001Alrighty bit looks like we've got working. Um, all right. Um, this kind of closes out our first semester check-in with you guys, and I'm so glad I'm able to do that. Um, so let's kind of just get right into it. We um uh oh there we go. >> Yes, it's clicking. >> There we are. Okay. So, kind of to um start us off, um we had a bit of a what we call our um our art in motion, and it's it's put on by our dance team um over at Mora Bay. And it's it's kind of this this like cozy holiday. As as finals get closer, we have a we have a production that's put on. Um and so it it it's a a dance team performance that then hosts other um uh performing arts.
002So, for instance, um in my slide here, I have um a student playing piano. We have students from our choir coming in to have a play a trio. And then of course our dance team dancing. Um this was this is something that happens um during the school day. So all students are welcome. It's free um admission. You don't you don't have to pay to go. It's just kind of like a just kind of see what's going on inside your performing arts. Um there was a great attendance. It was a really fun event. I'm I'm actually in one of those photos. Um so I can attest that it is a it was a great performance. Um, moving on. There we are. Oh, looks like my Google slides got out. There we go. So, um, uh, last
003week our journalism, so um, our our our kids that put on, um, our news network, which is called our spy glass, um, headed over to, um, Calpali to visit, um, their facilities. And so you can see, um, students sitting, uh, this was outside the green room in Kpali. And if you've ever been inside a green room, it's just crazy. It's it's where you do all your um um you'll be sitting like this behind a desk and then they're projecting stuff with the green screens in the back. So, and then they also got a live lecture from um the I think it's the the digital production professor there. Um and they also got to just have fun um making their own things. And so I've heard from many students that this is a great um adventure
004and and and it sounds like they'll be doing it next year as well. Moving forward, we have um fall sports kind of wrapped up. And so what you're seeing there on the top right are some students that got um what we call our platinum pirate award. And how I kind of think of our platinum pirate award is it's um um awarded for not only excellence um within your uh athletic capabilities, your but your leadership on the team and outside of the team, your academic performance. So it's very um top-of-the-line athletes, top-of-the-line athletes that are in class but also on the team. So those were um from a number of sports um uh cross country, water polo, um football. So great great student athletes in the top right. Um and then in the top um in
005the bottom right we have um our girls soccer team playing at Calpali and this is because we are um renovating our field so we can have a turf field. Um I know the soccer teams were super excited about that. Um so a lot of our soccer um events you may see will be at Calpali. Alrighty, moving on and um getting into a little more festive activities. We have our week of winter. And I'm sure slow high has um something like this as well. But um our week of winter is um a oneweek period. We just closed it last week. It's the week before finals, dead week. And as you can see, we had our winter formal and several other activities such as we have cookie decorating, which is in that bottom right. We had um
006what our kind of this is now an annual famous thing to do which is our karaoke in the quad and it's carolling and so you have to sing a Christmas song um to to participate in karaoke and it's just become a total fun thing. We'll have a couple teachers come up and sing uh last Christmas or you know it's it's just a great event and it's so fun. It fills our nutrition with music but music that's put on by the students and staff. Um, and the top left, that's a um a foreign language department class that um that goes from class to class and and carols to the classes. It's kind of a staple to our foreign language department. And then finally, to wrap up our week of winter, we have our winter formal. Um
007our winter formal is uh very unique. It's it's kind of a new thing we've been doing. Um it started about 3 years ago. Um, and it's kind of an outlet for this sort of homegrown attitude we have with our winter formal. Um, we uh because it's so new, because it's something that's um that's kind of hasn't been done before at Mororrow Bay, um you really just let the students run with it, you know. Um we have we had student DJs, we had um uh a couple students come in and say, "Hey, I want to I want to paint the murals for winter formal this year." And so um that's what some of those pictures are. And for the first time this year, it was held in our new theater. So, um the acoustics in the
008space are just wonderful. It was a a hit. Um we kind of always tend to just show out on our dances and then at Winter Formal um was just like that. Moving on, our lovely choir um went and performed at the Questa College Performing Arts Center. So, um on your on your left and middle, those are um our entire Mororrow Bay choir. And that we actually um the choir performed alongside the Los Sos Middle School choir as um some of you may know. Um and it was just a wonderful performance, a great attendance to the point where um they had people sitting on the sides with with no chair to sit in because it was just it was so filled out. Um lovely performance. And then kind of closing up, we have what is coming
009up, what's on our radar, what are we looking forward to, and I know no one looks forward to finals, but um we have our finals this this week. Um and then over our over break um many winter um sports play. Um we have a jazz band concert right now at the CalPoly Performing Arts Center. So that is why um many of our band students may not be here. Um, our teachers have a work day and students begin the second semester on Tuesday the 6th of January. And that is all for me. Thank you so much. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to come and join us this evening. Um, we appreciate you. Uh you're welcome to stay as always. This may be a very interesting meeting. Um but we're also mindful that
010you have other obligations. So uh if you need to leave, leave with our thanks. >> Okay. Item uh 6.01 is the annual board reorganization. Uh, the first order of business is the election of the president and clerk for 2026. >> Mr. Anger. >> I'd like to nominate Ellen Schffer to be president for 2026. >> Second. >> Okay. Got a nomination by Mr. Anger and a second by I wasn't looking. Is that you, Mr. Buckman? >> Okay. Um, Mr. Anger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Buckman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Baldadono. Yes. >> Uh, Mr. Clawson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Banfield. >> Yep. >> And I'm a yes. So that passes unanimously. >> Oh, and and Mrs. Shuffer is a yes. So that passes 70. Um, we then need to I'm seeking nominations for clerk. Mrs. Baltazano. >>
011Uh, I would like to nominate Mr. Clawson for clerk for 2026. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. Then I've got uh a motion by Mrs. Baltadono, a second by Mr. Anger. Mrs. Baltadono. >> Yes. >> Mr. Unger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Banfield. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schffer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Clawson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Buckman. >> Yes. >> And I'm a yes. So that passes 70. Dr. Prader. Item 6.0. 6.02. >> Mrs. Roger, on behalf of the board, I did promise I'd keep this short per your request, but please, >> this is tradition. >> So, on behalf of the board, the district, and our entire St. Louis Coastal Unified District community, it is truly an honor to take this moment to recognize and thank you for serving as our president. Marilyn, this has been
012this past year has not been an easy one. As you well know, serving as board president during a challenging budgetary cycle requires clarity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to students. And you have demonstrated all of that and more. Throughout every difficult decision and complex conversation, you remained steadfast in your belief that all students deserve our advocacy, especially those who struggle the most. Your voice consistently reminded us of our moral responsibility to equity, access, and opportunity. Over more than 20 years as a trustee in St. Louis Coastal Unified. You have been a constant presence and a guiding force. Few people can say they have witnessed and helped shape so much of a district's history. You have celebrated countless honors, successes, and accolades while also standing strong during moments of loss, uncertainty, economic hardship, and even a
013global pandemic. Through it all, you have remained strong, well-informed, deeply committed to the vision and mission of our district, and above all, true to your character that I have come to know. What stands out most about you is your ability, your is your reliability, your steadfast presence, thoughtful questions, and willingness to do the hard work even and especially when it's uncomfortable. You have been a trustee we can count on, a leader who listened carefully and a colleague who led with integrity and heart. And beyond your public service, we also acknowledge your personal resilience. You have faced profound personal challenges, challenges that brought you to death's door, and yet you continue to show up with grace, strength, and determination. That perseverance speaks volumes about who you are, not only as a leader, but as a human
014being. Your legacy is woven into the fabric of this district. Whether you want to admit it or not, your decades of service as a trustee and community advocate have made a lasting impact on students, families, educators, and colleagues alike. We are better because of your leadership, your compassion, and your unwavering dedication. You deserve not only our thanks but our admiration. Please know how deeply grateful we are for your service and how much your contributions will continue to resonate long after this role tonight. Thank you for serving as our board president this year and uh you have truly made a difference. Thank you. Okay. Thank thank you Dr. operator and we'll be meeting tomorrow to discuss the definition of brevity. Um let's see the next and I and I am very appreciative of your remarks. Um
015we need now 6.03 to adopt the board meeting calendar for 2026. Yeah. So each year at the reorganization meeting, the board adopts the calendar for the following year. So starting in January 2026 and culminating in December 2026. What you have here and I look for your approval um for this. I'll point this out. We have um in blue those are our board meetings and nothing really has changed ex you know as you know we have our first and third Tuesdays of the month are our board meetings and um with some exceptions we have one board meeting in January because of how the holidays fall and then we have one board meeting in August and one in December. So, um, additionally, I'd like to draw your attention to the yellow or light orange, and that those
016are our study sessions to discuss measure C projects. And this coming spring, winter, and spring, we will do on-site field trips to our project sites to review and so that you can see it firsthand. Also, I'd like to bring your attention to the light blue in June. That's June 11th. And that is our um our uh board uh annual workshop where you discuss um board um uh priorities for the following year and review the superintendent's direction. And um other than that, the um the calendar is pretty self-explanatory. The in red, those are non-school days. But other than that, um it's a pretty straightforward calendar, and I look forward to this approval. Thank you. Is there any board comment on the calendar? If not, then I'm seeking a motion to >> I move that we approve
017the 2026 calendar. >> Thank you. >> I'll second. >> Okay. So, I have a motion by Mr. Banfield, second by Mrs. Schffer. Mr. Banfield, >> yes. >> Mrs. Schffer, >> yes. >> Mrs. Baltadano, >> yes. >> Mr. Anger, >> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Buckman, >> yes. >> Mr. Clawson, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes. So that passes 70. >> Item 6.04 is appointment of board members to committees and liaison posts. Yeah. So this next item requires a little bit of fluidity and flexibility on the board because we're looking for consensus, thumbs up um at the tail end. But during each of these subcommittee assignment discussions, uh normally what happens is if a board member is interested in a particular committee when we get to that point, um that's where that discussion comes in. Um
018and uh we currently have um in case the public does not know these subcommittees. uh we have in addition to the two board meetings a month and the board study sessions, we also have ongoing work with uh individual board members in subcommittee work in these really I think important areas so that you remain informed and influential. So the first subcommittee um that we'll discuss tonight um currently there's one uh board member who participates on it and it's the environmental sustainability subcommittee. This uh board member will work with designated district staff to ensure that environmental sustainability is a key component to meet facility and educational needs. This subcommittee meets on an asneeded basis and um this year I'm recommending that we add an additional board member um to participate with um on this committee. I think
019it's really important it's facilitate facilitated uh by Mr. Pinkerton um as he oversees facilities and um and anything related to um um those types of green initiatives. So Mr. Clawson, are you interested in maintaining uh your current role in that position? >> Uh yes, please. >> And um uh I believe um so I don't know which one came first. Um Mrs. Chef, sorry, Mrs. Roger or Mr. Banfield. >> I have an interest in u participating on that committee. And so do you, Rob? >> Yeah. >> Okay, then I defer to Mr. Banfield. >> Is that all right, >> Mr. Banfield? >> Is that okay with you? Thank you. Okay. So, Mr. Banfield and Mr. Clawson, you get the joy of meeting with Mr. Pinkerton. >> Yes. >> On this subcommittee. It's important work. Thank you.
020Um the next subcommittee is the safe and nurturing schools subcommittee. This um this work is uh previously focused on equity, inclusion, and belonging. Um we have three board members uh who currently participate. That's Mrs. Baltadono, Mr. Buckman, and Mr. Banfield. And on this committee um we have previously um assigned our trustees to participate in our cultural creations work um uh on equity as well as the University of Washington work on um environmental just or social justice and equity. we no longer will be able to afford their contracts. So um so Miss Yumashta has um developed a new model that meets quarterly to review those very specific um subgroups and targeted groups of students that we're working with. And um we also are uh working with the county office of ed on targeted assistance for specific
021subgroups as well that I think line up beautifully. I was just looking yesterday with Miss Mashta on the framework and I think it lines up beautifully. So, um I guess what I'm asking is um is there an interest for a change um or are Mr. Buckman, Mr. Banfield, Miss Baltadono, are you still interested in maintaining your uh presence on those subcommittees? >> Yes. Mr. Banfield. >> I'm interested, but I I'm on four committees and I'm more than willing to step aside if someone else is interested. >> I'm interested and would like to continue that work. >> Okay. Mr. Banfield, Miss Baltadano. Um, anyone else? Mrs. Roger, are you interested in participating? >> I'm sorry. This is just >> Okay, that's okay. Mr. Buckman, it doesn't look like anyone else is Would you be willing to
022continue that work? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Okay. So that um that group will continue. Okay. Um then um we have um the um Uber Fast um Central California Schools Financing Authority which is um which is our work our partnership with Lucia Mar School District on Price Canyon and it's the oil fields and we share in those oil revenues and um this was developed years before I got here and It's oh annually $50 to $60,000 for our district. Um as long as oil prices remain high. I'm noticing the oil prices are dropping and so is our revenue. Um but um right currently we have Mrs. Baltadono participating um and I think really enjoying that particular subcommittee. Um Mrs. Baldadono, >> I'm happy to stay on it. >> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate that. And
023um and just as a matter of um as a matter of uh mentioning it when we when um we've recently learned that this JPA might in fact require an in-person meeting via versus a Zoom meeting. I will further dig into that, but that could create um your physical presence at the at the meeting. Okay. Okay. Then the next item um subcommittee is the slow county school boards association currently held by Mr. Unger. And this group is charged with acting on matters of common concern and issues required by law um um such as membership on the county committee on school district reorganization. Our participation on this historically has been very important as we pursue pursued agreement with the Coast Unified School District and the Caucas School District for revenue sharing um for the Coast for the
024students who normally would go to Coast but go to our school district in Mororrow Bay. And um so this is one example of a dis of a committee that it's important. Normally they don't cover much ground um but when they do it's really important. So Mr. Anger, would do you wish to stay on this two planning meetings a year committee? >> Yes. >> Okay. The next um subcommittee is the interestbased bargaining liaison for CSEA and SEIU. The district utilizes interestbased bargaining uh with its classified unions uh CSCA and SEIU. A board member traditionally is a member of the district cadre and attends three or four meetings during the course of negotiations each year. And we currently have Mr. Buckman representing CSEA and Mrs. Roger representing SEIU. Um are you interested in maintaining those positions? >>
025Yes. Again, I'm on four. I think I'm I I think we're going to get down to three real fast. I'm I'm interested only because of my background with CSEA, but if someone else is interested. >> Anyone else interested in representing collective bargainings for CSEA? Mark, I'm not seeing the the lights jumping out. So, Mark, thank you. Mr. Buckman, thank you. Um so then we have um the Tri County Education Coalition. Um this organization is composed of representatives from the California Central Coast counties of St. Louis, Abyispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. It identifies common educational concerns and interests among the groups and organizations affecting public education in the tri county area and issues and issues position statements. Mr. Buckman serves on this committee. Mr. Buckman. >> Um, two things. >> Okay. >> First, this group has
026not met for probably a year or two. >> Um, we're hoping that it can be revitalized. It is an organization that >> is CSEA, SEIU, C, all the all the all the all the unions sit at the table. Administration, school board sits at the table, PTA is at the table. it it does great work when it's there. If it revitalizes, unless somebody else wants Okay. Um so if it revitalizes, I'd be happy to continue, but right now it's not currently meeting. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Buckman. I'm glad that you're willing to do that if it does re um reinstate. Uh the next subcommittee is board policy subcommittee. The board policy subcommittee um was created in 2017. um representing two board members um who work with Miss Yumashta, our assistant superv CSBA's gamut policy recommendations
027prior to coming to the full board for action. We have a really nice system in place. Um Mr. Buckman and Mrs. Schoffer has have um incredibly um served on this committee I think for four years now. Okay, maybe longer. Um, and you've done a phenomenal job. Are are there interests to um on the board to step down from this subcommittee work? >> If there was one I was going to choose to remain on, this would be it. Okay. Um, and I think my work with board policy with other school districts and education code. Yep. >> Um, I I would really like to continue to do this. >> So, Mr. Buckman would like to stay on the board policy subcommittee. Mrs. Schuffer. >> Um, I understand that my colleague, Miss Baltadano, has an interest in serving
028on this committee and I will defer to her to take my place. >> Thank you, Miss Tuffer. I would very much like to serve on the committee if if there's an opportunity to do so. >> So, Mrs. Baltadano, thank you. Um, and um, I look forward to you doing this work along with Mr. Buckman and Miss Yimashta. Um and um you can expect communication in the coming coming days. Thank you. Uh our next subcommittee is the St. Louis Coastal Education Foundation and this is a unique one in that we have um two-year cycles that are staggered. And so Mr. Clawson is entering into his uh second year and Mr. Unger is um transitioning out. And so, um, I am interested in a board member that would be interested in participating on this foundation subcommittee. Um,
029Mrs. Sheffer. >> I am interested in serving on that committee. I have an interest in learning more about the foundation and how it works. And so, I would be honored to serve on that committee. >> Okay. Thank you. And so, that'll be Mr. Clawson in his second year, Mrs. Schffer in her first year. Um, and it's almost full circle, uh, Mrs. Schoffer, in that you were part of the team that traveled to create the foundation. Uh, where was that? In >> Chicago. >> In Chicago. Yeah. And so it'll be interesting to find out what you what you see. Yeah. So, thank you. Um, >> Dr. operator. >> I think it it would be beneficial to um >> to uh allow the public to know that while these board members part participate, they are non- voting
030members on the committee. >> Oh, you mean on the foundation board? On the foundation? Yeah, that is correct. That is Thank you. Yeah. Um yeah, you are representatives to from the school board on the foundation board. Non- voting members. Correct. Thank you. Our next subcommittee is the district facilities and surplus property subcommittee currently held by Mrs. Roger and Mrs. Schffer. And this um really is um the work of of uh that we're currently in the middle of with Sunnyside Elementary and Moral Elementary. Um and so um this particular um subcommittee um works closely on all of our surplus properties and acts as a um an accordion back to the main to the main school board for discussion and um and directions. So currently Mrs. Roger and Mrs. Schffer are you interested in maintaining on that
031that subcommittee? >> Yes, I am. >> Okay. So that will stay then. Um, that is all we have on at this point for district subcommittees. Can I get a um can I go through this just to make sure everyone's um clear? Okay. And we'll do and at the end of when I go through this if um if all is well then if I can get a thumbs up that'll help us. Okay. So um apologize I'm just going through. Here we go. So, the environmental sustainability subcommittee will be Brian Clawson and Rob Banfield. The safe and nurturing schools subcommittee will be Mrs. Baltadono, Mr. Buckman, and Mr. Banfield. The Central California Schools Financing Authority will be Mrs. Baltadono. The slow school slow county school boards association will be Mr. hunger. The intraspace bargaining liaison will be
032Mr. Buckman for CSEA and Mrs. Roger for C SEIU. The Tri County Education Coalition will be Mr. Buckman. The board policy subcommittee will be Mr. Buckman and Mrs. Baltadona. The St. Louis Coastal Education Foundation will be Mr. Clawson and Mrs. Sheffer. The district facilities and surplus property subcommittee will be Mrs. Roger and Mrs. Schffer. And that's what I have. Do I have a thumbs up from everyone? >> You do. I think we need to have a motion on this. Mrs. Sheffer. Okay. >> Suggests a motion. >> So, >> I'd like to move that we assign all those subcommittees as Dr. Prader said. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. Motion by Mr. Clawson, second by Mr. Banfield. Mr. Clawson, >> yes. >> Mr. Banfield, >> yes. >> Mrs. Baltadano, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >>
033Mr. Buckman, >> yes. >> Mr. Sheffer, >> yes. >> And I may Yes. So that passes 70 to break. >> So at this at this point, I think um we'd like to take a five minute break and reorganize ourselves and um and then we'll resume the meeting. Okay, if we could please um come back to order. We're ready to resume the meeting. We need Thank you. Okay, thank you. Um, please bear with us as we get ourselves settled in to our new seats. Um, it's been a while since I've done this and I'd like to welcome Mr. Clawson as clerk and this is his he's getting a big introduction to his role this evening with helping to manage public comment. So um please bear with us. So at this time we're moving on to 7.01
034which is correspondence. And we received uh a lot of correspondence. There is a list on the agenda with links to each each item of correspondence we received. I'd like to reassure everyone here and listening that our board did read everything we received. Uh we thank you for your engagement, for reaching out to us. Uh and we we did read everything we received. And now we'll move on to public comment. Um at this point in the agenda, the Brown Act welcomes comments on matters of district interest, which is why you're here. Um, please be advised the board will listen, but we cannot engage in or uh have discussion to take on items not listed on the agenda due to the Brown Act. Speakers are asked, especially tonight, to please complete a request to speak form. They
035are on the table back there. Um, and if you complete a form and hand it to Dr. Pacia or Mr. Pinkerton will re will get it and call you. We we will address public comment in the order they are received. Um and generally this section of the agenda is for individuals or representative of a group to address the board on issues not listed on the agenda. Speakers who wish to discuss items on the agenda are requested to wait until that item comes forward. Um, and tonight I would urge those of you wishing to speak on item 10.01, the uh, recommended budget reductions to please wait until that item if at all possible because Dr. Prader and Mr. Pinkerton will be providing important information that may provide additional background and context to your remarks. And of
036course, as always, if you do not wish to wait for that item or unable to, you are welcome to address the board. Under general public comment, each speaker is allowed three minutes in which to address the board. We have a hard stop at three minutes and will not allow anyone to exceed that time unless a speaker requires translation services in which case that speaker will be allowed six minutes including translation to address the board. You may not seed your time to another speaker. And please be aware that I know a lot of you have um big feelings about this, a lot of enthusiasm for your fellow speakers perhaps. Please be aware that the countdown clock which will appear on the on the screen continues even if the speaker is interrupted by applause or or remarks
037from the audience. So um I'd recommend that you show the respect of listening to the speaker completely. And um and if some of you here tonight don't wish to speak but are here in support feel free when uh someone is speaking to wave or indicate that you are supporting that speaker. Also we do not allow video or PowerPoint presentations during uh speakings. Uh but if you brought materials that you would like to distribute to the board um please let us know and they will be they will be handed out and then additional information is on the yellow sheet. So at this time we will this is opening up for our section on general public comment. Mr. Clson. >> Yeah. We're going to start off tonight with Tammy Campbell and uh Jaylen Lopez and Cambria Louisa.
