Board Meeting 3/5/26

00130 minutes. Correction. 30 seconds. 30 seconds. Welcome to the South Bay Union School District. Um, call to order, please. Sammy >> Esparza >> here. >> Liker >> here. >> Lopez Aino >> here. >> Medina >> here. >> Kenyon >> here. Thank you. >> Pledge of allegiance. Bayside students Harvey Richardson and Valentina Vega Sarano will lead the pledge of allegiance right to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Great. Uh, now we have the community student and staff recognition and awards. Recognize executive assistant Amy Cooper for a special presentation. >> For my apologies, at the last minute, one of the participants was unable to be here this evening. So, we will put this item on the

002agenda for our April 23rd meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, we have school report Bayside Steam Academy. Recognize Principal Kyle Griffith for a presentation on Bayside STEM Academy. Good evening, President Esparza, trustees, superintendent Espinosa, executive cabinet, everyone else. Uh, I'm excited to share the wonderful work occurring at Bayside Steam Academy, including our encouraging 2024 25 results and our instructional focus for this school year. Vibrates. This year, we focused all of our work around this one guiding question. How can we encourage equitable and purposeful student participation and ensure that all students have access to and are expected to participate in learning? This guiding question has shaped our instruction throughout this year. As part of this focus, we are working to ensure every student is expected to be engaged in their learning through speaking, writing,

003and problem solving daily. As you know, at Bayside, we serve a diverse community of 353 students. Approximately 35% of our learners are multilingual learners, and nearly 73% come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. We have a dedicated staff that is committed to meeting each child exactly where they are. We focus on using data to provide strong, differentiated instruction along with the social, emotional, and behavioral supports that help every student grow and thrive. Our teachers and support staff put tremendous effort into building engaging, hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and prepare students with the skills they need for the future. We have three goals in our SIPA that are aligned with the three SBUSD LCAP goals. Our first call focuses on working with our educational partners and our commitment to collaborating with all educational partners to ensure our

004school is well organized and effective at meeting the needs of our students while living out the district's vision, mission, and values. To support this goal, we are continuing to strengthen our partnership with families and the broader community. Everybody, everything starts with communication. Each week we share important updates through turtle talk, our school newsletter. And we stay connected with families through class dojo and other social media platforms. We also invite ongoing two-way communication through our monthly coffees with the principal. These gatherings give our families a chance to hear what's happening at Bayside and to share their ideas and concerns. It is extremely common for parents to say long after the meeting formally ends because they want to talk, collaborate, and contribute to making our school even better. Another tradition that continues to grow is our lunch

005with a loved one, which we host four times a year. At our most recent lunch in January, we welcomed nearly 200 parents and family members on campus to enjoy a meal with their children. It is a fantastic way to welcome our families to campus, and our students absolutely love it. We're also committed to supporting our families in meaningful ways. Thanks to the work of our school social worker Veronica Abila Cruz and family community engagement specialist Miriam Zapeda, we are able to offer a range of services, supports, and parent engagement workshops. These sessions have been extremely wellreceived and we use the participant feedback to guide future topics so we're truly meeting the family's needs. Our second goal so our second goal centers on school climate at Bayside. committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment

006where every students feel every student feels heard and knows that they matter. We're equally focused on identifying and removing any barriers that stand in the way of student success, ensuring all students have the support and access they need to reach their full potential. To support our school climate goal, we are now in our second year of implementing PBS in partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education. This year, we are seeing growth. Student behaviors have improved and referrals are notably down compared to last year. Our PBS team meets weekly to examine behavior data and pinpoint areas of need. And we intentionally align our weekly swim lessons to address patterns we identify. Our swim expectations, which stands for safe, working out, integrity, and mindfulness continue to serve as the foundation for how we learn and

007interact at Bayside. This work also connects directly with our sitewide focus question because by working to strengthen systems that promote positive behavior, belonging, and consistent expectations across classrooms, we're creating the conditions for every student to engage meaningfully in their learning. Alongside PBIS, we continue our efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism and to incorporate restorative practices and trauma-informed care into our work. These approaches help us support the whole child and create an environment where students feel safe, included, and valued. Our third goal highlights our commitment to strengthening instruction in literacy, mathematics, and EL. We continue to rely on thoughtful data analysis and evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for our multilingual learners and to elevate overall student achievement in English language arts and math. This year, we have seen tremendous improvement, especially amongst our multilingual learners. and I'll

008share more details about that growth in the next few slides. We're proud of the gains our students are making and equally proud of the focused, intentional work our teachers and support staff are doing every single day. At the same time, we know there is still important work ahead to maintain and build on this positive momentum. By strengthening core instruction and ensuring all students experience rigorous, engaging, and accessible le lessons every day, we are creating more opportunities for every learner to participate meaningfully and succeed academically. I'm particularly excited to share this slide. Our students and staff accomplished something remarkable last year. In English language arts, we saw a 6.6% increase, which takes us up to 33.22% of our students now meeting or exceeding standards in ELA. That's a huge jump in one year. In fact, Bayside

009had the largest ELA improvement of any non-charter school in the district. That is something our entire community is celebrating. In math, we continued moving in the right direction as well with a 1.97% increase taking us up to 24.08% of our students now scoring at the level of proficient or advanced. While we know we still have more work ahead of us, these numbers show that the hard work happening in classrooms every single day is making a real difference. This year, our continued work with I Ready has been incredibly encouraging. We've we've stayed committed to deep data analysis and using that information to guide our instruction and it's paying off. In fact, we're seeing even more growth this year than we saw last year, which is especially rewarding considering that last year was the first time our

010staff and students were using this platform. So, it was completely unfamiliar to them. One of the most exciting pieces of data is the growth in reading. We have almost doubled the number of students performing at or above grade level, moving from 17% at the beginning of the year to 32% now. That's a huge accomplishment and speaks to the targeted intentional work happening in classrooms every day. Equally impressive is the shift in the number of students who were two or more grade levels below grade level. Last year at this time, this group made up 45% of our students. This year, that number has dropped down to 31%. That's a substantial decrease and represents students who are truly moving forward. And this growth does not happen by accident. Our teachers supported by our Tossa Nomi Saledto continue

011to engage in deep analysis of the I Ready data identify students of focus and plan strategic small group instruction in both reading and math. The systems we built last year are stronger and more refined now and we can see that in the student outcomes. Now moving on to mathematics, we're seeing encouraging movement here as well. Last year at this time only 6% of our students uh were at or above grade level in math. That number has now risen to 17%. And while we know we still have a long way to go, this is real progress, nearly triple where we started at. As with reading, I'm especially proud of the shift in the number of students who are performing two or more years below grade level. Because at the beginning of last year, that group made

012up 45% of our students. This year, that number has dropped all the way down to 29%. That is significant improvement, and it represents students who are closing gaps and gaining confidence as mathematicians. Just like in reading, the progress is the result of intentional, thoughtful work. And I'm particularly proud to share this slide. Our multilingual learners made outstanding progress this year, and their growth truly reflects the hard work happening across our campus. On the California school dashboard, we saw a 17.3% increase in the number of multilingual learners making progress towards English language proficiency. Previous year we were in the red. This year we're in the green. Yes, I'm very proud of that. Thank you. A jump of this size is significant. It shows that the structures, instruction, supports we put in place are working and our

013students are responding in a big way. Equally exciting is that this year we've already celebrated 12 students who have achieved reclassification and are now recognized as redesated fluent English proficient. For these students, this milestone represents years of determination and academic effort. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and we are committed to continuing this momentum and expanding these successes across all student groups. As I wrap up, I want to highlight the story our data tells. Bayside is moving in the right direction. We're seeing meaningful academic growth, especially for our multilingual learners. Our I already results shows students accelerating in both reading and math. Our CAST scores reflect strong ELA scores. The progress shared tonight sto show shows that when we stay focused, our students thrive. We're proud of what we've accomplished and we're committed to

014continuing this. Thank you. >> Thank you for your presentation. Thank you so much and congratulations um on your incredible growth here. Nicely done Bayside. Um very impressive. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you so much for coming this evening and bringing the families with you. Do we have any Bayside staff with us today? Bayside in the room. I want to thank everyone at Bayside for the uh the achievement you made in a year's time. I mean >> such growth. Congratulations to you all. Thank you. Um also I've also noticed on um social media as well as driving by uh there has been some uh improvements at Bayside High School as far as the facilities go. Could you share a little bit about that with us, please? >> Well, a lot of those improvements

015are still in play as far as the ba the Bayore Bayfront Bayore bikeway resiliency project. Um, in fact, they were on site today working taking soil samples. So, that project is going to be revitalizing our entire playground uh to not only be uh for our student use, but also be community park. Um, we're still in the design process. Um, and I believe uh we'll be meeting with the design team along with uh Assistant Superintendent Lara and several other members in a couple of weeks to talk about the next steps as we move forward with that project. It's incredibly exciting. Um, we're also currently in the middle of replacing all of our HVAC units. We just had our parking lot resealed. So, and we're due to be painted and have some work done very soon. So,

016you'll see a lot of lot of work going on around Bayside in the next uh in the next few weeks and months. >> Perfect. Thank you so much. I was looking at the hopscotch. It looks relatively new in this. >> It is. That was newly done in our area. >> Yeah, that was my favorite thing. And so, uh, and you have new striping in your parking lot. I mean, all these things make a difference in a work environment. That's why I'm asking. >> Yes, it does. And and our campus is looking very nice and I'm looking forward to the paint job coming up in the next few months. I think that'll give us a nice new uh new little facelift that that'll really uh make the campus sparkle. Do you know what color we're going

017to get? >> It's going to be gray with trim. >> It look nice. >> Okay. Thank you so much for coming this evening and sharing. >> Thank you very much. >> Congratulations on all the growth. >> Thank you, >> Principal Griffith. Uh congratulations on on your um students achievements. Actually, it's it's good to see that we are now heading to the green area. This is this is amazing. Uh when I came in was appointed that you know we were in yellow and red and you know now we can see a little bit of progress and that says a lot. A a lot of the schools that we have have a little bit of progress and we're heading in the right direction. Parent engagement is is is paramount. It's just keep up the good work and

