERE OF YOU. AND I WILL CAP IT OFF WITH YOUR SIXTH-GRADE TEACHER, HE IS A GIFT TO ANY CLASSROOM, SCHOOL AND/OR COMMUNITY. HE IS RELIABLE AND FIRST TO VOLUNTEER WITH A SMILE, FIRST TO BE THE NEW KID'S FRIEND AND SPENT THE DAY ESCORTING THAT STUDENT AROUND, MICHAEL NOTICES DETAILS IN THE CLASSROOM AND ACTS ACCORDINGLY, MICHAEL IS AN ENGAGED LEARNER AND ADVOCATES FOR HIS EDUCATION. IS NOT AFRAID TO STOP THE TEACHER AND ASK QUESTIONS. POSITIVE DISPOSITION IS CONTAGIOUS TO THOSE AROUND HIM. ON THE PLAYGROUND HE IS INCLUSIVE TO ALL WHO WANT TO JOIN AND PLAY, LEADERSHIP SKILLS ARE NATURAL AND FLOW WITH THESE, MICHAEL'S CONFIDENCE IS SUPPORTED WITH HUMILITY, NO WONDER HE WAS VOTED AS THE ASB PRESIDENT.

MICHAEL, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE FLAME , I THINK ABOUT THE INSPIRATION INSIDE. YOU'RE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO PROVIDES INSPIRATION FOR OTHERS BECAUSE YOU SET SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE , FOR US AND EVERYBODY IN BELLFLOWER UNIFIED.

>> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> BEFORE YOU GO TOO FAR, MICHAEL. HOP ON THE MIC JUST A

[00:55:06]

>> HELPING OTHER KIDS. >> THERE WE GO. IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME EVER ATTENDING A BOARD MEETING? IS IT EXCITING?

>> YES. >> AND THERE IS FREE PIZZA.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MICHAEL. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

WEIGHT, WE NEED A PICTURE. SO I CAN SHOW TORI. COME ON UP AND WE WILL TAKE A GROUP PICTURE WITH THE BOARD.

>> YES PLEASE IF YOU ARE MICHAEL'S TEACHER COME UP TO THE FRONT FOR A PICTURE.

>> ALL RIGHT AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME OUR STUDENT BOARD REPORTERS REPRESENTING BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL IS STEPHEN MARTINEZ. WELCOME.

>> GOOD EVENING BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT , GUESTS AND FELLOW STUDENTS. I AM STEPHEN MARTINEZ, THIS WILL BE BELLFLOWER'S DECEMBER BOARD REPORT. STARTING OFF WE ARE TALKING COVERING GINGERBREAD HOUSE BUILDING EVENT THAT WAS THIS TUESDAY WHERE THIS WAS HOSTED WHERE STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CAN COME AND BUILD A FREE GINGERBREAD HOUSE. YOU CAN SEE THERE WAS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THAT CAME OUT TO BUILD INTERBRED HOUSES. ALL OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED WERE ENTERED INTO A RAFFLE TO WIN PRIZES SUCH AS THE MOVIE BUCKET IN THE TOP LEFT. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO COVER THE ENSEMBLE WHICH STARTED OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON DECEMBER 4 AT THE HOLIDAY COFFEEHOUSE ANNUAL EVENT TO SHOWCASE THE PROGRAM IN A HOLIDAY STYLE. THOSE WHO WENT GOT DESSERT, HOT CHOCOLATE AND LISTENED TO THEM THINK, THEY PERFORMED AT THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY ALONGSIDE MAYFAIR.

SORRY I DID NOT MEAN IT THAT WAY. ON DECEMBER 7, THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE DISNEY CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL EVENT ALONG WITH THE ALUMNI. ALONGSIDE THE REST OF THE VOCAL DEPARTMENT THEY WILL BE PERFORMING TONIGHT AT THE WINTER FESTIVAL CONCERT. YEAH. AND SO RAISING OVER $200 FOR THE LOCAL BELLFLOWER COMMUNITY WHICH HELPS FAMILIES IN NEED AND WE HAVE STUDENTS AT BELLFLOWER WHICH RECEIVE THE FUNDING THAT GOES TO THE CITY. THIS EVENT IS A TRADITIONAL

[01:00:01]

UPCOMING EVENTS ARE THE HOLIDAY PARADE ANNUAL PARADE HOSTED INSIDE THE SCHOOL TO THE HALLWAYS WHERE STUDENTS COME OUT OF THE CLASS TO WATCH THIS PARADE ON THE LAST DAY BEFORE WINTER BREAK AND IN THE PARADE ARE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS CHEER, BAND, CLASSES COME OUT AND PERFORM TO SHOWCASE EVERYTHING FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER AND FOR THE WINTER SNACK RALLY DIFFERENT GROUPS PERFORM AT THE RALLY AND WE ALSO PLAY GAMES SUCH AS MUSICAL CHAIRS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SHOWCASE THE 605 BELLFLOWER MARCHING BAND PROUD TO BE PART OF THE 605 BAND FOR THIS ROSE PARADE. EARLIER THIS MONTH THEY HAD A PRACTICE PARADE STARTING AT THE STADIUM GOING ALL THE WAY TO MAYFAIR PARK WHICH IS SEEN ON THE LEFT AND ALSO THEY WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SOUTHGATE PARADE WHERE THEY SHOWCASE NEW UNIFORMS AS SEEN ON THE RIGHT, THE BAND RECEIVED THIRD-PLACE AT THE THREE A CHAMPIONSHIPS LONG BEACH CITY

COLLEGE ON NOVEMBER 25. >> I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE CURRENT BOARD CLERK MRS. GARS ON WINNING REELECTION AND WELCOME TO BELLFLOWER UNIFIED AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE DR.

ELHESSEN FOR THE YEARS OF SERVICE TO BELLFLOWER UNIFIED.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, REPRESENTING

MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL. >> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT, SUPERINTENDENT, BOARD MEMBERS AND DISTRICT COLLEAGUES. SO, STARTING OFF WITH ACADEMICS, MR. LAMBERT WAS AWARDED THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS AWARD. HE WAS AT A LOW POINT GOING THROUGH A LOT, BUT HE STILL PREVAILED AND WAS AWARDED A $250 SCHOLARSHIP AND A CHROMEBOOK. FIRST QUARTER HONOR ROLL THAT BEGAN TODAY WITH 1300 STUDENTS WITH THE 3.0 GPA OR HIGHER, SUPER AWESOME. FINAL EXAMS ARE KICKING OFF NEXT WEEK

THE 18TH THROUGH THE 20TH. >> FOR ATHLETICS WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE UNIFIED PROGRAM AND UNIFIED CHEER WITH THE HOOPS TOURNAMENT ON DECEMBER 6, A GREAT EVENT, GOOD TIMES, A LOT OF SCHOOLS CAME OUT AND PLAYED AND WE WILL UPDATE THE WINTER CIF SPORTS IN JANUARY BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT COURTNEY CUMMINGS, THE FIRST PLAYER NOMINATED TO PLAY ON THE LA COUNTY ALL-STAR TEAM AT THE CHARGER STADIUM. SUPER COOL.

>> FOR THE ARTS WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE 605 BAND PARADE WHICH WAS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY OF BELLFLOWER AND LAKE WITHIN THE PRACTICE PARADE AND IT WAS SUPER COOL. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY COME AWESOME TO SEE COMMUNITIES COME OUT AND WATCH. THAT WALK WAS ROUGH AND I'M GLAD I'M NOT DOING THAT AGAIN IN THE ACTUAL PARADE. HERE IS A LITTLE VIDEO ON THAT.

>> STUDENTS GET READY FOR THE TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE.

>> TODAY IS LIKE A TEST DRIVE. ONE OF MY GOALS IN MY CAREER WAS TO TAKE THE BAND FOR THE ROSE PARADE. WE DO THE ROSE PRAYED COMING UP TO BE PRETTY BIG. I INVITED SEVEN FRIENDS OUT TO DINNER AND SAID I WANT TO DO THE ROSE PRAYED, WOULD YOU PARTNER WITH US AND LET'S PUT A BAND TOGETHER.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE EFFORTS OF OUR LOCAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS. THIS WAS SUCH A UNIQUE CONCEPT, A COMPOSITE BAND OF A LOCAL AREA HIGH SCHOOLS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MARCH IN THE PARADE. WE WERE ABSOLUTELY

INTRIGUED , SO EXCITED. >> LEARNING HOW TO TAKE 540 KIDS AND MERGE THEM INTO BEING A MARCHING BAND WHO HAVE NEVER EXISTED BEFORE, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

>> DEFINITELY MORE ABOUT CULTURE , CULTURE SHARK --

[01:05:01]

OWN WAY OF DOING THINGS. >> WE ARE LEARNING TO THE KIDS ARE. I KNOW MY KIDS BUT I DON'T KNOW THE OTHERS SO WE ARE GOING TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER OVER THE NEXT MONTH AND HOPEFULLY BUILD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND IT'S GOING TO

BE FUN ALONG THE WAY. >> THIS IS A FIVE BAND IS ONE OF THE LARGEST TO PLAY IN THE ROSE PRAYED, TODAY'S PRACTICE STRETCH WAS OVER A FOUR MILE ROUTE.

>> YES, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM FOR THAT. OUR MARITIME , OUR SHOW CHOIRS HAVE OUR FIRST CONCERT DECEMBER 18 AND 19TH NEXT WEEK AT THE CIVIC CENTER SO CHECK THAT OUT IF YOU CAN.

OKAY SO FOR ACTIVITIES OUR CHOIRS WENT TO BELLFLOWER TRUE LIGHTING WE ALSO DID LAKEWOOD TREE LIGHTING AND THEY SOUNDED TERRIFIC. WE WILL REDEEM OURSELVES NEXT WEEK SO CHECK OUT THE CONCERTS. WE ALSO HAD PICTURES WITH SANTA, SNOW FESTIVAL THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, DANCE, LOOKED PRETTY LATE AND MOVIE NIGHT TOMORROW NIGHT SHOWCASING THE GRINCH. IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE, COME OUT IT IS FREE. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PRESIDENT CRITCHFIELD FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD YOU ARE ALWAYS A LIGHT TO THE DISTRICT, I REMEMBER MEETING YOU AT THE OPENING OF OUR STEAM YOU BUILDING AND YOU GIVE ME ADVICE ON MY FIRST CAMPAIGN FOR CLASS RESIDENCY SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.

ALL RIGHT, DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK AT MAYFAIR BUSD AND THANK YOU

FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU AND REPRESENTING SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL IS JAY TORRES, TAKE IT AWAY.

>> THAT EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT AND GUESTS. WHEN IT WAS JAY TORRES AND I'M A SENIOR AND BOARD REPORTER FOR SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL. THIS EVENING I WILL BE SHARING OUR LATEST ACTIVITY AT SOMERSET AND UP-AND-COMING EVENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE SOME OF THE NEW STAFF MEMBERS AT SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL. WITH A NEW WELLNESS COUNSELOR WHO IS WITH US ON MONDAYS AND FRIDAYS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN THE WELLNESS CENTER. WITH OF A NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKER , MISS STEPHANIE GARCIA HERE TO HELP STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES. WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM BOTH HERE , THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE IT TO TURKEY DAY . THE COMMUNITY DONATED $505 PER STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND PLENTY OF CANNED GOODS FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. STUDENTS ENJOYED SERVING YOU AND SPENDING TIME CELEBRATING WITH ONE ANOTHER. SOMERSET APPLIED TO BE A MODEL CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER AND WE WERE SELECTED FOR A VERIFICATION VISIT, THE TEAM CAME TO THE SCHOOL LAST WEEK AND SPENT TWO DAYS OBSERVING CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. THEY ALSO SPENT TIME TALKING WITH STUDENTS PARENTS TEACHERS AND DISTRICT OFFICE LEADERSHIP.

THEY SAID THEY WERE IMPRESSED BY WHAT THEY SAW. THE REPORT THEY SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DETERMINES WHETHER WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A MODEL SCHOOL. WE WILL FIND OUT IN THE SPRING IF WE EARNED THE REPORT, THIS WEEK STUDENTS GOT TO HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM THE AIR FORCE ABOUT TAKING THE AND THE VALUE ONE CAN EARN FROM A MILITARY CAREER AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. BEFORE WE ARE HEADED OFF FOR WINTER BREAK WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME FUN ACTIVITIES. THE PLANNING DRESS OF DAYS AND FUN EVENTS. MONDAY IS PAJAMA DAY AND WE PLAN TO PLAY MUSICAL CHAIRS. TUESDAY WE ARE WEARING SANTA HATS AND DRINKING HOT COCOA, ONCE THEY WILL BE A KICKBALL PETITION BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. THURSDAY WE WILL BE WEARING OUR UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATERS AND FRIDAY WE'RE MAKING CHRISTMAS COOKIES. FINALLY WE ARE WRAPPING UP THE YEAR WITH A FOOD DRIVE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE ANY ITEMS, DROP THEM OFF DURING SCHOOL HOURS ANY DAY BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER 19. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL AND WE WISH YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK ON JANUARY 7, AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK ON JANUARY 7, 2000 AND

[01:10:02]

>> THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH AND REMEMBER YOU CAN STAY FOR THE WHOLE MEETING, BUT AT THIS TIME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK TO YOUR SCHOOL OBLIGATION YOU ARE FREE TO GO. ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR STUDENT REPORTERS. IT IS NOW TIME FOR STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS. MAY HAVE THE PTA PRESIDENT COME ON DOWN TO THE PODIUM? THANK YOU FOR BEING

HERE. >> THAT EVENING PRESIDENT, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, BOARD AND CABINET MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. TONIGHT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENT BEHAVIORS , A FEW THINGS I GET EMAILS ABOUT A LOT AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS TO ADDING DOCUMENTATION ON STUDENT BEHAVIOR BUT MOST ELEMENTARY TEACHERS DO NOT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND BY THAT IS WE ARE PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS WHY DOES ONE GROUP HAVE ACCESS WHEN THE OTHERS DO NOT? I RECEIVED EMAILS FROM TEACHERS WHO ASK WHAT DO I DO HAVE EVERTON THE STUDENT UP, HELD A PARENT CONFERENCE, TALKED TO ADMIN AND BEHAVIOR DOES NOT CHANGE? I HAVE EMAILS FROM TEACHERS SAY IF WE DON'T CREATE OUR OWN FORMAT DOCUMENT THERE WOULD BE NO MARKET BECAUSE WHAT IS WRITTEN NEVER MAKE IT IN. THIS HAS BEEN A ISSUE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IF THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT KINDS OF THINGS OR WORDS WE WANT TEACHERS TO USE LET'S TRAIN THEM BUT NOT DOCUMENTED BEHAVIORS EVER MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THERE ARE NO ISSUES. WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF THE DASHBOARD REPORT OR IF WE ARE WE NEED BETTER INTERVENTIONS IN A SYSTEM THAT TEACHERS KNOW FROM 1 TO 10 THIS IS WHERE BEHAVIOR FALLS, THIS IS THE WORDING AND THIS IS THE CONSEQUENCE. THEY ARE DUE TO LOOK INTO THIS AND COME UP WITH A FINE. TONIGHT'S OPEN FORM ON CELL PHONES IS VERY IMPORTANT, HUMANS ARE DISTRACTED BY THEIR PHONES, I URGE YOU TO CREATE A POLICY SUPPORTING TEACHERS WHO TAKE PHONES AWAY IF THAT'S THE POLICY AND SUPPORTS ADMINISTRATION TO STAND UP FOR THE TEACHER OF PRINCE COMPLAIN.

I THINK WE CAN ALL ADMIT IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY WE WILL BE ON OUR PHONES CELL PHONES HAVE CAUSED A LOT OF ISSUES, NOBODY CAN TELL YOUR TONE, I CANNOT SEE HER FACE AND IT MAKES IT TO EASY TO SAY THINGS ONE MAY NOT NORMALLY SAVE YOUR STUDENTS NEED TO TALK EACH OTHER NOT TAKE UP IN A CORNER AND PUT THEIR EYES ON THE SCREEN. CREATE A CELL PHONE POLICY ADDRESSING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND TEACHES RESPONSIBILITY. I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A TEACHER AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LIBRARIES. HAVE SO MANY STUDENTS STRUGGLING WITH READING. ARE WE PROMOTING LOVE OF READING AT AN EARLY AGE? ARE LIBRARIES OPEN ALL DAY WAS STAFF FOR STUDENTS TO COME TO THE BOOK AND SEE A BOOK FULL OR A ROOM FULL OF BOOKS AND EMBRACE THE LOVE OF READING? WHEN THEY GET TO MIDDLE SCHOOL IT'S HARD TO INSTILL THE LEVEL READING IF THEY HAVE SPENT SIX YEARS ONLY READING FOR INFORMATION LIBRARIES ARE IMPORTANT, I URGE YOU TO TAKE A VISIT , I URGE YOU ALL TO TAKE A VISIT OUR SITE LIBRARIES AND ASK WHAT THEY ARE OFFERING STUDENTS. FINALLY OF A CLOSE ON NEGOTIATIONS, I REPRESENT OVER 500 TEACHERS IN THIS DISTRICT.