038You're going to be right after, so you're going second, so you can get ready. >> Good evening. Uh dear superintendent and school board members, my name is Tammy Campbell, grandmother of two in the school district. The health of a society in a democracy relies directly on how well educated as a public its public is. I'm not talking about teaching to the test, but teaching critical thought and logic. I'm talking about the mental and physical well-being of all students and staff. This district has a structural deficit that we will be squabbling over year after year given rising inflation, retirement costs, and health care costs. Hard choices pit will pit elementary against middle against high school, music against athletes, arts against academics, unions against unions. And all of this will result in distrust of the district and
039illwill in the community. I've experienced this firsthand in my school district. We find ourselves in a predicament that we'll find ourselves in forever if we don't address the elephant in the room. We need to be proactive and move forward. We need to stop bandating the problem and solve it. We need to challenge this community with the facts and determine what is a sustainable cost for a successful student in this area and pass a utility tax, something that's never been done. Education is for all and homeowners should not have to all do all the heavy lifting. Everyone should be responsible for educating our youth. So, the district has published some of these numbers, but I propose we determine the cost of the ideal sustainable district and target costs for class size and the number of teachers
040to meet that need at every academic level. Counselors, speech therapists, psychologists, nurses, librarians, non-classroom personnel to maintain the newly rebuilt schools. comprehensive music program, comprehensive athletic program, TK, SRO's, transportation, etc. Once we have those numbers, we can do two things. Provide the public with a cost per student and vote for utility tax that will get us there for the overall general fund or provide the public with a cost for specific items I've mentioned and vote for a utility tax that will cover only those costs. If people understand the numbers, they understand the need to tax. But to do all this, you need to do something first. You need to form a citizen budget advisory committee composed of the district CFO, one or two schoolboard members, union representatives, parents from each academic level, and two highly
041connected community business members that are effective communicators resulting in with everybody being at the table working together for this community. Purpose of this committee is to educate people on educational funding and the lack of it. the difference between capital funding and operational funding. The ideal budget for a successful student because education needs to come through district websites, attendance and presentations at city and council meetings, PTA meetings, civic organizations, and via educational and parentformational networks. Everyone must understand what is at stake if we're going to tax them, but everyone needs to understand what we can lose if we don't. And just to throw in another thought out there, we need to understand what we should be teaching our students given the rapid rise of AI and its impact on the future of work. As an IT
042manager for 42 years at UC Berkeley in the department of energy, I'm incredibly concerned about the future job opportunity >> and maybe we need to rethink access to vocational education. >> Thank you, Jaylen. Uh Jaylen Lopez Comre Louisa here. >> Thank you. And Sandra Knap, you're going to be next. >> Good evening. My name is Jayen Lopez Gamry. I am in sixth grade student at Poco Elementary School. I am here to talk to you about the importance of ELD and reading intervention programs. Next year I would be going to Laguna Middle School and last month with the support of my EL and reading teachers I was able to achieve RF which is a proficiency in English. Sometimes in the past it was hard for me to talk or fully express myself in class. Working in
043small groups in EL program gave me the confidence to present in class. Without the support of my EL and AIDS, I wouldn't be able to I've worked hard in EL groups to get a four on my Lack and I achieved it. Mrs. Stevens, my reading teacher, has been really supportive to me and helped me the most. She taught me to keep going even if I felt down. She helped me understand that not everything is about getting it the first time. I am proud to get to my level and the whole team supported me in this. Now I'll be going to Aona and I could follow my passions that will guide me in achieving my dream to go to college. Thank you for listening to my speech. Please do not cut e and reading programs. Thank
044you for your support. All right. Sandra Knap and uh Maria Quan will be next. >> Hi, my name is Sandra Knap. Uh good evening uh Mr. Pinkerton and Mr. Prader. board members, community, teachers, parents, kids, band. Um I am I'm here to tell you a story. Um over a quarter century ago, this is dating me. I was up in the rigging of a boat that I was working in um in a part of the mouse called the crow's nest. And I was upside down without a very important tool called a marlin spike. And I yelled down below decks to my captain and I said, "I forgot my spike." He looks up at me and he says, "Um, well, your lack of planning doesn't constitute an emergency for me." Turned around, walked away. So, I'm upside
045down trying to tie knots in a swaying mast at the tallest point of the ship, trying to figure out my way out of that mess. I was 21, so my frontal lobe was not fully developed yet. Um, but I did tap back into what Miss Kabota taught me, my kindergarten teacher. Um, which was if you want to achieve a goal, you have to make steps in order to achieve that. Um, she taught me to not say anything if it wasn't nice. She taught me to put away my things when I was done using them. There's a couple budget items that I noticed in Mr. Pinkagen's presentation that talk about innovate material supplies and specifically the leader and me contra uh excuse me contracts and while this book is very valuable um a lot of the
046materials that my two daughters who went through Monarch and one is now at LOMS um they didn't really get much from these materials what they got most out of were their human teachers the time the teachers already spend teaching what's in this innately. Teachers ask students to come prepared to class. They help them set goals. They help them achieve dreams. So while the foundation has provided almost $126,500 in funding to cover those material cost and these uh um uh what are the contracts and leader and me I believe those funds could maybe be redirected and I would urge the board to think about that and I apologize for speaking about this now because I have to leave in 10 minutes to see my daughter perform in the band at the pack. Um, but I wanted
047to be here tonight to share with you that you can look within what you have in your resources right now. And furthermore, on the foundation's website, there is no spot on the drop down to select for music, for art, for counselors. Maybe the foundation could create some items like that. Let's innovate that. Thank you. >> Thank you. ALL RIGHT, MARIA. >> SO, MANDY, we're going to adjust uh have translation here. Thank you. >> Good evening. Thank you. Uh Maria is Maria. I'm mother of four kids. Right now two of them have already graduated. >> They have benefited. >> Maria if you can uh speak and then wait for the translation. Um >> then do I take the headphones off? >> Okay. Uh um translation. I'm sorry. Um >> Okay. >> So, we'll start over. So,
048we'll start over and um uh >> transl Mario. >> Okay. >> Could we have the translation please? >> Sure. Good evening. My name is Maria Kwen and I am the mother of four children ages 25, 18, 15, and seven. Two have already graduated and two are still studying. They are EL students. uh the resources and support for English learner students are fundamental to support our students continued growth as parents. We demand that absolutely no support or resources for English learners students be eliminated. talking about the best ways to support English learner, students to close the learning gap that we heard um and talk so much about. is in a very difficult situation due to the political climate and uh uh because of the federal government cuts to education and healthcare. Emotionally, our students should not
049have to worry about anything. not to have to worry about anything other than enjoying their learning and dreaming big. >> No putting u more um um barriers to overcome in their way to um a higher education. PCO. I am also here representing parents from PCO Elementary. We have prepared a petition letter addressed to PG&E. We have that letter uh with the support um and signatures of over 200 parents and we are demanding that PG&E fulfill its responsibility. We ask you to please forward this letter to the appropriate um committee or person. When it comes to our children's future, Hispanic families are united and ready to take action. And we are counting on you to defend our students with the same determination. with that determination um with which we defend them every day. that are willing
050to support the school district efforts and to pressure PG&E to do the right thing and fulfill its obligations. Please reconsider an extension um to consider and to ponder all of these things. And I would like to thank you for listening and to hand over this letter signed by um our parents. >> Thank you. Thank you. Next we'll have Bellen Sanchez followed by Michael Low. Good evening members of the school board, administrators, teachers, and families. I'd like to start by introducing myself. My name is Bellen Sanchez. I'm a formal student of Poe Elementary, but now I'm attending Lagona Middle School. I am here today not just as a student, but as a representative of many students and families who depend on English learner services every single day. I know that budget decisions are complicated. I know
051there are numbers, projections, and difficult trade-offs involved. But I am here to remind us that behind every number is a student, a family, a future, and some co cuts cost more far more than they can imagine. Non-classroom support programs like EL specialists, EL instruction, intervention teachers, classroom aids, and student success staff are not optional programs. They are foundational. These services are how English learners access the curriculum, learn academic language, and gain the confidence to participate in class. California law even requires daily leveled EL instructions for English learners because the state recognizes that language support is essential to equity. At Pacheco alone, 39% of students are English learners. Over the last two years, 34 newcomer students have enrolled and about onethird of them are from Venezuela. These students are navigating a new language, new expectations, and
052often a new country all at the same time. Cutting EL services does not make that challenge disappear. In fact, it simply makes it harder. It proposed cuts may list non-classroom intervention programs as a vague category, but the reality is very specific. These reductions would impact EL specialists, EL services, intervention teachers for reading, EL aids, and student success specialists. These are the adults who sit with students when they don't understand a word on the page, who explain directions quietly so students aren't embarrassed and who help families feel connected to their school community. I know this because I was one of those students. Heck, it even helped me so much that I used to even help translate a word on a worksheet for classmates. And now I'm standing here delivering a speech in front of a wonderful
053audience. But I'm not done yet because I still need to finish proving my point. The district has said it is focused on protecting services that impact students most directly. I respectfully ask you to think about this. What impacts a student more directly than being able to understand their teachers, their assignment, and their classmates. Before I finish, I just want to share one last thing. Tonight, I chose to miss my choir concert at the high school so I could be here and speak. I didn't. Okay. Thank you for giving me the time to be heard. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um Michael Low and then uh Dr. Jackie Low. >> Uh good evening. Uh music education plays an important role in brain development. Learning music helps strengthen memory, attention, problem solving skills because it engages
054multiple parts of the brain at the same time. It also supports language development, emotional expression, and social skills, especially when students perform to work in groups. Overall, music education isn't just about learning to play an instrument. It helps support cognitive, emotional, and academic growth. That's supported by not only research, but brain science and why my son has been playing music since the age of six. Um, tonight we're also hearing about services that are being cut for English learners. And my concern for the district is that when we're cutting programs that effectively make our students better students, music education, as well as services that help those who are furthest from justice, I don't think we're doing it right. I don't think we're making the right decisions. This is now the second year in a row that
055we have filled this room with upset community members because of the decisions of your public administrators. And it just feels like they are very out of touch with our community. And more importantly, the seven of you schoolboard members are failing to do your due diligence in criticizing their decisions. You're not asking the right questions of them like why are they making the decisions that they are? what metrics they're using to measure the the outcomes to make these decisions. And most of most importantly, and I'll end early with this, I don't understand how you can cut $10 million from your budget over a 2-year period constituting how many position dozens if not a hundred positions in two years. But I don't see any proposals to cut management. You literally have $10 million of resources, fewer to
056manage, and no proposal to cut management. So, I don't think that you guys are responsibly administering our public resources. Thank you, >> Doc. Dr. Low, and then uh Ben Ben Leert will be next. >> Good evening. I am Dr. Jackie Lowe and I'm a parent and a community member. I have a student at TEACH and a student at Slow High School. After two years of actively trying to participate as an engaged parent, I'd had to confront the reality that there is no meaningful pathway for inclusion or collaboration. I spent two years coming and speaking here. You know who I am. And I did stop. And I stopped because perhaps of disillusionment, probably the consequences of retaliation that has impacted my family. But I I I'm here tonight because I've been asked by the Spanish speaking
057community that are a part of us. And I'm hearing and I see that you guys are going to be okay with cutting hundreds of thousands of dollars that I've heard you now for two years say matters and that you care about our English learners. But if you approve the budget that is being presented to you, then you are effectively preventing them and creating an arbitrary barrier. And so my son's in band and I love band. But when I think of $100,000 compared to the 1.7 million that you're going to cut of support services, I feel like as a community, we don't have our priorities straight. And I love that we're here. But unfortunately, I know that nothing anybody says in here is going to make a difference. you're going to approve it because I was
058here last time when you guys didn't vote to get rid of counselors and you said how important it was and yet your administrators are putting it back on the line for you to say okay let's get rid of them. I've been talking to you for two years about having equity work in this district which is why Dr. Prader kicked me out of every functioning position I could and you're cutting everything. So where is that equity going to go work going to go? It's certainly not there helping you see that this budget is going to further marginalize your English learners. And so I'm here tonight knowing that it's not going to make much of a difference. You don't want me here. And I just think with all my privilege and my education, I can only imagine
059how difficult it is for the families in this district that don't have access to the English language or the resources to even come up here and advocate for their educational rights, which are civil rights. And so, unfortunately, the reality, I love that everyone's here, but it's not going to make a difference. And our children are going to suffer for it. And the future deserves more than what you guys are doing right now. We have Ben Liippard and then Colin Tomlin. >> Um, good evening Ben, president, trustee, staff, and members of the public. My name is Ben Liippard. I'm the father of two girls at Los Ranchos. Uh, I'm one of the co-founders of the Senlos Coastal Parent Information Network. Um, I'm not going to take my full time today. I just want to give a
060quick statement and then um get out get out of the way for people to tell their stories. Uh 10 months ago I was up here like many of you are going to be up here today. Um I was frustrated. I was confused and I was breathing fire at the board and the staff. Um I then met two other parents who also wanted to make sure that if and when cuts came again that the parents and the community would be informed about the decisions that were being made. And I'm not known for being hopeful up here. I think the board will tell you. I usually come and get pretty upset about PG&E. We have made some progress. And I think it's it's it's worth pointing out that there is hope. It was hard to follow that
061because that was very not hopeful. But we sent we have we have gotten hundreds of messages to PG&. We have had legislators tell us that we're moving the needle. If we had been, if you had told me six months ago we'd have been here, I'm a very pessimistic person. I would have been ecstatic. Please keep paying attention. We're going into break. Keep paying attention. Come talk to us, Lord, as much as you can because as we're seeing tonight, if you don't have accountability and transparency, which is what we've been talking about for months here, you erode trust in your decisions. This is true here. It's also true at levels above the school board. Um, I appreciate everyone being here. Take the energy, bring it here, and talk to us or talk to other parents because
062that's the thing that kept us going and it can keep you going, too. Um, thank you guys. >> All right. Good evening to the board and to the administration and to the amazing community turnout here tonight. Uh my name is Colin Tomlin. Um I'm a regular with the uh uh parent leader groups there with uh Dr. Prader and in his cohorts. Um I'm also a longtime uh San Louis Bispo resident. I was born and raised here and I have two wonderful daughters that are going to Monarch and um Moral Bay High School, both of which are heavily involved in music. Um I know the music um budget is under scr under review to be cut and I would like to urge the board tonight to reconsider that decision. Um we as the young gentleman Asa
063in his presentation tonight showed at the pack there was a full theater house over at um Qua. I have talked to so many community members when we were doing the fundraisers. Every single person that we've interacted with with it through the music boosters at Morway High School have felt an impact through music and I sincerely urge the board to reconsider cutting the music program because of how important it is to not only myself, my children, but to every single person here in this room. So that's all I wanted to say. Thank you very much. Thank you everyone. Um we will move on. That's all those are all the um sheets we had for general public comment. Next item is 8.01. We are on into superintendent updates. Mr. Pinkerton. >> I'm going to skip this one
064since I'm going to talk a lot about the budget tonight. >> All right. Thank you. Uh next then we'll go to Miss Yamashida for educational services update. >> Good evening board and community members. Um I wanted to update you on some of the things happening in the ED services department. We have um received the youth truth data and have met with the youth truth team and started digging in to what results we got from many of our students and family and staff members. Um we are also are continuing with our principal meetings. We also led the district English learner advisory council known as our DAC group met on Zoom. Um had some increased participation on Zoom than the prior in-person meeting. We were excited about that. Thank you, Mr. Nef and Miss U McFad and
065Sullivan. We completed administering the reading difficulties risk screener. Remember, this is the new assessment required by the state of California for our kinder first and second graders. And in addition to that, on Monday, parents of those students were notified of the students results and who was identified as possibly having risk and how to follow up with their schools. um tech implementation team continues meeting monthly based on the recommendations of our tech team from last winter and we're gearing up in January to kick off the artificial intelligence task force. If any of you community members are interested and staff members are interested in joining me, please speak to your principal and get added to that list. It's an open meeting. Um and I've also been meeting with a couple of parents and managing some school-based concerns.
066I did want to take time um while we have everyone here for some real celebrations. I got to go to the mock trial scrimmage between Slow High and Lagona and all of our mock trial leaders did an excellent job setting the stage for success for our students as well as the participating attorneys that were volunteering their time to serve as judges in our classrooms. Also want to congratulate five of our elementary teachers received Sunshine Rotary grants for doing extra special projects in their classroom. Our foundation SLCEF is also currently um looking at the teacher grant applications for this year and they'll be awarded as well shortly. I got to attend the play that goes wrong at Mororrow Bay High. It was excellent for anyone who had the ability to go and watch it. slapstick funny
067kids faster, funnier, louder than ever before. And I wanted to celebrate our food services program. They received a Golden Bell award for the excellence of serving healthy and nutritious and local cuisine to our students every day. And I also got to celebrate the Slowhigh Jazz Band. Uh Mr. Banfield and I got to go to their concert in the theater last week and it was um excellent to see the students working in groups with improvisation opportunities and just fabulous job by Miss Jesy. Overall, we're wrapping up the first semester as you heard at our high schools and we are working hard as we move into the second semester to make it even better than the first. Yeah, just quickly for the board to know, we um of course we have projects happening at 13 of our
068school sites currently. Um I'm in the process right now of updating our Measure C website. So I just wanted to share that tonight. So kind of more descriptions for each of the first phase projects, phase two, as well as some photos of some of the new classrooms, buildings, um so that the public can see that their money is being well spent. >> Hi Mr. Pinkerton. I see we have a resolution >> 9.01 intent to dedicate a public utility easement to PG&E for electrical service improvements at the Cshimer Elementary property. >> Exciting stuff tonight. Um so we of course with measure C we have uh easements, new public easements. So in particular with PG& they're trying to run a lot of the power lines underground as we do these new projects, these new improvements. Um in
069this case new service at S Shamber Elementary School. So tonight basically we're asking the board to vote for the intent to provide an easement. So this would actually come back to the board at the next for an actual vote. So tonight is really just the intent of uh the board to grant this easement to P Gen to bring this power line underground uh for Simemer Elementary School. >> I'll see if there's anyone from the public who wishes to comment on this item. It's very exciting. Okay, seeing no one, we'll come back to the board. Any uh comments or questions? Otherwise, this we need a motion, please. >> I'll move to adopt resolution 082526. >> I'll second that. >> All right, we have a motion and a second. Um, M. Baltadono, >> yes. >> Mr. Banfield,
070>> yes. >> Mr. Hunger, >> yes. >> Mr. Clawson, >> yes. >> Mr. Buckman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Roger, >> yes. >> And I am a yes as well. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Next item 9.02, a resolution with regard to the first interim report. >> Jacob, were you going to pull it up? >> Or do you want me to? Yeah, first the presentation. >> I'll pull it up here. He'll pull up for everyone else to see. Good evening board. Um tonight we're going to go over the first interim presentation. Um we're going to start with the um budget adoption versus first interim. Just um overview, we started the um year with the beginning balance of 15 million um and we have continued that. That's not going to change until June 30th. We had
071an estimated revenues in of 143 million. Um we had a drop in estimated revenues at first interim. We did some adjustments for state funding for local revenue um and federal revenue. Just as they come in, we adjust um up or down whether we increased or decreased based on various factors. And then our expenses, we had a budget adop adoption 144 million and we're up to 145 million. And again, that is adjusted for changes in staffing, carryover, which we're going to go over in a um the next slide, and any changes in benefits, health and welfare, supplies, um and uh operating expenses get adjusted. So, we had a surplus at budget or deficit, sorry, at budget development of 3.4 million and as of first interim, it's up to 5.7. Um, again, there were some changes uh
072for the deficit. We received some one-time money that uh lowered our deficit, but then we also budgeted carryover. So, there's a lot of moving parts in and out that change that uh deficit surplus line, and I'll try to break a few of those down. And then we're ending the fund balance. We um projected at budget development at 12 million and at first enram we're expecting to go down to 10 million. So we talked about carryover. Here are all of the different grants that had carryover that we deferred um and or didn't finish spending in 25 uh 2425 into 2526. Some of them are multi-year grants like educator effectiveness. Um we have Prop 28 because we deferred using that for a year until there were more guidelines with that. ELOEP was another grant that we've had
073to we've deferred yeartoear. Um lottery you're used to seeing carryover from there. We have scholarships and we always have some title funds and CTE funds that we typically carry over each year. So you can see that was a po a total of 4.9 million and the various categoricals. Um some highlights of the revenue. Our property taxes did come in higher. That was some great news. They were up 4.86% from our original projection of 3 and a.5%. This was an increase of 1.3 million. Our federal revenues have been adjusted based on the most recent um information that we've gotten. Our grant awards, um most of them have increased just slightly, not major um material amounts. They're always adjusted based on last year's ending attendance um numbers. and our state revenues were adjusted um to account for
074the one-time money that we knew about at budget development but were not able to include in our original budget but we included at first interim and that was uh $2.5 million which again is onetime money um helped offset the deficit that we had at budget development but it does not help our structural deficit. So even though it would reduce any negative fund balance, it's one time. It doesn't help our ongoing expenses. And then local revenues, they were adjusted based on current um billings, any local grants we got, transportation fees, etc. Here's just a pie chart that shows the breakdown of our um revenues. Our property taxes are 74%. Um, federal is 3%, state is up a little bit over the norm because we've received the influx of onetime money at 2.5 million. Next, we have
075some highlights of expenditures. Salary and benefits were adjusted based on payroll and position control through October 31st. We know we increased a couple FTEEs since um budget development for a few uh school sites where the class sizes were a little bit larger. So we had two additional FTEES. We also had some reductions in um positions that were vacated into the school year. For an example, um it uh had a position where we did not backfill and they vacated at the end of September. um benefits and were adjusted based on salary because as salaries increase or decrease so did the retirement uh percentages uh based off of the salaries books and supplies were adjusted to reflect any new allocations. Also, when we budget carryover, a lot of times you'll see the increase be in the supply
076budget and a little bit being in the operating, but op the operating budget um largely reflects our utilities um and some of our other bigger costs. And here are the breakdown of um our expenditures. Our personnel cost are 86.4% of revenues. Um, again, the state uh threshold uh is around Oh, whoops. Sorry, didn't click the slide. Uh, the state's threshold is usually between 83 um% to 84% being on the high end. So, we're a little above the threshold for the state. Here we have our projection for benefit rates. Sorry, this one's kind of blurry. Um, it's just showing the stirs stir rates over the years. they've stayed stable at um 19.10% um and showing the actual cost of the increase. PERS rates it was at 27.05 for 2425 and it actually saw a reduction for
0772526 down to 26.81 and they expect a further reduction in 26 27 from the PERS board. they adjust based on um their investments and how well they're doing and the school districts see the reflection of that. Health and welfare it shows an increase of 3.68%. I'll update that at second interim. Um we tried to get as close as possible to reflect the increase but the um time change or when the plans changes the new plans go into effect October 31st. So, it only gives payroll 30 days to make changes for any um plans that employees may have chosen to move away from, but um I don't expect it to change to materially from 3.68. Our health and welfare went up more than that, but since we have several plans on average, the increase was 3.68.
078Next is the question is how um deep are we into um basic aid and each year depending on the cola for a few years there the line got really close back in 22 23 23 24 but in the last few years we've grown a little bit further apart and we are about 128 million into basic aid status currently. Um the cola is projected to be 2.3 uh for the current year and um it's estimated at three um 3.2 for next year but right now based on school services but a conference Ryan and I attended they gave information that actually could drop down to 2.5%. So, we expect to see a change as um by May when we get the governor's uh final budget. Um the last slide um who was that okay that we're going
079to go over I just want to um talk again briefly about reserves. We have the state software we refer to as Sachs. In that software we're given a reserve. This is the reserve that the county office will send our letters of positive status to the school board. Um what's the assumptions that Sachs makes is that all the revenue brought in in the current year and all the expenditures budgeted in the current year will be fully expended. So when looking at that it's looking at all of the expenditures, what revenues you have left and dividing that out to get a 4% reserve for our 2526 year. When we're looking at the tenure, we're looking at a real we try to get a more realistic uh picture. We know that there's certain grants that are multi-year, so
080we reduce some of those out. We um know that things aren't going to be fully expended. So, we make those adjustments in a tenure to get a more realistic picture of where the district sits. Um and the other thing that I just want to mention with our 4.04% 04% reserve 6.5 for the next year and uh 5.89. These all assume the recommendated uh recommended cuts to the um for the board to approve tonight to get to these reserve percentages and Ryan is going to go over the next slides. >> Yeah. So the next two are just basically kind of what Katie said and and we kind of pull this information from the 10-year. And so the first one just shows, you know, this is what happens if we don't make those reserve levels. Um so
081currently again 4.04 is 5.867. So if we again if the board doesn't approve the $5 million in reductions, right, that would put us at 867 next year, which is a 6 reserve. You have to have at least 3% or you go into a not just a qualified but a negative status as a board. and and again that the county wouldn't pass the budget and the state would take over this school district, right? In terms of the budget. So we we know that that's not a feasible thing for the board to be able to do, right? So um in terms of then looking at what it means when we do uh put together the the reductions. So next slide. Okay, you put it on. Um you can see that again this again a lot of assumptions
082are built into the budget as we go through it. the three and a half percent right um but in this case if the reductions are made it it does reser increase that reserve amount to the seven you know roughly 7.7 million which is about 6% um that declines in the year out a little bit right but again the board's goal of us getting back to a 10% reserve level of unrestricted reserves and so we should say this is the unrestricted reserve um amount that we're sharing with you right now and and um and so that's important to understand that that that is what the county is going to look at when it in terms of looking at our budget and and for approval. So again, the board's going to decide what that 5 million is
083going to be at the next. But I want you to know that by approving this for syn tonight, you're basically we're going to be telling the county that we're going to make those reductions so that we can meet these minimum reserve levels. Okay. is an action item. So, I'll go to the public. See if anyone do have any um requests to speak. Mr. Clawson on 9. >> Uh we do not. >> Okay. Then we will come back to the board. Um Mr. Banfield. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Oh. Oh. All right. Mr. younger than Miss Baltadono. >> So, Mr. Pinkerton, um what is the statutory reserve level that a district our size needs to achieve before we become either qualified or negative qualification for our financial reports? >> I'll answer that one. Based on our
084enrollment, we need to stay at a 3% reserve. um being a basic aid status, school services recommends closer to a 17% reserve because we rely on local revenue, not state revenue to every month. Um so 3% would be if we drop below 3% in any of the two outy years. So let's say we have 3% this year and we drop to 2% and then we drop to 1% that makes us a qualified school district. If you go negative in the third year then you're a negative um school district. So, we maintain 3% or higher. >> And and I know a question people might have is what's the big deal about whether we become qualified or negative? Now, I I I did a little look at that myself and it looks like what happens is the
085county office of education basically takes over our budget. >> Correct. Um, so what would happen is, um, we would get a representative from the county office of education and they come in and they sit with Ryan and I as we do our interims, as we do our budget and they go line by line with us, they um, get a seat at the at the with the board and everything has to be all financial decisions have to be approved through >> and and and is there a purpose to get us back to that minimum 3% reserve? >> Correct. Okay. And so they have veto power over our over our budget and our spending. >> Correct. >> Okay. And if the if we become negative, then the state takes over. And um does that indicate that the
086state would because I know in some cases when the state takes over, they actually loan district school money. >> Yes. >> Can you talk about that a little bit? >> Yes. Um so when a district becomes um negative the state will come in they will give the school district a loan and it is not a very cheap loan and again you lose decision-making powers and the you'll get the loan you'll get the county office and you will go through the same processes just now you have a loan from the state for cash flow purposes >> and and that loan from the state needs to be repaid. Is that not correct? >> Correct. >> And in my understanding is it could take years to pay that off. In Oakland's case, it's taken over 10 years. >>
087Yes. And I believe King City is still working on it. >> Is King City still working on it as well? >> I think so. Or getting close. >> Okay. I think Englewood just got out of it. >> Okay. And And why is it important for us to have a 3% reserve? Why why is it important for us to have a 10% reserve? Um knowing that 3% is the statutory reserve, my understanding is it has to do with our cash flow. Could you explain that a little bit, please? >> Yes. Um 3% is our what it represents is if cash was to stop. Let's say state could no longer provide something happened where cash wasn't coming in. 3% is supposed to support your payroll and keep you going during those times. 3% would not support our
088payroll. Um that is why a higher reserve would be better if something was to happen and we didn't have that cash flow come in. We would need more than 3% to continue our monthly payrolls for three months. And the last question I have is um is that that undesated reserve also for disasters and things like that? So if we had a fire um if there was an earthquake something like that where we needed to come up with cash quickly in order to maintain operations. Is that also true? >> Yes. Um if you had if we had access to a reserve that um was outside of the 3% any of that helps in those situations. um just having a a healthy cash balance where we were what three years ago >> during a cyber attack we
089were able to keep things moving and flowing even though at that moment in time everything stopped. >> So so just to wrap up the 3% reserve and I didn't understand this is really to protect our employees and to protect our ability to pay our employees. Is that correct? >> Yes. To continue to process payroll um utilities keep classrooms going. >> Okay. Thank you >> Miss Baldonado. >> Thank you. Um, and thanks for the excellent questions, Mr. Anger. Those were some of my questions as well because I think it's just really important to hear that. Um, and just to be clear, um, our reserves, assuming we approve the budget recommendations tonight, will be around 4%. Um, the board's goal is 10% because best practices recommendation for a basic a district like ours is actually 17%. So,
090okay. And then I I just had a question um on the the three-year out reserve um that slide that talks about 4 point 4.04 this uh coming year or this year and then 6.05 and then 5.89. Can you just explain why there would be those fluctuations? >> Yes. So the third year out um or even the second year out what I'm doing is looking at salaries um as a part of it and you're looking at the increase in pers and stirs um you can look at the increase in step and column and trying to project out what that would look like based on your current staffing models um based you know again it had the reductions in there. So what does that leave us at to project the next year out? So, if the reductions
091were in the second year, where does that put the third year? And as costs continue to go up, that reserve is going to go down a little bit. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Clawson. >> Yes. So, a couple clarifications. Um, so, as I understand it, the purpose of this section of the discussion is to talk about statutoily where we need to get our reserves. And if we pass this initiative, we're agreeing that we are going to make adjustments of a magnitude of $5 million. And then next we'll talk about what those are. Correct. >> But but this piece is we're we're doing $5 million of adjustments because if we don't, we are going to fall statutoily out of compliance. >> Correct. And so again, this is just first syndrome. So what what the board knows
092is you're not going to you're not going to have a final budget till June, right? A lot can happen between now and June. The governor is going to come out in January. He's going to announce state funding. You know, the district could get onetime funding at that point. Um Mr. Liippard and Parent Information Network could push PG&E, get that unitary tax going again, right? Those things can happen and and then we can act on those. The board can make priorities, act on those items at that time. But as of right now, today with the information that we currently know, we know we need to make $5 million in reductions to meet our statutory, you know, legal requirements in terms of our reserves for the budget. So, we kind of have to have the board vote
093now on this, but again, you're going to have secondary, you're going to have a final budget, right? The governor then will after January will come out with May reise. We'll kind of give the board more information and then a final budget is passed in June. So, a lot can change between now and then. So, it's not the budget is again it's ongoing, keeps going, but at this present time today with the information we currently have, we we need to request that the board make those reductions, right? Um so that then we can then turn this into the county and we can get that positive certification moving forward. >> Okay. So just maybe a general comment. I mean my opinion is that we as a board cannot allow the reserve to fall below that 3% level
094and that it's our responsibility to protect the district from that. So while this is extremely difficult um what I'm hearing you say this is a necessary step for us to avoid statutoily falling out of compliance. >> Yes. In the next presentation, we'll be showing you a letter we received last year from the county warning us that we we have to meet those levels. >> Thanks, >> Mr. Buckman. >> So, I think we may be kind of dancing around this. Tell my understanding is Chris, Eric, Ryan are talking about falling below statutory. explain what it means just real clearly because my understanding is we lose control of our school district entirely. >> Okay. >> Correct. >> That's that's the real thing that we're talking about. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, and I know it feels funny
095because the the timing feels up in the air because we are required to approve the first interim at this time. >> Yes. even though information will change moving forward and so we can make appropriate adjustments as we gather as as more information is forthcoming from the state but this doesn't it doesn't seem to match up but it is what we're require how we are required to do this so um I would urge everyone to pay attention in January to the January proposed budget and then in May there's a May revision and then the final budget is in June from the state and then on top of that even though it's a relatively small percentage of our budget we do receive some federal funding >> and that's anyone's guess right now what may or may not
096happen to that and with that and the other piece that I think we need to be aware of constantly ly is a lot of our spending is mandated. We have to there and they're unfunded. Many of them are unfunded mandates either completely or to some extent funded up to a certain level and then the expectation well it's not the expect it they're supposed to be you know mandate should be fully funded in my view. You don't tell someone to do something and not give them the money in which to accomplish that. And that's right now we have we are operating under a variety of unfunded mandates. And that als that also contributes to making our lives challenging as we as a board work to f fulfill our fiduciary duty to um remain not just solvent
097but have money in the bank. Um Mr. Hunger, do I fear again? >> Well, I I'd like to just ask Dr. Crater. We've been talking about this as an expenditure problem, but I think we need to at this point review for the public and probably for the board why this is a revenue problem as well. >> Yeah. I mean, you're going to hear it in the next presentation more fully. Um, and it's part of my presentation, but it's um it's almost entirely um especially in St. less coastal. It's a revenue um problem in that we um we historically have received approximately $10 million a year in unitary tax for the ongoing operation of Davlo Cany nuclear power plant. That's what we received in unitary tax to our district. Um, I used 2016 as an example
098because in that year the announcement was they were going to close the plant effective 2025. And we signed a negotiated deal called Senate Bill 1090. All of you are aware of that. And in that Senate bill um, we agreed to take a reduced amount. We took 4 point about 4.7 million a year for seven perhaps eight years. This was our last year of the SB1090 payments. Um and in that agreement PG& was allowed to depreciate their plant each year, which meant we received less annually in property taxes because we're a basic a district. So while we got money, we also had reduced revenues because of the depreciation of the asset itself. And a lot of people don't know that part. Okay. Um, and fast forward from 2017 to 2020, and we had the global pandemic.
