May 13, 2026 Regular Board Meeting

001Call to order the May 13, 2026 meeting of the San Rosa City School Board. >> We are currently at item A1, public comment on closed session agenda. Is there any public comment? >> President Casten, there is no public comment. Seeing no public comment, we're going to recess to close session to consider items B1, student readmissions cases as listed. B2, student expulsions cases as listed, B3, public employee appointment employment position to be filled, assistant superintendent and leave of absence request. B4, public employee discipline dismissal release. B5 conference conference with labor negotiator uh Dr. Vicky Zans for San Rosa Teachers Association CE CEA San Rosa 75 and Teamsters Union 665 B6 conference with legal council existing litigation cases as listed. B7 conference with legal council anticipated litigation cases as listed and B8 public employee performance evaluation for

002the titles listed. With that, we're recessed to close session. All right, I'll reconvene the May 13, 2026 meeting of the San Rosa City School Board. Uh, if I can have everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance and stay standing for the territorial land acknowledgement, which will be presented by Trustee Medina. I acknowledge that Santa Rosa City Schools is on the traditional territory and homelands of the Pomo people, traditional territory and homelands of the Coast Miwok people, and honor with gratitude the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations. This land acknowledgement calls us to commit to continuing to learn how to better how to be better stewards of the land we inhabit. By offering this land acknowledgement, we affirm indigenous sovereignty and will work to hold Santa Rosa City Schools

003more accountable to the needs of American Indian and indigenous peoples. traditional territorial Central City Schools. Gracias. All righty. We're going to move to report out of items considered in close session. Um, oh, sorry. Items actions taken in close session in readmissions case 202526-05. The board acted unanimously to readmit on resolution 202526-72 resolution of final release uh and/or reassignment notice to certificated administrative employees. The board acted 52 to pass the resolution. on resolution 202526-73 to notify nine cert certificated administrators and NFTT that they will be released from their positions for the 2027 school year pursuant to education code section 4495. 51. The board acted to approve it 61. On resolution number 202526-77 to notify 8 certificated administrators F8FT that they will be reassigned from their positions for the 202627 school year for student to education code

004section 44951. The board acted to approve on a 61 vote during uh the close session. board acted 70 to authorize the district superintendent or designate to notify employee ID number 170 that the request for an unpaid leave of absence for the remainder of the 202526 school year has been approved in accordance with article 10.2.9.3 2.9.3 of the CSCA chapter 75 collective bargaining agreement. And then during close session, the board voted 43 to authorize the district superintendent or designate to notify the in assistant superintendent of human resources regarding the board's decision to renew their employment contract for the 2627 school year. And then the board also voted to authorize on a 61 vote the approval of approval of a settlement in case number. It's number one second. Come here. O a 202 sorry 74 that and

005that was approved on a 61 vote. All right, we're going to move to items considered in close session for action in open session. That's what I'm sorry folks. We had a lot of happenings in close session. Um, so first I'm looking for a motion on case number 202526-12. >> A move to approve. >> Moved by Trusty Jenkins. Yeah, >> I second. >> All right. Seconded by Trusty P. Roll call vote, please. >> Trusty Jenkins. >> I. >> Trusty Pra. >> I. >> Trusty Kirby. >> I. >> Trusty Deator. >> Hi. >> Trusty Medina. >> I. >> Trusty Dufasi. >> Hi. >> President Casten. >> I. That motion passes unanimously. And then I'm looking for a motion on 2025 26-14. Trusty P. >> I motion to app. A motion to approve. >> Yeah. >> Seconded by

006Trusty Kirby. Roll call vote, please. >> Trusty P. >> I. >> Trusty Kirby. >> I. >> Trusty Jenkins. >> I. >> Trusty Deator. >> Hi. >> Trusty Medina. >> Hi. >> Trusty DeFosy. >> President Casten. >> I. That motion passes unanimously. All right. That we're now going to move to statements of abstension. Are there any statements of extension? All right, seeing none, uh, we'll now move to adjustments to the agenda. Trusty Jenkins, I'm actually not going to pull anything. However, I did want to make the comment that there were two things in our consents that there was an increase to a to the amount that we said we were going to pay for valid reasons. Um, >> that's discussed in your item. It's not discussing. I'm just saying that I'm not pulling anything. I don't

007want to have further discussion. I just noticed that there were increases and we need to be financially aware of those. >> Okay. Any adjustments? Any adjustments agenda? Seeing none, we're going to move uh next to our special presentation for uh former trustee and president McN. You want to come on down? So, um, first off, thank you for coming to a meeting that we started late. Um, as I know you've went through a lot of that with us up here and, uh, we appreciate the time that you and everyone else in the audience had to spend waiting. But mostly, I want to express on behalf of the board our sincere appreciation for your time and your service. um when I came onto the board, you were the quiet member and I wasn't quite sure what was

008going to happen. And um you know, working with you for the time that we were able to work together, your dedication, your thoughtfulness, um the perspectives that you brought to the board and your consideration of all the perspectives um on the issues was something that I really valued and as you know, I was very sad to see you go. So I do want to give an opportunity for all of your former colleagues up here to also express some words of gratitude and then we have a small token of our appreciation. Um I will start down here and head this way. So trusty deleator. >> Good evening Roxan. Uh thank you for being in attendance. Want to thank you for your service. Let you know that a teacher's voice is always valued and respected and missed

009on this Diaz. and I hope that your time away um has served you well and you're getting some much more deserved time with your beloved dogs. I'd also like to uh express the appreciation for the the teachers point of view that you brought to the board. uh know we didn't get to work together extremely long time but I I I enjoyed our time together and and uh I hope that you know we we can continue to hear the teachers perspective and uh and take that in consideration with all the decisions that we make up here. Thanks. >> Hello. I'm not going to cry. I'm I've gotten so much better. Um but not but and I really really enjoyed working with you. you taught me a lot about how to be up here. So, I really

010appreciate the perspective of um well, I haven't taken it completely into consideration because I do talk a lot, but I do like the um the only adding when needed, haven't mastered it yet, but I really appreciate it and I just think you're an amazing human and um I wish you luck in literally everything you do. Hi. Um, even though we didn't get to serve as long as I would have liked with you, but I totally understand now that I'm in this position because this is like a full-time job on top of my full-time job and I don't know how you managed both um, teaching. I really appreciated having your perspective up here because you have so much knowledge in a lot of the decisions that we're discussing, especially when it comes to our educators and

011students. And I just really appreciated you and I hope you're having or you finished the year off strong with your students. >> Well, we didn't get to work with one another since you had to leave for me to get here. I appreciate now being here that you threw your hat in the ring to do it. So, I hope to carry the torch for the area and rock on. Being the bilingual, I'm going to switch it up a little bit. Gracias. I just want to say thank you for everything that you've done on here. Even though it's I've only been on here for this year, I got to get to know you a little bit. And I really appreciate everything you do you did on here, but also what you do out there as a teacher.

012And I just want to say you're such an amazing human being and I hope you well on whatever else you do for the rest of your life. >> Even though um I wasn't on the board the same time as you, I would like to say thank you for your time and also balancing it out being a teacher as well. That's a lot of work and I appreciate it. And just thank you cuz this is a lot >> with that. Uh would you like to say anything before? >> I just want to say thank you for inviting me here tonight. And um the one thing that I have been missing is the people. You know, you all were a big part of my life for 3 years. So I do miss you all. I just wanted

013to take a moment and I know we I already said this but thank you. It has been quite the honor and um we started our our first uh board meeting here at Santa Rosa City Schools was together. So thank you for the time and your service. It's been amazing and miss you. With our deepest appreciation, we hereby honor Roxan McN recognition of your passion, unconditional commitment, and enduring dedication to the students of San Rosa City Schools. Thank you. San Jose Schools Board of Education Team December 2022 to February 2026. mate. Uh, with the board's consent, I'm going to quickly move back to C6, adjustments to the agenda. We're going to pull H2B and it'll come back at a future meeting. Uh with that, see no objection, we'll move to D1, uh reports, California School Employee

014Association, CSEA, Santa Rosa 75 report. There we go. >> Good evening. Can you hear me? Good evening, President Casten, trustees, interim superintendent, cabinet members, student board members, everyone present, and those listening tonight. Thank you, Roxen McN, for your contributions and service to Santa Rosa City Schools. I want to acknowledge our school board and our student board members for contributing continuing to work through an extremely difficult and chaotic period for Santa Rosa City Schools. There are many moving pieces right now. Budget pressures, school consolidations and moves, program transitions, layoffs, and planning for next year. CSEA appreciates your efforts to keep the district moving forward. Last week was teacher appreciation week. Many sites shared their celebration with us. We appreciate the work all of our teachers do teaching and supporting our students. Next week, May 17th through

01523rd, is classified school employee week. Every year, this is the week we honor our classified employees who keep the district operating every single day. From the groundskeepers to those at the sites and up to the district office. It is this week, next week, that we may be finding out about involuntary transfers, layoffs, reduced hours, changing assignments, and what next year will look like. Yet, every day we continue showing up because students and schools depend on us. Studies have confirmed that self-esteem and workplace morale have a direct relationship with overall well-being. Not only for all staff, but for the students we serve every day. We are SRCS, Santa Rosa City Schools. We are the parents, the grandparents, the relatives, neighbors, coaches, volunteers, and community members connected to the students we are trying to keep in our

016ADA. When employees feel respected and valued, that stability reaches the students. Students benefit from consistency, relationships, and support systems not easily replaced. Our classified employees are trusting you, our school board, to continue striving to make Santa Rosa City Schools a positive workplace. We hope leadership recognizes the classified staff on our campuses and behind the scenes, not just during classified school employee week, but every day. We are hanging on because we care deeply about our schools, our students, and this community. We need to know that leadership sees the strain, understands the workload, and values the people carrying it with courage and compassion. Thank you. >> Thank you. We'll >> now invite up the representative from Teamsters Local 665 for their report. now report up. Uh we now invite up the representative from San Rosa Teachers Association

017for her report. >> Good evening, President Casten, Superintendent August. Um I was going to start by saying thanks to Roxanne, but she left the room. But I appreciate all the things you said and absolutely she will be missed for her perspective on being a teacher in the classroom and having firsthand daily experience with students and I know that was um important to us and I imagine it was important to your board in your deliberations and discussions. Um, I also want to say congratulations to all the students, the classified and certificated staff that um were recognized in the information um items tonight. It's great to celebrate these people. It's also um a little too bad that while I understand the time constraints, it's too bad we can't celebrate them a little bit more publicly at least

018once a year. Um, so but I do want to say congratulations to all of them. Um, it's a pretty full board meeting tonight. A lot of items. I'm just going to mention some of the things. So, the charter renewals are coming up. SRTA fully supports the charter renewals of both the Santa Rosa Language Academy and the Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter School. We know how important these schools are to the district. Um, these schools offer unique, engaging, innovative programs that we know are um, absolutely a bonus to our district and also give our students amazing programs with amazing teachers. So, we hope that this conversation tonight is robust and we are fully in favor of the renewal of both of those charters. Tonight, sadly, we're also faced with final layoffs for certificated and classified staff. Um,

019once again, certainly with certificated, it was it's a pretty small percentage of the number of people that were given preliminary layoffs. And the people that are laid off tonight and all of the people that were given preliminaries spent the last two months wondering about their future. Um, a lot of them went and found jobs in other districts and have left gaps behind them. And every time we overestimate in such a huge way the number of layoffs that we're going to need to make, we drive people away from this district and we lose educators that are dedicated and talented from Santa Rosa City Schools and they move on to other districts. And it would be great if there was some way to avoid this time and again and year after year. Um, the athletics conversation that's

020coming up tonight. I'm I'm really fighting saying I told you so, but I guess I just said it. Um, we knew a year ago that middle school athletics were going to be an issue in the 712 schools. We knew the facilities weren't going to be enough. We knew that it was going to be a struggle with the athletic directors, the coaches, the physical education teachers to find the space needed to offer all of the programs and teams that we need to have. And it looks like it's still a problem. We've watched I've heard about the problems over the course of the year. And I guess it makes sense to wait till the end of the year to talk about all of the problems came up, but it also seems a little bit late in the

021year to try to solve those problems before August. So that's definitely a concern. Um, and just to throw it out there, what conversations have been held about the new LC Allen 78 program sports teams? Do they have an athletic director? Has that ever been discussed? uh where's the money coming from for uniforms and coaches and fielding teams and is there going to be six middle school teams in the city league and all of those questions that I've heard from middle school athletic directors that may have been discussed on Tuesday of this week that I guess that was yesterday but I don't know right so has that even come up have we talked about that at all and my final comment was because I read all the way to the end of the agenda and I

022click on all the attachments and look at the small print in the draft governance calendar. In December, it says that the non-reelect certificated employees will be notified of their non-reelects. This means people that possibly have only worked for the district since August are going to be told in December that they're not a good fit for our district and be expected to continue to work for the next five months in our district. Right now, this generally happens in February and even in February. It's devastating to our employees and a lot of them immediately want to walk away from their jobs. Um, as you might imagine, um, being told that your contract will not be renewed is a blow to a first or second year teacher and to do that in December is really not okay. Um,

023and I beg you to reconsider that in your governance calendar. Thank you. >> All right, I'm going to go to the superintendent report. >> Thank you, uh, President Casten. I do want to start by acknowledging the difficulty and the grief this evening as we present the list for final action for reductions in staff. We recognize the grief, uncertainty and hardship that accompanied this process and I also want to express my sincere gratitude to the dedicated employees who have served our students and schools with professionalism, care and commitment and continue to do so. While these recommendations are driven by the fiscal and operation operational realities facing our district, that does not lessen the weight of the impact or on the individuals um involved. I do also um want to take a moment to recognize both teacher

024appreciation week and classified school employees week. Um, our teachers and classified staff are the foundation of our schools and the heart of the work we do each day on behalf of students. Whether in classrooms, school offices, cafeterias, maintenance, technology, student support services, or countless other roles, their dedication, compassion, and professionalism make an extraordinary difference in the lives of our students and families. I want to extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude for their continued commitment and service to our school community. And I also want to um start by or continue by congratulating each of our student classified and certificated employees of the year. Thank you to our school sites for submitting your nominations for each category. And each of our honores um are listed as as um President Hel mentioned um in information item K1 um

025they will have a certificate uh delivered to their site. And while much of the our year has been spent on the vital work of working towards fiscal stability, we look forward to re reentering our focus on student achievement and celebrating members of our SRCS community as we move forward. Speaking of um last week it was a pleasure to celebrate 275 of our students from across the district for reaching their uh bilingual status at the multilingual reclassification ceremony. This is an enormous achievement for each of our student honores. Being bilingual is a huge advantage for students as they move forward. They also add to the richness of our community. And lastly, I want to share um that on April 23rd, the district successfully issued its 2026 general obligation refunding bond refunding bonds. Um, what that is

026is that as a result, the district achieved more than $12 million in total taxpayer savings by ref financing prior bonds at an interest rate of 3.43%. This lower rate is possible because in addition to other factors on the district's financial um standing and outlook. So the um positive certification um concurrence from the county office was instrumental in us being able to achieve that lower rate. Taxpayers will realize savings in the form of lower property taxes over the life of the bonds which mature in 17 years. That financing closed today u making the culmination of over three months of work in the financing with financing team. Um and just wanted to share that that is not funds um for the district. That is strictly um taxpayer savings. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Um before

027I start my board report, I just want to make a couple of notes on the agenda. Um for public comment on non-aggenda items, because of the rest of the agenda, we are going to limit that to a total of 20 minutes. And uh we should be able to get through everyone's cards at this point that we have. And then for those here for the public hearing on CCLA H1C, um we will if you are needing to head out for dinner and things like that, um you can make your public comment in H1A and then we will by reference include it into the public hearing uh transcript. So just as you're contemplating out there, there'll be some um if you need to leave before the presentation's given, you can make the public comment early. Uh, with

028that, I'm going to give my report and try to be brief because I know we took some extra time in close session and um, and the this has been an inter this has been a emotional back and forth of these last two weeks. Uh, a whiplash effect as we're seeing the end of year things start to happen and the excitement. I was able to attend a dress rehearsal for the arts charter performance of I think it's called boxed um and uh the the end ofear other types of performances and athletic events and uh and everyone that's out there doing those things and I spent a lot of time actually at baseball fields and at theater presentations and it was really uplifting to see how much good work has been happening and how much our students

029have been succeeding this year. Um, and at the same time, we're in this place of having to do layoffs and having to release many of the people uh, who have made that happen. And I just want to honor and thank those who, even knowing that they were not going to have a job at this end of the year, showed up every day for our students and made those moments happen in their school year. um despite the challenges that our district has faced and is moving through. Um along the lines of the whiplash, uh this week we'll receive the governor's may revise and based on I attended a couple of briefings um anticipating what that's going to look like when it comes out tomorrow. And based on one-time revenues that the state's seen around capital gains,

030um, we're expecting to see something positive as far as school funding goes at the state level. And it gets to the challenge of having to make notices and having to make decisions around laying off our staff on a certain timeline that's made prior to actually knowing how much money we have. Um, so the mayor revise tomorrow will give us a better understanding. When we approve our budget in June, we will still not actually fully know what we're receiving next year from the state. And that's a big part of this. And you know, my household, my wife, we every single year had to deal with having a release and then her getting called back in June or July. And it's it's an unfortunate structural um burden that our education entities have. And I'm just sorry for

031everyone who's having to go through it. I understand how painful and difficult it is and how challenging it's going to be as we start to hear positive revenue news from the state that's mostly attached to one-time uh income income tax related revenue uh which will make all of these things even more challenging. So, um, it's been, like I said, there's been a lot of whiplash on this. Uh, I do want to call attention to the governance calendars and the information item. Those are not up for discussion today. They're drafts. Um, and there's both the governance calendar that President How was referencing kind of when things are happening. Um, on a governance level, that's not when folks would necessarily be noticed. that would be up at the board level so that we know when certain things

032are happening that may be coming to us or maybe at the administrator or principal level um when actual notifications and those types of things happen would follow kind of the timeline that we've seen this year if if it's necessary but I do encourage people to look at both the meeting calendar and the governance calendar and give us feedback um a lot of that is far more robust than in past years as far as knowing what we are working on as a board and an attempt to provide more transparency over the work that we're doing before we get to those meetings. So, um they are drafts and the first time we've instituted these types of uh transparency structures around what our work plan is. So, everyone please, you know, take a look and give us feedback.

