[1. CALL TO ORDER IN PUBLIC SESSION]
[00:00:18]
>>> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:03 P.M. ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
[1.2 PUBLIC COMMENTS – AGENDA ITEMS]
>> PRESENT . THANK YOU. TONIGHT, WE DO HAVE A REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. WHILE MEETINGS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD ARE NOT PUBLIC MEETINGS, THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THE PUBLIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. THIS IS BOARD BY LINE 9322.2. COME TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE. WELCOME,
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FOR PARAMOUNT UNIFIED. I'M HERE TO CONGRATULATE MAYRA GARZA FOR HER ELECTION TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'M HERE TODAY, BESIDES INTRODUCING MYSELF, TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I'M CURRENTLY A DELEGATE FOR THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION REGION 24, AND BELLFLOWER UNIFIED IS PART OF THAT REGION. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO BE A DELEGATE . AS A DELEGATE AND AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I HAVE BEEN PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST. IN FACT, LAST WEEK, WE WERE ABLE TO TELL THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION TO SOME POLICIES THAT CONTINUE SUPPORTING CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH. YES, WITH YOUR SUPPORT, I CAN CONTINUE DOING THAT. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL BROOKLYN AND TORREY TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE MICROPHONE? HOW DO
YOU START IT? >> PLEASE FACE THE FRONT. YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART, READY, BEGIN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[3. OATH OF OFFICE]
>> AT THIS TIME, THE CEREMONIAL OATH OF OFFICE WILL BE ADMINISTERED TO OUR NEW AND RE-ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MRS. MAYRA GARZA, HER HUSBAND, AND HER THREE SONS, PLEASE COME UP AND DELIVER THE CEREMONIAL OATH OF OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING. ON BEHALF OF THE GUARDS A FAMILY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE ARE SUPER PROUD, MY WIFE, MY SON'S MOTHER, FOR HAVING THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY, HAVING BEEN CHALLENGED DURING THIS ELECTION, I THINK IT'S A TESTAMENT OF HOW MUCH HARD WORK, AND HOW MUCH SUCCESS SHE HAS AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR YOUTH, OUR TEACHERS, OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU, WE COULD NOT BE MORE HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT. IF YOU DON'T MIND REPEATING AFTER ME, STATE YOUR NAME. I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF
[00:05:01]
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, AND THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION. AND I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER.CONGRATULATIONS. >> I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, AND THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.. I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION.
AND I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER. I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION. AND I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER. .
>> CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. I NOW INVITE MARINA AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS, ATHENE AND JANESSA TO COME FORWARD AND ADMINISTER THE CEREMONIAL OATH OF OFFICE. I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, AND THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
>> I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, AND THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. >> I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION. AND I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER. I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION. AND I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER.
>> I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION. AND I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER. I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION. AND I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER. THANK YOU.
>> I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT SUPPORTED ME, THE UNIONS, SHOUT OUT TO YOU GUYS. MY LITTLE ONES NOT UP HERE, BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T FEEL WELL, BUT SHE IS IN THE AUDIENCE. I WANT TO THANK MY MOM AND MY DAD, I LOVE YOU, DAD, BUT ESPECIALLY MY MOM, SHE REALLY SUPPORTED ME THROUGH THIS CAMPAIGN. I JUST WANT TO THANK THOSE ALREADY ON THE DAIS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED ME, AND REALLY HAVE BEEN MY CHEERLEADERS, OUR COUNCILMEMBER, YEAH, JUST THANKS, EVERYONE, FOR TRUSTING IN ME , AND I DO NOT TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED, AND I'M VERY HUMBLED BY ALL OF YOU, SO THANK YOU.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> ALL RIGHT. SO, WE DO HAVE
[4.1 SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS]
ONE DISCUSSION ITEM TONIGHT, AND USUALLY WE DON'T HAVE A DISCUSSION ITEM, BUT TONIGHT, ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAID AS A BOARD IS THAT BECAUSE WE ARE IN A POSITION LOOKING FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, WE SAID ONCE OUR NEW BOARD WAS HERE, WE WERE GOING TO DO IT ON DAY ONE. SO, THIS IS DAY ONE, AND WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT. OUR DISCUSSION ITEM IS[00:10:03]
THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH. IT'S A DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD, TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT SEARCH, AND I WILL START BY SAYING RIGHT AWAY, FIRST STEP NEEDS TO BE SETTING UP THE SURVEY, HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTS TO SEE IN OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT, GETTING THAT INFORMATION, AND FURTHER DISCUSSING GOING ABOUT THE HIRING. OPENING UP TO THE BOARD, IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ON THAT.>> I DEFINITELY AGREE, PRESIDENT BOARD PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD. I WANT TO SEE OUR UNION MEMBERS AND PTA MEMBER SO THIS CAN BE A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FIND SOMEBODY AMAZING, I AGREE WITH YOUR INPUT, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD START SURVEYING THE COMMUNITY AND FIND OUT WITH THEIR NEEDS FOR OUR.
>> I AGREE, MAYBE A SURVEY, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, GETTING THE INFORMATION PRIOR TO GOING OUT AND DECIDING WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH WHICH PROCESS WILL BE GREAT. I DO HAVE A QUESTION AS TO THE TYPE OF SURVEY QUESTIONS WE WILL BE ASKING. WILL WE BE GIVING QUESTIONS OURSELVES? WILL THIS BE DEVELOPED BY A FIRM? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS, COLLEAGUES?
>> IN DISCUSSION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, WE HAVE STARTED WORKING ON SOME QUESTIONS, BUT MAYBE WE CAN ELABORATE ON SOME OF THE QUESTIONS. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING SOMETHING OUT POSSIBLY EVEN TOMORROW. DEVELOPING THE QUESTIONS, MAYBE THE BOARD CAN SEE THOSE BEFORE THEY GO OUT TOMORROW.