099And um, and so we received one-time money to support the needs of a community in crisis. And we did. And we had a three-year spending plan by mandate. We had to use that one time called ESSER funds, the COVID dollars to provide support and educational services to our school district in response to those needs. Well, there were significant needs, but as I said all along, one-time money to solve an ongoing problem is extremely difficult. And we said it as a board, we said it as a staff, this money is one-time money. But the needs are significant. So we did what we knew the kids, the staff needed during that time. Then fast forward to 2022. And in 2022, uh, Senate Bill 846, an urgency bill, came through the Senate over the summer, signed by the
100governor in early September. uh hardly anyone knew about it. And in that Senate bill 846, they extended the Dablo Canyon nuclear power plant from 2025 to 2030. But in that bill, they left the local interveners, which was us, completely out of the conversation. In other words, PG& continued to depreciate the plant, which means we get less revenue. And simultaneously, they kept operating the plant, producing more energy than ever before. And I don't believe it's going to close. I don't believe it's going to close. My issue and our issue is that we should have been brought into that conversation. Many many conversations with Senator Leair and Assembly Member Addis. It's been very difficult. Now the you know it's been a rough year for us here for me in particular because I've been um they see me
101coming and it's hard. Now I will tell you some of the well the parent group Mr. Liippard and um and company have been very instrumental in in um exercising urgency around that in the community and towards PG& uh as well as our state legislators at the uh so in 2022 we learned that the plant was going to continue to operate past 2025 and I asked the simple question where's our fair share you're depreciating the plant we're getting less property tax. Whoa, whoa. What about us? What about the county? What about the city? What about the count the school district? We're the largest impacted group. Now, mind you, the pathway to reduction from SB1090 was well established. It's just that pandemic got in the middle. Those reductions to wean ourselves off $10 million is no easy
102task. And the only way to do it absent other revenue for sources is to raise class sizes, create more combo classes, reduce outside supports. Does this sound familiar? It's a revenue problem. So, we have done that beginning in 2023 when I realized getting that money is not going to be easy. And then as if that wasn't enough, I sat at the county office of ed. I'll never forget the day and I was told by our state representative state senator John Lair. I was told by him that we were not going to get transitional kindergarten funding, but we are expected to run the program. It is the most expensive program in all grade levels. the most expensive, the most impactful, the most impactful for our kids, for our community. It's critical. And I was told in
1032023, we were going to get the mandate without the money because we're basic aid. We don't need the money. Well, there are a lot of things happening all at once. So the reduction in 2023 2024 was at the district level where we eliminated administration that we created to expand and develop summer programming because we wanted our kids to have a full day summer program for free because we knew our parents were going back to work getting themselves back um on the the track again. Simultaneously, we knew we needed a multi-tered system support. We needed help developing assessment protocols. We needed help um helping kids in in their academic and social emotional struggles and we created and many students were struggling with their absenteeism getting to school and with disciplinary measures. So we had a lot
104of needs um at the district level at that time and we eliminated those positions in 23 20 3 24. That was the beginning. Now you'll hear tonight we also as a district have the lowest level of administration in unified districts in the county and in similar districts across the state. We're low comparatively and I'm okay with that. But it comes with a cost. it comes at a price. That said, um, one punch was was the loss the continuing operation of the plant with no no invitation to discuss where's our fair share. The second the second piece, and by the way, this is our last year of that funding of SB1090. And the second strike to our gut was TK funding, the loss of TK funding with the mandate. I got the letter from our state
105superintendent of schools telling me it is a mandate to do transitional kindergarten. We came to that our that conclusion on our own. However, however, it's in writing. We must do it without the money. Now, I will tell you tonight when we do this, just because we're talking about revenue, we did our calculation. If we were to get our fair share of transitional kindergarten funding from the state, it would be 5.7 million. Does that number resonate with you? 5.7 million. If we were to get unitary tax like we did in 2016 without the depreciation of the asset, it would be 10 million annually. That's a $15 million problem revenue. So, I'm here tonight to tell you we have been backed into the wall. We're going to make these reductions because we have to. Okay? We have
106It may not be the perfect u the perfect set of of um reductions. I'll grant people that. However, it'll get us to the reserves we need. So, we're not um taken over by the county or the state. Okay. Knowing full and well that this spring, per my participation in the uh state of the state a couple weeks ago, um heard some very positive news from state senator John Lair and Assembly Member Don S. finally recognizing the impact this has had on us. Recognize both of those issues. both of them. To me, I'm outraged because that's $15 million annually as far as I'm concerned that belong to us that we don't have and those are adult decisions and it's impacted our community. It's a lot of money and we wouldn't be we'd be having an entirely
107different conversation if we had those revenues. Now what I will tell you is it sounds to me that in April, May, June, we might have a legislative solution. In fact, Eric Daniels from PG& came up to me and said, "Look, we have been working on this. You heard Senator Lair speak. This was at the state of the state. He said, "Hold on. Hold on tight. We think there's a solution in front of in front of us that's potentially positive." Bless music to my ears because that's the first time in over two years that I've gotten anything remotely positive and potentially positive for this. So, so while we have to do this tonight, uh I'm an eternal optimist. We're doing this tonight because we have to. Step one. two. Um, I believe we're going to get
108revenue in spring and I think it's going to be a positive and beautiful day for us in this district, but I can't count on it. I can't hope on it while I want to. Um, it's not in our interests. And so, if it happens, we're going to have some really great conversations. If it doesn't happen, we have no structural deficit. We will likely get more tet one-time money in the governor's budget in May, I'm guessing. But again, I'm guessing and with that, we can fine-tune and tweak some of these things, right? And we're going to do that through the LCAP process. We're going to do that by paying close attention, and we're going to fiercely advocate for those other revenue ongoing revenue streams. One-time money is an absolute poison pill in public education. I understand
109it's convenient politically. I get it. But it's a disaster for us because our needs are ongoing. Okay. And so I hope I answered that revenue question uh satisfactory, Mr. Unger. >> Yeah, I I think you did. Um thank you very much. I don't know if my fellow board members have any other comments at this point, but I'd like to uh move forward on resolution number 092526, first entry report. I'll second. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Sorry. Sorry, Jacob. All right. Uh, next is 10.01. >> Yeah. Jacob, you want to throw it up? >> Yeah. So, Dr. Prader um spoke about some of some of the issues that we've discussed. You know, again, this really when we got the one-time money back in 2021, um when we knew Diablo Canyon was going to close, the potential
110part of it, that's when we started creating what was called a 10-year budget where we saw this outyear deficit that was going to happen when these funds declined, went down, right? We were fortunate um in that I mean unless you're trying to buy a house, property taxes actually have risen quite dramatically during that same time period. So that that assisted us with some of those declines in revenues but but clearly not enough to where we are today because what also came along with those revenues is we hired a ton of staff personnel as Dr. Prader said coming out of COVID kids had a lot of needs. um teachers had a lot of needs tried to teach kids right on the computer and those types of things and and behaviors and attendance was the worst it's
111ever been and that has not gone away. Our chronic absenteeism rate in this in this district is ridiculous. I mean it's really unbelievable when when you look at it, right? The fact that our students um I mean many are are chronically absent. So at least 10% um you know missing attendance throughout the school year. So, so here we are now today having to make these reductions. And listen, kids are still suffering. It's a new set of problems. It's not COVID, it's phones, it's, you know, it's all of those social media sites. It's all those things that our kids are dealing with um today. And we face new challenges with AI and different things that are are now happening. So, there's a lot of that. As Dr. trader said, I'm again we so so this really
112hit last year when we had to make our first round of reductions. You know, we've had we've heard a lot of why didn't you just do this sooner? Why didn't you just plan for this and do this sooner? Why did you wait till now? Well, this is why we we wanted to make these reductions sooner. No, because again, as I said, our our the needs of our kids have not changed. There's there's still needs there, right? um all of the things we added postcoid, all of those staff, they were important. We valued them. We wanted to have those extra resources for our kids um because of the issues that they face um and really to support our our our kids, our teachers um through that process um during that same time period. So, we talked
113about the four reasons, right? And again, I've made videos of this. It's on our website. I've talked about it at several board meetings. Um, we put it in all of our parent communications. I've spoken about it at parent leader meetings. Um, so in terms of trying to be as transparent as possible about why we're here today and how we got here, um, I honestly don't I don't know what else I can do on that on that front. Um, that said, again, here we are today going through this kind of last stage of those reductions. It doesn't end after this. I think that's what people need to understand. It's not this is just getting us to where we need to be from a budgetary standpoint, but there will be increased revenues in the future. The board
114will have opportunities to bring back priorities and um bring some of these things that we may have to reduce tonight, right, as we go through this process. Um we we definitely tried to instead of destroying an entire program, we tried to make reductions, you know, little, you know, kind of little reductions throughout as you'll see. um after the first year and again we started even though the narrative is the narrative about no admin reductions on this well that's because we made them in the first two years of our reductions we started with administration so you can look they're right on the sheet they're right here publicly we can go over them um but but they're there for you right I I Tonight was not about going over last year's reductions or the year before but
115I have linked them on this spreadsheet Okay, for you all to see after last year's reductions, I'll share a chart that you can go publicly right now online and look at the California Department of Education. Um, and that chart kind of shows after our reductions of last year where our school district stands and some of these items. So, you'll see St. Louis Coastal, these are the four bigs in our county, Lucy, St. Louis Coastal, and Paso Robels. um total school enrollment, teacher FTEE, administrator, FTE, pupil services, which is our student support services, it's special education, it's our school psychologist, counselors, those types of things. Um and then you'll see the non-instructional support FTE as well. So that's more of your um you know, kind of secretarial, those those other types of positions. You'll see the
116student teacher ratio there. Um St. Louis Coastal has the best student teacher ratio 18.1 um the year before in 2324 and last year 18.2. Um the student administrator ratio you'll see that we are we have the worsted student administrator ratio because again that's a value right we know that the work that is done for kids happens in the classroom. It's teachers. um student pupil services ratio. Again, we have added uh significantly to our special education program over the past 10 years. A lot a lot of support, a lot of school psychologists, um a lot of staff, par educators support um through that process. And and the tough part that you'll see from really last year, this year, tiny bit this year that we've we've talked about will change, but we can't reduce special education services.
117So there's a maintenance of effort that you'll see. So once you spend a certain amount for special education, you can't reduce it. You have to at least maintain that or grow the program um as well. So you know that's why you're not going to see special education reductions um you know throughout this process. And then the last one again you see some other ratios um supportive. So our student and non-instructional support ratio as well um is is is very high. So as I discussed on the next um slide you'll see I I did list those reductions um that are there um you know and I can't click on that one but again it goes through each one tells an impact again 23 24 we started with our principles and counselors on special assignment at the
118district office um and and listen we reduced classroom teachers last year elementary classroom room. Um, and it's painful. So, those class sizes went up, more combo classes than we've had in the past. Um, you know, and again, there were lots of reductions last year. And so, this year, getting to kind of the current list of what we are looking at, of course, was was difficult. Again, you know, we tried to kind of hit things last year. Um, we had added the most um you know, in terms of the classroom teachers. Um, again, a lot of other reductions that you'll see that are listed on the list, but it brought us to this year where we still needed to make that next $5 million in reductions. Um, the first ones were the non-personnel reductions. Um, I'll
119go through them uh relatively quickly. Again, the board has seen these before. These were presented at the November 18th board meeting. Um, we had a three-hour study session with the board where we reviewed all of these as well. So, excuse my brevity of like not going over the reductions from the last two years because you you've heard them. You've gone over them um several times. Um for the public, we have a a district website. Um we have a budget page that has not only the information and presentations, but also videos that I made of myself, which were quite painful um to make and uh and and try to share that information with as many people as possible um as we go through that. So again, um, non-personnel though really easier to make because we're not
120talking about people's livelihoods, their jobs, um, they're still painful, right? So, um, we have, as you heard tonight, the an equity committee of board members. Um, we have equity goals. you you heard some of our students talk about the impact that that EL and EL um instruction and and those types of things that we try to promote and make sure that all of our students have equal opportunities in our school district. Um the first one on the list of non-personnel cuts is the Common Ground Advisory Task Force. Yes. Oh, sorry. Um and so this is a group that Dr. Prader started. Um, we had an issue uh quite a few years ago at St. Louis Municipal High School with a teacher um and some students and that really kind of blew up in the media
121and with the community. Um and so in order to try to kind of bring all sides together, you know, different types of um both religions and views and um just the different communities within our our school district uh to try to find common ground to work together on things where our district could move forward and make those good decisions for kids um that tied into it. And so part of that is having an attorney in that process because the attorney really provides that legal you know backdrop of what's you know what we have to do what we can do those types of things. Um we also had a um somebody who led that group uh you know you know throughout in terms of again it's you bring all of these different groups together different ideas
122and you kind of need somebody who's going to guide that process and it's not always good to have Dr. Prader leading that, right? Having an outside consultant do that for him. So, um, this this particular reduction talks about eliminating both the attorney and consultant part of that group. So, whether or not Dr. Prader feels like we can continue that group with that lack of services, that'll be something that will have to be decided um as we move forward. So, the next one is an athletics budget. Um, $100,000. So, and in particular $50,000 at Moral Bay High School and $50,000 at St. Lucisville High School. Um the two middle schools really don't get a lot of they 18,000 27,000 at LOMS 18,000 at at Lagona and that's really just transportation for those programs. Um in this
123case we had already asked Sisville High School to reduce um some of their athletic budgets. Um I'm not going to listen athletics is expensive. It's expensive. Whether we should have athletics in schools in districts that's a a greater question for society. Right. There are countries that don't have athletics in in the school day. There are countries that don't have band and choir and other things in the school day. Right? That's a different conversation than tonight. But know that that is a reduction. Um most of their budget from an athletic standpoint is made by their booster parents and also through their ASB funds. So kids fundraising for um their teams, those types of things. So again, a reduction of 50,000 at both sites. Um, Wayfinder is a middle school curriculum um for social emotional learning, something
124that our counselors use as a resource. Um, we're again all of these things that we're talking about reducing today are all unrestricted general fund purchases. Okay. So, in this case, we do feel like we may have a source medical. Of course, the med medical committee would have to vote for that and approve it. Um, so I can't say that for sure it will happen, but we believe that that would be a good um restricted revenue source uh that could possibly keep that program going. Um, again, those those dollars are really restricted to um kind of that social emotional learning and nurses and um student services types of positions. Um the next one, school resource officers. Uh for the past eight 10 years, um the school district has paid for a school resource officer. the city
125of St. Louis Vispo uh here at St. Louis Vispo High School and then we also pay the city of Mororrow Bay for a an officer at Mororrow Bay High School. Uh the sheriff's office does provide some SRO services for uh the coastal cities as well as those ranchos, the county areas. Um so again, this this is a painful reduction. Uh we've done a lot in terms of safety on our campuses from uh fencing um locking them off having sing single entry points those types of things um drills all those but what I will tell you is whenever we have a a school shooting in our nation uh that happens anywhere um I start getting the emails from concerned parents okay so they they email what are you doing for my students how are you ensuring
126my kids are safe what are you doing so as much as the laws have kind of changed with SRO and actually limited SRO's ability to work with kids at schools. It's changed. It's actually they can't do um what they could in the past. Um having that car out front, having that police car out front provides a level of safety and just kind of again just a feeling that um that this reduction um will be quite painful. So the next one is um is one that you know many people are here tonight to talk about uh and share with the board the impact of music um again the district contribution. So we're looking at it was initially 150,000. So we had um many years ago the school district kind of after our our budget reductions the
127last time we had something like this was really 2013 2012 2013 where we were kind of in this place. Um, and coming out of that, it really that concern for, hey, our instruments are falling apart, like what are we doing to support our band and and um and our choir in terms of music and those types of things. And so, um, at that time, the board did set and and even elementary music as well. So, the board did set aside kind of a large chunk of of dollars uh back during that time period to kind of hey, let's catch up a little bit, get some instruments, um do some things, and then also pledged at the time, $100,000 towards banded choir. Um it was actually put in the LCAP as part of it. Well, the
128LCAP rules changed and you have to tie things to student achievement. Yeah, you could tie band and music to student achievement, but it's kind it's different now the expectation for what those um requirements are. So, um so we actually just kept it. We just moved it out of the LC cap, kept it in our budget. Um, and we actually few years ago increased it to 150,000, right? In terms of cost, those types of things. Um, for most of the board members who have been here during that time, I I believe your expectation was those dollars were for instrument replenishing, right? Um, that said, there are needs for the band that are not just instruments, right? As we go through it. So, uh, when this first came out, the 150,000, um, I had two band booster
129parents at the parent leader meeting. Kudos to them. And hey, Mr. Pinkerton, like, this is ridiculous. What are you doing? Um, and so, hey, the next day here, you know, we're we're we're emailing back and forth. And um, and we have been emailing uh, non-stop, I would say, even up until this morning, right, as we go through this process. Um, and so we've I tried to be as transparent as pos as possible. um got the budget, shared them initially wrong budgets um but but cleared them and got them the correct you know numbers back um shared the sheet with the boosters they've they've anticipated they've even put some um kind of you know what what budgets could be like in 2627 so taken all that in right so what I will tell you is we
130have a legal responsibility as a school district to provide our students with what they need for the classes whether that's instruments whether that's repairs cleaning music those types of things um as I look through the budget uh that's it's probably you know we initially for right now I'd set aside 50,000 right um what I will tell the board is that I will along with this is Yamashida and Mr. left. Um, we'll meet with the affected music teachers, both choir and band, and we'll come up with what that need-based budget is. It may be more than 50. I don't know. We will find out um through that process, and I'll bring that back to the board um over the course of the spring to what that looks like. Um it will be different than how the
131teachers currently spend those funds is what I will tell you. So it will go to those need areas. Um and again that's those are the things that we need to do. On top of that I do think we need to have the teachers go through an entire inventory of all their instruments. Where are we every single one? What shape are they in? Where are we at? Right? So that um as well as uniforms although the kids look great tonight. um you know in terms of looking at that in as as a process as well because those are those are the types of things that if we do get one-time dollars would be excellent you know purchases right through this process in terms of looking at that and bringing those up to date um and then
132again developing that. So my goal will be to bring that back to the board. Um again I'm still asking you to to approve the the the reduction in discretionary budget for the banned teachers and choir teachers that we currently have forward. Um but know that we will step back team will work on what the budget looks like what the needs are um and kind of lay that out. Um and again we'll share that both with the boosters because it's all public documents and there's no secrets as we go through this process. and I'll also share that with the board. Um, honestly, we should we should do that with as as I've been talking with Mrs. Baltadono, why do we not do that with every single program we have? Um, and so that is something we'll
133we'll try to work on and continue. Um, so that's musical instruments budget in terms of that potential reduction and what we're trying to do about it. Again, kudos to those bambooster parents, to the students, to the parents bringing those issues up to our um our view, right? And um and and again, I just want them to know that we're we are listening. We're taking that in and we'll we'll do what we we need to do. Um leader meet district costs. So, this is something the district through um our our elementary with athletics program has has put into place. So, we didn't want it to just be kids playing sports after school. We wanted to be building kids leadership in those programs. Um having a uh again a peer interaction um getting these Calpaly fellows so
134that they have kids to look up to right that go to college. So there's a lot to elementary athletics that's not just about athletics. Um so but this is a reduction to those that that particular leader in me um district cost general fund for that particular program. Doesn't mean that it can't go on or we can't do it. it's just that particular program um would be reduced with this. Um again the next one is cultural creations. So um again equity um making sure that all of our students have the opportunity to excel and to achieve academically um is super important. And so we had invested in a consultant to come in cultural creations to work with our staffs um in particular our principles and our staff to develop equity goals everything from student achievement to
135attendance um to behavior all of those things right that that and and the staffs they're the ones who come up with the goals with kids you know our student senate those types of things um and so this is the consultant that was doing that work so it doesn't again it doesn't mean that we can't continue to do that work in our schools. We're just not going to have a consultant that's going to lead those efforts with this reduction. Uh the second one is kind of like Wayfinder. This is the actually elementary reductions, second steps to respect. This is something that our our our school counselors use um kind of a resource for them in terms of their going into classrooms working with kids um as well. And so this is another one that we think
136medical funding can um those restricted funds can uh supplement um should the board choose to uh register that tonight. And then lastly um we have a principal mentorship. So normally when a principal comes in u we a brand new principal we try to give them an outside mentor somebody outside the district so that they feel like they can communicate talk and aren't worried about evaluation and what's happening right well not anymore. So, we're looking at reducing that and um and just doing that inside, having somebody inside, one of our own administrators work with our principles and and go through that process. Um the next one is our youth crew survey. So, this is something that has been I mean really instrumental and like especially with our LCAP feedback. Um, if you've never seen or heard
137about our student senate meetings, they're incredible uh places where kids come together uh share um at all of our sites uh insights. the kids develop goals, they learn, they tie in and and this youth truth data that they provide from the surveys and again kudos to the students and parents um who have been actually doing those surveys and getting them in so that we have really good data for those um that survey instrument basically it's expensive on an annual basis. So in this case we're looking at reducing that maybe every three years or coming up with our own survey instrument kind of the same right uh to be able to do that same work. So the next one was Manet. Um again over the past two years we have tried to get TK and Diablo
138Canyon funding so that we wouldn't be here today, right? We did not want to be here today. I do not want here to be here today. But um unfortunately those efforts thus far have been unsuccessful. Ecstatic that we're actually maybe getting some traction. Um again thanks to our parent group uh that's helping us on those efforts. And so that's something that that lobbyist it wasn't really working like we weren't getting any traction. So we we're we just cut that. So that's already been reduced. We're not paying that next year. Um we're not having that lobby group um as we move forward. The last one is University of Washington. Again, another equity uh um professional development uh group that we have brought in with our secondary sites. I believe secondary you said yeah. um in terms
139of again setting those equitable goals with our staff and our kids and trying to ensure that our kids are getting the best education possible. Um so that's another consultant that we're just not going to do. Again, doesn't mean we don't can't do that work. It it does mean that um the the consultant, the kind of expert that comes in to help us with that would no longer be there to assist us in that process. So the next one are um again painful. They're all painful, but these are in particularly painful um because this is people's jobs potentially, right? We've been really fortunate that through attrition um we've been able to make a lot of these reductions. We're hopeful. We we just did an early retirement quick, you know, small early retirement um incentive for staff
140to kind of know now, right? So, um we we never want to lay off people and notice them, slip them, right? um before the match the um legal mandates March 15th if we don't have to um because you never get over that once you've been pink slipped by a school district um it just the rest of your tenure even if it's great afterwards and you stay and things happen you know pe I I just I've heard with teachers I've had to do I've had to give teachers pink slips um it it it never goes away so if we don't have to do that um and again we've heard from a lot of staff in terms of retirements recently so that's great because that means that the the remaining staff will will keep their jobs as
141we go through this. So the first one um is non-classroom intervention program personnel. So we reduced elementary class size last year, elementary teachers, classroom teachers last year um to a point where we really don't feel we can't go there anymore. I can't I can't reduce elementary teachers anymore. In fact, we added to as Katie talked about in the budget presentation over the summer because the classes were too large and we would have six combo classes out of 12, right? Those those types of things. So, we still increase combo classes, but um it would be even worse. And so, so again, you're not going to see elementary reduction in terms of classroom teachers on here. So if we you are next you're going to see some secondary reductions but if after we've cut the classroom teachers
142then again it's outside the classroom at that point. So, we have an MTSS system, a multiple tiered system of support. These are all the things you've heard tonight. EL teachers, EL aids, um our teachers on special assignment at the district office. It's our SQ teachers. Um so, a lot of individuals that are not classroom teachers, but that provide support to both kids for intervention, AITS, um as well as to teachers, right? Teaching is hard work. Um, and so this particular reduction talks about taking that $4.3 million that we have set aside in the budget for that purpose and reducing it by 1.754 million. A powerful red I mean a rough reduction, but we'll still have an MTSS system um in place that will be better than any other school in our county is what I
143will tell you. Right. even with those reductions um what those reductions will be will come out through the LCAP process. So over the next five months as we go through the LCAP and and talk about what those impacts are that's really what the LCAP does, right? um more more clarity on exactly, hey, are we just are we getting rid of just tossas and keeping the L supports? H how that's going to fair it out, right? Will be something that um will be a public process again at these board meetings, at our LCAP U meetings with our DAXs, those types of things as we proceed. Uh the next one is secondary counselors. Again, we're talking about reducing counseling services and the problem hasn't gone away, right? Um we have added counseling over the past uh over
144the past five years postcoid right we we added a counselor at Laguna we had a counselor at LOMS we added a counselor at St. High School. We've also added two wellness centers. So, counselors u marriage family therapist at or maybe not social worker PPS credentials um at both comprehensive high schools. We heard a lot about that last year in terms of you know potentially reductions to the wellness. And so what this reduction does is it it basically keeps the wellness center counselors that we've added in place. Um but it does reduce the uh PPS counselors at those three schools. Again, Moral Bay High is not listed because we didn't add there, right? So that that's the change um for that aspect. Secondary teachers, uh we are looking at um again we reduced five last year.
