He spoke so negatively about the seniors. I did provide that in my feedback to the capstone team. At the time in May, I still had a lot of hope that the district would help my family. I reached out to former teachers and principles. I came here to the district looking for help. As the months passed, I started to lose hope and began feeling the weight of the district's silence. The district had the means to reach my uncles. You had their phone numbers. You had their email addresses. Their home is just five minute drive from here. And I continue to show up even though I myself am in need of support. Even though I would rather focus on grieving because I do not want another family to experience the abandonment mine did. And the lives of Anaheim Union students matter to me. I am so heartbroken.
We resume negotiations on March 13th. We're looking at article 17 which is class size to continue our discussion about um school counselor balancing case loads and then also article 20 to talk about stipens and um hourly rates.
I am so exhausted. Please don't make another family carry this much alone. We needed you then, and I am standing here telling you we still need you now. Please don't let my family's abandonment be your legacy. Our next speaker is Robert Garcia. It has been one year and the silence from this district is deafening. Mia Mahia died on from suicide on March 17th, 2025. And in six days, we will mark the anniversary of a physical assault she endured at Lexington Junior High. Seven days, another eight, another, nine. You get the point. And in 12 days, we will face the anniversary of the darkest day that Mia's family has ever endured. One year ago, this leadership bailed us. We remember the day the director of school mental health programs and services chose dismissal over empathy. We remember a grieving father being accosted instead of being supported.
Any questions? Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, >> Kylie, do we have any public comments? >> We do. We have uh three cards this evening. >> Okay. Thank you.
The district acts as if everything is fine, but the families are not okay. While they live in the dark, this district is busy praising the status quo. Students whose names you have had for a year are being celebrated. They are playing sports, being honored, while Mia is silenced. This is a disgrace. The district would rather protect their image than protect your children. Safety in this district should not depend on luck or a chance encounter. The holes in this district protocol are the gaps that children like Mia have fallen through. Time has not healed our wounds. It has only made us more determined to get justice. And we will attend every board meeting and we will speak at every opportunity. We have no intention of stopping until our children are actually safe. Do not wait for us to be silent because we never will be. Our next speaker is Victoria P.
>> As provided on our public comment card, speakers are requested to limit comments to a maximum of three minutes. If more than one person wishes to speak on the same topic, subsequent speakers should limit their remarks to new information only. Public comments shall be limited to a maximum of 20 minutes per item. So, first up will be Kian Peak. I know I'm kind of the odd one out because you don't get much student speakers, but is it possible to maybe look into having public comments a little earlier in the board meet because waiting until 10 p.m. every single time doesn't really help with the student schedule. But aside from that, good evening, Superintendent Nelson, President Buchanan, uh, esteemed board. Oh, and Coach Cobbs, and President Sabers, good job. I This is the first time in eight months I have seen this room not filled with a sea of red.
What is plausible deniability? What's is what's the opposite of plausible deniability? Opposite of arrangement that allows an activity to be denied. Undeniability. non-secre, accountability, openness. A UHSD, you get an Fgrade for this. One reason you have declining enrollment. I have been contacting the district since 7th grade, 2024, 2025, regarding concerns about my son's being being told he needed to be in school daily, even when he's sick and an asthmatic. They want him back in school quick. No excuses. The phone calls I was getting were appalling from Lexington. Yet the schools can't provide a safe environment. They are hostile, toxic, dangerous. That by a social worker from his doctor's office where the bully, thugs, gangs control the schools, not the administration who further victimize the students and use their them as scapegoats after they're attacked. Not enough is being done to stop the bullying. If you don't want to take action steps to interim safety programs at each school, then as parents, we need to call on you to resign.
So, it's pretty cool. Uh, I'm here with your monthly reminder that you are still not obeying the law to follow SB 328. I know you said that it is time to re-evaluate it another time, but I definitely think no. I know that this is now the time to think about it. A few days ago, a message was sent out to uh Parent Square. It was stated the 2026 2027 school year. It is clear that Apple Valley Unified School District will undergo a period of transition. As part of this reconstruct restructuring, we will segmentally standardizing bell schedules at the TK through 6th grade and TK through 8ighth grade levels. And as with any change, we must negotiate the effects this decision of this decision with our associations. I appreciate the district's effort to review and standardize bell schedules at the TK through 6 and TK through 8th grade levels.