>> SINCE WE ARE NOW AT THE WEEKENDS, I KNOW IT'S IN OUR DAY, IT'S FRIDAY, WE PROBABLY WON'T HAVE THEM GO OUT UNTIL THE START OF THE WEEK. BUT ABSOLUTELY, WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE SURVEY QUESTIONS THAT OTHER COMPANIES SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE SURVEYS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE INTO IN-HOUSE, GATHERING IDEAS AND DETERMINING FROM THE BOARD WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM THOSE SURVEY QUESTIONS, AGAIN, YOU CAN START WITH AN INITIAL SURVEY, AND IF YOU NEED TO MODIFY THAT BASED ON YOU OR FEEDBACK, YOU CAN GO BACK WITH SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC, IF YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY A PARTICULAR AREA.
>> DID WE HAVE A TIMELINE IN MY MIND FOR HOW LONG WE WILL BE REQUIRING THOSE SURVEYS TO COME IN?
>> THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE BOARD. TYPICALLY WHEN WE SEND A SURVEY OUT, WE HAVE IT OUT FOR AT LEAST 10 DAYS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, BUT THAT WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE BOARD.
>> I FEEL LIKE SINCE THE HOLIDAYS ARE JUST STARTING, MAYBE WHEN WE COME BACK WOULD BE A GOOD TIME. MAYBE THE FIRST OR SECOND DAY WE COME BACK TO THE SCHOOL, MAYBE CAP IT THERE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK.
>> I AGREE THAT IT SHOULD RUN, PERHAPS UNTIL MAYBE ONE WEEK AFTERWARD, MAYBE TWO WEEKS, AFTER THAT, I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO BEYOND THE TWO WEEKS, I THINK WE WILL HAVE SOME REALLY STRICT TIMELINES GOING FORWARD WITH THIS, BUT SENDING IT OUT, PERHAPS OVER THE COURSE OF THE WINTER BREAK WILL HELP SOME FAMILIES. THERE ARE SOME THAT DO GO ON, OTHERS THAT DON'T WANT TO ENGAGE WITH ANYTHING AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE THOSE CHOICES.
>> AND THEN, IF WE DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPONSE, WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE THRESHOLD OF THE RESPONSE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SATISFIED WITH? IF WE DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPONSE, WE HAVE TO
SEND IT OUT A SECOND TIME. >> I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT AND ASK A QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THIS SURVEY? ARE THERE "CONVERSATIONS? IS THERE A DIALOGUE? CAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH US AND AT LEAST GIVE THEIR OPINION? OR IS IT JUST SURVEY, AND DONE?
>> DEFINITELY NOT SURVEY AND DONE, THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST, INITIAL STEP, AND WE COULD ALWAYS REDO THE SURVEY. I THINK WE WOULD WANT THEM BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINE, TO PUT IT OUT AS SOON AS MONDAY OR WEDNESDAY AFTER BOARD INPUT, LEAVE IT OUT THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS. WHEN THE SURVEY RESULTS COME BACK, WE WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO PUT OUT ANOTHER ONE. FROM THAT POINT WE DECIDE IF WE WANT TO GO TO RFP, OR IF WE WANT TO JUST LOOK AT A FEW FIRMS, OR IF WE WANT TO APPOINT, THAT'S WHEN THE
[00:15:03]
CONVERSATION WOULD HAPPEN. AND WHOEVER IS BOARD PRESIDENT AT THE TIME WILL WANT TO DO A PUBLIC HEARING, ALTHOUGH STEPS WILL BE PART OF THE FURTHER DISCUSSION OF IT. I WOULD HOPE, IF THE BOARD AGREES TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING THE SURVEY, TO LOOK TO PUT IT OUT NEXT WEEK AND LEAVE IT UP TO THE HOLIDAYS, IFTHAT'S OKAY. >> OKAY, JUST FOR MY CLARIFICATION, MAKE SURE I HAVE THIS CORRECT, SHARE THE WORD SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH WHAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE. THE GOAL WOULD BE TO SEND THOSE QUESTIONS OUT THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, AND HAVE IT OPEN TO THE SECOND WEEK AFTER WE RETURN, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. >> TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION, WHERE WILL THE SURVEY BE LOCATED AT ACCESSIBLE TO THE
COMMUNITY? >> TYPICALLY WHEN WE SEND A SURVEY OUT, WE SENT IT THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, WE WILL DO IT IN
ENGLISH AND SPANISH. >> IS A POSSIBILITY TO ALSO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND LETTING THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT IT IS OPEN, AND WHERE THEY CAN FIND IT?
>> THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT, WE USUALLY DO THAT, I'M
SORRY I DID NOT MENTION THAT. >> IF THERE IS NO OTHER FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON. ALL RIGHT, IT IS NOW TIME FOR BOARD REORGANIZATION, AND I WILL LET
[5.1 ELECTION OF BOARD OF EDUCATION OFFICERS]
OUR LEGAL COUNSEL GO AHEAD AND TAKE CONTROL.>> THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER CRIHFIELD. WE WILL NOW ELECT OFFICERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY 9100. NOMINATIONS WILL BE VOTED ON AND CHOSEN IN THE ORDER RECEIVED. WE WILL OPEN UP THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT, DO I
HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS? >> I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE
VICE PRESIDENT AMY STEWART . >> SECONDED.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? GO AHEAD AND CALL
A VOTE. >> CALL FOR THE VOTE. MS. STEWART? CONGRATULATIONS, BOARD PRESIDENT, SIR. AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN THE MEETING BACK OVER.