I AM NOT IN THE ROOM DURING BARGAINING AND HAVE TO RELY ON WITH THE PEOPLE TELL ME. WE RELY ON THE BARGAINING TEAM TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR ALL MEMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY INCREASING CLASS SIZE AT ANY LEVEL IS A SENSITIVE TOPIC AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO MAKE TIME TO VISIT THE CLASSROOM. DO NOT TELL ANYONE YOU ARE COMING, JUST SHOW UP AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON ACROSS THE DISTRICT ON A DAILY BASIS AND I THINK YOU WILL GET A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT TEACHERS ARE FACING AND THEN MAYBE THE DISTRICT CAN UNDERSTAND WHY INCREASING CLASS SIZE IS NOT WHAT'S BEST FOR STUDENTS OR TEACHERS. ON A SIDE NOTE I KNOW OR HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL WINTER BREAK AND I HOPE 2025 IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU AND HAVE A

GOOD EVENING. >> THANK YOU. CAN HAVE THE PTA

PRESIDENT ? >> SORRY CAN WE FOLLOW UP ON THE LIBRARIES TO FIND OUT IF THEY ARE OPEN ALL DAY AND THE

QUESTIONS SHE ASKED PLEASE? >> OKAY ONE MORE TIME, COME ON

UP >> GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. NOT USED TO THAT. I MISSED LAST MONTH'S MEETING AND I APOLOGIZE. I KEPT SOME SLIGHT AND WILL BRIEFLY SHARE PHOTOS I COLLECTED WITH YOU GUYS. SO THIS WAS LAST MONTH'S MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS, PTA NUMBERS OVER 2100 AND THE BREAKDOWN

[01:15:03]

LAST WEEK WE HELD OUR RED RIBBON WEEK RECOGNITIONS SO THE SITE VISIT AND THE JUDGE'S COMMENTS, TOOK THOSE INTO CONSIDERATION AND WE WERE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE SITES FOR THEIR HARD WORK BASED ON STUDENT AWARENESS, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, POSTERS AND OUR TOP THREE SCHOOLS WERE ILC, LINDSTROM AND THE OVERALL WINNER WAS MONTH WE ARE AT 2200 MEMBERS. WE HAD ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS WHERE 100% OF THE TEACHERS JOINED THE PTA SO FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING, IT'S CRAIG WILLIAMS PTA, WOODRUFF, STEPHEN AUSTIN, THOMAS JEFFERSON, WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY AND ALBERT BAXTER PTA. I REALIZE NOT EVERYBODY WATCHING THIS CAN SEE ALL THE PHOTOS AND SLIDES. ONE TO GET THE SHOUT OUT. 2200 MEMBERS, THE GOAL IS 3000. SO IF YOU HAVE NOT JOINED, JOIN ONE, PLEASE HELP US REACH OUR GOAL. LAST YEAR WE HAD 2400 SO I THINK WE CAN DO IT. ALREADY AT 22. AND TO CELEBRATE THE WINTER HOLIDAYS, A LOT OF OUR SITES ARE HAVING EVENTS WHETHER IT IS A WINTER DANCE OR FESTIVAL, MOVIE NIGHT, PAJAMA DRESS-UP, THEY ARE HOSTING FOOD DRIVES, TOY DRIVES AND DOING THE HOLIDAY TOY SHOP FOR STUDENTS TO SHOP FOR THEIR FAMILIES. BUT IT IS DIFFERENT AT EACH SITE SO PLEASE CHECK IT OUT. A LITTLE WAYS AWAY, BUT I SHARED SOME PICTURES ON THE REFLECTIONS ART PROGRAM THAT THEY DID AT THE SCHOOL SITE. COUNCIL HAS COLLECTED ALL THE WINNING ENTRIES AND REDOING OUR OWN REFLECTIONS AWARDS NIGHT ON MARCH 4, 2025. EVERYONE IS INVITED AND THEN QUICKLY WANTED TO SHARE APPRECIATION ON THE

[01:20:01]

>> THANK YOU, LINDA. WE HAVE INDICATIONS OFFICER ANTHONY RAMIREZ. COME ON DOWN. WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> BOARD PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, CABINET MEMBERS, WELCOME. HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE. A COUPLE OF BRIEF NOTES FOR THE CSCA , THIS MONTH THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT AND LABOR REP HAVE MET WITH SUPERINTENDENT AND THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT CONCERNING NUTRITION SERVICE HOURS, SICK LEAVE , RETIREMENT ISSUES AND PERSONNEL ISSUES, OUR CHAPTER PRESIDENT MET WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT ASSISTANT AND DR. RYAN REGARDING PERSONAL ISSUES SOME SERIOUS SPECIAL EDUCATION AID ISSUES SO WE ARE HAPPY TO CONTINUE THAT DIALOGUE. ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE OF SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN MEETINGS AT THOMAS JEFFERSON, WASHINGTON AND ALL THOSE WERE VERY INFORMATIVE. WE WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND TO MANY MORE BUT THE RESCHEDULING COMPLEX. SHE MET WITH A BOARD PRESIDENT AND HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH BOARD MEMBER STEWART AND GARZA AND CONTINUE TO EXPRESS ONGOING DIALOGUE. CSEA WILL RESUME BARGAINING DECEMBER 18.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT ALLIANCE COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULED IN JANUARY AND WE ALSO ATTENDED THE RECENT PERSONNEL COMMISSION MEETING WHERE THEY ANNOUNCED THE NEW CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM. DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE DISTRICT HELP SCHOOL SET UP FOR THE HOLIDAY SHOWS AND A LOT OF THEM PERSONALLY ASSISTED STUDENTS WITH THEIR PERFORMANCES. WE ARE HAPPY THAT CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES ARE DEVASTATING ENGAGEMENT ACROSS CAMPUS. I WANT TO SIDETRACK WITH A COUPLE NOTES FOR THE UPCOMING HEARING. I WANT TO GET THESE OUT AHEAD OF THAT. CSEA HAS A COMPELLING INTEREST IN HOW AND WHEN ANY BOARD POLICY IS ENFORCED. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE UNIFORMED STANDARDIZED TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION FOR ALL RELEVANT EMPLOYEES WHO MAY HAVE TO DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ENFORCE POLICY OR REPORT VIOLATIONS. WE EXPECT A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT MANDATE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL AND ACROSS EVERY SITE. IN ADDITION CSEA WOULD LIKE REASSURANCE THAT ALL EMPLOYEES BEING DIRECTED TO ENFORCE ANY PART OF THE POLICY TO THE FULL BACKING AND SUPPORT OF ADMINISTRATION, CSEA IS AWARE SOME FAMILIES AND STUDENTS MAY NOT FULLY AGREE WITH ANY ENFORCEMENT ON STUDENT CELL PHONE USE AND OF A SAFETY CRISIS WERE TO OCCUR WITHIN NORMAL CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES TO BE SUBJECTED TO WHATEVER IT IS, PUBLIC OUTCRY, ANY TYPE OF LIABILITY. WE WOULD LIKE SOME REASSURANCE THE DISTRICT AND ADMINISTRATION AND THE BOARD HAVE OUR BACKS AS WE FOR SOMETHING YOU CRAFT. THAT'S A BRIEF REPORT FROM ME, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND THINK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, ANTHONY. AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL BE TAKEN A FIVE-MINUTE WELLNESS BREAK

>> WE WILL NOW RE-ADJOURN FOR OPEN SESSION AT 7:19 P.M. AND

[9. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT]

>> THANK YOU, THE 2024 SCHOOL YEARS COMING TO AN END RAPIDLY BEFORE US. STUDENTS HAVE SIX MORE DAYS UNTIL WINTER BREAK WHICH SEEMS SO FAST. APPROACHING THE END OF THE FALL SEMESTER SO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO STAY FOCUSED AND FINISH STRONG. AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR BELLFLOWER FAMILY. WEATHER OBSERVING CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH, KWANZAA, OR ANOTHER CELEBRATION, THIS SEASON REMINDS US OF THE JOY, PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP THAT WE SHARE.

[01:25:01]

[10. PUBLIC HEARING ]

>> THANK YOU. NOW TIME FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AGENDA ITEM 11.1 BOARD POLICY 5131.8 MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES WHILE MEETINGS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD ARE NOT PUBLIC THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITH INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS ABOUT THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON EACH AGENDA ITEM OR ON THE ITEM. IN THE BOARD WILL LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME ACTUALLY OKAY. IF ANYBODY IS IN FAVOR OF THE POLICY NOW WOULD BE THE TIME WHERE YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM AND FEEL FREE TO SPEAK. YOU DON'T NEED A CARD FOR THIS ONE. IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF THE POLICY NOW IS THE TIME YOU CAN COME UP AND SPEAK.

>> MR. CRITCHFIELD CAN I BACK YOU UP? DID WE DECLARE THE

PUBLIC HEARING OPEN? >> BRIGHT I'VE GOT TO DO THAT , THE POWER OF THE GAVEL. REWIND THE WHOLE THING. I DECLARE THIS PUBLIC HEARING NOW OPEN. SO FORMAL. THANK YOU FOR

BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU FOR DECLARING, GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR DEDICATING TIME TO ADDRESS THIS CRITICAL TOPIC OF CELL PHONE USAGE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

DR. SMITH PRESENTED DATA LAST MEETING THAT PHONE USAGE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IS LESS PROBLEMATIC AS FEWER STUDENTS OWN PHONES AND FAMILY RESTRICTIONS OR GREATER.

HOWEVER, IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS MOST STUDENTS HAVE PHONES WITH VERY LITTLE RESTRICTION. THIS INCREASED ACCESS COMBINED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS CREATES SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. WITH THAT IN MIND ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 9 WE SURVEYED TEACHERS ABOUT CELL PHONE USAGE . 68 RESPONDED WHICH IS 57% OF MAYFAIR STAFF AND ROUGHLY 1/3 OF ALL SECONDARY TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT. THE DATA IS CLEAR, 98.5% OF RESPONDENTS BELIEVE CELL PHONE USAGE DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME NEGATIVELY AFFECTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.

THE SURVEY HIGHLIGHTED SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT STUDENT CELL PHONE USAGE DURING THE DAY. 100% OF THE 68 TEACHERS AGREE CELL PHONES INCREASE INAPPROPRIATE ACTIVITY SUCH AS MEET UPS FOR FIGHTS, ROMANTIC HOOKUPS, GAMBLING AND EVEN BEEPING AND DRUG USE. 98% AGREE THAT CELL PHONE USE CONTRIBUTES TO CYBER BULLYING INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ABOUT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS OR TAKING UNSOLICITED PHOTOS AND VIDEOS.

94% AGREE THAT CELL PHONES USE NEGATIVELY AFFECT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND DECREASES A PERSON'S SOCIAL INTERACTION.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS RESPONDENTS EXPRESSED VARYING PREFERENCES WITH 52% SUPPORTING LIMITING CELL PHONE USE TO NONINSTRUCTIONAL TIME. 42% FAVORED EVEN STRONGER APPROACH , RESTRICTING PHONES TO ONLY BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL , THAT'S 95% OF THE RESPONDENTS. IF STUDENTS ARE PERMITTED TO USE PHONES AT BREAK TIME 50% SUGGEST REQUIRING STUDENTS TO USE PHONES ONLY IN DESIGNATED AREAS TO DECREASE CYBER BULLYING . BEYOND THE NUMBERS, THE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS REVEAL A COMMON THEME. EDUCATORS NEED SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE A COHESIVE POLICY. MANY EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIFORM DISTRICTWIDE APPROACH.

[01:30:02]

WITH YOUR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT WE ARE READY TO DO OUR PART.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DAN. WOULD

ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ? >> I AM A PARENT OF TWO TEENAGERS. ONE IN LONG BEACH UNIFIED AND ONE IN BELLFLOWER AND I CAN TELL YOU WHEN CELL PHONES CAME INTO EXISTENCE I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS WE GET TO CHILDREN, MORE DANGEROUS THAN OTHER WEAPONS BECAUSE THEY WEAPON IS IT. I HAVE WATCHED MY OWN CHILDREN GO TO THE BATHROOM WHERE HE TEACHER CONOCO AND THERE'S A FIGHT GOING ON WHERE THEY VIDEOTAPED THE FIGHT. THEY MEET UP AND DO IT AND POST IT, THINGS HAPPENING ON CAMPUS THAT CHILDREN ARE TAPING, THEY ARE NOT JUST DOING IT IN SECRET THERE THAN POSTING IT TO SOMETHING THAT WILL FOLLOW THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. I APPLAUD THE BOARD, I KNOW THIS WILL BE DIFFICULT TO IMPACT BECAUSE NOW THE INMATES HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ASYLUM AND THEY'RE NOT GOING QUIETLY OR GIVING OF THE PHONES EASILY.

THEY WILL BE VERY SAVVY, THEY ARE MORE ASTUTE WITH HOW TO HANDLE TECHNOLOGY THEN WE ARE SO IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO GET THAT WRANGLED IN, BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE DO THAT BECAUSE THEIR CHILDREN. WE PUT SOMETHING INTO THEIR HANDS AND INTO THEIR POCKETS, GIVING THEM ACCESS TO ADULT MATERIAL AND CONTENT, ADULT COMMUNICATION AND THEY'RE NOT READY FOR IT.

MY OWN CHILDREN INCLUDED AND I CAN TAKE THINGS AWAY FROM THEM, THEY CAN WIPE THEIR HISTORY ON THINGS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. WE WERE MISSED TO ALLOW THEM TO COME IN TO SCHOOLS IN THE FIRST PLACE AND IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO GET THEM OUT OF SCHOOLS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DISTRICT TO BE MINDFUL OF HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT, THE MESSAGING FORWARD AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE , I DON'T WANT TO SAY CONFISCATING, BUT PUTTING THOSE THINGS IN A SAFE SPACE SO THEY DON'T GET STOLEN AND SO THEY ARE NOT PUTTING THEM AND HIDING THEM IN OTHER PLACES. IT THEN BECOMES CONTRABAND. SO I WOULD VALUE THAT. I HAVE A TUTOR FOR MY CHILDREN WHO TEACHES IN LONG BEACH AND THEY CAME INTO OBSERVER AND SAID YOU ARE NOT TEACHING THE KIDS AND SHE SAID THEY ARE ALL ON THEIR PHONES, THERE IS NO POLICY SO I HAVE NO AUTHORITY. WHEN THEY COME IN IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING I CAN TEACH THEM, BUT AT THIS POINT THOSE DEVICES NEED TO BE PUT AWAY. IT WAS HARD ENOUGH HAVING COMPUTERS IN THE CLASSROOM. I AM GRATEFUL THAT MAYFAIR HAS COGUARDIAN , BUT WE SHOULD BE CONTROLLING THE MEDIA YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF THEM AND WE SHOULD BE CONTROLLING WHAT WE ALLOW THEM TO SEE AND WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR PHONES THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE. MOVING FORWARD THIS IS A DIFFICULT TASK BUT IT IS NECESSARY. WE HAVE AGENCY AIDES WHO APPARENTLY LIKE OUR CHILDREN THINK THAT PHONES ARE AN APPENDAGE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO NOT HAVE THEM PUT AWAY BECAUSE AND SAFETY GETS CALLED INTO QUESTION AND PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SUPERVISING THEM ARE LIKE THIS. IT'S FINE ON THEIR BREAK , BUT THE BREAK IS NOT ANYTIME THE CHILDREN ARE WITH AN EYE SHOT AND THEN OUT AND THEN THE PHONE BEEPS OR RINGS OR WHATEVER.

IT'S NOT JUST A KID PROBLEM, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT LARGER AND

NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AS WELL. >> THANK YOU, DR. ROBINSON.

COME ON DOWN. >> SO, I GUESS

>> REAL QUICK, THE COMMENTS, CAN YOU GIVE THEM TO YOURSELF? IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE DISRUPTIVE I WILL HAVE YOU

LEAVE THE ROOM. SORRY. >> HAVE SEVERAL PERSPECTIVES.

FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE CLEAR IMPLEMENTATION AND TWO OUTSIDE AGENCIES THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE POLICIES ARE, HOW THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO IMPLEMENT. I WORK FOR AN OUTSIDE AGENCY IN THE DISTRICT AND THAT INFORMATION DOES NOT ALWAYS GET RELAYED TO US. I FIND IT THROUGH MY PRINCIPLES BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP, BUT MY BOSS AT THE AGENCY DOES NOT TELL ME SO WE NEED COMMUNICATION IS HAPPENING AS WELL. IF WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT YES WE NEED CLEAR GUIDELINES SO WHEN WHOEVER IS INTERACTING WITH THE CHILD , WE DON'T GET

[01:35:01]

THE CHILDREN. >> THANK YOU, MARLA. I SAW YOU

JUMPING UP EARLIER. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. HOLD ON A SECOND HERE. HI, MY NAME IS WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THIRD GRADE. I BELIEVE CELL PHONES HAVE A PLACE, ESPECIALLY IN AN AREA WHEREBY EMERGENCIES NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OVER STUDENTS DO NOT NEED A CELL PHONE DURING THIS TIME. AT WASHINGTON SCHOOL WE HAVE A CARING STAFF WHO CAN NOTIFY PARENTS AND GUARDIANS IN A CASE OF EMERGENCY. THE STUDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PRIVILEGE.

PLEASE CONSIDER A PLATFORM WHICH TURNS OFF ALL CELL PHONES OF STUDENTS AS THEY ENTER INTO EACH SCHOOL OR REQUIRE STUDENTS TO DEPOSIT THEM SOMEWHERE SO THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO USE THEM WHILE ON SCHOOL CAMPUS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ONE? COME ON OVER. WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING YOUR.

>> THANK YOU TO THE BOARD AND PRESENT, I TEACH ENGLISH AT , HAVE A VERY STRICT CELL PHONE POLICY. I ALSO HAVE 38 KIDS IN MY 12TH GRADE SENIOR CLASS. I TAKE PHONES AWAY. BUT IT IS A WAR OF ATTRITION. I USE COGUARDIAN RELIGIOUSLY, BUT THEY CAN AVOID IT BY SIMPLY USING THEIR PHONE. SO, IN COMPARISON TO THAT I HAVE OTHER CLASSES THAT AVERAGE 25 AND THERE IS NO CELL PHONES IN THOSE CLASSES. THE PERFORMANCE , OUTPERFORMED SENIORS BY AT LEAST DOUBLE DIGITS. SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT INCREASING CLASS SIZES , THE CELL PHONE EQUATION COMES IN. THERE'S NO WAY, I HAVE A CO-TEACHER WE CONSTANTLY ARE TAKING PHONES AWAY. CANNOT CONSTANTLY MONITOR AND THERE IS A PART OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY . IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I LOVE TECHNOLOGY. AND PRETTY ADEPT AT IT, I LIKE TO STAY ONE STEP IN FRONT OF THE KIDS. I LOVE IT, IT'S A TOOL AND I HAVE USED IT IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT AGAIN IT COMES DOWN TO SHEER NUMBERS. THE OTHER CONSIDERATION IS, CONSISTENT AND FAIR ENFORCEMENT OF CELL PHONE CONFISCATION. I HAVE WITNESSED ADMINISTRATORS GIVING PHONES BACK TO KIDS WHO HAD THEM OUT DURING STATE TESTING WHILE OTHER KIDS ARE HARSH AND REQUIRE THEIR PARENTS TO COME PICK UP THEIR PHONE.

