001I am now calling to order this December 18th meeting of the senator City Schools Board of Education um we will start off by taking public comment on Clos session agenda items those items are B1 student readmissions and B2 student expulsions do we have any public comment cards or any public comments president Medina there are no public comment cards thank you um we will now recess to close session and return at 6 o'clock we are now reconvening the December 18th 2024 meeting of s City Schools Board of Education if you would all please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance and then remain standing for our Territorial and acknowledgement flag States indivisible if you remain standing um our incoming trustee Nick hasten will lead us in our territorial land and knowledgement I acknowledge that San Rosa city
002schools is on the traditional territory of 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 on us to commit to continuing to learn 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 more accountable to the needs of American Indian and Indigenous peoples thank you you may all be seated okay we're going to uh move on to a report of actions taken in closed session um during uh Clos session the board um approved the for readmission cases cases number 2023 24-17 2023 24-18 2023 2419 and 24-20 um let's see moving on
003to um item C4 items consider and Clos session for action and Open Session and we will go to our student expulsions if I could have a motion to approve the recommendation on case number 2024 25-5 so moved second moved by trusty Flores seconded by trusty Sheffield can we get a vote trusty Flores I trusty Sheffield hi trusty De La Cruz hi trusty MCN hi trusty de la Tor hi trusty manieri I president Medina I if we can get a motion to approve the recommendation on case 2024 25-17 please move to approve second moved by trusty mcnali seconded by trusty florus can we get the vote please trusty MCN I trusty Flores I trusty Sheffield hi trusty De La Cruz hi trusty deor hi trusty Maneri hi president Medina I we can get a motion to
004approve the recommendation on case 2024 25-18 please moved second moved by trusty Sheffield seconded by trusty Flores can we get a vote please trusty Sheffield hi trusty Flores hi trusty De La Cruz hi trusty MCN hi trusty de laor hi Tristy manieri hi president Medina I and if we could get a motion to approve the recommendation on case 2024 25-19 please moved second moved by trusty Flores seconded by trusty Sheffield um can we go to the vote please trusty Flores hi trusty Sheffield I trusty De La Cruz I trusty MCN I trusty de laori I trusty manieri I president Medina I thank you we will now move on to statements of exstension board any statements of abstention see none um any adjustments to the agenda seeing none we will now move on to uh me
005board president send of the Year report um first I wanted to start off by um going to give uh our superintendent uh list of uh my final appointments and adjustments to the um committees um here you go superintendent um and uh I'm just going to get right on into it gosh seems like this year's gone by so fast good evening everyone and thank you all for being here bigger crowd than I expected as we close out 2024 I want to take this opportunity to reflect on what has been an incredibly challenging yet transformative year when I took office as your school board president uh December of 2023 I knew the road ahead would not be easy but I cannot have anticipated just how much we would face together from the difficult financial decisions to bold
006policy advancements this year has been defined by hard choices and the unwavering passion of our community the first meeting uh began with a clear call from our students and community members for a greater safety and advocacy safety has been a central theme throughout this year uh in March we finalized a an agreement with CA to establish a much needed role the student safety advisor something that took a long a long time and a lot of work this was a critical step towards increasing the adult presence on our campuses and ensuring that students felt supported and secure but beyond physical safety we've worked hard to create spaces where all students feel seen valued and free to express themselves in October we updated our policy to ensure the progress Pride flag flies above all of our schools
007sending a clear message that every student especially those in the lgbtqia plus Community has a place where they belong similarly the ceasefire resolution we passed earlier in the year was not just a statement about the world events it was a commitment to making our schools safe spaces for free speech and open dialogue We Believe students should have the freedom to discuss and debate Global issues in an environment rooted in respect and understanding fining just this month we reaffirmed our District's commitment to Immigrant families by passing a safe haven resolution at a time of heightened rhetoric this resolution ensures that our schools remain places of safety and stability for All Families regardless of their immigration status but this year has also been marked by significant financial challenges which have led us to some of the most
008difficult decisions our district has ever faced started in January when we learned that the governor's budget would still leave us facing substantial shortfalls facing us to confront a reality no school board ever wants to face the possibility of closing schools in June we passed our budget knowing that we would need to take this step to address a staggering deficit of 20 to $30 million we formed a school consolidation committee which has worked tirelessly to evaluate options and make thoughtful recommendations to the board now as we approach these final stages of this process it has become clear that we're looking at closing four to five schools in the coming months this is a decision that has deeply impacted our community and I want to acknowledge the passion and emotion that this issue has stirred as a
009board we hear your concerns we understand the immense value each School holds for its students families and staff these are not just buildings they are the heart of our neighborhoods and any decision to close them will be made with the utmost consideration and care as we navigate these closures we are also committed to doing more with less our district is facing new realities and we must adapt one of the most pressing challenges we face is increased accessibility of guns for our students especially in high schools keeping our students safe and engaged in in school and away from crime requires a collective effort this is not just a responsibility of our schools it is a challenge that requires the full Partnership of our city our County our local nonprofits of all of us we all have
010a vested interest in ensuring the success of our students and we must do better at working together to address the complex issues they face one way we hope to improve collaboration is by continuing to explore Community School model this model creates opportunities for schools to serve as hubs where students and families can access wraparound Services they need by building stronger Partnerships with our community organizations government agencies and other stakeholders we can provide better support for our youth and their families and together we can create a system that truly meets the needss of all students even in the face of all these challenges we have continued to grow and move forward as a district in July we welcomed Dr Daisy Morales as our new superintendent from her first day uh Dr Morales has demonstrated a deep
011commitment to our students and Educators setting an ambitious goal to visit every classroom in her first six months her leadership and visibil visibility have brought a renewed sense of energy and purpose to the district we also simplified our strategic plan through three powerful words Embrace engage Empower these guiding principles reflect our dedication to creating a district where every student is supported to thrive additionally we took a step to amplify student voices on the board by adding a second trustee position ensuring that our decisions are informed by the perspectives of those most impacted by them this year has not been without its challeng Alles but it has also been a year of resilience progress and growth I want to thank our staff students family and community members for their unwavering dedication to our schools your constant
012advocacy whether through participating in tough conversations about school closures advocating for inclusive policies or contributing to the broader vision of our district your voices and actions have been vital to the progress we've made as I look to the future I see a district that continues to rise to the challenges with determination and heart together we can build a stronger more inclusive and more resilient Community one that truly Embraces engages and empowers every student thank you for the opportunity to serve as your school board president this year it has been an honor I would truly miss serving with our three outgoing trustees Ed ever Allegria I look forward to continue working alongside of those continuing to serve as well as our new incoming trustees as we move into 2025 thank you and with that we will
013now uh transition to our special presentation uh for our outgoing trustees and um I believe uh you each have uh maybe something to share so we'll start off with you trusty Sheffield guess I will go first I'm the senior board member here um even though I don't get a senior discounted IHOP um I'll start by saying looking back through the years with Santa Rosa city schools um some of it seems like it was just yesterday that I took the oath of office and at other times it feels like 100 years has gone by um this is because so much can happen in a school year um and Schoolboard trustees as a result we age very quickly um years of service for us are like dog years um I I had hair when I started on
014the board Nick Casten I had hair back then that was in 1968 um that was a good year um I have my family here and they're dressed in their um finest flannel and Crocs um my wife Beth and my boys Orion and Quinn um thank you for your support through the years um you've been my Care Network my rock through some pretty tough times um I've missed birthdays and School concerts and Cross Country meets and special events um and having to put the duty of office above my time with them has sometimes been really hard um their sacrifices also came with my oath of office um it hasn't been Fair sometimes but Beth and Orion and Quinn thank you for your patience and your understanding that the responsibilities of this job sometimes went first um
015I also want to thank my fellow trustees past and present um we've been through it all we strive to support the success of our students and the betterment of our schools I have nothing but gratitude respect and appreciation for all of you um your commitment and your dedication to service is very admirable um we choose to hold these positions and we are tasked to make the difficult decisions that must be made and sometimes the reward is a slap in the face but sometimes it's a hug and a thank you from a parent or student at the end of the day we know that our decisions were made with the best intentions and the best interests in mind for our kids and our community so my colleagues I I love you all and service together and
016service forever now I have a message for the school Community Dear Santa Rosa city schools Community I write this letter with a mix of emotions as I step away from a position I've held for eight incredible years serving in this role has been a privilege and an honor throughout the roller coaster of events that occurred during my two terms being a trustee has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life as I reflect on my tenure I'm filled with gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside dedicated Educators administrators and my fellow board members together we navigated complex issues that fundamentally transformed our schools and impacted our entire Community we faced devastating wildfires that tested our resilience and underscored the need for Effective emergency preparedness then came a pandemic which introduced unparalleled challenges and
017forced us to rapidly shift to distance learning all while Reinventing our approach to instruction even in those dark days I witnessed the unwavering dedication of our teaching staff as they adapted to engage our students in innovative ways the eventual return to in-person instruction brought joy and relief yet it also initiated ongoing discussions about physical and emotional wellbeing our students return to campus was marked by a significant rise in behavioral issues culminating in a tragic incident at Montgomery campus an event that will forever highlight the critical need for strengthened support systems improved campus safety and policies that more effectively protect our students as we navigated through these challenges I never lost faith in our ability to prioritize the needs of our students ensuring their education continued even in the most trying times together we made meaningful
018progress in creating environments where students feel safe and supported together we enacted policies focused on Mental Health Equity and inclusion fostering a sense of belonging for all students together we held the difficult conversations necessary to uplift student voices and ensure that every student is heard respected and valued while there is still work to be done these are the accomplishments of which I'm most proud as I step away from this role I carry with me cherished memories and invaluable lessons I remain continually inspired by the resilience and Comm commment of our Educators The Passion of our parents and families and the Limitless potential of our students I'm a firm believer in the transformative power of education and I've witnessed its positive impact within our schools to me the best day of the year will always be
