001Good evening. The dece December 15, 2025 special meeting of the Sonteo County Board of Education will come to order. As is our practice, this meeting will be recorded. I note that Marco Chavez, Deputy Superintendent, Educational Services Division, is attending on behalf of Superintendent McGee this evening. The board provides remote access for members of the public and welcomes community members joining in person and remotely. The board is following the requirements of Assembly Bill AB2449 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 utilizing the channel. Thank you to our interpreters Anna Cruz and Kimberly Larios for joining us remotely. For attendees wishing to access the Spanish translation channel
002on Zoom, please click on the interpretation button on the menu bar. We ask speakers to be mindful of the Spanish interpretation and speak slowly and clearly. Item 1B is the approval of the agenda. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? >> So move. >> Is there a second? Thank you. There is a motion to approve the agenda made by Trusty Gerard 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 the 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
003speakers who require Spanish interpretation, our interpreters, Miss Kus and Miss Larios, will interpret following each speaker's comments. The County Board of Education does not act upon any matter that has not been agendaized except under limited circumstances as permitted by law. It is the policy of the county board to refer matters raised in this forum to the superintendent for investigation and or action were appropriate. Please note that the board will only take comments related to agendaized items for this special meeting. For agendaized items, speakers are invited to make live comment and will have three minutes to speak. Please keep within the time limits. To make a comment over Zoom in a on an agenda item, members of the public may use the raise hand feature. Instructions for using this feature are provided as an attachment on
004the board packet. Once your hand is raised, please wait to be acknowledged by Deputy Superintendent Chavez. 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, then please use the raise hand feature when the item is announced or if in person, submit a card in advance of the item. Cards can be found on the table outside the boardroom and given to a staff member when completed. Item 3A is the election of the board president. At this time, I would request that Deputy Superintendent Chavez preside over the election of President for the Sato County Board of Education for 2026. >> Thank you very much, Board President Torres. Um, are there any members of the public uh
005who wish to make comments on this agenda item? Seeing none. Um, are there nominations for the board uh for the board for for board president of the Sonteo County uh board of education for 2026? Uh, trustee uh Alvaro, >> I'd like to nominate um Mr. Torres. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, board member Ponini. Are there any other nominations from the board um for board president of the Sonteo County uh board of education for 2026? Okay. Hearing none, um we will now administer a roll call vote. Um when your name is called, please indicate I or no whether you wish to vote uh for uh Trustee Torres. Um, as a 2026 Hamilton County Board of Education President, may I please have a roll call vote? >> Miss Alvaro, >>
006I. >> Miss Aras, >> I. >> Miss Benini, >> I. >> Mr. JR, >> I. >> Miss Love, >> I. >> Mr. O'Neal, >> abstain. >> Mr. Torres, >> I. >> Okay. By a majority of vote of um of six um uh board member Torres has been elected as the 2026 president of the Santo County Board of Education. Congratulations uh board president Torres. >> Thank you. Item 3B is the election of the board vice president. Are there any members of the public who wish to make comments on this agenda item? I'm seeing none. Are there any nominations for the board for board vice president of the Sanonteo County Board of Education for 2026? Trusty Love. Um, Beverly Gerard. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Are there any other nominations
007for the board for board vice president of the Sanonteo County Board of Education for 2026? Okay, I am seeing none. Um, we will now administer a roll call vote. When your name is called, please indicate an I or no whether you wish to vote for Trusty Gerard as the 2026 Sanonteo County Board of Education Vice President. May I please have a roll call vote? >> Miss Alvaro, >> hi. >> Miss Aras, >> I. >> Miss Benini, >> I. >> Miss Gerard, >> I. >> Miss Love, >> I. >> Mr. O'Neal, >> abstain. >> Mr. Torres, >> I um by a vote of 6 and one abstension. Um, Trustee Beverly Gerard has been elected as the 2026 vice president of the Sanonteo County Board of Education. Congratulations, Trusty Gerard. Item 48 is the December 2025 employee
008of the month, Bjan Aluya, a programmer analyst, integrated technology services, business services division. Will Bejan, please join us in the middle of the room. Yeah, very festive. I love it. So, um, each month the board and the superintendent recognize an employee for providing outstanding service. For the month of December 2025, we recognize Bjan Albu program analyst integrated technology services business services division. Uh so he joined the county office in April of 2020 as the senior information technology analyst and was promoted to programmer analyst in February of 2023. Over the last few years he has join gone above and beyond to provide support for the frontline enterprise resource planning ERP implementation and transition. So during and even after the implementation and transition process, he generated needed files for important for import as specified by the county
009offic's ERP team. Many times these files were complex and intricate. Yet he was able to quickly create files based on specific requirements. His ability to collaborate over teams and other mediums has proven invaluable as he has allowed the ERP team to communicate effectively and efficiently. The work was involved in regarding the frontline ERP implementation and transition helped to ensure that high priority tasks including those um including those involving payroll and finance data were accurate. The entire county office is wholeheartedly grateful for the support that he has and continues to bring to the ERP team. So beyond supporting the team, he has consistently supported the district business services operations team by creating essential data files for external agencies, ensuring our reporting and compliance are always accurate and on time. Thank you. Now, most recently, he demonstrated
010his incredible efficiency and skill when he we faced a critical retirement reporting deadline. So, the payroll audit team needed to merge files for two different systems into an XML format. I don't know what that means, but um after a brief explanation of the requirements, his response was simply done. He his ability to produce highquality, error-free work with remarkable speed is invaluable. The business services division accomplished several of the district business services department goals this year only because of his talent and his willingness to help. He is an exemplary employee and we are incredibly thankful for his support. We are proud of our county office staff and we are pleased to recognize Bjan for his outstanding work. Congratulations for being named employee of the month for December of 2025. >> Would you like to say a
011few words? >> Good evening uh board president Torres, members of the board and deputy superintendent Chavez. Um I just want to say thank you so much. It's it's very nice to it's it's I appreciate being appreciated. Um I I love the work I do. I love coding even though most of you probably understand what was going on. Um I'm super happy to you know be a crucial person to make sure that the data is all it's clean, it's converted. I do a lot of stuff and you know just I'm I'm happy that you know I can be appreciated for it. Um thank you all so much. I want to give appreciation to my beautiful wife Asra and having and having the uh skills and knowledge of all of it behind me. I appreciate all of
012you. You guys are the best. Thank you so much. >> Well, we have this for you and then the top is just in time for the holidays. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. For item 58, Deputy Superintendent Chavez will make a presentation honoring me for my year of service as board president. Yes. Hello. Hello. there. Well, it is an honor to to stand up here and and share um uh to highlight some of the great work that you've done um in during your tenure as board president. Do we have the PowerPoint? I'll just start while that they're getting ready. Um so this year you've led um the board and uh some of the work with distinction. Um and so we want to take a moment to highlight u some of the great work
013you've done. So throughout your tenure um you facilitate facilitated board meetings seamlessly created an environment grounded in respect uh effectiveness and collaboration. Your leadership reflects a deep regard for fellow board members for staff and the broader community. So I want to acknowledge and thank you for that. Click. It's It's coming. The next It's a The next slide was a really nice picture. Yeah. Just Just dance. We can do an interpretive dance. Yes. You can sing me a song. I'm just kidding. Yeah. So I'll continue. Maybe I'll just go through the slides. The slides are are pictures and I think we can enjoy them. Um so uh also to highlight that you're a welcoming and collaborative uh leader. Um you lead with warmth and openness. Um you made yourself re readily available to board members um
014seasoned and new board members um to help them feel welcome and supported um kind, collaborative and thoughtful. You consistently demonstrated a willingness to engage in meaningful and sometimes challenging conversations with colleagues, elected officials, community leaders, uh and the community at large. President Torres, you have shown a strong and consistent commitment to learning about state, local, and national issues that are that impact education. And you proudly represented SMCE at numerous conferences and events as an active member in various professional associations uh bringing valuable insight and perspective back to uh our board and to our community. and I have had the pleasure of seeing you in those at those events. You're highly respected. You're highly u sought after and to engage in conversation but also to join the parties. I've seen how popular you are. But uh
015um in addition to that um one thing that that I I want to highlight is um your advocacy for our community. I I think you highlighted at the last meeting that you intentionally reached out to us to ensure that our communities would be safe during the Ruby Bridges walk to school day because of the ICE activity and you just wanted to ensure that we were um uh one um we were we were we had knowledge of that but also to be thinking about our communities. Um your leadership extends well beyond just what happens here in the boardroom. you deeply engage in u several key subcommittees. You're actually I was going through the records. You're almost in every committee. Um but you and I don't know how you do while you run a school and you're
016also dedicated to the committees. U this includes the board governance subcommittee, the workforce housing, the YMCA partnership, uh the board superintendent advocacy, and the way gateway subcommittee. So that's a a lot a lot of great work that you do there. uh and your participation reflects a genuine commitment to advancing SMCE's mission um through action, not just words. So, thank you for that. Oh, we're almost there. Get to see the pictures. Um you also consistently honor uh and uplift our staff and programs. um you especially uh I especially enjoy um your recognition of children and youth um that engage during our board meetings. I know you take extra time and steps to acknowledge the the youth that comes before our board when they speak and so that speaks highly of your commitment to students um and
017their work. And you also take the time to um during our our visits to our court and community schools and to our student programs to connect with students. Um and as you shared last time um students now recognize you and that uh again speaks to the in volumes u of your presence and and how much you care for our students. Okay. So this was the leading the board. This was honoring our staff. This is our um our la I think it was our last board meeting. Then this is our last slide here. Um again, thank you uh President Torres for your dedicated service and meaningful contributions during your year as board president and now you have another year. So now you have great practice. It's going to be even better. Um your leadership has made
018a lasting and positive impact on SMCE, our staff and our students. And for that we thank you. Um, as is this tradition, we do have a plaque for you uh for your service uh as a board a board president >> and also as is tradition um we uh have a selection of books that we will gift to the Hillrest Library uh in your name. Um there are nice selection of fiction. Um they're in inspirational books um and also culturally culturally relevant books. Um, one of my favorites is uh, You Speak, You Sound Like a White Girl. And it's a book of a of a young girl, um, who's now an adult, um, who migr who immigrated here from from Mexico at 12 years old. And >> she then realized that having an accent is beautiful
019and it um, and so she highlights in that book. And so I think it it resonate it will resonate with a lot of our students. So um with that, Thank you so much. It's a huge honor and thank you for the presentation and those kind words and um for choosing books that I think reflects the ones that I would like our students to be reading. Um for item 6A, the board will take a brief recess in honor of um me. So we will resume the meeting at 7:30. Thank you. Is that enough? starting off with item 7A. Um for item 7A, the board will move to close session to hear interd district attendance appeal 25-8. I AA25-8 filed on behalf of a student currently residing in the Milbury School District but requesting to attend school
020in the Berling game school district. Before we begin, are there any comments from the public? >> No comments from the public. >> Thank you. Upon conclusion of the IAA, the board will return to open session to report out on any actions taken in close session. for item 8A. The board will report on action taken in close session. For IA25-8, the board voted to deny by a vote of 70. For item 9A, is there a motion to approve the minutes of the no November 19th, 2025 regular board meeting as presented? >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. There is a motion to approve the minutes of the November 19th, 2025 regular board meeting made by Trusty Gerard and a second by Trusty Benini. Is there any further discussion? All those
021in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed say no. The motion passes with a vote of 70 and the minutes of the November 19th, 2025 regular board meeting have been approved. Item 10 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? So moved. >> Is there a second? Second. >> Thank you. There is a motion to approve the consent agenda made by Trusty Alvaro and a second by Trustee Love. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I.
