SMUHSD Board Meeting - February 5, 2026

001Special edition. The special edition settlement case number one with a vote of five to zero. The votes were as follows. Trusty Griffin, yes. Trusty Andra Zeniga, yes. Trusty Lan, yes. Trusty Jacobson, yes. And I voted yes as well. We're going to um sorry, next on the agenda is adopting the agenda. The board of trustees may either adopt the agenda as presented or make a change to to the agenda through a motion, a second, and a majority vote. The Brown Act prohibits any additions to the agenda without a 72-hour prior public notice for regularly scheduled board meetings. Are there any questions or comments from the board of trustees with respect to the agenda? Are there any, Mr. Aino? Are there any hands raised from the public? >> There are none. >> Okay. Would a trustee care

002to make a motion to adopt the agenda? >> I move to adopt the agenda. Is there a second? >> Okay. Trusty Andrada Zinga seconded it. We're going to do a roll call vote. Trusty Griffin >> I. >> Trusty Andrade Zuniga >> I. >> Trusty Lan >> I. >> Trusty Jacobson >> I. And I vote I. Thank you. Board of representatives. How do you vote? >> I. >> Okay. Thank you. The motion passes. Next we're on uh the regular report. So first is the report of the superintendent. >> Thank you very much. Good to see everybody. Uh happy Thursday night. Um, all right. So, I have a number of things uh to give announcements not only to the board but for the the public as well. First, uh on January 30th, as many of you know,

003um thousands of our students participated in a peaceful walk out to protest uh the killing of two American citizens by federal agents. I want to be real clear, these events were studentled. Uh they were not sponsored or sanctioned by our district or the school sites. Uh, and with that said, our district really supports the First Amendment rights of its students and staff to peacefully protest. Under California Education Code 48205, high school students are permitted a one-day excuse absence to attend a civic or political event provided that the school receives notification ahead of the absence. And we pushed out lots of communications to families uh leading up to um this event when we learned about it. uh any Samonteo Union High School District staff members uh participating in this event did so in their capacity as

004private citizens and as such took leave from their positions at their schools in order to participate. Uh I do want to say how incredibly proud I am uh of our students for exercising their first amendment rights with such maturity. Students met with their site administrators and local law enforcement. And so I want to pause there and say a big thank you to Sanonteo police and Bruno police uh sheriff and others uh for helping us coordinate and keep students safe. Um but the students met with their site administrators, local law enforcement in advance of these events to ensure that they went smoothly. Uh this protest proceeded in a very calm and orderly fashion. Uh and I really appreciate the students collaborative spirit. um they didn't have to collaborate with us, they chose to do so. They

005sat down with us and and police um and uh at the end of the day, uh it it was a safe event. So, I was very appreciative of that. Uh moving forward, this February is Black History Month. It's a time to recognize the contributions, leadership, and resilience of Black Americans whose work has shaped our nation, our communities, and public education. While February provides a moment of uh focus, Black History is American history and is integrated into teaching and learning throughout the year in our district. Observing Black History Month reflects our commitment to equity, ensuring students see themselves reflected in what they learn and develop an understanding of our shared history. And I want to thank our uh educator, staff, and students for the thoughtful ways they elevate black voices uh um and help build uh

006inclusive, respectful uh learning environments for everybody. Also, Ramadan, February 17th through March 20th. Ramadan is anticipated to begin the evening of Tuesday, February 17th. Muslim staff and students in our classrooms may uh be observing fasting from dawn to sunset beginning Wednesday, February 18th through approximately Wednesday, March 18th. The celebratory days of Aid Aar are anticipated to be observed uh at sunset on March 19th or March 20th depending on the sighting of the crescent moon which marks the conclusion of the holy month. We encouraged uh our educators to talk to our students about Ramadan to help them understand and appreciate the diversity that exists in our world. Understanding groups of people who have been historically been otherred is the first step to humanizing each other and building appreciation through knowledge. Additionally, in 2026, the Lunar New

007Year will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 17th, marking the beginning of the year of the horse. The festivities traditionally last 15 days, culminating in the lantern festival on March 3rd. And while the specific dates and customs vary across cultures and communities, those who observe Lunar New Year consider it an important time to reunite with immediate and extended family, honor ancestors, and celebrate hopes for prosperity and good fortune in the year ahead. Many of our uh schools and students participate in Lunar New Year celebrations as part of longstanding school traditions and community events, providing opportunities to share cultural heritage, learn from one another, and foster a sense of belonging and respect for our community. Uh last but certainly not least, uh we are nearing the end of uh National School Counseling Week, which is being celebrated

008February 2nd through the 6th this year. Uh this year we celebrate the incredible cultural we wealth our district uh school counselors bring to their campuses as we amplify student success. Uh our counseling teams reflect the diversity of the students and families we serve bringing lived experience, cultural understanding and deep community connection into every conversation pan uh plan and pathway. Whether guiding academic choices, supporting mental health and wellness, building belonging, or advocating for equitable access and opportunity, our counselors amplify student success by bridging cultures, strengthening relationships, and championing every student's potential. So, a huge thank you from all of us to our counselors for their heart, their expertise, and cultural strengths that they bring to work every single day. So, big big thanks. Thank you. >> Thank you, Superintendent Booker. The next report would be from

009the district uh teachers association. Um >> they were all booked this evening. So I think we have a report this evening. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Aino. Same with the chapter 519. Correct. >> How about the adult teacher association? >> We do. >> Oh, okay. Great. Thank you, >> Mr. Talipo. You can turn on your camera and unmute. >> I hope I look okay. I can't see myself. So, good evening everyone. >> Uh, my name is Jesse Oh, thank you. Thank you. My name is Jesse Toiver. I am the uh Oh, before I begin, let me address you appropriately. Uh, thank you, board president, vice president, board members, and superintendent for the opportunity to speak. We, the CFT union, and staff of the Sanonteo Adult and Career Education Campus are here to share updates from

010our campus. My name is Jesse Toiver. I am the uh new union president uh newly elected. Um I started in January and it has been a baptism by fire. Um there has been a lot going on in our district. There's a lot going on in the world, a lot to worry about and a lot to follow up on. So I'm trying to take all of this in stride and I wanted to make this one of the my first but definitely not only appearance uh this year. We're going to take regular turns as a union to try and get our officers in here more rate so it's not just one of us that's showing up. Anyway, uh good evening. I do want to bring up uh some things that we would like to follow up on.

011Uh there I believe last meeting it was brought up about the construction. Uh we appreciate the district including us in these conversations and we have been uh having discussions among ourselves on the campus and have been trying to communicate as well our concerns about the parking with the new uh construction that should be coming up if the parking lot will be taken. So many of those folks will be moved out of our spaces and into the neighborhoods. And so as we noted with the last school board meeting, our key concern is the capacity loss, the operational strain, safety and neighborhood impact and our collaborate and making sure that we are pursuing collaborative solutions and messaging. We want to continue working together and pro promote alternative transportation options to students and staff such as car pools

012or uh maybe more shuttle systems or things like that for students to be able to make it if they need to, you know, park and ride or whatever. Um for the upcoming bridge buildout, we do want to discuss the shared space availability and the evening access. Um that has been a very difficult uh issue and when we show up to evening classes because every Monday through Thursday evening we have classes from 6:00 to 9:00 and not only when there are events in Sonteo at Samonteo High School uh sporting events or at the performing arts center. parking is incredibly impacted as well as traffic and with the loss of the little amount of parking that are there that is going to also impact our um what we do at the school. [snorts] Um another issue that

013we did want to bring up is the high school diploma GED area in the smart center um towards the back behind Carla. Uh there is a hole in the wall due to rain leakage apparently and we would like to request a date for repair. Also uh we have been working as a union. We met today uh to try and talk some to mitigate communication to be clear with our teachers at the school about the payroll um discrepancies that were discovered about our August variables and the um uh paychecks that went out in September. So we are trying to do our best to frontload folks so that they know and can prepare. We've I've personally talked to several teachers just to make sure that they understand what's coming and uh so that they know and understand

014that you know they have options and uh this was an oversight. So for the most part uh responses have been very very you know positive and ameliorative and want to make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. On to union business. [snorts] Uh oh, but before I do that, I would also like to point out that this month is uh career and technical education month. Uh February is career and technical education month and a time to recognize the significance of career technical education as a powerful investment in our nation's future. It serves as a vital bridge between education and the workforce, equipping students and with the essential skills necessary to thrive in the everanging job market. And as you know, Lynette, the vice president of the union, she is our career technical education coordinator

015over there at the adult school. and uh she does a really great job of making sure that uh classes are filled, teachers have what they need and we are getting the classes to meet those needs with uh career technical education which covers things like phabbotomy, accounting, uh radiology, um dental assistance, I mean all kinds of different things for people to be able to learn new skills and take those skills and find a new career. And especially at a time like this when much of our economy has been in upheaval, that's definitely a needed thing. So, excuse me. On to union business. We have summarized our findings with our administrative survey um and are finalizing those results. We're trying to synthesize all of them. Uh we did an initial pass and it came out to way

016too many pages. Uh so we plan to review those results again and uh condense them even more so that we can share them with our administrators and then ultimately the district and the school board. But prior to that we would be interested in the results of the district 360 survey. Um also just want to point out that uh recently um there was a victory for education equity. uh our parent union, the American Federation of Teachers, was involved in a uh lawsuit where um hold on, let me look this up. Where uh the excuse me, I have this on a different page. I apologize. The um president had attempted to uh with an executive order undo 60 years of civil rights laws meant to create educational opportunity for all kids. And so when it was taken

017to court by the American Federation of Teachers, uh it was struck down as unconstitutional and the administration decided that they would withdraw from the lawsuit itself allowing that decision to stand. So I would like to read something Randy Whitearten, the president of the AFT, said. She said, 'When you fight, you don't always win, but you never win without a fight. And so with those words, I'd just like to say we want to make sure that we are always fighting for our students and their needs and that we stand in solidarity with those in Minnesota. Um I know that uh San Francisco, the educators up there, uh they are in a sister union with the CTF. They have voted to go on strike on Monday. And they are trying to fight for their uh uh the

018rights of their students to have a good and fair education so that they have fully staffed and fully funded classrooms. And those are the things that drive us as teachers is to make sure that our students, whether they are children or adults, are able to access the education they need to get farther and to [snorts] get to where they want to be in this country. And it is immigrants that make America great. And since that is the large body of our students at the adult school, we uh we will always stand in solidarity with them. Thank you for letting me share and I look forward to more seeing you more in the future. Thank you. That was a very informative informative. Thank you. Next is a report of the student board representatives and and welcome.