018thank you so much for the presentation. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. Do we have any report action taken in close session? >> No report. >> Thank you. Changes in the agenda at this time. Trustees or executive team members may recommend changing of the order of the agenda items and or request the item from the consent calendar be placed within the discussion action section of the board meeting. >> The secretary >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> The secretary will keep track of any recommendations. Please note no new items may be added without advanced public. >> Sorry about that. President Sparza, you you paused for too long, Mayor. Um, I just want to make sure that the agenda reflects that we pulled item three Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. Anybody want to make a

019motion? Motion. >> I motion to approve March 5th, 2026 regular board uh meeting agenda after determining any changes to the order of business. >> Second. Go with the boat, please. I got it. >> Okay, the motion passed. 5 Z communications to the board of trustees. Five minute limit per group. We have a South Bay PTA council. >> Um the report from the PTA council was um emailed to me and I was asked to read it. All PTA units continue to successfully plan events that encourage participation across the school community. The South Bay PTA Council invites all families to attend the Everyone's a Reader Festival on Saturday, March 14th at from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Mendoza Elementary. Thank you. >> Sorry, Amy. What What was the times again? >> That was on March 14th

020from 10 to 12. We have the California School Employee Association, Chapter 59, CSEA. Good evening, Superintendent Espinosa and Board of Trustees. I want to begin by acknowledging something that is working. Our driver program. It is doing exactly what it was designed to do. For the first time in years, we are no longer scrambling. Our students are getting to school safely and on time because this board invested in a solution and it's paying off. But it also takes two dispatchers, not one. Now, I want to address the idea that someone pitched to lay off three IMRTs when the district has only voted to close one school. It's a premature move to eliminate one of the most necessary teams in our district. You wouldn't take a car to a mechanic and say, "Take out the transmission because

021it's noisy. I don't need it. It won't work. And neither will getting rid of three IMRTs." As we move forward, we look forward to bargaining the impacts and effects of the recommended layoffs across all departments. These decisions affect real people, real families, and the daily functioning of our school's ecosystem. We are ready to engage in that process in good faith. Tonight, I need to address something that has deeply concerned our members. We heard that the board will be voting to increase its monthly stipen from $27563 per month to $1,200 per month. And I ask you to pause and truly consider what this looks like from our perspective when we got pink slips that go out this week. We are fighting to keep schools open, to keep services running, to keep students supported. And at the

022same time, the board is considering this raise. Is this really the moment to do that? We understand the pressures you face. We understand the scrutiny that comes with the public service, but I need to be honest. Approving a stipened increase right now will damage what little trust and goodwill the employees have for this board. I'm asking you respectfully and sincerely to make a good faith gesture. Maybe wait, hold off on a raise until we are out of the woods. show employees, families, and the community that we are all sacrificing together and all pulling in the same direction because right now your decision will send a message. Thank you. We have the Southwest Teacher Association Good evening trustees, executive team, colleagues, parents, and community members. With an overwhelming 97% yes vote, SWAT members have ratified our

023tentative agreement. This is what happens when we refuse to back down. Our collective power forced you to come to the table to ensure that you prioritized our students and our staff. Thank you to every single member, every single parent, student, and community member who stood strong to fight for our community, for our students, and for our schools. We look forward to you approving the tentative agreement tonight. I would also like to address my concern with the delays with school closures. For months, we have been asking for plans, timelines, among other documents, and have not received the information requested. This is delaying our bargaining process. How do you expect us to adequately bargain the impacts and effects when we can't receive the information? This is going to have a huge impact on our system. And by

024the looks of it, our administration has no idea what they are going to do, how they're going to do it. If they do, they're not sharing it with us. I ask you to please direct them to give us what we have requested prior to our bargaining session on Tuesday. Lastly, um I would like to address the layoffs that you are making this month. Um rather than protecting our instructional space, what you are doing is you are cutting directly to the heart of our schools. You're laying off people because you have to rightsize the budget. You're not laying off people based on enrollment. You are causing stress that isn't not necessary. You are planning on laying off more people than you need to. Last year the same thing happened. We released our attempts and then last

025minute we had to bring them back and by then some of them said had said thank you but I'm I'm in the district now. And then that caused our students to not have the support that they deserve. We had classrooms that had substitutes up until November. Is that what our plan is to have staff say thank you but no thank you and and leave and then have classrooms that are not filled by certificated staff? You were elected to do what's best for our kids. So please look into that. Is it necessary to put stress on our staff and our community like that? And then the other thing is you keep saying that there's no money. If there's no money, then why are you increasing your stipen? Why are you giving our assistant superintendent a raise?

026Yes, it's a bonus, but you gave them over 10% last year. Shouldn't that 10% be enough for the next three years? You need to look at how you are prioritizing the little money that we have. Our system is broken. We know that. But all you are doing is breaking it even further. Please do what is best for our community. Thank you. district superintendent. >> Thank you, President Esparza. I wanted to share that I am extremely grateful for all the work from both of our bargaining teams, the team representing SUADA and the team representing our district to reach an agreement that the board can consider tonight. After going through the whole process and factf finding, one of the things that we can count on is that this agreement is probably one of the best agreements that

027we could have come up with. Right? when we have an outside agency that's reviewing all our numbers and that are giving a recommendation um I think we can rest assured that that's probably the best that we could do. So, so I am very grateful for that work. I'd also like to share that I'm a bit a bit disheartened by the state of public education. It seems like every day you look across the state and another district is having to make difficult decisions around staffing, around budgets, around school closures. And it's simply because our schools are not funded appropriately in this great state. I'm in my fifth year in the South Bay Union School District. I continue to maintain I believe in the first six months I shared with the board that our biggest challenge was

028going to be declining enrollment. I continue to maintain that that is our biggest challenge. When the board asked me what we have to do to meet that challenge, I simply said our district has to work as a team to identify that challenge and then work together to overcome it. To that end, I have we have asked our labor partners to join us in the California Labor Management Initiative, and we hope that this initiative will help us work together to overcome that challenge. Thank you. >> Thank you, Superintendent. Now we go public comments on non agenda items. The board will take no action or discussion on any item not appearing on the posted agenda except as authorized by law. Individual speakers are allowed three minutes to address the board on each of the non-aggenda items. Speakers

029are not permitted to yield their time to another person. The board will limit the total time for public input for each item for 20 minutes. Do we have any public comments? >> We have one. Vanessa Velasquez. Good evening, board of trustees, superintendent, and everyone in attendance. I am here to make another plea to the board to take back the decision to lay off two of the three IMRTs from last month. This is if this decision stays in motion, it will affect the campuses of Nester Language Academy and Pent Elementary. Now, we know that with the closure of Central, there was going to be one IMRT on the layoff list, but adding two additional IMRTs doesn't make sense. We were told that this decision was made mostly because of the factf finding results and that a

030director made the com the recommendations to cut these positions. But what those results of factf finding don't tell you is how this will affect these schools. By laying off these IMRTs, Nester and Pence will now lose tier one tech support that's provided every day at a moment's notice. Students and staff will have to wait to have any tech device troubleshooted, reset, or repaired. Especially when the device suddenly disconnects from the network, a student delays, deletes any if not all the apps, or something simply just does not work. Um, they will most likely have to be put onto the teachers or secretaries to place a work order for a technician to stop by and help with an issue at hand. Not knowing that this can take time depending on which technician is assigned to those schools

031and what their current schedule looks like with the different projects they have they are given. This means that students and staffs will go hours if not days without help. I'm sure that's not what you want to happen, right? They will also lose someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in conducting a full inventory of all curriculum and technology devices. Only we know the correct procedure and processes of and what these materials look like and are available to distribute these items promptly when needed. I'm sure you wouldn't want your students and staff to have to wait a while for their materials, especially at the beginning of next school year. All because these schools won't have someone available on their site who knows the job and who has the experience necessary to complete said job before the William

032State Group comes for their yearly inspections. Besides losing someone creative, experienced, and available at all times in the library, these schools will lose a very valuable and vital resource to their school. Who else will be willing to go above and beyond for their students and staffs like we do? No one else will be willing to take over the massive amount of responsibilities that come with our position and do it with the utmost care and dedication as we do. So why would you even consider allowing two other IMRTs to be placed on the layoff list? But because of all this, I want to challenge each one of you. During this next week, I am going to personally send you all an invite and a request to come to my site. Come work with me side by

033side. I don't want you to watch me work. I want you to see and experience everything that I do. Um be and to be I get pulled in many different different directions because situations at my site can happen in a moment's notice. I want you to know what a vital component each IMRT is is at their site and that our sites cannot function without one. And for all of my IMRTs who could not be here tonight, I encourage you to say to send the same invite. I want you to let the board know that what we do is unique, essential, and a valuable asset to our sites. Thank you. Thank you. Discussion it action items. General functions Southwest Teacher Association 2024 2025 reopener negotiations in 2025 to 2027 successor agreement. Recognize interim assistant superintendent Felix

034Avala for the presentation of the agreements. And uh just want to read something. As many of you are aware, teachers across the state are participating in a large-scale strike led by the California Teacher Association. Here in the South Bay, we are pleased to announce that after a long negotiations process and factf finding, we have reached a tentative agreement with SUA. This agreement reflects our shared comm commitment to stability, collaboration, and student success. As a district, we work extremely hard and explore every possible venue to provide fair compensation, strong benefits, and optimal working conditions for both our certificated and classified employees. This agreement also supports our efforts to retain excellent teachers while maintaining the long-term fiscal health of our district. Now our focus turn into working together to strengthen student progress by using our resources effectively

035and continuing to provide the highest quality education for all children in our district. We remain dedicated to maximize learning and a positive and supportive culture and to ensure that our district remains competitive with others in the county. Thank you. >> Okay. Good evening, President Esparza, board, superintendent, guest. The South Bay and the South the South Bay Union School District and the Southwest Teachers Association have completed negotiations for the 24 2024 2025 reopener of the collective bargaining agreement. parties reached an agreement on a successor CBA for a two-year term effective July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2027. The tenative agreement address the following articles of the collective u of the agreement. Article six, hours of employment. Article seven, health and welfare benefits. Article 11, class size. Article 18, wages. Article 24, special education. Article 25, term

