But that's a day-to-day thing that Those are the things that are out of our control. >> thing whatever we put here and even if we make the decision we go we follow through with it, it doesn't mean that next year our needs change. None of this is binding from a long-term perspective, right? So if things change next year, we have to make a different decision and bring back the sped coordinator or or the science teacher or any of these positions, uh this is just what the current plan is and and it will be evaluated. I mean every single time that there is a retirement, not only are they looking it's it's a it's a reflection point on and they're having the conversation of do Yes, we we will many of them but not all the time we we can hire at a at a lower cost, but not all the time.
So like what is what is that about? And they're asking more and looking for more data. Um and we've also said to teachers and I don't know that the message was miscommunicated or anything in the past. We've said the intervention time is sacred. Do not give it up. Do not finish the curriculum. Don't use your intervention time to get through the curriculum. Like the intervention time is that individualized focus. And I've talked with some principles and said maybe we even need a little bit more intervention time as we're building this foundation because as students get older then they have more time with the core um content. So there's more information in what I provided in the report. There's more information in the slides in terms of that. And again I would welcome any of you if you have questions please reach out. I'm happy to answer questions and talk through it.
We talked about our approach to literacy in the district and I'll echo what the principal said. We've made a lot of progress and there's plenty of work to do. But please if you want to come if you're planning to visit the middle school or one of the schools, I'm happy to go with you and talk a little bit about the literacy work that we're doing. And over February vacation, I let folks know prior to the break. We had This would be our third vacation academy. We offered it in February and April last year. We this year we had 37 students from all three elementary schools. Teachers had a provided a blend of academic activities with specials and STEM and phys ed. They had different themes based on the grade levels. Some of them were animal fun. They talked about the four seasons in some classes.
>> Any thoughts on any district two candidates? And then a motion. Uh, yes. I'd like to um I'd like to recommend Michael Gallagher for district two. I know I know him very well. We worked together at Independence High School for years and and he'd be a great candidate. >> Great. >> Yeah, I agree with that assessment. Not a big fan of the guy in district three, but what can >> I have to debate you on that one? >> Yep. So then, so the motion would be to um to vote for uh Michael Gallagher for district two, uh myself for district three, and Denise Ramona for district five. >> I second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I. >> All right. Great. Next item is the Santa Clara County School Boards Association liaison. It is recommended the board select a BUSD board of trustee member to serve as district liaison for the Santa Clair County School Boards Association.
All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? All right. This passes four to zero. Okay, we're moving along. 9C4 also discussion action. We'll be talking about funding source for elementary counselors resulting in status change. Also again presented by John Shepherd. Great. Thank you. Thank you, President Calkins. So, this board voted a year ago to shift the secondary counselors from probationary zero status to a permanency track status which is really important for the solidarity of that of that of that unit. And knowing as as Ms. Krueger indicated before that we had a whole another half of people in that situation, our elementary counselors. This is our opportunity to shift the probationary status for those elementary counselors as well from um categorical funds that were provided to us um right around the pandemic era uh now to our to our local control funding formula and LCAP and we're really excited to be able to shift um on paper it just looks like probationary status, right?
Um, you know, we can certainly move I mean, we're not going to move graduation this year. Um, next year, if you want to move graduation, you certainly can. If you >> depends on this the next summer with the gym, >> right? You never know. Yeah. Yep. >> And I I think when those junior parents were were asked, they were just asked you want it on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. It didn't say anything about Memorial Day weekend, >> right? No, I just sent out saying Friday night or Saturday. >> Yeah. Which I think it the ones I've talked to, it changes their answer if it's Memorial Day weekend. >> Oh. >> Friday night or Saturday versus >> any other weekend. Yeah. >> So, I mean, we can we can certainly look at that. You know, matters not to me. I mean, whatever. >> I think we send that back out to the the same people we surveyed and explained.
And and and so the we're always looking at that and we're and we're evaluating it at that time. Do we need this or do we need something else, right? So I I think just to put a finer point on it, when we when we're talking about a science position, right? And that that is being created in part by I mean we the reason we don't have to let somebody go is cuz somebody's retiring. Doesn't necessarily mean that the classes that the that teacher was leaving taught are not going to be taught, right? It means there's those to be taught by somebody else. Um what it means is that within the science department there's person there and as we've talked about a number of times, one of the ways we're we're trying to adjust is recognizing where um we have some under-subscribed classes, right? And so maybe we've had two sections of something that we really need to merge into one.