033We'll be approving that at a future meeting. Um with that, I'm going to end my reports and I'll go to my colleagues. Trusty Deleator. Thank you, President Casten. Um, since we just had teacher appreciation week and there was a administrator's day in there and it's classified appreciation week coming up. Um, I just want to collectively say that each and every day we should be appreciating our staff and the individuals that show up and support and love on our students and your children each and every day. Thank you for continuing to show up. Thank you for doing the heavy lifts and the work that's needed. Um, understanding that we there's very clear and definitive on when some choose these positions as a job and those that choose these positions as a calling. And Sandra City School

034District has been very fortunate to have several several high percentages of people that are doing this because this is a calling and because they care about the children, they care about your families and they care about providing opportunities for them. So, I just ask that each and every day we appreciate them and we don't wait for the calendar to roll around and identify a specific week or a specific day to honor them. Um, that being said, I do miss having the public representations of celebrating our students and our staff and I do ask that we look at that further. Um, I was also under the impression that we were going to have a physical celebration of some sort and it doesn't seem like that happened as it's the end of the year. So, um, I

035wasn't a big fan of pushing that off for time constraints and I'm really not a big fan that we had no opportunities to um, publicly celebrate and honor these students and staff for all their hard work. Um, that being said, I do want to publicly acknowledge SRTA's vote of no confidence. It was received. It was read. I respect what you guys have put forth and done and know that that vote of no confidence was not even though it identified individuals that puts this entire board and entire district's leadership on notice that we need to do better. That the decisions that are made and the policies that are put into place and how we govern as a district needs to be collaborative and collective. And it should never come down to um the risk of needing

036to identify specific individuals regardless of what their roles are, but to know that entire district district leadership needs to step up and do better and be better for the staff and most importantly for the students and the families. Um as far as wonderful things that I got to take a part of, um I was part um able to attend the first half of the reclassification ceremony. The amount of families that show up and show out for their students and that amazing opportunity is a beautiful moment. I do apologize that I was only able to stay for half the event. Um, but that was a pre-planned situation as my family also had an engagement that needed me in attendance. So, I apologize for any disrespect that those families may have felt by me leaving halfway through,

037but I had a previous engagement that was important for me to be at to honor my family and their achievements that evening as well. Um, also we got primary back to school night sh your back to school nights tonight and obviously we're a little bit busy, but the other primaries will be having their back to school nights tomorrow evening. and I look forward to seeing your smiling faces and seeing your campuses as I make sure my gas tank is full and I take a little road trip tomorrow afternoon. Thank you, >> Rusty Kirby. >> Uh thanks. Try to keep it brief since uh we run a little bit behind. Um see on uh April 26 uh I attended a governance and budget workshop sponsored over at SCO along with several of our other trustees and

038uh superintendent August Hume. um on May 1st, uh let's see, went to tour Commtock and see how they're uh preparing for their big move next year and uh um starting to pack up uh things and get ready to go. And then uh on May 8th, also got to take a tour of uh Lewis Early Learning Academy. Uh similarly, they're going to be uh relocating as well. And um uh let's see. Wanted to call attention. I know uh later in the agenda we've got the uh a resolution uh regarding uh the governor's manipulation of Prop 98. And uh I just want to call that out while everyone's here. I know it's late in the agenda when that'll come up, but uh you can uh go to the CSBA website. there's a legislative action and you can

039actually fill out the form to stop the governor's manipulation of Prop 98 which may directly affect our arts and music programs. So, I advise you to do that if all and uh I believe we're probably going to be putting up a link on our on our website as well uh after tonight that you'll be able to do that easily. Um that's all I got. Lucy Jenkins. >> Some of this will be repetitive. Um, so there are obviously so many wonderful things to celebrate at this time of year. I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the reclassification ceremony last week. It was great to see Johnny's stage presence as well as the overall community participation in such a milestone for so many of our students. Congrats to the student athletes of the year as well as spring sports

040participants. Congrats also to our students and staff of the year included toward the end of the agenda. Um I too am hoping that the district business will settle a little bit next year and we'll be able to incorporate actual celebrations again. Um I along with three other trustees and interim superintendent attended the budget workshop put on by SCO a couple weeks ago for all board members throughout Sonoma County. And I wanted to share something that was discussed at that meeting. While districts up and down the state are in similar situations as we are with reductions and restructuring due to population decline. Something that really stood out to me was the role of CTA in the process. What was explained to us is that boards comprised often of parents and always community members do what they're

041asked to or try to do what they're asked to by being fiduciaries for the district responsible to keep us afloat long-term financially with stabilizations stabilization plans and balanced budgets. CTA reminder that I am not speaking of our SRTA MA teachers but instead the organiz organization of CTA then literally shoots that work in the foot advocating for more money less cuts and better benefits for their members only often sacrificing other programs and other staff for their outcomes. The end result is further is a further divided system reducing outcomes for our youth and increasingly hostile work environments for many showing force by intimidation to families of decision makers to get their way. While I have faith that our teachers within this district are doing their best to do what they need to for not only their personal

042family systems but for the students of our community that our community entrusts in their care. This was really challenging to hear. I encourage all of us to continue having conversations based on curiosity with student focused collaborative lens, understanding that we only have what we have and we cannot do it all. We must rely on partnerships and utilize resources that are available based on human connection and authenticity. Thank you, >> Christ. Um, I just wanted to one thank all the kids for being here. I know this is probably really boring listening to grown-ups talk about stuff, but I appreciate your patience and you guys sitting quietly. I hope your parents brought you something to snack on. Um, but I reached my goal of visiting every Santa Rosa City Schools campus this year. Uh the last two

043Fridays I visited um Santa Rosa Language Academy, uh Santa Rosa French American Charter School, Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts, Comoc Middle School, and Lewis Early Learning Academy. Uh I learned something new from at each site, and I received a better understanding of how every campus best serves our students. Um, I wish the arts charter was around when I was in elementary school because I I I can't draw for anything, but I love a good craft project. And if I was able to have art integration in my education more more so than what I got, I think it that would have been the best fit for myself. So, I'm so glad we offer that type of school, that type of education for our students. I really wanted to stay longer and do some crafts,

044but uh also I would like to congratulate our students of the year, classified employees of the years, and certificated employees of the year. You're shining examples of what makes our school so wonderful. So, thank you for being a part of our district. I would also like to have um our students and our staff recognized monthly, but it's there's been so many uncomfortable meetings and so much tension in the rooms that I don't want our kids in those environments. So hopefully when things settle then we can have that discussion. Anyway, thanks for being here. >> Duas, thank you President Casten. uh not a lot. Uh as a parent of two students about to hit seventh grade and a 4 and 1/2year-old TKER, um I appreciate all the kids here, especially the younger ones. Um real quick,

045I also attended the budget workshop at SCO. I've also uh attended a financial um training, for lack of a better term. And uh I have been busy meeting with uh district uh staff to get a better understanding on processes uh and programs um that we are doing in the district and ones that are on the chopping block. So uh those of you that have written me emails, I appreciate it. I always encourage that. I try to answer them all. I may have missed a few, but I try to get back to folks. Um, I do read them all front to back. Um, and I take it extremely serious. So, please keep that up. Thanks for being here. >> Trusty Medina. >> Thank you. First um echoing uh Trustila Tore appreciate all our staff despite the

046difficult conditions and teachers classified next week. Um collectively everybody celebrating um want to recognize Johnny and his fellow student members for for the work they did to uh recognize the staff at LC Allen. Um I think that was good coming from the students. Um, one staff member here that I'd like to just acknowledge since she's here, Maria Lopez. A lot of great work she does at LC with uh the multicultural night. Last last Friday's uh CO de Mayo celebration at at LC Allen. A lot of work that comes from that woman that Elsie. So uh um I think privileged to have her there. Um, I did want to um apologize to the the students that at the reclassification um celebration um congratulate them. Um, unfortunately I couldn't be there. Um, um, on that day I

047I was invited by the CCLA community to attend a parent meeting that they had. Um, thank you for inviting me. Um, it was good for me to be there and to listen to a lot of your concerns. Um, Um um I did also want to highlight the fact that um a couple weeks ago we were notified that the uh Maiden Santa Rosa Foundation will be closing. Um I think that's a concern in the sense that um this board played a part in that foundation forming to help address some of the equity issues as it relates to philanthropy within our schools. Not all schools receive the same amount of philanthropy. Um especially in our elementary schools. And so with that foundation closing, which its purpose was to help balance um outside resources, especially in in this

048time where we're having to do um more with less, it feels like um it's a concern and I hope that we could find ways to kind of bring more balance. Um to that end, I also just wanted to take this moment to congratulate all the students that are participating in the CNA program u from SRCS that will be graduating this Saturday. Um 27 students put in a lot of work finishing their clinicals. Um thanks to the folks at Fox Pacific Academy for doing the training, for the folks at Sutter Health for providing the funding. Um I think it's a very unique pilot program. Um, and I'm so proud of all the students that have participated. I'll leave it at that. Thank you again everybody for all you do. Student trustee Fitz Simmons. Since it was

049just teacher appreciation week, I just want to quickly say I appreciate all the teachers. You guys are so awesome and you're so overstressed and underpaid for what you guys do. Not only do you guys have to handle dealing with a lot of kids in the classroom, you guys are also dealing with all this stress and mess and also working. So, I know some teachers are also working double jobs and also having to deal with kids. So, I just want to say you guys are a huge inspiration to my generation and I truly appreciate you guys and just thank you. >> Student trustee Creo. Um, I just want to say like how everyone's been saying, just congratulations to all those that reclassified this year. It's such an honor and such a great privilege that those students

050were able to accomplish that. So, just shout out to them as well as all the certified teachers that were awarded this year. Congratulations as well. And stemming from how Amber said, yes, teachers are honestly the backbone of this society in every way, shape, and form. They are the pinnacle of what we as students have to help support and carry us on with the rest of our lives growing up. So, thank you so much for everything you guys have done and do every single day. >> Thank you. Um, couple just one uh announcement. uh H1D, the accelerated charter public hearing and the CCLA public hearing. If you make comments in the H1A public comment section, we'll include those in the public hearing or you can stay for the presentation and make comments during the public hearing.

051But we'll let you speak wherever it is because we've started late when we get to that. And I do also want to just note because it came up twice um in the information item when you look at the governance calendar meeting agenda uh we do have the end of year recognition event scheduled for March 31st of next year to make sure that that that actually happens. So um it might be a different day than March 31st which we currently have in there but just recognize that that event will happen next year and it's in that calendar. Uh with that we're going to move to public comment on non-aggenda and consent items. We are limiting this to 20 minutes total, 1 minute per comment. Um, I have a starting at 7:26. Nope. Trusty Deator. >> So,

052I have a question on that. I appreciate that it's calendared for next year, but do we have a reason why it didn't happen this year? >> Um, there are, and I'll let it come through on the board weekly because there's a lot of logistical challenges and things that happened at different sites of already having done the recognitions. Um, so we don't have the full discussion, but that's on the information for next year. So, um, but we'll ask for a full update on that in the board weekly. >> All right. I have us starting at 7:27. >> Thank you, President Casten. Going to start by calling three names. This is for non-aggenda consent items. Uh, you can make your way to either podium. And I'm going to start with the students first. Uh, first name is

053Sophia Faras, followed by Angel Diego, followed by Brooklyn Zedler. >> And we have one minute tonight. Go ahead. >> Good. Good evening, board members. My name is Sophia Moreno. Good evening, board members. My name is Sophia Pareno. I am a sixth grade at Termonton Elementary. I'll soon be a seventh grade level. All students deserve the same chances to succeed no matter what school they attend or what neighborhood they come from. I want to ask why LC Allen was not included in the offering of expanded learning programs when other school were. Students at LC Allen deserve after school program support and and opportunities just like students at Pineer McGomery and Senora Junior High. Why were decisions made without giving us an opportunity? Do you think we'll be closed by now? I asked that you give me

054the same access and opportunities you were giving other seventh graders at this district. I also urge you to look in why I'll see what LC Alip was left out of the grant application for this program. Students like me to depend on after school programs. As a Brown CH student, these student these programs matter. They keep students safe, supported, connected, and successful. Thank you very much for your comments. >> Too often it feels like LCL students are expected to figure it out on our own. >> Thank you very much for your comments. That's your time. Thank you. >> Yes. Um is it okay to ask really quick on that because that was an issue highlighted. It was the school accidentally left out of the ELOP selection for students or not. No, Elsie Allen action hadn't been

055taken yet to form the se the 78 didn't exist at the time that that was submitted. So we don't it's up to each year when we can submit. So if there's an opportunity we will >> and that's our short clarification which is allowed for public comment. Next public comment please. Next we have Angel Diego followed by Brooklyn Zedler followed by Yasmin Ken Rule. Um, hi. I am Angel Diego and I didn't really plan what I'm going to say tonight, but before I get started, I would like to show appreciation to Mark Kirby. Um, I know when he came in like the whole room went silent when I said hi to him and I found that to be hilarious. I was and also I saw Carel when I was on my way um to to um

056to Starbucks cuz I always get Starbucks and I saw him and I was like hey I was like tell Mark to visit if you see him yeah I hope you remember it like like yeah um but um I don't know I didn't really have anything to say but I did want to say say thank you to Vicky Sans our assistant superintendent of human resources you have been pink slipping people that served as a legal liability for the school district and that I believe shouldn't be working for studentu shouldn't be working to support students because I feel like the people that are being pink slipped certain of them haven't been all that like helpful and yeah with with that being said Mark you should really visit me at Santa Rosa High and that's all I really

057have to say. Next we have Brooklyn Zedler, followed by Yasmin Krule, followed by Ruby Heric. >> Go ahead, Brooklyn. >> Hello, my name is Brooklyn Zidler and I'm currently a seventh grade student at Rington Valley Middle School. Today I'm here to talk to you about the decision to remove zero period. As Michelle Obama once said, you have to stay in school. You have to. That's the one thing people can't take away from you, your education. And it's worth the investment. And she was absolutely correct. All the students taking zero period know this too. Us who take zero period show dedication, assertiveness, and grit. Who will lose out if zero period is removed? Hardworking students, invested students, and students who want to make themselves and RVMS better. I ask you members of the board to invest

058in us because we're worth the investment. Thank you for your time. Next is Yasmin Krule followed by Ruby Herrick followed by Liam Gardner. Good day. Good evening everybody. My name is Yasmin. I am here today to talk about how RVs is taking away some of our classes such as zero period. Since the district office is cutting sections from RVs, it is leaving our school with no option but to get rid of zero period. I'm a seventh grader at RVs and I'm currently taking advanced orchestra in Spanish as my electives. Because of these budget cuts, our school is cutting off zero period. We strongly disagree with this decision. Why should we why do we need to choose between our passion and our education? I know that there are multiple students in the music program forced to

059make this these decisions. If we choose to take Spanish again, we lose the class that brings us joy in the school day, the class that makes us want to go to school. If we choose to take music, our seventh grade year of Spanish would be completely useless. All of our hard work and effort would be erased. Why must we students make this brainwacking decision? We should have been given an earlier notice. We should have a say. Our school should not be limiting our success. Please help us receive the education we deserve. Thank you for your time. >> Next is Ruby Herrick. >> Can they please speak closer to the mic? >> Then we have Liam Gardner followed by Mayia Slater. Go ahead. >> Good evening. My name is Ruby Herring and I am a student

060at RVMS in the advanced orchestra and video tech programs. I've also participated in art and maker programs. As our school is facing budget cuts, we are forced to cut classes next year. The obvious choices to be cut are zero period classes. I do not believe this would be a good decision. Students in zero period classes take extra steps to participate in the arts at RVMS. Participation in the arts among students is linked to higher GPA, graduation rates, and can provide scholarships and open new career paths. However, if zero period were cut, students wouldn't be able to fully pursue what interests them. Additionally, many students would be put into elective classes undesirable to them. Personally, I'd be forced to choose between advanced orchestra and art 2 next year. This could be avoided if we weren't forced

061to cut sections. I hope this has made you consider how the arts and all students could be negatively affected by this decision. Thank you for your time. >> Next, we have Liam Gardner followed by May Slater followed by Millie Perkins. >> Hello, my name is Liam Gardner and I am here to ask you to reconsidering about removing zero period. Getting rid of zero period will hurt students opportunities. For many of us, this early class is a choice, not chore. It helps us fit important electives like band art and others into our busy schedule. If you get rid of zero period, many students will have to make the choice between what they need to graduate and what they enjoy. It would also inflate the number of students per class, making it more difficult for teachers to

062keep the class under control. Please do not take our choices. Please keep zero period. Thank you for listening to students. Next is Maya Slater, followed by Millie Perkins, followed by Adena Flores. Good evening everyone. My name is Maya Slater and I'm a seventh grader at Rinken Valley Middle School. I'm here today because we strongly disagree with the district cutting classes and the possible removal of zero period for next school year. We understand that the district is facing difficult decisions, but we believe that students should not lose educational opportunities as a result. One of the district's main concerns at the moment is the budget. At first glance, cutting classes may seem like the solution, but fewer classes doesn't necessarily mean fewer students. These students have to go somewhere, which means the classrooms become more crowded. When

063these extra students are added into already full classrooms, the district will most likely end up paying overages to the teachers. And if a decision costs more money while giving students fewer opportunities, then it's worth asking whether it's truly the right solution. Because at the end of the day, every budget decision becomes a decision about students and their futures. Look at how many students and families care about this issue. We're here because zero period matters to us. It supports our education, our opportunities, and our future. Zero period is opening doors for students. Please don't be the ones who close them. Thank you for your time and consideration. Next is Millie Perkins, followed by Adena Flores, followed by Karen Lu Luch Luch, I think. >> Go ahead, Millie. >> Hello, my name is Millie Perkins and I'm

064a seventh grader at RBMS. Like many other students at our school, I participate in the music program. Due to the proposed schedule changes, students will no longer have access to zero period, limiting opportunities for us. Music education does far more than teach students how to play an instrument. It strengthens discipline, communication, and academic skills while also supporting students mental health and overall development. Schools with stronger music programs also see higher attendance rates and stronger academic performance. And RVMS is proud to be one of the best programs in the district. Without zero period, many students will be forced to choose between music and another elective that they value. This will reduce participation and weaken the program that gives students important opportunities for their future, including leadership experience, scholarships, and college opportunities. I respectfully ask that you

065reconsider these cuts and continue supporting classes that help students succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Thank you for your time. >> Next is Adena Flores, followed by Karen Luchas, followed by Ola King Clay. You have violated the Domestic Violence Prevention Act. Miss Laura Ainsworth is a professor at Santa Rosa Junior College and eight officers were sent to arrest her on false charges, illegal search and seizure, and she was detained. $15,000 bail because she reported her husband Brett Ainsworth, a elementary school teacher here at Luther Burbank for alleged possession of child pornography. And he threw her face first into a corner of a dresser. Uh she bled out in a in a puddle and was in a coma for a week. So uh she's had about five false restraining orders filed against her. I've had

066one that I got dismissed by Brett. And so uh Whitar Group, your employment defense firm, tried to extort me, which is under investigation by San Rosa Police and the Security Bureau. So I don't appreciate that there is a child rape cover up and I'm willing to catch a case. I'm willing to die to protect children and the people that I care about. Miss Ainsworth is an angel and you tried to have her killed. God bless you. Act right. Please do. Next. Next is Karen Levas followed by Ola King Clay followed by Eric Gardner. >> Oh, sorry. >> Karen Leicious. I'm here to speak about how removing zero period would affect students with IEPs. Many students with IEPs are required to take extra support or study classes during the school day, which makes their schedule very

067limited. For a lot of these students, zero period is the only way they can fit an elective into their schedule. Electives are important because they give students opportunities to explore their interest and feel connected to school. Some students love playing instruments, some want to learn Spanish, and others enjoy art or leadership classes. These classes help students grow and give them something to look forward to during the day. If zero period is removed, many students with IEPs could lose a chance to take these classes while other students still can. That's unfair. School should give students more opportunities, not fewer. I ask you to reconsider this decision. I think about the students who depend on these opportunities every day. Thank you. We've also gotten over 300 signatures from our VMS students. Next we have Ola King Clay

068followed by Eric Gardner. >> Good evening school board members. During my tenure tenure tenure in our district, I've had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and staff in general. I've witnessed the district grow through a host of positive changes. the awesome, the cold, the good, the bad, and the ugly. At one time, we were known as the best district north of the Golden Gate. Those were the good old days. Now, my friends from all over the state, and I have a lot of them, ask the same question. What in the world is going on in your district? My answer, they didn't call me. Our standing in the state has dropped from being among the top 10 to not being on the list at all. Why? I ask you the board

