001Good evening. Sorry, that's really loud. The March 18, 2026 meeting of the Sonteo County Board of Education will come to order. As is our practice, this meeting will be recorded. The board provides access for members of the public and welcomes community members joining in person and remotely. The board is following the requirements of Senate Bill SB77 which enables remote participation by board members only under specific circumstances. We use simultaneous interpretation in Spanish for those attending virtually through the end of public comment. Translation will continue further into the meeting if people are you utilizing the channel. Thank you to our interpreters Anna Cruz and Kimberly Ldios for joining us remotely. For meeting attendees wishing to access the Spanish translation channel on Zoom, please click on the interpretation button on the menu bar. And we ask speakers
002to be mindful of the Spanish interpretation and speak slowly and clearly. Item 1B is the approval of the agenda. I note that we are pulling item 5C from tonight's agenda. Within the past 24 hours, we were made aware of serious and credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving the individual we had planned to recognize. So, in light of what has been shared, we believe it is appropriate to remove this item and acknowledge the pain expressed by those affected. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by this situation. So, is there a motion to approve the amended agenda? >> So, move. >> Is there a second? Second. >> Thank you. There is a motion to approve the amended agenda made by Trustee Gerard and a second by Trustee Alvaro. Is there any further discussion?
003>> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed say no. The motion passes with a vote of 70 and the amended agenda for tonight's meeting has been approved. Item two is public comment. Guidelines for public comment are available on the SMCE website and in board docs and on the table outside the boardroom in both English and in Spanish. For speakers who require Spanish interpretation, our interpreters, Miss Cruz and Miss Larios, will interpret following each speaker's comments. At this time, members of the public may provide comment for topics not included on the approved agenda. The county board of education does not act upon any matter that has not been agendaized except under limited circumstances as from permitted by law. It is the policy of the county board to refer matters raised in
004this forum to the superintendent for investigation and or action where appropriate. Uh superintendent Chavez, do we have any comments submitted prior to the meeting for topics not on the approved agenda? >> None were submitted. >> Thank you. Uh speakers are also invited to make live comment and will have three minutes to speak. uh please keep within the time limits. Um to make a comment over Zoom, members of the public may use the raise hand feature. Instructions for using this feature are provided as an attachment in the board packet. Once your hand is raised, please wait to be acknowledged by Superintendent Chavez. Uh Superintendent Chavez, are there any members of the public attending remotely who wish to make a comment at this time for topics not on the approved agenda? >> I don't see any raised
005hands. >> Thank you. Members of the public may also provide live comment in person. Um, are there any submitted cards for topics not on the approved agenda? >> No submitted cards. >> Thank you. Public comment addressing a specific agenda item will be heard after the board's discussion on the item. If members of the public wish to speak to a specific agenda item, please use the raise hand feature when the item is announced or if in person, submit a card in advance of the item. Uh, cards can be found on the table outside the boardroom and given to a staff member when completed. Item 3A is the March 2026 employee of the month, the Curricular and Improvement Support Committee, CISC Symposium Administrative Support Team, Sylvia Pay, Personnel Commission Analyst, Personnel Commission Services, Office of the Superintendent,
006and Rosemary Bosone, Administrative Assistant, Research and Systems Planning, Educational Services Division. Will you both join me in the middle of the room, please? Yay. Great. You guys want to come here? So, in January of 2015 2025, the curricular and improvement support committee invited the Sononteo County Office of Education to chair the 2026 CISC leadership symposium. This annual conference attracts more than a thousand educational leaders from across the state to learn from experts and practitioners about optimal leadership ideas and strategies to support and enhance expert uh student learning and school improvement. It is a million-doll massive project with visibility across the state. And without a doubt, the county office would have not succeeded in presenting such a successful conference this year without the amazing work of Sylvia Pay and Rosemary Posbon. So this conference was held
007across three different venues with two different AV vendors, two different equipment rental companies, six different keynote speaker agents, and 28 sponsors, each with their own contracts, needs, concerns, and questions. So all of this was seamlessly handled by Sylvia and Rosemary. In the year leading up to the conference, they responded to countless email questions every day with exceptional timeliness, professionalism, and accuracy. At the conference, there were 43 county office employees on site hosting breakout rooms, supporting registration and answering questions, and their room reservations and travel schedules were arranged with expertise and care by both Sylvia and Rosemary. It is difficult to fully convey the year's worth of non-stop work and dedication requiring a very high degree of accuracy and filled with hard deadlines that Sylvia and Rosemary executed with skill and grace. So, one leader supporting
008the conference commented that Rosemary's strong organiza organizational skills, highly collaborative nature, and patient manner helped team members know where preparation stood and helped keep projects on track. And that Sylvia's attention to detail, diligence, and aroundthe-clock friendly reminders ensured that everyone did what they needed to do to be done and nothing fell through the cracks. So, another shared that they were able to pass along a huge variety of administrative tasks to Rosemary and Sylvia and to not have to think of the tasks again because they knew that it would be handled and be completed. We are proud of our county office staff and are pleased to recognize Sylvia and Rosemary for their outstanding work. They represented the county office on a statewide stage with extraordinary professionalism, courtesy, and skill and are incredible asset to our organization.
009Congratulations to both of you for being named employees of the month for March of 2026. Yay. So, who does someone want to speak first? Thank you to board president Torres, members of the board, and superintendent Chavez for this award. Thank you to everyone who nominated us for this recognition and to everyone who has been so supportive. There were so many moving parts and it was wonderful to see such a collaborative effort come together to make this conference a success. I planned many weddings for hotels in my past experiences and helping plan this educational conference was definitely a >> yeah more conversations on lanyards and t-shirt looking up what synapse means. Again, let's just create one more spreadsheet. There is no such thing as too many microphones. Yes, a round table can be square. And of
010course, deciding the most important detail of all, where's the coffee? Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the team and to help with hosting such an inspiring educational event, and I look forward to more collaborations with everyone in the future. Good evening, board president Torres, uh members of the board, and superintendent Chavis. Um I'm truly honored to receive this recognition and Sylvia, she said it so well, but I have a little bit of something I want to say. I want to thank um my supervisor, executive director Jared Perolo for recognizing my work and for um the trust and support he continues to show me. Um I'm also grateful to the SMCE leadership for the opportunity to be part of this organizing committee. It was a lot of work, but one I genuinely enjoyed
011and I enjoy being part of the the team. I'm especially happy that Sylvia is um being recognized as well. She is amazing, always positive and throughout this project, she truly felt like my backup and um I sometimes I sometimes said my other brain. Um and fun fact that she's really fast as at texting. >> I don't know if you ever seen her, but yeah. Yes. Thank you again. Um, it truly means a lot to know that my hard work is being appreciated. So, thank you. That was fun. That was also my first time there being two. Um, so that was exciting. Uh, moving on to item 4 A. Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the March 4th, 2026 regular board meeting as presented? >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank
012you. There's a motion to approve the minutes of the March 4th, 2026 regular board meeting made by Trusty O'Neal and a second by Trusty Alvaro. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed say no. The motion passes with a vote of 70 and the minutes of the March 4th, 2026 regular board meeting have been approved. Item five is the consent agenda. The consent agenda is not debatable and requires a unanimous vote for passage. An item may be removed from the consent agenda and placed on the regular order of business for separate discussion and action if any member of the board, the superintendent or the public so requests. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you.