019We're happy we're glad you're here. Thank you. Hello, my name is Jacqueline Chen and I am a representative of Mills High School on the student board council. A little bit about me is that I have a deep interest in learning languages and psychology and I hope to pursue a future career in one of those fields. Throughout high school, I have been involved in various cultural clubs on campus and I have experience volunteering at a speech therapy clinic. A few updates from Mills. We had a course preview day this past Monday where students were able to attendformational sessions on classes that they are interested in taking next year. As previously mentioned in the other meeting, we also look forward to our upcoming rally as well as our winter formal which will be on Valentine's Day. And

020one more upcoming event which is not until March, but we also like to mention it is the musical play which is going to be the Wizard of Oz theme. At our last student board meeting, we learned about the qualities of leadership as well as the importance of community. We focused on highlighting the areas of our schools that emphasize these two very values. And we discussed examples of how despite challenges, putting others before ourselves and working together can help us achieve our goals. Thank you. I will now turn it over to Joshua. Hello. So, yeah, thank you. Um, hi everyone. My name is Joshua Lee. Uh, I go Aragon High School, sophomore there. So, my leadership journey has been just been driven through STEM and healthcare. Uh, whether I'm like hosting podcasts with TEDex speakers or

021just volunteering at a homework central place. Uh I've seen firsthand knowledge of like how mentorship can really impact our community based on like how teachers teach their students and how much it really impacts their life growing up. Uh so my in my current research of like medical and technology, uh I kind of just want to further my goals on pursuing this field in it. So maybe healthcare in the future. Um so some stuff in our school is that we had a um we're going to do a winter formal this Saturday. Uh it's a star night theme. And then for we also have some recent um AP and CP course infos where students of those classes will come into our classroom and talk about their experiences of how it's going to be like to inform their

022previous years um how what to expect in the upcoming years. And in our last um board meeting like to expand on what Jacine said we basically focused on three main traits a a leader should aim to strive for uh humility, patience and generosity. Those three really is what makes a leader stand out from others to become successful impact community. I do agree with that. Um you don't have to all of them but just striving for them makes a big difference. And yeah, thank you. >> Thank you. Um I'm always very proud of our student board council, student board reps that come here are from the student council. So thank you Jacqueline and Joshua. That's awesome. Uh report out. Um next is going to be the governing board comments. Um, Trusty Griffin, would you like to

023go first? >> Yes, thank you. Um, I'd like to echo the superintendent's comments regarding the uh protest. I was actually out of town, but uh, you know, if you look at the some of the protests that we've seen in various cities and various school districts walking out and all over the streets and everywhere and kind of they're somewhat chaotic. you know, whether you agree with the purpose, I think our students carried themselves really well and I was glad to see that it came out as well. I've got a a statement on Black History Month, and I will try to read it quickly, but not too quickly. Well, I don't want to be here all night, but anyway, uh, as we recognize Black History Month, um, I want to take time to honor the history, achievements,

024resilience, and contributions of Black Americans who have helped shape our nation, our communities, and our schools. This month is not only about looking back at history, but also about understanding how that history lives with us today. Black History Month invites us to do two things at the same time. To celebrate our commonalities and to respect our differences. Our commonalities remind us that every student, family member, educator, and community member share the same fundamental hopes. To be safe, to be valued, to have opportunity, and to see our children thrive. These shared values unite us as a school community. Our differences, meanwhile, are a source of strength. The diverse cultures, stories, and perspectives within our district enrich learning, deepen empathy, and prepare our students for a diverse world. When students see their histories acknowledged, and their identities

025respected, they feel they belong. And belonging is essential for learning. This month and throughout the year, our responsibility is to ensure our students, our schools are places where history is taught honestly, achievements are celebrated broadly, and every student feels seen and supported. By honoring both what we share and what makes us unique, we build a stronger, more understanding community for all. That's my comment. >> Thank you, Trusty Griffin. Trusty Andradi Juniga. >> Yes, thank you. I want to begin with the land acknowledgement that was written by some of our students at Cappuccino a few years ago. Our community acknowledges that all of our campuses lie on the ancestral homeland of the Remy Taloni. [clears throat] The Romeous are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula whose land was stolen from them and whose native

026language was lost because of Spanish colonization. As settlers on the stolen land of the peninsula, we should be alongside the Rome Tush remembering and honoring their ancestors and relatives. We thank the first people Rometo Shalon for taking care of the land we use now for education and activities. Our responsibility of caring for the earth is unique and personal to each of us but should be rooted in allyship with the Rome to Shalomi so we can work together to protect and preserve the land for future generations. Um I first want to lift up our counselors. Yes, counselor. Um, present month of the counselor. Um, they are so important in our kids' lives. Um, when they're struggling, when they don't have somebody to talk to. Um, I know they helped my kids. They helped me when I

027was in school and I know they helped so many other kids in our school district. And it's because of them sometimes that they get over that um that hump and graduate. So, it's they're very very important. Um, speaking of CTE, um, being that it's uh, CTE recognition month, um, I wanted to say I had surgery earlier in uh, January. And at Peninsula Hospital, I had two amazing nurses and they were alumni from still. And so it made me so proud because they are fulfilling their careers in the community. Um, but along with that, there's also CNAs, the certified nurses assistants, and LVN's, licensed vocational nurses that aren't registered nurses, but they also go through a track in the CTE programs. maybe not here in our district, but in other districts as well. So, that's how

028amazing those programs are that they give folks, they give folks an avenue to do other things that they don't fall into the 4-year university track. So, that was really awesome. Um, yes, American History Month. I wanted to lift up the NAACP. It is the 100red years anniversary. um at the cemeter council meeting uh on Monday, uh Maurice Goodman, the president of the NAACP and a few other community members um spoke about it. And the NAACP has a lot of great mentorship and leadership opportunities for our youth. And so they also uh continue the pipeline of education and of leadership. So that is it's super important for our students. Um, I want to say how proud I am of our students that were exercising the First Amendment rights and speaking out um against injustices um not

029only in their communities but all over the country. Um, our students see what's happening in real time all over the world. Um, they see it on their phones, they see it on the news, um, and they see it they hear it from families and friends. Um, our students are watching us. Our students are seeing what's happening and it's very concerning. Um, they speak the truth. They're bold. Um, they're seeing everything that's happening from Gaza to um, here in or in Minneapolis and here in Sonteo. Um, so of course they're going to be impacted. So, I'm so proud that they stood in solidarity with communities that they might not even be part of. So, I I'm so proud and thank you to all the educators and families that marched with them. I wish I'm recovering from

030surgery, so I wish I could have been there, but I was so proud just watching all of the students that um were posting on social media and um involved in all of that. So, thank you. Um, I um want to say also thank you to our educators and um all of our staff that protect our children every day here in um our district and that serve folks that are um going through different types of struggles, whether it's um being afraid of being deported or just food insecurity or not having adequate housing. Um I appreciate that. Um we have not had any raids. So per uh Faith in Action, it's a great uh uh organization that provides um assistance to um undocumented people um that need to go over their hearings that um need support that

031are looking for some legal uh counsel. Um all of that. um uh apparently well according to them there have not been any raids here in San Mato County but the targeted um deportation um activities have been more so at actual hearings and then just targeted folks that they'll go in uh agents will go into the community and pull folks out um privately. But um in the courouses the problem is that folks are being are scared to go to their hearings. They don't show up to their hearings and then they are picked up in the community. So if anybody, you know, there's volunteer opportunities to accompany folks to their hearings. Um I know that there's been some uh impact on some of our students and their families. And so please please please um either share the

032information or um volunteer. Um so that's it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you for sharing. Thank you Trusty Lynn. >> Thank you. Um I just want to highlight uh both what uh Trustee Griffin that was very well spoken for uh Black History Month. I think that's really well said and I echo everything that you so I don't want to repeat. [laughter] I also want to say thank you to the superintendent for bringing up all the events that were coming up like lunar year. Um I think it's important to highlight those and so thank you very much as well. Um, I do want to give compliments to our district once again for being for so for having the foresight to do such a great job with the protests and having everyone go um in such

033an orderly fashion to the parks that they went to. Um, it was so well organized. I was looking as a partner district looking at what was happening and it was very impressed with all the high schools and all the students and what they did. Um, so I really want to say great job. I'm really proud of our our district once again. Um, and that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Trusty L and Trusty Jacobson. >> Thank you. Uh, first I wanted to report that um we had our district staff professional development day recently um almost two weeks ago and I was able to um spend the day here at San Mateo High School learning alongside our wonderful teachers. Um it looked like we had a great turnout. Um I was impressed with the variety of

034um really relevant topics that were specific to many different um disciplines that are taught within our district and appreciated the opportunity to meet and interact with um our teachers. I attended sessions on um math education and ethnic studies and AI So, I know we will be having a report next month, but just wanted to give that initial um initial report from from my side. Um I also had the opportunity to observe the walk out at Hillsdale High School and um as Superintendent Booker described, it was very safe and orderly, which I am so grateful for. Um, safety was definitely a a great concern among those who were coordinating and I I appreciate all those who um from from our staff and the police department who helped ensure that everybody was safe and um that the

035protest was peaceful. Um I'm a very um big supporter and I'm so grateful of our first amendment. It's um one of the I I guess um shining stars of our republic that we have uh freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and I'm just you know I will always support when people can do that. Um, I also just want to affirm what Trusty Griffin said about Black History Month and um that it's important that we teach history in a in a holistic and balanced way. And I likewise want to um recognize all of the holidays and upcoming um events that are coming up for different members of our community. So, thank you very much. Thank you, Trusty Jacobson. I kind of want to echo what everybody said already, but I won't reiterate it. I want

036to thank all of you for what you've said. I've I I know I've heard every everything you've said and for all all four of you, and it's it's great sharing. Um I will say that I was really happy to see that um the the protesting uh was very peaceful and very safe, very well organized at all of the school sites. most of the sites um organized it so well that they all met at at the same park. I thought it was great. I wanted to mention that the freedom of speech is so important for our democracy. Many of our students exercise their rights by joining in the peaceful protest. And I just want to recognize their enthusiasm, their zeal, and I also wanted to recognize that not all students may have joined in the protest,

037but they also exercise their freedom of speech by by choosing not to participate. And I want to give a big thank you to staff that oversaw the safety of our students that joined in the peaceful protest. And also a big thank you to all of our staff that that stayed behind the school sites too because we had a lot of students offsite, we had a lot of students on site, we had students in the middle, you know, as they were walking and we had total coverage. And although I really regret not being able to attend in person, I watched it on three different news channels [laughter] and I rewound it to watch it again. I was just so proud. But I actually um tears came to my eye because I was my eyes. I was

038just really proud um of our students and I knew that our students were safe. So I want to give a big thanks to staff um students uh marching in the protest, students uh at the final location of the park, students who remained on campus site. Like I knew everybody was safe because we the board receives reports and so that was um it was awesome. Um, on a less uh important note, I wanted to mention that um the Sanonteo County Schoolboard Association, we had a fun event this last Monday and it was uh at Top Golf and we had about 10 trustees from around the county and it's a great networking opportunity to meet fellow trustees from from different um school districts. So, I want to put the message out there to all all of our

039trustees right here that we're trying to have some fun um in the middle of chaos uh in the world. We're trying to have fun so we can network and ask each other questions, best practices um and just collaboratively uh uh discuss uh one uh what's going on in each of our school districts. So, thank you for letting me share. Thank you. Well, okay. So, thank you for everybody's board comments. Um I'll move on to public comments. Um, if you are joining us in person and wish to make a comment about an agenda item or during the public comment section at the beginning of the agenda, which is now, please fill out a request to address the board form and submit to the sec submit it to the secretary. This form should be given to the

040secretary before the agenda item begins. If you are joining us virtually, use the raised hand feature on Zoom to be recognized. When invited to do so, your camera must be on before you are called upon to make a public comment. We will call you call on you to begin your comment once we have promoted you into the meeting. If your camera is if your camera is not operational, please email your comments to the board of trustees at boardshd.org. Please note that comments are limited to to three minutes. The board president may increase or decrease the time allowed for public comment depending upon the number of folks wishing to be heard. I will call on inperson comments first and then um those online. Miss Aino, are there any um inerson comments? >> There are none. >>

