All right, good evening everyone. I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful spring break. Uh, my spring break happened to fall the week after Apple Valley Unified, which gave me a unique opportunity to visit a few schools um during the school day that I hadn't been able to see yet um during school hours. I had been there for after school stuff, but um it was nice because I could actually go and visit and um not need a sub back in my classroom. Um I do want to extend my sincere thanks to the administrators who took time out of their busy schedules to show me around their campuses. Um and to the staff members who held down the floor while those tours were happening. Um and to Kylie for scheduling that for me. Thank you. Um, I truly appreciate the warm welcome and the chance to see the great work that's taking place across our district.
During the break, I also had the pleasure of spending a day at the Desert Christian Track Invitational where I was able to watch many of our Granite Hills High School students compete. It was a huge track meet, huge. Um, it was a great day of athletics and school pride. I especially wanted to give a quick shout out to two of our junior varsity female throwers who were incredibly kind and kind of kept me company during the off time of their events. Um, but they did they were just great and they represented our district well, both in their sportsmanship and their character. Finally, I'd like to remind my fellow board members that we we will have a table at the upcoming International Children's Day event. I think it's on the 24th. Anybody? Yep. Okay, cool. I remembered that one. Um, so it'll be on the 24th.
All of the craft kits have arrived and I can confirm they're super cute. Um, I've been fighting the urge to make one myself. I think I will anyway, just so we have a sample. But, um, I'm looking forward to seeing our board members and our community come together to celebrate our students and our families. As we head into the upcoming testing season, I want to wish all of our students the very best. We know how hard you've been working and we are proud of your efforts. So, do your best, take your time, and remember that we are all cheering you on. Thank you. Superintendent Nelson, I concur. Field day was a wonderful way to send us into spring break. Upon returning from spring break, our students and staff have begun um cast testing and this will um fill this month and um into the first week of May.
It's exciting time of year with a lot of celebrations, but testing has to happen first. Um earlier this week, ABUSD was asked to present with Youth Truth um at a national coalition for improvement in education summit. Um, we are the only district, they believe, nationwide that utilizes data from the annual youth truth survey with the superintendent student advisory. Mr. Sloer and I drove, presented, and returned to the district on Tuesday. It was a wonderful way to highlight our students and how their voices are being heard to create change that's actually data driven. A lot of the adults that were there were asking us, "How do you get them to even get into that data?" Well, we told them we just stand back and let them go because it's amazing to watch them. Yesterday, we had the pleasure of attending the Greater High Desert Chamber as was mentioned.
Um I'd like to at least mention the students um the scholarships from uh the both Granite Hills High School and Apple Valley High School. Christian Coronado, um Granite Hills High School. Macy Gibson, Apple Valley High School. Daisy Mile, Granite Hills High School. Trisha Patel, Apple Valley High School. Aiden Renoso, Granite Hills High School, and Angeline Silva, Granite Hills High School. It was wonderful to see such a number of our students receive scholarships. Um, we also got to hear county superintendent of schools Ted Alejandre highlight several countywide initiatives and highlighted how the high desert districts work collaboratively. One of the initiatives is the early high desert that the early high What did I just do? I can't read myself. is early literacy and our county offers Footsteps to Brilliance which is an early literacy program that's accessible online to all San Frernardino County families and it's free of charge.
Last month, I was thrilled to hear, and um Principal Wendy Watt will know what I'm about to say, um that two of our classrooms, Roman Hernandez and Leanne Price at Sandia, have been added to the Footsteps for brilliance to brilliance brilliant mind model classroom honor role. This means that a 100% of their students have been using the program for 45 minutes a week for a sustained period of time, which in turn means they are building literacy skills for their students beyond the classroom. It's notable. Congratulations, Miss Watt. and to the teachers that are doing that. The data that the research is clear with that program that when students engage outside of the classroom in any given length of time um over a stain sustained period of of weeks um they gain literacy three times faster than other students. We have done lots of promotion about this program and we will continue to do so.
Today we held the final student advisory of the year. bittersweet in my world because I've watched these um students grow each year, some of them since they were in fourth grade. We had each high school planning team come together for the first time to support the elementary adviserss. Not my idea. It was the high school students idea. They talked to us about what they would tell their sixth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade selves and what was important at high school. And one of the things they offered was, "We think the adults tell us those things, but we don't really listen to them when we're in middle school." So maybe the kids could tell the kids. And so what happened was they came to each table and sat with the elementary students after spending some time building some slides. And those students um the principles kept coming to us.
