Aug 19, 2025 School Board

[1. CALL TO ORDER IN PUBLIC SESSION]

[00:00:03]

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:30 P.M.

AND OPEN SESSION. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MISS ARMSTRONG.

PRESENT. MISS CINTRON. PRESENT. MR. CRITCHFIELD.

PRESENT. MRS. GARZA, PRESENT. MISS STEWART HERE TONIGHT.

WE DO NOT HAVE REQUESTS ADDRESSING CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NO.

[3. CLOSED SESSION]

OPEN SESSION WILL RESUME AT APPROXIMATELY 6 P.M..

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

IN OPEN SESSION. THE BOARD THEN ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION AND WILL NOW RECONVENE THE MEETING IN OPEN SESSION AT 6 P.M..

BOARD CLERK CRITCHFIELD WILL UPDATE US ON CLOSED SESSION TOPICS.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION WERE ANTICIPATED.

LITIGATION. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE, LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, AND SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION IN CLOSED SESSION.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE RESIGNATION AGREEMENT WITH EMPLOYEE NUMBER 05357.

IT WAS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ONE OF OUR MAYFAIR STUDENTS LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, MISS VANESSA PEREZ. THANK YOU.

YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT TO HIT THE BUTTON. SET THE BUTTON.

PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. READY? BEGIN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

PLEASE BE SEATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT.

DO WE HAVE ANY REPLACEMENT PAGES TONIGHT? WE DO NOT FOR PRESIDENT STEWART.

DO WE HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA? WE DO NOT.

BOARD PRESIDENT STUART. ALL RIGHT. WE DO NOT HAVE EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS TONIGHT.

SO SUPERINTENDENT SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT. DOCTOR SIMON, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE WHO IS HERE.

[8. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]

ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 8TH, WE CONVENED OUR ANNUAL ADVANCE AT THE MAIN IN BELLFLOWER, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 180 MANAGEMENT STAFF MEMBERS. OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, DOCTOR RYAN SMITH, FACILITATED A COMPELLING DISCUSSION DISCUSSION FEATURING FOUR STUDENT PANELISTS FROM MAYFAIR, BELLFLOWER, LAS FLORES AND SOMERSET.

THEY ACTUALLY STOLE THE SHOW. THEY WERE AMAZING.

THE STUDENTS ARTICULATED THEIR ASPIRATIONS AND NEEDS, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF FEELING VALUED AND HEARD WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS.

THE EVENT CONCLUDED WITH MY PRESENTATION OF THE VISION AND AN OUTLINE OF MY 100 DAY PLAN, DURING WHICH I ENGAGE IN ATTENDEES AND CABINET MEMBERS IN AN EXERCISE DESIGNED TO MODEL EXCELLENCE FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR.

ON MONDAY, AUGUST 11TH, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR RYAN SMITH AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DOCTOR SHANTE KNOX HOSTED A BREAKFAST FOR NEW TEACHERS IN THIS ROOM THE BOARDROOM. THIS EVENT WAS BOTH EXHILARATING AND INSTRUMENTAL IN ORIENTING OUR NEW TEACHERS, FOSTERING CONNECTIONS AMONG TEACHERS, AND PROMOTING ENGAGEMENT WITH DISTRICT STAFF.

THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND SPECIAL GUESTS WHO ATTENDED THIS EVENT.

ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 12TH, WE HELD OUR ALL DISTRICT STAFF BREAKFAST AT THE BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM.

I EXTENDED MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE BOARD FOR ORCHESTRATING AN EXCEPTIONAL EVENT.

I ALSO WANTED TO EXPRESS OR WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO CONTRIBUTED, PARTICIPATED, AND PLAYED A ROLE IN MAKING THIS EVENT SUCCESSFUL.

ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE AMAZING DOCTOR VICTOR RIOS FOR DELIVERING A POWERFUL AND IMPACTFUL MESSAGE TO OUR STAFF.

SHARING HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF HOW ONE TEACHER RECOGNIZED HIS POTENTIAL AND POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE TRAJECTORY OF HIS LIFE. THEN ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 17TH, THIS PAST SATURDAY, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSE SALAZAR JR AS HE WELCOMED RESIDENTS, LOCAL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO HIS NEW DISTRICT OFFICE IN PARAMOUNT.

FOR A CELEBRATORY OPEN HOUSE. THE EVENT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ASSEMBLYMEN ASSEMBLY MEMBER TO CONNECT WITH CONSTITUENTS,

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FROM ENGAGING CONVERSATIONS TO SHARE GOALS. THE OPEN HOUSE REFLECTED THE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE INCLUSIVE CALIFORNIA FOR ALL AND I PERSONALLY JUST LOVE HIS HEARTY LAUGH.

HIS AMAZING SPIRIT. AND IT WAS REALLY A PLEASURE NOT JUST BEING WITH HIM, BUT ALSO WITH COMMUNITY AS WELL.

AND THEN ON YESTERDAY, OUR AMAZING FIRST DAY ON AUGUST 18TH, WE WELCOMED OUR STUDENTS BACK TO BELLFLOWER, TO THE BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT WAS SO INSPIRING TO SEE PARENTS.

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I SAW MANY HAPPY PARENTS.

I ALSO SAW MANY PARENTS WHO ARE WIPING AWAY TEARS, WHO ARE DROPPING OFF THEIR T CARS AND ALSO THEIR KINDERGARTNERS WHO ARE NERVOUS AND HAD SOME ANXIETY. AND I REMEMBER HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS PULLING OVER.

I THINK SOME PARENTS WERE LIKE, WHO IS THIS WOMAN? THIS WOMAN JUST PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE, HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH ME.

BUT I WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH MANY OF OUR PARENTS TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND ASSURE THEM THAT THEIR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE SAFE AND TAUGHT WELL WHILE BEING WITH US.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS AGAIN FOR TRUSTING US WITH YOUR CHILDREN.

AND ALSO, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS IN THE AUDIENCE, TO MY FORMER COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE.

THANK YOU TO MISS SPARKLE PETERSON AND ALSO TO DOCTOR MARYBETH MURRAY FOR BEING HERE, WHO ALSO RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO IN SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY FOR BELLFLOWER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WELL.

AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MY VOICE. I THINK I HAD A CHILI PEPPER JALAPENO AND IT'S GETTING THE BEST OF ME.

SO COMMUNITY, I'M SO SORRY IF I FEEL LIKE I'M MUMBLING SOME WORDS.

I'M NOT GETTING SOME WORDS OUT WITH THE PROJECTION THAT IS NEEDED.

MY DEEPEST APOLOGY FOR THAT, BUT I AM TRULY EXCITED FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AS WELL. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. DOCTOR SIMON, ARE THERE ANY COMMITTEE UPDATES?

[9. COMMITTEE UPDATES]

AND AS WE PLAN FOR THE YEAR, I WILL SHARE RELEVANT INFORMATION WITH YOU AS I GET IT.

OKAY. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY OTHER COMMITTEE UPDATES? ALL RIGHT. GOING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS TONIGHT.

[10. PUBLIC COMMENTS: AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM.

MY NAME IS LUCIO AYALA. I'M HERE TODAY AS A DEEPLY CONCERNED PARENT, PTA LEADER, AND ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS OF REMOTE ELEMENTARY.

I WANT TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE TWO FOURTH GRADE CLASSROOMS CURRENTLY HOLDING 36 STUDENTS.

FIRST, I ASK OUR CLASSROOMS IN OUR DISTRICT CAPPED AT 34 STUDENTS.

IF SO, WHY ARE THESE CLASSES EXCEEDING THE LIMIT? AND EVEN IF AT 34 IS A CAP. IS THAT NOT ALREADY TOO HIGH? ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES, LEARNING DELAYS, AND TRAUMA RELATED NEEDS. 36 STUDENTS IN ONE CLASSROOM IS NOT JUST A NUMBER.

IT'S A CRISIS. IT'S A CRISIS FOR LEARNING, FOR SAFETY, AND FOR THE WELL-BEING OF BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN THESE OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS, INDIVIDUALS INSTRUCTED IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. STUDENTS WHO NEED SUPPORT FALL BEHIND, AND THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY ARE READY TO BE CHALLENGED ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

TEACHERS ARE STRETCHED BEYOND CAPACITY, MANAGING MORE THAN DELIVERING INSTRUCTION.

THIS IS NOT EQUITY. THIS IS NOT EXCELLENCE. THIS IS WHAT OUR CHILDREN DO NOT DESERVE.

WHAT ABOUT SAFETY? THESE CLASSROOMS INCLUDE STUDENTS WITH SEVERE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.

SOME HAVE MADE THREATS TO HARM, OTHERS, KILL OTHERS, AND EVEN HAVE BROUGHT WEAPONS TO SCHOOL.

THIS IS REAL. IT'S TERRIFYING. AND NO CHILD SHOULD BE FELT UNSAFE IN THEIR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

NO TEACHER SHOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TEACHING AND PROTECTING THEIR STUDENTS. IN FACT, THIS VIOLENCE HAS DIRECTLY IMPACTED THE TEACHER'S ABILITY TO TEACH HER CLASS.

INSTRUCT. INSTRUCTION WAS CONSTANTLY DISRUPTED AND EMOTIONAL TOLL ON BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF IS GROWING.

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I ASKED THE BOARD DIRECTLY WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, BECAUSE WHERE I STAND, I DO NOT FEEL THAT RAMONA OR B USD IS ADEQUATELY SUPPORTING MY CHILD'S LEARNING AND GROWTH.

I AM NOT ACTIVELY LOOKING. I AM NOW ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR REMOVING MY SON FROM THE SCHOOL, AND POSSIBLY FROM THE DISTRICT ALTOGETHER, TO AVOID FURTHER LEARNING GAPS AND EMOTIONAL HARM.

OTHER CONCERNS IS THE DISPARITIES IN SCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT.

THE FIRST ONE WHY DON'T WE HAVE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ANYMORE? WE HAD ONE FOR TWO DAYS. NOW SHE'S FULL TIME AT ANOTHER SCHOOL.

DO WE FEEL THAT ONE PRINCIPAL HAS A CAPACITY TO OVERSEE OVER 400 STUDENTS AS WELL AS THE STAFF? THAT'S A QUESTION FOR A YOUR BOARD. THE SECOND ONE.

RPMS CONDUCTED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE TO ENSURE SCHOOL GROUNDS ARE UP TO CODE AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED.

RAMONA ELEMENTARY IS RIGHT ACROSS THE DISTRICT OFFICE, YET IT FEELS LIKE IT'S THE MOST NEGLECTED SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT.

ARE YOU AWARE THAT THE GATE IS INOPERABLE? IT MUST BE MANUALLY PUSHED WHILE IT SITS OFF TRACK.

ONE OF THE WHEELS IS ALSO MISSING AND IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR YEARS.

STAFF HAS TO USE TOOLS TO PHYSICALLY KNOCK THE GATE BACK INTO PLACE, JUST TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT.

THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR STAFF.

MOST OTHER STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT HAVE AUTOMATIC FUNCTIONING GATES AND THIS IS WHY RAMONA.

SO WHY IS RAMONA LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE BEING NEGLECTED? WHAT SYSTEMS DOES THE DISTRICT HAVE IN PLACE TO MAINTAIN SCHOOL FACILITIES AND ENSURE TIMELY REPAIRS, UPGRADES AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE? THE DISPARITIES BETWEEN SCHOOL IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE VISIBLE AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

I SERVE AS A I HAVE SERVED AS A PTA PRESIDENT FOR TWO YEARS, AND NOW I'M A SECRETARY.

AND I AM AS INVOLVED AS I CAN BE AS A SINGLE MOTHER WORKING FULL TIME BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT AT WHAT COST? IF YOU COULD JUST MAYBE LESS THAN A MINUTE.