041I know I saw some folks grabbing a uh a comment card. So I just want to make sure if that's for non-aggendaized items or is it >> Oh, for agenda for agendaized item. Okay, you can still turn those in. So thank you for clarifying that. Um, and then Miss Aino, are there any hands raised on Zoom for non-aggendaized items? >> There are none. >> None. And then all the comment cards are for an item later in the agenda. Okay, great. Just want to make sure I double check. Okay, great. All right, so we're going to move on to to communications to the board of trustees. I see we have none. Uh, recognition. I see we have none. And then we're on consent. Um, are there any trustees who wish to pull an item from consent

042for discussion? No, I'm looking over at the trusty Andra Zenega. No. Okay. Okay. Are there any questions or comments from the public for consent items? >> There are none. >> Okay. Would a mo would a trusty care to make a motion? >> So moved. Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. With a motion and a second, we're going to vote by roll call. Trusty Griffin. I. Trusty Andrade Zuniga >> I. >> Okay. Trusty Lan >> I. >> Trusty Jacobson >> I. >> And I vote I. Um student board reps. How would you vote? >> I. >> Perfect. Thank you. Okay. Next we have uh special reports and appearances. Uh superintendent Booker. >> Thank you very much. Uh good evening trustees, staff, families, students, and members of our community. Tonight, uh we are bringing

043forward an important recommendation regarding student cell phone use in our schools. And for those of you in the audience or at home, uh you can read our full report in the memo attached to tonight's agenda. Over the past several years, educators, families, and students themselves have raised growing concerns about the role of smartphones that are uh being played during the school day, particularly in classrooms. This is not unique to Sonteo Union. Uh it's a statewide issue and it's now become a matter of state law. In September of 2024, Governor Nuome signed AB 3216, the Phone-free Schools Act. This law requires every district in California to adopt a student smart uh smartphone use policy no later than July 1st, 2026 and to revisit that policy uh at least once every 5 years. Uh the goal is

044clear to promote evidence-based practices that support student learning and well-being. The law also requires specific exceptions including emergencies, documented health needs uh and IEP accommodations to ensure uh our policy reflects community values and real implementation needs. We engaged with various students, educators, and parents to call information, opinion, and guidance to move forward. Our Panorama survey results were important to us. Nearly threearters of students reported that their cell phone is a distraction to learning at school. Many acknowledged checking their phones during class, even when they know they should be paying attention. Uh at the same time, almost half of students reported using their phone to communicate with parents um during the school day, reminding us that any restriction must also include clear communication alternatives. This fall, we convened a cell phone working group made up of

045students, parents, administrators, and district staff. That group reviewed uh research, local data, current practices, and models from peer districts. And while the Sanonteo Foster City School District has implemented a bell-to-bell policy, um for example, yonder pouches, our other partner districts, to our knowledge, have not adopted such a restrictive policy at this point. The cell I want to be really clear. The cell phone uh working group's strongest recommendation was in support of a bell-to-bell phone free environment such as yonder pouches. We included a link in our memo of the uh cell phone working groups summary so uh the community can read that as well. And with that, after careful review and deliberation, district and site leadership are recommending a policy framework that balances consistency, feasibility, and campus readiness. Specifically, all schools will be required to restrict

046student phone use during instructional class time using consistent classroombased systems such as phone hotels or pouches. Students will still be able to access phones during passing periods, brunch, and lunch. And schools that already have or wish to adopt a bell-to-bell model, such as Cemeter High School's yonder pouch system, may continue or other schools uh can pursue that approach as a sitebased decision with community engagement. So why not a district bell-to-bell mandate right now? A universal bell-to-bell system would require significant infrastructure and supervision. Would also cost approximately $250,000 annually from the general fund. It would require intensive staffing, training, unlocking [clears throat] systems, replacement protocols, and consistent enforcement throughout the entire day. Given that campus readiness and conditions vary, we believe a mandatory bell-to-bell requirement at every school at this time could create uneven implementation challenges.

047Um, before I get into this section, I I do want to say, you know, we had a lot of conversations about the cell phone working groups recommendation, what we're seeing at Sonteo Foster City School District, what we're seeing at Sonteo High. We really discussed and weighed the benefits of both approaches. So, we do see some benefits with a a program like Yonder Pouches. That's clear. We also see some significant obstacles uh and drawbacks. And when we looked at a district-wide approach, we felt that those drawbacks outweighed the benefits uh as a onesizefits-all district approach. Uh I do value individual school sites uh their communities, their cultures, uh and the issues that they see on their campuses. And I would support individual school sites with their specific communities going through a process if they find that

048uh the recommendation that we're not making in its implementation isn't meeting their specific needs. Um finally, we want to emphasize that restricting phones is not enough on its own. So let me be clear. We have smartwatches. There's all kinds of wearable devices. There's tablets. There's laptops. And a yonder yonder pouch solution isn't necessarily a solution. It's as easy as a student bringing a hotspot to school and keeping it in their backpack and logging their computer onto that hotspot. And then they have access to Ghat, WhatsApp, and every other social media application out there. We've got Meta Glasses and we have all kinds of other wearables that are coming down the pipeline. Uh I think this is um an unending restriction battle and I would rather spend $250,000 a year implementing additional lunchtime student activities to

049get kids connecting and coordinating than on a yonder pouch that personally I I think is somewhat easy to get around. And with that said, we're committed to developing a comprehensive digital citizenship and wellness curriculum so students learn healthy boundaries with technology, online safety and privacy, responsible communication, media literacy, and the connection between technology use and mental health. Therefore, with all that, I'm recommending that the board adopt revisions to our current board policy 5131.8, establishing a district uhwide baseline. And by the way, the edits of the policy that I'm um bringing up are embedded in the memo, so you can click on that and look at it uh from home or in the audience. Establishing a district-wide baseline where phones are secured during class time, access permitted outside instructional periods, and site level flexibility for schools

050to scale up restrictions when and where appropriate. This approach protects instructional time, strengthens consistency, and positions us for full compliance with AB 3216. So, as a framework for tonight's discussion, I'm recommending that the board use tonight's time for discussion, questions, input from the community, uh, and wait to issue a formal motion and decision until our board meeting on February 26. This allows for more time for questions and and input. Especially if you have questions for us to research, we have time to get back to you and the community with those answers. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. So, this is a discussion item. Before we hear public comment, I wanted to ask the board if they have any comments or questions. >> Is this in any particular order? >> Okay. Go. No, I'm

051ask I'm just ask >> I can be >> you want would you like >> how do you want to structure this Terry? >> Okay, Trusty Griffin, would you like to go first? >> Um, actually, I was going to suggest I would love to hear from our students on this. >> I mean, you know, you know, >> great. Uh, >> and for kicking around and if there's any input from the audience or >> we have some public comment, but I want to hear >> we should do that first. Get that and then we can do a discussion. >> Sure, we'll do public comment first. I apologize if I miss >> student don't forget student >> student rep. >> Yes. Yes. I apologize if I if I um mis pronounce your name. Uh anise Graham. You you'll

052have three minutes. Um when you get to the um podium there's um Oh, it's already on for you. They already turned on for you. Great. So, you have three minutes. >> Thank you so much. Um my name is Anise Graham. I was not sure if I was going to be able to be present physically here tonight. So, I did email this letter to you all earlier today or yesterday actually, but I am here to present it in person. As a parent of three teenage girls who have all gone through Samato Union High School District, I would like to express my concern with the compromised cell phone policy that is currently proposed. I was a participant on the district's cell phone working group and when I read the current proposal, I was both shocked and disappointed.

053We had unanimously agreed that a bell-to-bell proposal was the only way to solve both the educational and social issues caused by cell phone use during the school day. This proposal still relies on each teacher to waste valuable class time to make sure each phone is put into a hotel style box or a pouch on the wall. This is no different from what most schools outside of the gold standard of Samato High School use today, and it does not work. These models still put way too much pressure on each and every educator to check each student as they walk into the classroom to make sure their phone is away from their easy access. This means each teacher, every period needs to go through the same procedure all day long at the beginning of each class. Speaking

054also as a substitute teacher in the district, more than once have teachers left subnotes that read, quote, "Don't bother trying to monitor the cell phone use. It is just too difficult." On the social emotional side, I honestly do not know why we are supporting increasing the number of mental health counselors each and every year if we are not honestly able to accept that the cell phones are a large part of this generation's mental health issues. I have seen the difference in social behavior at lunchtime at Sonteo High School versus other campuses in the district. And I highly recommend you each visit each campus during lunchtime before you vote on this proposal. If you do make this effort, I would simply not I I would not simply walk through the courtyards, but look in the hallways

055as well. Look to see how many students are alone in the hallways on their phones. Allowing for phone access during the lunchtime hour is simply promoting social isolation and not helping. Please take some time to really consider a belltobell option. I realize it will be costly in both money and time, but aren't our kids worth it? If the entire state of New York has implemented a bell-to-bell ban, I think we can do it in Sonteo County, especially since we are lucky enough to learn from Sato High School and not have to reinvent the wheel. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you for sharing. Next is uh Jean Lou. Thank you. You also have three minutes. >> I have to press the button. >> No, >> it's on. They turned it on for you.

056Thank you. >> Hi everyone. My name is Gene Lou. I'm a parent of Mills children. Um I was also on the working group. Um and I was also very disappointed to see that the after three months of discussion and research um really in-depth um conversations about the bell-to-bell versus instructional time only that all of that was discarded. Um I'm just a parent. I don't spend a lot of time on campus. I understand that my opinion doesn't matter as much. I do care about the social emotional well-being of my children, their peers, and this generation overall. But I'm here to lift the voices of the other people who are on the committee with me. There's a teacher who works at both Mills High School and Samonte Union High School every day and sees a difference every

057single day in students interacting and talking and socializing versus scrolling and playing video games on their phones. It's really heartbreaking to know that we've had Samaritan Union High School since 2019, I believe, experiencing this like freedom from like being glued to their phones and we we can't do anything about it in the rest of the schools. There's also several students who are really really eloquent and I wish they were here tonight. Um, but I want to quote or you know it might be not exactly what she said but um there was one student that said if you know that smoking is bad but the kids want to keep smoking do you let them keep smoking because it will upset them if you say no to smoking. Sometimes you have to make the hard decision because

058it's what's best for kids. even if we push back at first, you just have to pull the band-aid. And for a student to be so eloquent and see beyond these conversations and and just know that it's best for their generation, I wish they were here today that you could hear from them. Um I'm just a parent. My ask for you um as a board is just to reconsider our original proposal. Include us in conversations because we debated a lot of these over the course of the three months. Um, I'm just disappointed that we're kind of shut out of the decision after we've all kind of invested our time and energy and so I just asking to be part of the further conversation. Thank you very much. >> Thank you for your comments. Margie Lynn Kim,

059you have three minutes. >> Hi everybody. Nice to meet you. Before I jump in, I just wanted to say I was part of I went to the march too, the protest and I was so proud, really proud of our teachers, the staff for being there and the students. I'm so proud to be part of Santo district. I'm a dawn myself um 1993. So, I'm here tonight representing many families in our community who care deeply about this decision. I wasn't personally part of the working group, but I know and I want to acknowledge the amount of significant work that went into studying the issue. We know a great deal of time and thought went into the working group process and we appreciate all of you for really opening this up and really thoughtfully making this decision

060with our input. I have to respectfully disagree with the recommendation being presented tonight. The working group that the district convened ultimately supported a bell-to-bell phone-f free school day. The memo makes it clear that the shift away from that recommendation isn't because the research changed or because the educational case weakened. It's because of cost and implementation. That's concerning. The issue is not only about classroom distraction. It's also about the social and developmental health of our students. When phones are available during passing periods, brunch and lunch, students retreat into their screens. Exactly what Anise was saying. Um, this reduces real connection, increases social isolation, and allows online conflict and social pressure to follow. This is especially critical for incoming freshmen. They arrive on campus brighteyed and hoping to make friends and find belonging, but they're using their

061phones as crutches. Um, and that real interaction, face tof face interaction isn't really happening. Allowing phones during non-class time keeps students tethered to social media, group chats, video games, and the social dynamics that we want them to have face to face aren't just aren't happening. We're also concerned about equity. Samonteo High School is cited as a successful Beltoell model and we want that for all of our kids, not just at Samato High School. If funding is a barrier and implementation, then let's talk about the funding, not lower the standard. Our parent community has already invested countless volunteer hours advocating for healthier phone policies and we're ready to partner with you and just ask to be part of the conversation instead of, you know, a blanket decision being made. So, we're asking for a path forward.