069members, what handprint are you going to leave in our district? The one where future board members will say, "Job well done." Or the one known for being taken over by the state. >> Thank you very much for your time. Think about it. >> It's your choice. Thank you. >> Our our final speaker is Eric Gardner. I'm here to support the kids for zero period. Mine Liam spoke earlier. He's very passionate about music. I try to teach him why we can do things and so I can't. There's got to be a way to save the program because people in this community are smart. There's plenty of business owners that will support programs like this. Plenty of independent people. This is a wealthy county. Why can't we figure it out? Is there somebody maybe that we could

070contact after this to figure out funding or other private ways to fund these programs so kids can learn? Everyone knows that we're trying to get these kids away from screens. This is one way. I don't know why we can't do this. Please help us. Thank you. Thank you all for your public comments. We're now going to move to the consent calendar. I'm looking for a motion on F1 through F11. >> So moved. >> Second. Right. It's been moved by Trusty Medina, seconded by Trusty Kirby. Roll call vote, please. >> Student board member Fitz Simmons. I >> I >> student board member Curo >> I >> trusty Medina >> I >> trusty Jenkins I'm sorry trusty Kirby >> I >> trusty Jenkins >> I >> trusty deatory >> I >> trusty P >> I >> trusty

071Dufosy >> I >> President Casten >> I that motion passes unanimously we'll now move to item G1 second read and approval of updated board policies um I just want to acknowledge that this item is a part of our new process with the new board policy subcommittee which is a brown act and open to the public committee. So when a recommendation comes from the committee it doesn't need a first reading. I'll turn it over to Chair Jenkins to present the item. >> Thanks. Um so on this list we did do a first reading of all of the um policies on the list. There were two that are not on this list that we did um consider at the subcommittee meeting that need some further clarification. Um we'll have our next we're going to be having these

072meetings quarterly. Hopefully a little bit more regularly um next year, but right now we're doing them quarterly. And for the board's sake, we'll take them all as it's not a consent calendar, but as a calendar together, so we can vote them all together. or if there's one that someone wants to pull to discuss further, we can do that. Um, Superintendent August, do you have any comments before I hunt down a motion? Or I actually don't even need a motion, but let you >> These um are in line with the CSBA policy um recommended policy updates with the quarterly um updates for that. So, we do recommend um approval. They've been reviewed with the policy committee and we appreciate that new process. >> All right. And because it's a recommendation from the committee, we don't need

073a motion in a second. Um, but we do need discussion. So, does anyone have discussion? Trusty Jenkins. >> I had one last comment um, regarding this. I just wanted to because there are so many and it was a new process for us. Um, I just wanted to let the rest of the board know that I did go uh, policy by policy to make sure that everything in the clean versions was exactly as we um, discussed at the subcommittee meeting. um were using things a little bit differently and so wanted to make sure that what was captured was exactly what appeared. Um for instance, sometimes with the revisions there's an option based on the type of district that we are or option based on practice things of that sort. And so we are going through those

074things with a fine tooth comb. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? Then with my thanks to the committee, uh, roll call vote, please. >> Student board member Curio. >> I, >> Trusty Jenkins. >> I, >> Trusty Kirby. >> I, >> Trusty Deator, >> I. >> Trusty Medina, >> I. >> Trusty P. I >> trusty DeFasy >> I. >> President Casten >> I. That motion passes unanimously. We're now going to move to the H calendar. H1 charter school calendar. And we'll start with public comment on the charter school calendar. >> Thank you, President Casten. I do have several students, so I'm just going to start by calling their names. Um, I guess if you're an adult and you want to talk later on, you could just let us know when you get because I don't have

075that distinction in this pile. Okay. So, I'm gonna call three names. If you make your way to the podium, we have one minute. The first speaker is Renee Diaz, followed by Jasine Mendoza, followed by by Matias Murphy. Go ahead, Renee. >> Good evening, members of the board. My name is Janeed Diaz and I'm an eighth grade student at CCLA. I've been a part of the dual immersion program since kindergarten and I am proud to be a second generation Mexican-American student who has benefited from this program. Being bilingual is more than speaking two languages. It's about understanding different cultures and being proud of who you are. At CCLA, our bilingual and bicultural teachers help students feel supported and proud of their identity. Because of CCLA, I feel prepared to enter AP Spanish as a freshman, and

076I know being bilingual will create opportunities for me in the future. CCLA has also taught me the importance of accepting others and making everyone feel included. When new students join our school in middle school, they are welcomed and become part of our community. Being part of basketball and track has also allowed me to experience what a comprehensive middle school can offer. I also have a younger sister in second grade at CCLA, and I hope she gets the same opportunity I had. Thank you. Next is Jasine Mendoza, followed by Matias Murphy, followed by Leah Murphy. >> Good evening, members of the board. My name is Jasine. I am currently a freshman at Piner. I want to speak tonight about why CCLA is important to me and so many other students and families in the Southwest community.

077I attended CCLA from kinder to 8th grade. CCLA is more just more than just a school. It is where students feel welcome, supported, and proud of who they are. I was so lucky to have to have had teachers and staff who can understand my family's culture and experiences. This made me feel safe and heard. In middle school, I met many students from different elementary schools. We built friendships and community. Many of them would help the elementary classes as a peer tutor and they and they really enjoyed it. That is an elective no other schools have. I am now finishing up my first year of high school and JC classes. I feel academically strong thanks to the highquality education I received as a CCLA student. Please continue supporting Caesar Chaveis Language Academy and the opportunities it

078gives students and families in Santa Rosa. Gracias. Next is Matias Murphy followed by Leah Murphy followed by Molina Valoria. >> Wait, I think I have to go. >> Either one. >> My name is Matthysse Murphy and I'm a student at CCLA. I have a heard that my school's charter is up soon in June. There are multiple scenarios, but the best would be to keep the community kids in the middle school. There are so many advantages like advanced band sports, both of which I'm looking forward to next year as a sixth grader. If the community kids aren't at CCLA, these activities won't be possible. Also, completely taking off the middle school is not a good option either. Please slow down, negotiate with the right district on our charter, and let's do what's best for the community

079and students like me. CEO Next is Leah Murphy, followed by Molina Valoria, followed by Avery. And Avery, if you can state your last name. >> State my last name. >> Go ahead. Leah Murphy's next. >> Oh, sorry. Okay. Hi, my name is Leam Murphy. I'm a parent of two kids at CCLA. This is my son, Matthysse Murphy. Um, back in 2018, I believe as a condition of the school's move to the former Cook Middle School campus, the school was asked by the district to create a TK through8 school, including the community middle school students. We merged, we did the hard work to create a welcoming school with a vibrant middle school program that included middle school students from the community that hadn't attended the K through um the dual language immersion program. Many parents like

080this model. Um, we have a safe, welcoming environment that's been created and um, and we like the current offerings for our middle school students, the seventh period elective advanced band for sixth through 8th graders, after school sports. We know we're in a tough time, but now with three weeks left in the school period, we we we really don't know what the next steps are. We don't know what the plan is. So, we're asking you, please help us create a plan that will work for our students and that's best for the community. Thank you for your support. Next is Molina Valoria followed by Avery followed by Eden Lapidas. >> My name is Molina Valoria and I'm a sixth grader at SRLA. It is very important for me to stay at my school with my friends and

081my saxophone. I've been going to the same school for 7 years since kindergarten. Um, I also have a younger brother who is currently a fourth grader. It's really fun to have my brother only a few classrooms away. A lot of my friends also have younger siblings and we build a strong community. Furthermore, I am part of the school's band program. I've really enjoyed the experience and I made a commitment to zero period. If the middle school moves to EHS, my mom will have to will need to go to three different places to get me, my brother, and herself all to school on time, which may not be possible. Another thing I would like to mention about band is how it will be changed if our schools separate. The students and teachers would have to go

082to different spots it and it could be difficult. I know I speak for all of us band members when I say I love it the way it is. It's a very wonderful experience to have this connection through band. Please keep SRLA TK8 at its current location. Thank you for your time and consideration. Next is Avery, followed by Eden Lapidas, followed by an Angelina M. Hola. My name is Avery Price and I am currently in sixth grade at SRLA. I have two siblings, one in fourth and one in TK. They and I have both made many friends along the way and would all like to continue with our SRLA community. By taking away the middle school, it would greatly impact our Spanish learning. I enjoy every second improving and expanding my knowledge in two different languages.

083I'm sure my siblings would say the same. It makes no sense to change, separate, or move our campus's location. It is completely unfair to all the students currently at SRLA, including me, and to the whole of S. Uh, yeah. If we were to move from the location we are now, all the signs in Spanish and English would be lost along with the relationships we have with businesses nearby. Thank you for your time and consideration. Next is Eden Leidas, followed by an Angelina M. Followed by Kia Flores Tindal. Hello, my name is Eden and I've gone to CCLA for eight years and I'm in the marching band. I think that you should keep CCLA a TK through 8th grade because this year a new kid that only speaks Spanish came up to me and asked me

084what a Spanish word was in English. To this day I talk to him in Spanish and he talks to me in English. That is why we should keep CCLA at TK through 8th grade with the neighborhood kids as part of our school. Next is Angelina M, followed by Kia Flores Tindal followed by Ameiliano. My name is Anelina M and I'm a student from CCLA and I'm in sixth grade and I would like to keep learning um CCLA for middle school because I love my school. We learn Spanish and English. Please keep our school like it is now. Gracias. Next is Kia Flores Tindal, followed by Emmeiliano, followed by Lily Roman. >> Hello, I am Kia, a fifth grader at CCLA/Srla. This school means the world to me since I have already grown roots that can

085never be transplanted. My third grade sister, Amani, has never had the experiences to be in a community that plays advanced instruments, learns Spanish, and has amazing art programs for they might be taken away. I would be grateful for this school to stay a bilingual TK through 8. So my three-year-old sister Cleo has the magical experience of walking through the TK door for the first time which I would give my all to see. Gracias. Next is Ameliano followed by Lily Roman followed by Jenna Johnson. Uh hello, my name is Emiliano Moika. I want to ask the the board a question. When you make this decision about closing or or moving the seventh and eighth grade, are you take thinking about the students and what is best for us? Are you thinking about the money we bring

086to the district? Because to us, this is more than just numbers. This is our school, our teachers, our friends, and our future. One thing that would be taken away from me is the music program. I've been in music at this school since third grade. Music has been my passion since I was little and being an advanced band means a lot to me. This program helped me grow, feel confident, and feel like I belong. If you close our school or move us, you are not just moving students. You're taking away program memories programs memories and opportunities. Please think about the students and how this decision will affect us. Thank you. Next is Lily Roman, followed by Jenna Johnson, followed by Sarah Vaughn. Okay, I don't have any other students, I don't believe. I don't think so,

087but he could talk if he fills out a card. >> Just come on up and state the name. >> Yeah. >> Uh my name is Shiloh Audi and I am a student at CCLASSLA. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to go to the school and learn Spanish. I have been at the school since TK and now I'm going into sixth grade. I have been able to meet some of my closest friends at this school and that is why this school is important to me and a great asset to our community. I hope this school continues to thrive and I hope to be able to go to middle school at CCLA. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Do we have anyone else that sub submitted public comments on either the centers of

088Language Academy or the Accelerated Charter School that wants to have their students speak now so they can go get dinner or anything like that? I see. Oh, yeah. Go ahead. >> Okay. My name is Shelby Valoria and I'm a parent at SRLA and an educator in the Rosland School District. I'm asking you to keep SRLA TK8 at its current site. It's overcome years of instability after being moved to the current campus and merging the two school communities with limited district support. Despite this, students, staff, and families have built a strong TK8 community there. I have children in fourth and sixth grade, and I want them to continue learning together on the same campus. My daughter joined advanced band and plans to continue through middle school, and my son looks forward to joining in sixth grade.

089Opportunities like this exist because SRLA is a TK8 school. SRLA fills a critical need in Santa Rosa. There's currently a TK weight list of 68 students because bilingualism and biiteracy matter in our community. As an educator in Rosland, I also see how valuable the seventh peri seven period day is for multilingual learners. Allowing students to receive English support while they're still participating in electives and they deserve both. If relocation or restructuring is truly necessary, families and staff deserve transition. Thank you very much for your comments and stakeholder involvement and a realistic time. >> Thank you very much for your comments. >> All right, we're going to we will take up the remainder of the cards during the public hearing. So, we'll definitely call any cards that weren't called. Um and thank you for helping us

090manage this process for the kids to be able to have dinner and bedtime in a reasonable time. Um, so just reminding without objection, the board's going to incorporate these comments into the proper public hearing when we get there. And I'm going to go ahead and move now to discussion H1B, which is our current charter school strategies overview. Um, and I I want to acknowledge that a part of this item is for the board as we're starting to take a more deliberate approach to um understanding the strategy of growth and success for each of our charters. And so I appreciate the work of our administrators has gone into this presentation and I want to acknowledge that you were here very late at our last meeting uh to give us this presentation. We weren't able to get

091to it within the time we had. So, I appreciate you being ready then and now being ready today. Uh, Dr. Castro, I'll let you introduce the item. >> Thank you very much Mr. President Casten and Superintendent August Hume. I'd like to invite the uh principles of the charters down to the table with me. This really is their presentation. I'll turn over my computer and now that I'm sharing and we'll go ahead and start that conversation. and they have a prepared a couple of slides each um so they can go over their thinking of what currently they um have been considering uh intentionally as the strategy that they use for their charter. So I'm going to go ahead and step away and allow them to um begin that conversation with the board um and just basically

092move through the tabs here. So I'll let you start. Okay, you see how it's set up here? We have >> President Cassin, how much time are we allotting to this? Um it'll depend on how many questions and how much uh discussion the board has on the item that we don't have a specific time limits on our discussion items but I will try to move us along. Good evening. Um, President Casten, um, interim superintendent August and esteemed director, student. Um, I am the proud principal of San Rosa Charter School for the Arts, Principal Sarah Parado. And, um, I just wanted to talk a little bit about our school tonight. We have approximately 88% of our students are here within the city of Santa Rosa. The majority of them are within 3 to five miles. We have

093quite a large group on Wednesday that rolls and walks to school. Some folks park about a block away and then come in, but a lot of our families are able to actually ride their bike in on that day. Um, and 12% of our students are out of out of our district enrollment. So, these are students from Heelsburg, from Windsor, from Forestville, and from Cloverdale. So, um, that strong in district enrollment, I believe that it reflects our school's ability to retain families and it offers a program that is both engaging and meaningful for students across our grade levels. And then when we're talking about our students that come from outside our district boundaries, um these families are actively choosing Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts because of the distinctive opportunities that our program provides. >>

094Good evening. Um my name is Michelle Holmstead and I am arts coordinator at Santa Rosa Charter for the Arts and I've been um serving before this year um as a middle school science teacher for the last 14 years. also a parent um of a student at our school. One thing I want to highlight for um Sanders Charter for the Arts is the focus on service learning projects throughout our entire campus. Um in the uh the center pictures, we have some super adorable puppies from a service learning project that a first slash second grade combo class did to um draw awareness to dogs that are up for adoption. So, there was a collaborative project between this class and Compassion Without Borders uh right around Valentine's Day. It was an art project where they were recreating the

095portrait of a dog, finding out a little bit about their personality, posting these Valentines on the kennel doors to increase to increase foot traffic. But we raise steel head in the classroom. We are connecting kids constantly to members of the public. There's one project I want to um highlight that I'm really proud of. We're collaborating with the Velvet Bandit, who's a local um street artist, on a wall ball mural project. So, there's a lot of collaboration that happens and um that makes me really proud of our school. Um and then, as you'll notice there, an important aspect of our program is our commitment to inclusive practices. So we have about 78 students, approximately 20% of our student population. They have an IEP or a 504 plan because of the way we learn and teach at

096the arts charter. These are very arts integrated projectbased learning models. And so we support full inclusion classrooms. Students learn alongside their peers in meaningful and engaging ways. And this provides opportunities for our students at all levels to enter our program at any grade level. >> I think we'll go through each presentation. We can ask uh questions of everyone at the end. >> Just again just Oh, I >> was just gonna say I think we need tech support as well down here. Thank you, Melanie. Oh, perfect. And >> Dr. Emperado, if you had an additional comment, please. >> Uh, yes. So, this is our second slide. Um, just we Sorry, it's okay. We got this. Uh just for enhanced learning, we wanted to just um explain that they share their understanding in performative ways, in visual

097arts. Um they act out concepts, they build models, they write scripts. The way our students learn is is much further than scripted tests or um worksheets. And so I just wanted to draw our attention to the the project-based learning model that we use. And then as far as 21st century skills, um performing arts, their primary environment for developing cooperation, collaboration, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and problem solving. Um it's also a great way to strengthen working memory, fine gross motor skills, and early brain development. And then just once again, when we speak to personal growth, right, we know that our students are learning every day not just academic content. There's a huge social emotional learning component at our TK through 8th grade school. That arts education piece that that's their confidence when they're up there performing

098and feeling good about their work and showing what they know in ways that we can feel and understand deeper than just a check mark. It goes a lot deeper than that. And it it develops their humanity, empathy, and they just share their creativity. And most importantly, arts integration is fun. So, um, creating lessons that, um, you know, and projects that allow students to have fun with each other and their teachers builds lasting memories. Um, I would like to add that since we are a TK through 8, the middle school teachers, we often get kids for three consecutive years and you build a super strong bond with your students and that is what I love I think probably the most. Um, laughing during the early arts integration process is really common. It's low stakes. No matter

099what kids are coming in with experience-wise, it's all welcomed. Um, so performances, exhibitions, community, and events, they give students authentic um, opportunities to shine and build their confidence. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. I'm Gabriela Menosa Torres, the interim principal at CCLA SRL. Uh, and I am here with Maestra Brown and Maestra Deasu and I will pass it over to them. Uh, good evening board members. Uh thank you for having us tonight and giving us an opportunity to share some of the great things that are happening at Santa Rosa Language Academy. As you know, we are a TK8 program that has both dual immersion students learning in Spanish and English as well as a comprehensive middle school that has students on an Englishonly track. As a K8, we have many

100opportunities to provide enriching and rigorous academics and electives for all students. For example, our music program is offered for students third through 8th grade uh with students beginning to learn to play an instrument starting in third grade. We are also able to offer advanced band starting in sixth grade and mariachi guitar, drum line in middle school. We also have music for TK first through colors of Spanish. Um along with our amazing and robust music program, we have a competitive sport. We have competitive sports starting in sixth grade offering basketball, wrestling, and volleyball. Our middle school program has added track and field, track and field, and cross country as well. We have over a third of our sixth or eighth grade students participating in afterchool sports. So as a site we have we're in year two

101of participation in the California principal support network which is guiding us in the process of the PLC process. Um so we are aligning across grade levels and content areas. Through our work with the PLC process, we have begun collaborating and we have created PLTS which are person professional learning teams um to create rigorous academic a rigorous academic program that supports all kids learning at grade level. Um and this also includes um an MTSS. We've gone through an MTSS with CAPS. We've also done a lot of MTSS work and we've been able to have a really strong um intervention team that is able to identify students and guide families through the 504 process and SST process as well as the IEP process. Um some of the strategies that we implement at our site um and in

102our classrooms are GLAD strategies, guided language acquisition um AVID and best practices in dual immersion. Um this year we have also particip our seventh graders have also participated in land paths. Um and many of our students graduate in eighth grade with the CILA biiteracy. Um which is the ultimate goal for dual immersion. Um and we at our site we really have a strong community and a community with a commitment to all students feeling supported and engaged. Our foundation has a strong present presence at our site. We're able to provide opport enrichment opportunity opportunities such as val chlorico um assemblies and other celebrations. Um and they're able to provide materials to enhance the student experience at our site that is very specific. Um in addition, I would say that we've really worked really hard on our

103reclassification too. Like as a district, we're working on reclassification and we heard a lot about reclassification tonight. Um, but that is one of the things that we're really proud of at CCLA. Um, it really shows and proves the tenants of dual immersion. Right? If we're doing our job right, we should be seeing those reclassification rates really be rising and high or be the highest in the district because if dual immersion is doing its job, we will see those students being reclassified early um earlier early on and we're going to see them graduate with that seal of biiteracy. Um, so the percentages look great. Last year 2425 we had 22.5% of our eelss reclassified. A lot of our eels are reclassified by sixth grade at the latest. Um and that's amazing and we're proud of that.