019graduation day to the Santa Rosa city schools Community thank you for your trust support and wavering dedication to our children's future I'm excited to see how our schools will continue to evolve and grow in the years to come and I have every confidence that the new board members will carry forward the legacy of making meaningful differences in the lives of our students while I may be stepping away from my position on the board I will always remain a steadfast supporter of our schools and the powerful institution of publiced education with heartfelt appreciation and best wishes for the future most sincerely [Music] me thank you trusty Sheffield you always you always get me my feels um trusty Flores pass it on to you okay trusty the La Cruz um you're a tough act to follow trusty
020Sheffield um and one at honor it has been to serve with you so this is a love letter to this beautiful Community um what an honor it has been to serve you as a board trustee I joined this board in April of 2019 appointed by my fellow trustees after what was the weirdest job interview I have ever had sitting here in this chamber packed to the gills in front of so many of you but it was also the perfect entry into this experience and responsibility because it certainly got me ready to put myself out there in a very personal way as a proud Chik I understand both the privilege and the responsibility that comes from being one of the very few Latin next elected officials in our County as it continues to become more diverse
021and require responsive representation I am very proud of having lifted up shined light and created policy interventions to address Pras of inequity in in our outcomes in our schools I am proud to have opened up critical conversations about the disproportionately negative impacts of law enforcement presence in schools increased resources to restorative processes that can avoid criminalization of students of color and students with disabilities work towards building new and honest and real and transparent and Powerful relationships with Community Partners in this sacred responsibility to care for to educate and to prepare our children for the world I'm proud to have dedicated resources and to encouraging and supporting culturally responsive and anti-racist curriculum and teaching I'm proud to have ensured that we centered the health and safety of those most impacted members of our community during disasters
022and I'm proud to have elevated the importance of modeling non-violent Communication in our meetings in all of our public spaces I also want to talk about what it is to be a leader and a woman of color in our community and I know I'm not alone in these experiences as a public servant in my beloved Community when I moved towards creating accountability and an anti-racist education and institution our home was vandalized multiple times cowardly people who don't identify themselves drive past our house day and night beeping and screaming horrible things at us my children have been targeted with racist epithets as they stand outside of our home but that response is not just about me and so the remedy also so is not just about me is to ensure that our Collective light shines more
023brightly and that our Collective voices in our community towards Justice and Equity are elevated respected and honored with action I am really excited and I continue to be dedicated to ensure that we work to support more women of color more proud bilingual bicultural highly educated and when I say educated I mean UC and right education and the way that it comes from my community that it's not only about formal education But it includes recognizing and lifting up the superpowers that come from being immigrants people of color people who are multilingual who are artists who are dyslexics and from the resilience and strength that comes from loving ourselves when it feels like no one else does or sees us those are the kinds of leaders that I'm committed to continue to to create in our community
024or not even to create to see and to lift up because you guys are there I know it I am grateful to the passionate young people to the organizers to our community based organizations to the parents and the teachers and the kids and the staff and community members who stand for justice and love and I remember that really powerful quote they thought they buried us but they didn't know that we were seeds I'm really proud to to know that the work that I've done will continue in all of you but also in my son May I'm so proud of you for stepping into what is a really controversial role in this board and in a time when youth voices need to be listened to more critically now than ever and I'm so proud that you're
025here thank you to entrusting me with this beautiful G thank you to my family Martin you're here our daughter is hopefully kicking some volleyball booty um tonight she's not she's not here tonight but thank you for your support and your understanding of the late nights and thank you to my board members I am so grateful to every single board member that's here and to the ones that aren't who I had the opportunity to work with and to learn from this is such an amazing place um to learn um to listen to make change and to continue to lift up you know our future in our communities our students adante gracias that's let me think of sh wow uh that is a really tough thing to follow for both of you um so we were asked
026to to write a letter uh to our community members but before I do that I just want to say thank you for uh being my fellow trustee members uh thank you for enduring those last four years where it's been um lots of ups and downs and sometimes due to you know horrific uh situations that we have endured uh in our society there's been a lot of downs not only covid-19 but other uh tragic events that have happened so this is a letter to my dear friends colleagues and members of the santosa community as I prepare to step down for my role as trustee for santosa City Schools I want to reflect on the journey we've shared the challenges we faced and the progress we made together serving this community has been one of the most
027profound honors of my life and this decision comes after much thought and deliberation in 2019 I decided to run for school board trustee because of my deep passion for public education and my commitment to advocating for students Educators and families I didn't think a immigrant from El Salvador would be elected or be electable but when I was elected in 2020 our our community was in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic a time that tested all of us in unimaginable ways many of our decisions we made as a boore were not easy and were not always popular however we acted just like go interest trusty Shield said uh in the best uh with the best information available from Public Health agencies and always prioritizing the safety of our students and staff throughout this journey I've been
028very humble by the encouragement from teachers parents students and my constituents who have asked me to continue serving knowing that so many of you have confidence with me has been uplifting especially in the face of negativity from those who question the public faith enough as As Leaders while some of May doubt us I have been reminded time and again that our Community Values thoughtful empathetic leadership that prioritizes equity and collaboration when I first joined the board it was during a time of heightened division distrust between different factions many question whether someone like me a school counselor an advocate supported by labor and teachers could bring people together my hope is that my actions over the last four years have demonstrated my commitment to fostering unity and building trust I am particularly proud of the work
029we've accomplished to support our students staff and Community advancing equity and diversity guided many of our board's decision during my tenure one of the initiatives I'm most proud of is the reaffirming our commitment to our lgbtqia rights resolution which remains one of the most and let me repeat this one of the most comprehensive resolutions seen in our district North of the Golden Gate thank you this resolution declares our schools as a safe and welcoming space for all students staff and families while also implementing actionable steps to create lasting change key provisions of this resolution included establishing the lgbtqia history month and incorporating curriculum that highlights the achievements resilience and contributions of lgbtqi plus individuals throughout history observing the transparency or the transgender day of visibility ensuring our community celebrates and recognizes the courage and achievement
030of transgender people supporting the annual National coming out day fostering a culture of inclusivity acceptance for students for students for students and staff who wish to share their identities instituting comprehensive staff trainings programs focus on supporting lgbtqia staff addressing biases and combating bullying and discrimination throughout our district and strengthening anti-bullying measures to protect LGB TQ plus students and ensuring their voices are centered in policy decisions this resolution is not only a declaration of support but also a set of actionable steps that reflect our District's commitment to equity and inclusion it reaffirms that Santa Rosa city school stands as the leader in addressing the needs of lgbtqia students and families ensuring that they are seen value and protect the project labor agreement it's another achievement I'm incredibly proud that we as uh as a board during
031my tenure passed this agreement not only brought significant opportunities to our schools but also serve as a powerful commitment to equity and economic Justice the pla ensures that all major construction projects within our district prioritize the hiring of local workers creating Pathways for community members to access stable well-paying jobs this agreement is particularly meaningful for marginalized groups like mine who have historically been excluded from such opportunities by intentionally focusing on hiring local we have helped bring economic growth Direct ly to the families in neighborhoods that form the backbone of our school Community Additionally the pla promotes Workforce diversity by requiring contractors not asking requiring them to prioritize hiring women veterans and individuals from unrepresented communities it also includes apprenticeship programs and opportunities allowing young people including our own student students to gain valuable on the
032job training and build careers in the trades this agreement is not just about infrastructure it's about investing in our people it represents a long-term vision for strengthening our local economy building a skilled Workforce and ensuring that the benefits of our district funded projects stay within our community the pla model the pla is a model of what's possible when Equity is embedded in every decision we make demonstrating that public education can be a driving force for positive change far beyond the classroom another significant achievement the district's new policy uh that the district's new policy another significant achievement is the district's new policy ensuring that Career Technical education structures receive onetoone credits for the industry or military Works experience this initiative has made our district a leader in attracting and retaining the best talent in the field
033providing our students with access to Educators who bring years of Hands-On knowledge and expertise whether it's automotive technology Culinary Arts Engineering or other critical career Pathways this policy ensures that our CTE programs are led by professionals who can Inspire and prepare students for real world success now moving on to the bond measure the bond measure for S City Schools which was passed with overwhelming support stands as proof that we can achieve what when we work together collaborating with community members and labor we secure critical resources that benefit our students staff and Educators now however as we began to explore a partial tax it became clear that there was work to be done to rebuild trust between the district and Educators My Hope Is that this trust can be restored so that future measures like a
034partial tax can succeed Ed ensuring additional funding for our schools and bettering the livelihoods of everyone in our district one of our most difficult moments during one of M and I'm pretty sure one of our most difficult moments in our tenure was the tragic death of one of our students at the hands of another this heartbreaking event shook the entire community and highlighted the importance of fostering a school environment where every student feels supported and valued while we cannot undo the past we must continue to work towards a future where such tragedies can be prevented as a step away I do so knowing that my initial plan was to serve one or two terms depending on how I could balance my personal and professional commitments being elected as director for the national educational Association for
035district 2 representing Educators from San Mato San Francisco to the Oregon border in Washington DC is an opportunity to advocate for public education on the broader scale pair with my role as a school counselor at Hillsburg High School where I continue to work directly with students this new chapter feels like the right step forward I do want to share a message from a fellow educator from he uh from s City Schools Margaret Boon was a special education teacher at Montgomery High School that deeply touched me she wrote ever I want to reach out to you and thank you for your service on the board often you were the voice of reason in a unifier when parents have been furious with more contentious issues you have been the common voice in the crowd that's a great
036thing you are the most empathetic person on the board and one that truly understands and sees people I can always see that counselor side to you that has definitely been something we needed in the last few years when each year has been harder than the last Margaret's words capture what I've always sted to embody empathy unity and thoughtful advocacy as a step away I'm filled with hope for the future of this District I encourage the next generation of fleers sitting here with us to focus on Equity collaboration transparency and keeping the district accountable I know the foundation we have built together will continue to grow and serve our students Educators and Community well Central to this growth is recognizing our labor Partners as true educational allies when we see one another as adversaries not as