>> I'M NOT MOVING. >> I LOVE THIS, BECAUSE I CAN TURN BRADS MIKE OFF. I'M NOT KIDDING. NO, I AM KIDDING. YOU GUYS KNOW ME, I ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED AND WRITTEN, I FELT LIKE TONIGHT I WOULD NOT DO THAT, AND I WOULD BE GENUINE AND TELL YOU HOW I FEEL REALLY QUICKLY, AND MOVE ON. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, I AM SO HUMBLED BY THIS. AND I WANT TO SAY THE TWO-HOUR UNIONS FOR THEIR SUPPORT. WE HAVE AMAZING RELATIONSHIPS, AND I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO COLLABORATE. I WANT TO THANK PTA, ARLENE NAKAGAWA, I DON'T THINK SHE'S HERE, BUT IF SHE WAS, SHE IS THE REASON I'M HERE. I WANT TO THANK THEM AND PTA FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO, AND LASTLY I WANT TO THANK ALL OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE REASON THAT I DO THIS, AND WE DO THIS, AND I'M VERY EXCITED, AND THANKFUL THAT YOU GUYS ARE TRUSTING IN ME TO HOLD THIS POSITION, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> AT THIS POINT, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL OPEN NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF BOARD VICE PRESIDENT. DO I HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF WARD VICE PRESIDENT?
>> I WOULD NOMINATE MADAME CLERK MAYRA GARZA .
>> SECOND. >> I HAVE A NOMINATION AND A SECOND, DO I HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE, AT THIS TIME, I WILL CALL ROLE. SORRY ABOUT THAT, MISS ARMSTRONG? PRESIDENT GARZA .
[00:20:03]
>> ONE MORE TIME. >> MOVING ON TO BOARD CLERK, AT THIS TIME, I WILL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE NOMINATION FOR
CLERK. >> I NOMINATE MARINA CINTRON.
I'M SORRY, I TAKE THAT BACK, I NOMINATE BRAD CRIHFIELD .
>> ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE, AT THIS TIME I WILL CLOSE NOMINATIONS AND CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> IS ARMSTRONG? MISS CINTRON? MR. CRUTCHFIELD? MS. STEWART?
>> CONGRATULATIONS, BOARD CLERK A CRIHFIELD. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE REORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. GO AHEAD AND TURN
[5.2 APPOINTMENT OF ANNUAL REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE ON THE MEMBERSHIP TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL DISTRICT ORGANIZATION]
IT BACK TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS. IT'S TIME FOR NOMINATIONS FOR OUR COMMITTEES.
THE FIRST IS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE 2025 REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE ON THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL DISTRICT ORGANIZATION. DO WE HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR DISCUSSION? I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MARINA CINTRON.
>> SECOND. >> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MISS ARMSTRONG?
[5.3 APPOINTMENT OF ANNUAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY TRUSTEES ASSOCIATION (LACSTA) – 2025]
>> NEXT, THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ANNUAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY TRUSTEES ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS LACSTA, 2025. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE REED ARMSTRONG.
>> WHO DID YOU GET THE SECOND ON THAT?
>> IT WAS MARINA. ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> MISS ARMSTRONG? MISS CINTRON? MR. CRIHFIELD? MRS.
[5.4 SELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THE CALIFORNIA ADVANCING PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS (CalAPS) BOARD]
GARZA? MS. STEWART? >> THE FINAL SELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THE CALIFORNIA ADVANCING PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS, CALAPS BOARD, FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM BEGINNING IN 2024. AND AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE BRAD CRIHFIELD. DO I
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE, ROLL
[7. RECOGNITIONS FOR STUDENTS / STAFF / COMMUNITY]
HAVE RECOGNITIONS, LISA AZEVEDO?>> WE DO, I WOULD ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS TO COME DOWN IN FRONT
OF THE DAIS. >> TONIGHT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE OUR OUTGOING PRESIDENT WITH SPECIAL RECOGNITION. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR HIS YEAR OF SERVICE AND THE TIME AND DEDICATION HE PROVIDED TO THE UST FAMILY. WE HAVE A SPECIAL VIDEO THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE, SO IF WE CAN TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN, PLEASE, FOR JUST A MOMENT.
[00:25:39]
APPLAUSE ] MR. CRIHFIELD, WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE JOINED US TO CELEBRATE YOUR YEAR OF PRESIDENCY, BUT BEFORE WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST COME UP, WE HAVE A SURPRISE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HERE TO PLAY A TUNE FOR YOU, FOR YOUR OUTGOING.THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT A SPECIAL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY, AT THIS POINT, WE WILL HAVE OUR BOARD MEMBERS, EXCEPT FOR MR. CRIHFIELD, THE REST OF YOU CAN TAKE A SEAT, AND I'M GOING TO TURN OVER RECOGNITIONS TO MRS. CARTER.
>> THIS EVENING WE HAVE SEVERAL SPECIAL GUESTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MR. CRIHFIELD. FIRST, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER, VICTOR SANCHEZ,
AND SUNNY. >> THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT SPECIAL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY, AT THIS POINT, WE WILL HAVE BOARD MEMBERS, EXCEPT FOR MR. CRIHFIELD, STAY THERE, THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE A SEAT, AND WE WILL TURN OVER RECOGNITIONS TO MRS. CARTER.
>> THIS EVENING, WE HAVE SEVERAL SPECIAL GUESTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE HAVE A COMMON SET OF PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE, IN A DIFFERENT WAY, BUT WE HAVE THE SAME CONSTITUENTS. I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN TO MAKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BETTER. I'M VERY BIASED ABOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES REALLY WELL, GOOD PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THE CITY, ONE OF THE FACTORS IN CHOOSING A COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, LET'S FACE IT, THAT'S A FACT.
STEWARDSHIP, YOU MOVE FORWARD IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT SERVICE. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I REALLY ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO FEED OUR OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, BRANDS AT - - BRAD CRIHFIELD, SERVICE AS BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT. THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER HONORS YOUR DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY,
[00:30:02]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING SERVICE. SIGNED BY THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, ON BEHALF OF OF THE VERY GRATEFUL CITY OF BELLFLOWER AND ITS RESIDENTS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. OKAY. YES, OF COURSE.>> NEXT, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, COUNCILMEMBERS JEFF WOOD, AND DAVID ARELLANO.