036of agreement. In addition to revisions of the CBA, the parties reached agreement on several memorandums of understanding, specifically universal transition kindergarten, back to school night and article 12 evaluations. It is respectfully recommended that the board approve ratify the tenative agreement between and memorandums of understanding with the Southwest Teachers Association. Can we get a motion, please? >> Sorry. Is this where we before the motion? >> No, >> I need to go a motion. >> I move to approve ratify the tenative agreements and memorandums of with of understanding with the Southwest Teachers Association. >> Second. Okay, I just want to acknowledge the work that it took for almost two years to get to this agreement uh from both sides and and it was extremely difficult. There's a lot of uh emotions, a lot of pain that we

037saw here from our teachers, from community members, and I'm, you know, happy that we finally came to an agreement and that we came to the best agreement that we could come to during these times. Um, but I I do want to at least take a moment to recognize all the work that went into this. Um I want to thank the community members who came out to all the meetings shared with us um everything that they shared um the SWAT did a great job bring filling this room over and over again with community members um and you know we're I believe a board that really uh encourages and really appreciates community engagement and something that I would like to we need to see um throughout the year, right? There's a lot of things that we need

038to continue to fight for year round, not just when there's contract up for negotiation. Um so, please continue to engage our parents, involve them in the work that has been happening in the district because that's the only way we're going to continue to move forward as a community is if we're all working together. So, thank you to my board colleagues. I know it was a lot of difficult decisions that we had to make and thank you to everybody else who was part of this this process. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I too would like to acknowledge the work of the district and our labor partners, all labor partners, even our community who came out to advocate, our parents, our neighbors, uh at the park, at the grocery, everywhere we went, there was always an exchange

039of information. And in that exchange, we grew tighter as a community. And that is my goal going forward that we stay united Mr. President and that our miss message is one of uh one of challenge but one committed to the work. The uh 20 months was grueling for me. I in my neighborhood at the grocery list had to share with our parents and community um the work of the district and the work of the board. So that understanding and that uh communication I believe needs to be fleshed out superintendent because uh they're under the assumption that we're sitting at the negotiating table and we are not. So uh through that experience I've learned that uh uh our community parents who've come here uh are are misinformed about our job and uh so through that experience

040I hope to bring light to the actual work of the board and uh and understand what the board does because I don't think our community understands um the work of the board unfortunately. Um, with that, um, I'll leave it there and congratulate both teams. Thank you. Okay, let's go for the vote, please. Okay, the motion passed. 5-0. Okay. Now we have memorandum of understanding CSEA chapter 5559. Recognizing in terms Abela for presentation of the memorandum of understanding. Thank you, President Sparza. Uh, the district and CSEA have engaged in negotiations consistent with prior tenative agreements that included B2 provisions related to wages and health and welfare benefits. In prior tenative agreements from June 10th, 2024 to May 30th, 2025, the parties agreed that if another bargaining unit received higher ongoing salary schedule increases, one-time payments, or

041increased district contributions towards health and welfare benefits, CSCA would be offered the same compensation adjustments. The district and CSEA negotiated a memorandum of understanding to provide equivalent compensation adjustments to classified employees and specifically a retroactive 2% salary increase effective July 1st, 2024. Uh a 2% off schedule onetime payment based on salary earned. a retroactive 1% salary schedule increase effective July 1st, 2025 and an increase to the maximum annual district contribution for medical insurance premiums um effective March 1st, 2026. It is respectfully requested that the board approve ratify the memorandum of understanding with CSCA chapter 59 regarding the increase in wages and health and welfare benefits. I move to approve verify the memorandum of understanding with CACA chapter 59 regarding wages and health uh health and well welfare benefits. >> I second again congratulations to both

042teams district and CSEA and it's chapter 59. um the togetherness in that room uh being on the negotiating team for over 10 years, I know the conversations that can be had and can be gleaned and challenged. So I want to recognize that work um uh both from the chapter and the and the district and come to an agreement and uh at this stage and thank you for your patience CSCA and it's chapter 59 to uh uh wait till um we all come together at this point. I I want to I want to tell you I appreciate your patience and um I wish it could be more because 2% is not enough. Um, again, I would like to uh say that um if it's within my power for both teams um to find more money, I

043will. And thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. >> Great. Let's go for the vote, please. The motion pass 5-0. Board comes to session. Now like to recognize Superintendent Jose Espinosa in discussion of board member composition. Thank you, President Esparza. In October of 2025, the governor signed Assembly Bill 1390 into law. This bill updates monthly compensation thresholds for schoolboard members that have been the same since 1984, over 40 years. In a school district in which the average daily attendance for the prior school year was 10,000 or less but more than a thousand, each regular member of the city board of education or the governing board of a school district who attends all meetings held may receive a compensation for the regular member service a sum not to exceed 1,200 in any month. It is respectfully requested

044that the board approve an increase to board compensation in the amount of $1,200 per month per board member effective April 1st, 2026 and an approval to update board bylaw 9250 as necessary. I move to approve an increase to board compensation to the amount of $1,200 per month per board member effective April 1st, 2026 and approval to update board bylaw 9250 renumeration, reimbursement and other benefits as necessary. We do have a public comment on this item. When you're ready. >> Thank you. >> So, sorry, Vanessa Barera. Good evening. Um, I know I briefly spoke about this already. Um, but in looking at the budget documents and the fact that you guys made us fight, you didn't give us anything out of the kindness of your heart. We had to work tirelessly. We had to organize. Cheryl,

045community members coming up to you on the streets was because of the work that we had to do to get you guys to prioritize our students and our staff. And when I look at this, you're saying that you need to have budget reductions of 4.3 million for 2627 and 2 um two for 2728, right? And yet if you have to make reductions, you're you're giving out layoffs. Um, you're cutting IMRTs, you're cutting IAS, you're cutting people who are essential to the work that we do and because there's no money. Yet, you are tonight going to vote to increase your um compensation by 335%. I get it. giving you guys giving yourselves a small raise, but 335% raise when you say that there's no money and you're laying off people. I hope that cuz I know

046that you're all going to vote for this and approve it, but I hope that means that you're going to start coming to sites on your own without the superintendent. Come out and see the reality of our school sites. Come and talk to the people that you represent. Come and see that o at Oni you have five staff members who are in a small portable who do not even have a real desk who have to make confidential phone calls outside that that's not confidential anymore. How many laws are we breaking by what we are doing to our sites? Come out and see what is really happening. Start talking to the people that work day in and day out at the site. Stop only listening to one side. Think about the percentage again that you are giving

047yourself when you say that there's no money. again 335% increase. Thank you. >> I have a discussion. >> Yep. Um I find it well first of all like this is legislation passed down from the state because the stipend was not even remotely similar from one district to another when we consider LA Unified and and districts I understand that they're larger um but um yes much larger and they had full salaries They h they're there they're there are board members that it was a equivalent to a full salary and the language saying is that if you come to each board meeting then this stipend is what you get but the work is so much beyond the meeting each month I mean as a as somebody who was new to the board I I I was told

048you know it's just a meeting every month, a little bit here and there. And it is so much more than that. When there are study sessions and budget sessions and meetings that come up randomly that you need to be available for that there has to that there has to be five strangers from five different homes coming to learn about situations that are happening with within our district. Also, we have for the for like we have an election coming up and for our future board members, people wanting to run to say that that their time will be valued, that their interest in the school is our district is valued. I believe that it is deserving of us as a school board and future school board members to to increase the stipen. We have families and and

049um and I approve of it because I hope that there's people out there who are interested in participating in the district at this level that are not um discouraged by the fact that it's less than a week's worth of groceries to be available and and do this work. >> Can Trusty Esparza, can I can I add something to that? >> Sure. >> Um this you know this topic is always it always baffles me. Number one, there's this idea in the community, right? That there's this idea that we all eat in the community. So, it's it's always baffling to me when we are approving or considered or we've approved uh raises for every person across our district and yet we're going to try to knock down uh the board for doing aligning to legislation. Um districts

050across the state are doing the same thing, right? we've aligned to. I know national is at that is at that level. So, we're at the same level national is right now. Um, but it it just is is it is always baffling to me. One of the things in my last district, the board didn't take uh a stipen, didn't take any health benefits, basically zero. And what what we had at at the board level were really people that you know that that could afford to to volunteer. Uh one of my board members was a a doctor at a doctor at at San Francisco State uh what no UCSF so University of San Francisco. and he was on the board because he was serving uh community uh it was community service that he was expected to do

051which is great. I I think that's a great thing. Um but really when we when we had conversations around well this idea that board members should not be compensated for them nothing at all. Right? Who does that who does that allow to run for school boards and who does it shut out? I would argue that in this community it would shut out a lot of parents who really, you know, maybe are not able to to take time off work or to do board service, uh, which is serving their own community for the $250 that hasn't been changed in over 40 years. 40 years. So, I strongly support this change and I hope that the board passes this without any reservation as this is going to to trust Lyer's point, it's going to improve board service

052for the future. There's a reason why the state passed this legislation. Thank you. And if there's any board members that disagree, they can always donate their their stipen back to the district, right? >> Um, when this was brought to my attention, I thought, "Oh my god, $1,200." Um, I was ready for the pitchforks. Um, what is it? The Somebody help me out here. the torches, right? Um, when we approved a 5% raise, which was a $12 increase, this room was filled with people telling us, "How dare you give yourself a 5% raise?" People came to our home saying, "You gave yourself a 5% raise." I thought 600% raise. I guess it's 335%. not great at math, I guess. But I thought, wow, like we're not going to hear the end of it. Um, and it's