037uh when we see one another not as adversaries but as partners we Foster an environment where collaboration and mutual respect can Thrive ultimately benefiting our students Educators and the entire community to those who supported and encouraged me muchim gracias as thank you for believing in me and this work to those who may have doubt of me I hope my tenure has shown that what can be accomplished when we focus on unity and shared purpose serving santaa City schools has been one of the greatest honors of my life I look forward to continuing the fight for public education in my new role as in the Nea and I will and I will ring committed to this community and its success with hope and gratitude era Flores San City Schools Board of Education trustee Area 1 newly
038elected anyia director District 2 but most importantly school counselor for school uh for students Grade 9 through 12 through 12 at hillsbor high school thank you wow I'm really going to miss you guys got me so reflective but we did want to present you all with a little gift a little plaque that we got you all and I wanted to take this moment to just read what we wrote on it from Center City schools with our deepest appreciation we hereby honor you in recognition of your passion unconditional commitment and enduring dedication to the students of s City Schools thank you from s City Schools the board of education for your term thank you and hello everyone and uh we have a little something else for you that I will allow trusty Manti to present we
039have another gift um we have a certificate for the three of you and this is signed by our California state Senator Mike Maguire and our newly elected State Assembly member Chris Rogers and the certificate of recognition States in recognition of your tenure on the city of s city of Santa Rosa School Board that's S as the City Schools board and your years of dedicated commitment to the students of Sonoma County and this is signed December 18th 2024 so this is for Ed thank you Tristy manone edti and um I think a superintendent Morales you I didn't get to serve too long with them but um my gift to you is the little boxes take some goodies home thank you for all you've done thank you for hiring me so thank you so much for all
040your service and I hope to count on you now as Community Partners and reach out as as we need help and some history Ed um so we call him our historian because he's the longest serving um board member so we ask him all the history questions so I will be calling him as our our historian um to get some perspective on different things but thank you very much for serving and for all you've given to the district now I wanted to open it up to board members in case you either of you had uh anything you wanted to share with I'm trusty deor personally I just want to thank each and every one of you for uh choosing me on my appointment last year and welcoming me to this DS uh it has been a
041pleasure and an honor to work with each of you um whether we are in agreeance or have different opinions on um needs for this District it has been an honor to work alongside you I am better we are better for that partnership uh still sharpen still and I appreciate your voices your wisdom your passion and uh look forward to continuing to hear from your respected thoughts and opinions as the board continues to move forward and try to do good things for this District thank each and everyone of you very much thank you any other uh trustees trusty mcnali didn't write out what I want to say so bear with me but it's important to me that I say something um these past two years serving on this board with these trustees has been something I
042never expected and just such an important part of my life and I think has really changed me for the better and the three of you are so Central to that I from what I have seen and met of other school boards I don't think most School boards look like this or work like this or think like this this is such a special group of people ever your perspective and your mentorship as a fellow CTA member who is also a board member has meant so much to me I remember you scooping me up when I was like totally lost at our first cspa conference and taking me to the CTA breakfast also just your Fierce advocacy for English learners for special education students for lgbtq students I appreciate that so much and I hope that I
043can carry on your work and your voice in that Ed eight years your institutional knowledge I learn so much from you and I so value the way that despite all of all of the conflict and all of the mud that's been thrown you still you bring you welcome everyone to the table and you encourage us to communicate with respect and Civility and you've been so steady in that Al agria been sitting next to you two years and on a on just a personal level there have been so many times in these meetings when you have ensured that my voice was heard or or you have elevated what I had to say and I have so appreciated that I think you're one of the smartest people I've ever met and I love the way you you're
044Resolute in upholding the dignity of all people and especially marginalized people and I so love that about you just man I'd like to go last if that's okay if you have anything you'd like to say or or student board member anything um okay this is totally unplanned and I don't know what I'm going to say um this is it's going to be um a new opportunity for me because I'm GNA I'm GNA have worked with these three board members and I'm going to have worked with three new board members and it's going to be an amazing transfer of power but also an amazing opportunity to build new relationships and network um and so I like totally appreciate all that you've taught me and I appreciate all the greetings and the handshakes at the beginning of
045the meetings and I appreciate the hellos the smiles those are my favorite Parts about attending these meetings um and it is amazing to see what we can do um as an organized board um and and I I have it's such an honor to learn from each and every one of you and especially the ones that are leaving um I I don't know what to say um but I'm so grateful to have spent time with you on the board but also as a spectator and um someone who's given public comment before um and so it's it's been great getting to experience both perspectives um and getting to know you guys personally thank you so much thank you I gosh I feel so privileged honored and lucky to have served with you all y'all are amazing and
046you know having been a part of this district for so long from a student to where I am today I know that this board been the best board ever I mean in terms of representation knowledge accountability I know that it's going to be hard to replicate um you all leaving is difficult because you all have an immense amount of knowledge and specialization that is going to leave a void from Allegria your legal experience ever as a counselor and educator but both of you all have been involved so long and then Ed just in government and government relations for so long and just your cool methodic level to just look at all issues in such a calm way I'm always like just in awe I'm going to miss it um I think that individ ually you
047know we all have um our flaws none of us are perfect but collectively we create an amazing board and we um I think our community um really should value what it's had it's it's been something that I think in history will go down is is a point in time that was amazing amazingly represented and I think that one of the things that stands out to me is that you have all been a part of advocating for transparency and accountability even when when it's hard on us and I think that's been something important that I think we've all wanted and collectively worked towards and while I hate to see you all go at the same time I'm comforted knowing that you all are going to continue doing amazing things and moving on to just do incredible
048work ahead and I hope that I get to work with you all in some way or some fashion in the future future hopefully you all um continue to remain invested in our district one way whether it' be holding us accountable or supporting us in some way but ultimately thank you thank you for everything you've done for the time and investment from time away from your families and just for being my friend indirectly hopefully now that you're off the board maybe I could connect with you a little more thank you try Manti all right so I did write just a little bit for each of you um Ed your eight years of service to this board have been nothing short of extraordinary your expertise in government relations and policy your strategic thinking and your ability to
049communicate so effectively have made an indelible impact on our work you face challenges with Grace and resilience always knowing just the right thing to say to move us forward you were really hard president to follow while will deeply Mi miss your wisdom I'm thrilled you'll now have more time to spend with your growing boys thank you for your dedication and your leadership ever your four years with us have been marked by your deep connections to our labor Partners your commitment to bringing back critical insights from different boards and associations and your invaluable perspective as an educator and counselor your thoughtful questions about our budgets have ensured accountability and clarity and your understanding of students and staff has enriched our discussions and decisions thank you for being a bridge builder a unifier a problem solver and
050a passionate voice for our schools and I won't cry I'm goingon to do my best not to cry nope it's happening Allegria your six years of service have been a testament to courage in heart as a lawyer your sharp insight and deep understanding of policy have been in valuable to this board your dedication to advocating for students and families experiencing marginalization has set the standard for us all not just in Santa Rosa city schools but across our community your ability to navigate complex challenges with passion and integrity leaves an enduring Legacy with your departure this will be the first time and I don't know if folks realize this this will be the first time in over 25 years probably 30 years that our board will not have someone with law expertise a lawyer on our
051board making your contributions all the more significant thank you for your tireless work your wisdom your unwavering commitment to Justice and your friendship and it wouldn't be um srcs uh fashion to let you go without some music i' started this tradition a few years ago so I want to continue it I'm going to play of [Music] thank you and um thank you that for that justy man I I did want to um actually open up to president kathern H I believe I was just informed that you wanted to share something hi thank you for the opportunity talk about a hard act to follow there um I just wanted to on behalf of SRTA and the teachers of the district say thank you to ever and Ed and alria um it's been a really difficult eight
052years and six years and four years and you guys have weathered it and and um have really done great things for this District we as as a labor Association have not always gotten along with this board um but the last four years have been build bridge building and um we really appreciate it we've had some excellent contracts we've had some excellent movement in terms of recognizing um the contribution of the teachers to the district and always always always putting our students first and making sure they get what they need and making sure they get what's best um I want to say that it's kind of been a few of you have mentioned it but this board really truly is um amazing in the representation the fact that in the last eight years there has been
053um a shift so that we have people on this board that represent people of our city you are represent presenting all of the parts of the community in ways that this board in the past didn't necessarily do and um and I thank each one of you for stepping up and giving your time so that the students of this district and the families of this District can look at the board and see themselves reflected and see their interests reflected in your thoughtfulness and in your caring and in your passion for public education thank you thank you president how and with that I would like to invite public in our board if we could just uh and with one last Unity clap for our outgoing members starts off slow and speeds up thank you we're going to
054take a little bit of a five minute break to just get readjusted um if y'all can stick around maybe some quick photos with James and and uh thank you again for your service we'll return to the rest of the meeting in a few give us a sec e e e okay everybody we're going to get uh started up here again we're we're going to move on next to our if I could have everybody settle settle down up there one of my last opportunities to bang the gavel thank you so we're getting started again we're going to move on to our new board member o of office um so we we got our members here uh uh renew and uh Jeremy theator Mark Kirby Sarah Jenkins Nick Casten um what I'm going to have you all
055do um you've got the microphones in front of you make sure you turn them on I'm going to ask you to raise your right hand and repeat the oath of office after me so I state your name do solemnly swear swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the State of California the state of California against all enemies foreign and domestic against all enies foreign and domestic that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States I bear true faith and ALG to the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the State of California St did I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation take this reservation
056fre freely without any mental reservation mental reservation or purpose of evasion or purpose of and I W that I will well and Faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter and Faithfully congratulations now swor sy so we're now going to take another quick little break while they get settled back into their seats into or newly settled into their seats y'all could get logged into the meeting on zoom and and we'll continue in another SI everybody e so I'm going to give you all a moment to get logged in to the zoom and while they're getting ready just uh I know there's a lot of folks here uh with public comment on non- agenda items later on if you plan on speaking and you haven't completed a blue card please do so by
