They felt heard and I really applaud you guys for that. So, um, and then lastly, people, um, I really want to encourage all parents sitting at home and listening and watching. Um, the 26th of February, you could still be involved. And also March 12th and then you have to come for the last one because that's when we have a taco dinner again, I think. So, at least bring your, you know, come for the free dinner, right? So anyway um but anyway I want to encourage all of you everyone sitting in the audience uh as well as at home to be a part of the LCAP thing. It's really it's really um I mean interesting to find out the governance of our district and how the state and LCAP and how we're funded and it's I think people um it's a process but you have to learn it and so you just keep on asking more questions.
So I thank you >> trusty ran. >> All right. It it's a love fest. I'm uh echoing the sentiments of my colleagues in seeing the improvements uh with a process. Um I wrote down equity the equity transformation cycle. Sema when you first said that and I'm so glad you had a a slide um highlighting that. Um that just speaks to me uh you know the um intention of our district always to improve always to look looking for ways to uh to improve in this process and I've been in it since the very uh beginning uh when we first started um doing the LCAP process and I am amazed every single time I come to a session there's something new that you're doing there's something more innovative there's something more to connect with the students, with the families. And um you know, just to just to shout out also when you showed the um you know, the parent prep meetings.
Um no other district's doing that for their for their parents. They don't prep take the time to prep their parents. And um you listened you listened to the parents when they said it's a little complicated. we get a little intimidated with all of the acronyms and and the verbiage and the edgy edgy speak. Um and uh this is the second or third year that we're doing this and um you're continuing to do it. you didn't rest on your laurels and um you know our district really I have to highlight everyone that um you know for the people that are new and coming to this process we have been um recognized um statewide for our process and yet when I went on February 5th you're still improving on this process I love that intentional work working on each goal at a time Um you guys are just amazing and um you what what I hear and what I see is that when you make it um when you make it easier for people to understand and um easy to easier to uh feel comfortable in the in the room.
Um they're able to give you the best feedback that we need in order to um to accomplish this goal. Excuse me. And um I was really intentionally looking at the students because you always want to look and see if they're just kind of there and you know fumbling around and feeling a little nervous you know because they're adults around them and in every session those students were right up there giving their feedback um standing up and presenting um and thank you for allowing that um to to happen. Um they weren't just there. were really involved and participating and um I I'm just so uh enamored that um you know every time I go I see everyone there and if you're a staff member you've been working all day if you're an administrator you've been answering questions and and going to s going to you know games or whatever club wanted you to come in and say hello or, you know, speak to 50,000 parents.
And I mean, I've never seen anyone grumble. I've never heard a complaint. Um, people are there and they're so willing to be in this process and engage with our parents. And I just have to let you know that um that I'm so proud, so proud of you. Um, I know it's hard work and I know we demand a lot of you um to to come and give extra time and efforts. I want you to know that I see that. We see that and we so appreciate it. Um, because we do ask a lot of you. Um, however, I feel that the community deserves that and the community is also responding to that. So, thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. I will echo my uh board members comments um just on everything and I'm looking forward to the next presentation and um as I said before it's even the tonight's presentation was very intentional the new visuals um adding new questions like I mentioned earlier um you can definitely tell that um some of the my I was able to attend the first LCAT meeting along with trusty O'Neal and my comments that night was that I truly believe that everyone in the room was here to uh make sure our students succeed and you could definitely see that throughout this process so I'm looking forward through um the next chapter for this LCAP.
So, thank you, >> Madam President. I'm sorry. I have one last comment and I can't not not share it because it it's just important as we move on to this new chapter uh and through this new process through LCAP. Um maybe could we consider just because and I know it is not intentional at all with this district specifically because it's what's required from the state of California how we designate English language learners or English learners is actually a deficit approach. Um maybe moving forward it's just a thought if we can utilize emergent bilingual so that we could see our students as more of an asset and then in parentheses maybe put ELL's ELS because I know that it gets complicated with the work and staff when we have to report things and we have to send stuff to the state but in reality if we're really to look at our students from an asset lens the word is emergent bilingual students.