Um, member Dyman and I had a significant conversation about this. Um, shortly after he was elected, we talked about our approach to literacy in the district and I'll echo what the principal said. We've made a lot of progress and there's plenty of work to do. Um, but please if you want to come if you're planning to visit the middle school or one of the schools, I'm happy to go with you and talk a little bit about the literacy work that we're doing. Um, in over February vacation, I let folks know prior to the break, we had this would be our third vacation academy. We offered it in February and April last year. We this year we had 37 students from all three elementary schools. Um teachers had a provided a blend of academic activities with specials in STEM and fizzed. They had different themes based on the grade levels.
Some of the teachers tied it into the Olympics. I know the teacher we had for phys ed had been testing out bobsled runs and curling. So they were connecting it to the Olympics which which was going on the week that we were in school and I think all in all it was a very positive experience and I didn't list the teachers in here and the IAs who worked the program because it's really a credit to them. It wouldn't happen without them. They're the creative engine that makes it work. They're willing to take on students from different schools that they're not familiar with and it's it's like you walk in that Tuesday morning and kids from Federal Street and New England coming into Four Corners like like oh, where is this? What is this about? And then literally by the end of day one they have friends from all three schools, they know the teachers, the teachers know them.
So just uh for your information, you know, the Santa Clair County School Boards Association meets monthly. They have kind of a monthly lunch and learn. Sometimes they're in person, sometimes they're virtual. Uh so you would be our district representative participating in those meetings. And then of course they have a number of events throughout the school year uh that you would have opportunity to help support and facilitate um like their uh leadership uh nights, their legislative brunch, those sorts of events. The Hoffman Awards, that's a big one. Is anyone interested in being a liaison? Anybody? I'm on I'm at their meeting all the time. I I attend all their meetings anyway. So if either of neither of you is interested maybe I I can put my name there. What more can I citizen? >> But I mean I am in of those I attend those meetings.
Doesn't seem like that big of a deal. But for these folks, that means that we are we are showing them that we value what they do for our kids. Any questions? Yeah, please. In short, um are we doing anything differently in terms of are we missing out on any opportunities? I mean, we're shifting these into the our permanent budget. Does that What kind of impact does that have on other options we might have or um I guess I'm saying is we've already talked about declining enrollment. I know we planned to do this. Um are there any downsides? Well, there's one pot of money, right? I think that's kind of where you're going with this. There's always going to be one pot of money. Um it really comes down to prioritization and where we are with trying to address the needs of our students. And we are feeling now, as you saw earlier in the budget presentation, that prioritizing staff and ensuring that those staff are going to be supported is a priority.
>> Sure. >> Sectionals are we can manipulate. We can't manipulate regionals. So, we feel like doing it. >> Yeah. I mean, I would just encourage I mean, my personal encouragement would always be you just have graduation holiday weekend. That's what I think too. >> And you just set it that weekend and you set a time and it never be >> and if you go once some want to go somewhere, you go somewhere. >> Right. Right. Right. >> I don't think you should give parents an option and I am one of those. >> Yeah. April is a junior >> need to pick a thing. It's because you're going to have people complaining. >> You're right. >> Either way, and this is what we're doing. >> Okay. So, >> I will tell you how many how many different surveys were sent out last year about graduation. >> We only have like 500 junior class.
Um but you know, we're we're talking about sort of department-wide adjustment. We're not talking about not teaching chemistry, right? And and so there's always the shifting of the assignment of classes and what gets offered by the available staffing that that happens every year. Regardless of the budget. >> Right. Yeah. But, you raise an excellent point. 100%. So, again, this is just more narrative in terms of the impacts, right, of of the reductions. Um The The first one Middle School Spanish? It's It's not Middle School It's just the sixth and seventh grade, right? Right. It's in the Middle School. >> that underneath. Yeah. Small print. Right. When you say Middle School Spanish elimination, it means it's not going to Sixth and seventh. And that right? Eighth grade is Middle School unless I'm mistaken. Understood. I No, I I I I got it. So, so that's where that's where It's at the Middle School.