Resign your job if you cannot do it and give another person who wants to do the hard work with the parents and students to have a safer environment that is not toxic and hostile. In 2025, little Mia, a bride student, committed suicide due to the toxic hostile bullying at Lexington. To this day, it continues. The district has not issued an apology to the family nor the community. The leadership have not shown empathy and understanding and consideration of the loss of their precious family member. This family happens to be one of the kindest people you will ever meet. In 2024 2025, an accused music director of sexual misconduct was running the program for Lexington. Had not been moved around. Bloera had been moved around Balo Eera since the '9s. He was fired after the victims went to the news. In 2024, Ball Junior High, a special needs student had pictures of him undressing in the gym posted all over social media.
However, I would encourage the district to expand this conversation to include high school start times as well. California has already recognized the importance of later start times for teenagers through Senate Bill 328, which requires that high schools begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m. I reiterate over and over and over again, this law was created because extensive research shows that teens need more sleep and that later start times improve student health, attendance, and academic performance. If the district is already evaluating schedules as part of this restructuring, this is an ideal opportunity to ensure that all schools, including high school, are fully aligned with both the spirit and requirements of state law. Addressing bell schedules across all grade levels would also create greater consistency for families, transportation planning, and overall school system. I respectfully ask the board to include high school start times in this discussion so that our policies reflect both the legal requirements and what we know is best for student well-being and success.
The mother went to the news. She moved in Savannah High School 2025 December. A student was stabbed after a fight after school. I was told by doctor, new superintendent, it was a gang fight. Unacceptable. In 2025, I found out in Lexington Junior High School, they were having MMA fights in the bathrooms. They were posting him all over social media. My son was set up. He was one of the victims. Cypress at Cypress High School. At Cypress High School, team was attacked in an ambulance this week. There's been weekly fights and physical attacks. The district leaders never apologized and said they victim blamed and wanted to rush my son's transfer to any other schools. As a transfer student, you have no right to discriminate against these students. In 2026, the bullying, toxing, hostile school environment continues. Discriminating against transfer students continues. As parents and residents and voters and taxpayers, we compel you to take action steps to stop this now or resign.
It makes sense that if there's not if there is going to need to be a change, change it all at once. And I'd like to point out this topic has gained a bit of traction and community awareness. I have been in the talks with Ste uh Steve Famiano of the voice of Apple Valley and have recently circulated across community uh social media on a post uh from our town of Apple Valley. I appreciated this uh the disc uh discussions whether for or against what I'm saying. It keeps my valid my topic valid and just keeping it out there and on your guys' mind. Thank you for your time and consideration. Good night. >> Thank you. Wendy Watt. Good evening board and cabinet. It is my great honor to serve students at Sandy Academy and the Wolfpack. I want to start this evening by being being very explicit that the comments I make tonight are mine and mine alone and I do not represent any other person's viewpoint.
Resign your positions. If you cannot do your jobs, RESIGN. Our next speaker is Julie Hyman. Good evening and thank you for the chance to address you. I didn't come about um Mr. Barrian, but I'll just put in it's really moving to see so much of the community come out for an instructor. And I'll say before we got engaged even my husband, my now husband said to me back then that he his band director had affected him so much he wanted to name if he had a son that's who he wanted to name his child after. Um so it's if there are teachers like that here that's amazing. Um, what I wanted to address the board about, um, I'm from the Jewish Community Action Network, JCAN, and I previously addressed the board in January when you all we were really moved and honored that the board uh, honored the request to uh, recognize International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Leadership is like the pond the pebble that you throw in the pond. The ripples go on and on and sometimes have no end. And tonight I want to talk about leadership. Throughout my 27-year career at Navy USD, there have been a number of leaders who have molded and mentored me as a leader. None more so than the cabinet sitting at the table tonight. Each member of this cabinet has contributed to my development as a leader and made it possible for me to do my job dayto-day. Mr. Sasher was my principal at Apple Valley High School and he taught me through modeling what compassionate servant leadership is. Mr. Conrad, also my principal for a short time at Apple Valley High School, taught me that humility and humor are the bridges to building relationships. Mr. Schillingberg, you taught me something, too, even though you weren't my principal.