057touch and base with one of our staff members up on top um by the door that'll be up to the president at that time which might will likely not be me e and then whenever you're going to on this to speak here Sarah ni we're almost there folks almost there e e e I'll just get going and let let you get started so um we're just going to get started um Mark's still going to try to figure it out um but the next uh part of the agenda is the annual organization what the annual organization is is once the new board members are sworn in um officers are elected um we start off with the election of the president um in the past um generally there's a committee that makes recommendations um usually people that
058could potentially serve are not part of that committee um given the the amount of uh outgoing board members um we decided to um I was going to make some recommendations um and and my recommendations um we going to be to have a potentially trustee mcnali as president given that she's clerk um uh trusty Manti is my recommendation for vice president given that she served as president before and could potentially advise trusty mcnali um as president and truste deor as as clerk so those are my recommendations uh given the process for electing president um I step down and the clerk takes over to run the election of President so I'm going to pass on the gavel to truste MCN to lead that process you want to swap seats or no we can just do it there
059thank you president Medina um trust um really quick um um Miss superintendent Flor just wanteded to make a comment before I'm just I know that it's up to the board who becomes president vice president clerk um I just like for you to consider that whoever is president works very closely with me um and I have appreciated president Medina because literally I can call him any hour of the day or night um when something comes up and so that's really critical to the um position of President is that available ability as well as a vice president because we meet at least two to three times a month so I just wanted to keep that in mind that it would especially in the next three months January February March are going to be high activity months and
060so if you could just take that into consideration as you're deliberating and making decisions thank you all right thank you president Medina and superintendent Morales so as Clerk of the board I'm responsible for opening up the election for President president of the board so I'm looking for someone to be nominated for president of our school board do we have any uh trusty Jenkins I'd like to nominate trusty Caston uh trusty Caston do you accept the nomination I do okay are there any other nominations trusty manieri um I'd like to nominate you trusty MCN thank you trusty maner I accept the n nomination I'll second that are there any other nominations uh trustee deor I'd like to nominate truste delator right thank you truste deor I assume you accept your own recommendation I accept are there
061any other nominations all right then we'll go to a roll call vote um we we could have discussion on it oh yes sorry so any discussion trusty manieri yeah I mean uh since I nominated trusty mcnali um I I agree with the recommendation brought forward by President Medina um trusty MCN has been serving on this board for two years um and she has served in during this time as the clerk of the board and I think continuity as we have a transitioning board is is critical it's vitally important that there's um an effective transfer of knowledge and um given the the major transition that this board is is facing I do think that trusty MCN is well suited for this position uh president Medina thank you um I think uh an important thing that that
062I'd like to share is just my experience um coming on to the board uh my first year um I was um very interested in serving as president and I think uh obviously I wasn't um president that very first year but I think having served um I was glad that I wasn't president because um coming onto the board and then serving on the board you realize the intense amount of work the complexity of everything and and it really is a big learning curve in the beginning so I just wanted to add that insight and also just add my support for trusting mcnali given that she's been engaged she's been involved she's served this Clerk and she already has that experience and and part of what serving um is about is learning and growing and it's to
063continuing to to grow that that knowledge and experience through the process and um I'm not going to lie I I was thinking I'm like wow we're in such a critical time and I was kind of interested in maybe throwing my hat in the race but but it would be uh hypocritical to to my true beliefs about anybody serving more than one consecutive term so I you know I decided it's not the right thing to do but I really um believe in trusty mcnali and her ability and and I support her and would ask the rest of the board to to support her as serving as president of our board in the next year will be a difficult year thank you um just point of order we have a first and second for trusty mcnali but
064we didn't hear a second for trusty Caston o de la Cruz o de la Tor I had been told that our process didn't require seconds we we did get a second for uh truste for MCN but not for the other two no we did for cast I think um no no but I will second the nomination for director cast so do we have a second for each of the three nominations I think we're missing a second for the L and but it's not necessary correct to move forward with a nomination and a vote correct for nominations it's not required um then is there any further discussion uh truste Jenkins just to further the reason that I nominated uh director Casten is he does have extensive governing experience which I think is very crucial at this
065point um going forward um with kind of a neutral balanced standpoint coming in I think is extremely important especially with with that governing experience I think that it can uh keep us focused on meetings going forward um which I think is going to be a huge benefit any other discussion trusty deor thank you trusty McDow um just to speak to the board that's making a vote on this the reason I put my name forward is I do believe in continuity of the former board moving forward and I've sat on this board for almost two years now and that would be continu moving forward and not only do I have experience with this board of education but I have experience with this work um over the past 20 years with rink and Valley Unified School District
066and S City School District and what this next president needs to do is have the time and ability to commit to this District uh which I do have with the flexibility of my employment and the ability to remain neutral and balance through the very difficult decisions we have laying ahead of us someone who is connected and committed to the community and has shown that week after week spending time with the community and with the various campuses and listening to what our district is looking for um so my nomination was to allow continuity with the board with the next presidency and somebody with the commitment and capacity to have that role with Fidelity and move the district forward any other discussion director or trusty Casten greatly appreciate the nomination and I'm looking forward to working with
067everyone as we move forward I think one of the reasons I was willing to accept a nomination at our first meeting which is not something that I think would normally be the right direction but with the substantial change in the membership of this board I think it is a time with the issues that we are dealing with where fresh leadership will also help Advance the conversations embracing all of the work that has been done there's been a lot of work that has been done well while also bringing in the new voices and making sure that they're heard in these important conversations and my hope is that we should I be in this position are able to balance that with experience in the vice president and the clerk's position but I do believe a fresh voice
068and a fresh look is important at this time for the district any other discussion then I will just say for myself that my interest in serving as president is merely that I'd like to be a facilitator I personally I don't believe that the President should hold any more power than any other member of this board um and these past two years I've I've seen how contentious our meetings can become and how we sometimes can slip away from procedure and so I would just like to be someone who can facilitate these meetings in a productive way um so that all voices can be heard and at the appropriate time if there is no other trustee Jenkins just have a question um do you have the time for it as far as the capacity for all of
069the upcoming meetings in the next couple like the additional meetings yes I can be present for all meetings um I can also delicate tasks to the vice president and clerk um yeah I do I have the time I can commit any other discussion then I believe we can move to a roll call vote can I get clarification on the roll call vote Do I Do It um individually by each nomination or we just do one vote I believe each trustee votes on the nominee that they would like to be president okay excellent thank you for that student board members any yes go ahead for president um trusty MCN trusty Casten trusty Kirby trusty Casten trusty mcnell trusty mcnell trusty deori trusty deor trusty manieri trusty MCN trusty Medina trusty MCN can we get some clarification
070on what happens next given that that was a 331 vote we still need trustee jenkins's vote I apologize truste Jenkins trusty Casten resident Medina do you know what we do next in this situation we we got to keep uh going until we elect somebody with the two top two so we vote again just with the top two okay so do we go to further discussion or just straight to okay further discussion for the to all right so the vote is now between trusty Casten and myself trusty MCN is there any further discussion all right then we will go to a roll call vote student board members trusty MCN student uh trust Casten trusty Kirby trusty Caston trusty MCN trusty de laori trusty MCN trusty manieri trusty MCN trusty Jenkins trusty Casten trusty Medina trusty MCN
071so then with a 43 vote I believe that makes me president of this board thank you everyone all we don't know yet all right then as president now I'll continue with the rest of the officer elections um so I'm now accepting nominations for vice president there any nominations truste Medina I'd like to nominate uh trusty Maneri trusty Maneri do you accept the nomination I accept a nomination are there any other nominations trusty Kirby sorry I'd like to nominate trusty Caston trusty Caston do you accept the nomination do all right are there any other nominations all right so we have two nominations trusty manieri or trusty Casten is there any discussion uh trusty Medina thank you um again I just really wanted to emphasize that um I I think truste um or president mcnali um since
072you haven't served as president and I think uh trusty Manti has had that experience I think it would be good to kind of have that balance um and support as someone that's experienced in that position to kind of help support you in the process and so that's why I think it'd be good for um trusty man Yeti to to serve in that capacity and I'm thankful that she's accepted that nomination Other Board member discussion trusty manieri um I'd just like to add that um if I were to step into this role um I'd be very happy to work with you Tristy mcnell and um you know there are things that um I learned along the way that I wish I would have been told or information that I wish would have been shared with me
073that I'm very much happy to share with you other discussion trusty Jenkins I think that with um with almost half of the board being new uh having it balanced at the top with the governing experience as well as the historical experience um on this board I think would be extremely beneficial uh just to make sure that you know in the especially in the community's eyes that things are a little bit more balanced um I think would would be huge I also again think that that truste caston's governing experience uh at the Forefront is going to go far uh with where our community is at right now any other discussion seeing none we'll move to a roll call vote student board member Zinga trusty Maneri trusty Casten trusty Casten trusty Kirby trusty Caston trusty MCN oh
074I apologize I go to you at the end trusty deor trusty Maneri trusty Maneri trusty Manti trusty Jenkins trusty Caston trusty Medina trusty man edti president MCN trusty manieri so with a 4 to3 vote JY manieri you are now Vice President congratulations conratulations I will now accept nominations for clerk are there any nominations trusty manier or vice president manier I nominate trusty delator trusty deor do you accept the nomination I accept I'll second that are there any other nominations all right seeing none since we have only one nomination all those in favor say I I any oppositions or abstentions I think we still got to do a roll call roll call vote oh sorry it's not what my script says okay we can do a roll call vote student board members Zinga hi oh wait
075sorry oh okay trusty Caston hi trusty Kirby hi trusty de la Tori hi trusty manieri hi trusty Jenkins I trusty Medina I president MC MCN I congratulations clerk deori all right and then the last item on our organization is the appointment of superintendent as Secretary of the board I'm not actually sure what I do I just say I I I appoint you Secretary of the board that could thank you right then we will move on to item C 11 our adoption of the 2025 2026 calendar okay um we would like to request to change the February dates it's says February the 5th but um in conversation with District leadership and the school consolidation that might end up having a second meeting on February 3rd um it it'd be too short notice and so we'd like