So, I'm sorry I had to add that, but again, it is a new chapter. >> We speak that language, but >> I know. Yeah, but it's how you present it. I get it. >> Definitely. We appreciate the thought. We'll definitely uh look at making some adjustments uh to our when when we're we do refer to them as pluralingual, multilingual, emerging bilingual. We need to land on something, right? And and and but in terms of that asset uh based lens, we want to make sure that we stick to that. So, >> yeah, I I get it. And again, I am the newer board member, so and I've only seen so many presentations. I know it's not intentional, but it's how our state designates emerging bilingual students, right? So, yeah, multilingual or anything. Thank you. >> Thank you. We appreciate the feedback. >> All right. Thank you, everyone.
>> Oh, yes. >> Yes. >> Applause, please. >> All right. I am now going to open our public comments. Opportunities for public comments occur at the beginning of each agenda item and at this time for items not on the agenda. Persons wishing to address the board of trustees should complete a speaker request form available on the information table at the back of the room and submit it to the executive assistant prior to the meeting.
Each speaker is limited to a maximum of three minutes. Each topic or item is limited to a total of 20 minutes. Board members cannot immediately respond to public comments as stated on the speaker request form. And I will call up our first speaker is Esther Ye. Thank you to the board of trustees, tr district officials, administrators, teachers, and families for the opportunity to speak this evening. My name is Esther Ye, and I am a parent of three children with two student two sons in the Korean dual immersion program at Jefferson Elementary and a seventh grade daughter at Walker Junior High. Our family commutes 35 minutes each way through a interd district transfer so our children can participate in the Korean DI and continue Korean DI in this district at the secondary level. Um this was a deliberate decision we made with expectation that this program would continue in person.
As decisions are being made about the future of Korean DI at a a Anaheim Union High School District, I want to express my concern about a a possible shift to a virtual model and the lack of transparency and communication with families during this process. What makes Korean DI successful is not just language instruction. It is the community. Families choose this program because of the relationships built among students, teachers, and parents. Cultural identity is strengthened not only in the classroom but through shared experiences. Some families commute up to 45 minutes w each way and are willing to drive further to attend Walker Junior High should this take place at Walker Junior High. Others have made significant financial and personal sacrifices to remain part of this in-person program. Moving it online removes the foundation that makes it meaningful and effective. I understand that enrollment and finances are part of this decision.
However, if meeting enrollment targets is the goal. The district must partner with its most invested stakeholders. The families who have already demonstrated commitment. Recruitment cannot succeed if families feel uninformed or excluded. AUHSD has known for years how many students were are and are currently uh enrolled in the first cohort. A proactive collaborative approach should have become begun earlier. Recruiting within the Korean-American community also requires cultural awareness. There are meaningful differences between first and second generation V families and without understanding those nuances, outreach efforts will continue to fall short. I am not here only to express concern but al but to also offer partnership. families are are ready to help ensure Korean DI success succeeds at the secondary level. And what we need is transparency, clear communication, and a commit commitment to prioritizing an in-person model. I respectfully ask the board to carefully consider the long-term impact of moving Korean DI to a virtual format and to fully explore every pathway to sustain it in person.
We are ready to collaborate and support solutions. We simply ask to be included in the process. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Nicole Loen. If I said that wrong, I apologize. >> Good evening. My name is Nicole Logan. I am the president of the perfect harmony booster club board for Kennedy High School and Walker Junior High Singers. I'm here on behalf of the Walker and Kennedy singers to formally express serious concerns regarding the leadership, decision-making, and conduct of Mr. Brush and his role overseeing these choir programs. Our choir, our core concern is that Mr. Brush is not an appropriate fit for a multi-level competitive show choir program at this stage of its development. These programs require experienced ensemble management, clear communication with families, consistent supervision, and a collaborative relationship with a booster organization managing significant funds.
Unfortunately, his practices have repeatedly placed student safety, student well-being, and program stability at risk. First, communication. Families routinely receive late or incomplete information regarding rehearsals, grading, and mandatory participation. A syllabus and grading rubric were not provided until nearly two months into the school year, and many parents were excluded from the primary communication platform, leaving families without transparency or oversight. Second, student safety and professional boundaries. There have been multiple incidents involving non-district communication platforms, student privacy concerns, unclear supervision after evening rehearsals, and requests made of students that cause discomfort. These reflect a concerning pattern that does not align with district expectations. Third, student well-being and program climate. This is an elective program, yet students report feeling demeaned, publicly criticized, and distressed. Multiple students have been observed crying during or after rehearsals. Morale has declined significantly, and injured or struggling students were excluded rather than supported. I also want to note that students wanted to be here tonight.