013There is a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended made by Trusty O'Neal and a second by Trusty Gerard. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. All those opposed say no. Uh the motion passes with the vote of 70 and the consent agenda as amended has been approved. Um for item yes >> I wonder if somebody could do something about the audio. It's we're starting to get feedback and that's it's just too loud and we're starting to get feedback. >> Maybe Leo. >> Yes. And I will try to >> feeding back. It could be the podium. I don't know. >> Oh might be the mic. I'm not sure if I turned it off all the way. Um, for item 6A, Kevin Bolta, Deputy Superintendent, Business Services Division, and
014Manette Mano, Executive Director, Internal Business Services. Business Services Division will present the 2025 through 2026 second interim financial report. Deputy Superintendent Bolta and Executive Director Mano. >> Thank you. Good evening, board president Torres, members of the board, and superintendent Chavis. Kevin and I are here tonight to present the 202526 second interim financial report. Okay. So, what has changed since we were last here in December? Um so in the presentation we will we will see that the local control funding um amounts has been updated. The corresponding salaries and benefits um has also been um updated with position control changes. There's also a slight increase in property tax estimates and of course with the corresponding um increase in the other outgo. Um there's also adjustments in stirs related to the audit and changes to plan 40 that's
015related to the YMCA phase 2 capital improvement projects. So these are just of the key items of importance. This is our last year of ERP implementation. And just to note, we have also implemented the classification and compensation study for um CSEA 158, CSEA and confidential group. The budget includes the compensation increase for our SMCA group which is our teachers and there is no settlement yet for classified in the budget for classified confidential and management groups. Although we have we are presenting also tonight the um 3.5 salary increase that's been agreed between the confidential and management group that's retroactive July 1st 2025. Um you'll notice that in the gateway program there's a increase in contribution uh from 145,000 at first interim to 767,000 at second interim. This is still with fewer kids served but maintaining the
016cost that we have um committed with our school districts in fund 40. Um there's a pass through revenue up that's estimated at 6 million interest revenue estimated at 2.295. So um combined close to 8.3 million in revenues uh estimated for fund 40. There is also a correspond cost of capital improvements as it relates to the phase 2 of the YMCA um facilities and there's remaining the 1.5 million which is consistent with prior years for facility master plan it remodel projects school site um card locks and security cam cameras in projects. All right. So this is uh what we have presented before. This is the income statement um format of our budget. So this is the combined unrestricted restricted um numbers. As you can see in the unrestricted column, our total revenue is about 84 million
017and about 90% of that is coming from our LCFF. In our restricted um budget, our total revenue is 33.2 million and um about 60% of that is coming from our local revenues. Total combined revenues is 117.1 million. Correspondingly, the expenditures are totaling 119 million combined with ex um unrestricted and restricted. and bottom line shows the combined net change in fund balance of $367,000. So the next slide is just a modified presentation of the income statement just um showing you how our LCFF is offset by that other outgo unrestricted that's our represented by our excess property taxes that we will have to return to the state in the unrestricted side. in the restricted side. That's the 1.7 U million that we distribute to our school districts as part of the SULPA allocation plan. So, this is
018just another way of looking at the income statement, but still gives you that net change in fund balance of 367,000. Okay, so this is just a piggraph presentation of our total revenue. As you can see this is now has the percent sorry. Um so adding in the total revenue um I think in the slides before we were we showed a total revenue of 117 million but adding the transfer in the total resources comes to about 120 million 455,233 and this is just a representation of what each of those sources by object codes are pres represented in percentages. So as you can see the biggest one is our LCF sources about 6 62.8% state revenues at 7.86% and local revenues at about 25.76%. So correspondingly this is the same graph but now it's the expenses of
019combined unrestricted and restricted revenues. So also represented in percent as you can see the other outgo is very obvious it's about 30 34.36% certificated classified and management salaries combined there's about 4 30 35% and then the the corresponding benefits for about 13.55%. total uh expenditures to about 120,87,944. So this is just another um representation of the expenses now um being shown by function. So function is um is about it's the fifth fifth um component of the SAX um accounting code structure and it's it identifies the um the activities that's related to the services and support that that we do for those expenses. So those categories are um instruction, instruction related services, people services, um community services, general administration, plant services and other outgo. So it's still um totals to the same expenditure amount of 120
020million and the general administration services breakdown is given below. So that's composed of board and this is the same list of services and contracts. And this is found under the services category of our overall budget. And just the important kind of um items to note and these are the same same items that you've seen before. Um for example in outdoor education you see a 1.3 million um services um expense expenditure in there and that's related to the YMCA contract. the ERP financial system that's the um frontline ERP system that we have now in implemented transportation that's the um first student contract and ERP implementation because as mentioned earlier this is our final year of ERP implementation on the restricted side um we can note special education um there is also a big um services amount
021under Sonteo County Health Commission. This is um for student behavioral um incentive programs and also corresponding service agreement. This is the um offset of transportation cost on the restricted on the unrestricted side. Sorry to throw you all those numbers but um Kevin will continue with the presentation and conclude it. Thank you. >> Okay. So, we're going to talk about what changed in the budget from first interim to second interim budget. Um, right away Manette mentioned that we did see increased property taxes, but with that arrow, we're also seeing the amount that we have to send back to the state increase as well. Small changes in state revenue, local revenue increase related to our outdoor education. we're receiving more money because we have more students. Um, and then ultimately the Canyon Oaks program has bill back
022has increased as well. On the certificated classified certificated salaries, we actually saw an increase of $31,000. We added an additional psychologist um with some other reductions in other programs. Typically, we see salaries um reduce as the year goes on because we haven't filled positions that we had planned for at the beginning of the school year. And we see that in the classified section and in our employee benefits small variance in bookings books and supplies at 40 almost $46,000. Our services did go up $271,000 related to a stir audit about $93,500 included in the budget. A mental health clinician increase of $99,000 and I had written contract for SES but that is incorrect so I struck that out. Um but we do see um an increase in a reallocation of our executive director salary um that
023went from the community from special education into the community schools. Very small variance in capital outlay. Um other outgo increased property taxes indirect costs went down slightly because we're seeing less expenditures overall in the restricted side of the budget. No change in transfers in transfers out. We are seeing a higher contribution in into fund 12 for our early childhood program. Uh and then our contributions increased uh regarding Hillrest and was already mentioned by Manette and our to our gateway program. So I know this is hard to read um and I apologize for that. Our intent here is try to use reports out of our new financial system. So that is our attempt here. I think you can read it better uh in the information you were provided, but you see that overall the budget for
024Canyon Oaks uh at first interim the total program was $594,000. It has increased now at an estimated 638. So we did see a slight increase um but also a corresponding revenue. So that program does not require a contribution from the general fund. the gateway program. Uh we saw that the uh program itself increased from about 1.58 million up to 1.7 almost three million. Contribution then increased from the general fund of $145,000. Uh on the uh far right the change just so you understand that is a change from the third column second interim to the second column first interim. So what we're showing here on that change column is what changed between first interim and second interim. Moving on to Hillrest um we actually see in that program that our contribution has gone down. Uh we're
025seeing more students uh into that program. We believe we have more average daily attendance coming to us for that program. Uh thus we're able to decrease our contribution into our Hillcrest budget. uh but that program overall has increased in cost uh from 1.4 million up to 1.5. So multi-year projections again we think is one of the most important parts of the budget itself. Uh some assumptions we do believe that we have declining enrollment across the county. So that applies to our local control funding formula because we are funded on countywide ADA. We have made some estimates of differentiated assistance with three districts exiting in 2627 and one entering in 2728. Those are assumptions. Um we have updated our position control our stepping column. We use 1.5%. We have made adjustments to supplies and services as
026we met with program managers and our stirs continues to be stable at 19.1% and actually our PERS has gone down compared to where we were estimating at first interim. You can see those percentages are smaller. So which is kind of nice because we have seen some large increases over our PERS over the last five years. Uh and we do increase our uh supplies and our services with a consumer price index percentage at 2.86. 86 and 2.81%. So, here's a picture of our multi-year projection. As Manette already mentioned, our expected change in fund balance on the unrestricted side of the budget is 1.18 million. In 2627, we expect that number to be $819, almost $820,000 positive change in fund balance. and out into the 27 28 year we're projecting a positive change again of 1.1 million.