076to request that that date be moved from the 5th to the 12th that's the only change requested all right yes trusty Caston just have a question on that um understand is that hearing would be when we receive the initial uh report from the committee yes and we have to vote on that report by the meeting on the 19th so that would only give us seven days to work with the material instead of the 14 that's currently on schedule yes and it um the team doesn't think especially after the meeting on Monday that they'll be able to have a solid recommendation and report by just meeting in January 27th um and so there it is a possibility to do another meeting before the 27th just our our facilitator facilitators from um School Legal Services won't be
077available and our school Services of California won't be available for any other date other than the 27 and the 3rd of February I is this just questions now or are we also expressing discussion do we have to take public comment on this item no it's a it's an an adoption not an approval and then I I have a concern considering the amount of time and work that the committee is uh having to Grapple with these and only having seven days between our two meetings for us to Grapple with it that's why we have put it on the fifth but having seen the meeting on last Monday um the the team thinks that they won't reach a a a full report won't be available by the end of that 27th meeting uh trusty Jenkins and then
078trusty Medina so then are we able to push back the second meeting another week so we have 14 days to we already have it on the 19th and the 26th so basically we have every every Wednesday in February okay so we have a meeting on the 26 yes we do but we have to make our decision by the 19th that's the that's the best in terms of us being meeting the deadlines for March 15th notices so everything hinges on the March 15th date and the interim um we could worst case is schedule one on the 5th and the 12th and the 19th every day in February just in case I think that's better I think that would be better yeah for just for discussion as well as the amount of public comment that's gonna be
079we can just add then February the the 12th to the to the meetings um I had trusty Medina's hand and then trusty Kirby yeah I was going to say generally we meet the second and the fourth uh Wednesday which the 12th would be the the second Wednesday of that month um that 19th meeting is an added meeting and generally We Believe those Wednesdays available for potentially meeting otherwise but it is going to be very difficult a lot of information that we got to grasp in a very short period of time and um if we meet the 12th maybe we give guidance to staff for the 19th but they really need um we got we got to understand that they also once we give them Direction they have a lot of work to do in a
080very short period of time to potentially give a lot of pink slips out for the our March 15th deadline um but yeah I think so so I just want to clarify we're we're going from instead of the 5th the 12th so in February we' be 12th 19th and 26th is that correct that's what I'm asking U what trustee Jenkins was mentioning why not have one why don't we just add the 12th instead of removing the fifth uh trusty Kirby you had your hand raised yes so um I just want to ensure is there is there some way are we changing the process that the committee is going through to enable them to be able to do their their job I mean I understand that there was a lot of comment and they weren't able to
081really effectively uh do their what they're there to do so are we somehow it was mostly public comment that you know kept it going for so long um I could ask um Lisa August to come in down and give us more information um but if the public comment continues it's almost impossible for the committee to do the work that they need to do um but it is a brown act um committee hence public comment has to be allowed and I think they they lowered it to like one minute so Lisa why don't you come on down they brought it down to a minute right and it still took up the bulk of the minute so the committee wasn't actually able to so there is no limiting public comment other than we can say you can
082speak for 30 seconds um for the committee to do their work but if you can um yes there is an option um that the committee to could limit the total public comment um to 20 minutes and they were um reluctant to make a decision they couldn't come to consensus as to whether they would want to do that going forward at the next meeting um we do have um we've made it public that they that public can make comment in writing and send it to me and I will attach it so that the board the committee actually has that information ahead of time with the agenda as an option um but essentially that the the the meetings are supposed to be two hours and that meeting was 4 hours um all of our meetings have gone
083over at least an hour so it does that does increase the cost of course from consultants and that you know compared to what was projected um that's just that is the um those are the options that we have and it is very um difficult to come to consensus with 20 people and with the um depth of material that they're that they're looking at trusty Medina yeah so just in terms of this decision to change this meeting to the 12th um if I'm understanding correctly it's the consolidation committee meets on the 3 so in order for you all to be able to have adequate time to prepare and give us um the information that's why we're asking for for this meeting on the 12th and in terms of like other input that's going in into that
084committee it sounds like that February 3rd might be like the last one um so there if I understand correctly there's going to be a lot of town hall meetings that are going to help feed that decision and that input and I think we as board members will be able to see um potentially video recordings of those meetings or will those also be recorded for us to potentially view like anyone else in the public in view we hadn't discussed whether in our planning yet whether we would record the town halls or not we were looking at it as trying to make it a more interactive process to where we could get some input I mean yes have the conversations but also maybe an activity to help prioritization um maybe you know spend a DOT type of
085activity or something like that or break up into you know groups on different sides of the rooms looking at the different options um to be explored whether it's the original example that was provided Ed for direction of the 311 or a TK through 8 option or a 7 through 12 what would be feedback and trying to synthesize that in a way it's very difficult to record and P and televise those types of meetings because you don't have one person speaking at a time into the mic so the the microphone doesn't pick it up very well but we would have a you know a synopsis of each of those meetings and the outcomes to be able to provide thank you and I think just going to this move to the 12th I think I'm supportive of
086moving the meeting to the 12th and I think for us as board members in order to be able to be best informed it'd be good to maybe watch that meeting that happens on the 3 that way we're able to start developing our questions and maybe in advance of that meeting on the 12th we could ask staff any questions we may have um in advance of that and and just as a point about the town halls as long as we don't have a quorum board members could we could have individual board members attend those um to be able to to see some of that um firsthand same thing with the committee as long as we don't have a quorum of either of those groups um then we can hold those without them being you know subject
087to Brown Act and the very rigid rules and being more free flowing with the community D Casten I just to sentiments watching the work of the committee I'm not sure that the January 27th and the February 3rd meeting is going to add to their ability to come to a consensus and contemplating which body needs more time to come to a consensus I would like to encourage us to keep the 5ifth and the 12th be able to receive a report on the 5th even it's not the complete report in order to be able to start our deliberations in process because it's not just about us being informed but also about us being able to work together and communicate and I think the committee's done a very good job of proving that that short timeline isn't going
088to give us the ability to be thoughtful if I if I can also share that the extended time would also between the 5ifth and the 12th would actually give staff additional time to prepare knowing what those scenarios are coming out of there to prepare a more thorough um set of data to go along with that to the board similarly though if we were to present you with scenarios that may be a mixture of what comes from the committee with the seven days between the 12th and 19th give you an ability to actually respond to that we would it would be just as difficult so yes any other questions or discussion trustee clerk delator so there's no getting around the public comment the community is involved they're engaged they have things to say and we need
089to listen so we're not going to be able to limit the time put into those in any capacity whether it's a committee meeting or the board meeting um it is imperative that it's enough time is prepared um to thoughtfully deliberate and choose the best scenario moving forward and this board is already committed to a budget stabilization plan to reach a number to have school closures and consolidations get us to 11.5 million 122.5 million cut that's going to happen we need to have time to have those discussions so this is the committee is doing the best they can to delivery and provide recommendations that we have not yet had how do we best utilize our time moving forward with however many meetings it takes to get the information properly documented processed and prepared so we actually
090have time as a board to deliberate and vote on that ultimately it's our votes that are going to make that decision and we cannot walk in with seven days and say we've been talking about for seven months now you guys have day seven days to make the final decision it one concern with the fifth as a regular meeting is that we will not be able to meet the 72-hour timeline for posting if we have if we hold a meeting on the 3D so it would need if it's a special meeting we could post 24 hours in advance so that would be only the day before and that would be whatever the product was that came out of the third without being you know quality checked as far as typos or things of that yeah it
091would be it would be a raw pres so the fth would be a special meeting anyways because it's not the second Wednesday so that would meet the 24-hour window for posting the fifth would be a special meeting here's what I recommend there's a lot of information to go through this is not the only thing this Board needs to decide on and work on so let's be very diligent about building our agendas throughout the meetings in February and make sure the work that can get done on the 5th gets done and the work that needs to get done on the 12th 19th is done let's disseminate the piles of work that have to be done and not try and squeeze them all into one or two meetings if we're going to take advantage of using every
092Wednesday in the month of February which we should with this difficult of a decision ahead of us then let's make sure our agendas are prioritized at the amount of work that needs to be done and for the different things that are coming across our table because it's not just this as important as this is this is not the only thing this Board needs to work on and decide on Within month I reiterate what I heard yes go ahead um just re reiterating what I heard so if we keep the February 5th we would have it as a special board meeting currently because it's sitting on this list is considered a regular meeting so we're moving to do February 5th as a special board meeting and then a regular board meeting on February the 12th is
093that what I'm hearing okay trusty Medina I move to approve this calendar with the amendment change of February 12th as a regular meeting and February 5th as a uh special meeting as needed second any further discussion Rusty Jenkins one other thing on the on the calendar is July um and I I understand that we don't usually meet the board doesn't usually meet in July however with the closing of several schools the following month um it maybe it doesn't need to be like we don't need to decide on a date as of right now yeah we I would really like to us to be meeting at least once in July um just to kind of stay on top of things trusty Medina just to add to that um no July meetings is part of board policy
094but we could always add special meeting if we need and we probably will need all right we have a motion and a second can we go to a roll call vote student board memb Zinga hi trusty Medina I trusty mineri I am trusty Castro Caston sorry sorry about that trusty Kirby hi trusty de la tor hi trusty Jenkins I and president mcnell Hi motion passes right so then we will now move on to our D item public comment on non-agenda items um so I have some blue cards here if you would like to make comment public comment and you have not yet filled out a blue card please do so um based on the number of cards I have I'm going to allow 2 minutes for public comment I will read names three at a
095time so that you know when your turn is coming um please step up to one of our microphones when it's your turn am I forgetting anything all right so first we'll have Mike Lopez followed by Erica lipen vich lipon vich followed by Aaron Matthews do we have Mike Lopez are you Mike I am go ahead um my name is Mike Lopez I'm past president and founding member of the LC Allen High School Foundation 14 years ago I received a call from Willie too one of the owners of ltia factories he said Mike the kids on the southside of town need our help they're not receiving any support and being overlooked we listen then to Mary gaale sain who was residing principal and Brian phell and five students telling their stories just what it takes to