GO AHEAD AND FINISH UP. THANK YOU. AS ONE INDIVIDUAL, I'VE DONE MORE AS A VOLUNTEER THAN I HAVE SEEN FROM TRUSTED DISTRICT LEADERS, AND THIS IS HEARTBREAKING. I URGE THE BOARD TO TAKE ME TO ACTION, REDUCE CLASS SIZES, PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT, REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SCHOOL FACILITIES, AND ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS TO A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

OUR CHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER. OUR TEACHERS DESERVE BETTER, AND SO DOES OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

DOCTOR SIMON SHE LEFT HER PHONE NUMBER ON THIS, SO IF WE COULD FOLLOW UP AND MAYBE JUST GET US SOMETHING ON THE FRIDAY MEMO ABOUT NUMBERS.

I KNOW AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH REORGANIZATION, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET THAT ANYWAYS. BUT IF WE CAN CHECK ON THAT, CHECK ON THE GATE AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE BROUGHT UP, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. CAN WE GET NATALIE LEMUS? THANK YOU, NATALIE, FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS NATALIE LEMOS, AND I AM THE MOTHER OF TWO STUDENTS AT RAMONA ELEMENTARY.

I AM HERE BECAUSE OF DEEP CONCERN REGARDING SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES MY NINE YEAR OLD SON HAS EXPERIENCED DUE TO REPEATED VIOLENT BEHAVIOR OF A CLASSMATE.

ON APRIL 4TH, MY SON'S CLASSMATE BROUGHT A KNIFE TO SCHOOL.

WHILE IN CLASS, HE TOLD MY SON HE HAD IT IN HIS BACKPACK AND INTENDED TO STAB TWO STUDENTS WITH IT AND THAT, AND THEN SAID, I'M GOING TO USE IT ON YOU SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S REAL.

UNDERSTANDABLY SHAKEN, MY SON IMMEDIATELY TOLD HIS TEACHER.

THE BACKPACK WAS SEARCHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE STUDENT WAS REMOVED FROM SCHOOL FOR THREE WEEKS.

MY SON WAS SO SCARED THAT HE CONFIDED IN HIS SISTER AFTERWARD, ONLY TO BE REPRIMANDED BY THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR SPEAKING ABOUT IT WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER THE CLASS MAY RETURNED ON MAY 12TH, THE SAME STUDENT DESCRIBED IN GRAPHIC DETAIL HOW HE PLANNED TO SHOOT BOTH HIS TEACHER AND MY SON WITH A GLOCK. I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT TO HEAR, BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT THIRD GRADERS HAD TO HEAR THIS.

ANOTHER POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BY THE SCHOOL AND THE STUDENT WAS AGAIN REMOVED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

DESPITE THESE TWO EXTREMELY SERIOUS INCIDENTS, IN JUST OVER A MONTH, THE STUDENT HAS NOW RETURNED TO SCHOOL.

THIS IS ALARMING GIVEN THE NATURE AND SEVERITY OF THE THREATS.

IN BOTH INSTANCES, MY SON WAS SPECIFICALLY TARGETED.

HE IS NOW FEARFUL TO ATTEND SCHOOL, HAS NIGHTMARES, AND NO LONGER FEELS SAFE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE HE THRIVES.

HE ONCE AGAIN SPOKE WITH THE COUNSELOR AND INSTEAD OF BEING SUPPORTIVE, SHE INSTILLED MORE FEAR IN HIM BY TELLING HIM NOT TO BRING UP THE INCIDENT TO THE CLASSMATE SO AS TO NOT TRIGGER HIM. I'M SURE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THIS MADE IT AN EVEN MORE FRIGHTENING SITUATION.

I KNOW SOME OF THE DESCRIPTIVE. I'M SORRY. WHEN A STUDENT GOES THROUGH SOMETHING THAT'S TRAUMATIC.

THE SCHOOL HAVING SOMEONE TRAINED THAT THE STUDENT CAN FEEL SAFE AND COMFORTABLE CONFIDING IN IS IMPERATIVE.

NO CHILD SHOULD BE VICTIM BLAMED BY THEIR COUNSELOR, DESPITE THESE TWO EXTREMELY SERIOUS INCIDENTS IN JUST OVER A MONTH.

[00:15:02]

I MUST ALSO ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHT OF MY CHILD AND EVERY CHILD TO FEEL SAFE AT SCHOOL.

ALLOWING A STUDENT WHO HAS MADE REPEATED THREATS OF LETHAL VIOLENCE BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM WITHOUT TRANSPARENT SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE, PLACES MY CHILD AND OTHERS AT RISK. FOR THESE REASONS, I AM RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING A WRITTEN SAFETY PLAN THAT DETAILS HOW THE SCHOOL WILL PROTECT MY SON AND OTHERS FROM FURTHER THREATS OR HARM.

ALSO, CONSIDERATION OF WHETHER IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE STUDENT TO REMAIN ON CAMPUS AT THIS TIME, GIVEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF HIS ACTIONS AND FINALLY, CLEAR COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS WHEN INCIDENTS INVOLVING WEAPONS OR VIOLENT THREATS OCCUR. WHEN A STUDENT GOES THROUGH SOMETHING THIS TRAUMATIC, THE SCHOOL SHOULD HOLD THE OTHER STUDENT LIABLE.

MY SON IS A BRIGHT, EMPATHETIC CHILD WHO WAS ALWAYS WHO HAS ALWAYS LOVED SCHOOL.

HE DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE IN HIS CLASSROOM AND SUPPORTED.

I URGE THE SCHOOL AND THE DISTRICT TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION SO THAT NO CHILD HAS TO ENDURE THE FEAR AND TRAUMA MY SON HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING, BECAUSE EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO GO TO SCHOOL WITHOUT FEAR.

WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH? I KNOW SOME OF THE DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION WAS DIFFICULT TO HEAR AND I SPARED YOU SOME OF THE WORST.

BUT PLEASE REMEMBER A THIRD GRADER LIVED IT AND THAT'S WHY I WAS.

I AM HERE ASKING FOR HELP AND ACTION, INCLUDING DOING BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND IF WE CONTINUE THE SAME FOLLOW UP FOR THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE NICOLE GATES.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. BOARD PRESIDENT STEWART, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT SIMON, CABINET MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY.

MY NAME IS NICOLE GATES. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN, AN 11TH GRADER AND A NINTH GRADER WHO ATTEND MAYFAIR.

I AM HERE THIS EVENING TO TALK ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT SECURITY MEASURES, MEASURES AT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SITES.

AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER THE DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE ARMED SECURITY ON THE PERIMETER OF EACH MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL SITE.

I FEEL THAT GUARDING OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL MISSES THE MARK AND DOESN'T ADDRESS THE REAL ISSUE AT OUR SCHOOLS.

AS A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN WHO ATTEND MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL.

I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE LIMITED BUDGET OUR DISTRICT HAS BE USED FOR SECURITY ON CAMPUS.

THERE HAS BEEN MANY INCIDENCES OF BULLYING, FIGHTING AND VAPING IN THE BATHROOMS. I WANT MORE SECURITY INSIDE THE CAMPUS SO STUDENTS FEEL SAFE USING THE BATHROOM OR WALKING AROUND SCHOOL.

MAYFAIR HAS TRIED TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEM OF FIGHTING AND VAPING IN THE BATHROOM BY CLOSING CERTAIN BATHROOMS, DUE TO THE LACK OF SECURITY ON CAMPUS. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THE ACCESSIBILITY TO BATHROOMS FOR STUDENTS.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, MY SON WAS TRYING TO USE A BATHROOM IN THE STEAM BUILDING.

TWO BATHROOM FACILITIES WERE CLOSED. THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WITHIN THIS SCHOOL SCHOOL YEAR THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.

HAVING ARMED SECURITY OUTSIDE MAYFAIR DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUES ON CAMPUS.

WE NEED MORE SECURITY ON CAMPUS TO LIMIT THE FIGHTING, BULLYING AND VAPING.

HAVING MORE SECURITY WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR MORE BATHROOMS TO BE OPEN.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT WITH OUR LIMITED BUDGET. MORE ON CAMPUS SECURITY TO MAKE OUR STUDENTS FEEL SECURE ON CAMPUS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE JULIANA RUSEDSKI.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AGAIN. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT SIMON.

SCHOOL BOARD, CABINET AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JULIANA, AND I'M A FRESHMAN AT MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL AND PROUD PTSA STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY AT OUR SCHOOL, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO BULLYING, FIGHTS, VAPING AND BATHROOM CONDITIONS. I'VE SEEN TIMES WHEN STUDENTS DON'T FEEL SAFE AT SCHOOL.

BULLYING AND FIGHTS SOMETIMES OCCUR IN PLACES WHERE STUDENTS ARE VULNERABLE.

VAPING AND VAPING IN THE BATHROOMS ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF CONCERN.

THE SMELL AND DISCOMFORT CAN MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR STUDENTS TO EVEN USE THE BATHROOMS, WHICH AFFECTS OUR ABILITY TO FOCUS ON LEARNING AND FEEL SECURE IN OUR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

WHILE SOME MAY SUGGEST ARMED SECURITY AS A SOLUTION, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

STUDENTS MIGHT FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE OR ANXIOUS, AND IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE SAFETY ISSUES.

INSTEAD, I BELIEVE THAT BETTER VAPING DETECTION, ALONG WITH PROPER TRAINING FOR STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE OFTEN THE ONES INTERVENING

[00:20:02]

AS A STUDENT, I WANT TO FOCUS ON LEARNING AND ACHIEVING MY GOALS WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT SAFETY, ABOUT SAFETY OR UNCOMFORTABLE CONDITIONS. EVERY STUDENT DESERVES TO BE DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE, RESPECTED AND SUPPORTED AT SCHOOL. I KNOW YOU ALL WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR SCHOOLS, STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND I TRULY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO. BUT AS A KID, LISTENING, LISTENING AND WATCHING ALL YOU ADULTS IN THE DAIS, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT AS YOU DISCUSS THESE ISSUES, THE BOARD CAN DO IT CAN DO SO IN A SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION AND MUTUAL RESPECT.

WE NEED A PLACE OF PEACE AND TEAMWORK TO FIND REAL SOLUTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS.

I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL TAKE THESE ISSUES SERIOUSLY AND AND HELP MAKE ALL BEST SCHOOLS PLACES WHERE STUDENTS CAN LEARN, GROW, AND FEEL TRULY SAFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE MARISSA PEREZ.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M NOT TAKING AWAY MY GLASSES.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARISA PEREZ, AND I'M A PARENT OF THREE MAYFAIR STUDENTS, A 2024 GRADUATE, A CURRENT 12TH GRADER, AND A 10TH GRADER.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CHANGES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS MADE SINCE 2020.

I AM IMPRESSED BY THE DETAILED DISCUSSIONS, TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATIONS THE DISTRICT AND SCHOOL BOARD HAVE FOSTERED ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC.

WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROPOSED SECURITY MEASURES IN BLACK KNIGHTS SECURITY SERVICES.

FIRST, THE SURVEY RESULTS PRESENTED DO NOT APPEAR TO REFLECT THE FULL SPECTRUM OF COMMUNITY VOICES.

ONLY 607 PEOPLE RESPONDED. ENGAGING A BROADER RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS, WILL ENSURE THAT THE DISTRICT'S DECISIONS REFLECT THE DIVERSE NEEDS AND PERSPECTIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

ADDITIONAL PARENT AND STUDENT OUTREACH COULD BE DONE AT BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS, SCHOOL, CLUB RUSH AND WITHIN THE CLASSROOMS. ANOTHER TOOL BESIDES THE SURVEY NEEDS TO BE USED TO INCREASE RESPONSE DURING MAY 1ST SUMMER SCHOOL, I WITNESSED A CONCERNING INCIDENT INVOLVING RESTROOM MISUSE.

I SAW APPROXIMATELY 20 MALE STUDENTS EXIT THE RESTROOM IN A RUSH, FOLLOWED BY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL MR. TEHRANI ENTERING THE FACILITY TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

MY SON EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY WERE LIKELY VAPING INSIDE.

THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE URGENT NEED FOR HALO DEVICES AND ADDITIONAL SUPERVISION TO MONITOR AND DETER SUCH BEHAVIOR IN SUCH SPACES.

I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE PRESENCE OF ARMED PERSONNEL ON THE PERIMETERS OF CAMPUS.