022All those opposed say no. The motion passes with a vote of 70 and the consent agenda has been approved. For item 11A, Kevin Boltma, deputy superintendent, business services division. Manette Mano, executive director, internal business services will both provide um provide and present the 25 2025 2026 first interim financial report. Deputy Superintendent Bolta and Executive Director Mano. Good evening board president Torres, members of the board, Deputy Superintendent Chavez. Kevin and I are here tonight to present our first interim budget for fiscal year 202526. So I just wanted to mention a couple of um actions that we prepared in order to um prepare for this interim report and these are the changes that happened since original budget. So we have worked on updating our LCFF the local control funding formula. We also work closely with updating um
023our salaries and benefits um with position control changes. We updated the programs uh carryover amounts within our restricted programs and um also adjusted the beginning fund balances to match an audited actual amount. And these were all done during our meetings throughout our meetings with our program managers. Um also important to note the key items here listed. We are now on year three of our implementation of the frontline ERP software. We have implementation we have implemented um the compensation study for our for both the CSSE 158 group as well as confidential group. There's a little um correction that we needed wanted to note. The compensation increase for SMCA which is our teachers group is included in the budget but there is still no settlement with the classified and certificated management groups. Um it's also important to
024note that the gateway program contribution increase to about 600,000 because of fewer students. There's also a budget in fund 40 for the facilities master plan which is already included in the total budget of 1.5 million and you'll see that in the fund 40 account as well as the cont um we added a budget in fund 40 as well for the um improvement agreements with the YMCA. So this is the big picture income statement divided it between restricted and unrestricted. As you can see, um, we have a total revenue of about 83 million in the unrestricted account, 34 in the restricted with a combined total of 117 a little under 118 million and correspondingly expenditures combined total of 120 and our ending fund balance in the unrestricted account is 980,000,520. 21 and restricted with a negative
02540 about 40 million with a net combined change in fund balance of 940,532. So this is the income statement that's been modified and what's been presented in the past. So we we just wanted to um show you that even though this illustrates that even though we are getting LCFF revenue of about 74 in the unrestricted amount we don't keep we don't get to keep all of that because as you can see 39 million or close to 40 million of that is going back to the state in the form of excess property taxes. So that gives us a net total revenue from 83 from the previous slide in the unrestricted amount of only 43 million and um correspondingly total expenditures totaling 43 which gives us that same number in unrestricted of change in fund balance of
026980,521. So it's the same illustration just um giving you that highlighting that item in the excess property tax that we don't get to keep. So the next slides are just the pi representation of the combined restricted and unrestricted total revenues. So I just want to highlight this is an exact rent or output from the new ERP system. So it's um done in an instant. This was generated by Kevin on December 10 as you can see in the footnotes. So this is just the representation pie chart of how much of our LCFF is comprised of our total revenue. So from this chart we can see that LCFF sources um is about 62% of our total revenues and correspondingly low next is local revenue with about 26% and then federal revenues about little under eight uh a
027percent and state revenues at 8.13%. The next pigraph is the representation of our total expenses with respect to those buckets of expenses. The biggest of which is um our services and operating expenses which is about 19%. Followed by that. Sorry, the biggest actually is the other outgo which is 40 million of goes back to the state in form of excess property taxes and then followed by services and then our classified salaries and benefits and then the other expenses. So the next piraphph is um another way to represent our expenditures and this is done by function summary. So function is um it's part of the um school accounting code structure sats. It's actually the f the fifth function in the structure and this is the groupings of all the activities that's done to support the schools
028and the students. So the ones listed by function are those are the major group of activities. So those are instruction instruction related services and it's just broken down by those um activities. So this is another representation of how it can our ERP can um produce these reports by doing a quick touch and out output. Um, this is another report that we're used to providing you and this just gives you where the big buckets are in terms of services and contracts. This is most these are our object 5800 services. So, just want to highlight a few big ticket items. Um, in the unrestricted um we have the outdoor education We have the ERP financial system at 2.2 2 million transportation as the biggest in the unrestricted and then in the restricted side of the house um
029we have special education all the um we have the cate health commission that's actually the student behavioral health incentive program as well as the transportation services agreement that we have with school districts. So in the unrestricted account our 5800 or service contracts is about 11.6 million. In the restricted services it's about 11 a little under 11 million. So how does it compared to original budget? So this is this highlights how it's different from our original budget to now what we have at first entrance. So number one that we can see is the LCFF revenue. So um there is about 4 million of increased property taxes but um just to follow that arrow that that's that piece also translate to an increase in the other outgo. So even though we're getting 4 million in property taxes,
030we're also giving back more to the state in form of excess property taxes. The other notable difference is in local revenue and that was just brought because we had to do a um transfer or a correction of the transportation contracts with um Jefferson Elementary. We had to record it in a different resource from unrestricted to a restricted resource. So that's just the the change in that. And then the other factor in that is because of the reduced revenue estimates in our gateway and um Genan Oak school programs and then on the expenditure lines um you'll see that um we have certificated classified and employee benefits changes and I just want to highlight that um these are not very very um big swings and I want to um give that credit to our staff because of
031the way we worked with the new system. We were able to work efficiently in how we determine the um position control changes and we're able to make those adjustments with the enhanced ERP system. Um so consequently the services with uh transportation contract that we have for Jefferson Elementary also had to be transferred out and that's what the big swing or big change was in under services and then of course the increased property taxes. So that gives us the differences. I will now pass it on to Kevin who will um continue with our slides. Okay, so uh we have a snapshot of our Canyon Oaks budget. Um bottom line, the numbers did change. We went from a program that was about $837,000. We're now down to about $594,000. differences is is enrollment is down in that
032program. Last year we had eight students. This year we at enrollment P1 we're at five. So ultimately we removed some of the costs out of this program and you'll see that we placed it in the Hillrest program which actually has increasing enrollment. The Gateway program um at original budget was a $ 1.4 million program and it didn't have any contribution from the unrestricted part of the of our budget. However, um our intent was to keep the charge to the districts that um send students to our gateway program consistent to what they paid last year with a 3% increase. And so um we are needing to use unrestricted contribution to make that program whole at this time. So that program overall costs um did go up from that 1.439 439 to 1.5 million. Uh enrollment is
033also down which also decreased the amount of revenue in that program. Last year at the end of last year we had 11 students enrolled and as of P1 we were at six students in that program. Looking at our Hillrest we can see that um overall the program has increased. went from just under 1.3 million, now it's over $1.44 million. Our contribution has gone up. Again, enrollment is up in this program. It's um at 23 students at P1 and that's up from 16 students at the end of last year. And some of the increased costs, as we mentioned, were a transfer of costs from the gateway program into this program at Hillrest. And I'm sorry, those are a little small to look at on the screen. Um, our intent is to try and print out reports
034directly from our financial system. Um, so that we're not putting them into a spreadsheet. We'll work on that a little bit. Maybe you can read it, um, you know, when you have it in your hand, but I do acknowledge that when you look at on the screen, it's a little small. But looking at our multi-year projection, because not only do we pass a one-year budget, we're always looking three years out. Um, if you look at the 2627 and 2728 assumptions that we use to build a budget, we do see some minor decreases in our ADA countywide. We have updated the position control for all all certificated, classified, um, and benefit costs associated. We did just an estimate of our step and column costs at 1.5%. We also acknowledge we potentially have retirees and when they
035move from the higher end of the salary schedule, we're hiring typically at a lower end of the salary schedule. So there are some savings in that area. So we acknowledge that we make adjustments to services, capital outplay, outlay and transfers related to the ERP implementation. This is the last year of that. Stirs is not increasing in the out years. It's stable at 19.1% for those of us who lived over the last 10 years and seeing those large increases. That's a welcome change. and our PERS employer costs um we are seeing slight increases at 27.7 and up to 28.3%. Uh we do increase our supplies and services uh by a CPI factor of 2.86% and 2.81%. And that really should be for 2627 and 2720 or yes 2627 and 2728. So looking at the multi-year projection,
036uh this is for the unrestricted side of the budget only. We are showing a net increase in fund balance of a positive $980,000. But then we do see some um deficits in the outy years and there's some assumptions there of um increased salary um and um implementation of the class and comp study. Overall though, we are well funded. Our reserved amount is at 19.9 million. We maintain all different components of ending fund balance including a board reserve at 5%. The state required 3% reserve for economic uncertainties and we have an undesated amount estimated at first interim of 7.9 million. In the outy years, even with those deficit amounts, in the out years they are fairly small and we maintain all of those reserve requirements in all three years. This is just a picture of our
037reserves going back to 2122 and then projecting all the way out to 2728. Feels weird to say 2728. I had to check myself. We were talking earlier because it just seems so far away. Um, so those first four columns are actual numbers and then for 2526 and the last two columns those are our estimates in our you can see that we maintain all those reserve requirements and uh we have an unassigned amount that's fairly consistent over the three-year period even with an overall decline in estimated fund balance. So in conclusion um again we're at the last year of our ERP system. This budget was built using that system. We think it provides more accuracy. Um it definitely in my opinion connects position control to estimated costs. I would acknowledge that Rollins Road property that we
038owned has not leased yet. And so we're continuing to try and work with a broker to lease that property consistent with the recommendation from the 7-Eleven commission. negotiated settlements um negotiated imple I'm sorry the negotiated implementation of the classification and compensation study has been complete for CSA58 and 887 and confidential employees only. Uh we do need to negotiate the implementation related to our teachers SMCA and our unrepresented management groups. I already mentioned this is the last year of the ERP and overall SMCOE is in very um enviable position of being very financial healthy. So with that open any questions. >> Are there any comments or questions from the board? Trusty O'Neal. >> Going back to this slide that says items of importance. I just want to clarify a point that's there. It says gateway program
039contributions increased to 6221 152 with fewer students and that was just in the effort to minimize the additional costs because of the overhead to the leas correct. >> Uh yes, there's really two things going on. One, we have fewer students, so there's less revenue coming in. And two, we chose to maintain the cost per spot because we actually charge per spot for districts to remain consistent to what they've been paying in the prior year. We did add a 3% increase to it, but to maintain that consistent, let's see, and to fill up the gap, we're using unrestricted dollars to do that. >> Okay. I I appreciate that. Trying to keep the cost to the local districts, you know what I mean? Thank you. >> Other comments or questions? Trusty Love. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think
040you've um um excuse my voice. Um when I was at a recent conference, I asked the legislative analyst office about excess property taxes and um they the person responded that county offices weren't using those funds. So, it was an easy thing to sweep because they were just moving them forward um and not actually using them. So, I just was kind of and I and I kind of remember that that there there was this sort of money sitting around and then it was eventually taken. So, just any thoughts on that? >> I think we could find ways um to use those excess property tax dollars for education in our county if given the opportunity. >> So, that's that's what I had asked and they were very dismissive of that actually that they weren't really spending them.
041No, basically great loss to them. That that was sort of the attitude. Okay. Thank you. Just planning. >> I was in that session with her and she's Yes, it's exactly what they said. >> Trusty Alvaro, >> my favorite topic, excess property tax. Um, we weren't spending them because we knew we had to get rid of them at the end of the year. Had we spent them, we would have had to go find the money someplace to pay back the state. This is before I think it was in like 2014 or 2015 this fix where it started going in the courts but before that it sounded like right was the issue that they hadn't been doing it. So that's why it wasn't >> they hadn't swept them but we knew it was coming and so they
042were in a savings account because >> Yeah. Anyway, I'm sure it was just You're right. It was just like oh yeah, you're not spending them. We we should have them for some other use. >> Other comments or questions from the board. >> Trusty Benini. >> Um thank you for the report. Um I actually have a few questions so please um bear with me. Um my first um comment slash slashquest is slide three. Um, and I'm cognizant of the fact that we have a uh presentation this evening about the facilities master plan. Um, and that um, we've been given additional information about this. Um, but this is in fact the first time this has come up on a presentation to the board and uh, it wasn't on the October 8th, it wasn't on the June 25th.