027And we show all the different reserve components including our economic reserve requirement, board reserve um and reserves for a small district loan which we you'll see on another agenda item um and also lottery and some non-spendable items. So just a picture of those uh fund balances of where we're ending across all years. We also go back to 2122. So you can kind of see that progression. But important to note here, although that shows kind of a slight increase over time, um some important costs are not included in this budget and they are around compensation. The budget does not include compensation increases for confidential management staff, classified 158 or 887. Classification and complment uh compensation implementation has not been completed for site or for SMCA, our teachers group. We're in negotiations for that right now. So
028there are costs that we do expect to to realize before the end of the year. They're just not represented in this budget. So conclusion, uh, we are using the new financial system, the ERP system. We think it's more accurate. Um, you can see that we believe in in some of the variances that you're seeing in specifically the 1,00 2,000, 3,000 object codes for our salaries and benefits. We note the Rollins Road property has not been leased yet. We are getting some calls and they are doing a lot of showings but nobody has um made us an offer to lease that property and we don't have any revenue in the budget associated with it. As mentioned we are negotiating with 158 and 887 and we are also working with SMCA on the classification and compensation study.
029Uh we are waiting on the class classification compensation study for unrepresented management. So later tonight, we'll be bringing you a 2756 disclosure for a compensation agreement with our confidential and management unrepresented groups, but it doesn't include the classification and compensation study. Manette mentioned this already, but this is the last year of costs associated with ERP implementation. And then overall, we are a very financially healthy LEA. So with that, open to any questions. comment to questions from the board. Trusty Alvaro, >> thank you for this. I I want to go back to your slide number 10. You don't have to bring it up if you don't want to. It's the budget to actuals comparison. So, it looks to me like we have a small increase in in property taxes. So it's up to about 74 a.5
030million but the outgo which is what we have to give back as quote unquote excess is just under 40 million which is well over 50%. Has that changed? I mean I don't I'm always shocked by the number but this year it seems like it just mushroomed. they we're giving back more than 50% of our total property taxes. >> Yes. >> Yeah. We don't get to keep excess. So, as we see uh increases in property taxes um to to our benefit, if you a good example is that our LCF revenue increased by $71,000, but you'll notice that our other outgo increase by $53,000. So that's the change in the funding formula for county offices implemented two years ago where we actually get to keep a bit of that increase. Prior to that, had we got $70,000
031of increase, we would have seen $70,000 go out. But to your point, it's increasing dramatically because our property taxes in this area are continuing to increase dramatically. So the more we pay in property taxes that we believe is going to the school system, the more we're penalized by the state and having that rad back for costs that have nothing to do with education >> or county offices. That's true. That is not true for community funded. It's not true for >> but it is true for our organization. And I think when I first came on board here five years ago, it was more like 20 million that we were sending back, something like that. >> I I I seem to remember it getting like something close to 30% and we were outraged. So this is over
03250%. >> Yes. And there seems to be at least some openness to have a conversation about that, but um >> we'll see. >> Yeah, it was something you can fix. I just Yeah. Wanted to make sure I was reading it correctly. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. >> Other comments or questions? Trusty Gerard. >> Yes. Um I just want to follow up on what uh Susan said. So there is not a designated percent that um is set for a return on those funds. It just is whatever they feel like. >> No. So the way it works is we do our calculation, our local control funding formula. So just like every other school district, we do a calculation that this is the amount of money our organization should receive. In a school district, if they
033receive more in property taxes, they get to keep the excess. They get to keep all of what goes above that. For us, we only get to keep our calculation. So if the property taxes come in a little bit higher, then there's only a little bit of excess. But if they come in much larger, then all that excess goes back. So it really comes down to our formula, our LCFF calculation. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Trusty Lev. >> So continuing on that, you mentioned that there is interest in having a conversation about this. Um what does that look like? We've heard that the superintendent association um was going to make this a priority and some other groups were going to make it a priority. I'm just kind of curious You may know more than I do.
034I just know that um prior to a couple months ago, anytime this was brought up, the answer was fine, do whatever you want. We'll change the law to make sure it stays the way it's been. Um so almost like a closed door to the conversation, but what we've heard recently is possibly an opening because I think the dollars are increasing dramatically. Um, and there seems to be more county offices in this situation >> that at least a conversation of maybe an increment or keeping some of the new money for educational purposes may be open to conversation. But again, you might know more than I do. >> Um, no, I just it's priority and we have asked for that LAO study to be done. This is one of the topics. We'll see what comes back. But
035I also know with the vehicle licensing fee when we brought that up at the meeting um with the board of supervisors, one of them said, "Oh yeah, we're actually talking thinking about that and made some reference to it." So we were kind of curious. Nope, nothing there. >> No. Um, what after they had the conversation regarding the community funded districts and using those funds and the the reality of what would happen negatively, the negative impact that that would have on districts, they've uh retracted and there's no hasn't been conversation around school funding uh at least that I have been part of. >> Okay. So then the other question that I had and maybe this is more of a program question um there was 145,3853 to 760,000 um jump in gateway and um so with because
036of fewer students and maintaining the cost district. So do those kind of numbers impact how we're thinking about that program at all? >> Well, I may not have written that very well. um it increased by 145,000 to 700. So it previously was 600 and somehat thousand. So it's not that it went from 145 up to 700. It went from 600 and something up to 745. So my fault if that wasn't written clearly. >> Okay. So that doesn't really impact the equation on what we're thinking about with respect to >> No, I mean this was the first year that we held the rate that we charged the district stable. um we told them what we're going to take the prior year only increase it by 3% and that's what we've charged them um so the onus
037is on us to manage the cost structure in that program so as we see costs increase there's no billing more back to the districts >> and I think hopefully the intent was that districts were able to find that a desirable placement and we may actually see more students but that has not happened >> okay so that's more of a policy thing to think about okay thanks >> just O'Neal Hi Kevin. Um curious the Genentech lawsuit now that we have to send back $530,000 as the county office of end is that that will be in the third interimm report. >> We we won't do a third interim. Um, so we will, um, we'll need to look at when we have to pay that timing wise, but we potentially might have to bring that back to the
038board, um, as >> an increase to the budget. >> I think they were going to withhold it on a payment they're sending us in October is what I saw in the letter. >> Yeah. So, in that case, what we would see is a different projection of property tax allocation to us, which we would then incorporate into next year's budget. Is there any way being that's from past years, do you think there's any way to get a refund for what we send back to Sacramento? Because now >> I like the idea. Yeah, it's a great idea. >> You know, I just wondering if we could get it back. That's all since we're that's what we're paying is the current dollars, but okay. >> I really wish we could use those dollars for education in our county.