145Secondary teachers, we are not um we're looking at reducing another seven. I'm already got the the, you know, gloves off with my high school principles and middle school principles about what this means and how can we do it and what what will happen and um but we're going to we're going to go through that process. Kids will pick their classes in in January and we'll we'll work on making these reductions um as we move through. In terms of music, as I've told the band and choir um parents that we've been talking to, these reductions don't include band and choir at this time. Um, we have increased band choir classes over the past five years. Uh, Miss Jesy was at St. Louis High School and Lagona. I don't know how she did it for those years
146she did. Um, but but she was moved. Miss Jessie is just at St. Louis High School now. And what I will tell you is you can see that our band is a is growing better. Um, our marching band now there right is is um is just growing doing better um because of that decision and that decision was made. Mr. Cooch at the two um two middle schools is fantastic, killing it, right? And and again, that's the feeder program along with our elementary music into the band program. Um Rick Robbins, our choir teacher at Samville High School, was given an extra period this year for his his chamber choir group, right? So has two at at Laguna. Um so that's nice increase there. Um again, Katie Revante doing a fabulous job at both Mororrow Bay High
147School and and um Losus Middle School, right? um her ability to get all kids from all all types to join the band is is incredible, right? And of course, Bin Bellier, you know, a staple in terms of the band community and what he's done. But again, Mr. Bellier was doing music at both Loms and Moral Bay High School and now is only at Moral Bay High School. And again, that provided uh Mr. Kitch to come in and do both of the middle school programs again um and doing a great job. Right. So these secondary teachers reductions um you'll see after tonight you're going to see uh Mr. uh Dr. Puchia will be bringing the actual resolution forward um for those um we are talking about restructuring student support services. So school services an organization in
148in the state that kind of looks at school districts um did a study for us because I mean our numbers in special education are through the roof. They're growing every year. the amounts of supports that are coming through. Um I mean like you know 20 25 30% of our budget is spent on special education. It's grown immensely over the time. Um and and there's no extra funding from this. I mean we get funding from the state and federal government but it's not growing at the rate that we're seeing. So those general fund dollars basically our intervention programs are being reduced because a lot of those funds are now being used in special education right to grow. And again, like I said, there's you can't reduce there, but we do have a need for um and
149this is the one thing that came out of that study was just how we uh supervise and um and really just meet the needs of the kids on a on more of a leadership level came out of that product. So, that's something we're going to continue to have to work with. Um so, it's a small reduction. Um we have one employee who is um who's going to be leaving and so that's the attrition aspect of that. Um elementary athletic coordinator. So, this is something Dr. Prader um has worked on in terms of building uh elementary athletics um in our school district again as a way to provide an opportunity for kids leadership um and and we've seen it just blow up. I think 580 kids, 81 kids last year uh participated in in the elementary
150athletics program. Um so, this basically eliminates the athletics program um position that's leading that program. So, how that's going to be led, how we're going to continue to have that program will be something that either other administrators are going to have to pick up or we're going to have to have some some other type of um a way to to to run that program as we go through it. Uh summer athletic stipens. So, as you know, sports again, athletics is expensive. It's grown. Uh sports are year round. And so one of the things we tried to do was to give um an extra stipen for those summer months regard like $1,000 something like that for the three months of summer. And so this effectively eliminates those summer stipens. So whether coaches want to continue uh
151doing summer programs or not, that'll be up to them, right? But it won't be a paid uh position. Um again we looked at things outside the education realm too of of you know a grounds worker a custodian um as well and tried to again through attrition for the custodian. We we do have a grounds worker um potential layoff uh coming forward to you um another district office secretarial we we we cut in payroll last year. Um we cut um we cut an individual in the IT department. We cut an HVAC person. cut, you know, several other um groups of of individuals, right? What we didn't cut was transportation and we haven't talked about cutting transportation because after 2013, the board actually cut secondary transportation, our school district. There are no buses in in the middle
152school or high schools. So just think about so if you ever want to drive by Slowh High or Lagona or Loms or Moral Bay and see the number of kids that ride the bus in the morning and at night um it's quite incredible right so what quickly happened after that reduction was we um we crushed city transit like there wasn't enough room for people to get on the bus um our DAC parents number one concern for them that year and into the next it actually was included in the LCAP um was bringing transportation back. So that I just want you to know right if you look at our overall budget for transportation, the number of drivers, those types of things, um of course we have to do special education busing, we don't have to do
153transportation for kids, but what we've heard in the past and what we've experienced from the from the past um is that that is extremely detrimental uh especially to our neediest students. Um so again we are looking at a grounds worker position, a district office position, a custodian as well. Um the next one our elementary library media uh text. Um libraries are important. Reading books for kids um you know is is vitally important as we go through this process. Um we increased library tech hours because we it's it's great. It's good. We we want to have those those programs um for kids and have that ability. But with the reductions we're seeing with less classes, with declining enrollment at the elementary level, um it's an area that we can look to reduce. It's it's not pretty.
154It's not great. Um but it is something that we are recommending that we again make some minor adjustments um in terms of FTE at our sites. For some it'll be major. They might have a full-time person. Um again, but that's this this $190,000 reduction is basically eliminating how many FTE Lisa was altogether? 2.5 out of our our current um probably 9.5 uh elementary librarians that we currently have. And it actually is 8.5 because we've already begun that reduction. Thank you. Um, so this year we had uh we had we had a a library assistant um library tech at San High School leave. So in instead of hiring somebody that and then potentially having to lay them off in March, we decided to try to start to implement that plan now to see how it works.
155Um and so we currently at Baywood Elementary School, Delmare and Modern Grove, we have two full-time techs that are sharing the three sites. So thank you for correcting me. Um we had a counselor substitute this year um that filled in for maternity leave. So that's something again we won't have that cost next year as the employee returns. Um we are asking PV high school that's not part of the secondary reductions but Pacific Beach High School they are um well staffed right and and they also have our neediest kids. And so what what in talking with Mr. dollar. It's looking at his title funds, his equity multiplier funds, different types of restricted dollars that he has, and can he pick up some of those positions, maintain his staff, right? Um, as we go through that process,
156and so that's something I'll be working with him on um through that process. So, that's about $90,000. Um, again, we had an HR technician, so another reduction to the district office HR. Um, that that employee worked until October. And so, again, we're not backfilling that. that position is not being filled and so that's another 56,000. Um at the end of last year we knew this $5 million were coming. So the board again direction hey through attrition if you can save jobs of the people that are here currently to try to save their jobs. So we did have three elementary counselors leave um over the course of the summer and so we did not back fill those positions. So we have we took the other um remaining counselors spread those out using a a formula based
157on needs based on school size. Um and so that has been what we have been doing over the course of this school year with elementary counselors. Lastly, uh, foundation TOSA. Um, so again, I innovate program. The foundation, again, separate board. The foundation makes their own choices how they spend their funds, right? We do have board members that share thoughts and and can talk with the foundation, but they make their own their own goals, how they spend their money, those types of things, right? And they do listen to these meetings and they have picked up some of those reductions that we've made in the past. Um, but this would be uh there's one of the foundation hosts is currently district funded and so we would no longer be funding that position as a school district. So
158whether the foundation wants to have that position or not, that would be up to them to maintain. So again, all in all, you see recommended reductions of close to $5 million, a little over five million, 5,77,000. Um, it's it's been a long uh a long school year thus far, I will tell you, in terms of, you know, trying to again trying to get the word out, trying to share information with people. Um, trying to communicate these things uh throughout and and again from the budget website to videos to everything that we've done. And honestly, I'm happy that everyone's here tonight and can hear all of the impacts that are happening and what's happening, right? Um so that they can stand with us um and assist us and as well as the parent leader group um
159to to try to get those revenues right. So that hopefully in the spring this board's having a completely different set of of um questions to answer, right? And that is what are the priorities of bringing things back while all of this is going on. We are negotiating with all three of our our unions, okay? All three. It's expensive to live in our area. And so it is a balancing act to try to keep all these supports, do all the things we're doing, and continue to try to give our employees increases. It's it's a balance as we go through that process. And so, um, hopefully by getting to this balanced budget level that the board has, again, Dr. is going to talk about has directed us to do um, when funds come, we'll the board will
160actually have options, right, choices in terms of moving forward, um, on all of those fronts. Thank you. >> It's a lot to take in. Um, what I will say is, um, none of this is easy, especially because it's coming from someone who helped build it over the years. And um, and so we're a district that's innovative. We have incredible programs. We we are um in many ways a gold standard in the state of California, a gold standard. And so to see these reductions just crushes me. But it's important that we maintain perspective and get the big picture. Now, I realize this is difficult and um hard to see your way through, but I'm going to try to stay on the horizon so you can understand really what we're trying to do. So last year, last
161summer, spring summer, you gave me a direction to eliminate the structural deficit and to ensure we maintain pos positive certification. You gave me that direction. So all summer up to this point, that is what I've tried to do. Is it perfect? Heck no. Do I like any of it? Not a single thing. Not a single thing. But it eliminates a structural deficit. It gets us to positive certification and it allows us space. And um you have a strategic direction document, a five-year strategic direction document. And within that document, you also included this in my direction to rebuild, reestablish our unrestricted reserve levels. We're cutting it way too close. We need to do that. And so there's two things in front of me that you have given me that are absolutely spot-on. They're the right thing
162to do. And tonight is about that. Now, it might take us a few years to rebuild our unreserved unrestricted reserves. It may it very well may and that's okay. But tonight is about this. Now, Mr. Uner asked me about how we got here and what really happened. Well, I'm going to that you know what is that? A picture says a thousand words. So the picture that you see on that screen, I'm assuming you can see that board. Am I okay? That is our revenue since 2016. That's our revenue tied directly to what we had talked about about the loss of unitary tax. Okay. So, we're fighting like crazy working with our state senator and assembly member and PG, our partners at PG. I know it's easy to vilify PG, but they are our partners. They're
163many, many of our families work for PG and that's their livelihood. they they um provide a very important um uh f u role in our community and and this is a really really big problem for us that we need resolved. The second thing I talked about was well what if we did get funding for a whole another grade level that's been mandated upon us. Well, that number 5.7 million is what we would receive if we got that decision point from our representatives, by the way, from our representatives who decided I just think of it this way. A group of adults decided what was best for us and and that's what it costs us. Okay? And now this is my favorite chart right now ever. I dream about this. Now, what I want to say is
164if you were to move to the right where that big arrow is was SLCUSD, if you were to move to the right about 10 spots, that's where we were safely, comfortably for over 10 years. The arrow would have been 10 spots to the right approximately, but that revenue band, so you know what you're looking at. These are This actually came It took us a year to get this data because we couldn't get the we couldn't get people to share this with us, but a a report came out called the PACE report that badmouththed basic aid districts, but I was able to grab this data and it said everything. And I want to draw your attention here because I think it's super important where we are today where that orange bar is just above the line
165and then you have four districts to the left of us. These are unified basic aid districts in California and that's how much money over the state funded status those districts are. So when you look at that arrow, we are very close, not far from falling out of basic aid status. That's what that is telling us. We don't want to do that. So it's really important that we pay close attention to these revenue streams. And um and so that chart is why we're here tonight. We received, as you heard, a letter from the county office of ed directing this board in effect to make these reductions. And I want to end with this. This recommendation eliminates the structural deficit, aligns our revenues with expenditures, and provides our board with creative discretion this spring. as the governor
166does his budget, as we figure out what it looks like in the spring, are we going to get a legislative solution in terms of uh TK funding in terms of unitary tax? The governor's May budget includes additional revenue. If if the governor's budget includes additional revenue, if there are positive solutions, legislative solutions, you're going to have a solid financial footing to make decisions. And third, and finally, I will say um next school year, the 2627 school year, is the year we rebuild a new three-year LCAP. and the board very well may have additional insights um into future priorities. So, all of this is lining up. I'm sharing it with you tonight because I I want you to be in a solid position this spring when those revenues come our way. I don't want you to
167be overleveraged. I don't want you to not be in a be part of a governing system that isn't um tending to these minimum statutory reserves. This is what I want you to think about in your decision tonight. Thank you. >> All right. We I' like to take the temperature of the board here for a minute. We have about we have many public a great deal of public comments which we want to be able to hear. We have not had I'd like to suggest taking a brief break before we listen to about over an hour's worth of public comment. So is that all right with everyone? >> Yeah. Thank you. So we will reconvene at um 8:05. We are starting up shortly. Thank you. >> Oh man. A like goddamn potatoes. She didn't want to be
168trust me. Here we go. If we could uh get seated again, we're ready to call the meeting back to order, please. >> All right, we are ready to begin with um public comment on this item and Mr. Clawson will read a couple names at a time. So, if you could kind of be be ready, we'll get through this. Thank you. >> We are going to start by hearing from Ashley Hearnie and then from Brandt Weiss. >> Hello everybody. I'm Ashley Hearn, high school counselor at Los Middle School. Um, I usually have like a print out that I speed read through and I didn't do that today. I'm kind of regretting it because there's a lot of people here. Um, but I am not naive to the situation we are in. I feel as though we
169are leaning in the direction of this budget cut. Uh, but I do just want to speak to counseling one more time and again and again. Um, especially at the middle school level. Um, I sort of feel like middle schools are like the middle children in the birth order of public education. Um, our elementary schools have quite a bit of academic intervention and support. Our high schools have our college and career centers, school counselors, as well as the wellness centers. Um, our middle schools unfortunately are left floating quite a bit. Um, and this proposed cut to counseling would leave our middle schools at the levels that they were at precoid. However, we have lost some prevention and early intervention counseling with the county, which has included a lot of um student group counseling. we no longer
170have that support. Uh we do have some LMFT or associate marit and family therapy support through the county. Um I will say from my experience in my office that it is not nearly as utilized as we think it should be. Same with our daybreak teleaalth contract. We preach it all the time because we as school counselors are heavily impacted and we cannot reach all of the students needs and our scope of practice isn't as in-depth as therapists are. But our students are not taking the bait. They are coming to us in our offices as comprehensive PPS school counselors because we are seen most frequently. We are in classrooms. We are on campus. We are in pep rallies. We are integrated into our school campus. And they are saying no thanks to Daybreak. No thanks to
171county MFD support. Yes, please to Mrs. Herni and Mr. V on their campus. Um, and at LOM specifically, my beloved alma mater, going down to one counselor really would create a vast equity gap between our coast school and our city school because one counselor is literally just one person. At least at Laguna Middle School, when one of the counselors is tied up, the other one might be available for something. Um, at Los Sos Middle School, that wouldn't be the case. And at Losus Middle School, compared to our city sister school, we have a higher population uh percentage population of homeless students, students with disabilities. socioeconomically disadvantaged compared to our counterpart. We also have the counseling enriched program for our most high emotional needs students. Sometimes we receive students from the um county office of eds
172practice when they're taking a step down into our program. Um and they do have their sped support, but we as PPS holders supplement that support. Um lastly, so social emotional support isn't just about the emotional piece. I've talked about that a lot. The social piece is really big right now where students are struggling with soft skills, EQ, resilience, not using hate language and and homophobic slurs. There's a lot of really important things that we need to fight for in terms of counseling specifically. Please bring us back if you can pass the budget. Thank you. >> All right, Bryant Weiss is going to be followed by Mave Holden. Well, I would like to address you uh dear superintendent Dr. Prader and assistant superintendent Dr. Puchia, Mrs. Yamashita, Mr. Pinketton. Hi, I'm Brandt Weiss and I have
173a quick word for you members of the board. The librarian is one of the most important role at our school. She has helped me find countless books within the library. This is one of my favorite places to be coming from a fourth grader who is very curious and likes to read. Most of my reading comes from here and I just can't imagine Miss Hunt running our library time. I like how Miss Bagnel reads our books. A class size of 35 is really tough to work with and it gets really really loud, especially during windtime when everyone is talking to each other. Miss Hunt is luckily able to quiet us all down, but she already has so many things on her plate. It'll be hard for her to quiet down everyone and down in the library.
174Just like a classroom needs a special person to work the room and make it come to life. You need a special person to make a library work. I want you to think about what a library is without a librarian. Just books. Teachers can't remember all the books whereabouts with so much on their plate. On that note, I would like to conclude this letter and I hope you keep our librarian, Miss Bagnel. Goodbye from Brandt Life. Thank you, Brandt. >> All right, Mave Holden. And on deck will be Wenhu. >> Okay. Um Okay. Hello to the board. My name is Mave Holden and I'm a band student parent and a school nurse with Lucia Maher. And I am missing my son's concert tonight because if this budget passes there might will be no pack concert next
175year probably. Um, education comes through the muses in the Greek and here we are. You know that is music is fundamental to education. I urge you to maintain the minimal music funding remaining after years of cuts. And music is not an extra. It is a statemandated core curriculum that serves about one-third of the secondary students and it should be in our elementary schools as well. Music supports other core curriculum by teaching a new language, improving fine mo motor skills and using mathematics with beats and time signatures all in direct engagement screen-free environment. And it supports the district's LCAP goals. It is the definition of bang for your buck. Music is evidence-based support for schools. Operating a music program without supplies or transportation is like having a PE class but providing no balls or nets and
176sports cancelling all the away games. Performance is a music students game day. For many students in our title one schools, music is the only avenue for this experience. It is a glaring inequity to provide busing for extracurricular sports while providing none for a core curriculum class. Also, Prop 28 funds are illegally required to supplement, not supplant, existing arts budgets. Only a small portion of these funds can be used because 80% are mandated for salaries. Forcing Title One families to pay for reads, strings, and transportation makes music a privilege for the few rather than an education for all. directly contradicting your equity goals. Supporting students who struggle the most. The district amended their cut from 150,000 the whole music budget budget to $100,000 because bands really do need instruments. The district's footnote that it will work
177to ensure needs are met is not reassuring. You cannot ensure needs are met while simultaneously stripping the funding required to meet them. As Mr. Pinkerton said, the band is growing. So, we just need to maintain what we have. Voters made arts a priority with Prop 28 by a wide margin. Yet, the music cuts are marked as second tier items for potential return, a clear statement of the district's priorities. Music increases attendance. It increases engagement and academic success with test scores, grades, and graduation rates. If music supports are out, you contradict the community's will and your own goals. In three to four years, when the predictions come to pass and the music performance is a footnote in our curriculum, there will be regrets. And I think people will remember the day that music could have been
178saved. And I urge you um to prioritize funding that keeps core curriculum band supports in place, keeps the instruments playing and the buses moving while we search for more funding. >> Thank you. when we do and next will be Stefan Podell after that. >> Thank you everyone for working hard during this difficult time. Um I also have some ideas that come up during this most tearful uh speech. Have we consider everyone employee take a little bit pay cut to save our our students future? So yeah good evening. Uh, thank you for opportunity to speak. My name is Vanu Joel. I'm the parents flu player at Sun Bispo High School. I'd like to begin with a personal story about my son. My son experienced a significant language social communication delays in early childhood. When he was
179eight, he asked to play piano. At that time, he was far behind his peers in language, communication, attention. I honestly doubted whether he could even sit uh quietly at piano, but he proved me wrong. He played with focus and calm and the moment taught me an important lesson. We must not let our assumption define our children's potential. After COVID, he joined the Lagona band. I still remember asking him what his favorite class was. Without hesitation he said band that was where he made close friendship about five or six friends. Some of you here may be parents of children with special needs. You may understand what five or six friends truly means to a child who struggle with social communication. For my son it means belonging. He carried on the sense of belonging with him to
180slow high school. High school can be overwhelming for any student, but especially for one with social communication challenges. He doesn't always want to talk about what happens at school. But whenever I hear him playing flute at home, whistling music in a shower, I know he's a finding peace. Music is how he regulates, relaxes, reconnects with himself. For that I'm deeply grateful. I also like to share second lesson I have learned as parents. I completed my education in China where public education was fully funded and parents were minimum involved. I assume American public education work the same way or even better. That assumption changed when another parents encouraged me to attend parents meeting. It was eyeopening. I saw parents volunteering countless hours, organizing performances, travel, repairing instrument, sewing uniforms, setting up equipment, all to keep the
181music program running. I also learned how limited. >> Thank you so much. >> That's Stephan Podell will be followed by Lydia Steckling. My name is Stefan Podell. I'm the president of the Slow Symphony and Youth Symphony Board of Directors. I'm here tonight with some of my fellow board members to ask the school district board to reconsider its proposed twothirds cut to music program funding. You would surely have an even larger presence of music program supporters here tonight, but there are, as you know, three other concerts, three concerts happening tonight, all of which face cuts and may not happen next year. The slow symphony already provides supplemental music education within this district. Our music van puts instruments in the hands of kids who might not otherwise ever hold a French horn or a clarinet. Our strings
182in schools program, currently taught at Baywood Elementary, provides group instruction to kids who might otherwise never learn to play the violin or cello. The youth symphony provides performance opportunities for students who want to do even more than what their schools can offer. We are already filling all the gaps we can in the public school systems capacity for music education. Please don't rely on us to compensate for an even larger gap. I fully appreciate the severity of the budget issues you face, the difficulty of solving them while trying to minimize disruption and the extensive and creative thinking you've brought to bear on all your constituents behalf. But surely two a twothirds cut to the program is unwarranted and devastating. Music performance is an essential part of music education. It is a part of your curriculum and
183the fact that the original proposal was a 100% cut has me concerned that the administration and this board may still consider it optional. I understand that the music program was not a beneficiary of the one-time funds received during the pandemic. Now the music program is being cut back to below precoid levels and all we are ultimately asking for is to hold your ground. Do not we don't need to hold on to any increased spending. Postpone the cuts by a year to give the m music booster groups the opportunity to raise funds for the following school year in 2728. Do not put these musicians behind the eightball in the upcoming school year. Consider drawing funds from your foundation to fill the gap until the legislature can restore unitary funding from PG&E. Those dollars were given to
184the foundation to help mitigate the drop in revenue, and this is an appropriate time and reason to access those funds. At the very least, find a way to spread cuts more equitably across programs. I would like to hear, for example, what percentage of athletics budget is 100K? It's twothirds of music. and what cuts will be ma be made to increase administrative costs and fringe benefits. The proposed cut to music is a tiny fraction of the shortfall you face but is the majority of the music programs budget. Remember that music has repeatedly been shown to augment learning across all curricula and without it all learning suffers. To quote Boto Corelli the founder of the slow youth symphony when you go to sleep tonight will you be able to say that you've done enough? >> THANK YOU
185MR. SO LYDIA WILL BE followed by Maria Fidio Pioas. >> Hello, my name is Lydia Steckling and I'm the treasurer on the slow high school band board student leadership. I am here today to provide a voice for those students in our district who weren't able to attend today's meeting. many of whom were at their own concert tonight. Despite their inability to be here, they are still incredibly passionate about these cuts to music programs in our district and wanted their voices to be heard. Sophia Roberts, a member of the Losos Middle School band, who wrote to me that band is not just a class to her, but a community that relies on one another, respects one another, and pushes one another to be the best that they can be. Kira Johnson, a sixth grader in the
186Los Soosos Middle School band, wrote this. Band has greatly impacted my life for the better and has been one of the most influential parts of my life. Since I've been in band, I've met so many amazing people who share my interest and help me feel like a part of something. Music has gotten me through the toughest times in my life. In band, I can turn my feelings into something productive. I can't imagine where my mental health would be without band. Band teaches me the skills I need in this world. And for that, I am extremely grateful. She strongly believes that this music department should no longer be considered an afterthought, but a priority. Music is not just a hobby but a critical part of education and it should be protected at all costs. Pika Bell,
187a member of the Lossos Middle School band says that for some people band is the only reason they go to school each day. It calms them and lets them express themselves creativity creatively. Jack, a member of the Laguna Advanced Band, said that I want future students after me to have the same incredible experience that I did in band. Band is one of the most important things in my life. Sophia Roberts finishes her letter by writing this. I could never imagine school without band. I believe that I speak for many people when I say that your actions at this meeting today will change the lives of many kids. And though I know I can't force any of you to change your mind, I hope that my voice has moved you, even if by just a fraction
188of an inch. All of these kids along with many others who wrote but whose voices I don't have time to share urge you to postpone the approval of this budget in order to to save our incredibly valuable studentfacing music programs. Thank you for your time. Okay, after Maria will be Len Nudson. Good evening. I'm here today to provide reasoning for why these cuts should not be passed. I have chosen to make a public comment today because I owe everything to the music community. As a middle schooler coming out of CO, I was completely torn apart. Around this time, I received my diagnosis for an anxiety disorder that made it difficult to simply walk through Target. So, how did a person like me go from that to standing on a podium and leading 100 teammates in
189rehearsal? The answer is band. Thanks to my teachers and teammates, I had finally found a place where I belonged. During my time in band, I have watched people grow and flourish the same as I did. It's a common story. An anxious freshman who cares what everybody thinks about them learns how to feel comfortable in their own skin, and they become leaders. You will hear some of these leaders speak today. Their self-confidence now shines through because of the music program at St. Louis Coastal. This makes me incredibly heartbroken to say, but some students would not even be here today if it weren't for band. Now, I want to talk about what these budget cuts will do. First, it seems that there has been a misinterpretation of our budget. Our funding does not simply go towards repairs,
190maintenance, materials, supplies, and field trips. It also goes towards copyrights for our field show music. Money goes towards our drill writer who choreographs our field shows. It goes towards our uniforms, entry to educational competitions and festivals, instruments, and with this reads, mouthpieces, valve oil, cork, grease, mallets, drumsticks, and busing to and from competitions, which it is important to note that last year, Bandboard had to put on a total of four bake sales in the span of one month to afford busing to one of our competitions. It is important to note that competitions are the backbone of our program. Without them, we would lack valuable experiences working with worldrenowned musicians in clinics. Similar to sports, our field show has no educational value if we cannot compete with it. Imagine a sports team unable to play games.
