>> Um, for sure. I I don't have a list of exact ones, but um and I think they're all, you know, >> the ones I know of are more than like the 200k, but I can see if there's like a funding plan where that would be a piece of it, >> where that could be a piece of >> I know that um the fields always come up, right? >> For sure. But I know that one thing that that came up to a couple of times to me the last year was uh the basketball the gym floor at the middle school. >> Oh, the big the big gym at the middle school. >> It's gotten to the point where it's not safe for basketball. I don't know what that would cost, but might be worth be a great project. >> A really great idea. Um so you're talking infrastructure, right?
It takes away from our rights as students and I'm not against security cameras but I am against adding AI that will store my data. The company is able to look at this without my consent and this is not okay. Um security cameras are supposed to keep us safe but with AI they are able to hurt students and teachers alike. Would you rather listen to the people who financially benefits who financially benefit from uh Vetica cameras or who it really affects the students? >> Thank you. Hey, Alicia Trider. Hello again. Um, good evening again. My name is Alicia Trider. I'm a local parent and educator. I do not support this $2 million contract because we send our children to school to learn, not to be surveiled. Chico Unified Schools can upgrade their security systems without outsourcing services to cloud providers like Verata, a company with a history of lawsuits and data breaches.
Senate Bill 3262 requires the teacher standard boards submit three nominees for its executive director to the board of education. Requires the board of education to appoint an executive director from the nominees of the list subject to advice and consent from the Senate. And we have Hawaii State Board of Education. >> Uh members of the committee, if this should become law, the board of education will implement it. >> Okay. You don't see any problems with it, right? >> Okay. Let's not. Okay. Mitsy Higa testifying for teacher standards board. Not here. Okay. Osatoule for Hawaii's Teachers Association, HTA, HSTA. >> Aloha, chair, vice chair, Sarah Milan laughing on behalf of Osatouille and HSTA. So the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board is an organization representing the interests of educators all across the islands. Therefore, HSTA believes that a robust oversight um in the executive director selection process is essential for the future of our profession.
Um, yeah. >> Are there any small are there any short sidewalk areas that >> No. And and like I said, I think adding on like another project would be difficult, but if you wanted to add some money for like Upper Charles Trail, um, >> you know, there's >> certainly >> they got plenty of things going on, >> right? If they wanted to add to that, that would be helpful. >> I can also get a list from Jim, too. >> Yeah. Um, so maybe what we'll do is if you can do you want to put together a short list, >> have Jim put together his list and then we can review it at the next meeting and then get it over to >> That makes sense. >> You want me to specifically ask middle school gym for >> Well, just that was one that was raised at me.
For example, in 2024, Verata settled a $2.95 million lawsuit brought against them by the Federal Trade Commission regarding severe security lapses that allowed hackers to access customer surveillance. The settlement requires a 10 to 20year security program overhaul, which means that you bought a product which has been deemed insecure by the US government and will continue to be compromised for the next two decades as they do this program overhaul. Riverside and Vicata Technologies save collected data in the cloud, which is an online network of remote servers that store, manage, and process data. This data or sorry this goes directly against the children's online privacy protection act which requires operators of online services knowingly collecting personal information from children under the age of 13 to a notify parents of their information uh practices. B obtain verifiable parental consent of that collection. C let parents prevent future collection of their child's personal information.
So we know that HTSB plays a critical role in our educational ecosystem. That's why we're kind of all here and it directly impacts all teachers statewide as well as new educators uh entering or trying to enter the field. Um so the board's decisions on licensing and standard set the foundation for quality of instructions in our classroom. Uh this measure ensures the executive director is thoroughly reviewed by the Hawaii State Senate through the advising consent process and we believe this additional layer of scrutiny is vital to ensure that the individual leading this influential body is properly suited to responsibility of the job. And we appreciate your support. >> Thank you. Okay. Anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? If not, um I don't know.
Okay. You know, several people raised it to me last year. >> And so I don't know what how much it was. I don't remember. I think there might have been a number floating around, but I don't have any idea what it was. >> A safety hazard. >> It's definitely it's safety. >> It's not even >> Yeah. >> It needs to be replaced. >> So, I mean, I think that would be >> because it is has safety implications. I would think it would be sort of high on my list of >> Yeah, >> I would agree with you, Clauddio. >> Okay. So, we'll look at it next next meeting. Okay. Um, moving on to our consent agenda. Uh, could I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Um, moving on to town manager reports.