>> GOOD EVENING, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NORMAL BOARD PRESIDENT . I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE THAT VIDEO, WE DON'T HAVE VIDEOS AND PHOTO OF YOU IN THE COMMUNITY, BRAD. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, BOARD NUMBERS. JEFF WOOD, COUNCILMEMBER, I'M GEORGE - - I'M JOINED BY DAVID ARIANNA. WE BRING OUT OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, YOUR HOMETOWN, JUST CONGRATULATING YOU ON A GREAT YEAR. WE SAW WHERE YOU WERE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE SAW YOU REPRESENTING THROUGH THE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS. YOU WERE THERE, YOU ARE ACTIVE, YOU WERE ENGAGED, AND THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT. I SAW A QUOTE TODAY THAT SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT DON'T WORRY THAT YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO ENCOMPASS EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT, BECAUSE TIME WILL CONTINUE. ALL OF THIS STILL HAS TO DO WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO DO TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS BETTER, AND I KNOW WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE SHARED RESIDENCE THAT WE SERVE BETWEEN LAKEWOOD AND THE BELLFLOWER SCHOOL BOARD. WE HAVE FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AS A REPRESENTATIVE, AS WELL AS YOUR COLLEAGUE. WITH THAT, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FROM THE MAYOR THAT I WILL NOT READ. THERE IS A CROWD OUT THERE WE ARE STANDING BETWEEN.
BRAD, WE WANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS RECOGNITION ON BEHALF
OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL. >> I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING, IF THAT'S OKAY. I LET JEFF DO ALL THE IMPORTANT PAPERWORK, BUT I WANT TO STEP UP AND SAY 100% IF YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN ME, I WAS IN A COUPLE VIDEOS WITH BRAD, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL RECOGNIZE, BUT THERE ARE TWO SIDES OF THE COIN, I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE ELSE THAT PUT UP WITH BRAD FOR A WHOLE YEAR, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, AS A FRIEND, IT'S PRETTY TOUGH. ON THE OTHER SIDE, I KNOW HE CARES, I LISTEN TO HIM ALL THE TIME ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON, HE WENT THROUGH SUPERINTENDENT, I SEE A LOT OF SMILEY FACES FROM THE TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATION NOW, I DEFINITELY SEE WHERE YOU GUYS ARE GOING. YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM BEHIND YOU. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT FROM THE PRESIDENT, I GO TO SCHOOLS, I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT I'M ALSO VERY PROUD OF YOU, AS A FRIEND. CONGRATULATIONS, THAT REALLY CAME FOR AMY, HONESTLY, BUT RAD WAS JUST HERE. AND MARINA, THIS WEDNESDAY, AND ALSO MAYRA GARZA, YOU ARE AMAZING . ALSO GREAT TO SEE RENITA ARMSTRONG. THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE
IT, THANK YOU. >> I AM BACK AGAIN, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CRIHFIELD FAMILY, THE FAMILY HAS GIVEN UP A LOT, MATT, AND THE GIRLS.
[00:35:11]
>> NEXT, REPRESENTING CONGRESSMAN ROBERT GARCIA'S OFFICE, A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE AND CASEWORKER, PLEASE COME
FORWARD. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS JULIA, I AM A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE AMAZING CITY OF BELLFLOWER.
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE ON HIS BEHALF, FIRST OF ALL, TO CONGRATULATE THE NEW NOW BOARD VICE PRESIDENT, MAYRA GARZA, MARINA CINTRON ON WINNING YOUR ELECTION, AND NOW PRESIDENT AMY STEWART, ON YOUR NEW TITLE. OUR TEAM LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, ESPECIALLY AS THE CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION GOES FORWARD. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE BRAD CRIHFIELD AS PRESIDENT OF THE BELLFLOWER SCHOOL DISTRICT. NOT ONLY HAVE YOU BEEN A GREAT PARTNER WITH OUR OFFICE, BUT I THINK YOU ARE PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM AS PRESIDENT ARE APPARENT FOR EVERYBODY , ESPECIALLY ANYBODY WHO FOLLOWS HIM ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SEES ALL THE VIDEOS. ON BEHALF OF TOWNSMEN ROBERT SEAH AND THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, CONGRATULATIONS.
>> PB LOU, ASSISTANT FIELD DEPUTY.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'M THE ASSISTANT FIELD DEPUTY, FOR THE ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR, JANET. WE ARE HERE TO REPRESENT BRAD FOR THE LAST YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATED LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE, AND ALSO YOUR FAMILY, FOR MENDING YOU TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, EVERYONE WHO SERVES THE FAMILY ALSO SERVED, SO THANK YOU, ON BEHALF OF THE SUPERVISOR, AND I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE VICE PRESIDENT JUAN WINNING HER RE-ELECTION, AND ALSO FOR MARINA CINTRON, WINNING HER RE-ELECTION AS WELL.
>> REPRESENTING CERRITOS COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DR.
DON GREEN. WELCOME BACK. REPRESENTING BELLFLOWER TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, PRESIDENT CARRIE MCDANIEL. DAN WAS SUPPOSED TO COME UP HERE WITH ME, AND HE WENT OUTSIDE. GO
AHEAD. >> DO YOU WANT ME TO DO IT? OKAY. IT'S FUNNY, AFTER THE MEETING LAST NIGHT, IT WAS PRODUCTIVE, BUT RAD SENT ME A TEXT, DUDE, WHY DID YOU TALK SO MUCH? I'M GOING TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS MAYRA GARZA, MARINA CINTRON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO BRAD'S FAMILY, AND WE ARE DONE HERE. THANK YOU, BRAD, VERY MUCH, FOR YOUR DEDICATION THIS PAST YEAR, AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO THE STUDENTS OF BELLFLOWER, ESPECIALLY, THE TEACHERS, AND THE OTHER STAFF THAT YOU REPRESENT AND THINK ABOUT.