096to be at school I will tell you there wasn't a dry eye in that room and that day 15 Santa Rosa Community and Business Leaders decided to make a difference for these kids and created the LC Allen High School Foundation fast forward from our humbled Beginnings the scholarship program last year produced $171,000 in scholarships to 47 individual seniors and 38 alumni 11 years later we've uh awarded over 400 scholarships and which a total over $600,000 invested in our students we funded our $2 million endowment fund and uh it that fund will generate Scholarships in perpetuity uh we partnered with Gen X uh trade Academy provide Alie Allen students the path to high-paying jobs and uh we graduated our our second cohort of 20 students in November which mean they're job ready for entry positions and
097uh they are OSHA certified we have our next spring cohort of 20 on board we partnered with uh Sutter Health students get experience outside the classroom to uh possible Health Care opportunities we have over 100 students signed up for that program the students in uh that have uh universities and students have attended are UC Santa Barbara UC Berkeley Santa Rosa JC Sonoma State Davidson College Cal State Sacramento dark thank you Mr Lopez your time is up next I have Erica lipen vich follow followed by Aaron Matthews followed by Joel Grogan thank you so much so the community spoke loud and clear we want Creative Solutions that help us save our high schools now I did the math in order to save the high schools we need to make deeper Cuts in our elementary schools and
098middle schools based on the number of kids in our elementary schools and in our district and based on basic geography of Santa Rosa I personally don't see a path that allows us to cut more than three elementary schools I tried it's tough so with that said we need to make it up by cutting more middle schools so where does that leave us if your answer is K through 12 it won't work we have nine Elementary districts that feed into our high schools we simply can't close middle schools and expect that other districts send their children into our elementary schools further not all our elementary schools have capacity to host K through 8 nor do they have the unique facilities like gyms needing to host the k38 so we can actually save all of our high
099schools if we do a 330 model instead of a 311 so 3 ele school three middle schools no high schools so cutting three middle schools means that a majority of our high schools will need to adopt a seven through 12 model well uh Maria Coro can't do that due to capacity so we can leave rink and B leave Middle School leave Coro done okay so there's a lot of research supporting this model it's actually done in about 8% of high schools in California um better Student Success lower Dropout rates higher graduation but I know what you're all thinking can I stomach the idea of sending my seventh grader to a big high school wow yeah it's a scary idea right what about the crime what about the drugs what about all the big trouble they
100might get into sorry to break it to you research actually shows that if kids are going to get into trouble it starts in Middle School however if we reduce the number of transitions they make bring them into a welcoming new school community and support them at a younger age we might help them be less likely to engage in negative behaviors so my challenge to you is do research to 7 to2 Community it may be the only feasible path forward if we want to keep our high schools thank you thank you I love the creativity next I have Aaron Matthews followed by Joel Grogan followed by Kristen Langley lley Aaron Matthews hello I'm a parent substitute teacher and PTA board member and a huge Proctor Terrace fan my son is my favorite third grader what would
101have been our neighborhood School became a charter school so when it came time we made the choice to join the Proctor Terrace Community Proctor Terrace has been home to generations of proud tigers for 75 years it is a school that has seen a lot and been through a lot a school that is a landmark and part of Santa Rosa's history it feels like your neighborhood School even when it's not in your neighborhood I know some difficult decisions have to be made and I know things are going to be different for everyone next year but as a glass half full kind of gal when I picture what next year will be I picture Proctor Terrace thriving full of both new and familiar faces our community will welcome new students both our community will welcome new students
102and families with open arms because when you have a good thing you want to share it as the highest scored Elementary School according to the committee's criteria and the number one most diverse Elementary School in the district with great attendance and high academics it makes sense to bring more students into our school to offer those students the opportunity to learn from the amazing teachers and staff to harvest the food that they planted in their own beautiful garden and to participate at the many family centered events that would that would be an absolute honor I know that when the board makes these impossible decisions many students families teachers and staff will be feeling a loss I urge the board to consider the positive impact of keeping our school and please know every new family to our
103school will be celebrated as new members of our community thank you for your time and consideration thank you next I have Joel Grogan followed by Christ lovely followed by Dolce castanos good evening Dr Morales members of the board and my fellow community members I'm honored to speak with you and my heart is heavy for the difficult decisions you must make thank you for your hard work and service on behalf of our schools and our community my name is Joel Grogan and my children attend Proctor Terrace Elementary in attorney general Rob bont's letter addressing racial Equity through School consolidation he says quote students only benefit from school closures if they are reassigned to higher performing schools according to the school consolidations committee's 25 criteria including performance Proctor ranks as the top school to remain open Proctor
104also ranks number one for diversity we are proud of our diversity and we want to welcome more students into our community our neighborhood school is also in an accessible central location that is walkable and bikable while there are four schools located in the Alis priolo seismic Zone that this condition does not ban campus construction or renovation but it requires geologic investigation prior to beginning work a 2018 investigation at Proctor Terrace found no evidence of a fault there is not enough time or information for the seismic Zone to be the deciding factor for a school closure if I could suggest one overarching strategy to you in this process this would be it a school can only close if its students can go to the next closest higher performing school thank you for your time thank you
105next is Christen lavley followed by D Castellanos followed by Olivia Rankin I'd like to support the concept of maintaining all public high schools uh being open and this requires some very creative thinking and collaboration one idea is partnering with the rosand school district to house the Rosland Collegiate prep on the LC Allen campus which has 50% open capacity if you're not aware rosand prep is a successful academic uh Public Charter School it houses 7th through 12th grades and there will be 440 estimated School population next year currently they have to pay to bust their children across our city to then rent space at um urland campus which is a private Catholic school this lease is up for Renewal right now in fact they have a school board meeting right now tonight so time is of
106the essence to really think about this partnership this can bring Revenue into our uh Santa Rosa city schools keep students in their Community with their peers rather than busing them across town and save Rosland money from affording these expensive busing what does this need collaboration between our superintendent our school board with Rosland School District in CA city as well as just as much Community Support between our scho districts so that we can really think outside the box to maximize keeping public high schools open thank you thank you next I have dul Castellanos followed by Olivia Ranken followed by haime Torres go ahead doce hello my name is dul I'm a student in the counseling enriched program or except for short students in this program have been through so much that they end up in that
107program as a last resort LC is one of the schools that helps minority students LZ has so many programs and teachers that try their hardest to help and educate the students so that they are prepared to become adults some of those programs help and keep in touch with such students even after those students have graduated I question how the district plans to help and educate all those kids and offer the same amount of help that Elsie has been offering every kid in Elsie is the lingu something whether it be mentally physically and or financially the fact the district has mismanaged the money they are paid to manage correctly for the schools that teach future Generations that might when day sit in your seats and have to deal with your mistakes is inexcusable District administrators are
108paid a lot more than our teachers and staff are I'm not saying that's unfair because your jobs are very important however money has been mismanaged which is taking a toll on its students if you had used that money wisely we wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place I only found out about this because my teacher told me so otherwise I wouldn't I would have been oblivious to the fact our our high schools are on the chopping block my mother doesn't speak English which means that even if she were to be informed she wouldn't be able to do anything other than let me know I love my mom and because of her and how she raised me alone I learned to fight for what I believe in and I believe Elsie is a great
109school that cares about their students and shouldn't be shut down thank you for your time thank you d next I have Olivia Ranken followed by haime Torres followed by Lisa Dar carbo hello my name is Olivia Rankin I am a part of the counseling and bridges program or sep and I'm here to talk about my personal experience with Elsie Allen High and SE in my four years that I have been attending Elsie Allen High I have been given some of the best opportunities and chances including being in the FFA I'm going to be speaking all right I have been to speaking competitions throughout the year and getting to volunteer for a nonprofit animal shelter thank you to my counselor at the counseling and Rich program at ELC my class and I also completed a research
110Action Project centering on the issue of mental health in which we conducted Sur of the community including students staff and parents we ined interviewed Community experts as well we used our data to take action on the issue by creating instructional materials for teachers in presenting our project and data at Tuma State University and Elie Allen staff meeting in order to advocate for mental health this was made possible by at LC Allen in conclusion many other students and teachers at LC Allen High believe that social this school should be considered to stay open um because of the importance that it has to all of us thank you for your time thank you Olivia next I have Hae Torres followed by Lisa Dar carbo followed by Adrien Sanchez hi this is actually Mel de I may had
111to leave so if it's all right with everyone I'll share on his behalf go ahead um so haime says Elsie is one of the best schools that I've been to it is very supportive of students like me in the counseling enriched program the teachers are very patient and understanding the teachers adapt to the needs of their classrooms and always find ways to make sure students are comfortable Elsie Allen has the highest demographically diverse student population which is really important to me because it makes me feel like I fit in the district should be looking for other options than school closures and should keep all high schools open middle schools and elementary schools can be combined to save money the four years in high school prepare you for what is next in your life like college
112and getting a job this time in our lives is more important than any other time if you shut down an entire High School it would cause chaos it doesn't only affect students it affects teachers and staff as well overall I think that Elsie Allen and every high school should stay open and the district should explore other options thank you next I have Lisa Dar carbo followed by Adrien Sanchez followed by Hima higera and all my name is Lisa dearbo I am a current veteran teacher and Advocate at LC Allen High School a Cornerstone and Beacon of of light in Southwest Santa Rosa as described by our first principal Carnell ards Beyond being an educational institution LCN serves as a bridge connecting students families and organizations fostering growth and unity within our community and Beyond through
113teaching English and Advising the student Le Club Lobo Unity my students and I have taken pride in delivering quality education fostering leadership and engaging with our community empowering students to lead and create effective positive change both locally and Beyond has always been my goal through project-based learning volunteer work and community-building projects we've strengthened bonds between our school and the broader Community the impact of such academic and Community involvement is evident in LC Allen's history when staff students families and community members collaborate academic performance improves and students gain a stronger support system fostering confidence and success I have witnessed first generation LC Allen students graduate high school and college and seen successful alumni businesses emerge serving many of you and contributing to our shared prosperity thank you for this opportunity to share just a glimpse of
114LCN High School's promising future I commend our students especially all of those here tonight when they have final exams tomorrow morning students of the past and the present whose resiliency inspires than Mr your is up at the school I thank you next I have Adrien Sanchez followed by Hima higera followed by Maverick Larios uh good evening School Board my name is Adrien Sanchez and when I arrived at LC Island High School my sophomore year from Rosland Collegian prep to be closer to home my parents and I were concerned about some of the things we have heard about the school but we were very wrong Elsie Allen is a cliche for do not judge a book by its cover I see students calmly walking around campus laughing and joking or doing their own thing on their