043um and the line item was not described as many of the line items are um during those times. And so it's of I would say grave concern to me and to the committee which is the gateway committee which sort of um uncovered this if you will because we were hearing things and asking questions. So, um, so I, you know, I just first want to point that out and ask, um, why, I guess, is my question on this slide, like why is this the first time it's officially here? >> I think the challenge is always how do we provide the board enough detail? Will you feel comfortable voting for it? And we tend to focus on the general fund. Um, we really haven't provided much information in relation to the other funds. fund 14 for deferred
044maintenance, fund 17 which is our reserve fund or fund 40 in this case. So that may be an oversight on my part and uh certainly as it becomes more of an interest to the board happy to provide that information. >> So is it that it was just a wait or that maybe you thought someone else had provided the information? I'm just curious because I'm trying to figure it out. Um, but you didn't think that we we knew essentially. >> I actually did think that we had talked about the facility master plan in the past. I feel like I when I actually took this job, I talked quite a bit about wanting and needing a facility master plan. So, um, that was probably just an oversight on my part. And I know we were in the
045middle of an ERP implementation. So, I think in my mind I had reported to the board about a facility master plan. So, that's an oversight on my part. >> Okay. Thanks for clarifying that. Um I'm going to be I know again I already noted we're talking about facilities master plan in the next agenda item and um when we get to um future agenda items and committee report outs and other things um I will and when we have a chance to talk to um Council Cho um we're going to hopefully look at some of our policies. But in advance of that, I would just um direct the board to board policy 7000 and board policy 7,140 which specifically give the board um authority to approve such things and um I am concerned about that. So I'm
046just going to leave it with that for that slide and I'm going to go on to my questions but just a preview I am going to be asking more questions about that. So um sorry to start off with that but it is just highly concerning. The next um question I have is regarding uh slide number nine which has the many services contracts and budgets. Um, so I've highlighted a a a number of things that um I'm not I'm not not going to go through them right now, but my request is um whether um we can as a board request or maybe as our the budget subcommittee request more detail about these items. Um so that we can um you know have more transparency into what is there. um because this is a this is a
047a progress that we had from prior years but it's definitely um I think we could use more detail. So that's my second um I guess comment. My next one is regarding slide number 16 which is the way that we see these reserves. Um can you clarify that these are the reserves that we have to keep? Is that what this slide represents? because I'm always confused by this slide because I know we have like fund 17 and fund 40 and a lot of other funds with reserves but or other funds but I don't understand this slide so I'm just con I want to just for my own um knowledge just understand is this like what we have to keep >> this is the bar graph specifically yes >> this is for the general fund only >>
048so no other funds are included in these amounts >> and the restricted is the restricted portion of the budget that we talked about earlier So those are restricted by nature and and have to be reported spent according to whatever um grant or program required it to be spent on. Then we have a reserve for economic uncertainties. That's the 3% that the state is uh mandates that we keep in reserves. Then we have a board reserve which I think we began in 2324 or 222. have to check that date, but we added a 5% board reserve. And then assigned assigned um are for things like um unrestricted lottery money that has to be used for textbooks for instance. So we want to use that for textbooks um as unrestricted in nature. So we assign it for
049that purpose. There are non-spendable. Non-spendable typically are things like prepaides, things that um show up on the balance sheet and um under fund balance but will be spent in the current in the next year. It may be petty cash or stores inventory. So they are non-spendable by kind of definition according to generally accepted accounting principles and then what's left is unassigned. >> Okay, thank you. Um so given the other um funds that we have the reserves I guess my question is um I know that I can look at the detail and hopefully see what those fund balances are. Um I guess my question is in future can we see that in a slide right what the total amount of reserves is because I think it's um more transparent for all of us um including the
050public to know what that total amount is because it's you know you're going into various different accounts. So that's a request on that. Sorry I have a couple more one. Um my next question really is just around um I'm on kind of your conclusion slide and I have a couple of points. So one is um I think that it's great that we have a budget subcommittee and that we have budget study session and I think that we need to be um seeing this as a first interim and approving it um and having questions. I feel like we need to be involved more um seeing more detail. So that's another request. Um uh I recall um next my next point on this one is I recall a prior conversation um I think it was in June
051or probably in October where we were talking about our budget being aligned with the strategic plan and um I remember um and I had a brief conversation with Trusty Love about um that um and her she had asked questions about that and how it's aligned and we've been asking for that. And so, um, I'm just interested in in raising that again as we're talking about the budget that we see that more. Um, it's also been ongoing request for like agenda items generally, but you know, I want to focus on the budget here. Um, and uh, in in just conclusion for this for now, um, because I'll I'll raise as I noted some other things when we talk about the facilities master plan. Um I am curious about whether um we have specific plans or whether
052we're moving forward on specific plans for Rollins Road. Um if it's I know the last time we talked it was regarding um having a um maybe a realer broker assist um or whether we might need to reconvene the 7-Eleven committee or whether we might need to consider using the property for something else that's education related. Um, so I'm just throwing that out there and asking like have we thought about that or is it on the radar? >> Yes, it's on the radar. Uh, one, I think I noted earlier we haven't leased it yet, but we are working with a broker to do that. Um, but to your point, I think there's a connection to the facility master plan here about Rollins Road and how it potentially could be used maybe for an education purpose. Um,
053so that is part of the kind of analysis overall because it is an asset that the organization owns. Um, and although the 7-Eleven committee made this recommendation a number of years ago, it doesn't mean we can't go back to that committee and um, say things have changed, here's our new position. We hopefully have a facility master plan that we can show with input and this might be a different recommendation. >> Okay. And um, I just remembered there's one more thing. So um just in conclusion um when we're talking about the facilities master plan about um items noting that this came up with the gateway subcommittee um I have already expressed my let's just say my concern I' I've sent many communications about it um in terms of what is in the current budget that we're
054looking at the updates for and I just want to express my more than concern like my dismay because when we approved the budget in June, there were conversations that were had in budget subcommittees and all the other places and I specifically asked before we approved the budget whether we were allocating funds for facilities because there was significant push back on that in our conversations with the board as a whole and in our budget subcommittee. And I feel like I was told I was told that there weren't. And so I just want to express my um you know my disappointment in that. So that's all I have for the moment. >> Yeah. Thank you. I'll just add um for the questions in regards to facilities master plan. Um, Trusty Benini was speaking on behalf of the
055subway subway the gateway subcommittee um and the conversations that we've been having in regards to this. So, thank you. Um, are there any comments from the public? >> No comments from the public. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve the 2025 2026 first interim financial report? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? Thank you. There's a motion to approve the 2025 2026 first interim financial report made by trustee Alvaro and a second by trustee love. 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 2025 2026 first interim financial report has been approved. For item 11B, the board will receive a report on the SMCE facilities master plan. Deputy Superintendent Bolta is here to
056provide some background context and introduce the multistudio presenters. >> So, good evening board president Torres, members of the board, Deputy Superintendent Chavez. In April 2025, SMCE issued a request for qualifications, a request for proposals for the development of a facility master plan for the county office. We received five responses and we interviewed three architectural firms. SMCA had a committee that evaluated the submissions and interviewed the response responsive firms. At the end of the process, the committee recommended multistudio and we entered into contract for the de development of the facility master plan. The proposal from multistudio met all the requested components of the uh RFP. They have extensive experience in facility master plan development and the committee was most impressed with their focus on stakeholder input and involvement and their approach to engaging students, staff and
057community to inform their work. This is a first for SMCE. We hope it will not only direct our work to improve learning environments for students, but will also be an example of a facility master plan that includes environmental sustainability initiatives. I would like to introduce Mariana Lavezo, client leader and education planning specialist from Multistudio to provide information on their work to date in developing the facility master plan for Sanonteo County Office. Mariana Good evening, President Torres and Oh, I guess I should lower this then. I don't have to be on my toes. And board members and Deputy Superintendent Chavez, thank you for having us here tonight for the debrief. Um, wanted to acknowledge that this is the first time the county office of ed has done a master plan. So it's easy for facility planning
058to feel abstract. And to make it more concrete, we could simply think of it as four questions. Where, what, how, and when. So where do we invest in the four campuses that are in our scope and at Twin Dolphin potentially? And so what do we put money into? Well, at the school sites, it's starting from the site perimeter, safety, outdoor learning, outdoor play, the building structure, um the systems, interior spaces, furniture, and equipment. And then how much do we spend? So, each project will be categorized as either a light touch or a deep modernization or a reconfiguration that's moving walls around. So, that's structural or new openings. that cost more than a modernization or new construction. And so when will these investments happen? Which projects will go first? Which projects will go last? Because cost
059escalation is a factor that needs to be accounted for in the master plan. So the purpose of today's debrief is to support the board of education in answering these four questions by triangulating three lenses. The human lens, the technical lens, and the policy lens. So Anton Buitt sitting here of RSSC, principal and educa um engagement specialist. He'll speak to the human lens. Scott Hansen, who is online, our funding analyst from TRRI Group. He will speak to both the technical and the policy lens, sharing with us the analysis of funding that shows the funds that are on hand and the funding opportunities and how the facility condition assessments play into that. Unfortunately, Rob, our principal senior mechanical engineer, threw his back out yesterday. So, I have his speaker notes and I will channel him as best
060I can to talk about the sustainability initiatives. He'll speak to both technical and policy lens really talking all I'm saying he it's really me but I'll be talking about u the current energy use and the sustainable design opportunities that would be part of the master plan project so that way it's integrated. So today we're just sharing with you an analysis of what we've learned in our engagements, the data, qualitative and quantitative, the research, and the voices. And that'll give you a clear picture of where the facilities are today. In January, we'll work with you to move into priorities, design, and sustainability strategies and commitments, and that will give you a strong vision for the future of the facilities. Then in February, we'll work together and that's the how, where the rubber hits the road. And
061that's where we sketch out that path. How do we get to that new better future, the strategic facility master plan? So why is facility planning important? To make it more concrete, let's take it one step further. At its core, it's about the people. the staff here at Twin Dolphin, the staff at the school sites, the teachers, the pareducators, the specialists, the counselors, the admin, the custodians, they're all working in the trenches daily. And it's about the students, right? The early learners, the students with disabilities at Promise Youth, youth that have been through the juvenile justice system. It's about their families and it's about your partner organizations. So the big question is, are we providing our people with the conditions to thrive? And what's at stake when the school experience or the workplace experience falls short?
