Thank you so much for being here. >> Thank you very much. Um, good evening members of the board, uh, Superintendent Freed, Executive, uh, committee and the committee, uh, community members. Um, as Nancy stated, my name is Nate Patel, and I have the honor and privilege of serving as, uh, chairperson of the citizens uh, bond oversight committee for measure K. Uh, before I begin, I'd like to recognize the members of the committee uh, who serve alongside me. We have Marlene Drink Wine uh who is co-chairperson and community at large representative. She's not here tonight. Uh Lisa E, community atlarge representative. We have Robin Mshaw. Um please stand if you're here so they can see who you are. Thank you. I like to embarrass people while I'm at it, too. Um then we have Christopher Ree, parent representative. Brenda Sodto Bryan, representative active and bonafide taxpayers association and Alan Walker, representative active in a senior citizens organization.
I'm like not built for that as a soccer mom. Uh, and then Apple Valley High School. I'm definitely looking forward to Mr. Sunundevil. I know it got I think it was was it canceled last year? Was that last year? >> Okay. I was going to say it kind of like blurs together after a little bit a while, but I'm I've been seeing all of the the promos on Insta and they look fantastic. Definitely grateful to our fire department for partnering. Um, but yeah, I I can't wait. So, I will be there tomorrow and I think that's it for me. So, I will turn it over to Superintendent Nelson. >> Rio Vista, the theme knocked it out of the park. I think it's going to be hard for people to challenge that in the future. Um, I really did love the beginning where you talked about culture, community, and connectedness as chefs.
>> Great. Thank you. >> So hopefully at this point in the presentation you're really starting to understand more deeply what Christine was talking about when talked about that ripple effect all the way from our central office staff supporting both Amry and Jess as our district literacy and numeracy coaches and they in turn support all of us as Rams who then support classroom teachers and students and that trickle down effect is so powerful. So I'm hope hoping that I might highlight for you a personal experience that I think reflects that as well. So I've had the luxury of being an educator at Chasure Public Schools for 29 years and the last 16 I've moved in and out between being a classroom teacher but also being a coach as well. And so one of the best things most powerful things about being a coach is the amount of professional development that I had to be able to do the job effectively and the amount of conversations deep deep conversations with teachers and my colleagues about um teaching and learning and how that would impact our students.
Each member was appointed on June 12th, 2025 and represents a distinct stakeholder group within our community. I want to thank them for their time, diligence, commitment to transparency and for the community. These are all volunteerbased times that they take their time out of their professions to be able to help. Um, tonight I'm presenting the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee annual report for the period of September 2025 and through February 2026. Uh, measure K was approved by the voters in November 2024 and authorized an issuance of $496 million and general obligation bonds for capital improvements across the district. The purpose of the CBOC is to ensure bond proceeds are spent on only approved capital projects, review the financial and performance audits, provide transparency and accountability to the public. During the reporting period, the committee met twice, September 23rd, 2025 and February 23rd, 2026. We conducted a site visit to Western High School to observe Measure K improvements.
And I know that happens on your campus when I visit. that's always going on. So, keep doing the um presentations. Uh showing up in an apron to do the presentation, just tied it all back together and your smiles and your poise um as elementary students getting up at the podium is um something to be noted because it's very difficult to do that. So, excellent job. I appreciate all the information about the great things going on at Rio Vista. So, keep doing it. Um, a few of you are student adviserss and so I love seeing you here too. Um, esports at High Desert Premier Academy. What a neat thing that you guys got to be part of over the last few years and letting it grow. And um, it's a wonderful way for students to compete in a in a place that they may feel comfortable when they might not be in sports or other things.
So being able to be in a classroom with teachers, as you heard them say, live time and have that trust between us to be able to do that coaching work to benefit our students or working with students and having the classroom teacher be able to see that, think about it, reflect on it, ask questions is really powerful. I thought maybe potentially when I moved back into the classroom that those experiences would end when the position ended. I chose to go back into the classroom around 2020 and felt the need to be present with students. And what I found quite surprised me is that actually that coaching role really doesn't end. Once you become that coach, you've had the training. It really continued on to impact the teams that I worked with and most importantly my students. I took all of that learning with me and was able to apply that in my own classroom which was really a gift.