115phone most are very polite and respectful and all are Guided by some of the most excellent and experienced teachers in the school district you each should should spend a couple days here on campus to see what it's like being a student and I guarantee any misconcept any misconceptions you may have had will be gone visiting LC Allen you will see many resources helping and supporting kids with special needs staff here is filled with gifted people students who are academically or socially or medically challenged need their Specialized Care which makes them feel included with the entire School population all students learn side by side in classrooms and are not segregated from the rest of the school with this understanding and patience students are guided through high school to graduation where they all walk the stage together
116once here please consider investing into our School rather than closing it this would benefit not only students but the students families members who will attend in the future invest in LC Island High School we as Loos will stand strong together and endure this together thank you Adrien next I have Hima higera followed by Maverick Larios followed by Claudia Castro Hima go ahead I am Junior at LC High School I I come here from caloa Mexico one year ago I like learning at this High School very much and I don't know want my school to close because it absess are a student of of many classes for English language learning Fe LC Allen teachers and sta respect and abset all students regardless of of their background or abilities equality respect and diversity are respect here values
117that help make and equal societally other students have educational opportunities to grow academically and personally when arri at this school as immigrant everyone accepted me my Spanish language and the way I dress it did not matter that this was different from others I feel very comfortable and upset by my classmates and teachers they all supported me and help me understand my class words this made me want to learn even more my English is improving and I'm getting closer to graduating the school is very important for not only immigrant student like me but other student students we are one to graduate high school and LC alen helps us achieve this thank you for listening thank you next I have Maverick Larios followed by Claudia Castro followed by Ricardo Valiente go ahead Maverick good evening board members
118my name is Maverick Glaros I am a junior at LC Allen High School closing this school will be mentally challenging and traumatic for me and students high school students who are less social May struggle to make friends especially when changing schools this change can lead to loss of longterm friendships increasing anxiety and depression some students may become more introvert and withdraw distancing tempel from family and school due to fear of forming new friendships that might be lost again when changing schools bull bullying may happen to people who aren't from the US or would do not speak English El alen welcomes immigrants Latinos and no English speakers unlike other schools where Spanish is treated as secondary and often overlooked when changing schools I will feel scared nervous and worried because I don't know much English being
119in a new environment I will avoid talking to other signs in I'm not very sociable and prefer to keep to myself to avoid conflicts bullying or bad joks to end to closeing high school will greatly affect many students mental health I ask I ask you to consider the decision and find a solution that support or diverse community and wellbe thank you for your time and attention thank you m next I have Claudia Castro followed by Ricardo Valiente for followed by uh rosalva Galindo Claudia go ahead I am Claudia Castro a junior at LC alen High School okay um I have been at this school since my freshman year I L my school it is so close to my home and my younger sister school as well I do not want LC aling to be close
120for many reasons and one especially is how complicated complicated Transportation will become my parents bring my sisters and me to our schools we take my sisters to write chter school first and then Dr me off at LC Isen my parents didn't go to work at the end of the school day my parents picked up me my sisters and than me and then with home driving is a special time for our family we talk about how our day was what we learned and what we will all do that weekend this bring us closer together as a family if you close my school this this will all be gone my parents will not be able to drive you to drive you all over town and still get to your to their Toms to the so to their
121jobs many of my friends know well to LC Allen or take the city bus to go and new school next year will take over two hours to walk to walk on three hours on a city bus LC island is the only School loc located in Southwest Santa Rosa keeping keeping in keeping it open is a smart for the school district to prevent students from going up of the street school as a school like rosand prep please consider keeping LC Allen High School open thank you thank you problem next I have Ricardo Valiente followed by rosalva Galindo followed by an Donovan hello board members my name is Ricardo Valente and I and I am a student at Hen High School many of us student during the day and work and the night to improve or Serv
122an arch or dreams closy Oren will stop us from r or gos when I start here in 10 grade I know L literally English making communicate hard my first teacher Miss mlan help me me alone now I am Senior Year miss dearbo has bet very helpful with my reading or teachers support student like me help me us and aduse to a new country and language they care about our sausage especially when we ref FR from our family adapting to life in America is hard without English we don't what to be bullying because of this and teachers and student at LC make sure that does not happen they welcome us and all or different they listen us dur some little times and boss or confidence please don't know close elen High School many student like me
123work hard every day to have a great future and become sa saful people thank you thank you next I have rosalva Galindo followed by an Donovan followed by Emily Thompson good evening School Board my name is Rosa Galindo and I want to start saying that um when I first arrived in this country I was very happy originally I only came for a visit to clear my mind because I had been going up through a difficult situation in my home country as mon space I deed to stay and stay here because For the first time in a long time I was able to feel better regarding my depression and my personal problems I genely feel safe and in peace with myself over time I made a decision to stay and stay here at LC Allen High
124School the POS closure of LC allien High School will mean having to leave my student my students in this country my parents are in Mexico so I am on the the care of my own who has her own responsibilities it will be very difficult for her to take me to another school with her job my parents will take me back to Mexico if I had to transfer schools as we don't um we don't want to border my or cause her cause her any worries I really want to graduate from LC Allen I have goals I want to achieve and I'm sure that many of my friends and classmates do too I have worked very hard just to be just to be okay with myself and to have the motivation for um move forward but closing
125the school will make everything fall apart so easily the teachers at the school have helped me in so many ways for which I am extremely grateful and I want to reach graduation alongside them I can only ask that you take my opinions into account when making your decisions thank you very much thank you next I have Anne Donovan followed by Emily Thompson followed by Nicole guest good evening my name is an Donovan I was a counselor at LC enland High School in the first years after its Inception I have worked actually in several high schools over the years but under the leadership of car Edwards who opened the school a very unique supportive and collaborative School culture was built and that still thrives today families are invited and encouraged to be part of the broader
126LC Allen Community they come to campus they collaborate they Embrace their son and daughter's teachers as part of their child supportive Circle families at LC become an essential part of the fabric of this school I have not experienced this in other high schools or in other parts of the country that I have lived and worked as a school counselor students at Elsie have more have have more than just a school they have a diverse community of students that reflects and Embraces them a team of caring adults who encourage and push them to find their personal potentials I saw evidence of this in counseling students year after year after year many first generation students went to college because for the first time they believed in themselves and their ability to accomplish all students left with the
127foundation of values character and confidence that this unique Place LAN instilled in them Elsie Allen is a special place and has been since the first day that it opened I encourage you to keep the doors open so that other students may also realize its exceptionalism thank you thank you next I have Emily Thompson followed by Nicole guest followed by Angel Ortega hello my name is Emily Thompson and I would like to share a little bit about why elsc Allen is special to me I first started working at LC Allen in the fall of 2019 as an instru as a instructional assistant to the special education department I started this job as a means to get closer to my goal of working in public health for what I went to school for however after starting Elsie
128Allen I quickly realized how amazing it was and the students that were there and switched my career path I went back to school got my credential and applied to be a teacher Elsie Allen was the only High School I applied to because of this our students are so amazing and the love that they bring to our community in school were the number one reason why I switched my career they continue to bring this love and beauty every day as soon as you step foot on our campus you will realize how special our school is our staff support support and show up for our incredibly talented students like our mariachi band and our football team that just went to Nationals our students teach us things every day constantly our students prove each day that they and
129our school are so much more than the rumors that are spread about us thank you for allowing me to talk about my school Elsie Allen thank you next I have Nicole guest followed by Angel Ortega followed by Andy liberman good evening my name is Nicole guest and I'm a counselor at lcen high school when I joined the staff at lcen I was welcomed in the more most warm and genuine way I believe that all LC Allen students experiened the same welcome and support that I did whether they're a new ninth grader or a newcomer to the United States El Allen welcomes all people regardless of race socioeconomic class gender country of origin and I could go on LC Allen provides a safe learning environment for students for many of our students LC Allen may be
130the only safe place they have to go during their day and for others a staff member may be the only safe and trusted adult that a student has in their life our staff is passionate about help helping students learn survive and hopefully Thrive by the time they are graduating our school provides stability and structure relationships and connection educational and extracurricular experiences for all students as a counselor I see students striving to overcome challenges to learn new things whether that be playing a new instrument trying a new sport or taking an honors class for the very first time our students are superheroes they persevere in ways that many of us cannot even imagine ELC Allen is a pillar in our students lives in the lives of their families and of the community please keep us open
131so that our students can keep pursuing their goals and dreams thank you thank you next I have Angel Ortega followed by Andy liberman followed by Patricia herado hello my name is Angel Ortega I'm a softball and soccer coach and office staff at LC Allen whenever we host home games for softball I arrive at campus at 6:30 in the morning to water and drag the infield and chalk the foul lines I do this because contrary to recent misconceptions LC LC Allen actually doesn't get any favoritism from the school board or district and we got to work on these things ourselves once I finish the field I begin my workday in the office at LC with my mind at ease that the field is set for the afternoon my hands may get calloused and I may feel
132a little tired but I would do it all again because I love LC Allen and I love my kids high schools are pillars of their respective communities and they must remain open remember that school board come February shout out El Allen and shout out to all my kids that live in Southwest Santa Rosa sebasol Road Morland Corby and Santa Rosa Avenue thank you next I have Andy Lieberman followed by Patricia herado followed by Jeremy Arnold hello my name is Andy liberman and I was born and raised in Sonoma County the year was 2012 and after a 14-year detour in SoCal I decided it was time to come home within a week of securing the vice principal position at LC Allen I fell in love with my new job and new school with nearly 20 schools
133where I have worked and volunteered none of them captured my heart the way Elsie did you see Elsie has a unique student body most of these kids come from adverse conditions I won't go into the numbers of socioeconomic ELD special ed Etc but I will say never have I been anywhere where the kids have more heart soul and just plain perseverance that is due to them but also the community that Elsie has fostered with its caring staff classified and certificated alike many kids at Elsie will tell you things like I never believed I could go to college I'm the first one in my family to graduate I probably wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for more the staff works together and has learned how to support these students in a way that they would probably