191They practice every day only to scrimmage it with each other. This is what it will feel like. We cannot rely on Slowimba to cover the cost deficit. Simba simply does not have enough active parent volunteers to make this happen. Sima can probably get us through the next year, but the financial loss will be felt by the following year. Moral Bay and LOMs will not function normally as early as next year if you vote yes today. Why does it have to be this way? Is this necessary? Is this the best option we can think of? I ask you to reconsider trust such a tremendous loss to our music community. Thank you. After Lana, we'll have Pluto Rios and Ella Blair. Hello, my name is Len Kudson and I am currently a freshman at Sil High School
192playing the me and French horn. Before band, I didn't have anything that I was very passionate about. But when I joined Lagona band in seventh grade, it ignited a purpose in me that led to to me building my personality and life around music. Even though I am new to the slow high school band program, the thought of it collapsing as it would without a sustainable budget makes me unbelievably heartbroken. Without the band program as it was this year, the various bus rides, parades, field show competitions and band camp that led to me making so many important relationships would not have been possible. Making the top California all state band is something that I would not have been able to accomplish both in eighth grade and 9th grade without the help of the band program. It
193made me strive to put in the hours and achieve the goals that I wanted to achieve. Band has truly made me who I am today, making me value music, friendship, and perseverance with a new understanding. Although band was amazing this year, we were barely able to have successful performances and rehearsals with the state of our instruments. During our last field show competition this year, my meant first valve broke. It would stick all the way down, and many tried to fix it, but failed. We ended up having to borrow one from another school, and we were very lucky that they were kind enough to lend us one. Seeing the state of that school's me was eye opening. It appeared brand new whereas ours were old and out of tune and quite dented. Add additionally my school
194French horn has two rotors that are broken and need fixing. So I've been sharing a French horn with another student. This year we've shown that we can handle the an insufficient budget but we should not have to. You are proposing keeping a budget for new instruments but we have been using that to repair the decade old instruments we already have. and it makes it really hard to keep up productive rehearsals when our instruments are always in the shop. We have barely been holding on with what we have. A $100,000 budget cut would make it impossible to have a functioning band program. Making slow IMBA pay for many of the resources we need is unfair as it is exploiting the community. With these budget cuts comes the loss of music experience for countless students. So, please
195consider this topic very carefully. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. After Pluto and Ella will be Connor uh Levenog. >> Hello. Oh, I'm so sorry. I am Pluto Rios and I'm Ella Blair and we're from the Color Guard. Um so over the past year, Color Guard has grown exponentially and we've nearly doubled in size going from about three people to eight. we've been able to achieve things that in the past we've only been able to dream of. And now if we were to receive this budget cut, we would essentially just regress back to where we were being essentially non-existent. And that goes not just for us, but for the band as a whole. We want to keep doing this. And it's just something we love so much. And we want to be able
196to preserve it. >> Yeah. We're lowkey giving hash flop era and it's really sad. You know, we have people coming up here like like elementary students coming up here asking you to make sure you keep their programs like their libraries and it's so sad we have to come to this. It is truly truly sad. It's not just a band. It's all of these budgets you're like chopping up like if we could like find a way to like make it so the budget is not just directly impacting a bunch but like minimally impacts all but you're taking the budget out. That'd be better. You know, maybe chop some of y'all's budgets up so we can still have ours. You know, like life starts life becoming efficient people and people that are good for the community starts
197here. It starts in our schools. And if we're just flinging around, girl, we're going to have no good people in the community. We're going to just have speakers. I just would like you guys to take a little bit of time to think about the budget and think diligently. Think about the students and lives are impacting them. Think in the modern times how this will affect people. You know, we're we're living in some crazy times and we as students shouldn't have to deal with it because y'all are just choosing to CHOP ALL OUR STUFF UP. OKAY. >> Anything else? >> Um, no. I think that's it. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Uh, thank you very much. Uh, Connor, you're next, followed by Rocky Mononttoya. Good evening, board members. My name is Connor. I'm a freshman who
198just finished my first year of marching band. When I joined, I thought band would just be like any other class. But it became a place where I made friends, learned discipline, and finally felt like I belonged. That's why the proposed music cuts matter. They're not just numbers. They affect real students. The money being taken from music isn't just extra. It pays for uniforms, buses to and from competitions, drum heads, reads, mouthpieces, just a name of the few of the basic things that let us actually perform. Without them, the program just cannot function. Our boosters program, Slowima, already covers the competition fees, field show props, color guard equipment, food, and band camp. They can't just suddenly take on everything else. I still remember my first competition and how much that moment meant to me. I want
199future freshmen to have that moment, too. Band isn't just an elective. It's a community that teaches teamwork, leadership, and confidence. Cutting this funding takes away opportunities and memories that can't be replaced. And once a program like this is torn down, it's incredibly hard to rebuild. Please protect the program that gave me a place to belong. Thank you. All right, Rocky Mononttoya, uh, followed by Annie Fru. Uh hello, I'm Rocky. Uh this is Tony. He's my brother and he is mainly here for uh emotional support because you know talking in front of people is hard. Anyway, all right, let's get to this. So band as like an entirety in both like the school and outside of school, bands that have formed to like make our favorite music. They're all part of this big community that like
200interlocks with each other and it's like a large beautiful universe that we have just like the music community in general. It provides a lot of people to like show themselves out to the world like show who they are, who they want to be and like their ideas in general. Music can be used for like multiple ways of expression in both the self and in the general world problems that we have. Music pieces have been made on historical events such as the War of 1812, hence that one song I forgot the title of. Um, more modern social uh, influences such as this one artist named Fempl, which the name is sad but because sounds like something, but um, it's mainly about the struggles of transgender people. Um, but the main point with this is that all
201of this diversity accumulates into something that we in our modern times, even though we're like really distant with our phones and such, but at the same time interconnected through distance, this gives us more of like a local community that we can actually be present in. And that's important for both finding ourself through others. Like we can connect to other people and those people who become our friends through things like band and art influence how we turn out in life like how our parents taught us as we were kids. Now we go out into the world and other people can help us become who we are. I myself has um have had experience in this with like most of my friends here like Tony behind me and oh wait that's the wrong film and Ella and
202Chris. y'all are cool. They've helped me find myself in like being who I am. And that's really important, especially in like the times of middle school and high school since that's mainly when you're like development happens. And community is just like that important to everyone in the universe cuz like it's the combining unifying factor in why we all exist. Humanity in itself is a community as throughout history we've survived by relying on each other. So why not you know preserve that with band in a as I said before split society with like technology and general lack of socialization due to the pandemic. This is an extremely important thing that we have before us. So please reconsider your decision. Thank you. >> Thank you Rocky. Uh after Annie will be Tom Mendoza. >> Uh good evening
203trustees and superintendent. My name is Annie Ganagru. I'm a parent uh in this district. I'm a faculty member at Calpali. Um I'm also one of the co-founders of the St. Louis Coastal Parents Information Network. Um and I'm here tonight because it's deeply frustrating to be back in this position again. Um the board last year made really painful cuts. Um, and many of us parents have spent the last year trying to engage. We've organized. We've researched and looked for solutions so that we wouldn't have to be facing another round of reductions that directly impact our students and staff and families. Um, Ben, Emily and I have been working to try to compel PG&E, whether that's through legislation or non-legislative actions and solutions to make some kind of inind donation or financial support to the district. We've
204been working really, really hard. Um, and with that, I want to first acknowledge district staff working um, within these very challenging fiscal constraints and complex requirements. We really appreciate the efforts um that go into presenting these different kinds of options under really challenging circumstances. But at the same time, one of the most difficult parts of this process is also a lack of transparency and a lack of accurate information. The way that we talk about solutions, the way that we talk about legislation, the way that we talk about 846, SB846, the way that we talk about unitary tax reinstatement is challenging. It's complex. We have to do so with clarity so that families can better understand and have access to this information. We have to understand what the data is truly indicating and how to engage
205meaningfully in these decisions. That is part of participatory governance. These consequences are not abstract to us. My daughters attend Sinshimer Elementary School. They love school. They also really love their library. Mrs. Sawyer, our librarian, knows both of my daughters by names. Our oldest last night was telling me after we do our reading time, we have like our tell us about your daytime and she said that she spent her lunch at the library because she loves reading so much. These spaces and services are not extras. These are criticals to how students experience school, where they feel safe, where they feel supported, and how they stay engaged. Cuts to libraries, intervention programs, student services fundamentally change students educational experiences. There's also a clear equity issue here. Families with resources may be able to fill those gaps where
206programs are cut, but many are not able to do so. Reductions to intervention services, our libraries, our student supports disproportionately affect students who rely on schools for stability and for enrichment. These are the students who will be most harmed when we default to cuts rather than pursuing sustainable revenue solutions. We need to figure out additional ways on how to generate revenue and I know you're trying. We as parents are trying to but continuing to balance our budgets primarily through cuts especially. >> Thank you Annie. >> Thank you FOR Tom Tom Mendoza followed by Marcus U Pachek. >> Uh good evening members of the board uh Dr. operator administrators, guests. Uh I'm Tom Mendoza. Uh I am one of the band boosters. Uh emailing Mr. Pinkerton, but not this morning. Um I I'd like to reiterate
207that the district music and arts funding is not just for instruments, field trips, etc. The general fund is and has been absolutely essential to the activities that contribute to the essence of the program such as competitions, clinics, and concerts. the proposed twothirds reduction uh is disproportionate. Um this is my first year uh with the boosters. I'm inspired watching these kids uh what they do every day. Uh the music program is unlike any other class assignment or project uh in the school curriculum. I'd like to share what that looks like. So it's a Saturday in October, a marching band field show and parade competition. Picture this. arrive at school at 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning, only hours after performing at a Friday night football game. It looks like night of the zombies seeing a 100 kids shuffling
208in the dark from the parking lot to the music room at the rear of the campus. Student section leaders immediately mobilize the entire band. Students work with purpose to organize all equipment, uniforms, and instruments, and props into the band, trailer, and rental truck to transport everything for a 100 person team. From seniors to freshmen, girls and boys of all backgrounds work together, problem solving, collaborating, laughing. The bond is real and powerful. At the parade, our drum major proudly leads the band. This shy and talented young lady has grown into a trusted leader with confidence and courage as she leads block leads the block marching with discipline and precision past the parade review. The band earns first place in its class. Last uh later arrive at the field show competition, unload, organize and prepare for the
209show. March to the field, assemble for battle. Hundreds of people watching judges in the stands take the field pour their heart and soul into the performance. Thrill at the music and choreography. See them persevere through the blood, sweat, and tears. The months of dedication and commitment earned them second place in their class. Uh finally, disassemble and pack up the instruments. Load up the buses. Depart at 10 p.m. Arrive back at school about 1 in the morning. Zombie walk back to the band room. Unload the trailer and U-Haul, organize uniforms and equipment, and then repeat the following Saturday for the next competition. Your music program checks all the boxes under the district's vision and mission statements. Your vision, courageous and creative thinkers, skillful collaborators, productive contributors. Your mission, educate students through rigorous, relevant, and engaging experiences.
210This proposed 66% reduction will eliminate that programming. Thank you. Thank you. >> After Marcus will be Isabelle Rubio. >> Hi, my name is Marcus Pastic. I go to St. Louis Spispo High School. I'm here to represent the band because band is one of the best experiences in my life. like I cannot express how much fun it has been the past like four or five years. Um I've learned so much and I am still learning a lot more. I um I uh just it's a good program. Uh I've had very good experiences with it obviously. Uh and back in like 8th grade I at the beginning of the year I was having some trouble with my mental problems and band was the one thing to help me through those problems. I want to I don't want
211these budget cuts to affect my band experience. Uh cuz it's been a good experience. And if the budget cuts affect it, then I don't think it would be as fun or as great, I'm sure it would still be great or fun, just not as fun or great. Um that's all I have to say. Thank you for Thank you. All right, Isabelle Rubio, followed by Lucas Infante. Hello, my name is Isabelle Rubio Martin. I'm a nth grade at Slow High School. I'm a part of the slow high school band program and I am here today to talk about the budget cuts. As much as I can go on and on about the statistics and numbers of this, I feel like I alongside others need to speak up about our experiences. When I was younger, I always
212felt out of place. On top of being a college student in a white dominated school, I was always I was also considered a more unathletic student. I felt like this led also led me to become more closed off, expressing less and just keeping to myself. However, when band was offered, I felt inclined to join. Although my siblings urged me to pursue leadership in sports, I never thought those programs gave me a chance to truly express myself. I honestly thought band would be a chance to find something I was truly passionate about. When I first got my instrument, I genuinely thought it was something simple I could learn. However, once I started to pursue it, I felt genuinely happy. I felt like I was finally seen in a whole new world, and I felt something spark
213inside of me. I looked around during my first concert and realized everyone here had similar ambitions. pursuing music and to overall have fun. However, this fully hit me my freshman year in band. I was in a rough spot mentally and was slowly giving up on band and a lot at the time. But once we got to band camp, I felt more bonded and confident confident. On top of the music and the rehearsals, I felt like the laughs and memories gave me the hope I needed to keep pursuing what I loved. The same spark that felt extinguished start to ignite brighter than ever. And the memories of this program is what kept me going. I overall feel like band is genuinely my family and my safe space. It is a spot where I can be fun
214and corny but feel safe and not judged for it. I feel so free in these moments. I can not recognize myself. I was so worried about seeming weird. I lost the plot and was looking for answers in something I never needed to feel free and loved. It was never about fitting into programs. It was always about finding something you love. And I feel like keeping opportunities like the performing arts programs allow students to find their spark and find something they can truly be themselves through. This is not only for me but for the Florida students out there who need to find their spark the most. I want to overall thank everyone here for giving me the chance to be where I am today. And without band I don't know where I would be right now
215mentally. Specifically Mr. Cooch for encouraging me to pursue band in high school and Miss Jesy for having a program that had made me feel a part of something amazing. Thank you. All right, Lucas Infonte, followed by Dr. Martha Jorgensson Lindholm. >> Hello, my name is Lucas Infonte. I'm currently a junior enrolled in the various music programs at Sloh High and I've been a part of the pathway since seventh grade. I'm the president of the student board and the section leader of the 14 or so saxophones at the school. The music program at SLHigh has been the most enriching, impactful ed and educational experience I have ever received from my time in this district. This band has taught me more about responsibility, empathy, leadership, integrity, reasoning, cooperation, camaraderie, and operating community than any other class or
216extracurricular. And I know that I am not alone. As the saxophone section leader, I oversee that all students who play the saxophone in my section are getting the help they need, receiving information about events as well as direction. Every one of them is incredibly dedicated and I and feel a deep connection to the sport. My responsibilities include doing what I can to make sure that all the students play their best to their ability and impart my knowledge and guidance on them. Unfortunately, my task becomes far more difficult considering the fact that seven of the 14 se of my section mates have instruments that have critical damages resulting in the interference of the m musical process, including not playing notes, poor intonation, and stuffy sound. Many of our instruments are incredibly old and worn. It has
217happened multiple times where I'm leading a sectional and a student's horn falls apart in their hands. When this happens, I can either try to fix it myself with carpenters tape, which is often what happens, or we send it to be repaired, oftentimes leaving a student without an instrument for weeks. I had had keys fall off, springs come out, corks flake off, and students who are limited to playing less than half the notes in their music because their instrument cannot function. These damages are not caused by mistreatment of students. These damages are caused by instruments who have lived their course and should no longer be played. We have no extra saxophones to give to students when this happens. Of the seven students in my section who have working instruments, two of them were forced to use
218their personal horns as we did not have enough to provide them with. I personally am using a souafhone between 50 and 70 years old. These students are highly motivated and passionate, but I nor any other instructor can teach with broken tools. Slow High School has fostered the education of several all-state players as well as countless legacies who have graduated from the program. We frequently achieve first in our division and place in competitions against multi-year state champion champ yet champions. For our students to be held back to such a degree because of their equipment to me is infuriating. With that being said, I understand that I have been extremely privileged to have the musical experience that I have had and understand that it would not be possible without the generous funding that we have gotten in
219the past. I understand that there are many many valid reasons for the budget decrease and that all programs are suffering. However, it crushes me to know that these if these budget cuts are passed, it would mean that there is a lone student that will not get the band experience that I treasure so much. That the grades below me will never experience the concerts, competitions, and community that I've grown to love. Although I'm just a high schooler, I've done my best to educate myself and understand the complicated reasons that we are in these situations. I plead with you all to vote no on this budget proposal until we can find a more equitable solution to these funding issues. Thank you for your time. >> All right. After Martha is uh Katie Bravante will be next. >>
220I'm Marty Lindholm and I'm glad to see you all here. Thank you. You do you have a job that I do not envy. I want to thank you for what you're doing, but I want to thank these people first. I want to thank the kids and I want to thank the parents for being here. As a music teacher that taught in St. Louis Coastal, retired in '09, I just am so grateful to see the program blossoming. It's just doing wonderfully. I've heard such good things about it. The coral program is is growing. It's blossoming. Uh, the bands are incredible and I just am so proud. Thank you. Um, now get down to business. Music is not a frill. Music has to be part of our program and you know that you love music. Your children
221have been in music programs. I have taught your children. I grew up in St. Louis and I had music from second grade on. And uh my kindergarten teacher did music with me and I remember seeing Billy Boy and and having a boy in my class singing the Billy part and I got to sing the uh what are you doing Billy Boy? It was wonderful. It's part of our life. It's a huge part of our life. This economic business gets in the way. And I just think we have to think this through. We have to find a way to get PG& to pay. They have to. And we need to get the state to pay if they mandate a program. Our symphony, as much as I do love it, uh has our instruments from when we
222had an orchestra. I grew up playing in the orchestra, and I loved it. I played the piano for the parts that weren't there, and I played the cello when I could play the cello. And we made wonderful music in the old uh building, in the old uh stage. And you remember those that gorgeous stone building? That was our school. And the orchestra needs to come back, let alone have tuning and u instrument repair for the band. The orchestra has to come back. So we need a string program in the elementary and we need uh second and third grade music which I used to teach and I believe that we can find a way to get the instruments fixed without going broke. I would hate to have my children playing a clarinet that didn't close on
223the third finger. I would hate that. So, we have to get the instruments fixed. There's no doubt about that. And we have to put the money into the music program because that's what feeds our children. >> That's what Thank you, Martha. >> Thank you very much. Katie Breante, followed by Karen Steckley. >> Good evening. My name is Katie Bervante and I have been teaching music in this district since 2010. I am not here to speak on the proposed cut to our music budget of which there has been a large public outcry from our community. Sadly, we experienced a similar outcry 13 years ago when our school district cut music education for students in the primary grades. We had 2 hours of public comment and the board still voted to make that cut. The district never
224chose to reverse those provisional cuts and to this day chooses not to fund music education for grades preK to third grade despite additional funding earmarked specifically for music and the arts. Prop 28. I am here to ask you to vote against the proposed staffing cuts for our elementary school library technicians, the seven secondary teachers, and specifically ELD, reading, and intervention specialists and the three secondary counselors our district is proposing to let go. When the district proposed to cut these same counselors last spring, four of you had the courage to stand up for our students and voted against that recommendation. Our students desperately need you to continue to stand up for them. Since September, I have not had just one or two, but four students who were hospitalized due to mental health crisis. Who was there
225to provide the life-saving support they needed? Who was there when they returned to school after weeks being absent to ensure a supportive return and ongoing support? Our counselors were there. The choice does not have to be voting in favor of these cuts or voting against these cuts, thus putting our school at risk for losing a positive certification. The choice can be to vote against these cuts in favor of selecting other ways to achieve the same goal of solvency. Your strategic priorities of optimizing the academic success of all students and their wellness cannot be realized with these staffing cuts. I implore you to do the hard and uncomfortable work of digging deep into the district spending, doing your homework, and making your own budget calculations. Are you going to protect the fewer but much more expensive
226district, administrative, and office staffing that have been added in the last 10 years? or are you going to protect these staffing positions that are critical for students? Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. After Karen is uh Johanna Hans. Hello. My name is Karen Steckling. I'm a parent to two students here in the district, a daughter at Lagona Middle School and a daughter at the high school. Um, I'm first and foremost here to support the band. It has been instrumental in both of my children's lives. Um, but I am also here as a parent to um address the board members today regarding the proposed budget reductions that are before you. Um, I would like to point out from my perspective, um, I appreciate the creativity. I understand the hard situation you're in,
227but from my perspective, a lot of the budget cuts were student are studentf facing. Um, I know that it has been said that there was um they tried to not have that be the case, but um I would like to see as already has been stated um retention of counselors, librarians, ELD support, student support services, as well as the music programs for the band and the choir who had a concert tonight. Um I from my perspective didn't see a lot of reductions at the district office with those um you know non-instructional support was a pretty big chunk in that personnel. You know are there any ways we can kind of address those issues um and not directly impact our students? I am a state worker. I am not immune to budget crisis. I have been
228furled once. I have been payroll reduction twice. I'm currently on payroll reduction right now. Um what are people at the district office? What are the administrators doing to lead well now to be taking the cut themselves? Why can't they take a one to 2% reduction to be able to sustain this money in the interim while we pick and try to figure out long-term solutions? Um, I'm doing it right now to serve the public um and water quality in in our region. Um, furthermore, as has already been said, if these have to be cut to any of our programs across um, our district, please make them equitable. 66% reduction for band is not the same as a 5 to 10% reduction in other programs. Please make it fair so we all bear this burden together. We
229all feel it a little bit, but one program isn't just wiped out. That doesn't seem equitable to me. Um, that's it. Please don't vote yes today. Please send this back to your staff. Ask them to rethink this. Ask them to try to shield our students from feeling these impacts. Thank you. After Johanna will be Lucy Carbonella. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Johanna Hanf and this is my first time attending a school district meeting. I have a kindergartenner and a first grader at Pacheco Elementary School. I'm here today to ask you to reconsider the proposed school district budget cut off for next year. If this budget cut off is approved, it will effectively eliminate all non-classroom intervention programs, including vital support for our English learners. These non-classroom programs are essential to student success. Knowledge
230is key and our students are our future. Every single child deserves the necessary tools to succeed in life. And that begins with with access to a strong and fair education. If we eliminate these non-classroom programs, our children will be at a disadvantage as they move to the middle school and high school. As parents, we want to use we want to see our children growth bro both personally and academically and we need the continued support for our school of our school district to make that possible. I am also part of the ELAC program at PCO Elementary School and are share information about the proposed budget cuts with other parents. Many of them were not able to attend this meeting. But on behalf of the nearly 100 families that I was able to reach, I ask you
231please one more time to reconsider this significant school budget cut. Thank you. All right, we have Lucy Carbonella followed by Talia Phillips Ortega. Okay. Hi, my name is Lucy Carbonella and I'm a sophom I'm a sophomore and I'm lucky enough to be a member of the marching band, concert band, and honors jazz band. Band is my life and it means the world to me and hundreds of others. So, I really don't think you should make this decision now. I don't think a year ago I would have been able to stand up here, but today I'm able to because of the confidence I've gained from the program because I know the fellow members of the band are here to support me and because this program has continued to prove that it deserves to be what's dearest
232to me. Last week after a concert, one of the friends I made through music told me how happy told me how fun it was to watch because of how happy I look to be playing trumpet. That compliment made my day. And it was true. I am happiest when I'm playing trumpet. Even though multiple times I've had a trumpet fall apart on the field because so many of our instruments have been at slow high longer than I've been alive or Jesse's been teaching there. I'm happiest when I play trumpet. Not just because I love to play, but because of the association it has with some of my happiest memories and favorite people. When I look around the band room, not only do I see a room littered with trophies, one in the name of slow high,
233I I see people I aspire to be like, people I look up to, friends I know, I love, and I'll have the rest of my life. I'm so bonded with these people. They're my family. The communities that get created by the arts have a profound impact on me and hundreds of other kids throughout the district. These programs for a lot of students are the main reasons they get up in the morning, go to school, or feel included. And a big part of the experience is going to competitions and the field show, things that won't currently be covered by our new budget. Not only not only do these things give us a bond, but without the criticism from these things, we can't learn. Competitions and festivals are also one of the few times we can actually
234showcase our skills in front of our peers that care. So, it means a lot to us. What I can hope you what I hope you can take away from tonight is that these programs mean the world to myself and so many other kids. So, even if you're stuck in between a rock and a hard place, don't forget about us when you make your decision. And don't make today the day the music died. Thank you for your time. I'm so All right. Uh Talia Phillips Ortega followed by Paul Badio. Hello colleagues and community. My name is Talia Phillips Ortega. I am a former student of Pacheo Elementary, Laguna Middle School, Slow High, where I received multiple golden tigers as a library assistant, Qua College, Kalpali. I have taught some of your wonderful children in music privately,
235and I am now an administrative advisor and arts outreach coordinator under Dr. Brussia at your county office of education. However, tonight I am here to speak as a third generation community member who is able to stay and build a career here because of the language skills I learned at Pacheo, the organizational acumen I learned in your library programs, and the leadership and musical skill that I learned in your band programs. And when you are saying that you are thinking ahead with your budget for how this district looks for years to come, I do not think that you are looking far enough ahead. Taking away these programs is robbing our students of the same skill set that made me successful in my own community where you're right, it is very expensive and difficult to live here.