039I just again I haven't traced the dollar, but I keep hearing it's going to court system. I don't know if that's true, but I just there's so much more increased revenue and there is such a need in different districts and our own programs. It would be nice if we could keep that here. >> Thank you. >> Other comments or questions? Are there any from the public? >> None from the public. >> Thank you. Is there a motion to approve the 2025 through 2026 second interim financial report? >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Thank you. There's a motion to approve the 2025 to 2026 second interim financial report made by Trusty Gerard and a second by Trustee Love. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >>
040All those opposed say no. The motion passes with a vote of 70 and the 2025 through 2026 second interim financial report has been approved. Um, for item 6B, Kevin Ba, Deputy Superintendent, Business Services Division, will provide information on resolution number 26-20, authorizing a short-term financial financing loan for the San Carlos School District, Deputy Superintendent Baltimore. >> Sure. This is a pretty quick moving agenda item. Um I also know we have Ralph Crrame our the fin chief financial officer from um San Carlos but this is kind of worst case scenario that we have a district and we've t used the term flipping they are flipping from community funded to state funded LCFF and when that happens the county controllers's office will actually reach and take all of the property taxes that they've already allocated typically from
041December. The problem with that is the state doesn't turn on their revenue stream until the next certification, which would typically be June. But on top of all this, the state deferred their June allocation by one day into July. And so, um, San Carlos has found themselves in a position that almost every district, um, would find themselves in if you haven't gone an entire year without any revenue. Um and they are I believe passing a resolution if they haven't already to do interfund borrowing to utilize any cash positions in other funds. Um but even based on that there is a possibility that they could be a negative cash position. Um current estimates are $25 million um as of June 30th. The county uh treasury does not allow a district to have negative cash position and so
042this resolution is being brought before the board. um for a short-term loan for one day and noting that it is a one-day cash loan and that our office is in control of the cash transaction. So, our office actually would move the cash into their funds at the treasury and then the next day we would have control to move it back. And considering our strong reserve position and our our strong cash position, the administration is recommending that the board approve this resolution. Um, it's really kind of a stop gap for the district to make sure they have cash to make sure they can pay all their obligations. >> Trusty Albero, >> thank you. This is I mean, yes, I'm glad we're able to do it, but this is ridiculous. We have so many districts. I mean,
043I live in a district that gets flipped back and forth and they don't How do you make a budget? How can you possibly make a budget when you don't know what your income's going to be? It's just it it just add to the aggravation about having to send our excess send our excess to the districts where it belongs, you know. So, I'm not going to make a speech, but my question was what if the state pays late, which they do. Um, do we don't have an automatic where it comes back a day later. If if it has to be a week later, if it has to be a month later, we have that mechanism. We have the mechanism to control the transfer from our office to the county treasury. So our plan would be a
044one-day transfer. Um I think there's a lot of pressure to get the deferred the deferral correct. So I have not experienced in my 25 years in education. Of course deferrals weren't around until 2028 2008 but I've never seen a deferral that didn't come in from the state. So, and and understanding that the actual state their revenue stream is strong. Um there's not a concern that the state is running out of cash. So, we fully expect that payment to be made. >> Your mic. >> I turned off my mic. You have the ability to to not hit the button for a couple of extra days if that it becomes necessary. >> Yes. And we'll work closely with the district to monitor because we're going to wait for them to give us an official letter based on
045the best projections they have up to the last minute. Um because hopefully we don't have to do all 25 million. Hopefully it's potentially less than that. Um or not at all. But yes, we have control of the cash transfer at the treasury. >> All right. Thank you, >> Trusty Benini. Um I'm curious um if other districts are at the same risk because it seems that this is a common common thing that happens is flipping. >> Not in our county. Um we have um we have had other districts flipping back and forth, but this is the only one that we're projecting that's on the cusp and the only one that would move from community funded to potentially state funded. Um, and just like related followup, um, even if districts aren't on that cusp, how many districts,
046this is kind of unrelated, but districts generally are we worried about right now >> related to flipping >> or just related to >> Financial condition. >> We do have one district that we've um issued a letter of going concern. Um, and although we have a cash issue here with San Carlos, we don't have a financial concern um about their operations. There's probably two other districts um that we are just monitoring um mainly because although it looks like they'll continue community funded, it's not dramatic >> over and above what state funding might be. So there's probably three districts that that we're watching. St. Carlos is the only district before the end of the fiscal year we believe has a cash flow issue. >> Thank you. >> Trusty Love. >> Thank you. Um Kevin, I know in
047the past you have been working on a fix for this with the state. Is there any progress on that? Any interest in trying to work on this? >> No, I wish there was. Um, one, it's not very common across the state and even those that have experienced it in other counties don't seem to experience the same cash challenge that we've seen with a few of our other districts and I'm thinking of Napa for instance. Um, so there doesn't seem to be like a a a group that can kind of advocate for this issue. Um, and the biggest problem I see is that related to the county controllers's office pulling back the cash. That's a tax code issue and not an ed code issue. So, whatever we kind of would want to how how we might
048go about solving this problem is more like an ed code issue. And that's really about how does the state turn on their revenue stream more quickly. Um, so I think that's still about the only approach I can think of >> and we just haven't been able to get a lot of momentum. >> Well, let us know if there's anything we can do to support. And then is this San Carlos situation partially because they have increased um ADA like there more students right than they had like it's one district that has more students than you know a lot of them are in decline. >> Yeah. Typically, right? Yeah. If they're declining ADA, they stay in their community funded status. But I think 10 cares. >> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate that we can do this to
049support our districts. >> Other comments or questions from the board? Trust. >> I just want to make it clear that this is no fault of the San Carlos School District at all. the business person, the board or the superintendent. This is state law and we're just trying to adapt to the rules as they are. So, I just wanted to get that on the record. >> I appreciate that and they should be commended for managing their cash flow and coming to us with but early versus in June. >> Thank you, Just Daniel. Um, other comments or questions from the board? Are there any from the public? >> None from the public. >> Thank you. Is there a motion to approve resolution number 26-20? >> Is there a second? Thank you. >> Um, there is a motion
050to approve resolution number 26-20 made by trustee love and a second by trustee Alvaro. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. All those opposed say no. >> The motion passes with a vote of 70 and resolution number 26-20 has been approved. Thank you. Um, for item 7A, the board will move to close session for a conference with real property negotiators, government code 54956.8. Before we transition to close session, are there any comments from the public on this item? >> No. >> Thank you. Upon conclusion of the close session item, the board will return to open session to report on any action taken in close session. Thank you. We are now returning um from close session. So for item 8A, the board has returned to open session. Uh no action
051was taken to report. Uh moving on, business services division will present the public disclosure of the compensation adjustments for Sato County Office of Education confidential and management employees for 2025 through 2026. Deputy Superintendent Bospa, long time no see. Hello. >> Yeah, I'm tired of my own voice at this point. Um so our unrepresented group management confidential uh we had a and I should say we associate superintendent Moore had a meet and confer with the with the group um and agreed that we are going to provide a 3.5% salary increase effective to July 1, 2025. That is consistent to our agreement with our teachers union. Um we are continuing to negotiate with 887 and 158. Uh it does also increase uh our health and welfare contribution plans for employee plus one um moving up to um