134not be supported elsewhere closing down the school is not in alignment with the primary goal that all of us in education should swear by to do what is best for students that said I want to be very clear I'm not here to say don't shut down Elsie shut down another high school instead any school closure is not good for kids and the Damage goes up exponentially when it's a high school closure lastly I implore you look at less drastic and more sustainable measures the school district has had a habit of spending more money than it has and often without a systemic plan and budget that is aligned before we go down this road and do long-term psychological damage to students who have already been through so much including two major fires in covid let's stick
135deep and look at ways to be more fiscally responsible though I do not have time in this form I can easily show some documented examples where hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent that could have been saved if upper management had listened to some of the suggestions of middle level management let's do what we are supposed to do and do what's best for kids and use our money wisely thank you for your time thanks next I have Patricia herado followed by jery Arnold followed by Katherine Howell my name is Patricia heral I teach had Elan high school I'm going to read the letter that one of my students in my public health class wrote my name is alisette Gallos and I am a senior at elen high school before coming to elen I attended Piner
136high for about two years but left due to the lack of support from staff and negative environment at the school I know it might be surprising that I consider elsc a better place especially given its reputation but to be completely honest one major difference between the two schools is the community here at LC I have found myself more involved in school activities and the community than I was at Piner I don't feel left out or out of place because I have peers who look and talk like me finer High offers good programs such as taking classes at the JC but LC offers the best resources and opportunities I was able to get my CNA certification and not only did I take classes at the JC but I also had a chance to take classes at
137son State the resources here at LC are endless there is something for everyone and the teachers are excellent that encourageing student students who take advantage of them the teachers adults are amazing and Incredibly patient uh with everyone we have students from diverse backgrounds and the teachers are excellent at being understanding and going above and beyond to accommodate their needs the teachers at Piner were also great and I won't say anything negative about them but here at LC Allen it feels more like a big family because the teachers truly understand the students closing LC will negatively impact the students currectly enrolled pleas in this students in different school will not only break up the relationships they built with their peers and teachers but it will also break up the community they've established it's important to recognize
138that not everyone has access to cars or public transportation many Spanish speaking students either don't understand how to use public transportation or are familiar with it making it difficult to get to school thank you miss your time is up next I have Jeremy Arnold followed by Katherine Howell followed by Tanya Hoffman good evening board members Dr Morales my name is Jeremy Arnold I have the privilege of serving CSEA California School Employees Association chapter 75 Santa Rosa as its Labor Relations representative in addition to um 11 other chapters here in Sona County um chapter 75 has been a labor partner in Santa Rosa city school since 1977 I want to welcome our new board members and uh recognize the risk that you took uh to step into this position the sacrifices that you will make for
139the good of the kids and the community this is what CSEA members do every day right we take risks we make sacrifices for the good of the kids in the community I appreciated the the year in review the 2024 unfortunately neglected to mention the ongoing labor dispute we have uh started in August uh it seems even now after all we've done in this room after all the stories you've heard CSA members still are overlooked forgotten papered over believe it or not school closures is not the most pressing issue before you classified employees have been working without a contract since November 1st we showed up to bargaining in June ready to make a deal here we are in December there's no deal in sight we've been Crystal Clear since day one that our members would accept
140nothing less than a fair and Equitable raise when compared to the certificated unit The Proposal your bargaining team has put on the table is a small fraction of fair and Equitable any way you measure it it is not a serious proposal you should be asking your team to explain to you why they think a majority of CSEA members will vote for their proposal and if they don't have a convincing answer for you it's not a serious proposal uh my friend SRTA president Katherine Howell spoke uh and said that CCA needs not just equality we need more I couldn't agree more um you know we're looking at January tariffs that's going to add 75 Arnold your time is up thank you Mr Arnold next I have Katherine Howell followed by Tanya Hoffman followed by Ina Flores
141good evening president mcnali superintendent Morales members of the board Welcome to our new board members um I'm Katherine hell president of Santa Rosa Teachers Association uh I'm I want to ask you president mcnali to please keep in mind that in addition to the school closures we're looking at about $8 million worth of Staff cuts and teachers are very much on the edge former trustee Flores at the last board meeting asked staff to please investigate a retirement incentive for our um certificated staff our Educators and I would like now that he has left the board to remind the current board to please continue to investigate this let's try to minimize the loss of teachers as much as we can our students need qualified teachers in their classrooms and they need to keep the student teacher ratios
142uh as good as we Poss possibly can thank you thank you president Howell next I have Tanya Hoffman followed by Adena Flores followed by Madonna feather Cruz good evening board my name is Tanya Hoffman I'm a family physician in the community a parent and I'm advocating for my two sons age 9 and 12 that go to Proctor Terrace Elementary I understand that you guys have a tough decision to make and you know I was at the scac committee meeting and witnessed how much stress and burden they're undergoing having to make ranking decisions and I want to speak to a Criterion that actually hasn't been part of the 25 that have uh you know been looked at very closely and the Criterion that I think is really important and this is from prior to My Life
143as a physician as a AER Court parent engagement volunteer in Texas uh is parent engagement one of the most important criteria that has been neglected thus far is parent involvement and Community engagement for each school this is one of the most important factors and there's lots of evidence and lots of data in education research and articles that show that parent engagement is an incredible marker of academic success this is a very easily measurable thing you can go to B mentor.org measure a number of volunteers for reach school this is an important factor Proctor terce has one parent volunteer to every two children this is another factor to consider when you're looking at other schools and you know whether you're trying to decide whether to break up a fabric of a community or not is how
144invested and engaged parents in the community and Community sponsors are Community sponsorship is another thing that can be looked at PTA enrollment this is something that transcends socioeconomic status this is something that transcends race and so this is something to pay attention to because it really doesn't matter it's not an issue about Equity it's just something to pay attention to when you're making your decision another Factor I'd like to speak about is the thank you Miss Hoffman your time is up maybe next time next I have Adena Flores followed by Madonna feather Cruz followed by David chent is Adena Flores here I will come back to her at the end is Madonna feather Cruz here I will come back to her at the end so then we have David Chen followed by Robin Sanchez followed
145by Scott Kincade president mcnell dear trustees my name is David Chan president of Community Based organization Sky Skyhawk United make no mistake previous board or boards have made many mistakes and have lost trust from our community they removed sros from all our schools they maintained the Staffing level consistent when enrollment has been decreasing over last 10 years and they gave the school closing SL consolidation Community a mandate for 311 closing scheme without any input from the community dear Port especially those new trusty members welcome I thank you on behalf of the community for your Serv service Mr Meda thank you for reaching out to me for the public uh Records I'd like you to confirm that you will recuse yourselves from all and any discussions about closing or consolidating any one of the high schools
146the public Community needs more transparency the public the community needs a fair input into this whole process thank you Mr Medina for confirming thank you Mr Chen your time is up thank you Mr Chen next I have Robin Sanchez followed by Scott Kincade followed by Shaya Kirk hi I'm Robin SES and I currently attend alen high school as a senior and as many students uh alen is my home away from home it is a place where I go to feel safe and if I ever need help I know I can find it there if you close alen you would be closing my home and my dreams to hopefully one day work on the staff as a teacher when I first started my freshman year I was unmotivated and had no dreams of my future but
147the teachers that I had along my years motivate me to keep going and to not give up some even help me figure out what I wanted to do with my future so I'm here as a student of lelen high school to ask you to not close down our school not for me but for the future students that will need a school like alel one day thank you thank you next I have Scott Kincade followed by shayana Kirk good evening board Scott Kade I'm here to talk about something that has been overshadowed by school closures which is rightfully so but I'm happy that one of the board members mentioned that this Board needs to continue with the regular course of business that a board must conduct even in the eye of school closures um I want
148to talk about school safety and school resource officers I was going to bring a birthday cake tonight because it's been a year since this board approved a pilot program to be explored and started confirming with the city of Santa Rosa on said program there is aou that's been drafted um to my knowledge it's ready to come to this board for a vote uh I know there's no funding for the program that doesn't mean this board cannot vote on a program and say that they want the program and allow us community members to go find federal state and other grant opportunities to fund the program um this board our community quite frankly has become numb to guns on campus gang fights on campus it happens so regularly that the only response from an Administration is a
149very benign email to have conversations with your children that's not cutting it and we cannot continue to operate this way things are only going to get more chaotic with school closures there's going to be needed to be more community members on campuses particularly at the high school level I implore this board to take action as soon as humanly possible in moving the school resource officer program forward thank you thank you next I have Shana Kirk and then I'll call one more time for Aden Flores and Madonna feather Cruz um thank you for the opportunity to speak um good evening to Dr Morales and the board members my name is Shaina and I'm a Santa Rosa city school parent and Community member so realistic concerns about timing I was there at the committee meeting Monday it
150was abundantly clear that the members are not only drowning in data but they need time to interpret it and make an informed recommendation to the board I do appreciate that clerk D deor and director um caston's comments to this point thank you so much for pointing that out um the meetings have been happening since August but the public has just pretty recently been put on notice and they're not happy as we all know they want answers they want to be included in the solutions and back to the meeting on Monday it did give me life seeing my fellow community members speaking up passionately and with love for their schools if we try to silence the public simply because it's not convenient for timing sake you risk continuing to rupture trust by asking the community to
151speak their hearts but then saying no not like that you know shutting it down to 20 minutes sure email that in but we love to hear each other speaking the things that we all are feeling in common and knowing publicly what all these things are happening and how we can help together this is not a situation that the community created this tight timeline that remains is something that you can figure out or extend you do have that power let the public continue to speak their hearts and find ways to engage them actively we can do this so thank you you thank you is Adena Flores here is Madonna feather Cruz here do we have any other blue cards there are no other blue cards president mcnell then that concludes public comment on non-agenda items we
152will move to our e item and the board will recess to close session do I hit the now reconvening to open session reports of actions taken in Clos session the board voted unanimously to extend the meeting to 11 p.m no other actions were taken uh superintendent any last announcements all right meeting adjourned