236And if you want a community that withstands the test of time, you're going to need to give those students the opportunity to build those skills. These subjects are called the humanities for a reason. When you are cutting these programs, you are taking the humanity out of education. And what a time to be doing that. We have really lost the picture. And this room is full of people who do not trust you to represent them. They do not trust that you are going to be good stewards. They're here because they don't trust your service. And I am asking you, what are we doing? I know you have a difficult job and a budget to organize, but these are the people that you are representing. And they are here to ask you to make better decisions that
237truly do represent them. We all know the value of music. We are here because we have a flourishing arts community. And music for students makes them empathetic and intelligent human beings. And why wouldn't we want a community of empathetic and intelligent adults? Please consider that in your decision-m. Thank you. All right. Paul followed by a floor leal. Good evening. My name is Paul Valado. Um, and I am a proud parent of two band students. One who has graduated from slow high school and one who's just beginning his journey. As an active slow imba parent, I've had the privilege of watching my older son grow up within the band community. It's an welcoming environment that is kind, compassionate, and educationally enriching. I want my younger son, who's just getting started, to have the same meaningful opportunities
238and support that helped his brother thrive. As an engineer and former high school member myself, I would like to remind this group, everybody here today, that music training is not just an avenue to the arts, but enhances the very cognitive and neurological systems that underly mathematical reasoning, computational thinking, engineering, visualization, and scientific problem solving. As a result, music serves not as an extracurricular luxury but an powerful developmental ally of STEM capabilities. Thank you for your time. >> The floor followed by Zoe Clansancy. Hi, my name is Floral Montoya. I'm a crier. So just everybody know that when especially when it comes to my boys. I am the mother of four boys who have benefited from the music program. Their love for music began at Sincimer Elementary School followed by Lagona Middle School and now at
239Slow High School. I came here to advocate for the band and I wasn't going to speak. I was just going to be silent and sit down. But as I sat here and I realized how many programs are being impacted by these budget cuts, I needed to say something. So I stand here very unprepared. Just wearing my heart on my sleeve. When we first heard about the budget cuts, I was shocked and then I was hurt. Sadness came as it's coming now. Disbelief. And now I'm at the point where I'm angry. I've been sitting here trying to understand the thought process and the logic on why you would cut funds from the most vulnerable programs in our community. Not just band, but the English learners. I myself am an supervisor for an EL program at the
240school that I work at and it just doesn't make any sense to me when we can figure out a way to cut from other programs. I've tried to understand while I'm here, but what I feel like I've heard is just excuse after excuse with zero accountability for the mismanagement of the funding. You knew this was coming and this doesn't seem like the best possible way to to do this. It just doesn't. Cutting the funds to our most vulnerable students, staff, and programs. I'll end with that and just let you all know that I want you to look around to look at these students. You've heard what they've had to say. You've heard how much band and all these programs mean to them. And all of us parents here, we're a large program and we're not
241going to just sit down and sit back and watch this go away because it will go away. I volunteer a lot for Sloima and I know what it takes and I know that the budget that we're proposed for next year will not sustain us. Thank you. All right, Zoe Clancy followed by Luchia Stone. >> Hello, my name is Zoe Clancy. I am in ninth grade, first year of high school, and band and all of my music education throughout my life has been a guiding factor to the leader I am today and how I interact with humans and everything around me. Um, I remember my first um, music class and it was strings and schools in I think second grade and that sparked my passion for violin which is probably the one thing I'm the most
242passionate about in my life. Um, I'm in the orchestra and I'm in the band programs. I've gone up through all the Baying programs I could possibly have and they are probably the single thing that has brought me the most sense of belonging and love and safety and the most impactful friendships I've ever made. Um, and I really would not be the same person at all without the numerous music education opportunities I have received throughout my life. Now my younger brother goes to Monarch Grove which means he and he is in band right now. He has this is his second year on trumpet and he is so passionate about music. He's been playing guitar and I've seen his journey through music and he loves it so much. Um, and if these budget cuts to the music
243program were to take place, because Mora Bay High School's band boosters aren't as developed as low high school's band boosters, there is a chance that their band program will struggle to exist in the future. And the simple thought that my brother will not have the opportunities that I have had and am so grateful for and have shaped me into the person I am today. It hurts so much. Um, and him and his grade and all the generations that come after him, they deserve the same opportunities or more opportunities that I and my grade and the grades above me have gotten to experience. And with that, I urge you to reconsider these cuts to our district's band program and not vote yes. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AIA STONE THEN MICHAEL LOW. >> Good evening superintendent, board
244members, fellow community members and parents and slow high band. My name is Luchia Stone. I'm a parent of slow coastal uh student as well as uh an attendee from kindergarten through Kalpali actually. Um I might add that I was also part of the district's band program playing the clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and French horn. Woo woo. Um, and as a Mexican and Native American daughter of a single parent growing up in affluent city of slow, uh, the band program contributed greatly to my learning experience, confidence, and personal growth. Um, and as you may recall, I was one of the parents who helped turn out dozens of families and their noisy three-year-olds just under a year ago to fight for our transitional kindergarten program. And through dedication, hard work, and partnership, we worked together and we did
245it. My daughter is about to finish her first semester with Miss Sunshine's TK class, which seemed impossible almost a year ago, and she is thriving. This past year, we've become familiar with each other, and I have got to witness the underbelly of the district's budget, and it's not pretty. My message to each person in this room right now is that we do have a path forward in getting PG Genie funding for our ski for our schools, our community, and our kids. So, I continue and encourage you to be here and keep showing and keep fighting. And this is the time in history to speak up. Do not stay silent. It's not acceptable right now. And for the students in the room, keep using your voice. Keep being part of the democratic process. And if you
246need to email them every day between now and January until your budget's reinstated. Kidding. Sort of. For the parents in the crowd, I want you to keep being involved. A group of concerned, dedicated, and very capable parents started the St. Louis Parent Info Network. That's slpin.org. Go on there, get informed, show up, tell your neighbors, figure out how Diablo Nuclear Power Plant has a direct impact on you and your family right now as we sit here. Make PG pay for their fair share. And to the superintendent and to the board, keep fighting for a unitary tax and TK funding and other funding sources. In the same way that Dr. Prader states that P Gen has a moral and ethical contract to our community, you as well have a moral and ethical contract to everyone in
247this room. If you proposed a cut of $5,77,000 and won't hit the reserve levels for another three years, I think we said, then don't cut band or the ESL programming. It's 1% of the total $10 million cuts and merely a rounding error. I I encourage you to reinstate both of those tonight and give yourselves in our community a merry Christmas. And as mentioned before in the words of Don McClean, don't make this day the music died. Thank you. >> Thank you, Michael Low followed by Ben Liippard. a $10 million uh cliff over two years when you've known about the money depleting since 2016 is really bad fiscal policy. Aside from the band being here tonight and the other groups that are here to try to get their programs funded, we don't have competing interests. And
248that is the most frustrating thing that I'm witnessing this evening and saw last year and really Dr. Prader, what I criticized you most for last year. You're sewing division in our community. How many times have you heard speakers just this evening, don't cut ours, take it from athletics, take it from here, find it from there. We don't have competing interests. What we have is administrators who are not doing their job well. And that's that's the truth. Um, my wife and I moved here three and a half years ago and we have an outsider perspective on this. We're not we're not married to any relationships in the community in the way that you guys are. And I'm very concerned that the school board is really out of touch. You guys don't have children who attend any
249of the schools. You don't speak to the parents like we do. You're not experiencing the educational system like we are. It's not the same. You heard this evening how programs have changed over the years and I'm just I'm just mortified by all the division that I'm seeing this administration. So um the last during the last um item Dr. Prader said well we have to do this. You don't have a choice. We have to do it. That's not how democracy works. It's just that the alternative the alternative is someone else gets to make the decisions for you. And $10 million fiscal cliff in two years, maybe someone else making the decisions would be better. It's just bad fiscal policy. It's bad public administration. Um, the last thing I want to comment on again since we showed
250how there are public administrators or I'm sorry, administration, it's the the lowest ratio in the the county compared to others. If none of your administrators showed up to school tomorrow or to work tomorrow, you know what would happen? School. School would happen. If none of your teachers showed up or classified staff showed up tomorrow, you know what would happen? Not a goddamn thing. because school runs by those people. So there should be accountability. There should be more transparency. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. We have Ben Liippard followed by Mila Vulovich Labar. >> Uh hi members of the board, members of the public staff. My name is Ben Liippard. Again I have um to students in the district. I had a prop that I was supposed to bring today. It was the Eric
251Carl book that says slowly, slowly, slowly says the law. Because I talk really fast and I'm going to try to remember not to do that. The first part of what I'm going to say is me personally. I want to make very clear about this. The district has an employee who's not student facing who makes $200,000 who is the ed of a foundation that is sitting on $11 million. I've been told not to talk about this because it the foundation has a lot of powerful people on the board, but I can't go back to my kids tonight without mentioning this. You need to look at that, guys. You just have to. We have kids in here talking about instruments. We're cutting counselors. And you have an executive director of the foundation making that much money as
252an employee of the district. It's just we need to look at that. Um, and I didn't want to say any of this like this was not what I came up here to say, but I just I had to. Okay. for the parent information network. So many of the kids have been talking about community and talking about learning from each other and being there for each other and I feel like I wish I could take that and use that with all the parents because that's kind of what I've been feeling with our organization and I and I've seen slowba and I've seen the parents in there and how much the kids care and it's amazing and we can really do a lot together. um we can learn a lot together and there was someone who said
253he just said something so great. I've learned so much and I'm still learning a lot more and that's exactly how I feel. We are a parent information network. I know we've talked a lot about PG& but that's just because what we're focused on right now. Every P Gen employee I've met has been a kind, gracious, really nice person. That doesn't mean that what the executives are doing by not sharing information and not talking to us is okay. Um, that's all I'm going to say about PG& we can do better than we have been doing and we can do it together. Please come talk to us again. Talk to other parents. We can do better. That's that's the best I can say. THANKS. >> All right. After Miss Vulovich Labar is Rose Yubos. Good evening, esteemed
254school board members. My name is Mila Vuyovich Labar. As a 42-year veteran in our district, these cuts are painful. I'm going to quickly present some thoughts for revenue enhancement and cost reduction. One, I'm happy to receive our surplus properties being marketed. Please continue with those transactions. Two, increase class size. Distribute students equitably, but increase the class size by one to three students. Counseling. Please do not make any counseling cuts. Most schools are woefully understaffed in regard to counselors. If our collective goal is to keep students in school, we need to continue to address students social and emotional health. the Foundation for the Public Schools. As one of our the original founders of the Teach Foundation over two decades ago, I hope the St. Louis Coastal Foundation continues to be supported. That entity could easily provide
255funds for music. Advertising. Although some of our booster clubs in the St. Louis Coastal Unified School District may already pursue this, advertising could be increased in many places. In accordance with school law, products and businesses could be advertised on our buses, at our schools, and our district website. Parking passes for students. Immediate revenue could be realized by charging each driving student an annual parking pass at each of the high schools. With a thousand cars, a charge of $30 each month could easily net $30,000 monthly. Music. Please do not cut the music program. It gives a diverse section of students support. Students of all socioeconomic backgrounds and ethnicities carry their instruments with them daily with pride. For many band students, that particular classroom becomes their second home. EL, please do everything possible to avoid cuts to
256our precious EL programs. Those students are thriving. Finally, do everything together to hold PG&E and Diablo Canyon accountable. PG&E has constantly put profits over people and it's time that stopped. While living on the Central Coast is spectacular for scenic beauty and people, anyone will tell you that our Diablo Canyon is an enormous blemish to our beauty. Mothers for Peace, scientific experts, and environmental consultants have provided that we do not need PG&'s nuclear power for our energy needs. They show alternative sources and implementation of energy that does not keep residents in constant fear of our lives and livelihood. Partnering with nature serves and benefits every living living thing. PG& has become a selfish and entitled roommate. They need to pay their fair share while they are still operating. We need to fight for a return of
257the unitary tax and a continuation of funding for every single year that Diablo remains open. The quality education of our students should not be sacrificed for the greed of PG&E. Thank you. >> Thank you, Rose Yubos. And then Karen Swift. >> Hi. Um I had something completely different written to talk about that I spent forever. My name is Rose UAS and um I teach at Los Sos Middle School and um I teach math. I have for 25 years. Um, I had to shift my uh what I wanted to say just based on the pulse of what was going on here tonight. And the thing I wrote down was community. And I think that you know uh Mr. Clawson had mentioned last time that all of this could be resolved with the unitary tax issue in
258PG&E. And I get that there is such a um a sense of passion and concern and intelligence uh in this room and in this community. What can we do? So, I know about the parent organization that's organizing, but there's a miscommunication, uh, a lack of communication. How do we all work together instead of being angry at one another? Um, what can I do as a teacher? What can the unions do? Um, what about the business leaders? Where's Linda Moodbell? Did Tom go home? Oh, hey. What about tapping into some of the businesses and all the wealth in this community? $100,000 for band. That's I'm sorry that's really sad. That's not a lot of money. Um I have been blessed teaching in this community and I have done well financially because I've been very prudent with
259my spending. So I'm sensitive to what Ryan Pinkerton has to go through. I balance a budget every year and have for the last 25 years. So communication is lacking uh regard to PG&E. We need to welcome all the voices whether we like them or not. Just like in my classroom, there are students who don't get along. But the low family who came up here and just felt defeated before they even spoke. That's not acceptable. We can do better than that. We need to teach our children to do better than that. I would definitely volunteer my time to bring people together from different partnerships to per push just we've got to get P the PG& funding. That's the only solution to all the problems that we have. I am going to be teaching 35 kids in
260my classroom in math. I teach some of the most challenging students. ones that don't love it, ones that just feel like they are not math people. I don't know what I'm going to do without my counselor. I'm willing to take a pay cut. I am a threefigure teacher. I would give a 1% salary decrease or not get one if the administrators and executive directors match me. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Karen Swift followed by Leonard Lutz. >> Good evening everyone and thank you first off to everyone in this room, all of the parents, the students, the educators. Um, I've been listening to everybody's comments and can't help but imagine what things would look like right now and still can if a participatory budgeting process had included everyone's comments present in this room. I'm I'm
261I'm really quite floored by reading through the budget. I was sitting in the back and I was going, "Huh?" Um, let me clarify this. I saw that from 2024 to uh to this current year, there was approximately a 400,000 increase in administrative salaries while there was a $310,000 decrease in um areas that are going to be further cut. I just I'm I'm new here. Um I mean I grew was born and raised here, gone for 20 years and came back. So, I'm this is my first time in the room with two kids going to Bacheo and um I was sitting here going, "Wow, this is an interesting budget." And I really um now I'm going to look look back at my notes and just I mean that said I want to acknowledge there's tough choices
262but I also want to acknowledge that every single budget item is a value statement being made by all of you on the board. And that the question is not whether some of these cuts hurt, but the question is who's going to absorb the harm and and who is going to feel that and is it going to compound inequity or is it going to buffer it? And I'm not seeing any administrative cuts on there. And budgets reflect values. You all have values that you stated here tonight as everyone in this room has. and we're seeing the majority $1.7 million going to English learner services, classroom reading groups, counseling. Um, and then again, I just want to reiterate nothing going to administrative cuts. And, um, so I just want to ground my comments in those numbers that
263I was looking at back there and really appreciate all the work trying to get the funding back from PG&E. Uh that's a whole other can of worms that we don't need to go into as they're netting $2.5 billion dollars and taking taxpayers subsidies to keep the power plant running and not paying a dime. Um and I appreciate that and I really hope that more pressure can be put on PG& more pressure onto the next state legislative session which PG&E responds that's the only way they're going to handle this. Um, so while they're also playing their own accounting games, there's a lot of pressure that can be made there. I appreciate that. And I really just want everyone to sit this evening with that question of what values are being reflected in the budget um that
264is going to be voted on. Thank you. >> All right, Leonard Lutz, followed by Daisy Winter. >> Good evening. My name is Leonard Lutz and I'm the past dire well I'm the current director of the St. Louis Bispo County Band and I've been in the community for the past 44 years. Um, and I've seen uh the the decline of music programs. And I find that rather interesting because if you look at research, it shows that music should be the foundation of all your m of all your education and that the education uh excuse me, the test the achievement test will go up as the more music the student has. And I saw that uh marketkedly in my own experience with uh teaching. I taught uh band for grades five, six and seven. We required it
265four days a week and it was monumental how how the curve went up as the students had more and more music in their life. And uh to see the idea that you're going to cut music uh was something that brought me to this meeting. uh I haven't been here to the to to speak to you before but uh I would encourage you as uh people who are involved with education uh to see what the priorities are and uh see what you're cutting how it affects the u trend of education throughout the students lives. Um, right now the the community band that I direct is made of of mostly retired people, but without elementary programs and high school programs, there wouldn't be that to trickle down or trickle up as it goes. Um, there'd be no
266people to to um be able to be in the band at that level if they are not uh taught in the early levels. So that's basically all I have to say. >> Thank you. Daisy Winter. Hello. My name is Daisy Winter and I was not going to prepare uh to speak tonight, but standing here sweaty in my uniform for five hours, I got a huge rage built inside me and I just like I have so many points now. Uh first of all, I didn't know how bad we were struggling until he joined band. I was in pit orchestra playing bass guitar. We have nothing. Our chimes are 50 years old, held together by zip ties. We didn't have a pedal for a vibrophone for weeks and weeks. And it was literally impacting our ability to
267learn our music that we are mandated to learn. This is like this is like not providing pencils. Like we need the tools to practice what what we come to school for. Speaking of we come to school for music. This increases attendance there. If band didn't exist, I swear like 100 kids wouldn't show up to school anymore. That's just what would happen. Um, and also like it kind of bothered me the description about the cuts in the thing cuz it was like it talked about not like it said field trips. Those are our competitions. I want to be clear, we practice for over 16 hours a week for these competitions. They are they are not field trips. They are our games. You are taking away our ability to show off what we worked for so hard.
268We It's just like insane to me that marching season wouldn't be marching season if we didn't march. Like I don't even know anymore. Um we need these buses. We need this food. We show up at 500 a.m. for these competitions. These it's our livelihood. Um also like these uniforms we're wearing. um it's missing a button and this dry cleaning is paid by Slow Wimba and it's just like all these tiny little things that we don't get from the budget and we are barely scraping by as it is and I can't imagine what our program would look like if this program was passed just because I don't think we would be able to play our instruments anymore at this point. Thank you. THOSE are all the yellow sheets we have. Um, I want to thank everyone.
269Um, Mr. Angel, you know better. >> Um, we're on >> you wrote 10 too. But >> do you want do you want his did you mean? >> All right. I'd like to call Phil Angel to the podium, please. Man, bad handwriting, I think. Or does it really look like a 10 two? Um, good evening board. Um, well, back at it again. I love seeing everybody here tonight because what I see is the um opposite of apathy. We're engaged and as a classroom teacher, I can always work with engaged people. So, our board members, our our our board meetings have had a lot of apathy and it's great to see people here. Uh, every second Tuesday all year, come on in and let's talk budgets. On December 13th, I came in here. It was the afternoon
270or midm morning, right? Midm morning. Is that our uh study session? And there was five, six people in here. So it wasn't very well, six, seven people in here. I'll go with um so I want to keep people engaged. I want people here. Now the middle of the day is very hard for working people to get here. So when we have study sessions, let's have one in the evening. Let's bring our community together together to continue this democratic process and speak on behalf of all of our students. I'm not going to lie. I'm the union president. My job is to make sure our contracts are better, that our working condition conditions are better. And here I have our teachers here tonight grading papers, working hard. And if you're a teacher tonight, give me a shout
271out. If you've worked harder this year than you did last year, give me a shout out. if you worked harder in the last five years since they came back from CO because your students need you more than ever. A bigger shout out. >> So yes, we are dealing with uh postcoid cuts, but we still have postcoid trauma. So when you consider your cuts, keep them as far away from our students as possible. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Angel. We have one more. Marco Mendoza, give a seat. >> Marco. >> Hello. My name is Mark Mendoza and I am the assistant drum major at the St. Louis High School in the marching band. Um, music is a language that can communicate feelings and ideas that words can't. Importantly, it's a universal language that defies language
272barriers. Music along with other things are important in connecting bridges in a diverse world. It makes us all seem so alike despite our differences. Other bridges exist as well, like the bridge to becoming an intelligent and educated person. Bridges like these are best built by music, even though people don't realize it. Unfortunately, the budget cuts proposed to get to fully get rid of all band and choir funding as a whole, leaving us with nothing. Although we as a band recognize the generosity of giving us 33% of the budget back, it is still not close to the amount we need to even operate as a district of bands on the bare minimum. Personally, as a musician, and a pretty talented one at that, I feel personally insulted and attacked that we are losing our money to
273function and potentially losing our band and booster program as a whole. Although I am sure the recent propositions were nothing personal and merely for convenience in the greater good of our district, I feel personally disrespected. I believe that the community of musicians in the St. and Louis Bisbo should get more recognition in the face of this deficit. People nowadays don't recognize the importance of middle of music at a middle or high school level in today's society. The National Institutes of uh Institutes of Health conducted an evaluation that proved that kids learn kids that learn music theory in their adolescent years have better cognitive functions, better spelling, and generally are at a high higher reading level. Showing the effect that music has on intelligence. Personally, the most intelligent people I know at St. from this Bispo
274High School are in band. It would be tragic to see most of our music education vanish due to these budget cuts. Another thing that would vanish due to budget cuts would be the incomprehensibly amazing community. Band has always been a place where students can go that don't necessarily fit into other groups at school. Take it from me. When I attended Lagona Middle School, band was the only class that I wasn't treated poorly in by my peers. I even felt more safe in the band than with my close friends at the time. Bowling is a big issue, especially in middle school. But band is a place where everybody is welcome and a place where we have a strong community built on genuine trust, love, and friendship. Thank you. Or though thankfully since the start of high
275school, I have surrounded myself with better people who care about me just as much as I care about them. Despite my luck in high school, some people aren't as lucky as me to have the close friends I do now. And unfortunately, they still struggle with bullying. I'm grateful that band is an outlet where me and my peers can provide the support to the people that we see need it in band. I would hate to lose the wonderful community we have in the face of these cuts. Overall, I think that the cuts proposed by these music programs should be reconsidered to include a sufficient budget that can actually accommodate our needs. Without this, the wonderful marching band we have barely made possible for the last few years will cease to exist. From my heart, I'm asking
276you to please don't do this to these young musicians. >> Thank you. Uh Kim Bishoff. >> Good evening trustees and uh thank you for the opportunity to speak. Thank you so much too for your attention that you gave to these incredible students who demonstrated such initiative and poise and vulnerability. And I know that no matter what happens here tonight, we will all agree that that was freaking awesome. Um I'm not here to talk about band. I am here because I am a proud 13-year member of the St. Coastal parent community. My son is a slow high senior. I feel incredibly fortunate that he was able to spend his K through 12 years in this district at a time when the budget was relatively flush. Um I really do appreciate the thought that you've put into
277this process and I'm here today because I want to share with you the experience of learning about the proposed budget cuts as an outsider. Um, when I saw the the slides from the November presentation, I I didn't have the right context to understand the numbers. So, I went to the district website and I downloaded the budget and I tried to match up the items in the presentation with the categories in the budget and I did not get very far. And um then I noticed that the proposed reductions were attributed to the superintendent's fiscal sustainability committee and I thought great I'll just find the minutes or the meeting the meeting video and uh and that'll you know tell me what I need to know. Um, I've served on the slow city planning commission where members are
278appointed publicly and meetings were subject to the Brown Act and I assumed that that's how all government advisory bodies work. So, I was surprised to learn that the committee members identities are private and um and the public doesn't have access to their decision-making process and and that doesn't build trust. Um, I started hearing from frustrated parents and teachers and uh from across the district and nobody felt like they had enough information to properly understand what was being proposed. And since the only numbers we do understand are the ones that are related to the individual programs we are involved in, those cuts feel personal, even though I know they're not. Um, but in the absence of facts, all we're left with are feelings. We all appreciate that this is a time for shared sacrifice and I
279hope that you will consider disclosing more information so all stakeholders can view this process from a clearer perspective as a challenge we're all facing together as a whole united San Louis coastal community. Thank you. All right. At this time, um, I would like to take an opportunity to just thank all of you for your participation, for taking the time, for showing an interest, for sharing your stories, and being with us tonight. Um, so it's we are now bringing the discussion back to the board. Um, Mr. Banfield A word to our young speakers tonight. You know that in the United States, the number one fear is public speaking more than death itself. I applaud you. At this time, I need to issue an apology to you, Dr. Prader and to the members of the board because
280you know already what I'm going to be doing. Let me explain to you young band members. I never had what you did. My public school experience in music was in sixth grade. A teacher would come into our classroom once a week with an auto harp. In seventh grade, I joined Oh, my parents had given me piano lessons from when I was seven. So, I was familiar with music. Seventh grade, I joined the band. That man swore at us, screamed at us, and 50% of the time had his copy down journal articles while he sat in his office. High school was not much better. I did manage to squeak in uh one semester of marching band. I told some of you that I played the symbols and I did play cho I did uh sing in
281choir but again that man would scream and swear at us and slam the keyboard case. You don't know how lucky you are to have teachers who love you and who share their talents of music with you. You do not know. Now, I barely know I believe her name is Sharon. And I do know very well Binn. He taught two of our children. In fact, one of the best years that I had as a teacher was my last year. Not only did I share a contract with my wife, but I was allowed to play the piano for our daughter who directed the middle school choir over at LOMS. And that was a joyful experience to be able to work with her. So, you know how I'm going to be voting tonight. >> I'm not doing this
282for you. In fact, you need to know that I'm I'm not even running next year. I'm only doing this one time. And this will probably be the most I'll ever speak at a meeting like this. So, tomorrow I'll be getting up and going over to Baywood where I taught for 15 years, and I'll be working in the library, and I'll be shelving books and trying to help Alicia get caught up on the books that will be stacked up about this high. I kid you not. Okay. And then I'll be going home and I'll be teaching two adults who are older than me. I'm giving them piano lessons. And then in the afternoon, I'll be giving piano lessons to children because we're preparing for recital on Thursday. I cannot turn my back on what I love.
283No, no, no. I regret that I cannot support this way to budget the balance to balance the budget. I know what it is to have to uh make sacrifices on a very personal basis financially and I know how important it is to run a fiscally responsible district. But there must be another way. >> Mr. Ranger and then Mr. Clawson. >> Um I have a couple of questions for either Mr. Pinkerton or Dr. Prader. So one of the things we hear a lot about is Proposition 28 and supplant versus supplement. Could you talk to me a little bit about what that means? Some some of the I'm I'm a little confused by some of the uh some of the correspondence that I've seen and and I would want to make sure that that what we're talking
284about is supplementing not some planning. So that that's kind of my first question. Then I have some other questions for you too. >> So start you didn't hear me talk about prop $28 at all. Well, I I you know I know you know I know what you're >> because it's up to the school sites, >> right, >> to decide how they spend their prop$ 28 dollars. >> So, school side by school site, they develop a plan. That plan gets approved by the schoolside council >> and those plans then come to the board in July to share how they're going to spend those funds. So paying for the needs of the band that were discussed today um is not something that Prop $28 should be used for should supplement the program. May maybe by some of
285the things that the wants of the band, right, in terms of you know what what those might be. Um currently right now Slow High has started a dance program, I believe, with their funds. um they have a large amount of of dollars left because they didn't pay they really really didn't spend anything the first year. Um so but they do get 20% of their budget can be spent on the arts whether that be drawing, painting, ceramics, band, choir, those types of things and it's meant to supplement what the district is already doing. Now that doesn't include the band boosters. what they do is not that's not part of the district program for the band, right? Um so those would be types of things where the B where Prop 28 could probably help with some of
286those items that the band boosters is is currently doing. Um after listening to everything today, I have reservations about how our band funds have been spent over the past 10 years. I >> I I was going to that >> I have a lot of concerns. That that was a follow-up question I had. Um I heard many students say that they had instruments that required repairs, that their instruments were by somebody I believe said older than myself, 50 years old. Um and and and I'm curious because I thought that we had $150,000 that was going toward toward musical instrument repair and and and replacement. Can you talk to me a little bit about that, please? >> Yes. So, and again, I'm I don't I don't want to get into a blame at this point, you know,
287in terms of how what how it's done. But clearly, the way that we've been, you know, there's we we need to dig into inventories and um the reality of what's happening with kids, if they truly are falling apart, as we as we heard tonight, yeah, we have some major issues that we need to address, right? Um as we go through it. So, as I said to the board earlier in my presentation, we'll sit down with each of the teachers and administrators and listen, it it may be 50. Well, I know we need to spend more than 150,000 on what we're talking about, right? And I'll bring that to the board for, you know, future budget conversations. But yeah, I have a lot of questions right >> after hearing what I I heard tonight. >> And
288and kind of along that thing, and I think there maybe Other people may have these kinds of questions, too. So, what I'm what I'm hearing is that that the band in particular, because that's who the constituency was here tonight, um talked a lot about what they need and it and it sounds like I'm not sure if there's a sense for what the real needs are for a band program, for example, but but even more so, I'm wondering in particular, what about our egg programs? What about our autoshop programs? What do our, you know, our athletic programs need? How do how do how do we know what programs need? And and and is there any kind of is there any kind of idea how we can figure that out? Work from a place of what do
289people need and then what do we as a district provide to them? I I I wonder about that. Anybody want to take that one or I spent many years as a principal and I see Ron Dickinson over there. Hi Ron. Um you know we we rely at the district level on um uh feedback from our site leaders if there are needs. And most of the time when we meet twice a month um in our principal sessions most of the time we hear about these things right like emerging emerging issues, wants, needs and um but we really give a lot of autonomy to our sites and our site leaders and department heads to um you know determine what their needs are. And so um I'm sure if I ask Mr. Mr. Dickson and I won't um
290tonight, but um if I ask Mr. Dickson, you know, what are what are the processes at your site, you know, um is it a management team um determination where the sites and the departments or the departments at the sites come together and say, you know, we're short here, we're we're doing fine over there, but short over here, and how do we, you know, determine how to allocate those funds properly and create those systems? Um and sometimes you know it bubbles up to our level where where it becomes um you know we need additional funding in these areas. I know um that transportation is a very expensive impact on sites especially athletics and apparently band as well. And so there are things that we need to pick up and start looking at more carefully. and um
291decipher. And then um tonight we heard a lot of instrument malfunctioning. Um and what what I vividly recall is around 2017. Um and you know, people have short memories, but this board, this board dedicated well over a million dollars to purchase instruments for our band programs in the district. But those when I looked at those purchases way back 2017 I I recall um it didn't add up to much meaning it's a lot of money but instruments are super expensive and um I what I'm hearing is we need to revisit that and um and then of course the board circled back around and brought in the idea of a syncing fund for instrument replacement replacement and and repair and cleaning, you know, disinfecting and cleaning and um so there's there's a whole lot of those questions
292I have. Um and I I think to answer that question that you asked is how do we know and and I rely on on our principles, our site leaders, our our department leads, our management teams to express those needs and concerns when they emerge. And um and so um these are the things we need to to dive into. You know, there's a email exchanges, hundreds of them. Um and I was watching and listening and one of the parents that was um engaging with Ryan, Mr. Pinkerton, um brought up some excellent points like this is a chance to identify systems, >> right, >> that might be lacking. And um and so that's what we'll be doing, you know, in the in the coming months. >> One of the things that that occurs to me about this
293is some something we've heard is what's fair versus not fair. >> Yeah. >> How do we know what's fair if we kind of don't really know if everybody's doing something different? >> Yeah. >> So I think that's something that I I would >> it's time to revisit that. >> Yeah. The other another question I have is we heard several people talk about um lack of services or cuts of services to our EL population. Um can you talk about that because you know obviously that's a concern of ours. You know it's it's it's important for us to look at that as we try to close the achievement gap. >> Yeah. what uh what I have uh tasked Miss Yamasha with and her team uh we currently spend 4.2 I'd say 4.2 2 million on our MTSS
294system which includes that's the multi-tered system of support which includes um our English learner supports our S cubes that's our student support um >> specialists um and who are assigned to sites we also have a team at the district office who support the sites through CNI and EL and they act as a coordinating body especially with some of our new adoptions and they work with the S cubes it's a very sophisticated system 4.2 two million. What I'm much of that addition came by way of the COVID funds. Okay? Because that's the needs were that dramatic. And so we added to the support and we actually refined the system. And so what I've tasked Miss Yamashta and her team with is how do we do that? still have a responsive system of support with our English
295uh e teachers, our subes, our AITS, that's your academic intervention teacher. Um, and how do you do that as well as bring in our uh district level toas and maybe split their assignments up a bit? Those are some things we're looking at where at the site you still have a responsive system of support. We recognize where those kiddos are and now how are we in through that LCAP process in the spring. How are we going to design a sustainable support system for our kiddos in need um at each of the sites? And that's the task. Um, and I believe that can be done um uh creatively and um and maybe um um less robustly but certainly certainly effectively. >> Thank you. And then that's one of the things of course that I think about when
296we look at the dashboard. >> Yeah. >> Is our EEL progress. Okay. Thanks. That's all I have for now. >> All right. I have Mr. Clawson, then Mrs. Roger, then Mr. Ruckman. >> Okay. So I have uh four topics that I'd like to talk through. Um so my first topic relates to the music program. And so I think first of all I think it's important for this community to know there's a lot of support for the arts on this board. Um my my kids all just graduated from slow high. They are very active in performing arts and I know how important it is to the personal experiences of all of you and your success. And so universally I think we we feel strongly for the arts is maybe just a starting point in this discussion.