104Um we appreciate your time and we're really proud of the work and effort and our commitment to our students and families. Um and we look forward to continuing the great work and experiences that we started this year. Hi, I'm Evelyn Anderson and I'm the principal of the Santa Rosa French American Charter School and I'm here with co-lead teacher Ode Pere who's also an amazing TK teacher. Um we teach our students primarily in French and then we teach the English parts as necessary. For example, they students start in TK receiving 10% um of their day in English to to learn English. Uh and then um they get a little bit more in third grade uh primarily math so that they learn the measuring system for that's needed on the CASP. Uh so they understand inches and

105um feet rather than uh centimeters. Yeah. Um and also dollars. They learn um American money. And then in fourth grade they get California history in English. Fifth grade um American history in English. And then we do let them go to 50% English in sixth grade so that they're ready to move on if they go into um any secondary school in in Santa Rosa. But we're really glad that um we are TK through 8 also, but our seventh and eighth graders are actually located on the Montgomery Junior Senior High School campus, which is perfect because they have the IB program. And so it provides that TK through 12 continuum of um international learning that is so important to our families and um especially now that the IB program is expanding down into seventh and eth. It's

106just a beautiful arrangement for our students and we're so so grateful to be able to expand physically as we um get to move relocate to a new site. you know, we always have a couple of hundred students on our wait list and it's always sad that we can't take more students and that that families that want our our program um haven't been able to access it. So, super happy to be doing that. We still have a wait list even though there's more room to fill, but we'll keep working on that. Um, historically 60% of our families come from outside the district. Uh, so people really do make a great effort to get to us and we're really honored by that. Um, and I'm personally just looking forward to any questions you have so that I

107know what you want to know. >> And do you have anything there? >> Okay. Uh, when Evelyn um asked me to come uh she said you need to describe how it looks like. So I'm not going to uh I'm going to do since I've been teaching in this school since 2013. I've been there for a long time. I started as a kinder teacher. I know it looks like is that now sometimes I'm in city in of Santa Rosa in the street and I'm meeting former kinder students and they're chatting with me in French which is super cool and uh also being able to see my students who were in TK with me who are now in sixth grade and they are helping my students. It's a great privilege and I'm really happy to see that

108they are still uh speaking with the French language and that they are um engaged with me like speaking the language that I teach them. So that's uh that's just a little story I wanted to share. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. So Daryl Corell, principal, Santa Rosa Accelerate Charter School. Um, last time I was here, um, I kind of went over at length what the program, um, offers. We, um, and the great successes of the combination of depth and complexity model and building thinking classrooms and the the the clear data shows the successes academically. Um, and then I was asked to for the la the previous meeting to talk about possible outreach and expansion efforts and how do we expand the program within the district. And so that's what I created the slides

109for and I'm and I'm hoping to answer some questions about and to collaborate on how to uh integrate the program throughout the district um in meaningful ways. Um and just so some of our outreach efforts have been that number one we we uh four years ago we changed the model of how we we bring students in and we waited at 4 to one for our under underrepresented. So our kids who qualify for free and reduced lunch have a 4 to one um opportunity to get in. And um if you were to look at the next slide, we've increased that number. 246% of students um are socioecon over over time uh are now so socioeconomically disadvantaged and we hope to increase that number more and become more diverse. Um we have mostly relied on word of

110mouth um and the success of the program um and have not uh reached out in the community outside of that success and presenting at board meetings and and meeting and opening our doors to the community for the community to come into information nights. Um but would love to um and I know the team at Shrax would love to work with the board to talk about how we can integrate more of what we do at Shrax into uh curriculum in the rest of the community. Thank you each for your presentations. Um I want to acknowledge that this format in many ways us being the board for you as our charter schools is us being separately seated for four additional um almost the equivalent of small district schools. uh you have your own LC caps, your own

111budgets, and a lot of times we don't have the time up here to focus individually to understand the strategies that you're implementing and the path to success um that uh we're best able to support you in. So that's th this is intended to be an initial place for us to start being able to understand more of our role um in being your board and lead helping you lead towards success for your programs. Uh, and so with that framing, I'm gonna ask my colleagues for their questions and discussion and then I'll have some questions at the end. Trustee P and then Jenkins. >> I just had a quick question. You spoke really fast, Daryl. So, I just wanted to know if I heard it correctly. You have a 4 to one with your lottery. Shouldn't everyone's

112lottery be the same? So that's I'm just I just need clarification >> that that's the way it's written into our into our charter is that we have a 4 to1 ratio. I don't know that all the charters are the same. >> Maybe I'm princip I'm misunderstanding. >> Yeah. So um it is an element h um for the district policy that if we need to go to a lottery um the priority is for free introduced lunch students. We pull four names for and then the next group is usually one name. So yeah, they get four times the opportunity. Yeah. >> Thank you, >> Trusty Jenkins. >> I had a question for arts. um because everyone is has a different composition of age ranges and impacts and specifically for you guys because you are K8 without extra

113stuff and you're not integrated with another school. Um how has how has the changes in our secondary district impacted um impacted your approach with the olders? And by the way, I have not been on campus while you guys are actually there. I have been on campus when you were not there. Um, and when I was in classrooms doing I taught how to draw Snoopy all over the county, Bay Area. Um, I loved the school so much. So, thank you for all you do. But anyways, so I I just want to make sure I I answer what you asked. Um, so regarding our middle school, how have the changes affected our middle school? Yeah. So we our our our middle school is a six through eight. So it just it looks different. Um, as far as

114this year, any experiences that have changed? Really? I would say that we've retained uh definitely the majority of students um after shifting to the 7 through 12 model. Um as far as like students who have you know gone over to a 712 model um between this year and last I would say maybe 10 or less. It was it was very few. And one thing that's noteworthy for how um 6 through 8 operate at our school is um they rotate classes. So, we have home room teachers, uh, but each teacher is also in charge of teaching a core subject. So, students are rotating with a cohort to to simulate class rotations. So, that way when they do go to high school, it's a little bit of a soft uh kind of ease into things. And there

115is a direct correlation between art quest and our eighth grade um the majority of our eighth grade students apply and do their portfolios for art quest and that has stayed that that is the same this year that has not been affected. >> Let's see Kirby. >> Um I have a few questions. Um maybe can go down the list. Who has weight lists for each of your schools as you go? Everyone has a weight list. Nice. It's a good problem to have. Um for um tracks, do do your students participate in sports at RVMS or is that combined? They or they have any kind of sports? >> Uh Shreks has their own sports teams. They have their own um boys and girls basketball teams. >> Okay. And is that um French American also has just basketball.

116Is that right? Um >> really they have a really competitive chess club. >> Oh, >> it's true. It is considered a sport in the French system. So, yes, we have the the uh North American Champion Chess Club. >> Nice. >> No big deal. They're going to France. Um, >> second year in a row, >> right? I did see that. Uh, last question. Um, I know French uh French American charters used to have the uh French culinary uh meals prepared. Is that is there a chance of bringing that back at all? >> We have high hopes that yes, and I've been speaking with Ed Burke and it seems like we'll be heading more in that direction. Um it's it is part you know for our charter it is um really important to have the culturally relevant

117part of the day be culturally uh the food um obviously food is a big deal in the French culture and the more we can have um you know farm fresh uh culturally influenced food the the more it will reinforce our whole program. >> Great. So that's all I got. Trusty Dufasi and then Medina. >> Yeah. Hi, thanks for being here. Um, just same question for San Rosa accelerated and Santa Rosa language academy. The other uh gave us a breakdown of in district percentage and out of district percentage. So I'm wondering what San Rose accelerated in CCLA SRLA is if you know Yeah. >> Percentage of students that come from in district and ones that are coming from out of district to attend your charter school. >> I I think Lee can give you the exact

118number. Ours is quite high. The vast majority of our students come from Ricken Valley Union School District, but is other school districts as well. Um but most of them are from out of district. I would say it's something around 70%. >> Get that for you in a moment. I do know I have tracks as a follow-up. I don't know that we have that for Do you have that? No, >> I have it. Yeah, I'll follow it up. But I for TK Kinder, we have 78.8%. We don't have this whole school site as a whole, but 78% of our students in TK and Kinder are at a district. and we'll get the full numbers on that and follow-up information. Did you have any other questions? All right, Trusty Medina. >> Thank you. Thank you all for

119uh being here and presenting um for um French American and CCLA. Um question in terms of the dual immersion um and admitting students. Um I know that it's dependent on the early stages. Um do you only accept at like the TK kindergarten level or how how late can they be admitted? I don't recall at each school. >> Um so in the dual immersion program um we normally we we have a test that we give students to see their biiteracy. So they have to in order to be accepted they have to take a test to see how biliterate they are. Um I would say normally students don't get accepted prior to third grade. Uh we make an exception for students who have already been in dual immersion. Like we get students sometimes that relocate, they've been

120in dual immersion before. Um and that's kind of like an automatic in if they've been in dual immersion. Um but we other than that um it's really hard to get up to speed. For example, I'm the math teacher and I teach all of it in Spanish, right? So if a student's level of in fourth grade, um if a student's level by literacy is not high enough in Spanish, then it's really hard to get to access the content. Um, so I would say that we can accept students at any grade level if they're prior dual immersion students. Um, I would say it's more common for us to accept younger grade students if their level of biiteracy is really high. >> Just to clarify, you said you don't accept prior to to third grade, but did you

121mean after third grade? >> Um, we don't ex what was that? Sorry. >> You said you don't accept them prior to third grade, but did you mean post third grade? So, the exception we we make is if they've been in dual immersion, it's any grade. But I would say normally it's not prior to third grade because of the level the rigor that we're at from third grade and on in Spanish is really high. Um, but there is a test that we use to u determine whether they can be accepted. >> So, there's always exceptions. Yeah, >> we have a different approach. Um, believing that if you suddenly were to land in France, how are you going to learn French? Right. even if you're in fifth grade, we do have some very serious conversations for students

122who are entering at especially third grade and up. Um we and we ask that the student come and spend a day um with their peers so that they get that feeling of what it's like to be in a classroom where you don't understand what's being said. We have had remarkable successes where students have entered third grade, fifth grade, and they're super motivated. Maybe they've had a grandparent who spoke French, something like that. Um, many of them have already learned English as a second language, so they already have that type of, you know, ability to learn languages. Um, so they have really impressed us. On the other hand, there are students who think they're going, they really want to do this and then it doesn't work out so well and it's a real struggle. So, I

123would love um if if I get the opportunity um to begin an a French on-ramp class for newcomers to French um so that we could you know help these students who want to learn French but maybe not throw them in the deep end right away. And um you know what I think we're discussing CCLA further later, but in terms of the 78 located at the McGomery campus, how does that work in terms of like they're their own separate classes? Are they integrated with the other classes >> and and also the the physical component of that? >> Um how does that work? Yeah, we have one classroom uh you know, so they spend three periods a day doing French language and literature, history and science in French and then they go out and they're integrated into

124the Montgomery Junior High classes. So for math, PE um and English, they they do that with the other Montgomery students and it's working great. The students are delighted. uh they get to participate of course in all the sports and activities and it's just working great >> and and I don't know who could answer the fiscal component of that question. >> Oh the fiscal part. So they are still on our budget um for you know the I for the teacher and the materials and all of that. >> So the other school gets nothing for the three classes that they participate in. there's a we have a share of cost for based on on the number of students and the co and the cost of the classes. So there's that's all on the back side when you

125see the um when we you look at the charter budgets when it's the fee for services that's where it's captured and to answer the earlier question I did have 70% is the average for Shraxs from outside of district >> and I I think the the last question because it's about you know strategies for growth and such um I think at the previous meeting I think for CCLA mentioned the limiting growth factor is the lack of facilities for the youngest students that really limits how how many students could be incorporated at the TK or K level. Um is that this is that an issue with um the French American or now that it's moving center and middle is that going to be something that's changing? Are there more classes that are going to be taught there?

126Um, so when we re relocate to the former San Rosa Middle, is that what you're asking? So we're adding a TK and a kindergarten this coming school year. Um, we need to do managed growth because getting, for example, a TK teacher who meets the French criteria as well as the state of California's criteria is difficult. Um, and so we need to be careful that we don't open classes that don't have a teacher that's appropriate for the class. >> Thank you, Trusty Deator. Any questions? >> So, I appreciate the question about Shraxs and the outer district percentages. um if we could look for future um what percentages are outside of Rinken Valley because Shrax is in the Rinken Valley neighborhood. So that's why there'd be a high majority of Rinken Valley Unified School District students going

127there. They're considered out of district. I'd also like to know are we attracting students from out of the neighborhood, not just out of the district. >> Yeah. So, and I can share with you guys the exact numbers. Um but we have students from uh Pineer District. We have students from right district. We have students from um a variety of districts all around. It's it's a it's a handful. So it's three to five, seven kids, but we only have enrollment of 128. So um from each district, there's, you know, a smattering from each from each of them. >> It's just really good information for us to have so that we have an understanding of um geographically where is there a want for these programs. So, where are these students coming from? And what does that mean

128geographically for our district and our city of where are these students um coming from that are looking to participate in these wonderful programs that you guys are offering? >> It looks like it averages about 16 15 to 16% that are for specifically for Shreks. I have that information because it was requested last time. Don't have it for everybody, but that's something that we can that we can get. >> Thank you. All right. I do have questions, but in our um reorganizing of everything for the public hearing comments, we did have one card that got missed in um H1A. So, we're going to briefly move up there to take that public comments because related to this item and then I'll give my questions and comments. >> Thank you, President Cassen. Uh Brittany Fonte, please. >> You

129have one minute. >> All right. So before I uh I had children, I knew that if I did, I wanted them to attend Santa Rosa French-American Charter. And I planned that one for years. Uh and so when our family was accepted in 2020, we made the decision to sell our home in Cloverdale and move to Santa Rosa in the middle of a global pandemic where everything felt uncertain because access to a dual immersion education mattered that much to our family. We left the comfort of having our entire support system and free child care around the corner because we believe that this school could offer our child an amazing education. And Sarfax has delivered on that promise. The teachers, the staff, Abnavilan have built a community that has given my child not only a strong academic

130foundation, but a broader life education, one rooted in language, culture, global awareness, and connection. Our family chose Santa Rosa because of this charter and I think that matters. When charter families have a strong support experience, they're more likely to stay and invest in our district. Okay. >> Thank you for your comments. Um so I guess my my question and Prince Land, I'm going to start with you just because I I have asked this of you before so I know you have an answer. Um but I I want to understand strategically who who are what are the other schools that you see in the area that you're um that you're competing with and when I think of competition I'm more in the Simon Zynic world of competition means that we're continuously evolving and doing better. Uh

131so who is it that is challenging you to continuously evolve and do better? So um we are accredited by the French minis ministry of education and uh so are five over 500 maybe 600 at this point schools throughout the world including schools in San Francisco and Berkeley Salelo and so they are all off offering the same program recruiting the same teachers but they charge quite a bit more um and so I get to see what they're doing and how they're growing And honestly, the IB program has become a really integral part now of those programs as well. So that encourages me that as you support IB and help the the IB program get stronger, I know that that will have a positive impact on our school and it's not unusual for families once once they

132hear about our school to move so that they can come to our school. >> Thank you. same question to our our other folks though without the preparation of having me already asked you it. >> Um I would say for a dual language program I would say our competition our biggest competition would be ourselves. I know that's kind of like we want to make sure that we're doing education right and that students are being retained and that they're actually learning the language. Um, Sonoma County has another three or four dual language programs in Spanish and English specifically. Um, but I do think that we are, you know, those programs and when families are trying to figure out what are what type of education they're going to be able to provide for their for their child, it's

133okay, Spanish language, English um, with us and then making sure that we do it well. So I think in continuing our processes with the PLC's and continuing being able to educate them and kind of continue the growth that we're doing with our students. >> Can I >> um I think that I would add that we recognize that we're a school of choice. So the competition is like um is saying here is among ourselves. it. We understand that families have an have a school home school that they could choose to go to, but they're um in many ways driving across town to come to our site. Um there are families that we have come from Cloverdale far and wide. So, it is a um I don't know how to say it, but it's a a very

134diverse community as well as serving the community in our neighborhood. That's an interesting question for us as an arts integrated school in Santa Rosa. Um, so we look to we work very closely. All of our teachers were trained by um, Focus 5, Shaun Lang, and the Kennedy Center. And so we look to them as examples of model schools. Our teachers actually have gone on um, excursions to go look at other art integrated schools. My art coordinator can speak to the one that she was able to check out. um last year I believe it was and you brought back some really great ideas. >> Yeah. >> Um so I went to Bailey Elementary um which is just outside of DC and they are um a TK through 2 grade um arts integrated school. So what we

135were able to kind of um capture from there and bring back was how what the VAPA teachers worked with the general education teachers to design instructional units collaboratively. So, I would, you know, comparably to what you guys mentioned about like competition, you know, like edifying our programs yeartoear is what I think we we need to focus on and by seeing what else is out there and what we can do that's manageable is I know where we're at. Um, so I would say something similar to that as well. I guess and last but not least, um I mean so we are we challenge ourselves through um other accelerated charters within the the general geographic area, but also through um our teachers yearly attend CAD conferences where they're um they're working with other schools and teachers from

136uh you know, schools for the gifted um and really looking at what the most current practices are and really looking at our own scores and and setting lofty goals in how to not only maintain but continue to achieve at an even higher level um throughout the state of California. So that's I mean that's really what we're what we compete against is is everybody around us that attends any type of of council for the gifted. >> Thank you. Um so I'm just going to start comments and I'll go to my colleagues if they have wrapping up comments, but I just appreciate you coming. we need we we are taking more seriously our ability to learn each of your individual strategies. Um you know so that we're when we're up here taking actions on your behalf, we're

137able to actually you know fully understand where that's leading. Um I think options are really the the word of the day, right? Because in order for us to serve each and every student, we need to recognize that we're not going to be able to serve each and every student in the exact same model. Students learn differently. um we all work differently. We all have different communi communication styles and you know just we need options and so I really appreciate the work that you've done to get us to the place where we have these options whether it's the TK8 components the language the accelerated the different models the arts integration um I think it's just so important for for me the biggest thing is all of you raising your hands with your weight lists um so

138it's about how do we figure out how to get more of the students students that look that are looking for and need these options into your programs. And I do want to make sure I address very specifically the the concept of attraction and retention. Um, I don't believe that a student attending your schools, and to be very clear when I say that, I mean a dependent charter school, which is a place that is free, is publicly governed, um, is staffed with union teachers from our labor groups and union staff and has all of the equity components in it. and having your options be present. Um there is no taking that is occurring. What we're doing is seeing students that need your learning environments come and that's either retaining them within our district or attracting them