053very interesting to think if we look at it the other way around, how many hours did um you spend Trusty Gonz last month um doing your board duty? >> Let's put it this way. My husband says, "What's your office hours?" and I'll see you uh at 8 p.m. It's a non-stop job. You're going to be to totally invested. >> Yeah, we had multiple meetings, a working together meeting. If we did the math, we're getting paid less than $10 an hour to do this job, which is one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. The decisions that we make up here affect hundreds of teachers, um, hundreds of employees, thousands of people in our communities. We have that responsibility in our shoulders and to have to do that for $10 an hour, um,

054it's just crazy. Um, so I think it makes sense for us to get for trustees to get paid more. Um, just like I think it makes sense for teachers to get paid more. Um, I think the teachers deserve way more and there's so many things that we're working together to try to fix. I really hope that um the CTA campaign continues to grow and we continue to put pressure on the state to tax the billionaires who could fund our education, who could fund your salaries. Um, so I think that this is something that we need to do and most importantly is to allow the families, the people who came over here to tell us how they felt an opportunity to be up here. Most of the families in our district are struggling to make ends

055meet. There's no way a parent is going to be able to be here and represent the community. That's why school boards are usually old, rich white people. >> So >> I'm not rich. Yeah. All the rich, white people. Um, so in order to give our community an opportunity to be here, um, I think, you know, this is going to be a great incentive. I've been debating this whole time whether or not I'm going to run for reelection next year because I can't afford to live here and I have a pretty good job. Um, and I don't think I could afford to live here. Um, and I'm having to make these decisions. Um, and as I'm looking for a community member that can take my spot because I'm not going to leave this seat, um, unless

056I know somebody good is going to be able to sit here, um, to make the decisions that we need to make. Um, it's so hard to recruit somebody. There's not one person so far that I've came across that's interested in doing this job. So, I think if I told them they were going to get paid $1,200 a month, that might help. So, you know, I Why I think that I'm going to vote yes on on this uh item. >> Thank you uh trustees and superintendent for your kind words and recognizing the work of the board. I've been on that side and I've been on this side for a while now. But the bottom line is is that the state of California has recognized the need to increase the st It's not an option board. It

057specifically says the governor signed the assembly bill 1390 into law. The bill updates monthly compensation thresholds for school board members and the bill reads. Okay, so as the superintendent shared, okay, this is not a yay or nay. Okay, so uh um and we need to update our policy with the law. Okay. Now, what we do with the 1,200 is up to us. Okay. I've suggested uh in my purview that uh we have educational foundation that would be a winning target in my book. Okay? Even if I could only allow $100 or $200, it makes a difference to the educational foundation. Okay? Um so this is not a a no. Okay, it's a must. And uh as far as the the sharing about trustees up and down the state of California, people did not run for

058school board. Uh they had open seats. So what does that mean to the to the people that have to be appointed now? Well, it's a stacked board. They appoint people they like. They have a stacked board and so they proceed. Okay. I would rather have an open election with somebody running uh that's elected by the people, not appointed by a board. And I would hope that you would do that, too. Think that way, too. Um uh in addition, uh you're right, Jose. I mean, we got slam d about 10 bucks. Okay. And we were we were harassed at our own home where our children sleep. So uh um these are things that the board absorbs. Okay, we absorbed it and that is a strong board. Okay, some people would have hightela it out and believe

059me they would have. So, uh, you know, the bottom line is is that we recognize the work of the trustees. It's not a, you know, a Thursday night at the oasis, okay? It's not, um, to be effective. Uh, you do go to school sites, you do talk to people, you do you you have the interest in the in the departments, you go on employee day, you go and see the teacher, you go into the library. These are all things that's not written. It's not a must, but to be an effective board member, you must see. And that's what I do. I go see. And so, uh, I'm not doing this for the money because I've never done it for the money. Never. But I'm doing it for the future. For the future. I'm looking for

060a budget person. We had a budget person in the 90s. He was great. Okay. You know, a budget person may be a retiree. Okay. we need a budget person. Uh um so with that, you know, I'm going to vote yes because I'm looking to the future and the future of this district matters to me and the representation that it will present. Thank you, Super I mean, President Vice President. >> Okay, great. Let's go for the vote, please. The motion pass 5-0. Okay. Approve the increase in wages and health benefits for certificated classified management and confidential employees. See that's was passed. Now amends to the employment agreements. Recognize superintendent Jose Spinosa for presentation of the employment agreement of amendments. Um trustee as far as I think we skipped D. Wages and health benefits for certificated classified

061management and confidential employees. That's correct. Wages and health benefits for certificated classified management and confidential employees. Recognize intern assistant superintendent Felix Abala for discussion. Thank you, Superintendent. >> Okay. Good evening, President Sparza, board members, superintendent, guest. The district and SWAT have reached an agreement on wages and health benefits. We are requesting approval of the following in alignment with SWAT and CSEA for certificated and classified management and confidential employees for 24 2024 2025 a 2% ongoing uh salary schedule increase effective July 1st a one-time offset payment of 2% for the 25 for the 2025 2026 year, a 2% ongoing salary schedule increase effective July 1st, 2025, and $1,000 increase to health and welfare uh benefits. It is respectfully recommended that the board approve the increases in health and welfare uh benefits for certificated and classified management,

062management, and confidential employees. >> Okay, thank you. Do we have a motion, please? >> Mr. President, I move to approve the increase in wages and health and health benefits for certificate classified management and confidential employees. >> A second. >> Okay, let's go. >> We have the public comment. Let's go with the public comments, please. >> Estella Corales. >> Good evening, President Esparza and trustees. I am here tonight to thank you for considering the inclusion of management and confidential employees in the recently approved salary and benefits package for classified and certificated staff. Team SBUSD is composed of three interconnected groups that work together to serve our students. Our certificated staff, our classified staff, and our management staff all work alongside the executive team every day. These groups do not work in isolation. We function as one

063system that we proudly call South Bay Union School District team. When one group moves forward, we all move forward. Our management and confidential team consist of 43 employees, and I provided a list for you so you could see their names. They're both classified and certificated, and they oversee and lead every department in our district. Child nutrition, educational services, fiscal services, human resources, maintenance and operations, school site leadership, student services, special education, superintendent's office, technology and transportation. We supervise staff, ensure compliance with state and federal mandates. We manage budgets, we oversee safety, we implement board policy, and we carry the responsibility of district-wide accountability. This is work that requires long hours, difficult decisions, and responsibility that does not end when the school day ends. This leadership often demands 12 to 14 hour days and weekends as

064we respond to emergencies, student crisis, personnel issues, and community concerns. all along ensuring that our classified and certificated staff have what they need to succeed and support the most important groups of all, our students and our families. As you know, management and confidential staff has already been accounted for in the district's financial projections for the recently approved benefits and salary increases, and its inclusion aligns with projections that have already been vetted and determined to be affordable through the San Diego County Office of Education AB1200 review process. We are deeply grateful for the board's commitment to supporting all employees across the district. By including management and confidential staff in the benefits and salary increases, you are reinforcing the message that we are truly one team where every role, every department, every employee contributes to the success

065of our students and where equity, unity, and morale within team SBUSD truly matter. Thank you again for your leadership, your partnership, and your continued commitment to team SBUSD. We appreciate your support. >> Comments. >> Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you to our management team. Uh we can't say it enough. Um, we know what you do. We don't say it enough to thank you. I see what you do. And I want you to know that I appreciate you. The community appreciates you. They don't even know what you do, but they know that school is home. And that's what you created, principal's home. So, uh, and supporting your staff and students and community. Uh, and, uh, this year has been just amazing as parents join us again right there at the gate and have coffee with

066us. Okay. It's been a a wonderful year seeing uh, Sunny Slope with the star in this in this silly string. Uh, you brought imagination. The principles have brought imagination back to our schools and our children are engaged with the fun. I want to thank you. I want to thank you deeply. This is not enough to recognize you with, but it's a small token at this time. And hopefully we get rich and we can give more. So again, I thank you and I applaud you and I stand with you. Thank you again. I just like to say something. It's it's been a privilege, you know, seeing you guys coming up here and do amazing presentation and it's an honor. Thank you so much. That being said, let's go with the vote, please. The motion pass 5-0.

067Thank you. >> On behalf of the management confidential team, I just want to say thank you. We really appreciate it. Thank you all for coming. Thank you. It's been such a long day for me since 2 o'clock this morning. So bear with me, get through it. Uh, amendments to the employment agreements. Recognize superintendent Jose Smosa for presentation of the employment agreement amendments. Thank you, President Esparza. The employment agreements with assistant superintendents Pamela Rier Montel and Rio were effective on February 11th, 2022. The employment agreements have been amended to include the following. A new term of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2028. And as the board knows, the superintendent do not get a meto what's considered a meto agreement for for for them. And they are not included in the management confidential group, but they

068will will be receiving a 2% one-time bonus. It is respectfully requested that the board approve the amendments to the assistant superintendent employment agreements. I move to approve uh the increase in wage and health benefits for um certified classified management and confidential employees. >> Let's go to the the other one. It's not that one. It's the next one. >> Sorry. Um approve the amendments to uh the assistant superintendent employment employment agreements. >> A second. >> Do we have any public comments? >> We do. Vanessa Barrera. Good evening again. First, I'll start off by saying you're welcome, management, because all of our work paid off. You're welcome. Um, but I just for the record, I know I already said it, um, but for the record, yes. Um, you're right, uh, Superintendent Espinosa, that the assistant superintendents do

069not get a meto. um which is why they negotiated last year um their own contract that gave them an 11 I earlier I said 10 but now that I did the math correctly uh it's 11.31% raise last year while we had to fight to get some misly 2% for 20 months while the heart of the school that you're saying right You're you're classified, you're certificated, your management. We all had to wait. They didn't. They got 11.31% last year. Do the math. Divide that up the same way that you only gave us all 2% last year and 2% this year. Do the same for them. You don't have to approve that agreement because you're already making cuts in order to give us just 2%. So do the math. Don't approve it. They've already received their race.