297Um I guess when I think of the music program and the impact that could happen if I kind of oversimplify this I look at you know three possible outcomes. One is you know there's no change to funding. The second is there's there's some belt tightening in and some budget reduction but it's acceptable. And then the third is that there's just kind of drastic cuts that are um extremely extremely painful. And and from my standpoint, um the third category we we need to fight to avoid. And so that being said, I think belt tightening with everything going on in the district is appropriate. And and so I'd ask us to kind of guide towards a solution in that middle category. And so, so the thing for me that um that in in the discussions I've had
298over the last two weeks is my my understanding is if I look at this and you say, "Okay, $150,000 budget cut by $100,000. That is a drastic devastating cut. It's in the third category." But but the idea is that I expect there's funding coming from other sources. And this works if there is funding to replace these this $100,000 cut that that maybe doesn't replace all of it but replaces much of it. And and I think Miss Holden, you made a comment of maybe you kind of be left with an open empty promise, right? like like maybe we'll fix it and and but I I think the real key is is there a plan to get enough funding back to make this a belt tightening and not a devastating cut and and I think leaving tonight
299I'd like to have a process around that so that um we're not leaving you guys with just kind of an openended promise or or no clear path. And so um I don't know first of all Mr. Pinkerton the intention is that some other funding sources will be identified. Am I am I speaking out of school there or so the the band booster has put together kind of a budget for where they think it like the the funding would be which I think was about 113,000 in terms of the needs part and looking at that. Um again I after hearing tonight and and again as I talked with the board I think we need to do a separate just instrument like that's not the ongoing every year repairs cleaning those types of things you know reads
300and the materials and supplies music sheet music you know those types of things need to be spent what I again I think we need to we need to cut the discretionary part of budget and we need to have a plan for each program that meets the needs of the kids. And so that's my pledge to everyone here. >> But we are not cutting the program by 2/3. The budget for the music program is much more than $150,000. >> Yes, >> we are proposing a $100,000 cut to it. That is a significant cut. When I talked to you, your intention was to work with administration across the board to find other solutions, right? Yes. So, so this isn't the end. >> There might be sight fun. There might be other things too that can attribute that
301are not necessarily just out of the current funding that we do. >> So, I guess what I'd like to communicate to this community, at least my perspective on this is that we need to make budget cuts today. There needs to be a plan to figure out how to make sure the music program is not cut drastically. >> Agreed. >> And and there needs to be a path forward. And and I think step one is for there to be an acknowledgement that we're not intending to make a drastic cut that devastates the music program. No one here is supportive of that. Right. >> Agreed. >> And and so so first of all, let's let's cross that bridge. The the second then is how do we create a construct over the next months where the leaders of
302this community, the music community can interact with leadership at the site level and and and the district level to understand the progress and understand how this gap is being closed so that we can get to a mutually acceptable outcome where this program tightens its belt but is not drastically cut. And and I assume that if we got to that outcome that would be accept acceptable. I I I mean to the to the broader to the broader group here. Um >> you said it might come back. >> So So okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I asked for for input. Um um I I would like to have a process leaving tonight that is not just we're going to try, but there's a plan and and that plan to me looks like this. It looks like some
303representation from parent groups meeting with administration um periodically to get updates to understand how the budget progresses. And it also looks like you guys escalating to us if you don't get what you need. And then then what you have is a potential approach. You have a communication process and you have an escalation path to us. And our goal is to tighten our belts and not devastate a program. So, as I told the the booster organization that again many emails back and forth, Rand Dickinson in Slow High's case, it'll be whoever's principal is going to meet with Sharon Jesy, the teacher, and they're going to put together a list of a budget and what they think it is. And then they're going to run it by Dan Nef and Lisa Yamashida. And again, does it meet
304all the needs? And I still there's really three things. There's a uniform component of this. There's the instrument part, and then there's the the annual budget that what we're talking about today. Um, and so that then I I'll find out what that information is, what that budget needs to be, and we'll bring that back to the board trying to again, Rand, what's your general fund budget? What can you pull out? How, you know, all those other items, right? So that we can still make some reduction, right, like we are in all the different programs without devastating the program as you said. Now, throughout that entire process, Mrs. Jessie is speaking with her band boosters. The kids came up to us and we're meeting with them in January to get their their input. Dr. Freigher and
305myself. So, we we'll include that aspect of it as well to, you know, hear I want to hear more about what's going on. But yeah, I would say that Mr. Jesy will work with the bamboosters and and again, Rand Dickson and share that information with them so that everyone knows. And as I told them, the board will make a final budget decision in June. That's when you approve the budget. Now, if we know this information, they can pull it off. I might not I don't want to, >> you know, Mr. Jes busy. Hey, Sharon, I need a inventory of all your instruments by tomorrow and I need, you know, No, no, no. It might take a little time to pull this together, right? And working with Rand and Machesky. >> Okay. So, so I'm comfortable
306supporting the budget adjustment that's proposed because I believe it's a necessity, but I want a clear plan to make sure that the music program is not cut drastically. >> Agreed. >> And and I I want everyone to hear that because I I am going to vote for the budget adjustment, but I want the music program taken care of. >> Yes. >> And and I think both can happen is my point. >> So, um that that's that's that. Um Uh so so my second topic is this. Um when I look at these budget cuts, the thing that is devastating to me are the intervention programs. And and these programs take care of our most in need students. They're the safety net that stop them from falling. And we have to fight for them. And and so
307I I guess just understanding where my perspective is when we get any funds back. I mean, as I said, take care of the music program, but we have to address intervention and we have to help our most in need students. And that just needs to be a guiding principle as we work through that. And the intervention staff, the the counselors, the EL supports, the things that go into that are they're devastating to cut. And I think we all know that. And so that that's my second point. The the third thing I would say to the group here is um this is a dynamic process. It feels like you're going to leave tonight and and you know if we vote to to make this $5 million cut, it's going to feel it's going to feel terrible
308and it's going to feel final. It's not final. We have to make the cut to get into the statutory levels for the district and our reserves. We are going to fight for the next 6 months for this budget and and any new revenue that we can identify. We are going to apply to these programs that are being impacted and and we're not just going to leave tonight and be done fighting. We we we all understand how important these programs are and and this isn't over. If this budget ends up as it's being proposed tonight, I'm going to be devastated. It's it it's not where we want it. So, we have to keep improving. And I think we can, but we also have to get our reserves into a level where where we stay an independent
309district. And and as a schoolboard member, you I can't not allow the district to stay financially solvent. I I just can't. It's one of the core parts of being a trustee. It's why why we're called a trustee. trust for the financial solveny of the district. So, so that's the third thing which kind of then brings me to my final point. I mean, I just really appreciate the energy and passion from everyone that spoke tonight and everyone that's here and your your contributions really matter that we listen, but but it's also just it's part of the process of getting this right. So, thank you for the hours you spent here. Thank you for all the emails. I would also say keep them coming. like tell us if we're getting it right or if we're getting it
310wrong and you know we're not going to be like that's too many emails let us know right so so so this many people participating it's not for the greatest reasons but but it's thank you for being here which brings me to my final point which is um we need to direct some of this energy into solving the problem with PG&E and and So, um, I I've spoken about this before. We've met with P Gen. We're fighting hard for this. They They know that they have a moral contract with us. They know that there's an obligation as a community member to work with us and they're choosing not to financially support us. And and the only way I think they're going to respond is with our outrage and our energy and our persistence. And I hope
311every single one of you reaches out to the St. Louis Coastal Parents Network and and contributes there because it's how we can solve this problem and it's the right thing to do that there's a relationship between Diablo Canyon and St. most coastal that has gone back decades and I think is going to exist for decades more and and not having that birectional support I is really devastating to us and it it should end and and they can solve it very simply through a donation in February or March or April that offsets these cuts and if we get it before June we will roll back everything we can and so Um, find Ben, find Annie, help that group because they're fighting a really noble fight. Um, thank you. Okay. Well, a lot of what I would
312have said or questioned has already been said and questioned. Um, I I am extremely disturbed by what I'm hearing about the music program. I think that there is a lot of misinformation out there. that's being perpetuated and disseminated among students and frightening them and it needs to stop. There has never been any discussion of ending the ban program. Never. There has never been any suggestion that any of the employees, the teachers were jeopardized in any way. I was on this board 11 or 12 years ago when uh we were told that the instrument the instruments that the b that we had for a band were in a just a real state of disrepair and together with Mrs. Sheffer, Mr. Anger, Mr. Buckman and I voted to spend over a million dollars to buy band equipment.
313Don't blow my skirt up and tell me that we have not supported band equipment. We also voted to have a sinking fund and that fund of $150,000 a year was dedicated money on the part of this board to cleaning instruments replacing and I'm not a musician so I don't know but like reads and whatever other kinds of the musical equipment of con uh equivalent of consumables would be things that you would typically replace um and instrument replacement that money was dedicated. So I am really disturbed to hear that one that money a large portion of it was diverted to other needs. That was not the understanding of the board. I would be ashamed if I believe and I I am going to have to believe students who come and say that their instruments are held
314together with hair ties. in the letters that were written to us or that I received that was repeated over and over again. It's hard for me to conceive that a large group of students came to the same um decision about verbiage. I think that there Yes, I do. I think that there was an effort to try to frighten kids into thinking we weren't going to have band. >> Hey, hey, >> it's not true. >> This is inappropriate. We listen carefully and respectfully to you. Please listen to us. >> Thank you. Please listen to us. Thank you. >> You feel that I am disrespectful. Pardon me. I have sat here for four hours and listened. Do Am I not entitled to my opinion? >> Really? Okay. Well, that's too bad because I have it and I'm
315going to express it. I think that we have we want to have a fully functional band program and what we are saying is that we will provide equipments and we will do an inventory and provide instruments you know that are needed. We will provide uh music instruction at the current level. No one is jeopardized. We will get our band students to their uh competitions, but it may not be on a charter bus. It may be on a school bus. >> So, does that mean a school bus is not an acceptable mode of transportation? What am I not understanding? >> Okay. Well, everybody has to share the pain. This is everybody has to look at our most vulnerable students and the supports that we're having to remove from them because the esser funds are gone from
316co I don't know do does do the ban people feel that they should not share in the pain? Why do you think band is more important or a better intervention than athletics? >> We c we we can't engage. Uh we will continue to uh Mrs. Roger has the floor right now. She will expend that. >> I just I just feel that we have a fiduciary responsibility as trustees. that that the letter we received from the county office is frightening. I don't think anybody on this board or probably anyone in this audience wants to see this district go into the equivalent of receiverhip. >> Um I'd like to >> Okay, that's Mr. Buckman. And I would I would please request that the audience um remain let us let us talk. This is our meeting held in
317public. So let us have our meeting please. Thank you. >> First of all, I want to thank the band people. I want to thank all the emails. I want to thank the phone calls. And I especially want to thank those of you that came. And I especially want to thank the people in the white suits and the black pants because you are amazing. You stood up here and you spoke eloquently. You stood up here and you made good points. And I I can't thank you enough. And I want you to understand something. And I hope you take this away. This is how democracy works. you come and you talk and we listen and you make an influence and I just can't thank you enough for sending this message to everybody else in this community. I
318want to thank the parents who are here because this is how democracy works. And my girlfriend's really upset because I've spent the last three or four days reading text. I'll send she's still texting me reading emails and text messages and responding and I I tried to make a personal response to everyone and I think you all deserved it. However, as much as you have sparked all this and made this happen, I think that losing librarians, I think that losing intervention folks, and I think that that side of the cuts over here, the counselors, is is just it's wrenching my heart. And I just don't I just don't know how we can do that. That unfortunately is also how democracy works. People don't show up all the time. They're scared to come. They don't even know
319that this is happening. Something else impressed me tonight. And I actually when we sit here and we take public comment, we're not supposed to clap and we're not supposed to smile. And I clapped because the DAC people came tonight and they spoke and then they said, "And we're so upset that we have a petition that we started to pass." They took action. That was like scary to see that happen so well. And that's how democracy works. And again, I have to thank you. You came here, you spoke, you were upset, and you said, "Here's a solution that we have." And you handed in a petition with signatures. That was amazing. I've never seen that. So, um, those are some things I have to I have some questions that I'm going to ask staff, um, because,
320well, I've asked them already. Um, I want to do it in public. So, I'm not taking too much time. I have five questions. So, why why are we looking at first of all, let me just say this. I went back and looked people are asking about ad administration. The first round of cuts, this staff came to us and said, "We're going to cut from admin first. we're going to come from the district office first. And I think we're losing sight of that. And I think it's that's where the first cuts came from. And so I I think we just need to be cognizant of that. Um three principles, district district office staff, an executive assistant, um HVAC people, computer tech, lab techs. So just we just need to keep track of that. So, five questions
321really quickly. They think they've been answered, but um why are we looking at intervention programs? Why is why is that on the table tonight? It's an excellent question. In our um in our first round last year, we tried so hard to stay away from um the intervention um model that we've missed and her team have put together over the last few years. Um it's really quite remarkable. It's quite polished. It's it's sophisticated, complicated. Um what we did last year was um we did what what I mentioned we had to do in the transition of losing SB 1090 back in um that ultimately the day would come where the place where we would go um would need to be classized to contract. We have not reached our contracted size. Um, but we raised class sizes and
322and created additional combination classes. Alongside that, we also reduced elementary counseling even though the need was there. this next goound because the largest contribution from those COVID funds as we mentioned with onetime money when we did it people have forgotten that we this was part of our COVID plan was building this intervention system and so um that's the next piece so I am not asking the total elimination of that MTSS model I'm simply asking What did Mr. uh Clawson say? Belt tightening. So the belt tightening of the intervention system from 4.2 million to 2.5 million approximately is what I'm asking. And what I will tell you is before COVID it was probably less than a million dollars that we had in our intervention system. So, we're still going to have a strong intervention system because
323we have to. It's just imperative if we're going to reach the board's goals of closing the achievement gap and meeting the needs of our kids. So, that's why we're going to the intervention system next. >> Okay. Um, let me let me ask it another way. Did we look at mowing the lawns less often? Yeah. In fact, we're laying off a grounds person. >> We're laying off a custodian and that's all fine and good until you need a grounds person to mow that lawn and you need a custodian to clean that room and we're doubling up. So, these are the challenges. Um the board tonight on this agenda is going to approve um artificial turf through the measure C funding at both of our high schools. And I believe that's the beginning of a larger effort
324because we spend a disproportionate amount of time, ask anyone who has um a student at a middle school or high school or really elementary school in our district um about gophers, squirrels, um broken ankles, broken broken body parts because of that. And we dedicate entire ground crews just to deal with the gophers. So the in addition to that in addition this is a big one is water is becoming very expensive to water the the the turf the lawns in our district very expensive. So we're looking at creative ways to use our bond funds to save general fund dollars and over time that will really benefit us. >> So I gota ask this. So, how did how did this banned $100,000 how did that even get into this discussion? I have to agree. >> Yeah. I
325So, so um part of it is we're looking for um areas in the budget that we can squeeze, that we can tighten our belts on. And in in our view that 150,000 which is why Mr. Pinkerton started with 150,000 but then moved back to 100 is in in our view that 150 was in fact a sinking fund for instrument replacement. But what we learned was any was that it wasn't and so that was an eyeopening experience for us. Um, and I look forward to picking up those rocks and figuring out a better system. Um, and you'll notice in my in my recommendation as I walk through it. Um, you know, part of this is I have and this lines up with what I I believe Mrs. Roger was trying to say was, you know, look,
326we're we have no intention of eviscerating the ban program. That's not our interest at all. We just were under the assumption that we could go a year without instrument replacements a year while we figured out an alternative funding source to help support that and um only to find out that it was a little more than that and it was a little more complicated and um and we're going to dive down. So the system that Mr. Clawson had mentioned we're already on our way to working through in partnership with some of the parents slow IMBA parents and across the district. We'll figure out a better system and figure out a creative way so kiddos can go to their band competitions. Um, we'll address and figure out a way to get their instruments up to shape. I
327believe we we have a path forward. I really do. That's just one of many areas. And um and uh you know, I'm part of that group that believes in music too. You know, I'm a big fan of it. This is this was the intention of this um and I'll say this to to you, Mr. Buckman, the intention of this was to um tighten the belt for a year. >> Okay. >> While we figured out an alternative funding stream. >> So, >> that was it. >> So, just two more quick things. one, the approach I see or that I've heard um this year, last year, and this year is staff trying to balance the needs of the district and the budget and doing it in a way that millions is being saved um by looking at
328positions that are empty and not filling them. And for me that says something about administration. It says that they care about the people that work here and rather than we are going to be cutting some people, but rather than going after people's jobs right away, they went after empty spots and and didn't fill them. So I appreciate that. I'm also going to say that there was a chart that went up on the ratios and I urge everybody to look at that again. I'm hoping that the admin will send it out often because if you look across it, we have fewer administrators per student. We have more teacher fewer students per class. We have more teachers. It shows again a categor method. It's an approach where we have taken and put the students first. So I
329just urging everybody to look at that again. Those are my comments for right now. Thank you >> Miss Baltadono. >> Um thank you. >> Um so I have a lot of thoughts and I'm just going to work through them. Um I I want to just begin with a few big picture items about this process. Um, I think it's worth sharing because I I read I my colleagues read about the news coming from other school districts across the state and we are not the only district um experiencing a multi-million dollar deficit. Okay, that's just it's happening across the district. Everyone is losing one-time COVID funds. Our district is uniquely situated because we've got two additional economic factors that other districts aren't contending with. Um the legislaturator's decision to carve out basic aid districts like ours from
330their funding formula for transitional kindergarten and then the ongoing operation of Diablo uh power plant taxfree. Right. Um, and then I've also had the opportunity not too long ago to hear from um, several chief business officers of other school districts. So those are the folks in Mr. Pinkerton's role. And what I can say is that reducing a deficit of $10 million like what we're dealing with here, what we've been dealing with is no doubt painful, right? Um but our two-year approach, right, the almost $5 million that we um approved last year impacting this year's school year and then the $5 million that we're being asked to approve this year that will impact next year. That two-year approach actually aligns with best practices, right? That's what we need to be doing. It's like ripping off a
331band-aid. Um and um we just we have to do it now that best practices has to go hand inhand with early consistent and frequent communication um about the efforts right about what we're doing to our staff to our parents to our community and and to our students. Um and you know has our communication been perfect? No. Um I think there's been misunderstandings. I think some of the process has uncovered areas that need further exploration. Um in terms of okay, how exactly has this budget been working or how exactly has this pot of money been been spent? Um and I've been expressing these concerns, right? I've I've spoken with Dr. Prader and his staff because I I truly do believe that transparency, accuracy, and clarity are are paramount. Those are really important values to me. And
332so I'll continue to have these discussions because I think we can we consistently need to strive to do better and I think we can do better um substantively and procedurally. So those two things really matter to me. There's just never a good time to cut a school district budget by $10 million. But the two-year approach that we've taken is is the recommended pathway. We've stretched our funds as far as we can. Um, our efforts to secure universal funding for the universal transitional kindergarten program haven't panned out yet, but I'm not giving up hope on that. Um, these things take time. And I I want to just call out a couple of things um from the legislature. So, I appreciate our Assembly Member Addis's willingness to to keep fighting on this issue. Um, it's also clear
333to me that PG PG&E is not on its own accord out of the goodness of its heart as a good neighbor, um, as a moral imperative, it's not going to do the right thing, right, and extend any sort of bridge funding to us while the legislative fix is negotiated in Sacramento um to restore tax payments for every year that Diablo Canyon continues to operate. Um but during um and I would say that during uh the recent state of the state address and later in an interview with KSBY, I think assembly member Addis um said it really well. You know, she said PG&E could do more right now to make sure that there's full and fair mitigation for those of us that live and work and go to school in the shower in the footprint of
334a nuclear power plant. But they've chosen not to. Um, and while I believe I feel like we were intentionally left out of SB846 negotiations, I'm really grateful uh to Senator Leair who recently told KSBY that reinstating the unity unitary tax will be discussed um in the upcoming legislative session. That was a big statement and I appreciated hearing that. Um, so I know we've got some great parents working together as part of the grassroots slow uh San Louis Coastal parent information network, but I call on every one of you uh to stay on top of and advance those legislative discussions as as I will be doing. But in the meantime, we can't continue drawing down from our reserves without risking a state takeover of our district. and that's not a good solution. Um, and there are
335legal obligations that we have to give our cherished employees notice of any potential reduction in force. So, that also has to guide our timing. I've heard some say that this process has been rushed or that we should postpone this decision. And um, I don't know that the process has been perfect, but I assure you it hasn't been rushed. Um, we've been thinking about these things. We've been working on these things for months and months and months and weeks and many many sleepless nights. Um, so I don't think anyone here is approaching anything haphazardly or taking this responsibility lightly. And and quite frankly, it's it's complicated. Um, and when you just see the lists of proposed cuts on a TV screen or on a piece of paper, I it it's incomplete because every one of those
336line items um there's a backstory, right? There's an explanation about how a pot of funding started and then how it grew and how it shrunk and how it wasn't being used the way it was intended to be used or um you know, things of that sort that we're hearing about today. So, I've been asking these questions and I'm sure my colleagues have too. Um, I've been asking for um for data for budgets for individual program jud budgets. I'm pretty sure Mr. Pinkerton's probably going to stop talking to me for the next week because he's tired of hearing from me. Um um and I've asked I've asked our our assistant superintendent uh attendants about how are we going to continue to meet the needs of our students um and simultaneously make these cuts. Uh so I
337you know like I said literal sleepless nights because at the end of the day what matters is our students your students and my students and by the way I do have students in the district. I have a recent graduate of slow high school and a current slow high school student. So I am a current parent like many of you in the district. Um these issues are as personal to me as they are to you. My students attended Pachco Elementary School, Lagona, and Slow High School. And um and so I'm very much um in in the mix. Um so I also want to just acknowledge all of you who spoke today, right? All of you who wrote to me, all of you that have reached out to the board, provided public comment because your engagement matters.