062When facilities don't support people with the conditions for success, the harm or the impact is immediate. We have lost learning time, lower productivity in the workplace, student engagement decreases. You see lower academic and social outcomes, teacher engagement decreases. The county loses staff. Staff is hard to replace. And when we do invest, the changes, the benefits for the people are massive. And a big part of this master plan is that a goal is for it to be exemplary for all the districts in the county to follow the process. So what's the final product? It's this living document that's going to capture these decisions that are going to be made in the next few months and it will inform future decisions. And it's a living document that connects facilities to the strategic plan, the LCAP goals, the
063mission and vision of the county office of ed and of this board. So with that, I will pass it to Anton to look at this through the human lens. Hi, good evening all. My name is Anton Buitt. I'm a senior education planner with RSSC. RSSC was founded by Dr. Regina Stanbeck Straoud. Uh sitting next to her is Sita Straoud who is the director of community engagement. So yes, I'm going to talk about the human lens and specifically um me slides here one second. As Kevin mentioned, you know, uh, a big reason why we're here today is the degree to which we brought your community into the planning process. So, I'm going to talk about that process as well as some of the insights we've learned. Um, I think it's really important though when we talk
064about the human lens or we talk about facility planning. We always start by connecting it to the strategic mission. And I've also decided to include your equity statement. And I do that for one reason, which is we often think of equity or inequity in terms of academic outcomes. We often don't think about it in terms of the facility experience. One of the fortunes that I've had is being able to work throughout the state as well as Texas, the Carolas, the Pacific Northwest. And I can tell you from my research or the research of RSSC. If you're a student with disabilities, you're a student of color, you're an English learner, you're an atromised youth, if you are a student from a neighborhood identified low resources, you are two to three times more likely to be learning
065in a temporary classroom, a portable, a facility that is in poor condition, where it's too hot, where it's too cold, or a building that's over 50 years old. And part of that equity statement there is disrupting, you know, inequitable practices. And a big part of this or why we see those inequities is those groups that I just mentioned. Their families, their parents, the educators and the staff who support them are often not invited to participate in facility planning or if they are invited, it's in a performative way. So when you see the principles, these were developed with your facility planning committee as a way to disrupt those inequities. Two things that stand out are safe spaces for all as well as slowing the process down to ensure that we have diverse voices and people with
066lived experiences participating in this process. So I'm going to talk a little bit about just the process itself. This process was developed from a series of projects over many years explicitly connecting facilities and facility planning to equitable student experiences and student outcomes. You can see that throughout this process, we've got the diverse voices of staff across all your campuses, pareducators, counselors, students, parents, families participating in this process. We start off by listening to understand what are the systemic challenges, right, that make it difficult to teach or to learn on a daily basis. Uh in our next series of workshops, we really began to identify what are those big priorities. Um it's really at this point that we wanted to share out to you some of the big insights we gathered uh so that we are
067set up for success heading into January, February, and March. Um and then the final stage is we really start to identify what are the solutions people care about. What are the solutions that they're going to notice immediately on day one when these improvements are made? As well as what are the lasting and substantial changes we're going to see that create generational change. I'm going to just walk really quick through some of the numbers and the degree and scale of the engagement that's taken place. Um, up until this point, we've had 180 touch points with your staff and your educators. Um, actually did a recent count. We've talked to 16 students. Uh, many of those are from Gateway. We also talked to non-verbal uh older students with disabilities. And I have to thank uh teacher Debbie
068Schindler as well as George uh Remit. Um we actually developed a new type of interview for non-verbal students using uh images to actually identify what are the experiences these students desire as well as what are the environments where they feel safe. So I really want to give them acknowledgement. Um another piece too is I think these numbers are quite extraordinary but the reason actually isn't because of my team. I really want to thank um deputy superintendent Bolta Ron Soer Dr. Gimenez was highly uh uh made this successful and the incredible staff who participated. Um you really have amazing people. Um there's been 38 actually engagement events. This is interviews. This is workshops. We've had two with the facility planning committee. We have three coming up as well as a visioning workshop that we've done uh
069for the 101 Twin Dolphin uh central office. So I'm going to talk a little bit about what we heard. Um I'm actually not going to go through these slides. I'm not a fan of death by PowerPoint. So, I'm going to kind of describe them in terms of the three big areas. Um, these priorities are important. Earlier on, I talked about inequities. A big reason, these priorities are going to seem obvious to you, right? Because they're on the slide. I will tell you, these priorities are obvious when you're in the classroom every single day, whether you're a teacher or you're a student. I will tell you in my experience over 15 years, these priorities are not obvious to most decision makers. These priorities often do not show up in the facility plan. Some of them might
070show up, but not all of them show up. And it's when these priorities get moved off the table that we actually start to see those adverse facility experiences taking place. So if we're thinking about just some of the patterns that we've seen and these are consistent across whether it's ACC early learning, Palisperis, Elportell Special Services or Gateway, um everything that I name takes place at every single one of these campuses. So I'm going to break it up into three areas. The first is really just the broad category of experience. This is going to be impacting anyone who stands on that campus, whether it's an educator, a staff member, it's a student, it's a community partner, it's a family. The next set that I'm going to talk about are really focused on the student experience and
071the child's degree of engagement. And the third is really about the workplace environment. So if we're thinking about just the overall experience, every participant we talk to talked to some degree of not feeling safe in their current facilities. Part of this is the arrival experience, not feeling safe. Part of this is the site security. Uh thinking about alopers, uh building access at special services. Um, we also heard a lot about just the overall dignity of restrooms. Something as simple as restrooms, right? It's really hard for two adults to work in many of these restrooms simultaneously supporting students. It's difficult in many for a wheelchair to actually turn around and many given the physical condition just don't provide those conditions to feel valued. Um, and then the third aspect is just the overall condition of the
072facilities. Um, many people described just viscerally what it feels like to work in facilities that are in poor condition, where it is too hot, where it is too cold, where in temporary spaces, uh, where there's visual clutter, uh, where they feel institutional and they feel old. And they talked about the degree to which it tells them that they are or are not valued and the impact that it has on students, uh, particularly who said the same thing. Next, um the whole category of insights might relate to the student experience. Outdoor learning and play based on the research is one of the most significant ways you can improve a student's outcomes. Not only does it allow them to restore executive function, to achieve calm, to be rejuvenated. It also provides great conditions for learning, to be
073stimulated. All three camp or sorry, all four campuses fall down when it comes to outdoor learning and play. The other piece is what conditions does a student need to be successful in their classroom experience? And we're thinking about special services. A big piece of this is sensory comfort, right? Sensory comfort. We don't have enough sensory rooms. We don't have sensory spaces in the hallways. We don't have sensory spaces in large group and pair educators and educators were telling us this makes it really difficult for students uh to learn in a consistent way. um thinking about the actual classroom experience and talking to the gateway students, they made it very clear that in order for them to be engaged and to be excited about their future, it's really important to connect their careers to what's happening
074in the classroom. They're asking for more hands-on learning opportunities, projectbased CTE light, and currently the spaces, furniture, and tools do not support that. So these all together are the priorities that your staff responded to the question what priorities absolutely must be addressed to achieve success. What are the priorities if we don't address would be a massive failure for this facility plan? I do want to say that there is actually a ton of hope. Um every single one of these challenges or priorities that I named um there are very clear ways that we can address these uh based on working with your staff and workshops. I will tell you, your staff are not only brilliant, but they gave us very pragmatic, but also innovative solutions, and I'm excited as we head into January to start to
075share some of these design priorities, to share some of these solutions with you as we start to chart our path forward. So, that is the human lens. And now I'm going to hand it to Scott. >> So, Scott is going to be online. >> Yes, I'm here. And thank you, Anton. Can everyone hear me? >> Perfect. Thank you so much. Uh once again, my name is Scott Hansen, chief capital funding strategist, and I am happy to be able to present. Uh we were charged with uh looking at the funding analysis and current facility conditions across your sites. Uh we noticed that the facility conditions identified diverse uh needs across six campuses. um El Portell and P Palace Vveres. Uh both very aging facilities uh from the 1960s, well over 50 years old. Uh both sites
076have poor facility condition indexes. And the 10-year uh projection uh really looks at uh some infrastructure uh demands that would be coming down the road. And as you can see to the right uh we have a chart here uh of El Portell Palace Vertes and Ant Campbell uh identifying those uh facility condition assessments and uh the identified issues with Ant Campbell uh with aging aging infrastructure. Next slide please. This is an example of uh a $10 million project and how we would want to layer funding opportunities for that pro for that type of a project or that value of a project. First, we'd look at uh your your strong capital fund 40. Um you're projected, it looks like, to have just over $60 million at the end of this fiscal year. uh which is very
077desirable and gives you a lot of leverage uh to begin to uh get projects off the ground and develop project uh uh budgets. Next, we'd look at uh state modernization. Uh this is uh talking about the school facilities program, specifically Proposition 2. We'd look at modernization eligibility at a quick glance. Uh looking at the uh uh this the gateway uh campus uh you have a little bit over $64,000 worth of eligibility there uh to do some things and then uh one just over 1.3 million almost 1.4 million uh if you look at El Portell Palace Verdis and Anne Campbell combined uh that's uh a little over 1.4 4 million uh just base eligibility grants uh from the state school facilities program. And then second, thirdly, we'd look at federal and state energy grants. Uh this
078is uh plays into your uh energy sustainability and uh applying for those grants uh would give us a strong foothold uh in offsetting those local funds spent out of fund 40. And then lastly, we would tap into we would want to tap into career technical education. Uh whether that be at uh reerecting Rollins Road or maybe looking at an opportunity at Gateway. Uh we could definitely apply for a career technical education facilities grant. If you put all those together and layer that uh you're looking at possibly a 15% offset and uh those being uh those funds that I talked about and then an 85% uh from the uh local fund 40 uh this is good news uh when moving forward and beginning to identify uh facility needs. Next slide please. My last slide here uh
079really lays out uh a timeline uh of looking at a phased process. Uh this really gives you uh a good strategy in phase one. We uh would want to finalize approvals uh with the division of state architect and California Department of Education. uh as you begin to develop project scopes um uh establish board policies uh to allocate fund 40 towards capital facilities projects and the needs that are identified in the plan and then prepare grant applications uh to uh capture those school facilities programs uh and uh career technical education opportunities. And then second phase two uh you move into execution. Uh this is where we really get into filing the applications, securing the grant approvals that are needed and awarding construction uh deliverables uh for specific projects. And lastly, the final key uh to all
080of this is uh key success factors is stakeholder engagement. so important uh with a facility's master plan and as projects move forward. Uh communication uh planning and uh and then obviously budget uh management is so important uh in in you know not not allowing cost overruns and really uh being on top of fund 40 and how that is spent. And then I'd like to leave you with the final one final note. Uh the facilities master plan is such a key part uh of moving forward uh particularly with state funding. uh Assembly Bill 247 uh back in uh July of 2024 really laid this groundwork for uh school districts and county offices to establish a plan to update a plan uh to allow them to participate and access state funding uh and different grants at the
081state level. Uh with that being said, if there's any questions, I'd be happy to answer. Um, and I would be happy to turn it over to Mariana. >> Great. Thank you. Um, I'm going to do the last part. I'll I'll channel Rob Bolan as best I can about sustainability and then uh we'll be ready for questions and answers and discussion. So um to discuss the sustainability initiatives uh the jumping off point is really starting from a baseline that informs opportunities for continued improvement. So Sanonteo County Office of Ed has done some terrific and leading work already with your environmental literacy and sustainability initiative, sustainable campus and operations plan, sustainable purchasing guide, and other programs. So, we're seeking to build on the great work you've done to date and help the county office of ed continue
082to push in this realm. So for each of the campus facilities, we reviewed current performance of severe se sorry several sustainability metrics so we could determine a baseline for comparison with industry standards for energy use, water use, waste diversion, and resulting carbon emissions using historical utility bill data from the past several years. The thank you to Ron for connecting us with all that that data. That was a big effort. um 2024 to 2025 forms the baseline. So from this data and facility assessment information of existing systems and equipment, it informs primary sustainability initiatives and strategies for the climate action plan. So we've used this baseline utility data and existing facilities information to develop simple energy models where we can evaluate various alternative systems upgrades and compare anticipated energy performance and carbon emissions reductions against those
083baselines. So, continuing the county's efforts to electrify and decarbonize equipment and systems through phase out of fossil gas fired equipment in favor of uh heat pumps that are electrical is a primary strategy and the evaluation of reach strategies such as geothermal or ground source heat pumps and solar photovoltaics were feasible namely at an Campbell and special services campuses is also being explored. Aligning timelines with phasing plans associated with the implementation roadmap that Scott just mentioned is important. And this can be especially um useful in how we prioritize initial evaluations of reach opportunities such as geothermal systems. And finally, for the climate action plans approach to be holistic and integrated, addressing water efficiency, waste diversion, indoor air quality, lighting quality, acoustic quality in addition to electrification, and decarbonization. So, we don't want to lose sight of
084the importance of the human side of these improvements that leads to better environments for students to learn in and teachers and staff to operate in. This then helps tie the climate action plan component to the other elements of the facility's master plan. So in this way we can continue to build on the impressive sustainability program that San San Mateo County Office of Ed has been growing and creating a model for other school districts in San Monteo County and beyond. Um so the northstar that I referenced earlier. So, uh, with that, I just wanted to say this has been a labor of love for our team. It's been an honor to work with such, uh, passionate staff that care so much about the work that they do. And, uh, we'd like to open it up now
085to Q&A or any comments. If there's anything um, that's not clear, please ask us and we'll we'll take it from there. Trusty Love, >> thank you for that presentation. Um, I'm just clarifying. So, all of the environmental upgrades and um the building upgrades to make them state-of-the-art and CTE and the nice bathrooms, the budget for all of the facility upgrades is $10 million. >> No. So, what's the $10 million then? >> Do you want >> that? That was a hypothetical example of a project. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That was just to use an easy number. >> Yes. >> Right. So, there's a lot more than that. There's the funds that are in the coffers and then there's the funds where Scott is turning every stone to see what all the opportunities are for state level
086federal grants, things related to programs like if you wanted to have a career teched program. >> Okay. Okay. >> So that's what his anal he just completed the analysis of what are all the opportunities. >> Okay. Because I was thinking that's just like a lot. >> And this facilities master plan is a 20-year plan. A what's the time? >> So the uh new proposition 2 requires districts to update them every five years. Now it used to be a recommendation by the California Department of Education, but now it's an actual requirement to go after state funding. So, this is a 10-year plan. And so, you would still do a now that you will have your first master plan, then you would do an update or a refresh of it in five years where you would look
087at it again and say, "Okay, what's now we've spent the money we said we would spend in the five years to do the projects we said we would do. Now, these are the other ones that were are in order of priority below that five-year line. what's still relevant or what needs to be revisited at this point in time when you look at it again in five years. >> Thank you. >> Other comments or questions? Trust. >> Um I'm new to the board so I just want to understand now is your scope just to develop a facilities master plan or are you going to be also the construction project manager? Um what is your role? We have only been hired to develop the facility master plan and and finish it. So implementation is what comes next.