D. Provide parents access to their child's personal information. E, not require a child to provide more personal information than is reasonably necessary to participate in an activity. And F, maintain reasonable procedures to protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of the personal information, which as history has shown us, Vicata cannot do. To comply with this privacy act, how are you obtaining uh verifiable parental consent? How are you going to provide parental access to the collected data? How are you going to maintain security of our children's data with a company like Verata who cannot guarantee data security? Basically, how are you going to follow the law with this new surveillance system? When and how will you be updating all employee contracts to gain their permission to be surveiled at work? Have you negotiated this change with the teachers union? I want to conclude by highlighting that precedent has been set by other states, municipalities, and countries when it comes to the use of AI facial recognition surveillance software in schools and public spaces.
Any questions? Any questions? As to why HTS >> um well, they did send in a written testimony and one of the things that I highlighted which I was going to ask them is that says this bill would change the process that is already in place with the board of education. Well, literally it does not change the process. They only adds on a level that instead of the board of education making the final determination, well, they would make the final determination, but then it comes to the senate for confirmation. So, that does not change. But they're not here to testify. So, okay, we will move on. Uh, Senate Bill requires the school facilities authority to establish geographically based capital improvement project districts for the localized management of deferred maintenance. Transfers all deferred maintenance functions and funds and vacant facilities development branch positions from the Department of Education to the school facilities authority as intended and contemplated in act 72.
So, the first item that we have is the community center improvement project update. >> Yeah. Katherine, do you want to give an update on that? >> Yes. So, the food pantry moved um on 25 and 26 and um so that went really well. We had a great group of volunteers and staff uh who moved the food pantry over um in about two and a half, three hours maybe. Everything was all put away. It was >> volunteers and staff a bunch. >> That place was was filled. I want to say 30. >> Yeah. So, that was that was really great. So, thank you to everyone who came out to help. That was definitely a group effort. Um and on last week, so that was the week I believe of 29, the organization of the recreation storage space started and that will continue. Um the construction bids are due on the 19th, which is tomorrow, and that that's about it.
This type of software is already banned in New York State, San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, several Massachusetts cities, including Boston, and the entire country of Sweden. And I want Chico Unified to do the same. Ban the use of AI facial recognition software so we don't have to continue this conversation every time the security cameras need a refresh or every time we get a new school board. And please save taxpayer dollars by continuing to use on premises network video recorders for your security purposes. Thank you. Okay. Kendall Smith. >> Good evening. My name is Abby. I'm speaking um on behalf of my friend Kendall Smith. She and I are both teachers at Chico High School. Good evening. Many of us spoke at a previous board meeting and outlined our concerns with the system in great detail. Rather than rehashing the details of all those points, I simply want to reiterate that the choice to spend these facilities funds in this way sends a message to our students about where the district's priorities lie.
uh statues of 2020. First person to testify is an Horuchi from the AG's office. >> Welcome. You are >> I am Randall Watt. >> Randy. >> Yeah. Good afternoon. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Kani, members of the committee, Randall Watt, deputy attorney general for the department. Um, as outlined further in our written testimony, um, the department has comments on this bill. We note that, uh, section 3C of the bill, um, states that all appropriations, items or appropriation and unexpended balances of funds, including any federal funds designated for deferred maintenance or facilities development within the DOE, are transferred to this SFA. We note that this inclusion of or facilities development appears to u not extend beyond the state purpose of the bill on page two. So if this the intent of the the legislature to include um facilities development to either change purpose or if it is not to to delete or remove or facilities development within that section.
Okay. So, for the food pantry change over now to the police substation, is there >> um all of the typical patrons that would come to the community center, >> have you seen the same level of people >> and more. Okay. >> Because that was going to be my question was like whether or not it was. >> Yes. So, there were >> if people found it or not. >> Yes. >> There was a lot of publicity about it. >> Yes. And then um people just you know in that general area didn't know we existed which is great. So they found us which is awesome. >> That is really awesome. >> Yeah. Yeah. Lot of lot of stuff going on there. Um finish. >> Okay. Um so before I get to the YMCA I did just want to address you know the 500,000 Yolanda that you mentioned and Doug mentioned.
On the Chico High campus specifically, I see my students lives impacted daily and tangibly by a multitude of frankly crumbling facilities that are in need of repair. And when students see millions of dollars going towards surveillance instead of the broken bathroom that I can see from my classroom, they don't hear we care about you. They hear we're watching you. Um, like we heard tonight, a principal can watch them on their phone now. Um, your principal is becoming Oh, sorry. This is a step towards making our schools less personal. Your principal is now a person who watches you from behind a screen instead of a person who looks you in the eye and knows your name. Uh, we've been repeatedly assured tonight that we own our data. Our data is secure. Our data is encrypted, etc. But ultimately, it's stored in the cloud. We all know the internet is forever.