THE PRESENCE OF ARMED PERSONNEL MAY INADVERTENTLY CREATE ANXIETY AMONG STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. AS A PARENT, I'M ESPECIALLY CONCERNED FOR THE YOUNG BLACK AND LATINO MALES AT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

COMMUNITY INPUT IS ESSENTIAL. BEFORE IMPLEMENTING SUCH MEASURES, I ALSO LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM MAYFAIR, AND I DO NOT WANT A SECURITY GUARD WITH A GUN ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOME.

I URGE THE BOARD TO PROVIDE A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF PROJECTED COST AND FUNDING SOURCES FOR BOTH ARMED AND UNARMED SECURITY PERSONNEL, AND THE OTHER SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED.

THIS IS MISSING FROM THE BOARD REPORT TODAY. COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING SHOULD BE MANDATORY FOR ALL SECURITY STAFF AND RELEVANT PERSONNEL, AND NEEDS TO BE PRIORITIZED BY THE DISTRICT. THIS TRAINING SHOULD INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES, TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE INTERVENTION.

THESE MEASURES WILL HELP ENSURE THAT SECURITY PERSONNEL ARE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE COMPLEX SITUATIONS WITH EMPATHY AND PROFESSIONALISM.

AS AN EMPLOYEE OF LA METRO. I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEMS AT OUR RAIL STATIONS.

WHILE EFFECTIVE, THESE SYSTEMS REQUIRE DEDICATED STAFF FOR MONITORING, WHICH SHOULD BE FACTORED INTO THE DISTRICT'S PLANNING AND FUNDING.

PROPER STAFFING AND MAINTENANCE ARE CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF SUCH SYSTEMS, AND HAVE A METRO HANDOFF FOR EACH OF YOU TO REVIEW.

IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO MAKE THESE COMMENTS.

THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS MUST REMAIN THE TOP PRIORITY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE DIALOG AND COLLABORATION TO ENSURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE, SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE VANESSA PEREZ.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. VANESSA.

HELLO. MY NAME IS VANESSA PEREZ, AND I'M A 10TH GRADER AT MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE SECURITY AT MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL. TO BEGIN WITH, I WOULD LIKE TO

[00:25:03]

CONSIDERING THIS WILL DEEPLY AND DIRECTLY AFFECT THE STUDENTS, I THINK THAT YOU AS A BOARD SHOULD DO MORE TO TO SORRY, SHOULD DO MORE TO GET STUDENTS OPINIONS ON SAFETY AND SECURITY AS WE ARE THE ONES WHO WILL BE INTERACTING WITH THE NEW SECURITY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT PARENTS ARE SURVEYED, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PARENTS DON'T HAVE TIME TO COMPLETE A SURVEY, WHILE OTHERS DO. HOWEVER, SURVEYS ARE TYPICALLY A AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO REACH STUDENTS.

UNFORTUNATELY, MOST STUDENTS AND I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN JUST BLOW THEM OFF AND RANDOMLY SELECT RESPONSES.

HOWEVER, WHAT I FEEL BE MORE EFFECTIVE IS TO HAVE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS, PRINCIPALS, AND COUNSELORS VISIT EACH CLASSROOM AND ACTUALLY TALK TO STUDENTS AND EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT THE DISTRICT IS CONSIDERING. FROM THERE, YOU COULD HAVE THEM COMPLETE THE SURVEY, BUT THEY WILL NOW HAVE THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO PROPERLY GIVE INPUT. I FEEL THAT BY HAVING A PRESENTATION INSTEAD, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO MORE EASILY UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION AND HAVE A LARGER INPUT ON THE DECISIONS THAT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT THEM.

SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT I AM OPPOSED TO THE ARMED SECURITY WITHIN MAYFAIR OR OUTSIDE OF OUR SCHOOL.

AS SOMEONE WHO WALKS A SCHOOL EVERY DAY, I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE OR WANT A PERSON WITH A GUN OUTSIDE OF MY SCHOOL.

LAST SCHOOL YEAR, YOU MAY RECALL THAT THERE WAS AN UNDERCOVER LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH A GUN ON MAY 1ST CAMPUS.

I CAN TELL YOU FROM DIRECT EXPERIENCE THAT STUDENTS WERE CONFUSED AND ALARMED AS NO ONE KNEW THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING.

AND BECAUSE IT'S VERY SCARY TO BE TOLD THAT A PERSON ON YOUR CAMPUS HAS A GUN.

THIS DID NOT MAKE ANY OF US FEEL SAFER. THIRDLY, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TRAINING FOR THE CURRENT CAMPUS SECURITY.

AGAIN, FROM EXPERIENCE, I HAVE SEEN TEACHERS BE THE ONES TO BREAK UP FIGHTS.

THESE TEACHERS ALL DAY, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE RUNNING, WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE FIGHTS BEFORE SECURITY DID.

THIS IS WHY I BELIEVE THAT MAYBE SOME OF OUR STAFF NEED TO UPDATE THEIR SKILLS TO BETTER ADDRESS THE FIGHTS THAT OCCUR.

THE SECURITY GUARDS TAKE TOO LONG TO GET THERE AND THEY DON'T DE-ESCALATE IT FAST ENOUGH.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND SYLVIA JONES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT SIMON CABINET AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SYLVIA JONES. MY SON IS AN 11TH GRADER AT MAYFAIR, AND I ALSO HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, ONE WHO GRADUATED FROM MAYFAIR IN 2023 AND ANOTHER WHO GRADUATED FROM BELLFLOWER THIS PAST JUNE.

I LISTENED TO THE BOARD'S RECENT DISCUSSION ON SCHOOL SAFETY.

MANY OF THE ISSUES RAISED ARE THE SAME ONES MY CHILDREN HAVE EXPERIENCED.

THESE PROBLEMS HAVE EXISTED FOR YEARS WITHOUT MEANINGFUL CHANGE, AND THEY CONTINUE TO AFFECT STUDENTS AT BOTH SCHOOLS.

I WANT TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE. MY MAIN CONCERNS AS A PARENT ARE SIMPLE.

STUDENTS SHOULD FEEL SAFE USING BATHROOMS, AND THEY SHOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO COUNT ON BATHROOMS BEING OPEN AND AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED.

FIGHTS ON CAMPUS SHOULD BE MINIMIZED. WEAPONS SHOULD BE KEPT OFF CAMPUS.

THE PROBLEMS. THE BATHROOM PROBLEMS HAVE NOT IMPROVED IN AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS SINCE MY OLDEST BEGAN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

STUDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT VAPING, FIGHTING, BULLYING, OR LOITERING WHEN THEY NEED TO USE THE RESTROOM.

AT TIMES, BATHROOMS ARE EVEN CLOSED, LEAVING STUDENTS STRUGGLING TO FIND ONE THEY CAN USE.

INSTALLING VAPING AND NOISE DETECTORS WOULD HELP, BUT STAFF MUST ALSO RESPOND QUICKLY WHEN ALERTS GO OFF.

ANOTHER PRIORITY IS ADDING CAMERAS IN HIDDEN AREAS WHERE FIGHTS AND BULLYING OCCUR.

CAMERAS ONLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF SOMEONE IS MONITORING THEM IN REAL TIME.

REVIEWING FOOTAGE LATER MAY IDENTIFY OFFENDERS, BUT IT DOES NOT STOP INCIDENTS AS THEY HAPPEN.

I ALSO SUPPORT USING NON-INTRUSIVE WEAPON DETECTORS AT ENTRY POINTS TO PREVENT WEAPONS FROM BEING BROUGHT ON CAMPUS.

AND FINALLY, CAMPUS SECURITY STAFF NEEDS REGULAR TRAINING.

I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT HIGH SCHOOL SECURITY GUARDS HAVE NOT RECEIVED EVEN BASIC TRAINING.

ONGOING TRAINING SHOULD BE MANDATORY AND IMPLEMENTED RIGHT AWAY.

I WANT TO MENTION THE RECENT SAFETY SURVEY. THERE WERE 607 RESPONSES FROM PARENTS AND STAFF.

YET TOGETHER THEY MAKE UP OVER 15,000 PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT.

WHILE OVER 400 RESPONDENTS WERE IN FAVOR OF ARMED SECURITY, THAT STILL REPRESENTS ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

AND IMPORTANTLY, STUDENTS WERE NOT SURVEYED. I WOULD RATHER SEE MORE UNARMED, TRAINED SCHOOL SECURITY PERSONNEL INSIDE OUR SCHOOL CAMPUSES TO SUPPORT OUR CURRENT GUARDS INSTEAD OF AN UNARMED INSTEAD OF AN ARMED OFFICER POSTED OUTSIDE.

WHAT IS NEEDED IS SECURITY STAFF PRESENT WHERE STUDENTS ACTUALLY ARE.

THESE STEPS, INCLUDING BATHROOM VAPING AND NOISE DETECTORS, ADDITIONAL CAMERAS, WEAPON DETECTORS, SECURITY TRAINING, AND MORE TRAINED SECURITY PERSONNEL ON CAMPUS SHOULD BE ACTED ON IMMEDIATELY.

THEY WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT STUDENTS. COMMUNICATING THESE ACTIONS TO PARENTS WILL ALSO HELP RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

I WANT TO SEE ACTION NOW ON THE ON THE STEPS THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HELP STUDENTS FEEL SAFE EVERY SINGLE DAY ON CAMPUS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CARRIE. ARE THERE ANY MORE CARDS?

[00:30:01]

MOVING ALONG. WE DO NOT HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.

FOR TRANSPARENCY, I JUST WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT I REQUESTED THAT A PUBLIC HEARING BE HELD THIS EVENING TO ALLOW.

ADDITIONAL VOICES FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD DECLINED TO SUPPORT THAT FOR THE AGENDA.

I BELIEVE THIS DECISION FALLS SHORT OF OUR DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE SEE RIGHT UP THERE.

EVERY VOICE IS VALUED. IF WE TRULY VALUE THE INPUT OF OUR FAMILY, STUDENTS AND STAFF, WE MUST UPHOLD THAT STANDARD RATHER THAN RESTRICTED.

MOVING ALONG TO MAJOR ACTION. DOCTOR SIMON, THANK YOU.

[11. MAJOR ACTION]

THANK YOU, DOCTOR SIMON. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE DISTRICT HAS ENGAGED IN MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS REGARDING SCHOOL SAFETY.

THESE DISCUSSIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN PUBLIC MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SAFETY COMMITTEES, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND OTHER MEDIUMS. AS A RESULT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A NEED IN THE DISTRICT FOR ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES AND SEVERAL IDEAS WERE MENTIONED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

THESE INCLUDED ADDITIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL SUCH AS ARMED AND UNARMED SECURITY GUARDS.

WEAPONS DETECTORS AT ENTRANCES TO SCHOOLS. VAPE DETECTORS IN THE BATHROOMS, AND OTHER METHODS OF INCREASING SAFETY AT SCHOOL SITES.

THE DISTRICT ALSO WENT THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS FOR A SECURITY PROVIDER.

THAT PROCESS INCLUDED INTERVIEWS WITH POTENTIAL PROVIDERS BY A COMMUNITY GROUP AND PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THE ENTIRE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

ULTIMATELY, BLACK NIGHT PATROL WAS SELECTED AS A PROVIDER OF SECURITY PERSONNEL FOR THE DISTRICT.

HOWEVER, SINCE THE SELECTION OF BLACK NIGHT PATROL, NO DIRECTION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO STAFF AS TO HOW THE PROVIDER SERVICE WOULD BE USED.

AS A RESULT, A REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE TO PLACE THIS ITEM ON THE BOARD AGENDA SO AS TO ALLOW THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE DIRECTION ON THESE SERVICES CONTEMPLATED.

BLACK NIGHT PATROL PROVIDES MULTIPLE LEVELS OF SECURITY, RANGING FROM TRAINING OF DISTRICT SECURITY PERSONNEL TO ARMED SECURITY SERVICES.

GIVEN THE DISCUSSIONS OF THE BOARD EDUCATION AT THE AUGUST 7TH BOARD MEETING, A GENERAL THEME DEVELOPED THAT PUT INTO PUBLIC LIGHT THE INADEQUATE SECURITY MEASURES THE DISTRICT CURRENTLY EMPLOYS. THAT, IN TURN, CREATED A SENSE OF URGENCY IN ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS THAT HAD BEEN RAISED.