062If funding truly is the issue, maybe there's some sort of interim. Could you guys subsidize part of it and the different school communities raise fund raise for the rest? I don't think the answer is just no, right? I think there's got to be a different way forward. If we can, we're all smart. We can put our heads together and figure a way forward. I don't think the answer should be no. >> Thank you for your comments. Next is Sam Lou. Hi. Uh, thank you very much. Um, I am a parent of, uh, two children in Mills High School and also a a parent of a child that's at Taylor Middle School in the Milbury School District. Um, I'm also a full-time teacher as well. I've been teaching for 20 years. So, I've seen how social

063interaction has changed over the years with the introduction of these screen devices and how people have changed from walking around and talking to each other in person and laughing and joking and all the various inerson interactions that happen to now just people just being glued to their screen all the time. They walk like zombies walking around and things have changed for the worse. We have a chance to change that and make things better for our children. I read recently or my wife has let me know recently that um New York State, New Jersey, Oregon, New um Pennsylvania have all passed bell-to-bell bans for the entire state. Um there's a reason why these very progressive states have moved forward with bell-to-bell bans. I suggest that we follow their example and try and understand what do they

064see that we're not seeing um in implementing something that's so important that they think that the entire state should follow the same rules. Um again I want to I I totally agree with the previous uh parent if it's a matter what what I heard from the superintendent. I really appreciate you explaining um the reasoning behind um this decision. If it's a matter of money, I'm sure the PTO's and PTAs, the parents will be happy to fund raise. I mean, this is an issue that many, many parents care about, and they'd be happy to figure out a way to make this work. Pay for half of it, pay for all of it. It seems like a small amount of money per school for something that could make such a huge difference to social lives and well-being

065of our children. So, again, I think it's easily worth it. Like, it shouldn't be a money issue. And it seems like from listening to superintendent, it seems like it's it's about the yonder pouches or something or implementing, but I'm pretty sure Taylor Middle School had a beltto bell ban and we did not have yonder pouches. We just I think they just had the ziplockc bags or something. Um they had a rule that just kids had to put the phone in the bag and that was it. And sure, you're not going to get 100% compliance, but if you get 99% or 95%, that's something. It's better than nothing. So again, I would advise like let's see what they did at Taylor Middle School because it seemed to work. Um and it didn't require an expensive, you

066know, yonder pouch solution. They they figured out a way to do it. Um so again, I really feel like the benefits far outweigh implementation costs, money, or time or anything. Um, and I would say that as a teacher, like I enforce the ban and it's really just a matter of setting the tone in the classroom and in the school. In my classroom, I just say, "Look, on the first day, this is the reason why we're going to have no electronic devices." And that includes watches, iPads, laptops, no electronic devices at all. I give them the reasons why, and the students respect it. if you set. >> Thank you. You're you're over, but I want to say thank you. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you for your comments. >> All right. Well, thank you

067very much. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. I want to thank everyone for your comments. Okay. Um next, if we can go um to see if the student board members uh have any comments. >> I'm sorry. President online. >> Sorry. Thank you. Thank you everybody. I was excited to hear. I'll just hold your thoughts and we'll correct you. >> Candace Thomas. Thank you. >> We all get our time. >> Yeah. Thank you. Uh Miss Miss Aino. Thank you. you can turn on your camera and unmute. >> Hello. Uh my name is Candace Thomas and I work at Mills High School. Um and I took a phone today. Um [clears throat] so I take phones almost every day. Uh but what I would like to say um is I hope that the board truly considers

068the um task force recommendation. And I also have phone pouches. Um, and I thought it would be a simple solution. Oh, just tell kids to put their phones in the pouch pouches. Easy peasy. Done. It a lot of kids don't put their phone in the pouches and I don't fact them about it, but I did ask. It gives kids physical anxiety to be parted for their from their phone. So even taking their phone and putting it in a pocket is too much for kids. their phone needs to be on on them. Um because it gives them so much anxiety and I think that's showing like the amount of addiction that the kids have. Like even if I can't use my phone, it needs to be with me. I can't even if I even see it

069away on a wall. Like that's too much. Um and so I we're dealing with a beast. We're dealing with a monster. Um, and I really respect Superintendent's Booker uh, perspective with the cost and um, the implementation and those are going to be the hardest things. But I think that the task force spent a lot of time and as a teacher I spend a lot of time enforcing a policy, but I have no teeth. The only thing I can do is take the phone and call parents. I can do a parent meeting. Um, but and that's the problem. I need teeth. I need teeth. I I need something other than well, this is my policy cuz to kids there, that doesn't matter. Like, they're still going to use their phone. Um, and so whether that's the

070sites coming together for a bell to bell and figuring it out or getting yonder or there needs to just be a policy so that teachers has some backup. So we can say this is our district policy like this is it these are the rules and so this is what we do. Um and the number one question I often get some from parents or when I call parents about worries from their kids it's about technology it's about cell phones and um yeah and so I think we we have to do a little bit more than the status quo and what we're doing now. And I guess that's what I'm asking for. uh doing a little more than what we are doing now um so we can give our kids the best shot at a quality education.

071Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Thomas, Miss Aino. Are there any other hands raised? >> Uh no, that's all. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. We'll swing back over to our amazing school board uh members, uh Jacqueline or Joshua, if you have anything to add to the discussion. >> Yeah. So, um I I did had to experience with yonder patches in middle school at least. And for me, it not not a lot of kids did it actually. Like none of the kids for me at least actually did it in like the whole environment cuz they'll grab the pouch and like just break it apart and then when they do checks or something, they just say, "Oh, here. I didn't bring my phone or something." It was literally in the backpack. So, I think it doesn't

072really work when you tell students to put in a pouch or something because they're just going to lie to like if there's any checks, if there's any like um any uh any checks, if there's phones, they're just going to lie and then say that, "Oh, I don't have it." When in reality, they just go lunch, go hide in the hallways or something, just play with the phone. And even right now, I do see like I admit that there are some kids in the hallways that are just playing on their phones. And when I go try to talk to them, I just kind of interested in what they're playing with. And then we're all friendly. Like, I would download the game and play with them. And so I think phones can be used as like a

073type of way to connect with friends. I do play video games with all my friends and we would invite new people and we have this big friend group on this clash clash of games and like over 100 people all play together. So I think phones can be used to connect people but during class time uh about the parting ways um people getting afraid. I think so in my school we have like this phone try everybody can put their phone. is still in the classroom. But with the parting ways, maybe you can add like a little pouch on side of the desks and it automatically locks or you have to lock it yourself next to your desk. So when it's over, when it's class over, you unlock it yourself, grab the phone so you're not really

074far away from it, but at the same time, you're not distracted from learning or anything. But yeah, that's it. Thank you, >> Jacqueline. Do you have anything to add? >> I would like to acknowledge that this is a very complicated um challenge. Um I would like to say that um I would like to recognize the board. Um thank you for Superintendent Booker for saying how you feel that the we raise so much money. We try to use this money um to help the students by um having these bands on the devices, but then the students work around it. And that can be really frustrating because yeah, the students um especially if it's an an addiction, they're going to try um to get around it no matter what. So like Chromebook um extensions, browser extensions or

075like um other devices or um as you said hotspots, it's really um frustrating to see how um no matter what um is no matter what rule is set in place, all the more the students uh tend to break it. Um, however, on the other hand, I'd also like to say that there are a lot of pros and cons to phones and and other devices as well. So, um, some parents might be concerned about using the devices for communication. Um, for example, students who have extracurricular activities, um, like theater or music, they're going to stay at school really late and then it's dark and they need to communicate with their guardians to, um, get picked up or to get a ride. And um, sometimes phones can be used to quickly communicate with with parents or like

076maybe it's used as a tracker so that the parents aren't worried about their um, children. and it can be hard to take away the phone especially if um parents don't know where their student is or um it's also used very frequently at school. So, for example, clubs, they use apps to keep in touch with their club members. And if you're um personally, I didn't have social media for a very long time until high school and I realized that oh, if you don't have Instagram or you don't have Discord, you're kind of out of the loop. Like, you don't know about the spirit opport spirit weeks or the um activity opportunities at school if you're not updated through social media. Um, I would also like to acknowledge the public comments for the concerns about mental health

077and isolation as well as the pressure put on the teachers as well because I do see that in the halls where you want to reach out to someone but they're always um on glued to the screen on their phones and it can be really hard when you're in class and you want to get started but then the teacher says, "Oh, so and so where where's your phone?" Right? and even then the student is being dishonest or wearing earbuds. And so there's just a lot of disruption to learning. And so to summarize, I would just like to point out that there are a lot of pros and cons that we have to consider and it can be a really tough decision. So thank you all for your comments and also for thinking about this really thoroughly.

078>> Thank you. Both of you are very um very insightful. Thank you for your comments and joining our conversation. Um, Trusty Griffin, would you like to >> Yeah, I I have a a a request and I'm sure everybody's going to pile on, but certainly uh if we can get any information on the Bell and New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Taylor Middle School, wherever these things are, whether it's anecdotal or you are really a quantifiable report, I think that it may not prove anything, but if we don't try to find out what it says, we'll be uh negligent in making a decision. So, uh I think that will help. You know, I see I went to that CSBA policy and law thing on cell phones and they talked about the loopholes and how difficult this policy

079would be to administer, you know, from just a logistical uh perspective. And there will be people that will figure workarounds and the workarounds pretty soon will become the rule rather than the exception. Uh and I actually you know I spent a lot of time at Samale and a couple year you know I guess when they first did it there were burner phones there were people who I left my phone at home and all kind of things. So, I mean, it's not a and I guess we're not ever going to get a 100 no matter what we do, we'll never get a 100% solution. Uh, I know we're trying to address this systemically uh in terms of mental well-being and uh you know, educational focus. Um, and you know, I there's a lot of lot of

080stuff to chew on here. Um yeah, I'd also like to know what other districts have implemented are proposing, you know, so if you have anything what similar districts of size and whatever what they're doing and then I finally with all this I have a question finally [laughter] if we have all these sites and the sites would would come to the conclusion that they thought Yonder was the only solution. Uh would that be the way that could be implemented on that site and we would spend the money? >> Yeah. I mean the reason why I brought up that as an opportunity is that's what Samonteo High went through. Uh they met with their community and their students and their educators and developed that policy because it fit their community and culture. Um so that's the long

081answer to a short answer which is yes. >> Okay. My last comment, you know, in my office building, I get walked over daily by people in the hallway, in the elevator, glued to their cell phone, they don't even see you. I mean, this is a societal issue >> that, you know, they're indifferent. People walk out into traffic >> on their cell phone. I mean, we've got to do something here in the district, but I it's just it's really working us, you know, as a society. Uh we're victims. We're slaves to the phones. So, >> anyway, it's my time. I don't want to waste anybody else's. >> Thank you. We can always circle back if you have more to say. Um Oh, I was going to ask if Trusty Andra Zena was was ready to share.