0521750 and our individual amount remains at 1300 per per month. Total cost of um of this compensation increase is estimated to be $786,600 and we provide this as information um only. Um, we do also note that at the end the superintendent and the chief business official, we both had to sign that the organization can pay for the agreement which we've done. >> Thank you. Are there any comments or questions from the board? >> Trusty Lup, >> just to clarify, this does not address any possible increases that come out of the class and comp study. That would all be in addition to the three and a half. >> That is correct. >> Yes. But providing the three and a half% now moves that target number closer to what the class and comp may be. So the
053impact may be less than if we didn't do the compensation increase benefiting all employees. >> Other comments or questions from the board? >> Any from the public? >> None from the public. Thank you. There is no action to take on this item. Thank you. Um for item 9B, we have superintendent's comments. Um, Superintendent Chavez, do you have any comments to share? >> I do. Um, thank you very much, President Torres. A couple of um, announcement or yeah, communication that this past Saturday, our SMCE hosted our annual SIO County Education Employment Fair where 23 school districts um, and some private schools participated um, in the fair. And it also included our current community schools team that were here doing recruitment. Our teacher administration development department and our P3 early learning teams also had tables and were
054actively recruiting. About 270 participants attended with the opportunity to be interviewed on the spot by some of the um uh eleas or school districts. Um and so a special thanks to our personnel services team for uh organizing and hosting very successful event under the leadership of associate superintendent Tammy Moore. Um also um last Thursday um our um Satel County hosted our first mariachi and folklorico dance festival el sonido de loruyo at South San Francisco High School. Um Allison Gamblin, our coordinator of visual performing arts, um facilitated um with partners from uh South San Francisco Unified School District, the Sonteo County Office of Arts and Culture, and Design uh Tech High School. Uh so they've been working on this for several months. Um, and so it culminated in this great event where we had several mariachi
055groups from uh, Berlingame uh, school district. I didn't know they had a mariachi which is great. A Ravenswood school district, their middle school has a mariachi and uh, South City High has a mariachi. So it was great to see them there. And then there's also a lot of folklorico groups uh, dance groups that participated from Kasa Solo Cultural in Redwood City. Um, South San Francisco Park and Recreation Department has uh Florico Group, Mills High School, Jefferson High School, Hillsdale, Hillsdale High, and Blor Mexico from South City High. So, it was great to see all of them sharing uh their um their art, their their culture, and to see each other uh um each other dance and perform was very special. They have not had that opportunity. And also something else to highlight is um that
056the groups u both mariachi and descent but from different cultures and to see um a Pacific Islander student singing a Jang Gabriel song in Spanish with such passion was phenomenal. Um so yes um so we're hoping that we can continue that and um for in the future and also um yeah just as an update yesterday I received an email from John Allen uh he is a sen senior management analyst uh who works with the youth commission and he shared that during last week's youth commission meeting uh the executive subcommittee uh determined that it would be in the best interest of the youth commission to open up recruitment for the uh youth commission liaison to the board um in April and May of this year so that they could um they can engage in the process
057so that they can have uh a commissioner um to start on July 1st rather than waiting to the fall uh for that. And so they they share that they currently have six uh eligible commissioners. they're uh entering senior and junior year uh this coming fall um and they attend public schools in Sanontto County. So our intent is to um to follow the uh similar process that we have in the pro in the past engage the the board president I believe um in the selection process and um alongside of that is also developing um and engaging our school programs for the recruitment of those of a board member from our school programs. So those are my updates tonight. Thank you. Um, for item 10 A, the board will engage in a third reading and take action
058on updated board policy 0450, comprehensive safety plan. Uh, Superintendent Chavez, back to you. Yes. Um, so at the last board meeting, February 18th, there was discussion on this um uh a specific sentence or actually the opening paragraph of this uh policy. Um, and so the subcommittee reviewed um the sentence structure and made recommendations. So we uh there was a an adjustment of a comma and some uh mainly a comma and so we um so we made that adjustment and so you now have a clean copy um that uh reflects that that adjustment. So we're bringing it forth for uh considering uh for you to consider approval. >> Are there any comments or questions from the board? Double checking. Triple checking. I'm going to move forward. Um, are there any comments from the public? >> No
059comments from the public. >> Thank you. Is there a motion to approve updated board policy 0450 comprehensive safety plan? >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. There's a motion to approve updated board policy 0450 comprehensive safety plan made by Trusty Love and a second by Trusty Benini. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. >> Um all those opposed say no. The motion passes with a vote of 70 and updated board policy 0450 comprehensive safety plan has been approved. Um for item 10B, the board will discuss and act on the participation of board members in the 2026 Coast to Coast Federal Advocacy Trip in Washington DC on April 13th through the 15th of 2026. Superintendent Chavez. >> Uh yes, thank you. Um, so board member Love uh requested
060uh approval to attend the 2026 Coast to Coast Federal Advocacy Trip to Washington DC on the dates stated um and as required by um county board bylaw 90240. Uh it requires approval from the board. So we're bringing it forward for your consideration. >> Um comments or questions from the board? Trusty Love. >> Uh yes. So, I had asked that that kind of be a placeholder. Um, I was in the Sanonteo County School Boards Association meeting. The president or of our subcommittee, head of our subcommittee couldn't go. So, I wanted to make sure that we had possibly the option to have somebody go in place. um I am not able to go and so I'm this isn't for me but if there is another person who's adv involved in our advocacy work um and it makes
061sense to do that then we have this opportunity for it to be open I guess >> thank you um so the floor is open um if anyone is able or wanting to go trusty Albaro >> I'm neither able nor willing to go but I had a I had a a comment a question um which is I've always been puzzled by this one why we would send people clear across the country and it we used to have a policy that said basically nobody goes out of state unless there's I mean I'm not talking staff I'm talking board members we just don't go out of state and we had one or two things come up I think I think Bev you once to Washington and there was something there was some reason that that was a special
062reason to go. It wasn't like every year. So, I just I I just throw out that I don't think that it merits and I appreciate that you wanted to have it as a placeholder and help out CSBA, but I just don't see that it that it merits the expense of us sending somebody across the country to meet with the guys here. >> Other comments or questions from the board? Trusty Benini. Um I would just express that I I personally, you know, do think it's a advocacy um uh trip that is worthwhile for a lot of reasons. Um I know we've had requests in the past to go to do various things out of state. So I do think we should be looking at you know budgets um and you know whether that makes sense. But
063um I respectfully disagree that it isn't worthwhile because I do think that there are other opportunities to engage with other board members who are advocating kind of like legislative advocacy that we're doing this week but it's virtual which isn't as great as it used to be. Um and also um just getting to meet with maybe hear other perspectives and meet with other legis Yeah. Congress people uh that are or senators that are not ours, you know. So there is also that opportunity I think. So anyway, I just want to express that if anybody is interested in going, I would say um I know that um Trusty O'Neal had expressed an a desire to go last year and um and we we did not um approve that, but I am more than happy to approve that
064if someone wants to go or to vote for it. Anyway, >> Superintendent Chavez, can I add or just to piggyback on what um uh Trusty Benini shared, uh I know that the California superintendents also participate in something similar um both at the state level in Sacramento and in Washington. And I think to Trusty Benini's um comment, the the fact that um uh county superintendents from across California are coming with a common objective or common um issues to bring forward to the elected officials as a unit um does have power and does have the provide the opportunity to to connect with other um policy makers from other regions in California. So there's that opportunity and there there is that value. Um but I'm not uh familiar with the coast to coast for elected for board members
065but just from the perspective and what I've learned from the county superintendent it see there is those that value. >> Trusty Gerard. >> Um yes I I have participated actually twice. Um and um it's an experience and um I certainly um am so grateful that I was able to do it. My only caveat is that any of us or county board members that go, we need to understand that we have to be the spokesperson for county boards because everyone else is talking about districts. Mhm. >> And I will tell you um when I went the first time and uh CSBA I actually went as president of C of CCBE and so I was with a very small very um exclusive group um on that first visit and we spent one whole day being trained on