NO CONTRACT HAS YET BEEN DEVELOPED OR EXECUTED WITH BLACK NIGHT PATROL.

A PROPOSED SCOPE OF FOR THE CONTRACT WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED THAT INCLUDES ONE ARMED SECURITY GUARD ON THE PERIMETER OF BELLFLOWER AND MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOLS.

THESE SECURITY GUARDS WOULD OPERATE THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY, INCLUDING START OF SCHOOL AND END OF SCHOOL DAY.

A THIRD UNARMED SECURITY GUARD WOULD ACT AS A ROVER UNIT THAT WOULD PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY TO ALL SCHOOL SITES ON AN ADD AS NEEDED BASIS.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE SECURITY SERVICES CONTEMPLATED WOULD NOT REPLACE, REMOVE, OR INTERFERE WITH ANY RESPONSIBILITIES OR DUTIES OF CURRENT BUZZED EMPLOYEES THAT PROVIDE SECURITY SERVICES. THIS IS MEANT AS A COMPLEMENTARY SERVICE THAT SEEKS TO ENHANCE THE SECURITY CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT.

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT WOULD ALSO ESTABLISH RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE ADDITIONAL SECURITY GUARDS.

CHAIN OF COMMAND AND OTHER SUCH PROVISIONS AS IDENTIFIED BY THE DISTRICT AND LABOR PARTNERS.

THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT WITH BLACK NIGHT PATROLS, RECOMMENDED TO BE A ONE YEAR TERM SET TO EXPIRE JUNE 30TH, 2026. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE DISTRICT CAN ENGAGE IN ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION WITH COMMUNITY AND LABOR PARTNERS TO DEVELOP LONG TERM SECURITY PLANS FOR THE DISTRICT. ONCE TERMS HAVE BEEN AGREED TO BY BLACK KNIGHT AND THE DISTRICT, A CONTRACT WILL COME BACK TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

AND I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS EVENING IS NOT FOR EXECUTION OF ANY CONTRACT, SIMPLY DIRECTION TO STAFF TO DEVELOP A CONTRACT THAT WILL COME BACK BEFORE THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC WILL ONCE AGAIN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THAT CONTRACT, AND IT WILL BE POSTED ON THE AGENDA AS WELL. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? VICE PRESIDENT GARCIA. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT STEWART.

GENERAL COUNSEL. MY QUESTION IS TO YOU. DO WE NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TO ADDRESS THIS AND GIVE DIRECTION TO OUR STAFF? NO, IT'S NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

AND WE DID HAVE ONE LIKE WE DID LAST TIME WE MET.

CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION IS, I KNOW THAT BOTH POLLS THAT WE GAVE OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY THIS TIME AROUND, AND ALSO ABOUT 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO WHEN I BELIEVE DOCTOR DOHERTY WAS HERE.

THEY BOTH STATED THAT THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS DID WANT TO HAVE THE ARMED SECURITY AROUND THE PERIMETER.

HAVING HEARD THAT IF OUR BOARD DECIDES NOT TO HAVE ARMED SECURITY, WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES? WHAT ARE REPERCUSSIONS? SO GOD FORBID THERE THERE WOULD BE A CRITICAL INCIDENT BECAUSE A DEFICIENCY HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE

[00:35:08]

THE DISTRICT IS NOW ON NOTICE THAT THERE ARE DEFICIENCIES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

OBVIOUSLY, THE BOARD WOULD HAVE THE PREROGATIVE TO DECIDE HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE DEFICIENCIES.

HOWEVER, FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN LIABILITY FOR THE DISTRICT.

THANK YOU. FOR CLARIFICATION. YOU'RE SAYING FAILURE TO PUT ARMED GUARDS IN FRONT OF OUR SCHOOLS COULD RESULT IN LIABILITY FROM OUR DISTRICT? NO. SO, AS I STATED, IT'S THE PREROGATIVE OF THE BOARD TO DECIDE HOW TO ADDRESS IT.

BUT FAILURE TO DO ANYTHING COULD RESULT IN LIABILITY FOR THE DISTRICT TO DO ANYTHING.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN ARM, BUT FAILURE TO PROVIDE MORE SECURITY.

CORRECT? YES. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT STEWART. SO MY MY REMARK IS THAT EVEN IF WE WERE TO PUT ONE GUARD IN FRONT OF EACH SCHOOL, THAT GUARD REALLY BASICALLY BECOMES A TARGET.

IF SOMEONE REALLY WANTS TO WREAK HAVOC ON OUR ON OUR ON OUR CHILDREN, ON OUR SCHOOLS.

I STILL SAY THAT I KNOW I, I DO NOT WANT AN ARMED GUARD AROUND EITHER.

SCHOOLS ARE A A SOFT TARGET. IT IS TRUE. BUT IT'S SO MANY OTHER MEASURES WE CAN TAKE BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT ARMED GUARDS.

AND AND IT'S SO AND AND WE NEED TRAINING THE NON CRISIS VIOLENT VIOLENCE INTERVENTION. DO WE DO WE CURRENTLY GIVE THAT TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

NCI WE CONTINUE. WE DO THAT. INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE.

YES. OKAY. TO BE HONEST NOW AND I'M TELLING YOU I TOLD MY CHILDREN.

IT'S A REASON WHY TEACHERS, SOME TEACHERS, SOME TEACHERS WILL BREAK UP A FIGHT AND SOME TEACHERS WILL NOT.

AND BECAUSE THE MOMENT THAT TEACHER TOUCHES A CHILD, THEN THAT CHILD CAN SAY, OH, YOU KNOW, THE TEACHER HURT ME. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT'S HAPPENING ON OUR SCHOOL'S CAMPUSES.

AND WE'VE AND, YOU KNOW, THE BULLYING, THE PHYSICAL ALTERCATIONS, THE VERBAL THREATS.

AGAIN, PUT ON PUT SOME APPARATUS UP THERE SO WE CAN TRY TO DETECT WEAPONS AS THEY COME IN.

BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S ANOTHER THING. I'M NOT GIVING ANY IDEAS BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY REALLY WANTS TO GET WEAPONS ON CAMPUS, WHO'S TO SAY THEY CAN'T THROW A BACKPACK OVER THE GATE DURING THE NIGHT? I'M JUST SAYING IT'S A IT'S SOME PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT ARE REALLY SICK AND WILL, YOU KNOW, WILL ATTACK US. BUT AN ARMED GUARD ON THE OUTSIDE IS NOT GOING TO PREVENT THESE THINGS ON CAMPUS THERE.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I CAN TALK ABOUT AS FAR AS THE RISK FACTORS IN THE SCHOOLS THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO ADDRESS IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY, BUT ALSO WAYS THAT WE CAN CONTROL THE RISK.

YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO HAVE COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY POLICIES.

LET'S LOOK AT THOSE POLICIES. WE NEED TO HAVE VISITOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. WE DO HAVE SOME THINGS UP, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GOOD ENOUGH.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO LIMIT THE ACCESS OF OUR OF OUR SCHOOLS TO, TO THE PUBLIC.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A PUBLIC PLACE, BUT WE HAVE OUR CHILDREN HERE, SO WE DO NEED TO MAINTAIN ITS PRIVACY ALSO FOR OUR CHILDREN.

AGAIN, WE NEED TO HAVE MAKE SURE OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS ARE UP TO DATE AND AND AND ENFORCEABLE, YOU KNOW AND REALLY ENFORCEABLE. AND AGAIN WE HAVE TO TRAIN OUR STAFF.

AND WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN I MEAN, BECAUSE EVEN IF WE EVEN IF WE HAVE BLACK KNIGHT DO THE TRAINING, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF TRAINING ARE THEY GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE WHAT KIND OF TRAINING VERSUS NCI, WHICH IS PROVEN, WHICH IS WHICH WILL PROTECT OUR STAFF IF OUR STAFF SHOULD HAVE TO BREAK UP A FIGHT.

SO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT. WE NEED WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVEN IF WE DO ADDRESS THE RISK FACTORS WITH THE CONTROLS, WE HAVE TO STILL THINK ABOUT PROTECTING OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND I CAN TALK IN IN EXTENSIVE DETAILS LATER TO TO TO TELL YOU MORE OF MY

[00:40:02]

AND THEY REALLY WE NEED TO HELP OUR PARENTS SOME TYPE OF WAY.

I KNOW WE ALREADY GOT FACTOR GOING, BUT WE NEED WE THESE PARENTS REALLY NEED TO HELP US HELP THEIR CHILD.

SO WE NEED TO FIND SOME WAY TO DO THAT. MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE A AN ASSEMBLY TO LET THE KIDS KNOW THAT WE'RE REALLY, REALLY THINKING ABOUT THIS.

AND WE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE STUDENT SAID, THE KIDS DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO BRING THIS TO THE FOREFRONT AND LET EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE A HAVE A SAY IN THIS, BUT PUT IN PLACE IN AN ARMED GUARD OUTSIDE IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

HELP! WHAT'S GOING ON ON CAMPUS? AND AGAIN, I'M THE I'LL SAY IT AGAIN THOSE.

IF IT WAS ME. THESE KIDS DON'T WANT TO ACT RIGHT.

THEY TEAR UP THE BATHROOMS, ETC. CLOSE THOSE BATHROOMS AND PUT SOME PORTA POTTIES UP THERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD FOR THEM TO VAPE AND FIGHT IN A PORTA POTTY.

NOW I DON'T WANT THAT. I DON'T WANT THAT. BUT WE BUT WE REALLY NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND AND GET IT TOGETHER.

THAT'S IT FOR RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG, BOARD MEMBERS, AND SEAN, I LIKE THE PORTA POTTY IDEA.

I'LL THINK ABOUT IT. SO I JUST WANTED TO READ A STATEMENT.

I'VE BEEN MULLING OVER A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION KNOWING THAT I PARTICIPATED IN EACH AND EVERY SURVEY THIS DISTRICT HAS GIVEN ABOUT AROUND SAFETY. AS A PARENT IN THIS DISTRICT, WITH MY STUDENTS IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS HERE.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO READ IT FROM THE TOP. SO PLEASE GIVE ME A MOMENT.

GOOD EVENING. DISTRICT STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM BEFORE THE BOARD TONIGHT AND TO SHARE SOME ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVE. IN MY SHORT TIME SERVING ON THIS BOARD, ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENT NEEDS I'VE HEARD FROM PARENTS, STAFF AND STUDENTS ALIKE HAS BEEN SCHOOL SAFETY.

THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE ISSUE. IT'S ONE WE'VE DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEES, COMMUNITY GROUPS, SURVEYS, AND HERE ON THIS DAIS. WHAT I WANT TO MAKE VERY CLEAR TO THIS OR TO MAKE VERY CLEAR, IS THIS MY TOP PRIORITY WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.

I WILL NEVER SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT I BELIEVE WOULD PUT THEM AT RISK.

THAT BEING SAID, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT STRENGTHENING OUR SECURITY WITH RESOURCES THAT ARE EQUIPPED TO RESPOND IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD. WITH THAT IN MIND, I ACKNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED AROUND ARMED SECURITY.

LONG TERM, I HOPE THE DISTRICT CAN INVEST IN BUILDING A TEAM OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED, DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO NOT ONLY SEE THIS WORK AS A CAREER, BUT AS A CALLING SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY WHILE ENSURING THEY DO SO IN A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.

THIS IS THE VISION. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN ACHIEVE IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE NEED FOR STRONGER SAFETY MEASURES IS HERE RIGHT NOW. FOR THAT REASON, MAYBE PLACING ARMED SECURITY ON THE PERIMETER OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES, PEOPLE CAN RESPOND QUICKLY TO A CRITICAL INCIDENT AND DETER POTENTIAL HARM.

IS A STEP THAT WE MIGHT JUST NEED TO TAKE TO OUR AMAZING STAFF.

I WANT TO BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THIS IS NOT ABOUT TAKING AWAY OR REPLACING JOBS, REDUCING PAY, OR TAKING AWAY BENEFITS. THIS IS ABOUT ADDING SUPPORT.