Um, they are currently rehearsing and expressed fear of negative consequences for missing rehearsal. um because even if excused which speaks to the current climate. Uh fourth, program management and fiscal impact. Rehearsal time has been inefficient, prepare preparation inconsistent and competition plans unstable. Changes and cancellations have resulted in loss value for students, families, and booster funds raised in good faith. Finally, despite repeated outreach, site administration has not met with the perfect harmony booster board as a whole. This is this lack of collaboration has eroded trust and left families feeling unheard. Our request is simple. We respectfully ask for a formal review by the director of human resources into Mr. Brush's conduct, communication practices in alignment with AUHSD professional standards. Our sole interest is the safety, well-being, and success of our students and the preservation of a program families have invested in for years. Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you. >> I know you all lined up, so if you could state your name when you >> Hi. Good evening, board of trustees and superintendent Freed. My name is Tamara Stallings. Um, my daughter is a senior at Kennedy High School and performs in the show choir. I am one of many concerned parents here to speak on behalf of our choir students and to also convey my personal interactions and concerns regarding Mr. Brush. It is in my opinion Mr. Brush is unprofessional and has trouble with communication. My belief is that he is not as experienced in people skills or show choir as he has as he leads off. It seems um I'm disheartened by the things that I've been hearing from students, parents, and booster members. Um primarily and most importantly for the well-being of our choir students. Um, I've already reached out to administrators with my concerns about the last Christmas show production or lack thereof and the low morale that I have observed from students due to Mr.
Brush's leadership. My own daughter burst into tears after the last show, not because of the lack of confidence in her own performance, but because she finally let go of all of the pressure she had felt and experienced in choir under Mr. brush's um direction leading up to the show. She stated she was unhappy in that moment and that choir did not feel the the way it used to feel in the past. She said it used to feel less stressful and now Mr. Brush makes every I'm sorry. She said it used to feel less stressful and now Mr. Brush makes every mistake feel like students are going to embarrass themselves or embarrass him. It's frustrating and sad because they can't even express themselves without thinking they might be verbally reprimanded or embarrassed. These are some of the things that I've had to hear my daughter express to me frequently and it's happened during class among all students.
Still, I continue to advise her to keep going on and and to do her best while doing something she loves, and that's singing and performing. Uh because I'm proud of her. I've suggested to Mr. brush in a choir meeting that maybe he should bring students and parents together to have a future meeting where students feel safe to to express themselves to him and to parents regarding their concerns. The response Mr. Brush gave me was that it would happen in in the future and to merely email him. I did not email him because I felt that this was just another way to be dismissive and not respond with a concrete solution in that moment. In addition, I would like to express that I transferred my daughter from Kennedy from our homeschool district three years ago because um Kennedy Singer Specialized program offered something for my daughter that our district at the time could not.
Um I'm concerned that if this choir program continues in the way that things are going under Mr. Brush, there will be lack of enrollment from students. I've heard several parents mention that their child might not return next year. to to end. Um we were grateful for their previous leader leadership, choir direction, and most importantly the support, protectiveness, and care that that um choir students received. It's just disappointing and unfortunate that myself as well as many of our students and parents have come to these conclusions regarding the current leadership of Mr. Brush. Thank you all for your time. Can you please state your name for the record? >> Good evening, board of trustees and superintendent Fred. My name is Frank and I serve as parliament for the Perfect Harmony Booster Club supporting Kennedy High School and Walker Junior High Seniors. I'm speaking tonight on behalf of a number of families and students who have shared many concerns.
Our purpose is addressing you this evening is to respectfully request district awareness and support regarding several challenges. The choir programs are currently experienced under the new leadership. We understand that transitions can bring adjustments and that competition programs naturally involve a certain level of stress. However, this year we have observed an increase in student anxiety and uncertainty about their preparedness. Many students have expressed that they do not feel ready heading into competition season, which is concerning for our program with a long-standing reputation of excellence. There have also been concerns about pacing and the use of rehearsal time as well as the overall program organization at this point in the season. King elements such as finalized costumes, fully completed choreography, and a polished competition set are still in progress. Preview night, which traditionally serves as a full re dress dress rehearsal experience, is scheduled this week. Students may enter their first competition without even having a complete run through under the full performance conditions.