APPRECIATE THE OPEN COMMUNICATION AND WILLINGNESS TO ALWAYS HEAR US, ESPECIALLY AS A FATHER AND A HUSBAND, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TIME IT TAKES. APPRECIATE YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PUT IN THE TIME AND DO THE HARD WORK, WE APPRECIATE YOU, CONGRATULATIONS, AND WE WILL STILL BE TALKING TO YOU A LOT.
[00:40:25]
>> REPRESENTING THE BELLFLOWER LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT TEAM, JESSICA CUMMINGS, BLAST PRESIDENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS, MR. CRIHFIELD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR OF 2024. ON BEHALF OF BELLFLOWER LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT TEAM, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A PLAQUE MADE AT A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL BY THEIR STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
REPRESENTING PARAMOUNT UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT EDDIE
CRUZ. >> EDDIE WAS, I'M SORRY, HE WAS CUT OFF, HE HAD A DANCE AT BAXTER TONIGHT, SO HE COULD NOT MAKE IT, BUT HE WISHES AMAZING THINGS AND THANK YOU BRAD.
SORRY. >> REPRESENTING ABC UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, BRAD BEACH.
>> I THOUGHT YOU SKIPPED ME, BRAD. MADAM PRESIDENT, WAS OF THE BOARD, MARINA, 10 YEARS AGO, WE WERE STOPPING YOUTH FROM DRINKING ALCOHOL AND TAKING DRUGS, BRADLEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING? I KNOW HOW YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. I HAVE FOUR DAYS LEFT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, I WAS PRESIDENT LAST TERM, WE ARE BOTH DADS WITH YOUNG DAUGHTERS. IT GOES QUICKLY. I WATCHED YOU THIS ENTIRE YEAR. YOU MET WITH ME BEFORE YOU TOOK OVER AND ASKED INTERESTING QUESTIONS. I SAW THE CHANGES YOU MADE ON THE BOARD, YOU ARE A GREAT LEADER, YOU DID A GREAT JOB HIM I WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT YOU, CONGRATULATIONS FROM ABC UNIFIED.
COUNCIL PGA PRESIDENT LINDA MORGAN, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, GATES TRYING TO BRING REINFORCEMENTS THIS TIME.
CONGRATULATIONS, AMY, SORRY, PRESIDENT STEWART, MAYRA GARZA , MARINA CINTRON, CONGRATULATIONS. BRAD, ON HAVE A BELLFLOWER COUNCIL PGA, WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR A CONSCIENCE DURING YOUR TERM AS BOARD PRESIDENT. WE HAVE ANOTHER CERTIFICATE FOR YOU.
PERSONAL MISSION. MARISSA PEREZ.
>> RIGHT HERE. I GUESS I'M GOING SOLO. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU TO RECOGNIZE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND COMPASSION HAVE PROFOUNDLY MOVED THIS DISTRICT IN A WAY THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN IN YEARS. YOU BROUGHT ME HERE TO BE PART OF THIS COMMISSION, IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, THINGS
[00:45:06]
WOULDN'T BE WHERE IT'S AT NOW. AS FORMER PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE EMBODIED THE SPIRIT AND LEADERSHIP THAT BELLFLOWER UNIFIED TRULY DESERVES. THANK YOU, BRAD.>> REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENT MICHELLE. >> GOOD EVENING BRAD, PRESIDENT AMY STEWART, OUR NEW MEMBER, MARINA CINTRON, MAYRA GARZA, OUR FAVORITE VP. WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE BRAD CRIHFIELD, FOR AN AMAZING YEAR AS PRESIDENT . I AM STARTING MY FIFTH YEAR AS PRESIDENT, AND IT HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY TO HAVE MEMBER VOICES HEARD, AND I HAVE TO SAY, YOU HAVE LISTENED THE WHOLE TIME. IF I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO REACH OUT TO YOU, YOU WOULD REACH OUT TO ME FIRST, AND THAT MEANS A LOT. I FEEL LIKE THIS BOARD, FOR THE MOST PART, HAS DONE THE SAME, AND WE CONTINUE TO HOPEFULLY WORK FOR YOU AS WELL. WE DON'T GIVE OUT REGISTRATION WORDS, WE JUST DON'T. IT'S HARD, IT'S HARD, YOU'VE WORKED WITH US, IT'S APPRECIATED MORE THAN YOU CAN UNDERSTAND. WITH ME, WE HAVE OUR VICE PRESIDENT, JOAN, ANTHONY, MY COMMUNICATION PERSON, THIS IS EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME, THIS IS MY VOICE. OUR COORDINATOR IS STEPPING DOWN, BUT SHE IS OUR PACK LEADER, WHO HAS ACTUALLY HELPED GET A LOT OF YOU INTO YOUR SPACES. ALONG WITH PTA. WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU. ONE MORE.