066what we needed to do and what we needed to say. But when I looked at it, I'm like, well, this isn't how it affects county offices. So, I took all the questions and called Floyd Ganella was the superintendent at the time. Called Floyd Ganella and said, "Here I am. Can you get me the answers to these questions on how it affects county offices of education by tomorrow morning because we're going on the up to the hill? and he and Tom Fitzpatrick did um and I had my booklet with me and at the end of every discussion then I had to raise my hand and say let me tell you how this affects county boards or county offices of education and county programs. So, I want you all to know that because if we are spending
067the money to send someone, I want you to be the cheerleaders for county offices of education. And um and it's important because there were some things that were um great for districts but absolutely horrible for counties. And so uh the people up on the hill need need to understand there are two sides to a lot of the stories. So anyway I just wanted to add that because it was a real eyeopener for me. Um and at one point I was told by someone to keep my big mouth shut which everybody that knows me knows that isn't going to happen. So, um, but they didn't like me talking about counties and I said, "Look, my county sent me back here. They paid for it and I'm talking about them. So, there you go." So, I just
068want you to know that that you have to know that before you go. And I'm just planting a seed because I haven't been to Coast to Coast, but I think knowing that um I think it'd be a great goal for the advocacy subcommittee um to really work on that excess property tax and that be the focus that we start to bring, especially if this is going to be a big group going and kind of getting that word out and building that momentum. Um so just a thought that I thought of right now. Um but any other comments or questions from the board? Trusty O'Neal. >> Um just to kind of answer Susan's um comments, I think one as the county board of education, we should be advocates for the 94,000 kids that are the in
069our school systems every day. Okay. So to say that this is not applicable, I do not think is a correct statement. Second, one of the biggest things that we face here is a federal issue, and that is the fact that by by federal law signed by Gerald Ford, this federal government said they were going to pay 40% of the cost of special education. To date, they only fund 16%. Every year in Sano County, that shortfall is $ 58 million. And that is a federal program. that is more than the 30 38 million we're sending back. So I think for you to misstate that there's nothing that we can't advocate for is a incorrect statement. >> Well, that's not what I said >> and I have no intention of going there this year. So just so
070you know, I'm not advocating for a trip. >> And it isn't what I said. What I said was that we need to advocate with the people who represent us and they are available in Sacramento and they are available here. Whereas going to Washington and I know I remember that experience that you had Bev was that you were with a group of people who were advocating for local school districts. There are states that don't have county offices of ed and you were just a voice in the wilderness. Now whether or not you made a difference with anybody who wasn't already one of our elected representatives, who knows, right? So I'm not saying we don't need to advocate. I'm saying that there's a there's a place to advocate that to me makes more sense. The advocacy in
071Sacramento, that's a big deal. advocacy to our local elected officials who serve in Washington. That's that's right on the money. But that is Mullen and Licardo. So two people out of a body of 435 in the House of Representatives. So that means there are 433 people that need to be educated. And for special ed, that is a bipartisan Republican Democrat issue facing every school district in the country. >> It's fine. >> Other comments or questions from the board? >> Um, yes, Trusty Love, >> I appreciate this conversation. I do think it's important to advocate and um I was prepared to go if you know and reached out to you if it had worked. It just didn't work for me to be there. It just was crazy weak. But um I was thinking in my if
072our two other advocacy subcommittee members were able to go, they would be probably, you know, the most logical ones if possible. >> Other comments? Trusty Benini. >> Oh, I'm just I'm interested if anybody's um thinking that they might want to go. >> Oh, yeah. I was going to get to that after comments. I mean, as a as just a a general matter, I do think it's important that we're, you know, that we participate. Maybe not every year, but I think it's important. >> Any other comments or questions from the board? >> Any from the public? >> None from the public. >> Thank you. Um, anyone wishing to attend so that way we can determine whether or not a motion needs to be made. I am seeing none. Um, so there's no action to take on
073this item. Moving on to item 10 C. When an ad hoc subcommittee meets or a representative attends a meeting related to their given assignment, board members may choose to bring a report to the board at this time. Would any board members like to report out? Trusty Love. >> Thank you. Um, I have two quick reports. I hope they're quick. Um the board policy subcommittee met this week and we made progress uh reviewing a couple of gamut updates. We have a quite a backlog. Um some policies will be coming to the board um at the next meeting and some still require work and really kind of opened up some cans of worms. And um one of the policies that we'll be bringing back is the student board member policy. If we had looked ahead, there was
074a policy that addressed the issue of um if a county board already has a process in place to for its students, it doesn't need to go out to the whole county to get students. So, um and that was the issue where student had reached out to us. So, we'll get that clarified and that'll be great. We're meeting again on April 1st to review um the policies we had questions about, address some mandatory bills that we really need to take on and then another gamut update. Um second, the board advocacy subcommittee also met and to discuss its priorities around the whole issue of school funding. Um you know, we wanted to know where the vehicle licensing fee issue is. We're waiting for the LAO report um that we requested. There was a lot of conversation about
075Janentech and how we might be able to support districts as well as of course excess property taxes. We also talked about local advocacy. That's another one of our pillars. And we will be um hopefully having um toolkit ready in May sometime so that in June everyone can kind of get out to their local city council meetings and schoolboard meetings and then some of the state groups I mean the county groups and um let people know about what the county office does as well as advocate for public education in Sanado County. And then we looked at legislation proposed by partner organizations including a ACCBE as well as Sanonteo County School Boards Association and we had recommendations to move forward with some of those. And um fortunately the board president is on that subcommittee and will be
076sending letters um in support of some of those bills that we were talking about and we will report back on that when we get to that point. And um and then we also talked about the importance for the county office of ed to really be a leader in the AI space. They had been for a bit and then it sort of shifted to another high school district and we see a need for a lot of attention to be paid in leadership by the county office and the board um as it can do on that topic. >> Thank you. Trusty L. Any questions for that subcommittee? Would any other subcommittees like to report out? Trusty Benini. Um I'm gonna I'm reporting out the budget subcommittee did not meet in this interim but we have had offline
077communications. So in advance of our um budget study session that's what it's called right um we need to have some more meetings. So um and get a reply from our subcommittee to um have a kind of a regroup meeting on um the information that we received from um staff. And then um I just wanted to acknowledge that because um uh because um Kevin's here and he requested that to meet with us, but we need to meet first. So anyway, so um I'll resend the email and then we can coordinate. I know there's a lot going on. >> Thank you. Any other report outs? Trust >> the only report out from the House subcommittee was covered in close session. So, >> no. Thank you. Um, any comments or questions from the board? Are there any from
078the public? >> None from the public. >> Thank you. There is no action to take on this item. Um, for item 10, board members will comment. Trusty Alvaro, >> I just have one thing. Um, today in the coastside news, and I can certainly send y'all a link to it, but uh, they reran an interview from about 10 years ago with Naomi Patridge, who has she's been a pillar of the community for forever. She was a high school secretary at Haffen Bay High. She was on the city council forever. She became mayor a number of times. She worked for the Farm Bureau when she retired from the school district. She's just amazing. She also is of Japanese ancestry. Her maiden name was Inamura. And the Inamura family was among the families that was uprooted and incarcerated
079during World War II. They had a farm in Pescadero. They lost everything. They were sent, she said, fortunately they had three kids. So, um, fortunately they got one of the horse stalls that had been cleaned and enlarged at Tanfaran as a holding where some of the smaller families and single people didn't. They got horse stalls that had just had horses in them recently. Um, she talks about the experience about of living in a in the camp. She was sent to Topaz. They were sent the family was sent to Topaz. In fact, one of the first times I ever talked to Naomi about this, there was a AW event that was honoring uh this woman who's I cannot remember her full name. Everybody called her Scotty. She was Mrs. Scott. Was her hundth birthday. And Naomi