088And so typically districts put out a a request for proposal for the projects that they decided they want to do in phase one. And then they hire an architecture and engineering firm or if they want to hire a program manager, they can do that too. >> Your role is just to develop a facilities master plan to be succinct. Right. >> Correct. Okay. Okay. And then um in going through the the plan I think so one of the the best ones was you had like a synopsis of for at each site of comments from people and I I thought found those very interesting and and illustrative. But I was just wondering are you going to develop a baseline and how are you going to develop a base? I was on a school board that we remodeled
089six schools on time on budget and we developed a baseline facilities plan so that every school had the same baseline like you every site you seem to mention bathrooms are inadequate. So we set standards for bathrooms you know and everything. So, as you develop these this master plan, are you going to set a common standard and equitable for every site so everybody starts out at square one? >> Yes. So, we're in the throws of developing the design guidelines, which the California Department of Ed calls educational specifications. We like calling them design guidelines because it's more easy for the lay person to understand. We're not changing your education. It's a a set of um design guidelines that are done by school level. So we have one book for early childhood, one for K through 8, one
090for high school adult transition program, and one for grade 9 through 12 community alternative school because those are the four schools that you have. So those will be um the measuring stick to make sure that you have equity when you renovate a restroom at one campus. they're following the design guidelines. >> Okay, let me be kind of illustrative of what I was trying to get at. Okay, my very first vote when I was elected to the school board, the very first vote on the item, okay, was to approve a budget for remodeling that was $2 million over the estimated budget. And I actually voted no because I was scared that the last school, you know, the sixth school, we'd be handing them paint brushes and paint and say, "Go at it." Okay. What I'm getting
091at is to develop your baseline budget. Are we going to be having certain standards like every bathroom will have two stalls? Every bathroom will have a uh a diaper changing table. Every bathroom will be able to accommodate three adult staff plus a child. Are the are those going to be in your design guidelines? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> That is exactly their diagrams. We have been working with the staff to understand the nuances because this is very different. Like for example, in middle school, two adults need to help change a diaper of a middle school or high school body. So just meeting ADA code is not enough. They have some very specific practices that they do and things that you know they need two adults, not one adult otherwise it compromises their back. So we've
092done a deep dive on that and that's all going to be in the design guidelines. >> But it's going to be a consistent standard among every site. >> Well, preschool is very different than K8. So it's all tailored specifically for that school. >> Okay, that's un then Okay, that's understandable. And then and then you would then also then go to the site staff and the parents at the staff and and do any add-ons once we have the budget planned for the standards. Correct. Is that how you you're going to do it as an add-on? >> So the the you're calling them standards. I'm calling them design guidelines. I think we're saying the same thing. They're part of our deliverables and they go with a master plan. So, when you look at the conceptual site diagrams,
093we haven't done those yet. Um, those show, you know, make this bathroom bigger, but they don't show the diagram that has all the detail. The detail lives in the design guidelines. So a future architecture and engineering team needs to look at both the conceptual site diagram and the design guidelines and they need to meet with the user groups in the schematic design to confirm that everything is the way it should be and they're, you know, they're using it as a jumping off point. So they'll meet the requirements of the design guidelines, but there's room in there for creativity, right? Depends on on what the project is. >> Okay. And then one of your key funding things is the IRA from the federal government. Now that was a Biden era program. Correct, >> Scott? That would
094be >> you know that wheelhouse. >> Yes. Yes, that's correct. >> Okay. Well, the current administration's very hostile to that act. Is there any funding alternatives if those funds disappear? >> Uh we're considering and looking at tax credits. Uh so that is uh something that >> well are will the tax credits still be in there or because the tax credits could be taken away also. >> Uh we'll have to wait and see but uh it we will be planning on uh you know pivoting if we need to. >> Okay. Okay. And then this is kind of a personal peeve being a bus former bus driver, electrifying the entire vehicles and electrifying school buses. Most drivers don't like that. Okay? Because there's been instances where the batteries have caught on fire and the local fire departments
095have no facilities to take care of a lithium fire. And I think also the, you know, there's not enough. Now, I think our buses are used quite differently than like driving to high school games and stuff like that, but I don't know. I kind of have reservations about electrifying a school bus. That's >> I've I've heard that before, too. And I think everything that's in the sustainability initiatives is like every possible thing. Like no decisions have been made yet. So that will be what we move forward with in January and February is understanding what um what makes sense for one reason and doesn't make sense and filtering it to come up with the priorities related to sustainability. So I've heard that before from other districts. >> Okay. >> You know, thank you. >> Yeah, trust
096Alvaro. >> Thank you. Thank you for this presentation. Um I'm a little confused. Let me frame this. We own the office of a superintendent, the board. We own two buildings, Rollins Road and the one we're sitting in. We do not own any other buildings. And we are leasing Alpertal and Palace Veres. Is that true, Kevin? No, >> we own them now. We're leasing the land. How does that I think it's I think it's Palace Veres. There's a title issue, but ultimately we we own those buildings. >> Okay. >> But we do need to work through the title issue at um Palace Veres. >> And then what about the Anne Campbell Center? >> An Campbell Center. We lease >> We lease that property. >> So my question I didn't I couldn't remember where we were with
097Elortal and Palace failures. I know it's been going on for a while now. Um, so my question is, are we including our landlords, which is the county, in this discussion? Because if we're going to do major major upgrades, major changes to their building, are they part of this discussion as well? Or can we just do whatever we want because that's what it says in the contract? No, I think we'd want to engage them, but I think we're looking programmatically at those facilities and how they're being used. >> Yeah, >> if that still makes sense. And and we have two leases, one for um an Campbell Center and another for um the Gateway program. So, >> but the gateway at least I know we lease the land, but I think all the portables belong to us,
098right? >> That's my guess. I would want to confirm that. Yeah, but I believe it's >> So, it's that's Yeah, they're they're all a little bit of a mixed bag, but I would just want to make sure that um as we go ahead, we make sure we include the the people who might say, "Wait a second here in the in the discussion." And then just for clarity, I would also like wherever whatever presentation comes next, if it could be labeled which ones we own and which ones are leased just so that it's >> We have a matrix in there that took a while to do the research that shows like land use and program. Is that what you were looking at? It showed um how many like an Campbell is monthto month and Gateway has
099a longer lease. Um, Palos Feres and El Portal are owned. Rollins Road is owned. So there there's a matrix in there. Sorry, I don't know what page it's on. >> Yes, I know which one. I have to find it. Um, Trusty Gerard. >> Uh, yes. Actually, my concern is that um the board just found out about it. And so my question is um why weren't we included um in the initial maybe not planning but at least have been involved in the in some meetings because uh we we didn't know we found out it by mistake that this was all going on. We didn't know. So um you you can but I can answer too like in the timeline that we submitted um we showed starting it in July which is an odd time to start
100a master plan but we thought we'd try it and so the community engagement got greatly shifted because we had to wait for people to come back from vacation for the schools to be able to do that. So in that original um our response to RFP, we always showed having this meeting and then having a workshop and then another debrief. So we still have that. It's just that the community engagement took much longer than it was supposed to and we wanted to wait to finish that part so that we could share the outcome of that so that you can participate at the fullest extent instead of showing you something peace meal much earlier on. So we're following the same schedule that we submitted in our proposal based on our process. It just you this meeting got
101delayed because the whole schedule shifted. >> Um that's completely my fault honestly. Um I did not do a good job of communicating with the board at the front end of this. I mean I have been talking about a facility master plan since I've come to this organization. I do think it's a really good tool. So, I'm a little disappointed myself that I think the good work that a facility master plan can provide and information it can provide the board, the superintendent may get overlooked because I didn't do a good job of talking to the board ahead of time. And I'm sorry for that. You shouldn't have found out. >> We shouldn't have found out from a community member. That's my point. That knew somebody that worked for this company and said, "Oh, why are you
102working with them?" And we're like, we what? We're not working with them. Uh, yeah, you are. They're out talking to your people. And it's embarrassing. Plus the fact that it's part of our job and maybe we wouldn't be involved in the actual interviews at the time, but it would have been nice to know they were going on. So, >> I apologize for that. That is that is solely my fault. >> Trusty Benini. >> Um, I just I wanted to just comment on that. I'll have other comments too if others have other comments, but but I just want to re reply to what Trusty Gerard said. Um, and also statements that were made in the presentation. So, there were statements about like slowing the process down so that everyone can be on board. And um, it's
103true that we found out that this was happening. And it's also true that sometimes we hear things and we don't have an avenue by which to follow up. And I won't elaborate on that right now. So, um uh I do feel like there were also um indications when I reviewed the documents that perhaps you thought we knew because there were slides that showed us as a substantive stakeholder giving input. And so I want to acknowledge that and but also that and um that we need to catch up. And the reason that I am very concerned about it, it was a little bit exacerbated by the information that we heard today around fund 40 and all these things. So I know not every board member is on every committee like u Hugo and I and whoever
104else like we're on you know people on different committees. So um uh for instance um Trusty O'Neal is on the budget committee with Bev and I, right? And so there were conversations that came up within our budget subcommittee which translated to our budget approval that I've referenced already tonight once in in a related manner that we are talking in board conversations around fund 40 being utilized for different purposes. And so we already as a board approved um part of fund 40 being used for the YMCA projects and that came up in um some uh approvals in the fall. Um there are significant discussions around fund 40. Um I'll transition now to workforce housing committee which is Beverly and Hugo and I. Um where we actually learned about asked about this. So, we're on the same
105gateway committee as well. Um, and so there are discussions that are being had and have come up in our board meetings around workforce housing. And the reason we even knew about the facilities master plan was because we were talking about coming up with a protocol around how we would assess how we were going to be able to assist, if at all, districts with their housing. So, I'm mentioning that for the edification of board members who are concerned about that. And I feel like um in this conversation tonight, we're we're talking about well fund 40 would be great to do all these things. However, we've already been al you know not officially but we've been talking about it in these different contexts and I'll also reiterate the fact that when when the third third item which
106is in fact a conversation in the budget subcommittee that came up around a new facility for the Gateway Community School which we also heard in our budget study session. We push back on that because um we know that we are still you know working on bolstering that program and and building it up and we don't have enough students to like justify that. And so when I reviewed the materials, I was specifically looking for are we talking about a facilities master plan that I'm used to seeing because I also like Trusty O'Neal have served on a school board and and have developed uh and been party to seeing updates and such to a facility's master plan which usually involves um upgrades and safety and codes and other things that have amounts tied to them. And in
107the school district context, it's tied to bonds and other things where you go, which of these things do we want to include in our bond? Well, we don't have bonding capacity. Um, and we do have a fund 40 that has some some funds. Um, and we potentially could get this other small percentage. So I'm kind of looking at this bigger picture and the things that we have been talking about and going yeah there are a lot of um parallel conversations happening and our board it's confusing to our board. Um, I also want to say that I think having a facilities master plan is a great idea and upgrading bathrooms and making students feel safe and having educators have the space they need. And those are all amazing things that we care about and we are
108joint partners and facilities. Um, but as you can probably hear and as I'm trying to share, you know, with those members of the board who aren't on those other subcommittees, but we're in open session talking about facilities now, we can talk about it. Um, I think that we need to uh potentially have more conversation about it and bring these conversations together and like finalizing this by March or something sounds um interesting. And so I'm I'm concerned and I already raised my other concerns around the policies and the fact that um you know board policy 7000 says that the county board shall uh award contracts for design or and construction, right? and board policy 7140 which says for each project the county superintendent or designate uh shall recommend architectural and engineering firms to the county board
109to approve for approval. So those steps were not taken and I'm super concerned about that. So that's my my general um feeling is that we're we have to slow down and understand what we're doing. Um so I'll say that and I'll save the rest of my requests for for later. >> Deputy Superintendent Chavez. Thank you. Yes. Um I want to acknowledge that um Deputy Superintendent Abola did acknowledge that May it was a misstep and uh he he's taking responsibility. I will take responsibility in collaboration because we have been talking about this um internally. What I'd like to know in direction from the board is how do we make it better? I know I I heard you say maybe slowing it down because the timeline might be too rushed. That's a possibility. Is it talking to
110the the budget uh subcommittee and diving deeper into the process and uh maybe unpacking the areas that we need to um do better at informing? I mean, we want I know that Kevin and I have talked about Deputy Superintendent Baltimore have talked about um this is a partnership superintendent's office and definitely with the board and having a plan that is um cohesive and supported by all parties is very important to us. And so we want to make sure that the product that we end up with the the facility master plan has everybody's voice and everybody's um you know uh opportunity to give feedback. So we want to we want to engage in that and we want to make sure that we do it right for everybody. So I'm I'm open we're open to to suggestions.