REPRESENTING CENTRAL BASIN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT,
DIRECTOR GARZA. >> THANK YOU, HONORABLE PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF CENTRAL BASIN. IT IS A TRUE HONOR AND A PLEASANT PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU. RESPECTFULLY, I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH THE STAFF. THEY ARE THE BACKBONE. NOTHING IN THIS COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL SYSTEM HAPPENS WITHOUT THE STAFF YOU HAVE HERE TODAY, IT MEANS A LOT, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, SUPPORTING THE BOARD. IT'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE. SO, WITH THAT, STAFF NEEDS A CLEAR VISION, AND SEEMS AWARE OF WHERE THE AGENCY IS GOING, WHERE YOU ARE TAKING THIS VEHICLE. AND SO, I WANTED TO START OFF BY CONGRATULATING TRUSTEE CINTRON. BEFORE I TAKE THIS CREDIT, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER SIX YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY, NO, IT WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO, YOU BEING PUBLIC OFFICE, AND TO SEE YOU THIS EVENING IS TREMENDOUS, A TREMENDOUS HONOR, SO CONGRATULATIONS. ALSO, MY WIFE, CONGRATULATIONS, I'M SUPER PROUD OF YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, CONGRATULATIONS, WELL DESERVED, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR VISION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP PRESENTED TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT WITH YOU AS PRESIDENT, AS IT WAS BEFORE,
[00:50:03]
OUR YOUTH ARE IN GREAT HANDS. LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, THE MAN OF THE HOUR, BRAD, AS A FRIEND, I COULD NOT OR PROUD OF YOU, MAN.WE HAD LUNCH TODAY, THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, INTROSPECTION, YOU BECOMING A GREATER MAN AND A GREAT LEADER, IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU, I COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF YOU, AND I JUST WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW REALLY HOW HARD YOU'VE WORKED FOR THEM. YOUR YEAR AS PRESIDENT HAS COME UP WITH DIFFERENT CHALLENGES, DIFFERENT SUCCESSES. DURING ALL OF THAT, YOU'VE HAD NOTHING BUT A SMILE, YOU'VE BEEN NOTHING BUT COMMITTED TO THIS COMMUNITY AND OUR YOUTH. ON BEHALF OF MY FELLOW DIRECTORS, I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESSES, WE LOOK FOR TO SEEING WHAT YOU DO NEXT.
>> WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT MR. CRIHFIELD WITH CERTIFICATES FROM SENATOR BOB ARCHULETA, THE CITY OF CERRITOS, AND THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER, LUIS, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS EVENING, AND WISH TO EXTEND CONGRATULATIONS AND APPRECIATION TO MR. CRIHFIELD FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE WE ALSO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE, OR A COUPLE SOMEONE'S WHO WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE AND SAY A FEW WORDS TO YOU, MR. CRIHFIELD. COME FORWARD.
>> I AM REALLY PROUD OF MY DAD, BECAUSE HE WORKS REALLY HARD.
AND I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE TO CONGRATULATE HIM.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY DAD FOR THE WORK AND HOW HE DROPS ME OFF AND PICKS ME UP AT DODGEBALL PRACTICE.
] HE PULLS THE BEST PRANKS ON ME.
>> MR. CRIHFIELD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS, THE STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITY AT USD. HOLD ON.
MR. CRIHFIELD, I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE, FROM DR. ROBINSON.
[00:55:05]
>> BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
>> BOARD OF TRUSTEES CABINET, MADAM SUPERINTENDENT AND VALUED GUESTS, THAT HE PASSED THE GAVEL TO A SUCCESSOR AND SLIPS BACK INTO THE RANKS OF BOARD MEMBERSHIP. IT'S MY DEEP HONOR TO SHARED WELL-INTENTIONED WORDS TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE VALUE OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS AS DISTRICT BOARD PRESIDENT IN THE PAST YEAR, AND TO FORMALLY THANK HIM FOR HIS YEAR OF SACRIFICE AND SERVICE. FORMER PRESIDENTS CRIHFIELD, I'M SO BLESSED TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING YOU, IT'S SO GOOD TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE YOU TONIGHT. WHAT IS LEADERSHIP? IT'S THE ACTION OF LEADING A PEOPLE OR ORGANIZATION, TO TETHER THE NUANCES WITH GREAT MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE, ESPECIALLY WITH A LEADER THAT WE SEEK TO ELEVATE TONIGHT. HE HAS BRIGHTENS UP TO DO IS WHAT THE OTHERS HAVE NOT COURSED HIMSELF TO GO, RATHER CALLED TO INVITE THOSE OTHERS TO WILLINGLY FOLLOW, AND SUCH AN ENDEAVOR REQUIRES AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF TRUST, AND A PROFOUND AMOUNT OF INTEGRITY. A GOOD LEADER TAKES PEOPLE WHERE THEY WANT TO GO. A GREAT LEADER, LIKE FORMER PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD TAKES THEM WHERE THEY MAY NOT EVEN IMAGINE WHERE THEY SHOULD WANT TO BE, OFTEN SOONER THAN THEY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT POSSIBLE. OVER THE PAST YEAR, YOU CONSISTENTLY DEVASTATED THE CAPACITY TO TRANSLATE VISION INTO REALITY. YOUR VISION HASN'T DIMINISHED BY YOUR ABILITY TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS, ENCOURAGE AND EMPOWER OTHERS TO HARNESS THEIR OWN ENERGY AND VISION, BRINGING TO THE PROVERBIAL TABLE WHAT THEY CAN, FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL. YOU HAVE EXERCISED THE