139because their districts don't offer those types of services. So I I appreciate each of you. I also want to acknowledge that we have a whole segment of the population of twice exceptional students which I talk about from time to time that aren't served right now by any of our programs. The state defunded a lot of that 10 plus years ago, but I hear consistently about different students being served within your campuses just at the first tier because of the different offerings and different models because you meet their learning needs without it having to be a special accommodation. So, I think it's really also important to recognize that having the different learning models means that we're delivering for these students. And you know, I I hope that we are able to continue supporting you in your

140growth and success and having more conversations like this as we go forward. Would anyone else like to make comments before we move on to the next item? >> Trusty Jenkins. >> I did want to just make a comment about uh Santa Rosa French Academy. um that I I don't know if the public sees this all the time, but I know personally I know several families who have two languages spoken at home when they enter Surfax and it's not French usually. Like I know several families who speak English and Spanish at home all the time and they go to the French school. I know it's not called that. That's what I still call it. Um, and it's just such a huge benefit to our community. Uh, all of the programs are, but I think that that

141one it that piece uh doesn't get talked about a lot and I I just think it's a really interesting piece of information. Thank you guys so much for your everything you do. >> Trusty P. >> I still have a dream that one day we'll have a triilingual middle school high school. That's was my dream when my kids entered CCLA in kindergarten. when the just the discussion for the dual immersion pathway. So one day maybe 50 years from now when we're no longer in a deficit. Um but I do appreciate everything that each one of your schools offer because there isn't a one-sizefits-all in education. I mean I chose dual immersion for my children because I didn't grow up speaking Spanish and it was really important for me for my children to have this opportunity. you

142know, if if I could go back and redo my childhood, I would have gone to the arts charter. Um, but I think what we're offering our kids that need a different type of learning, it's really important and crucial and just opening those doors for opportunities are essential. So, I just appreciate it because I know it's extra extra work needing to translate everything into languages. We're just speaking in meetings in two languages. So, I rec I recognize that. Thank you, >> Trusty Medina and then Du Fasy. All right, Trusty Medina. I mean, um I a couple things. I think um in the context of competition, I think outside of the internal um we we we got to remember that we're in a city with 10 school districts. Two of them are us. We compete with a

143lot of other districts. um a lot of those other districts also have charters that um we're in competition with. So I think it's not just the internal competition, we're in competition with all of those districts as well. Um I think important uh because some of the things that I've heard um I think miss some of the historical context. Um, and I think it's important for everybody on the board to to understand um, with with the French American and the CCLA kind of how that started, right? When the board decided to close Doyle um, and put the French American there, um, civil rights organizations sued the district, right? And as part of that, there was a settlement. That settlement led to the creation of CCLA. Um, and I think it's also important to understand that throughout

144um, the intent was for that to be a uh, a school that went through 8th grade and it was slowly transitioning year after year after year. um specifically with CCLA um there was an opportunity that arose when the district decided to close Cook um to be able to provide a campus as the school needed to expand, right? It needed to continue to grow and it needed a place to call home. Um which led to where it's located now. Um, of course it's there's been issues around where um, everything's been located and the impacts on some of our other schools and the impacts of the district closing um, a middle school in in that part of the community. But that part of the community, the Southwest Santa Rosa, is also one that's really impacted by a

145lot of competition with other charter schools that that I think um, is ultimately adversely affecting everyone in one way or another. But I think it's important that we have that historical context understanding how it is that we got to where we are and what the intent has been from the beginning. Um because I think that's always important to know. So I just wanted to share that. Thank you Trusty Medina. Any final comments? Right. I want to thank each of you. Uh thank you for your time and thank you for showing up twice to give this presentation. Uh much appreciated. Oh, and I do want to say, Miss Homestead, you're also one of the best baseball coaches out there, so much appreciate for your time on the field as well. Uh, with that, we're going to

146move to item H1C. Um, so I, uh, I said this on multiple occasions at our the last meeting we had the charters on here, but our two public hearings. So, previously we had a meeting acting as the board for the charters. Today, we are moving into our role as the board for the authorizing entity for our dependent charters. So, we're seated in that. We'll be receiving the short presentations moving to the public hearing. Uh we do not take any action tonight. uh we will then come back and take our action to act on the charters on both on June 10th both on June 10th. Um so with that I'll turn over to Dr. Castro to introduce the item. >> Thank you very much President Casten Superintendent August Hume. Tonight we consider the um petition from

147CCLA in its uh final form. to do so I have with me once again um Gabriela Mendoza Torres inter principal of CCLA go ahead and uh present the are you going to present the changes or just you going to talk through it do you want to present anything or okay this Okay. Hello. Good night. Um, good night everyone. Uh, my name is Gabriel Mendesa Torres and I'm once again the interim principal here at CCLA and we are here for the charter hearing. Um, I just want to review I just want to review over the seventh and eighth grade program and then the hybrid blended program because we received some information from last time that we were here. Um, and I just want to explain those updates um, in our charter that are reflected in our

148charter. All right. Um, part of our seventh and eighth grade program, we do have a seven period day. One of the things that is going to be new for next year is that every out of those seven period courses, every single student on our campus, whether or not they're dual language or traditional track, are going to be taking a Spanish course. So, they're either going to be taking intro to Spanish or they're going to continue with Spanish 7 or Spanish 8 um as part of being true to the to the vision and mission of our program um of being biliterate, bilingual, by choice, and I'm missing another B. Bicultural. Thank you. Thank you. Um, part of this is, um, during seventh and eighth grade, our students still have to apply during the open enrollment window

149here at Santa Rosa City School District, uh, which is October 1st through November 15th usually. Uh, so at that point, our seventh and eighth grade students would be applying to enter to CCLA. And then if we have more more students applying than capacity, we would then do a lottery. In the last four years that we have had the seventh and eighth grade, we haven't had we haven't met that capacity. So all of our we've never had to go into a lottery. Okay. Okay. Um so here our hybrid program um blended blended program. So once once again this is looking at a virtual online course um academic courses where we're doing four classes approximately um online and then you have two days I like to split it up into like five out of those five days

150three of the days are online and two of those days are in person. Um, one of the pieces that we continuously talked about was making sure that they get their seal of biiteracy and making sure that they continue with the language program of the Santa Rosa language academy piece. Um, so we needed to remodel what the program looked like and so this update has had that the students are actually taking their Spanish classes. So, their Spanish 3, Spanish 4, um, or AP Spanish class on campus with a with an actual credential teacher on campus, as well as taking their online courses, um, has been the two major changes there. And then I tried to give out an example schedule of what through 9 through 12 hybrid blended learning would look like. Um, I know we

151think about blended learning when we thought about distance learning, but this is going to be a little different. Uh, because you're going to be having a teacher who's going to be checking in, um, planning the workload, looking at your classes, helping them kind of guide them through their online classes, and also that in-person support that they would that students would need um, as well. So I think that's the end of the presentation. >> All right. This is a public hearing so we can ask questions. We're recognizing that we will not be taking action or anything. They'll be coming back for that. Any questions? Trusty Medina Trusty Delatory. >> Yeah. I think um so with with all the changes happening, I think one of the important things is understanding that um the focus of the coursework

152at CCLA being tied to dual language immersion and I know you identified the um I think in seven and 8 that students would have to take one or more um Spanish courses. So I just want to clarify is that Spanish language courses or courses in Spanish like a science in Spanish or math in Spanish? So that is a good question. Um as of right now currently we have made exceptions for students who are new to the country and have those Spanish backgrounds to enter the dual language courses. One of the unique program updates for this is being able to allow that for students based on their their Spanish acquisition. Um, so not just saying like, okay, being able to to offer that for all of the students to be able to do if they're saying,

153hey, I want to be able to take this class in in math for it to for them to be able to have that opportunity to take that class in math or that class in Spanish and math. Um, as of right now, the seventh and eighth graders would be able to take an intro to Spanish class um, as their Spanish course. I don't know if that answered the question or confused everyone. So I I I guess my question is as the program continues, right, moving in from, you know, you're you start off early at CCLA and then from sixth grade, I imagine you transition into the seventh and the eighth, but moving forward is the idea that people could still come in at the 78 level. Um and and it's just that they take Spanish language

154class. >> Yes. >> Or or is it okay? >> Yes. >> No, I I'm not asking that per se as as a newcomer student. I'm just speaking in general. Um, so anyone could just apply and and the only only distinction from other comprehensive middle schools is that they're required to take a Spanish language class. >> Yes. >> Or or a class in in Spanish. >> Yes. >> So, let me get the clarification. new student, seventh grade comes in, they will be taking either a spang English language class or a class in Spanish and it'll be based on your assessment of their Spanish capabilities. >> Yes. >> Okay. I am Am I still on? Okay. I think um first off, I I don't think there's any intent to move um CCLA But um I think um

155with the changes I think it's really important um that we really strengthen the DLI component of seventh and eighth students at um CCLA. CCLA um because I think it's what needs to be different and also to to address the issue of now there's a school in Southwest Santa Rosa, right, that um students in South Tate can attend to can attend. and um in the local area. So, and so I I I think it's important to say that I that I'm supportive of renewing the charter of CCLA, but I think as we move forward, we really need to look at the impacts overall on everyone. I think there's a strong relationship that's existed between CCLA and LC Allen and I think um what's happening now is causing some tension because there's a lot of unknown um

156and I don't think that tension needs to be there because I think there's a lot of complimentary work that has been worked towards and can be done to to make everybody benefit and at the core of that benefit being the students. I think students have um there's a lot of potential for students to get a lot of beautiful education from >> a question. We'll be able to do comments after the public hearing. >> Any other questions? No. All right. >> Trusty Deator and then Trusty Kirby. >> So, thank you very much. I don't know if this is towards you or Lisa or Dr. Castro. Um, but I just need to have a better understanding of how we're attempting to move forward with this beautiful charter that has been in existence and where it's at now.

157While we are attempting to have a 7 through 12 comprehensive at LC Allen, we cannot support comprehensively two programs mile and a half apart. So, I need a better understanding of how we have reimagined this charter renewal, which I am in support of, but also to be able to coexist with community students that will now have a 78 home at LC Allen that they didn't have last year and they didn't have this year in August. I I think that the um you know that is that is the question that that we are faced with all of our charter schools really and they do coexist when we think of you know arts and our other schools they do coexist where we do have our other 7 through 12 schools it's a matter of where the niche

158program is for what is attractive to particular students so CCLA is looking at focusing more on that Spanish track with that. You know, they're a more traditional site, but having that Spanish component will attract that niche group versus the LC Allen group we expect to be more traditionally minded. There are options um for all of our students um across the district. And that's what we're looking to do is build options um and make sure that all of our schools thrive. We want to make sure that each site has a has a very healthy, thriving program. So, I hear that, but that's not what the community hears, and that's not what the community is coming and saying, "Don't change my school. Keep my comprehensive program on the CCLA campus." There's been a fear that that could

159be taken away. And we've heard that we don't have the applications of seventh and eighth graders to need a lottery or to fulfill those classes at CCLA. And now in the same neighborhood we are asking our LCL community to feel sympathetic classrooms. So I need to be very mindful of how we are implementing move forward by choice. It was very specific words used by choice and all of our families have a choice and if they choose to apply to CCLA then I hope there is a seat there for them and that student can go there and thrive. But I do not think we can implement with fidelity two comprehensive track programs within miles of each other simply because at CCLA they'll be required to take an intro to Spanish language class. They could do the

160same thing at LC Allen's seventh and eth if it's offered. So we've talked about competition. We've talked about lack of students and our dwindling numbers of students in this district. How are we appropriately imagining and implementing both these programs so our students have a home and they feel welcomed and wanted. And I also have concerns with the the 9 through 12 hybrid being added to the CCLA program. That's going to be a direct competition with LC Allen who's right down the street or in any of our high schools. Like we're adding more layers and I'm worried about what those layers truly mean. and if we even know what they truly mean as we're adding them. >> And I just need to voice those concerns up front because we can't afford to get any of this

161wrong anymore. We've run out of time of gambling on whatifs and every charter should have an application process and student should be allowed to go there if they want to go there and I want there to be a seat there. But as we're attempting to build and design a 712 at LC Allen >> question at this time, >> I I don't think I got my question answered before. How are we prepared to support both campuses? >> I think that's probably going to be a policy discussion that we'll have amongst the board um once we get through the public hearing. Any other technical questions for the presentation? Trusty Medina or Trusty Pack and then Medina. I guess it's not a question, but I think well I don't think else um CCLASLA is hurting for enrollment with

162the middle school program because I think that was your first question that you brought up or your first concern. Correct. >> So I I just wanted to ask technical questions right now so we can get the public hearing and then we can talk more about it afterwards. So >> So then we'll we'll do that after. Medina ju just my question is about how many um sixth graders graduate or come out of the program right now? >> 52. 52. >> Okay. And and about how many seventh and eighth graders do we have? >> Um as of right do you want pre-enrollment numbers or do you want current 25 27 26? Um, we currently have 132 eighth graders and we have 161 7th graders. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Trusty Kirby. >> Um, since it was

163a revision from the previous uh presentation, uh, briefly, I see now that the 9 to 12 uh 9 to 12 add-on, you're uh, doing it in phases. Can you just talk a little bit to that how you're going to implement that program in >> Yes. Um I have kind of mapped out a phase. It's going to be year 1 year two honestly four years to be able to get to our 9 through 12. I think um what my colleague said when we're implementing a program we want to make sure that we're thoughtful and doing it correctly. in a program for the hybrid we have projected a cap of students of like 32 students um for the full 9th through 12. So I understand and I wanted to say that answering your question of just what

164that program looks like. So, as of right now, starting off with 5 to 15 students in 9th grade um full virtual in next year or yeah, next school year, we would need to be able to make sure that we go follow through with the WASK accreditation so that we can then move up from 9th through 10th grade and then and then continue to grow in making sure that when they graduate out of the high school that they are graduating out of a fully WASK accredited high school. So, it's going to take few students to then grow the program. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Trusty Daily Tory. >> So, I appreciate that perspective for the virtual edition. Um would it be similar to independent studies where students would have opportunities um to be a part of

165that school community and if so, which 9th through 12 school community would that be? um for dances, athletics, other opportunities. That's so I'm just curious, is it these students have no interest in those type of activities and this is the the learning model they need for 9 through 12 when we're capping it at 32 or will they have an opportunity and if so which high school do they have the opportunity at? So I think as of right now how it's written with the propios um horizont propios piece of the hybrid portion it would be that they would be coming into CCLA and building the community and having it be the CCLA community which then de facto says that they're not going to be having the the dances and the outside school activities. We I think

166that's that's programmatically something that we can grow and see if there's that interest and how do we partner up with the high school to be able to make that decision. Um is a question that I do not have an answer to yet. Um but as of right now how it's written it would be Orisantes propios and the community would be ours um or CCLA based on the vision and mission of a family school site. >> I just think it's really important that we keep that consideration now early so that you know where these students want to go to prom if they wanted to go to a prom. Is CCLA going to have its own prom for 32 students or um are they allowed to go to another prom and what would that look like? um

167because it's a big expense um for families and community for these extracurricular activities and it's part of the high school experience. Um and so with our independent studies, whatever comprehensive high school they're tied to, they can still participate in those activities. So if we're going to offer 9 through 12 for CCLA students, it's important that we keep that in mind um and how that may need to look or what policy we may need to write um for them to be involved at those So again, we'll be able to give our comments after the public hearing. Any other questions? Trusty Jenkins, >> this is actually literally a logistical question. So I know we're going back and forth between CCLA and SRLA when we're doing a renewal of a charter. Is does it then rename it? Is

168that a whole different process? We're just calling it both for now. Perfect. Thank you. >> All right. I'm going to open the public hearing. Thank you, President Casten. I'm going to call three names if you can make your way to the podium. So, you'll have one minute to speak. First, we have Lily Roman, followed by Jenna Johnson, followed by Sarah Vaughn. Hello. Hi, this is Lily. Good uh no longer evening. Good night, trustees. Um, I sent you all an email about a coexistence approach that offers a more stable and realistic path forward for both LC and SRLA. Um, the reality is that relocating our charter won't eliminate enrollment overlap or perceived competition. Wherever we go, we're still serving many of the same families and continue operating as an alternative option. um relocation simply moves the

169issue somewhere else, creates more instability, especially right now during um declining enrollment, budget challenges, and school closures. So, I don't think that is a good choice. Um I urge the board to ask the district to create a fiscally managed coexistence model. So under this approach, LC 7 to12 expansion would serve as a primary neighborhood pathway while our charter continues as a structured option with clear enrollment caps in coordinated planning and both schools would have break even numbers that ensure their success. I think it can be done. Thank you. Next is Jenna Johnson, followed by Sarah Vaughn, followed by Maria Bernardet Peterson. My name is Jenna Johnson. I've had students attending SRLA for the last 12 years. SRLA is the only middle school in Santa Rosa City Schools where English learners and all students with IEPs

170get to take an elective. Because of our unique schedule, we're the only school where these marginalized groups gets to equally participate in their community by being part of leadership, marching in parades with band or digging their hands into clay and art class. We have a ferocious drum line comprised of many high-risk neighborhood kids that are out performing in the community with an almost military level of discipline that they choose to adhere to. And it's an experience that some express is the only reason they come to school. Any of these students who are English learners or have an IEP with directed studies will lose their chance to have an elective at all if they are moved to another middle school. Thank you. Next we have Sarah Vaugh followed by Maria Bernardet Peterson. Yeah, let's hold on

171one second here. Let's make sure we're Are we connected online for it? It may just be the trustes computers. Are we Are we still streaming? No. Okay. just says trying to connect. I apologize everyone. We're going to take a five minute recess to hope our internet reboots here. Um, so instead of making everyone stand there while we're looking at a thing go like this on our screens. So we'll reconvene at 9:20. That's the other one. All right, we're going to reconvene. Uh if we reset the clock. >> Yes. Yes. >> And we will continue with the public hearing. And if we we go ahead and do the reintroduction of the next three speakers. >> Sure. Unmuted. Our first our next three speakers are Sarah Von followed by Maria Bernardet Peterson followed by Veronica Jordan. Go

172ahead. >> Hi, I'm Sarah. My daughter's in third grade at SRLA and my son is an SRLA graduate who played in the middle school marching band, an experience that profoundly shaped the student that he is today. Music education helps transform a school from a place of instruction into a true community. Anyone who has seen our band perform knows that that is especially true at our school. Um, these connections shape the culture of SRLA and build a bridge between elementary and middle school students. Because our musical instrument instruction begins in third grade, our sixth graders confidently step into advanced band along with our middle schoolers if they choose to. Equally important, music creates an essential common ground where our dual language students and our community middle school students come together. This equitable access accessibility allows children

173from different backgrounds to connect, integrate, and build really strong social bonds through music. Our advanced band and drum line program has tripled over the last 5 years from 20 students to now 60. This thriving, robust program would change dramatically if our comprehensive middle school is restructured or removed. >> Thank you very much for your comments. >> Please support our renewal. >> Thank you. Next is Maria Bernardet Peterson followed by Veronica Jordan followed by Kim Ledes. Gracias. Good evening board members um and district. My name is Maria Bernardet Peterson. I'm a mother and a teacher at SRLA. Um I ask you to please for the district to collaborate with us and maintain um our school united including our program, our secondary program and our bilingual schools with with the immersion from TK kinder all the way