111Um well, just as just a quick response, I mean, I I will say um first that yes, the gateway subcommittee has already had a conversation um around items that we think would help make this not happen again. And of course, I mean, it's always the question of, you know, how far down the racetrack did the horse run before you can like pull it back, right? I mean, I don't think that is our our necessarily our intent, but I do think we need to set some expectations around it with knowing these other conversations are happening. Um, so, you know, I think that's important. Um, I had another thought. Oh, yeah. My other thought was um I mentioned at the last meeting um that we had also found out some other things that or we had been
112privy to other information around things that we weren't being that weren't being shared with us around gateway. So, our gateway subcommittee has um definitely been meeting a lot uh and and talking to as many stakeholders as we can to try to piece together like what we don't know and what's what's happening. In so far as this um uh this facilities master plan is talking about new facilities on property that we don't own or lease um and that's related to gateway. That's a more serious endeavor uh for us to be like approving and I'm really concerned about that. I'm not um in that statement suggesting that gateway students don't deserve like the best opportunities. I think there are other ways we need to address that and I don't think building a new building is the way
113to do that right now and I know that's been discussed in subcommittees and we've said wait you know we need we need to pause and I know it was proposed in the study session that we had for budget and there was a pause and again on approval of the budget it was not in the budget according to what I was told and so Um uh I think when we get to future agenda items, I have a little list of things that I'd like to propose. Um but I do think we need to tighten up our policies. We need to read our policies and follow them. We spent a lot of time reviewing these policies and redoing them. And the fact that they say things that we haven't been doing is as an attorney, it's so
114concerning to me. So I'll leave it there. And then for my end to answer your question, um, we there's still clarification that some of us need on our end. So I am going to meet with Lisa to just make sure that we are following ED code, that we are following the process before we I can even answer your questions. There's just more context that I need to know to make sure that we are doing our due diligence um, as board members and as a team. Um, I don't know if anyone else would like to add or answer his question. Um, Trusty O'Neal. >> Um, so getting back almost to my original question, you've been hired in an RFP signed and I don't know whether it was approved by the board or the staff that to
115develop a master's plan, right? And this is the first step in developing the master plan. And you're at some point going to come up with a document listing all the wants, needs, etc. And a proposed budget for the master plan. Correct. Facilities plan. Correct. >> Yes. So >> that's the scope of the RFP. >> Yes. I see no point in delaying the facil's master plan because given the cost of escalation in construction. The delay just makes it more expensive and lets us not be able to do our wish list. So I would vote that we are encouraged we continue with the facilities master plan as they have developed and scheduled and then the other issues and stuff you know we can talk about as they move forward. That's my opinion. >> Thank you. Um, are
116there other comments or questions from the board? Are there any from the public? We do have a raised hand. Trustee Blanco, you may I'm sorry, Jennifer Blanco, you may speak. >> Former former trustee. Hello everyone. Good evening. Um, I am so glad that I decided to listen in on to this very important conversation. So, my name is Jennifer Blanco. I am a former board member for the San Bruno Park School District. And I just want to let you all know that the El Portal and Palos Veres in San Bruno the title indeed belongs to San Bruno Park School District. So I did hear conversation that you all as trustees for our county will be doing your due diligence. I thank you President Hugo Tores for saying that. Um, I will share um concern and have
117you all pause as I did hear two members um that were presenting before you that I did hear that the county does own those two schools. There is documentation that I know that Superintendent McGee knows and has and I believe back when this was first brought to our attention, this was I believe two or three superintendents ago that Superintendent McGee was supposed to come back to the board and share with us more information. She never came back to the board to share more information. So, I just um like to provide a level of caution. Um I think it was Trustee Bonini that did mention that she is sharing concern whether you all actually own these properties. So, thank you for the time to speak and I hope that this um this situation is resolved. We
118were hoping to resolve it when I was on the board some years ago, but it just fell upon deaf ears. So, thank you and have a rest of your good um um good meeting. >> Other comments from the public? No other comments from the public. Thank you. There is no action to take on this item. Um, for item 9A, the board will receive the initial proposal from the Sonteo County Educators Association, SMCA, to the Sonteo County Superintendent of Schools for negotiations relating to the results of the classification and compensation study. This item will be brought back at the January 14th, 2026 board meeting for a public hearing. Tammy Moore, Associate Superintendent, Human Resources, is available to answer any questions the board may have. Associate Superintendent Moore. Good evening, board president Torres, members of the board,
119Deputy Superintendent Chavez. You have before you the initial proposal from the Sonteo County Educators Association to the Sonteo County Superintendent of Schools for negotiations relating to the results of the classification and compensation study. And I'm available to answer any questions that you may have. >> Are there any 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. For item 12B, the board will receive the employer's initial proposal for the Sato County Superintendent of Schools to the Sato County Educators Association, SMCA, for negotiations relating to the results of the classification and compensation study. This item will also be brought be brought back to the January 14th, 2026 board meeting for a public hearing. Tammy Moore, associate superintendent, human resources, is now
120available to answer any questions. >> And similarly to the last item, you also have before you the initial proposal from the Sonteo County Superintendent of Schools to the Sonteo County Educators Association regarding the results of classification and compensation study and I'm available to answer any questions you may have. >> Any 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 item 12 C is superintendent comments. Uh Deputy Superintendent Chavez, do you have any comments you'd like to share? Just want to wish everyone happy holidays. Nice and simple. Thank you. For item 13A, uh the board will discuss its compensation and potentially act on changes. Deputy Superintendent Chavez. >> Uh yes, thank you, President Torres. Um, so per
121board policy 9250 and ed code 1090, the county board of education has an annual opportunity to review the compensation. Um, currently the board members receive a compensation of 378 uh dollars uh based on attendance. Um, board members may also receive a basic life insurance and may enroll in the county office health and dental uh care. in the memo has um the contributions. Now, Assembly Bill 1390 which was uh enacted in on October 11th, 2025 amended uh ED code 1090 as follows. Um, in any CA in any class 3 county, each regular member of the county board of education who attends all meetings may receive as compensation for the regular members service a not to exceed uh $1,500. Um, and so the amount of compensation shall be determined by the county board. Um, sorry, no. um
122in our county um uh let's see having a fiscal uh independent county board of education uh the county board approves that um so it wouldn't be the board of supervisors um and so also uh with this um um on this memo is that section 1090 also indicates uh an uh on an annual basis the county board of education may increase the compensation of individual regular uh members of the board beyond its uh limited uh delineated in this section in an amount not to exceed uh 5%. Um again based on uh the present monthly rate of compensation. So in summary, the board may increase its uh monthly compensation uh to $1,500 uh dollars uh per month um at this time. And then um after the compensation has been adjusted uh to to present day levels uh
123the board can thereafter um make an annual increase of up to 5%. So it's board. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> I also wanted to note that in enacting AB 1390 the legislature uh recognized that board member compensation has not been changed in over 40 years. So it was really an effort by the legislature to bring us into current times and to look at the rate of inflation and cost of living etc. So it seems like a big jump to go from, you know, sub 300 to 1500. I I really don't think it is. Um we're just coming out of the what was 40 years ago, the 1980s, right? So we're yeah, we're coming into present day. So you know, I think a lot of the counties are on board with this. Just wanted to
124give my two cents on that. >> Yes, thank you for the additional context. very helpful. Um, are there any comments or questions from the board? Trusty Alvaro. >> So, my question is, is this a one-time, you know, if in other words, if we don't decide to raise it now, I'm not talking about the 5%, that's every year. If we don't decide to raise it now, does that mean that in the future no board can it's like now or never? Um, Ed could sort of a to lose it forever. Um, but since it was enacted this year, it's probably best to come to current times now and then after that then you're restricted to the 5% year-over-year increase. So, it's, you know, resetting everybody to the same standard. Yeah. So if we were to come to
125a compromised solution and not say 1,500 a month and not say 370, um then future boards would be from whatever base we set would would go up 5%. That's it. They can't go high. >> That's correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Question. >> No, I wanted to make a motion. >> Oh, sorry. Um, I have two questions. One, if this were to get approved today, when would that apply? Would that be Miss Lisa? >> I'm going to say January. Um, let me open up that section, but yeah, I would say January. >> Oh, wow. Um, >> yeah, I'll look at it. >> Kevin, sorry. Um, so let's say that that does get approved. Does that how does that impact our budget? He did those calculations before we came down. Hey, >> well, we would increase
126our budget at second interim because we've just approved first interim. Um, currently, um, at the amount we pay annually is $31,752. If we approve up to the $1,500 amount, it'll be $126,000 annually. So, again, for just six months, it would be half of that. Um, but we would build that into our second interim budget based on on the board's actions. >> Okay. So doable and would still keep us healthy. >> It it is doable. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Other comments or questions from the board? Any from the public? None from the public. Thank you. Is there a motion? Trusty Love, >> I move that we adopt the $1,500 um compensation moving forward per the policy. >> Um is there a second? >> Yeah, I'll second that. >> Thank you. There's a motion to um
127increase the compensation to 1500 made by Trusty Love and a second by Trusty Alvaro. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed say no. >> No. >> Thank you. The motion passes with the vote of 61 and the board has voted to increase um compensation to 1500 per month. Um, for item 13B, the board may discuss and act on nominations for the California School Boards Association, CSBA, Delegate Assembly. Um, I turn this item over to board member Bonini. >> Thank you. Um, so there is a um two I think it's a two-year term for delegate assembly. Um, and my term, I think also Trusty Gerard, what we already approved her nomination, um, is coming up this, um, we would vote on new delegates in I think
128March of 26 or something like that. Um, so I have submitted my paperwork to be nominated to continue to be a delegate. Um and I will be starting work um just as a background um as a member of the planning committee for CSVA's um annual education conference starting in January. So um it behooves me to continue as delegate um in in that capacity. And I'm also a member of the um planning program planning group for the county board's trainings. Um and so um again uh as a delegate um I just have you know uh I'm you know in that in that circle um doing that work. Um, I guess if I wasn't re-elected as a delegate, I probably could still do that. But, um, I I would like to continue to serve as long as
129I um am active with CSBA. So, I would be honored if you would approve my nomination. >> Thank you. Um, are there any comments or questions from the board? Any from the public? None from the public. Thank you. Is there a motion regarding the CSBA delegate assembly? I move that uh we approve uh Trustee Badini's uh nomination for uh the delegate assembly. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> I second. >> Thank you. There's a motion to nominate Chelsea Benini for the CSBA delegate assembly made by Trusty Gerard and a second by Trustee Adas. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All those opposed say no. The motion passes with a vote of 70 and Chelsea Benini has been nominated for the CSBA delegate assembly. Yay.