SO, FAIR ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE BOARD. IEP CONSIDERATIONS , YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LAW SO IF IT'S IN THE IEP AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER I CAN LIVE WITH THAT. I CAN ENFORCE CELL PHONE POLICY IN MY CLASSROOM AND KEEP IT AS MUCH AS I CAN , BUT WHEN THERE ARE SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OR CONTINUAL VIOLATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT HAVE THE SPINE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, CONSEQUENCES GET ME TO COME TO MY JOB EVERY DAY BECAUSE POVERTY IS NOT AN OPTION. I DON'T DRIVE MY MOTORCYCLE DOWN THE 91 DOING 100 MILES PER HOUR. I COULD, BUT CONSEQUENCES KEEP ME FROM DOING IT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. IS EASY TO SAY NO CELL PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM BUT WITHOUT

[01:40:01]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WHAT ANYBODY

ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? >> JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WE HAVE ONE THAT SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL THAT WE NEED TO READ WHEN YOU

ARE READY. >> GOOD EVENING ESTHER PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, MME. SUPERINTENDENT, KEVIN AND GUESTS. MY NAME IS CAROLINE THOMPSON THE DISTRICT BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SPECIALIST. I AM SPEAKING ON THE POTENTIAL CELL PHONE POLICY. I WANT TO START WITH A SCARY FACT, THE TYPICAL AMERICAN SPENDS 11 HOURS PER DAY INTERACTING WITH DIGITAL DEVICES . WE CHECK OUR PHONES 150 TIMES PER DAY. HOW OUR BRAINS LEARN TO BE HUMAN AND COMPASSIONATE IT TAKES HUMAN CONNECTION. INTERACTING AND SOCIALIZING WITH OTHERS HAVE A PHYSIOLOGICAL IMPACT, WE LEARN TO REGULATE EMOTIONS VIA SOCIAL CONNECTION. WE ARE ESSENTIALLY SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT COME EVERY TIME WE BREAK AWAY FROM HUMAN BEING TO ATTEND TO A DEVICE WE'RE LOSING THE ABILITY TO REGULATE AND REDO THIS 150 TIMES PER DAY IT'S NO WONDER SCHOOLS ARE EXPERIENCING A MASSIVE EXPLOSION OF BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS, STUDENTS ARE NOW LEARNING TO REGULATE THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEIR FACES ARE IN DIGITAL DEVICES ALL DAY, HOPE TO MAKE YOUR JOB A LITTLE EASIER AND NOT HARDER BY PROVIDING DATA LIKE THIS. OF THE BENEFIT OF BEING IN CLASSROOMS ALL DAY. I SUPPORT EVERY SCHOOL SITE AND I HAVE BEEN IN MOST CLASSROOMS, I STAND AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS AND I WATCH COLLECTING DATA.

WHEN I SAY I LOVE MY JOB IT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT WHATEVER THE DISTRICT DECIDES TO DO I AM HERE FOR IT, I WILL GEAR UP AND BE FIRST IN THE LINE TO ENFORCE , BUT THE HARDEST PART OF MY JOB IS SEEING THE LOOK OF DEFEAT SOME OF THE STUDENTS WERE COMING TO SCHOOL PREPARED. THE STUDENTS WANT TO BE THERE AND THEY WANT TO LEARN AND ENGAGE AND ALL IT TAKES IS ONE TO CAUSE MAJOR DISRUPTIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN CONTROL THEMSELVES AROUND TECHNOLOGY. IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE THE LOOK ON TEACHERS FACES, THEY LOOK AT ME SAYING HELP ME, WHAT DO I DO? IF WE DO THIS AND HAVE A BAN WE NEED TO CALL IN REINFORCEMENTS BECAUSE WE NEED MORE SECURITY. PART OF MY JOB INCLUDES RESPONDING TO CRISIS CALLS FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE LOST CONTROL OF A STUDENT IS DESTROYING THE CLASSROOM ARE ATTACKING THEIR TEACHER I GET CALLED OR ONE OF OUR 22 HARD-WORKING BEHAVIOR ASSISTANCE. SOMETIMES I CONDUCT ASSESSMENTS AND THE MAJORITY OF SECONDARY STUDENTS THAT I WAS CALLED TO ASSESS, THE PRIMARY BEHAVIOR OF CONCERN IS INAPPROPRIATE CELL PHONE USE. I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR A BALANCED APPROACH TO CELL PHONE USE, I BELIEVE WHATEVER POLICY PUT IN PLACE, CONSISTENCY WILL BE KEY. WE HAVE A PSEUDO-BAN IN EFFECT THAT'S NOT BEING FOLLOWED, THIS WEEK I RECEIVED EMAIL ABOUT A SECONDARY STUDENT REFUSED TO PUT HIS PHONE AWAY, DATED IT'S MY PROPERTY AND I DO NOT HAVE TO COMPLY. HE LATER ADDED I WILL NEVER COMPLY WITH PUTTING MY PHONE AWAY. WHEN ASKED HOW HIS PARENTS FELT I WAS TOLD THE GRANDPARENTS ARE NOT SUPPORTED AND ARE AFRAID OF HIM. THE STUDENT THEN STATED IF MY GRANDPARENTS TAKE MY PHONE AWAY IT WILL BE . SO MY QUESTION, WHO WILL TAKE THIS STUDENT'S PHONE AWAY? I HAVE A

LOT MORE. >> A MOTION TO ALLOW HER TO

CONTINUE. >> THAT'S FINE. TWO MINUTES.

>> STUDENTS SAID IT WILL BE AND I BELIEVE HIM SO THE QUESTION I WOULD LIKE ANSWERED IS IT WILL TAKE THIS STUDENT'S PHONE AWAY? IF THE FAMILY IS SCARED OF HIM SO SHOULD WE. EVERY YEAR I HOST CRISIS MANY TRAININGS AND PHYSICAL CRISIS INTERVENTION WHICH I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE MANDATORY BY THE WAY. IN THIS TRAINING WE LEARN WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE BEING PHYSICALLY ATTACKED BY A STUDENT. ONE OF THE FIRST AND LAST THINGS AND I STRESSED EVERYBODY GOES TO MY TRAININGS IS UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO YOU EVER TAKE THE STUDENT'S PHONE AWAY BECAUSE IT'S A QUICK WAY TO GET US ALL TO COME EARLIER TODAY I GOOGLED STUDENT ASSAULTS TEACHER AND I GOT ALMOST 3 MILLION HITS. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO ENFORCING THE POLICY WHO WILL ENFORCE? TEACHERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED NOR SHOULD THEY BE EXPECTED TO CONFISCATE STUDENT PROPERTY. MY TRAININGS WILL TELL STAFF TO NOT TOUCH STUDENT PHONES, BUT WE WILL HAVE A BAN IN PLACE TELLING THEM TO CONFISCATE PHONES WHICH WILL CONTRADICT EACH OTHER. I BELIEVE THE CORE ISSUE IS NOT THE PHONE ITSELF BUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA ECOSYSTEM DESIGNED TO CAPTURE AND MONETIZE ATTENTION. PHONES ARE SIMPLY THE DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOPHISTICATED PLATFORMS. SAFETY IS A CRITICAL AND CONCERN FOR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS, CELL PHONES PROVIDE IMMEDIATE LIFELINE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THEY PROVIDE THE

[01:45:03]

CENSORSHIP. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? COME ON DOWN. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING. I'M GOING TO PIVOT A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. YOU GUYS ARE DEALING WITH A SITUATION THAT IS OR HAS BEEN GROWING AND IS DAUNTING AND NO DOUBT IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLEX TO SOLVE.

JONATHAN HEIGHTS IS THE ONE WHO WROTE THE ANXIOUS GENERATION AND I THINK HIS BOOK IS PROBABLY PROMPTED A LOT OF PEOPLE TO START DOING THIS KIND OF WORK. ONE OF THE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND IS HE TALKED ABOUT YOU KNOW, WHY MANY CHILDREN DO HAVE CELL PHONES TODAY. HE TALKS ABOUT IN 1998 IS WHEN CELL PHONES STARTED GETTING INTO KIDS HANDS AND THEN THEY CHANGED IN 2005 WHEN THE PHONES BECAME SMART PHONES. SO HE HAS A RECOMMENDATION FOR EXAMPLE FOR HOW CHILDREN COULD HAVE A CELL PHONE THAT'S SUITABLE FOR KIDS, ONE THAT IS A FLIP PHONE WITH ONLY A COUPLE APPS FOR SIMPLE NOTIFICATION BETWEEN A PARENT AND CHILD. IN HIS RESEARCH AND THE RESEARCH HE SUMMARIZES HE SAYS MOST PARENTS WILL BUY THEIR CHILD A PHONE WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG BECAUSE THEY ARE FEARFUL OF THEIR SAFETY. THAT SAFETY THAT HE IS DISCUSSING HAD TO DO WITH THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE LATE 90S WITH THINGS LIKE SAY THE NIGHT STALKER IN NORWALK WHICH GRABBED EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.

YOU FAST-FORWARD TODAY AND THE IRONY HE IS POINTING OUT IN THE BOOK IS SO PHONES HAVE CREATED A VERY ANXIOUS GENERATION PARTLY BECAUSE WE HAVE GIVEN CHILDREN A CELL PHONE MAKING THEIR ENVIRONMENT EVEN MORE SCARY THAN REALITY REALLY IS.

SO HE DOES HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR HOW TO DEAL WITH IT WHEN YOU TAKE THE PHONE AWAY AND THAT IS A CURRICULUM HE HAS SUPPORTED CALLED LET GROW. I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO ANY OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT IT, BUT THE IDEA IS TO TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO DO THINGS FOR THEMSELVES AND ON THEIR OWN AND AT THE SAME TIME ENCOURAGES PARENTS TO KNOW THAT WHILE YOU CAN BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR CHILD'S SAFETY YOU DON'T HAVE TO CREATE A SENSE OF CONSTANT FEAR BECAUSE THAT'S OFTEN TIMES WITH THE PARENTS ARE REACTING TO WHEN THE GIVEN THESE DEVICES. IT'S CALLED LET GROW. HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT

SOME MORE. THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE

TO SPEAK ON THIS? WELCOME BACK. >> THANK YOU. A QUICK COMPARE AND CONTRAST. LAST YEAR THE SEVENTH GRADERS WERE VERY VERY, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE CELL PHONE OUT OF THE HANDS AND KEEP IT IN THEIR BACKPACK AND THEY HAD A DIFFICULT TIME HANDING IT OVER TO US. AS A GROUP OF MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS WE ORGANIZED OURSELVES AND CAME UP WITH A PLAN OF WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO AND I WAS VERY APPREHENSIVE, IMPLEMENTING THAT THIS YEAR FOR THE FEAR OF WE ARE GOING TO BATTLE WITH THESE KIDS BECAUSE THERE IS THAT ADDICTION TO THE PHONE. BUT

[01:50:01]

>> THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE? SO NOW ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE PODIUM AGAINST THE POLICY. I KNOW THAT'S KIND OF A WEIRD ELIMINATION . ALL RIGHT.

>> I WANTED TO CLARIFY. I WOULD LOVE FEEDBACK BECAUSE I APPRECIATE ALL OF THESE COMMENTS BUT IS NOT HELPING ME ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE. AM I ALLOWED TO ASK A QUESTION AND ELICIT FEEDBACK FROM THE AUDIENCE?

>> IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING WHICH MEANS YOU CAN ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE WITH SPEAKERS OR ASK QUESTIONS.

>> MY QUESTION IS THIS. OUR POLICY STATES WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE CELL PHONES IN THE CLASS SO IT'S BASICALLY BELL TO BELL, NO CELL PHONE. IF THAT'S THE WAY WE STICK WITH IT, THEN WE NEED ADMINISTRATORS TO ENFORCE THAT. AT MY SCHOOL WE HAVE A POLICY WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR BACKPACKS AND THEY ARE PUT AWAY AND THEY CAN ONLY USE THEM READY FOR THE INTERCAMPUS AND WHEN THEY LEAVE SO THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THEM AT LUNCH OR BREAKS. THAT'S WHAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH. I AM HEARING FROM EVERYONE PEOPLE DON'T WANT THEM IN THE CLASSROOM. THEY HAVE CHROMEBOOKS I GET THAT. FOR ME AS A BOARD MEMBER I NEED FEEDBACK ON DO WE LIMIT AT LUNCH AND RECESS? AGAIN I AM A TEACHER, I SEE THE THINGS THEY DO, THEY TAKE PICTURES OF ME SOMETIMES AND POST THEM, THEY JUMP OFF BUILDINGS SO THEY CAN GO VIRAL, I TEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL SO IT'S DIFFERENT FOR MY SCHOOL AND I GET A 12-YEAR-OLD IS NOT THE SAME AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY OPINION AND KEEP THEM OUT OF THE CLASSROOM OR OFF CAMPUS ENTIRELY UNTIL THEY LEAVE CAMPUS? CAN SOME OF YOU PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I NEED FOR THIS POLICY FOR ME TO APPROVE THIS.

SOMEBODY PLEASE? >> A QUICK RESPONSE. I DO BELIEVE THAT KIDS DO NEED TO HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION ACCESS TO THEIR PARENTS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY AS LONG AS IT'S NOT DONE DURING MY CLASS TIME. I UNDERSTAND PARENTS NEED THAT CONNECTION AND KIDS NEED THAT CONNECTION WITH THEIR PARENTS.

AS A INDIVIDUAL TEACHER I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE ? >> MY DAUGHTER HAS HAD A CELL PHONE, I HAD TO GET HER A CELL PHONE WHEN SHE GOT INTO FIFTH GRADE BECAUSE SHE GOT INTO ENSEMBLE DANCE. YOUR TRANSFER TO MY DAUGHTER FROM STEPHEN AUSTIN ELEMENTARY TO WASHINGTON, WE HAD TO PICK UP TIME THAT WAS APPROXIMATE AND SOMETIMES THE BUSES WERE LATE AND ONE TIME THE BUS WAS LATE 45 MINUTES SO I NEEDED TO KNOW WHERE MY DAUGHTER IS. THERE WAS NO COMEDIC ADDITION WHEN THEY WERE COMING BACK, WE WENT TO THE SCHOOL AND WAITED AND THEY GOT THERE WHEN THEY GOT THERE.

I HAVE TO TRACK MY DAUGHTER. TODAY HER CHEER PRACTICE WAS CANCELED SO SHE WAS AT SCHOOL WITH HER BACKPACK, DROPPED HER OFF AT ARCTIC 30 AND MY OTHER CHILD, WHICH TIMES OF GOING TO SCHOOL IS ALSO INCONVENIENT BUT I MAKE IT WORK AND IMMEDIATELY SHE CALLED AND SAID I DON'T NEED TO CARRY THE SECOND BACKPACK WHICH IS WHAT SHE HAS TO CARRY, TWO. SO, IMMEDIATELY I LEFT STEPHEN FOSTER, DROVE BACK TO MAYFAIR, SHE CAN'T, SHE HAS TO BE STUCK WITH THAT ALL DAY AND I WOULD ASSUME I GETTING OUT AT 5:30 BECAUSE THERE IS NO TIME FOR THAT. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO COME INDICATE, I TRACKER, I HAVE A RESPONSIBLE STUDENT, I THINK YOU NEED TO COMEDIC IT WITH PARENTS WITH THE EXPECTATION IS WITH PHONES BUT I NEED TO COMEDIC IT WITH HER. FOR ENROLLMENT GOING DOWN I WOULD PULL MY DAUGHTER IF SHE WAS UNABLE TO COMEDIC IT. SHE IS IN CHEER, SHE LEAVES ON BUSES, BUT THE WEEKEND, DURING SCHOOL, AT NIGHT, ALL BEARING TIMES, SHE IS OUT AT ONE OF YOU TODAY, 1:60 NEXT WEEK, 3:35 TOMORROW, 6:30 THIS DAY, I NEED TO TALK TO HER. AND IT'S DARK WHEN WE'RE GOING AND SHE COMES OUT AND BEARING TIMES. I CAN LOOK AND TRACK HER, SHE'S WALKING THIS IS WHERE SHE IS AT. YOU GUYS LET THEM GO AT LUNCHTIME AND I DID NOT EVEN KNOW. I BASICALLY MADE A PHONE CALL AND

[01:55:01]

THE KIDS LIVING DOING GOD KNOWS WHAT WE COME BACK TO PICK THEM UP BECAUSE WE ASSUME THE SCHOOL KEEPS THEM DURING LUNCH BUT THEY ARE FREE TO LEAVE. SO THEY ARE FREE TO LEAVE FROM A DIFFERENT TIME WE ARE THINKING SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW KIDS AND I HAVE A RESPONSIBLE CHILD RESPONSIBLE WITH THE PHONE, ALL OF HER TEACHERS WHEN THEY GO IN THEIR CLASSROOM , THEIR POLICIES, THEY TAKE THE PHONE THEY PUT IT IN THE THING, DISCIPLINE THE KIDS AND IT STARTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IN HERS THEY WERE BAD COMING INTO MAYFAIR FROM THE DISCIPLINE ISSUES COMING FROM THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IT PROCEEDED TO GET WORSE. WE DO NEED CONDITION WITH OUR KIDS.

>> TO CLARIFY, THEY HAVE THEIR PHONES I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE NOT A LOT, BUT THEY HAVE PHONES IN THEIR BACKPACKS SO THEY KEEP THEM ON SITE AND IN THE BACKPACK. JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, THERE FOUR TIMES WHEN THEY CAN USE THEIR PHONES. ONE IS THEY CAN ASK FOR PERMISSION, I DO IT ALL THE TIME, I'M IN THE ROOM AND THAT WILL COME IN MY OFFICE AND TAKEN A CALL MY MOM? ABSOLUTELY. SO, KNOWING THAT, DO YOU STILL THINK THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE THEIR PHONES AT RECESS AND LUNCH?