174to 12th grade at the same campus. the classes, the secondary classes and elementary schools for them to combine and read together. My daughter is in fifth grade and she's very excited with the expective expectation of the classes the of Banda Vansada advanced band um of sixth grade for next year. If our school gets divided, it's possible that we won't have this experience for the secondaries that she really likes. Thank you. >> Next is Veronica Jordan followed by Kim Leites followed by Emma Thompson. Good evening. My name is Veronica Jordan. I have been at parent at CCLA for 11 years with six more to go. And I want to say there is so much broken right now in our world and we are not broken. So please do not break us. We the parents of CCLA

175sent you a letter last Friday outlining many reasons why we believe that preserving a K through8 school at our current site including our community middle schools is the best path forward for our entire community. And when I say our entire community, I'm not talking just about CCLA. I'm talking about the west side. I'm talking about the southwest side. I'm talking about our entire community. I hope you read it and I hope you understand that we're not competing with anyone. We're offering a choice. And people on the west side and brown people and people who speak Spanish at home, they want a choice just like every other family here in Santa Rosa wants a choice. And for better or for worse, that's the system we're here in. So please let us have our not broken system,

176our not broken school keep thriving. We've done it financially successfully for 13 years. We can do it for >> Thank you very much for your comments. >> Next is Kim Leptides followed by Emma Thompson followed by Xavier Nazario. My name is Kim Leitus and I'm speaking to the CCLA charter renewal. CCLA stands today as a unique and successful Santa Rosa City School, allowing for a growing population of kids who want to learn two languages from TK through 8th grade. And it also serves the Southwest Santa Rosa 7th and eighth graders, a benefit to all all of those kids. CCLA's marching band allows sixth to eighth grade students to learn with LC Allen's 9th through 12th graders. This unique group shows off what Santa Rosa's city schools can accomplish as they march through Paloma, Sebastable, and

177Helsburg each year in their brand new CCLA and LC Allen uniforms. By the way, if you've never seen this marching band, I implore you to see and hear this beautiful partnership before you vote on our charter. The Hillsburg FFA parade is next Thursday, May 21st at 6 PM. Next is Emma Thompson followed by Xavier Nazario followed by Lisa Reid. Hello. I am here to ask that you do not close SRLA as a K through8 as they are a vital institution in our community, but that you consider allowing the neighborhood nonDLI students to go to LC Allen. Five years ago, SRLA was kind enough to welcome Cook seventh and eighth graders onto their campus to allow students a local comprehensive seventh and eighth grade experience. Now, LC Allen is the one that's going to pro would

178like to provide that opportunity for them. Just like every other high school and junior high in our city, no matter the decision tonight though, we will continue to partner together to give the youth of Southwest Santa Rosa schools and programs that they deserve. It may take some time to achieve this greatness, but we are willing to take the task. Next is Xavier Nazario, followed by Lisa Reid, followed by Pat Bailey. >> Hello, my name is Xavier Nazario. Santa Rosa Language Academy families are here because trust between our community and district leadership has been broken. Our school has continued to grow year-over-year despite overall district enrollment declines. The district has asked us to continue growing yet has failed to provide the planning, the support, the direction needed to do that responsibly. For months, parents have asked

179for meetings, budget clarity, and written guidance about our future. Many of those requests have gone unanswered. On March 2nd, 2025, district leadership promised a clear budget breakdown and a break even analysis of seventh and eighth grades at SRLA. That information was never provided. We followed up repeatedly and eventually filled filed a public records request. Even then, the commitment was never fulfilled properly. At the same time, our charter renewal is less than two months away, and there is still no strategic plan for our school. No enrollment strategy, no written outline for our options, no clear direction from district leadership. Instead, families are receiving inconsistent verbal. >> Thank you very much for your comments. >> Thank you very much. >> Next is Lisa Reid, followed by Pat Bailey, followed by Adeline Moaka. >> Thank you. >> Good

180evening. Lisa Reid, uh, Wright Elementary School District Superintendent. I continue to have concerns about the proposed high school model. I'm not seeing things that I typically see in other dual language immersion high school programs. For example, diplomas in Spanish as a foreign language, international Spanish academy, recognition from the Spanish embassy, and sample models that show which percentages of the courses are going to be taught in Spanish and which are going to be taught in English. I also am noticing that the district proposes egeneuity and I'm curious as to why because Santa Rosa already has a virtual program, adaptable virtual independent study academy that every student in high school in Santa Rosa has access to. So why the need to purchase a second virtual program? Um I'm concerned that the charter petition is an attempt to

181find a legal loophole to continue to I'm concerned that it's not about promoting a >> Thank you very much for your comments. >> Next is Pat Bailey, followed by Adelene Moika. Sorry if I'm not saying that correctly. And followed by Nelly Young. >> Good evening. My name is Pat Bailey. I'm a CCL parent of a fourth grader. I think you'll renew our charter, but I fear it'll be done in a way that burns out our next leader and our teachers. We've had four principles in six years. We've been at two sites, the most recent of which was supposed to be our permanent home. I suspect the charter renewal has burned out our current interim principle, and a third site in six years would make a lot of things hard. I know you have better data

182than I do, but anecdotes can also be useful. I have too. Most of our students come from near our school. However, I personally know two families that come to our school from the West County, one from Windsor, and several others from the far east side of town. We bring students into the district. Students don't always thrive in all their classes. One cure for failure to thrive that we've implemented at our school, advanced band. We have students who come to school every day at 7 a.m. and proudly represent our school for band. When you hear marching cadence on a desk in math class, >> thank you very much for your comments. Next is Adeline Moika followed by Nelly Young followed by Ry Bam Mintz. Hi, my name is Adilen Moika. Our music program is not just

183a class. It is the heart of our school's community. There is no other program in the district that provides this level of continuity, connection, and belonging from third grade through 8th grade under the leadership of a very dedicated teacher, Mr. Thompson, who is here. Every single year, more than 350 students are impacted by this program. Over the last five years, we have watched this program grow from just 20 band students to nearly 60 students. As you guys witnessed my son, Emiliano Moika. Um, in advance band, nearly 60 students have joined. Why? Because students feel connected here. They build friendships across grade levels. They mentor each other. And they transition into middle school with confidence instead of fear. The zero period band class gives sixth grade graders a bridge into middle school before the school day

184even starts. But this program is bigger than music. It unites dual language students and neighborhood students together as one community. It creates pride, culture, identity, and a sense of belonging for every child. And now our >> Thank you very much for your comments. >> Thank you. >> Next is Nelly Young followed by Ry Bam Mintz followed by Angel Ortega. Is Nelly still here? Okay. Ry Boscham Mintz, please. >> Hello. My name is Ry Bashams and I'm a school counselor and athletic director at Elion High School. When Cook Middle School closed six years ago, SRA stepped in to support local 7th and eighth grade students. And our community is grateful for that role they have filled. As El L Elsion launches his new junior high program this coming school year, we are excited to build a

185strong and sustainable 7th through 12 pathway for neighborhood students. An important part of that vision is athletics. Sports create belonging, pride, connection, and engagement for students. But unlike Santa Rosa, Monty, and Piner, which are inheriting established middle school athletic programs, Eliana is building these opportunities entirely from scratch without existing infrastructure, coaches, and athletes. Our hope is to simply ensure that students in Southwest Santa Rosa have access to sustainable, highquality athletic opportunities for years to come. Splitting students harms that effort. We value the important role SRA continues to play as a dual enrollment immersion charter school and we also believe LCAN can serve as the local comprehensive 7-2 school for neighborhood families. Ultimately, we all share the same goal, creating the strongest possible opportunities and support for students in Southwest Santa Rosa. Thank you. Next is

186Angel Ortega followed by Kyle Woodra. >> Hello board. My name is Angel Ortega. SRLA were benev benevolent in stepping up and filling an educational gap that was created with the closure of Cook Middle School. Now we face new obstacles on the horizon with both the renewal of SRLA's charter renewal and the integration of seventh and eighth grades on Elcon's campus. A path that makes L SRLA comprehensive comprehensive middle school is unfair to the community because it pits two school communities against each other and overlooks how both campuses can continue to serve southwest Santa Rosa. We at LCL are excited to continue to build our programs in visual and performing arts, career and technical education programs, and college readiness like our UC center program. Ultimately, SRLA and LC Allen share the same goal to serve and

187uplift Southwest Rosa. I'm asking you, the board, to explore options that allow LC Allen to be the comprehensive 7-2 neighborhood school and allows SRLA's charter to continue as a bilingual immersion charter school for Southwest Rosa. Thank you for your time. >> Our last speaker is Kyle Woodra. >> Hello. The responsibility of this board is to serve all students equitably across Santa Rosa City Schools. LC Allen is finally rebuilding momentum after years of instability. And that progress depends on consistent investment and support for a strong comprehensive community school. When two comprehensive programs compete for the same students under different enrollment structures, it does not support equity or long-term stability for neighborhood schools. This is not about opposing CCLA. I believe CCLA has a strong future, especially through specialized programs like dual language immersion, which would strengthen

188district offerings without duplicating a competing comprehensive middle school. For the sake of equity and long-term student success, I respectfully ask you carefully consider the impact of this decision. >> Those are all the cards. >> All right, and close the public hearing. All right, we are not taking action tonight. Uh we received the public hearing and the public comments. Uh this item will come back on June 10th uh for us to take action on authorizing or non-authorizing. Uh we're now going to move to I thought you said we would have Oh, right. Uh we can do short comments, but please remember that we are acting as the authorizing body and not the board for the school and that we'll be receiving this petition in its full as our action for uh June 10th. With that, I'll

189go to comments. Trustee Medina. >> Sure. I think that um one, it's it's important for us as a board to approve the charter. Um two, I think it's important to recognize some of the obstacles and issues that have occurred in the process. Um I think a lot of those were outlined in um Javier Lasario's email to the board. um that um basically the CCLA community lacked a lot of support from the district in terms of um getting this process done. Um I think it'll be important to continue the work. um as we move forward. I I really think that we should um build or establish some sort of committee that also helps to continue the work that was happening before between LC and CCLA to see kind of what options would ultimately be able to

190exist in that community that are for the best benefit of the students. Um but I think there was a lot of work done as I've said particularly around the new school model between the two schools and I think the intent and goals of that can still be done but we need to make sure that we allocate the adequate amount of resources for that work to continue um post post the charter renewal but I think um a lot of the the changes that have that are coming forward are in part because that's what the district has communicated to the CCLA and SRLA community and we need to recognize that and again recognize that they did not receive as all the support that they needed to do this as effectively. So if we have a lot of

191questions I think it's also as a result of that. That's all I had to say. Thank you Trusty Pre with these are basically questions for you because um don't really want to look up these answers with Elsie has boundaries now for the new school year. Correct. And with those boundaries, that's Belleview District, Rosland district, right district. Correct. Like BA for the most part around that area >> in general. Yes. I can't I have to say I don't know the map off my off my head, but yes, it >> questions. I want to look. >> Um but for the most part 95407 area code, right, for LC's boundaries. So then now technically they do have feeder schools going into the high school. Now for the 712 model for the sixth grade students at let's see most

19278. Yeah for the 78 model. >> Yes. >> So >> there's three districts right Belleview and Rosland. Yeah. >> And with um Rosland who's closing their one of their campuses for high schools uh is one of their charters. Yeah. >> RCP. Is that the seven through because they have two. Is that the seven through through 12. >> Yes. And I know I did speak to one of their principles that they are adding 80 more um spots available for the other high school that they have, their other charter high school. >> Thank you. Rosland University Prep. >> Mhm. Do we have an estimate or idea of how many of those students will be going to LC Allen or how many of the surrounding elementary feeder schools that can now go to LC for seven uh for

193middle school? Do we know those projected enrollments yet? >> We we do have projected enrollments. >> I know what was on the agenda. >> We can we can share that information um in a board weekly if you like. I know it's not >> Yeah, not right now. >> Yeah, agenda because I also know Yes. Not everybody en starts their enrollment process now. They wait until August. >> Yes. But yes, and we do have pre-enrollment at LC Allen. So, yes. >> Okay. >> We can get you an update on those numbers. >> Any closing questions or comments? Trusty Dator. >> Um, as a closing comment, I just want to really show love and respect and appreciation to the language academyy's community for showing up. um and apologize for feeling threatened um by this process. Um unfortunately,

194this is a legal process that we have to go through to uh make sure we are crossing the tees and dotting the eyes to approve the charter renewal so that the campus that was built can exist in the appropriate form. Um so especially the students that took time out of their day and showed up after class and shared their words and shared their hearts. Thank you very much for taking those opportunities. Um my ask to the district is that just we find a district-driven plan designed so both our campuses and southwest community have opportunities for success. I want seats available on those campuses for our students that want to be there. And it's not on the language academyy's um principal and parent team to figure that out. It's not on LC Allen's campus to figure

195that out. It's on the district. So, we need to have a district-driven plan for both these opportunities um to thrive. Please, any closing comments or questions? All right. And I'm just going to say first off, your success is amazing. Uh when we look at the reclassification numbers, especially double overdoubling the number of students reclassified in four years, it's a continuing percentage. Enormous success. Um I'm have I'm seeing nothing in here that indicates that we would be looking at anything other than an approval of the charter. Um I think there's a lot of things that are outside of what we actually talk about when we're approving charters that have come up. Um, so I don't want to like let any of that overshadow the success of the CCLA community, um, SRLA community. And, you know, I

196I look forward to this coming back on the 10th for action. Um, I do want to state that, you know, if you if if folks haven't been through an independent study program, they may look at this and not understand the educational opportunities, even if they have experience in education. Um, having graduated for the most part from high school, uh, and gone through independent study when I was a kid, I truly understand the thought and the clear academic rigor that you've put into your hybrid program here. Um, and I refute anyone who says otherwise. So, I think there's a lot of thought here and as with anything when we started out, we'll learn in the first year and we'll grow it and we'll make it better each year. um the thought that we need to be

197not going to help us succeed. What we recognize is that we're starting and we'll continue growing and continue making that program even better each year as CCLA has done every year of its existence. So, I am looking forward to coming back on the 10th and I see nothing of concern in the charter um that meets any of the standards that we're actually looking at for this hearing. With that, I'll go ahead and move to the next public hearing, but I do need a motion to extend the meeting. >> A motion to extend to 11 pm, please. >> All right. Is there a second? It's been moved a second to extend to 11. Any objections? I'd say 11:30. >> All right. I got a motion, a second for 11. Uh, let's do a roll call vote,

198please. >> Student board member Coreo. I even though I'm not going to stay here for that long. >> Okay. >> Trust Trustee Deatory. >> Hi. >> Trusty Jenkins. Did you second? >> Trusty DeFosy. >> I >> trusty Jenkins. >> I. >> Trusty Kirby. >> I. >> Trusty Bendina. I don't think it's realistic to get everything done by then, but um I >> Trusty P. >> Yes. >> Thank you, President Casten. >> I That motion passes unanimously. We'll extend to 11. Uh we're going to move to the public hearing on the accelerated charter school. Um Dr. Castro, and I will remind everyone this is our public hearing. We're sitting as the authorizing body for the charter and uh we're here to receive public comment that we'll then consider for our actions on June 10th. Dr. Castro

199presenting. >> Thank you, President Casten. Superintendent August Hume. Um looking for Principal Corel. Uh please go ahead and start though. Okay. What we um have tonight again is the um changes for Santa Rosa well for presenting the petition for Santa Rosa accelerated charty in charter in its entirety. Um what uh principal Corell is presenting this evening are the final are the changes from the last um presentation. >> Go ahead and do the presentation. >> Okay. So what you see here um on this first page are the asurances and affirmations. Um and I think that's basically all that he had to um add on this one. I don't know if there's anything else that you want to discuss on this one, Superintendent August. Um but his petition was I think pretty finalized the first time around.

200So any >> Let me just ask any technical questions on the presentation before we open the public hearing. Seeing none, we're going to go ahead and open the public hearing. Thank you. I have a few blue cards here. If you can make your way to the podium, you have one minute. Um, Darmas Cardino, I apologize if I didn't pronounce that. Priscilla and Mike Kenzac. >> Hello. Hello. >> Hi. First, I want to thank you all for your service to to our community. My name is Zamaris Cordero and I and today I want to speak about equity and representation in all public schools within our district, including charter schools. As a mother of students for minority groups in the Ringome Valley community, I believe many families still face barriers related to access inclusion, language supports, and

201equitable education opportunities. I recognize the academic achievement of uh tracks. However, academic scores should not be the only measure of a public school success. When reviewing public reports such as the SARC reports and the California dashboard, important questions arise regarding representation and access for English learners and students with disability, foster students, social economic disad students. I encourage the district's board members and superintendent to continue strangent transparency. >> Thank you very much for your comments. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Priscilla. If you can state your last name, followed by Mike Conzac, followed by Ryan Ryad Koa, I think. Rosa Charter School. Economic transport. Thank you very much for your comments. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, members of the um Santa Rosa board and Santa Rosa City Schools. My name is Priscilla Benderos. We

202want um we want a district where all students have real and equal access to educational opportunities, not only in theory, but in practice. Public schools, including charter schools, must serve all students. The California Education Code 47605 establishes that a charter school cannot discourage student enrollment for reasons such as disability, economic level, or English learner status. But public data shows that programs like Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter School has approximately only two English learning students and a very low percentage of students with IEPs. While most of their student populations comes from economically stable families, we cannot use minimum numbers of vulnerable students to say that there is equality and equity when overall representation remains disproportionate. We must also recognize that the location of these schools and transportation barriers directly affecting working families. Thank you. >> Thank you.