130Um, for item 13C, 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 Alvaro, >> thank you. Um, in your packet there's a little document that u Jennifer kindly printed out for everybody today and it's just a summary note so that you can look at it at your leisure because I I want to go through it a little bit quickly but um as backstory for people who haven't been on this board for 300 years um we were for 40 years we were a year-to-year tenant up at the Y up at Jones Gulch and we finally secured a long-term lease with them a few years ago
131and uh we've got a great relationship with them. Finally, we sold our surplus Lomar property to Post which was a deal that Rod Shia helped put together. Post donated to the county for inclusion into the park system. We ended up with a pot of money and we said to the Y, there's things we want done up here. There's deferred maintenance. There's some buildings that need to be done. let's get some work together and they were very eager to help include us in their master plan. Um so the subcommittee was appointed and by vote of this board we have two distinct roles and I and it gets a little confusing but I want to lay it out. One is we budgeted a certain amount of money that were for infrastructure and for maintenance. Um, the Y
132agreed that they would pay 2/3, we would pay one-third of those items. We budgeted a certain amount of money for it. The fire road was built, water and power system upgrades. Um, the student cabins were some of them were replaced. So, those things the board said to us, we've already approved them. You go over the budget, you know, you go over the bills as they come in and you just go ahead and approve them as long as you're within boundaries. we don't come back to the board. And I believe that as of this moment, as of this report, that's done, right? Yes. Kevin's nodding. So, yes. Um, this is the end of phase two, which is that 2/3, 1/3. Um, the other part of our job is that we discuss with the Y any upgrades
133that we see deem necessary like new teacher housing, um, intern housing, that sort of thing. We work out some details with them. We come back to the whole board for a presentation. Usually the Y comes and helps do the presentation. We have discussion, we have approval, we go back to the why, whatever needs to be done. But this board then gets to say yes, we like that. No, we don't like that. Let's let's look at some other things. So that piece of it has to come back to the full board. That's not in the purview of the subcommittees. We're just like the middlemen trying to get the groundwork done. And what we do not have any jurisdiction over it, we don't have a role in is programming. That's that's not part of this committee. This
134committee is about building. So capital improvements phase two, we saw these things that you're seeing highlighted here. We met on November 25th and we approved these to go forward because this is the rest of that phase two. What we agreed to do was um finish the pre-development of the staff housing. There's a whole a lot of work there having to do with bench cutting and roads and stuff. Um the infrastructure improvements, the Pescadero Creek Bridge was repaired or is about to be repaired because it's the bridge that connects the dining hall area to the main part of the campus and it was definitely needing some help. The water treatment plant uh is being modernized to um among other things help us with any kind of fire control that we need to do up there. The
135dining hall improvements which isn't a huge budget item but it had to do with um replacing all the windows and um and then doing a little paint job because it was desperately in need of a paint job. We approved the dorm housing uh units in a staff housing village. There will be four separate units each of which will have four uh have 20 beds and private showers. And you said that that this has to do with uh communal living for the staff members that are up there. And the music shell bathrooms we approved because there weren't any. And um it's the main restroom now for the drop off area where the buses come up. So there needed to be something there. A new solar field up on Coyote Hill, which if you've been up to
136Outdoor Ed, it's where the water tanks are up on top of the hill. Um there will be a new solar field up there when it's finished. and that will be the main power source for the water treatment plant and some other things that need to be done. So we had agreed initially on a 7 and a half% project management fee for this piece of it which meant we didn't have to go in and hire the subcontractors. We weren't there on a daily basis saying yes this should this should be this window this should not be. the Y staff is doing that and we approved a project management fee. Well, it turned out when all was said and done, we were going to be a little bit over budget for this phase. So, the Y um
137Kevin contacted them and said, "Hey, we're a little bit over budget." And board doesn't like that. So, they agreed to reduce their fee to 2.7% for this phase just to close it out. when we go into the next phase, which will be the actual building, which we'll talk about later on, um it'll go back to the seven and a half percent again. And trust me, it's worth it for what they're doing, what we're not having to do. So, you can see that um with payments to date and the what was remaining from our commitment, we had about three 3,400,000 approximately left. That's what this comes to. So we will we have authorized that to be spent. We will close out that phase and we're done with that sort of infrastructure and modernization piece of it.
138Now, we are going to meet via Zoom with the Y on Friday, this Friday, and we'll bring back a full report for the board in in January, um or possibly February, depending on how that all goes, to talk about the next things that we want done, which are new housing for the principal, new, uh some in new intern housing. Um there's a couple other components there, but that's mainly what we're talking about is is staff housing, not the um not the staff housing, village, communal housing, but this is more this is additional housing and the intern housing. So, we will talk about that and come back to the board and I'm happy to try to answer any questions and if something if you look at this later on and you have a specific question, I
139know that um Kevin would be happy to talk to you because otherwise we would be doing Brown Act violations. >> Trusty Benini. Um my my only question is are the funds that are um for this that we've approved some of the last in last uh last last couple of months are they earmarked uh within fund 40 or is there a separate fund because that >> they're inside fund 40 but Kevin >> yeah our understanding is they are in fund 40 and so because these are capital improvements they would show up under line item 6200 I'm sorry I'm having >> Thank you. Yeah, good stuff. >> Other comments or questions from the board? Trusty Gerard. >> Um Susan, did you will you um update my memory on what staff housing has already been built, if any?
140Didn't we build a couple of uh homes? >> We haven't actually built anything yet. What we've done is looked at designs and there's been a lot of discussion and I think probably what one thing you're remembering is a lot of the argument about where it was going to be. So there was that going on. Um, so what we've done is we've sort of moved to the next phase of let's let's look at building the staff housing, but we haven't actually done the staff housing. That's in the next. >> Okay. Though we never did do what we were looking at before, >> right, which is a a house for the principal. Um, right now we've been really lucky because Allison had been working for Sanwaqen, living on site in the Sanwaqen principal house. when Sanwaqen County
141pulled out and she came to work for us, she stayed in that same house. So, we haven't had to work, but it it needs replacement. Um, and we haven't gone ahead with with some of the other intern housing and stuff that we want to do. Those are kind of like we were getting the infrastructure done first. >> Okay. Okay. I I was just if that was what, five years ago or something? >> Yeah. And I couldn't remember if we actually built them or if we just kept talking about it. >> Yeah. Well, the reason we keep talking about it is that there's a lot to be done up there. I mean, there's things like, you know, when you have a hillside that looks like this, you can't build on it. So, there's that. And >>
142because I know they were talking >> the fire road and the >> all kinds of stuff, >> the water and all that stuff that it just needed to get done first. >> Okay. I that I just wanted to clarify that. >> I know. I I kind of had that feeling, too, when I was looking at the plans. Someone was like, "Well, wait, didn't we just do this?" But no, we did not. >> Okay, thank you. >> Other comments or questions? Just thank you for the amazing report out. Um, very detailed and thorough. So, thank you. Um, any other ad hoc subcommittees I would like to report out? Trusty Benini. Um, I just want I've already mentioned our gateway subcommittee meetings, but I just wanted to note we met on November 21st and we met on
143December 10th to talk about the issues that I've already raised concerning um, uh, programming and facilities. And I have another um and then the committee um regarding the joint meeting that we would like to have with the community college district trustees uh met on December 8th and we um thank you to all the trustees who um submitted uh additional ideas for us to consider um and then we had brainstormed. So, we we came up with a um a priority list within our subcommittee and we're in the process of reaching out to the community college district. So, we will report back once we have more information. >> Thank you. Any comments or questions? Any other subcommittee reportouts? Are there any comments from the public? >> None from the public. Thank you. There is no action to
144take on this item. For item 13D, the board will discuss topics for future future board agendas. Um would any board members like to discuss agenda ideas? >> Trusty Bing. >> Um so the first uh agenda idea that I want to raise um is a topic that came up uh in the ACCBE um deep dive on community schools. Uh number two, I have the date right here. Um and it had to do with our involvement in a um uh initiative with OICR for teaching um or diving into um bolstering the reading skills of our court and community school students which is a topic that we have um talked about uh many times um as a priority. Um and so I am requesting an agenda item for an update on the work. Um I did reach out
145separately to um find out you know if that was accurate. So I believe it is that it's at least starting. So I liked an update. Um and then I do think it would behoove us to also in the update maybe it would just come naturally but have some literacy data that that shows like what we know so far about our students and what we're trying to do. And then um I would also like to add to that a cons uh for the board to um consider in the budgeting process um starting to think about prioritizing a dedicated um person like a literacy specialist to oversee this work. Um I note that there was a recent article in EdSource which I have here um that Alama County has done just that. And so I think it's
146a great um step forward and I just you know obviously for the board's consideration but we will start having those budget discussions. That's my first thing. My sec my next one is um followup from all the conversations we've had today. Um so um the first uh item related to sort of increased transparency around what's going on so that we can all work together and move forward in a you know more collaborative way. Um would be for us to review and modify certain policies that relate to spending and contracts and facilities. Um I will just list them for the record so that Jennifer can include them in the minutes. Um but um I've listed for spending and contracts um county office regulation which is access to COE records. Um superintendent policy 3311 regarding bids, county office
147regulation 3311 regarding bids. Um superintendent policy 3312 about contracts. superintendent policy 36000 for consultants and then there's an exhibit to 360. Um I will note that one of my uh other requests around this so well let me just stay with this for a second. So the pol we have a policy committee right but this is coming up under um the gateway subcommittee um and because you know I think it's of concern generally to the board or I hope it is because I'm you know I want to make this better. I feel like it would make more sense for us to maybe try to schedule a study session to go over these, but we're still in the process of talking to um to uh Lisa Cho about this. So um so my proposal is that we
148schedule a study session and um if everyone's not available, hopefully those who are really interested in policy will be a quorum and we can do it in that fashion. So it doesn't fall on the as a burden on any specific um committee. So that's that's that request. Um, paired with that, >> I think Justin has a question. >> Oh, I have a question. >> You said we're talking to Joe. Who's Joe? >> Oh, um, Lisa. >> Lisa. Cho. >> Oh, Joe. Oh, I thought Joe. Sorry. I always her name is Lisa, not Joe. Okay. >> Um, Lisa um, >> thank you. Thank you. Sorry. Okay. And that um paired with that is actually um a note around there are superintendent policies that are ones that I noted. And so um part of that conversation I
149think but it could be a separate agenda item would be perhaps we might want to consider having parallel board policies to those superintendent policies that provide us with um notice that things are being done that are within the purview of superintendent under the superintendent policies. We've talked about this before in terms of policies that came to us from super as superintendent policies for notice. Uh we advocated for that when that happened. Um but we don't have any right to change the superintendent policies as a board. So if we want to have another policy that relates to it, we're going to have to have our own policy. So that's the second thing around that. Sorry. The third is um I've uh raised this in the past um but um I would very much like this to
150be considered by the board and as an agenda item is to establish um a portal for the contracts that are signed by the county office um by the county superintendent so that actually these are public documents right and that they relate to expenditures and purchases and we have a right to see them. So second is considering having a portal for contracts so that we can see them. Um the next thing is I would very much like um for the board to consider as a separate agenda item having a list of expenditures on a monthly basis as a register posted with our consent agenda. This is um as far as I know required by districts but I don't think it's required by county offices and county boards because we don't do it. Um, but since we
151have this fancy new ERP system, I think it would just be print out a report and just have it in our consent agenda. That would create greater transparency. And then um lastly, I I think this should maybe go with the budget subcommittee, but um I really would like to propose um outlining what we would like to see as part of our budget process um and the expenditure plan. So like the details that that is I've heard these stories uh of these big binders about like all these things that we know are being the money for each line item is going to I'm not suggesting we need a giant binder but that is me um trying to find a solution for making things more transparent as we move forward. That is all. >> Thank you. Would
152any other board members like to discuss ideas? Trusty Audias. >> Yes. Um, one that comes to mind right here, we have the proposed for upcoming board meetings for January, the report cards for the core and community schools and special education programs. There's also the report on student data and intervention programs for core and community schools. Um I'd like to propose that possibly we also have or instead of or together but also family engagement at core community schools that is really culture center and is continuous because I think it's important not just to look at data and what uh outcomes are happening but also finding ways that family is included and engaged in uh supporting their children especially you know that they're still underage. Um, so I just think it's an important topic to to touch
153on uh together with what is proposed on the January ones. Um, yeah. So that's one proposed. >> Thank you, Marco. You got the list. Okay. Yes. Thank you. Um, any other ideas? Agenda ideas? There is no action to take on this item. Um, for item 13E, board members will comment. Trusty Alvaro, >> I'll keep it really brief. I want to start out by just thanking Deputy Superintendent Chavez especially for holding the reigns and keeping everything moving forward this last several months. I know it has been a big job and I know your other buddy, Deputy Superintendent Baltimore, has been doing his fair share, too. But I just really wanted to thank you because you've kept things moving forward and it hasn't been an easy job, Marco. So, thank you. And then other than that, I
154just want to wish everybody happy holidays. I mean, I know we're here on Wednesday. I just don't know that anybody will have the wherewithal to remember that on Wednesday. So, that's it. >> Thank you, Trustee Adas. Um well I also want to thank for all the I think the the reports and the amount of time that comes into everything that we receive um is amazing. You know it makes it easier for us to go through it when it's kind of sensit synthesized but I can only imagine the amount of hours and time and pages and information that the whole team has to go through. So also appreciate all the reports and all the work that is being done at Summit County Office of Ed. Um I'm reporting that I attended the SMCSBA on December 8th.