PASSION NECESSARY TO LISTEN TO THE CRIES OF THE MARGINALIZED, OPPRESSED, AND SUPPRESSED. MANY FEEL YOU HAVE EXITED THE CONFIDENCE TO STEP OVER TO BE THEIR ADVOCATE, VOICE, AND CHAMPION. YOU'VE KNOWN WHEN TO STAND UNITED AND TO STAND ALONE CAN HOLD TO YOUR CONVICTIONS WITH FIDELITY, BUT CANNOT BE SWAYED FROM REASONABLE COPPER MINES FOR THE GREATER GOOD. FORMER PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD CAN YOU POSTURED YOUR BOARD AUTHORITY TO THE COMMON INTEREST OF OUR BOARD, STUDENTS, CLASS, AND STAFF, VOTING CONSTITUENTS, POLITICAL LEADERS, AND BUSINESS PEOPLE ALIKE. THESE ATTRIBUTES HAVE DEFINED YOU DURING YOUR TENURE AS BOARD PRESIDENT, AND FOSSILIZED THE CHARACTERIZATION OF HOW YOU SHOW UP AND WHO YOU ARE AS A COMMUNITY LEADER. YOU STEP TOWARD LEADERSHIP WITH THE ABILITY TO CHANGE, BETTER OTHERS, AND BETTER THE LARGER WORLD. FOR YOUR OWN DAUGHTERS, TRAILING BEHIND THEM IN OUR INSTITUTIONS COME YOU HAVEN'T SUGARCOATED REALITY COME YOU'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO HELP THOSE AROUND YOU. YOU'VE REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO AND PUSH BACK AGAINST THE ASTONISHMENT TO BRING GREATER TRANSFERENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN AN ATTEMPT TO UPHOLD THE ABSENCE OF TRUST IN THIS DISTRICT FOR DECADES. EVEN AS A FRESHMAN POLITICIAN TO BE STUDIED AND WORKED ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE KNOWN SO YOU COULD DO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. YOU CALLED ON YOUR BOARD TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIGH VALUES AND IMPROVE THE ODDS ARE IN CLIMATE WHILE NAVIGATING THE DISCOMFORT OF NECESSARY CHANGE. YOU HAVE REMAINED UNEASILY SATISFIED, AND REFUSED TO SETTLE. YOU'VE INTENTIONALLY REJECTED A VISIONARY FUTURE FOR THE DISTRICT. YOU SACRIFICE COUNTLESS HOURS OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL AND FAMILY TIMES TO INVEST SELFLESSLY IN THE WORK OF REVITALIZING USD. ABOVE ALL, YOU HAVE BEEN PATIENT. YOU HAVE REFUSED TO ACCEPT A NATURAL COURSE FOR THINGS TO MATERIALIZE. YOU LEAD WITH THE SAME MODEL YOUR LIFE, THERE IS NO TIME AT THE PRESENT. YOU CAME IN LIKE A SHOOTING STAR, WAS TRAVELING AT A VERY HIGH SPEED, PRODUCING PROFOUND FRICTION AND DRAG AGAINST THE PROVERBIAL STAGNANT AIR MOLECULES OF OUR OPERATING PROCEDURES. YOU FUNCTION LIKE A MEDIATOR, CREATING HEAT, BURNING OFF THE CHEMICALS OF DATA POLICIES AND SYSTEMIC POLICIES AND ARCHAIC PRACTICES, WHAT WE CAN BECOME IT JUXTAPOSED ABOUT AGAINST WHAT WE'VE BEEN, STOKING FIRES NEEDED TO BURN OFF FUTILE PURSUITS. COMPELLED OUR BOARD TO BE THE NECESSARY FORCE THAT ONLY CAUSED OUR VELOCITY TO CHANGE, AND NOW AS YOU PASSED THE MENTAL AND OUR NEXT FORWARD THINKING PRESIDENT THE GIFT OF MOMENTUM. FORMER PRESIDENT CRIHFIELD CAN YOU ARE A SEWER SOWING SEEDS IN FERTILE GROUND , IN COLLABORATION AND BLESSING WITH YOUR WIFE AMANDA, YOU WRANGLED YOUR RESTLESS SPIRIT AND TETHERED YOUR PASSION AND INTENTIONALITY. FUEL TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR YOUR
[01:00:01]
DAUGHTERS, YOU GAZED AT A LANDSCAPE THAT WOULD DEFINE THEIR FUTURES AND REALIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND CONSTRAINTS THEY COULD POTENTIALLY FEEL IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT YOU CALLED HOME. TRUE TO YOUR NATURE AS A PROTECTIVE FATHER SEEKING THE BEST FOR YOUR OWN CHILDREN, YOU RAN FOR SCHOOL BOARD. THEN, DESPITE YOUR VALIANT EFFORTS AND OUR VALIANT EFFORTS, AND YOUR PURE HEART, YOU LOST. YOU EASILY COULD HAVE JUST WALKED AWAY, BUT YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU COULD DO FOR YOUR OWN CHILDREN COULD BENEFIT OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN AS WELL. YOU LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES, COURSE CORRECTED, AND RAN AGAIN, AND THIS TIME YOU WON. THAT LED US TO TWO YEARS LATER, TONIGHT, TO MOMENTARILY SAVOR THE SOBERING REALITY OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, WHAT YOU STARTED HAS APPLICATIONS THAT WILL SPEND DECADES INTO THE FUTURE THAT YOU WILL NOT BE HERE TO DIRECT, AND IN SOME JUNCTURE WON'T EVEN BE ON EARTH TO SEE. THAT'S THE BIGGEST LEGACY, EXCEEDING IN THE PRESIDENT, ADOLESCENT THOSE WHO DID IT. TONIGHT, AS YOU MUSICAL CHAIR AWAY FROM THE CENTER, IT'S RIGHT THAT WE PAUSE TO CELEBRATE YOU AND YOUR LIFE ARE BEST, WHICH IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO ALL OF US AND OUR PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE AS WELL. BEYOND THE WORDS, WE HAVE A COMMEMORATIVE GIFT COMMISSIONED BY OUR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, LISA AZEVEDO, WHO ASKED IF WE COULD CREATE SOMETHING SENTIMENTAL AND TIMELESS. SHE WROTE THE MOST MEMORABLE GIFTS COME FROM THE STENTS WE SERVE, BUT YOUR FINGER PENS ARE NOT JUST ON THE FEATURES OF OUR STUDENTS, THEY ARE ALSO OVER OUR STAFF LIVES AS WELL. WE CREATED A GIFT FIRST WITH YOUR OWN CHILDREN, THEN WE INVITED OTHER PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE FINGERPRINTS TO LEAVE SOME BEHIND FOR YOU AS WELL, BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T BE US WITHOUT YOU. AS YOU STEP BACK, BUT NOT AWAY, WE WANT TO REMIND YOU AND COMMISSION OUR NEXT PRESIDENT AND GOVERNING BOARD, AND OUR DISTRICT OFFICE TO CONTINUE TO ASPIRE TO INCOMPARABLE GREATNESS AND INTENTIONALITY, TO WORK TO BE THE KIND OF LEADERS WHO PLANT TREES UNDER WHOSE SHADE YOU NEVER EXPECT TO SIT.>> THANK YOU, DR. ROBINSON, FOR DOING THAT, THAT'S AMAZING.