338I've I read every single message that I received and I think I succeeded in responding at least once to every single person who reached out to me with the exception of any messages that came in today. Um but look, I spent the first decade of my career advocating um and uh attending these kinds of public meetings. I once drove five hours in the rain from LA to Irvine because it's five hours when it's raining to make a threeminut public comment. So you're I commend you for for doing what you did and for being here all evening. Um it's important work and your advocacy efforts are really impressive. Um I'm always especially impressed to hear from students. I know it takes a lot to come up and speak to a group of adults. Uh it takes
339a lot to speak in any public setting. So we are fortunate to live in a nation where we can speak up and doing so represents democracy and action as I think I've heard uh my colleagues say. So, um I'm equally mindful that every voice that has stepped up to be heard tonight and that have contacted me in other ways, um that for every voice that I've heard, there are multiple many numerous uh voices that I did not hear from. And my responsibility is to understand their concerns and appreciate their needs and hear them anyway. Right? So, there's a lot of voices we didn't hear from tonight for a lot of different reasons, but all of those students are in my mind as well. Um, so, so here are a few things going forward. Um, you
340know, I asked to continue to serve on the um the board safe and nurturing school subcommittee because, you know, we're going to lose funding uh related to some of the professional development that we've had at our district around equity. Um, and and it's really important to me that that work continues. It's important to me that there's a level of accountability so that our district continues to build capacity and understanding around disparities and performance and opportunity and that we continue to take action um to center and address the needs of the students for this from justice. So, I asked for that committee to continue to operate and I asked to have quarterly reports. Um, and so I appreciate um that we're going to continue to do that and that I can continue to serve in that
341capacity. Um, I also want to say that I value deeply the work of our library technicians and our and our librarians. I am a total bookworm and um as much as I am honored to be here tonight, I would always always always much rather be reading a book somewhere. Um so um I just want to assure everyone uh based on my conversations and my understanding of uh the impacts of the budgets, our libraries are not closing. Um students will continue to have access to books. they're going to still have access to librarians and libraries. And I recognize all the important relationship building that our librarians do uh and the many many services that they provide to our students. And um we're all going to feel the pain of these cuts a little bit. Um but
342um students will continue to have their library needs met. And I also really value our music education programs. Um, my kids have benefited from them. My oldest son was in band at Lagona. Um, Mrs. B, uh, Brevante taught both of my boys, I think. Um, and I myself sang in numerous school choirs from fifth grade to 12th grade. So, I do truly, um, personally value our music education programs. Um, and I think there's been some positive dialogue happening. I've seen it uh you know many many emails going back and forth that the the board has been aware of the whole time uh between our district staff and our booster leaders. And as we've heard tonight um yes some funding is going to be reduced but music staff are not being cut. Music classes are not
343being closed. Um the music programs are not going to be gutted. Uh this is belt tightening, not total destruction. I just want that to be really clear. Um and you know, the boosters might have to do a little bit more fundraising, but I quite frankly I'm deeply involved in our nonprofit community. I don't know any nonprofit uh in our community or or anywhere right now that is not having to step up their fundraising efforts. It's just sort of the reality of where we are right now. Um, and finally, um, I'll note that $100,000 in cuts from a single revenue source, um, you know, I think we have $100,000 proposed cut for music, $100,000 proposed cut for athletics. Um, those are significant cuts. They're relative to the init the the operating budgets of those programs. So,
344I think we do need to keep our mind um on the equity there. Um but they they overall feel like a drop in the bucket compared to 1.75 million in cuts to academic interventions and and that doesn't sit well with me. Um I'm really uncomfortable about that and I've pushed back. You all know I you know I've been I've been pushing back on it. Um, you know, quite frankly, music and athletics have booster clubs that I'm extremely grateful for, that I have supported, that I donate to. Um, we don't have any booster clubs for uh academic interventions. So, um, I I have had numerous conversations about this. Um, I've been assured and we've heard tonight that student needs will continue to be met. um that title one funds will remain assigned to title one schools
345as they are legally required to be. Um that um as far as I'm concerned any changes in our budget between now and June uh the backfill has to happen to our academic programs full stop. That's I feel very strongly about that. Um and uh and that um you know once we account for attrition, our LCAP budget process, reassignment of existing roles, um excellent top-notch teachers that have been working outside of the classroom, moving possibly back into the classroom. All of those moving pieces, some of them are personnel decisions that we can't freely talk about. Um, all of those things I feel like I'm not happy about it, but I understand the thought process. Um, and um, we need to uh, continue to keep our eye on the prize. Um, the number one directive from the
346board being to close that achievement gap. So although we're having to reduce a budget there, um, we we cannot lose sight of that. And um I think that concludes my comments. Thanks. Okay. Anyone else? Okay. Um my com I have a few comments. I'm not going to take a lot of time. They're going to be a little bit scattered because I was trying to listen to everyone and take notes at the same time and it's been a long evening. I don't want to belabor any points here. Um, I do want to say that, you know, I made a few notes while we were going while I was listening to the things. This district is not considered music to be a footnote. And that was something that was said early on. Um, you have a board
347here. I have, you know, it is not only me who has been a strong voice for the arts in our district. There are others of us who share that. Um, there are a couple of us, M. Stronger. I'm looking at you. You and I joke about how unathletic we are and that we depended on other sources to meet our kind of needs for uh extracurricular activities as well as find ourselves in school. Um so we the program is not being cut. it that I agree that that seemed to be a misconception uh or a thought a consideration among some of the students that we were eliminating a program and that is not the case. No employees are being cut. Um Mr. Bellier, Mr. I never say his name correctly and um Miss Jesy will all
348be with you. uh they are not in any danger of uh of their losing their their employment. Uh the band, the music, all the music programs will continue. They've they've have thrived. They have grown and we support them. Um I do want to say talk again. I know I talk about this a lot, but it's something that really bothers me is the unfunded mandates. Once again, to we've talked a lot about PG&E tonight. I also want to remind everyone that TK is an unfunded mandate and those are things that we don't at this time. We we don't control. Other people control that. And so all our job then is to advocate for our students, for our district, for our for the existence of these programs, the continued and ongoing existence um to get funding that
349TK funding is available to every other district except basic districts. We have been left out of the loop. um PG&E I again um I think that as um Miss Baltadano pointed out uh she and I and Dr. Prader attended a state of the state event um Mr. Liippard was there a a week or I don't know time is fluid um event and I appreciated a comment that um that Assemblywoman Addis made which was PG&E shouldn't have to wait until their feet are being held to the fire legislatively to make this right. They could do it on their own today. They are and they are choosing not to. they're going to wait until they're forced to do so. Um I with um I want to reassure Slowima that Mr. Pinkerton has been sharing several of most
350of the emails if not all that he has received directed to him about the um that group's ideas and thoughts and concerns and we appreciate hearing from them. I want to remind everyone that we have at every single board meeting a section called superintendence updates. And every single evening board meeting, Mr. Pinkerton talks about the budget. Every single board meeting. So I think indicating that that we don't talk about the budget is is incorrect and I don't think that I know it. We and questions are posed. He is very available to the public to us. We do spend time with him. We ask him questions. I uh I'd also like to point out that at any event like this when we go through these budget reductions and look at things and hear from people uh
351it it does give us an opportunity to reflect. I mean or I should speak for myself I suppose but to really think about how um how did we get here? What are we doing? How can we improve? This is a large organization. Uh there I I would those of you who have who have had who have worked uh I would point I would think that at some point you thought I think the organization I'm working for could do things better or could do things differently or could be more efficient or could be more economical. Um, so this is these are opportunities for us to look at how we conduct business as a district and what the board's role is in that and and because I'm involved in that I every decision that's made I consider
352that I have accountability and I am personally as a trustee as a fiduciary of this district I do have personally accountability for things that occur for decisions that are made and I take that very seriously and we are not a rubber stamp. We are not a go along to get along organization. It may appear that way at meetings sometimes but it's because I see people nodding. It's because we have done our homework and we work together on these things. These decisions come about with input from the board with input from staff from uh administration. They are discussed. We are not operating in a vacuum. Um we all take this work very seriously and ask questions. And you know I can't do anything to change um the public perception other than to talk to you and
353let you know that that this is how we operate that we gather information we are at sites we do talk to people um and and I also to a point Miss Baltadano made I I think it's also important to think about the impacts these reductions will have on students who and families who aren't here tonight who aren't um we have a my children were title one kids all through elementary So that was my reality at that time in my life and my children's lives. Um that's where that's where we were as a family. We were an SED family at that time. Um, so I understand how hard it is to to to um be losing to be dis making decisions that that affect interventions that are so crucial. Again, these numbers are big. They're bigger
354in some areas than others, but they're not eliminating entire programs. I see one of my jobs as a trustee to keep as many doors open, create new doors to keep the doors we have open for as many of our students as we possibly can. And I hear that this is band and music are important important doors for many of you came to speak tonight and I really get it. I agree with it. I want to support it. We have supported it. We will continue to support it. We don't we have needs and we have wants and we are trying to make those merge as much as possible. This is not easy work. Um but it is important work and it is crucial that we remain solvent and that we gradually work to uh regain the
355um the a higher balance in our reserves. So that's um those are my two cents and I oh I also I made a notew I'm so grateful for your petition. Thank you for doing that hard work on behalf of um the Elac and DACA parents. I really appreciate it. I think that that it's it's a a group of parents who often who are who are um really busy really working hard and to see the the need with PG&E to that it's um it's a really important group that that a voice that you're putting out there. So I appreciate that. So, at this time, if there are no other Oh, Mr. I, I see your light. >> Yeah, just a a couple of things. Um, first of all, as as as my colleagues have said, I
356want to thank everybody for being here. I want to thank you for the emails that you've sent me. Um, I need to tell you that I'm going to support the budget reductions. It would be irresponsible of me not to. That said, I I want you all to understand as as I think my colleagues have talked about. First, um I would support it with some of the caveats with Mr. with Mr. Clawson's suggestions about what we do with the music program that and the band program. The second thing is um I was able to go to college because I worked in a college library. So, I want to see our librarians supported um intervention as we've talked about. Uh I think we that that is key to what we're doing. We have always I I think
357um for as vilified as it was, No Child Left Behind did one thing that was important for this country and it was showing that there was an achievement gap and our board has has always supported closing the achievement gap. So things that we can do as our budget situation becomes clearer and hopefully rosier. I think returning returning as much as we can to our MTSS program is going to be critical. And then finally would be the counselors. Um I remember Mrs. Mrs. Roger, how you have fought for counseling among for our schools for years and years and years and how thrilled we were when we had the extra money and we were able to bring counselors back into the schools and it's devastating that now we're talking about not replacing some of the counselors and
358I think we heard from you know we we received an email from Mrs. turn eye um highlighting or you know outlining the the things that that that the counselors do on an everyday basis. Um to to those of you out here, especially students, not only should you continue your activism, but I would invite you to send your experiences to our local representatives. They need to hear from you. Um, PG& needs to hear from you. You know, I I I brought some props, right? I brought these. You know what these are? These are iodine pills. Many of you have these in your medicine chests in case of an accident at Diablo Canyon. You know, Mr. Mr. Clawson talks about a moral imperative. This is why we have a moral imperative right here. So, I'm I'm going
359to make the motion to adopt item 10.01, approval of the budget reductions. >> I'll second it. >> Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Anger, a second by um by myself, Mr. Anger. Yes, >> I am a yes. Um, Miss Baltadono. >> Yes, >> Mr. Banfield. >> No, >> Mr. Clawson. >> Yes, >> Mr. Buckman. >> Mrs. Roger? >> Yes. >> Motion carries 661. Thank you. >> Thank you everyone. We really appreciate you being here. >> All right. Okay, we're going to take a five minute break. Um, it's 11:09. If we could be back at 11:15, that would be great. Thank you. All right, we'd like to get started again because then we can go home. It was a vehicle. Mr. Clawson, Mr. Buckman, >> Mr. Banfield, We're going to >> All right, we're going
360to reconvene. Uh we're moving on to item 10.02. Um Dr. Puchia. >> Yes, thank you. Uh before I get to the next two resolutions, I wanted to pro provide a little bit of context to the two of them for for the board. Um which we've we've had some ongoing conversations with the community as well. So the next two resolutions uh are really required for us to carry out the legal and statutory administrative regulations uh based on the the reductions that you approved in the the previous item. Um, so the context I want to provide is, and we've talked about this a little bit, most of these reductions will be met through retirements, which I've already received 16, uh, notifications of retirement of certificated staff. Um, nine of those at the secondary level, uh, which which
361exceeds the seven, uh, reductions that we're we're were, you know, uh, recommending in the resolution. So, so again, they don't line up perfectly with what we believe to be the uh some of the areas that we'll be reducing in, but nonetheless, um you know, we've made a lot of progress in that area. So, there's also uh we know that there'll be resignations uh throughout the the course of the year, both in the classified ranks and certificated ranks. Um for whatever reasons, people leave the area, they leave the profession. And and lastly, working with just a strategic hiring freeze that we have uh done this school year and that is and actually started last school year and that is every time a position comes open particularly positions that are away from the school site. We meet
362with the department lead and we talk through can we can we proceed without backfilling that position and if we also with the thought process of um if we do fill that position and we get to the point we are today we may be making a reduction to somebody we just hired and having them leave a job that's secure. So we've really kind of been trying to to to keep a focus on that. So um a lot of this will be met through those resignations, retirements and um just just the attrition that that we typically see. And finally, I want to uh uh assure the board that and and the people that will be, you know, potentially impacted. Um, you know, your approval of these resolutions will give me the opportunity to engage with our union
363partners because we discussed with them the effects and impacts of these uh reductions on their membership and um and really working with staff to minimize the impact of these reductions and looking for other opportunities in the organization to make them whole both financially and professionally. So you have my commitment that I will begin that work right when we return from winter break. We'll be starting to have those conversations with staff across the school district and engaging with them um and the leadership at the sites to make sure at the end of the day again our goal is always to minimize the the impact to students. So just I I really want to um pro make that promise to the board. So uh resolution 10.2 two. Uh tonight we're asking the board of trustees um to
364improve this approve this resolution and basically the board of trustees, the community and staff have undertaken efforts to identify areas where reductions can be made to assist in closing the budget deficit. The resolution identifies particular kinds of services that will be reduced for the 26 27th school year. These reductions do not eliminate services entirely but instead reduce staffing level levels in certain areas. In addition, this resolution adopts competency criteria, skipping criteria and tiebreaking criteria for impleation implementation of the reduction and 10.2 is specific to our certificated reductions. So that is uh the the resolution I'm asking the board to consider and approve tonight. Mr. Clawson. >> Yes, we will um move to public comment on this item at this. >> All right. Our first speaker is Ashley Hern. >> Hello, me again, Ashley Horn High
365School counselor of Losus Middle School. Um, so I just wanted to give a little bit of insight about how the scripting criteria has been presented to the school counselors. Um, I received a call when the budget was going to be approved for or be presented at the November board meeting. Um, and you know, I'm in my 10th year of counseling and I thought to myself, a decade. Yeah. Like I these budget cuts are going to be hard. We're going to lose some really young, fresh, new faces. This is going to be really terrible. Then I got the call that one of these faces is actually going to be me because of the skipping criteria that's being presented. Um, in the minutes I noticed there is the criteria of being fluent in both written and spoken
366Spanish as well as possessing BCLAD and CET certifications and I think that that is vitally important. My teammate Jose Valta is an incredible counselor with the bilingual skills that supplements my work with him in a beautiful way. Um, however, the possession item C, the possession of a pupil personal services credential and child welfare and attendance specificification, um, is a little bit misleading and confusing to me because, um, that was adopted by the Commission of Teacher Credentiing in 2019 and it wasn't fully implemented until after the pandemic because PPS pupil Personnel Services credentiing programs weren't able to implement it fully during the COVID pandemic. So, um, our veteran counselors actually don't have an didn't have an opportunity to earn that additional authorization within their credential. However, upon a little bit of research, I certainly could. I
367could pay the $3,000, take the two classes, and do the 150 hours of training to be able to be authorized to do that. I'd be happy to. In addition to that though, um I I believe that what is intended is for it to be the PPS um in social work to um maintain our wellness centers which I'm really passionate about as well actually because I worked at a Tascadero High School and one of our county's flagship high school wellness centers was created and I can see the very important effects of it. But as you might recall in our last board meeting, I noted that at the middle school level, myself and Mr. Valta and the team over at Lambs. We are the wellness centers of middle schools. And if we're going back to precoid staffing,
368again, this is not that wouldn't include wellness centers at the high schools. They started after the pandemic. And actually, I almost applied to that position at Moral Bay High School. It flew in 2023 and it did not require a pupil services credential in social work. It was social work or school counseling. Um, so you know, I could have had that job and now that there are people there that do hold those particular credentials, I feel like the skipping criteria is just kind of coming out of nowhere um to sort of supplement that program, which I know is really, really important. But, um, I think it takes away from the middle school level a little bit too much and I'd really like for that to be considered. Thank you so much. Uh, >> thank you. Next
369speaker is Michael Low. And so this is now where we have people's jobs and livelihood at stake because of the fiscal policy decisions. Um just reflecting on the conversations that we've had tonight. Uh definitely seems like I've rubbed some of you the wrong way, which is completely fine. Like we're all entitled to our opinion. Um, I have a master's degree in public administration. I've been formally trained in public administration. And I'm telling you that a $10 million fiscal cliff over two years when you've known about it coming since 2016 is bad fiscal policy. Hands down. Bad fiscal policy. And the biggest issue with it is in the administration of that policy, which I'm trying to communicate is sewing division in our community. My wife and I have been trying to communicate to the board now
370for three years that you are receiving all of your information as a source of truth from the district office with little to no or just very little understanding from the community. And Miss Rogers, I think your display tonight was very evident of that with how you responded to the kids. I did not speak to any of them. I don't know any of their names. My son is in the band. Um, but one of the people who mentioned there was like a broken vibrophone, that was his instrument. I had no idea that that was going to be said. And so when people come to tell you that there are issues, your natural tendency as board members is to say, "Nope, we believe our district officials." >> Could you tie this into 10.02, please? >> I did.
371I said how now we're talking about people losing their jobs. I'm reflecting on the conversation that we had tonight and how the actions of this board are sewing division in our community. And I was giving her an you example of how that works with feedback. Okay, we keep talking about Diablo Canyon being our problem, but the money isn't the problem. Where we stand with our finances isn't the problem. How we're managing them is the problem. Absent involvement of the community is the problem. And Dr. Prader, this has been the single thing that my wife has been trying to communicate to you since we first walked into a board meeting. Absent the involvement of the community. My son is not a band-aid to be ripped off. This is not a game. This is his future. This
372is his life. These are my kids. I'm going to continue to scold you and admonish you as much as I possibly can for their sins. >> Thank you. Next is Carolyn Kota. >> Forgive me. I am also a crier, so that could happen. And I've been at work since 6:30 this morning. Bear with me. Um, the skipping criteria will directly affect our LOM's counseling staff, which is my main reason for speaking with you. Um, our counselors are amazing. Um, I just can't say enough about them. You've heard me speak about them multiple times. Um, I do have a couple other things to start with though. Um, Mr. Clawson mentioned that, um, you know, keep speaking, keep sending letters, and I just want to communicate in my role as, um, our SLCTA secretary. People are afraid
373to contact you. Um, there's a bit of a culture of intimidation and a fear of retaliation. Um, that's what I've learned in the last uh month is that people asked, well, you know, how do I convince my my members at my site to reach out? They're afraid. And um that's what I heard. So, I just wanted to communicate that um to you. I've been watching board meetings pretty regularly for four years. I got my master's in educational leadership and had to and then I'm a nerd. So, I watch a lot of them because I I enjoy it. And I um a lot of you were shocked at what you heard tonight. And um that's because a lot of this process seems to be about um impressing you with the wonderful things that our district is
374doing. Um, but if you want to know what students are really going through, please talk to teachers, counselors, psyches, nurses. Um, it's not that I'm implying that what you hear is true, but it's only a part of the story. And so, it sounds like some of that has gone missing with our band and and music um situation. There's no boosters for counseling. Um, as you mentioned, there's no boosters for our academic intervention. And so I just I have to speak to it again how critical it is. I've been in the district for 12 years now. This is my 12th year. So I'm kind of a 5050 precoid postcoid um educator. I teach at LOMS and I have the whole time. Precoid I maybe directed one or two students to our counselor um fearing that they
375were depressed or suicidal. Um it's about every two weeks at this point. Um, I'll tell you one story from last week. Uh, one of my students was picking at her leg and I came over and she had cuts all over her leg. And when I asked her what what happened and she just looked at me with tears in her eyes. And that day, because we have two counselors, Miss Hern and I was able to pull her in to make a plan to get back to me and say I I was able to touch base with the student. I just That's one story. That's one story. I know you've already voted, but we need our counselors. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next, we have Phil Angel. Hi, Phil Angel. Uh, take my union off hat
376off for just a minute because I didn't the union doesn't want to speak for any one employee group, but uh, Ashley Herni is phenomenal loans needs as many counselors as uh, we could we could get. We need a wellness center at Los Middle School. Now, back to my union hat. It's not easy to ar to riff someone. Last year, we lost um we we sat in these meetings and it was I think it was February and we talked about cutting elementary counselors. The the board voted not to cut elementary counselors and yet three of them left. Two of them left because they felt that there was no place for them in the district. two phenomenal counselors, both who coached sports, were very active in their schools, um did all the extra stuff. These are the
377employees we want and we sat in these board meetings and and these cuts are hard and they're going to be hard and I understand that. But as we treat employees, as we as we look at the people around us, always always always keep compassion in mind. So, as we go into this uh was it $1.7 million in cuts for our um our uh intervention that's going to impact somebody. Our intervention teachers will have jobs, but someone someone down the road is going to lose a job. Our intervention teachers are now going to be left um maybe they're going to be scrambling. they're going to look for their next place and they'll they'll have that good the earlier they can go look for the next place, the better that is for all our employees. Um, so
378keep that in mind as you work through this process. Communicate with us. Um, and let's do the best for our employees. I don't want to have to see somebody who's displaced have to go through 10 job interviews just to find a home at an elementary school because we did that a few years back when Pacheco went 90 from to from 90 5050 to 9010 interviews for a teacher. What does that say about her when nine nine people didn't water I that's not we we have to do better when we have stuff like that when we're displacing people. Thank you to the board. >> Yeah. I just I need some help understanding I didn't read into this the change in um in requirements. So when I read this now therefore be resolved of a to serve
379in a secondary counselor position employee must have served as a secondary school counselor for at least two years in the last five years or to serve as a secondary counselor position an employee must have served as a secondary counselor for 25 26 what is this change that um one of the public speakers just spoke about >> this is the if you look a little bit further down Mr. Buckman there's it's called skipping criteria and that is specific to uh credentiing and um so I'm not sure >> so that supersedes the statement about >> well no so so again we give priority to folks who have been in the position and everybody that's been in the position actually meets that criteria at our at our secondary sites meaning they've been there. The next piece is when
380we look at making decisions about staff that we would potentially skip a more senior uh person based on in this case bilingualism. Uh we want to be able to serve our Spanish- speakaking families and our Spanish speaking students and to be able to engage with them in meaningful ways, you know, based on without that language barrier. Um, and then Miss Hern and I uh referenced the um the pupil and I'm sorry, the >> pupil personnel services. >> It's but it's child welfare and and attendance. >> That particular item um is important because that uh that particular credential uh those people are allowed to oversee um interns or social work interns. Janet's here and she can correct me if I'm wrong. It also um allows for all of our counselors whether they have that credential or
381not to bill for >> the cyb c. >> Yeah. So that allows for uh the the billing to the I think u >> the medical billing. There you go. So that allows for all of our counselors to bill back time for medical when it's appropriate, which again is a funding stream that is important to maintaining the entire uh staffing program. >> All right. So So I guess Mr. Angel did not address this this problem that I'm hearing developing. So >> I'm sorry. I'm not >> So Did Phil address this issue? >> No. Okay. So, I'm just kind of interested in >> whether has the has the association come to you with any questions about this? >> We've been in communication uh both with SLCTA, CSEA, and SEIU in this process. So, >> um the the
382skipping criteria that is that is developed by the district. Those are those are, you know, that's our call. Uh the then you go down a little bit further and there's some tiebreaking um criteria which is basically when two if we and there is a very low probability that we'll get to a point where we're going to be engaging in that but we have to add that to the resolution on the off chance that it happens where we get that deep in a reduction that if two people started on the same day what what are the differentiators for those people if one of them had to be reduced. It's it's very minutia in the weed stuff and it's it's again it's statutory um stuff that I have to put in this resolution just to to make
383sure that we can make these uh reductions and do it within the timelines of notifying staff on or before March 15th and then ultimately getting your approval. So, so if what I'm understanding is our our very experienced counselors could lose their position, >> a more exper a more tenured counselor could use lose their position to a less tenured. >> Okay. And and so and the and the associations are not upset with this. >> I I wouldn't I I I wouldn't want to speak for Mr. Um, I wouldn't want to speak for SLCTA in that case, but again, those are those are decisions that we make as a school district based on how we want our programs to be staffed. >> Um, sometimes we hire people with a temporary credential and we in in other situations
384is is there's no way to have somebody be continue on as in a temporary credential. some way to keep maintained. >> Um I I I believe you may be talking about a temporary contract as opposed to a temporary >> Okay. Maybe. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Talking about people teaching outside. >> It's okay. All right. I I'm I'm probably confused. All right. Thanks. >> Any other board discussions? Right. This is an action item resolution uh with intention to terminate certificated employees due to a reduction of particular kinds of service. Need a motion and a second, please. Okay. I'll move approval of resolution 102526. >> I'll second. All right. We have a motion by Mrs. Roger and a second by Miss Baltadano. Mrs. Roger. >> Yes. >> Miss Baltadano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Buckman. >> Mr. Clawson.
385>> Yes. >> Mr. Banfield. >> No. >> Mr. Hunger. >> Yes. >> And I am a yes. So that motion carries 52. Uh moving on to 1 10.03 um intention to terminate classified employees due to a reduction of particular kinds of service. Dr. Puchia >> and again I do want to re reiterate with our classified staff we will work tirelessly to again make sure that people that are here and want to continue to be with us will be with us. So um we'll we'll work through that process but nonetheless based on the statutory uh regulations. Uh we are asking the board of trustees to consider this for approval. And so again the board of trustees, the community and the staff have undertaken efforts to identify areas where reductions can be made to assist in closing
386the bus budget deficit. This resolution identifies particular kinds of services that will be reduced in the 2627 school year and these reductions do not eliminate these services entirely but again reduce the classified staffing levels. >> Right. Is there anyone from the public who wishes to address the board on this issue? >> See none. We'll come back >> Mr. equipment. >> I'm approval of resolution 11-25-26. >> Okay. And a second. >> I'll second. >> Uh any any board discussion? You ready to vote? Um I have a motion by Mr. Buckman, a second by Mr. Anger. Mr. Buckman. Um, Mr. Runer, >> yes. >> Mrs. Roger. >> Mr. Clawson, >> yes. >> Mr. Youngfield, >> no. >> Miss Balsano, >> yes. >> And I am a yes. That motion carries 61. >> Moving on to 10.04, 4
387measure C22 design build agreement setting the GMP for the Moral Bay High School and stemless high school artificial turf field project. >> So yeah, this is a measure C project that uh we've brought to the board before. The board actually approved um a contract with Tom Mayo right with a profit margin included which was 7.5%. And this is a little different than our lease lease back kind of GMPS. Miss Baltz on some excellent questions in that regard because there's things like supervision or temporary and that's normally like built into the general conditions right in this case because it's a design build those things are all part of the GMP so including the supervision aspect of it those types of things um you know when we look at like the overall like what we've been paying
388for lease lease back contracts with it with all those things the percentages are much higher so Mr. remain a one right so so that's why the 7 and a half% you know in terms of the overall profit part of it and some of those built in um Mr. Bond who sat through the whole meeting is here with us right now and sat down with Mr. Mayo and went through each of these bids, went through each of these, you know, in terms of the cost associated with each one. Um, felt good about it. Um, and again, for me, this is a very condensed a very condensed, very intense um project that we're doing with both comprehensive high schools. And we need a contractor who's going to get it done so that we can have track practices.
389And um, again, there is going to be Moral Bay High School. They're also getting the lights and bleachers in the stadium as part of this project as well. So, there's a lot of work going into this. Um Dr. Prader talked about some of the benefits later. So, tonight we're asking the board to approve um this GMP to move forward with the turf projects at both comprehensive high schools. >> Is there anyone from the public who would like to address the board on this topic? >> Right. Seeing none, we'll come back to the board. Any board discussion? Um, I just want to say that I did have some questions and they were answered um by Mr. Pinkerton, Mr. Bon, and thank you for helping me understand. >> Yeah, I appreciate. They're excellent questions. >> Would you
390like to make a motion? >> And I'm happy to make a motion to approve the Mayo MBHS and SLHs fields GMP. >> I'll second it. Wait, wait. I was going to go for it. Go for it. Sorry. Oh, Chris, you are really tired. All right, we have a motion by Miss Baltadano and a second by Mr. Banfield. Miss Baltadano, >> yes. Mr. Banfield, >> yes. >> Mr. Anger, >> yes. >> Mr. Clawson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Roger, >> yes. >> Mr. Buckman, >> and I am a yes. That one carries. >> Thank you. All right, we are moving. Oh, we need Oh, 10.05 nomination to CSBA delegate assembly uh region 9C. Let's see. Dr. Prader is not here. So, um it's my understanding I'm just going to do this to keep us moving along. Uh
391as noted on the agenda that the California School Boards Association CSBA governance team uh includes a statewide delegation of representatives who are trustees on school boards belonging to CSBA. We are one of them. St. in Los Aispo County is in region 9C represented by two delegates with staggered terms. Uh Mark Buckman of our board was reelected in 2024 and has indicated interest in serving another term. Dr. Frered, I'm just taking over here. >> I apologize. I made your calls. >> So CSBA is is currently soliciting nominations from member districts and those are due January 7. So, we need to make a decision this evening to meet the deadline. Um, so if uh Mr. Buckman, are you >> are you in on this? >> Yes, I'm in on it. I would I unless Chris is going
392to run. I >> You know what? I'm I'm I'm a delegate for life. >> Oh, okay. Well, I'm sorry about that, but um I would like to continue. I think um CSBA's doing some amazing work right now. Um if you haven't read the daily handouts they've reached out to and the most recent uh flyer um they've identified and and put the finger on the fact that the achievement gap is not just the responsibility of the school districts that the community and the culture and society are all contributing to it and um that kind of work I'd like to continue to be part of. >> Right. So, it's my understanding that uh we nominate a board member and then direct the superintendent or his designate to submit the nomination to CSBA. >> Yeah. And and um
393it I um person cannot run for delegate assembly unless they've been nominated by a single school district. So, traditionally, it's usually the school district that the person sits on that board. >> Okay. Any board discussion? I'd like to move that we nominate Mark Buckman to be our CSBA representative to the region. I'll >> second it. >> Right. We have a motion by Mr. Clawson, a second by Mrs. Roger. Any one from the public? We have one public here. All right. Okay. Um, Mr. Clawson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Roger. >> Yes. >> Miss Baldon. >> Yes. Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Banfield. >> Yes. >> Mr. Buckman. >> Sure. >> And I'm a yes as well. That carries 70. >> All right. We are moving on to the action consent portion of our agenda.
394Please let me know if you'd like anything pulled. 11.01 approval of minutes from November 18. 11.02 approval of disposal surplus items. 11.03 03 measure C22 approved notice of completion 11.04 approval of purchase orders and calard purchases for October 29 2025 to December 9, 2025. 11.05 approval of warrants for for November 2025 and payroll for November 10 and November 28, 2025. 11.06 06 approval of certificated and classified personnel item. 11.07 approval of furniture and equipment requests. 11.08 acceptance of donations. 11.09 Approve salary schedule for unrepresented employees. And 11.10 approve revisions to board bylaw 9270 conflict of interest. >> I move approval of 11.01 11.02. 2 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 and 11.10. >> I'll second. Uh we have a motion by Mr. Clawson, a second by me. Mr. Clawson. >> Yes. >> I'm a
395yes. Mr. Buckman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Roger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Banfield. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hunger. >> Yep. >> Mrs. Baltadano. >> Yes. Um, anything anything for advanced agenda? >> No. >> I mean, yes. >> Thank you. Um, any board reports? >> I had a lot of I had a lot of fun at Hawthorne's um craft fair. >> Okay. >> I went to a six-hour board meeting. >> Mr. Banfield, do you have a board report? Sorry. >> Okay. All right. We stand adjourned until Tuesday, January 13. I would like to wish everybody a wonderful break and holiday season. Thank you.