>> SOMETIMES SHE HAS TO COMMUNICATE AT THAT TIME, BUT I GET IT IF THEY'RE TAKING VIDEOS. IF MY KID WAS IN THE BATHROOM AND THERE WAS A FIGHT I DO APPRECIATE IF THERE'S A VIDEO BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN AND THEY WILL BE SILENT SO I GET THEY ARE POSTING THIS BUT GIVE THEM DISCIPLINE ACTION FOR THE CHILDREN POSTING AND DOING INAPPROPRIATE THINGS, BUT WE DO NEED TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE KIDS WILL STAY SILENT AND SOMEBODY WILL BE BULLIED AND THEN YOU KNOW THINGS

HAPPEN. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINION.

>> CAN WE PLEASE READ THE WRITTEN ONE SUBMITTED VIA

EMAIL? >> YES AND THEN I WILL COME

BACK. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE EMAIL STATES , SO MANY SCHOOLS ARE USING POSITION OF AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE A POLICY OF BELL TO BELL NO CELL, PHONES POWERED OFF IN BACKPACKS ALL DAY SNACK AND LUNCH. IT IS IN WRITING AND ON MANY SCHOOL WEBSITES AS A SCHOOLWIDE POLICY. AT BUSD IS LEFT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL TEACHER OR EXPLAIN VERBALLY BY ADMINISTRATORS USING PHRASES LIKE THE MAJORITY OF TEACHERS AGREE AND NEVER STATED AS ACTUAL POLICY DISTRICTWIDE IN WRITING. I FEEL THIS PIECE IS SO IMPORTANT . I AM FINDING MANY SCHOOLS HOLDING THE LINE THERE ALSO. AS A SCHOOL IN WRITING. WHEN WE USED TO HAVE A DISCIPLINE MATRIX IT STATED CLEARLY, NO CELL PHONES IN VIEW OR POWERDOWN DURING THE SCHOOL DAY ORDERING PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL ACTIVITY, IT IS SAID THAT RIGHT HERE AT BUSD. THAT WAS NOT THE 1950S, IT WAS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. WHERE WE CHOOSING TO IGNORE RULES THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH EFFORT TO ENACT? WE BEHAVE INSTEAD AS IF IT SOME GIANT MONSTER OF AN UNDERTAKING TO SOLVE THIS. AS IF IT IS SOME NEW PROBLEM WHEN IN FACT IT WAS SETTLED 10 YEARS AGO. WHY DO WE INSIST ON SPENDING YEAR AFTER YEAR ACTING LIKE WE NEED TO START FROM SCRATCH? WHAT IS THE FASCINATION WITH STARTING EVERYTHING FROM SQUARE ONE? AS ADULTS WE MUST STOP THIS DESTRUCTIVE PROBLEM, WE CAN NO LONGER ALLOW THIS EXPERIMENT TO

GO ON. >> SORRY I WAS ON MY PHONE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. SIR, YOU ARE UP NEXT.

>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AND I GUESS IT ROUNDS OUT THE COMMENTS. IN THE CLASSROOM, ABSOLUTELY. BELL TO BELL, NO CELL PHONES AND I'M TRYING TO PRACTICE THAT. I AM KIND OF MORE UTILITARIAN , TO THINK THAT YOU HAVE A MORATORIUM ON CELL PHONES DURING LUNCH AND SNACK AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM AND ALL THE QUADS, WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR THE FUNDS. THE DISRUPTION THAT WOULD CAUSE AMONG THE COMMUNITY, THE STUDENTS I BELIEVE THEY WOULD REBEL, SILENT REBELLION, REFUSE TO GO TO CLASS OR WORK AND IT WOULD AFFECT THEM. SO THERE HAS TO BE GIVE AND TAKE. TO TRY TO FIND A COMPROMISE WHEN REASONABLE AND NOT IMMORAL FOR SO LONG THEM ON CAMPUS AND USE THEIR PHONES, I MEAN THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WHERE THE PARENTS HAVE TO DO. WE HAVE TO RESPECT PARENT

[02:00:02]

>> CLARIFYING QUESTION REDO IT AT MY SCHOOL AND IT DOES WORK BUT AGAIN I'M TEACHING SIX, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH. USING THE

POLICY SHOULD BE DIFFERENT ? >> IT IS CAMPUS SIZE, I THINK IT SHOULD BE PREDICATED ON THE SIZE OF THE STUDENT BODY. I THINK IT'S A POWERFUL TOOL , THE TEACHER SHOULD HAVE SOME DISCRETION. SOME MATH TEACHERS, IT'S VERY USEFUL. SOMERSET BEING A SMALLER ENVIRONMENT, IT MIGHT WORK TO ALLOW CELL PHONES TO ENCOURAGE ENGAGEMENT. I HAVE FOUND THE TECHNOLOGY IS ENGAGING BUT AS A TEACHER HAVE TO TEACH THEM WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE TO USE IT. I USE A.I. AND HAVE FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS BUT I TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO USE IT AS A TOOL AND I TRY TO DO IT WAS CELL PHONES. DURING LUNCH IT GETS INTO THE ISSUES OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AND PARENTAL RIGHTS AND LEGAL ISSUES BUT IT COMES DOWN TO MONEY AND RESOURCES AND TIME AND PERSONNEL. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AND TIME AND PERSONNEL THE MONEY COULD BE SPENT FOR INTERVENTIONS , FOR A LOT OF STRUGGLING STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT IN LINGUISTICS AND MATHEMATICS. THAT MONEY WOULD SPEND TO ENFORCE A CONEY AND CELL PHONE POLICY ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, THAT'S MONEY TAKEN AWAY FOR MY STUDENTS AND I AM A BIT PROTECTIVE OF THEM. SO THAT

ANSWERS THE QUESTION. >> THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. >> I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL BE HELPFUL BUT I WILL TRY. I THINK IF THE WORLD WAS IDEAL AND WE ARE IN A MARY POPPINS MOVIE, CELL PHONES NEED TO BE OUTCOME OUT OF SCHOOL AND A TOTAL BAN. BUT WE'RE NOT THERE. WHEN THE LUNCH BELL RINGS AT MAYFAIR AND I AM OUT THERE, THOUSANDS OF PHONES , THEY'RE EVERYWHERE. HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTROL THAT? I CANNOT EVEN WRAP MY BRAIN AROUND HOW WE WOULD DO THAT. THEN CONSIDER THE WATCHES , THE EARBUDS, NOW THERE ARE RINGS. I THINK MOST EXPERTS WILL AGREE SOCIAL MEDIA IS ROTTING OUR BRAINS AND IT NEEDS TO GO AWAY. HOW?

>> THANK YOU. >> I APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW HOW I FEEL, I NEED TO KNOW HOW YOU DO.

>> I APPRECIATE IT. I HAVE KIND OF GONE 360 ON THIS THING. WHEN WE WERE FIRST TALKING ABOUT THIS POLICY, WHEN I LEARNED WE ALREADY HAD A POLICY THAT WAS COMPLETE , YOU CANNOT HAVE YOUR PHONE ON IN CLASS AT ALL WHEN I WENT TO SITES AND HEARING FROM TEACHERS WITH THE ISSUES ARE, NO MATTER WHAT WE DECIDE AND SOME OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN ON IT, IT HAS TO BE ENFORCED AND WE HAD TO GIVE YOU TOOLS AND TRAINING TO ENFORCE AND ALSO THE BACKING. TO WHERE WE DON'T YOUR CONFISCATE A PHONE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SKIPPING BACK AND YOU ARE THE BAD GUY. YOU WILL LOSE A LOT OF ENERGY FOR NOTHING WHEN YOU DO THAT.

WHATEVER YOU DECIDE, IT HAS TO BE ENFORCED AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON HOW WE GET THAT ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT SOME SCHOOLS GOING FULL BAND, SOME GOING TO THE BAGS AND MADE THAT INVESTMENT AND WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF DATA THIS YEAR AS THOUGH SCHOOLS ROLL OUT SOME THINGS, BUT THE STAFFING ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY, PUTTING THIS EXTRA DUTY ON EVERYBODY. I'VE HAD TO LEARN A LOT OF THE SITES FOR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE SO I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS TONIGHT. BUT IT IS A MASSIVE

HILL FOR SURE. GET UP THERE. >> IT IS POSSIBLE RATHER THAN GOING ALL OR NOTHING WE GRANDFATHER IN AND PHASE OUT.

IF YOU MAKE A POLICY, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IN TK AND THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IN KINDERGARTEN OR FIRST OR SECOND

[02:05:02]

ONCE YOU DECIDE WHAT WE DO, MAYBE WE START ROLLING IT OUT.

I THINK IT IS UNDERESTIMATING THE INTEGRITY OF CHILDREN TO ASSUME THEY'RE JUST GOING TO MAKE POOR CHOICES. SOME OF IT HAS TO LAND IN THE EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE. WE ARE PREPARING THEM TO BE GLOBAL CITIZENS. THIS IS LIKE TELLING THEY CAN HAVE SEX WITH -- IN MY BEDROOM BECAUSE THEY WILL DO IT ANYWAY THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE LIQUOR IN THE CABINET BECAUSE THEY WILL DO IT ANYWAY. I THINK AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO BE THE ADULTS AND TAKE BACK THE JOB OF BEING AND THE PARENTS AND WE WILL HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS, BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM DID NOT HAVE PHONES IN HIGH SCHOOL. WE ARE EDUCATED AND COMPETENT AND WE CAN USE THEM NOW, WE ARE PREPARING THEM TO BE GLOBAL CITIZENS TO WORK, THEY CANNOT GO TO THE JOB AND SIT ON THE PHONE ALL DAY. YOUR BUILDING ALL FUTURES, I THINK MAYBE IT'S NOT ALL OR NOTHING NOW, BUT MAYBE BUILD OUT THE POLICY AND WE PHASE IT IN. UNLUCKY THEM WHO DON'T GET THE BETTER POLICY. WE ARE DOING DISSERVICE TO THEM BY LETTING THEM DO WHATEVER THEY WANT. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING , WE HAVE TO HAVE A POLICY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE LACKED FOR DECADES IS CLEAR POLICY, PROCEDURE AND PROTOCOL. YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AND IMPLEMENT, YOU HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT AND THE LANGUAGE HAS TO BE THE SAME ON EVERY SINGLE SITE. ESSENTIALLY WHERE FAMILY. SOMEBODY HAS TO BE THE PARENT AND WE HAVE TO DO IT AND IF YOU LOOK AT DATA ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING YOU CAN MODEL SOME OF THAT, BUT AT SOME POINT THIS IS A FAR UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. MAKE A DECISION FOR US AND THAT'S WHAT WE MOVE FORWARD INTO. THE THAT WE DIE ON IS THE ONE THAT DOES NOT WORK. IMPLEMENT SOMETHING AND THEN

COURSE CORRECT AS YOU GO. >> THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S THE LAST , THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING. 3216 IS WHAT PROMPTED THIS CONVERSATION AND THE BOARD IS VERY PROACTIVE IN SETTING UP SURVEY TO THE COMMUNITY. ALSO HAVING THIS PUBLIC HEARING THE BOARD WANTED TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY DIRECTLY. POLICIES CAN CHANGE OVER TIME, BUT I THINK THE BOARD HAD A BIG INTEREST IN KNOWING WE HAD A POLICY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BUT DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING SO WE WANTED TO PUT SOME SUNSHINE ON IT AND MAKE SURE WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE SO WE CAN GIVE SUPPORT WE NEED TO ON THE POLICY. AND, YEAH. ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE WE MOVE ON AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? ANYBODY BUT , JUST KIDDING. OH, YEAH.

>> JUST TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION ON THE SURVEY WE DID 42% WERE IN FAVOR OF BEGINNING UNTIL THE END OF SCHOOL BAN.

TEACHERS, CORRECT. I COMPLETELY AGREE WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE. I THINK YOU HEARD IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT TEACHERS COME ALL THE TIME I GET THIS I FORGOT MY PE CLOTHES CAN I TURN -- CALL MY MOM? NOT A BIG DEAL. IF THERE ARE EMERGENCIES OR ISSUES THE MAJORITY OF TEACHERS, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ALL, MOST IN THIS ROOM WOULD ALLOW THE STUDENT TO DO IT IF IT IS EMERGENCY OR IF THERE IS A NEED. I GET PHONE CALLS FROM THE OFFICE ALL THE TIME. HEY, GRANDMA CALLED SO-AND-SO NEEDS TO COME TO THE OFFICE. SO THERE IS THE COMMUNICATION PIECE EVEN WITH PHONES PUT AWAY. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COMPLETE BAN, THE BAG IS THE WAY TO GO. IT IS AN INVESTMENT, BUT ALLOWS FOR THE QUICK ENFORCEMENT AND IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY THAN THOSE CAN BE TORN APART AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO REIMBURSE MY ENTIRE CLASS IF THAT'S NECESSARY SO THE DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE BAG. SPLIT PUT THAT ON THE PUBLIC

RECORD. >> YOU CAN, ABSOLUTELY. IT IS WORTH IT ON BOTH ENDS. TO MISS THOMPSON'S POINT, AS SOON AS THE BELL RINGS EVERYONE IS ON THEIR PHONES. I THINK WE CAN SAY THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM FOR SOME OF US. WE SEE THE PARENT DATA THAT DR. SMITH PRESENTED AT THE LAST MEETING SO I THINK

[02:10:02]

SAID BY A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY. >> THANK YOU, DAN. ANY MORE COMMENTS BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION?

>> ARE YOU GOING TO ALLOW THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION?

>> AFTER WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING , THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. NOW TO CLEAR THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSE, ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD?

>> SO, ABOUT THE CELL PHONE POLICY. FOR ME AS A SENIOR I'M NOT 100% OPPOSED TO THE BAN , BUT FOR ME I BELIEVE THAT CELL PHONES SHOULD BE PUT AWAY DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME ESPECIALLY , YOU KNOW IF SOMEBODY CANNOT DO THAT OR PUT AWAY THEIR CELL PHONE I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES AND FOR EXAMPLE. ME, I HAVE USED MY PHONE WHEN HAVE TO GO INTO SCHOOL OR GO OUT OF SCHOOL. IT IS A SCHOOLWIDE APP WHICH HELPS PEOPLE OR STUDENTS GO AROUND WITH THE HALL PASS AND IT SHOWS HOW LONG YOU ARE IN THE RESTROOM. SO TEACHERS AND STAFF UTILIZE IT A LOT. BUT I FEEL LIKE WITH THE CELL PHONE POLICY, SOME PEOPLE OR STUDENTS MIGHT WORK THEIR WAY AROUND IT FOR EXAMPLE YONDER POUCHES SOME STUDENTS MIGHT BRING A FAKE PHONE AND HAVE THE REAL PHONE IN THEIR POCKET. A LOT OF STUDENTS MIGHT JUST YOU KNOW, TO A POINT WORK THEIR WAY AROUND IT SO THAT'S WHY I SAID NOT A TOTAL BAN, BUT MORE CONSEQUENCES , BUT IF THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS PUTTING IT AWAY THEN FURTHER CONSEQUENCES AND

SECURITY. >> THANK YOU STUDENT BOARD MEMBER. VICE PRESIDENT STEWART? IS IT GOING TO BE USED IF THEY

DON'T HAVE CELL PHONES? >> THAT WOULD GO AWAY

COMPLETELY IF THEY DON'T? >> IN THE POLICY, IT ACTUALLY SAYS THE , WITH THE EXCEPTION OF , WHERE DO THEY GO? THE EXCEPTION FOR DIGITAL ID CARDS IF STUDENTS ARE PERMITTED TO USE ON SCHOOL PREMISES FOR ACCESSING ID CARDS AND REQUIRED

FOR IDENTIFICATION. >> I GET THAT, THEY NEED TO USE THE MOBILE IDS FOR MINGA, IF WE SAY NO MOBILE PHONES WE CAN SAY YOU CAN HAVE PHONES BUT YOU CAN USE THEM FOR MINGA. SO, IF THEY CANNOT HAVE THEIR PHONES WITH THE PROGRAM GO AWAY?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. STUDENTS USE THOSE FOR ALL PASSES AND THEY ALSO USE DIGITAL ID FOR LUNCH AND BREAKFAST THAT'S HOW THEY GET THEIR MALES.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A BIT OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. TALKING ABOUT HOW PHONES ARE PROBLEM THEN WE HAVE THINGS WHERE THEY ABUSE THEIR PHONES ALL THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE OUT OF CLASS GOING TO THE BATHROOM. I'M SO CONFUSED.

>> IF I CAN AND I WILL GO BACK TO YOU IN A SECOND. I WAS WONDERING WHY , FOR THAT BEING IN HERE, BECAUSE.

>> SORRY, HE IS IN YOU CAN USER ID YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE YOUR

[02:15:06]

PHONE. IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT, THEY CAN GO

OLD-SCHOOL. >> THEY HAVE THEM NOW?

>> THAT'S A DIFFERENT ANSWER. THEY CAN USE THAT WITHOUT THEIR

PHONES. >> I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY WOULD USE ID FOR THE HALL PASS. I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE

WORKED OUT AT THE SITE. >> HEY, DAN.

>> THANK YOU. I NEED TO THE ACCURATE INFORMATION. FOR ME TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. SO, THANK YOU.

>> WITH THE EXCEPTION FOR DIGITAL ID CARDS. IN THE CURRENT PROPOSED POLICY THEY WOULD STILL HAVE PHONES ON THEM THEY JUST HAVE TO BE PUT AWAY BELL TO BELL, THEY COULD STILL USE DIGITAL ID CARDS TO GET INTO SCHOOL SO IS THIS, IF THEY HAVE TO BE PUT AWAY? THIS POLICY SAYS FOR SECONDARY THEY CAN HAVE THEM OUT AT LUNCH AND BREAK AND WHY DO WE HAVE EXCEPTION FOR ID CARDS? WE DON'T USE ID CARDS IN CLASS EVER RIGHT? IS THERE EVER A REASON TO HAVE THEM IN CLASS? WHY WOULD THERE NEED TO BE AN EXCEPTION?

>> MAKES SENSE. >> THAT'S A QUESTION FOR YOU.