080came and with tears in her eyes said, "Mrs. Scott was my teacher at Topaz. She came as a as a an Anglo woman. She came and volunteered to teach in the camp to teach all these little Japanese kids who are locked up. And at the end of it, Naomi says basically she's still not bitter. She she doesn't think that being bitter served has ever served her parents. It never served her. They just got on with their lives. But it's a really amazing article to read. And the reason that coside News ran it again is what's going on right now. Um, so I just wanted to acknowledge that it's um, you know, it really strikes home because that was my my community and and Naomi is my friend. But just just to read about that and,
081you know, pictures of the little kids who are all sitting around waiting to be bust off to some place. Um, it it it's pretty pretty potent to to read. So I will certainly share that with you. Thank you, Trusty Arias. >> Thank you. I um I do have something that I wanted to bring from last week, last time. So, um I visited the South San Francisco Unified School District on February 20th and I was given this package about, you know, how the district is doing. And in summary, I had um I met with Dr. Moore and Trustee uh Pat Murray again, February 20. I know it's a little bit uh time ago, but I I wanted I told them I was I was going to come and and chair, but I forgot the package last
082time. So, they are in their third year of the portrait of a graduate working for for uh the high school students and the idea of how graduates are going to be coming out from the San Francisco South San Francisco Unified School District. And they're also in their second year of a strategic planning, making sure that positions align with the plan and what kind of supports are missing. And their five priorities are exceptional instruction, engaged students, purposeful partnerships, empowered educators, and equity center systems. So those are the five priorities. And the the school district uh has four preschools, nine elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools, and one comprehensive adult education program. Uh they have a CTE classes. So say they have some courses in the high school uh within five different industry sectors and
083they also partner with um Janentech a lot. So that's uh you know some of you kind of comment on that. um yeah the uh the lab that they have and a scholarship for like when they students graduate and go into um STEM programs. Um they they have scholarship for students like that. So very help helpful partner. Um so that's my report from South San Francisco High uh Unified School District. And then this uh March 7 here in the county office uh building there was the transition to independence uh resource fair. I just I mean I came in and Julisa Skurinaga was doing Sumba in the patio. So it was really exciting. A little sad that there was not a lot of participation. Everybody was in the tables but but it was okay. I mean some
084of us were like dancing to her Sumba. So it's just one of the um examples of when we look into the interests of the student when it's really student centered you know the difference that can make because that's is her own business she you know that's what she does she she comes to different places and has a small fee for her uh when she does instruction in Zumba and uh there was also the student micro businesses uh in the lobby from our um from our Um uh Paulos Veres. Uh and we received that little soap and and uh we got a soap and what was the other item? Oh, the bag. Yes. So the Yes. And so they had them in there for sale, you know, and they also said that I think once a
085month they sell them in the school. So that's just for you to know, you know, like if you want to go look for a little gift. So they had that in there too as an example. Um they had three different breakout rooms for workshop sessions, free lunch and 40 vendors in the tableings. Vendors meaning like information for uh transition students to think about like what's going to happen after they turn you know 22 and even during the program services like Golden Gate regional had a table lots 40 tables different tables that were uh showing um the supports and services that they have. Um and then on March 10th, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the CSBA Masters in Governance program. So the first uh class uh of four sessions that they have
086to offer for county offices of education. One of the things that really was important to me to hear uh is the roles and responsibilities for county office of ed trustees and superintendants and how we together um work on governance, strategic goals, vision and advocacy. So it's those were the areas that you know having the responsibilities from the two two sides is like where we converge and and it was very important to and a lot more information that of course I'm not going to like go through it but I brought my little booklet if anybody wants to like take a look or it was very very um eye openening for me to be able to participate in that um one full day and um the differences in ed code about shall and may that kind of
087struck me and I'm like, "Oh, that really makes a difference." And the idea about board self- evvaluation like we evaluating oursel and how we're doing uh was important to me to hear too during that um masters in government program. Then on March 11 and 12th, the next day I the California foster education task force presented to us and we um the three of us uh Trusty O'Neal and Trusty Bonini were there. Uh some of the things that I brought from that is the Riverside um county office of ed and the app foster far. Um how it's important it takes one supportive adult to change the life of a foster youth. One supported love adult in the life of a a a foster youth can make a a a difference in their lives. uh and the
088potential of bright spots report highlighting how others um are doing excellent work and how that can be repeated in other counties. So again that foster fair was one of the ideas uh that is happening there and how when something is working or is making a difference um how do we replicate that? How do we join and we talk about you know trying to do the same or similar work that they're doing? Um, that was part of what I did that in March 11th and the 12th, but then on April 10 to 11, I'm going to attend the ACCB conference in Riverside. Um, yes. So, I'm excited about hearing again uh this focus on county office of education and I think uh you know like trustee Gerard said, I think that's what makes a difference between
089hearing from this you know what district board members do and when they're very focused on what a county uh office of uh trustee does. So, that's very important. So, I am excited to do that. But also on April 13 from one of the communications that I received, there's this uh April 13 is the Monday and it's also in Riverside by coincidence in the county office of bed. There's this family engagement conference, elevate parent leadership to strengthen student success and the audience is family engagement practitioners, directors, administrators, coordinators, school support staff, educators, students, parents, and caregivers. So um I'm putting it out there if anybody is interested and if this is something we can attend. I think as you might know family engagement for me is very very important. I think uh it makes a difference
090in the student's life. So um I I want to know what's the process I guess to because this is not this is a county office putting it out there. It's not the ACCB but it's the same weekend. Yes. On a Monday. So the conference is Friday, Saturday and this is on the Monday. >> So I I want to attend. >> Oh yes. So just reach out to Jennifer. >> Okay. Yeah. >> So I will >> in California, right? >> Yes. Okay. It's in Riverside. >> It's Jennifer. >> It's in Riverside. It's right there. But uh again, I also I'm going to send it to Jennifer to see if anybody else in the board is um willing to attend or can attend on that Monday or Yeah. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Trusty Bonini. >>
091Okay. Okay. Um, so I have a few things to report. Um, I had the pleasure of visiting um, Gateway and Hillrest and An Campbell Center um with um, Trusty Gerard last Monday. Is that the 9th? It was just last Monday. It seems like it was a while ago. And um and I will be again I think no one else was able to go but on this Friday the 20th I'm going to visit Canyon Oaks and um I probably will go uh with um uh uh with staff up to Hillrest again because they're doing their showcase for CTE. So if anyone is available to go, we're probably going to be there between 11 and 12. Um and we saw um a glimpse of it when we were there before, but they're actually doing the showcase. I
092think with the parents. So that'll be really great. So anyway, just putting it out there. Um uh I attended, as um Trusty Iris already said, I attended the county board conference um March 10th through 12th. The focus was on foster youth and we had a lot of um a lot of great presenters with lived experience. Um the foster ferret, but mostly foster ferret was the youth again presenting. Um and then I know I think it's Trusty O'Neal who uh took a few of these um uh very dense I would say um pack information packets. Um I I think we have those. And what I would like to say about that generally is that there was a lot of information presented. Um uh we didn't have a lot of knowledge um as board members about what
093is happening in our county, but we learned about different committees that are countywide and different things that are under statute. And um since the three of us were there and we started compiling some questions that we wanted to address, we thought we'd do that sort of together. Um, but I kind of feel like it's a very uh important issue and so maybe in the future, I know we don't have future agenda items now, but I do think it's possible that we might want to continue to work on that issue to sort of raise it up. And so I don't know that we want to form another subcommittee, but whatever that process would look like where we could do that officially and then, you know, report back. It could be just a short-term one. Um but