Additionally, the department uh notes that the term deferred maintenance is not defined in HRS chapter 302A and we recommend a definition um perhaps following that in HRS section 37-68. Thank you very much and I'm available for questions. >> Thank you, Rand. >> Okay. Um Kayashi Aloha, chair, vice chair, members of the committee. Jesse Suki, deputy superintendent of operations. Um, we rise in opposition to this bill. Um, the Hawaii Department of Education um is opposing transferring deferred maintenance oversight to SFA. It would needlessly duplicate existing district level structures, fragment the critical integration of maintenance and CIP projects, and violate the collaborative framework previously established under act 72. And we just note that um the introduction to the bill said um transferring uh money and staff to SFA as contemplated in Act 72. when in fact act 72 expressly states under section 8 that it shall not be construed to transfer the department of education office of facilities and operations including the facilities maintenance branch auxiliary services branch and any other general fund and position appropriations to SFA with that we'll rest and be available for comment >> thank you uh Ricky Fujitani for SFA Thank you chair, vice chair, members of the committee.
So, so we were notified yesterday and I believe I I passed it along that we were awarded $500,000 in a complete streets grant for the work at Fountain and 135. So, which includes sidewalks, crosswalks, new traffic signals. So, that's in conjunction with the water work that we just did as well as, you know, the repaving and everything that we'll do as Doug mentioned today. So, you know, we did have that money approved um you know, that would come out of capital, but I think that's a good example of, you know, even though we have the funding, you know, through the general fund, we still try to take advantage of opportunities to get, you know, grant funds or, you know, have somebody else pay for it essentially. >> Yep. Bring those tax dollars back. >> We try. We try. Um and then, um so congratulations. I know Doug highlighted uh Becca Navaro.
Hacks happen all the time. They have happened and like stated BATA specifically has already experienced a catastrophic hack. Forgive me if I cannot take the word of a tech company whose frankly objective is to make money when it comes to protecting our children's faces. We've been told also that this facial recognition feature attached can um is an add-on that can be turned off. But if we don't intend to use the facial recognition, then we shouldn't be contracting with a vendor whose business model centers on this. We also would be losing many if not most of the positive qualities that people have mentioned are the reason why we want this system. Choosing this system is not inevitable. There are alternative choices and I'm hoping we can make a more informed decision together. When a decision introduces this level of privacy, legal and ethical concerns without engaging stakeholders.
Ricky Fujitani with the school facilities authority. We offer comment on this bill. Our comments are that it the localization I think the best example is what I call the Costco effect. Um when I was on the Maui Kahaloy Costco, I saw the guy doing permitting for the county of Maui. I also met the person in charge of the water and I met my cousins that work for the fire department. The importance of localization is you have access to all these key people that decide how schools are fixed. So localization is very important. It comes down to people and it comes down to where you can see where all the problems are. More importantly, it also allows for accountability. You have someone accountable for all the decisions and can make the right decisions on equipment specifications and materials. So that's the comment. Localization is important. Thank you.
She was really key on that. >> Yeah, that'll make a huge difference to that intersection. It's just it's >> you know the you know you see kids darting across the street because there's no crosswalks. There's no like it's it's it's tough. >> Yeah, it's a tough Well, Makita you Yeah, it's >> Yeah. >> So, Michael, real quick regarding complete streets. We did a complete streets plan six years ago. >> It was a while ago. >> Seven years ago. And I know, you know, it's great that we were able to apply for this. Have we looked at updating that plan? Because I know part of that plan was the Elliot and Fruit Street intersection and that's now been done. Um, so we need to I think look at updating that plan. Is that something staff is doing or we are they looking at bringing in the public like we did before or >> Yeah, I think if we did like a whole new plan, we would we would have like a public process and everything.
The responsible action is not to defend it and double down. The responsible action would be to take ownership and pause and correct it. If correcting this decision is beyond our grasp, we need to do everything we can to make this as close to right as possible. Safety decisions of this magnitude rely on informal cannot rely on informal assurances that features will stay off that hacks won't happen. That's not governance. Governance requires written safeguards embedded in policy. Right now, we do not have those safeguards in place. All we have is someone's word. This is a structural flaw. We're not assuming bad intentions on anyone's part. This is about accountability. When mistakes are made, a strong institution acknowledges the mist mistake and course corrects. Thank you. Okay. Jake Texara. Um, first first I'd like to say as a teacher at Chico High, how proud I am of my my various students who spoke because that was amazing.