070Thank you. >> Go ahead. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, superintendent, if you can help me because my math added up to like 13.5 in the last four years or all all um labor partners represented or not. Um, so I did the math. So, uh it's incorrect to say that our our management team um or assistant superintendants uh received 11.5 last year. That that's not correct, is it? >> Um I I cannot tell you what the percentage is. I I I haven't done the math. what I can say, what I will share with with the board and you know I think there are two two board members uh still here when when I was hired. Uh when I was hired the board asked me to ensure that we were competitive in all job classifications

071across our district. Every single job. The board did not say only be competitive with bus drivers or with teachers or with principles. The board said be competitive in every area. That was a direction that the board gave me. That is the direction that I continue to work forward in. I will also share that since I have arrived, our two assistant superintendent were the lowest paid assistant superintendent in San Diego County. The lowest paid. When the board directed me to be competitive, we had to make adjustments to be competitive. Currently, they are, I believe, very similar to uh to National. Um they're very similar in the South Bay. They're not the top paid in the South Bay at all. And I would say that they are with the scope of their work and responsibility. I appreciate

072the work that they have put in especially when they know that they were the lowest paid. And so at this point um you know last this year they were competitive but as the board knows every district moves up every time they do negotiations and it's customary to give a meto at that time generally to everybody but we have already worked um and they understand that they're not receiving a me too, but it is a 2% onetime bonus. Thank you. >> Thank you, superintendent, because I don't want a mis miscommunication to uh and I would like the minutes to reflect that um the assistant superintendent did not get 11.5% raise last year, nor the year before. And so, uh, the, um, we can do the math, uh, you know, and so, uh, in that superintendent, uh,

073I think it was a wise recommendation about the one time because we do need to reflect about as much as we can, uh, to reflect that we appreciate our assistant superintendent and their work. people people don't understand what kind of uh work they have to produce in the amount of time that they have to produce it. So uh unless you have an understanding of what their job entails uh uh 1% off schedule is nothing. So I do want to say thank you to the assistant superintendent uh that um that stay with us because uh they can move on and they can make double. So, thank you for staying with us. Thank you. >> Um, and ju just to clarify, it's a it's a 2% one time, and I don't know what the what the percentage

074was last year. Uh, we were working on ensuring that they're competitive. We weren't working on a percentage. We were just working so that they were making close to the same as the other superintendent, assistant superintendents in the area. >> That's correct, superintendent. We looked at their uh job descriptions and we looked at the competitive region numbers. We even went out of the region. So uh we wanted our our people to stay with us and they did and thank you. >> Great. All right, let's go for the vote, please. Okay, the motion pass 5-0. Thank you. Business service. Second inter budget report for 2025 2026. Recognize assistant superintendent Regala for presentation on the second interim budget report. Good evening, President Esparza, board of trustees, Superintendent Espinosa, board and community. The second interim report identifies changes to

075the district's budget adopted by the board back in June of 2025. It reflects expenditures through the um from July 1st through January 31st, 2026. Uh it does um look at our timeline that we show each time that we're presenting a budget update. Our timeline does comply with the March 17th deadline uh to submit uh the report to the county office. I won't read every single step there, but you can see obviously step one, we devel we work and develop the the the report. Uh it's provided uh with board materials. It goes out uh usually about six days prior to to the board meeting, which is tonight. Uh and tonight we we hope that you you approve the submittal to the report of the report to the county office. And after that is approved uh then

076we obviously sign it and then send it to county office. Every fiscal year begins uh in July 1st and we've already gone through the second half of 2025. We're now at the start of the uh the new calendar year which in January obviously always starts with the governor's uh budget proposal for the uh fiscal year. Now when that happens and actually even a little bit before uh our team begins already working on the following budget. So this is the time where there are two things happening. We're working on the current budget, the 2526 budget, but also simultaneously working on next year's budget with the current information that that we have at this time. Obviously, that will change over time uh before we bring the new budget to you in in June. So, we've already had

077um department and site budget meetings. Uh Johnny has led that and his fiscal team uh with the directors and the principles. Uh when the governor presents his budget proposal, then we take that information and start making adjustments. And again, we'll start we'll continue to make adjustments throughout the rest of the year for next year's budget. And of course, we continue to work on on this year's budget. >> Good evening. The board has seen this information before and uh it might sound repetitive, but some of the things that we see from first interim to second interm are revenues remain steady. you won't see many changes on our revenue estimates. Our biggest contributor continues to be the local control funding formula at $53 million. And again, thanks to I I'm always going to say this, thanks to

078the work of some of our other directors and uh transportation, technology, M when they continue to apply for the state grants that help the district, our revenues do fluctuate quite a little bit. uh on the other local and other state revenues. I know that our director of transportation just got that uh some a grant to pay for some of our buses. So, thank you um director Flores and M with some of that u our air conditioning units and um our energy projects. So, that's why where you see where you'll see some of this fluctuation on our other revenues. Our uh total revenues are are around $88.9 million for restricted and unrestricted. Here you can here you can see um year-over-year even though we have colas and we'll talk about that in a later slide. We'll

079we're still continue to see a decline in our revenues and it's steady. we've uh we we are going to hit a plateau but with the decrease in enrollment it will continue to decline. Um there is higher declines in the 22 23 and 23 24 years because of the co held um harmless years. Now fortunately even though our revenues continue to decline our expenditures have continued to grow and our deficit continues to grow. Um here you see unrestricted and restricted expenditures uh with the biggest biggest uh contributor being salaries and benefits. We continue to be a staff driven and our budget with our district. We uh we really invest in our staff. Our operating and service and services and operating budget does increase with those grants that um our other directors apply to and get with

080those influx of revenues. Also, our expenditures will increase in some of those services and contracts. This is what is one of the most important parts for our budget. It's our unrestricted unrestricted budget and our unrestricted expenditures. We continue to spend over 90% of our unrestricted budget and staff and salary benefits. So we are we and I will continue to say this, we're a people centric district. We focus on our staff which is good because staff deliver services to kids, our students and community. The in our unrestricted side, the second biggest uh contributor to our expenditures is services and contracts. >> Total expenditures unrestricted are 58.7 million. >> Director Mes, does this include the TA and the metos? >> Absolutely. Um, and we'll get into that a little bit later, but this has already estimated working

081with the Sano County Office of Education, we've already included an estimation for all the uh the collective bargaining agreements, including management and and all the other and the other groups. Again, I will continue to say this. Our onetime restricted funding from the co era is and it's will come to an end soon. We're down to our estimated down to our 01% of all the dollars we got. I hope that by um next year this slide will be gone and the reason being a lot of those are going going to expire. But as we continue to focus on staff um a lot of this that's where this one time funding went. I think we're going to have, if I'm estimating, about $50,000 left after the end of this year. If our estimates are correct, then they're

082they initially come really close. Here you'll see the variances and like I said in revenue, there really wasn't much of a change from first interim to second interim. Our biggest fluctuation is our ending fund balance. Our ending fund balance decreased by about $5 million from first interim to second interim and that is due not only to a lot to expenditures but all the most mostly because of our collective bargaining agreement here. We're going to take a look ahead at the next at next year and the following year. You can see some of our assumptions. When we create our budget, we rely on a set of assumptions uh given to us by a set of agencies including an SSC, FCMAT and the state of California. One of the main variables is our COLA. But what has

083made the biggest impact in this MIP is definitely our collective bargaining agreement. And you can see the the the figures there throughout the 5.7 around 5.7 million this year. Um but also in there in this my you can see the reduction plans and the for the following two years three years that the district has uh the board you guys have the board has approved in our last uh board meeting. So those are all accounted for now in our YP. This isn't we continue to speak about decline enrollment and that has not changed. We have to assume that the district will continue to decline enrollment. That's what our demographer study shows and our actual data um in some cases more than what we anticipated. In this slide, you will see that even though we have a

084cola 2.3 cola, the district will still continue to see a reduction in revenues. A cola does not mean that we are getting more money. So the district has to continue to plan accordingly. Even though we have a cola, we need to continue to anticipate uh reduction in revenue and and continue to make some of those tough choices. Funding decrease uh and it hasn't changed from first interim. Uh even with a cola we're estimated about $2 million. Biggest impact decline enrollment, decrease in revenue and rising cost. In this slide you can see the impact uh in our ending fund balance. Our ending fund balance is like our savings account. It's all those commitments that we have the district has. Without an ending fund balance, those commitments continue to erode. Uh this is with the reduction plan

085in place. Uh we're estimated about 23.5 million ending fund balance this year. When we come to you in June with estimated actuals, we'll have a even more accurate number for you guys. Right now it's just the second interim period. With that it the deficit spending increased to 15.6 million. You can see the effect. And ne our next fiscal year we're anticipating an $ 8.3 million deficit spending with an ending fund balance of 15 million. That is drastically lower than we anticipated in the prior years. In 2728 you can see our deficit spending still continuing but the district will still see about an 8.5 million fund balance. What does that mean? You can see the decrease in two years from that ending fund balance. So if you think of commitments there's really no not a lot

086of money to commit. Some of most of that is going to go to our our reserve. Um so we need to continue to keep planning accordingly. So what we did what we also did is we de developed a second my assumes that a threeyear reduction plan is not approved. So action that needs to be taken at next month and in the following two years. Uh we made an assumption that that does not happen. And when you look at the difference between the previous NYP that the NYP that we just that we just showed you and this NYP, you can see that the deficit remains in the 15 to$16 million range. Uh whereas in the previous MIP obviously it was reducing because the plan is reduction in expenditures. Um and in the following year you see

087that the ending balance is actually negative. So it that there's nothing left. That's not it's not not that there's nothing left at the end. That's you we're in the negative. Uh so when we're talking about certification and between positive um qualified and negative uh that would turn that would put us in a qualified certification. And as a reminder qualified certification is may or may not may not meet uh financial obligations in either of the three years. Six months from now, if we assume that a three-year reduction plan is not approved, uh we're pretty positive that that is now positive. Let me take out the word positive. We would be negative certification. So again, this is not what is in place right now. Uh the board took action uh last week approving the adopting the resolutions.