Some of them were um animal fun. They talked about the four seasons in some classes. Some of the teachers tied it into the Olympics. I know uh the teacher we had for fizzed had been testing out bobsled runs and curling. So they were connecting it to the Olympics which which was going on um the week that we were in school. And I think all in all it was a very positive experience. And I did list the teachers in here and the IAS who worked the program because it's really a credit to them. It wouldn't happen without them. They're the creative engine that makes it work. they're willing to take on students from different schools that they're not familiar with. And um it's it's like you walk in that Tuesday morning and kids from Federal Street and Newton are coming into Four Corners like like, "Oh, where is this?
So, it's been a really positive experience and we're already planning for the April break. And just want to give a shout-out for this coming Saturday. We have the second annual um cardboard challenge this year based on the pop popularity of the event last year, which was the first time it was tried. It was at Federal Street. It's now moved to um the middle school so that we have a larger space. We have more parking. That was a need we identified last year and really want to credit the elementary PTOs, um Secretary Webb, and the PTOs at Federal Street and Four Corners for their work on this. They again, they are the engine to drive this. They're collecting cardboard. They might be driving around Greenfield on recycling day grabbing cardboard. Um please let them have it because we will use it this Saturday. That event is 10:00 a.m.
all the time anyway. So, yeah, I can I can >> awesome. >> Thank you. I think that is because you're already there anyway. >> Yeah, sounds good. >> All right. Is there a motion and a >> I move a second? Okay. All those in favor? >> I All right. Thank you, Jay. Trusty Fina, for that. Um, next up is board bylaw 9320, meetings and notices. It is recommended the board review and approve board bylaw 9320 meetings and notices uh for a first reading. This is just updating language based on new law specifications uh on what's appropriate for public agenda and close session agenda. >> I move for approval. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> All right. It's approved. And the next one is the new board bylaw 9320.1. It is recommended the board approve uh review and approve new board bylaw 9320.1 remote meetings and attendance for a first reading.
Um we can get into the weeds of very specific dollar amounts and what how that could impact, you know, the general fund, but um we um both the unit and and uh Chico Unified have decided that this is a priority for us. And like I said, there's one bucket of money and we always have to prioritize. And as far as we know, it's long-term sustainable. My my fear is always we bring some new people in, you know, permanently and then >> Yeah. income goes down and we have to cut somebody somewhere else, you know, when things get tough. Yeah. And I will say that as the board has discussed this and made made the recommendation and the approval um to move the counselors into more permanent funding, um that has been on my multi-year projection um since that decision was made. So, because we knew that was happening, we can plan for it accordingly.
I'm not saying giving them the option to choose. I'm just saying >> this is this is our decision and why it's our decision. Just so they know that we listened to what they said. They came in and talked back choice because it's >> Yeah, you're right. >> I love you. >> Yeah, >> Mrs. Boon is going to send an email to me requesting a meeting right with the for you know survey up. So, okay, take a look at that. Again, there will be nothing on the agenda for Monday. I just I I did want to follow up like I said I would from the public comment about it and wanted to provide all that information to you guys. So, >> speaking of the meeting and our attendance last night, um it was a beautiful meeting by the way and thank you for doing that. I think it was amazing and I hope that we get some publicity.
It's at Ashland Middle School sixth and seventh grade Spanish. It looks like I I understand what Okay. I can I can adjust the language. >> the heading to I can I can adjust the language. It It Sixth, seventh. Sixth and seventh Spanish grade. I know. Sorry. Right. It's grade six and seven. So, yeah. Or else I I understood. I get your point. But, It's just that It's articulated That's going to be alarming to somebody when they read Unless they read the finer print underneath it, right. So, All right. In other words, read the small print. Let's move on. I did, but it doesn't say anything about it here. All right. We're moving on. We will have eighth grade Spanish only, and it'll be Spanish one for all kids. Uh so, they're prepared to go to Spanish two at the high school. They're using the curricula of Spanish one at the high school now.
What is this about?" And then literally by the end of day one, they have friends from all three schools. They know the teachers, the teachers know them. So, it's been a really positive experience. and we're already planning for the April break. And just want to give a shout out for this coming Saturday. We have the second annual um cardboard challenge this year. Based on the popularity of the event last year, which was the first time it was tried, it was at Federal Street. It's now moved to um the middle school so that we have a larger space. We have more parking. That was a need we identified last year. and really want to credit the elementary PTO's uh me secretary web and the PTO's at Federal Street and Four Corners for their work on this. They again they are the engine to drive this. They're collecting cardboard.