SUPPORT THAT SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN THE SAFETY NET WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE, AND TO RELIEVE SOME OF THE BURDEN THAT HAS FALLEN HEAVILY ON YOUR SHOULDERS. THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT STILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE DIRECTING OUR GENERAL COUNSEL OR HAVE BEFORE US TO DIRECT OUR GENERAL COUNSEL TO WORK ON THOSE ISSUES BEFORE THIS. THIS BOARD MAKES ANY FINAL DECISIONS ON ANY CONTRACT.

TONIGHT'S ACTION IS ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE IN ADDRESSING THE SAFETY CONCERNS OUR COMMUNITY HAS RAISED.

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE DISCUSSION.

[00:45:01]

THE DISCUSSION WILL CONTINUE BECAUSE WE ALL SHARE THE SAME GOAL CREATING SAFE, SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS WHERE STUDENTS CAN LEARN AND THRIVE.

SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS SO FAR.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY ENGAGED AND CONTINUE SHARING YOUR VOICE SO THAT TOGETHER, WE CAN ARRIVE AT THE BEST LONG TERM SOLUTION FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR DISTRICT. AND I KNOW ALL OF US ON THE DAIS, AND MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS ALREADY, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO RELAY. ONE DISCUSSION I HAD WITH A LOCAL THIRD GRADER. KEEP IN MIND, WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL, OUR DRILLS HAD TO DO WITH NATIONAL NATURAL DISASTERS. WE HAD EARTHQUAKE DRILLS. OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO DO ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WHEN A THIRD GRADER COMES UP TO ME AND ASK ME WHERE THEY SHOULD GO AND WHAT THEY SHOULD DO ON CAMPUS WHEN THEY HEAR BULLETS, DO THEY REALLY LISTEN TO THEIR TEACHER? OR DO THEY RUN DOWN THE STREET TO THEIR HOUSE? IT'S INCREDIBLE TO ME THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE THRIVING BEING ON THE EMBARRASSMENT TO DRAG PEOPLE THROUGH THE MUD TO MAKE FALSE ACCUSATIONS AROUND THIS TOPIC, WHEN THAT IS NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE CONCENTRATING ON.

I COMMEND OUR STUDENTS COMING UP HERE AND ASKING AND EXPECTING THE PEOPLE ON THIS DAIS THAT ALL OF US HAVE BEEN ELECTED HERE.

TO BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE AND HAVE A TRUE DISCUSSION WITHOUT ANY TIT FOR TAT.

I INVITE THAT COMMENT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. BECAUSE IF A TEENAGER CAN IDENTIFY THAT, HOW EMBARRASSING.

SO FORGIVE ME. I PERSONALLY APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING INAPPROPRIATE I HAVE DONE UNDER THIS TOPIC ON THIS DAIS AND AWAY FROM THIS DAIS, IN PUBLIC, IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WE ATTEND EVENTS, AS WE GO TO SCHOOLS, AS WE TALK TO PARENTS, AS WE TALK TO THE UNIONS, IF ANYTHING INAPPROPRIATE HAS EVER COME OUT OF MY MOUTH, PLEASE COME RIGHT HERE TO THIS MIC.

PUT ME ON BLAST. I INVITE IT, PUT ME IN MY PLACE.

BECAUSE TO ME THAT'S INAPPROPRIATE. AND THE PEOPLE THAT DO THAT SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.

THANK YOU. CLERK CRITCHFIELD THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.

AS A DAD OF A BEST TWO BEST STUDENTS AND AS A BOARD MEMBER, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO MORE IMPORTANT SUBJECT THAN SAFETY.

I'VE SAID IT SINCE I'VE GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THIS DISTRICT, AND I SAY IT ALL THE TIME.

THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE HAPPENED FREQUENTLY OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND I HOPE THAT THEY CONTINUE.

I BELIEVE IT'S NOT ONLY A PRIORITY OF THIS BOARD, ANY BOARD, BUT ALSO A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CAMPUSES ARE SAFE.

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN THOUGHTFUL, TRANSPARENT, AND COMMUNICATIVE IN OUR DECISIONS AND CONVERSATIONS ON THIS ISSUE.

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WE DIRECTLY ASKED THE COMMUNITY FOR INPUT ONE ON MAY.

IN MAY OF 2023, WITH 3635 RESPONSES, AND ONE THIS PAST SUMMER WITH 607 RESPONSES. AND IN BOTH OF THOSE INSTANCES, THE 600 AND THE 3600, THE THE RESPONSE FROM STUDENTS, STAFF AND PARENTS WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THEY WANT MORE TO BE DONE TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. TONIGHT'S ACTION ADDRESSES THE IMMEDIATE NEED TO INCREASE SAFETY THIS SCHOOL YEAR, BUT THIS CONVERSATION MUST NOT END HERE. I FULLY SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF OUR SAFETY COMMITTEE AND MAKING IT A STANDING COMMITTEE.

I FULLY WORK, I WORKING TOWARDS STREAMLINED SECURITY COMMUNICATIONS.

AS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING AND LOOKING AT OUR ORG CHART TO CREATE THAT POSITION SUPPORTING THE TRAINING OF OUR INTERNAL STAFF,

[00:50:08]

AND LET ME BE CLEAR, JUST AS BOARD MEMBERS, CINTRON SAID, I DO NOT EXPECT, NOR WOULD I ACCEPT THIS REPLACING ANY OF OUR CURRENT BUZZED STAFF. THIS HAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY EYES.

A LAYER OF RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR OUR STAFF.

THE ISSUES WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT WE WERE ADDRESSING IN MAY 2023 HAVE NOT GONE AWAY.

THE SENTIMENT, THE SENTIMENT OF OUR GREATER COMMUNITY.

THAT 3600. SURVEY RESPONSE. WHICH INCLUDED 600 STUDENTS.

86%. SUPPORTED INCREASED TRAINING OF OUR OWN SECURITY STAFF, AND ONLY SEVEN OPPOSED THE IDEA OF REGULAR ASSEMBLIES FOR BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS TO ADDRESS BULLYING. I SAY THAT TO SAY A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP TONIGHT THAT DON'T INVOLVE PERIMETER SECURITY AND THREAT DETERRENCE. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH. AND THIS BOARD HAS BEEN DISCUSSING THOSE FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW.

AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AND WE SHOULD DO IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS NEED TO KEEP HAPPENING.

BUT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WORK IN TANDEM WITH PERIMETER SECURITY.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD SHOULDN'T JUST EXPLORE BUT IMPLEMENT.

BECAUSE SAFETY ISN'T JUST ABOUT SECURING THE PERIMETER.

YOU'RE RIGHT. IT'S A LAYERED APPROACH AND AT ITS CORE INVOLVES CREATING A DISTRICT CULTURE BELONGING IN OUR STUDENTS CARE FROM EVERY STAFF MEMBER, TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR, AND ACCOUNTABILITY SO WE CAN ACHIEVE THE EXCELLENCE THAT DOCTOR SIMON HAS SPOKEN ABOUT SO PASSIONATELY.

TAKING THESE STEPS TONIGHT ADDRESSES THE IMMEDIATE NEED TO ENHANCE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT LONG TERM WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO, AND I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED ON THE BOARD TONIGHT.

I THINK THAT THIS CONVERSATION IS A PASSIONATE ONE.

I THINK THERE ARE STRONG OPINIONS AND I APPLAUD ANYBODY, WHETHER OR NOT WE AGREE INDIVIDUALLY ON ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

BUT TO VOICE YOURSELF AND BE HEARD, BECAUSE EVERY PERSPECTIVE DOES CONTRIBUTE TO OUR DECISIONS AND OUR CONVERSATIONS.

AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. AND AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THIS CONVERSATION, IT CAN BE PASSIONATE.

I THINK THAT THE CONVERSATIONS ON THE DAIS CAN BE MORE COLLABORATIVE. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT PLACE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO OVER THE NEXT YEAR. SO WE NEED TO GET BACK ON THAT TRACK.

THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. VICE PRESIDENT GARCIA.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT STEWART. I WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY BOARD COMMENT, MY BOARD COLLEAGUES BOARD MEMBER CINTRON AND BOARD MEMBER CRITCHFIELD, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO BRING A LITTLE CLARITY TO OUR DISCUSSION THAT PERHAPS I MYSELF, AND I'M ONLY SPEAKING ABOUT THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE MADE, HAVE BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR TO OUR PUBLIC IS THAT NONE OF US HERE ARE MINIMIZING THE NEED OR PERHAPS THE ENHANCEMENT OF MORE SECURITY ON OUR CAMPUS INSIDE.

WE ARE WELL AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR UNIONS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE HERE AT THIS MOMENT, TONIGHT IN FRONT OF US IS AN ITEM ABOUT SECURITY OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER, WHICH IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I DO NOT EXPECT THAT OUR STAFF BE OUTSIDE ARMED OR UNARMED, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT TRAINING AT THIS MOMENT.

I IN MY OPINION, IT IS A VERY SPECIALIZED SKILL THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

I AM NOT GOING TO PLUCK OUT A TEACHER'S AIDE AND PLACE THEM IN A CLASSROOM.

GIVE THEM TWO DAYS OF TRAINING AND SAY, HERE YOU GO, HERE'S YOUR CERTIFICATE.

YOU ARE NOW A FULL FLEDGED TEACHER. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY.

AND SO THESE SKILLS THAT WE HAVE COME TO AT THIS JUNCTION ARE VERY BE SPECIALIZED, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, AND THEY DO TAKE TIME TO DEVELOP. SO THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW AND NONE ARE WRONG.

WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TONIGHT IS WHETHER WE GO WITH UNARMED OR ARMED SECURITY OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL, AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS TWICE TOLD US THAT THEY WANT ARMED.

[00:55:01]

SO THE THREATS ARE HERE. THEY ARE AT OUR DOORSTEPS.

IF WE DO NOT MAKE A DECISION NOW THAT BENEFITS YOUR CHILDREN, GOD FORBID ANYTHING HAPPENS AND WE ARE NOT PREPARED, THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE DO NOT CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR UNIONS, CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR STAFF, AND CONTINUE TO ENHANCE WHAT WE HAVE ON OUR CAMPUS RIGHT NOW? I AGREE WITH YOU. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE ARE IN NEED OF THE ON CAMPUS.

ONE IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY WORKING WITH OUR STAFF TO ADDRESS.

WE ARE GOING TO START HAVING MORE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THOSE THINGS AS WELL.

BUT I THINK THAT THERE WAS A VERY THERE WAS MORE OF A CONFUSION AT THIS POINT.

I'M HOPING THAT THAT HELPED AT SOME POINT OR SOME LEVEL, TO BRING A LITTLE CLARITY TO WHAT WE ARE REALLY DISCUSSING AND WHAT OUR DECISION IS TONIGHT. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO TAKE A STAB AT THIS. SO I CANNOT SUPPORT CONTRACTING WITH AN OUTSIDE AGENCY FOR ARMED SECURITY WHEN THE IMMEDIATE NEED ON OUR CAMPUSES IS CLEAR, MORE OF OUR OWN TRAINED UNARMED SECURITY OFFICERS, INDIVIDUALS WHO KNOW OUR STUDENTS, UNDERSTAND OUR SCHOOLS, AND ARE ALREADY EMBEDDED IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE HEARD REPEATEDLY FROM PARENTS, STUDENTS AND STAFF THAT THE PRESSING ISSUES ON CAMPUS INCLUDE FIGHTING, VAPING AND RESTROOMS, BULLYING, TARDINESS, AND STUDENTS WANDERING AND BEING OUT OF CLASS.

STATIONING ARMED GUARDS AT THE PERIMETER WILL NOT ADDRESS THESE DAY TO DAY CONCERNS WHEN MAKING DECISIONS.

ME AS A BOARD MEMBER. AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I ALWAYS CONSIDER FIRST WHAT WILL MOST DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS.

THE SOLUTION IS STRAIGHTFORWARD. INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CAMPUS SECURITY OFFICERS.

NOW. WE HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED BUZZ AND SYSTEMS IN K-9 DETECTION.