088There's still more action to be taken in uh this year and in the next couple years. Uh but assuming that does not happen, we wanted just to show you the uh impact that that has on our budget and the um where it puts us in the next year or two as far as uh more extreme situations. >> Can we go back to the previous slide? Want to make sure that we're the one before that. Okay. So I I want to make sure that the board kind of understands and I want to make sure I understand. So last month the board approved a three-year reduction plan. Correct. Okay. So that three-year reduction plan that means we need to reduce this year and the next two years out the following two years right and and there's some

089numbers they approved some numbers for each one of those years. >> Let me correct you Mr. uh superintendent that the reductions will take place in 2720 the the next three years not currenting year there's no reductions in place there were um vacancies for this year that were approved to be eliminated um so that is a a reduction for this current fiscal year but when we're talking about the three-year reduction plan it is a plan that starts in 2627 based off the decisions that are made this year and then each following year there are more decisions to be made within that three-year reduction plan. >> Yes. So that plan does technically start this year but when we're talking about the three-year reduction plan is what I just described. >> It's an impact. Okay. So the numbers

090that we see here question I want to make sure the numbers we see here today. So at the end of 2728 the ending balance at 8.5 million which about five million right is our is our reserve. So we would have about 3 million left. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. So that that number there includes the reductions that the board already approved. >> Correct. >> Okay. So let's go to the next slide. That means we have to make those reductions to be there. So this slide shows if for any reason we do not make the reductions then that's what it's going to look like. >> Correct. >> Yes sir. Just wanted to make sure the board is clear on that. >> And you know I always say that today obviously new information will come in the

091future. uh that that the information can be positive but it can continue to be negative as well. So, continuing on the current year projections, assuming those will plan out, we do we are estimating a $23.5 million ending fund balance agree aligned and the district has aligned to with board policy that the board has approved in prior years. You can see the highlight here. As we continue to spend on our field trip and six rate camp commitment, we have adjusted for prior year um expenditures from that commitment and we've gone down to $1.5 million. Just like revenues continue to decrease with an increase in expenditures and decrease in revenues, we continue to see a steady actually I would say more than steady our ending fund balance continue to decrease in a at a high rate. We

092are recommending that the board approve a positive certification including all those adjustments that the board approved at the last board meeting, prior board meeting. >> No, you're so before you do that though, I do want a quick recap of the governor's January budget proposal. Uh the governor does um propose a 2.41 for one cola. And as you already know, we've talked about it and showed you, uh it's not enough to offset uh the rising costs that we all face and also um does not offset the impact of the revenue loss due to due to declining enrollment. Although the governor's uh budget for 2627 um it funds education in 2627 but it does so partly by delaying payments schools are owed um and assuming and it also assumes that revenues will continue to to come back

093and continue at uh at the rate that they are. uh the his proposal doesn't really uh take into account uh or assume that a possible recession or a stock market um downturn happens. uh other agencies do take that into account but right now the the January's budget proposal the governor's January budget proposal does not really take that into account continues to assume uh more positive uh outlook for the economy in the future years similar slide to what we've presented in the past you know our goals is to cons continue to look at eliminating deficit spending and and ensuring that the uh there's long-term fiscal stability uh for the district and in order to maintain that fiscal solveny, we do have to um continue to look at implementing the the reduction plan uh starting today or

094starting this year and a failure to take that corrective action. Uh you've seen that would would put us in a qualified certification uh and it will put us in a negative certification in the in the next coming year. So our next steps is um are to uh we'll have another update uh well there'll be an update from the state and during the May revision. Uh once we receive that information we will finalize the adopted budget for the 26 27 fiscal year. Uh we continue to look at school consolidation. Uh we know that Central will be closing uh the end of June of this year and we continue to look at data and we'll be sharing that with you in the future regarding a potential closure a second school and if there are any questions. >>

095Um I was wondering if you could uh please um explain how the cola I I don't know how to say it like how how does the cola uh look in a district like how >> um like going to details the cola you know how we get a cola but how is it um >> it's I think I'm understanding where where you're headed and it might be looking back at this slide here >> um >> yeah what does it mean for the district like how is how is the cola Yeah. So while the co like while the while we're receiving more funding before because of the cola but it doesn't really >> equal out or see >> it's because of declining enrollment like how that's >> if you look at the column stated um labeled LCFF

096dollars per ADA uh you can see those increases. So those have in that that number has increased for the last few years. But that increase is only a positive for a district when it's not losing kids. You see our declining enrollment and our funded ADA there. Now although the LCFF dollars per day are increasing due to the increase from the state in revenues because we're declining enrollment, our actually funded ADA dollars, our amounts decrease. So you see from one year to the next 37920 cents has decreases to $3,479. So it's it's it's just this unfortunate >> 3479 88 >> 88. Yes. Sorry. Um so it's this increase but these small cola amounts you know the 2% it's not enough to offset again the the decline in enrollment because our funded ADA uh numbers continue to

097drop due to the declining enrollment. If and hopefully our our enrollment remains steady, let's just say there's just an decline or positive of four to five to 10 students, then we start seeing some additional revenue when colasc increase. >> Also, does that take into consideration how how the cost of things are going up? Like another reason why we don't have like more money because we're getting more is because the cost of running everything is at the same time. So like that cola isn't necessarily going towards each child, but it's going towards the running of the school, the electricity, the paper, the gas. >> So I, you know, now that you say that you're right, which is there the the fixed cost usually about 3%. So that that's a yearly increase. Um, so really enrollment even

098if it remains steady doesn't always have the greatest impact because we also have to take into account those rising costs that you also mentioned as well. So yes and trusty Medina if you if you look over to where it says LCFF dollars per ADA. So in 2425 you see that we were receiving 14,755 and then was the next number with the cola. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's the cola effect on the per ADA estimate. >> Yes. So per student funding with the cola applied you would think okay they we're receiving more money per student. So if there was zero change, if we had the same amount of students, if we had the 3,79 students, then we would receive more funding. But the problem is that because we're going to have or we're projected to have 3,479

099students, then the the funding isn't more, it's actually less. Right? Even though the per student funding went up because we're we have less students, our total funding is less which you see in the last column from 54 thou uh 54 million to 52 million >> and it's not only the the decline in enrollment but also attendance takes into is taken into account. Um so the higher attendance also helps our our funding as well. If attendance drops along with our student enrollment which did happen after COVID there was a major drop in attendance and then that's when we started continuing to to decline in enrollment then it's an even a greater impact on >> Thank you Mr. President um really quick thank you again for this work and over the weekend reading um it is um

100a lot of reading and understanding. I think we went through this pro process about the beginning balance and the the uh approved balance board approved budget and then your ins and outs and so since then we had school services come in and do some recommendations. So, uh, your plan your I was expecting more of a plan here. Um, the plan just reads about elimination of, uh, of employees, whether it be a vacant position and or regular position, filled positions. So uh um what have you have you um in your department? I know you work very hard. Uh what have you uh implemented in regards to the school services uh um recommendations in order to recoup the money that is was not assigned properly and our general fund was u I don't know millions something else.

101I mean, I could go on. >> Are you speaking to me, ma'am? To myself or assistant superintendent? >> Whoever whoever. >> So, all the changes that like uh Matt Phillips from SSC reported last time. So, we worked together uh based on the recommendations, those were implemented before first interim. So, all the changes that SSC recommended were already in your first interim uh financial report. Uh and then they the district continues to see and and modify the budget as we need to to adapt to other changes because with those changes are one thing but budget keeps changing year month over month tomorrow it's going to change so we continue to change the budget but those were changes were implemented at first inter financial reporting when you guys approved the first inter financial report I hope that

102answered that question >> well yes thank you and uh regarding position control and funding um appropriately. I mean we year after year we continue to have this question about um positions and funding and uh I don't know who's responsible up there but we continue to have this discussion about um the budget and not appropriately assigning the correct resource or object to the um position or >> department. Is there specific resource that you're referring to because I'm not familiar with exactly that you're saying there was miss assignment, >> right? school services said, you know, uh, well, they said a lot of things, but the analysis, you know, the comparative staff study, uh, they put people, uh, they counted people, uh, serving as site. Um, when they're, um, they're not site based, they're district based. Um, so

103have all those incorporated into the first interim because I know his report went to the end of August. So all of the changes were implemented by the first interim and it didn't make any difference in our in our analysis. >> Oh, the the budget the budget um recommendations by school services of California. We started that work way prior to first interim and we were my team were together with their team to implement those budget changes that they recommended um and that the board approved at first interim in December. >> So like the maintenance department is now being um correctly uh resourced and not through our uh general fund anymore. >> I'm sorry ma'am I cannot answer your question at this time. I do not understand your question. I apologize. >> Trusty Kenyon, um, if if

104you and I could make an appointment, we can sit down and kind of look at that that way. I we really understand the the question and we can get you the right the right answer. >> Thank you, Superintendent. Um, I don't want to get this get let this get away from us. Uh and I appreciate the creative budgeting that's going on because you have to be really creative and the declining enrollment uh signifies all students um at 179 approximately decline. But you haven't shared with us uh um the new enrolles that are specially program have special programs that cost us more money. So when we'll be happy to share and provide whatever information is needed after you after that's clarified with our superintendent, we'll be happy to share everything that is being asked tonight. >>

105And I don't want to get away from our uh MRI's uh that question. Um um and the services that that department serves. Um I don't want that get away from us when we do our final uh approval. Uh could you please be creative and great I know it's not over $200,000. I know it sounds a lot of money in my pocketbook, but it's not a lot of money in the district pocketbook to at least uh uh maintain that those two positions uh for the next coming year. >> Um Trusty Kenyonz, as as you and I have have discussed, When a district is deficit spending, there is no there isn't a way to scrape out extra money because we're spending more than we're bringing in. The fact that we had an ending fund balance is helping

106us balance that out. Now what we will be doing in the next couple of months is we're working on some of the recommendations from school services. All the department leads are looking at those recommendations. Um and then you know we are going to make a final determination for this year. Right. But one of the things and and I somebody in public comment said something about you're closing central. Why are you why did you notice two or or three different IMRTs? Those are two different things. Central is one issue and our budget reductions is a separate issue. Our plan to reduce our spending over the next three years is a total separate issue from the central closure. And so I want to make sure because sometimes, you know, people give information that's not correct. And so

107I want to make sure that those two things are separated out. The board so that we could give raises had to approve reductions in the next three years or else the county wouldn't have approved our raises. So what the fiscal team is showing is what that what that's going to look like, right? But those things are separate. Now, a complete plan is still being put together because now the next step now that we had a study session that school services came in and did a staffing audit because we're at 90% of our of our general fund are people. As a school district, we provide service. We serve a community and we hire people to provide those services. So 90% of our budget is people. So we have to figure out how to increase increase efficiencies.