MR. CRIHFIELD, IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, OR ANY COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
>> ALL RIGHT, THERE'S NOTHING I COULD REALLY SAY THAT DR.
ROBINSON DIDN'T SAY, AND SHE'S ALWAYS SO ELOQUENT, AND ALWAYS SPEAKS SO BEAUTIFULLY. WHEN I HEAR HER SPEAK, I REALIZED I DIDN'T PUT NEARLY AS MUCH EFFORT INTO WHAT I PREPARED, AS I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY HERE. AND GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR THE BAND, THAT WAS AMAZING. OKAY, SO, I WROTE SOME STUFF DOWN.
AMY ALWAYS TELLS ME YOU SPEAK WAY BETTER WHEN YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO SCRIPT YOURSELF, AND SHE'S USUALLY RIGHT. I WROTE THIS DOWN. THERE IS A SAYING THAT STUCK IN MY HEAD, BEING HUMBLE ISN'T THINKING LESS OF YOURSELF, IT'S THINKING OF YOURSELF LESS. SECOND TO BECOMING A HUSBAND AND A FATHER, THIS ROLE HAS AMENDED SO MUCH OF MY ATTENTION, ENERGY, AND MY EFFORT. BECAUSE OF THIS, I SHOULD HAVE USED
[01:05:18]
CHET GPT. THIS ROLE HAS HUMBLED ME, BECAUSE I HAVE SO MUCH ATTENTION ON OUR DISTRICT, OUR TEACHERS, AND OUR STUDENTS, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS PROFOUNDLY CHANGED THE WAY I SEE WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS ALL ABOUT. AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME, SOME OF YOU SAID IT'S NIGHT, ANY RECOGNITION TONIGHT, I LOVE THIS STUFF, I HAVE FUN DOING THIS, I REALLY DO ENJOY THIS. I ENJOY BOARD MEETINGS. LAST NIGHT, EVEN THOUGH DAN KEPT TALKING, I WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME. THE RECOGNITION AND THANKS, ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATED IT WITH ALL MY HEART, EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID, THE COST THAT IS PAID FOR ME BEING ABLE TO DO THIS IS PAID BY MY AMAZING WIFE, AMANDA, AND MY CHILDREN, TORI, AND BROOKLYN. THEY DIDN'T CHOOSE THIS, BUT THEY ARE THE ONES WHO REALLY GET A LITTLE BIT LESS OF THAT, A LITTLE BIT LESS OF A DAD. I TRY TO DO WHAT I CAN TO MAKE SURE I'M PRESENT IN THEIR LIVES AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY I POSSIBLY CAN, BUT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT PAY THE COST, AND ALL I CAN DO IS HAVE FAITH AND NO THAT I BELIEVE SO STRONGLY IN THE WORK THAT WE ALL DO ON THIS BOARD, AND THE WORK THAT WE GET DONE WITH OUR AMAZING STAFF, THAT IT'S FOR THEIR BENEFITS. AND I DON'T SERVE ON THIS BOARD FOR JUST MY OWN CHILDREN, BUT KNOWING EVERY DECISION WE MAKE, I PICTURE MY OWN CHILDREN GOING THROUGH THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT DRIVES ME TO DO EVEN MORE THAN I WOULD POSSIBLY DO, TO BUILD THEM A BETTER SCHOOL EXPERIENCE, MORE OPPORTUNITY, AND TO BUILD A BETTER COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, AND I'M PROUD OF THE WORK WE GOT DONE THIS PAST YEAR, AND THE WORK AMY STEWART IS GOING TO DRIVE US FOR TORTS, I'M SO EXCITED TO HAVE MARINA CINTRON JOIN OUR TEAM. I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH THESE AMAZING, STRONG WOMEN, WHO ARE A DRIVING FORCE FOR WHAT IS NEXT FOR THIS DISTRICT. WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO, BUT I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IT, SO THINK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO STANDING AND BEING RECOGNIZED, ESPECIALLY WHEN DAVID IS MAKING FACES THE WHOLE TIME. BUT I LOVE EVERYONE WHO CAME HERE TONIGHT, I WANT TO THANK MY DAD, BY THE DOOR, HE'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST ONE OUT OF HERE. AND OUR TEACHERS, EVERYBODY HERE, I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS FOR COMING OUT , OUR CITY COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVES, EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE TONIGHT, I APPRECIATE YOU, I LOVE YOU, ONWARD AND FORWARD, THANK YOU.CRIHFIELD . I JUST WANT TO SAY HE DID BETTER WHEN HE JUST IMPROVISED AND DIDN'T READ THE SCRIPT COME HE DOESN'T READ SCRIPTS WELL. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR MENTOR SHIP, WATCHING YOU FOR THE LAST YEAR, THAT WAS AMAZING. WHEN WE STARTED TO RUN OUR CAMPAIGNS, BRAD WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE THAT WAS REALLY NICE TO ME, I BECAME REALLY GOOD FRIENDS, I LOVE HIM AND HIS FAMILY COME YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING. I'M THANKFUL THAT HE PUTS IN SO MUCH TIME, YOU GUYS SEE IT.
I'M VERY TANK FULL ON BEHALF OF OUR COLLEAGUES, WE
[6. CONSENT AGENDA]
APPRECIATE YOU A LOT. YES. SO, WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM.COLLEAGUES, WE NEED TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, CERTIFICATE OF SIGNATURES, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE AND RATIFY THE CERTIFICATION OF SIGNATURES, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 13, 2024. CAN I GET A MOTION,
[01:10:08]
ADJOURNED AT 713 P.M., WITH THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2025, THANK YOU. AND WE INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN US OUTSIDE, TO CELEBRATE OUR NEWLY SWORN IN MEMBERS, JOIN US FOR TACOS AND* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.