WE CAN FURTHER EXPLORE OTHER MEASURES SUCH AS KEYLESS ENTRY, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE YOU CAN.

YOU'RE CAPABLE OF LOCKING DOWN THE ENTIRE CAMPUS REALLY QUICKLY, AND WE USE THOSE IN PARAMOUNT AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY REALLY GREAT.

AND THEY ALSO KEEP DETAILED ENTRY LOGS OF APPROACH AND HOW THEY'RE USED.

IF WE WERE TO ADD AT LEAST 2 OR 3 ADDITIONAL SECURITY OFFICERS AT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL, ALONG WITH THE VAPING DETECTION AND THE WEAPONS SCREENING SYSTEMS, WE COULD REDUCE CAMPUS THREATS, IMPROVE PUNCTUALITY, ENSURE SAFER RESTROOM ACCESS, CREATE A CALMER, MORE PRODUCTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT BENEFITS AND THEY WILL BE FELT IMMEDIATELY BY OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.

AND JUST ONE COMMENT. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE ONLY VOTING ON ONE ITEM, BUT WE COULD HAVE PUT THE OTHER THINGS ON THIS AGENDA TONIGHT.

SO DON'T BE FOOLED BY THINKING THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE PUT THE HALOS ON, OR WE COULDN'T PUT THE VAPE DETECTORS ON.

WE COULD HAVE PUT THOSE AND WE CHOSE TO PUT THIS ON.

SO THIS IS THE PRIORITY OF THIS BOARD. LET'S BE HONEST.

NEXT, OUR CURRENT SECURITY OFFICERS, THEY ARE TRAINED UNDER ED CODE.

THEY'RE CERTIFIED IN CPR AND FIRST AID. AND THEY HAVE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED THEIR ABILITY TO BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS.

EVEN THE BLACK NIGHT ASSESSMENT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A DISTRICT STRENGTH.

IF YOU GO BACK AND READ IT, WHAT THESE OFFICERS LACK IS NOT SKILL OR DEDICATION, BUT SUFFICIENT NUMBERS AND SUPPORT FROM THEIR ADMINISTRATORS.

FIVE OFFICERS COMING AN ENTIRE CAMPUS IS SIMPLY INADEQUATE.

BOTTOM LINE WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN STEPS, WHICH I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON BEGINNING TO ESTABLISH A NEW DIRECTOR AND SAFETY POSITION, AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME. BUT WE COULD STILL HIRE OUR OWN GUARDS.

SO TO SAY THAT WE MUST GO OUT WITH AN OUTSIDE AGENCY IS NOT TRUE.

WE COULD ACTUALLY HIRE OUR OWN AS WELL. ALL CURRENT SECURITY PERSONNEL ARE FULLY CREDENTIALED AND WORKING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CLASSIFICATIONS.

I'VE HEARD FROM COLLEAGUES THAT THAT WAS NOT TRUE, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT TRANSPARENT, THAT THEY'RE ALL IN THEIR CLASSIFICATIONS.

SO THAT'S ALSO NOT TRUE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ALLOWING OUR UNIONS TO NEGOTIATE HOW THEIR WORKERS WILL BE AFFECTED IS A MUST.

AND I KNOW THIS TIMELINE HASN'T GIVEN THEM MUCH TIME TO PREPARE, SO I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO MEET WITH THEM AND COLLABORATE ON WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES, NOT AN OUTSIDE AGENCY. WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT SPREAD IDEAS OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND HOW WE'RE SO AGAINST THOSE, BUT THEN WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DO THIS WITH PUTTING ARMED GUARDS ON OUR CAMPUSES.

OUR STUDENTS DESERVE SAFETY MEASURES THAT ARE EFFECTIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND ALIGNED WITH OUR DISTRICT VALUES AND CONNECTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPECT. SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY VOTE NO.

AND AT LAST MEETING, IF YOU GUYS ARE PAYING ATTENTION AND WATCH, WE DISCUSS THE STUDENT SURVEYS.

AND THIS BOARD CAME TO THE CONSENSUS THAT WE DID NOT WANT TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THOSE STUDENT SURVEYS.

EVEN BOARD MEMBERS SAID, WE DON'T NEED TO. PARENTS MAKE THE DECISIONS.

WELL, I DON'T HEAR THAT FROM OUR STUDENTS HERE.

AND HONESTLY, WE'VE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING. AND AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

MY COLLEAGUE IS CORRECT, BUT THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

DON'T BE FOOLED BY THAT EITHER. SO WE DIDN'T SURVEY ANY STUDENTS AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE HERE SPEAKING.

[01:00:04]

AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LIMIT YOUR VOICES.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID. WE CAME TO CONSENSUS ON THE DAIS AND THEN WE DECIDED NOT TO PUT THAT ON.

SO THAT'S THAT PART. NEXT, WE ALL LOVE CHATGPT.

SO I DECIDED TO CHATGPT WHAT ARE THE CONS OF PEOPLE WITH GUNS ON OUR CAMPUSES? AND THIS IS WHAT CHATGPT HAD TO SAY. ONE LIMITED IMPACT ON ACTUAL STUDENT ISSUES.

MOST PROBLEMS ARE INSIDE THE CAMPUS, NOT AT THE PERIMETER.

ARMED GUARDS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL WON'T DETER OR RESOLVE DAILY ISSUES LIKE FIGHTS, VAPING, BULLYING, OR CHRONIC TARDINESS. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT.

SO PEOPLE ON OUR CAMPUS PUSHING OUR KIDS INTO CLASS WOULD HELP WITH THAT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

TARGETED THREATS ARE RARE. STATISTICALLY, SCHOOL SHOOTINGS ARE RARE, AND MOST THREATS COME FROM INSIDE, NOT FROM STRANGERS APPROACHING THE BUILDING. IN FACT, I HAVE A LOT OF NOTES.

BUT THERE WAS ONE MASS SHOOTINGS OR 2% OF GUN DEATHS, AND THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF DOCUMENTED CASES IN WHICH AN ARMED SECURITY GUARD HAS ACTUALLY STOPPED A SCHOOL SHOOTING. TWO POSSIBLE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON SCHOOL CLIMATE.

IT CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR OR MILITARIZATION.

SEEING ARMED PERSONNEL CAN MAKE STUDENTS FEEL UNSAFE RATHER THAN PROTECTED, WHICH WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR STUDENTS HERE TONIGHT.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD ONE PERSON COME UP HERE AND SAY THEY'RE FOR ARMED GUARDS, EVEN THOUGH THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY SEEMS TO BE IN FAVOR OF THEM.

IT CREATES ALSO. IT STRAINS RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND STAFF.

IT CAN SEND A MESSAGE THAT STUDENTS ARE VIEWED AS POTENTIAL CRIMINALS RATHER THAN LEARNERS TO BE SUPPORTED.

CHATGPT ALSO SAID THERE'S RISK OF ESCALATION.

FIREARMS INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL DANGER IN A CRISIS OR MISUNDERSTANDING.

AN ARMED GUARD MIGHT ESCALATE A SITUATION RATHER THAN DEFUZE IT.

AND IF THERE'S A FIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR CLASSROOM, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD WANT SOMEONE TO HAVE A GUN OUT THERE, BUT THERE'S ALSO A POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS. THANK GOD WE HAVE GREAT LEGAL COUNSEL.

MISFIRES OR MISHANDLING WEAPONS ON CAMPUS, EVEN IF RARE, CAN CAUSE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

COST AND SUSTAINABILITY. THEY'RE MORE EXPENSIVE TO HIRE.

ARMED SECURITY COSTS COSTS MORE THAN UNARMED STAFF AND CAMPUS AND CAMPUS SUPERVISORS WHO CAN ACTUALLY INTERACT DAILY WITH STUDENTS.

IT CAN ALSO TAKE FUNDING AWAY. WE DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED MONEY, SO I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY DISCUSSIONS ON A TOTAL PACKAGE OF WHAT WE WANT TO SPEND.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE UNLIMITED MONEY, DOCTOR SIMON, BUT IT KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE IT UP HERE.

AND IT CAN TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM OTHER THINGS, LIKE SOCIAL WORKERS OR COUNSELORS OR PROGRAMS OR THINGS THAT ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE BEHAVIOR WITH OUR STUDENTS. AND LASTLY, COMMUNITY TRUST AND PERCEPTION.

STUDENTS AND FAMILIES MAY FEEL POLICED RATHER THAN PROTECTED.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAVE STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

LIKE WE HEARD FROM ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THIS NIGHT.

RISK OF PROFILING GUARDS MAY DISPROPORTIONATELY STOP OR QUESTION CERTAIN GROUPS OF STUDENTS, CAUSING RESENTMENT OR CLAIMS OF BIAS. SO THOSE ARE ALSO THINGS THAT CHATGPT SAID.

AND LAST I DID ANOTHER RESEARCH. I LOOKED AT AN ARTICLE AND IT WAS HAVE GUN STOP MASS SHOOTINGS AT SCHOOLS.

AND I KNOW THIS IS LONG, BUT I JUST WANT TO READ A FEW THINGS FROM THIS ARTICLE AND THE RESEARCH THAT I DID.

THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF DOCUMENTED CASES IN WHICH AN ARMED SECURITY GUARD OR POLICE OFFICER HAS STOPPED A SCHOOL SHOOTING.

A RECENT STUDY BY RESEARCHERS FROM THE VIOLENCE PROJECT SUGGEST THAT ARMED GUARDS AND SCHOOLS DON'T.

REDUCE FATALITIES RESEARCH EXAMINE 133 SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND ATTEMPTED SCHOOL SHOOTINGS BETWEEN 1980 AND 2019.

TALLIED UP BY THE K-12 SCHOOL SHOOTING DATABASE.

AT LEAST ONE ARMED GUARD WAS PRESENT IN ALMOST A QUARTER OF THE CASES STUDIED, AND RESEARCHERS FOUND NO SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN RATES OF INJURIES IN THESE CASES.

IN FACT, SHOOTINGS AT SCHOOLS WITH AN ARMED GUARD ENDED WITH THREE TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE BEING KILLED ON AVERAGE.

AND WE LOVE DATA. SO THERE'S YOUR DATA RIGHT THERE.

WHENEVER FIREARMS ARE PRESENT, THERE IS ROOM FOR ERROR, AND EVEN HIGHLY TRAINED OFFICERS GET SPLIT SECOND DECISIONS WRONG, THE RESEARCHERS WROTE. PRIOR RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT MANY SCHOOL SHOOTERS ARE ACTIVELY SUICIDAL, INTENDING TO DIE IN THE ACT, SO AN ARMED OFFICER MAY ACTUALLY BE AN INCENTIVE RATHER THAN A DETERRENT.

A 2013 STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE FBI ANALYZING 160 ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENTS, FOUND THAT IN MOST ATTACKS, THEY ARE CARRIED OUT IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, MAKING IT DIFFICULT DIFFICULT FOR ARMED GUARDS TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

WE KNOW OUR CAMPUSES. IF YOU HAVE AN ARMED GUARD AT THE FRONT.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY JUMP THROUGH THE BACK? AND FOR MASS SHOOTINGS MORE BROADLY, THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT UNARMED BYSTANDERS HAVE STOPPED MORE ATTACKS IN THOSE EARLY MINUTES THAN ARMED PEOPLE. RESEARCHERS FROM ALERT ANALYZED 249 SHOOTINGS BETWEEN 2000 AND 2021 THAT ENDED BEFORE POLICE ARRIVED. MOST ENDED WITH THE SHOOTER FLEEING THE SCENE OR DYING OF SUICIDE, BUT BYSTANDERS SUBDUED THE SHOOTER WITHOUT GUNS NEARLY TWICE AS OFTEN AS

[01:05:07]

I'M ABOUT KIDS, AND WE HAVE HEARD ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE COME UP HERE, AND WE'VE RECEIVED LOTS OF EMAILS THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO TACKLE THINGS THAT ARE ON OUR CAMPUS RIGHT THIS SECOND. AND I DON'T BELIEVE ARMED GUARDS IS THE.