108How do we continue to be more efficient so that we can continue to give races raises? because I wholeheartedly believe and I believe the board believes that we need to offer competitive wages and benefits to all our staff across our district. But if we are continuing to receive less and less funding because we're losing students, that's that's the balance. We we need to we need to balance that piece out. So, one of those and and we put different things in place, right? One of the we have a plan to continue to look at our schools to make sure that we're being efficient with how many schools we're operating because it's expensive to operate a school, right? And now this is a this is a second the reductions plan is a second part of that. And

109so all those things are working together as we go forward, but we will continue to bring information. Um, and then if if you and I can sit down and and we can bring uh the fiscal team over uh just to make sure that we're we're we're answering the you know the right questions. >> Thank you, Superintendent. Um I didn't hear at the last meeting, but I heard tonight the two schools that are losing their library and that support for students, staff, and community. Uh one being Nester. So, who pays for Nester? >> Okay. And I can I have to jump in. Nester is not losing their and again there's information shared that's not accurate. >> Okay. >> NESRA is not losing their IMRT. it that that is a process that has to be done as

110you know through through the HR department and you know we have to look at a lot of different >> that's not true it's not true >> Nester is not losing an IMRG >> no >> that's not true and it's not true about Pence >> I don't think it's been you know that goes through seniority So I don't know where the seniority is. So I can't tell you the person. I can tell you that Nester is not losing an IMRT. If it's that person, if you're asking about that specific person, I can't tell you >> about a position. >> Yeah, Nester is not losing an IMRT. >> Nester does pay for the IMRT to answer your first question. >> Thank you. Thank you. Well, you know, this is uh um the general fund What's it called?

111Here we're sitting here doing a budget. Okay. And so the general fund unrestricted budget overview. Thank you very much for that. Uh and the will of the board is to share with you our priorities in regards to the unrestricted budget. And uh I've had several conversations with the superintendent, Mr. uh president in regards to what is the priority of the board and over the years I have shared the board has shared uh what priorities are but we get new boards and we get shifted and so uh I'm requesting that the board please give direction to our superintendent to save those two MIT positions for the next coming year and to put that as a priority because it it serves staff, students and community in many ways. Uh and in addition uh put a uh plus

112sign to remain with the instructional music program. We need to identify our priorities and I hope that you would support that recommendation to our superintendent uh to bring that forth perhaps maybe next month. Well, it has to come next month that uh uh creative people can uh find that less than $200,000 to uh at least employ those positions for the next year. >> Vice President Kimunes, I I appreciate, but let's concentrate on this question that we have in regards to the uh the presentation right now. So we just I mean we can go on and on but we need to you know get to the questions. If you have any other questions let's let's get clarification for either. >> So you're saying no >> Kelly >> I think that that is for a conversation for

113another time. Right now, we're we're looking at the interim report and whether or not to get it. >> Um, superintendent, any clarification? Is this something to be done right now? Do we just I would say thank you, Trusty Medina. I would say that this is a different conversation than what's being presented right now. I don't think the board is prepared to prioritize at this time because the board has not received information because we're staff is at the beginnings of putting information together for priorities. I think once the board receives information definitely the board needs to prioritize but I don't think that that is it's not necessary right now. I would I would recommend that the board wait to receive more information around priorities and what the recommendations are going to be from staff. then the

114board can prioritize >> and that would be when superintendent next month because I I remember Kelly asking last month. Well, when do we do that? >> We are working on it right now. >> So, like next month. >> I I cannot tell you that. I cannot answer that question right now. Um it will be as soon as possible. >> Thank you, Superintendent. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any other questions? All right. So, I have a really good question. Just a quick question. Um, just can you clarify on >> image 18 and 19? Uh, we're looking at the expenditures uh 76, 68, and 66. They are different than the multi-year ending fund balance. Is that a particular reason why it's different? >> Slide eight. Is this a correct site? >> No, >> right

115after the impact >> after that one. Yeah, it's just next. >> So, image 18. >> Yeah, you were 18. So, that's 15. There we go. That one right there. expenditures right there 76 68 and 66 are different than multi-year ending fund balance which is the next next one which is >> so the the two NYP why are they different >> yes >> so let me go back to the one on slides uh slide 17 that is our current NYP P because we are assuming and remember our NYP there's a lot of assumptions um based off the information that we have today we are assuming that there is a reduction plan that's going to be in place and implemented and approved. Now what we wanted to show on slide 18 and why you see different numbers

116under uh the expenditures uh because in let me go back to 17 the expenditures here are reduced because there's a reduction plan on the next table 18 the expenditures are are different because now we're we're assuming that there isn't a plan. If we if there wasn't to be approved of a plan and moving forward this year or the next two years, then we're looking at a negative ending balance and the qualified certification. Just wanted to show what that looks like one uh over the other. >> Thank you. >> Or if because the board approved a plan last meeting, so if that plan is not implemented, then you would get this, right? So the two different slides are here's the plan that was approved. We're okay. We're going to keep going. We're going to keep managing.

117This slide is we approved a plan but we didn't we didn't implement it. We didn't implement the plan. I thank you. Can I clarify a little bit on that, superintendent? So legally we cannot move forward with this plan. We cannot meet our AB12 uh requirement and that would be rescended. All right. >> Very good. >> And also, I think I mentioned this last time uh when we were presenting the resolutions, if we are in a negative status, we're forced to implement a reduction plan anyways. And when that happens, a lot of the decision- making or maybe all of it is taken away. So what we're doing right now is giving the board an opportunity to to make those decisions without being forced to or having someone else make those reductions for us. So So that's

118what happens when you're getting to a negative certification and what we've seen happen to other school districts and why you also see a lot of school districts um this year and as of last year making reductions to avoid that. >> Thank you so much. Okay. U Amy, can we please go for the with the vote, please? I believe we need a motion first. >> Oh, it's been a long day. >> This one. >> Oh, yeah. I move to approve submission of a positive certification of a second interim financial report for 2025 2026. I second. >> Okay, let's go with the book, please. Okay, the motion passed. 5-0. >> Thank you. And superintendent, can I have a a minute? It's the fiscal team hardly ever gets any recognition. And I personally want to thank my team

119because we work countless hours, late hours to make this happen to make a $200 report available to the board four or five times a year. And that's it's not an easy job. And we have a team of dedicated individuals that do not hesitate to show up early and to stay late. sometimes 8, nine o'clock, 12, 15 hour days. So, I think that um I don't do it enough because I don't get enough time. But I really like to thank my team because they are a group of dedicated individuals that are focused on customer service and on service to our students and our community. That's our goal. If you go ask any of my team members, that's our focus, students and community. So, thank you to my team. Um and I appreciate the support from the

120board. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. All right, let's go. Department report to recognize director Jason Flores for a report for the transportation department. Good evening for President Esparza, board of trustees, Superintendent Espinosa, fellow colleagues and community members. My name is Jason Flores, the director of transportation for South Bay Union School District. Uh tonight I'm here to highlight the department tonight. As you know, since I've started, I've always highlighted the picture of our beautiful buses and that's what you see here tonight. Next slide is transportation staff, excuse me. uh director of transportation myself Jason Flores currently transportation dispatch dispatch lead and transportation dispatch technician is currently being held by Ma Vega she's doing both jobs at this time heavy duty mechanic is Carlos Amaya you met him the other night at employee of the year

121and our other mechanic is Aron Posus transportation services we currently have 16 bus routes and three van routes. Special education students, we are currently transporting 109 students. Regular education students, 128. Overflow students, uh 70 students, that currently has gone up in the last couple weeks. Uh homeless foster 21 students and exceptions 14. Transportation eligibility. Transportation is only available to eligible students who live within the district boundaries. The walking distance for South Bay Union uh students are TK and kinder 75 miles, grades 1 through 3 1.25 miles, grades 4 through 6 1.5 miles. Students who reside beyond the minimum walking distance shall be eligible for transportation services to and from their school of residence. Director Flores, can I can I ask you a question please on that last um just want to clarification on the last

122slide. >> Yes, sir. uh the the distances the walking distances um is there a recommendation from the state on the walking distances >> currently at this time that would be up to the board of how you would want to go around the walking distance of the students >> but is there a recommendation? >> No. >> So the board gets to decide whatever the walking distance is at every school district. >> Correct. Okay. Thank you. Transportation services provided. We currently transport 342 students in the AM and PM. We maintain all district vehicles and buses, all field trips and camp trips, uh, ELP, Marbista swimming pool during the summer, ESY, and all of our currently new sports trips that we're doing uh, in the evening. Transportation inservice. I conduct a I'm doing a little differently this year.