They don't want to work on their plan right now. They want to talk to the high school students. And you know what? that was okay because the principles can continue those plans that we were building um at their school sites, but the engagement that was happening at the tables of these students being able to see themselves either um going on to college like these high school seniors were explaining they were doing or um in a pathway or a freshman who has just gotten through the end of their, you know, finishing their freshman year and how different it is was pretty incredible. Um we will definitely do it. We had some feedback on how to um change it up for next year and the high school students thought it was incredible that the elementary students do a taste testing and they got to participate today. Um as we um close this, I I did share with the board, but I think it should be publicly stated as well that of the nine um Sanernardino County classified employees of the year, four of them are from Apple Valley.
Cliff Led Better Transportation Services, Jonathan Silva, custodial and maintenance. Jennifer Mada, security services and um Rachel Yokum, technical services. And finally, today is World Autism Day. Um it was wear blue. I'm in blue for students that and adults that deal with autism and um I'm pretty proud to know several several people that have lived with it and um do incredibly phenomenal things in our in our dayto-day. So support anyone with autism. Thank you. All right, we're going to move on to reports. Union representatives. Um, I just want to confirm CSEA does not want to speak again. Correct. >> I believe that's what Mr. Scott indicated. >> I just want to make sure. Apple Valley Unified Teachers Association, Avuda, Karen Sabers. Okay. All right. Item six, close session reports. The clerk will read out any action taken in close session. In close session, the board of trustees took action in support of the following recommendation from the superintendent.
Public employee appointment resignation retirement reduction certificated and classified employees on a motion by Buchanan. Seconded by Longshore. The board of trustees approve the following. Appoint Ron Clayber as high school assistant principal Apple Valley High School range 8, column 4 on the certificated management salary schedule 210 base days effective July 1 on a vote of 50. In close session, the board of trustees took action in the support of the following recommendation from the superintendent. Public employee discipline dismissal, release, reassignment, transfer, and leave. Approve the compromise and release agreement between the Apple Valley Unified School District and employee number 4436. Uh motion by Raleigh and seconded by Buchanan. Uh it was a vote of 50. In close session, the board of trustees took action in support of the following recommendation from the superintendent conference on litigation government code section 54954.5 subsection D and 54956.95 M Pennington versus Apple Valley USD.
On a motion by Buchanan and seconded by Raleigh, the board voted unanimously to deny the claim dated February 12, 2026 of Michael Pennington. Yeah, >> it is. In close session, the board of trustees took action in support of the following recommendation from the sup superintendent. Conference on litig litigation government code section 54954.5 subsection D and 54956.95 Miss M. Pennington versus Avosd by Buchanan seconded by Raleigh. The board voted unanimously to deny the claim dated February 12, 2026 of Michael Pennington. In close session, the board of trustees took action in support of the following recommendation from the superintendent. Public employee appointment, resignation, release, reassignment, transfer, leave, certificated, and classified employees. On a motion by Raleigh, seconded by Taka, the board of trustees approved the following. In order to prepare for Sandia Principal Wendy Watts retirement within the next 18 months, the board took action in support of the superintendent's recommendation to reassign Marlo Knox from high school assistant principal to assistant principal elementary Sandia Ele Academy effective July 1, 2026.
and the principal of Sandia Academy to be effective upon Mrs. Watt's retirement. During this transition, Mrs. Knox shall be Y rated to maintain range A column 5 to 10 days duty days. While Mrs. Watt continues to lead Sandia Academy with distinction, this strategic placement establishes a clear succession plan and allows Mrs. Knox to fully integrate into the Sandia Academy culture, systems, and family. This succession plan ensures a seamless transition of leadership providing continuity for our students, staff, and families. On a vote of 50, you've been approved. Mrs. Knox, would you please congratul children and my grandchildren. I think it's amazing that a principal cares enough about their school to tell people that they're going to retire it um far enough in advance that somebody amazing can take can come in and support and build the relationship. So, congratulations Okay. Adopt. Oh, yeah. Adoption of the agenda.
The board may approve the agenda as is or add andor pull items from the consent agenda for discussion andor action. I move we approve the agenda. >> Can I get a second? >> A second. All right, we'll be taking a vote via roll call. >> Do we have anything to pull? We don't p >> not here. Mrs. Longore, >> I. Mr. Raleigh, >> I. >> Mrs. Tucker, >> I. >> Miss Apara, >> I. >> And Miss Buchanan. I >> Kylie, do we have any public comments? >> Uh, we do. We have three cards this evening. >> All right. Thank you.