THAT'S THE ANSWER. MAYBE IF WE DID ALL THE OTHER THINGS FIRST AND THEN WE HAD MORE MONEY LEFT OVER AND THEY SAID, YES, LET'S DO ARMED GUARDS. THAT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.

AND AGAIN, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING BEING PRESENTED ON THE OTHER SYSTEMS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY WANT IN PLACE RIGHT THIS SECOND.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I STAND ON THE ISSUE.

I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS. I THINK THAT OUR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND OUR STUDENTS AND WHAT WE NEED ON CAMPUS IS WAY MORE IMPORTANT.

AND WE TALK ABOUT THE COSTS. I KNOW WE LOOKED AT IT.

I THINK IT'S LIKE $26,000 OR SOMETHING DEPENDING ON THE CONTRACT.

SO I KNOW I'M JUST AVERAGING FOR TWO ARMED GUARDS AND AN UNARMED GUARD.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT OUR CSA, IT'S ABOUT 8000 FOR A SECURITY GUARD.

SO IF I CAN GET FOUR CSA SECURITY GUARDS OF OUR OWN, I WOULD MUCH RATHER DO THAT THAN HAVE SOMEONE STAND UP IN FRONT, WHICH IS NOT DIRECTLY IMPACTING STUDENTS. RIGHT.

THE SECOND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, STUDENT SAFETY, RIGHT? THE SECOND. AND THAT'S WHERE I STAND ON THAT.

CLARK CRITCHFIELD. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.

IS THAT RIGHT? THOSE THOSE NUMBERS ABOUT THE IS THAT ACCURATE? FOR THE TWO ARMED AND ONE UNARMED? IT WOULD BE, I BELIEVE, $156,000 FOR 180 SCHOOL DAYS.

RIGHT. AND IS IT FOR THE OUR OWN CLASSIFIED. I THINK WE HAVE THAT GO AHEAD FOR OUR OWN CLASSIFIED SECURITY.

IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 46,000 TO $74,000 PER YEAR PLUS BENEFITS.

THAT'S FOR NINE MONTHS, 180 DAYS. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR TECHNICALLY.

THANK YOU. AND WHERE WHERE ARE WE WITH THE OTHER TWO SAFETY MEASURES THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD RECOMMENDED? CAN YOU CLARIFY? I KNOW WE CAN'T USE OFFICIAL LOGOS OR NAMES, BUT YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY YOU DID IT FOR VAPING.

YEAH, THE VAPE DETECTORS AND THE THE WEAPONS DETECTORS.

I'LL HAVE MISS ARCUS SPEAK TO THAT. OKAY. CURRENTLY, WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THE VAPE DETECTORS AT.

I BELIEVE WE'RE ALMOST DONE AT BELLFLOWER AND MOVING ON TO MAYFAIR SO THAT ONE IS BEING IMPLEMENTED.

BUT WE HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED THE OTHER DETECTORS AT THIS TIME.

GREAT. GREAT. SO THERE'S A THERE'S A LOT IN THAT.

AND I TOLD MYSELF I WASN'T GOING TO RESPOND. AND I'M NOT GOING TO BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT WRONG IN WHAT WAS JUST SAID, EVEN IF IT WAS USED BY CHATGPT. AND THERE'S A LOT OF LOGIC MISSING FROM THAT.

SO I'M GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT THAT YOU HEARD THE SAME THING I DID. THAT'S ALL. MADAM PRESIDENT, ACTUALLY, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG. AND I'M JUST GOING BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD HERE, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE COME UP HERE AND SAY THEY'RE FOUR ARMED GUARDS. AND I'VE HEARD A BUNCH OF EXCUSES AND A BUNCH OF REASONS.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THIS IS WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SAYING.

AND BEING A TEACHER AND AN EDUCATOR FOR 27 YEARS AND BEING ON A CAMPUS, I UNDERSTAND THAT SECURITY NEEDS TO BE BEEFED UP BECAUSE YOU CAN ANTICIPATE, YOU CAN LOOK AHEAD, YOU CAN SEE KIDS CONGREGATING, YOU CAN START TO HAVE CONFLICT RESOLUTION RIGHT AWAY.

YOU CAN MANAGE LUNCHES, YOU CAN MANAGE ALL THESE THINGS.

AND BEING A TEACHER FOR 27 YEARS, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO I DON'T NEED CHATGPT TO TELL ME WHAT I NEED.

I SEE IT ON MY CAMPUS EVERY DAY. I'M A TEACHER.

BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT.

STEWART. I'M GLAD WE HAVE THE THE VAPING. WE'RE WE REALLY I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO. I KNOW IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR US TO GET A TIMELINE ON WHEN WE CAN GET SOME WEAPONS DETECTORS ON OUR CAMPUSES. AND THEN AGAIN, I WOULD, I WOULD LOVE I KNOW WE HAVE OUR COMMITTEE SAFETY COMMITTEE, BUT I YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN JUST WRITING DOWN A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF THAT I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, LIKE RISK, YOU KNOW, THE FACTORS THAT THAT THE RISK FACTORS THAT'S HAPPENING ON, ON SCHOOL AND THEN SOME OF THE CONTROLS WE COULD PUT IN PLACE.

I WANT TO KNOW, HOW HAVE WE TALKED AND COLLABORATED WITH OUR LABOR UNIONS TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF THE BOARD FOR THEM TO TAKE MORE ON OF A SECURITY ROLE.

I MEAN, HAVE WE HAD I MEAN, HAVE WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND HOW WE CAN ENHANCE OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN OUR IN

[01:10:01]

THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE OVER HERE SHAKING HEAD. SO LET'S GET CLARIFICATION FROM STAFF.

HAS CSA BEEN ABLE TO. CAN YOU ANSWER BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG'S QUESTION, DOCTOR SIMON OR ANDREW OR.

SORRY MR. SORIA. SO IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION WITH CSA AND HAVING THEIR INPUT PROVIDED, WAS THAT THE THE REQUEST? YES. I WANT TO KNOW, HAVE YOU COLLABORATED WITH THE LABOR UNIONS? ON ON WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING NOW AS A BOARD AS FAR AS IN RELATION TO SECURITY MEASURES, ADDED SECURITY SECURITY MEASURES, AND HAVE WE REACHED OUT TO ANY OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SPECIFICALLY THE SHERIFF? SO I BELIEVE THE SHERIFF HAD BEEN CONTACTED AND WAS REQUESTED IF THEY COULD PROVIDE SROS, WHICH ARE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE LIMITED NUMBERS WITHIN THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT AND THE SHORTAGES, THE RESPONSE WAS THAT IT WOULD NOT COME FOR A VERY LONG TIME, IF AT ALL. ANDREW, CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN THEY WERE CONTACTED AND WHO CONTACTED THEM, PLEASE, FOR CLARIFICATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO I BELIEVE BOARD MEMBER CRITCHFIELD HAD MENTIONED THAT AT THE LAST MEETING.

CAN WE GET CLARIFICATION ON WHEN THEY WERE CONTACTED IN THE LAST TIME THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NOT AN AVAILABILITY FOR SROS? SO AS SERVING ON THE LAKEWOOD SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMISSION I HAVE CONTACT WITH THE LAKEWOOD SHERIFF, AND THAT HAS BEEN A COMMON REPLY AS FAR AS THE STAFFING SHORTAGES IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND ALSO THE COST OF AN SRO. I KNOW ABC HAS TWO OF THEM. I BELIEVE IT'S A PRETTY COMMON THING.

AND THAT WAS ALSO SURVEYED IN THAT 3600 SURVEY.

AND PEOPLE WERE FOR THAT, TOO. AND WE ACTUALLY EXPLORED IT WHEN BEN WAS HERE.

BUT THAT IS A COMMON REPLY IS THAT IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET AN SRO, AND THE COST COULD BE CLOSER TO A HALF $1 MILLION AS WELL. SO I'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONTACTS BEING A PART OF THAT COMMISSION FOR THE CITY.

WHEN IS THE LAST ONE, DO YOU REMEMBER OR WHEN THE LAST ONE? BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I HEARD ABOUT THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.

BUT HAS ANYBODY FROM OUR DISTRICT ACTUALLY CONTACTED THE LAKEWOOD SHARES TO ASK ABOUT IT? SO, BOARD PRESIDENT STEWART, I DO HAVE A MEETING WITH ONE OF THE CAPTAINS FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT NEXT WEEK.

AND SO I CAN, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW UP AND ASK THAT QUESTION WITH HIM AS WELL.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL BE AFTER THIS VOTE, BUT THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT. SORRY. BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG BACK. AND JUST ONE MORE THING FOR TECHNOLOGY. IF WE COULD FIX DOCTOR SIMON'S NAME, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.

GO AHEAD, BACK TO BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. AND FOR SOME CLARITY THERE OUR FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, BEN BRADY, ALSO SAT DOWN FOR COFFEE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING TWO YEARS AGO.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE DOCTOR HAS BEEN GONE? OH, A COUPLE YEARS AGO. OKAY. BOARD MEMBER. ARMSTRONG.

MADAM MAYOR, DO YOU WANT ME TO FINISH THE RESPONSE WITH THE QUESTION? YES, PLEASE. SO DID CONTACT CSC THIS WEEK? HAD A PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION WITH THEM.

I THINK PART OF THE PROCESS IS GOING TO BE TO ACTUALLY SIT DOWN WITH OUR CURRENT SECURITY STAFF AND THE PROPOSED SECURITY GUARDS FROM BLACK NIGHT OBVIOUSLY DISCUSS A CHAIN OF COMMAND. THERE ARE SEVERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT NEED TO NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION.

AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A LABOR NEGOTIATION ISSUE, BUT CERTAINLY WANT TO TAKE ALL THE STEPS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE EMPLOYEES CURRENTLY WORKING FOR THE DISTRICT UNDERSTAND ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AS WILL THE CONTRACTORS THAT WILL BE COMING IN.

AND THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A SEAMLESS INTEGRATION WITH THE SECURITY GUARDS AND ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED STAFF.

SO THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS TO BE HAD BEFORE THE CONTRACT IS BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD.

AND THE GOAL IS TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. BEFORE ANYONE EVER ACTUALLY GETS STARTED IN THE SERVICE.

GO AHEAD. CONTINUE. BOARD MEMBER. ARMSTRONG. SORRY.

NO. I'M DONE. CLAIRE CRITCHFIELD. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT.

I'D LIKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. ITEM 11.1, SCHOOL SAFETY, BLACK NIGHT SECURITY SERVICES, PLEASE.

SO COLLABORATIVE. SECONDED. APPARENTLY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY MORE DISCUSSION.

SO THE VOTE WAS CALLED FOR, AS ALWAYS. SO COLLABORATIVE.

ROLL CALL PLEASE. MISS ARMSTRONG. NO, NO. MISS CINTRON.

YES, MR. CRITCHFIELD? YES, MRS. GARZA? YES, MISS STEWART? ABSOLUTELY NO. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO CONSENT AGENDA.

[12. CONSENT AGENDA]

[01:15:08]

MISS ARMSTRONG. I MISS CINTRON. AYE. MR. CRITCHFIELD.

AYE. MRS. GARZA. AYE. MR. STEWART. AYE. ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON TO BOARD COMMUNICATIONS. BOARD MEMBER CINTRON.

[13. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS]

THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME ATTENDING ONE. VICTOR RIOS WAS AN AMAZING SPEAKER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND TEAM FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

THEY NICKNAMED HIM VICTORIOUS, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS AWESOME.

IT WAS AN EYE OPENER. AND ALSO IT WAS NICE TOUCHING BASE WITH THOSE THAT I GOT TO SPEAK WITH AS I WAS LEAVING THE EVENT, RUSHING BACK TO WORK. BUT THAT IS ALL FOR ME.

THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT STEWART.

WELL, ON THE EIGHTH. HI, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED AND IN THE COMMENTS AND SHARON SHARING HOW YOU FELT ABOUT THE PREVIOUS ITEM.

BUT MY COMMENTS, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO ON AUGUST 8TH, THE ROTARY CLUB HOSTED AN EVENT HONORING A FEW OF ITS MEMBERS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE EVENT HAD MANY ATTENDEES, INCLUDING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM LAKEWOOD AND BELLFLOWER, AND ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF THE EVENT WAS TO RAISE FUNDS.