We reviewed financial documents and statements, program updates, project up budgets, upcoming project list, and bond issuance details. Importantly, we reviewed the financial and performance audits for the year ending June 30, 2025. The independent auditor tested 91.1% of Measure K expenditures. The final audit reports were presented to the board in December 2025. And let me tell you, there were no negative findings in the audit. So all your money is being spent correctly. Um, measure K consists of four bond series totaling 496 million. Bond series A1 27.4 4 million fully expended as of August 31, 2025 used for payoff of 2017 certificates of participation, cost of issuance, and underwriting discount. Bond series A $180 million total proceeds approximately $185.6 million expenditures to date approximately $23.7 million. remaining balance still not used approximately $161 million um that have not been used. Funds have been allocated towards design, inspection and testing, construction, district project management, furniture and equipment and bond administration cost projects that are completed and in progress.
Um, so I know that those are big. Um, kids get college college scholarships doing esports sometimes and so um, look forward to hearing about it. The acts of kindness. Um, we have talked about this in every student advisory. It doesn't matter which school we're at. Um, it keeps coming up and we talk about the fact that kindness is something that doesn't cost anything. People can take um, people out at the knees if they choose to, but they don't need to, right? And so every chance we have to be kind matters. You never know what the other person is going through or um what maybe they're experiencing and maybe a single act of kindness shifts them. So um I want to continue to encourage that. Uh I will share later about a little girl at um Sitting Bull that I experienced last week that um was a act of kindness and I feel like I need to make her famous because she just did something that was incredible.
Um some of my colleagues were kind enough Um, when I asked them, I said, "It's my perception that it might have been helpful, >> but I don't know. Was that the case?" And they were like, "Kristen, come on. You know, of course it wasn't." They talked about some of I won't read the entire quote, but just to highlight some of the things that they said. One of my fourth grade colleagues at Norton School talked about how um it was really helpful when I came back into the classroom after being in the coaching role because it helped her in that support of understanding the standards and knowing what students need. So, we had had conversations centered around that. Um, Mr. Para is also a fourth grade teacher at Norton School and much like when Kristen Lopa let it off this evening, she talked about moving into different classrooms and always going to the RAM as that go-to person to help her learn what was the key points in a new grade.
The committee reviewed several projects that are currently within budget on schedule and examples are that include Dale Junior High School gym HVAC, Ball Junior High School HVAC phase 2, Loera H uh High School HVAC phase 2, Hope School at Orange View modernization, South Junior High School site improvements, Gilbert High School site improvements. The project and designs include Catella, Kennedy, Loera, Savannah High School track and field, Savannah High School gym HVAC, and Catella and Anaheim High School HVAC phase 2. Projects in planning include Handle Stadium, Magnolia High School track and field, Western High School band room, and Western High School portables. Upcoming programs programming includes Cypress High School site improvements and field restrooms, Oxford Academy improvements and locker rooms, Walker and Western Junior High School modernization and new construction. Based on our review of audits, financial reports, project updates, and site visits, the district is in compliance with education code and government code requirements.
So later in the board meeting I will share about that. Um I also would love I I love the fact that you pointed out um your school and the youth truth survey information. The fact that you have one of the highest outcomes in feeling safe having a safe environment is something to be noted. So um the work that's going on there and the the student adviserss and the work that you provide back to Miss Garcia and the rest of the staff um needs to continue. Miss Jilly, um we got to spend time together today in um student advisory and you did have a cheering section even though you were worried a little bit about um not having a whole group here today. You you've got the group. Um we are so proud of the accomplishments at Granite Hills High School. Uh the fact that um soccer's been mentioned.
Mr. Par having knowing that I had been in that role was able to tap me in and say, "Hey, what about the writing? What did you how did you do that? And we had lots of conversations about the curriculum and needs that his students had. And so I was able to teach the new learning and apply it with my colleagues as well. So a great gift. Thank you. I'm going to wrap things up, but looking at the trend in here with our coaches and coaches, I actually um was coached by someone in this room. Christa was one of my uh teacher coaches when I taught fourth grade at Chapman and now I am lucky to be at Norton as a reading and math coach, curriculum coach. Um in this position really the real conversations with the teach the whole coaching starts with real conversations with teachers about student data.
Bond proceeds have been expended only on projects outlined in the ballot measure. No bond funds have been used for teacher or administrative salaries or school operational expenses. The committee remains confident that Measure K funds are being managed responsibly and in accordance to the voter intent. On behalf of the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, thank you to the board and the district staff for your continued transparency and collaboration.