082>> Yes, I'm ready. Great. Sorry, I keep turning off my camera because >> service is unstable and >> I will Yeah, I'll I'll turn it back on when I when I uh finish. And then >> I just want to I want to hear all of your comments as well. Um thank you to all of the speakers. Yeah, as a parent myself, um I've also um observed the difference in um our young people from when phones did not exist until now. uh well they existed but they weren't you know so prominent in our lives and to Trusty Griffin's point yeah um there have been many people that I've accidentally hit with my wheelchair because they just walk right in front of me on their phones. You're absolutely right. We are not paying attention. Um but I

083think some of my questions I I I totally understand um you know with the teachers and what they'll be experiencing. It's a lot of time. um I see what their parents are saying. Um but what I have not heard was what um what do like accommodations look like for students that are that have certain needs like disabilities that say their phones alert them for medication or um they other students whose families are um undocumented and they need to keep you know in touch to make sure that someone's there. um students that you know get picked up after school or whatever it may be. That's something that is um like beyond just the wanting to use your phone. Um what does that look like? What do accommodations look like? And then also what does discipline look

084like? Because I also worry that, you know, this will also become another, you know, school to prison pipeline situation where students are getting in trouble for not having their phones or for having their phones and that turns into something punitive. Um, is there like, you know, restorative justice for that? Like, what would all of this look like? Um, I just really want to know those parts before I can make a decision on what I think would be best. Um, so right now I'm kind of in between. Um, so thank you for and for the students, thank you for, you know, for your input because you're living this. And so, um, that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Trusty Andra Zuna. Um, Trusty Lynn, >> thank you. Um, so I have very strong opinions on this,

085so give me a minute. Um, as a principal of a middle school, I we I do believe in a bell-to-bell system. I'm currently on the Berling game cell phone device policy committee and we're going through very much the same thing and trying to come to a solution. Um, there's a it is a very important thing to say that this is a societal problem. We are becoming addicted to our phones. Um, and I think we need to as educators be able to come up with a a a policy that works for our schools and promotes social interaction and supports engagement with our academics and with our students and, you know, so I have very strong opinions about what I think we need to do, but when you get into the details, it gets very muddled. You

086heard a lot of good examples. Bob, you brought up some really good points. Leia brings up great points about what about accommodations because if you're a diabetic, you need your phone because your phone is reading your your system and you have to have it out. There are assist of technology for a lot of our special education students and that's important to have. Um, as as our student board member Josh was saying, you know, I play Clash of Clans and Clash Royale online too, so I want to connect with you maybe. But there is a balance. I'm a gamer. I'm a video person. But you need to know as a principle. I've really thought about this a bell-to-bell system and I agreed with uh the gentleman who was talking about maybe Taylor has this. Well, our

087at BIS it's very simple. It's in your backpack and if it's out we take it. Um it's not punitively. It's really just a matter of we're taking it away. You pick it up at the end of the day. It keeps happening we extend the period of time that you have to check in and check out the device at the office. Um, again, I have,00 students, so I'm almost the size of a of a high school. So, it is doable. Um, but I don't think it's punitive. I think it's understanding that the device is the problem and the need to have the device is the problem. It's not the student that's the problem. It's just we have almost a collective addiction to these phones. I'm having it here. I did it several times during the meeting

088and I apologize in advance. I apologize. But, you know, but again, I'm also simp I'm also very pleased to what I heard from from Dr. Booker as well. Having it confined to a bell-to bell, you needed yonder end of subject isn't the answer either. Each school needs to come up with their policy. Each school needs to own it. Each school needs to say, "This is what we're going to do. This is what we're committed to." And I think that language that Dr. uh Rand, Superintendent Booker, put in allows for that from school to school. I'll give you an example. Yonder pouches were going to be used at DTEK. That did not go very well. There were fights and revolutions to say the phone is the most important thing and what are you thinking of doing?

089And it and it just blew up in their faces. I think the policy needs to be school-based. I think it needs to include student voice. I think it needs to start with examples of, hey, let's try this and let's see where it goes. I think where I am going to be very clear in on my stand and what I will vote for is a bellto bell some sort of schedule because lunch and I'm going to be very clear on this lunch recess passing periods the phone should be away bellto bell no phones at all because we need to have a phone free environment a techfree almost environment sometimes you know in in our classes we're using computers all the time we're using it on and But I'm going to even suggest that with my teachers,

090I don't want them on the Chromebook every day. I don't want them typing every day. I want them interacting and talking and in groups and creating projects and we have to emphasize that as an education system because if we just say it's all on the computer, I don't know. I feel like I'm going to be in a very bad Ray Bradberry book. I mean, you know, I it's it's something that I have very big concerns about. So if we are going and you know to add on to everything and I apologize for the length of this but when COVID hit we were all online you know I've got to tell you I was in a district in Los Altos where con academy was a big deal we were gotten online we were doing all these

091innovative things co hit and we're like we're done with technology I don't want to be another in another Zoom for years it is a tool we have to manage the tool we don't want the tool to become our master. And that's what's happening with our students. That's what's happening in our society. We have to find balance. Don't take the tool away completely. Don't lock it up. But we have to be able to honor a system that says, "Put it away. Put it away from the beginning of the day to the end of the day. When the bell rings when you go home, take out the phone, do whatever you want. Call your friends. Get the clubs organized. Do your apps. Do play a game with your friends. Do whatever you want. And that's up to

092your parents. But from school, the day the the first bell rings to go to class to the minute your bell goes out, your phone's away just on an honor system. And yeah, there's going to be rules broken. And you know what? Don't be punitive. Just take it away. If it keeps happening, take it away longer, you know, cuz you're taking away the thing that they're just craving. And that's it. So, I think there's a simple system. I want to honor all the people who were in part of the committee who you know and I'm including teachers and administrators and people who are trying to come up with solutions. The real the real solution is a compromise. It is sight by sight and it is something that needs to have leverage and some compromise and ability

093to do otherwise a school won't adapt it and believe in it. It's really you have to it's a culture thing and that's what Samonteo I I did a graduation speech after they had done yonder for a few years and the seniors were really impressed and happy and telling us wow I'm actually glad the phone was away. I had I got more fun out of this that and the other. I'll never forget it because I had something in my speech about it but it was like this much. They had this whole revolution about how they got in more touch with their friends. And I think there's value to that. So, we need to honor that somehow. We don't have to duplicate. We don't have to have all have yonder boxes and whatever, but we need to

094come up with a system that's bell-to- bell. >> Belltobell, including the the uh the lunch break as well. Yeah. Right. Right. Okay. Great. Thank you for that. Um Trusty Jacobson, >> thank you. So I want to I I want to thank everyone for everything that has been said already. I do have a lot of thoughts. I've given a lot of thought and time um thinking about this and researching it and I do have a number of things I want to share. First, um I did sit in on the cell phone task force group at the last meeting and frankly I was surprised that there was such an easy consensus at at that meeting. Um I know how I felt about it, but it was surprising to me that everybody came together with the same priority

095that we want a phone-free school day. Um so it does not sit well with me that we are not giving more um weight to the task force recommendation. Um, number two, uh, I'm wondering because we are a unique district in that we have one school, we already have a built-in pilot, uh, is there a way that we can compare data from San Mato High School with our other sites in terms of school climate, in terms of behavioral issues, in terms of academics in ter all of all of the things. Um surely there's a way to do a comparison analysis of outcomes. You mentioned very briefly in the memo that San Mateo has positive outcomes. Let's do an analysis. Maybe this is something our AP statistics students could tackle. I mean there's a way to do

096it. So let's look at that um just to just to help us move beyond theory to a more datadriven uh decision. Number three, um re-evaluating the cost and infrastructure. We didn't get a very um detailed explanation of the $250,000 per year quote. I'm assuming that's for yonder pouches for all schools, but um that's not the only solution. I know the task force group came up with other there's other products out there. One of them that I just looked at today was called is called New Case. Um yeah, New Case. It's a more durable product, so the upfront cost is cheaper. The year-to-year cost is cheaper because it's not a subscription-based model. Um it's a significant cost savings over five years. So, I would like the district to explore uh more options. Um, and as everybody

097has said, yes, yes, yes, students are going to um figure out ways to get around it. That's going to be true no matter what. But that's that's our problem to deal with with it's been said multiple times tonight, this is an addiction. Um, if students are addicted to a substance, they don't get to do their substance at school. and we figure out a way that they don't get to do their substance at school. It needs to be that way with phones. Um, next, when we talk about every student graduates and every student thrives, I feel like this issue when it comes to yes, it's a given that we want phones out of the classroom during instruction time. when it comes to social periods, brunch, lunch, passing, that's a thrive issue and that is just that

098is we need to give that equal weight in what our values are as a district. And so, um I think it comes down to what what are we willing to commit to and communicate? This is a onetime I mean this is a this is a milestone experience in these kids' lives. You don't get to go back and do high school over. This is your shot to have an awesome, fun, social, developmentally appropriate, um, you know, really amazing, I don't know, engaged experience socially and emotionally at school. Um, I want to give that to our kids. That's a gift that they deserve. um and we can provide that for them. If this is an addiction, then let's take do what it takes to give them what they deserve. From from that standpoint, it's we need to

099communicate that and conceive of this as a functional learning environment. Um and that includes social social and emotional learning. Um, we there are a lot of things that we like to do, you know, that just aren't appropriate or not safe at school, like skateboarding or riding an electric scooter through campus. You don't do it during school. Phones, you just don't do it during school. I think we need to just shift that um and make it a community. We need to renormalize what happens at school and what doesn't happen at school. Um, next, the community and feeder school alignment because this is a statewide initiative. It's a law and it's all it's going into effect this year. Everybody's dealing with this um as Trusty Land acknowledged and tr and superintendent Booker. So I think it's important

100to acknowledge what our feeder schools are doing, what our partner districts are doing, and that if we are uh what's the what's the 1061? 10 schools, six cities. Yeah. One district. I think that there's something to be said for aligning as as a community with this um with this vision. And um especially if the feeder schools are already doing it, the incoming freshmen are already used to it. It's already normalized for them. Um I like who I can't remember who it was, maybe it was you that said that the ninth graders are or I think it was one of the parents. >> Yeah. Said the ninth graders are like looking forward to coming into high school and making new friends and people being on their phones is a barrier. My I have eighth graders. They