SO I PARTICIPATED IN THE SILENT AUCTION. I DIDN'T WIN ANY OTHER PRIZES, BUT THAT WAS OKAY WITH ME.

I MISSED THE MEMO OF THE EVENT THEME, SO I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TO DON MY MY MY WESTERN COWBOY COWGIRL ATTIRE.

BUT THE FOOD WAS GREAT. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW, SUPPORT, CONNECT AND MINGLE WITH OTHERS IS WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.

SO MY STUDENTS, I'M ALSO A TEACHER. MY STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL ON THE 11TH, SO I DIDN'T.

THIS TIME I WASN'T ABLE TO DO ANY OF THE NEW TEACHER BREAKFAST AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE I JUST I WASN'T ABLE BECAUSE I WAS STARTING SCHOOL MYSELF.

SO AND IT SEEMS THAT WE HAD A GREAT BEGINNING, AND I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE THE SCHOOL YEAR TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT, CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SUPPORT TO OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF.

ON THE 14TH, I ATTENDED THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES.

WOMAN THE THE WOMEN'S CAUCUS EVENT WHICH WAS TITLED LEADING WITH A PURPOSE, AND THEY HAD A FIRESIDE TRIBUTE TO WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS.

AND WE TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE COURAGE, LEADERSHIP AND THE WOMEN RESHAPING OUR FUTURE.

FOUR DISTINCTIVE WOMEN WERE AWARDED A BEAUTIFUL AND COLORFUL GLASS TROPHY, AND THE WOMEN SHARED INTIMATE ACCOUNTS OF WHY THEY ENTERED THE COMMUNITY SERVICE. PIVOTAL MOMENTS AND PIVOTAL MOMENTS THAT THAT SERVED AS A SETBACK.

AND HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE SETBACKS AND BECOME EVEN BETTER IN THEIR EFFORTS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

THE STORIES WERE EYE OPENING AND ENCOURAGING AND AND CHALLENGING AND SOMETIMES EMOTIONAL.

I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THESE WOMEN. I MEAN, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD, IT WAS ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE.

THESE WOMEN HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIFE TO A LIFE OF SERVICE, AND THEY ARE ENCOURAGING YOUNG WOMEN TO BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND ON THE 16TH, I ALSO ATTENDED ASSEMBLY.

ASSEMBLY MAN SELASSIE AS HE HOSTED AN OPEN HOUSE IN HIS NEW OFFICE HEADQUARTERS.

IT'S NESTLED IN A BEAUTIFUL AREA IN PARAMOUNT THAT GIVES HIM THE SPACE TO HOST COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS THAT IN ATTENDANCE.

IN ATTENDANCE, WHERE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES AND CITY LEADERS OF MAYWOOD, WALNUT PARK, PARAMOUNT, BELLFLOWER, LAKEWOOD, SOUTH GATE, HUNTINGTON PARK AND LYNWOOD.

THERE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL BAND, COLORGUARD AND CHEERLEADER TO ADD TO THE EXCITEMENT OF THE DAY.

THERE ARE THERE WAS LOTS OF FOOD AND TREATS FOR EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE AND EVEN MORE TO BRING HOME TO SHARE WITH OTHERS.

I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT AUGUST IS NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION MONTH, WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE GET STARTED IN SCHOOL,

[01:20:01]

AND SO INTERSECTIONALITY IS WHEN SOMEONE IDENTIFIES WITH TWO OR MORE MARGINALIZED GROUPS, WHETHER IT BE ABILITY, DISABILITY, GENDER, OR RACE AND BI. AND THE PURPOSE IS FOR US TO UNDERSTAND EVERYONE'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH IDENTITY AS WE BECOME A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW. AND AGAIN, I'M LOOKING FORWARD FOR A VERY GOOD SCHOOL YEAR.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND I'M HERE FOR IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER. ARMSTRONG.

CLERK. CRITCHFIELD. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT FIRST WEEK.

I GUESS IT'S ONLY TUESDAY, RIGHT? I'M USED TO THESE BEING ON THURSDAY.

OKAY, A GREAT SECOND DAY. MY GIRLS STARTED YESTERDAY.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN CHANGES, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS BOARD HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT AT IS REALLY GOING FOR PROGRESS AND TRYING TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE DISTRICT. BUT I WILL SAY JUST WITH SOME OF THE EMAILS, A COUPLE OF EMAILS I'VE GOTTEN THERE IS NO CHANGE WITHOUT CHALLENGE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR STAFF FROM THE SITE LEVEL ALL THE WAY UP, IS REALLY WORKING ON THOSE CHALLENGES.

BUT I FEEL FOR PARENTS THAT MAYBE HAVE HAD A ROUGH START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR.

BUT OVERALL, I'VE HEARD SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS FROM SITES VISITING SITES OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS.

SO I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT WEEK. I WANT TO APPLAUD DOCTOR SIMON.

IT WAS A GREAT NEW TEACHER BREAKFAST THAT WE HAD HERE IN THE BOARDROOM.

THE ALL DISTRICT BREAKFAST WAS PHENOMENAL. NOMINAL.

YOU DID AMAZING. CONGRATS TO YOU AND PRESIDENT STEWART.

THE WHOLE PRODUCTION WAS REALLY AWESOME. REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

AND THEN ALSO ATTENDED THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER DISTRICT OFFICE, OPEN HOUSE IN PARAMOUNT WITH A BOARD MEMBER, ARMSTRONG AND DOCTOR SIMON. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING SO VISIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

GOING TO EVENTS, TAKING TIME, EVEN ON THE WEEKEND WHEN YOU COULD BE WITH YOUR FAMILY, YOU'RE OUT MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS.

AND I SEE THAT. I SEE YOU AND I APPRECIATE IT.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, I GOT A PUPPY. THAT'S COOL. I'VE NEVER HAD A DOG BEFORE, LITTLE EVIE.

SHE'S AMAZING NOW. I'M THAT GUY WHO, LIKE. YEAH.

SO NOW HE'S, LIKE, THREE MONTHS OLD. SHE'S THREE MONTHS OLD.

SO NOW I'M THAT GUY WHO I USED TO KIND OF MAKE FUN OF WHEN I'M SHOWING PEOPLE PICTURES OF MY DOG ON MY PHONE.

IT'S. IT'S COOL. IT'S A NEW CHAPTER OF LIFE, BUT I'M LOVING IT.

I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR WEEK. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. CLARK CRITCHFIELD, VICE PRESIDENT.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE ROTARY CLUB OF LAKEWOOD ABOUT BARBECUE AND BREWS ALONGSIDE BOARD MEMBER CINTRON AND BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG AND CRITCHFIELD. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT, AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE NEW TEACHER BREAKFAST. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CABINET AND SUPERINTENDENT SIMON, DOCTOR SIMON, AND I ALSO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST WITH THE SPEAKER, VICTOR RIOS. VERY INSPIRING. AND IT JUST WAS REALLY GREAT ENERGY IN THE ROOM.

I WENT AHEAD AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO DOCTOR SIMON.

YOU DEFINITELY PUT THE ENERGY IN THAT ROOM ALONGSIDE ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

AND THEY'RE ALL SCHOOL SPIRIT, SO I LOVE SEEING THAT.

TOMORROW I WILL BE ABLE TO GO ALONGSIDE DOCTOR SIMON AND VISIT ILC ERNIE PYLE AND BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL JUST BEFORE I AM. I HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK MYSELF.

AND I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE STRENGTH OF OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM, OUR CABINET.

IT HAS TAKEN SEVERAL YEARS TO BRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER.

BUT TODAY WE STAND WITH THE TEAM THAT HAS THE EXPERTISE AND THE COMMITMENT TO MOVE US FORWARD.

I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE THAT THIS TEAM WILL COLLABORATIVELY HELP US, THE BOARD, YOUR BOARD, MAKE SOUND DECISIONS AND ALWAYS KEEP WHAT MATTERS MOST.

DOING RIGHT BY OUR KIDS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO.

IN ADDITION, I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE TRUST THAT YOU'VE PLACED IN ME.

I WANT TO REAFFIRM MY COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED ME.

I WILL SERVE WITH INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND RESPONSIBILITY LIKE I ALWAYS HAVE.

MY PROMISE HAS BEEN TO LISTEN CAREFULLY, WEIGH ALL PERSPECTIVES, AND MAKE DECISIONS GROUNDED IN FACTS RATHER THAN EMOTIONS.

BY DOING SO, I WILL ENSURE THAT EVERY CHOICE I MAKE REFLECTS NOT ONLY SOUND JUDGMENT, BUT ALSO THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY TODAY AND FOR THE

[01:25:05]

HAVE A NICE EVENING. THANK YOU. VICE PRESIDENT GARZA.

I DEFINITELY WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR STAFF AND TO DOCTOR SIMON FOR THE BREAKFAST.

THAT WAS AMAZING. I GOT A LOT OF REALLY GREAT FEEDBACK.

I WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE TC, TAKE OVER AT LINDSTROM, AND IT IS SO CUTE.

RITA WAS THERE WITH HER GRANDCHILD AND IT WAS REALLY AWESOME TO SEE THAT WE'VE ADDED ANOTHER TC CLASS.

IT'S REALLY EXCITING. GREAT NEWS THAT WE ARE BUILDING IN THAT AREA.

AND I KNOW MRS. ASHTON CAME OVER FROM ERNIE PYLE AND SHE'S AMAZING.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS A GREAT EVENT. DOCTOR ROBINSON AND MISS ASHTON.

THEY ARE GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT.

WE HAVE ANOTHER CLASS OVER THERE AT LINDSTROM.

I WANT TO SAY HAPPY FIRST WEEK TO ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND OUR EMPLOYEES.

I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE AN AMAZING YEAR. I WANT TO SAY JOIN PTA.

I HAVE ALL MY ENVELOPES. I GOT THEM FROM RITA AND I'M GOING TO JOIN.

I JUST GOT TO PUT ALL THE $10 BILLS IN THERE, BUT YOU CAN JOIN AT YOUR SITE OR YOU CAN JOIN ALL OF THEM.

SO I WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE TO JOIN PTA BECAUSE THEY DO SO MUCH FOR US.

I WANT TO SAY GOOD LUCK TO MAYFAIR. THE REASON WE CHANGED THIS MEETING WAS BECAUSE MAYFAIR IS PLAYING AT SOFI.

THE FOOTBALL TEAM IS PLAYING AT SOPHIE ON THURSDAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, MY DAUGHTER LIVES IN TEXAS AND SHE'S FLYING IN THAT DAY, SO I WON'T BE ABLE TO ATTEND.

BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY GOOD LUCK TO MAYFAIR AND I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT THEY'RE PLAYING IT. SOPHIE. THAT'S A REALLY COOL THING. I ALSO WANT TO SAY I WILL BE THERE FRIDAY AT BELLFLOWER. THEY'RE OPENING UP. I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR COACH MILLER AND HIS SQUAD, SO I LOVE FOOTBALL TOO, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET BACK ON THAT FIELD AND REALLY, THAT'S IT FOR WHAT I'VE DONE.

I DO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT OBVIOUSLY I'M DISAPPOINTED, BUT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT YOU GUYS TRUST, I WANT TO SAY THAT I WILL ALWAYS BE STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH YOU GUYS.

I WILL ALWAYS DO WHAT I THINK IS BEST FOR THE STUDENTS.

WHETHER WE AGREE OR DISAGREE, I WILL PROMISE TO TRY TO LEAD.

AND THE BEST THAT I CAN, WHICH IS DOING THE RESEARCH AND DOING THE WORK AND SHOWING UP TO THE EVENTS AND TALKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

I PROMISE TO LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITY. I PROMISE NOT TO BE LOBBIED BY ANYBODY AND I WILL ALWAYS BE TRUTHFUL.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE BOARD WILL.

SORRY, WAS SEPTEMBER 4TH. CORRECT. OKAY. IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THIS MEETING WILL BE ADJOURNED AT 727 FOR THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2025. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.