155Is always um a great feeling to be able to uh network and get to meet other uh board of uh uh trustees in around the Sato County. And um through that I was able to uh be um connected with the superintendent from the San Bruno Park School District which we have um a a date to meet on January. So I'm excited about that and I'll I'll report on that. Uh I also uh intend to um meet with superintendent in South San Francisco although I I know her and we you know is my the city where I live. So, um I'm I'm very excited about doing that as as the position that I have for this year. Um and I just also want to uh wish happy holidays to everyone. >> Thank you, Trusty Benini. >>
156Okay. Um so, let's see. Um I think I'll just I'll report out on some of the things I've been doing just quickly. Um of course, delegate assembly. Um we were at the delegate assembly. Beverly and I were um from uh for the first part of the week uh the first week of of December and then we were at the AEC and all of that was just a lot of learning. It's always a lot of connecting but also um you know learning new things about what's going on and um I just for those who weren't at didn't go to certain sessions at the AEC and aren't in delegate assembly I just wanted to share that the focus of um CSBA going forward uh right now the theme for I guess the year or going forward is
157um closing the achievement gap and they're are really focusing on that instead of op terms such as opportunity gap or other other things like equity gap because of the fact that they're trying to focus if I say this right like on the um the outcomes that they want to that are usually the f the outcomes are the focus but they want CDE essentially to be taking the California Department of Education to be taking more of um a partnership status with districts and supporting districts they refer to it as a concierge service so that we're all moving in the same direction because they note that while there's constant statements like, "Oh, we're doing better with this or we're doing better with that." Really, we're not doing that much better. And so, we really need to make
158a bigger impact and CDE needs to help districts do that better. So, I thought that was interesting. Um, I encourage you to look at some of the reports. I in Oh, I didn't include it today, but um I I we we're going to be putting out um a communication from SMCSBA. So now I'm thinking about it. I might add a link to the um the uh one of the slide decks that they included so that everyone will have an access to that. So um so that was delegate assembly AC. Um as uh Edith noted, we had a Sanonteo County School Boards Association meeting on Monday the 8th. Uh we had an update, a legislative update from CSBA, which was nice of them since they were at AC the whole week before. Um and it was
159really informative. Um, we also had updates for all the committees. Everything's very much on track. The same day I was able to attend the child care blueprint convening, which is over at Sabra Center, and that was really interesting. My takeaway uh from it was um something I I'll share in the communication for SMCSBA, but that there are a lot of links to um uh elementary and higher education that we need like more youth voice, more impact on educators, how the whole system is working and I just think there are a lot of links with education. So I think that we should all be aware of it. Um the same day I also attended the county's human trafficking action plan convening which was called beware be aware and prepare where they're really focusing on this issue
160which we know is ever present sadly um but because of the upcoming sporting events in our region. So um I also encourage you to f to you know learn more about that. I have um some information about it if you're interested. Um and I just I've been trying to attend some other things around literacy. Um, lastly, I'll just say I um I was really um uh happy to be able to attend the ACCBE uh overview of the newly published juvenile court and community school data reports. And I also think it's that's a that's a um I think recorded. So, if you weren't able to attend, I think it's important to attend as we move forward and try to think about how we want to do better with our programs. There are a lot of things
161that we can learn from that. So, um, I encourage you to do that. Also, happy holidays and I look forward to seeing you all again on Wednesday. >> Thank you, Trusty Love. >> Thank you. Um, so I have to just say I was really surprised by that vote where I made a motion. I thought we'd have a really rich discussion about it. I had talked to Lisa Cho about it. she talked me back from some proposal that I actually had which was a bit different than the one that we had but I think everybody's voice was heard so that's just fine on it but it was I had a much more complicated um solution for that and Lisa didn't think it was that great so I appreciate that input um also just um attended this
162CSBA conference and had the opportunity to explore some of the issues that we've talked about important community school, school funding, access property taxes. Um, also had the chance to connect with some of our colleagues here, which was really great to have that time and deputy superintendent um, Marco Chavez. And then just uh, the ACCBE Ledge Committee has gotten together, had a really productive meeting. The Sanonteo County School Boards Association's legislative committee got together and has a new platform. So, I think we can kind of pull these things together and um kind of use that here for our ledge committee. So, I'm kind of excited about that so we don't have to sit there and go, what should we focus on? So, anyway, that's my quick update and happy holidays to everyone. >> Thank you, Trusty
163O'Neal. >> I was at the same ledge meetings as as Patricia, so I won't repeat those. Um, I did have a rather unique thing that I thought was really pretty cool is in my day job I got a call from the city of Pacifica and that their bus driver had had given two weeks notice and was not being able to drive. So therefore, there was seniors that could not have the ability to get to the senior lunch and the senior programming. and a friend of mine called and her friend had just been diagnosed with early Alzheimer's and and the doctor had said you can't drive anymore. So, she called me and said, "There's something we can do about it." So, I was able to put the high school district into together with the city and
164they're now negotiating that this high school district will be transporting seniors to their programs. And I just think that's a cool thing because that shows that a lot of times government operates as silos when the same license to drive school kids is the same license they need to drive seniors and there's no re and the kids are dropped off in the morning in the middle is the senior lunch program and then the kids are picked up in the afternoon. So there's I really think some of that relationships like that are symbiotic and can really move forward in helping address a lot of the issues we have in you know in terms of government and budget cuts. also attended um two different CTE meetings. Um one one-on-one with Susan because we had an event at my
165day job and I made a lot of connections with um some outfits that will be able to offer field trips for our CTE students. Um one of them sounded really cool. It was like the Verizon Innovation Center where I guess the kids will actually go in and have a virtual reality headset and go into the human heart. So, I think that sounds like it's going to be pretty cool getting that done. Um, and then I had some other referrals for her, too. So, that was there. And I wish again everybody happy holidays also. >> Thank you, Trusty Gerard. Bless you. I decided to sneeze when you called my name. Um, thank you. Um, I love the idea of that Verizon. Can I call? >> It's not finalized yet. >> That is amazing. Um I also
166uh as uh Trusty Benini and Trustee Love said uh attended uh the delegate assembly and also um the ACE conference and um some of the uh sessions that were for county boards I was disappointed in. But uh there were a couple that um and one was the county board breakfast this year and it was a presentation by I believe Sanwaqen on foster youth and uh what they have done for their foster youth is absolutely amazing. Uh it's they've developed an app for their kids and they can go into this app anytime and ask literally for anything. Whether it be help, whether it be uh counseling, whether it be clothes, you can get toothpaste. I mean, anything these kids need, they can go into this app and they'll be connected immediately with a real person and
167their want or need will be taken care of. And it was just amazing. And they're they're still working on it um to uh uh develop it even further, but uh um they would like to go statewide with it. And uh I I certainly think it's well worth looking into for our county. It was Marco, were you in that? Um no, I it was just uh I I thought it was amazing. Patricia, you were there. >> Yeah, Patricia. Chelsea and me. >> And Chelsea and Yeah. >> The app is called Foster Ferret. >> Yes. >> You mind? >> No. >> So, um yeah, it was it was great. Bev described it so well, and I I don't mean to bet in on your comment, but um they did reach out because I I gave them my
168card. So, they reached out and they um I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone yet, but they would like to know whether our our county would like to be like the um information source for the Bay Area, like in our area, um to hold some information sessions as they continue to roll it out. Um so, anyway, I'll follow up. Yeah, because I think the next part of their face. >> Yeah, they would they would like to, you know, do that. They would host some meetings and I think it's pretty low low ask, but yeah, so interesting um and helpful for the kids. >> Oh, I I was really impressed. And they had two uh foster students there. One of them had been in foster care since she was an infant and the other
169one had been in foster care since she was, I believe, 13. So um and they were talking about it and saying how it had changed certainly their lives um as foster kids and and uh one of them was saying that she moved foster homes like every 3 months that you know she just so and that's terrible. Um, I was a foster parent for 10 years and uh, I had younger younger children, but um, the system is broken when it comes to foster children. And it isn't always up to the foster parent to be able to make that decision. And I think it's important for people to know that sometimes the foster parent wants the child to move on, but other times the the um county uh makes the decision and just tells you, "We're taking
170the we're taking the child." And it's heartbreaking if you know that child that you're taking care of and learning to love is going back into a situation that is as bad as it probably was when you received them. It's it's really hard. And emotionally, I finally, honestly, I hate to admit it, got to the point where I just couldn't I couldn't have another one taken away. So, um, foster foster children are near and dear to my heart. Um, but there were, uh, there was another interesting one that Patricia and I went to that was on inner district transfers for county boards. And there were some interesting things brought up. We thought it was going to be for county boards, but it was really more for district boards. The attorneys there were attorneys that help district
171boards um not accept children, not accept inner district transfers is basically what it was. And so we learned some interesting things um in in that as well. So, and just a little plug for ACCBE, um the uh session that we had that was on um uh Corton Community Schools results. It was a noon program last week and we had 25 people attend. And um I really really recommend you going into the website because it had all the statistics um on the kids in California for court and community schools and the literacy. So it it really was important. Tonight uh was one on charter schools on approving um or denying charter schools which of course we all missed. They do. Yeah. So you can go in and and and see them all. But uh yeah, tonight
172was tonight was charter school. So, um anyway, uh with that, I'm I'm just going to stop. It's late and I want to wish everybody happy holidays and uh I hope uh you get lots of goodies. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um well, you all are going to hear me yap for another year. So, um, and see me on Wednesday. So, I will just say thank you and happy holidays. Um, item 14 is the adjournment. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 17th, 2025 at 7 p.m. And this meeting is now adjourned.