>> THE EXCEPTION WAS WRITTEN INTO THE DRAFT POLICY FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION. MAINLY BECAUSE THERE IS WIDESPREAD USAGE OF DIGITAL ID CARDS , NOT JUST FOR HALL PASS PURPOSES, BUT IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW NOTIFICATIONS GOING THROUGH MINGA SO THAT EXCEPTION WAS INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT POLICY BECAUSE FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THEY ARE USING THE TECHNOLOGY. SO IF THERE IS AN OCCASION WHERE A STUDENT WOULD NEED TO USE THEIR PHONE TO ACCESS ID CARD FOR SOMETHING ON CAMPUS WHETHER IT'S IN CLASS OR NOT, IF YOU'RE USING DIGITAL ID CARDS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE VIA PHONE IT MAKES SENSE TO ME TO HAVE SOME KIND OF EXCEPTION FOR THAT . HOWEVER, THIS IS THE BOARD POLICY AND THE BOARD

ODYSSEY DRAFT. >> THEY DON'T TYPICALLY USE THAT , WE ARE NOT ALLOWING THEM CELL PHONE USE IN CLASS FOR

THAT? >> I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THAT BECAUSE THERE COULD BE OCCASION WHERE THE ID CARD IS NEEDED TO BE IN CLASS. I DON'T KNOW , I'M SURE THERE'S A TIME THAT HAS COME UP WITH THIS DAYS WITH ACCESS TO THE ID CARD BECAUSE SOMETHING IN CLASS I AM CERTAINLY OUT OF CLASS BUT THE TEACHERS WOULD KNOW, THE PRINCIPLES WOULD PROBABLY KNOW AS WELL.

>> GOING DOWN TO STUDENT BOARD MEMBER .

>> TO USE TRENTON IN CLASS THE ONLY TIME I'VE EVER USED IT IS WHEN I NEED TO MAKE A HALL PASS. LET'S SAY I GO TO THE NURSE OR THE BATHROOM I CAN MAKE MYSELF A PASS AND THE TEACHER DOES NOT NEED TO DO IT FOR ME BUT THAT'S THE ONLY TIME. IT ALSO SHOWS YOUR ID AND ID NUMBER SO YOU'RE FILLING SOMETHING OUT IN CLASS YOU CAN GO AND IT HAS YOUR INFORMATION AND ON TOP OF THAT IT SHOWS NOTIFICATIONS AND STUFF GOING AROUND THE SCHOOL, NOT ONLY DO THE WEEK, BUT HER DAY. SO MAYBE NOT DURING CLASS AS MUCH, BUT DEFINITELY OUTSIDE USAGE.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT. VICE PRESIDENT STEWART.

>> ON THE NEXT FRIDAY MEMO CAN WE GET INFORMATION ON MINGA ? I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED RIGHT NOW. AGAIN I'M NOT SAYING KIDS WILL DO BAD THINGS BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE THEY MAKE JOHN HALL PASS AND LEAVE CLASS WHENEVER THEY WANT SO MAYBE I DON'T TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF

INFORMATION ON HOW THAT WORKS. >> WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.

>> OKAY THANK YOU.

>> AS YOU GUYS KNOW I HAVE A SENIOR ALSO AND , LIKE THESE PARENTS HERE, MY CHILD A PHONE FOR UNEXPECTED THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN. I DO AGREE WITH DR. ROBINSON, WE NEED TO ROLL IT OUT AND EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GETTING AWAY FROM TECHNOLOGY. WE ARE MOVING FORWARD SO WE HAVE TO TEACH THEM ACCEPTABLE USE OF CELL PHONES. AND THESE SMART PHONES,

[02:20:02]

BECAUSE SHE IS TEACHING, SHE HAS A LESSON SHE HAS NO TIME FOR A CELL PHONE. IF THE TEACHER IS TEACHING AND HAS THE LESSON, AND THE PHONE IS NOT REQUIRED IT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. I SAID IT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE THOSE CHILDREN, SOME CHILDREN , IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S GOING ON. REMEMBER WE ARE IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS ALSO AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE CHILDREN. WE NEED TO POSSIBLY FIGURE OUT A WAY TO STORE THOSE PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM. ALLOW THE CHILDREN TO HAVE THEIR PHONES WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN INSTRUCTIONAL. SO I DON'T KNOW. WE HAVE TO GET OUR PARENTS ON BOARD. I HEARD ONE PERSON SAY THEY ARE AFRAID OF THEIR OWN CHILD. SO ALL OF THESE THINGS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT WE HAVE TO GET THE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ON BOARD AND WE HAD TO FIND A BALANCED APPROACH.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG.

>> SORRY I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION ON MINGA. CAN IT BE USED ON THE CHROMEBOOK? I AM HEARING YES IN THE AUDIENCE.

OKAY THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR ME. AND ANOTHER COMMENT.

ANOTHER COMMENT ON PAGE 2 OF THE POLICY AT THE BOTTOM.

COLLABORATIVE POLICY DEVELOPMENT, PRINCIPAL OR DESIGNEE AT EACH SCHOOL SITE WILL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH STAFF TO DELIVER CLEAR POLICY. I DISAGREE WITH THAT, I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THINGS WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC WE SHOULD HAVE ONE POLICY FOR THE DISTRICT AND IT SHOULD BE FOR ALL PRINCIPLES AND ALL SITES. I DON'T THINK SITES SHOULD DO THIS INDIVIDUALLY SO THAT SOMETHING I WOULD CHANGE. THE NEXT ONE OF THE TOP PROMOTE DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THIS POLICY SAYS WE SHOULD DO THAT AND WE SHOULD AND I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING EACH YEAR TO PROMOTE THE DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP AMONGST ALL STUDENTS BECAUSE I THINK

THAT'S NECESSARY. >> THANK YOU. VICE PRESIDENT STEWART. YEAH, SO 3216 SAYS WE HAVE TO CREATE A POLICY LIMITING CELL PHONE USE BY JUNE BY JUNE 2026. SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. WE TOOK INITIATIVE AND WE'RE TALKING NOW BUT I THINK POLICY WILL CHANGE OVER TIME. HONESTLY, DAN AND I TALKED, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'RE DOING MUCH GOOD FOR THE KIDS PERIOD. IN A PERFECT WORLD SOME OF US WOULD AGREE THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM AT ALL, BUT IT'S NOT A PERFECT WORLD AND PEOPLE OF LEGITIMATE CONCERNS. I MYSELF TRACK THE LITTLE AIRTAG OR APPLE WATCH FOR MY DAUGHTER'S IT IS A MUST. I WOULD FEEL WEIRD IF I DID NOT HAVE THEM ON. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT IN THE SURVEY. WE ASKED ABOUT APPLE WATCH IS BECAUSE, I FORGOT WHO SAID IT BUT THE TECHNOLOGY IS NOT JUST ABOUT PHONES AND IT WON'T BE IN TWO OR THREE YEARS. I CAN WAIT TO GET THE NEW APPLE GLASSES. THEN WE HAVE A SEPARATE POLICY. THE TECHNOLOGY WILL KEEP MOVING THE GOALPOST.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE ROOT PROBLEMS . FOR ME WITH ALL POLICIES AND WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT POLICIES. WHATEVER THE POLICY IS WE HAVE TO STAND BEHIND IT, WE SHOULD KNOW

[02:25:02]

PRESIDENT STEWART. >> I'M WONDERING IF TEACHERS ARE WATCHING A VIDEO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FILLING OUT GOOGLE DOCUMENTS AND IF THAT'S MONITORED BY THE DISTRICT.

>> PROBABLY NOT. >> CAN YOU CLARIFY A QUESTION?

>> I WAS TOLD TEACHERS TO WATCH THE VIDEO ON DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP AND FELLOW A GOOGLE FORM, DOES THE DISTRICT MONITOR THAT FORM AND IF SO WHAT GRADES ARE BEING DONE?

>> ALL OF THEM AND IT IS BEING MONITORED AND THERE IS A

DEADLINE FOR IT. >> OKAY I WOULD LOVE IF YOU KNOW THAT AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS PLEASE CHIME IN AND LET US KNOW SO THEY ARE NOT ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE SHOULD KNOW THIS AND IF YOU KNOW IT PLEASE TELL US BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR ADVICE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CREATING POLICY.

>> THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT STEWART. BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SPOKE ABOUT THIS.

NOT MANY PEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT ANSWER, THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE WE HANDLE IN OUR OWN HOUSES AND TO DO IT FOR A DISTRICT IS DIFFICULT. I'M GLAD WE ARE SPENDING TIME DISCUSSING THIS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THAT. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING?

>> YOU HAVE THE MOTION AND SECOND.

>> WE ALREADY CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING JUST MOVE ON FROM THE ITEM. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.

[11. DISCUSSION ITEMS]

>> JUST GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. OKAY NOW MOVING ON TO

DISCUSSION ITEMS. MISS AZEVEDO. >> WITH TWO DISCUSSION ITEMS LET'S BEGIN WITH ITEM 11.1 BOARD POLICY 5131.8 MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES BACK OVER TO YOU. YOU JUST DISCUSSED IT.

>> WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO TALK ABOUT CELL PHONES NOW? TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD REGARDING POLICY 513 TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD

REGARDING POLICY 513.8? >> WE BRING IT BACK FOR ACTUAL

READING? >> THIS IS YOUR FIRST READING

OF THE DRAFT. >> OKAY SO IF THAT IS THE FIRST READING THEN I SUGGEST ON THAT PAGE I TALK ABOUT WE MAKE IT ACROSS THE DISTRICT, UNIFORM POLICY THAT IS NOT UP TO THE PRINCIPAL OR THE SITE TO FIGURE IT OUT, I THINK IT SHOULD BE DISTRICT POLICY THAT ALL SITES FOLLOW.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT. >> PRESIDENT CRITCHFIELD?

>> ONE THING WE CAN DO IS REVISE THE DRAFT, BRING BACK BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU RECEIVE THIS EVENING WE CAN GO BACK LISTEN TO THE RECORDING WITH SOME POSSIBLE UPDATES TO THE DRAFT YOU'RE LOOKING AT TO BE MADE.

>> WHO WAS ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE CELL PHONE POLICY?

>> WE DID NOT HAVE A CELL FOR THAT OR A AD HOC. WE DID HAVE MEETINGS WITH SECONDARY PRINCIPLES TO DISCUSS IT BUT IT

WAS NOT A FORMAL COMMITTEE. >> WE HAVE HAD THOSE MEETINGS.

WHERE ARE YOU? YOU ARE ASKING? >> I WOULD BE OPEN, THERE'S A LOT OF FEEDBACK TONIGHT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE CORRECT IN IT. I CAN GIVE YOU MY FEEDBACK AS WELL BUT I THINK A SUBCOMMITTEE AND A MEETING WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS THE NEXT TIME TO MAKE SURE IT COMES UP TO HAVE THOSE THINGS ACCOUNTED FOR. WOULD ANYBODY AT THE BOARD LIKE TO BE PART OF THAT SUBCOMMITTEE BEFORE THIS COMES BACK TO THE BOARD?

>> NOT THAT I AM ON 1 MILLION COMMITTEES, BUT THEIR TWO PEOPLE WHO MAY WANT TO BE ON ITS. IF WE WAIT AND TALK WITH

[02:30:02]

>> CAN YOU REACH OUT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AND FORMED A COMMITTEE TO INCLUDE A COUPLE BOARD MEMBERS TO BE PART OF THAT. MAYBE ASK WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF IT. I KNOW MISS

ARMSTRONG WOULD. >> YES, TO CLARIFY, THAT WOULD BE TO WORK ON A DRAFT TO BRING BACK TO THE BOARD ANOTHER DRAFT

AND UPDATE. >> GOING THROUGH THE FEEDBACK WE GOT TONIGHT AND COMING UP WITH ALL OF THE INPUT WOULD BE

GREAT. >> OKAY.

>> POINT OF CLARIFICATION. WHATEVER COMES BACK WOULD COME BACK AS FIRST READING THAT THE BOARD WOULD VOTE ON AND THAT WOULD COME BACK TO SUBSEQUENT MEETING AS SECOND READING OR

VOTE AND THEN POLICY. >> THIS IS NOT FIRST READING?

>> THIS IS DISCUSSION. WE CAN MAKE COMMITTEES AT THE NEXT MEETING. THE NEXT TIME THIS COMES UP I THOUGHT IT WAS FIRST

READING. >> SO THAT'S FINE, BUT GIVING SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WOULD BE HELPFUL. DID YOU WANT TO SAY

SOMETHING? >> I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO ITEM 11.2 BOARD POLICY RELATIONSHIP TO THE PERSONAL COMMISSION I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT TO OPEN UP THE DISCUSSION. I JUST READ YOUR LINE, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS

ON THIS? NO QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS. IF YOU TURN TO THE SECOND PAGE , FIRST IN WHAT TO SAY I TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH MISS AZEVEDO. I APPRECIATE PERSONAL COMMISSION AND EVERYTHING THEY DO. I THINK THEY ARE AMAZING, BUT LOOKING AT ITEM NUMBER TWO AT THE VERY BOTTOM WE TALK ABOUT COMPENSATION, 250 PER MONTH, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS HOW LONG ARE THE MEETINGS AND HOW OFTEN BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I DO APPRECIATE THAT, $250 A MONTH IS MORE THAN US AS BOARD MEMBERS MAKE. AND AGAIN I DON'T WANT TO BE PETTY OR ANYTHING BUT WE DO A LOT OF WORK. WE HAVE SIX HOUR MEETINGS AND FOR THEM TO MAKE MORE THAN US, FILLING MAYBE IT SHOULD BE EQUAL BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY SHOULD MAKE MORE WHEN THEY ONLY HAVE ONE OR TWO MEETINGS A MONTH AND THEY ARE A ONE HOUR LONG MEETING. I KNOW THAT MIGHT NOT SOUND GOOD BUT THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL AND I'M GOING TO BE HONEST BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I

AM. >> SO I THINK THAT'S A MAXIMUM OF 250, BUT $50 PERMITTING SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE FIVE MEETINGS. I GUESS THEY COULD SCHEDULE FIVE MEETINGS BUT

THAT'S THE MAX. >> CORRECT TYPICALLY THEY HAVE ONE PER MONTH. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THEY MAY HAVE TWO. DR.

SMITH MAY HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. REGULAR MEETINGS ARE ONCE A MONTH AND ON OCCASION THEY MAY CALL A SPECIAL MEETING. FOR EXAMPLE THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS THEY HAVE A TWO GOING THROUGH THEIR PROCESS TO IDENTIFY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. YOUR READING IS CORRECT, $50 PER MEETING NOT TO EXCEED SO FOR EXAMPLE IF THEY HAD 10 AND A MONTH FOR SOME REASON THE MOST THEY WOULD BE PAID IS 250. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THOSE FIGURES REPRESENT MAXIMUM FIGURES SPECIFIED IN THE EDUCATION CODE. IT'S ACTUALLY UP TO THE BOARD TO DECIDE. IF ANY IT WOULD CHOOSE TO COMPENSATE PERSONAL COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR THEIR SERVICE . AT THE MOMENT, EXISTING BOARD POLICY AS YOU CAN SEE DEFINES THAT IS $15 PER MONTH AND EXISTING BOARD POLICY TECHNICALLY DOES NOT EXTEND ACCESS TO THE SAME BENEFITS PROGRAM FOR HEALTH BENEFITS.

THAT OTHER CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES OR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES DO.

>>

>> WE DID PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO PAST PRACTICES THAT WEREN'T PUT INTO POLICY AND WE CORRECTED IT AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THE PAST PRACTICE HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN THEIR POLICIES NOR REFLECTED IN OUR SO IT'S PART OF THE CLEANUP SO I DO APPRECIATE BRINGING THIS TO THE BOARD.

VICE PRESIDENT STUART ? >> I THINK I WOULD BE OKAY WITH

[02:35:05]

>> WE DON'T WANT TO INCENTIVIZE MORE MEETINGS AND WE DON'T WANT TO SAY YOU COULD DO FIVE. COULD WE CAP IT AT 150

? IT'S UP TO 250, RIGHT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. WHAT YOU SEE REFLECTED IS THE MAXIMUM SO IT'S THE BOARD'S PREROGATIVE IF IT CHOOSES THAT SO FAR AS IT DOESN'T GO BEYOND THAT.

>> IS THERE A MAXIMUM FOR BOARD MEMBERS ARE WHAT THEY GIVE US?

>> CURRENTLY THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION AT THE STATE LEVEL TO ADJUST THE STIPENDS OR COMPENSATION TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN LOOK THAT AND I KNOW FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IT WAS JUST REVISED BY THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE. YES, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER OR MAYBE DISCUSS WITH THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO SEE IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE UP A BILL TO MODIFY THE COMPENSATION FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHICH, AT THIS TIME IT IS FAR BELOW

OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS. >> ALL OF US ARE RED CEMENT OF

US CAN TALK. >> I DIDN'T DO IT.

>> WE CAN TALK. >> ALL RIGHT. THAT WILL CONCLUDE TONIGHT -- I AM KIDDING. KIDDING.

>> PARDON THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, FOLKS. IRREGULAR PROGRAM WILL RESUME SHORTLY. BY THE WAY, TONIGHT IS THE FIRST MEETING WE ARE DOING TRANSLATION IN SPANISH, LIVE TRANSLATION. TONIGHT IS THE FIRST ONE SO GIVE IT UP TO OUR TECHNICAL TEAM. KILLING IT. WE DON'T WANT TO RUSH YOU AND WE WILL TAKE

>>> ALL RIGHT. WE RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AT 8:38 P.M. WE WERE ON DISCUSSION OF THE PERSONNEL POLICY. WERE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?

>> EVEN IF THEY DO WORK A FEW HOURS PER MONTH, NUMBER FOUR SAYS IT IS ADDED THAT THERE WILL BE THE SAME HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS TO -- SO DO OUR PEOPLE IN THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION HAVE OTHER REGULAR JOBS? DO THEY HAVE REGULAR JOBS? BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY WORKING A FEW HOURS A MONTH.

>> I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHICH MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION HAVE THAT OR NOT. I DON'T. THE INTENTION OF THE POLICY IS TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THEM SHOULD THEY NEEDED . THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS COMMON FOR BOARDS TO EXTEND TO PERSONAL COMMISSIONS BUT I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE SPECIFIC COMMISSIONERS IN THIS CASE BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ARE COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE AND VERIFY IF THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THEM AND THEY HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE BENEFITS FOR SOME TIME NOW BUT IT JUST HASN'T BEEN MEMORIALIZED IN BOARD POLICY AS IT SHOULD.