094and I haven't asked the other board members if that's what they would like to do, but we did say we would compile our questions. Um I also um I think I've already mentioned that I'm on the CSBA's AEC um annual education conference planning committee. So I was in Sacramento this morning working on the six strands that are going to go out in the call for proposals on March 30th. And then I'm also on the county program committee. And so for the their county um conference which will be in September which will be not in Monterey this year will be in I think it's Marina del Rey. Is that right? Um in it's going to be in LA. Marina del Rey. Um but that the call for proposals will also go out for those soon. they're
095in close proximity in time and the recommendation is if we have um if anyone or we have um some submission it can go to both of those processes and then potentially get accepted so that we can I'm hoping that we can bolster um the the um uh proposals that go into the AEC so we have more things for county and we do have three representatives on the committee I think right now that are county one superintendent two board members so um so anyway So there's that. Um I also wanted to note based upon um um superintendent's notes about the the the dance presentations um the call for proposals for uh students and I can share the whole schedule but for student performances goes out on May 15th and it's open till June 24th. So if
096we have some amazing things going on in our county, we should maybe submit some. Um and then last but not least, um the Sanonteo County School Boards Association, we're in our final final couple of months for this year, right? Um and we need to form our nominating committee. So, uh if anybody would be willing to serve in that capacity, um anybody who's out out listening or watching us on YouTube or anything, um please let me know. I will be reaching out soon so that we can start um planning that for the coming year. Uh we are working on the Kent awards. We have I I didn't count them all, but I think we have like 15 or 16 um submissions and we're going to start that process. So that's amazing. And then we have our
097final u meeting of the year um for the quarterly meetings will be on April 20th and that will um feature our own seeds to solutions. And uh hopefully we'll have a segment too with our legislators because we did have to um stop uh we did have to cancel our legislative brunch because we couldn't get enough attendees. So I think that is it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Trusty Lev. >> Uh thank you. Um I just wanted to comment on the resolution honoring uh former superintendent Nancy McGee. thought that was a lovely job um pulling together all the contributions that she had made from uh COVID um steering our schools safely through that. The coalition of safe schools and communities, United for Youth, and then Environmental Literacy, all of those award-winning programs that have done so
098much for youth. So, an remarkable number of accomplishments, and it was nice to see that all there. I'm sorry that I will be out of town for the event honoring her next week. Um, but I'm glad that's going to be held. Uh, thanks to Kevin Baltima for all of his, uh, reports, presentations, impressive amount of work. Uh, also want to share I had a little bit of, uh, kind of whiplash on the housing discussion. I had a very different understanding of that program as was clear and it's um, 7 and a half million is bit different. I also the comment that uh Deputy Superintendent Baltimore said about the 7 million could be made up in a year short period of time just made me think is that like what's the long-term plan for that kind
099of thing if we have that amount of money that we know is sort of extra coming in. Um maybe that's for the budget committee to be kind of thinking long term. Maybe there's more we could be doing and maybe it's housing and maybe it's not. Um and then um participated as I mentioned with AC a ACCBE and San Antonio County School Boards Association advocacy work and um uh that's really useful because for example ACCBE brings up bills that we're not necessarily aware of. They are vetting them, thinking about them. There was one for interdist transfers. I'm trying to get some input from the county office on what they think about it. I know districts aren't that into it, but there are some bills that had to do with youth and foster care as well as
100transitions for um students leaving juvenile justice. And um we came out as supporting those. So hopefully we'll be sending letters on those. And I'm looking forward to connecting with Superintendent Chavez tomorrow. I appreciate you reaching out to all the board members and trying to connect with folks. Thank you. Thank you, Trusty O'Neal. >> Yeah, I had my meeting with Marco today and he had PTSD afterwards. You know, he scheduled an hour and I had two hours. So, um discussing, but um I also was in San Diego with Trustee Edith and and Chelsea. Um, I did meet another board member that once we get the LAO report, she wants me to send her a copy because her district, her county sends 14 million back. Um, so they're kind of in the same boat as we are.
101So, um, we also met another, um, board member up there from Humboldt County and it's very interesting. Um, up there there's like 23 school districts. Each one is one school and most of them have less than 100 kids and it's just like totally different type of existence than we have. I just and they actually did close one because it just got so small it wasn't worth it. And that when she was she was a former teacher when she was teaching she was a teaching fourth, fifth and sixth grade combined which I thought was kind of interesting. Um um I did meet with Marco today and I'm looking forward to a conference call I'm going to be putting together with the Silicon Valley Foundation and they're they wanted to discuss um how they might help workforce
102development and economic mobility in partnership with us or other entities. So that's to be determined and set up and we'll have a conversation. So, >> thank you, Trusty Gerard. >> Um, thank you. Uh, I have I was kind of busy the last couple of weeks. Um, I did read at Beayshore uh last Friday, which was super enjoyable. I read to a third grade class and we read um Cecilia loves science and it's really a cute book about a little girl who loves science and uh does a science project with her friend. Um it it was fun and I just love being able to be with the kids and be in their room and and uh see what they're doing and I love the questions they ask. Luckily, I could answer all these. That's not always
103the case. So, anyway, it was really fun. Um, I also, as Trusty Benini said, visited um Gateway, Hillrest, and an Campbell um last Monday, and I have to say that, um Oh, I'm sorry. um that uh when we went to Hillrest, they were in involved in a CTE class. That was amazing. And the attention that those kids were paying pl uh paying to the teacher um that was instructing and giving a um a video on how to make a sensor. And so after they finished, they all got kits and they all made these sensor lights and it was amazing. They had a bulb and uh batteries and some wires and they did it and they were so proud. It was it was really um uh a great experience to see them doing that. Um, I
104also was trained last week in Oceanana so that I will be going along with Trustee O'Neal and we'll be doing their evaluations of their senior projects um, which should uh, really be fun. And um, as usual I was very very busy with uh, ACCBE. I had at least uh one Zoom meeting every other day for the last two weeks. So, um there's been a lot and we've had some great training sessions and are going to have some amazing new ones. I spent uh two hours on a call yesterday uh with the planning committee. So, I hope everybody will attend and they are videoed. So, if you're not available, you can go in and see them online. >> Thank you. Um, so I realized that I forgot to give an update um for the governance subcommittee
105because I was so busy chairing the meeting. Um, but before I get to that, it's in relation to that. Um, one of our commitments from our retreats and everything is to hold each other accountable and in terms of governance and respect. So, I just want to make sure that we take a quick pause uh to just bring forward some of the commitments and agreements that we made in our retreat together just because I didn't see that. Um and just some reminders to always assume the best intentions of this group that if there is something you don't understand that you seek to understand. So questions a lot of the best conversations come out of different perspectives or when we disagree. Uh but there's a way of doing that um that is held to the standard of
106what we want for this board. Um so I just wanted to be clear that we were reflecting on that moving forward and for our governance uh subcommittee we met with the team to and the facil facilitators to work on establishing goals which is something very actionoriented that we all wanted from the group. Um, and I think it's clear that we still there's still some work that we need to do within um, board members individually. And so I'm hoping that that work um, in that reflection that you all do, you on your own decide what needs to get done so that way when we get to that next retreat, we are focused on the actions as a unified front. because um I always remember Dave Patterson saying you know alone you have no power as a
107board member um we are only effective when we are all together as a board and that is what I will conclude with my comments. So for item 11 we have our adjournment and our next regular meeting will take place on Wednesday April 8th 2026 at 7 p.m. Thank you.