Um Miss Buchanan stole my thunder because um Mr. Pal kept texting me and it was like one up. Now we're two up. Now we're 2-1. But it's all good. I knew that we were um hoping to get there. And um all of us would much rather be at the stadium watching the kids play um than here. We we know we have to do this part for business, but um we're going to get you out of here so that Mr. Pal can get over there and if that's where you're headed to cheer, we want you to do so. Um Olivia, thanks for being here to represent. Um, Effie caught me earlier this week and said he would not be here, but you, we were in good hands because you would be representing. Um, the things that are being accomplished at all the schools having to do with CTE is just amazing.
So when I'm sitting in data teams, I will talk about student data with and really delve deep. And with my position, I've had the opportunity of being in this position for seven years now. So, I've seen kids from kindergarten all the way up to sixth grade and really get to know these kids to the point where when I'm sitting in a data meeting, I can talk to teachers about, okay, yes, that's a point, a score, but let's talk about the whole child. Okay, these are the the strengths that this child has. this is where I think a strategy might work for this child. So I have that um luxury of being in that position where I can pass that information on to their next teacher. Um we dig deeper. We go beyond the scores. We look at their strengths and we look at areas of growth together as a team.
I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you so much uh for your uh review of Measure K. I'll take any questions from the board. >> No questions, just comments. I know this is a lot of work. So, thank you so so much for all your volunteer work. >> Thank you. >> I just want to thank Oh, yeah. Just thank you and the committee for your work, your diligence over making sure that uh we are doing what is supposed to be done with our money with with the uh public's money. I know it is a lot. 496 million plus. I think we'll probably get another at least another hundred million uh shared from the state. So, we're somewhere around $600 million we'll be spending within the district. all taxpayers dollars. So, so thank you for your support. >> Well, thank you. Thank you. I mean, I'd like to thank the staff that has has made our job easier because their documentation, their work, it's impeccable.
Um, we will have a huge representation down at Skills USA. Not just high school, but our middle grades are coming this year. Um, and we've got some PE students competing. So, they'll be building upon those skills as they head out to your campuses. and the fact that you're starting your tours um for your future Cougars and Sunundevils is is wonderful. So um keep keep going because it seems crazy that we're in March and just a few more months of this particular school year and then um a few a few of you will be finding other things that you'll be heading towards and that makes us always sad because we spend time with you um and then we know you'll be a senior moving up. So thank you. thanks for all the work and thanks for the parents and the teachers that are here um their administrators supporting them.
Um with that information we do adjust the instruction together. And if they need some modeling with that instruction, I will go into the classroom and model for the teacher. I will also um even just sit and have a discussion with the teacher so they can come up with okay, what's going to work and what can they try in the classroom. It's all about it's centered always about the success of the student. And my purpose is to get into the classroom to model for the teacher to show how data um instructs um directs my teaching and adjusts the instruction for the specific needs of all of those individual students. So really coaching it's centered on the success of every student. The whole purpose here strengthens our practice in for the data that we look at informs our decisions. um we become responsive to what the students need and adjust instruction for that and that targeted support grows growth and therefore we see the success of the student.
So, when we're able to go through an audit process, 91% of it being audited means that they almost audited every transaction. >> Only 10% of the transactions weren't audited. So, again, it goes to the staff and the board of trustees. Thank you. because you guys are working diligently to make sure that the funds of the taxpayers are used properly. >> I'd like to echo what our fellow board members had said. Um you guys are volunt are true volunteers and um I want to thank you for your servant leadership demonstrated >> through your service here. So, thank you >> um Brian O'Neal and I personally understand what you have been doing although we didn't have uh quite enough quite that much amount of money, right? >> No, we did not. >> Yeah. So, so we were on the O oversight committee so we understand learning all of the terms and and going through that but visiting sites as well.
Um when I asked Yeah, it's they don't get here without you. Um I think they could they could get at the podium and speak without you, but they need that encouragement and support. And I know today I I figured Mr. Pal would be over at the stadium and he doesn't know Jilly speaking. I'm going to be there when she's speaking. So um you maybe didn't know that, but that's what I was told. So he's here instead of there and we'll be going up there next. So thank you. All right. At this time we'll go ahead and dismiss the students and their families. So you guys are all welcome to and Mr. Powell if you'd like. >> I'll be honest. I was I was over there right before the meeting and I was like driving and I'm like trying to look and see the scoreboard and I I couldn't.