>> OKAY. THAT IS ALL I WANTED TO KNOW BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS BEING ADDED BUT IF IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE --

>> AGAIN, IT IS UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD ULTIMATELY AND THAT'S WHY HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TO SOLIDIFYING POLICY WHETHER THE BOARD CHOOSES TO EXTEND THAT IS A BENEFIT OR NOT.

>> I BELIEVE HOW IT HAS BEEN THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING BENEFITS BUT IT WAS NEVER IN OUR POLICY AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS, OKAY IF THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING WE WILL PUT IT IN A POLICY BUT LIKE YOU SAY MEMORIALIZED?

>> CORRECT. IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT AND

AGAIN IT IS UP TO THE BOARD. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM AND I THINK I HEARD ONE DIRECTION PER THE STAFF WAS TO -- I WOULD SAY TAKE THAT TO 50 AND CAP IT AT THAT SAY LIKE WHAT? 150 OR 200? WHAT DOES THE BOARD THINK? WILL THEY EVER DO MORE THAN THREE MEANINGS -- MEETINGS PER MONTH? I WOULD SAY 200 AND THAT IS

[02:40:10]

FINE. >> FIVE SEEMS A LITTLE EXCESSIVE. 200? FIVE MEETINGS. SORRY. WAS THERE ANY OTHER DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD REGARDING THIS POLICY BEFORE IT COMES BACK FOR A READING? NO? ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WE WILL NOW

[12. MAJOR ACTION]

PRESENTATION >> YOU DO THE PARTNER OF THE

AUDIT REPORT. >> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU.

I DO THINK YOU HAVE ALL HEARD MY PRESENTATIONS IN THE PAST SO I WON'T BORE YOU WITH ALL OF THE BACKGROUND AND STUFF I USUALLY DO AND I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY YOUR THIRD TIME HEARING ME TALK ABOUT THIS AND OUR THIRD YEAR DOING THE DISTRICTS AUDIT BUT TO BRIEFLY GO OVER IT, IT IS FOR THE 2324 FISCAL YEAR AND NORMALLY COMES OUT IN JANUARY SO WE ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE THIS YEAR. THAT IS A GOOD SIGN AND I WAS JUST TELLING THEM THAT WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF WRAPPING UP SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AUDITS BECAUSE THE DEADLINE IS ON MONDAY. ONE AUDIT FINDING IS A RARE THING IN OUR OFFICE AND I WAS JUST TELLING HIM THAT I HAVE ANOTHER CLIENT THAT HAS 14 THAT WE ARE STILL TRYING TO WRAP UP. SO ON A COMPARATIVE NOTE. BUT ANYWAY, THE AUDIT REPORT HAS AN UNMODIFIED CLEAN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THAT MEANS THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HERE, REFERRING BACK TO THE FINANCIALS YOU ADOPTED BACK IN SEPTEMBER THE ON AUDITED ACTUALS. WE AUDITED THEM AND GAVE A CLEAN OPINION WHICH MEANS THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. THE REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION AND IT REALLY HASN'T CHANGED A FORMAT YEAR-OVER-YEAR. THERE ISN'T MUCH NEW IN TERMS OF THE FORMAT BUT JUST BRIEFLY TO REMIND YOU AFTER OUR OPINION THERE IS A SECTION CALLED MANAGEMENT, DISCUSSION, AND ANALYSIS AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT NUMBERS PEOPLE AND YOU JUST WANT TO GET AN OVERVIEW OF IT IT IS THE SECTION YOU CAN LOOK THROUGH AND IT GIVES YOU A LOT OF COMPARATIVE DATA HOW THE DISTRICT DID YEAR-OVER-YEAR IN VARIOUS AREAS AND WITH THE DIFFERENT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MEAN. IF YOU ARE A REAL NUMBERS NERD, AND YOU REALLY WANT TO GET INTO THE NUMBERS AND THEY START ON PAGE 11, THE ACTUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THOSE ARE FOLLOWED BY NOTES WHICH REALLY GET INTO THE GORY DETAILS DEFINING DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING. AND, LIKE YOU SAID, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PENSION PLANS AND DISCOUNT RATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT IS ALL IN THERE. BUT MOST PEOPLE WILL JUST BREEZE RIGHT PAST THAT STUFF BUT IT IS ALL IN THERE.

AND IT IS ALL THERE AND ALL OF ITS NUMBER NERD GLORY. THERE IS A FEW SECTIONS AFTER THAT, THE REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SECTION IN THE AUDIT WHICH IS STUFF THAT THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD REQUIRES TO BE PRESENTED WHICH HAS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS AND THERE IS SOME OTHER INFORMATION THAT THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE REQUIRES WITCHES OR OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SO STUFF ABOUT THE DISTRICTS ADA AND INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, REQUIREMENTS, FEDERAL PROGRAMS, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN YOU GET TO THE NEXT TO THE LAST SECTION THE OTHER AUDITORS REPORTED THIS IS WHERE WE PUT IN OUR LETTERS THAT SAY WE FOLLOWED ALL OF THE STANDARDS THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW WHEN WE DID YOUR AUDIT AND NOT ONLY DO WE LOOK AT YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BUT WE LOOK AT YOUR INTERNAL CONTROLS AND COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL PROGRAMS IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE PROGRAMS. THE STATE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THE AUDIT ARE LISTED OUT ON PAGES 79 AND 80. IT IS QUITE THE MENU. IT GET LONGER AND MORE TEDIOUS EVERY YEAR AS THEY ADD MORE AND MORE PROGRAMS WITH MORE AND MORE GOTCHA TYPE REQUIREMENTS.

THAT IS WHY I WAS SAYING IN THE BEGINNING THAT IT IS QUITE THE ACHIEVEMENT WHEN WE ONLY HAVE ONE AUDIT FINDING BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF OUR DISTRICT CLIENTS THIS YEAR HAD FINDINGS AT LEAST IN TK OR THE EL OP PROGRAM OFFERINGS. SO PRETTY

[02:45:02]

-- >> CAN YOU DEFINE FINDING FOR

ME? >> SURE. THEY COULD BE THE RESULTS OF A FEW THINGS AND USUALLY IT'S EITHER INTERNAL CONTROL DEFICIENCY OR A NONCOMPLIANCE WITH A STATE OR FEDERAL PROGRAM . SO THE FINDINGS ARE IN THE BACK. THAT IS USUALLY, LIKE I SAY WERE MOST PEOPLE WILL GO FIRST BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT DID WE CATCH YOU ON. PAGE 83 AND 84, YOU WILL SEE WE HAD NO FINDINGS IN RELATION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR INTERNAL CONTROLS. THERE WERE NO FINDINGS IN THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS WE TESTED. THERE WAS ONE FINDING IN ALL OF THE STATE COMPLIANCE AREAS. THERE WERE NO FINDINGS IN THE PREVIOUS AUDIT REPORT. AND THEN FINALLY IN THE BACK THERE IS A LETTER WE DISCUSSED SOME OF THE ISSUES NOTED DURING OUR TESTING OF THE FUNDING OF THE SCHOOL SITES BUT THOSE WERE NOT DEEMED SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO BE FINDINGS PER SE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T WHAT WE WOULD CALL SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS. BUT THE STATE REQUIRES US TO PUT ANY COMMUNICATIONS TO MANAGEMENT IN THE AUDIT REPORT AS WELL. THAT

IS BACK THERE. >> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE ONE

FINDING? >> YES. THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR A FEW YEARS NOW CALLED FORM CEA PART OF THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS STANDING FOR THE CLASSROOM AND I FORGET EXACTLY WHAT THE ACRONYM STANDS FOR, BUT ESSENTIALLY IT'S CALCULATING THE PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES IN THE DISTRICT THAT GO TOWARD CLASSROOM TEACHERS SALARIES. AND THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE CALCULATION THAT CAUSED THE DISTRICT TO MISS THE REQUIREMENT. SO WE ARE REQUIRED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO AUDIT THAT PUT IT IN THE REPORT. I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A WAIVER FROM THAT AVAILABLE SO OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THE DISTRICT TO SEEK A WAIVER FOR THAT REQUIREMENT FOR THE YEAR.

>> WHAT HAPPENS AND YOU HAVE A FINDING LIKE THAT IN AN AUDIT

REPORT? >> IF THEY APPLY FOR THE WAIVER AND THEY GET IT, NOTHING HAPPENS. THE DISTRICT WILL WORK TO CORRECT THAT IN THE CURRENT YEAR BECAUSE IT'S AN ANNUAL AUDIT REQUIREMENT AND WE WILL DO IT EVERY YEAR AND IT BECOMES A CONTINUAL FINDING, THEY WON'T GRANT A WAIVER CONTINUALLY. THEY WILL DO IT ONCE. THE DISTRICT WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE TO CORRECT THAT.

>> WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THAT REQUIREMENT?

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION. I BELIEVE THAT CAME OUT YEARS AGO AS A RESULT OF COMMUNICATION WITH CTA IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE. IT WAS AN EFFORT BY THEM TO REQUIRE THE DISTRICT SPEND A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THEIR ANNUAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET ON CLASS AND TEACHER SALARIES. THEY MADE A REQUIREMENT THAT THE DISTRICT REPORT THAT IN THERE FOR

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. >> THERE IS NO FINDINGS WITH

OUR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES ? >> THERE WAS NO SIMILAR REQUIREMENT FOR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES.

>> REALLY? >> YES.

>> OKAY. >> VICE PRESIDENT STUART --

VICE PRESIDENT STEWART? >> ON WHAT PAGE CAN I FIND THAT FINDING THAT WE DIDN'T MEET SO I CAN READ UP ON THAT? 85? AND -- IT IS ON 85 AND IT'S ALSO IN THE DISTRICTS UNAUDITED ACTUALS THAT YOU ADOPTED IN SEPTEMBER AND LISTED IN FORM

CEA. >> OKAY. MY SECOND QUESTION IS ON PAGE 87. IT SAYS FIVE OUT OF 10 DEPOSIT SAMPLES FOR ASB LACKED SUFFICIENT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION . WHAT DOCUMENTATION WOULD WE HAVE NEEDED?

>> THAT IS NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER, BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF ITEM AND FOR ASB'S THEY DO ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. TYPICALLY, WE LOOK FOR SOME SORT OF DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOWS WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM, IF IT WAS A FUNDRAISER OR IS THERE A RECORD OF SALES AND IF IT WAS FOR AN ATHLETIC EVENT? WAS THERE SOME TRACKING OF TICKETS DONE? SO WE ARE LOOKING , FOR EXAMPLE, TALLY SHEETS, INDIVIDUAL RECEIPTS ARE BASICALLY SOME SORT OF POINT-OF-SALE DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOWS WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM AND IT IS ALL ACCOUNTED FOR.

>> DID YOU ONLY DO ONE HIGH SCHOOL OR MAYFAIR AS WELL AND WAS THAT ONLY A PROBLEM AT ONE OF THE SCHOOLS?

[02:50:02]

>> WE DID NOTE THAT ISSUE AT BOTH MAYFAIR AND BELFOUR. CAN WE FIND OUT AS FAR AS STAFF WHAT IS HAPPENING OR HOW WE CAN

IMPROVE IN THAT AREA? >> YES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> CAN I ASK WITH THAT FINDING ON PAGE 85. DID WE APPLY FOR THAT WAIVER?

>> WE HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR THE WAIVER AND WE HAVE GATHERED ALL THE DOCUMENTATION AND MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND HE CAN ATTEST TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THIS CALCULATION AND IT'S AN OLD CALCULATION AND WE HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTS WE NEED TO APPLY FOR THE WAIVER BUT WE NEED THE AUDIT REPORT TO FINALIZE. WHEN WE COMPLETED THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS, WE MADE SOME AMENDMENTS THAT WE PASSED . HOWEVER, THE AUDITOR SAW WE NEEDED TO MAKE DIFFERENT AMENDMENTS OR DO IT IN A DIFFERENT MANNER SO AS WE LOOK TO CLOSE THE FISCAL YEAR FOR NEXT YEAR, WE WILL LOOK AT THE SAME KIND OF AMENDMENTS AND MAKE SURE WE PASS ALONG THE APPROPRIATE THINGS.

>> THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>> I KNOW I WILL JUMP TO QUESTIONS QUICKLY BUT WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE PRESENTATION?

>> THAT IS IT. THAT IS THE END OF THE REPORT.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD?

>> NO? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I

APPRECIATE IT. >> MY PLEASURE. HAVE A GOOD

NIGHT. >> YOU TOO.

>> THIS WILL REQUIRE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AUDIT REPORT. I

HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT? >> SO MOVED.

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

>> MAJOR ACTION ITEM IS 12.2 FIRST INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AND WE HAVE A PRESENTATION? >> I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR

CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER. >> WE ARE LOOKING TO GET THE PRESENTATION UP ON THE SCREEN. GIVE US ONE MOMENT.

>> WE ARE ALMOST BACK IN WORKING ORDER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENTS. GOOD EVENING , PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD, VICE PRESIDENT STEWART, AND MEMBERS HERE AND HOME TONIGHT. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF REPRESENTING OUR FIRST GLIMPSE INTO THE FINANCIALS FOR THE YEAR AND LET ME FIRST BEGIN BY WALKING US THROUGH THE BUDGET REPORTING CYCLE AND IN JUNE OF 2024 WE PROVIDED A 2425 BUDGET PRESENTATION AS A STARTING POINT FOR THE BUDGET CYCLE. THIS IS THE FIRST AND BEST UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE EXPECT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. THE 45 DAY REVISED PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADJUST ANY MAJOR CHANGES MADE TO THE STATE BUDGET PARAMETERS AFTER THE JUNE ADOPTION IN THIS OR WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT MET THIS REQUIREMENT. IN SEPTEMBER WE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD THE FINAL FINANCIALS CALLED THE UNAUDITED ACTUALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2324 AND JUST BEFORE THIS PRESENTATION THE AUDIT FIRM PROVIDED DETAILS OF THE FINALIZATION OF THOSE RECORDS.

TONIGHT, WE CAN SAY WE HAVE OFFICIALLY CLOSE THE BOOKS ON FY23 24 AT LEAST FISCALLY. TONIGHT, I PRESENTED THE FIRST INTERIM REPORT IS ARE PRESENTED BY THE GREEN ARROW ON THIS CYCLE. WE HAVE TWO MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO REFINE THE FINANCES WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THIS IS THE FIRST AND BEST PRESENT AND -- PROJECTION FOR 2425. WE WILL START THE PLANNING PROCESS VERY SOON FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE WILL START TO GARNER INFORMATION FROM THE GOVERNOR'S JANUARY BUDGET AND UTILIZE IT TO START THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET. WHILE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE CURRENT YEAR PROJECTIONS TO PROVIDE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE NUMBERS. WHAT THIS TELLS US IS FISCAL YEAR MONITORING AND DEVELOPMENT IS A YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITY THAT KEEPS THE FISCAL STAFF ON OUR TOES ALL YEAR LONG. SO HERE WE ARE AT THE FIRST STOP AND THIS IS THE ACTUALS REPORTED THROUGH OCTOBER 31 OF 2024 AND THE ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES REPORTED THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR END, JUNE 30 OF 2025. THE FIRST INTERIM PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS LOOK AT THE DISTRICT

[02:55:03]

IN ORDER TO PROJECT REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES FOR SO MANY YEARS THE FISCAL STAFF UTILIZED DATA POINTS TO CALCULATE IN CERTAIN AREAS AND ON THIS SLIDE THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT DATA POINTS FOR REVENUE WHICH IS PROVIDED BY THE STATE AND FUNDED AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE OR ADA AND ENROLLMENT IN THE DISTRICTS LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE OUR LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA OR ELSE CFF REVENUE BASED ON THESE ITEMS AND MORE IN THE UNFORTUNATE LOSS OF THIS AND STUDENTS ATTENDING SCHOOLS HAS IMPACTED THEM GREATLY AS I WILL SHOW YOU IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES AND WHILE WE COMBAT THE COST AND AREAS OF EXPENDITURES WE ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING DECREASED REVENUES. AND ON THIS SLIDE I POINTED OUT THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES AS AN INCREASED COST BUT KEEP IN MIND WE HAVE INCREASED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH AND WELFARE FOR EMPLOYEES INCREASED COST FOR SUPPLIES, CONTRACTS, INCREASED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH UTILITIES AND ALL THINGS THAT MANY OF US ARE FEELING IN OUR OWN HOMES RIGHT NOW SO LET'S LOOK. AND THE GENERAL FUND IS THE LARGEST OPERATING FUND AND HOUSES THE MAJORITY OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES FOR BELLFLOWER UNIFIED AND SPLIT IN THE RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED AND I WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUND REVENUE AS IT'S THE LARGEST THAT IS THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE AND HERE YOU SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PROJECTED REVENUES FROM 149 MILLION TO 151.4 MILLION IN THE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE LOCAL CONTROL SOURCES WHICH HAVE IMPROVED AS THE ADJUSTMENT TO THE THREE-YEAR AVERAGE ATTENDANCE WAS CALCULATED AND NOW REALIZED. THE SECOND INTERIM COULD BRING ANOTHER CHANGE AS WELL AS WE AWAIT THE APPROVAL OF THE UNDUPLICATED PUPIL COUNT BY THE STATE. WE ALSO REALIZE A CHANGE IN THE PROJECTED EXPENDITURES FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND RESTRICTED DOLLARS WHICH COULD BE SEEN HERE ON THE SLIDE AND THE BUDGET ADOPTION WE HAD EXPENDITURES APPROVED IN THE AMOUNT OF 142.6 MILLION AND NOW PROJECTING EXPENDITURES AT $134.4 MILLION, A DECREASE OF 8.2 MILLION. THIS IS A REFLECTION OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FISCAL DEPARTMENTS AND OUR PROGRAM DEPARTMENTS. WE WERE ABLE TO REVIEW PLANNED EXPENDITURES TO DETERMINE THE ACCURACY OF THE EXPENDITURE, REVIEW RESTRICTED RESOURCES THAT THE STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCALLY PROVIDED TO DETERMINE IF THERE WERE BETTER OPTIONS FOR UTILIZING THESE DOLLARS AND THE RESULT IN SAVINGS ALLOWS US TO REVIEW EXPENDITURES NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE SO WE CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET PROCESS. AS PER THE REQUIREMENTS THAT I SPOKE OF REGARDING THIS WE WILL BE SUBMITTING A MULTI-OR PROJECTION FOR THE CURRENT AND NEXT TWO YEARS. HERE IS A GLIMPSE OF THE UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUND. ONE OF THE MARKET DIFFERENCES IN THE REVENUE DECLINED BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR SO I INCLUDED LAST YEAR'S ENDING AND THE THREE YEARS INCLUDED IN THE FIRST INTERIM AND AN ESTIMATED LOSS OF $8.3 MILLION DUE TO A DECREASED COLA AND DECREASED ATTENDANCE AND YOU CAN SEAT UNDER THE SLIDE HERE LAST YEAR WE WERE ANTICIPATING OR WE DID RECEIVE 159.7 MILLION IN THIS YEAR WITH THE CHANGE IN THE DECREASED ATTENDANCE OF STUDENTS AND ENROLLMENT WE ARE EXPECTING ABOUT 151.4 MILLION IN UNRESTRICTED REVENUE AND OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS IT WILL BE A SLIGHT INCREASE TO MORE FAVORABLE COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES FROM THE STATE BUT THERE IS ALREADY BEEN SOME RUMBLINGS IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT THOSE PROVIDED TO THE DISTRICTS MAY BE LOWER AS STATE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS BECOME MORE CLEAR SO BACK TO THE PERCENTAGES THAT WERE USED AND WE ARE WAITING FOR THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET TO HEAR SOME MORE ABOUT THOSE THINGS. THE MULTIYEAR EXPENDITURES ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO INCREASE YEAR-OVER-YEAR WITH INCLUSION OF DISTRICT PROJECTS INCLUDING UPGRADES TO THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS AND FIELD IMPROVEMENTS. HERE IS A BROADER PICTURE OF THE ENTIRE GENERAL FUND INCLUDING THE RESTRICTED RESOURCES. THIS INCLUDES DOLLARS DEVOTED IN AREAS SUCH AS SPECIAL EDUCATION, TITLE PROGRAMS OR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, CTE PROGRAMS AND MANY OTHERS. ONE OF THE LARGEST

[03:00:01]

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD. VICE PRESIDENT STEWART?

