She wants to go to PCTI. I said, "Listen, do me a favor. let her spend one day at Clifton High School. And I told you that I bet she will want to go to school there. And that's what happened. You became the first Mustang for a day. We created a program for students to have an opportunity to spend a day at Clifton High School to dispel some of the con misconceptions people might have. Now, now here's the gamble I took. Do you regret that decision? I don't regret the decision, but I know that people are choosing, as we've seen, to go to these schools more, and I think it's because of the lack of transparencies in these matters. So, I just want to do I want CHS to have the best students, and I want CHS to have students who go on to have very successful careers.
Everybody can be heard. There we go. Okay. Uh, good evening, uh, board president Guerrero, members of the board, uh, Superintendent Freed, cabinet, uh, the community members and guests. My name is Brian Bellski, and I have the honor to serve as our district's director of arts education. Uh, tonight's state of art, state of the arts report is a collaborative report. Uh I'll provide the progress monitoring updates on our three strategic plan focus areas uh of content infrastructure and sustainability. Uh and then I'll step aside so that you can hear directly from members of the youth arts council about the impact of this work as well as their desires for building arts programs for the next generation of AUHSD students and families. Uh one year ago, this board took a visionary step by adopting the strategic arts plan. That plan was a promise to every student in AUHSD that their creativity is a priority and their voice is a catalyst for change.
We're trying to get rid of third-party to have a reduction, have our own people do our work. Body cams I can argue are a very similar concept. I am avoiding third-party accrued cost for inevitable investigations, warranted or not. Um that'll be rescued by that. But further, it is just an industry standard safety tool. It is a tool that protects them. It's a tool that in a in a in the middle of an extreme crisis has remote feature capabilities that you know, an officer away from the station or of the incident can view in and be extra eyes in real time, you know, in the event of of safety or or like that. So I mean it is a a safety tool in addition to a fiscal tool, I guess is what I'm what I'm trying to get at. My opinion. Thank you. Is there any other discussion?
So, I just want it to be just like when I saw it and how great it can be, it can like uphold that standard. >> You're the best. Thanks, Jenna. >> Thank you very much, >> Dr. Dr. Telsey, would it be possible to invite her to an ed meeting? >> Love to. >> Okay. So, we would like to invite you to an education meeting so you can discuss your concerns, what would happen or your experience to the ed committee. Okay. And we'll reach out to you. Thank you. Any anyone else like to address the board? You have five minutes. >> I'm sorry. I just have to point out Jenna's go we we announced it last board meeting but Jenna is going to Cornell um on a full >> full ride full ride to Cornell that's pretty impressive I might say it for the rest you got two more meetings Jenna maybe right I'm probably going to say it at every meeting just so you know I might say it every time I see you until then I might say it at graduation I'm sorry.
By concentrating our efforts into the three focus areas, we've worked to increase student access to arts courses and to continue to provide transformative experiences for all students. Our work has been recognized by other districts across the state as we build systems in arts learning, ensuring that our programs aren't silos, but integrated pathways that align with our core mission and our values and connect directly to the professional lives in the arts. In this first year of implementation, we focused on building the how and the what. Uh but we're here to celebrate the who tonight. Uh not the band, but um we're we launched our and I know bad dad joke. We launched our youth arts council last fall. Um, and these student leaders that are here with us tonight are the pulse of our district arts program. Their work this year has blended arts advocacy, leadership development, and learning how to affect public policy, including a great lesson from board president Guerrero.
No. All right, we'll take the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore? I. Mr. Rawley? I. Mrs. Tucker? I. Ms. Akpara? I. Mrs. Buchanan? I. Item five, approve the recommendations for requested leave as noted. I'll go ahead and make the motion. I'll second it.
Let me start again. Good evening, uh, members of the board. Uh, my name is Matt Ward. I will just start with some, um, understandings. I'm one of the very few people in this city that has been on both sides of Clifton Avenue. I have been a past president of the board. So, what I'm going to say tonight is to underline what the superintendent said because I could not say it any better than what your opening remarks were about the seriousness of the situation. It's obvious. Let me just say this.
Looking at our first segment tonight, in focus area one, we're ensuring that content is relevant and connects to clear, high-quality career pathways. This year, we've completed phase one of our 7th through 12th grade performing arts curriculum mapping. Those programs now have a blueprint for vertical alignment so that students regardless of their grade level or prior experience receive the same high standard of support as they enter and progress through our system. This excellence is fueled by our teachers. We've seen a significant increase in staff attending major professional development conferences and more importantly bringing that highlevel learning back to our district-wide monthly PLC's and sharing it with their colleagues. Our students told us clearly through the very first meeting of the youth art youth arts council this year that they want a direct line to the creative industry. We listened and at this year's OCD college and career pathways in the arts event, uh, AUHSD pretty much dominated.