203Our next speaker is Mike Conzac, followed by Ryad Koya, followed by Kim Walls. >> Uh, yes, my name is >> You can raise the side up so it's closer. There you go. >> Thank you. Uh, my name is Michael Kzac. U, I'm here to support the Santa Rosa ele charter schools. I'm a resident of Santa Rosa, but I am not a parent in the district, but a neighboring district whose child managed to meet the weight list to get into this program. I feel lucky that he has this opportunity and feel like these charter programs are examples of what Santa Rosa desperately needs in these days of terrible news about Sonoma County schools. U my son is a twice gifted learner who has struggled with engagement of his current school by a lack of challenges. For

204much of the year, it's been a daily battle to get him to attend. He loves his community, but his even so his school can't get him engaged. Um these pro this program is not an option in his current district. And like all the wonderful charter programs we've learned about today and discussed, this is a unique opportunity and one that should be laed and really encouraged. Thank you. Next is Ryan Koa Kohaa followed by Kim Wals. >> Hello, I'm Riyad Koya. I live in district. My itinerant child has been a student at Bennett Valley and in Ringcon Valley uh because his mother has been a teacher at both those districts. We now have an opportunity to come home where we live, although we'll be commuting to Rankon Valley um to be at SRAX because it provides

205opportunities that are not available otherwise in RVUSD or in Santa Rosa City Schools. And the best option we have outside of that would be to go to private school, which is economically not feasible for most of us in this room. As to equity impacts, I'm a huge believer that excellence and diversity go together and there's no reason why we can't expand the impact of the school uh by admitting more students from diverse backgrounds from different parts of Santa Rosa and as has been expressed at this meeting expanding its curricula into other schools within the district. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Our last speaker is Kim Walls. Is it on? Okay. Um, good evening trustees, superintendent, and community members. Um, as a teacher at Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter School for the past 18 years,

206I wish to share with you that it has been an honor to serve the families of Sonoma County. At Srax, we take kids who would struggle potentially to adjust to middle school and we frontload them with at the fifth and the sixth grade level with experiences in a middle school like environment um with challenge with acceleration with real world experiences. Um, and I believe that the students who would have struggled entering middle school are able to thrive in middle school as a result. Please support our program and work to replicate it in the district. Um, we really want to collaborate with Santa Rosa City Schools to make that happen. Thank you. >> Close the public hearing. Any questions or uh closing comments before we move on to the next item? Trusty Medina. >> Yes, thank

207you. Um just to address some of the things from the comments. Um I'll say it in Spanish first. Could you provide information on how many um English learners applied? Um because we heard that only two are a part of the school, but do we know how many even applied to the school? If we could get data on that, that would be good to know. Um the other question that was asked of me is um I I guess at the school for example Shrek students take like music classes at um RVMS and I think it kind of goes back similar to the French American question. How does the funding work for that? Um I think there's there's been an ask for clarity. Does does the district get paid for those students taking our VMS classes and

208and can there be transparency around that? Yes, there are shared costs and that's one of the areas that that is that we've been working on that we are not quite there yet on the complete clarity about what is charged where, how, why, what's figured into it um for all of our charters and that's been a big area where we've improved but we aren't there yet. So still working on bringing that forward. There was some work done on that in the finance subcommittee last year. when when there's clarity around that, could that information be shared with um the site? Um ELAC? >> Yes, the the principles do have their their budgets. the issue is is actually making sure that it's standardized across the board and that is the really clear policy how and yes we can

209always um there's not any reason that elax wouldn't have the um ability to see that their public information. >> Thank you. Any other questions or final comments before we move on? Trusty Kirby. Um I know at the last presentation due to the um location challenges of uh Shreks uh we were awaiting a letter from RB Rink Valley Unified. Did we get that letter? >> Yes, we did. So we have received official um authorization from Rink from Rinken Valley to remain in the same form that it is right now. So no it they did not put a time limit. >> Thank you. As a quick followup on that, no expansion of number of seats or grade levels. >> Correct. At that lo there's we cannot expand at that location. So if we do expand it has

210to be within the Santa Rosa City Schools the Santa Rosa elementary district boundaries. >> Any other questions, closing comments? I I'll just say my biggest concern is how we can move to expand the program in other areas of the city. Um the results are outstanding and I want to make sure that we can actually have more students access uh access this that will thrive in it. And so I look forward to those conversations, but they're not a part of this because what we're looking at today is the renewal in front of us and it'll come back on June 10th for us to take action. So, uh thank you for your time. We'll see you again soon and we're going to close the public hearing fully. No, it's not. All right, we're going to move to

211H2, which is the human resources calendar. We're going to take public comment on it. Reminder, H2B has been pulled and will not be a part of the action. Um, is there any public comment? >> There are no public comment cards. Seeing no public comment, um instead of doing a presentation on each one, um are there questions from the board on anything within items 2 C through E that we would like Dr. Zans to respond to? >> Right? That's which one. >> It's the job description for the college and career technician job. That's um Oh, was that B? >> Yeah, never mind. >> That was the one that was pulled, which is probably why you had a question. >> I was looking at the wrong number. >> Any of these three that folks have questions on?

212>> I do not. >> Okay. Trusty Jenkins and then I'll go to Trusty Medina. So because the information was posted late, I didn't have a thorough like thorough time to review everything as I would have liked. Um so the questions that I have are pertaining to D and E. This is fair game, right? Um, so obviously our numbers are much lower as far as FTE that we are letting go and I didn't have to I would have preferred to look at them here and look at them here with our fiscal stabilization plan and personnel register whatever we call that transactions. Um, and I know those come we don't have that complete either because things are happening so fast. So, Dr. Xans, do I have your word that everything is exactly as planned? >> You have

213my word that everything is exactly how it is supposed to be at this moment in time. We continue to receive resignations and retirements on a daily basis, which means that people that are on this list right now may receive offers to come back in the future. Um it it's on a day-to-day basis, >> but we are we are still at the same numbers of reduction not reduction of force is that the right term particular kinds of services. Um and with our fiscal stabilization plan, it's still the same number of FTE that is being eliminated due to our fiscal stabilization plan. Does that still equal out the same thing? >> Yes. When uh Joel did the fiscal impact, the fiscal impact matched what we put in the fiscal stabilization plan. Were any things adjusted? So fiscal

214impact is the same, but was there tweaking to to things outside of our fiscal stabilization plan? The only thing that would have actually no because anybody that or any positions that we did not bring up to be laid off in March could not be added after that. So there are no tweaks to like more of this and less of this. Uh >> Trusty Medina then trusty P. Thank you. Um it it could be on any of them the questions. >> Yes. C C D and E. >> Okay. >> B has been pulled >> on um C. Um I did have a question. So So there's a lot of these that are like uh a 2 or a.17 for example. Um let's just take a well I guess question. Are some of these more than a

2151.0 already individuals on the certificated? >> It's E that he's looking at. Um I'm not sure I understand your question. >> So just as an example on the CT thick teachers, right, there's Decker that says.17 is being released. So, are they do they exist as a 1.17 now? Are they going to be less than a are they going to be like a 83 in the future? Um just cuz I see a lot of like fractional Yes. Um cuts. >> So, I can speak to that. So, um for example, the one that you called out, which was the.17, that teacher had received a full layoff notice of 1.0. We were able to restore 83. The odd numbers is because it's LC Allen with the 4x4. So it doesn't work in 2s. It works in.16666 forever. Um

216so that teacher was not fully restored. Um another example even right below that um Joseph Reynolds he was only he was only rescended for 2. So the remaining point8 of his position he is being laid off for. >> Okay. And are any of these Yeah, I think that's it. I think the only thing that I'd like to see if we could um in terms of information to come back um if we could add um if I could get information about where all these people are in terms of sites. I think one of the concerns from a standpoint of equity is um some sites being impacted more than others just based on the fact that um newer teachers continue to go in and more experienced teachers remain out of the sight. So, it's got it's having

217an inequitable impact on a site base even though I understand that's outside of our scope given the the contract, but I'd like to know the impact that that's having. And so if we could have that for both the classified and the certificated um just that information to see where all these people are coming from in terms of site, I think it would be helpful for me to understand kind of um where we're at in terms of equitable outcomes in that regard. >> Yes, we can do that. >> Pra Oh, you Oh. >> Oh, okay. I uh I think mine's E. for the financial impact. So, I see the financial the summary of the fiscal impact and I know I know from years of being in our district that parents will wait until the last minute

218to enroll their kids in school. I'm trying to formulate my question. with teachers getting rescended or or pink slipped, what is the I don't know last earliest deadline that you can resend them before the new school year when you have a better idea of enrollment projections because I know if you don't have the numbers, you're not going to count the sections for the teachers, for the students, but is it worth having what do you what do you call overages? at the beginning of the year overdoses for teachers versus actually just having a teacher in the classroom or uh for opening up another classroom. I don't I'm trying to ask a question. >> I think I understand your question. So in answer to the last part of your question, we it is more fiscally responsible to

219what I was trying to get at >> allow for overages at the beginning of the school year because we don't actually pay overages for the first 15 days. So during those 15 days is when balancing may occur. um where more 9th graders may show up at Santa Rosa than were expected but less nth graders showed up at Montgomery, then teachers would need to be shifted >> before sections would be added. So until those first 15 days where we actually see who has shown up, it is more fiscally responsible to count the overages because we don't actually pay overages the first 15 days. >> Okay. Um the first part of your question, what happens after this resolution is approved is that at the end of the school year, these teachers or these classified staff will go

220on what's called the 39month rehire list. And as positions become available, those positions are offered to teachers in order of seniority. M and based on the agreement that we have with both SRTA and CSEA, they have the right to refuse three times before we permanently take them off the list. Okay. And then last one last question, and I know I'll probably get a lot of hate for saying this, but if we were to close another school, is that enough money to save to bring back school-based therapists and restorative specialists for the next school year? >> That was going to take us beyond the scope of our noticed item. >> Okay, fine. >> All right. Um, Trusty Dufasi and I do want to note the time so let's uh these are important must pass items so

221if we can be just on these topics trusty Dufasi >> thank you president Casten this is more probably a question for superintendent home or August August home and maybe Vicki can help in uh Dr. ans. Um, this stuff's already in motion, but I have to tell you, I have a lot of heartburn over eliminating every elementary counselor position uh in the district. Uh, actually, it's kind of unbelievable, honestly. Uh, so I guess my idea is we are either due or hopefully we're going to have an ad backlist if we have the funding that we can we got to do something about that. So, guess not a question, it's a comment. Let's take it as a comment. Uh, any other questions? Trusty Medina. Thank you. Um, okay. So, I I think you alluded something to the

222fact of we have admin that have rights to be reassigned, right? Is there a timeline where they have to notify us where then maybe some of these people could then um potentially stay in these teaching positions? Do is there timelines associated with that? >> That's an interesting question. Um, there's not really a timeline. What will happen is when the involuntary transfer process happens, they will have the ability to choose from vacant positions. So let's say somebody has an English credential where they are on the seniority list they would be able to choose an English position. If at that time they say no I'm not going to choose a position then in essence they're accepting that they are being laid off or released at the end of the school year. >> We're talking about the admin

223here, right? >> Yes. Yes. Because they would fall into um as we were talking before three years. So they get three years of seniority. So wherever that is, there may be two teachers with four years of seniority that choose before them and then they choose and then somebody else. Um if they if they refuse to choose a position then they are um would be asked to fill out a resignation or something saying that they are do not intend to return to the district. We have a form that says that and then they just would not be. All of that will happen over the next few weeks. Um we're scheduling in phases. So next week we'll be doing the elementary transfers. Then right after that we'll be doing the counselors and then we'll move on to

224the um to comtock and um to the comtock teachers choosing and then we'll move to the involuntary transfer. But all of that should happen before school is out. So, so just to be clear, we can't expedite with those admin that are being released. We can't expedite asking them, do you want to return to the classroom or not? We can't make that happen. >> No, we can absolutely ask them, but unless they turn in a resignation form, we still need to include them in the involuntary transfer process. >> Do that doesn't make sense. So they have to give us a resignation form to tell us that they won't be choosing to go back to the classroom the following year. >> Yes. Um and the other question on these um so assuming that this decision happens then

225these people are informed then they could say well no I don't want to be a half FTE and then decide to move on and then that creates another vacancy. >> Yes. then they would um fill out a resignation because if you don't take action, if there's no action on May 15th and they are rescended, it is as if they were never laid off. So that is their position and they would need to resign from that position and then we would be able to open the position to somebody else. >> Okay. Thank you, Trusty Kirby. than Trusty Jenkins. >> Um, quick clarification about the overages. So, at the beginning of the year when we've we get more students or a bunch of point2s add up to So, you make the adjustment within the first 15 days

226to on deciding whether or not we need to hire another teacher or bring back a teacher. >> Yes. within the first 15 days, the first thing that we do is we try and balance so that we are not bringing more teachers into a site where there may be another site that doesn't have enough students to fill their classes. So the first thing that we do is looking at involuntary transfers of teachers to other school sites and then if there is not a need or an ability to do that then we would post positions to fill for the additional that we need. >> But then the school year's already started. So, we're hoping, I guess, that we have enough teachers around that didn't get hired by good teachers that didn't get hired by other schools or

227I mean that's the plan that the phys fiscally respons that is the fiscally responsible way to do it. >> Um, it's the way that we've done it every year. And in my experience as a high school principal and a middle school principal, there is always shifting of students in those first three weeks. um changing of teacher schedules, all sorts of things happen in those first three weeks. >> Okay. Trusty Jenkins, >> just going back to the um partial the partial layoffs. Uh so that I understand I'm sure this is all vetted, but the so then do those individuals who are laid off for a class or two, does do does their benefits then also get impacted? They wouldn't get full benefits any longer. >> Correct. it would be um a ratio, >> okay, >> proportional

228to what they're working. >> And then the other piece with the narrative um the dollar amount that goes with like the particular kinds of service eliminations. That's also including the benefit package that goes with those individuals. >> Yes, that includes all of the driven costs, their retirement and benefits and all of that. >> Thank you so much. >> All right. Um, if there's no objections from anyone on the board, we can take up C, D, and E together. Is there an objection from anyone on the board to have all three together? >> I don't have an objection. >> What is there an objection from anyone? All right, seeing no objection, I'm looking for a motion to approve CDN. >> Motion to approve. >> Moved by Trusty P. Second by Trusty Jenkins. Roll call vote, please.

229>> Trusty P. I. >> Trusty Jenkins. I. >> Trusty Kirby. Hi, >> Trusty Deator. >> Hi, >> Trusty Medina. >> I >> trusty DeFasy >> I. >> President Casten. I that motion passes unanimously approving um the San Rosa Teachers Association 2526 number 5OU for Piner Junior High School Hillard Construct instructional minutes schedule bell schedule. It approves resolution number 202526-70 final reduction in classified workforce involving CL California School Employees Association CSEA chapter 75 for the 2627 school year and it approves resolution number 2025 2671 final recommendation for reduction or discontinuence of certain particular kinds of service for the 2026 27 school year. Uh with that, I'd like to ask uh consent of the board to if no one has the desire to take a long amount of time talking about this item to go to item

2304 C noting that we do not have public comment on it uh so that we could approve this resolution due to timeliness um for the budget process that's literally happening tomorrow. Uh is there any objection to that? >> No. >> See no objection. We're going to move the agenda to item 4 C. I'm gonna skip the presentation. Seeing no public comment, we're going to close public comment. Um, do I have a motion and then we'll have deliberation. >> I move it. >> Moved by moved by trustee Dufasi, seconded by trustee P. Any discussion? >> Wait, what are we moving? I totally missed it. >> Forcy. Uh, so we are taking action on the resolution regarding integrity of Proposition 98 in the governor's 2627 budget and it's timely because the May revises coming out tomorrow. So

231we have some letters to send tomorrow on this. Any further discussion? Seeing none, roll call vote, please. >> Trusty DeFasy >> I. >> Trusty Pra >> I. >> Trusty Jenkins >> I. >> Trusty Kirby >> I. >> Trusty Deator Tory >> I. >> Trusty Medina >> I. >> President Casten >> I. That motion passes unanimously. Uh for the board's knowledge, in addition to the resolution, I have the intent to send a letter to the respective committees with the resolution on our behalf. Uh and we'll attach that as an information item in uh on the future agenda. We'll now move to item uh to calendar three, the student services calendar. Item 3A, public comment. Is there any public comment? >> There's no public comment. >> I see no public comment. We'll move to item 3B uh

232which will be a discussion on the update on athletics. and I'll bring up Dr. Castro and Ryan Thompson and Eric Oden because >> thank you. I'll provide the the introduction and I will step away so I can get into the meat of the discussion here. Uh, Superintendent August Hume, President Casten, members of the board, students, family, and community Santa Rosa City Schools. The request of the board of education will be presenting an overview and open for discussion the district's current athletic programming model, including some specifics with respect to the offerings and district-wide athletic districtwide athletic opportunities. Um, and with me, as you know, are um the um executive director Eric Odin, Orion Thompson, and Rafael Sanrio. Okay, turn it over to demo. >> Uh, just the document that's on there, I guess. Yeah, there we

233go. Good evening, everybody. Um, thank you for having us here tonight. And for a matter of time purposes, I'll just um I know Dr. Castro is loading up the document that we've shared with you with a bunch of information. Um I will say uh there's been lots of uh effort consideration. Um I have to give first of all huge props to a lot of the people on this existing board and then also I know Roxan McN was here earlier but uh over the last two years there's been a tremendous amount of support from the board um Dr. Castro district office folks including these guys up here um in supporting athletics. In fact, I've had reflections from athletic directors that have been doing this for many, many years, more so than I've been in this district,

234um saying that the support over the last couple years from the board and Dr. Castro and these folks here has been better than in previous years. And so we like to see that moving in that direction. Um given that the information presented here has been compiled over our discussions over the last year where athletic directors have put in lots of effort to try to make especially um the existing sites uh Santa Rosa Junior and High School and Montgomery High School Junior High School um where they've been working on their consolidation efforts in trying to make the junior high programs operate on their current campuses um and other campuses that are not currently merged but will be merging have been putting together ideas, schedules, all kinds of things to try to make things work. And so

235the data you see here presented are reflections on still some of the the struggles that exist, some of the ideas that are still being explored. Um I know like Eric Odin and his team and Mr. Sonria and his team are still working on some facility issues and stuff and we're seeing lots of good changes there. Um but the information I'm presenting here is just to kind of lay out what we've compiled over this last year. Um one item of importance I want to show is you can see up there the the different opportunities that we offer for our students. So with regard to like title 9 and equity um we currently offer if I remember the total um 12 opportunities for female athletes at the high school level and 11 for boys. And at the

236junior high level, we offer six opportunities for female athletes and five for boys. Um it also looks like in our data, our participation data for 2526, we actually increased by 2% in student athlete participation. Um and if you look at the male to female ratio, we actually increased um our female participation at the middle school level um by quite a bit. And also at the high school level, we closed the gap between female and male participants. So, and a lot of that is of course due to um the addition of girls flag football as a sport. Um and so what I want to highlight in this presentation is really as you take a look at the sports and and when they occur, some of the major issues with facility use center around our winter season.