>> MY FIRST QUESTION IS CAN WE GET THESE, THE PAGES NUMBERED?

>> I WILL TELL YOU THE PAGE I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THE UNRESTRICTED EXPENDITURE SUMMARY. I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON THE OTHER OUTGO TRANSFERS OF INDIRECT COST, WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF INDIRECT COST? WHAT IS THAT? IT IS SOMETHING WE CHARGE TO THE RESTRICTED PROGRAM SO TO RUN A TITLE I PROGRAM THEY MAY GIVE US A, AND I WILL JUST USE MADE UP NUMBERS FOR THIS PART BUT THEY MAY GIVE US $1 MILLION TO RUN A PROGRAM IN OUR DISTRICT. AND AUDITED ACTUALS WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE COST FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OF THAT PROGRAM COSTS AND IT COMES OUT IN A PERCENTAGE RATE. RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE 6% OR 7% RATE.

THE PROGRAM THAT IS ON THE RESTRICTED SIDE CAN BE CHARGED 7% TO COVER THE UNRESTRICTED COSTS SUCH AS THE PAYROLL DEPARTMENT CUTTING CHECKS OR THE AP DEPARTMENT WRITING CHECKS TO VENDORS TO MANAGE THE PROGRAM AND MANAGING BENEFITS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM. SO TRANSFERS OF INDIRECT COSTS GET CHARGED TO THE RESTRICTED SIDE AND WE GET A CREDIT BECAUSE ALL OF THE CHARGES THAT WE DO TO MAKE BOTH PROGRAMS HAPPEN ARE ON THE UNRESTRICTED DECIDE.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT STEWART.

>> BOARD MEMBER? >> AT THE END OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, I AM WONDERING HAS ANYTHING BEEN CUT BECAUSE

[03:05:03]

LESS. >> THAT IS WHERE I TALKED ABOUT IN CONCERT TALKING WITH STAFF AND PROGRAM STAFF ABOUT THINGS WE COULD USE EITHER WE USE RESTRICTED RESOURCES ARE WE FIND THAT ISN'T SOMETHING WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS YEAR OR DO WITHOUT SO THAT IS THE CHANGE IN THAT'S THE ACTUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF THE INTERIMS IS AS A BUDGET WE WILL PREPARE THE MOST OPTIONS ARE THE MOST DOLLARS WE HAVE AVAILABLE BUT THE PROJECTIONS ARE WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY PLANNING ON SPENDING. THERE HAVE BEEN MODIFICATIONS MADE TO HOW WE WILL SPEND MONEY AND IF WE WILL UTILIZE OTHER RESOURCES

TO DO THAT. >> OKAY. THEN I HAVE ANOTHER ONE IF YOU GO BACK A PAGE AND I THINK IT IS BACK ONE PAGE. YOU HAVE THE PROJECTED TOTALS FOR THE ACTUAL DATE. I AM REFERRING TO THE YELLOW ONE. DO YOU PROJECT WE WILL BE OVER

SPENDING? >> THOSE ARE REVENUE SOURCES.

THAT IS REVENUE AND MONEY WE WILL TAKE IN.

>> WE WILL BE GETTING MORE. >> WE ANTICIPATE AT THIS TIME

WE WILL GET MORE REVENUE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. I DO HAVE A QUESTION. SO ON THE AUDIT REPORT WE JUST GOT THEY MENTIONED THAT FINDING AND WHERE DO I FIND THAT NUMBER HERE AND I SEE CERTIFICATED SALARIES ON HERE BUT WOULD IT BE UNDER -- WHAT WOULD IT BE UNDER? I AM SORRY IN THAT AUDIT FINDING IT SAID THAT WE WERE AT 95 MILLION. WHERE DOES THAT SHOW UP HERE? ARE WE PROJECTED TO HAVE THE SAME FINDING NEXT YEAR, OR HOW DOES IT AFFECT PROJECTIONS?

>> THAT -- THE CEA TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ALL EXPENDITURES LABELED AS SUCH IN THE FINANCIAL SO IT COULD BE FOUND ALL THROUGHOUT MONEY WE ARE SPENDING ON TEACHERS SALARIES COMPARED TO THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. THERE ISN'T A NUMBER IN THIS PRESENTATION AND REMEMBER THAT WAS ON LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS TOO SO NOT A NUMBER ON THIS PRESENTATION. DO ANTICIPATE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM? NO. I THINK WE WILL BE OKAY. WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR WAS A LOT OF EXPENDITURES FOR NONINSTRUCTIONAL ITEMS THAT BUILT UP A BALANCE SO IF YOU ARE INTO MATH, THE DENOMINATOR GOT BIGGER AND ONCE WE DON'T HAVE THOSE DOLLARS IN OUR SYSTEMS, WE ANTICIPATE NOT HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE CEA. WE DID MAKE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE APPROPRIATE AT THE TIME AND THE AUDITOR WANTED US -- SAID THOSE WEREN'T THE PROPER ADJUSTMENTS SO WE WILL LOOK AT THAT. BEFORE WE CLOSE THE BOOKS WE CAN MAKE SURE WE

ARE IN ALIGNMENT. >> THAT IS INTERESTING TO SEE IF THERE IS A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT DOES THAT AFFECT THE RATIO WHERE YOU CAN MESS WITH THAT

PERCENTAGE ? >> THAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. THE CALCULATION TAKES OUT KNOWN THINGS CLEAR LIKE CONSTRUCTION AND IT TAKES IT OUT OF THE EQUATION AND ALSO HAS TO BE IN THE GENERAL FUND WHICH, UNDER MOST DISTRICTS YOU WON'T FIND A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION IN THE GENERAL FUND AND OTHER THINGS THAT DIDN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IS THE INFLUX OF THOSE FUNDINGS WHICH WE USE THEM FOR TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER ITEMS THAT RAISE THE BOTTOM BAR AND HAD TO HAVE US LOOKING FOR AREAS THAT WE COULD ADJUST THAT. WHEN I SAY WE ARE NOT ALONE, IN A LOT OF DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IT. THEY HAVE BEEN REQUESTING WAIVERS AND THIS IS OUR FIRST WAIVER AND WE HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE WE COLLECTED THE DATA TO SHOW THAT WE BELIEVE WE WILL GET THAT WAIVER AND WE WILL DEFINITELY REPORT BACK IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. BUT LOOKING AT THIS YEAR'S NUMBERS, WE WILL KEEP CLOSE TABS ON THAT AND BEFORE WE CLOSE THE BOOKS MAKE SURE WE

CAN MEET THAT. >> THANK YOU. GOOD QUESTION.

>> MY NEXT QUESTION IS FROM THE ACTUAL REPORT ITSELF. IT IS

PAGE 1. >> OKAY. AND I WILL LET YOU GET THERE. TELL ME WHEN YOU GET THERE.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY. I AM THERE.

>> OKAY. I WAS ACTUALLY TALKING LAST NIGHT ABOUT THESE AND WE WERE LOOKING AT THE EXPENDITURES. LOOKING AT NUMBER 4, BOOKS AND SUPPLIES, I KNOW WE BUDGETED THIS BUT WE SPENT

[03:10:02]

>> IT MEANS WE CHANGED OUR PROJECTION DOWN BY 3.2 MILLION AND WE BUDGETED 7 MILLION AND PLANNING -- PLANNING ON SPENDING 7.8 AND THIS IS THE REPRODUCTION DIFFERENCE AND WE DID THIS TO REFLECT WE DON'T BELIEVE WE WILL BE SPENDING THE 7 MILLION AND AT THAT COLUMN IT DOESN'T HAVE TO DO WITH THE ACTUALS AND THE ACTUAL IS MORE OF A GUIDELINE TO SEE HOW WE

ARE DOING SO FAR. >> THE DIFFERENCES JUST ON WHAT

WE PROJECTED AT FIRST? >> THE DIFFERENCES WHAT WE PROJECT NOW FROM THE BUDGET ADOPTION.

>> THAT DIFFERENCES ABOUT $3.3 MILLION?

>> CORRECT. >> THE NEXT THING WE LOOKED AT HIS CAPITAL OUTLAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE -70% SO WE UNDER BUDGETED AND THAT ONE WE WILL SPEND $3 MILLION MORE? CORRECT?

>> YES. AT THE TIME OF BUDGET THE ENTIRE BUDGET FOR THE FIRE AND ALARM SYSTEMS PROJECT WASN'T INCLUDED. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY IN ONE OF THOSE GREAT EXAMPLES OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO RE-LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND AGAIN I WASN'T HERE DURING BUDGET DEVELOPMENT BUT TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND SAY, HEY, WE ARE GOING TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDINGS AND WE HAVE A CONTRACT THAT WAS BOARD APPROVED TO DO THAT PROJECT. WE SHOULD NOW ADJUST THE FIRST INTERIM TO REFLECT THOSE DOLLARS AND IN THE SAME WAY, WE MAY NOT BE DOING THE SAME THINGS IN SUPPLIES SO WE SHOULD ADJUST OURS IN THE SAME MANNER.

>> THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS FOR THE FIRE AND ALARM SYSTEMS WE

ARE DOING? >> YES. THE MAJORITY OF THAT NUMBER IS A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE LINE SO, YES, MAJORITY OF THAT IS FOR THE FIRE ALARM PROJECT FOR THE SCHOOLS WE STARTED.

>> THE LAST QUESTION I HAD WAS ON LINE 8 WHICH IS WHAT YOU DESCRIBED IN THIS WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE INDIRECT

COSTS? >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> OKAY AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU AND GO OVER THIS SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT BETTER AND I WILL GET WITH YOU ON

THAT. >> I WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT WITH YOU AND THAT AND THE MORE SUPPORT I HAVE IN UNDERSTANDING THESE COMPLEX DOCUMENTS, THE BETTER IT IS FOR ALL OF US.

THANK YOU FOR OFFERING. >> THANK YOU.

>> HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU IN THESE PROJECTIONS FOR

MULTIYEAR? >> HERE IS WHAT I CAN TELL YOU.

OUR PROJECTIONS AS WITH THE FIRST IS BASED ON ASSUMPTIONS AND IMPACTS WE MONITOR. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THIS IS THE BEST INFORMATION I HAVE AT THIS TIME AND ALSO ONLY AT THE TIME WE STARTED DEVELOPING THIS THREE MONTHS INTO THE YEAR OR OCTOBER 31 AND TWO MONTHS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHEN WE LOOK AT DOCUMENTS LIKE THIS AND WE LOOK AT TWO MONTHS OUT OF THE 10 MONTHS OF SCHOOL EXPENDITURES EXTRAPOLATING THAT DATA AND LOOKING AT THINGS CAN GET QUITE INTENSE. THIS IS THE BEST INFORMATION I HAVE AT THIS TIME WITH MY GOAL TO COME BACK TO YOU AT EACH BOARD MEETING WITH THE BEST INFORMATION I HAVE AND IF THAT MEANS CHANGING NUMBERS AND EXPLAIN THOSE CHANGES, I WILL DO THAT SO THE SECOND INTERIM WILL COME WITH A MARCH DEADLINE AND IT'S ACTUALS THROUGH JANUARY AND WE ARE SEVEN MONTHS INTO THE CALENDAR YEAR AND ABOUT MAYBE THAT WOULD BE FIVE MONTHS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR. THAT IS A MUCH BETTER PICTURE FOR WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, HOW WE SPEND AND WHAT EMPLOYEES WE HAVE ON THE RECORDS AND HOW MUCH WE HAVE BEEN DOING OF EXTRA SERVICE OR HOW MUCH WE SPEND IN REGARDS TO PO'S AND ALL OF THESE WILL FACTOR INTO WHAT I WILL BRING YOU AT EACH OF THOSE DETERMINATIONS. THIS IS THE BEST INFORMATION I HAVE AT THIS TIME TO GIVE TO YOU. AND ANY CHANGES I MAKE I WILL BRING AT

THAT TIME. >> THERE WON'T BE 40 MILLION

OFF AT THAT TIME , RIGHT? >> I DON'T PLAN TO HAVE

ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. >> I APPRECIATE YOUR HERE AND HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE IN THE WORLD AND I APPRECIATE THE PERSPECTIVE AND EXPERIENCE YOU BRING TO THE TABLE. I THINK AS A BOARD MEMBER HERE I HAVE SEEN NUMBERS THAT WE TEND TO GET THESE PROJECTIONS AND THEY ARE VERY DOOM AND GLOOM AND WE CAN'T DO THIS AND THAT BECAUSE OF THIS MONEY BUT THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR IT'S LIKE, OH, YES, WE ARE TWO UP. I DID GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS AND I WENT THROUGH LIKE THE PAST FEW YEARS OF IT AND IT'S VERY CONSISTENT AND I THINK HAVING THE STAFF WE HAVE RIGHT NOW I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHERE WE ARE GOING AND I KNOW THESE ARE ALL ASSUMPTIONS BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE LIKE A REASON FOR THAT AND SOMETIMES THE MONEY WE GET IN WE ACTUALLY GET A LOT MORE IN BUT I ALMOST FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE BUILT INTO THE ASSUMPTION BUT I'M SURE IF YOU ARE AN ACCOUNTANT YOU NEVER WANT TO ASSUME YOU WILL GET SOMETHING AND NOT BUT I THINK I WOULD BE CONCERNED WITH THE ACCOUNTING BUT SOMETHING I'VE NOTICED THROUGH MY TIME HERE ON THE BOARD. YES. AS LONG AS WE

[03:15:05]

GOOD. >> WE WILL BE CLOSING THE GAP

BY MORE THAN THAT. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.

>> AS YOU CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE BUDGET, WILL YOU GIVE US UPDATES ON HOW YOU ARE TRYING TO STABILIZE IT AND MOVE THINGS

AROUND? >> ABSOLUTELY. I CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND I WILL DO THAT IN THE PUBLIC SESSIONS IN THE MARCH AND JUNE TIME FRAMES FOR SURE AND IF THERE ARE ANY MAJOR CHANGES BETWEEN THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE THAT AS WELL.

>> I DO WANT TO KNOW DO YOU FOR SEE ANY DO MORE GLOOM?

>> IF I WERE TO REFER TO AND YOU ASKED, RIGHT? I DON'T CALL IT DOOM AND GLOOM BUT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT.

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE SHOWING AND WE LOST ABOUT $8 MILLION IN REVENUE THIS YEAR SO THE ENDING FUNDING BALANCES ARE GOING DOWN BUT WE ARE PLANNING ON PROJECTS AND OTHER ITEMS THAT WE WILL BE UTILIZING GENERAL FUNDING AND I AM NOT HERE TO DOOM AND GLOOM BUT TO WORK WITH YOU THE BOARD WITH MY FELLOW CABINET MEMBERS AND TO COME UP WITH HOW WE ADDRESS ANY OF THESE DECLINES.

I AM NOT TRYING TO PROJECT DOOM AND GLOOM BUT WHAT I REALLY DO THINK WE WILL EXPERIENCE AND I WILL ADJUST THAT WHEN I KNOW MORE INFORMATION THAT I CAN PROVIDE BETTER NUMBERS.

>> THE LAST THING I WILL ASK ABOUT IS BECAUSE I AM THINKING ABOUT STAFF. WE THINKING ABOUT HOW THIS MAY OR MAY NOT AFFECT

STAFF IN THE FUTURE? >> ABSOLUTELY. AS MOST DISTRICTS, 85% OF THE DISTRICT IS MADE UP OF STAFF, THE DOLLARS AND CENTS GO AROUND CLASSIFIED CERTIFICATES AND BENEFITS FOR THOSE STAFF AND EVERY DECISION WE MAKE WILL BE MADE AROUND STAFF AND STUDENTS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR

DISTRICT. >> ALL RIGHT. SO FAR WE DON'T

HAVE TO CUT ANY PROGRAMS? >> THIS REFLECTION IS WHAT WE HAVE AT THE TIME WITH NO BOARD APPROVED CUTS TO PROGRAMS.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. I DO APPRECIATE THE CONSERVATIVE ACCOUNTING IS WHAT

I SAY. >> THAT IS WHY I BROUGHT THAT BACK UP. I APPRECIATE YOUR SAYING THAT.