Any discussion? Okay. Sorry, I saw a finger go down my mic, so I wasn't sure. I was waiting. We'll go ahead and call for the vote. Mrs. Longshore? I. Mr. Rawley? I. Mrs. Tucker? I. Ms. Akpara? I. And Ms. Buchanan? I. Number six, approve the recommendation of the administrative hearing chairperson effective immediately on a Let's see. So, we will make a motion to approve the recommendation of the administrative hearing chairperson >> I'll move. effective immediately. Hang on. On ex- EXP number 20 2025-26 and EXP number 21 2025-26, revocation of expulsion case step number one 2025-26 and annual review case AR number 19 2025-26. I'll move. Okay, second. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, and a motion by Ms. Akpara, seconded by Ms. Tucker. We will be taking a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore? I. Mr. Rawley? I. Mrs. Tucker? I. Ms. Akpara? I. Mrs. Buchanan, I.
Um, Senator McKon was here and besides the wonderful photo opportunity and recognition of Commissioner Ragsdale, was there any discussion with him about what's going on in Trenton? Uh, Assemblywoman Begoli Gil, what are they doing? The governor hasn't been in office now for a couple of months. There's been talk about the state aid being I'm sorry, the formula being recalculated. Okay, you folks need to be in on the game. You need to know and they need to be here. What are they doing in Trenton on this situation? It's it's beyond mind-boggling. You're going to be back in the same boat all over again next year because healthc care just went up what? Double in three years. That's not sustainable. All right. One, let me mention one other thing. I think it's great that everybody talks about what other other districts are doing. The only boat that Cliftonites are interested in is the one they're in.
There were 600 students from across the county. uh more than 300 of them were ours and we so we make up more than more than half of the students that were there in attendance and they spent the day networking with colleges and employers and industry leaders in the creative industries and the creative economy which is billions of dollars in California proving that in Anaheim the arts really are a bridge to a professional future so to share what that connection feels like now I'll hand it over to Sunshine Kira and Wendy Hello and good evening. My name is Sunshine Higgby and I'm currently a junior over at Kennedy High School current in both the art and theater program. The the arts are so much more than people realize. It gives a chance for each student to express themselves and break out their break out of their shell that society puts them in.
Item number seven, sign a letter of support for the A I A V U S D food pantries application for the C S B A Golden Bell Award. I'll move. Second, okay. We've got Maria Akpara and the motion, I'm so sorry, hold on. And then the second was Anita Tucker. Can I just say that we have applied multiple years for a California School Boards Golden Bell for the food pantry. We have not brought a letter of support from the board and we're hoping that that tips the scales and gets that food pantry a golden bell. So, um Here's hoping. That's why we brought it because in setting the agenda, Mrs. Buchanan said, "Oh, you're applying." I said, "We have repeatedly." So, we're we're hoping >> We have it documented. Yeah. I was very excited to see this and so I have fingers crossed that we're able to celebrate the incredible work that the team has done.
Doesn't matter if you're in Wayne or Patterson, Edison. What are you facing here? And I want to make sure everybody understands this. the underlying issue when people talk about students, what about the community as a whole? That's what you have to look at too. There are people that are living really on paycheck to paycheck when we talk about adequacy. Okay? Because that comes up a lot. The state bases that on total property value, but not necessarily on income levels, of which Clifton has a substantial amount of people that are at the poverty line. We need to get more resources here to Clifton. See, it's not about what's been done. I agree, Superintendent, you've maxed out everything. A smart decision was not involving federal dollars with staff people. That was a very smart play. All right. But the bottom line of it is, which Commissioner Ciano mentioned, there's a sheer tax burden.
For myself personally, while also being an athlete, doing the arts have gave me has given me so many more amazing opportunities I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else and having made me a better person today. And I will be handing it over to Kira. >> Thank you. Okay. Hi, my name is Kira Sheay. I am a senior at Kennedy High School and I'm enrolled in Kennedy's choir program, Kennedy Singers. I will be looking at focus area number one, which is content. One of the main things that I wanted to look at was the providing of resources to expand upon and build upon our career pathways throughout high school and college. For myself and many other students, the resources on where to explore different pathways regarding the performing arts are initially brought up as unclear. to help them understand where the career is directed into the future.