123I conduct a one-hour inservice class every other Wednesday for the whole school year. That gives the drivers the opportunity to obtain 52 hours. The requirement is only 10 hours per year from the day after their birth date to the day of their birthday. uh throughout the year uh they can receive inservice behind the wheel and classroom time is offered to ensure the 10-hour requirement is met for all drivers. There is one addition to our fleet. Uh the one on the right that is our new box truck that we purchased from the child nutrition department. Um we got a great deal on it. uh will be uh conducting or using this uh truck for camp instead of renting out uh box trucks from different vendors. And as you can see, I put the vinyl on the

124side of the truck to identify that we are South Bay Union School District. On the left, I we have three vans and I also vinyl all three vans to identify uh our vans around the district and around San Diego that we are South District. So, we stand out. Another big win. I was here last month in regards to the ZESB award of $1,250,000 for three new buses and infrastructure. Um this year culture and climate since the beginning of school year of the school year I have a mandatory staff meeting um where we go over department process and team building. Uh this meeting is every other Wednesday. So again 52 Wednesdays out of the year. This year it's never been done before. This year we have established our department core values and we met, collaborated as

125a team as you can see in the picture and we as a group came up with humbleness, kindness, respect, integrity and accountability. These core values is a must that we practice every single day. It's a must moving forward. Um, this is near and dear to our department. In November, we as a department decided to sponsor a family for the holidays. The department nominated families and we all voted to sponsor a family from Mendoza Elementary. The threshold on the donation was $10. As a department, we collected $600 and purchased a Walmart gift card and handd delivered the gift before we went on winter break. As as you can see right there, that was on December 19th. And that's the family that we donated to. And at the end, I want to thank the board of trustees

126and superintendent for always supporting the transportation department. You have allowed us to provide the best customer service to our students and parents of South Union. Thank you. And and I have one more thing. Sorry. Pencil in bus driver appreciation day. >> Yes, please. >> April 28th. Pencil and I'll confirm in the next couple weeks. So, I'll send an email to Amy. Uh >> Cheryl, you always come. Superintendent comes. uh try to get a taco truck again this year. So, I invite all of you to please come out. Thank you. >> Thank you. We do have the bus best buses around like, oh, that's one of our shiny ones. >> Thank you. >> Definitely the best puzzles. Absolutely. >> Hydraulics. >> There you go. >> And then I was looking for the the rims on the

127vans. >> Yes. >> Thank you so much for your yearly annual report. >> It's always a pleasure to have you here presenting for us. Um >> I don't think we give enough recognition to your department. So, thank you >> very >> for getting our children to and from safety. Um, sometimes our community is not so nice on the road. So, and the roads are not so nice to us right now. So, uh thank you for uh um the drivers and their safety and their um dedication to ensuring that each child, each student gets to and from safely. Thank you for that. and and I applaud you for, you know, getting the team building uh together. U I don't think I've ever heard about that before. So, kudos to you. >> Thank you. >> About team

128building. And um the um are you going to be coming back to us in regards to uh next year's uh transportation for children that need from central? >> Yes. Yes. Uh currently we're working on that right now. >> Okay. So you'll be coming back to us. >> Yes. >> Thank you again. >> You're very welcome. >> Thank you for your presentation. I do have a question though in regards to uh are there any requests that you have from students that live outside our district and if you do what are their policy regards to that? >> Currently we're doing a lot of our special needs students that go into the city of San Diego the ones that we don't have the program. So we have some off the eight and the 805 um some in Delmare.

129So those are the ones that we're currently transporting right now that are way out of our our district and that's challenging to us but we're making it happen. We're all driving >> and thank you again. You guys buses are amazing. >> Thank you so much. And again please come out April 28th. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay, moving right along. Consent calendar. All matters listed on the consent calendar will be enacted in one motion in the form listed below. Prior to the approval of the meeting agenda, there was an opportunity to request placing consent calendars items in the discussion action section of the board meeting. There will be no discussion in these items prior to the board vote. I move to approve all the items on the consent calendar as

130listed including the superintendent's recommendations for denial or approval of absences. >> A second. >> Okay, let's go for the vote, please. Okay, the motion pass 5. Thank you. Okay, future agenda items. Do we have any future agenda items or any other trustees we have here present? >> Okay, great. >> I I have a quick um >> Yeah, go ahead. >> I don't know if it's an I it's not really an agenda item. I recognize that, but I would like to revisit this topic about the distance, walking distance for our bus drivers. Thank you so much for asking that question. I'd like to learn more about that. Okay, we have a future agenda items followup. Recognize superintendent Jose Spinoza and provide direction on the next steps on future agenda items from previous board meetings. >> Thank

131you, President Espa. And we have Trusty Kunes who had the um the future agenda item request. So, I will turn it over to her. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, superintendent, for this consideration. Um I'm doing a followup and looking for uh information uh around the process the districts uh has taken uh in regards to our charter policy and updating our charters to reflect um legislation law federal and state and as well as our policy if that could be u something that we put on our radar. Um, I know we're all jammed up, but if we could have some something by July or August because those are like our not our your not our not your slow months but for us for consideration. >> Okay. Uh, Vice President Kinones, I'm sorry. >> And I was

132just going to clarify. Um, so Trusty Kinones, you're talking about some of the the changes in in in charter law. Um, and so you want to make sure that that we're we are updating that. And what's the process for that? Is that basically it? Is that your question? >> Yeah. To ensure that our our charters are aligned with state and local federal law. Yes, please. And and to bring that back. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Oh, any consensus? >> Yes. >> I just making sure we understood the questions. >> I'm just turn it back over to the board. is the charter laws, the new charter laws, I'm not familiar with that. Is that um for both dependent and independent charters? So, does it affect our charters? >> Yes, it there there are some, you know,

133there's been changes over the year. Um and so I believe that's what Trusty Kenyon is referring to. So, there's been changes over the years. So we just need to make sure that uh you know whether it's for dependent or independent we just need to make sure that that's aligned right is that yes superintendent for that and thank you for the question Kelly um it's about our policy and our charter uh language because you know they're I don't know 10 15 years in the making and so uh just to ensure that our policy is updated in regards to state voting federal law and that our charters reflect that >> is that superintendent does something that it can be done. Um >> yes, we can review what the what the process is for that and then um

134I can bring the information back. >> How long do you think and how much staff resources would you think that this would require? I didn't ask that question before, but >> um you know, it just really depends on the process. I can't, you know, I I would have to to yeah to kind of find out what the process is uh specifically and then and then bring it back. Then we can look at uh how much time it's going to take to to do anything if we need to do anything different. I I I don't have that information right now. >> Thank you, superintendent, for this consideration. Okay. So, let's see that. Are we gonna are we considering? Yeah. Okay. So, there you go. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. Mr. >> President. >> Great. All right.

135So, communications from the board of trustees. Three minute limit for trustee, please. Three minutes. Um, we only have like three months left of school, which is hard to imagine. It feels like we were just starting. Um, but obviously the work is year round. um this weekend or this last two weekends ago on February 21st, we had um a Saturday full of us working together, which is always nice for us to be able to sit and and learn together and come up with our common goals and understanding of our roles and responsibilities. So, thank you for those continuing learning and growing opportunities. >> Great. >> Um, um, I'm glad that we were able to, uh, lift up a lot of our employees today. We approved a lot of, uh, raises. I mean, we really appreciate work

136here in the district, trustees. We're going to continue to figure out how do we fix this budget situation because the money's out there. Just got to figure out how to get it coming here. So, I will leave it at that and see you all next. >> Thank you, Mr. President. My phone keeps turning off, so I'm not reading any messages. I'm reading my own message here. U first um let me thank uh Nester for hosting uh the board visit this past week. Um it was wonderful to see um Nester um and hosting us at our request for uh what we wanted to look at like the playground. It is beautiful. Where's maintenance? The playground. And I guess they had ribbon cutting today because I saw on Instagram yesterday or today. It is absolutely beautiful. And

137and I just I just the kids that I saw on Instagram uh and the smiles I just felt, you know, their giggles through the pictures. So, uh I I bring that forward because um that's what it's all about. Uh children children. Um and thank you Nester for hosting the board visit. Thank you husband for being in the back. Anyways, uh uh so uh trustees lunch week is coming in a week or so and uh the opportunities to advocate uh for many is upon us. Uh many of you have asked Mr. Superintendent how how can we um participate locally statewide there's an opportunity and it is virtual and we used to fly up but uh since co and and people don't have districts don't have money it's uh one that takes like an hour and a

138half for two or three days out of the week. So be sure to check your email and sign up. Um I just want to really uh uh quickly share with you in 2004 I was every year I'm part of this um in 2004 um the California School Boards Association had about three or four u endorsed bills that were going through legislation and in particular one that I pulled to speak to our senators and our assembly person Padilla uh Peters and Alvarez was SB 1355. Okay. And SB 1355 speaks about districts uh requirement to file reports federal uh state uh everything you can imagine what we see they have to file in a timely manner. And so what this what this bill did was uh believe it or not they didn't uh understand what I was

139saying when I was talking to the uh senator and the uh assembly person and neither did our representative when I approached the our rep state representatives to say it was a win-win for both district and the state of California who had no money and we don't have and so effectively this drew quite quite attention in that the committee it was referred to the committee the committee handed it off to the CDE who who said to them uh about the reports there's 1,700 reports a year 180 school days so we have people in our district office who have these reports that are due monthly weekly uh look at him he's shaking his head uh and So what it was is the request to look at the reports that are required, what is redundant, what is not

140necessary, what is uh um not necessary anymore. Uh over overlapped, reduce. And so they went right at them and said uh give us a give us um a reduction plan because the more the reports even elo was new. they had to do a new report on Eli. Okay. So, uh through this experience, now it's fast forward March 1st, they were supposed to do their report and so the CDE came back with the report. They did not give a uh um a reduction plan for these reports that are ded by all districts. Uh and so they sent him back and said, "We want a reduction plan." What I saw was like pages and pages of all the reports that these districts do uh colorcoded but nothing was at aligned with a reduction or or um amended

141nothing and so they sent it back. So, I just want to share with you that I've been working on that uh for at least two years now in hopes that our district um um work and this is what I proposed to the legislators that uh our our district spends more time in front of the computer instead of uh helping students uh where they work and play and uh and concentrating our district dollars where our students are. So, um, I'll bring an update hopefully, you know, at the end of the year and I hope to see you online next week. Thank you. And that's my report. >> Thank you so much. Uh, well, working together workshop is actually it's great building a report with one of the uh board members. It's actually it's a good experience.

142It builds you know how how we need the training and you know become a better board members. also being participated in the monsters governance program which honest is not easy but that's given me much deeper understanding of what it means to be an effective board member and I'm grateful for the opportunity to grow in this role and uh you know it's I share with the superintendent I see him on the camera on Zoom meeting that honestly the majority of them or the board members were appointed very I don't think there was like a one or two were um uh elected. So that means a lot. So that being said, uh thank you all for coming and appreciate everybody that showed up and thank you so much. That being said, all right, so this meeting is

143a journ.