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. Uh so first up we have Kian Peak. Good evening, Superintendent Nelson, members of the board. First, I want to thank you for continuing to hear me for each month, as this is the ninth one I've been here. I've been told that my voice matters, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to speak. I do want to address comments that were made at the end of last meeting. It was suggested that the issue is about one student being lazy or unable to get up on time. And I think it's important to clarify that your comments hurt deeply, Trustee Oak, and it's not a feeling I appreciate or one that will leave my heart or head anytime soon.
However, I did like the comment where you said, "I've heard that it's been that high schools do start too early." Because it's true. Uh, even if I were lazy, which I'm not, this is about students across the district and about following California Senate Bill 328. That law exists because of overwhelming research showing that teenagers have different biological sleep uh cycles and that early school start times that negatively affect attendance, academic performance, and overall well-being. So when we talk about later start start times, we're not talking about convenience. We're talking about what is healthiest and most effective for students. I've also heard the argument that high school is meant to prepare us for the real world. But students already live in the real world. It just looks different. From what I've seen, many essential uh careers like healthcare workers, first responders, railroad workers like my father, and others don't follow one fixed early start schedule.
Their hours, their hours vary. Retail and restaurants often don't even open until later in the morning. The real world isn't one rigid bell schedule. And personally, I aspire to more than just adopting a system that doesn't work. I want to succeed in one that actually prepares me. What school should prepare us for is not exhaustion. It should prepare us to learn, think clearly, and perform at our best, but students are entitled to an education that does not harm them. That's not unreasonable. That's the standard. I also want to respond to the idea that this is how things have always been. With respect, that's not a reason to avoid change. It's often the reason change is necessary because right now what it can feel like we're being taught is that we're expected to push through and some through something we already know is harmful and accept it because that's how it's always been.
Education has evolved over time. We've learned more about what helps students succeed. This is one of those moments. >> 20 seconds. >> I also understand that staff schedules and responsibilities matter. I respect that completely. But the purpose of the school system is to serve students first. And this law reflects reflects that priority. And I want to be clear. I'm not going to stop showing up. I'm here because this matters. And I will continue to advocate respectfully for not only myself, but for students who are affected by this. I'm here because the issue matters, not just to me, but to students who may feel uncomfortable speaking or aren't able to be here themselves. I'm here >> time. If you could finish. >> I'm almost finished. I got one sentence left. I'm using my voice because I've been to told it makes a difference and I intend to keep using it respectfully and consistently until we see progress on this issue.
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Terry Peak. Good evening. I also want to address something that was said regarding my son because it matters not just for him but for every student watching how adults and leadership behave. You called him lazy. You said you were sick of hearing it regarding SB 328. And yet month after month you've told him you were glad to see him that you couldn't wait to hear him speak. So which is it? Because from where I stand that's not honesty, that's hypocrisy. What changed? Was it what he said? Or is it that you didn't like hearing it anymore? Is it because that he continues to call out this board for failing to prioritize students? Or is it because someone on this board, someone you don't agree with, happens to support him? That's not about my son. That's about board governance, which is what you've all signed to adhere to and follow.
Miss Oak, you've said over and over that you bleed orange. Well, I bleed for my children. I bleed for their mornings, their exhaustion, their pressure, their effort, their sweat, their stress, their laughter, and their growth. And I cannot help but believe that if my son were one of your orange-blooded students, you wouldn't be offended by him advocating for his health and the well-being of over 3,000 high school students and thousands more to come. And maybe that's the real issue, that this voice didn't come from where you expected it to, that it hasn't been one of those orange-blooded students challenging the mediocrity of this board. But let's be clear, he has said repeatedly this may never benefit him or his high school start time. So, he continues to fight for future students. My son is not lazy. He is a student athlete. He takes honors and AP classes.
He performs at a high level in his sport. He hosts Cougar News on the regular and documents events for multimedia often. He has been requested to be in several different teachers classrooms throughout his school career. many of my boys have because once you've had a peak kid, you truly understand being appreciated and the principal of a great family. He volunteers not just for other teams at his high school, but for the community with over 500 hours of service. He participates in extracurriculars. He works. He has hobbies that he nurtures. He maintains friendships, family involvement, and a full balanced life. And still, he shows up here prepared, respectful, and consistent. That's not laziness. That's leadership. No student should ever walk away from a place meant to support them feeling dismissed, disrespected, or betrayed by the pe very people entrusted with their education. And yet, this is now the second time my son has felt that from this district.