So those are my comments. >> Thank you very much. So that you know um we recently Tony uh Commissioner S uh Vice President Santiago was going to speak about allege um work that we're doing. I also want to speak to the fact is that we are going to initiate a um RFP committee and we're going to look at working with our vendors to see where we can save some money as well. It's going to start in June. Um I will talk to you a little bit about that later. I don't want to hold up uh the rest of the meeting for that, but it's going to um we're going to go to our vendors and tell them to scratch their pencils and see where we can get money. It's it's not too late. It's always a good place to start saving money to uh Commissioner Paris's ethical reminder.
um with positive school culture. Um a positive school culture is also going to depend on how we support student behavior. Um data from surveys also indicated that this is still a strong need that we need to um try to reduce discipline um action that might be happening at the schools while also helping be proactive by teaching some skills that might be leading to some of these discipline areas. Um and so we can see that from a lot of district discipline data. Um PBIS or positive behavior interventions and supports um is a framework and that framework aims to create environments where students can focus on learning rather than all of the other noise that is out there for these kids. Um and while serious behaviors I don't want to I don't want to discredit this serious behaviors are going to be addressed appropriately. The aim of PBIS is really to focus on some of those smaller things and prevent them from becoming the larger things as well.
Uh got to go to the Disneyland Hotel for the California Department of Ed distinguished schools recognition and congratulations to Lexington and Oxford Academy. Um Tony Thurman, our state s superintendent of instruction was there and Oxford also got a blue ribbon of distinction. um also went with my fellow um board members to the um state of the city um at the Grove and um um Cypress High School held their own um honorary service awards dinner that I attended last night and then I went to the awards the night before and then uh the Gilbert Greater Anaheim Kuanas I was there with uh with Mr. O'Neal. I've been to several capstones. Um, Oxford, Kennedy, Ball Junior High School, Lexington, Walker. Um, and I want to tell you something. The stories that really resonated with me were some of the stories from um, Cypress ILC and Magnolia. >> I thought that the ILC's were just uh, things about about just really recovering credits, but it was so much more than that.
Is there any discussion? I do have some questions. Okay. Um in the 11 FTEs, um it says those were eliminated vacant positions. And I was curious how much money had been budgeted this year's for those vacant positions. Were you able to get that question to them in advance or do you know the answer off the top of your head down there? I have to look that That's all right. I would have to look up the uh if the whether they or not they were on admin hold or built into the budget uh in order to answer that. I I don't know if they were already budgeted expenditures for this year. And and what I look Are you curious about like an adopted budget, first interim, second interim? I can give clarity that way. Um I guess just, you know, looking at um the cost for vacant positions that we were um maybe setting money aside for.
Thank you. Because we do have an ethical uh and legal obligation to make decisions to protect our students and preserve the quality of education in this district. We all put our hands on the Bible or whatever the book you believe in and we swore a an oath and we swore to the constit hold uphold the constitution of the state of New Jersey. Um the alternatives would be a significant cutting of staff that would directly impact students and families across this whole city, not just one section, the whole city. Uh under the lower budget scenarios being discussed, 2% would require the elimination of 49 positions while 4% would eliminate 25 positions being cut and then at six it's only it's only 13. Those reductions are not abstract numbers. They represent teachers, aids, counselors, support staff, specialists, administrators to provide critical services to students every day. These cuts would be especi especially harmful to our special education services where staffing levels directly affect the students ability to receive indiv individualized instruction.
Um, in our discussions, we had lots of different discussions over student behavior. And we recognize that some of the critical skills that are leading some to some of the behaviors that are um bubbling up and becoming problem problematic in our in creating these positive environments for students um are skills that we think we can support them with, including conflict resolution. Um so we want to build in opportunities that we can support students with. How do you argue with kindness or how do you um have discourse around something when you have disagreement? Um so we believe that this is an approach that um allows skills to be taught rather than um simply punished and ultimately it will lead to positive school environments. And the next portion is talking about student opportunities. Obviously we are doing what we can to keep our kiddos in Jennings County. We want them here with us.
It was about kids and their stories and these circumstances and how our how our district really does see students by name and need. I mean really extenduating circumstances. Uh some of the kids had to go to work to support their families. Others had parents who had health conditions and so forth. So I just really am thankful that we do have these ILC's and and the work that they're doing. performances. Uh, Cypress High School Dance, Dancing with the Stars, Kennedy High School encore performance. I went with, uh, Dr. Frereded to their show choir competition set. Uh, ba ballet folkloro makondo. Um, boy, uh, really incredible. And that's been going on for 26 years. And that was my first time. And it was so much fun to see parents up there dancing, to see little kids and the community together. Um, I went to the Cypress Combined Community, elementary bands, choirs, Cypress Theater.