101don't have cell phones at all. If they came to school and everybody's on their phone, they would have no friends. So, I think that continuing um the practices that are already in place or going to be in place in middle schools is only going to strengthen um what is normal. Um, so I think I gave you some action steps. The last one is um evaluation. There is a a um what's it called? It's a website. I just learned about it today. It's called toolkit for assessing phones in schools or taps. It is developed by Stanford and NYU. It's a survey system. I would love for our district to they they have a survey for before you implement the phone policy and after you implement the phone policy so that you can monitor the effectiveness. I

102would love for the plan to involve um take a look at that survey and and that could be a robust way that's researchbased for us to evaluate the plan going forward um and do before and after comparisons. Um there was one other thing but I can't remember what it is right now. So, please go ahead. >> If you remember, of course, you can uh chime in. Um, I appreciate what everyone has said so far. Um, and including public comment online and in person. Um, this is I feel like this is a very this is a very complicated topic. And at first, I thought I'm not so sure if one sizefits-all. Maybe every school site needs to develop their own decision, their own protocols. But after hearing uh Trusty Lyn and Trusty Jacobson um express that

103it would be great um the the many many pros there's cons but many many pros for not having your phone accessible during the school day. I was just thinking that some of us sitting here, well, I don't want to say most of us sitting here, but some of us sitting here didn't have a phone when we were in high school and um our phones were at home connected to the wall. And I think we came up pretty good even though we didn't have a cell phone. But I know that society today, everybody has a phone in their hand. You don't I've seen so many people walking through a crosswalk looking at the phone and my light turns green to drive through. Obviously, I'm not going to hit a pedestrian. And I'm not going to honk

104because I might scare them. They might, you know, I don't I want to prevent an accident, but I just shake my head. They're not even looking to see is the light green for them to walk. Are the cars coming near them? Um, it's kind of like a norm, which is really scary. We need to teach students that that's not okay. Focus, focus, you know. Um, but I'd also like to know what other districts are proposing and what challenges first occurred with the districts and also the states that fully implemented the bell-to-bell ban. I know that there's going to be some cases where it's like climbing a mountain, but once you get to the top, it's great, right? Okay. So, I'd like to know what if we can know a little bit more information about what

105what the challenges that occurred. How did they overcome their challenges and obstacles to implement their bell-to-bell ban? Um, and I'd like to ask Trusty Lan something. Um, you mentioned that it without having a yonder pouch or the other pouch, I like what you mentioned, Trusty Jacobs, the other alternative. I saw that that's a three-year warranty, so that sounds pretty good, too. But I'd like to ask um if you think I know in your in your middle school probably works out fine, but having the honor system how I [clears throat] know you mentioned that we don't maybe not having something formally like a pouch, but having the honor system put away your phone in your backpack. If you're caught with your phone out, then you receive a warning. Um and the second time maybe there's more

106than a warning, you take away your phone and we we talked to your parents. But I was wondering if you could elaborate more on what what would your recommendations be or have you seen it working working pretty good without with using the honor system? >> Well, it's interesting. >> Sorry. >> It's interesting because Taylor and BIS has something very similar. We don't have a Ziploc bag. We just say put it in the backpack because you could see it in pockets. So if you see it in pockets, we're going to take it away. So if you have clear expectations, >> if it's out, if you see it, it's getting taken away. And I'm wondering, you know, it's amusing because when I first got to BIS, I said, "This is what the policy would be before I

107before anything happened." And one of the older teachers who my daughter had said to me, "Well, you're going to need to bring a bag with you if you're going to go into classrooms. Take them all away because they're going to be so many that first year, you're just going to be taking bags away and away and away." >> And the reality was, it wasn't that. Once you've set a once you've set a school precedence and you've talked about it and you've said this is what we're going to do, >> people adhere to it 90 80 90%. It goes to what they were talking about before 89 even >> let's put it this way even with yonder I mean I've talked to Ivon about this several times where it's like even with yonder you're going to

108have somebody who's going to figure out how to break it >> you're going to figure out somebody who's going to get into it and break it and go I'm going to need it. it's that bad of an addiction, you know, and or they have two phones, you know, there's still there's ways to get around the system >> or their Apple Watch, right? >> So, there's always going to be ways to get around the system as long as you come up with a policy. This and this to me goes back to what >> um Randall Randall's talking about and sorry, Superintendent Booker, I'm too informal sometimes, but it talks about it. You have to create it for your culture. Each school has a different culture. Yes. >> And some are going to have you have to

109have harsher rules than others in some culture in in some in some school cultures. >> So that's where I think diversity does need to happen. But we have to have a bottom line and that's where I think >> Jennifer and I are more in agreement. It's like no there's a solid bell-to-bell. Get it out of the way. don't have it out at all >> is important I think for school and >> the method of getting there would be the school sites discussing with the teachers the parents having some student voices obviously that's really important involved um >> even Candace I mean the teacher who was online yep >> she said the same thing it's like if I had I mean if you heard her words carefully if I had something to lean on then I

110would just do what everybody else is doing >> that's right >> that's what I that's what I provided for BIS and I think that's what the principal Taylor did >> and I think Ivon you know the principal of of cement, you know, is high schools doing the same with a different type of tool. >> Sure. >> So, >> okay. Thank you. >> Does that answer your question? >> Yeah. No, it totally helped. And I know Trusty Andra Zuniga has her hand up and I also wanted to mention I appreciate what Trusty Andron Zuniga said about students that need their phone for for health um reasons. Um so, I would like to you go ahead because I know your hand is up. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I just what I want to know like

111what is the consensus? Is it going to be districtwide with all of the different sites implementing it? But the district says as a district policy, we we expect this, but not every school is going to, you know, hold to the same um I guess the same type of enforcement or is it going to be the same thing for all school? I don't cuz listening to what Miss Thomas was saying was that she needs something to lean on because as a teacher like you can just say, "Oh, you know, give me the phone." But if there's nothing behind them that can support them, they're not going to be um respected with that um with that rule. So that's where I'm a little confused. It's like what is it going to be? because if there are some

112sites that are more lenient than others, then that's not equitable either. So, um I don't know that that's something that I think is important to to talk about. >> No, thank you. Um I also want to mention there's definitely going to be some cons. I know we've highlighted some of the pros, but there's definitely going to be some of the cons. And I'll just say one that's really personal for me. Um, one one of my daughters, um, well, both my daughters graduate from the district. One of my daughters, uh, she gets, she didn't realize this until later that she gets really anxious before giving a big presentation in class. Um, and so she went to the she got, um, you know, she let her teacher know that she was going to go to the restroom

113and she texted me from there, you know, with her phone. Of course, she was she was throwing up. She was very anxious. So, I cal I calmed her down and she went back to class. So that's that's a I'm not saying that she always used her phone appropriately to to text only her mom, but I think there's there's situations where the phone is is very very useful. And just like you mentioned earlier, Trusty Andrada Zuniga, um for students that need to check their um what's the word? Uh blood blood sugar at the time, right? I can't remember. I'm sorry. Um, so there's definitely going to be cons against not having a phone accessible, but I know there's a lot of benefits and maybe the benefits outweigh Maybe the Yeah, the benefits outweigh the challenges. Please

114go ahead. Okay, so I I do remember the couple things that I wanted to add and and this kind of relates um mental health. So, for those of you who have been educators or on the board for many years, [laughter] um, >> Bob, >> it seems like I mean, I'm just curious. It seems like the the the evidence is out there that teens today their mental health has tanked. It's it's a lot worse than it has ever been. And there's definitely um correlational data that that goes with the phones. We're talking about addictions and all of that. I am wondering if um part of the cost of you know implementing new infrastructure for this cell phone free school idea would over time be offset by a reduction in the need for mental health resources. It's

115a question I wonder about. And the second thing is, you know, when it comes to students needing their phones for whatever reason, if it's a medical thing, if it's a special ed thing, I think absolutely we can build in exceptions for that. That's doable. Um, when it comes to communicating with parents, um, that's also doable. I think the phone is a crutch. It's a convenience that we've been become accustomed to. We just need to get accustomed to a new system. Um, and the there's a courtesy phone in the office that can be used. I mean, we can we can work around that. And and also it's important for students to build resilience around this. Um, and that goes with my last point I think is that I didn't mention earlier that I really do appreciate

116and support and you know affirm the need for a digital citizenship curriculum to go along with all of this. >> Are we near the end? Because I have a story. >> Yeah. Go. >> A long story. Oh, I got a story, too. >> No, let me let me I'll tell you. And there there there maybe is one person >> in the room who remembers when pagers came in and the outrage that that brought and there was a policy here and the hand ringing that we went through for pagers because you could create letters out of numbers and and you know and the code and how >> how to write hello. >> Yeah. you know, >> and I I was thinking back to those those days and how we have just moved >> unfortunately moved in

117a in a very negative direction. Um, it's a problem here in the district clearly and I would love to see it improved. And I guess I haven't heard anybody, you know, this is a little bit like I haven't heard anybody who says it's not a problem and I think we're all trying to figure out what the means are to make this, you know, a better learning environment. So, but the digital pages I say bring them back. Come on. >> And we could remember we used to write hello with those seven. Yeah. I I wanted to mention that there was the the recommendation from from the group um from the working group mentions that there are clear exceptions and the medical needs is definitely one of them. Um an IEP504 accommodations, translation needs and emergencies must

118be honored. So I do appreciate um that that was built into the recommendation. So thank you. And then Trusty Land, you said you wanted to give us a really long story. I I'm not going to torture you with the story, but the only thing I will say is I think it's important to have strong guidelines. We are I mean the state of California is trying to set a precedent. We need to do something. I think we need to revisit this. I think we need to explore this in in a in a in a a way that we have answers. I mean, we came up with really good things right here that need to be circled back to the committee to need to be circled back to the to the to the to the district to

119really contemplate some changes. I do want to see the data, too. I would like to see what other states are doing because, you know, they're more a little bit more absolute and I'd like to see what the data says about it >> here. Okay. Any other comments? Um, Trusty Andra Zuniga, any other comments? No. Okay. Anybody? and I would have given you a detention for calling during school hours, but >> I didn't call during school hours. We had to use a phone plugged in the wall. >> I do want to make a couple comments in that just to answer some of the questions while I have them here at my fingertips. We we do have something at Sano High School called the exception card that uh parents, administrators work out together. That might be for

120special ed or 504, might be for a health reason, it might be for mental health reason. Um we have a number of those. So we have a system, you know, when you're asking to look at other states and other school districts. Why? We have it right here. We have everything we need to look at with regard to data. How's it going? How's it not going? Right next door. I mean, I'll get it for you, but at the the the reality is maybe bringing you on if you have specific questions around how it's going at Sonteo High. We've had it for seven years now or something. We've got a lot of longitudinal data. One of the data pieces I just picked up in 2324 school year. Um, these are how many infractions we had cell phones,

121cell phone infractions in 2324 at each school site. Aragon 20, Birmingham High School 49, Cappuccino 22, Hillsdale 0. Uh, Middle College zero, Mills 3, Peninsula 25, Samua High School 325. because assistant principles are policing like crazy. Policing like crazy. I don't say that good or bad. I'm letting you know the data. And so when I hear you wanting more information about districts and proposing, I say we just bring Yvon and her team here and let her talk about how it's going at Sato High. It's direct evidence. It's our culture. It's our community. All those kinds of things. I think that might be really helpful for the board. I mean, I'm counting v votes, right? This is what I do at the table here. I I I I'm counting at least three yays right now on