We are grateful for that. Still, um, we saw uh, for today that ethnic studies um, particular ethnic studies curricula are being considered by the board. And what we'd ask is for the Jewish community, which I know is a small minority in this district and everywhere in the United States, to be included in the conversation. It wasn't entirely clear from the uh detail that was provided in the packet what in particular the instruction would be and whether the Jewish community would be discussed or not. Um and so the the request is just to please include us in the conversation so that we can have more transparency around what's going to be taught on this very important subject. Thank you so much for listening. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL OF our public speakers here tonight and uh sharing uh your comments with the board. On behalf of the board of trustees, um we do take all the comments seriously.
You came in my campus early on in my career and you picked up a yard stick in my office and you took me on a walk across my campus, pointing out safety concerns all along. You never told me that was a lesson, but boy did I learn a good one. How to keep my students safe. Thank you for that. And finally, Miss Nelson, you taught me one of the very most important lessons as a leader and as a manager, which I'm not very good at always, the managing piece. And that is that having really hard conversations are absolutely going to happen in my career. But if I approach those conversations with a caring heart and intent of co in the intent of coaching, they're a lot easier to do and they're the very best gift I could give my colleagues. These are just a few of the aspects of leadership that I've been provided at the hands of these leaders.
So, thank you so much for being here. I will now transition to our superintendent and staff report. Dr. Free. >> Thank you, board president Guerrero. Uh a lot of the things that I was going to share have been shared by Dr. Caj her admin report. So I'll be brief with some of these things, but I do want to highlight with the leading and learning visit that we had on the 24th. U I know as mentioned we have about over 130 folks in attendance, but you should know that that was across the country. So we had folks here from Hawaii, we had folks here from Arizona and also Maryland in addition to California. Um and I want to give a specific thanks to not just the staff at Dale Junior High and Magnolia High School, but also acknowledge Centrellia Elementary who hosted a visit for the first time ever uh as part of our leading learning walks.
As a site administrator, one of the most important needs I have is that when I need guidance, I need that phone to be answered. And I want to thank this cabinet that for nine years as an administrator in this district, that phone has been answered every single time I've called. Every time. You have never left me all alone to make decisions without guidance in uncertain circumstances. I want to thank you for also putting trust in me. Your unwavering support of my ability to grow and learn and do better is one of the most important things that I could say in my career and it is a precious gift that causes me now to be able to lead others like you've led me. I want to acknowledge that the board is a part of this leadership team. It is integral to the work that we do as school district.
And then of course I want to give a big shout out to Carlos Hernandez and his team for the work that they did in their leadership. Um you heard about the Cal MSCS visit with Kennedy and Walker Junior High. Not to repeat all that stuff, but I do want to give a special shout out to Scott Rendell, Allison Conrad who helped coordinate and facilitate event in addition to the both principles, Poppy Hillis, Dr. Societ Jeffrey Sai along with Amanda Bryant who also was a big part of that day and of course our teacher leaders Jack Gupton Eric Hoff then you have Valerie Ariho Nish Takahara and Tina Alvoante who were also pivotal in that role and then of course our students there was a panel in the afternoon that I was privileged to be not a part of but to be there to witness and our students as you can imagine knocked out of the park.
I'm almost I promise one sentence You need to call. Answer when the call comes, please. Lead by modeling with and show us what leadership looks like. And finally, and most important, support your leaders because it's crucial to us being able to do our day in and dayout jobs working with students and families and staff. I have every confidence in Mrs. Nelson and in the cabinet and in this board to come together and do the job that needs to be done at this time in our district. Thank you for your support. >> Thank you, >> Kylie Codell. I never thought I'd be on this side of the mic. I'll just start with that. Tonight, you were handed a document. I'm going to publicly ask that I can get a copy of that document. I believe it said internal and not to be distributed. I'd also like to request a P of who it was distributed to and who the intended audience was to.