I'm not sure um with with um as far as any salary Sorry, any salary or any sort of health insurance um that sort of thing. Yeah, I I appreciate you looking into it. Um so when we look at these 11 positions, have they been there um for a while like over time or is this something that they were just vacated? Yes, e- each will have their own story. I mean, I could I could speak to the Dean. I know we started the school year with the Dean at Phoenix Academy and uh that position went unoccupied shortly after the start of the year. So, that that's a position that each one will have some sort of story to it. I would have to get the the story, though. Okay. Yes, even even we can look at um just general, not exact. I would appreciate it. Um also the 18 FTEs that we're looking at here on certificated, it says reduced or eliminated.
Behavioral support therapies and legally mandated accommodations, reducing personnel in these areas risk larger class sizes, diminish supports of our most vulnerable students and increased strain on our educators and our staff as well. We're going to ask them to do more with less. Our responsibility of as board members is not simply to minimize tax increases, but to weigh on the real human impact that every one of our decisions make here on this day. We are entrusted to act in the best interests of our students. We swore that oath including that those who we rely most heavily on our district services. Supporting whichever increase you support is about minimizing harm. preserving educational equality and upholding our ethical duty to provide every student with access to support and opportunities they deserve. That is my final statement. Does anyone have any other questions or concern that or comments that they would like to add before we move on?
Um, but expanding on what we offer, I think, uh, when you look at what other uh, districts are doing around us, we are miles ahead of them for what we have to offer. Um, just think of Black Cat Racing, all of the, you know, expansions that we've done on at the high school for careers. Um, it's it's what's bringing kids in. Um, additionally, Todd talked about um the online programming expanding on what we are offering to keep our kids um if an online option is what's best for them. Um, so we still have a connection with our kiddos. Um, and then two, with that online option, how can we get them to come and do other things, you know, tutoring opportunities um with the coordinator. um we still get to see them for testing and things like that, which is wonderful uh when they come in.
They did, uh, Frozen, um, Oxford Academy instrumental featuring 500 plus musicians at Oxford. Um, their show choir, The Elements, at Cook Auditorium. Um, and then I went to Anaheim schools and community. They had um three elementary schools and Savannah that feeds Savannah High School. And then um I got invited by the their superintendent to go to the Anaheim Elementary music, art, and creative creativity festival at Pearson Park. So I went there and saw that. So so great. Cypress High School Choir Show, Kennedy High School Choir Show, Lexington yesterday. Um went to both of their performances and then was also at the social justice uh collective love thy neighbor. >> The final LCAP meeting was so much fun and oh the entertainment was so good by Savannah and Oxford's jazz bands for it sounded like professional musicians. Um color and light art show. Congratulations to all the students.
Um so, if if reduced, will these now become vacant positions, budgeted vacant positions? No, the pur- the purpose of resolution is to cut them out of our system. They would be eliminated. Okay. Thank you. And I just wanted to also um point out that I encourage the sport and administration to consider all 427 positions that were added during the time of temporary funds. Um many administrative uh with our communities' requests that cuts be made far away from the classrooms and school sites. Um most of these positions um in this one and the next directly affect kids. I just wanted to point that out. Thank you. Are there any other discussion or questions? Oh, sorry, one more question. How many district nurses will we have left after this? Does anyone know that? How many what? District nurses. What will be left? I know it has four on here.
I thank every one of you for doing your homework. You've done a great job as well. >> Um in committees, we've all worked really hard. This board has come together. We we we discuss. We don't argue. We discuss. We get a little colorful sometimes, but we come out shaking hands and walking out and being being collaborative. And I'm very proud of the work that you've all done. Uh Dr. Robotazi, would you like to add a final word before we move on to the next? >> I just I don't think the general public knows the work that's put in behind the scenes from these board members, these volunteers who dedicate hundreds of hours a year to this. the amount of time spent in budget committees and other committees, the amount of research that some of our board members are doing. Um Allan, you made you made me look bad there.