It's a long process to Yeah. All right, any other discussion? Okay, call for the vote, Mrs. Longshore. I. Mr. Ollie. I. Mrs. Tucker. I. Ms. Akpara. >> I. And Mrs. Buchanan, I. Item number eight, adopt resolution 2526-12 to authorize the necessary transfers and revision of budget appropriations during the 2026-2027 [clears throat] fiscal year. All right, I'll make the motion. I'll second the motion. Okay. Motion by Ms. We Cannon, seconded by Mr. Raley. Uh discussion. I have discussion. Anybody else? Okay. >> [clears throat] >> Um I want to bring up the fact that um this resolution specifically states um whereas the governing board of Apple Valley Unified School District has determined that additional income is assured in excess of the amounts previously budgeted. I would like to point out the fact that this seems to be an ongoing um thing that I've I have brought to the attention of the public and this board um $20 million off roughly for the past 3 years.
So, you don't go when you get your bill, you don't say, "Wow, you know what? The schools only went this way, or the county went this way, or the municipality went this way." It's the total tax burden. All right? There's no question that schools have to survive and succeed because ultimately real estate values are a part of that. So, it's not an eitheror game involved here. All right. Let me just say this. Um, you mentioned $317. That's on the average assessed house. What about those who are in the other side of that coin, higher up in that situation? I don't know of anybody who's not on a fixed income. Okay, my income doesn't go up because I had stock gains or whatever else is out on the table. We're all underneath the same situation. What Commissioner Ragsdale said is very important. Are you working together with surrounding districts to make a collective force and a voice with your representatives about what this situation is?
Having a resource such as different counselors and adults check-in with those who want to fulfill a pathway such as this one would be very beneficial to the students. Having a provided mentor helping them with what pathway is most suitable for them is not only an incredible asset for our current student, but helps them further structure their path for college and what they choose to be involved in. I will now pass on my focus area to Wendy. Thank you very much. Um, >> okay. Um, hi, my name is Wendy and I am currently a senior at Catella High School where I participate in drawing and painting. So, my visit to the Getty Center in ninth nth grade showed me how powerful art can be, especially works that took place from the Renaissance period. These p these pieces told meaningful stories and created a strong emotional connection due to their complex yet pleasant visuals.
Um this concerns me. Um I believe this board has relinquished its responsibility long enough. We must provide oversight for the spending of public funds. Um we've been neglecting our duty to ensure internal control and board oversight. So, I call on my board members to reject this resolution and step into the position that we've been elected to and that is to keep a closer eye on funds and the transfer and spending of funds. Okay. Thank you. I have a question. I'm going to have a question for this one. Um what are the conditions under which you are able to do a transfer of funds without the board? Well, with this resolution, Ms. Olvera, that that this resolution gives business office staff, mainly the director of fiscal services, to make those budget appropriation adjustments as we work through the year. Uh the board oversight of those budget adjustments that are that are constantly made on both the revenue side and the expenditure side are the interim reporting periods and the budget financial reports that come to the board uh not on a monthly basis, but um on a regular basis that show all of the accounts, all of the revenue accounts, and the net effect of all the budget transfers that are facilitated.
Okay, that's what's really important. I will tell you when I was on the board, we worked very closely with the city of Patterson and people would say to me, "Ma, why are we doing that?" I said, "Very simply, if they don't survive, what's going to happen? It's just going to come across Krooks Avenue, comes to Clifton." So, we have self-interest even though we're not the same districts or the same formulas, but you have to have a game plan going forward, folks, because we're going to be right back into this situation all over again next year. It's not the fault of administration. You've done everything that you can do within the reasonability of what thorough and efficient means. And I say that both as a citizen and as someone who served on both sides of Clifton Avenue. But you have to come back and realize this.
Today I have noticed that many students struggle to engage with modern art, often finding it confusing or uninteresting. This reflects a growing disconnect from traditional storydriven art. Now I believe that bringing back more exposure to classical works can help reinspire students and remind us that art is meant to communicate and not just exist. From this experience, I believe students benefit more when being exposed to professional classical art environments because traditional art is often easier to connect with emotionally and intellectually. During my visit to the Getty Center, I saw Spring by Sir Lawrence Amatadima, and it genuinely made me feel um captivated. The painting's detail, emotion, and storytelling stayed with me long after the visit and showed me how powerful art can truly be. Experiences like this are why schools should consider offering more meaningful field trips to places like the Getty where students can connect with art in a deeper and more inspiring way rather than taking the field trip as a free day.