122bell to bell. So, I'm sitting here right now thinking about how am I going to implement something like yonder, new case, whatever it might be, Belltobell in the next 6 months. Um, which we can do. We can do it. Samo did it. Um, and you might have a whole other constituency of people at our next board meeting with other feelings uh on the other side of the uh spectrum, which is fair, too. Um, so I I guess what I'm letting the board know is that while I think there are obstacles, and I've outlined those obstacles, they're not unattainable. So if the board does decide whether it's a 50 413 2 vote whatever to move forward with a bellto bell we'll do it absolutely and we'll have to work with individual school communities and work through

123that process and someone just said this I forget which board member said it but the first year will be very bumpy just like it was at Sanonteo High it'll be very bumpy and maybe that's okay. Um, one of the questions I just want to let the community know around the thought process, one of the questions we asked ourselves throughout this concept was what problem are we trying to solve? Are we trying to solve the problem of classroom instruction interruptions or are we trying to solve the problem of classroom interruptions and I think you said it thriving passing periods, lunch, brunch. And I always came from the place of, oh, I want to solve both, but I want to solve both of those problems differently. I would rather solve the thriving problem with money spent on

124activities, not spent on restrictions. And I respect our community and the working group and and the sentiments of some of our board members. The the metaphor I'm not that's not sitting well with me is this metaphor of we wouldn't allow kids to have cigarettes at school. No, parents need to stop buying their kids cigarettes and then expecting us to take them away. So, my kids totally addicted to this. And I'm like, "Nope." And got them flip phones. They can text. They can call me in an emergency, but they don't need to be on Facebook or Instagram or any of those kinds of things. Especially my kids with special needs. No way. Flip phone. Flip phones. Now, I get that's a tall order for all families out there and it's a lot of pressure. Kids want

125the apps and the games and all those kinds of things. Um, but when we talk about and the community just suggested partnership, whether it's funding or anything else, the partnership that I would like is if if this is such a mental health concern and an addiction concern, then help us get rid of the the drug. Switch to flip phones. I'm back to vinyl records. Switch to flip phones. Switch to pages. I don't know what it is. And I know I'm being somewhat facitious and I get unrealistic, but we need help, too. We as a school district, the logistics of policing this, I would rather my staff spend that time educating rather than policing personally. And we will make it work. That's my commitment to the board if that's the way it goes. >> Trusty Lint.

126>> So, I appreciate the superintendent's thoughts, but I'm going to disagree with a few things. I think when you look at the statistics you just rattled off, the amount of consequences or violations that Sonteo had is nothing compared to what really is happening at the other schools because what you're saying is you're just not enforcing it. So basically, yeah, there's an enforcement issue. Um, but I'm going to my counter to this is this. I think you're right in the that fact that it's got to be a little bit for each school. >> Each school needs to come up with something. If we have something universal that's harsh and everybody's using yanders, I'm going to repeat what I said before and I think it's important for everybody at the board to realize that DTEK tried to

127implement the same program and it went completely different. Well, again, if you implement something without discussing it, without making it the culture of the school, it's not going to work. And I think, you know, I think one of the things that you'll see in a lot of the articles that Ivonne has been part of, whether it's the Wall Street Journal or something, it talks about it wasn't just a system that happened overnight. It was a voluntary program first. It was then an add-on. It took years to develop. And I think that investment, this is where I'm going to counter, that's where I think there's a good investment. That's what I think is the right thing to invest in. That's the time we need to take because ultimately you're changing the culture's thinking and that's what's

128going to be what's going to be the make the difference because we're we're just the other side of a coin really. I I agree with you, >> you know, on a lot of the points, but I think we have to have a stronger bell-to-bell policy because there is something to be said for not having out for passing periods, not having it out for lunch, you know, and it's good for kids. That's what I think we're gonna have to say. It's good for kids. Whether they like it or not, it's good for kids. >> Um, so I think that's important and I think that can only grow with discussions with uh a whole school community talking about it and saying, "Hey, what's the problem? What are we going to do? What are we, you know, how

129are we going to change? What should we do it in a different way? Maybe we'll come up with a unique thing, you know, that'll be a little different." You know, I'm not going to I I was going to jokingly say this, but okay, I'm gonna So, you know, in airports, they had those little rooms for smokers when they tried to get rid of all the smoking in airports. And so, maybe there's a room for computers or for people kids to use their devices, you know, for whatever purpose they need. Um I I'm I'm half joking just like you were [laughter] you know but coming up with unique solutions for a school is what I think makes a school successful. So you know I I am going to counter to the audience where one size does

130not fit all. >> Yeah that's >> you know we do have to do what the district's saying where it's like we have to come up with ideas that give limits and give changes to certain degrees. So I'm still that's to me a very important part of what we're doing here. So, I know that makes it more complicated, but I think it's the right way to go. >> Yeah. Thank you. No. Yeah, definitely. Thank you for your for your uh comments. I I I did mention that it's going to be like climbing a mountain and it's not going to be easy the first year. And it would be great to learn um more details of why the the band didn't work um for DTEK. What were their challenges? And then I'm sure just as you mentioned,

131Trusty Lynn, it was there were definitely challenges. the first um couple of years probably at the Conteo High School. Yeah, just learning more about that. But I do think it'd be great if it was a districtwide decision. Um and not just by school site or school site, right? But communication and involving everybody in their discussion. Um and I know we have some more comments here from uh >> No, this is my last comment. We probably should have moved on a few minutes ago, but uh um would it be beneficial for us to hear anecdotal stories from Samale that you know I was thinking well we should have probably heard that tonight you know that >> is there any value to that to the board? >> Yeah I I know that um Ivonne presented last year

132or two years ago and I thought last year and I thought she the presentation was was great. So maybe revisiting that. >> Yeah, that's true. And I know um Trusty Andre Zunig, I want to recognize your hand is up. So go ahead. >> Yeah. And I want to include DTEK too because I want to know what happened there and if there's any similarities to what we have going on, you know, we might have going on. And I I I brought up the whole um like the exceptions to the rules because it's not so much um that it's there. It's like it's how is it implemented and what is the stigmatization of the students that then get to keep their phone for whatever reason. And the other students, you're like, "Wait a minute, that's not fair."

133And yeah, okay. So that student has an IEP or whatever it is that you know is uh is allowing for that accommodation, but not all the students know that and they shouldn't have to. Um so that's one of the things that I worry about. Um but lastly, I think it needs to be like balanced, right? Like the DTEK and then San Mateo, but also families. Um we did hear a lot of folks that support it, which is great. Um, but what about families that have been impacted um negatively by this or um I don't know. I I don't we haven't heard from everyone. Um so I and I really do feel bad for the task force spending so much time on it because they were sold on one um not sold but they had you

134know their heart set on one um recommendation and so to know that that's what they proposed and then it's going another way that is frustrating. Um, but I think they were just balancing the narrative, I guess. Thank you, Trusty Andra Zenega. Mr. Ko, did you say that there was more and more hand raised? >> Um, yes, there is. Uh, Mr. Childress. >> Okay, thank you. Go ahead. I think we're we're promoting Mr. Childris. Okay. Thank you. >> Good evening, folks. Um I'm sorry about my absence. I was involved in another um political meeting this evening. Um and I won't take too much of the time, but I've been trying to watch in three times speed if if that's even possible to try and catch up. Um, but I do want to appreciate all the comments

135tonight. Um, including Miss Thomas. Uh, I think it is it's a it's a very challenging situation. Um, but Trusty Lan has has has repeatedly said a couple of things about uh school site um discretion and um collaboration in terms of developing a policy. And I think that's really really really important. Um, I will say that at Hillsdale, we've been as a point of personal privilege as a Hillsdale employee, um, we have been, uh, working on this for a long time and developing, um, what we felt was feasible, what was important, what was best for students. Um, so I do think that that's probably the best way forward. Um I also want to recognize that um you know I it is a real factor in terms of supervision. Um I think Trusty Chavez also mentioned um

136that it's just you know this is this is just you know it's a policy. It's how we're going to do it. Um and I think there are a lot of options going forward and it may not be a a a binary choice. Um, in other words, it may not be, you know, locked up in a pouch, uh, versus a free-for-all. Um, and there might be something in between, but perhaps there's more work to be done or more, um, assessment to, uh, to investigate. Um, [clears throat] uh, if I may, um, take a a a if, if it's appropriate, I could make a couple of comments. Um well actually, you know, I'll I'll wait and and make those comments uh outside on on another agenda item. Um I apologize for not being present for my for

137the for our normal time during the um uh the meeting. Um but I do want to recognize this is a really relevant discussion. Um it's it's certainly important. Um and uh I think all voices need to be heard. Um, the last thing I'll say is that the more data that we can gather is is the better. And um, I think it's it's more complicated than a binary choice. Thank you. >> Thank you for calling in. Thank you. We appreciate it. >> Okay. One final ask. Are there any comments? I know we've said a lot and it's great. Great. It's great discussion. I feel like it's very robust. Okay, great. Okay, great. So, I know this this is not an action item. It was a discussion. So, I want to thank everybody public comments, student board

138reps, board members, Superintendent Booker. Thank you. Thank everybody for um for joining us for those comments. Next, we're going to move on to construction. I see there is nothing on the agenda for construction. So, we're going to move on to item R, Division of Human Resources Personnel Consent Agenda. There are two items there. >> Yep. Two items. We have the personnel actions and the holiday schedule for classified and management employees uh with the 16 annual holidays for consent. >> I make a motion to approve the human resources personnel consent agenda. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. We have a we have a motion and a second. Are there any questions or comments from the board? None. Okay. Um are there any questions or comments from the public? Miss Kina, >> there

139are none. >> Okay. Okay. I'll do a a roll call vote. Um, Trusty Griffin, >> I. >> Trusty Andrade Zuniga, >> I. >> Trusty Land, >> I. >> Trusty Jacobson, >> I. >> And I vote I. And that passes 5 to zero. Next is item S, Division of Human Resources. Dr. Black. >> Thank you. The next is the personnel actions addendum. We have eight recognitions [snorts] for retirees, retired teachers, all with 20 years most with many more years in the district. First up is Niels Johnson, English teacher at Sanonteo High School, will retire at the end of the year after 30 years in the district. >> Greg Lance, currently English teacher at Mill College, uh will retire. Not Lance, not Land. [laughter] >> I was like, what? >> Sorry, Greg. >> Ju just for the

140confusion um from anybody who's watching this, uh it was it was Greg Lance. And so trusty Greg Lance has a very similar name. So we all looked at him. Sorry about that. Continue. >> I'll do it again for Lance this. Greg Lance, English teacher, currently a middle college, will retire after 35 years in the district. >> David Emanuel, social studies teacher at Hillsdale, will retire after 28 years in the district. Jeffrey Dow, PE teacher, Berlingame, will retire after 28 years in the district. Miguel Appleman, biology teacher, Sanitary High School, has 35 years in the district. Jane Spencer Mills, math teacher at Mills, uh, also has 35 years in the district. Michael Flynn, PE teacher at Aragon High School, will retire with 32 years in the district. And Pachy Moss, PE teacher at Mills High School,

141will retire with 20 years in the district. >> Thank you. That's a lot of combined years. It is. That's great. Um, okay. Are there any comments or questions from the board? Any comments online or No, >> I make a motion to approve the personnel actions add agenda. >> Is there a second? No. Second. Okay. So, there's a a motion in a second. Um, we'll do roll call vote. Trusty Griffin. >> I. >> Trusty Andrade Zuniga. >> Trusty Lan >> I. >> Trusty Jacobson >> I. >> And I vote I. So that that's um passes five to zero. Dr. Black. Item number two. The next item is the approval of the superintendent's amended contract for the uh 2526 school year. The district recommends approval of the employment agreement with superintendent Randle Booker, which includes a 2

142and a.5% increase uh for salary and a $1,000 one-time payment, both of which are the same percentage and dollar amount that were negotiated with the district's certificated association. The compensation terms are uh and benefits are as follows. Randle Booker, superintendent salary $371,50 with a $1,000 onetime payment based on the 224 workday calendar, health benefits, health and welfare benefits up to $45,972 and a transportation cell phone reimbursement of $275 per month. This also includes various subscriptions, memberships, and reimbursements uh for district approved expenses. >> Thank you, Dr. Black. Are there any questions from the board? >> I make a motion to approve the the superintendent amended contract. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. But are there any questions from the public? >> I was going to look after you make that. Sorry. >> Yeah.