>> AGAIN, IT IS BETTER TO BE PREPARED AND MAKE SURE WE ARE SAFE INSOLVENT AND RESPONSIBLE. BUT YOU HAVE SEEN THE

PROJECTIONS. >> IT IS HOW DO YOU OPERATE? IT'S VERY HARD TO MAKE DECISIONS WHEN YOU THINK -- I THINK THE PROJECTIONS A FEW YEARS AGO PUT AS I THINK AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 35 BUT IT WAS OFF. SO DOOM AND GLOOM IS COOL I GUESS AND I KNOW YOU ARE ON TOP OF IT AND I

HAVE FAITH IN YOU. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD?

>> NO? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RENEE, WE APPRECIATE YOU.

>> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 12.2?

>> SO MOVED. >> DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> I SECOND. >>

[13.CONSENT AGENDA]

>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND ANY ITEMS TO

BE PULLED? >> I HAVE TWO, 13.17 AND 13.21.

>> ANY OTHERS? I DON'T HAVE ANY. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WITHHOLD ITEMS 13.17 AND 13.21?

>> SO MOVED. >> DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> A SECOND. >>

>> GIVE ME ONE SECOND HERE. WE WILL GO ON TO THE FIRST

[13.17 AMENDMENT TO ANNUAL CONTRACT LISTINGS AND AGREEMENTS 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR]

>> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION AND I THINK IT WILL BE FOR BONNIE BUT THE CONSULTING IT SAYS IT PROVIDES STEAM ACTIVITIES AFTER SCHOOL AND I SEE IT IS QUITE A BIT IN MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS THIS AND HOW IS IT COMPARED TO THE AFTER SCHOOL THINK TOGETHER

[03:20:03]

>> OKAY. THERE IS MY BOYS. SO IT IS STEM MEDICS AND A LAYERED ON SERVICE WE ARE PROVIDING IN OUR DISTRICT AND PART OF OUR EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAM SO THEY ARE PROVIDING STEM SERVICES DURING THE THINK TOGETHER PROGRAM. WE HAVE THE ADDITIONAL HERE IN SPRING SO WE HAD DONE THE EARLIER FALL AND NOW WE ARE INCREASING FOR SPRING. BUT WE DID MENTION THE ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING SERVICES WHICH IS FAV TUTORING AND THIS IS DIFFERENT. THIS IS PEOPLE COMING INTO DO STEM LESSONS

WITH STUDENTS. >> IF THEY ARE COMING IN AND DID I HEAR CORRECTLY? IF THEY ARE COMING IN THERE WORKING ON COLLABORATING TOGETHER TO DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS WITH THEM?

>> YES. THEY WILL DO THAT OR THE SCHOOL SITES CAN CONTRACT FOR THEM TO COME IN EITHER DURING OR AFTER THE SCHOOL DAY

OR OTHER EVENTS THEY MAY DO. >> IT COULD BE SOMETHING MORE INDIVIDUAL SO YOU HAVE THIS AND THEY ARE SEPARATE OR THEY CAN

WORK TOGETHER? >> ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN DO IT

EITHER WAY. >> OKAY. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES? WE HAVE SO MANY AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS. I DO KNOW THIS IS DIFFERENT. I GET IT. BUT IF THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND WE ARE WORKING IN PAIN SO MUCH FOR THINK TOGETHER THIS IS ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS. I DO GET IT. BUT WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS?

>> I WILL ANSWER IN A FEW WAYS. THE FIRST IS IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WE DO HAVE TO SPEND OUR EXPANDED LEARNING MONIES WHICH IS ABOUT $9 MILLION AND WE DID HAVE A CARRY OVER FUNDING. WE ARE MAKING SURE WE SPEND DOWN THAT. SO THOSE LAYERED SERVICES ARE PART OF THAT. THE OTHER PART THAT I WILL ANSWER IS THEY ARE OFFERING MORE CLASSES THAT THE THINK TOGETHER INDIVIDUALS WOULDN'T PROVIDE BECAUSE THEY WILL COME IN WITH MATERIALS AND EXPERTISE THAT THINK STAFF WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE. IT IS REALLY ENRICHING THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A

MOTION TO APPROVE 13.17. >> YOU HAVE THAT MOTION.

>> SECOND. >>

[13.21 REVISED BUDGET 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR]

>> WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT WITHHELD ITEM WHICH IS 13.21 WHICH IS REVISED BUDGET 24 FISCAL YEAR.

>> THAT IS MY NEXT QUESTION. I AM LOOKING AT THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND I SEE WE HAVE THAT CARRYOVER OF 2.6 MILLION THE SO THE REVISED BUDGET HAS THAT 11.7. I AM WONDERING AND I KNOW WE HAVE CARRYOVER BUT HOW IS THE YELLOW P FUNDING USED? IF YOU CAN GIVE ME AN IDEA OF WHERE WE SPEND MOST OF THE MONEY WITH EL OP AND I KNOW EVERY DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT AND HOURS IS VERY INTO FIELD TRIPS WITH CLUBS AND SPORTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT WHAT ARE WE PRIMARILY SPENDING OUR MONEY ON AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED?

>> OUR MOST EXPENSIVE AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED IS THE THINK TOGETHER PROGRAM AND WE DO OFFER THAT AT ALL OF OUR SCHOOL SITES AS WELL AS THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WE ALSO HAVE STEM MEDICS AND YOUNG REMBRANDTS AS WELL SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS WE HAVE SOME LAYERED ON SERVICES AND ENRICHMENT AS WELL. SO WE DO HAVE LIFT, CULINARY, STEM MEDICS, NEXT EXPLORE AND FOR THINK AND NON-THINK STUDENTS. WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR THINKING ABOUT THE CARRYOVER IS WE WANTED TO PROVIDE THE SCHOOLS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. WE OFFERED SOME OF THOSE VENDORS WE ARE WORKING WITH TO THE SITES AND THEY TALKED WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES AND DECIDED WHAT IT WAS THAT THEY WANTED TO

[03:25:05]

>> SO OUR ADMINISTRATORS, ARE THEY WORKING WITH TEACHERS AND STAFF WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THESE? I KNOW IN OUR DISTRICT THAT I TEACH IN, WE ARE GETTING SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SOME EXTRA MONEY AND WITH COLA LOW AND THE FACT WE PROBABLY WON'T GET SALARY INCREASES THIS YEAR THIS IS BEEN A NICE WAY TO SUPPLEMENT OUR INCOME AND ONE-ON-ONE WITH STUDENTS DOING DIFFERENT THINGS AND ARE THE ADMINISTRATORS WORKING WITH TEACHERS TO GET SOME OF THEM INVOLVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY DOING GREAT

RINGS FOR OUR KIDS? >> WE SHARE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH ALL OF OUR SCHOOL SITES AND TEACHERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IT IS LIKE A PROPOSAL WHETHER IT BE INTERVENTION OR ENRICHMENT AND WE DO HAVE 15 CLASSES. THAT IS WHO HAS OPTED IN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ENRICHMENT AND INTERVENTION AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE NINE ENRICHMENT AND SIX INTERVENTION PROPOSALS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.

>> I AM HOPING THAT MAYBE OUR TEACHERS UNION AND OUR PRESIDENT WILL GET SOME OF THEIR TEACHERS TO MAYBE DO A LITTLE BIT MORE. I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE FIELD TRIPS AND YOU CAN GO TO COLLEGES. DO WE HAVE AN APPROVED LIST OF PLACES THEY CAN GO FOR FIELD TRIPS?

>> THERE IS NOT NECESSARILY AN APPROVED LIST BUT TYPICALLY IF THERE IS A FIELD TRIP THEY WANT TO GO TO, THERE IS A FORM THEY FILL OUT WITH AN EDUCATIONAL REASON, THEY CAN SUBMIT THAT TO

THE PRINCIPLE. >> OKAY. I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA AND I WILL TALK TO CARRIE MCDANIELS ABOUT THIS LATER, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO GET MORE PEOPLE

INVOLVED. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A

MOTION TO APPROVE? >> DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> I SECOND. >>

[14. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS]

>> THE MOTION PASSES. IT'S NOW TIME FOR THEM TO COMMUNICATE IN COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS AND LET'S BEGIN WITH THE STUDENT

BOARD MEMBER . >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CSB EIGHT ANNUAL STUDENT BOARD MEMBER PROGRAM. I DID ATTEND IT LAST WEDNESDAY AND BASICALLY A TWO DAY TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH HELPED ME A LOT AND I LEARNED MORE IN DEPTH ABOUT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND HOW TO UTILIZE DATA FROM THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD AND NETWORKED WITH OVER 150 STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS IN MY POSITION. ALSO I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO DISNEYLAND WITH ALL OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. I GAINED NEW FRIENDS AND EXPLORED DISNEYLAND AND ALSO WENT THROUGH THE IMAGINATION CAMPUS I BELIEVE AND LEARNED MORE ABOUT WHAT IT IS TO BE A LEADER. THAT EXPERIENCE WAS

REALLY HELPFUL. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON

TO BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. >> I DID NOT GO TO DISNEYLAND.

I WANTED TO THOUGH. HELLO TO AG I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR CHOOSING TO SPEND YOUR TIME WITH US THIS EVENING. I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE NOVEMBER 14 MEETING. HOWEVER, I DID WATCH IT. I WANTED TO THANK MY BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE TIME THEY HAVE DEDICATED TO THE DETAILED INPUT AND TO MANY OF OUR NEW ADOPTIONS. IT'S IMPERATIVE WE UPDATE CAUTIOUSLY BECAUSE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. AGAIN, I MISSED THE LAST BOARD MEETING BUT I AM EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE WE JUST HAD THE ELECTION AND I AM

[03:30:04]

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT NEEDS TO BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. AGAIN, I DO STAND BY MY DECISION, BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING A BOND WHEN WE ARE READY.

LET'S GET TO WORK AND BE CLEAR AND INVOLVE EVERYBODY SO WE CAN REALLY PLAN AND BE READY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS AND I CAN SEE US HAVING NEW TENNIS COURTS AND A NEW SURFACE AND I REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT AN AQUATIC CENTER BEFORE AND THIS WAS YEARS AGO SO A LOT OF STUFF WE CAN HAVE AND WE HAVE A BAND ROOM THAT'S IN DISREPAIR BUT, LIKE YOU SAID LET'S BE EQUITABLE IN OUR APPROACH WITH THIS BOND. AGAIN, WE HAVE WONDERFUL TEACHERS. I DO BELIEVE THEY DESERVE THE BEST BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING WITH HOME WE VALUE THE MOST, WHICH IS OUR STUDENTS. LET'S BE FAIR. I ALSO -- I DID A LOT OF STUFF OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS BUT I HAVE ALSO BEEN BUSY ALSO IN MY PERSONAL LIFE WITH MY MOTHER. SO YOU GUYS KEEP ME IN PRAYER ABOUT THAT. BUT I DID ATTEND THE CONFERENCE WITH MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO IT BECAUSE IT'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF WE DID AND I HAVE ALL OF MY NOTES RIGHT NOW BUT I AM GOING TO MENTION THAT I DID -- OF ALL THE SESSIONS THE ONE THAT I REALLY LIKED WAS ONE TITLED FIXING I DON'T DO MATH WITH CRITICAL THINKING AND I THINK A LOT OF OUR CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING WITH MATH AND READING. I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GO TO THIS WORKSHOP. I FINALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. I BOUGHT HIS BOOK BECAUSE I HAD TO READ IN DETAIL HIS STRATEGIES THAT HE WAS USING.

HIS NAME IS COLIN LAW AND I THOUGHT WHAT IS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH MATH BUT I DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE BUT I DO HAVE THE BOOK. I ALSO ATTENDED THE UNTAPPED NETWORK RETREAT IN WHICH WE VISITED THE LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT FILTRATION PLANT AND I WENT TO BURBANK AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HEARD OF THE CASCADES AND YOU SEE THOSE PIPES COMING DOWN OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN. I WAS UP THERE AND I MET ONE OF THE POLICY EXPERTS AND WE DISCUSSED THE PLAN FOR USING PROPOSITION FOR

[03:35:04]

SHE IS A SOCIAL ADVOCATE AND INVOLVED IN A LOT OF STEM PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. AGAIN, IF YOU KNOW ME, I LOVE BOOKS AND I BOUGHT THE BOOK CALLED INVENTING THE FUTURE SO I AM ENJOYING THE STORIES AS I AM JOURNEYING THROUGH THIS BOOK. THAT IS IT.

KEEP ME IN PRAYER. THAT IS IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG . VICE PRESIDENT

STEWART? >> GOOD EVENING. FIRST, WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT STAFF TO START LOOKING INTO A BOND ON THE NEXT ELECTION. WE SPENT ANY MONTHS ON THE BOND SO EVERYBODY KNOWS AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT WE DIDN'T PASS IT BUT WE DIDN'T GIVE THE COMMUNITY A CHANCE TO EVEN VOTE. WE TOOK YOUR VOICES AWAY AND THAT WASN'T RIGHT. I PROMISE AS LONG AS I SIT ON THIS DAIS FOR ALL OF YOU I WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR YOURSELF. NEXT, FOR THE BREAK I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM A TEACHER IN A DISTRICT, HANNAH HOFFMAN AND HER THIRD-GRADE CLASS COMPLETED A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT AND APPLIED FOR IT AND GOT A GRANT AND SPENT THE TIME AND MONEY CREATING CARDS AND GETTING GIFTS FOR CHILDREN STAYING AT THE MILLERS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. IT WAS SUCH A GREAT IDEA AND THE STUDENTS GOT INVOLVED AND I LOVED THE SPIRIT AND POSITIVE ENERGY BEFORE THANKSGIVING SO I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MS. HOFFMAN IN HER CLASS FOR DOING AMAZING THINGS. I ATTENDED THE ETHICS TRAINING AS WELL ON SATURDAY DECEMBER ONE AND PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD AND OTHERS TOOK PART IN THE 605 ALL-STAR BAND PARADE AND IT WAS AWESOME AND AS YOU HEARD THEY WILL BE ATTENDING THE ROSE PARADE AND IT'S A TRUE COLLABORATION OF SO MANY SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS AND IT WAS A FUN DAY. WE GOT TO RIDE IN THE FIRE TRUCK AND I EVEN GOT MY DAUGHTER TAILORED TO ATTEND WITH ME AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE SHE WENT BUT SHE DID AND I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME TO BE IN THAT PARADE SO I WANT TO SAY THAT WAS A REALLY COOL EVENT AND I ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE IN ANAHEIM AND WE STARTED THE CONFERENCE BY HEARING FROM A KEYNOTE SPEAKER DOCTOR LORI SANTOS, A PROFESSOR AT YALE WHO TEACHES THE COURSE THE THEORY OF WELL-BEING AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A FREE COURSE AND THERE IS ONE FOR ADULTS AND ONE FOR TEENAGERS AND I REALLY THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR ADMINISTRATORS IF ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE THE COURSE, IT IS AWESOME AND I TOOK THE CLASS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO AFTER COVID. WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT SHE WAS OUR SPEAKER AND TALKED ABOUT THE STUDIES AND DATA THEY GENERATED AND THEY DID A LOT OF DIFFERENT STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITIES REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH AND HAPPINESS. I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT SHE HAD THE TOP 10 INCITES TO HAPPINESS. I WON'T EXPAND AND YOU GET THEM BUT THEY WERE REALLY COOL AND NUMBER ONE WAS HAPPINESS MATTERS FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE. NUMBER TWO IS CONNECT WITH

[03:40:01]

>> THANK YOU. I AM DONE WRITING NOTES. SO IT'S BEEN BUSY AS ALWAYS AND I WASN'T ABLE TO GO UP TO SACRAMENTO FOR THE SWEARING IN OF THE NEW ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE ELECTED IN FINDING OPPORTUNITIES SO THEY CAN HELP US AND WORKING WITH US AND I GOT A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE CO-AUTHOR OF THAT AND GOT HIS PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEBODY WHO WROTE IT AND THAT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION AND WENT TO THE REORGANIZATION OF BELLFLOWER AND SWEARING IN AND CONGRATULATIONS TO VICTOR AND DAN AS WELL AS WHITNEY MORRIS AND I ACTUALLY WENT WITH THE NEWEST NOT SWORN IN YET MEMBER WHO WAS THERE AND THAT WAS COOL AND ALSO I SAT IN ON THE MEETING FOR THE SOMERSET MALL SCHOOL MEETING WHICH WAS GREAT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION WAS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE BREAKOUT SESSION. I REALLY DID LIKE THE THEORY OF WELL-BEING AND YOUR FAVORITE WAS THE A.I. ONE AND I THINK

[03:45:08]

[15. INFORMATION ITEMS]

>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. I AM GLAD YOU WENT TO GO SEE JOSÉ'S SWEARING-IN AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW HIM AND DO YOU KNOW HIM? I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GOING. DID YOU OFFER ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS TO GO AND SEE HIM? WE ALL LOVE HIM. I WALKED THE PRECINCT WITH HIM WHERE MY MOTHER LIVES AND SHOWED EVERYBODY, LET'S VOTE FOR HIM AND VICTOR. WAS IT OFFERED TO

ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS? >> IN THIS EVENT WE DIDN'T. IN SOME CASES, THE MAJORITY OF CASES WE SEND OUT AN INVITATION TO EVERYONE DEPENDING ON WHAT THE EVENT IS BUT THIS WAS A REQUEST BY A BOARD MEMBER . AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I THINK IN SOME INSTANCES, WE KNOW WE CAN'T SEND EVERYONE IT MAKES SENSE TO SEND THE PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND IF THE PRESIDENT IS UNABLE TO ATTEND WE WOULD NEED TO ASK THE VICE AND IF THE VICE CAN'T AND THERE ARE SOME EVENTS WE CAN'T ALL GO TO AND IT'S JUST NOT ALL POSSIBLE.

>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS? NO? ALL RIGHT. WELL, IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED UNTIL TOMORROW. AT 6:00 P.M. USE AT 6:00? RIGHT? LISA 6:00 TOMORROW?

>>

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.