So, we're doing what we can to to uh keep our kiddos with us. >> And I believe the last group touched on it as well that that communication piece with our um stakeholders and in this community are really important. So, we want to use this um this action um area as an opportunity to also share that story of Jennings County Schools, not just with our families, but with our whole community. Right. Parent Square is an excellent resource and it's great for reaching out to our parents, but that's only about 25% of Jennings County residents. So, we want to make sure that we are looking at how do we increase the engagement and the communication with our whole community. Um, we don't want the shining moments of our students to go unseen. We want to showcase those. We want to make sure sure that we reach the whole community and we see all the positive things that Jennings County Schools are doing.
I'm commissioning one uh to paint something. She said she'd do it for free but anyway I said no. Uh, I mean the work that was incredible. And then one fun thing that I really think I always say food, music and culture kind of bring and just bring people together, you know. And so anyway, um, Orange View and Western did a fundraiser with the Harlem Wizards. I would and um the PTA from Orange View, the PTA from Western and the instrumental music department uh work together and I told Dr. Frerieded, I'd like to see the Harlem Wizards play our principles, you know. So, >> so graduates, I just have one thing to to say to you and congratulations and I want to thank the principles as well and uh a lot of a lot of our principles are celebrating staffwide. So, you know, at the end of the year, it's just really a time to celebrate.
I'm just trying to keep my numbers straight. >> Are you talking registered nurses? Under the certificate of No, LBNs would be classified. >> Okay, so district nurses. District nurses, we will have three left. We'll have three. Thank you. All right, we will be taking a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore? I abstain. Mr. Raleigh? I. Mrs. Tucker? I. Ms. Akpara? I. And Mrs. Buchanan? I. Item two, adopt resolution number 2526-17, final resolution terminating services of classified positions as a result of reduction or discontinuance of particular kinds of services due to a lack of work and or lack of funds. Can I get a motion? Move it. I'll second it. All right.
You did some great research there. So, thank you. But I appreciate the fact that we can have this discussion. There could be some diff differences of opinion, but everybody here listened. everybody here uh is making the decision that they they think is best and I respect that fullheartedly and I thank this board for their commitment to this district for all the time and effort you've put into this process regardless of what happens with this vote tonight. Um this is a really a great board to work with. Thank you. >> So just that the public knows we're going to pivot a little bit different tonight. We're going to go to open public session and then we have to go into executive session for some legal matters. So, I'm going to read the statement and we're going to open up to the public. >> This portion of the meeting is open to the residents.
So, that's part of this um bucket as well is just in increasing community engagement and communication. >> Thank you very much. >> And I'm just going to reiterate what she just said in the last part because we've been really excited about Parent Square. We've had a lot of great positive feedback from parents about parents square. But we've also become where that's our main mode of communication and an important data point that we came across was that's um just around 25% of our population in the county is reaching that because those are our parents. So we are leaving out a large portion of the county who might want information about the local public schools by relying too heavily sometimes on parent square. So that was part of the marketing strategy that's already bubbled up. how do we have broader communication um to make sure that we're sharing information with all groups um not only our parent stakeholders.
But graduates, um, there's a famous saying by Muhammad Ali and you got and I love it because it says, "Don't count the days, make the days count." >> So, as you as you are eager to get out of here, make the days count. Okay? and just, you know, be uh be thankful and have gratitude for the staff, the counselors, the principles, administration, and most of all your parents. >> So, thank you. >> Thank you, >> Trusty Mano. >> Reset the time. All right. Um, I was uh very fortunate to be able to go to a number of events. um as my colleagues has said um before um attended the state of the city of Anaheim um and a um number of things uh I was able to go to the combined uh concert of Ball and uh Laera their spring um band concert. Um, one fun thing before we went to the state of the city, uh, uh, this is, um, teacher celebration um, month or week, I'm sorry.
On a motion by Rick Raleigh and seconded by Maria Akpara, is there any discussion? I have some. >> I do have a um a question. Um after hearing from the um the CSEA president, I'm assuming that they have come to a a a conclusion that this is a right direction to go. Correct? It was taken to their um unit and it was ratified. Okay. That's why I'm voting for it. Okay. Trustee Longshore? Yes, thank you, President Buchanan. Um this is heavy on me and I just want our community to know that I see you. Um we have 19 layoffs of classified staff through this resolution, 13 of you lost both hours and insurance. Six moved positions. And 216 lost hours and or days, anywhere from 30 minutes to to couple several hours. Um you're not just a number to me. I see you and my heart grieves for your loss.