143No, I was going to make sure we have a motion in a second, but I was going to go directly to Miss Aino. >> There are none. >> No, no hands raised. Okay. So, if there's no uh comments or questions, we have a first and a second. So, we'll we'll do roll call vote. Trusty Griffin >> I. >> Trusty Andrade Zuniga. >> I. >> Trusty Land >> I. >> Trusty Jacobson >> I. And I vote I. So, that this passes five to zero. Okay. Thank you. And Dr. Black, we have uh item number three. >> Yes. Uh so the next two items are part of the district's stepdown process that the board approved that was based on um temporary grants that the district used to fund positions and the step downs were the uh reduction

144of those positions as the money as the grants sunsetted. Uh the uh original sunsetting provision had more FTEES and we have in this uh in the coming two layoff resolutions and that was under board direction. We did everything we could to um save positions or move people around. So uh when there are vacancies, we could fill them up with people that were in the positions that were going to be involved in the step down to save u to provide that person with a job to a continued employment. So for um S for S3, this is a reduction in force for certificated services and a particular kind of service of psychologist. Um the district recommends uh the reduction force resolution of 1.0 FTE of psycho psychologist services. >> Okay. Thank you. Are there any board comments

145or questions? I just want to say, you know, I really appreciate how the superintendent and Yansancy and uh and Kirk have worked together to inform us long in advance so we knew it was coming so we could try to save as much as we could but yet still do what we need to do. So I'll make a motion to approve >> um the resolution 252609. >> I'll second the motion. >> Okay. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. And do we have any public comment? >> There's none. Okay. Thank you. So, hearing that there's no uh comments, um we will go with the roll call vote. Trusty Griffin. >> Hi, >> Trusty. And Zenega. >> Hi. And I just want to say that we don't like this. It's not, you know, anything that,

146you know, we wanted to do, but unfortunately, um some of our funds are tied up. So, >> that's the problem. >> And she votes. >> Yeah. And I I didn't quite hear your vote. Sorry. >> Oh, I said I >> Oh, okay. Great. Sorry, it's just me. Trust Trusty Lynn >> I. >> Trusty Jacobson >> I. >> And I also want to echo what uh Trustee Andre Zika um stated that it's very hard um for us to cut positions, but this was tied to one-time COVID funding. Um I vote I, but I I very um I just wanted to mention that as well. Okay, so the next item is item four for Dr. Black >> S4 is a reduction force for classified services and this is due to the sunsetting of two grants the learning

147communities for school success program and the arts music and instructional materials discretionary block grant and this includes 8.2 8.28 FTE inclassified service and we they're broken down into one FTE of campus safety specialist three FTEEs of district social worker 3.28 28 FT of instructional assistant of the multilingual learners program and 1.0 of the mental health and wellness program assistant. >> Thank you, Dr. Black. Are there any comments or questions from the board? Are there any public comments? >> There are none. >> Okay. Okay. So, there's no comments. Okay. So, um is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. With no other comments, we'll do a roll call vote. Trusty Griffin, >> I. >> Trusty Andrade Zuniga,

148>> hi. >> Trusty Lynn, >> I. >> Trusty Jacobson, >> I. >> And I vote I. And again, it's very hard to have um to vote to approve um reductions, but as as we've stated, it's it's onetime funding. Thank you. So, this passes five to zero. Um next, we have Division of Student Services, Dr. Black. >> Yes. Uh so this is a denial of a uh in interd district student request transfer request sorry. Uh we recommend approval of the denial. >> Okay. Are there any comments or questions from the board? Any public comment? No. Thank you, Miss Aino. Okay. Hearing no questions from the board or from the public, we will do a roll call vote. Trusty Griffin. >> President Chavis. Yeah. A motion in a second. >> Oh, I thought we did. Oh my

149goodness. So sorry. Okay. Is >> Make the motion. Okay. Okay. We have a motion and a second and no comments from the board and and no comment online or in person. So now we will do the roll call vote. Thank you everybody. >> Trusty Griffin >> I. >> Trusty Andrade Zuniga. >> Hi. >> Trusty Land >> I. Sorry. >> Trusty Jacobson. >> I. >> And I vote I. So this passes five to zero. And get off your phone. >> Sorry. Just kidding. Just kidding. [laughter] He said he was gonna put me in detention. So now I >> there's no policy. So there you go. Okay. There's no It's great. Um we don't have anything for Division of Instructional Services tonight and we have Division of Business Services, Mr. Hawkins. >> This should be interesting. >>

150Thank you so much. Uh in January, the governor unveiled uh his final proposed budget as governor uh for the 2026 2027 fiscal year. Uh some of the highlights uh of the budget included a 2.41% cola uh for state funded districts and categoricals. um the strengthening of many of the governor's uh priorities including uh financially uh supporting universal feeding, the expanded learning opportunity grant uh universal transitional kindergarten uh as well as uh CTE. Uh the proposal also included a student support and professional development block grant which was uh an expanding of the current year proposal. Um on a policy side, uh the governor proposed a change in moving the California Department of Education under the state board of education and a move uh to the state uh superintendent of uh uh public education um more to

151a policy role. So we will see where that goes. Um and then one major note of concern uh amongst a budget that was generally you know relatively positive although not super impactful uh for community funded districts um was the use of a $5.6 billion uh settle up of Proposition 98 which is another word for the governor did not allocate 5.6 6 billion dollar of funds that he believes uh will come or be uh the state will be responsible to give to uh K uh K14 education uh in the state of California. Um it seems to be a significant manipulation uh Proposition 98 and I believe that uh we'll be hearing a lot more about it in the coming months uh as CSBA, AXA, CASPO um and our labor partners um will definitely be acting strongly

152on this and potentially leading to uh litigation. To put it in perspective, uh 5.6 billion is approximately $1,000 per student across the state of California. So, uh it is a significant uh manipulation of Prop 98. Uh so, overall, not to completely put a downer, overall a relatively um positive budget with a very large concern uh in terms of worries for manipulation of Proposition 98 moving forward. So, with that, uh, happy to open it up to any questions. >> Thank Thank you. Any questions? >> That's a good question. The budget must have a lot of, uh, tax revenues from capital gains because the stock market's just been going crazy. Is that is that the case? >> Uh, absolutely. That that is a significant case. Um, it's it's really almost the tale of two budgets though at

153the state level. there's the prop the proposition 98 side of the budget and then the non98 side of the budget which is everything other than education at the state level. Um so the governor has uh put in some pretty rosy uh revenue um projections. Uh but given the stock market and our reliance on capital gains taxes in the state of California, um you know, probably not unreasonable uh but significant risks uh in terms if you believe of the AI bubble or um you know a stock market correction would cause um major uh problems. And to put that into perspective, even with the significant revenues, um the governor is still projecting a deficit >> uh at the state level. Um so uh more to come on that. We'll be back um uh in second interim uh

154in March uh in April or early May with the budget assumptions and then back in May with the governor's revised uh proposed budget for the 2627 school year. Thank you. Trusty Andrea Zenigo, you have your hand up. Please go ahead. >> Yes, I have a question for Trusty Land as our delegate. Um, what you know, what is the delegation planning in terms of advocacy? Um, what does that look like? And then also a plug for our Sanato County Schoolboard Association. We have our legislative brunch coming up in I believe either March or April. And so those would be great opportunities to ask our legislators um on how they're advocating on behalf of our school district. So um Trusty Land, what is what what uh >> actually I'm going to turn it over to Trusty Chavez.

155She's also a delegate as much as I am. Okay. >> So we could both answer the question. >> Thank you. Sorry about that. Trust >> No, I didn't want to I wanted to make sure she got credit for her role, too. I mean, you know, we both are doing it. But what I remember from the last delegate assembly we were talking about budget and it is from where we were when we went in the delegate assembly to now it's exactly what Yansy's talking about. It is extremely rosy and almost like question mark why you know people have just really wondered why and how it's happening. So um but again the biggest fear is about the tampering of 98. That is the biggest concern that CSBA advoc it wants us to advocate for is not to

156mess around with deferrals or anything that messes with the 98 uh bottom, you know, and not even the bottom line that's stealing, you know, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So, >> yeah, I don't have anything to add. Thank you. Yeah. >> Sorry, I just perhaps >> as an association we should create, you know, organize some sort of response or something. I don't know but um thank you for your service in that but um I think we need to organize. >> Okay. Are there any further questions uh for Mr. Yansancy Hawkins? >> No. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. That was good. Okay. >> Next we have our our board operations. Uh Dr. Black. >> Yes, we have. So these are legislative updates. Um these are for discussion or review and they would move

157the consent at the next meeting. We did get one board request to uh with some questions on board policy and AR5020 parent rights and responsibilities. Um Dr. Kempki is already working on responses that uh in terms of the instructional program with those questions. We'll get those to the whole board. >> The whole Yeah. Oh yeah, definitely. >> Good. Thank you. Thank you for that. And um are there other questions or comments from the board or are we ready to move it to consent after we >> after we get >> Yes. >> what you told us? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So the questions will the response will come to us in a weekly and then we'll move this item to consent in the next board meeting unless there's other further questions comments. No. Okay. >> Okay.

158>> So we'll move it to consent but you can still pull it if we get. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Correct. Okay, now we're rounding out to the end of the meeting. Uh, X, future board agenda items. Do any trustees um have any item that they would like to request for a future board meeting? So I um on that uh board policy update, it there's a lot uh in there about uh the Mahmood versus Taylor um court case and updates that uh we need to consider and I attended a session on this at the CSBA conference and I think there's a lot in there that um you know our community including staff and families should be aware of. So, I I wonder if um we should just have a presentation on that at some point. I'm scrolling

159on our board planning agenda because I think we have it on here somewhere. Do you remember, Dr. Kempkkey? I think it's later in the spring, but there it is. Um sorry, April 16th we have it as a presentation. Okay. Any any other items from trustees for future board agenda items? Okay. Hearing none, then we will adjourn the meeting. It is.