237So, the months of October through March and sharing those facilities and making sure there's um equitable and equal opportunities for our junior high programs and high school programs on these high school sites. Um, and I'll leave it at that for right now. >> We'll go to questions from the board. Um, this is intended to be a discussion item. We're able to dig into this topic. We also have a similar item for CNS. want to recognize that I'd rather not short change either of those. So, let's use our time remaining for this board meeting and we'll similar to the charter um bring the CS CNS item back uh for a future agenda if we don't get to the time in 35 minutes which is a lot of time. So, um and I'm about to be told

238that we have to at least receive the presentation I think. So, we'll go Trusty Deator Tori and then we'll move through. Thank you very much for this breakdown. Um, my main question is, is there a plan for middle school athletics or is it just listed as a concern that we're all very aware of? The overall plan to simplify that answer is that >> bless you >> that all of our sites want to maintain as you see on this presentation all the current offerings because we see the value and the impact of those athletics. The overall plan is inconsistent being that each site is different, right? When you look at all the different sites and like varying bell schedules or different programs they have on their campuses, different facilities that they have available to them on

239their campuses, the plan is not fully consistent as far as cookie cutter every single campus. we could do the same. But the plan is, and that's what our administrators, our athletic directors, um, and like I said, the maintenance and operations folks have been working on is to try to maintain all these different levels of programs that we want to offer our students on these campuses. So, in in essence, that is the plan, and I know our athletic directors and our maintenance operation folks have been working hard to maintain that. >> So, no, we don't have a plan. We have a plan that we're going to try, but we don't know how yet. >> Correct. And I think a lot of that, well, I mean, the plan is to try and still working hard. I mean,

240a lot of it is based on the facilities that we have currently. Um, but also any f any decisions on what other facilities we have available that come from either the district or this body here. And then we'd be able to kind of know what our options are. Um, so for example, like this year the uh both Santa Rosa Junior High programs and the uh Montgomery Junior High programs have been using the um old middle Slater Middle School and Santa Rosa Middle School sites, but we know that based on other decisions, those may not be available. And so now we're just kind of waiting to see. Okay, so and then what's going to happen with like Piner Junior High programs if the Commtock site is not available for temporary use or alternative use? So, it

241kind of our plan kind of hinges on those decisions and what's going to happen with those. I know there's a whole 7-Eleven committee and facility choices that have to happen. Um, and that so the the point of this presentation was to just show some of the advocacy for some alternative sites. I have as as far as some sort of plan, I have reached out to some outside organizations to look at, hey, what would it cost or what's the feasibility of using your organization? And as I listed here in this presentation, um that would take additional costs. So to be financially responsible, I wasn't pursuing to lock those down for a lot of our sites because I didn't know what the financial landscape would look like to spend money on that stuff. And so we're trying

242to make do with what we have for right now until we know what other decisions are made. So Eric and Raphael, there's a lot of growing pains this year with the 712 campuses we did try and put together. Um, have you guys had any positive learnings of trying to work through athletics with what happened this year? Yeah, we've been well, we've been working with Ryan and the athletic directors um as as we can and and the board gave the year, right, to use two closed school sites for middle school athletics while they tried to figure out it's, you know, it's not not in my job to try to figure out the plan for them, but we certainly try to help um guide them. Um, we when I say that that my whole department is certainly

243not in favor of using closed school sites because I mean all my people have been fired from those sites. I have nobody to cover those. They're I mean you've heard some of the stories of what's been happening over at some of these sites, right? So I have no control over that because I don't have people. So, um, I' we'd like to see the 7 through 12 on the same campus, treated equally on the same campus, but that's something that has to be figured out within the athletic directors and how they fit those practice times and programs together on that site with the existing facilities that they have. Because even if I build something, it's two or three years away, it's not going to happen right now. trusty practina. I appreciate the honesty, but like I'm

244a huge sports family and I see a lot of the inequity like in our schools with sports because for a lot of kids in our district, the first time they get to play sports is like on their sixth grade basketball team or volleyball team in elementary school and then they don't get to have those experiences of playing competitive or travel or playing on the elite teams. And this is the first year for my family in six years that we've been playing travel sports that I'm not going to pay for my kids to do it this year just because of how much for gas and why do I want to drive to Modesto for an insane amount of money now. But for our kids in our school systems, the inequity is that the majority of our

245high schools and middle schools were fighting for space where you still have one middle school that doesn't have to worry about sharing gym space with the high school on the other part of town. And that's a problem for me because it really creates inequity and divisions in our schools and that's not fair for our kids. And I don't want to make it a them and an us versus situation because it's not about that. But for our kids that might not have the opportunities to play outside of schools because their parents can't afford it or they just can't get a ride over there and then the fact that they have to fight for space or they may not be able to participate it because they can't um there's no coaches or there's no um facilities. Thank

246you. It's after 9. I am really struggling to focus. It's after 10. And then with schools merging, I'm thinking of Elsie who they have to get they have to create purchase uniforms for their middle schoolers. And that's another inequity issue because I'm sure you don't have $10,000 in your bank account to pay for new uniforms for every Right. You're Elsie, right? Yeah. To pay for every department, for every sports program. And then there's another inequity issue. I guess I'm really frustrated and I'm too tired to actually be coherent. Someone else ask a question. >> Dufasi then uh Medina and then Kirby Jenkins myself. >> Thank you, President Casten. Uh just a couple things on this chart. Uh some of these um categories just say JV and varsity football. I'm assuming that means boys only, but

247can we please write boys, girls or co-ed on every item? So we don't have to make an assumption. Uh first of all, secondly, uh can I ask that um I understand what our facility person said. You can't make gyms out of nothing overnight. So we're stuck on uh using the facilities we got. So my first question is is who makes a determination whether we get to use Slater or Hilliard Commtock when they uh one's closed one's going to close San Jose Middle is no longer available because the French charter is there now so that's offline so who does this body us seven trustees make that decision I understand I heard hey I don't like that because I don't have people to do it we have security problems we have people stealing copper and every other

248freaking thing on the planet so who does that. Um, and I guess my last point is I absolutely appreciate what you said about somebody figuring out a plan on their own. It needs to happen. I'm sorry. We're We're in a crisis. The decisions got made to make 7 through 12 campuses. Um, we're I was going to use a more colorful word. We're really disadvantaging middle school students. boys and girls by not offering a fullfledged package of sports. It's not right. I went through a K through eight. I got to do it. We We have no choice. We have to do it. So, I don't mind. I'll come help and sit in a meeting if we want to do scheduling. I used to do that for 200 deputies. So, maybe I can help. >> You know,

249uh good evening everybody. Um, I'm really happy to hear what you say. As employee of Santa Rosa's school for many years, I dedicated the time to the students for many reasons. This transition it really touched my heart because the students is affecting our for our decisions. The student lost their own home. They go to different house with the promisy they open arms and heart to welcome. I'm sorry but that's not happy. That's not true. And that's not true because I visit the schools every single day and I see the difficulties the students has to feel welcoming in their own home when they divided by U7 and 8. You know belong to from this line to here. You don't belong to the gym because we already have occupy. You know belong to this football field for

250A, B, C and D. This is very very sad for me to see it because I was in LC Allen for 26 years and for 26 years I see people and students come Mr. Medina is one of that ones. I see Medina when I come to Nagra and I see the good ideas, intentions and the the anxious to be successful and I was a a custodian but I see and read his intentions to be successful and it's my obligation as employee for this district no matter what the position I have to be sure that goal all is reach or minimum I do the best in my power to be sure we don't fail that student today I'm happy to see Mr. Medina very successful and I many others but right now at this moment Santa

251Rosa High School and Montgomery High School having a very difficult time because we are dividing the students. We don't get the opportunity to be engaged with the rest of the students. I understand some is our seventh and eighth grade. But why the teachers for math, social and science able to welcoming and make this kid or sports not what is the different doesn't matter what you teach you need and you have the obligation to welcome that student and that campus the district can handle the expenses to bring the students to Santa Roso or ESO or any other place for a sport because we decide to don't play with the SKU. We decide to don't touch the bell escape. We decide to be selfish and this is my school. You don't belong to here. They need to

252stop. I'm very very sad to see what I see and I normally you never see me here and today I come because I asking Mr. Odin I want to be there. I'm in the end of my career and thank you to this district. I'm successful and I do everything in my power to help many many students. We have lawyers, doctors, engineers, nurses, just name these students are waiting for us to help it to push for the successful and we are not doing our job. We are not there to say we bring you here. Please believe in me. I open my arms and my heart and I promise to you you will will graduate from this school and we do everything in our power to keeping you here. What are we doing today is make these

253students to look in other directions and this district can't that 30 something years ago we had 27,000 student today maybe 14 maybe I understand the decline about people moving in people moving out the co the fires economy all that but a lot of students is living to very close districts because the customer service is declining big time and I see in elementary schools I see in the me schools and I see in the high schools because the administrators teachers custodials and I take responsibility for that we are so busy to try to turn it off all the fires coming every single day. Just do you know I running my department custodial department with nine less custodians for the last seven months and I requesting to be sure that positions are filled does not happen because

254we need to make the cuts and I respect and I support him but we can't continue this way because >> the schools is going to close but we never close Santa Rosa High is vandalized because we closed the school and we don't have plan to see what how we go to protect. >> Thank you. I really appreciate sorry I extend but it's my opportunity to you guys know what I see every single day because I'm your eyes and your ears in the district. >> Now we appreciate your passion and your service. So thank you very much for that. Um with the time I want to we're going to have four minutes for each of our remaining trustees. I'm going to hold us to it so we can each get our opportunity. Um, Trustee Medina, >>

255thank you. Um, first off, uh, Rafael, thank you for your 30 plus years of service. Um, I I think the point that Rafael brought up is is critical. This idea of identity, which I think, uh, Elsie has uh, uh, benefit in in that there's the possibility of united identity with a single culture because I think that's essential for creating a good environment at our 712 model schools. I think one of the um things that I see highlighted here as an issue is for the middle schools is the availability of facilities at the end of the day when um there's PE classes and I think simple solution is just scheduling no PE classes at that period. Um, and I think coupling that with our ability to give students um, credit for participating in sports for PE

256at the high school level. Um, and even like the band model that Mark brought up before. Um, I think it's important for me personally that that we do not use these additional facilities. Um, whether it be Slater or Comtock. I think Rafael brought up the important issue of custodial. Um I I saw here documented that it wouldn't be an additional cost, but custodial services are already impacted after the cuts last year. So I think to to say that that's not an issue to me. I I think it's having an impact on the ability for custodial staff to do the work that they need to do already on our schools. And I think clean schools are important for our students. I have questions on this data right here. um first um winter wrestling um for high

257school. Um it doesn't say co-ed next to it. Is that co-ed? Just the boys. What is that? >> It it's co-ed. I apologize. >> Okay. The a question based on around the same time last year. The idea ask for us to have uh also girls wrestling separately. Does that take place in the same time, the same in the winter or is that a different time? It's the same. So, like I said, it's a co-ed team. There's the been an increasing amount of female student athletes participating in wrestling. Um, I think that the biggest discrepancy was being able to have a separate female and male coach because there are some separate tournaments that happen at different times. Okay. >> Um, so we haven't been able to secure that. Again, that that's a financial decision, too. >>

258The other question um around an ask has been the ask for uh boys volleyball. When does that occur? >> The spring. >> That typically around us is in a in the spring. Yeah. >> Okay. Um and and just because we're talking about sports programs, um is there work being done around bringing those? I I know there's been an ask for like over a year to bring this information. Where are we in terms of that work? Just pushing the button. So, uh, there's a couple different, uh, answers I would like to, if I could, I'll try to make it quick. Sorry, guys. But, um, with regard to adding new sports, so last year, as you know, we added girls flag football. We went through a process over the last few years of like surveys and collecting

259data on student interest. So, sports such as boys volleyball, uh, uh, lacrosse, and some other and even middle school soccer have shown increased levels of of interest. And so we do, our athletic directors have all agreed that we would like to add sports. The problem with that though is the financial uh the feasibility financially. Um right now to be able to add sports in the financial climate we're in. We're not at a stance to do that. And so for example, just like I said earlier, I wasn't exploring any contracts with outside organizations to pay for us to use their gyms. we have to be a little more stable financially before we can start making those financial commitments to adding more sports, but there is a vision to do that. Um, moving forward, uh, and then

260as far as a plan goes, forgive me if I was unclear, I was trying to be expedient, but when Trusty Deator asked about the plan and trusted Dufasi, just to clarify, so the plan is to continue to provide these athletic programs. We do have uh the plan is athletic directors and schoolside administrators are going to continue to make it happen because they care for our students and the programs. So there are schools that have been making adjustments to their schedules and making it work. The document you see in front of you is just compiled data that's come from all these athletic directors and administrators trying to make their plans work. and there and it has been working to a degree, but it's not ideal for the competitive value, for the athletic value. And so there

261are schools um uh for example, like at Montgomery High School, I know this year for the spring season, they made adjustments to their like PE schedule, so at the end of the day, junior high can also have access to those facilities. Um and then also I know um at Piner High School they've made a commitment to next year when they merge to also making adjustments in their PE schedule to commit to their junior high athletics and providing them equal opportunities as best they can. So each individual site is making their plan specific to their sites. Um so that's what I meant earlier by our we're committed to making it happen. It's just each individual site has their plans to make it work. This document is just advocating for all the challenges they still struggle with

262with those plans. I'm sorry to be so long. >> I have to jump in here to make sure I give each trustee the remaining time. We are going to have athletics coming back on future agendas as well. I do need to move to trustee Kirby right now for his four minutes. >> All right, real quick. Um, I feel we absolutely I understand the uncertainty of the not knowing the future of the the middle school campuses but they're the ones that are closed but we we absolutely just need to use these campuses until that time comes until just plan for it until in my mind until we can't use them you know until we sell them or whatever we have but I mean for comtock do well actually let me back up the French American school

263so they've only they said they've only got the one basketball program. Is there a reason that we wouldn't be able to use that gym and the track and the large field? >> Ask um do we need >> you have to ask principal Anderson. I'm not in charge of programming for that school. >> I also again advocate you're advocating for use of sites with no personnel. Just I have no people. So, I hope you're advocating to give me more FTE on top of that what you're saying. >> Maybe I don't know. We're we're trying to figure it out. Um I mean the comtock and Slater I mean obviously it just seems like we we have to use those facilities. There's just no room especially in the winter sports I guess and that wrestling mats the storage.

264Is there a reason we can't store them at those sites or >> uh Eric Odin has been working with our athletic directors and the site teams to work on storage for the wrestling mats for the junior high and bringing them over. There are like storage racks that elevate up into the ceiling that store those devices. And so it's finding places to mount those and then make sure the mats are secure and safe and can be cleaned every day and can be rolled out for effective practices. So he and his team are working on that currently. Okay. How how did the transportation work this past year going to Slater and and the other campuses? How how did that work? Did it work? >> Uh it it did. I mean, I did I I at the initial

265onset of it, I heard there were some hiccups with, you know, busing and whatnot, but I think as the season progressed, it worked out. I also know that some families and some coaches and some student athletes and even ads, athletic directors kicked in and helped transport people or make sure they were there or even escort them to the school sites um to use those facilities. But um the the busing did smoothen out after the first initial week or two. >> But it that's just the players, right? When I talk to students over there that the students can't watch their students their teammate play their games, right? They're stuck at the high school. So just FYI. Yeah, I get. No, totally get that. Just the athletes. And do we have do we know the cost of

266that? What it ended up costing us this year? >> I don't have that cost off hand, but what we did is included it as a as a stop on a route. So they it was part of our home to school. So we do because it is a stop in that we do get a 60% reimbursement from that. >> Okay. Last comment was uh don't forget St. Eugene has a gym if you're looking at outside uh gyms in the future. That's it. >> 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Thank you, Trusty Jenkins. >> Um yes. So, I am also very much however we can use the schools until we can't use them. I understand that it's a money and finance thing. A solution to that would be to really dial down our site fees, which I know

267are going to be a conversation in the near future. Um, and making sure that we because the sites are being used. They're being used all the time. And if they are being used, we should be getting money for that so that we can offset some things. Speaking of money in sports, middle school sports, what's the situation with um like not being able to charge admission, but then we have to pay for the referees? What's how does that work? How does it get offset? Are schools doing it similarly? How how does that work? >> I'll try to be quick. So, at the high school level, um the the pricing for ticket admission or whatever is driven by North Bay League, our league, and so there's a maximum set amount and then schools can adjust as long

268as they don't go above that amount. At the junior high level, middle school level, traditionally within our leagues, they don't charge for programs. So that's something that you know for example like if uh say Santa Rosa Junior High traveled to um Kennallorth Junior High in Paluma and they didn't charge there but we charge then that's also bringing on a hardship to some of our families some of the families coming to us. Um it's it could be explored but that's also something they would have to do within their league agreement if they're going to do that and we have other teams coming to us and we're charging their parents and whatnot. So yeah, >> I was under the impression that middle school sports do have a cost because the referees have a cost and then they

269are trying to figure out how to offset that because they can't actually ask for fees at the door. Like they can't charge for admission for middle school sports is what I've been hearing. Is that not true? >> I would have to do some more look into any rules about that. I haven't been made aware of that other than like just agreements, league agreements to charge or not charge ticket prices. Um I know that a lot of the school sites offset and they receive donations from families andor use >> booster cards and stuff. >> I'm sorry, >> like booster cards and stuff. >> Uh at the middle school level, they or junior high level, they don't do booster cards and whatnot. Um but it's something that could be explored. We can look at that. However, again,

270if other teams within our leagues that we play against don't charge, it creates a little bit of friction within the league there. >> If we could find out though, for sure if um if it's like a they can't or it's a sight by sight would be really helpful because I'm I'm hearing that they can't which then creates a financial burden. >> Well, do you did you even beat Mark? You're right at three. Um so my questions and and mostly comments uh first I one of the directions that we have been talking about and heading in and we're not able to get into in depth tonight is also about how we make sure that we're serving students that have athletic interests um that are not necessarily districtwide uh but we're actually giving the opportunity to serve

271students that want to have those athletic opportunities on a campus. campus um where it may be not 80% of students responding that they want uh that sport, but it's the 20 or 30 that may go somewhere else because we don't offer it. And so I think it's important that as we continue to look at more sightbased planning across everything from academics to enrichment programs um that we figure out a title n compliant budget uh budgeted uh fiscally responsible way to be expanding sports based on the student interests at sites um where the demand is consistent and available. And I know that that is going to necessitate a longer presentation and conversation about how to do that. Uh but I think a lot of it starts with the athletic directors starting to think that way and

272plan that way in a way where that information can bubble up from the sites to us about what the interest is for those students. Uh, I know personally in the baseball world that I'm in, I can easily count to 20 or 30 students that exist in other school districts right now because of the fact that we don't offer the right things in the seventh, 8th, 9th grade levels, um, that other districts offer. Um, you know, and so that's an important focus for me on athletics. Um, and where we're at today. And I I think it's important for us to recognize, you know, one of the places that we could have gone is in places other school districts have gone when they were cutting um and resolving budget deficits is cutting athletics and arts and other

273enrichment. Um, so as much as I have the strong desire to talk about how we can expand it to serve our students and attract students back, recognizing that we made the actions to preserve it, um, and the things that we're struggling with now are the challenges of preserving our commitment to students around these enrichment programs. And that was a choice that we made. We didn't cut athletics. We didn't I mean SSU cut all athletics, right, for their for their challenges. And there's a K12 districts in the state that have also done that. And that's because we have this commitment because we know students are going to be passionate about these programs on our campuses. So, um I know it is frustrating dealing with the space issues. I guarantee everyone would be more frustrating if we

274didn't have this conversation happening because we cut these programs. Um so I I just really want to frame everything through that. The priorities and considerations that you have listed here is exactly the lens that I think we should be making these decisions through. Uh student athlete preferences over adult preferences. Uh you know looking to have priorities for games on the site where all the other students are whether it's seventh grade or you know varsity. Um having the actual games there so that their classmates can actually attend. Um, I do think that we're going to need to figure out how to use off-site spaces. I'm not in the all forever. Um, I we have things that we just approved in our facilities master plan that are designed to help with many of these constraints so that

275we actually can house these programs. Um, but you know, the San Rosa Middle campus will be staffed because it's going to have the French American program there. they don't have seventh and eighth graders. So, I'd like to see that collaborative discussion happening with Principal Anderson um around what we can do to use that and maybe even incorporating the seventh and eighth graders from the arts charter uh who would probably like access to a sports program as well. So, you know, to the extent that we're able to use the other states in um in a way to bridge this gap as we're executing the facilities master plan and we're able to find the places where it makes the most economic sense. Uh that is really my um you know where I'd like to personally see that

276collaboration happening first. Um and we need to fulfill our commitment to having these programs. Um, so, you know, to the extent that we're able to use the sites and figure out how to budget and staff it, I I think that's really important. Um, I want to echo the comments around boys volleyball. Um, and fro uh sports, especially for baseball and football. I mean, I know Creo, I think, is one of either the only, if not one of two, um, schools in its division that doesn't have Frost baseball. So uh or football uh and I think there's you know an important component to how we are able to compete with these uh within our divisions and our leagues um around around that. So um yeah those are my comments. Uh that is exactly four minutes for

277those who are keeping track. Um we are at 1058 so we have 120 seconds. So go to Trusty P and we'll see how much further we get into this. >> One question and I emailed you yesterday about a cheer being recognized as a sport because we're already paying for the cheer coaches, right? And if we're looking or I think it was Trusty Medina that brought up about uh PE credits for um students, then that seems like that would be an easy fix or an idea. And then lastly with uh administrators that need to be on site for sporting events and we're reducing an administrator. And I don't know if you know this, but parents don't always behave well at their kids sports games. And so how is that going to work next year with the

2787th through 12th grade sports? >> And you have 30 seconds. And then uh lastly with um oh since you brought up uh the art the arts charter and collaborating with another middle school for high school for sports, can we discuss Ridgeway being able to go to Santa Rosa to play sports? >> That's it. >> Were you Did you want to answer any of that tonight or just laying the questions out? >> It's 11. Oh, and it's 11. All right. We are now adjourned. Thank you all.